21 changes to 13

This was suppose to be a fb status but got changed to blogspot with some additions. I know I have a pending post on my placements. But somehow I wanted to share n write lots of stuffs.
 BTW  I am placed in Mahindra n Mahindra, farm n automotive division, product developer, chennai. Package details available on personal request.


 Read a status that now is the time to prepare for mental fitness for Mumbai Marathon runners. Forget mental, I am not physically fit yet. Last muniute preparations for such a huge run, thankfully I don't have to work much in mental part. Anyway, I recall my academic days. I generally enter the last 10 days relaxed n chilled n revising a bit. N I see few of many friends starting their prep n what not. I find situations reversed as far as acad goes. In June run event too, I rested a month n again trained for a month. Repeated the same mistake now. Next 1 month is gonna be exploring the power of discipline, combined with couple of parties, mood indigo, religious function n what not. As my old blog post goes by the title - Experimenter. After a wonderful placement episode filled with all emotions, a new chapter to be added in my life - 'Experimenter turned Achiever'..

Do read my post titled - My lice as an experimenter continues.. Difficult to add link using cell phone.

About the post title. 21.1 km is half marathon distance. Which is approximately 13 miles. A big mental advantage when u see a small number like that. So the so called unlucky number er is my gonna bring so many lucky stuffs.

Suddenly, this new small and big non academic targets has added a new adventure in my life. May be I wouldn't have been in IIT if I had taken up such non acad stuffs early in my career. Hats off to those who excel or even attempt n practice both acad n non acad level at a competitative level. About me, I have started valuing my health more, something that I neglected for quarter of a century.

About the discipline stuff that I wrote. Willkeep u guys uupdated as soon as I start it. In a but shell its full of running, gym, cycling, salads, skipping, rbcs, lung capacity, bringing down normal heart beat. What out for more. Need to end this now.

PPP - Pre Placement Post

     Running - Was back from Gujarat early this month and then started alternate day long distance slow running. About 8.5 kms (not too long). Somehow I easily continued with my Cold and Cough from Gujarat and still suffering. Haven't been into running since a week. I also started skipping and restarted it again yesterday and skipped skipping today. Skipping really helps, specially to get good posture. It is since I observed since 3 days that M back is again curving and shoulders dropping down as before. Also I had planned that on 18th November I will make first 21 kms run, but will have to wait. May be a month more before I go for 15 kms + in practice. Read some books and back to Nelson Mandela along with Forge your Future by APJ Abdul Kalam. This is all from non- acad point of view.

     Placements. . . As usual this last minute preparations and revision days are boring and time just seems to have slowed down its pace. Good time to get 10+ hrs of sleep and that is one of the things I am doing. Going bit into technical details. Started with Mech core preparation and seems that I actually have lost many stuffs from memory and its gonna take Eons to make a come back. Since a week ago after consulting one of my friend (All names to be disclosed in Post Placement Post) I started with revision of specialisation of my area ie Mechanical Design. It seems hard to continue with it. Getting distracted with Facebook, songs on youtube, sleep, Guitar and all things that you can think of. Somehow, the seriousness or importance of placement hasn't sunk in.

     Couple to go, ie couple of weeks before the placement to go and I am literally counting every hour to 1st December. It is has been one of my peculiarity that I seem to change my stance on a issue after a while. Mostly after gaining more insights into the matter at hand. Something similar happening now. Wanted an ABC company initially. Now I desperately want XYZ company and may be I need PQR later. So, this 14 days are going to be tough and exciting. Thank GOD there is good amount of part to be played by Forces of Nature in placements.

     Slotting of company is not that I can control. Though higher categories company come first and others follow them. But there are chances that two companies of same category may come on two different days. There is also something called as shortlist that few companies may put up. Don't know exact details of it. We certainly do have a choice of filling up preference for companies coming on same day. Having said that I have different amount of liking for different companies and also having pressure of past performances (details in next post) it is interesting how the records stand at the end of placements.

     Pink Tie has so much now became my trade mark sign. Some perceive it in good way some in bad, but it has became my part. There are different set of formals and different occasions but same Pink Tie, which was a gift to me. There few connecting Friends and people and situations that has made it my trademark. Frankly speaking, after every use, I find myself more fond of it. Just one or two events where I went with a non-Pink tie. Let us see my mood and atmosphere on placement day which will help me choose my Tie colour.

