Last Friday I got the opportunity of attending my first corporate party ever. The party was organized to celebrate the successful completion of a project. Obviously excited, me readily accepted the invitation and reached the party venue, Nasha – a discotheque cum restaurant near Gurgaon at around 7.30 in the evening. Soon others also joined and we marched in. Reaching inside, we were amused to see the place reserved for us. It was kind of four or five joined Diwans (a kind of large bed). (It was looking as if we were about to witness some ‘Mujra’ or so from the likes of Umrao Jaan or Chandramukhi). Later we realized that it was the most sought after seating plan these days, as one can get quite relaxed and enjoy at the same time. There was a disc floor right next to the room where we were sitting. There were breezers and booze all over the place with each one having at least two drinks at the same time (Free ka maal tha na! J). Being a strict non-drinker, non-smoker I felt slightly out of place. Then started the session of singing and dancing. Being one of my favourite past time, I jumped onto the bandwagon and sang two-three oldies. All were literally ‘Tunn’ and nobody cared to listen to anyone. All were singing (or more appropriately shouting) and swinging and seeing them was a great fun for me (Still I was finding it difficult to refrain them from persuading me for a drink, so during the whole evening I could be seen holding a glass of juice, even when dancing). But overall it was quite an enjoyable experience for me as it gave me an opportunity of meeting some top-brass people and making good P.R. with them. As I’ve already said in one of my earlier post that I am a typical introvert guy, the festivity gave me a chance to break the ice with some of the colleagues. We all burned the dance floor till midnight and after spending all our energy there we finally persuaded ourselves to have dinner and similarly forced ourselves to go to our respective places. (Still, astonished to see that some couples are actually making their way in at that time precisely, 1.15 a.m. A rare sight for me as I am a seedha sadha guy going to bed pretty early). For the first time in my life I entered my house at 1.45 a.m., really scared but since no one was awake so briskly made my way to the room and threw myself to sleep still reciting the words from the song ‘Nach Baliye’ from Bunty aur Babli : 

“Raat yahan pe hoti hi nahi hai

Yeh sadak to soti hi nahi hai

Palko pe chalte hoye bus khwab hai jaagte rehta hai”

Yesterday was the day of mixed emotions for me. I got up early (around 5.00, truly following the saying “Early to Bed and Early to rise…”) and after a gap of approx. 3 weeks got ready for the office on time (O.K. agreed, not following it so keenly L). Board the office cab and wow! The girl on whom I had a crush, right from day 1, sat next to me. I was so pleasantly shocked that, I was listening to the music on my phone and the phone actually fell from my lap. The whole journey was a dream journey for me, but still I was feeling very uneasy. Anyways the cab reached office and I caught hold of my breath.  At office too, I made progress in the project that was stagnant for some period. In the lunchtime as it was the birthday of a colleague, we celebrated it with devouring pizzas (Underline ‘we celebrated’ and not him as it cost the poor guy almost 800 bucks). Up till now the day was going fine, but it was not to be. It is not that some thing actually happened but some past memories caught hold of me and I got dispirit. Adding salt to it I did some terrible mistake in the family work that was assigned to me. Got a scolding!L. Went quite early to bed and just laid there thinking about the day. A broad smile appeared on my face thinking about the morning (the bus scene). Wished myself ATB for the next day and slowly slipped into the world of dreams.

Hey! Before going to sleep would like to share with you a lovely poem which I found on the net :

Yesterday has once again,
come back to let me know.
That my mistakes are not forgot,
today again they show.

Reminding me that once again,
I failed in some small way.
This recall is just a hint,
of what I've yet to pay.

Don't be fooled and think its past,
when all seems good and fine.
Yesterday can be a friend,
it comes here to remind.

It does it as a helpful voice,
to keep us all aware.
If we learn from its advice,
then heart ache we may spare.

So yesterday come visit please,
remind me once again.
Tomorrow comes just much to quick,
mistakes I need to mend.

Remind me what I should not do,
and if I've done it right.
One day maybe I will learn,
and win this endless fight.

~Joan Kasemeyer~

Thanks for
talking to me,
making me laugh,
understanding, listening,
helping me
see things in a
different light
and mostly just
being there for me.

you're a great friend!!

(Not one but all of you)

Don't stand beside my grave and weep,
For I'm not there, I do not sleep,
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond's glint on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn's rain.

When you awaken in morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush,
of quiet birds in circle flight,
I am soft stars that shine at night,
Don't stand beside my grave and cry,
I am not there. I did not die.

                                                                    -by Melinda Sue Pacho

Yesterday, I went to the institute. Why? that even I don’t know. It was just that I was thinking about the past year I spent there, studying, playing, wandering, chatting with friends…. and my feet automatically marched towards the cab going there. Even it is only 2 months when we last met, but still it was quite a blissful experience to meet friends in the hostel. The first person I met was the friend from Indonesia. I greeted her but to my surprise she didn’t reacted. Later I realized she is the twin sister of her who is also joining IMI as our junior. It was quite embarrassing, but a funny instance as I was trying to get her memory back and explaining her who I am thinking her as my batch mate J. Next I surprised my friends in their rooms by my sudden presence.  We discussed a lot of things, our projects, electives, and of course girls at our respective places. We enjoyed watching some clips of Hum-Tum on the laptop of one of the buddies. He also showed me their clips from their recent visit to Mussorie & Corbett park. After that I went to the Amphi. Sitting there I realized how much I missed this precious moment. I also met with an IIM A guy residing there for his summers. While on my way home I started thinking the value of friends in one’s life. Overwhelmed with the feeling I came across the following short verse while surfing the net and thought to share it with you all. So here it goes, 

"Just as a wave is lifted by the shore,
Then breaks across the slowly rising sand,
So as I watch you weep my feelings pour
Across the wash of what I understand.
I wish I could just take you in my arms
And all your pain could melt into my chest,
And all the violence of passing storms
Could pass through me and finally come to rest.
No words can set things right or presence lend
A miracle to light your darkened way,
But there is solace in a loving friend
And comfort in what I don't have to say.
Whatever circumstance you cannot bear,
Just turn to me, and you will find me there"