Prasad - On the verge

random thoughts

2009-10-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

alright some personal update: what i have been upto...complete wilderness...basically lived my life like the loose kite. I just realized life is fairly difficult to live tramp style

but drooling on that question a little more...a residue from the chat i was just in...i think its a fairly difficult question to answer..."what are you upto?" ....hmmmm all thru my life i have been up to nothing spl...aam junta u see...but i guess even MJ in his glam days would have had the same answer...life would have become same ol' stuff...-girls screaming, too many fans and probably bored of being the best....but still business as usual....so getting back to the question....what are you up to ("wayut" in case i use it again) am i supposed to tell the humdrum of life...i sometimes do however have a show off answer to that question...which normally freaks ppl off.

so here is the question to who ever reads this post: wayut
the best answer gets a mail appreciation, a citation on this blog...and lastly a bar of choc if you meet in person...

time to do something like trying to understand stochastic differential equation :)

luv
prani

Learning...

2009-05-18T02:24:00.001-07:00

What does “1” mean…nope its not theatrical post in any way…it’s just a casual observation from my current life’s normal day.

I have been with my kiddo nephew for a few weeks now…and its tough tough world. Not that he would bring the whole house down…cute kid that he is…the physical part and any anguish therein just goes off with a smile on his face or when he calls “mammiya” (“uncle”, oops I am getting old!!!). The difficult part is in telling him for example he is supposed to share his toys with others…I guess the feeling of sharing is not ingrained in human nature…I have often ended up asking silliest of questions on this very topic of what comes hardwired in brains/hearts to Jiju/sis/mum!!! To top it all, my use of logic has limited or next to nothing effect on him…so adult gibberish is a big waste. The look on his face when I do that is really one of the biggest mockery that I have faced. But it has been impressed upon me from credible sources that kids (Adi is just 2 yrs) do have a reasonable sense of reasoning and they do understand purest of emotions…love. I guess “Fear” is also an acquired feeling as kids would hardly know what to fear and why to fear from that object.

To top it all I am not even trying to teach Adi something. Mum/Sis/Jijs take care of that…I am just a silent observer who is trying to learn the intricacies of life at a new level all together. I would really like to see closely how they would teach a fully functional android and see which is easy.

I have seen my mum try and link the number “1” with counting…and all I can say is “its tough tough world”. Hats off to all the mothers and grand mothers … you are truly great and so special!!!

As for me and as for this moment…let me stash away my laptop from Adi…and try and teach him about sharing :P

Luv
Prani

Only madness survives…

2009-05-14T22:35:00.000-07:00

I was just going thru all the photo collection that I have…a small collection I should say…but funnily only very few of the moments which were really dear to me were ever caught…picture this
- three of us walking umpteen kilometers on winding uphill slopes, searching for a little known church present atop a hill, and ending up getting a quirky, funny portrait drawn atop a that hill while viewing one of the best views of that city
- 2 of us “running” (I am serious) after a police car in Pizza, Italy to catch their attention so that we can find direction to station
- The cool veggie McD order of 3 chicken burgers, 2 chicken burgers with no chicken pattie only the salad (hahaha it was just bun, lettuce leaves and cheese!!!) and the look on the face of the lady taking the order

I enjoyed seeing Rome, the gondola at Venice, the scottish highlands or Bangalore office… but when I look at these pics I just remember these moments of madness…as I said for me only the madness survives…sanity is just "business as usual"

Luv
Prani

Where are the leaders...

2008-11-29T22:51:00.000-08:00

Where the world sees a crisis I see an opportunity...

Great words good to hear...but the problem is who is "I"...do we have an "I" in the current global establishment. The umpteen crises need great financial wizards, economists, accurate anti terrorist squads, trade pundits and so on. We need them and they better be brilliant. If they are not, we would be in this glut for a long long time.

But each of these crises has a human angle, which is crying out loud for leaders who can show light to both affected and unaffected. We talk of personal leadership, but to be honest, at times of crisis its shaken and we need a beacon to home us in.

I just hope, Mr Obama stands up to this test and goes from the ordinary to great. Back home, hope changes to prayer...we have had number of brilliant leaders...we need one to emerge again.

