Way to go SC!!!

Attended a wedding reception yesterday on the invitation of SC. His cousin sister was getting married and I had been invited to the reception at a plush club alongwith JD, V, P, R, M, RK, K, VD, SCH, RS and Y. A meeting was set up at Bandra station at 1930hrs but our plans were foiled by JD's reliable tardiness. Why cant that guy ever reach a place on time? Consequently, we were delayed by around 20-25 min and could not reach the venue before 2015hrs. However, we found that only Y had reached before us. As we were to understand later, R's driver had arrived late and hence, the girls took a long time to arrive. Surprisingly, RS decided to take the advantage of a free lift - a decision which he was to regret later. LOL. The last to arrive was RK who brought along a bag with him. Dude, surely you can leave behind college for one day at least!!

After presenting the bouquet and the card to the happy couple, we sat around for some time, generally making RS the 'Bhat' of all jokes. It was nice to see the tables turned after a long time - an event which had RS squirming uncomfortably in his seat. Then, it was time for dinner. Yummy!!! Something told me that this was going to be the best part of the evening.

We all trooped up to the terrace where food was served, and we were certainly not disappointed. Laid out before us was the finest collection of Chaat, Soup, Punjabi Dinner and Dessert. Restraining myself with great difficulty, I plodded my way through the first three courses, which were delicious in their own right, in anticipation of the last course, which happened to be Kulfi Falooda. Oooooh, even the mention of that name makes my mouth water!! I had a couple of those and then I discovered to my chagrin that I could not have anymore. Now, before anyone forms an opinion about the limited availability of the dessert, let me clarify that it was nothing of the sort. It was my stupid stomach which was unable to hold any more of that oh so delicious dessert. Anyway, I suppose it was a good thing that this was the case else all the weight that I have lost in the recent past would have amounted to nought!!

After a hearty meal, we all trooped out, moving with great difficulty. SC had been a really good host and his excellent hostelry was beginning to show. I went along to see R's car but could not see much in the dark. 10 more minutes saw us on a bus to the station. All of us had had a wonderful time and we were all disappointed that it was all over. Anyway, all good things have to come to an end.

Managed to catch the remainder of the Filmfare Awards Function after reaching home. Rani looked wonderful and SRK rocked. Sleep was a very peaceful affair after that.

CIAO

Project Work?? You must be Joking!!!

Today, the day started off on a rather boring note with MMM engaging an extra lecture. However, it was not as boring as expected and we never came to know when the lecture got over. Had to wait for a long time after that for project work as PHS seemed to be very busy.

SC came today as he, JD, V, P, RK, RS, M, SCH and SC had made plans to go and watch BLACK. Their program almost got cancelled as PHS played truant and did not allow M, RK and SCH to leave early. Anyway, all's well that ends well. They all got to go finally and hence, their day was made.

As regards my project, PHS was very busy with some sort of election today and hence, could not devote any time to our project. I, R, T and ST waited for him for a long time but, to no avail. Well, as it is, we have hardly ever got much work done on a project day. Much of the actual work gets done on working days. After all, PHS has to be different.

Things were not very good on the home front either with me getting a vehement NO from Dad to bring along the car to college on the BE farewell day. Well, I guess I will have to bide my time until I can call the shots. My time will surely come!!!

CIAO.

Maaro! Maaro!!!

Today was a pretty usual day except that we got to shift back to our regular class. It felt very nice to be back on those familiar rickety benches. G was back in his usual perch as the college watchman, noting down the cars that came into and left the parking lot.

R came into the class wearing a weird looking Indian necklace that was definitely not matching the western clothes she had worn. I told her so in as many words and earned a frosty look for my efforts. So much for trying to be helpful, as a friend!!! MI conducted placement interviews today. The guys from our class fared pretty well in the interviews. Hope they get selected.

The CEA organised a lecture in the afternoon on Business Opportunities in Environmental Engg. It was a horrible experience. Only the main speaker was good. The rest were very incoherent. Most of the students slept or chatted via paper. I was amongst the latter. Tomorrow, if I find those CEA guys, I am going to drag them to a 'Public Dhulai'. Thats the secret behind the name of today's post.

CIAO

Feels Good to be back in B.E.

The past few days were very hectic in terms of assignments. Couldnt post on the blog coz of that. Much water has passed under the bridge since the last post. The disappointment of S***E getting over had not passed and out class was in for a rude shock on Monday. We had been shifted to the S.E. class while they had been given our class. The move was opposed tooth and nail by our class and thankfully, the authorities relented. We have been asked to shift back to our class wef from tomorrow.

