Thursday, November 06, 2008

A Mundane Train Ride and An Early Midlife Crisis

Leaving home is always difficult, especially when you are treated like royalty by your parents. So as I boarded the 2nd AC compartment of the Hussainsagar Express I realised the royal treatment was continuing.

Usually I always have some kid in the seats near mine, but this time it was all old men with snow white hair. So I just jumped up onto my berth, pulled out my Outlook magazine and started reading. About two hours later, I realised that there was a plugpoint adjacent to my berth. My eyes lit up. I immediately pulled out my laptop, put the charger on and started my impromptu movie marathon. After having dinner at around 19:30, I started with one of Jim Carrey's best movies thus far, The Number 23. Then LOTR, Return of the King - Rashomon - The Fountain and half of a Tamil movie called Unnale Unnale. It was around 2:30 am when I put the laptop in my bag hoping I would sleep for an hour atleast before getting off at Kalyan Jn.

But plans never work out too well for me at such unearthly hours. There was this 60+ gentleman who was snoring so loud, he made one of the girls in the adjacent cubicle cry. It was like sleeping close to a caged tiger, a caged angry tiger might I add.

After that debacle, it was back to college and Economics and Work System Analysis and Event management. Bunked a class to catch up on some sleep. Now after finishing up with some work, was discussing some crazy things with Manisha. Then more thoughts were running around in my head, which I vented out to my neighbour and good friend Sambit.
Attending classes that don't mean a thing,
Writing exams that don't anything,
Living life like a robot made of flesh and blood.
Is there a point to all this I wonder ?

Maybe its just that I'm missing home, or slightly disoriented with things. But nevertheless, I'm bored and letting my mind wander. Sambit calls this an Early Midlife Crisis. Why me ?!

Massive Attack - Angel is filling my room. Awesome trance.

Sunday, November 02, 2008

A slice of heaven called Home

Most of the people who read this blog will know how much I love Hyderabad. For the ignorant rest, I'm one of those who proclaimed that he would never leave this city no matter what.

So after an eventful 4 months at NITIE, I left for Hyderabad after an equally eventful post-Prerana (annual business fest) party at Rodas. Felt like I was leaving my new home and heading back to my old one. But I had been long awaiting the trip to Hyd.

First it started off with a surprise at home, the folks thought I was coming down on the 27th, but there I was on the 26th itself. Was good to see smiles all around. After a day of resting and Diwali shopping, it was a visit to meet the extended family. Diwalis in our household mean lots of good food, the special programmes on TV and more family time. No bursting crackers and polluting the environment, and I'm proud of that.

After Diwali , the floodgates opened, I met lots and lots of my friends. It was awesome catching up. Most of them thought that my receding hairline was becoming evident, a few thought I had become less talkative, one even thought I had become "uncle" like. "Darn ! I'm still 21," I retorted.

I went for a movie called Chintakayala Ravi starring Venkatesh in one of those old Hyderabadi theatres for a ticket that cost only Rs.30. Yes such places still exist, they might not have the comfort of multiplexes, but they certainly feel good. That evening I visited the University of Hyderabad, which I must say has one of the most beautiful campuses I have seen. There was a chill in the air which is typical of a Hyderabadi winter which unfortunately I will miss this year. Lets hope the Mumbai winter can be some consolation atleast.

I also had the oppurtunity to watch "Unspoken Dialogues", a theatre production directed and performed by Alyque Padamsee and his team. A good mix of sensible, funny and thought provoking theatre is exactly what the Hyderabadis need.

I'll be heading back to NITIE soon. But with a heavy heart, I say to the city that will be closest to my heart, " I will be back."

Varanam Aayiram is playing on Winamp. Check out the album.