Who's the Grumpiest of them All?

Mirror, mirror, on the wall; 

Who’s the grumpiest of them all? 

If it’s me, then hear me pray, 

Do not keep the assessment test today! 



And if it is the corporate you see; 

In your depths of grumpy mystery, 

Just remind them of their career goals, 

And do not make them intern-haunting assholes. 



But if it is Anuraag you are claiming; 

His grumpiness is centered around ONM training! 

So just remind him of his GF back home, 

That he can then chuck his internship notes over the B-dome. 



It might be Syal, you might say; 

Him and his troubles, of not being gay. 

To him I have no words of praise or rot, 

Coz the one straight gf is all I got. 



To Ojas, you might turn your attention to; 

Hez never grumpy, though you might expect him to. 

Hez alwez in some or the other gym; 

You’d expect a stench even in the mails sent by him. 



Kosa, o mirror, is one of the worst; 

To hear him talk abt anything apart from anime is a first. 

Hez grumpy abt the project, the people and all; 

Has to handle Kolkata and the Rest of Bengal. 



And mirror, I know you cant check on KRK ob; 

Hez never there, yet hez the one who gets the job. 

I think his corporate project work is nil, 

Yet the dude is never in office, alwez seems to be ill. 



Ashish and Sabin, are two of a kind; 

Though as ghazi and mallu, they are of different mind. 

What with puzzles, and CAT, and Preeti, between them; 

It is a mystery how they have survived an entire sem! 



And mirror, o mirror, what about Rajiv, in Hyd? 

The perennial silent, and the reporter, of the tide. 

And Varun, in Pune, seems to know all; 

He knows, secretly, that in the test he ll stand tall. 



And what, I ask, of Shubham Banerjee; 

Without two front teeth, you can hardly expect glee. 

Though in Blore for a year, hez raided a few bars, 

With is daily Good Morning mails, you wouldn’t guess this guy saw black and blue stars! 



But the grumpiest of them all, I think is Nihar Sreeramshetty, 

The bloke shares a room with Gowda, whoz a tharkee to the t! 

But 6 months, of silent suffering; 

Might have turned Nihar into a God-Fearing human being. 



All in all, this was IDEA Cellular, 

My home away from home, for half a year, 

And if not for you guys, my days would have been spent, 

In Indore bars prolly, rubbing my own eyes with some ointment. 



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: TO ALL MY PS MATES, MENTIONED AND UNMENTIONED IN THE POEM, THANKS FOR A ROCKING TIME! JUST BCOS I DINT MENTION SAHITHYA, ANKEET, SAYANI….DONT FEEL BAD! MEANS EITHER U DON’T SEND MANY MAILS, OR ARE NORMAL!!!! :D 



P.S I KNOW LAST STANZA IS LAME. DEAL WITH IT! 

Invictus

Just came across this short poem, while looking for the film description with the same name. I had already head a lot about this poem, but never really looked it up.

'Invictus' was written by William Earnest Henley in 1875.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Awe-Inspiring.

When Two Worlds Collide

Inspired by Apocalyptica's Somewhere Around Nothing video, this was just something I penned down to put myself out of boredom.

A lone violin haunts the night,
A night of prayer, a night of lies.
My hand caressing the harvest
Untouched by yesterday's fires.

As I walk by the fieldline,
The violin fades out into the darkness.
The velvet horizon beckons me yonder
Into it's boundless mystery.

I see a shed in the distance,
The world around hued in greys and greens.
A flicker, of light, of hope
Pushes me to trudge along in it's wake.

As I turn a curve, suddenly,
A choir of cellos roars into the air,
The leaves around tremble, in fright
Or expectation, to Hell's symphony.

The pitch rising higher, as I close in,
In perfect harmony, with growing depth.
I wade faster, through the woods
Towards that lonely shed.

I see a vintage Mustang, parked behind,
And a cross on the door, a gong in the chimney.
The haunting music reaches it's peak
As I head towards the door.

I am not afraid, to be out alone,
Nor am I afraid, of this lonely shed.
I know that the answers to yesterday's madness
Are beyond this red door.

I touch the handle, the music stops,
Suddenly the night is still,
As if willing me to open it
The key to my search, and my pain.

Left Behind

All of a sudden, the wind feels so cold
My heart starts beating harder,
Turning back, as I watch you go
The memories remain, my breath stops short.

For all the whispers of sweet nothings
And the shy smiles you couldn't hide,
For all the promises of everlong
In this dark alley, alone, I remain.

Where did the ride stop thrilling you?
When did the lies take over?
How was it that you took so long
And decide to leave me behind?

In this dusk, the shadows engulf me
My pulse starts racing, in fear,
Of loneliness, and betrayal
The injustice of it all, my vision clouded.

For all the miles you promised to walk
Beside me, on this journey,
For all the stars you deciphered
You couldn't read these black wings of Fate.

