A Friend in Need

Since our childhood we have been taught 'A Friend In Need Is a Friend Indeed' but as I have grown up and had a insight into the society I disagree with the statement on most occasions. I can bet on my life for few of my friends and I have blind faith on most of them but what I have experienced lately is that the intensity that we used to associate with friends has gradually been reduced. The statement can very well be re-phrased as 'A Friend Only In Need'. I am sorry to say this but this is exactly what I have experienced. People these days are very practical and have no emotional attachment. It is good to be practical but to an extent, when it goes over the line it could be termed as selfishness.

I have a few friends and I know I can count upon them for any and everything. I am a very emotional person and get involved with people very easily. All those close to me, even my colleagues at office would agree to this. I always try to give my best to everything and I always try to do things that I think are correct. I may be wrong sometimes but generally I have seen I have made few very tough but good decisions. In 'about me' type of tags you will find me saying 'I know what I am', I understand my limitations and try to work within them.

I feel really sorry when I see Friendship getting a new definition these days. I think it is high time that we learn the tracts to the society to survive in it. But I feel ashamed when a pious relation like friendship is also made for a purpose and once the purpose is over, so is the friendship. I have been really lucky to have friends who are what they are and they don't pretend to be friends. I can now understand the basis behind 'A known enemy is better than an unknown friend', and also believe in the phrase 'Better an open enemy than a false friend'.

Phew ...

There are so many things in life that seem OK till the time you actually think about it. The same thing has happened with me, I have been doing a task religiously for a period of at least a year and now when I am made to think about it I feel really pitied. But then there are some things which are out of your control and you just have to live with it. But for me things are getting worse and they are actually taking a bad shape. I am very worried and I know there are people around me who are trying to help me and they understand what I am going through. Some of them have experienced it themselves and some have seen things like this happening around them.

I really sit with folded hands and pray for the best thing to happen. It is at this point of life when we feel so helpless, everything is out of reach, you are the point of discussion and the only thing that you can do is sit and watch. I am really pissed off and feel mentally sick. I am all bugged up and find myself in a mess that is almost impossible to clean.

My father has always taught me to be strong in such situations and try to see the better side of things, so I believe that once I am out of this dilemma I will be a stronger person mentally and would have a better and clear vision of things to come and then I can easily decide about my future path. I hope things fall in place soon and I walk out of this dull phase of life like a fighter. Till then it is like all over me.

My Blog just got Richer.

"BTW, I think your blog is excellent and I am subscribed to it. I am sure you will keep me updated about your life (and about FirstRain happenings) through it." were the words that gave me immense pleasure and made me feel proud. I bet those who know him would agree with me when I say that he does not praise something just for the sake of it. The quote is an excerpt from a mail that I received from Mr. Harshal Pradhan. It is like a dream come true when you know that a person of stature of Harshal has subscribed to your blog.

It has been a while since I have received this mail and I have been willing to write this post but something was keeping me back. I now feel burdened with extra responsibility as I know there is someone who is reading my blog and I don't want to disappoint him. I love when people post their comments on my blog posts as that shows people are involved with me and that gives me the push to write even more. But this mail is the best that has ever happened to my blog. I really feel blessed and elated. Thanks sirji for such motivating words, you have really motivated me to write more quality stuff. You have always been a person whom we have looked up to and actually worshipped. I bow down to salute you Sir...

Big Boss Season 3

I must confess that Big Boss 3 has found a new customer in me. I have never been in favour of such shows that only display the cunningness of the so called superstars that participate in it. But I have started following Big Boss season 3 religiously. I thought about it like seriously and thought Amitabh Bachchan for sure has had a influence then Raju Srivastava is a personal favourite, I have loved Aditi almost all of my life, Shamita...the Mohabbatein girl...gosh, the heat of Sherlyn Chopra... aren't these things enough. I bet this is more than enough.

I have not watched Big Boss from the first day itself, it all started when I found myself in the middle of a conversation about Big Boss. People were discussing, laughing, criticising and doing all sort of stuff and I felt like a total looser. It was like there was a total solar eclipse at noon and I didn't notice it. That day I went home and watched this Reality Show for the very first time and I must confess I liked it. Though I am in no way saying that whatever is shown is good but is lots of masala and fun to watch. The fact that I could see so many activities going on and the various acts performed by the celebrities make me enjoy the show.

