What all happened in a day!!!

It was the time for Dusshera holidays after our mid semester exams. Everybody was busy going home, even the far staying hostellers, to spend their 8 days comfortably in home. I stayed in hostel 2 more days, as I had to attend my cousin’s marriage in Gurgaon. On 4^th Oct, one of my friends, Garima had to leave for Patna. They were two girls, so we all friends were contented that they can reach the station themselves. Her train was scheduled at 5:30 pm from New Delhi station (I don’t remember exactly the train name). It takes approximately an hour to reach New Delhi station from Noida by an auto so I advised her to leave for station around 2 hrs before the scheduled time of the train. She called me in the afternoon and told that Achin sir (a senior friend) will drop them to the station as he had some work on the way and had asked them to reach college gate by 4:15 pm. I asked her to make it early because the traffic conditions are worse during that time. She tried to convince me that they will reach in time and I too relented.

At 4:15 pm, when I went to the gate of the college for the valedictory meeting, I saw Achin sir waiting there and Garima and her friend hurrying overloaded with the luggage. We talked for a short while, and then they started to leave. Achin sir asked me to accompany them to the station with the condition of dropping me back at the college. I being a complete vella, did accede to him as it was a good time pass. We 4 started at 4:20 pm and about 30 minutes later I confirmed (trying to recall) that we are close to Nizzamuddin station. Sir affirmed and said, just 1 mile ahead. “But we are going to New Delhi station na”, I said. Achin sir chortled at my question and said “No, to Nizzamuddim”. Then we 3 shouted at once in a single voice that we have to go to New Delhi station. Sir looked at Garima with a perplexed expression and then towards his watch. It was misconception as she didn’t specify the name of New Delhi station and sir assumed it to be Nizzamuddin. Only 35 minutes left and now what can be done? We were on the wrong way to Ashram and none of us knew the correct path from there leading to New Delhi station.

We thought to quickly ask the way from somebody and sir swerved his car from the main lane to side lane. During this, a Honda city coming from behind in a good speed hit our car with a loud bang. We got scared as this accident exacerbated the problem of time constraint. We got out of the car and saw the tail-light hanging. The man from Honda city also came forward furiously as the front number plate of his new car got damaged and as it was not totally one's fault, he said in a high pitch voice, “You guys are having a good time here”. We already engrossed in our own tension ended up the matter and by getting the information of the way started up hurriedly. Car was speeding up to 90-100 kmph in that busy road, we confirming the route at regular intervals reached from Ashram to India gate, then to CP and finally our station. It was the departure time for the train. Garima and her friend holding 1 bag in hand ran up to the platform no.12 and I after them carrying their large bag without the platform ticket. Sir went to park his car and we galloped up the over bridge just wanted to somehow catch the train.

On reaching platform no. 12, we felt very depressed as the platform was empty. It was worth noting Garima's face that time, she was about to cry. I put down the bag, panting heavily and just to my satisfaction asked a coolie, how much time before the train left. He said the train which you are asking is in platform no. 16 and might still be there. We revived our dissipated energy and rushed towards the platform. The train had just started and they somehow managed to board it. I threw their bag from the door, above the people without caring who it may hurt and finally they were on train. The train gained speed and I started back to the parking area. On reaching there, I felt much relaxed and told achin sir the platform thing. We started from the station back to our college and somehow failed to notice a red light and broke the signal. Policeman at once stopped us and asked to park the car on the side. We explained and pleaded before him but of no use. We didn't even have sufficient money for the challan. Sir went to the nearby ATM and came back in 15 minutes. After paying for the challan, we sat in the car and saw the tape recorder not working. Some battery problem was there but we didn’t pay much attention to it. That can be expected after such unfortunate incidents one after the other and then finally reached to our college laughing on all the things which we experienced in the last 3 hours.

A Strange Experience

A strange thing happened with me a few days back. In our daily college life, we continue to gain disparate experiences apart from the monotonous routine of studies. And now this experience depends- whether it’s good or bad, a good one brings smile on one’s face while the other one leads to a spoilt day with the accretion of depressing moments. Sadly, I encountered the latter one recently.

