I got a good looking smart guy in my team. He is crazy to try his hands on modeling. So he and another gal in the team came home and we took some snaps. Surprisingly they came out well. I’m glad about the whole thing. This is one of the few times, I let a guy coming home! Not only we had few good snaps, we got a good time as well.

After my return from Belgium, something good has happened. I turned around from being a reclusive guy into someone who can connect with people. As I open up, I also find out that there are people around with whom I can talk freely. They are still on the periphery, but I guess at least I’m letting people there.

Part of the credit should go to the ‘Nokia gal’ alias LA. She convinced me that there are people whom I can trust by being one. It is a pity that she is very much in Bangalore and we are not able to meet up. Since she is visiting India after a year, she is busy visiting her relatives and her in-laws.

Over the weekend, I was in Chennai to attend the marriage of my BIL’s younger brother. Man! it was roasting hot. Don’t know if I got accustomed to Bangalore climate or was it really too hot in Chennai, but it was simply unbearable. I took shower at least 3-4 times a day. You won’t believe, I woke up little after midnight sweating all over and took a shower.

As for the marriage, it went on very well. For the first time, I was watching a Hindu marriage fully with all its colors and traditions. It was truly fantastic. I also took few pictures and I’ll post them in my photoblog soon.

I don’t believe so much in fate. I subscribe to the notion of Steven Covey, that there is a circle of influence for every person and it is better to concentrate on it rather that outside that circle. However, time to time, events happen in such a way to force you to believe in fate, as it happened on Sunday.

First my BIL forgot to book a return ticket for me, along with them. He booked me a ticket in a ‘Chennai – Bangalore special’ train while they were booked in a later train. However, as fate would have it, a goods train de-railed along the route and all trains were delayed for more than 5 hours. I was sitting in my cabin while my BIL came with my sister and asked me to come out. We spread a sari on the floor and sitting around chatting and joking. That is when something I never wished would happen, happened. I saw them walking towards me. To my knowledge they are not in India. They are in the US. But I saw them walking towards me. I just didn’t know how to respond. Act as if I didn’t notice or as if they were strangers? In that short span of few seconds, I saw myself stand up and talk to them. Afterwards, my sister & BIL laughed their heart at my predicament. Soon after that, they left, leaving me alone to wonder it is all a dream or just plain fate.

Hold your thoughts! My blog is not becoming ‘R’ rated. Nor I’m ranting of my expectations. Read without prejudice.

Yesterday, I went with my team mates, a cute gal and another equally cute guy who is aspiring to be a model, to an Italian restaurant. Though she is a decade younger than me, I’m ‘innocence-personified’, compared to her! She beats me in being not-so-innocent. (LA, are you listening? )

It was somewhere middle of 6th or the 7th page of the cocktails menu, but somehow that is what I saw first, when the waiter handed over the menu. On the left side was ‘Screamy Orgasm’ and on the right side was ‘Honeymoon’! I couldn’t control my smile. They were sitting opposite of me and I handed over the menu to them, without mentioning what I saw. Guess what, she immediately noticed it and started to laugh as well. I wonder how someone will order these cocktails!

‘Sir, I’ll have a honeymoon and the lady will have a SO; by the way make it into two’

I just can’t think of such a request.

What started with laughter, continued interestingly. We talked (rather it was a non-stop non-sense from me) a lot. We ordered a Brut, a cheap imitation of Champagne. Food was okay, not so much as we expected. But the time was amazingly good. We left little after midnight.

Somehow after every good time I have, I miss KD, the best one I have known so far, with all the good things of Belgium.

Most of you know, but some of you still don’t believe – either because I chose to inform you on a fool’s day (April 1st) or it is just too good to believe.

In a month’s time, I will say, ‘I do’. Yes, I’m getting married. It is not going to be a conventional church wedding rather a registered one. We have chosen May 15th (my birthday), but the date needs to be confirmed from the register office.

She is from Coimbatore and into non-IT. Am I excited? Obviously yes.

Not even in Belgium, I was so anxious. For the fear of untoward incidents by frenzy mob, I went to the airport little past midnight. Driving in TN registration adds to the anxiety. Added to it, the flight was delayed by more than an hour. Anyway, we were home around 3 in the early morning safe and relieved.

This is not expected in an international city like Bangalore. I was bit surprised when the DGP said that no one can be prepared for a death of a person. All along, I thought police were supposed to be prepared for any eventuality. May be I’m wrong.

Rajkumar, a kanada superstar, is no more. He had a heart-attack. Police expect riots and there is a bandh tomorrow. Our office is closed for tomorrow. Though I don’t want to go out, my sister is returning from Delhi, little after midnight and there are no taxis. So I have to go to pick her. Hope I return safely. Don’t know what is going to happen in the next three days.

When I was happy & satisfied about how the flats came up, a guy pops up from no-where and claims that he has a part in the land! He filed a case in the court, but was dismissed since he is coming after 40 years while the land moved hands multiple times. Per Indian law, a claim is valid only until 20 years.

Though the court dismissed the case, this guy comes in to the site to provide troubles. So last Saturday we, around 12 flat owners, met the flat promoters and take action. Hope this gets sorted out quickly.

Phew! I got my flat registered. It is one hell of a task. It has been busy for the past month – calling the bank, confirming with the builder, getting all the documents ready and so on and on. Note that I didn’t ask for any change in the design at all; just the default design. That itself sucked my energy out. What if I had asked for changes!

Well, going to a government office is good. One gets to see real India. Nothing moves without bribery. And it is all invisible. It is everyone-knows-but-no-one-knows situation – every one knows that funds flow; but no one knows how it flows.

My sister registered her house last week. Tomorrow is the house-warming ceremony at her house. My parents will be here. Taking advantage of this, I’m also planning a simple function at my flats.

One of my college-mate is living in Bangalore. He has been inviting me ever since I landed here. I’ve been avoiding meeting him, not so much because I don’t want to, rather because of the bloody traffic. Well, you can’t dodge for long. So, yesterday I went over to his place. I took along my sister and brother-in-law. Without a traffic guide, I won’t be able to get through this maddening traffic.

As those of you who know me, I don’t like to do these ‘social events’ a lot. I do like to go places, meet others and have a chat and may be have a beer. But these gatherings always make me uncomfortable after some time and that is exactly what happened yesterday. After an hour, I became restless. But thankfully, we, just him and me, took a ride in his new car and I got to see the place around. (That part of the city looks entirely different from what I have been seeing all these days). That gave me some breathing time and space, and after the ride I was comfortable.

I have come a long way in these aspects, but still a lot to learn.

I’m living in a different world. For three decades, I’m used to tears, worries, heart-aches, loneliness and like. At every moments of those, I would remind myself of the folk story I heard long back – about the gift that King Solomon presented to his dad, a signet ring with these words inscribed on it: ‘This too shall pass’. Indeed that passed!

At times, when I sit down at home listening to a soft music with no or low light, I wonder if it is all a dream. Thankfully it is not.

But, ‘this too shall pass’! That is life. Don’t judge me wrong. I’m not sounding as a pessimist. I know, this too shall pass, for better things will come. I know it and so be it.