Its been a while I posted something and a lot has happened in the past two months. College got over and I got a job. It seems that the fun days have finally gotten over. Its hard to believe that I actually enjoyed ACJ. New friends, new things to do; a perfect recipe for fun.
Its also hard to believe that i finally got my diploma .

Manchester United thrashed Arsenal 4-0 in the 5th round of the F.A cup. I did not catch the match but rather the highlights. Utd really turned on the style. For once they lived up to their reputation of being the best in England. This happened just a week after they were beaten at home by Man City. What extremes!!!!!
Anyway this really made up my weekend. I was literally floating on clouds for the rest of my time. Even pending reports and features couldnt disturb my mood.
This week I am the desk editor for our site. My dream job. I get to boss around people. Added to the joy Gita ma’am is helping us out this time instead of MJ.
And i finally got my guitar back. My brother finally relented and my first love is back where it belongs. Thats the good news. The bad news is that i forgot how to play it and my guitar is punishing me. My fingers have become soft and playing the chords is painful. Its like learning it all over again.
I tried coating my fingertips with glue and left it to dry so as to make it hard but to no avail. But A Dio piacendo I’ll be able to overcome this difficulty.

This is Vandana Shinde. She lives in Bhadumari in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra. Her husband committed suicide because of crop failure and left her with two small children and Rs. 85, 000 in debts. She has neither her family nor her in-laws to support her. She works in her village and gets Rs 25 per day. On account of her children she works only 3 or 4 days in a week.  Whatever she gets from her work goes in paying the debts she took those days when she was not working.
She has 3.5 acres of land but that is not cultivable.

Some old friends came down today. Its funny that I am gaining  back all my friends with whom I never kept in touch with, since leaving college. I must have barely called them once or twice during the past year but when we met up its like we never lost touch. The same old friendliness and joy.
But I am slowly losing all the guys with whom i used to keep in touch. To add cynicism one might say ‘ Familiarity breeds contempt’. When you look at things or people from an outsider’s perspective it looks much different than when you are involved in that given situation.
Khushwant Singh once said that he never got close to people because he did not want to get hurt. But that is really an escapist idea. Its like not going outdoors just because one is scared of the sun. In today’s world it is just impossible to live without interacting with people. And it is highly possible that one will get close to some people. And Life does not judge you by how many people you are close to rather how you deal with them.

One of the most hectic weeks I have ever had in ACJ. I was the reporter for this week. God knows how i managed to write the report. But it was fun. I got kicked out from a poultry shop. I told them i wanted some pictures for my report and they start accusing me of driving away all their customers due to my reports. It reminded me of Vandana Shinde who also had the same thought in mind.

Journalists are not the  most loved people.  Its almost a thankless job.  Taking hell from everybody and trying desperately to make a change, but failing hopelessly. It made me think regarding my reasons for choosing this profession. If it is just to make a buck then I am really wasting my time here. Its like using the Swiss pen knife for just a single use. Its foolish actually.

Three days have gone by without me recharging my phone. It feels great to say the least. Now my life is not governed by this instrument. Its like I’m reclaiming my life. I’ve already given up my guitar, my worldspace. But giving up my phone would mean that even my mom or my aunt will not be able to contact me. That is not something I think I should be doing at this point in my life.

Why do we believe in God? Is it out of fear or the fact that we want to shift the cause of our troubles on someone else? For me believing in God does not involve fear. Its like knowing your parents, your best friend and your lover; all at the same time. Its like knowing that you will always have someone to guide you through life.

Will friends always be there for you? Thats a very difficult question to answer. Our friends also have their commitments  and their own lives. And in a way it will be selfish to expect them to help you out everytime you need help. That is why i believe that ‘every man is an island’. They have to chart their own course through the sea of life and they should not depend upon other people’s help.

 My best buddy is in Chennai to collect some of his stuff. This will probably be his last visit and i am really going to make sure we have the best time. I am planning to invite all the gang from college days just for a day, to reminscence the old days.

Click here to get your own player. Here my friends and i discuss the issue of illegal music and whether music should be free or paid for. Not surprisingly we all seemed to be of the same mind