getting sumon-a-tic….

so am I giving you a chance to judge me? not at all. or you can judge me, if you think judging is the only good thing left in your life. but yeah, i realized this yesterday. how much did i miss her. to be precise, i missed them this weekend. it has all started in jan 2012, when i was on a week-long-vacation to lonavla. there in our room-for-week, we had a tv set as well. and saturday night? i was surfing through channels, for something worth watching. imagine tv was playing “ajab desh ki gajab kahaniyaan”. its a pure non-sensical stuff that comes up from rakhi sawant. people and i hate rakhi sawant, but we like her for all the sentiyappa she does on-screen. as her shows end up, my mind comments- sau chuhe khaa kar billi haj ko chali.

surfing through channels, i did stop on sony tv. ooh la la! they have comedy circus promo, in a break of adaalat. am done with surfing. now this would be the only channel i would be sticking to. you keep counting minutes downwards and wait for k. d. pathak to end up his over-acting as that detective-or-lawyer-or-whatever-role-he-plays. end of adaalat and the show begins. i am all ready sitting in my bed ensuring nuff of space around, in case if i need space to lmao. lmao is laugh my a$$ out, for those who aren’t aware of. the remote control of the tv set is in my hands. ages back they said- the hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world. now they say- the hand that holds the remote, controls the tv. all thanks to ekta kapoors. so i feel like a privileged person to have the remote with me. show begins.

my smile is getting broader with each second passing on, as the screen shows “kahaani comedy circus ki”. i am astonished when they declare its a brand new season been opened up today. yeah! i have never witnessed any of their opening seasons. shruti sheth becomes the first one to broaden your smile, thoda aur. the lined up judges – archana puran singh & sohail khan, and i say “fine! lets judge sohail as a judge.” to myself. there starts the pairs or the contestants of new season.

kuldeep singh - rashmi desai
krushna abhishek- sudesh lahri
bharti singh - siddharth jadhav
rajiv thakur - suhasi dhami
rajeev nigam - hemant pandey
kapil sharma - sumona chakravarty

I am not confirmed of the order in which the pairs were unveiled. certainly, i have missed some episodes of the entire series. i have no idea when was kuldeep singh replaced with mantra. or i have no idea when rajeev nigam and hemant pandey have been brushed out. back to the opening episode. it starts with each pair introducing themselves as a part of act and innocent ranting about their partners. that’s when the judge inside me is awakened and my predictions start building up, in my mind. rajeev nigam and hemant pandey don’t have much a long journey here. rashmi ain’t full on with her humor but may be kuldeep singh can drag her to destiny. krushna and sudesh would continue to be on pole positions of my circuit. bharti singh and siddharth jadhav. i have a positive view about bharti and dicey about siddharth. though siddharth has been very good at stand-up in those marathi channels. suhasi was to be judged as well. the second bahu of zee network trying her hands on comedy, after ankita lokhande (archana from pavitra rishtaa) was a complete failure in last season. kapil is undoubtedly a true comedian but sumona is again to be judged. you keep thinking who is this sumona? and you conclude, she is the one from “bade acche lagte hai..” with no idea what role she is playing there and how good she is into those serious bahu-e-otic series. but you would agree if i say, she carries the cutest face of all the females in this season.

expectations were shattered, when came in kapil and sumona as the last pair. the most memorable thing about their opening act was the end. they both realize they are from agra and agra is damn famous round the world for an mental asylum. yes. they took the pole position on the circuit of comedy, in my mind. so i have to say “challenge for you, krushna and sudesh. you would get a tough time as none of you is a female.” week over week, this is becoming an addiction to me now and extending to my family. may be it would be just third act for kapil and sumona. me n my mom realized, sumona is a real-thing-of-comedy. sumona can easily make herself as an audience, even when the act is going on and laugh out over a kapil-o-tic punch. this soon became a routine with her. one of those acts, where she was to pull her hand from the back as an agitating lady, her hand disturbed the thin-wire-like-microphone’s settings. kapil couldn’t spare her for that as well. an innocent punch for that. she gives a retake in live show and the microphone’s arrangement is again disturbed. this time, kapil is at her rescue while arranging her microphone and punching in more punches to troll her down. this was one of those deadly lmao moment for me.

dunno how many of my readers follow this show and if they got a chance to watch the episode where the theme was to exchange partners. sumona was paired with krushna. krushna was on a blind date and the partner happens to be sumona. krushna’s opening punches are killers. and the entry of sumona is sizzled intentionally by adding the raveena’s-mohra-song- tip tip barsaa paani. the reacting of krushna when he realized its sumona who has called for the blind date. he acts that physically challenged in an attempt to keep away from her. the act just flowed on with great punches and that sex in abstract. and kapil keeps trolling her in all of the next episodes, merely for the way she was romantic with krushna in that act? lmao. one more of the epic line she has created, “bakwaas bandh karo…” she has this line to be used for everything and everyone in the act. let kapil add in some fillers in the act when sumona has missed her lines, and she has this line- “bakwaas bandh karo..” a lot of instances when their act has almost been spoilt completely coz sumona has forgotten her lines and kapil’s fillers worked them to 10 points.

you can watch the krushna and sumona act by clicking here….

