My pent house

And it seems today is the last night. And, I disappointed 2 Leos (by not talking 2 one, and by not visiting another: But I did talk to the 2nd one as I couldn't be present in person)...I probably wanted to be here at my my home (I remember Rahul: your words: Delhi for you is Mayur Vihar, phase-1, 33G, pocket 4)..as you put it: "the den of this lioness "...

This and that...again, I've got loads of emotions with this house...(of course, how can I forget that night, when it rained last year, and half of my books, DVDs got drenched..I was fuming literally). But...

12th September, 2010

With apologies, I am going to complete the above unfinished post (as it's unedited, and whatever is keyed in has to be published), which was put to a halt because of my mood swing for more than two months. This is what they call, the creative mood. One can get loads of other things at one go, but to get a hang of this particular thing, it takes ages, at times, here at least the wait was not too long.

But...

I really miss 33G yet. However, 359H, pocket-2 ain't bad, I'm sure now. May be that was the reason I took so long to finish this post. Let me thank Punyatoya, a junior from IIMC, a fellow Odiya (who also cooks well), and the English connection (the strongest one though amongst all), drew me today to get this half-finished one going. Her comment (on the first post) was the urge this time to write again. I bow down to get me going again: It was necessary.

She finally came home last evening (11th September, 2010), after yes, no, let's see kinda response since we got to know each other. Of course, the conversation started with the general office this & that, and how cheap can people think about others!

Sad...but this is where we all live in, right? Trying hard to let them know what's right and what's not. But failing with every attempt to make it possible.

Anyhow (the Leo says, this is again similar)...

Whosoever by now has come over: Rahul, Lopa, Abhishek, Mihir, Badri, bhai, Vibha, Raja and troupe (bhai's gang), and now Punyatoya : They have come and cherished these places (33G & 359 H). The more thay have opened up, and the more we have talked on anything and everything around whenever the night has set in. The terrace is a 'character' here.

Having said about the main character here, along with the night -- the central character -- let me move on to the discussion that we have had last night.

That was dynamic as life, and interesting as we were trying to decode relationships, and what goes wrong, and why so? While we got all the answers, the 'why' part was left unanswered.

When you really feel for someone, 'why' can't he/she get you right?

When you do all that to make him/her happy, why can't you get your share of happiness?

When you shed all that you can for him/her, why can't they complement?

So many 'whys'....sigh...sigh...sigh...

But that's how everyone is paired. Is it to draw an equilibrium? If yes, then why not with the right souls, for that matter? Is it that you are human that you are prone to such 'situations'? or is it that you can take it all, so you are given? If someone can't (popped up some characters from the discussion, who just don't care, but they get it all, and, of course, the other lot, who does everything but always left to the wonders of imagination)...

Be it the instance that Su (Suanshu) narrated about a close friend, or, the one that Punyatoya narrated about a fellow human; or, be it, the one that Shabda observed like the bullet just touched her (she felt the air when the bullet crossed her) --- it's the story of compatibility and what they call, 'real love'...Yeah, like the lyrics from the Bryan Adams numbers: You can relate to...

They have all met with it, which can't be termed as an accident, but no less than that. Here, there isn't a wound, but the aftermath prevails. You don't get the support system but you insanely need it. You can talk it out, but your lips are sealed. What is this? Any answers...

You are afraid of the the society (means mostly the Facebook feeds today) or back home, those crazy relatives, who just ask you about the trail of mishaps without considering how comfortable you are at the moment.

Is the answer: Men are from Mars and women are from Venus?, the book; or, is it time to get started on that "on-air system" to get to those people not to offer solutions to their feelings but to just be there to listen to them, and join hands with them till they get what they need (not want) to complete "this life", at least.

However, we crossed the mid-night also, but no answers yet. The day dawned, started all the routine work...but it's still lurking there? Can we get there to just get them back on track...Life's beautiful, and they are cutie pies, who have all the rights to blush in bliss....

....Waiting for the call of the bliss, followed by night after night...

press-con or marriage party

First, apologies for moving away for more than a month! It's just that business-related writing and stuff just keeps me busy without any self-interest. But I wanted to see how boring it can get. But yes, media, the glamour part can get anyone hooked on to it--be it the newspapers, channels, or other media available out on the space. This post is on the press conference of STAR India's new logo and the new brand campaign (16th June, 7.30 pm, Taj Mansingh).

