Bliss.

Bliss.

Friday, December 4, 2015

True Colours.

Who cares if now isn't the right time, people never decide when is the right time to hurt you, do they? 

Being nice is never a good choice because no one gets hurt more than yourself. And sometimes the one whom you would take the bullet for ends up being the one pulling the trigger on you. 

I'm starting to think that true friendships are a myth here. If not for the lifelines that I have back home and scattered across the state, I have no idea how I would survive this dreadful nightmare. Adi and Pinki, you guys are there when it matters. :') That voice that tells you that it's going to be okay is all you need sometimes.

The choices you make reflect who you are, your words may deceive but your choices reveal the true colors that you try to hide. 

At the end of the day, it all reflects your upbringing. Pity that some fail to impart basic values to their offspring. Wealth and knowledge have no use without certain basic principles. 

The lack of a solid argument and the lack of a good vocabulary (or basic English skills) is what makes people use profanity. It may intimidate but it really shows that there's probably just dried dung inside that cranium.

Sometimes it's important to take a step back and re-evaluate if people actually deserve to be in your life. Because if they do, they need to stand up for you when the occasion arises, damn it. If they don't, then you can kick em' out and live happily with those who do care for you.

I give my 100% and I have every right to expect the same.

Let's just say a 1000 odd days until I get out of this hellhole!

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Book Brinjal

(Pusthakada Badenekai)
^That's exactly what I feel I'm turning into what with our exams approaching in less than a month. 
Internals are finally over but that means nothing because the big one is lurking round the corner. Honestly have no idea what I'm upto! :/

Cya in 2016 maybe?

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Playing With Fire.

How foolish could I be to think that I can dissociate from an intrinsic component of myself and assume that I will be fine? Yes, you can amputate the limb but there's no running away from the Phantom pain. There are some things that have become so ingrained in my persona that any attempt to bring about changes will only lead to chaos.

Exams are approaching and I'm supposed to be in hyper-study mode but that doesn't always happen. There are days when I study and I'm happy with what I've read and there are days when I attempt to study but nothing seems to diffuse through the scalp.

These days I've been reading about pathogenic protozoa like Entamoeba, Trypanosoma, Leishmania, Malaria and so on. Malaria for example has a life cycle in the female anopheles mosquito as well in the human host. The bite of the mosquito transfers the sporozoite to the human and this ends up in the liver where the pre-erythrocytic cycle occurs. The meront is formed which later bursts to release merozoites that penetrate the RBC and develop through 3 stages. The trophozoite that is formed matures and upon the bite of the mosquito, it is transferred to the gut of the mosquito in its blood meal. Here the sexual reproduction (sporogony) occurs and there is a zygote formed from the male and female trophozoite that enters into the salivary gland of the mosquito and is transferred to the human host in its next bite. There are 4 major forms of Plasmodium species, P.Vivax, P. Falciparum, P.Ovale and P. Malariae with Falciparum being associated with the highest mortality (Blackwater Fever) and generally presents with fever, chills and sweats that recur periodically. 

So apart from these there are several other protozoans like Toxoplasma that reaches a dead end in the human host. The definitive host being cats and other felines, the infective sporulated oocyst is transferred to humans through any contamination in food and water and it later develops from bradyzoites to tachyzoites  that later form tissue cysts. These are particularly notorious in the immunocompromised and cause life threatening complications when it is congenital like the 3CS: Chorioretinitis, Cerebral calcifications and Convulsions. 

Apart from these there are also creepy crawlies to deal with, their pathogenicity and clinical features being distinct. Some of them worms I've been reading include Diphyllobothrium latum (Fish Tapeworm- it has 3 hosts. It affects humans and then is transmitted to (as coracidium and then procercoid larva) cyclops from where it reaches fish (pleurocercoid) which is consumed by man and the cycle continues..), Echinococcus Granulosus (Dog Tapeworm- where man is only an accidental host and it results in formation of hydatid cysts in the liver and other sites), Taenia solium, Taenia saginata (beef and pork tapeworm that cause complications like neurocysticercosis through its cytsic forms: cysticercus bovis and cysticercus cellulosae) and so on. There's so much more to do in so little time and what's more important is also revising what I've read instead of just going on and on! -_-

Before this, it was Virology and that was quite interesting. Viruses are usually RNA or DNA or in the rare cases of retro viruses (HIV) it's a DNA:RNA virus that forms the genetic material. Viruses can causes almost all sorts of infections:
CNS: KJD, GSS, Rhabdo, Polio
Respiratory: Adenovirus, Rhinovirus, SARS, Orthomyxovirus,
Diarrhoea: Reovirus? Norwalk, Astrovirus..
Haemorrhagic: Arena virus, Ebola, KFD
and so on...

Coming to Pharmacology, there is SIMPLY WAY TOO MUCH! It's not a problem to read up on the new chapters but what is definitely a problem is revising all the drugs we've been reading in the course of one whole year! Just take the names, they sound so familiar, similar and yet so confusing! Take Amiloride, Amiodarone and Amantadine.
  • Amiloride is a diuretic that acts at the Collecting Ducts and inhibits the renal epithelial Na+ channels and thus causes diuresis. (I think)
  • Amiodarone is a broad spectrum anti-arrhythmic. I think it belongs to class II antiarrythmics and can be used for a wide range of arrhythmias. 
  • Amantadine on the other hand is a multipurpose drug: It was introduced as an antiviral drug for treatment of influenza (mechanism is probably something to do with the Neuraminidase and Hemagglutinin antigens on the virus) but was serendipitously found to have anti-parkinsonian effects. It complements the action of Levo-Dopa and can probably used in the early stages. (I think)
  • Now Amantadine rhymes with Cimetidine and Ranitidine but don't be confused because those are H2 Proton pump blockers which you would prescribe for Peptic Ulcers and gastritis because they reduce the gastric acid secretions. 
  • Similarly, there is Metronidazole, Tinidazole, Satranidazole, Secnidazole that are used in the treatment of amoebic dysentery (E.histolytica) because they have this nitro group that goes inside the Amoeba, gets activated and attracts all the electrons so that the Pyruvate-Ferrodoxin Oxido-Reductase Pathway (PFOR) is inhibited so this ultimately has -cidal action on the pathogen. These are effective in anaerobic conditions if there were to be oxygen they themselves would compete with the nitro group for the electrons.. But don't confuse this with Ketoconazole, Fluconazole, Itraconazole or Voriconazole because these are antifungals that act by inhibiting the cell wall synthesis (I think!)
 I could go on and on and I might actually do more of this sometime :)

Pathology is progressing at snail's pace. I recently read about pathological conditions of the kidney and this itself spanned several days because of its convoluted nature (pun intended). In many cases, the diseases are a classic example of "Subversion from within" as Robbins describes the pathogenicity in HIV-AIDS. For no good reason, antibodies are formed against the basement membrane of the glomeruli and with similar auto-antibodies in the lung, you have your Good-Pasture Syndrome. And then there are immune complexes formed which are deposited giving rise to conditions like HSP and Lupus Nephritis..
Basically there are two clinical presentations:
  • Nephrotic : Proteinuria, Lipiduria and Edema
  • Nephritic  : Proteinuria, Haematuria and Hypertension
Apart from the glomerular, interstitial and tubular dysfunctions there are neoplasms (Renal Cell Ca), cysts (ADPKD ARPKD), hydronephrosis and so on.. 

