At What Cost?

04 Jan 2021, Monday

Having been to a couple of western countries, I cannot fathom but wonder why Desi's are in such a hurry? Be it boarding a bus, purchasing a ticket, paying bills, or getting past your fellow rider on road! I am not saying that the rest of the world isn't considerate of time, but they always value safety over time or money!

One hardly saves a few minutes by trying to cut lines or cross lanes pushing someone else behind. In my opinion, it's the satisfaction of outsmarting someone else! Such pitiful thoughts and I can relate it all too well being one such typical desi not so many years ago.

Today after being fortified indoors for months due to work-from-home, stepped out for a ride in mount road. There wasn't much change with regards to traffic per se. I noticed an ambulance veering through with its usual siren. While I made way for the ambulance, I noticed the cars ahead making way like fellow good citizens. However, by the time ambulance whizzed past us, there were at least 8-10 riders and a couple of taxis that went tailing behind the ambulance with less than a meter distance!

I am clueless for the reason for their hurry, they would probably save few seconds at best, as they will anyway have to stop at the red signal a few blocks away and can't really follow an ambulance in a red light!  I wonder if they realize not only they put their lives at risk but also discourage the few good hearts that make way for an ambulance. Thus jeopardizing the recovery of an already sick patient inside the ambulance.

Thenappan..,

Nostalgia from 2020

Penning a blog after years feels good. We've heard it so many times about 2020 being referred to as The unprecedented times! Well, being the optimistic opportunists that I am, it's been a bumpy ride but nevertheless a good one indeed.

I am thankful for many things, starting with a paying job throughout the pandemic.  My household now holds two lil bundles of joys.. yes they tire us out, still, the frown fades away when we see the baby's smile! They are adorable! 

With Covid, I learned to embrace the new normal. Wasn't an easy transition, given the recent change of career! Had to juggle between work and helping out a kid and hospital visits, vaccination chart, been a frenzied ride.

Though my travelogue was dull this year, when you live with your mom, Covid or not, you can't escape few holy pilgrimages. Met few strangers full of surprises, one that deserves mentioning is an octogenarian who was a street-side seller in Kodumudi riverside. He sells handmade palm leaf toys, unable to bear the sunshine he sat beside the temple wall shade and delegated the sales of his toy basket to a sexagenarian granny. Spoke of his adventures in broken English but with so much confidence recalling how he's independent, migrated from the southern tip Rameshwaram, even when he was deserted by his sons. He was full of life and hope at his age! 

Secretly, I felt bad for bargaining, can't help that's how desi mind works! He definitely strikes a chord! and he's someone you can look up to and pat yourself, the best and the worst is yet to come.. it's just how you perceive it and handle it!

Also happened to witness a few interesting escapades, few sorrowful, few joyous, listing out the ones I can recall:

Rajini did what he does best. Apparently, he is the only one who can quit politics even before entering it! #Raijinism

December as usual brought Cyclone Nivar. Yet another testing time, but Chennai was prepared! #BahHumbug

The cinemas shut down for the entire 3 quarters! And not stepping into one despite being a hardcore movie buff! who would've thought that?

All the Oscars were bagged by Netflix makes, not a good sign, but it is what it is.

Me Too moments continued, lost a few good celebrities who resorted to suicide and lead way to drug-hunt in Bollywood. It's a shame nothing came of it and another testimony that money prevails! 

George Floyd was victimized for Police brutality, uplifting a revolt across the globe. Being a dark-skinned dravidan I can only relate, all too well. #BlackLivesMatter 

Australian bushfires that lasted over 2 months and continued to spread, not really helping global warming. All those poor wildlife and vegetation lost, pity!

Covid came hand-in-hand with locust, the vegetation was catapulted across many countries!

Trump was brought down, he still refuses to leave office I suppose, what else can we expect? He's used to making a scene, it's in his blood!

Despite all the negativities, we are only human and we can't help but hope for a better 2021!

Thenappan

Surprise surprise @ work !

Sweets were distributed at work, no reason shared, no sponsor came forward to take credits. After all was done with, later we were told it was Rakhi sweet from our beloved sisters.

