Win Pakistan Win

I would have never cheered for Pakistan so much than I did today. It was a must win for Pakistan over Australia so that India enters the semis of ICC Champions Trophy 2009. Like me, many Indians would have surely cheered lustily on every wicket that Men in Green take and go into raptures of delight when Pakistani batsman hit a boundary.

Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey ensured that the top order colapse would be sustained by their good partnership. But Pakistanis roared back with the quick dismissals of well settled batsman evoking painful Ashes memories for Australia... I started loving it already... The match entered the final over with 5 runs to score with Umer Gul taking the task of bowling at the death. But finally, Australia cruise of the semis to my disappointment winning the match with a close finish.

I had thought about the conspiracy angle - Will Pakistan want India in the final? I thought Pakistan could have played below par to get their hands dirty off India. I thought Pakistani players would laugh in their dressing room after losing to Australia knowing that Indians would have been playing against the West Indies thinking that their last hopes for winning the tournament have been scuppered.

But that was all before the match. I applaud Pakistan for the exciting performance they have put across. Cheers!!!!!!!

Lunar Real Estate

In TOI today, there was an article on spurring interest in buying property on moon owing to the discovery of water molecules on moon. A nice way to start the day; as it surely bought a smile on my face. I thought of visiting the website (www.lunarembassy.com) of the US heardquartered Lunar Embassy which claims to have first initiated the sale of lunar property.

It brings two sayings in my mind. One which we often see in our bollywood movies where a lovesick hero who is fully devoted in winning the heart of the pretty heroine. He would say, "I would give you the sun, the stars and the moon" In the end, the heroine would actually fall for the hero but thats not what I want to talk about here. I feel this line can also be said by someone who wants to get rid of bad guilt trip.

I find this moon scam really funny if people weren't really falling for it and buying what they believe would be Lunar Real Estate. Since so long, we have seen different countries fighting for the space race as to who first puts their flag on the lunar soil. Finally, U.N. passed a resolution that no country would own the celestial body. U.N. should have been very precise with their words as opportunists have already found a loophole in their resolution. They said "no country" but they never said "no individual" could own a land on moon. And the rest as they say is history. Its been 27 years since this company has been selling and registering properties coming up with their own Lunar Deed, Lunar Map, Lunar Constitution and Bill of Rights. Astronomers should really shake their heads now.

For a brief moment, I also thought about buying an acre or two for my gonna-be wife.... Sounds romantic and congestion free !!!

A motivating note

Today while was cleaning the mess in my almirah accumulated over a period of time, I found a note which contained the words of advice which was given to me by Papa after I had completed my engineering. I had actually written down whatever I remembered from all he told me. I don't remember the date though. I had an offer from Hewlett Packard during the campus placements which kickstarted my career in IT. My family was quite contented with that and considered it as one of my big successes. Thanks to them for whatever I am today. I started reading the note.

Dear Arihant,
As you step into the world of work, you are bringing to it the freshness of ideas and the power to change things. Being an engineer myself, there is always a danger that all too soon we forget why we came to our college. We didn't go there to understand the mechanics, quantitative approach or any intricate theories of engineering. We went there to understand ourselves and our strengths. To believe how easy it is for us to make a difference. That is the purpose of education. To instil in you the belief that you can make the world a better place.
Whenever you feel unhappy about something around you, remember, you have the capability within to improve it. So whether you chose to change it or chose to walk away and just complain - you have made a choice. As you grow as a professional, you will have opportunites to make things happen. You havae had the education that will tell you what to do and how to do it. But it is only your heart that will tell you why you ought to.
There are no limits to which we can grow as human beings. Every morning we get up and make a choice about how much we will do to make a difference. Every day we choose how much we will touch the lives of people around us. Too manay people give up the opportunity because they do not believe that they can change things. Like I have always believed, I hope this education has given you the belief within.
Never underestimate your ability to make a difference.

Papa

I cleared my vision by wiping the gathering tear. Love you Dad!!!!

A chat with God

God : Hello. Did you call Me?

Me : Called you? No.. Who is this?

God : This is GOD. I heard your prayers. So I thought I would chat.

Me : I do pray. Just makes me feel good. I am actually busy now.
I am in the midst of something..

God : What are you busy at? Ants are busy too.

Me : Don't know. But I can't find free time. Life has become hectic.
It's rush hour all the time.

God : Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results.
Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

Me: I understand. But I still can't figure out. By the way,
I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on instant Messaging chat.

God : Well I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you
some clarity. In this net era, I wanted to reach you through the Medium
you are comfortable with.

Me: Tell Me, why has life become complicated now?

God : Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

Me: why are we then constantly unhappy?

God : Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday.
You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your
habit. That's why you are not happy.

Me: But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?

God : Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

Me: But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty..

God : Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Me: If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?

God : Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire.
Good people go through trials, but don't suffer.
With that experience their life become better not bitter.

Me: You mean to say such experience is useful?

God : Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard teacher.
She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

Me: But still, why should we go through such tests?
Why cant we be free from problems?

God : Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons
(to) Enhance mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle
and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

Me: Frankly in the midst of so many problems,
we don't know where we are heading..

God : If you look outside you will not know where you are heading.
Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken.
Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.

Me: sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in
the right direction. What should I do?

God : Success is a Measure as decided by others.
Satisfaction is a Measure as decided by you.
Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead.
You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock.

Me: In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

God : Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you
have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.
Me: What surprises you about people?

God : When they suffer they ask, "why Me?"
When they prosper, they never ask "Why Me"
Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on
the side of the truth.

Me: sometimes I ask, who am I, why am I here. I can't get the answer.

God : Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be.
Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it.
Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation.

Me: How can I get the best out of life?

God : Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

Me: One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

God : There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.

Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat.
I am so happy to start the New Day with a new sense of inspiration.


God : Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Don't believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs.
Life is a mystery to solve not a problem to resolve.
Trust Me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.

Wonderful conversation with God inspired from an email which my friend sent. So much to associate with our lives...

Sit-up & See

Its been almost 3 months now since I have joined the gym now. I feel peppy, energetic and fresh most of the time now. Thinking of the times, when I had no intentions, reasons to join the gym; I wonder what kept me motivated till now. The readers might find my reasons amusing.

Time: 10:00 p.m.

Date: 19th March 2009

Arihant is checking his waist line in the mirror and undergoing a stage of grief. Since so long he has been proud of his non- gym-athletic build. He has his favourite trousers in his hands which talk the language that he speaks; which carry the attitude he personifies; which highlight his personality. Now it feels like a water balloon being tried to put into a wallet...

God!!! Please make these pants fit. I promise I would start going to the gym. But please don't make me check out 36" pants.

He even imagines asking the shop owner, "Er .. excuse me... do you have this is 36" waist?"

Arihant doesn't join the gym after that night. He assumes that this must all be a dream during his nap. He also assumes that his favorite trousers might be a factory defect like may be it is 32" but it got a tag of 34". He needed something more.

Time: 10:00 p.m.

Date: 12th May 2009

Arihant finds most of his jeans, trousers fitting tight to his paunch on a regular basis. He seriously thinks what the *&#$@$, these pants suck, my lifestyle sucks... enough of it. He decides to quit bread, rice and papad which would at least not add up to those unnecessary calories which defer to get burned down by themselves. Before quitting, he has his final round of bread, half plate of rice with papad.

Time: 10:00 p.m.

Date: 17th June 2009

Arihant has been avoiding the three of his favorite food items since a month. He has his own double standards. He doesn't have rice but he has dosa almost on a daily basis. He turns to his Jiyaji finally and gets his advice. Jiyaji himself have been going to the gym regularly.

Time: 8 a.m.

Date: 18th June 2009

He made it, he just did!!!!! First day at the gym. After the initial stretching and cardio exercises for around 45 minutes, the gym instructor asks him to do some sit ups. Being the first day, restricting to around 30 sit ups would have been a good idea.

Arihant spreads the sheet and towel over it, lies down and starts off with the first sit up. He notices something pretty and really cute. There is a female exercising which he sees when he sits up. Fair, hair all tied up, speaking eyes. To Arihant's surprise, she could only be seen when he sits up. He loses her sight when he goes down; laying back to sit up again. The sequence is like Sit up-See her - Smile - Lie down - Smile- Sit up - See her again - Smile again.

Is this the motivation, I was looking for? Will she see my paunch and stay away from me? Could I quickly lose 5-6 kilos to stand up and talk to her right now?

I know, I know.. this all sounds OMG!!!! But probably, apart from following a strict diet regime, she has been one of the pretty reasons I wish to go to the gym regularly and do a few extra sit ups. I am in a better shape now and to my happiness, I find my favorite trousers fitting well :)

Men are from Mars - Women are from Venus

Last night was a night to remember... Not very usual that I recieve a late night call from my closest friend @3:15 a.m. when I was deep in my sleep that my cell phone rang. Ofcourse I was little surprised because it was quite early morning on the other side (around 4:45 a.m.) and I wondered why my friend had not slept till now... I just wished everything was alright with her... Luckily it was; I had a happy feeling in my head when I heard her voice... As usual, she had a very sweet voice... it reminds of a kiddo gal who just entered adoloscence; innocent and honest. I lost my sleep after that and felt fresh... I feel the best thoughts and words are exchanged early morning... She was happy with my small gift that I had sent through one of our common friends to cheer her up... Our conversation kicked off with that and went on for another 80 minutes.. why 80 minutes? Thats the balance she had in total :) Unfortunately I cant make ISD calls from my cell..

