Looking back at 2009...

Looking back at some of the moments of 2009... There were some happy ones some not so happy ones, some great ones some not so great ones... These moments keep you going and keeps you craving for more... Pictures speak a thousand words so looking back at some great moments of 2009...
Me and James (Jan 2009) at Grameen... :) Met up with school mates after quite a long time...

Me with the boys at Auto expo in Palace grounds(Jan 2009) From left to right Babu, Abhi, Suppu, Sunil, BK, Me and Pradeep

An important day for my friends Ankur and Amrita's wedding (Feb 2009).. :)

My first ride with the boys.. At Manchinabele (March 2009)... From left Me, Abhi, BK and Sunil...
Me and Akhil.. Our first ride together... :) Also with us was Manish clicking the picture... At Shivanasmudram (April 2009)

Couple of young friends who took me back to my childhood... Travel friends met on the way back from Coorg(April 2009)... Thanks to my sick memory I dont remember their names..

Ride with RTMC to Cloud valley in Coorg (May 2009)...

The Rappa with RTMC.. In front of the ruins near Rappa (June 2009)...

Trip with cousins to Gopal swamy betta and Bandipur(July 2009)... Sporting a new clean shaved look.. ;) From left Karthiyayni akka, Me, Divya, Latha, Santosh and Arun anna...

Ride to Kemmangundi with RTMC again (July 2009).. Me on my bird at the end..

Akhils send off at Jalsa(August 2009)... Manish on the left and Akhil on the right.. :)

RTMC anniversary at Waynad(Oct 2009).. Anniversary party rocked totally... :)

My little cousins Madhu on the left and Manu on the right Diwali (Oct 2009)

Karting with office team mates at E zone(Nov 2009)

Finally last but not the least... The trek to kodachadri with the boys (Dec 2009)... From left Chira, BK, Suppu, Sunil, Rajanna, Me and Bharavi..

Hoping to have many more moments like these this year... :) Have a great 2010...

Kodachadri: The Trek of a lifetime

Kodachadri that was the place we were heading too this time around.. It was one trip i was apprehensive about initially, but after the forcing of the guys I had to accept to their demands and agreed to it... So the check list was made, we were planning to trek, we were planning to camp, we were planning to party... In a nutshell we were planning for a blast of a weekend...

We booked the tents and sleeping bags from BMC... We could get the tents but they were short of sleeping bags, but we managed get them with some quick thinking(Thanks to me)... After another addition to the initial group of 10 there was a new member to the gang a fledgling to our gang...

The good fellas gang comprised of Me, Sunil, Abhi, BK, Rajanna, Chira, Harish, Pradeep, Supreeth, Bharavi and the new fella Suhas... :) We had stocked up for the evening at camp site thanks to Supreeth for the drinks and Abhi for the MTR ready to eat... :)

D day(25th DEC 2009)

We all met up directly at the bus stop where a last minute check revealed that we had forgotten basic stuff like i forgot my tooth brush and we had forgotten to take cups for the next day... Once we put the luggage on the bus we were all set and there was no turning back.. :) It was a riot drive in the bus, just imagine a group of 11 guys together under the same ceiling... After some talking and bantering we all retired for the night...


Day One(26th DEC 2009)

Thanks to the ksrtc driver who drove in the ghats like an insane man who had lost his nuts... We reached kollur at 5 45 in the morning to find kollur was filled with people... To our luck it was some kind of an auspicious day and pilgrims were flocking the place... We had a tough time even to find a place to freshen up... After running around from one end of the town to the other for almost an hour we found a matta called the hegde matta that offered us shelter... It was no fancy place but we found a place to wash away our filth and get ready for a day that would be one of the most adventurous days for us... :) After a bath and a photo session we were all ready and raring to go...

We walked back to the town to have breakfast and to find a jeep that would take us to kodachadri that is about 40 kms from kollur... There was some talk about why only jeeps could go to kodachadri and i got the answer why it was that way once i took the ride... It was one helluva ride on the jeep some stomach churning experience... I am still wondering how the jeep made it all the way up to the peak... We reached the bhatta's house who runs a temple there and also gives food to people who come there...

That was the last meal we had for another day and a half... We trekked around till our lunch got ready and explored some territory around... After we were done with lunch we trekked to the camping spot which was another nice trek up hill... On the way we visited one of the caves which also houses a temple... :) We finally made it up to our camping site just in time to catch a beautiful sunset... We set up our base camp here and set off to get some fire wood for the night...

After the sunset started the party and some awesome time.. We sat there talking about totally random things keeping ourself warm with the campfire that we set up... Once it started getting cold we got into our sleeping bags and started star gazing, thanks to Sunil and Abhi who started drawing maps on the sky... :) Then we crashed for the night once it was getting real cold...

