... pre-"Mo": middle-aged maniac-on-wheels & "Boudi" to the rescue!

There was a green-man at the other end of the street.
We were all crossing from one end to the other...
I had gone on a little further ahead of the others,
Too far ahead to have seen exactly what had happened.
But, then... in quick succession:
a. the sound of brakes...

b. Bang!
c. Thud!

"Shu-mone!"...
[Car accident!]
My brother was on the ground...

With his head right next to one of the front-wheels of the car!
I took me a little longer than I would've liked

To actually assess exactly what had happened.
In fact, I think all of us were kind of 'frozen' with horror at that point...
All except Minha ("Boudi") [For the uninitiated: Boudi=Bhabi; in case of any further queries, please revert back to me].

By mixing and matching what I had seen

With what had actually happened,
We get:
The car hadn't stopped completely at the red-light and rolled along past the dotted white line...
All the way onto the striped white lines!
And that is where the brakes came in.
'Bang!' was when my brother was hit on the knee, and
The 'Thud!' soon after was when he fell -
Elbow hits car-bonnet, body follows suite! :-(

Now,

If this was good ol' Kolkata, right or wrong, the driver would've been dragged out of his car, collar-first, and given a proper 'dholai' he wouldn't forget as long as he lived...

(If he lived!).
But, of course,

We were still in London...

Fortunately, it was Minha to the rescue!
By this time, my brother had made a semi-recovery from the accident; it was a lucky 'escape' for him!

The good thing was that Boudi was in 'Durga'-esque form and gave the 'not-so-gentle'-man more than just a piece of her mind!

The man, apparently in his fifties,

did not think it wise to stick around and face the consequences - :-(

As soon as the lights turned green,
He was no longer to be seen!
But, Boudi noted down his number (car/plate),
Before he left the scene... :-)

Police.
Statements.
Unfortunately, we couldn't file an official complaint because of

The 'lack of any visible physical wounds or gashes'

(Thank goodness for that!).

However, the cops did reassure us that they would definitely take action.

We would like to think that the man behind the wheel was at least stopped and warned.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Therefore, boys and girls,

... (on a lighter note) We can conclude by saying that...
One must 'always' look both ways before crossing the road :-)

pigeons, horses & "Mo"...

[Photo: Thames by night]

"My trip to London was a blast!," is what I told Abhishek when we got talking...
And, in response, he said, "Oh, that's nothing... During my trip to London, there was a blast!"
[Prolonged silence...]

No, but seriously - I had fun! :-)
Met almost everyone who was on my list (yes, :-( ... I actually had one), ate plenty of good food (burp!) and watched a 3D-movie ("The Polar Express") at the I-MAX just outside Waterloo station! And I even managed to pull one over the British Government - I travelled without a ticket from Zone 4 to Zone 1!! :-) [International "Khiladi"!]

Did any of you know that the pigeons have completely disappeared from Trafalgar Square? I was a little disappointed but, the way I heard it was that: some important people (after receiving complaints from many other important people) thought that they should 'relocate' these 'rats' of Central London so that they could blah-blah the blah the blah-blah. Apparently, the daily clean-up effort after the pigeons 'did-their-thing' was getting way too expensive...

I suddenly had this image of all the "Trafalgar-pigeons" being put into this high-security facility; they would have to get through a mandatory, intensive 'toilet-training' programme, which would end in a certification exam of some sort (in order to benchmark their new-found skills) before they could make their way back into the open... something like the Java training we had in Chennai when we joined the company ;-)

But, I did see one though - maybe it was 'the-one-that-got-away'! :-)

On Saturday night, we had walked down to China Town from Leicester Square, for an advanced "Mothers' Day"- dinner-celebration. But Mo, our waitress at the Golden Dragon was in no mood to 'celebrate'. Something had ticked her off severely earlier in the evening; I tried to analyse the possible causes... but then, the food was so good that I dropped the idea soon after :-)

Returning to Holland on Sunday was... heartbreaking, in a way. I guess, if I'm still here for a while, I might make another trip to the UK [If I can afford it!].

