An age-old tale

The ray of hope is brightest in the darkest of hour.

In our eternal quest for unwavering trust and everlasting companionship in the ‘one’, we fail to realize that we already have the same – in a mother, a sibling and a friend.

To Chinks, who more often becomes my hope, my ‘akanksha’. Wish you a very happy birthday. May God shower happiness, today and ever.

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An age-old story, retold on 7 March 2010, albeit in a shortened form. The last one my grandfather told us all, to give us strength and courage – his parting advice to his handful of children and two handful of grand children. He lives, through all of us now.


In the ancient village of Mithila lived a farmer couple by the names of Madhava and Vishaka, who were ardent devotees of Devi – the goddess of fortune and prosperity. The couple was hardworking and pious, and earned their living by ploughing a small piece of land that was rented out to them by the local zamindar. The couple toiled day and night to make both ends meet, but were content in their meager earnings.

Soon, Madhava and Vishaka were blessed with twin boys, bringing joy into their life. Though poor, the couple tried to give their sons all that they could afford, including good brahminical education. Though their earnings remained the same, expenses increased manifold due to the added members in the family. Madhava was not to be deterred and continued discharging his duties towards his wife and sons with the same fervor.

Another year later, Madhava and Vishaka welcomed their daughter into the world. With his family growing, Madhava was beginning to get anxious. The piece of land he was farming remained the same in size, but the dependants were increasing, and so were their needs. He had to expand his farm size for increasing output and making more money. He approached the zamindar, albeit with some anxiety – what if the zamindar refused to lease more of his land? Madhava knocked on the zamindar’s doors and waited. The zamindar came out and after listening to Madhava’s proposal, agreed to lease him another piece of land. But there was one condition he had put forth – The land could be retained by Madhava only if he manages to maintain the productivity of both the land pieces equally. If the zamindar felt that Madhava was unable to efficiently manage the lands, the zamindar would lease out both the land pieces to someone else. Madhava, though already burdened, could not refuse, and so returned with another land piece to farm, offering a silent prayer ‘Devi, protect us’.

What Madhava thought to be difficult turned out to be much more tiring than he imagined it to be. Earlier, his wife had helped him in seeding and cutting, but now she was busy with the three children, leaving Madhava to take care of everything by himself. Nevertheless, Madhava continued to go about his work as effectively as possible. Soon, with Vishaka’s wise counsel, Madhava employed two tillers and reduced his work load. But they had to pay the tillers on a daily-wage basis, and Madhava had no money as the first harvest was yet to be reaped. Vishaka had to pawn her jewelry to meet their immediate needs. Not losing hope, the couple toiled day and night and soon it was time for harvest. Their hard work had paid off, and the harvest was bountiful, bringing home much needed respite and relief. They had not only covered their expenses with the harvest money, but were left with a neat little profit too. Offering his gratitude to the Devi, the protector, Madhava invested this money in buying some equipment for his farm, and employing another person for sowing and reaping.

Madhava, with Devi’s blessings, was gradually prospering – he had managed to release his wife’s jewelry and also bought the land that he was renting out from the zamindar. Few years passed, and Madhava became very successful, his farms that he acquired over the years were yielding good harvest and he also started trading not only his produce but also other smaller farmer’s produce. From his meager earnings and frugal living days, he now was a proud owner of a house, had three children who were disciplined and industrious and a wife who was not only his partner through thick and thin, but also his most trusted counsel. On the 15th day of Krishna Paksha Ashwayuja, Madhava and Vishaka arranged for a Devi puja – more commonly known as Lakshmi puja, honouring the consort of Lord Vishnu and the ruler of eight forms of wealth – money (dhanam), grain (dhanyam), courage (dhairyam), education (vidhyaam), success (vijayaam), progeny (santanam), luck (varam) and royalty (gaja). Having performed the rituals, the couple prayed to Devi, the protector, thanking her for her kind grace on them and prayed that she remains thus with them always.

Such is the way of life, what is certain now does not take more than a blink of the eye to change. Madhava and Vishaka’s grit, determination and wisdom was soon to be tested. On the third Friday of Karthika month, Devi appeared before Madhava and Vishaka along with their three children while they were offering their evening prayers, and said thus:
‘Madhava and Vishaka, my children, you have served yourselves and others well with honesty and determination, and have my blessings – through the presence of all of my eight forms of ashta laksmi. But such is the cosmic play, change is inevitable. It is the unwrit rule of OM. I must now leave you and go away from this house. However, since both of you have showed strength of character that is commendable, I will bestow one boon – Ask, and I will stay with you in one of my forms. Choose well Madhava.’

