Can engineers be 'Touchy feely'?

Apparently they can... says author Chetan Bhagat

I remember the incident - I was in a restaurant, and one girl in our group
was especially charming. So I, like any other male, tried to put on a wooing
act. You know the routine, a nanosecond extra eye contact, a few more nods
to whatever she says, and attempts to throw in those one-liners which you
know you wouldn't if she weren't there.

And it seemed to be working. She leaned forward when she spoke to me, and
every now and again, we'd have a small conversation of our own, separate
from our group. She laughed at my approach with the fork and knife, and I
teased her about her hair band, which had little teddy bears. Yes, we were
flirting. A while later, she asked me the question - what did I study? I
said engineering, without any particular meaning attached to it. And then
like a cold metal rail, she went stiff.

My jokes weren't funny any more. Her eyes wandered to everyone else.
What was it?

Why? Why? Why?

Two days later, I still couldn't get over my great start that had dissipated
listlessly upon mentioning my education. Engineer? What was wrong with that?

My mom had wanted me to become one since I was five! I had to call her.
'So
what happened to you that day, hot and cold, missie?' And then she said,
trying to be nice, 'Well, it's just that I am skeptical about engineers as
friends. I don't know, they can be, you know, very logical and
everything...
not very touchy feely'.



Not touchy-feely. Now what the heck did that mean? Well, she obviously did
not mean it literally, since girls don't really suggest that sort of stuff,
certainly not in the first meeting across the table. I guessed it was
something to do with feelings, sort of having an emotional side. The
stereotype being, the nerdy guy who sees relationships like laws of physics,
to whom love is just a bunch of chemicals going crazy in your brain, and
getting to know a person means obtaining their bio-data.

It's time to set the record straight.

It's true that a lot of what engineers study (and they end up studying quite
a lot), has to do with formulaes, laws and numbers. No matter how hard we
try, some of the vocabulary we read all day gets into our language. So when
my mother said, 'Are you getting married next year or not?' I was liable to
say, 'Well, at this moment in time, the probability is relatively low,' and
felt it was completely normal to say it. And when my sister went sari
shopping and couldn't explain the shade she wanted, I told the shopkeeper
the percentages of pink, orange and red in the sari.

Yet, ladies, I don't think we're bad at relationships, love and getting to
know people. We too, can be touchy-feely, as that is part of our education
as well. The reason for this is that most engineering students live in the
ultimate educator - boy's hostels. Now, let me explain how this plays into
this 'touchy-feely' thing. Relationships. Imagine eating, sleeping,
brushing your teeth, bathing (ok rarely this one) and partying with the same people
all the time. So, when you are kicking that bathroom door down for the tenth time, or when you stand in line for 'gulab-jamuns' in the mess, and when you are done with the vodka bottle and sharing all your secrets, you know it is
good practice. Yes, hostels maketh the man.


So, next time you are in a flirtatious situation with the techno types,go
on, flirt a bit more. Of course, I am biased towards my kind, but if you
find the conversation turning too geeky, just ask them, 'So, what were your
hostel days like?' and chances are, you'll see a heart behind the calculator. Coming back to my missie, I thought of what would make me win
her over. Flowers... too cheesy. Music... don't know her taste (nor trust mine). Teddy bears... don't even go there. Desperate for some good lines, I just turned it right back at her. 'Yes, I know what you are saying about
engineers. The thing is, unless people with depth like you start hanging
out with us, we won't get any better. Can you meet me some time for some
touchy/feely... oops, I mean coffee/tea?'

She giggled. When they giggle,you have won.

Hence proved.

LIFE BYTES

Five incidents over the last 2 weeks:

1. "BADI MASTANI HAI!!"