Meanwhile, back in Breda, my problems at the Amgen-canteen continued. After 3 weeks in The Netherlands (the 'low-lying' lands), I have realized that the Dutch eat most things that move... after they've stopped moving that is. And the tags next to each item are always in Dutch! So... one has to be particularly careful during lunch-hour... :-(

Just thought you should know - horse-meat is a little tough, but very tasty nevertheless! :-))

... conversation with a cabbie/ en route to Rotterdam airport

Another day, another cab-driver; this guy was Czech but he was born in Poland (or was it the other way round?) from where he migrated some years ago to the Netherlands. Net result? Well, to start with, he can't speak English... and apparently he doesn't even know any Dutch! We communicated via animated hand-movements and through the use of certain "key"-words. Here are excerpts from our 'cave-men-like' conversation, five minutes into our trip:

Cabbie: ... Mama-Papa... Czech.... I Poland... you? (inquisitive expresson)
Me (taking a leaf out of his book): Me? India... Mama-Papa... India also... (smiling/beaming in fact!)
Cabbie: [He's trying to ask me what on Earth I'm doing here]
Me: (trying to tell him that I'm here on a short-term onsite assignment is not a good idea at this point, so...) I... (pointing at myself)... Holland (pointing out the window)... holiday... then, back (hand-movement)... India ("Comprende?")
Cabbie: [He got it...] (smiles)

We seemed to have a couple of things in common - we were both working a fair distance away from home, and neither of us knew Dutch... :-)

Our (rather painful, yet challenging) conversation continued in the same vein for a while, until I finally reached. Thankfully, he had understood the first thing that I told him when we met - "Rotterdam Airport".

Before we left, we exchanged the names of our villages and promised to send each other smoke-signals from time to time...
[Ok, I admit... bad joke. :-( ]
---- ---- ----- ----
I was travelling to London, to spend the weekend with family and friends. :-)

from Bangla to Breda...

Friday, 10th March, 2006 (wasn't home for my parents' anniversary) :-(
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jack was waiting in front of Burger King at Sciphol Airport, even before my KLM flight from Paris had touched down on Dutch soil. Amsterdam wasn’t exactly welcoming me with open arms – it was freezing cold and overcast; it had rained all morning and even my luggage wasn’t spared. Things were taking longer than expected – by the time my soggy suitcase made its way towards me on the conveyor belt, a good 45 minutes had already passed; Jack called Saby and Saby kept trying my number… but my SIM card was safely tucked away in a small compartment in my wallet. Meanwhile, My parents were worrying (as expected) back in ‘Incredible India’ (http://www.indiatourism.org/) [:-)]. Finally, all the finger-nail chewing and confusion was put to rest after I bought a calling card and made a few phone calls. By the time I hung up the receiver, a plump, middle aged Dutchman had stationed himself behind me.
“Are you Soo-rav?”
“Jack?”
He smiled.

According to Jack it was “rather warm right now” – the temperature had risen to around 4 degrees Celsius. Not that it made much difference to me… I was sh-sh-shivering as soon as we were out of the airport. In a few minutes, we were cruising down the highway towards Breda. Jack has a whopping 2,569 (?) CDs and DVDs at home – arguably one of the largest collections on the planet? Some of them are also in English (such as the “Ring of the Lords”!).

Kolkata to Mumbai.
Mumbai - Paris.
Paris - Amsterdam
And then...

Breda. My final destination. I learnt later that this town was named after the river that once flowed through it. However, when the folks here started building the place, they decided that it should flow along its outer periphery. So they did some digging and stuff… and soon enough, the river was re-routed and everyone here was happy. They celebrated this by wearing weird, colourful clothes and drowning themselves in gallons of beer (hic!). Then… many many years later (read: now), perhaps out of sheer boredom, they decided that the river should once again flow right through the town, or rather, across it. So… they did some digging and stuff… and… well, they’re still digging…

Picked up Saby and Antara from Amgen’s Lego-building (my workplace for the present) and had lunch at the 'main-building'. Jack dropped us off at Veemarkstrat and Antara showed me the way to our apartment. It’s a fairly big place, although the design is rather peculiar to say the least. After a while, I was on my own, left to ‘settle down’ during the rest of the day. The gentleman who had last occupied what was now my room was… a pig! Maintenance would not be here till the weekend ended and that was simply too late. The rest of the afternoon was spent fishing out underwear, socks, cigarette packets and a variety of other garbage from the various corners of the room. Eventually, I found the vacuum cleaner. By the time the room was ‘somewhat inhabitable’, I was dead-tired.
Bath.
Nap…

As I tucked myself in, several thoughts crossed my mind simultaneously; I was homesick and relieved at the same time. This trip was really a bit of a surprise. The week that had just gone by was one of the busiest in recent times. The weeks ahead would be full of new challenges. I thanked Mom, Dad and my stars... 'cos everything had gone smoothly thus far... and dozed off soon after…

Oh and by the way... Happy Holi!