tweeks! the main reason behind writing so much about sumona? yeah! i have somehow missed the episodes on saturday and sunday. there is this new season of dance, india dance for the li’l masters and mom and dad prefer to enjoy that instead of kahani comedy circus ki . i don’t want to disappoint them by changing the channel abruptly on my tata sky. so i have kept myself deep in thoughts about their acts and the on-screen-innocence of sumona. sumona was all on my mind over the sunday. those usual facebook status updates of fraands, were commented back with non-sensical stuffs and a hashtag- #BakwaasBandhKaro or the comment itself would be Bakwaas Bandh Karo. this commodity trader friend has been in a jinx, coz he doesn’t know a bit about sumona. he jeopardized himself by asking, “aree yaar ye hai kya SHUMONA, BAKWAS BAND KARO ND OL” over a facebook status. this sumona fever wasn’t cured over the night for me and it continued over the monday as well. the symptoms are well seen on my facebook status and my comments on my fraand’s statuses.

hopefully after i post this blog, i should be cured of this sumon-a-tic disease.

or hold on! are you thinking to be a part of this sumon-a-tic disease? yuhhuuuu, lets get sick together. saturday and sunday, 09:00 pm on sony tv, tata sky channel number 111.

some of those facebook status updates of mine…

→ damn! did I ever miss her so much? as much as am missing her today? #BakwaasBandhKaro….. duniya kuch aur sochegi….

→ Jab We Met #LifeOK *but we never met* *bakwaas band karo*

→ #itteffaq- am getting vf promotional calls from +911408859192 and one of my friend’s number is +91xxxx859192 #ajnabee u don’t trust? *bakwaas bandh karo* *believe it or not*

→ that craving for ek jhalak of her continues….hopefully google images help me for now n youtube.com comes to my rescue tonight!!! *bakwaas bandh karo*

→ tis amazing! google gives me a pic where half of the screen occupied by her n other half by him!!!

→ so they are now wallpaper on my chottu mobile….gazing at them, feels like the moments musn’t pass away! toh aaj k liye clock ko home-screen se gayab karna padega…. par kaise? *bakwaas bandh karo*

→ “and i am now fraands with Kapil”, says mere-andar-ki-sumona….

→ #ModifiedSaying Every Kaju-Katli has a silver lining. Kiss it to get that Silver on ur Lips!! #BakwaasBandhKaro

→ it was a good start! an service disruption at work! my fingers did a good job of typing the shit to so many people…sumona played a big role in keeping me motivated to face the situation!! c kept ma eyes open all the time!!! #BakwaasBandhKaro

→ yeh dil hai nakhrewala…naya hai nakhra paalaa….. #BakwaasBandhKaro

→ so as per tis matrimonial ad, the boy stays at a posh area of dombivali…. bhai Kapil, yeh Dombivali mein posh area kabse ban ne lag gaye? boyz, bakwaas band karo! *don’t judge me. yeh toh Sumona bol rahi thi*

→ when i asked this person, if he can help? he replies, SREU. i tortured google translator with all combinations n it didn’t answer which language it was. finally my idle mind identified the typo. he meant, SURE. #moral – my idle mind isn’t devil’s workshop #BakwaasBandhKaro

did u take right, after you dropped me?

We are approaching the last hour of 16th April 2012. HE is still undisturbed on HIS face, while HE is driving HIS Swift on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway or the NH3. HE had probly mentioned somewhere in the timeline, about HIS weariness as HE has been driving since 03:00 pm. There was nothing insignificantly visible on HIS face of the driving fatigue. The spikes were still erect, like the way they were made during the morning Gel-Wash! A chequered shirt teamed with the blue jeans wasn’t a new thing on HIM. It had been bit backbreaking to catch up with HIM. Those memorable moments, flashing in your brains, from a four-year long relation sometimes create a gush of tasks for the Neurotransmitters and Receptors. I didn’t realize if it was right to open up and make a conversation or just lay back and visualize those good days. Shinde was the one to break up ice and thankfully he wasn’t creating any noise. I had assumed about this journey going all mess in Shinde’s presence but for the last-hour’s-sake it was all calm. Partly thanks to IPL Feeds on Shinde’s blackberry, that kept him away from creating the havoc.

There I had a small conversation about what HE has been doing these days. And exchanging some of the names-I-knew, coz I had worked once where HE is right now. As the Swift pauses near Majiwada Junction, I could do a propa adios instead of just vanishing-away-act. While I am eating wind for the last mile to my home, the red-tee and khaki-colored-cargo-trouser clad chap flashes on the Neurotransmitter. It was 1st December 2007; I got introduced to HIM, say at about 11 am? Not just me, but the entire new team joining one of the finest offices, I have worked in this life. A rectangular conference table occupying almost of a room, and filled up with all of those devices – Video Conferencing Equipments, LCD Screens, Projector, mechanized Backdrop, Microphones etc. HE is our Guru-for-the-day to shepherd us through the Procedures and rulebook of this new work place.

HE started with an introduction of HIM, which most likely took about 2-3 minutes, and expected a quick introduction from us. We did that, well no choice either! A lunch followed on a big table into the cafeteria and a session again. This awareness-session on Saturday ends up almost by 7:00 PM and we are finally good-bye-ing all the new faces that we have met today. These are the new-faces who would be soon colleagues Monday onwards. It’s just a matter of hours!

