Updating interests

Some days back, a friend of mine told me of being closet in nature. I don't blame him for the reason being that it was true to it's slight context. By slight, I mean to say that I've not exposed myself to such varied topics of things that can affect me, though not mentally, but yes, as a person and an individual.

So, here goes. I have now began my expedition of exploring topics. Topics which could be generic in nature, technical in preference and personal in words. And can do share some, otherwise, being the forgetting nature off late these days, owing to the phenomenal information and people and things around, I forget the very ideas that spurt out of application of them lest not this. Most of the things are accidental by nature, some are a result of the social networking that I do the most and a little by people.

One of those happens to be imperative and investigative journalism. On a dull Sunday morning, while going through the updates of the world, I happen to crash around a veteran journalist, Mrs. Madhu Trehan. A founder member of the reverent India Today group and a sensational reporter of the epic oldie Newstrack, she was exposing the way people do journalism these days unlike the "pure" ones which we used to see when we were kids. Now, let's keep the definition of pure out of this post else, it would go in a way that you might skip the very essence.

Second comes the technical updates that go around the world. Be it yCombinator's Hacker News, Google Feeds or Slashdot as per recommendations, I was dumbstruck with the flow of technology in every person on this planet. Every thing you need for your line of work, is available. Well, almost. The way to learn new languages, testing features, working on new components and flavors is an awesome experience in itself owing to such constant, nagging-though-beautiful updates. Oh, and Cloud Computing has bitten me too. So, I do follow it, quite seriously - if you mean, I can sit and open a VM right now and start building a virtual cloud system on it just to test how it works!

Thirdly, and I fall in and out of this again and again is the beautiful world of Cryptography and the science of hacking. I mean, you should be a true applicationist, as I'd say if you can tweak things and work around established setups. It shakes the very meaning of them and a sense of satisfaction within. There are some phenomenal people out there who make you look like a sissy when it comes to the mind that should work. They start, when we stop. And this is just the beginning of the study. The topics would be known when I explore more.

And lastly, our news. I mean, the things ongoing in my country. Be it the corruption charges, the anti-corruption movement and the likes, I feel like following it quite for sometime and build up a knowledge base before I can begin to even argue on that for a minute.

Er.. Books. They remain where they need to. Bedtime reading or company during transit. More might be in the pipeline.

Happy researching!

Just another post

Now, if I say that again and again that it is a personal phase that I'm writing about every time, you might want to stop reading this. As this is what is going on currently apart from Twitter, Gmail and movies-on-loop.

But, anyway, let's continue. As I don't want to start a new argument of my existential phase and the reason of me giving lecture each and every moment. I told you, I could be a professor someday. Looks like that phase is somewhat approaching nearer.

Wondering how? I was perplexed myself too when I got a call from a Professor who was looking for Engineers in the line of research he was going into. Strange as it may seem as of how did I manage, considering the pathetic, bare minimum clearance of academics in my post-graduation, a hell lot of other activities which weren't helpful for my benefit and the tons of distractions on campus.

So, without thinking of anything else, as the phase of job search was going through extreme vigour, the interview stage was set. The decider came in, took a look at my created mess, admired and cleared, only to find, after a couple of days, a mail in the inbox approving his selection.

Man! If you taste success after a painful, continuous, wanting-to-end type of stress, your hands starts to tremble. Your body begins to ache all of a sudden and the eyes water out in a jiffy. You tend to call all your near and dear ones to share the happiness. You tend to forget what went through and what you achieved.You suddenly realize all that is around is meaningless and immaterial to the inner soul of penance that it gives which can turn out to be the most superior of all forces...

Bah. The above few lines were exaggerate, just like you tend to feel when you watch a South Indian movie dialogue marathon. Anyway, lets continue. The job line would be different, so as to what people are saying, but as long as it gives me food, I won't mind. When you live in an expensive country like Singapore, all you need is money to feed yourself and money to pay for some place to stay peacefully.

I don't know what I scribbled, just wanted to keep this blog alive for September as there were no posts and it was feeling lonely.

Okay. Bye.

A marathon of.. hope

I thought of deviating from my personal boring posts but the sole motivation to turn up for a blog was the same and thus, I take back my words. Let us jump to a new topic, hope.

Hope is a bitch. A true bitch. For it gives us an emotion to hold on to the things we do and a faith invisible in behavior. It gives us the motivation to hang in there and the zeal to persevere. The ability to accept hardships and willingness to meet boredom. But, hope cannot make us achieve results. It can only give us a hand on the shoulder to keep trying and surge ahead.

After the grueling 2011, with a new environment and a new study regime picked up amidst the brainy of the lot and the slogging junta, I braced myself for 2012. The year of anticipation of a new hope and a new life amid a new place. Again.

And it gave me exactly the way I had expected - the worst of problems, the best of moments, new habits, wonderful people and a beautiful life. I won't exaggerate on the problems here but there are lessons to be learned which I could share.

"Always account for variable change." A mantra for your ongoing expeditions. Some have the ability to plan and execute and some move as per the tide flow. My experience - have a mix of both. You're subject to a thing called "experience" which is nothing but your own mistakes amid your planning and the changing circumstances.

"Focus on the thing in hand." They just say this. I'll complete the remaining, "And don't care about anything else." Bring that stupid mind in line, no matter what. Whether you hate it or disgrace the notion. You have to focus and let go of everything else.

"Decide." Yes, the most common mistake that we falter on. You have to decide on what you pick, whom you choose and where you want to go. And never look back. You will realize it's beauty. Maybe not in quick succession, but in sometime for sure.

"Motivation is bullshit." True to it's word. You don't need to be motivated. Simple as that! You know what you're doing and that should be enough for you to get you out of the bed at 4 in the morning or make you slog for 20 hours a day rigorously for any time you have in hand. Motivation is for nobody. It is good to hear such lines but tough to follow them.

"Be patient." The word has an immense weight under it. Patience is not something that you get out of the blue. It develops. Through peers, activities, experiences and drawbacks.

"Believe in luck." You have to! When you give in your full strength and are not able to make it, then leave it to work on it's own. You can see the outcomes of it gradually.

"Learn." Yes, a simple thing to say but has far reaching effects. Learn to code. Learn to fail. Learn to embrace. Learn to hug. Learn to talk. Learn to eat. Learn to connect. Learn to quit. Learn to experiment. Learn to do it yourself.

"Be selective." There shall be people and things that you're not comfortable with. Ditch them. Period! It's okay to have some enemies than cribbing behind. After all, we're human.

"Propagate gratitude." Most of us fail to do this. Tell yourself how lucky you are. Tell your employer how lucky you are. Help some people with the corrections you made. Tell your other half how much you care for. There is never a beautiful thing than being grateful to someone. You cannot do it all alone, for Christ's sake!

