“Catch me if you can” : Bourbon Biscuits

After reading a post in Sona’s blog, I thought of buying some Bourbon biscuits . Usually I don’t try new taste. I will be happy if I get Dosa/Idly/Iddiyappam/Puttu in the morning, Kerala meals at noon and night. But last two years , infact from the day I joined Infosys, my daily routine got changed. I tasted a few new things like Battoora, Aloo Paratha,curd Rice, Lemon Rice,Tomato Rice, Pizza etc. But among them, I liked only Batoora. I tasted Aloo Paratha only once and never tried again!! I tried pizza only twice. I didn’t like that taste too. Other items , I will try only if I didn’t get meal at noon. Though I don’t like chappathi and poori,they were added to my menu as I do not have much choices left. How long can I manage with Dosa and Idly from hotels? Coming back to the topic, after seeing the post and the comments in it, I asked one of my friend about the biscuit and his reply was also similar to what Sona had written. So I decided to buy a packet of Bourbon.

The very next weekend, I had a trip to Karnataka. I had to buy a packet of biscuit as I don’t get vegetarian food from the restaurant that usually bus stops for dinner. I bought a packet of bourbon from a shop, as my dinner.But on that occasion I got vegetarian food from the same hotel !! So I decided to keep biscuit on the net basket near seat so that I could have them when I feel hungry at night. I usually do not get a good sleep when I travel in bus. This time I got a good sleep too!! Fortunately I woke up on time and I took my bag and went to door. After bus left my stop, I realized that I forgot that biscuit pack!! Thus I lost my first Bourbon pack and 25 rupees.

As I was not a bourbon fan, I forgot about biscuits for some days. After couple of weeks, when I went to that shop again, I saw bourbon on the same rack,from where I bought it two weeks back. This time I decided to buy it again as I didn’t get chance to taste it last time. Another twenty five rupee packet was bought by me. It was a Thursday. When I reached home, I kept it in kitchen, thinking that I would have them when I feel hungry. But I didn’t feel hungry and I forgot about it!! Next day, I went to home as it was Friday. (I am staying with my friends at Trivandrum) When I came back on Monday ,I could only see an empty packet on the waste basket. My friends who stayed back on weekends finished the bourbon!!! So this time also I didn’t get chance to taste it.

Last week, I had a trip to Banglore to see my cousins and to see Banglore DC. This time I remembered about bourbon and decided that I would not miss it this time. As the shop was near the bus stop at Kazhakkoottam, where the Banglore Volvo usually stop, I decided to leave 10 minutes early and buy biscuits. I reached shop, went to the spot where they usually keep the biscuits but got disappointed to see mortein coils and other mosquito repellants on the place where they used to keep biscuits. I asked a lady staff about biscuits and she took me to new place where they keep biscuits. All varieties of biscuits where there, except bourbon!!! When I asked about bourbon, after searching the rack , she went inside to take it from storage place. After two minutes she came back and told “ Sorry sir, Bourbon is out of stock“. So this time also it escaped from me!!!


The cat and mouse game between Bourbon and me is still very much on. The last thing I want to happen is me not liking the biscuit when at last I get a chance to taste it!
Till then, I am on the Bourbon hunt.
Dear Bourbon, caught, you will be, for I am the hunter.

The Twist

Disclaimer: All the characters in this story are imaginary. Resemblances with anyone dead or alive is purely co-incidential.


Kerala Police Headquarters :

“Dev, did you read that intelligence report? What can we do now? We must act fast. If it happens, it will be a shame for entire police department.” Officer looked tensed.

 “Sir, I had told you about the seriousness of that issue when we got initial report on last May. But everyone laughed at me then. “Dev replied, with an unemotional face.

Officer got angry on his reply. His face turned red. “Dev, this is not an excuse. You are in charge of the district. If anything happens, you will be responsible for it. “

 Dev smiled, but he didn’t reply. Both of the remained silent for sometime.
 “Sir, you don’t have to get worried. I have full faith in our team. We will solve the issue.” Finally Dev replied, breaking the silence in the room.

