Feb 3 / Day 29

The usual Monday, Overloaded by fact that DSG took a leave and I had to cover his load. It was day 3 at gym.

Feb 2 / Day 28

A lazier sunday, Returned to my room which involved a 6hrs journey. Met a friend en-route.  

Feb 1 / Day 27

A lazy Saturday, can't get lazier than this.

65th Republic Day

26 Jan/ Day 21  

                I am a proud Indian, an Indian who believes in following traditions, an Indian who takes pride in the versatility of the Indian demographics, an Indian who stands tall to defend the culture and heritage of the nation, an Indian who is intrigued by the history of Bharat; but also an Indian who seeks that republic day should not coincide with the Sundays.

                With my white shirt not clean enough, I had to settle for a grey stripped shirt and black cotton jeans.  The speech that followed the flag hosting lacked the spark a republic day speech should have and the snacks (Samosa and chutni)  were limited enough to keep our trio hungry throughout the Lack-luster cultural program.           

                We were free by half-past twelve. I, along with a few colleagues wasted around 250bucks on a Salman Khan starrer, Jai Ho. cranked after the torturous three hours at the multiplux, I visited my Aunt (bua, SKP).

25 Jan/Day 20

                A lazy day at my uncles place. I made my sis watch 'Ruins' after she told me that she aint afraid of horror.  Later that night, on her Insistence,  I read a short story named 'The Surgeon' by "Roald Dahl"

24 Jan/ Day 19

                Friday, supposed to be my 'kalti-divas'; this time though with Sunday working I am suppose to stay back for this weekend. The day went smoothly. The lectures and practical's for third year are now a routine. 

                I visited my uncle (RMT).

23 Jan/ Day 18

                Came unprepared for my 8.30 lecture only to find it a typing mistake for my 9.30 lecture.  I prepared hastily in the additional hour I had. Lecture went well (bump-less :P ).  

                I had my lunch quickly, on Thursdays and Fridays my time table allows me only twenty minutes of lunch break.  After the second lecture, I had double practical's; one my own and other makeshift arrangement for ESR. Before we could walk back to home, we were entrusted with another responsibility, a major one; to organize a workshop in our college with speakers from reputed institutes

22 Jan/ Day 17

                 Was so busy that I wrote this account on 23rd. I had five hours of load today (of 7 hrs 55min working) with the last lecture of day Included. While walking back to room, we planned a small socializing party with the three of us (DUP, DSB and I) along with our senior-turned-colleague (DSG). We had dinner at a small dhaba atop a hill.

21 Jan/ Day 16

              Lab assistant tried his level best to make me regret the incident at his level. That could have been enough on the superficial front, but it was nothing in the broader sense of mind. The minuscule issue that took form of mammoth (with everyone, right from HOD to the peon discussing the matter), pours light the 'dirty politics' that take place in the educational institute (at least those located in rural parts of Maharashtra).

                I had heavy afternoon, a prac followed by a lecture. The practical went as dumb as those before, and I had OTSDDP in the lecture. The power supply I carried with projector did not work. 

                In the evening I started typing this blog. (till date the blog was written on back pages of my rough notebook)

20 Jan/ Day 15

                Hmmm, week 03. I was expecting a full start, was disappointed to find a new timetable. The lab was not ready for the first practical.

                The " friction"  with lab assistant last Friday, earned me a trip to HOD's cabin. On the walk back to my lab, I kept wondering about the shallowness a man's goal and character can have.

                The news of Republic day cutting my weekend trip was confirmed, it was expected that all the staff (teaching and non-teaching) were expected to attend Republic Day (sunday).

19 Jan/ Day 14

                Day of return journey. All I accomplished till late afternoon was be lazy and watch prison break. Met a friend on return journey (MAP), who helped me buy a semi-formal shoes. 

18 Jan/ Day 13

                Met my BE guide (DPP) in the evening along with my BE project partner (DAC). I had spent my entire morning creating a BOI bank account. The night ended sadly though with Liverpool draw at Anfield.

17 Jan/ Day 12

                There are two things special about Fridays, one is the fact that I have five hours of load, other being I have to catch 5.20 CST fast, to ensure reaching home on time (by 9.20).

                The lecture was "as usual", during practical I had a few  alterations with lab assistant over laptop charging. The incident was nothing  but a case of misunderstanding for me.

                I had a near escape with bad luck, when I reached the station at 5.15, during the auto ride from college to station I had given up the hope of making it on time.

16 Jan/Day 11

                My first 'real' lecture, this time around fully prepared with projector. Lecture went well, actually it surpassed my expectations.  The practical that followed was 'PZP'  (popat zhala popat), a couple of student from a batch of more than 20 came, pleaded me to leave them early, I was kind enough to just let them leave after marking the attendance. A few instance later, another guy from their class turned up, asking for attendance. I was not amused, and made him sit for the practical. 

15 Jan/Day 10

                 A kind of free day, Just a practical after lunch. I spent entire morning preparing slides for my next lecture. I had planned to take maximum lectures on presentation.

