They say a DP comes in 3 types - some DPs come for a REASON, Some for a SEASON ( remember fathers day, mother day DPs !! ) & some DPs come for a lifetime (as in they just keep coming !!) ;-) This DP is bcos of a REASON.

Reason: Yesterday after a a heavy lunch my creative juices went dry ( actually they went to stomach to aid digestion!!). So I could only think of a status message like "Online - Busy growing moustache !! .. Mouthshut.com Book Fair: Last Date September 24, 2009 ! Do u have this on dashboard too ? !!!! - Very soon I saw the status message 'copied' by another 'respectable' ( is he still?) MSian. He had copied the status message exactly as it is , including the dots, exclaimation marks etc. That reminded me of the following real life incident where I witnessed such dedication in copying & thought of sharing.

By the way, this post is dedicated to that 'Respectable' ( come on, if Brutus is honourable, why cant this guy be respectable? ;-) ] MSian, Vinit (Nirvana.).

Incident : Many years ago the whole class had submitted our maths homework books to the teacher. She distributed all books but of 2 students, of which yours truly was one. As she left the class, she told us "come to the staff room & collect". I didnt smell anything wrong, as I reasoned she might have left those 2 books accidently.

At the Staff room: we both went together thinking we could just collect our books & leave. We were in for a surprise. The teacher was looking probingly at both of us & I realised leaving our books wasnt accidental.

Teacher: paulose, tell me who copied the homework?

paulose: what? Who would copy mathematics home work?

Teacher: Nobody would, but one of you has!

paulose: As far as I know, I did it on my own ( I look at my friend (RV) at this point, who has a saintly face!

Teacher: What do you have to say RV?

RV: I promise madam, I have not copied!

Teacher: Are you sure? I know for sure who has copied, but want you to accept on your own.

Paulose: I have not copied & I have not given my book to anyone.

RV: Me too, madam, I have not copied or given my book to anyone.

Teacher: seems you guys wont tell the truth on your own. RV you go out, let me speak to paulose first.

RV moved out. I am still curious what evidence she got. I am also thinking how can copying in maths be found out, considering we are to get only one answer, following same steps. Teacher calls me closer & shows me a page in the book, then shows me another page in RV's book. she points out something 'common' & I realised this can only happen due to copying. Teacher smiles like having cracked a murder mystery..

Teacher: I know you havent copied, but u sure gave your book to him.

paulose: No madam, he never asked me for the book, but he might have taken without asking, I really dont know.

Teacher: Ok you go out now & send him inside. dont come unless I call.

I went out & asked him to go in. I told with my eyes "no escape, just accept , tell the truth". I stood outside & imagined teacher giving proof to RV & he accepting it. Soon enough I heard a "paulose, come in". I enter the room to see RV standing sheepishly & teacher smiling victoriously. Teacher signalled to us to take the books & leave from the patli gali & said "next time, read & understand wat you are copying. copy such that I dont have to catch you" !

Mystery cracked: As we walked together RV said "when teacher showed me that page, I accepted. sorry I had taken ur book & copied. I shud have told you" I said "even if you had asked me, I wud have given & u wud do the same thing"

How it happened: We had this habit of writing down page numbers at the right top corner of empty pages, as soon as we took a new notebook ( hey, not the laptop, the writing book!) This was to dissuade ourselves from tearing any pages.

Now, RV in a hurry to copy the maths homework, had copied 'my page numbers' that he saw at the right corner of my notebook pages! ( unruled book, so no top margins!!!) Teacher was surprised to see sudden numbers like "22" "23" making a guest appearance in the middle of the pages. otherwise all his solving steps & answers were right. She set out find the reason behind these 'guest entries" & how did she find it was copied from my book. The books were closer just as RV & me were!!

Moral of the story: When you copy, dont show dedication to the dot !! ;-) change somethings like our film industry does ;-)