People!

Although there are 11 more days before 2015 ends, but based on the past 354 days, I can say that this year has been the year of People!

Not only did I meet many more people, I also got to see new faces of some old faces. Some people got to see a different me as well.

I tried many new things in 2015, like going to the office, not just writing but standing up for what I believe in and very recently, being an editor of a fun Facebook page. Which means that I'm working, strong-willed and funny, respectively. Yay! 

Office stint gave a glimpse of Corporate world. Some people are phony, some very real but everyone's competitive. 

Meanwhile I wrote a blogpost that caused quite a controversy. It was a learning experience for me. I found out that 'self-deprecating' style of writing is not welcome by all readers. Also, that people very carelessly tend to use terms like 'sexism'. Another insight is that sarcasm is not easy to understand. Or handle. Most importantly, people turn from 'friends' to 'people' in tough times. And some friends prove to be true friends. But one thing's for sure, I never felt like a Rockstar before! :D 

And the Facebook page thing. Sometimes good things come from the most unexpected quarters. I didn't know that many people follow me on social media so closely, or find me humorous. Well, thank you!

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 11

Title: The Opening Night Excitation

The Gist: The wait is over. Star Wars fans rejoice. Star Wars The Force Awakens is here. ShAmy fans squeak. Sheldon 'gives it' to the birthday girl Amy.

The Best Moments:
(or a list of every moment of this episode :D)

1. We have seen the boys anxiously spending hours online to get Comic Con tickets. We have seen them wait outside theatres for hours and hours to see extra 21 seconds of Indiana Jones. But this is Star Wars. Tickets go for sale early. Website gets frozen. Sheldon kneels to the Lord. Howard gets the tickets. Victory.
2. Sheldon and Amy are back together. After their shocking break-up to Sheldon's intended proposal to moving on to failed attempts at dating others to Amy trying to get back together and Sheldon rejecting to them kissing passionately and making up, does it get better? It does. It's Amy's birthday. 
   
3. Sheldon's beloved Professor Proton in his Obi-Wan avatar comes time and again in Sheldon's dreams with his delightful humour and helpful advice. Poor Professor Proton.
4. Sheldon decides to not watch Star Wars on its opening day and celebrate Amy's birthday. He asks Penny and Bernadette to help him choose from three birthday gifts: 1) A Harp-thing 2) A Sheep-thing and 3) The Wow-Thing. Penny broke her wine glass and I dropped my jaw.
5. The girls take Amy out for a pre-celebration for the big day- 'the big night'. 
6. Wil Wheaton does the unthinkable. In a theatre full of Star Wars fans, he comes dressed in a Star Trek uniform. 
   
7. As the end of wait approaches, Amy and Sheldon are nervous. So are Leonard, Raj and Howard. How will it feel like? How will the movie be like? 
8. At the finale, Sheldon had fun. Amy too. Leonard, Raj and Howard too. All sigh with satisfaction. Never thought I could write this line for a TBBT episode :P
   
9. The naughty Professor returns in Sheldon's sleep, this time willingly, to find out 'how was it?' Sheldon found it great... Amy found it fine too. Of-course she's not familiar with the Star Wars franchise. Of-course Sheldon will be Sheldon! 

My Say:

This was the first time I have giggled and giggled and giggled while watching a TBBT episode. The first time I found myself yelling at the screen-" oh my God, oh my God,oh my God!" Just like the nerd me couldn't believe that Star Wars is here, the romantic in me never thought ShAmy would sleep together. The excitement for Star Wars was familiar. I wanted to see it. The amazement at ShAmy's intimacy was new. I didn't know if I could watch it. Normally I feel I can't wait to watch the next episode. Right now, it is taking a lot of effort to stop myself from re-watching this episode again and again.

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 10

Title: The Earworm Reverberation

The Gist: A tune is bugging Sheldon, like an ear-worm. He concludes he's descending into madness, but continues to search the song which he can't stop humming, playing on various instruments and with spoons and even gargling with drinking water. The search ends and a new, much awaited chapter begins.

Fun points:

A genius, Dr. Sheldon Cooper, who controls every aspect of his life, meets a girl, spends years with her and eventually falls in love. She leaves him. He tries to get back together but she has moved on. Time passes and they can finally be friends again. Now, she wants to get back together, but he thinks it best to stay friends. Maybe he will regain control of his life. Alas! love has changed the very core, and now the genius descends into madness... 

If the viewers ever wondered how a man so capable of containing his emotions would act like if love and heart-break happen to him, this episode masters the craft of portraying that.

1. A classic Sheldon act: he recognizes the opportunity in a weak moment too, and the scientist in him records logs as his days of doom approach. 
2. Love makes us all a better person. Yes! Sheldon not just understands but openly acknowledges importance of his best friend Leonard in his life. He even goes as far as informing his future self that Penny is to be adored: "If she gives any food, it's safe... and probably you (future Sheldon) have already paid for it". Just go watch any episode of any previous season and you see a changed man today.

In a parallel track, the viewers once again get to know a little more of Raj and Howard's band "Footprints on the Moon". These men journey from opening a Facebook fan page, stalking their fan, fantasizing like starlets and getting disgusted by reality. Assured comedy.

Solitary Contemplation

People can be with you till the penultimate, but you have to walk alone to the ultimate.

Every person walks their journey alone, as everyone's path is chalked out uniquely. Roads converge, diverge, turn a U-turn, dead end sometimes, or end as a seashore and then you swim. Or row a boat. But cross the river you must.

When in class two, I dreamt that I and two other kids are at the ocean. We're playing and walking on the water. We run till the point where the blue sky touches the surface of water, and then probably we fall out of earth. I had fallen out of the bed, almost.

