First Offcial Letter - A Flashback

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[This could be 'yet another' very boring post from me. Be aware.]

I distinctly remember the first ever official (professional) mail I had sent. In May 2005, when the HR of the company had sent a mail asking me to confirm that I would join the company, I had to send my first ever official mail. Not having any exposure and not knowing anything about the "so called software culture", I was wondering why would anyone turn down an offer?

The later had come from someone called Kanchan. With a lot of eager and enthusiasm, I clicked the 'Reply' button and for a long time, I couldn't type even a single word. How to address the person? Respected? or Dear? I was in a great dilemma, and even the bigger doubt is, is that a He or She? I asked my father and he was not sure.

So, I called my sister and asked 'Is Kanchan a female name?' and she was not sure. She said it is a female's name, but not confidently. I reasoned 'Kanchana is a female name... Kanchan should be a male name only... but is very odd...' After agreeing to join the company on the given date, I had the next big hesitation.

How to end the letter? All the training I had ever had was to finish the letter with 'Thanking You, Yours Obediently' or 'Yours Faithfully' or 'Yours Truly'. Nothing seemed right. So, I called my other friend who got placed in another company and asked him how to finish the letter. He said, "Start with Hi and end with Thanks..."

Not convinced with his answer, I started the letter with 'Respected Sir,' and ended the letter with 'Yours Sincerely'. The fact is, Kanchan was a female HR ;)

ஏன்டா?

டேய்... நீ ஒரு பொண்ண love பண்ணா அத அந்த பொண்ணு கிட்ட போய் சொல்லு... இல்ல, நேர்ல சொல்றதுக்கு பயமா இருந்த chat ல சொல்லு... அதுக்கு வக்கு இல்லனா  mail ல சொல்லு... இல்லன்ன SMS அனுப்பு... Indirecta  blog ல சொல்லு... இல்ல creative ஆ எதாவது யோசிச்சு செய்டா...

இப்ப நடக்குற கதை எல்லாம் கேட்டா... அவன் அவன் 9th 10th லையே fix பண்ணி,   அந்த பொண்ணு எந்த High  School ல சேருதோ அதே  school ல சேந்து Collage வரைக்கும் follow பண்ணி, படிப்ப முடிகுறப்ப  marriage வரைக்கும்  plan பண்ணி settle ஆய்கிட்டு இருக்காங்க...

நீ என்னன்னா, 'I love [some name]' னு கோவில் செவுத்துல oil வச்சு எழுதுற... ஏன்டா கொவில கலீச் ஆகுறனு கேட்டா 'என் காதல் தெய்வீக காதல் சுண்ணாம்பு காதல் னு சொல்லி வாய கேளருவ... சரி டா... கோவில் செவுத்துல எழுதுற... ok... ஏன்டா train toilet ல எழுதுற?

ஒரு பக்கம் வேற ஒருத்தன் அசிங்கம் அசிங்கமா வரஞ்சு வச்சுருகான், இன்னொருத்தன் கொச்சையா ஒரு  கவிதை (மாறி ஒரு கருமத்த) எழுதி   வச்சுருக்கான்... பக்கத்துலையே நீ 'I love [some name]' னு எழுதுற... உனக்கே கொஞ்சம் ஒரு மாறி இல்ல? திருந்துங்க டா... உருபுடுங்க டா... படுத்தாதீங்க டா...

[Don't Say] Happy Independence Day!

I really hate it when people show insincere love or fake care or pretense. It is not their act which sickens me, but the fact that I can't do anything about it. I know that it is fake and they know that I know that and I know that they know that I know that... etc. But still, diplomatically, you have to say 'Thank You' or at least give a fake smile back.

That is the reason I don't like when a lot of people simply say 'Happy Birthday' or 'Happy Diwali' etc. Most of the times, people wish others for diplomatic reasons 'oh... he/she wished me, I have to wish him/her back' or 'he/she wished him/her, so, I should also wish him/her'. Even if only a few people wish you, it should be sincere and it should come from their heart.

At least the other kind of wishes are necessary for the social lubrication, but why fake a 'Happy Independence Day'? How many of the people who say 'Happy Independence Day' really care about it? How many of you are still patriotic? You may like a particular political party (God only knows why) and you are going to vote for them even though you know that they may swindle India if they get a chance. Or you may not even vote.

