Saturday, May 21, 2011

The phone call

"Damn the server!"
Kevin was exhausted. He looked around with his droopy eyes. He rolled up the window shutter next to him. He hung his car keys from a hook that dangled from the rafters. All the cubicles were empty and looked depressing. Everyone had left for the day. This is the thing about being a part of a small firm; you get to learn, people you interact with know you well, but for the world, you are no one.  It was a colourless week, for he was aware of only eating, sleeping and "the script". It was Friday today, the last day of the never ending work-week and luckily it ran without errors. He raised a brow; he was proud. He knew his client would appraise him. All that was left was to deliver it to the client. But the damn server was down. This was a pretty common scenario here. Servers restart at 11p.m and things slow down at this hour. However, it would be back by few minutes and he could peacefully go home and enjoy the weekend.

He kicked the coffee maker in the pantry with some might as it failed to work at this hour and made hot green tea for himself. The door creaked. “Who could be here at 11 in the night?? May be it is the wind or a cat” he wondered. He went back to his cubicle and stood by the window thinking about all the promises he had made for this weekend. He had to take his mother to the dentist. That was first on the humongous list. Then he had promised to take Lily out. Such a stubborn but a lovely daughter she was. He had to help his wife with her shopping. He grinned.

"Hands Up!!" he heard.

"What on earth is going on here? Who are you...?"

A muscular man, dark in complexion appeared with a revolver in hand. His face was draped in black cloth. He had a navy blue bandana. He was quite shabbily dressed but seemed to handle the gun with expertise.

"Where's the cash young man?"

"I don't know" he answered. "I am just an employee here."

"Just answer to what i ask. Else today will be your last day on earth...”

"No please don't..!" "I...."

"Where is the cash?" he demanded.

"really don't know......"

Million thoughts were running in his mind. His heartbeat paced. He was scared; he felt suffocated. His spine stiffened. He had to do something now to save his life. His work, love, marriage, life, and future everything was at gun point now. He hated this eeriness.

The phone rang.

Both of them jerked a little. Both their eyes were fixed on the phone. It took him a few seconds to recover from all this chaos and he managed to speak up.

"I need to answer the call. It is my manager...."

"Dare not touch the phone..." he yelled.

He moved his finger to click the trigger. This alone was deafening to his ear.

"Trust me, else they will suspect something’s wrong..."

"Ok boy, you answer it. But one word from your mouth regarding this, you will be dead forever."

He answered the call.

"Is the script running now? I think you said it was almost over...." his manager spoke gruffly on phone.

He was quiet, but his brain was working up. Real intelligence is not in books, not even in the degree you hold. It is when you practically put it to use to come out of a situation. He needed to act quickly. He eyed on the telephone box. He held the receiver tight in his hand. He spoke.

"I thought of calling you for help. The script is ready, but i am not able to gunzip it. Don’t yell at me. Server is down right nowTrust me i will handle this emergency here. Be patient please"

He ended the call.

"Show me the way to the safe now. Get me the keys as well... "

Kevin faltered. He took a huge bunch of keys and started fiddling with it, trying one after the other. All the water he drank in his entire life was oozing out as sweat. He tried to keep his calm and kept mumbling prayers. The sound of wind combined with the false efforts to open the safe made his nerves tingle.


With a loud thud the main door banged again and this time it was the cops who stormed in. One cop whacked the burglar on his neck with one arm which made him feeble and he fell on the floor. Meanwhile another cop handcuffed him from back. One tall officer slapped him hard and bombarded a few questions and made a report of this attack. All of them admired Kevin’s courage and asked how he managed this. “I used the mute button.” he said.


P.S: Read it now again
"I thought of calling you for help. The script is ready, but i am not able to gunzip itDont yell at me. Server is down right nowTrust me i will handle this emergency here. Be patient  please"


My first story to my  favorite genre of novels "Mystery." Let me know if you liked it!!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Visitor Visa/ Tourist Visa Questions

The following are the questions a Visa interviewer would ask if you are applying for a tourist visa. This set of questions is focused on "USA", but its the same set for any visiting country. Definitely not all, but if prepared for these clearing the interview would be easy. But remember,

  1. Answer to point.
  2. Dont lie.
  3. Carry necessary documents.
  4. Convince them that you would return back :)
Here they are:
  1.   Why are you going to the US?
  2.  Have you been to the U.S. before?
  3.  Do you have relatives in the US? If yes, who?
  4.  Who is going to sponsor your visit?
  5.  Where will you stay in the US?
  6.  What does your son/daughter do for a living?
  7.  How much does your son/daughter earn?
  8.  Where does your son/daughter work?
  9.  What does your son/daughter-in-law do?
  10.  Who is paying for your son/daughter-in-law's studies?
  11.  How long has your son/daughter been in the US?
  12.  Which visa is your son/daughter and son/daughter-in-law on?
  13.  Did your son/daughter study in the US? Where?
  14.  What visa did your son/daughter enter the U.S. on?
  15.  Is your son/daughter married?
  16.  Does your son/daughter have any children?
  17.  Is your daughter/daughter-in-law pregnant?
  18.  Will your wife/husband accompany you on your trip?
  19.  If only one person is traveling to the U.S. then they may ask: Why are you traveling alone? OR Why isn't your husband/wife accompanying you?
  20.  When do you plan to travel?
  21.  Why do you want to travel at that time?
  22.  What are you going to do in the US?
  23.  What is the purpose of your trip?
  24.  Have you blocked your tickets?
  25.  Do you have return air tickets, medical insurance etc.
  26.  How much expense do you expect from this trip?
  27.  Have you been outside India before?
  28.  Is this your first visit to US?
  29.  What places do you want to visit?
  30.  How long will you stay in the US?
  31.  Can't you finish your visit earlier? Why do you want to stay for so long?
  32.  What is the guarantee that you will come back?
  33.  When did you last see your son/daughter?
  34.  When did your son/daughter last visit India?
  35.  When does your son/daughter plan to visit India next?
  36.  Where do you stay in India?
  37.  When did your son/daughter go to US?
  38.  What work do you do and where?
  39.  What is your job profile?
  40.  How much do you earn/ What is your annual income?
  41.  If you are working, you may be asked: Did you take leave?
  42.  Your income is not enough to support international travel. What do you plan to do?
  43.  If you run a business, you may be asked: Who will look after your business in your absence?
  44.  When did you retire?
  45.  How much pension do you get?
  46.  What assets/property do you have in India?
  47.  Who will take care of your property in India while you are gone?
  48.  Can I see you Business/visiting card?
  49.  Do you have a credit card?
  50.  Will you work in the US?
  51.  How many children do u have ? And where are they? What do they do? Are they married?
  52.  What is your son/daughter's birth date?
  53.  When is your son/daughter's wedding anniversary?
  54.  Can you tell me your son/daughter's contact details?
  55.  Show me your documents OR Has your son/daughter sent any documents?

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Tulip Fever..!!

Had a wonderful walk in my street
Captured few lovely shots.
N now displayin it here... as
"The flora around my house". :)



  





































































































Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Amba, Ambika, Ambalika!!!

When it comes to will power, no one can beat Bhishma! Thats why its said "Bhishm Prathigyna" when someone strongly makes a vow. Lets read a little story on that.

Amba, Ambika and Ambalika were three sisters who were taken by force by Bhishma to Hastinapura to be married to Vichtraveerya, his brother. Amba however was sent back as she was in love with another king (I guess Salva), who later refused to marry her doubting on her character. Since Bhishma was responsible for the tragedy in Amba's life she swore to kill him. She intensely prayed for Lord Shiva, who granted her this wish, but it was in her next life.

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Vichtraveerya was thus the husband of Ambika & Ambalika.  He died at a young age, and there was no heir to this dynasty now. His mother Satyavati pleaded Bhishma to continue their dynasty. But he vowed to remain celibate for his life and so refused her wish. Though fearing she decided approach her elder son Vyasa for this problem.

Vyasa was an old sage with lot of yogic powers. He was wild in appearance and tempered too. When Ambika walked in, she was very frightful and closed her eyes and touched his feet. Thus Dhrithrashtra was born blind. Satyavati aghast by seeing the blind child, instructed Ambalika to be bold and open her eyes. Yet when Ambalika touched his feet to take blessings, she was shivering and pale. Thus Pandu was born, who was pale and sensitive. Satyavati could'nt stand this and sent the house maid. The maid being used to such appearances, prayed boldly and had a son by name Vidura who became the care taker of the royal princes.

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Bhishma was a strong opponent in the kurukshetra war.  He would never fight with anyone lower to him or anyone who is unarmed. Krishna and Arjuna were wondering how to kill Bhishma, when they came up with a plot and took the help of a eunuch by name Shikandi. When Bhishma saw Shikandi infront of him, he immediately released all the weapons in his hand. This was the right time for Arjuna to aim an arrow and kill Bhishma.

However Shikandi was none other than Amba who was reborn.

P.S : Bhishma didn't die immediately, Krishna advised him that it was not a good time for him to leave the world now. He is the one man in past and present in Hindu mythology who delayed his death by 56 days and lay on a bed of arrows till then.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Happy Mothers day!

To All Mothers Out there,

A Very Happy Mothers Day!!








I remember my mother's prayers 
and they have always followed me.  
They have clung to me all my life. 

~Abraham Lincoln









My mother is a poem
I'll never be able to write,
though everything I write
is a poem to my mother.

 

~Sharon Doubiago