Where did it begin?

Characters: Kavis, Shiv, Naren, Krish.

Shiv - Protagonist

Kavis – Shiv’s Wife

Naren, Krish – Shiv’s Friend

[Narrator]

It is a different kind of world – Earth, we call it. Life is a term coined for a mere existence of an entity – live or die. Unfathomable as to where it goes, when the term toggles between the states.

Shiv: Are you there?

Silence prevailed.

Are you there? Can you hear me?

Hear who – me?

I need you. What am I doing alone? Who is this? Reality?

Yes.

Confused?

Even more.

I need help. Help me… Help me please… Why is she like this? Why does she not respond to my screams? Why are her eyes swollen and teary? Is she leaving me? Am I alone? What happened? What is she talking to Krish? I cannot hear her… Hello… Naren, What is happening? Why aren’t you not responding? I am talking to myself like a mad man… Krish.. Why don’t you say something? There is something wrong here.

Oh God. It is getting too bright and cold out here. My Vision.. it is.. it is all getting skewed up. [His language falters] I am forgetting something. Something is amiss. I.. I.. [Turns to Naren…] Who is he??? What is he doing here? Kavis… Krish.. are you guys alright? Uh.. uh..Have I lost something? I have been asking so many questiioonnnnsss[Blurs….] what did I just say now.. What happened? I can’t recall anything that happened a minute ago. I was asked to sleep in this room. But.. but.. I am getting crazy. Kavis, tell me what is going on? Who is this tall guy beside me? [Pointing to the body..] uh…Kavis.. Have I left you? No, I don’t want this to happen! I want to be with you. Do I really have to leave you? I promised I will never leave you in distress… Kavis… Kavis… I will miss you.. I don’t see other humans in this room, yet I feel their presence…..[Blurs..] buu.. buuuu..ttt.. doo.. yyoou stttiiillll loooveeveee mee???

[Narrator]

It’s time to depart. The “Soul” vanishes with a big pain in its conscience; Yes, the Soul’s Conscience. As time wanes on, the soul and the conscience forgets the past, its language, beliefs and its acquaintances. The body is empty without a soul. It no longer LIVES. Is this the end? Question is - “Where did it begin?”

The End

It happened to me

I borrowed the title from the most read Indian Comic - TINKLE. It happened to me...

These are real life incidents [Exception rule applied from last blog's disclaimer!]. Some of them may be rusty, superstitious, lazy, [more adjective needed..]. Read at your own risk.

Recap of last few FRY-days...

Friday ONE
Dress: Black trouser, Maroon shirt
Drink: Hot Chocolate laced with Coffee (to make it more bitter!)
Result: Spilt it all over my trouser.. and the whole day I was a walking hot chocolate drink.. smelling like one atleast!

Friday TWO
Dress: Black trouser, light brown shirt
Drink: Orange juice with Ice
Result: Spilt it all over my trouser.. luckily after lunch!! not much of damage.. save my shirt

Friday THREE
Dress: Black trouser, WHITE shirt
Drink: Dunkin Donuts Coffee
Result: I need a BIB!!! spilt it on my WHITE shirt and there i go...I now have a brown shirt for the day!!! I need to quit drinking at work... errr...coffee I mean.. OK I am quitting coffee..

Am I jinxed with the black trouser?? or friday?? or weekend-nearing syndrome??? or I need to learn to drink coffee???

Forget Fridays, Lets focus on Thursdays now..
Last Thursday - @ work..
[Tring tring]..
Ruks: Dei..
Vish: Hi Ruks..
Ruks: Had lunch? (Time is 3:00pm - I would have starved if I had not had one!)
Vish: Yeah...
Ruks: How was it?
Vish: Fine.. great.. was nice..
Ruks: What are you upto?
Vish: Just made some tea for me..
Ruks: ....
Vish: ......
Ruks: ..........
Vish: ...
Ruks: OK.. OK.. fine fine..When do u plan on coming home?
Vish: I might get delayed... ohh.. Ruks, I will call you in two minutes.. I spilt hot tea on my trousers - the same black (Now who called me non-superstitious???!!!) It is boiling hot (in a calm voice)..
Ruks: [Starts her sermon...]
Vish: Now is not the time...Please Ruks.. I am.. keeping the phone down..
Ruks: ok.. careful...
[Click..]

