random dream :)

He saw the sun setting across the horizon. He watched him fade in his own glory. He tried to peep beyond the high walls of the church but all he found was darkness. . Once upon a time, this used to be a place of worship. People used to go there with faith. But with time even its children had abandoned him. He looked down and found the angel still guarding his fortress of faith.

 

And he laughed at himself. He had thought he would find solace there but like him, even God was lonely tonight. And Like others even he turned his face on him and walked away. On his way he saw a big crowd on the street. He heard a women cry.  Her husband was beating her in front of her child. He looked at her eyes and he knew how much she wanted to hit him back. How much did she want to shout at him for coming home drunk every night. She wanted to tell him how much had she cried alone when he slept with other women. But he knew she wouldn’t. She knew she no longer mattered to him. He would kick her out and bring another woman. And that would be the end of their love. She just wasn’t ready to let him go. And deep inside he knew, even his heart was singing the women’s song of sorrow.

 

He walked back. He sat on the bench by the church. He took out his diary from his bag. But he didn’t have the courage to open it. It once used to have memories which he used to cherish. But now they were just pages. He knew he was running away from them and he also knew he had failed in doing that.

 

He looked at the church again and the big board flashed across his eyes, “Let me in your heart Son. Once i find a way in, you won’t be able to take me out.”

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Relaxing places @ SDSU

The fun and thrill of college life is often accompanied by anxiety and frustration. It could be a long tiring day of studies, a fight with the loved ones, or moments of personal anguish, stress comes from all directions. A little time spent in relaxation helps a lot to keep our mind fresh and body healthy.

Different people have different ways of relaxing. Some listen to music, some sit in front of their laptops and chat with friends whereas some take a walk.

The campus of San Diego State University is famous for its scenic beauty. There are a lot of places around the campus where one can actually go and relax. I have tried to compile for you a list of places around the campus where you can go and relax.

Fish and Turtle Pond, Scripps Cottage

The fish and turtle pond is located at a walking distance from the Love library. With its beautiful landscape and lively fish pond, this place serves as a perfect relaxing spot. If you walk down to the brim of the pond you can see the turtles and fishes protruding their hungry mouths out of water for food. Very often you will find students studying here under the shade of the trees or simply relaxing while enjoying the beauty of Mother Nature. When you’re around the place, walk down the grassy hillside and take a seat in the lap of nature.

Mediterranean garden, Life Sciences Building

The Mediterranean garden is famous for its beautiful fountain and its varied species of plants. By the side of the fountain, there are benches wherein you can sit and relax while enjoying the water from the fountain fuse with the colors of the flowers. The small lawns encircled by the Mediterranean flora serve as a meeting place for students indulging in their casual meetings or fun filled adventures.

Freeway View, School of Art, Design & Art History

This place is famous for its cultural heritage. The two art galleries located in the building feature contemporary regional as well as international artists. If you walk straight through the doorway, you can actually see the freeway passing around SDSU. The hustle and bustle of the city life is evident from the traffic on the freeway. The view is too serene at night time when the darkness is invaded by the headlights of the cars making their way home, and the tiny lights coming from the houses located on the opposite hillside.

Starbucks, Aztec Center

The smell of a freshly brewed coffee is enough to fill even the most dead-beat minds with energy. Coffee for sure acts a natural laxative and that’s why after a long tiring day, people usually yearn for a cup of coffee. With it varied collection of beverages and the soothing ambience, Starbucks is a good place to hangout. Seen here are students talking over a cup of coffee, some studying over while others simply sitting back and enjoying the serenity of the moment.

Magnolia tree, Hardy Tower

While walking from the Hepner Hall towards the Hardy Tower one finds the huge Magnolia tree spreading out its branches, bathing itself in the sun and shading the ones under it. Students usually come here when they are bored of studying indoors or want a time off from studies.

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Indian Monsoon

The dark clouds were hovering the sky like the angels all set to fire their bliss on the earth. Thunder struck and I could see the lightening flashing across the clouds. The earth was singing its rain song, waiting for the first kiss of her lover. I looked out of the window and I could see my neighbors covering up their vehicles, collecting clothes hanging outside for drying, the kids running out and their mom’s running, shouting, cursing and yelling at them to get inside.

One more thunder, and came the rain followed by the chilly monsoon wind. The trees waved to welcome their friend. The atmosphere was filled with the chirping of birds. I could hear the symphony of the rain drops rattling on the roof. In a second, mom came running after me with an umbrella. I ignored her and stepped out of the gate. My friends were waiting there for me.