3rd December 2007, I have my formalities done at Security Desk and I am guided by the Security Personnel to reach on 12th Level. When there, I realize, my team operates inside a training room. Most of the workstations that I see have the screens locked with a human’s Login-ID. Glenn arranges a chair next to him and confirms me, this is temporary. I have a look downwards to have my eyes stuck into a workstation class machine. Glenn has collected, and sounding best of his calmness on this conference call that he is logged into. I still keep my eyes scanning the entire room. It seems to be a full of those mess, messed up with the pricey devices and brands that I have never heard of. The wait ends when those humans enter the room. The ones, who had locked the screens, #YouRemember? I along with Gopal Keswani, we are introduced to HIM & Vikash Das.

HE is equally calm when compared to Glenn, but seems to be no-fake-accent guy. So there I am handed over to HIM and Vikash for the next phase of mentoring. The exchange of words happens both ways and HE has to, probly, analyze me and Gopal for spoken skills? No? Okay. We are handed over a bunch of manuals which I tag them as a S.O.P. (Standard Operating Procedure). A discussion again happening in Evening about our roles and now we have some questions to be asked to him, but only with regards to our Work Profile. Days pass by and I realized he is the Spreadshit Guru…errr….Spreadsheet Guru (I don’t feel like using backspace, sometimes). Vikash sometimes cracks a joke, asks everyone there, “what is 2+2?” and Vikash himself answers, on HIS behalf as, “Start > Run > type EXCEL > press Enter! And then calculate. The answer is 4.”

This is what exactly HE was, I realized today, observing HIM all the time that HE has been with me as a Colleague or as a Mentor or as a Time-Sheet Approver or call it anything. Except for the last 1 year or so from current date, as Vikash has been my Manager. HE has HIS own way of magnifying things and thus the answer to a simple math problem like 2+2 is that long. HE has HIS own way to deal with things. One who can listen to you completely, thus not sounding prejudiced about you? HE had his own ways to earn respect. I am glad HE allowed me to use some of HIS tricks, when I was feeling humiliated in my role. You should be aware of the art to decipher HIS questions, which come as an answer to the questions you had for HIM. HE had the patience to bear all of non-sense happening with me.

HE always had a question for me – “agar MAIN chala jaunga toh tu kya karega?”, and I had an amorphous answer – “AAP jaake toh dekho!”. That mini-heart-attack I encountered, when HE declared HIS Business Trip to our US Office in 2009. I managed to survive the day, when I got this news; I had expectations of Vikash’s leadership while he was away. The next day it was badder than expected! Vikash was accompanying HIM to this trip to US. “For how many days?”, I ask HIM. HE answers, villain-ously, “Days? Months! At least 4 months, may extend for more time!” They left in such a precipitance on 12th September 2009. They settled there. timezone changed. Barely any communications on firm’s IM. Email exchanges happening. But sometimes, you crave for a Voice chat.

The lucky day comes in, when all the voices (that I was craving for) glide in my ears, but in a rotten way. An escalation in my Mumbai office for a certain Excel-Access-Citrix-Issue, which makes me stretch in office till 22:30 hours (I.S.T.). HE knows the fix very well, and is guiding me over the IP-phone (not I-Phone). Joys and Pains were circulating with blood throughout my brains. JOY of speaking over phone with HIM and Vikash; PAIN of the technical issue, which I was dealing with. However I left office, when the fix was halfway. HE expressed to take care of the fix.

He was back, probly, on 26st January 2010, into Mumbai. Vikash was with his in-laws, in Ranchi probly, to celebrate the joys of being a PAPA on 25th Jan 2010. I have got my life back in motion. We worked together on many complicated Projects with limitations on Resources, for next 12 months almost. The Captain of our ship, Rusty, moves into a bigger cruise (Rusty quit in September 2010, probly). The Leadership changes happen at top-level and thus functions get separated. The Leadership changes then propagate to lower level as well. Now Vikash happens to be my Manager. For a day, I thought it would be tough to swallow the change. But it wasn’t that tough.

Communications with HIM were reduced to Kilobytes instead of Megabytes. A loner or narcissist like me, assumed a sheet of ICE building in between us. Obviously, the same sheet of ICE glaciated me, while I look at HIM growing in HIS role. Back in 2007, HE was managing 4 people and 1 function. In 2011, HE is managing 2 Functions and more than 20 People?

A decision HE takes to move away, in December 2011! A farewell, which I didn’t attend intentionally. 1 of the 2 reasons – May be I didn’t want to see HIM go away or the Venue was out-of-world for me (Somewhere in Goregaon.) Delhites, don’t mistaken it for Gurgaon. It’s HIS Birthday on 17th Feb, and I feel it awkward to call up and wish HIM a great year. HE gets a baby boy and I find it more awkward to call up or text on the celebration. HE arranges for a baby-naming-ceremony and I feel it bit awkward to attend. Thanks to momma, she has another set of tasks planned ahead for me on same day and I got no room for attending the ceremony.

Finally on 19th hour of 16th April 2012, we are driving in his Swift to Sunil’s marriage. The ICE Sheet is melted and we have words flowing out both ways. While driving HE raises HIS right hand’s index finger to comfort the itch in HIS nasal cavity, and I realize HE hasn’t changed much with the time. A beef that existed between both of us all through these 4 years – HIS liking for automation of jobs and MY liking for executing jobs manually.

SHUBHRATRI

As I approach witching hours,
my weary mind decides to sign-out.
I wish my friends a humble Good Night.
Their acknowledgements pour in.
GN SD ST TC GBU TTYL!!
I ask myself,
are they giving me their caste reservations?
Only you wish SHUBHRATRI.
I recollect, we are Indians, undoubtedly.
wOOt! My first 55 word story!

