Nobody Changes

Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.  ~John Kenneth Galbraith


Ever felt that the same things go wrong every time?
It's like a curse. We tell people stories about how it happened to us. How we got out of those terrible times and then right then it starts happening all over again. You thought it wouldn't again or even if it did you're all mature and learned to deal with it this time. Does it really go well this time? I doubt it. It crashes your world again and you do exactly what you promised yourself you wouldn't do. It's not that you don't know what should be done because you know exactly. But.. you couldn't you wouldn't because that would mean you'll have to change your ways. You'll have to change yourself. You'll have to own up to all those past nightmares which you had conveniently blamed on others. It's just not acceptable. There has to be a big conspiracy against you. Perhaps it's god himself who hates you.


We are all aware of our strengths, shortcomings and idiosyncrasies too. Likewise, we all can see the Devil within but we can't let go of him because he's internal to us. We turn to him in times of need. So what if he chooses to destroy our life we still can't pay the small price of killing the ego/the shortsightedness/the madness. We live on with our respective devils and it grows stronger and stronger burning us inside.


We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves.  ~Lynn Hall

Coming back to life

I can't remember the last time I was chilling on a Sunday evening waiting for people to assemble downstairs for cricket. Today truly has arrived after a long and tiring wait. There are countless articles about life in an Indian B-school but I'd say you got to experience it to really understand what it's all about.

I remember that the wait at the Cal airport while heading to Delhi during durga puja vacations felt longer than my entire stay there. I doubt if I ever felt as reluctant about leaving home as I did while heading back for summers. Although it was a little comforting to see that other shared my fears.

As much as I wanted to come back to school, joining a B-school was more like joining a race. There was no time. There is never any. You've no choice but to forget about your life outside of campus. Even campus life is restricted to quizzes and placement prep. Going to those parties with that guilty conscience was fun in its own way.

Now that we're past those dreaded first few months where I wasted more time worrying about work rather than doing some. Let the real college drama begin!

Vacations

Who doesn't like vacations?
Who wouldn't? :S

Do we all look forward to go on one?
Yes!

Is there a threshold period for them to last?
Don't think so (truth is YES!)

After the threshold period which is about 18 days and 14 hours in my opinion...

Do you start  talking to people you generally never have time for?
Yes!

You do stupid things just because you're bored?
Yes!

You end up feeling very irritated?
Yes!

You start feeling that all your friends are corporate rats?
Yes!

You have a little too much time to think about your life!
Yes!

Does the last part suck?
Oh Yes!

Do you take rapid measures to fix things which will prevent you from reflecting too much on your life?
Definitely!

Especially after a few drinks?
Of course!

Does that push you further in the mess?
Well, Of course!

Now do you wish for the vacations to get over?
So do!

Does this mean that you're missing work?
Are you kidding me? :P

Learning to drive

This is a topic I mostly avoid because it's immensely embarrassing but since off late I've good stuff going on so i don't really care about not having a driving license.

Well I think I drove for the first time when I was in 5th standard. Yes our driver used to let me do that when my folks weren't around. And as all driving instructors tell their students he also told me that I'm naturally good at it. That time I couldn't wait to turn 18 and get a license to freedom. But as destiny had it I no longer had a car. So i decided to wait.

Once in murthal we went to pick up Rahul's degree. As he stepped to go to a lone departmental store in his barren campus Ritesh gave into my request of letting me go for a small drive. I started and I very well knew that Rahul would come running for his 'baby' so I decided to really hit the gas as there was no way i could afford it to come to a halt straight away. As expected Rahul had his jaw dropped and he never ran like that on the cricket field either. Ritesh had his heart racing very well knowing he might end up being the scapegoat here. As I looked back to make these observations the car headed towards a tree inside a narrow ditch. I 'seemed' to be completely out of control and I heard *beep* *beep* *beep* from behind which wasn't helping my driving I must add. I of course steered back onto the road very comfortably. They did let me drive till the gate then but still for some inexplicable reason Rahul starts breathing heavily when we talk about that incident.