Recently a strange thought struck my otherwise dormant frontal lobe. The water we drink is said to be "purified" thanks to the aquaguard water purifiers in the hostel as well as in the college. But nobody really looks into the maintenance of these purifiers or the steel containers that store the water. The water we consume no doubt has some bacteria. So what we could do is do a Coliform Count and also culture the bacteria in several media hoping to see which bacteria turns up. So there are two schools of thought with which we could proceed:
  • The water we're drinking is fairly harmless so if the reports show presence of any bacteria it would mean our body has developed some level of resistance of these bacteria over time. This could be compared to water supply in a fairly cleaner source and see if there is any pathogenicity of these bacteria in a different region.
  • The second approach would be to see if the water we're drinking has actually caused any disease in the hostelites and identify the causative bacteria. Has the bacteria evolved to evade the purification and become resistant? Again, one could compare with another water source and observe the trends.
As Uppi Sir said, it is a viable project (that I could attempt after 2nd year even if that means it can't be an ICMR project because the deadline for ICMR would be January when I'd be in the middle of practical exams) and I could work on it with the available resources provided and "define the problem" and then work on it. Whenever we begin any such project, it is very important to ferment the ideas into something definitive. What is the purpose of the project, what do you aim to find on microscopic analysis, how would you choose to analyse the data, how are you going to compare this with other water sources and what's the bottom line? One needs to have definitive answers before embarking on something new like this. 

Moving on to matters of the heart and conveniently ignoring Forensic Medicine which I need to read more of, I seem to be in a perpetual state of confusion and disappointment. 

I either have an inherent genetic defect in maintaining relationships- mutated MHR gene (Maintain Healthy Relationship) that probably explains why sometimes somethings never work out with some people. Or maybe I don't put enough into it or don't make amends or I expect too much from people or I just end up with the wrong people! 

Looking back always brings regret, which is why I try my best to steer my hyperkinetic thoughts in the right direction, but then there are times when you wish you had done things differently. I have this "Äll or None" personality. I either give my 100% and give my best to make things work or I don't try at all. I need to find the comfortable middle ground where you stay at a comfortable distance and maintain a better equation with people. 

There are times when I crave for silence. Silence from the chaos of my thoughts that are constantly in motion like electrons colliding against each other in Brownian motion. I crave for some solidarity of my thoughts, some respite from the constant tug of war that distracts me from anything I do. It stems from disappointment: a feeling of repulsion and disgust to who I've become against the stark contrast of who I wish I would be. Adapting to people and circumstances constantly has suppressed the true nature of me. There are moments like these, in these fleeting moments, in the scribbled notes of a story incomplete or an amateur attempt at poetry that I find myself. It is in this silence that I can sense creativity bubbling within me, hoping to find an outlet.

As someone rightly said (or as I understood it), sometimes you need to talk to people. The world feels less of a burden and much more bearable. In my case, it is my blog that I turn to, sad as it seems that it is a mere virtual entity. An imaginary non-existent figament that purportedly contains my thoughts without any reaction but giving me the satisfaction of having unburdened myself. Words, thoughts and ideas are the fuel of my existence. They define who I am and they help me evolve and discover more.Yet, trying to do away with even this mode of release is just slow asphyxia. Like the Carbon Dioxide that we need to exhale out of our system (before it can stimulate the Respiratory Centre in the brain, preferentially bind to the Hb and wreak havoc), my has invariably become a lifeline. A creative process that has become a part of who I am. In the past, the blog was a mere glimpse of who I am. Over time, it has evolved into something more concrete. It's either that, or I've officially gone NUTS. :D It would only be self-destructive to stifle my voice against the waves of conformity. 

I cannot run away from the consequence of my actions, I can only make peace with myself. I cannot rebel against what I chose, I can only accept the reality. In the end, we are not defined by those around us because they are never constant. So there is no point pondering infinitely about how we are perceived by people who do not eventually matter.

What I Do In The Library
  • Mature is when you are polite with the people you don’t really get along with because it seems the right thing to do but it’s mistaken as fake.
  • Natural is when someone behaves in a certain way that is perceived to be fake by those around him/her. Example: some people have a fake laugh.
  • Opportunistic Faking is taking advantage of a situation for your benefit by saying things you do not mean. *Sycophants*
  • Synergistic Faking: Two people playing along for a mutual benefit
On a lighter note, I have discovered that I have a rare but seriously awkward condition known as Paroxysmal Laughter Syndrome (PLS). The genetic causes have not yet been established but they occur due to a sporadic mutation in the SNL gene. (Sane and Normal Laughter) Going back to the basics, I read in Vilayanur Ramachandran's neuroscience books that laughter is the body's way of recognizing a false alarm. A mother approaches her 8 month old child with arms outstretched and a serious expression. The baby is surprised and worried that it has done something wrong. As the mother approaches closer, her expression softens and she suddenly takes to tickling the child. The child bursts into peals of laughter at this and creases of fear vanish. Why is it that the child laughed? What is the neurological basis behind this sound produced by the larnyx when we notice a funny incident? The idea is that in the course of evolution over centuries, laughter has evolved as a mechanism of letting the body know that "It's all okay, no harm done". The brain had expected some danger but the turn of events proved contrary and hence we burst into high pitched giggles or happy squeals or sometimes into a loud cackle that causes bystanders some discomfort. So my problem is that I tend to burst out laughing in the most inappropriate circumstances and seem to have no control over it. It might be at a friend's birthday treat, or when I notice two individuals walking or in the middle of class/postings or worse still, while discussing a serious matter with the Principal. A thorough in depth analysis of the reason behind this has brought me to the conclusion that I have a tendency to over-think. When the people around me heard the same sentences, they didn't find anything remotely amusing. But my confounded brain makes some connections that they couldn't imagine (nobody could believe that I would think in that angle) and hence I had a tough time stifling my laughter while the others looked at me in surprise. The other incident could also be attributed to the same cause. The brain processes a simple harmless data into something much more fancy and embellished that appears humorous and hence the intractable giggling in inappropriate situations. What remains now is now I somehow learn the art of keeping a straight face and avoid embarrassment. 

