Saturday, March 7, 2015

Freshers and Troubles

Hello, Reader.
With a full stomach of cheese and barbeque chicken, I sit at my laptop, here at my hostel in one of the best cities in India. And I wonder.
  •          I wonder how you have taken my last post on this blog.
  •          I wonder what you make of my long absence.
  •          I wonder if I am going to produce something which you would cherish and take lessons from.
  •          I wonder if you think bothering to read this post would be a waste of time as neither am I a regular poster nor do I post really mind-blowing stuff.
  •          And I wonder if this effort would be as exactly pointless as you might think.
Pushing aside all that wonder, I propose a fresh start here. And as a Reader who matches my wonders above, I hope you’d appreciate the same.

Hello again, Reader.
                My first thing to do would be apologizing for the looooooooong absence. Two words –Campus Placements. There. That’s my explanation. It’s been a long semester and I am glad I got through reasonably well. And remembering my last post on this blog, I’m so very ‘I-told-you-so’ to say that it’s exactly how I’ve written about – Growing up. It’s maddening and calm; it’s happiness and sorrow; it’s weird and normal. It’s all those things and more. I remember vowing to set off fireworks at my castle of greatness. And I am right on the path to that perfect meadow where I’m going to build my castle. So that’s going well! :)
                So, coming to what I was going to write about today. This post is about changing environments and new lives. I have moved to the Metro of all Metros in India – Bangalore City, and I’d directly relate to the theme.
                Fresh out of college, or the time in the last semester when you work on your project away from college, every person has a different perspective of the world. Speaking as a girl from Tamilnadu, I’ve had a long list of perspectives narrated to me. Some would want it to seem exactly as they had lived through school and college, with Daddy’s pocket to put their cash in and Maa’s thoughts on their plans. Some would want to embrace their 18+ state and go clubbing all night, hooking up with random strangers. Some others might want the middle ground. They want to create an identity for themselves in the minds and hearts of the already-adults around them, erasing the ‘he/she-is-so-and-so’s-son/daughter’ image. They want to explore new places, see their old places in different light, and meet new people, reach a new level of relationship with the people they know. These people are the most interesting ones I observe.
                The first category goes with the image of the Indian Kid dated 1900-present. These kids work hard or do not work hard. But, they sure do believe in their comfort zone. You couldn’t call them boring or conventional; they might go running to their Maa to complain. And you couldn’t think that their perspective is quite an interesting thing to contemplate; you might lose yourself in the process. They settle into their zones and rely on others to decide their own opinions. I’m not judging them. They have their right to choose what they want, or rather, their right to chose someone who chooses what they want.
                The second category I do judge pretty badly. I think they waste their time and others’ as well, simultaneously. They delight those guys who own bars and clubs and what-not. That’s the only good thing that comes out of them. I do believe in having a good time once in a while, yes I do. But, partying just for partying’s sake is as pointless as it can get.
                Moving on to the category that enthrals me the most – the middle ground waale! They are the coolest and the most clueless people on Earth. They want to do all those things listed above but they are not sure of the how, when and what of their plans. You’d see them on the tourist spots of the city they move to, with Google Maps open on their phone. They’d have a little backpack and a city-wide bus pass. Some might be alone and some with a friend or two, never more than two. You might see them struggling with change on the Metro Station or hesitatingly asking for directions in painstakingly slow Hindi or English, because they don’t know if the person talking to them knows it too. They might go around gaping open-mouthed at all those glass-and-steel structures which they haven’t seen so up close before, or watching their feet and shuffling along, burning with curiosity, but not knowing whether it was OK to gawk. They might think the people they meet at their new work place are completely nice to them but, still feel awkward about starting a conversation on their own. Unsure of social norms of adults, and on the path of relieving themselves from teenage social norms, they wonder what to do when they are invited to lunch by a colleague. Or like me, write about all the confusion for the unknown Reader such as yourself.
                If you are in the same state as these fresh out of college people, I’m sure you’d roughly fall into one of these categories.
Folks from the first category are congratulated for their decision to stay comforted and loved. But, I strongly advise you to think about who you are and add the things your heart loves to do to a list. Stay too comfortable and you might miss a few opinions that you might have otherwise had. Think and make out your list; and tell your parents what you want. And I believe that your trust upon your parents must be the strongest, seeing as you have decided to let them rule. As they are the people who love you most and they have the responsibility of your trust, I know that they will want you to do the things you love and you will love the fact that you’ve obtained their blessings/permission.
People from category two have two words from me. Get sober. That’s all I want.
The middle guys need more attention than the rest. These days of cluelessness will dissolve soon and then, you will fall in love. Head over heels in love. With your new place and your new acquaintances and your new freedom. You just have to file away all those little details you pick up in the folds of your mind. Whenever you’re unsure or feel awkward, just ponder on the knowledge you’ve picked up and do what your heart wants you to do. Be yourself and keep yourself alive. Be true to your identity and let it shine upon those who meet you and the rest will figure out for itself. Who you are matters the most to those people who’ve known you for years. They’d still recognize you and treat you the same even if you’ve changed. Keep up with the friends you know and the family who loves you. You can see that your new world has taken you under its wings and that that has been the most glorious change made in the world till date. Happy days are coming!
                If you are not these people, I’d still like you to know that such people do exist. And you come across them at all walks of your already-established life. As a new co-worker, as a stranger on a train, and as a customer at your shop. These people might be a source of entertainment to you, with their behaviour and awkwardness. But, they are just some clueless kids like the past you when you first started out. They might not be in the same category as you had been. Either way, what I’m asking of you is just a few simple things. Be a little patient and do not judge them. They are kids who don’t know what they are themselves. In a little time, you’ll know them as adults whom you can recognize and respect. All I’m asking for is a little patience.

