A journey to remember....!!! (Part 2)

"10:45 pm and no sign of any Ultra deluxe bus for Hubli, It was certainly a bad idea. Why I had to be such an idiot?". These were the word running my mind. It was almost half an hour since Vikash left.

"Hubli... Hubli....!", a feeble voice between the sound of roaring bus engines diverted my thoughts. I almost ran towards the voice praying, "An Ultra deluxe....!! An Ultra deluxe...!!". But I think, that was not my day.

I had definitely traveled in the express buses many times during my college days, which we used to call "LAL DABBA" (Red Box). But I had never found a LAL DABBA so beautiful. If I were a poet, I would have definitely written poems describing the beauty of the red beast. A red colored, rectangular, half filled express bus. Interior shining with two rows of equidistant mini-sized tube lights, two headlights resembled clam eyes of a fierce roaring beast which was waiting to run away from the heard once it had filled its stomach with its favorite food, us. A white board lighted with a slim tube light at a left corner of the square transparent big window with some manuscripts in Kannada, felt like a scar on the face of the beast. I think, it was my nervousness which was appreciating the bus in such a manner. Whatever it was, only thing I knew was that this bus was my life saver for the moment.

A slim middle aged man in Kakhee colored dress, was standing beside the bus. It didn't took me a moment to conclude that he was the conductor of the bus. After inquiring the bus conductor, I entered the bus. I could see the third row from beginning being empty. I rushed towards it. To re-confirm, I asked the person sitting on the fourth row,"This bus will go to Hubli?". To my surprise, he started blabbering something in Kannada. It is 9th year for me in Karnataka, but I am still an illiterate when it comes to Kannada. His facial expression and my little experience in understanding Kannada could easily make me feel that he was scolding me about something. I just smiled, showed him my middle finger (ummm.....in my thoughts) and sat on the seat in front of him. Soon, the bus conductor came in to give tickets, he re-confirmed that I was in right LAL DABBA destined to Hubli. With in next ten minutes, I was all set to start my journey to Pune on the LAL DABBA.

11 pm, KBS Bangalore: The bus started moving from the KBS. Either a number of voices mixed together, along with the roar of the bus engine or the tiredness of the whole day made my eyes heavy and slowly, I was feeling sleepy. I thought before the bus would start giving free roller coaster rides on the road, it was best for me to take a short nap to prepare myself for the rest of the unplanned journey.

A journey to remember....!!! (Part 1)

"Are you sure about this?", Asked Vikash at Kempegowda Interstate bus terminal. "Yes", I answered with a smile on my face. He said with his devilish (trust me he loves this description for himself.... ) looks and cunning smile , "Fine then.... Don't call me in the middle of the night to pick you" and he left. I knew he was the person I could rely on blindly and he would come running to rescue me whenever I call.

June 18, 2010, My last day with my previous company . The date overlapped with marriage of a cousin of mine at Pune. I could not plan the travel before hand because I was not sure when the formalities would be over. So, I skipped buying the ticket for the last moment. Getting relieved from the formalities, I reached home by 6:30 p.m. First thing I did was, to search for the bus tickets but unfortunately ( or fortunately), I could get none. So I decided would go the Bus terminal directly and look for some private buses. Packed the bag in next few minutes, and pulled Vikash to drop me to KBS.

Thanks to the terrific traffic of Namma Bengaluru, It took us almost 2 and half hours to reach the Bus terminal. So... All the private buses had either left for Pune, or were left with not a single seat. We went around the kalasipalya area, thinking even a single bus with a single seat will do, but the trail was in vain. So I thought of taking a KSRTC bus to Pune. But as expected all the Volvo and Ultra deluxe buses were packed and I was left with a single option of taking the passenger bus to Pune. But I reluctant for this plan as it would end up to be a very hectic and tiresome journey.

Soon, the clock ticked 10:00PM and I had to choose between a nice adventure filled with uncertainties and or a dull sleep for the whole weekend at home and I, as usual was confused about it. Someone said that a man's brain works more faster when he is in front of food. And to prove this saying, Both of us went to the restaurant at KBS.

So the final decision was set over the plate of Chicken Biriyani and Kababs, I was leaving for Pune on the first bus whichever I get. I left Bangalore in a passenger bus, destined to Hubli. And all know today is that it was one of the best journeys I had ever done.

Long Time.... No see...

Ya, the topic itself states my state of mind while writing this particular blog..... proving my previous confession (Consistent Inconsistency).

I don't know should I say i proved my self right or I could not change myself.... A good confusion!!

Anyways... Just trying to get into a habit of writing some crap to eat up people head! I think it is difficult to get into a habit ( I mean good habit).... Seriously. I had tried many new habits. In which, exercising and writing blogs topped the list. Please don't ask the complete list, seriously, I don't want to embarrass myself.... Again!

This time I am trying my best to keep up this habit....And I am expecting to succeed this time for sure. How can I say that? Well... Lets see.. Don't you one will get tired of failing again and again? At least once, One would. Nope... Don't expect me to explain the new list of habits I am trying. Again.... I don't want to embarrass myself!!!

Lets end this one with this sweet and small determining blog on mine. See ya soon!!!

The Brand effect.....!

At least once all of us are the victims of this branding effect.

What this branding effect??? Well, give it a wild guess...!!! Yes yes... you are right. Having a brand after your name. The branding can happen to us at various stages of life. How?? Lets see in details.