Nothing much on the academic front. MMM continues to remind me of my hatred for mosquitoes. Why cant that guy speak like a normal person?!!! PHS goes on with his mumbo-jumbo. Thou shalt understand mumbo-jumbo if thou want to sit in PHS's class!!! RRR continues to strengthen my belief in her ineptitude to teach even a 2-yr old kid. So, I suppose the profs are pretty normal this week.

On the project front, we seem to be making good progress. PHS has been sitting with us everyday and guiding us and believe me, he is doing a very good job of it. Hopefully the project should be ready by March end. R and I have decided to present the project itself as a technical paper in N-2005. Lets hope we win this time round. I hear the prizes are pretty good this time. I could do with some ready cash.

My best wishes to all those appearing for MI placement interviews.

I have nothing more to say. Comments on the shoutbox are welcome.

CIAO.

S***E is finally over

Well, feels good to resume the blog after a hiatus of 2 days. S***E is finally over. It feels so depressing after the festivities of 3 days. Its back to the grind now. In my previous post, I had slammed S***E as a no-show. But, I must admit that it started getting better with every passing day. Yesterday was the most successful day of S***E, for me atleast. I won the first prize in 3 quiz events to add to my second prize the day before. I am so happy!!!

Feb 18, 2005

The day started off in the usual lazy fashion. I felt sure this S***E was not going to be a happy hunting ground for me, what with the previous day proving to be a dud in terms of S***E success. But, thankfully, it was not to be so. I teamed up with VV to form a rather unusual combo of vertically and horizontally challenged guys. But, the combo proved to be a very good one. We managed to reach the finals of F&M and actually came second, answering just 2 questions. Even we dont know how we managed to secure a position. We also ended up as first backups for the Biz quiz by an excruciating single point. So, the second day was not at all bad.

After all the events got over, A,C,R,G,BS,AB,GD and me gathered outside the college wondering what to do for the next 2 hrs left for the Pronite to start. BS suggested that we go and climb to the top of Gilbert Hill. Since, we had nothing better to do, we decided to go along with her suggestion. The next half hour proved to be torturous, with us going thr the smallest of gaps in slum areas that never seemed to end. The girls began to feel very uncomfortable and begged us guys to turn back, even BS. But, we wanted to attain our objective. Gilbert Hill had now become our Lakshya!!! With help from the slum dwellers, we managed to reach the foot of that magnificient 3000+ yr old piece of flat rock that was christened as Gilbert Hill. But, another obstacle awaited us. The steps to climb up the hill were very steep, with risers of upto 50 cm in places. The railing was practically non-existent. G and I tackled the steps in quick time and we were soon standing on the top of the rock. The girls were slower and had started panting by the time they managed to reach the top. C followed, trying to drag up A. I was surprised at the agility I displayed during the climb. Those kilos I have lost in the recent past seem to help. LOL. The view from the top was breathtaking. The climb had been worth the effort. After visiting the small temple on the top and taking a few pics with C's cell, we decided to return, primarily because it was getting dark. We found our way pretty easily, taking a motorable route this time.

Then it was time for the pronite. It was pretty good and the singers managed to keep the boisterous audience interested. However, since Mom had called me home early, I had to leave in the middle of the show. Anyway, there's always a next time.

Feb 19, 2005

I had a feeling that the day might be very good. I went to college in high spirits. Unfortunately, I did not have a partner for the quizzes. Fortunately for me, BJ shared the same predicament and we decided to team up. This last minute combo earned us first place in GK and Geography quizzes. For the TV quiz, acting on a hunch, I called up A and asked her to accompany me to the quiz. My hunch proved to be right as we went on to win the contest, handing A her first quizzing success.

After the events, we discovered that C had brought his car. So, we decided to go to Silver Beach. GD and N acompanied us there. There was a chilly breeze blowing at the beach, causing the girls to shiver. We had a nice walk, almost upto Juhu beach. We were also treated to a foodstuff of our choice there by C. We returned at the right time for the dance competition. The competition was pretty lame with no college putting on a spectacular show.

After the end of the competition, we headed to CA for a sumptuous non-veg dinner. CA is a very nice place. I must come here more often. Then, it was back to the pavillion for all of us and finally, S***E ended. Sigh!!!!!

CIAO.

BLACK is actually WHITE !!!!

Well, finally, there was respite from the horrible rigmarole of boring lectures and torturous professors. It was the first day of S***E today. I went to college with great anticipation but, I was sorely disappointed. This year's OC had done a pretty shoddy job. The college was just not looking right for hosting a festival. The atmosphere was also pretty lame everywhere. There was no real games village this time and I could not locate a single food stall anywhere in the college. The events were delayed as usual and there was total confusion everywhere. In fact, the previous year's committee had to help out the incumbent OC to prevent an absolute fiasco.

