Beauty of the Beard

The advantage of shaving once a week is that, if I am not able to figure out which day of the week it is, I just stroke my beard and I am able to figure out which day of the week it is from the length of my beard.

Matters of the Heart

Continuing my tradition of posting a piece on my blog every year on Valentine’s Day on matters of the heart, here’s my post for this year.

On every special occasion, who are the people we think about most? Whom do we miss the most and given the choice, with whom would we like to spend that one day of celebration? Ever given it any serious thought? I am not talking about just Valentine’s Day. I mean any special festive occasion. The occasion and the corresponding person in whose company you wish to spend the occasion can reveal a lot about the depth of relationship you share with that person. Surprisingly, the subconscious may come up with people that on a conscious and rational level we may be unwilling to consider for various reasons.

Happiness can be shared with anybody, sorrow is shared only with those close to us. Praise is given to all, but criticism is given only to the ones we wish to improve. Indifference is distributed freely, anger is reserved for the special ones. Anybody can make us laugh, but the ones close to the heart are capable of making us cry. Conversations are needed with acquaintances, but with the special one, silence is equally comfortable.

The brain revels in solitude. It despises company and craves individuality. The heart craves companionship. Lying down alone on that bed, the mind is fleetest and can cross the seven seas in the blink of an eye, but the heart just sinks in the quicksand of lost love. The brain has a natural tendency to suspect. The heart, a willingness to trust. The brain wants proof. The heart just wishes that the things it heard were true. One knew it was too good to be true, the other knew not what it did to deserve this. One has tact and charm, the other speaks like it has never been lied to or deceived. One is egoistic and selfish the other has no concern for the self. The brain can plot and scheme, the heart can only dream and desire. The brain can laugh at life’s jokes and even add a bit of sarcasm of its own, but the heart can only shed silent tears.

Smiles can be insincere but tears are mostly sincere.

Where is my Valentine?

A few months back, on rakshabandhan day, my status message was "If only I were as popular among the chicks on Valentine's Day as I am on Rakshabandhan". Later that day, half a dozen girls from my friend list came and tied me a rakhi. They told me that they sincerely hope and pray that my wish comes true.

My Self Analysis

My weakness : I don't know my strength

My strength : I know my weakness

P.S. I love paradoxes

Nervous Pants

The pretty salesgirl (who was in a hurry to make the sale), made me so nervous that I almost forgot to wear my trousers before coming out of the trial room.

Common Usage Utilities

Recently, IISc has launched a bicycle drive. In this drive, common utility bicycles are available for use at various locations inside the campus. These bicycles are always unlocked and can be used by any person inside IISc. There are certain requirements like, we are not allowed to take them outside the campus, we should park them at specified locations etc etc. I don't want to go into the details here. What I want to talk about is, my thoughts when I heard about this novel concept.


Since the beginning of the bicycle drive with the concept of common usage bicycles, the little piece of imagination within me has been toying with the idea of whether this common usage policy can be extended to objects other than just the humble two wheeled bicycle. The following are some of the ideas I could come up with. I don't claim that they are practical. Some people may even find them outrageous. But the intention was not to provide practical ideas, the idea was to make at attempt at amusing the reader.

1. Common Usage Cycle Rickshaw -> A friend of mine seemed none too eager on using the common bicycles. I learnt that my friend had difficulty in balancing on two wheels. So I wondered, why not have more than two wheels. In case tricycles are hard to procure, there are many unused cycle rickshaws around. It will not be difficult to balance it and it might also encourage people to do some social service and carry around a few hitchhikers.
   
   
2. Common Usage Boyfriends/Girlfriends -> Why stop at abandoned bicycles/cycle rickshaws? We can include single and eligible bachelors/bachelorettes into the common usage drive. The holiday season can be a lonely time on campus. There will be volunteers parked at strategic locations on campus. If you are not feeling like walking alone, feel free to pick up a suitable volunteer (depending on your orientation), take them for a ride around the campus and dump them at specified locations. Its like emotional Viagra for the flaccid at heart.
   
   
3. Common Usage Electric Stoves and Cutlery -> We have to admit, instant tea/coffee from the machine is not the same as man made tea/coffee. Presence of a stove and cutlery with a bit of raw material will enable students to enjoy the beverage of their choice even at the most unearthliest of hours. Those who are not sure of how to prepare tea/coffee need not fret. You can use the volunteers from the previous idea.

I better stop here, else the next thing I might be asking for would be beer dispensing machines all over campus.

Whose hair is it anyway?

Whenever I go for a haircut along with my dad, the barber asks my dad the specifications for my haircut. What is it about me that makes people think I am not capable of taking decisions regarding my own hair?