Parts and Parcels!

That day, that year...

2011-12-25T23:23:00.000+05:30

History & Civics exam was the one remaining unfinished. The concentration was haywire. Dad had booked tickets for the customary tour. As a kid, trips were always fun. H&C exam was duly decimated. The monkey was off the shoulders before the holidays. I was to Bangalore, on a train. It was a Saturday. Dad explained, “No tickets to Chennai. We’ll visit our relatives and take the train to Chennai tomorrow!” All that a kid needed was being to new places and so, I made sure dad wasn’t queried further. The train took the necessary turn past Jolarpettai and reached Bangalore.

A cow was run over by a speeding train on a Railway crossing. Mom was quick to close my eyes with her hands. Any scene that was gory received a straight ‘A’ certification from mom and banned from view. On reaching my uncle’s house, before dad could explain, I said, “We were supposed to go to Chennai. We didn’t get the tickets and so we are here!” I told leaving my dad searching for words. “Why are you eternally lazy? Get up! Grow up!” mom taunted. The Chennai train was to be at 6 30 am. The roads to the Railway station, on a wintery morning in Bangalore were always busy. I picked up a copy of ‘The Hindu’ and got into the train. ‘Aussies looking forward to winning their 300^th test match’, said the paper. On the way to Chennai, “Dad, the first thing we are doing when we reach Chennai is visit the beach”, I said. Srilanka and Newzealand were playing an ODI.

By the time the train reached Chennai, NewZealand team had thrashed SriLanka by 7 wickets. While waiting for a train to West Mambalam, a bystander at the Park Station remarked, “Chennai la niraya yedam kadal kulla poiduchanga!” (A lot of places in Chennai have sunk under the Sea). Dad dismissed him as another deranged fellow, probably drunk. I was angry with dad; he wasn’t taking me to the beach, as promised – a kid from a land-locked city, visiting a beach was always an awesome idea. My cousin welcomed me home. We switched on the TV. Headlines were run. And I watched in complete shock. The land was, under the sea. What the man told, and ignored without a moment’s thought, was true.

And the world was filled with sorrow. I would’ve been on the beach when it was swallowed but for the tickets to Chennai that I couldn’t get. Kamal Haasan, in his epic Anbe Sivam¸ had talked about Tsunamis. Now people took notice. It was a cold Sunday. It was December 26^th, 2004.

Result: History & Civics: 47/100.

Australia won their 300^th test.

SriLanka cancelled their tour of NewZealand to head back home.

Cheers,

Gopsay

C-word

2011-07-17T16:08:00.004+05:30

coun·sel Verb /ˈkounsəl/

Counselled past participle.

Counselling present participle.

1. Give advice to (someone)

o He was counselled by his supporters to return to Germany.

2. Give professional psychological help and advice to (someone)

o He was being counselled for depression.

3. Recommend (a course of action

o The athlete's coach counselled caution.

And the paradox: Anna University Counselling.

I remember telling my friend once, “I’m not going to attend Anna Counselling. It’s for the idiots”. Ultimately, I was no exception; I was an idiot as well. Ask anyone in Tamilnadu who awaits the D-day about counselling. They barely know the procedure. In times like these, one educational institution or the other organises a special counselling session ‘How to prepare for the counselling’. Talk of irony, this certainly is one.

I remember my dad asking, “Dei, Hindu newspaper la counselling pathi potrukaaname! Padichaya?” (Did you read the article in The Hindu regarding counselling?). I answered in the negative. Is counselling a misnomer? Well, don’t ask such questions. The concept of counselling is better to be accepted as a dogma. Wasn’t that how we studied all the subjects? “Don’t keep thinking. Just write as given in the book!” That was another dogma.

When Chennai welcomed me like a fresh, just-from-the-pan pottikadai bajji, I still didn’t know how the ‘C’ was going to be. Strategists argue that the best thing to do before a meeting is PPCC (Plan Practically, Carefully and Creatively). I wish to differ on this count. The best way to spend the eve of ‘C’ is to sleep, sleep like you never did.

When you wake up, it is still the eve of the ‘C’ and there is calls abuzz about one guy or a girl getting their desired course of study. You see the clock. It tells you that there are 15 more hours until you are lead into AC halls and made to sit in front of a monitor that decides your fate. What? A monitor is all that’s needed to make or break your dreams? And then you remember, certain things are better when left unexamined.

I woke up early on the D-day when my phone alarm beeped with a ‘IT’S YOUR DAY!’ message (a la Match-fixing technique). An IPL commentator would term this a Pressure cooker situation. To watch the seats in your course of choice take a plunge, watch helplessly is the worst possible thing that can happen. Your consolation: You can do the same to others when your turn comes in front of the computer terminals that decide your fate.

I came out of the C-session with an allotment order for the last of seats in a course I wanted. My month-long permutations and combinations did bear fruit. For some, it was a disaster. I remember watching a parent cry since her ward didn’t get their desired course. Shit happens. But one can’t allow it to touch meteoric levels such as the C.

I once again remember that counselling meant giving professional, psychological advice and assistance. And then I remember to accept this specific C as an educational dogma put forth on unaware students like us. The ones on a roll in Anna University are the umpteen monkeys roaming around without certificates and a cut-off to boast. We, the same pottikadai bajjis, are neatly packed and sent to different colleges to be feasted.

And the C-word ends. You feel better? “Definitely, maybe”

-Gopsay

And Savitha Definitely Feels Gawky. Part 2

2011-05-17T19:27:00.001+05:30

Just when a train of thoughts was whizzing past Savitha, the waiter at Gluttony showed up with the menu card. She peered into it as if she’d been given an ‘Entrance Exam Question Paper’. Thanks to her profound love of hating garlic, she had extra work in choosing her lunch. She entered into a conversation with her friends. By the time the dishes hit the table, she remembered nothing of what she spoke. Normally a voracious eater, she struggled for appetite that day. “I recall that fail to remember something that’s maddening my day,” she told her friend. She chose to forget it by relishing the lunch. But then, she found herself in a lurch- she had bitten a green chilly.

Grabbing two glasses of water, she remembered Vijay’s punch dialogue, “Kai vekradhuku munnadi oru dharaviku nooru dharavai yosikanum. Oru tharava vechita aprom yosikave mudiyaadhu!” (One must contemplate many times before doing it! Once you do it, there’s no way you can think again!). All she did was curse Vijay while jumping around with a curried tongue.