And all of the above, come from one single factor, hope. With a dream and the faith that you could turn your imagination into reality.

Okay, enough of the lecture. I stop here. As these are some of the things I came to know in some layers. It started with hope but ended up as an advice.

Bah! I could be a professor someday!

Victory Parade

Ah! So finally, the results are out, one day before my birthday so that it could either be the cause to concern or the reason to rejoice. I slept off late, thinking about the same the day before, hoping for a good one. And then it arrived! And then came, a flickering moment of the entire tenure of what went through.

To summarize the journey, it was more of an actual roller-coaster ride. The downs began as soon as I choose subjects in my first semester seeing the "trends", which I saw in my under-graduate course. Unaware of the coursework load in the form of assignments and the constant nagging of mini-projects on top of them, it was surely one semester, that I'd dread for my life. The examinations were surprising, easy to judge them but difficult to be graded upon. The competition around, from the fellow countrymen was so intense, it literally pushed me to the back seat, handing my first acceptance of failure.

I never admitted this anywhere else, but here goes. I flunked in my first semester with an "Academic Warning" notice slapped onto my face. It was the most embarrassing, irritating and the stupidest mistake I had ever done in my life. Without any consultations or building up networks and peers, I just jumped in, thinking that I'd sail through but things weren't bright and shallow from their ends. Drowning, drowning and drowning, I then went into console mood to everybody else, saying, it was just a warning and they shouldn't be worried about it. I was even planning to give up studies owing to the huge involvement of the loans and I didn't wanted to spend one extra penny if I behaved like this. The vacation time post the results was a dreaded one, at least for a week to the most as the effect had to be sulked in. When I admitted that I made a mistake, it felt better and then decided to come over and continue studies with a challenge.

Continuing my journey, it wasn't an easy one. Many people were doing projects even after they had a brilliant exposure to the industry, hoping to get some reference from professors for their next jobs in Singapore. But not me. I was focused to clear my "backlogs" and didn't even think of that option as it was riskier and time consuming. Riskier, for you're depending on them for your grade upgrades and time consuming as they gobble up much of your time neglecting your other chosen subjects. With this focus, I literally sat studying in the spare time I used to get, whenever I came over to college in the mornings. A brief glance through the modules was all that was required. But the interesting part came into my world during this period. It was the brilliance of Computing and it's profound effects on the human mankind. With some peers actively being into this, it radiated like a star's twilight. And then, began the tryst of exploration since it connected to the same field where I was working before. With a lot of other simultaneous reading of books and improving my lingo, I sailed till the exam duration.

I came out victorious, clearing my warning "modules" with a vengeance. Not only I cleared them, I surprised myself for the results that came out, exceeding my expectations. And then, the final semester arrived. I mixed bag of modules, ranging from relevant subject courses to irrelevant financial matters, I took them all. The dedication was the same like the previous one but the results disappointed me. It was truly a mixed bag, unable to react and wonder simultaneously. But nevertheless, happy for the course to finish. With some additional "projects" under my belt. Self-motivated and passionate towards Computing now. A graduate certificate now awaits in the month of July, which would be quietly taken and sneaked out. I wished it'd be more value for the money involved but anyway.

The post is not for the journey I took and the boring story it lies with. It is about the experience that taught me a load of things on the personal upfront rather than the academic phase of it. To begin with, I became more calmer towards people, accepted failures and took up challenges being practical and realistic. I even came to a decision which would be my source of income for the next ten years at the least. I even decided  the stream of expertise I wanted to be in. Started to learn on my own - some technologies and some habits, came across some fantastic sources of learning otherwise, became more disciplined and organized, took more responsibilities and became stronger towards handling emotional bonds. Became more dedicated, a trend I never saw in my life, worked for 17 hours per day for a period of two months without any weekend offs. I even became more of a stalking person in the career front, admitting the fact that, it is you, and only you who is concerned about yourself. It would be idiotic if you expect it apart from yourself. I even started to judge people, stayed away from the ones I didn't like, cut down on nagging and fake people and came to know more about their cunning intentions rather than the fake generosity. I made mistakes, a load of them, but without any regrets to any as they were my choices and I myself had to blame for them.

Special thanks to everyone who was connected to me in real or in virtual world, for if you weren't there, this post wouldn't have come. And Happy Birthday to me!

Sob. Sob. ;-)

Fakeness Personified

In the few months that went by, apart from getting exposed to the fantastic world of Computing via some Google Groups and Social networks, I happen to see one interesting trait. Of the very old falseness of the people around. Too loud, yet hollow. Too big, yet too small in stature. Too much of attitude, but plain dumb luck otherwise.

Of all the people I see around, I don't know why but this random fakes try to dish out every possible platter on your menu. Everything you need. or don't need to. Or just try to be in your lines for the sake of it. I mean, how can you act in a way, that is not yourself?

What triggers them might be, is the quest of finding people with qualities that they can only now dream of. Of the things that might look interesting enough, but end up as a plain dumb episode with ad breaks and no content. By God's *grace*, I came across many such groups around and I should be thanking everyone of them, from whom, I stay away from.

Take the simple example case of that lousy couple who might be the next Curie thing on this earth. (Oh, for those who don't know, the Curie couple have won a Nobel for their invention. Link found here - "One rare couple". ). Their intelligence wasn't matching the level of arrogance. To add to this concern was to shout out loud voices and irritating behavior which can even make a dead man alive. Oh, not to forget, the obnoxious feeling they used to get when they don't feel like talking to one is but sure, a demeaning feature.

Or another example of a group, which I met accidentally by chance. Or rather, from a fake fellow. Once he sees a cute girl, he makes it a point to just shove his ass off to them and dance with his body, naked, if demanded. No doubt in being funny, but expecting the other party to be one too and then ditching them just because they weren't your "types" isn't cool.

Or the recent one, for example. This has to be described in detail. A lean, short kid who has interests in football and nothing else starts building up fake attitude when he sees his fellowmen. The same fellow, who is pretty normal with his egoistic speeches and childishness around, suddenly becomes a monster of falsehood. Of the similar types though! Ranting about stuff is okay, but humiliating someone in front of others is just a plain "wannabe". Just that. What worse can it get? Ignoring once or twice could be nice, but repeating the same trait is mere stupidity. A counter-answer? It should be taunted back in straight lines. Else, the advantages keep coming in and escalating.

Whoa! I should thank Singapore for introducing me such dumbfucks as this is one phase of people, I didn't meet with. And the smartness of ignoring them is the best thing that you could do. To yourself. To yourself. And only, to yourself.