Day Two(27th DEC 2009)

We woke up early morning in the hopes of catching a good sunrise... But the weather played spoil sport and we couldnt see the sunrise because of a foggy and cloudy morning... After we lazed around the camp site clicking some pics we decided to head down to bhattas place... The trek down was beautiful as we took the longer route in search of finding a waterfall which we only heard and never saw... Finally decided against it and got back to Bhattas house...

After a light breakfast we decided to trek down from the hill top... Got our water supplies and started the descend... The trek down was long and tiring but one of the best treks we ever did... The forest was simply mind blowing... After a trek for almost 6 hrs and a leech bite to me we reached the bottom of the hill in one piece...
We caught a bus from there back to kollur and got back to hegde matta to freshen up... We were wasted and totally hungry but we dint wanna have dinner at kollur...

We were right on time to the bus stop for our bus but the bus was 45 mins late... Thanks to the traffic jam because of the over flowing pilgrims the bus got delayed for another hour... After another leg pulling session we crashed for the night...

Another traffic jam at nelamangala ensured some more delay and the driver decided to take magadi road instead and we reached the station at about 8 in the morning... Got back home by auto with Abhi and Pradeep... All in all an awesome time with the guys...

For renting tents and sleeping bags: http://www.bmcindia.org/
Few pics from the trek: http://picasaweb.google.com/deepak3565/Kodachadri25thTo28thDec2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCLDJ167kxPH1PA#

This is probably my last post of this year unless my mind cooks up something real soon... :) If not then have a great new years eve and an amazing 2010 guys... :)

Aasra - The Birth

A woman is born twice once when she is born and then once when she gives birth, these were the last words that were ringing in Pooja's ears as the doctors took her into the Operation theater... Rajiv stood at the door way helpless with blood all over his hands as they carried Pooja on a gurney, her shrieks of screams that sent a chill under Rajiv's spine... He was helpless, he could do nothing but wait...

It was not a regular pregnancy for the couple... Right from the start when the baby were diagnosed with Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)... Initial sensitization dint help Pooja and the baby... It was never easy for Rajiv to look at the pain and trouble Pooja went through for the baby... The doctor never really gave more than a 50% chance for both the baby and the mother to survive the pregnancy...But then Pooja was persistent and stubborn and wanted the child... So they went ahead with a lot of care...

He was in a state of shock as the doctor called him... Rajiv sank back even more as doctor spoke those dreadful words... You know the situation we are in... We are trying our best to save both the child and the mother but we need to know if you would like to have the mother or the baby... This was one decision that he never wanted to make, one choice that he never wanted to take...

The doctor disappeared inside the the operation theater after hearing to what Rajiv had to say and taking his signature on the consent form... The only thing that kept him company throughout was the thought of Pooja's smile... How she had changed his life totally... Rajiv couldn't afford to loose the one woman he loved more than anyone... He knew he had made the right decision... He knew he had taken the right choice...

As Rajiv waited through those painful hours sitting and praying... While suddenly another shriek of scream shuddered the silence of the hospital and brought Rajiv back from his trance... This scream was more of a cry and a more subtle one more like a baby's... Rajiv walked those heavy steps to the door as the doctor made his way to the door herself from the inside covered from head to toe with blood...

Rajiv dint wanna hear this... He was not ready to hear those dreadful words but it was Pooja's decision... That was what she wanted... That was what she asked for, to save the baby if such a situation occurred... Rajiv had shut down all his senses and dint want to hear what the doctor had to say... He knew what had happened and dint wanna think about it...

He went into the theater as the doctor was speaking to him, but he couldn't listen to one word the doctor was saying... Rajiv walked into the theater like a zombie without emotions, to look at Pooja... He dint want to see this scene ever in his life time, with just a trickle of tears rolling down from his eyes he saw Pooja...

Hey idiot what are you looking at come and look at your princess as Pooja spoke those words, it brought back life into Rajiv... Looking at the child in Pooja's arms looking at aasra he was the most happiest dad in the world... Yes Aasra that would be her name those were Rajiv's words as he hugged pooja and aasra... He was a Dad a PROUD DAD... :)

Mom....

