I will find her close ...

In the blue skies
I see her eyes.
With the morning rays
I feel her embrace.
Through the joyful birds
I hear her words.
In the depths of Nile
reflects her smile.
On a starry night
She's the light.
In this silent hour
Alone though I am
With just a red rose
I will find her close.

What is it about sports that drives men mad?

Besides women and money, the one thing that drives men crazy is sports, especially team sports. We love watching our favorite teams in action. In fact, almost every fan claims to be an expert of the game. And the commentators are no match. As the popularity of the sport increases, so does the passion and frustration of the fans. Rivalries between teams are legend: Red Sox-Yankees in baseball, England-Australia in cricket (I skip India -Pak because it is beyond sports), Man Utd-Man City in soccer. And the list goes on .....

So why these emotions? And why do we cheer every win and boo every loss? I dont know for sure. But I think it would be mainly because everyone loves to win in sports and in life (But they rarely do. Your gal friend can confirm that). So, every man does the next best thing. Signs up as a fan, associates with a team, and cheers it to victory or death. How often do we support teams because it resonates with our personalities or philosophies? Zero. I repeat. Zero. Its about winning. And winning always. If your team wins, you win. If your team loses, well a lot of people are losers and not just you.

So what is it about sports that drives men mad? Winning. Its a zero sum game. Blood, sweat, and tears. Whatever the cost may be. You want your team to win. Bottomline.

Colorful characters ..

Ya. Almost everyone has at least one around. Be it workplace, community, schools, and colleges. I have had the good fortune of knowing some really wonderful, and colorful characters. In fact, many of these places would have been less fun had it not been for such people. I do not know what it is about these people. They are usually larger than life, at least think of themselves that way. They talk a lot, most of which draws lots of laughter from others. They like to think of themselves as the alpha and omega of everything around them. Agreed, sometimes they can get annoying. Harmful? Perhaps. But overall, most of the cases are perfectly benign, rarely useful, and mostly entertaining. More often than not, they lose complete credibility, and become a butt of most of the jokes. Here is the twist. What do you do when a colorful character actually starts pretending to be one, starts acting like one just to keep you interested, and even enjoys the jokes cracked at his expense? One really tough nut he becomes then. So, why am I writing about them? I dont know. Anyways, time for me to think of some of their humorous adventures and go to sleep now.

p.s: Though Lincoln would like us to believe this-
"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.", I know a few who actually get away fooling everyone all the time. And I am positive you know someone too.

Be yourself ...

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Today, as I read these lines of Max Ehrmann from his poem Desiderata, I am bereft of words. I think these lines are self explanatory. Thats all for now.

A pencil box ..

Ya. How old is too old? Quite a question. It applies to almost everything around me. Socks, wrist watch, beliefs, disappointment on watching favorite teams lose, and even a college flame. One of my friends keeps telling me its old news. Grow up. Well. Not just yet. How old is too old? And how would I know? One does not give up on such things. I guess they kind of grow old on you. Something in you hangs on to it. Or so I would like to believe. What drives this sentimental, and sometimes melodramatic sense of holding on to things and emotions? Why does it become difficult to accept it is just too old. May be because deep down, you want it to grow better? Like old wine ...

Looking at some old snaps, old letters, and old incidents, I think of how things could have been had I acted differently. Not saying something. Not doing something. Saying something that I should not have. Doing something that I should not have. I dont have many regrets. A couple, yes. And I can only hope that I get to correct atleast that one thing. You can guess what it could be. I am afraid I will not get another chance. So I hold on to these old things. Not because they remind me of my miseries, but because they mirror my joy. The most classic example being my pencil box which shared my trials and tribulations from first grade to the last day of my undergrad studies. It holds safely all my secrets and adventures over 16 years. In fact, my closest friends know about that pencil box too. I guess even they remember it simply because of its longevity.

I dont know why I chose to write about my pencil box today. May be because I needed some comfort. One which that pencil box gave me for all those years. Some one to simply say that I am by your side. Some one to simply say that I will be by your side no matter what. I really dont know. Closing thoughts. None better than what that pencil box had written on it beside a Dennis the Menace engraving. “Live For Today...Plan For Tomorrow...Party Tonight..!!!” Sigh.. I just have a work meeting.

