The Sound of Rain....

I am lying in my bed

I am hearing the raindrops falling

I can see the rain through my window

The drops running down the coconut leaves

The water wetting the banana leaves

I think of the narrow road in front of my house

I can imagine water gushing through its sides

The road slants down to the paddy fields

The water running towards it

I think of the paddy fields near by

I wonder how much water will be stagnating there tomorrow

It will look so beautiful

The green paddy in the orange muddy water

I think of the land near by

Where there are many coconut trees

And the small trenches dug around it

Tonight’s rain will fill them with water

A smile escapes when I think

Of my paper boats cruising in them

A hundred thoughts cross my mind

A monsoon night washed up feelings inside

Now the wind blows wild

And open my window

The slight spray of water rush inside

A slight cold has crept inside

I tuck to my blanket tightly

And its all beautiful

I open my eyes

And look around

Its dark … It’s lonely… I am somewhere …

But the sound of rain coming from my laptop

Flooded me with all those memories

Wherever I go… I know … the moments never go….

Courtsey : http://www.rainymood.com/ ... hear this and you will feel what i felt... 

First Day at McKesson Gym

വളരെ അധികം പണിയുന്നത് ഒരു ബോറന്‍ പരിപാടി ആണ് എന്ന എല്ലാവര്ക്കും അറിയാമല്ലോ. എനിക്ക് ആണെങ്ങില്‍ ഒരിടത്ത അധികം നേരം അടങ്ങി ഒതുങ്ങി ഇരുന്ന ശീലം ഇല്ല താനും. അങ്ങനെ ഇരിക്കെ ആണ് പുതിയ പ്രോജെച്ടില്‍ ചെന്ന ചാടിയത്. ഇവിടെ ആണെങ്ങില്‍ ഓഫീസില്‍ തന്നെ ജീവിക്കുന്ന കുറെ മനുഷ്യര്‍. ഇവര്‍ ആണെങ്ങില്‍ ബാകി ഉള്ളവരെ പോലും അധികം നേരം ഓഫീസില്‍ പിടിച്ച ഇരുത്താന്‍ നോക്കും. അധികം നേരം ഓഫീസില്‍ കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറിന്റെ മുന്നില്‍ തന്നെ ഇരുന്നാല്‍  ഞാന്‍ ചെയ്യുന്ന പണി കുറഞ്ഞ കുറഞ്ഞ  വരും. എന്റെ കാര്യത്തില്‍ work is inversely proportional to the time spend in office. അതുകൊണ്ട് ഓഫീസില്‍ spend ചെയ്യുന്ന സമയഹ്ടില്‍ കൊരച് നേരം break എടുക്കാം എന്ന കരുതി. അപ്പോളാണ് കൊരച് healthy break എടുകാം എന്ന  കരുതിയത്.ഈ US ഇല്‍ ആണെങ്ങില്‍ daytime ഇല്‍ വെളിയില്‍ ഇറങ്ങി നടക്കാന്‍ പറ്റില്ല. വളരെ അധികം ചൂട് ആയിരിക്കും. അങ്ങനെ ആണ് ഓഫീസിലെ ജിമ്മില്‍ പോകാം എന്നാ തീരുമാനത്തില്‍ ആയത്. 

  കഴിഞ്ഞ രണ്ടു ദിവസം ആയിട്ട ജിമ്മില്‍ പോയി inspection ഓക്കേ നടത്തി; എനിക്ക് ചെയ്യാന്‍ പറ്റുന്ന എന്തെങ്ങിലും equipment ഉണ്ടോ; അവിടെ തിരക്ക് ഉണ്ടോ; വിയര്‍ത് ഒഴികി കഹ്സീയുമ്പോള്‍ കുളിക്യാന്‍ shower ഉണ്ടോ; അങ്ങനെ പലതും. എല്ലാം തൃപ്തി വനന്തിന്‍ ശേഷം വളരെ അധികം സന്നഹങ്ങളോട് കൂടി ഇന്ന ഞാന്‍ ജിമ്മിലോട്റ്റ് പോകാന്‍ തീരുമാനായി. എന്നാല്‍ ഇന്ന് തന്നെ ഉച്ചക്ക് ടീമിന്റെ കൂടെ ചെട്ടിനാട് എന്നാ രേസ്റൊരന്റ്റ് ഇല്‍ പോയിരുന്നു. അവിടത്തെ ബുഫേ കഴിച്ച അത്യധികം വയര്‍ നിറഞ്ഞ ആണ് തിരിച്ച വന്നത്. എന്നാലും ഒന്ന്‍ തീരുമാനിച്ചതല്ലേ എന്നോര്‍ത് ഞാന്‍ എന്റെ തീരുമാനത്തില്‍ ഉറച്ച നിന്ന്.

