THE LAST LAP: A NARROW ESCAPE

My Next best thing could have been the last best thing of my life, if what happened today with me would have happened a bit differently.
3rd September 2009. Time 8:30 a.m.:
The day was bright and sunny. It was the time for me to go to the office. I had never thought that such a bright day might end up in a bad shape. The office was as usual, nothing new. For people who dont know the latest in my office, here it is. We are still not having the licensed version of Microsoft 2003. So in our office things are going haywire. My boss was also upset of the fact that he was still not having a laptop to work on or a permanent place to sit (unlike us). In the course of the daily routine he had given me a cheque to be deposited in Standard chartered atm the last day, but due to pausity of time and lack of knowledge of the Gurgaon city I ended up deciding that I should deposit the cheque the next day (3rd september) definitely. So here I was in the evening of the day which was bright and sunny in the morning to a little gloomy in the evening.
Time 7:00 pm:
I just checked that I coudnt clear the NTPC interview, as the result showed on the net after a good two months. I was sad and then decided to go to sector 14 to have a walk and also deposit my boss's cheque there. God, as people say, has his own ways of teling that He is still there watching us. He makes all arrangements himself and makes everyone realize that he is there, somewhere. As I was about to leave Ashutosh called and we made a decided to meet at the sector 14 market. To my surprize when I reached there I came to know that he had also called Mayur there.
We met and I bought some dayly stuff like soap etc frm the market. But as I was busy doing this, God was planning something different for me that evening. It started pouring like cats and dogs. Heavy shower poured from heaven. We decided to sit on the stairs of one of the shop and talk. It was a relief for me to be among friends that evening. The sadness seemed to be disappearing form me. We talked and talked. But the rains denied to stop pouring. I asked them to excuse me for a while so that I could get my phone recharged. In the lane on the market where we were taking shelter I could find no mobile recharge shop. I realized how difficult it can be sometimes, not to be able to find a such shop in in the most popular markets of the city. One shop was there, but on the opposite lane and for that I was to go through the heavy rains, so I decided to return to where Ashutosh and Mayur were sitting. We again got engrossed in chatting. I must confess it was raining heavily that night. The night which I would never forget.
We then decided to have pizza at dominos. Looked in to the menu and ordered some pizza and pasta. Suddenly I realized I had to go to get my mobile recharged. Before this I had already fininshed depositing my boss's cheque in the SCB atm. I again asked the two to excuse me in the meanwhile when the order was being prepared. I was waiting for my delicious pizza to be presented to me, garnished with oregano tastemaker.
I quicly had a look around outside the outlet. The rain was light by now. I took long steps and crossed to go over to the other side of the lane. It was still dark and people were few. I was thinking something in my mind while I was heading towards the recharge shop. I was to take a left turn from the last shop, and I was walking in leaps and bounce, not realizing that those steps could have been my last steps, last leep, or simply stating the last lap. As I approached the last shop from where I was to take the left turn, from the far I saw that there was a pillar almost 4-5 feet from the shop's entrance. It was dark there because there was no electricity, the rains started pouring heavily again. Beyond the pillar was no shed and it was all rain. I decided not to go through the rain but be safe in the shade while walking briskly. As I approached the front of this last shop I stepped forward, and to my surprise my right foot couldnt find the ground to rest itself. The next moment I plunged my self flat in a 6 feet deep square earth dug in front of the shop. I can only remember that when I took the wrong step I fell flat 6 feet from the ground. I was wearing my glasses and as I fell my face went in to something that tasted as a mixture of mud and water. In reaction as I stood up I again slipped in because of the liquid mud inside the ditch at the construction site. I was all coverd with mud on my body. As a took the step towards the walls of the ditch I slipped and lost one of my floters in to the mud some where. In my pocket were recently drawn 1000 Rs, my gifted ipod, my mobile. My wrist watch got covered by mud. I shouted for help from inside. While still understanding if I was alright, have I lost something? But with God's grace all my body parts were in place, later I realized that I had a sprained right wrist, some scratches on the left palm and a little bit of body ache.
When I called for help people gathered around on the top and two mwn pulled me up straight holding my hands. I couldnt see their faces as it was dark at that time. I did thank them and then they disappeared. All drenched in mud with one floter on my right foot I managed to remove my belongings and collect them in a polybag given to me by a tresspasser. I let the water, pouring from the nearby shop's roof, to fall on me so that I could remove the excess mud from me.
In this state I went back to Dominos and told every thing to Ashutosh and Mayur. They said, that I just had a narrow escape. Many people had died falling in such kind of unattended ditches during the rainy season.
I thank God for saving me from any mishappening, I did have my Dominos pizza in that state which I will never forget. I might not have been their to have that may be. I am still wondering that had there been even a single stone some where in the ditch where I fell, it could have been fatal for me. I couldnt finally get the recharge done, lost a floter but most of all I saved my life. I am happy today that I am writing at this time. I have learned one thing from this: We never know what might happen with us the next second, our life itself is very short so better keep it simple and live it the fullest and have good friends around.
Mayur dropped me at my house that night in his car. It was already late but I was now safe.

