Me, Myself...and all that...

The Last 18 months

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:48:00 +0000

So, the posting here has become an annual affair. Much like the New Year eve parties. Or Birthdays. Or World Cup. No wait, that is a quadrennial event, sorry.

Cannot help it. It is a long day of writing and editing, translating into longer months and year of the same - making it a task in futility to give the consideration of writing on this blog a thought.

So, it is that time of the life again, when things usually wrong. At least the history tells me they do. In at least three of the previous five World Cups, they have, in their own proportions not held out too well for me and I have my proverbial finger crossed for this one.

Incidentally, it is more than 18 months since I got rid of the software tag from under my Current Employer tab on Facebook, and the new 'profession' has been a roller-coaster ride - inevitable highs and lows but with a promise of giving you a lovable dizziness overall.

Yes, I cannot be sure of the future and well, some may argue that nobody can. But the thrill-a-minute of the ride that I have undergone in the last 18 months or so can be barely described in words. Try as much as I can but I cannot explain how blessed I feel to be doing what I would have given a hand and a leg to do. What adds the cherry is that I did not have to give away that hand and leg!

There were a few, hard lessons that I learnt on the way. Lessons I would have probably never learnt otherwise and lessons which continuing to remain hard even as I write. They serve me a reminder on the fact that it is imperative to not take things for granted - not for a minute, not for a moment.

There are many things that I still need to achieve in the short term - usually I don't do anything long term - and one of them is to go really 'independent', doing what I am doing. Earning a monthly salary can be done in three ways - working for your company, working for yourself or making others work for you (and not in any perverse way). I belong to somewhere between the first and the second option, tending more towards the second. The aim is to achieve the second one completely and then start thinking of the third.

So, that is that for now. Sorry about not being able to give out any movie reviews this time because frankly, haven't watched something as bad as 'What's Your Raashee'

I do not hate, I hate love stories. And why.

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:42:00 +0000

Scene at the movie hall:

The hot-dog tasted like a three week old chutney with a lot of lemon and sweat. And it was not hot. Cannot think of a good joke with dog.

The caramel popcorn had no caramel. The only thing that 'pop'ped out was my tooth.

The hot coffee froze my tongue. It's still sneezing. The tongue that is.

First they refused to sell the 'I hate luv stories' tickets. Reason? They needed at least 6 to make up the audience. We were only 3. Later 3 more souls turned up. Poor them. Poor us.

And then, the show that was to start at 945 did not do so till 1015 because of a supposed technical glitch.

I walked out of the hall with my money refunded after 15 minutes of haggling. Finger pointing. You-do-not-know-who-my-dad-is. (A Maths teacher, by the way). And showing them my wife's naval dependent card. Navel nai. Naval.

After spending one hour and having only the food bills to show for it.

Yet, I feel happy enough.

Probably, that is because I had undergone the entire experience of viewing Kites and Raavan as my last two movies. Because unlike IHLS, I was made to sit through those two ordeals. Here, I could escape cheap.

And 'What's your Raashee?' as well.

You can read the review of that movie here.

IPL done, long awaited post...

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:29:00 +0000

This is a long-pending post that I had to write, but the chain of events in the last four to five months did not permit me to. Nothing to write home about, those events, but the writing is about a home!

Naah, just to put it simply, learnt a couple of lessons in the last few months that, I hope, would remain with me for the rest of my life. And with the IPL bidding our TVs a goodbye, it is time for me to get it off my shoulder.

1. Never say never. At least to begin with. Thing baby think!

A big cliche, probably used around at the drop of the hat, but I think, I have made this error twice since June last year, and I have a reasonable idea that I will be paying a price for it, and for at least some more time to come. I could have easily taken it upon myself to think through the decision that I made, and the repercussions about it, but, I think I misjudged the situation.

Fortunately, I know there is no-one else to blame in that particular situation but me. I put my hands up, accept that I could have done better and hope that I do not have to pay a huge one for it!

The good news? Already, today, I had a very good and a tempting chance to repeat my previous mistake. But I applied the brakes and given myself a seven day period to mull over the whole thing. And I am pleased as a punch that the strong feeling to refuse something has passed and I will look to use the next seven days to take the decision either way.

2. It takes hours and weeks and months of efforts to build business relations. And while those built over such time sustain minor disturbances, it is best not to take them for granted. I did not, but again, in one of them, I could have done much better.

Now, I find myself in a position that I should not have found myself in. And it is a sense of 'Aaaargh, could have done better' for me.