In case you want to know more:
Another thing I discovered recently is the redundancy of Antidepressants. Depression is something many people will claim to have experienced but the few who have been clinically diagnosed with it would know that it is a quagmire of hopelessness that would drag you into its realm and before you know it you are incapable of getting out of the whirlpool of endless thoughts circulating within. From what I know, there are two theories (among others) that are proposed for the pathogenesis of depression.
  • BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor) is an important component that has an overall role in controlling emotions and thoughts. Any decrease in BDNF could trigger depression.
  • Monoamine depletion. Seratonin, Dopamine and Noradrenaline are some of the neurotransmitters whose variation could also contribute to depression. Current antidepression therapy is aimed at mainaining the levels of these neurotransmitters at the optimum levels. Drugs include:
    • MAO-B inhibitors: Moclobemide
    • Amitryptilline, Nortryptilline, Imipramine, Desipramine, Doxepin, Dothiepin
    • Fluoxetine and other SNRIs.
    • I can't remember the newer Anti Depressants.
    • NUTELLA. This single substance could alter the treatment of MDD radically if it were administered to all those suffering from disappointment, loss, desperation and hopelessness. As most people who have consumed this sinful delight would know by now, Nutella is fairly addictive and this ensures it has a regular fan base. A casual google search of the science of nutella addiction threw up some results that caution against it's use.( http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-nutella.html?t=SOE )
My point? Eat Nutella, Live Happily Ever After! :D 

Songs are my refuge when the world shuts its doors or when I choose to shut my doors against the world. Playlist:
  • American Oxygen (Rihanna)
  • Bas Ek Pal (KK)
  • Beetein Lamhein (KK)
  • Naseeba (Sunidhi)
  • Mine (Phoebe Ryan)
  • Khwaishein (Arijit)
Toodles! :D

Monday, October 12, 2015

Rewind

Blogging before any test is never a prudent choice but since I’ve been known for such lapses in judgement in the past, this too shall join its predecessors. After what seems like eternity, I’m greeted by the echoes of my own words; the stage is set but there is no audience for my soliloquy. (Seems a bit dramatic right? But let me clarify, it’s by my own choice that there are no audience being subjected to my moody musings and I intend to alter that in about 2 months).

One year seems to have passed in a flurry of academic rigour, sports and exercise, cultural activities, cooking extravaganzas, movies, outings to the city and beyond, shifting dilemmas, tests, internals, fests, quizzes, posters, assignments and so on! The list is endless but what beats me is how much has changed since the day we began our second year of MBBS. The time has now come to consolidate all the knowledge acquired in the span of one and half years and prepare for the finals. The idea of writing 7 papers followed by practicals and viva in 4 subjects is indeed one that creates tightness in your throat as panic seizes you and worries cloud further thoughts on the matter.

There are several things that have been running in my mind lately that I’d like to offload. To begin with, the SDM Quiz was a good experience but we did not make it. I received an email (today, to be specific) informing us that we’d scored 43 while the qualifying teams scored in the likes of 48-54. The prelims mainly featured questions from Sparsh Gupta book of MCQs for Pathology while the finals was in the format similar to the one conducted in our college by V Sir, albeit a little less difficult. BP and I travelled by ourselves and it was our first such experience where we managed to figure our way out in new towns and cities, travel by local transport, watch the changing landscapes, observe the altered linguistics in different districts, eat and explore our way on our own and yes, manage the finances in the best possible way. Our mode of transport was the good old KSRTC bus as we forayed into the unknown terrains of North Karnataka. After wolfing down some breakfast in Shimoga and some last minute purchases, we boarded the bus to Harihar where we had lunch and then proceeded to board another bus to Hubli. Upon reaching this well planned and fairly well maintained city, we hogged on some pizza at Dominoes (after what seemed like AGES) and then hopped onto another bus to Dharwad. Midway, we alighted and stood for a few moments taking in the sheer size and architechture of the SDM Medical College campus. Well planned, well maintained and appreciably populated, SDM seemed like a true medical college, with patients and attendants walking around in apprehension, PGs and UG students bustling in and out of buildings and interns and residents scurrying around nimbly. It seemed unreal, to us, naïve students of Subbaiah as we glimpsed what we had always hoped to see in our college.

The highlights of the trip were meeting Sanjana and finally delivering the much awaited little-something. We may have been on the wrong side of time yet it seemed perfect and complete, cycling on the huge campus, taking a detour on our way back to Davangere to relish the traditional Jolada Roti (thanks to Sonika for her timely help!) and much much more. The conspicuous absence of a certain individual also residing in North Karnataka, in fact, barely an hour away spoke volumes. It merely shows concrete evidence of what Bhopie has been saying all along. Nevertheless, the much anticipated meetup will just remain as figments of our imagination because neither could care enough.


It’s about time I retire for the night and delve into the depths of my brain as I study about HIV, Orthomyxoviris, Hepatitis and so on..

Toodles! :)

Friday, October 2, 2015

Oneiroid State.

Warning: Dream-like state alert owing to insomnia and forensic medicine impenetrance has prompted incoherent babbling. Major throwback to Pingi and all the nonsense she's been hearing in school and deeksha. 


There are mistakes that bring a smile, 
A smile from the closed chapter of a lost book. 
Sometimes the chapters that we choose to overlook, 
Remain as fresh as ever even though it's been a while.


Folded pages and underlined phrases tell a tale, 
But the story between the lines does not unveil. 
Some day we woke up and erased it all away, 
Not knowing that it was etched within us for eternity.


But what book would be complete, 
Without the imperfections of the protagonist? 
It's only through those memorable mistakes replete, 
That I now believe in the perfect tryst.



Wednesday, September 23, 2015

It's Always A Good Time. :)

