Hey guys! A self taught tech peep here... I have been freelancing since I was ~14, and started learning programming at 9. I started off of my dad's old books and on his core duo laptop.
I just started at a tech startup in BLR at 15LPA, without a degree and with 2 internships. First hire of the company as a software engineer.
I originally wanted the ultra 7 32GB version. But settled due to urgency and flipkart said the sale ends in an hour (it didn't btw).
Looking at the price history, it feels like I overpaid. Thoughts? And alternative sellers which might have the ultra 7?
I am not able to submit my preference list π
About a month ago I made a post on r/IATards about starting my prep for IAT.
A few hours later I got a DM from a girl asking for a study buddy. We talked a little about exams, exchanged a few messages, and then life happened. The conversation died and we stopped talking.
I thought that was the end of it.
Then on the 1st of this month, I randomly decided to check in and ask how her preparation was going. She asked about mine. At some point we decided to keep each other accountable and make sure neither of us slacked off before the exam.
The plan was simple.
Study. Report progress. Repeat.
That lasted about five minutes.
Slowly we started talking about other things. College. Family. Friends. Life. The conversations got longer and longer until somehow we were talking every day. All day. Late into the night.
At some point I realized I was spending more time waiting for her texts than replying to everyone else's.
By this point, I'd slowly developed a crush on her. Not the dramatic movie kind. Just the realization that seeing her name pop up on my phone could instantly improve my mood.
The exam came and went.
Right after IAT, I was in Chennai with two friends. Someone suggested a trip to Bangalore. My brain immediately went to her.
I asked if she'd be willing to show us around. She said yes.
The original plan was the three of us going together. There was a guy, a gal, and me. I was very much the third wheel. Then the plan started falling apart. The gal got her periods and wasn't really up for travelling so far. The guy wasn't gonna go without her.
The plan collapsed until I was the only one still willing to go.
So I asked:
"Are you okay if it's just me?"
She was.
That's when things suddenly became very real.
Because a casual group outing had somehow turned into me travelling alone to another city to meet a girl I'd spent the last two weeks thinking about.
My friend had a concern.
A very specific concern.
"What if she's an organ harvester?"
To be fair, from her perspective, I was planning to travel to another city to meet a girl from Reddit whom I had never even called.
Not once.
I wanted to meet her in person before ever seeing each other live.
My friends (gal especially) were not entirely comfortable with this.
A video call was demanded.
I had to explain that before I was allowed to travel, my friend wanted to verify that she wasn't secretly running a kidney collection business.
To her credit, she found this hilarious and agreed immediately.
The call happened.
My friend approved.
Apparently she did not resemble an organ harvester.
With the background verification complete and my organs officially cleared for travel, I booked the bus.
The whole ride I kept wondering if she'd be disappointed when she saw me. I was playing football all dressed up right before the trip because another friend was short on players. My white pants were dirty. My shoes were dirty. I had forgotten to bring perfume.
Then, after reaching Bangalore, I got blessed by a baba who hassled me out of a 100 rupee note.
At that point I was convinced the universe was trolling me.
We had originally planned for her to pick me up from the bus stop. The bus had other plans. It was running late and the temple we were planning to see was going to close soon, so we decided it made more sense for her to finish her pradakshinas first and for us to meet afterwards.
I remember feeling disappointed at the time. This time it was me thinking something was fishy.
Looking back now, it's funny.
She finally got the pradakshinas done and texted me (I had actually started to think I was just trolled by some girl elsewhere).
I reached the meetup point and waited.
Then my phone rang.
It was her.
I picked up and started talking normally while quietly walking closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Until I could see her.
Then I told her:
"Look behind you."
She turned around.
And smiled.
Just smiled.
That was enough to erase every insecurity I'd carried with me on the bus.
We met outside the park, shared a plate of masala puri, then got a plate of puchkas. She put in the filling and water for me and even fed me some with her own hands.
We then went inside the park and, like two dumb kids, decided to climb boulders instead of taking the stairs on the other side.
She slipped and caught my hand.
And I fell for her.
Literally and figuratively.
We sat there talking maybe 20% of the time, trying to talk another 20% of the time and spending the remaining 60% sitting in silence.
Somehow the silence wasn't awkward.
