Here's the photo edition of the tale:
Overlooking the river that divides East and West
Cotton Clouds
Their "Gandhi" Note
The Western Sky at 8:04PM
Eastern Horizon at 8:05PM
Which one's your favorite?
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Around the world in Zomato ways!
A lot of time has passed between my last post and now. While the Sun continues to rise in the East and set in the West; I am now making my way into two extreme parts of the world. It has all happened so fast that I was not left with enough waking moments to follow my hobbies passionately (where writing tops the list!) On the one hand, I have been sleep deprived in my race to check things off my to-do list. On the other, when I did manage to hit the bed my brain cried out loud from being over-worked. In all honesty, until this moment: when I am sitting on an airplane on my way to Istanbul, I didn’t think of penning down my emotions as life goes by.
I once read somewhere that every day you wake up and feel you have the same, dreary day ahead and nothing seems to change but when you look back, you can easily spot the differences. I totally agree with it. Except, a few days that specifically stand out clearly in your memory and for as long as you live you will laugh and cry on these memories, reiterate these as evergreen stories and when you feel low these moments will shine bright and fuel your hope. God decided to give me one of these moments recently when, I was offered to work with my company for our Jakarta launch. As expected, I jumped at the opportunity and prepared myself to steer into a new direction. Just three days before my scheduled departure for Jakarta, word came in from my office head-quarters that they needed some help in Turkey now. And thus, opportunity came knocking at my door once again and the bonus offered was that I get to help with the Istanbul launch before the Jakarta chapter! Only an idiot gets life served on a silver platter and grumbles about the shape of the platter! Well, because I am not an idiot; I had no complains and took on the great chance.
So here I am, flying high above in the sky, awaiting the awesomeness to begin and looking forward to the lessons to be learnt, chances to be gained and morals to be imbibed. A quarter of a year ago, you would find me cribbing, complaining, waking, sleeping and following a typical routine. But now is a time when I am sleep deprived and have had no routine whatsoever for the last few weeks and yet, excitement and restlessness brings me to pen down these awesome, real life miracles.
As I make my way into these starkly contrasting countries, I will take time out to pen down my stories. At the cost of making my blog a mini travelogue, I will write about my experiences in Turkey and Indonesia and years later, when I look back I will be able to spot the difference!
Title Courtesy: Aditi Chandak!
Saturday, 13 July 2013
Imagery
Irrespective of what it is, off late my grey cells generate visualizations which are usually telescopic into the future and sometimes even those which could have been alternatives of what has passed. These scenes pass as reels in my head and the projection is so vivid and clear that it sometimes pushes me to tears and sometimes, a smile bursts across my face. On hindsight I feel thankful for such a vivid, clear imagination and I am only compelled to carry on.
Some of the ideas which have clouded my mind, made a mark on my memory and even managed to heal my heart are:
Sitting back, reclining on a couch, reading a book and a coffee mug full of soup in my hand, is how I see myself enjoying my weekly offs.
Stepping out post dinner to bite into a yummilicious scoop of Baskin Robbins ice-cream, laughing over the desserts with friends is my idea of having fun and breaking away from daily routine, for a tad bit before the day ends.
Sitting in a Deepika Padukone pose on a flight, by the window and staring down on land as if I can pin-point who's who is how I see myself flying off somewhere, alone and by myself- Growing.
Going for a walk, with my iPhone in hand, and its special white headsets blaring into my ears.
Working for really long, on my silver-grey laptop, with a bright coffee mug on my red Zomato coaster, and an even brighter diary with a pink pen - all sitting in place on MY desk, with me towering above it all with a whole lot of work left to finish. But, a smile will lighten my face even then!
I have some beautiful dreams, some pretty thoughts of where I see myself. I believe in these thoughts and ideas. I trust myself to make my way through these, all in good time! I make my way through them, but I also cherish them as they are: dreams, thoughts and snippets in my mind. I visualize them and I see them everyday, in more and more and more detail.
I don't miss out the colour my pen or even mistake the soup for coffee. I put my heart into the thought and I know it will all come true. After all, I have the latest iPhone and moreover, its white! And that ain't just a coincidence!
Thank you, God!
Thursday, 27 June 2013
Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai
Growing up in the 1990s had more to do with the TV than with the laptop. If you're a '90s kid, you'd easily relate to B4U Music more than MTV, with Hip Hip Hurray! more than Dil Dost Dance; and most important of all: with talk shows more than talent shows.
I am a '90s kid and I grew up watching more TV than YouTube. Amongst a hundred favourites, there was a particular talk show called 'Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai'. If you haven't had a chance to see this ever, you should know that it tentatively fell into the same category as Rendezvous with Simi Grewal and Koffee with Karan. This one was hosted by Farooq Sheikh and I can't pin-point what exactly drew me to this chat-show but something about it was truly magnetic. So much so, that I remember it starkly even today. Probably my memory, of these talk shows, goes beyond pure reminiscence.
When I face turning points in life, stand at a cross-road of a lifetime or experience any incident, event, miracle or mishappening; sub-consciously I weigh its importance in the grand scheme of things. I ask myself this: If I were to become famous and if I made my way through a chat show, a modern day version of Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, would I talk about this particular moment positively or negatively?
And then, I wander off in my own chain of thoughts judging myself, phrasing lines, expressing joys of acceptance and sorrows from commission of mistakes.