Hello there! 
There have been a lot of things going on lately. I guess it would make sense to use bullet points.
  •  I’ve been making several online purchases and they include:
    • Cuckoo’s Calling (Robert Galbraith)
    • Paper Towns: John Green
      • So basically it made for an okay-ish read. There were some concepts that I liked but the style and language wasn’t really the kind of literature that I would prefer. After reading refined English in classics, it is hard to find that quality of writing in recent authors. The themes may be relevant, the metaphors may be applicable but I find myself intermittently wondering why I am I reading something like this.
      • Some of the quotes from the book that I liked:
        •  It’s so hard to leave- until you leave. And then it’s the easiest goddamned thing in the world.
        • If you don’t imagine, nothing ever happens at all.
        • When did we see each other face-to-face? Not until you saw into my cracks and I saw into yours. Before that we were just looking into ideas of each other, like looking at your window shade but never seeing inside. But once the vessel cracks, the light can get in, the light can get out.
  • Recently, there has been a growing popularity of the Dubsmash App in the Girl’s hostel. We got this fun app from Sana (Arsikere) and spent several days lip-syncing to some famous actor’s popular dialogue and then laughing over the same for the next few hours! This time, Di and I had a great time bonding over Dubsmash (“Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi, na mumkin hai” delivered by an angry Divya :P )
  • I’ve been watching some movies lately and most of them have turned out to be good choices.
    • Phantom: We watched this in the theatre and it makes for an interesting face paced thriller albeit without much room for emotions or drama but I suppose that’s how it’s got to be.
    • Gabbar is Back: Happened to watch it on the way to Bangalore. Not bad, but nothing good either. The scenes regarding the money minded schemes of doctors could have been altered because it potrays the medical profession in poor light.
    • Om Shanthi Oshana: A cute Mallu movie
    • Shawshank Redemption: Back in Deeksha, I’d heard of this movie while playing dumb charades but never had a chance to watch it. A beautiful movie! 
  •  I’d been home for the festival and I did the complete vratha after about 4 years. I’m so glad that I could be a part of the celebrations and the entire pooja went on smoothly all thanks to amma’s preparation that began a week in advance. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of being involved in the festival and wholeheartedly participating in the rituals. What we follow is what has been passed on from one generation to the next. In our quest to eagerly accept modernization/Westernisation we must not conveniently choose to forget tradition and culture. Another thing I sorely missed is singing (the Carnatic/light music kind). Although I sound like a pleasant frog at best, it has always given me some satisfaction to sing these songs. I’ve never really been comfortable to sing the same way back in the hostel so I refrain from bothering my vocal chords. We had a few guests over and when I had to sing, I realized that unlike what I read in textbooks, the songs I’ve learnt are etched as ROM (or is it RAM?! :’) ) in my brain and *touch wood* has not evaporated even though it’s been a decade since I learnt some of the songs.
*Experiments*
Family Selfiee!
Pooja scenes :)
  • Some of the latest songs that are reverberating in my mind include:
o   Saaware : Phantom
o   Beautiful Now : Zedd
o   Run Away With Me : Carly Rae Jepson (A carefree, cheerful song)
o   Gulabi: Sachin-Jigar (morning suprabatham)
o   Shut up and dance with me (Such an infectiously happy song!)
o   Zehnaseeb (from the movie Hasee to Phasee)
  • These holidays, I also visited a close relative which was pending since a long time. The visit was something I will cherish for a long time but it also brought forth the reality of old age. At no other juncture does one feel so lost and vulnerable. For a person who’s always been actively engaged in work, it’s hard to learn to sit back and relax. It’s hard to accept the limitations that age imposes on you and that eventually take a toll on your confidence. Another aspect is how it’s hard for those around them to also accept that the person they knew is no longer the same. Yet it’s important to remain hopeful and instil confidence on them. I wish I’d made this visit earlier, but I’m happy that it finally materialized after almost 2.5 years.
  • We had been to this Bharatanatyam program on Saturday where Adi had a few performances. As always, Adi danced well and so did all the tiny tots with bobbing head movements and wide-eyed expressions. To cultivate any hobby or talent is an achievement and truly noteworthy. As Amma frequently says, it is a “sadhana” and if not done when the opportunity is given, there is no room for regret later.
  • September has had several birthdays and this has led to considerable excitement in our group. Abhi’s Birthday was on 20th and BP and I began hatching a plot a fortnight ago and later Govi and Avm also joined the conspiracy. It all began at 12 AM when she cut a small but delectable chocolate truffle in the hostel. There was nothing eventful after this and the next morning BP and I rushed to breakfast making sure we left the birthday girl behind. After the customary oil drenched dosas we briefed Govi about the Plan Of Action and then the two of us headed to VP’s place who had agreed to play host to us madcaps. Icaboo hovered around and guided us in preparing the relatively simple cooker cake. Later BP left for some purchases with Avm. Icaboo and I saved the cake from becoming a soggy mess by some herculean efforts and I began working on the clues. After the two returned, we began to put everything in place. Meanwhile, Govi was entrusted the responsibility of keeping Abhi engaged (since the 3 of us were ignoring her calls) so they went to a temple and later to a boating site in Bhadravathi. After carefully co-ordinating the timings such that we don’t end up running into each other and after sealing the garnished cake, we rushed to college and set up the clues for the treasure hunt. At long last, we began with the cake cutting and the cake was demolished in no time. Thankfully, it was more than edible!  After this, there was some more running around to ensure that the clues were placed appropriately and then, we began. It included places like the first room that Abhi lived in when they joined the hostel, the perennial source of food and her favourite hangout in the hostel (my room), her native place (the library) and the solitary tree in the middle of the field which was our “Getaway” once upon a time. Having succeeded in making Abhi run around, we sat down and did the next most appropriate thing to do: click pictures! It all ended on a good note to a large extent and after this we retired to the cosy confines of our rooms.
Surprises and gifts, endless selfies, cake baking sessions with Icaboo and
running around for the treasure hunt :)
  • In the evening, Abhi decided that she would treat us. The localites managed to arrange an extra vehicle for us and I got the opportunity to ride with Abhi. The best things are reserved for the last, they say and so it was. It began on a shaky start and I’m glad that Abhi had the confidence to sit on the pillion. Gradually I become acclimatized to the darkness, traffic and the chill when we raced against the wind. Nothing can beat the joy of racing (ok, not really because the Purle Road is a bumpy ride with potholes and road humps lurking at every corner) and that too with someone confident enough to sit behind you! :P Yes, I was a teeny bit nervous but all that dissipated soon enough and Govi and Abhilash were kind enough to let me race ahead and scare any poor dog that dared to cross my path. At long last we reached the destination (Pizza Sky) safely and we began hogging. Later we proceeded to Ibaco below for desserts and then it was again time to ride! We had a photo session again (and also another while riding) and it was one amazing experience altogether! I don’t want to exaggerate but honestly, riding against the wind is like setting a caged bird free. The fact that this was at night only made it awesome-er. And the obedient daughter that I am, I did mention to MaPa that “I went on a ride and came back safely.” and received no reprimands. Honestly, the security guards at the gate seem to have given up on us! We’ve become habitual late-comers and because we take the required permission they can’t really complain. It all seemed like the perfect end to the day but there were some more events that threatened to leave a bitter aftertaste but it in the end, it’s all about what we choose to remember. 


