Location: A by lane in Manalii. Time: Just after noon.

Hit count at 50,428 at the time of writing this post.

Feels really great!

Thank you guys. Thank you very much

I guess every generation is a next generation. At least literally it happens so. I was in my parking lot today morning and I over heard a very young boy telling his friend about some update he read on twitter. Twitter eh? The boy must be a high school going kid. And they are already twitting. ‘The Gen Next’, I said to myself.

I wonder what I used to do when I was in 9th or 10th standard. How did I update my friends? One thing for sure, it was a hell of an effort in the eyes of the school going kids today. I mean, who would want to have long telephone conversations with all the friends? You just update on twitter and voila! It is done. Hmmm, I guess I’m old enough to say the generation next has arrived. But I’m still an old traditional guy. I miss those long telephone conversations, carrying the black Sony cordless phone to the terrace so that my mother doesn’t object. I think I didn’t know what internet was as a school going kid. That was how we twitted 10-12 years back.

The internet arrived and we changed. Yahoo messenger and chat rooms became the in thing when I joined college. I remember how almost all conversations started as ‘Hi… asl?’ At least 2 visits to the internet cafes became a must. In fact I had almost tricked my dad to make an investment in starting an internet kiosk. But sadly then and thankfully now, it didnt work out. It took lot of convincing to finally get him to buy a computer at home. Then when my sister got into engineering 6 years later, the computer and the internet at home became a necessity for her. And my father didn’t wink.

Last year into our studies, we were introduced to Orkut and Gmail. The chat room fantasy had died down and the new phenomenon of scrap booking started. We started with long telephone calls on land line, my sister started with the same, but on mobile phones. And she was hooked on to Orkut for all of her engineering days. The gen next is now all over Facebook, twitter and I’m sure you will have some thing else very soon. In fact, lot f people already have their personal web space (blogs). Time will come when they will have a whole lot of stuff for themselves as well.

They say that the time keeps bettering itself. So the time will keep changing where the gen next spends their time. The physical mailers, the land line phones, the mobiles, the advent of high speed internet… what next?

As a part of Green Data Center initiative, we have been asked to suggest ways to make changes in our daily processes and procedures (along with changes in the material we use). I suggested a few. Two of them have been implemented immediately. I’m listing them here.

• Lot of people have a habit of taking print outs unnecessarily. They do that because they find it troublesome to read from the small screens. So I suggested larger screens for those who need to take prints frequently, especially the accounts guys. This has been accepted. Even post it will now be banned. Instead, each desk is now provided with a white board in order to store reminders.
• We have decided to abandon the coffee cups. Now the tea and coffee will be served in an environmental friendly recyclable paper cups. This will save water.
• Wireless routers have been installed. This will help us reduce the rubber usage.
• I have suggested use of sanitizers so that water usage can be reduced further. Besides the wash rooms are now fitted with infrared sensor taps. So it will avoid leakage.
• Employees are requested to bring their food in disposable containers so that washing of utensils can be avoided.
• Smoking in and around office premises has now been completely banned.

… and I’m wearing a green shirt today.

Master Card has given us lines to quote customised priceless moments. Although it was about the add and the credit cards, no harm in a bit of passive plagiarism. Here are mine. Not all are positive though.

• Flight tickets- Rs. 4000, Cab to the airport- Rs. 500, Packed Sandwiches- Rs. 150. Watching my Dad go crazy over his first  journey by air… priceless.
• An apartment in Thane- Rs. 45 lacs, Money spent on house warming- Rs. 30,000, New Saree for my wife- Rs. 5000. Watching the shrewd and cunning relatives melt in the envy… priceless.
• A crate imported beer- Rs. 2000, Journey to the friend’s farm house- Rs. 300, X rated movies for the occasion- Rs. 200. Getting caught by his father in the middle of the party… priceless.  :-|
• Buying an expensive gift- Rs. 1000, borrowing money from friends for the party- Rs. 500, Taking her on a long drive in Dad’s car- Rs. 200. Getting rejected… priceless

Location: My Office Desk when I was at Hurix, Time: Who cared :-p

PS: This is one of my favourites.

The story, Tejas and Namita has received variety of feedbacks. I’m happy to now that many people have read and appreciated the story. Lot of them told me that I have touched a new subject and that it is looking good. Thanks a lot!  :-)

Part I generated the anxiety and received good comments. Part II has actually run dry on responses. Not that people didn’t respond, they shied away from commenting on the blog. I have received at least 10 opinions and comments in different forms on the same. Some face to face, some on chat and a couple on an email. All of them are expecting a part three. But let me tell you, I have not yet decided on it.

What bothers me here is “Is the matter of virginity and asking the person about his/her sexually active/inactive status is such a taboo that no one wants to discuss it?” Was Tejas wrong in asking this question to Namita?

I’m surprised.

Location: A garden in Khandala, Time: Some time in the afternoon.

… a question that goes unanswered in all the elections. From wherever and whenever the Thackerays started wooing the Marathi junta, I dont really remember one good initiative taken by any one to ask the real ‘Common Marathi Manoos’ as to what his real demands are.

In fact, in between the digging of the cricket pitches, the riotings and the banishing of the so called ‘Bhaiyyas’, the real cause of concern has been getting lost time and again. The situation is that now the real common ’Marathi Manoos’ doesn’t know where to start and what does he really need from the innumerable political agendas being manifested and bulldozed on his own name. May be he has accepted the silent corrupt (read Congress) over the shouting bigots as his and Maharashtra’s saviour for a better future. Yes, Raj Thackeray has won 13 seats in Maharashtra. We have seen all the talking he did. May be we can see things improving on the ground level too. May be…

Anyway, I’m not spending too much time on who has done what and who wants to do more. I’m just addressing the plain question asked by a ‘common marathi manoos’ and I want you (YOU the reader) to answer it for me.

PS: In my opinion, all a Marathi Manoos wants is better opportunities for him, better living conditions in his own motherland, greater financial stability and peaceful dwelling. And of course he doesn’t like some one else dominating his life. But I’m sure he doesn’t care who sits next to him in his office, whether a Gujarathi or a Bihari.

I remember the days we spent together, running round the bushes, chasing the goats, interrupting cricket matches on the grounds… it was fun. You were so alien to me the first time we met. I wanted a new friend and you were not in a mood. I know you had come to us leaving your home. But we shared the home didn’t we?

And do you remember the baths we took together? Oh you so much hated water. But you loved the fire crackers didn’t you? Unlike others? The best thing about you was the way you looked and walked. Whoa… that was one hand some gentleman walking around the aisle. Many of the damsels had fallen flat at you feet. I wish I could look like you. And I always said that to you when we cuddled together on the grass in the garden. Remember the high jumping contest? And the reward of cream biscuits? Hmmm… good old days is it not?

I wish I could kill the biker who knocked you off. I wish I could have been by your side when this happened. And I wish I had the courage to survive  the ordeal of that intensity. You know what? I draw my strength from you. Whenever I need inspiration, I take it from you. I wish I could make you read this. I wish I could tell you what I feel about you, now that you are no longer with us.

Thank for being there.

My dog Mickey passed away this morning………………………………………….