She found the same thing amiss. But what was it? She chose not to think of anything as she drove her Activa. She was speeding when a cop stopped her. Although steering past them and remembering Vijay’s quote, “Un valai le sikradhuku era illada, naan Sura! Valaiyum muzhunguven, valai veesaravanayum muzhunguven,” (I’m not a fish to fall to your bait. I’m the shark! I’ll make you the bait) was her pastime, today wasn’t her day. Coercing the cop into settling for a 50 buck ransom, she made her way home.

Some relative was visiting her as she barged past the doorway into the living room. This meant extra chores for her. Just then, someone entered into a pep-talk about her studies, something she preferred not to talk about. “I look like a nerdy hillbilly”, she told herself (which happened to feature in The Hangover, a movie she watched the previous night). Her room was a perfect place to lock herself in. She did it with perfection.

“Savitha, wake up! Why do you sleep away the day? I have the Duranto Express at 6. Bye, bye! I’ll be back in 3 days”, said her mom. Eerily awake, she watched as her parents made their way to the car. She switched on the TV. It was recommended in a book she had read titled “Wiling away the day – Made easy”. She kept switching channels (Jeeva’s songs weren’t on air). The clock struck 8 and she picked herself up from the couch only to make herself at ease at the dining table.

Her comfort levels soared as she saw Ravaa Roast served. Just as she was about to devour it, she got a call, “Hi di! What are you upto”, asked her friend. As she kept talking and giggling over the phone, she served the side-dishes to herself and continued the chit-chat. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you why I called!” said her friend. “Mmm, enna solla vara”, she said as she gobbled up a piece of the Dosa. “I’ve got the tickets for Vandhaan Vendraan,” said her friend. “Umm, ok! I’ll talk to you later,” she said and ended the call while her friend kept wailing over the phone. It was the Annapoorna Sambhar. And Savitha Definitely Felt Good.

Special thanks to Savitha for endorsing her name. :) (I hope I executed the task well)

To Serena, for her constant pranks of Savitha. (Your help was always useful)

To May 9 and HSC Results, for helping me with introspection.

To Siva & Kirthana who remain a source of strength.

To QWERTY keyboard, for helping me with the Title of the story.

P.S. I started with an ASDFG and ended with an ASDFG.

- Gopsay

And Savitha Definitely Feels Gawky. Part 1

2011-05-08T23:12:00.005+05:30

“What? No tickets for Vandhaan Vendraan! Don’t tell me that! Get the tickets or I’ll kill you!” yelled Savitha over the phone. It was film starring Jeeva. Anything short of a first day first show ticket wasn’t going to satisfy her. “No tickets yaar! Forget about it!” said the voice over the phone. Savitha became restless and started yelling again. “Wake up, Savi! It’s 10 am and you are still sleeping!” Savitha woke up. It was a nightmare. She looked at the calendar. It was a Friday and Jeeva’s film was hitting the theatres only on the next Friday. She breathed a sigh of relief. “You’ve had enough dreams! Get out of the bed”, sighed her mom.

The sunlight was drawing its masterpiece on her room’s wall, stealthily coming through the windows. Savitha found something missing. It was her phone. She had promised to be to her friend’s house at 11. She grabbed ‘Coimbatore Today’, the supplement of ‘Country Today’ newspaper which was lying on the couch. It served her the daily dose of gossips. The newspaper had a photo feature from Rana, Thalaivar’s next film. She wondered if it was K.V. Anand behind the camera. Her phone beeped. Always quick to attend it, she grabbed her phone. It was her friend; a new restaurant had opened and a lunch at the place was duly considered. She felt something amiss.

Slowly munching through ‘idlies and thakkazhi chutney’, watching Aarariraroo song from Raam (which happened to be another song starring Jeeva) on TV, she asked her mom for Sambar. “Thakkazhi chutney irukey! Pinna edhuku”, came the sharp, short reply from her mom. She remembered Vijay’s punch dialogue – Main pesumbudo side ellam silent ah irukanum! (When the main dish is hogging the limelight, the side dishes can remain silent!). She was missing something. But Jeeva on TV was enough a distraction to forget about what was bugging her.

It was 2 pm in the afternoon, the sunlight was all over the place and an oven seemed a cooler place. The buzz was about the new restaurant, Gluttony, and Savitha decided to try it out. She knew something was casting its shadow on her day, but what was it? Why should something mess with her schedule? But the foremost question was: What was asking her these numerous questions?

- Gopsay

Special thanks to Savitha for the name. To Serena, for her valuable inputs!

Thanks to Ernakulam Express for providing me a nice cabin seat with a reading light.

Thanks to QWERTY keyboard for helping me with the Title of the story!

P.S. And Savitha Definitely Feels Gawky has its origin from 'ASDFG' of the keyboard. :)

Three worthy things!

2011-04-13T14:33:00.003+05:30

We stand in queues for anything, everything. Standing in queues signifies three aspects.

# Patience.

# Basic ethics of getting bored.

# First come, first serve basis (although 2G spectrum has nothing to do with it).

There are various ways in which standing in queues are beneficial! Who wouldn't stand in a queue to get a Film ticket, a luncheon after being through marathon working hours at the office? Who didn't wait to be the first to get Ipads?

Yet, there are three things that are worth waiting in long lines for:

A ticket to Thalaivar's film! (Although its a tough ask with Online booking these days).
P.S. For the sake of non-Tamils, Thalaivar is 'Leader' when merely translated and means 'Rajnikanth' or 'Man of the Masses' when literally understood.
A ticket to watch India-Pakistan cricket clash, which is worth the wait on any given day.
Waiting in a queue to cast your vote. This is something everyone should be proud of!

-Gopsay

Fat Stat

2011-03-31T04:37:00.004+05:30

Statistics from the India Pakistan semifinal clash (and others)

* 260: The estimated heartbeat rate of Indians when Shahid Afridi was batting.

Also: The runs that India managed to score (Pakistani goodwill gesture inclusive).

* 19: The number of wickets

Also: The number of times Rameez Raja would've gone on air saying, "That was a timely wicket - taken at just the right time."

