Don't You Think Something Is Missing!!

mituag · 03:46 PM

My Night-Out

My feet were getting numb. My arms were getting tired. But I sat there, looking at the monitor, pretending to work. What if I slept off on the keyboard? What would people around me think? Am I not competitive enough. Would another night out hurt. "No it won't." I consoled myself. "Work a little more." I told myself.

Images of links between tables and pages from what we call, ETRMs crossed my mind. "Why?" I asked myself. "Why doesn't my mind wander away to the more beautiful things in life?" "Why does it always have to be WORK!!!?"

That was it. I couldn't take it anymore. I pressed the shutdown button on the PC as if to say, "I hate you". As if in reply, it took me twice to shut it down. I kicked my locker and walked out of my cubicle. The security at the reception looked into my eyes sympathetically. I pretended like I am solving problems in my head. As if the world depended on my silly program. As if to justify the fact that the Security needs to respect me. I hated myself. I walked down the corridor towards the lift.

There I was, on the fifth floor. It was 3.30 in the morning. The terrace looked deserted. I loved the feeling. I was all alone. Just me, and the sky and the stars and the early morning breeze. I looked all around. The world looked much beautiful. Somewhere, far away, I could see lights. I presume that must have been another workplace where people like me are working away at their PCs.

I stood at the edge of the terrace. As I looked at the road that ran in front of our office, I slowly kept my palm on the wall. A chill ran down my spine. Tiny droplets of water had formed on the wall, which I touched. I wanted to feel it again. I touched it again. It was the most wonderful feeling. I wondered why I don't do these things often.

I decided to stay there till sunrise. I closed my eyes and waited. Finally, I could see a faint light in the east. Even though we hardly notice, these things do happen. Like sunrise and stuff. I saw the sun rise. As he rose I could see more and more buildings like ours. The breeze had got much stronger. It was like sitting near the window seat of a bus that was moving through some lonely road near a lush paddy field. I got that taste in the air. I got the feel. It was like heaven had met earth.

In the cubicle, I congratulate someone when his SELECT statement works. There I was, all alone, on the terrace, when more important things were happening and I had no one to congratulate. I wanted to cry "Thank you God". "Thank you for giving me this beautiful world to live in." But... the words wouldn't come out. I felt guilty. I knew very well that I would go back in the cubicle once my emotions wore off.

"No" I said. "I am NOT going back there again." I ran down the stairs. I wanted the glass that covers our reception to break and let some of this air in. I rushed into my cubicle and got my bag and stuff. Running out, I did not bother to sign the register. Strangely, my vehicle started with just one kick. I rode my bike quite fast, just to feel the air on my face.

When I reached the road, I realized that I was late. Considering the fact that I was in office since yesterday, I was really really late. The world had moved on. People had spent another night with their families. Kids had spent another day studying for exams. Old folks had spent another night wondering when to dye their hair. Teenagers had spent another night dreaming about their loved ones.

There I was, like a machine coming out of my office building. I saw people taking their morning walks. Some of them jogging. Some of them standing and talking. Some old aunties jogging and talking and laughing, all at the same time. There were newspaper-boys, milk-vendors and what not.

I started feeling out of place. "Was I from another planet or something?" I thought. I was dreaming I guess, a milk-vendor chap on his bicycle nearly hit my bike. "Idiot" I said. Didn't he know I am going home after a tough day? Didn't he know that I am tired, and do not have the energy for such crap? "Wait a minute," I told myself. "Are you doing somebody a favor by staying in the office so long?" "Will this world be a better place if you do that?" "Do you have it in you to buy one meal for that milk-vendor's family?"

YOU CAN'T!!! And that's the truth. You can't do anything except writing pieces of code, which you regard as full of life for reasons known best to you.

I broke into tears thinking about my own plight. I hated the fact that I existed. Why was I going through this entire trauma? What was holding me here? The money?. The passion to program?. The feeling that I would be isolated if I didn't work?. I don't know. I am still searching for the answers.

Then, suddenly out of nowhere, images of my family came into my mind. My dad, who had taken care of the family since I remember him. In fact, since I remember anything. My mom who would not have slept even a little bit, since I have not reached home. And my brother, who doesn't actually show it, but misses me when he doesn't see me. "I am not alone" I shouted. "I have this beautiful world to live in, with beautiful people in it"

Friends, do go out sometimes. Share your life with the people you love the most. Share your life with the nature. Share it with the wind. Share it with the sun. Share it with the rain. Things much much more important than programming is happening out there. But it won't come for you, you have to go out and find it.

Source: Unknown, recieved thru email.

Very well written Mr Anonymous

one_step_to_insanity · 13-04-2005, 02:34 PM

Are you the original author? -> http://students.iitk.ac.in/meander/e...p?articleId=72

If yes, then its well-written. If not, why the **** did you not mention the source?

what_me_worry · 13-04-2005, 02:49 PM

Hmmm stream of consciousness stuff...........only rarely do we feel and live the same conscious as the writer.....this is one.

'Tropic of cancer' reminds me of another.

Nice one Mr.Anonymous.

13th · 13-04-2005, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by one_step_to_insanity

Are you the original author? -> http://students.iitk.ac.in/meander/e...p?articleId=72

If yes, then its well-written. If not, why the **** did you not mention the source?

arrre yaar OSTI tune toh pura mazaa hii nikal diya yaar.
now even if he is the 'original author' of this beautiful post i will find it hard to trust this newayz indeed a nice post it is.

mituag · **just enjoy the article.... -** 13-04-2005, 03:28 PM

well i came across this article when i was working late in the night in my office...thougt it is not written by me i felt exact same things....
and nobody knows the source...

so why dont you just enjoy the aricle and try to relate to it and look into ur life more discretely...

Quote:

Originally Posted by one_step_to_insanity

Are you the original author? -> http://students.iitk.ac.in/meander/e...p?articleId=72

If yes, then its well-written. If not, why the **** did you not mention the source?

mituag · **i came across -** 13-04-2005, 03:32 PM

and by the way... (one_step_to_insanity)
i got the article thru the mail...

one_step_to_insanity · 13-04-2005, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mituag

well i came across this article when i was working late in the night in my office...thougt it is not written by me i felt exact same things....
and nobody knows the source...

so why dont you just enjoy the aricle and try to relate to it and look into ur life more discretely...

Its a nice article, and most of us can probably relate to it.

On a forum like this, if you post something an article, then its assumed that you are the author. Nobody knows the source, agreed, but since it was not posted for the first time on the web at 'this' site, you should not post it on this forum without mentioning the actual source. I am not sure if its likely, but we don't want to get sued by anyone for copyright infringements/violations et al. The mods may know better. Please give credit where it is due. Please edit your first post to mention the source.

Thanks.

**pagalguy** · 13-04-2005, 03:37 PM

While you might have received it thru email, its better to research to whom it belongs to before posting. If you are copy/pasting stuff, always ensure that the original author gets credit.

mituag · **i tried -** 13-04-2005, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pagalguy

While you might have received it thru email, its better to research to whom it belongs to before posting. If you are copy/pasting stuff, always ensure that the original author gets credit.

i tried to find out who the author was before posting, but could not find...
so tell me what shud i do??

hey PG, this is my first interaction with you and feeling really sad that it was not all that nice from my side...

one_step_to_insanity · 13-04-2005, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mituag

i tried to find out who the author was before posting, but could not find...
so tell me what shud i do??

hey PG, this is my first interaction with you and feeling really sad that it was not all that nice from my side...

For starters, how abt editing ur first post and adding the URL I mentioned? That should end this debate, once and for all.