I would play with five-six friends in school and with two of my neighbours at home, but as far as I remember, I was always alone. Not someone who went out of her way to make friends. In the new school, I automatically became close to other two new kids. It was convenient and thankfully, they were fun. Both loved the Harry Potter series, one of them introduced me to the world of cartoon strips and the other remains my friend till date. Then I switched to yet another school and this place was a culture shock. I didn't think I fit in. But once again my friends were the other new kids, one who followed me to college as my junior , and the other with whom I sometimes go on long walks around the city. A third friend from the third school also went to the college with me, and with her gregarious nature, found many many friends. I, on my part, stuck to my convenient strategy, and my first friends at college were my room-mates. We were inseparable, for two semesters. After which I and my one room-mate had a fallout with the third. Then we had to shift to the new hostel, where the occupancy was two people. I and my room-mate naturally continued our room-mate-ship. We became very close, like best friends. I also found a science geek, an athletic girl, a new kid who joined the hostel to live the hostel life and two more ladies who were my neighbours in the new place. Being in the hostel committee brought more proximity to more people. College fest is where I met crazy seniors and a short-lived crush. Some foreign students who were in my room-mate's class, the good-looking talented lads in our college bands, the CAT prep and towards the end, the last days of sentiyappa also added some people to my Facebook friend list.

New college. A girl walked up to me and asked, "Will you be my room-mate?" As I had absolutely no idea about anyone here, and since this saved me from asking the same question to others, I smiled and said yes. She introduced me to two other girls, a singer and a dancer. We met at the Pond. Newness was the binding factor for all. For a management game, I, my room-mate, the dancer and two other girls teamed up. We sat, brainstormed, laughed and won. In class I met many people, guys and girls from different worlds. I easily made many friends there. By the end of that year, I had my own gang, another group- 'book-o-holics', some committee friends, some more from the senior batch. The gang goes everywhere. We have faced so many things together, spent all waking hours with each other, helped each other for everything, and being the youngest I've been taken care of. So much so that in the start, I would wonder how come the friend-less me became a confidante for so many? Now, they all aren't just my go-to but my be-with people.

Friendship is a drug. It is. They have gone to their roads ahead, and today I sit alone on my bed, as each has to fight their battle alone. I know I have them just a phone call or a WhatsApp ping and an FB/Twitter DM away. Despite the emptiness in and around the hostel, I know they are there. With this knowledge, I'll cross my river.

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 9

Title: The Platonic Permutation

The Gist: Leonard-Penny spend Thanksgiving the way it's supposed to be- a total disaster. Howard-Bernadette and Raj-Emily volunteer at the Soup Kitchen, which Howard will really be thankful for. Amy-Sheldon visit the aquarium as 'friends'.

-ve points:
In the very first season, Penny had found out Leonard's birth-date, and in-fact went all out to throw him a surprise party. In this episode, she seems not to know the date. Is this continuity lapse in episodes or has she forgotten? Either way, it's a writers' inconsistency.

+ve points:

1. Penny seems not to know her husband's birthday whereas Leonard reads his wife's journal. Reminds one of another beloved friends-lovers-married couple Monica and Chandler.
2. Howard is shown to journey from hating to volunteer at the Soup Kitchen to loving to do dishes with his hero, the innovator and business magnate Elon Musk.
3. Amy (as I had noted in my previous post) still has feelings for Sheldon. (Of course, she does!) Whereas, Sheldon is struggling hard not to hurt himself again and finally finds some solace in restoring friendship with Amy. This is real life stuff. 

Best Line:

" 

Amy, I excel at many things... but getting over you isn't one of them. I think, I need to just be your friend.

"

 - Sheldon, to which Amy is shown welling up.

My Say: One of the readers was disappointed last time as I captioned the previous post as "Is Sheldon's new girlfriend the ultimate crazy Jennifer Lawrence?" He had considered this as the truth, while what I had done was use Sheldon's line to write a catchy title. What newspapers and internet did with the latest episode was spread a spoiler that ShAmy finally do it. What ShAmy really do is Sheldon asking if Amy had coitus with any of her dates. Discussing it is not doing it.

Overall, an episode with the classic geek stuff (aquarium game + Elon Musk) and adorable ShAmy track.

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 8

Title: The Mystery Date Observation

The Gist: Amy goes on her third date with Dave. Sheldon tries to turn over a new leaf too.

+ve points:

Man on a prowl!

1. Sheldon asks Howard and Raj to find him a new girlfriend, for which the three brainies do not turn to dating websites or apps, but set up a series of puzzles whose prize would be Sheldon. So classic TBBT style. 
2. Marriage hasn't changed Leonard a bit. He still watches documentaries, this once about aluminium cans.
3. Marriage hasn't changed Penny either. She joins Bernadette to spy on Amy's date. 
4. Amy is dating a guy who's her type. (Really!) Tall, intelligent, nerdy and geeky and so irritating! 
5. Sheldon post-breakup remains Sheldon (our type :D) Any girl who's up for the challenge and smart enough to solve the puzzles must take note: being on-time and respect for Atomic Spectroscopy are of utter importance. He's convinced the girl would be Jennifer Lawrence.

Best liners:

Third Date=Dressing up out of comfort zone

1. Sheldon: That's a lot of carbohydrates for a man on prowl! 
2. Amy: This outfit is a little out of my comfort zone!
3. Amy: He's British.... (Penny and Bernie squeak)....Okay yes, that was juicy :D
4. Sheldon: (last few seconds left for the girl, who's solved his puzzles,to arrive) Oh, she's such a drama queen... oh my god! It is Jennifer Lawrence then.

