Moments of 2009..!

There are few hours left for 2009 to end and 2010 to start and sitting ideal on my pc i thought to pen down the moments in 2009. 2009 had many flavours for me and there were good, better and best moments as well as there were bad, worse and worst moments.

The year started off with a bang and 'WE' - (tats the name of my MBA friends group) celebrated a so called 'WE DAY' on 2nd Jan, 09 by meeting up and exchanging secret gifts with each other. This was one day which I guess I may not forget for a long long time. WE hardly had college this year as WE were in our final semesters but whenever WE met we used to go around together to some or the other place.

Education wise this was the year when I completed my MBA. I miss my MBA days the most but then now I feel work also has its own importance and enjoyment. After completing our MBA studies 'WE' went for a 4 day trip to Kudal and Goa. This trip was really very enjoyable one but deep down my heart there was a feeling that this might be the last time I am going out with all my MBA friends for a trip.

Once WE returned WE all started to find jobs as the recession had hit our batch so badly that there was not a single company that had turned up to our college this year for campus recruitments. But once WE returned from Goa I guess things were not the same as it used to be when WE were studying during MBA. May be the priorities in life had changed for all of us and now there were many new things in life for everyone then just friends. During college days WE decided WE will meet once a week which we never met, but WE used to meet at each others birthdays which after some time WE decided should be stopped and WE should meet once a month so that WE can spend quality time with each other but then its almost 3 months now that I haven't met all the WE's together at one place. Being in college I always thought that once the college completes things really change and also the people with whom you are so close during college days do. But never expected things to change so fast. Nevertheless I miss all my friends and still want to go for atleast a one day picnic with everyone and recollect all those moments. Hope this will happen very soon in 2010.

Professionally it was the year when I could say yes I finally started earning and have become responsible in life. I got a big big project from Taj Group of Hotels where I was the Project Head for a 3d animation project for Safety Evacuation Film for Taj Residency and Vivanta By Taj at Taj Bangalore properties. This was the best achievement for me professionally and I got to learn many things during this project. And yes I never did MBA to just do projects but to get some good job and join the rat race i mean to join a company and start working. And I did got a job and luckily I got not just 1 but 2 jobs. No, I wasnt working at both the places at same time but I had to quit my 1st job within just 3 months time as I wasn't happy with the things turning up for me over there. But right now I am enjoying my current job and feel I am learning many new things about the Internet industry every new day.

The 2nd job I got was the best thing that could happen to me at work as in the same company I had 2 of my best friends working along with me. I had kind of lost contacts with both of them after joining MBA but now I would like to thank my current company to bring us back together. We have lot of fun at work which makes work more enjoyable and less stressfull. We three just returned from a 3 days trip from Pune, Talegaon and Lonavala and had a great time together.

Many things did shaped up this year in my personal life as well. I guess I'll avoid to disclose those moments but only say that those were bad, worse and worst moments rather than being good, better or best. The best thing to happen in my personal life was that my sister got married to the love of her life this year and I feel very happy for her.

So to sum up 2009 was the year full of events which had its ups and downs and showed me many faces of life. I enjoyed this year as well as there were few moments which were depressing as well. In few hours time I am going for a party with few friends to celebrate the success we had this year and to welcome 2010. I will end up this post by saying that 2009 had many different flavours but somewhere I have a feeling that there is more coming up in 2010.

HEART is WISER than INTELLECT..!

"The heart is wiser than the intellect". As I read on this quote I thought is it really so. What do we really follow when we have to make any major decision in life. HEART or MIND...?

When I was growing up I always liked singing but then I never even thought of making career in singing and instead choose a career in IT by taking up Information Technology and later did MBA Marketing in order to make money and make status.

As a kid you are always told by your parents that the society respects the one who has a well paid job and so you are always forced to take that practical approach and choose a career where you see yourself having a good job and earning good money. But now I am not a kid. I am mature enough to understand what my heart really wants. Is a good 9 - 6 job and money everything in life or is living doing what I want to do is everything.

After my MBA, I wanted to be an entrepreneur by starting my own company but today I am working for someone, as the more practical approach in life says that its too early for me to even think of starting a business as there is lots of risk involved in starting own business. So I should gain knowledge and experience right now and make good enough money to start my own later. But the Idea which I have today may be someone else would use it in coming years and may succeed with that business idea and then I would regret that why I didn't followed my heart and feel It was worth taking the risk few years back.