On a different note, I saw 150 odd ISB students under one roof and silent. Trust me its a rare sight, this campus and its inhabitants buzz with energy. The silence was for a reason, it was our small gesture for Mumbai. Many student driven initiatives may follow this...and it was heartening to see my peers pour in their thoughts over them. Hope to see a few leaders emerge out of here soon.

luv

Prani

Deep desire to write again

2008-11-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

Its been ages since I have visited this ol' friend of mine...so here I go again
They say these are difficult days. I saw it in action today. And in the strangest of the places you bet. Quantum of solace - you may wonder for whom - I thought it was for the audience. A couple of good scenes, and those were the only quantums of solace. Imagine Bond movie, bereft of feisty action scenes, gizmos, good cars and sexy ladies. And the aeroplane scene was such a dud...I guess finance took its toll on M and her organization as well. But it was not all dull and gloom. I felt Daniel Craig is certainly shaping up to be a great Bond.

Besides exams, odd cribs, bad news and a little worry about jobs, I guess I am going on. There are so many things that keep happening on the campus. I am a part of some, some I let go. But I have enuf to keep me up and awake for a good measure. I guess an odd day of no action is what is new now. And I had one today. I carelessly loitered in PVR for a good part of the afternoon and then got the solace.

On the job front, I would be lying if I were to say, I am not worried. I am, because the situation is not as rosy as it used to be. So some dreams would be left on the pillow itself. But, I believe that at my age its better to dream and feel low when they crash, rather than just give up the tsunamic hopes and be happy in smaller goals.

The last thing on my mind, as I wade across the thoughts in my mind right now is the phrase "Conscious change". I wrote some lines about it in my diary. And I have strongly started believing in it. The idea is simple. A change is a pain staking process. Like any other process it can be fine tuned and measured for best results. For fine tuning and measurement, you first need to be cognitive of the change and the desired results. And lo, any change, be it how you dress to bed or how you shake hands with your seniors can be managed more effectively. I am trying it now. Let me see if it works.

Off I go. Till the next time aufvidersen!!!

Luv

Prani

An interesting discussion is underway

2008-08-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

Ok I know I am cheating...as I scribble this post I am involved in a online meeting and the argument which I always like to substitute with discussion is about the name of our firm...
The fun bit here is, to an outsider it would seem like a clash of egos...but its just not so simple. I hold my views so strongly that I am rather not too convinced by the arguments put forth...ha doesn't that sound to be ego...naaaa...i don't agree...if you have a problem take a hike...
Just chill and read on...Sometimes I do feel you need to put your head down and drive home your point. Yeah Deeps I know what you are thinking...kab tum aise nahi the...But this is different...kuch kuch Maggie hot and sweet catchup jaisa...Its different. Its different because the person at the other end is also equally convinced...Its good to be a part of these discussions...
We had a good mix of others who were moderating as well...so kudos to them...The news is out...one name is selected...I will not name which one...but then it was fun

To add to the discussion...I am actually a part of another discussion on our business plan...multi tasking...or plain simple legs in many boats...I don't know which one to use here...To be honest I guess its only the result which would decide which one to use...Hmm so here I go...if you are interested in finding it out ... I have essentially locked you to my blog...Tricks learnt from MKDM and MKTG courses do help...

The aha moment of the week was certainly from Prav's....
I asked him over IM: Give me a word for Fast and reliable
Pat came the reply: Amurtanjan
Kudos Prav u have the best sense of humour.

Luv
Prani

Show off

2008-08-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

Didnt they say half doctors are as dangerous as the illness itself...well how bout quarter MBA...
Well they are a moral hazard to themselves...poor little things...they stare at market shelves full of wafers and think of the marketing team's fight for shelf space...go to a theatre and look at the creaking chairs and giggle to themselves ---Ha cost leadership strategy...not catering to the premium class... IPL gets analyzed on its financial performance...the cashflows are critical to its day to day matches...after all its all about perspectives and we have it in plenty.

This is the funny bit about transition...the new things that you read...you start applying everywhere...If nothing else they do give some funny moments to think and laugh on later...when you become a little more wiser (hahahaha)

Cheers
Prani

6.25% gone...

