Psycho's Last Day Out

While I had not expected this, I should have known that one of these "days out" will also become a part of the lasts that I had been vehemently counting in my last semester at KGP. For those keeping count, this was v4.0 and my last because I am gone in twenty odd days.

It seems that somehow, all of KGP knew that I was making one of these Cal trips. For the orders kept pouring in, and I was desperately trying to get more people to accompany me so that the workload would get reduced. These efforts turned out to be futile, because just as one person got added to the list, another dropped out. Finally, it was just a party of four that left for the computer market of Kolkata. The order list, it was HUGE. And there were additions to the list even after we had reached the shop, phonecalls requesting more stuff.

This time around, we had a Cal-Wasi amongst us, so we took a different route to reach Chandni Market, and not the regular "KGP - Howrah - Ferry - Walk - Metro" one. As usual, we were running a bit late, and got on the Steel Express after it had started moving off the platform at KGP station. And instead of making the full journey to Howrah, we got off at Santragachi and took a bus ride to the nearest metro station, Rabindra Sadan. The metro ride to Chandni Chowk was a bit longer than usual but once we reached there, I was back on my turf.

We go straight to the favourite shop and then try to recall all the orders. It turns out that we have to buy eight Hard Disk Drives, a DVD Burner, a hundred and eighty DVD Blanks, five or six trifling computer things, and on top of that half a computer itself. It takes us some time to sort out the order and place it with the shopkeeper, and even at this stage, one item was not what we actually wanted. It wasn't until after we returned from a good lunch (pizzas and uttapams - and a strong coffee to keep me awake) that the shopkeeper pleasantly surprised us by telling that he had somehow arranged the graphics card that we were looking for.

And like this, it was once more off to the ATM machine to get the dough. Multiple cards swiped, a huge amount of cash withdrawn and the line outside quadrupled. I was worried that the ATM might just refuse to give us anything with a "Out of Cash" warning, but luckily that didn't happen. Back to the shop, get the computer assembled, get the invoices made separately for all the orders, pay up and get ready to come back to KGP.

And as usual, this was the part of the day I dread the most. We had missed the express train because it took us an hour to settle the nine separate invoices, and it was again a local train ride back. Luckily, it wasn't nowhere near as bad as the return journey from last time. We actually managed to get seats right in the beginning and also the train wasn't as crowded as last time. Phew. Back home at 9PM.

But the day wasn't over yet! We still had to play some new games on that newly assembled gaming rig, and as soon as we were able to do that, the day was totally worth it.

You've crossed the finish line
Won the race but lost your mind
Was it worth it after all

Hell Yeah!!!

End of Sems

Sometimes, it really does come abruptly. One moment you are in the middle of the semester, and the next its goodbye to the semester and along with that to semesters themselves. That's what happens when you go out and write your final examination at IIT Kharagpur. The place somehow starts to seem unfriendly. It does not feel like your own turf anymore. Agreed there still are a few more things to do before going away, but the end of the examinations and the fact that there will not be anymore of these is a heavy thing to take. It might be the thing you have been waiting for four (or five) years, but when it comes a little part of you wishes that it didn't. That perhaps is the magic of this place.

The sky oh so blue

Sometimes I remember
the good old days.
When the times were simpler
and there was no craze.

When I used to live in a small town
under the sky oh so blue.
When the world was a smaller place
and really colourful in its hue.
When I used to go to a school
but never worried about anything.
When I used to play for hours on end
but still completed everything.

Sometimes I wonder
what it would be like to go back to that time.
It makes me realise
that living in today's world is almost like a crime.

Sometimes I still remember
the good old days.
When the times were simpler
and there was no craze.
To return to that place and time
anything I will do.
Where the life was simpler
and the sky was oh so blue.

This piece is dedicated to a small hill-station called Lansdowne, where I lived for six wonderful years.

Custom Message

This post is (mostly) about the status messages of friends that caught my eye on the instant messengers. Quirky, funny and sometimes serious, status messages are a really great way of expressing oneself. So without further ado, lets get into the thick of things.

"I am so pissed that I want to dump my gf... unfortunately I don't have any...!!"
This was Nitzee's status message till a few days back. Awesome message, funny at first glance but it encompasses the life story of a lot of geeks.