Army people can say 'Happy Independence Day'. They are patriotic. Children can say 'Happy Independence Day' as they are truly happy about it as they may get toffy. Other facebookers, google+ers, bloggers saying 'Happy Independence Day' is bull shit.

When getting to know about politicians who have 10 or 12 digit number money in foreign country banks, what was your initial thought? "What are they going to do with that much money?", or "I would be happy if I can get a very small portion of that money", or "Bastards/Bitches, they are swindling my country, let them go to hell" I don't know how many will truly think about it from the country's stand point.

I love my country. I love her so much that now I can only pity her or even hate Her that She can't do anything about it and I can't do anything about it. I am not happy or proud the way She is now. She smiles and bestows wealth, fame and fortune even to the people who destroy Her. May the Gods be with her and bless her and give her real independence from the corruption within Her.

 So, if you are going to post 'Happy Independence Day' on your Facebook wall and 'Like' all the girls' similar status and check your mailbox for the old mail titled 'Proud to be an Indian' and send it to all your contacts in BCC and then go and sit in front of the TV (or computer) and spend the rest of the day without giving a damn about the Independence day, please save yourself some 1 or 2 minutes... Don't post that 'H I D' in your wall or send a mail. India is not going to miss your wishes and your contacts definitely are not going to miss your wishes.

Tamyl MaDrimony

Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I didn't think I would be ready and willing to take the risk, but recently after my friends have either got married or gone to US, I have started to feel somewhat lonely and confused. I was out of mood for few days and I told one of my other friends about this. That wise guy replied, "It is time you have to start to look for marriage alliance. I too felt the same when my close friends got married, but trust me, you will get over this in two weeks." [The same thing which I had discussed about an year ago in this post.]

So, after some embarrassing moments I told my father to start looking for a bride and consequently, my matrimonial profile was created. It was quite exciting, I have to agree. That day, I told my friend that I am in a mixed feeling and showed my profile. He saw that and told me, the "'about you' is not selling... because my profile had sports and technical interest there... I started to browse through other profiles. There were so many profiles and one of the profiles seemed charming, and strangely, the details given were in accordance with my interest; and the expectation of the profile was matching my profile.

Immediately, the negative chain of thought started its duty by telling/thinking, 'no... the girl looks very beautiful... they will not give yellow+blue to you... bla...' and is defended by the positive chain of thoughts 'why not? you are a good person, you earn well and you also look handsome...bla bla [don't mind that guy... he will tell/think anything to make me feel better ;)]' Anxiety, excitement, angst, fear, the two minds, kept me awake very late that I even started to starve and had to cook dosa and have it at 3 AM.

The next day, I pinged my [another friend] and told him 'started to look for a bride and this is my profile description, please give me your feedback'. He has some experience with the sites and profiles as he had used it for two of his brothers and himself. Even before he gave feedback about the description, he said, "It does not matter what you have in the profile". I was confused and asked him why. He said, "I have tried bride-searching for three persons as of now and everyone got married by friend's/relative's contacts and none of us got an alliance through these sites.

Wow... that was a big honest feedback. He explained as to how he is positive that bride-searching through the sites is not going to help/happen. He then formally welcomed me to the 'bride-searching paradigm' where you start to look for an alliance and you will get married after an year or two. Suddenly everything was clear. The excitement hit the low ground like tan(90). So, in my case, I didn't need two weeks to get over the excitement, but just a five minutes chat and wisdom from my friend was enough.

The next day, I was able to sleep peacefully and splendidly. Cia la vie.

Good Morning

What do you think is the best way to start a day? Of course, it depends on a lot of things, and there would be a lot of many amazing ways you can start a day. Here I am just going to tell you one of the million possibilities to kick off a great day.

Some months ago, I stumbled on a youtube video, which does not fail to raise my energy level every time I watch it. It is true that music can control people's emotion and this one especially will increase your energy level.

Have a blast!

My Top 10 Tamil Old Songs

The following is my list of Top 10 old Tamil Songs. [Why is this post in English? Well, this post was written around an year and half and I have been thinking of translating this to Tamil for the past six or seven months. Since it is now clear that I would never translate it, I am posting it in English rather than keep it till... say... forever...]

10) Senthemizh Theanmozhiyaal - Maalai Itta Mangai
No top 10 old Tamil songs list would be complete if this song is not there. A lovey romantic song.

9) Samarasam Ulavum Idame - Rambayin Kathal
This song is mainly in this list for the majestic voice of Seekazhi Govindarajan.

