A4 Creature

It all comes down to this !

2009-11-03T14:32:00.014+05:30

Lonar is a small township in the interior Maharashtra, where the only crater formed in India exists. We went there on a field trip and this post is a résumé of that.

We reached Lonar at around seven in the evening after a daylong journey in bus, playing Mafia. We lodged in a MTDC resort – 10 students per dormitory. The dinner we had was arguably better than our mess food but I ate less to ensure the stability of my digestive system. Right after dinner, at around 9.30 pm, we started to trek down the crater ! Neelesh sir, who headed the lot (who also happens to be my Eco Lab Teacher), had serious troubles with the noisy crowd. We carried torches even though the moon light was bright enough for a safe climb down. In the night, the crater just looked like a gigantic pit ! One could hardly believe the measured diameter of the crater to be one point whatever kilometres. Abrupt beginning of thick vegetation barred us from trekking that night any further after a point. Well, Neelesh sir wasn’t ready to take fifty students into the forest and that too in the dark. He would’ve, had it been six or seven.
We retuned to the resort and started star gazing (with a telescope, of course). Well, you could wonder: why did we travel 600 kilometres to do that when all we needed was a telescope. Actually you need clear sky to do star gazing. In Pune (or any densely populated city for that matter), human activities make sure that the atmosphere is polluted enough to not let you star-gaze.
We were to be ready by 5.45 am the next morning. Our dorm, in it’s entirety, woke up precisely at 5.45 am ‘coz that’s when the coordinator came knocking our door ! I just did my “essential” morning duty and left the dorm to watch sunrise. There were many birds flying around and so many more birdwatchers babbling the name of each of them with a book in their hands. Vinay's witticism brought the morning alive: Pointing at a bird, he informed “It’s a Bee Eater“ and got back an expressive “Oooh..” from Roshni and pointing at some other bird he again exclaimed “Swift!” and got back a different expression “Aahh..” He then pointed at something on the ground and cried “And that’s a DOG”… Roshni turned around curiously in the direction he pointed, only to find her being laughed at!
The view of the crater in the morning was simply superb! The guide gave us some facts before we started trekking. A meteoroid fell some fifty thousand years ago to form the crater and the depth of the crater upon impact was estimated to be 5.5 kilometres. The catastrophe must have wiped out life in present-day India (the impact being roughly at the centre of the country). However the current depth of the crater stands at just 120 metres with a shallow lake in the middle.

The first thing we encountered on reaching the foothill is a temple! (being in India, it’s no surprise). As said by the guide, there are twenty two temples around the lake, each built by a different kingdom that visited. The guide then started to bore us with his stories (few of which, I suspect, are his own creation). I drifted away. Most of the temples had utterly similar pillar structure and design. It’s surprising considering the fact that they were built in different times and under different kingdoms. Zuhair and I started enthusiastically to collect rock samples. Most of them were visibly stratified and white. Darshan told us about transparent non-linear rocks (as in a rock with variable refractive indices such that you see more than one image for a single object) and that those can be found here. In the quest, the three of us ended up collecting transparent plastic pieces! (Never mind, it happens). Near the lake we saw many birds of which I recall the name of only one: Kingfishers.
At around 8.30 am, my stomach grumbled being filled with acid! I enquired the guide about the breakfast who smilingly pointed at a temple 30 degrees further and said, “It’s waiting for you there”. I remember how desperately I wished I could go near the bank and bang my head against the ground and succeed in building a dock and a transport ship (PJ meant only for AoE players!). Shreyas (another hungry soul) and I fast paced to the temple and had four and three plates respectively (with no remorse in knowing that people at the tail end couldn’t get enough breakfast). Leading the pack had one fruitful advantage: we could see birds and macaques in large numbers. When you walk being at the middle of the pack or at the tail end, you hardly see any of these, for they move away upon sensing human disturbances. By the way, Roshni, got attacked by a macaque! I happened to know this, only when I enquired upon seeing her roam around with a bandaged wound on her cheek. She always smiles and may be she also smiled at the macaque, which comprehended the smile as an insult… and pounced at her who desperately punched the macaque on it’s nose. So that’s the saga of Roshni, the macaque slayer (She didn’t like “the macaque puncher”, for it sounds similar to “puncture” or whatever !)
Until then we were walking off-the-bank, except for a small stretch with a temple near the bank. Sometime after we had breakfast, the guide avenged us for not listening to him, by making us walk along a stinking stretch of the bank which dislodged my lungs and permanently damaged by respiratory system (never mind the exaggeration :P). The odour was a concentrated version of what you get upon opening the incubator in Bio Lab !
The best part of the trip comes after five long hours of trekking – a water source. The slope down rocky terrain served as streambed for the flowing water. We couldn’t drink any of it for people, quite above, were bathing and washing clothes. But then luckily, we found a spot where water came out of the hill wall bypassing the stream. All of us filled our thirsty tummy before we scaled the rest of the hill to the top (where waits the paradise ! ).
If I’m asked to appreciate one kingdom out of several who built temples, that would be this one which built it with attached bathroom ! Wide stairways from three sides… Flat wall on the other side with an animal’s carving whose mouth served as water outlet… Square shaped floor with enough water to steep our feet to the ankles. Upon seeing this, I just dropped my cover having rock samples and ran towards it removing my shirt. I bathed for twenty minutes or so. That ended our trek.
In the afternoon, we visited a place some two kilometres away where a part of the same meteoroid formed another but much smaller crater. The lake encircled with paddy and wheat fields was serene.