It is only rarely that I realize that if you are a guest at a chat-show, the episode dedicated to you could land up being utferly boring if you have no mistakes to own up.
Having no sorrows and lows to share with the world, would make you a boring person because it is about how you balance it all out in one lifetime.
After all, Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai.
Sunday, 23 June 2013
Dimness
Sometimes, life throws a situation on your face and you have no choice but, to suck it up and deal with it! In the beginning, you curse everything and everyone including Chance, Fate, Destiny and Luck. Then, comes a point when you tell yourself good things about your own existence. You find yourself in a dialogue with your own heart.
People around may point fingers at you, call you names, accuse you of things and see all your deeds in a strange, black light.
However, what matters is how you rise up to it. You call yourself good names, think back on all your goodness and literally count the number of times you've been lucky in this lifetime, alone. That's where your healing process begins. With and within You.
In the last few years, I've faced some troubles of my own but I chose to maintain a lull period in such times, and not blog about it. Whether it was for want of secrecy or otherwise, I know not. But what I do know now, (and do believe) is that everyone's life moves in a wavy pattern. If you're currently on one of those lows, I recommend you follow Rhonda Byrne's advice from her book 'Magic' and count your blessings even during times of distress. Here's my list of happiness:
1. Because times are bad and I am doing the opposite of what I'd like, I am becoming a much stronger person.
2. Because my thought process loves to go hay-wire, I work much better after slight conscious effort put in for the love of my work. Work is practically the only thing I can focus on.
3. Because I cannot go out with my friends and make merry, I am saving money for better times to come.
4. This one is cliched, but true: Because I have people by my side, I can tell friends from foes.
5. Because I am going through shit now, I know that in the times to come, I will stand high and tall, if luck fails me again.
You may read a thousand quotes, hear a hundred pieces of advice to cheer you up when you feel low. But no amount of reading and none of the advice will matter, until, you talk to yourself. Talk yourself out of distress. Talk yourself out of being in a spot.
Because you live for Yourself.
Sunday, 9 June 2013
EOD
In the three and a half months which have spanned my life at Zomato, these three letters have taught me a great deal.
My day ends with this and the early morning sun rises on my world, shining on the significance of these same letters.
EOD, in Zomaland stands for End Of Day. The crux of importance in my grand scheme of functioning is my EOD report. As a fresher, and semi-new to this world of jobs, tasks, duties and departments; I was fascinated with the EOD Report concept from the very start of my career graph with Zomato.
The EOD Report is a mail which each of us send out at the end of the day. This report essentially enlists the work we have done for the day. The subject differs across departments, but mine read 'How I Contributed Today'. Now if that can't enliven your sub-conscience, nothing can! This mail is marked CC not just to the head of department, but also to the founder himself AND to the whole department across all Zomato offices.
What's so cool about this practice on my Zomaland?
It accounts for total accountability.
One cannot take away credit for work done by others, cannot exaggerate the work you've done because your entire team is receiving the mail. One tends to take the work a tad bit more seriously only because of this teeny-weeny mail. It connects you to the founder directly, regularly.
It is because of this EOD that all day, I find myself writing down things I've done. My to-do list merges with these pages in my daily diary and I feel I am touching the epitome of being organized.
Such an impact this has had on my grey cells that when I meet people engaged with other forms of employment, I think to myself, how boring/ exciting/ funny/ mundane/ mature/ childish their EODs would be! Here's how my thought process works:
1. In a bank, early on a Saturday morning, I rest my chin on the cash counter as I wait to withdraw cash for my father: I think to myself, that the man behind the counter would have only 1 line to write, 'Processed X number of transactions today'.
Verdict: Boring
2. At the neighborhood grocery store,to buy stuff for home, as I run errands for my mother: I see this man chat at length with more than half his customers. He could write at length about his awesome communications! After all, it will help him keep track of each customer's life. Anyway, his son will take on after him and at that time, these reports will help the little lad as he is enlightened by life around him.
Verdict: Indian, print edition of Gossip Girl
3. In a bus: This one's semi-short for the bus conductor. Just a line of "so-many" tickets sold in the day. If he picks fights, gets engaged in brawls or gets caught breaking traffic rules then, he'd be adding spice to his life!
Verdict: Moody.
4. I step into the mandir and the pandit is caught up with the morning rush of people: His EOD would be full of his experiences of seeing hypocrites in fellow "devotees" who visit God periodically. Would the persons concerned ask him to keep track of the number of people who stepped in, (footfall in the temple) number of garlands offered to the deity? Would he be writing about the commission he negotiated with the flower vendor outside the temple?
Verdict: Off the beaten track.
My thoughts run wild and my brain cells run a rat race when I think along these lines and try to picture the whole world in the Zomaland way of doing things!
Saturday, 25 May 2013
My dream car trunk
When I drive my OWN car, these are the things which will occupy the trunk:
1. A few bags: from polythene packets to gift bags.
2. A set of casual clothing (basically jeans and tee!)
3. A dressy top (for the spontaneous party plans)
4. A CRATE of Coke cans.
5. A bottle of perfume (summers suck!)
6. A spare charger and a set of earphones (both would be the lower quality ones!)
7. An umbrella or a cool pink polka- dotted raincoat!
8. A watch (this one's JLT!)
No, my ambition in life isn't to be a vagabond.
And yes, it will be a car, not a caravan!
PS: If you're my friend and you ever need me to come and receive you at the airport, warn me about the luggage you're carrying😉
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