My Say:

1. This episode shows how the writers and makers remain true to TBBT's core. Sheldon hasn't changed and in real life, however great you are, it's not easy to find a new/different love (like Amy finds out the hard way).
2. Venessa Bennet should come again into picture. As a ShAmy fan, I want to see how a new boyfriend and a new girlfriend affect these two broken lovers.

Diwali

Festival of Lights. Third-standard essay bookish start :P

Diwali is my favourite festival. It involves cleaning, which brings certain discipline that I lack otherwise. It involves lights, which everybody loves. It signifies home-coming, which for a family of four living in 4 different cities means a lot.

This festival either comes in October or November, i.e either around Bhaiya, my or mummy's birthday. In Delhi, it meant Diwali mela in my school, which basically was pot-luck. Every kid brought some food from home, put up stalls in the school ground and played games. It also meant Diwali mela in our neighbourhood. Swings, rides, lights, dilli-chaat...

In Ahmedabad, Diwali is a festival of 5 days, marking New Year. It gives Gujaratis yet another reason to rejoice, travel and eat out. Majjani life! :D

This year, Diwali meant a bit of everything. As someone who avoids grooming and generally prefers pajamas, even for special occasions (That's right :P), I decided to dress up. Like always, (since last 11 years), we did not burst crackers. It hurts the Earth and closer to heart, sickens my papa. We light our home and pray to Gods, meet and greet people and watch TV and go to bed.

Mummy and I performed havan on Diwali morning. It felt really good. :)

It was my mummy's birthday too. :)

She loves gardening. So she spent her day painting the pots and pruning the plants. It made her happy, and call me crazy, but it looked like the plants were happy too. She loves South-Indian cuisine so we ate out. Her usual: onion uttapam. Dad and I experimented and had Spring Dosa, where the filling was vegetables. We ordered filter coffee too, to which dad added sugar! To end with, we chewed meetha paan on our way back :D

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 7

Title: The Spock Resonance

The Gist: Sheldon has been approached for a documentary on the character Spock and his cultural influence, where while trying to show how he has always emulated his Vulcan hero, Sheldon announces on-camera about his intention of proposing to Amy. In a parallel track, Bernie-Howie work on some husband-wife stuff.

-ve points: The show starts with Leonard telling Penny and Raj about a study on popular kids at the age of 13 years and impact on their adult lives. The discussion of-course is funny (that's given). But the discussion is nowhere related to the rest of the show. No direct or indirect reference.

+ve points: 

1. TBBT makers are doing great by giving importance to Bernadette-Howard's married life track. This is what they deserve, specially being as good as everyone else in the ensemble cast. 
2. In the climax, Sheldon decides to take a chance in his romantic life. That was a bold move for Sheldon, and a wise one. The scene draws a lot of awws for Shelly.

My Say: After waiting from Mondays to Thursdays (the new airing time) and after waiting for a few more days (being away from television and internet on a personal front), I finally watched an episode that was worth the wait. Eager to watch both the tracks- Sheldon-Amy's and Howard-Bernadette's. In-fact for the first time, TBBT is more than just being about Leonard-Penny. 

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 6

Title: The Helium Insufficiency

The Gist: Leonard and Sheldon need liquid helium to conduct the experiment on their paper before a Swedish team beats them to it. Rest of the gang find out something interesting about Amy.

Things we learnt about: 

Michael Rapaport guest-starring as the Dealer
(yes, he's Gary the Cop whom Phoebe Buffay once dated)

1. Non-de-script white panel van and sketchy character in the parking lot.
2. Difference between Stalemate and Impasse.
3. A little something called "Mexican Stand-off".
4. Winning a battle, but losing a war.
5. We shouldn't go "shopping" at night.
6. With the right amount of money, and knowing where they (the 'enemies') live, there's a plenty we could do about it. (Okay, we're almost ready to be a mafia :P ) 
7. Mr. Glasses and Mr. Know-It-All are not built for prison.
8. "A guy enjoys semantic digressions as much as the next guy, but (business) is business." (This Black Market guy is cool!)
9. Being 'open to change'. (The Helium dealer plain kills me :D )

Amy's Track:

Things are moving fast on the romantic front post ShAmy break-up. The upcoming episodes promise a lot on this front.

Notable: If Amy has moved on, Sheldon has too. 

" 

I lied about being a wedding planner who can't find love... but I AM single, if you know somebody...

"

- Sheldon's tête-à-tête with the Helium Dealer 

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 5

Title: The Perspiration Implementation

The Gist: Bernadette wants Howard to exercise, and the guys decide to join Barry Kripke's fencing club. Stuart seeks the ladies' advice to increase female footfall in his comic book store and Amy's life post break-up is moving faster than she expected.

-ve points: None actually, can't complain.

+ve points: 

1. Howard uses a hilarious engineering hack to avoid exercise.
2. The guys finally find a sport that they can associate with. Fencing is elegant for Sheldon, indoor for Leonard, Game of Thrones for Raj and a little Princess Bride for Howard. 
3. Stuart is creepy as hell and lives it.
4. Kripke shows interest in Amy, leading to some interesting reactions from Sheldon and Amy. 

" 

...but he's dumb and his face looks dumb.

" 

Best scene: Just like naughty schoolchildren in absence of teacher, boys indulge in silly sword fight when Kripke isn't around. 

My Say: A fun episode overall, but the look on Amy's face, when Sheldon tells her that his friends suggested dating other girls will help him move on, hints at residual latent feelings. Let's see.

How as we grow up, we become both more mature and more child-like: Sheldon is keen to learn fencing from his once arch enemy Barry, and still would kill him in 3 years from now if Barry tried to make a move on Amy... 3 years if Barry's a teacher worth his salt :P

First Mover (Dis)Advantage

" 

DEFINITION of 'First Mover'
A form of competitive advantage that a company earns by being the first to enter a specific market or industry. Being the first allows a company to acquire superior brand recognition and customer loyalty. The company also has more time to perfect its product or service.

