New Beginnings...

My Hiatus

2008-01-22T04:23:00.000+04:00

It has been a long time since I have blogged. Even though I had plenty to blog about but for some reason I never did. I guess the main reasons that I was lazy or I didn’t have time are just excuses. Over the past few months I have experienced a lot, probably not as much as many others, but on my account I have crossed my boundaries. Settling down in college was my time to begin a new. This sort of independence which I had never experienced before got to me and I succumbed easily to it. I had made friends quickly who took me places I probably wouldn’t have gone before simply for the fact that I used to hate dancing. I got to see things which people get easily influenced to do. Basically my music tastes started changing from soft Rock to R n B and Hip Hop. I started enjoying my new lifestyle which is very different from the one I had in Dubai. And along with that my marks were good enough for my standards, thus I had nothing pulling me back. This continued for most of my first semester and it was awesome. I loved it because it was fun and nothing else. College became ‘fun’.
This winter when I went back home I realized I had changed a lot. My ‘friends’ had not changed as much as I had. Talking about the same old stories of school started to annoy me. I didn’t even want to meet most of my class mates. I actually thought twice before going back to school. Small things started to get on my nerves. New years and holidays came and went by basically.
But on the journey back to Toronto from Dubai is when something suddenly hit me. I realized how far away from home I really am. When I first came here, my parents were with me. But this time I was alone. Being this far away from home filled me with all sorts of insecurities. I know everybody lives here alone and are independent. But it is also true that they also have some sort of family here. Some distant aunt or Uncle to whose house you can go away for the weekend or even to have a nice ghar ka khana, If anything happens to you, you know that they are there to help you in anyway they can. They will be over as soon as possible if something goes wrong. I know its crazy to worry about things like this. But Toronto, unlike Dubai, is a big city and anything is possible. It got me thinking even more after what happened in Judy’s car, the day I got back. Sometimes I do feel alone in a big city. I know I have friends here, no matter 4 months old or 4 years old, who can give you some sense of security which can be comforting. But there is only a point till where your friends can do something for you. After that you are on your own. That’s where your parent’s security comes in. Dubai never made me feel insecure and I thought I was courageous enough to take on the world. But it’s when you start living on your own fourteen hours away from home, outside the comfort zone, you realise how difficult it is to keep up a balanced and secure lifestyle especially in college. I try to do my best to stay grounded, but the thought of having ‘fun’ always manages to overrule everything else.

Chak De India

2007-08-12T19:44:00.002+04:00

I have to start with a bad note because this Movie is nothing great. Just Different from the rest of the Hindi Movies. Any other movie which comes to close this one is Lagaan. And Chak de is no where close to it. Good acting by King Khan and the Girls squad. I like Shahruk when he acts in these types of movies, not anymore as a Lover Boy. I loved him Swades and now this one where he has given a natural performance. Not the usual types! The girls bring out the laughter in the movie. The casting for them was done pretty well. I think the movie could have much done with a better plot and a twist. The story and the game became toooo predictable at the end. I actually told my mom how the score line would go. If they could have thought of the Script and Storyline a little more it would have been great. The petty emotions in the movie were a little too much. The thing with Chak De is that it is one of its kind-type-movie in Bollywood or IFI but thousands of movies like this have been made in Hollywood so it becomes too conventional for me. But I have to agree that Chak De highlights many social and women issues in India very well. The spirit of Hockey was also well portrayed.

I specially wanted to blog on Chak De because this movie reminded me of our Inter school football journey. It’s like the movie was inspired from us, our Football Team. Its starts of with the Ministers (Principal) not encouraging and believing in the team at all and passing comments like “they would lose the first two matches and come back. Whats the point in doing anything??” Then this new coach comes who is like real rough and tough. Abuses and insults the players all the while making them train harder and harder. None of the players like him at first but that slowly begins to change as the results begin to come. They slowly start to have faith in their Coach. They lose their initial matches and then they begin to win. They reach the finals where they play their nemesis (Indian High) and win the tournament. I don’t know if others would be able to relate but the football team will surely be able too. It felt good because we were the underdogs and nobody believed in us that we could win and we finally did it! Pretty awesome that it matched exactly with movie.

I hope a well directed and original football movie also comes up in Bollywood which will inspire people to play, invest and enjoy football as well as they do cricket. I really want football to grow in India. I also hope that Bollywood comes up with ORIGINAL movies, even if the idea is copied please don’t copy exact scenes and dialogues from the Hollywood counterpart. Here I talk about movies like ‘Hey Baby, Partner, Etc.’

Chak De India – 7 out of 10.

P.S – Sorry, I am just bad with Movie reviews. I tried, it’s my first.

Vlogbrothers 2.0!!

2007-07-27T12:19:00.000+04:00

These Guys have started this whole Video Blogging thing…. Every day they would post a video just as a blog entry accounting what they have done and how they done it. They just don’t make any video clip and put it up… they actually go through the work of proper editing, dialogue, set and all that technical stuff! Its actually pretty funked out.
A little info on these guys “Hank and John Green, Brothers for over 26 years, have stopped communicating...except through video blog.” To see all their work go to www.brotherhood2.com
I find the July 18: Accio Deathly Hallows to be the funniest!!! When he was singing the song I could only picture Tejas doing this in my head… Tejas you have been perfect! He would have come to my house and said “Romit man, I want to record something, its awesome man’ and would have posted it up!

Anyway Kudos to these guys for not only coming up with the idea but also going through the trouble of updating it everyday… that’s something!! Here is another...

The Recent Past

2007-07-12T14:18:00.000+04:00

After 28th March, there has not been a single day I have touched my books. I have not practiced a single sum in Maths, not written down a Physical- chemical formula or even memorised anything. Life feels weird for sometime outside the world of our school. Just the hope is there that we will be able to recollect everything in college. Even the things we have not done in school like Calculus and I have like 2 courses in it. I promised myself I will go through it again after everyone leaves and I am left alone in Dubai because I am like one of the last to leave this place. This fun work filled summer has indeed been exciting. Not a single day was boring or uneventful.

From the start we had decided to work and continue with our passion of film (Video) making and see where we stand in the Industry. I say, not too far away from the top. Okay, a bit of exaggeration but our projects grew bigger and bigger over the period and now we are doing a documentary for Dubai Centre for Special Needs and that’s a big thing and on top of that we reached a position to sacrifice a project from a famous Bakery ‘Mr. Baker’ to have fun and chillax. The whole journey was worth it and now we have enough money in our pockets to spend like Rich spoilt Dudes. But once a miser always a miser. I will always be a miser; I don’t think I can change that. But I have been treating. Seriously though we have learnt a lot in the process about the industry and our clients, the business world, documentary making, interviews, politics, handling people and making contacts. The most important thing that I have learnt from the whole thing is that there are still people in this world who are really helpful and won’t complain a bit if we ask for their assistance. It is unbelievable the amount of help we have received from our contacts. I sincerely thank them

Even the whole experience for me with Dhruv helped me learn a lot about the film making industry and the Production houses and how to start as a film maker in this vast industry. It did cost me a lot of time and money in commuting from Karama to Emirates Hills. The Dubai Transport is completely to blame. It is seriously not safe to travel by bus during office hours. I have seen fights taking place and people getting pushed of the bus. Even the timings are infrequent. Waiting in the Dubai heat for 1 to 2 hours for a bus and coming back is just bullshit but people struggle and do it day after day. I guess all they can do is wait for the Metro system because the traffic is just killing. Overall my first employment did show me the struggles of life and how tough it can be. I guess I now know where I have to go and what I need to achieve in life.
Even though with all our work, we managed to find time for fun and games. We had our kinda fun. And now thanks to shooftv.com we are again dignified members of society. We can now walk into a mall and actually act like we are here to buy something. I was able to treat my parents for a fancy dinner at Nando’s for the first time and buy my very own stress reliever. Even my Laptop came as a blessing and now I can chat and facebook from my bed!! It is not bad at all to be lazy.
Now only things to look forward to are SFS, UTSC and Calculus. Oh….yea and Mystery shopping. The best way to earn seriously!!!

All the members of Redial, even the one in Bombay, Thank you for a great summer.

Not bad at all for a summer experience.

SHOOFER 11

2007-06-17T18:56:00.001+04:00

We, as in Redial Entertainment, have entered an amateur film-making competition that is taking place in the U.A.E. To cut to the point, we have made it to the quarter-finals, and are two steps away from winning. Our progression depends on your voting, and therefore any support will be appreciated.

So if you like our videos, and you would like to vote for us, please vote for us in the following way(s):

[NOTE: Voting is possible only on TUESDAY, JUNE 19TH, 2007 FROM 12:00 AM TO 6:00 PM]

1. Go to http://www.shooftv.com/sq11.aspx, see our video submission, follow instructions and VOTE!
2. Follow instructions on this post which are the same ones as the ones on the official website. VOTE by:
1. For UAE Residences: SMS “SHOOFER 11” to 4324. [It costs only 90 fils. Any contribution will be really appreciated!]
2. For Internationals: SMS “SHOOFER 11” to +248980010.

