Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Grumblings of a Backbencher..!

It was one of those usual nights, and I was just back from my group meeting. The clock showed 2:45 am. I grabbed a cup of tea from LV’s room. The climate was inviting enough for a walk. Falling for the temptation, I pulled my Jerkin and moved over... all alone. Submitting the term paper and getting prepared for the presentations were the least of my worries. I never really mind and it does not really matter. My pondering was over the week’s timetable which read 4 QT sessions. I wanted to scream hard.. For Heavens sake!.. Show me some mercy..! Half my hatred stems from my aversion for the subject and the rest half for the moron [Mr.P] who teaches it. Its already 3 am.. and am off to sleep.

After repeated snoozings, my mobile reads 8:42 am. Why does it have to dawn so early! :( Grabbing a bite, I reach the class @ 09:03 am. P gives u that sickening look... Late Again!.. I was cool with it. Knew anyway that EA who sits besides me wudn’t have come. She runs in @ 09:05 am weaing that “Sorry! Won’t be late anymore” look. That it would take an eternity for her to be on time is another chapter altogether :)

The class gets underway. People check out their 2 important belongings. A pen drive with their presentations and the text book. My definitions of essentials for the class is diametrically distinct. One.. My fastrack watch. Yup! Watching the second’s hand tick is my favourite pastime. And two.. My cellphone. To crosscheck if my watch is showing the right time.Of course, therez the wall clock to add spice to my interests. But when the class gets underway, my prized possessions- the time pieces drool along like a man parched for water in Sub Saharan Africa.

Listening to the class makes me sleepy. So I let my thoughts wander. I suddenly remember my friend UM talking about how he fathoms looking at a “Cutie” during QT.:).. I gauge his musings. And suddenly I turn around. I find people putting up their hands. Some of my batchmates are also among the lot. This is not very uncommon considering the fact that people aim to gain attention to score brownie points. And suddenly Mr.P asks one of my batchmates to come forward. And then.. all my batchmates stand up. I take a little time to realize wats going on. I get a sense of the impending disaster. Then I give that infuriated look. “What!.. U people put up ur hands so that our group could go there and present!..” Please don’t do this to me. Bachche ki jaan mat lo yaar..:(

But the damage was already done. I walk up to the stage. Therez a mini conference within our group. I put my foot forward and say “ Am doing the case summary. U guys take care of the analysis.” They say IIMS is a great leveller. VN and AMR pat my back and say.. Stay off limits dude. We’re doing the summary.! A mini volcano erupts and we finally decide that myself, VN and AMR will keep mum and the rest three would do the presentation!. Talk of a bargain!.That’s a windfall for me! Coup of sorts really.

The presentation gets over and am back to my seat. As usual lost in thoughts. Wherez life leading me? How on earth am I going to clear this paper? I turn to my left. I find KS caricaturing. But I know hez a whiz kid. He’d find his way through this mess. Then I look right. I find EA immersed with something. I find her doing some painting. Gives me some hope. Even shez not listening to the class. Then I turn backwards. I find “The Dude K” stealing the words from my mouth.”Hey Dude.. Why do u even bother to look at me. I’m the captain of ur sinking ship”. Machan.. Ni en uyir Nanban da. Talk of Hope!. I’d trust u more than Ben Bernanke whoz supposed to pull America out of recession. We’l definitely form the bottom 2.

All of a sudden, my fastrack shows 10:12 am. I begin the countdown. 3 mins to go. 180.. 179..178................... 3..2..1. Just as I thought the ordeal was over and eagerly await the break, a hand goes up in the air and one of our esteemed participants do a DP*. “Sir!. How can u say that the non parametric test is wrong!”. I was exasperated. “WTF!”. Does it even matter if something called a Non Parametric test existed? Don’t get on my nerves man!. For heaven’s sake somebody tell him the time is 10:15!. I’d gone bonkers by this time. Now.. A flurry of hands go up. More DP’s follow. How I wished I could be convicted for the umpteen number of murders I wanted to commit at that instant! The ignominy of being made to sit through the break makes me mad!. I sit back and realize. Zindagi mein number kamane ke do tareekey hote hain.
Ek DP.. Doosra ACDP*!!.. :)
End of story!..
*DP : Means desparate participation for my Non IIM frnz.
*ACDP is a trademark variant of the same.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Roger and Out??

There was once an albatross.. Personified in dynamic soaring, scaling heights hitherto unheared of, swooping down on its prey, exhibiting a ruthlessness that was savage... yet so graceful..Its reign on top was unchallenged.. A flight record so unblemished.. The skies went silent.. Not wanting to meddle with its mantle..
But the universe is witness to paradigm shifts of power centres.. And times can be brutal..The weather suddenly started seeming nebulous.. And then, there was a flash.. a lightning one.. Accompanied by a deafening thunder... A genesis was born... Call him Genesis or the Albatross' nemesis...Ya Fed... Your reign is under challenge...

Anybody who had been engrossed in the epic battle downunder would have been stumped, watchin the Swiss king's hard court supremacy being dethroned.As a matter of fact,during a pre match interview Sampras,Mcenroe,Laver,Borg , all legends of the game predicted a Fedex victory. Little did they know, he was to be denied that night.

Rafael Nadal is the Man of the moment. His Wimbledon victory,dismissed as a flash in the pan, it took him this victory, a statement, to prove his detractors otherwise. This, after playing the longest australian open match in the semis
less than 40 hrs ago.No wonder hez called 'The perpetually moving human wall' which keeps returning whatever is thrown at it with equal force and it has brute written all over it. Dispelling notions of him getting physically bruised,he gave Roger a mental bruising.

