eYes. I know it has been quite a few days since my last entry. Let me sum up past few days in short.

I was in Mumbai for the weekend. As usual, I drove to Mumbai offering carpool to whoever who was interested in pooling. Friday night we uselessly wandered from one theater to other to catch 'Get Smart' but missed the last show everywhere. But Saturday was quite exciting. After chillaxing rest of the day, in the evening we started for town side. Lothika did some shopping on her favorite outlet 'Globus'. I bought some PS2 games, which I was thinking of getting since many weeks or rather months. Then we had some exquisite kebabs at the famous 'Bade Miyan' of Mumbai. That joint never disappoints me. Afterwards, we went to 'Inox' to catch the movie. Although we were just able to purchase two of last few remaining seats, but when we came out nobody was disappointed with movie even though we were watching it from the front most row. That ended our fabolous Saturday. Sunday got over quickly with early morning pickup of Mummy-Papa from station and in the evening catching up 'French Grand Prix'. What a happening weekend, wouldn't you say??

Anyways, Monday was as usual bad as ever. As such I was tired of getting up and driving all the way from Mumbai to Pune early in morning. Not being able to concentrate on anything throughout the day, and the already bad day was worsen when I found out in evening that my internet account is suspended. I had a big altercation with the Reliance Customer Care, me being totally pissed off but I thoroughly enjoy whenever I get chance to scream my heart & lungs out on anybody.

I got back my internet connection yesterday late night and so I'm updating my journal today. The positive news that I had mentioned in my previous entry turned out to be not that much positive after all. I did get some work but that is not something that would keep me occupied for whole day in office. Today I have decided that it is now time to really start pushing my managers to assign me on some project. I'm getting rusted for last one year. First in Mphasis and now in Infosys.

Finally, there is some positive news. Today, as I switched on my PC in office I saw an invite to a meeting for Friday. The agenda of the meeting is quite promising and it might give me some work to do. I might get out of this daily boredom and monotony. And most importantly I will be able to meet some other people in my group.

I got my car back from the workshop in the evening. It lighted my wallet by 9000 bucks. But the car is looking like brand new in driving. I had a smooth ride equivalent to what I had when I first took it out of the showroom. Tomorrow's drive to Mumbai might be quite enjoyable.

Yesterday was open house session in Infy and I was looking forward to it. The main reason being to hear NRN. He is a great orator and came out of it quite impressed. It felt quite good and proud to be associated with such a reputed company. I 'm just waiting to get some work so that I can prove my worth.

Another dark side of IT came forward today in two instances. I'm referring to the office politics. First was case of Amit's TA who yesterday suddenly got a call that his scheduled onsite assignment to Australia has been canceled. The reason being another senior person got a chance over him despite him being more appropriate for the required job. Poor guy has done all the planning, mental as well as physical, for this thing. He was totally pissed off and in frustration has just gone absent from office.

Second was case of Gaurav. He was recently shortlisted for a project. Project being in different technology than his forte, he asked to be not assigned to it. In return he got a straight threat from SPM that he'll get negative feedback if he refuses now. This was seriously not expected from a person at such a high post.

These kind of cases sometimes sadden me but we have to take them as part of the career life. I neither like doing it or being a part of it, but have to bear with it.

I am going to rank today, 16th June 2008, as the worst day of the year. As it is, the day is Monday with all the Monday Blues of going to office. If we add to this remorse of Lothika leaving for Mumbai, some indigestion, an eye infection and some stupid biker damaging my car, it leaves a little anything good about this day. And I have just burned my finger tip while making some coffee for myself.

Its Sunday again. Another fun-filled weekend with Lothika is about to end and a lonely week ahead. I had never imagined that we would be facing such a situation so soon after marriage. I have heard so many stories of couples living in different cities but I never wanted to experience it. I'm just glad that I hadn't chosen Delhi instead of Pune. It would have been impossible to see each other on weekends too. Last week she could have spent in Pune only if there were some indications that her office will be closed for whole week owing to some power problem. But anyways, I just have to kill the five days ahead before meeting her again on Friday.

Euro 2008 is on. The thrilling matches with fouls, goals, saves, shots etc are on everybody’s tongue and mind. It was all nostalgic to me. It took me back to Euro 2004, the first year of my career. I recapped my bachelor shared accommodation with Vikram, Gurpreet, Sulabh and Rajiv when all the things were so disorganized, when there was no planning in life, when decisions were made at spur of moment and when we were just exhilarating in our independent life. Euro 2004 jogged my memory because we were so crazed about the matches, that after 3-4 days of catching matches at one’s place or other’s, we decided to purchase a T.V. just to catch the match. Nobody cared if it was affordable or not. We had to live miser’s life for next few months but it was worth it. There was late night watching of football combined with shrieks, hu-ha-hus and every usage of the big F word. Sometimes intermixed with beer, sometimes with whisky and sometimes with just plain water the whole Euro month was exciting.

Life has moved on since then. Everybody of us is busy in his own life. Some have moved out of Mumbai (including me) and some out of country but at this moment nobody of those five roommates are living under same roof. I, for one, have another very important person in my life and all my priorities are diverted towards her. Now everything is organized, planned and not haphazardly decided. Now life is with more responsibility. I think I speak the same for each one of us. But I guess each one of us has accepted and absorbed this change and for good only.

I have completed more than a month in Infosys and I don't feel a damn difference from my previous organization (Mphasis). My day long activities in office are quite similar as they were prior to joining here. I have to murder every second, every minute, and every hour in front of my cubicle and just wait for the clock to struck 3:45 when I pick up my bag, switch off the PC and run to catch 4:00 bus to home. But in spite of this monotonous routine I’m not that disappointed or frustrated as I was in Mphasis. The reason being the name “Infosys” itself. I’m excited to be associated with one of the top IT companies of India and I’m sure I can carve out my career over here. It is just matter of time until some project comes my way.

Till today afternoon I was looking forward to the big bash of my unit in the evening. But as the day progressed I began doubting if I’ll be able to last till 6:00. And my doubts were right. At 3:30 I strolled over to cubicle of Gaurav (my colleague who joined on same date as me) and asked if he is interested in attending the party. I could read from his face that he is missing his bed more than anything at that time. Anyways, we still tried to find any attractive reason to stay back. Maybe they are going to have free booze. But no, booze was there but you have to empty your own wallet for that. That was it. We straight away headed to main gate to catch our respective buses for our home.

And now I’m here and I’m thinking that I should have solved some extra crossword puzzles to kill two more hours and then attend the party. Coming back to home when you don’t have your wife is quite sad. So I decided to start this new blog with this new entry while watching the repeat telecast of Euro 2008 match between Spain and Russia.