The streets were flooding with water. The cracks in the crust broke open and so did the gutters exposing what good work the municipality had done all year long. The poor were running here and there looking for a shelter. Their houses were flooding with rain water invading there roof. The government had promised them home at the time of election but it seemed like they will have to wait till the next one.

The rain was still pouring in full wrath. The streets were flooded with water reaching the knee height level. Here and there could be found, people hiding under the shop roofs, some trying to dare their way home with their hands tightly clutched to the umbrella, people pushing their vehicles half way through the water, bike riders testing their luck which eventually gave up with water reaching the engine. Children were running in the water splashing it all over others. A bunch of people joined them as they started pushing each other in water but at the same time careful enough to not let anyone go near the wooden fence marking the boundary of gutter. A couple of kids stepped out of their house with paper boats in their hands ready to set forth a new adventure.

At a distance could be seen a herd of people crowding the chai wala’s place. It was his lucky day. As more tea poured in, the little kid was running here and there with as much cups as he could carry. A little away from the crowd were the god blessed smokers, looking down the street with the thought of their loved ones buried deep in their hearts. More rain poured in hiding their tears as they starred jealously at the couple holding their hands, waiting anxiously for their boiled corn.

With the setting of the night, came the harsh facts that there were no lights, no TV and no internet and it was still raining outside. Dim lights could be seen coming out of the houses, a few of the recharged batteries and others of the candles. It was still cold outside as I took my last sip of coffee. The world was about to set in its own sanity.

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Midsummer Night’s dream.

I opened my eyes with sense of detachment. I looked at the world around me and I fell in love with the serenity of the moment.  The lights were dimmer, the sky was darker and with a bottle of whisky around, it was time to drink, smoke and make merry.

I tried to open the bottle but Fuck! I couldn’t feel the bottle.  I couldn’t hold the ciggs. God! What the fuck is wrong with me?

I heard someone talking. I went near the door to open it, but I couldn’t.

“Yaar.. kya boring party tha.”

“Fukla hota toh yahi bolta sala.”

“chalo yaar.. uske marne ke khushi main Effins chalte hain. Acche se piyenge aur fukenge. Tab sale ke atma ko shaanti milenge.”

“Aisa kiya toh sala wapis toh nahi aajayega nah? “

“Abe aaya toh khana banwayenge. Tab toh sala pakke se bhaag jayega.”

I shouted, “bhen…. Main yahi hooon. Main bhi aaa raha hoon…”

Ignored as I always was, they went out. I followed them, and I could feel I didn’t need to walk. I can fly!

I entered Effins.  I looked at the drinks and I thought the world was fine. But then I realized I couldn’t drink. What the fuck is the use of being ghost? I looked at the beauties around me and thought of taking off their clothes. But why to unfold when you can’t hold?

Frustrated as I was, I looked at the faces around me and it got amplified.  Most of them, tired students, drinking just to drive away the frustration. One flash and I was inside the department. I saw students going to their labs, cursing their decision of so called “Higher Education.” I saw students waiting outside the department office. Cursing as hell, with all the possible slangs in their mother tongue. How I wished he had a secret translator outside his office. I thought of blowing of the whole department but then why waste when you can change. I entered the official’s body and approved all the POS forms, all the intern request and changed grades for all those under probation.

I went to the corporate office and looked at the heavy heaps of job applications going for shredding. I pulled them all and signed all of them as Intern’s. And then I thought would they still be happy if they got the job? Nah… I went back to my country.  Entered the education minister’s office and passed a new amendment, “Free world for everyone! Do what you like the most and that’s education for you.”

I thought of poverty, I thought of corruption, but then I remembered that the other day, I had told my friend, if there was one woman on this planet with whom I would want to spend the rest of my life, it would be Jennifer Aniston.  I thought of going to Beverley Hills. I saw the city of angels being guarded by the light of life. It was 2 am but the streets were still flashing, throbbing with people making their way back to their boring routine. I entered the house hoping that she would be at home. I saw a light in the bedroom and holy shit! I saw her sleeping with another man.

Fuck Fuck!! I heard the ringing sound which was so familiar to me. I was afraid she might wake up and catch me. Fuck!! Why doesn’t it stop? Tring.. Tring… I opened my eyes to find myself in my sunken bed. The alarm ringing for me and so the reminder : Time to go to lab… Time to go to lab… 😦

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Walking and Talking (Episode 2) With God-by Prakash Raghupathi and Hardik Shukla

Disclaimer: This interview is fictitious and is in no way connected to Shekhar Gupta’s ‘Walk the Talk’. also, we have no intention to hurt anybody’s sentiments. its an interview..hmm..just like that..for fun 🙂

Our guest tonight is someone who we all love and fear. Tired of listening to umpteen questions Everyday, he decided to come on our show and answer some general questions that all of us have in our mind. Please welcome GOD.