2008-05-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

6 n a quarter down...active life at 4:00 am does seems indifferent. Alright today I would put my schedule at ISB...
wake up (darn snoozed the alarm too many times ) its rush time to classes...classes for me are in the morning session...4 hrs of new fundes...new ideas...great profs...excellent interaction...and how to forget arbit cp...well ok lemme me honest...there is always enough time to grab a coffee/tea on your way in. The profs are great and that statement has to be a gross understatement. So while 4 hrs seems darn too much its fun once you learn the habbit of either listening with intent or sleeping with eyes open. Ha, how could I forget, there are class assignments, discussions, cold calls, pop quizes and lotsa surprises in class.
Sounds tough, duh not so. Its all relative grading and everyone is in the same boat.

After some great brain excercise, its time for some action down south...with a not so great meal at Goyal...Just cant imagine why I cant get good South Indian food in Hyd.. :(

Head back to quad and check mail...some assignments update else...lots of spam..which are such a great thing to see. Time to head to bed again for a short nap. Then comes more reads for previous class, next class and some assignment.

Well in between all this there is a lot of time for swimming...chatting wid frenz...spamming.

But the best part of ISB is when is lets its hair down. Partying is serious business here. If you thought, its an all hard work zone...you got it seriously wrong. The parties are great...and often. Well to be honest the pressure actually demands you have some...or rather enough of them to keep the ante up all thru the sem.

Well so much for today as I am still debating if I should add a photo to this blog.

luv
Prani

Zip Zam Zooooooooooom

2008-05-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

Remember the thrill rides (I would rather use scary!!!) rides at the theme parks... there is a board which would say its not for the faint hearted, there is an announcement, the ride starts of slowly and gives u a feel aaah its ok...can do...chill maar yaar...and then its the zoooooooom time.
You are a mixed bag of emotions for the next few seconds or minutes. You are shit scared and yet you enjoy like hell.

Cut the metal, put a sandstone building, cut the noise and put a serene landscape and you are in ISB. The same thrill, the same fear and the same fun. After a week of regular classes, this is my state. I week flew by like a second. Ofcourse there were moments of all emotions. Well I understood one thing for sure that ISB brings a certain value proposition to table, how well we use it all depends on us. Words to describe life have changed from "kya yaar" "surviving" to "I am loving it" "bring it on". 4 dunks in 3 weeks seems to be a good score for me. And for those who know ISB dunks I am not an ACP!!! (lot more to come on this so lets leave at that)

Chalo time to sign off
Luv
Prani

The week that was...

2008-04-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

So here goes my first post from ISB. First and foremost

Please understand that the thoughts expressed herewith are my own and are not related in anyway to the official ISB line...so do take this with a pinch of salt and (mis/)interpret

Alright, now that I am done with that line, let me have a blast. ISB is huge....and by that I dont mean its size. Ofcourse, its spread out on a huge area but when I say huge I mean the cliched diversity factor. 447 students, a reporter who has done sting operations, players of national reckon, poultry farmer(dont take it light he rakes in goooooooooooood money), bankers, IT whiz kids and so on...And what they bring in is such a different perspective to everything from class to party, from what you talk to how you talk. Its great to be a part of all this.

But one of the first thing that you would encounter once you enter ISB is a shock. The shock would range from mild to a big bone shaker. For a silent guy like me, 4 parties in a week is probably a lot to take. I guess at the end of the year I should be one of the hippies aswell. Ok we do a lot more slogging than partying ofcourse. But its serious business here. And if anyone was of the opinion beauty and brains dont go together could well come to ISB and change their views.

Now more as the days go on...

luv
Prani

Last Day in Bangalore

2008-04-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

One of the easiest ways to keep away from nostalgia is to keep one's self busy. Well thats what I did today...had packed in enough things for the day that I hardly had anytime to sit and ponder...And now that the day is coming to an early end and I have almost finished my packing and stuffing...I just cant help, but feel nostalgic.

Ambitions, marriages, pursuit of greener pastures all these draw us out far from known, settled and comfortable settings. But what we leave behind are people and not merely cities. Even in this Internet age, its very difficult to maintain the same warmth in relation when you do not meet the person on a day to day basis. In the end what remains is just a vague image of the forgone era where probably you were the best buds!!! But I guess atleast the image is worth a store for the life.

Well anyways, just saw the movie RACE and to say the plot was contorted would be an understatement. With so many unexplainable twists, its only best to leave logic (hmm even least that you can apply to bollywood flicks should also be best left at the popcorn shop) follow the gals and songs and see Saif's acting.

All this week there have been a number of lasts. Last juice at home, Last dinner at home, First and last dahi kadi at home...now this is time for last blog from this home!!!

