The Waffle Iron

Untitled2

There are times when I wish science-fiction would come true.. and yesterday was one such occasion. It reminded me of this book by Clarke, I'd read YEARS ago.. I think it was '3001: A Space Odyssey', where this guy travels at a speed SLIGHTLY lower than that of light [about 99% of c] and notices that his wrist watch seems to have slowed down, he can actually count upto a number, between each second. Of course that follows basic Physics [traveller's time = terrestrial time * sqrt{1 - (traveller's speed / speed of light)²}]; but at that time, it seemed like the most fascinating thing to me. I'd fantasize travelling at such speeds to visit the future, and find out if they'd discovered a technique to visit the past.

However, this time, I was occupied with less 'utopian' ideas. I was on my way to see off this VERY VERY dear friend of mine at the railway station, and got caught in the heavy evening traffic. Every second of the way, I was willing some supreme power to transport me at even one-tenth the speed of light - I knew I'd make it even if I could just stay time by a fraction. However, the power chose to ignore me and, as always, the traffic decided to clobber us all down with our individual anxieties. But, I finally DID reach in time - after running so hard, that my throat went SO dry that I couldn't swallow and my heart hammered like it would burst, only to see the train glide away. And yeah, I DID miss her. Sigh!

Driving in Hyderabad is like a hit-release-hit-release (the break-pedal) routine. On a good day, I hit 40 and land home with my feet hot and aching from holding down the pedals; on a bad day, I don't have to push the gear out of the first, don't have to bother honking and can blissfully inhale all the lead-laden fumes surrounding us, like it was some ethereal miasma.

If you've noticed, I've called this post 'Untitled2'. For those of you that are curious, it's simply because I knew this one wasn't going to have a preordained theme. And besides, I've often been accused of writing posts that seem to meander aimlessly and finally come full circle.. and this one won't be any different.

A few days ago, I'd hinted to Hijake, that I might recount some of my latest culinary expeditions on my blog. And although it will be hard to persuade those who know me well, that I DID NOT fall dead from food-poisoning or atleast fall ill after tasting a product of my cooking, I shall nevertheless venture to force some of my newly acquired skills and knowledge upon the unsuspecting reader.

But come to think of it, there's just ONE thumb-rule to follow when you're cooking - trust your 'senses'. And that is certainly NOT what I learnt from Penelope Cruz [in her décolleté, blood-red attire] in 'Woman on Top', if that's what you're thinking. However, you could turn out to be a failure if your cortex is slightly delayed in its functioning. I'm sure you've heard of the fact that, on an average, we all utilise only one-tenth of our cortex. And since I can hardly call myself extra-ordinary [I hope you can appreciate my humility], I tend to goof-up when that one-tenth is urging all my receptors to indulge in more fanciful occupations. Like getting lost in the voice of Freddie Mercury. And imagining my ingredients and utensils singing to the strains of Bohemian Rhapsody...

Chorus: "Is this the real life, is this just fantasy?..."
...
Onions: "I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me..."
Chorus: "He's just a poor boy, from a poor family, spare him his life from this monstrosity" (all my vessels - caught in a delirium of camaraderie)
Tomatoes: "Easy come, easy go, will you let me go home?"
...
Me: "No.. We will not let you go"
Chorus: "Let him go!"
...

And so it goes. While I'm caught in a sort of anarchistic uprising, the rest of Rome burns. I don't play the violin, but I'm already crooning "I WANT TO BREAK FREE!!"

posted by Cos Θ @ 10:45 AM 4 comments

It Rained

It rained in May, and mangoes are aplenty. So, it's like a perfect (last??) summer vacation. I don't wake up to read death-toll numbers of the heat-wave in the news this time. But well, there's something ELSE that HAS been in the news though. And I'm sure you know the answer.. 49.7% reservation? And any mention of the issue would automatically raise the din of a harangue, to justify MY stance, or rather, OUR stance. But I'm NOT going to do that now, especially not after my abnormally long hiatus from blogging. Mainly because the past few months have probably been some of the most eventful ones of my life, and partly because I can't pour out as much conviction as you must have been subjected to already.

Firstly, I've turned twenty-one. And I can now demand to be treated more like an adult, and my wisdom/experience cannot be merely termed as beginner's luck any more. [But age has a down-side. Read: Quarter-life crisis. Or maybe, more like 'one-third life crisis' - considering sixty-three is a pretty optimum age to live upto. You don't begin to lose your teeth just as yet (and salt-and-pepper hair is de rigueur)] So, I'm beginning to think of life as 'short', and I'm disappointed that I haven't yet tasted all the varieties of cheese that France produces. I haven't even earned my first million, that most child prodigies achieve by the time they're old enough to drive with a licence. :P

Secondly, one of the greatest miracles in modern times occured - I got accepted at one of the 'Ivy League' universities. And I'm poised to fly across the Atlantic (and even swim with the sharks if we crash unceremoniously, into the sea) in a couple of months, IF the FBI gives me a clean-chit and absolves me of taking an online fire-arms course. I wonder if my first words, on catching glimpse of the Statue of Liberty will be recorded in gilded History records. My memory's bad and history poor.. so I don't quite remember what Columbus said or how Vasco da Gama exclaimed; but I'm sure I can think up something significant enough, if I'm promised my words won't be ignored. Even if it something as unimaginative as humming "We're sailing to Philadelphia...".

Thirdly, I've discovered that people AND places CAN be 'missed'. Also, that friendship involves a lot of forgiveness and indulgence. So, I was naturally surprised to find that we all are very forgiving of each other, and that each of us is intolerable in one way or other; and that the world is one precariously balanced system that is quickly adjusted by ineffable events, as soon as the scales tip one way. But that is besides my point.. I was going to say that nostalgia is a funny thing. Why think of times past, when you haven't even got enough time to think ahead? I used to associate nostalgia with the old, but maybe you OUGHT to look back and ponder over the first one-third of your life... and all these ideas create a stronger impression of being twenty-one years old. AND of becoming (irrevocably), a B.Tech. graduate.

And finally, I fell down and grazed my knees yesterday. :- And although YOU wouldn't deem that important enough to mention here, you WOULD understand how it hurts when the scabs are fresh and moisture burns them. So, until my scabs are dry and brown, in other words, old enough to pick at... I'll continue to reminisce over my school days and campus-life through my holiday-torpor, and cheer up occasionally when it rains, and get my feet dirty in road-side puddles.

posted by Cos Θ @ 11:55 PM 9 comments