Also: The number of times Wasim Akram wondered why Shahid Afridi didn't take powerplay.

*1500: The number of runs that Misbah ul Haq had to score per 100 balls to win the match for Pakistan when he got out.

Also: The number of text messsages I sent and recieved throughout the match

* 0: The number of sixes, fours or runs that Yuvraj Singh managed to score

Also: The number of fans who believed Pakistan would win when Misbah was playing a gem of an innings.

Also: The number of Tests I dream of playing.

*11: The number of players Dhoni could ever dream of playing in his side.

Also: The number of fours that Sachin struck.

Also: The number of times Dhoni wondered why Ashwin wasn't picked in the playing 11.

*04: The number of times Sachin was dropped.

Also: The number of times Aamir Khan was shown on TV.

Also: The number of minutes Indian PM and his Pakistani counterpart spent shaking hands with the players.

*09: The number of times Sachin has got Man of the match awards in world cups.

Also: The number of fours Sehwag thumped from the Pakistani bowling.

Also: The number of times Afridi wondered why on earth he got out.

*152: The score that Sehwag would've had if he played 100 balls.

Also: The number of times I got warned by neighbours for noise pollution.

*02: The number of wickets each Indian bowler got.

Also: The number of times Sachin wondered whether he was himself, while batting.

* 73.91: The strike rate of Sachin Tendulkar's 85

Also: the percentage of bets I won.

Also: The percentage of people who changed channels when Yuvraj was out for a golden duck.

*69: The number of runs Umar Gul conceded.

Also: The runs Sreesanth would have conceded if picked.

Also: The minutes spent by Raina wondering why Pakistan never knew his weakness for short pitched bowling

* 26: The over in which India lost two wickets, Yuvraj for a golden duck.

Also: The over in which Yuvraj took the first of his two wickets.

Also: The total runs Pakistan gave India away as a goodwill gesture.

10 replies that suggest a person doesn't know Internet

2011-03-23T15:39:00.003+05:30

# 1. Do you use Yahoo?

A: Yeah, but I prefer Hurray, instead.

#2. How good is Bing?

A: Yeah, ping pong is a good game! It helps you increase your powers of concentration.

#3. What about Facebook?

A: Oh, don't remind me of that! I'm done with my exams! Forget it.

#4. Do you surf?

A: Yeah, but I don't have a passion for it as Matthew Hayden does.

#5. Did you see RottenTomatoes' review for Inception?

A: Oh, what did that organisation do? Did they sue the film-makers? There wasn't any monkey business in the film.

#6. How well do you know about Pirate-bay?

A: I've heard of Hudson Bay, Bay of Bengal and others. Where on earth is Pirate Bay?

#7. Do you use Google Chrome?

A: Is that a new product in the market? I'm good at guessing. That's a dye, right? I've not tried it. How much is it priced?

#8. How long does it usually take for a mail to reach you?

A: It depends! The postman who delivers for us is usually drunk. You can't trust him!

#9. Can you send me a song via Gmail?

A: I don't understand why you are fussy about Gmail. Can't I send it through Fedex or Bluedart?

#10. Wikipedia is good. How much is it useful for you?

A: I've got a copy of Brittanica Encyclopaedia. Do you think I'll have to buy a copy of that too?

Saint Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T21:25:00.005+05:30

A random check of the mails throws upon me a question, "Do you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?"

The bug in me compounds the query with newer ones.

So what is Saint Patrick's Day, anyway?

A: It's more of a day of feasts, a day of pride for the Irish. 17th of March, it is celebrated on. Green colour it is synonymous with. It is on Saint Patrick's Day that Chicago river runs green (Paint it green!). A specific Wikipedia search will get you more trivia.

How do I remember Saint Patrick's Day?

A: Oh, not a big deal. A bit harsh, though. Wasn't it on the Saint Patrick's Day, 2007 that Pakistan lost to the Fighting Irish? That was a very good day for those advocating Green, maybe. I remember Rameez Raja guffawed, "there's definitely an edge!" and the replays showed that there was a feet's gap that separated the bat.

So what has that got to do with you?

A: It was on St. Patrick's Day, 2007 that Irish cricket team finally came to the fore. Bob Woolmer was dead in no time. And for Indian cricket fans, India had lost to Bangladesh, embarrassingly. Yet, to see their Arch-rival go down to the Irish meant less 'embarrassment', less mockery of India's performance at the world cup.

Alright! So what have you got to say now?

A: Saint Patrick's Day wishes! Enjoy a drink with a cassette of the famous Irish win. Visit Chicago river. Swim in it and turn up green the next day for work.

Cheers,

Gopsay

The pollical mark

2010-12-20T21:28:00.005+05:30

6 hours of sleep on a Wintry morning when Sun plays truant, when sleep responds faster than your Google Search, is nevertheless enough. Waking up and finding next to your sun-sign, "Profitable day on the cards", marked on it might throw the 'dozing prospect' out of contention. It did. The day was earmarked for various scheme of things. As the noon was about to bid me goodbye, I did know, the earmarks of the better part of the day had been put off to the remainder of the day.

Enter noon, enter a wave of enthusiasm, you work on getting the AIEEE papers printed (a work carefully assigned to the wrong person, yes, that's me!). Whenever you sign off, thinking you are done with something, my dear, you are wrong. Expect a barrage from the unknown! Signature of the parent reads the paper and you take indisputable care in signing in a 'corporatesque' manner and then....... "God damn! You knew it! You are such a moron!", you end up swearing at yourself into a mirror.

Milady! Am I done with the December blues?

Sorry, son, not yet!

Eh, thank you!

Yes, and the next fiasco throws up! Place a left-hand thumb impression in the space given below reads the page, and wait, where's the stamp pad? You are in a cross. Signature in every corner of the page? Done! But the thumber-dumber remains. And you end up at school where a stamp pad ink lies right in the corner of your vision. Out of no man's land, one throws up the perfect spoiler, "Gosh, you'd have that piece with yourself. Get home, get it done!"

"Thanks!", you say and get home to find out YOU DON'T HAVE one! There you go, spoiler? Oops, not yet! Your dad offers the best suggestion, "Get to a shop nearby! They'd have the stamp pad ink! Get the work done!"

