This too shall Pass

Days of luxury is over and I am back again to the reality. This is such a sad fact that "This too shall pass". How I wished that the last two weeks didn't end. I was having tremendous fun. I did not want to come back at all.
18 of us had been to Kochi in the last two weeks. We had been put up in a grand 3 star hotel with all facilities and VIP like treatment. The hotel was majestic. This was my first stay in such a big hotel. I shared my room with Trilok. We were given a suite to stay in. The suite consisted of one large hall with a sofa and a TV. There was also a bedroom which also had a TV. The thing that made me most happy was the WiFi. The internet was very fast. We were getting download speeds of 400+ kbps. I inaugurated my cells WiFi there. Apart from all this there was FOOD!!! Yeah that was something worth noting. There were 50 different varieties of food to choose from in every meal. It was tasty too. Everyone hogged a lot. I managed to gain some weight also. Apart from the training and sleeping, the banquet room was were we spent the maximum time. We have put up nearly 38 hrs in 12 days in that hall.
We had to go for training everyday at 9 O'clock in the morning. A navy bus would come to pick us up. The training which was more of orientation continued till 1 pm. The navy base where we went was a training base for the officers and sailors. There wasn't much to be done there. The liaison officer had arranged for visits to different schools in the training establishment. Every school taught the officers a different skills. There were schools which taught them diving, firefighting, navigation, seamanship and many other things. I guess there were nearly 45 schools like that. We visited roughly 2 schools everyday.
Of all the schools the one that I liked the most was the diving school. There was huge 20 m tank where the divers train. They are made to go inside and weld or cut metals inside the water using some equipments. They are trained to carry out operations like salvaging and mine fitting there. We were also taken to the airbase where we saw many airplanes, helicopters and UAVs. The best part of training was the speed boat. We were taken on a combat speed boat and we were allowed to even drive it. The ride was adrenalin filled. Overall it was a good exposure to the defense equipments and their training process.
Sunday was the only off that we got in the two weeks time so we could not roam around much. Nevertheless we did see some places. We went to Athirapilli waterfall. This is the place where the movie Raavan was shot. It is a huge waterfall. We were not allowed to bathe below the fall but we did have a bath above the waterfall were the water was much more calmer. We also went to Kumarakom backwaters. We hired a boat house and ferried in the backwater for 6 hrs. The scenic beauty was very mesmerizing. We enjoyed the view outside and before returning back we also swam in a channel. The water was clean enough to be enjoyed.
The whole thing appears as a dream now. The reality struck hard when 2 days back I entered the mess and the familiar stench hit me. If that was not enough to convince me that the dream is over then the horrible food followed which I had to force inside my stomach to stay alive. I then silently muttered to myself "This too shall Pass".

Mumbai - Pune Express

So many people have already blogged in the praise of Bombay Pune experessway. I am going to add one more today to the plethora of available blogs. It truely is the Sierra Niveda of India. I am having the perfect weather to enjoy the drive. I have managed to siege the front seat besides the driver. I was determined on getting this seat today. This is my first drive on this route. I wanted the best of it.
So I am positioned at my vantage point. There is a slight overcast. We are driving at just above 90. Music is playing loudly from the speakers and the smell of the smoke of cigarette from the smokers behind who are unable to resist, tempted by the beauty, is filling the vehicle. There is lush greenery everywhere. Hills run parallel to the road continuously. Some small ponds and lakes appear sometimes.
The tunnels here are mesmerizing. The other end of the tunnel offers a new vista. I just crossed the third tunnel en route and I always found two completely different views on either side. On one end the sky was kinda clear and here I am just 400 m on to the other side and I see heavy rain. The transition through the tunnel is also equally captivating. The top of the tunnel is lined by yellow halogens which spreads an orage hue. It gives me a spooky and sad feeling. That color always has the same effect on me but still it is beautiful in its own way. The divider between the to and fro lanes have neatly trimmed grass growing. There is so much around that I will not be able to write everything in here. This is a memory which I will hold cherished. I am going back to enjoying the drive.

