The Ideal Woman!!

Undoubtedly every young person has an image of who his/her ideal match would be. Well! This is my ideal woman - she's not an actual person - she's an idea .... 

My ideal woman should .........

Well, she's got to have amazing patience - as I am a very impatient person. She's got to be sweet - but not girlie. 

An outgoing person -  who can come running with me - and get excited about weird places to climb! 

Should have a clear skin - complexion doesn't matter, but her glow should radiate health! 

BIIG eyes and loooooong eye lashes - haha - I've always had a weakness for eyes! 

Has that amazing voice, a perfect combination of playful lust and sincere depth.  A voice that can be heard in a crowd - unmistakable - one that assuredly captures my attention - and sustains curiosity. Rich and versatile in its tones,  conveying much more than the actual words pronounced.  A voice I can get drunk upon.... 

A smart face, not an Aishwarya Rai - but a Perizaad Zorabian. Can look like the college girl next door - or the head turner professional - when she wants. Has a broad minded, scintillating taste of clothes. 

Has a magnetic sexuality - and knows it  - but doesn't misuse it against me :) 

Has her own moral core - and the guts to tell me "You are wrong!" - when she believes. 

Is unquestionably loyal and 24 x 7 honest.  Is generous - giving and compassionate. 

Isn't necessarily a great cook - but is always enthusiastic about cooking. Isn't necessarily accomplished - but is eager to learn. 

Someone who pushes me to work harder - and achieve more. Who expects and demands my very best - and makes me sleep on the couch - if I fall short :) 

Who enjoys her freedom responsibly and has very clear self-defined boundaries. 

Someone who is positive about new risks - supportive when ideas fail - and benevolent enough to never say ..... "I told you so!"

Has shoulder length, dark and lustrous hair, hair that can fly in an arc and scent the air they touch.  Hair that hold you close and make breathing a pleasure... that have the perfect convenient length from head to lap when sitting - so I can play.  

Weighs light enough to portably carry against her will. 

Has an electrifying touch, firm - yet distinctly feminine. 

A person who understands the sense of pride and never violates it. 

Ok - I think I have had too much alcohol (on a week day at that!) - I could go on and on and write a whole book on her. Truth is .... none of these matter if it is the right person. 

Anyways, thats Maya, its an idea ...... like the lyrics say ..... "Meri nazar se tum dekho toh - yaar nazar woh aaye! "  

 - Sanket

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Help Make an Impact!

I usually have my morning breakfast at my desk digesting world news. Today, I could not swallow a morsel, the news headline read ... "More than 100,000 suspected dead in Myanmar Cyclone" - I put down my coffee and checked if there was a typo, there wasn't!  With a sinking heart I read through the news, until it led me to the section where common citizens can help make an impact. 

In less than five minutes, my little portion of aid towards the relief efforts was done. And I thought, Wow! if its that simple, why not have the HR mail this to everyone in my company. My recollection of the morning chit chat confirmed my fears ... very few people were actually aware that such massive destruction had occurred somewhere in the world. In less than half an hour, the HR responded - "Management has decided not to forward this message on the company network!" 

I was utterly horrified! I wasn't asking them to give money or empty their pockets, I was simply asking them to help me spread awareness about the incident, so that if anyone did want to contribute, he/she could. Almost every other day - there is some junk email in our inboxes  - that almost everyone ignores. But, when it came to having a genuine cause, the corporate management decided - Oh! there are better ways to distract our employees! Really! was five minutes of company time going to make that much of a difference to their profits???? I raged to talk to the person responsible for this decision ..... Alas! I was helpless, being an international student and a bound employee, there was nothing I could do!

 And so I decided to use the tools at my disposal, I decided to write! 

Image credit www.cnn.com 

What is it that makes people not care? What is it that people say to themselves - that justifies such apathy??? While as individuals we might disagree on several things, surely, all of us can agree that the one defining virtue that makes us HUMAN,  is that unspoken sacred commandment that says "Every Human life values the same, and if a life needs saving, you do all that you can to see that it lives".   What is it that makes us treat two lives different?? Who really gave us that permission?? Politics aside, Nationality aside, people are DYING?? In how many different ways does this, need to be said before we really understand it?? 

At the time of second world war, when Americans did not want to get involved, FDR said .... "If your neighbor's house is on fire, you do not haggle over the price of your water hose!" Does this not apply to you?? No matter what your nationality??  Do we not owe it to our education - and our upbringing to care more?? 

Often times, it is much easier than it appears! With the internet as our tool, let us use the power of communication and the massive audience at our reach.  Talk to a friend, help spread the word,  make them search their conscience, and while you are at it - search your own.... 