Thank you for all your support guys, and I sincerely hope you will bless us with at least one vote!
P.S. Seriously, thank you for your support.

GOA....

2007-05-10T12:52:00.000+04:00

Next up….Goa!!

Goa has the smallest airport I have ever seen. A small building for a terminal along with a runway beside it constitutes the airport. Passengers have to walk to the plane to get on. Now days Indian flights have become so cheap because of cost cutting that they charge you even for water, sandwiches and juices served commonly in any plane. Goa is generally a place for friends and couples. Dil Chahta Hai perfectly depicts the Goa’s scene. A place to relax on the beaches and occasionally enjoy the water rides.

It is a very friendly place in general. But the people loot the foreign tourists like anything. You won’t believe it how much they raise the prices. I bought a gift (Ali your basuri) for which they said 600 Rs. It’s crazy. For which I bargained and got it down to 75 Rs and I still feel I got robbed. The funny thing is to hear the village ladies (bhanhanji’s) selling stuff in the flea markets speak English in accents better than the English. It’s so funny man. Ali you would go mad. I wish I recorded it. Also many white skins are not only tourists, they are residents too. They have come and loved the place so much that they decided to settle down. The fact that I didn’t know about Goa was that it was ruled by the Portuguese till 1961. So many stayed back and began to reside there.

Goa is football crazy. It is unbelievable. Every 5 kilometers you can find a football pitch and players playing professionally like with referees and in jerseys and everything. That was good to see.

There are many churches and temples to visit for all the religious people. So there you go. Then there is the Agwada Fort where that famous ship scene was shot in DCH. For the rest, beaches are best place to just lay back and sleep or take a dip and play around with the nasty waves. Occasionally if you are lucky, you may get a live show. (if you know what I mean) Just one thing, stay of the Indian-occupied-part of the beach. You seriously don’t want to go for a swim with Indian bhanhanji’s who go to the water wearing saris and salwar kamiz and the men go in with transparent vests or dhotis. Just find your own private spot or relatively empty place.

The water sports are awesome there. I was over at Baga beach. We got see dolphins for free, we were just lucky I guess, otherwise you have to pay 300 Rs to go by boat to the deep sea and get a glimpse of them. Our dolphin came near the shore. That was kind of cool. I went for parasailing and water scooter rides. The good thing is that it is not that expensive. The scooter is for 200 bucks which you can bargain and get it down to a 100. Parasailing is 500 – 600 for Indians and 1000+ for white skin. Seriously parasailing was an experience which nobody can forget easily. A different feeling altogether. You can also go for Scuba diving buts that quite expensive, it will come around 2700 Rs. Overall, I was quite impressed with Goa. It is a very good holiday spot. For all those going to Bombay or Bangalore, they can go to Goa on weekends to chill out and have quality fun. It’s worth it.

India - Delhi and Jaipur

2007-05-09T16:27:00.001+04:00

Just been Blogstipated for a long time now, don't know sometimes you have so much to write that you don't know where to start and finish. And sometimes you transcribe so much that you don’t want to touch the key board ever again.

Yea where I left of…Delhi. I don’t want to seem hypocritical as against my last post but as the days went by I began to fall in love with the place. It somehow seemed to grow on me. Talking to the people, the auto drivers, the internet café dudes, the Indian footballers with whom I played football, everyone just began to make feel at home. Dubai is a foreign land no matter what. I do not belong to this country and it makes me feel like that. There is so much to do there other than just hanging around in malls for time pass. Delhi might be a place without any sense of civic conscience, none at all. But sometimes having none can make it more fun and exciting. Everyday was an adventure, literally. Something new is going to happen and you know it. Going to meet Harry in Gurgaon, my sister in a remote place, family members millions of miles away were just awesome experiences and people you meet along the way can be quite interesting. In Dubai, it has become a routine. You either hang out in this mall or the other. It’s just that I am bored of this place. I am frustrated of all the black and white I see here after coming from a place full of color. I mean, in India, people celebrate anything and everything. I don’t like the whole concept of religious ceremonies and pujas, but I have realized it is nothing like that. It’s just an excuse for people to hang out, chill and more importantly socialize. It’s an excuse because people live so far away from each other that they can hardly meet unless for such occasions. My point being, somehow Dubai does not give me that emotional attachment, which every citizen needs, even though I have lived the crucial period of my life here. Delhi may not be as developed as Dubai, but it still gives me a sense of happiness and belonging that Dubai will never be able to provide. I belong there, I do not belong here. If it were not for my friends and school, I would have stayed there much longer.

Let’s cut the crap of comparing Dubai and Delhi and move on to Jaipur. After the long and delayed train ride to Jaipur from Delhi we found Harry waiting for us at the station. Sweetu!!! His farm house is one of the coolest and the scariest places I have seen. They were both partly because of Harry and his pregnant horses. He had raised our expectations of his farm house very high and it did manage to keep up with it. Starting from dogs to geese, they were all there. At day, his place can be quite fascinating with cats chasing mice and the dog chasing the cats. From pregnant horses fooling around to geese being presented as gifts, it was all happening. At night the place is freaky as hell. From Harry sleep walking and running around screaming like a crazy to Ali calling Satan and the lights going out followed by a thunder storm, rare in Rajasthan, and then the horse’s neighing and windows breaking and stuff. We almost believed that Harry was possessed.

First day we went to see the sophisticated-bitch-play, “Piano for sale.” Harry you screwed us. The play was so bad that most of the audience left at half time. We met Harry’s cool Uncle and Aunty who had the funniest dogs in the world, Buddhu Singh and Gabbar Singh. They made us laugh very much so. I still can't get over those two and Harry head butting Gabbar was just too funny.
Swimming in the rain in a pool full of rotten leaves and flowers was just awesome. “Swimming fighters…deadly positions…very nice!!”

Cycling through the village was interesting where we got some fantastic shots, saw a camel posing for the camera and the word SEX in big letters in the middle of no where. Who would have thunk? Happy happy times....seems only yesterday we were there. Time flies when you are having fun. Life?! :)

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. and Mrs. Kapoor (Harry’s parents) for keeping up with us for 4 days. Harry's mom for controlling Ali’s desire to kick a cat. Thanks for letting us stay and have a great time. I say this on behalf of Ali and I.
For more photos please check my facebook.

To be continued….

India - DELHI

2007-04-05T11:55:00.000+04:00

India -After the boards it was a much awaited break for me. Going to sleep at my own leisure and waking up not before 10-11 in the morning feels really good. Meeting family members after a very long time and hanging around in Delhi with Ali has been fun. Never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought I would go for shopping in Delhi Hut along with Ali. And to go Guitar shopping in Lajpat Nagar. Tomorrow we leave for Jaipur to meet Harry at 6 in the morning by Ajmer shadabri express. Hopefully it will be a joy ride.

I have always been pro- Indian unlike many and thus before coming here I had raised my expectations of the development of this place. Much to my disappointment, my expectations were shattered as soon as I landed. Dehli is the same. Beggars still own the traffic signals, cars still honk for no reason and stop right in the middle of the junction when it is Red. Pollution is less though. One thing that stikes you is that everything is three figures in price. Mcdonalds burgers, taxis, autos, gifts, everything seems so expensive, but when you convert exchange rate is just awesome. Dirham rocks. Malls here Suck. Ansal Plasa, apparently the best mall here has nothing interesting to offer (not even an arcade) Oh...yea one more thing...here all boys have only two type of hair styles, middle parting and side parting...and girls are short, I mean even shorter than Ali.

Anyway this is just a small summary of what I have seen in Delhi in my five days. Missing Dubai for many reasons. Tejas I am still expecting your reply. Don't disappoint please.

P.S - Don't carry bags while Shopping in delhi, its really annoying, trust me.

NICHE

2007-03-21T11:18:00.000+04:00

This is an advert made by us [Redial Entertainment] for a store called "Niche". This shop will see art-related goods such as paintings, hand-bags, cards, etc. 10% of their proceeds will go to charity.

Spread the Video. Show it to everyone. Word of Mouth is the best Advertisement for REDIAL ENTERTAINMENT.

Thank You, Call again!!

Redial Entertainment Kickstarted!

2007-03-20T23:34:00.000+04:00

Thats the end of it

2007-03-07T17:21:00.000+04:00

Today we finished Chemistry...the most hated on subject in the world, atleast by me.
I struggled with it yesterday and had been struggling with it since 7th grade. Never ever liked the subject. Today it’s done, but a job not very well done. My chem paper was "okay." I just know that I wrote and I wrote 3 booklets of crap. Sometimes I did get surprised at myself in the middle on what I was writing. “WTF mate??” sodium orgasmate screwed me!!! I know everyone else’s went well. Anish is gonna top.

