Why the Difference!

It was the biggest task for me to travel from Fargo to Bangalore. The same laptop bag, hand bag were security checked in Fargo, Minneapolis, Washington, and Doha. When I would return the same bags would be again security checked in Bangalore, Doha, Washington and Minneapolis. At every security check they scan every item that you carry including the wrist watch. Most of them agree that the security checks at International airports are quite stringent.
After a long journey to Bangalore I had to travel to Chennai for some personal work. I reserved two train tickets from Bangalore to Chennai. I was joined by my mother. We took the printout of our e ticket, packed our bags and reached the Bangalore central railway station. Mom and I entered the station with two bags around 7 in the morning. There were few coolies, who guessed which train we were about to board. They came to us and asked if they could lift our bags and carry them till the platform. I was quite surprised how they were able to guess the exact train that we were getting on. Mom claimed “that’s experience!” The bags were light hence we managed to carry them ourselves. As we entered the station we did not witness any security checks happening or regular checks for tickets. It was a freeway till the platform. There were too many people on the platform waiting for the same train. As I stood there awaiting the arrival of the train, I could not end from complaining why there was no security check , why the platform was so dirty etc. and the list went on . After few minutes I noticed an orphan bag. I was very much anxious about the bag, but there was no facility to notify anyone about the bag. I almost made up my mind to pick the bag and hand it over to some officer walking around. By then the train arrived and the bag’s owner from nowhere appeared to claim his bag. I was still confused if I was extra concerned or I was so addicted to the strict security checks that had happened few days back during my travel. I could not help myself comparing the quality of checks and the damage that could happen if the checks failed in both the airport and railways station. Every time my statistics told railway station caused more damage. The number of people using the railway station is far more than the number of people who used the airport (Specific to India). The sad side of the whole analysis was that we hardly had any kind of security checks at the railway stations. Only when there was a threat or some bad incident, we could see the security checks in place. But gradually it disappeared until the next disaster.
Namma metro started running this time when I was in Bangalore. After a long wait finally metro was running with great pride. I wanted to get a firsthand feel of travelling on her. I had to agree that travelling was never so easy. All the residents of Bangalore who suffer with traffic chaos come to an agreement that she is a boon and reason for happiness. As I entered the Metro station I saw there was security screening happening on people and the bags that they carried.
I was really surprised as to how different the Metro station was from the city central railway station. It is the same thing that we were trying to protect, People and Property with the aid of security screening in any place then, Why the difference?

Those six hours!

What would happen when a shiny red car is handed to a person with NIL road sense!! No points for answering that. I know all you people have good imagination skills.
I am a person who cannot get to the other side of the road without a plan. I have to invest considerable amount of time and effort to plan and execute the road crossing activity. Things have changed off late after I had a few minor accidents with my bicycle. Now I am comfortable on the road and my brain does work in a relatively higher speed as compared to complete halt previously. Very recently I checked one of the items from “to be possessed items” list. It was a red car with stunning looks and great speed. I have been dreaming of driving a red beauty at high speed on a scenic driveway. I had my rough days with my red beauty. She took a little time to listen and follow my commands. After few interactions with her over a week of time I finally took her on an interstate at 75mph. I am sure she was as scared as I was. As I entered the Roosevelt Park, I reduced the speed and did hit curvy roads. Both sides of the road had spectacular views and some animals as well. We did stop at some places to capture the bison, wild horse, deer and prairie dog in our camera. We also shot some photos of the peculiar rock formations. We also saw a small house built by Roosevelt, former president of USA. With all these, there was one moment where I almost chipped off my red beauty’s skin, in the attempt of capturing a horse in the photograph. But lucky me and the car we did escape the bang by few centimeters. After a long curvy drive we finally started heading back. I did hand over the driving back, to one of my friends after driving for six continuous hours. Till next day morning I felt I was constantly driving and moving even on my bed and out of the car. I felt the motion in spite of being static. I enjoyed the whole drive and termed it as “My first long drive” which will be cherished forever. Those six hours with my red beauty will be ever green in my memory pages.

Time flies!!

It was not long back; on April 26th, 2010 I was refreshing my mail box to check if I received one special mail. It was all funny. I was waiting for one small reply which would change my entire life. The change for better. The change, which would give a direction, a meaning to live. The mail did get pushed into my mail box from the other side and was popped from my side. It brought loads of smiles. I behaved a bit unusual, smiling with no reasons all-time. I smiled in the gym when I was exercising which is very unusual, because I hate GYM! Even the gym instructor was taken by surprise to see me constantly smile. Those were the best days. It has been a journey of joy. I have only added sweet memories into my basket. Thanks to all those people who have been a part of this phase of my life, especially to the very special person. Now it’s a year and still I feel the bliss. I only hope this phase continues and goes on and on.

50 Dollar Lesson

It was March 13th, Sunday morning and I woke to find all my friends still sleeping. The previous night we had decided to rise early as we had a plan. A ‘Sunday morning’ and ‘Rise early’ probably never goes well. I am a very strict person with respect to time hence these myths/facts never fit in true for me. All my lazy friends woke up late, 2 hours late from the pre fixed time. Around 12 we all left our place and we were heading towards Detroit lakes. The temperature was getting better. We had rose from -15c to -2c. We reached Detroit lakes, as expected it was completely frozen and people took their vehicles on the lake. We walked on the frozen lake with our heart beating very loudly. We were all scared that any moment the ice may crack and we might fall into the frozen water below the layers of ice. After a little photography we headed back to our vehicle. Now we were driving towards Andy hills, a famous skiing center. We were moving towards an adventure. With the help Mr. GPS we did reach Andy hills. I really wonder how people ever traveled without GPS here before. It was located in such a mysterious place that it would be impossible to locate it without the help of Mr.GPS. We parked our car there and we could see a spectacular sight in front of our eyes. Huge bunny hills and people skiing around, so many people sliding downhill in tubes. It was a very exciting picture. All of us sighed ‘WOW’ unaware of what was waiting for us. We were five in number in which there were 2 pair of couples. By couple I mean boy friend and girl friend. I was the odd man out which makes us five. We had some discount coupons; we got into the queue and purchased five tickets for ourselves. Then we changed into some warm clothes. Most of us had at least 2 layers of jackets and pants. I was already feeling too heavy. Then we wrote our names on a tag and stuck that on our jackets. Then we wrote our name, height and weight on a small sheet to get ski shoes, ski and the poles matching our height and weight. We were all aware of some theoretical tips of skiing; it was first time for all of us. We came out and were on field. Struggling to get into ski shoes and put on the skis. I was the first to wear my ski, but the sad part was that I never knew how to stop nor to balance. As soon as I wore the ski I started sliding forward, I was not able to stop and I shooed all the people on my path and was shouting “how do I stop”. At some point I turned back to call for help and the next thing I knew that I was grounded. It was the most helpless posture and it was just impossible for me to get back on my legs again. I was worse than a baby trying to stand for the first time. After fighting with myself for a while, I had drained 50% of my energy. I gave up and removed my ski. I stood again, went back to the place where I started. I got into the ski, balanced myself with great difficulty and reached a place where there was a rope, pulling people to the top of a bunny mountain. This was the shortest bunny mountain, mostly used by the beginners and children. There was a BIG man helping people with the rope, I told him that it was my first time. He explained me how to use the rope. But everything flew over my head as I concentrated only on how not to fall. The rope started moving and within few seconds I was back on ground. The big guy helped me stand again by literally lifting me, he was a strong man. The rope again started moving and pulling me, I was happy that I was moving up and again I was on ground. I was little disappointed as the big guy again lifted me and made me stand on my legs. This time I decided not to fall and was putting all my energy on resisting the rope from pulling me. And it worked; I did reach the top of the mountain but completely out of energy. As soon as I reached the top, I again fell. This time I had no one to help, not even myself since I had lost all my energy. I was just lying on the ground for a while and one of my friends came there, he tried a lot and finally helped me in removing my ski. Then I wore my ski after standing on the ground. I started skiing finally, but the speed increased with no control .Before reaching the foot of mountain I fell in a very awkward position with my hands twisted under my legs. This time I felt so helpless that even few drops of tears vent out of my eyes. I somehow managed to get out of the skis and stood again. I looked around to locate my friends who were busy themselves falling and rising. The best part was that they had each other. All were beginners and struggled, but a good thing was they had some kind of support that still kept them on the field. That was a moment when I felt it was necessary to have company especially as beginner. Whatever the place is, it is always best to have company, a moral support to back you up. It really changes the situation dramatically. This time I decided not to use the rope and walked all the way to the top of mountain. I stood there to see small children skiing so comfortably. I also saw how parents insisted their children to stand and ski even after they fell. It was good to watch all these. I even witnessed some of them falling in the same way as I did. I was also blessed to see one of my friends falling after a high jump. After a lot of thought process I again decided to ski and fell in a more horrible way. Our time was up hence, I decided to take few pictures and then returned the ski. We all had food and left the place. I was little upset and in pain as well. We were all tired, we drove till Minneapolis, had a good dinner. We dropped two of our friends there and took our way back to Fargo. We reached Fargo around 2.00 am completely exhausted. It was a very hard day filled with lot of twists and falls and will be counted as one memorable experience. The entire trip cost me exactly 50 dollars and taught me that it is necessary to have perseverance to learn something new at this time, a company right beside you to help you in rising every time you fall.

Alteration of belief

Not long back when I was in school, Wedding was a treat. I was hyper excited because I could get into new clothes, meet my cousins. It was one occasion where I as a child, enjoyed to the maximum and gulped sweets till my throat. I still remember cousins and myself used to play who drinks maximum glasses of juice ,played hide and seek all over the wedding hall . The best part was when I used to collect goodies multiple number of times. As days passed by and I stepped into college my thoughts towards wedding changed. Now it looked like a compulsion. I had rebellious feelings towards wedding. Whenever there was a discussion on this topic, all I had were negative comments, disbelief. I always had one statement to end the discussion “I will never ever get married”. I always imagined that getting married was the easiest and the most obvious thing. Every person’s dream was to get married and live happily. It sounded quite lame and old fashioned and very usual. And I always wanted something different. I used to say that I will do something else and prove that wedding is not the thing!
In the same way I saw many of my friends getting married right in front of my eyes, saw them celebrate their wedding anniversary too. But none of these ever made me feel that I should also get into this relationship. But off late there is a weird feeling in my stomach which keeps popping out every now and then. I feel that I should also be married to the person whom I love. I have realized that getting married is not a boring task but it is making life more interesting. After all you will have a person with you for ever to listen to you. You will be able to express your love and share your life with this person. When you are happy there is someone to hug you and celebrate with you. When you are sad there is this person who can help you to come over it. You are never bored as you always have company to enjoy the moments including watching movies, making dinner, talking non sense, playing cards, going for walk etc. This person can make you feel like you are very important; can give you a purpose to live. Whatever happens in the day you always know that by end of the day there is a person at home who wants you and loves you. This person can be the best support system and make life too beautiful. This person can be the only one who believes in you and your dreams just the way you do. I realized it and seems like all my beliefs on wedding have gone upside down. Getting married is really not simple and you need to invest lot of effort. But in the end everything is worth it. I do not know when I will get into this but I am sure of this, now I know its worth.