Order a cab! Singaporean Style

“Two things - I want the cab driver to arrive 20 minutes before departure time and call me on my cell phone - no wait, not this number, I have another one. Ask him to call me on that. The second thing, don’t keep me waiting and transfer me to another telephone operator after 15 minutes to whom I have to explain everything again”

This was one side of an amusing and almost single-sided conversation I overheard one day. The highlight is that once the cab guys receive such a call, they are scared to death and they send their best cars and their best drivers. This lovely lady who was demanding on the phone for a cab, was driven to her destination in a Merc, and after all you have to demand when you want something, as she puts it. I secretly presumed, as I heard her make her demands, that she would have a very accommodating husband. Singapore’s definitely a woman’s world!

Way to go Singaporean women!

Gully cricket in Minneapolis

Not exactly gully, but it was actually a parking lot with fewer cars than that which would have discouraged us from taking the chance. But, when a gang is desperate, cars are not deterrents. With that said, we started playing parklot cricket, with no running between wickets, but scoring just by striking hard so that the ball crossed the park lot entrance for 1 run, and a black car for 2 and when it went pass the fence or above the apartment to blow up the wicket.  So much for the fun, we had. As usual, an American (who was not used to doing anything outside his 4 walls) had to complain. Fearing the the American propensity to dial 911, we cleared and rushed to occupy the open space in front of the university’s recreation center. Seeing the star cast, the few guys practicing soccer immediately left. We then started - star cast after star cast (I am one of them of course).

Parklot cricket became so interesting that some natives stopped by to watch me in action, and learnt the basic rules of the game. A few muscle pulls, and a few confusions in the rules brought a lot of attention from passers-by.  This was one glorious ending when I gave 7 wide balls in one over.

I am now flat and tired, after dinner and nothing much left for the remaining day. So much for gullly cricket in Minneapolis.

Everything’s gonna be okay

No, I am not doing through a down in life. In fact I am ecstatic that  so much is happening my life - so many exhilarating events that I didn’t dream of.

I am seeing my girlfriend soon.

AR Rahman has impressed his best fan again.

I’ve been seeing the best smiles off late - definitely mine and a few others’ that are genuine.

Every pinch of time that passes by,

Every ray that pierces from the high,

Every smile that is gold like hay,

I see love, everything’s gonna be okay.

Beside the Instrument

As my fingers move tirelessly,

O’er the keys, stacked flawlessly,

Born is a phoenix, with crochets fresh and shrill

And a bevy of quavers that accede to sharp trill.

Bewitched am I as emotion rises with crescendos

And drains following decrescendos.

With neither flute nor fiddle, to soften,

Or an angelic harp to moisten,

Music - my nature, subdues, sated,

Leaving my breath bated.

The Feminine

Black as dark, shimmering like white star
Beauty holds not itself,for every czar,
Has given his way to her Majestic, Lady’
Beauty. For most decisions, at her plea
Doth happen, including war and wheat
And which goes first does to common man beat.

It is with beauty she rules,
With charm, choosing among fools,
Like an Indian bride counts her bangles,
Resting on them her life’s dreamy spangles,
With elan she kills ego,
That most men fill and then forego,
With resentment, and yet contentment,
To hide in her warmth, that would resemble
That of his mother, life’s very own assemble.

Ecstasic me!

I don’t even care if I spelt the title right, because I am so excited- drowned in the emotion of ecstacy and the assurance that I am far from the unrealistic rituals and absolutely baseless beliefs in the name of God, someone whose existence isn’t known but people have built thei whole lives around him and his life

I don’t know why but I feel amused when I see people asking God to set right things for them! How wonderfully amusing!

It’s a new world

With a burning freshness existence glows,

With a scent of hope, new day flows,

Every dawn is my pelf,

Yet I keep none to my self.

What’s lost is unworthy of respect,

Dress your future with perspect,

Dogged is the mind, far from hell,

For it renounced, refuting quell.

And if my words stand confirmed,

To half your mind that’s yet unformed,

Come, listen, but with no resolve,

To believe my words. Let’s dissolve.

The perils of bad acoustics

It’s a lovely day today but I am not motivated to write about love now. There is something that is pressing me for a long time-something that most haven’t cared to write about.

Yes, I know this is going to be dirty and gross. But for the ones who design acoustics in restrooms, please for Christ’s sake do something!

Imagine stuck in the acoustically designed restroom getting rid of all that trouble. And then you hear the entrance door to the restroom open. Another person enters. You can’t hold it any longer and boom goes out the trouble. You dare not dress up and leave while that guy is still there. You wait - hoping that he’d head straight out, unable to bear what you’ve caused around. Every little action is amplified, right from pulling tissue to pulling the earphone jack out to settle down comfortably.

When you’re done,  you helplessly walk out, most embarassed if the restroom is full. It’s worse when your department is hosting a conference, when no one’s spared the acoustic insult. The simplest of actions go on loudspeaker mode - how I wish I had an option to Silent mode. Or a loud fan that drowned all other sound sources. Better still, some music loud enough to mitigate the reputational damage.

The worst is this. A full rest room and you walk in as the most recent person and then put others in the acoustic line of fire. Not fair by any means!

Leaves

Look from the high window, with the eye of wonder,

Where the sun roars over, and the moon dips under,

An aspiring creature stands, silhouetted with a tree,

With scant leaves, and still as a statue of a running man, 

They hung against each swipe of a storm, branches bent,

Today is brushed with sun. The leaves are warm.

As I picked one that had earlier skimmed the air,

It lay, with borrowed shining on my winter hand,

When will the pride of these leaves end?

Persistence is their nature, even as they are undone,

From their branches, they fall with pride. 

It is a part of eternity, for its end and beginning,

Belong to the end and beginning of all things,

Yesterday, they swayed in chorus, to the windy rhythm,

And today, ease into the sight of no one, yet add a touch,

So natural, so beautiful, to the ground that is strangled,

By their own brotherly roots, who fed them once,

I expect nothing, remember nothing, and come to them,

Brotherhood of eye and leaf, inspires me,

Leaving me unafraid in the sight of others,

To set my mind free, and seek the light of pride,

That is my own, not mocked by this world,

Lords of pride! I now know that I am worthy,

No rival’s air shall choke me further, no more broken times,

I’ve seen my strength, I smile, 

Good times come in small proportions.

And in short measures, life may perfect be.

Lessons of life

Most of us do not cross thresholds of different components of life’s spectrum where we experience mixed emotions. Few of us do, and even fewer manage them fairly well so that people around us do not have to act to us like we are an vested interest. I, following natural favoring, feel that, to a good extent I’ve managed well. Not to mention that I’ve always thought that I’ve been exposed to more number of such components. A good one at managing them too.

University emails with a myriad reminders | groceries | relationships with people | responsibilities | expectations | challenges | criticism | missed favorites | long movies that you want abridged | bodily needs | ego of the physical self | exaltation following lilting music | longing for a piano | parental love | obligations | exciting news | workout | job fair | defeating ideals | slippery footpath | late buses | yoga | gift packages | delays | chocolates | frustration | planning something big | inability to stick to one topic of discussion | temptation to justify that inability | I have the right to justify! | …