The Way Back

I stepped into the world

With a flame alight in my heart

A sound of distant rolling thunder

An echo of lost dreams

 

I took the first steps with uneasy caution

With a wisdom of an old man seldom lost

A wilderness grew in my heart

Materials lost in the undergrowth

 

Searching in the hidden, the wild unknown

I found in the slivers, the blades of grass

The wild berries and sweet nectars

A love for the empty road

 

The dreams I had forgotten

A love for the love lorn wild

A quiet distant fate

A sad broken child within me

 

I took a long journey

Of  self discovery and love

But the best part of it was

The jouney home and above

 

 

NEROLAC HOME STYLERS OR HOME DESTROYERS: You Decide.

Nerolac Home Stylers was given a contract on the 22^nd of November 2011 to paint 3 rooms of my house. Even though they were given the contract on the condition that they start the next day, they made an excuse and started the work on 24^th November 2011. Nerolac had given us an estimate that it would take 3-4 days per room maximum to paint which summed up to maximum 12 days for the entire house. They wanted 3 checks to be dated such that one they would get on the 22^nd of November, the second one 8 days into the work and the 3^rd and final one after the completion of the project. The cheques were dated on their request as: 22/11/2011, 30/11/2011 and 04/12/2011. All of this on Receipt No. 219. The site supervisor was Mr. Ramesh and the Regional Program Manager was Mr. Rishikesh Ghosh.

The work in the first room started out fine until the workers started skiving work. One day there were 2 workers, one day there was one and one day they walked in at 12pm to begin work. Above this even the contractor came and started being to bossy. We had clearly seen that only 2 coats of paint were applied instead of the 3 required, he tried to convince us that all the 3 coats had been done. Surprisingly the newly applied paint could not even remotely match up in the ‘glossy’ effect to the 4 year old existing painting job. The contractor was cheeky enough to be sarcastic to us without even trying to disguise it.

We asked the Site supervisor to change the contractor since his behavior was just not acceptable and he was openly trying to con us, however we told Nerolac to let him finish the current room. Even though the walls were uneven and full of blemishes we told him to move on to the next room and continue this room later. This is till now the best work that has been put in.

 

A new contractor came in to start up with the new room. Firstly the workers had no experience at all, they even messed up the initial phase up putting the Putty and the walls were massively uneven and looked like bulging boulders. Secondly, after putting the primer the painting was horribly done too, there were blotches of dark paint on the wall. There were all sorts of lines, scratched and brush strokes. The work was totally shabby. Thirdly, the site supervisor having already supervised the room for two days realized on the third day that they had used the wrong color. So they start painting the wall all over again. Then they leave the wall that has to be textured and plan to do all texture walls together since the person who does that takes a lot of money. Once again being humane we allowed them to do that hoping they would atleast complete the work on time.

The work on the third room did not have any such problems as the others but today is the 16^th of December and the work is not yet complete. Nerolac had promised us to have the work done by the 4^th of December latest and they’re running 12 days behind schedule and yet two walls in my house are left without paint.

 

Whenever these painters run out of paint or sandpaper or putty they were made to wait 24 hours by their contractor for the new stock. This was getting out of hand for us so we had to resort to supplying the raw materials ourselves to get the work speeded up. We even resorted to giving them tea every day and a money for food in the hope that they finish the work soon but there has been no difference whatsoever.

 

Due to the fault of Nerolac Home Stylers and their Contractors we have been living out of a box for almost 25 days in our own home. There is dust everywhere and the workers don’t even bother cleaning the bathroom after using it.

 

Amazingly we couldn’t even wash off with Nerolac after being put through this turmoil thanks to their no refund policy and the fact that they had no clauses in their bill or agreement for late work.

 

They have caused us harassment and mental agony beyond repair and nothing they do will ever be able to repair it. Taking this up in court will just aggravate our hassles so I just wanted to share this incident with you all so that the same thing doesn’t happen with you too.

 

Take care.

Another Parody Called Life

 

­­­­What do you do for your family, for your house?

Frankly, Yes I don’t do anything. I lie down on my bed all day staring into a laptop screen with headphones in my ears.

 

Once or twice I feel like going and helping them. I go and say *So whats happening? Tell me what to do?* and I always get the same reply. *No thanks, You’ve done enough.* Well If I did then why blame me all this while? I just don’t understand all this unnecessary use of sarcastic lines. I don’t know when it started. I’ve automatically taken a back seat to my family. I prefer keeping to myself, not that I’m talking or thinking about anybody else at that moment. I just like sitting back and thinking of all the ways my life sucks and about all the things I have to do, the things that need to be.

