AIRPORT
Playing cricket on a sun-scorched field and you hear a roar from the skies and suddenly all eyes go up to the sky as an Air India or a Kingfisher passes by.And then you see the admiration , the enigma, the excitement an aeroplane draws in everyone's eyes.
Have you been there?? Done that??
I entered college with one of my goals being getting on an aircraft before completing my bachelor degree. Well the prime objective that time was different as I thought my branch would interest me enough and I would toil hard getting a foreign internship. Nevertheless I got on an airplane this December, although it was on a family trip to Andamans and I had toiled only enough to pack my bags myself.We were to board Flight S2-319 of Jet Airways from Calcutta to Port Blair.
I set up my first objective. Getting up on that flight as professionally as possible. Now by that I mean concealing my child-like incredulity and steer clear of embarrassment. On the taxi to Netaji Subhas International Airport I devised the strategy. I was to stay behind Dad and Bro who were not a debutant, observe with Sherlock Holmes’ eyes and speak only when poked with a pin.
Once inside the airport, I let bhai manoeuvre the luggage trolley and carefully track his lefts and rights. Now as I look around I feel something amiss. Something strangely different from my railway stations. What was it ? Maybe I was missing the hawker’s cacophony . Why don’t planes whistle when they land? Why is no one tucking my shirt for a 1 rupee coin and arguing when I give him a 50 paisa instead? There are no beggars here to satiate the rankling coins in my pocket. Currency least count seems to be 10 Rupees. Even donation boxes boasting of crisp notes turn down my offerings. There were some plusses too. And what lovely ones. There is no other way than to put it simply as that there were a hell lot of good looking chicks. I need not strain my eye hunting a ‘decent see’ as I was accustomed doing travelling in second class sleepers. I remembered walking the entire length of the train in my younger days, hoping to catch glimpses of decent females.
Having received my boarding pass, I sit down to observe. I look around and an airport seems to be a world in itself. From shops selling goods at obnoxious rates to Engilsh-speaking hawaldars you see it all. Well an hypothesis of mine says that rate a person considering the shoes he puts on and rate a building considering the standard of toilets there. So keep waiting for my account aboard Jetlite, while I take leave to check out the toilets.
Will be back soon
Astalavista.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Time to think
My readers have been accustomed to get a 'Sorry for being inactive' welcome.This time too I intend not to break the monotony.
The fact that I am a poor Computer Engineering student from NITK and the rare instances of time when we are served a worthwhile Internet connectivity may successfully justify my absence from the blogging circuit.Add to it my 'committed' responsibilities and you know how stressed I am.
Well this time I take up a pen for a purely selfish reason.And no it is not TRP!!
I am not KRK (those whose are not jobless enough to watch Bigg Boss 3, please ignore).It is because I realized that my interaction with English had become very infrequent,being restricted to 'present sir' and 'yes ma'am'.So why not invest my time into some writing.I must not loose the touch.
What would have been a forgettable day today,turned out to be spectacular and inspiring.Thanks to Dr.B.M. Hegde's seminar. (visit www.bmhegde.com)
It was a seminar titled "What is research?" organised by the Computer Engineering department of our college.
Now here I jolt down some of the trivial scientific facts a computer engineer learnt today from a cardiologist.
It is a process of THINKING.
Wow it feels so good to get back to basic sciences.Anyways have to work (copy +paste) on an economics assignment.I'll call it a day.
Enjoy.
The fact that I am a poor Computer Engineering student from NITK and the rare instances of time when we are served a worthwhile Internet connectivity may successfully justify my absence from the blogging circuit.Add to it my 'committed' responsibilities and you know how stressed I am.
Well this time I take up a pen for a purely selfish reason.And no it is not TRP!!
I am not KRK (those whose are not jobless enough to watch Bigg Boss 3, please ignore).It is because I realized that my interaction with English had become very infrequent,being restricted to 'present sir' and 'yes ma'am'.So why not invest my time into some writing.I must not loose the touch.
What would have been a forgettable day today,turned out to be spectacular and inspiring.Thanks to Dr.B.M. Hegde's seminar. (visit www.bmhegde.com)
It was a seminar titled "What is research?" organised by the Computer Engineering department of our college.
Now here I jolt down some of the trivial scientific facts a computer engineer learnt today from a cardiologist.
- The only physics principle that has not yet been refuted is the Heisenberg's Uncertainty principle.
- Heart does not pump blood.(It merely gives it a whirl !!)
- Energy = Matter (Take that Einstein)
- Keep dividing subatomic particles and it stops at plasma supposed to have come from an ethereal world.
- Fever is body's mechanism to increase the temperature so that all harmful viruses get killed.