We'd randomly glance at each other.
Smile.
Then immediately look away.
Like complete idiots.
She doesn't like getting photos clicked, just like me.
But we still took photos of each other.
Then we went to Malleswaram in an auto.
I was spotting motorcycles on the street.
I honestly kept blabbering about myself, but she listened to every single thing I said.
We shared a couple scoops of ice cream. She kept spilling a little bit on herself and even some on me. She'd look at the drip, smile and try to wipe it off.
It was adorable.
We caught a rickshaw and I told her to hit me on the head if I mentioned motorcycles again.
I consciously kept pointing out bikes.
After four or five offences she gave me a sweet little tap on the head.
Then she warned me she'd do worse if I continued.
Later she softly twisted my ear π
We went to a street market because she wanted to buy a hair clip. I quietly snuck back and bought her jhumkas.
We walked through Malleswaram with her holding my wrist and occasionally (not ocassionally, I am just a dumbfuck who keeps finding his way to the middle of the street looking at motorcycles) pulling me away from incoming traffic.
And this is where I made another mistake.
A few times I tried inching my fingers towards her hand.
Not enough to actually hold it.
Just enough that if she wanted to, it could happen naturally.
Then I'd panic, convincing myself I was reading too much into things and back off.
So instead of holding her hand, I spent half of Malleswaram negotiating with myself.
Looking back now, I was an idiot.
A very happy idiot.
But an idiot nonetheless.
We shared fries. Shared sugarcane juice. Then started hunting for a rickshaw to the bus depot.
We sat there worrying about me missing the bus.
She actually called the depot herself and convinced them to wait (I can't speak Kannada ofc)
I handed her the jhumkas. The smile on her face when she saw them is something I'll remember for a very long time.
After reaching the depot, I wanted to cry.
She repeatedly told me to board the bus. I just couldn't.
I told her to rush to her train first and I'd board later.
I stood there for another minute like an idiot.
The whole time there was one thing I wanted to ask.
Just a hug.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing movie-like.
Just a hug before leaving.
But every time I thought about asking, I'd convince myself she wouldn't be comfortable.
So I never asked.
Just before I climbed the bus, she told me there was something behind my left ear. She brushed my skin once, and then twisted my ear softly. We both smiled at each other.
Eventually I boarded.
The bus started moving.
A little while later I saw her walking down the street through the window. And just like that it was over.
The next day should have been fun.
I was back in Chennai with my friends.
We went to the beach.
The sunrise was beautiful.
The weather was nice.
The company was great.
And all I could think was:
"I wish she was here."
The weird part was that I wasn't even lonely.
I was surrounded by people I cared about.
People I hadn't seen in a year.
People I'd only get to spend five days with before going our separate ways again.
And yet a part of my brain was still 500km away.
The biggest thing bothering me was one stupid regret. A hug.
Not because I wanted something romantic.
Not because I wanted a movie moment.
Just because I wanted one final moment before leaving.
So I finally told her today.
Her response:
"Omggg I really wanted to but I thought maybe you wouldn't be comfortable π"
Which somehow made everything worse and better at the same time.
Worse because now I knew I should have asked.
Better because now I knew I wasn't the only idiot.
I don't want to leave Chennai.
I don't want to leave my friends.
And I definitely don't want to increase the distance between us from 500km to over 2200km.
Before leaving campus, while sitting in my friends hostel room, I just burst into tears.
Not dramatic crying.
Not sobbing.
Just tears.
The kind that show up when you're trying very hard to keep everything together.
Part of it was missing her.
Part of it was missing my friends.
Part of it was realizing that some of the happiest moments of my year were suddenly behind me.
(Yeah ik I cry easily, no need to point it out in the comments)
So I'm sitting on a train somewhere between Chennai and home.
A few days ago I was worried about an entrance exam.
A month ago she was just a random Reddit DM.
Now I'm staring out of a train window, wondering when I'll see her again.
(And my friends too, of course. Not gonna forget y'all π)
The funny thing is that I spent most of my life believing people tolerated my presence more than they enjoyed it.
Then in the span of a week, I got to spend five days with friends I hadn't seen in a year, and five hours with a girl who somehow made me wish those five hours lasted forever.
I don't know where any of this goes.
I don't know what happens after the exam results.
