The All- Flounder

Firstly, I will give you my reasons for this rant. Got up today morning (2 hours before schedule on an almost nothing-to-do day) and got caught up in a bullshit situation involving myself-the-great, MSEB power supply,Indian Railways,their website,Dad's credit card,another one of his credit card, cousin's debit card, and my UPS. OK you must have guessed the situation. If not, more on this later.

So, the scenario was enough to send my blood boiling and the heat inside has to be vented out. But none of the entities mentioned above can be put to blame.Now, I feel is the right time write few words about our 'old horse', 'come back man','could have been all rounder', 'could still be an all rounder', the one and only MR. AJIT AGARKAR.

He made his debut in 1998 against Australia. Holds the record of being the quickest to take 200 wickets and score 1000 runs.But another record of his astonishes me, he is ready to make his 5000th come back on the forthcoming tour of Australia. And this time only on the basis of his performance in Adelaide 2 years ago. You may also take into account some 90 runs he scored in a recent ranji match.

The former record of his is one of the numerous silly records that is crossed or created in almost every game of cricket that is played nowadays. It gives a feeling as if statisticians of the game are being paid to dig out some nondescript record of a player , who can then add it to his resume and present it to the selectors before any tour.Come on , you should see how he has scored his 1000 runs. Edges, nudges and what not. He would have scored 1000 more if leg byes were counted.The only game that he contributed as a batsman was in Sharjah against Sri-lanka. where he hit a couple of sixes to win India the game.That's it. His economy rate and bowling average speaks volumes about his ability.

The question is - how on earth does he get picked? Earlier some self assumed cricket thinker said it was because of sachin Tendulkar's influence, then he was the blue eyed boy of Sourav Ganguly, Jagmohan Dalmiya also had a liking for him ( oh GOD..what does that mean?), now it is said that Sharad Powar has his say.But this can't be the truth by any means. Captains, coaches, selectors, Board Presidents, Sponsors an what not, all have changed. The only thing that comes back again and again is every body's beloved AJIT AGARAKAR.

He was, and ,surprisingly is considered to be the all-rounder that 'India is looking for'. India has better things to do. I can't forget the joy with which he held out his bat and helmet after completing one of the most boring centuries in Lord's. What was he happy for? India lost the first match of an overseas series pretty badly. Was he happy for his century, was it because he scored it in Lord's ? It seemed as if he was mocking at his teammates, selectors and the whole nation - ' look I can still be consider for the post of could-be-all-rounder that 'India is looking for'.

The thing is that India has had loads of cricketers who were none better than nonsense - Ashish Kapoor, Venkatapaty Raju, Doda Ganesh, Jacob Martin, Kanitkar, Ritinder Sodhi, Devang Gandhi, Kuruvilla, Mohanty ,Vikhram Rathod and many many more. It is not their fault that they had to demonstrate the lack of their cricketing skills in front of the whole nation. India has so many cricketers that many have to be tried and tested. Selectors can't help it. Newer faces have to be given a chance.That is their job. But then , how can someone like Ajit Agarkar be brought back again and again. Does he prove his worth any time when he is brought back. He is a liability. He is damn so lucky. Probably the luckiest player ever. One can't forget a VijayBharadwaj, he was a man-of-the-match and also won the man-of-the-series in his first international outing, but he disappeared.Look at Agarkar's case, he keeps getting selected over and over again. Boy, so lucky.Can't wait to see him getting whacked over point to the boundary by Gilchrist and co.

PS: a similar and probably more insulting post was in store for Kumble. But I guess, this blog has said it better.

Getting Back

Cycling into the air,the ride is smooth.
Trees holding the horizon,the road rides into a field.
The sun setting to my left, the orange hue will be here in no time.
Folks here can't recognise me, the cycle is familiar though.
The cattle grazing with their ropes stretching across the road, I ride over it.
The October sky is being good to me, I stare at it while slowing down.
Winter is just few days ahead, durga pujo is still fresh in the hearts.
This is the best time to be here, although I say this with a heavy heart.
It is very green around, the brick field also.
Never seen this place so happy before,I cannot help but find more peace here.
Reached the small bridge,have been here before.
I wish it takes longer to get back,feeling so free.
Ride past the pond made green by the trees around,loneliness haven't been such joy ever.
Such calm in the air,I want to take it back with me.
I will be here again, may be more calmer next time.