A counselled consulting

Let me begin with a story. A new kind of a story. It isn't a pointed story but a generic one and a lesson to learn from. And here goes.

"... I should curse myself for that thinking. The very same thinking of applying for a job posting in some dumb website. After applying and unaware of having submitted one, I get a call from some consultant who doesn't has his own website and says that he is looking for people interested in the technology I was looking for and thus, I ended up mailing my resume. The voice was quite eased, casual in tone and extremely friendly at the beginning, just like you enter into a 5-star restaurant and the waiter/bill man greets with a smile and you're unaware of the price list shock thereafter. And so, believing the tone and the confidence he invoked, I blindly mailed. An experienced profile, who has seen a bit of professionalism and an etiquette of high standards and manners. Being the global company I worked in, those teachings should be praised as they taught me how to behave with customers and people in a very friendly and calm manner. Now I hope this converts into a "resume" of a professional and if it hasn't please tell me so that I could change it back to "Curriculum Vitae" ~ a tag used for freshly passed out job seekers, or basically, inexperienced candidates.

Getting back, this same consultant shoots back about the salary needs and the amount of interest to work. The pressure that was put in that two-minute call was so immense as if I was sanctioning the next financial policy of a country and I don't know the after effects of it; to the fact that I'd be held responsible for the drastic effects oozing out. I was completely oblivious to the fact about how the job consulting industry works in a country away from mine and was quite new to such experiences since my work was in a single organization and I was not looking for any opportunities elsewhere. Henceforth, I agreed to his terms and got my scheduled appointment of interview. But now, things got haywire. I forget to wake up due to extreme exhaustion on the previous day and the location to be met was a place which takes a minimum of two full hours of journey time. And now, this fellow calls up and starts abusing about my unprofessional behavior. I admitted that it was my mistake, which it truly was, but just as I wanted to inform this person, his abuses became intolerable.

This fellow now starts getting personal, gets on to my upbringing and his occurrence of things extremely personal which, no one actually never listens but to curse my circumstances, I had to, after cooling him down and telling him not to repeat them. I quickly apologized, called the company's HR, rescheduled my interview time and had a discussion with them. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised about the way they treated me and was equally sad for the language, this consultant spoke in. Being a consultant itself proves that you want to live life on your own but one cannot buy the fact that you get the authority of abusing people who are actually standing on their little fingers just to bag the job and somehow, control their personal commitments. I admit that it was my mistake and apologized but the way of abusing itself proves who is professional here.

Now, more things have happened. After the interview, I call up this fellow and he calmly says that he would get back to me after checking with the company people. His answers were quite trustworthy but I couldn't take them as I'd seen people back home not responding professionally if rejected or anything of the matter. Curious of the fact, I called up the company to know my status. They inform me to check with my "agent" and would be in touch with him. This agent now comes to know about this and blasts again with a full-on lecture about the company culture and what not. Being the most professional in my company and having no such complaints ever in my life, this was like a taken-aback statement.

Since, I wanted a higher salary, I hinted him about my other ongoing job interviews and the confidence I had from them. Now, this fellow comes back with another pressure to choose between me and another candidate who is ready to work even for free. What should I do now? Cancel the ongoing process or budge to his demands and admit that I'm ready to work for any offered salary?"

The story appears quite visible to you. Isn't it? Especially for people who're unknown of such experiences. Also, there might a high probability that it would've happened to anyone around. Looks like our story fellow is quite an adventurous person who takes risks, learns mistakes and then mends them and finally, moves on. So, going further, some points for people who are striving for jobs via consultants:

1. Be frank. They are linkers to the companies and can put in their own voice of opinion into your profile as the company people believe them more. So, better have an honest appearance.

2. They are powerful enough. Especially the senior cadre. Never mess with them. Never! You'll learn your lesson quite hard in that if you attempt to risk.

3. They know the job market. So you either seek advice from them if no one appears in your circles or if you do not know how the system works if this is your first job. After a few inputs and ideas, you're on your own. No one will guide you after. Not even your instinct!

4. Be polite to them even though you don't like the behavior from their side. Yes! They are quite expecting, more than the companies themselves, so you better buck up in this regard.

5. They sometimes pressurize you quite hard to take a decision. It's your call to sound it professional, rather to say a Yes/No or just get onto the learning wagon and getting the chapter tougher.

6. Never treat them as your friend. Never! They are chains after all, giving you a job opportunity thereby connecting people. It'd be foolish on your part to assume friendliness and a lopsided attitude towards you.

7. Don't tell them hazy scenarios. This one will take your breath for a moment if you're not aware of them as this post stands mainly on this fact. They might assume on their part, but not from your side, as they have a job position to close and thousands would be applying for them. And they assume things very randomly, so you better be clear of your objectives.

8. Keep your salary expectations either in market range and confirm your attendance if you don't want to reveal or tell them a straight figure. Period. It was stupid on the storyteller's behalf that he assumed the company would offer him in a way based on experience. After all, you want a job for yourself and the bottom-line is to earn money. It is okay if you don't get further than getting into an argument with your consultant to "flex" options.

9. "Even though you might smell good now, after two hours people might come towards you and give a nasty look based on your sweaty shirt. Be aware of this minor fact" - as told by the protagonist, the consultant.

10. Be ready for big lectures if the consultant is in a very senior position. About company cultures and perfumed footwear. You might not buy this even though you're right in your attire and attitude but your circumstances are not that green enough for you to argue.

11. The consultant is your single point of contact. That's it! Never dare to call the company people even if you left your laptop during the interview in their meeting rooms or anything you need from them to be responded. Everything has to go through this contact. Every little information! The consultants are professionals, so rest assured, you will be informed of any outcomes.

12. You'll have an upper hand if your experience is *relevant* to the position applied. Only then the salary payment shoots up. Just because you've experience/exposure to that industry doesn't mean that you can be tagged similar to the ones who've worked in those fields in the same duration as you've worked for. They stand an upper hand, for obvious reasons.

13. Never speak about your offers unless you have hard copies of their conformance. This is the most trickiest part while negotiating salaries as the ball is in your court and you have the full authority to swing if you've been found as a valid candidate. Otherwise, shut your mouth, literally and accept what he says and think it over, if negotiations are in progress. Never give the chance to snatch the ball and make yourself suffer for your expectations.

14. To end this, demand what you feel. Only if, you've done the interviews right and you know you'd be called for an offer discussion. Just that, demand. It's their headache to communicate to the companies whether they'll buy this or not. Not yours. Don't worry about your image. Nobody else cares either.

Apart from those basic points, remember one simple thing. Always. "If the consultant is rude/abusive and is unprofessional, irrelevant to his seniority or whatever, and he demands the exact opposite of it, then he is not worth of your precious time. Period." Move on. There are more to help you out.