ജിം ഡ്രസ്സ്‌, music player , shower gel , മൊഇസ്ടുരിഴെര് ഇങ്ങനെ പലതുല്‍ ആയിട്ടാണ് ഞാന്‍ ജിമിലോട്റ്റ് പോയത്. അധികം ആള്‍കാര്‍ ഇല്ല. ഒരു ചേട്ടന്‍ അവിടെ dumbell എടുത്ത് കളിക്യുന്നു. പിന്നെ മൂന്ന്‍ ചേച്ചിമാര്‍. ഒരാള്‍ ആണെങ്ങില്‍ അര മണികൂര്‍ നേരം treadmill ഇല്‍ നിര്‍ഹ്റാതെ ഓടി. ഞാന്‍ aadhyathe അരദിവസം ആയത് കൊണ്ട് അര manikoor കൊണ്ട് പരിപാടി ഒകെ  അവസാനിപിച് locker രൂമിലോട്റ്റ്  പോയി. അവിടെ bathroom ഇല്‍ കേറി വിയര്‍ത് ഒളിച്ച ഡ്രസ്സ്‌ ഒകെ ഊറി shower ഇന്റെ അടിയില്‍ കേറി നിന്ന shower തിരിച്ചു. അപ്പോളല്ലേ രസം! shower  knob  തിരിയുനില്ല. ഞാന്‍ പൂര്‍വാധികം ശക്തിയോടെ തിരിക്കാന്‍ ശ്രമിച്ചു... രണ്ട മൂന്നു തവണ ബലപരീക്ഷണം നടത്തി... ഇല്ല രക്ഷ ഇല്ല.. ഇനി എന്ത് ചെയ്യാം... ഊരിയ ഉടുപ് എല്ലാം തിരിച്ച ഇട്ട, bathroom ഇന്റെ  വെളിയിലോട്റ്റ് ഇറങ്ങി. അവിടെ ആണെങ്ങില്‍ non-stop ഓടി കൊണ്ട്  ഇരുന്ന ചേച്ചി കുളി എല്ലാം  കഴിഞ്ഞ റെഡി ആയി കൊണ്ട്  ഇരിക്കുന്നു... njan chechi kulich erangiya bathroom il poyi shower knob thirich nokki... illa... ithum anangunilla... ini ippo ingane alle ith thirikendath? non-stop ചേച്ചിയുടെ തന്നെ സഹായം തേടാന്‍ തീരുമാനിച്ചു..

me : how do u turn on the shower.

non-stop : just turn the knob

njan ullil pokunnu.. pinneyum knob-umaayi malpiditham nadathunnu... raksha illa enn kand thirich purath varunnu... 

non-stop : you have to turn it away from you.

njan ullil poyi adutha bala pareekshanam nadathunnu... ith kanda non-stop chechi bathroom-inte ullil vannitt oru pushpam pole knob thirikunnu vellam varunnu... appol enik mansilaayi... njan upayogicha shakthi onnum pora enn.... 

me : does the shower in the other bathroom work.. ( ente ella sadhanagalum njan appurathe bathroom-il nirathi vechirikyukayaanu.. ini ippo ath work cheythillengil matheele ellam eduth ingott poraan!) 

non-stop: i am not sure. i always use this shower.