“But how are you planning to take action? There are five schools in that region. It is impossible to provide security for all five schools.”

 “Sir, you leave it to us and wait for a week. I am sure they will act soon and we will give reply to them. I am leaving now.” Dev saluted officer and left room.

****************************************************************************************

Government High School, Wayanad(Kerala)

 A small school on the top of a beautiful hill. Most of the students in this school are from tribal groups. School has quite a good number of students, as it is the only school in that area.

 January 7, 2012.Saturday -10 a.m

Special class for tenth standard students started. A total of forty five students are present in class. Physics teacher is taking lessons fast. He want to finish chapters by the end of January, so that students will get one month for revision, before their board exams which will be on march.

Suddenly they heard an announcement from office mike. “All students are requested to assemble at school auditorium.”

It was the voice of Head master. “ Is he mad? Today only tenth standard students have class. Then why did he announce a meeting?” Teacher asked himself in mind. He continued to take portions again.

 “Sir, we need to assemble at auditorium. Principal announced it.” – Anwar, one of his students told to teacher.

“It is fine Anwar. He might have made some mistake. There is no chance for a meeting today.” Teacher replied.

“No sir, we need to go now.” Dhananjay, another student in class replied this time.

 “What happened to you all? We are not going” Teacher got angry.

“WE ARE GOING” Anwar told it, taking a gun ,which was hidden in his socks. Suddenly seven other students including Dhananjay also stood up from seat, taking their guns.They pointed their guns at students.

All other students got shocked to see it. “Everybody stand up. We are going to auditorium” Anwar ordered.

“W..w..what is happening? What are you doing Anwar? What happened to you? “ Teacher asked. His face told that he was totally afraid.

 “We told you decently to take everyone to auditorium. We are waiting for this moment. You are under our custody now.” This time, Dhananjay replied.

 “But who are you? What you want?” teacher asked with a crying face.
 “Do you remember a news on last may? Eight members in our team were arrested by police. We want them released.” Anwar replied.

 “So… You .. you are….”

 “Yes, we are from the same group. You know teacher, we eight joined together in this school on last June. We were waiting for this moment. Now we will bargain to government, keeping you people in front. They will have no choice, but to accept our demand. Special thanks to your principal, who accepted our offer and joined with us.”

 “But how can you do this to your friends? “  Sir asked.

“No, They are not going to do this.” Everyone looked to the direction of sound. ****************************************************************************************

Time : 11 a.m

All students reached auditorium. Dhananjay and three of his teammates in front, with guns in their hand, followed by students and teacher, other three teammates behind the students.Principal became happy .

“So everything went according to our plan. But where is Anwar? ” Suddenly a bullet hit on his forehead!!!

 Principal was killed. The seven member team , had no other choice, but to watch it , keeping their empty guns in their hands.!!!

**********************************************************************************************

(A few minutes back:)
Time : 10.30 a.m

“But how can you do this to your friends? “ Sir asked.

 “No sir, They are not going to do this.” Everyone looked to the direction of sound.

It was from Ram, their classmate.

“How sure are you that we are not going to do this? If government didn't approve our conditions, I will kill you first and throw your body to them.“ Anwar said, pointing his gun at Ram.

The moment he finished the sentence, Anwar got a shot on his chest and he died.

Others got shocked to see that they were surrounded by the servants in school.
They had hi-tech silencer guns in their hands. One of them removed his beard,which was a fake one.

It was Inspector Dev.
“You eight joined together in this class together. But you forgot one thing, Ram also joined in this school this year. He is my son. We got an intelligence report that terrorist group have planned to attack back through schools. From that time, there were muftis in all five schools in this region. Fortunately Ram had some doubt about you guys .We enquired about your past and got all information about you.From that moment, we ensured that this school is completely under our eyed by posting police as servants here. Everyone thought that they were just tribal people and gave this job. We didn’t arrest you early just because we wanted to know who else is involved in this plan. Now you can either surrender or you will get the same destiny that Anwar got. Ram, collect their guns”

 Ram collected the guns and removed bullets from it. They started to move towards auditorium.

