Being in the twenties

BEING IN TWENTIES - SOMETHING... :)
It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.
You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.
You look at your job... and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and that scares you.
Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't. One minute, you are insecure and then the next, secure.
You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.
You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you're doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person. You want to settle down for good because now all of a sudden that becomes top priority. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You begin to think a companion for life is better than a hundred in the shack and for once you would not mind standing tall for that special someone which otherwise you had never thought of until now. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself... and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!
What you may not realize is that every one reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out. Send this to your twenty-something friends.... maybe it will help someone feel like they aren't alone in their state of confusion...
We call it the "Quarter-life Crisis"
Source: One of the umpteen number of forwards that keep circulating the cyber space.

Snoring to be punishable offence

One of my teacher's from school once told " Travel Teaches Tolerance". It is true to a certain extent. But every one is sensitive to some aspects and there are certain things which I really cannot take. The primary of that is snoring.

I am a deep sleeper and can sleep in chaotic atmosphere. Like in a noisy classroom during break, in hostel with music on in other rooms etc. But I get very disturbed when someone is snoring within earshot. I was unfortunate to have some snorers nearby in all my recent overnight travels.

There is something sinister in the monotonous droning sound that drills into my head and keeps me awake. The droning sound beats the clanking of the train or the rattling of the bus and builds up anger inside. I spend extra money planning my travel in a/c compartments or a/c sleeper bus but that extra money doesen't give me its worth. There the train/engine sounds get muted and the snoring gets amplified. The fact that these people are peacefully resting oblivious to the disturbance they give to innocent people like me makes me furious. That too just when I am trying to catch some sleep so that I do not look tired when I report for work in the morning.

These days I have started to guess among the passengers as to who is gonna be the snorer who will disturb me even before they settle down to sleep. I have got the average snorer nicely figured out. The typical snorer is a 40-45 year old guy, one or two stones heavier than average and has that extra bit of fat under the chin and neck. I just hate to see someone fitting this description settling down near me on the travel occassions.

On a couple of occassions when the snoring got on my nerves I have employed some unconventional methods to rouse them from the slumber so that I get some respite before they commence their sleep again like dropping a water bottle on them and pretending to be fast asleep or pulling off their blanket as I make way to the loo or stepping on their foot as I climb down from my berth.

I really pity the plight of the spouses of the snoring types who have to bear the torment every day. I just wish that I never become a snoring type in future.

Moneyless in Mysore!!!!

Today I got a crazy idea and actually tried it out. I was speaking to dude who suggested me to write stories on all my travels around the places.I thought why not create some stories for that and put on my crazy hat and immediately got a glowing bulb coming out my head.The idea was to roam around the city without my wallet. The idea is all the more crazy because I am in a city that I am new to. So I decided to take my chances and stepped out of the room I was staying in and had a real cool experience to speak for. What will you come across and how would you manage without any money or documents of identity on you?

The first observation was the surprising number of two wheelers on the road a majority of whose pillion was occupied already! It was woefully hard to get a lift considering the fact that I was okay with any place to go to. Anyway I waited in the bus stop in the hope of finding a decently crowded bus to get in though we cannot expect the buses to be crowded on a Sunday evening. But still after a few empty ones there was one bus that was relatively full and got in. But just after two stops the conductor noticed me but I was ready for it. I feigned ignorance and asked for the place where I boarded and the conductor ( a Samaritan) guided me how to get there and got me off the bus. That was too close to being publicly getting insulted and embarrassed, but still a mission is a mission and I carried on. This time I did get a lift with a guy who did not even ask me about my destination. Well it was convenient for my purpose and I did not bother with informing of where I had to go. But in time he realized that I should be having somewhere to go and asked me. Looking around I saw I was near the Mysore Railway Station and got down there. Then it was back to just walking around the place and a brisk walk took me to the Central Bus Stand.

A little more walking and I was at the place gate. It was one of those times when the entrance fee to the palace is suspended. Again that suited my purpose and for the first time after so many days in Mysore I got to visit the palace. I was in a palace but still penniless and that was a pleasant irony. I was really happy at this cool craziness that beat the shit out of all the boredom. But the hunger bug caught me and I realized I still have to reach home before I am in any position to get to eat. I had to end this adventure of mine but not before finding the means to reach my room.

Walking back to the city bus stand I was able to find a bus which was crowded and goes near the place I stay. On a Sunday evening the rush of people getting back to their homes after an outing was advantageous for me. This time I could stay unnoticed till I had to get off the bus. So far so good but the next was even better.

The place I got off was called Vontikoppal and there is a temple in that location that I have to pass through to get to my room. The temple had an adjacent marriage hall where some marriage ceremonies were on. Food was being served and the craziness in me urged me to test the limits and try a free dinner. Bracing myself I walked in with a smiling face to the dining place. Surprisingly and fortunately I could finish a meal hastily and walk out of the hall without an incident. God bless the couple a happy married life. A very uncomfortable meal that was but still I came out saying ‘wow, that was good’.

Thanking my stars for saving me from any embarrassing situations by way of my crazy adventure and smiling at myself for having actually done this I reached my room. I thanked the bike guy who left me in the part of city I knew a bit. Had he left me in a place from where I did not know how to get back to the place I stay my crazy adventure would have turned bad. Yeah I had the option to take an auto back to my room where I had money to pay him afterall. But that would have meant losing the basic principle of this adventure of roaming the city penniless. I had a good experience that I am never willing to try out again. Travelling ticketless in a city bus is a really stressful affair, more stressful than quarter closing pressure. Any takers for such an adventure????