What Next?

Hmm, so it’s been six months that my book was released. And it has been in quite a few bestsellers lists. It was fun interacting with all my readers, doing reading sessions for the book and everything. I had been… practically on vacation for the past 8 months (if we don’t consider how terribly sick I fell for countless number of times and how many times i was in and out of the hospitals.) But now, when everything is over, and i sit here, the question arises – now what? I do enjoy writing like nothing else, but well, lets face it – it does not pay that well. And all my money reserves are now empty. The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning – I NEED A JOB! And once again I found myself signing in for Naukri.com and monster. I updated my CV for architecture and started applying. Then, I felt an idea tingling in my mind – what if I applied for a job in creative writing???!! 7 minutes laterI had a new CV ready – Rahul Saini – creative writer. And I floated that on the net.
Three days later I got a call from Wipro (!!!!!!!!) They told me it was an opening for some content developer or something. Now those of you, who know me, would be aware of the fact that I am ...technically challenged. I have difficulty updating my blog, talk of working for an IT company as a ‘content developer’!!!!!! Anyway, being myself, I said yes, as I generally love jumping into the unknown. So they asked me a few questions over the phone, like what according to me, was creative writing, and what content writing was. I told then what I thought about both. Then I was told that in a few days time, I would be given a call and would be asked to write an article on a topic that would deal with ‘Information Security.’
Today morning was when I got the call. The topic was four factor authentication. I was given one hour to write. This is what I wrote. Enjoy ;)

Information Security. When I first heard the term, I felt that it must be something computer related. But to my surprise, it was not so. It was not only computer related. And not only that, unlike the computers, it was something that dated back in history as far as 50 B.C. Yes, it is said that Julius Caesar invented the first information security system that was called the ‘Caesar Cipher’ which would prevent his messages from being read (secure the information) if it fell into wrong hands. Since that time, this study has developed and evolved tremendously. And with the invention of computers, which along with all the other things they did, stored like astronomical amount of data, the rate evolution of this subject shot up like anything. Today, it’s not a simple subject anymore. It’s a complex study with numerous sub-heads. One such sub-head is four factor authentication.
Now what is four factor authentication. The name clearly suggests that it has to do with the authentication (verification/checking) of some four factors. We would get into the idea of what exactly is four factor authentication in a while, but first let us figure out why do we need this authentication or check. Lets say we have this person with us here, whose name is … Don. And he is trying to make this unusually huge transaction in his back account using … Internet banking lets say. Now how do we make sure that this person is the actual bank account holder? (For all we know he might have seen movies like Catch Me If You Can and Mission Impossible, and is a crook.) This four factor authentication is a check to make sure that this Don, is the right, trustable person or not.
Now, for year we have been following the two factor authentication system based on something you know (like your pin code or a pass word) and something you have (like some ID proof.) then later, with the advancement of technology, came in the third factor – something you are (like your biological or physical attribute – your fingerprint, your palm print, your iris pattern, your voice print, or even your DNA. Just like we have seen in the movies like Charlie’s Angles and similar) But, sometimes these three checks are not enough. So, recently have another check added. The somewhere you are check.

Now I am waiting for their reply!!!!!!

P.S – I have removed all the technical details. Didn’t wana bore you guys.

A Dream Fulfilled!

