Friday, January 27, 2006

It was like any other lazy afternoon. The post lunch mood (and need) of (long) siesta was too much to resist and I hit the bed with intentions of having a sound sleep for two hours atleast. The amount of fluid intake in the form of 'nimbu pani', served in mess during summer afternoons, was uncomfortably high and my bladder threatned to give into to the pressure. I tried to ignore the threats for sometime, but finally had to submit to the summons and went to relieve myself. After the mandatory actions, I went to the washbasin for the last act. There I saw the scene which made me lose my sleep, not only for that instant..but for some more days to come, a scene which I dreaded the most. There, I saw in the mirror, a lone gray monster standing out in the black background. My mind was racing now, thinking of ways to get rid of the grey monster. May be the short uncomfortable nap had its effect on my thinking abilities, for the ideas that I got were bordering on crazy, like turning into a skin head or burning the grey monster with a lighter. Somehow, common sense prevailed and I decided to just cut it out.

Now I had a new problem at hand; the one weapon missing in my arsenal was scissors. By now, I was less panicky, and the six month stay at hostel had taught me some lessons. I decided to use nail clipper instead. So, armed with a nail clipper, I walked back to the mirror and tried to sever the grey monster. My first attempt resulted in loss of around 20 strands of hair (yes. I did an approx counting), but it stood there, laughing at me. This time, I realised that my unkempt hair is not helping the cause in any way and I have to separate out the villain to reduce civilian casuality. After combing the hair, I made my second attempt, only to find out that mirrors dont function as they should. The laterally inverted image made me create white patches around the defiantly standing grey monster. The thought of having a bald head, with some grey hair proved to be a reason enough for second panic attack(a reasonalbe reason, I guess). So, all attempts at getting rid of the grey monster were immediately stopped.

Of late, I have started going around proudly sporting my new appearance. I have changed my perspective about the grey monster..err the grey hair...it adds to my matured look and that is what I have decided to call it...the matured look.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

In Umar Se Lambi Sadkon Ko Manzil Pe Pohonchte Dekha Nahin
Bas Daudti Phirti Rahti Hain Humne To Theherte Dekha Nahin
Is Ajnabi Se Shahar Mein Jaana Pehechana Dhoondta Hai
Ek Akela Is Shahar Mein...

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Excerpts from a thread on cse.phd newsgroup

characters:
Prof.XYZ - A prof who is GOD in his field and a no-nonsense guy... so he commands respect..and just the thought of having him as the examiner for seminars makes one develop cold feet...
(for those of you who know XYZ == AAD)

studs:our very own studs..only this time in the guise of research "scholars" (aka rs)

the hero of this story is "stud2"...so lookout for his postings

---------------------------------------------------------
From:Stud1
sub:testing

any one subscribed?

Stud1
---------------------------------------------------------
From:Stud2

most rs r, i suppose.
---------------------------------------------------------
From:Studx

some non rs too, i suppose :))
---------------------------------------------------------
From:Stud3

Yup.

What are you doing on NGs(news groups)? Report done kya? :-)

---------------------------------------------------------
From:Stud2

r u ppl taking lots of time to write ur report's kya?
tons of results?
i finished mine in 3hrs flat ;)

btw, why is it called "re"search?

---------------------------------------------------------
From:Stud4

>> What are you doing on NGs? Report done kya? :-)

Working, working and working on the report. It's like Hanumanji's tail, never ending.

> i finished mine in 3hrs flat ;)

Let's all attend your seminar and see how fast "they" finish you off ;)

> btw, why is it called "re"search?

I would as well ask why are we called "scholars"?

Stud4

---------------------------------------------------------
From:Stud2

>Let's all attend your seminar and see how fast "they" finish you off ;)

:O i guess i'll be a research "squealer" when "they" begin!!


ps: ne1 knows if Prof. XYZ (= one of "they") reads this ng? :O

---------------------------------------------------------
From:Stud4

> ps: ne1 knows if Prof. XYZ (= one of "they") reads this ng? :O

I suppose so. Sometime back when he was our facad(faculty adviser), he would reply to postings on ng. And I think he would surely remember your 3hr stunt ;)

Stud4

---------------------------------------------------------
From:Stud2

OH MY GOD!! lag gayi!!
bhai log, after my prog-sem, sp(sujatha palace, bar and restaurant) mein milte hain: if the seminar goes well, we'll celebrate :)
if it goes bad, to gam dubate hain :(

Stud2

ps: abey Stud4, on a serious note, tu fart maar raha hai na?

---------------------------------------------------------
From:Stud5

>ps: ne1 knows if Prof. XYZ (= one of "they") reads this ng? :O

Certainly yes, and the incidence I remember is when he replied to a posting,
which was quite deep in the thread. It was all abt. how to take two courses
in the same slot and appear for the exams.