Aloha

Bangalore

बेरोजगार

2008-03-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

The last 8 hours of my current and only employment are going to end soon. They would be an odd mixture of happy and and sob sounds...most of them genuine. But suddenly the thought of being UNEMPLOYED has just cast a strange shadow on my pseudo "young and retired" dream. I thought I would get up...read the paper and all the articles (even the ones in classified section)... go for a walk in the evening...have food at the right time...and think about reducing salt and oil content...go to the doctor…get his advise and fall sick(instead of letting the rain do the trick)… worry about getting wet in rain and rising prices...uff so many things to do even post retirement…that I may have to plan my schedule…

Even as I type this it makes me sit up and think…I would not be talking…laughing…analyzing…discussing…gyan giving…and last but not the least mainframing any more with the bunch I have become so comfortable. So I guess the sob story could be a little longer than I had planned for. I may post my actuals V planned and effort and schedule slippage for the Sob enhancement. But yeah anyone from L&O (PAS in particular) I will be missing you folks.

Just as a freako thought…how would it be if people were to join alum associations of the firm when they retire/resign…what say ???

Why blog

2008-02-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

Now this question has often crossed my heart. When I was in college I used to write on any bits and pieces of paper I used to get. Now I get a diary each year, I fill it occassionally with all thats on my brain...now why this new medium...Why Blog...

Why blog...is because I know I miss that group with whom I could argue, I could match my wits, and try to convince against those ideas set in quick cement. I still have a wonderful bunch whom I call my sound boards...people whose opinion really matters in stuff that I do...against whom I bounce my ideas and see how good they are. But I am not that creative each day, though I want to be. And these mundane everyday perspectives of life is worth a share...I dont know who all read my blog but I feel there are some who read it and atleast I am telling these to them instead of sleep talking them.

Why blog...is because I feel I cant become creative because I want to be creative. You just do normal things day in day out and then you just start enjoying it and do it so well that you excel and lo something different tumbles out of that regulars that is different. I dont want to be writer in my life. But I do want to be someone who will contribute to the society and I think I am just jotting down my understanding of the world as I see. Hopefully some of you who read it would contradict, agree or just pass on your thought which would just make my view better.

Why blog...because I love if anyone likes my work. :)

Luv

Prani

Scribbling along....

2008-02-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

Now this one's got to be a patience tester...If you go all the way till the end then do put in your name or probably a pseudo name(of late any ways I have spent a lot of time guessing secret names!!!) ... Why I think it would be long before I have even started it, well first up I am writing this in my style which is starting of with an empty mind and then just ambling along the train of thoughts and a second reason is I have not troubled the storage servers of Google for quite some time

My train journey back home actually brought back some memories...and I realised how only a few things have changed since the first train journey (of which I have any significant rememberance). For the starters, a train journey was the best way to see the diversity of India. Take for example the diverse landscape thats on display outside or the diverse menu in dabbas of passengers or the different breakfast and lunch menus available at the stations. So much so that the size of samosas and the filling inside also change from state to state. And I guess it still the same. Families still travel with their lunch,dinners and snacks packed. The young ones still feel that the food from the peddler is always better and tastier and the wise (read the elderly) always feel that the peddled food is not clean and healthy...I did feel that way quite often..but in this journey I did miss the regular dose of tamrind rice for lunch, curd rice for dinner, a very generous serving of sweet which would invariably be gajar ka halwa. All that packed neatly and separately with a spoon each. Hmm anyways, other things like guys doing their excercise by travelling from one end of the train to the other(keeping fit is always important), the eunch demanding his/her hafta of Rs 10, the chai wala... all essentially the same. But some things do change. I saw a person who had opened his laptop and was watching a movie, the railway pantry serving soup besides tea coffee. Even the number of people buying bottled water has also increased and the age of the big Milton flasks seem to be slowly but steadily getting over.

Anyways in the vacation I did realise that decision making is probably the toughest job and no wonder the C*Os get paid so hefty. You have to make the call on some assumptions. And if the assumptions go wrong then there would be umpteen people at your ear sounding the cliche horn of "ASSUMPTIONS MAKE AN ASS OF YOU AND ME". And the best part of the decision making process is we always try to pass the responsibility to others at the earliest. Liked a quote which a pal had on his gtalk status...it read something like "There are no right or wrong decisions. We take one and then spend time to prove it right"

Come to think of it, the little status message in Gmail are wonderful things. As I was leaving home I just set the message to say I was off on vacation and lo probably who ever would be concerned about my absence from net would know it!!! I guess Google has been excellent in putting in these small features into GMAIL and others that it handles.

