it’S MY TAg

This iS MY TAg. You can read the rules of the game here.

“Love is not what you search for and find; It is what you stumble upon and feel”

That’s why it can blossom between two differing personalities, thrive under the worst of conditions, and even stand the test of time. Expectations invariably lead to disappointment, even if the outcome falls short by an inch. But dreams tell a different tale altogether. Either it comes true or one wakes up to reality. And so I keep dreaming about that one special woman in my life. While all my dreams have been splattered across this page in the form of poems, here’s an attempt at consolidating them (in no particular order and not encompassing all).

1. I dream about dancing together in pouring rain, walking hand in hand in freezing cold, or driving together during odd hours of the night. The one in my dream, is as cranky, and fun loving and adventurous as I am.
2. I dream about fighting. Not the brutal physical combats. But the chinna chinna verbal sandais for just about everything I opine. The one in my dreams has her own set of ideals, interests and opinions. She does not give in to my arguments. She would concede only to a little romance and a lot of love.
3. I dream about laying my head on her lap, and sleeping like a baby listening to the lullabies she sings. The one in my dreams sings, and she sings for me. On odd days, when I take the lead, she pretends not to hate it.
4. I dream about coming back home wanting my own space, or needing a shoulder to cry on. With no words spoken, I get my solitude or the shoulder. The one in my dreams is sensitive and understands me from just the look in my eyes.
5. I dream about laughing together, pulling each other’s legs, and playing cranks on each other. End of it, there is no hard feelings, just pure unadulterated fun. The one in my dreams is funny and humorous and knows how to turn serious moments light.
6. I dream about being surprised at seeing the entire home candle lit before dinner, about dancing together to the tunes of dreamy numbers, and about being cuddled in the sofa all night not watching the movie running on TV. The one in my dreams is cupid and an awesome romantic.
7. I dream about a Somu who is plump, chubby and a lot healthier than he is today. After all, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. The one in my dreams is a wonderful cook who knows how to make my mouth water (don’t’ mistake it for jollu). I promise that I would do my due on weekends.
8. I keep dreaming about a charming and good looking young woman with eyes beaming with peace, a heart brimming with patience and an attitude that totally lacks arrogance. In short, the one in my dreams is a total contrast to what I am today. We complement each other.

Limsa kannu, nee inga varum bothu unakkku irukku ma veyttu. I spent 4 hrs of my vacation writing this.

P.S. When the dream bubble bursts and reality is staring straight into my eyes, I would still be around to write about it.

Today is my last day at work

“Today is my last day at work”, I went around extending my hand and telling everyone at work. In these 7 years of professional engagement with my current organization, I have never once been prompted to take this decision. In me, the feeling was mixed. But in others, I was surprised to see no emotion.

“Today is my last day at work”, I was telling my friend at work. “Oh yeah! Take care machi”, is all that he had to say. Does he really understand that am going to be away. After years of association, do we just end up becoming colleagues? Nothing more?

“Today is my last day at work”, I said to a colleague. “Good Somu, am happy for you”, she said. I even told this to the highest authority in my business unit and all he said was, “Why are you even telling me this?”

Have I not built relationships here for friends to miss my presence? Have I not contributed professionally to the cause of the organization for my management to feel the void? Maybe they realize I would be back in 20 days. After all, today is my last day at work before I go on vacation.

P.S. Booking tickets for Bangalore for this coming weekend and already made arrangements for the Bryan Adams show ;o)

Thinking on one’s feet

Running customers through our entire range of support tools is something I am designated to do. In one such demo exercise with a bunch of customers yesterday, I was encountering problems in navigating from one link to the other.

Not wanting to tell them that it is to do with backend issue, I just mentioned, “Sirs, am on wireless and the signal strength seems to be very poor”.

Convinced, the customers started walking out when one of my customer-friendly associates said, “Somu, I have a PC wired on the LAN. You can show it from there.” Little did he know that the problem was to do with backend and not my wireless LAN.

After 15 mins of embarrassment, I had to tell them what I wanted to avoid all along. “Sorry sirs. It is unfortunate that we are having back end issues now. I would love to walk across to the conference room sometime and show you the demo”.

Trust me. If you have been thinking “THINKING ON ONE’S FEET” is an individual trait, you are wrong. You might need others to shut their dim-witted mouths up for you to be successful in it.

With Mr.Me and Myself

It all started with having to drop my sister off at the MGM resorts yesterday. And on my way back at Mayajaal, I thought I would book tickets in advance for the evening. Having no concrete plans for the day and with everyone else being busy with their own work, I decided to chart out my own plan for the day.

Without delay, booked tickets for Aathi and watched it all by myself. End of it all, I was so happy, for, I did things I have never before done in life.