Dear Mom,

People say that good things happen to good people, and truth always prevails… But then we see all this happen only in fairy tales and in movies where the hero bundles up the bad guys…

I have always been nice to people like you had taught me to be… The day I spilt the milk, the day I disrespected uncle you dint punish me but you always taught me what’s right and what’s wrong…

But the mistake that I have made is unforgivable… I don’t think anyone will ever forgive me for what I have done to you… You have always cared for my well being and taken care of me but after my marriage everything changed, you started becoming my burden… What seemed to care at some point became pestering, what was love some day became irritation…

Mom I dint know what I was doing when I put you in that old age home… In spite of the crying and denials I forced you into moving into that hell hole… Please forgive me for that dreadful day… I know now that the reason for all your crying that day was not because you were going to face a bad time there, but the reason was that you were going away from me and you couldn’t live without seeing me…

Mom I dint even lift your calls when you called me to wish me on my birthday… I just walked out of your life… Today I stand alone mom, with no one to hold me… Today when I see you in that lying down motionless... When I hold your hand now I cannot feel that warmth... The chillness is killing me mom... I cannot forgive myself for this Mom… But I know you would forgive me… You dint deserve a son like me mom…

I wish I burn in hell mom… I wish in my next birth I am your mother and you make me go through the same hell that I made you pass through…

I have been a bad son mom… I love you to eternity… Please forgive me…

Your son,

I wish, I pray to GOD I don’t get to see such a day… Please guys don’t ever do this to your parents… I hope old age homes stop to exist…

Dedicated to the best MOM in the world… Love you mom… :)

Analysis of Area 505456

Mission: Analysis of area 505456(random generated number) commonly known and referred by everyone as OFFICE… Further in the report we will refer to the area as Area 505456…
Reason: To better understand the fauna of the area, to understand the species inhabitant in the particular area and their living and eating habits…
Number of people doing the analysis: JUST ME ALONE in the JUNGLE…
Time of Analysis: 24/7 round the clock surveillance…

Initial analysis of the area revealed some shocking revelations and some shocking realities about the area… The fauna of the area majorly consists of 3 species though all of them look the same, but the behavioral attributes of each of them is totally different… The 3 species found are stated below; we now did an in-depth analysis of each of these species…
1. Sycophantinidae kismiass
2. Rebelliouso fubar
3. Loner survivorus
The in-depth analysis of these species was done from morning to evening… In the morning as the herds rush into Area 505456… Though these species are perfectly capable of locomotion they are transported by these mechanized machines that bring herds of them into area 505456…
We studied basically a few majorly influenced attributes of these species; they are enlisted as follows,
1. General behavior
2. Eating habits
3. General habitat

Sycophantinidae kismiass

General Habitat: These species can be found generally wherever the leader of the herd is around, mostly behind the herd’s alpha male.
Eating Habits: This particular species always eats with the leader of the pack or if the leader is eating with other leaders for some reason then they eat with the same species of other herds where they discuss strategy of sycophancy.
General Behavior: They follow the leader blindly and do whatever he asks them to do and also run’s errands for these guys without asking questions… Their name was formed from the way they usually flatter to the leaders of the pack… Hence the name kismiass…

Rebelliouso fubar

General Habitat: The members of this particular species can be found as far as away from the leaders as possible… They try and run away from wherever the leader’s of the pack usually dwells…
Eating Habits: The members of this species eat generally with the same species of other herds… Usually over food they discuss how much they hate the other species…
General Behavior: They usually complain about anything and everything that exist other than them… They can be found gossiping and passing comments about the other species especially of the species Sycophantinidae kismiass… Their name is derived from the rebellious nature and is the reason why they are FUBAR (f#cked up beyond all recognition)


Loner survivorus

General habitat: The members of this species are the loners and they survive dwelling alone in their own world… They can usually be found in any corner of the area ogling at nothing…
Eating habits: The members of this species usually eat alone and they don’t mingle even with the members of the same species…
General behavior: The members of this particular species can be found lost in their own world not even caring where they are and what they do… They live with their loneliness and the secret of survival is being alone… Their name was derived from their general ability to survive alone…

Summary
Also from the study I found that these species are regularly at war with each other for various reasons and circumstances… The species that fight the most are the Sycophantinidae kismiass and Rebelliouso fubar whose intellectual thinking is eons apart and they hate each other… Usually the species Sycophantinidae kismiass can be seen climbing the ladder soon because of their sycophancy but sometimes an exceptional Rebelliouso fubar also can be seen at the top of the food chain…

I hope this brief report of Area 505456 helps you to identify what species you are from… This report is totally a generic report and holds good to any Area similar to Area 505456…

Institutionalised... ????

"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." ~ Schopenhauer

This holds good to all the human emotions one goes through when you are moved from your cozy spot to more dire situations... First you ridicule the decision of what happened, and then you violently oppose it and with time u accept what has perspired... Sometimes this happens while you know and sometimes it all happens subconsciously without you even having the faintest idea of what you are doing... The only thing that is permanent and happening all the time is change and change is something inevitable… The faster you pass through these 3 stages the more adaptive and the better one becomes… The word for this adaptability is institutionalized...

So have you been institutionalized...????

