The Monsoon Weddings

Monsoon's are here, and it's raining marriages this season.

We Live in a time when visiting Facebook every day has become a ritual, and to the my utter dismay, the only images that I see floating around on Facebook these days are of my friends getting engaged, married or celebrating the birthday of their kid. What has happened to the world! 

At 26, it's not that I expect this to be unusual, most of my friends have settled either in their technical job or are enjoying the post MBA stint with some of the best corporates in the world. Still, ain't it too early to get married? Obviously, your girlfriend's dad won't wait for you to get a breather, neither will your girl friend. Is it that this is the time when everyone in life thinks that's it's the perfect time to "Settle Down", which in itself is an illusion created to fuel and sustain one of the most fundamental societal institution called marriage.

By the time I will graduate out of IIM Lucknow, most of my good friends would have already settled down, ( which also shows the bad timing of my MBA programme :P ) and the whole situation freaks me out to the core, imagine talking to your "matured, settled friend". 

It's time to take out my umbrella, for it's raining marriages this monsoon!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Just feel like shouting out loud, punching someone in the face!

Two minds

It is close to 6 months at hell and I am still going with the flow. There is no plan. No goal.

I am a part of a team, and in two minds. To deep dive, let it indulge me completely, or, still think of life ahead of it.

When I came here, I was a man on top of the world, having made it to an IIM. Here, that confidence has taken a hit. I wanted to change India, look for ideas that had the potential to change India.
Here, corruption caught me, corruption of thought. Never had I imagined in life that competing is the ultimate habit, you cannot take things easy.

Close to 13 months remain. This journey seems lost at the moment.

Pathik

Sea of Fog

Its morning 10 am and I am only surrounded by a sea of fog at IIM Lucknow!
Wow!

Life @ Hell

Its been  close to five months of my stay at IIM Lucknow.
Somehow, the initial euphoria of coming to a world of exciting opportunities has prevailed over the depressing environment of the campus. I am a part of Manfest, which is a group of passionate people committed to deliver the annual business conclave of IIM Lucknow year after year. Things at IIM Lucknow are not that simple as they used to be in NIT Bhopal. Here, everything is simply, "GLOBE"

What a journey it has been so far. The fact that you are not part of the "Remedials" can seriously pose interesting problems. From the first institute party itself, I have been trying to get connected to the institute, its people, its culture. Something which has not happened so far. I have made conscious efforts, yet, there is something which is still missing. I have not made great friends, and this is something that I have realized over time, that it takes time  for me to befriend people. The insti parties, the booze, the dances, the music, have become an integral part of my life now.
I have made mistakes, and have learned tremendous lessons. So much has happened in the past five months.
We have had our summer placements, which showed me the worst and the best of a B school. It was a scary process, and has left many people short of confidence. The hype of mba as a degree will hopefully saturate in times to come when people do realize their real aptitude and fit to these programs.

Life @ Hell, so far, is exciting, fun, and, superficial at the same time. Hopefully, remaining 15 months will count for the rest of my life

Movie Review - Pyaar Ka Punchnama

Wide Screen Shots of Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon, pubs located in Bangalore and loads of chaos.
Director Luv Ranjan's "Pyaar Ka Punchnama" is a brave attempt at portraying the myths of relationships in this Digital Age, viewed from the Male side and this may perhaps not go down well with the Female audiences.

The first half is breezy, energetic, funny and wild. The story of three bestest of buddies who live in the same flat, their falling in love, getting in a relationship, and the things that follow unfolds before the audience. The thigs that follow attempt to completely destroy their individuality and friendship as the Relationship starts occupying their Universe.

The Second half fails to emulate the pace and energy of the first half, looks a bit stretched too. However, this part of the movie is an attempt at Dark Humor, as the Boys start realising that in the name of love, life is being sucked out of them by their respective Girl Friends. The Girls become the bad guy in this movie, and possess all the wickedness and tricks one will associate with the good old villians of Hindi Cinema.

The performances by all actors, mostly debutants, are worthy of compliments. The guy with the specs and his "Girl" friend, both, will be loved by the audiences for their wit, emotion and drama. The story has shades of grey, and barring some parts in the second half, it holds it audience for most of the show.
Music is one point where the movie fails to impress. The tract "Kutta" being the highpoint, written by the Director Luv Ranjan only, has all the makings of a Hostel Party song.
The movie has a seemingly dark take on Love and relationships, and for all those interested in both, I would recommend " Pyaar ka Punchnama".

FAILED:YET AGAIN!!

I have failed yet again,
feeling such an immense pain.
This time also I gave my best
Yet, I was not the best.

I do not know how to react
For I am definitely feeling low
I am not selected, thats a fact,
my mind in a dizzy, after this blow.

No one lost what I did
I cannot cry, for I am not a kid
What went wrong, is all I ask
How can I put that "all ok" mask?

Men learn from failures
Is what we were told
Failures teach wisdom, our Saviour,
Some weapon men possess as they grow old.

Krishna told Arjun there is no point
In being sad for what was never yours
Desire and Grief share an unbreakable joint
Give them up, and victory shall be yours.

Alas, but I am a mere mortal
and today I stand facing darkness
The iron fist of failure is brutal
and I see its grip in sharpness.

Courage is the virtue of the warriors
while fear the grave of the coward
I remember my failures through the years
trying hard to figure out a way forward

I just hope this strengthens my resolve
I wanna taste the sweetness of victory
Till the time the Earth revolves
I will strive to make a History