Life in USC, 4th Sem (First Week after returning from India)

Life in USC in the 4th semester is seeming monotonous. Same buildings, Same pathways, Same roads, Same Profs, Same part time campus job, Same work, Same good/bad memories as i pass some places in school. I once dreamt of coming to USC and now i dream of getting out of USC. Well, USC has been one of the best places in my life. I simply wanna move on soon. Am missing all pals who have graduated and now are at different geographical locations. In this week i hardly saw any one whom i knew very well or was acquainted with. New faces around sprawl the campus. Young doctors, engineers, artists gearing for new study life at SC (for USC). These people who have embarked a new life for them. I graduated in my undergrad in 2003 and these youngsters may have by 2008. 5 yrs, thats a huge gap reminding me i have to get outta SC soon and start with my job. Probably this will be in every college or school. I may have taken a wrong decision to continue for a semester more in haste. But i am not regretting it for some reasons for they to get fulfilled soon. After all, i feel whatever happens, happens for good. Every spell will age so will be this !

Thieves of own cellphones

Am sure you didn't quite understand what that means. Well, let me explain because it comes out as my own. Its really unfortunate these days that people have cell phones and still cant be reached. Let me take an example. I call people on their phones and get no reply. I can understand this as he or she may be busy. However, they would definitely see any missed call on their cell phone. These kind of people don't even have the courtesy to return one's call. When this happens to me, i start believing that i give way to importance to these people. I cant wait till an hour or 2 hrs or 3 hrs or say till 8 hrs but even after that if i don't receive any call, its highly frustrating. One question comes to mind is then why have these people purchased mobiles worth thousands if they can't return ones call. Imagine there is an emergency, that if someone meets with a grueling accident and relies heavily on you for his/her help. You miss the call and never return. May be you never even get the next chance to return as this friend of yours will never return to life ! I call such people thieves of their own phones. Beware of such people.

Back To LA (3rd Feb, 08)

Am back to LA on 3rd feb, at 5:15 pm, Sunday. It was a 32 hr flight which got further delayed at Malaysia. In spite of this, i am not angry or frustrated as i was very happy with Malaysia Airlines service. They certainly took good care of me and others on flight. Thats why they have "Worlds best crew award under their belt" ! I had 8 hr transit at Kuala Lumpur, it was so humid there. I have to admit that i have had some of the worst food in my life at Malaysia. The food there sucks, its horrible...not one thing upto my standards.


One of my good friend once said, "you learn a lot while traveling". That indeeed is true. My seat in MA (Malaysia Airlines) was 14k. When i sat on my seat, i realized there was NO number 13 row, to obvious reasons but i was surprised that even an airlines followed and adhered to the number 13 rule avoidance. I guess you tend to do that especially when your are flying 10 hrs over Pacific !! I stopped or rather we stopped at Taiwan as well for an hour. My god, seems there are only girls living there as i saw girls only everywhere. Luckily, this time i did not lose my luggage unlike in Air India. There is no doubt i was feeling apprehensive about traveling over Pacific but there were reasons i chose this flight. They are mentioned in my earlier blog, do read them. I barely slept 3 hrs in the KL hotel as every time at the back of my mind was that i had to get up. Most of the time on flight went watching comedy, some good stuff...didnt sleep at all in the flight which caused me heavy jet lag on reaching. I have slept continuously for 23 hrs to the astonishment of my roommates. This never happens when you go back to your home as you are very excited or due to hustle in the house which keeps you awake. Here was absolutely peaceful. I am missing India, my family, my mom and her food. Now starts the task of making food, T, going to college which sucks, some studies :(

At the Delhi Airport, i witnessed things which make me feel agitated. First of all, at the Nirula's counter i saw a gentleman barging a queue (line). A sardar who was with his kid just made his way into a 4 people line. The person standing behind him was an American from SFO. (I know this cuz i ahd a chat with him after this on same incident) . He saw this but didnt say anything, may be he knows the way we indians work our way. He simply gave in letting the sardar order his food items. At once, i felt like teaching that Sardar a lesson but i decided to speak with the American fellow later. Surprisingly, he told me he was used to this since long back. I felt sorry for him. On second instance, while i was busy to phone my family, i observed a lady in her mid 60's standing just 2 feet away from me trying to make me leave my post and indirectly listening to my calls. I just couldnt take it and gave a rude thrashing to her. I had to guys, it was a private conversation and i said wht my mind told me to do. I didn't feel sorry for that. Some people just don't have the basic etiquettes of life, such idiots they are, a shame for our country. As i looked back, i see another American foreigner standing 7-8 feet back behind a line patiently waiting for his turn. There certainly lies difference in the way we and Americans live, no doubt about it....

Love Actually

Another poem in my kit. Dont feel i gave full justice to it but it was half written when i completed it and this is the kind of feeling that creeps in when things are not done in time. They lose their charm.