And a new form of Bhangra is the Volvo dance. Now a foreigner got into the crowded volvo,and as the conductor asked him for ticket he learnt the bhangra step of raising one hand then the other and then falling back a little and this continued in a loop. But I also noticed that the conductor gave a bit more respect to Mr Bhangra.

Anyways would leave anyone reading the post with an interesting article I read on IBNLIVE.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/but-i-didnt-cheat-on-my-husband/58093-19.html

I would feel its a cheating on your spouse if you dont dedicate your full range of emotions to your spouse. I dont know what you think. I found it interesting because I feel it could happen with anyone who works in office for 8-12 hours.

Anyways lets have an abrupt end to this train journey as TIMETOBED station is here.

Luv

Prani

Honesty is the best policy

2008-01-27T10:17:00.000-08:00

Not in all walks of life..certainly not in front of a traffic police(they are invariably out there to mug you) but its the mantra for all the relations which matter to you a lot. Sometimes I wonder how thin is the strand of trust that holds a relation. Probably its one of the bugs which developers in Heaven have put in. More of a system error rather than an outward application error. So why give a chance for that thin thread to break by being dishonest. Its applicable to all relations...but in matters of Love I guess it assumes even more so... Why this outburst, well there is a reason...and if you are too worried/curious, its not for me. Even though it was for someone else, I did feel very bad.

On a lighter, the ISE EU summit went off well. V Deepti appreciated "Story of Mothu ". We all broke into a impromptu "YES" when she said it was excellent. And to our added delight she also said a "YES" and its good. Was honest with the work ;) .

Well the only good thing about the movie Kabhi Khusi Kabhi Gam was probably the title really reflects the truth of life.

Rival!!!

2008-01-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

Well now my blog has a rival!!! Someone finally presented me with a diary. I love writing my diary and have always got one gifted...so I was desperately waiting for one to be gifted to me. Ok I had to do some backend manipulation to get this one...reminds me of the Bharat Ratna drama...but the one who gave me has a very clear heart ... so I am more than happy ... to keep my matlab with AAM and not worry about the gutli...

Need to fill so many things in my diary so switching off from the blog for now!!!

Luv
Prani

Globe as canvas...

2008-01-21T09:56:00.000-08:00

Life has come a long way from the days when competition against 20 students in the class was the biggest battle, to when topping the batch was the biggest honour in BE(not many would agree and not many times I got it!!!) to now when I feel defeating or rather surprising myself with what I can do is the biggest thing.

Imagine what when can be achieved when you really dont care who gets the credit for it makes a lot of sense now. (;) probably I have resigned and dont have to worry a lot about my appraisal, I can afford to say this)

I think a good leader has the capability to identify who would have done what and do the needful and yet all this so subtly that no one gets offended. Having applied this with my team now, I feel it really can work wonders..

Anyways a sleepy brain, a happy heart and a wandering mind has scribbled some incoherent phrases...so let me make more sense by closing this with stuff thats right in my thoughts right now...

I am really haapppppyyy with the ppt that we could make today for the ISU meet...2 nights of thought has gone into it...and the fact is they were weekend nights...review from all the sound boards was awsome...the paint work from Arun just tooo good and the partnership of all (me Dilip and Arun) has done some good work...the adulation we received was equally good and I hope true...and I feel there is really nothing better than getting a pat on the back (from people you love most/respect most) for a good work...and I love being pampered...

If the globe was my canvas now I would have been on tv doing an interview...hmmm nope ... I am off to hit bed now so probably happy with a smaller canvas..First Floor B Block ODC1...

But someday I will be there..humko hai vishwas... pura hai vishwas..hum honge kamyab ek din!!!!

