Its Time for Change

Its been couple of days since Pakistan is violating ceasefire along the International Border in the state of J&K. Although ceasefire violation by Pak is a normal routine, this time the situation has intensified. This is because Pak is targeting the civilian population this time. A lot of people have lost their family members, their houses are damaged by the Pak bomb shelling, and their cattles (on whom their life depends) have been killed by the Pak firing.

The present situation is that Pak is firing along 150 villages and 70 BSF posts. People are migrating from these tense areas to the rehabilitation centres at safer places. At some places, a virtual war like situation has prevailed, in fact the situation this time is even worse than the war times. Various people died and a lot more have been injured till now. There has been a massive destruction of houses and other structures in the border villages.

Its really commendable that Indian Army is retaliating with full force. And this is happening for the very first time in the past 10 years. But what makes me tense is the situation is still intensifying. The retaliation is not solving the purpose, people are dying, they are losing and that's too in both the countries. Pakistan is just increasing the level of its shameless acts. So I can clearly say that its not the right solution.

I just read today two women of same family died in a village during the shelling. But the worst thing is that they cant be cremated now because all their family members are injured and admitted to the hospital. Besides this news, I read a statement made by our PM Narendra Modi that "Everything will be fine soon." Although I admire him a lot and I know he can't change the mindset of Pak Army but I really want to ask..."Is it so?" Is it possible that everything will be fine. Maybe it'll for the rest of the world but what about the people who have lost their family members, their sources of income (cattles) and their houses - what they have lost is lost forever. The loss can never be amended.

No matter how much relief material the Government will provide, their life is effected to a greater extent. Wars always does this harm. Wars always let people suffer and these people have witnessed many. The memories of 1971 and 1999 Kargil War is still fresh in their memories as they had lost their homes even then too. People of these villages have suffered even at that time. They've just started to explore their lives again but now this.

So I just wanted to ask both the countries why and until when they'll be like this. Its the time that both should understand that Wars can only destroy them. It will not give anything except bitter memories. And in fact, we can't even let go of this issue. We have to solve it with mutual understanding but have to do that once and for all. If they still have some doubt in their mind, they should ask their respective Army how much they're gaining from all of this. And I hope they'll understand that they're gaining nothing but losing everything.

Fighting with myself

A scene at home feeling sad and fighting with myself:

Me (getting anxious): "Its been more than 36hrs since I have talked to him. I cant live like this anymore."
Inner voice: "Stop this non-sense and focus on your task. You have to do this to be strong and fight for him."

Me: "But I can talk to him once."
Inner voice: "No stupid. You have to fight first, you have to talk to your parents and get an answer for him. Only then you should talk to him."

Me (looking at my cousin and thinking): "OK. BUT what is she doing here since day before yesterday? She should have come here few days earlier or few days later. Why she had chosen this time? Otherwise I would be having a discussion right now."
Inner voice: "Not again stupid! You have an exam tomorrow morning. Doesn't matter she is here or not, you should be studying right now."

Me (making faces) switching on my laptop, trying to search what I need to study at this moment. As usual, first of all opening my emails and thinking of him.
Me: "I can at least ping him to ask how is he doing and tell him that I miss him."
Inner voice: "Just shut up now. You're giving me a headache. Focus on your exam and study you fool."

Me (again making faces) reading few topics for my exams and listening to songs to focus myself.
Cousin: "Hey di, what are u doing? What are you studying?"
Me (thinking): "Doesn't matter she is here, I have to study, I can't talk about him at present."
Me (talking to her): "I have an exam tomorrow morning, so I am preparing for that and side-by-side listening to songs on Youtube."

She (looking in my books): "What is this? What is it related to?"
Me: Its Aptitude and I am studying few new shortcuts to ease my calculations in the exam."

Inner voice: "Explain her fast and get yourself indulge in the studies. You don't have much time."
Me (thinking): "I hope I could have talked to him, I would have felt better and energized for the exam."

She: "What is your syllabus? What you have to study for your exam?"
Me: "Dear, the syllabus is easy but its level is high which makes it difficult. I have five sections, 200 questions and 120 minutes. This is an another factor that creates difficulty."

She: "OK, I can understand. You carry on and All the Best."
Me (smiling at her and thinking): "May be I could have said him to wish me luck as that matters for me the most."

Me again reading the topic I was reading and searching for few more topics to read. But still somewhere waiting to talk to him.

