Friday, October 3, 2008

On the creative side -My superhero

I could feel the frigid wind on my face and the night was just getting darker. I looked up at the sky. I saw one shining star and in my mind I heard myself crying....I never thought I would miss him so much....
I really don’t remember how we became friends or when was it that I had started to take him for granted. That was probably because I never did think of him much .All I knew was I loved him a lot for what he was and that was it. But yes, now when I look back, he was always there. After a long day at college, he would be there waiting for me with that warm smile to take me out.
We had a strange rapport. we never told each other how much we loved each other but it was just as normal as any other relationship and I dint believe in bragging and giving it publicity. He could sense when something was wrong and that was what made me very comfortable with him. When he would realize that I was not in my so called "great moods”, we would land up going on long drives...

It was just one of those outings that day. I had finished a long day at college…filled with continuous lectures which weren’t so interesting. We were sitting in the car and he was expecting me to tell him him what had happened that day. Moreover the date for my final seminar was announced in the company where we were doing our final project. We were competing for the best project award and considering the fact that it was a huge company there were more than thousands of entries. This was a lot of pressure but it meant a lot to me considering the fact that I was ambitious. I dint want to talk that day. I was lost in my thoughts when he asked me," Is Everything OK? You seem to be lost somewhere”. I felt I dint have to explain it to him. I did though and I concluded saying, “I can take care of myself. I think I would appreciate it if you don’t ask me anymore questions today" .He just looked at me, smiled and said “But remember I am always your Superhero”. And after that he had taken me for a long drive.

Days went by. I worked really hard for my project and i had started moving away... i don’t know why but i had .We spent very little time together. We were quiet since ten minutes and that wasn’t like us. Finally i broke the silence…I told him to drop me off. After that I dint have the courage to look into his eyes. Before the guilt in my throat could clog me, we had reached the destination. I heard the car brakes screeching and I got out of the car. He looked at me with the same warm smile and said," Don’t miss me too much honey, after I am gone...”

The final seminar day came. He had called me to wish me luck but I was busy with my presentation. So had decided to talk later. I did well. The judges were impressed and all the hard work was worth. Yes, we finally won. We had got the Best Project award at the national level. I could not wait to come back and share my happiness. I was both happy and proud...How I wished he was there to share that moment...I had so many thoughts rushing to my mind when I heard my cell phone ringing. On the other side, there was a man's voice...” Madam, Is this Rachna?"... I said "Yes... May I know who I am talking to" and the voice answered...” Madam. I am Dr.Mohammed calling. Mr.Arun passed away in a car accident this afternoon. I found your number on his cell phone. So I called you...So can you please inform his family.".... I could not believe what I had heard. Here I was celebrating my victory and suddenly , I had received this call which had taken everything away. A Numbness had come over. My Hero had been taken.

Life seemed to have come to a standstill after that. Everything was lifeless...Days passed by but it did not help me forget him.Today it had all come back rushing to me. That star was twinkling bright in the sky...I looked up at the sky with my eyes full of tears and I heard my own voice saying..." Yes Dad, You were right…You are my Superhero....”

Soujanya.R

Sunday, August 31, 2008

ON ABSTRACT THOUGHTS


Yesterday, a group of us were recruiting some students for the e-cell of IBS Hyderabad. And during this process, a student said something about “abstract thoughts”.This triggered off something inside. The grey cells of my head have been pondering since then. Somewhere at the subconscious, we all have abstract thoughts… Our mind ALWAYS has these abstract thoughts. But what do we do about them? How would it be if they were to take a shape? Or do we subdue them? Worse, some of us don’t hear them!
All of us have dreams. We want to be the ‘someone’, but don’t know who. Guess the abstract thoughts in our mind will answer this question best. Today I attended a seminar on Commodity derivatives. And during this seminar, the speaker asked us one question.”Give me one instance when we are not speculating?” That was another trigger...We all speculate ALL the time, and on a logical basis, no matter how illogical the reason could be. This sounds ambiguous but I know it is a good sign. When the mind starts thinking, it confuses the mind itself. And that s when most of us give up! What if our mind fought against our own minds? An interesting revolution!
The consequences of such a revolution are interesting. They will be permanent .We would learn, unlearn and learn again to believe in ourselves. And having conquered this confidence, nothing in the world is impossible. Would it not be great to prove a ‘wrong idea’ right just because you know it? Or rather ONLY you know it? Guess an abstract thought would be a great start.
I was watching Harsha Bhogle’s video on “What IIM gave me and what it dint”. He made a very interesting statement. He said, “Money has no power of thought. It is quite stupid. It chases excellence all the time”. That was one of the most beautiful statements I heard in recent times. Excellence is achieved not only when we just do, but excellence is at it s best when we think and then do. Because every problem in the world has a solution and that is always inspired by an abstract thought.
I have started believing that every random thought in the human brain is not random. Just like the price movements of stocks .Unpredictable! Yet they have a great influence! These abstract thoughts result because of not one but many factors, some totally ghost like! Listen to them carefully. Listening to our own thoughts is a great art. Guess that s where a lot of things begin. A charismatic leader, an entrepreneur and the best of all, a better YOU! These are my abstract thoughts. I hope I will be able to give them a shape someday. Cheers! Amen :)
-August 31,2008
Soujanya