First things First!

It could be whatever you do, wherever you live, which ever place you had gone, who ever you have met, the "first" one is always a probable moment. It could give you loads of surprises and excitement. It could be a happy moment or a sorrow one. And irrespective of the outcome, I bet the first things always have a special place in one's heart. Be it your first school, first crush, first date, they all have longing memories! This time its first last day @ work!

Well yesterday was my last day in my first company. In these five years, I had seen people staying around and moving out. I could hardly recollect faces that I saw during my first year! But there are a few people like me hanging around still as if they were anchored deep to the sea bed!  So as usual, it was my turn to send out my last day mail and I could not cut short the content. Whatever I wrote, came from the mind. I did not care if the recipient would care or not. An irony is that I had actually criticised others for their last day mails here!

It was a kind gesture having friends sending me off with all the usual cake cutting, wishes and memento. Finally, it took less than a minute to return my identity card and my longing association with my first company ended abruptly. And particularly when you are associated with a company for a very long time, it definitely takes a little time to get over the comfort zone. Its not only the organisation but the people, with whom you had built a relationship with. 

Its like the timer is reset and again the time starts ticking from zero. I know this will happen and I wanted this to happen! I am a stranger now and I need a visitor pass next time to enter! But that is what life is all about. Every phase you leave something and you search and pick some other thing and move on with taking only the memories about those you had left in the first place!

When childhood pals meet...

Its been almost nine and a half years we completed schooling and its almost five years, we had visited a place together. After Kodaikanal in 2005, its Pondicherry now!

Its been a long pending item, which we had achieved now. We missed our other guys, but still we six managed to make it. It was like married guys being single for one day and singles feeling even younger and surprised by the mature talks of the latter ;). The talks about our school were still fresh, still remembering and cherishing the good old days we were in school.  It was great to see how we have transformed ourselves from how we were in school to how we are now. Altogether, it was a pleasant holiday! Lets see when we meet up again! Sometimes these kinda activities give us a sigh of relief from our routine...aint it?

Good Start...

We were just thinking how we can celebrate the start of the new year!

We are totally nine in number including me here out of which three are married. Six of us are staying in two adjacent apartments. We thought, why not we arrange for a "PotLuck" gathering!? It sounded good! We had an agreement to meet in one of the bachelor's apartment on the New Year afternoon for lunch. Each person must prepare some dishes and bring. And then we would have a collective variety of lunch.

From our apartment we had agreed to prepare Aloo Bajji, Drumstick Sambhar and Vegetable Khurma. It was a different experience. I googled the recipe for Aloo Bajji (Google for Aloo Bajji....sounds funny huh!?) and tried that! Beginner's luck! It came out good if not excellent! Actually it was a collective work with all my inmates involved. More or less, I have become a master in Sambhar these days and it was a cake walk this time. My other colleague prepared the Vegetable Khurma.

The other dishes from other apartment included Vada, Gobi Manchurian, Puri, Vegetable Pulao, Vegetable Biryani, Tamarind Rice, Paratha, Papad and Kesari. It was fully a vegetarian menu! It may sound crazy to write the dishes here, but it would make me feel content when I read this after some time especially when i am lazy to cook and I end with ONLY dhaal and rice! He..he!!

It was a different experience. Not only the variety in dishes, but the variety in persons involved - families, kids, bachelors. Its also like South Indian states coming together - Karnataka, Andhra, Tamil Nadu & Kerala. The families had a chance to taste the bachelors' preparation. And we had a chance to taste theirs. It was fun altogether.

We had a good start! Happy New Year!

I am in a world...Experiencing the change!

Its been a long time, I blogged here. I was lazy, rather. I have been experiencing a lots of transformations in self for the past one month. Been seeing new things, people, workplace and of course the culture variance. Sometimes its nice, sometimes its difficult, sometimes wondered, sometimes excited, sometimes bored, sometimes no thoughts...