Three years later my driving experience in Goa however was much better and I must add Karan is one patient instructor. Also, he couldn't believe that it was the first time I was driving may be our family driver was telling the truth after all.

After so many years I'd lost interest in driving but I think it's time that I hit the road so today I join a driving school not because I need to learn but because it's okay to damage their cars :)

Best Profession Ever

To crack jokes at people and then get paid by the very same people. Can there be a better job?

STAND UP COMEDY IS THE SHIT

Recently I had the 'pleasure' of going to the Comedy Store. And It was money well spent.

You can order food and drinks inside the audi but avoid drinking too much too quickly because your attempted escape to relieve yourself won't go unnoticed. Ringing phone on the other hand would guarantee you the experience of the Comedy Store's version of "Phone a Friend" where the friend would have no idea what he's up against.

The host and the best comedian of the lot was the most unprepared and was the most chatty one as well. I happen to know some people who I believe have the "skill-set" for this coveted job.

1. Karan Kalia - If he gives up the motto "Why STAND if you can sit" after all it's stand up comedy.
2. Aditya Changavalli - If he can start seeing a Trichologist after all who'd want to watch a disgruntled bald comedian.

Dhobhi Ghaat

Chaos is what it seems from outside. But each individual experiences something unique and yet so similar in ways which outsiders can never comprehend.

It made me wonder. Is life complicated or we complicate it. Are we so afraid of our instinct that we spend(read waste) all our time in calculating every move and analyzing each and everything that happens.

Are we so afraid of falling that we don't want to experience free fall ever again?
Is certainty so exciting that we want to know everything?

Someone told me "things do work out as they should". I do believe so now or at least I want to.

May be the lost capability of taking chances is what makes us miss our golden days (:

Bombay to Delhi

While waiting for the boarding announcement the things that run through my head aren't about what I'm going to do once I'm there. It's not about the people I'll meet. It's not about my college days. Although these are the things I expect myself to think about.

What do I think about?

Getting up at 5 in the morning and waking everyone else up for the 6 AM cricket match. Getting back home by 11 and then playing a game of Business with my oldest friend. Then a lunch break before we get back to the field.

Those summers just don't come back. The Delhi I left is not the one I keep coming back to. Perhaps I left 'home' long before I went to Bombay.

Not that I don't enjoy visiting this 'new place' and ALWAYS consider staying back forever. I still love going to Khan and drinking up with my favorite friends and will always do :)

Happy Birthday

Birthdays are over-rated is what I used to think at one point of time. A small party at home used to suffice and the best part was/is that i could ask mom to make anything I like :)
With time things changed and then came a curse... Whatever I might do my b'day plans used to crash in vain. So much so that after a point I started dreading my b'day. It was depressing to say the least.

I came to Bombay and it was a 'failed b'day plan' in the making. That's when I put my foot down and went off the leopold and was carried out of hard rock. I had a smile on my face remarking that I've ended the curse, I've drank it down, I've smoked it up.

I still remember the b'day the last b'day I spent with dad when he took me out for dinner. I still wish I should have talked more enjoyed more but i guess it's true when grown up children sit with their parents nothing much is really talked about. I wish I could change that.

It's important to have memorable birthdays because then you remember what you did and how you felt then in which case Birthdays also act as reality checkpoints.
We can evaluate how much have we grown in the last year or two?
Are we doing what we wanted to and promised ourselves to be doing?
Are we happier?

But the most revolutionary change that one can notice is the way our relationships change with people.
Sometimes someone we didn't even know till last b'day becomes too important this time while the special someone from last time might be completely missing from the frame this time around.
It can be quite overwhelming sometimes.

Bombay

I still remember my first train ride to this city. The excitement of finally going to bbay (previously i had to cancel twice) and this time it wasn't supposed to be just a trip. Initially it seemed very much like delhi because of hindi being the preferred language. But very soon I began to see the difference. This wasn't just another city. This wasn't just another seaside. This is Bombay !!