I, Pramod , Hemang and Kevin were returning after watching STRAIGHT ! at twelve in the night. A person with hi ek taar got into the coach along with his little girl. He first played "Shirdi wale-" and then some song which I was familiar with. The little girl came across but we shunned her away. Then everbody left as stations came and I was sitting at Borivali station waiting for 50 minute for 1:06 train to come. I started humming this song.... then next one minute tains comes , I step in and the same girl and person were playing the same tune.. : I then remembered why I was humming.. I gave 5 Rs for their performance and felt quiet good about it. People just enjoyed and then call for different songs were made followed by generosity. I went all the way home humming the song.. "Aane se uske aaye bahar jaane se uske jaaye bahar, badi mastani hai...."


2. "Manager"
This is a story which happened 2 feets aways from me. Travelling on Monday morning to Borivali. There was this bank clerk of 45 years and his branch manager 51 years travelling together. The cleark started that these managers are good for nothing. They rarely even move out of their cabin to see our problems. Even though manager get incentive on work, our salary hike are strictly looked at. On these manager started like "tera to fielding lagaana padega". clerk replied " you can always do that, you are the manager".. Manager replies " WE are outside here no one is manager, but if we keep on settling our score over here, noth are going to lose customers..." I was laughing all the way. They knew I was listening...Before getting down, clerk " Saheb Borivali aalaa".. manager " Let go back to work now!! we will have more fun tomorrow".

3. FRUSTATION

I was coming back after content building session at Parag chitale... not knowing the way forward... changed train frm BOrivali when a 7 year old kid came, he was a shoe polisher. He went from one person to another looking for a possible customer. After that he sat in frustation and just as I turned other way and came back to the scene in front. He was all his head down in his hands.. then suddenly a rush came in on the next station and a person was abt to fall in the stampede. That boy gave him a hand and person was saved just short of falling.... The boy started tapping " Ruk jaana nahi tu kahi haar ke....." I smiled and had a sip of water from my bottle... u sometime overestimates ur worries...


4. ELemental

It was thursday evening,After changing train from DADAR; Pramod went to the door in the VIrar local and I bought this 2 Rs Peanuts(Our worth this days at It companies). I ate those peanuts savoring taste till Bandra.. Then just as I was about to through away the paper. I realised it was some text book paper. It was elements of nature Science I standard IV.. in hindi... I read from elements to atoms to particles to Metal and non metals.... "annu, pramaaanu, dhaatu and adhaatu"... in the last sentence it was written " iske kai apvaad bhi hote.." there are exceptions to these classifications... then i took out my newspaper and there were muslims , dalits and sikh division written all over the front page in the poll news... and actual Representatives I felt are "APVAAD" to all these.

5.EVER EXPANDING UNIVERSE..
7:49 BANDRA LOCAL MORNING, FRIDAY

There are maximum of 8 person sitting on the last seat of the first class coach in Bhayander. I thought thats enough and that part of the universe wont be able to accomodate me. The came borivali and one person got down. I thought then there was a chance. But by then those 7 have expanded into the vacuum created. there was no void. Then came goregaon till when i had given hope of sitting and thought rather prudent to move out to get down at Andheri. Then one more got up and got down at Goregaon. This time was it was sure to get sit as min of 7 should sit on that broadf bench. But Einstein won, the universe was ever expanding. Those 6 somehow managed to expand into the space. Then came Andheri just as i picked up to take my bag to get down. All six got up to follow me to get down and I just told them in face, my friends you proved einstein right. I have to prove that black hole exists and you should never get close to those, event horizon might just suck you in.My escape velocity is just enough to get down. You enjoyed the space ride.

April fool.

Its hot out in summer,
with recession ON, even minds are not cool
What can be pricked
it better be a tool
for even fun has meaning
though not a rule.

Bad jokes are bad
good jokes better be bad,
pranks are best
unless you are not the one thrown in the tank.

Science drama fictions
and all the soap queens
please take a back seat
because you all are so mean
Here comes the reality
to beat the retreat.
Jokes have mileage in smiles
and I see coming one more on your face that happy shine.

If it is a tragedy seen from close
reclaim comedy in your life with a little repose.

let me close this tumor
on a sarcastic note of humor.


Please dont wear wool
to be cool
today there is no rule
and there is enough point in being a fool.