WE: Thanks for being on our show

GOD: I bless you!

WE :why cant WE be at peace always

GOD: because peace begins from insides and unless your d@*k is satisfied you can never find peace. go fuck someone before life fucks you and then as time passes…you come to me crying again

WE: why do girls always have problems with the way WE are?

GOD: because they are never satified with the way they are. and thats why they try to find faults in you. they want to see the change in you which they could hv never brought in themselves

WE: WE dont know what to do with OUR life? can u tell US what OUR purpose in life is?

GOD:i gave you life.. i gave you parents.. i gave you the world to live in. now its your job to figure out what you want to do wit it? always remember ” wherever you heart is, there you will find your true treasure”

WE: that s the problem. WE dont know what to do with it? why cant u tell US

GOD: I gave you birth, i gave you home, i gave you food and now you expect me to teach you how to live life also? i sent you to earth because i was bored of having you There and now that you are on Earth, why the fuck are you eating my head?

WE: ok sorry! is smoking and drinking bad for health?

GOD: my child, Do you think i wld hv ever made ciggs and alcohol if it was bad?

WE: then why do people die of addiction?

GOD: if smoking and drinking is bad, thn so is eating right? have you ever imagined how many ppl die due to obesity? but can you stop eating? No, right? thn u shldn stop drinking and smoking also because everyone has to die someway or other. some lucky ones die due to addiction while others die due to lack of one!

WE: will WE go to heaven or hell after dying?

GOD: where do you want to go? hell has cute chicks, booze and smoke whereas heaven has peace!

WE: WE ll thnk about that later! tell me is it wrong to earn money?

GOD: Its bad to die with a huge bank balance!

WE: do u answer everyone’s prayers? or are you selective?

GOD: i am selective.. infact very selective..sometimes i let thm suffer first, sometimes i make thm achieve first and thn loose but yeah, i always help those who are true to me and those who can justify themselves evn if they are wrong. u see, ” guilt is irrelevant”

WE: interesting. what are your hobbies?

GOD: i like traveling around the world, i like torturing ppl, i like making thm fall in love, and on top of all this i like writing their destiny.

WE: what do u have to say about ego

GOD: there is a thin line between self respect and ego. ego is good until you hurt someone!

WE: any message you want to give to all the folks on earth?

GOD: i want you to understnad very clearly that, life is a one time oppurtunity.. so make full use of it.. fuck, smoke and drink! and leave the rest to me… bcoz without that i will be joblesss! i think its time for me to go.. m touring the world again.. astalavista!

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Music is everywhere. It’sin the whistling of the wind, it’s in the sound of the flowing river, it’s in the tapping of the feet, it’s in our IPod and more importantly it’s in the heart of the musician.
These days one listens to bands popping out every second with high drum beats and large amplifier swings. Their media of destruction is their music and the guitar is one of their weapons. It might be a high passion bang on the electric guitar or a low powered strum on the acoustic one, the sound is enough to send a pulse across the heart of even the dullest of souls. Most people would agree to the fact that they select their friends and food depending on their mood. Same is the case with guitars and the music that one plays.
“When I’m in a mood of complete relaxation, I’d rather play an acoustic with a soft plectrum or maybe just strum onto a malaguena salerosa to sooth things out. On a day when I feel like taking the world by storm, I wouldn’t mind having Slash’s electric at disposal. But for almost anything, a regular six string acoustic is good enough. It’s probably what you do with it that makes the difference!” says Aakar Desai begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting, a student at University of Southern California, LA and a guitarist plus vocalist.
There is a definite relation between the music you play and your mood. It’s funny how some strums on your guitar take you down the memory lane and make you remember the people in your life at that time and relation you shared with them. On a tiring day when you feel nothing worked out good for you, you start plucking your guitar gently and try to drive away the lament. When in a good mood, kick the pedal and start jamming.
It’s amazing how different guitars when strummed in the same way produce different sounds. That comes from the kind of wood used in making guitar and the type of strings used. Thicker strings produce the most brilliant sounds whereas lighter strings are easier to pluck and fast to play. Guitars are usually referred to as acoustic or electric. There is a major difference in the way they produce sound. Plucking or strumming of strings in an acoustic guitar produces vibrations which are amplified by the body of the guitar whereas the electric guitars rely on amplifiers to produce sound. A typical Fender acoustic guitar can range from $300 to $1500. As a beginner one can start with cheaper guitars in the range of $100-$200 and as one masters the instrument, they can go for costlier ones. Electric guitars are comparatively expensive as they come with lots of options on board for changing tone. A step further into the technology, Gibson has launched a new series of guitars with Robot tuners. This Robot SG special series has tiny servo motors fitted on the tuning peg. Once the Multi-Control-Knob is pressed, the guitar is tuned to the desired tuning.
Guitar amplifiers are generally used to amplify the sound coming out from guitar and modify its tone. Amplifiers are selected based on the kind of sound desired out of them. Traditional guitar amplifiers were built using tubes and have a nice warm tone. But they are expensive and require maintenance. Then came the solid state amplifiers which produced a much cleaner sound than their predecessors. These days there are a lot of amplifiers in the market which are hybrids of traditional tube amps and solid state ones. It’s upon an individual to figure out what they want out of there guitar and amplifier.