I quit Accenture in June. It is nearing one year now for me in what I had decided lay my future. I had also allowed myself around 18 months of time to decide whether the future could continue with it, and in the nine months that have passed, apart from those usual what-ifs associated with such a decision, I see no reason, for now, to call it an awful decision.

At the half way-stage, I would say that I am so looking forward to the second half and would love for it to continue in the same vein.

An experience at the Brabourne!

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:32:00 +0000

Recently, I had gone to the Brabourne to watch the Mumbai Indians play the Royal Challengers Bangalore. These were the same two teams that were playing at the Wankhede two years ago when I had seen my first IPL game ever.

Rather surprisingly, even this time around, we were around ten of us, much like two years back. (Looking back, life seems to have changed quite a lot!)

Here is my experience from Brabourne. As to my experience at Wankhede two years back, my memory fails me of much of the smaller details to be putting it into words. But it sure was fun!

Here goes...Why I was happy that Tendulkar got out!

What's your Raashee?

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:12:00 +0000

So, a lot has apparently transpired since the last time I wrote here. I use the word 'apparently' rather discretely for obvious reasons, but there is a fair chance that stuff materializes and I should be on my way to the capital for a month. More of that as the story breaks out.

For now, let me talk of What's your Raashee. Here are some of my observations:

1. Went for a 9.30 pm show, and for the lakth time, I thanked myself for not going for the 10.30 pm one. It had ended at 1.15 am, so if I am lose enough to my math, a 1030 show would have ended after 2. Not my definition of enjoying a movie surely.

2. So, the movie is about Raashee. Luck. Blind faith probably. Does Ashutosh G. have blind faith in making loooooooooong (idea inspired by Google!) movies in order to ensure that they will do well? Agreed Lagaan was good, and despite not having watched Jodha Akbar, it seemed to have done decent at the box office, but does that mean that every single movie he makes has to grind the topic to dust. And I hear that this was after a couple of songs were edited away.

Bhagwaan ke ghar may der hai. Andher nai. Would I be expecting too much, if he could cut all the songs off, except probably the title track?

3. There were a couple of ladies sitting behind us. They found each and every line funny. They laughed at the jokes, the purported jokes, the jokes which were anything but jokes and I think, even the songs.

Probably, they were using it as a stress buster. Because remember, the price of the ticket was 150 bucks and the food cost us another Rs.150 per person. Not my definition of fun; probably they were of the same opinion but instead of fretting, they gave their vent out in this manner.

Probably, I have lost my sense of humour.

4. This one takes the cake. And the cherry on top too. The movie was going on and on, probably as a strategy to add suspense to who Mr. Baweja would marry. Which 'Raashee'. It was almost as if the people wanted to watch a T20 and Mr. Ashutosh wanted to show a test. A test of everyone's limits of patience. About ten minutes before the end, it finally gets announced which girl Mr. Baweja would end up marrying. A couple of seconds after that, three men got up in the cinema hall and began walking out.

Reminded of all those Tendulkar dismissals and how spectators walk out of the stadium. Ditto. Just like Tendulkar, the movie had ten minutes to go as well!

5. I do not think the DVDs of this movie will do well. Cannot see people sit through a 3.5 hour long DVD. No, I mean I usually have ample amount of patience for stuff and all, but the feeling I got while watching the movie was that I am tied to a seat while watching a turtle-rabbit marathon-to-finish. And unfortunately, the rabbit is tied as well.

6. The movie wasn't bad.

7. Serious about the point 6 above.

8. Ok, this may be a cliche. But if someone can point out to me, any difference between Hrithik and Harman, I am ready to play 'Spot six differences' in Mumbai Mirror for the rest of my life. God Promise.

9. Priyanka Chopra was good. Her make-up guy was better.

10. Here comes a shocker. As far as I remember, Harman is an MBA in Marketing. He also works for Accenture. He ends up marrying a girl who is a Microbiologist.

I am an MBA in Marketing. I used to work in Accenture. I have married a girl who is a Microbiologist too. Coincidentally, her name is Priyanka as well. Hmm...I was full of Colon Os when I heard this.

I still am. (Oops, did I just reveal you the suspense?)

11. I do not knoww whether you gathered this, but the songs are absolutely boring. Except the title song, which also served the dual purpose of recapping the 12 ladies. Good for people who suffer from selective amnesia like me.

12. Some parts of the movie felt raw, with no sense whatsoever. Do not want to dig up the recesses of my brains too much, but the mad-Priyanka from the rich family definitely did not deserve a song. Seemed like it was been added for the sake of doing it.