Gaadi Scenes! :)

  • The next day, it was Deepu’s b’day so there was another cooking session at midnight and in the evening it was time for the combined treat of the September borns (Likki, Abhi, Deepu and Hkm)  so we (The kodachadri gang – Nammu’s boyprend and +Sanju and Deepu) headed to Anmol for dinner. After another round of hogging and even chomping on some Chocolate Paan ( Yes, I’ve tasted it and it’s not bad after all) we headed back to college. (7 of us +the driver bundled in one auto!)
  •  So today was the Ganesha Visarjan in college and there was music, dance and fireworks. As it has become customary, we did some customary prancing around in the name of dance and here I am now, blogging about the latest updates!
Just like drugs are detoxified in our body to make them less toxic and then removed, one needs to detoxify oneself to prevent accumulation of toxic thoughts and ideas. Irrespective of the surroundings, one must recognize what is toxic to ones’ own progress and what acts as a catalyst.

With the finals approaching in about 2 months, there is considerable tension palpable in the atmosphere and it’s about time I pull up my socks and get down to business.

I’m not sure if I can blog frequently anymore because time has become unbelievably scarce these days. I’ll be heading to Dharwad over the weekend for the Patho quiz so I’m hoping that it all goes well. Hopefully, I’ll complete part 2 of A Story. :)

Friday, September 11, 2015

A Story (Part 1)

The year was 2000. The new generation had stars in its eyes and most of the educated ones wanted to live The Great American Dream. Those with talent, willingness to work and a fair amount of luck made the cut and set sail towards the New World while the rest continued to plough through the same mundane life. But in a small village near Mangalore, one girl dared to dream big.

Income was meagre, expenses were high, debts were mounting and 5 hungry mouths added to Krishnappa’s woes. His eldest daughter Kaveri was a bright young girl who had just completed her PUC from a nearby private college. It was only after much persuasion and contribution from local charitable trusts that he agreed. But today, He was beginning to regret having sown the seeds of a plant that demanded lot more than he could supply. Kaveri had secured distinction in her exams and her rank in the Common Entrance Test indicated the possibility of a medical seat in Bangalore. Encouraged by her teachers, Kaveri decided that she would pursue medicine come what may. Of course, it raised consternation in the family; her mother’s health was deteriorating and her younger brothers also required education. Why couldn’t she just get married and lessen the burden?

Kaveri was firm in her stand; several nights she sat down with her mother and gave her hopes of a better future. She explained how she could earn substantially more in a matter of time if they supported her in her venture. She reminded her of her grandmother who had died because there was no doctor in the village who could treat her. In the time that ensued before they shifted her to the General hospital, her condition had taken a turn for the worse and she passed away in a few days. She promised her mother that what she was doing was for the family, she would come back to the village, she would provide for her brothers’ education and so on. With these promises, she slowly managed to win over her mother.

Her father, on the other hand was a tough nut to crack. He did not oppose the fact that she wanted to study further; it was just that he did not favour her becoming a doctor.
“Why don’t you study B.Sc or B.Com like your friends Gayathri and Veena and become a school teacher? You can live with us and still get your degree. Why do you have to travel so far? Who will fund your education?

Further, he believed that this was where she belonged, in the middle of the serenity and purity of Mother Nature. He feared that the modernization of city life would irrevocably change his daughter.

She assured him that the teachers in her college would help her apply for a loan and scholarships from charitable trusts. Yet, whatever she said, he remained melancholic about her decision. Looking back, he regretted having nourished the seeds sown by her teachers. He had always urged her to do better in every test, exam or competition. Today, what had it led to? He resigned himself to the Fate that his bird had grown wings and was raring to fly into a bigger world. Now, he could only watch the beauty and grace of the bird he had nurtured from a distance.

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

Bangalore was on the brink of a major revolution. Tree-lined avenues and quaint gardens had given way to swanky sky liners, six-lane roads and software techparks. Blessed with pristine and pleasant climate, Bangalore still retained some of its old world charm reminiscent of the colonial era.

Yet, Sagar was like a fish out of water in the cosmopolitan city. Born in the States, he had lived in California for 8 years and then relocated with his family to Bangalore so that they could be around his grandparents. He had tried, struggled and failed at adapting to life in Bangalore. Recluse and reticent, he neither encouraged not actively went in search of any company. Having spent his childhood in a far more developed place, he was initially alarmed by the sight of cows and cars polluting the streets. He had hoped that with time, he would acclimatize to the evolving city yet that was not meant to be. With each passing day, he was filled with a sense of dread and despair. Then mechanical lifestyle did not suit him; he wanted purity of mind and space. Here, he felt compelled to be a part of a rat race he had no interest in running. He seemed to be chasing endlessly with no goal in sight. Often, he questioned himself; why was he doing all this?

Having secured themselves financially from their overseas stint, his parents provided good facilities for him to excel academically. He was enrolled into an intensive coaching program for his +2 to help him get into the best institutions, yet he lacked the spark of enthusiasm that drives one towards success.

The results were announced. He had secured 90% and his performance in the Entrance Test made him eligible for a medical seat in Bangalore. While his parents were elated, it only drove Sagar into greater depths of despair. Fear compelled him to quell his insecurities and he resigned himself to the fate of a caged bird.

While he continued to dwell on the misery of his success, his parents hoped that one day, their son would vocalise his opinion and listen to his heart. They had always encouraged him to follow what he was passionate about, yet through the years, Sagar drifted along neither with enthusiasm nor against resistance. As parents, they were wise enough to give him the freedom of doing what he was passionate about, but their son failed to see the freedom he was bestowed with. Perhaps with time, he would realize that sometimes the cages around us are built by ourselves.

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

They say that it is in college that we discover who we truly are. Whether it is true or not is debatable but what cannot be questioned is the fact that it is in college that we get a glimpse of the world.

With hopes, dreams and determination, Kaveri stepped into MS Ramaiah Medical College in the August of 2000. Bangalore was a massive shift from the quaint village she had grown up in. Her college was in the middle of a bustling neighbourhood so traffic and pollution took a toll on her health in the initial days. She lived in a rundown girl’s hostel that reeked of dust and housed more mice than girls. Yet, none of this bothered her. It was the people who took her by surprise, with their indifference to everything that did not concern them. Nobody seemed to care about your existence, your health, your welfare and least of all, your happiness!

Unlike in her village, here nobody seemed to have the time to stop and chat for a while or help her find her bearings in a new city. Being a keen observer, she slowly understood that she needed to adapt in order to survive. If indifference would help her succeed, then so be it! She buried herself completely in her studies, restricted herself to a few acquaintances and did not socialize beyond what was expected of her. Days passed into weeks that slowly turned into months, Kaveri was a changed person: She was confident, self-assured and yes, she was indifferent to everything that did not concern her goal.

The same circumstances can bring out the differences in our personalities. On the same day at the same place, another student walked gates of MS Ramaiah. Sagar was taken aback by the diversity in the student population. There was a sprinkling of students from all over the country; Kannadigas formed the majority closely followed by Keralites, North Indians and students from the North East. In all his earlier experiences, he had never seen such cultural and economic variation coexist. Out of the blue, he was triggered by the urge to know more and he began to emerge from the cocoon he had built around himself. As days passed, he socialized more, he began to appreciate how fortunate he was and he developed an interest towards his academics. The bird had found its wings and began its journey into the limitless sky.