Out of the many dreams I have (like all of us), one was to see someone reading my book some day in a train. I still get goose pimples on the mare thought of it. It actually came true!!! I was my way back from Kolkota. I had fallen in love with the place and the people there. They make the most amazing sweets (really, I am not exaggerating, it makes your soul smile – its so sweet), politest people they are, so cultured and civilized. Anyway, I can go on and on forever on this, but coming back to the point – the dream coming true. I was in the train, happy to know that my WL 25 had been confirmed to B3 23, and the best part – it was a Jab We Met seat, next to this huge window in Rajdhani. I sat down smiling looking out of the window. Things were going so great. Just then this gentleman came and requested me that if I could shift to another seat as I was traveling alone and they were some 5 people traveling together who could not manage to get seats together. I was so fulfilled from my Kolkota trip that I didn’t feel like saying no. So with my 4 heavy bags, I went all the way to the next coach (as informed) only to realize that their seat was not in the next coach but in the same coach only – there had been some confusion. Sweating like anything, I marched back to B3 again and located the birth I was supposed to occupy – B44. As I was putting my luggage on the upper birth, I saw my book lying on the table thingy we have in the trains right between the two windows in every compartment. “Hey! That’s my book!” I said to myself, “and when did I take it out of my bag?” and then it struck me - it was someone else’s copy and someone else was reading it!!!!!!! (The thought did not come so instinctively as the only hands in which I had always seen my book were mine.)
“Hey! Where did you get that book from!” I exclaimed. I was louder then I usually am, oozing with joy. All the fatigue had just evaporated.
The young man sitting next to the window gave me a weird look; “I bought it from Delhi some days back.”
“When! And from where?!!” I knew the book had been out of stock most of the places. From the Delhi railway station.” That is all he said. He didn’t ask anything else. But I just could not help telling him – “I wrote that!” with a huge smile on my face.
Now he had an expression of… confusion and … well, I think he felt that I was just trying to fool him. “No, you have not!” Yes, believe me, these were his words, or that was what a voice said in my head.
“I have,” I said. Can you beat that? I had to prove that I had written the book I have written. May be I should have put my picture in the book. “Wait, let me show you.” I opened my bag to show him some 6 copes of my book I happened to carry.
His name was Ram (yes i did get flashbacks from Main Hoon Na - Major Ram)and he did not seem to believe what was happening. But it was great fun! He took some pictures of me as he said it was for the first time he met an author whose book he was reading. And I took his pictures coz he was my first reader who I saw reading my book in a train!!!
It was after like some 30 minutes later that he told me something about himself that overwhelmed me way more than he was by my presence in the compartment he was traveling – he turned that he worked for the Indian Air Force!!!!!!! Meeting an Air Force person is an honour, talk of the one who appreciates the book you have written!!! It was a dream that came true with a double bonus!
So, once again, for Mr. Ram and his Friend/senior officer (as I could sense it) Mr. Bhupinder (If I remember the name correctly – I suffer form a weird case of amnesia), thank you so much for making my dream come true. It was truly fantastic meeting you both. And sorry for forcing you for the morning ‘photo session’ when you eagerly wanted to move out of the train. This is a set of memories that is gonna stay with me forever (despite of the amnesia;) And by the way, I have been trying to find you on Orkut and Facebook, but no luck. I hope you still have my contact and would be sending the pictures, as I want the picture you got clicked with me. They are more important for me then you can ever possibly imagine. And I am waiting for your email id also, to send the ones I clicked.
And yes! Shekhar! If you happen to read this! (I met him on my way to Kolkota) I am still waiting for you to contact me! Don’t you want the pictures I clicked for you? please shoot me a mail.

Those (24) Small Lil Things...

It’s in fashion. And I have been asked by 24 people (and that is the figure I always take as a benchmark – the number of votes required to convince me to do something that I might not want to do willingly). So, I have finally decided to write a blog!

Lets start with the story of the struggle (as the struggle is always the fun part) - the struggle to bring colour back to my life. It had been going on for 1 full year then - the dull boring life with zero enticement. Running early to office, coming home late every evening (yes, that is how it goes for architects, and quite a lot of other professions I guess). It was one such late quite evening at home that I sat down, utterly frustrated and exhausted, and started to make a list of all the things that I had always dreamt of doing. And in less then half an hour, I had a list of 24 things that I had always wanted to do in front of me (that was when I took the figure as a standard – a figure big enough to make you realize that something needs to be done.)

I decided to take the first five things (first) and try do achieve them as soon as possible (this is how our generation is no? Impatient. It’s in our blood. We need everything in just no time at all!) Anyway, those five things were –

• Write a novel (a romantic comedy, as no one seems to write one in India.)

• Work for a Hindi motion picture (preferably a commercial Hindi movie).

• Have an exhibition of my paintings.

• Go on a relaxing holiday every year.

• Learn to play a musical instrument (preferably piano)

Today, 1.5 yrs later, I look at the list, and I see that I have successfully achieved 3 out of 5 things. I still have to go on a relaxing holiday, and I still need to learn how to play a piano. So I guess some colour has started to show in life. But it has come at a cost. But then, in today’s world, what doesn’t (come at a cost)?

Here is the blurb [the back cover text, to make things simple ;)] for my debut novel Those Small Lil Things – in life and love.

Have you ever known a guy who would gift his girlfriend soap? Well, say hello to Raj, a young architect, who is a huge film buff and believes that life, is full of ‘filmy angles’. He hates his job and has an almost evil boss. He has a shoddy love life, is heart broken and feels that he is the loneliest person on the face of this earth.
It’s a story connecting all those small little incidents in one’s life that one never forgets.
It’s a journey through growing up. A journey from love, to out of it. Through joy, sadness and anger. About childhood friendship blooming into love. About the one you love not loving you back. About friends making each other happy, and about friends making each other sad – about friends fighting. It’s about being completely sure about things, and at the same time, being utterly confused about them. It’s about school, college and professional life. It’s a lot about the heart, and its desires.
It’s a story about finding it tough to adjust at times, and then missing it later when they are over.

P.S – you can read an excerpt on my website www.rahulsaini.in and feel completely free to put in comments. Say anything you like. Anything at all! Even silence is welcome. Just show it.
P.P.S - the above note is not a part of the blurb.