Luv

Prani

PS: Anybody who likes the presentation can always leave the message in the comments... :)

K N Prasad Std II

2008-01-13T04:04:00.000-08:00

If you had come to my house some where around December 1990 this would have been the name board(well kind of atleast all written in chalk !!!) on the door. Well young me had got fed up with education, elocution, drawing and literature and thought it was the best in the interest of all that I get to the man's world sooner. Having made a decision, I just informed our family over the dinner. The emotions were on the expected lines, sister went on a laughing spree, mom ready to question if I had taken such a decision bcoz of another homework and a silent stare from dad. The wisest of us, my grand ma, gave an understanding look. Anyways as my family gave little importance to such an important decision, I decided to talk to our neighbour for a more man to man talk. Dear Uncle P, had a greater patience in hearing me out. He doled out all the good advise of how studying would help me earn better, get me in to bigger houses...and blah blah... Hang on. Nope I would not buzz and gave up on Uncle P aswell...Finally it was my grand ma, who thought it was a wise decision. Having bought me over, with a good ear for my ideas she said she would go and talk to dad on my behalf...Then she told me that there was only one problem which she saw. She had been to the factory and it needed that all the people who worked there needed to have shoes with size as big as dad's atleast. Else we would fall into the furnace....Hmmm I thought that sounds risky...anyways I still tried my fathers shoes and tried walking in the evening for a day or two...and then it was back to books, studies and horrible ranks... (ok that was the story till class V, when another event rocked my life in a positive way!!!)

Years down the lane when we saw the Dhara "Jalebi" ad probably everyone in K family had a smile on their face...I still love the way my grand ma could simply buy me out with a placebo....

I am fully sure that I am not a loner though in this story...quite a few who read must have been thru this... I know for sure that a frnd of mine ran away (ok only a few hundred meters and a few hours) from home when his father said "Get out".

Any ways all these skeletons tumbled out when I was looking for post mba career prospects... duh still job hunting after 17 years to when it began!!!

Luv
Prani

To be on the right to be right

2008-01-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

Hmm..here is the marching post of left and right...This would certainly be one of the more serious ones that I am posting in this series...

Mr APJ and me often have this argument if going right is right. Now whats that... well I piggyride on APJ's bike for my ride to office. So every morning we join hordes of AntS( Another Software) engineer on the road. We queue up at every signal...race to the next signal on or off the road or pavements. But the Bangalore traffic and signal has the last laugh. Well, irrespective of your vehicle you tend to end up with your peers at the signal :) . The winner is one who can use the pavements as well as the roads and bend some of the rules relatively coyly. And this is exactly where our arguments starts...The argument for "going on the right is ok" are - because others do it and u are supposed to be a Roman in Rome...and anyways this habit does not extend to to other activities...and most importantly you reach earlier...life is always short and time is a prime comodity...

I dont agree with it...you need not always follow others...sometimes, though, you may be a little late...probably you have made that small difference by being right rather than on right ...and probably avoided causing inconvenience to someone else...probably life is short but we need not make it shorter for ourselves or someone else with our antics...it all depends on where you want to draw the line...and what rules mean to you - are they for "my" betterment or "our" betterment...The latter is my definition.

Anyways these arguments and their counters have occurred beyond left and right and APJ...and I have found myself at perpendicular to the populist view...hahaha...well that's why I guess I love to say "I am like this"

Love
Prani

PS: The above post shows my dilemma rather than APJ's conscience issues...and hopefully I am not left in the middle of the road as the right justice ;)

Akshaya Patr and the bashing

2008-01-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

Just too tempted to write about my journey to office today.

As usual was late to office and I just jumped into a Volvo some where before the Silkboard signal. As I had gotten not at any stop I just got in from the front door…. Okkie I know now a few brows must have tightend….and a few imaginations on the loose… well read on theres more to it….the bus was already jam packed and I was surrounded with girls …(come to think of it now…chalo sometime in life, tough accidentally or other wise, it happened today!!!) There was hardly any place to move…yet when the bus stopped at silk board many more boarded the bus…and all fell in place like sugar grains in a large jar of stones…and this continued…the driver never failed to oblige anyone who stuck her hand out on the road….not that guys were biased against…it was slightly more complex to understand how the same space which appeared less for x number of people could accommodate x+20… and we could still have smiling faces…a true akshaya patr should say…

But then we had this guy on board….a story line similar to mine when it comes to boarding the bus…and stuck next to me….so Mr CP….decides that he has to make an urgent call in the middle of a crowded bus….the left hand slips from the bar on top to the pocket… and invites a stare and a slow sorry…the cell phone is pulled out a bigger Stare the right hand comes down to dial the number…and a Stare from a different direction…the bus breaks and a BIG GLARING STARE…STAre….Stare…stare…yap yap begins and at every syllable uttered there are only more stares and CP doesnot mind and is happy in his world!!!!

