Try THIS...

With your arms down the side of your body, stand next to a wall with your left shoulder, outside of the left arm and side of the left foot touching the wall.

Now, without breaking contact with the wall, try to lift your right foot.

Go on, try it!

(If you want, you can give it a shot from the other side around as well).

Even I didn't believe it at first, but this simple sounding act is a physical impossibility!!

Hasta La Vista, Baby!

It's over. I've finally decided to call it quits. No histrionics, no you-can't-fire-me-I-quit scene in office. Just a 3 minute phone call to the boss followed by an e-mail.

19 July, 2005

Dear Sir

I wish to resign from my post of Area Sales Manager, Delhi w.e.f. today.

I would like to be relieved at the earliest possible as stipulated by the terms of my appointment.

It has been a wonderful experience to have been associated with [The Company] for the last fourteen months. I am also grateful to all my colleagues for their support and guidance during this period that has contributed to my personal and professional development.

It has been a privilege to be a part of the North & East (and specifically Delhi) sales team under your leadership. I would like to wish you and all of [The Company] the very best for the times to come.

Thank you,

Yours sincerely,

Not Applicable
Employee Code #####

Must admit, am feeling really wierd.

Have I got it all wrong?

Father time will tell...

Certainly not High and Dry

Buying movie tickets yesterday night at PVR Saket was an exercise in simple-decision making. Reached with my roomie to watch Dus (I'm an AB Jr fan). But then it was felt that a LOT of bright people would've had the same idea s we should have a Plan B. Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya, Fantastic Four and Sahara (in no particular order) fell into this.

And then roomie reached box office. The only seats available were for Sahara, that too in the front row. That was an easy decision. (Well, at least leg space is not an issue - I'm quite the optimist)

And the movie turned out to be a surprising entertainer. I guess it helps when expectations are low (or non-existent).

Matthew M as the former Navy-guy-turned-private-artifact-hunting-sea-diver is cool and Penelope Cruz playing the WHO doctor in Africa is understatedly hot. But for me, the Oscar for comic timing goes to Steve Zahn. This guy justs let it rip with his one liners (more like two-worders) and characeristic "Hi, how are ya?"

Visuals are good, the Niger river looks breathtaking and the action-and-escape sequences have a Bollywood-ish touch to them. Was wondering as I walked out - I wouldn't have enjoyed the same stuff in a Hindi flick! Perhaps it has to do with the slickness of the cinematography and editing. Enjoyed Musafir for the same reason - trashy movie otherwise as far as content went.

Like always, saw quite a few trailers of in before the screening started. Love that bit of a movie theatre experience. More on that later

Little Johnny wants to play

Y'know, if it hadn't been for the weather, a LOT of people would have struggled for conversation. And bloggers for content.

But this is a case of discontent.

First Delhi heats up like a veritable tandoor. The sun beats down mercilessly. Tempers rise. Water runs dry. Power cuts only add to the collective misery. Everybody prays for rain. The weatherman goes into overdrive and (without fail every year) announces - "the monsoon will be normal."

Then it clouds up. Dark clouds. Thunder. Stray bolts of lightning. Gusty wind. And a whole lot of dust that envelops the city just REFUSING to settle.

And finally, Hallelujah. It actually rains. Motorcyclists get drenched, pedestrians get stranded at bus stops and under trees. The earth smells amazing.

Everyone happy? Well, not quite!!

The pot holes fill up with water. And (horror of horrors) new ones materialise overnight. Traffic clogs up everywhere. The air is stickier than superglue (creative idea for Fevicol's next!?). The sweat doesn't flow - it just forms an irritatingly thin surface all over your skin and you end up sticking to anything you touch :(

Hot roadside pakoras or dal vadas and chai are the saving grace.

Winter is the only season which hints that God could be a Delhi-ite!

He's Good

Why can't people evaluate Abhishek Bachchan for the way he performs on screen? Why does Bachchan Sr have to creep into every comparison? The last few AB Jr movies I've caught have been real crackers - and Abhishek's perforance has been real good!

I refer to Dhoom, Bunty Aur Babli and Sarkar (missed out on Yuva and thankfully on Naach as well)

Incidentally, Abhishek Bachchan comes out tops in yet another role that sees him sporting a beard. Enjoyed him in Refugee way back in 2000.

Now waiting to catch Dus.

A bit on Sarkar. It was great that RGV dedicated this attempt to The Godfather at the very outset. He has this way of doing these things (remember that autorickshaw driver in Mast?). Abhishek is intense, there is minimal verbalising on his part. For that matter, the film dwells little on Big B's character that the title alludes to. There are other characters, incidents that bring out the power carried by Subhash Nagre. No songs, well done background score. Well worth the money (my first experience at Cinema Europa, Gurgaon. Yay!)

Read THIS

Just back from a company meeting at Chokhi Dhani, Jaipur. Sometimes these sales meetings make no sense whatsoever. What's the point of staying hunched up in conference rooms from morning till night (so late that you are running to the restaurant before they run out of dinner!) that you cannot take time off to see the city you have gone especially for the meeting. Bah!

But more importantly, here's what I want to write about. My last post apparently served as a trigger for this one. And through it I reached here. It's the most amazing story of someone who stood up against not only an individual, but against an entire mindset, a whole system and emerged victorious. A must read.