" 

Investopedia 

That's the MBA side of things. First Mover Advantage. I pioneer in First Mover Disadvantage. 

Usually in my college, group assignments submission take place in a queue fashion. A Google sheet is shared with the class, and each group has to enter their group and project details. To avoid being the very first group, everyone fills the sheet leaving first n rows empty, considering n students in each group. And I always fill the sheet at the 11th hour, in total haste. 

So, once I got trapped by this n row trickery, and ended up filling the first group slot. Mine was the first group (=only group) to be axed. We set the bar so low, that all the other groups seemed Einstein-like to the professor. 

Another time, only two slots, first group's and last group's, were empty. I decided to fill the last one. Some of my group members decided to get the thing over with, and enjoy for the rest of the semester, hence the first slot. Meanwhile, a guy from another group lured me to defect into his team, who were also thinking of going for the last slot. Trying to stay loyal to my gang, I declined his offer, and before we knew it, only the first slot was left. 

If you think I'm a nerd, you're right. If you think my misfortunes are only in studies, I wish!

With many genuine problems, most of them solved, some of them unreasonable concerns- the moving in became an issue. Inside-everyone wants to move to the new place. Outside- no one wants to be the first one to move- be called a bitch- a traitor- seen as scared of administration-the stooge who can be blamed and used as a reason for others to move.

Yes, I'm that first mover. Haha, I'm the villain!!

Disadvantaged? 

As I see it, I'm winning. Others 'caught' me moving in the new place, started packing their stuff and have plans to move tomorrow. They accede to my courage, use it as an example and make the move. The sooner one moves in, the faster she gets used to the new things and sooner does she get back to normalcy. Many friends come and see how I have arranged my new room, they borrow my layout, feel re-assured, bring more friends and they see it too. Some find my decorations not so cool, make a blueprint in their minds and smirk at my poor arrangement. All of those who see me see how happy I am. This is a clear advantage :)

Tea in Coffee Lovers' Central Perk Mugs,
 that's a lethal mix :D

Girlies, I can only tell you how I felt- while packing, moving, un-packing, arranging, re-arranging with my roomie; we had a ton of fun. You get to know each others' idiosyncrasies, learn a few living hacks, get ideas about a dozen things, love and hate the changes, get absolutely tired, then prepare tea and enjoy it with biscuits in your new room. The feeling- out of this world! Change is inevitable, and if we want it to be, enjoyable. 

Cheers :)

Happyness is standing up for what you believe in,
and sharing it with your friends :)

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 4

Episode: 4

Title: The 2003 Approximation

Thor and Dr. Jones, Thor and Dr. Jones
One plays with lightening, and other plays with stones

The Gist: Sheldon decides to revert back to living like in the year 2003, before he met Leonard as a reaction to Leonard and Penny living together and no Amy in Sheldon's life. Howard and Raj work on their band "Fingerprints on the Moon'.

-ve points: Sheldon is shown to react negatively as usual upon the subject of Leonard ceasing to be his room-mate. This has been happening every time Leonard and Penny try to live together. Agreed, Sheldon is a child inside a grown man, but after so many instances, shouldn't he start accepting the fact? Or at-least coping (positively) with it?

+ve points: The band "Fingerprints on the Moon" is hilarious! Their song "Thor and Dr. Jones" is too funny. 
And the bro-hug. (F.R.I.E.N.D.S. had J-Man and Channy hugging, TBBT has Wolowitz and Koothrapalli)

My Say: 

1. TBBT tried to show that Bernie still is hoping Stuart would get off her back. Let's see what happens there.
2. Raj wanted to end things with Emily but just didn't. In-fact it looks like they are going strong. Howard's right,"Your (Raj's) brain belongs to whoever sleeps with you. "
3. Great is the fact that Amy is not getting back together with Sheldon. At-least not in near future.
4. How can Sheldon move on from his broken relationship with Amy (he did get a ring for her), but cannot get over Leonard as a room-mate. Fascinating!

Movie Review: The Martian

I'm a Space Pirate!

Director: Ridley Scott

Starring: Matt Damon (I love him in everything)
               Jessica Chastain        
               (Interstellar's McConaughey's daughter)
               Kristen Wiig (my SNL star)
               Kate Mara (House of Cards' Zoe Barns)
               Sean Bean (The Ned Stark)
               Sebastian Stan (whom I confused with Robb Stark)
               and many more...

Genre: Science Fiction

Recommended For: Matt Damon lovers like me

The Gist: Due to a severe storm on Mars, NASA's astronauts are forced to leave the Red Planet, leaving behind a crew member Mark Watney (played by Damon) they believe is dead. How Mark spends his time there and what NASA and other Earthlings do about it is what the movie is about.

-ve points: Towards the end, a launch vehicle has to be designed such that it is 5000 tonnes lighter (or some other figure like this). This requires losing some parts of the vehicle like the seats, a few machine attachments, the windows (yeah!) and the top of the ship (get this!). What they do use as a substitute is something I can't digest! (not sure if scientifically the new material makes sense, but it defies my common sense)

+ve points: The movie did not leave me at any point being hopeless or sad like Gravity or Interstellar (both awesome movies) The Martian takes the adversities with a pinch of salt and uses his brain to come up with solutions that are so simple they are elegant!

All the greatest brains of earth, literally all of them, are trying to solve my problem and the greatest solution that they have come up with is- drill a hole.

My Verdict: Watch it.

My decision: To read the book "The Martian" from which the film has been adapted. My friends say the movie is good, but the book is way better.

