Can You Help Me, Occupy My Brain?

"I have paid 20 k.I can't afford to miss classes. You surely can't expect me to come on weekends.Maybe once or twice;but 7 weeks on trot. That's too much"
He said this with a contorted look on his face as though he was physically pained at the idea of spending so much money for the classes and then missing them. Someone clicked their tongue sympathetically, a few others commiserated with them. Not to be left behind, i too joined in. I could understand his situation. The amount of money weighs on one's head more than the possibility of missing classes. It was others turn. All others had good valid reasons(really so valid that even the skeptic in me couldn't doubt them) not to come on weekends. Suddenly it was my turn;
" What about you?"
They asked in unison probably expecting me to come up with some kind of excuse. I, for once couldn't think of anything.(Did i want to give an excuse, i very much doubt it)
"I have no issues".
"None whatsoever".
As long as there's something to occupy my brain, to divert its frustrating, possibly "nervous breakdown" leading thoughts, i am game.But i didn't say this aloud.
They looked slightly amused, i guess. But as it would turn out later at the meeting, the weekend shifts were not for us though the weekday graveyard shifts were very much for us.

And I think i have few issues with the weekday GRAVEYARD shifts.

To Un-Sleep

Step 1- Listen to "Paranoid Android" by Radiohead once.
Step 2-If time permits, perform this step else proceed to step 3. Listen to "Bangers and Mash" of Radiohead.
Step 3- Wash your face
Step 4-Drink a glass half full of water.
Step 5-Walk 250 meters.
Step 6-Find a comfortable seat from where i can see everyone in room.
Step 7-Don't restrain your mind, Let it wander.
Step 8-Keep a notebook handy, you never know you might forget what you think during those times.
These are the steps i follow to keep myself awake during sessions particularly when they happen over a phone. It worked for me for last 3 days.

By the way i read or thought(Hope it's mine, don't know for sure though) of a quote about Chris Martin-
If a team is made up of only No.11 batsmen of different teams or eras, still Martin would be batting at No.11.

:-( ))))

Yesterday was my first day in project. I was supposed to attend a phone conference call. It's in fact very difficult to follow even when the instructor is physically present in the room. So it was not very surprising that my mind wandered at the beginning of 3rd slide itself(around 3 minutes, i guess). Desperately trying to avoid sleep, i opened my notebook and pretended to write notes while i thought of drawing something in it. Now please don't think that i'm good at drawing or something like that(I liken my drawing skills to Chris Martin's batting skills).I'm probably good at scribbling. I thought and thought and thought and invented(or is it discovered???) a smiley- :-()))).
Suddenly the voice on the phone said "The session is over, does anyone have any questions". There was a hushed silence.A pin drop would have sounded like a ululatory(Tribute intended!!!) howl. Then the voice continued" I guess that means everyone understood" a brief pause then ,"right,Sidharth?"
I don't know why they called out my name, probably because i was last to introduce myself on phone and the name struck. I muttered a weak but audible Yes. Had a feel of "you can run, but can never hide" phrase. Fortunately for me they didn't ask me to explain.Phew...it was just 1st day...
P.S-Chris Martin is a New Zealand bowler who has more wickets than runs and took 48 innings to get a score in double digits.
P.S.S-I leave your imagination to sort out the smiley...;-)

Fav Time-Pass :-)

People so busy, makes me feel dizzy
Computer monitor shines so bright
That it blinds my sight
But I don't need no friends
As long as I gaze on you
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my windows
But chilly, chilly is the evening sun
Which asks me aren't you having any fun? :-(

This is currently my favorite time passing activity-Distorting beautiful songs!!!

The one which was a particular favorite during my training days is -

I'm going to Mysore
Far from this opera for evermore
I'm gonna work the straw
Make the sweat drip out of every pore
And I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding
Right before the lord
All the words are gonna bleed from me
And I will sing no more
And the stains coming from my blood
Tell me go back home...Hooooooommmmeee