pinne njan thirich ente bathroom il poyi avide oru balapareekshanam nadathi. oduvil knob ente shakthikk munnil thott poyi... shower il ninn vellam vannu...appol njan oru kaaryam orthu.. aa weight onnum lisft cheyyenda kaaryamilla... ee shower knoil il vann shakthi pareekshichal mathi enn...  pinneyum najn bathroom-il keri udup oke azhich maatti onn vistharich shower gel oke itt kulikyaam enn karuthi. appozhalle adutha kuzhappam.! shower aake cold -ilott maathrame thiriyunnullu. ethra sramichittum chood vellam varunna baagathott shower thirikyaan pattunilla... vistharich kulikyaam enn vicharichath oru vyamoham maathramaayi.... aa thanutha vellathil 1 minute polum nilkaan pattathe valare pettenn purathott chaadi. shower gel thirich veettil kond vekyanam enn njan prathyekam oorthu... orikkalum aa vellathil njan soap it kulikyaan nilkilla enn enik nalla urap aayirunnu... 

angane kuli kahzinj purath vann, mudi ketti, moisturiser ittukondirikukayanu njan. non-stop chechi makeup kahzinj veliyil irangaan nilkunnu... appol avide vere oru chechi kulich erangi vannu.. towel um chutti aanu pulli kaariyude varav. njan ente paripaadikal oke kahzinj sadhanagal othuki bag il vekkumbol atha enne njettikkum vidham avar avarude towel oke azhich maatti dehath muzhuvan body lotion thekkunnu... oru nimisham antham vitt kuntham vizhungi... enthaanu avide nadakunanth... najn entha invisible aayi poyo ennoke chinthich ninnu... pinne bodham thirich kittiyappol adicha cultural shock inte aaghathathil ente sadhanagal oke perukki njan veliyilott oodi.... !

mazha....

thudich nilkunna meghangaliloode

udhirnu veezhunna thenthullipol

varandu thalarna bhoomiyil

snehaamrudham choriyum mazha

venalchoodal karinju nilkum jeevanil

aardrathayayi niranj…

idavazhiyile aruvikalil

kalchilabaninjodunnaval mazha

ente janal paalikalil koode

chinni chithari veenu…

en dehiyilum dehathilum

kulirekiyaval mazha…

kolpaadangal niranju kaviyunna vazhiye

karmeghangal sooryareshmikale thadayunna samaye

kattin thanutha karangal enne thalodapedan..

yathrayay njanum palavattom ithile…

noketha doorangalil

pachaparavathaani virikkuvaan vannu nee

oru harshadharayaay peythuthirumbol

kambilikkulile ilamchoodett

en alasamaam bhavanakal vidarthuvaan vannaval nee..

ninn drutha thaalavum... 

ninn thanutha thalodalum...

nee nirakyum puthu mannin manavum..

noolpol veezhuma drishyabangiyum...

jeevanil alinju chernirirunnu priye…

arikilillengilum.. en manasine ennum

 kuliraniyikkunnu nee sakhi...

enn baalyathin ormakalil

ninn cheythikal ennum niranju nilkum…

Casino Primera :)

Yes! Highway 50 lead me to that world of magic... the glittering lights... the blazing music... the crowd with thousand expressions.. i walked in to my first Casino... like a small kid who ventured into her first country fair...! The colors and the light took me to another world. I was mesmerized just by the thought that how much this place was ALIVE!

My misconceptions about the casinos were that you had to have big money to play... I thought that people keep big money and they win or lose based on their luck... and mostly people lose. As my awareness grew, i came to know that you can play starting with 10$ too... so i was prepared to lose my 40$... since that's all i had!

Never did i imagine that it will be so crowded inside. The innumerable slot machines were like mirrors looked on to by eager people...  Not even one was empty and everyone was trying their luck tonight. After the slot machines came an array of tables... the cards, the roulette... They had a power to attract you. Definitely the ambiance made you smile and it invoked an urge to try your luck then and there. 

My companion took me to roulette table and explained me the rules to play. Then i watched sometime to see how people played. Yes! Most of them were rolling their money. I just got coins for 20$ and started playing. I did not take much risk and play. I was definitely worried of losing even though i came prepared to lose, i had the fear. So i was almost all the time playing safely. But as time passed, people around me were like buying coins for 100$ and more and playing. It was interesting to watch them play. When you look at the table, you can see stacks of coins, one top on another on almost all numbers. While i stuck mostly to the corners, in between numbers, odds, evens, black or red kind of columns, people placed their coins in stacks all over the table directly on numbers. But one thing i note is that, you forget the time, the world and everything and are sucked into the game. The loud music or the colors or the crowd doesn't matter. For that matter, after a long time only i noticed the minimally dressed waitresses who were unhesitatingly exposing. Your eyes and senses and stuck on the table and roulette. The time flies there, the tables turn.... I saw one lady who was like winning everything at one point of time and after sometime, losing them and buying more coins.... A guy came in with 200$, placed his bet (the whole of 200$) on the black bet. The roulette turned and came to a stop. He left empty handed. But people are not bothered. After sometime, a granny was playing beside me. You can see all kind of people there.

So, nothing can stop you there. There  is always a small voice inside you which whispers... probably this is your luck day...

What Some People say......

Well.... we all are not maestros in any language... but we generally try to avoid foot in the mouth situation... thanks to our marvelous school teachers... we should be thankful to them... and thankful to god that we got them... Well not everyone is as lucky as we are... 

well these incidents DID really happen.... 

Mr X is from Andhra and quite well known for his mastery over English language ...  well...  u can read for yourself... 

• A usual morning in an IT company.... onsite status call ..... everyone joins the call and the onsite coordinator asks.. "how are u doing".... and well.... our Mr. X has some answers..... he explains whatever he had been coding/developing the previous day.... well... he had been doing all right...!

• well... Mr X pings his lady colleague in communicator ...  "can we go to some outside hotel?" ... well.. if you didn't get the pun... here is the clue...'its very suspicious in certain circumstances...'... well.. what he really meant was to go to a restaurant for lunch... :)

• well... not to mention that he goes to his lead every morning and asks "what am i do?" .... yea... he means "what am i supposed to do today... or what is his work assignment for the day"...

•  another one... yea... this time Mr. X and team mates were in a restaurant for lunch... and everyone was discussing about what to pick from menu.... so someone asks Mr.X ... what do u want... " I want france..." the perplexed teammates again asks... what?... "I want france..." ... well... what he actually wanted was.... prawns....!!! in the meantime the rest of them were thinking... what next... italy?

Well ... some guys are lucky(and hardworking) even if they talk their "own" versions of language... he is onsite from quite a long time.... latest news update... in some part of America... a group of Americans are quite interested in Telugu and rigorously learning the language... ! :P 

Well... another story is about a new joinee in a project.... as part of an introductory informal meeting... someone asked him... where do u see yourself in two years... after a long thoughtful silence... the reply came... which lead to more silence.. rather a stunned one... "Heaven!"... the blank faces of his team mates couldn't give away anything more! well... he is quite a believer... and he believed that world will end in 2012 and then he wanted to be in heaven... what more can you think of in 2 years! :) 

The same joinee after a 2 week stint in the project got another chance to answer the same question again in another introductory session... this time he had a long story to tell... he told about the high mountains and the low valleys.... the long hard treks, the troublesome waters, blue sky, green grass... and on and on.... well... thats quite something to do in 2 years... but where is he leading us to..... at the end of the story... he has reached the top of the mountain and he is looking back and what he meant was.... " when he look back after 2 years... he dont want to do anything he will regret then... and want everyone to be happy about what he did" ... well .. that boy is going somewhere I say!

Now another one.... this girl must be infamous for her hindi.... went to a shop to buy some text books... took a technical book and asked the shopkeeper for price... he said Rs.400..... well.. the smartie did not loose time to start bargaining... " teen hazaar rupaiye ko doge bhaiyya...?"... 

Another day she walks into her hostel room and finds the DVD of "Band Baaja Bhaarath".... and she says.... they have spelled Bharath (as in India) wrong... and renamed the movie instantaneously... "Bandh ( as in hartals.. yes malayalees... we are pround of this one!) Baja Bharath"! :) 

You cannot miss on this person named Harish who has contributed well enough to make us laugh. 

• One day he calls up the helpdesk people to raise a query for one of his colleague. This is how the conversation goes " Hi, This is Harish from XYZ team. His name is Janarthan. J for Japan, N for Nandini. " :P

•  Harish calls up Pawan(PM) at 12 midnight: " Hi Pawan, I am not able to update effort tracker."

• Harish comes late to office everyday.
  
  Pawan: Why r u coming late to office?

  Harish: Doctor asked me to sleep for 8 hours.

• To Dinesh on call:  “Is this Harish?  Sorry sorry, I am Harish , you are Dinesh  J”

   

I love all these people ... If not for them... our hearts would have been weak :)  (u know laugh is good for heart... yea.. i know i am a geek :P )

Me and World Around

Ok! i know i am not a good citizen. I really know this fact to my full conscience. For a start, i dont read newspaper. And i don't generally care (not completely) about what is happening around. I am this generation who startles at a news and comfortably forgets about it once the heat subsides and sink into my own defined and secluded happy world. I am sometimes ashamed of me. 

But sometimes i feel that this is what Darwin stated in his theory of evolution and as Spencer rightly coined 'Survival of the fittest'. This is how we evolve and adapt... Adapt to the changes to the world around. When the world around turns out to become brutal and conscious-less,  you adapt to ignore it; you succumb to your world, your shell; where you fool your mind to "Aaal izz well". This is how normal people happily assume to be "fit"; to fit in the society, to survive. To live their lives till they die. Don't blame the people when they don't raise voice against injustice and atrocity. Some consciously ignores and some unconsciously. And some brave souls have the will power to raise voice against injustice. But how many have you seen to be successful? How many have succeeded in bringing the guilty to justice! Justice, i am not talking about judiciary here. Even after being found as guilty, the 'Evil' is still free; they have power. And what happen to the souls who stood against them. They either become history or an non-story. Now do you blame the common man to adapt to the current state they are in? They are happy in their small world which they falsely believe to shield them from the 'Real' World. 'I' am one of them. Life is short. Let me live. Let my conscience forgive me for my inactivity and insensitivity!

ividathe cheriya bhoomikulukangal! (the small tremors here!) - 22

Saji k competition kodukaan edak edak sramikunna chilar und... Silku ne maathrame njangal korach worthy competition aayi eduthirunullu.... ippol itha... Anju..." njan ottum purakil alla" enn theliyich kond munnerunnu... 

Savi Anjunteyum Sajiyudeyum koode Silkunte kalyanathin pokaan train kerumbol ennod paranjath " ente aathmavin vendi prarthikanam" ennanu.... haan... vendi varum enn enik nannayi ariyaam.... ningalk athil enthengilum samsahayam undo? ennal ee sambhavam onn arinju noku...

Train oru station il nirthi... ethaanu station enn ariyaan vendi savi anjunod " etha station?"

Udane Anju station-il kanda hindi-il ulla exit board vayichitt "Edi station 'Baahar' aanu "!!!!

ini enthengilum samshayam ningalk baaki undo?

ividathe cheriya bhoomikulukangal! (the small tremors here!) - 21

Saji vann 2 divasam aayittilengilum entha... mandatharangal exponentially aanu cheyyunnath... 

Mandatharangulilekkulla puthiya addition:

Silku nte kalyanathin thiruvalla il poovan ready aayi irikukayaanu ellavarum ee weekend... 5th Feb, 2011. Thiruvallayil Silku nte kalyanam kazhinj Saji k tvm ponam.... Saji nishkalangathayod koode Savi yod ulla chodyam "Thiruvallennu uchakku 3 manikku train keriyal Njan pitte divasam ravile alle savi tvm ethu ennu"Enthu parayanam enn ariyaathe Savi ennod gtalk iloode avalude dukham ariyichu!!!

ividathe cheriya bhoomikulukangal! (the small tremors here!) - 20

US il aanenn vech nammude swantham naattile cheriya bhoomikulukangal njan ivide ariyunund.... prathyekichum saji bangalore il kaalu kuthi enn ariyumbol , bhoomikulukangalk ulla ente kaathorkal veruthe aavilla enn enik ariyaam.... pratheekshakal onn thettathe saji namuk vendi mandatharangal kaanichukonde irikunnu.... ethra vegam mandatharam kaanikkum ennathil sajiye vellan aarum illa ennathin aval theliv thannukonde irikunnu.... 

Namuk vendi bangalore il ninn savi aanu direct report cheyyunnath... 

Saji aadhyamayi PG il vanna divasam... ravile 5 manikye aval ethi... saviyude roommates oru chechiyum aniyathiyum aanu... avare unarthathe Savi Sajiyod paranju... ivar sisters aanennn.... kelkanda thaamasam... Saji ottum sound korakyathe.... "SISTER" aano? 

Appol aa kuttikal eneettu saji yod chodichu... vannappolekkum njangale convent-ilek ayakkum le?

US ile Orange Juice

Njan US il pokunnu enn parayumbole enik pedi aayirunnu...
1. Pokumo?
2. Poyaal ethi pedumo?
3. Ethi pettal jeevikumo?
 .....
ee chodyangal ingane neend pokum....

And then my friends with experience started giving me advice... well.. i love them for all the tips they gave me....

1. Take all the necessary papers..
2. Make a copy and keep it in the hand luggage
3. Drink lot of water and in the flight ... you will get dehydrated...
4. Try to sleep for sometime...
5. Keep the money safe
6. ....list goes on....

well... njan oru nalla kutti aayath kond ivar parayunnath ellam kettu.... in flight whenever they came up with juice and water... Njan kaineettum... aadyathe glass sip cheythappol thanne... enthaanith... juice thanne aano... entha oru kayipp.... pinne aalochichu... bodham kettal thanne 10 hours flight illa... 10 manikoor kazhiyumbolekkum enekumayirikum.... pinne mook aduch pidich otta valik kudichu....
Next pravashyam avar juice kond vannapol avar apple veno rasberry veno enn chodichu... apple juice medich kudichappol aanu samadhanam aaye.... ath juice pole undayirunnu...
pinne avar juice kond varumbol njan apple enn parayum... ente baagyam pole avar chilappol ath kelkum ... kettillengil avar aa kaiyikunna juice tharum.... pathiye pathiye aanu enik manasilaakaan thudangiyath... ath orange juice aanenn... pinne njan karuthi.. oh.. flight il aayath kond aayirikum ithrem vrithiketta taste orange juice in enn... entha taste enn vechal... orange juice adikumbol tholi kalayaathe muzhuvan aayi itt juice adicha pole irikkum...

Angane njan valya kozhappam kodaathe US il ethi... Ivide etheett njan minute maid orange juice kudichu... appol njan oru theerumanam eduthu... US il ninn orange juice kudikilla enn....

Angane irike Intel il pani thudangi... Cafe il poyi sadharana njan milk allengil coffee aanu kudikaaru.... Appol oru divasam evening il ... korach healthy aayitt enthengilum kudikaam enn karuthi.... vere options nokiyappol... vending machine il coke pepsi ok kandu(ith vare njan ivide cola pareekshichittilla.... angane cheyyunna diavsam chilappol ningalk vere post vaayikaan kittum)... pinneyum najn healthy drink search cheyyumbol atha... "fruit punch".. fruit inelum healthy enthund... vere glass neetti ... oru glass motham fruit punch um eduth seatilek nadannu... seat il ethi oru vaay kudichathe ullu... kudikano... thuppano... enna oru chintha vannu! ente priya suhruthakale... US il poyaal ariyaathathum... ariyunnathum aaya sadhanangal kazhikumbol sradhikanam... enna oru munkaruthal njan tharunnu.... aa fruit punch... oru nalla punch thanne aayirunnu.. enthoru puli... ho... najn oru vidham ath irakki... pinne fruit punch um eduth rest room il poyi kalayaam enn vicharichaal aalkaar kanille... ath kond.. pathiye pathiye avide irunn kudich theerthu... ho... adutha oru theerumanam eduthu... no more fruit punches....
Ente adutha pareekshanam adhikam vaiki illa.... ippravashyam healthy juice "lemon juice" aayirunnu.... juice enn orkumbol thanne enik pedi aanu... pakshe ith koode try cheyyam enn vicharichu.... ente pratheekshaye ottum thettikaathe thanne.... leamon juice "athimanoharam aayirunnu" ... oru raksha illatha puliyum kaiyippum!!!!
ivar ee juice oke undakumbol athinte tholi kalayaathe aano bagavaane undakunne!!! ho!

Angane i came to a conclusion... while in US.. keep out of orange juice , lemon juice and fruit punch... !!!!