Hello everyone, this time your favourite programme “Weirdos around the World” brings you “The Ancient Disease and the Weird Kid”. The people mentioned in this programme are not fictional. Resemblance to any living or dead people is deliberate and aimed at spreading awareness about a really dangerous disease.
Act 1
Scene 1
Year 2009 AD. In a small village in a remote part of a remote state of a remote country, a class on circuits is going on. As we zoom in, we notice the entire class listening to every word that the teacher says.The entire class? No! One person is resisting the valiant attempts by the teacher to enlighten the souls. The one nose that is touching the notebook, but not writing anything belongs to our protagonist who is sleeping. Is he the Chosen One, the one person aware of the complex web of deception and lies surrounding mankind, or is he just an ordinary person who was up all night playing on his computer? We are yet to find the answer.

Scene 2
The class is finally over. Over the course of the interval, we hear our protagonist and the Showkuttan in a heated discussion, making repeated references to “blink-strikes” and “razor” and such weird stuff. It appears that our protagonist is discussing some serious stuff with his friend. Have the Volgons finally decide to make their highway? Or is it a new score-threatening disease that has infected certain members of another branch which eventually leads to a tendency to speak wierd words, and being cut off from the rest of the civilization and living only among the infected while discussing about vegetable-like creatures crawling over their computers. Again we are yet to find our answer.

Scene 3
Things are getting clearer. It appears that a new disease is spreading over the college. From observer reports, the disease spreads when people enter a certain room where everyone is infected by it. The onset is gradual, with an increased interest in weird looking things, a tendency to meet with the infected people and to discuss weird strategies all the while making extremely irritating sounds. Soon it develops into its frightening self in which the infected person loses interest in everything else and thinks only about the strategies for his next clan or pub...( is it something related to drinking?). At first, the others did not take any notice of this group, which was a very small minority. But as people began moving away from “respectable” activities like killing terrorists and leading armies to victories, the group began to be looked upon with contempt and dislike. The reports are gradually coming in and we expect to get a more detailed report soon.


Act 2
Scene 1
It has been confirmed. Our protagonist and his curly haired friend are infected members of the disease of which even the bravest of hearts are afraid of speaking aloud, lest they invoke the wrath of the “Ancients”. Everyone looks on the other with suspicion, fearing contact with an “infected”. Apparently, after the onset, extreme side-effects are there, including making extremely poor jokes, thinking of strategies even while eating, an inability to concentrate on anything else but the computer screen and a steady depreciation in the General Public Awareness. The cure is extremely difficult as the infected are no longer willing to cooperate, living in their own world, appearing to enjoy themselves, but decaying from within.

Scene 2
We meet the Crocodile, the Bird and the Chauvinist, the leaders of the curers, the few who are aware of the methods involved in curing an infected. They are discussing the latest defections. The loss of our protagonist, a person weak at heart, but a good person nevertheless, has sorely struck them, as is evident from their haggard faces. Though they are aware of the fact that the infected are still a minority, the increasing number of defections has given them a worried air. Their contempt towards the infected is matched only by their sympathy towards them and they are trying their very best to bring back the ones they have lost.

Scene 3
We finally manage to meet the protagonist. This is an excerpt of the interview we had with him. We were extremely cautious while approaching him and took the necessary precautions so that this disease does not spread into the outside world through us.
Interviewer- So tell us, when did you first come in contact with a person who was infected?
Protagonist- Well... things of the past are a bit hazy in my memory. I think it was in my second year. Ya, I remember very clearly, I had gone to my friends room to call him for a quiz club meeting without knowing that he was an infected.
I- When did things get worse?
P- (thinks a lot) Well, after that I always had an urge to go that room and talk with them. Soon I was never in my room and always outside. Since even in my first year, I was not in my room, I did not consider that unusual, but then gradually I began to stay in that room all the time and talk about “You Know What” only. I would sit for hours watching a moving screen and talk with Showkuttan about “You Know What” only.
I- So when did you realize that things were not normal anymore?
P- Errr... when I began to talk about “You Know What” to everyone around me, even to perfect strangers, I started feeling that something was wrong somewhere.
I- What happened then?
P- When I started thinking about it even during exam time, I felt that things had gone overboard and approached my friends for help. But they just told that it was only a game and nothing more. I don’t blame them as they could not have guessed the acuteness of my condition. I can’t remember much else. I have to go now. If you know anyone who can cure me, please help.....
We make a hasty escape from theplace before any of us contracted the disease
That’s All Folks... Next episode, “The Kid who ate his Homework”

