Few months ago I would not have imagined the way I celebrated the 25th Diwali of my life. As far as I can recall no Diwali of my life was anyway similar to this. All this started with a $50 mistake committed by me few months back. After writing my GRE and getting a satisfactory score, I decided to book a date for TOEFL. It was September last week and I wanted the date of TOEFL as early as available. I got a date of November 3 at Bangalore and I immediately booked the date. Just after booking the date I realized that this date is special(in a sense that I have already scheduled something on this date) and recalled that this is the same date on which I will be writing subject GRE in Computer Science and that at Chennai!!!! What a blunder this was??? The rescheduling was going to cost $50 to me(Thank god...falling dollar was giving a bit of satisfaction!!!!). Then it was real frustration for me...I immediately searched for the next available date and this was on 9th November, 5.30 PM at Bangalore. Without wasting a minute I booked this date. After few days of booking the date of TOEFL I got to know that this is the day of Diwali. After knowing this I was imagining the Diwali with TOEFL from 5.30 PM onwards!!!! Even after this I didn't realised the Diwali day. Just TOEFL was not enough for the day. A day earlier to Diwali, I threw an idea to watch the Bhansali's blockbuster release SAAWARIYA..and what a surprise I got the sponsor as well!! Bhattu was ready to sponsor, condition I had to book the tickets. Anyways for me it was a usual task to which I am used to. This day was different, but I can manage a ticket on most of the occasions. I tried to get the ticket at INOX but it was my hard luck...houseful!! But, my good luck as well..FUN cinemas has started in Bangalore!!! I tried booking 2 tickets at bookmyshow.com then I came to know there was 2+1 offer on my credit card. So, I booked three tickets. I contacted Baba to be the third person. But , it was good luck of Baba who refused!! So, finally all was set for me on this Diwali. From 5.30 PM onwards TOEFL and then 10.00 PM onwards movie on its first day!!
I woke up around 11.00 AM on the Diwali day. Because, TOEFL was from 5.30 PM onwards so a day ago I decided to wake late on this morning. Also late last night I started to watch the movie "JAB WE MET" and slept early morning so even it was not possible for me to wake up early. After waking up the big question was what to do till the TOEFL time because, I was not in a mood to do any useful work. So, I slept again. And finally woke up around 2.30 PM and then after finishing the routine job I went to MG Road to see some of my friends(One usually comes to Bangalore from Mysore on weekends and holidays...to see someone...so I can expect at least two there!!!). I had my lunch with them and then I proceed towards the test center and canter was also on MG Road itself. I didn't have the printout of my admission ticket and this was a Diwali evening. After running around the test center I was able to get the ticket printout.
Here it comes-the big Billion crowd of India!!!!! It was really a long queue to write the TOEFL examination. Moreover the queue was looking similar to one at railway reservation counter of at the public distribution system shop!! So, the morning started to signal the day's story!!! I made my mind to face more troubles ahead. Anyhow I managed to sit on the allocated seat by 5.45 PM. I was also worried a little because of the packed schedule after TOEFL movies was there to follow from 10.00 PM. But, there were more troubles waiting for me!! The microphone of my system was not working and the replacement and further testing of microphone wasted another 10-15 minutes. Finally I was set to fight the long lasting war!! But more troubles were waiting!! Even good things happen in life at a wrong time!!! A beautiful lady was writing the test at the adjacent desk!! So, this was big cause of concern and big source of distraction for me during the test!! The fire crackers were adding more fuel to my trouble-list. Anyways, even till now I had no idea about the complete duration of test. I started working on reading section..oh my god..there were three passages and I was supposed to work for an hour in this section!! Bachpan se ab tak kabhi bhi shayad 1 ghante lagataar angrezi nahi padhi hogi!! Ye to sarasar nainsaafi thi aur wo bhi jab ki bagal me dekhne ko ek badhiya lady ho then ye angreazi ke ghatiya and abstract passages pe concentrate karna kitna mushkil ho raha tha!! After struggling for sometime I finished the writing section. Now, it was the listening section. This was the real pain. I can't recall the last lecture which I have attended without sleeping!! Here it was more problematic. Lectures and talks which I was supposed to hear were on the topics that I never liked to listen and in front of me there was something/someone which my eyes didn't want to miss for a moment despite of the wrong timing!!! So, I really struggled through out the listening section. May god help me?? After this there was a compulsory break for 10 minutes. I came out and replied to several Diwali greeting messages. I also informed Bhattu about my pathetic condition and asked hime to reach the theater in time and get the tickets from the counter.
