Hilsa (ilish) is the national fish of Bangladesh. The body is strongly compressed and moderately deep with dorsal and ventral profile equally convex. The upper jaw has a distinct median notch. Regularly arranged medium-sized scales cover the metallic silver-coloured body. Body length may reach up to 60 cm, but commonly found specimens measure 35 to 40 cm. A large-sized hilsa weighs about 2.5 kg. Females grow faster, and are usually larger than males

>> coming to the point, its probably the tastiest fish in the world... so bring out some large sized ilish please :-)

----------the anatomy of blackmail

I love to deal with the man with a sword. His victory rests solely on the fact that I am afraid of the sword – on the premise that I must perform an action (of being afraid) for him to be a winner – I can choose not to perform that action !!!

I love the blackmailer who works on the premise that he has a reason that I care about – “my caring” is what he banks on – in truth I just may not.

Of course I deal with many such men in everyday corporate life – they give me just so many reasons to smile – and to blog :)

Captain’s log.
Stardate: July 5 2006.
Location : somewhere between delirium and relief.

The voyages of the enterprise have taken me from one sleepless night to another, one DRC error to the other – in discovering strange new problems and pushing the threshold of human (read my) knowledge.
It has kept me away from these pages – but the end result has been worth it.
Now the fingers are crossed that when the “test chip” returns it is all hale and hearty and we can savor the full pleasure of all the effort of these past few days.

End log.

------------- the city of immortals.
Globetrotting brings me to Washington D.C.
Even as I wander the hallowed lawns of power – amongst monuments to great men with immortal names, Achilles comes to my mind.
Achilles who, between “death and an immortal name” on one hand and “a long happy (but dull) life with loved ones” on the other, chose the first.
In this city I am confronted by people who crave for fame at the expense of family – at amazing odds and with no guarantees (and they say Vegas is their gambling capital).
I wonder what I’d do given the same choice??

------------- the flight to Dallas
I write this one sitting at Washington Dulles airport.
They have put me on a turbo-prop to Dallas – not a plane I like, but that’s the topic for another blog.
How many times have you been delayed by traffic while flying? Plenty you say, too many planes taking off and landing is common at major airports …
Well I’m sitting here and taking delays too – most likely due to traffic : they tell me the reason is that “ the first officer has not arrived yet – he will be here shortly – stuck in traffic” -- ?? !!

------------- the hopeless romantic
We watched the movie “fanaa” last night.
Amidst old men singing around the monuments of new delhi, a terrorist desperately in love with his family and some unwanted political statements were more “shers” than I have heard in the last 2 years taken together.
One which I liked sounded something like (corrected since the first post on recommendation by anant... oops Anant) –
Sharaab peene de masjid mein baith kar 'Ghalib',
Ya woh jagah bata de jahan khuda na ho.
So i suggest you go to the movie with that bottle of rum,
To drink for the wasted money and time in gam.

p.s: If you still need to watch the movie, do so at the night show like me, so you feel that much less guilty about sleeping through most of it.

------------- the horsemen
“why do you move so fast?” said one.
“don’t shake up the system. It need not be perfect, stability is more important” said another.
“better to carry forward the existing than to change – you may possibly fall in the effort” said a third.
We grinned –
Girte hain maidane jung mein shehsawaar hee. Woh tifn kya girega jo khud ghutnon ke bal chalta hain.

------------- the knock
Knock knock
Me : who’s there?
Voice : Buddha.
Me : Buddha who ?
Voice : the chief minister of West Bengal, Mr Buddhadeb.
Who has just come to power in a red wave.
And I’m doing my best, this state and this city to save.
Me : yes for better or for worse, both of those are things I must grant you. Congratulations and best wishes.

------ the birthday party
it is my brother's birthday. he is a doctor who is presently studying for his post graduate entrance exams.
we decide to have a party at a nearby restaurant. we arrive at the restaurant, are greated with a smile and a question -- " do you have reservations sir ?". "No" we say... "i'm sorry then, we can't find any seats for you. they are all reserved."
my brother shrugs and says to me with a smile -- "don't worry buddy - the story of my life -- seats are always 'reserved' for someone else..."

---------- the swimming pool

My apartment has a west facing window and a swimming pool view.
This evening typing away on my laptop i draw aside the curtains. i see a brilliant sunset. i see joyous children in the pool screaming in delight at their own games. i remember how i enjoyed these evening swims when i was a kid, i decide to join in their fun.
about to leave for the swim i look at my computer and remember something...
it is now night, the sun has set and i am still typing away -- wordsworth flashes through my mind :

Whither is fled the visionary gleam?
Where is it now, the glory and the dream?

wearily i get up, draw the curtains and return to work.

-------------- the first blog

A blog, they said to me
Can convey your feelings for free
Rest of the world may read
Of things you said and did.
So i got on to blogger
To make the audience a little bigger.
In confusion on what to write
Chose a doublet - as a first on the site.

But thought it may be too easy to do
Let me make it an acrostic too
On these terms i write my first blog
Gifted poet ;-) , or is this just a futile slog ??

------------------------------------------------

p.s: sorry about using the term "doublet" loosely, forgive me that.