I have been watching it regularly now and I also feel involved when I am in a discussion that happens around Big Boss. I seriously find almost every person talking about this show these days. It has definitely gained lots of popularity, I couldn't believe that I am actually writing this post. It is fun to watch it to say the least. I loved the 2010 Calender shoot and the 'Bhojpuri' version of the Jack and Jill recited by Raju Srivastava in the last episode. Watch the video on You Tube.

For I Felt Like It

Staying away from home, I have developed a habit of staying up late and as a result of that I am still awake while all others in the house are fast asleep. Unable to sleep and devoid of my laptop and internet I feel cut off from the world. So just to keep myself busy I decided to write something, though I would not be able to post it till Wednesday (21st October) evening when I reach my flat in New Delhi.

It has been 3 days since I am in Allahabad and they all have been so eventful. I don’t remember a dull moment till now. This period where I am sitting and writing a post all alone could be considered the dullest moment of my trip. I have really enjoyed meeting so many relatives and friends whom I miss otherwise. It was so nice to actually meet some people after a time gap of almost a year. I have actually exceeded the number of people that I planned to visit when I decided about coming to Allahabad.

Today evening I met my old teacher, Mr. Harimohan Singh, who is a Professor at the Allahabad Agriculture Institute, Naini and teaches Computer Science to B.Tech, BCA and MCA students. He is one person who is responsible for keeping me attached to the computer field and I believe he has been a major factor behind my success in this field. It is always a honor to meet him and he reminds me of the old days when I used to dream about working with an MNC as a developer. He always believed in me and made me believe that I have what it takes to be a success in this field. I feel really grateful to him for the support that he provided me when I needed it the most.

It is going to be a tough day tomorrow as my parents have a working day and I would be left alone in the house, also my friends have gone back so I would be left pretty much on my own for the first half or till my mother comes back at around 13:30. I am also very tired and I really feel the need to sleep so I am going to my bed and hope the stress and strain that I have had through out the day gets the better of me and I get a good sleep. Good Night and take care.

My Analysis of 2 States

I finished reading 2 States and I enjoyed each and every line of it. I would like to warn the people who have been in love they should not read this book as they may just brake down into tears. It is a great novel with a beautiful plot that unfolds at the best pace possible. Though this is not the same class as ‘Five Point Someone’ but it certainly re- establishes the sense of maturity that Chetan shows while describing any subject. There are melodramatic sequences into the novel but they don’t go over the head and could be accepted.

In short I would say it is 270 pages of complete fun and you won’t be able to leave it once you start reading. I had a great time reading it and I believe it has lived up to the expectations. The characters, their description are spot on. Even the story is so simple that you feel so attached to it and believe it is your story. It references so many instances of our college life that each one of us has faced at least a couple of times. Also you never have to pressurize you mind to remember the characters and sequences. I would give it a 8 on a scale of 10.

I have been a fan of Chetan since I read ‘Five Point Someone’ and this had made me a bigger fan of his writings. I wish that he keeps on getting these books out more frequently for readers like me to benefit. Every time I think that now he talked about all stages of his life and what would be next but to my surprise he comes out with another beautiful subject crafted from within the same time period. The description that he gives of the South Indians and Punjabis is excellent and I could see the faces of few of my relatives and friends who fall in the aforesaid category. I would recommend each one of you to grab a copy of this book as soon as possible and read it you will definitely enjoy it. I bow down to the master and his beautiful work.

Finally ...

I have been waiting for this moment for long now. I am about to leave for my home. It is such a great feeling and I find myself so exited that I am actually waiting for the clock to cross 19:00hrs so that I can leave. I have made the last minute preparations and my bag is finally settled. I have had a great day so far and I am sure it is going to end as happily as it started.

I didn't have anything special planned for today as I wanted to give myself a lot of time to think about my journey. I have planned everything, I have my list ready for who I have to meet and which places I have to visit. I also have scheduled a good amount of time that I would love to spend with my parents. I have planned to make this trip a really good one where I want to meet several people and friends.

Though this Diwali we will miss my Grandfather whom we lost this April but I have made it a point to not allow my Maa feel his absence by doing so many things that he would have done if alive. He was always involved in all the activities that we carried out at home. Although I know that nobody can be replaced but we can try to step into his shoes.

With so many things planned and not much time on my side I move for Allahabad and wish that all my plans succeed and I get to spend some quality time with my family and friends. This is all for now, I'll be back on Wednesday morning till then Happy Diwali Enjoy !!!