This time I reached before time for this press conference which was scheduled to start at 7 pm, I was told it was at 7.30pm (it started at 8.30pm) at Taj Mansingh, Delhi. I reached because I thought I could get late due to traffic. Non-journos can sympathise, as no event starts on time neither any journalist reaches on time. And, this is the rule of this road. But this time, this journalist was before time, as she had no clue on what she was going to write on as the boss only had said--they are doing some 'revamp' thing (she still doesn't know)! Then the formal procedure starts--you enter, you register, pick up your media kit and go in, meanwhile, you don't forget to co-ordinate with that particular PR with whom you are in touch with to take things forward. As these big companies always know which medium/newspaper/channel they want to give the exclusive to. Then happens the formal press conference where you get a CD, a press note, and some PR/Corporate Communications contacts written on them.

Then starts the real drama. Journos keep coming (freshers will reach first, then other journos with subsequent years of experience will keep coming in). Interesting! You get to hear the journo-talking. "So, are you going to file (non-journos read 'write') it tonight?"..And, pat comes the answer-- "I don't know what to write. What's there to write in fact. They have just launched a new logo, which is already on air. I'll see!" Juices/refreshments keep coming up. The vegetarians would hesitantly ask--"Is it something in veg?" and the 5-star hotel boss will reply-- "sorry mam, this is non-veg, but let me get something for you." So journos will enjoy the ambiance but with a permanent disgust-- "how long would they take to start? I have just come to say 'hi, hello though, as our Mumbai team has already written on it (the Mumbai people would say the Delhi team has filed it!)'. Oh..lemme see that marketing guy's name ya! Or, I wouldn't be knowing when I'll go and talk to him. How funny!" Kudos to you journos. I feel how have you managed so far? But it's no great. Just be a bit coated everywhere, one doesn't have to show the world one's ignorance--the mantra of new-age reporters. If you have got your public relation right, they will do the needful, and you will just have to supervise a bit, which ain't take longer. And, you are done! (No offence at the journos--this is again just an observation)

Finally, it was 9pm, and the press-con had started. The COO was engrossed with the power point presentation to make every bit clear as to how his company is growing fast (After all, where would he use his Business school skills better that he must have learnt in his IIM days). Once he is done with the slides, statistics, TVC (television commercial) clips etc etc, he invites questions, and the CEO joins him. Then comes 3,4 questions (1 logical, 1 funny, 1 interesting and 1 unnecessary).

As every journo wants to write something exclusive how could they ask their questions in a press con? But the fact remains--the company guy will only disclose what he is supposed to no matter how cunning a journo gets (if he gets a chance at all to speak to the CEO or CFO as the corp com knows, as mentioned earlier, to which media the company wants to talk to).

So, no work is done , as the company guys are pre-occupied, and they would have to catch a flight in the morning the next day to report at their respective headquarters. And, the PR assures for a tele-con or an e-mail interaction (none can beat technology).

Then starts something which one can relate to an Indian marriage party. Fun, food, music and chit-chat. The journos now forget what they are going to write, or not write. Those pompous hugs, kisses, cuddles just do the rounds for the next 10 minutes--the who's who is there--so what could be a better time to socialise. Some general dialogues--- "Meet XXX, he/she is from YYY. You have my card no! Do keep in touch. And, listen you should meet that guy. You know her na! oh come on! she is with ZZZ. And so on."

They just go on, just imagine a function at your place where all your relatives come, and just chit-chat over nothing as well as everything.

The press-cons are about exchanging business cards, which is the new-age networking. And then you look for the person on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter (if you really want to add one more friend to your list). And the company people at times tell you--"oh! your publication has a new business card. Nice! Lot of initiatives to market your paper. Good!"

And they party on--the company people and the who's who of journos...

And some wait for fellow journos to fit in a cab of the same locality (at times, the co-passengers indulge in exotic fruits at these 5-stars by letting others wait for them or trying for a change of job through some reference at the press-con). Loads happen, and they bid good byes to one another with that big, fat smile on their faces, which echoes the post-marriage party frames faintly!!

Well, the post is written. But this journo is thinking--when will I file the story? damn...I'm gonna have it man when the editor asks.

Back in the saddle. We all are angels in the training.