The guide, then, took us to a monument which was a temple built by a Hindu kingdom, damaged by some invaders and repaired under Muslim rule. The dome shaped entry way into the monument and into different rooms inside it were Islamic whereas the three-dimensional carvings around the monument were Hindu. The monument sent positive vibes around and is truly an architectural marvel.
I ended my trip by watching the sunset, lounging on a chair completely exhausted and with a bottle of Sprite in my hand - What a moment it was! Then we resorted to play the ever-thrilling Mafia in the bus until around one in the night. I was consumed so much by the game that the first thing I said in the morning was: "Roshni is a Mafia !"

H1N1 causes paranoia?!

2009-08-08T12:09:00.003+05:30

The first death due to Swine Flu in the country happened at Pune – the place which is on a high-alert and which is where I do my under graduation. I received a mail, regarding the risk of Swine Flu from the institute even before the semester started, which basically explained the disease and a few basic preventive measures to follow. My dad, who is known for being over-cautious, suggested that I leave in ‘Sleeper Class’ and NOT in 3-AC for the chances of contracting the virus is lesser in the former. I paid no heed.

The first three days at the college went on without much attention to the flu. Then happened the death of some victim of H1N1, in Pune. Everyone who henceforth coughed or sneezed was cautiously maintained at a distance by most! Next day, we received two more emails – one detailing the symptoms and precautionary steps and other listing out the contact details of the medical people whom we should approach in case of doubt. The absolute shocker came to me when my room-mate caught cold, literally from no where, the same night. He was perfectly normal the previous day (I don’t know how he was during the same day)and I became a bit too cautious. The next morning before I took bath, I showered hot water all over the bathroom. I washed my hands in between every lecture with soap. I, along with many, teased the guy to the extent he became wary of it. Since yesterday evening, the institute started providing masks. When I wore one, few of my friends smirked at me but I was undeterred. Fifteen minutes down the line, the very same people were roaming with the masks over their faces and were shrugging away from me.

One of my seniors, who does Biology, was ultra cool and never seemed to give a damn about this. When I asked as to what he has got to say about Swine Flu – he replied that I’m making a fool of myself by wearing the mask and that it is a flu season and that all flues need not be Swine flues. Moreover he pointed out that the virus can enter through my eyes as well and advised me (sarcasically!) to wear goggles.

I even slept in night with the mask on my face. Forget sleep, I even played AOE with the mask on until I found it irritating, for I had to co-ordinate with my team mates by calling out loud. The next day I realised that I was sort of paranoid (which my friends described as some ‘compulsive disorder’). I ain’t the only one, though. After all – Prevention is better than cure – Isn’t it?!

Observing Growth !