So, there you have it. Be professional, be honest and earn in buckets!
Cheers!!

P.S: The story is entirely hypothetical. Any such incidents or occurrences in real life are meant to be understood as pure co-incidence and not connected in any format or part whatsoever.

P.P.S: I don't care whom if it would've referred to in real. If yes, then read the points and get a life! 

Receding Line

Wow! Is what plainly describes the new exoneration. The new inscribe. A feeling of a hidden despair vanishing in a flash. And what a change, it has brought in too.

After a medication advice from a practitioner, it felt like going under the knife. The receding line was clearly visible and was nearly total when a recent intimation happened. Perplexed by the ugly getup it portrayed, hurrying through the buses and ending up at a salon.

The salon was quite exquisite. With leather-cushioned seats, adjustable heights and a kit load of accessories to operate with. And hosts, uncountable. Spikes- for the men and women alike, it looked like a shrub with no grass cut ever in its tenure. White makeups, scissors in their pockets and a black robe to cover the dirt that sprayed onto them with a welcome message splashed. It was luxurious for the air-conditioning service pre-installed in the salon and on the customer's pocket. Beams of drying equipment, trimmers and cash counters blocked the paths. All of a sudden, a lady bangs open the door and orders me to sit on the decorated chairs. Like a stuffed goat, ready to be axed.

Innocent me, obeyed as ordered. And then zip-zap-zoom! Two clothes of towels quickly engulfed the chest. And a coat for the same dirt to fall on. I had an intention this time. To cover up the receding line as well as show it up in a cult fashion. And then came up the trimmer onto my head. Of course, before the custom of asking the style that you need. Which, at first instance, I didn't know about.

The line started to disappear and emerged a partly flashy skin, ridiculous with the companions around. Not withstanding the stupid look, I suggested her to continue trimming it up and closed my eyes. After three rounds of the electronic instrument over the head, it finally stopped. I opened my eyes after the weird look and found to my surprise, a neat and clean head, not to worry about. Not to doubt on. Happy on the choice made. And a emergence of attitude.

Posting a snapshot of the new look, I amazed myself more. With the global acceptance and likable feature, I swelled up more with pride. With a paltry sum charged amid wonders.

Inspire

The 50th post had to be special. For an incident to be shared that cannot be forgotten. Or not made to. An oasis in a mirage of hopes and thoughts in a desert of laid back human resources.

On my visit to a career fair in my university, I was eager to catch a glimpse of the new companies that had few to work, but tons of it. No biasing here. But the MNC stalls just didn't make me interested. After catching few persons of this nature of work and their demand, I was caught in attention by a tall, white, half-bald person who was with a MacBook and a stool as his stall. He had this gleam of passion in his eyes and the body language was just supporting it. Dressed in casual shirt and jeans, he then began his short speech. Err.. Introduction, I mean.

He was the Chief Technology Officer of the company that he was campaigning for and had flew all the way to Singapore from the US. Just to meet passionate people. Just that! Other stalls were of the regular nature of asking your technical skills and the monotonous nonsense which wasn't worth for.

But not this fellow. He was of the opinion that as long as you want to grow as a developer, technical skills doesn't matter. Be it Ruby, Java or Python. A beginner, novice or an expert. Related or unrelated to the nature of work. As long as you know what it takes to remain as a developer. The study, rigorous practice and explorations that cannot be imagined. He had this unique feature to convince people through the style of work he has done and that simple thing of saying a lot but in a completely jovial manner.

The person's name? Andy Croll. Of ImpulseFlyer. Check out the website to know what I was portraying. What made me his fan was this post. A recommended read. Share and be inspired! And yes, do read his other posts. You might just be on the verge of joining him one day.

Starting Worries

In the recent times, I'm seeing a saturation of vividness in the new age, bored, dull and enthusiastic cult trying to re-define themselves. Of getting out of the race. Of being themselves in another avatar. Living the way they want to in.

Consider a bunch of employees. Their objective was simple. To work in a way and a style they desired. Side effects of the college life of freedom. But then, pops up frustrations for the reason of the new "being" into existence. One, for the way people dress. Trying to change this in multi-nationals won't work. For the strict "Dress Code" being stamped. Of the 4-day formals and last-day casual get ups. With no round necks. And "No revealing legs, please. It is against company norms!", tags and comments.

Dress isn't an only factor of boredom. The managers' woes, of finishing the "task in hand" hounds like a ghost. Come whatever may. Even if you have a suffering mother. Or visiting a paralyzed relative. Or to a friend who met with an accident. Or to a neighbour's wedding reception. "Finish the work and go. You can come in office late tomorrow". Yeah. When all the expectations die. When we have nothing else apart from the remorseful feeling of excuse when needed. For a work, tiny to flash, later to become a time-waster. With no rewards of it, either. Or to another instance of shouting that you are incompetent so that the entire office floor looks to you in an awful position wondering, "Poor Guy. His manager is so cold.". And leaving it just at that.

So what next? "To stop the train, pull the chain." Looking at the scornful situation, the resignations pour in. With managers wondering. Onsite offers popping in. Promotions being promised in. And a nice dinner to end the day hoping the fellow takes his letter back. An image which you feel proud of regaining your importance, unaware of the heinous objective behind. Of showcasing talent retention skills. Of the project concerned in focus of the "client". Of selfish "growth" desires to land up in a bigger car or an apartment with a chauffeur attached. A wish that only such privileged have. Or believe to.

And when nothing works out, "The company would love you to take you back", would be the final statement. As if showing concern till you get out. Before that termination letter hands in. After the pre-last day - post-resignation day slogging that you put in verge of a better world. Before the early exit pay cuts and a negligible gratuity fund. Bah! I'm sure they would think, "Thank goodness!" when the answer would be "My goodness!".

The people, who know their self-worth, would then make it a point of avenging their negligence in the society. The danger belt. Of mirage thinking. Spiced with media hoopla. Topped with false confidence. Guts. And a fake passion for dessert. Voila! There, springs up the idea of a new company. In a way. Most of us wouldn't want to work under someone, although we would like someone working for us. Be it in a thousand foot-held campus or in a garage of one single computer! Ironical. Not to forget, the status factor. Of having the number of companies that we ventured. Or started. Or partnered in. Or attempted. Or attempting. With raising people's eyebrows. And images in girls' hearts. And the welfare of society.

Now, the company is laid to stone. And should now, pour in the business. Money, in short. Floundering around the same customers who they worked for in office sometime back, or for newer "smaller" ones so that the firm floats, be it working even for a shop owner who struggles in a rented box. And charging rates that look competitive. In the context of big corporations' loots.