2 States : Chetan Bhagat

I have liked Chetan Bhagat's way of writing and admired all three of his works. He has recently released his latest book titled '2 states The story of my marriage'. Upto now Chetan has never written anything about his wife so I really waiting to get a copy and read it. I hope this would be as good as his other work and would not dissappoint. I googled for this new book and I hit upon the synopsis of this book and that has made me really excited and now I am waiting eagerly to get my hands onto it and read it but it would not be before Saturday that I would be able to get my hands on it.

The Synopsis of the book goes as under:

Love marriages around the world are simple:
Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy.They get married.

In India, there are a few more steps:

Boy loves Girl. Girl loves Boy.
Girl’s family has to love boy.
Boy’s family has to love girl.
Girl’s Family has to love Boy’s Family.
Boy’s family has to love girl’s family.
Girl and Boy still love each other. They get married.

Welcome to 2 States, a story about Krish and Ananya. They are from two different states of India, deeply in love and want to get married. Of course, their parents don’t agree. To convert their love story into a love marriage, the couple have a tough battle in front of them. For it is easy to fight and rebel, but it is much harder to convince. Will they make it?

The story sounds interesting, go read it and enjoy it. I would certainly post my reactions as soon as I am finished with the book. I am really looking forward to it.

It had to come...

There were too many activities which attracted me towards them and I wanted to write so much but I was really busy this week and did not get time to write. I was so disturbed mentally due to the situation that I was pushed into. I am still not over it but I am a bit relieved as now I have defined a protocol for myself and which I pledge I would honor going forward. I have made such protocols earlier also but they were overridden. This time I am more determined and hopefully I would not break it. Let us talk a bit more sense now.

I came across an article which read Washing hands can save 400 children everyday: UNICEF and really liked it. I though about it and concluded that if these simple steps can help the world in such a big way we should try and follow it. Even if they do not yield the results as claimed they are in no way harming our lives. Let us give it a try and see if it helps. I really appreciate the work being done by organizations such as WHO and UNICEF and would love to contribute if I get the opportunity.

Another important event that happened last week was the Birthday of my nephew 'Daksh'. It was his second birthday and we had planned a large party but somehow things did not work out and we ended up making it a very small event with only our parents presents for the occasion. We went to Country Inn and Suites, Ghaziabad for party. We had also ordered a Pineapple Cake which was amazing. It was a real good time and it helped me regain my confidence and mood after the depressing state of mind that I was pushed into. We were sort of bored as we were not able to celebrate the occasion as we wanted to but it was a good event nevertheless.

There were many other things that I would have loved to share but they are not as significant now as they were when they took place. I think this post has combined a few posts as I wanted to post each of the topic mentioned separately but they look good together so I leave it like that.

Happy Diwali !!!

Diwali or the festival of light is just around the corner. I have been preparing all along the week for the same. I will be going home tomorrow night to celebrate with my family. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very very happy Diwali and wish that this festival brings peace and prosperity to each of our lives.

I have just finished packing for my trip. It has been a hectic week in office, majorly due to the fact that my Manager was on leave hence I had added responsibilities that otherwise I leave to him, so I didn't get time to actually build up my tour. But now I am happy and raring to go, we also have a small function planned at office today so things are looking good.

It is that time of the year when the entire country unites to celebrate the beautiful festival of lights. The 'diyas', the sparkling lights, the sound of crackers and the atmosphere of Ganesha - Lakshmi poojan could be seen all around. New clothes, sweets, lovely and rich food and the company of parents, friends and other loved one make it a moment to cherish.

Diwali celebrations start with the traditional Ganesha Lakshmi pooja and is followed by burning crackers and meeting relatives and exchanging gifts. It is believed that Lakshmi is the Goddess of money and prosperity and brings prosperity to the people who worship her. Overall this is a great festival and is celebrated by all. I would like to conclude by once again wishing all you a Happy Diwali.

Barack Obama gets 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

In a shocking decision President Barack Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009. It has been a decision designed to encourage his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism. The question that comes to my mind straight away is 'Since when have we started giving Nobel Awards for encouragement'. This is a ridiculous decision, I am in no way denying the efforts that he has put in to 'change the International Climate' but the question is what has he really accomplished that he gets this award.

As I googled the news I found most of the people having the same opinion as me. I would like to clarify that I am a big fan of Obama and his policies but Nobel Prize just went over my head and I am not able to digest the fact. I also read few comments on this decision and liked a few. The most interesting one was from my school friend Rahul "Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize.. I mean, like, really?? Gandhi didn't get one for what he did in 50 years and Obama gets one for the past 9 months?! Sheeeesshhh!!".