Tennis has a rich history of great rivalries. Mcenroe-Borg,Edberg-Becker,Sampras-Agassi and now Nadal-Federer.The greatness of the game lies in the richness and variety that these rivalries bring along with them.Mcenroe's tantrums to Borg's Icy coolnes, Edberg's textbook backhand to Becker's booming serves,Sampras' volleys to Agassi's returns and now Federer's grace to Rafa's power.Viewers have always enjoyed their money's worth.

But the magnitude of this occasion was epitomised by what happened as soon as the match got over.Federer,overcome by emotions, broke down. Those were tears not for his loss.Those were tears not for his inability to win. Those were tears which eulogized his conquerer. So true.. Sport can be so cruel..But then.. Where would beauty be without cruelty?.

Fedex may be jinxed at 13 grand slams.. Whether the jinx is the numeral 13 or Nadal, is something that time would tell.But is the time ripe enough to say "Roger and out"??..Certainly not!!..

Monday, January 5, 2009

Hitz n Misses -> '08'

Yet another year passes by.. A year of bruised economies, of Chinese sporting prowess, of terrorism at its devilish worst, of broken promises and pleasant surprises....... It brings with it the hope tho', that the future would certainly be better. Here's my list of who hit the target n who missed out..

Hits! n Heroes!
-------------------->>>

* Ratan Tata :

Because he made the world take stock of nano.
Because his punchline "Afterall a promise is a promise" meant, nano stayed a 1 lac car.
Because our former colonial rulers will now buy "Indian Owned" Jaguar Landrovers.
Because Phoenix Taj rose back from the ashes
Because hez the embodiment of a never say die Indian spirit.
Because hez Ratan Tata !

* Barrack Hussain Obama

A paradigm shift in the attitude of the American Public, to rise above racial lines meant Obama would be the first African American US President. Backed by a inspirational theme "The Change we need", he penetrated republican heartlands. The Americans swayed to the Pied Piper's tunes and his victory speech was the bottomline.."America will never be a collection of Red and Blue states. It always was.. and will be, the United States ".

* The Olympics

The Olympics saw its finest manifestation under the Dragons.The proceedings were mystifying. The world gaped in awe. The Chinese thumped the American dominance, establishing a new world order. Lightning Bolt and Blitzkrieg Phelps in action, set the records tumbling.True to its motto "One world, One dream", the success was of Olympic propotions.

* Abhinav Bindra

The toast of a billion people. A golden shot, that brought home the all elusive Gold medal. A salute, for providing us with the rare spectacle of our National flag being raised , punctuated by our national anthem on the background. A salute for providing us the goosebumps, that accompanied the same.

* Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

Because Mt.Everest felt inferior to his world record pile of runs.
Because the Aussies were shown "Whoz the Boss ! ".
Because he provided the Chennai crowd, its long standing due. A century in a run chase.
Because hez Mr.Humility.
Because he still makes us skip a heartbeat when hez at the crease !

* Akshay Kumar

The Jubilee Kumar of the industry has fnally come of age. Helped by the dumbness of a generation who lapped up his supposed Magnum Opus, "Singh is Kinng", he stormed the once impregnable fortress at the top, that was King Khan.A burgeoning paycheck weathering the dreaded recession means, hez here to stay.

* Chandrayaan

India's scientific prowess was on display in its full flight. A nation rejoiced, as we joined a select band of The Elite, capable of futuristic technologies.

* Nuke Deal

Weathering many a storm, the Nuke deal stormed many a weather to finally find light at the end of the tunnel.As for the communists... Well.. Time waste.. Better move on to the next section folks!!..

Misses! n Zeroes !
--------------------->>>

* Sensex

The Bulls lost steam and the Bears ran riot. A constant bloodbath ensured that the bellwether index lost 52% by the year end. A return to yesteryears with FD's providing better returns.!

* Satyam

This Elephant slung mud onto itself. A blunder whose repercussions may signal that Satyam will never be the same again. Stakeholder fury reminded the Raju's, who runs the show. And then.. The World Bank struck a near fatal blow.
Result : A Reputation and Credibility badly battered.

* The Indian Hockey Team

A pathetic performance meant that Hockey @ Olympics won't have India for the first time since it inception. Time to stem the Rot.... But do we start from scratch??..

*The Hadron Collider Experiment

CERN's attempts at recreating the Big-Bang theory flopped. A helium leak ensured that the project would be set back by a considerable time.

* Terrorism

Mumbai reeled, as terrorism struck.. right at India's heart. A nation watched helplessly as the hostage seige lasted a full 72 hrs. Mumbaikars would certainly remember this year.. Not for the way it had been.. But for the way it had not been.

* The Australian Cricket team

Because their feet were grounded finally.
Because they realised the rule of nature.. Whatever goes up.. must come down.
Because unlike the Golden Age Windies, the aussies were never admired.
Because therez no Gilly,Mcgrath or Warney anymore.
Because Punter is finally getting his due.
Because Down under, they were down and under...

On a parting note, A salute to our heroes Omble,Karkare,Sandeep and others who laid down their lives for a nation's cause.

Cheers for a happy new year.Live life to the fullest. Explore, inspire, smile, Admire, imagine and do take good care.. Tschus...