     One last but something which seems more promising is Expansion of my 'S - Circle'. Though the expansion will be by one only. Though it is too early to predict how things will shape up with the new member, but I am being hopeful.

     Go on a vacation or trip or hibernation for a fortnight. My next post will be between 1st December to 3rd December.

Stay Fit Stay Healthy !!!

Breaking Barriers !!!

     Should have written a week ago. This is Saladous blog, having Salad and doing time pass. Running has so uch entered into each and every part of my life, even all my posts contain some or other reference to it.

     In IIT we follow pointer system, 10 being the max. In first two sem I ended up with 8.9 and in third sem it went down to 8.66.. 9.0 seemed to be like a my personal sound barrier which I thought will never be broken by me. Below is the details about by semester and overall performance. First time I am sharing my academic results in such details and making it public..

     In fourth sem I finally broke barrier of 9.0 but it was SPI is Semester Performance Index, overall I still lagged. Even after removing some extra subjects with low grade, I just couldn't cross 9..  8.9 was the closest I would have reached. Then there is this present term going on, stage one project. Scoring a 9 is rather easy and even if get a 9, I still won't break the barrier. Thanks to my guide, examiners and so many connected people and friends and my all time favorite, my Aging Lappi helped to get an AA, ie 10. Its not updated but now my CPI is finally 9+..

     There are certainly boys and girls out there who never ever went below 9, their story is completely unlike me. So, this breaking of barriers may not be a great big deal when you see the entire universe, but in my own little world it means something big. In school and college too I was good, but never the Best. Never thought that good numbers and I can go hand in hand, picture is changing now. I was like the worst among the best when it came to numbers and ranks. Each and every journey has its own peculiarity and this too has its own taste. In running I never thought as my game and had great respect for athletes. In acads I knew that being a topper is an achievement but not a big deal, I can have it and now I am half way through it.

     This also marks one more achievement, ie being a good in presentation. Though some of the graphs and mathematical contents were missing, overall it was fun. I overshoot again from the allotted time and that has been one major drawback of my presentations. As long as audience don't find it boring I am okay with it. Now the next step to climb is in December, less than 5 weeks to go and I am still not working in that direction. Its about the placements, Mech Core companies generally come by 5th or 6th December. Need to get in correct frame of mind and preparation intensity in a day or two. Plus the village visit is gonna slow down the momentum further. Hoping for a miracle to come by and get me through.

     Now, coming back to running, I started with 75 mins of target for Half marathon and revised it to 90 mins. A 9 over here too. Again my speed stays stagnant at 120 mins, not at all enough. You either get a degree and walk out, or you go home with Distinction. Same is with 120 mins and 90 mins.. Still I am being hopeful. Included skipping in my training and the posture has improved. From tomorrow I will cut off the ankle weights during skipping too.. Experts suggest that skipping or running with ankle weights will lead to injury in later stages of your life and so seems like I made a wrong investment. Health is more important though.

Happy Studying !!!

Springy Legs !!!

     This time this post is from a classroom in IITB. I am waiting for pre-placement talk to start off. Yesterday in running I could barely complete 3 kms of running. Legs just refusing to leave the ground and don't ask about the speed, it was pathetic.

     Today it was completely different. I felt like someone had attached springs to my legs. At times earlier this year, I have clocked 12 km/hr on endurance runs, today it was slight less than 10 km/hr. But I can't remember ever before feeling such light legs. I was tired about 60% of journey, but still could keep my pace throughout. Maybe the skipping along with ankle weights starting to show some effects. Only time will tell how far and fast I am able to go. Target speed of 14 km/hr is far ahead about still within the reach. Less than 90 days to go for the marathon. There is one certainty for sure, an adventurous journey is what I am going to go through.

     Nothing much to write under this title.

Run Fast, Run Long !!!

Retirement

     I wanted to write so so so many stuffs and posts and what not. I always used to wonder how can people who blog just leave it in between and stop writing, now I know the answer. The Blogger app for android helped me months ago to write as much as possible, time to get it back. Forgot few titles but finally here is one of a kind. As usual something related to recent events taking place in my life. I guess its better to go thought the Retirement Announcement below, before starting the with the main content.