Lots of love,
PPD

PS – the categories are not meant to be offensive to anyone.
PPS – please do forgive this defunct blogger who writes two posts a year.
PPPS - rather long one, I'm afraid.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

The One That Came After A Million Years

Not Literally :P
 It feels like it's been a million years since I wrote. All that I've been doing in this time seemed so pointless that I finally remembered this blog I owned.
 You know those times in childhood when you keep playing hide-and-seek every single day with the new friends you've just made in your neighbourhood? Just because they don't like to play anything else? 
 One fine breezy day, your mom finds a tattered newspaper-and-sticks kite from the attic. You think of that time on the beach when you watched your uncle make that kite for you. You remember that you'd lost your fear of the sea that day and had refused to leave when your time was up. And in those memories, you sit and painstakingly glue together the tattered edges. And as proud as a Papa with a newborn, you display that kite to your 'gang'. And the new life begins till you find a new passion.
Childhood was so simple and care-free, now that you see it from the distant pedestal of adulthood. I wouldn’t exactly put myself on the top of that pedestal yet, seeing as I am only 19, but I’ll be there soon. And poised at this leap to the top, I’ve made a few startling realisations. Several, in fact.
 I wouldn’t be running around with fixed passions for weeks like the tattered kite or the hide-and-seek.
 I would have priorities and sub-priorities in almost everything (or everyone).
 I can’t just follow Mom’s instructions blindly.
 I have to run things responsibly (albeit, that responsibly that there’s no standard definition for it).
 I have a lot of people to answer to about how responsibly (again, each one meaning a different responsibility) I run things.
 There are rules of conduct and decorum even amongst people I’ve known all my life.
 I’ve to open my doors for a new life outside.
 A whole new world is out there.
 I’ve a battle to wage and changes to make happen.
       So, getting to this verge in life is not exactly threatening, it is a position where I learn that I can make changes in my life, my circle, and to this world itself. I can clear my mind and accept this cloak of responsibility or shrink back and cower under the shadows.
        It ain’t exactly a difficult choice, is it?
       
        I chose to live and show this world that my life can be as fruitful as many others who’ve been on this point on the pedestal. I chose to take that leap to the top with my eyes on the goal, the clear spot on the pedestal where I’d build my castle of greatness. And let my fireworks off. Hopefully soon.

Looking forward to meeting wonderful people and my more-than-wonderful friends right there! 

Love,
PPD

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Engineering Perks

     A beginner in practical coding (with only Lab Practice beforehand, I might add :P ) pretty much suffers the following,
  • Confusion at the debugging stage
  • Temporary delight that your code actually runs but then,
  • Frustration at the run-time errors
  • Discovering exceptions to handle and, 
  •  Implementing those handlers
  • After fixing all these and discovering that your output is wrong
  • You might think that’s the worst straw but then there’s the Mother-of-all-Code-Problems, The Segmentation Fault.
   You might be wondering why I’m going all code-crazy right about now, so I’ll stop and explain.
My college is participating in the Google Student Ambassador 2013 program and I signed up for the qualifying test last week. The GSA thing is not exactly about coding nor is it looking for hard-core coders. But we had a question on code-development and as it was only my second attempt at any standard question in coding, I had my struggles. And I discovered my too-much-concern for the sample input and output we’d been asked to follow. There I go digressing again… :/
    Sorry, where was I? Oh right, this question got me thinking about my only-a-few-months old determination to code that stemmed from my passion to work behind the scenes on software development. I say determination here because, I’ve always had the passion but I’ve just started following it and deciding keep up the good work.
*Digressing*
   Sorry. And hence the list of problems new coders face.
Elaborating,


