Blogging @ Lunchtime

14 working days to go, the countdown to my last day at Nipuna has begun. However, this post is not about Nipuna but about lunch! It is the most important hour or so (can be less or MORE!!) during the workday because of many reasons.

 

For starters, your boss can’t stop you from going for lunch. If it’s not your day, this time is the best time to take a break and clear up your mind. It is the best time to catch up on gossip too (Why do you think the cafeteria is always so noisy?). For some people it is the extra hour to work. Yes, WORK!!, while for some it’s siesta time (I remember those days when I used to sleep in my car during the lunch break). For the guys who are just about to get married, it is the uninterrupted one hour of cootchie cooing… and for working guys going to take their GMAT (like I did) it is the one hour of studies for the day…

 

Now, wasn’t I suppose to be focusing on lunch.. hmm…. When I think of lunch, I am reminded of my school. The lunch used to be awesome and we used to wait eagerly for the Friday CUTLETS!!! Ask a HPS guy about Friday lunch and he will say CUTLETS! The next great lunch thingy that comes to mind is the unfixed lunch at Mainland China. There was a time when my colleagues used to ask me if I was a brand ambassador for Mainland China. Then there is the Sunday lunch at home. Mom’s lunch wins the prize I guess. Nothing to beat it. Rasam, Sambar, Roast Potato or some other Tuber and pappadums, and the list goes on..

 

Lunch during the next one year at ISB is going to be something, when I will most probably be spending more time using the break for other thingy’s rather than lunching… Let’s see… But I want to cook.. Cutlets, Rasam, Pappadums, and the list goes on….

 

 

I am a Life Blogger...

Interesting Link. Worth checking out..

You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

When Dreams come crashing... Yet I keep dreaming

As I write this blog, I am witnessing one of my long cherished dreams coming down crashing, yet again. Yup, I am watching India exit the World Cup 2007 and I will have to wait 4 more years to see the men in blue make another attempt to lift the coveted trophy.

It was 1983. India Vs West Indies. The World Cup final. India took first strike and scored 183. I lost all hope and went to sleep. My brother stayed awake and watched every ball of the windies innings. He didn't bother to disturb his kid brother till the match was over. Even though we had won, I didn't see the winning moments live and since then, every 4 years I start dreaming that I will see India win the World Cup, and every time my dreams come crashing.

Tomorrow will be a dull day for me. Its always been one after an Indian loss. It's been 24 years now since I first started dreaming. In a few days time I know I will start dreaming again. Some may call me foolish but then that's me. I'll keep dreamin...

When Sushant was the best...

Managed to locate a news article on my friend's heroics. Thought that I must put it up. Sushant this is for you buddy!

Location: Ghatnandur
Site: Secunderabad-Manmad Express Accident
Narration: Bravery shown by a young Medico to Save Many Lives

The railway accident that snatched away many a life at Ghatnandur recently showed different facets of human nature. If apathy and negligence on the part of railway officials caused mishap then there were a few individuals who rose to the occasion with their heroic deeds. One such among them is a medical student from Mangalore -- Sushant Singh.

Sushant and his father, Mahendra Singh were traveling in S-8 bogie of the ill-fated Secunderabad-Manmad Express while his mother and two year old niece were seated in AC-3 compartment.

Recalling the incident, Sushant said his family was traveling from Hyderabad to Aurangabad.
“At about 1.30 am, I heard a big noise while was reading a book. Well. I’m an optimistic person. I hoped that there might be some minor problem. However, when I soon realised the gravity of the situation, the first thing that came to my mind was the safety of my family.”
He ran towards the AC-3 bogie as if he was possessed and his heart almost skipped a beat when he saw the tilted bogie. His first impulse was to get into the bogie but policemen and passengers advised him not to enter. However, Sushant ignored them and proceeded towards the entrance door. He found a mother with a baby stranded inside the bogie. It was not possible for her to climb out without handing over the baby to someone. Sushant asked her to pass the baby to him but she was reluctant to handover her. He literally snatched the baby from her and moved her out to safety. Again he entered the bogie. He started calling for his mother and heaved a great sigh of relief when she responded to his calls. She was stranded in a corner with a woman on her top.

Sushant thanked God when his niece emerged without scratches.
After taking out his mother and niece Sushant might have walked off to safety. However, doctor in him, made him to go back to the bogie.

Sushant and five kind hearted persons remained inside. As soon as he had entered the lights went off. It was just impossible to walk in the tilted bogie. In these trying circumstances, Sushant and other passengers brought out nearly 30 people.

“We were telling the passengers not to panic because the train did not fall from a bridge. We assured the passengers that there was no need to worry”, said Sushant.
Sushant’s family went to local relatives and traveled to Aurangabad via Parbhani. It was indeed a nightmarish experience for the young lad but certainly he is happy that he rose to occasion and did whatever in his capacity to help the victims. A Brave-Heart Indeed.

At the crossroads again....

That's what I think. The last one month or so has been one helluva ride. But I see a lot of direction coming into my life. I remember my first day in class 11. The class teacher asked each one of us to introduce ourself and about what we wanted to do in the future. My reply to the second question:"After class 10, I felt I was at the cross roads of my life. I am still not sure of what to do but I have decided to become an engineer."

Those lines I will never forget. I didn't become an engineer and at every stage of my life thereafter, whenever I had to take a decision on my life, or about my career, I felt the same: that, I was at a crossroad.

Everytime I kept asking myself, when does my time start. I was desperate to see clearly into my future. That feeling of being at a cross road was lousy. One path taken, soon I was at another cross road where I had to take an important decision. The decisions would be easy to take but I would soon realise that each decision I took came with a lot of baggage. Each decision would have some demand of me and these demands started getting harder and harder to fulfill. Many decisions would push me to the precipice and to do a great balancing act, I later realised.

Over time, I began to accept the fact that one cross road gone, I would come to one more in time. But there was a trend that I observed, with every new cross road I came to: that every cross road was wider and bigger, that the view of the road ahead would become clearer. And, the view was a steeper climb and more demands!

However, after every climb there is also a moment where I stop and look back at the climb so far and smile. The last climb was one helluva climb. From the time I finished my CA final exams, I had an MBA on mind. The climb to get inside the gates of a good school was not easy. Lot's of planning and learnings have gone into this effort (i.e. getting into business school).

I know I will be there again, at the crossroads. But, let me enjoy this moment for now. The view from here is not bad. ISB, "Hello, this is Anand".