Snapshots

November 18 2008: Dinner in a fancy French restaurant uptown. Guy and girl, both nervy and edgy, not sure what to expect. Guy crosses his fingers and says it out.

November 17 2009: Dinner in a good Indian restaurant uptown. Girl laughs more than the guy has ever seen before.

One would expect a perfect 'in between' year that was rounded off appropriately.

And one couldn't be more wrong. There is a reason why videos had to be invented: Snapshots didn't do what videos did.

I love the snaps. I hate the video.

Effective Client Engagement vs Things that matter

"Wow, you really can handle that client well. She is such a frikkin bitch. How in the world can you deal with her?" someone in office said to me. And I got thinking, "How CAN I deal with her?" It dawned on me then. I had extensive experience of doing what I had just done, with someone who was not my client, and was most certainly NOT a bitch.

I knew how to deflect things that were said to me...things that were blown out of proportion, things that were hurled at me with needless agression, things that I couldn't make a difference to, things that were said just because the speaker was anal about some stuff, things that didn't warrant a hyperactive ruckus...things that were uttered just because I was annoying the person at the other end by doing nothing particular. I knew how to duck down and let these things go.

But I never ducked down or deflected those words because I didn't care. I did that because I believed in keeping things simple. Vital few versus the trivial many...thats what I called it. 80:20 rule, Pareto...whatever...I thought if I took care of the few major issues, the remaining trivial many didn't matter. And the outcome would still be as desired. And thats how it is. I close my ears and let the client yap about whatever is poking her butthole and do my thing quietly without caring about her stupid words. In the end, the product is as per her expectations and thats what matters, and everyone is happy.

But thats in office. Elsewhere, I learned, the trivial many figure decisively in the final analysis. I felt like asking my friend, "How do you deal with that?"

I would be happier today if I could have kept that someone else satisfied and my client pissed off, rather than the other way round.

Abandoned Love

I can see you turning off the key
I've been deceived by the clown inside of me.
I thought that he was righteous but he's vain
Oh, something's telling me...
...I wear the ball and chain.

Happiness, as I knew it, is long gone
I asked you for a chance, and you scorned
The glowing moon is rising on the hill
But my heart is tellin' me...
...I love ya still.

I come back to the town from the flaming moon
I see you in the streets, I begin to swoon.
I love to see you dress before the mirror
Won't you let me in your room one time...
...Before I finally disappear?

Everybody's wearing a disguise
To hide what they've got behind their eyes.
But me, I can't cover what I am
I can't pretend my eyes are dry...
...When they are damp.

I was such a fool to believe
That you left me because you were peeved
And because to your tune I couldn't dance
But now I know if I was someone else...
..I'd have gotten a second chance

I can march in the parade of liberty
But as long as I love you I'm not free.
How long must I suffer such abuse
Won't you let me see you smile...
...Before I turn you loose?

I've given up the game, I've got to leave,
The pot of gold is only make-believe.
The treasure can't be found by men who search
Whose gods are dead and whose queens...
...Are in the church.

We sat in an empty theater and we kissed,
I asked ya please to cross me off your list.
My head tells me it's time to make a change
But my heart is telling me...
...I love ya but you're strange.

One more time at midnight, near the wall
Take off your heavy make-up and your shawl.
Won't you descend from the throne, from where you sit?
And let me feel your love one more time...
...Before I abandon it.

You wept into my shoulder once, didn't you?
You were afraid your fear of abandonment might come true
That day is nearing soon, like you thought you knew
You're not afraid of it anymore...
...But I am abandoning you.

Haa Haa!

Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.

'This is it', I thought. 'I am alone'. I looked down the street to be sure. Yes.

I, who philosophized disgrace
And criticized all fears...
Take the rag away from my face.
For now aint the time for my tears

My dad called me today and calmly told me that my grandfather had died. My grandfather was very fond of me and loved it whenever I visited. And I never stopped to even think of it. Today, I miss him. And I feel horrible. I am worried about my mother. She loved her baba more than anyone else in this world. I am tired of people leaving me and dying on me. I am sorry for everything ajoba. I miss you.

Tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa to nahin
Shikwa nahin, shikwa nahin, shikwa nahin
Tere bina zindagi bhi lekin zindagi to nahin
Zindagi nahin, zindagi nahin, zindagi nahin
Tere bina zindagi se shikwa to nahin...

Ji mein aata hai tere daaman mein
Sar chhupaake hum rote rahe...rote rahe
Ji mein aata hai tere daaman mein
Sar chhupaake hum rote rahe...rote rahe
Teri bhi aankhon mein aansuon ki nami to nahin?

Tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa to nahin
Shikwa nahin, shikwa nahin, shikwa nahin
Tere bina zindagi bhi lekin zindagi to nahin
Zindagi nahin, zindagi nahin, zindagi nahin

Kaash aesa ho, tere kadmon se
Chunke manzil chalein, aur kahin...door kahin
Kaash aesa ho, tere kadmon se
Chunke manzil chalein, aur kahin...door kahin
Tum gar saath ho, manzilon ki kami to nahin

Tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa to nahin
Shikwa nahin, shikwa nahin, shikwa nahin
Tere bina zindagi bhi lekin zindagi to nahin
Zindagi nahin, zindagi nahin, zindagi nahin
Tere bina zindagi se shikwa to nahin...

Tum jo keh do to aaj ki raat
Chaand doobega nahin, raat ko...rok lo
Tum jo keh do to aaj ki raat
Chaand doobega nahin, raat ko...rok lo
Raat ki baat hai, aur zindagi baaqi to nahin

Tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa to nahin
Shikwa nahin, shikwa nahin, shikwa nahin

Tere bina zindagi bhi lekin zindagi to nahin
Zindagi nahin, zindagi nahin, zindagi nahin

Tere bina zindagi se shikwa...