Amps with most basic options like treble and bass can cost around $40-$50.Price increases with added features on amp. For more information check this Web site:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Guitar-Amplifiers—Effects-Guitar.gc

Take your guitar and let the music say what words never could.

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Life!!

I looked at the clock once again, with anxious eyes, waiting for it to strike 9. And i wondered when i wanted time to stop, it just flew by and now when i want it to pass, it wants to hold on, dragging me deep in to the past. With this thoughts in mind, i looked at things around me. The empty vessels, the sound of churning of flour and the stagnant dial arms and i wondered is this what i asked for? Is this what i came for? Cleaning dishes and packing food and we thought knowledge is power. Yes it is but with bucks in your pocket.

And i remembered what i saw in library the other day. A student dressed up as a waiter, getting ready for his work. A student cleaning up the library floor. A few thoughts forward and i remembered a student just like me, cutting trees in college. And i thought, money for sure is life and i was convinced it can buy anything.

A few thoughts forward and i remembered what my Professor had said the other day in class, ” The funny thing about life which we always forget is that, you can always change direction but time, time can never be reversed.” I looked at myself and i knew it was true.

When i was coming to U.S., i was told it’s the land of oppurtunities. It’s the land where all dreams come true. The enthusiasm with which i had packed my bags while leaving from India, i still wonder will i ever be able to gather my stuff to go back with that enthu? And now i know the answer.

I still remember very clearly the day when i had written in my best friend’s diary,” I dont know will life ever be possible without you?” and i know i am still alive. Happy with other friends. But i know i will never be able to hold someone again and say,” I won’t be able to live without you.”

The other day i remembered my friends talking about Californication, “Beer for water, smoke for air and bitch for beaches.” I now know my blood group is smoke +.

With this thoughts i took a cigarette in my hand, a coffee in another and i remebered what my friend used to say,” Yaar… life bade chutte cheez hain.”

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This is my attempt to write an overture to The Fountainhead!

Born on the 15th august, he was taught the lessons of independence right from his birth. He wanted to cry but his mother took him in his arms. He was paddling his first steps; they put him in a walker. He wanted to eat mud and they kept a bottle in his mouth. He wanted to stand face to face with God but they made him bow down. He wanted to play and they kept him in a school.

He took a page, drew the first sketch of his life; they drew a big zero in his book and told him to draw like that. He read Shakespeare say,” The world is a stage.” And they put him in the cage of exam. He was wondering why Newton was the first one to see an apple falling on the ground. They threw him in the pit hole of success. He entered his youth wanting to do nothing; they put him in a college to study. He was loitering around aimlessly and they labeled him a loser.

He took a cigarette to smoke and they labeled him an addict. He boozed and they labeled him a drunkard. He fell in love and they labeled him a flirt. He tried to get close to his friends and they labeled him a parasite. He made them laugh and they labeled him a joker. He took a step different from the world and they labeled him dangerous. He fought, he suffered and he paid, but they won. But his creation wasn’t promoted to please anyone. They never cared for it. They never wanted it. He stood tall on his truth but they buried it. He invented but they presented it. Deprived of all his thoughts, he continued to fight a losing battle. But there is nothing like winning to the Creator. What he feels is the only truth he believes. His individuality is his only weapon but they kept a scabbard of collectiveness on it. Collectiveness is a nation wide disease and you will find millions of losers all around the world standing tall on each other’s shoulders. They follow the ethics, they live a life of code and they get labeled as mavericks. Man is an individual, not a collection. There is no such thing as collective brain. It’s either yours or theirs. He thinks, he believes, he makes. And every single time he falls, he invents a way out.
And today, he stands alone. High above the earth, on the embark of a new civilization which he will built and they will destroy!