Love Actually

A day that was never to be seen
A year never remembered
A second that passed without notice
A life broken into two
Love actually lived there


The porous body evoking emotions
color conversion to dark
eyes that only saw you
The lips always praising you
Love actually lived there


words that never touched her heart
roads that led to her house
flowers that never lost their moisture
her golden skin that never lost the shine
Love actually lived there


the tattooed forearm with her name
the muscut perfume bearing her fame
the Arc de Triomphe to mesmerize
the fear of losing you
Love actually lived there

morning prayers for her long life
places meant to be together
intertwined destiny
a reason to live
Love actually lived there.....

Trip To India - Part 2

Well, most of you who start reading will feel that part 2 of my stay in India is coming first. Not that I feel i almost have lost touch with my first trip experience which was in summer 06 but the fresh memories of 2nd trip are around. I reached India on 9th Jan 07, 10:50 by Malaysian Airlines and would leave on 2nd Feb night for LAX. this time i decided to board a flight over Pacific for several reasons. First of all, they invited me to carry 32 kgs in each of my 2 bags which becomes handy when i return back. Secondly, i wanted an airlines that offered me personal entertainment. I knew these airlines do though am not sure of there is any other airlines flying over atlantic and providing same. Thirdly, i was bored flying over Atlantic. I wanted to seek more adventure flying over Pacific Ocean and visit new countries like Taiwan and Malaysia. Although my last trip was for 25 hrs, i enjoyed my second trip more which lasted 32 hrs. It was more comfortable and enjoying. My last trip with Air India was horrifying, frustrating and full of anguish. I lost lot of my luggage and AIR India till date hasnt compensated me that. I decided not to board Air India for the rest of my life.

So here i am , outside Indira Gandhi International Airport. Whenever you would come down to your motherland, that excitement will always be there. It was immense on my first visit but honestly, not as much as first. May be thats natural ! So i come down to home, settle down in New Delhi Culture...they say "Apni Dillli" (My Delhi), "Dilli Dilwalo ki" (Delhi for the ones who carry their hearts).

Delhi welcomes me with 5 degree celcious. I didnt feel cold at the Airport. My heroism cost me a week of mine a si was down with viral and fever. I think partly because i gave my mom company in bitter cold in the parks. Anyways thats past. The highlights of my trip were my first visit to Delhi Craft Bazaaar called "Dilli Haat" where one can find lot of handicrafts and looms, the brand new "City Select" Mall in Saket with mom.



I saw my life's first play called "Aath Gante" (8 hrs) with a close friend of mine at Delhi's National School of Drama (i love watching plays and dramas).




I met couple of my idle friends and some not so idle friends. The 9th Auto expo at Pragati Maidan was amazing though flanked by beautiful cars. I made food at home as i had been boasting a lot and didnt disappoint anyone. My relatives came to meet me at my house a si was unwell. There was a program to visit a disc but that plan got foiled.


I was catching up with old hindi TV serials and after some time although they look and sound lame, you fall in the trap of sitting with your family and watching all shows and eventually will be intrigued by some of them. I plan to meet some of my old freinds. My sister's engagement talks were on the corner whcih would be finalised in December of this year. Lot of my relatives talked about my MS course, my new job in New York and my plans to get married. I was assertive about not before 4-5 years as i had told my parents about my plan to do MBA. My sister and elder brother were more asked about their marriage plans and they were wise to handle the pressured questions. Every trip will get a new experience and i will be happy to share them with you. !

American Gangsta

I happened to watch this movie yesterday starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. The movie was good set in an era where a guy called Frank was the above mafia in NY/NJ in the business of drugs and dope. Russell plays a cop who is also battling the custody of his son. Good performances by the two especially Denzel. His expressions, move, acting, posture are absolutely brilliant. If i have to critique this film, i'd say i was expecting lot more action than there was. Ridley Scott (director of this film, the one who also made Gladiator) is known for his action packed films but my take on this film was this wasnt all explosive. I'd recommend people to watch it as its based on a true story and this will certainly race in for oscar's for shell performances by the two who already are academy award winners. Go American Gangsta, see you at the red carpet !!

Apology

A new poem from me after a very very long time !

Wondering i said something that blew your mind
Oh believe me, it never was of my kind
Insouciant and casual as i have always been
Never thought i'll be packed someday in chagrin
Sulking are now the nights and days within me
Thinking as when the last words came out in spree
Thwarting all the plans and desires you laid
Never imagined a color of me would make them fade
Longanimity and patience you showcased
Appreciate the virtues on which you are based
Moments that left you in a strand
blame it to one part of land i stand
If only somone could read my true intention
that this heart lives with no pretension
A fault of the body and not the soul
Situations once stable then became out of my control
The truth about something i stole from you
The fact about something i never gave to you
Breaking the fellowship and commitment
Showing no flashes of improvement
If only a book was judged from its cover
so unfortunate, for nothing within to discover
For there i stand again
Holding my hands in pain
Reiterating the same words like a perpetual waterfall
to break any rising wall
Shadows asking for forgiveness, not the languished body
No evil but goodness that i wanted to embody
Surrendering the remaining "Apology" left within me
Protagonist thee !