Retirement Announcement

Sandy's Official Broadcast Network---

In most recent news it has been found Sandy is retiring from running, here is more from Sandy Himself..

"Hello, this message is for people I closely associated with my running or who knew about it. It is has been a short exciting journey n blah blah, its time to exit.

This is typical of me, I had a target or dream, went after it, showed off, boosted a lot about it n even before reaching there I am calling it a day.

It will be hard to again trust n confidence of my friends, they can call me a quitter, self boasting or whatever, at the end I just require they support.

I personally consider all this as an experiment, specially when its all over. This experiment went a long way than others and learnt many lessons.. That's all for now."

As you can see, Sandy doesn't look much upset about the call off. May he anticipated it, just a couple of days more and he will back on his track of MTech at full pace.

Stat tuned for more updates..

     Some of my close and near and dear ones received the above message from me a week ago. Now it is going out a bigger scale through this post and as I share it on facebook. It was 2nd of October and I saw women's marathon (Asian Games) and then went on for a run. I did clock faster and enjoyed my run, more importantly it was smooth run. Then I was to meet some of friends on the same day, the BEST bus didn't stop where i was standing and I instantly decided to take a run after that, almost 150 to 200 meters and I finally caught. I was like - 'Wow Sandy !!! You surely can SPRINT '.

     Since September I was thinking that should I really give up running and lot of thought processing went in it. Finally, after the eventful day, I called it a day to myself and some of my friends. Got a mixed reaction, I thought that may be from next day, ie Dusshera I will try to be as before, before I started running. Things always never go as planned, initial days were gloomy. I tore of the pages that were supposed to be first half of my book titled - 'My 21km Journey'. Posters like 'Marathon Champion' and 'Inter IIT' were removed by me which were hung on the drawer.

     So many this and that and everything just cooking in my mind, finally the news broke out to my parents (Reaction not to be mentioned here). A week or so went by and I was back again, I decided to come back just to never stop running again. Almost 5 days since i decided to make a come back and I haven't ran since then. Yesterday there was Grossy GC in IIT (Its like a mini marathon 6kms or so). I thought that this is Awesome moment to make a come back, but it wasn't to be. Got caught up in placement related activity, overall Yesterday was totally Gloomy.

     Nevertheless, I am going to make a come back. Earlier this year, while going for tennis practice session I mentioned I felt Nadalish, not because of the tennis though. It was due to the hair band, the then opening of shoelaces as soon as I finish my session or as soon as I am done running. Running longer than normal when not well or when tired. That were some good days. When I decided to make a comeback, I started feeling like Agassian (Andrew Agassi). You must be aware that I have developed an interest in reading sports bio and autobio. There came a stage where Andrew just quit. Broke his rackets, gave his costly rackets to poor children roaming on streets and telling himself - ' I am not going to need this anymore'. Later on he came back and we all know where he finished off.

     So just a couple of days more and I will be back on track. Finally I am developing spirit, fighting spirit of an athlete, of a sportsman. All through out my life I used to admire each and everyone connected to sports. No matter even if it was gully cricket. One sure shot stuff learnt in the process of playing is never quit and also that its never too late. You can always win any match no matter how bad in a position you are. Now, when I started running and playing some other sports, I automatically copy pasted that Love and respect for myself too. Less than 100 days for Standard Charted Mumbai Marathon and 50 days for my Placement season. Another big Leap taking moment of my life.

     Last week, seriously I thought of putting sticky notes in my room like - 'Don't Dream', 'Never Run', 'Quitting is easy', etc. Having gone through that rough phase, I am now a better person to achieve my dreams and Dreaming Big too.. Thanks a TON to all my friends for being with me and encouraging me to make a come back.

Dream Big and Run Long !!!!

The Worst !!!