13. There was a two year old kid to my left. He ensured that he got as much attention as Priyanka Chopra from the theatre audiences. Which consisted of exactly ten people. And the proverbial dog.

14. The pop-corn at PVR Mulund has too much turmeric in it.

15. So did the dal I had at home today. Probably it is me.

Long time pending update

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:30:00 +0000

A long overdue post. Long, long overdue. It should have come out eons ago, and it has taken a combination of illness, fatigue and Peeya's trip to up north to get down to writing this. It is difficult to live through nine days, in a house, alone, without having to hear the chirp through the duration of the day, that one is so otherwise used to.

Amazingly difficult, something that I realised in the past week or so. The illness may have added to it, but it was the first time I did what I did, when I called mum over to stay with me because I found it difficult to manage. The least I can say about my mum's reaction is that she was stunned.

Anyways, the post is not about that though. (That was only to make Peeya feel good...okok...kidding!)

It is about my previous three months. The three months I completed on the 12th of September. Three of my first months that I took a decision that I should have probably three years ago. Or even thirty - had I been alive then. The future may have a different story written, but the scriptso far can be described in only one word.

Exhilarating.

Probably two; add accelerating as well.

Never. Never ever could I have imagined this in my very first quarter of the pendulum shift that I had decided upon. But to think of it, even without my explicit knowledge, the pendulum had been shifting all the while, and unlike a real clock, it was going around in all directions. Picture this; an electronics engineering graduate, who wasn't sure about what after college, but was most certain about one thing; never would I get near a software firm.

And what happens next? Company M comes on campus, I clear the aptitude round, the group discussion and the interview to get selected. Incidentally, M is a software firm. I agree to join. Forget the GRE of a near 2200, forget MS in the US of A, just wanted to join M. Those who know me up close know how dreadful I felt about anything that remotely sounded like code.

So then, I spend three years in M. Decided to go for an MBA after that. Probably because everyone else was also doing the same. But the specialisation can never be Marketing - am not born to sell. Could not negotiate to save my life. Yet, at the end of the first year, marketing it was! Not surprising eh?

End of two years. End of MBA (glad riddance I must say, and for more reasons than one, which I will not go into in this post, that is for my autobiography - as they say, khaaya peeya kuchh nahi, glass toda baara aana!)

And where do I get work again? Software! Company called A. Makes me a Business Analyst. Holy shit; what a designation. And good pay as well. Pappu pass ho gaya; with a near seven-digit pay. The profile was exactly what I wanted two years back, and I had managed to join those few 'elite' of the crowd who wanted a profile on the first day of their MBA and got exactly that. There was almighty.

Except, that when I started - or restarted after the post-grad - it wasn't what I wanted to do! Not for a day, not for a hour, not for a minute. Not for the minutest iota of time.

I wanted to live my dream. A dream that had always existed but knew no vent. A dream that had been flamed by every incident big or small that could flame it. A dream that told me it was now or never.

The last three months are about that very dream. Yes, I quit the Business Analyst profile. Oh hell, I quit the company three months back. I must add that it was much to the chagrin and shock of my boss, who always - rather ludicrously - thought that I had the potential in software. (no dirty thoughts about software or hardware here please!) That was probably because I hadn't told him about my fetishes. Bid my farewells and started what I always wanted to do right from the time I remember not understanding the rules of test match cricket as an eight year old. (funnily, as an eight year old, I thought that test match cricket had to finish five times in five days, once at the end of every day and if it didn't, that day was called a draw!)

Oh and yes, it has been only three months. A really short time to gauge or appraise success or failure. But enough to talk about how not a single Monday morning has been associated with the word 'blue'! Speaks volumes, ain't it?

I wanted to quit on a Monday morning, but...

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:37:00 +0000

Yesterday, I stood at the cross-roads.

Today, I have decided to take the walk.

Had this been an ocean instead, I would have said plunge.

I always wanted to quit on a Monday morning; I quit on Tuesday instead.

I need to cross at the cross-road

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:26:00 +0000

I stand at a crossroad. I had been standing there for sometime, but was under no compulsion to cross it.

Today, I am.

Today, I need to cross it.

Today, for the first time in my life, I need to make a decision as big as this.

I can only pray.

N

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:02:00 +0000

Some months back, an old 'friend' contacted me. Let me name the 'friend' N. N's life was in a mess. And a bad one at that. It was going round and round, the better half had ceased to become one and N had no clue how to proceed. In the process N had also made some cardinal errors for which N may have had a heavy price to pay; luckily N escaped without issues.