There is something about this city, something which can only be felt although I'm still hoping to explain it with this post. There's something in the air as a friend of mine put it and all of us agreed to. There are so many other nice cities in the country but there's something different about  bombay. The madness the rush the freedom the sea the lights the sky scrapers the hotness the rains and "It's my life" attitude makes it the place to be.

I always feel that the city is looking after me, a protective blanket, a feeling of being home and a very happening home at that :)

My balcony view. Courtesy - Nikhil Agarwal

Whenever any of my friends visit I feel like it's my duty to take them around and make sure they love the city which they always do. Although there are some who don't appreciate the awesomeness and I find it extremely difficult to stay friends with them henceforth :P

If you're in town remember that Elephanta caves isn't really bombay but this is - MyMumbaiChecklist.

The Opinion

There is information and then there is disinformation, and a whole lot of it.

Every media house seems to have an agenda. The content seems to depend more upon what can sell rather than the fact of the matter.

Some want to do the right thing but have their wings chopped off by the people on the top.

Some blog about it to vent their frustration. Yeah blogging has emerged as a 'revolution in the making'. It's like an alternate media, "by the people", in the real sense of the phrase.

It has its shortcomings though. Some good thoughts are lost in the crowd while some with big names forget that something is not right just because they said it. Even the reader tends to take it for granted rather than cross-checking what he/she reads. Another shortcoming would be the fact that internet has penetrated only 5% of the Indian population. Therefore Television, Films and Print Media still make the real news and will be doing so for decades to come.

They no longer represent us though, at least not in a way we would want them to. It's the corporate houses that they cater to and "Brain-Washing" seems to be the next big agenda. Blogging is how people try to think out loud when media fails them. Next step would be individuals from different spheres of life seeking a common platform to speak their mind and answering questions which really matter to us.

One such attempt is 'The Opinion' magazine.Our purpose behind the formation of this magazine is to act as a platform for the opinions of the generation that is about to come of age. We hope to present pertinent issues from a perspective that highlights their impact on our lives. At the same time, it is equally important to us to ensure that The Opinion is a good read. So we welcome articles and stories from all genres, be it current affairs, sports, politics, economics, entertainment et al.

You can contact Pranay Gupta or me if you'd like to write or contribute in any other way you can think of and also to get your hands on our first issue.

Occam's Razor

Either you can be logical about everything or nothing. You can't have it both ways. You can't resort to logic when it suits you especially when it's your dire attempt to justify yourselves. Just because you can justify yourselves doesn't make you or your actions right.

I'm sure this goes against everything you've been taught, but right and wrong do exist. Just because you don't know what the right answer is - maybe there's even no way you could know what the right answer is - doesn't make your answer right or even okay. It's much simpler than that. It's just plain wrong.- Dr. Gregory House

 Yes right and wrong do exist. Just because people can get away by calling it a gray area doesn't make it right. Weakness is not an excuse for choosing the wrong path rather it's a weak act to use weakness as an excuse. Experiences tend to repeat themselves. Ever thought why so ? It's maybe because of YOU. You haven't changed, your actions haven't, your thinking hasn't and therefore the consequences haven't either and you're still wasting all your time coming up with excuses, with justification when the simplest justification is staring you in the face.

Occam's Razor - Simplest explanation is always right.

Well almost always. So why think of complicated stories then ?

Quite Real

I like to dream. Imagining a dream world while one is conscious is quite difficult if not impossible. Attention to detail is not the only problem one faces but to control the various objects in the ‘scene’ is like acquiring 'Moksha'. Everything that you don’t want to happen happens because you’re ‘actually’ thinking about them. In short, it invariably leads to chaos in matter of seconds. Dreaming while sleeping is definitely less strenuous although it can be one hell of a roller-coaster ride if not utter chaos.

I find it extremely interesting how we react to difficult situation in real life. How an adrenaline rush pulls us out of despair. We go on the offensive instead and tell ourselves that this is our life and we’re ready to do whatever is necessary to bring it back on path. On the other hand, a difficult situation in a dream is also invariably related to feeling completely helpless. I’ve had a lot of lucid dreams especially as a kid. The adrenaline rush when nothing is going your way tells you that it’s a dream. This is right when we wake up but well not always, at least not me.