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 3

Episode: 3
Title: The Bachelor Party Corrosion

The Gist: Men 'kidnap' Leonard to his bachelor's trip and the women decide to avoid strippers' club and inform their families of their relationship statuses.

Cool stuff: 

• Men drive off to Mexico for the bachelor's trip in Sheldon's "personal favorite physicist" Richard Feynman's van.
• The science that the guys put in on the flat tyre is as always innovative. The best one- 

"We will, we will, Percussive Shock you".

• Sheldon's eidetic memory and it's curse; him singing like crazy!

Highlights:

• Penny's hair looks absolute delight.
• Amy

1. broke up with Sheldon
2. pierced her ears, and
3. made the girls eat penis cookies

• Leonard v/s Penny: worst weekend- Leonard wins

I'm a Slave

I'm a slave. Technology is my master. But my master has left me alone, in shackles. I'm tethered to the remains of my phone and laptop, and can't help but cling to memories.

My phone, just an year old toddler, had never troubled me. It was a good baby. I was a careless guardian. While rushing up the 96 stairs to my classroom, I fell. A regular affair for me. But this time, I didn't get bruised at all. My phone's screen got the scars. All the doctors- small, unorganized retailers to big service centers- all suggested a surgery. Replace the entire LCD, they said.

I contained my grief, and continued using the phone, now for bare minimum phone calls. FYI, everything was working, the touch, the apps, the widgets, all ok. But looking at the broken screen shattered my heart into as many pieces.

Anyway, yesterday, after 2-3 hours of working on my laptop, and a 20 minute sleep, my laptop contracted a skin disease too. Its screen got a patch. Still an infant, I couldn't believe my laptop's bad luck. I lulled it to sleep and once again, tried to console myself. It's ok, tech babies are prone to mild hiccups, their life expectancy is short anyway. I believed time would nurse them back to health.

Meanwhile, all my friends tried to cheer me up. My roomie prepared coffee, my neighbors ordered pizza and engaged in gossip and I tried reading Wodehouse.

Today, the laptop repair guy said replace the LCD.

So I had two tech kids, both de-faced. I could sense myself welling up. Of-course proper medication- repair and warranty maintenance-would bring them back to life. Obviously, my life without them was simpler but still rocking. And there are so many more books on my shelf.... but with all my work data stored in these two babies' brains, I am a mere slave.

And this post was brought to you by my dear roommate's laptop, a generous loan. 

TV Review: TBBT Season 9 Episode 1-2

Episode: 1

Title: The Matrimonial Momentum

The Gist: Season 9 starts a few hours later than when season 8 ended. All the trailers and promos showed Leonard and Penny getting married, so no spoilers there. Parallely, Sheldon and Amy are broken up and 'coping' with it.

-ve points: After raising the bar with season 8 finale, the ninth season's beginning seems lacklustre. It feels like you are watching all the trailers put together, with nothing extra.

+ve points: The Shamy track is fun. Add to it, Stuart's creepy attempts of consoling a sad Amy (and potentially Penny)

My Say: Maybe it is smart on TBBT's part to not match the expectations of the previous season. This episode leaves you wanting more, as clearly Leonard's past and Sheldon's present need to be explored.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Episode: 2
Title: The Separation Oscillation

The Gist: Episode 2 does the trick. It starts with a Sheldon-lip-lock-shock. It ends with Sheldon's goofy self confidence that he's "gonna get this girl (Amy) back".

+ve points: 

• The start of this episode more than compensates for the previous episode. 
• The TBBT usuals: "Howard-Raj relationship" and "Fun with Flags" add to laugh
• A glimpse from Leonard's past

My Say: A typical TBBT episode that tickles your ribs.

Movie Review: The Intern

From phonebook to Facebook

Director: Nancy Meyers
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Robert De Niro
Genre: Comedy
Recommended for: Feel Good

The Gist:
Benjamin Whittacker (De Niro), a 70 year old much retired and much widowed man starts as an intern at an online fashion website. He works for Jules Ostin (Hathaway), the founder of this ecommerce startup. The movie revolves around this.

Some picks:

• Ben Whittacker is handsome, evident to the audience and to himself from all the attention he gets from the ladies. Add to it charms and chivalry, gentlemanly attire and enjoyment of new experiences (professional and personal). He's the Grand-dady Cool!

• Above The Fit gives a glimpse of a startup. "All-Cas", same floor, no cubicles culture. Work pressure- enormous. Staff bubbling with enthusiasm, founder leading a sleepless, foodless life, company grappling with customer service, delivery and VCs' issues. Also how you can have all the fancy degrees from big colleges and still don't get recognized at work.

• The Internship:

1. Ben- just like me- works for the boss and waits for an email that never seems to come. Waiting for work when all the other interns have started can be both fun and frustrating.
2. One of the guys gets to deliver an order for Jay Z and Beyonce. They are all 'psyched'. It's like you don't know what will happen at the end of the internship. You may or may not get hired. But your project gets you entry into a 5-Star. Or takes you across international waters. Unicorns and rainbows.
3. Sharing a table builds friendship. Ben and the boys gell well and share all the fun moments: the ladies and how to pick 'em up, drinks and doing bizzare stuff for your boss and fist-bumps. The guys help out Ben with things like operating a laptop and he teaches them all about dapper suits and vintage briefcases.

• The generation gap-it's sweet. How Jules helps Ben- the man with a 40 year old career in phonebook printing company- to join Facebook.  The self-made entreprenuer and the experienced ex-VP. While the boss is constantly texting, skyping and talking on the phone, her intern still sets alarm on his alarm clock. The guys wear crazy tees and jeans and the old intern loves to don a suit and shave everyday. 

• The work-life (im)balance

• Tai Chi- martial arts for longevity. 

