I dont want to forget

suju asked me how was my day and I replied "totally forgettable". But I didnt really want to forget it. That was just so that I didnt have to mention the details of what we did today, which anyways wouldnt interest suju that much.

It was the first time I had taken my 250GB hard disk to a friend`s place. I needed to burn some stuff off my hard disc but the dvd writer at my home was very old and unreliable. It managed to completely waste almost 1/3rd the discs I fed it, and there were another 50% chance that the verification would fail and show me read errors. Pranav's house is a really long way away from my house. Its almost the other corner of the city. But still, it was worth it because of the time we'd spend together!

Now at pranav's pc, he had Nero burning rom installed. I don't know what version it was, but when nero wasted 3 of my dvds saying "illegal disc" a sinking feeling set in my heart. I had bought 50 of those discs! at 18 rupees each, there went 54 rupees down the hatch. And I wasn't sure the other 47 would work either! So even though I started feeling like going out and buying new discs too, once we both were out in the market, I changed my mind and thought I`d find a new piece of software that would accept my dvds..

So I found Burn on cds and DVDs from burnworld.com in one of the digit dvds. a Free software, which just shows an advertisement every time you exit it. Not really bothersome but could do without it too... then again, thats what you have to deal with in free softwares.
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canadian Visa medical test breifing

So I finally gave my tests for the visa,medical tests I mean. And I'm ready to write a hints and tips/guideline post about applying for a visa. I'm not sure though where I should start with. The initial application procedure is rather easy, its the medical tests that are more confusing and pose lots of questions.

As I just got done with the medical test, I think it'd be more appropriate if I just explain about that. The requirements for the medical test will be mentioned in the reply letter(one that comes with your passport) that you get few days after applying for a visa. It'll be accompanied by a section C form. Still, it'd be better if you know and keep them ready before hand. Most important is the negative of your photo. That might take some time because film procedure is generally slower and you might have difficulty finding someone who'll take your picture with a film camera in the age of digital. I was very frustrated and confused about why they needed this and made it a point to ask the people at the x-ray clinic. Its like, they put your photo negative and expose the x-ray film with it, resulting in a print of your photo positive on the x-ray film. They also put letter cut outs on the film to have your name printed on it. This way, its easy for embassy people to verify that its your x-ray. Neat huh? And you get the negative back after its done.

Then obviously, your passport size photos; the document mentions 5 but I required only 3..but you're better off carrying more. They stick one on each form. I was sent to two different clinics after the physical check-up by Dr. Tushar Medhekar. So three forms in all requiring 3photos. Maybe you'd need to go to different people for urine test and blood test..I dont know.

I've already mentioned the x-ray, and the blood and urine tests are also just the regular procedures, they take blood from your body for testing and you have to pee in a cup.. Yes they do give you your piracy, not like Fun with Dick and Jane.. Where the store clerk is standing right behind him. But peeing in a cup is REALLY difficult. Maybe more for a first timer. Specially keeping in mind that you want to keep the cup neat..because you`re handling it. I just wonder how difficult it`d be for the gals. The blood extraction procedure for me was a little funny too. She inserted the needle and pulled on the syringe, but nothing! slowly, slowly blood started to trickle in.. I could tell she was confused. I said why isn't the blood coming out(probably because there isn't any to spare) But just then the other nurse came and said "ok that`l be enough we only have to do hiv, tb, etc.." Then you`d have to call them back and inquire about the urine test results and if there`s an infection detected, you`d have to give another sample. DAMN!

I've left the Physical examination for last for a reason though..There`s a funny incident that happened there which I only told to certain friends and maybe they'll expect to see it here.. so boom! Bust goes your bubble. I ain't gonna mention that, but I will tell, if you want to get a tattoo of something silly on your fanny, wait till after the medical test. Yeah, you need to strip! I don't really know why, and I didn't bother asking the doctor either. Maybe they are just checking for any scars from surgeries etc. Or they need to see if you`re circumcised or not.. they check your weight and height and stuff.. and an eye test. Thats where I screwed up! I have glasses, .5 and .75 negative, but I forgot to take them there. So I read out c as O, both the times. Damn! I said when I found out the o actually had a very slim cut in the center. The doctor is also gonna ask you what course you`re gonna do in Canada and what u`re doing here.. like an interview but nothing to be tensed up about. He`ll also ask if you smoke or drink. and if you do, you damn well better own up to it. Because if they spot some irregularities in the x-ray and you sad you don't smoke, they might relate it to cancer or something. But if you smoke, that would be normal. I think its gotten too long and boring by now so I`ll stop already, I can see you begging me to.. hehe

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Fails time and again!!!