Madhava was stricken. Devi, the protector herself was telling him of his impending doom. His life’s worth of hard work and sacrifice would crumble in front of his own eyes, and he would be helpless. Was there nothing he could do now? Did he have naught a choice? Yes you do have a choice, said a small voice in his head. Hear well, said the voice, the Devi herself is asking you to choose. Madhava regained his composure then, and looked at his wife and children. All seemed to be as much stricken with this turn of events as him. Madhava realized that this was his one last chance to choose wisely. ‘Who shall we ask to stay?’ asked Madhava to his wife and children. All were deep in thought, trying to figure out their most essential of requirements.

First, Madhava’s daughter replied, ‘Father, please ask Vidya Devi to stay. If she bestows her blessings on us, I can study, work hard and regain everything that we stand to lose by securing a good job. That will put an end to our worries.’

Madhava turned to his wife for her opinion and she spoke saying, ‘My lord, it is but a tough decision, akin to asking me choose amongst my children. All are as dear to me, but given the situation, I would suggest you ask Dhanya devi to stay with us. With her grace, there shall be no hunger in this house and we will thus be in good health. We can work and restore our past wealth.’ Madhava saw sense in her argument, but waited for his sons to speak.

The elder of the twins spoke saying, ‘Father, I agree with sister and mother. Education would present us with opportunities and we would be hunger-free and healthy. But what use would it be if there is no success met with any work that we undertake henceforth? Hence I beg you to ask Vijaya devi to stay with us.’ Finally the younger of the twins spoke. He turned to his father and said, ‘Father, what any man finally needs is money. It can bring us food, keep us warm and provide for us in hour of need. Please ask Dhana devi to stay.’ Madhava looked at his son and his eyes were full of pleading.

Madhava had heard all the opinions and their arguments, but Madhava was not convinced himself. As if sensing his conflict, his wife Vishaka said, ‘My lord, whatever may be the differences in our opinions, it remains that all of us will stand by your final decision. Your judgment has never yet failed us, and I know for certain that it will not fail us in the future. So speak, my lord, for all of us, without a shred of doubt.’

Madhava was now at peace. He gave his family one last glance, and turned to Devi and spoke, without a tremble in his voice, ‘Devi, our protector. To what I owe this good fortune I do not know, but by giving me this boon, you have given me a new lease of life. I now know for certain who I would want to stay in this house. Please stay with us in this house in your magnificent form of Dhairya Devi (Goddess of Courage) and grace us well. Pardon our mistakes and protect us from evil.’ The Devi, smiling in her enigmatic way, granted Madhava his wish.

Madhava and his family went back to their respective jobs after the incident. But Madhava knew that trouble was around the corner. The repercussions of the incident would be more evident as time goes by. Soon enough came the first sign of misfortune. The rains had completely failed that season, and Madhava’s wells also had dried up. Madhava had invested a large sum of money into his trading business, and due to the draught-stricken state, even that was bound to get affected. Madhava tried all measures to overcome this obstacle – he spent money trying to dig new wells and figuring out water sources. But none were fruitful, there was not a drop of water in the wells and it was past the time for sowing of seeds. As Madhava feared, his crops failed that season and he incurred heavy losses. Madhava had to repay the loans he had taken earlier, and now he had naught but a penny. He had no choice, but to mortgage his house. Atleast, he thought, there is enough food grain stock in the granary to last us for an year. Due to the failure of crops and depleting money reserves, Madhava did not have enough to pay for his children’s gurudakshina – the customary offering given to the Brahmins teaching his kids. Madhava’s children were forced to give up their formal education with their guru’s and stay at home. His sons started helping him and his daughter assisted Vishaka in her daily chores.

Another year passed, and Madhava met with more losses, forcing him to sell his house and farm land and return to their old, modest dwelling. With poverty and hunger over powering them, the children soon started getting into arguments with one another and petty squabbles broke out more often than not. His children began questioning his decision of asking Dhairya Devi to stay with them. His elder son asked him, ‘Father, tell us what good has your decision done to us? If you had asked Vidya Devi to stay, like sister had asked, we would all have some education to go and find jobs at the King’s court or administrative offices. If you had asked Vijaya Devi to stay like I requested, we would have met with success at least on one of our ventures. Or if there was Dhana Devi like my brother suggested, we would have none of these complaints at all. What are we to do now? We have been going ahead hoping that something might turn our luck, but till when? Are we to stay like this forever?’