Ambition: yay or nay?

"Why do you go home so often? Yes it's nearby, but why do you go all the time?"
"Whenever there's a holiday, you head to your uncle's place."
"You read gossip and fashion magazines?! MBA students have time to read these things too?"
"Are you not participating in any case study? Job kab milegi?"
"Students are into start-ups? Kuch entrepreneurship tu bhi kar.. Any business plan?"
- things I'm accused of and questioned about. Sometimes I wonder am I the right kind of MBA grad student? I do participate in some competitions and try to know the world. But what I can't do is give up my day and night and food and ethics. I try to contain my ambition. Aim high but not too far away in the sky. Is that wrong?

I am twenty two. Most of my friends are working. Some of my friends are pursuing higher education: a few technically inclined ones are doing M.Tech, Science and/or foreign university- enthusiasts are abroad for M.S. and many are pursuing MBA like I am.
All of them are smart. Most of them funny. Many are intelligent. Some talented. A few brave about life choices.
Everyone is deceptive. Not all have much figured out, but all are confident. There are those who are not only sure of themselves, but also make sure others aren't. And then some are too cool to think too much. They just save their charm for the right moment and remain passive and "chilled out" for rest of the time.
Five years ago, I was in class XII and that in India means Board Exams followed by Entrance Exams. I knew I'm good at academics but I knew I can't slog. I ate, slept and watched a lot of TV- which helped me remain sane. I appeared for two exams- didn't clear one of them and did well in the other. In the hindsight, limited ambition helped me enjoy the toughest year in a student's life. College? I went to an NIT. Pretty neat!
Two years ago I was in the final year of engineering and decided to give CAT a shot. Herd mentality? Maybe. I did appear for oncampus placements for a few days, because normally I'm a risk averse person. But somewhere in between,I decided to focus only on belling this cat and not suiting up for the interviews. Risk taken. Return? I got a decent score, call from some decent institutes and finally admit into a good college. That right there was pretty ambitious, I believe.
Last year during internship program, till I didn't get an offer, I had a fractured toe and a bruised ego. One day, I decided to just take a break and spend the night at my cousin's place. The next morning I got my plaster off and following that I got an interview call. It wasn't a company in my dream league. It wasn't a company I knew much about either. After seeing many rejects, ambition had taken a backseat. Regrown toe did the job of  injecting happiness. So I gave an interview sans ambition and voila- I cracked it. The company? It is top in its industry and gave me paycheck for having fun for two months.
It is true hard work pays off. Risks precede returns. Being fit and at peace can help win the game. What remains unclear is ambition: yay or nay?

Naya Daur

Parents complain kids don't have a reading habit, while enjoying the spoils of a Kindle.
I may be fed up with the number of WhatsApp groups that spring up like mushrooms in rains; but mummy enthusiastically has reunions with batch of '77 via WhatsApp.
Soundcloud is my chitrahar; Big Basket my sabji-mandi.
I wear American Eagle tee, and like 'Make In India' posts on Facebook.
Ma doesn't have to wait for National Holidays and tune to Doordarshan, she just YouTubes Roja.
Trips to Shani Bazaar are a thing of past. Now Rakhi shopping will be done on Ferns and Petals.
Naya Daur.

Things that matter

Academic Score. A** score. 
Boyfriend. Braids. 
Car. Chocolates. City. Clutch. Coffee. Company. Company. 
Dance. Dress. Drama. Dreams. Drinks. 
Ease. 
Facebook. Finance. Friends. Fun.
Gang. Gossip. 
Home. Home Loan. Honeymoon destination.
Interviews. Ispiderman Ispiderman.
Job. Jon Snow.
Kiss. Kith & Kin.
Logistics. Love. 
Marriage. MBA. Mergers & Acquisitions. Money. Music. 
News.
Others. Others' opinions.
Parents. Peers. Plans. Planning. Prayers. Private Jet.
Quiet.
Rains. 
Strategic Management. Sex. Socks. Stories. Supply Chain.
Time. Twitter.
Uninterrupted Power Supply.
<shockingly nothing comes to mind.. O' yes, Vinti's Scribbles>
Watch. Warehousing. Winter is coming.
X and Y. (yes, wohi, Math wale. Biology wale bhi...)
Youtube.
Zomato.

This is A-Z for me.
But, for those kids in the school I volunteered to teach today, A-Z and 0-9 are both a dream and a despair. Something they want to learn and also something they can live without. Things like the Matter and things that just don't matter.

Nonetheless, they reminded me of what I have been blessed with- education and a good background. Although they wanted the class to end (I mean it's Saturday, we all know classes on a Saturday suck), they ended it with shaking my hands and smiling: "Thank you, Teacher!", "Bye teacher" and the unexpected (this one addressed to the guys)- "Paye lagu sir".

Keeda

Everyone has a keeda.

Some people have a love bug. They just want to fall in love. And some have the wedding bug. 

Some are afflicted with sports keeda. While some are bitten by the grammar bug.

Some have debugging bug! And then some don't...

              

                                           

Some have the shopping bug

Shopping soothes them. And when that's not working, shop some more...

Sometimes, they know they can't afford it. 

So to earn the extra few bucks, they do odd jobs ....

But then, their clothes or shoes or accessories also have a soul... The shopping bags call out to the shoppers..

So, to all those bitten by various bugs, don't ask the bug in you to bug off until it bugs you too much! 

Ghettoed

Ghettoed.

