Vacuum

Ok.. Heylos! To all who are about to read this post.. And to all those who are suppose to read this post. It has been a long time since I really wrote something. Something.. I mean anything.. I mean nothing.. I mean.. What thing? :S

Ummm.. I guess I am one of those from the confused lots who has some-thing, any-thing or no-thing to say about. Probably I find myself stuck in a vacuum mode.

Vacuum? Did I mean getting stuck inside a vacuum cleaner? :S No ways! :|

So what is this vacuum that I am talking about? Ok. Read on.

Before you read further, I would like to clarify that these are my individual views. They may be right. They may be wrong. I respect everyone's views and I am proud of what science has achieved till date. But these are strictly based on my thoughts.

Vacuum, theoretically, is a space without matter in it. (Now, that's what most of you know.)

Scientists say that a perfect vacuum has never been obtained. (Now, that's what most of us hardly know about.)

But honestly speaking, we don't need to be a scientist to create a vacuum because we always experience the 'vacuum' feeling in our day-to-day lives. Technically speaking, vacuum is a hollow substance that has nothing present inside it. Well.. Most of the people like me experience this 'vacuum' feeling or the 'hollow' feeling in the different phases of life. Check out the scenarios:

Scenario 1..

There are times when we are given spot on topics to discuss about without getting appropriate time to create the 'matter' inside our mind. May it be while participating in a debate, an elocution competition, addressing any issues, giving pep-talks to somebody in need. There is perhaps, a nanosecond (or less than that) moment, where our brain ceases to function and fill it up with the subject to talk about. In this case, our brain becomes the 'space' and the idea becomes the 'matter'.

So, can I assume that by not being able to talk about, I have created or experienced a vacuum for a few moments?

Scenario 2..

There are times when we go through the ups and downs in our daily lives. There are times when we have enjoyed the accolades and also bore the insults for the work done accordingly. There are times during examinations when we work hard but the results don't turn according to our expectations. There are also the times when we take things easily and the results are quite encouraging and way beyond our expectations. There are times when the reactions of our bosses in our offices are varied for the work we have done or for the project we have completed. But for a split-second our brain doesn't know how to react to the results.

Does that create a vacuum inside us?

Scenario 3..

We are in love. (Aah.. I guess this one's going to be the most read scenario in this post. Hehehe.) Of course, each and every living being falls in love with some or the other. Most of us either like to hide our love or profess our love to someone through some or the other medium. The result is that either it is accepted or it is rejected. But both the parties (the suitor and the replier) go through a split-second vacuum where the brain doesn't make out what to answer and what not to.

Does this experience also gives us a hollow feeling?

Strange but true: Our bodies are the best available laboratories that conduct unknown experiments on their own, only to notify us what we have really created or found out. Our brain is more of a labyrinth which intends to confuse us who try to navigate through its intricate network of pathways and passageways.

Also, there is nothing called a reader's nightmare or a writer's bloc. It's neither 'all' nor 'nothing' but a vacuum.

Last but not the least, all I wish to say is..... Oops! I forgot what I have to say further... Looks like I got stuck in the vacuum mode again! :)

Happy reading folks!

This Is It!

A child and a parent separate with each other due to irreconcilable differences. They have issues right from the way of lifestyle to the way of standard of living. The differences crop up to such an extent that they are compelled to say, "THIS IS IT... I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE." And the rest is history.

A teacher is forced to stop teaching a student because of daily, basic and common problems with each other such as lack of interest among one of them, weak in studies, fussy nature, back answering habits and many other issues that may not be known to the common man. The result of this difference is, "THIS IS IT... I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE."

A friendship that has been of many years, that has been tested by many, that has gone through lots of trials and tribulations part ways by saying, "THIS IS IT... I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE."

An employer fires his most favored employee, who has been associated for years, due to the most common problems that are faced by them such as work ethics, limited trust, payment issues and so on. The outcome is the same. "THIS IS IT... I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE."

A couple, after many years of togetherness, contemplate separation due to issues that haunt most of the people. In fact, the water rises so much above the head that they are compelled to say, "THIS IS IT... I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE."

Hello readers. Welcome back to the brutal reality of life. THIS IS IT... I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

Lack of love. Infidelity. Cultural differences. Different lifestyles. Different ethics. Trust issues and so on.

The relationships vary from stage to stage of life. But every human passes through these stages and phases either one at a time or all of a sudden together. The outcome of such stages result to one and the same... FAILURE in making the relationship survive.

Relationship (like food, air and water) is the most important ingredient in this dish of life. It needs to be properly cooked and most importantly served in a better way to make it taste sweeter. The excuses to end a relationship may be many but there are just three (or probably more than three) important ingredients that can curb the relationships to fail.

1. Communication: It is always important to communicate with each other on a regular basis to make a relationship work. A child and a parent shall never feel love for each other if there is a communication gap between them. A teacher shall never become as great as Drona and a student shall never become as valiant as Arjuna unless the communication is without any barriers. Friends can never compliment each other or stand by each other through thick and thin phases without communication. No employer can become a numero uno in his field of business if there is no transparency in communication with his employees. And no lovers or couples can make their relationship everlasting without communication. probably that's the reason people say, "Long distance relationships don't work and last long."

2. Respect of Opinions: Accept or ignore this fact, no two individuals can be same. There is always a difference in thinkings of two individuals. This is what gives birth to EGO and ARROGANCE. A healthy discussion is anytime better than an ugly spat. The perfect example for a child-parent relationship is the Raj Kapoor starrer movie Kal, Aaj aur Kal. A teacher may or may not agree to the way a student approaches any subject, topic or discussion may it be in the field of academics or sports. It is probably the lack of respect towards each others' opinions that leads to the cracks in a teacher-student relationship. In terms of friendship going kaput, many friendly duos can be exemplified like Paes-Bhupathi, Salman-SRK. Do I need to say more? Successful business are run because of the repect of opinions of the boss and the worker towards each other. A marriage works and lasts longer on the basis of respecting each others' opinions. It isn't always necessary that a man and a woman agree to each other. The differences may vary from culture and way of upbringing to standard of living and habits. It is this respect of opinion that never lets ego and arrogance replace love!

3. Reciprocating and Complimenting each other's feelings or views: Mere communication and respecting each others' opinions doesn't work to make a relationship work. It is of utmost importance to reciprocate towards each others' views and feelings. Being vocal may help to address an issue. Lending an ear towards an issue is just another step to approach the issue. But it is the reciprocating towards the views that helps solving the issue. It is important for a parent to shower his/her child with love and care. And it is more important for a child to let his/her parent know how he/she feels towards the parents. Similarly, it is important for a teacher to boost confidence inside a student by complimenting the student's work. Same goes to the case of friends and employer-worker. It is important for a person to express his/her love and care to the partner in a way he/she is good at. But it is also necessary that it comes from both the ends. Most of the relations fail without any serious reasons. That's because of finding it unnecessary to respond to the feelings that a partner showers on the other. Merely seeing, listening and making note of the partner's love and care doesn't make a relationship work. It is important to compliment back. Probably this avoids excuses like infidelity, lack of love and other myriad reasons that compel couples and spouses to break up. It helps in avoiding relations getting rotten like fruits and vegetables.

I hope these steps help people avoid using the sentence, "THIS IS IT... I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE" frequently or at any point of life. Lastly, it takes ages to build a relation but seconds to break it.

As from my end... THIS IS IT!

Kaale Jaamun Ke Kaale Kaarnaame - (The Misdeeds of Blackberry)

So finally I have been able to write something. And look at what makes me write it? My latest prized possession.. A blackberry handset. Ok, to be honest I am very much upset with the blackberry. It's because of this instrument that the whole of India is facing various problems. It makes me feel glad that the Indian government is taking strict measures to ban the root cause of all the problems.. A Blackberry. Here are some of the reasons why I want the Indian government to ban my Blackberry services:

1. Crores of rupees are stashed in Swiss accounts that belong to so many 'loyal' politicians of India but nobody wants to raise curtains over it because they are busy fighting to curb BB services.

2. Nobody is having time to save the face of India by helping Commonwealth Games become a success because we are busy curbing the BB services.

3. We are eager to help our 'neighbour friendly' Pakistan because of floods but we are least interested in saving Lehdue to landslides and cloudbursts because for us BB threat is more dangerous.

4. Kashmir is burning on fire, observing protests, youths are getting killed. The region is nothing less than a puppet controlled by Geelani, Abdullah and Gandhi. But we are busy sorting out our issues with BB.