Where did the path stop inspiring you?
When did the smiles turn fake?
How was it that it that you took so long
And decide to leave me behind?

-Varun

The Path of the Seeker

Through the mists of time, towers his shadow,
As the stench of the myths settle, he looms through the haze.
As he passes by, our broken spirits bow deep,
Those among us looking for a way out of this maze.
The defeated rise out from the depths of hell,
To wash their sins away, and say a silent prayer.
The fallen dust their sleeves, to relive their past,
His eyes pierce through the gloom, they're the eyes of a Seeker.

The flame he lights, chases the dark from us,
The path he follows is barren, but we follow him still.
His passion is dark, and yet we cling to it with broken fingers,
The secrets of his past, will lead him beyond the hills.
Silent as the night the army marches on, in his wake,
As his cloak rustles on, among the graves of our brethen.
His vision is blurred, yet his step is firm,
His mind unwavering, he strides along the path of the Seeker.

We know not what he sees, or what he is looking for,
But we know he will lead us, and we are prepared to follow.
To the ends of the earth, if that is what it will take,
To redeem our pride, and rebuild our egoes.
The horizon spreads endless, as the sun glows through,
Our sights are lifted, by the sight of our redemption.
As our souls revive themselves, he waits for us,
For the journey, is not yet over for the Seeker.

With verve on our lips, and strength in our hearts,
We climb the final barrier, and face the endless plains.
The sun bright behind us, the dust settling down,
Our sins have been cleansed, our hands are now steady.
Vigour back in our steps, we wait for his command,
And his cold smile, which has so inspired us.
For he has found his answers, beyond that silent hill,
The deeds left to be done, are waiting for the Seeker.

-Varun

The Dusk of the Ambitious

I remember
There was a time when he played the hardest.
I remember
Him working on through the night, as everybody slept.
I remember
His ever-alert eyes, looking for the next chance to prove himself.
I remember
His never-say-die attitude, even after he stumbled.

Day after night, he dreamt of glory,
The greatest victory, the perfect win.
Covering all corners, always hungry for more,
Give him an inch, and he would take the whole mile.
Never gave a damn about criticism,
Made it a point to come back stronger.
Every bout he fought, every round he lost,
Steeled his grit further, hardened his desire.

I remember
The fire that drove him on, even if if it burnt him.
I remember
His desire to win every battle, even if he took more blows.
I remember
The glint in his eyes, and the clarity in his vision.
I remember
His amazing determination, and yet his unparalleled modesty.

A long time has passed, since then,
And yet his passion drives him still, forever more.
His muscles worn out, his hands unsteady,
Yet the same razor focus, and the very same grit.
The aims he had set, he kept raising,
We didn't know his final destination.
Probably, neither did he, but it didn't matter anymore,
When the curtains fall, I'm sure, he'll be smiling.

-Varun

Dronos versus the DUNCE

(The following is a work of fiction, or rather, exaggerated truth, based on a few loose truthful events that took place ;P).

Here's a funny dream about a B-Plan Presentation I had last night....hope you enjoy it!

The scene is:
The presentation team Dronos has just finished filming an ad to repair it's lost reputation.
Dronos is essentially a series of high class, luxury segment watches. The special features include: auto-synchronization according to time zones, high rate of durability, and an accuracy to boast of.

The judge is, let's call her....Mrs. Partiallity Encountering Some Teams, a.k.a PEST.

During the questions round, the audience, which essentially comprises of the team's rivals and competitors (though not necessarily in the same field and segment), there was a multitude of questions asked by the PEST's favourite brand owner.

Let's call him.....Mr. Do U Know Cheating Endures, a.k.a DUNCE.

The DUNCE had already finished his round, where he and his team had showcased a done-to-the-boots idea about a series of gift delivery outlets and a convenient website called E-Blings.

Let's not get into trashing THAT idea now.... reserve it for a later date.

Coming back to the questions round.

Dronos Team members include...for convenience sake...Mr.1, Mr.2, Ms.3, Ms.4 and Mr.5.

The team leader was not apparent...so let's skip that part...but I believe it was either Mr. 2 or Ms. 4

PEST: Let the questions flow!

DUNCE: (immediately rising up, no apparent consultation to his own team mates) What research have you done about your product?

Mr.2: (He’s a brilliant sonofabitch, knows how to handle himself in terse situations like this one) You have to elaborate that.

Ms.4: ( Don't really know her so well, but am hoping to... :P ) The product we have shown is perfect for the ever-traveling businessman of today...Considering the amount of traveling involved, we believe this product is the perfect solution to the time changing patterns.

DUNCE: No, no, I mean - What is your consumer base?