Madhava, lost in thought with his children’s outburst, was standing in his aangan, wearing a thread bare dhoti and wondering what to do next, when Vishaka came to him and said in a small voice, ‘Our food supplies are almost dried up, the granary is empty and there is no money left to buy grains.’ Saying so, she held up a small satchel and put it in Madhava’s hand. Madhava immediately knew what it contained and looked up to see his wife. Then he realized that in that house, there were still two people who had enough strength to brave these storms. Madhava went to the lender and secured some money by pawning the jewels. He then counted the sum, and set aside some for household expenses and for his children. The rest, he decided to invest in his trading activity as he did have neither the money nor the resources to undertake farming, which was his primary occupation. He was aware of his risks and shortfalls, but also knew he was left with few options. Determined once again, he returned home and called Vishaka and his children. He gave Vishaka the money he kept aside for household expenses and later gave his children the money he kept aside for them. Puzzled, his three children looked at him, not understanding why they were being given that money, for, they neither had any expenses of their own, nor were they in a state to afford some indulgence spending. Madhava smiled and said, ‘This money is for you all to return to your education. It may not cover all your dakshina requirements, but you can surely start with this and also take up some part-time activity at your gurukul to cover the rest. Education is important in life, and more important is the will to learn whole heartedly. I ask you to share my burden by first acquiring knowledge.’

The three children went to their guru’s ashram the next day and the guru, impressed by their determination to learn despite of their hardships gave the girl the responsibility of cooking for the other pupil in the ashram. To the boys, he gave them the duty of looking after the goshala and tending to the animals. All the three children took up and discharged their duties responsibly, never once complaining about the hectic work and all the school work they had to keep up with.

With the rest of the money, Madhava started his trading enterprise. He started trading in small amounts and across different types – he traded in textiles when it was festival season, in grain when it was harvest time etc. He met with mixed response, with both profit and loss to cope with for different products. But as he kept his investments small and focused on maintaining loyal customer relationships, slowly his enterprise started faring well. He was trying hard to come out of the debt situation and kept spending to a minimum and saving to the maximum.

A few years passed on thus, and Madhava established himself as a small, but honest trader. He now had his essentials needs well covered – a house and a stocked granary. Soon, his children finished their schooling and joined him in his business. With the two lads bringing in new ideas, Madhava’s business started flourishing. He expanded his business and travelled to other cities also, increasing their sales and making more customers. Madhava was now a well known name in Mithila as the trader who could always be trusted, with even the king recognizing his services.

On the third Friday of Karthika month that year, Madhava and Vishaka, along with their children organized the customary yearly Devi puja and were offering their evening prayers. To Madhava’s surprise, Devi appeared before him and spoke thus, ‘Madhava, you had indeed chosen well all those years ago by asking me to stay with you in my form of Dhairya Devi, for it is possible only for Dhairya Devi alone to reside in any abode by herself. In any of my other forms, it would not have been possible for me to protect you from peril, as I would have been rendered handicapped due to lack of courage and determination. Did you realize how your courage and grit of character brought back all of my other forms who had turned their backs on you? Your children showed remarkable strength by studying even in the face of extreme toil and effort, thus bringing back Vidya Devi. Your wife showed perseverance in difficult times, forcing Vijaya Devi to come back to you. You faced all the odds with such courage that Dhana Devi and Dhanya Devi had walked back with fervor into your house. Now tell me Madhava, could the other Devis too not bestow you with their grace? They had naught a choice, and they came back to you. Madhava and Vishaka, my beloved children! I now reside in this house in my complete form of Adi Devi! As long as you have Dhairya Devi in your heart, I will manifest as Adi Devi and protect you from all peril.’

And it was so, that Madhava and Vishaka embodied courage, determination and strength. The secret to life is simple – Be brave, be courageous. Life treats us all the same way, what defines us is how we react to it.

Then and now...

2002 to 2009, and counting

7 years – 2555 days – 61320 hours – over a million emotions. Last 7 years have been the most significant years in my life… I can trace the journey with such immense clarity that I surprise myself with all the details I can recollect. 7 years ago I started my undergrad, and since then, it has been one roller-coaster experience. It’s amazing how little I can remember till I started undergrad, and how much I remember after I started it! It’s probably because of the routine, mundane, archaic old lifestyle till then – either school-home-school or college-home-college. I never liked either of it too much, school had this demon-in-disguise called ‘homework’ (which I always did in the last possible minute – either at the breakfast table, in the bed or sometimes even in the car on my way to school!) and junior college had another monster called ‘weekly tests’.