[Pic: 'Cognizant in Breda' - Suvendra, Saby, Sourav and Antara]

...

... I've been thinking.
I need to change my approach... in general... towards... towards almost everything. Even this page!

...determination

You can knock me down a hundred times,
During the course of this bout...
You can throw me a million punches...
... But you cannot knock me out!

(P.S. Sourav takes on the company's appraisal-system!)

patience...?

My career has rolled onto a rather awkward juncture.

I’ve come to a stage where there isn’t much I can do from my side… except ‘wait’. For the last three months, all I’ve been doing is waiting in the 'wings' - waiting for the ‘next big thing’ to happen.

Promises have been made… and delayed… indefinitely, and I’m left in this ‘suspended’ state, floating around… aimless.

I need to ‘break free’,
run out of this building…
speak-out…
make headlines…

I need a new job… or maybe I just need something new in this job.

But alas! There is this (false?) sense of security… this ‘comfort-zone’ that I’m living in that’s holding me back.
Steady job.
Steady pay.
The same ol’ bus-route…
Known faces.
…
…
Monotony.
Stagnation.
Progress?

I need a plan.

new year's eve...

Another cigarette was quietly meeting its end between his fingertips. He was seated next to a huge glass ‘wall’ and meanwhile, the Sun was slowly but steadily melting into the horizon. His mind was in a tumult of thoughts centering on and around the pros and cons of the ‘year-that-was’; the ‘maybe’-s and ‘what-if’-s, decorated with a few ‘I shouldn’t have’-s, closely followed by a series of silent ‘sighs’ of regret.
But, then, thankfully, there was loud music playing in the background.
A welcome distraction, under the circumstances.

“Would you like another drink, sir?”
He nodded in approval.

A number of uniform-clad men strutted up and down the length of the floor shouting complex instructions into their mouthpieces.
Everyone was ‘rehearsing’. This was just a trial run.
Soon this ‘hangout’ would turn into THE ‘place to be’ this new year’s eve.
There would soon be a thousand-odd strangely dressed ‘wannabe’s crawling all over the place, trying to ‘move wit’ da beat’!
Trying to be ‘somebody’ in an alien crowd…

And then, he broke into a wry smile…
The very thought that people would burn holes in their pockets to ‘pretend’ to be ‘happy’ for just a short while seemed quite amusing.
It was all one big hoax… a drama… an illusion…a…
He glanced at his watch and then promptly finished his drink.
A rather nervous, middle-aged gentleman in an ill-fitting black-suit walked up to him rather anxiously.
“Sir, we’ll be opening the gates shortly… and… well, perhaps you should…”
“I know, I know… relax”, came the response.

The Sun had now all but vanished, leaving behind an interesting multitude of colours. The cigarette lay crippled and crumpled in a pile of ashes.
He picked up his jacket and made for the door that led to the green-room.
An hour-and-a-half later, he would take centre-stage…
5,4,3,2,1… Happy New Year!

once upon a time...

Once upon a time…
I thought I’d walk these roads alone…
I was sure that I had nerves of steel
And a sturdy heart of stone.
For a while the path was smooth and proper,
My confidence intact…
I, Me, Myself were missing home,
But they’d quietly signed a pact.
I started off quite boldly,
And at a fairly hectic pace.
Shook hands and bowed, smiled and laughed
As I went from place to place.
Now and then, I’d miss a step,
But I didn’t really care.
I had to reach a destination,
‘Was determined to be there.

Once upon a time…
I thought I’d walk these roads alone…
But, gradually, I kept moving into
An unfamiliar zone!
Though I was still sure-footed,
Complications did arise.
And often, despite all my efforts,
I was taken by surprise!
I was lost… and in a tizzy,
And knew not what to do…
Hope was hanging by a thread…
When along the path came You! :-)
I began to put my faith in You,
Although You were a stranger;
You, in turn were a Friend and Guide
And steered Me clear of danger.

Once upon a time…
I thought I’d walk these roads alone…
I was sure that I had nerves of steel
And a sturdy heart of stone.
But there were oceans that I couldn’t cross
And rivers that were too deep,
Valleys that were daunting,
And Mountains that were steep.
With You, however, by my side,
This journey’s a vacation.
Together, we celebrate “life” –
Every day is an occasion.
I haven’t yet said ‘Thank You’,
But I guess its now or never…
Once upon a time, I met You
And You changed My life forever!

(Dedicated to my friends and family)

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