5. Everyone wants to enjoy the battle between BCCI and Lalit Modi but nobody wants to create awareness for our national sport hockey because we are far more interested in saving BB rather than saving our national integrity.

6. It's worth spending crores of money for security of terrorists but nobody is interested in using it for the welfare of the country. I would blame the BB services for it because their money hasn't reached inside the pockets of our government.

7. We are lacking basic infrastructure, we lag behind most of the developed and developing countries, our coastal areas still have lack of security measures, our education system has been fed to dogs, our country is being run by under qualified people but nothing can be done about it because first the government has to deal with the BB problems.

Wow... So basically, until and unless the BB thing is not sorted out, our country is not going to progress because BB isn't ready to burn holes inside their pockets to shut the mouth of Indian government. Hail the Blackberry! You have the power to keep my whole nation standstill!

P.S. This blog has been written, edited and posted through my Blackberry!

The Journey towards Complications Simplified

There is one particular line that has made a permanent impression in my mind. It goes this way, "Truth and Fact are always stranger than Fiction." It's true. Not only they are stranger but also they are bitter. There are some things that reborn, regenerate and rekindle the bitter experiences of past. Some may be able to hide it, some may be able to show it off but the fact remains that such things are virtually impossible to be ignored or forgotten forever. How often do you think does this happen that some incidents leave a bad taste in you and then you move on and then you realise that you never really moved on? How often do you suffer from the aftershocks of any life changing incident? How often do you feel stressed or traumatic about things that happened years back but returns only to haunt you in a much more bigger and a brutal way? How often do you set your pillow wet with tears while sleeping? How often while bathing do you fail to distinguish between the water running from the shower and the tears running off your eyes? How often do you sense the pain unleashing its fatal and (God forbid) final blow? How often do you feel that its time to get rid of all such bad experiences but alas its too late? Sadly, that's one of the conspiracies of Universe or maybe one of the unchanged, read/write protected laws of nature. The fact is nobody has the answer to these questions and even if anybody had that fact remains that nobody cares a damn to explain this phenomenon.

Life is one particular teacher that first takes tests and then teaches lessons. Some pass out with flying colours and some fail worse than anybody getting F grade. So where exactly do we stand in life? And what sounds better, failing in life's exam or failing in an ordinary exam? There are too many questions in life that sound a taboo if asked. There are too many steps in life that are prohibited if taken. There are too many rules in life that are banned if broken. Such are the laws of nature. Such are the conspiracies of the universe. But who made such rules? Is it the nature itself or is it the community with views of anarchy who make such rules? The laws of nature confuse the hell out of me. How does it happen that when we bump into people who hurt us, we actually hurt ourselves more than them as a revenge? How is it that we abuse our bodies more to get rid of the invisible wounds unleashed by the source of the pain? Probably it is because physical wounds heal faster than the psychological ones. There are scenarios where such cases remain unsolved for one simple reason, they don't have any solutions. They remain unsolved right from the mortal world to the graveyard. Luckily, I had all my answers ready when I had completed Complications Simplified.

I can still recollect how Complications Simplified happened. It all started with a short story submitted to the authors of Chicken Soup for the Soul. That story was known as Simply Complicated. The story started with Roy telling his story about his complicated relationship with Melissa, the best friend of his ex-girlfriend Simone. The story ended with Mel getting married and Roy still under the wrong impression. I don't know the feedback of Simply Complicated but my support system in the form of friends urged me to write further in the form of Simply Complicated part two. And that's how Complications Do occur came into life. It started where Simply Complicated ended. Roy introduced another facet of his life in the form of his other friends Rohan and Jenny. He talked about his flashbacks, misunderstandings, separation with his friend and gathering blood and sweat to save his friend's life. The story ended by Roy leaving Ron without meeting him again. I thought that the story was finally complete but there were a few unanswered questions left in the second part. So that's how the grand finale Complications Simplified was born. It didnt amuse me to present this story as a trilogy so the basic idea was to merge all the stories and characters in the trilogy with new subplots and a few unknown mysteries. Lucky for me that the subplots got interconnected like magic. And so here I am, the writer of the unpublished novel Complications Simplified which remains dearer to me than life itself. The story had to end somewhere. How could such a story have such an ending? So it was deliberate on my part to bump off one of the main characters. Many of my support system are still against the climax of the story.