Because Today is an end of an era, I have to disclose something. Every night before chemistry exam, Ali and I talk of our deplorable and pathetic state of affairs. We laugh and joke about it and in the midst of it we fantasize a utopian world. Before second term chem. examination we just decided to give up chemistry and our life in school and move to Africa. Africa because it the cheapest-to-shift place from the rest. There we would open mosque-cum-church-cum- strip bar. It would be ideal. A church and a mosque by day and a bar by night. Simple. Now we needed people to run the place. Ali of course would be the guitarist of the bar. As I am going to study Business management in college, I would be the manager. We need someone to fund us and as Dusty and Zafar are the rich people we know….they are going to be our sponsors. Tejas would be singing and performing along side Ali. Harry would have a special theatrical show for himself. Anish is the fast one and quite skillful, thus he will be our superfast waiter and skillful bartender. Govind is the best in maths and he would be our accountant. Bharath, the stand up comedian. Unmukt, best in physics and wants to get into IIT, is our technician to solve our technical problems. Here is the funny part, Sebastian, our Christian mate, would be the priest of our church. Ashiq would be the mullah of the mosque by day and as he is very tall, he would be a pole for pole dancing by night. Aaron apparently has a sexy body and will be our male stripper. Rubin will be the ‘IT presentation dude’ presenting the AV on his laptop over a bar stool. Please keep in mind we do not have enough funds for big screens, projectors, lights and sounds. So Akshay and Amir have to deal with table lamps to light the bar at night, they will keep switching it on and off for the extra effects. For Sound, Ali will provide us with his 4.1 surround speakers. Ameya, Suraj and Akarsh are the bouncers. I sorry, but if girls wanna join along they have to be the strippers along with Aaron. Ankita and Proma have a reserved place already. (Ashiq is gonna get a lot of action.) Rohith and Vivek are the hunters to provide us with food. Nawaz and aashish are the PIMPs. They are more post that I cannot unveil. Shrivats, Kaushik and the rest will do well in their lives. I hope we have fun. Anyone else wants to join along…please register by calling 050-5986976.

The talk before prelim chem exam was even wilder and crazier ….will write about that after I am 18 and legal to write about stuff like that. Hint: it was a parody on Lord of the Rings. And before the Boards it was Sodium Orgasmate.

P.S - It was a wild imagination and I hope no one’s sentiments were hurt, it was all meant to be for fun. Just wanted to post this for a long time.

Anyway happy that Chem is over but would miss the talks......

Lost

2007-03-03T17:43:00.000+04:00

www.lost.eu/2796a

Welcome to LOST. This game is a student project - players score points by inviting others to the game. It aims to show how 7 million people can be connected and become the largest online game ever.

"You can join the game if you find an invitation. An invitation is an internet address that looks like this: www.lost.eu/example - but instead of the word 'example' there are some random numbers and letters.

There are invitations written everywhere - on the internet and in the real world.
To win the game you must score points. To score points you must invite other people using a unique address that is given to you. www.lost.eu/youraddress

Everyone in the game has a profile where they can see who they have invited and who has invited them. It's possible to interact with anyone in the game.

The game will end when it reaches 7 million players - the winner of the game will get $5000, and the top ten $500 each. There is also a prize given to the best photograph of an invitation."

...so quotes the "LOST" website...now you might as well join yeah?

www.lost.eu/2796a

Hurry I have just 29 days Left

P.S-- Anish, Screw you!!!

Boards for me is.......

2007-02-25T12:15:00.000+04:00

A couple of days to go before my Board exams begin....I wonder whether I am really prepared for it or not. I begin with English for which I have not studied so far and now I have no patience for Richard's long boring speeches. I just took two hours to do Act2 sc.1..2 hours for one scene!!! Julius Caesar in 10th was much more fun to study because it had more action, masala and masti than Richard. Richi is just boring.
Next comes Maths for which I have lost all confidence after my prelims.(I messed up even after knowing half the paper before hand.....ALI!!!!!). This time I shall give my Maths paper without doing the whole of Integration, Planes, 3D, spheres and prove-that sums of vectors. That's just crazy!!! With all of Mr. M's and my Dad's blessings I hope to get 80+ in mathematics after skipping all that. In 10th I was so confident for maths that I actually thought of getting a 100 in my maths paper and eventually i did manage to beat GOVIND in the boards!!!hahaha!!! this time i just hope i get 80+

Next comes Chemistry....I have not done Organic yet. I don't understand what i have done in Physical and I don't remember any of the inorganic shit. Apparently Bharath, Govind and all finish chem is just two hours...the whole thing....NERDS!!!! Comparing 12th Chem to 10th grade chem....well lets just say we had Mr. G.

Now....While i sit at home and slog for my upcoming EVS exams...my dear friends shall go and rock with Iron Maiden and Led Zep. They planning to for !Russel also....B******. Well in EVS I want a 90+ as I have to impress a special someone. Something to raise my average up.

Next Physics, This is one subject have worked hard for and I am quite confident for it. I desperately want a 85-90+ in this one. C'mon...romit

Now is the fun part. After Physics I plan to go to Thailand for my holidays.... Lets Just do it Anish.... but seriously 14 days is just too much. I plan to study all 14 days and try get a 100 in Eco. while the rest would have finished with their exams and would be partying all night. I have to say i was more confident for Eco. in 10th than now. I have not touched Eco. yet and i am counting on those 14 days to study. Good Luck Romit!!

Unlike 10th grade I do not have any enthu to study for these boards. I will try and take on each subject as they come. Harry the only thing sustaining me right now is Jaipur, your farm and the geese.
Good luck everyone!!!
Tejas STUDY!!!!

FedEx

2007-02-17T17:27:00.000+04:00

Today I am just really happy because a small little thing has made me feel like a grown up. A man. Today I got my first FedEx. The first one to my name. Not to my parents, not to my school or to anyone else, but to me. What it contained does not matter, what matters that it was to me. I have always seen it in movies and soaps how people rip of a strip to open the package….Example scene “In matrix, where Neo (Mr. Anderson) rips off the top strip of the package to get the cell phone.” I always wanted to do that and today I have done it. It felt great. For me it is one of those days where I have done something for the first time. Only thing I missed in this whole process is signing the delivery sheet of the delivery boy. My mother did that as I was sleeping. I hope it’s the first of many so I can do that too. It’s a stupid thing but today I fulfilled a dream. It was in my list of ‘things I have to do before I leave school.’ It made my day.

P.S - Sorry Ashiq, Its one of those types.

Bon Jovi in Dubai??

2007-02-10T21:39:00.000+04:00

Off late there are rumors going around in Dubai that Aerosmith and Bon Jovi are apparently coming here. How far these rumors are true I do not know, it just a word of mouth. According to a dude at Phride.com, Aerosmith coming to Dubai has been confirmed and would be performing here on 31st of May. According to my sources, Bon Jovi are supposed to be coming with them and rocking the day. Somebody's mother who works at Emirates told her son who told somebody who told me that they too are confirmed.....I just can't believe it at the moment.
The two legends performing together would be awesome and simply mind blowing. Another orgasmic concert as Anish would have it. There are bigger fans than me who would just simply die for them. Just have say "OH...MY GOD!!!!"
I don't wants my hopes to go up too soon and then just die out as it happened the last time. So please if anyone knows the complete information and details about the show and the bands please share it as it would be very helpful.

Now more than ever I want the boards to get over fast...Already i had plans to spent time with my friends in India and now with Bon Jovi coming here... the summer is gonna Rock. OMG!!!!

*Faints*

When the fastest bowler and the best Indian classical singer combine

2007-01-20T21:24:00.000+04:00

What in the world was that??
How is that one of the hit songs in Indian charts???
Where the hell is India and Indian music scene heading??
What is Asha doing with Bret Lee???
What was Asha and Bret Lee thinking??
What the hell is happening to the world???
Where the hell am I???

Only Time Can Tell.......

2007-01-11T16:38:00.000+04:00

Happy New year everyone!!

This New Year yea… It brings with it so many expectations, so many dreams, so many hopes, so many people and places, so many experiences. I don’t know why but I am particularly dreading some parts of it already.

Facebook !! is the cause of it…I was just going through Anish’s facebook, looking at the pictures of all our ex- students most of whom I had only seen them before in school uniform and with short hair. Now they have all their funky hairdo, weird looks and poses, living on their own in different universities and colleges.