Damn, I am certainly jinxed with the black trouser.. OR blame her! I choose the latter.. ;-)!

Wait a minute! What is the day today? Friday!! Ahoy!! Should we not have a jinxed session?

Friday - Today

Alright here we go..

Nicely pressed(ironed in the Indian way), white shirt, and a gray trouser. And, I do have a different way of wearing a shirt - too lazy to unbutton, I slide shirt like a t-shirt - (The real slim Vish is standing up now...;-)!!), I say to Ruks, "It is a white shirt! different trouser, same FRIDAY!"

Catch the train - up the escalator - go to the cafeteria - grab the dunkin donuts coffee - go to my work cubicle - login into office mail to find that Eddy man is WFH (work from home) - Good - No incidents - Dabba, the application developer, sent an email clarifying on the issue I raised to her yesterday - sipping the coffee now and then - no incidents - login into my gmail - My inbox spammed - and damn! - I dont know to drink coffee.. a stain on my "t-shirted" shirt! How did it happen? I did not pour the coffee on my shirt either. Quit drinking coffee! OK! Vish agrees that he does not know how to drink... coffee! Amen!

On a second thought, He does not consider quitting coffee. Amen! Peace prevails!

Leaving on a "Jet Plane".. Don't know when I'll be back again...

All the blogs you read in my page, the characters, and the relationships are all fictitious. If any resemblance to real life, it is purely coincidental.

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It is April 6th 2018 AD. A week to go for my spatial sojourner. The cell phone rings <Whaats-aa whats-on Whats-on-aa whats-aa dhap.... Lajjavathiye..>. A call from India, the land where religion is regarded above humanity. What was the call about? “When are you guys leaving?” the person on the other line spoke. “This Friday, April 13th”, I replied with excitement. “Oh!” I could sense the fear and concern in the person’s voice. I asked, “Is anything wrong?” “Nothing. Nothing at all.” the reply came. “What is time of flight?” “12:30 noon” “Is that Indian Time?” “No Chicago Time”. “What is the time difference between Chicago and India?” Fair enough, I got the idea where they were getting at.

“So, what should be done?” I was smirking when I said that. “Could you postpone your trip to after 7.5 years? It is preferable for the spaceship to start at 4:30 am or you leave before 6:00pm the previous evening. Also, if there is another spaceship leaving the day after, let Ruks travel in that.” “What???” I gasped. “The panchangam says, it is not a good day for travel. You have Saturn sitting in your 12th position – Pppeakkkk Time!”

Mannar & Mannar had earned themselves a reputation for providing a world class comfort in space travel. A well planned savings had earned us the luxury of visiting the land of Martians. I believe they do process Red-Card (equivalent Permanent residency status).

What do we get there and not here? – A typical question was asked by me to Ms. Kunjalam – a travel advising specialist. Well, almost all the facilities you get here on Earth. “Saarayam, a water refinery unit, has been delivering Koovam, mineral water bottles.” Darn! Some luxury these Martians are enjoying!.What about gas? “Oh you mean petrol and diesel? Seemannai & Co has 1000s of perennial oil rigs in the poles of the planet. Job Security, food, clothing, name anything, you have it there. We have processed the red-card for 23,741,536 people.” Earth has been struck by famine for the past 4 years. Saarayam, realizing the consumers’ potential, relocated the head quarters to position 114o4”E and 5 o 35” N. Same with “Sevaru-Kadai”, leading retail “Wal-….” stores in USA.

