Wednesday, January 15, 2014

The Keymaker(s) of Magarpatta City

A Tuesday morning. Laptop? Check. Charger? check. Wallet? Check. Office ID? Check. Close the door shut. Bam! Keys inside.
Knock on P's door for the extra key. She can't find it :-|
Realize that you will have to tackle the issue immediately because the decoration stuff you promised you'll get for the office fest is trapped inside as well :-|
Realize with a heavy heart that you need to call him.
Yet Again.
Dial 'KeyMaker' (called KM, henceforth) for rescue :P

There are some people whose services you just can't do without. "Essential services". When I moved in to Magarpatta, HC gave me the KM's number, along with the usual list of Maid, Cook, Laundry and Car washers numbers and I thought, "OK this is cool, but I won't be really needing it. But let me save it, emergency ke liye..."
But yeah, HC knew me better :P

And this KM has really been a 'saviour' at times :P
Especially for people like moi who have duplicate, triplicate, quadruplicate and even pentuplicate keys (I wonder if those are even legit words :P) (and yes, this is over exaggerating things ;) ) and still manage to lock themselves out, or lose (mostly its a 'forotten them somewhere, and think you've lost them' syndrome) the 'Keymaker of Magarpatta City' (as I like to call him) is indeed a saviour.

He is a character, and a completely technosavvy one at that. Just a phone call away from all 'stranded/locked-out' people. :P
His phone rings and you hear "इतनी शक्ति हमें देना दाता...मन का विश्वास कमजोर हो ना..." Seriously. #I am not kidding.
And you smile, despite yourself, and think, "What irony! This guy opens people's doors for a living and his caller tune says 'भूल कर भी कोई भूल हो ना...'"
You already trust him, even before he picks up your very first call :P This should be a decent banda you think, 'coz his cellphone sings 'हम चले नेक रस्ते पे...' :D

"Kaunsa door lock hua hai? Main door ya room ka?" he asks. "Room ka." "Naya key banvana hai ya sirf door unlock karna hai? Naya key banvane ka charge is 200/- Sirf door unlock karna hai to visiting charges 200/-" he says. "Key andar fasa hua hai, sirf unlock karna hai. Office jana hai, aap abhi aa sakte hai kya bhaiyaa?" you plead. OK, he says and promises to be there in 20 mins. He arrives, with all the paraphernalia, a big brown bag packed with keys, tools and whatnots. And you can see he's quite the busy man...for the ten odd minutes he takes to unlock the door, he gets atleast five calls :P

The first time he had come, he got a thick plastic sheet, just slid it in the gap between the door and the wall frame and with a well trained jerk pried opened the door! And I was like, "What! That's it?! Is this so easy?! And 200 bucks for this?!" :-O He smiled his saint like smile.

This time around, he was upto more 'technical' stuff. He loosened the disc in front of the lock, and used some kind of a screw driver that had a bent pointed end and used that to 'open' some lever inside the lock. Hmmm. 200 bucks.

Anyways, like I said, until there are swift gusts of winds to shut doors and forgetful people like me around, he's going to have a good business going! All I can do is thank him and pray he stays as honest as he is... :-))
Amen.


PS: This was written in a fit of #'I have nothing to do, while being stranded outside my room' and waiting for the Keymaker to turn up. Totallyy in a mood to rant and crib.

PPS: Although I have seen, and dealt with the same keymaker always, am sure they have a gang...err 'team', of their own. Hence the title, 'Keymaker(s)' ;-)

PPS: and while I was whiling away the time, it did occur to me that it's high time I learnt to open locks on my own. And I remembered one such time @H11, when me, C and K had (unsuccessfully) youtubed and tried to open K's room after she had forgotten her keys@home :P
Nevertheless, am definitely going to try some youtubing the next time around :P And who knows, if I get really good at it, may be I can even think of an alternative profession, and also get to call myself a 'non virtual ethical hacker' ;-) :-P

Monday, December 23, 2013

Terribly Tiny Tales

My recent fb addiction is the Terribly Tiny Tales, TTT page :)
I am floored by the crisp and awesome tales on the page, and have become a big time fan :) :)
So when they invited new TTT on 'hope', I had to put aside my Wednesday evening's work and write :)
Here are their rules.
And I don't have the patience to wait for them (to select, in the first place) to publish my entry :-P;
So here goes :

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tale #1:
The street urchin he saw on the way to work each day lay bleeding on the pavement.
Oblivious to the stares and apathy around, he rushed him to the hospital. Doctors had hope the boy would survive.
His white shirt, he noticed had turned red. Smiling to himself, he realised it was Xmas eve.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tale #2:
It was a terrible bomb blast. Shattered glasses, abandoned homes, and piles of debris for miles around.
The sniffer dogs tried to look for clues amidst the chaos.
In the aftermath of despair, and tales of loss, hope survived.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tale #3:
His teacher announced a Math test the next day.
Having played around all day, he kept his Math notebook under the newly cut, yet undecorated Xmas tree.
He believed in early miracles. He hoped Santa wouldn't mind.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A very merry Christmas and a Happy 2014 to all! :)

Friday, November 22, 2013

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

~William Ernest Henley

Came across this awesome poem @ the zenpencils site.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Perspective!

