tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:34:04 +0000(To be read the South Indian way)http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)Blogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-6686160858304368040Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:32:00 +00002009-11-14T14:43:59.336+05:30life's like thatDuring the course of the last year, I went back to both school and college for various reasons. What surprised me was my radically different feelings towards both the institutions. Walking back into school, the first thing that hit me was a gut wrenching feeling that too much had changed. There were new buildings everywhere, the watchman had changed, even the little temple looked different. It http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/11/alma-mater-revisited.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-7536197601228037033Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:12:00 +00002009-11-05T11:05:06.700+05:30the B word"We don't celebrate till every last one of us is placed." Just when I was convinced the competition could not get worse, just when I was convinced the only thing that mattered was a standard format sheet of paper with exaggerated accomplishments, just when I was convinced that the only thing that was of any significance in life was a company telling me I was worthy of being interviewed by lookinghttp://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/11/summer-surprise.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-1152940170833346867Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:17:00 +00002009-11-14T15:02:40.768+05:30arbitI am in one of my random moods.I feel like taking two and two and making 2 million 2 hundred twenty two thousand two hundred and twenty two. If I got that number right, I would be extremely happy. Since apparently I am dyslexic with maths. Which is really the point of this post. Let me assure you I wasn't always like this. I had a tremendous aptitude for maths. My kindergarten teacher firmly http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/10/quantitude.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-8365005140906483666Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:00:00 +00002009-10-15T23:34:23.374+05:30I don't know what is worse, wanting something so intensely it hurts and then not getting it, or succeeding in everything you do but never knowing what you want.The irony of life is, the people who want something desperately don't get it and the people who couldn't care less get it all and are unhappy anyway.Bottom line: Everyone is unhappy.If you are one of those lucky few who happens to have gothttp://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/10/road-to-hell.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-1383089350620180866Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:32:00 +00002009-09-19T23:36:16.684+05:30the B wordBeing at home in Chennai reminds me of what life outside B is like. (Life inside B can take some time to sum up since its a 24 hour, no sleep, no thought business) I am currently occupying myself by entertaining guests at home. The standard format of the situation is like this: People come over to the house, indulge in pleasant conversation with my parents, smile benovently at my brother and me, http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/09/break-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-8137369093566421746Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:21:00 +00002009-09-16T10:59:45.755+05:30short storiesShe lit the candles carefully, making sure the wax did not drip anywhere close to the black satin of her dress. Lighting the last one, she looked around to make sure the whole room glowed orange evenly.Uniformity. She liked uniformity in her work.Satisfied, she sat down to rearrange the white lace tablecloth neatly spread out on the floor. Making sure the edges were even, she placed the dishes http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/09/candle-in-wind.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-8115081854155140376Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:20:00 +00002009-09-04T12:11:16.159+05:30the B wordlistsIt is a nice, dreary, gray morning here at B. I am sitting in my room, gazing sadly at my preposterous blog count over the last three months - a grand total of three, out of which I had written one ages ago. I am also wrestling with some God awful normal distributions. And whining to myself about an assignment on Indian agriculture (It can make anyone feel suicidal!) And... I am thinking of all http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/09/hulla-hoo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-7819808021394206489Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:47:00 +00002009-11-05T11:01:22.476+05:30favouritesshort storiesShe was 7. She was at the annual sports competition. It was time for the running race. She loved running. Everyone told her she was no good at it, but she participated in all the races whenever she could. She just loved running. The brown tracks, the white lines, the red banner of the finish line, the spoonfuls of glucose offered after the race, the feeling of wind slapping against her face (she http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/04/race.