The Overcoming of Phobia of Driving.

It has been almost a month now since I bought this scooter. 11.11.11 was the date when I got its possession. To do so, I really had to cajole a lot of courage and determination, and money, of course! Buying a vehicle was one of the toughest and courageous decisions that I’d have ever made in my life, more than to continue working with BHEL. It is not like that I don’t know how to drive a vehicle; it was just that a couple of incidents resulted in the development of fear of driving that had made an unwanted place in my heart.

Even though I knew how to drive a 2-wheeler, I always had a phobia about driving. I wish after seeing that bloody truck, which was meandering all over the road, I had not dropped off that bike on that day when my father was training me about driving. On that day itself, I had decided to keep myself away from sitting on the front seat of a bike. Afterwards, a few more attempts were made to learn driving, which went futile. Meanwhile, my love for walking non-stop for hours was growing. I could not help myself after all this, but foster the decision I had already made. Well, those decisions were made by me. I was the producer. And I only was the merciless critic. And when this happens, anybody can make a guess what would be the output. My whole college life just passed without driving a bike on the beautiful roads of Chandigarh. Although I tried to get a few friends’ bikes a couple of times, but then, even if they would’ve wanted to help me out, they’d have taken calculated risks only. In my case, well, I don’t have anything to say. Since I knew how to ride a bicycle, all that I got to drive was a two-stroke vehicle, I’d always be thankful to Vimmy & Shubham for giving that chance to me.

Before coming to Hyderabad, I had learnt how we drive a car, but the traffic sense of this place made me go in a shock. I met with an accident on the first Sunday itself after my arrival here, when I was trying to cross the road and got struck by a scooter on my left hand. It seemed to be a minor physical injury, but mentally, it was huge! Very huge! After a few days, I read an article in the newspaper, which was speaking something about the road accident statistics that happen in India. Andhra Pradesh was ranked the worst of all the Indian states. The fear returned. I started avoided driving again. Two years just went by, and then I realized the urge to have a vehicle.

People of age lesser than mine buy 1000 cc bikes these days, and I was the one who was making a decision to buy a 110 cc scooter. Sometimes I felt shameful while discussing about this with the people around, but then, it is my life. Nobody else would be giving a damn to me, be it for a good, or a bad. Hence, after completing a light market research, the said amount was transacted in the seller’s account to buy a metal-grey colored Honda Aviator (It was the first cheque payment that I made in this life). Now I’m not afraid of anybody making any comment about it. After all, ‘If it doesn’t give you a high, why do it?’

Now that I’ve driven more than 300 kilometers on the busy roads of Hyderabad, I’m pretty confident about my driving skills. As there is always a scope of improvement, I’m thriving to do more. Plus, I learnt that unless an effort is made, fear can’t be overcome.

By the way, I’ll be getting done with the registration process in a couple of days, and then will be getting a permanent number in another couple of days.

The Evening of 30th Nov'2011.

After completing yet another tiring official trip, this time to Delhi & Gurgaon, I was returning to Hyderabad on the last day of November. I wonder whether this is an effect of the handing over of my department to a new GM, or my presence in the department has really become that crucial that I've been upgraded from travelling in trains to flights to go to sites to save a few days' time. I really wonder! Nevertheless, since it was a win-win situation for me, I ain’t interested in thinking much about it.

So, I was returning to Hyderabad from Delhi after completing the task assigned to me. This flight was coming from Chicago, and hence, for the first time, I boarded a flight occupied by more overseas people than Indians. There was one time when I hated coming to Hyderabad from any place. The reason was, as soon as I’ve always got into a train/flight to Hyderabad, I get to hear nothing but Telugu, which I never understood. The less availability of Telugu people resulted in the flight resulted in the surprise mentioned above. Hence, there were not many ’antras’, ‘ekkadas’, ‘chepandies’ that I got to hear. :-P Anyways, my one day never ends when these words don’t fall in my ears. Hence, it was a bit surprising for me not to hear them.

The two hours passed away just like that and the flight landed at Hyderabad. For the first time ever, I was coming out of the ‘International Departure Gate’. There comes the fix. My frantic steps were paced down automatically by a view that I’d not seen anywhere despite travelling so much in the past two years. At any Railway Station, or at any Airport! This was something special. I’d never seen so many people waiting for their sons, daughters, parents, spouses, siblings and so many other relations that you can think of! There was a person of every age group present over there. They probably didn’t know what they were wearing; they just wanted to meet their beloved ones. There were people who might not have seen their relatives’ faces for a long time. They all were very happy. And then, as I was crossing them, I could notice that there were a few arrivals in Hyderabad, who had already met the people who came to see them. Hugs. Tears. Smiles. Fun. Pokes. Love, love and only love, was being spread out everywhere. I could sense a small tear rolling out of my left eye. My tear of joy! A few foreigners were also peering at the drama that was going on over there. Some of them were even clicking the photographs. Some of them were making faces at the drama that was going on over there.

Sometimes I wonder, in this world where people are dying to get love and dearness, why are people commanded more by emotions like hatred and detest? Why terrorism is there? Spreading love is the most easiest task one could do, because to do that, one doesn’t need to apply his mind. As I boarded the Aero Express to Banjara Hills from Airport, I felt sudden sheer silence pinching in my heart. I also wanted to be loved. At the same time, I also wanted to love. Reciprocating the same emotion is not at all difficult for a person who holds importance in one’s life. Spread love! Spread happiness!

This is not a sentimental post. This was just that I missed something very badly. Surely, there can’t be any better thing than the Homecoming! Shall there be people waiting for me, at my homecoming? I don't know! I don't wanna know! Staying happy is all that I can do.

Btw, the old title is back. This time more determined not to go back. I hope it never goes this time. A lot of effort has been put up. I'd love to be found, then to be lost. :-)

I Cried!

A: Hey! I just realized that I got some water flowing out of my eyes.

B: Lol! How did you get to know this?

A: Because it made a way to enter my mouth. And it tasted salty.

B: What! Really? Are you kidding me?

A: Yes! I mean No! Really! It just happened!

B: Are you sure? Was it so strange to discuss at this hour?

A: Not strange. It just happened after a long time. I'm not used to it.

B: You need to sleep. It's been late. You've to get up early to reach office in time. Buzz off!

A: Yeah I know that. But I just cried!!

Being Complacent!

Ever since I've shifted my base out of Lingamapally, and moved in to Madhapur with Utsav and Mohit, I've rarely found myself feeling lonely or allowed sadness to hover around me. It is such a good feeling that you live with people who are college friends, who work with different companies and get to hear their stories. And now I'm living with my relatives for a few months.
The good thing is that I'm feeling alive.

But here comes the problem. Today, as I'm happy, with every passing day, I'm getting complacent with life and thus, I'm not doing anything after the office hours. Hence, there is an urgent need to come out of my comfort zone and take the further necessary actions. Being complacent is harmful for health!

Self-love

During this 'End of Season Sale', i've bought a number of clothes from the market. I've brought three new brands to my wardrobe viz. UCB, Van Heusen & USPA. I've always avoided costly clothes because being a bachelor, i find it difficult to maintain such clothes. Plus I've always been of that 'kuch-bhi-pehna-do' type person. And hence, I never payed much attention to buying 'Good' clothes before. But these days, I'm doing that. I wonder, is that another proof of me starting loving myself more? ;P

When you get high, you end up with thinking a lot!

Right now, I'm very much high. And hence, everything would be coming out straight from my heart, most of it might be crap for the one who would be reading the post if I publish. I'm very much sure there would be a lot of grammatical mistakes in this post because I'm not going to use too many full-stops and hence I doubt my credibility of writing English. In fact, there might not be any connection between the title and the content of this post.

I don't care to read anybody's blog now. I wonder, does that really matter? I don't care if there is somebody who really would be interested in knowing the things that are happening in my life. About 2 years ago, I was the most sensitive guy that I have had met. Today, I've been made an insensitive guy. I really don't care about a single human being except my family members. They are the ones who care for you. They are the ones who need to be cared. I've been saying this for many years now, but I think the time I really mean to say this statement is now. The statement is, 'Bhaad mein jaaye duniya'. EOD!

I wonder when will this political crisis come to an end in India! Congress is trying to put down a curtain on what it has been doing since so many years. BJP does nothing but accuse others, Pakistan in particular, for every single thing that becomes a Breaking political News in India. Or i must say, Mr L K Advani has made others or taught others to deal with things and make benefits out of every single critical situation.

I returned a while ago from 'Firangi Paani'. We broke the basic rule of a Friday night today. There was no stack entry. We, two guys, managed to enter into the pub somehow, and paid lesser amount than what we were asked to do. Hence, it was an achievement. I found a few HOT chicks over there, hanging/dancing around with some really lousy guys. That made me think what is wrong with me? I was far better than those guys. I'm still thinking. Aargh..feeling sleepy. I'll read this blog post tomorrow.

Good Night!

The Coming Back (Part-I)

Hey Blog!

Finally after so much procrastination, I'm here. It's been a long time since I came to this place. I had actually forgotten that checking the blog posts of some ppl was always there in my priority list. Today when I logged in here, surprisingly I found the colour of all the links on this blog as blue, whereas ever since this new theme was loaded, most of those links appeared black in colour anyday/anytime. This shows how less I visit this page now.

Its not that I don't write anything now. I do write. A lot of times! Sometimes it comes out in the old traditional manner, when I use a pen and paper. The other times, I use Nokia E63 notepad. Writing using a pen and paper requires such a tremendous effort to put in.

Well, as I always say, so many things have changed in the world in the past few months. The first of them is India becoming the World Champ. Nothing could be better than this for me. I saw them getting the crown for the second time in front of my naked eyes. I was in Chandigarh on both the occasions. Although I had to miss the Semi Final between India and Pakistan, but missing some important events has become an unavoidable part of my life ever since I've joined BHEL. I made up on this by watching the World Cup Final at Chandigarh and not in Hyderabad or any other place. I also attended the event organized by Music Club at PEC with Nikhil who was sitting alongside me. That event was awesome! I was taken aback by the level of performances that were given by those people. Similar thing was felt by Nikhil. One more interesting thing that was felt by both of us was the camaraderie that lies there among those kids, unlike the previous years. People now hang out together. They laugh together. They cry together. Earlier, there were only performers. Now, there are performers with feelings for each one out there. Huge credit goes to Geet and his successor, Rajat for this.

I found a few amazing kids there, who did some sort of magic on me. This was one trip of Chandigarh, that has brought the old Harshal in me. I'm definitely thankful to those three kids I met there. It was just an awesome trip!

Coming back to the World Cup thing, it was a dream come true thing. Team India wanted to win this Cup for Sachin, and they did it. Now I can say that there is at least one dream that I shared with Sachin Tendulkar that was fulfilled. I got a bit emotional when Virat Kohli & Co. lifted him on their shoulders and took a round of the ground. There was this great man. I'd never be able to forget this moment in my life. It was something that everyone wants to be happening with them. And then I thought that despite being so much talented, how much hard work he had done to fulfill his dreams. If I think of me, I've done nothing at all! So without having any talent, I can't even imagine how far I've to go to be successful. Anyways, one more thing changed that day. It was, the RESPECT for MS Dhoni. I never liked him before because I feel he was the reason why the likes of Ganguly and Dravid were thrown out of the one-day teams although they were giving awesome performances in the later part of their respective careers. Nevertheless, I got the answer to that question that day. India, finally, became the World Champion.

Scheduling IPL just after a week of the World Cup was the stupidest thing that could be done. Even the organizers would've felt the same by this time as people are not taking that much interest in IPL. Empty stadiums and busy markets in the evenings are the proofs of the same. I believe Sachin Tendulkar should stop playing in IPL. Because if he doesn't stop doing that, very less people would support their home teams. MI is the team that many people want to win the league this time. At the same time, I feel sorry for Sangakkara, Yuvi and Sehwag that their teams are not being able to deliver as what was expected. DD had a disaster selection panel. Plus I want Adam Gilchrist to re-do the magic that he is known for. If not done, I'm doubtful whether he'd be able to play in the next season.

One guy who has given a solid reply for not being selected earlier is Chris Gayle. He has been the biggest entertainer till now in this edition. I want Ganguly to do the same. His career was not supposed to end like this way. I believe, a lot of cricket is left in him. If India became a World Champ, I give a huge credit to him. He was the man, who kept the foundation for this team building. And when the whole world was celebrating the encounter of the World's Most Wanted Man, Ganguly was the man who was topping the charts of Twitter and Google Trends. That's what his charisma is!

Now since the topic has been brought into the picture, neither am I feeling happy, not I'm feeling sad. I've not read any newspaper and I've not seen any news and I don't know the reactions of people all around the globe since last Monday. So, I'm the least aware of the latest happenings in this case. But I was surprised to know about the world celebrating this killing. He had been hiding for about 10 years and nobody was unable to find him despite the fact that the world's strongest army and super power had put all of their efforts in for carrying out this operation. Plus, ultimately he had to die. Its just that it was not a natural death but something which was called as the ultimate victory of USA. Strange! I don't know how many Osamas would this guy had already created in these 10 years.

As I write this, I can feel the load on my eyelids which is leading to the closing of my eyes. I beg you to pardon me for the grammatical mistakes that would be found in this post.

I'd be talking about some more things in a few days. I'd be coming back to blogging, in a better way, in a few more days.