Right now the excitement of living alone and independently in a totally different country is much greater than the fear of it. But as the days come closer and closer, my fears begin to grow. C’mon living by myself, doing everything by myself, it is shit scary for me at least. I am damn lazy when it comes to waking up in morning, making my bed, touching water early in the morning. I don’t brush my teeth or take bath unless I am pushed by my mummy every morning. I don’t clean up my room unless shouted at. I can’t tie a knot in my tie and I can’t iron my clothes, my sweet mother still does that for me. I am still a baby!! She still comes into my room and puts the blanket over me and draws the curtain. How in God’s name would I make it by myself??? Spoilt, yea you got it right!!

I know it is too soon, TOO Soon. But some day it will come. A day would come when I have to make my own breakfast, learn to iron my clothes, when nobody would be home to ask how my day was, nobody to scold me, when I have to say goodnight to myself and most of all the day when I have to become responsible and take care of myself!!! I think I can do it. I have done it once before during BBB where I had to take care of Ali, Tejas and Harry and my house from them. Hell, I will even miss all my friends…but that’s for later….I still have to go to Goa or Thailand with them.

I see some are already there, prepared to live on their own, alone, already ready to be free, matured and responsible enough to take care of their own in an unknown land. My hope lingers in the fact that if everyone else can do it, so can I.

Time can only tell……

Year 2006

2006-12-17T14:10:00.000+04:00

I am sitting with a calendar in my hand trying to write this post. This calendar brings back so many many memories that are close to my heart. I thought 2005 was an exciting year for me, but hell 2006 was not only better but kicked 2005’s ass.

As we come to a close of another exciting and eventful year, I feel that I have to write everything that I have done this year. I have forgotten a lot already, a lot.

This post is a bit haphazard and not properly sequenced in any order as such because I have just put them down as and when I have remembered. This post is mainly for memory of my childhood and my feelings then. Again, this post is very unsystematic and disorganized.

To remember and cherish this last year of mine in school I write this long post.

The year started of with 5 of us sitting and chatting on the Burjuman’s white-‘blue sofas’ in front of Virgin, trying to reminisce 2005 and making far fetched resolutions. I failed with mine that very day. We had just spent the 31^st in Zabeel Park playing football on the amphitheatre and talking to Sukoon (Anish’s friend).

Soon we were kicked out of Burjuman and we went to sit under Tejas’ Dubai building where we took some crazy photographs. Anish I think you have them.

Nothing else that I remember in January. Shit!!

Then I remember the farewell for Grade 12(05-06 batch). It felt like a mini- prom in the Modern High, seriously, where everybody dressed up formally. There were boys and girls, music, Band (Ali and Tejas performed “Welcome to wherever you are” by Bon Jovi and Ali’s solo along with Aarthi in Somewhere over the Rainbow.), Dinner and Grape Juice (to represent Wine!!). Only with one tiny glitch, in this prom boys and girls were not allowed to talk to each other. Some prom!! Oh…yea there was also MNN. Shit I start remembering as I write. The first major and exclusive Redial Production. It was a great success.

Now it seems that our farewell comes closer and closer. It keeps reminding me that my time in Modern High is almost up. You 11^th graders better give us one heck of a farewell for us to remember.

Followed by the Standard Chartered Marathon Concert, where Redial along with School band gave a stunning performance, seriously I was stunned after Aarti pointed the mic on Ali’s ELECTRIC guitar. Some of us will never forget that.

16^th March. My first ROCK concert technically. The Dubai Desert Rock Festival 2006. I didn’t want to go at first, but then Ali kept pushing me. Finally I decided to go and because of that we went through the whole last minute cheaper ticket thing which really pissed Ali off, he did manage to get me one at last. We were so pumped up that we showed up for the concert at 7 hours before it began. I finally got my ticket from Lucas, through Nikhil an hour before gates opened. I loved it, every minute of it. We stood right in front after our 100m dash from the gate. I loved the performances by 3 Doors Down, Reel Big Fish (along with the fat guy with beard sitting in the middle of the stage for no reason and drinking his beer), Testament (the freak band), I also remember the tall-white-hair-nostrils-desperate-loser-dude who kept pushing us. Mannikind (Local band), and Megadeth (for whom we were too tired to stand and hence we slept and watched them, except for Ali who stood right in front for the whole thing). It was an awesome and superb experience. Rock on Dubai!!

The next few days went worrying about prefectship and the intense 12^th grade syllabus. All the deserving got their honorary badges and positions. No regrets now. I think the fundraiser was also going on side by side. The next day was the late-children’s-hair-do- day in our school. After that I remember coming back home with Tejas and then going for lunch with the new couple (vice- captain and throw ball captain) and Ankita to Bikanaerwala where the vice captain complained of not getting non- veg in a vegetarian restaurant.

Our 12^th grade started off with new science teachers. I was hoping them to be better than the previous year, but I was soon disappointed by one. I do not know why but every time I come see him, a rush of anger flows through my body. It’s his slimy smile, his pessimistic and sluggish attitude; his boring classes and his lack of sense of humor…everything. He just gets on my nerves. I know it is disrespectful to say that about a teacher, but that’s what I feel no matter what.

21^st April. Robbie Williams. Thank you Anish and Harry. I have to say this, What a concert, what a performance, what a performer, what a show, what entertainment. Seriously it was an ‘orgasmic experience.’ I will never forget that day. We went for his concert at 10 in the morning when the show would start at 9 pm. We waited there the whole day and yet we were not the first ones in, but we did manage get the front row of our section. During the wait, we played football and more football. Tejas had to be hospitalized in the middle; Ankita had to bring medicine and water for us from home. Some went for movies and then came back, while we did rot in the sun. Some came an hour before and still got to stand right beside us. Hell, one of the craziest days of my life. Well it paid of as soon as ‘he’ entered. Oh…. yea I even learnt how to whistle that very day. Kool stuff. Thanks Shireen’s sister!!

May!! It was a very hectic period in school with all the football and basket ball matches back to back. Match of the tournament, Orion vs. Cygnus. 1-1 at half time. I admit, I did cross that ball to Sebastian outside the line for him to score the winning goal for Orion. There you go. But it is the aftermath is what I remember. The shock!!! Cygnus went berserk. Mr. Muddu started pulling everyone off the field and ordered them to boycott the game. Nawaz went crazy and started swearing at everyone in Hindi. Bharath ran up to me, called me a cheat and ran back. Tejas, Rohan and I just stood there in awe watching the drama. Laughing away all the while. Mr. Ahmed screwed Cygnus all I can say. Aquila won both the football and the basketball tournament. Now they won cricket also, dogs!!

May 17^th would be remembered to the world for the Champions League finals. When Barcelona beat Arse-nal. I would remember it for Ritesh’s Birthday Party. WoW one hell of a party! From HB’s Bacardi Breezer to ‘Chandu gana ga’ to Unmukt trying to choke me with a sock. OMG!! Even the 4 of us trying to sleep on that one couch was crazy man. (Refer to previous post for more details.)

I am forgetting a lot in the middle; help me out if you guys remember more.

Enter first term exams. The worst exams of my entire life. The last minute preparations, the selective studying and those desperate phone calls did not pay of at all. I could not believe it for quite a numbers of days the result that I had got. For the first time in my life I had failed in a subject (chem.) and almost got failing marks in another (Phy.). I started to regret science. The most horrid time of the year for me. I was grounded for the whole summer holidays and was put to house arrest. I was even sent to a private coaching class by my parents which was unbearable. I quit that very day.

Amidst all this we bid farewell to Mr. Biswas, our football coach. He was the humble-est Bengali I have ever come across. A very kind and straightforward person. His knowledge and passion for football was incredible. More than our coach he was our friend. Plus he also had a twin brother, who is an accountant, which was very hard to believe. Since I am talking of football in Modern, there was one more person who came into our lives for a brief period of time, Zaid a.k.a ‘Z’. He was Ali’s nemesis and posed a great threat to him as the centre back of the team. He was a cool and fun guy. Good luck and God bless Sir and Zaid where ever you are.

I almost forgot, the greatest event of the year. The Football World Cup. No wonder I failed in chemistry. Everyone’s favorite club players fighting it out for their countries for nothing but pride and honor. I am praying to see India play the WC one day. For now, England is my team. Beckham faced a lot of criticisms even after playing better than most English players. Not fair!! The England’s coach was to blame not Becks. The WC finals were even more exciting than one would have expected. With Zidane getting sent off for a controversial ‘head-butt’ and ending in penalties to declare Italy as the world champions. Took me quite a long time to digest that fact too. The funny part after all this is too read Anish’s predictions on the WC in his blog.

Even after I was put under house arrest, luckily, I managed to enjoy most of the birthday season. Tejas and I stayed up all night to make a radio show “Rockin’ Radio” for Proma, Ankita, Ishika and friends. It was fun making it. You guys should hear the bloopers, crazy shit. For Tejas’ birthday Ali, Govind, Bharath, Rohan and I presented him with his very own Acoustic Guitar. I guess he loved it as we had hoped.