                I made a small mess of myself, while checking  the journals with my fountain pen (figuratively ! not literally). The wall clock in the lab was a few minutes ( eleven to be exact) fast, the question was to leave the students early or not ?

                I made my first monitoring rounds at Mechanical department in the evening session.

14 Jan / Day 9

      Makar-Sankranti, lazy day at uncles place. (Along with the 'til-gud' ;) )

13 Jan/Day 8

                First class of my career.  Despite my futile attempts, it started as 'hat-pai' day.  Then while getting dressed , I found myself fat enough to be unable to slip my sleek black trousers and ended up  wearing a make shift faded black jeans.

                I was underprepared for my first lecture (I never thought anyone would turn up on the first day at 8.30). A lone student turned up for the lecture, I had almost made him go without attendance, when around  9.15 a dozen more poured. Train being late was primary excuse, I granted them  attendance.

                The second lecture of my life came as make-shift lecture, my evening lecture being proponed to just before recess. After the lecture I was hoping that I did not make a mess of it.

                The first practical was 'slob', all I managed was to make to make a couple of students who had turned up, to write their  first  write-up (Study practical ! :P) 

                Left at evening to visit my uncle (@panvel). 

12 Jan/ Day 7 (Sunday )

                 I had planned to take a one change journey via Dadar, dad suggested me to take vasai-kopar route (3 trains :P) . The journey turned out to be a rib crushing experience. The rush in train and the two bags I was carrying made me feel like being in hell. I was afraid that laptop in my bag might get damaged.

                The journey from Vasai to Kopar was no better. I found myself standing again for whole journey, accompanied by a couple carrying crying child to my left and a over enthusiastic devotee on my right playing devotional songs at the extreme sound his 'china' mobile could produce.  

                The journey from Kopar to my destination was a pleasant one.

11 Jan / Day 6

Woke up late, almost around 11. The plans for weekend remained on paper (I was unable to create a BOI account for salary)

10 Jan / Day 5

A consecutive 'No bath' day ( 'hath-pai' day as VPL used to describe them during our masters course) ! This time the culprit was lack of electricity and need to reach college at 8.30. (the college rule demands that all staff member should complete min 40hrs/week , and 8 hrs/day) so that we could leave by 4.30.

I left the college, reached station, caught 5.20 CST fast everything went smooth until Kopar, where the up MEMU was delayed by an hour causing me to reach home by 10.30.

9 Jan / Day 4

First day at our new room. Had a dry start to the day, cold weather and lack of water heater were the culprits responsible for out "No Bath". I was dejected to find that the weekend plan was in hazel as the friends in question had other priorities.

The day also marked addition of monitoring responsibilities to our shoulder (DSB and I). The first meeting of the monitoring committee was marred by bad English and task of pointless monitoring of punctuality rather than quality was assigned. (in facebook memies language, the meeting would be aptly described as 'defuq?' )

8 Jan / Day 3

We had decided to move to our new abode (1RK flat rented on top of three story building). What transpired in morning session was funny. DUK came to my lab at ten minutes pass ten in state of utter panic. Apparently he had received a call from the other college (at Pune) for UGC post Interview. He was due for interview at 1pm and with no trains till 1.30 he was stranded. He took local to Khopoli with hope of catching a bus from there to Pune. (His second day in college was marked as leave without pay, LWP).

He returned late that night dejected at being kept on hold, but satisfied that he tried his best.  

7 Jan / Day 2

we were joined by another classmate turned colleague (DUK), who was unsure about accepting teaching position at our college (He was half tempted to wait a day and give interview at another college with UGC post and 46k pay). The day passed as we were put to different labs with HOD, who politely asked us to improve our 'Seating capacity'.

The only bright side was the cost of lunch and dinner (30 and 40 rs). The day passed as we speculated the busy schedule once the semester started (18hrs of weakly load) and divided the syllabus for half subject we were going to teach.

6 Jan / Day 1

Somehow, even with a deep shadow clouding my heart, I managed to get up and prepare for my first day at college. I was accompanied by my masters classmate (DSB) who coincidentally was going to be my colleague. The first half of the day was passed as I completed the office formalities. The only joy or faint sense of satisfaction occurred when I miscalculated my salary as 46k. The disappointment clouded my mind again as the appointment letter, received later, reveled my salary to be a meager 32k minus the PF, IT and other such stuff.

I ended day with trip to my uncles house.  

Introduction (why I choose to be AP)

Pursuit of 'the' job, the ultimate satisfaction to heart is never as simple as it looks. Many a times its marred by the shear amount of failures that come across in search for "that" job. A masters degree in hand, a dream of research and jobless stint of six months is what sums my life before I scummed to the pressure and took a contractual (ad-hoc) job as Assistant Professor at a remotely located college in Mumbai University. The built up to the job was nerve wreaking, a few good friends said "wtf! are you doing" , some friends thought it was good for me, some just congratulated (giving a feeling of me being their fringe friend, and they are not that bothered about what I do in life). A small voice somewhere inside my head, ok lets be honest from somewhere around my heart, kept asking "what next ?".