I never thought that levels of privacy were low in my office, till I found these two ladies, who find the rest room the best place to talk. And talk, they do alright! They talk irrespective of whether they are inside or outside! : Now when you are in dire need to go to the restroom, trust me, it is quite unsettling to see, one lady shouting at the top of her voice at a restroom.. even worse to see that someone answers her back from inside it! :O And when they are not inside ( both of them ofcourse), you better not be in the vicinity, coz they keep enacting whatever just happened in their teams, and once almost mauled me in the vigour of it all! So much for going to rest rooms!!!
Coming to levels of privacy. Some people just overdo it! There is this one guy who sits next to our team, who feels it is everyones' basic right to know what is going on in his life. Right from when his wife got pregnant, and what stage the baby is, to why his wife thinks he is flirting with some girl( who that loony is, I've no idea. But believe me, she should be featured in AXN's Believe it or not, as soon as she is found!!) nothing is hidden from us. Perhaps he thinks he is really great that he is such a happening person! : The worst part is when he gets up from his seat, and takes in a 180 degree view of the whole module, to check if everyone got it all in, and then walks of with a smirk on his face!! : :O But trust me, he did make me go HA HA HA, when I saw my manager cringe after one of his monologues on the phone! :P I wonder if there is someone on the other end of the line. Hmm.. maybe next time we should check that out!
The team that sits nearby is quite a find, for it has one guy who laughs exactly like a 'Rakshas'-with-a-stomach-ache. He has no work for sure, coz he always has a group of equally jobless folks, and starts narrating his best lectures (mostly politics, or his previous manager, or how his 'periyamma and chittappa eloped.. bleaah). Worst part comes when he starts laughing though! He goes 'HUAHAAHAHAHA HUAAHAHA' and we all go covering behind our desks, evading the thermacol and other stuff that starts to fall on us! Must say, if ever Ramanand or B.R Films saw this guy, they'll pack him up for their next mythological serial/soap. He will sure do Kamsa/ Ravana proud. Maybe he'll even start a training class later for all the other 'rakshas' actors. Phew! Avenues of growth have never been any better, so has never been my imagination ! :P :P
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Meeting at 2.00 PM : An analysis
First the presenter of the session , grudgingly comes into the conference room cursing his superior for having punished him so severely. He tests the computer and the projector system in the room, trying his best to break them in some way that he may be able to cancel the session with that as a reason.
Right at that time, some sincere, always on-time employees trickle in, with sombre faces (They are mostly called rhinos in their team according to the team nomenclature, though the fact that they do not know the name is kept a secret – This is one genre of species who can be easily be mistaken for some wax statues or the well-dressed expressionless person who stands in front of the VGP, while all the others around him try their best to make him laugh). The new junior who joins them has just had a heavy lunch and is ready to resume the next journey to the heaven of slumber. He thinks this is a brilliant opportunity which should never be missed. The sullen experienced worker, having been pushed by his superior just wishes the projector falls on top of the presenter, as he checks if it is working.
Then a group of people half talking, half laughing come in after 10 mins. They are already 10 mins late, but then, they are the superiors if you don’t mind. They are supposed be late. Ya, you guessed right. They are the Chief guests in this case. They come there dawdling, trying hard to remember what the topic for the session is. The presenter smiles at the Chief of all, wincing in his mind and cursing him, while the group of solemn people, just look on. All this while the Chief in the group is racking his brains, to find who this stupid guy is, who is smiling so benevolently at him. Most of the people other than the juniors there recognize that glazed expression very well, but do not offer to help him in any way. All they feel like doing is throwing him out of the window, for sending out an invite for this dratted session and then forgetting all about it, though he never seems to forget the name of the new attractive new joinee in the team.