I am in a world where people believe in rules be it in roads or anywhere. I am in a world where I feared to travel alone. I am in a world where I did not eat idlis or dosas in the morning but corn flakes. I am in a world where I rely on the internet and GPS. I am in a world where I was cooking full time. I am in a world where I am not @home.

Its almost a month since I flew all way from Bangalore to San Diego here in the United States for a short term assignment. Its been a new experiment through out. Be it the flight travel or landing in a foreign land or travelling alone in a taxi to a unknown place, the FIRST experience is always a mixture of all the expressions I could think off. Now things are settling slowly and I have started to explore in this world. I am now trying out the different varieties of food here - American, Mexican, Thai, Chinese etc. Of course, I had these flavours in Bangalore but I had preferred or relied mainly on my native rather. I still have a long way to explore out here!

See you then!

The Weekend - Delightful, Extraordinary !!

July 4th Saturday Morning 6’o clock. The weather was very cold. I was standing in one of the platforms of the Bangalore East Station with my jerkin on. It was the second visit for my parents in my three years of stay here, but first visit for my bro and grand ma. I was excited. This time they had come fully prepared. They had brought the home made karahs, Murukkus, Rava Ladoos in tins.

It was really nice having them here in my home. They gave a positive comment on the way we maintained our home. No no..we are still a bachelor… he he ! I hired a car and took them to my office. They would have had a rough draft of my work place and when they saw in real, they were very happy. It’s the same feel when we go to onsite and see things for the first time..though I have no words to describe… Amidst the distance between places and the traffic in Bangalore, I could take them only to Shiva Temple and ISKCON during the remaining hours of the day. Next day my mom and grand ma (mom’s mom) had planned to prepare food for us. So in the evening we went to the nearby shops to get the grocery and other vegetables. It is just a simple ordinary task which is done day-to-day. I don’t know, even this simplest task made me rejoice.

July 5th Sunday Morning. It was not the usual lazy Sunday morning. My mom waked me up at 6 am or even earlier, an unusual scene in the bachelor’s dome. She served us coffee. I like her filter type decotion Coffee. She then prepared her favourite Poori and Channa masala. I felt everything was at my reach. Me and my room mates had the break fast, and all were gearing ourseleves for the lunch. I have never seen our kitchen so busy all these years. Even the uninvited Cat smells and peeps in often. The lunch menu was obviously non veg and I had asked to prepare Fish as we don’t often eat fish outside. After the heavy meal, we took a short nap and then planned to go to the Commercial Street.

I should say the weather in Bangalore during their visit was fantastic. The sun hesitated to shine brighter. The rain hesitated to fall off fully. It was a light drizzle here and there and the gentle cool breeze all through made us to switch off the fans. This sort of weather cannot be possible at my home town Madurai unless any geographical change happen. They just enjoyed the weather here. Sunday Evening and the next day fully were spent on shopping.

July 6th Monday 9.20 pm, they were waiting in the Cantonment Station to board the Tuticorin Express.I went with them to send off . I have never seen this train come earlier than 9.30 pm in this station. This time to my surprise, it arrived at time. They all felt very happy spending their weekend with me here in Bangalore and me too.

July 7th Tuesday 6.45 am, My mobile alarm beeps! Oops there is no body to wake up! I had to go out to drink coffee. I had to go to office. I had to have break fast in the office. The regular weekday routine continues… :)

The Road Finally Taken – Bangalore to Chennai

The after-college-life of mine now had been neither too long nor too short. I had not seen most of my friends these days. It had been almost two years I had visited Chennai. It took me more than a year to reach Chennai from Bangalore. Yes, I had said to my friends before a year that I will visit them there. I won’t lie – “I was busy or tied up with my work”. To be frank, I was lazy to travel to Chennai. Somehow I made up my mind to finally visit Chennai last weekend.