When I think about marrying someone, would I run away with the convict whom I love or would I marry the sweet girl whom my parents feel is good for me. Practical approach would be not to run away as the society won't accept you later as if I have done some sin by eloping with the one whom I always loved but to marry the one my parents selected even if deep down in my heart I know that I dont love her.

So how do we know what to follow? Stay with our intellect as most people do and take the practical approach or follow our heart and take the so called emotional approach? Deep down in our heart we always know which approach we want to take between the intellect or the heart. It is our life, we know ourself, and therefore we know what approach to take. No matter how much we may think that we are confused, if we take a long hard look at the equation, we always know it. But its not always that we take the decision which we feel is the decision we want to take as between heart and mind most of the time we tend to follow our mind than the heart and what the mind says gets heavy on the heart most of the time.

But then there is no turning back the hands of time and we cannot go back and change a single thing. All we can do is regret our decision and wonder what it would have been like if we had taken the alternate path. And that is painful!

Now I yet have to come to the end of my life to see how my decisions will turn out, but so far I think both intellect and heart have provided me with decent choices. But then I feel one should often follow his heart as I do believe that the HEART is WISER then INTELLECT but even then what you feel is not what you always do as in most cases I am still not following my Heart...!

I Love You..!

No I am not proposing anyone.. Looking at the title of this post you may feel I am writing this because I cant say it to someone in personal so I am using Internet as the medium to express myself. Nah but thats not the case..

I Love You.. the three golden words which every one in this life expresses to someone or atleast feels like he or she will express it to someone one fine day. There won't be a single person on this earth who has not said I love you to someone or doesn't even has a wish to say it to someone special. Recently I also thought of expressing these three golden words to someone. Now dont ask whether I expressed or I didn't.. Thats not the question that I want to answer and not the reason why I am writing this post. After this thought came to my mind I thought I will write something about expressig these three golden words and so here I am writing on it.

Why is it so important to express these three golden words. Is it like if you dont express the feelings that you have for that special person are not true or is it you have to prove to that person that yes you really love her by saying it and letting her know. Dont you feel that such things are to be made felt not by saying. Your eyes speak and what you want to say through your mouth can also be conveyed through your eyes. But then Why is saying I love You so important.

Sometimes both the partners know that they love each other but then they always keep on expecting that who would be the first one to say those three golden words. The girls I dont know for some weird reason say that even if they like someone they wont be the one to take an approach to say those golden words as they always expect their guy would say it to them someday. But then why wait for that someday to come. Sometimes waiting for that someday can be too late and the feelings that you have for someone would always remain in your heart.

Expressing it by only saying it is not important. Its making the person feel that what you are saying is what you are feeling. Ya it sounds little complicated but then thats how it is. When you feel something for someone its not necessary everytime its only love. It can be infatuation also. But then how you know its love or infatuation. Whats that make us feel no its not just infatuation but its love. You may like many but you will always love one and that one has to be the one to whom you express those three golden words with all the feelings in your heart making that person feel what you are feeling.

Sometimes you always know that the answer after expressing those three golden words is going to be NO but still you feel that you have to express so that in future you dont regret that you didnt even had in you to express to that person. But then if you know the answer why is it still so important to express. Is it you do it for sake of doing it or is it you really do it because you feel like doing it.

I guess making someone feel what you are saying is really very important and someone told me that 'It takes just a moment to change someones mind'. So the way you say I LOVE YOU should be in such a way that it touches that persons heart in such a way that she does changes her mind.

Better to Quit than to get Kicked..!

Few months back I left my 1st job. It was hardly just 3 months and I decided to quit that job. I still remember the day when I had got this job and the amount of happiness that was there on my face. After all it was my first job after completing my MBA and more importantly it was into the field I always wanted to get into after my MBA. Advertising always excited me and I always wanted to get into advertising morever into online advertising but then getting a job into even mainstream advertising when all the students were facing the effects of recession was a kind of gift for me.

But then few months down the lane I quit that job. I know some may feel how could I judge a company on just 3 months time and feel I should have continued a little more. But then the situation wasn't the same as it was at the time of joining the company. The person who interviewed me showed me dreams to join the company but once I joined the profile wasn't the same as it was discussed in the interview. I told my self that its ok I'll adjust myself in this profile as even then there were no jobs there in the market due to recession. Client Servicing is what excitied me to take up this job but for 3 months I was doing only telesales job. The motivation level in the company among me and my colleagues was 0.