Now, it was the speaking section. oh..come on...I was being given times in the range of 45-60 secs to speak on different topics!! This time interval was something unusual for a person like me (people know about me..main kitna kam bolne wala insaan hoon!!!). The time used to finish while I just introduced the topic!!! It was already 9.20 PM. Then came the last section - the writing assignment. It had two questions and supposedly to take an hour more. But, I was already tired of this TOEFL!!! So, I managed to finish this off in 35-40 minutes and came out of the testing center by 10.00 PM. The immediate task now was to rush to FUN cinemas. Managed to reach there by 10.15 PM.
Now, whatever has happened was beyond my imagination again!! I had an hint of pain of TOEFL in back of my mind(definitely not of this level of pain). But, I never had even thought that a Bhansali movie will also turn out into a pain!! Don't know how a film maker can make this kind of commercial movie?? Commercial movie should have at least some sense and practicality in it. But, trust me, this movie has very few logical and practical thing(if at all!!) in it. Don't know if Bhansali has assumed a different world in which the story of movie is developing!! But, definitely nowhere in the world you can find the city of this movie!! The movie lacks a good story. The weakness of this movie is someone who was being highlighted as the USP. It is the poor direction which can only led to such a poor movie. The sets were of Bhansali class..really superb, Good quality music..great job by Monty Sharma...Even acting of the newcomers is good and Rani Mukharjee as a street woman is fantastic!!! But, movie lacks the basic in the script and direction. Bhansali has tried to show a blind love and that also for someone who is almost an unknown person to her. May be this kind of love would be existing but the question here is people would definitely not like to watch all this in a movie. The movie completely fails to be an entertainer. Whatever story Bhansali has directed seems only possible in an utopia of his imagination!!
After all these happenings/mishappenings we returned back home. Because of the packed schedule I didn't even get a chance to have dinner. So, the samosas of FUN cinema was my dinner. After reaching home I decided to pen down the story of this unforgettable Diwali day. Still more drama left!! The electricity was gone in between. It is now back. Electricity cut left me in really pathetic condition for almost two hours. I couldn't have slept, even sitting was difficult. Mosquitoes were in party mood and celebrating Diwali and giving me no room for survival. Thank god..now when electricity is back..hopefully after finishing this blog I will be able to sleep properly. So, whole day story- TOEFL+SAAWARIYA and then electricity made this Diwali a different one with a complete package of pain for me!!!
So, finally all the troubles of examinations with dollars investment are over. Now new day, new beginning and new journey ahead!!!
I woke up around 11.00 AM on the Diwali day. Because, TOEFL was from 5.30 PM onwards so a day ago I decided to wake late on this morning. Also late last night I started to watch the movie "JAB WE MET" and slept early morning so even it was not possible for me to wake up early. After waking up the big question was what to do till the TOEFL time because, I was not in a mood to do any useful work. So, I slept again. And finally woke up around 2.30 PM and then after finishing the routine job I went to MG Road to see some of my friends(One usually comes to Bangalore from Mysore on weekends and holidays...to see someone...so I can expect at least two there!!!). I had my lunch with them and then I proceed towards the test center and canter was also on MG Road itself. I didn't have the printout of my admission ticket and this was a Diwali evening. After running around the test center I was able to get the ticket printout.