Someone left from my left side?

I have installed myself in my easeful chair. I look at my left, and the chair is unoccupied!

Time is 08:30 and no back-pack has been thumped on the pedestal, standing to left side of me. No one has even greeted me a Good Morning!

I am sipping in chilled water from my bottle and I look at my left side, the chair is still unoccupied!

I now unlock my Computer and I am browsing through the unread mails. There is no one on my left side to ask me, why I have delayed in replying back to a particular email?

I launch Internet Explorer and click on URL for our Ticketing Tool. There is no one on my left side, to ask me updates on any of the pending or unassigned Issue Tickets.

Its 9:00 now. The hourly free-space alert emails lands into my mailbox. But there is no one on my left side, whom I need to justify myself clean for those 2 Amber and 1 Red Warning!

Its 9:15 and no one on my left side is asking me about Local markets opening Red or Green.

Abrao is on my desk but no one on my left side to greet him a “salaaaaaaaam!”

In few minutes, our group heading to cafeteria for breakfast but no one has a French-cut-beard+spectacles.

Into cafeteria and everyone’s ordering. But not me!

Everyone moving to the Serving Counter and the quick conversations in Oriya or Udiya language, with Gopal or Tinku, are missing. All I can hear is Hindi Conversations or English!

I used to ask “Sir, which table are we seating today?”. Now I just ask “Which is our table today?”

My silence continues while the team breakfast happens! I might mumble a few sentence in entire breakfast session.

The word “SADELE” is been missing amongst those bollocking sessions!

The tea has been gulped down. There is no one on my left side, to ask me anything about my action items for today, while we are moving from Cafeteria to Work-Station.

Back to work-station, there is no one on my left side to slide his fingers on the screen of Touch-Phone to collect some gold and diamonds.

No one on my left side is asking me for a couple of tissues to clean the glasses of spectacles.

I have no one on my left side, to guide me about my next action when am stuck into this mini cold-war over emails.

Mahesh passes through the aisle and there is no one on my left side to alarm him “Madhav k bapu!”

Its almost 10:30 and Wilson seems to be back from gym or he is entering late into office. He doesn’t find anyone on my left side to ask for a company to the Tea Stall.

Priyanka is taking rounds to her Manager’s office, from her desk but has no reason to pause for a quick chat in our aisle, on her way.

The dude and dudettes are having big time with that large printer installed in our aisle. I am busy with my work and there is no one on my left side to observe them, while they are inventing the newest trick to get prints from that printer!

Its almost 12:30 and there is no one on my left side, to ask me if I got any whereabouts of Bipin!

All of a sudden, Wilson is starving. Kaisa toh bhi ho raha hai usko. But there is no backpack on my left side to explore for the home-made lunch.

In few minutes, I am moving for lunch. There is no one on my left to reply me,”itna jaldi nahi be!” when I ask, “sir, lunch karna hai kya?”

Am back at desk after my lunch.

It is almost 13:30 and the team moves for lunch. I don’t want to write much about all those chaos of finding a table > settling down for lunch > finding those smaller plates which fit in microwave to heat up the home-made lunch > sharing the lunch > dumping used plates and moving for that complimentary saunf and sugar!

We are back at our desks. No finger is gliding smoothly on the Touch Phone to collect gold and diamonds, on my left side.

Chacha is entering the floor for his late shift but has no reason to pause near our desk.

Praseed, Sujit and Adarsh are moving for a lunch, but they too have no reason for a pause near our desk.

In the afternoon, there are no telephonic-conversations happening in Oriya or Udiya on my left side.

Till this time, I have lot of non-sensical stuffs to be shared over IM. But there is no one on my left side to bear them.

Its 17:00 and I don’t find anyone to ask for a company at cafeteria on my left side.

Am back from cafe, I have filled my bottle with chilled water from those dispensers in breakout rooms. While am back at my desk, there is no one on my left side to inform me about the call that I missed on my cell-phone, while it was charging.

It is now 17:25 and there is no one on my left to say, “Chal! Nikaltey hai!”

And while am moving towards elevators, I have a some more non-sensical stuff to talk about. But no one on my left side to bear it.

We are into the Bus Parking Area. The pair of eyes that hunt for Mira Road bus, on my left side, are missing.

The monitors still remain positioned so uniquely on my left side, but the owner of them is missing.

Its Monday and no one on my left side is asking, if I have filled in time-sheets!

Its Tuesday, and there is no one on my left side to approve the Change Request.

Its Wednesday, and there is no one on my left side to push me into the Change Management Call at 04:00 pm.

Its Thursday, and there is no one on my left side to remind me, to remind the Change Request Approvers to approve the Change Request.

Its Friday, and there is no one on my left side to ask me, “who is gonna implement the change on Sunday?”

Its a new week and there is no one on my left side, to ask me about Project Updates for Management Meeting.

Its would be soon a new month, and there is no one on my left side to download a new wall-paper from jesuscalls.com

While I think of updating my resume, the one that I knew for last 4+ years is now missing.

Oye! I am now an Adventure Photographer!!

Etch this date, 06th April 2012 on the books of your minds. Never did I think in the saddest dreams of mine, I would be an Adventure Photographer. But it did happen and now I can echo that I am an Adventure Photographer. Doesn’t my first click mumble that? Or do you have a different definition of Adventure Photography? Well, I need to reconstruct the terminology around Adventure Photography.