I don't know where either of us will end up.
I don't know if we'll be 500km apart, 2200km apart, or in the same city someday.
What I do know is that if you told me a month ago that an IAT post on Reddit would lead to all of this, I would've laughed in your face.
Life is weird.
And for once, I'm glad it is.
TLDR;
Made an IAT post.
Got a study buddy.
Forgot about her for a month.
Checked up on her preparation.
Accidentally developed a crush.
Accidentally became obsessed with her texts.
Accidentally planned a Bangalore trip.
Got investigated for organ harvesting.
Got approval.
Boarded a bus.
Forgot perfume.
Had dirty shoes.
Got scammed by a baba.
Told a girl to look behind her.
She smiled.
Shared masala puri.
Shared puchkas.
Climbed rocks.
She slipped and grabbed my hand.
I fell for her.
Literally and figuratively.
Shared ice cream.
Got my ear twisted.
Bought jhumkas.
Failed to hold her hand.
Failed to ask for a hug.
Cried on a bus.
Found out she wanted the hug too.
Cried on a train.
10/10, would get emotionally destroyed again.
About a month ago I made a post here about starting my prep for IAT.
A few hours later I got a DM from a girl asking for a study buddy. We talked a little about exams, exchanged a few messages, and then life happened. The conversation died and we stopped talking.
I thought that was the end of it.
Then on the 1st of this month, I randomly decided to check in and ask how her preparation was going. She asked about mine. At some point we decided to keep each other accountable and make sure neither of us slacked off before the exam.
The plan was simple.
Study. Report progress. Repeat.
That lasted about five minutes.
Slowly we started talking about other things. College. Family. Friends. Life. The conversations got longer and longer until somehow we were talking every day. All day. Late into the night.
At some point I realized I was spending more time waiting for her texts than replying to everyone else's.
By this point, I'd slowly developed a crush on her. Not the dramatic movie kind. Just the realization that seeing her name pop up on my phone could instantly improve my mood.
The exam came and went.
Right after IAT, I was in Chennai with two friends. Someone suggested a trip to Bangalore. My brain immediately went to her.
I asked if she'd be willing to show us around. She said yes.
The original plan was the three of us going together. There was a guy, a gal, and me. I was very much the third wheel. Then the plan started falling apart. The gal got her periods and wasn't really up for travelling so far. The guy wasn't gonna go without her.
The plan collapsed until I was the only one still willing to go.
So I asked:
"Are you okay if it's just me?"
She was.
That's when things suddenly became very real.
Because a casual group outing had somehow turned into me travelling alone to another city to meet a girl I'd spent the last two weeks thinking about.
My friend had a concern.
A very specific concern.
"What if she's an organ harvester?"
To be fair, from her perspective, I was planning to travel to another city to meet a girl from Reddit whom I had never even called.
Not once.
I wanted to meet her in person before ever seeing each other live.
My friends (gal especially) were not entirely comfortable with this.
A video call was demanded.
I had to explain that before I was allowed to travel, my friend wanted to verify that she wasn't secretly running a kidney collection business.
To her credit, she found this hilarious and agreed immediately.
The call happened.
My friend approved.
Apparently she did not resemble an organ harvester.
With the background verification complete and my organs officially cleared for travel, I booked the bus.
The whole ride I kept wondering if she'd be disappointed when she saw me. I was playing football all dressed up right before the trip because another friend was short on players. My white pants were dirty. My shoes were dirty. I had forgotten to bring perfume.
Then, after reaching Bangalore, I got blessed by a baba who hassled me out of a 100 rupee note.
At that point I was convinced the universe was trolling me.
We had originally planned for her to pick me up from the bus stop. The bus had other plans. It was running late and the temple we were planning to see was going to close soon, so we decided it made more sense for her to finish her pradakshinas first and for us to meet afterwards.
I remember feeling disappointed at the time. This time it was me thinking something was fishy.
Looking back now, it's funny.
She finally got the pradakshinas done and texted me (I had actually started to think I was just trolled by some girl elsewhere).
I reached the meetup point and waited.
Then my phone rang.
It was her.
I picked up and started talking normally while quietly walking closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Until I could see her.
Then I told her:
"Look behind you."
She turned around.
And smiled.
Just smiled.
