The Interview That Never Happened: THREE

Hello people! Sorry for the blog that I missed last week. I have been away since a few days. And, probably this may continue for sometime now because I have several things to work on. I may sound a bit insensitive but I am sorry; I don't have good internet connectivity. And I am a bit tied up. Apologies. Yet, I got to write something for everyone today.

This week Sachin announced his retirement. End of an era, I must say for Sachin means Cricket. That is his stature. We must respect his decision though. Also, I am happy for the exposure of Asaram and his son. Its not vague to say that they have committed graver crimes than that which have come to light. Incidents like these weaken faith. And India is a country of faith.

Anyways, the festive season has begun. What a relief! Haha! The thing is I like festival for the food. More or more. I have always been a lover of great food. Lets see what delicacies do I eat this season.

Something that I have seen recently is the rise and flourish of Smartphones. I must tell you something: Not only do I hate smartphones but also I can't afford them. This might be a miscuing statement but I must clarify that I don't hate Smartphones because of the price. I hate smartphones because of the distractions that it comprises. I have always seen the mobile phone as a medium of vocal communication. Nothing else.

So, enjoy this season. Win over evil. Your inner ones. Before that identify them. It will be a big thing. Bye for now. See you soon.

Subho Vijoyadoshomi.

The Interview That Never Happened : TWO

Hello! Today is Friday and you get to read yet another blog from me. In case you are new, I make a new post every Friday. So how was the week, guys and gals? Nothing special? If there was anything worth telling, do write it in the comments section.

So, the last Friday, I was at the Junction Mall in Durgapur, watching the Finale of the Jam 3.0, a rock band competition, where an amazing band that should have won, won. Anyways, the judge and guest band for the night, Lakhhichara, performed at the end.

I don't have anything against their music, if at all it is theirs. I say this because they blatantly copied Riffs from AC-DC (two of the four songs I saw) and that was beyond giving them further of my time. Shit. Of course, I hate them now and will not see their show in the future. This is my opinion. But I know no music, nor any song.

 However, I saw "The Conjuring". It was a good horror movie, one of the best, certainly. It doesn't thrill you with cheap tricks. What it does is it creates an air of darkness around you with a hint of gloom. I would recommend that you see it.

Also, I learnt that Comedy Night's set caught a major fire. I feel sad for Kapil. He has definitely brought the Indian Middle Class Family together in front of the television. Without any trace of embarrassment, that the other shows or ads cause. You know what I mean.

Today, many of my friends are appearing for the Indian Navy Campus Drive at my college campus. I wish that they get through. I knew I won't be the right person for the job. So, chuck it. There are other ways to serve your country, if at all. 

I find myself as a misfit in the software field. But, this is what I wanted to do from my childhood. Develop Hi-tech prostheses. Do experiments that no one could think of. Develop interactive multimedia related products. Etcetra. Now, that I have been studying Computer Science for three and a half years at college, I realized that most of the guys who have such dreams do nothing but data entry, PowerPoint presentations and Copying and Pasting codes.

Whatever, I would have been more of a misfit if I had pursued other branches of Engineering because I suck at Physics. Since the old stone age. So I chose a bruise instead of a wound, whatever that means. 

Over the years, I have learned a few very basic things. One of them is to sell anything, anything that is, you need to have a good packaging. My friends will agree that the books that they receive at giveaways are best given away.

There has been an exponential rise in the number of people who are trying to be different, so different that I consider myself too mainstream. A day will come when being mainstream will be the new different. I will wait for the day. Bye for now.

The Interview that never happened : ONE

Follow this blog every FRIDAY.

Here is a little something. I have spoken at several interviews. Like reading from a teleprompter. That doesn't help. I will tell you why: Because that is not the truth. The responses during an interview, I feel, are temporary beliefs that evaporate in no time. Therefore, I have decided that I will answer all the questions that my readers ask me, and the things that they want to know with utmost sincerity and honesty. Will that do? That should, perhaps. Not only that I will also share some of my writings here. Basically I will write a blog every Friday from now on. I will try to.

     

     I may not be the Best. But, I am certainly not like the Rest.

That was on my last birthday. Damn!

Before I begin. Let me tell you: this may be boring to you. I am going to share some things that matter to me. Or concern me as a person. Or an artist. I don't bother about cynical people. And the things they have to say. This, my friend, is my blog. And I will use it only for myself. Enough of warnings.

At twenty years, when my friends are badly wanting to settle down with a lucrative career in software, I am trying to do what I want to. That doesn't mean that I don't want a job. I want a job. Firsthand. This is India. Here, dreams come at a price. Well, I never wanted to study Engineering. Everyone says that. I don't know what I wanted at that particular time. As a matter of fact, I didn't want to study anything at all. Haha.

I still don't know. That's the truth. I am a very complicated person and I have been trying to figure out who or what I am.

What is the reason for starting this series of blogs? Simple. I am basically occupied with a lot of work and I don't play computer games. I need to get myself refreshed. I do what I am good at - writing. Playing Guitar. And several other things.