All animals are equal

Ok, So certain events last week made me read Orwell's words again. All animals are equal. Well, I kind of heard him earlier. But only last week did its meaning actually occur to me in a new way. I do not know if he really meant it in the same context as I put it now. Here it goes anyway. Some people at my workplace got an early Christmas present. Others have been waiting for quite some time now. Now, I do not grudge those who got the goodies. Just not my nature. But I really question the powers that be who scripted this.

Seriously. Sometimes I wonder if fairness is just a mystic being or probably an alien who comes visiting once every Fall. Nah. Ask anyone. Hard press anyone. All you will hear is this. Life is not fair. Let me put it this way. Life is not fair for some. Why those few? I really dont know. But I am willing to listen to anyone who has anything to say on it. Closing thoughts. Orwell just sums its up for me. All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. Question is who or what decides which ones.

A little gossip ...

Gossip. I guess its the most favorite thing in the world to do. No effort. No gain. But full of excitement and unadulterated satisfaction. Ya. Everyone loves it. Most of them do it. I am sure gossiping would come mighty close in the list of the top contenders for the world's oldest profession. I dont know why it is so luring? What is it about gossip that draws so much interest among both men and women? Though the general notion is that women are more adept at it, men do well to keep up. In fact, gossip may be as potent as the temptation of lust. Probably more ...

Spare a thought for the folks who are the unwitting victims of gossip. It can take a toll on anyone's career, wealth, fame, reputation, and most certainly relationships. You can see its footprints all over your life. At home. At work. Especially at the local stores where a bunch of gossip friendly people may congregate. Something that captivates me is this: Is gossip an art? Or can it be even interpreted as a science? One step further: Can it be cultivated as a strategic skill? Think about it. It has been used so many times before to bring down political foes. It has been exercised to topple managements in boardrooms across the world. It has been used to mastermind great upheavals in the stock markets. So these questions do beg a consideration.

It is quite possible that gossip gains in strength when it is concomitant with restraint. I know thats quite an antithesis. I mean just the two concepts: gossip and restraint. The sole point of gossip is to relay the information to the next point as fast as possible. This axiomatic truth is the basis of almost every single social tool that we have today on the Internet. Think about it. Email, Instant messengers, Facebook, Twitter, and even Groupon exist and thrive due to this karmic rule. If its interesting, it must spread. If its gossip, then it cannot wait. Now, add a touch of restraint. In a world of perfect order (meaning gossip spreads rapidly), this brings some randomness. In regular terms, people "choose" which gossip to follow and when. How does this matter? I dont know. Just a thought. It probably makes it more strategic and allows the user to manipulate the level of influence. Now, this can be a remarkable ability if you are dealing with competitors in a tightly closed maze. A maze where the pace of information is as important as the information itself.

Anyways, I need to figure this out a little more. More specifically, I need to understand how gossip ends. What factors relate to a "news" from being stopped in its tracks? Who decides when it stops? Interesting questions. Signing off for now on a thoughtful quote from Oscar Wilde: There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.

To see the race to its end ...

As Eric Liddell runs the last race in the movie Chariots of fire, he speaks these words: Where does the power come from... to see the race to its end? From within. The quote makes the whole scene rise a few notches.

Seeing a race to its end. Very interesting. Almost everything that a man begins has a purpose. Whether the purpose is revealed at the beginning or not is a separate matter. However, what is important to understand is the commitment to see it across the finish line. Many waver and never close it out. Jerry Macguire might claim this is what separates the best from the rest. I dont know if it can be so simple. Anyway, what I want to know is whether the commitment is towards the completion of the race or just to continue to be a part of the race. Now, lets juxtapose these two: race and life. The finest souls might interpret life as something beyond any race. But for argument's sake, let me keep this analogy. Now, think about Eric Liddell's quote. Where does the power come from? From within. It seems a logical follow up. But do we sometimes need an external motivation? May be to stoke the dormant fire inside? Hmmm.

Seeing a race to its end is a beautiful concept. Not because you want something to end. Not because you are eager to see what lies beyond. But mainly to look back and realize what you have learnt along the way.

A monument forever after ...