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

Three years had passed since Kaveri had stepped into the hallowed portals of Medicine. While academics remained her sole focus, friends remained far and few. Family had taken a backseat and her visits to her hometown had become perfunctory and awkward. Her mother’s health was uncertain and her father’s salary remained constant against the rising cost of expenses but somewhere in the middle of her zest and zeal for success, she had become apathetic towards her family as well.

“Why doesn’t Kaveri call anymore? She even has a cellphone now. Are we no one to her?” her mother lamented.

To this, her father smiled to himself. He was not surprised by the turn of events.

“Do you know why I insisted on naming her Kaveri? She created more havoc than both the boys ever did. She is the Restless, unstoppable one and she will not stop for anyone or anything. There are no rocks, boulders or hills that hinder the progress of the river Cauvery. It is only when she meets the mighty Ocean that she will halt her pace, pause and reflect on life. I can only hope that such a day will arrive soon.” The wise father replied.

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

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Novus Actus Interveniens

Currently dormant on the blogosphere for a variety of reasons:
  • Paucity of time. (5th term is hectic. A certain Sir’s sudden surge in the subject has led to unexpected assignments cropping up out of nowhere and monopolizing the weekends. What began with a harmless blood donation day related poster presentation then led to making mind maps on assigned topics, giving seminars on clinical pathology topics, writing descriptions for museum specimens and now for the actual (official) assignments in our records! Oh, and I was speaking of only Pathology. 3 other subjects are also demanding to be studied.)
  • No 3G in my new room. (I’ve shifted one floor above (that explains for the lack of exercise) and I can barely get 2G in my current location so blogging has suffered a setback.)
  • Writer’s block. I haven’t been reading much these days. I’ve realized that in my current schedule, I can’t possibly read classics which require long stretches at a time which I’m not able to devote. All I can do is snatch a few minutes during classes, postings or prior to bed. I’m currently reading The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho (thanks to Anu :) ) and it seems to be interesting (prompted my previous post) although the style of writing could have been a few notches higher. 

But today I have decided to blog come what may! So we’re currently in 5th term and our exams are fast approaching (all the faculties take great pains to remind us at every possible instant about this alarming fact.) and we’re now in General Medicine postings after a month of General Surgery.

During these Surgery postings we saw a lot of ulcers (traumatic, diabetic ulcers in aged individuals, trophic ulcers, varicose (venous) ulcers, arterial ulcers and so on..) and swellings (in the neck region, in the inguinal region, lump in the breast, etc ). We also had to present cases (where once again I exhibited my unfailing talent of making a flop show (I must say, I’m getting good at this! -_-) and we had classes as well. Some were taught by the new surgeon Dr Nagaraj who’s joined Subbaiah after his stint in McGann and he seemed to give us some orientation from the examination point of view. Some others were taught by Aarthi maám (where once again I was distracted by that haircut), Gopinath Sir (who looks for opportunities to show us that he can he sarcastic) and of course, the HoD and Principal of the college who can be described as enthusiastic and passionate (to say the least. This is an online platform, after all) and he ensured that our lunch breaks were reduced to a 15 minute affair on numerous occasions. Nevertheless, I saw my first (and only) surgery (appendicectomy) performed by him during these postings. (an interesting, yet odd experience)

Another interesting update that I must mention is about Pathology. So in an earlier post I’d mentioned about the preliminary round of a Pathology quiz held in our class. As luck would have it, 10 of us were selected for the next round and a quiz was conducted for 5 teams of two participants. We weren’t really given much help regarding the quiz but we just told to read as we normally would and prepare for some embarrassment. As things unfolded, BP and I were a team while Abhi and Bharat were another. The formation of teams was a major confusion created quite a bit of pandemonium. In the weekend leading up to the quiz, the tension was palpable in the air and I was at my wit’s end given that there was also a CSF analysis to be presented on the same afternoon. BP and I spent a good part of the weekend reviewing people and topics of interest over the internet and that proved to be a boon to us the following day. The quiz was interesting we managed to open our account in the first round with a few guesses of the names of the scientists and other famous people. (Giemsa, Barbara McLintock, Papanicolou, Henrietta Lacks..) We faltered in the following rounds, partly due to our carelessness (Fat Embolism) and partly due to stupidity (Etiology) but we tried to cover up for it in the Rapid Fire. We came a close second with 80 points after Abhi and Bharat with 85, and this means that come 26th September, we will head to SDM Medical College, Dharwad for the Pathology Quiz. About the quiz, we need to study a LOTLOTLOT more than what we’re doing right now but Time is just not with us these days given that there is barely time to breathe in the midst of classes, postings, labs studies, records, assignments and yes, some time to unwind with friends..

As for the CSF analysis, we were a group of 5 and there was some or the contribution from 80% of us. 

(Not many people actually caught this bit. :P )

Technical Support:
Script: Karthik BV and Pawan
Videography: Harshit Krishna and Rajesh KH
Narrator: Jayashree Rao

I spoke about the indications for analyzing CerebroSpinal Fluid, the procedure and instruments used in Lumbar Puncture, the physical and biochemical analysis of CSF to differentiate between various etiologies of meningitis, CSF rhinorrhea and some other pointers that must be remembered while examining CSF (eg: one must analyze the sample within an hour of collection, one must not refrigerate the sample and so on.. ) Unfortunately for him, V Sir had to leave the middle of it but luckily for me it came an end without any major hiccup (or cough, literally speaking!)

Recently watched Phantom with friends and we followed this up with dinner at Anmol where we discussed the most controversial topics over the meal but it was an interesting evening on the whole. Off late, I haven’t been too choosy about the movies I’ve watched but we generally have a good time as we go as a group and have fun. Phantom made for a mildly interesting watch although it seems to be too fast paced with minimal room for interpersonal interaction. 