The mind is a free bird, but the cage these days is the sky!

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The Perfect One

I once asked my ex-gf, “How do you find the The Perfect One?” She smiled and said,” I looked into your eyes and I knew you were The Perfect One for me.” I looked into hers and I found she was the one for me. A month later we broke up.

I don’t know how people fall in love and stay together for the rest of their lives. That till date has never happened with me. This does not mean that I have never been in love. I have been. Not once but a million times, only to discover later that she wasn’t The Perfect One for me. It’s said that love is friendship. That never happens in my case. I look at a girl and it’s always love at first sight. Later we become friends and I realize I was a fool to jump into the relation so fast. I guess it’s the initial excitement of meeting a new person that attracts you towards them. First meetings have always been too exciting for me. I would call my friend every time after I meet a new girl and say,” She is the most amazing person I have ever met… I will never meet someone like her ever in my life. Shits… I think I am in love. She makes my world go boom boom.”

A week later when my friend asks about that girl,” Nah… she isn’t that good. She bores me to hell with her talks. I am not even in touch with her these days.” I have never been a good listener. I can talk talk and talk all day long. But when it comes to listening I suck! I get scared when people get emotional with me and end up cracking jokes. Yeah, that’s one department I need to work on if I want to be with The Perfect One.

I have heard people say,” You die once, you live once. And love also happens only once.” What bullshit? It happens a million times. It happens every single time you see a hot blond walking by your side. But whenever I am with a girl, I always think this is it. I can never love anyone as I love her. Love is like vodka, the more you drink the more you want to have it. And in the morning once the hangover starts you realize what big mistake you made and you regret it for the rest of your day. Weekend again, and you risk it for one more time.

So by far you would have guessed I still haven’t found The Perfect One for me. Yeah, I am still waiting. One fine day, I will meet someone; I would want to listen to her for all day long. I would want to be with her for the rest of my life. Till then keep hitting!

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Love story

It was a usual Saturday morning. The Dharwad railway station was throbbing with the labourers returning to their village after a week of hard work, the Engineers going back home to enjoy the weekend and the business man making their usual trips. A loud whistle was heard as the Dharwad Express prepared for its journey. A few goodbyes were exchanged and the train was on its way. Loud cries of babies filled the compartment as angrypeople continued their fight for seats. With the end of the last verbal fight, the atmosphere seemed to settle a little. Away from all this things, Sunil was busy looking out of the window. It was a sight he usually enjoyed. Lush green fields and fresh air. He didn’t need all this to dream for he seldom had few. He was 15 when his father died. He was forced to quit his studies and start working. They had a small grocery shop at the end of the city. His usual Saturday trip included meeting the retailers in Chennai and getting the goods for the shop. He was a stranger to the train and so was the train to him. The silence was broken by the voice of the ticket checker. He showed him the ticket and was again lost in his thoughts till he noticed a little disturbance at his opposite seat. The girl had lost her wallet and was finding it hard to explain to the TT that she did buy a ticket who refused to believe her. Apparently he was looking for some extra money and when he found that nothing was really available he threatened to take her to the next police station. Strange it was that the young girl with such a cute face was finding it hard to get any help from her fellow passengers. Sunil couldn’t see the plight of the girl and offered to pay the money. With a cunning smile on his face the TT accepted the little bonus.

“Where do you stay?”

“Dharwad .”

A moment of silence followed.

“What do you do?”

“I work.”

One more moment of silence and the girl couldn’t take it anymore.

“You seem too young to work.”

“Well, I have to.”

“Why?”

He had never thought that all in his life anyone would ask him this question. It brought out the pain in his heart. He didn’t know why he answered this question but the train was no longer a stranger to him. He kept on meeting her every weekend in the same train. They used to talk about what all he did the whole week and the girl used to amuse him by all her hostel stories. She was the only friend he had.

It was one of their usual meetings when she told him that she was getting engaged and now she is permanently shifting to her hometown. He didn’t know what to say. For the rest of the journey they didn’t talk. And then came the moment of farewell. She hugged him for one last time and gave him a bouquet.

A few years passed and Sunil was on his usual trip to retailers shop. On the way he saw a flower shop. He stared at the flowers with tears in his eyes. The young lady at the shop came out.

“So, you are in love.”

“How do you know?”

“Otherwise you won’t be staring at them.”

“What does that mean?”

“Those are I love you flowers. You want one for your loved one?”

Silence filled the air. The world stood still for him. He was never loved before by anyone. And now that he knew he was, it was gone. With tears in his eyes he looked at the lady again.

“NO, Thanks.”

And the train was once again a stranger to him.

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