The knowledge that you’re dreaming when you’re still asleep puts you in-charge of the dream and unlike the 'day dreams', now you have your whole brain at your disposal. "It's my dream, out here I'm God" is what I used to tell myself. Although it doesn’t last too long, maybe because we can’t really accept that we’re ‘All Powerful’ or maybe we don’t really know what to do with all this power. Does it also mean that although we keep striving for more power in real life we're not really equipped or prepared to handle it if someday we actually acquire enough?

Gaining control over your dream doesn't mean that it's going to last. It's like playing a shooting game which becomes harder and faster as you move forward but only a lot more complex. You try to keep up with the rapidly increasing pace of the dream till you can, knowing very well that sooner or later you'll have to snap out of it. Just like real life just a lot more faster is what I remember of those 'hard to remember' dreams.

No More a Virgin

I still remember when the peer pressure got the better of me. The sheer fun and pleasure made me go over to the other side. It was first year of college and despite of everything I'd been taught, I was able rationalize it nonetheless. Since then I've always tried to help others realize what they're missing out on.

People have their reasons too - Religious, ethical or mere choices they make to prove to themselves that they're in control. I've realized it's not appreciated when the 'beliefs' are questioned and hence I avoid it. Although the pleasure in seeing people appreciate the other side when they decide to move over is worth the effort being put in to 'change' them.

One such conversion took place today. When subway delivered subs which were marked incorrectly. A dear colleague of mine who boasts or rather used to boast of being a 'pure vegetarian' had nibbled a couple of bites before he could realize that what he's eating doesn't taste like the Veggie Delite he ordered but had gotten swapped with the Chicken Tikka. He immediately gulped down the whole bottle of Mango Slice to cleanse himself but it was too late. He knew it was too late. The chicken was inside him. He couldn't boast anymore and everyone knows the first time might take time but once you're on the other side There's no stopping you :)

'Functions'

I hated them in school n college and like them no better in office.

Not the mathematical ones. I'm way too good at ripping apart those little mean pricks ;)

I always found school functions to be torturous. I don't know why. I mean everybody seemed very happy during that time. Maybe because I was never into dancing, singing, dramatics.. You name it and I haven't done it :) So it could be that I didn't feel like I'm a part of it, like I'm the 'outsider', it explains why i always felt suffocated during all such events and wished for them to get over asap so that i could  return to the usual fun.

College fests seemed no better. It always seemed that people changed for that time like We're in a alternate universe and the relationships had a different meanings. It's like everybody arrives not only dressed up on the outside but also trying to play a character whom I just couldn't recognize. My friends never liked attending fests and sometimes when they did, I had a great time so maybe that explains it all. Though I still prefer a House Party on New Year's eve Over going to a club and shouting with 2000 strangers. Not that I don't like going out and attend concerts with thousands of people but somethings are better if only friends are around.

Office has been no respite either with what was supposed to be an annual party got converted into a school function with Juices and Soft drinks replacing the 'happy' drinks and people still pretending to enjoy or have they uncovered the truth about life, happiness and everything that goes with it ?

Venting out @WTF and then the usual @ Hard Rock and Marine Drive (That is my spot, in an every changing world, it is a single point of consistency.) prevented me from throwing up.

Life Cycle

I have a rule. I do not write about my personal life. I just don't ! And that's why I'm going to hate myself in the morning for posting this but right now I'm too buzzed to stop myself, also I won't be able to sleep peacefully unless i get this out of my system.

I'm listening to The Scientist by coldplay - Going back to the start again. That's what I feel like right now. Back to the start. I also listened to Nirvana, Floyd and even Aerosmith and each song reminds me of some particular times during my college life. I can remember what I was thinking then, what I was feeling then and I can feel it again.