As regards me, I fared very badly as compared to normal simply because S, my regular partner is down with chicken pox. My stand-in partner, J tried to help me as far as possible but, it was just not the same. I dont mean to say that J is not good. I simply mean that he and I have not quizzed together enough to win outright at the first attempt. Anyway, the less said about that debacle, the better.

Later on, A suggested that we go watch Black and this time, since I fared miserably in the quizzes, I decided to go, alongwith A,C,R,G,RS,M and ST. I sure did not regret my decision for, in the next few hours, the scenes playing before my eyes were amongst the best I had ever seen. The touching emotions which can be experienced by a blind and deaf girl and her magician-like teacher are brought out very nicely by the director. He seems to be back in the form of yore when he made films like Khamoshi. While that one was a musical, Black has the maximum effect without a soundtrack. However, what marginally spoiled the effect the film had was the stupid and inane crowd. In one scene, when Michelle, the impaired girl asks her teacher to kiss her just once, for she may not be able to feel like a woman again, the teacher kisses her for a brief while. That was one of the best scenes of the film for me, but it attracted so many catcalls from the stupid crowd. Even one of our group joined in the melee that ensued. I shall not name him here to prevent embarassment to him but, that individual really disappointed me. This film has clearly not been understood by a majority of the audience. Maybe its too mature for them. SAD!!!

After the movie, I decided to head for home as I was already almost halfway there. It just didnt make any sense for me to go to college and stand there listening to a maniacal DJ churning out ear-splitting noise which the crowd prefers to call music. Thats the reason I got to drive today and surely that was the best ending to the day. The icing on the cake was that I got to eat a BBQ Chk croissant which was heavenly.

Well, that was my day. It was a very eventful one and, on hindsight, I must say that I enjoyed every bit of it, especially after lunchtime. Update on the second day of S***E in the next post.

CIAO.

Its S***E Tomorrow !!!

Well, today was another boring day of lectures. MMM in the morning is a real pain. I dont know why he has to drone like a mosquito so much. Much of his lecture was spent in trying to make out what the effect of the 'Lie Load' was on the slab. ANG was in scintillating form today and finally, started teaching QSE the way it should be taught - by solving problems. PHS was all mumbo-jumbo as usual, but today, it was actually possible to understand what he was saying, though I suppose the practice I have got through my project proves to be invaluable. Elective passed by like a breeze, and then it was lunch break - my favourite period.

Lunch was, surprisingly, a very leisurely affair with I, G, R, RS, C and A sitting out the entire hour in the Canteen. C suggested we go and watch Black but G, RS and I had EE tutorials with MMM so, we had to very reluctantly pass. The next 3 hrs were absolute torture with G choosing to display his vocal skills with the help of all the depressing songs he could recite. Oh and did I mention there was the added bonus of MMM droning at you from close quarters?

Went to Merwan's later in the evening and had a roll and a smoothie. Merwan's - keep it coming, I Love You. LOL. Nothing of note happened later so I suppose this post should end here.

Oh ya, one more thing. Just a short while ago, I found V online!!! Now that is such a rare occurance, I nearly fell out of my seat!!! Then, to top it all, P came online!!! Now this was getting to be too much!!! In fact, she is still online as I am posting this post. Way to go guys, the Internet Rulz!!!!

CIAO.

Tuesday Tales

Well, Tuesday started off with me getting up late, as usual. Then it was the usual grind and the sprint to the station to catch the usual train. I think I am getting to be perfect as a fireman. I can already get ready in less than 2 min. Now the only thing remaining is learning how to fight fires!!! And to add to my woes, the train HAD to be on time. Where is the railway's famed impunctuality when you need it the most? In any case, due to some quick (yes, quick) running on my part, I could get into my usual train. I then had to pant like a dog for the next 2 min, resulting in some starnge glances in my direction from my fellow passengers. LOL.

As if this rigmarole was not enough, S and I had to share a rick with another fat guy from college. All this coupled with the fact that I was dropping off to sleep at a moment's notice, thanks to that stupid QSE assgn. Nothing of note happened during lectures. Even the normally scroogy RRR gave the tutorial off and we were left with nothing to do. G was entertaining us with tales of Hijras and how his PhD prof in Diploma had, ahem, let us say, seen more than he should have??

