My First Performance Outside India!!!!

Its strange feeling that inspite of many many pressures within I made it! Yes I know, this is self-flattery but I think I need it now to keep myself going. I had absolutely no clue of how it would turn out...There were two presentations, one a team-presentation within the walls where I had to speak for not more than 2 minutes. The other one was not related this group...and it was outside this org. I performed well that it created an IMPACT. And for the second, response was overwhelming and it threw me to higher energy levels and I rocked. I would like to thank Nitin Nohria and Amanda from Harvard BS and the XPLANE design lab for creating such a remarkable video on Leadership, which I used to begin my presentation 2. I thank bhaggu. Here is the link to the video that was my prologue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuuTlQ0FzEU:

Captain Cook

It is first time in my life I entered Kitchen as a cook. It is an humbling experience... What India could not do for me, France did it!!! Vola!! I looked at all the masalas, powders, et al (Kitchen's arsenal and ammunition) and realized how great those who invented/discovered each one of them are. I saluted all those innovators who risked tasting that particular leaf, or herb or vegetable and those who preserved, shared and passed down all findings to succeeding generations. For a while it looked like a museum of inventions. If we can arrange them in a particular sequence it looks more ordered than periodic table!!
My first recipe is MTR's readymade Spinach Rice. It was easy. I cooked it so fast and perfectly. Officially this is my first cooked dish. Then next day it was Mint Rice...that too was easy, thanks MTR. Third day and there are no MTRs...I have to cook rice and don’t know how to:( I read the instruction manual of Panasonic rice cooker and followed it as SAP consultants follow USER Guides. I was thrilled by the spill over.. How sweet is the Smell of successful cooking of rice!!! The next day, it was to deal with eggs. I remembered what mom and Pri said about breaking them. I felt so strange at executing it. Fast but gentle hit exactly on egg's tummy area. I did it and couldn’t stop smiling at the sound it made while it burst. First omelette that too in Olive oil was excellent but the next two were ...black assed...so i had to throw them guessing their birthdays??!!!
So Mr P, the cook, little frustrated, thought very incongruous for the scene, to raise his lowered spirits. Thought of all the possible romantic adventures he can (spelt as will be able to) have with his wife in future...in clouds "How romantic it would be to cook together!!!, how cute and lovely would be the surprise when the smell of her fav dish and cake wakes her up on her birthday...and how naughty it would be to romance in the kitchen fighting over the dish fun-teasing: u stupid, u didn’t cook it well..eat yourself...and two blas". Then P was charged, all inspired, tried preparing "Boiled Eggs". Cha-Bo always tells "..it is easier said than done...", so i tell it again for all those who are laughing at the difficulty of making "Boiled eggs". Here P goes: I put water and waited for some time, when it started boiling, thought of placing eggs in bowl but ended up dropping them and *phht* they cracked!!!! Aiyyyoooo OMG...shiv shiv (jeez equivalent)..sht...i immediately took them out and threw...then I carefully placed a new egg in a bowl...After 7 minutes..i took it out...n my joy knew no bounds for having boiled an egg successfully..I was as ecstatic as Archimedes in his Eureka Tub or Tom Hanks in the lonely island in Cast away when he makes fires......I felt like Nobel Laureate and conveyed thanks to my Kitchen, vessels and all those neighbours who are up there in hills. Now the egg-opening ceremony..I opened it...whao...yuck...it was still semi-solid..it is not boiled properly...Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! I felt as if somebody telling me .."Don’t count your chickens before they are hatch"...But she was 1000s miles away....Anyways it has begun..and it shall continue and will get better.. For those Who has never done cooking: it is one of the most potential skills...it has lot of spin-offs...give it a try...assume yourself as a scientist or an astronaut...or u know..I have no choice but to think of Astronaut..because neither in my success nor in my failure with these experiments, I cannot contact my friends in India...for suggestions...Tricky Time Zone!!!
P.S: I started realizing the importance of each and every ingredient and balancing them. I now know the impact analysis of each minute element. What a drop of oil does, how salt adds and how fire impacts..to the taste..? Our mothers are real alchemists...it’s all chemistry and art!!

Rhon de Chak

Spoiled, saturated and sabotaged completely, I am, by the loud and endless parties. Frolic and fun-fuelled parties, friends, food, drinks, movies..rhhhhhhmmmmmm. Calendar shows 19 parties in last 28 days, each one out-stunning the other. It was an intoxicating JULY. It was all celebration and happening. An incorrigibly mischievous gang sparked off the July fun at the tranquil Angana. Cheerful conversations, hot delicious food, monsoon magic and funny games are part of the Memories that were made, winking at Time. Lo and behold, wedding news from Harish banged me squarely on my way back....result: There I was at a lavish Bachelor's party from otherwise miserly Nekkanti. Silly pranks and crazy jokes from old friends filled the place with loud laughter and its aftermath. I was banging my butt to the floor (rather chair). Thanks Daddy!!
After few days, strange yet adventurous opportunities bashed my door. Among those 6 sweetest things, the most colourful feather in my cap is to be part of the powerful team determined to impact the planet's future and global economy in a revolutionary style. I will enjoy it for sure because that is highest adventure and responsibility!!! Thank you Krismo, Ricci, Prasad and Chari Boksi. And the day after, you could have met me in Hyderabad either at my maternal uncle place or at my best friends Raj and Ricci. Conversations with Ricci and Raj, Robin's wickedly-tasty omelettes and the arguments with elders made my sojourn really special. It was so nice to talk to them directly after long time (I dislike talking over phone). Back to garden city and I rocked at four luxurious parties. They filled my senses with laziness and unwanted indulgence. I met my old schoolies, college mates’ n Bellary people. Now hardly any party places are left unvisited in Bangalore. (Historic)Most memorable lunch happened the next day: Pri (my good friend, guardian angel) and I went for Chinese Fortune and had good time. A day after, King's birthday party was celebrated rather boringly. One really special thing about it was Krismo came all the way for B'day from Bellary. I will never forget it. Party from a friend who came from Canada followed by, and then some more, jammed all my evenings and nights. Gifts, shopping and gifts again..was loaded by them...so many gifts, flowers, smiles, travelling, meeting so many people, lunches with Pri n Chari Boksi....I never realized when Romantic July had made way to Royal August. If happiness had a name of a month, it would be July, or would it be August!?!
P.S: I had written it long back may be 40 days back in super hurry, but now I realize it was one of the sweetest , free-est and most beautiful times of my life but write up is so bad. Sometimes, i feel bad for being younger.....why "age" is ingrained in people's minds :)