The interpretation of love through Cricket!

[[Author's notes: this idea came up during a small tea break in office!]]

Interview with a cricketer who is a software engineer and unfortunately a bachelor!!.

And so, Raj, when are you giving me the good news?

Well, the preparation for the World Cup has begun. I am looking forward to it this year but I got to perform well in the upcoming series to finally get a selection call for the World Cup...

Common man, one quarter of the year is about to end and you are yet to play in a series.

Yes, buddy. First of all, I had not decided of playing the World cup this year. So, playing in a series to prove myself and choose my worthy opponent wasn’t there in the cards. Now, that I am practicing on a daily basis, I really have to play against a few opponents so that I get selected for the World Cup, where I want to emerge victorious.

How do you rate your opponents of the upcoming series?

Well, the team from “Andheri” is not performing well despite the fact that it has had many series prior to this one. I would not rate this team highly. I had a similar experience prior to this. There was a huge hue and cry about the team from “Bandra” but it turned out to be a lop-sided game. The media had portrayed them with high grandeur but I beat them convincingly. I hate to play against minnows.

The media always hypes, or for that matter, over-hypes, so I hate to comment further and would take each opponent like the way they deserve to be treated.

What would you count on to take the team that would give you a fight?

Well, I am going to the fitness club on a regular basis and improving my persona. The trainer is helping me shape up and tone my body. I had no problems with my technique, looking at my past performances. So, I guess I will be able to come out victorious.

Would you mind loosing to a good side?

Winning and losing is a part of the game. So, no worries. There is always another series where you can perform well. Remember, as I have always said “Form is temporary but class is permanent.”

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED:

World Cup: Marriage

Upcoming series: Looking for bride as in “Matrimonial sites”

Worthy opponent: Possible wife

Practicing on a daily basis: Checking profiles on the internet

Team from Andheri: Married, now divorced.

Team from Bandra: A girl who had a great profile in the matrimonial site but she wasn’t impressive.

Media: Matrimonial sites.

Technique: Talents

Past performance: Past relationships.

Losing to a good side: Getting a great gal but getting rejected by her.

An interview of "me with I"

[[Author's notes: Self-appraisal and future goals, interviewed by my alter-ego :)]]

“Future is a futuristic term”!!

In conversation with Sash, in my Blog-column “Me with I”!

Good morning Sash. It’s good to see you nice and healthy. I hope you are having a great day.

Good morning to you too. Yes, I am. It’s a bright Thursday in this beautiful city.

1. So, let me start with the first question. How was the year 2006 for you?

It was one of the best years in my life, in all respects viz. socially, professionally and mentally. My health was good and so was my growth in professional life. I was mentally more determined then ever and socially, grooved well with new frens and still managed to keep up the ole charm with the older folks.

2. What were your achievements in the year 2006?

Well, honestly, it had to be in terms of professional life. I got a good appraisal first from my ex-employer and then, in the month of August, I got a great offer (Read: Laden with a good package) from my current company. Further, I got a chance to visit the United States for official work, in the month of December. The very fact that the trip was the “first in my family” said it all about the thrill and joy I had.

3. Tell me more about your US Trip. How was it?

I have only two words to sum it all- TOTAL FUN! It’s a great country with an overwhelming majority of disciplined people. The people are direct and to the point and prefer their privacy and respect other’s as well. Culturally, we are very different. So, that made it an experience worth remembering. The best thing I liked about Plano, Texas was the traffic rules. It was a nice feeling to see people following traffic rules 24/7.

The initial two weekends were boring given the fact that we were forced to stay in our hotel because we (Rekha and I) did not have a car and in the US, especially Plano, Texas, it becomes a necessity. The DART service (Dallas Area Road Transport) provides buses to different places but it is limited and arrives and departs at scheduled timings from selected points.

REKHA AND I- Partners in crime.

Hiring cabs is an expensive affair so we avoided it, keeping in mind our limited budget.

However, after ten days, we were fortunate to meet a NRI Gujarati family(Keyur Bhai, his wife Sunita, his brother Avi Bhai and their daddy) and our fortunes changed. I would say they were my best hosts till date given the fact that they took us to their house and treated us like their family members.

Keyur and Sunita- Perfect couples!

And the rest, as they say is forever etched in my memory- Trip to Irving, Arlington, Richardson, Carrolton, Addison and Garland(to mention a few), the new years party at Raddison Hotel in Texas, Christmas party at my manager’s house, amazing shopping spree at Kohl’s, Tom Thumb, Best Buy, Walmart and Circuit City(Again, to mention a few)!.

4. Did you have any bad experiences there?

No, none in particular, except for the fact that I missed India and Indian food prepared in Indian way.

5. What are your plans for the future?

Future is a futuristic term. I believe in the moment. I want to give the best to my company and be a good son to my family.

6. What do you do on weekends?

Well, the weekends are the days that I long for. I have recently learnt swimming and it has become my passion. I go along to National Games Village along with my ole friends.

Dammie(Daman Pant) - In the backdrop of NGV swimming pool!

Its exciting and I am not complaining even though I have tanned myself.

Thank you Sash for your time. Wish you great success in the years to come. This interview was taken on Thursday, 22^nd of Feb 2007.

Financial planning when you are in 20's- In Pittoresco's!

[[Author's notes: Click on the images and take a printout]]

Investment plans for "Software Engineers" in age group of 20's earning salary 3,00,000 p.a.
-A great article from Deccan Airlines's passengers magazine.

Snaps from my Pune Trip: In Pittoresco's!

Snaps from my Pune trip - Taken Saturday 24th February 2007.

Greenpeace: A small step for you, a giant leap for the nation

..A small step for you, a giant leap for the nation...!


We complain of dirty roads, blocked drains, dusty tracks, traffic.......INDIA..
But, have we realized....??

"We are the ones throwing cigarrette buds into the drain or on the street.."
"We are the ones switching lanes as per our convenience and breaking traffic rules..."
"We are the ones immaculately cleaning our houses and leaving the mess on the road".

So, it's WE who are behind this mess.. ... the mess that glooms over our country's image.

It is our mess ...so rather than complaining, let's get into action and change for the better.


I have already started to cleanse my part of this ruckus and well, it kinda seems to work.

Self-Realization:

There is a power cut, my roomie is not at home and my roomie's PC starts beeping. I know the battery wont last more than 5 minutes. Do I leave it beeping until the battery drains out or do I switch off his PC and the UPS? Now, I might think- "I have told him many a times to switch off his PC before going out, so let the damn thing be as it is!!". Or I might ask myself, "If this was my PC, would I have left it beeping?".

And, when you ask yourself this simple question, you would naturally go and switch off the PC.

It is a simple solution of self realization and it is really easy to practice in your day to day life.

So, the next time you are about to throw a cigarrette bud in your fren's western pot, after your morning ritual, spare a moment and ask yourself a single question- "If this was my toilet, would I have done the same??".

"Ah!, honestly, well, NO because when the drain blocks, I will have to pay the plumber for fixing it..."

And, if you stop there and start to look for an ashtray....I would say, "It was a moment of pure thought but a thought worth cherishing millions of time......!!"

I Quote!

I Quote ...

"As long as you have the dough, you can always do!"-Sachin Tewari©

Hoping against Hope... A glimmer of hope!

...Hoping against Hope....

There is a glimmer of hope that I might be re-united with my poem book in the near future...Thanks Ruchi for sharing this news with me.

Darjeeling in pictures!

"Take me up to the paradise hills where the grass is green and the girls are pretty. oh…take me home…" Thanks Anand for giving me the copyrights©