When she talks on the phone so loud
As she unwraps the presents
When she sings a popular number
And throws some facts and figures impressive
When they discuss the matters of heart
In same tone as they read their financial sermons
When her blushing cheeks go rosy red
While her friends travel distances to see her
When he quotes the books he has read
Alongwith the knowledge he has amassed
When he smiles
For the charm he knows he is born with
When those athletic figures in those pictures
Shine in sweat after their fun-filled treks
When he rebels 
Just because he can
When she works out
To keep that svelte figure svelte
When she complains
Against the cruel reality
When she appears to be a cuckoo
In the outlandish acts of hers
All I do is turn to portals like this
When just sleeping isn't enough antidote
Ghettoed.

The City

What makes you fall in love with a city? Last I checked, a guy posted on Facebook that he got engaged, and is in love with the city where he met his fiancee. Years ago, I had seen on television, a cricket world cup match being played in Melbourne. Before the toss, they showed the beautiful sites of Melbourne city, along with the MCG. I had never been there, still I felt like I 'loved' that city. So much so that I told my father, "I'll live there one day, and you'll live with me." Papa of-course said yes to amuse his little girl.

The little girl has grown up, and outgrown that love for that city.

When 12, she moved from the city she loved to a city she had never even thought about. Eight years later, she claimed she loved her new hometown.

Again, years ago, probably around the same time of my love affair with Melbourne, I had heard about Mumbai. Like not just Bollywood, but about the city. Now I don't remember what was what I heard, but I had decided "I want to live in Mumbai someday".

Unlike the Aussie city, I was not too vocal about my decision on Mumbai, because a) I was a child and had chosen Melbourne and b) I was a child and was 'laughed' at by some not-ill-meaning relatives about my wildness to live in a 'foreign' land. In those days, Mumbai too was 'foreign' to me so, probably to avoid b), I kept quite.

 No big issues really. Not then, not ever.

Now, after the two cities I have lived in and loved, it has been an year in Mumbai. Things that are different are that I don't live with my parents now and there are more exciting things than just McDonald's when I was the kid in love with, yes, Melbourne.

Right now is pretty interesting for me. I'm interning- so it's like my first job.  J Office is in Pune, another city I had never thought about. Lovely weather! But I yearn for human companionship. No, I don't work with robots (and I don't think I would like that). There are people, but no one I talk to. Like no friends to hangout with, or just chat for hours together. So, decided to spend the weekend in Mumbai.
Sorry, but no sorry- I love Mumbai :D The City is fun.

12.30 am- late night dinner in Amar Juice Center, Juhu.
1.00 pm- lunch in college with friends
4.00 pm- Mocha Chip and Donuts and talking with a friend in Dunkin Donuts, Powai
4.30 pm- Haiko- to window shop and for AC, and KFC- to use the restroom
5.30 pm-  Mediterranean Focaccia Bread and Coffee in Starbucks, Powai
7.00 pm- Crossword showroom (books ♥)

7.30 pm- Sneaked into a movie hall and watched last 25 minutes of Cinderella
8,00 pm- Watched Avengers- Age of Ultron- the movie whose tickets I had bought
10.30 pm- a non-veg meal at McDonald's
11 pm- on my bed, blogging.

Love for the city bases out of the carbohydrates apparently, but really because of the humans. The friends I talked with. Talking really may have been bitching, gossiping, cursing, giving cold looks to the new people staying in our college hostel, or discussing the clothes passersby were wearing around Haiko/KFC. But without this, despite a fun job in a cool city, life was BORING. Not living in any other city has never affected me like this. Mumbai is The City. 

How Higher Education Ruins You

While watching re-runs of one of my favorite TV series, the actors' expressions took a backstage for me, because this time all the MBA gyan that I have acquired/am acquiring took the fore-front

The Big Bang Theory Season 02, Episode 18- The Work Song Nanocluster

When Penny seeks Sheldon's advice on making her flower barrette making business a success:

1. No of flower barrettes produced per day
2. Price per Penny Blossom

easily prove that Penny needs modern marketing techniques and must optimize manufacturing process to turn it into a viable business.

To this Penny asks Sheldon to help her in making more money out of it. Here comes Sheldon's brilliant premise that "everything you have done until now is wrong".

When Penny makes one unit in 12 minutes and 17 seconds, based on cost of material and wholesale price, her profit comes out to be a meager $5/day. 

This may be resolved by the assembly line, not to be confused by the moving assembly line, as Sheldon points out. Penny remarks that since she cannot make snide remarks on Sheldon, he shouldn't be condescending. But as this was not the part of the original contract, he refuses to abide by it post-facto.

After a while, Leonard, Howard and Raj hear Sheldon and Penny singing and doing something, which is the rhythmic work song to increase the productivity. This is followed by the men discussing the product design. To add, Raj whispers in Howard's ears a good question- what are the marketing and distribution channels? Sheldon suggests hosting a server while Howard pitches in the idea of eliminating the middle man by setting up a small server and static IP within Penny's home.

As many questions arise, Sheldon gives optimizing the manufacturing process the highest priority. Brainstorming leads to an out-of-the-box idea of use of a molecular sieve.

Quicky the roles and responsibilities are identified and assigned- Raj and Howard procure the raw materials from Chem Lab, Leonard works on Web Design and Sheldon sets up the manufacturing at his apartment. Penny-the owner of the business meanwhile takes a nap!

When Leonard presents the website he has designed, the team is visibly disappointed. Sheldon takes Penny aside, and while he says it's Penny's enterprise and she must call the shots, clearly "recommends" to show Leonard the door.

The disappointments go away when they start getting online orders and positive comments about the product. Some of the customer views lead to expansion plans. 

Penny's excitement dies down because of a minor error by Web Design team (Leonard) mentioning "one day rush". Jumps in Sheldon, with his motivational speech reminding Penny of her goals of financial independence and entrepreneurial brilliance and innovation.

