Hope, fear, excitement…a new dawn awaits

The day I was waiting for is finally here. I will be flying to Muscat tomorrow morning and am already experiencing a myriad of emotions. For someone who has craved for a change for long this is indeed a welcome boon, but some where there is also an apprehension of stepping into the unknown and what the future actually holds for me. I am sure there will be no dearth of challenges in the new place moreso for a pampered kid like me, who has never lived away from home and has lived a life replete with splendor. But there is also an awareness that it is high time for me to step out of my comfort zone into the real world and make something of this damned life

I am not very sure of what I am getting into, for I am a greenhorn at handling domesticity. I don’t know cooking, have never washed my clothes, never even changed bedsheets and am going to live all alone in a far-off land all by myself! But admittedly this has not deterred me one bit and am sure down the line somewhere I will find my feet in the city, though it may take sometime

However there is also hope and an undeniable tinge of excitement. Anything new does bring some freshness along and it becomes all the more sweet if it is long sought. I sincerely wish that this new and a very major turn of life does turn out to be good and rewarding; and all the wait and perseverance does pay off somewhere. For the past many years I had been on look-out for a good international assignment, which was seen by me as a panacea for all the ills dogging me. One I would have been away from home and secondly, it never hurts to rake in the moolah. Now that it is finally happening, its only upon me to make it successful.

This is my last post from India and am not sure when I will be able to post next. Also I will not be able to comment on other blogs for sometime, but be assured that I will seize any opportunity to access WWW at the first instance. Till then alvida…

Online air booking: lessons to learn

Day before yesterday I got a sudden brain wave that before embarking for Muscat I should visit Vaishno Devi once; it’s always good to pay obeisance that too before perhaps one of the crucial junctures of my life. Adding fuel to the thoughts were the facts that my previous trips had been successful and if I can make it then should try for another trip. However one quick look at the airfares over the weekend and my plans went on the backburner, a to and fro trip costing 12 grand, which is more expensive than even visiting Bangalore and Hyderabad! But the bug had already caught me by then and I could not stop exploring the option of other travel dates, totally unaware that online pricing of air tickets uses logic similar to casino gambling. My ordeal with online booking websites was less than pleasing and not at all pocket friendly, as depicted below

Day before yesterday morning
Quick check on fares: 12 grand to and fro drop the idea!!

Day before yesterday afternoon
Let’s tweak the dates and look at weekdays: hmm fares drop a little wait for some time for fares to drop

Day before yesterday evening
Fares for Monday and Tuesday is less than 7 grand!!! Yeah (jumping) wait for more time for fares to drop even more

Yesterday morning
Fares are still low…hit ‘book’ immediately. Now whats this…seats not available!! Doesn’t matter, wait

Yesterday afternoon
Low fares are still visible for different days combination, but perhaps all seats have been booked with only few left. A seat on Spicejet now costs 13 grand!! Quick realization that if I do not act left seats will also go soon

Immediately book available option, but one leg of journey unconfirmed. Call up the toll free number of website and book. Pay charges of 400 bucks more but thankfully I get my tickets for a princely 9 grand (a normal fare should be less than 7 grand)

Moral: if planning travel plan in advance and whenever see a good bargain never forego

End of a chapter

Today is my last day in my present firm and I cannot help being overwhelmed by the gamut of emotions enveloping me. I vividly remember my first day at this place four years back, how different people looked, the old-fashioned look of the place, those unanswered questions and yes I had forgotten my purse that day so had to borrow money for lunch! So much has changed and so much has remained same but it is all coming to an end. No longer will I have to get up early, no longer will the same morning drive to office happen and no longer will I blog from this computer

But to be candid I am indeed relieved to be leaving, after all don’t we all always crave for greener pastures. While clearing my exit formalities someone asked me how I am feeling and I started humming jeeska mujhe that intezaar wo ghadi aa gayee… There were days in the past when I was so frustrated and looking desperately for something good but then I guess I was destined to wait. 2007 and 2008 were especially bugging as there were many openings around but the elixir always eluded me. And then the recession came calling dashing all my hopes though I am grateful that I did not lose my job during those horrible days. Now that the world is coming back I am getting ready to enter the real world and face it head on