The other day a funny thing happened...
I was about to sleep when I remembered some email update I had promised to send...so I hurriedly pulled out my laptop from under the bed and started typing...too lazy to get up and walk the teeny tiny distance to switch on the light...
As I was typing, suddenly I saw a huge shadow across the keypad...I almost let out a tiny "knee-jerk" reaction shriek thinking some big insect had flown in through the window...and was hovering near the tube-light...I looked up...but the tube-light wasn't on...and I could still see that huge shadow on the keypad; but there was no sign of that apparent 'huge' insect anywhere in the room!
I stopped typing, hoping to hear some sound - a tiny flutter of wings or some other sound...but all I could see was a shadow prancing around the keyboard and irritating me...
It was then that I saw the teeny weeny fruit fly (yes, I googled the english name of the insect we call "चिल्ट" in marathi :P) right in front of the laptop light that illuminated my keyboard...:P
The light was making the small fruit fly look like a huge insect to me. And before I dared to look up and try to find the actual source, I imagined all sorts of huge insects flying around my bed...:-(

"Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow", said some Swedish proverb I had come across, and it fits, quite literally, to the case in point.
Sometimes, in the 'light' of fear, we see many small issues projected as big huge insurmountable problems - before we dare to look fear in the face and realize that those were just simple issues we are capable of easily dealing with!
All it needs is a shift of perspective...
A #'face-your-fear' moment...[O:)]

PS: This is the 50th post on the blog! Woohooo :D :D :D

Saturday, September 14, 2013

The Little Monsters

I am sure you are familiar with the little monsters we all face. I'll call them 'little' because they usually end up affecting our day-to-day life...
I imagine them sitting on my left shoulder and whispering (not so heart warming) thoughts in my ear.
This is also yet another reason to call them 'little', coz otherwise you'll start walking funnily if you imagine a huge monster landing on your left shoulder :P (a pathetic joke...agreed :-P)
The best way to fight them is to notice them, recognize them for who they are...acknowledge them, brush them off...and then shrug as if nothing's the matter at all!

The little blue monster with its drooping face, and a smile that looks at you as if you are the most utterly helpless creature in this world.
Its big round eyes shine like a mirror and seem to say, "Look at you, you poor old dear...why do only you have to suffer..?"
*Sigh*'
You know what its called?
Self pity.
Sometimes it comes disguised as 'Sadness', but you'll find that mostly, it is indeed self pity masking itself.
Its dangerous.
It gnaws at your heart, makes you weak and feel 'oh-so-helpless'.
It brings tears more easily than any other thing...and takes you on a thankless, never ending journey in the sea of woe, on a shabby boat titled 'Pity' in big bold lettering.
Look at it in the eye, give it your 'sunniest-ever' smile and shove it away with a brush of your arm.

The monsterly red creature with devilish horns, wielding a spear, that sends fiery sparks into your head and you can't think straight.
All you want is to destroy/hurt the thing/person who's provoked you (no matter how small a reason).
All sense seems to leave you, and you often end up hurting the people you love.
There's a name for it. Anger. Hatred.
And Regret/Remorse is the best friend of this little red devil, who often follows in its footsteps to enjoy the aftermath.
Send off the red devil with cool, calm, firm blows (the kind you use on those magic birthday candles that glow up every time you blow them off) and watch it melt away.

The orange, plump (actually cute looking) dwarf who lands on your shoulder and doesn't seem to leave you alone...who pesters you and waves a huge post-it in front of you all day long, to remind you of 'what you didn't do' or 'what you did do', every time you go about your day-to-day work.
Who drives away peace of mind and is the worst enemy of your self worth.
It's better known in our world as Guilt. Remorse.
Trap it as soon as you sense it landing on your (left) shoulder.
Although, do read and 'act' on its post-it note. Its never too late :)

This one needs no introduction. Its Green. Its familiar. And is thought to be an oft visiting one (or so everyone says) and yet, no one claims familiarity with it.
It makes the grass always look greener on the other side. (Needless to say, it hides the "other side's" sky high water bill too) :P
Yeah, you guessed it right.
Jealousy. Envy.
Hmm...just remind yourself of your 'decent', 'managable' water bill and your garden will start looking much greener ;)
This monster tends to leave by itself if you just ignore it. Don't pay any heed to its taunts. Act as if its not there.
And it goes away from the lack of your attention. Whoosh!