After all these pleasantries are over, the session starts and then like a tube light, the light comes on in the Chief’s brain, and he remembers the session and the presenter when he sees the first slide. He surely does not miss the opportunity to show that he found out all about this just by himself, by making such a poor joke on the topic that even the wax structures sitting there, make one of their eyebrows twitch for a second, appalled at his ability to make such a poor joke. And then the presenter starts rambling on the topic, God-knows-what, with a few words in English and a lot of jargon in the quintessential geek language, for which the wax statues alone nod their heads while the Chief tries hard to keep his head from falling off. The new junior is already into his second stage of REM and leaves a short series of snores that the wax statues assume are different ways of showing approval for the session. The superiors try to make most of the time, by watching all the fun, though two of them also slowly get lured by the irresistible temptation of disturbance-less slumber. By around 2.30 all the blood in their body rushes to their stomach trying to digest the big load of food that each of them had taken, and slowly and after yawing heavily, each one succumbs to the sleep that engulfs them. All this while the presenter rambles on and on, until the whole team is but falling off their seats and the wax statue’s heads are almost on the verge of falling off their heads due to excessive nodding for each jargon the presenter uses.
At last, after about an hour the presenter reaches the last slide that has the most dangerous missile in the techy world. ‘? Questions’. He says, ‘Ya. So any questions?’ . That becomes the wake-up call for all the team members who slowly arise from the deep slumber praising the presenter for doing a good job in the lullaby a.k.a session he just took. But at the fourth word they all gawk at each other, like hens trapped inside a basket. In the meantime, somebody nudges the Chief and he awakes to find a whole team gaping at him. He slowly turns his head to the white board and finds that terrifying symbol ‘?’ staring at him. But being a person who has met many such odds in the long sloppy journey to the present position, he faces the challenge by talking about something which not even remotely related to the topic the way Harbhajan is of hugging Andrew Symonds, or Aishwarya Rai is to acting. Everyone just continues to gape at him awe-struck at his foolishness, while he revels in all the attention. After a few more minutes of extreme torture the group slowly starts shifting their positions to indicate that they have had enough. The new junior now awake and alert is also ready to move on. The wax statues are on the verge of becoming human. Sensing danger the Chief formally declares the end of the session. And the group slowly disperses. The wax statues eagerly move on to continue their interrupted work, the chief to continue his ogling.
And so a session comes to an end!
Right at that time, some sincere, always on-time employees trickle in, with sombre faces (They are mostly called rhinos in their team according to the team nomenclature, though the fact that they do not know the name is kept a secret – This is one genre of species who can be easily be mistaken for some wax statues or the well-dressed expressionless person who stands in front of the VGP, while all the others around him try their best to make him laugh). The new junior who joins them has just had a heavy lunch and is ready to resume the next journey to the heaven of slumber. He thinks this is a brilliant opportunity which should never be missed. The sullen experienced worker, having been pushed by his superior just wishes the projector falls on top of the presenter, as he checks if it is working.
Then a group of people half talking, half laughing come in after 10 mins. They are already 10 mins late, but then, they are the superiors if you don’t mind. They are supposed be late. Ya, you guessed right. They are the Chief guests in this case. They come there dawdling, trying hard to remember what the topic for the session is. The presenter smiles at the Chief of all, wincing in his mind and cursing him, while the group of solemn people, just look on. All this while the Chief in the group is racking his brains, to find who this stupid guy is, who is smiling so benevolently at him. Most of the people other than the juniors there recognize that glazed expression very well, but do not offer to help him in any way. All they feel like doing is throwing him out of the window, for sending out an invite for this dratted session and then forgetting all about it, though he never seems to forget the name of the new attractive new joinee in the team.
