Behind the scenes

It was exactly a year ago. I had resigned from my job at Infineon...to "chill out" before I went for my PG ; one way - the Indian School of Business or the other - the university of Michigan.
Chill out I did. If you can call a landslide-cyclone packed trek in Sikkim + a weekend out in pristine Agumbe + a vacation in Singapore, Malaysia and Kashmir, that ;)

In between setting off on this tangent (:)) I had been to Texas Instruments[TI], Bangalore for an audition for a short film they were making. I very well knew I would be gone soon and that the film would take some time (considering it was an unconventionally creative venture by ..umm engineers). Yet the idea of acting kept me mum (I did not lie, mind you) so I could relish a few rehearsals atleast if I could.
So I walked in sheepishly that evening into the TI studio. I had not acted for more than 3 years then. Som, Neeraj and Prashant (my friend from RVCE who had called me for auditions) were all there. No smiles, no sweet-nothings. It was so silent I almost heard their thoughts. Just another outsider desperate to get on camera. Everybody else was from TI. "Relax" I told myself. "Be humble. Just do your best".
They had a piece from a Jack Nicholson movie that they handed us all to act out by turns. The first rendition was the conventional one, as had to be. I went over it as did 3-4 other people. I could sense the jury (Som and Neeraj) already handing the role to their colleague who I felt I did better than (you must take my word that I was objective). It was then that Neeraj , I think, had this brilliant idea of doing the scene - CRAZILY. Believe me, only he could think of it. I was thankful that they were actually interested in digging out talent and not just looking for someone who could only do one role (that they had in mind) well.
Cameras rolled, and I, for one, couldn't wait to do it.
"You are the same character. But show villainy". They told me. The plot, let me explain, was a woman talking a detective into proving her husband unfaithful.
I jumped into it. Thankfully all the years had not curbed the spontaneity. I felt I was getting back to being myself. I felt alive.

It went okay-ish. Maybe I overacted. They gave me some feedback and I did it again. I could tell I got their attention what with reminding the detective his lines too and helping him pronounce my 'husband's' name...

Next they could have been throwing a meteor at me. They asked me if a certain Ms Sawant was to be the woman, how would she do it? I pleaded for some mercy but got none. "Alright, bring it on." Only once when I was doing it did I catch Som's eye. I did not stop to analyse the look. When I was done, something told me I had gotten the role. Suddenly I felt like I had known them for so long. Som and Neeraj and I - it felt like - we were online friends meeting for the first time. We spoke the same language. Prashanth stood behind, beaming. It was one of the happiest days of my life. Thanks Prashanth, for making that call!

They were rehearsals every week and the thought of my post-graduation went out the window. Neeraj's antics with the dialogues, the kidnapping scenes, our improvisations...ooo I didn't have enough.
I did have some time before I had to take a call. I asked myself if I couldn't stay on and do this all my life..? Had these guys been regular film makers, or had I been in TI, maybe I would have done that. Really.
The next morning I called Som and told him of my PG admit. He was cool about it. It was so easy to tell him, as it was to tell Neeraj. Only Vibhor, the third juror :P (Prashanth told me later) complained that I should have not come for auditions if I didnt mean to see it through. As for Prashanth, he was in it all the time :) A true friend.
Whatever Vibhor thought and whatever anyone else said, I know I was guilty on that account, but that one 'crime' won me happy moments and 2 invaluable friends who I truly adore for their creativity. They reinstated the faith in me that even among engineers can be people like them. Som, Neeraj, Prashanth this one's for you guys.
Cut!

To sir, with .... :)

Like silver lining in a cloud
You showed up out of BLUE



Turning something I dread
to what I can endure



Your power subdues all noise,
a spike here and a glitch there -
so easily you leak them away
and make it seem all fair.

Everything falls in place
When I hear from your mouth,
Accolades and honours have passed
Yet there is no sign of wear out :)

I cant help smile as you go on
oh yes, about process variation
No wonder you are good at it,
I can sense that in my system ;)

I care not about threatening glares
When I vote for you to go on
Sometimes the only hand up
That you so adoringly reckon

But for your charm and wit,
it would all go for a toss
Anybody else would have made it
a mere VLSI class ;)

Spring... finally..!

The chill recedes little by little
Still hard to know, its so subtle
The 'fair' world that was
Turns over a new leaf..

Fingers turn back alive
In the dead of the night
You wonder suddenly
why you care less for coffee

People step out
Healthy joggers or stout
Kids come out of nowhere
Happy to be on their feet

Ducks fly back to melted lakes
Squirrels jump out from their hiding place
The sun flashes an endless smile
And you realize it is spring indeed!

Bangaloooooooore!!!!