·         You think you’ve typed your code in perfect syntax but then you discover typos and spellings that give you bugs when you compile it. It’s not exactly stressing-you-out stupid but all that typing and one F9 key giving you a list of places in your code to go over again is kinda annoying.
·         You get rid of that and then F9 and get that console screen and you’re like  रब दी मर्ज़ी है! (Meaning, It's God's grace!) and bada bing!
·         You get a list of run-time errors that turn up on specific inputs and kill your buzz.
·         And then you research all your exceptions by going over every possible extreme input.
·         Placing all the exceptions in code form. Let me tell you, this totally sucks. (forgive my language)
·         And then you type in your check inputs and trace out your code separately to discover the opposite results in both. This makes you go over the whole code inch by inch placing extra outputs in stages and discovering which stage upsets the trace and re-checking that.
·         Fixing all that must give you the right thing but then there comes along this Segmentation Fault which I like to call Over-Kill-Mate. This may turn up any time you compile your code. And the sad thing is each machine gives it at different situations. I don’t know when to expect this thing or whether it will occur or whether the same code gives nothing on a different machine or anything in particular when it comes to this.

   Over-Kill-Mate killed my Semester Practicals in Java and my Internal Practicals in Operating Systems. :| 
   Anyway, problems or no problems, disappointment or no disappointment, result or no result, all those new coders out there who’re enthralled with your ability to make anything work on a computer with just some sit-down-and-get-it-over-with typing and checking some faults and fixing ‘em and working out your user-friendliness, all I gotta say is,”Keep at it, keep up the feverish typing, optimizing memory, refining protocol, managing memory, and produce cool code for everything out there in the digital world!” 
   And even though in everyday speech I refer to coding as Brain-Frying, I’m not giving up the thrill of working behind all those apps and software I and the people I know use every day.
Dreams are meant to last. :)



Thursday, August 29, 2013

Jiya Re!

छोटे-छोटे लम्हों को
तितली जैसे पकड़ो तो
हाथों में रंग रह जाता है
पंखों से जब छोडो तो
वक़्त चलता है
वक़्त का मगर रंग
उतरता है अक्किरा
उड़ते-उड़ते फिर एक लम्हा
मैंने पकड़ लिया रे
(meaning,
'Catch hold of small moments like a butterfly,
The colour stays on the hand, when you let go of its wings..
Time passes, but the colour of time wears away,
Flying , I caught a moment!')


                Okay, maybe I just sound weird, maybe just a little? Or, maybe a LOT weird. :P
It’s actually a beautiful part of a Hindi song जिया रे(meaning, ‘Oh heart’) from जब तक है जान (meaning, ‘As long as I live’). I was contemplating how the live-in-the-moment feeling beautifies every moment. It’s not about deep philosophies, folks! Let me explain.
                It’s very simple. Living is like Meditation like Laila says in ज़िन्दगी ना मिलेगी दुबारा (meaning, ‘You don’t get life again’). People have to be open to their feelings about every moment, every second of what they do.
·         Live like you’d get whatever you’ve dreamed of if you remember this moment.

·         Live like this moment is your parachute to the crashing aircraft.

·         Live like you’ve got the Golden Ticket to Willy Wonka’s. ;)

·         Live like you’re on the Hogwarts Express for the first time. :D
Life’s all about Happiness and Smiles and Memories…:)
P.S.-Sorry about the blog URL inspirations..:P

Friday, August 16, 2013

First Speak-Out

Rain brings a fresh start

Started with Rain <3

     This is my first real attempt at blog writing. Yeah, sure I've had a blog before, but that was ummm, a poetry blog and that don't count..:P
    So, coming back to my first blog entry...I'll let you guys know before hand that, I'm just an ordinary girl who loves her life, in all the happy moments, the sad moments, the hurried moments, and the comfortable moments. I don't judge people nor do I stand irresponsibility. The latter idea being new for about a year. It came up when I turned 18 last year and becoming an adult got my responsible-ness up a huge peak..:P
    There I go ranting again..Sorry..
    Where was I? Oh, yeah, my first post. I have been waiting around for this one for about a couple of months now. And why, you ask? Because I wanted the right kind of Rain. I know I sound silly, but Rain has always been a clarifying, intense, refreshing kind of thing for me. Not all Rains do that, you mark my words. Only the real, cold, puddle-forming kind of Rain does that. Hence, the wait. :)
   Yesterday was my first real Rain this year and I gave me a lot of joy. What I really wanted to do was stay out feeling all the Rain drops on me for an hour or so. But, alas! Fate stood in my way in the form of my gigantic hostel warden. Nevertheless, this Rain brought me here, so, I really didn't mind. :)
   It made me start my program-coding attempt (technically, it was a re-start of the attempt, but let's skip that and it's one of those rare cool things engineering brings you), my packing because I'm going home today (yay!), and it rejuvenated my enthusiasm to fitness. Basically, these are really dumb things to start, I know.
   But, what I want you guys to do is that,  
Go find your fresh starts for things you've always wanted to start but never got around to 'em 
Look out for the stuff that make you happy, content, and rejoicing
Dream big, dance in the rain, and live fully
There's no time or place for regrets, so why bother doing things you might regret?