A (Non)Interesting person

Recently, I met one of my long forgotten acquaintances here in Melbourne, near the KFC outlet at Elizabeth St.  This guy was a friend of a friend of mine.  When I first met him nearly 1.5 yrs back, first impression was that, too loud spoken to strangers, a condescending attitude, too much to take in the first meet. This time around, he started to talk about the ISKCON temple in Melbourne and the virtues of praying, good thoughts, being a brahmin etc etc.  I have nothing against ISKCON or have nothing for them, to me, they exist in a parallel universe. 

This guy was asking me how I manage to do Sandhya vandhanam in Australia, where do I get my poonal here, is Sandhya Vandhanam possible both in the morning and in the evening ?  Too much of personal questions … He is a brahmin or claims to be, that is how I think of it.  I am not able to do Sandhya Vandhanam for a long time now, that does not make me a non – brahmin.  He went on about he submitted a project for review in his univ in just 7 hrs whereas others took nearly 2 months to complete it (!!), could be true, for all that I know.  He also went on to say that he quit his software engineer job in the USA to come here to study, again, could be true, for all that I know. 

I looked in the mirror today morning while shaving, I certainly dont look like a Ilicha vaayan.  I know I dont.  In this world, where everyone’s son or daughter is abroad on a project or working for Microsoft, Cisco, studied at UCLA or UIUC, this guy was pretending to be the ONE who accomplished.  Bravo, for being the complete ONE.   He went on about his girlfriends, Indian and Australian, to a point where I could not bear it … And, ultimately, was saved by the bell, rather call from my Manager and had to run off to work. 

Seriously, Bhoomi maatha thaanga maata, intha maathiri makkal irunthaa.