An ode to true friendhsip

An ode to true friendship,
an attempt to make them proud,
those who know me too well,
and let me know them too.

An ode that stands for them,
to proudly say we have each other,
to know we are what we are,
and to show the world the same.

An ode that has no start,
and sees no end,
for the bond that I share,
has a strong rare thread.

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Somewhere someone has beautifully written " The friendship between a man and a woman which does not lead to marriage or desire for marriage may be a life long experience of the greatest value to themselves and to all their circle of acquaintance and of activity; but for this type of friendship both a rare man and a rare woman are needed. Perhaps it should be added that either the man or the woman thus deeply bound in lifelong friendship who seeks marriage must find a still rarer man or woman to wed, to make such a three cornered comradeship a permanent success". I just ponder how true it is – IT IS!!!

But looking at the words in bold, it is time and again proved, the rarity is realised by only the three rare people, while others around (read, circle of acquaintance) have a life long experience of figuring out if it still is the normality (if that really means the opposite of rarity), just to make sure they stand justified

-Dedicated with thanks to the rare men who have and who will make my life happy and beautiful. :-)

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Whats, whys and whens...

A week on field for a market research project on hair wash products usage (a project for CavinKare's Meera), has given me very "deep" insights into consumer behaviour. Rather than responding right in front of such honorary people, I am doing the honours here.

Some interesting episodes that happened this week are here for you to get to know more about the Indian Consumer. :P

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Me: Do you use shampoo?
Respondent: (disapproving imm as if i accused her of some horrible crime) No ,no. I never use shampoo.
Me: Do you use Clinic Plus? (Now don't ask if i dint understand their previous response. Wait for the next one)
Respondent: Yeah, I have been using Clinic Plus for many years now.
Me: (?!?!?!?!?!)

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Me: Why do you buy Meera in container instead of sachet?
Resp: (Beaming with pride) If we buy Meera in box, we get to show off. Guests who come will see the box and think high of us.
Me: (Marks "Show off" in the questionnaire and jumps to next question)

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Me: (Been going on and on in Tamil for 10 mins, just coz the lady started speaking in Tamil)
One tough question which needs loads of explaining from my side and am doing it...
Resp: (Hurriedly realises) Actually, I don't follow Tamil. :(
Me: Are you comfortable with English?
Resp: Oh, no no.
Me: (Hoping that she doesn't say Urdu or Tulu) What language do you follow then?
Resp: Hindi...
Me: (Awesome, Hindi haunts me beyond Kgp) Teek hai, meri hindi teek nahi hai. lekin koshish karoongi. hindi me questions poochoongi mein. aap jawaab deejiye :(

And i actually ended up taking the 60 qns long (25 mins) interview completely in hindi. :)

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The usual one.

Me: Have you heard of any herbal shampoo?
Resp: No
Me: Have you heard of Meera "Herbal" Shampoo? (Again don't mistake me. Am no duffer)
Resp: Yes, Yes. I have heard. Even used it.
Me: What?!?!?! We wanted samples who have not tried Meera Shampoo.
Resp: No no. I had got years back. Even before Meera powder.
ME:(?!?!?!?! Wasn't I told otherway round by the Brand Manager who introduced Meera range of products???)

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95% of households:

Meera powder = Meera shika powder
Meera shampoo = Meera shika powder
Clinic Plus = Shampoo
Shampoo= Clinic Plus

Branding does have an impact!!!

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Me: Have you heard of Meera Herbal Shampoo??
Resp: No
Me: (Some questions later) Have you seen Meera Herbal Shampoo ad?
Resp: Yes yes. I have ofcourse seen it.
Me: (Marks a big cross across both questions)

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Now this tops it all. The very reason I ended up blogging on my experience.

Me: Why do you use Meera powder only on Sundays?
Resp: Coz, only then my husband wil be at home, and will apply it for me.
Me: (Am I a stranger there?!?!?!?!, Btw, "Poor Hubby" :P)

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All this ben just a start. Wait for more as i continue to explore lanes and streets of Chennai and more so Coimbatore, where i have high expectations of their slang as well :)

What i definitely learnt was ofcourse - what,why and when buying happens, happens mostly for no reason.

