Achilles' heel

Waving Flag

2010-05-07T22:41:00.001+05:30

"When I get older I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a wavin’ flag"
In 1995, a nation reborn was attempting to rebuild itself. A captain inspired by Madiba's words, inspired not just his team, but 43 million others. Despite all odds, Francois led his them to glory, a victory that transcended the realm of sport.
Looking back, 63 years have passed since we became a nation. In 2007, MSD lifted a cup as we became one nation, a billion united in celebration. Since then, we have been rocked by terrorism, recession and scandals. Today, we are in the midst of trying times. Let us unite and celebrate for there is not one, but two world cups in our presence. In one we look to not just 11 men, but a billion people, in the other, we look to 6 billion!

Are you good or evil Quiz?

2010-03-25T01:29:00.002+05:30

I rarely take the quizzes in Facebook, why? Probably because I don't want to see what I already know. One of these thousand odd quizzes is the 'Are you good or evil quiz'. It is our choices that make us what we are and every now and then we come across choices which will reflect back upon over time. In October 2009, I had to make one such choice.
I was at the airport waiting in a long queue to check in. I had already checked in through the web, but since we still need to get a stamp on the so called "e-boarding pass", we still need to stand in line just like everybody else. While I waited in the line, sleep deprived at 4am, I saw an old couple (Will now be referred to as the OC for the rest of the note). Mr OC was fidgeting around asking people all sorts of questions all over the place. He came up to me and asked "Where do they X-Ray the luggage?". I promptly replied that they don't do that at this airport anymore. He gave me that "This kid doesn't know shit" look and walked away like any other self respecting old guy would. I saw him talk to a few other people regarding the same thing. The queue seemed to take an eternity, finally it was my turn. As I checked in, I saw the old couple check in simultaneously in the adjacent counter. I was aware that they were over the baggage limit and were being charged for it in front of me and that I had no luggage what so ever. What do I do?
I could see Mr OC's expression when the airport official told him that it was 340 bucks per kilo. As I walked away from the counter all I could think about were my grand parents, what I had done and how badly I would have fared in the 'Are you good or evil Quiz'. This is the point where you start judging me. As I raced past security and was awaiting boarding, it really sunk in, but by then I was pretty sure that the quiz would have splashed 'The Devil himself' all over my facebook profile. I started sinking into my seat as I saw the OC standing near by. I went to the bathroom, splashed some water on my face and stared at the mirror. I came out, obviously without the courage to look at the OC again and went to grab a seat near the boarding gate. They say that time is the greatest healer, it took me all of 15 minutes to clear my conscious (The quiz would have given me a level higher that the Devil, if there was one). How do I manage to clear my conscious so quickly? Well... simply because I realized that they were on a flight to some other destination...

Are you afraid of the dark?

2010-03-25T01:21:00.001+05:30

"A phobia is an intense and persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, or people."
Over time you tend to realize that everybody has one or may be more of them. How often do we remember things that happened to us when we were kids. I wish I could remember more, but all I seem to remember are repressed memories.
In the early nineties thousands fled the gulf in fear of one man's tyranny. Some stayed on cause they knew no other life. I was just over four years old at the time. It was a dark night, a night like none other. The lights were off and the television was on, with the only channel on air. In the corner of the living room, my dad kept those big masks ready... you never know when it would come in use. As I stared out into the horizon, from my balcony, I could see flashes of light going up and down. They looked like fire crackers. In the meantime the television would show red warnings with a blue background... the next one is coming, take cover. So am I really afraid of the dark?

The corporate life

2007-09-07T18:18:00.003+05:30

A much awaited lifestyle has begun. Long before college was over I had started thinking about joining the workforce. Everyone seemed to be of the opinion that life would never be the same, not in a good way at least. Six weeks into my first job, I can see a lot of positives. The only con being that I am now a full fledged corporate bitch! I eat, sleep and drink what "the firm" tells me to.
While delivering the commencement speech at Yale University in 2000, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison said: "Graduates of Yale University, I apologize if you have endured this type of prologue before, but I want you to do something for me. Please, take a good look around you. Look at the classmate on your left. Look at the classmate on your right. Now, consider this: five years from now, 10 years from now, even 30 years from now, odds are the person on your left is going to be a loser. The person on your, meanwhile, will also be a loser. And you, in the middle? What can you expect? Loser. Loserhood. Loser Cum Laude."
Even though this Yale speech was a hoax, the message was pretty clear. According to Mr Ellison, to be a billionaire you have to be a drop out. If Billy G hadn't drop out of Harvard he would have ended up as IBM's corporate bitch. No matter how much money I would have had to act as a fallback, I would have never mustered the courage to drop out. Makes me wonder what actually goes on in the minds of these "Billionaires". So why would I possibly want to drop out? I still don't know what my company actually expects from me. All I see around me are a lot of "Engineers". "Engineers" are a subset of People, who do something only when deadlines approach. Till then, they are all doing the ever so mundane... clogging social network sites, chatting and what not! Where do I see my self in five years? Hopefully not where I am now!

The city that sleeps?

2007-06-14T04:21:00.003+05:30

Its past 3 in the morning, another sleepless night. Staying at home all day has drastically affected my sleep cycle. As I look out the window I hear the sounds of the city, the sound of a thousand air conditioners happily working their asses off to provide comfort for all those happily in their beds. Kudos to them! It's a miracle how people existed in this god forsaken country before they were invented. You would think that people are sleeping, but in Saudi Arabia things are a bit different . You don't have to be someone special or pulling off an all nighter to be awake at this hour. For thousands, it is the beginning of just another ordinary day. It's not that people don't sleep in this country, its just this is the normal time they' wake up to go for their daily prayer, the first of four every day. Such is the power of faith. No wonder I can't get out of bed before noon.