Highlights of my trip to the US

It’s been 4 months in US and here comes my blog on the highlights of the day when I started to US. Despite being a very long period, it is still close to my heart and I want to capture it as it one of my dreams come true. (I always wanted to visit US atleast once in my life since childhood.. Ennathaan irukkuthunnu paakkanum that makes people say just WOW)

My trip to US was confirmed on Nov 9^th and I was electrified imagining the big trip and thanksgiving, Christmas season ahead. And I was all set to travel on Nov 17^th from Chennai (it feels good to start from your state) and had to leave Bangalore on 15^th. So it meant I had a week for my packing and purchase and it’s a lot of time. My brother came from Mumbai to Bangalore the previous weekend. And the whole weekend went in a flash and I had not started my packing. But procrastination is the biggest asset I have with me and hence my mind knew there was still a day left.

It was Nov 15^th and I had to complete all the formalities in the company. I went pretty early and had to get to signs from so many people. As expected it took a lot of time and I had to board KPN bus at 11:30 PM and I hadn’t started my packing. (I knew certain people telling they started packing a week back..). I started around 5 from the office to do some last minute shopping. And the sky started pouring heavily. Finally reached ‘Top in town’ stores at 8 and after a 30 min shopping, I told to deliver the stuffs to my house as I got to complete a few other shopping as well. I reached my room at 9 and yes, I started my packing. I never knew I can do my packing for US in just 30 mins (but obviously a very very messy packing). Thanks to my friends Mouli and Naresh who helped me at the last moment. And I realized , alas, I had not received the stuffs that I got from departmental store. I called the shop but those ***** didn’t pick up. My anger soar high and I went again to the shop. I just shouted at those guys and I got the answer that he had sent an hour back. The shopkeeper called the delivery guy and he couldn’t figure out the address of the house. Finally he came back to the shop and I took him along to my house.

It’s 10:30 and I have an hour left to board the bus, but still have lots of packing left and had to travel more than 10 kms to reach the bus. I booked Meru cab (the only good thing I thought I did) and it came on time waiting infront of the house. I somehow managed to fit in all my stuffs and the packing is finally over. And it is 11:05 pm. My friends Mouli, Naresh and I went down with my bags to meru cab but we couldn’t find the cab, and as I called him he replied he left as his waiting time was over. Abusing him and just not wasting time, we went in search of auto to catch the 11:30 bus at 11:10. Luckily we got an auto immediately and reached on time.

As I was just being happy that finally all went well, I figured out I didn’t bring my KPN ticket. Height of carelessness. And Mouli logged on to my kpn account and we got the boarding pass using the ticket pin. Finally I bid adieu to my friends Mouli and Naresh.

I knew I would miss Bangalore a lot. As beautiful memories were just flashing my mind, i opened my wallet to find I missed my Driver’s license in my cupboard…………………

It’s one hell of a start for me, a memorable start though :P

To be continued…

Verdict - Still Pending

November 26, 2008, the day when the whole nation was numb to the cries of freedom from the hands of terrorists. The busiest city in India was standing still and smitten. The terrorists attacked the major hotspots of Mumbai such as Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Taj Hotel, Leopold Café, Nariman house, Oberoi Trident killing more than 300 people intimidating a billion. Kasab was the only terrorist caught alive.

It has been nearly 18 months. Kasab, who has got no right to live in this world, is still alive, thanks to our judiciary. The costs for his security, food goes from the tax payer’s money. And there is a lawyer from the government to defend him(Bullshit, I don’t care about the damn law. If he is guilty and the whole nation is a victim, just kill him the next second). I remember reading in the news a child identifying him and shedding tears for killing his parent. If this is the impact he had created, what is the point in wasting money, time and so many man-hours? I do agree some critical info can be extracted from him, but for how long?

Today(May 06) is the final judgement for Kasab’s case. Hopefully he gets a death sentence. If he gets a life sentence, someone would plead him for mercy after 20 years(as in Nalini’s case in the assassination of Mr.Rajiv Gandhi). It’s high time the judiciary in India expedite its process in giving judgements. It’s good to be generous for humans but not for mad dogs.

“If I have to stretch my dictionary, the only phrase that comes to my mind is a mad dog. While there is a law for cruelty against animals, there has been no provision yet for animals in the shape of human beings” – Ujjwal Nikam, Public Prosecutor

2 States 1 INDIA

It was kind of very unusual for me. I never did this before in the past 2 year’s stint of my corporate life. It was inexplicable. I did(of course unwillingly) during my college days not to see flunks in my mark sheet or salute the flag on Independence and Republic day celebrations in the final year (coz I have to be there.. patriotismla onnum illa ) . I wanted to go back. I tried to coax my mind so much but all futile efforts. Finally I gave up and decided to brush my teeth. I am a late night guy who goes to bed around 2 and open my eyes at 8 to off my alarm and again sleep. But today the clock ticked 6 and jeopardized my sleep. I criticized my soul for being so callous. I always remember my friends snigger and question if I have ever seen dawn. So I quickly peeped out of the window. (Guys now you dare question me;) ) .

Quickly boiled the milk and I was ready to have my breakfast (probably in the past 2 months. It’s always a brunch for me). I flipped through my previous days memories of lunch in Nandhini Palace around 3 pm, washing my bloody clothes for 2 hours and reading ‘2 States’ by Chetan Bhagat the rest of the day. I found this book to be very interesting because it was of the KISS genre, my favourite (I believe for most). My rest of the blog will talk about the central theme of the book which I really liked. For guys who haven’t read the book below is the gist.

2 MBA graduates (IIMA) love each other. Both are from different states (guy from Punjab, girl from Tamil Nadu). They want to be life partners. Both of their parents are obnoxious. They don’t want to elope as they want to see their parents smile on their wedding day. Both win the hearts of each other’s parents and end up having a twin ;) (I am a twin too…)

Alarm ringing… Its 8 am… I miss my sleep so badly.. Nevertheless……..

The central theme of the book is that every young people should marry outside the community(state) as it is good for the country. It is the greater purpose as it makes us feel as one.

Guys now let’s get back to some serious thoughts. How many of us think India as our nation but when we see cricket matches or read political drama or when we are abroad? We brag too much of our regionalism. South Indians sulk about north eating chappatis/rotis with dal and curd whereas North sulk about south eating rice/dosas. People in one state do not care about the happenings in the other state. A classic example is the Telangana issue. How many states have insisted the central government to resolve the issue? I feel our country is literally divided into 2 geographies North and South. Needless to say, Love has become a feeling within borders. Many North Indians like south Indian girls because they are more homely, South Indians like North Indian girls because they are fairer. But what stops from crossing the borders is the new culture/language. Many fear of losing relationships defending their love. Love becomes more meaningful when one fights for it hard and earn happiness through new relationships. And when did Loving more people become a bad thing?

And here is my favourite quote from the book. Girl’s father emotional speech during the wedding ceremony “Actually the choice is simple. When your child decides to love a new person, you can either see it as a chance to hate some people – the person they choose and their families. Which is what we did for a while. However you can also see it as a chance to love some more people. And since when did loving more people become a bad thing? Yes, the tamilian in me is a little disappointed. But the Indian in me is quite happy. And more than anything the human being in me is very happy. After all we have decided this opportunity to create loved ones for ourselves”.

I am sure we are all human beings. Let’s make our humanness in us happier than anything else. Let’s not make 2 States 2 India but 28 states “ONE INDIA”. I feel sleeeeeeepyyyyyyyyyy..

PS: KISS means Keep It Simple and Stupid.