The Most Underrated things in life

I have been having quite a frenzy already. I have so much to think about,so much to do.

What do I do first?
I switch off my phone. Grab Richard Branson's autobiography and go outside in the main garden grounds. Look for a tree and just sit under it. Its scorching hot and others may feel that one is trying to get roasted up.
But you just do it anyway.

I open my book and then after a few vacant seconds, I give up. I close the book. Its yellow somewhere and green at some patches in the park. There is some natural hue around at places. Many birds are tweeting around. I then try to look at the sky above through the tree branches. It was as if the branches were the new "sky".

I tried thinking of the things happening all around me before I came here. It was not that I have forgotten about it. I just thought that they will find their own space and time. It was as if I felt at peace with myself. The same "peaceful" feeling when I had gone to the temple before leaving for Delhi during my internship.

I guess sitting under the tree and and closing your eyes, while trying to forget the ants who might attack, brought things in a different perspective.

It was like driving home after a long day from college or like lying on your bed staring at the ceiling and thinking about nothing.

Like a morning dream, which is forgotten as soon as you open your eyes or finding that cool spot under the pillow when its hot.

I am not being preachy but sometimes we have to stand for what is right. The "truth" probably is the most underrated things in life. There are people who can try to hide it but I feel even the truth now is relative. The truth may be different for me, a bit different for you.

I think even the quest of finding yourself is an underrated thing. It is as underrated as using a new toothbrush for the first time or closing your eyes falling asleep instantly.

You know what else is one of the most underrated things in life?
Sitting under an old tree with nothing to do but just sit and forget the world for sometime(at least, till the heat eats you up).

I love F-O-O-D.......Do you?

Have you ever used the "insert button" on your keyboard, or even Num Lock, Screen Lock and Pause button? They are just there on every keyboard I have seen. I have never ever used them ever.

In case, you are wondering why am I talking about this, I just have to say, "I AM TRYING TO MAKE A LITTLE CONVERSATION.PLEASE CHIP IN AND INTRODUCE A NEW TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT".

I hate forced conversations. They are as clichés as "Opposites attract" and "When you have lemons, make lemonade" kind of things.

The point is what do you do then. Well, if the other person is sensitive to your dilemma, he/she helps out and thinks about something you can speak about. People talk things like "weather", and stuff about "pet dogs" and "nephews/nieces"(guys....this is like an instant icebreaker with most of the girls). I even once spoke to a guy who told me his sad story for 45 minutes non stop about his messed up love life and how he is the "poor guy". (The "poor guy" in question had by then, in fact dated around 5 girls, after puberty hit him. I feel hopeful for his quest of "true" love).

Everybody has icebreakers. I know a few people who would kill to talk about football. I dont watch football. Imagine, if somebody starts gushing about "Gossip Girl" when you are not even an iota interested, or well talking about the Bohemian Rhapsody when you have ever listened to it.

I talk about "food". Food is something which everybody consumes. Everybody has his/her likes and dislikes. There are some who are vegetarians and if you mention "chicken" they make a face. They then, start with a parody of benefits about "wholesome, nutritious vegetarian food." They even quote how Kareena Kapoor's sex appeal has an innate connection with her being vegetarian. 

You can talk about the street food you love. You can talk about the Chinese food you love. You can talk about roadside chowmein wala you favour the most.The conversation keeps flowing and by the time, its over you have discussed all kinds of foods, and new food joints you should try. The awkwardness vapourizes.

In India we even talk about the failing economy with conversations ending with "bharashtachar in politics" kinds of things.

We talk about movies. Some fancy people make a face and scoff at bollywood movies. you then simply talk about hollywood movies.

Anyway so sports, movies and politics is a normal icebreakers for us Indians. I personally prefer the "food talk". After all "Food maketh the man".

This post is kind of making me hungry.

PS: I am listening to Chariots of Fire these days a little too often. What are you listening to?

Confessions of a Marketing Student studying Finance!

The class was supposed to be at 10:50. I enter the classroom at 11.

The teacher is already in the class.

You sit quietly on the second bench with your friend.

You look at the presentation. 

The person sitting in front asks a question. You do not understand the question. You do not understand the answer. You fuss with your hair and then look completely blank. 

You are trying to study finance in the class and you suddenly want to get up and run away from the classroom, outside the building, outside the university outside the city, outside the state, outside the country, outside the planet........................well now that is like running up till too far.

You want a light years away of distance from you and the classroom. 

But what do you do?

You sit in the same room, with the same people around you, trying to understand what is happening around. You try to make sense out of what the person standing in front of you is trying to say. You maintain an eye contact, then you look at the projector pointing towards the powerpoint presentation. 

You then look at your watch and then look for a water bottle.

You then, check your watch and start looking at the person speaking in the class, who is trying his level best to make you understand. He speaks English yet it sounds Greek to me. I do not understand Greek, a bit of French, a bit of English Rap( it's tough to understand that), even some of Honey Singh's Songs. I even, understand a bit of transactional analysis but I definitely cannot make an iota sense what is going on in the class.

 

One of my class mates ambles in the class at quarter to twelve. He sits on the last seat. I look at him. He winks at me. I look at the black board.

I am considered to be intelligent. Though, I might consider myself a bit quirky. I do not go out on night outs with friends neither I am into getting wasted with beer and partying. I do not really date. The only talent I think I have is that I am curious and I want to understand many things. 

The class in a chorus asks the Professor to stop. He keeps on speaking as if nobody has said anything.

He suddenly asks somebody to stop using his mobile phone. The student reacts and suddenly the class wakes up for some time.

The drudgery of the class starts again in an uninterrupted way. The monotony opens its wings and engulfs every body just the same. 

During this class, I question my existence. Have I turned dumber by sitting in the class? Have I lost the feeling? Are things that tough?

I look at the person sitting next to me. He just asks for water. I oblige. Is he understanding what the teacher is trying to say? He says with a lopsided grin. "I do not get it too".

I smile at him and then try again to listen.

"Its a losing battle not a case of losing war." I tell myself that.

The clock strikes noon.

Everybody wails again. The Professor tries to explain "the last point". The students groan more effectively. He has to stop. Some of us put our heads down.The Professor takes pity on us and closes his presentation.

 

Everybody wakes up and attends the Roll call. 

I question the system. I question everybody else. I question myself. Did I just spent an hour wriggling out of this class? I could have done something quite essential and probably chalk out a new plan for myself.

 I could have probably gone home and slept a while.I could have read Al Ries and Jack Trout's Marketing Warfare.

I could have even sat at the ICH and had a vada sambhar with Pepsi.

I could have even socialized.

This was pointless or did I witness something eventful? 

They say we learn from everything we do but aren't pointless things supposed to be fun?Are we not supposed to feel revitalized after doing that. 

I should have run away when the thought struck me but I would never do that. Isn't this the way it all begins? Start considering life a burden and then living becomes a chore.

 

I put my thoughts away as the next teacher comes and then the class starts. The monotony soon vanishes away as I try to call out "Present" when my name is called again.