As I write tonight, I cannot help but wonder why monuments have captured the imagination of the human race since times of old. Every monument claims scale, awe, and symbolism. I truly appreciate the effort spent in conceptualizing and building them. But more than that, I want to know something else. Where does the conviction stem from? Who or what moulds the belief? How does the perseverance stay true? Just by looking at these marvelous creations, I struggle to fathom the complete emotion behind their existence and their continued halo.

Forever after. These two words have driven men crazy. Though you know that nothing lasts that long, you want to believe in it. You strive to create something like that. You desire to perfect something like that. Yes. Forever after. Every monument was born out of a simple thought. I don't know if I can state it just as precisely as I am thinking about it. But here is my feeble attempt. To celebrate one's love of an ideal. Every monument celebrates the existence or the desire of one's most heartfelt emotion. The Pyramids represent the search for a higher power. The Stonehenge stands witness to the promise of return. The Taj glows with the flame of undying love.

You can infer a genuine feeling of admiration and affection in every monument. How can it not be? After all, to come up with something like that needs unwavering commitment and fierce dedication. I do not know if there is any one monument that can be considered greater than all others. But I think that all of them share the same foundation. That of celebration and lesson. In every monument, each generation leaves behind its story. In each monument, every generation celebrates a story. In each and every story, the love for some ideal shines.

The bridge across the river...

Reading the future. When it comes to product design and planning or even investing in one, this is an immense gift. In software development cycles, this one is a double edged sword. On the one hand, it helps you come up with the "wow" factor. On the other hand, it makes you look like a fool in the present sometimes. Yes. Remarkable isn't it? What concerns me is not that you look like a fool, but the fact that people tend to overlook the potential of something great just because they dont want to admit it. I can understand when people cannot imagine. I appreciate when people evaluate the risks of betting on the future. What perplexes me is the attitude where people simply want to visualize the future in the future.

Confused? Ok, let me illustrate. Imagine you are the architect of a town. You are planning the bridges, the reservoirs, gardens, and the railroad for this new town. It might appear logical to think what the needs of the future might be? Hmmm. May be the roads need to be wider because you may have lot of cars? Something like that. On the contrary, there are those who decide that road widening can be considered when we have too many cars. Now, the most wonderful case is where someone asks this: what makes you think we will even have roads in the future? I witnessed one such scene today at my workplace. At first, I tried to understand the reasoning behind it. I failed to do so. Yet, I wanted to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. So, I tried to imagine the growth of alternatives. Disruptive? Could be. But I could not fathom why you would not atleast plan for it? If not presence, then absence at the least. Predicting the future is tricky. Agreed. But planning for the future in the present seems a fair deal. Not placing too much emphasis on the future also seems reasonable given the odds. However, I do not buy the notion of living in the present by turning a complete blind eye towards the future.

Here is something that I learned today. Some people are willing to take the risk in the future by claiming that the present is overwhelming. Some people wish to think about the bridge only when they cross the river. Right or wrong? I dont know. A matter of perspective I guess.

The hare and the tortoise..

Remember that story? The hare. The tortoise. The fast one. The slow one. And finally, the tortoise wins. What is it about that tale that we find interesting? Is it because the tortoise represents most of us? Is it because the underdog wins? I dont know. I think the story is more symbolic. It reminds us that perseverance is important. Moreover, it reiterates the need for focus. What I think is most fascinating is this. The tortoise's win is always mentioned with an element of surprise. Would it be surprising if the tortoise were to claim that it always knew who the winner would be?

Closing thoughts for tonight... If there were a sequel (like Shrek movies), who do you think would win? The hare? Because it has learnt a lesson and is now more careful? Or the tortoise? Because it has another trick up its sleeve? Who knows...

Written in the stars ...

Is it so? Is it really written in the stars? You may want to think so. Especially if it is something good. Truly speaking, how do you know? Or is that you just know? The arabic word 'maktub' means 'it is written'. Where exactly? Probably in the stars. May be the stars are just a metaphor. The stars are always there. Across rivers. Across lands. Across ages. They are always there. Probably to remind you. Is it already written? Or do you need to work towards achieving your dream?. Do you need to write something up there...