Why do we follow superstitious belief? What are its roots? Who are/were the proponents? Most often, the answer I get is, “It has been followed for ages. No one to question its existence. Since maha muni/sages time………”

Couple of quick questions: Is it affecting a morality of a person (By not following the superstitious beliefs)? I do not see that happening. How far is conscience involved? Other than, “Do this at this specified time. Do that at this specified time”, I cannot perceive any closeness to “Conscience”. What about mind? Conscience and mind – synonymous ain’t it? But MIND, is more like a tool and weapon here. We kind of train our mind to certain beliefs (BeLIEfs???) Again, “Do this at the specified time. DO NOT do it!!” How does it affect us? Well, if one still persists on doing it – at the wrong time! – your life is traumatized forever. (Sounds similar to the chain of emails I receive, asking me to forward to 10 people to get PIECE of mind, 15 people to see my marriage successful, 100 people to life full of satisfaction: What a SADDISTfactional way to bless a person ;-)!!!)

May be a pure coincidence – The Author wish to cite the following incident. I am really stupefied here: a coincidence or has to happen-will happen or human error. The following incident happened (A real life incident – Overriding the disclaimer of the blog – Pure Coincidence, remember???) when I was doing my final year Under-Grad. It was the farewell party hosted by our immediate juniors. Enjoyed the status of being the founder of College band – rocked couple of on-stage shows, our band was invited to perform our last stage show in front of about 3000+ gathering. An hour before our GRAND FINALE, my friend and I got up to have a word with the sound engineer and proceed to back stage. As soon as I got up, I tripped- A bad Omen! (Damn, I do not know how to walk properly even at the age of 21???!!!). My friend, an ardent devotee of Lord Superstition-eshwara, promptly sat down for couple of minutes and then he got up. Urgh! Limits, ain’t it?? The story does not end here. What about the show? Your guess please? The show did not go well right? A BIG NO. You are wrong! The show did not happen at all. Hahaha!! Why? Some professor hoodwinked us by saying, it is 8:00pm, the show is supposed to end at 8:00pm. Result? Utter chaos. Tube lights broken, Glass panes shattered, chairs thrown high in the air, Cat calls and boohs! The crowd finally dispersed after expressing the anguish. STOP. REWIND.....aah.. there.. there STOP! Now PLAY. Where did it all start? An hour before our GRAND FINALE, my friend and I got up to have a word with the sound engineer and proceed to back stage. As soon as I got up, I tripped! (Damn, I do not know how to walk properly even at the age of 21???!!!). A 21 year old fellow not able to walk!!! The root cause of the debacle!! Albeit, there were other reasons cited (for those who did not know I tripped) such as, the time the show began (Yama Kandam!), number of shows scheduled for the evening, numerology factor for the show’s name. I still cannot forget the laugh and glare I got from my dear friend who still continues to mention this instance during our conversation – and ofcourse the ride back home in my dear Kinetic Honda with my Keyboard et al on NH 47.


Pardon my didactic approach or attitude here. People who argue that, “We live in twenty first century, we talk about women’s lib/reservations (a topic b-eaten to death!), no gender bias, late night parties...blah blah…”, are probably myopic to follow such kind of superstitious beliefs. Baffles the author here! Often the by-products and catalysts includes, chauvinistic accusations, astrology etc… Hmm Très Intéressant!! Do I see something brewing here? Locking horns with this RAM anyone?

That was a long detour from the imaginary world... The Hero of this blog goes singing around the trees with his heroine..."Leaving on a Jet Plane.. Don't know when I'll be back again..."

After, an hour of discussion and persuasion on the phone, it was finally yet half heartedly agreed that the trip to Martian land would be called off – Just to appease the people from the land of traditions and culturally rich – again, where religion is regarded above humanity. A waste of couple of grand of dollars. Caption ideally suited for Citibank – Calling card to India $10, Calling off the trip $,$$,$$$.cc, Seeing people at mental ease PRICELESS!! As I regard humanity above superstitious beliefs, I was forced to cancel this ambitious trip.