N had been a friend for some time, before N had met up with this not-so-better half. Then, N had ceased to be a friend.

I, along with a couple of other friend, tried being around. We all tried assisting in getting N out of the rut. Surely enough, it took about six months of trying to get N out, but in the end, N did oblige. There were signs that N had begun to realise the futility of the whole thing and that was a beginning.

It was a stressful six months. All of N's tantrums, frustrations and stresses were borne by us; not to mention the whims and fancies at which the temper flew at some of us.

N met up with another better half. The usual happened. N got lost to us.

In the span of one year, N had come back, caused stress and grief - because that was what was happening in N's life - and gone away, because the stress and grief was gone.

N had done it again.

N was the second biggest mistake of my life.

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 15:08:00 +0000

Visa application process is terrible. Especially when it is for a country like Australia. I must have doled out reams of pages worth of documentation for the same, enough to make a tree out of the same. Rather, a whole, fully-grown tree would have been used to cater to the paper used. And they want some more.

Serious.

Unlike Aamir in Ghajini, I do not suffer from an amnesia of any sort, and I do not remember having spent too much time behind the bars; yet, the documentation could have been enough to put the fear of its maker in any criminal. Probably, it was something to do with the fact that they worship Ricky Ponting in the same vein that most Indians idolize a certain Sachin Tendulkar, and my comments about Ponting’s captaincy were not been taken too kindly by those also concerned with the visa.

Probably.

Anyways, I needed a bank statement from HDFC, the bank where I hold one of my accounts. They had sent it for all months between June and December, but October had been conveniently missed. Not a big problem per se, but Uncle Australia minds. So…call customer care.

Her: Dial 1 for….2 for…3…. (the usual)…also dial 13 for…23 for…35 for…. (so now they have gone into double digits)…yawn….100 to talk to police…101 for ambulance…102 for fire brigade… Don’t remember half the numbers I dialed to finally get through…
Another her: Hello, this is (some name I don’t remember), how can I help?
Me: (Tell her about October problem)
Another her (AH): Alright…please give me your…(a list of security checks)
Me: (share all the not-so-gory details)
AH: Alright, so you want to lodge a complaint for non-receivement?
Me: (receivement does not sound good, does it?), No Ma’am, this is not a complaint, just want my statement, would be more than happy.
AH: Then you need to talk to Relationship Manager.
Me: And where is he?
AH: No, I mean, you need to talk to YOUR Relationship Manager
Me: Do I have one? Which relationships does he look after?
AH: Yours.
Me: Huh?
AH: Your relationships with our bank.
Me: Oh, alright. (I guess I am slow)
AH: So, do you want me to set you up with your relationship manager?
Me: (the words ‘set you up’ and ‘relation’ don’t sound too ‘banking’ when used together)
Me: Yeah, whatever, if that expedites the process.AH: Okay, will put you on hold for a minute. She forgets to put me on hold, so the call is NOT on MUTE. AH (to another customer care person next to her): What idiots, I have to not only take his complain, but he also expects me to set a call-back with RM
Person next to her: Yeah, but is your phone muted?
AH: Oops…(quickly puts it on mute) A minute elapses…
AH: Hello Sir, I have logged the complaint and arranged for a call-back. Your complaint number is….Anything else that I can do for you.
Me: Yeah Ma’am, try abusing customers after using the mute button.
AH: Ohh…
Me: Thanks, bye. I hang up.

I was in office. Over-worked for the day. No inclination to fight being called an idiot. Christmas Eve and all…Christmas spirit and all… I stretched and yawned. Long day ahead. Something tells me that AH’s day may seem a little longer today.

I yawned again

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:06:00 +0000

another hiatus, another of those occasions when the 'pause' button got pressed for a rather long period of time. and as expected, too much water has passed from under the bridge since the last time i made a mark here. here is what transpired.

1. and i won't even get started on 26th November. it hurts. still.

2. then there was that small matter of almost no longer remaining single. almost. but in another month, that 'almost' would most definitely disappear. sadly.

i did not say that. swear.

3. then, it is the work. the interesting one and the not-so-interesting one. the interesting one continues as is, the not-so-one threatens to stop. so what, one may ask. fret not, i have had the same question. wasn't this what i wanted too. and the form in which it may arrive could very well be termed as what they call, 'blessing-in-disguise'. will have to myself watch this space for more.

