Last Ride...

Ever since I joined TCS, I never felt in awe of the company. Probably, being part of itself, I do not get to realise its... whatever(well, i still dont realise). Even there used to be an annual survey where there will be a question "Do you feel proud bearing the brand name Tata" - and never did i Lied. But still the moments of pride being a TCSer, there are few.

And of late it is - the huge, majestic cool and (very) corporate - TCS Volvos. Painted in the traditional blues of the TATA all over its otherwise pure white body -which used to have the proud "TATA Consultancy Services" written over its forehead but all over its body I should say, carry one of the most formal looks. I have seen a lot of blue and white buses (and there is another corporate which runs in white and blue) and lot of other corporate buses, but I just love ours. I can spot the bus among the whole chennai peak hour traffic enen from a mile very easily, just b'cos other buses dont please my eyes as ours. Even whenever I see them parked on the roadsides on holidays I used to show them childishly as "Ours" to others.

And that too, in the evenings they will be packed in rows like an army of the TATAs, and when ready, they race out and hit the road painting the whole city in blue and whites. Sitting in the window seat, with my radio humming a favourite song, a peep out of window will show a whole stretch of Blues - I just smile proudly. Sometimes there will be our buses on either side of my bus - changing the whole evening light into Blue - just makes you feel like you belong to the blues of TATA. I loved the buses.

And today I had my Last Ride. I finally had to discontinue my subscription due to... it doesnt matter. All I know is, I am not gonna get to ride the bus again. The blue beauty is not mine anymore.

Today Morning, for the first time and for one last time - I went to the bus stop as early as I had ever made. I have missed the bus more times than I caught, but today I didnt want to miss it. The window seat (even when I know that the bumpy Velachery road is going to bring my breakfast from the stomach back to the chest, I chose to sit in the back as I wanted the window seat) , some curious, some sleepy, some casual looks coming from my fellow TCSers - crossed them all and settled with my FM tunes - and friday freshness was as usual in the air - couldn't ask for more.

And in the evening came My Last ride. Left 10 mins early, and got in to No. 35 - I knew it takes longer route, but thats what I want. Got into the Window seat and picked my ERGO. As we started i got the glimpse of the Bluish evening for one last time.

And when we got closer to my stop - I felt like travelling more. Finally when i stepped down, I felt like some one close is departing. I got down, stepped aside and kept looking at the blue fading away.

There are few other things which might remind me that I am a TCSer, but still - next time when I see the vast stretch of blue, I doubt I will feel belonging to TATA.

I am going to miss you, Blue.

My Birthday diary II

It took me more than a month now to continue my last post today - a day from a week which itself in its own accord has got some importance - will deviate to it in next post. Now - let me focus on my 25th year on earth.

I remember celbrating my b'day with 2-3 new dresses and from 1.30 pm CST the previous day. And recving bumps later that night when i cut the cake - first time in my life, but better-not-to-mention start. I was in fiserv team then("was"!!!). But life was cool then, vidhya leading the team, me not with responsiblities and worries, living a wake up late- sleep in office - play pool - stay cool life in Westwood.

And it was the time i might have felt that I am gonna stay onsite for long and will be earning much that i started making trips every possible long weekend - July 4 - florida - Sep - Atlanta, etc. All with sustainment gang. And in Florida - Keywest - I swam(??!!) in the ocean - North Atlantic as it turned out to be... Well, by swimming i didnt mean "kutraleeswaran" type channel crossing effort, but just to float in salty deep blue sea with water jacket. First in my life...

And then Atlanta in sep - me, sundar, vel to visit vijay and not to hurry ourselves as in FL, and relax. We did relax, highlight being the latenight ihop dinner, voracious eating in that indian restaurant and knowing how to live happily in US from jerald and co.

Then suddenly i was aware that im spending too much, and had plans to go home for vacation that I decided to curb myself from any more tours - eventually i spent the longest long weekend of thanksgiving in the coldest cold of minnesota - waiting for the black friday deals for God-only-knows-we-get. Went to BestBuy the night before, and started playing cards out in cold waiting in queue.

But one of the best "first of my life" happened in August - Much dreamt, but a bit disapppointed - my lovely, sweet and troublesome - Toyota camry LE. I hated everything about it and would not have gone for it on a normal day, but with all my options gone, i almost ended up with this, but a big acheievement whatsoever, in life to own a car. In India it would not have happened with all those traffic and not affordable too. Thanks to Uncle Sam - Well, it is my biggest personal purchase after my mobile and laptop.

