Diary of Namrata Srivastava

Falling Sick : Nothing Glorious About It!

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:34:09 +0530

So.. finally, I have got ill in this college, too!!!! No hi-fi and prestigious bade logon wali bimari, like migraine or something.. but it"s that same thousand years old disease.. throat infection, where I cough like a 90 year old woman :(
Just imagine, you are in a class; a professor talking about something; most of the students dozing off; very few trying to understand, after
all, what is that he is trying to teach; and the remaining ones half-heartedly watching others.. and then suddenly you get a "cough-attack"
(where you cough for over 5 minutes, in a horrendous voice, coming directly from your stomach, which shakes you completely).. and the scene in the class changes abruptly.... you become the center of attraction of a highly distracted mass.. the dozing off faces get alert quickly, to find out the source of this heavy noise... "ohh! someone"s COUGHING .. ", they think, give a no-earthquake-has-come kinda ex-pression and look at their watches to check, how much time is left for class to get over... in next two minutes, people patiently wait for you to stop.. one more minute..some impatient people turn their faces to find out, who the person is..may be they try hard to hide it, but can"t stop themselves from expressing that you are disturbing them ... one more minute... some really nice people, will look at you, with lots of care and compassion and ask you, "do you need water"?? and one more minute... now even the professor, who otherwise reads all his slides with utmost dedication, gets distracted, and looks at you.. as if he is trying to say that "you may go out and relax".

This is happening with me for past so many years.. this thousand years old, absolutely non-glamorous, hopelessly irritating and highly disturbing disease, throat infection. :(

Jhandu-Baam!!

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:09:38 +0530

Just as winning is a habit, losing is a habit too; and when you cheer up your teammates with loud applause after they have lost hopelessly, you indeed have reached the pinnacle of sportsmanship.

After I don't know, how many years, I took part in a sports activity, 'Tug-of-War'; and guess what??? We lost... and we lost horribly... in just three seconds. As soon as the whistle blew, we were dragged towards the opponent's end.. and we were not able to do anything.. our feet just rushing towards the undesirable direction and we 12 (actually nine) people putting our souls to resist it. But Retail girls were complete shaktiman, they pulled us up, in one stroke.

Well.. dont take it as loser's excuse, but the fact of the matter is many of our players did not even listen the whistle.. so they actually lost even without playing.. I know it sucks.. but then life itself sucks and you can't help it.

To subtle down the desire to 'play-atleast', we joined the guys' team, since they were short of five members. But the end result was not much better.. except the loosing time, increased by two more seconds, I think. And then I realised, how soon we find solace in others' misery. Earlier, boys were telling us "koi nahi yaar, chalta hai... game hai" and we were sitting there exhibiting a lot of sadness and shame. But after they lost too, we all were chilling out together, nobody consoling anybody, seeing others winning and loosing and occasionally applauding for others.

I have observed here, BM people start celebrating much before the victory. Sometimes, even before the game starts. Maximum times, they lose, but nevermind.. they have already celebrated for the victory, and so it hardly makes any difference. Dont know if it is good or bad...

But losing is a habit, which indeed is bad.. very bad. And a word of advice - Try not to get used to it!

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:11:16 +0530

What do you think is easier to get?
A good husband or a good wife?

Utterly Butterely Random!

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:01:03 +0530

If you are
getting too many random thoughts, or you fail to elaborate
any single idea in your mind then for sure, you are living a highly
disorganised life. It may not be universally true, but is definitely
coming true in my case. Sadly, despite trying so much, I am not able to
frame a proper schedule for myself. No time to sleep, no time to get
up, no time to study and no time to think about the dream, for which I
am here.

Its true
that I love reading,.. but at the same time, its also true that I hate
studying for exams and when you get into a b-school, you do
nothing else than preparing for one or the other test. Sometimes
quizzes, sometimes presentations and if nothing, then some cultural
activity. Now people will say, Its good na... you remain busy na. But
then, there are better things to keep you busy. Btw, I do
not wish to talk about it anymore. People are getting the impression
that I am suffering in this college, which is still not the case.

I feel funny, when teachers take our attendance. We are not kids any
more. Why should there be any compulsion that you have to come and doze
off in the class? When the choice to come into this college was ours,
then the choice to come into the class should be left to us, too.
People of our age have already taken some decisions much bigger than
whether to attend some classes or not. Is that the admin still does not
understand that the best of the talent comes out when we are allowed to
do what our heart wants and I guess, this is the crux of our
organisational behaviour class - understand people, their desires,
wants, passions and driving forces in life and help them reach their
goals while they knowingly or unknowingly help you in reaching yours.

I have become quiet, after coming here. I still speak a lot.. but much
less than what I used to do, a few months back. One more positive
change - no free advices, any more. Not because, people have started
paying me for suggestions.. but most of the times, they cant handle it.
So, before anybody suggests me not to make suggestions, I curbed the
habit, myself.