You know how embarrassing it is to work your way into a retail and all you do is ask for the stamp pad ink buying 'absolutely nothing'. But then, mind is there to be made up, you too want to get the work done. Enter shop- See the stamp pad- The Pollical Hit on the Inkpad- Another hit on the paper-Job, well accomplished.

Five minutes later, "My dear God, the pollical mark is SMUDGED!"

“I’m sorry! It’s a tribute!”

2010-11-22T22:45:00.004+05:30

You and I know how well ‘sorry’ works well in ‘patch up scenarios’. It has some serious advantages and its alter-egos!

What a novel idea did our ancestors peer into when they found sorry! He was going to be their ‘friend in deed’ whenever things were to go wrong.

It all started when little Sory was so angry when his grandpa ate his toffee! Sory went away in a fit of rage. Grandpa had to run hither and thither calling out ‘Sory, Sory, Sorry, sorry!’ There you go, that was when ‘Sorry’ was born!

Covering up the folly, my dear Dolly:

I make a mess of the work assigned to me! “Sorry, I never meant that. I’ll improve”, is all but my reply with a sheepish grin. Given, I’m not in the receiving end anymore. I walk scot-free. Thanks, of course, to Mr.Sorry.

T.H.E. Weapon!

There is no weapon as potent as Sorry is. I go attack a person, stab him and return back. Geeves, he’s still got his gun to shoot me with. I’m done with my share of the crime. There’s an imminent danger of the victim entering into the ‘payback’ mode! “I’m sorry, I just did it without knowing about you. You are a gem of a person (controlling a huge burst of laughter, making unique faces). I’m sorry once again!”

When you throw Mr. Sorry into the cauldron, you’ve made use of your everlasting weapon. It’s the final nail in the coffin. It ends up putting you into a situation wherein you are not susceptible to the ‘payback’, if not hailed.

I’m sorry, Mr. Victim!

You’ve been apologised to. You seem to forget the differences; the patch up is on the cards. My dear friend, did you wonder that you’ve lost your stronghold? Your arena of responses has been tampered with. You’ve been cornered to respond, “It’s ok! I know you never meant it!” Had you never been apologised to, your position would have been different!

Worst-case Scenario:

‘Thwack’ (You’ve been slapped! You avoid another mark of ‘Congress’ on your cheek!) You wait for the ‘payback’ time and then, he comes in and says, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that!” You appeal with your chest held high, “I know! It’s ok” and talk philosophy! Unfortunately, all you can do is talk. Slap? You were slapped, weren’t you? Didn’t you slap back? The victim is, again, the victim. The mark of Congress is not registered back. This could hurt the recipient much more!

So what do we reckon out of Mr. Sorry in the future?

I’m sorry, this may turn out to be fortunate/unfortunate! You are in for a barrage of ‘sorry-let’s-patch-up’ sagas. Be prepared. It’s the order of the day!

P.S. The story of Sorry’s origination is made up. I guess you know it already!

Sorry, oops, Adios,

Gopsay!

Dreams and the dreamer!

2010-09-13T00:34:00.001+05:30

Having woken up at 10 in the morning, I wandered aimlessly across my house. I had been rejected a new Ipod not long ago, by my parents. Reason: I had bought myself a new camera, novels and umpteen other gadgets just a month ago. This was an unnecessary ask. Sipping my coffee, I was traversing the length and breadth of the newspaper. Out of nowhere, I heard a cry.

It was the little child on the construction site who failed to sped past my vision. He'd injured himself while playing in the pebbles that were littered all round. He peered into his palm, in scarlet red, covered with blood in vain. His cry was feeble. He had finished a breakfast which never was. His sister, another young girl, was examining the cut he has suffered, in utter helplessness and disdain. I had woken up to dark, stark reality! I had just finished taking photos of them. The denial of basic amenities for them irked me. That's not the way things have to be. I dream big. Perhaps, it's because of the education and exposure I'm provided with. What of them? The young people here don't attend schools. Their parents are helpless. They can't afford a convent school for these children. Their ignorance is pathetic. Their future is at stake!

Long ago, when I was a child, I'd waved at a passing Airplane. When they wave at another Airplane which passes by, I feel angry. Why are they denied a chance to study? What significance does 'Right to Education Act' passed by the Government hold to them? I am at crossroads trying to figure the maze out. "Poverty is unfortunate. But for a child, it is the most unfortunate. It is misery in its worst possible avatar." Right to Education Act promises compulsory education to all children from six to fourteen years of age. Any act, be it a landmark act (as in the case of Women's Reservation Bill) needs indiscriminate implementation for its significance. India is proud of RTE Act. Yet, its initiation at the grassroots level is a far cry from what has been achieved elsewhere.

While I wile away time with these ideas, the boy screams out once again. He had held an iron rod while playing, which hurt his hand, once again. I'm hurt as well. My heart goes out for him! I wish he comes up trumps in his life. I can only hope and pray. Perhaps, his parents have to realize the child's dream. My dreams of owning an Ipod vanish when I think of him. I have a meagre dream. My society has got a better dream about every child. Somewhere down the line, the dreams of this young mind will become true and his face and life will all be lit up. There's definitely a light at the end of the tunnel. Let us work towards finding the light! If we achieve, we'll be happy. If we don't, there's nothing to worry, "We've given our best shot though!"

Cheers,

Gopsay.

Stressed out!!

2010-06-21T15:02:00.004+05:30

A day full of work is done away with. You need rest.

You sit down, try to plan, you can't.

You have an idea, but skepticism makes your interest give you a test.

You want to do away with certain things, you can't.

Silent spectator are you, unable to act, unable to react, not at your best.

Out of no man's land, you need a 'pause', finding of which you can't.

Silent is the place, screaming is your soul.

All we need is a pause.

You seem to be calm, but something smells foul.

God, this is all for a cause.

Bull's horns should I catch, but I've caught its tail.

In a maze, I am, and I just gaze.

The day fizzles out, into the darkness.

A table dearth of options greets you, gladly do you accept.

We need a change, to throw out the monster in us,

To propel the self in myself to greatness.

The day is here, tomorrow they call thus,

Relax! Reach the greener pastures tomorrow!

Never let the Hope go away,

In the mess, make your way,

Don't forget, determined lot live out the day!