***********************************************************************************************

Dev’s home

"Dad, will you get any reward for this?" Ram asked with a smiling face.

"May be. Why ?"

"Incase , if it is cash award, I need half of it. I want to buy a lap top." Ram replied

" I promise it, my dear.Even if I didn't get a cash prize, you will get a laptop, provided you score 95% in final exams. "

"Dad, this is not fair.You are bad."  They both looked at each other and smiled.

 The END

Brain Drain

He came out from café with a broken heart. Union bank also announced list of selected candidates. His name was not there.

“Son, did you get the job?” mom, who was waiting outside the café asked him.

“Mom, I think our nation doesn’t need people like me.As usual I got rejected in interview. But some of my friends who never done any hard work got the job”- Son replied with an angry and disappointed face.

”What? How did it happen?” mom asked with a surprising look.

(son) “Don’t you know the reason? Our country doesn’t need talented people. They only need people of certain castes.I think you really did a mistake. You should have born in some other reservation caste,so that I should have got a job. “

(mom) “Don’t tell like that. You will get job next time”

(son)”Aren't we the citizens of this nation? Why the government is not taking any action to protect our fundamental right of getting a job? Why there is separate rule for different classes of people? I am not going to take any more chances. For the last two years, I tried to find a job. During my college days, I told my friends that I will serve my nation and I will never leave our country. But now,as nation doesn’t need me, why should I serve this country? This country is only meant for some group of people, not for talented people.”

(mom) “What do you mean?”

(son)”I decided to accept the offer send by my friend. I am leaving to Australia next month. I wanted to work in India. But…… Now I need a job to live. So there is no point in staying here some more time, expecting a job. I am flying to a land where talent will get more support than caste.”

*********************************************************************************

A conference at New Delhi.All the VVIPs are sitting there. Prime minister started his speech.
“ ………………….
It is really sad that our youth is leaving India for getting more money.We are training them in our nation.But after education they are leaving our country. We are losing our human resources. They are not realizing that our country needs them. ………………. “

The end.

21 st century

19th century :

Comman Men : Lord, Please help us.

King : What happened?

Common Men : East India Company is forcing us to give more levy to them. Please help us.

King : (remaining Silent) ….

Common Men : Lord,why are you silent?

King : I am sorry. I can’t do anything. I don’t have control over them.

Common Men : ??? So ?

King : So, give what they asked you to give.


21st century

Common men: Please help us.

Government : What happened?

Common Men : Petroleum Companies are increasing price.

Government : (remaining Silent) ….

Common Men : What happened? Why are you silent? We selected you to help us.

Government : We don’t have control over them. Sorry.

Common Men : So?

Government : So, give the price that company decided.

200 years passed. Society changed. Persons changed. But still same things are happening. Power is still with some companies . King and Government remains as puppets.

Mysore Trip- Last Part - my return trip

Around 11.30 a.m , we all met at Food court in GEC 2. We sat there and had casual talks, future plans like switching company, marriage etc. One thing was quite sure by the end of conversation- there will not be a reunion again as we need to wear Infosys tag for entering Mysore campus.(Hope you got the reason.I don't want to say more about it as it would be violation of Infosys policy. )



After 1p.m , we went to parking area and took cycle for a final round of cycling and had our lunch from Oasis Food Court. By 3 p.m, I said bye to my friends as my bus was at 5 p.m. Did tears came from my eyes? I think yes. I don't know how to explain that moment. People who born in different parts of India , met at mysore, lived together for six months and they splitted to different parts of the country again.But those six months in my life,have high importance.It was my Mysore life, which showed me the life outside Kerala. It was my friends here , who told about different cultures and believes existing in different part of our country. It was them who gave confidence for me when I was mentally down after some exams.It was them who were my family for six months. Will I meet them again? I don't know. But I can say one thing ,they have a space in my heart and I want to meet them again.Friends from Tamil Nadu were leaving only on 16th monday as it was Pongal Holiday for them. And friends from Bhuwaneswar would leave by 8.30 at night. I said Good Bye to Mysore campus and caught bus to City.