I thought the post lunch sessions are the most difficult ones, but
pre-lunch ones are even more pathetic. At least, in latter, you don't
feel hungry! I feel that most of my professors are very learned, since,
I cant understand more than half the things they teach. During the 15
days of foundation course, 13 teachers told us the 13 different
definitions of management. The first thing, with which they used to
start was "what do you understand by management" and we used to tell
them the definition, we heard in the previous class and they'll add
some more dimensions to it. Oh God! Seems management is the word in
English dictionary, having maximum number of meanings.

Few people have something to say in every moment. Sometimes they make
fun of themselves; sometimes they are scolded 'gently'; sometimes
people just look at them as 'ohh, not again'; sometimes they tell you
their entire history and you fail to find out, why the chapter was
opened; and sometimes they emerge as the only hope in the class - when
the teachers ask us a question and we all are completely lost in the
thoughts of as to when the class will get over. God bless these souls,
at least, some people in the class stay awake, always.

CP, class participation is essential, especially in a b-school,
professor told us. And this indeed is! I realise now, when I see some
people with negligible participation. It is like if you hesitate to open
your mouth once, you'll not be able to open it ever. And believe me,
once this hesitation is over, you see yourself as a different person.
Just experience this once, and you'll realise what I am saying.

Everybody in hostel is loosing weight, except me :( I am really sad
about it. They all tell me, "look, look, i have lost so much, I need a
belt to keep my jeans at place".. and I look at their waist hopelessly,
praying for this day to come in my life as well. Lets see! Sometimes,
I think that because I respect food, a lot, hence it adds to my body
even if I eat something utterly crap.

Its nice to see, people pairing up in the college. Somehow, it make me
feel lively.. as if the positive energy flows around me. But its
saddening to see couples breaking up. Love may happen at first site,
but relationship needs a lot of time to develop. You need patience,
tolerance and above all, the desire to understand each other. At times,
your wish to get the best leaves you with complete incompleteness.
People say, love is blind.. but I think it is not. It sees, it hears
and it analyses too ... and as my hero says, "fall in love, but for
right reasons..", because then these reasons keep you together, when
things decide to split apart.

>:D<

Worst Experiences!

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:40:01 +0530

I am sure, all lazy beings would say "washing clothes". And if the same lazy beings are asked about the greatest invention for mankind, they"ll say "washing machine". Indeed, all praise for the souls who thought of inventing something, where you can stuff your dirty clothes, add some water and washing powder and then forget about it. This forgetfulness continues till you have to wear your black salwar or pink top again; and you realise that the clothes are lying there for last three days. You take them out, iron them hard to remove the eternal wrinkles that they have developed, put some deo for the moist smell they have got for being wet for 72 hours... wear and leave.

But these happy moments vanish away, as soon as you step into a hostel. All your stock of clean and ironed clothes, which you have brought from home, gets over in a fortnight and you feel a sudden need of shopping. Thankfully, my dad has not given me sufficient money to fulfill these evil desires; and hence, I have to wash clothes. :(

Yeah, there is a laundry as well, but when the rest of your flatmates happily and religiously soak a bucket full of clothes, every second day, you feel like saving your money for a better use. Besides, laundry has its own problems, which I"ll discuss in some other blog (this post is completely dedicated to all the painful reasons that compel you to start a laundry of your own). How genuine my grievances are, can be proved from the fact that tomorrow I have an important test and I am not prepared at all, I came to Ginx"s room to study and saw her laundry bag full with a packet of Tide lying beside it and suddenly felt so overwhelmed that blogging remained the only rescue.

While being at home, I was completely ignorant of my disliking for washing clothes. There toh like a rani-maharani, I used to dispose off clothes after wearing them once or maximum, twice. I needed a changed bed-sheet every week and thorough cleaning of towel. Hygiene mattered then!

But now toh its a different story. My bed-sheet does not look dirty even after being in use for over a month. Towel has to be washed too, kya? Your socks do not throw away any rotten smell, as long as your feet are in shoes and there is no need to take them out if you are anywhere outside your room. I have two more fresh handkerchiefs for use. Shirts, I am using for past 15 days, but believe me, they don"t look dirty, at all, really! In Mumbai, I had not washed my Jeans for ten long months.. I intend to extent the record this time. Lets see!

Btw, there are certain tips on efficient washing of clothes -

Do not get scared if the water turns black, as soon as you soak your clothes into it. It just shows that you should have done it a little earlier.

While washing clothes, Radio Mirchi is a better companion than Bryan Adams.

The best thing is to wash clothes in a group. Watching others trapped in the same mess, gives you a kind of relief and motivation too.
If you know somebody, who has a nice local guardian or lives near-by, then
build a really strong friendship with the person.. you can handover him your bedsheets and towels on fortnight basis.