- All our physics and Chemistry till today sees mention in the Rigveda.
- A zygote knows all the information in this entire world.Let me explain this.Suppose you want to have a car that no one else has in your city.For this you need to have information about cars of all others in your city.You have to know everything about cars in your city.In the same way,for a zygote to possess unique DNA,it must know about all other DNA patterns.As a zygote has a unique DNA, it knows everything about all other DNA,all other information carriers and hence a zygote is omniscient.
It is a process of THINKING.
Wow it feels so good to get back to basic sciences.Anyways have to work (copy +paste) on an economics assignment.I'll call it a day.
Enjoy.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Bade Sahib....
For the first time I feel releived because we have a protocol called 'bribing'.Well I am not exactly proud of being a benefactory of corruption.But still.Now before I start a lecture on 'corruption' and your fingers itch for the Alt+F4 combination,let me relate my goof-up with the traffic police.
It was just another 'I aint doing anything productive' day.I woke up late and my parents were visibly angry.It was an ordeal for me to place a smile on their faces.I decided I needed to do something praiseworthy.I tried pursuading myself that my summer project deserved a hard copy.A month had passed.It was high time. But you already have a soft copy on your comp?Think about how many trees you can save......Lets see Friends instead", quipped my other self. I had had enough of debating already.I will do it today.I resolved.Dad gave a smile.Wow,things were working out.And before that smile could wear off ,I set out to get the job done.
Mom quips, "Aaj suraj kahan se nikla hai?"
Dad suggests,"Beta, bike ke papers le lo.checking ho sakta hai."
I get a premonition.Is Dad's words an omen , one that The Alchemist preaches to look out for.The other self tries to pacify me as I voice out," Dont worry.I will manage."
So I set out for the main market place.Clad in clean formals,helmet on my head,a driving licence in my pocket ( I only brought it along because I wanted to get a Xerox of it done. ),and an idle sun overhead.Nothing could go wrong.I comforted myself and the speedometer touched 40.
3 hours pass.
Finally,I have a bound copy of my project in my hand,sweat on my forehead and a wallet 300 bucks lighter.I seek forgiveness from my other self.I should have saved the trees and myself too from all this trouble.Anyways I start on my return journey. Now before you proceed let me tell you that traffic situation in Ranchi is really getting worse with the vehicle density going off limits.
Vigilant,I slowed down my bike. I take a U-turn and suddenly I see that I am the only one on the road.Wow..some accomplishment.Am I that smart?But the next thing I see is a traffic constable coming towards me.Everyone wants a free ride in this place. I smile . I get ready to welcome the constable but he speak first.With a mischivious smile,he says,"signal tod ke bhag raha hai.chal gadi side laga."
I turn stone.Am I being caught by the traffic police?Is this actually happening?
I am paraded up to the police incharge.Now interestingly, this guy is strikingly similar to the corrupt Bihari policemen they show in movies.I smile.It aggrevates his anger.Clad in a khakhi, a body like Hagrid with a near-falling stomach, thick white moustaches and betal juice dripping from the sides of his mouth,he sure looks intimidating.
I find out his name is 'Bade Sahib'.
BS-kya ji!! gadi chalana nahin aata?
I - Sir,actually sir mujhe pata nahin chala sir ki signal nahi mila hai sir.sorry sir.
Wow.How polite I am.I must have given a good impression.
Now I dont know whether it was one of their tactics.He takes out his walkie-talkie and speaks into it.Check post 7 reporting.Sab theek hai.
I sweep off beads of perpiration that had appeared on my forehead.I feel like a terrorist.
BS- aaj kal ke ladke bhi..chalo licence dikhao. ab hum kya karein.
I give my licence.Thank goodness I was carrying it.
BS (dissapointed after seeing the licence) - paper laye ho?dekho rule to rule hai.aur main hun rules ka pakka.
I - Sir actually papers to actually ghar pe hain.Aap bolo toh le ke aa jaon sir.Actually Sir main college student hun sir.yahan report banane aaya tha sir.
BS - tab bike ki chabhi de do.Hum kuch nahin kar sakte.
I- Sir fine kitna hoga Sir?please sir thoda consider keejiye sir.main student hun sir.NIT mein padhta hun sir.Bahut help hoga Sir.
BS - hum kya kerein jee.dekho agar fine lagata hun main toh signal todne ka 900 aur paper nahi hone ka 900....tum 1800 de do aur chale jao.baat karte ho...
He looks up to me.I make the most pathetic sympathy-asking face.He comes to the point.
BS- kitna paise hai tumhare pass.dekho hum acche aadmi hain.student ho chod deta hun.100 rupees de ke chale jaao.
What a relief.I feel as if I am acquited from murder charges.