MOTHER EARTH IS ON FIRE SOLDIER!!! WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE???? 

Will you help? Or will you ignore? As you go to the warmth of your bed tonight, try to remember the retching cries of helpless children to whom the night wasn't so kind ..... 

After all some day - you will have to defend your choice, and say to yourself "I chose to do this ..... and these are my reasons ..... 

 Be it a facebook group, or a relief effort you helped create, make your contribution - make a difference and believe in yourself!  As for this blog, it goes out in memory of all lives that were forever, lost!  May your souls rekindle the fire in our conscience, may it help us .... be human again!

 - Sanket

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Sameer ki Chai

I have often thought that a single most indispensable part of the Indian college life is the 'local tea'. It is a very humble drink, unlike an elaborate juice or a royal whiskey - the poor tea has no attitude problem. Drink it cold, drink it warm or drink it searing hot, the tea doesn't mind your perks at all.

While the statistics may vary between people and their palates - on an average, it takes 5 minutes to finish a cup of tea. And come to think of it, that is all that the "tea" asks for anyways - that you take a five minute break and have a laugh. Generations of Indians have enjoyed this simple beverage and yet, I recall no study nor scholarly work that acknowledges the cultural contributions of this drink.... (self appreciation intended) Be it romantic overtures, verbal fights, or erudite debates, the tea has seen it all. If the tea ever came to life and decided to tell its story, well, lets just say that even the most genius of contemporary pundits would be put to shame.

I myself never truly appreciated the tea's virtue, until I moved to the States. A part of life so inherent and taken for granted, suddenly became a small yet invaluable souvenir of my country and its culture. Somewhere in the endearing scents of plantation leaves and its soothing vapors, undeniably lies, a part of India's hospitality. It is this part that touches people unconsciously - and while its presence may be subtle and unassuming, its effect, is always significant.

Be it early in the day, or afternoon, or the wee hours of the morning, one can always drink tea. Unlike alcohol, the tea never inspires feelings of guilt and one can always have it with a clear conscience. If alcohol personifies lust and greed, the tea promotes friendship and loyalty.



Given this importance of tea, any friend who volunteers to make it - becomes an instant messiah in the college residence. At USU Logan, this messiah is my dearest friend Sameer. Amongst his many virtues, I put his inborn skill at making tea - the foremost. In deed the jokes that Sameer's tea has inspired - and the laughter that it helped create have left an indelible mark on my memory. A spot, I will always return to, with the affection and fondness - that one associates with college memories.


And so, this piece, despite being cavalier, is dedicated to Sameer and his tea - in recognition of his profound contribution to the Indian student contingent. May GOD bless his soul and motivate him to keep quenching the thirsty throats of me and my friends. Amen!

- Sanket

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The Friend Axis

An old friend of mine was recently reading one of my articles and as it turns out, he didn't agree with what I said. Thats not unusual, a lot of people disagree with my posts. What was unusual though - was that - having known me for a long time, he thought, my views were quite contradictory to the person, he knew me as. His comment brought me to a glaring confrontation with the truth - and hence this blog.

In a piece from 2005, I am found complaining about the ever-present change in life. As a response, my friend reminded me of my own roots, in his words .....

"Change is the spice and basic essence of life. Imagine a life without change--wud b so boring and predictable. Moreover, for a guy who once gave me the best Goddamn quote I hav ever heard---Only those who have faith in their convictions dare 2 swim against the tide-------shudnt really b averse 2 change. Cheers!!!!!! "

As I read through the post again, I couldn't agree with my friend more. It is very rare that I have conceded a point without a fight. In this case however, I was happy to make an exception. I found my hesitation with change quite appalling and certainly unworthy of my former self. And it made me wonder just how different I was from my past ??

I have always defined myself based on two indices, first my own opinion of self and second my friends' opinion about me. I believe only close friends can tell truth to your face, since they want the best for you, they always point out your mistakes promptly and you listen to them, knowing that their intention is good. And so, in a way -I find out where I am by finding my distance from the two axes; a self axes and a friends axes.

If I have ever strayed off too far, my friends have always brought me back... But ever since I have moved to the United States, I have found myself so far away from my friends, that often times I am quite lost. And it took only a simple comment for me to discover my second dimension.

I remembered saying the above quote in school days. Back then, we were so naive and impressionable that whatever was taught to us - remained etched in our brains forever. Sitting on a wooden bench, we allowed ourselves to get lost ..... in lessons from Danny Kaye .... who quoting his father, said ....... "Some people need to stay in the same horizons for safety, others need to constantly move ...... test their wings against new winds ..... if you are not happy where you are .... don't settle unless you find what you are looking for"

Filled with boundless enthusiasm and fierce daring, we set high ambitions for ourselves, with only sky as the limit. Most of that was shed as part of growing up and facing life, but a part still remains - a part that screams for justice.