4. australia is 8000 km away from india. currently it seems more like 8000 light years. something tells me that for all the criticism that a ricky ponting was meted out with from me on my columns, the aussie embassy looks hell-bent on denying visa. ok, ponting is not as bad as indians made him out to be.

again. i did not say that. swear.

5. spoke with a long-lost classmate of mine from school. the conversation was a long-winding one, through the lanes of the unforgettable and the forgotten, through the recesses of wilderness, and that of embarassments. crushes, loves, crushes that turned into loves, and the ones that failed miserably, the ones that reached the doorsteps and were turned away, the ones that converted itself into brotherly loves, and the ones that sacrificed for a friend; they were all there. the jogging back teased us, and tickled the ribs out till it was time to snooze.

later made an overtly important and startling discovery that the respective better halves have their birthdays within a couple of days of ours. the eureka moment of the conversation.

5th November, 2008 and more...

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:06:00 +0000

The day came and went as quickly as any other day. The so-called butteflies died way before they had their effect, and the evening flew past as quickly as a tomorrow that converts itself into yesterday. I was exhausted, partly due to the running around - in the exact sense of the word - and partially due to a diminishing level of stamina that I have begun to possess.

I was satisfied. Deep down, I was happy. More than four years had been a long time. I would be lying if I said that I had waited for this day for all those four years, but there is no doubt in my mind that ever since the major troubles had erupted last March, I couldnt have dreamt about anything.

For all the different sets of people around on the day, I thought I was unusually calm from within. I had worried a little a day earlier because I loathe crowds - I usually hated giving presentations in college as well - but in the end, it had passed off miraculously well. In fact, I do not recollect most of the things, such was the daze - and hence the haze - that I was in.

As I write this, on a coolish Mumbai night, as the clock ticks another second, inching its way to 1 a.m., I cannot help but feel a little nostalgic. In fact, today's incidents have left me in a rather pot-pourrish-state; extremely happy for someone, puzzled by something, sad due to another, and to an extent, irritated by something else.

Yet, the reasons gel to leave me thinking of turning back the time, and changing a few things here and there. And yet again, I do not want to. I want to just look back, and wonder and ponder.

I would give anything to sit next to the bus-stop in front of Lacoste. For once. For a month.
I would give anything to have been away from people I shouldnt have met in the first place.
I would give anything to smell a friend's lawn's mud, where we spent an hour every month.

I love this tingling sensation that I feel right now. Nostalgic hits me hard, and well.

Random thoughts...and all that

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:36:00 +0000

Again, it has been some time. Long time. But this dual nature of occupation, that includes my avocation (GRE word, look it up) swallows up the time without thinking too many times, like a lizard on the wall does to a fly. Or a python to a rabbit. Or someone else to another someone. I forget both the names here. (of the someone)

Not even twice it thinks.

No excuses, and no, frankly, for a change I have not even been lazy.

Talking about the stuff in life, the C-day is coming closer; yes, that is right, the day before the D-day. D-day happens much later. The realisation dawning slowly, but the 'dress-rehersal' before the D-day should tell me how I feel.

Talking of this previous line, I have been asked - as is the people's wont - about how I feel. And I shall reiterate the same that I have, above. Haven't got much chance to let the thinking process to even commence; let alone the hows, whats and the what-ifs of the whole process.

Lately, I have been suffering from a new syndrome. It is called the 'Sleepless Sunday-night Syndrome' or SSS. As the name suggests, SSS strikes on Sundays (with the exception being any other weekday holiday that is followed by a working day), and gets into a debate with my eyes at that exact time when I hit the bed on a Sunday night. It vetos the fundamental rights of sleeping soundly, till much after the stress induced by the realisation that a client-call next day late in the evening would mean really long hours at work push the eyes wide-awake. This forms the input to another syndrome that others know as the Monday Morning Blues (MMB).

For me, the MMB is just an extension of SSS, and can be really damaging in certain scenarios; especially with the kind of role that I need to perform. Anyways...

Oh and yes, today is Diwali. Holiday. Which means that a minor tremor of a variation of SSS may be felt today as well. Luckily, I have had a tiring day, and so, could probably help my cause.
And to end this 'random' piece, there is good news. Had a conversation with a couple of them today, and the list of 'clientele' has been propped up again. November should be good.

Yawn...I am sleepy. Might just not be hit by SSS today.