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-5019418122557876336Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:02:00 +00002009-07-24T02:27:23.861+05:30the B wordOne month's up. I am not sure if I am supposed to be happy or sad about that. Mostly I just feel too sleep deprived to do any rational thinking. But in this one month, some things have become standardized - an unfailing routine that makes the adrenaline rush to your brain in the morning and puts you in autopilot for the rest of the day.Samples of routines and realisations of the last one month:1)http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/07/r-and-r.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-5863666721505537577Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:09:00 +00002009-07-11T09:36:12.205+05:30when i start thinkingLast year was a rough year. And as all the life coaches say, somehow, that is when you learn the useful lessons of life.My lesson from last year is something I think should be taught in school: Don't listen to anyone. Make your own choices, make your own decisions.Why do I say that? Because even the people who have your best interests at heart can lead you down the wrong path. Because people lovehttp://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/07/to-be-is-not-question.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-5461012621222615816Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:51:00 +00002009-07-05T00:18:31.951+05:30life's like thatOk, I am only doing this to calm my nerves. I am very bad at packing and when my mother joins me to pack things, we become the worst duo ever.Amma's philosophy is simple: Take the bare minimum. No wait, take only those things that you can cram together in one small Jansport backpack. That will definitely last you for two years.Me? I just try to leave the bare minimum behind.Everything I put in, http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/06/travails-of-packing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-5368708542058295446Sun, 24 May 2009 08:12:00 +00002009-05-24T20:44:32.318+05:30arbitIt has been my bane since childhood. I think my first tryst with the bindi was when I saw my baby pictures. Some genius adult had smeared huge black circles on my forehead and cheek when I was just a newborn. I was about five when I saw that picture, and I started howling when someone told me that that was me in all my gorgeous baby glory. Until then I had allowed my mother to put various dots http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/05/dots-and-dashes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-3289567585829980612Thu, 21 May 2009 15:12:00 +00002009-05-21T21:50:59.216+05:30generalI got my hands on The Fountainhead rather late- two months ago to be precise. I had tried reading it while in college, but could not make it past the first few pages. I disliked Roark and his flaming red (orange?) hair almost instantaneously and the small print and the book's thickness even more. So before Roark could start his career, my tryst with the book ended.Revisiting it two months ago, I http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/05/point-for-freedom.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-5858281747146788743Fri, 15 May 2009 10:00:00 +00002009-05-21T20:00:10.819+05:30arbitHas struck me big time. I sit at the computer, stare at the white space and can think of nothing to write about. I am telling you- the busier you are, the more you want to have free time to write and when you find that time, you can't think of anything to write about.Of course, in my case it could have been the Curse of the Lizard Family.My house has recently become home to all sorts of animals http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/05/writers-block.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-7197891721467158906Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:38:00 +00002009-04-28T15:08:47.964+05:30life's like thatMaami was in a black mood when she came over last Thursday. Her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren had come back from the USA for good, thanks to the recession and the son-in-law's sudden realisation of the value of India. While Maami was happy to spend time with them without the constant prickling sensation of seconds ticking away to departure time, she seemed to be quite annoyed with the "http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/04/tales-of-your-friendly-neighbourhood.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-5198077399940919827Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:08:00 +00002009-04-16T16:57:28.364+05:30short storiesThe sign on his table said ASTROLGER in big red letters. Below that, in smaller letters it said, HORSCOPE AND PAMMIST ALSO.The sign always upset him. He knew something was wrong with it (though he could never quite put his finger on what it was) but it also reminded him of what a bad "astrolger" he really was. But he could never bring himself to remove it as it was the only thing in the room thathttp://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/04/blog-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-8730714646411507330Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:39:00 +00002009-04-28T14:59:31.367+05:30short stories"Congrats, man, now you are on the official road to hell!" Exclaimed my best friend Rajeev, slapping me on the back.I was half torn between wearily nodding and snapping at him, but finally gave in to the former. My eyes were almost closing, my legs ached and I was tired of looking at all the shiny stuff I had been forced to buy during the day.Rajeev peered into one of the bags and pulled on the http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/04/imprisonment-at-midnight.