People who graze this blog are welcomed to join/post discussions. A final footnote before I go to bed…: I being a hypocrite, I bid adieu by saying, “Dogs that howl on Christmas Eve will go mad before the end of the year.” Adios!

Peace! Amen!

Karthik

Debate on expectations

Continuation from previous post..

Check this link. This is about a debate on expectations. some are hilarious.. some can be thought about. And Apologies, it is in Tamil. No subtitles.

For Instance, the discussion about moustache... hahaha!! And about IITs and IIMs.. Gosh!!! Some valid points are discussed towards the end of the first episode. Worth waiting for it... do not skip!

Part two has a good opening... But sometime I feel the participants lacked seriousness. May be less can be concluded from sampled population.

View them at ease! nice time pass!

Conversation with a friend - Part Three

This blog is a continuation of Conversation with a friend - Part One and Part Two.

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Conversation with a friend - Part Three

I was more into asking questions than answering them, so I continued, "How much of expectations do we set?". Back to Basics. "In Bio-tech we do Perl programming. A Senior guy in our office quoted 'If this is not what you expected, please alter your expectations'.", she said. I intervened, "But the catch is we are trying to deliver a product. The client (regardless of the sexes) has some EXPECTATIONS and that needs to met."

"Imagine the whole matrimony as a process", she said. Well, OK. Let's add a new dimension to it. Instead of considering the product as a thing, let us equate the matrimonial relationship to a process. For any process, we have an input and an output. Inputs are the expectations and the output is a what the reaction occur between the inputs aided by an able catalyst.

What are these catalyst? Mind (Couple's)- Thought process; Originator of the expectations asking you to stick on to your expectations no matter what OR ability to adjust your expectations - Flexible planning, Society (the people around the couple) - What are they saying? what will they say? aunty talks, granny talks. A feasible solution can be found only by adding the right amount of Catalyst- The MIND and a tinge of SOCIETY (can be avoided if not required). It is up to the couple to sort out and set the levels of expectations.

I am not expressing my view to point out the correct way or the wrong way to go about setting expectations of a couple here. Let the couple sit together and decide on what expectations of each other can be met amicably. This can happen only if there exists an open hearted conversation between the two and how reasonable they are with one another expectations.

"hmm.. This should make an interesting blog", I commented. "Yeah! Lets blog it! Kats have been asking me blog since a while." She typed. "I had a look at his too. Pretty interesting! It is just that I find it too lazy to sit an type!" I replied back...


As for the requirements of Vish's Project, it was improperly gathered and given to Vish and Eddy man realized that it was out of Vish's control. After a horrible two week session he delivered the project and it is up for testing! Peace be it!

Conversation with a friend - Part Two

This blog is a continuation of Conversation with a friend - Part One.

Conversation with a friend - Part Two

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11:00am: Done! At last! Script execution is completed! Here is it Angel! Now I have passed the responsibility to Angel - Let her review and get back later - With sense of satisfaction coupled with remorse that I was a partially responsible for breaching the deadline, I sank into my cubicle. Logged on to Gtalk - I do find a couple of people "KNOWN" to me online. But I did not find the necessity to ping them - I seldom do.

12:45pm:"Bling" - The chat message window popped up...

"Hey Mr. Vish. How is the missus doing?", She typed. Bewildered, I was thinking to myself in a lighter vein, "How about asking how are you?? Is anyone concerned about me here?? Damn the Earth!". The conversation continued...

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2:30pm:"Now a days it is even worse...", my friend typed in the chat window. "Worse?? of what??", I asked myself. "It is worse now. I mean the EXPECTATIONS", she continued. "How would you measure it?? Worse.. Ain't it perspective??" - A flash of thought ran in my mind waiting to be vented out. But my fingers took the lead and typed what was in my pseudo-mind, "Expectations of WHO?? The Parents or the couples??" - A valid question, I felt - Cause, I was unsure as who the subject was.