The Road goes Ever On and On

College is beckoning and the seemingly endless holidays are drawing to a close. As much as I enjoy college life, there is a sad feeling on thinking of stupid timetables, washing your own clothes and in short being responsible for yourself (The second one never fails to evoke a groan). The first time at the college was particularly sad. The warmth of my mother's hug where I always secure, father's presence where there becomes nothing to worry about as it will always be solved, and my little sister with whom I fight every single moment but whom I can't let anyone else hurt, all were part of my first journey to the college. Well all this went into the backseat of my mind after the first few days, the "making friends" period, but it will always remain there. Though all this sounds cliched, it is true nevertheless. I guess this is all part of the "Growing Up". A big part of my heart wishes that I was back to my school days, where the only thing that was to be worried about was the next exam. Even now, our lives are relatively sheltered, except that we are away from our parents. But come a day, when every morning has new worries, new bills to pay, then maybe college life will seem heavenly. Well, one can't really blame a human for always wanting something which he doesn't have, its only human. The same forlorn feeling has come back to haunt me though it will be my third year into college. But leaving sentimental matters aside, this year is going to be the year when the future will be decided, whether I will be just another casualty to recession or a young man with a bright future. Of course placements come only next year but the buildup to it is important. Working hard seems to be the only option available, something which I incidentally despise, but what else can be done. This is a short farewell to blogosphere as once in college, I leave Roci behind and have to wait till I get a laptop, which I hope is quite soon. Or else I have to turn to my roomies who I trust will be "Friends in need...". Finishing my adieu with the great words of a great man...

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with weary feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

That's all folks
Toodles

PS: My blog seems to be chokeful of cliches but what to do...

Sanctuary

My training centre has been sort of a sanctuary for me. Sanctuary incidentally in both ways. In one way, it has been a place where I can seek shelter from boredom (I thought that I had shelter, but immediately realised my grave mistake). In another way, it has been a place where I could observe the working human species (homo worko sapiens), in their natural habitat. I confess that my opinion about the species is far from good. Doing the same work all day long, is for robots or machines in my opinion. If I was there only for a few hours, then they would have undoubtedly shown their professional side,but being their for the entire day, they must have decided to drop the act. C'mon, how long can a person keep up an act?!! So I could witness the Behind the Scenes action, the timed work, the untimed breaks, the small fights and of course, the inevitable boss-bashing. It has really been a learning experience for me about what to expect and what not to expect from work. Sort of makes me want to retire straight after studies. But what to do, stomach has to be filled! Expecting better from my job, when I get one (God knows when !).
Thats all Folks
Toodles

PS My first completely solved crossword. Hip hip hurray!!!

Nostalgia

One of my fondest memories of my childhood is of my dear father reading me books. He used to insist that I read a paragraph and then would read me the rest. The usual fare was Asterix, Tintin, and all. While reading, he used to give different voices to the characters which somehow always sounded to be perfect for the character, like a deep voice for Obelix, a nice voice for Asterix, and an angry voice for the inimitable Captain Haddock. Thus began my love affair with books and I have to thank my Achhan for that. When talking about comics, Asterix has always been the first one that pops into my mind. Being illiterate in French, I have only read the English version, but original or not, the books are imba. Whether it is the naming of the characters or the double or sometimes triple meanings in the dialogues, everything leaves a mark. Whether the fights between Unhygeinix and Fulliautomatix or the sarcastic comments about Geriatrix's age, the dialogues are just too good. And when it comes to Tintin, another of my favourites, Captain Haddock is the first thing that springs to my mind along with his choiciest swearwords. Talking about swearwords. Billions of Blue Blistering Barnacles, look at the time!!! Have to sleep now.
Thats all Folks
Toodles

PS: Forgot to mention the fact that I almost completely solved yesterdays crossword. But if the brainiacs at Hindu get even a whiff of the fact that I found it to be easy, they make it ultra-hard next time. Still hoping for an easy one.

