"F.R.I.E.N.D.S" 4

She has the most beautiful name among my friends. And very aptly named she is a HAPPY girl. It would be wrong to say that I know her well or vice-versa. But after all these years of no contact and almost no history, now I feel real connected to her. She is a synonym to "cool" and her philosophy of life and struggles is something we all need to adopt. In this little time of re-connection she has taught me so many things and the best being "when to let go". (And believe me, honey, I can't thank you enough for it).

My eyes brighten and my lips curl into a smile with just a mail or message from her. I look forward to every new post in her journal. She has a very effective way of writing. Her words make the most complex emotion/situation look so easy and simple and normal that you can't help but relate to it.

Utterly gorgeous with a heartwarming smile, confident and modest, she is a treasure.

I wish everyone a friend like her. A friend like "NANDITA".

Wish to know you more, sweetheart.

Lots of love!!

50 Things by Ben Jones

I read this in Pritesh's blog (a friend of friend) and loved it so much that I could not help but post it here. Enjoy!

Ben Jones | August 23, 2006

"50 Things"

Dear Class of 2010,

This will be my last entry written specifically for you; beginning with the launch of our new site in early September, I'll begin focusing on the future class of 2011. I hope that you guys won't be strangers; stay in touch either in person (come visit us!) or online (please drop by the blogs from time to time and say hi).

As you begin your college experience, and I prepare for my 10-year college reunion, I thought I'd leave you with the things that, in retrospect, I think are important as you navigate the next four years. I hope that some of them are helpful.

Here goes...

1. Your friends will change a lot over the next four years. Let them.
2. Call someone you love back home a few times a week, even if just for a few minutes.
3. In college more than ever before, songs will attach themselves to memories. Every month or two, make a mix cd, mp3 folder, whatever - just make sure you keep copies of these songs. Ten years out, they'll be as effective as a journal in taking you back to your favorite moments.
4. Take naps in the middle of the afternoon with reckless abandon.
5. Adjust your schedule around when you are most productive and creative. If you're nocturnal and do your best work late at night, embrace that. It may be the only time in your life when you can.
6. If you write your best papers the night before they are due, don't let people tell you that you "should be more organized" or that you "should plan better." Different things work for different people. Personally, I worked best under pressure - so I always procrastinated... and always kicked ass (which annoyed my friends to no end). ;-) Use the freedom that comes with not having grades first semester to experiment and see what works best for you.
7. At least a few times in your college career, do something fun and irresponsible when you should be studying. The night before my freshman year psych final, my roommate somehow scored front row seats to the Indigo Girls at a venue 2 hours away. I didn't do so well on the final, but I haven't thought about psych since 1993. I've thought about the experience of going to that show (with the guy who is now my son's godfather) at least once a month ever since.
8. Become friends with your favorite professors. Recognize that they can learn from you too - in fact, that's part of the reason they chose to be professors.
9. Carve out an hour every single day to be alone. (Sleeping doesn't count.)
10. Go on dates. Don't feel like every date has to turn into a relationship.
11. Don't date someone your roommate has been in a relationship with.
12. When your friends' parents visit, include them. You'll get free food, etc., and you'll help them to feel like they're cool, hangin' with the hip college kids.
13. In the first month of college, send a hand-written letter to someone who made college possible for you and describe your adventures thus far. It will mean a lot to him/her now, and it will mean a lot to you in ten years when he/she shows it to you.
14. Embrace the differences between you and your classmates. Always be asking yourself, "what can I learn from this person?" More of your education will come from this than from any classroom.
15. All-nighters are entirely overrated.
16. For those of you who have come to college in a long-distance relationship with someone from high school: despite what many will tell you, it can work. The key is to not let your relationship interfere with your college experience. If you don't want to date anyone else, that's totally fine! What's not fine, however, is missing out on a lot of defining experiences because you're on the phone with your boyfriend/girlfriend for three hours every day.
17. Working things out between friends is best done in person, not over email. (IM does not count as "in person.") Often someone's facial expressions will tell you more than his/her words.
18. Take risks.
19. Don't be afraid of (or excited by) the co-ed bathrooms. The thrill is over in about 2 seconds.
20. Wednesday is the middle of the week; therefore on wednesday night the week is more than half over. You should celebrate accordingly. (It makes thursday and friday a lot more fun.)
21. Welcome failure into your lives. It's how we grow. What matters is not that you failed, but that you recovered.
22. Take some classes that have nothing to do with your major(s), purely for the fun of it.
23. It's important to think about the future, but it's more important to be present in the now. You won't get the most out of college if you think of it as a stepping stone.
24. When you're living on a college campus with 400 things going on every second of every day, watching TV is pretty much a waste of your time and a waste of your parents' money. If you're going to watch, watch with friends so at least you can call it a "valuable social experience."
25. Don't be afraid to fall in love. When it happens, don't take it for granted. Celebrate it, but don't let it define your college experience.
26. Much of the time you once had for pleasure reading is going to disappear. Keep a list of the books you would have read had you had the time, so that you can start reading them when you graduate.
27. Things that seem like the end of the world really do become funny with a little time and distance. Knowing this, forget the embarassment and skip to the good part.
28. Every once in awhile, there will come an especially powerful moment when you can actually feel that an experience has changed who you are. Embrace these, even if they are painful.
29. No matter what your political or religious beliefs, be open-minded. You're going to be challenged over the next four years in ways you can't imagine, across all fronts. You can't learn if you're closed off.
30. If you need to get a job, find something that you actually enjoy. Just because it's work doesn't mean it has to suck.
31. Don't always lead. It's good to follow sometimes.
32. Take a lot of pictures. One of my major regrets in life is that I didn't take more pictures in college. My excuse was the cost of film and processing. Digital cameras are cheap and you have plenty of hard drive space, so you have no excuse.
33. Your health and safety are more important than anything.
34. Ask for help. Often.
35. Half of you will be in the bottom half of your class at any given moment. Way more than half of you will be in the bottom half of your class at some point in the next four years. Get used to it.
36. In ten years very few of you will look as good as you do right now, so secretly revel in how hot you are before it's too late.
37. In the long run, where you go to college doesn't matter as much as what you do with the opportunities you're given there. The MIT name on your resume won't mean much if that's the only thing on your resume. As a student here, you will have access to a variety of unique opportunities that no one else will ever have - don't waste them.
38. On the flip side, don't try to do everything. Balance = well-being.
39. Make perspective a priority. If you're too close to something to have good perspective, rely on your friends to help you.
40. Eat badly sometimes. It's the last time in your life when you can do this without feeling guilty about it.
41. Make a complete ass of yourself at least once, preferably more. It builds character.
42. Wash your sheets more than once a year. Trust me on this one.
43. If you are in a relationship and none of your friends want to hang out with you and your significant other, pay attention. They usually know better than you do.
44. Don't be afraid of the weird pizza topping combinations that your new friend from across the country loves. Some of the truly awful ones actually taste pretty good. Expand your horizons.
45. Explore the campus thoroughly. Don't get caught.
46. Life is too short to stick with a course of study that you're no longer excited about. Switch, even if it complicates things.
47. Tattoos are permanent. Be very certain.
48. Don't make fun of prefrosh. That was you like 2 hours ago.
49. Enjoy every second of the next four years. It is impossible to describe how quickly they pass.
50. This is the only time in your lives when your only real responsibility is to learn. Try to remember how lucky you are every day.