We sold our souls for Rock N' Roll

"The last time this much havoc had been wreaked by this few a number of people, you need to go all the way back to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse".
The sobriqet "The Four Horsemen" couldn't have suited any group better.Though they were four all the time, they weren't the same four all the time.The horsemen kept on changing except for one(Which one?).They had killed the dragons,then resurrected them,froze the sun,burned down whole cities,locked up the wolves,smelled the plastic flowers but their effect on humans was their greatest act.They stole their tomorrows and occupied their brains.They predicted our doom when we still thought we were in midst of boom.They were celebrities in their own way, the mask that they wore had worn had eaten into their faces.They no longer were the actors, they had become the acts themselves.But somewhere along the way they lost their souls or as they would proudly proclaim later"We sold Our souls for Rock N' Roll".
The problem for me was i was asked to replace one of them,well,atleast for sometime.I was the chosen one.The person who said"Gods are crazy" couldn't be more right.To me replacing one of the horsemen and then to lead the others was unthinkable.It's like making me the captain of a Nuclear submarine just because i made couple of paper boats in the rainwater that was left behind in my balcony.But i didn't refuse.No one does to the Horsemen.
I walked onto the stage.The crowd had already been forewarned that they'll be seeing only a replacement.But the hushed silence that greeted me made me feel like i was on moon.And alone on moon.I looked to the front row where i should havebeen.But she was there.We should have been there,together.No,it wasn't possible,we had broken up.Maybe if i had met her there now ,it still could have been possible.I saw the grin that lighted up on her face.Suddenly all the other facial features melted away,the crowd seemed miles away in my vision.Like a cheshire cat,the only thing that i could see on her face was her grin.And it said"I've come here to watch you fail". And i knew i was going to fail here.
Suddenly i felt a hand on my shoulder,the hand felt unreal;for three fingers felt flesh and bone and the other two, i believe were made up of plastic.He just nodded on.I caught the mike,wishing that it would be live,but it wasn't.
"This one's for the people who wanted to die young,but neverthless didn't and are now regretting it and..
also...
to those who...
did...
die young..."
That's where the other horsemen joined in.After that it went-
"Behind the smile, theres danger and a promise to be told:You never knew.
Life's fantasy - to be locked away and still to think youre freeYoure free, were free!
[Then in chorus]
So live for todayTomorrow never comes
Die...."
That's when i heard it.The voice-it started slowly but then it was rising,was reaching a high pitch.The horsemen too started playing according to that voice, abandoning me.It went on like

"There in the middle of the circle Lies heaven,Help me
Just with the touch of his trembling hand.The answer will be found
And then like the rush of a thousand wings,
It shines upon the one.And the day has just begun"

So the original man had returned.The guys behind me also started playing the tune to that song, leaving the original song.
I know falling down by itself never hurts,it's only when the fall is interrupted by ground that it hurts.It hurt me as i fell down, fell down from my bed.I got up, rubbed at the hurting place.My cellphone was still ringing at high pitch.I kept it on snooze and went to sleep only to be woken by the same song sung by same voice after 10 minutes.

"Sweet dreams are not made of these things

But who am i to disagree"

"Sabbath Guy"

It's election time and Nattamai* has also switched on to election mode.He has proposed an alliance with me, which i gleefully accepted.I and Nattamai have decided to write a combined blog since we individually are unable to put up even a single post per month(It's the nexus of crisis, you see).Being the senior statesman,leader and first-citizen of 18 villages,he'll draft the manifesto of the combined blog.
And thanks to all the people who commented on my last post.I didn't expect this many comments.This gives me a Clint-Eastwoodian opportunity that i shouldn't miss.
"There are two kinds of people in the world-one who comments in other's posts and the other who post about others comments.I Post!!!"And thanks to sk for calling me a "Sabbath Guy",that's probably one of best things i have ever been called.

Back In The Saddle Again-Shall We Go For A Ride?

Disclaimer-I'm no story-teller,but this is in first person to make it look like a story.Any resemblance of this to me is purely co-incidental.

I had to fight my eyes and stop them from looking slyly in that direction. I took the a paper,supposedly an old ATM receipt from my pocket and crumpled it. And took it and went near her as if searching for a dustbin.Again slyly,without turning the head,just by rolling my eyeballs in her direction,i was catching a glimpse of her.I threw away the paper in a dustbin.I came back to the place where i and my friend were eating.I looked at him.He hadn't noticed me.Well,he never does,he's a typical phone guy.Lives on phone.I felt little like the state of Alaska everytime i'm with him.(Alaska is isolated and remains separated from other states of USA).He suddenly took his mouth off the phone and said "Get the Jamuns,you only have the token".I grumblingly went, again looking in that direction of the girl.

She definetely was not feeling like Alaska, because a big group of her friends were giggling now when i looked in that direction.I went and stood in a queue.It was a pretty long queue and since a large number of people joined behind me, i was quietly content.When my turn came,i gave the token and said"Jamuns".He looked at me little strangely .Well,he must have thought this guy had been waiting for these 2 shotputs for such a long time.Then as though i was a no-nonsense guy and had no time for such dolts,i said rather irritatedly"Boss,Jamuns" and like those girls he also started giggling.For once,i wished i were a dinasaur.

He said"Well,sir,do you want Jamuns for 21,896 rubees?".

The "21896 rubees" stung me like bees.All were laughing-it was a "puppy shame"moment.I managed a weak smile and took back the "ATM receipt" which i had kept safely and instead thrown the Jamun token.I came back to the place where my friend was sitting,he looked up inquiringly without breaking off his conversation,i told him that it all got over and they are going to close the shop.We went,i feeling rather stupid and he-well there are some good things in being an Alaska.He didn't notice anything was amiss,continued live on phone.
Moral of the Story-"Adada Vada(sorry Gulab Jamun) poche!"

P.S-Any resemblance to my friend is also purely Coincidental.
P.S.S-I think,if not coincidental, most of my friends will be feeling i'm speaking about them...:-)