After all these pleasantries are over, the session starts and then like a tube light, the light comes on in the Chief’s brain, and he remembers the session and the presenter when he sees the first slide. He surely does not miss the opportunity to show that he found out all about this just by himself, by making such a poor joke on the topic that even the wax structures sitting there, make one of their eyebrows twitch for a second, appalled at his ability to make such a poor joke. And then the presenter starts rambling on the topic, God-knows-what, with a few words in English and a lot of jargon in the quintessential geek language, for which the wax statues alone nod their heads while the Chief tries hard to keep his head from falling off. The new junior is already into his second stage of REM and leaves a short series of snores that the wax statues assume are different ways of showing approval for the session. The superiors try to make most of the time, by watching all the fun, though two of them also slowly get lured by the irresistible temptation of disturbance-less slumber. By around 2.30 all the blood in their body rushes to their stomach trying to digest the big load of food that each of them had taken, and slowly and after yawing heavily, each one succumbs to the sleep that engulfs them. All this while the presenter rambles on and on, until the whole team is but falling off their seats and the wax statue’s heads are almost on the verge of falling off their heads due to excessive nodding for each jargon the presenter uses.
At last, after about an hour the presenter reaches the last slide that has the most dangerous missile in the techy world. ‘? Questions’. He says, ‘Ya. So any questions?’ . That becomes the wake-up call for all the team members who slowly arise from the deep slumber praising the presenter for doing a good job in the lullaby a.k.a session he just took. But at the fourth word they all gawk at each other, like hens trapped inside a basket. In the meantime, somebody nudges the Chief and he awakes to find a whole team gaping at him. He slowly turns his head to the white board and finds that terrifying symbol ‘?’ staring at him. But being a person who has met many such odds in the long sloppy journey to the present position, he faces the challenge by talking about something which not even remotely related to the topic the way Harbhajan is of hugging Andrew Symonds, or Aishwarya Rai is to acting. Everyone just continues to gape at him awe-struck at his foolishness, while he revels in all the attention. After a few more minutes of extreme torture the group slowly starts shifting their positions to indicate that they have had enough. The new junior now awake and alert is also ready to move on. The wax statues are on the verge of becoming human. Sensing danger the Chief formally declares the end of the session. And the group slowly disperses. The wax statues eagerly move on to continue their interrupted work, the chief to continue his ogling.
And so a session comes to an end!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
What do you think?
Disclaimer: This post is an absolute ridiculous rant. Readers discretion is advised. (Read at your own risk)
...... Sometimes you just sit there staring into the space with unseeing eyes. (Ofcourse there is always going to be someone who waves infront of you, and brings you out of whatever train of thought was going on.. ). But believe me, then is when we really start thinking, in between the short pauses and sudden lulls in the conversation. In a noisy bus with one guy leaning over you, and 3 other fat ladies trying to make a sandwich-burger combination. You just let go, and you stare straight into the space.
At exactly that moment, you might think about what you really were aiming at, but slowly you move into the state, when you start thinking what you really are.. what you really mean here.. what you would want yourselves to be.
Of course, these are the most difficult answers and yes, just when you try to understand yourselves, the lady who tried to be the topmost bread in the sandwich shouts something to the lady in the far end of the bus, jerking the 10 ppl around her out of their sleep. And there goes the train of thought, to the next station leaving you right there..
Then, it all starts all over again.
But then, when you have a great chat with some of your friends and share everything you ever wanted to, it seems more clear. But, even then.. you just never get there.. never get it..
That is the real mystery of Life..
...... Sometimes you just sit there staring into the space with unseeing eyes. (Ofcourse there is always going to be someone who waves infront of you, and brings you out of whatever train of thought was going on.. ). But believe me, then is when we really start thinking, in between the short pauses and sudden lulls in the conversation. In a noisy bus with one guy leaning over you, and 3 other fat ladies trying to make a sandwich-burger combination. You just let go, and you stare straight into the space.
At exactly that moment, you might think about what you really were aiming at, but slowly you move into the state, when you start thinking what you really are.. what you really mean here.. what you would want yourselves to be.
Of course, these are the most difficult answers and yes, just when you try to understand yourselves, the lady who tried to be the topmost bread in the sandwich shouts something to the lady in the far end of the bus, jerking the 10 ppl around her out of their sleep. And there goes the train of thought, to the next station leaving you right there..
Then, it all starts all over again.
But then, when you have a great chat with some of your friends and share everything you ever wanted to, it seems more clear. But, even then.. you just never get there.. never get it..
That is the real mystery of Life..