8) Kannale Pesi Pesi Kolladhe - Adutha Veetu Pen
A very good romantic song, with very good lyrics. It is here mainly because of the romantic note in this song.

7) Ullam Enbadhu Aamai - Paarthal Pasi Theerum
Philosophical song with a good melody.

6) Naan Kaatru Vaanga Ponen -Kalangarai Vilakam
A very romantic song indeed.

5) Kanne Raja Kavalai Vendam - Bhagyalakshmi
I get touched whenever I listen to this song, as this is one of the songs my mom use to sing whenever I found difficult to sleep when I was a kid

4) Naan Aanai Ittal -Enga Veetu Pillai
Should I tell anything about this song? One of the most energetic songs in the old-Tamil-movie era.


3) Malarnthum Malaraadha - Paasa Malar
An unbelievable song. If not for the melancholy, this would have been in the top of the list.

2) Ullathil Nalla Ullam - Karnan
Wow... what a song! - kinda song is this one.

1) The number song is... is... is...

Are you ready? What is your song?

Here we go...

1) Neerodum Vaigaiyile - Paar Magale Paar

I had a great dilemma whether to keep this or Malarndhum Malaradha in the first place. Both are unbelievably awesome songs! Aren't they?

This is my list. There would definitely be awesome songs I would have left. Let me know the songs which you think 'without this song, any top 10 list wont be valid'. I would love to hear those songs. If you have read this till this line (or jumped directly), thank you and here is the reward :)

Injustice - Part I

[Description: This post contains very offensive content. If at any point of time you think that you may be offended, you can stop reading this post. I wont want any of my visitors to get offended or hurt. Readers' discretion is required.]

[You can safely skip to the next paragraph to start reading the actual content. I feel disappointed about myself to have broken the self commitment I have made a long time ago, twice within five months in this year... I committed that I would write at least one blog per month and I have failed due to my recent change in my lifestyle. I wish and promise that I will do my best to keep the commitment at least from this month.]

The amount of attention and care my five months old nephew needs has made me to realize that one of the greatest injustices the parents can do to a child is to (first) give birth to it and continue to do their own business (or work). I use to advice my friends that 'after marriage one of the parent should quit their job or business and be a full time parent'. I use to get two kinds of reply. To think much of it, I use to get three kinds of reply.

One of the replies is that, 'Yes da... it should be the case'. It may be a sincere reply or just a reply to escape from my mokka. The second type of reply is that 'Yes, it should be the case, but, what would you do if your wife denies to quit and continue to go to work? Will you quit?'. Not for the sake of 'I am in an argument and I have to do anything to win it', but the honest-at-that-moment reply from me would be 'Yes!'. And this would immediately go to (a more) cliche discussion of 'Then you will have absolutely no respect... bla... bla... bla...'

Coming to think of it, it is a stupid reply. A child needs its mother more than its father, at least for an year. A child should have nothing other than milk for the first six months and it should NOT even have water! In case of summer the child can be fed a little water. And for one year it is recommended to be fed from the mother with other food items also. I am just wondering how mothers get back to work in 3 or 4 months after the maternity leave. As soon as the child wakes up from sleep, it needs its mother. It cries till it sees its mother. What kind of an excuse do working women give to leave their new born child and go to work? Will they tell "Hmm... it is boring to be in house. I want to kill time"? Of course, they wont tell this blatantly and will usually cover this with more appealing logical statements.

The third kind of reply I get is "With the salary from one person, it is tough to raise a family". What a sweet reply! What does it mean to raise a family? To have a wife/husband and a kid (or kids)? The definition of raising a family stops just when the child is born. In my opinion, it should start after the child is born. Both parents leaving at 9 o'clock and coming back by 5 o'clock and then kissing and hugging the new born child seems disgusting, obscene and despicable. It is at least acceptable when the child is grown and is ready to go to school.

If you can't do that due to financial problem, it just means that you are not yet ready to raise a family. A child who spends its time with either of its parents in a 2BHK would have a fulfilling life than a child who scarcely sees its both parent together in a 3BHK. A child who can only afford Maggi noodles often but being with its parent more would have a fulfilling life than a child who can afford Pizza Hut pizza often but not their parents time. If it is the other case, where the child needs more of the goods than its dad and mother then there is a serious problem in bringing up the child, isn't it?