More specifically, would you attribute all your fortune, good or bad, to those stars? Destiny? 'Depends' is the most likely answer. You may say that your hard work is the reason for your success and fame. Or that a little bit of luck never hurt to get going while making money. Then what is the most obvious place where you count on your stars to be generous? Is it in relationships? Could be. Lets narrow it down to love. Okay. You wait a long time for that someone. Then you meet her. And then you decide. Is she the one? Hmmm. May be. May be not. Here is an interesting question. Do the stars write the same story for both the boy and the girl? I really dont know. But it would be pretty boring for the stars to only write about one and not the other. Leave either one to chance? Naah. Second question. Do the stars exert a force to bring the two stories together? If it is written, then certainly they have to twinkle enough to play their part. Third one. Probably the most puzzling one for me tonight. Do the stars make mistakes? Say the boy and the girl met. However. Hmmm. Each went their own way. Never met again. And they lived their lives happily. Would they have been more happier if they had been together? Or would they have been sad? Is there a twist in their tale? Will they meet again? May be once more at the least. Where? When? How? What will they say to each other? I dont know if the stars have all this plotted down too. That would be something, wouldn't it? It is a really beautiful night. I dont know what the boy or the girl may be thinking. Do they know what lies in store ahead for each? Do they even feel that the stars gazing at them tonight know something they dont?

Written in the stars. I guess thats where the mystery lies. Not how the story of that boy and girl shall end. But, how it shall not end...

A second chance...

I wonder why. Why does almost everyone look forward to making a new start? A second chance. Yes. The weak. The strong. The sad. And even the happy lot too. I do not think there is any price tag that one can attribute to a second chance. Where do you need a second chance? In career. In love and relationships. In photography. While cooking. Well, in casinos too (probably more).

May be this is why. No one likes to lose. And you want to finish on a high. So, a second chance gives you a way to make a new beginning. You try hard. You work hard. Not because you want to win second time around. But because you want to forget the first time as fast as possible. I could be wrong. Should we be glad about this? May be. May be not. Though a second chance gives you another shot to get it right, it also might make you complacent. The thought that there are no second chances might keep you on the tight leash. Think about it...

A new chapter. Thats what I would call it. As I look forward to another phase in my life, I begin to take stock. What I have learned over the past few years. What I am yet to learn. Where do I go from here. The funny thing is that a new chapter does not necessarily mean writing a new storyline. Sometimes, just looking at the same chapter with a different point of view gives it new meaning. An open mind. A more flexible mind. I would love to make the most of the second chances that I have got. With career. With friends. With relationships. With love. But truth be told. Its never a fairytale, except in animation. I do not know how many more chances I have got. But I hope to make some of them count...

Keep smiling, my beautiful rose ...

Memories like the pearls of dew
Gleaming in my eyes like blue
Oh my sweet loving Valentine
Because I can only think of you

Like waves to the silent shore
Ever you brought me joy galore
Oh my sweet loving Valentine
Shall always my heart adore

Yet another lonely year goes
But feeling for you only grows
Oh my sweet loving Valentine
Night's love only the star knows

Oh my sweet loving Valentine
Keep smiling, my beautiful rose

Like a lost treasure was just found...

Dancing with a gleam in her eye
As she forgets those earthly bounds
Soaring high above the endless sky
Little boys chase her across grounds

Says she to the winds, tell me why
Cannot see you but I hear sounds
To which those gentle souls reply
So that you like all that surrounds

Says she to the birds, tell me why
This quiet evening sky wears a crown
To which those joyous birds reply
Because of those stars that adorn

Every ebb and surge draws a cry
Bit confused she then looks around
Only to now breathe a deep sigh
Like a lost treasure was just found

As her smiling face begins to shy
The colorful kite slips on the mound
And innocent hearts leap with joy
Seeing their lovely friend beyond

On the edge of the sands...

As winds from east kiss her eyes
Colors on the veil swirl anxiously
Leaves on date palms begin to stir
And hands grip the curtains tightly
Pebbles outside the tent picks she
As her mind wanders on curiously
Several full moons have passed by
Each night brings a scent differently
Song and dance of the gypsies rises
Besides the dry wood burning slowly
The oasis gleams like a fallen star
And yet her heart lies elsewhere
On the edge of the sands she waits
For the one she loves so dearly