My current soundtrack includes:

  • Gulabi (A slightly old song, from Shuddh Desi Romance but I’ve developed a fondness for it recently. The MTV unplugged version has a vibrant twinge to it so that’s better than the original in my opinion)
  • Saware (by Arijit Singh, from Phantom)
  • Chal Wahaan Jathe Hai (Arijit Singh)
  • Tu Hi Re (an old song sung by Hariharan and Chitra)
  • E Sanje and Dennana Dennana (Flute version) from the movie Rangitaranga

Often, I wonder how is it that some can let go and adapt so instantaneously while others take longer and some take forever. Is it all so ephemeral and fake? Is that what life really is about? Moving from one character to another from time to time? It comes down to this: There are some who attach much meaning to their relations with others, relationships, events, places and everything adds on to their memories. You could say they value every little thing in life, from a broken gift from a now distanced friend which they will refuse to throw away to every person whom they befriend /get acquainted with. And there are others who also have the same friendships, relations and so on, except that they do not attach meaning to everything in life. In such instances, it is easier to walk in and out of situations because there is a lot less baggage and bother. They are also less affected by changes, sudden shift of circumstances and any oscillations. Often, I wonder, which is the path to tread? In this fast paced world, it may seem appropriate to choose the second path because the first path is a classic case of thinking from the heart and not from the brain (although being a medical student, I must refrain from using such unscientific terms) and often only leads to disappointment. But the second one seems too mechanical and business-like to me. It might be the smarter decision but it may not be the one that makes me happy. It takes the innocence out of life if we can be so dissociated from what we feel and what we do. It might make me seem like a fool, but more often than not, I end up in the first case.

Coming to other matters of note, it appears that there will be no definitive changes in my boarding and lodging beginning in the near future. There has been a lot of confusion over this recently and I am mentally fatigued by thinking about the possible outcomes. I realized that I must be flexible to change, to adapt and evolve as the circumstances expect me to. I realize that happiness is every person’s birthright and I cannot covet that of another by my stubbornness. When you’re number is up, they’ll find you. I’m trying hard not to think too much or too far ahead or assume too much but just hope for the best and take it as it comes. It might seem irrational, unnecessary and daunting but it might bring the change that we are looking for. If I don’t believe that it will be possible, who else will?  Yet again, being reminded that there is an eerie resemblance to such events that occurred in the past, this whole concept appears daunting. There is a lot at stake and there is the fear of being left in the lurch but if I realize that I must let go of the cloud of negativity hovering above me and prepare to face the challenges as they come. After all, people take turns in a battle. One must enter the warzone when his compatriot is wounded.

It appears that I have blabbered endlessly and bored you all, yet I am filled with contentment. Nothing clears my head like a nice long blog post! :D

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Confabulations.


There are dreams every night,
Those that promise to be windows to another world,
Dreams where everything is right,
Only that they never return.

There are daydreams that come and go,
With a glimmer of hope but nothing more.
Was it real? I'd never know,
Lost ships without a shore.

And then there is you; as real as ever,
You are no delusion for I've never felt more alive,
Yet I wish you were an illusion,
Because you're the best dream that was never mine. 


Monday, August 17, 2015

Too Little, Too Late.

So last Saturday was the trip to Kodachadri. One memorable trek with friends. We started at 4 AM, spent the early hours at Shivappanayaka Fort in Hosanagara (where we clicked loads of pigs) and then traveled to Kodachadri. We then traveled via jeeps on a bumpy road upto the guest house and had our breakfast and then began the trek uphill. We first visited the Shankaracharya temple and another cave-like temple and then returned to the guesthouse for lunch. After this we began another slippery trek towards Hidlumane falls on a damp drizzly route infested with leeches. After what seemed like forever, after several slips, falls and moments when I was sure I wouldn't make it, we all finally reached the falls and it sure was worth the arduous trek! We rushed into the waterfalls and the force of the water literally hit us like pellets of stones. After spending ample amount of time in the water, it was time to begin the trek back to the starting point and this was another challenge as part of the route was along the course of the rivulet. Thankfully we all made it before nightfall and refreshed ourselves in Hosanagar and then reached college by 10:30 PM. It was one of my first such experiences with friends and I couldn't have possibly made it without their help and support (and even taunts :P ) at every step of the journey! :) Here's wishing that we have many more such excursions in the future and explore uncharted territories. One of the things that made me happiest is the fact that Ma and Pa were glad about the trip. For me, it's a big step that they were happy about the trip and did not reprimand me for being a part of it. It gave me a lot of happiness to see that my parents understand my happiness and share the same. 

Post the trip, all of us were exhausted beyond description. It took us a day or two to get back to normal gait. It was with much reluctance that we submitted the "Patho Assignment" of a Mind Map of Polycythemia on the following Monday.

This weekend I'd been home since Di hadn't been keeping too well. We spent some time over NSO and IMO and then Di transformed into Harshaali Malhotra and I had the honor of a photo session with her. After the customary Baddie, shopping and Paakashala session we also watched a play at KH Kalasouda where Atthe, Mama, Nidhz and Ajji joined us. 

The play "Atheetha" is about a famous criminal lawyer who is presumed to have led a perfect flawless life. He is approached by a young lady for his Biography. After much ado, he agrees and begins the narration of his not-so-innocent life where his spotless record actually was just an illusion because beneath was a man who did not care for anyone but himself and his family suffers the consequences. He is beyond guilt because he rationalizes all his actions and does not seem to have a conscience. He shows no remorse for theft, adultery, forcing an abortion or losing a case on purpose as a favour for a politician. This happened to be the first intense play I've watched and the actors did a superb job and brought tears to many of us with their heartrending performance. 

So we had the Patho quiz today in class and I've done crappily enough to rule out getting selected. I feel unworthy of conversation with Icaboo after everything.

When the present becomes a repeat telecast of the past, it only fills you with dread. Currently using the device that I used in 2012-13 and it brings back some dark memories. Those were times when integrities were questioned, arguments were baseless and nights were endless. There were some terrible days then and I still wonder, why do we put up with it? Will there ever by an answer? Turns out that there isn't much difference between the past and the present except that no one has a clue what to do, no one has the energy left in them to deal with such horrors again and no one will ever voluntarily associate with us in such a state. This time, I'm not even around to do anything significant. When the people around us have metamorphosed beyond recognition, then, my friend, you are truly lost. 

All this seems like a wake up call that reality is not in fact, what I've been living. It is what I've been denying all along. It is indeed sad to hear that there is no use of education or employment when there is no compatibility between individuals. In life, any tide, any storm can be overcome when two individuals believe in each other. Without that, life is a misery to themselves and those around. The very foundations upon which your beliefs rest begin to crumble, leaving you orphaned to the brutalities of the world. It fills me with dread when I think about the future when the present itself is so bleak. There is no greater loss than the loss of hope. When one has lost hope that better days shall come, one is truly lost. It fills me with dread when I think about the ones who depend on me for better days. What am i if I cannot help those who require my presence in the hour of need? A coward? Or a selfish fool? What am I if I cannot give hope to those who have shown me that hope is everything? It is hard to digest that at the end of the day, dreams shall perish after being starved of hope and support. All the things that I had imagined since a child will remain etched as figments of a creative mind. Reality is a brutal whip that slashes across your tender hopes when you least expect it.

There's no running away from reality when it has decided to haunt you for the rest of your life. You might as well tell yourself you've been living a lie all along. 

I never promised to be nice. 

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Brain Wars.