PS: I dint have anything else to write about on a boring Monday morning, please bear with me… :P

Paa... :D

I had to write a review about this movie because after a real real long time a bollywood movie has really done the trick and I walked out of the theater satisfied... Thanks to some great direction and story written by R. Balakrishnan and some awesome screen play, also the cinematography of PC Sriram is simply mind blowing... The cherry on the cake was actually the maestro Ilayaraja, his background music has the flavor to the movie...
The story actually revolves around this boy Auro who has this genetic disorder Progeria played by Big B brilliantly... Though Abhishek has played the second fiddle he has done a brilliant job playing his role as a politician... Vidya balan has again done a great job playing Auro's mother... Not to forget Arundhati nag who plays Auro's grandma and Vidya balans mom and to me she is the chuppa rustum of the movie... Also the kids friends of Auro have been portrayed beautifully especially this kid Vishnu... All this credit goes to the director who has steered his ship well and with great success...
Some of the scenes that totally touched me was the ending scene where Big B just talks with his eyes.... It is just too brilliantly played... Time and again the old warhorses like Big B prove again why they deserve such accolades...
Some bad things about the movie were the introduction of the cast and crew by Jaya Bachchan was totally uncalled for, also the marketing of the movie gives away clues of what the movie is about this must be taken care of... Also some of the stuff like what Abhishek does has been exaggerated and could have been avoided.. The lenght of the movie is another concern...
But then overall a real, more than satisfying experience in the theater for a Bollywood movie... Also the crew and caste must be given credit to have made a movie like this amidst all the crap that has come out of bollywood in the past year... I would give the movie 4 out 5 mainly for 4 reasons...
1) Big B and Vidya Balan's performance.
2) R Balakrishnan Direction and story.
3) PC Sriram's Cinematography.
4) Last but not the least Maestro Ilayaraja's music.

To end the movie review on a comic note if R Balakrishna made the movie in tamil then what would it be called... Yenna koduma sir ithu... :D Kudos to the guy who did the morphing got the pic by mail earlier last week... :D
Cheers till next time... Enjoy madi...

Auto Shayari... :D

I could do a collection of all the Backs of auto's in Bangalore.. There are quite a few interesting and colorful characters out there... Found another such specimen on the roads of Bangalore a few days back... :D
Wah wah wah kya baat he... :D This is what I call shayari on the go... :D
PS: Click on the photo if u cant read whats written.. :)

Cheers and have a great weekend Peeps... :D

Thanks giving... :)

Its that time of the year, a month away from Christmas... Its thanks giving season... :) I have heard people thank god, their relatives, their parents... These people actually make a difference to you as they are directly or indirectly attached to you in someway... But I would like to thank a person whom I am in no way related to, whom I have not met in years, Whom I don't know if I will recognize the next time I see them... Here is my story of how this person actually made a difference to me... :)

Its chilling cold, early in the morning at 5:15.... I am trying to run as fast as possible... Looking around for an auto or a lift to my CET tuition's... My cycle was all wrecked and so was my face from the fall I had recently so couldn't ride...
Was already late to class and was in a fix... Oh wait there is an auto...
Me: Cambridge layout barthira... ESI hospital hatra...(Will you come to cambridge layout near ESI hospital)
Auto guy: Sir one and half haguthe(one and a half times the meter)
Me: I have only 10 bucks and this guys asks for one and a half... :(
I move on running in the cold, trying to cover up from the morning fog... Its 5 20... Damn I am real late... :(
By this time I reach ulsoor police station which is deserted... The whole roadside is filled with news paper guys and one lone auto unloading milk... He looks at me and I guess he understood the turmoil and dilemma on my face...
Auto uncle: Yelappa hogbeku...(Where do you wanna go)
Me: Uncle cambridge layout hogbeku, ESI hospital hatra...
Auto: Barappa hogona..(Come I will take you)
Me: (With a wry smile) Uncle nan hatra hattu rupai irodu...(I have only ten rupees)
Auto: Neen barappa... Otho maklu neevu... Duddu naale kodu... (You come, you can give me the money tomorrow, kids like you should study)
Me: couldnt muster up anything else from a Thank you Uncle...
I reach tuitions just on time.... I give him the ten bucks and look at him... I couldnt see the face in the darkness properly and thank him again... :)
Every single day of my tuitions for over a period of 2 months this Auto guy dropped me to the tuitions sometimes with money and most of the times without taking a single penny from me... I dont remember his face or how he looks... I dont think he will ever read this post either... I dont think if I will ever be able to meet this guy...
Amidst all the scum and worthless people it is people like this who really make a difference and bring in the goodness in you... :)
Here is a big thanks to this guy who made a difference to me... Again I couldnt muster up anything other than this "THANK YOU SO MUCH UNCLE"... :)