I have even read the arguments given by the members of the jury in favour of Obama and trust they all are factually correct but somehow I am unable to digest it. It is noteworthy that The committee has taken a wide interpretation of Nobel's guidelines, expanding the prize beyond peace mediation to include efforts to combat poverty, disease and climate change. The decision has come as a surprise to many but let us hope that the decision forces and influences Obama to carry forward his good work with more thought and interest.

Delhi - Gurgaon Toll Tags Rules Revised

The Rules governing the Delhi - Gurgaon Express Way [NH 8] Smart Tag have been modified just lately. The scheme running on them till now was simple and very justified. The Monthly scheme would cost you 540 rupees then each trip would cost you 9 rupees for a period of one month. If the amount lapses before the expiry of month then you need to get it recharged but if you do not consume the total 540 within a months time, you can continue using the tag without getting it recharged and then the toll amount would be 18 rupees(which is what you pay if you do not have a tag along with you). This was a good and reasonable scheme where you pay less value for one month and then utilize the remaining money at 18 rupees.

Under the revised scheme the total value has been retained as 540 but another clause of validity has been added. Also they have introduced the concept of 'Trips'. So under the new rules when you recharge your tag with 540, you get 60 trips free i.e. @9 rupees per trip. But the big thing is that you need to recharge the tag within 30 days in order to carry forward you balance, if any. If you get your tag recharged after a period of 30 days then the amount that was remaining on your tag will cease to exist.

People like me who only make 40 - 44 trips per months considering we have 5 days working basically end up losing the money for 18 - 20 trips. Even if I get my tag recharged before the month ends and carry forward my balance how would I ever redeem it ?. What I can see is that the toll just got costlier for us. This change in scheme just goes to show that the concerned authorities have targeted the tag users to generate revenue. I am assuming that most of the people who commute from Delhi to Gurgaon have 5 days working and would all be suffering.

Wonderful Wednesday !!!

Wednesday's have always been lucky and good for me. It might just be a coincidence but it is a fact that I have always enjoyed Wednesdays. Today also being a Wednesday proved to be a good day for me. I was really enjoying the challenging task that I was assigned in the office. It was after a few days that I really enjoyed my work. I prepared some good food for myself and my friends who live along with me. I also booked the tickets to go and attend the marriage of one of my best friends in Allahabad. Things were falling in shape from the very beginning and have continued till now.



'A Wednesday' also happens to be one of my favourite movies, for three basic reasons. One I watched it with my parents and sister and two the mind blowing performance of Naseeruddin Shah and three the story of the movie. Wednesday also marks the end of first half of the week and indicates that the weekend is near which makes it a sort of milestone and thus provides it some importance. There are so many things that I feel are associated with Wednesday and make it special. It is a lucky day for me, you may call me superstitious but the fact remains that Wednesday has always been a good day for me for one reason or other.

Sodexho Meal Passes Help Improve Health !!!

This is the weirdest title that I can think of, well I guess it happens when you try to write after a long gap. It has been some times since I have written something largely due to paucity of time and sometimes due to lack of high speed Internet. But it is safe to assume that things are better now, the fact that I am actually writing is a proof in itself.

Coming back to the title, it is not actually as simple as it appears to be. There are so many things that this title hides under it. We get Sodexho meal passes as part of our salary and these passes are distributed quarterly in advance. So we got our meal passes for the months of October, November and December. I actually don't see any advantage of these meal passes but for the fact that these saves us from income tax.

There are lots of places where I can utilize my meal passes. Bercos - Dwarka being my favourite followed by YO! China and McDonald. These passes also work at Food Bazaar, so I went to Big Bazaar - Ambience Mall, Gurgaon on my way back from office and got myself lots of things which included Juices, Health Drinks and Fruits. This is a practice that I generally follow. I get all the fashionable food and beverages using my meal passes and it gives me immense pleasure when I consume these items. As I don't have to pay in cash I feel as if I am getting all those stuff for free. Plus the fact that I have actually utilised my meal passes in a proper way also makes me feel good.

The prices of some item are slightly more than what I would have to pay for them if I take them from a general store but then I will have to pay the shopkeeper in cash. The best thing is I can buy almost anything with these passes. I purchased Fruits, Shaving cream, Deodorants, Maggi, Chocolates to name a few items. They are very helpful and it would not be wrong if I say that Sudexho Meal passes improves my health as it helps me consume lots of Juices and Fruits that otherwise I may not purchase.