Of Bomb Blasts, Work Places and Arcade games.

This post is a few days late. But it is a good thing that it is, my opinion of the blasts has undergone a few changes since the day they actually happened.

Friday, the 25th of July

I was sitting at my desk and working, when I get a call from my friends.

"Come home"

"huh?! why?!"

"haven't you heard? There are bomb blasts in the city, 7 so far! come ASAP"

"huh?!My God!"

After that call, I was dazed and, well, I'll admit it, a little bit scared. I got up from my seat and walked around the office and found most people still busily working. I thought this was very odd and asked sharan, a fellow intern, if he has heard of the blasts. He said yes, and gave me a few details; the office was still very calm.

A few minutes later, some people stuck their heads out of their cubicles and started talking. Most of them had big grins on their faces. I could hear people laughing and joking. Most of them were still immersed in their work. At this point, I was Pissed!! people's lack of concern was unbelievable to me. I couldn't do much about it though; I just glared at everyone and left for home.

Saturday,26th of July

Bomb blasts in Ahmadabad. My friends played Arcade games online while the news played in the back ground.

I didn't know what to make of it.

Sunday,27th of July

18 live bombs, diffused in Surat.

I went out for lunch and watched a couple of movies on my laptop.


I am not so upset at people's apathy anymore. I understand. Everyone in sensitized to it. All the violence, border disputes, terrorism has become part of everyday life and people dont care anymore. Even so, I cant help but wonder,"Where is humanity headed?"

Options

My mom always told me to be a "professional" and get a "professional degree". She told me that during their time, there were not many options. She didn't have the right exposure to pick a career that would make her happy. She just had to pick a job, any job, and help support her family.

Its been 25 years since that scenario. I am sitting in my chair at my PS station and thinking about my options. Yeah, I do have my degree, i have two in fact! an M.Sc. in Physics and a B.E. in EEE. The thought in my head is "so what?" how has it made a difference? Yeah I do know that a MOSFET has 3 different regions of operation. But that doesn't make me happy. :|

Ambition. Every child has an ambition right? (well, at least all the Asian and Indian ones do). Mine was to be an astronaut. I was fascinated by the thought of Zero gravity.15 years later,today I am an Electronics Engineer and am as far from being an Astronaut as as monkeys are from learning to fly.

And I am considering my options.

Aato!

The city of Bangaluru(hope I got the spelling right) has taught me a lot of things. But the most important lesson I have learnt so far is the versatility of the auto rickshaw or as our brothers,the south Indians, would call it - the aato. Move over Ferraris and Lambhorghinis, the aato is here to take over the world!

I have found the following to be true about them :

1. the fastest way out of a traffic jam is traveling in an auto (of course, the fastest way to get anywhere in Bengaluru is to walk :|)

2. on the rare occasion of finding a traffic-free road, the auto-driver will provide an adventurous, nerve -jarring,life-threatening, back-breaking, high-speed ride. Well, if all you wanted was a safe ride home....u MORON!why did you get into it?!

3. The battle of wits. Yes, it is a battle of wits, and the opponent is worthy. The auto-diver is a master of psychology and can sense levels of weakness, tiredness etc. and after complex calculations, will come up with a sure way to rid you of a lot of money.

4. lastly, who can ever do that(see pic) with any other vehicle on earth?!

I was traveling in the auto when it ran out of fuel and the driver flagged down another auto and towed it to the nearest petrol bunk, which was a good 2 kms away with his FOOT!