The summer was full of Hangama. Thanks to Anish, I became part of SFS. It helped me change my views on a lot of things. Altered my perspectives drastically and opened up my mind on a wider horizon along with it. I enjoyed being there. It made me happy to see smiles on the children’s faces and to make them laugh or just to see their reactions. Anish is right when he said that the children teach us more than we teach them. The moments where we teased Harsha, when we got beaten up by Ahmed and Mustafa, when we gave fake phone numbers to Aziz, when I became Sameera’s husband are unforgettable and are treasured by me. I ended up making new friends and got to visit different places in Dubai such Wild Wadi, MOE, Mega mall, Thunder Bowl, Encounter zone. What started out with an aim to get a community service certificate for college transformed to become my hobby, something that I love to do now because in the end of the day it makes me feel good.

The Documentary – ‘From The Inside.’

Again Anish pulled us in. Mr. Dhruv Dhawan was directing us to direct and make this documentary. It started off well with us watching hard core documentaries to learn from and getting a serious crash course from Dhruv on film making. He was so inspiring that he was able to influence many young minds in our school to change their future aspirations. One day we met in Fudruckers where we were given our positions and thus was born the Modern High Documentary crew. Our first interview session with Varsha was followed by Aditiya, Anushka, Mr. Khan (Ali’s abba) and the corporate guys. We even interviewed Mr. Sunny Varkey (Rich dude) and his son Dino Varkey (Rich dude’s son who can do splits). We even interviewed Rima Shah, an ex-student. I became close to her dog, Nixon.

Finally after all the interviewing we made our first draft. It was pretty good. It was working well until Mr. MJ came back from holidays and took control over the whole situation. He added his touch to it and slowly removed all our touches from it. I got swayed by him too and couldn’t manage to stick by my friends. I am sorry guys for having two minds then. He managed to alter and delete all our work and in the end compiled a good A.V presentation of Modern High for the world to see. Not a documentary.

One thing Dhruv had said was that “you never know what you catch on camera.” It is so true. I caught our principal cursing our own school, our chairman having farfetched visions such as a “parent spa.” We all managed to capture our chairman making funny expressions and rapping “group in a way.” Mr. Mason and his ‘oops,’ our ex-student and his scary body movements, and Varsha singing ‘if you come today.’

What started of with humble beginnings with an interesting bunch of Modern High Doc. Crew. We fought with each other and argued but we got things done. It was truely ‘from the inside’, where students were trying to portray Modern High in their own vision. Which soon became a one man’s show with an uninterested bunch of followers to support him and massage his shoulders.

Independence Day. Along with swantantrata diwas we were celebrating our one year anniversary in video making. Kool huh! In the morning we went to Indian High School to see the flag hosting, we missed it but we did catch our Indian consulate general speak on behalf of the president. Soon we got bored and left to have brunch in Royal Garden. Then we went to play football in the children’s play area 6 on 6 or something with Proma in the middle of 11 guys. Next we watched friends, the one where Joey speaks French. I guess after that Ali went to have lunch with his Abu Dhabi Aunt and Tejas and Anish went to meet Dhruv.
And Proma, Bharath and I went to Burjuman to have lunch and play pool. These are just random things coming to my mind.

I remember the days where one by one everyone started coming back from their holidays with different views, outlooks and perspectives. With different thoughts and state of minds. Some trying to begin a new life, a new home, some experiencing their future and some hoping for a better and exciting future than it already will be. Some changed emotionally. Some found new love. Some found new hope. Some went out of their way to impress the other. Some hearts were broken and some hearts were bonded.

I remember Ashiq used to come down to my house occasionally after summer school and we used to just sit and gossip like old ladies. Harry came now and then to watch football matches in the evening sometimes even to study a bit.

This year has indeed been special. I got my Tooth Filled. The front tooth which I had broken in 4^th std. was filled up this summer after years of persuasions. I have a beautiful smile.

Teachers Day was impressive as usual. In the process people managed to attract a lot of 8^th graders. After school began we began to stay back till 10 - 11 at night to complete the doc. The Alumni Reunion dinner, a day before the creative festival, our parents were invited to see the documentary. KO’s show ‘Cats’ was spectacular. I heard Karishma sing for the first time and I was awestruck. Well done. Respect!

Ali was given two thumps up by KO also. Oh…. Yea we met Sonu, the lights dude for CATS, we found out that he had also done the lights for Robbie Williams… freaking amazing huh? Respect to you too. Creative Fest and Ali’s birthday was highlighted with the sudden appearance of Proma and Sahil from India. We went for Dinner to Wok Inn below my house. The whole time we were narrating funny incidences of our teachers and our school. Creative Festival went well with modern controversially winning the music competition and all the other stuff.

Along with all this another ‘rat race’ had started. A race to Mr. Naidu’s office. It became a daily routine to chase teachers for recommendations letters with utmost politeness. It is hard work yet on top of that teachers started black mailing us for it. Everyone started to hunt down universities and colleges. Go through a millions of sites. Writing down ‘n’ number of essays multiplied by the number of colleges they were applying to. In the end of all this I hope everyone gets into the universities they desire and deserve. I also hope we keep in contact with each other as long as possible.

We celebrated Harry’s and Nikhil’s birthday together in India club. We bowled a bit and had a fun time while playing indoor football. Tejas, Jeetu, Shrivats, one-more-guy and I kicked everybody’s ass. Shrivats proved that he is better than Ali in football also. Then we went onto have a very wholesome meal in the club’s canteen. Tejas came back to my house for a sleep over when we made the ‘the call’ video that night in 45 minutes as a tribute to the movie ‘Phone Booth.’

Soon after CF we began our football practices for the Sharjah tournament. Introducing Mr. Mahesh Kumar Sharma, our new football coach, who began to instill within us the killer-instinct-attitude. Everyday before school we had our practices followed by early morning practices during the Eid holidays. With all this intense training, it became difficult to study for exams. It got tougher with three tuitions, each twice a week. It got even more frustrating while waiting in the sharjah traffic for two hours to reach physics tuitions. I had hardly any time for myself as the days became more and more hectic as we approached the football tournament and the exams. And to add salt to the wound my ankle got messed up thanks to Edwin just a week before the tournament. More FRUSTRATIONS!!! AHHHH….

Now the news of the year, we WON the sharjah soccer tournament, the one and only football tournament for us. Kicking our nemesis Indian high’s ass 4 -1. With a few earlier defeats we managed to pull through as a team. The 11^th and 12^th grade came to watch us play in the finals and they did cheer us to victory. I got my first cup that too for football, I couldn’t be more proud. Let’s not forget the countless evenings spent under Maktoum Bridge practicing with Dubai Scholars guys (Rohan, Daniyal, Roysten, the two sardarji’s etc.)

A week after the tournament our miserable second term exams began and ended as miserably as they started. Luckily I passed in all subjects this time. Seriously very lucky. You know, in times like these I question myself and my judgments. I know my strengths and weaknesses yet I don’t do anything about it. From high 70s and 80s in 9^th, 10^th and 11^thto unimaginable marks in 12^th (the important grade) is just horrendous.

My birthday. Not the apt day to say a happy one. I got most of my terrible papers on that day. To celebrate it anyway I was being treated by my friends to Casino Royale. While going for the movie, Govind, Bharath and I had an adventure of ourselves. We couldn’t find a taxi, so we decided to walk to City Centre. In the middle we saw 6S and hoped on. It was Govind’s first bus ride. I thought it would take us to city centre but I was wrong, it was to taking to Al Ain. We realized soon enough to get off the bus in the middle of the high way. We could see Wafi in the distance. We ran to Wafi and caught a cab to reach city centre at 9 just in time for the show after leaving at 7 from home. Casino Royale was awesome. Daniel Craig rocked. We stayed over at Anish’s place that night. But I have to say this, after watching DHOOM 2, Hrithik is much more hotter than Daniel any day. Watch it to believe it. While watching Hrithik I was going mad. I really started to doubt myself in just more than one way.

The day after my birthday, I went to the beach for SFS. A lot of new people had joined. After the usual get together, I was sitting on the rocks with my friends looking ahead at the calm, serene, never-ending sea. Moments like these you drown yourself in thoughts and nostalgia. We realized this was our last year together here. After this we would meet a year or so later as friends yet strangers to each other. It is easy to say that we would be friends forever. But in a year a lot changes. People change. After a year we might not be able to connect with each other because all of us would be going to different parts of the world. I hope and pray that it does not happen. I hope we come back to the same rocks and stare out at the sea discussing our lives as friends and not strangers. Just like ‘Dil Chahta Hai.’ I know it’s a bit clichéd.