Trilok's attempt at Silent Assassin

Let me narrate this from the start. Yesterday was Nitin's b'day. He had called for a treat in the evening. I have been having some problem with my knee since past few days. I was not quite comfortable walking because of this. So I asked Trilok to take his bike.
So me and Trilok reached the gate sooner than the rest 12 who were following. We decided that we will call for an auto so that they dont have to wait when they reach. We stopped an auto but it had 3 people in it. We explained the autowala that we are 12 people and we need an auto to take us to Dominos. He agreed and said he will arrange for the 3 people in the auto. He got down from his auto without killing the engine. He stopped another auto and was talking to the driver when we noticed that the auto had started rolling as it was standing downhill. Me and Trilok held on to it to stop it.
Sometime passed and the fun began. I dont know what came in Trilok's evil brain that he quickly moved his hand to the gear side of the auto. He pressed the clutch and then there was a click sound. He had engaged the gear!! LOLZ!! What followed was chaos. Our autowala was standing in front of his auto talking to the other autowala oblivious of the things going on behind. Suddenly the auto lept as if trying to do a wheely. I am sure the sound scared the shit out of our auto waala. He saw his own auto coming straight towards him. No driver in the drivers seat! He did not understand anything. He had his hand stretched straight forward shaking it violently side to side as if pleading to the auto not to run over him. His eyes were wide with bewilderment. He surely thought for the moment that he will be dead.
Then there were people sitting in the rear of auto in front. They too saw the auto approaching them. They let out a horrorstruck scream. They didn't have anything else to do and for the three people in the now unmanned auto I could not see much. I could only hear angry "Aye Aye!!" coming from inside. Then there was a collision. This auto hit the rear of the second auto with a bang and slowed its approach towards our autowala. This brought our autowaala to his senses. He got out of his vex, quickly moved away and boarded the moving auto and stopped the auto.
By this time the auto had moved quite a distance. Trilok who was near the drivers place was now standing at the rear of the stopped auto. I was already left behind.
Next train of thought that started in my mind and possibly also in Trilok's was what would be the autowaalas reactions. When we reached the front to face the autowaalas there was still confusion on their faces but eventually it broke into a smile. Initially that smile was of relief rather than forgiveness. We all then smiled except for the other autowaala who was busy checking the damage. Luckily there was no damage and it all ended coolly. I had a hearty laugh recollecting the incidence.

Lonavala And Khandala trip

Lots of people and a bus along with one motive, to have fun is all u require to spice up a trip and that was the exact ingredients we had yesterday. 42 crazy people along with the last minute entry of Rizwan, our professional photographer, a noisy bus and fun was what we had.
Trip started at exactly 8.30am IST as it had to start. The said time being 6.30 am Indian Stretchable Time so No delays there! The trip started with some romance in the air. The first pic in my mobile captures Avanish pinching Souvik's cheek with love. Our bus was then loaded with the much needed breakfast. Thanks to the efforts of the mess committee we could carry food from the mess.
Our bus started rolling and we were filled with euphoria of the anticipated excitement. Lots of hooting and then the inevitable singing started. Thats one thing that i dont like really so much but i have well adapted to cope with this. This random singing soon evolved into antakshari.
Souvik and Jayesh were being starcast during this leg of the journey. They did their part well. Then followed some rounds of dumbcharades. This our team won as Komal could not enact god knows which movie it was! The credit for suggesting the movie goes to Trilok from our team. Way to go buddy...
Our bus needed fuel so we stopped at a petrol pump. We thought by the time bus fills itself up we will take a much needed leak. Some guys were so desperate that they even had to forget their gendre ( Some know whom i am referring to). So our bus was all fuelled up, next was our turn. We had the puries and potato sabji that we got along us. I really appreciate those who volunteered to distribute. The smell of sabji was so appetizing that i wonder how they could resist eating. Hats off to Praveen, Jayesh and others. I was too busy eating to notice who were there. Hearty thanks for whom so ever was responsible for the arrangements.
Then started individual compulsary performances which was called upon. People again resorted to singing. I was trying to escape it by protraying a broad smile. But suddenly from somewhere I hear my name. I like listening to my name but not in situations like this. I later discovered the source to be Nitin. I was pulled to the front but luckily I could get away with only a dance.I am comfurtable with that. Some of the performances worth noting were one of the Jayesh's friends. He was a really good performer. Sang well and I know he got the crowd with him and the jest that i liked best was Deepak's one word joke "Jayesh". No hard feelings Jayesh but it was a great one you should admit.
Our slow ride finally reached our first destination Khandala. View was hipnotic. Clicked lots of pics and ate bhutta. There wasn't much there to write in here other than the cute monkeys. Our photographers took charge.
We headed for Lonavala next. We reached city and stopped for lunch. Hogged a heavy lunch and decided to walk to Mulsi dam. We started walking a big number but only a brave few could make the 6 km long walk. Rain drenched us before we even reached the dam. Reaching the dam we felt the walk worthwhile. There was flowing water where the actual fun started. Guys plunged into the water instantly. Apurva and Kriti who also managed the walk, chose not to bathe there. They were being responsible and kept a watch on our belongings. We wanted to make it to the waterfall above but before we can reach there the guards called it a day and we had to go back. On our way back we met Shyam, Trilok and Praveen. We found another spot of flowing water and started playing "splash splash". Girls also joined in this time.
We finally were returning back when a minor accident happened. On our way back we saw another waterfall. We were trying to make our way to that spot when poor Appu slipped and got a nasty cut on his for forehead. Nothing serious but only that his face now looks like one of those which has directly come out of Aahat (Hindi horror supposed to be scary). I felt the walk back to be shorter thanks to the chat with Kriti and Apurva. [ now that is for flattering them ;-) ].
We reached the bus around 8.30 and started back for Pune. There was constant singing again. There were plenty of sancks and choclates on the way back.
We reached back at 10 and our organizing group had even areanged for the dinner in the mess.. A hearty thanks again to Shyam, Jayesh, Souvik and Praveen whom I assume were the organizing team for such wonderful arangements. Please consider my thanks extended to those names that I have missed as well. Hope more such trips are arranged.

