Tuesday, December 30, 2008

slot for blot

An unplanned experiment
To plug the boss's volcanic vent
When electrophoresis becomes the scape goat
It sounds like an orchestra that's lost it's note

With these quick calculations I pray
I will lead the boss's attention astray
These mangled ideas that pop like corns
Help me walk this path filled with thorns

These are thorns of insecurity
That help me gain maturity
So long as corn will pop
I'll crush the thorns and won't stop


I'll walk the road and reach my aim
Till I can walk I'll play this game



Friday, December 26, 2008

Merry Christmas

Yesterday, on Christmas, I attended the Church Service in Sector 18 after a many years . I remember attending this church (against my wish) since I was a kid. It'd been more than 5 odd years since I last visited the place. So familiar was I to the place that I when i entered the premises yesterday, it felt like I was still a regular member of the congregation. When I entered the hall, I was greeted by a few people (who still remembered me), with a big smiles and hugs. As the Service commenced, I was overjoyed to hear the familiar hymns and the zealous congregation singing really well. I was not too engrossed in the sermon though; it was soporific and extremely so. I was glancing around, looking for familiar faces and did many.

The first shock came in the form of Aaron George, Abraham's son. The last time I saw him, he was a squeaky little boy reaching barely 5 feet in height, now he's almost 16 and 5'8"! When I wished me "Merry Christmas", I wished him back and didn't take my eyes off him, for this face was almost familiar...almost! Then I almost shouted in disbelief "Arnie"!! He smiled and said "Yes"

The second and the more severe of the shocks came when I saw a guy (don't remember his name anymore) who I used to play with as a kid (he's my age). I saw him standing some distance away, he was stooping, had a big paunch, had a woman standing next to him (which I later learnt was his wife) and the guy looked 10 years elder to me...either that or I'm in a state of denial!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, December 08, 2008

Dad and I went to meet Bhatti uncle today. He and dad have been friends from college days. My dad met with a serious accident 6 months ago; he lost two of his toes and nearly lost his foot. Mr. Bhatti underwent a bypass surgery 12 days ago. We were greeted by the sad and wrinkle faced Mrs. Bhatti, my parents tell me she used to be very beautiful when she was young. Every time I meet her I try to picture how that could’ve been possible and I’m sometimes convinced that she must’ve been. Actually I do rememeber what she used to look like when I was a kid. But when I see her now, I can't relate that face to this lady. Mr. Bhatti however was a well maintained healthy man...till very recently. We went in and met Mr Bhatti; stopping and weak, this wasn’t the picture I carried of him all these years. I was in a state of shock; I’d never seen him this feeble. I saw the endless sutures on his leg and chest; he really was cut open wasn’t he!! He had three coronary artery blockages that were “fixed”. Dad and Mr. B talked about their status quo for a long time.
I wondered what they discussed 35 years ago!

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

That's me eh?

The trip from Chandigarh to Dehradun wasn't very uneventful except for a small mishap! Going downhill on the road after crossing Nahan, i was oblivious to the fact that the road very slippery (unbelievably so). The bike hadn't given any trouble on any of the steep curves. This time I was damn slow. As soon as I turned, the front tire lost traction; the moment I realized that I was about to fall I said a million prayers for my buddy sitting behind me....hoping that his head wouldn't have hit on the road or his leg wouldn't have come under the bike...we were dragged for a short distance along with the bike. I do not how how i manouvered my body but for some reason when I got up, I wasn't hurt at all, I picked up the bike instantly, the bike was ok too, not a scratch (incredible again) except for a twisted footrest. In fact the engine didn't die out either, it was happily chugging when I put it on stand. The road was so slippery so it didn't graze us but my buddy took some blow on his shoulde. I was very cautious the rest of the way. We went to Dehrahun and then returned to Herbertpur where my sister lives. In all we covered 250 Kms that day travelling through field, hills, forest, towns (quite a variety there).
My arse was sore but that was nothing compared to my right calf, which was killing me. The bike had stalled 3 times the previous night and it took more than 50 odd kicks everytime to start it; my calf's not used to this kind of a beating (4 days past and it's still very sore). But the sad fact is that throughout the time I was in Herbertbpur, I completely forgot about my buddy who's one of those few people who doesn't seek attention when in pain. I was tired and in pain myself. I spent that evening and the next morning happily talking to my mate but never once asked him how he was, whether his shoulder was hurting. All this despite recalling the event many times.
I didn't know I was so inconsiderate!
Just incredible how you think that there's nothing wrong with you...till the time something like this happens.
Worldwide survey was conducted by the UN. The only question asked was:"Would you please give your honest opinion about solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?"

The survey was a huge failure,

In Africa they didn't know what 'food' meant,
In India they didn't know what 'honest' meant,
In Europe they didn't know what 'shortage' meant,
In China they didn't know what 'opinion' meant,
In the Middle East they didn't know what 'solution' meant,
In South America they didn't know what 'please' meant,
And in the USA they didn't know what 'the rest of the world' meant!