Amidst all this, one wonders. Of the number. Of customers. Payers. Buyers. Sellers. Borrowers. Business. Clients appearing from Mogadishu. Or from a ditch. Or the confidence of people who know nothing of the risks involved. And money. In short.

Everyday, 2-3 new firms emerge out for businesses in every storeroom of every country. Either of the traditional nature or unheard variety. Are we seeing a saturation in the customer count? Or in starting up? Or are we yet to see a new bubble. The start-up bubble. To burst all over? Or are we coming to a stage where in, you are ready to serve but unable to acknowledge the service.

Companionship

Ahh. Of all the worldly peace that we seek into, this would surely come as a bliss. A close pal talks. And then chimes in the beauty of the psychic touch. The sheer meander fading away. And you enter a phase of happiness with an exoneration.
 
The simple conversations that lead into the sluggish day are aplenty. For the most, of not being any worth of. Some take away your time, some your peace and some give them back. And such moments would be re-winded. Always. Every time.

The chattering can be of any variety. In the form of talk, face or touch. That innate ability to take things into their stride. Of being comfortable to the person conversing with. Subsiding the feeling of having a companion.

Most of the talk would be worthless to speak about. It usually begins from who is paired up with which celebrity ending up with which all TV series to watch out for. The filmy kingdom is all the ones in between that remain. With some personal clutters. For another instance, it would be venting out his/her boss's constant pesters and for some, the chick/guy sitting in the last corner of the floor who is gorgeous. Or handsome. Or whatever.

After a petty fight over an electronic instrument, I broke up with my sister for some time. Which I regret myself. During the later days, it was just to converse formally with the "Hi, how are you?" syndromes. When loneliness and extreme supervisions sulk in, you tend to yearn for a partner to share yourself with. And that happened on a dark, rainy day. Amid a full stomach and eyes, partly closed.

A ping came in my messenger to "Come on Skype". All of a sudden. I followed the instructions blindly. And then I saw her. Her solitude. Evident on her face. With no one to talk to. And a constant work schedule on top. Making herself busy to forget everything around had made her down even more. And then she saw me. And then came in a glitter of smiles. Of the thought of regaining back. Her partner. Her friend. Her lone companion. Hesitant at first, then opening up to her real self. Of being shuddered. And then springing out of the lone darkness.

The rantings began. A five minute talk ended up in a 2 hour marathon. Content being unmentionable and unregistered. As we talk everything under the sun. Except for our lines of work. For them being the black holes of energy. For them being the point of taking a recess.

There was a special event that was also being shared. And a little pride permeated. For the intelligent observations found out. For gifting some special persons, with things unheard of.

Proud of my sister! For being the smarter kid of the two. And talkative of the two. Being the shoulder to smile on.

Silhouetted Routines

Off late, I've been addicted to reading. Not to books. They are always at bay when it comes to opening up my laptop. For them being the lone companion which they excel at.

But my reading refers to the internet. The various links posted by people on their profiles. Facebook. Twitter. G+. Blogger. Reader. Reddit. You name it! And it all reasons to the level of following patterns that you have.

Whom do we follow? Typically the ones whom we can identify ourselves..

With tastes.
With likes.
With interests.
With thoughts.
With ideas.
With passions.
With habits.
With behaviours.

Argh! We do. Even if we don't admit.

And how do we follow? Via the virtual world of invisible people, myriad junkies and connected digital networks.

Alright. So now, we have a list. A list of people who we believe, can be a mirror image of ourselves. And so pours in the various idiosyncrasies of opinions, news and views. Tons of people. And thus, tons of views. Tons of thoughts. Tons of blogs. Tons of styles. All of them sounding sensible. And you start pondering over the clock on your desktop toolbar wondering when the heck did it jump so fast.

You must be getting an idea of what am I talking about. If no, then re-read this from above to follow completely. It just shows that you've got insaner by the day.

Going further on the mayhem, take Facebook for example. Till the stupid videos and photos appeared, it looked dumb. And now, after customizing them to filter them out and show only reading links, the reading loop repeats!

Oblivious to the fact that the workload increases exponentially. Yes! Once the links are out on your browser, the urge to read them till the final full stop never ceases and then yapping over to social sites to check if your views matched with others. Beating round the bush, again!

And nowadays, weekends end up just scanning these all the way, leading to loss of sleep time and the lovely television boredom movies which you ritualized since you grew up. And we all wonder why Mondays appeared sooner!

And now follows the usurping advice.

1. Curb down dailies and news sites: They gobble up on much of the energy making you to think and start a small debate on some groups and forums leading to a conclusion which, you could only synchronize with. Tons of current affairs happen and you have quite a very large set unless you choose smartly.

2. Tech Forums: These are the nastier lot. Most of the tech punks are out there just to make news out of every crap they incur after exercising their brains. Who cares if you need a button on your mobile that can post links to sites which you are not even bothered looking at! Anything that is significant in your line of work that could be beneficial is a smarter choice!

3. Link posters: Another bunch of time wasters. I'm unable to imagine the time they get to sit, read patiently amid their daily chores and seek for a review! You start to feel laid back by such with the knowledge they possess. Fact is, ignore them. It isn't worth the price of your time.

To conclude, read when you have nothing in the world to do. Better to shed when you have some prior goals set. And dedicate some time onto them.

The links shall appear whenever you continue to track your statuses.

Whenever. 

Dum Dum.


PS: I just read The God of Small things by Arundhati Roy. And so the inspiration.

Napping power

A long day and a load of tasks to do. You get up early in the morning, do the chores and then set out. One task after another, you keep on doing them but at one point, the brain gives up. Only then you realize that you need a break. That is when the power nap comes in as a remedy.

For my regular habit of dozing for three hours in the afternoon siesta, this came as a handy tool to refresh. The mind is so much preoccupied with the list, that you forget that you need a pause. And to top the tasks would be a lecture not to be afforded to miss, for the tiny things that are missed out in slides which come handy during examination and some of your job interviews, that is when the brain tries to doze if the lecture isn't going interesting. You have to stay awake, else someone would take note of the points and zooms ahead of you. That is when the power nap comes in as a remedy.

The same thing happened to me yesterday. With my regular 12 hour day job, I had a good sleep the night before. After a long morning of reading blogs and studying notes of the earlier lectures, lunch awaited. Resuming after, I hurried to the library to borrow some recommended books for learning passion, being the reader in me to keep up my newly found habit. Checking the regular NewsFeed on my Facebook and trying to dive into the concepts of Android development, I surged. With such constant inputs all the time, the mind slows to reciprocate. If we try to continue, you tend to skip some few important things in hand. So, I thought of trying a short nap to see the enormous power that it brings in, having read many articles on the same.