A Winter Afternoon

As it is I have taken up to sleeping a lot these days. Recently I have even discovered a very nice place to enjoy the afternoon slumber. It was a week back when after having a heavy lunch, as I always have, me and AP went to the terrace to bask in the Sun. That was one of the perfect afternoons. A heavy lunch was making me drowsy. I sat there for sometime talking to him. He had a book with him that day. He was trying to prepare for the upcoming companies. The weather was too good and it compelled me to doze off. I chose not to abstain.
I settled upon one of the several 1 feet wide ridges on the terrace to lie down. There was chillness in the air. The mild heat of the Sun was just enough to x out the chillness. It felt like I was covered with a blanket. That was one of the most relaxing feeling that I ever had. There was also this cold breeze which would pass once a while which would make me shiver. There were songs of Lagaan playing on a loudspeaker very far from the hostel. The intensity of the music was constantly changing. I believe it was because of the wind which was blowing. There was absence of the shouts of the hostelers. The sounds that I could hear that day was a treat to my ear. There was the chirping of the birds, the faint sound of the construction machines near hall-9, the doppler effect perturbed sounds of bus horns, the sound of the village children playing near the hostels and many more. In totality it was a big orchestra which I was enjoying. I laid there for nearly an hour and a half listening to all these sounds.
My body then began to ache as I was balancing on the hard surface with no space to move. I got up. My mood had become so great by then that when I got up I saw a whole new view of the campus. The Sun was setting towards my right. Towards my front there were few small houses and just beyond that there was pond. I had never before noticed the pond there. To the little left of this I could see all the previous three year hostels, Hall 9(1st) & Hall 3 (2nd and 3rd). That suddenly surrounded me with memories of my 3 and half years of college.
I remembered the first day in the hostel. I was among the first people to reach the hostel and I had found the place very big and confusing. I knew that this is not the biggest of the NITs but I was happy with the fact that it had a well defined campus as against the campus of the college where I had previously studied. I remembered the mess line which I, Arpit and Goofy would always break for the evening snax. That was the only edible part in the Hall 9 mess food. I could see the hall 3 room where I stayed in the second year with Laha and Neel. I remembered the smile on Naadu's face when I first met him. He made me feel that there was something wrong with me. It was only later I realized that his face has that permanent smile. One more thing that I remembered very vividly was the rainy day when our whole wing was cursing Pullu when he was going for the class. But he didn't even bother to turn back or stop. GRrrrrrrrrr..... Pullu!!! We had to attend the class on that day. Other things which I remembered were Neels non stop shaking leg which I used to call as a free source of energy, subhro's bhaang incidence, I remembered something also about Laha but I can't write it here :P and I could see myself on the terrace of both hostels with a cell phone.
Apart from these I saw Hall 4 where I remembered my robotics night outs with Shivek and exam time combined study with Shubro. Turing to a little more left I could see the mobile tower near the library and then Hall 1. Those being exactly opposite to the setting Sun. I could also barely see Hall 2. Most of its view was blocked by a tree. And then was the Techno.
That afternoon was truly an awe-inspiring perfect noon. Everything about it was perfect. So I am attempting to capture that day in this blog. It is impossible to cover every detail of that afternoon.
It is has got very late now. I did not realize the time passing. Suddenly I am feeling very sleepy after looking at the time. Going to sleep now...