"Ab Bas 56"
Sudu's take on the movie Ab Tak 56. This was his status message when we had an estimated 56 days left in KGP.

"Only a biker knows why a dog sticks its head out the car window."
These words of wisdom graced my messenger window a few days back when Arvind was about to get himself a bike. Too bad my full face helmet prevents me from experiencing the bliss hands/face on!
UPDATE:
"Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect."
Another one from Arvind.


"These are the times precisely due to which I tend to believe in GOD (help !!)"
Thesis submissions can make people do anything, and Saurabh Kumar decided to reaffirm his faith.

"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you."
And you end up with a sun burnt face :P.
"The BEST thing abt the future is that it comes only one DAY at a TIME"
Hell yeah we'd be in a big jam if it came all at once.
These two were SAm..'s messages.

"Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away."
Don't remember whose status message it was, saw it a long time ago. Was reminded of it when heard the quote in a movie.

The following two were contributed by a friend with whom I was discussing putting up this post.
"Why do men chase women they don't intend to marry?....... the same reason dogs chase cars they don't intend to drive."

"Another wicket down....... unfortunately I am playing footer."
The first one is a bit philosophical, the second one is plain ironic - representing life as it is.

And while this last one is not a status message, it still struck me as a real quirky piece.
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."
Taken from the "About Me" section of Siva's Orkut Profile.

For Friends

This post is something like a compilation of short testimonials. I got the idea when I saw Sonik'’s blog post about her friend. I simply could not pick out any single friend, so this is for the awesome people who have made my five years in KGP a wonderful time.

The Wingoo Junta

AG Sudarshan: This fellow has been my closest friend in the last five years, and a next door neighbour for the last three years. This oversized and lazy chap is an awesome friend to have. Know him since the first week of the first year and in the last five years we have had some wonderful times, flamethrowers and snake watching included. And once more I repeat, "Live Life Sudu Size".

The other wingoos, Apratim, Kanishka, Indrava, Vihang, Sumit, and the four wingoos emeritus, Arvind, Nikhil, Guddu and Mahananda are wonderful people to be with in groups. Have spent some really enjoyable times with them, and am looking forward to enjoying the last month at KGP with them to the max.

The Department Junta

Ajay Tomer: Ajay was my best friend throughout the first year, and he got me through it. The best part is that we'll again be at the same place once I'm outta here. Lookin forward to it. :)

Jai Vohra: Also known as Sardar Jai Singh Vohra Singh, I knew him since first year. In the beginning of second year he got a department change to my dep. and also was allotted LLR hall with me. Nice fellow to be with, always full of jokes and laughter.

Nitin Mohta a.k.a Tintin. I've know him since the beginning of my first year. Always being full of tempo, and giving more than 100% are two of his qualities. My gracious host at Calcutta for the times when I want to escape KGP holi :D. 1st day ITC job crack means he is in for an awesome future.

Now cometh the time for the Mech. Dual Thermal Triad. Saurabh Kumar a.k.a Kone Wala, Sandeep Saha a.k.a Sandy and Vivek Malewar a.k.a Mallu Uncle. Three awesome people to do all your classes with, more so because they pay more attention in them than you. Wonderful study buddies, and great friends. All those nightouts while preparing for various exams were really enjoyable because these guys were around to help and have fun along with.

The muTTer Junta

Being a geek has certain advantages. You get to know some people through forums and stuff that you might never have ever met. So here are the friends that being a geek helped me make.

Karan Rawat a.k.a Nukem. Lord Nuke, our benevolent dictator, the sehenshah of the kingdom of muTTer. Kudos to this guy for providing an awesome platform to meet more like minded people. A total game and anime freak, he got me hooked to Japanime. Thanx Nuke :D

Nitin Dhawan a.k.a Nitzee. Geek and coder par excellence. And a fan of survival horror games, got me hooked. But I can't seem to play alone as effectively as we did in a team.

Abhishek Agarwal a.k.a Recca, the basketballer + gamer. Real cool chap to have as a friend.

Vaninder Singh, the "Vanishing Nerd". Another real cool fella to have as a friend and discuss computer stuff all day long. And he can really match his nickname, vanishes for some long time streches, no reply on phone. gtalk or anything :P.

There are a lot more people whose names I have not been able to include here. They too have been an indispensable part of these years.

All I can say is, THANK YOU for being my friends.