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
I never knew..
I never knew leaves fall
I never knew a breeze can turn into a blizzard
I never knew rains could be acidic
I never knew every breath could be a struggle
I never knew the earth could tremble
I never knew the sands always get washed away
I never knew the lonely worm gets picked anyway
I never knew what was coming
I never knew when it went
I never knew what I would be
I never knew what I am
Ah,
I never knew sun shines through clouds
I never knew trees danced with the breeze
I never knew the sea whispers secrets of life
I never knew that panacea was a child's smile
I never knew a grandma's touch was the softest that you longed for
I never knew that the birds sing the sweetest song
I never knew a butterfly was so colourful
Until I did.
I never knew a breeze can turn into a blizzard
I never knew rains could be acidic
I never knew every breath could be a struggle
I never knew the earth could tremble
I never knew the sands always get washed away
I never knew the lonely worm gets picked anyway
I never knew what was coming
I never knew when it went
I never knew what I would be
I never knew what I am
Ah,
I never knew sun shines through clouds
I never knew trees danced with the breeze
I never knew the sea whispers secrets of life
I never knew that panacea was a child's smile
I never knew a grandma's touch was the softest that you longed for
I never knew that the birds sing the sweetest song
I never knew a butterfly was so colourful
Until I did.
Friday, January 2, 2009
A New Beginning
A new year, a new place, and a new blog!
I must say this is the first time so many news things are happening to me. Well.. so what was I going to write about? Ah.. yes! Nope! This is not about the philosophy of the newness of a new year or if a new thing is really new or just a perception. Just read on.. if you are really patient or really jobless.
Well, on the first day of the new year I shifted into a house, after some 8 odd years of hostel life!
And I already feel as though I'm free, free of cramped spaces in hostels, free from looking at 10-50 odd faces ( depending on the hostel) which keep changing when those faces find new places or new faces find this hostel; free from having to get up early for a glass of milk ( Now if you have completely perforated finger-nails, and teeth that seem to get washed away even as u drink water, you really need that source of calcium); free from eating the same idly-dosa-pongal-idly-dosa routine; free from having to put up with noisy roommates, free, free... free!
Now I know you must be thinking, this girl acts as though she just ran away from a jail! Hostel can be fun too! I agree with you completely on that. But on one point I hate to differ. It is no fun at all, if you have to stay in hostel for 8 odd years of your life. And if by fate all the hostels were not so much fun, if all the hostel wardens you encountered had just been reincarnated from the Jurassic Park, if the TVs in all these hostels were junk where you'd just get the same sun TV-Jaya TV-Kalaignar TV and the like and nothing more. (Till when can you watch the same song or movie again and again?).
One thing that I really missed all these years in a hostel was solitude! There are times when you want to stay away from all the hubbub and have some time alone with you and your thoughts. But in hostels in exactly those times, there will always be a gaggle of girls ( yeah, I meant 'gaggle') bursting in , chatting (more like shouting) about some crap which means a lot only for them. There goes that great effort to find some peace of mind!
So after all these long years in hostels, now that i've moved into a house, I hope I enjoy this change for the better (I hope)!
For those of you who are still here to read this line! Thankee! :D
I must say this is the first time so many news things are happening to me. Well.. so what was I going to write about? Ah.. yes! Nope! This is not about the philosophy of the newness of a new year or if a new thing is really new or just a perception. Just read on.. if you are really patient or really jobless.
Well, on the first day of the new year I shifted into a house, after some 8 odd years of hostel life!
And I already feel as though I'm free, free of cramped spaces in hostels, free from looking at 10-50 odd faces ( depending on the hostel) which keep changing when those faces find new places or new faces find this hostel; free from having to get up early for a glass of milk ( Now if you have completely perforated finger-nails, and teeth that seem to get washed away even as u drink water, you really need that source of calcium); free from eating the same idly-dosa-pongal-idly-dosa routine; free from having to put up with noisy roommates, free, free... free!