I was in my hometown then (Delhi). Now I'm in the city of my dreams (Bombay). Earning my livelihood. Supposedly free to do what-so-ever I want to do. So much has changed. But still everything is the 'same' in some intangible sense of the word. Everything was supposed to be sorted out by now but of course I'm more messed up than I ever was.

Life has completed a full circle, again. This reminds me of a line from the song 'Mad World' - 'Going Nowhere Going Nowhere'. And I ask myself, What the hell is going on ? What am I doing ? What am i supposed to do ?

I wish there's a window out of this circle of life.
I wish I could see it.
I wish someone can show me.
I wish I have the courage to let go and take that highway.
I wish...

The Original Bicycle Diaries

Long time ago I ventured into the unknown. The land far far away. Despite all the warnings, the arguments and after a lot of thinking I finally decided to go and face the world down under... Well lets cut the crap. I went to Chennai for my summer internship at IIT Madras during my college days. The campus was huge and hence I got myself a bicycle(read bike). Well I did know 'one' soul in the city, a friend from college who was interning close by at IIMSC which was about 2 Kms away from the IIT hostel gate. So here is what happened...

One fine day he was nice enough to call me to go out with him and his friends. He knew I was pretty much alone so won't even give it a second thought. The movie was 'ok' but the people's reaction to Rajinikanth's 'Shivaji' was a lot of fun. Beach after that was nice too and then we got back to his dorm. Now it was past 1 AM and I couldn't see anyone on the streets well that's how it is over there. I expressed some concern about getting back in one piece and his friends offered me to stay back in the dorm but he 'suggested' I should head to IIT. His last words were "Don't worry man."

The anger and annoyance made me 'kick-start' my bike and there I left for a life altering experience. I decided to take the 2 Km shortcut which was like the narrows as there was no way that I'd ride for 8 Kms to reach my room. As soon as I entered the haunted road a couple of dogs started barking at me. I told myself that the protocol dictates that I should stay calm, So I did but I thought the smarter thing would be to act calm but paddle faster. They kept chasing me nonetheless. Then there was another left cut. As soon as I turned I realized they've got some reinforcements. Five or six dogs after my life on a dark narrow road. Now there was no time for games. I was riding a fast as I could and asking myself why the hell did I buy a second hand one as paying 5 times more for a new one is definitely worth it if it saves my life right? Then I started cursing Menaka Gandhi, Changi(The Friend) and swore to take their lives if I could save mine.

Then, right then it struck me, I watched this program on discovery channel where this scientist goes to a jungle with the objective of scaring away a tiger. He stretched his arms and roared and It Worked. The idea is if you can prove to the animal that you're stronger than him then they'll leave. So I tried to do the same but the roar somehow came out like a scream(i guess) and the dogs became wilder. Now I thought there's no way I'm reaching IIT but somehow managed to gather enough courage to 'roar' again and guess what they came to an immediate halt. I hailed in triumph telling myself "who's the man!". I finally looked forward as the dogs had stopped chasing me and I realized I'm on the extreme right of the narrow road and there was an SUV right in front of me. Well it was parked but I was traveling at the speed of light. It was too late to apply brakes. The only thought that came to my mind was

Man I can't believe my luck.

I crashed with half of me on the bonnet.

I got back on my feet I was feeling no pain so I assumed I'm not that badly hurt. The dogs seemed confused too, now staring from some distance. I tried to pick up my bike and start moving again but something was not right. The front bar connecting the front wheel to the body of the bike had turned 90 degrees. So there I was stuck in the middle of nowhere. I decided to do something before the dogs run out of patience so I jumped into the house i had crashed in front of. I tried calling Changi but he didn't answer to save the incoming charges while roaming. Now I started remembering how I noticed that every house on this road seemed to have a pet. Finally I heard a voice, an auto driver who lived next door and was woken up due the noise, took me back to IIT with my bike and refused to take money. True Story.