Back with a Bang

Long time no see!!! Retirement? No, rather a self-prescribed break from the hectic blogosphere. Another fact was that it was a rather uneventful week. The usual stuff - got bored to death, missing my parents and my little sis, reading books etc. I was supposed to be studying about telephones last week. But who cares about stupid phones. Me and the person who was in charge of me, ended up discussing everything else but phones! I am really interested in the origin of everything. So we also talked about the origin of the different religious practices. My grandma, an authority on the subject is my source of information, and I always pester her about it. It is fascinating to know that most of the practices in fact, have very scientific reasons. Hence it is really sad to see the constant conflict between the religious and scientific leaders when both are just different paths to reach the same truth.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood....
Science in a nutshell is to study nature, so is religion. Though my knowledge about both is insignificant, I think that in the end both religion and science are about harmonizing with nature. The true power about a man in harmony with nature was demonstrated by a scientist-turned-preacher from I-don't-know-where. He could pass almost a million volts of electricity through his body with the only hurt coming due to the burn caused by the high voltage. The electricity did not hurt him because it was at the resonant frequency of his body. This is similar to the concept that I mentioned in one of my previous blog about the nature of magic, about being in peace with oneself. I know, I have a tendency to drift to HP at the least given chance. But HP aside, the concept is truly fantastic- about being in harmony with nature. Aha, I have got a chance to do just that, let me attend Nature's Call.
Thats all Folks
Toodles

Questions and Answers

Like the mercury levels in my beloved Delhi, the boredness levels in La Palakkad scaled new peaks during the last week and it is expected to rise even more. There is something about being bored that brings out the best in a person and he digs deep into his creativity to escape his plight. But Yours Truly has defied this convention and has slept more and more. It is during these sleep-induced stupors that I became philosophical and began wondering why I am doing all this. I desperately wanted an answer. But then I read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and my whole viewpoint changed. Douglas Adams has pointed out in a rather hilarious way that instead of searching for answers to everything, we should first search for the proper questions. He has ridiculed how everyone wants the Ultimate Answer without knowing the Ultimate Question. An answer, however elegantly phrased, is incomplete without the right question. Mr Adams imagines the earth to be a gigantic computer aimed at finding the UQ. His point of view that human beings are the real guinea-pigs in this universal experiment is quite reasonable. The UQ has to be reached at by asking smaller significant questions on the way. It is this ability to ask questions that make humans what they are. A child asks questions to everthing,but as we grow up we ask lesser and lesser questions, thereby losing our way to the UQ. Our pride and other petty feelings come in the way of our natural curiosity and block our path. Those who ask questions throughout their lives become great.

Quoting Marvin,"It's funny how just when you think life just can't possibly get any worse it suddenly does." All that philosophy has made me even more bored. I do have to brighten up.

Toodles

Pact with the Devil

Once upon a time, when the world was young and Yours Truly still believed in WWE (that is really long back, I swear), my best friend Mr. Sleep, came to me and told me, "See boy, the harder you try avoid me, the more will I keep you, so it is best to embrace me earlier and I may* leave you earlier." The innocent fool I was, I did not read the fine print too carefully and did not read the "*-terms and conditions apply". Those were the times when exams were a joke and regular studying was yet to be discovered. Soon I became a Kumbhakarna waking up only the day of the examination to go there, finish it as early as possible and continue my forty winks. Slowly as the world aged, the teachers became progressively evil and soon exams gave an opportunity to start praying, "welcome back Mr. God". It was then when sleepless nights were needed and were rather scarce that I took out the old dusty records of my "Pact with the Devil" and read the fine print with a microscope. Apparently, early morning awakenings were only when the situation warranted it. According to Mr. Sleep, that meant the morning of the examination. Add this to my second favourite hobby-procrastination, you can understand my situation. So I turned to stimulants like coffee and tea, which I drank till the caffeine threatened to spill out, but these filled me up, and when I am full, I tend to sleep. Somebody please help me..................... . Oh no he is coming, I have to go now, or he may get angry.

Toodles