The Time That Was

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T21:46:00.003+05:30

Church in Varanasi
Me and Vaibhav had a wonderful outing today

Its a memorable memory
Not just a Christmas eve...well God does know ;)

Facing the Interviews

2008-09-01T11:12:00.000+05:30

Internship was such a refreshing and memorable experience for me and I so wanted to carry on the same energy into job interviews. Well I already had a job offer under my belt from Aricent and the software giants were yet to come.

Microsoft Interview call was actually a surprise for me because I hadn't even put my 50% into the written exam. Sometimes when you already know the end you don't even care to explore the leading path. Anyways I told Bhajji a night before that i didn't deserve this. He also said something similar but he had a real chance. So after the selections, which Bhajji obviously got through and Wardy didn't, everybody was forced to consider the 'Luck' factor.

Then comes Adobe, and history gets repeated. I get a surprise interview call, but this time I was much enthusiastic about the company. So here I am in the formal dress ready with all the technical tid-bits I could stuff into my skull, ready to answer every detail of my projects and my beloved summer internship, but the god damnit question that I got from him had nothing to do with any of these! He asks me a puzzle and I am totally puzzled!

At this time I could only remember 'Society Cricket'. When I am keeping wickets for my team and fumble one of the chances, nobody even cares what my previous efforts have been. All people care is, that have you grabbed the one opportunity that came your way right there right at present. And if you haven't you'll be utterly ridiculed. Anyhow, interview results this time were even more surprising and such a big luck factor could have led to a few suicides!!

Next big thing to happen was NetApp. Best Company to work for, according to many surveys and Sandy. And I get an interview call again. This time I get to look this 'luck factor' in the eye. And is it scary! I just have no idea, what went wrong with my interview. I answered everything, told him every minute detail, coded for over an hour but still get a negative. That was almost the end of my patience. Guys had started calling me 'written specialist'! Results this time broke all time records of surprising us!

A couple of days later, in comes Oracle. 11 dream jobs in the branch so far and Oracle could contribute 3 at max. I have had enough interview experience and this was the most troubling thing for me. Such a sarcastic thing to say. Interviews were conducted late at night, and after our turn, me, Shakti, Amaresh, Godda and Wardy were discussing our chances at the hostel center stage. How could anyone sleep when surprise results were still awaited. Then someone said that Moni had 4 rounds of interview whereas we all got 3! Now, apart from Luck factor there's another thing that works a good deal called as Girl factor!

That was the longest night of my life! All of us had impressed the interviewers pretty much and all of us were given the same hint by Collete. None of us could sleep and the results were just not coming. There we were sitting under the open sky where those stars that supposedly hold our fate were looking down upon us. and we were trying to laugh, make fun of each other, hide our frustration over previous results and could just hope for a pleasant surprise this time. Then I looked above and remembered a quote saying "Do not trust your stars, trust the one who made them!" I don't know how it came to me but then I got up and left for my room. It was almost 4 am and i just went to sleep not caring about the results anymore.

The next thing I know was that Amaresh came to my room at 5 am to tell me that I was selected along with 6 others!!

50 dayz of Life :)

2008-07-22T02:54:00.002+05:30

Never thought it would be such a fulfilling experience. Like a dream plan, everything perfect!
This is how I describe my workgroup - an ideal place to see yourself contributing to the company's progress. I'm gonna remember Aricent for a long long time.

Gurgaon is a decent place; not many ppl will agree with me on this, but then, they don't agree with me on many things :p. But ya its NCR so i have no complaints. Except for the localities there's not much to be worried about. There's only one word description for them - beware!

So back to Aricent, days would have been very monotonous had not i met Amit, Arun, Ankush and Rahul. What a gang! The workplace was a fun place with these guys around, with all those pranks, Amit used to be the usual target. And in the later part, I met Rahul(2), Prachi and Jatin - nice people! And not to forget Anupama and ya, Preety...she needs a seperate blog entry altogether. Yeah the unforgetable people! Moments spent with them were like living up every second of your life.