Advantages of Extrovert

Frankly speaking I still don't understand the exact meaning of Introvert or an Extrovert, but I surely do understand the essence of it. With the placement preparations starting in campus, there are many firm coming to conduct mock GDs (Group Discussions) n PIs (Personal Interviews). Also few Alumns and expert come in to lecture us about DOs and DONTs in PI and related. I also read few books and all give direct or indirect reference about Extrovertness. They say that recruiters are interested in Extroverts. Its like they are open and easily mingle up, easy to work with, etc. Well, years ago I saw a TED talk video about Introverts. In which speaker nicely explained the personality traits of Introverts and how they are more creative than others. I am not sure if recruiters know about it, or other if the truth is something else. Anyway, time to bring in my perspective. I am going to list down advantages that I feel extroverts have.


Actually I have begin to think that Extroverts are Members of Herd Mentality or vice-a-versa. As they mingle up easily and have good social interacting ability. I may be somewhat wrong in above statement, but I am not completely wrong. Introverts are like not talking much or shy, they do somewhat different stuffs. So its like they don't have a huge network or much interaction with the world as compared to Extroverts. Having said this, let me put up couple or more points about Group mentality and/or Extroverts.

1. No one is going to ask you to stop doing what you are doing. If others are doing it in large numbers then it must be the right way, this is what is supposed.

2. Extroverts don't have to fight with yourself or with your near and dear ones about changing your personality. There is no Peer pressure as such, since you and your Peers are at same level.

3. They are heard easily. What ever one said is somewhat easily accepted and absorbed by others.

4. People who work for you, work with you or for whom you work are almost at the same level of focus. All the facilities in and around are such as to assist Extroverts. (Making a good and sensible assumption that Extroverts occupy major Chunk of population)


Like always some points may feel repetitive but that is how things are. Having said that, I don't believe in extreme of the two. Each individual has combination of Introvert and Extrovert traits, but majority are more shifted towards Extro case. This is very debatable article, since it contains my own views, which may or may not match with statistics and facts, so if you have any supporting or a different opinion please put it in the comment box or talk to me personally. Preferred is comment box, so that others can also join in the discussion.


Happy Reading !!!

Ticket to Standard Charted Mumbai Marathon (SCMM)

It was around three years back that I thought of running in SCMM, but then there was no preparation and I also I was late for registration. Started running and practicing latter that year but then stopped it again. Its been a long 2 years since then and Now I am at the doorstep of Mumbai Marathon to be held in Jan 2015. To run a half marathon you need a timing certificate. It tells that a particular runner ran (21k or 10k) in specified time. We need to clear some cut off time to be able to register for for this SCMM. Hence forth I will refer SCMM by 'marathon' only.

Just a quick recap so far, I started training for long distance in Dec 2013, some serious training. Started of with brand new good cushion shoes, then just two months in, I went for a new pair with more cushioning. It felt too good, but then a book changed the way I ran. Born to Run was the name of that book, it mentions few barefoot runners, the prominent among them was Barefoot Ted. So, instead of barefoot, I went for a thin soled canvas shoes, the one that we use in school. Things have been better from then on. Somehow I took one month break from running and all exercise and even gym.

It was May that I got back to the roads again, plain, pure raw running. No workout to build strength at all. Just running, that's all I did for two months. June 29th, there was a small run, ie 10.55km in Aarey colony that I was gonna participate to get my timing certificate for Mumbai marathon. I thought I will run in 45 or 55 mins max. My current speed in training suggested 1 hour for 10.5 kms. I never ran more than 8kms in practice, but still I was somewhat confident to finish 10k.

Had read about slopes and bad roads over there but who cared. I ran fast uphill then on flats and so I was excited. Well, the run started and in 3k itself you were down. Slopes so long and steep, you are running, moving your legs as fast as you can and still not moving forward.Somehow I finished half the track and we needed to take an U turn. So one might think that now its just downhill and few small climbs, but its sounds easy. Even though it was downhill, legs refuse to move. Hands stop moving and you just feel like quitting and going home. At the same time you see half marathoners, strong and steady, not tired at all. You know this isn't your field, you aren't meant for this. Was 2 kms from finish line and I saw a nice lady (wasn't able to see her face) breathing little heavily but moving strong. I got on her tail and used her as my pacer. Raced with her for last 2 kms and I felt really good. Somehow I cleared with a time of 67 mins. Ranks and position doesn't matter much. I cleared within 75mins and it's enough for getting a ticket to Mumbai Marathon.

