CAT o nine tails

As all of you might be aware, the number of applicants applying to CAT has fallen by 17% despite the extension in the last date. What could be the reason for this sudden reverse phenomenon in a time where B-School applications are breaking records year after year?

The first argument that comes to the mind is the CAT going online. Traditionally, the role of technology was to facilitate stuff. Can technology be a deterrent for aspirants? Why not! There is a stark contrast in the urban and rural settings in the country. Prometric centers are not that penetrative! But then how would one explain another prominent B-School, NMIMS going for the online route? The trend has caught on big time.

Is the system becoming more elitist? This is a question worth a debate. Will kids from English medium schools continue getting the upper hand? We raised issues like reservation to be more 'inclusive' in our growth. Will such moves help our cause?

Can CAT's loss be JMET's or SNAP's gain? Well this is a question best left to time. Is it just the newness of the concept that is taking long to sink in or is it a tech-phobia as I would say it? Whatever it is, the CAT has lost one out its nine lives!

My Birthday... awwww !

I grew up as a child who did not attach too much importance to birthdays. I found the whole concept pretty boring. Kids in shorts and clown caps clapping, singing and eating cakes. Just because the earth completed a few rotations and revolutions did not warrant for indulgence. Celebrations were not a captive of birthdays or any day for that matter. Create an occasion for celebration, was my take.

Anyways, the news of my birthday was made public a day before in my class. The whole gang asembles well in advance. I saw a couple of mounds being fetched from a nearby shop. They resembled a dark brownish-black hardeded pulp of sugar syrup. I learnt people call it 'cholocate fantasy'. I call it a calorie concentrate enought to sweeten the milk of a hundred suckling kids.
A couple of candles were affixed atop each mound and as tradion would have it, I was asked to blow them off. No sooner did I blow the candles and cut off the first piece than the people attacked the mounds like the zombies in 'Resident Evil'. A perfect replica of crowds rushing into a bus. The turnaround time in finishing the cakes was real quick. I was left amazed and with a creamy face after some of them deicded to play 'cake holi' with me.

After a while all of them started looking at me. I felt like animal about to be hunted. In a matter of moments, my body was doing the 'mexican wave'. My classmates were all exhibiting their football corner-kick taking skills. I could make out that the impact sound actually resembled the kick! My bottom was the target and my screams their goal! It felt like the penalty shootout would never end. My bottom felt like it was made of vulcanized asbestos reinforced with litharge. It glowed hot Red! Agonizingly, I got up and took out a few people to another treat, as if the treat they had on my bottoms was not enough.

But there, I got a card signed by all of them. My little 'sister' had actually wished me in Korean! The hoologans' gesture actually touched me. No problem mates, I look forward to celebrating more birthdays. Just that instead of my bottom being the football, I intend to be the shoe that curves the ball into the goal. Psssstttt.... free kick!!!

Its a new world

The dreaded night finally arrives. Am completely drained by the journey with a mountain on my back. The express decides its time for games and delays my dreamy journey to a nightmarish one. I reach a new land, a new setup, new people, new weather but the same old chaos.
The god forsaken ride gave yet another glimpse of the wannabe Schumachers in our country. Reaching my Mecca, life just got a little more interesting. Queuing theory put into perfect practise is what I witnessed. But there was a sense of longing, a sense of protection in my surroundungs. The laid-back aura was perfectly complimented by an insatiable urge to learn, to witness the transformation within.
Then came Sunday, the day when the most enterprising ones became the most oblivious ones. I just had another experience of being among the insects that fill up any hole, any crevice they find. My skin melted on me. I had a feeling probably similar to a snake's when it sheds off its skin. With livid eyes all the way, I finally reached my waterhole. The world changed again!
I felt so much better. I felt welcomed, felt at home. This was all the more alluring as it came to me after several days. I left heavier and rejuvenated. Now I was ready to see the monsters off. My ride was magically smooth, and my vehicle surprisingly supportive.
I am back in the game! Hey dear 'we', watch out for me :)

The countdown

I feel the lethargic hormones running in my veins alongwith the already discoloured blood. Life seems to have come around half circle. The thought of going to that place makes me sick. I am mentally gearing up for another journey when the curse of the modern times, the 'mobile' goes off. The ringer pierces my ear drums like an air pistol pellet does to a balloon. Inspired by a recent killer flick, I say "job is job!" and utter some tech mumbo jumbo to the person on the other hand. I feel so damn irritated, especially after this seperation has set in. I decide to take a nap when the power goes off. Just then the neighbourhood carpenter decides its the opportune moment to begin his din for the day. Amidst all this, a mosquito buzzes past my already sensitized ears. Thats it; how dare you little creature intrude into my 'tranquil' domain? How dare you make me feel the load of my own exasperation? Its you who has asked for it, now you have to get it. With an eunuch-like deftness of the hands , the poor mosquito is reduced from animated matter to a betel stain, its body reduced to a squishy-squashy pulp of black and white jelly. God bless the poor soul!
Ten more days look like a long time. It is the same "anticipation of a new-life" symptom thats getting the better of me. Gear up boy, for you have to live with this. They have been a part of your not so bad past. Anyways I do not want to burn the bridges either. The present state is not because of them, but due to other factors best known to you. Toss a coin and in the split of the second, listen to the heart.

Intuition

I had told him the moment I felt the voices in my head shouting to go for it. It was 22.75 then. It is 46.75 now. More than double in less than 3 weeks. A phenomenol return of 105%. He disregarded the voices and thought I was just being my joking self.
But today, I realized I had caught the voice right. The rolling stone has gathered enough moss. The ones not heeding me sigh today, and curse me for being correct.
Once, god Shiva decided to help a beggar by throwing a gold brick on the road where he was walking. Suddenly, the beggar thought that he could earn more if he acts to be blind. So he started practising at that very moment the lord threw the brick. He passed it, turning a literal 'blind eye' on his fate.
I recollect this as I see him repenting today. I smile at the misery. He pleads me to wake up the voices in my head, but the rocking horse winner wins only once!