Now think about this with your Mind’s eye. You are commuting on the Foot-Board of the Mumbai Local. Foot-Board of a Mumbai Local is that location where an entire movie of your life can be played in less than 5 seconds. I-specially, when you are pressed hard between the Pole at entrance and fellow traveler behind you. No, I wasn’t into that tough situation though I was destined for Kanjur Marg station. Bhandup station had passed away and this gentleman had positioned himself, with me on the footboard, from Nahur station. So 2 gentlemen inching almost 6 feet in height, with full on robustness in their physique were on the footboard, prefixed and suffixed by a couple of miniature sized Mumbai-kars. The Gentleman’s office bag was more beefy than self. Causing a lot of problems for me, the moment he stepped on foot-board. Amidst that long-haul moments, Gentleman pulls out his sipper to sip water. That itches me more. I have a quick look over him, even if I was trailing him or 3rd on the Foot-Board. Scan him from Top to Bottom and right to left. And it encountered to me.

My edgy mind analyzing now! Bhandup has passed away almost 50-55 secs back. It doesn’t take more than 4 minutes to reach Kanjur Marg station. I have my 2 MP Cam in my backpack and backpack is on back. It would take me another 30 secs to pull out backpack and unzip the smallest compartment.

“Action it, dude”, says one of my minds. Other of my mind, takes a glance at the co-travelers around and says a “No”! “Don’t worry, go for it dude. You don’t have much time left!” Amidst the mess of thoughts, I finally pulled my backpack on one shoulder, opened the zip to pull out the 2 MP Cam. It’s not just a 2 MP Cam but a complete blackberry device surrounding it. As I take out my 2 MP Cam, I have to ensure that the hands-free and the Mobile phone aren’t lost at all. And finally I have the Blackberry in my hands. My finger is in a hurry to press the quick-key to Media Gallery to activate the 2 MP Cam, as soon as I have it unlocked. But there is no such quick key, its broken or tormented. The bad quality rubber, that they have used with Curve 8520 series.

Scrolling down through the Homescreen, I can now locate Media. A quick press to enter and second quick press to enter into Music. “Fcuk! go back one step and select Pictures option”, says my mind. And there I get the option to switch on my 2 MP Cam. Position it > need some zoom? > no need > go ahead > Kanjur Marg station is approaching > click > saving > am done. The 2 MP Cam with blackberry around it, goes back from where it came out. The Mumbai Local now entering Kanjur Marg station and I get off the Foot-Board.

Here you can have a look at what I clicked as an Adventure Photographer.

Don’t debauch me for the click I clicked! I just found something unusual there and funny enough as well. Well, you haven’t noticed yet? Take a closer look to realize, he hasn’t passed his leather belt from two of those supporters-of-belt! Missed the first one, and it is certainly a shortfall-of-time to make up to work. But missing the second one, it becomes a matter of invited-wardrobe-malfunction!

“I guess, this Click of mine can now get me an opportunity working with Atul Kasbekar or Daboo Ratnani while they are making the Kingfisher Calendar or Pirelli or Sports Illustrated or any other Calendar?” speaks the innocent side of me. “Bhakk Saale”, says the wikid side of me. “Consider it again”, pleads my innocent mind. *No Reply* “No? #OkBye”, says my innocent mind and I am entering into the Bus destined to my Office from Kanjur Marg station.

Tetris-o-holic!!!!

Tetris! A world famous game! I am not interested about when it was invented or who did it? But a quick search says, it was concept brought from Japan, Nintendo. When was it invented? No idea, but is visible ever since I was born! I wasn’t interested in learning the game or playing. I have always been a bit lazy of learning new stuffs. But if I get a quick taste of it, and if it goes well, I can stay addicted to it for rest of my life! Anyone in the World, who doesn’t know Tetris? Wrong question? I guess, yes. Its a wrong question. Everyone must be aware what’s Tetris.

But let me do justice to this blog by writing a bit about Tetris. A game where you have to fit the Tetrominoes, in such a way that they complete one horizontal line or two lines or three lines. More lines are completed at one go, more point you score. Or you invite more troubles when the levels go up. With each level progression, the Tetrominoes drop in more faster. You need to be real-good-champion in managing them at that high speed. The various types of Tetrominoes are I-blocks, O-blocks, L-blocks, J-blocks, S-blocks, Z-blocks & T-blocks. Don’t want to add up a pic for all of them. You must be aware of the Tetrominoes.

You can rotate these Tetrominoes as per your requirement and fit them on the grid to complete a horizontal line. Some versions of Tetris do predict which Tetromino is next expected. So that increases your concentration and planning skills. Some versions of Tetris even give a single block which acts as that dynamite to blow away the wrong column. Tetris even makes you learn the Art of Regretting for that one mistake in Life. One Tetromino placed wrongly and you don’t have to regret intensely, but not for long coz the game ends soon. Each Tetromino, following that wrongly-placed-Tetromino goes against your wish.

A warning for those who want to give a shot to Tetris. You would soon become addicted to it and your time would be gone forever. Mentioning so much about Tetris above, do you think I am not addicted? I am, I am. Just that I don’t need any device with me to prove I am addicted. I have a not-so-clear-memory about when I got introduced to Tetris but it all started with a second-hand-Brick-Game from a cousin. You have to have that habit of re-using used stuffs if you are younger one, in India-Lolzzz. Or hold on! It was a Nintendo game, which was not a Tetris. But something of that sort. And may be in school, I was introduced to Tetris in the Computer Sessions. #5inchFloppyDiskDays, you see.

