Sacred Tree

However great and experienced you are, you can't go by your instinct all the time. At times, you need to think and then speak out.

It often happens that first and hastily spoken words have to be regretted sooner or later.

It is not that there is no opportunity to correct what has been said already. But those words may have already been analysed and etched somewhere at the back of the listener's head. Usually, what you say first is what you mean the most. But there are occasions where you'd want to change your words. Then why not be careful and make it a point to always think before speaking however sure you are? Haste indeed makes waste... haste harms, haste hurts.

Delayed Picnic Update

I didn't mean to ignore this place. Have wanted to write so much over here but there's sooo much happening that everytime I want to write, something more has happened and what I came to write is old.

Excuses :| I inherit that from my students.

Now I just want to post!!!

I told you I'll be giving picnic updates. There is not much to update, I tell you! What could happen in a picnic?

We decided to meet at 6:30am in college. And we met at the said time. 8 of us. Of which 2 were husbands of 2 staff members. Our usually punctual Dr. Awesome was not on time! Hmmph! He seems to know the rest of the staff members better than we do, even though he has known them for only 3 months. He came by 7:00 and then the rest kept coming. AFTER 7am. There was a tiny 1-minute puja where the college bus driver brutally injured a coconut till its fluids oozed out (:P Ok I was just entertaining myself hehe ;) ). Then there was a lot of photography. I strayed away from the group to click pics of the sun but then I realised that my camera battery had gone poof! Had to make do with my 3.2 Mp faithful SE k790i Cybershot for the rest of the day. The bus finally rolled out of the campus at 7:50 am with 32 staff members. (So much statistics! My quirk.)

From Murud, we took a boat (rowing boat with a sail, not motor boat) to Janjira fort. One of our staff members seemed well informed and made a good guide himself. He explained the significance and history of the place, which I conveniently chose to forget the moment he finished! Murud beach is too tiny and dirty to have any fun. So, we went to Kashid beach. The picture in the previous post was taken at Kashid. After lunch, we had musical sessions :)

Here's the surprise picture I promised to post.

That's Dr. Awesome playing his flute for us. It was a thoughful, beautiful, warm treat! I have uploaded a video of him playing 'Jaane Kahan Gaye Woh Din' on facebook. A few other staff members also sang for us. But Chelpa Sir was the biggest surprise pack of the day. So cool to have a principal who's a musician flutist, tablist... whoa!!

After spending quick, thoughtful, fun 3 hours at Kahid, we left at 7pm. Reached college campus back at 10pm.

Okay enough of picnic updates! My college festival, Arête, got over on 20th March and I'm still suffering withdrawal symptoms!! That's how good it was :) Got to see a the different shades of some people during festive season.

More about that in my next post! I'm going to have to censor my next post very carefully!

Murud Janjira, Kashid Beach picnic

You know how lovely horse rides feel? Do you know? What do I tell you? I can't even explan!! Because I haven't ever riden one. Hmmphh! Even though there were horses all around me.

I have reasons:

1. I'm terrified of broken bones.

2. I'm a pessimist when momma is not with me.

But then, if mom was with me, even the faint chance I had would vanish coz she's more terrified of my broken bones than she is of hers :P

Oh by the way, the horses I'm talking about were at the beach. Dr. Awesome (my principal, Dr. Chelpa Lingam, for beginners) arranged for a staff picnic, something we haven't had for years in my college. So, he and 32 other staff members of the college went to Murud-Janjira fort. I'll give tiny, little details about the picnic (and a surprise pic of someone) in the next post. For now, here is a picture I took there.

It was shocking when my camera battery refused to cooperate. But I'm glad my virus infected Sony Ericsson still continues to be very faithful :)

Tata people! Have a Happy Holi and a great weekend!

Height of Insensitivity

I saw one of the most thoughtless women last week at the railway station.

The indicator showed 6:01 pm and the next train was scheduled for 6:08pm. The platform got more and more crowded as seconds ticked away. An obese, impatient woman came by and asked me, "Was there an announcement about the train being late?" I shook my head and said, "Another 7 minutes" and looked away. She looked talkative and I was in no mood for small talk. Among a lot of tired and bored people there was a very energetic group of college students, talking, teasing and laughing aloud. It was fun watching them. I like it when a group of friends enjoy without a care about what is happening around them.

I saw the fat woman watching them. She came towards me and spoke to the girl next to me, "These girls have to go to Andheri. I'll tell them there is a direct train to Andheri at 6:15pm. That way they won't get into this one. There is already so much rush. If these people come, we won't get any place to sit."

I was flabbergasted! Such insensitive people really do exist on the same planet that I abide?

The girl was no less shocked and told Mrs. Senseless, "No, aunty, why trouble them?" But she said it too sweetly. I would've given the woman such a dirty look that she would've hidden her face for the rest of the month!

I heard the loud honking of the arriving train, but the chirpy group's loud announcements amongst themselves about the comfortable direct train were louder.

"Aunty, you're sure about the train, aren't you?" they excitedly asked to confirm.

"Trust me!" Bitch!

I briskly walked up to the crowd, looked at Mrs. Sweaty'n'Senseless with an exaggerated frown on my face and declared loudly to the group. "Look, there is no such train. She is misguiding you because she wants a place to sit. Get into this train. Hurry."