1. Watched a movie in the theatre all by myself.
2. Broke the mental block of having to drive through the ECR (This is primarily because of a nasty experience that I have had in ECR that costed a drunk by passer his life)
3. Crossed the 100 kM/Hr barrier (it sure is fun to see those vehicles disappear behind you)

Rest of the day saw me sleeping, window-shopping, and paying a visit to the good old Besi beach. In short, a wonderful day spent in the solitude of the best company I have ever had.

P.S. After Aathi, I would like to declare that am officially out of the Vijay fan club.

Happy Pongal

What happens when you have

A cold coffee
A devil’s own
A blue colored jazzy drink
A butter scotch ice cream
A black forest pastry ??????

You end up having a Happy Pongal.

Surprised?

Check out What happened on Jan 14th, 2006

Leave me “A LOAN”

** Based on a true story **

Time: 1930 hrs
Date: Jan 18, 2006

Much to his irritation, his mobile goes “Tring tring” just when he was about to leave home from office. Having battled with “Sir, you haven’t paid your bills” and “Do you need a credit card” calls all through the day, he was in no mood for anymore such trash. Being the sincere guy that he is, he could not ignore the fact that it could possibly be a customer of his. And so he picked up the call.

Caller: Is this Mr.So and So?
He: Yeah, this is very much he.
Caller: Am calling from XYZ bank.,
He: (As if he was waiting for this opportunity) Would you mind not calling me at such odd hours ? I am already on the verge of losing my patience.
Caller: But sir…
He: I absolutely have no need for credit cards, personal loans or any other shit you have to offer. So quit calling me again.
Caller: Am sorry sir. Your friend Jaikumar has given your name as reference for his personal loan application. So, this is just a formal enquiry.
He: Is it ? Geez Am so sorry. How can I help you?

And so the call finally ended.

At 2352 hrs, he is still wide-awake sincerely hoping that his friend gets the loan.

She is one damn B****

Never does she leave me,
notwithstanding my frantic attempts
to keep her in a safe distance.
She is all over me,
heedless to the utter disgust,
that I have developed in immense.

Though I despise her to the core,
I have had this live in relationship,
for more than a decade now.
Every night in my room,
before I catch up with forty winks,
hmm, to elaborate my etiquettes don’t allow.

I might be her only Love,
but that’s no reason
for me to be caught in her trap.
I cannot be married to her,
for the rest of my life,
fine if you brand me, a stone hearted chap.

Persistent, I can’t let her get,
or allow her conquest of my life,
‘coz I don’t see it as a positive sign.
I desperately need to find a way,
to beat her to death,
this damn boredom of mine.

When in doubt, follow the crowd

Everyone else : Ha ha ha
So me too : Ha ha ha
Everyone else : Clap clap clap
So me too : Clap clap clap

This happens every time I attempt something I do not understand. This time around it was a night show in Satyam – BLUFFMASTER. With the guy on my right happily sleeping (well he is worse than I am) and the one on my left thoroughly enjoying, I was left with no option but to interpret the movie in my own way. Luckily for me, I have this knack of enjoying movies no matter how crappy or incomprehensive they are.

After all this, there is just one question lingering in my mind.

How can a Hindi movie seem so much Greek and Latin to me?

May I vomit?

Eating in Subway has become a routine for few of us at work. The quick service and the delicious sandwiches they have to offer are reasons why we sneak out for lunch there even on a working day. Overheard this conversation today at the Besant Nagar outlet between a customer (CU) and the subway guy (SW):

CU: Italian bread
SW: Veg or non veg ?
CU: Non veg, Chicken tikka
SW: Extra cheese?
CU: Sure. No tomatoes and olives
SW: Mint sauce?
CU: Sure.

After a while…

SW: May I vomit?
CU: urghhh no.
SW to the billing guy: One 6” Chicken Tikka, with extra cheese, without warming.

The rest of us: Ha ha ha ha ha !

And yet another meet

I know I have this habit of writing about every small meet that I attend. But everytime it gives me an oppurtunity to get to meet someone new that I can’t help but write about them :o)

Not only were Upma, Vadai and Bhajji on the menu, but Nayantara and Narayana Moorthy were the chief guests of the teeny-weeny meet we had this weekend.

It was really nice of Ravi and Chitra to have invited us over to their place for supper last Saturday. Having been living in an apartment ever since I remember, it was quite natural for me to be surprised seeing a long standing independent house with a spacious courtyard right in the heart of the city.

DV made a special appearance and was keen on projecting himself as a kid-loving guy. The motive behind it is only known to the few who had gathered and maybe to few of his close friends too. Never knew making two fortnightly trips every year to Chennai from Quatar can have such serious objectives.

The rest of us were regulars.

Hari who was popularly known as Mister Hari on that day and the lady who has already broken her resolution by not talking much were the others who graced the occasion with their presence. Nayantara and Narayana Moorthy are Ravi’s cute kids :o) And ofcourse we missed Sophie who could not make it.

Thanks for the wonderful evening Ravi.

P.S. “I need to take this picture just to make her feel jealous”, DV was heard uttering these words as he clicked the below picture.