Level 1 : You schooling was from??? The first impact of branding comes into picture when we are just say, 10 or 12 years old....!

"So... I am from Don Bosco Acedemy... which school do you read??"
"Oh my son/daughter... he/she is in the best school of the town. I think it will help her career"

When the kids are still adolescent, the concept of branding is fed into their young brains. and from there only kids start the rat race. Believe me, I am no different. I am still in this rat race! :)
and the worst case, now even before a kid can understand the branding, parents try their best to get the brands, in form of best kinder garden school in town, best school, best high school, best coaching and worst of all.... best hobby. I mean hobby, come on, let the child decide what he/she like. You can't force some one to like dancing or singing or painting. I have seen children crying while going to various hobby classes.
Result : The child becomes a student.

Level 2 : Which career are you pursuing?

As soon as the student completes 10th, he/she is assigned with a new career, all thanks to parents. :)
I am not saying that they are ruining the career, I can understand and duly respect the status, the dreams of parents but what about student??? :)
What becomes the criteria for the selection of career path??? Well, It can be a friend's son, or a relative's son or a dream your parents had been looking even when we were not born. Great !!!!
So the student puts all the 48 to 72 hours of his into studies. Yes, I know there are only 24 hours in a day... what about the 24 hours of the parents each?? :P
So, the pursuit of the next brand begins, An engineer or a Doctor... well, these two are the most common brands available to Indians which they fight for. Yes there can be a little diversity in the branding like, An engineer from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) or a Doctor from AIIMS.
You got the brand, you rock.... else.... try the next one!!! :)

Level 3:Where do you work??

Being an engineer, I know details only in my field so. Apologies to the people who are interested in brand doctor. :)
The next level come, is the place of Work. Th student became a professional, a working professional. Still, the word "Brand" is not letting it go. The place where you work, signifies how much effort you had put in your last branding assignments. It signifies how much you studied, how much were you serious about your future, etc etc....

Level 4 : Planning high ???

Planning to change job for higher salary? Planning for higher studies?? Don't Forget the brand my friend....!!!

Plans for a Job change.... look for a company with higher brand value..... Plans for higher studies??? Look for the best colleges....!

I have reached level 4 in my life..... Still I am struggling to get branded.

I know its big deal.... or may be a real deal.... but haven't I lost so many years and moments of my life to get a brand....!!!!

Does it matters???
Naaah.... Why??
Well... If I would be knowing that then after writing this blog... I would not have started preparing to get branded!!!!! :)



- Amit

Consistent Inconsistency

What do you say how these words are related with each other?? I say yes... very much.
I feel the normal human tendency is to be inconsistent, believe me or not but it is. Yes, I know lots and lots of people would disagree to above point of mine but even they know it is true.
Have you ever realized how much consistent are we about being inconsistent?? We a venture there is 95% probability we would end up inconsistently with it. Funny or ironic? I don't know about others but in my case, its 100% true.
I have started uncountable ventures which ended up in half way.Career, love, relations, friendships, study....! Yes, I know a bad remark about myself but I feel being honest is the most difficult quality to live with. Well, coming back to inconsistency. I tried to figure out what made this inconsistent behavior of mine to be so consistent, then I realized, its because I gave up on the ventures very easily. Again the question came up, why? because this was the most easiest result out of my venture. Felt, things won't work out, its not my cup of tea, gave happily and started a new venture.
Then I tried digging more down into it to find the reason why the ventures failed. I found out, its my mindset. Before starting something new I always have a fear hiding somewhere in the corner of my heart, which always says "Boss... This won't work the way you thing". I had listened somewhere, its the kind of thought which leads you to the desired results.
Try this out, you start something and think always about getting successful in it, believe me you will reach the pinnacle of success. Else start thinking about its failure right from the beginning, trust me no matter how much you try failure is unavoidable.
Coming back to our Consistent Inconsistency, Only way to separate these two, I think, is to have control on our thought process. I know failure might guide us to success but don't you think life is too short to make our failure consistent to reach success??

Life - An Introduction

Wondering about life.....???

Well... I am not a philosopher, so I don't have a philosophical way of looking at life....! Though if someone asks what's the philosophical way of looking at it, then my answer would be "A gift from the almighty father."

But if asked my personal opinion about the life, then I think its the limited amount of time, which we have with us to associate, bend, criticize, devote, expertize, forgive, grow, humor, infer, join, know, love, mesmerize, network, opt, purify, quit, renovate, survive, tame, unfold, vitalize, win, x-out, yield, and zest.

One of my friends used to say "Whenever you are up to something, at least one thing you gain i.e., experience". So a life this much old might be experienced enough, I suppose. I think each and every incident of life teaches us a new lesson. Some lessons quite funny, some bitter, some touching and some cruel. It shows a new face, a new projection, a new view about life. Life is like a teacher with is never on leave.... even on weekend my friend, it would be there with a new chapter, a new lesson, and a new subject.

Yes, there are times when life is like an uncontrollable brat, but sometimes its also like a Christmas tree, with many gift on its branches.

Oh My God.... I am sounding like a philosopher now.When I started writing this post, I thought I would bring out the funny side of the life, but when as my thoughts started getting words, it started sounding more and more serious. Should i infer that life makes you a philosopher when u start talking about it ???

Amit