Keep Running !!!

My Life as an Experimenter continues

I am back on track after almost a month of gap. Feels good but still it isn't easy running. Cold and cough sometimes makes me breathless and forcing me to slow down. My Bestie gave me a book Born to Run and lot has been written and discussed about barefoot running and how heavy cushioned shoes are making us more prone to injury.

Being most influenced person and wanting to try new and something different every time, I am now gonna start running on canvas. Canvas shoes have a nice thin sole and it hardly provides any softness to the foot. My form should change now and hopefully running should be easy and smooth now. It will also allow me to go at a faster pace. in last 2 months I had thrown away two shoes because the sole had worn off and I could feel the road beneath me and it was hurting me. Now, It seems I was wrong, it will certainly take sometime to get adjusted to new shoes but it is good for the long run. The knee life will be increased and running will be fun again.

I should be back in a week discussing about my experience with barefoot running.

Moving out of Comfort Zone

Seems like Things are going for a Toss. Running is getting on my nerves. Lets go for a short recap. I started planning for run from December. I increased my distance and speed my Feb end and then suddenly things gradually came to halt in March. I stopped going gym and I also decreased running distance. Haven't gone running since last 10 days.

Before December I didn't run for months and life was okay. Its only now that I feel low since I didn't go running. Partly I am occupied with other activities, partly I sleep late and sleep less and majorly its my Laziness. Something was wrong in my training patter, since after so much work out and morning run, I used to feel dull and exhausted throughout the day.

Waiting for May now, but it may be too late by then. 45 days to conquer speed and distance is tough, This is one part of the story. I forgot what the second part was as I resume writing this almost after two weeks. A short part I would like to include about department council. My friend writes a mail to all that no one has applied so far and so I go ahead and apply and realised that this is the opportunity to get things back on track. But then there were few other friends who stood up for the same post and I was not doing the required ground work correctly. Being shy I hardly did any campaigning and I just lost it. It doesn't bother me much since I know that I didn't do much and at the same time my friend worked hard for it and got it.

Back to running, I guess its when we are trying to move out of the comfort zone that things go for a toss. You need to have right motivation. Also last week I saw 4 parts of Rocky and its real inspiring. Old it is and simple and no illogical matter. I am sure that I can turn the tables and be a moderately good athlete. So many questions arise as I enter the gym. Questions like why and what will you gain by running marathon? Then I also start comparing that there are so many others already running and so whats the new thing that I will be doing. Whats on the other side of the race.

Another negative thought seeps in when I read through autobiographies of other athletes. How determined they were, focused and they knew what and why are they doing. I only know what, but I don't have firm reason to why am I doing this. Sooner or later I will find the answers and get back to all of you.

In short I can say that we all have heard that you need to get of the comfort zone. You need to do something extra or something you haven't done so far. Make sure one thing, whenever you plan to break open your protective shell, give it your 100%. Start with determination and a solid reason. Your motivation should withstand test of questions. It will certainly sail through test of time, but it should stand strong to the negative thoughts and questions that will build up in your mind whenever you are low.

If you are not sure before moving out of you good zone then life's gonna be tough for you. You will be vulnerable and lost. Reason is good or not is subjective. It should certainly not have any elements of jealousy or anger or revenge. Take small small steps which are realistic and achievable and will will lead you to your bigger goals.

Stay tuned for further articles and for my Running stories..

Its Day 7

Still no signs of me getting back on track. Standing for department election and I am so passive, not going out to meet others to talk on various issues. Though, campaign starts tomorrow or so. Haven't ever done any campaigning and also two more in my opposition, hard to fight and win back.Some small or big politics certainly going around here. Just need to wait and watch the pages unfold by next Saturday.

Day 4 and 5

The two days were bit hectic but fantastic. Didnt go for running or any exercise at all.

Monday I saw a play Piya Behrupiya, Shakespeares play translated in Hindi. Tuesday was industrial visit day. Visited Mahindra and Mahindra, NEC and also Sula Wines ;) Wednesday I stayed back in hostel and did nothing great as such. Waiting for my friend, have some academic work with him.

Thats all for now, hope to restart again from tomorrow ie 27th March 2014.