I was wondering, well thats fine, but why weren't we told before ?

And then came the hilarious reply from didi, If you had known would you have still taken the sweets?? We tricked you guys to be our brothers.

And i go like, irrespective of the reason we'd have enjoyed the sweets, but don't say this out, people might laugh. You gals are not really our type :D

Anyways they said next was the rakhi to be tied in our hands and we'll have to give a return gift.

I've promised them the gift, however with conditions apply !

PS: Conditions applied is that they'll have to fall in our feet, seek blessings and then have their rightful gifts :)

Being a software professional - it's complicated !

All for a Big-O-Nothing

It was half past 10 and we were still hitting our heads on system in front of us. One of my colleague had a sick daughter and he was supposed to buy medics on his way back home. It was all okay until he made a comment just before 11 while he was wrapping up - "What's the point of making big bucks if we are not able to buy a medicine for your sick kid"

That was it, what's the whole point of being an software professional and receving hefty pay checks every month?

Answer your questions with questions

Grievance of a Software Professional

Everyone knows that you were doing something. But they'll also line up two other things to do, which is of course without any prior announcement or time allotted. However at the end of the day you'll be questioned why all of it weren't finished.

Despite knowing the fact that its not plausible still you'll be questioned just to check up on how you take it. If you are smart enough question them back (usually what i do) otherwise you'll wind up facing others wrath while it's no fault of yours.

thenappan..,

Smiling at your ... ?

Lecturers tend to have an unbound suspicion on the last bencher's, have always been avoiding that for the same reasons. 

Also they believe the first row occupants are studious. The rest is in between and i've had the pleasure of an occupant of the mid-rows. Usually I manage to escape the sight of my tutors, but it was inevitable one fine day...

"I was called by my name. I didn't intend to stand up, well, how could i? I was holding on to something in my hands.

 What is it?

 Umm, err, nothing..

 What is that you have in your hands?

 !! What, nope, there ain't anything!

 I presume you've got your mobile and probably are texting to "Ms. Sunshine", unless otherwise you are looking at your crotch and smiling at it?"

Well he didn't leave me much choice, I can't accept that I was smiling at my crotch!

thenappan..,

Coffee Day experience

Have been a Chennaite my whole life but I've never once been to Coffee day. Paid a visit first time and it was to discuss a business proposal with a friend whom I've not met in over seven years.

As it happens we had another person who wasn't actually a mutual friend and thus there was an awkward instead of an open-way conversation. As we just began to discuss, the waiter approached our table and asked if we wanted something. My hosts looked at me in response to that. Well, if I were about to spend another hour there and if I really wanted to stay UP then maybe I should have something hot. The waiter handed me over the menu which went for like 8 pages! Espresso, Macchiato, Irish, Café Mocha, Chococcino - all sounded Greek and Latin to me.

Was flabbergasted to find out we had these many varieties in coffee. Also I felt in awkward to open up I've never been to Coffee Day being a Chennaite. Just then I reminded myself 'What is there to loose", I broke the ice with a statement addressing my host "Could you please order me something mildly hot, I've never ordered anything here"

thenappan..,

I'd marry my bike!

Another hectic morning ride amidst the traffic. There a couple of things which I do while I patiently wait for the red signals to turn green. One watch out for pretty girls, of course there were none around this morning. Second is to look out for the funny sticker works in bikes and cars. Noticed a pulsar with an interesting cite "I'd marry my bike if it had a life". Perplexed what exactly he meant by life!

thenappan..,

Change is Good !

Visited an institute to take part in a work shop. While I was waiting by the reception happened to notice the notice board where a chart was put up with a title "Change is good" below which there were a series of notices. I started with the last one which went like this 'design techniques, change of pattern, etc'. When I reached the topmost notice I was just astounded to read 'New fee structure'. I just couldn't help but smile at the analogy/ reference to the title :)

thenappan..,

The Irony

Was just surfing through my facebook wall and I just noticed this quote, it didn’t fail to evoke a smile. Here it is – “Joke for the century: Computers and Mobiles were invented to save our time”

What an irony, it was indeed meant to save time, but is that how it is these days?