I`ve been planing to go to mumbai for getting the medical checkup done since Friday! But in the end, it always gets postponed to the next day. I found out(when I read the medical test document) that I needed a negative of my passport size photo! C`mon!!! who the hell uses film cameras anymore these days huh?!!! Why cant they just up their standards and accept digital photos? stupids!!! So anyways, I didn't know if I would get it in time, so I didn't take an appointment for Saturday on Friday itself. Then when I called up the doctor on saturday at 10:30 am, I was told it only remained open till 12:30 on Saturdays. Damn!

So I`ve gotten an appointment of tomorrow, 10:45 am! That means I`d have to leave pune at 6 am! fuck thats early. And in this cold!! I think the doctors are gonna have to wear masks to save themselves from the body odor!! hehe.. wish me luck guys.

Also, I`ve been meaning to write a post about the visa application process and some helpful hints and some answers to the doubts I had in the beginning. But as you all know, I`m rather lazy.. if someone really needs, just ask and I`ll make it a point to do it asap.
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Paying for premium features?

Hope you all noticed the deviant art "pastie" in the sidebar. I logged into the website today and found the funny message, happy birthday, happy easter, April fools or whatever you're celebrating, we have a gift for you. And just like that, I got a free one week trial. I had seen the subscription page of deviantart and know its very cheap..around rupees 3per day. I had given it a thought too..simply because of the extended stats feature and the ability to display my most popular drawings on my website/blog. I had even calculated the cost per day in rupees for flickr too and thought its not that expensive either.

But then I didn't think asking dad for it was a good idea. Would really be rather appropriate if I only subscribe once I actually made something..maybe off my pictures on stock photo sites.. But just yesterday, aniruddh bhaiya put forward the aspect of me working in Canada and earning around 20$per hour..then I was really looking forward to subscribing to them. And just then, I get this free subscription for a week! Now it'll be even harder to refrain myself. Lets see.

And please leave a comment on what one do you think is my best 'deviation' so far?

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where is he?

Since we last checked in, a lot has changed with yash's life. He's totally enjoying his college(so far atleast) as expected, he's totally gung-ho about the new professor who came from northern illinois university sir jon ashman. I even heard him talking to his friends about how his method of teaching is so much better and the pune faculty know nothing at all compared to his knowledge. He recorded most of his lectures/presentations even!

And as you might know, he had applied for visa, and he virtually got through. This package from VFS came in on 22nd and he got back home and opened it "right after you(pranav) wish me luck" He was totally hysterical when he read he didnt need to go for the interview. It was damn funny.jumping around his room with his over-zealous face..screaming into the phone to pranav..

Now he's gonna have to go get a medical checkup. Thats what he's planned atleast, even I cant predict what he'll do next. But I can tell ya what he's thinking lying awake there on his bed..he missed a sleepover tonight..he didn't even miss one sleepover when his dad was over..he's thinkin what his friends are upto..wonderin if they're thinkin of him.. His mind is totally out of place because of this-him missing out on being with his friends because of the visa procedure. He cant even concentrate on what he's doing on the computer! He's started copying the need for speed carbon disk but made a big mistake. I wont tell him about it though, its his problem to figure out now. Hah! The dumbass.

one ending note though..can you guess who I am?