Day 3

Woke up early but slept again. No breathing exercise and no running. Don't have time in the evening too. There is a quiz in couple of hours and I am so worried. Didn't prepare well, hope it goes nice. Then there is also Shakespeare's play translated in Hindi tonight in IIT. Its called Piya Behrupiya.

There is also an industrial visit of our department in Nashik. Busy day again. Just need to be little patient. I dont have to be much critical about myself, I need to understand that it is very much okay to miss out couple of training days. Once in rhythm, then I need to be regular, desperately waiting for end sem and my RA duty to get over. Catch up with me tomorrow, may be from bus.

Day 2 and its Sunday

Waking up at 5.30am on a Sunday. Since the German classes, waking up early on Saturday and Sunday is no big deal at all. Ran two rounds from home to Sambhaji, about 4.8kms. I took some 28 mins, this pace is same as I had three months back when I started running. My personal best on this route is 12mins, and today it was 14 mins. Only positive take away today was less breathlessness. Was well in control of my breathe and hardly got tired. Speed will eventually increase soon.

Gonna meet my crush today evening. Also there is PAF (Performing Art Festival) in IITB. Aamir Khan is coming today at 11 am in campus to watch Satyameva Jayate with us and then have an interaction session, I am skipping that. I may go for cricket too. About PAF, so one of my friend (SHRI) is playing a major role in it and this is her first and last PAF performance. Action packed Sunday this is going to be.

Day 1 starts with a rest

With about 100 days to go for Mumbai Monsoon marathon, I start off today with Rest. Actually I woke up late and never got time in the evening to go for a run. I did complete the registration process.

Why and what this is all about. What I see from here is a Long blogging season, 100 days at a stretch. I can surely write whole lot over here in this single post, but let things unfold slowly. So, the post may be short and may be sweet too.

The content will be directly related to my running statistics and how I felt about the run. Easy, hard, tiring, etc. Occasionally I may add up some other parts of my life and day to spice up the cake. Let's see how far can I get with running and along with blogging.

Sprint Sandy Sprint

Last Day of Year Marks a Beginning of New Friendship

The post was written couple of days ago and it went through major and then minor changes. In the meantime suddenly I got a whole new way of introducing Roshni. I would like to Thank Ms MBiAn for reviewing the matter more than couple of times.

Normal Indian Child, no longer a student but a working Lady. Big Eyes, lots of Innocence and Child Like Qualities. As far as I can recollect she has been away from home since her graduation days. Yes, it has its own pros and cons. Post Graduation and then job, all kept her pulling away from the home. Initial months are surely difficult but then you settle in and start enjoying. One really enjoys the way she opens up her few stories out to you. You are sure learn some lessons. You just lose the track of time listening to it. You should go through some of her blog posts to know the quality of her thinking, almost 4 years since her last post. Let me now start this post.

Roshni

In Hindi 'Roshni' means Light. Many ways to associate it. I am talking about Roshni in my life, the enlightening Light. She is a friend of mine like many other of my friends and yet Unique in her own way, again like how all my friends are unique in some way or other. Friends come and leave or stay and they laugh with you, fight, care, teach you some hard lessons of life and give you those long lasting Happy memories.

Roshni is a friend of mine I met at the end hours of 2013. Bestie was our common link and we both already knew a bit about each other, but never had a talk or meet before. We met at Bestie’s house and talked about various stuffs. Saw some funny TVF videos and literally fell on the floor while laughing after hearing Alok Nath jokes. We had Gujarati Thali near CST and then went off. This first meet deserves a real good place in this post.

We both accepted the fact that we talked with each other more in our first meeting, than what we would usually do. It was due to the Bestie that we could quickly get into comfortable zone with each other. In the mean time, I was busy writing my blog, ie midnight of 31st December. I celebrated December as a Blogging month and also I was pretty sure I will end up being in a relationship and have a Girlfriend by 31st December. Well, not all things happen the way you want. I did write many posts, but no sign of Girl Friend. I was writing my last post and it did end well. I asked Roshni to read it, since it contained her mention too. She liked it and then we discussed few things about our blogs. It is then that I decided I would write a blog about our friendship or a post on her. It was on a condition that we have some more meetings to get some content to write about.

