Recent Happenings

Hey Guys

It seems the gap lengths can only increase.. I am obviously talking about the 'gaps' between posts.. It's been a busy life, and there's nothing that can make me happier than being busy.. ;)

This post is about the current holidays (it's been 4 years since I last appreciated a holiday)..

On the 4th of May, 2011, when the bell rang at around 5PM IST, I trudged out of the exam hall with mixed feelings. The last paper (VLSI Design) could have been better, life's gonna be different the next few months, Granny passed away two days back.. With these confusing emotions, I picked up my stuff and walked to see Siva Sir(who handled VLSI). After a small discussion with him about the paper, I got to the real agenda. Earlier that day, Sir had asked me to meet him after the exam for some work (which would span a couple of months). So, when I asked him about it, he told me it involved extending my final year project for R and D work within the college.

My college is opening an R and D department, and the other college (situated in the same campus) received a grant from the government to do R and D on Harvesting Solar Energy. The binding between the institutions and solar energy does not end there. One of the stakeholders of the institution also runs a company selling 'Solr' products. Last year, I ended up spending a good part of 8 months on making a Fan run from DC for this company. (It is a bigger story than this, and I guess I should do justice to it in a post of its own ;) ).

Anyway, going by what my Sir said, I get to continue going to college for another month atleast, and not as a student who has to sit through classes.

Back home, i started cleaned up my table, picked up 'Roller Coaster Tycoon' and watched a movie, and some episodes of serial everyday on an average. By serial, I obviously don't mean the tear inducing fare on TV. I'm currently watching HOUSE, FAWLTY TOWERS, and final Series of Mind your language (2nd run ;) )

Apart from this, I need to monitor my admissions to Masters courses (I've applied to IIT, IISC, and going to apply to NITs.. Hope to hit someplace in this list :) )

I also hope to work on some projects, and maybe I'll put in some updates later..

Cheers

Kamal's Dasavatharam..

Hi everybody
Its been one year since this blog's been updated. There've been several reasons for my infrequent posting, but i'll tell you why and apologise later.. :) .. Let's get down to business straight away.
From my previous post, you would've read my experience in the movie - 'Sivaji', but, almost 1 year later (yesterday, to be accurate), I'd been to the same theatre to watch another biggie - Kamal Hassan's Dasavatharam.
Last week, my Dad got the tickets to this movie from the same colleague who gave him the 'Sivaji' tickets, at the same theatre. I repeat again, for emphasis, that I'm no fan of Rajini or Kamal, and I watch movies irrespective of the star cast. When I entered the theatre, it reeked of alcohol(or alcohol based perfume, I couldn't decide which), which kindled the nostalgic memories in my head. This time, we had balcony tickets(with some real cool seating), since there was no Dad's boss to exchange class II tickets with!! However, there was something else.
The theatre guys sold two tickets for the same seat!! And almost 4 seats were in contention.. So, one of my dad's colleagues who was watching the movie with us, complained to the manager, who settled the dispute in our favour. The movie started amid wolf whistles, maybe even more than for the previous movie. As the movie started, the extremist(not a terrorist, i meant an extreme fan!!) colleague of my dad sitting next to me contributed to the wolf whistles. The story was action packed. And the special effects were incredible. I liked the storyline, but at the end of the movie, we'd decided that if we watched the movie once, it would be impossible to enjoy the story completely. So, its not just a must watch, but a must multiple-watch!! The movie is easily in the league of the Mission Impossible series or the Die hard Series. I wont put down the story here, as there are a lot of other sites which can tell you that.

This one's a howler that my cousin told me just after the movie:
My uncle's (cousin's dad's) office mate, who's a helper, misunderstood the 'virus' that appears in the movie to be 'vairam'(Diamond in Tamil), and even narrated a different story altogether(something like a diamond smuggler's story) to my uncle!! And this person got to watch the movie in the VIP box at Mayajaal - 1st day 1st show!!!
That's life i suppose~~~~
Anyways, keep your eye out for more posts..
Cheers
Ashwin

SIVAJI... The BOSS

Saturday, the 23rd of June, is perhaps just another day of my life. But, my dad decided to make it extra special by getting tickets to watch the latest release of Rajni - SIVAJI... THE BOSS...