"Both with the bride and the groom. Getting horoscopes matched is easier than preferences matching." Woah! True I felt. Lets Begin Listing! Guys first! ;-)!The Girls should have an "H1/F1/Z1/G1/ 26 alphabets1" visa - Assuming the groom is in US! She should be working - Contribute so much amount towards running the show! - may be I am not that kind! Or I did not exercise my rights properly.. =))! - Lets push my thoughts aside and hear what she has to say! I am more interested in what it is to come from a woman's point of view. Biased?? Will hear her views soon.

"The girl wants that he should be earning this much/that much. Most times in a couple, both of them work so much, either no kids or kids if as such don't get attention getting parents to look after kids is a trend I've seen in many of my friends." I concurred with her citing an example - " Yeah... Most of the guys and girls today set their bar so high and when they fail to meet the expectations rift arises! A distant family friend of ours, a couple - Both of them work for different leading outsourcing firms. The guy's MIL's mom takes care of their little ones, because the couple were not relenting to give up their jobs - Pay and Career???" "Why do they have kids in first place if they cannot manage?" She retorted. I sincerely did not have an answer for her for I was not involved...

"People seldom realize how much it affects the growth of the child - even in later stages." Examples are aplenty in today's mechanical and non-altruistic world. A spoilt child (I talking about 19-20yr old kid!), brought up by her grand parents, feel lazy enough to put a toothpaste on her brush and expects her granny to do it??? Flabbergasted? Oh! Don't be - Some call it grand parents' ABYSMAL love! True indeed. But ain't there a limit to it? Sign of a SPOILT child? What would that child (still a child!) do when he/she gets married?? Expect the spouse to brush this kiddo's teeth? Pete's Sake No!! A new level added to the expectation?

An arranged marriage going astray after engagement is not far from a trite thing these days. "Some girl's expectations are so high", she continued. Hmm interesting! coming from the horse's mouth?? Some whimsical reason is enough for the girl to call of the wedding. I just wondered, "Has a wedding been called off because of a GUY's call?" What exactly are the standards set by the girl? What do they want from a marriage or relationship between a husband and wife?

Coming back to the conversation, She continued, "Sometimes there are snobbish people who become sober post marriage. There are sober people who becomes snobbish as well post marriage but being snobbish or sober is personal choice - i mean one does not show such attitude to everyone." I added, "It all depends on how controlled you are with your emotions and your snobbish opinions. May be a difficult age to live in?" She concurred, "Very much! Imagine two years later??"

To be Continued...

Conversation with a friend - Part One

This is a three parts blog. I will be posting the part two of the blog shortly.

Characters in this Blog:
Vish (First Person)
Ruks (Vish's Wife)
Kats (Vish's Friend)
Vids (Kats's Wife)
Angel (Vish's Co-worker)
Eddy Man (Vish's Manager)

Conversation with a friend - Part One

"Now a days it is even worse...", Vids typed in the chat window. "Worse?? of what??", I asked myself. "It is worse now. I mean the EXPECTATIONS", she continued. "How would you measure it?? Worse.. Ain't it perspective??" - A flash of thought ran in my mind waiting to be vented out. But my fingers took the lead and typed what was in my pseudo-mind, "Expectations of WHO??"

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6:15 am: Alarm goes off - Snoozed it - I was forcing myself to get up - Had worked till 4:00 am to get my script up and running - Curse the deadlines and improper requirements gathering - uh!! - Can't the BS-BAs gather it properly?? - There goes my chain of thoughts/blame game for some! - dozed off...