That was enough to erase every insecurity I'd carried with me on the bus.
We met outside the park, shared a plate of masala puri, then got a plate of puchkas. She put in the filling and water for me and even fed me some with her own hands.
We then went inside the park and, like two dumb kids, decided to climb boulders instead of taking the stairs on the other side.
She slipped and caught my hand.
And I fell for her.
Literally and figuratively.
We sat there talking maybe 20% of the time, trying to talk another 20% of the time and spending the remaining 60% sitting in silence.
Somehow the silence wasn't awkward.
We'd randomly glance at each other.
Smile.
Then immediately look away.
Like complete idiots.
She doesn't like getting photos clicked, just like me.
But we still took photos of each other.
Then we went to Malleswaram in an auto.
I was spotting motorcycles on the street.
I honestly kept blabbering about myself, but she listened to every single thing I said.
We shared a couple scoops of ice cream. She kept spilling a little bit on herself and even some on me. She'd look at the drip, smile and try to wipe it off.
It was adorable.
We caught a rickshaw and I told her to hit me on the head if I mentioned motorcycles again.
I consciously kept pointing out bikes.
After four or five offences she gave me a sweet little tap on the head.
Then she warned me she'd do worse if I continued.
Later she softly twisted my ear π
We went to a street market because she wanted to buy a hair clip. I quietly snuck back and bought her jhumkas.
We walked through Malleswaram with her holding my wrist and occasionally (not ocassionally, I am just a dumbfuck who keeps finding his way to the middle of the street looking at motorcycles) pulling me away from incoming traffic.
And this is where I made another mistake.
A few times I tried inching my fingers towards her hand.
Not enough to actually hold it.
Just enough that if she wanted to, it could happen naturally.
Then I'd panic, convincing myself I was reading too much into things and back off.
So instead of holding her hand, I spent half of Malleswaram negotiating with myself.
Looking back now, I was an idiot.
A very happy idiot.
But an idiot nonetheless.
We shared fries. Shared sugarcane juice. Then started hunting for a rickshaw to the bus depot.
We sat there worrying about me missing the bus.
She actually called the depot herself and convinced them to wait (I can't speak Kannada ofc)
I handed her the jhumkas. The smile on her face when she saw them is something I'll remember for a very long time.
After reaching the depot, I wanted to cry.
She repeatedly told me to board the bus. I just couldn't.
I told her to rush to her train first and I'd board later.
I stood there for another minute like an idiot.
The whole time there was one thing I wanted to ask.
Just a hug.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing movie-like.
Just a hug before leaving.
But every time I thought about asking, I'd convince myself she wouldn't be comfortable.
So I never asked.
Just before I climbed the bus, she told me there was something behind my left ear. She brushed my skin once, and then twisted my ear softly. We both smiled at each other.
Eventually I boarded.
The bus started moving.
A little while later I saw her walking down the street through the window. And just like that it was over.
The next day should have been fun.
I was back in Chennai with my friends.
We went to the beach.
The sunrise was beautiful.
The weather was nice.
The company was great.
And all I could think was:
"I wish she was here."
The weird part was that I wasn't even lonely.
I was surrounded by people I cared about.
People I hadn't seen in a year.
People I'd only get to spend five days with before going our separate ways again.
And yet a part of my brain was still 500km away.
The biggest thing bothering me was one stupid regret. A hug.
Not because I wanted something romantic.
Not because I wanted a movie moment.
Just because I wanted one final moment before leaving.
So I finally told her today.
Her response:
"Omggg I really wanted to but I thought maybe you wouldn't be comfortable π"
Which somehow made everything worse and better at the same time.
Worse because now I knew I should have asked.
Better because now I knew I wasn't the only idiot.
I don't want to leave Chennai.
I don't want to leave my friends.
And I definitely don't want to increase the distance between us from 500km to over 2200km.
Before leaving campus, while sitting in my friends hostel room, I just burst into tears.
Not dramatic crying.
Not sobbing.
Just tears.
The kind that show up when you're trying very hard to keep everything together.
Part of it was missing her.
Part of it was missing my friends.
Part of it was realizing that some of the happiest moments of my year were suddenly behind me.
(Yeah ik I cry easily, no need to point it out in the comments)
So I'm sitting on a train somewhere between Chennai and home.