Be yourself. Create. Inspire, and be inspired. Grow. Laugh. Learn. Love.

Welcome to some of the best years of your lives.

-B

Unsaid!

Days are becoming weeks and weeks turning into months. Everything around is very usual. No happenings, no hop-n-pop. Summer is at full bloom and the sun burning everything in the way. Streets remain deserted in the afternoon and evenings see just some people hanging around the corner. City sleeps tight at night and then another morning brings the heat. Lonliness more echoing but plesant. Like silence is trying to say something. Something that was lost in the voices. Deciphering the words of calm, I hear my soul. It is me. But what am I saying??

Did you??

I read these "striking" questions and the post in some blog and can't stop thinking about it.

"It takes time to regain the relationship, the happy memories, the smiles and the trust. How long? No one knows… At least not for the time being… not for the moment that they are together. It just flashes too much memories…

Appearing

Re-appearing

Just like yesterday

Injury causes wound- Wound heal-Scar left behind… over the years, a scar is still a scar.

Did you ever think about how much you can trust a person?

Did you ever be wary of anyone?

Did you ever pretend to be nice to a person that you don’t feel like being nice to?

Did you ever believe of the saying ”once bitten twice shy”?

Did you ever have nothing to talk to a person?

Did you?

Did you?"

"F.R.I.E.N.D.S" 3

He knows how to keep his cool but doesn't like being taken for granted. Thrives to become a better human being (and is an amazing person). Would do anything for the ones he is close to. You would never meet someone more modest. Knows how to make his weakness his strength. And would win your heart the very moment you meet him.

SAMEER - as cool as his name.