HIGHer IDEAS

It frustrates me most when I find myself devoid of any idea to put in this blog. Often, it so happens that I get an amazing idea when the time is least appropiate to write a blog.The idea then vanishes into oblivion,and I am left with only that feeling of 'high' that accompanied the idea.To be in this situation is very frustating. The feeling of high keeps on teasing me, while I am trying to squeeze out the last bit of information in my brain in search of that idea, that had taken shape inside me.

Few moments later,either an important or an astonishingly unimportant work manages to attract my attention. Alas, that feeling of 'high' has left me.I am left in the wait of yet another oppurtunity. I promise myself that next time I will surely grasp the moment and give words to the thought.Very rarely it so happens that I actually force myself to post something the next time any idea crops up in my mind.But nevermind, blogs do not function by law of 'deadlines'.I will definitely post something if the idea is strong enough to force me out of my shell.

Having said this, I have a feeling that many people whom I know, want me to speak my mind more often than I actually do.Especially my good friends,for whom I feel that they deserve to know more from me.This blog is for you my friends.Please let me know whether you actually want me to have a say on a particular thing or subject.I will try my best to give my opinion.Oh come on!!! there are many things and you know that for sure.Please let me know.

ps: This surely sounds as if my mind is out of ideas. At least at this particualr moment.However, the truth is that ideas never leave me. It is only the strength or the impact that the idea makes, affects me.

From Abate to Zephyr

The journey starts with 'A' for 'Abate'.The feeling is unique.Anxiousness with a bit of confusion, confidence with a hint of doubt.Sometimes it is a welcome change from the technical stuff,sometimes you become weary of the continuous mugging that it requires.But only one thing drives one and all who plan to take the GRE,the anticipation for the 'D' day and everything that follows.

The GRE may not be the most difficult exam that an individual will face in his or her lifetime, but it has got it's unique challenges.As far as my thinking goes, what makes GRE a challenging task,is the future challenges associated with it.GRE is the beginning of an epic journey.The application procedures,writting the essays,getting the reccomendation letters and securing some kind of fundings are the mammomth tasks that have to be tackled once GRE is done with.Not to forget the visa interview.The thought that I want to convey is, GRE is not just another exam,after which you can sit and relax.What is unique here, is that the amount of planning and searching that you have to put in, tends to increases once you are done with GRE.

The inception of this blog coincides with the kickstart of my preparations of the GRE. Well, it was not a 'kickstart' in reality,but something of that sort. Surprisingly, it has NOT been a long journey.Although I have taken the GRE, the ultimate purpose of taking the GRE is yet to be realised. I guess, that is quite a distance ahead. So this blog, myself and my purpose have a long way to travel.Hoping that we stay together on-course.

PS: 'Zephyr' is the last word in almost all the word lists available.You may have reached this word. Beware, the journey has just begun.

For the first time...

I asked myself when was the last time that I had done a thing for the first time in my life.Such a simple question, but I was surprised when it started taking quite a long time to figure it out.Here is some of the things that came to my mind.

1.Driving a car.I drove a car for the first time in my life in june 2005.It has been two years.Long time.But I was happy to find out that I can drive and it is not a big deal after all.I would like to share that I had driven a bike for the first time in 1999 when I was all of 12.But that does not interst me any more.

2.Alone on an express train.I travelled from Mumbai to Kolkata alone in a train.That was back in January 2006.It was an awesome experience, more so because the train arrived 22 hours late at Howrah.What happened in those 22 hours is very close to my heart and I need a great amount of inspiration and motivation to get it out. I had travelled to Kolakata by plane alone in January 2004.But that did not even have an iota of the excitement of travelling alone in a long distance train at the age of 18.

3.Trekking.Ok, this was not an expedition.But 6 hours to and fro in the hills of Lonavala and spending the night in a nondescript village comprising of 21 huts and 1 pucca house in the midst of a silent valley has to be an experience.That was in July 2006.