2009-07-24T06:47:00.012+05:30

A couple of months back, I exercised my Right to Vote for the very first time in my life. More than my commitment to democracy, it was curiosity which made me pursue my family to the booth. However, my mom wasn't allowed to vote since her name was missing from the electoral list. But that's a different story altogether! Okay, before you're bored to death, lemme throw some light on why I'm posting this a full two months after the election.

The booth in which I voted had four organisers sitting in a row. Once I gave my Voter ID card, they made a tick right next to my name on the list they had. A lady at the end of the row made a mark using the electoral stain on my index fingernail. The purple mark stood more than halfway up the nail-tip and never touched the cuticle, where it dries fast and hence impossible to erase quickly. I brought the finger close to my curious eyes and found the ink gleam on my nail. It was so tempting. But my eyes also caught the concerned look of the lady who put the mark. I moved past to the secret ballot (EVM) pretending as if I never had a finger, in the first place! There was a loup beep followed by my casting, which again set the beep blaring.

Once I was out, I tried rubbing the ink off my fingernail hastily. But it neither spread from where it was put nor did some of it stuck to the finger with which I rubbed :( When I learnt that the silver nitrate requires only 15-30 seconds to stain the dead skin cells, I realised that I was late by far. The indelible ink proved worthy of it's name. Even though it's my habit to bite off the distal edge of the nails, I refrained from biting the index finger nail for a couple of days. After that it became punishing to see the whiter free edge - I seized it with my teeth and the regular ritual was done. The only difference was the color of the ink which turned black from being purple (not because I drooled over it - but the ink is photosensitive!).

Today, I find the prominent curved boundary of the stain come down from more than halfway up to the tip of the nail, ready to be bitten off. My nail has grown five millimeters in two months. Even though I know nails grow outward gradually, to observe them - is delight!

Being Alfresco

2009-07-17T20:29:00.016+05:30

This was one of the three templates, I could even consider using, among the numerous but vile collection over the internet... and I love this! The picture kind of triggers me to go shouting at top decibels!

I'm nescient of html/xml/css and so I'm finding it difficult to throw in some minor improvisation like:

Wanna kick out 'post rss' 'comments rss' tabs.
Wanna make the 'fellas blogs!' list wider.

The fact that it took me a good 20 minutes to change the font-size of 'side bar headers' (Labels, Partisans) is holding me back to work on these at a stretch. Assistances are (always) welcomed. So is your view on the template!

Update 1:

I figured out how to do the first one of 'wanna' list. Working on the second and more...

Update 2:

Even the second one is done but after investing quite a lot of time (with patience... sigh!). Hopefully the lustrous template prompts me to write more.

The Flow to The Sink

2009-07-02T14:41:00.006+05:30

All right, the following is a fiction (seriously huh!). If a twelve year old boy is given the thinking apparatus of a twenty year old guy, straightaway, what would be his retrospection of the situation of being called 'dumb' be like?! My version (with the boy himself as the narrator) goes like this...

He and few others winked, waved and did all until I involuntarily smiled. But that unintended smile came, only when I saw them doing those for several days - only when I was assured they din't mean any harm to me (Or that I realised there's no way out!). Later I learnt to address 'them' as the 'previleged few' - Dad, Mom and so.

When my stomach lurched, the involuntary cry of mine fetched me food which in turn allayed my hunger. When they left me at the school gate for the first time, I said "NO!"… but they replied "GO!" There again I cried and once again it was involuntary and over again people around, comforted me. This cry was not only a result of the fear of what the new people will do to me but also (and more importantly) of the ignorance of what I'm expected to do there. When I'm hit/hurt by something, cry follows and someone carries me in their arms and jiggle and that made me forget the pain. Until many years, cry has always followed miserable conditions and was, almost always, followed by solace. I, seemingly, learnt it. 'Involuntary cry' involuntarily became 'voluntary cry' at times.