6:45 am: my laptop screamed - Ah - the script failed - where in the world the debugger went? - At the back of my mind - "When did I last speak to Ruks?? 4-5 days? I need to press my trousers. Should I catch the 8:00 am express or 7:15 express? I need to pack my lunch too? Why am I over working my self? I have missed and messed the communication link between the homosapiens I love the most. I will be returning late today - Studio Production Class. Should I board the METRA from Ogilvie Station or catch a blue line~metra Combo after class?" - What is wrong here? - My thoughts are clouded - Ever since Ruks left for India, work life has been hectic. I have been over working myself - Pressure from all sides! - FIX THE BUG IN THE SCRIPT!!! - 5 minutes - it was up and running - Shower Shower shower..

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"Ruks is in India NOW??", She typed. "Yeah, She is now in India.. and that is how she gave those interviews and stuff on TVs and Print medias. She is happy there for the moment.." Exchanged the messages. "Happy - Its been almost 4 days since I spoke to her - Is she Happy? Blame Game again anyone?". "For how long??" - "Four Months" - The usual conversation took place - "Give her a Surprise - Make a visit to India", But I was blinded by the phone ringer flickering - I got a call from Angel, asking me about the script update and results.

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7:25am: What is the time now? Should I have to wear the new shirt I got one yesterday or press another shirt - Press the Trousers first! - I am going to wear the new shirt - hell or high water! - Script!! - Yeah it is running - no issues! uff..

7:45am: Grab the keys - get out of the house - got to buy the tickets - Wait! The Check book - Shutdown the laptop - Pack your lunch - Jacket - Its raining - Out Out Out...

7:50am:Monthly pass to Ogilvie please! - Caution the doors are opening - Next stop is Clyborn.

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"so Whats missus up to?", She continued. "Interviews and singing rt now.. she was not keeping well for a week.. ", I typed back. "Any Links??" "Ahh.. the one was in Tamil magazine.." - I knew she was not fluent in Tamil - neither am I!!! - ".. And another in SS music channel.." - "OK cool! Celeb wife-eh?" - "N.. Illa Vendam.. not a celeb.." - She is just another person with special talent - Gifted Voice.
"Me speaking tamil itself is wonder. Even Kats does not know to read.. But at least he speaks better than me..", she typed. Languages forms the art of communication. WORDS convey 10 different meanings - or at least the person hearing it reads it in a different way - but ACTION conveys only 1 meaning.

Then we started talking about Kats's, her husband, home studio. "Well, I have a put in a word to Ruks regarding that - building a home studio.. and NOT RIGHT NOW came the reply"... Ruks being practical in seeing "we have other commitments!" - Wish, I could set up a small one may be a year from now?? I thought.

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9:30am: Damn the script - stuck again! - Why are the parameters so variable? - Why was it not documented?? What were the BAs doing?? All BAs do BS - My status message read on Gtalk - Angel calls in and asks, "Hey Vvviiisshhhh, What is the update??" - Eddy man is seriously not happy with what is happening around - Deadline Breached?? - What must amma be doing now? Should I talk to her? I had to vent the pressure out to some one - Work is driving me crazy here - I felt as though I was passing out - water water water...

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"I need to get back to the lab catch you laterz do pass a hi to the missus.." She bid adieu and logged off.

To be Continued...

Doosra??

This is my second attempt at blogging. Hence named it Doosra.. Dont know what exactly motivated me to start.. yeah thanks to my friend Karthik.. (We are not each other alibis!).. Starting this with utmost sincereity (utmost!!) to keep updating it once in a while (once-in-a-while).

AhirBhairavi - a beautiful Raagam.. I fell in love with it - Hence the name of the blog. It all started with Pibare Maanarasam -> transposed to Albela sajan (from Hum Dil de chuke Sanam) ->to a couple of devotional songs. I am not a carnatic buff here. Just in the process of the learning various forms of music. When you get a chance, listen to the song in the link. You should be able to phrase the the aarohanam and avarohanam once you form the scale of the song - Getting the glympse of various frequency of notes. Even more, I was captivated by this little young lad. It is a video link. Do watch it when you get time. He is awesome!

And Yeah Hareesh was commenting on him, "May be ten years down the lane, we would meet him in one of the aradhanais here!" - Quite possible!