For your information, I'm no hardcore (or normal!) fan of Rajni, just an abnormal (Normal means, the guy is a fan of Kamalhassan or Rajni!!!) guy who watches movies irrespective of the star cast.

So, I went into the theatre with some expectations. After all the analysis on television, including all the English news channels(NDTV, Headlines Today, Times Now, and CNN-IBN...), I decided there was going to be something in the movie.

After my previous experience with black marketers in another theatre, my dad decided to get tickets at a particular theatre - which was neither close to my home, nor did it boast of any superb features. Thank God for small favours, there was something to label Air Conditioning... I felt the urge to curse the fellow in front of me when he smoked.

Almost four families (My dad's office mates had all brought tickets from another colleague, who was the leader of some Rajni Fan club). One of his female colleagues had got her family along. Her son and I always find a reason to slit each others' throats.

CLASS II
Although we had box (balcony) tickets, my father and I gave up our seats to his Boss' family (No, there was no ulterior motive :) ), although the boss (my dad's boss... not Sivaji :) ) decided to join us, along with another uncle (This person is the husband of the afore mentioned lady).

The class II seats consisted of Wooden Seats, barely enough to sit on. But we did not complain. It was more fun to watch it this way, all of us admitted.

THE MOVIE
The movie began, with all the hooting and shouting expected before any Rajni movie. The movie was really good, that even my mom, who never stays awake through any movie (even if it is a morning show) found it difficult to doze off. I enjoyed Vivek's jokes. They were really clean(it is a rarity these days) in this particular movie. The songs were good, and so were the graphics

The movie was really good, and worth watching a second time. And, I did find reasons to enjoy at the class II seat.

So, that was a normal evening converted to an unforgettable evening, thanks to my dad...

SCARY NIGHTS...

As I lay on the floor, I felt the vehicle run over the fingers of my left hand. My breath was caught in my chest as I tried to heave my left hand to safety...
And I entered the real world, as the 'dream' world went out of focus. It was 1.30 AM. It was my maternal grand mom (and not a vehicle that) almost stepped on my hand which was under a bed sheet. I controlled my scream so that the result was a gasp that only I could hear. So peace reigned in the night... I was still shocked by the frightful nightmare that I decided to get myself a glass of water. As I walked, I remembered some of the nightmares I had as a kid.

When I was hardly three, we used to live in Hyderabad. The house we lived in had two entrances, one in the front and the other through the back. One fine night, I ended up crying that a bull entered our home through the back and tried to butt my mom... Reality, now that i realise, was that I had seen a cow shed close to my home the same day. I had seen cows perhaps for the first time then. So the unknown animal caused me some scare in the night, apart from disturbing others' sleep.

**********************************

I smiled to myself as I walked back to the bedroom. People made fun of that particular incident until I was ten. "What's the significance of ten years?" might your question. I'll take time to answer that...

This incident was when I was ten (as you might intelligently guess)... We moved to Chennai just that year. We'd just finished setting up our household articles that week. It was only my mom, my bro and me at home. One day, suddenly, at 5 in the morning, I started to see images of 'the Hindu God of Death'... I screamed with all the force that my lungs could possibly produce... Thinking back, I read up some part of Mahabharatha, around that time. The way the Pandava Brothers died after consuming the water from the forbidden lake had its effect on me... at least that is my guess at the moment. Ever since, I have never taken a mythology at face value... But, my scream was enough to make my mom jump. But my brother continued to sleep peacefully.

*****************************************
I tried to suppress a guffaw which forced itself out of my mouth. I went back to bed trying to supress my thoughts and try to catch up on my sleep... I usually visualize outer space and some planets, stars and asteroids... This trick works most often. But, not this time. My mind wandered to think about the existance of powers beyond us... I've been brought up in an orthodox family, so I never question the existance of God, but merely questions like where he is, and what he does and other such questions that one cannot answer to get a satisfactory answer.