Motivate yourself by saying that every time you wash a pair of jeans, you burn calories worth six gym visits. This way, you"ll save money to buy
another pair of jeans.

Never waste ur weekends on clothes... you anyways, wont get space to hang
them.. since half of the hostel washes clothes on weekends.

Next time you pray, don"t forget to express your gratitude for your mother and applause for all dhobis in this world.. who have chosen such a difficult task as their profession! Happy washing!

Sab random ha re!

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:44:05 +0530

The convincing ability of human beings is mindblowing. We convince ourselves for just everything. Anything, which does not please us, but is necessary for us to do; and we very smartly convince ourselves to follow what brain says. I feel sorry for my heart, I take it so forgranted.

Lucky are those, who are in love with themselves. I too love myself, but may be its not true.. or committed enough. Is it?

Of late, I am developing a huge liking for all miniatures. Small teddy bears, quote books... and i just saw a very cute key-chain, a very small basket, with a dog sitting into it. Nice, no!

In my next life, I wish God to give me the voice as wonderful as Asha Bhonsle or Lata Mangeshkar, or at least like Sadhana Sargam or Alka Yagnik. I feel jealous of those who sing so well. I am not even a good bathroom singer. Okay, my family members jhellofy me somehow, but you cant be so barbarous with outsiders, na.

After twenty days, I saw the gate of my college again! I saw the road outside college and dher sare people. For many days, I was feeling like being in Noah's Ark, kept with lots of care in a big boat, with all windows and doors closed. Noah kept his animals for genesis of their generations, we are here for our rebirth as managers.

I am not at all a shopping manic. I dont even like window shopping, just roaming around malls and wondering.. "oh, the footwear is freaky... oh the dress is hot". I react like this only when I am passing through some stationary or sports shop. Unfortunately, I never remained involved in any sports. But I like all sports items to be with me. Similarly, i am crazy about pens/pencils/diaries etc etc. When I was small, I used to pray that my father starts a stationary shop so that I can have all the latest pens and pencils. In Mumbai, 'Crosswords' used to be my favourite place, where I spent tens of my weekends... sometimes reading books and sometimes just touching them!

I am feeling a vacuum and I know nothing can fill it!

Headless!

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:55:38 +0530

So, I am finally settling down to this new world. It is interesting, especially the campus. Very green and pure, and to my surprise, I get up reasonably early in the morning, open my window and admire the shades of green, these plants have wore to surprise us. Usually, flowers take the tag of being adorable, but neatly cut hedges after arain shower are equally charming. So I guess I have written enough to make it sure that I am liking the campus. Aap convince ho gaye ya main aur bolun? (My fav :D)

But at times, concrete beauty is important as well. Just like ghar ka khana cannot do always... you need a break. So, sometimes I feel like being in a beautiful jail.. amidst those same faces.. some smiling at you, waiting to be friendly; some staring faces, showing their dissentment for not being able to grab you; some indifferent faces; some dashing personalities and some really pathetic ones too.. all that a college is supposed to have.. a lonely college!

Okay, may be I am really pissed off by something that happened yesterday. Most of the times I find myself as a misfit. We all are different, but few people are differently different. There are not many things that I hate. But the things that I hate, I never wish to encounter them.. even involuntarily. Its something that I cannot handle. I cannot handle people without any self respect. Who can respect somebody, who does not have any esteem for himself? And how can you command respect?? You have to earn it. Similarly, I cannot handle people who are selfish... I fail to behave normal with them. As soon as I am somewhere closer to them, I become over cautious, so that they do not harm me and all my focus comes on how to get rid of this Mr X or Miss Y. I too hate people without any character.. but thankfully, I usually do not meet such people. Anyway.

What do you expect when you get into a college? This is a question that I used to ask students while I was doing my All India Engineering Survey. Now I am asking the same question to myself.

If laughing is the best medicine.. then I am gonna spend two healthy years, here. :)

A new life....

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:29:20 +0530

Abhi kal hi ki to baat hai...when i thought i need to do my MBA... and now I am sitting here.. in my hostel .. just two more years and life will change for ever. Some great moments lie at the other end of this great two-year long journey. I am excited... lets see.. how life unfolds.. and what surprises it has for me.. abhi to i need to go for dinner.. will keep writing more, more andlots more... abhi toh shuruat hui hai.

Thanks Mom, Dad.. My friends and Dear God.. Love you all... :)

No life without wife!

Fri, 23 May 2008 14:41:29 +0530

Last night my friend told me about the subdued treatment he gets in Middle East. He is very decent, an IITian, works in one of the biggest oil and gas companies inthe world and earns much more than what people in India can only dream to earn at his age. Yet, he feels that he is not cared for, in a desirable way by the natives of that country. He says that Arabs treat him the way we treat slum-dwellers; and this is not because because they have more money or less talent. Its all because he is a
bachelor!!! What the heck!