Well should commend the driver’s skill at manoeuvring the bus that the stares are less and smiles are more!!!

Hmm the return journey was a sober affair with me piggy riding on JPs bike after a long bashing from Mr PM…Needed to have 2 teas to get the over the hangover of the meeting !!!

Contrasting ends points to the daily timeline … one with lots of people, stares and smiles, other a lonely ride with a heavy head and in between the regular joys of working guy!!!

PS : Mrs Dreamz thinks I might have attracted lots stares myself… which I wholly disagree and hope some who read this would agree with me…

If (you think like me)
mail me
Else
probably I will just assume you missed reading this post….
End-if

Chalo khusfahmi mein hi jee lete hain :)

Choice

2008-01-06T11:59:00.000-08:00

Choice !!!

Well that’s exactly what I have at hand when I write this blog… The reason being I have been pretty unfaithful and so much water has passed thru Wensum and BTM lake that I could write down a whole book .

Well let me use this a catch up and I hope to stick to my new year resolution of a post every weekend atleast . Hmm let me hit the road running…

26 Oct and I sat in 726 service to Heathorw from Norwich. With good byes and feeling that we(me, CD, Sanjarekha, Subhashree, 11 Sidestrand, and Norwich) would miss each other. Guess I miss them all of them…hope they too do… I was a touch disappointed at coming back. (Have to admit that for this blog is for me and people who know me well) But, beneath the outer layer, I had few things to sort out. An interview for ISB, my other apps, more importantly an idea which I had to sell to a few important people. I was pretty determined to make sure I did not have another appraisal in TCS … :)

So I reach Heathrow dressed in a Jeans, T shirt, a sports jacket and my all encompassing no-good eastern store jacket. For the uninitiated, it’s the common TCS crime, we all buy bulky, ugly and useless ¾ jacket which just hangs in ur wardrobe…Not used to Jacket even in the cold Norwich evenings, I was sweating pretty bad. At the checkin counter, the stares made me shiver in my pants. Anyone could easily consider me a terrorist, dressed in jacket full of explo*****!!!! Noooooo….. did not want to get shot down like one..so threw off the jackets, not in the trash but on to my trolly. This along with a huge chocolate buying spree seem to be the most important events.

21 days of fun, fight, fooling was what I had next. Aditya…my kiddo nephew of jus 7 months made the leave worth while…he is an absolute delight to be with. He came to me… Probably he thought I was a new toy which mom got!!! And luckily all that I got for him withstood his stress test and he liked a few!!! Wah my luck. Sadly the cardboard of the toys appealed to him a li’l more than the toys…Had fights with aka…hmm cool we are normal…and have not become so called grown-ups…and of course something else important happened aswell…Anyway, cant forget how difficult it was for me to cross the road on the first day. There was a circle in Mumbai roads. Hmm, so what we actually have is a stone in the middle of the road, autorik’s stop in the middle of road and people get on and off right there and the rest of the traffic shapes around it happily. No one stops for other and yet no one gets hurt. Trust me it took me 20 min to cross.

17-Nov had my interview at Hotel Taj. Since I have told so many people how it went, just would not waste the space here. It was the usual thing with me going ayo I could have done better…but it was history…I wonder what happened to my fellow interviewee…

21-Nov saw the heat of Bangalore. Till this time though I had come to India I was at a sweet home in Mumbai….So when I saw my bachelor’s quarters, it was a shock and the word is a understatement. From a carpeted house,(even the bathrooms were carpeted!!!) in Norwich to this…hota hai yaar…life’s like that I thought. It reminded me of my BE days…The traffic, the honking of horns, the crowds, the pollution, and just about everything seemed new and OOO was the only word for the first few days.