I don't wanna write in detail about what all we spoke on. The topics ranged from love, relationship, friendship, emotions, hatred, adulthood, fun etc. till the calling card balance allowed us... I found her quite emotional last night; she was worried and upset about something... I tried to bring her out of it (even at 4 a.m. , my habit of giving advice was working ); infact thats what I have always tried.. But I want to share an important lesson that I learnt from her...

She told me about the book Men are from Mars - Women are from Venus which she has been reading since some time. She said this book is important for understanding the communication style and emotional needs of opposite gender; how it helps in improving men- women relationship. She said, "At times, it is very important only to listen to what your partner is saying; to be on the recieving side. At times you partner doesn't need any advice but he/she just wants to be heard" I have this habit of giving advices when not needed. Although I don't strictly follow the bookish knowledge but living life practically and associating your life to common terms, I realised it is quite crucial and fruitful. I didnt sleep after our conversation ended because it pushed me to think more and more on those lines. I would like to follow it to as much detail as possible and till my patience allows me to.

This blog of mine is dedicated to one of the most wonderful friend that I have made for life whom I admire for her qualities and the way we are friends with each other..

Joy in Life

Ancient Egyptians used to believe that when you die, you are asked two questions at the gates of Heaven ... your answer determines whether you would admitted inside the gates or not...

1. Have you found JOY in your life?

2. Has your life bought JOY to others?

These questions popped up in the movie The Bucket List which I had longed to watch. It is a story of two old men (starring Morgan Freeman, Jack Nicholson) who have terminal cancer. While sharing the same hospital room, they create a bucket list of things they want to do before they die and they do it. In the process, they heal each other and become friends and ultimately find the joy in life.

Not that I am a serious follower of the Egyptian practices and rituals for preparing oneself for death and afterlife but I found these questions interesting .... More importantly, they made me think about the way I live and how I reciprocate.

These questions go hand in hand and in the right order in which I have written them. How is it possible to bring joy in someone else's lives when you don't have joy in your own lives? You can't give what you don't have.. isn't it? You can fake it ... yes... but what the heck you would finally get out of it? I decided to ask these questions to myself last night.

"Arihant, Have you found joy in your life?"

Arihant, "I have had a joyous life so far. My attachment to my parents, siblings, best friends have given me the feeling of being complete and motivated. There is no better joy than being with the people who love you because it is really tough to meet people who love you. My answer would be rather mixed here as I cannot say that I found total joy in everything that I have done but I want to save you from the trouble of reading all that. At the percentage level, the see-saw tilts towards YES :) "

"Arihant, Has your life bought joy to others?"

Arihant, "I can say YES I HAVE but the best way to find this out for sure is to survey those in my life i.e. parents, sisters, best friends etc. I think I have made a joyful noise in the life of everyone, okay, almost everyone. There were/are times when the joy of the Lord has fell really far away from me and like I said when you don't have it to give..."

But at this point of my life & at this moment, I say YES I have joy and the essence of my joy has left its footprints on the souls, hearts and lives of people who know me the way I am and I so much want to continue doing it for the rest of my life :)

Hum Aa Gaye

Aap ke dil ne humein awaaz di, hum aa gaye,

Humko le aayi mohabbat aapki, hum aa gaye.

Apne aane ka bahaana hum kya bataye aapko,

Baithe baithe yaad aayi aapki, hum aa gaye.

Hum hai dilwale bhala hum par kisi ka zor kya,

Jayenge apni khushi, apni khushi, hum aa gaye.

Losing directions

I am so poor with my direction sense... escpecially when it comes to areas in Bangalore like Banashankari, Basavangudi and places surounding it. Even if I have been to one place (Vidhyarthi Bhavan in Gandhibazaar 6 times before.. but still on my 7th time; I would get lost on some strange roads...

In each of the times, I have had a victim (pillion rider) who has suffered because of it.. I would like to thank them for their patience and their suggestions in telling me the possible routes which could take us back to this place and back home later. Actually, the return journey is somewhat more painful.. My experience on the last weekend was something like this :

Time: 7 a.m.

Day: Saturday

In Conversation: Didi and Me

Me (after completion of all morning chores), "Didi, Vidhyarthi Bhavan chal rahi ho?"

Didi (thinking and scratching her head once), "Chal sakte hain"

Me (with a grin) , "I think we should leave now so that we can be there by 7:30 and return by 9"

My statement above has been the opening statement to all my victims who have agreed to get up by 6:30 early morning and join me to have the best dosa in the town. I am grateful to them always :)

Didi,"Tab tak yeh (jiyaji) bhi uth jayenge. Chal Ari "

Convincing is easy but driving is tough; especially when you know that you would surely forget the route. No point memorising it...

To my surprise ( and now to victim's surprise), we reached Vidhyarthi Bhavan in one go without getting lost. Although we had to ask for some directions once we entered Basavangudi.

