General stuff

Simply reading and writing are two things which I like doing. There aren't too many people I know who'll tell you the same, because among a vast majority of people my age, you'd be lucky to find someone who reads anything beyond the words that appear on TV and on orkut.
I find more pleasure in reading a good book than in hanging around with a group of my friends. That's perhaps one of the reasons why I spend more time on the former, although on the few occasions I hang out I have awesome fun. You need your personal space, doing something by yourself. Nowadays, when nobody has enough time in life, I use my time reading, writing or listening to music.
In fact, I love spending my time in 4 ways - by reading a book, listening to some good music, writing and watching plays or films. Plays are less frequent, because a good play is not often onstage. I love watching movies, though, and of late I've also been coming up with ideas for short films. I started work on a short film screenplay recently, let's see how that turns out.
Music is not something I can do without...and whether I'm on the comp, in a car or at CCD, I must have some music playing. Without it, I don't quite feel at ease. I like to play my classic rock numbers...occasionally I drop in some other stuff. Recently I've also acquired a liking for some modern rock numbers.
I used to write a lot of short stories earlier, but recently my writing interests took a different turn. I'm working on a script right now, along with the screenplay I earlier mentioned. This way two interests of mine have come together - dramatics and writing. The writing and directing aspect of theatre is one I have some interest in...I hope that I manage to progress with it.
Currently I'm reading The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger. Although I've just begun it, I already love it and I can identify a little with the narrator and protagonist Holden Caulfield.
I really want to see Black Friday. I've heard a lot about the movie, and I'm aching to watch it. Another movie I'd like to catch sometime is Eklavya. Not because of the Amitabh Bachchan's finest role crap, but because I've heard that Vidhu Vinod Chopra's handling of it is masterful. The problem is, however, the fact that exams are coming up, from 2nd March.
Let's see how it all turns out.

V-Day

The travesty that is Valentine's Day has passed by without much incident, thankfully. This is one day which I certainly don't look forward to, and I don't think that will change anytime soon.
You may wonder why is it that I speak ill of Valentine's Day. You may think that it is simply the grousings of someone alone on this day. Indeed, that's what most would think since most don't have even an inkling of the person I am. That's why they would jump to conclusions.
In fact, the reason why I despise Valentine's Day is because of the sheer pretence of it. It's nothing more than a charade, and that's why I despise it. People make it out to seem like a celebration of love, but in reality it is simply a celebration of the pretence of love. False gestures and false words are never more prevalent than on this day.
It takes more than a day, and more than a few roses and more than a poem or two to celebrate love. But for those who simply pretend to be in love, they will never understand this. For them, it is simply the illusion of being in love which is enough. I can't stand such self-delusion.
That's why I despise Valentine's Day. However, I don't let my personal dislike of this day get in the way of others enjoying it...and thus, I do send greetings on this day. Never the "Happy Valentine's Day" crap, but yeah, "greetings on the occasion of Valentine's Day".
You may think this is weird or even funny, but that's the way I think. I don't really care about what your point of view on it is, because it doesn't affect the way I think.

Reflections

The unfortunate demise of Udbhav Poddar yesterday brought upon me a wave of reflection on life, and the way it is led by us. We were all shocked by the news, and many of us felt a strange feeling after hearing of his passing, that the same could have happened to any one of us. It makes you realise how drastically things can change in life.
When I look around our class now, there'll be one less familiar face in the seats on the other side. Death by itself is not something unusual for any of us, but for someone to be taken away in youth is a tragic occurence.
I may have proceeded on life as usual, but I was only reflecting on what had happened. I turned to Pink Floyd, and once again, I found in their songs the comfort I had been seeking. It was particularly in the song "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" that I found solace after thinking of the wretched end of Udbhav.
"Remember when you were young
You shone like the sun
Shine on you, crazy diamond"
Life is a precious gift. It is not in our control when this gift will be taken away from us...but what is in our control is what we do with it. Do we cherish it, and take the best out of it? Or do we misuse it, and regret having ever had it? That is the choice that we have to make.
Farewell...