I was happy to leave both of them behind once I entered undergrad. It was a completely new experience for me, away from home, independent for the first time in my life, in a place which was tucked away from the rest of the world and was a microcosm of the world in itself. That place transformed the reserved and guarded girl in me into a free-spoken and spirited person (or so I would like to believe), and how! The four and a half years taught me just not academics, in fact academic achievement was probably the least important of it all. It taught me how to think - independently and intelligently, how to care – honestly and whole heartedly, how to laugh – even at myself, in all, how to live – simply and responsibly. I got to know me for the first time ever, got to know my flaws, my limitations, and also start trying to accept them and if possible change them. I had to decide for myself what I liked to do, without my parents or family to guide me, which had a unique feel to it.

If I am to compare the 'me' of 'now' to the 'me' of 'then' (before 2002), there are some very amusing realizations which dawn on me. Then, I would run to mommy to ask what to wear when going out. Now, I pick out what she has to wear when going out. Then, I would ask my parents if it was okay to participate in a small, little extra-curricular event. Now, I tell them in brilliant detail about my endless pursuits. Then, I would wonder if I would ever ask dad to buy me a book apart from my text books. Now, I cannot sleep without at least flipping a couple of pages from my current read. Then, the concept of doing up your place was to paint the walls white. Now, I painstakingly design every nook and corner of my place. Then, friends meant a large group of people I met at school or college and forgotten later. Now, friends mean those select few with whom I share my pains and joys. Then, Mom was someone who cared for me the most. Now, in addition, Mom is my best friend, my counsel, my support and the person I love the most - unconditionally. Then, taking a decision meant deciding to ask my parents about something. Now, taking a decision comes with the knowledge that my parents will support me because they believe in me. Then, I was an ardent supporter of ‘love at first sight’ and believed in it. Now, the love I believe in is that which grows with the relationship, and not something assumed at the beginning of any relationship. Then, gaining acceptance in the society was important for peaceful existence. Now, I realize that gaining acceptance is important, but only by your family – societal acceptance is immaterial.

As I bid 2009 a very cheerful farewell [:)], I realize with a ‘happy heart’ that the journey between then and now is something which will not have an end. The ‘now’ of today is the ‘then’ of tomorrow, and tomorrow when I trace this journey again, I will hopefully still retain the ‘happy heart’ of today. Like they say, it is not the final discovery, but the process which is more fun. What started in 2002 will hopefully go on strong for years to come.

To mom, with love!

My first step, my first word, my first day at school, my first cycle ride… I remember nothing of these, but when she tells me about these with such fondness I can never express in words, it’s then I know that I can never love anybody as much as I love her. And I also then quite surely know that whatever happens she will never stop loving me.

It’s her arms I run to when everything seems so lost, it’s her advice I seek for when in doubt, it’s her comfort I crave for when in pain, it’s her presence I look for when I celebrate, and it’s simply her who comes first for all my firsts. It’s she who comes first to my mind when I am away from home and it’s her I see first when I am at home. When I scream and yell, it’s she who knows when to be quiet and she who knows when to tell me to shut up and sit quiet.

She knows when to hold me back and when to let go of me. She made me see the world through her eyes, tell the good from bad, teach humor and humility. Every prayer I say for myself I know is doubled because I know she prays for the same. With every birthday of mine, she beams and gushes, says I know you grow bigger and older, but you will always be my little child. And when there is only a single piece left of my favorite pie she says, I never quite enjoyed eating a pie.

She made me believe in fairy tales, not for the reason that they told us dragons exist but because she made me realize that dragons could be defeated. She taught me how to dream and work for those dreams, but she also taught me to dream without the condition for them to materialize, coz she said the joys of the world lies not in what exists but what we think can exist. Simply put, she taught me how to live!

I believe I don’t say this as often as I should, but I love you mom, and I will forever.

Hope, happiness and survivor-ship

Had written this way back in 2007.. just dug it out when I was searching for another piece and figured that sometimes all it takes to smile is a warm memory!

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When all hope seems lost, do you turn to the skies and pray with your heart, believing that the almighty will lead you through darkness, into a new dawn? I always believed in it, and always will do so. But at times you realize you dont have to look so far, for hope, happiness and survivor-ship, you realize are just round the corner. Crane your neck or break out of your thoughts and you might just realize that there is a story of survival almost everywhere.

