The Bike

In terms of my emotions towards things to deserve a note on, this was a long overdue. I just wanted to pour it all out for once.
I think I am a bad customer in general. I do not put enough effort to make sure I get the benefit of goods/services I paid for. After going through the continuous abuse of my reluctance to fight it out by the goods/services providers/sellers, I finally have something that I consider as one of the best purchases I have ever made.
I learned riding bike as late as 3 years back, so you can probably justify my misplaced enthusiasm for the two wheeler at this age (these days I hear someone shouting in my ear, "you are getting older"). After testing the limits of the bikes that I could borrow, I finally decided to get one for myself (a deliberation that went on for close to 3 years). You tend to raise the bar for the purchase as you wait more. Result was a decision to get supposedly one of the best available. I did a bit of research and "decided" to get an R15. My colleague suggested I take test rides of comparables before zeroing in on one, so I completed that formality too (its a formality since even I find it difficult to convince "past me" against the decision he has made).
For the last 7 months I have had the joy of
- stopping in front of a traffic police confidently (new bike, so all documents in place), even whistling if mood be...and being asked in a disappointed tone "hosa gaadiya?"
- having a friendly conversation with autowallas for directions (autowallas are much nicer if you got a pair of wheels of your own)
- taking longer routes in the excuse of not knowing the direct route or avoiding speed breakers
- getting weird compliments like "this bike is too good...for you"
- going till Mysore road just to get petrol (via Nice road)
- clocking 138 kmph on the same road
- thinking that even 200-300 km ride isn't too long and deliberating driving all the way to Kerala once (enthu ppl let me know!)
- finding ways to ride bike with a hurt ankle (move up whole left leg instead of pivoting at ankle to switch gears!)
- having a short, heavy, dark and drunkard (<40 kmpl!) friend that
1. makes me think I look better with him on the side
2. tells me that I am getting younger every time I meet him

Pain!

I hurt my shoulder recently at the weekend cricket game. Irony is that I haven't played in long time and to go in full force with bowling without warming-up proved to be my undoing. I tried another over after I felt the pain and went for more runs. I dropped out of the next game and rode back home.

What followed is interesting in various ways. I figured this is not that the sort of a pain that one can expect to go away in a couple of days. So, googled up for orthopedics in Bangalore. Found someone listed as "Shoulder specialist" in Manipal Hospital. The hospital being close to my office made it more convenient to visit this doctor. Took an appointment at 6pm next day.

Was there by 6.10pm wondering whether reaching late will prove to be a costly mistake. It didn't. I committed bigger mistake even before going to the hospital. Anyways I paid for the consultation after unearthing a 2 year old registration record. Then waited for the doc while letching at any letchable (also, movie called "Kyunki... its fate" was playing on the TV near by!). I ended up waiting till 7.40pm with no sign of doctor. Funny thing with waiting is that the longer the wait, you think higher is the probability of the event happening in next some time (I guess the assumption of Markov process does not really hold always). As the waiting pain turned into anguish, I thought I anyway do not have a great deal of respect for the doc, so no need to go through the whole thing. Went to get the consultation canceled. As I was walking away saw the OPD receptionist calling other people who waited along with me. Confirmed that the almighty doctor has come and paid again for the consultation (to salvage something out of the 2 hours spent).

Came back to wait for my turn after the bunch of other unfortunate people who waited longer than I did. Finally went to see the doc at 8pm. I was told by the OPD receptionist that the doc has waived off the consultation fee for coming late. I thought, "hmm.. may be he is OK". Went in, told the history. He made me move the hand in a particular way while forcing me against it to see if it pains. It did. Then said I have joined the list of cricketers who have the same problem (not sure how one would react to it!) and the funny part is only Srinath was a fast bowler among all of them. He said I would need an MRI scan that picks up only 70% of the problem cases (and even if the scan doesn't show anything we cannot assume that the certain injury is not there). Wondering about the whole point of the scan, nodded along. Then he enquired about where I work and said I need a surgery to get corrected and needs to be done in a month from the scan in order to claim the insurance. I wondered who is more fraud here, the doc or the insurance people. Went with insurance people for the time-being. Came out with not-so-psyched-out feeling as the surgery dint sound to be major (would take 2 days in hospi and a month in sling). Came back to office and chatted up with colleagues. Ended up getting psyched-out a lot more!

I thought I should go for a second opinion and saw another doc in Apollo the next day. Again arrived much later than the appointment time (wondered again if it would prove costly, but I think I need to concentrate on reaching early next time onwards). Anyway the doc was there all along and had to wait only for about half an hour (or 40min) and this guy did not look very impressive. This doc moved my arm in many more directions and asked if it pained. I chose some of those movements that did. Asked me to get an x-ray done (wondered why the first one dint ask for the same!). After another hour waiting at different places, met the doc again.

He said x-ray doesn't show any bone problem and I had some strain in certain muscle and need physiotherapy. If that doesn't work, will go for scan and follow the flow-chart (dint mention surgery). Clincher was "flow-chart". I also thought looks are indeed deceptive.

I have gone for 4 sessions of physiotherapy so far and the pain has subsided but not fully.

I ran into something during my physiotherapy that made all this seem much less painful. The OPD where I need to get billed for physiotherapy is Oncology. I saw a couple of people with cloth wrapped around their head. Couple of other with serious expression on their faces, one other crying. Just made me feel how painful life can get and how grateful one should feel for not running into these sort of things (compared to only those with some internal malignancy and not the smokers who need no sympathy).

And I hope to bowl again in a couple of months. And registered myself for Sunfeast 10k run that happens in May.

Movie scenes

I always wanted to do a top-X in some category but did not find something that is already done to death. Finally zeroed in on this. Let me have a go (btw this is not ranking but just listing of my top 10 in a random order)...

1. DCH: The scene in which Akshaye Khanna runs home to get his painting equipment after Dimple Kapadia agrees to get a portrait done. The running part in which he is shown to pick up pace gradually and reaches full speed is an awesome scene. For guys who cannot recall what I am talking about, here.

2. Pursuit of happyness: When Will Smith gets to know he got an offer and goes down to the street and clasps in happyness with tears in eyes. My respect for Will has grown immensely after the movie. "This part of my life is called, Happyness!"

3. Gladiator: The hero's hand waving on the grass as he reaches heavens to meet his wife and kid. The background music makes it an amazing scene. Russell Crowe's ending words and action keeps you mesmerized. Super climax!

4. Blood Diamond: When the guy goes to lectern to make a speech in the ending. Beautiful background music again. The intro words initially are also very good.

5. Men of Honor: When Cuba Gooding Jr takes 12 steps to prove his fitness to get back to navy diving after losing a leg. Robert De Niro totally aces this scene.

6. Dark Knight: The chase scene. Even though the whole movie is as gripping, this scene stays in the memory for a long time.

7. The Patriot: The ambush properly planned by Mel Gibson with his young sons to rescue eldest one (Heath Ledger actually!). One can get a glimpse of Mel Gibson level of gore, but the planning he does using limited resources and the revenge seeking make a great scene.

8. Up: One of the best animation movies I have ever seen. The married life part and the background music is just awesome. No wonder the music got the Oscar. Simply beautiful!

9. Forrest Gump: The movie does not need a description (on a different note, do you know that Forrest Gump, Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction all released in the same year?). This scene stands out in memory.

10. Hera Pheri: One of the rare hindi movies that are genuinely funny and makes you laugh out loud. Every scene has the hallmark of Paresh Rawal stamped on it. The climax fighting scene makes audience go nuts! You can say slapstick, but comes in the category of movies that you just want to watch without taxing your brain much.

List of movies I have watched is by no means exhaustive, but these scenes definitely come to my mind when I think of best I have watched. I am sure I have missed some greats like Shawshank, GodFather etc.. but just cudnt picture a specific scene that captures the awesomeness of these movies.

Ads & IPL

A few of them really inspired me to have a go at them.

1. JK Super Cement. The ultimate one. The fact that one remembers it makes it a stud one. I am sure what I wont build my house with (JK cement too dont seem to be bothered much, going by the 'stuff' they want to show off in the ad).

2. Ibibo - social games, worst phrase ever. What does it mean? either totally pervert or too dumb.

3. IPL: A bit of digression from the ads as such, but I needed to vent this out..

IPL gotta be the worst package ever put around a money rich and widely followed sport. Somehow IPL became successful in being the easiest thing to hate, no matter how much of one's browsing is occupied by cricinfo/buzz. More than relishing the mind-blowing innings, match changing bowling spells, heart pumping chases/defences...I dread the Citi moments of success, DLF maximums, strategic breaks...and the dumbness of the commentators. Ravi Shastri just evokes chills in my spine, for ruining one of the most cherished moments in Indian cricket by saying "India - world TT champions!". Danny Morrisons, LSRKs trying hard doesnt make it better. And the endless flashing of that Modi guy sipping booze with some bollywood dumbos around. SRK is too filmy to get close to cricket.

Anyone remembers the last years final ceremony? Akon dood lipsyncing and letching at Katrina? What a way to follow up after a match that has stud moments like Kumble getting Gilly out after opening, Harmeet Singh getting Dravid out and silencing the crowd.

And the ads only complement the whole thing. Girl shouting six, arbit people referring to IPL tickets in even arbiter circumstances....give me a break or rather give me another sport.

Btw, I am still waiting for the Sena to crib against the team name "Mumbai Indians". God only knows how they missed it so far.

Now, coming back to the ads, the actually good ones,

1. HDFC life insurance, I must say good ad. The kind that does its job, no matter how uncomfortable it makes the viewer, it does make him/her think. The business being morbid in nature, cant blame them for marketing it that way. The effect on a couple watching this ad together is immense (neglect the sar uthana/jhukana business, everybody must have thought about his/her insurance situation after that ad).

Comparing this to ICICI ad (featuring a dad, a mom and a kid and some thing about jeete raho) which I think reflects the other side of marketing that tries to put positive spin on these unpleasant but important things, to me it does not work, too much of sugar coating.

2. Fevicol, girl with mush. 'Strong' ad. Not a surprise given the chuckles Fevicol provided with the previous ones.

Nevertheless I am sure we Indians are blessed with much more entertainment through ads compared to the US guys. The bland (no background jingle music) and endorsement based ads, dont just make it a fun viewing.

Food!

There could only be one thing that could bring me back to this... and for anyone who knows me even remotely, it is no secret.

Food being my passion, once I went to the extent of declaring "I treat every appetite as a gift". Pat comes a reply from my flatmate, "what about those guys who dont have anything to eat?, they would rather not have any appetite". No doubt, I was stumped.

That said, food still occupies my mind to a good extent and I let out a cry every 4 hours "I am hungry!" or sometimes "Bhookh lag raha hai!" or some other times "Bhookh lag rahi hai!" (I dont care for gender (of non-humans) the way Hindi forces you to).

Alright, now to more divisive aspects of food. Non-vegetarianism. Again, I am on the defensive here (come on, being a foodie and a veggie?). I tell people that I would have turned non-veggie even if I was born in a veggie family. I am a non-veggie to the extent of hearing bacon when someone mentions besan! (ya, happened).

But even I felt the urge to try and not to kill animals for the sake of my passion. May be if someone hands me the bird/animal that I am going to eat and ask me to kill it for cooking, I probably would not do it. I know hypocrisy creeping in! That is why it is much easier to eat non-veg that is cooked to a form farther from the live form.

Coming to the other aspect of food that is often ignored, cooking. I thought this is one way of extending my passion for food (and healthier probably). I have put in great amounts of time to analyze ways to make a decent looking omelette (mind you it is looks that I am putting fight for, taste cant go wrong with eggs acc. to me). Two giant leaps in this direction that humankind will be proud of me for are,

1. Breaking an egg without defeating the purpose of it. Tips: hit gently with the sharp side of a spoon and try to open the egg, not break.