Now I know you must be thinking, this girl acts as though she just ran away from a jail! Hostel can be fun too! I agree with you completely on that. But on one point I hate to differ. It is no fun at all, if you have to stay in hostel for 8 odd years of your life. And if by fate all the hostels were not so much fun, if all the hostel wardens you encountered had just been reincarnated from the Jurassic Park, if the TVs in all these hostels were junk where you'd just get the same sun TV-Jaya TV-Kalaignar TV and the like and nothing more. (Till when can you watch the same song or movie again and again?).
One thing that I really missed all these years in a hostel was solitude! There are times when you want to stay away from all the hubbub and have some time alone with you and your thoughts. But in hostels in exactly those times, there will always be a gaggle of girls ( yeah, I meant 'gaggle') bursting in , chatting (more like shouting) about some crap which means a lot only for them. There goes that great effort to find some peace of mind!
So after all these long years in hostels, now that i've moved into a house, I hope I enjoy this change for the better (I hope)!
For those of you who are still here to read this line! Thankee! :D
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Cliffside lawn
“I’m sorry!”
Sniffing and between sobs “It’s okay. Thank you!”
“Is there something you want to tell us? Something that comes to your mind now, that you did not think of before?”
“No, Inspector. I’m really sorry. I just can’t think of anything now.”
Inspector Lankins was baffled. This was the fourth one now. The stories that his Native gardener had been spreading were starting to make more sense that the investigation. He had nothing even this time. Nothing at all!
Mrs. Lindersworth was seventy two, crippled and only had a German Shepherd for company. She lived alone in her seaside villa. It was picturesque with a breathtaking view of the sea from the Cliffside lawn. The lawn was the main attraction of the villa, and the main reason that Mr.Lindersworth bought it. There were no barriers and barricades at the Cliffside lawn that opened out to a rocky cliff opening out to the sea at 300ft above sea level. Mr.Lindersworth had wanted it that way. And that is where four people lost their lives! One of them just yesterday!
Their only son had died of a car accident two years ago and they had no relatives. At least, none that the Inspector could find. He said it reminded him of the mystery of life.
The sweet old lady who used to sing to her dog everyday while the maid cleaned about the house, would never have thought that her house was going to be the site for four deaths. The strangest thing about the deaths were that each was completely different. Each of the victims was of a different age, differently built and sane in all respects! The only link was that they were linked to the crippled lady in one way or another. Miss Evangeline was like a second child to Mrs. Lindersworth. She had been the shoulder and ears to this old woman after she lost her husband and son. Cute little Madeline was almost like a grandchild to her. The little neighbor kept her company when Miss Evangeline was away. Mr. Kimberly, her lawyer and long-lasting friend. And now it was Mr. Smith, her tea-time mate. Each of the families of the victims sure had problems at home, yes! But none that would send them, jumping off cliffs. But if it was to be counted as murders, there was no motive, no eye-witnesses and the worst no evidence at all! Exasperating was not even beginning to describe it.
***
Suspect I : The maid
Eccentric. Never liked people around the house, especially those close to the old lady. Snobbish at most times. Said to be rude on the day of the death also.
Suspect II: The gardener
Had mowed the lawn on each of the days that the deaths occurred. Was known to be a drunkard. Abused his wife when drunk. Had been convicted twice for drunken driving.
Suspect III: The Old lady
Crippled. Moved on a wheelchair. Spent the time in the house only. Was known to be a very sweet lady. Very attached to each of the victims.
***
I sat curled up near her feet. She was sobbing quietly. The police had left long back. Maria left after she cleaned up after dinner. Slowly she stopped sobbing and started talking to me. What she talked I could not comprehend, but she felt better when she talked to me, I knew that and that was all I wanted. I also felt sad when she was upset. I whined when she fell asleep and licked her feet when she wept. The previous day the old chap and she were having a great time. I thought she would fall off her chair laughing. Grrr..