This year along with all the joys and thrills, two of my friends had to go through the most terrible times of their lives. They went through very difficult phase which I wish no one has to ever go through. They have taught me that to survive in this big bad world you need to be mentally very very strong, not necessarily physically. They have proved it time and again that this mental strength can make you fight the world. Living in a country alone without your parents in a different home is not easy. Living with insecurity and uncertainly at home is not easy at all. Yet they have managed to cope up with it and do wonders in their respective fields. They have grown, matured and learnt to fight the world and through them, I guess, so have I.

Some random but memorable events to remember –

The beginnings – Anish’s Blog
Anish and I went to see SA RE GA MA PA and witnessed the rebellious Indian crowd.
I went for free guitar lessons to DMS for 3 months.
I apparently asked my EVS teacher out.
I made a birthday video for my dad and he made one for me on my birthday.
Tejas moved to Sharjah and left me alone in Bur Dubai.
I had a fight with Swatik.
I learnt to play Volleyball. Thanks Ashiq and the previous batch!!
I had the most frightening car ride on the sheik zayed road in Deepa’s friend’s car.
Had quail for the first time in Rubin’s house.
Naima’s farewell beach party – ‘KING KONG HEAD’
Standard Charted Concert and the whole Aarti thing.
I changed the décor of my room and my hall and thought of taking up interior designing.
Unreleased THEW 2
I bought new speakers 4. 0 and made my very own room theatre system – thanks Ashiq again.
24
Physics Tuitions with Rubin.
The Holy fights between Sebastian and Ali. ‘Oh my lord Jesus’
I taught Tejas and Ali a Bengali song which they sang for my parent’s party on Bengali New Year’s Day.
Countless hours of meaningless but fun gossip with Ali, Prema, Ashiq and Harry.
Snow park and the snow ball fights.
School at 4 in the morning.
I made my own Blog.
The Documentary Blog.
The mocumentary.
Billy Mack and 'Christmas is all around us' and Rubin's Dance.
The day we broke the camera.
The night before Rohan’s birthday.
The failure of Rohan’s birthday surprise.
Dandia night and the dance and routine practices.
Ali's Ma..yu
Ankita’s dad’s shorts and third degree by the Dubai Police at the beach.
Our new jerseys.
“Football is a game of Position”- Mr. Sharma – ‘Baja beta baja’
Our failure and our victory in the football tournament.
Fire in my hood before Eco. exam.
'Snifetube' - salt bridge
PAB
Ali’s new found Vibrato.
Ali’s Josephine.
Sebastian and Jesus.
Desalination Plant and Anish’s Rap.
I sent college applications. YAY!!
2 children's day in a year...2nd one rocked!!!
I met Kal Penn.
Many many sleep overs followed by breakfasts in Venus.

This year is not over yet and there is more to come. Next year would be even more exciting because we would be closing a 17 year long chapter in our lives and moving on to the next. Taking a step ahead to our future. I hope it is full of adventure, excitement and happiness for everybody.

P.S - This post is solely for my memory. It had to be long. I have put a lot of redundant stuff for most but I cherish all of them. I have not added a hell lot of events because unfortunately I have forgotten them. If you guys have more please do add to the list.

Merry Christ–mas and a Happy New Year.

It’s all in the mind.

2006-11-29T22:45:00.000+04:00

It’s in your head, in your head ……Zombie Zombie!!!
Its makes so much of sense now.

My guitarist friend explained the above phrase to me 1000+ phone calls ago.
“It’s all in your state of mind!!”
He said that in life whatever we do and however we act towards a situation, it is our mind set which ultimately pulls us through it. The success or the failure of a task depends upon our attitude towards it. The zombie of ours in our heads can make all the difference. It is just a matter of interest and choice.
A boy can only learn how to play a guitar if he only has that interest and the attitude. Nobody can force him, it has to come from within. The zombie must speak.
A boy cannot do well in his examinations if he does not take interest in his subjects. His approach is pessimistic. No matter how long he sits in front of that book, no matter how much you push him, no matter the portion, he will not do well.

If we just have the right mentality we can move mountains. That’s what is said. I agree with it cent per cent. Our football team has proved it this year by winning the tournament.
Our attitude and state of mind in the finals, I guess, played a key role more than the skill and fitness (in my case). Our football captain and our coach, Mr. Sharma played a major part in igniting this zombie within us and look what we have achieved.

Today someone hurt me by telling me that I have failed as a friend. I have been selfish and inconsiderate. Callous and insensitive I have become, have I? If I have, I am sorry and I did not intend to do it. It was not in my mind. But to do my part, let me just tell him this again, I know right now you do not have your mind set on studies, you do have your share fair of reasons, and as you know neither is mine. It is going to be difficult but we have to change our state of mind. Lets get back the 10th grade exam attitude. Put in a bit more time than we already do. Just change our outlook on studies. I know this is the post-exam-me speaking, but we have to try and make it last as long as four more months. Just to “jhundoo” them.

I guess from these recent exams I have learned and understood this theory completely. Now I guess I(we) just have to apply it. It is all a matter of choice and our state of mind.

Just a thought

2006-11-23T14:32:00.000+04:00

Why it is that all the things I love in this world always have a bad side to it?

On the other hand, all the things that I don’t like or simply hate are supposedly the ‘good’ things and have no ugly side to it.
I was wondering and it struck, all food that I love is unhealthy and fattening. I love McDonalds, pizzas, burgers, fried Chicken, Chinese, Thai, Pastas, Taco Bell, Fries, North Indian, Muglai, even sada Paper Dosas. These are some things I would die for… I crave for them every time and everywhere. But why do I? They are oily, unhealthy, fattening, calorific, and all that. Why is it that I crave only for food that is so unhealthy for me?
It is said that Too much of Anything is harmful. Why doesn’t this rule apply for vegetables and fruits? I hate them. But no, they have to be healthiest food on this god damn planet. Why are vegetables so healthy and fried chicken so unhealthy? At least coke and Chocolates should have been given an exemption from this rule. But no, whatever we like has to harmful so that we can have only little of it.
Because of natural rules like these people are becoming fatter and fatter everyday and breaking chairs in tuitions and exam halls. We get reports like “Your son has Overweight!” How insulting is that! People start wearing Blazers just to hide their bellies.

It does not end there, and just for fun to make thing even worse, that dude made vegetables taste yucky, gross and disgusting.
For example, McDonald’s Big Mac Burgers with extra mayonnaise which tastes like heaven is ‘bad’ for health, but karela, bitter gourd which tastes bitter and sick, helps to keep diabetes away and keeps you shipshape. Whats the deal with that? Who made stuff like this? Why can’t we just have a good wholesome KFC meal and not regret about it later? Why? Where have the good old days gone where nobody complained after a meal?

It is true for everything, no matter how much you study, it is always good in the eyes of your parents, but if we play football or stay out for a bit longer than two hours, they go ballistic. I mean don’t we know our own limits. Why do we have to be governed by such rules always? What would we do when we are on our own? Give us a break!!
There reply-then why aren’t the marks coming in? and that is also correct!! The marks aren’t coming in. They prove everything in this world, don’t they?

There are always two sides to everything; unfortunately at 16 I am stuck on the unfortunate side and have to sacrifice a lot to get the better out of life.

Just a Thought!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Trailer

2006-11-23T12:46:00.000+04:00

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Trailer

Thats kool....now go back to Maths...
But if you are taking a break then scroll down...
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This Guy made this trailer himself....if u crazy about HP, you would like it .... funny somewhat...I dunno why i am putting it...simply.... watch

One More like that.....

Good...Had Fun...........Go study now....You are failing in Chem ....You better pass in Maths.....otherwise u won't get into a good university....hurry up........Gooooooooooo!!!!

Kubla Khan....Help!!

2006-11-19T13:47:00.000+04:00

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.

So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round:
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted
Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!
A savage place ! as holy and enchanted
As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon-lover!
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,
A mighty fountain momently was forced:
Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail:
And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever
It flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean:
And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war !

The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves.

It was a miracle of rare device,
A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice !

A damsel with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid,
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.
Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight 'twould win me,

That with music loud and long,
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome ! those caves of ice !
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware ! Beware !
His flashing eyes, his floating hair !
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.

This is no excuse but a request.

As I had gone for football.... I have missed the poem 'Kubla Khan' is class and I know 'he' teaches really well. Now, I frankly don't understand much of the poem. It is, i guess, beyond me to go deep into this one on my own. I have tried it... and I have failed. Till now I just understood this that a dude called Kubla Khan wanted to build a paradise city of himself called Xanadu. I am in a terrible state, I know!!

Hence, I make use of this blog that I have to request, if somebody could explain the poem " kubla Khan". People who have understood and were present in class might want to help me and the others who have not. I inferred from my bus ride home today that many have not understood the poem even when they were present in class. Guys, you know sharing is caring...so please share your knowledge....let it flow and drain out.....would help a lot.

P.S - You Dogs didn't tell me that we have to learn only the underlined portion for EVS. I like an ass read through the whole book. Unmukt told me bloody 2 mins before the exam. Thanks that helped a lot.