Chennai is a great place. Lots of changes had happened - Wider roads, New Flyovers, emerging IT Parks, New Multiplexes and malls. City got bigger and beautiful. I came at the right time when there is no much heat, so I did not complain much about the weather. Earlier when I landed in Bangalore for the first time, I was complaining about the bus fares. Now I am doing the same here. There are hardly normal (green) buses plying. The deluxe buses are in no way cheaper when compared to the BMTC buses here in Bangalore. Earlier I felt the cost of living in Chennai is less when compared here in Bangalore. But now I feel it is almost the same.

I should say the trip was so memorable. Though I couldn’t spend much time with each and every person, it was really good sharing happiness, cracking jokes and pulling each other’s legs. To me it’s a kind of refreshment after a couple of months. We didn’t go out for lunch; instead we did a combined cooking. Too many cooks actually “didn’t” spoil the broth in this case.

We went to Chennai’s most visited places – Spencers Plaza, City Centre, Sathyam cinemas and of course the Marina Beach. Passing a Sunday evening in the beach! Wow, I wish a beach here in Bangalore. Sathyam complex is definitely better than the PVR and Inox here.

It’s a great feel when you get to meet your old friends after an indefinite span of time. I stayed at one of my college friend’s house. There all my other friends joined in and we were all having great fun. We were chatting in all areas – Girls, Job, Chennai, Cooking, Finance, Movies etc. I was able to sense some kind of maturity in each and every person. Alarm raises – Then why the hell are we still single?

I met my school friends in the Marina beach. I need not explain the beauty of the Marina beach at sunset. We sat in a circle nearby the shore, sharing each other’s experience, it was nice you know. We were all laughing together. Sometimes our laughter was louder than that of the sea waves.

I started writing this blog with the intention of penning down all the cherishing moments of the trip here but I am really, really finding words to describe the same here.

Altogether, it was indeed a perfect Bachelor’s meet - All singles, being together. Yet another memorable trip for me!

The Pursuit of Happyness !

I always felt if I have ever reciprocated to the care and affection that they had shown to me throughout my life. During schooling they got me whatever I wanted. During college, they gave me pocket money. When I was sick, she never slept. They bared all the useless complaints I make about the home food or the things they bought for me. I was not matured then.

Now it’s almost three years, where I am trapped in the so called a techie’s crap life which has the buzz words: Out Station- Bachelor – Office – Work or No Work – Sleep – Office – Weekend – Junk food, Home town – Once in one or two months.

I am back to office now after a 10 day vacation. I was cherishing the moments of my vacation. I felt very happy as I had time to spend with my parents. They also felt very happy. I was single and matured enough to share words with them. I don’t know if I could get another vacation like this. I do not know if they ever expect me to do anything for all that they had done for me till now.

I was about to leave my home to catch the train, it was then my father inserted a 500 rupee note in my pocket. I was surprised and dumb as tears rolled down slowly. It was a precious moment. Well my father had given me pocket money always during school, college, and the most during my unemployed days. But this moment made me to realise, I am always their little child. Should I call it "The Pursuit of Happyness" ?

They are always my caring mom and dad. How am I going to reciprocate? – The question which has infinite answers.

Is that what I wanted to cherish ?

I am in Bangalore and it’s almost two and a half years. Still I fuss over the food here. And this is especially making sense for the non-cooking-bachelor who comes from the southern part of Tamilnadu. There are a quite few restaurants that offer food of our style but yet we can’t afford it always. At times when I don’t like the food here, I’ll say to myself… “This time when I go home, I should go to either Konar Mess or Kumar Mess.”

The moment I go home, I never eat out and always prefer eating my mom’s food. Of course nothing in the world is tastier than mom’s food. Kumar Mess and Konar mess never come in my mind. There were days during my childhood when I make a fuss about having milk in the night served at my desk. I should only drink it and that’s the only thing I should do. And Today?

I would not have realised this elixir if I had not stayed away from my mom, dad and of course my Madurai.