I reached bus stand by 4 p.m and started waiting for bus.Two years back I waited here for the same bus. That time mind was full of excitement.Waiting to reach Trivandrum. But now... My mind was full of my experiences in Mysore. From Day 1 to end of training days and the last two days. Will I come to Mysore again? I had no idea. But one thing was sure that, this was my last trip to Mysore as an Infoscion. I would not be entering to Mysore campus again , wearing black tag.

By 4.30 p.m bus parked in stand. Everyone was on a rush as if they would not get seat if they enter late.I checked my ticket again. Seat number -25. So no one could sit there.I sat in a chair in bus stand looking at people, made sure everyone entered and then I went to conductor to show my ticket. I had booked a window seat.When I went to seat, another guy sitting in nearby seat. He had already put headset and was hearing music. I went and sat on my seat. Since he was busy in listening to music, I didn't speak to him. I was about to cry when bus started moving.But whatever happens, life must go on.


I slept for sometime as I didn't sleep well on previous day.(I had explained it on part 6). By 6 p.m , I woke up, when they put movie. "Abhimaan" - one of the super hits in seventies starring Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan. I really got wondered how K.S.R.T.C (Karnataka State Transport Corporation) got disk of such old movies and why they took such a great effort to show them to us. But the movie was really interesting.A husband's ego issues, when wife became famous. Something that could happen in everyone's life.A very good message was conveyed in it.Only problem I felt was the number of songs. There were seven or eight songs in that two hour movie. Amitabh looks Jaya - one song. Jaya looks back - another song, like that it went. But it was not so boring as the songs were really good.

Around 9 p.m bus reached Wayanad. I was happy to reach my native state.We had food from a hotel in Kalpetta.
They tried to make me eat chicken or beef, but they too failed. I am not explaining it here as it would be an exact replica of the scene that I told in part 1 . After food, bus started it's journey to Trivandrum.
Around 10 p.m, the guy sitting near me got a call. I assume it was his girlfriend. But he was speaking very silently that everyone could hear what he was saying. It was like this -

" edi, njan thiruvanthapurathottu pokkondirikkuva. Avide PED enna oru departmentila posting kittiye.etho oru Shibuvine kaananam enna evidunnu paranjathu. Aara ennariyilla. puthiya SEZ office aanu. aa kappalinte shape-ilulla kettidam. Ninakkariyille?athu thanne. PED-il aareyum parichayamilla.Naale thanne poyi join cheyyanam" ( I am on the way to Trivandrum. I got posting in a department called PED there. They told to meet one Shibu. I have no idea who is he.In SEZ office.You have seen that building. That big building in the shape of a ship. Tomorrow I will join there).

I decided to talk to him.I started as if I didn't hear his call.
I : Hai
he: Hai
I : Where are you going?
He: Trivandrum.
I : You working there?
He: Yes, in a company called Infosys.
I : Infosys!!!Which department??
He: You know Infosys?
I: I am working there for last 2 years.
( I don't know how to explain his face expression after hearing this.)

He : You are in which department brother?
I : PED.
He : Me too got the same department.
I : Oh, okies. Very Good (laughing in mind).
He : Is there any good projects there? I had training in Java.
I : There are projects.I don't know exactly which all projects have requirements. Only you got posting in Trivandrum?
He : No. There are many. Others will come tomorrow only.
The conversation lasted for three hours. He asked everything about Infosys Trivandrum.
I could feel the same excitement that I had when I came to Trivandrum, two years back.Infact I felt like I am watching me. So this was a perfect climax for my trip.
We slept by 1 p.m.
(I hope this guy is not reading my blog)
On 16th January,by 6 a.m , Bus reached Trivandrum.
I came to office at 9 a.m and started writing part 1 of this blog.