I was taught how to write. They asked me to repeat writing n number of times. I tried. But dizziness overcame me. I wished to be doing something that would please me. Delectation was what I hoped for. Dedication was what they expected from me! Fortunately, most of the times, they showed pity on me and put me to sleep. But that did not happen in the long-run. They started bullying me (not that I was familiar with a bull by then!). They wanted me to read and recite without referring back. They wanted me to write the same thing over and over again until they see beauty in my writing (Why wasn't I able to see the beauty?!) They wanted me to do all the 'they-wanted' stuff. I got slapped (for the first time) when they repeatedly asked me to write slowly and I ostensibly wrote fast. The slap brought an image of the last drop of water evaporating from a hot vessel. Even though I left the habit of crying voluntarily (when I found that people no longer see it is as a sign of my discomfort, but as a drama - I din' know what back then), tears trickled down my soft now-numb cheeks. I disliked crying. I rubbed my cheeks bravely, but the very realisation that I can't run out of this situation but sit in front of the very person who slapped me brought more tears down. Impuissance.

They stared at me with contempt, whenever I failed to obey them. I couldn't question - 'why should I obey?'. Not that I din't have courage to question them, but that the question never arose. I know that the very next thing that would follow after the staring business is the beating business. Fear even killed the nascence of questions.

I grew…

I found friends to be friendlier than parents. Study din't mean a thing to me. I was taught to obey, not to think and hence was not able to grasp the purpose of studying. They overlooked the notion:

"Reason (and not fear that) stands for eternity"

My interests in studies (as if they were there!) were overcame by activities with friends. I knew my parents won't like low-scores. So I had no other option, but to lie. With less thinking and dread on the forefront, ofcourse, I dint have any other options! Having become a liar, it always hurt hearing words like: "Honesty is the best policy" and more so imagining a liar to be a bad man ('coz that meant I'm bad). Fear of standing in front of them with guilt after confessing that I lied was thumping so high that I never did, until they found it themselves. Yes, I was collared one fine day and was made to stand those 'feeling-hell-for-the-first-time' minutes with my teacher and parents.

Once back home, my parents din't talk to me for some time. I couldn't tell them my problem (that I don't find studies interesting because I don't find a point in studying) purely because I myself wasn't aware of what my problem was. They being the 'know-it-all' guys should've been able to figure it out (Is that too much to ask for?). Instead they were assuring me a good life if I study - when all I had studying was hell as my life! I was not convinced until I saw my mom on the verge of tears. But apart from reasoning, nothing (not evem mom's tears) could stand for long. I dawdled back after a brief period of serious attempts to study.

Now, at the age of twelve and at grade seven, they call me dumb - Who is to be blamed?

All I can say is:

Pugazh mattum dhaan iraivanukka.. Igazhum dhaane?

Do only praises belong to the lord.. Ignominies as well, right?

Homi Bhabha had us all !

2009-01-18T15:46:00.002+05:30

It was two in the night when I finally caught some Z's before I woke up at five in the morning (Aakash's b'day night... so had to give him bumps!) to get ready for the interview (KVPY Interview - google god might answer more to you). The interview is only at half-past one in the noon . But the thing is, its in Mumbai and we don't have a clue about the venue's whereabouts. It was close to six when we guys left our hostel to catch an auto at the end of the street. We were five in number and managed to cram into the cavity of the auto ! I was sitting beside the seat on the luggage rack with my feet on the seat !! The journey to the station was comfortable as the other four shielded me from the colder breeze. We had breakfast at around half past six and were waiting for Apurv to join us. All six of us left for Mumbai in a Volvo. I fell into an uneasy sleep in a mo.

I was awoken by Noaman, who was sitting adjacent me. I pulled the curtain aside and realized that we were in Mumbai. (Malls all around..., what else to conclude?) After a while, the bus halted to a red signal. Apurv pointed to a flyover and hollered, "Bridge ! Bridge !!". Shreyas joined him with, "Vashi Vashi" pointing at a signboard. They started getting down. Apparently Lokesh, being a Mumbaikar, has advised Shreyas to get down at Vashi Bridge from where Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) is close by. We saw an auto stand near-by and thought it should be easy to go to HBCSE (Our venue for the interview). Meanwhile, the bus left.

We: Bhaiya, Homi Bhabha Centre ko jaana hai… | Brother, We need to go to Homi Bhabha Centre.

Auto-driver: (perplexed) Kithar?! | Where?!

We: Ho-mi Bha-bha Cen-tre.

Auto-driver: Usko tho mumbai city jaana padtha na?! | For that you gotta go to Mumbai city, right?