However the last few days have not been short of anxiety. If you read my last post my edginess will not be hidden. I again spoke to both the offices yesterday and learnt my Oman visa application has hit a roadblock but thankfully my future employers have taken it upon themselves to fly me there. I have been asked to be ready with my packing which I am, I doubt if I have done so many purchases ever, all funded by generous Mom. My nephew’s surgery is scheduled for tomorrow marking another critical day and event – the kid is so sweet and small it is truly heart wrenching to see him go through all this

Back to today I am being pestered with calls and farewell messages since morning. My official farewell is scheduled to start in sometime which will include all saying some good words about me and me rounding off with a final thank you. Thankfully I finished all my exit papers on time and should be off soon, more shopping slated for later in the day

I will end here though still can’t fathom will not have to come to this place any more…

Disturbing Confusion

Yesterday when I had thought of writing a post, the title in my mind was “A new dawn beacons” and not what you see above. A phone call last evening and the resulting confusion since has left me foxed, bewildered and not at all amused. Last week I had spoken to my future employers in Dubai and Muscat offices, wherein I was informed that I will be required to fly and join them soon. I spent the weekend shopping in all the swanky malls here and must have robbed many of them going by the number of my purchases. I even bought new bags and purchased more stuff to fill them up

Things seemed on track and going smooth, till a casual call to Muscat last evening to know the status of my Visa application. The ambiguous answer I received from the accented mallu guy left me dazed, for it sounded and vaguely conveyed that my joining was not on!! He advised me to speak to head office in Dubai for more details as they would be able to inform better. A frantic call to Dubai followed, where the chick expressed ignorance and said she will consult personnel in Muscat to know what’s happening and then get back to me. I waited for the call with bated breath and when it did not come I tried reaching the Dubai office, but the extension of this chick was engaged till late evening, probably she was in talks with Muscat office only. All through I was edgy and also chanting for things to work out well. Finally I did receive a call at end of day and mercifully my joining is still on, but the distressed voice of this chick could not conceal that all is not well. I am sure that there have been certain developments in Muscat office where my joining was planned to either put on hold or deferred and only some damage control from Dubai last evening has restored order and perhaps my fortunes. I have now been advised not to speak to that mallu guy and be prepared to fly soon, which I will only be glad to do even though my official release from present firm and nephew’s surgery are slated for next week.

Sometimes I wonder if it is worth to lose my sleep over this job offer which has been in a limbo for some time and only now is approaching some sort of fructification. My grappling with the slow response from them has stretched for more than three months now and their ‘blow hot blow cold’ attitude has not done much good for me. I may sound desperate but for someone who has inevitably seen so many slips between cup and lip in the past, it is only natural to be eager and anxious. I am aware that many more challenges await me upon arrival there but I only hope and pray that they should not be insurmountable and in no way beyond me.

Meanwhile the good news is that my resignation and handover in present firm has been smooth and I have also received a warm send-off. Life in this place was very comfortable; perhaps I may not get so much ease in job for some time, but it was lack of dough, growth and dull ambience which had made me anxious for a good change for long. Now that the change is happening my next concern is it should all be good!!

Is life fair?

This Sunday I had been to a Buddhism discussion meeting in my neighborhood, where participants were supposed to discuss and share their experiences while imbibing Buddhist philosophy. I have been somewhat regular with these meetings off late and this time I too shared my experience, which was well received by those present. Rest of the crowd was also coming up with their own take on life and recent experiences, wherein one member was repeatedly cribbing about his life, even comparing it to hell. Upon coming back to my apartment building, I saw him again in the lift and was surprised to learn he lived in my building only. He then invited me to his apartment, which was two floors below mine, and recounted story of his life. He had changed professions and maybe ambitions often, inspite of a good ability was languishing in his job, he lived reclusively alone and seemed to lack contentment anywhere. Well there were many things I shared with this guy, to start with we were from same college, similar backgrounds, aspirations for Civil Services and wasting of time with it, change in careers, only thing he was married and ten years elder but his wife lived abroad. I must have been in his flat for a short while only, but the despair in his life, heightened by irregular career and lacuna of a family life, was all too visible. His place was not bad by any counts, infact well kept for a single guy and he too appeared decent by all counts, but his current lackluster life was indeed pitiable