Fire in the hood

2006-11-16T12:49:00.001+04:00

While studying for an economics exam you do not expect your neighbour hood to catch fire. Do you?
Yesterday, at around 10: 45 ish in the night there was a series of blasts in my hood. They were loud enough for anybody to think that it was a bomb blast, considering the world we live in now days.
My mother was outside in the balcony taking a stroll after dinner when she told me to come outside.
All I could see was smoke and red flames of fire as high as the Bikanearwala building. All I could hear were the blasts. It was quite frightening and scary (for a lack of a better word). First thing you think about is to evacuate. But we stayed and panicked. People started coming down from everywhere screaming and shouting.

A sudden shiver does run down your body when you experience and see something like this happening. Shocking!!
One thing though, I was impressed with the police and the fire department of Dubai. They were fast and quick enough to reach there and tackle the chaotic and burning situation on time. The fire fighters didn't know what to do at first as it was caused due the electric box placed there. Apparently it just decided to blow up in the middle of the night. The cars surrounding the box also caught fire and blew up. One of them was a merc. There was also a pick up truck and 2 two other cars. That explained the series of blasts. I was scared for Amrit, the 9th grader; seriously, he lives on the blast side of the Bikanearwala building. Apparently, he was downstairs taking pictures and having fun.
It may sound clichéd but I did start to think of the people who have actually faced a situation of a bomb blast and lost their loved ones. I mean this fire was nothing compared to those ones, and still this fire made me shit in my pants and made me think of things I need to take before i evacuate. My Samsung came first in my mind. Not funny …..one look in the middle of my mom's face did terrify me...... I started thinking of my life and what I have been through so far. The people I have met and the people I would affect if something happens to me. I had a troubled night thinking of all this and could not concentrate much more on Eco.

By 1 everything cleared off…. The electric box had disappeared, the cars had turned to ash, the people are calm now, and no one was hurt other than the owner of the merc. - financially.

Someone close to English Language

2006-11-14T14:28:00.000+04:00

Tomorrow we have our English language exam and the day after that is Economics. Screwed!!

Hence to practice a bit of language I have decided to blog. Normally I do one or two past papers but I will take it on differently this time and plus I had a bet with Tejas.

Today I want to write a about a guy who impressed me a lot with his first impression, his charm and his style. I think I speak for Tejas also. We first met him in my house when he came to give us the orientation class. “Hie Guys” in a semi Brit – Semi Bihari accent. Yes, Mr. H.K, my SAT tutor. His composed behavior, his laugh, his Karan Johar type attitude, his English did make us admire him. Our classes started of really well with addition and multiplication in Math. He gave us a brilliant start to an essay also. "Right from the inception of mankind, mans unquenchable thirst for perfection and to obtain the very best in life made him embark on a journey…..” It is pretty good. At that time Mr. H.K was the best.

As the days flew by we came to know the con that he was. We now just think back and laugh on our stupidity. He always came half an hour to one hour late for class. He would give us hell lot of work to do and then go in 15 minutes with some excuse. While studying he would eat his lunch, munching and chewing away non veg. dishes in a veg. Brahman’s house. (Govind)

While we did our paper, he would make those weird noises from his mouth which everyone hates.

Just three words of his “Are you sure?” would piss us off. It was the way he said it .Ask Tejas he knows it.

“His LIES” Oh my God... His Lies. Apparently he would always be stuck in traffic on Sheik Zayed road. When he would actually be in someone else’s house having his cup of tea and biscuits. I have never seen a bigger fraud and cheat than him. He took 1500 bucks from us for our TOEFL and gave us only one Cambridge CD to practice from. One CD and 1500 Dhs. SHIT!! Out of his pocket he only paid the internet café dude – 7Dhs per day for Tejas, Govind and me.

The day after our SAT test and his remuneration, the guy just vanished. Never to call and pick up his phone. It is funny when I think about him. It is hilarious when I remember his laughs and giggles when he used to talk to his wife. His British accent with Ghati words in between. His ambition for his kids. His hair. His stories of his accident in front of Dnata building and his red car full of books. Somehow I will never forget him.

Lesson to be learnt – watch out for guys like him in life.

Hey tomorrow is our English exam.

So now….

Answer the following briefly in your own words.

1) Who is Mr. H.K?

2) How is ‘he’ a con artist?

3) List three humorous things about ‘him’?

4) Why do Vegetarians suck?

5) What is the moral of the story?

6) With close reference to text explain if you would consider yourself a dumb ass to answer the above questions.

Good I think I am prepared for English. Please correct me if I am wrong.

P.S. - If you really want to improve your language, read Ashiq’s and Anish’s blog…..not mine..... .you are wasting your time...... jackass.

Mentos

2006-11-11T14:49:00.000+04:00

Mr. Mudassir told us about this awesome experiment today in tuitions whilst Sebastian, a humble boy, was having Mentos. It is simple, watch....

and this dude is just funny.....

Try it and tell me how it worked for you guys........ it will be fun
And According to Ashiq..... if we have coke + mentos..... it can be poisonous.... so don't go try doing that. Ali no!

"Dude, are you freaking kidding me? you serious?!"

2006-11-07T22:48:00.000+04:00

It hurts.
It’s agonizing.
It’s painful not only to the leg but also to the mind.
It is stressful. Constantly thinking of what could, would have been and probably what will be.
Followed with sleepless and restless nights. The mind cannot fall asleep while worrying about something it loves.
It is tormenting to put a chilled ice pack 4 times a day, rubbing a cream every now and then, having tablets and syrups and just hoping it would heel soon.
What is really frustrating is to sit out on an important match, watching your team loose and not being able to do anything about it even if you wanted to. That’s killing!

Patience is testing me, I guess. Every one says this kind of injury takes 2 day, TWO DAYS, to heal and recover. It has been TWO weeks and I have not recovered completely. It is Frustrating. I curse the Dude sitting on top even though I do not believe in him. I wake up every morning with hope of a fine, back-to-normal Leg. Studying has become a bit more tougher when thoughts like this wonder my mind. This is my last year and I have to play and play well. My team is through to the quarters with and without me and I feel happy and blessed. I know I have plenty of football left in college and all, but this tournament is the one we have strived for 3 years. Every week playing and practicing in Maktoum, practicing touches in the children’s room , in school, outside school, everywhere. Too much! At this moment I cannot allow myself to miss it.

I feel it for the hardworking international football players who miss half a season, sometimes even one or two due to injury caused due to miss timed tackles or accidentally. Hell, their short span career is on the line. That’s probably frustration and stress. It would be devastating for anyone to miss world cups because of injury. But what I love about them is that they still continue. They do not give up, but move on. If they can, they comeback purely for the love of the beautiful game. The pride they have on being a footballer. They do not give up that hope to begin a new. Respect and salute to all the football players. Hats Off.

One thing I have to say before I close, this hell of a situation has made me a believer in the Dude sitting upstairs to a certain extent. "Dude, are you freaking kidding me? you serious?!" I question him, talk to him and take out all my frustrations on him. I have realized, people do turn to the Dude when they are hopeless and desperate and when there is no one else to turn to. I guess, all we need is a bit of hope to survive. Just Hope. And that's what the Dude gives us. Just Hope.
Anyway, Gooooo MODERN !!!

P.S – I sometimes feel like Beckham, when he broke his metatarsal and all, I mean the situation. Quite similar…

Sleep Overs

2006-10-27T09:35:00.000+04:00

Let Sleep Over be = SO

I had my first experience in 10th grade at Ali’s place. Anish Ali and I. We stayed up all night and talked about everyone in our class. (Back biting!!). Good way to start. The irony with sleep overs is that you don't actually sleep when you’re at one. We just talk, make videos, watch movies, have P- days, go for adventures, play football, talk some more and then after all that when we are tired.....we fall asleep. Believe me or not, SOs can be very philosophical and intense. Sometimes everything just comes out. Confessions, secrets, truths, feelings, everything!! We get to know more about a person, we get more attached to the person. And then again there are some SOs where there is only plane, slapstick, stupid fun and jokes all night. You don't regret them. There is one more type...."you-know-what"(replace each word with a letter). Where you probably get up in the morning with a big smile on your face.:P

I have had many funny and hilariously weird SOs. My best one was "Beds, bacon and bachelors", a three day stay at my place. My parents had gone to Kuwait for 4 days. FREEDOM!!! But it was invaded by Ali, Tejas and Harry and who soon became my house- mates. They stayed for 3 days. We cooked our own meals, tejas made the beds, I cleaned the house, Harry was the helper who came at an ad hoc basis and Ali....nothing. We "felt" like we were living our college lives. We went to school together, we went shopping, tejas went to do arthi and puja.....we even had a war, Tejas and Ali vs. me and Harry. We fought bravely, I strangled Ali, Harry destroyed their fort but somehow they still won and in the end we were searching for private Doo!!! We were missing Anish (he would have slapped us for what we had done). Fun part was we kept recording everything so that we could make a documentary of the SO. Tejas made it really well, very emotional. I would never forget that. We learnt a lot about each other in those 3 days. A LOT!!!