Well I find interest in too many things. That's my strength. And weakness. Strength: because I seldom get bored; even when alone. Weakness: because I don't have many friends in life. Long term friends, that is. Basically, I am an introvert. I don't talk to strangers. I am not comfortable with a crowd of people. I am not comfortable with liars. I am not able to make choice when it comes to people. Too many problems, I have.

That was a brief intro. You will come to know more about me in the following posts. Now, let me answer some basic questions that I am asked.

Q: Why did you write "Those Days..."?

A: I really don't know. I read a few pages of a really badly written book. I thought I could write better than that. I did. Also, I had written the book about three and a half years back, I think. I was very bored after my Intermediate exams and my friends had told me a lot of things about the place I was in. I thought that could make a novel. And it did.

Q: Is it your story?

A: Come on. NO. It is not mine. Basically, I like to tell stories across to people. My stories sell in the form of books. To tell my story will be to sell myself, which is very derogatory. I do not have any disrespect for others who are writing their books on their own life. But I don't want to write a book about myself as a fictional character. Do you get it? If ever I write my story, it will be an autobiography.

Q: Why do we choose you over other authors?

A: First, don't choose me over other authors. I don't compare myself to any author/person. I don't claim to be a literary bug. I don't know much of Literature. I want to learn, though. You can buy my books if you want to. There is no obligation, or force. Second, I try to write from a certain Point of View that you will be, I believe, able to relate yourself to. Third, You will enjoy my book. Probably.

Enough for today. I would like to thank Myself for the time. Meet you next Friday with the next edition of "The Interview that never happened."

Till then read my book. Haha.

You can also drop me your questions in my Inbox or the Comment section of this blog.

It broke my heart

Some love stories are great. Some are not so great. Like the ones we see blooming at a local park, or restaurant. Yet, they have their own charm. I love hearing these stories. From real people, of course. So, I was on the bus the other evening and it was fairly empty. I noticed a young boy, probably on the greener side of his twenties, sitting at the last seat and engrossed in texting someone. 

I went and sat beside him. You must know at this point of time, that I am a very curious person. I tried to peek into his giant mobile touch screen. A chatting app showed he was online and was chatting to someone whom he had already sent some dozens of e-kisses. Wet ones, he wrote, describing them.

He looked up from his screen and and noticed me staring at it. I flashed an awkward caught-in-the-act smile.

"You are in love, it seems." I uttered. Like a dork.

"Yes. And it is indeed, magical." He smiled and blushed. I smiled too. He went into flashback.

"I met Tara at a local restaurant. We had come with our respective friends and got along somehow; and thank god for that! I just love this feeling you know - being in love."

I had to nod and smile meekly. You wouldn't like to get beaten up in a lonely bus.

I imagined Tara. And the boy, Vilaas. Although, Tara, in my imagination was far hotter than Vilaas, I must confess.

He further told me, "You know how careless I am with these cute little habits. I generally don't, rather, can't remember dates. Tara always does remember everything - our first kiss, our first fight, our first date, our first anniversary. Everything about us." He smiled and his face beamed with joy.

Obviously, a girl is too good as far as remembering dates are concerned. I thought. However, I smiled and nodded to appreciate Tara.

His phone rang suddenly and he talked aside, whispering sweet nothings punctuated with kisses over the phone and lots of mushy "Baby, Darling, Sweetie" stuff.

In the mean time, the bus stopped at the last stop. I got down. Vilaas followed me. Vilaas moved ahead. I followed. From nowhere, a guy appeared, held him from behind and kissed him.

I was shocked. The hero was gay. And happy.

IT BROKE MY HEART.

I decided I would not let Tara, who by now was a heroine for me, to suffer at the hands of a gay. I confronted Vilaas directly and hit a hard punch. Vilaas and his boyfriend were equally shocked.

"How can you do this to Tara? What will she feel if she gets to know that you, of all people, are...gay?" I shook my head angrily as I spoke.

His boyfriend nodded his head too, probably with shame. Or disgust.

Then he forwarded his hand to me, "Hi! I am Tara Singh."

The perfect murder - a love story

Amika wanted to kill her husband, Aarthik. Not because he didn't love her. Or he was not rich. Or he smoked. Or he drank. Or he didn't allow her to watch Saas ki Chaal, Bahu Behaal. He gifted her a diamond studded platinum ring on their semi- wedding anniversary. He was so mushy. He always gave her expensive gifts.

She had a personal reason. She discovered him lying to her on certain occasions. May be he was having a fling. She knew that was strange. Because they had a great sex life. But many of her friends warned her. On the other hand, the number of lies continued to increase. She was swayed and hence the decision.

She tried to poison him; She failed. She killed his car brakes, the car went out of fuel within few meters. Nothing worked out. Not a single thing. 