I remembered a real life incident that my paternal grand dad narrated when I was around 13 years old. His mom was claimed to have been dead for over a day before she came back to life!!! The story revolves around the fact that the minions of 'the Hindu God of Death' that I mentioned earlier made a mistake in taking the wrong soul to hell. She even described the conditions she was made to experience - like being tied up in a jute bag, and being just elevated through space, and communicating in telepathy. It depends on you, whether you believe the story or not, but my concern was that she died(permanently at the age of 108) before I got a chance to ask her more questions about where she went, what she saw, etc. I thought it was a big joke until I heard that similar instances took place all over the world...

***************************************

I'd had enough scares for a night... I couldn't take it any longer... I screamed.......... :)

'Reunion'

89Hi
This post is about the 'follow-up' of a public speaking class that I attended last week with my brother. The class was just too good, and so I couldn't keep myself off the follow up. So, the follow up was on a Sunday, the 27th of may, 2007 at hotel Palm Grove. I got up early to rush through my gym routine. After returning, I got ready quickly and got ready to run. Just the previous day, I was informed about a colour code to be followed by all the members of our batch. One guy suggested everybody wear blue. So, my brother and I wore blue denim trousers!!!

Finally, we saw our friends and discussed what we missed the previous day. Finally, the class started. Its public speaking, so they asked for volunteers. My brother was prepared with a speech and so he volunteered. About three of our batch mates(including my brother) spoke up, and all of them did exceedingly well. The class got over earlier than expected. Finally, all of us were out with plans of lunch. We walked up to Hotel Komalas which was just two buildings away.

One guy (who shares my name with a v for w) kept moving too fast... Apparently, he was too hungry!!!

Finally, we finished our lunch with promises of meeting up the next wednesday, before schools begin their academic year... So, everybody bid a tearful farewell... But as far as I was concerned, it was just a wonderful topic of a blog to be scrambled like this...


Anyway...
Here's the list of people who turned up...
"Abishek(Finished his 12th with commerce), Akshya(Finished her 10th), Asha (finished her 10th), Ashvin(he's entering 10th at PSBB Nungambakkam), Ashwin (yup its me!), Balaganesh (finished his 10th at St.John's), Ishta(Into her 10th), Lakshman (he's finished his 12th at Maharshi Vidya Mandir, with a whooping 91.2%), Nithin (yep, my brother), Rohan (entering 10th - this guy doesn't even know what his dad does!!!)Vishnu (he's entering 9th - a school mate of Ashvin), Vivek (He's finished 10th at DAV), and Venkat Subbu (He's finished 10th at St.John's - school mate of Bala)...


People went home with the feelin,"Won't our friendship last forever!!!"...
*******************************************
Waitin for the next meet, for a whole new idea - for a new blog :-)

THANKS - GIVING

Hi people...
My latest blog (this one) will make more sense, if you know my back ground and my habits (read my previous blogs if you wanna know more!). Besides, I got my board exam results recently. It was pretty good as far as i am concerned.

If you've read my previous blog, you'd know that i used to go to three tuitions (Math, Physics, and Chemistry). Once the results are out, courtesy dictates that I meet my teachers (and professor for physics), I learnt that from my seniors! At the time of results, I was going to a class that taught skills of public speaking and communication. I usually left home at 7.45 in the morning, but on the day of results, I decided to get my results at 8 before I started. The results were out and my prayers were answered. I left to the class...

Let's fast forward to the evening.

One
Evening, I returned from class and had to go meet my teachers... Here starts my ill luck. I went to my tuition teacher's house, and as luck would have it, he'd just woken up. So, sleepily he asked me for my marks. As I was telling him, I tried to keep a straight face. That's because, his hair was standing on its end(I did mention, he'd just woken up)!!! But, he was very patient and did not mind being woken up. Another important thing was that he was not wearing his shirt!!! This gave me more reasons to feel embarassed. I walked out of his house after telling him all my marks and which college i was likely to join... Strike 1...

Two
Immediately after meeting the teacher I started off to my next tuition teacher's house. I generally find she's not at home if I go to meet her any time other than class hours. Finally, I rang the bell outside her home. Her husband came out and asked me for my result. He noted it down. Then, he gave me the teacher's number and asked me to give her a ring if it was possible. So, I gave her a ring and the following conversation ensued:

Me: Hello Ma'am. Ashwin speaking.
Ma'am: Which Ashwin?!
Me: Ashwin, from 12th...
Ma'am: Err... Oh, Its you. How much did you get...
.......................................................................................................