I'm amazed! I still..

don't believe I was riding the cycle for around 25minutes straight. I didnt think I had that much stamina in me. But I don't. All that was made possible by his amazing new bike, octane 2. With 21gears and all aluminium body, cost him around 7k! He's a genius, he knew the attention he'd grab at the barber's and everybody'd want to ride it..so he took me along and my job was to do exactly what a chauffeur has to do when there's no parking available around. Drive it round the block. And I wouldn't be happier doing it. So happy in fact, that I got lost.. Now that was scary..but after few minutes of searching around, tracking back my trail, I got back to him.

I had thought all that cycling would make me hungry again, but it didn't.. Alas! For I couldn't have enough of the delicious prawns and fish that pranav's mom had cooked. My stomach was satisfied but I wasn't. That was one of the best seafood I've ever had. No fish smell in the fish! It was so tender.. I could eat that food blindfolded.. I know because there was a blackout in the middle of dinner time. Some air force drill.

Well we didn't want to waste any more time, like we did all day long..we listened to podcasts, watched family guy, read magazines, saw funny adverts and though less enjoyable than the rest, we also went out to get supplies on the cycle..damn the 'carrier' hurts! Pranav has a vast collection of mags..it was like he bought the whole book store! Was really hard to make up my mind what to read first. When I spotted maxim, it was hard to get my eyes off it.problem solved. Heh!

So when we started sketching, I wanted to try and draw one of the females in maxim but was highly risky, as we were in the hall, parents or his sis could walk in anytime. So I started sketching the game controller that he had, it was super frustrating! I just couldn't get its shape right. And if it hadn't been for the inspiring words of pranav, I'd just have given it up and maybe torn it to bits.. So with lots of distractions, breaks, inputs from pranav, I managed to complete it around 3:30am and was ready to visit dreamland.

Pranav on the other hand, was determined to finish his poster. It was coming along nicely. His sketches were even better than in the rough draft. When I woke up, he was already coloring it. With steadtler water color pencils. So beautiful and precise. Well I had to run back to home to get ready and go to college, not to mention picking up suju on the way. So I bid farewell and was on my way, thinking I'd definitely blog about yesterday.
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The energy of Mumbai

I could feel it from the second I stepped down from the bus. My step wasn't as energetic in a long time. My head wasn't so firm in many months and my posture which I couldn't observe myself, but am sure was full of vibe.

I knew what I had to do and I knew where I'd be doing it. Even though dad was with me I didn't really need him. I was totally ignoring him, I felt independent. I was liberated! I wasn't dependent upon any cousin's bike to take me around.(don't tell me I could do the same thing in pune..pune's public transport sucks!there's a reason I'm a different person in mumbai than in pune.)

I could have gone whole day without food like I used to, in those days, had it not been for the pestering of dad.. Just then I saw the frankie stall on churchgate where I used to eat when I came to USEFI. And was surprised when dad asked me if I wanted to drink cold coffee..it was only later that I realized that dad didn't know it was cold..he was expecting it to be hot-no he didn't read all those banners.

Now even after I reached andheri, I walked to richa's house and wasn't a bit tired! And another walk when I accompanied richa to pick up drishti from her dance class. I really wanted to spend all the time I could with her. Talking to her is very reassuring,relaxing,refreshing

..(wanted to add some more adjectives here but I'm afraid some people might call it going over the top..that would be a good chance for sumit to get back at me for calling his book a little over the top at some points)

I see I've swayed from the topic and its getting difficult to stick to it and make it any longer..so I'll just skip the part about me walking around dadar station for almost 20mins looking for the toilet (actually that was my secret plan to avoid nikku) and mention the last walk of the day, at night around 12:30..okay, technically the next day.. We walked from balewadi pune in the bad cold without any sweater or jacket for more than a km hoping that someone would be nice enough to give us a ride till sindh society.. Because there were no autos and arjun bhaiya wasn't picking up the phone, we'd have to hitch hike!

Lift please..someone?anyone?

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inscrutable cancerians

You'd be forgiven to think that this self centered blogger's next post is about himself again. But it isn't so. My dad is also a crab. You'd expect me to know him well but not every crab knows every other cancerian well, because of the fact that cancerians inherently tend to be very i don't know if its the right word but.. They are little confused.i know i am,Richa isn't very sure about herself and her feelings either(sorry, correct me if I'm wrong and thats not the case)

This morning, among all the hustle in my room-basically me frantically doing the rounds juggling between my visa documents, and flickr, and Firefox spell check problem. Yes, I'm a multitasking machine!ok, LOL! Arjun bhaiya comes to ask me why am i going to mumbai. I'm like, didn't dad tell ya? And he says no he said he doesn't know.. When he's the one who's been yelling at me since morning that I should get my documents ready and get ready to go to mumbai for applying for the visa.

That left me with a smile on my face but feeling confused in my head. I was smiling because I feel its funny that dad didn't tell him but sent to me instead. Its like fooling him to believe he doesn't know about me and my schedule. Now that's the last thing I'd wanted because everybody in the house was already implying since 11th that I'm avoiding my dad and I am scared of him. Lets make it clear right here right now! One- I wasn't avoiding dad, that was just a coincidence that my plans coincided with his coming to pune! Two- I'm not sacred, I'm just not very comfortable with dad around..talking to him isn't exactly my thing.(expecting me to tell you why I was confused? If I knew it wouldn't really be confusing now would it?)

Then we got delayed in leaving for mumbai because dad kept pestering me to have breakfast even when I didnt want to. Then around 20more minutes because we didnt get a bus immediately. And he said, we wont make it in time before it closes. I was pretty sure it had to be open till 5pm atleast. In the bus again, he said it'll close at 3pm and we wont make it in time. He sounded pretty sure. Is it only me or do you too feel like asking him if you're so sure, why are we on this bus today?

An excuse

Arjun bhaiya!

Thats the excuse I`m getting to skip college, stay at home, neglect my chores, watch lots of cartoons and serials. Since he came back from akola, I haven't been getting free unrestricted access to the pulsar. Moreover, Montu bhaiya has taken the ct100 to urli kanchan. So I cant go anywhere.(scooty? that stupid scooterete wont even start!) Thats why I was late for the outdoor sketching on saturday and suju had to drop me to my house in the evening.

The other day it seemed suju was really pissed off because I said my coming there was uncertain. But I surprised her when I turned up at her house. That was because as soon as arjun bhaiya was back home, I asked him if I could take it and as soon as he said yes, I ran out without telling taiji that I`m not having lunch at home anymore. Because if I did, she`d have made me sit and eat and that would have meant that I`d have gotten delayed and maybe till then arjun bhaiya would change his mind about letting me use the bike and that would really really screw me up!

well, untill more interesting and funny things come up, I`ll just stop because I was just made to realize something by a friend and I`m thankfull for that.
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Why cant indians be terrorists

1. 8:45 am is too early for us to be up.

2. Still, we are always late, we would have missed all 4 flights.

3. Pretty people on the plane distract us.

4. We would talk loudly and bring attention to ourselves.

5. With food and drinks on the plane, we would forget why we're actually there.

6. We talk with our hands, therefore we would have to put our weapons down.

7. We would ALL want to fly the plane ourselves.

8. We would argue and start a fight in the plane among ourselves and end up blowing our cover.

9. We can't keep a secret, we would have told everyone about our plan a week before doing it.

10. We would smoke in the toilet in spite of the no smoking sign and get thrown out of the flight.

11. With alcohol on the flight, we would get too drunk to execute the plot.

12.We have family in America/Britain and would decide to go all the way to meet them first. why waste a perfectly paid for trip.

13.We carry around so much luggage we forget which one the bomb is in.

14.We`d Come across an old friend and chat away.. and before you know it the plane has landed safely at its destination.

15.If we See a priest on the flight,we`d remember god and chicken out.

16.we`d have long and hard second thoughts about exploding into tiny bits way up in the sky and decide "NO we do not want to go out with a BANG after all!"

17. We would N0T wanna commit suicide for NO 0ne!!!

18. After looking at the nice suitcase and thinking of how our family can use a decent one we`d decide not to detonate the bomb but to steal the suitcase instead.


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The Night

My plan of watching the ant bully was totally ruined because it turns out Times of India misprinted the information in the pune times and there was no show of the ant bully at city pride kothrud. Now that was really annoying. Because pranav was hard to convince to go to the movie with me today. Don't even know if he`ll be ready to go the next time. But as we were already so close to sujata`s house and we weren't doing anything else, I decided that we should go pay her a visit.

Today at Sujata`s place, there was no one else besides her and now us. We had khichdi and again, because was really really hungry, I had to eat something I never liked before. Then it was off to the terrace where we had chats about almost everything from clouds to computers. Sumit had called suju up when we were at the terrace and I don't know sumit`s part of the story, but suju said he hung up soon after she said we both were there. No offense taken man. Did I mention we were discussing abt the clouds? I guess I did. Thats due to what pranav predicted that its gonna rain soon. And he was right. As soon a we got downstairs to leave, it started pouring.

I could wait but pranav had to leave..but he didn't know the way back so we waited for a while and as the rainfall subsided a little, we both went to show pranav the way upto he mainroad. Then we got back and what happened next is kind of a stupid silly secret. You can ask me directly if you want to know but I`m going to keep it under wraps for now so the general public doesn't know..
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The Morning

How would you feel? what would your reaction be, if you were told by a trustable source that "Angelina Jolie" is taking a stroll in a park just a few hundred meters away, in your own colny!?

I`m sure most replied "I would run down to that park with my camera and autograph book and pen at the speed of light" ..or something similar. But I`m sure the answer is subject to change depending on the conditions you`re in. what if you were in a towel? what if you were totally stinking because you didn't have a bath in days! What if you are in a wheelchair, sick or because of a fracture?

Similarly, I didnt share arjun bhaiya`s enthusiasm this morning when he told me "she is taking a stroll in sindh society`s garden right now!" I had other things on my mindt....which I think would be great if I narrate from the beginning. from the beginning from the beginning...(going into a flashback) or do you rather like the sudden "zoom! swish! tada!" type?

I was supposed to leave for college but had to finish scanning the documents that had come from sheridan college Canada. Thats my acceptance letter with few details on the payment on fees etc. But the stupid scanner wasn't working so I had to uninstall it and start from scratch. but after two tries, I finally succeeded in installing the damn scanner and used the hp software to scan document pages one by one...BIG MISTAKE! I was also typing something else I faintly remember, The password to access the modem control page I believe. when the software finished scanning and popped up a question "do you want to scan another document?" with yes choice highlighted. And before I could notice, I pressed enter and the scan dialog box opened up again. (don't you just hate it when that happens? when the heck are they gonna get rid of that system? we control the machines not the other way round! they should sit quiet in the background until we take note of it!)

So I pressed the close button and it exited, but to my horror, the previous documents that I had scanned had not been saved yet! WTF? stupid software you #%^&$*#&! So, I decided I`d do it later on. And proceeded to search for the key that arjun bhaiya had placed on my table just yesterday. After few mins of looking everywhere that the key is(was?) supposed to be, I called Arjun bhaiya up. Now, at just 5 mins past 12 pm, class was gonna start in 25 minutes. And when I ask him about the key that I really really badly needed...like when you have to go pee really really bad..like you just have to go crap, you cant hold it in anymore.. he tells me about the awesomely gorgeous, world famous really sexy actress being in the sindh society park. and continues saying, tauji is gonna go see... I was loosing precious seconds. I had to be there, in college, not because college rules being so strict, but I was getting too impatient to meet my friends. I had missed meeting them yesterday too, and hadn't seen them in over 20 days!

I wasnt pissed i would like to make that clear that first. It was more like a dilemma. Why did she have to be there TODAY? RIGHT NOW? Can my college/friends wait? WHEN THE HECK IS HE GONNA GET ON WITH THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE DARN KEY! my cellphone balance is dropping and so on.. It was a state I don't think I have been able to aptly put into words..

But then just after expressing the option of him giving the key to me when he gets back home "in 10 minutes or so", he told me the location of the other key. While walking out, I gave one last thought to whether I wanna run to the park with my camera and an autograph book and pen, I decided to just go to college.

....doh! what a stupid decision!
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