Friday, March 20, 2009

New phone

I just bought myself a fairly expensive phone. The Nokia E71. I'm sending this post from my mobile. It's dangerous what plastic money makes you do. Ah well... We're all headed the American way anyway. I might as well be ahead of the technology curve for once.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Random Thoughts... at 630 AM

Just a few minutes ago I woke up to the sound of my bathroom tank overflowing. And not just by a trickle, but quite a flood. Normally by this stage of the overflow the pesky Goan landlady (and the building association's to-be former secretary), Mrs. Rodrigues from downstairs, will be banging at my door screaming her lungs out "What man? Can't you be careful? You youngsters are such specimens, I tell you. Drinking and sleeping with women before marriage. 1000 rupees fine only I'm charging you." But this morning was different. There was no apologetic, just-out-of-bed me standing at the door (in my boxers) trying to placate the woman. You see, Mrs. R has been summarily dismissed from her post as building secretary by an Association-wide revolt lead by another pesky Goan woman, Mrs. D'Souza (of the third floor). This seems to have brought much relief to most of the Usual Suspects - the single men on the 6th and 7th floor, the sole Muslim family in a building full of Macs, the chorus of guards, sweepers and whatnots we have to take care of the area. Let's see how long the peace lasts.

Anyway...much as I tried falling back to sleep, I couldn't. My thoughts lead back to the days when being up and about at 630 AM was normal. When I knew what the world outside looked like before the sun actually came out over the horizon. When I would head the chitter-chatter of birds, and not the cawing of a crow.

That was back in the 1990s. I wonder how on earth I ever managed to wake up so early all those years. I wonder how on earth my wiry frame allowed me to carry those frickin heavy bags. I wonder how on earth I traveled 12 kms each day on crowded, humid Tamil Nadu buses (with accompanying moustachioed men and oil-drenched, jasmine-haired women).

Today, I'm only up at 630 if Mrs. R is at the door. And the most I can put up with is a 10 minute bus ride. Oh woe is stuck-up, I-will-only-take-autos me.

School was such a different ball game altogether. I used to think that dealing with cranky teachers, and Hindi classes were a nightmare. Ha. Have you tried the annoying colleague, or Microsoft Excel? I used to think that my weekly allowance of Rs. 50 (to cover bus fare, emergencey stationary needs, and snacks) was difficult to manage. Have you tried a five-figure salary, with three bank accounts, and one credit card? Not to mention filing tax.

Yesterday evening a friend of mine shared photographs taken at the recent wedding of a classmate from school. This classmate dated for five years, had the traditional church wedding and the traditonal reception (with biryani of course!). In those photographs were people I hadn't seen in years -- the girl in class that every guy had a crush on, bubbly JenPen (who once sat on a freshly-painted see-saw and had her bum-length hair turn green); an assortment of the class nerds who will soon be neurosurgeons, cardiologists, and so on. And then there was my high-school sweetheart.....with her fiance.

Recently a lot of my friends, classmates, former colleagues have announced their nuptuals. All of it is beginning to make me wonder if this (seemingly) fast-paced, career-oriented life I lead is anti-thesis to human practice. I'm sure it isn't, but you can't help wonder, can you? Especially when somone you've shared a close relationship with is engaged. Words of cyber-wisdom anyone?

I guess this is what happens when you let your mind wander at 630 AM. Better make sure I secure the tank faucet tonight.