So, stud2, all the best ;)

Stud5
PS: Other option is, cancel the posting you have made. He certainly would have
not read it as of now, being a Saturday. All the best :)

Lets celebrate :) and ya, made some discussion for the first time only on phd.
gr8, we should continue.


---------------------------------------------------------
From:Prof.XYZ

>:O i guess i'll be a research "squealer" when "they" begin!!

>> ps: ne1 knows if Prof.XYZ (= one of "they") reads this ng? :O


Yes I do, mainly to find information like this. It tells me more than what your report does.

XYZ

---------------------------------------------------------

From:Stud2

why is it that i feel like laughing in spite of a lump in my throat?
:O

Stud2

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

of stolen bag and breaking locks

scene:vasco railway police station. time - abt half past 6 in the morning. Our stud is standing in front of the inspector who is comfortably seated and enjoying first puffs of the day.

ins:See..you are an young(really??!!) man..you have to be more responsible...
stud:yes sir. That was a mistake.
ins:where are you coming from?
stud:bangalore
ins:where are you going?
stud:actually sir..I have a friend in panjim...I am going to his place..
ins:what do you do?BITS-goa?
stud:no sir..i am doing m.tech in iit bombay..
ins:oh..sit down..
stud:thank you sir..
ins:so..what happened?
stud:sir..I was sleeping in the upper berth..and my bag was kept below the seat...
ins:when you woke up the bag was missing..eh?
stud:yes sir!
ins:(to constable)dho chai lana..(turning towards stud)you drink tea?
stud:yes sir. but i havent brushed..sooo...
ins:that doesn't matter..
stud:thank you, sir.
ins:(shoving the pack of cigarrettes)you smoke?
stud:no sir. thank you.
ins:what was there in the bag?
stud:some clothes,some books and 3500 rupees.
ins:(to constable)complaint likwalo..(turning to stud)get your complaint written..
stud:i already did
ins:ok..where do stay in blore..
stud:in south bangalore, sir.
ins:my bro-in-law is in koramangala..he studied in iit kanpur..
stud:oh..thats great..sir
(some more conversation abt his bro-in-law..all along..the stud is saying..oh..great..thats good..hmmm..aah haa..okay..)
ins:leave your address and phone number with the complaint..i am going to blore next month..if we find the bag..i will make sure it reaches your home..
stud:thank you, sir.
ins:do you have some money. should i give you 500?
stud:i have atm cards sir..and anyway..i am going to my friends place..so i must be able to manage..thank you sir.
ins:sure?
stud:yes,sir
ins:you need any help?
stud:i think..finding the bag is the biggest help..other than..
ins:(cutting his talk)see..i cant assure you of that..if we find it..i will make sure it reaches you..you want some other help?
stud:no sir..thank you..
ins:ok..leave you address with him(points to constable)
stud:thank you sir

scene:hostel 6,room 14. time-arnd 2ish in the noon. stud1 is seen in front of the locked room.he gets hold of stud2 who has managed to get into his room and changed to banian and shorts.
stud1:these moodi people have locked my room and they havent left the keys with the manager...
stud2:my room was also locked
stud1:ohh..tumne lock kaisa kola?
stud2:break it..
stud1:thod dhun?
stud2:haan..
stud1:ohhh..kaise??
stud2:(holds the lock at an angle)hold it like this and hit it with a big stone..
stud1:ohh..
(he follows the instructions..and bingo..it takes exactly four hits to open the small lock)

scene:hostel 6,room 14..time 6 in the evening. our stud is seen sitting in front of a locked bag. There is a pile of pieces of broken stone around the bag and our stud is currently seen holding another big stone. Apparently this is the other bag which he had left in the store room. He has lost the key of this bag (as it was in the bag that was stolen). Our stud is trying the same technique to break the lock..but it does not work as this is lock is bigger. All of a sudden he runs out of the room and goes to the plumber (who is all covered with dirt) working in the coomon bathrooms.
stud:bhaiya..kya aap lock thod sakthe hein?
plum:kya??!!
stud:i mean..mere bag lock hova hein..aur usike chabi ko gayi hein..kya aap lock thod sakthe hein?yah cut kar sakthe hein?
plum:oohh..(pointing to hacksaw blade)is blade se cutega?
stud:try tho kar sakthe hein..
plum:bag idher lawo..
stud:ek minute..
(he gets the bag..and after trying to saw the lock at different angles..the plumber decides to change tools..he goes for the big hammer..and bingo...it takes exactly four hits to open the lock(yes it was a copy paste))
stud:thanks bhaiya
plum:haan haan..teek hain

Monday, January 02, 2006

my blore trip

Jaane Anjane Log Mile
Magar Koi Mila Na Apna
Kya Kya Hamne Socha Tha
Reha Gaya Ban Ke Sapna