Gone are the days of schooling – A Nostalgic Feeling

How many of you are missing your school life though you would not have had this feeling at the time of schooling? Well most of us would have felt this now because life seemed to be less complex those days than present. We usually do not realize or enjoy things when we actually experience it and ofcourse, that is human tendency. I just wanted to remind you of your school days as I travel back to those childhood days. I studied in the same school right from my kindergarten till my higher secondary.

Primary Level was something I don’t remember most of the things. We used to come to school, recite our anthem…Johnny Johnny, Twinkle Twinkle, Jack n Jill etc…In the afternoons we all used to sleep over a large spread blanket. While we kids lie down, we do not know what religion is all about, we do not care if the next person is a boy or girl. Puppet shows were the only movies we watch with great excitement. We had also been great actors on stage. Yes, I remember being a “Tomato” in the Vegetable show on our then Annual Day Celebrations.

Middle Level was our next entry. It was the period, when we actually start to realize things but not fully. Our excitement start in a random fashion here. Fighting for pencils, stealing rubbers, eating snacks, playing together was fun. I remember my games teacher shouting “Fire in the mountain…Run Run Run” during our games period.We used to desperately wait for Break time as the school would provide us with a Marie Biscuit and Lime Juice. Are not those unforgettable moments? My school also took us to a movie “God must be crazy”. It was a very different experience going to theatres with my school pals with teachers as bodyguards. Doesn’t that sound funny? It was a custom in our school to celebrate "Break-up Party" on the last day of each class. We guys used to decorate our class room with colour papers and balloons. Each individual would bring eating stuffs such as snacks, cake etc whatever they could afford. The class teacher would collect all the snacks and would club it as a whole and then would distribute to each and every student. Well this was a great concept followed in my school. No ego, No Religion, No barriers...all were treated equal, all were taught to give and take and this was the theme of this "Break up Party".

Well, things started to become a little complex as we entered the high school level. Ofcourse, new subjects emerged our way. What we studied science earlier became physics, chemistry and biology now. As our class increased year by year, so was our bag weight. Though we had moved from middle to high level, our plays and mishchievous tricks had retained forever. It is funny to think of the class monitor, whose job is to write the talkative names in the corner of the board. We were so active, that we polish our shoes using paper, only when we notice our games master cross checking each and every one's shoes during the prayer time. :) We were taken to field trips to nearby places, which were full of fun. We used to participate in all inter school competitions for the reason not to win, but to gain one day of loitering here and there in a new place. Ofcourse, participation was important rather than winning. :) Normally we hated sports day as we were involved for the march past and sports drill and we loved annual day as we got more chance to bunk classes in the name of practise and rehearsals.

The higher secondary level were the most enjoyable though crucial. Well we were on the peak of our adoloscent period. We used to enjoyed a lot during these days. The school took us to movies like Mummy, Matrix, Deep Blue Sea. We also went to an excursion to Mumbai, Goa and Cochin during our 1st Term Vacation of XIth Std. Well, it was my first experience touring out with my school friends. We used to celebrate Diwali, by bursting crackers in school on the previous day with our school friends. Well all these entertainments were authorized in our school and was all done under supervision only. It would be full of fun. Our fun and frolic had come to an end when we entered class XII. Starting from the teachers to family to relatives, everybody started to force a little bit. It became a custom, in general to join tuition centres to score good marks. Practically speaking they were just to show the rest of the world that we were occupied with our studies full time. Nothing other than that! :)

I felt, my school was the place where there sprouted a gentle friendly relationship between our teachers and us. There were one or two teachers who beared all our mischeives and motivated or moulded us to do better in our examinations. My class had a very less strength and it was one of the reason that we school mates are still in touch, even now. My school had given equal importance to both fun and academics. And that is one of the reasons, I am proud of my school.

Well guys, guess you had been cherishing your own old school anecdotes as you traverse through my own compilation. Sweet Memories!

Thanks !