We: Kya??! Phir ye kya hai? | What??! Then what's this?

Auto-driver: Ye toh Navi Mumbai hai! | This is Navi Mumbai!

We:(pointing the flyover) Ye Vashi bridge haina bhai? | Isn't this Vashi bridge?

Auto-driver: Ye Vashi hai (pointing at the ground - This is Vashi). Ye Bridge hai (pointing at the flyover - This is a bridge). Par ye Vashi bridge nahi hai (But this is not Vashi bridge). Usko bahut aage jaana padtha (For that you gotta go much farther).

We: No problem. Auto chaltha haina? | Auto goes there, right?

Auto-driver: Auto nahi chaltha. Bus pakad ke jaa. | Autos don't. Catch a bus and go.

Laughter riot followed.. !! The whole thing wasn't a good omen to start our day in Mumbai.

Luckily (as well as, much to our boredom), all this took place at around nine-thirty (itself). (Yup ! Jus' two-and-a-half-hours from Pune !!) Boredom, because we have to fritter out time until it is one-thirty after noon.

Then we got into a city-bus and crossed the so-called 'Vashi Bridge'. This time around it was actually a 'bridge' (not a 'flyover-called-bridge'). We got down from the bus after a pretty long time. Had we taken a taxi, it would've burned our pockets ! The centre was only a walk-away distance from where we got down and we reached there by ten-forty.

The morning batch of students were having their interviews. We met Ashwin's parents and his dad (in particular) was too enthusiastic about his son's summer project and was constantly questioning about everyone else's pick. His enthusiasm reminded me my dad and concluded every old man is alike (in a way concerning one's son, at least).

I wrung my brain, to finish off the 'self-appraisal' form, for nearly one hour. It required me to answer, 'why do you want to pursue science?', 'who has been your inspiration?', 'what major would you like to pursue? and why?' and a couple of wretched questions.

I got my teacher recommendation form filled by my IDC-cum-part time physics teacher. But the point is, I wasn't able to read what he had written on the form, 'coz he sealed the envelope and signed across the fold.

I spent some time in the centre, assaying to read it. With the sun-light passing through the envelope, I was able to read two lines. 'He gets impatient at times' - I recall the incident which made him write this. It was end-sem IDC practical. I practiced MATLAB in my pc which had a version different from what the lab had. The upshot is: few minor changes in the syntax. As soon as ten minutes from the commencement, I called and told him that there is some problem with the computer, for my code is right and is still not rendering the output. He jus' asked me to sit patiently and work. My ass did not rest and I called him after five minutes. He still asked me to look out for the error myself. I got it myself in the end and still was the first person to leave the hall. As luck would have it, he gave me full marks. But instead, had this remark in my form ! Second line: 'He's creative'… crap ! This induced a sense of fear in me. The dread was about the questions they would ask me after reading this. ' Would they ask me to answer a single question in many creative ways?'… If its gonna be so, then I'm gonna be dead !

From one-thirty on, we (our batch) assembled in a room, submitted our forms and were waiting. The first four left - two to the two rooms where the interview took place and the next two - right in front of the rooms (waiting there). Myself and Shreyas were talking all rubbish and were idling. It was around three-thirty when everyone except five were left (me, Shreyas, a girl and two other boys). As soon as one comes back from the interview, we troubled the person by making him/her tell whatever they asked, though that carked us. Those who had finished their interview left the waiting hall after sometime.

The girl was sitting two rows ahead where myself and Shreyas sat chatting. I jus' called looking at the girl: "Excuse me! Where are you from?". She neither turned nor replied anything. I thought probably she did not hear me. Shreyas started to laugh at me, already. I once again called with the same words. No reply, once again. Now, even I started to laugh at my state. She certainly did not hear me. Shreyas assured that he would share this anecdote with everyone. I asked him to keep shut and wagered him to talk to the girl. He clambered the air, but did not utter a word. He had his bag and his file in the first row. He first went and brought back his file (first attempt to speak, but couldn't get enough guts to do that) and then when he went for the second time to take his bag, I found the girl facing the right wall so that if I wave my hand she would notice it. I did. I asked where is she from and she replied that she is from IBB (Institute for Bio-Informatics and Bio-technology, Pune) and Shreyas joined me. "What is it?"… and I made my next question: "Your course?" and our conversation went on. And then yeah… I expressed my triumph by showing up my middle finger to Shreyas (as I always do !) To make things worse, it was myself and the girl who sat half-an-hour waiting outside the interview rooms. I was chatting (if not flirting) with the girl (btw her name is Rutuja). While doing so, my arteries were getting blocked for two reasons. One: You-know-what. Two: The interview.