You fail to see, but there is the hay,

Don't be down, speak out, just say,

'I can' and walk away. Determined lot are we!

- Gopsay!

HECTIC

2010-05-23T21:20:00.006+05:30

"Life is Hectic", declares a guy who doesn't have a job! If I come across this, I'll murder the guy in cold-blood, nevertheless worried about an impeding criminal charge. Frankly speaking, it's the schedule of the students in their final year of school which seems to be so hectic.

In order to prove my point, I carry out a brief statement arguing on my pros and cons:

Inadequate time spent using Facebook.
You go to sleep, and the next moment, "Beep, beep", the alarm goes off.
A Sunday starts cruelly at 4 am and ends at midnight!
Two days after India made a mess of t20 World Cup, I ask my friend, "Hey, what happened to India's match? Who are they playing in the semi-finals?"
There isn't even 5 consecutive hours when you are not surrounded by a book.
You come back after ending the Academic scheme of things for the day and the wall clock reads '10 pm'.
Sunday is over! The enduring duel has come to an end. Yet, there's a thought that crawls up out of nowhere, "OMG! Only 6 days left for the next Sunday!"
Mom asks me, "How was your Chemistry test?" My reply goes thus, "Physics class was really good," before she reminds me that I had attended a Chemistry class!
our brother/sister tells you "Hey, I've booked 2 tickets for the Friday release. Are you coming?", and you feel like striking your head on the wall in Absolute Disgust!
To top it all, you are short of time to update your Facebook status as "Life is Hectic".. :P

Case presented in court:

Judge: You've kill'd the guy, what say about it?

Me: I was not allowed to use Facebook, what say about it!

Judge: Facebook is banned in Pakistan, are they on a killing spree?

Me: I care the least about other countries. That guy was totally absurd in guffawing that life is hectic! This is what I've got to argue my case!

('The Ten Commandments of Getting Tasked' presented to the Judge)

(Judge faints, tries to be back to normalcy, he never does!! )

Judge: Since what you've done is a criminal offense, you'll be subjected to 10 months of Rigorous Imprisonment among the books!

Me: Duh, what's the fuss about writing a judgement about what I'm already doing! ;)

Cheers,

Gopsay!

Success!!

2010-04-20T16:50:00.016+05:30

We know that everyone craves for success! Success often tends to lead us to the benchmark that we set for ourselves. In most cases, it elevates the benchmark to a 'more tedious level'. More than the happiness, it is the satisfaction at the fag end of the fascinating success that entertains us the most. It is not the ultimate conclusion of our story. Taking no sheen away from a 'failure', success tends to show us a path, a path of progress. Success is not ultimate, it is a journey, a journey where everything that we do leads to every other thing.

So what is success all about? Who will succeed? To make things worse, Wikipedia has this definition on Success put up: "the succession of successfully executed tasks and successes". There's a list that is thrown at you to follow (and dump later) as Success Ingredient.

1. Determination: You have set yourself a goal. You don't know whether that'll work out or not! There's a chosen path and we need to go strive and see what's in store for us! If we fail, there's no problem, we are a determined lot! :)

2. Hard work: When we have a goal/agenda set, we need to spend quality time and work on it. The bonanza in store for us is luck! The more we burn the midnight's oil, the better is our luck! :P

3. Strategy: Success owes a lot to strategy. There's an imminent need of a plan, a master plan to make the most and make a mast of the impediments in our way! as Leon Trotsky puts it,"You may not be interested in strategy, but strategy is interested in you". So is success and a good strategy will make Success chase you!

4. Perseverance: The odds may be stacked against us, there may be umpteen voices speaking to their heart's content that we are crumbling, but does it have anything to do with us? Not at all! It's our effort, our perseverance! The only extra ingredient added: We got to prove 'em that they are incredibly wrong!

5. Theory of Positivity (:)) : In a recent IPL match, Deccan had lost one wicket. Robin Uthappa shouted from behind the stumps, "No.2 coming up". The next ball, Adam Gilchrist came down the crease and was spectacularly stumped by who else, Uthappa himself! Now, I agree that this is Ridiculously Positive, but we can still crank ourselves and turn up with some 'Theory of Positivity!'

6. Prioritizing: Proposing priority to tasks is quintessential. Whenever a Maths test, a Quiz competition and Facebook are there, my priority extends first to Facebook (where I buzz about how bad the Math test is), to a Quiz competition while the Maths test is thrown the lowest priority! I don't want others to emulate my priorities (duh, who will? :D), but then, prioritizing, as such, helps! "Don't be a time manager, be a priority manager. Cut your major goals into bite-sized pieces. Each small priority or requirement on the way to ultimate goal become a mini goal in itself" says Denis Waitley (Denis who??). So let's forget about who said it and follow what was said.

Wishing you success and Only Success!

Cheers,

Gopsay.

Bullet from the Blue!

2010-04-02T11:46:00.004+05:30

Christmas day, 2009. It remains till now the day I met my friend, Siva, the last time. I met him that day, talked about a lot of stuff, laughed and recklessly spent the day with him.

I didn't hear any news of him from that day. It was around the same time period that '3 idiots' got released. The film was so gripping that every single minute inside the theater reminded me of him and only him. He was nowhere to be seen from then on, a Bullet from the Blue for me!!

I couldn't meet him, but could only think of the vivid memories of him. Friendship blooms in how much people share things in common. But at one point of time, every single idea or thought of mine was reflected in Siva's speech and language. If I was thinking one way, without a surprise, he'll think the same way. We didn't share things in common. He used to say, "I see a Siva in you", and I used to acknowledge him saying, "I see a Gopsay in you!" Having said these, every minute in his absence sounded cruel, it was a mental torture! A Bullet from the Blue for me!!

On his birthday, he chose to remain absent to the school. The next day, I beat him up saying, "How dare you not meet me on your birthday!" My birthday soon followed and he was the first to show that HE WAS DAMN ALIVE by ringing me up at 12 in the night and going on to speak absolute rubbish till 1 am. On my birthday, he was the first to wish me! He was a special friend! For me, missing him was yet again a Bullet from the Blue!!