Stories are said or written but not to be heard or read. They are written or said to teach out the smaller things that can be useful in different facets of life. These smaller things, if not taken care of, can create a big hurdle in living life at the fullest. I don't know what did it teach the readers but I know about the things that it taught me. It taught me the value of friendship, the value of love and the value of relationships. It taught me how a spec of dust on any relationships can never be taken for granted. It taught me the value of sacrifices offered by different characters at different stages of life. It taught me how things work out in life. And it taught me how life can turn and declare you a winner even after being defeated.

If the readers feel that I am being biased about this book since it is my book then I disagree. Or maybe I agree. I am biased because this book made me what I am at present. So here it is.. My blessing and my curse.. The Journey towards Complications Simplified.

Where did this come from?

An air of caution:

Before anybody reads this post, I would like to warn you not to take it in a bad taste. I wish to apologize to all the people who are mentioned below and whose works are stated below. Also, do not rate this post unless you have read it completely. And finally, do not assume it to be one of my genre or forte.

Ok, so here goes my blog. It has been ages since I could write something. Now this one isn't anything thought-provoking. It's just... Don't know. I leave it upto the readers.

So finally, I had a great workfree Sunday. I just needed to do any damned thing on earth to kill time. Even if it was watching a movie. And maybe fate played a game that I could get tickets of just one movie, "Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai". (Rest all had 'house full' board on the ticket counters. Ain't sure if they were true.) Of course, I had guts to see movies like KANK, Dostana and the baap of all, Naqaab. So it was pretty brave of me to watch JKSAH.

But after watching the movie, I owe an apology. I owe an apology to each and every member who has been the part of this movie. You guys have been the nth persons on this earth to prove me wrong. (Of course, the first people while watching any movies have been the "adorable" people in the film industry namely, trade pundits, media, analysts and last but not the least, 'reviews'.)

According to me, the toughest job in the film industry is to review the movies and rate them with twinkling stars. Oh come on. Most of the times I don't see them giving reviews through audience's perspective. Instead I find them a bunch of funny vampires who are ready to unleash their teeth and suck the blood, sweat and the hardwork of the people involved in it.

Ok. So they are doing their jobs and I really appreciated their hardwork of sitting in an AC multiplex's most comfortable seat, warming their b*****ks, sleeping their way till the interval, filling up their tabloids with cliched matter and a mixture of flowery words which goes bouncer and bonkers off the readers' heads.

Ah! Come on guys. It's time that you guys get lenient over the industry that works hard day and night to entertain the common man (who seeks entertainment in general, if not a complete 'vasool' of money). There have been times when the reviewers have made grave mistakes while rating a movie. (I wouldn't like to name them though.)

Coming back to JKSAH, looking at the 1-1.5 star ratings given by the critics, I was mentally prepared to bear the movie. But after leaving the theatre, I was sad (because the reviews were so misguiding). I must confess, I had to eat my words. I was pretty satisfied, smiling. (And I am sure my hardcore review friends Dada and Aatish felt the same.)

The movie has a story (which I am sure you might have read it in each and every newspaper review columns). The movie features actors and actresses (which I am sure you might have read it in each and every newspaper review columns). The movie has it's pros and cons (which again, I am sure you might have read it in each and every newspaper review columns). So I wouldn't really like to waste your time by repeating them again and again. But if you look through my eyes, all that is visible is the sincerity, honesty and praiseful work done by Riteish Desmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Ruslaan Mumtaaz, Sonal Sehgal, Vishal Malhotra and of course my favourite Farah Khan, (She is the most honest person onscreen and offscreen. She carries her real life character of arrogance with grace, courtesy Indian Idol.)

What surprises me the most is the crisp editing of this movie. Never does it feel like the movie is a drag! Well... That's my review. I am too small and inexperienced to rate this movie with stars. But someday I hope that every man waits with open arms to catch his woman of dreams from Venus.

Kudos to the actors and actresses of this movie. And last but not the least, a pat on the shoulders of the man called Milap Milan Zaveri who has carried out this film with grace.

That's it for now. Time to sleep and fight the nightmares starring the people and reviewers who take this post in a bad taste.. Hehehe.