The end.

Mysore Trip- part 7 - GEC 2

After visiting both temples, I came back to Mysore DC. I had Iddly from A-Host in Food court 1, which was my usual breakfast for the 6 months training in Mysore.After having breakfast I called my friends. As expected they were sleeping.They woke up when I called and promised to reach campus by 11.

I decided to go to GEC 2.Initially I thought to go with friends. But as they would be late, I decided to go alone. Last day I saw GEC 1, but I didn't get chance to go to GEC 2. Two years back, on January 11 , 2010 - a monday , morning 8.45 a.m I entered GEC 2 for first time.I don't know how to explain that moment. A child,who was born in village in Kerala was standing inside the biggest building of a Multinational Corporate company.I was really excited at that moment.I still remember that day.

****************************************

We(all students from my college) went together to GEC 2.Everyone had some tension in their face.After searching for some time we managed to reach near Induction hall. Vikram Poojari (H.R ) told us to 'swipe in' before entering hall- My first swipe as Infoscion. We entered the hall after swipe. To add beauty to the moment, a beautiful background song was playing - This is my Infy. That song made me proud that I too am a part of such a great Organisation.(But today , if I hear that song..you know what my response might be. :) ) We sat on third row, right corner. Session started. I remember Vikram, Anoop, Sumesh etc who gave introduction to us about policies of Infosys. I want to mention the name of one important person - Arun Nayar. He was the back bone of the entire arrangement in Mysore.He made a beautiful speech which inspired us a lot. Then some sessions on Income Tax and ASHI. Then ICICI people came to start account. Then some other boring sessions. **************************************** After watching the beauty from outside for some time , I entered GEC 2. Whenever I think about GEC 2, one incident always comes to my mind. After Induction , I didn't get a chance to enter GEC 2 as my generic and intermediate session was in GEC 1. On stream training we got class in GEC 2. Since Java was a dead module for me in intermediate, I prayed god to give me anything except Java. But he didn't hear my words. Ours was one of the rare batches. All the 240 students in NCS batch were given Java for stream training. If there was another stream, there might be a chance for me to get anything except Java.As god didn't like that, entire batch was selected. Class rooms announced. As there was no other stream, the entire class was shifted to GEC 2. So we got another 2 months to sit together and that really helped to strengthen friendship.As usual my college friends got one class and I got another. On the first day of stream training, we reached GEC 2 by 8.30 , we had no idea where our class were. One of my friends asked security - "where is B one thousand and six room? " Security: Sir which room? friend: B thousand and six. Security: There is no such room here. Friend: But it was written like that in mail. I have written it in my book. Look. ( he showed his notebook) B 1006 He called another two securities to ask about this. After looking at book for sometime they all started laughing. Security : Sir this is not B one thousand and six. This is B one - zero zero six (B1 006- Basement 1- sixth room). Please go through this way sir. He showed steps to Basement 1. We said thanks to security and walked as if nothing happened. Fortunately my class was G 067 and so nothing like that happened for me.Ground floor class room number 67- third class on right side after entering GEC.So it was easy to find. My last two months in Infosys Mysore started with that funny incident. When I entered GEC 2, I checked whether that security is still there. But all the securities were new people. After entering GEC 2, first thing I did was to go to Induction hall. I went there and stood outside hall for sometime. After that I walked through all the corridors, which I couldn't do earlier,as a trainee here. Finally I reached G 067 - my class. It was as usual. Completely filled with students. Everyone were busy with studies and no one even bothered to look at me. My seat -65 was occupied by a girl , who was very busy on call. If you ask me to tell a place that I didn't like in Mysore campus, I would say- G 067. I came to class in those days with a negative mind as I got Java. And my marks also proved it. Though I had no dead modules, I never got an A grade in stream training(except for POST ). I got retest for three modules. The thing I hate most was devsquare. Everytime when I submitted the answer, I believed that I had given right answer. But Devsquare never accepted me. I felt to throw my computer many times when I saw my marks. But somehow I handled my frustrations. Then I went to cyber cafe on second floor.This was the place where I spend most of my nights. I always had a system 'logged in' there. I kept a book there to make sure no one else occupy that seat. It was not by me alone, but most of the back benchers in my class. We were sitting there from 11 p.m. It was at this place our friendship strengthened. Sitting infront of slides till 3 am. Taking a cup of coffee in between from the coffee machine. Some silly chats and gossips,tensions, discussions,fights etc in between. It was really a heaven. If I have contact with any of my friends after 2 years , it was because of this.It was the same reason why when I asked for a gettogether they said a "YES" without a second thought. Suddenly my phone rang and I came out from my dream world. They reached campus. I told them to come to food court in GEC 2 and I went to lift to go to Food court in Basement 2. to be continued..

