If anyone had mentioned 'drinks' yesterday, I would've smashed him. And today, I'm just getting imapatient to have a couple of chilled beers. Hangover matters, a hell lot.

Of Names

A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose. But, then, it’s a rose. How about us, lesser mortals?
One of my childhood pals’ name was ‘Shabby’. I don’t know whether I spelt it correct, but he was called just so: “Shabby”. And I was too young to understand the meaning of the word, otherwise I would’ve had one gala of a time. And there are a hell lot of people, friends and acquaintances, whose names begin with the word “Shy”. Shyju, Shyja, Shyma ‘Oh Maaa…!’ and one among them that makes some kind of a sense is “Shyjith”, ‘one who conquers shyness’! Indeed, only if you are fond of finding sense in nonsense.

Once, when I was in College, I had been to a friend’s home. As we were sitting and chatting at the verandah, I heard his mom calling “Lousy” and his sister responding to the call. No, she’s no ‘lousy bitch’. It’s her name. And given the fact that her brother, my friend, is ‘Lovemon’ and his elder brother is ‘Loveson’ it could be ‘Lovesy’. But still, how it would feel to be called ‘Lousy’, day in day out? What’s the image that comes to your mind when you hear someone calling ‘Anju’? I know the answer. But I have had a classmate, one Mr.Anju. And every time some new visiting faculty call ‘Anju’ and see Anju, who sport a thick moustache, either they give him a bewildered look or smile at him saying that their daughter’s name is Anju.

Another name that can cause real embarrassment to the person in question as well as others is ‘Anas’. And to cause great annoyance and embarrassment all you have to do is to change a letter. But, fortunately the name ‘Anas’ is called/pronounced as ANAS and not as ‘aay-nu…’ thank God! I’ve a friend whose name is ‘Nishad’, and I know another guy with the same name. ‘Ma Nishada…’

And before winding up, I need to confess that I had a narrow escape, a hair thin one. At home, I’ve been called ‘Shabu’.

I fall asleep listening to the shrill chirping sound of crickets and various other nocturnal insects. How about you?

Alzheimer’s ?

Yesterday when I googled, ‘Why I’m not a Christian’ happened to pop up. Keeping it opened, I thought for a while what might’ve prompted (Oooh again, instead of ‘prompte’d I had keyed in ‘opened’) Dr. Christian Bernard to write the piece. Is it the ‘Christian’ in both that played the trick or Bertrand for Bernard? No clue. But what makes it really scary is a couple of other incidents, which are somewhat similar to this. Today, while I was about to leave for office, I saw my colleague/roommate combing hair and I realized that I’ve forgotten his name. After a few seconds of intense recollection, to my relief, ‘Vinay Shankar’ again started to run through the corridors of my mind. And while reading newspapers online I fumbled upon a story about Katrina, but the face that comes to mind was that of Kareena’s. No, I haven’t seen any scary movies of late that deals with ‘Alzheimer’s’. If I put the odd one aside that of sheer forgetting, are the first and last one cases of
Ye Highlands and ye Lowlands,
Oh, where hae ye been?
They hae slain the Earl Amurray, [sic]
And Lady Mondegreen. ?

Ah, Women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent.
-Friedrich Nietzsche

At Ease?

I had never been at ease with myself and with the surroundings for such a long period as I have been now. (Keeping in mind that ‘such a long period’ is thoroughly subjective especially happiness and peace are concerned) It’s like the tranquil happiness of a hermit meditating in his abode. I prefer staying cut off from the outer world and want to shun all modes of communication. I can’t allow anybody to play spoilsport by being reckless with words and disturb my peace. Yet, I know that it may get shattered at any moment for no obvious reason. Indeed, obvious to the outer world, not to me, for I can see him.

He is there, supine with his left leg folded supporting his right foot, that is with his right ankle on his left knee. He pretends that he is reading, but I can see him glancing at me every now and then. He just wants to ensure that my happiness is being built, brick by brick. And once the monument is over he will pull it down. Anyway, he will have the last laugh. It’s just a matter of time.

The Forgotten PIN

It’s noon. The sun is pretty hot. I walked to the ATM, a good 500mtrs +away. All I’ve is an old, red 20 rupees note. Salary must have credited. And finally when I reached the ATM, I came to know that I’ve forgotten the PIN. Angry, sad and confused, I stand there in front of the ATM trying to recollect the PIN. I walked back, defeated. While having lunch I thought about the number. (Yes, in this part of the globe you can still get a good meal for Rs.12 or even Rs.10) I stored it in my memory as a pretty decent score (I was a great fan of test cricket, yes I WAS. For the SBT Card all I do is to remember the number 12. It’s effective; I do remember things in this manner. I break up a friend’s mobile number in this fashion: 98953; common, 69; summer of 69, 711; date of London bombing.) So again I go there, entered in to the ATM cabin, keyed in the number. Since the system asked me ‘what I wanted’, I thought I’ve made it. But when I pressed ‘Balance Inquiry’, the response was ‘Invalid PIN’. I thought there would be an alarm following with the arrival of the Police at the ‘crime scene to nab the burglar’. Nothing of that kind happened. The moment I reached the office I started to google, ‘forgot the PIN what to do’? There came pages of information. And I found a tip pretty interesting, that one’s date of birth might have used to form one’s PIN. EUREKAAAAAAAA… and it’s a pretty decent score too. Now, as I key in this, I’m just eager to go there and key in the ‘new’ PIN. But still, it’s all a guess. I’m not sure whether it’s correct. Neither I know the envelope contains the PIN handed over by the Bank Official is with me any more. If it’s not the right PIN that I am thinking about at the moment, it will sure going to be tough times ahead.