After laughing and chatting and having tea, they both went to the lawn. I followed her. They didn’t seem to want to stop at all. She was going in wide circles in the wheelchair laughing like a small child, while the old man laughed along. A rabbit was trying to grab my attention as well. But I was alert for different reasons. She was always like this when ... Then suddenly she looked at me and cried “Timmy, lick him!” That did it!
I lost it. I growled, snarled bared all my teeth and charged towards him. He was already on the edge of the cliff. He lost balance and fell into the depths of the cliff. I still couldn’t control myself and bounded to the woods nearby. She always did that to those she liked a lot. I’m happy she kicks me sometimes with her spare legs.
***
Sniffing and between sobs “It’s okay. Thank you!”
“Is there something you want to tell us? Something that comes to your mind now, that you did not think of before?”
“No, Inspector. I’m really sorry. I just can’t think of anything now.”
Inspector Lankins was baffled. This was the fourth one now. The stories that his Native gardener had been spreading were starting to make more sense that the investigation. He had nothing even this time. Nothing at all!
Mrs. Lindersworth was seventy two, crippled and only had a German Shepherd for company. She lived alone in her seaside villa. It was picturesque with a breathtaking view of the sea from the Cliffside lawn. The lawn was the main attraction of the villa, and the main reason that Mr.Lindersworth bought it. There were no barriers and barricades at the Cliffside lawn that opened out to a rocky cliff opening out to the sea at 300ft above sea level. Mr.Lindersworth had wanted it that way. And that is where four people lost their lives! One of them just yesterday!
Their only son had died of a car accident two years ago and they had no relatives. At least, none that the Inspector could find. He said it reminded him of the mystery of life.
The sweet old lady who used to sing to her dog everyday while the maid cleaned about the house, would never have thought that her house was going to be the site for four deaths. The strangest thing about the deaths were that each was completely different. Each of the victims was of a different age, differently built and sane in all respects! The only link was that they were linked to the crippled lady in one way or another. Miss Evangeline was like a second child to Mrs. Lindersworth. She had been the shoulder and ears to this old woman after she lost her husband and son. Cute little Madeline was almost like a grandchild to her. The little neighbor kept her company when Miss Evangeline was away. Mr. Kimberly, her lawyer and long-lasting friend. And now it was Mr. Smith, her tea-time mate. Each of the families of the victims sure had problems at home, yes! But none that would send them, jumping off cliffs. But if it was to be counted as murders, there was no motive, no eye-witnesses and the worst no evidence at all! Exasperating was not even beginning to describe it.
***
Suspect I : The maid
Eccentric. Never liked people around the house, especially those close to the old lady. Snobbish at most times. Said to be rude on the day of the death also.
Suspect II: The gardener
Had mowed the lawn on each of the days that the deaths occurred. Was known to be a drunkard. Abused his wife when drunk. Had been convicted twice for drunken driving.
Suspect III: The Old lady
Crippled. Moved on a wheelchair. Spent the time in the house only. Was known to be a very sweet lady. Very attached to each of the victims.
***
I sat curled up near her feet. She was sobbing quietly. The police had left long back. Maria left after she cleaned up after dinner. Slowly she stopped sobbing and started talking to me. What she talked I could not comprehend, but she felt better when she talked to me, I knew that and that was all I wanted. I also felt sad when she was upset. I whined when she fell asleep and licked her feet when she wept. The previous day the old chap and she were having a great time. I thought she would fall off her chair laughing. Grrr..
After laughing and chatting and having tea, they both went to the lawn. I followed her. They didn’t seem to want to stop at all. She was going in wide circles in the wheelchair laughing like a small child, while the old man laughed along. A rabbit was trying to grab my attention as well. But I was alert for different reasons. She was always like this when ... Then suddenly she looked at me and cried “Timmy, lick him!” That did it!
I lost it. I growled, snarled bared all my teeth and charged towards him. He was already on the edge of the cliff. He lost balance and fell into the depths of the cliff. I still couldn’t control myself and bounded to the woods nearby. She always did that to those she liked a lot. I’m happy she kicks me sometimes with her spare legs.
***
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