Mysore Trip- part 6

We reached Grand Pa's Hotel by 9 p.m. We went on a car and bykes as friends from Chennai had came on car and friends in Mysore D.C had bykes. It was really a beautiful night.We had our dinner from there and sat there till 12-12.30 night and had a long chat.Last 1.5 years-Changes,tensions, happiness,sorrow everything that happened in our life. By 12.30 we decided to go to Hotel Palmyrah. We had already booked 4-5 rooms for a total of 2500 Rs.But when we reached there they replied as if they have never told such things and they need 5000. As we were not ready to accept it, we left the hotel and started searching a new one. We had a few cards of hotels in Mysore. We took them one by one and started calling to hotels.Finally a hotel agreed to give accomodation for 2000 rs.Hotel was near Bannimandap.We had no idea where it was and Mysore friends had already left to their home. At night 1.30 , we were at Mysore city , searching the hotel. Finally , by 2.30 we managed to find the hotel. Straight away we gave the advance and went to room to sleep.


****************************************

January 15 , 6 a.m I woke up early as I had decided to go to LakshmiKanth Temple and Ganesha Temple near Mysore campus. I took bath and left early. I had already told my friends about this and we decided like they would reach campus by 10.30-11 and I should be there at that time, after going to temples. I came out of hotel. I had no idea where it was and where to go to get bus to Mysore DC. Bus code for Mysore campus Bus was 116/119 . But no bus having this code came to bus stop.And there was no one in bus stop at that time to ask.It was a sunday and the cold climate.Finally I got an idea. I caught a bus going to city bus stand. Last stop was bus stand and from there I entered 116 , without any confusion. Around 8.30-9 a.m , I reached near Mysore campus. I went to Lakshmikanth temple first,which is very near Mysore campus.This was the first temple I went, after reaching Mysore. God always has an important part in my life. There was not much change for the temple. But the surrounding places have changed. Huge constructions have come up around the temple. when I entered temple,I could still feel the same energy that I felt when I went there two years back. After praying, I went to Ganesha temple in LakshmiKanth Nagar. There are Hanuman temple and Navagraha temple also, along with Ganesha. As I always have a locket of Hanuman Swami in my chain, this temple give me more mental power whenever I went.I came to know about this temple after 3 months of training.After that one saturday I decided to go to temple and from then on, I made sure that I would go to both temples atleast once in 2-3 weeks.A part of credit for my successful completion of Mysore training goes to gods. After visiting both temples, I came back to Mysore DC. I had Iddly from A-Host in Food court 1, which was my usual breakfast for the 6 months training in Mysore.After having breakfast I called my friends. As expected they were sleeping.They woke up when I called and promised to reach campus by 11. to be continued...