After having the delicious Masala Dosa, we started our return journey. As usual, I took a wrong lane and after driving a few kms, we found ourselves in Chamarajpet... I recalled of Chamarajpet Charles on Radio One ;)

The struggle continued... we saw mysore road, all the gates of Lalbagh etc...

Eventually, we reached home by 10 a.m. .. To our relief, Jiyaji was still asleep :) Even if he was awake, we had got him Kesari Bhath (Sooji ka Halwa) from Vidhyarthi Bhavan to bring a smile on his face

Missing a perfect life

"What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals." - from Act II, scene 2, of Hamlet

I was reading on WWW about the aspects of human behaviour and their psychology towards life (behavorial economics) My office work sucks now a days so I utilise my time in reading and understanding the human mind in a better manner. The quote made me wonder and think more about what amazing acts our minds and bodies are capable of doing. We learn new languages as young children. We recognise so many faces with ease without getting confused. We can identify our friend's voice over telephone etc. Sometimes I feel I am one of those supercreations by God (I broaden my chest and giggle a bit). But I miss a perfect life. I dont know yet what is it?

What according to you is a perfect life? Is it a life free from hassles; controversies; guilt, full of hope; luxury; pleasures ? I think that the perfect way of living a life is by being rational. I mean, won't the life be perfect when your own reasoning abilities are perfect? Won't it improve your decision making and change your life for the better?

I look at my life and see a big distance from perfection. May be I am irrational. Rather predictably irrational; because I often repeat the same mistake again and again. Perhaps that is how the human nature is supposed to be. I dont know how do the economists, policy makers come up with their findings assuming that there is perfect reasoning for everything. As of now, we human beings seem to clear defy it.

This blog would seem to be incomplete and unclear as of now because I am still searching for my basic question, "What are the hidden forces that shape our decision making?"

Ever wondered Why do we often promise ourselves to diet, and our thought vanishes when we see a dessert plate passing by? Why we are happy to do things only when we are not paid to do them?

Hairaan Pareshaan Chintu

Pareshaan thi Chintu ki wife

Non-happening thi jo uski life

Chintu ko na milta tha aaram

Office main karta kaam hi kaam

Chintu ke boss bhi the bade cool

Promotion ko har baar jate the bhul

Par bhulte nahi the wo deadline

Kaam to karwate the roz till nine

Chintu bhi banna chata tha best

Isliye to wo nahi karta tha rest

Din raat karta wo boss ki gulami

Onsite ke ummid main deta salami

Din guzre aur guzre fir saal

Bura hota gaya Chintu ka haal

Chintu ko ab kuch yaad na rehta tha

Galti se Biwi ko Behenji kehta tha

Aakhir ek din Chintu ko samjh aaya

Aur chod di usne Onsite ki moh maya

Boss se bola, "Tum kyon satate ho?"

"Onsite ke laddu se buddhu banate ho"

"Promotion do warna chala jaunga"

"Onsite dene par bhi wapis na aunga"

Boss haans ke bola "Nahi koi baat"

"Abhi aur bhi Chintus hai mere paas"

"Yeh duniya Chintuon se bhari hai"

"Sabko bas aage badhne ki padi hai"

"Tum na karoge to kisi aur se karunga"

"Tumhari tarah Ek aur Chintu banaunga"

Digging a hole

I recently came across one blog which commented on an article where 2 scientists in America have invented an aeroplane which would run on solar energy.. These scientists also claimed that this aeroplane would work in night as well.. I was amazed with the sense of humor, imagination and thought involved while this guy wrote this... His blog reads as follows :

Actually Government should use the geographical advantage of we being on the opposite side of USA.
We should dig a through hole from the center earth which will connect India and USA, so we can put wire through it.
So in India's day time sun light and solar energy can be given to USA and they can give us the same in their day time (Isnt this amazing?)
Also we can fit an train through it so that we dont have to use planes for travelling. (what???)

Similarly Finland and New Zealand can be connected using a vertical angular hole.
The best part is if we drop something from Finland it will automatically come down to New Zealand due to gravity, so lot of energy can be saved which we lose in transportation and travelling.
This saved energy can then be stored in everyday pencil cells and can be sold at Rs 14 each. This additional revenue can then be used to educate the people and the children of farmers so that they will have earning sons and they will not sucide.

I am wondering if you dig the hole right in the center of earth, what would happen to the people like engineers, excavators etc. who are actually involved in physical labour of digging it? Won't they fall out from earth to the space... hehehe..

Anyway, I would continue reading and enjoying such stuff... a good start to the day I must admit ;)

Life is a game

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends and spirit … and you’re keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls - family, health, friends and spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for Balance in your life.

How?

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each together.

Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be pave.

Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find time. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings!

Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.

Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way…