Miles away and across seas
I look through my window, longing to see
The familiar rustle of the peepul tree
That has grown old with me

Just as I strain my eyes
To look yet for the lanes
That I've painfully left behind
Hoping to go back to again

The 'cool' joint, golas and guppe
CCD's strawberry frappe....
To one I owe the spice in me
To the other, my meethi baatein ;)

The 8th mile was my fave abode..
As much as comm street and MGs
So was south end, away from crowds
Into tenderly sprawling trees

I miss your rains.. long rides on my bike..
Rushing in the last hour for movie tickets..
Where I am is still a quiet life
But there was calm in your busiest markets

Pandora's box, that's what you are
With so much tucked in your kitty
I would only play down your charm
If I called you a mere city

I'd rather say a mother
You've raised me like my other
Through sunny days, in wind and gale
That I can love you no lesser

Can't imagine being anywhere else
The thought of you rings a thousand bells
My book of memories closed for now
Stay put,
I'll return,
your's in love :)

A night to remember ;-)

A boy of five, was I
'twas the best of summer time,
Away from the evil school
My hols were going just fine :)

This day I sauntered into the house
Smelly and hungry like a fat mouse
When mommy turned and flashed her smile
"Darling, you'll be on your own tonight"
There was this important late night party
that she had to go to with daddy
I was brave and old enough, wasn't I ?
and it was only a few hours' time.

I smiled to myself bubbling with thoughts
Of what all I could do and what not !
Here at last was my share of freedom..
Oh, how I would boast to my friends at dawn !!

No sooner did they turn their back on me
I rushed to the refrigerator in glee,
stuffing myself with forbidden goodies,
scheming my next action already...
Dad's room had this mammoth bath tub
The only time I'd used it, it badly needed a scrub :P
But here it was bouncing happily at my plan,
God only knows for how long I swam !
Exhausted at last, I stretched on the hammock
In mom's balcony, we dangerously rocked,
picturing the stories I would tell my friends,
smiling away at my unforeseen luck...
And lo! he stepped into my sight,
creeping towards me, dark as the night;
I screamed in terror as he approached,
helpless as I was as I swung to and fro.
The most feared enemy of us all -
he blocked my way into the hall
I couldn't stop my hammock, blow,
the only other way was the 3 floors' fall !!
I tasted my tears trickling down,
all my heroics swiftly drowned..
I must have been screaming really loud,
or I 'd have heard my parents back in the house.

My dear brave mother came to the rescue -
producing a broom from out of the blue,
she banged on the spider until he was dead...
and took me in her arms while my dad shook his head.

I just (re)called to say…

Infineon turns a grand old ten

Dating back (no pun) I was in school then!

Nevertheless since I have been here

There is many a reason to have no fear

1

The super power it is - is one

No matter if it reduces it some

To appease the energy tight market

Shrinking as it grows instead.

“Never stop shrinking??!”

2

Generally generous – number two

The money we make is good & true

Though we love to whine and curse

We sure can have a good fat purse

3

Perks to iron out our lives – three
How I love flaunting them, gee
Food, WFH, refunds galore
Even if we can do with some more ;)

4

Talk of travel – that’s a big four
With heavenly places on Earth to explore..
Haven’t most of us had that chance?
A sumptuous stay or a fleeting glance..?

5
EMF, centre stage – is high-five ;)

For trying to keep us all alive!

Amidst stressful work weeks

They gel fun with surprising ease

6
No ugly scandals – and that’s a six!
You see; ghosts and employees aren’t mixed
Though with some, you can’t tell one from the other: P
They aren’t a matter of national bother.

7, 8
Hmmm seven and eight ???
Better there than late -
I say it is TT and the games
Without which we’d go insane.

9

“Networking” I’ll say comes at nine
Count “in-house couples” and you’ll take time ;)
Lonely souls who wouldn’t have met..
But for…, hey no points for that guess !

Last, not least, at a staggering ten
Kudos to the spirit of our women and men

Who make pieces of a grand jigsaw

No puzzle, Infineon inspires awe.

India

Behold if you are from foreign lands
When you step on Indian sands
It is best you know what awaits you
From an insider who speaks only the truth ;-)
The reason for you to come
Could be travel, work or fun
Whatever the reason might be
The other two are offered free!
Not exactly, if there are conmen on the way..
..But you can retaliate in their language -
Which is not easy all said and done
With quite a few you'll have to learn..
But you'll find people ready to help
Coming to your rescue on the slightest yelp
But if you are not a one for crowds
You must escape to nature's abode
The mountains, rivers and the forests
Will give your eyes no time to rest
And after that long, tiring journey
When you realize you are hungry
You must taste every variety of food
Else coming here would be no good
Only you might want to go low on spice
Unless you want to turn red in a trice
Colours .. oh! you'll find aplenty
In skins, cultures and nature's bounty
The latter due to the many seasons -
Diversity, yet again, finds a reason.
But then the place will grow on you
And you'll feel you belong, no matter how new
You'll know what I mean if you'll stay
With a native of this land even for a day
Here I take your leave ;)
Any more you mightn't believe !