I was out for lunch with a friend at one the pizza hut joints when my friend realized she had to rush as her mentor at Moto was waiting for her. Not wanting to dash off with my meal too, I hung back to eat peacefully and read my book (I was reading The Simoquin Prophecies and was in no hurry to finish it! A must read!), and being the perpetual slow-eater, was earning dirty looks from the waiter who was waiting to clear my table off. Wanting to order masala lemonade, I waited for another waiter to pass by, so that I wouldn’t have to lock horns with the grumpy one. Soon a young waitress swished past, and I almost screamed out for my lemonade, startling the poor girl! She took the order, dutifully recited their overused line “Your lemonade will be ready in 6 minutes” and vanished behind the counter. When she had returned with the drink, I was talking over the phone and was arguing about the pronunciation of penchant with someone, with me pronouncing it as pen-chant and the other one arguing that it was pahn-shahn. I hung up the phone as soon as the drink had arrived, not wanting to continue the call further, sensing that I was fighting a losing battle. The waitress was clearing the table and I gave her my customary colgate smile for the drink and continued with my book.

The girl was about to leave when I remembered I had to get a pizza for my intern-mates at Moto. I had no idea about non-veg pizzas and was forced to ask the waitress to suggest a good one. She suggested the day’s special, chicken supreme or something and again recited her customary “Your order will be ready in 14 minutes”. I was actually surprised by her impeccable English and found it a little odd that she was working in a fast-food place. She could have just as easily gotten into a BPO and would be earning a more handsome pay. When she had come back to clear off the plate, I complimented her, saying that she had very good English and told her she could try for a job at any call-center. I thought I was going to surprise her by my comments, but it turned out it was my chance to be surprised. She replied back saying she actually worked at a BPO and was working at the joint for some extra money. By now I was in a chatty mood and didn’t want to go without hearing the full story. I started my usual rapid-fire question round and understood that she was working to fund her education. She wanted to pursue masters in textile designing at NIFT, but hadn’t got the permission from her parents to get into that field, as according to them it wasn’t respectable enough! So she started working at the BPO, and without their knowledge also did some hours at the food joint. She was saving for a rainy day, she said, in case she clears the NIFT entrance and her parents refuse to fund her, she would go there by herself! I was rather surprised and impressed and told her how amazing it was, since here was a girl who had done her degree from some neighbourhood college and still had the confidence to pursue her dreams. And I thought you need to go to a college of repute to actually get that confidence! Silly me!

She said, “As long as you are fighting for it, it is fun. The moment you give in, all of that fun simply vanishes, leaving a constant drone in your head” and she disappeared behind her counter. She suddenly re-appeared and said "You actually do pronounce penchant as pahn-shahn" leaving a pleasantly surprised me! She had given me her number, asking me to let her know if there was some position in Moto for which she could apply to. I have since lost that number and even forgotten her face, but I can never forget that kick-ass attitude she had to fight for what she wanted. She was working two jobs and was even ready to oppose her parents, to actually do what she liked. Surely, Indian woman has come of age! Amen.

Pitter patter raindrops, I'm wet through!

There is something about the monsoons which makes it so special.. the first shower, the fragnance of earth when its soaked, people running helter skelter or just the raindrops falling on my head! Monsoon and winters definitely play a prominent role in our Indian lives.. what with all the romances in the hindi movies starting with the heroine soaked to the skin and the hero falling instantly for her, the wedding season rushes, the muffled voices due to mufflers and most of all the garam garam tomato soup (this is classic to my life ;) )

Monsoon brings back with it loads of memories, past and pleasant. Like the washing gushing into our house when we stayed in the cellar portion back when we were young, finding the school unexpectedly closed due to the buses not being able to make it through the whirlpools at the junctions, the blissful return journey home and ofcourse, the hot hot pakodis mom used to make, or simply looking out of my window during the tortuous 11th-12th class.

But the most amazing memories are those i have of monsoon and winters in my college. It took an year for me to adjust to the climate swings classic to the deserts.. i had heard of it, but you have to experience it to believe it completely. Summers were horrible, and so were peak winters, but monsoon and onset of winter was just bliss! Curling up under the four layered quilt setup, absolute laziness to get up and get started, the yummy hot french toast made by raju bhaiyaji, the early morning fog and us pedalling away covered from head to toe in layers and layers of clothing we could possibly find in our cupboards! Even the taliban can take a lesson from us about how best to cover every inch of your body! Monsoon magic is incomplete with the quintessential romance of couples.. the waiting room outside the hostel would be
brimming with couples cosying up. The fire chowkidaarji would lit up would be a milieu of people, with none willing to budge from there, lest the warmth would be lost and the moment too. And ohh yes, the hot chocolate at chimpoos!! Slurp slurp slurp we would go, with a chocolate disliker like me also relishing the taste.