God bless all!
Cheers :D

NEXT BEST THING-SIME UPDATES!

Last blog written in May huh! That’s a long time just like the last post written after a long break. Today just dropping by to give some updates though frankly speaking I am just documenting things as not many follow my blog,, (are you serious? Yes) and many of my blog followers already know all the details about me nyways. Look at the number of comments received since last year,, and this one for my blogging inspiration Ms Shruti, ur last comment was posted one year ago :(. An special award for posting comments goes to Meggs :).

I need to keep posting things and hope some comments will come this time. Ok so here is the gist of how my days have been ever since my last post in May. I joined Krishna Maruti on June 1 and things have been good. Spent my first month reading some half written policies and some good books. And I should not forget to mention the most important thing I did during that time,, dozing :D. That seems good enough work for the month and even better when after dozing for a month you get a hand full of pocket money (call it salary).Next good thing is that I have bought an acoustic guitar, which I term as the first good thing bought from my first salary. Wow! It’s a cute and interesting thing; I have learned some chords as of now and still trying to steal some time from my busy schedule to practice it. My music teacher is a foreigner, Mike Herbert. Why are you looking amazed? Yes he is a good guitarist. Actually there is this online site where I have got my email id registered and it is from here that I get some video lessons which can be downloaded. Mike's way of marketing his products (guitar learning videos) is really very cool. I have received a free set of some beginner videos and I receive a personalized kind of an e mail every 3 or 4 days where Mike (in real it is an automatically generated e mail) asks about my practice and if my fingers are hurting or not etc etc. So in all I am learning something if not nothing.Next interesting event was my Bday. Was it really interesting? No,,ooo,,ooo. All day I was in office and phone calls kept on coming at least once in one hour. The office ppl came to know about the bdday thing and there they were asking for treat. And you know how these office treats can be fatal to your pocket. In the evening one of our Senior Manager managed to get hold of 7-8 pastries, all egg less coz my immediate boss couldn't have eggs wala pastry on Tuesday. We ended up having some puff pastry which had layers (no cake/bread inside) like a Pattie with cream all over. Friends I must confess it was pathetic! Each pastry was of 50 bucks :O and no one liked it. In the evening I went to Pizza Hut with my room mates and had some pizzas after a long time. Initially in IMI it was a normal thing to be in such outlet and have a pizza. I was missing my IMI days when in amphi some one used to arrange for the cake and candles and cold drinks and what not. And then the halla gulla at 12 and then the most awaited and threatful budday bumps :D. For those who do not know how it feels like; it seems as if after giving sweet food (cake) to the goat (almost me) the goat is then taken in an open area and offered at the mercy of a bunch of people to carry on the ceremony further. And finally the goat is left with a sweet pain: P. Now the sad part of the story- the day ended with some VIP very important person forgetting to wish me. I think I need to make a complaint register for her. But I have to give a benefit of 'no doubt' i.e. I knew she had forgotten the date. Next best thing was the last Saturday when I met some of my long lost friends. Met Amit, Jaya, Jeetu, and my no doubt friend ;). Ok on a serious note, I got a bit worried that day and so I decided to directly go to Delhi. On Sunday I had the GAIL exam and I stayed at Amit's room. And guess what I visited Ms Shrooti's house for the first time. Do saal me to kabhi Madame ne bulaya nahi, I thought that I should myself give an attendance :D (Just kidding :P). I had a very good weekend after a long time. Next best thing is about a news I have got today which is still in process, fingers crossed. Hope things go well :) Not mentioning here, so ask me personally. And it is not just related to me :). Guess what !! Next best thing?? I am feeling sleepy,,, and that the only thing I am good at,, so just good night :D and God bless!

STILL SEARCHING

It takes to be something to leave a mark on some one. May it be ur faculty, ur friend, an ordinary unknown person or may be a corporate representative,,, or any one. Today I felt that I don’t have that some thing in me and that’s being very blunt to my self coz, truth is truth. It is not just today, but it’s been quite some time now, so I can not actually point out any particular incidence here. It is just my inner most intuition or something. There are people who are good at some thing or the other but when I closely consider myself then frankly speaking I was not able to find any thing worth mentioning. Some may say that I am wrong but then I need to convince myself first. One thing needs to be considered here is that I am an ESFP which in crude terms means, my locus of control is external and that I need the external party to my social being to support me and tell me that I am good at X or Y or may be Z. It is difficult for me to be self satisfied and myself make a judgement that I am good at any of the x, y or z things. But again that does not stand as an answer or a solution to what I am thinking.