P.S. For a funnier version of the same story please checkout http://dynamicquality.blogspot.com/2007/06/bicycle-diaries-part-i.html

My Mumbai Checklist

Unlike Abhirup and Vibhor's list, Mine is not centered around south bbay. Well of course not, I've always lived in the suburbs right :P And now so do you guys :D

1. Hard Rock Café, Lower Parel [Starting with home but in no particular order after this]
2. Coffee Shop at Taj President
3. Mondegar, Colaba
4. Leopold, Colaba
5. Koyla, Colaba
6. Cafe Basilico, Colaba
7. Theobroma, Colaba
8. Bade Miyan, Colaba
9. Tavern, Fariyaz, Colaba
10. Pizzeria, Marine Drive
11. Not Just Jazz by the Bay, Marine Drive
12. Mocha, Marine Drive
13. Hotel Marine Plaza, Marine Drive
14. Valhalla, Churchgate
15. Khyber, Fort
16. Crepe Station, Oshiwara
17. Ayub’s, Fort
18. Soul Fry Casa, Fort
19. Peshawar, Fort
20. 5 spices, Fort
21. Bachelor’s, Chowpatty
22. Café Noorani, Tardeo
23. Kyani & Co
24. Copper Chimney, Phoenix
25. Spaghetti Kitchen, Hiranandani
26. Zenzi, Bandra
27. Mocha Mojo, Bandra
28. Open Affair, Bandra
29. Papa Pancho, Bandra
30. Elbo Room, Bandra
31. Karim’s , Hiranandani
32. Masalacraft Kitchen and Bar, Bandra
33. Salt water café, Bandra
34. Chilis, Hiranandani
35. Toto’s Garage, Bandra
36. Mainland China, Hiranandani
37. Sheesha Sky Lounge, Andheri
38. Firangi Paani, Andheri
39. Aura, Hiranandani
40. Mocha, Hiranandani
41. Hangla, Hiranandani
42. Aromas, Hiranandani
43. Yoko Sizzlers, Hiranandani
44. Sammy Sosa, Oshiwara
45. Sankalp, Hiranandani
46. Mantra, hiranandani,
47. Pop Tate’s, Powai
48. Happy Singh, Sakinaka
49. Bond, Mulund
50. Rajdhani, Mulund
51. Timbaktoo, Mulund
52. Pop Tate's, Ghatkopar
53. Parathas, Hiranandani
54. Red Box Cafe, Andheri
55. Punjab Restaurant, Bhandup
56. Bistro Grill, Mulund
57. Bistro grill, Hiranandani
58. Ghostana, hiranandani
59. Calcutta Club, Oshiwara
60. Gajalee, Seepz
61. Sanjraj, Bhandup
62. Ghostana, Bandra
63. Bar-Be-Que Nation, Bandra
64. BTC, Vashi
65. Garcia’s Pizza, Andheri
66. Enigma, Juhu
67. Poison, Bandra
68. Irani Café, Matunga
69. Status Veg Restaurant, Nariman Point
70. Only Parathas, Mulund
71. China House
72. Rude Lounge, Powai
73. Mini Punjab, Powai
74. Sports bar, Phoenix
75. La Brasserie, La Meridien
76. Uno Bar & Grills, Ramada, Powai
77. Herb n Spice, Ramada, Powai
78. Dhua, Andheri
79. A few Baristas, Pizza Huts, Shiv Sagars, Subways’ CCDs, Gloria Jeans, MODs, Dominos , McD’s and south Indian restaurants.
80. Firangi Pani, Bandra
81. Saffron Spice, Hiranandani
82. Clove Bar, Hiranandani
83. Great Punjab, Hiranandani
84. Kasbah, Hiranandani
85. Pop Tate's, Vikhroli
86. WTF, Khar (W)
87. Oven Fresh, Dadar
88. Renaissance, Powai
89. ITC Maratha, Andheri
90. Bling, Leela Hotel
91. Ling's Pavilion
92. Mocha, Juhu
93. Alfredo's Vile Parle (W)
94. Mumbai Times Café, Bandra
95. Hawaiian Shack, Bandra
96. Caravan Serai, Bandra
97. Rain Forest, R-City
98. Nando's, Goregaon
99. Theobroma, Bandra
100. Aer, Four Seasons Hotel, Worli
101. Cafe Basillico, Bandra
102. Gostana, pali hill, bandra,
103. Velvet, Renessaince, Powai
104. Coffee Shop, Renessaince
105. Shiro, Lower Parel
106. Just Round the Corner, Bandra
107. Mainland China, haji Ali
108. Moshe's, Colaba