Late in the evening, the results of Monday's VE placements came in. A, BS, G had all managed to get in. In all, 7 people from the class were placed with VE. That leaves only 10 unplaced people in the class. Hopefully, 100% will be placed this year. As usual, G acompanied R to her second home, to the sound of catcalls which, not surprisingly, seemed to please him. Got to take this up with him sometime and rib him a bit more.

Later, got into a small incident over a spoon of soup with R, which, on hindsight, was very silly on my part. Anyway, the matter's cleared now. At night, got the news that S had been diagnosed with chicken pox and would not be able to participate with me in our college fest. It seems V's prophecy came true. Got to find a partner for the quizzes. After all, its the final year.

Now, its back to the grind tomorrow and then, its S***E - our college fest!!!! Yaay!!!

CIAO.

Placements - A Blessing in Disguise

Well, its hard to believe that today is Valentine's Day. I couldnt spot a single couple in my college decked up for the occasion. It seems once people enter engg, they forget celebration of all spl days excpet maybe the college fests. Anyway, today VE came for placements to college.

Almost half the class sat for the aptitude test. When I left college for home, the results had not been declared. Anyway, today, I didnt wait for the placements to get over. Thats coz Mom and Dad had gone for a wedding to Goregaon and offered to pick me up. The icing on the cake was that it was my day to drive today. This was a chance I was definitely not going to miss. Hence, my early exodus from college.

Before starting for home, I treated Mom to some Fruit Salad with Ice Cream on the occasion of Valentine's Day. Encountered quite a lot of traffic on the road home today. This affected my journey time. It took me around 1 hr 15 min to reach home which is pathetic by my standards. Anyway, more in the next post.

CIAO.

Working on a Sunday Sucks!!!

Well, its been a funny sort of day so far. Got up at 9:30 in the morning and promptly went back to sleep again. Then, I suddenly realised that the finals of Univeristy Challenge were being telecast today and rushed to watch it. Thankfully, I had missed only the introductions. Anyway, it was a keenly fought close contest and only a fool would predict the winner. Finally NSIT, Delhi managed to hold their nerve and scrape through. It was scintillating quizzing, at its best.

Then, it was time for my leisurely bath. After taking 30 min under a wonderfully warm beauty shower, I was shooed out of the bathroom by my irritated mom. Guess, she will never understand my penchant for looong warm showers. I suppose its good for the environment that she won't, else there soon wont be any water left in the locality. LOL.

The Sunday Times had nothing much interesting. Just the regular news of who was murderd, raped etc. Garfield was pretty lame today. Got some good info from Open Space but thats about it. There were some more good reviews of Black. I HAVE to watch that movie sometime. Told C about it and he agreed to come after our college fest. Hope A, R, S and RS come along then. Guess S will refuse to come what with all the assignments being piled on our heads by our very generous Profs. I suppose R will also come up with some excuse or the other to avoid coming, as she usually does.

Anyway, coming back to today, I managed to complete the QSE assignment except for a couple of questions. Now, thats an achievement in itself. What dilutes the joy is that I got it down verbatim from R's journal. I got to start writing my own assignments, dammit. The good thing was that I managed to solve the problem in the second QSE assignment. Had to incorporate a few corrections in the solution suggested by the stupid RRR, but I managed with Dad's help.

Had a very late lunch at 3:30pm and am now sitting in front of the comp wondering whether to snooze or watch TV. Guess I will plump for the former. More in the next post.

CIAO.

Boring Saturday

Well, it has been a very boring Saturday. I just lazed about for the whole day reading the paper and playing NFS 6 on my comp. Managed to get down to some work in the afternoon. Damn that stupid Quantity Survey Assignment!!! I couldnt understand much and soon gave up on it. I managed to secure tickets to the movie Page 3 for the evening so the day was salvaged from being a complete waste. The movie was good. The director has brought out the hypocracy of the people appearing on Page 3 very nicely. A hard hitting movie. Next movie on my wish list - Black. Hope I get to see it in a theatre soon. Anyway, had a lovely dinner at home, consisting of fish and prawns. Guess I will sleep contended. Tomorrow is another day of assignments. I cant remember the last time I have had a real holiday on a Sunday. Guess this will be the trend until I pass out of college. I will be watching the finals of the University Challenge tomorrow morning. Then, its back to my stupid assignments. Sometimes, I think that my professors are all out to get me. Dunno what I have done to invite their ire in this manner. Anyway, more in the next entry.

CIAO.

My very First Blog

Not knowing much about blogging and having been introduced, to this medium by a friend, I dont know what to write in my very first post on my blog. Anyway, I guess I will improve as I continue using this service. Lets hope I can write something better than this lousy first post in my later ones.

CIAO.