harsh in kinesphere

NB is just an average guy, and no matter what he thinks of himself he will still be an average guy. What’s most intriguing is the way he goes out of his way to unsuccessfully convince you that he’s something special.

Couple of days back I was coming home and I met NB (wishing he didn’t have something to brag about). So we were talking about general topics like college, exams, music (yawn). But as I was making an effort to talk to him, he kept scratching his arm; I figured since he doesn’t have a hand in his pants, everybody is a winner. So after about 5 minutes, he started folding his T-shirt sleeve and looking the other way so that I could get a clear view of his arm. I caught a glimpse of some abstract shape tattooed on his arm. And I had to ask, “Did u get a tattoo?” and I just made his day! He went on to explain how tattoos are cool, I takes lot of guts to get one meanwhile I was cursing myself ‘look what you’ve done’. I patiently kept nodding and he went on and on about best places to get tattoos. It was dummies guide to crap- ultimate edition. The tattoo was, err unique in its lame way. The tattoo was what I used to draw as a kid on my favorite wall and I also remember being scolded by my parents because according to them, “that’s not a drawing!!!” Who’s laughing now? And my subconscious answered “certainly not you!!” Frankly, two dragons humping as they barbecue with their fire breath would have been a better tattoo. Then I figured that the idea must have been beyond the artist’s comprehension.

I don’t have problems with people getting tattoos but going out of one’s way to show it totally negates the whole purpose of getting it. In fact I am relieved that he didn’t get one on the small of his back or his thigh, coz that would have been traumatic.

Vacations are a time to relax, it’s the god given time to pursue your hobbies, time to chill and take it easy. Not doing ANYTHING is ‘in’ during the vacation season. I never get bored in vacations, though I do wish if I was in a classroom counting how many times the professor said ‘Ok’ but I will never get ‘ nothing to do in vacations’ syndrome unlike most of the students.

For me there are lots of things to do in vacations like fidgeting with the computer, hanging out with friends, sketching, do crazy experiments in the kitchen /*and eating your creation off course*/ or even catching movies always wanted to see. Even a pen and paper provides atleast 2 hours of enthrallment. I have already almost a month enjoying the pleasures of vacation.

But some of my friends vacations pose an even greater challenge than college itself. The first few days are spent with your college pals coz during the beginning every one is enthusiastic and stuff, but then weeks pass by without a phone call then you start getting scraps asking you what you are up to. They don’t just camp in the living room in front of the TV set, complaining ‘pak raha hai’.

Anyways enjoy your vacations until they last.

Has anybody observed how all the fairy tales end with ‘… and they lived happily ever after’? Surprisingly this line (with all its cliché) does find its way into our normal lives. As a student, this line is thrown at as a last resort to make you do what you have to. Think of it as a ‘Bramaastra’. I distinctly remember my school math and science teachers convincing my peers (who were least interested in these subjects-> thereby taking arts, home science etc) with white lies like ‘it’s the last time you’ll encounter math and science so it’s best if you have pleasant memories about them.’
Through incessant lecturing about the seriousness of the board exam, teachers/ parents would often cite examples of students (distant cousins or neighborhood chaps) who scored and made it to their dream colleges. These role models would be projected on the other side, living the good life and like those TV marketing commercials they would end it with, “..all this only if you….” Back to square one. This would go on and on day after day, everyday. These exams bring out the best and worst in parents, just when you thought that your pops couldn’t hurt a fly, during your 10th and 12th he’ll be possessed by Hitler.
Some parents have a professional approach. ‘Do this and you will get that laptop you’ve been eyeing at Croma’.
No matter what you do, there will be a new challenge and another ‘happily ever after’ behind it. At times I wish they’d stop but then, what would be the teenager’s expression (who’s been working his ass off for an exam and doesn’t want to even look at books for sometime) when his parents say, “its not the end, there is graduation, post-graduation a good job…..!” .Parents and teachers are like that, and there is no greater joy than seeing satisfaction in their eyes after you achieve. We need to stop perusing our happily ever after, accept that there is no such thing and stop complaining.

I just couldn't resist and so i am posting this before time!

Had our BE farewell in college a couple of days back and to say the least, IT ROCKED!!! After coaxing out fees, fines, charges etc the college management finally decided to spare us all by not giving us a lousy send-off. Good food, so-so DJ and cut short speeches by the faculty ensured that the farewell was just perfect. It was the best way to say goodbye to engineering.

Having made tons of friends who are fellow Aishwarya Rai worshippers, tech fanatics and music loving geeks. It will be hard not to miss my friends and the engg timetable. But I know that I will get over it pretty soon, thanks to orkut and the internet, It’ll be easy to keep in touch with the gang and getting nostalgic will be even easier.

The best part about farewells is the chance of doing most embarrassing things and getting away with it, may be that’s why all of us danced with the most weird/funny/freaky dance moves EVER! I’ll have to admit that I am not the person who’ll hit the dance floor, but this time it was different. All the lights, deafening music and great company set the mood. Most unlikely people danced that night because we were celebrating the end of everyday college drudgery and the fact that in few days the spenders would become the earners which is a reason to celebrate in itself. After the music stopped, our pictures/*from different events*/ were displayed on the projector with ‘Alvida’ playing in the background and every one got emotional /* the organizers decided to end the event on a sad note*/.

It marks the end of late night assignment completion, vivas /* where mugging up didn’t help!!*/ and file submissions. It also means the end of open eyed siesta fests and not bunking lectures, but then you realize those were the things that brought you guys closer. Suddenly you realize what we've become ( theIT crowd in our case)- GOD HELP US ALL!!!!!

Atlast I’ve completed my graduation & it does feel like an achievement. My vacations are on, but I haven’t been able to put aside time for all the things that I had planned to do. Believe it or not I am feeling like a busy bee DURING my vacations!!!

So dear readers (I made a joke!), after I am back, I promise you will find new posts.

Heard Scarlett Johansson’s single ‘Falling down’… it proves that not everyone can pull a JLo. Old Hippies (high on grass) would definitely sound better. Scarlett Johansson hasn’t heard herself sing, how else could anyone committ such an atrocity? She’s pretty, good for her…and us too!