So, Amika decided to fall in love. With someone she knew. And he knew too. So that Amika could break his heart. And he could kill himself. He loved Amika. According to the plan she had to seduce one of his friends so that he would be hit - right there. She mentally organized a swayam-boyfriend for herself and chose his best friend Malay. Malay had two bonus points- he was a bachelor plus he never had a girlfriend. 

Things started off well for Malay and Amika. They got along well and Amika came to know about Malay's life till date. He had been a lonely soul and had ill- habits for which his dad had disowned him. Her husband Aarthik had supported him financially for his studies and new clothes. Poor Soul. Amika was already in love with him. One day Malay told her hesitatingly that Aarthik was indeed having an extra marital affair. That was it for Amika.

They hatched on a plan to kill her husband and live happily ever after. 

After seducing her husband to convince him for a trip to the Himalayas for trekking, Aarthik himself suggested that Malay should go with them. Bull's Eye. In three days time, they were in the most scarcely populated and least visited places on earth. As they had planned, when they reached a deadly dangerous curve on the road, just above a 300 meter deep trench, Amika signaled Malay to push Aarthik. Aarthik looked at Amika and smiled. It reminded her of beautiful times together. Malay looked at Amika and smiled. It assured her of beautiful times the future promised her. Finally, Malay looked at Aarthik and smiled. 

Out of the blue, Malay made a deep impact. With force that could be measured in Kilonewtons, Malay pushed. He pushed Amika. She fell and died.

Aarthik and Malay kissed each other.

Insignia: The story of its formation!

     Well, now that I have nothing better to do right now, I will like to tell you the story of rock. Rock as in rock music. Okay. So I had this distant dream of playing an instrument (rather, Guitar) since childhood. As luck would have it, I don't remember seeing a guitar live till I arrived in college. I come from a backward place. Lame excuse. Anyways, I bought a guitar and started to take lessons. Days went by and I saw a mercurial rise in the creation and domination of bands in my college. Well, the effect was colossal if you ask me. That was what I wanted. To be on the stage. To listen people cheer. To be crazy. To play in a band. For Music. Now there were blokes in my age who came up with bands and faltered. Rather un-deserving-ly so. I thought they could play well.  

    Anyways, new bands started emerging. Even the ones who could hardly hold guitars started showing off. And I was like, well, no comments. Two years flew by. While playing in a band was still a distant dream. My idea of a rock band was: a vocalist, a rhythm guitarist, a bassist/keyboardist, a lead guitarist and a drummer. I searched for others who could fill up the other 4 positions, since I was one of the guitarists.

     Enter a dumb guy. Lets say *****. He believed (I am sure he still does) that he is a very good vocalist, who cannot sing classical songs. Now he wanted to form a band, rather create a band. He would sing all songs and I had to play Lead. For rhythm he had appointed a junior guy called Deff. Now Deff and I developed good bonding over songs. (Which was good). Also, there was this guy Lord who could sing classical songs and has gone to some National level competition and was almost the winner. He was hired for backing vocals. There was a rapper too. No bassist. No drummer. As of then.

          After two days of jamming, I and Deff were comfortable. ***** couldn't be. Meanwhile I came across videos of ***** at several occasions, and people going nuts at him. When I asked a few of my friends about his singing, they told : Are you that desperate? They were not wrong. He sucked at singing. Point No 1.

       Moreover, he was bossy. He imposed his choice of songs. Made a track list and all that "My band-My band" stuff was in the air for him. Point No 2.

     I logged in to Facebook. And received a request to like a page featuring me, Deff, Lord and him on the cover image. I was like What the Hell! The band was already named without any discussions. ***** said he had hired a band manager and we would have to perform for him in lieu of money. Point No 3, 4, 5.

     Well 5 points is too much for me. For anyone, rather. Its that I had the courage. I called ***** and said: You suck at everything. I am not going to play for you. He warned me to reconsider my decision. And that life would be difficult for me. Bloody hell, music is for love. For entertainment. Not for revenge, hatred. I just quit.

The cover pic was edited and I was removed from it. (Sob.Sob)

     I told Deff: Bro, if you want to play for him then go ahead. But if you want you can play with me. Deff doesn't want to mess with seniors. Not that he is afraid, but that he doesn't like to. I don't know how he gathered some courage. After two hours Deff wasn't on the cover image. (YAY!!)

     Now, drummers are people who will be extinct in some days. There are more tigers than drummers these days. In such a situation getting a drummer was like Gold Medal for Indian Hockey. I heard there is a guy Cool, who is taking drum lessons. So I approached him. Today, he is the best drummer in the college. I can bet.

     Deff taught Cliff to play the bass and he picked up real fast. Lord, who was tentative of leaving ***** ultimately kicked himself out and joined us on vocals. And the cover pic was that of the self proclaimed King Of Voice alone as Lord joined us!

     And then Insignia rose out of ashes. Deff on rhythm, Lord on Vocals, Cool on drums, Cliff on bass and Me, well showing off! 

The next thing I remember is our first performance: massive crowd, songs and "once more cheer".

Insignia Rocks.