For taking a GRE, you need to register an available date of your choice online and the payment is done by credit card. And you also have an option of rescheduling your exam date in case of any problem or lack of preparation. One of my friends needed to reschedule his date because of the passport delay and as he didn’t have a credit card he contacted me for the payment. I also did accede to his request as there was no option left for him but to postpone the date. It was 3 days before my exam; I got a call from him asking me to come to the library with the card details, I firstly tried to convince him to do it some other time as I also cannot afford much time but then finally acquiesced. When I reached the library, I saw him there in a tense mood and we began with the procedure of rescheduling. It prompted for the personal details and the choice of the next date. After filling all that the real thing finally came, the payment of 50$ and I started with my work i.e. entering the details of card. My friend was dependent on me as I had also extended my date some days back, so he was sure that I will do it impeccably. After entering the card number and pin, it verified the details and then gave a printable display of the registration form. I thought it was done and saved a copy of that form in my pen drive. Things all went fine until the exam date finally arrived. My friend was fully prepared and hired a cab to reach the gurgaon center. Exam was scheduled at 1 p.m. and I recieved his call on my phone at quarter to 1. I wondered what happened and then answered him. He asked me to mail that saved file of the form as the invigilators there didn’t have the updated date data. I assured him to do that immediately and started looking for the form. I found it and took a quick glance of it. When I was scanning through, 1 thing caught my attention and I lost my senses, what a blunder that was? A Submit button at the end corner of that page…. I didn’t know what to do then. I called him and said in a low voice that we are in a big problem. The date was never extended. I could feel the valid astonishment and anger in his voice. Another friend sitting beside me took control of the situation and talked to him pacifying and telling the alternatives. There was no alternative but to take the date again and spend 170$. But then too he tried there, talked to the higher authorities in the office but all in vain. I was in a state of depression thinking why life doesn’t exist with the undo facility, had I given an excuse for not giving the card that day, y I wasn’t careful that day. Although I wasn’t alone while filling the form, he was also there with me but it was my responsibility as I had done it before. I went there to help him but in the end he was suffering because of me and I cannot do anything. My whole day went like this only with all the sad thoughts in my mind thinking how to say sorry to him or help him.

But then I thanked God that it was a GRE. Things can be done right by spending some money. If it would have been a CAT then it would cost a year for re-exam. Finally at the end of the day, he called me; I initially hesitated a bit in picking up the call but then after talking I was in a great relief, he said that it was the fault of both of us; any 1 is not solely responsible for it, I must have checked the form before. He had no personal grudges against me and that was enough for me to get rid of my guilt feeling.

Essence of Life

Life is a mystery. Neither Google nor Einstein can reveal the truth of this hazardous jigsaw. It’s only one’s own innovation that can bring out any solution. In a poem by an anonymous author some lines say, “We have taller buildings, but short tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. / We spend more, but have less; we buy more, enjoy less. / We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicines, less health. / We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. ” This article proposes to raise certain questions on essence of life.

As we all are aware of the boom in the IT industry and the advancement of the world towards the technical sphere of life, every citizen is trying to get successfully into the corporate world, facing problems, difficulties and each of them is too busy and trying his best to find a solution. But do we care to know the root cause of our problems? Materialistic approach has widened the gap between our souls and mind. And in this busy phase of life each of us continue on the path which the society leads us, losing oneself to the individual made by the society and surroundings.

How can happiness be defined? Happiness exists because of sadness. If one is not sad he can’t be happy. Instead of worrying about the things we don’t have, if we consider what all we have then it would give us a different feel. Life isn’t what we asked for; nor had we requested to be rich or poor, fair or dark. If we are spending our precious time constantly fighting with oneself, trying to change something or the other, then it is our endurance. Life as perceived by me is a gift of God which needs little polishing and maintenance by the passage of time.