Another "red family" colour monster comes most times by invitation. i.e by our own doing or mindset.
It paralyses.
You go absolutely numb.
Fingers cold. Toes as stiff as icicles. And the forehead as hot as burning coals.
Fear.
Way to fight it? Acknowledge it, give it a warm welcome, and watch it lose its power as soon as it realizes you have recognized it and are ready to tackle it.
Yes, easy to preach. Really difficult to practice.

The black monster. Its weapon is smoke. It silently comes and puts a hood of thick big black smoke around you...
Your vision blurs. Your senses go numb.
All you can see is what the monster wants you to see.
Black.
Pitch black.
Depression.
You need a lot of willpower to remove the hood and shove off the monster with all your strength.
Then it vanishes and the sun shines through.

There's yet another li'l monster, although people often get confused whether to call it an Angel or a Monster. ;)
This monster is extremely good looking, and with purple robes and a golden crown to boot; it has the attitude of a king. And it makes you feel like you own the world too!
Ah, Ego.
Entertain this one too much and it will surely get in the mood to partyyy away. It then becomes a most generous host and invites all its friends - Jealousy, Anger, Hate and Fear - to party at your expense - literally! :-|
And if you don't entertain this one at all, it will still call its friends - Self Pity and Depression to party (again) at your expense!!
Beware of this one, that's all I can say, coz I struggle to keep too little, or too much of this one on my left shoulder :-|

There's another one. Probably less scarier than the others, but equally dangerous.
And I can already see it just trying to land on my shoulder, because I can't seem to think of a colour for it...and suddenly am thinking of ending this blog post right here.
It ventures around people who look 'busy doing nothing'.
Hah! Laziness.
It also often drags along its best friend too - Boredom.
You can never say who visits first. :P
Want to drive it mad? Go get something done.
It dares not venture around people who are busy 'doing something' (meaningful, if you might)

I think I barely managed to drive off the last mentioned monster.

However, an angel called Sleep beckons me now and I would really love to go along and drift off in lands far away, dream onn...and may be fight some monsters of my own ;-)

Happy Monster Fighting to you! :)

Adios.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Random Thought #79

"When life shows you the worst, even the bad starts to seem 'good enough'..." #original

PS: A series of original random thoughts that are concise...or may be I am just too lazy to follow up with longer text...

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Turning 27!!

A list of random thoughts on 'turning 27'

1. "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?", read my friend N's gtalk status, and although (obviously) an answer wasn't expected, I couldn't help replying...
"I would be five...five is an awesome age...you are just about to begin to try and understand the world around you, learning new words, and everything seems awesomely new to that ever-so-curious mind of yours :)"
"But then..." I typed, "on second thoughts, my brother wouldn't be born till I was six, and life wouldn't be as much fun without having a younger brother to bully! :P Also, add a few years for him to grow up just a li'l bit...so, eight!! I would be eight..."
And my equally crazy friend didn't laugh it off, but came up with this limerick,
"Can't wait to be again eight
to rewrite fate
on a new clean slate" ;) :P B-)
Awesome, ain't it? ;)

2. Was talking to my brother yesterday, and suddenly I realized that I would be "turning 27", umm...or was it "turning 28", coz I 'completed' 27? :-P
With a sigh of relief, I realized "turning 27" it is, and "turning 28" will have to wait another year :D ;-)

3. Insignificant and subtle changes, like for example, I would now have to deal with multiple auto-complete values of age, 26 as well as 27, while booking my irctc tickets, which is an activity I do quite often (for a while, at least till I clear my browser's cache/cookies) :P
And I was already thinking of "being 27" a few weeks back, coz when I booked tickets for Sept in the beginning of the month, I did put 27. #being politically correct...

4. There are just 3 years left before turning 30...which reminds me I have to make complete my "30 before 30" list - the list of thirty things to do before I turn thirty...:P
It's something that's been on my mind since quite some time now...have become a list-o-phile of late...;-)

Photo Credit : My very own pro photographer HC :)

5. The one thing that I am realizing since some days is that many things we sweat about, aren't really worth a dime of worry.
A completely random point, but then I never promised a logic to this list!

6. I am sure I'll be having a good laugh looking at this list some years down the line, or may be even some months down the line! ;-) Coz I have this uncanny feeling of #growingup...the views/thoughts I had about a year back are (sometimes) completely different from my most recent views/thoughts...sounds scary...yes, even to me...but isn't it all about #change? I wonder...

7. Being independent is an awesome feeling. As long as you keep the 'being responsible' part of it intact, life's good. Really good. :)

8. I intended the list to span atleast 27 bullets. #list-o-phile@work :P
I am not even halfway through the list...and I'm feeling exhausted, and sleepy after a long day...And since I already said "I would be eight...", I'd rather stop at 8 bullets...:-D :-P