BS - beta,hum bolte hain theek se gadi chalao.Ab dhyan rakhna.
I -thank you very much Sir.Main aapka help nahin bhoolunga.I am sorry.
(Read **@#@ &*&#@#&****)
As I drove back,I realised how foolish was I not to read the omens.How lucky was I to evade punishment.I realised how easy and alluring is bribery and corruption.I disparaged my conviction to fight this social evil.
I needed to grow stronger.
It was just another 'I aint doing anything productive' day.I woke up late and my parents were visibly angry.It was an ordeal for me to place a smile on their faces.I decided I needed to do something praiseworthy.I tried pursuading myself that my summer project deserved a hard copy.A month had passed.It was high time. But you already have a soft copy on your comp?Think about how many trees you can save......Lets see Friends instead", quipped my other self. I had had enough of debating already.I will do it today.I resolved.Dad gave a smile.Wow,things were working out.And before that smile could wear off ,I set out to get the job done.
Mom quips, "Aaj suraj kahan se nikla hai?"
Dad suggests,"Beta, bike ke papers le lo.checking ho sakta hai."
I get a premonition.Is Dad's words an omen , one that The Alchemist preaches to look out for.The other self tries to pacify me as I voice out," Dont worry.I will manage."
So I set out for the main market place.Clad in clean formals,helmet on my head,a driving licence in my pocket ( I only brought it along because I wanted to get a Xerox of it done. ),and an idle sun overhead.Nothing could go wrong.I comforted myself and the speedometer touched 40.
3 hours pass.
Finally,I have a bound copy of my project in my hand,sweat on my forehead and a wallet 300 bucks lighter.I seek forgiveness from my other self.I should have saved the trees and myself too from all this trouble.Anyways I start on my return journey. Now before you proceed let me tell you that traffic situation in Ranchi is really getting worse with the vehicle density going off limits.
Vigilant,I slowed down my bike. I take a U-turn and suddenly I see that I am the only one on the road.Wow..some accomplishment.Am I that smart?But the next thing I see is a traffic constable coming towards me.Everyone wants a free ride in this place. I smile . I get ready to welcome the constable but he speak first.With a mischivious smile,he says,"signal tod ke bhag raha hai.chal gadi side laga."
I turn stone.Am I being caught by the traffic police?Is this actually happening?
I am paraded up to the police incharge.Now interestingly, this guy is strikingly similar to the corrupt Bihari policemen they show in movies.I smile.It aggrevates his anger.Clad in a khakhi, a body like Hagrid with a near-falling stomach, thick white moustaches and betal juice dripping from the sides of his mouth,he sure looks intimidating.
I find out his name is 'Bade Sahib'.
BS-kya ji!! gadi chalana nahin aata?
I - Sir,actually sir mujhe pata nahin chala sir ki signal nahi mila hai sir.sorry sir.
Wow.How polite I am.I must have given a good impression.
Now I dont know whether it was one of their tactics.He takes out his walkie-talkie and speaks into it.Check post 7 reporting.Sab theek hai.
I sweep off beads of perpiration that had appeared on my forehead.I feel like a terrorist.
BS- aaj kal ke ladke bhi..chalo licence dikhao. ab hum kya karein.
I give my licence.Thank goodness I was carrying it.
BS (dissapointed after seeing the licence) - paper laye ho?dekho rule to rule hai.aur main hun rules ka pakka.
I - Sir actually papers to actually ghar pe hain.Aap bolo toh le ke aa jaon sir.Actually Sir main college student hun sir.yahan report banane aaya tha sir.
BS - tab bike ki chabhi de do.Hum kuch nahin kar sakte.
I- Sir fine kitna hoga Sir?please sir thoda consider keejiye sir.main student hun sir.NIT mein padhta hun sir.Bahut help hoga Sir.
BS - hum kya kerein jee.dekho agar fine lagata hun main toh signal todne ka 900 aur paper nahi hone ka 900....tum 1800 de do aur chale jao.baat karte ho...
He looks up to me.I make the most pathetic sympathy-asking face.He comes to the point.
BS- kitna paise hai tumhare pass.dekho hum acche aadmi hain.student ho chod deta hun.100 rupees de ke chale jaao.
What a relief.I feel as if I am acquited from murder charges.
BS - beta,hum bolte hain theek se gadi chalao.Ab dhyan rakhna.
I -thank you very much Sir.Main aapka help nahin bhoolunga.I am sorry.
(Read **@#@ &*&#@#&****)
As I drove back,I realised how foolish was I not to read the omens.How lucky was I to evade punishment.I realised how easy and alluring is bribery and corruption.I disparaged my conviction to fight this social evil.
I needed to grow stronger.
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