It was with immense sorrow that I realized how let down, my friend must have felt ..... hearing me say things, I would have never said a decade back. And so, a prime reason behind me writing this piece was to make him a promise ...... that given a moment of choice where the right path seems to be against the current, my steps shall not falter - that - as excruciating as it may be - I will make the needed sacrifice on the altar of ambition.

So, why write it as public post instead of a private email? Well - so that the shame of public disgrace in case of defeat - will hold me to my word.

A promise my friend. You can count on that!

- Sanket

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The Graduation Walk!

We are buying suits, we are renting cars, we are tuning our guitars and shining our shoes .......... who's we? and what the hell am I talking about??? I am talking of the batch of Spring 2006 graduating in 2 weeks. :) Yes! Thats me and my friends Deepak, Vineela, Gautam and Nirupa. This blog is dedicated to them and in general to the spirit of friendship that ties fellow batch mates together. And while I may narrate the rest of this blog in first person, may the reader bear in mind that these experiences relate equally in some form or the other to every Indian student who goes through a Masters in a U.S. university. 

 I was a kid when I joined Engineering - which essentially - as far as Bombay University is concerned - is a furnace that by the end of it makes you rock hard and completely shock resistant. It is more a character building life style than a technical education. And so when I graduated with my bachelors, I thought I had gone through all hardships that could possibly exist in the world. It is only now that I realize how wrong I was - and how much did my Masters teach me.. 

 I changed in ways and via means that I didn't think were possible. Like any good painting, my Masters was filled with every shade of color and mood possible, an experience so rich and vibrant that it fills me with immense pleasure just to think of all that happened.

 In the course of my graduate studies.....

 I have .... grown academically ... been challenged constantly and forced to develop new skills .... in terms of sheer technical range, my Masters put me in a completely different stratosphere as compared to my Bachelors. 

 I have helped and saved a friend ........ and watched a student resurrected from the ruins to move on to a settled life. Watched it with silent pride and a satisfaction that puts a smile on my face even today.

 I have gone stark mad and angry over silly things .... Yelled at a friend ..... and calmed down to realize my mistake... then gone back and apologized. 

 I have wandered the streets of Logan at ungodly hours .... completely drunk and senseless on a Sunday ..... and had my personal best for running a healthy mile on the next.... 

 I have beaten and got thrashed at birthday parties.. have set my own personal record of puking over vodka .... and also have put many a drunken friends to bed.

 Have had endless hours of hot tea and light conversations .... on almost every set of steps that the town had to offer.... 

I have had my arrogance, my pride, my plutonic ego and my cockiness broken through by a woman, who didn't even have to argue. I have learnt and understood what love means ......... and have had myself helplessly carried by a power I had never faced before .... I have played with fire and gotten burnt .... I have smashed myself against a will stronger than mine and had myself shattered .... shattered and rebuilt again. 

 

I have tasted the shame of defeat and the ecstasy of victory .... and have been made to introspect ... deep and wide ... to find my true limits ... and to redefine myself - and have learnt to still, hold my head high. 

 I have been betrayed and had my faith in friendship questioned .... then I have been helped and had my faith restored....

 I have spent nights listening to a friend blabbering senseless agony over a broken heart .... and told myself .... I would never do that .... and then have caught myself irresistibly tempted to do the same ....

 I have met people of higher intelligence and found a way to compete. I have learnt to admire and respect much more than I ever did.

 And strangely, half way across the globe and several time zones apart ... I have come to know my own country like never before. 

 I have enjoyed delicious moments of limelight on stage ... and contrary to my own belief have caught myself loving it... I have endured months and months together of financial suffocation ... and have learnt to truly understand and enjoy what money means... 

 I have successfully defended my thesis - and hopefully made a contribution to the scientific community...

 I have etched my initials in a place I will never reveal... :P I have made my contributions ... and done my bit. 

 I have found myself miles and miles away from where I started ... and have realized sometimes just going on with the journey ... is perhaps the best choice .... 

 In some way or another .... these experiences are true of every student who leaves his/her beloved home to come here ... like fellow soldiers who have survived a long battle .... the ties that I have forged with my batch mates are ties that I will treasure the rest of my life!

 And, so in a span of two weeks when I am going to walk down with my cap and gown .... and then toss my tassel high in the sky.... I would have celebrated ....... well - a true education. 

 - Sanket 

 

 

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