Arbit thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:20:00 +0000

Lessons/experiences/secrets from the recent past:
1. Getting out of the proverbial jail is always a good thing. However, it is much better, to avoid getting inside it.
2. Some think that pretending to do one good overshadows the one bad they have done. I wonder why. Probably they think that the rest of them are dimwits. Probably.
3. Cricket World Cup years have not been so good so far for me. 1992 saw me have chicken pox, 2003 saw a break-up, and 2007 saw a motley of events that attempted to screw happiness. Attempted only. Did not actually. Of the three, the chicken pox was the worst; the doctor did not allow me to watch the matches as they would aggravate the same. Kuchh bhi man.
4. I love reality shows. How much ever stage managed they are, I do. But I have used my mobile phone to vote out someone only once. It was Rakhee Sawant in the first season of Bigg Boss.
5. Talking of her, my feelings for Ms. Sawant are as lovely as for some of them whom I met in the last couple of years. Lesser said the better though, public channel here and all.
6. Continuing with Ms. Sawant, argggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh....the only reaction that comes to mind.
7. Moving on, it is good to move on. And it is the most difficult thing to do.
8. The worst of times sometimes bring out the best of results. And in more ways of than one. No, I have not copied this from a book on philosophy, a first hand experience talking.
9. I recently was a spectator to an appraisal cycle. I mut say that almost all the people took the whole thing very well.
10. Whatever goes around, comes around. Patience is the key. Someone frustrated yours truly in the month of May because the person did not respond to me. Three months down the line, I became the person's primary requirement. With no hard feelings, I can only say that I could not have been gladder to have spoken to the person. Amazing things in store.
11. Opportunity really comes when one ain't looking. Most do not realise it is an opportunity. Nor did I. I just got lucky.
12. Beyond a certain point, money means nothing.
13. Beyond a certain point, most people also mean nothing.
14. It is time that Sachin Tendulkar thinks about his life after cricket. His body would now be creaking on every movement that he makes. Dude, have you heard of this punctuation called full stop?
15. The same goes for some other cricketers as well.
16. Why is Harshad Warsi not hosting Bigg Boss-II? Shilpa Shetty is good looking and all that, but not half as good as what Messr Warsi was.
17. In case you still don't get it, I dislike Rakhee Sawant from the bottom of heart. They say it is good to have someone so in-your-face so that one does not back-stab. In your face does not mean that you spit in your face and get away, aint it?

Itna-ich for now. Will be back with more in some days.

Too surprised

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:15:00 +0000

Second post in two days. I must be kidding.

Rather, today, there is a feeling of vindication. A sense of 'I-told-you-so'. And a sense of high ended irritation about what has actually happened. In the end my perception about this particular person did come out right, only problem being that it does not help me any more and the person has managed to screw up things for some other people.

I can only be thankful that I did not succumb to what one could have at that time, and took the way out.

I would not be too off the mark if I said that this person was the best fake I have seen in my time of existence. Best because it has taken many of us over months and years to realise this. So dear person, you rocked while you could, unfortunately, you managed to rock people's life now. And thats the saddest thing you could. I pity you.

And I pity some others around.

It's all happening

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:26:00 +0000

Clearly it looks like I have moved on. That is definitely not the truth. I still miss you and think about you daily. But had no time whatsoever, to talk to you.

My dear blog.

Normally, updating on what is happening in life was a daily activity. But the way the events have shaped up in my life in the last couple of months have ensured that the only time that I could ever deem as free were the eight hours of snooze that I managed through the night. Someone asked me a question. Where had I disappeared.

I said I was in heaven. No, I was alive. Yet, I was there.

In heaven.

Oh, and for that matter, I still am.

Very soon, and I am talking of a period of around an year, or probably even lesser than that, I would have to make a decision. A call. A very tough one at that. Shall see after that.

As for updates, Accenture's good. I would not mind sticking my head out and saying that this was exactly the profile I was aiming for, around two years back, when MBA had just begun. So, it does make me happy. Having said that, the difference in these two years is that things have changed. Drastically. And in more ways than one. I am closer to my dream than I ever was. Ever thought I could be. This latest twist in the tale has been as surprising as an Alfred Hitchcock thriller and has put me in a quandry. A quandry I would want to be in, any day.

For now, its all happening.

Updates and more...

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:58:00 +0000

Another long hiatus, another neglect! But then, such is life that when one gets better things, one forgets the good ones! Just like I have forgotten my blog. Or not exactly forgotten, but probably put it into the deep recesses of the mind, making it difficult for me to get it out of there.

