Do I really Know You?

I don’t know how many of them would have watched this Bru ad starring Karthi and kajal Agarwal…. The theme of the ad is “Get to know your dear ones over a cup of coffee “.

Its so apt… How many of us know(in the sense…. really know) about our near and dear ones? First of all do we spend time with people around us? The interaction has almost become zero…Its come to a situation where our lives are confined to the screen and the issues before us… We have started knowing more about applications, gadgets and stuffs rather than the real people. ‘Lets talk over a cuppa coffee’ is now the words of monitor… We prefer getting cups to desk and telling cheers to the system 

Few of my friends remark as and when they see my post… “I didn’t know this about you till I saw the post ” The worst will be that, that friend would have known me from my college 

I do this making friends thing wherever I go… Similarly, during my first day of hostel, when people were busy crying, I was busy consoling them (though even I was new  ) and introducing myself  After that I don’t know how… gangs started coming into place… People got confined to their gangs for lunch, tea, dinner etc (I was no exception)  So when my friend introduces somebody and says “this person studied in our col only”. I’ll give a blank look which would clearly give out “Really?”… It would be even more embarassing to say I don’t know the person when he/she says “Hey I’ve seen you in col…. I know you” 

So why am I starting this suddenly… Few days back I saw a girl in my building… It rang a bell like I’ve seen her somewhere… After a deep photo matching that my brain did, we (my brain and me) decided that the girl used to travel in the same bus during acadamy and would mostly land up sitting together. She was standing alone in the pantry, so I went to her, smiled and asked “hey hi… You did your training in ASV?” She was like “yeah… we went in same bus” and walked off… I was a bit irritated as she couldn’t even reply a hi for a courtesy sake too… Leave “hi” not even a smile  Similarly, when there was no seat in the bus, thanks to my making friends everywhere nature… I had friends who immediately adjusted and made a 2 seater, a 3 seater for me  But the girl who got in, in the next stop, had to stand for the entire journey. None even bothered to even move a muscle and ask her for courtesy sake. I always offer to adjust , when I find people standing…cos its a long journey… and of course we all work under the same roof 

This attitude made me realise the value and consideration for each  other is fast decreasing… Its high time we realise we are humans and not machines!

I really don’t know how many of us would clear the test if there was a question to list the names of  the people in their bay. Do we know everybody, around us, with whom we spend more than 9hrs a day, by their names ? 

When I got into a share auto, I realised that I have gone in that share auto more than thrice… The driver also felt me to be familiar He asked… “CTS dhana ma” (CTS only right? ) I felt it good that he remembered me (without me wearing my id) among his 100 passengers that he sees everyday… I acknowledged “Kalakkarenga anna… Sema memory power” (Superb bro! U have great memory) which immediately made the tensed auto driver brighten with a 100 whatt smile… Though people around me threw that Be-professional look… I felt good to have acknowledged it 

Well, I just wanted to say lets be human… Lets just find time to interact with people around us  Who knows there might be a Bill Gates, or Sunitha Williams sitting with us… Just get to know people, we have lots to learn and know about and from each one 

Weekly Random Thoughts

Many asked me why don’t I post anything on Sunday like I used to do before… So somehow, I made up my mind to post today… As soon as I thought about posts… My dear Brain flooded me with ideas (Previous post worked on it  ) which were no way related to each other 

 “Visually challenged student bags top honours at IIT kharagpur” It made me say a loud WOW… The same day I went shopping to TNagar. There was a book stall that got my attention… The in charge greeted me with a broad smile that covered up the left sleeve that was hanging empty… It made me respond back with a smile that had a touch of respect  I decided to buy some book and picked up the best seller book that was lying in the front and read the summary at the back… “Ma’am… What kind of book are you looking for?” My jaw dropped upon hearing the accent and style in that 1 sentence… Yes, it was the same incharge…” He went on to tell me about various books, authors… lines that he enjoyed reading… I was spell bound seeing his knowledge and hold over the language  I walked out of the shop with few books, lots of pride to have met such a person and a whole lot of sweet memories to cherish 

 Early in the morning (8 am)  when I get down from my bus and walk inside my campus… There will be many earthworms loitering here and there… So I’ll try my best not to stamp them and always hop around carefully so that my leg doesn’t hurt them… In this process, I’ll even miss to greet people who come towards me  But, I’ll feel so bad to find so many worms that would be lying around dead, stamped due to our hastiness  So there was this black ant that was partially stamped, I looked at it as it was about to breathe last… Like hero entering, another ant entered the scene, lifted it and took it to his hiding  Another heroic act 