He could've poisoned me to death; chosen to shoot me with a pistol and leave me dead; he could've pushed me from the top of a cliff with a 'Jokeresque' smile; he could've asked me to hang to death. But he didn't do any of these. Instead, he moved out of my place, silently, without a word, without a trail. At one point of time, it was more than a week since I met him. I felt fishy! I felt awkward. There was a sense of being stranded in the middle of a Subway without a clue as of what to do! He was nowhere to be seen- a Bullet from the Blue!!

There was a big sense of vacuum on his absence that none could fill. His shoes weren't to be filled by anybody. There was this strange sense of loneliness and bitter that started setting in. I would have gladly chosen to amputate myself, give away my wealth, give away every single of my prized possession but I didn't want to miss him! There was not a friend who didn't know about how badly I missed him. I won a competition, 5000 bucks with it but I couldn't feel happy without informing him! I dedicated the win to him, with the hope of talking with him. Things just didn't fall in place! It was yet another Bullet from the Blue!!

Finally, a month after I met him last, I could hear this bloody voice over the phone. He was no more to be seen physically. Yet, his voice, the very feeling that he's ALIVE and KICKING was enough to make me happy! It was in Facebook that we talked again, shared the same ideology once again. The missing limb wasn't missing anymore! There was every reason for me to be happy. THEY CALL IT FRIENDSHIP!

Dedicated to Siva Subramaniam, the one who makes me wear a smile every single day!

Cheers,

Gopsay!

Purple Patch!

2010-02-08T20:39:00.003+05:30

If December had its own share of blues, 2010 brought with it a 'Purple Patch'. On January 6th, I was in the Principal's room (for a right reason although). I asked him for permission to attend a quiz competition. With a smile, he had his own reasons to refuse. Bothered in the least, I was determined to attend this competition.

Reasons:
1) On the same day, 3 months earlier, I lost a quiz competition after being on stage for the finals!
2) On the same day, 3 months earlier, I lost a Story Writing competition which my crush won! ;)
3) On the same day, a month ago, I was at the receiving end of a 'Caught Studying' saga!

7th of a month shouldn't be full of blues! There should be some credibility in the way 7th of a month can go for me. For all the right reasons, I wanted to throw myself on this opportunity and win the competition. Without any preparation, without any knowledge of the venue as well, I set out with my teammate. What happened on that day was a culmination of Fabulous events occurring at a Frenetic pace! I was literally sleeping when the prelims was conducted. No matter how hard my team-mate tried to wake me, I just wouldn't budge! It was not before the Finals ended that I knew a first prize would guarantee me 5000 bucks. The first action I did after winning was to update my Facebook page. I was on cloud nine when I found my photo on the newsreel the very next day!
On that day at school, I met the Principal and told him of my victory. When he knew of my earning, he virtually fell off his chair and said, "Boy! I didn't want you to participate. Now, you've got good amount of money!" The newsreel was put on display. All was well then...! The purple patch had begun and I'm smiling as good as ever!

Wishing you an year of great success!
Cheers,
Gopsay!

December blues

2009-12-27T17:49:00.004+05:30

I woke up on December 1st expecting a hazy morning from my cozy bed. Neither God nor I knew of how different December would be. With huge loads of unfinished works related to (and only to) my studies, I expected December to be a Debacle. Just as I feared, it indeed was!

On my birthday, I wanted to know how many of them remembered it. So, I went to school in my uniform. Most of my friends remembered it, some of them had called me the previous day to wish me. Yet, there was one special gift: My physics teacher came to my desk. He made a good remark in my notebook, "Write the problems of the 6th chapter twice! P.S. This is your b'day gift!" Dubious? Yes, December blues are!!

I was studying for my practicals exam when my school teacher ordered everyone to throw away their books and stop studying. In a fit of raw enthusiasm, I opened my book which had been closed for ages! The teacher saw me, and ordered me to be out of the class. He guffawed, "Hey you! You were the one studying know?" I accepted it, simply because I wanted to! "You were studying! So get out of the class!", said he. I accepted it gladly and made my way out of the class, with a smirk in my face! The result was thus: He ordered us not to attend the practicals! Disastrous? Yes, December blues are!!

Half-yearly exam was on. This meant I had to burn the midnight lamp, not only the midnight oil! I was having French exam on the day to follow. At 11 in the night, I was shocked with a revelation- My French Text was missing! Panic started gripping. I headed to Facebook and posted, "French Exam on tomorrow- French text missing!" I got replies to the post, but not the book. Two hours prior to the start of the exam, I rung my friend and he said thus: "Everything is marked in the book. I checked it and I'm not surprised, it's your book!" He scored well, thanks to my book! I slept well in the exam hall. Dramatic? Yes, December blues are!!

A spectator, no more

2009-12-03T21:40:00.003+05:30

Fantasy might create an illusion.
Reality may leave me disillusioned.
Ecstasy can lead us to places sans description.
Fallacy might lead to false decisions
And I'm standing, just as a Spectator!

Toil, that is done always
While the fruit's of one's toil
Lies somewhere neither known nor heralded.
Victory, there is a faint glimpse of it
And I'm struggling, just as a Spectator!

The sun shines bright, with its light
While the wind traverses when at my grind
The moonlight mesmerizes as a subtle sight.
There am I, watching it unfold
And I'm furious, just as a Spectator!

Let me be the sun, let me be the moon.
Let victory come my way, experience empower my way!
Let me toil and let me see the fruit.
I will make my way through with a will!
With a hope for more as 'I'm a Spectator no more'!

-Gopsay!

Statistics suggest that today is officially the last day at office for me as a '15 year old'! Tomorrow never comes, but many of them have already convinced me that I'll be 16 tomorrow! I wanted to torture the keyboard (not copyrighted) one last time as a '15 year old kid' ! And yes, I've done that!! :)

Obvious!

2009-11-14T15:43:00.003+05:30

I was working, or rather sleeping, with my Physics text in hand. The clock on the table read 4 AM. I was having Physics exam on the day that, I feared, would dawn within some hours. My mom saw me doing her most preferred job at the most awkward time. She came five minutes later, wearing a smile, with something for me to eat and said, "Enough of studying, get to bed" (which any student would like his/her mom telling) . Did that taste sweeter?

"Obviously, yes! It tasted better than ever!"

There was I, visibly depressed after losing something I craved for, when she told me, "Better luck next time" (again with an irreplaceable, soothing smile)! When I came the next day, having won what I craved for, she was there with me again, with the same, "I knew you'll get it!" Did she like seeing me win?