The update from my life has been good enough. The rendezvous with cricket writing continues to yield good results for me, and I am getting convinced about certain things associated with it by the minute. With the job at Accenture coming around, the writing has happened at a feverish pace, but it has definitely helped me that I have shifted to a house which is exactly six minutes away from my office.

The flip to that obviously is that the next time I bunk office - like is my wont - I would not have the excuse that it seemed so far!

There are indications, that the work would barrage me with its presence in the coming week or so, for now its more of the document reading and self based training. So, its pretty chilled. The cafeterias in the office are humongous and ther are atleast eight different caterers around. I have gone on an experimenting spree and am trying out a new dish every meal, and I can safely vouch for the fact that it would take me a zillion years and more to try every bit on the menu. I hope I stick to the job that long. So far, there have not been too many favourites though.

Getting back to the rented appartment, have shifted in with a couple of guys, one of whom was an acquaintance earlier. Its been fun so far, though I must admit that I have spoilt his habits by making them watch the boring, one-sided cricket matches of the Asia Cup. And post that, we have also had the fortune of viewing a couple of movies on my laptop.

Speaking of which, my lappy seems to be on the last stretch of its life. As if the constant crashing - at the rate of once every couple of hours - was not good enough, it has started to cause me some hair raising experiences; er, its battery lasts for fifteen minutes flat, and once put on the charger, it becomes untouchable with the shocks it emanates! Such is life!

Back to my microcosm called cricket. Yo.

After a long time...

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0000

I have almost neglected this blog and afforded it step-motherly treatment, but then I have a valid, genuine reason. And no, it is not the writers' block, or the bloggers' block that one does encounter quite so often. It has been something else.

Not often one ends up doing something that one loves, and in turn getting paid handsomely for it too. When you combine that with your full-time job, it is a lethal enough combination to keep you away from blogging for some time! Precisely why the hiatus on this space!

For starters, office's begun in full flow, and although, it is not as hectic as it could get in times to come, the travelling is really getting to me. Two years of a honeymoon called MBA has made me so used to the 'aishon-aaram' that Vikhroli seems a couple of light years away. But then, the person I am, even the local grocery store looks quite far, so does my hair dresser, the post office, my bank, my Wester Union Money Transfer counter...basically you get the gist. So, the commuting is killing, and the heavy rains followed by the even more muggy climate has made thngs a little intolerable.

I must thank my stars though, for the role that I have got. It is exactly what I expected it to when I started my MBA a couple of years back, and that is not something a lot can boast of. Whether it continues in the same vein remains to be seen, but we shall cross the river when we even think of setting out to get there.

For now, cricket has - as always - dominated my life; the real reason for this absence. The office day is usually between 8 and 8, and the rest of the time is dedicated to the completion of a truck load of cricket articles for a slew of websites. In fact, it gives me immense pleasure - that sounded so Vice-Chancellorish - to say that, I have had my column post come out on this website here. That I am thrilled is an obvious understatement. However, to put it in perspective, there are many more miles to go before I even decide to take a snooze, let alone thinking of sleeping.

Talking of sleep, it is on a strict bumper-to-bumper basis. As mentioned earlier, office is 8 to 8, cricket is 9-12, and sleep is 12 to 7. Full-stop. Nothing more, and God forbid if sometime I fail to sleep by 12 - a rarity so far given that by 12, I type with my eyes closed sometimes - I am a goner next day.

Yet, I am enjoying this life. I really am. This was something I dreamed of all my life. And it is just a start! If I ever was to jot down a thank you speech- and mind you, it is too erly yet - it would consist of a couple of obvious names, but also one of Mr Lalit Modi and that of another lady whose face I cannot stand, would top the list; for different reasons. For want of cordiality - if ever there was such a word - I would refrain from using language that could be termed as 'Parliamentary', but rest assured, the venom towards her was channelised by me in a direction that gives me immense pleasure today. As for Modi is concerned, if it wasnt for him, it would have been no IPL and no chances at all, whatsoever.

And in the end, I think that the 'business' of cricket is here to stay, to grow and expand, and provide for a lot of opportunities to many peripheral guy like me. But if I discount myself for the minute, I also think it is a great chance for other businesses to thrive on this sport, and for those brilliant, start-up-oriented guys around, do think of a business model that could be based on this sport, and yet be different from the rest. And if you need, I could assist you as well, cricket consulting is just about the nearest I could get to consulting!

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:08:00 +0000

Praise is good. It always is. I enjoy it as much as anyone else.

I am enjoying it presently as well.

