A different attempt!!!

I am going to try something different while blogging for the first time…Two parts in a same blog. Two totally different issues! But trying to deal in the same blog! And yes you guessed it write. This sort of idea stuck me from the trend in Bollywood where people are starting a trend of multiple stories in a single movie.

PART I

Headlines Today

Here is a small part of what is increasingly becoming a part of the daily news being broadcasted on TV by the various channels.

Newsreader: Namaskaar, main Sandhya Shrivastav aaj ke chatpati aur taaza khabar lekar aayee hoon. Sabse pehle Surkhiyaan…

1. Baghdad mein aaj Id ke din ek sau dus logon ki hathyaa…

2. Bharat me sabheen vidhyalai me 75 phisadhi aarakshan kee aayojnaa aur thodi hi dino me parliament me pesh kiyaa jaayega, keh rahein apne Shishu shiksha mantra…

3. Kolkota me apne pradaan manthri ji ek samaaroh me Infosys ki ek nayi office ki udghaatan ki hai. Lekin pehle hi din sabhi karamchaari strike ke kaaran kaam pe nahi aaye…

4. “Main 2011 ke vishw cup me bhaaratiy team ki captaanee karma chahtha hoon…” Sachin Tendulkar ki sansani interview…

5. Bollywood me shaadi karne ke liye agli number kiski?

These are the ingredients of what in essence has become a clichéd recipe called DAILY NEWS. Everything tastes the same but with different names. What a cliché! Where has the media come to? And I suppose most of us do enjoy these sorts of news write ups. What is a life without a bit of gossip about the big celebrities?

PART II

Ramblings of a bored soul!

A couple of days back I was having a discussion with my friend on a certain topic – Independence. Now I am not talking about the August 15 or July 4. Occasionally if other people have to adjust in order to accommodate me, I do hate it. Even if those people are my family! It sort of makes me feel dependent on them. And that is something I want to avoid. Call it my ego, or whatever. And the reply that I got from my friend was, “Would you adjust your lifestyle to accommodate some changes?” And of course without thinking I did answer yes. I totally did not understand the direction of the conversation…Forget the rest…it went over my head. What I essentially mean is that I can manage things on my own and I do not need a third a person to change their lifestyle to humor me. This was what happened when I went to meet a relative of mine recently. A similar example to this is when I talk with my parents. When we pursue a master’s degree in a country that is freaking costly, always takes its toll financially. And most of our parents bear it admirably at least the initial part of it. But then most of us do manage our finances and are well off as we settle in. But then I get irritated sickeningly when people ask me whether I am well off and am able to manage the finances etc. Especially if people keep asking the same thing again and again every week! I appreciate the concern, but common when will people let go of me? Don’t they know that I would be on their doorstep if I need any help? That is the extent of change in me. Another change I have been noting in me is that I am beginning to give up on others very easily. Again it is a sort of, “It is your decision. Not mine! So do what you want and do not repent what you have done later.” Even amongst people who are really close to me I am sort of becoming nonchalant towards them. I do not know why. I like people who do things because of their interest in them. I hate people who do certain things just in order to please someone. I like people owning up to responsibilities. I like people who learn to accept mistakes. I end it here. Friends and foes will once again ridicule what has been written, or find something wrong with what has been written. But if people do understand that owning up to responsibilities and accepting mistakes in once life is not the easiest thing to do in life, they would understand what I mean.

My Love...

Some four lines in my previous post really spiced the blog up I guess. Everyone has taken a guess. A couple of guesses where close enough. A couple, wayward…and some to the point of hopelessness. So who is the person? Well, for all those who expected the name of some beautiful chic looking babe, you guys are wrong. To be frank even though I do feel lonely occasionally that does not mean am looking for some dream girl. I was talking about…Some friends of mine though came close enough telling that I would have been interested in books. To be exact the answer is not even “books”. My fascination towards Image Processing kept on growing over the past few months. And a few days back when I was playing games on Play Station J and also a formula 1 game on my room mates’ laptop, I was really impressed by how good the virtual world that these people create is. The resemblance between the real world and these virtual worlds was spot on. And to create such a virtual world, you require knowledge on something called Computer Vision which in turn brings us back to Image Processing. One makes use of the other. That is how these two fields work. It did not require a couple of games on the Computer to make me realize that the people designing these kinds of stuff are gods in their respective fields. But it did hit me hard when I realized that the field in which I was working would ultimately yield such stuff. In the animation and graphics that most of us are impressed with in the movies, especially when the modern day technology brings out virtual impossibilities in the real world, on to the reel world, I was awestruck. So this love of mine developed over the past four months. Though it was there in front of my eyes right from my younger days when I was playing games on the Computer, it is only that the pea brain has finally realized what can be done. And I hope that I can maintain this love of mine for the rest of my life. I do sincerely hope that whatever is this thing between us, it develops into something more beautiful. I want to be one of the best in this field. At times when I used to be bogged down, starting to work on some new project and assignment and obtaining the desired results kept me going. I am not boasting and neither is this the place to do so. But I am speaking out the truth. I am not surprised that I have been always impressed with these sorts of virtual worlds and now ultimately fate has landed me on the doorstep to this wonderful technology. Let me see how far I can go in this field, and how successful I will be…It’s more of a question on how much effort I am willing to put in. And I think I am more than capable of giving my 100%.

Me, myself and Viswajith

Finally after a long time I sit down to write a blog. Something that I have not done for more than 4 months now and my fingers where itching to get back to the keyboard to get something written again. So why did I stop writing? No idea! Why did I start writing again? No idea again! But I definitely was sick of seeing the same old posts again and again on my blog! Hmm…Now that I start writing again, it feels good, to be frank it feels great. So what do I write now that I started writing again? Am sorry to keep repeating but the answer would be “No idea!” once again…J
Over these past three-four months I have noticed that I am a bad loser. I failed in a couple of interviews. And whoa, there we go, instead of a cheerful guy, sits a guy whose temper is fraying just above the boiling point. The next day, I achieve something, which stands way above my other achievements in life. Now, the guy is over the moon, and he shows his arrogance, struts around the place as if he is the boss. This might be part and parcel of any human. What happened next was even weirder for me! I call and speak some of my friends. The immediate next day I have a cause for complain that it’s me who calls all the time and not them. But a few days later I realize that I was not being fair in my judgment. A massive ego…The first downfall of mine…Semester started going downhill without me even realizing it. I believe this was a direct result of my over confidence… Finally losing trust in everyone…From my friends to very nearly my family…Right them despite the best efforts of some of my friends asking me on what was wrong I did not know on what to explain. It was more sort of eating me from the inside. A stupid ego! Why should I care if some one does not call me? I have enough friends of mine here…Another thing that I did notice was that I was increasingly looking forward to what the other people would comment about me and believe it or not I only expected something positive. It was as if, “If you have something negative to tell about me, then you better shut up, I know myself better…” The laughable part about this entire episode is what I call the play station thingy. Playing games using play station, and the most childish behavior was feeling bad about losing to a friend of mine. And someone at this stage did point out that I had an ego elephant size.
So is that all that sums up these past four months of mine? Nope…I am a bad loser agreed. But I hate losing. I hate giving up. I am restless when I fall short. Studies gone bad? Well I gave it my everything. Losing trust? It would help me in growing up and being all the more independent. Friends not calling me? My phone bill would be low and I need not spend a lot of money on it. In fact I now know who the most important people in my life are. And the best part of this entire semester is I fell in love. I fell head over heels in love. I am passionate about my love. And I am interested in pursuing the relationship big time. This love of mine was their always through out the entire period I was in trouble. This love helped me cross those troubled waters. This love of mine was my savior. I could look up to her for help any time from now on. She is my escape route. And I know that if I am really passionate about this love of mine, she will stay with me forever. No points for guessing who it is…But the answer would be provided in my next post…You people have to wait and watch…Until then adios…

Chapter 1

Two days after Albus Dumbledore’s death at Spinners End:

A blond haired young man with a pale face was staring at the hidden door in the shack. All of a sudden after letting out a frustrated sigh, he pointed out, “Well, what are we waiting for? Should we not be meeting the dark lord by now? Dumbledore is dead. The dark lord wanted him dead.” The greasy haired man with a mop of his hair covering his face placed the bottle of firewhiskey which he had been drinking on the table and stared pointedly into the eyes of Draco Malfoy. “When I look into your eyes I see nothing but fear. Fear of the punishment that the dark lord is going to inflict on you. So do not go around acting that you are a great wizard. That night you were the culprit.” Draco Malfoy tried to explain for what he remembered to be the umpteenth time. But the greasy haired man who started walking now, cut him short and said, “What you did that night was not only disobey the dark lord’s orders, but also it resulted in my position at Hogwarts being exposed. You will have some explaining to do if you are to survive your next meeting with the Dark Lord.”

*

A week later aboard the HOGWARTS EXPRESS RETURNING TO LONDON:

Ron and Hermione opened the door into the compartment where Harry was sitting along with Ginny, Neville and Luna. Harry gave a look at his two best friends and once again all 6 of them went silent. Harry did not want to discuss anything with his friends. He had realized and made some decisions over the course of the past week. For one he knew that he could no longer depend upon his friends for his protection. He knew that his magical abilities had to improve quite a bit if he were to stand a chance against Voldemort. At this he immediately clutched the fake horcrux in his wizard robe pockets. He had realized the fact that, if he had to start acting independently and on his own. Too many of his life’s decisions where not taken by him. He had let others fidel around with decisions that should have been made by him.

Thinking along these lines Harry decided that before anything else, the life of Sybill Trelawney was of utmost importance. He surmised that from what Professor Dumbledore told him, Trelawney would be under immense danger now that Snape turned out to be the traitor and also that Dumbledore was no more alive. So he decided that as soon as he would reach his Uncle’s home at Little Whinging, Surrey, he would try contacting one of the order’s members and try reasoning with them about his findings and guesses. Also he realized that if he had to be just as secretive as Professor Dumbledore in his search for the horcruxes then the apparition license would be of top most priority. And in his quest to fulfill the prophecy Harry knew that his first step would be to protect Cybill Trelawney. At the same time he realized with a jolt that Dumbledore was also the secret keeper of Grimmauld Place. Amidst all these he failed to notice the repeated attempts of Ron to get him into a conversation. Harry had always been under the assumption that when he did come of age, Dumbledore would be around. But now that his greatest savior was no more Harry also realized the need to know and learn more about magic. As he was not yet of age he realized that learning magic on his own would land him in more trouble with the ministry of magic. Suddenly Harry was stuck with a weird thought, if the ministry was willing to help him out, why not strike a deal with them? Lost in these thoughts Harry noticed that the train was slowing down. Finally he heard the distant voice of Hermione and turned towards her when she started speaking, “I have informed my parents that I would be coming to privet drive and staying there this summer.” Ron too nodded his head fervently in the affirmative. What Harry realized that Hermione and Ron did not was the fact that Ginny, Neville and Luna where looking weirdly at them…Life was changing…and it was changing too quickly to Harry’s liking.

When the train did come to a halt at platform nine-three fourths Harry hurried out of the compartment dragging his trunk along with him. As he had expected he saw some of the members of the order of the phoenix on the platform. He wondered on who the new leader would be, now that…He hurried towards Tonks and whispered, “I want to talk to you, alone, right now.” Tonks looked baffled at him but nevertheless she followed him through the invisible barrier separating the platform from the muggle world. Harry met Tonks’ eye and they walked of inconspicuously towards one of the corners of the muggle platform when Harry plunged directly asking Tonks, “I need to meet the Minister, Rufus Scrimgeour as soon as possible. Will you be able to help me?” Tonks whose eyes nearly popped out, cut him and asked, “May I ask why? Is it based on some new whim that you have?” Harry replied, “Ron and Hermione are going to be with me at Privet Drive. I want to meet the minister to discuss our plans.” If Tonks was surprised with Harry she definitely did not show it. Harry then said, “Tonks, do me this favor and I will explain to you what I have been upto.” Though Tonks did not look convinced she did nod her head in the affirmative. Harry went on and said, “Have one of these coins with you and set the time and date of our meeting. I will get to know about it.” Tonks was left shell shocked and speechless as Harry whispered to her quick thanks and hurried off to join the rest of the crowd. Hermione and Ron cornered him and asked, “what was that about?” Harry averted his eyes and said, “Arrangements for a comfortable stay at privet drive, that’s all.”

Harry side apparatted along with Tonks to Privet Drive. He felt awkward as Tonks seemed to have realized Harry’s intention of manipulating the stay of Ron and Hermione for his own use. But he knew that it was time for the wizarding world to unite as one in the fight against Voldemort. He knew that it was time for the ministry and Hogwarts to fight together. Harry immediately asked Tonks, “When can I meet him?” Tonks replied, “I need to talk to him first Harry. But when I am away I need someone else to be on watch here.” Harry replied, “Voldemort will not attack me for now. He has more pressing issues to deal with.” Tonks immediately replied, “How can be sure of that?” To which Harry retorted, “That is something between me and Professor Dumbledore.” Just as Harry was about to knock the door at Privet Drive, Petunia Dursley opened the door and looked at him mouth agape. “So finally they through you out of that freak school is it?” Harry did not say anything and told Tonks, “Just arrange for me to meet with the minister. I have got to take care of things here.”

Harry then spoke with Petunia Dursley, “Look Aunt Petunia, I really appreciate that you have provided me shelter over the past 17 years and thankful for it. I would just like to bear with me for the next two weeks and then I would be off.” Harry then added, “Two of my friends from the freak school are going to come here later today. The three of us will not cross yours or uncle Vernon’s paths.” For the first time, Harry saw something akin to pity in Petunia Dursley’s eyes. But it disappeared just as soon as it appeared. Not for the first time did Harry wish that he had some family of his own other than the Dursleys. There were just too many things going on in his head that he wished to disclose to someone but found none. He began making way to his room dragging the trunk along with him when Petunia Dursley spoke, “So is he dead really?” Harry stopped still instantly. He reminded himself as if he were in some dream. But when Petunia walked in front of him and asked, “Is Albus Dumbledore dead?” Harry just nodded his head. He was too shell shocked and kept thinking about how his aunt knew this.

Harry replied, “How do you know about the happenings at Hogwarts?” Petunia answered in one word, “Arabella Figg.” And then added, “I knew about her connections to your world right from the moment Dumbledore left that letter and you on that fateful night.” She continued rather hysterically, “Why do you think that I forced your Uncle Vernon to send you to her place when we went out on holidays?” Harry wondered now that he was fed with this information, it always used to be Arabella Figg’s place if his cousin, uncle and aunt went out somewhere on a holiday. Harry knew that he had been kept in the dark once again by Dumbledore. He once again realized the need to know more about his parents, their relatives and also more about Dumbledore. Thinking along Harry dragged his trunk to his room and sat down. Immediately he felt the coin in his pocket grow warm. Harry knew that the moment of truth began here. How he handled such delicate issues would have a major bearing on the fight against Voldemort.