 

What am I? An engineer? A photographer? I don’t even know for sure. I don’t even know what I am supposed to be doing. Is *Don’t want to be an Engineer* an optimistic career goal after completing engineering? Or is confusion about doing photography after breathing with a camera for 4 years too wasteful?

 

I used to write a lot too, where has that habit gone? Do I need to rediscover myself or is it too late?

 

My parents always told me *Jack of All Trades, Master of None* and yet they didn’t stop me from doing everything I set my eyes on. I did all that I could muster and some things that I could not fathom. I made Music, I wrote Poetry, I wrote Fiction Novels, I clicked Photographs, I made Movies, I made Computer Programs, there’s a hell lot more to this list. Sometimes I wonder how life would have been if I would have just narrowed it down, maybe I could do one thing better than everybody else, maybe I could have rid myself off this utter confusion and despair.

 

1.5 Semesters to go till I officially pass out of college and I don’t know my next step. I was never one for the ever so thoughtful game of chess. Even in Chess, the future was always clouded to me, I could never predict moves, nor the psyche of my opponent.

 

I can never judge people, I say things off the top of my head, I am deeply judgmental and I am scared. In this race to always be known, always be regarded by people, I have lost myself. I don’t know anymore who I am, I look back at myself 2 years ago and find myself totally different.

 

My thoughts aren’t my own, I don’t even know if I think at all. Most of the times I am just vacant, totally hollow from inside. I’m lost like a child in a jungle of modernity and hunger. I walk alone in restless dreams. All I want is some anarchy, some deep rooted anarchy. I’m craving for anarchy in my life, in my world.

In the words of the ancients,

Ύβρις είναι μοιραίο λάθος μου και η ζωή είναι η καταστροφή μου.

“Hubris is my fatal flaw and Life is my Ate”

 

 

I will lay me down for you!

When you’re weary, feelin’ small
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all
I’m on your side, oh, when times get rough, and friends just can’t be found

Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down

When you’re down and out, when you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you
I’ll take your part, oh when darkness comes, and pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind

Sail on silver girl, sail on by
Your time has come to shine, and all your dreams will run their way
See how they shine, oh, if you need a friend, I’m sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind

The Tale Of The Freebird

I stood mooring on a cliff,

Staring vacantly at the chasms blue.

My wings were quite weary,

Flying through a storm or two.

 

I tapped my feet on the rock,

Quite unsure of my flow.

But I had seen the others,

Quite dainty right below.

 

I spread my wings and saw,

A feather ruffled or two.

I tapped my feet again,

Unsure of what to do.

 

A slight chill in the air,

The gale my ugly foe.

It understood quite well,

My intentions to go below.

 

A fear started in my heart,

And it slowly grew.

If ever my wings could take flight,

Was not something I knew.

 

Then I felt a warm presence,

A beautiful radiance in slight.

She asked what I was doing,

Why I wasn’t in flight?

 

I showed her my ruffled feathers,

Told her of my fears.

She opened up her wings,

There were holes made by spears.

 

Yet when she flew,

What a magnificent sight.

She came around a sharp turn,

And sneaked up on my right.

 

She gave a mighty push,

I shot clear of the cliff.

Save me, save me I cried,

From my trembling lips.

 

She said let your wings out,

Embrace the world below.

I looked down and saw,

I was flying quite low.

 

I flapped my wings, flapped them harder,

I found that I could fly.

My joy was quite unbound,

That I shot up straight so high.

 

I caught up with the Freebird,

Asked her of her tale.

Regardless of the matter,

With her in love I fell.

The Brick House Diner

After wandering about on the tracks of an isolated train station in the heart of Delhi for about 2 hours, Hunger dug its vengeful claws into my empty stomach. I was dying for a cold drink and some relaxing food. Barnita suggested we head to Satya Niketan and try out the newly opened ‘The Brick House Diner’.

The first thing you notice as you enter is the amazingly cute red décor with the cabins done in the same way. Red Vinyl sofas and chairs, and the only other red thing, the ketchup bottles. No other condiments get in the way.

You get the whole diner she-bang: sandwiches, milk shakes, hot-dogs, burgers, fries and pastas. The menu focuses on a lot of breakfast options but somehow the paranthas don’t really drive home with the theme of the place and without the paranthas the only option left was the Ultimate Stack.