Here, its 25th February as I write this and we just met once in 2014, in January. We plan to have a meet this weekend, lets see how far we go. Well, one more thing, on 31st she came directly from office and was a bit worried that she had her office dress on and not a party wear. Well, the second time when we met, same thing happened, she had to rush directly from the office to meeting place. Next, I will take you some key events, mainly they are related to our conversations. An attempt will be made to maintain chronological order.

In the beginning of any relation one will expect all goodie goodie talks and at times words like ‘Like’, ‘Love’, ‘Crush’, etc. We started with ‘Hate’. Some talk we had and she said I would have hated her for something and so on. It turns out that I misunderstood her and went bit off the track. Around the same time we had our first argument, which was reported. After the first argument, things were back on track and soon we were in a so called ‘Good Friend Zone’.

Gradually we talked and discussed a lot about our previous study years. Getting into Engineering and then Post graduate. Later we dwelled into more detail into our respective college lives and friends and family. She also came to know that I know more about her than what she anticipated. Then came our shopping day, Roshni, Bestie and myself. Shopped here and there. We went to some shoe shop and I just drifted for a minute or so to esquire about some running shoes. I then turned back towards the girls and found them at cash counter, finished with their shopping and payment too. It was real quick.

Then came her Bangalore Conference and we both got busy in our respective worlds. At times we talked about Dravid, our families, our just daily affairs of India. By last week of February it felt as if we knew each other since 3-4 years back. Can’t recollect much from then. Things went up and down and left and right. I was off whatsapp and facebook for more than a week. Had my Mid-Sems and as soon as it ended I was back in social range. Again our talks would go on, we talked about friendship and how people value and at times how some people hardly care about others friendship.

Like how I get ‘Happy Realisation Moments’ midway between my post, same is happening now. Till now what I was writing covered some stories that happened between us. It doesn’t say much about her in detail. Let me try to make an attempt.

Few words that come to my mind when I think of her is Childlike and Soft at heart. Big Eyes though. Initially I thought of her as Childish and realised that best way to put is that she has few Innocent Childlike qualities. Don’t ask me to name those qualities. She has faced some rough times like all of us. One thing I liked about her is that she learned from her mistake and you can see the change she brought in herself. She is closed to her parents and also her first cousins. She is slightly less negative than me and I find it easy to understand her situation. A lot more Sensitive and she may get hurt quickly if not taken care off. Thanks to her ability to learn from her mistake, she is becoming stronger day by day.

It was after this long period and just regular talks that few topics changed my perspective for my own self. I generally talk a lot, specially about my personal life, but there were some pages yet to be turned. One day while having a phone chat that those pages gradually turned. Here there was someone with whom I can discuss few things for the first time. It is in this respect that Roshni suits here a lot. Bringing a ray of Light which Lighted up a whole new perspective of mine. The light helped me discover that I have more pages in my Life than what I had been thinking so far.

We might be having a meeting this Sunday (2nd March), deadline for this post is 28th February. Under certain circumstances, I may take liberty to extend the deadline. Well, I took the liberty and extended the deadline. About the Sunday meet, will come up with it next time. More interesting, let Roshni take this task up of writing next post. Let her include her side of story and she i way better writer than me, both in terms of quality of language and depth of thoughts.

It is good to make use of Light that others bring to our life, but don't forget to reflect that back on them and also enlighten as many Life as you can.

Moving from 85 to 100 . . .

Again in bus and heading college. Late Saturday evening, bus is less crowded and so are the roads. 15 to 20 mins to write down this post.

No abstract needed here. This comes directly through my running experience. What goes inside my head. Take recent example, target was 10 rounds. Slow and easy jog, just to build up some stamina. I start off as required and after each round I tell myself that 10% done. So after 6 its 60% done. Then 7 th round is easy and smooth and so sign of tiredness. Then 8th round and half way through I make a big mistake always. I start looking at finish line and it feels I have done it. I increase speed a bit and it results in physical wearing off. But you make it through 8th round, ie 80% done.