 My friend and me went to the theater just 20 minutes before the show… The person in the counter gave us the list of movies that were being played at various screens… I politely returned it back without even glancing and asked him “Is there any ticket available for any movie for this show? ” He threw us a  look and doubtfully kept glancing at us…He told no… I immediately exclaimed “Yae Yae Yae… Thank u!”  He was having an infinite ???? look now… I explained “Thanks! I won the bet… I told you won’t have any ticket for any movie while my friend told you will… Thanks for making me win ”  Without throwing a 2nd glance at him, I pulled my friend out and we had a hearty laugh about our silly behaviour 

 After a heavy lunch at a restaurant, when we came out, there was a tribal lady who was having a girl kid in her hand and was trying to sell some books… She came to me, I told her that I don’t want books but gave a 20 rupee note to her… She asked the kid to get it… The kid brought its right hand from behind, got the money, smiled at me and told ‘thanku’ (pronounce as spelled)  I was delighted to see the kid and a bit surprised to see a such a kid with so good manners… She even kept waving bye to us till we crossed that road… That happiness was priceless 

 I was watching the audio launch with Illayaraja’s concert… It had foreign orchestra and was too too grand  They had that ‘coming up next’ section during the break… I found that, next was my favourite song, for which I was actually sitting all through the concert… I geared up and sat comfortably… Didn’t even change the channel during the break… As soon as the break was over and the concert resumed….  PHAATTT… Power cut  I was fuming with rage and checked the time… Yes the same 1 hour cut… It just got on my nerves… I started fuming about all the socio-economic probs at that moment  Uffffff… the inability to see a single song… brought out the social activist in me 

 I played ‘book cricket’ where all your favourite players depend on the pages of your book and luck of your hand to score their runs… after a long long long time(after schooling )… Felt great to play it again 

 Too many random thoughts and happenings in the past week  So I’ll stop my Sunday special here… Have a great week ahead 

How tough it is to be a Politician

Well, this post is all about “self damage” I would say  It involves various funny incidents and bloopers that happened on friday.

Background: “Color Paper Contest” was announced by the Inst People Focus group about a month back and the best part was… it had no rules. It was told that we can write anything that comes to our mind and the one who thinks out of the circle would be the winner. The writer in me got overwhelmed and immediately got down to work and dutifully mailed the same, well in advance(2 days) before the last day.

So, after a series of mailers saying judges are choosing the top 10 entries which kept me glued to the mail box, the result was out on Thursday evening. My entry appeared in the top 10 entries and the biggest clause was added at the bottom of the mail. It said Vote for the ones you feel as interesting by clicking the “Like” button. Based on the number of “Likes” the top 3 winners will be chosen.

This made me tell OMG! This is very difficult. So, the very same day I shared it with my friend who was anticipating the results for this competition more eagerly than me (No, she didn’t participate…. Friendship yaar  ) She told me “We’ll ask everybody to like it (Like a typical goody-goody friend) “… Just like an actor who has been nominated for Filmfare, I replied “Its great to be one among top 10… So can’t ask for more  ” Though, deep down , I was wondering “how do I make people like it?”.

So next day, I drafted a mail which was revised numerous times before I clicked the “send” button

One of the finalised Drafts:

I participated in the “Color Paper Contest” conducted by the InsT People focus group and my entry  has made it to the top 10.  Getting to the top 3 is based on the “Likes”. Am happy to have made it to the top 10 and thought of sharing this news with you all.

PFB the link to my entry

When I re read it , I first felt like a reality star “Please vote for me…Type ABC 05 to 12345 and get me to the finals”. Then when I again read it, I now felt like a politician “Vote for “@” symbol… Don’t forget “@” symbol “@” symbol “@” symbol”.

So I finally revised the mail again

I participated in the “Color Paper Contest” conducted by the InsT People focus group. Am happy to share with you all that my entry,“The undeterred kid” has made it to the top 10.

PFA the mail that has the links to all the top 10 entries.

Now when I read, it didn’t sound as if am desperate about getting “Likes” and it was a bit less of “polictician” or “reality star” kind. I felt it was a smart move to have attached the mail that had all the 10 entries and it had the rule about “voting system” in block letters and I was sure nobody will miss it 

I pressed the “send” button.