Its Chennai time again :-)

A year away form home (excluding the long and short visits inbetween), and never realised for what specific reasons Chennai is indeed dear to me... leave alone family and friends, leave alone home, school and college buildings... Chennai has been dear old city for other reasons too. Back here, back on work, back on Chennai roads, lanes and pits, I recollect what has brought back the Chennai spirit in me :)

1) Tamil - so used to turning my head at every single tamil word i hear in kgp, that it really means a lot when i hear more of it, and at times only that :) (inba then vandhu paayudhu kaadhinile)

2) Bargaining with autorickshaw drivers - my core competency, skillset, talent, whatever that can be called. For those used to Chennai auto rates, bargaining and gettin the price to atleast 30 less than what he initially asks for, this is something thatgives you a feeling that you are back home :)

3) TRAFFIC - this is what has made me blog now. Struck for a year away in a small town, perhaps this is what i have missed the most... for what would otherwise take me 10 mins, 30 mins seemed long (no offenses meant for near and dear ones who travel for hours every day)

4) Local TV Channels - be it Sun TV, Kalaignar TV, Jaya TV war or SMS and Love Meters in Music Channels, 100 % entertainment guaranteed... :P

5) Eat-outs - CCD (tops it all). How i missed my dear old CCD, my fav sofa, my fav drink... (Thanks to dear friend Harini who makes sure we are there every weekend, and to current office being close to one, that its beecome a daily ritual too :P)

6) Flyovers - right form the ones that made traffic more, to ones which made roads narrower, from ones am used o for ages to ones that i saw for the 1st time, from ones that were to be completed years ago to ones that were to be started ages ago, flyovers make Chennai life go on the high :P

More and much more that just can't be fit in a blog post.. whatever be it, Chennai truely rocks!!!

- A proud Chennaite

P.S.: I made note of this in one fine traffic jam, rushed into office and blogged in a hurry. I invite fellow chennaites and fellow bloggers to add more for i know i left lot many :)

The me in myself

I strongly believe that the word "Thanks" when used between friends heightens (if thts a proper word) and strengthens (this i know for sure is a proper word :P) a big wall between the concerned people. i had always been hard on my friends whenever i had to use it, or when they had used it.

So much for hte word, but the feeling of gratitude can't be hidden... especially when you wanna be thankful for having such a friend... Hence i instead of thanking my sweet friend who gifted me the poem (Refer post below), I gift him back with one i had written (years back... hence might sound less intense) - but goes well with my purpose :)

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Friend...
To you,
I say,
what my thought says- and
what my heart says.
And,
I find no inconvenience
in pouring out my heart
to your lending ears.

Friend...
In you,
I see,
half my soul- and
half my heart.
And,
I find no inconvenience
in letting my own self
resting inside you
rule over me.

Friend...
From you,
I get,
Shoulders to lean over,
mind and ears to listen.
And,
I find no inconvenience
in using your free mind
to rejoice myself.

Friend...
To you,
I give,
All the time I have- and
all the fun I can.
And,
I find no inconvenience
in being with you- the you-
who make me what I am.

Friend...
We ourselves,
though two different souls,
have grown together,
have been together.
And,
have never felt inconvenient
in getting along well.
For you know well-
"Friendship is life
It lives with us throughout"
And I know it too.

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As sweet as it gets :-)

One sweet gift i recently got from my sweet friend :-)

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You make me feel so special
by the sweet things that you do,
and sharing your life wonders
your are a friend so true.

Your heart is full of tenderness
your cup overflows with love,
I know that your friendship came
from our dear Lord above.

You are always in my thoughts
as I hope I am in yours,
your friendship is the sweetest fruit
thru which life's blood just pours.

Walk with me as we grow old
please leave me not behind,
keep me always in your prayers
good friends are hard to find.

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Missing you hard...

This one is something straight from my heart for my dear friend...

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I want to be there my friend
Be there for you and hold you on -
Be there for you when you need me badly,
Be there and be sure you are safe.

I know that you can take them all,
I know you have a heart too strong.
Too strong to stand them all,
And stronger still to make me calm.

Miss you now than I have ever known you,
And I dunno how to repeat your word of solace back to you.
You know I couldn't take them at once,
But my dear - you had to pour them out.

Wait for time to fly and fade,
Wait for God to answer our prayers.
Will wait for that day -
When in all smiles you would say
That you have good news me -
And in plenty too :-)

A verbal "Treat"

I owe more than a simple treat to all those ppl whom am gonna mention in the post below. Due to unavoidable reasons the simple form of gratitude called "Treat" stands postponed... but still i had to do something for them on this very same day, and hence this post.

THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO ALL MY DEAR ONES WHO MADE MY DAY TODAY

"THANK YOU" or even "THANKS" would be too small a word, curse myself for my poor vocabulary, that i can find no substitute for an informal, and stronger version of the word, to express to people what i feel now. The joy of getting placed - as early as this, going home for one-fourth of my course, getting to do what i wanted to, and above all - getting thru the process called "Summer Placements" - all these were just for a few seconds... nothing went into my mind after i was crowded by people, too sweet at heart around me, celebrating every moment of my success.