Other things that I am struggling to find answer is my ‘identity’ in the crowd. It’s something vague and philosophical too but it’s true. I found that I don’t have a clear aim. I know I am going to be an HR manager in few years time, but what next. The ambiguity that lies with in me sometimes makes me restless. So what am I supposed to do is not specific which is leading me to waste a lot of energy (since I am not clear of my aim therefore I am not able to focus my energy). Many of my friends in my batch are clear as to what they are supposed to do and where they are to go and how they will be reaching there etc etc.

Now the thing is that what shall I be doing,,,, formulating a clear picture in my mind about my future…but is it that easy to do… the answer is a big NO. When will I establish myself as a separate entity is still unknown. These things are in my mind. One thing I want to confess is that I am also not taking strong steps to overcome such a situation. And that is not at all acceptable. Why is this happening to me? No answer from my side. But the obvious answer seems is that I am not taking initiative to keep a control of the situation. Do I need some horlics or power capsule for that…:O

I do take certain initiatives but then I don’t stand by them and support them wholeheartedly. So basically I am in a state of utter confusion now. What am I supposed to do..?I need to figure out that very soon or I ll make a mess of my life which I don’t want to let happen. So that is it for today’s thought process.
Well before I end i would like to write a few lines about the song that ive posted,,, this one is by Lucky Ali,,, i dont know how much it is relevant to the post here but just because it gives me inspiration ,, and it also states "Anjani rahon me tu kya dhoondta phire,,, door jisko samjha vo to paas hai tere"...Its in me to find out my inner strengths and i need not look to the outside world to know what i actually possess but i am not aware of...
click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pze5_nkWQ4

BEEP BEEP ITS 3:00AM

Suddenly my mobile beeped in the morning at 3. I thought it as any usual sms from my friends. They hardly sleep during the night-"You all are disturbing my sound sleep.zzz..." Yawning twice I took the phone in my hand. That night was chilly outside and I could sense the wind blowing furiously. Every now and then there was sound of rustling leaves. The room was lit and I could sense something awry. Meanwhile I pressed the button of the phone and then again pressed it hard untill I could see the bright light of the screen entering my half closed eyes. A new message indicator was blinking right at the top of the screen. Slowly as I opened the inbox I found that it was a message from my sweet little sister. Still with my sleepy and lazy eyes I managed to open the message folder. Soon I was all in my senses, I lost my sleep immediately as I read the first few line. Hastily I managed to sit straight and read the first line which went on like this-"Tells you that I died...." for a moment I skipped my breath once or twice. But as soon as I followed the lines I read further-"Tells you that I died last night. Would you..." I gained my lost senses the very moment. I realized that my heart was pounding fast and the flow of the red liquid was swift all across my body. This was actually the second part of the whole message (due to longer length of the message the second part was received first and that is the one I first saw). The two parts of the message went like this-
"IMAGINE: We meet after a long time and
we are talking at midnight in your room...
The phone rings downstairs.
You promised me to come back after the call.
The caller tells you that I died last night...
Would you come back to room as you promised...
Plz reply me with a reason. Good Night."
Already the atmosphere outside was awry and on top of that she is sending such eye opening questions early in the morning--Oh God. By this time I had lost all my sleep but I was kind of relieved. In a quick mode I thanked God and then started thinking about the answer, sleep for me now was not as important as, a quick and sound reply to my sister's sms. This one was tricky and I had to put in my head and heart to find a true satisfying answer. I thought for a while and then I exactly knew what to reply. My thoughts were converted into words as and when I started to type on the small key pad of my mobile phone.
I also started off-
" Though as promised, I never went back
to the room ever again.
The reason being- You had promised once
that we would live together happily ever after
but....last night you broke your promise
and so did I..."
(I was still holding the receiver) The call continued...-
"She died last night but just now miraculously she survived".
The caller continued in a low and grim voice--
"A few minute ago he (I) had already died,
not able to withstand the loss of the closest one..."

I then thought again for a while...the thought was all crystal clear in my mind and I could see clearly each and every word. I then continued writing the sms--

"I knew in my room I had very little time left with you,
I did'nt wanted to pick the phone call
but that was the only way I could have made you leave me easily...
and as the call confirmed your survival
I simply walked out into the dark,
feeling contended that now you wont be there
in that room......anyways."

A moment of silence and then I finally pressed the send button and let the message flow across the vast spans of land, rivers and trees untill it reached her mobile. I received the delivery message and then I slept soundly as contended as I was in the message...