Amazing to see that a person"s marital status commands so much of respect in the society. But he is in his early 20s and too young for marriage. So what??

You dont have a wife!! Means, your credibility is in danger. There, bachelors are not allowed to take flats on rent, so they have to become the bhateeja or bhanja of their married Indian flat-owners. Like my friend is the nephew of his flat owner. Don"t know how the gatekeeper, a gorkha, came to know about the truth and now both, the flat owner and my friend give him some money every month. Really sad, as if being bachelor is a sin :(

Interestingly, as soon as you get married, your respect quotient in society rises exponentially! Just imagine.. today somebody gives you a contemptuous look, "Sheesh! He"s a bachelor.. keep him away" and tommorow, you come back from
India, MARRIED. Now?? Now, people will call you for dinner.. you are not a wild dangerous animal, anymore. Your wife will tame you. You must be having at least something and that"s why that girl has fallen for you na.

Now the good thing is that this dislike for bachelorhood is a bit universal, I guess. It exists in India also. Most of the flat owners and land lords want family-waale tenants. As if the bachelors are orphans, they dont have a family at all. I remember, my ex-land-lady was really crazy about the marital status of her prospective tenants. Being married was not enough for her.. she wanted people with kids. Children add more credibility in your profile. People assume that a person with kids wont have time to do some illegitimate activities, like poking into your daughter"s life.

Well, my ex-land-lady"s craze had a substantial base. She once gave room to two young medicos, and one of them fell in love with her granddaughter only. I know, she had a real difficult time in throwing that man out. But this does not happen always.

Usually, people with a young wife or younger daughters are too finicky about
bachelors. But at times some old uncles too dislike unmarried guys. Unko rehne ka saleeka nahi hota.. Wo room saaf nahi rakhte.. Wo gande hote hain.. etc etc. Arre uncle.. kabhi aap bhi toh yahich karate the.. karate the na!!

And not only flat owners! People in general are really very rude towards bachelors! Apne Atal bihari Bajpai ji still get ridiculous remarks. "Jo bahu (wife) na juta paye..wo bahumat (majority) kya jutayenge".... too funny and of course.. our dear Kalam Sa"ab, whom people still ask, if he ever wanted to get marriage. One of my father"s friend is a bachelor and whereever he goes in evening... the hosts ask him to stay till dinner.. "..kya karenge apne liye paka ke.. apke ghar main to koi banane wala hai nai". Also, one of my relatives.. they have three siblings and none of them got married. Now people address them as, "...jinke yahan kisi ki shaadi nahi hui hai..."

Even bachelors need a compassionate and warm gesture. In any kinda bawaal,
police will catch them first. I remember, once we were going to a mall and there was a long queue at the door.. so there were 4 boys standing before us in that queue. They all were pretty decent, as me and mom judged in that half-n-hr, but as soon as their turn came, the watchman removed them from the queue forcibly, saying that they do not have any "family" with them. Now that was really rude and disrespectful. Can"t four brothers come for shopping together? Wont they make a family then? Or is it necessary to have a female company, everytime you make a
public appearance; otherwise you"ll be taken rowdy. That never made sense to me. I will kill that watchman if he dares to do this to my brothers.

I know, guys will have many more such sad experiences. It happens with them, everyday, just because their age or job or circumstances are not suitable for marriage. What I have experienced as a girl is, guys are much better than many middle age men. They are more decent and helpful at times. You can rely on them more and even if they tease you, they tease you in style.. unlike those uncles, who shud get a slap right away. I now know why they say - no life without wife.

So.. last words - Get married soon! Wives not only bring money, happiness and love.. they bring respect too!

Thu, 15 May 2008 22:12:08 +0530

"Pyaar to hume bhi karna tha, par kuch khas nahi hua,
Tajmahal banane ka plan tha, par naksha paas nahi hua"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Semi-english shayari -

"The janaza of mehboob nikala from the gali of mehbuba with lots of zor-shor,
mehbuba jhaaki from the door &
boli, "mar gaya haramkhor"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sardar ji being interviewed - "To bataiye PANI ke bina Insaan kaise marega?"
Sardar : "Pani nahi hoga to insan tairega (swim) kaise? Aur tairega nahi to doob ke mar jayega!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Teacher to students, while distributing their final degrees : "bachchon, wada karo, tum daru nahi piyoge"
students, haath uthake : nahi piyenge

teacher : tum juan nahi kheloge, koi galat kaam nahi karoge
students : nahi karenge

teacher : tum har mahila ko respect doge, kabhi kisi ladaki ko chedoge nahi
students : nahi karenge

teacher : aur jab bhi desh ko tumhari jaan ki zarurat hogi, bina dare apni jaan de doge.
students : de denge...... waise bhi aise jaan ka hum karenge kya?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~