"Obviously, yes! She liked it more than how much I did!"

Whenever I feel good or bad, whenever a victory comes my way, or a bitter loss comes my way, I don't feel I'm tackling or experiencing it alone. I have the feeling that someone, somewhere is waiting patiently to see me taste success & experience failures with a level head and that is none other than my mom. Does she help me bringing out the best in me?

"Obviously, yes! She is my best well-wisher & I'm gifted!"

She scolds me (more often than not), she advises me, but more than all this, she is there with me! What else can I expect? None can admire me, love me, care for me, be with me than my mom did, does and will do! She is there for me as the 'pole star' makes its mark in the clear sky! Never is the sky clouded, never does the pole star's light ebb. And finally, can anyone on earth replace my mom and her love?

"Obviously, no! I love her so much (but not more than how much she loves me)! That's because she's OBVIOUSLY my MOM!"

-Gopsay

Peter and the Pauper

2009-10-16T19:28:00.003+05:30

In distress and disbelief Peter lay,

Engulfed in a maze, he couldn't gaze;

Wondering, without anything to ponder about.

Time and again, someone passed by,

Without a word, without a look!

A man in his Volkswagen stopped by,

To see his state, his wretched fate.

He offered Peter money, just money

And went away, out of no haste

Without a word, without a look!

Depressed and disillusioned Peter lay

When a pauper with blistered feet came his way.

The pauper saw his state, felt for his fate

And showered him with care and love, not money,

Without any hesitancy, without any discrepancy!

Years rolled on, Peter depressed no more

The man of riches died, he heard,

But feigning tears and sorrow, how long could he?

The pauper was dead, he heard

Without any momentary lapse of reason, he cried!

'Money makes a mare go' is a familiar saying which is proved wrong, so often, so easily! So in the festive season, if you can't afford someone you know anything, just 'smile' at them. 'Smile' is irreplaceable!

- Gopsay.

Photo Credits: @ngel from He@ven.. (Thank you!)

A Tryst with < >

2009-09-28T16:53:00.007+05:30

Aboard a train, there was I, seated in a corner. The day was sultry, but I was embroiled in my own eccentric thoughts. A look outside the window gave a perfect picture of the Countryside which never ceased to entertain or fascinate me. The majestic meadow, the tranquil pond, the lonely tree in the middle of the field; everything was a delight to watch. The daylight was ebbing and the sun was threatening to make its mark on the other side of the horizon, leaving behind the bright land that stared at me in darkness.

As time passed, I wondered whether I'll have something to do. No sooner than later, the door to my coach was flung open and there was one beautiful lass who made her way, err, into the coach for the moment. "Is anyone going to occupy this place?" she asked me, pointing to the unoccupied seat. "Oh, none is coming. You can have that seat" said I. Without any lapse of time, any lease of reason, there was a trail of thoughts coming my way to inhibit me! The display in my memory screen read thus: "Have I found Gorgeousness and Glitter at the right place, with the right person? How on earth did I miss her all this while?" A smile can straighten a lot of things, I remembered, again out of no particular reason. I was yearning to start a conversation!" Well, I just wanna say you something...."

But all of a sudden, there was someone giving me a pat. Before I could realize and react any further, there was a dialogue uttered, "Here's the coffee. Good morning!" Subsequently, I was left with enough time to think. "Who's going to call me and offer me a coffee in a train? What's happening?" Waiting no further, I opened my eyes and there I was. The Coffee Cup was perched on the table and my mom wore a smile on her face to continue, "Good morning". A sip of the coffee and an afterthought followed, "Not a bad start to the day!" It was a tryst that was never supposed to be! ;)

- Pretty perfect exaggeration of the untold commotion and I have another post ready to be served! This is a fiction as well (poor that it's only a fiction). But that also means that I'm waiting for the train and the rain of thoughts to follow it up. :)

Gopsay!

Morning of Mayhem

2009-09-04T20:05:00.000+05:30

How long would you see the river flowing in the same dreary way! Just get it flooded and see how different the whole setup is! In some cases, trying out the same thing again and again, expecting different things will be pleasant. "Beep, beep. It's time to get going!" sung the alarm on my phone at 5:30 in the morning. With Physics class first up, I was never in the mood of waking up in such unearthly hours. During these times SNOOZE option definitely helps, but certainly not after the clock goes past 8. With the zest, zeal, vibe and dynamism, I checked out of the house at 8:40, exactly 10 minutes after the school would have all, but started. The bike was in good condition (not as in the case of Morning Blues). Silently and steadily I hit the road and was giving Armstrong a run for his money.

Amidst all this, somewhere in the middle of the road, there was a nail that was waiting, vaguely to retrieve the money I had taken off Armstrong [:-D]. I didn't notice this notorious nail, but it certainly didn't leave my cycle untouched. Touche!I was already late. The bike was slowing, deliberately slowing, dubiously slowing. The zest and zeal, notwithstanding, I was in the middle of another botched up affair; not for the first time. With a minute to go for the gates to be locked and 100 odd metres to cover my condition was very similar to Usain Bolt running with his legs tied. The tire of my bike was flat, to say in the least. In an unspectacular way, the tire came of the bike. It eerily gave a big picture of things to come. Somehow, I made it to the school. The bike was sidelined in a corner of the road. My biggest hope was that none would steal a bike with a flat tire. My perception paid off, as I saw the bike stranded in the same place.

I was off, to get the bike repaired. Already sweating and tired after playing Basketball for hours together, I never thought things would be that bad as it was all, but a flat tire. But who knows what Lady Luck always has for me? The person at the garage tired to get it fixed. But the tire was in pieces. Not even a Ferrari engineer could've found a way to tackle the situation. At the fag end of the day, I was left paying more than what I had taken off Armstrong when I gave him a run for his money! It just happens![:-D] If there's a bike, it should get punctured.

- Gopsay (on it.. again)

Dodging the dogs

2009-08-18T16:56:00.003+05:30

When everything is going good, why do we need a change? That's why I was expecting everything to stay simpler and better for me. All's well, but did that end well? The good day lead me to an improbable, unimaginable, inconceivable evening. After having spent hours talking in orkut, I decided to check out with my friend.

