Thinking out Loud

Office must be the only place where you see hundreds of people everyday for years together and not know a  thing about them.

Sheltered

When you feel tired or feel sick, all you want to do is go home, the thought itself is soothing. Thinking about all those thousands of people in Uttarakhand who are suddenly finding themselves homeless...

The Buck Stops Here

When I was in 5th standard, my class teacher was Leena, a young, stylish lady who was also our sports teacher. One fine day, we went out to the ground to play and just as we assembled there, she called me aside and asked me to get the 'buck'. Now, I had just started learning English and my vocabulary had no word named buck yet. But being the topmost student of the class and all, I didn't want to sound ignorant and lower myself in Leena Teacher's eyes. So I kept my doubts to myself and set out to get that unknown object called buck. What in the world could it be? Then the thought struck me that it must've been mug that she was asking for and I had heard it wrong! This was a happy thought but only for a minute. I didn't know where to find a mug now! The only mug that I knew existed in school was in our toilet but I couldn't imagine she would want that anyway. So fully troubled by now, I went to the place where I thought I could get some help; the headteacher's room where I knew sundry things existed. I peeped in and saw the headteacher and Sharada teacher, the senior-most in school. I excused myself, went in and told them Leena Teacher had asked for a mug. They were baffled too and asked me why she wanted it. No explanation was forthcoming so after some serious thought, they concluded that the object in question must have been a jug! What could I say!

When Leena Teacher saw me coming back with a jug full of water and presenting it to her, she was aghast. What in the world is it for, she asked. I believe all she wanted was her leather whip with a whistle. Even after so many years, I can't help blushing when I recollect how the whole class laughed at me.

God knows why she called it a buck!

Buenas Noches!

Last week, I got a brainwave and learnt some Spanish. It happens to me once in a while. May be a salute to Rafa who showed resilience as usual.

25th June, 2013
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 My late celebration of Rafa's French Open and his early exit in Wimbledon have strangely coincided! :-) Will miss watching him, of course.

Taking Sides

People give me disapproving glances when I tell them that I don't like our cricket team but am a fan of South Africa. It is all the more when I tell them even when the two are playing against each other, I would support the latter. I don't understand, I'm not a fan of anybody in the team, that's all and it's a game after all. If India were to be at war with South Africa, then there are more chances of my feeling guilty for not supporting my own country. With conditions, of course.

Parting Joys

I am amused by the way people behave when they are in notice period. They wear a look of total benevolence towards the humankind and smile as if they are the luckiest people in the world to be going out soon. I guess even if they meet their enemies on the way, they would kiss and make up in that frame of mind. It makes me smile too.

Our big fellow is going or gone already, I'm not sure. He hasn't sent any parting mail so I'm assuming he's still there for some time. It's strange; till last month my boss used to scare us using his name and now he's going to be just another name to us. How would he be feeling? People say at that level nobody really cares about leaving and all but is that so, really?

Disturbing Images

Watching Arun Jaitley and other political bigwigs on one news channel and a documentary on Endosulfan victims on the other. Before coming across the documentary, Jaitley's wit and humour was very entertaining but after seeing the plight of people where almost a generation is wiped out, I can only feel angry at the lawmakers' apathy. The sight of the helicopter spraying the chemical profusely is eerie to say the least.

Thrilled to Pieces

How much does one want to get thrilled by watching TV? That too, it's not about the content but only about the picture and the sound of it. Looking at some of the ads, I wonder who would keep upgrading themselves with all this 'never before quality' things. Reminds me of Fahrenheit 451, though.

I'm a fan of Tommy Robredo after this French Open. Impossible as it may seem, I wish he could have a fairy-tale end to his campaign...

Washed

Monsoon has galloped into Bangalore and how! I'm going to buy a raincoat now, to be 'independent' of the auto-wallahs who chicken out at the sight of half a centimetre of water on the road. We haven't had a glimpse of the sun for two days now and Rishi says the sun has covered himself with sheet of clouds and we are shivering!

Anu is all set to join Montessori school this Wednesday and it has not sunk in yet. God, why did someone invent schooling? She is more intelligent than the school can ever make her.

I slept and slept for the last two days and my nose and eyes are in some shape after that. Sleep is a wonderful thing! I can't do without two things - food and sleep! :-)

My cousin's son got 36th rank in CET and we are all very proud of him. Apart from my classmates in Engineering, I don't know anyone who did so well. Of course it was an expected thing from him after his tenth standard performance but I have seen many who get troubled by college in more ways than one and lose focus. They are going through tough times as a family and though this cannot compensate for that, will definitely bring some cheer.