Twist of Fate!!!

कभी कभी तो लगे ज़िन्दगी में रही न ख़ुशी और न मज़ा
कभी कभी तो लगे हर दिन मुश्किल और हर पल एक सज़ा
.....................................................................................
लेकिन रात के बाद ही तो सवेरा होता हें ........................

Remember these lines from Jaane tu ya Janne Na??? I do, and today I absolutely realise what it means. Let me explain.
We have 5 days holidays starting last yesterday. And I could have easily gone home yesterday. But I had a small problem. I had to go to the University and give my marklist for revision and collect the revised marklist. I decided to go to the University, surrender my original marklist, and if possible, collect my new marklist and go home at noon. I had of course, envisioned the perfect situation where there would be no delay between the two. But my oh my, you wouldn't believe who I met on the way.
Say hello again to my old friend, Mr. Uncertainty, whom I like to call the Devil's Favourite Demon. I handed in my marklist, and I heard the officer say, "Come back tomorrow".
Oh Lord.

My friend, Mr.uncertainty...modelled after Spring heeled jack

My breath ceased momentarily. The whole office was filled with a resounding silence, the eerie type which is often synonymous with death itself. The world stopped spinning. The entire universe itself, stopped dead in its tracks (if the Universe actually moves, that is).
The only thing I could hear was the loud crackling laughter from the Demon. His eyes alive with joy, his mouth opened wide in delight, a loud, rasping laugh echoing from his throat, his blood red tongue stuck out at me. And as the reality sunk in that I would not be able to go home today, I saw him mouth the words, "I got you!!!"
I have no words to describe how I felt as I walked out of the University building. I wanted to grab that demon, lock him in an excruciatingly painful kimura lock and rip him apart, limb by skinny limb. I carried that anger with me to bed last night, and I woke up today in a foul mood. To only add fuel to the fire, the current went out, and I was left with absolutely nothing to do. I had a book on web designing to read, but it was so complicated I wanted to rip it to shreds (library book, couldn't do it...). If there is one thing that can potentially turn a sane man into an insane lunatic, it is boredom.
But at noon, I went to the University. Knowing full well that the University has no real time limits and all, I was doubtful if I'd get it today. All the way I was telling myself (yes, I talk to myself, a LOT...) that it was no big deal, if I didn't get it today, I'd go and get it some other day, and the like. But I was praying and I had my fingers crossed for the opposite.
As I reached the University and asked the madam about it, she went and got it. I breathed a sigh of relief. I was going to get it today. And as I glanced at my marklist, I saw something. B had been changed to S.
( S>A+>A>B+>B...).And I got a great GPA of 9.43. Just 0.05 below the topper in our class. I was still second in my class, but I had reached cloud nine in one leap. Oh Lord, what can I say. I love you so so so very much.
And from this I learned one thing. Every down has an up. Every night has a day. Every tear is followed by a smile. Have faith in God, work hard and relax. Everything will be fine.
And, to conclude, to the Demon....
I know you and I will clash again. And it can be as early as tomorrow. But whatever you have up your sleeve, I say bring it on. Because someone said...
"That which doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger..."
So, you can just go to h....
Hey, don't draw out your sword and all, I was kidding. Can't we get along??????????????????

On Uncertainty...

Uncertainty.

This is one of the most despicable words in the English language if you ask me. It is the exact opposite of order and is synonymous with chaos. But why do I dislike and possibly hate uncertainty?

Because I thrive on order. I thrive in a structure, and I was raised in a structure. This makes me increasingly intolerable of chaos and uncertainty. But to my utter dismay, everything around me, my whole life seems to be in turmoil.

Well, to call it turmoil would be a gross hyperbole, but you get my point. Nothing is ever set in stone around here. Right now what is causing me to lose focus is the sudden barrage of strikes and a possible postponement of  a test.

Allow me to explain.

A test was supposed to happen in the beginning of next week. And I had plans for the weekend. Plans which involved spending time with my relatives back home. And like always, my plans were thrashed by the wicked demon called Uncertainty. But, over the years, I have learnt a very valuable lesson from my encounters with this demon. And it is the fact that if you have a proper plan, and the will, you can look the demon in the eye and say "Bring it on".

And that was exactly what I did. I made it a point to study, and I did just that for the past one week. I decided that I would finish my portions beforehand so that nothing could ruin my weekend. And I was proud of what I had done. I was proud of the fact that I had beaten the demon at his own game, and I had seized control of my life.

But alas, pride comes before a fall.

That, and I forgot the demon is shrewd.

He did the one thing he could to throw me off course. He spread a rumour that the test would be put off. And that really caught me off guard. I didn't know what to do. I lost my drive to study because my logic told me that the test would be put off. But the critic in me just pops the question stochastically (randomly)  - "What if it isn't?" You can tell me all you want that I should study because it will never go "waste", and I know I would do the same if I were in your shoes and you mine. But the thing is whoever is in my position, knows it is not easy. When you are confronted with the possibility of a postponement, you lose half the vigour to work. And when that possibility becomes a near-damn probability, you lose all the will. It is a fact. Not necessarily a good thing, but a thing nevertheless.

This day is over, and tomorrow, the uncertainty ends. Tomorrow, the dust settles and the demon's ploy ends. Tomorrow, whatever happens, I am going home. I am determined to have a good time no matter what. But Donald Trump's words come to mind,

"See the big picture. But be prepared for the picture to change."

I think of it as a slightly different phrase,

"Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst."