Racheal Again..

Hi again..
Last working day of the week..
Kevin was bit upset with me today. He has all the rights to be. I was not focussing on my career and may be all that he said made sense. I just have one thing in my mind, I dont want any more complications in our relation. But I must understand that we need much more than what we have, not just for us but for our happy married life and for our family. We had a long discussion as to what I want and finally Kevin said just be clear in your desires, ur aim in life and be focussed towards whatever you too. He understands me so well that he can actually make things simpler for me.
Discussion ended on a light note and I went for lunch.
I came back and called Kevin. Mum-in law scolded him. He’s having headache since has few days and had been straining his eyes. I asked him to consult an optician and mum-in law got upset as Kevin was constantly on PC or cell fone or TV. But its not his fault.
Anyways, we know that parents love their kids and even if they scold them, its for their good only. Kevin got the time to relax.
He also got his FnF cheque and letter from the BPO he was working at.
Ok..lot of serious stuff..
I’l soon be meeting Kevin’s parents and his bro. Everyone at home teases me and Kevin and the fact is we both enjoy it . I am a bit nervous in meeting my in-laws. Its not for the first time i’l be meeting them but in front of my parents its for the first time and the main thing is that my parents doesnt know that I have met them. I call my in-laws mom dad and since my parents dont know this so I just have to be cautious that I dont address them as mom dad..would be tough
I am yet to decide what should i wear, how should i behave..after all its the first official meet of the two families and Kevin has already warned me that he’l also take advantage of the opportunity and will tease me in front of everybody. But beware Kevin, even i wont let the chance go

Time to go guys..

have to pack my bags..

Love you Kevin..

So m here again!!

First of all, thanks Kevin for the wonderful time that we spent together on my birthday n thank God for the narrow escape we had from the blasts, after all we were roaming at the place where the bombs were already planted!!

Slept early yesterday so Kevin got some ‘bachelor tym’!!..hehehe…free tym i mean to say!! Feeling much better today, except the bad throat, good for Kevin again..he wouldnt have to hear my scoldings

A big and busy day for Kevin. His training has started. The wait is finally over!!

Hey, Kevin just went for breakfast!! mum-in-law called him!! Enjoy some good food till the time i enter the kitchen!! I m in the learning phase of cooking..Kevin has tasted the food cooked by me. He says its good..as if he has any other option!!

As Kevin said, we have started discussing marriage..we are actuallty torn between our heart and head. But we have decided to wait, for some time atleast. Let the things be clear, MBA or no MBA. Whatever may happen, we always have one option with us and as Kevin says, we always create choice for us and its upto us to choose.

Gtg guys!!

Shane is here, his bday and he is distributing chocolates! i have to grab before there is none left!!

Love u Kevin!!

muuuaaahhhh!!

September 15, 2008

Rachael is not well. She caught cold today. She was really tired and has retired to bed early. This leaves me with a little time to reflect.

We’ve discussed marriage. We want to get married and both of us feel it makes a lot of practical sense to get married. Everything will be great. However, at the same time there is feeling that we shouldn’t rush. It’s a major decision after all. Are we mature enough? Are we ready? Well, we are mature and ready enough to give this some serious thought. But the decision is too big for us to be impulsive about it. Lets see what happens this MBA season. Then only a clearer picture will emerge.

Sometimes I am rude with her. Like today when she said that it wasn’t possible for her to come online. I think that when others don’t understand her it is all the more important that I do. I should support her when she can’t find any support. I have been very selfish at times. She is such a sweet girl! She has been with me through all good and bad times.

I realize all of this now.

Rachael I love you dear. And no matter what I’ll always be with you.

happy birthday rachael!

Celebrated Rachael’s birthday a couple of days back. What a time we had. But all of this didn’t come without some drama.

We had planned on meeting on her birthday. With her parents having met me and my parents permissions were something we were least bothered about. Then, when we were least expecting it came! Her mom denied permission. Can’t really tell who was more upset me or Rachael. Guess we both were.

How? Why? This is ridiculous! …Ah! The reactions!!

And then I decided that I’ll meet her no matter what. Told mom and dad. Master stroke! With mom-dad directly involved I knew I could take my chances. They would take care of everything.

Didn’t want to sleep that night. Wanted to chat the night away! I was going to her home after all. Without informing her parents. Was really pumped up! Besides it was late and I knew that if I slept I won’t be able to get up early. But ma’am made me sleep. She was up at 6:30 in the morning and I… well 8:30… Not my fault!!

Then came the news! Her mom finally gave her the permission, and I was to meet her kid sis.

Okay! My plans out of the window for second time in less than 12 hrs. But then again, we were meeting! Guess mom-in-law couldn’t stand Rachael’s sad face. Boy! Is her sad face ugly or what!

1 pm. CP. We met. And went straight to Pizza Hut. We were hungry! We’re like little crazy kids when we’re together. There I gave her the gifts. The bag first. She was as excited as a child on Christmas!

She loved it. I looked like she did, and I am hoping she did

Then she opened it. Tada! Teddies!

Here face was like…

Haven’t ever seen a bigger smile on anyone’s face. Ever!

Then came the chocolates and the bracelet. She clearly didn’t expect so much. Was dying to thank me. But in Pizza Hut?! No… just last Sunday we had had a ‘stupid’ lady lecture us about PDA.

We then went around and around the inner circle. Holding hands and talking all kinds of crazy stuff. I love doing this. She’s the only person I can get completely crazy with. It’s lovely! J

Then CCD. Just for the air-conditioning. No hospitality… nobody came to take our order. But who was complaining. As we actually had any more place to stuff food into. Iced drinks. That’s it!

Then ‘she’ called to inform that her class was over. We went to meet her. Was waiting for us when we reached. She wanted to shake hands. Oh come on!! Hug was what I wanted. And she was only too happy to oblige me. After all, it’s not daily that she gets to hug guys… especially in front of Rachael

Then started my questions. Very personal ones. She didn’t want to answer. It took some emotional blackmail and promise to divulge our details to get her to talk. And she did, in detail!

This was when maybe Rachael felt a little left out. I take this opportunity to apologize. It was her special day and my focus should have been entirely on her. Had met her little sis only the second time and the first time we had met she was obviously too shy to talk. I guess I got a little carried away.

Then we made Rachael buy her own birthday cake. Oh yeah! And she did it while I flirted with her sister. Was a real treat for me. The highlight was when I teased her for sitting too far away from me, and she almost jumped into my lap. Rachael was maybe jealous. But I was having fun!

Nay! She knows me too well to be jealous. This is what happens when you know each other too well. No surprises! No jealousy! All the fun stuff is gone. Only boring love! Rachael’s going to kill me for writing this!

Before we left Rachael thanked me.

On the way to the station I asked her sis a few more personal questions, pinched her bottom, hugged her… think she hates me now!

And the goodbyes!

Oh Rachael! Love you a lot!

Racheal again…

Ah..the last day of the week at office..not much of a work to do..had some arguments with Avil at the office yesterday and Kevin has warned me to be calm and quite…is it possible for me?? I doubt..hehe…But dont worry i’l try my best.

Things have changed since last sunday..Remember the Big Day?!! Yes it was really big..a day seems biggers especially when you are alone at home and waiting for some news to come that could change your life!! Thankfully for me and Kevin the change was for good..

All the important people have accepted me and Kevin as a couple and those,if any, who have not are not so important!!

Since then all me and Kevin need is a continuos communication, we just want to stay connected and phone and chat are the only means..All’s well but we still cant meet daily..doesn’t matter as long as we are together,emotionally!

Tomorrow is again a special day..Why?? Those who know us also know why tomorrow is special..hope i can meet Kevin tomorrow!!

Now the office crowd has started to assemble so time for me to go!!

Love You Kevin..

Hope to meet you tomorrow!

health issues…

Health minister Ambumani Ramadoss is not happy about the slackness in implementation of visual warnings on tobacco products. This is one minister who has become fairly popular among the Indian youth which is rather wary of the netas. The reasons being highly controversial ofcourse, but one has to admit that the neta and his cause have got a lot of media attention in the recent past.

Targeting big movie stars and their films did not go down well with those who believe that the artist and his creativity should be left alone. But, if a Rakhi Sawant can gain popularity by means of controversy why can’t someone use this weakness of Indian media for a cause they believe in? Here I would like to state that neither am I agreeing or disagreeing to the ministers views or tactics on the issue; nor am I comparing him to Rakhi. This remains a very objective look at the way someone has worked for what he believes in. One really has to commend though the minister’s dedication to what he believes. Not many have stood so firmly against harsh media criticism.

The minister, by attacking popular personalities drew a lot of criticism (and some praise) but all of this brought the issue of smoking and tobacco use to the debate tables. I firmly believe that India is an intelligent society that can decide what is best for it. Any society that can’t is neither intelligent nor civilized. It however becomes imperative sometimes to bring things into people’s minds. Debates, intelligent ones, where both sides are willing to lend each other a patient ear are certainly a positive step.

With Indian media’s unconditional love for controversy, and this is generally true for media all over the world, it was a very smart thing for the minister to do what he did.

Peta has long been doing it. Naked celebrities are no less controversial than celebrities being asked not to smoke on screen. Controversies are attractive. I’d rather my newspaper talk about some that make me think rather than wordrobe malfunctions and Richard Gere kissing Shilpa Shetty.

Hi.. This is Racheal…

Those who dont know me, I am Kevin’s girlfriend. We know each other since 2 years. But do we actually cared to know each other before the start of this year? Well, the answer is No. But one fine day..evening rather..something just clicked n it all started. All?? Love..!!

Since then life has been beautiful, so much fun. First thing in the morning is a Good Morning message to Kevin, last thing of the day..a Good Night message to Kevin. Life has never been so wonderful!!

Today is a big day. But wait, was the start really great?? Naah!!

Me and Kevin were waiting for our train. As always we were lost in each other, didnt care about the world around. I was hugging him. Suddenly we heard somebody shouting..cant you stand a bit separately??!! Public place afer all. No other option left, we went away. Dont know what was wrong with that lady..may be a fight with her husband last night!!

Anyways, we took our test. Kevin is not in best of his health so we left early. Dont worry we still have 2 tests to go! We will do good.

Time to go guys!!

My name is Kevin. How may I…

BPO! Yup, this was the day that I was going to join the BPO industry!

I had never thought that I’d ever become a part of this industry, atleast never as a caller. I am an engineer after all. But then don’t they say that life is what happens to you when you are busy making plans…

Well don’t get me wrong folks. I’m not one of those with ‘external locus of control’. Man! It feels great to be on the right side of these management jargons! Let me take you a few months back and than you’ll know what led me to this day…

December last year… I had just completed my penultimate semester. More importantly, the MBA season, as we had started calling it, hadn’t gone as planned. CAT had not proved to be a friendly beast. Raymond had had a worse CAT exam than me and was already talking about CAT-2008 never gives up, does he?! And hence the terminology- MBA season… bloody football fanatic! Screwed up his CAT but did that affect is enthusiasm for EPL? NO!! I had lost my appetite and this guy…

January came. A few more exams. I managed a couple of calls. Pretty decent ones at that. To cut the chase- Couldn’t convert!

So it was an IT company that I’d be joining after completing engineering. Not bad at all. Everyone , barring a few who had had a successful MBA season, does exactly that. Right? Wrong!

Throw in the sub prime crisis and what you have yourself is a global economic mess. How can someone’s inability to pay back his home loan affect the life of a fresh engineering graduate in India? Well it does. IT market saw slowdown. What should’ve been a seamless transition from college to office turned into months long wait for the jobs that had already been offered.

And so I had a choice. Sit at home and do nothing, do something worthwhile means technically the same thing once or the BPO industry…

Money, the associated independence, new experience, associated work experience, would have been a fool had I made any other choice. For all those who think that it was unethical of me to join a company for just two or maybe three months…well, that will be answered in a future post.

September 6, 2008

Fourth (or maybe third) day of fight against viral fever…

Feel much better now. Can feel strength coming back. The cough however is a little worse. Big AimCAT tomorrow. Have given myself one month to get things to where they should be. Want to give myself a reason to be optimistic. Only that way will I be able to sustain the optimism as I near the D-day (or the C-day). Work hard. Apply all you know. Put in your best. And then if performance improves and gets closer to where it should be for a sure shot seat in a top-15 B-Schools then good, else some big time measures required!

Not really a great time to be under the weather. Just three AimCats are all that I and Rachael have given ourselves. I am trying to be as mentally relaxed for tomorrow as possible. It’ll only help if I’m mentally at ease given the not so great physical condition.

Rachael has gone for her beauty treatment. It’s nice actually. She’s not in the best of health as well. Add to that a week at office and a longer than planned last working day of the week.

Beauty treatments are therapeutic for ladies. Given the circumstances atleast I hope so. Besides who would mind a gorgeous looking girlfriend?!

Books, movies and Harry…

Whenever a person reads a story certain images form in his mind. These images are different for different people depending upon their culture and their personal experiences. This imagery is personal.

Most people like stories and characters which they relate with. While reading the imagery is entirely the reader’s own, therefore, (s)he more likely to associate with the story and its characters. This contrasts with movies where images are imposed upon the audience.

The task of the author therefore is more difficult compared to a movie-maker because (s)he has to maintain a balance between allowing the reader to create his own images of how the things are and making sure that the story is conveyed the way it was intended.

I do believe that movies impose an image onto the minds of audiences, but then that is the beauty of movies. They expose the audience to what is un-imaginable to most of them. They expose them to kind of people they haven’t come across in their lives. For an author to be able to do so without restricting the free flow of the reader’s own imagination is a tough ask. If (s)he wants to introduce unforeseen characters (s)he’ll have to be careful not to throw in the minutest of details because that simply sucks the fun out of reading.

Movies are an audio-visual pleasure; books on the other hand are journeys of exploration.

PS: this post is dedicated to J.K. Rowling and the makers of the Harry Potter movie series.