Wish List:
1. Blue Frog
2. Indigo
3. Busaba
4. Zaffran, Fort

School Days

At some sub-conscious level I feel that I'm just waiting for this rather adventurous summer vacations to get over before I go back to school again. Play cricket again. Get to say 'no' to work again. Not be accountable again.

I still remember the early days when I always used to look at the main gate during the lunch break just counting minutes before I'd be 'free'. Then school started becoming more and more enjoyable, not that I stopped faking illness to steal a leave. Summer Holidays were still eagerly awaited and the last week of the holidays was usually accompanied by a severe chest pain owing to the tremendous back log due to untouched holiday homework. But somehow it always worked out.

Then came the senior years and school became more important than home. There was no way we could miss out on anything what-so-ever. The career counseling began and it was time to 'make our dreams come true'. Well I don't know how that is turning out for most of us but the journey is always more important and the companions make it memorable. The battle continues and there's still hope to return to 'school' of some sorts.

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.
- Edward Kennedy

People I don't get at all:

1. Who don't like Chocolate.
2. Who question the awesomeness of Beer.
3. Who don't worship Sachin Tendulkar.
4. Who haven't watched Dark Knight Yet.
5. Who Diet.
6. Who mix upper and lower case letters in a word tHInKinG its cool.
7. Who dance in Hard Rock Cafe.
8. Who talk slowly (kills me from inside).
9. Who don't munch at night.
10. Who follow a strict schedule.
11. Who come for dinner but aren't hungry because they had a glass of MILK before they left from home.
12. Who don't love HOUSE and SHELDON.
13. Who aren't in LOVE with Bombay.

Well this can go on for a while...

Terrorism

The first and may be the only thing that comes to our mind with this topic is some religious lunatics from across the border. I define terrorism as anyone using violence to get their demands (especially unreasonable ones) fulfilled.

Today I was going to college as usual via bus no. 879 but just 2 kms before DCE the bus was stopped by some 20-25 guys who looked like bawana crowd, not for a second I thought that the reason could be anything except taking a ride in the bus until I saw the front glass being smashed with a big stone... Well I have heard about maniacs thrashing buses to avoid taking a 3 rupee ticket but this is the first time I experienced it.

Well quiet obviously people rushed towards the gate and I wasn't at all scared because I was so sure that there is no way they can stone the bus with people inside. The conductor was pulled outside and was beaten up and I was just waiting for them to ask everybody to empty the bus but to my horror they blocked the exit and a stone/brick came thrashing a window right in front of me , a lady was sitting there with less than an year old baby she crouched to save her baby and most people did the same but before I could react I felt a jolt in my ribs as I couldn't sight the stone after the window broke but fortunately for me it had lost momentum... And in the next few seconds there were stones from all around the bus and I was wondering WHY???

Then I heard somebody shouting for the driver to take the bus away from there we got down around 20 yards from the scene and I immediately called the cops even though i was confident that nothing will be done and then directed a couple of more 879s coming from the opposite direction to take an alternative root which they did.

I don't know if the police came or not but when I was coming back after an hour I saw the same bus(without windows now) driver and the conductor seemed reasonably okay so may be the police did come. Later on I found out from a bus conductor that those guys belong to some college near by which I never knew if existed and surprisingly call themselves students.

At the end of the day I can's decide who's fault is it and what if somebody would have got hurt who would be responsible those a**holes, the authorities who don't seem to be taking sufficient action or the society who's tolerance feed such criminals/terrorists who are ready put people's life in danger and destroying property so that they can get a free ride which they believe they deserve being a so-called students.