4.I gulped vodka for the first time last december.(Dad if you are reading this,I am joking...this is just a blog)

Now my thoughts are blocked. what else? what have I done for the first time in the recent past.Nothing substantial comes in my mind.Is this the reason that I am feeling a bit bogged down for some days now.Have I been studying too much or thinking about studies way too much that I have missed out on some great experience.Few may agree but I will not.Then there has to be a reason for me not doing something new in my life for quite some time.Let me figure it out.

PS: In the last 4 days I have solved 1887 questions of GRE.This is first time in my life that I have crossed the 1000 mark.But the question here is 'Is this satirical?'

"A presence that disturbs me with the joy of elevated thoughts"- William Wordsworth

Some people have a notion that I hate almost everything that comes my way.But that is not so.The fact is that I have a huge bigotry towards the things that I hate.Also, I happen to be more open while expresing my antipathy towards them.That day Shreya asked me to post about my good times.Now I may sound like a great achiever, but indeed ,it is very difficult to point out one or two good times. It will be an injustice to the numerous other good occasions.

The tyre puncture in a hilly forest road at around mid-night,the Rajmachi trek with Rahul, Neeraj, Sai, Bhatta and Salantri. My journey on a train to Kolkata which got 22 hours late ,a minor goof up in that train itself,our high school trip to goa and many others as well.But I will tell you what I like the most.I crave for doing that all day.But nowadays I am not finding much time for it as a result of my busy schedule.I like to indulge in that activity whenever I am alone because I enjoy privacy during those moments.So before you jump into conclusions I would like to inform that I love reading.

The senior section library of Smt.Sulochanadevi Singhania School has played a remarkable role in shaping my character.I remember the first day when I stepped on that dark corridor on the first floor of the older part of our school.It was my first week as a new admission.I was in 6th standard then.A slope ran down from beside the 6th A classroom and the craft room.It led to one of the staff rooms.Two steps down and we had our audio visual room.I paused for looking at the house charts.First came Vindya house and then there was my house-Himachal.The corridor grew dark as I moved ahead.The door of the library allowed some much needed light required to read one of the charts that was just opposite to the door.I cannot forget the feeling that I experienced the moment I stepped inside.It was in contrast to the darkness and inactivity of the corridor.A brightly lit hall of huge proportions,the wall just opposite to the door had windows the opened towards the historical banyan tree which cast a shadow on the kabaddi ground.Beside that was the basketball ground where some kids were having the phyiscal training class.

The library had shelves lined on it's walls.Some shelves were covering the lower portions of the pillars as well.The reading tables were properly arranged.A group was busy making the title letters of their charts.The library had a huge circular table in the middle specifically meant for the teachers.Mrs. Quazi explained how the books were arranged and how shall we search for a book (it did not help much though ,as we used to head straight for the pillars if we wanted a classic and the science fictions were available in the shelves just beside the librarian's desk).It was in this library that I borrowed my first 'Great Illustrated Classic'.I mention this specifically because these books were the ones that got me hooked to reading. Robert LOuis Stevenson,Jules Verne,Alexander Dumas,Charles Dickens,Mark Twains were my favourites those days.I read them all in one and half years.Those months gave birth to a habbit that has stayed with me till today and will be with me always.This habbit has helped me during numerous conversations and arguments and I would also like to mention that it helps knowing about books when you are approaching a girl (this was not in my mind then, I got to know about it in the last few months actually).

It was in 8th standard when I met Chinkle. I got to know that he was an avid reader and then followed the daily visits to the library during the lunch breaks.Novels, novels and only novels were the order of those days (I wonder how did I manage to get decent marks without touching the text books much).I moved ahead of the classics in leaps and bounds.I tried various authors Ruskin Bond,Anita Desai,Vikram Seth and many others.In no time I passed 10th and in the following two years I admit that I did not read much.When I look back at that time, I feel as if missing out on reading during those days must be a reason for some of my woes.But I have none to blame but myself (now, again I mentioned few things that I do not like!).The effect, my school library has had on my thinking and behaviour is not to be belittled.I shall cherish those moments spent there,and the moments with the books borrowed from there, all my life.