"Swine flu's in the wind! Be careful!" said my mom which fell in my deaf ears (but it got heard when I was writing this post). When I was on my way to the restaurant, I decided to take a lonely road. I wouldn't have taken this route on any other day yet, the improbable evening made sure I did take this route. My mobile, which was (again improbably) without charge started it all, "Excuse me, Boss! You have a text message!" Barely had I finished reading it when I spotted a stray dog. The mobile was in my hand and I was riding the vehicle haphazardly (my normal way).

I couldn't make a guess of the dog's idea. It may have mistaken the mobile to be a biscuit. Slowly, but stealthily it started following me. It started barking and he was joined by his mates. Soon, my grave fear turned true. There were 2 dogs on either side of me, chasing, barking, fighting with each other for the food (Geeves, it was my Mobile) I had in my hand. But how on earth could I be rendered with a situation like this. I've fought my way past numerous dogs, but certainly not a pack of dogs. The lonely road had just started and not a single person could I spot. It was not until 5 minutes that I found a person while the dogs kept chasing me as if I was their owner (which, I would never be).

It wasn't fear that gripped me through this arduous, strenuous exercise. I was a novice to this superficial circumstance which made it even more interesting and surprising. They weren't in any mood of letting me go until the road came to an end until the pack of dogs found another person with a biscuit in hand :)

A delightful summer day showed me the way
To a nefarious night, to test my might
Only to see me tread back with a glee
Unscathed and unmatched to have another day!

Another day! Another event! Another post! That's how my journey called blogging is moving across the unknown realms.

- Gopsay.

July... at its very best!

2009-07-25T23:31:00.004+05:30

A handful of people agree that I remember the past quite a lot. I too agree with them, but the only exception I find myself with is remembering the long, boring theoretical stuff that my school texts render me with. Perhaps, that is why I had no other option but to copy during the Boards. (Oh my Gosh! I'm going away from the topic.)

July brings to me some fond memories. It is in July that I search sincerely for my texts. This is because the first set of exams for the year commence by this time. I confess that I was (and I maintain that I was) a student dedicated to studying three years ago. Then, as nature is, things changed and I've become a perfectly and flawlessly spoiled brat. This is how my nostalgia goes:

It was a perfect Monday at my school in 2007. The climate was beautifully poised to welcome whatever I got as my marks for the first exams of the year. But will I be convinced with whatever I got? "No', is the only honest answer that I could afford then (and even now). One by one, every answer sheet was distributed. Three more papers were all that were left undistributed. Two of my friends and I were having the same total. Finally we got the three papers. Sandeep, one of my best friends, was leading me by 7 marks in the grand total while Sarath's total was 1 mark short of mine.....

Just then, the 'eureka' moment arrived. I had cut down a 10 mark question which was correct. Without the knowledge of anyone, I slowly made my way to the last bench of the class and got the sum written again in the same paper. Wearing a look of innocence, I went to the teacher and said, "Good morning, ma'am. It seems you didn't offer me marks for the 10 mark sum!" The math teacher believed me and gave me 8 marks, not the 10. While all this happened, Sarath too was left with the same state as I was. Sarath and I eked out a deal which made it a point that he'll make some changes in his answer sheet, but he won't get more than 8 marks for his sum. I too agreed with the deal. Unfortunately, the math teacher gave him all the 10 marks which, in turn meant I was 1 mark short of him in the total.

With a good deal of raw enthusiasm and fight for non-existent justice, I called for a 2 mark decrease in his marks so that I would be getting more marks than him. Math teacher tactically convinced me that he got what he'd deserved (but then, was it what he 'deserved' for cheating her in a better way than I did?) .

But wait!!! Spare a thought for one more person in the picture. There was one big loser at the bottom. It was my pal, Sandeep. While two cheated and got the first and second position, this unfortunate fellow was left with cursing his hard luck. He was the original topper among us yet he ended up being the last. The math teacher scolded him, "See others! Why didn't you write the exam well?" The question should have been, " Why didn't you cheat me as they did?"

To be frank, whenever an exam result is out, we three of them have always been in the middle of some nail-biting results. Now, one of them has moved to a different school. Inspite of that, I always give my other friend a run for his money.

-Gopsay.

What's that sound? Version 2.0

2009-07-03T15:57:00.000+05:30

It was late in the night.
Arvind was working with the various assignments given to him at school . Meanwhile, he was having my earphones on and was entangled in the sound of music. Then, getting bored of more and more music, he switched off his gadget. Eerily, he started hearing a sound, an uniform sound. "Was it the sound of wind whizzing past my house?", he thought. Then an afterthought struck him, 'does wind blow uniformly?' Scolding himself for some absurd, eccentric thinking, he never gave food for that thought. But his ears couldn't escape that sound, that uniform, enchanting sound which had suddenly become the centre of his curiosity.

He couldn't avoid guessing what it would be. (Is it a burglar making his way in stealthily? Oops, He's not Sherlock Holmes and this is not the Red-Headed League) Is it the sound of water gushing out of the taps left open? Being busy doing nothing, he tried to guess some others. But, he had to finally consider that this one was the only guess of some sense. Lazily, he stood up, searched all the rooms to see whether any taps were open. Nope! He couldn't find any of the taps open. Just then, he had a sudden thought of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Another afterthought again, he said to himself, "Haha! Trying to be a detective or what? You're fit enough only to read those books, bloke!"

But he certainly couldn't avoid that sound. Where was it from?What does it have to do at this time of the night? He searched his house, all over again. But again- same result- nothing of importance. He wandered around the house, probably a little disappointed and aimless as well. It was a test to his endurance and skill (if he had anything remaining!). With all hopes sent packed in the wind, he was walking slowly to retire to bed.

Suddenly, his eyes were fixed on the window sill. He could see droplets of water hanging on it.
There, it dawned on him, the real reason behind the sound. He went to the balcony and viewed it for himself. It was the rain, the belligerent rain, hustling and bustling through the thin air, and pouring out like never before...
His mind had another afterthought, "How the hell did you miss guessing this out?"

- Mind it! This is just an imagination. I wanted to summarize it by rendering a lively feeling to my thought through my words. Do send in your comments on this topic.

Gopsay a.k.a. Gopalakrishnan. :)