The interview finally...

I went in and wished them, "Hello" and sat. There were six of them (occupying the three sides of the rectangular table - of course, the fourth is for you!) They gave a branded 'Bilt Matrix' notepad and a pencil to work things out. They must've read my papers (forms, I mean) before, I thought. A sir to the right of me started:

"So, you're from Thiruvannamalai?"

"Eh what ?! No, I'm from Tirunelveli - it’s a southern district in Tamizh Nadu."

I was supported by one other sir (probably a Tamizhan - Tamilian) "Yeah, its Tirunelveli - faraway in south". Then the same guy, told a ma'm listening from the other end: "May be you can start with Maths". She asked me the first question from Permutation and Combination (fortunately). I worked out and gave her the answer. She asked me to explain my worked-out steps. I explained her and she agreed. The next question was from functions (differentiability and continuity). To be honest, it was a trifling question. I answered that one as well. She said to me and all that she's done with me. Next, I would've loved to have Physics (with this high confidence). But alas, I had to answer chemistry.

"From which branch of chemistry, would you like to answer?"

"Sir, I'm not comfortable with chemistry, but I would try answering Physical Chemistry"

"Okay, any specific topic in Physical Chemistry?"

I wondered these many reposes that they're offering me. I answered, "Bonding…may be" We actually had a conversation sort of thing (in chemistry alone). He started off with "The number of electrons in carbon" and paused. I followed "Seven… nah nah… Six!" and it went for a while. I answered mostly with a lot of blabbering in between. I stuttered while answering, Afbau's principle. I mean instead of answering Afbau's, I answered Pauli's and was crazy while answering a question about elliptic orbits suggested by someone instead of bohr's circular orbits! I also said twice in the course, "I don' know sir." Finally it was over with average answering. Then it was time for physics. He asked me a simple straight-forward (no tricks) question and while giving the answer I missed out to include atmospheric pressure and he pointed that to me. In one other question he simply asked me what time do you think it takes for the sunlight to reach earth… I faltered and replied "Eight seconds, I guess"… He responded, "Eight minutes.." And yeah… with that, it was all over. They politely said, "You may go now. We're done." I left after wishing them "Thank you" (for not asking me anything from Biology !)

"For results, check the website soon" were the words from the administration. Expecting it in a week.

All in all, mine got over in twenty minutes whereas it took nearly fifty minutes for Rutuja. She was complaining that she did not do well, once she was out. (Yeah! I, purposely, was loitering there so that I get to meet her. Should that bother you ?!) To add a cherry on top of all: Shreyas was asked: "How do you measure Young's modulus of a DNA?" !!

A loafer and his tale.

2009-01-08T13:49:00.000+05:30

I sauntered the streets of my city during the winter at around eight in the evening. Its a road parallel to the beach and is seldom crowded. With only a calm breeze like the zephyr and faintly glowing sodium street lamps to accompany, I went adrift. I felt easy and sat on one of the dry curb stones. I found a crumpled piece of paper lying right next to me. I straightened the paper and found it filled from every corner. It was hard to read, but still I managed to read...

It seemed nothing more than a same mundane day, but never did I know that this day, though I remember not which day exactly, would be recalled by me as the day when I first saw 'her'. To put it in Mario Puzo's words, the day when I got the 'thunderbolt', perhaps for the first time as a thunderbolt (as in all the previous times, it was only a spark so as to say)!

Seemed like a page from someone's diary, but strangely din't have any date printed on it. I went on...