We live our life daily without asking ourselves questions that ought to be asked every day. As said by Socrates, “The unexamined life is not worth living”. We should know the answers of inconvenient and troubling questions like “Why was I born? Why do I live? What have I done for the society till date? Or have I been truthful and honest? ” One reason for the failure to ask such questions is that we don’t spend enough time with ourselves. If the Sun can so generously transform its volcanic heat into life protecting energy, why can’t we control our own negatives and transform them into positives? One’s inner transformation is more important than just merely impressing the society.

What should be the approach to become successful in Life? In today’s world one can be successful in any field according to his likings. Every career demands creativity, innovation and determination. One should pick a thread and follow it showing his abilities. The mindset of many people still is that their kids should do well in school and must be aiming for doctor or engineer then only they can do anything in life. And this thought of parents consequently results to peer pressure on the child, sometimes depression and psychological problem or even may turn to suicide. A recent movie “Taare zameen par” focuses on this tragic phase of life which is still very much prevalent in the society.

Today, the man has become much more selfish. We usually do things which in some or the other way can prove beneficial to us. We plant trees for the environmental balance; we even pray to God to get blessed with our desires and may prevent us from entering into something bad. The importance of any thing gets related with an individual’s concern. According to a recent article in Times of India, the things which were previously considered not good are now-a-days trend. Like in order to go high, put others low. The things have changed much with time and people should adapt themselves to those changes to prove their existence in this fast going world.

Shubham Agarwal

3rd year, JIIT Noida.

Reality Shows

Every time you switch on the television sets, you see some program being telecast where participants present their talents or do something creative. That is what we call a Reality show. It presents unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events and features ordinary people instead of professional actors. Almost every channel, like Star plus, Zee TV, Star One, etc. are showing some kind of Reality show of the same or other concept these days. The trend has now changed a lot. People are more diverted towards reality shows rather the fictitious ‘saas-bahu’ serials.

The reality shows are a platform for newcomers who want to show their talent in front of everybody. Instead of approaching to the directors or high class people, asking for a break, it is much easier for a common man to just clear the entrance or screening. As the number of such shows is very high, there are many choices available to a youth to enter in the show of his choice or try the other one in case of an unsuccessful attempt. Reality shows prove a boon to such people who want to excel in these fields. These include games, quizzes, singing or dancing competition and the shows like KBC where one can win lakhs or even a crore just by his general knowledge and awareness.

Apart from these things, these shows have a negative aspect also. The shows like ‘Big Brother’ keep a check on daily life of participants by keeping them in a same house. This way they penetrate into the personal life of an individual which I think is not appropriate. Furthermore, the celebrities are frequently invited in some of the shows, who promote their upcoming movies. This way they go off the track and increase the TRPs of the show.

One thing which is very much prevalent in these types of shows is the concept of ‘public voting’. In spite of having the reputed judges, major percentage of the final decision is made on the votes cast by the people. Now this public voting has two drawbacks. First of all, the common people would not know the actual number of votes in favor of each participant. They have to believe as told by the channel people and thus resulting in controversies. Recently in ‘Nach Baliye 3’, a show conducted by Star Plus, the finalist Rakhi-Abhishek claimed that their voting lines were closed for some time when the people actually have to cast their votes.

Secondly, how can public judgment are taken into account by considering only their votes! More than one vote can be cast by an individual so it may even result into a wrong winner. Like in the show ‘Star Voice of India’, Ishmeet won because his votes were much higher than the other participant. No doubt he may be a better performer but people of Punjab took it as a challenge to make him the winner. A vote costs approx. Rs. 3, so these channels have made it a source of revenue by encashing the people’s sentiments.

The value of the reality shows is deteriorating as every other channel is launching the programme on same pattern and concept. With exceptions to some shows, the viewer’s interest has also declined. We don’t even now care to know the winner of the show, as every other day someone is winning in some show. So these negative aspects of the reality show results in the same thing, controversies and criticism and the main motive of these shows gets lost somewhere in the middle.

Shubham Agarwal

3rd year, JIIT Noida