8-8-2015 Kodachadri Trek





Separate Blogpost on our first group trip coming up soon, but before that there are a zillion things reverberating in my brain. First of all, thoughts seem to run amok and wreak havoc when you least expect them to. When the line between expectation and reality becomes painfully evident it leaves you trying to avoid the truth that lies bare before your eyes. When you realize where you stand it can leave you either surprised or dejected because of your imagination. Speaking of imagination, there isn't a bigger culprit than the dreams crafted by your brain without any practicality or iota of reality. And then there is the final realization that no matter what, somethings can never change. It does no good to dwell on irrationality. Home and Bangalore seems like another universe altogether and I can only live on the hopes of getting back to where I belong. Then again, in this ephemeral world, I no longer know where I truly belong. Getting back to books after almost a month seems like an arduous task and I fervently hope that I shall be able to begin something productive in the coming days.

Toodles dear reader, your perseverance will be rewarded very soon! :)

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Weird, Wild and Wonderful.

It's 1.45AM as I begin this post but this post JUST cannot wait. So I was right here, plonked on my bed, scrimmaging through the web for the Patho assignment and typing out a reply to my Quora friend Preethi (who is incidentally also a blogger, a travel enthusiast and a Pro-Kannada activist :) ) and that's when it all began. An hour or so later, I got a call from an unknown number and it turned out to be Preethi. So there was a plan to ëxplore Bangalore" and she invited me be a part of it. Now, this isn't usually things are in my life. I rushed to get myself ready and presentable and then I realized I had to get Madre-Padre to get on the same page. I convinced Ma that I've known her for a long time and that I'll be absolutely safe (travelling to an unknown place to meet new people) and I set off! 

Unsure of the bus route to Yeshwantpur, I called up a few local dosts and got a fair idea. I hopped on to the bus to Nayandahalli, then took and auto upto Nandini Layout (initially I thought I'd take the auto to Gorguntepalya but I realized that would cost a bomb) and then literally ran and caught a slightly moving bus to Yeshwantpur bus stand. I got a Day Pass done which basically meant that I could travel in any BMTC bus without paying anything more. 

Finally, after what seemed like forever, I met Preethi and for the first time in a long time, it didn't feel like I was meeting a stranger because we've been reading quite a bit of each other's writing. Soon, Apeksha (Preethi's school friend a.k.a Kappe :P ), Preethi and I were on our way to Orion and the chattering session began. We exchanged campus stories, complained about the crowd in our colleges, ranted about the messed up system, raved about Quora, built castles in the air w.r.t. future travel plans and meetups and basically spoke about everything under the sun. We wandered around for a while in Orion, lounged around in Landmark, walked cluelessly to a random bus stop and then realized that we needed to walk back to Yeshwantpur bus stand to travel to our next destination. We trudged back to the bus stand but the Prodigal bus eluded us for a long time. Finally we got into a bus that got us fairly close to New BEL Road. We walked along the IISc campus on a broad road shaded by a green canopy discussing the not-so-rosy life of Engineering students and clearing many myths and misconceptions. Famished,(well, not completely!) we crashed into Pizza Hut and had just placed our orders when Subbu a.k.a Subramanya (Apeksha's friend from MSR) joined us. We hogged, chatted and time seemed to fly! The best part is how we all had an amazing time despite having met for the first time. *FAITH IN HUMANITY RESTORED*


Post lunch, Subbu said he would take us to an interesting place about 2km from MSR and since we were all fed and watered, we felt upto the long walk. En route we spotted a Astrologer's place and weirdos that we are, we did the most amazing thing!! P and A walked in with a complaint that they had feelings for no Y chromosomes but each other. I was P's sister and S was A's brother. It was a tough moment for us as we tried to stifle our laughter and come up with fake names, DOBs, time and location of birth and nakshatra. The astrologer being a hi-tech dude, whipped out his iPhone and keyed in the details and calculated something and peered into his MacBook for some astrological insignia. Several cowrie shells later, he declared that the "problem" was very bad and because of a common enemy known to both of them and plotting for their downfall. he claimed to have "solved" several such cases in the past and offered to identify the person causing the problem and rid them of their problem for a sum of 4.5k. We mumbled a plausible reply, paid him the consultation fee and stumbled out laughing at our antics! One of the strangest things I've been a part of and I loved the spontaneity of it. :D

We walked along through unknown lanes, through cow-trodden paths and wide roads lined by mansions, apartments and trees talking about a great many things like we were long lost siblings (*Kumbh mela me bichde hue behen*). Discussions ranged from Quora personalities, engineering, medicine, singing paeans about our beloved Bengalooru, Marathi descendants in Tamil Nadu, qualitative comparison of animal poops, Apeksha's love for animals and imaginary plans on trying joints while I watch the fun! xD 

Preethi, Apeksha, Subbu and Me :)
We spared Subbu the ignominy of making fools of ourselves in his locality and then he led us through a tiny gate in the compound wall and.. voila! we were in the midst of greenery right in the heart of Bangalore. We walked along the path inside the GKVK campus and Subbu led us to an uspoilt rocky terrain with mini swamps and cacti. After this we realized that since 3/4 of us had to travel to opposite ends of Bangalore, it would be prudent to begin our journey backwards. This is when rain added to the celebration and we were all drenched in a span of minutes. Nevertheless, we raced the nearby shelter and watched Preethi soak in the rain. Afterthis we walked upto the Hebbal bus stand and we said our (temporary!!) goodbyes and parted ways. Preethi and I took a bus to Nagarbhavi while Apeksha traveled towards CV Raman Nagar and Subbu went back to Sanjaynagar. Preethi being the perfect host (but I can take care of myself!!) insisted on accompanying me until I found the best way to travel towards BSK. Finally, I took an auto upto 2nd stage while she took another bus towards Nagarbhavi BDA and then reached home via gaadi. After this, I had a lot more walking (in the rain) to do and my legs feel like logs but it certainly doesn't matter in the least!

At the Rocky Place, GKVK Campus
This meetup will remain in my mind for a long, long time to come because nothing about was planned, there were no expectations and yet I've come back with a treasure trove of memories and friends I really want to meet again at the earliest opportunity. :) Traveling by myself made me realize that it's important to ask when you're not sure. Ask if you are unsure of the route, of the stop you need to alight at, of anything for that matter! Once you get around to asking people when you have a question, you'll realize that most people are willing to help you around. That's the best part. Getting to know like minded people gives me the confidence to stay weird despite everything that forces me to join the bandwagon. Meeting new people is the best way to broaden your horizons, come out of a cloistered shell, exchange thoughts with like minded individuals and understand how others cope with similar issues. Sometimes all we need is the hope that we're all in the same boat and that one day we'll reach the harbor. :)

)
Prettiness by the pavement. :)

That's all for now folks! Toodles. :)