Napping eases out the tensions just like reading a book, only that the mind thinks of nothing else. The only criteria of such a nap is, to doze for a very short amount of time until the mind enters a state of calm. It takes a maximum of an hour for the brain to get stabilized and the body pain to dwindle. But, we tend to start liking the relaxed state, often forgetting that we still have the remaining long day to pass through. And thus, we doze off with a elongated siesta, turning things haywire.

A method to be used in case of a tiring day, this worked wonders as it did for me. I was able to concentrate at the lecture thereafter and was not even blinking for a slightest moment thinking of the tiredness.

The art of learning

Once I amazed myself. For the fact of learning something from scratch. All by myself. Through some techniques and simple observations. And picked up a skill, unaware of how it began.  And, I am describing the same to share.

How it triggered was my name. Yes! My simple name. Dozing in a class amid one dull afternoon in my 3rd year of under-graduate college, the last benchers, we the cult, were looking around for methods to kill time. Of the people around, one of them was busy scribbling in his book, some words in a language, that grabbed my eye. I asked him about what he was doing. He was writing the same words oozed by the professor, in Tamil.

I wasn't even aware that being in Bangalore and having a junta writing in Kannada, here was one person who could try something out of the box to write in his mother tongue. First of all, Tamil is a hard one to learn. As it has a script and a method totally different from the regular style. This language is very hard to speak, having so many tongue-twisters and imbibed meanings in words together which you will have decode them by joining sentences. This one simple fact of the toughness of the language caught my attention and I requested him to write my name in Tamil. And he did. So, there began my interest in the very language that I had no idea about.

When I compared my name with my father tongue Kannada and Tamil, I found a startling observation. The letters in Tamil were few to write and most of the remaining are permutations and combinations of these. It is a language which has very few vowels and implied letters which cannot be understood if, you are given to test in general. The wonderful thing was the words of Tamil and Kannada rhymed only that the writing script mattered. One sure method for people to catch/look for.

So, to the people who know Kannada, Tamil is easier to learn as it has fewer letters than the former and can be deciphered quite comfortably once the basic flow is grabbed hold. Reading and writing speed improves for obvious reasons of constant exposure. For me it were the news channels, movies, shop hoardings and billboards whenever I had a chance to visit Tamil Nadu or the local bus stands in Bangalore. Of course, I may not be well versed with the kind of exposure that the native gets, but it was an act of self-learning which I can be proud of.

Now, I amaze people in Singapore by reading and writing words in Tamil. When I can do it, so can you! Only important factor is to imbibe interest in yourself and the mission is half accomplished.

A point to ponder

As I was sipping through the evening tea amid a sunny clad weather, I noticed something. The vapours of the tea were swirling over the cup. These vapours had a flurry of dance provoked by an external agent. With the wind being that, these were fluttering along the direction in which it passed through. At some point of time, they swooned to the right and then after a pause, to the left. Maybe was it following the tune or was it signalling a message in them?

The message strikes when we juxtapose with our very own lives. Struggle, confusions and the choices that we make along as life passes. An external agent usually provokes us in one way or the other and so, our life goes into that direction. The agent? Circumstances! They in our case can make us lead to a path known or to a roadblock, only to take diversions. Choices can't be made in all situations, just like the vapours in my tea who don't know in which direction the wind carries them away. In the end, all the vapours lead into the same cloud and then the rain pours in.

What's mysterious is how we are tuned by these circumstances and then realize as we reach a certain stage in ourselves. Some are lucky to be carried in the right path, some are backtracked in an opposite way and some keep going around themselves, unaware of the fact that is controlling them. In the end, we all become individuals, the cloud. And then pours in happiness and hope, the rain. Of course, rain can also bring disasters for the circumstances in totality, cause the vapours.

I do feel that there should be a point where in we need to stop, analyze ourselves and seek for a path. But, just being carried away by the things that control us doesn't make us do that. A point to ponder?

Inconsonant Choice

People can take you for granted. Only for the reason that you let things go. Sometimes, it is okay to make fun of you in a casual manner so that you can laugh at yourself but everything has a limit not to cross to. Our own maturity lets us down in reciprocating and thus, everything sums up and reaches a boiling point where we start cutting out. Why is it that these bunch of idiots don't mind their own bloody business and remain in their arses rather than poking into others' matters unnecessarily?

The most pricking point is that, we all have a certain bunch who just can't keep their mouth shut when someone pokes at us. Laughter erupts - the snobby type- more annoying than just the talk. Thinking to keep it calm, composed and uncaring, the mistake occurs. The poking heightens! With more dumbfucks joining, this gets onto your nerves. Poking is never balanced - you make fun of the person and it is just not acceptable! Making fun of people to get a sadistic pleasure is the quality of a wannabe loser. An asshole, in fact!

Adding to the fire is the back-talk! A speciality with us Indians. Gossiping about the friend behind their back and then making fun in front is not cool. When properly questioned, comes the answer that this is just for gags! THIS IS NOT FUN, you dumb shithole! It is just plain fake behaviour displaying sheer dumbness.

The fact that hurts is of the way they behave after treating in such a manner. You then start appearing like a trash, something of no value and respect, a feat not in the lines of what they term as friendship. Friends do exactly the opposite and would always be the ones to support rather than making fun for the heck of it and not feeling an inch of sorry in them. If they really knew the value of friendship, the back-talk and the pokes wouldn't have occurred  in the very first place!

Throughout my life so far, I've been in search of good people, compatible with and like to embrace them with an open heart. I tend to connect for that one unique quality in them with distinguishes them from the "aam junta". But also to some for the sake of it through a mutual contact. Do avoid such! The choice of choosing people to network with, lies in our own hands. Was it a mistake to outlay the stupidity of our friends so that we don't see them repeat it again, thinking of their own good? Or was it our very own maturity to let things off and not retort. Or is it that inconsonant choice of ours to misunderstand the relation as pals and not just another silly crowd.

I don't know. So, all you semi-introverts like me, show the finger if somebody pokes at you and remove them from your contacts. You tend to loose nothing if they aren't in your friend's list and neither it matters to them. After all, they are there just to make fun of you and nothing else. And if a fight erupts, be ready to hit and face some punches and kicks. It gets you a respect in a way, at the least to yourself!

Creativity's chimera

One thing that strikes is the way the mind thinks. A feeling unquantifiable, relentless and serene. The right brain works in a way difficult to comprehend and this is what makes the world beautiful and demented at the same time - former for the artistic phenomenon and the latter for the infinite loop it creates through people's connectivity.