How would you imagine a software firm with thousands of employees and over ten different offices in the same city? Giant! Was'nt preety much though, but truly, I loved thier work culture. I wish I always get the mentors like Rishi, Mudit, Vaibhav and Chidanand. I mean how can a person be such a fodu and still so down to earth! I guess the young punks who wear the T-shirts bearing those quotes like "Its hard to be modest when you are so damn perfect!", should be choked.

And do these people party! Man, I dont believe that anyone can do better!

Well, let's see what type of professional life is coming my way, but this one was sure more than fun!

Somewhere I Belong

2008-05-04T22:51:00.004+05:30

The thought has held its ground far too long and as the 3rd yr of graduation ends i am afraid if it was all worth it!
I want to write so much, let it out all here but i am afraid when i'd turn back to The Time That Was they will haunt me!
Is it really a thought or the actions or something else that caused this vacuum, i am afraid i know the answer!

Linkin Park has got words for me

When this began
I had nothing to say
And I get lost in the nothingness inside of me
I was confused
And I let it all out to find
That I’m not the only person with these things in mind
Inside of me
But all the vacancy the words revealed
Is the only real thing that I’ve got left to feel
Nothing to lose
Just stuck/ hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, and the fault is my own

I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I’ve held so long
Erase all the pain till it’s gone
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I’m close to something real
I wanna find something I’ve wanted all along
Somewhere I belong

And I’ve got nothing to say
I can’t believe I didn’t fall right down on my face
I was confused
Looking everywhere only to find
That it’s not the way I had imagined it all in my mind
So what am I
What do I have but negativity
’Cause I can’t justify the way, everyone is looking at me
Nothing to lose
Nothing to gain/ hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, and the fault is my own

I will never know myself until I do this on my own
And I will never feel anything else, until my wounds are healed
I will never be anything till I break away from me
I will break away, I'll find myself today

I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I’ve held so long
Erase all the pain till it’s gone
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I’m close to something real
I wanna find something I’ve wanted all along
Somewhere I belong

I need to be Deep Freezed!

2008-04-17T22:31:00.003+05:30

And it happened again. I lost it amid all. They were all right there staring at me in disbelief wen i picked up a stump to smash someone's ass . I can write a million lines about his stupid act that triggered my anger burst but gee its about me, f that SoB.

Why do i have that shortest fuse, why that much emotional immaturity, why do i become weirdo at times? God! i am too incapable to answer. Have i got an ego bigger than i require? Just can't stand anything against it. I am not a bad person, i know, never bitch about anyone, no backstabbing no hurtful words, nothing. But nothing does matter as long as you have negative EQ. And rest is all dark...

Afwah

2008-04-01T23:18:00.002+05:30

This is the song that i love to sing all the time. Beautiful lyrics, excellent music and such a talented singer. For those who have been in love...

Sab kehnde ne o badal gaye o bewafa ne
sun teer kalijiyon nikal gaye ke o bewafa ne
eh ta ho nahi ho sakda ohnu meri na parwaah hove
ja rabba sadi jaan nikal je ja phir eh afwah ho ve
ja rabba sadi jaan nikal je ja phir eh afwah ho ve

chan de kolon channi te , dive kolon loo
ho sakda eh vakhri ho je pholon to khusboo
chan de kolon channi te , dive kolon loo
ho sakda eh vakhri ho je pholon to khusboo
eh ta nahi ho sakda ohda vakh mere to raah hove
ja rabba sadi jaan nikal je ja phir eh afwah ho ve
ja rabba sadi jaan nikal je ja phir eh afwah ho ve

Dharti de naal amber rus jaye,rukhan de naal chaa
panchi bhul javange udnaaa , rahi bulan garaan
Dharti de naal amber rus jaye,rukhan de naal chaa
panchi bhul javange udnaaa , rahi bulan garaan
o bhul je main jeonda rah jaan kito maaf gunaah ho ve
ja rabba sadi jaan nikal je ja phir eh afwah ho ve
ja rabba sadi jaan nikal je ja phir eh afwah ho ve

