We were a small bunch of close friends in college and we used to hang out all the time… When you know somebody for so long you just have this unseen bond, their happiness becomes yours too

I just cant stop smiling… If you happen to meet me today you might notice that my smile is a little longer

Ps: The title is a quote from F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Obviously its apt but it seems so much more apt considering the show its from

I have this amazing ability to give the right gift to the wrong person as well. I have given a gift to person A when person B would have loved it a million times more. Its only when you mention B what you gave A that the expression on B’s face would have told you, ‘that gift has the wrong address on it.’

Giving gifts has become so much of a nightmare lately that I have slowly begun to feel that just chipping in for a gift is a much better idea rather than making that effort to go get something

Ironically I have loved every gift I have ever got, maybe its got to do more with me just loving surprises. Hell even when I know I am getting something I can get really excited if I did not have an idea before hand what I was getting. This is one of the reasons I dont like telling people what I like to get… Of course a keen eye can easily figure out the things I fancy

So what is all this talk about gifts. Yeah its got to do with my birthday. I totally loved the gift I got but its not regarding that. Over the past week a friend of mine was pestering me to know what I wanted as a gift. She wanted a list of things I wanted so that she could pick one and get me. Considering I like surprises I wasnt too excited with the offer…

Anyway looks like I have already had my fair share of surprises this year so I ain’t exactly complaining about anything

I look around me and wonder what I should be doing, no not in the thought that I have nothing to do right now but more with the outlook that a year back I was in this same place, so what has changed? Ironically I remember very well what I did that day. So well infact that its what is adding to the current restlessness.

An year ago I was here, the very same place but I was doing something that I knew would justify my 23 years on this planet. There was a sense of hurry and anticipation that was around it… Frankly just the act was enough to make the day special, it only happened to be astronomically related to the day I was born.

An year gone in a flash(or two) and I am left wondering, what have I done since that day… The scary part is I know the answer… I have learnt and experienced new things, but not necessarily become a better person. A year back I knew what I wanted to do, I am not so sure anymore… actually I think its more like I am scared of being so sure.

An year on and I have almost lost my priced ability… to change. I find it harder to do that than ever before but its just a phase… I know it will pass.

An year on… I have more friends and well wishers than I possibly ever had in my life. Maybe a few of them even love me. I know one thing for sure, I have learnt to recognize people I love(the best thing that has happened to me this year).

An year on… and I have lost sight of a few responsibilities… Ones I am working now to fix.
An year on… and I have lost a few more hobbies… diverted from the ones I love.

On the lighter side… An year on… and I have been smitten by more girls than I have in years I have given and gotten more hugs this year that ever before

…

There is an old saying that the only thing that you can do about the past is learn from it. Well so much for 23… The year I believed that my life would change… It did, but not as much as I expected it to. Then again its too early to judge.

Bring it on… 24!

I know its very hard to imagine who I would have been if I hadn’t been influenced to enter the blogging world… I guess such introspection is basically a waste of time but what I should be asking myself is “why I started blogging?” and “Does it still serve the purpose I started it for?” The answer to that is for me to contemplate and (re)discover. But what I can reveal is that the reasons and inspiration has changed over time… many many times over.

I was wondering how the three year younger me would view me. Ironically I think I would have considered the current myself very cool… The fun part is I honestly think the three year younger me was much more cooler than me right now. Again its the age that has distorted the understanding of the word ‘cool’. Coolness I think is a perspective, I have met people(online and offline) who have after a short interaction have started looking up to me(yeah I did enquire if they have been smoking something) and others who probably hate me. Oddly I write for neither… There is a very selfish reason for the existence of this blog and I can honestly never deny that.

At times in these 1000+ days(yeah its been that long) of blogging I have wondered if I have been honest. I know its very easy to project a very different image of yourself online. I always asked myself if someone who has never met me but has only known me thru this medium would have a decent idea of who I am. People who meet me regularly and read my blog are probably the only ones that would know the answer to that question.

