My Love Affair

It all started on a pleasant and balmy Saturday morning. I started from my house not knowing that this was the day that my life was going to change; that this was the day when my life would become rosy; that this was the day my perspective towards life would change. I lumbered along to my friend Yashwanth’s house.

He was sitting in his living room with someone. I thought I shouldn’t disturb him and was about to retreat but he saw me and called me in. I went inside with a bit of apprehension. I wasn’t comfortable going inside as I was not acquainted to the ‘other entity’ in the room. (Basically, during my engineering days I was shy of anything feminine. My engineering friends would agree about it but not sure if my Infosys friends would. … :-) ) Nevertheless, I sat on the couch but was shy of looking at the ‘other entity’ in the room. Somehow, I asked Yash as to what he was doing. This was when I came face-to-face with the ‘other entity’ in the room. I was besotted by her beauty. She was so beautiful. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Her ethereal beauty charmed me. Then, my friend introduced her to me. At first, I was shy to talk to her but somehow gathered all my courage and spoke to her. She was so friendly. She was the best. I was enamoured. That for me, was LOVE at first sight.

After our first meeting, I couldn’t take her off my mind. I was always thinking about her. Always thinking about ways to impress her. I couldn’t sleep properly for the next few days as her thoughts filled my mind. I slept in the mornings day-dreaming about her. Then I made up my mind to pursue her with complete earnest. I devised ways of conquering her. I made plans so that she would accept me. I prepared myself to face her and propose. It took me 8 long months to make my preparation and finally, the D-day arrived.

I was decked in my finest dress, smeared my forehead with Tilak (Vermilion) for good luck and approached her. It took me 2 long hours to put forward my case. But there was no response. One moment it seemed like she will accept but the very next moment it seemed like everything was lost. Then finally she said that she needed some time to take a decision. I obliged and waited for her reply.

It was a long wait. I was expecting her to reply in a couple of days but things do not always work like we want. Every passing day was like a century. Then finally, after 1 and half months, she replied. Optimist that I am, I was expecting the best. But unfortunately, she rejected my offer. I was crest-fallen. All my efforts were wasted. I didn’t want to meet anyone. I didn’t want to talk to anyone.

Then one fine day, I was filled with an invisible power, HOPE. This power helped me overcome my sorrow. I felt rejuvenated with new-found energy. Then I made up my mind to pursue her at any cost. She was my life. I couldn’t leave my life just like that because she betrayed me once. I became focused once again. I waited for my time. Then it came again, I proposed her the second time. She rejected. Then I proposed her the third time. She rejected. Then the fourth. She rejected.

It’s been 7 years since my first encounter with her at Yashwanth’s place. But still my love for her is true. Although she has rejected me so many times, I still love her with the same intensity as I did 7 years ago. And don’t be surprised to know that, I am planning to propose her again. Who knows I might be lucky this time. I haven’t lost hope as yet. I am sure that one day or the other she will be mine. It’s only a matter of time. I will conquer that ‘Other Entity’ – Common Admission Test, CAT as we know commonly sooner rather than later.

HOPE - Hath Optimism, Perseverance and Endurance

Recently, one of my friends asked me if I was still blogging and the reason why I hadn’t written anything for so many days. Then it dawned upon me that I hadn’t written anything worthwhile for quite some time. I thought - What could be the topic that would drive me into writing something. But my alter ego said – “Hey Manish, Don’t waste your time. You have to prepare for CAT… This is the fourth time that you are attempting CAT and you need to crack it… “. Then I thought - Why am I writing CAT for the fourth time…. That’s because I have hope that I can crack it this time….(Doesn’t mean that I didn’t have hope last time round… ) and voila… here I get my new topic ---- HOPE.

‘Hath Optimism, Perseverance and Endurance’.. This is how I describe someone with Hope. As they say it in Hindi – “Ummeed pe hi duniya kaayam hai !!!”… This aptly summarizes this article. Well, if you aren’t interested in this topic then you can skip this article now. But I HOPE that you will read it in its entirety. :-)

There was a time when I was in school; I used to hope for some politician’s death so that I could get a holiday to school. And there was a time when I used to hope that my teacher would be ill so that I could get a free period. Not to forget the time when I used to hope that the best girl in my class talk only to me… :-)

I still remember vividly some of the late 90’s cricket matches featuring India. With Venkatesh Prasad and Abey Kuruvilla at the batting crease with close to 50-60 runs to win, I still used to hope that India would win the match. I, for one, am an eternal optimist. Always hoping that things will always favor me. But there are times when your desires won’t materialize. There are times when you are besieged by all sides and feel utterly disconsolate. But even in those times, hope will keep us going.

Hope is like an elixir. It will fill you with some kind of invisible power which will embed a belief in yourself, in your capabilities. Just like the innumerable Bollywood flicks, hope will fill you with immense strength. Hope for success will shield you from all the subversive powers. Who can forget the omnipresent cliché Hindi dialogue of yore – “Bhagwaan ke ghar mein der hai par andher nahi !!!” . How many times have we seen a battered, bruised, blind and bland Nirupa Roy uttering this dialogue just after our hero gets his first job or when the hero and his brother re-unite after being separated in a Kumbh ka Mela for eons. What do you think helped a decrepit Nirupa Roy survive in those films? You guessed it right, It is Hope.

Hope for something better is what is driving me to come to office everyday… :-) I guess it is the same case with everyone…. :-) If this is true, then why is it that some people remain sullen always?? Why is it that some people feel disconsolate as though everything is lost?? Just like Argus Filch from Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry… Always unhappy about things… Unhappy because others are better… Unhappy because the hope to succeed is lost…. Try to think optimistically and you will see a different world and of course, things will go your way as well… Just like it happened once when Venkatesh Prasad hit a six off the bowling of Waqar Younis… :-)

One day or the other, things are bound to be on your side. Amen!!!!!