Second, Ritesh's birthday party. WOOOOWWW. Hell of a party. Started of really well with alcohol and music at 12 midnight. By 2 everyone was high with the spirit of youth. “Chandu gana Ga" became the hit line of the day. We were so wasted that four of us tried to sleep in one couch. Apparently Ali and I were so troublesome that Ritesh and Unmukt tried to choke us with socks and pour candle wax and milk on our heads. We didn't let anyone sleep till 5. The reaction on people's faces was unimaginable, beyond belief. One of a kind party Ritesh, would never forget your birthday.

Third, adventure day. Ali and I stayed up till 4 in the morning following the normal SO routine. One scary movie followed by a comedy one. We decided to go to the creek walking. Ali had excruciating pain in his groins. But we were determined none the less. We walked to creek, under maktoum bridge, saw the beautiful sunrise, made fun of the rude fishermen, Ali caught a crab and we made a small documentary while at it. We became all poetic and thoughtful. The whole adventure was very philosophical and profound in its own way. We came back and slept like babies. There was much more action, but its probably for the best if you guys didn't know about it. Good Day that day !

The Thing I like about SOs is that, apart from being fun and joy, it teaches us to be independent, responsible and hopefully prepares us for college life in its own way. I mean, I learnt how to cook, iron( a lil. bit), clean up, wash dishes, make my bed, keep everything and myself in order, manage money and time properly, get up on my own, everything!! I agree, I was a bit screwed up before BB&B. And it helped. But most of all SOs, I guess, help in strengthening friendships. I have experienced it and I feel I know my friends a lot better. Sleep Overs are a kind of mature thing to do in an immature sort of way. My opinion. What do u think?

My First Encounter With a China Man

2006-10-23T20:45:00.000+04:00

My first encounter with a real china man. I live in a world full of East Asian's, Karama. I could never really figure out the difference between a Filipino and Chinese. Ali can differentiate them from far, but I never got to know if he was right. Today, I came to the know difference myself.

On a holiday, my parents not at home, when I was free, I was fast asleep. Everyone was busy doing something and I was sleeping!!! Suddenly in the middle, a call comes. I answered "hello", a lady's voice replied,” Sir, is d'is 3966244", "yes" " were you sleeping, Sir?", “uh-huh", "no problem-o. We just want to deliver 2 bar stools you ordered," I didn't know about this, because my parents had ordered those yesterday. I was confused. Her voice was really pissing me of. You don't wanna hear her voice in the middle of your sleep. It was very annoying. Continuing... "So we take a right from Pizza Inn?" "Yes, Opposite Wok inn rest." Then... then she cracks a joke..... “Opposite Wok Inn rest.? Okay..... So do you have to always walk into this rest. And eat your food or you can eat outside also?? *laughs for 5 mins*and I go exactly like "aeyyy oh..Oh...yea..hahhahaha" OMG I was shocked to hear that....seriously. You don't want hear all that after Khan and in the middle of your sleep. Then after 10 mins of talking and more jokes I managed to tell her my address.

Chinese people are seriously very prompt or at least this guy was ..... after exactly 10 mins.... he rings my door bell. I felt proud standing in front of him. He was a shorty. Funny guy. "hello sir, good evening" He bowed twice with biggest smile on his face and then slowly making an angry face, ripped apart the cardboard cover and the bubble pack in a flash and brought the two bar stools in. After placing them properly near the bar cabinet.....while I signing the bill......... he asked me if was alone. I said "yes". I swear to God and I am serious. He went, loudly, "haeeee yaaa" and took upon karate position, bending his body down like Bruce Lee and everything, and was ready to attack me man. I was taken aback with shock and in my mind I was like "what the hell??" I moved back two steps in fear, seriously, never before I have come across a situation like this. I didn't know what to do. I was trembling. He saw the expression on my face from which he got some satisfaction or something. Suddenly there was a big smile on his face and slowly turned into laughter. He got up and slapped me lightly twice on my face and said "just jo-king!!!" he took the bill, said "thank you, sir" and went off closing the door behind him. I swear I stood there motionless for 1o mins wondering what the hell just happened until Harry's phone came.
This was my first real encounter with a china man. Wished somebody had caught that on tape. It would have been hilarious from a third person point of view. I still can't get over what I saw.

Do you guys have any incidences with funny people around the world? I have.

Time Machine - now wouldn't that be fun !!!

2006-10-20T12:04:00.000+04:00

A bit out of the blue.

Ever since I was small I have always wondered if man/woman could ever come up with a time machine. A device with which man/woman could travel back and forth in time. It is really very fascinating and mind boggling. I mean, we could actually go back in time and do all of it all over again. It would solve so many problems, mysteries, affairs, remove risks, communication errors. We would have knowledge of the future and would plan it accordingly. C’mon it would solve so many problems of the world. It would help us correct our mistakes we made in the past or even change them. We all have read HP4 and “Time Machine” by H. G. Wells and seen Krrish. We all know what it does. It would be awesome to re – live some of our most exhilarating and thrilling times of our lives.

A few weeks ago I was talking to Mr. Ranga (physics tuitor) about this when we were doing light. I asked him if it possible to go back in time and all that. He said it can be done if man can make something that can travel faster than the speed of light. But we would be able to only see the past again, not change it. Any of you guys have any other bright ideas of how to make time machine? Let your imagination flow…. c’mon.

If I get hold of a machine like this, first thing, I would go back to eleventh and change my stream to commerce. Taking science was one of the mistakes of my life. I would re-live all the 'out of school' moments of 2005. One of my most enjoyable year. I got to know a lot of people. Got to learn a lot of things. Got to enjoy a lot. Got good marks when needed and most of all spent a lot of time with friends. Secondly, I would like to see Robbie Williams concert again…

..his performance was brilliance. Plus I had a great time with friends before his concert as well. Thanks Anish!!! Thirdly, I would have gone back to 7^th or 8^th grade where I played street (parking lot) cricket and football. It was so competitive. We used fight more than we actually played. Bharath remember the Pathans who came to play with us? They taught us how to swing the tape ball !!! And I used to wear my Beckham jersey and they used to say “ey beck–men ko dekh”. And Govind used to go mad trying to get me out. Funny man. There were so other many hilarious and memorable times that I would love to go back to anytime. Festivals like Holi, Dussera and Diwali in Delhi were unforgettable times with family and friends. Rahul and I was once burnt a tree while bursting crackers. That was like WOOOOOOWWW…there are only few moments in my life that are to die for…...on the other hand….Hell I would like to go back and uncover the truth of all these conspiracy theories. That would be entertaining!!!

If you guys got the chance to have a time machine or got any chance to go back and forth in time. Which moment would you love to back to?

I am on memory lane, aren't I? Point in doing this…same… getting to a know little more about you guys and who knows someone may end up designing a real time machine…(Bharath, Govind, Tejas……any ideas)

Memories

2006-10-13T13:18:00.000+04:00

Lets see what I can do with my blog.

Lets make the first post on memories.......
After our boards results,march 2007, we are gonna land up in different parts of the world. Most of us will go to India, USA, CANADA, UK and some to Singapore, Australia, china, Germany etc. And sooner or later we will start to forget each other. I know it will happen. We will meet new friends. We will meet new people. Rarely will we come back to Dubai and meet as a class. Even Though there is an alumni association in our school, somehow i feel it won't work that well. Lets see if this could work.
I was talking about this to someone, I had forgotten a lot that i had done in 1st grade or 2nd grade and slowly slowly i started remembering small incidents that had happened. I remember in Springdales, Delhi, my first grade teacher, Mrs. Khanna, had hit me on my head for playing cricket in class. It was a hard shot on my head and my best friend rahul had said " kya shot hai, yar !!! " and since then every one used to make fun of me by saying that. Once i had said "SALA" to a boy in my class, i think his name was gurnish, and he went and snitched to the teacher and she called my parents. To take revenge, Rahul and I had filled his bag with mud during break and didn't tell anyone. All his books were spoilt. HAHAHAA!!! Once I remember in second or first grade i shat in my pants, yes go on laughing, I remember myself standing infront of the class stinking and waiting for the maid to come and all the boys and girls laughing at me and making funny noises. That was one of the most embarrassing moment of my life. It still makes me laugh. And Govind do you remember the pen fights??

I bet u guys have plenty of such moments. Lets see how much we can remember. C'mon write all your funny, embarrassing, happy memories of school and friends. Maybe we will connect with each other. Who knows what secrets will be revealed???