Thinking more in this subject, I think "I am working very hard to give my child a quality life" is either a lie or stupidity. I sometimes wonder whether people have an intrinsic desire for luxurious items for themselves and they just point-finger their child or married life or retired parents... Well... I want to write more on this topic but my quota for one post was over a long back. If time/mood/situation/courage permits, I would continue in this topic.

Completely Imaginary Story

[Disclaimer: This post might contain mild sensual content or obscene language and is not advised for young readers. Readers' discretion is required.]
Starring: He, and She

He was not sure whether 'everything' was alright. It all happened so fast that he couldn't believe that he is going to CCD (the notorious Cafe Cafe day) with his friend, She. Actually, the main thing he was not sure is whether she is just a friend or much much more [notice two much there :)].Having seen a lot of romantic Holywood movies, the moment She asked "Shall we go and have a cup of coffee in CCD?" he built a lot of dreams even when he was awake and he could barely say "Yes".

It was a fact that she also liked him and regarded him much much more than just a friend. Both of them, not having declared their interest, went to the CCD and naturally, though it was the first time both of them were going out with someone, their natural instinct made them to go and choose the two-seat-table in the farthest corner; the table was in the open space, outside the CCD building (of course, inside the CCD boundary) and has a fancy big umbrella to protect people who sit there for several hours from sun during day time.

It was really very embarrassing for him as this was completely new, but it was okay for him as He could clearly see that She is also a bit embarrassed and shy. They ordered some nonsense from the menu card and started talking as the sun set in the west. The professional ethics of CCD was maintained and a junk coffee was given after 30 minutes. For the sake of drinking, both of them had a sip and smiled nervously and placed the coffee in the table and started talking.

Time went by... The moon had come... The cool Bangalore breeze has started to gently lift the mood. He could clearly see the twinkle in her eyes, which said "You still don't know why we are here? You idiot" and the eyes giggled. He didn't know what became of him, but suddenly, He stretched his hand and held her hands which was placed for him for a long time. Seemed like the world had stopped to exist and She had become his world and He had become her world. They stopped talking. Their eyes stopped talking. She closed her eyes slowly. Holding her hand still, he leaned forward closing his eyes as his face was nearing her face.

======

That may be what He and She was thinking before the last line, but frankly, for me who was passing by by that time through that place, I thought, "Fuck! why don't these people get a room? There should be a strict law for people like these who create public nuisance. You assholes...." denying how pathetic I am to swear people who are living their life; though deep inside secretly happy for those people, but not willing to accept that I am pathetic, not them...

Irritating House Wife

Since the rest of the post will be some irritated angry rants, I would like to start with a small incidence which happened in my friend's team. My friend's team was having a casual conversation when they went for an team outing. Their manager asked everyone about what their expectation about their future wife and one guy told, 'I would like to marry a house wife' and everyone burst out laughing when the manager replied 'It will be illegal to marry a house wife'.

Now, actually coming to the post, I don't know how many of you thought 'it is not house wife, you idiot, it is home maker'. I was watching some stupid music channels where people call and blabber for sometime before we can watch a song. For the sake of asking the anchor asked 'what do you do?' and the lady replied 'I am a house wife'. Then the BFAH said sarcastically, 'So, you are not doing anything? You will simply be in your home?'. That lady got confused and he explained, 'you have to say "home maker" and not "house wife"'.

I was really pissed at that comment. I don't know when was this phrase 'home maker' invented. I think it was very recently started to be in normal usage. I think it was made normal because 'home maker' projects more esteemed sense than 'house wife' and people thought calling 'home maker' is better than calling 'house wife'? I don't really know. It does not matter how people call, whether 'house wife' or 'home maker', but what matters is, how they are treated. The term home maker actually means someone who is doing house keeping. A maid/servant could be called as a home maker, I think.

This applies mainly to the new phrase which is coined very often for handicapped people. First they were called 'handicapped', then they were called 'physically challenged' and then they were called 'differently abled' and I think in some places they are called 'special people'. I think they invented these new phrase so that such people are not hurt when they read handicapped/physically challenged etc. But IMO, it does not matter how it is written or how many new phrases government and other organization invents to make them feel better. What matters is the people's attitude towards them.

People should treat their 'house wife' or 'home maker' with respect, but not just in calling with fancy phrases. People should learn and treat handicapped people with as much respect as it would not hurt them. Giving too much respect/attention will only hurt them. People should be educated in that sense, instead of simply coining fancy phrases once in a few years and spend millions of dollars to simply change the phrases everywhere in the world.