Cold and Hair

I did not understand the gravity of the relation between Cold and Hair till I depilated my head. This is in the middle of the winter that I decided to go bald. Not for any religious reasons but only for the sake of pure 100% fun and experimentation. It was always my fantasy to do it which I could not do earlier partly because of lack of proper time and partly because of lack of audacity to change my looks.For those of you who want to know how it feels like to be bald in the winter read on...
God has given hair so as to protect excessive heat and cold. If you cut it in the winter and expect it to be comfortable then you are probably a moron. It feels very^10 cold. For sometime it might also feel like the barber has installed a mini Hitachi Ac for just Rs. 15 over the head but later it becomes acclimated. All that acclimatisation will turn out to be useless at night though. Exactly speaking the cold that the head feels without the hair is like the cold that most people feel in the nose on a cold day riding on a bike very fast.
Luckily the intelligent biped have invented the warm woolen cap (Topa in hindi) which becomes indispensable. This acts both as a protection against cold and also helps to conceal the stupidity after the realization of idiocy of cutting the hair.
The B-side of short hair is that going out is excessively quick with no need to worry about the hair. It also feels good to rub hand over the head. The velvet feel is truly awesome. Any boring day can be converted to an interesting one by taking a walk outside without the cap. Somebody is sure to comment and then u can strike a long conversation with the person ;). And lastly but most importantly what can be more engaging than seeing the pattern in which one is loosing hair.

A breif recap 2

Let me put in some of the less important things that happened to me last year in this... These are the less boring parts unlike the prior post (missing in this blog!!!).
I think the journey back to the college which was related in the last post needs expansion. It was one of a kind journey that I ever had. Firstly I had to reach college as our placement season was starting and one of the core companies for electronics (Tejas) was supposed to come soon. So I could not afford bunking it. Me and another friend of mine who was supposed to go to Patna had reservations in the same train. We reached the railway station and saw that the train is delayed by 6 hours due to landslide. This was just the beginning of the fun. We took the 1 hr journey back home again. I got a gut feeling that the train is going to get canceled and it did get canceled. I was happy that I will be going to stay at home for another week but then was feeling restless within as I wanted to attend the interview.My friend had no hurry so he booked the next week train.
The next day was just as exciting. I got up and then told parents that I will take unreserved trains and somehow make it to the college. My dad offered his company. I did not want him to come as the journey would be difficult. I went to check the trains at my friends place and when I came back a surprise awaited me. My dad came up with the idea of sending me by flight till Mumbai. Everybody at home was very much excited as no one had flown before. I booked a ticket to Calcutta from Mumbai by train.
I went to the airport first time in my life and then I was a little nervous.The air hostess were good. Specially the Kingfisher ones :) I was traveling in Indigo. They had the worst of the air hostess or may be "The grass on the other side of the fence is always greener". I got into the plane after an hour of wait in the airport. The flight took off. There was initial acceleration which was fun. It was pulling me back to my seat and in some time we where above the clouds. Even the rain bearing clouds look white from top and the sun shines like summer above the clouds.
I reached Mumbai in less than an hour. I then went to the railway station. I had to wait there for 10 hours till the next day morning 6. I went for a movie and when I came back at 12 I discovered that the train in which I was supposed to travel also got canceled. This was the ultimate test of my patience. I luckily got reservation in another train which started at 4 in d evening. This meant 10 hours of more waiting.
In the morning I decided to take a walk around the place. I made friends with a travel agent who was a divorcee and had been treated in the mental asylum for 3 years. After an hour chat with him I walked till the Gateway of India. I also saw the Nariman Point and Trident hotel which gained popularity after the terrorist attack.
Then I finally made it to my college with a travel time of 52 hrs which otherwise would take 38-40 hrs only to discover that the company that I came running all the way is not coming!!!
Among the other things that happened last year was: a spoilt mp4 player (july) , 9 pointer, Drdo interview whose results are still awaited, a job in Idea cellular and lastly I shaved my head (all of that in Dec)