Monday!

(A series of 'snapshots' taken on what is arguably the worst working-day in the week)

16th May, 2005
10:00am

Homesick!
It has been nearly four months since I was in Kolkata... but it seems like a decade has passed between then and now...

In almost a year, I've just been on 'home-turf' for a little under two weeks!
(Sigh...)

This continuous, practiced 'absence ', to me, is analogous to holding your breath underwater (!). Initially, its a tough ask; you find yourself 're-appearing' and gasping ever so often. But with time, as your 'stamina' builds, you learn to remain below the surface for longer stretches of time with lesser difficulty... or something like that anyhow.

Now, if only I had gills...

****************
2:15pm

There are times when you're immersed in work and that is, perhaps, a good thing. It tends to make you impenetrable, impervious, invincible!

Ok... maybe that was little far-fetched (maybe I got a lil' carried away...), but my point is: it enables you to shut-out everything else that is a part of your life... sometimes even 'important' things.

Unfortunately, today is NOT one of those days. Today is about making silly mistakes. It is about staring blankly at the monitor. It is about your eyes glazing over and about being transported to some faraway-place... you are having the time of your life... you are with a 'cool' bunch o' people... no, in-fact you're 'high' and riding a roller-coaster... rocketing down a steep decline at break-neck speed.... whoo-hoo... yippee.... wheee..... with 'Comfortably Numb' (extended lead version) playing in your head...!

This and so much more, until you are rudely 'interrupted' by one of your neighbour's (extra-talkative cubicle-mate's) "latest", "ultimate", "jhakkas" polyphonic ringtones ("It is cool, no?"). And, before you know it, that pencil you were holding is suddenly broken (snap!) into two...
(#!@$*!#)

But, when approached, you are still nodding in agreement and smiling (feebly)... Hypocrisy personified!

You are 'celebrating work' (the company catch-phrase).

****************
3:30pm

Three cups of coffee this afternoon... thus far.
There is caffeine flowing through my veins, but surprisingly none of it is reaching my brain. I am still yawning (Yaaaa....wwwn!). Any bright ideas? I MUST do something...!!

For starters, my playlist needs a serious makeover. It has suddenly dawned upon me that I have been listening to the same songs over and over again... for the past two months!!

***************
6:15pm.

Not a very good day, I must say... but work-wise, its almost over (I think...)!

However, as the sun dips below the hills in the distance, and while I drink more coffee (cup no. 5) it finally hits me... today is MONDAY. The week has only just begun!

Scribbled notes...?

So often in life, I don’t think before I act.
I am an impulsive person as a matter of fact.
Very often I dislike my whimsical ways,
And their corresponding actions I regret for days…

But I strike it lucky every once in a while,
And there are incidents that really do bring back a smile...
Some people I've met give "Life" that extra spark,
Leave them out and it’s all just a stroll in the dark.

"Change is constant", it has famously been said.
Yet there are memories that I just can't get out of my head...
Of good times and great times that you and I did share,
Although now, we're all just "busy"... too busy to care...

But I still long to see you, perhaps sometime soon?
How ‘bout this weekend... or lunch, this afternoon?
I suppose its wishful thinking, I often live in dreams,
I guess life just isn't as simple as it seems...

...good night, sailor (bed-time rhyme)

Anchor your ship for tonight, but sail into a dream.
You've won your battles for the day, plus kudos and esteem...
You've travelled for so many a mile...
Sleep for now, for just a while...
But at the break of dawn, be alert, be ready,
Set your course, set sail, but hold her steady.

... computers & contradictions

Another day dawns upon us...
No time to smell the flowers :-( ...
We just log-in to our terminals
And linger on for hours!
Deadlines to be met... &
"Issues" to be "resolved";
Do we have other talents?
Or, have they all dissolved??
Its all sophisticated -
Hi-tech and pretty neat;
And though captive in our cubicles,
We remember to compete!!
Projects come and go,
With appraisals galore;
We get paid plenty,
But we're asking for more!
We're all just queueing up for kudos ...
Some, like me, aren't too bright :-( ...
But some of us have all the luck
And make our way onsite!
Now, I guess that's something
You'd equate with success...
Even though you're leaving home,
And your love-life's in a mess!
Access-cards & credit cards...
And online applications...
Meetings and long-telecons
To distant destinations ...
There's a client - someone, somewhere ...
Do they even know my name??
But as long as money's changing hands,
I guess its all fair-game... !
I'm a product of the system...
I'm really one of "them" !! (oh no!)
I'm a glorified slave & yet
"La creme de la creme"!
Hey! We also do a bit of work -
Its not all science-fiction;
I'm a software professional -
I'm a walking contradiction!!

... barandaey roddur (in bengali)

(A collage of memories...)

"Barandaey roddur",
Kintu tomra bohu dur…
Boshey achhi "Ekla Ghor"-ey,
Onek kichhui mon-ey porey...
"Phirbena ar", phirbey ki?
"Purani Jeans" ar "Maaeri"?
Adda-session "Din-er sheshey",
Mon-ey Mon-ey "Chokhar deshey".
"244" ar "Mary-Anne",
College ketey movie-r plan,
Holmes, Felu, Tin-tin,
"Juju", "Toker Jotno Nin".
Para versus Para khela,
Ar mor-er mathaey shondhey bela,
Pheley rekhey baki kaaj,
Bollywood ar Maharaj.
Cyber-cafe, Video-game,
Bhuley jaoa "Prothom prem"…
Hathey-natey dhora pora,
Baba-Ma-er shasti - kora!
Jhograjhati ar nirasha...
Bari-r ador, bhalobasha...
"Barandaey roddur",
Mon gaichhey "ghorey pherar shur"…
- Sourav

References:
"Barandaey roddur" - sung/performed by Bhoomi (bangla-band)
"Ekla Ghor" - sung/performed by Fossils (bangla-band)
"Phirbena ar" - from "Holud Pakhi" by Cactus (bangla-band)
"Din-er sheshey", "Chokhar Deshey" - from the song "Chokhar Deshey" sung by Bhoomi.
"Purani Jeans" - by Ali Haider
"Maaeri" - by Euphoria
"244" from "2441139", "Mary-Anne" - songs by Anjan Dutta
"Juju", "Toker Jotno Nin" - songs by Chandrabindoo (bangla-band)
"Prothom Prem" - from "Nilanjana" by Nachiketa
"...ghorey pherar shur" - "Pother Prantey/ Jamaica Farewell" - Harry Belafonte