12-Dec and hope, angry, frustrated, dreamy, ecstatic were all the emotions that I had. Hmm quite a load for my heart….it started with the usual what will happen to my results and my future, and as the day progressed it went thru the grind as to what would happen to some other issue I had…and as I was speaking to my father in the evening I opened my mail and Lo…I was ecstatic..Iwas selected to ISB….. Could not have been a better timing… I was reading the mail out to my father… the person who I always want to be…I hope I will someday…Seventh ummm no probably seventeenth heaven was where I was… This one result had cleared so many things…(a bigger version of this post went missing as I was trying to format it :( )

15-Dec was when I told this to my project manager. And rather than him, it was me who was shocked and surprised. There was no surprise to PM when I said I would quit in march. He said he thought I would do that in January when my three months contact ended. Here I go stumped badly.

A quite new year and some struggles still continue. Till date some things are still on simmer rather than completion but that’s life…

And today when India lost to 2 umpires rather than Australian team, I am a little sad. Writing this post certainly helped me live thru those wonderful days of my life.

Luv
Prani

The Kindergarden trip

2007-08-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

Strange title....no its not a trip down to the prep classes, but about the latest of our sojourns in this beautiful country.
Its about my trip to Scotland, the land of the beautful Lochs and beastly murders. Unfortunately, Nessie was deep down taking rest and didnot mind meeting us. The highlands of Scotland are very beautiful. More like everything is beautiful or there is nothing to see. More like a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge hill station. Lush green forests all around, nice big houses in serene environs make it so attractive. But let me not delve into the history of the place which would cast a ghostly shadow on all this beauty and leave you a lil scared to live in any of those lovely mansions. The standout for me in the tour was the Glen Coe. Glen is Gaylic for narrow valley(huh, a show off or rather a ROI of the ABCD) . But as is common to all the places where more than one man lived, Scotland had its own miseries because of narrowness of people in religion, belief, and acceptance of change. And this led to a lot of carnage.

All this beauty is there in India as well, but the larger landscapes and the fewer onlookers won the point for Scotland.

Now to the ABCD. ABCD that I keep refering to is the guided tour which we had of the highlands. Being wild at heart, I am never a big fan of guided tours. Dave, our Scotland expert packed the whole bunch(a couple from Canada who apparently moved around in the same set of clothes both the days, a Norwegian loner, Mr Seth and family which included Amit Seth!!!, two others and us) into a van. And we sat in a van and listened to scottish music/Dave's commentary ...and sat in van and more scottish music.........and it continued. We got a rare few chances to get down but primarily they were photo stops....I feel these trips to be like the Kindergarden classes where everything is done as directed.....

Hmmm..so am I cross with the trip. No, not at all. partially because the company was great...but also because of the realisation, I neither have the time nor the heart (read courage) to stay out in the wild cut off from the civilization... I do remember the guide's name was Dave and not Bob.
I believe all the Indian It Male/Female would do the same!!!

I am very tempted to post the picture from the trip...one from our stay at Edinburgh...but discretion has got the better of me. And of course do I need to mention that I and all have forgotten the Ubblokkkkk ...we did... :) and that we can shop even given a few minuts...and that a trip is as good s the company.....

Luv
Prani

Baggages from the past...

2007-07-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

Nostalgia is good when you limit yourself to your private space and time...But when it becomes all pervasive it becomes more of sarcasm and excess baggage from the past. Anyways that set the tone for the week that went by for me.

Past as I said was the theme for me this week and it extended into the weekend. My parents are shifting from Jayshree to Vizag.As things are getting packed or rather unpacked from the racks they bring along lot of memories...and it was a walk down the memory lane when I called them up today...finally we are moving out of Jayshree. I still connect to that place more than any other...

And last but not the least now I have decided to give a shape to this blogspace rather than leave it as the ramblings of IIM(Indian It Male)...come to think of it I do like the coding of it...but more of it on the next edition...probably thats where it is going to end for next few months...

Luv!!!

On the verge

2007-07-12T14:08:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my world ...
On the verge is all about my journey...to my MBA and beyond... to Jaan and beyond....and to all those small things that go around...
My first post would certainly go about IB manager...lets call him X... Now Mr X wants some change done without cosidering all its impacts...or so I feel and keep thinking how can one be so unreasonable..wonder what X would be thinking of me - A trouble maker...thats what Chris calls me any ways...
Wonder, if there would ever be such machines which I would plug in and would know what the other is thinking .... this could trigger off multiple discussions
1) In such a world would there be any need to talk --- You already know what I am thinking.... 2) How would you know if the device is working fine or not in real world.... 3) Will there be any charm in life...
Atleast I wont loose a game of bluff .. huh!!!! :)