But, right now, I need something more. I need a crystal ball to gauge why is it so forthcoming. And do I really deserve it. And the repercussions. As you can see, the confusion from the previous post continues.

Anyone? I mean, for the crystal ball?

क्या करें क्या ना करें यह कैसी मुश्किल हाई !

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Sat, 31 May 2008 19:53:00 +0000

It is the 1st June. At least officially, with the clock having just ticked over the twelve mark.

And I am very exhausted, its been that kind of a day. And very confused.

It begun with a late night yesterday, as I managed to catch a wink only at 4.30 - yeah, in the morning - before waking up at 8. If this was not enough, I was lucky enough to have a good friend call me over to Churchgate to meet him, but the heat sapped whatever little energy that remained. To add to that, I sat through the whole first half of IPL's second semi-final, before deciding that my body had had enough and I need to get home.

Here I am, devouring away at a pack of cooked Maggi, like someone who hasn't had a meal for some years and more.

Now the confusion. I know that it is soon going to be decision time, something that only I can take, and not rely on anyone else's judgement. Some pros, as many cons, and then there is a soup. In which I am.

The good thing is, that this soup tastes nice, it really does. But the the fact is, that I need to swim out soon, read, take a decision.

Hmmmm....what to do!

Tick tick tick...

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Mon, 26 May 2008 10:18:00 +0000

I have less than fourteen days to myself. Only fourteen.

Need to 'live' every second of it as if its the last.

Hit me baby, one more time!

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:19:00 +0000

...listening to too much Britney Spears does that to you.

And why am I doing so...its got auto-added to my playlist...! have heard her twice already before realising the gravity of the situation.

Hrumpppph!

The Week that was...!

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Sun, 18 May 2008 06:54:00 +0000

It has been quite a while since I posted here, and that is for a reason. For one, I was...and am having the time of my life, and for another, the time of the life was consuming a lot of time too. :-)

In fact, I wanted to write a post for sometime now, but was not getting the right opportunity. A couple of days back, I had written a post about something totally unexpected that happened with a friend, but did not post it immediately, simply because I wanted to let the 'anger' subside. After that happened, I decided not to, there was no point.

Even before that, I had got out of the house after a long time to meet another friend, and wanted to post about that good time - minus the blaring music - at Red Box, but, she had not sent (this one is for that lady who points out my spelling of sent!) the photographs that I wanted to put up, and so could not write much.

Now that I have recieved the pics, I can. So, the last Sunday, I met N, at Red Box, a restaurant I usually recommend to peoplewhen they ask me about good places in Bandra. I must say that it was a major let down, the music was as loud as one gets in a discotheque, making it virtually impossible to talk, the whole purpose of meeting someone after almost half an year.

Although, I must add that the food was nice, and the overall meet nicer. It was worth reliving some of the old school days - she is like an almost 15 year old friend - and some of the things that could have been differently in each of our lives, and some that were just right.

Apart from that, one other good happened in the past week. My computer guy extracted old data from my old hard drive, and transferred it to my lappy. And that consisted of around 3 GB of songs. Some cheesy, corny enough to make one's head spin, some not even worth mentioning here, but all of them strong enough to evoke a huge sense of nostalgia difficult to overcome. Alright, I can mention a couple of 'em, Ace of Base's 'Its a beautiful life' and Vikas Bhalla's Dhuan. There are 100 others...and currently, I am in the process of hearing them out.

It is fun.

In fact, the week's been fun! In more ways than one.

Now that is a good rhyme.

Yo...its my Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:26:00 +0000

It is 2.20 a.m. I should have hit the bed long time back.

I have not. Just one more article to be written!

I am enjoying this feeling. It is fun. It is what I call living life my way, it is what epitomised by this picture so well...

http://www.orkut.com/AlbumZoom.aspx?uid=8865113899673470402&pid=10&aid=1

Incidentally, this pic is taken at the famous Marine Drive of Mumbai, on a very heavy rainy day. Never enjoyed rain so much as I did that day. Marine Drive does that to you sometimes. :-)

A House Collapse

noreply@blogger.com (Suneer) — Sun, 11 May 2008 19:50:00 +0000

They say that first impressions are very often the last impressions.

I think, very few people remain the same over a substantial period of time, as they portrayed to the rest in that so called, first meeting. And far too often, like an old dilapilated house that gradually falls apart, they end up falling apart an showing their true self over some time. A couple of them are already getting chiselled away currently, I can see it. The 'leakage-in-thehouse' phenomenon has started.

I can see the collapse coming...very soon. Not before long, for sure.