We ordered an Edible Iced Tea (Rs. 85), which is their new innovation, consisting of Jell-O shots in a base of Iced Tea.

The iced tea tasted very natural, not like the synthetic Monin syrup ones and the Lychee flavored Jell-O shots added a little extra zing and fun to the drink.

The Chicken Nuggets (Rs. 80) were nothing out of the ordinary but the Sweet Chili Garlic Sauce that was served with it was very tasty. Bhuvnesh, the owner helped us out while placing the order and was friendly and gave the place a very comfy informal feeling which is good when you’ve had a tiring day.

He specially combined the Sauce from the African Peri-Peri Chicken and made us a special Peri-Peri Chicken Pasta (Rs. 200) with actual chunks of the steak. It was fiery and yet smooth, but it somehow lacked a zing that usually drives the taste home. Maybe a little more sharpness would have helped.

The Ultimate stack (Rs. 150) came with an Omelet, a Pancake and two Sausages which was a shortfall from the two pancakes written in the menu. Bhuvnesh was quick to notice the mistake and gave us another Ultimate Stack on the house which added a nice touch. The pancakes were golden brown as expected and very soft. A dash of maple syrup and they tasted like heaven in your mouth. The sausages were well done but I don’t think it was made by them, the omelet was very good with the cheese in it and the extra portion of Bacon (Rs. 40) I added was lean and absolutely well done, 10/10 for the bacon.

Somehow we still had place for some more and were searching through the menu. Barnita mentioned Burgers and Bhuvnesh told us that it was their speciality, so we decided to try out the Burgers as well. Being an absolute Bacon-freak I just had to order the Baconnator (Rs. 150) while Barnita ordered the Chicken Grilled Teriyaki Burger (Rs. 100).

A bite into the Baconnator and the different combination of flavors just exploded in my mouth. The crunch of the crispy fried Bacon, the sweet taste of the caramelized Onions, a layer of abundant cheese and the absolutely juicy lamb patty with just a hint of pepper. I’ve had a lot of burgers; I seriously mean a lot and none of them played around with my taste buds like the Baconnator did. The Chicken Teriyaki Burger also did not fail to surprise, the zing of actual Japanese teriyaki was omnipresent throughout the Burger and yet again the patty was soft, juicy and absolutely lovable.

The only dish that actually left us wanting for more was the Peri-Peri Pasta, except that it was an absolutely joyous experience. The ambience was lovely; the Food was a serious touch of class and the 10/10 for the owner, Bhuvnesh.

I’d give it a 4.5/5 and would surely love to come here again. This tiny little diner has a clearly paved way ahead; it is going to do wonders. Bhuvnesh, if you’re reading this, keep the Bacon ready.

Distances

Distances have acted as bonding reagents and have made relationships fall apart. They act both as a curse and a cure.

People often talk about maintaining distance, private space and other foolhardy things. And so to speak they are significant words but they have no effect on day to day life.

If I love someone I do not give a damn about their so called personal space. I will not let you mope and leave you alone. Not now, not ever. I will poke you and poke you and either find out the problem or take a good hiding from you.

<Fade Screen>

<Enter love of my life>

Now she is one person who always gets my hands full at all times. I always used to be the cool headed person around with the most logic solutions. And all of you should look at how hard I’ve to work with her. No. It is in no way a complain. Not per say that I have to work at things with her. No. I love the way she looks at things. I love the way she sets her mind on one thing and goes to no end to see it done. I love the way she managed to turn the pessimistic; I’ve known myself to be all my life; into a blind optimist. I love the way she corrects me when I’m wrong. The most amazing she does is love me and take care of me no matter how many shortfalls I may have in life.

I shout at her, I scream at her, I have hurt her in many ways but no matter what she is almost the only person in the entire world who can control my anger or simply make it vanish in a minute.

Love,

I don’t care about the distance that may seprate us. I know not what the future stores for us. I’ve earned your trust, I hope I have, and I want to have the comfort of blindly trusting you for the rest of my life.

I know I’m not the most perfect person in the world, I don’t think I even come close to that. I have major issues and I know it is only you who understands every single detail of my life.

Distance never separates two hearts that really care, for our memories span the miles and in seconds we are there. But whenever I start feeling sad, because I miss you, I remind myself how lucky I am to have someone so special to miss.