Within minutes, my mailbox started overflowing with appreciation mails. Responding to so many mails, made me sit up in joy and within two hours I checked my entry and was expecting atleast 20 likes. That’s when my jaw dropped open… yes, seeing the number of likes. It wasn’t 20, it was’t more than 20 too… On the contrary it was just “+3″… The “+3″ zoomed and spinned towards me from all directions (my brain’s camera effects to show the shock  ) So the people had clearly missed out the “Vote clause” at the bottom.

That’s when one of my friend mailed me telling “Awesome Aishu  It was too good a read… Am sure U’ll be first”. That made me furious and reply back “I wish the voting clause will be changed from “number of Likes” to “Number of appreciation mails”… Then I’d surely be the winner  ” Another mail popped from her “Ohhh !I didn’t know we have to like it.. “Like”-ed it now and asked my friends to do the same  ” I was happy that  sarcasm works always Sent a “Thank you” mailer and a diplomatic “Hope you just didn’t “like” it cos am your friend but cos u really liked the entry  ” (Though I know the truth  ). I eagerly refreshed the browser (I had kept my entry link open from the morning ) and found “+3″ has stuck to my post. I refreshed again and again, this time +3 remained “undeterred” rather than the kid 

I pinged her asking, “hey where did you “like” ?” She “The link that you mailed…   ” Me “It had 10 entries… Which did you like?” She “10 entries? I didn’t notice that… I liked the first one  ” Me ” ?????? Mine is “The undeterred kid”…. ” The mail that she sent I’ve asked my friends also to do the same flickered in front of my eyes.  I wondered how many friends, friends-of-friends would have done the same.

To avoid this confusion, I sent out another mail

I guess there was some difficulty in locating my entry from the 10… So here goes the direct link to my  entry,“The undeterred kid”

I thought this would be a bit more effective . Another blooper….She immediately pinged “Hey there is no “Like” button in your entry.” I checked it immediately and found yes, the “Like” button had become invisible and +3 beamed at me. Had I been a politician, I would have comfortably announced “Its the other party’s game to ruin us. Its not gonna affect us. Come what may we’ll fight to do good to you people” and garnered few sympathy votes. Alas! Am no politician. Jus an “IT professional”… so termed it a “technical glitch”  I found that button was missing, but the functionality was available. So explained to her “Hey a small line will be present near +3… Click on that… +3 will become +4… Ur Like will be added  Hey leave yaar… No issues… I just want you people to read it… Np if u couldn’t “like” there. (I added this line after I explained her the process  ) She responded as expected  “No probs yaar… Don’t be formal…This time “Like-d” it correctly”. I refreshed the browser and it showed +4 . I smiled 

My another “good” friend pinged “Hey got ur mail… Treat????”  Me: “Did you read the post first?” “I read it”… Me: “Read it and….?” Friend “And what??????” Me: “Did you read the mails properly???? ” My friend took 3 minutes to answer, so thought she was busy reading them again “Oh “I am supposed to Like it… Fine will do it  ” I added my usual dialogue “Hey Like it if you really do like it… Else no need  ” She: “So what will I get if I like?” I was clean bowled now. I cursed the politicians for habituating the freebies for vote concept. “Well, If I come in top 3, I’ll think abt the treat… Else no “…. She: “Ok Ok… “Like-d”

Now Once bitten, twice shy… I didn’t wanna get disappointed once more. I asked “Where did you like?” She: “The link that you sent ” Me: “Tell me the entry you liked…” She : “The Undeterred kid” Me:  “There’s no “Like” button, then how? :sarcastic smiley: ”  She “Hey I clicked on that space near +4… And it became +5… If you ask more questions I’ll find a button to unlike it ” Me “Lol  Thanks yaar… Just wanted to be sure  ” And I found that +4 become +5.

When I was checking other 9 entries, I found each had double digit “Likes”… and mine just “+5″… Some how reading my thoughts, my friend near me asked “Is there a possibility for the same person to “Like” again and again?” like a real friend depicted in Har Ek Friend Zaroori Hota Hai ad  She also asked “When is the last date to “Like” it?” Me: “I don’t know… No last day is given… So I guess it can be “Like-d” till another mail appears for the same… Anyways am not planning to check it any more… Am happy with top 10″ (This time it was real ) 

Uffff… At the end of the day, I realised how difficult it will be if I had become a polictician. Getting votes (only single digit) once, made me completely drain out. No wonder they implement new ways with every election to make people vote. I realised its very very tough