My character, as a larger picture, is being painted by the literature that I consume.Ask me how I feel,when I am able to continue my regular reading alongside getting decent marks in my college and I will tell how much I enjoy doing that.Ask me what I have read in my life and I will keep shut.

PS: "There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy..."- Shakespeare".

Kurla Hustle

I loathe my communte on the harbour line.Travelling in a fast train from Thane to Kurla is a dream ride.But the hustle begins as you get down at kurla.I do not travel by first class, the reason for which will be known to you when I feel like letting it known. I assure you that first class is equally pathetic during rush hour.But I will save this topic for some other time.
So now I am at kurla.After setting my bag right and checking out the pockets I start my ascend on the stairs leading to the FOB.Mind you FOB does not stand for Fuckedup Over Bridge.The FOB at kurla is about 6feet wide and is lined by perrinial beggars and aspiring hawkers selling the outdated mobile covers and oversized/undersized watches worth 15 rupees.That is cheap considering the fact that Thane to Belapur via kurla costs 13 rupees.Also worth mentioning is the red paint that adores the railing or what used to be a railing.This paint has survived god knows how many monsoons.These factors when combine with the crowd of few thousand leads to my missing the 9.01 train for panvel.

Hey no...I havent missed it.The indicator on the FOB still shows 9.01 panvel.I try to push my way to the platform.But I realise that so is everyone.Finally I reach the platform no.7 with all my belongings still with me and with my footwear. intact.What the hell.....the indicator on the platform is showing 9.13 belapur.I wait with all my belongings still with me only to see a chembur local arriving.What the fuck was that??? Isn't there anything called a schedule??? Stage one complete.

The belapur local finally arrives and I am ready to hop into the door that I always target.This a tactic adopted by an experienced harbour line traveller or else you will enp up waiting for the crowd to get in.More often than not you will end up missing the train.But according to my strategy I am one of the first to get into the compartment and head straight to the space between the seats.Stage two complete.(This stage requires extreme agility and can be achieved only by experience.But some exercises that improves your reflexes are helpfull.Newcomers please do not try this at Kurla)

I stand between two men who may not be termed as gentle.They have a newspaper in their hand and are obviously feeling wary of me as they are now having to hold the papers more closer to themselves.I wish they say something to me. Say something rude actually.I may then vent my frustation in fluent english that may bring a smile to my seniors face who is occupying the window seat beside one of the newspaper man.But no they are merely frustated men,more experienced than me and may have been tolerating the harbour line sice it's inception.And they have a place to sit.Thats more important.So what do I do? The abience certainly is not good enough to revise the lecture notes of Transcription in Eukaryotes.And certainly not in front of a senior.Also, the yellow flash cards will only attract some confound eyes.The person standing between me and the window is standing too close to the window,in such a pose giving me a notion that he must be releaveing himself from the window.But no,we havent stooped that low yet.Suddenly I hear a man swearing at another guy.Please do not bring mom's and sister's name into it so early.Mom, sister,Dad,wife,dog,whore,pimp...ok now the altercation is over.May be there isn't anyhting else left.

Suddenly it turns dark.Did the lights go off. Hey no... they went off few minutes ago.This may be Vashi then.The supposedly best station of mumbai is darker than the tunnel on the pune route.But I get a place to sit.But why the hell did my senior get down at vashi?? Who cares?? Even he doesn't!!The windows are also painted with the same red paint.WOw!! asian paints and nerolac, there's competetion here.The person sitting opposite to me tries to spit outside the window but ends up adding a bit of varnish to the royal red paint.(I am not advertising for a paint mind you).Belapur arrives and I am still having all my belongings with me.But a deodourent will surely help me and a press to my shirt and jeans will not hurt either.(Stage three complete).

PS : I get down from the train only to see that senior of mine with a babe, holding her hand and..hmm..and..mmmm..ahem...ok holding her..back...oh sorry.. bag actually.But now......I loathe my existence.