To share a personal experience, some close pals wanted to start a coffee outlet. The objective being the usual - different from other models and of a brand value building. So, work began for the fundamentals - land for the shop, bamboo furniture to lay in, talks with coffee bean dealers and the menu listing. But, in the process of brand building, they forgot the basic rule.

Of naming the outlet! At a casual meeting over a birthday treat of Samosas and chai, we debated. Many names came into being - most of them being the regular, off-beat ones which linked to only coffee and the beans. Some suggested after looking out to other outlets as their names deal with the size of the cup! A regular, boring list came up and then the discussion was about to confine. But then, at the right most point, when the argument heated up, came the ridiculousness and astonishment.

The name I suggested, was that of the tagline which sounded like the ones that I read about in some book grabbed in the store. Simply put, it tagged that it wasn't another coffee point. Ignorant people quickly found the name attractive and asked me about the main header. Suggestion was to just acronym the tag line! Jealousy came in some, for the way the name came up and happiness among one of the outlet founders. Adding this to the list, we sailed to a nearby restaurant to dine.

I don't know why the name clicked but then the founders polled it to console themselves. And thus, the brand came up. And now, is getting expanded to four more outlets!

Was surprised how a small line can be a brand. I should have asked for renumeration. The creative consultant, you see!

Weird!

People can really get annoying. Taking you for granted. You can't decipher the mindset unless you get a tight hard slap with their mouths.

Take the case of one pal. This guy is a tech freak and had inspired many to follow his list of activities. A sound applied mind with an urge to learn new technologies in the computing world, he was a sure shot of inspiration. Coming from a town having dreams of none other than becoming the next Steve Jobs, he motivated the ignorant to really look into the world in an inquisitive manner. But things turned sour one day.

It was the way he used to take in others' concerns. The way it was ditched was heinous, let alone admire the thing of the idea. He would imagine that idea into reality in a flash moment, a feat rarely seen. But the point of letting it go in a very harsh manner was not his right. Either he would dump the idea saying it as baseless or would consider very amateurish. Being brilliant with coding and algorithmic thinking but equally introverted and an attitude: harsh, demeaning and straight forward. That hurts when the advice pour in a language not supposed to be in for others.

What happened was he had shared an idea. Maybe, he just wanted to market it or show it off. But the idea was confined to a college level and the general public wouldn't be interested. Obviously, friends would think of suggesting a place to market it better, to make it more visible and popular. The manner in which the reply came was bitter. Disturbing. Hard. A reply depicting wrong attitude. That effects the mind, specially if the recipient is not adjusted to such! You then think inside of what wrong did you say and become more careful in picking up contacts.

Bah! People.

Airport Experience

Talking to a friend makes you feel lighter. Specially if you are holding onto something. The same thing happened on my way back home from Singapore that I got a friend to accompany with.

To deviate from the subject for sometime, the journey itself was an unexpected one. While sending off to a friend at the airport, he had a pre-booked ticket to Bangalore. Unable to go home due to his new job reporting in Sweden, he offered it. Totally taken aback with how destiny plays, I took sometime to decide. After seeing the work in hand and arriving at the conclusion that this could be managed, I grabbed the ticket. To my surprise, he took in the transfer charges into his stride and told me to pay the ticket fare only. So, you now know why my tryst with destiny appears.

Coming back to the friend's conversation, we then boarded the flight on the planned date. To describe my friend, she was working in Singapore and wanted to meet her parents before packing her bags to Sweden to accompany her husband, of whose ticket that was transferred to me. A simple, traditional but independent girl who can blast you off if it comes to a woman's freedom! A totally outright person with a noble heart for close friends, I wondered how her husband allowed me to go with her! The Indian husband mentality was not visible as she said he trusted her completely. Or I would say he trusted me, in fact. She had two heavy bags of luggage to be dumped in her house so that the Swedish journey would be lightened. As I had nothing but a simple travel bag, I thought of giving her, a helping hand. After an automated clearance and the luggage check-in, we then boarded the flight after a long wait at the terminal.

The fun and introspection started when the flight started. I came to know more about her and her family. A simple conversation can open up many thoughts. She then asked me about my own personal life, a highly closetted part. I didn't mind saying things which I myself hadn't analyzed before. And to my disbelief, she liked the way the conversation flew. From talking about her husband to the way how I landed in Singapore, it looked like a story when I finished it. Of course, I am not used to chattering, be it hearing too, this talk became more inquisitive as I came to know some facts that you learn by sharing.

Yes. Sharing helps. It eases your emotional hold up. And can make you look at yourself in a different prospective. Things I learnt was to open up experiences to friends, let them flow and listen to theirs. Things become more clear in front of you.

After a convinced mind and a short slumber, the flight landed in the cold Bangalore airport. Waving her off and then hiring a cab, I looked out of the window and was left amazed.

The Deceit

Location: Mumbai.
"Where are you guys taking me to?", said Suresh, in a worried manner. He was apprehensive of the fact that it wasn't a regular affair.

"Nothing, macha. Just wanted to introduce you to some friends. Don't worry!". Shastri retorted. He was getting late for his work. And now he needed a candidate badly. A limited time in hand and his friends already being furious, he has no other option but to choose Suresh.

Shastri then hired a taxi from Dadar and then they went to a Dandia concert in Vile Parle where his friends were waiting. Suresh converses again in the taxi out of excitement. "Macha, are you sure that this is nothing dangerous?".

"Don't worry, macha. My friends are nice people. They won't do anything bad. They just need something from you and then, you are out of the place."

Having come from a middle-class upbringing, Suresh grew up to become an engineer in Bangalore. His classmate, Shastri was just in front of his attendance rolls. Whenever there were assignments and exams, Shastri always flocked towards Suresh for his intelligence. And so, they became the closest of friends while studying. When Suresh got a job in Mumbai in a private firm, he shifted his family.

Shastri also had similar ways of life, only that he had the passion to earn quick money. When his family business bankrupted due to false commitments from non-payers, Shastri opted to study Engineering and thus, landed in Bangalore. An outright extrovert, proactive and selfless heart towards friends, he and Suresh then glued to become the best of friends. The slang of togetherness was evident of the macha word. Being placed in the same company, Shastri followed Suresh, only that his family was based in Bangalore. Of the work done for 3 years, he became frustrated and opted out of service and projected that he was doing some part-time job.

"Where have we come to?"

"It is my friend's show. He is DJing there. Look!". And there was DJ Harpreet doing the dance tracks. The DJing was a common trend in Dandia events. People thronged at the venue with traditional Garba dresses, Dandia sticks in hands and a dancing eagerness to celebrate the event. After waving to Harpreet, Shastri then took Suresh through the crowd.

"I am pretty scared, man. I came only because I believed you."