A few days ago I was worried about an entrance exam.
A month ago she was just a random Reddit DM.
Now I'm staring out of a train window, wondering when I'll see her again.
(And my friends too, of course. Not gonna forget y'all π)
The funny thing is that I spent most of my life believing people tolerated my presence more than they enjoyed it.
Then in the span of a week, I got to spend five days with friends I hadn't seen in a year, and five hours with a girl who somehow made me wish those five hours lasted forever.
I don't know where any of this goes.
I don't know what happens after the exam results.
I don't know where either of us will end up.
I don't know if we'll be 500km apart, 2200km apart, or in the same city someday.
What I do know is that if you told me a month ago that an IAT post on Reddit would lead to all of this, I would've laughed in your face.
Life is weird.
And for once, I'm glad it is.
TLDR;
Made an IAT post.
Got a study buddy.
Forgot about her for a month.
Checked up on her preparation.
Accidentally developed a crush.
Accidentally became obsessed with her texts.
Accidentally planned a Bangalore trip.
Got investigated for organ harvesting.
Got approval.
Boarded a bus.
Forgot perfume.
Had dirty shoes.
Got scammed by a baba.
Told a girl to look behind her.
She smiled.
Shared masala puri.
Shared puchkas.
Climbed rocks.
She slipped and grabbed my hand.
I fell for her.
Literally and figuratively.
Shared ice cream.
Got my ear twisted.
Bought jhumkas.
Failed to hold her hand.
Failed to ask for a hug.
Cried on a bus.
Found out she wanted the hug too.
Cried on a train.
10/10, would get emotionally destroyed again.
Elora is also not safe from these crawlers (I am a BS DS student too). At least have the courtesy to pick up your own trash ffs.
It's been a crazy ride guys... And for some of us, the ride will end in less than 8 hours. This is my second and final attempt at IAT, and before I disappear until the exam is over, I want to say something that's more important than any rank, score, or college.
The result of this paper can't process the breadth and depth of the human mind.
Regardless of the result, remember that you are the only one on the planet with your mind. And you don't need to be a scientist to help the world. Some need to be singers, to save lost souls, to remind people of their values, their families and their loved ones. And even if you don't become a scientist, or a singer, you are still a valued person of society (unless you're a goddamn criminal, get out y'all).
I joined PW JEE to prepare for the IAT. There I met this guy. I had a female friend and he was her boyfriend. Usually people get jealous, when their partner makes a friend on the other side. This guy did not. Every time I saw him (not quite frequently, as he was a NEET student), I would get a very warm "Good morning" or something appropriate for the time.
One day, in the self study room, he sat beside me, trying to make talk. I was a bit uncomfortable because I did not normally talk to him, so I got a bit cold. I didn't see him again after.
One week later, the room was gloomy. I had to ask 3 people before I understood what happened. He hung himself, in the middle of the night. No notes, no text, he just quietly left us all. This was before NEET even took place. No one knew if it was academic, romantic, or something entirely else. None of us got to see him ever again.
I regret not talking to him that day.
I don't want to see that happen here again.
So on my last post before the exam, and in respect to Men's Mental Health Month, I ask you all (men and women), to understand the value of your life, well you can't value anything properly until it's gone, and after that only cry for it to come back. My DMs are always open to anyone looking to share their heartaches, their problems and basically anything else. Remember, suicide is never the goddamn solution.
Attached are the keychains I made for his loved ones and friends (he LOVES cats), and the painting I made when his death was pulling me in.
https://youtu.be/yE00OsKvvV0?si=NHWRlaME7LkDH84Y
Watching this banger rn...
Kacchi sadak π Anyone else at Bhagwanpura? (Muzaffarpur)
Stuck here since 2 in the morning...
I am out of state for 3 days ππ
FUCK YOU JAC.
Regardless... What should I do?
Title.... And FUCK YOU JAC
So I accidentally hit my friend's bike while parking my motorcycle. It had rained recently and I slipped off while climbing the ramp and pulled the throttle.
Damage:
Windscreen scuffed
Left bar end scratched
Rear brake lever bent
Instrument bracket broken
Right side panel scuffed
Small dent on fuel tank
Any idea on spare parts pricing?