Every single person who were worried that i wasn't serious, who were amazed that i was too cool, who were angry that i wasn't cramming Kotler as much as i should, who were jumping even for a mere shortlisting of resume, who were more tensed than me before my interview, who were fighting to be the first person to get to know how i did, who helped me out with small-small stuff (ironing my shirt - darling she was), who were there to call me before the interview and wish me luck, who were there to ping me online and wish i good luck, who were there to pray for me, who was there with me all through my interview (made me feel like mom was nearby), who was there to smile and convince that i am "In", who were all too eager to find out what happened in the interview, who were all sure (more than me) that i'll make it, who were as anxiously waiting for the results as i were (infact more), who were the 1st ones to know the final results (before me), who cam running along - bringing down the whole hostel, who were hugging me and were there for me at "the moment", who were there to surprise me with goodies, who were there to make me a star, who were there to wish me on my success, who were there to feel happy for me, who were there to keep thinking of me... GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH WONDERFUL PEOPLE AROUND.

One month, and a bonding this strong - i just can't ask for more. BLESSED, ELATED, HAPPY, EXCITED, SPELLBOUND - are words which might not really fit in... in short I JUST HAV NO WORDS TO SAY.

Note:

Thank you all (Don't believe in thanks among friends, still i have no other word to replace this)... u all MADE MY DAY. Treat is on the way, this post is just a simple gesture of love and friendship. I wish and pray all these people, do much better in their interviews - summers and finals, and much better all through their lives and go places. Lets RULE THE WORLD!!!

A feeling new...

My favourite one... esp, when i gift this to people and their love. :-). Though you could find this on my poet's homepage, wanted to add this in my blog. a) to make this blog a place where i wanna share all i want to. b) this piece is close to my heart and worth sharing. c) its been a while since i updated this blog :-P (i better do before harini is behind my back asking me to)

I still remember the lovely chennai suburban train, sitting in the 1st class compartment, scribbling this in a scrap of paper, excited coz was writing after a long gap... (i love evrything about this poem)

Here it goes:

A feeling new...

A touch of joy-
and still beyond.
A dash of spirit,
still within.
A range of boundaries-
newly defined.
A sense of freshness,
like the breeze around.
a realm of life-
just explored.
A meaning of truth,
unwrapped not long ago.
a uniqueness
from deep within.
A life so strange-
many a time.
A feeling new-
known never before.
I feel now,
that this new bond,
Shall last for long-
for years to come.
Not as long as we live alone,
But years later too,
when our souls meet within.

All isn't fair...

If this is it everytime,
When all that was fair ends in a tear,
When hearts and not minds are seen,
When words but not silence speaks...

Knew it all right from start,
Knew I not, that I cannot.
Thought it was for the good,
Thought it was for the whole of life...

Wished I was there for you,
Wished I was there always...

If only I had not asked for this,
If only I had not accepted it.
If only I were the 'I' whom I knew,
I could have just saved tears a few...

Disclaimer:
This poem was written in class when was totally lost in thoughts. Has no other significance with my life or anybody else's.

SLEEP - then and now

Confessions:

Forgot the promise made to Harini, that i shall update this new blog regularly.
Forgot to start writing on my life @ VGSOM (I shall do that very shortly)
Forgot to mention all these were not because of my poor memory, but coz of the dreaded 5 letter word S-L-E-E-P.

Blabberings - just out of bed:

For someone like me who had always been a night creature, sleeping very late- not before midnight strikes, it can never be tough to manage here. Sleeping late is never a problem. The problem is on the other side of the coin. Getting up early, rather getting up itself. 2 to 3 hrs of sleep every day, very cyclic, very monotonous. End result - dozing off in class only to find out that am one among the very few who sleep in almost all classes. (Here again i blame the topics for putting me off to sleep... for i have been wide awake in real good lectures). Worst was in finance class, when the prof had to ask me if i was feeling very sleepy (and that too in hindi)... and i just had to take an oath that i shall neevr again sleep in classes...(good we haven't had any dull class after that)...

Its not just me... a big lot of junta... from those who sleep over the chairs, to those who sleep right in front row. From the CR to the placecomm. From those who sleep with dreams to those unlucky ones who dint have any. From those who had heavy lunch to those who missed it badly... sleep is the only buzz word around. [Sorry folks if any of you are personally included in the list]... Greeting each other every morning can never be without enquiring when the other person slept or for how long...(so much for sleep)

All the pressure on weekdays' sleeplessness made me go mad and do nothing but sleep the last three days (sleeping the whole day :D)... and the fact is-this is even worse... am left with nothing but guilt.. when the whole world is having fun (or perhaps studyin too), am back in my room sleeping... (am i unahppy about this ??!!??!!). When shortened sleep made me miss just sleep, long hrs of sleep made me miss a whole lot of goodies... breakfast :( , occasionally lunch, precious time that could be used for chatting online, more precious time that ought to be used for studying, and much more...

Now that i have cribbed so much about both missing sleep and sleeping a lot (see am proving myself to be good at confusing), i sit back to think why i lack sleep management skills... maybe thats one i'll end up developing by the end of the course...

Realisation:

I am wide awake now. Just read through what i have written above. Apologies if you can read nothing but the word sleep. :P. Will aim for brisk posts next time.

Sleepily yours. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz