Somewhere among a child, a friend and a host.

I would classify myself as one of those lazy bloggers who start blogging with a bang with their initial posts and then forget that they ever blogged. But trust me, I did come back to my blog within two days after my first post, wrote two posts but struck them off because I felt something was missing. After I logged in today, I realized what was missing. The reason for my first post was the self realization of my immaturity. The reason for this post is some new feelings which I encountered in the past week.

Everything was happening as expected. I was late by an hour. I was again testing Saurabh's patience. But the only difference was this time we were not meeting in a mall for dinner or movie with the other two cartoons (Tejas and Chintan). This time we were meeting in the city new to me but altogether an alien place for Saurabh. The three month old was supposed to guide the new born in an alien place.

I was completely blank. We took the luggage and started towards the Majestic exit. I hadn't even decided how were we going to go, by bus or by rick. The last couple of times I had come to Majestic was because I had complete faith in Vimal, Pratik and Akshat that they will take me home safely. But today, I had the responsibility of taking Saurabh home safely.

Back home, another change of role was waiting for me. I was supposed to transform myself from the stupid lazy child to a responsible host. It was my responsibility, my duty to make my friend feel comfortable among my other friends. But again my three "big brothers" made it easy for me.

On Thursday morning came the big task. This time not for me but for Saurabh. He was to find a house in a city he had just entered and that too with a few or say no prior contacts. Seeing him end his attemps with "Ok, no problem, I will try somewhere else", I felt like I was being useless. I was not being a true friend. After all, all I could do on mid week morning at 10am was fill my mind with the previous day's non debugged codes, unanswered mails and some unimplemented designs and go to office. I was somewhere between a friend and a Cisco employee. All I could say was "This place is always there for you.....". But thinking of my landlord I ended it there. I couldn't decide which side to take. The more he said he will manage on his own, the more I felt guilty.

But Saurabh not only found a good house but did it on his own. 3 months back, if I was alone finding a place here, I would have ended up in Mumbai. But he had managed it all on his own. Hats off to him for that.

The struggle I experienced within myself being a friend, a host, a person responsible for someone and being the immature kid I am, was a first time experience. But I hope Saurabh enjoyed his stay at my place. I tried doing my part as a friend.

My first post.......for my room mates -- my friends,my big brothers.

Just got back from a birthday celebration. It's Pratik "Bada Aadmi" Shah's birthday today. I and Akshat got him a cake with "Happy Birth day Prik" wriiten on it(That wasn't intended ha, it was the shopkeeper's mistake). The first question Pratik asked after seeing the cake was the one I expected "Eggless hai na ?" Then came the laughter riot. Pratik couldn't read what was written on the cake and I read it aloud as "Dekh yeh hai H, A, P, P, Y............." Vimal went mad laughing, seeing my childishness.

But I realized my childishness long back when I stepped into the "Cisco" part of my life. Whether it is ironing clothes, shopping household goods, bargainig for house rent or playing FIFA. Everything just made me relaize how immature I was. I am a 22 year old who has forgotten to grow up.

Other than correcting misunderstanding about my growing up, this "Cisco" life or say "Bangalore" life has given me a number of memories.

I want to start with the initial days at our place. Lets' start with a weekend. A normal weekend in our home (303 Elegant Legacy, that's all I know in the address !! ) would start with the sun rays falling straight on my eyes. My bed is straight before the balcony in east so I am the first person sun greets every morning. I love it daily. That gives me some kind of enthu and makes me ready for the work. But on weekends, this "Wake up Sid" from sun is highly unappreciated. Then the day proceeds to taking bath. Bathroom is mine today because Vimal does not bath on weekends. (He's going to kill me for this one) sometimes. After the bath comes the dilemma of cooking breakfast. As soon as I step in the kitchen I pray Pratik isn't around. But from somewhere he drops in and then starts his kitchen C.I.D "Yeh yaha kyu hai, yeh andar nahi rakha, woh dhoya nahi, yeh saaf toh kiya kar.........." (Now Pratik is not going to allow me in kitchen) . But that is for everyone's good, I agree.

Then comes the real "Weekend" time i.e. the time to orkut, chat, fifa and google around for some Java articles and Arsenal/Football wallpapers. Vimal keeps smiling and giggling as he chats sitting right in front of me. God knows does he really chat with "friends " or some "khaas friend". Then suddenly Pratik shouts "Sidddheshhhhhhhhhhhh.......jaldi aa.......Kya goal mara f**k". And I run to see one more new strategy in fifa. Then the footballer (virtual) in me awakes and we start a arsenal vs liverpool (2 player on lan, me and Pratik). He keeps on making attacking moves and I keep defending. Finally, after the 90th minute his Torres scroes the first goal of the match and he wins 0-1.

After this, Akshat, the hard worker gets up. As soon as he remembers the fact that he is in Cisco working on some MPLS, he catches hold of Vimal or Pratik and starts discussing what he did last night. I am sure they are confused whether he is describing his work or his last night's dream. But the way Pratik maintains his expression that time is awesome. I have to compliment him as a "good listener".

Then comes Shyam Tiwari's tiffin. Weekend is generally the day of sweetdish. But I dont know what technology ST has that reads people's mind -- whenever we forget about the weekend sweet dish, he send it. But if, by mistake, we remember then there is no sweetdish.
Then comes the nap time and the tea time. The day continues with some more FIFA and googling after tea till twilight. Then is the time for Nilgiri's Chicken Puff. (I love it). I am alone for that. Vimal and Pratik being veg. and Aksht being too busy for that.

The day concludes with ST's dinner tiffin which is by then back to normal. Again discussions start for having a cook, cooking ourselves etc. and they are forgotten at the end of the dinner. We go back to our laptops and I get ready for a new week, some more knowledge, new sprint, new codes and new tests and a new strength to miss my family, friends and city.