The group's split second decision was to believe me and they all hopped into the train. Once I was in, I looked for the fat woman; found her nowhere. But being insensitive enough to unhesitatingly lie to a group of kids waiting to get home, I doubt she had any shame in her that'd make her hide or not want to face the group.

...

That's all. Have a good day ahead. If you are waiting to know about your chances of being able to kick me, look at me sulk ---> :( :( :(

Now pity me. Or deposit your kicks in the feedback box, but listen to my reasons before that! The weekend I was aiming for, mom and I were alone at home and we were having a jolly time. I did not want to step out of that mood :D And last weekend, the 3-day long one, mom and I were not alone at home and so, I was spending time with the rest of the family :P

P.S. I was extremely upset with two of my friends (still am) for loudly assuming the way I treat my lovely students. Let me make it clear to everyone here. I DO NOT TORTURE MY KIDS!!! They are my cute, naughty bundles of joy whom I treasure and will never ever let anyone harm them in any way!! Do you get that clear, both of you?

PPS: RJ Karan Singh Rathore's programme 'Ru-ba-ru' on 104 Fever FM (Mumbai) turns ONE today. Karan's second album, also named 'Ru-ba-ru', will be releasing shortly. I will keep you updated about the whereabouts of the man with the lovely voice :)

Weekend plans

I pray that this weekend will be different.

There are things that I have been wanting to do for a very long time now. But I wanted to finish off the more important things before I distract myself because the distraction is a passion and the important stuff was compulsion. I have been teased for having delayed pursuing my passion for so many years and just going on whining about it. I have been told that if I really wanted to do it, I would. Now, I am saying it again. I really want to do it. Scores of weekends ago, I could have got closer to it, by my laziness always came in the way. This weekend should be different.

I usually wake up very late on holidays. But on Republic day, I woke up early and got ready so that I could be a part of the flag hoisting ceremony in our colony. Desh Bhakti! :D Hehe.. it wasn't really patriotism because I usually watch the Republic Day parade and flag hoisting happening in about 20 states, on TV. But this time, our dear Principal Sir wanted us to be present in college on 26th for hoisting and said that those who could not be a part of the function could simply give him proof that they attended elsewhere. So, I had actually gone to take some photos of the programme. And I did. But I never did have to show it to him. That's a different story altogether. Bad story.

Anyway, it shows that if I want to wake up early and make the day productive, I can. Its only my laziness coming in the way. I am taking care of it slowly and I have to, considering the way I am handling the extra responsibility that has been put on me. More on that later.

On Monday, I will report to you if I managed to hide away from my laziness and do the stuff I planned to :) And if I don't report, it just means that I did not do it. Kick me then. And kick me hard. By the way, I got hit by a cricket ball yesterday :P It didn't hurt!!!

My awesome boss!

I have an amazing new principal in college. Anyone following my updates on facebook would know how fond of him I am :) It is not often that one likes their boss. We tend to dislike those who have authority over us. I think this is most experienced by children with older siblings. Like I have my Chota (small) Hitler (that's a nick I have given my big brother) Why do I call him Chota even though he is older? That's because there is a Bada (big) Hitler in my house too. My dad :P

They say people who draw moustaches and beards on pictures of people on book covers are those who thirst for authority but just cannot get it. My Hitlers already have moustaches, so, giving them names was all I could do. Like an obedient little child, I nod and listen to everything dad instructs. I am not scared of my brother but he has a knack of making me do things. He will give these philosophical, senseless big brother lectures to mom, which magically make sense to her and I am given the title of a disobedient spoilt brat if I do not listen to him. So, I am blackmailed into obeying this person who is just 13 months older than me. Pfft! I should prepare some poor-little-small-sister lectures now.

Aah.. so.. my adorable principal! The name's Dr. Chelpa Lingam. He is one of a kind. The kind of person one cannot dislike. I was impressed during the first meeting we had with him itself. It lasted a little more than hour and it was his first meeting with all college staff. The rest of the meetings we've had lasted no less than two hours each. Two splendid hours that feel like just a few minutes!

He is a great speaker. I think it is the fact that he is a certified speaker for Emotional Intelligence that makes his words so captivating. It is such a pleasure to know that the man in the "BIG BOSS" chair has no ego issues and that you can be relaxed and free around him, that you can be human, not employee.

He joined our college just before the semester exams began. A new rule was introduced for students who are caught with chits or mobile phones with exam related data. Any such student will not be allowed to write the rest of the exams in that semester. Strict it is, but this is something I have been wanting ever since I was a student. This is an engineering college after all. If you are copying and passing, you are going to, say, build bridges that collapse in a day!

He should've joined our college years ago. Way before we had some inconsiderate people who knew only to carelessly pass orders. Anyway, rather than getting greedy, I guess I should just be thankful that we have him here at least now! :) I just hope that the snakes and wolves of the college fail miserably in their attempts to drive him out.

The answer

Happy new year!! :)
So, many of you saw a red rose. Some saw a folded napkin, rose on cake and many such well thought stuff. See I told you its a modified picture. I go backwards now. The picture I wanted to publish was actually this.


A yellow rose. But it looked a lot like the original object.

This is the original object. A cropped version of the original photo. It still looks like a rose, doesn't it?

Aaaand here it is! The original object. A cabbage cut in two. Check out that awesome looking centre!

A cabbage by any other name would look as beautiful.. ;)