"Oh! I know. Come over. You need a drink?"

Hesitatingly, Suresh picks up one and watches the crowd. In a moment, he thinks of his parents. Wonder what they would be doing at the house.

"Shall we leave?".
"OK."

After sailing through the crowd, Shastri leads Suresh to a narrow way. The way smelled of betel leaves and cigarettes. And then, he sees a small stall-like getup where he finds some people, boys and girls dancing to an iPhone.

"Guys, Meet Suresh. My closest friend. Suresh, this is Neha, Divya, Krish, Udi, Shiamak, Parvin and the Vinod. Our leader."

Vinod looks at Suresh strangely but ignores him and continues to dance. He was high on marijuana and was giggling throughout. Suresh sensed something is wrong.

And then, Krish pulls him in, and snatches his wallet. Shocked by the happenings, Suresh panics. With people surrounded and no escape route, he remains silent.

"Well now, Suresh. Are you ready?"

And then his life changed forever...

After 10 years.
Location: Singapore.


Suparna opens the door and leads in her aunt who is a non-stop chatterbox, be it on the phone or otherwise. Both Suresh and Suparna now were adjusted with her taunts and chats that they simply ignored it.

"How are you, Aunty? How was your journey? Hope your flight was alright."

Aunty gave a look of satisfaction. She was quite impressed with the flight Suresh booked and they had serviced her well. So she was silent and began to survey the new apartment. Suparna went in to make some tea for all and Suresh continued with his reading.

"I got a letter from the Mumbai Police yesterday. Thought of sharing with you." And handed it to him. Suresh opens it with a sweaty palm. Suparna runs out of kitchen and joins Suresh to read it.

Both Suresh and Suparna were shocked to see the contents of the letter. Was it for the past 10 years' curse that was to re-run again?

"What's the matter?", Aunty asked.

No answer.

And there she was!

With a headache tinkering, uneasiness swiveling and the mind numbed, Keerthan set out for the day. Loads of work awaited - his head treatment was overdue for 2 weeks for he had to tonsure his head to begin with, college work was pending with no proper coordination from the office personnel and his own personal list of activities growing up exponentially.

Keerthan had just one thing in mind. To finish up his tasks for the day for a peaceful, extended weekend. He drew cash from the nearby ATM to recharge for his overdue mobile balance. But the ache and the task list bombarded at the same time. Unaware of the task in hand, he boarded the city bus to reach his college, only to realize for the purpose of drawing cash later! Ignoring the stupidity, he continued.

Keerthan was a bit smarter this time, getting down at stops of proximity for there was lunch time approaching for the office people. He hurried into the office with a pre-planned mind to yell at the staff for their irregularities and irresponsibilities. But it turned quite the opposite, he being polite in his queries and a reply sounding professional. Convinced with their reply, he then went to the Computer Centre, took a PC and began his list work.

Whenever you work online, you are bound to have a chat and the same happened to Keerthan with his friends. And then came the pleasant change!

The girl was a tall, brunette coloured, well-figured beauty who wore a sleeveless flowery top with black shorts having glasses that looked like she had borrowed them from her granny- big and oval-shaped which anybody else would have just ignored her for the design of it. But not Keerthan. He sat there dumbstruck looking into her face, deeply and affectionately, unaware of the lone drawback that she encompassed. She was conversing with her friend about the climate change because the weather grew suddenly hot and the conditioning was not enough. The light conversation was a music to our Keerthan when she was laughing in between. He could feel the care in that, her voice being soft and low as a feather. But, all of a sudden, his friend pinged him up to come over for lunch and there crushed his dream.

When he left the room, he gave quite a stare - of a silent one, glancing stealthily and wanted to ask her for a date. But she was busy ignoring him as her conversation raised her voice giving a sign. And when the door closed behind him, there came the look from the girl of searching him outright and feeling the disappointment!

Poor Keerthan. He should have turned around.

Money matters!

How many of you have the problem of enquiring about the fees payable and the cost of living in Singapore? Well, today is the day of answers, realizations and queries based on personal experience.

When that precious letter of offer from an university lands into the hands of a prospective candidate, then s/he begins to think about the funding of the course as a result. Most of the present economies have become clever enough to lay off scholarships and it now lies in the hands of the student to fund his own studies by various available means like loans and personal wealth.

Though I wont be describing the means in detail, this post is intended for people willing to study in Singapore. Emphasis is on an Engineering Masters in National University of Singapore, a leading global university in Asia. This could be applicable to everyone else, so keep reading! Highlight was to bring out the negligence and carelessness, one candidate can do by spending out too much on his own pocket without looking out.

To begin with, Singapore's Ministry of Education (MoE) offers a 40% subsidy of the semester fees of the candidate.  Link can be found here. A highly recommended one to pick this up. Of course, clauses attach, like the mandatory 3 year Service Obligation Bond where people have to serve in Singapore for a minimum period of 3 years upon graduation. Guarantees are not given to candidates about job prospects and thus, it is the sole responsibility of the student to look out. Various job centres, college career centre exist for job openings. Building up contacts also helps as references matter hugely.

With the remaining 60% being unaffordable to the candidate after the subsidy, the university offers a Tuition Fee Loan Scheme which offering up to 90% of the MoE's subsidized fees. Link can be found here. This shall be treated similar to an Educational loan back in India. The period of repayment here is a whopping 20 years! Make sure you have a guarantor while submitting forms to the Bank and that the signatures of both people (you and the guarantor) have to be made in front of the bank officer. The loan amount, once sanctioned, goes to the university directly and this loan account shall be clubbed with you SB A/C in Singapore. Make sure the SB A/C and the loan A/C are in the same Bank!

Thus, you would be getting 40% + 36% (90% of 40% of Tuition Fee Scheme) i.e., 76% of the tuition fees from Singaporean authorities! And so, you have to pay only 24% of the tuition fees (semester/total) on your own. This is usually seen by either working part-time or by taking a regular student loan back in India.

Another suggestion is to put up in the university dormitories rather than suffering the nuisance of private apartments. Have an extended sense of your personal expenses, meaning to plan for extra money in case of adversities. Cutting short will cost you dearly on your personal life and health. A personal monthly expense of $500-600 and a rent of $550-$600 is absolutely necessary to live a decent life as a student in Singapore as per current situation (2011/12). Oh, for the laptop needs, as it is a must, better buy it in Singapore. Its cheaper and better keeping in mind that most of the people studying, eventually apply for jobs here.

And never make the mistake of ignoring fee subsidies wherever applicable. Contact your department and your university thoroughly before planning on financials. Singapore is very flexible in money payment so it is alright to transfer money using parents' help after you've landed here.