The next it came up with a Tetris Game in my Mobile Phone. The new computer that I got for playing games, and Tetris was the first game downloaded from Miniclip.com. And later it was Tata SKY Active Games and any other mobile phone that I have purchased, I have ensured to have a Tetris installed. Though I have kept myself away from playing Tetris. I have some more addictions now, like reading books, enjoying music or just keep observing people and stare directly into their eyes and keep it on till the other person is distracted!

But the addiction of Tetris can be seen directly or indirectly on my way of doing certain tasks. Plan a tour and I would compress as much luggage as I can, in one bag. Though later Momma rearranges them systematically in 2 bags. Give me a task of arranging stuffs in refrigerator, and once that is done I would ask, “if you have something else to be added in refrigerator?” And even when I am traveling in bus, I see no reason why people are hanging out of Entry and Exit doors. I see a lot of room inside the bus! If not much, at least 2 people can accommodate as standees between 2 seats, which are facing each-other and located just behind driver’s seat. The same thing applies to Mumbai’s Local Trains. If 4 people can adjust in one seat, at least 3 people can have enough comfort in standing between 2 seats. But people do not want to move their asses. Sometimes I am successful in making 3 people stand against 2 and rest of the times my Silent Treatment works.

The best use of Tetris that I do is while crossing over the Railway Bridges. You see, in peak hours it takes about 10 minutes to go from Platform no. 1 to Platform No. 4 for boarding slow local to Mumbai C.S.T. The Tetris-o-holic mind plays well there and I can compress this time to as much as by 6 minutes. Result- I don’t spend more than 4 -5 minutes crossing the bridge. I get on the staircase and keep looking for those small open spaces where I can adjust myself. You just need to have a good eye-sight to hunt for that small space and a quick step. Tetris can build this habit in you.

“Keep it simple, Silly! Or no! You don’t want to keep it simple. But this is the last one!” Kit-Kat Break!!! It was one side of mind instructing to another side of my mind. Both of my minds converse so well with each other. No one agrees to the other and no one denies to the other.

Wheeeee!!! Now this is last one to write about! My Tetris-o-holic mind has no patience. He can’t keep away from the trash bin placed in restrooms at work. Sometimes I get to see its overflowing with used paper-napkins or Tissues. Fellows just grab a tissue and wipe off water from their hands and face, dump it in the bin. CertAinly the tissue shrinks. Bit as soon as it absorbs some water but doesn’t get compressed completely. And you drop it as it is. No doubt, housekeepers are watching the bin every hour now to avoid overflow. But had you compressed the tissue a bit more after final wipe, more number of used-tissues could have been dumped there! And may be the housekeepers can get some other task done, by checking the trash bin every 2 or 3 hours instead of following it every hour??

Think about it! And do not forget to think about how addicted I am to Tetris. Even when I am not playing Tetris on my Phone or Tata SKY, my mind is still playing Tetris!

Keep it simple, Silly…!!!

Keep it simple, Silly…

Keep it simple, Silly…

Keep it simple, Silly…

Keep it simple, Silly…

Keep it simple, Silly…

Keep it simple, Silly…

Keep it simple, Silly…

Keep it simple, Silly…

Keep it simple, Silly…

Keep it simple, Silly…

I keep repeating myself at least 10 times while am writing a blog!!!
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But does it reallly remain that simple?
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It was reaaal simple today….

01/04/2012 – suggest a title!

And I wasn’t fooled today, when you mentioned about meeting in the evening somewhere in SoBo. Though felt it would be too late to meet at 05:00 pm. Thanks for making up by 04:15 pm. Forget noticing me, but you didn’t notice the UCO Bank. Err. I forgot mentioning the word “hoarding” when I said, “am near UCO Bank”, my bad! And the best part was to have no planned place of visit. Probly it was the strawberry flavored gloss that was a bit irritating, but am fine. Do give a try to blueberry flavored. They are better, than Strawberry. Or don’t give a try, its okay . I can keep nuff distances to avoid strawberry and you still remain audible nuff.

I regretted with you, when u mentioned about your forgetfulness with regards to your digital camera. You realized snapping the glass pane (with sunlight on it, at Mumbai C.S.T.) would have been second awesome thing, after snapping me. But deep in my heart, I was celebrating your forgetfulness. I was safe, not to be snapped at all. Did we take the subway to cross any of those lanes? I hope this reminds you of how short memory do I have, and that’s why am drafting it while traveling back home in a Kalyan-bound-Fast-Local. Don’t want to miss covering up those good moments.

Aah yeah! I remember. We walked parallel to the Platform No. 1 to reach to the over-head-bridge, to cross the road (near the Times Of India Building, D. N. Road or Nagar Chowk, as tagged on B.E.S.T. Bus Stops). Now crossing the road via bridge was tougher, so we walk a bit further discussing some JK, which isn’t me. While walking am trying to find a small space in road-divider, which can be used to cross the road. And I find one. We cross the lane through it and now on other side of lane, we are discussing the fire of Crawford Market and Manish Market and a possible conspiracy of land-sharks. Something that you erroneously assumed for Manish Market or Crawford Market was actually, Mahatma Phule Fal-Bhaaji Mandai. But you didn’t mind to have a look in it. We were walking in it, and it was all Aamasutra for us. You were again reprimanded by your mind, for not carrying your digi-cam. You noticed and liked the way those mangoes were arranged, whereas I just liked them. Never do I bother to notice about things I hate. We proceed further through that old-fashioned Mandai, and some more shops are visible. Now they have deodorants and body sprays on display. Some of them are even showing off those candies (for kids) and Ferrero Rochers. You had a quick question for me- are they original or duplicates? And I have no answer or I have an good uninteresting answer- I never try any stuff from here. So I have no idea.