My "lab partner" of four years, roll no. 2 (techincally 1) and my best friend. He knows exactly what to say when I am low. He knows how to make me smile, no matter how sad I am. I have shared my laughs and my tears with him. He was the one who kept me going when I absolutely hated going to college. He was always there, and is still there. He knows me better than anyone else. He is "the voice" to my music, literally.

I miss the vivas I gave with him, lab files we made with joint efforts, computer labs (struggling with Ankit in between), that "guitar" session and the most memorable KKHH story. The trip to Bhopal. Oh! I miss those days.

When he says "I feel comfortable with you, 'cause you feel comfortable with me", I know I am the luckiest person. I admire the way he deals with life. He knows the importance of being practical and real. He does have dreams and he works his way towards them but is not obsessed with 'em. I have learned to "let go", when it is time to let go, only from him. He is a joy to be around.

I remember, he was the only one in our class who was in the good books of every single person. I cannot imagine anyone having anything against him. He is the sweetest guy ever. I have never seen him loose his temper, never.

Sometimes I feel I had very little time with him. College days were gone before we knew it and then we never got the chance to sit and talk like the old days. Sing and dance (Oh yes! Did I mention, the guy has got the moves :)) and play (cards, in the classroom :D) like we did in college days. Go on trips without being tensed about any paper.

I wish I could just get some time with him, to sit and look back into all those happy times. Make our cute lil story more interesting. Complete our song.

But anyway, small world and long lives. We will meet soon. Until then, I want to thank him for being on my side all the time and making my life blissful. For making me SMILE. (Special thanks due, when we meet :D)

Love ya, Sameer.

Wish you everything "you wish". :)

P.S. Bhoolega dil, jis din tumhe, woh din zindagi ka aakhri din hoga. :)

I got the new guitar and missing you so much now. Wish you were here to sing this one for me.

We miss you, Michael!!

Smile

tho' your heart is aching

smile

even tho' it's breaking

when there are clouds in the sky

you'll get by

if you

smile through your fear and sorrow

smile and maybe tomorrow

you'll see the sun come shining thru for you.

Light up your face with gladness

hide ev'ry trace of sadness

altho' a tear maybe ever so near

that's the time you must keep on trying

smile

what's the use of crying

you'll find that life is stillworth while

if you'll just smile.

This song written by Charlie Chaplin was the favorite of Michael Jackson. In his memory, SMILE. You will always be missed. Rest in Peace, Michael.

"F.R.I.E.N.D.S" 2

When can having loving, caring and concerned parents be an additional bliss (apart from a million others)? When their concern and sense of protection lands you the most beautiful friendship.

I was in std 12th and was preparing for my engineering entrance test. I used to go to Chaturvedi Sir for Physics classes. We were around 7 people in my batch (Neha, Surbhi, Anoop, Nitin G, other Nitin, I and one tall guy whose name I can't remember now. Sorry, if I am missing anyone). Our classes were scheduled at night concluding at around 8:30 - 9:00 pm. And the place was little far from where I lived. So, obviously my parents were worried. But then they found the rest in the thought that Anoop would be going with me (on his bike, kinda accompanying me). And I was glad too to have someone.

At first, he seemed a lil unapproachable. A lil consumed in himself. Highly ambitious (in a great way). When in class, he used to be the most alert one and interesting one too. On our way back, he mostly used to be just silent and listen to my useless rants. And then on day, when we "agreed" to be friends (which sounds strange), my whole world changed. I had found a friend, I had never imagined.

And then, we got in the same college. And I saw a new side of him. He became more of a Guru to me. A guide who had solutions to almost all my questions and problems. He was always there as an amazing listener. He always knew what to say and when. When with him, I always felt the power of "Hope and Belief. "

He is the most daring among all my friends. (I still wonder Anoop, how you did the mud crawling, caving stuff). A budding photographer. And an addict. Yep, an Internet Addict. He spends more time with his laptop than with human (tell me if I am wrong Anoop :D). He is a patient listener and at the same time can talk on almost any topic. And sometimes when I listen to him (or read his thoughts in blog) I feel he could be a promising politician (and him being an ex-president of Indian Cultural association at his campus proves my point). Very firm and determined and a lil rebel (which we need desperately). One thing that actually surprised me was that he can dance too. I mean there isn't anything is doesn't do or can't do. (I gotta learn some skills from you mate, eh??)

You know, I can go on and on writing about him. But that even would not be enough. So, make all past tenses I used in the post to present tense (as he still is the same Awesome adventurous ANOOP). And imagine the most wonderful friend and you will see him.

Thanks dear for making my life easier at every step.

And wish you all the success and happiness.

Love!!

P.S. This pic here is Anoop's work.

@Anoop- I miss solving Physics problems with you.