Ms.3: (Very cool under pressure, had earlier changed a potentially drastic situation of bad audio quality to the team's advantage by a clever interplay of words) the consumer base we are aiming for is essentially the higher class businessman.
This mostly includes people who occupy the top positions in the corporate sector, and who have to travel to many countries to settle their deals and acquire more profits for the company.

DUNCE: You haven’t given me any facts or figures. How can you judge the success of the product then?

Mr.2: Well, you want facts and figures... Do you know the O'Hara Airport? (The DUNCE shakes his head)...In Chicago?... (Further shaking)...In the USA??...(Agitated shaking, apparently unaware of the sniggers around)...Well, I suggest YOU do YOUR research on that. Anyway, the facts suggest that there are 40 million unique visitors to this airport every year. Considering that there are hundreds of airports in the world today - you can do the math...Or can you??

Ms.3: And we are looking at a potential 20-25% profit on each product, accounting for the various factors such as R&D and advertising.

DUNCE: Are you sure of your number? What's your source?

(Here the Event Manager, GIBSON, rises...) GIBSON: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, but I believe time's up for this event.

PEST: (smiling) Yes, DUNCE, thank you very much.

DUNCE: (not budging) Ma'am, at least let them answer the question!!

PEST: ( already packing her bag, has no actual idea about the competition, is already thinking about which potion to brew next, and which socks to sew ) Oh, all right, answer the question.

(The Dronos team looks at each other, in amusement) Mr.2: Of course, the Airport Logs have the figure. Well, this was the figure in 2006....

DUNCE: (jumping) AHA!! I knew it!! NO credibility whatsoever...Do not make up fictional entities such as AIRPORT LOGS!! (Scratches his head)

( Laughter everywhere...Even as his own team mates try to budge away from him trying to distance themselves from the DUNCE, he, apparently gets more agitated)

DUNCE: Well, what if the same customer decides to go twice or thrice to the same airport? What about then, huh???

Mr.2: (Shoulders sag down to show the hopelessness of the situation, cannot believe that this idiot is actually asking more questions) Excuse me... I did say 4 million UNIQUE customers.

DUNCE: (finger in his mouth) Oh.

(Again, the EM, GIBSON stands up...he's had about enough...) GIBSON: Thank you, DUNCE. Now--

DUNCE: (paying no heed to GIBSON) What is the cost of your product?

(The Dronos team, just about to leave, looks at him in bewilderment) Ms.4: Cost?

DUNCE: Yes, cost. I am a consumer to you, and I want to know the cost of your product.

Ms.4: (looks at him as if she would press charges on him if he ever decided to become a consumer of their product) Well, obviously, no one can estimate the price of the product. This is not a marketing round; it's only an advertising one.

DUNCE: (scenting blood) Aha!! So you cannot even tell the cost of your product to me!! How can I be a concerned customer then?

PEST: (amused) Come, now, DUNCE... don't be so prickly.

DUNCE: Ma'am, but if I were them, then I would have done market research on my product! That too, with my lights shut!!

PEST: What YOU do with your lights shut is no one's concern, DUNCE.....

DUNCE: (amid loud sniggers, even from his own disgruntled team mates) No no!! Suppose I want to buy a packet of peanuts.
It would cost me 10 Rs. Now if you didn’t tell me the price of the product before hand, how would I buy it?

(Here the Dronos team looks at each other. Of course, even though the question is related to marketing strategy and not advertising, they can choose to ignore it. But after all, it IS a legitimate question.)

DUNCE: ( obviously has no idea of what he's talking, oblivious to the fact that he's just asked his first decent question, continues to blabber ) Suppose I had 100Rs. in my pocket. Now the product, if it costs me 50 Rs. only, how would I know?

GIBSON: Eh??

DUNCE: I would pay you the entire 100 Rs. and have no idea about the actual cost.

Ms. 3: ( as though she would love it if she over-priced the fool) Well, we cannot tell you the actual cost... but considering the consumer base we have, and what with the profit we are talking about, I'm sure it'll be decent sized.

(The DUNCE is apparently not amused.)

Ms. 4: You say you are a concerned customer. What is the actual cost of the watches in the luxury segment nowadays?

DUNCE: Uh.....

Mr.2: What about YOUR product...... if I asked you to tell me the price of each and every gift in your outlet, would you be able to do that?

Mr.5: Yes, with the transportation charges, too, obviously.

Mr.1: Do you even know the price of courier services and speed mail today? How will your prices be any different?

Mr.2: Of course it'll be different. In fact - they'll charge more to add the cost of setting up the website!!

(The DUNCE is at a loss for words. His team has already left...leaving him to his state. )

DUNCE: But...but....

GIBSON: (relieved) Thank you, Ma'am, and all contestants for your participation. Deputy EM's - If that man (points at DUNCE) says another word), drag him out of the Lecture theater please... Another event's about to begin.

Here I left the lecture Theater, obviously amused at the level of intellect that a national level tech-fest could latch up!!