But then even this wasn't the reason for me to leave the job. I had adjusted myself and told myself I will continue till the time I can. But then one fine day the HR fired 2 of my colleagues who had joined along with me telling them that they cant come to the office from tommorow as the company has decided to terminate them. It wasn't fair as the company expected a weeks notice if someone wanted to leave the company and then how can they just ask someone not to come from tommorow. As it is there was enough pressure earlier and this incident just builded up the pressure. The same day I decided that its time now I should say good bye to this company as I never wanted the company to tell me that I cant work in the company from tommorow rather I would walk out of the company with my own dignity.

By Gods grace I did got another job very soon and morever this time I got into Online Advertising which I always wanted to get into. It was a hard task for me to convince the MD of my current company the reason behind why I was leaving my earlier job in just 3 months time but then I did succeeded in convincing him. I have no regrets today. But as it is said that you never forget the first things that happen to you I would also never forget my first job even though it lasted just 3 months. Some may feel I took a very early decision and should had given myself a little more time, some may feel I wasn't able to take the presssure and so I quitted, some may feel that I left just because my other friends also decided to quit. Whatever others may feel I still dont regret my decision and feel that It was better to QUIT then to get KICKED...!

Why I did MBA...!

Pratik Khot.. MBA in Marketing.. sounds good. I never thought when I was a kid that anytime in my future I would go on and complete my education in MBA. It feels good now as I have completed it.. But after completing my MBA studies when I was sitting ideal without any job a thought came to my mind that Why I did MBA...? And when I actually thought over it I didn't had a proper answer to this question.

Because I never aspired to be a management professional or pursue management degree when I was a kid not even when I was about to complete my graduation. Then why MBA... were there no other courses that time.. there were many other courses.. I had the option of doing MCA or MSc IT.. Was it because my friends did it.. no that cannot be the reason because at that time I was the one among my friends who initiated and told everyone tha they should also go for MBA. Was it because I didnt got a quick job after my graduation in IT as I never sat for any of the campus interviews.. But then later I did got a job which I left in 2 days time giving the reason I wanted to prepare for MBA entrance exams.. Was the reason that my parents always wanted me to do MBA but that wasn't the case as my parents were happy for me being an IT graduate and they wanted me to start earning and be more responsible in life. Was it like my dad had too much money and so I thought I would spend that in a better cause by atleast getting one more degree but then if that would had been the case I wouldn't had have to take loan to pay my MBA fees. Was it like I was going towards where thousands of other students were going after completing their graduation. But I wasnt the one who made decisons looking at what the crowds do.

So many possible reasons but then why did I choose to be a MBA proffesional. I still cant figure out what the actual reason was. May be all of these reasons were partially the actual reason for me opting to become MBA(hope you got what I meant by that line) or may be not.. Whatever the reason was but today I am a MBA.. Today I dont regret my decision.. I am happy with what I have in my hands.. I have a decent job with a decent salary.. Getting into MBA is difficult(the entrance exams would make you mad as the competition there is really tough) but once you get into MBA college then getting the degree is simpler. I hope a day will come when I will figure out the exact reason why I did MBA and I will rewrite this post once again with the same heading - WHY I did MBA...!

by Pratik Khot - MBA Marketing(sounds good)..!

Dedicated to WE

Hamesha yaad aayega ye dostana;
Jab na rahega sath hamara tumhara
Kitni hi khushiya mili joh yaha par;
Ke lagta kabhi ye sapana suhana

Woh har exam ke baad picnic pe jana
Jaha ek ek pal ek jindagi sa jeena
Har jagah ka he kuch khas yaadgana
Kabhi dil chahe sabka jisme kho jana

Woh sabki jaha jodiya banana
Aur bina baat ki baatein badhana
Woh sabko chidana, hasna hassana
Par khud pe aye to padta he sunna

Woh har roz sath me khana khana
Ke jese lage koi jashna manana
Kitne alag ho bhale, ek dusare se hum
Par basta he ek aashiya hamara

Woh har birthday bade pyar se manana
Aur Cards pe pyare se msgs likhna
Woh chehra sajana, b’day bumbs dena
Ek esa b’day he yaadgaar banana

Hamesha yaad aayega ye dostana;
Jab na rahega sath hamara tumhara
pata nahi hum agar mile na mile kalpar
dil me rahega ye khusiyon ka nazarana

- HETAL (MORNI...)

WEs KUDAL CUM GOA TRIP

EXPRESSING THE EXPERIENCE:
Our groups GOA cum KUDAL trip was the most memorable trip for me which i wont be able to forget for the time to come. Still remember how everyone was busy convincing their parents for this trip. We all met at CST station at 10:30 PM on 5th of May to catch the train for Kudal. Unfortunately didn't got to sit together in the train and all other people were around us in each and every compartment and there was no space for anyone to even move from one compartment to another to see each other. This was the first experience for me in the train to travel with people all over you and I guess for many others. Never the less it was just another experience. Then the next morning when there was little space free inside the train everyone started to move from their compartment to other to see each other. The compartment S4 was very much famous among guys for some reason and the gals were pretty much interested in knowing what was so famous there.

DAY 1: VISITED NEARBY PLACES AT KUDAL
Then WE reached Kudal station by 10:30 in the morning and the sun was beaming on us and WE took rick to reach Komals beautiful house inside the village. Then on the very first day WE went to some temple in Kudal which was situated near a Nadi. WE did peddale boating there which was first time experience for me and I had lot of fun there as all the others had. Luckily because me and Prabodh we pedalling the boat and we were rightly balanced and so the boat didnt sinked.(Right Apu). Then WE went to have a glass of famous drink there called limboo soda and then went to the villages main temple which was the KULDAIVAT temple as they call there. Then we had dinner at one Brahmins place and the dinner there was too good and the people who were not going to eat were also not able to resist and had good dinner there. Then we had a walk to home from the dinner place and that was one more experience for me for the first time to walk on the village road in the moon light with a group of friends. We reached home then had some time together and everyone was very tired so WE all went to sleep as again next morning we had to get up early.

DAY 2: EXPLORED THE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES AND VISITED MALVAN

Next morning everyone was ready as per the time and we left for the journey in two seperate Qualis. We first visited a place called NIVITI Killa which for some reason I call it NIYATI Killa (i guess the name Niyati sounds better for me). At Niviti killa there was nothing much exiciting except WE clicking photos there(WE can start clicking photos anywhere). Then we visited a beach near Niyati killa which was really a scenic beauty. It was the best beach I visited in the entire trip. After that we left that place and went to a temple which had samadhi of someone(i know i am really bad at recollecting names). Then from there we continued our journey and went to MALVAN(its also my native place but had never been there before). We had our lunch and went to Suppis teachers place there in Malvan where everyone relaxed for sometime. From there we went to Medhacha Ganpati mandir and then to Rock garden - a place I think we should had skipped. Then from there everyone except me had a famous COCKTAIL drink at Malvan and from there WE went to one more beach in the evening which was very sandy and had a game of soccer there where our team won by a score of 1-0(all because of gaurav). I had a bad time in the soccer game where I even falled down once and all the sand went in my mouth and eyes which made me feel a little bit uneasy and restless for sometime. WE left that beach and went for the dinner at the same Brahmins place. Before reaching to the place of dinner I was feeling a bit uneasy but then after reaching there and having some food I was completely alright. Then again WE had a walk in the moon light and reached Komals place. That day I thought that everyone was enjoying but were enjoying in their own way as the travelling was not together. That night WE had decided to do masti at home but then no one seemed much enthusiastic because of the whole day travelling so all went to sleep except Me, Mitesh, Gaurav and Sanket had a game of POKER where I lost all my money in the last game. Also Apu, Ruchi, Praju, Asu and Hetal were playing their favourite games whose names I cant recollect(some bachoo games). Then after I loosing the poker game WE four went to sleep.

DAY 3: OFF TO GOA
Next morning again everyone was ready ontime and WE started our journey to reach GOA. The in between journey to GOA was again memorable one and first time experience for many. We had to catch a ST bus to Sawantwadi first and then from Sawantwadi next ST bus to Mapsa(a place near Goa). The ST bus experience was first time one for most of them and some were even a bit afraid but luckily all went well and finally WE reached Mapsa. WE went to a hotel called RUCHIRA(the name was very famous in GOA) and we went there for lunch at lunch time but when WE got out from there it was almost a Tea time. Many of us management students had many suggestions for the hotel staff to improve on their Customer Services. After having lunch WE went to Prabodh's place and there as soon as WE reached WE played a game KHAMB KHAMB something(sorry again I forgot the name) which I played for the first time but enjoyed playing it. Then in the evening WE went to a nearby lake which again was a very beautiful place to spend time. From there WE came home and the gals of our group were going to make Pulav for everyone that day which they made and everyone enjoyed it. That night again WE had to sleep early.

DAY 4: VISITED SOUTH GOA

The next morning WE went to South Goa. In Goa WE had a small bus in which all of us got accomodated easily and all of them were together travelling and enjoying. First WE went to see COCO BEACH which is famous for Dolphins and WE got to see few Dolphins but they were all inside the water. Again there were many more placed there which were quite famous and one which got most famous there among us was JIMMY's HOUSE. The other spots were light house, Dil Chahta Hai spot, Central Jail, Vijay Malayas ships, etc. From Cocoa beach WE went to light house where WE clicked maximum photos together. Then WE had lunch and from there WE went again to some beach where we guys played volley ball(again I played volley ball for the first time) while the gals had rest under the shade. We visited few temples, beaches on the way in South Goa(Again I dont remember the names). Then in evening time all of us reached Kalangute beach(which I call kalingar beach) which had this rides facility where all of us had adventurous time of our life. WE did paragliding(where we fly in the sky through a parachute which is attached to the boat. Hetal was very much scared but then I was able to convince her to go for the ride. WE also did scooter boat riding in the beach which most of the gals were afraid of doing but finally they all did it.(WE have very STRONGGG gals in our group.. rite apuu..). The experience at this beach was the best experience for me and I had great time here. From there WE went to have dinner in pure veg hotel (as it was saturday everyone wanted to eat veg that day). Then from there WE reached home and went to sleep after the tiring day.

DAY5: VISITED NORTH GOA

In north goa WE went to old goa (place where the movie josh was shot) which is again a scenic beauty. WE first went to book our tickets for the cruise ship for which all of us were excited. As the ticket counter was closed WE went to a nearby garden and all of us enjoyed the kid rides there. Then WE booked the cruise tickets and went to a church where sunday mass was going on. The church was very beautiful (I like to go to the churches) and I got to know many new things over there. After that WE went to two other temples one being Shantadurga mandir (the other one I forgot) which were the famous temples there. After offering prayers in the temple WE went to have lunch. WE had lunch and from there the bus driver took us to some museum which no one of us was interested to visit as all of them were having good time inside the bus dedicating songs to each other. But finally WE decided to get out of the bus at Colva beach which was the worst beach I visited in Goa. They say that this beach ranks 2nd in Goa. The crowd here was unbearable and still WE were sitting there. Then WE left to Dona Pola which was again very beautiful place one should visit. This place had a history behind it that two lovers Dona and Pola had commited suicide at this place. After visiting Dona Pola WE went to Cruise Ship (the name was PARADISE SHIP) for which everyone was excited and waiting for. Cruise ship was great fun where WE danced in new style of GOAN dancing and 1 hour was far tooo less for us in the ship. From there WE went to have dinner and went home. That was our last night in GOA.

DAY 6: RETURNING BACK HOME

The next morning WE all left in our bus to the Thivim station. On the way WE went to Prabodh's uncle's place who greeted everyone with icecreams and also showed us their icecream factory. From there WE went to the railway station and caught the train to reach home. The whole day in the train was enjoyable and WE were having a very good time altogether. WE played cards, then again WE played POKER(this time I didnt lost any money), WE sung many songs and had talks with each other. The time in train was going good until WE reached Panvel station where Sanket had to get down. The feeling that everyone got after his depature cannot be expressed in words. After that the entire group got emotional and I wont be able to express those emotions in words here. Then Kalyan kumars got down at Thane station. I was going to get down directly at CST station first but just for few more moments with everyone I decided to get down at Dadar station. Said a good bye to everyone at Dadar and I came back home by 10:30 PM and yes my Mom and Dad had big SMILE on their face to see me back home.

This was a lifetime trip for me and the two years with you all guys were also most exciting and memorable days of my life. I still dont want to believe that it has ended and just wanted it to go on and on. But thats how the life goes. I am accepting this fact and moving ahead and wish all of you a great success and happiness for the time to come. LONG LIVE OUR FRIENDSHIP...!!!