Moving on, while all the 5 of them are working, Raj complaints of his Saturday being ruined and he, Howard and Leonard end up talking in irritated tones. Sheldon points this to Penny as negative attitude on the factory floor. Penny the boss sees no problem here but Sheldon tells her "labor force is a living organism that should be carefully nurtured. Therefore, any counter-productive grumbling must be skillfully nipped out by the management... You here any union talk, you let me know!"

Schedule pressure can lead to overtime which can lead to fatigue. When Sheldon is the victim of overkill, Leonard uses big words like Sheldon's insight and failure without him to motivate him.

Ultimately the target is met. But the "one day rush" error was not rectified and tackled with a short term view... 

So yeah, once again I enjoyed a funny episode of a funny sitcom and this time though I saw it differently, the geek in me thoroughly enjoyed.

Higher education can ruin you. One can end up complicating the simple things. Or may be modern day TV aids the understanding of education.

Little Drops from Heaven

Behta hai mann kahin, kahan jaante nahin
Koi rok le yahin...
Bhaage re mann kahin
Aage ye mann chala
Jaane kidhar jaanu na aaaa

- Chameli (2003)

I mentioned about an year ago, rains bring out the romantic in me. This time the romantic me brought the rains <blush, blush>.
I don't know why but since Friday, I have been in a mushy mood. Which means Friday night I saw "While You Were Sleeping", a 1995 Rom-Com, and then it rained all Saturday; and so I watched "The Wedding Date", a 2005 Rom-Com on Saturday night.

Well I have also been playing the "Love" playlist on my laptop, on the auto-mode, but let's not go there.

So, "While You Were Sleeping" is a Sandra Bullock movie, and like Rajesh Koothrapalli says, "she is great in everything". It's a simple story of a plain Jane who has no one and has a huge crush on this guy she sees everyday for about 15 minutes to and fro on the train station. One (un)fortunate day, he meets with an accident, she saves him, gets him admitted to a hospital and through a misunderstanding, people take her to be the guy's fiancee.
It's a classic comedy of errors, and what with the movie's setting as Christmas and New Year's week, a lot of funny family stuff happens, while the guy is in a coma. The movie has a sweet and lovable feel to it and my favorite setting of the holiday season.

"The Wedding Date" is a movie full of beautiful people. I mean beautiful-looking. Gorgeous! There's Dermont Mulroney (yes, F.R.I.E.N.D.S.' guest star, Gavin Mitchell, Rachel's co-worker and balcony kisser from season 9). There's Debra Messing, who looks just so exquisite. There's Amy Adams, whose only other movie I have seen is American Hustle, another movie full of great-looking people.

It's a story of Kat, whose sister is getting married in London. Kat hires a "date" so that her family doesn't think she's miserable after her much talked about breakup with her ex. This movie is shot in England- a beautiful country (-from what I've seen in the various movies. I really want to visit Yorkshire someday).

In the first movie, the girl and the guy (not the coma guy, spoiler) become really good friends while taking a walk in the snow. In the latter, they start liking each other in various moments here and there. Enough appetite for the mushy me. While there's snow in case of Sandra Bullock, it's rain for Debra Messing. The way I see it, both fall in love when there are little drops of heaven, pouring down on them. :-)

Vinti Speaks

Maslow's Self Actualization Mode-

I never had a problem in being an introvert, I just regretted I didn't make friends easily. By friends, I meant people you go on trips with, a big group with many characters. With this, I regretted not having traveled to the places kids of such groups would frequent. I regretted not being one of those in weird poses in the photographs that got more likes than the number of people in my friend list. I always read all the comments on posts of such groups and regretted not being able to laugh with them. I never regretted being an introvert.
Soon I realized, I'm not an introvert. I just didn't make friends easily.
I was always proud of being "everyone's friend". Everyone called me their friend. It was easy to sit and eat and laugh with anyone on any table. It was always natural for me to be a part of every group. It was okay if I didn't know all the secrets, I knew just enough to enjoy the company. That's all friends are for, right? I did have my roommates as my best friends. Some said it was a convenient adjustment, but I always thought it was good luck my roommates turned out so well. Without them, no group, no conversation seemed fun. People would either laugh too hard, or crack jokes in gibberish or simply do better without me around.
So I guess I didn't make friends easily.

I used to write since ages. Everyone said I write stuff no one gets. I loved using words that would sound cool. It was good I developed a liking for alliterations, because in the first ever interview in NITIE, this is what the interviewer asked me about. Not about Supply Chain, not a thing about MBA, but he wanted me to come up with an alliteration on NITIE. Man o man! He did like what he heard and although I didn't get the job, I was happy I had developed a liking for alliterations.
I remember I wrote my first poem "Be cool and go to school" in class four. I am proud that I wrote an entire script of a play and enacted it in front of the teacher and other 12-year-olds, doing all the different voices of the characters by myself. Very proud that I was a star from class one to six, the first choice of lead actor in all school plays, all the debates, creative writing competitions and was every teacher's pet.

My mother encouraged me to read. Although I didn't read a tenth of what she used to when she was my age, and the ratio still remains the same, I always will be grateful my mother encouraged me to read. She also let me watch TV.
When other kids used to play in the streets, I used to watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S. on TV. I was all 11. Did I get it at that time? I don't remember. But I loved it nonetheless. And I have loved watching it over and over again. And then, I also watched all these other series, but when I share articles about F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and people like them, comment on them, share them and wish me in person, I'm glad my mother let me watch TV when I really should have been on the streets, running around and making friends. I'm glad my mother gave me the habit to read.

Now I have stopped counting friends. I have started counting the number of articles I write, the number of books I read, the number of movies I watch and the number of all the other things that I can learn about, because in this process I have made so many friends who write with me, read and quote, watch and share, teach me stuff, bring me smiles and laughter.