Not really the same...

It struck me recently that the same line means different things at different circumstances.

I miss you :) - This probably means that you miss the other person in a good way. It is kinda acknowledging the friendship that you two have. And you are happy that you feel this way about this person.

I miss you :( - This probably means that you are so much attached to the other person that you miss them terribly. It is almost like telling "Come back to me soon"

I miss you - This is when it is the most trickiest. You do not know whether you are happy that you are missing the person, or sad that you will probably miss them more than you thought you ever would.


Confusing ain't it?
I miss my old simple self :|

Sometimes, what you see is not always what it really is..

I see him almost every morning at the bus stop. There was something peculiar about him.

Who was he? He looks so out of place. Where was he from? He does not seem like waiting for a bus. So why is he at the bus-stop daily?

His face had lines,

His eyes lacked shine,

He was an inch or two taller,

His clothes were simple,

With luggage always in tow,

Looked like he travels far,

What made him stand out?

The curve on his face,

He wore a smile, almost forever.

Take one look at him, and

He would not seem out of the ordinary.

Look twice and you may see the difference.
What was he? I asked myself.

Although I was intrigued, I prefer to watch him from a distance. At times, he would catch me staring at him. When he does, I pretend as though I am looking out for our office bus.

It was almost a month since the day I first saw him at our bus-stop. I was a good ten minutes early that day. None of my office colleagues was there yet. I was fidgeting with my mp3 player, and as I turned around towards the road leading up to the bus stop, I saw him. He was the same. However, he was doing something different; he was walking up to me.

I never expected this to happen. Was he going to ask me why I stare at him? What would I answer? Infact, what lie would I tell him?

So many questions clouded my mind in the few seconds. I tried to put up an act of searching my bag for something that never existed, trying to ignore him. I was hoping against hope that he would cross me and go. Alas, it wasn’t my lucky day.

He stopped a couple of feet away from me. I desperately tried to ignore him. I heard him clear his throat. Defeated and embarrassed, I looked up.  

Even though I saw him almost everyday, he looked different today. Perhaps, he was the same and I failed to look beyond skin. ‘What does he want with me?’ I peered hopelessly into his face.

A face, which looked much different     

A face, which had much more layers

His face had lines.

They also had scars.

His eyes lacked shine.

They also lacked hope.

His clothes were simple.

And, all too large.

He was an inch or two taller,

In bygone days, he was much taller perhaps.

With luggage always in tow, looked like he travels far,

Sadly, he never had a home.

And that’s when I realized,

He wore a smile, almost forever.

Perhaps it was a way to hide, always and forever.

Yes, look twice and you may see the difference.

And finally, I did.
Old and Broken.
That was what he was.

Interrupting my thoughts, in a raspy voice he asked, “Kaasu irundha kudu ma?”(“Can you please spare me some change?”)

A dream come true...

A decade ago..

I was switching channels on our new TV. I was bored. Nothing good was on TV. Hoping for an old cricket match, I switched onto Star Sports. I saw some fancy names flash on the TV.

Schumacher, Hakkinen, Coulthard, Irvine, Villeneuve, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Barichello, Giancarlo Fisichella and so on..

All weird names; I was somehow attracted. It was a Formula 1 Grand prix. I watched the whole race that day. It was fun, even better than the names that drew me towards it.

With every grand prix, I grew closer towards becoming an F1 fan.

Spa 2000 sealed it for me.

What started out as curiosity became an addiction.

For many years, the only thing I wanted out of my life was to witness a grand prix live and to see Schumi in person.

Three years back..

It was a rainy Sunday morning. I was still in bed, speculating when I should get out of sleep. I heard a beep on my cellphone tucked under the pilow nearby. I had received a text message from a friend, "Renault Nissan Walk-in today @Loyola" I rubbed my eyes in disbelief, 'Really? The Renault? Renault which Alonso drives?' I was up in a jiffy, and decided to give it a go with zero preparation. With almost 800 people giving interviews I wasn't very hopeful. As fate would have it I got through, with 4 other people!

A month back..

I have been working as a Software Developer in the Dealers Network of Renault. Not quite what I imagined my job to be. My manager ushered me to the town-hall meeting we have every month. After the routine announcements and awards something different happened. The Indian Grand Prix was being held in Delhi, in less than a month, and the company was sponsoring a few of our employees. Five of us were to be selected from the IS section. What are my chances? 1:100. Not so good. "Damn!" I cursed under my breath.

After four random people -who had absolutely no knowledge about F1- they called out my name, and our Head HR managed to murder my Dad's name attached as my surname.

A couple of days back..

I am at the Buddh Internation Circuit, Delhi, screaming my heart out. I never knew watching the race live would be so much different. To see those lean and mean machines bullet through the course was exhilarating. Raw power and pure elegance; that is was formula one is all about.  It was one of the most memorable days of my life.

A dream has finally come true :)

That's Schumi @ BIC, Delhi