Sohne yaar diyan palkan te je aathroo jave aa
raj kakra ro ro akhian bhar devan dariya
Sohne yaar diyan palkan te je aathroo jave aa
raj kakra ro ro akhian bhar devan dariya
ishq de vich dangiya di ki ihto vadh sajaa hove
ja rabba sadi jaan nikal je ja phir eh afwah ho ve
ja rabba sadi jaan nikal je ja phir eh afwah ho ve

See if you are eligible for IIM :)

2008-01-22T00:24:00.000+05:30

A beautiful teacher was having trouble with one of her students in 1st Grade class.
She asked,"Boy. what is your problem?"

Boy answered, "I'm too smart for the first-grade.My sister is in the third-grade and I'm smarter than she is! I think I should be in the 4th Grade!"

Madam had enough. She took the Boy to the principal's office. While the Boy waited in the outer office, madam explained to the principal what the situation was.
The principal told Madam he would give the boy a test and if he failed to answer any of his questions he was to go back to the first-grade and behave.She agreed. the Boy was brought in and the conditions were explained to him and he agreed to take the test.

Principal: "What is 3 x 3?"
Boy.: "9".

Principal: "What is 6 x 6?"
Boy.: "36".

And so it went with every question the principal thought a 4th grade should know. The principal looks at Madam and tells her, "I think Boy can go to the 4th grade." Madam says to the principal, "I have some of my own questions. Can I ask him ?" The principal and Boy both agreed.

Madam asks, "What does a cow have four of that I have only two of"?
Boy, after a moment "Legs."

Madam: "What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?"
Boy.: "Pockets."

Madam: What starts with a C and ends with a T, is hairy, oval, delicious and contains thin whitish liquid?
Boy.: Coconut

Madam: What goes in hard and pink then comes out soft And sticky? The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer, Boy was taking charge.
Boy.: Bubblegum

Madam: You stick your poles inside me. You tie me down to get me up. I get wet before you do.
Boy.: Tent

Madam: A finger goes in me. You fiddle with me when you're bored. The best man always has me first. The Principal was looking restless, a bit tense and took one large Patiala Vodka peg.
Boy.: Wedding Ring

Madam: I come in many sizes. When I'm not well, I drip. When you blow me, you feel good.
Boy.: Nose

Madam: I have a stiff shaft. My tip penetrates. I come with a quiver.
Boy.: Arrow

Madam: What word starts with a 'F' and ends in 'K' that means lot of heat and excitement?
Boy.: Firetruck

Madam: What word starts with a 'F' and ends in 'K' & if u dont get it, u have to use ur hand.
Boy.: Fork

Madam: What is it that all men have one of it's longer on some men than on others, the pope doesn't use his and a man gives it to his wife after they're married?
Boy.: SURNAME.

Madam: What part of the man has no bone but has muscles, has lots of veins, like pumping, & is responsible for making love ?
Boy.: HEART.

The principal breathed a sigh of relief and said to the teacher,
"Send this Boy to IIM… I got the last ten questions wrong myself!".

Time of Your Life

2008-01-10T22:02:00.000+05:30

Another turning point;
a fork stuck in the road.

Time grabs you by the wrist;
directs you where to go.

So make the best of this test
and don't ask why.

It's not a question
but a lesson learned in time.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs
and still frames in your mind.

Hang it on a shelf
In good health and good time.

Tattoos of memories
and dead skin on trial.

For what it's worth,
it was worth all the while.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

School Times - Reloaded

2007-12-25T18:15:00.001+05:30

Met my friends after long time. They are still the same - Chuckers!