I’m so damn lucky that I have you in my life to take care of me, now, forever and ever more.

Never think that I’ll be leave you, never ever worry about that. This bond we have is much deeper and more meaningful than anyone except us can understand. I owe a lot to you. You have changed me for the better in more ways than I count. And I deeply believe that with you by my side I have a pretty awesome shot at perfection.

People say that behind every successful man there’s a woman. People are idiots. I’d rather have you by my side. :*

What am I doing in Life?

My mom called me a 19 year old kid today, which no doubt I am, but somehow it made me wonder. Am I still a kid? Or is 19 supposed to be grown up?

I sure behave like a grown up. Most of the times atleast.

I’m expected to take responsibilities. I do take them. I’m careless but not by choice, I just tend to forget things sometimes.

I can’t prioritize my list of people or things that I must do. I’m never on time for anything. I mix almost everything up.

I sometimes want to take to the streets. Hum out a song in the silence of deep slumber. I want to do many impossible things. Accomplish many dreams that are mostly foolhardy.

Have I become fake? Have I become another mutation in the cogwork of this great worldly machinery? Who am I?

What is my ailment?

Is this a condition? A dilemna? A disease?

The Self-Titled Photography Syndrome

With the advancement of cellular technology and the mobile camera megapixel race, the odd camera phone has eaten its way through the wallet into our precious behinds. And it is indeed a pain in the ass. And the phone leading the charge is Apple’s iPhone.

Earlier the Juvenile “Photographer” (That’s a polite synonym for Noob, Lame, Hopeless) atleast needed a decent enough point and shoot to be able to boast about his pictures however horrible they may be. Now we get to see blurry, noisy pictures uploaded on websites and now as the trend catches on, even on Facebook and Flickr.

Buying a DSLR and clicking pictures on Auto Mode doesn’t make you a Photographer. All it does is make you a very crappy snapster. And then either you crap or snap, not both.

Anindo Basu, a friend of mine who completed studying photography from the National Photography Academy, Kolkata has the following to say, “I have been trying so hard to overlook it, but cant. The cut in the price of digital camera made every other person a photographer. My say is; It’s good to take pictures of the gala time u had with your friends, but please don’t start bragging about yourself as a photographer then on!”

While Rahul Lal, one of the prominent Concert Photographers of Delhi says ” It’s all BULLSHIT! That’s what i think of all the people opening up self-titled photography pages. If tomorrow you buy a stethoscope, doesn’t mean u become a doctor and open a clinic. Everyone just gets a camera and thinks they are a photographer and they should earn in millions! Complete and utter bullshit!”

Learning about Megapixels or ISO or even knowing the full form of DSLR doesn’t even remotely make you a photographer. It just makes you a camera enthusiast. There is a huge gap between being a camera owner and a photographer.

I don’t understand one thing the most. Canvases, Acrylic Paint and Paintbrushes are even cheaper than cameras. Why don’t all of you buy those and become artists? Its takes guts and skill to paint, as it is an art form, right? Well then I have news for you. Even Photography is an art form. And you can only fool yourself for a very short time by pretending that your photography is art.

In Linchpin, Godin says:

“Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. An artist is an individual who creates art. The more people you change, the more you change them, the more effective your art is.”

 

It’s not a crime at all to learn about Photography. Everybody is an amateur at some point of time, but the thing that separates Photographers from Camera Owners is that they don’t boast. No photographer opens up a photography page on facebook or tags everyone in their pictures the day they buy their first camera.

I handled my first SLR way back in 2003 in the jungles of Jim Corbett National Park. I never thought until last year that my photography could get me acclaim and I could pursue it as a profession. I knew a lot about it. I kept reading and reading and reading. Ansel Adams, Daguerette, Henry Cartier Bresson, Chris Walter and so on. I could at their pictures with starry eyes and a wish in my heart. That maybe I could click like them. I don’t know if that would be possible or not but I am trying.

That’s how most photographers come to be. Every Photographer has a story like that behind him. No good photographer will ever tell you “Ohh I decided to buy a camera and then I became a photographer”, simply because the eye for photography is a god given gift. Some people are born with it, and no matter how hard you try you can’t acquire it even with years of fumbling around with cameras.