A friend had once told me that she understood who I was just based on my short stories. She told me that they were far more clearer version of my ideas than my blog. Yet in the past year I have written only one story (its a different thing that its probably the most important thing I have ever penned… ok second most important )

Of these three years, I believe my second year of blogging was the best so far. This year has been one of lot more confusion and the lack of clarity makes it very stressful To be honest the first year was the one in which the ideas were flowing, the second was more of speaking about important ideas and letting the common ones take a back seat. This year so far has been an effort to perform CPR on this space and keep it alive.

Well the good thing about change is that its the way of life. who knows what this forth year of blogging will get me… if I will be able to keep my self motivated for another anniversary… Only time can tell

Thanks to all the amazing people that made my day Thanks for all the hugs and wishes guys… Its alright for the rest if you forgot or did not want to wish me(i know someone is there out there ). I just want to tell all you wonderful people that its your company that makes everyday worth living and loving

My birthday happens to fall at a very convenient time… Almost bang on the middle of the year Its like a new year all over again but it gives me the perfect place to check and see what I have done/wanted to do this year… I have finished a lot that I wanted from this year already and done a lot I did not expect myself to do, of course there is still a whole bunch of stuff pending well have 6 more months for them

If you have known me for a while or have been reading this journal(for a while too ) you would know that I have this awesome fascination towards prime numbers I was thinking about all the important events in my life so far and realized that I could trace every event’s origin back to when I was 19… Interestingly that was the last prime birthday I had before the current one(I am 23 btw) So no wonder I am feeling extremely lucky about this year I have a whole bunch of plans about revamping my outlook and to try new things… Lets see how well they pan out

Thanks again guys… So here is to another trip around the sun

Today was dad’s birthday and sis was back early from work with the cake and all thats required to make a small party. She had not informed about this(considering we hv been doing it every year now I should hv known better ). Totally reminded me of last year.

That was my 3rd cake today after 2 in the office… One for Sidharth and Vidya and another, thanks to Sid’s Mom and Dad .

I just came to know that an old friend has moved back to bangalore and that made me so happy . I cant wait to meet her again.

Btw, Just watching the inagural match of the World Cup. Im supporting England and Germany but would bet my money on Brazil to win it.

Latest Score: Germany 2-1 Costa Rica. The 3 goals all during the first 17 mins… man this is crazy

PS: Happy Birthday to Sidharth and Vidya(tmrw)

UPDATE: Germany wins 4-2 over Costa Rica, Yaay! That Frings goal was simply amazing… contender for goal of the tournament (already! yep already)

Today was Mom’s birthday and we had this cool thing planned for the evening. Dad and I went and picked up a delicious cake and flowers(mom simply adores flowers) and we had a nice little family dinner planned.

I am not the bouquet kind and prefer to pick up the most beautiful flower I can find and giving that(actually this works out cheaper). Dad wanted a bouquet and so I picked this one… mom was so happy . We ended up eating the cake after dinner and just could eat a small piece each…

I remember last year… how I balanced a bunch of flowers all the way from Jayanagar to home (maybe Swetha remembers ) and not to mention the cake too .

Happy Birthday Mom…. Love ya

Location: Kanteerva Stadium
Time: 11:15 Am
Status: Abuzz with excitement

I arrived at the stadium 15 mins late… partly thanks to the traffic, well its hard to get angry when so many ppl carry our tricolour on their transports. Firstly it was a huge task to get parking. 10 mins and a round of the spectacular stadium I found a nice place to make my two wheeler rest for the afternoon.

It was then I noticed the exodus that was the crowd . It was a pleasant surprise at the very least… hundreds of thousands of people marching in a queue in perfect synchronization. Well it was not perfect but I just cant complain .

I joined in and the walk was a spectacular experience. The screams of “Vande Matharam” and “Jai Hind” were echoing the streets this day.

Hundreds of Army personnel were there to direct the traffic to facilitate in a smooth walk. This walk was to honor them. The charity promised one prosthetic limb for every 25 walkers.

The walk took us from Kanteerva Stadium in front Mally Hospital to Richmond circle then thru Residency road to an alley which led us a full circle back to the Richmond circle flyover and then back to Kanteerva Stadium. 1 hr and 25 min approx and all the ppl then headed to the lush green field of the stadium to rest.

It was a spectacular feeling to be a part of such an event. If you hv never been a part of such an event… try it once it rejuvenates you.

Lastly but not least… Happy Birthday India Love ya.