Me (thinking): "How I am gonna talk about him? What will I say to Mom? Is there any hope?"
***Sighs***
Me (thinking): "So I should be readying my weapons for the war as I am gonna have a fight for him on Monday if my cousin would have gone by then. By the way, How will I start?"
Inner voice: "Jerk, stop this otherwise you'll loose this chance. You know this is a very important exam as it will let you be in Jammu and you can be with him. So if you really love him and want to be with him, focus on your exam today and after that give your best."

Me: Its true, if I really love him I have to do something except thinking. I have to give my best to both my Career and my Relation. I have to fight for him and its better to make other things clear before I start that war. So I should give my 100 percent for the exam now and then 100 percent for the fight. I know its gonna be tough but I cant live without him and the proof is in front of me right at this moment. And thus if I really want to live I have to fight and I will do it. And I have to do that as early as possible cos even he would have been missing me; even he would have gone mad by now.

In the afternoon:
Me: So everything is decided, now I just have to make it practical. Oh God Please help me.

Finally focusing on my syllabus with a determined mind. Lets see what I'll do and how much I'll succeed. Wish me LUCK!!

On Special Request

Hi Friends,
Just like my previous blogs, this one is also about someone I know. Actually I am writing this one on a special request by someone. Hope you all have fun reading it. :)
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It was 2nd of January 2012 and two new joinees were about to join our team in Innodata. We all were excited because our team was expanding from 8 people to 10. Obviously, it was a good sign; it meant that we were doing our job properly. Well, both of them reached on time. We all met them; their names sounds lil bit similar to me (I don't know about others). In fact, earlier, I thought they both knew each other before joining us. Although, later I came to know that it was not true. ;)

Our TL gave them an overview of the Tasks they were gonna face during their tenure with us. He decided that first of all we will teach them QA tasks. At that time, I also used to deal with the QA tasks. So, our TL decided that I will explain them one of the Tasks I was assigned to. I agreed and started teaching them. That was my first one-to-one interaction with both of them. During this, I observed that one of them was quite friendly. Being interactive, he was clarifying his doubts by asking various questions. On the other hand, the other one was quite and calm. I was confused whether he really understood everything or actually nothing. He did not asked a single question and said he understood everything. Later that day, my TL asked me about their review and being friendly I told him all this clearly.

To my surprise, both of them learned the work very fast. Although they used to have few doubts; but still their progress was good. And I came to know that the 'other one' has actually understood all the facts which showed that he was a quick learner and had a sharp mind. In my words, his mind had the same level as of mine in terms of work. Rest, I still didn't knew.

I must mention here that I love to read people; I observe people and try to find out about them. In his case, even after minute observation I was not able to find much about him. He used to keep quite and don't get much involved. I knew about his mind level but rest was still not sure. Either he was shy or he was a keen observer; I still had to find out.

I remember correctly that my first proper interaction with him was in the Office Shuttle. It was a normal chit-chat; I asked him most of the questions like from where did he belong, what has he done as graduation, etc. I came to know that he was a B.Tech and joined our team to start up his career. After that interaction, he started opening up a little bit. This proved that he was a bit reserved-type and take time to open up. Later on I also find out that he used to observe too but he kept most of his observations secret. He don't discuss everything; may be he don't trust much.

Due to his quietness and un-involvement with us, we doubted him to be a case like Ranjay. We were frightened of this fact. And this led my TL to focus on him to make him friendly at least with him. He started talking to him a lot; asking him lots of questions. Finally one day, he said to me that he was not a case like Ranjay. He was different from Ranjay; he gets involved with the world and he had a girlfriend too. This was really a relief for all of us ;)

He took time but he got involved with all of us too. He started discussing topics other than work at least topics related to the sarcasm of our PM :P He was a nice person. After few months, we started having lunch together. I came to know that he was a fun-loving guy and don't take work very seriously. He used to keep himself calm and light on work. He also discussed his future plans with me. Slowly and steadily, he started discussing about his friends and his life events. He became a good friend thereafter. 

I have spent only few months with him. I wish we could have spend more time together but whatever amount of time we had that was wonderful. From all that time, I must say he is a lovely person. He is a lovely companion. He is calm, focused, prepared, reserved, passionate, fun-loving, determined. He has done a lot of planning for his future and is putting his 100 percent into it. I wish him Good Luck for his venture. Hope we'll be able to meet again :)

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I know its been a long time since you requested me for this blog, so sorry for the delay. I have tried my best to collect all the lovely memories and put them together over here. I hope u liked it. As I said that I have spent only few days of my life with you, plus you are a reserved person; I think may be something was still pending for me to explore about you. I hope I am not correct because if it is true then there will be just one word for you....that you have a profound/deep personality. :)