The conversation rolled around my marks. And, it was pleasant over all...
Strike 2...

Three
I did not get the time to see him. It was atleast 3 days after my results that I finally got the time to see him. So, I went to his house with my dad. As soon as I rung the door bell, my father realised that it was inappropriate to go see an elder person without taking something along (like fruits, or flowers or something like that). Anyway, as he opened the door, I wished him. I used the skills I had learnt in the communicatons class, to some very useful results. I generally, dont see eye to eye (literally, and figuratively)with this person. But, today, i decided that I'm going to be intimidated. I looked at him without venom in my mind. The discussion veered violently about my marks (I scored least in this subject)... Thankfully, he said, "Its over... Just leave it...". The discussion finally ended with his mentioning my cousin (who was his student two years ago). He cannot help avoiding mentioning her, no matter what. Its always a comparison (healthy - accordingto him, but unhealthy - according to me) that rules the conversation. Finally, I walked out of his home, thanking God that no further damage was done to my self respect... Strike 3...


Now you know that Thanks giving is meant - both as thanking my teachers (whom I consider next to God) as well as thanking God (for stopping further damage by teacher 'Three')!!!

LOL

A TYPICAL DAY OF MY LIFE IN TWELFTH - Part 1

A typical day of my life starts with the fast forward button...

I hear some faint music, as though it's coming from the bottom of a well... I rub my eyes, to focus on the source of the sound (I generally associate it to an irritating sound, because I hate to get up that early!)... It's just my cellphone ringing an alarm at 4.30 AM. I reach for the snooze button and slump back on bed... Slowly, a huge poster of God, which is pasted on the wall of the room comes into focus. Within a minute I'm up and running into the bathroom. Generally, tuition classes start at 6 AM, so i'm usually up an hour earlier. I brush hurriedly and run into the kitchen to prepare my breakfast - usually oatmeal porridge. As it boils, I run to get my books and records arranged for school. I then let the porridge cool, as I rush into the bathroom again to have a bath. By the time I'm out and dressed up in my uniform, the porridge cools. I then hurriedly gulp it down (breakfast part-1!) and pick up my helmet and run to my scooter...

Life hits the slow button now...

I ensure that I ride at a reasonable speed (never more than 35km/hr) and ensure that I'm on time to class. Generally, it's the morning classes that i like the most, as it's the time when my attention is never diverted easily (it's always either Maths, taught by a really nice teacher or its Chemisty by a teacher whom I liked the best, throught my schooling...). These classes last nearly one and half hours and end at 7.30AM.

Life hits the fast forward again...

I return home with less than half an hour to spare for school to start. I rush home and gobble up my food (breakfast part 2!). Then, I rush to school...

Now, life returns to normal.

School starts at 8 AM... I'm usually at school atleast 5 minutes to spare before they start penalizing us for coming late and I've maintained a clean record for seven years now (That is to say, I've never been late to this school!). I really don't have to describe school... I'll do that in a separate blog... The classes start around 8.45 AM. I paricularly like the physics and chemistry classes... Many people tend to disagree, but, hey! it's my opinion! We break twice (one short, nearly 10minutes at 10.05 AM and one long, nearly 25 minutes for lunch at 12.10 PM). School ends finally around 3.15 PM...

Now, life runs a very fast forward...(life is too cruel, so is fate...)

I generally go home to leave my school bag and run back to school... Wondering why!?! The queer thing is that this tuition (for physics) runs at school... The teacher (or should i say professor!) who runs this tuition is a balding man in his early sixties... He is one person who gets on my nerves... The class lasts two hours and ends at nearly 5.45 to 6PM...

From this point, life gradually slows down, till i hit the bed...

I reach home to get myself a spot of early dinner... I listen to some music, and try to relax my nerves (from the pressure in the evening tuition class!)... And finally I try to read up something (for tests or just to refresh my memory) till my brain wont concentrate and starts revolting by shutting my eyes involuntarily... I fall on the bed around 9 PM, exhausted, but nonetheless, with a feeling of fulfillment...

Looking back now, I feel that I've invested a good amount of time and have no regrets about wasting it, whatsoever...