Suddenly you make a mind to walk out of this Mandai. *i am now in my home after a good speed-walk from Thane Station to my home.* So when you are choosing the quick-available-exit, you are still checking some shops and walking. I am fearing of you tripping\stamping over the drunk-so-slept-man and I check your feet. You have no heels or flat heels. Relief- he won’t be injured for lying in the passage after being drunk. Out of the Mandai and I was very sure about you asking me anything about this lane that we are heading ahead. Precautions- I look at signboards of each shop and check out which street are we into. The shops there have a good practice of mentioning postal address on the signboards. Maybe that’s for the convenience of the Courier Services. And I find out that it was a street starting with S. *short memory- you know.* While we are walking in this lane, you are asking me what are the shops about. I have no idea, so I try to explain a terminology about Lanes there specializing in a particular stream. Like Chira Bazar for Medicals, or Princess Street for Educational Books and stationary! Smart you to look at some signboards and mention me that these are places where Made-In-China Toys are sold.

“But where is the lane heading to?” And I answer may be Bhindi Bazar. You speak out your desire to do some roadside shopping. And I have a serious NO to it (deep inside my mind), but I don’t put it in my words. Lucky me, its Sunday and most of the shops are closed. Or basically, no business. We take a left and keep walking straight to enter into Kalbadevi Street’s exit point. You pause for a moment and try checking for those Torans (darwaaze pe lagane waale) and ask a tag. The man wants you to hold one end of it and he makes it sound more attractive to you, with his tailored description. You were probly passing time and hence you put a no-buying-desire to move further.

It comes to my visibility that we are now near Metro Talkies. We pause a minute, to evaluate if we are close to Churchgate Station. I can confirm yes, because I see the high building of VSNL! You mention about an incident, where you casually inquired about something similar on roadside vendor and how he forced you to buy that thing. Good that you had a runaway! With these roadside vendors, I have a slight different policy. Either pay what he asks, or give up desire of buying that thing. Absolute no bargaining. We crossed the lane and struck in your eyes was a hoarding of Blood Donation Camp arranged today. You can read the time limits of upto 1:00 pm and you mention that you like to donate blood at such camps. We were walking over in the direction of Churchgate or that visible-VSNL-Towar. But the place didn’t seem interesting. We take a left in less than 10 meters and move back towards Mumbai C.S.T. With you desiring to have some junk food. You even mention about a deadline of 6:30 pm, for self to be back at home. Hmm. I get a closer look at Blood Donation Hoarding and I check for Venue. It is Byculla East. We are now walking back to Mumbai C.S.T. And are parallel to Azad Maidan. I tried a guess when you asked about the maidaan and am lucky that it was right. We are now discussing Gandhis – of todays and yesterdays. You have a lot to say about it and I am dumb. So I keep hmm-ing about it.

Burrrp! Forgot to mention the good glass of Sugarcane Juice, opposite to Metro. I did see that Eeeks reaction of your’s, probly you might have seen a roadside-fly going under the crusher with the cane. Hadn’t I reminded him about Ginger and Lemon, he wouldn’t have added. I had a good-dehydrated-throat to gulp down the entire glass in one sip. But that doesn’t make a good impression. So I stop when I have done almost 33% of glass, and check yours. It was just 20% empty. You have few sips more, while you hint at the juice being good one. May be you didn’t want to voice the goodness of the juice. I like this way of silent treatment. And you are already done with your glass? I ask for a second one, while taking in my last sip. You nod for a NO. Now tell me true, if you asked me for a second one as a formality or you realized I truly wanted one more? Neva mind! I can have second one anytime. A sugarcane juice centre is close to my house and I frequent it! Did we discuss about the Award Functions that keep popping up on TV Channels with every new day?

I show you those road-side junk-food-stalls opposite to Mumbai C.S.T. Station building. Probly you were a bit concerned about its conditions? Something with regards to hygiene and stuff? I know, they are not so clean. And strikes me- Vitthal Bhelwala. We are walking down the lane which I think is the right lane for Vitthal Bhelwala. While walking, you now recollect the end to the JK Story. #Bet you didn’t notice, the JK story was lost somewhere, after we crossed lane near Times Of India building. Your next-quick-pause is the roadside Chinese Fan seller. You complain about the Air-Conditioning @ work and all the adventure around it. I seriously didn’t find good about those fans as they don’t give required amount of air. And what was your reason for not buying it? We are walking again to pause at almost-the-end of lane, thinking if we are in wrong lane. I express my sadness about mine blackberry not loaded with Google Maps to help us further. You pull out your Samsung Galaxy Y, to launch some Maps application which is not a Google Product. We take a sharp turn, just as sharp as the bottom of letter V. We are moving ahead and see some population, chilling or freezing around. I think its now time to call for someone’s assistance in locating the Vitthal Bhelwala. You point a paan-waala and I check with him. As per him, its walk straight and take a left.