9th round and I look around say to myself that this is second last time I am going through this. Gives a you small boost of energy and long period of exhaustion. I make it 85%, still good but a bit tired. Feels like stopping and ending the run. Thats when I bring my mind in. I say to myself, 85% was and is easy. Anyone can do it and All do it. What makes a difference is last 15%. More precisely, 85 to 90 will decide your remaining 10%. Many questions need to be answered. Will you complete the run. How will you carry yourself? Strong and quick or keep complaining? Are you thinking to get exhausted on finish line or you want to walk home tall and proud? Answer lies in your performance.

At times I have had myself completely exhausted at end, but I always did 100%. I know that this last mile is all that makes a difference. That's what separates the regular guy and an Athlete. And then there are masters and Legends.

This applies to almost all our work or activities. First is to make a habit of finishing abd then make sure you finish Strong and cross the finish line Tall. Make yourself Proud !

Manohar PremKatha

About the Title - I keep dreaming and discussing Fairytale's with my friends, mostly Love stories. My Bestie calls it Manohar Kahaniya. One of my batchmate, Sachin, coined a work PremKatha in one of our discussion and I find it attractive. We call it PK (PremKatha) and hence the post title. I won't be discussing any story here, but I will tell about observation and thoughts to such stories when I relate it to me. So, in short this is one more of those personal post. I wonder how people write such wide variety of fiction stories. Lets get started. . .

I keep dreaming of so many stories and situations, like a walk with my partner on a straight road with less vehicular traffic, hand in hand and presence of my favorite Moon. Many might have similar or same imagination too. Actually there are lots of them and lets not go on that track. Point is, whenever I talk about this, at end I say that its not going to work. XYZ relationship won't happen with me and it happens only in Movies. This certainly shows up my negative side.

So, why do I talk about them at all, because I want them to happen. I realised one of the reason it didn't happen with me is because deep inside me I believe that such things don't exist or occur in reality. I am so very wrong I suppose. I have heard so many stories which are so inspiring and which suggest a big role played my Forces of Nature that its hard to believe they actually happened. Forces of Nature - different names, some call it Luck, some call it coincidence, some other name or just a combination of all.

I was Tarak Mehta ka Oolta Chasma and there came a scene of girl proposing a boy and boy was confused and the story went on. I then went deep into my brain and heart and recollected real life stories of my friends that had a Fairytale touch to it. I realised that I don't have to wait for that thing happen to me to believe. I just have to believe it exists and happens, whether it happens with me or someone else is a different topic. Running out of points now that I earlier had. So the catch is, I now firmly believe that Manohar PremKatha's do exist in reality and I feel blessed to have witnessed some of those. In near future I may be a part of one of such incidences.

Writing and Dreaming . . . .

Winter Rain Message

A message I wrote to one of my friend. A rainy morning followed by soothing afternoon. Missing a friend in Rains has a totally different feeling. Enjoy the message -

Feels like u left n sky cried. Reflecting moods n emotions of all in Mumbai connected to you. The climate is still romamtic n so these aren't sadness tears. Yup, they miss you, bt happy tears they were that fell down. Wishing a nice n pleasant all the best to you. Rains r n assurance to ppl here in Mumbai that amidst d sun n cold, d soothing rain will come by. Through messengers like me, its a message to you.
A message to you which says that after hard work n brainstorming in insti, after having not so good tym with colleagues n after everything that happened, rains will n have come to wash you off. To wash off all non good things that happened. To refresh you n make ready for next day n to make u recall about ur near n dear ones. Also its a chance for you to wear ur shoes n jump in small water puddles.

End Goes December

So the Awesome December comes to an end and so does my Blogging season. It was a nice month, specially till Mood Indigo. Things then went a little low, dry, boring and full of Laziness. As I write this blog, I made an increment in my Best Spent Times. It was with my Bestie and one more friend. My friend had many similarities with me, as I had discussed dozens of time with my Bestie, but today when we sat to discuss, we could hardly find two to three points. Later Rahul Dravid and few books here and there made sure that conversation went Smooth.

Had one of my Best Kaughter days today, thanks to 'Alok Nath'. Small credit also goes to Qtiyapa - TVF. Then going out for new year's dinner to end the day. Lets not talk about Dinner, already stomach is still Full. Keeping it really short and ending a wonderful month. Not sure when I will be back with my another blogging season. Stay Tune and Stay Fit !!