Here it comes-the big Billion crowd of India!!!!! It was really a long queue to write the TOEFL examination. Moreover the queue was looking similar to one at railway reservation counter of at the public distribution system shop!! So, the morning started to signal the day's story!!! I made my mind to face more troubles ahead. Anyhow I managed to sit on the allocated seat by 5.45 PM. I was also worried a little because of the packed schedule after TOEFL movies was there to follow from 10.00 PM. But, there were more troubles waiting for me!! The microphone of my system was not working and the replacement and further testing of microphone wasted another 10-15 minutes. Finally I was set to fight the long lasting war!! But more troubles were waiting!! Even good things happen in life at a wrong time!!! A beautiful lady was writing the test at the adjacent desk!! So, this was big cause of concern and big source of distraction for me during the test!! The fire crackers were adding more fuel to my trouble-list. Anyways, even till now I had no idea about the complete duration of test. I started working on reading section..oh my god..there were three passages and I was supposed to work for an hour in this section!! Bachpan se ab tak kabhi bhi shayad 1 ghante lagataar angrezi nahi padhi hogi!! Ye to sarasar nainsaafi thi aur wo bhi jab ki bagal me dekhne ko ek badhiya lady ho then ye angreazi ke ghatiya and abstract passages pe concentrate karna kitna mushkil ho raha tha!! After struggling for sometime I finished the writing section. Now, it was the listening section. This was the real pain. I can't recall the last lecture which I have attended without sleeping!! Here it was more problematic. Lectures and talks which I was supposed to hear were on the topics that I never liked to listen and in front of me there was something/someone which my eyes didn't want to miss for a moment despite of the wrong timing!!! So, I really struggled through out the listening section. May god help me?? After this there was a compulsory break for 10 minutes. I came out and replied to several Diwali greeting messages. I also informed Bhattu about my pathetic condition and asked hime to reach the theater in time and get the tickets from the counter.
Now, it was the speaking section. oh..come on...I was being given times in the range of 45-60 secs to speak on different topics!! This time interval was something unusual for a person like me (people know about me..main kitna kam bolne wala insaan hoon!!!). The time used to finish while I just introduced the topic!!! It was already 9.20 PM. Then came the last section - the writing assignment. It had two questions and supposedly to take an hour more. But, I was already tired of this TOEFL!!! So, I managed to finish this off in 35-40 minutes and came out of the testing center by 10.00 PM. The immediate task now was to rush to FUN cinemas. Managed to reach there by 10.15 PM.
Now, whatever has happened was beyond my imagination again!! I had an hint of pain of TOEFL in back of my mind(definitely not of this level of pain). But, I never had even thought that a Bhansali movie will also turn out into a pain!! Don't know how a film maker can make this kind of commercial movie?? Commercial movie should have at least some sense and practicality in it. But, trust me, this movie has very few logical and practical thing(if at all!!) in it. Don't know if Bhansali has assumed a different world in which the story of movie is developing!! But, definitely nowhere in the world you can find the city of this movie!! The movie lacks a good story. The weakness of this movie is someone who was being highlighted as the USP. It is the poor direction which can only led to such a poor movie. The sets were of Bhansali class..really superb, Good quality music..great job by Monty Sharma...Even acting of the newcomers is good and Rani Mukharjee as a street woman is fantastic!!! But, movie lacks the basic in the script and direction. Bhansali has tried to show a blind love and that also for someone who is almost an unknown person to her. May be this kind of love would be existing but the question here is people would definitely not like to watch all this in a movie. The movie completely fails to be an entertainer. Whatever story Bhansali has directed seems only possible in an utopia of his imagination!!
After all these happenings/mishappenings we returned back home. Because of the packed schedule I didn't even get a chance to have dinner. So, the samosas of FUN cinema was my dinner. After reaching home I decided to pen down the story of this unforgettable Diwali day. Still more drama left!! The electricity was gone in between. It is now back. Electricity cut left me in really pathetic condition for almost two hours. I couldn't have slept, even sitting was difficult. Mosquitoes were in party mood and celebrating Diwali and giving me no room for survival. Thank god..now when electricity is back..hopefully after finishing this blog I will be able to sleep properly. So, whole day story- TOEFL+SAAWARIYA and then electricity made this Diwali a different one with a complete package of pain for me!!!
So, finally all the troubles of examinations with dollars investment are over. Now new day, new beginning and new journey ahead!!!
1 comment:
you should always remember that there is always an opportunity for you, watever tough situation u are facing...opportunity here was to give that extra ticket to that young beautiful lady...you could have enjoyed this Deepawali most in your 25 yrs of life span.
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