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-7744778904745594309Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:27:00 +00002009-04-28T15:21:55.271+05:30politicsWhat some politicians may say if they were asked "Why should people vote for you."Shared Power : " Our party is the most firm in its stance. We are very clear on our ideology on the view that I am the Prime Ministerial candidate, and who our partners are. Our partners ,the Centre Party... "Party man1 from behind politely cuts in to say the party is negotiating with the AllTheOtherParties front. http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/03/power-games-and-admi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-950093369511483317Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:40:00 +00002009-04-28T15:25:08.540+05:30favouritesshort storiesI took a drag on my cigarette and let the smoke blow out in big, wide rings. Why do I call it my cigarette? Well, all you bloody losers, this is the only bloody thing I own in this world. It is mine, and mine alone. I own it. No one can take it away from me. Ha, not even you. I watched the rings fan out in the air, and then decided to try blowing different shapes. Oh yes, my absolute darlings, I http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/03/note-to-no-one.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-591093606424482885Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:46:00 +00002009-04-28T15:25:35.429+05:30favouritesshort storiesThe first time she met him was at a party. Bored, she was sipping a drink and playing with her emerald earrings, when he made his appearance by her side."You know something? There's nothing more I would like to do now than remove my shoes and my tie and run barefoot on the beach, away from this maddening crowd."She turned, startled. That was an exact reflection of thoughts. She glanced at his tiehttp://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/03/mirror-and-image.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-8532511231274896445Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:57:00 +00002009-04-28T15:25:55.987+05:30life's like thatI have to admit, I hate it. I hattteee people honking away to glory, sitting in their vehicles, when there is clearly no reason to do so on the roads. Especially when stuck in traffic. There is no way out, people get irritated, fume at each other and blow more horns. And traffic does not move. It drives me nuts.Recently, I had the good fortune to sit right behind the driver's seat in the bus. http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/02/blow-your-horn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-8556464301887241310Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:48:00 +00002009-04-28T15:26:18.326+05:30favouritespoliticsAfter FB finally manages to get L off his feet and stop all the Fs from throwing their footwear, he decides to go report this matter to the party head. He thinks it is necessary to conduct an enquiry into this incident to see why L was not doing any background check for any of the couples. They could not ask couples of all religions to get married at the temple, no? And what about inter-religioushttp://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/02/politics-v-day-and-commissions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-6597421709256947346Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:22:00 +00002009-04-28T15:26:44.166+05:30favouritespoliticsBoy B and Girl G are walking down the road, deep in conversation. Suddenly, leader L and followers F jump out at them.L: What are you both doing?B: Sir, walking.L: Together? Where to?G: Coffee shop, sir.L (Angrily): Coffee? In one of those shameless ventures that promote young boys and girls sitting together and drinking?? When all the Indians in the rural sector are starving and dying and...B: http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/02/politics-v-day-and-rest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-6861538875954859487Tue, 03 Feb 2009 06:41:00 +00002009-04-28T15:27:06.668+05:30life's like thatExam results have apparently come out. Apparently because, as usual, the site doesn't load. There are the Blessed Ones (BO) who always get right through, and are currently being inundated with requests to check others' results as well. Student S1 is sitting nervously on his/her chair, rocking back and forth, hitting F5 every few seconds. Sibling S2 helpfully asks him/her to try proxy servers. S1 http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/02/results-parents-competiton-and-more.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4885717157820231565.post-7893224900754761548Sun, 25 Jan 2009 04:43:00 +00002009-04-30T12:06:35.356+05:30life's like thatI am supposed to write frequently, as my dear cynic friend Anand pointed out (sorry, couldn't resist the cynic bit!) :) . I have been thinking my blog is way too arbit, and I need to organize it. But such is my laziness and so vague are my thoughts, that I don't think I will do a very good job. Anyway coming back, I have been meeting a lot of people recently, and I have realised people tend to http://latteandfilterkaapi.blogspot.com/2009/01/brand-building-people-and-more.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (bitter_chocolate)5