Its been a month since I updated my relationship status on a certain social networking site. Its been a month since I stood on a stage meeting people whose names I don’t recollect. Its been a month since things started seeming more convergent than divergent. Its been a month where the telecom companies have been raking in the moolah (at my expense!). Its also been a month of self-discovery, if such a term exists. And sadly its been a month which has taught me a thing or two about how difficult it sometimes is to stay far away from your loved ones.

A month ago, I thought N would change my life in more ways than I could imagine. She has… and indeed, not the way I imagined it would change. As my friend SDK puts it very aptly in his post - its all about expanding the box or sphere or whatever you call it. A while ago the box contained home, friends, work, sleep & some other insignificant bits here and there.

Now N has found space inside my box and a pretty important space. As my techie (I mean real techie) friend puts it - she's now the NMI in my microchip. It is sometimes difficult for the other bits in the box to accept when a relative newbie threatens their cheirshed territory. However, she understands that it’s the other bits, which has made me what I am today.

N probably has expanded my box (or was there enough void in the box initially?). She might have probably shrunk the other bits a bit, but she hasn’t pushed everybody out. I still find time, albeit lesser time to do things which I thought was important to me a while back and hopefully continue to do so in the future.

The most frequently used desktop applications can show how we are using our computers today. A few years ago I would have expected a Word processor or a Spreadsheet program to be definitely there in my top 5 most used programs. But with broadband becoming so commonplace, I think beyond doubt its the Web Browser which will be the most used application. Then there are those applications which run in the tray unnoticed - Anti Virus, Firewall, Spyware removal etc..

So, apart from these, which are the most used applications on my PC?

5. Notepad - You get an unexpected call, want to note down a number - Notepad's your saviour ! Well not exactly, there are many alternative notes application available. I use Tomboy Notes on my Ubuntu 8.04, which is way better as it saves without the ctrl+s.

4. VLC Media Player -  The all in one, play it all media player - and its a Freeware! Though I still stick to it only for the movies. My default video player on both my Win XP & Ubuntu.

3. Irfan View - The VLC player for images files! The best freeware image viewer available.

2. Winamp - My default music player has been the same for almost 10 years! Each new version making it bigger and better. I use Banshee on Ubuntu.

1. Gtalk - Well.. chatting is what I do these days! I use Pidgin in Ubuntu

So tell me yours..

No this is not about the wonderful but slightly graphic 2006 movie Babel.. This is about Ravi, a child who has to eke out a living by selling Peacock Feather fans outside the Hanging Gardens in Mumbai. Ravi has learnt about 10 different languages ranging from Spanish to Arabic just by listening to tourists who flock to Hanging Gardens despite not having to gone to school.

What? - No, No Way, Why me!, There's still time, I dont earn enough, I'll be the first among my friends, I dont think I am ready, Wait till I get my promotion, I am too young, Ok got my promotion but that doesnt mean anything, I still have at least 2 more years, Ok Ok I'll consider, but I need time, I am in the UK, Lemme get back first, Its winter its too cold, I am too busy with work, Ok fine give me the email-id, Yes yes I'll mail, Oops I forgot to mail!, Ok I have mailed, Call? No way.., Ok Ok I'll call, No No I cant come to India now, I have an implementation coming up, I did call by the way, My passports gone for stamping, I wont get leaves, Its May the tickets are too costly, Ok I have booked the tickets, Yes amma as you wish but its my decision-ok?

After almost 2 years of saying all of the above, it took me probably less than a minute to say YES!