Myself and my friend, Kramp, were roving the corridors of our school stopping only to loaf away our time with whomsoever we meet. All of a sudden, Kramp with a malicious smile, pointed to a girl farther away and asked my opinion of how she looks. I searched in the direction where Kramp's finger pointed to and on the spur of the moment got my heart pounding as if a multitude of siege rams were battering from inside. Replied him calmly, "Yeah, fine. Looking good, but why do you ask?". Not even in the wildest of anyone's dream would this reply sound like a blow of whistle they hear before the sprinters run. But apparently, it did for Kramp. He hied like anything but human to the class and proclaimed, "Safar finds Alice good looking." I reached the class a minute after Kramp. But even before I reached the entryway, the sounds of laughter made me feel something fishy.

Prik came to me and asked,

"You found Alice good-looking?".

Answered, "Well…I dunno her name or who she is… but the gal Kramp mentions.. Yeah, she is fine.. pretty. Isn't she?"

Five more boys joined him.

He replied to me,

"If she's looking good to you, then yes, she is. But.." (broke into another round of laughter)

"What the fuck?... If she isn't looking good to you guys… fine but then what's the big deal?"

"But truly man, you got to be the first man to acclaim Alice good-looking"

The bell rang declaring the commencement of the next class.

The guy came back to me and said, "I forgot to add, you got to be the first as well as the last" and was in splits once again, before returning to his seat.

I felt like shit.

"Has my taste gone so bad."

"Or has it got something to do with the line of sight from which I viewed her."

"Or are these guys playing a prank against me?"

I was wadding my brain with such thoughts for the whole of the hour fueled by the laughter and comments passed at me. The hour ended and it was time for lunch. I went down to the gate, as usual to get my lunch bag from my mom waiting out there. On my way back, I happen to see her once again. I stopped dead. She really wasn't bad. In fact, she was looking more beautiful to me this time. I shook my head and told myself, "Clear any prejudices you have." Closed my eyes for three seconds. Opened it and searched for her and damn me… I still found her pretty. I returned to the class with mixed emotions including depression, lust and loads more. By now, the guys had other serious stuff to discuss and gladly left my issue to rest in peace. But my mind was agitating the same issue to surface and spoiling my mood for the rest of the day.

Next day. The second hour - the hour before recess. I, being a last bencher, was completing some assignment due a couple of hours later. When our math teacher was banging on us, a girl came up with a paper in her hand - some announcement to be made in the class, I surmise. She had her eyes almost out of its sockets, with curly hair to give her an altogether messed up look. I thought, "Poor her." Two boys from the row ahead of mine turned back and shouted (even though I was close by them) my name to draw attention of the girl. Boys around me started to giggle. I was clueless. Only when Kramp managed to shout courageously my name along with 'Alice' did it ring bell to me and let every piece fall into the right places. Kramp was pointing this girl the other day and I mistook his directions and saw some other girl standing nearby and commented. But then it took me almost the rest of the day to convince the boys of what actually happened. They kept teasing me with Alice. Poor me.

As I crumpled it back to throw away, I grumbled, "A loafer and his effing tale."

Ground Zero

2009-01-01T21:34:00.002+05:30

Finally, a blog ! Phew. (The same easing-off business everyone gets after finishing their first post for their own blog.) Well I've thought about blogging for more than two years now. But its only this time that I'm triumphant over my hovering mind.

Why do I have to blog? I have two answers to this question:

One:

Schopenhauer's saying, that

"a man can do as he will, but

not will as he will."

Savvy ?

Even if you don't, no issues. Go for the second.

Two:

I wanted to write one for long and I'm doing it now.

I think the first one answers well. But one thing about which I'm certain is this: This blog will be rudderless. Please do expect that alone.

What's with the name - a4creature?

First of all, it is not read 'a for creature' (and yeah I acknowledge you found it should be 'c for creature' and not 'a for..'), but 'a four creature'. I spent too long thinking over for a name the previous time I sat for penning down my first blog. I settled upon this one as this one sounds kewl to me, since that’s the size of the sheet we normally use for any writing. This sounds kewl to me - that's it.

I'm not gonna (gosh, I gotta give up dis sms habit :P !) write anything seriously in this first post of mine. I plan to be a regular blogger but can't ascertain anything. I do value your comments (if any) but care to mind one thing: I write whatever appeals to me and I give no damn about you and your penchant. But I certainly do for your comments.