Processing a horribly taken picture and adding a million effects to it only shows how shallow you are. If you can indeed click Photographs and not Snaps then your pictures will speak for themselves. Processing to that degree is frowned upon in the photography circuit. More and more Camera Owners are taking away jobs and work from Stock and Art Photographers. They go for family vacations set a camera on auto and click away. And then one day they decide to upload them on a website. Now due to the DSLR and the DSLR alone, the images somehow come out good. Companies looking for stock end up buying these images for cheap and ruining the stock photography industry.

Even in the field of photojournalism there are so many so called photojournalists who just shoot in auto mode and submit their pictures to the magazines and get paid. There is no real need for actual photographers anymore.

Even point and shoot owners click pictures of a girl dressed up and call it fashion photography having no idea what is the deal about fashion photography or know anything about lighting or the camera. It’s all a bloody sham and disgrace to every notable photography legend and every living photographer worth his work.

So it’s a noble request to you all, the unworthy camera owners, be humble, click for fun, don’t try to become famous in a month with your Juvenile photography which even my 10 year old brother can better. Atleast he knows a thing or two about the camera.

There are a lot of things I bet you don’t know about photography or even about your camera. I wish the camera guides came with a Statutory Warning “This camera or the images produced by it does not make you a Photographer.” But I guess that it would be bad for business. At the ending I would very meekly try to define what according to me a Photographer is. And I will follow it with a questionnaire which will help in pointing out to you how it is or what it is in that you’re lacking.

“A photographer plays with light in an educated manner. He has proper knowledge of what he is doing and he knows how a small change in the settings would affect the picture. He should be able to see daily life in the form of still images stitched together. He should be able to love the camera as his worthy equal. And most importantly he should be humble, confident and very artistic. Whilst a camera owner is just a tourist with a good camera. “

 

“Learn the difference between a Picture and a Photograph. A Photographer knows WHY but a camera owner does not.”

The Rape Of The Capital

8^th March is celebrated as International Women’s Day. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women’s economic, political and social achievements.

A woman’s essence lies in her innate ability to care, love and sacrifice for the other. She plays an all-enveloping character of a mother, daughter, wife and sister as a friend, nurturer, guide and partner from time to time. Emotional and vulnerable, sometimes erratic, sometimes serene, she displays a wonderful range of emotions from being patient to being extremely courageous in times of crisis.

Tormented and subjugated throughout all times and ages, women have fought their way through exploitation, harassment, and have managed to secure their rights in the public domain. In spite of continuing exploitation and injustice against women both in the domestic and work sector today, several milestones have been achieved in terms of education, freedom of choice and liberty, equality etc. With growing literacy and financial independence women feel more empowered today to assert their right to a life of dignity and self worth.

The International Women’s Day celebrated on 8th March is a universal day for all women around the world. It endows them with a sense of honour, dignity and self respect for being the person that they are. This day marks a celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political achievements made by women over the years.

Yet the plight of Women continues in a Global City like Delhi. Women are raped, murdered and thrown on sidewalks in body bags. And the public blames the police and the judiciary system, but I see a different truth through my eyes.

It is not the Police or The Judiciary System that rapes and tortures Women. The perpetrators of such acts are people who are often counted as the public who blames the Police and the Law and escapes scot free.

Implementing more task forces or other law enforcements would not guarantee the safety of women. Neither would restricting the freedom of Women. They have every right to live their lives as freely as any man would. She should have the right to have a walk at night and feel safe. The constant worry of harassment, rape and such should not keep worrying her at all times.

The male mind needs to be blamed for most of the uncomfortable situations a Woman finds herself in. Constant ogling, passing lewd comments, touching her body parts at any given chance are all signs of how the men are faltering and falling to the level of dogs.

What most men who initiate such acts never fail to realise is that the same can happen to their Mothers, Sisters and Daughters. The culprit today can become the victim tomorrow. Such horror mongers are often motivated by the silence of Women. When women choose to ignore such Animalistic acts they become contributors to the crime. They are to be even blamed.

It is understandable that you feel threatened to take any action in situations of eve teasing but never stray from calling on the public or the men who care about you. These mongrels need to be treated like the scum they are and be blown off from below the gutters of the society.

WE NEED CHANGE. WE NEED IT NOW. MEN AND WOMEN NEED TO ACT TOGETHER. THE SOCIETY NEEDS TO CHANGE. THESE ACTS AFFECT MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE. DON’T BE A MUTE SPECTATOR. SPEAK UP. BE THE CHANGE.

Here Anshul Tewari provides safety tips for Men and Women alike.