Moving ahead, you notice the small-roadside-family-thing. They have a family settled on roadside, the lady cooking something there, a old-fashioned-cot lying there, a tree planted in a petjar, and a couple of wooden closets or wardrobe types. I only notice a live-black-colored hen resting there. You took 10 seconds more than me to notice it. And you are again missing your digital camera. Now as we see the left turn, I notice the Vitthal Bhelwala’s restaurant. You too noticed, but something else?

While are almost at the door of Vitthal, I am fearing if we are entering right door? Coz the last time I visited, the entrance was a-4-steps-above the ground level. This time it was on the ground level. Seems they have done a lot of renovations. We enter, while the waiter opens the door for us. My fear of opening the door goes away. Its a big-flop-show when you are walking on right-hand-side of your fraand and the door has fixed link (sounds like a mechanical engineer) on the left side. *imagine yourself and it may make you go ROTFL* Entering, we notice that only one table is occupied by a Gujju Family. Rest all empty and you didn’t realize it was your turn to select the table. Had it been my office cafeteria, I would have selected the best of Tables that I always prefer to lunch-munch upon. Settled in, waiter drops 2 glasses of water. Am dehydrated, so I take in entire glass. I guess that was too much of mine impatience, since you didn’t sip it at all. He refilled my glass and I had another half and he refills it again. I would now keep my glass very much out of focus to end this refilling-the-glass game. The menu cards are passed to us, after the Gujju family placed their order of 3 bhelpuris and the lady explaining something to their adolescent. I expect you to order and you ask me for “tell me, what’s special served in this place?” You had a Dahi-Batata-Puri on wishlist but you had the point in checking what’s the special dish served here. And I reply back about me being last here almost in 2001. 11 years back #RunAway. You continue with your wish-list and I add my Special Bhel to the order.

Now I didn’t realize why the twin babies’s  birth and health were in discussion, while we were waiting for the stuff? That was a real abstract discussion, with no relations to the day or time. And there comes mine Special Bhelpuri and yours Dahi-Batata-Puri. Only thing special about it was extra Cucumber and Tomatoes toppings on the Bhelpuri. Funny! I was expecting cheese shreddings there! Spooning in the dishes, we realize that its too spicy. Didn’t realize why you had to add some salt in yours as well as mine? Does it help reducing spiciness? Anyways, the Bhel ends and so does the Dahi-Batata-Puri. And you move all used-tissues in one plate, next spoons and later position the empty plate, under the one with used-tissues and spoons. Why this Kolaveri Di, when the waiters are there for this? Fine, your way of goodness to those humble souls. We are still discussing somethings while he drops in the bill, coz we didn’t order for an ice-cream or a lassi or a juice. Tray of saunf and sugar cubes is in as well. Payments done and we are now moving out. No, I intentionally didn’t tip them today coz they have already charged high for a simple thing like BhelPuri. Discussing something, you ask for a right and left. How could you not make it that we are to take a right now, when we entered from the left side to take a break here?

So we now take a right side and head right towards Mumbai C.S.T. Station Building. While we were figuring out the entrance to subway, we noticed we could just cross the lane, followed by a walk within railings and enter the station. On way, you ask why the street dogs are always brown? I have no Idea and you crack it there. Coz the black and white are taken by people as pets. And since their color is muddy, they are left on streets. You want to punch a coupon for your return journey to home, and also buy some additional coupon books. You now in the queue to get them. And we are talking about certain stuffs. Well, you notice something fishy with the uncle ahead of us. He seems to be very impatient soul, sent forcibly to this earth. He is trying to put an ear into our discussion, probably you thought this. I am not saying you are wrong completely, but the way he rushed after getting his ticket, I assume he was trying to listen to Train Announcements. Coz he rushed when she was announcing the train for Ambernath. A gal trying to get into the queue and you probably pushed her aside as it was your turn. Though she broke the queue and got in, when you were done with your purchases. That’s why may be you chirped, “Girls, I Tell you!” We had a quick chat about something random when the Andheri and Panvel train left the platforms in succession and next was Andheri.

A goodbye and may be you got into local-destined-to-Andheri. I really didn’t care to look back and confirm it. Coz I wanted to check schedule for my side of trains. While those closing chat, I saw the Slow train destined to Thane, leave the platform. I seriously thought, if it could be a simple Goodbye, I could’ve got into that train. And now am waiting for my train, lots of fast trains scheduled ahead and no slow ones. So I have to get into a Fast Train for Kalyan. Now please start reading from above what happened while I was in train.

Nevertheless, it was a good thing that the good time didn’t extend beyond 06:30 pm else I would have delayed being at home. Comforted completely after getting into my home, I got to enjoy Kahani Comedy Circus Ki’s Jodi-Exchange special episode. This date should have been more fun of another 2 friends had joined as well.

Readers, now don’t think I was dating her. We are still good friends, so far. I don’t know when it would peak out and we look for spaces for each other. It was just another way of mine to write about a meeting with a friend, when I was feeling too low or sick.

And did you realize, not for you Readers, we met exactly few days before we complete 6 months to our last meeting? I bet you didn’t. And we get amazing dates to make memorable moments.

First > 09/10/11

Second > 01/04/12

Point to be noted!
All the time, you were trying to sell me a Samsung Galaxy Y Phone.

You have even attempted to push me for a show of Kahani. Dunno if I would make it or not!!!

Somewhere we even discussed about color racism in our country.

Something about your Landlady was also discussed.

You probly now know, how lazy I am.

The Lunch Adventure I had today, is yet to be blogged.