Two States

Another interesting take on the stark reality of arranged marriages! As Chetan takes us through a journey that has partly been transcended from his own experiences, I can't help but feel sorry for a substantial number of teenagers who have embarked on the treacherous path of "love"...

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against arranged marriages. But the sheer thought of two people working round the clock just to convince their parents sends a chill down my spine. Mr. Bhagat starts of on a very euphoric note in the IIM Ahmedabad cafeteria (who doesn't like mushy cafeteria romance) But as the pages unfold, the plot gets darker and darker, marred probably by the crimson colour of the couple's life blood.

Though we see everything working out in the end (Hurray!!), somehow something seems amiss in the way the two lovebirds have evolved, from the "I-can't-let-go-of-you" college goers to the "I-think-my-parents-won't-approve" adults.. And that my friends, is the reality that we face today.

All in all, a nice interesting work of fiction (or is it). The book also explains a lot of unsolved mysteries from the protagonist's past, including his relationship with his father which ultimately is the twist in the tale, to his ex-gf. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who thinks India is evolving and maturing.

Peace

Alcoholism!!

There is a joy that banishes all reason,

An ecstasy so vast it has no shore,

A craving that devours all decision,

A lust for nothingness that lusts for more.

There are angels in pursuit of pain

Who take Satanic pride in degradation,

Who'll drag you down the hill and back again

Hosanna-ing your sweet humiliation.

Just like a fire fanned by a hot, dry wind,

Or like a flood that sweeps away all will,

This wall of pleasure leaves no one behind,

No sign of life where all one loves lies still.

So does the soul in anguish hate the joy

That soothes the hate that does the soul destroy.

My Day In The Kitchen

As part of my "department training" one of the sections I was looking forward to was the kitchen or F&B Production as we call it here. So there I was in a spotless white chef's uniform and raring to go. The first two hours went pretty ok considering the fact that I was with the Sous Chef asking questions and getting all "inquisitive" Then things went horribly wrong (or right). I volunteered to get first hand experience on Kitchen work. The chefs were more than happy to let me in!!

I started with the arduous task of (yeah laugh all you want!!) peeling beans and onions and carrots("Mezzo Plus") for the next couple of hours. Then when all hope seemed lost, somebody just came up asked me to help out in the Indian Kitchen. And then there I was preparing "Dal Makhani" and "Mutton Rogan Josh".. And 12 hrs later, I was actually good....

So now here I am, doin wat I do best(at least I hope to) So Ma watch out the next time I come back home. Your son is now a part time "chef"!!

Peace

HR.. Its not for everybody!!

Started off with this thought today morning... Now as I sit here @ 4:00 a.m. the next day, all drowsy eyed, thought I'd turn this into my next attempt at amusing myself (seriously!!)...

During my 1st year in MBA, I had a very different view of what the typical HR manager is and does.As I've gone thru the rungs now, seems I was sucked into the netherworld of my dreams. Every possibility of my utopian thought process seems to have gone as I sit and fill up the salary emoluments of the 300 odd employees here

Just when everything seemed haywire..(try makin sense of numbers for 11 hrs n u'll kno wat m feelin), a security guard comes down to the office lookin for me(??!!) On further inquiry I came to kno, he's come for a salary advance.. U can probably imagine my initial reaction. Thankfully, I eased out the words " kyun chaiye?" with ,I confess, some difficulty.

So he tells me, " Sir, I have been doing two shifts every day for the past 2 weeks while my wife was in the final stages of her pregnancy, just so that I can afford a better hospital. But now that I have no choice, I need to withdraw my salary in advance just to cover the hospital expenses."

I didn't kno wat to say(I still don't...) How could I explain the technicalities of a salary advance to him. I just reachd into my wallet & gave him watever I had. Thankfully the amount will cover at least the initial expenses. I kno I kno, he could easily have beguiled me. But something inside made me do wat I did.

Judge me if you must, I plead guilty.....HR is definitely not for everybody!!!!

Ciao (Sigh!!)

Mumbai..An afterthought...

So its been a week since I left Mumbai....friends,the big-city life..etc etc,the list is endless. After a lot of motovational speeches and anecdotes, decided I was ready for a very different kinda lifestyle in the months to come. See, I've been transferred to the Land of the Lakes.And strangely, I'm loving every bit of it. Feels like Ranchi all over again. Small town, everybody knows everybody and people are just plain hospitable :) So the aura around this place created by my own sub-conscious and helped to no less extent by a bunch of loonies I've come to know as friends(I'm just kiddin, I Love You all :) was completely shattered.

As I sit here in my office at 10:30 in the nite typin away, some things just keep picklin my brain.. So here's wat I'm gonna do. Write down the most memorable moments in Mumbai...

1. The Flat.. awesome place, 11th floor, awesome view, and amazing beds.. :)

2. My Roomies.. Anna, Sardar & Sunny paaji-- we had the best of times.

3. The Training Centre (We were the 1st batch there, so yeaaaaah)

4. Pop-Tates & Happy Singh ;)

5. The walk from Marine Drive to Nariman Point... trust me, feels ethereal :)

6. Bandra Linkin Road Bazaar..name it and they have it!!

7. Carter Road

8. Siddhi Vinayak Mandir

9. Songs... "Open The Door, Dahling Open The Door..." & "In the Morning, In the Morning..."(Thank You Anna) & " Maula Maula...." (Panditji)

10. MY BATCHMATES!!!! :D

Love you all

Ciao

An Obituary

In Loving Memory

It is with great grief and melancholy that I regret to inform you that my Nokia 3110c is no more.She passed away today at 3 p.m. in Ranchi.Although she was fine till 4 p.m. yesterday, sudden strokes on her motherboard led to her rapidly deteriorating condition.We consulted the best doctors for the same and they tried their level best to restore her to full health again.Although she did seem to show signs of recovery, suddenly she was declared as no more. A lot of hue and cry later, we have consoled ourselves to perform her last rites.Hence, with a heavy heart, a simple ceremony we has been  arranged for at Nokia Bhavan tomorrow in  the memory of a friend who stood by me through thick and thin.As I sit here with her in my lap, I can't but help thinking of all the wonderful times that we have enjoyed throughout. Hence I personally request you to kindly grace the occassion with your prescence.She would have wanted so.... :(

Venue: Nokia Bhavan

Time : 2 p.m. onwards.

Regards,

Debansh Roy

Mobile Number:.....(no more) :((

Khana Khazana???Ya rt!!!(Sorry for doubting ur efforts Ma)

Came back to my alma mater after 3 long years.. Expected a lot of pampering and the likes from my eldest brother.And here I am,cooking rice and aloo ki sabzi all by myself.Accidents were but a natural consequence.So a cooker full of overboiled basmati and a burnt kadai later, I gave it another shot.And lo behold,I'm the proudest amateur cook alive!! :) Nevertheless the importance of this day can't be stressed enough.I've always been able to fend for myself as far as food is concerned(mostly maggi and scrambled eggs,but wat the hell..)And to give my first serious shot at some Indian food was an experience in itself. Also I'd like to take this opuurtunity to..ahem..thank all those ppl responsible for my current state of being....."I'm Lovin' It!!":)

Last but not the least, if ur reading this Ma,I'm sorry for all the times I underestimated how much effort ot takes just to stand infront of the kitchen and cook..let alone make it delicious.Hatsoff to you!!

And of course thanx dada for givin me complete control over the kitchen and learn to cook..You have no idea wat a mess you've gotten yourself into..;) thanx again

Gotta go make rotis..Ciao :)