My Summer Internship

2007-08-03T11:15:00.000+05:30

10th of may, end of 4th sem and beginning of a new aeon.
I was going to IIT Madras for sumer internship. Madras?? summers in madras? boy! this period is going to be tough! People around me were not impressed. But I had two satisfactory reasons to go - Networking: the most fascinating field of CSE and my topic of work and second I wasn't alone

12th of may, we were here in Chennai. Me, Alok, Deepanshu and PKV. Don't want to go to the details of journey (better forget them). hmm the city was OK, got a nice place to stay as PG. Landlords were very caring, no problem with food and accommodation. So far so good. It was weekend so take light.

14th of may, first day at IIT campus. Our home was 10kms away. How to go there?? Bus!!
Local Bus! I imagined the scene inside that jam-packed, suffused box of tin running mercilessly bustling down the road. O God-Help!
Anyhow, I had imagined far too insecure, it wasn't that bad. So we were here in the campus almost safe and secure. Our Coordinator for internship Mr.subbu told his plans. It was going to be a 6 day week and there was an interview session next day, may 15th the first working day. OK fine;we left. Deepanshu wanted to meet his friend in some hostel.But it was scorching outside and guess what? Someone told us that hostel was just at 5 minutes walking distance! Man! We were walking and distance seemed to be never ending! 5 minutes had just changed to eternity!! Sun was giving us a hard time. Nevertheless we reached our destination. wooosh!
Now, the evening time, time to go back home. Wow! Home! BUT there's the same devilish bus and this time its exactly the same as i had imagined in the morning!!

And now the story enters a vicious circle. Every day same routine plus 10 hours at the LAB. But I was enjoying my work. There was really a lot to learn. Learned not only the correct dimensions of Research and Development but also the spirit of Team Work.

And one day subbu announces that professor wants to see our work progress.
Great! We did our best to demonstrate the impetus and Bingo! Prof was impressed!
He gave us an invitation to attend some workshop in Coimbatore and Ooty! Did he say Ooty???
Yeah! Our response was uncontrollable! From the very same day our project got a sparkle! Had not it been for Ooty we couldn't have imagined to finished it that fast!

Well well, the final day arrived and we are off to Coimbatore. The presentation was after our professor 's address. He is such a visionary and so impressive a personality that researchers just cant wait to work on his ideas. There we realized the substantially of that workshop and efforts put behind to make it successful. Professor had shown an ample trust in our abilities so our demonstration had to be a hit.
Now it was our turn. Started of very well, half of the demo was over and then it struck!!!!
Damn-it! Internet Connection problem!! All of us were Dumb! Prof not happy! FLOP!

Demo was over! None of us impressed! Forget Ooty!!
But as they say, every story has a happy ending and if the ending isn't happy then the story hasn't ended!
So in the lunch time prof asked us to give another Demo. Yes!! This was our chance!! We were all on to it with a flash! And BINGO!! WE DID IT!! Prof was the first person to clap!!
Man! how great one feels when all the efforts end in brilliance!
And the very next hour we were off to Ooty!!!!

Lasting Memories from South

2007-07-26T11:28:00.001+05:30

I saw rain..I remembered past..

2007-05-26T10:49:00.001+05:30

When it rains here, everything looks so pretty. Grey skies and Green land, brown leaves covering the roads, swinging away sometimes add to the beauty of the scene. And then that nice breeze makes us long for wings

"Yeah we would like to roam around all day" Atul just remarked, "This scene has to be my desktop wallpaper". "Lakhania was so damn cool last year same time!",said Dharma.
Well we dint have more than an hour of rain but that was enough for all of us to get out of "R.S.S Depression" (thats wat people call xams).

Came back to hostel. Akshat had'nt still reached (he had the room key), so stood by the lobby side watching those clouds move, i went deep into my memories...

"you'll be happiest if you feed your hunger for new scenery" the words someone said last summers and off we went to Shimla the very next day! Boy that was marvellous - rain and the mountains!! And there i met her, on our travel adventure. My thoughts turned repeatedly to the small gestures that made her different from any other present there. I realized that day how a quick squeeze of your hand can communicate exactly what you both are thinking. And there isn't one specific movement I could say is my favourite. Rather, it is all of these little moments and memories combined which make us enthralled.