Then comes one of my most awaited career "first" - I wrote my first line of Development code - although unofficially when I did a module in Vidhya's proj - CCH, yet it was awesome to step into the land of .NET Development and my first successful step towards my dream destination right from my 11th high school- It was long deviated, struggled and finally may be fortunately turned towards what I dont know if that is the best for my career. Thanks to all those who played a part here - Vidhya, Sourav, Baskar, etc.

Time and space running up - few more are : First full year in US, Credit card and credit history, postpaid moblie connection, my cutey-motty-Sony Ericsson w600i, India vacation, Anna's marriage, Park Meadows Tennis & volleyball, etc - a very eventful year indeed. Let me see if I get time to grab these in detail, in next post.

My B'day diary

Today, I am turning 25. Many more happy returns of the day. I always wanted to write diary everyday, to record some memories, but if you know me, I need not explain.

At least let me sum it up here and take notes of myself a few memories before they evaporate into the cloudy sky. Before that, let me take a break from non-stop blogging and have my lunch (now its 3.28 pm, and if you dont know me, well, this is me.) and baskar is waiting for me.

Final Destination 1

14 Jun 2007 - I hate today, feeling as bad as someone in death bed... sorry if i sound too negative - not that bad actually, but it was about the feeling that there is no tomorrow like yesterday(Although it is true for everyday, only very few days in life will remind you of that). This is because, I have this feeling that life from tomorrow will be a downslide of a rollercoaster - if you ever travelled one, you will know it will start very slow and climb up to the max height, and from that point it will suddenly and rapidly fall to the destination, with lot of unexpected turns and slides.

Too much of hype, well it’s my 25th B'day today!!! No, it is not just another birthday. I am getting old and I hate it that I decided not to celebrate. Because I think the rest of the b'days were taking me to the peak of the life. It is like - You go up all the way, stop there and when ready to fall, you will have a scary view of what lies ahead - this b'day is like that stop.

In life, By the time your b'day reminds you of age than a day that gets you new dress, cut a cake and few gifts, you will be past your childhood and stepped into your teens. But then you will enjoy the fact that you are getting old - you are no more a "kid", you are getting matured rather than getting old, and above all you are entering adultery, meaning you can now get yourselves adulterated with all those "18 and above only" stuffs. So you are marching towards that freedom, and hardly worry about getting old. And then every year gets you closer to new destinations - first graduation, first job, first salary, first love and so on - until you reach a point where nothing fascinates you in life enough to be landmarked as your next destination - until Death with, well, few more instances to tell you how close you are - marriage where you loose your bachelorhood(Final Destination 2), day when you become a parent(FD3), day you retire to become a senior citizen(FD4). And I think here I am at that point - FD1.

And did I say why this 25th makes me feel so? Well, whenever there was some age grouping, an insurance quote for instance, they group people into three - under 18, 18-24, and 25 & above. See, thats what I mean - it doesn’t matter you have just turned 25 or 58 or 102 - you are there. Only consolation is the insurance quote will be less - but the price you pay for that is too much. From here on- every Bday gets you "older" than getting you matured.

I know that this is very too much to worry about, but gone are the days. I can hear those optimists who are cursing this pessimistic crap, saying you can always live your life and youthful at heart. But guys, you are talking about pretending to be young, which anyway I will be, but you cannot deny the facts.

On the other side, I feel very lucky to have lived 25 years in the world - I thank God, parents, family, friends and every one part of my world - to be there, wished me goodwill, and made my life as it was. I am lucky to survive 25 years, and I believe i lived them to my best healthily, wealthily and happily. I can’t ask for more.

Today, at this stop, when I turn back to look at the 25 years that passed, I feel glad and content, if not the best - for there is nothing to be stopped as best - Abiding the principle of life, I hope the best has to come yet.

Breakup Letter...

My Dear #23,

It is time to say good bye to u. I would really love to continue with you, but life has to move up and hope you understand. You gave me a lot of "moments of my life" well intervalled by painful moments too, which i accept as gladly as the other, as with you, at least I slept peacefully every night. I had a lots of first-time-in-my-life's and had different shades of life in this short peroid with you. I would like to thank for the new people you introduced to me some of whom i guess will disappear soon and some i wish to have them for my life.

Although the others like you whom i lived with before has done remarkable change in me, I might have been too inexperienced to notice, but in all, I would say, you added a new dimension to my life. Hope #24 picks the best out of you and continue.

When it is time to embrace, welcome and live with 24, not knowing what she has got up her sleeve, I would like to turn back, look at you and say "Thanks you so much for being with me..."