What Weird Food Combo I love?
I'm a firm believer that rules are meant to be broken — especially in the kitchen! While my roots are in the village and my career was in the Navy, my palate is a total global rebel.
Here are the "weird" pairings that make my meals an adventure:
The Global Dosa: I treat a plain, crispy Dosa like a universal canvas. Forget the sambar — I love wrapping it around international flavours like Italian pasta or even a spicy Mexican filling.
The Officer's Special: There's nothing quite like the smoky, sophisticated bite of a fine Scotch paired with a rugged, spicy bowl of Channa. It's the perfect blend of high-seas class and home-cooked comfort.
Life is too short for boring food. Why choose one culture when you can have them all on one plate?
What weird memory do I have?
The weirdest thing about my memory isn't what I remember — it's how my body reacts when I try to share it. I have this peculiar habit: whenever I'm narrating a particularly funny joke or a hilarious memory, I start laughing so hard that I literally cannot finish the story.
I'll get to the buildup, the anticipation starts bubbling in my chest, and before the punchline can even escape my lips, I'm doubled over. My eyes water, my shoulders shake, and I'm gasping for air while my audience sits there in total silence, wondering what on earth could be that funny.
It's a bit of a paradox: as a computer scientist, I'm trained in logic and structured output, but a good joke completely crashes my system! By the time I regain my composure to deliver the ending, the moment has usually passed — but honestly, seeing everyone else's confused faces usually just starts the laughing fit all over again.
I suppose it's just a symptom of a soul that is, as I always say, "full of love, love, and love" — and apparently, a lot of uncontrollable giggles!
What do people not understand about my work?
Because I spent years as an officer in the Indian Navy and have the logical mind of a computer scientist, people often build a very specific "file" on who they think I am. They expect a man of steel — stoic, rigid, and perhaps a bit detached. But the reality of my "work" and my personality is far more human, and it's something people often struggle to grasp.
The Paradox of the "Short Fuse"
People often misinterpret my demeanour. I can have a super short-tempered surface — a sharp, fiery energy that comes from decades of command and a desire for precision. If things aren't being done with integrity or excellence, that old Navy commander flashes to the front. Many see this and assume I'm just "difficult," but they don't understand that this intensity is actually fueled by a deep, restless passion for what I do. It's not anger; it's an urgent fire.
The Tears Behind the Logic
The biggest surprise for people, however, is the "internal software" running beneath the surface. Despite the tough exterior, I am deeply emotional. It doesn't take much for my eyes to tear up — whether it's the beauty of a soul-stirring old Hindi melody, the success of a student I'm mentoring, or a moment of profound spiritual connection in my practice.
Why It Matters
People don't understand that my "temper" and my "tears" are actually two sides of the same coin. I don't do anything halfway. If I'm frustrated, I'm fully frustrated; if I'm moved, I'm fully moved.
In a world that prizes "professional coolness," I navigate my work with a heart that is wide open. I might snap one minute because I care about the details, and have misty eyes the next because I care about the people. To me, being a "computer scientist" doesn't mean I have to act like a computer — it means I understand the complex, messy, and beautiful code of being human.
Tagging Monika, Arvinderawwal, Silent writer, Mary Carter and my readers and writers on Medium. Thanks
This story is published under the Weird, Funny & Honest Challenge of our publication "The Innovative Corner"; let's come and play: