A discussion is termed healthy when it has outcomes. A result of a healthy discussion, over the most contentious topic one can write upon, made me scribble this.
A relationship in modern world can have two objectives either out of LOVE or CONVENIENCE. Convenience can be explained as being intelligent, compatible, rich etc, which makes life easy for the other. These are the two aspects from which life, relationships, expectations, emotions generate.
This is similar to a situation of an eclipse where one object covers another. However, either object (love or convenience) can overshadow the other up to full eclipse. Unfortunately, there is paucity of light in full eclipse, which is the light to sustain and groom a relationship.
Another analogy of this is the foundation and pillar relationship where LOVE (pillar) and CONVENIENCE(foundation) coexist. For the pillar(love) to be durable, you need the foundation (convenience) to be strong.
As they say the first love stays forever, probably is derived from the state where only LOVE exists. Where there is no shadow of eclipse and the pillar of LOVE stands without the foundation (convenience) like the blaze of love without an eclipse. Unfortunately, most often than not the pillar (love) is not able to sustain without the foundation (convenience) and the blaze causes inflammation.
As we grow old, we keep reminding ourselves of the pillar (love) falling apart and the blaze causin inflammation. This makes one move on the path of laying a strong foundation of CONVENIENCE which eclipses love. This phase is often termed as being practical and growing mature in life. But as we realize later a foundation (convenience) without pillar (love) is as ineffective as sun without light.
Some of the wrong inferences usually taken from a relationship are i) that of generalizing LOVE an equal of the mistakes committed (which can either be due to incompatibility with partneror incorrect judgment about a person). ii) that of blocking oneself from the option of building a pillar or falling in love.
The need of the hour is to stand a balance with a companion of the same wavelength who understands the other, supports when needed and expects when desired. A someone, who becomes a kid when you are alone and who can hold your hands when you want to be alone.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
A sensuous business meet
A week back I happened to attend a business meeting on tour with a lady. However, the appeal of a person after applying all the cosmetically possible options is the point of focus here. She was clad in a traditional salwar-kameez of white & mustard color respectively. It was however a part of the initial spectacle only as I was already sitting on the 4 seater wooden table at barista. However, it is considered indecent to screen a person while sitting despite of the urge to see if the mirrors on the suit have been given a chance to enhance the cosmetic on the full dress.
Further into the conversation, as it was my meeting invite, I asked her 'what would you like to have?' (the positioning by barista for business class defeats the purpose by making it self service makes me perplexed) and she asked for a (professional) cappuccino (Rs 50 arnd) and I ordered a peach smoothie (Rs 70 arnd). While paying the bill for the business meeting made me felt as a good employee concentrating on cost cutting. I passed her the cappuccino and a thought came across as I placed my smoothie on the table- Is a peach smoothie not so professional drink? Is it a bit soft on a business meeting? Does it really matter?
Anyways, the cosmetic world made me divert attention from the puzzled smoothie on a business date. The part of the human body which more often than not makes people judge a person, the face, didn’t allow me to judge but just to puzzle in the world of imagination again with 4 silver nose pins – 2 on either sides covering just above the nostrils, two red shining earrings in diamond cut.
The other cosmetic item which made me its fan since that day is the lip gloss. She wore a heavy lip gloss assumingly applied in ladies washroom in the same mall considering the freshness. Every time she sipped the cappuccino, the froth covered the shiny lip gloss and looked like an amazing combination on the upper lip. The four second break taken before every pitch she made included putting the right hair curl around the ear; a small breath making the nostrils, covered by the silver nose pins, expand and contract; licking the froth from half of the upper lip and adjusting the bangles. It just made me keep appreciating the the gloss and the silver nose pins, bangles and other accessories throughout the single converted dual objective meeting.
The meeting ended with ‘it was nice meeting you’ notes and plastic (cosmetic) smiles. There were some other aspects of the meeting as well which are irrelevant to the blog like her peripheral approach ranging from being more interested in x-mas eve and new year plans to belonging to banglore and not liking the city where we had the meeting and ignoring the other gentlemen (her colleague who joined after 30 first 30 minutes) who I wanted to involve in the conversation but her successful attempt of ignoring him forced me not to ask him for a coffee duly supported by the proud of being an honest employee following cost-cutting measures for the company.
However, being on a business date and thankfully, being good at multi-tasking, all the important aspects of the meeting were noted and were reported accurately to the management.
Cheers!
Further into the conversation, as it was my meeting invite, I asked her 'what would you like to have?' (the positioning by barista for business class defeats the purpose by making it self service makes me perplexed) and she asked for a (professional) cappuccino (Rs 50 arnd) and I ordered a peach smoothie (Rs 70 arnd). While paying the bill for the business meeting made me felt as a good employee concentrating on cost cutting. I passed her the cappuccino and a thought came across as I placed my smoothie on the table- Is a peach smoothie not so professional drink? Is it a bit soft on a business meeting? Does it really matter?
Anyways, the cosmetic world made me divert attention from the puzzled smoothie on a business date. The part of the human body which more often than not makes people judge a person, the face, didn’t allow me to judge but just to puzzle in the world of imagination again with 4 silver nose pins – 2 on either sides covering just above the nostrils, two red shining earrings in diamond cut.
The other cosmetic item which made me its fan since that day is the lip gloss. She wore a heavy lip gloss assumingly applied in ladies washroom in the same mall considering the freshness. Every time she sipped the cappuccino, the froth covered the shiny lip gloss and looked like an amazing combination on the upper lip. The four second break taken before every pitch she made included putting the right hair curl around the ear; a small breath making the nostrils, covered by the silver nose pins, expand and contract; licking the froth from half of the upper lip and adjusting the bangles. It just made me keep appreciating the the gloss and the silver nose pins, bangles and other accessories throughout the single converted dual objective meeting.
The meeting ended with ‘it was nice meeting you’ notes and plastic (cosmetic) smiles. There were some other aspects of the meeting as well which are irrelevant to the blog like her peripheral approach ranging from being more interested in x-mas eve and new year plans to belonging to banglore and not liking the city where we had the meeting and ignoring the other gentlemen (her colleague who joined after 30 first 30 minutes) who I wanted to involve in the conversation but her successful attempt of ignoring him forced me not to ask him for a coffee duly supported by the proud of being an honest employee following cost-cutting measures for the company.
However, being on a business date and thankfully, being good at multi-tasking, all the important aspects of the meeting were noted and were reported accurately to the management.
Cheers!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Inequalities of Income and Inequality in Attitude
Even before the advent of currency and the term 'Inequality of income', inequality existed. Inequality existed not only in income but attitude as well. The only thing constant is the change in Attitude and its impact on widening the inequality gap.
We’ve learnt about the lessons of inequality of income which is required but deterrent if the gap increases. The economic concentration of income, however, isn’t that deterrent when compared to the inequality in attitude.
We say a lot about our sleazy system which is not able to take remedial measures to reduce the widening gap of income which leads to disharmony, crime and acts as a hindrance to the economic growth. But do we actually do our bit as responsible citizens and considerate human beings?
Let me just explain the thesis with some situations we come across in our daily lives.
How many times have you purchased bottled water or any other eatable from any eating joint/restaurant/movie theatre at a price higher than the MRP (max retail price inclusive of taxes)?
Leave aside this, how many times have you ever cared to check the MRP? According to the rules, no item can be sold at a price higher than the MRP. But due to great ambience and your ATTITUDE (when in nice places), we don’t care.
We’re ready to pay a premium of a considerable sum when we board pre-paid taxi’s or any other Airport transfer but we fight we taxi/rickshaw walas when they ask for a premium when we want to make it a prefix amount and argue a lot.
How many times did you ask a coolie on a railway station to charge less?
How many times did you consider Rs 10 enough on a bill of Rs. 700-1000? But now with NICE restaurant charging a service charge of 7-10% (apart from usual VAT/service tax), we’re fine with it.
How many times did you bargain with the hawker on the road saying ‘ah..it’s too much’ but don’t hesitate a wee bit when it comes to a shopper’s stop/archies or any other NICE shop to spend a premium when you know it isn’t worth that much?
Some of the cited examples may not be right (legal), however, if we think from the other perspective we may find it rationale enough.
A rickshaw wala makes Rs 200-300 on a daily basis after struggling under the scorch heat and some beating from the local police. So it sums to 6000 if they work all 30 days. They don’t get paid as us on weekends.
A waiter gets Rs. 2000-3000 in these decent restaurants after working for 12 hrs with 1-2 leaves a month.
A coolie lifts tons of cumulative weight over a day and earns a little. You may find a Rs 100 very high but the low frequency of trains and the money they have to give to so called thekedars is very high.
A hawker in train or road does not earn more than Rs. 100 after a sales stint of 12-14 hrs.
It is not that we’re not ready to spend the money as stated earlier. We do overpay in places where we shouldn’t despite the fact there is already enough money going in. But we are just like our lazy and sleazy government when it comes to making some contribution towards reducing the inequality or if it’s an overdose, may be making it a happy day for people with low income levels.
So next time when you are requested/demanded for a premium in a not so hi-fi space please don’t hesitate. You will make a day for some one in need.
Cheers!
We’ve learnt about the lessons of inequality of income which is required but deterrent if the gap increases. The economic concentration of income, however, isn’t that deterrent when compared to the inequality in attitude.
We say a lot about our sleazy system which is not able to take remedial measures to reduce the widening gap of income which leads to disharmony, crime and acts as a hindrance to the economic growth. But do we actually do our bit as responsible citizens and considerate human beings?
Let me just explain the thesis with some situations we come across in our daily lives.
How many times have you purchased bottled water or any other eatable from any eating joint/restaurant/movie theatre at a price higher than the MRP (max retail price inclusive of taxes)?
Leave aside this, how many times have you ever cared to check the MRP? According to the rules, no item can be sold at a price higher than the MRP. But due to great ambience and your ATTITUDE (when in nice places), we don’t care.
We’re ready to pay a premium of a considerable sum when we board pre-paid taxi’s or any other Airport transfer but we fight we taxi/rickshaw walas when they ask for a premium when we want to make it a prefix amount and argue a lot.
How many times did you ask a coolie on a railway station to charge less?
How many times did you consider Rs 10 enough on a bill of Rs. 700-1000? But now with NICE restaurant charging a service charge of 7-10% (apart from usual VAT/service tax), we’re fine with it.
How many times did you bargain with the hawker on the road saying ‘ah..it’s too much’ but don’t hesitate a wee bit when it comes to a shopper’s stop/archies or any other NICE shop to spend a premium when you know it isn’t worth that much?
Some of the cited examples may not be right (legal), however, if we think from the other perspective we may find it rationale enough.
A rickshaw wala makes Rs 200-300 on a daily basis after struggling under the scorch heat and some beating from the local police. So it sums to 6000 if they work all 30 days. They don’t get paid as us on weekends.
A waiter gets Rs. 2000-3000 in these decent restaurants after working for 12 hrs with 1-2 leaves a month.
A coolie lifts tons of cumulative weight over a day and earns a little. You may find a Rs 100 very high but the low frequency of trains and the money they have to give to so called thekedars is very high.
A hawker in train or road does not earn more than Rs. 100 after a sales stint of 12-14 hrs.
It is not that we’re not ready to spend the money as stated earlier. We do overpay in places where we shouldn’t despite the fact there is already enough money going in. But we are just like our lazy and sleazy government when it comes to making some contribution towards reducing the inequality or if it’s an overdose, may be making it a happy day for people with low income levels.
So next time when you are requested/demanded for a premium in a not so hi-fi space please don’t hesitate. You will make a day for some one in need.
Cheers!
26/11 HUE AND CRY, a point of view...
This is not to harm anyone’s feelings, sentiments or beliefs but just a point of view…
I just don't have anything to do. Whichever news channel I turn to, there are candles, people interviewing, being interviewed, clapping, wearing bands, showing pictures of people who died, the smoke coming out of the hotel. The only inference is more business for candle vendors, news channels getting more ads, sponsorship, and another masala for two days to sustain the 24 hour repetitive representation of same old wine in different packages.
There are a few perspectives for me of 26/11:
The afterhrs of DNA yesterday featured Ashish Choudhary, an actor who lost his sis and bro-in-law last year. He is finding it difficult to cultivate the seeds of LIFE in two little children who lost their parents. The trauma is such that he had to take off from his schedule and their process of getting back to basics in order to make sure that the children are not exposed to the wounds again.
Aren’t we the same Indians who throw litter in open subsequently making out country beautiful? And of course this being no exception, the wax left over will add to municipal corporation extra day of work and the left over will form a part of huge chunk of unattended debris.
The news channels are making immense and so are the telephone companies by continuously making everyone text a plentiful stuff as a part of homage to the brave soldiers of this country. Those who died were certainly brave to encounter the terrorists and detractors who are trying to fracture the democratic spine of the country.
For engineers – here is some cause and effect.
For managers – here is some cost and benefit.
For commerce guys – some debits and credits
Cause/Cost/Benefit:
Waste of money on candles, money to telecom companies, another Diwali day for new channels and of course, lot of litter.
Effect, Benefit/Credits:
More work for municipal corps, opening wounds of sufferers, notes like these because of no TV.
I am not against the remembrance of the braves and the victims but the process:
We should be a part of the process in voting in order to select the deserving candidates. For those who crib, there is NO ONE GOOD, be the change.
The idea initiative to pay all its revenue generated between 8.36 pm to 9.36 pm for improved arms for forces. For those who only believe that good things should be one sided and should not benefit the donor, please rethink. Idea would definitely get the publicity but at the end, armed forces are getting more funding (a win-win).
Forming a society to help the families who lost their dear ones, even a contribution equal to the cost of candles wasted today will do wonders for many, add to it the cost of texting. At least a million fed.
The intention of all the loving Indians are duly respected but the way of expression may deserve a rethink!
I just don't have anything to do. Whichever news channel I turn to, there are candles, people interviewing, being interviewed, clapping, wearing bands, showing pictures of people who died, the smoke coming out of the hotel. The only inference is more business for candle vendors, news channels getting more ads, sponsorship, and another masala for two days to sustain the 24 hour repetitive representation of same old wine in different packages.
There are a few perspectives for me of 26/11:
The afterhrs of DNA yesterday featured Ashish Choudhary, an actor who lost his sis and bro-in-law last year. He is finding it difficult to cultivate the seeds of LIFE in two little children who lost their parents. The trauma is such that he had to take off from his schedule and their process of getting back to basics in order to make sure that the children are not exposed to the wounds again.
Aren’t we the same Indians who throw litter in open subsequently making out country beautiful? And of course this being no exception, the wax left over will add to municipal corporation extra day of work and the left over will form a part of huge chunk of unattended debris.
The news channels are making immense and so are the telephone companies by continuously making everyone text a plentiful stuff as a part of homage to the brave soldiers of this country. Those who died were certainly brave to encounter the terrorists and detractors who are trying to fracture the democratic spine of the country.
For engineers – here is some cause and effect.
For managers – here is some cost and benefit.
For commerce guys – some debits and credits
Cause/Cost/Benefit:
Waste of money on candles, money to telecom companies, another Diwali day for new channels and of course, lot of litter.
Effect, Benefit/Credits:
More work for municipal corps, opening wounds of sufferers, notes like these because of no TV.
I am not against the remembrance of the braves and the victims but the process:
We should be a part of the process in voting in order to select the deserving candidates. For those who crib, there is NO ONE GOOD, be the change.
The idea initiative to pay all its revenue generated between 8.36 pm to 9.36 pm for improved arms for forces. For those who only believe that good things should be one sided and should not benefit the donor, please rethink. Idea would definitely get the publicity but at the end, armed forces are getting more funding (a win-win).
Forming a society to help the families who lost their dear ones, even a contribution equal to the cost of candles wasted today will do wonders for many, add to it the cost of texting. At least a million fed.
The intention of all the loving Indians are duly respected but the way of expression may deserve a rethink!
Lived 2 states while passing through 5
A pammi aunty clone;For those who haven’t gone through Chetan Bhagat’s 2 states; Pammi aunty is a typical Punjabi aunty character who boast about their family, lives to eat high-calorie food, judge marriages by the type of food, interested in all the gossip in the neighborhood.
It was another usual 4 o clock evening in Mumbai except my trip to Delhi for my friend’s marriage. I boarded 2952 Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani from Bombay Central in the Second Class AC coach. I was greeted by a sikh gentleman and a lady accompanied by aunty. However, a few minutes later I realized that aunty was the one traveling and the lady and gentleman, who were all over the opposite two berths, came to see her off. I was allotted the upper birth no 40 while the aunty (pummi aunty clone) was at berth no 39.
Moments later a gentleman came and took the opposite upper birth. The diversity of chit chat made me think that the family observes a ‘maun vrat’ (intentional silence) at home. Five minutes later a muslim uncle came with long white beard in a neat and clean white kurta with a cap on his head accompanied by similarly clad two gentlemen who came to drop him.
The couple on side berth had just got a water bottle and the lady (pammi aunty’s daughter) murmured into her mother ear’s, which was probably audible to passenger’s in the next coach, why did they need to bring water when rajdhani serves it.
She should have been put into a juvenile court for her adolescence innocence. She then further extended the unsolicited liberty by asking the male part of the couple to change seats with her mom as she was not comfortable with the muslim uncle opposite her. However, with an agreement between the gentleman (pammi aunty’s son) and me settled the seats as they were.
“We’ve been to all parts of the country as my husband is in a transferring job with XX (name changed) petroleum company” Pammi Aunty said.
‘I am traveling almost after 7 years in train, otherwise I keep travelling but on flights. Vaise, I am coming by GO AIR” Pammi aunty added.
‘Are you from Delhi’ she asked.
I nodded in agreement.