Even after living his flat I kept wondering about him, I had never seen this guy before though had crossed his flat many times which was mostly locked. During evening walks these days I make a special note of his apartment, which is always blacked out; I know many occupants of my building but this person was never noticed and going by his rant in the Buddhist meeting, his present life condition was indeed unenviable

Going by few similarities in our lives I too can land in his shoes someday but what bothers me is not the fear of it rather do I, or for that matter anyone, deserve this? I know we all get in life what we deserve and not what we desire, but then can life get so iniquitous? As I am about to embark on a new and major chapter of my life, my Muscat Visa should come through in few days, I often ask myself

Is life fair?

Hot Hotter Hottest

Recently I stumbled upon few not-so-old clips from Hindi films, some of which were indeed bold though done tastefully. 80s was the time when conservatism was still the order of the day and our society had just begun to come out its self-imposed moral veil, a far cry from the present day Emraan Hashmi heroines who indiscreetly taste saliva on screen. But some of the actresses did take the bold step during those locked door days and they indeed deserve kudos for shedding their clothes and jumping in the hack for some real uninhibited intercourse. There were many clips I discovered, but here I will mention only the hot, hotter and hottest

Dimple in Jaanbaaz: Dimple made out in shack with Anil Kapoor at the end of a song. What I like in this song is the way she rubs her nude body with the hero. She is lying flat on haysack with Anil on top with continuous body rubbing. There is not much kissing here but Dimple’s luscious body display, complete with a shiny texture, makes up well for it

Rekha in Utsav: now this is long sequence with Rekha and Shekhar Suman in the historical epic, where Rekha plays a prostitute who comes to Shekhar’s house when his wife is away. The seduction is complete as Rekha gives a bath to the hero in complete style. There is lots of foreplay including playing with soap foam, sucking water dripping from mouth and intentional body rubbing. You do feel butter melting inside after seeing this horny sequence.

Madhuri in Dayavan: this one takes the cake by a long margin. Anyone who has seen this one will never forget the eroticism in a hurry and would like to watch again and again. This shot depicts the way a female is to be taken and would be undoubtedly bold in any era. What makes this one stand out is the entire aesthetics of it- the way Madhuri turns in bed with hunger burning in eyes, the way Vinod Khanna looks at her before taking a dip, the passion with which lips are offered and sucked, the want with which Madhuri rubs the back of hero and the licking towards the end. One of the all time bests

Already enchanted? Now don’t waste time and log on to YouTube to watch the fun

Girls Do Dare

These days I am reading a new book, which is albeit different from many of the works one sees around these days. The book titled ‘Where girls dare’ chronicles life of female cadets inside military training academy and well captures the challenging military life, moreso for a female, by the main protagonist the author herself. To be honest the book is a bit boring, after reading all the shit by new age authors coming out nowadays which have a good sprinkling of sleaze and sex and are mostly centered on the life of single chicks living lavishly in metros, this one looks a bit insipid. However this does not take away one bit of the effort put in describing the hard military life borne bravely by the tender gender.

Life in a military academy can be tough for anyone to cope with, and the book narrates the gory details in which miniscule errors are also handed out harsh physical punishments. To undergo this baptism by fire, one has to first keep ego aside and be acceptable to getting persecuted at any time day and night; something which is not easy for anyone, howsoever brave and Bond like one maybe, to undergo

In a way the book is a refreshing change and throws good light on the ability of the new age female, who can take on tough physical grind as well. I remember in my first job, our team was taken to a hill resort nearby and adventure sports were a part of the schedule. To my surprise all girls out did the boys by doing tough sports with ease while we boys were left panting and some like me gave up before starting. In the evening bonfire, girls again outdid guys by soon wiping all Bacardi we had got

Perhaps this indeed is the age of modern day daring girls, who do lead a not-so-long-ago unthinkably bold life. Many of my female acquaintances live independent lives, change boyfriends, call me home for drinks and fags, have uninhibited sex and never deny having done it. But don’t get me wrong, this is a change for the positive. We all want a fair society and only an equal society can be fair for all, and also good for all