Pilani truly was natures haven.. in all senses, there would be innumerable number of insects, weird looking ones, weird sounding ones, and weirdly biting ones! I had complained about it incessently to my mom about how that place was uninhabitable and how i was longing to come back to my well made room. Now looking back, i realize that its those same very things which bring a
smile on my face.

Well now i guess i am pretty convinced that monsoon makes you nostalgic... so i tried my best to recreate some of those moments.. so far all i could do was hang out in my balcony, plead mom into allowing me to put the chair outside and cosying up with a book and some garam chai. But deep in my heart, i know i can never bring the innocence of the magical land into my thick house.. so here cheers to the life like it was, and to the life that hopefully will be as great as that one!

Whats all the hoopla about anyway?

Well, our boys in blue have disappointed us.... but so what? does it mean that that is the end of life? does it mean that the boys are not capable enogh to deliver next time? does it mean that we as a nation go into mourning, or even worse start our blame-game? No it does not mean any of the above things. I recently read in the news paper that one man died of a cardiac arrest after the india-srilanka match, unable to take the shock. and what is worst is that the man in question was into a marriage just about an year old. I dont feel so sorry for the man as much as i feel for his wife. that according to me was one of the most ghastly ways in which a marriage ended.

why do we attach so much importance to a game? or for that matter why do we always attach so much importance to things which dont really matter? we go into national mourning for amazingly stupid reasons, reasons like a character from a popular(??) daily soap (one of the many churned from the K-Serial factory) dies, so much is the outcry that the character had to be "brought back from the dead" (eventually paving way for a million other characters to follow track). are we losing our duscretionary capabilities? where do we draw the line so that we can enjoy a game for what it is and take winning or losing it as a part of the game?

the ammount of money that goes into cricket is sensational. so the honchos of cricket have every reason to cash in on it. the players are not just millionaires but more, with all the sponsors, advertizing assignments etc. have we commercialised the game so much that it loses the very basis for which it all started? that is to watch our players play good sport! but it is not them who are to be blamed. it is us and only us. it is us who have elevated the game to such a pedastal that it lost all its charm as a game and gained a religious status. we have stopped seeing the players as humans who are capable of committing mistakes but have deified them and expect them to deliver superman-ish results everytime.

i am not a cricket fan and i will never be one. so i may not really know the emotional upheaval that one goes through when india is playing. but i do know friends who are crazy about the game and who watch the game purely out of love for the game. they still watch the game and want the best team to win. that, according to me is the attitude to watch it. watching a game for the fun of it is good, even healthy. maybe it is time for young india to realise that they are being robbed out of their pockets only because of their gullibleness. vent that passion for things more important. things that can bring to india much more than a cup. things that could bring smiles not only on the players faces(and lots of booty in that pockets), but on atleast one underpriveledged!

we are the beacons for the indian future. let us not waste ourselves for so meanial a reason like a lost game! let us be game for cricket and more!

Random Thoughts

I have often wondered.. what do people do when they have no work, and i realised that the answer is with me! I have no work most of the time, or rather most of the time i pretend to have work when i really have no work! So i ask myself, what do i do when i have no work.. and bingo! the answer was simple.... i think.. i think about everything and anything. I think about the Indian Cricket Team (whoa... now there is not much left to think about them!) I think about the impending assignment (and i restrict that to just thinking... not acting on it!) I think about how the stupid guy acts so desperately... i think about why the girl he keeps hitting on takes it so meekly without saying a word and just letting it go... i think about why we as Indians who claim to have great levels of patriotism for our "Maatru bhoomi" do nothing for the same motherland (and it might as well include me too.. and that is the most shamefull aspect, which i promise to change everytime i think of it, but i forget later) i think about all those lost college days, when i used to have pure unadulterated fun. I think about all those assignments done and all those assignments undone! i think about all my friends, i think about the relation i share with each of them and i think about the relation i could have share with those friends with whom i never bothered to keep in touch with. i think and i think and i think... and everytime i do that, i realise that it mostly ends with me thinking why i waste so much time in thinking when i could put it into use by doing what i think! So time to get going and do something!