‘You musn’t be liking Bombay?’ she ans-inquired
‘NO Aunty…I think people are good…but…’
‘Yes beta, it depends on people very much’
I am cutting short her conversation to prolong your interest in the article. She then carried on with her take on marriages and told me about how people in Kolkata, South India (especially about south Indian girls, who are very FAST in her view), Maharastrian (who are lazy), Delhiites (who are very proud).
‘Our kids like Bombay so I’ve asked my husband who is a CEO in XX company and currently in Bilaspur. He is currently in Bilaspur because he just got a promotion and became DGM’.
How on holy earth one gets affing promoted from a CEO to DGM???
He has got a flat for us in BKC (with her eyes twinkling). But then, as you know pammi aunty, ‘the house is just a 2BHK and we north Indians have a habit of living in large houses’
‘Beta, we even have a house in defence colony (posh area in delhi), OWN PROPERTY, but we seldom go there.’
She then revealed that her son is in MMS 1st year from some unknown institute while her daughter is in b.com ist year (that’s why adolescence innocence) who gave up engineering after 2 months because she didn’t find it interesting.
The gala continued till she had the supper and cribbed about the quality of food and concluded that I can’t eat much of it as she left two-three spoons of rice of the provided meal. This ‘can’t eat much’ was after a cheese sandwich, kachori, gulab jamun and tea in snacks at 5 followed by a tomato soup at 730 with a meal of two parathan, rice, paneer matar, dal and 125 gms ice cream at 8 .
However, the best part of the trip was the contact I was able to generate of her husband in marketing of XX company (not yet proved) :).
It was another usual 4 o clock evening in Mumbai except my trip to Delhi for my friend’s marriage. I boarded 2952 Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani from Bombay Central in the Second Class AC coach. I was greeted by a sikh gentleman and a lady accompanied by aunty. However, a few minutes later I realized that aunty was the one traveling and the lady and gentleman, who were all over the opposite two berths, came to see her off. I was allotted the upper birth no 40 while the aunty (pummi aunty clone) was at berth no 39.
Moments later a gentleman came and took the opposite upper birth. The diversity of chit chat made me think that the family observes a ‘maun vrat’ (intentional silence) at home. Five minutes later a muslim uncle came with long white beard in a neat and clean white kurta with a cap on his head accompanied by similarly clad two gentlemen who came to drop him.
The couple on side berth had just got a water bottle and the lady (pammi aunty’s daughter) murmured into her mother ear’s, which was probably audible to passenger’s in the next coach, why did they need to bring water when rajdhani serves it.
She should have been put into a juvenile court for her adolescence innocence. She then further extended the unsolicited liberty by asking the male part of the couple to change seats with her mom as she was not comfortable with the muslim uncle opposite her. However, with an agreement between the gentleman (pammi aunty’s son) and me settled the seats as they were.
“We’ve been to all parts of the country as my husband is in a transferring job with XX (name changed) petroleum company” Pammi Aunty said.
‘I am traveling almost after 7 years in train, otherwise I keep travelling but on flights. Vaise, I am coming by GO AIR” Pammi aunty added.
‘Are you from Delhi’ she asked.
I nodded in agreement.
‘You musn’t be liking Bombay?’ she ans-inquired
‘NO Aunty…I think people are good…but…’
‘Yes beta, it depends on people very much’
I am cutting short her conversation to prolong your interest in the article. She then carried on with her take on marriages and told me about how people in Kolkata, South India (especially about south Indian girls, who are very FAST in her view), Maharastrian (who are lazy), Delhiites (who are very proud).
‘Our kids like Bombay so I’ve asked my husband who is a CEO in XX company and currently in Bilaspur. He is currently in Bilaspur because he just got a promotion and became DGM’.
How on holy earth one gets affing promoted from a CEO to DGM???
He has got a flat for us in BKC (with her eyes twinkling). But then, as you know pammi aunty, ‘the house is just a 2BHK and we north Indians have a habit of living in large houses’
‘Beta, we even have a house in defence colony (posh area in delhi), OWN PROPERTY, but we seldom go there.’
She then revealed that her son is in MMS 1st year from some unknown institute while her daughter is in b.com ist year (that’s why adolescence innocence) who gave up engineering after 2 months because she didn’t find it interesting.
The gala continued till she had the supper and cribbed about the quality of food and concluded that I can’t eat much of it as she left two-three spoons of rice of the provided meal. This ‘can’t eat much’ was after a cheese sandwich, kachori, gulab jamun and tea in snacks at 5 followed by a tomato soup at 730 with a meal of two parathan, rice, paneer matar, dal and 125 gms ice cream at 8 .
However, the best part of the trip was the contact I was able to generate of her husband in marketing of XX company (not yet proved) :).
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