2. Flipping it on a pan. Tips: dont bother too much about this. All you need is the contents of eggs and mixture of salt, oil etc living in harmony together on a hot pan for a while. If you really care for it, give flip a try and you have only yourself to blame for it. Now, the messy looking yet tasty omelette is ready!

With the combo of passion for food and extremely boring weekends, I actually gave cooking classes a thought. Checked that each session costs 2-3 times dining at a premium restaurant! Dont know how that makes sense, given that a good portion of premium you pay in restaurant is for ambience and the possibility of food going waste etc.. Anyway that means I can only try this at home (whoa, whatever happened to Please dont try this at home!, which by the way is a particularly rubbish way of stopping world from increasing its average I.Q) ....... in case your eye-brows getting closer reading this part, I skipped a couple of steps in reasoning here.

Anyway, rounding off here, Bhookh Lag Raha/i hai!

Federer the Stud, Nadal the Muggu

I am not going to put one more of those posts to predict whether Federer's era is over and nothing is for keeps for anyone etc...

I just had this arbit thought (courtesy palli, my colleague). People from IIT can relate to this more easily... Most of us junta who were not 9 pointers or more, used to take comfort in categorizing junta into muggus and studs and be happy to see only fewer junta ahead of us (big egos are more common than spectacles in IITs or IIMs). There were species called 10-pointers too. Which most of us like to think, are extinct but they keep coming up here and there. I would not even dare judge them.

So, the people who really slog their ass off no matter what subject it is, actually finish writing 2 notebooks/sem/subject..(even ones like Material Science or Business, Government and Society..) and make sure tht they get nothing less than 9/10 or 3.5/4, and dont show too much off in class are passed off as muggus. And there are others, who necessarily dont do the above but manage same grades by the end of it. They look like they are in total control of things and give an impression that it is as easy as dozing off in those classes.

Now, as I said Federer is the Stud and Nadal is the Muggu. Nadal is that fighter who common junta are irritated about (mainly because we wonder how he manages to do it but not necessarily inspire us at the same time). Federer is that stud that we hold in high esteem and feel no shame copying him.

Back to wimbledon 2008 final , I saw the Stud falter, I think more because of the Muggu's consistency and painful accuracy and control over the proceedings.

Throughout the match I had this internal fight to resist the admission -- "Muggu deserved it". But finally I had to give in. Till that match, I took comfort in the opinion that French open is more like those painful courses only sloggers could do well in, and Wimbledon more of the fundae course. Aah, the whole thing does not stand any more.

And there you go, I lose faith in one more of the few things I picked up from IIT (branding Muggus and ignoring them).




I expect a lot of potshots/brickbats for this post (well, as I said in first post, that was the intention). But anyways, let me put down a few disclaimers,

1. No offence to 9 pointers (not any bit to those were called muggus)
2. No offence to Nadal's fans, if there are any (I have to admit, I absolutely hate how he delays the proceedings during the match)
3. No offence to IITians or IIM junta (IIMians or IIMites sound woresht)

Watch this space

There we go. I am just done with creating an account. I could not help but wonder at seeing google taking over this too. Wondering whether there would be a time when Google will become
synonymous for internet. Anyways, they say businesses with positive externalities are best done in monopoly (more on this later...)

I am going to put my wacky/arbit/remotely reasonable thoughts here from now on (as you could see already).

Recently I find myself searching for things to talk about, when my friends from IIMB call up. Mainly coz, life has been pretty routine and only things worthwhile talking about are day-to-day details and rather not pain them with those on phone. So, hoping this blog thing could lead to a discussion or a conversation or an argument (less often though).

So, you are reading this first blog either because I forced you into checking this (remember when you thought I am a bit of narcissist, aah that is when I asked you) or you are a total jobless guy aiming to find most worthless things on net. I hope to entertain both kinds...

will be back ASAP...