Survival of the Resilient

I looked out of the window to see the torrential downpour still there. I decided to keep my bags there, so I got out of the office with just an umbrella. Just seconds had passed since I’d stepped out and I was wet through! Looking beyond the road, I saw the waves hitting the path to the island durgah and as usual, the sea tempted me. Wet anyways, I shut my umbrella and started walking towards it. Kids and oldies all alike, men n women from all faiths thronged here. They were showered with smiles!!!

I observed multifarious people but still remember a family; a couple in their mid 30s perhaps, and a kid of around 10.

“Kitta pani honeka nai? Baba! Tum to poora bhiga honeka.Aur bhi badhta kya pani?”

“Aur nahi to kya? Wo Salim bolneka ye rasta bhi poora pani ke neechu jaata hai!”...

I later met them at the bus stop. I waited for the bus because I knew the trains would never run on time in such rains. The guy came up to me and asked, “Miyaan, Dadar station se Kurla janeku train milenga na?”

I replied with a nod. A bit of chat and I learned that they hailed from Hyderabad and were here at his brother’s place. And he learnt that I too was supposed to go via Dadar. Few more minutes flew by. But no sight of the bus. And now his kid had started to shiver in the cool breeze of the evening blowing over the sea. He called for a taxi, offered me a lift, but I convince him how I won’t get a place to sit in the bus if not for that stop! A shake of the hand and they left with smiles on their faces!!!

I looked at my watch. 6:52 pm. I was going to be late. Wife would be crazy again! I made a mental note to buy her favourite mogre ka gajra on my way home!

Just the the silver lining appears on the horizon- Bus # 385!!!

Slow moving traffic, wet clothes, shut windows! But nothing can prevent me from a good dose of music!

It was some time later that my cell phone rang which got me out of my trance. It was her.

“Haan dear bolo! Aaj bus se aa rahaa hoon.”

A concerned sound of hers asked me if all was right! I confirmed my well being and it was then that I came to know that a serial blasts have rocked the city again just about 10 minutes back. Three places, one of them near Dadar station. My mind started racing, taking me to a different world! The very fact that I could have been there, and how I had escaped it by a whisker. Then the thoughts of the Hyderabadi family. It was too much of pain to imagine the smiling family to be amidst that debris. I could never find out what happened to them...

I logged on to FB for updates. It was being flooded with angered comments.

Taking a deep breath, I plunged into thoughts. The aeni mentis.

Tomorrow I’ll read of the blasts as a thing of the past. Yet another black Wednesday, just like the other black Tuesdays or Fridays.

Then I’ll see the resilient Mumbaikars getting back on track and hear of their heroics and bravery. And the famous Mumbai-spirit!

And the third day, it’ll be back to the scams! Nothing would change. Not till the next attacks. But that too would be just a couple of days. Nothing will change even then.

I had just survived a bomb blast! It could very much have been the last ride of my life had I taken it!

Survival! Strange word. Even animals survive. I’m no animal, I’m a human! I want to live!

So do the many around me. I don’t want to be tagged as resilient or brave; I need to be away from this. Just because I deserve to live! A peaceful night’s sleep is all I want, without having to fear whether I’ll survive the next day.

The secret behind the spirit of Mumbai is not its brave citizens. It is the hunger which craves and forces them to work. If they don’t bounce back, they’ll not survive. They’ve turned to animals who walk blindly. And that is why they survive.

I want to live.

Note: It’s time to take off the mask of tolerance. We are a peace loving nation, a responsible one, which has not started a war on any foreign country in the living history of over 1000 years. Agreed! But how long can we boast of that? We’ll have to survive to do that...

A must read article:

http://www.firstpost.com/politics/dear-pm-i-can-no-longer-be-resilient-and-strong-41195.html#disqus_thread

PART and parcel!!!

“I can’t take it anymore. I can’t let him go.”, she thought.

Never had there been a day that they didn’t meet, since the day he first held her hand. To be away from him for 6 months was a Herculean task. No! For her it was not just 6 months. It was 180 days, 4320 hours, 259200 minutes, 15552000 seconds and still many more countless, priceless moments.

She recalled their last meet. It was just yesterday that he sat with her on the same stairs where the shared the moments which would make the days to come bearable.

He tried to console her, “It’s just a few days dear! And anyways, Bangalore isn’t that far too!”

She just wore the sullen face.

“It’s not that I’ll be going away forever! I’ll try to be placed here again after the training! Then won’t you be the happiest person? Huh?”

She just nodded.

He saw tears forming in her eyes. Wiping them even before they rolled out, he said, “How many times have I told you that they’re precious? Even more than mermaid tears!”

It worked. She chuckled between the sobs. Now she looked into his eyes and said, “And you’ll be calling everyday! So I’ll just miss your physical presence! For your voice , I’ll have and I’ll have you around me all the time!”

“Exactly!”

They both had a hearty laugh over the clichéd lines!

His train was set to leave. She wiped off her tears and her lips now sported the beautiful smile. She wanted him to capture a smiling face of hers as he left. He didn’t say a word, he couldn’t! With a firm grip over her hands, he looked into her eyes. Those were the eyes! With a kiss on her forehead, he took a last dip in those intoxicating eyes. Smiled!

She relived that touch of his lips! The care she saw in his eyes and then the smile on his lips. She knew it was not easy, but it was just a matter of time. A ring on her cell phone brought her back to the present. With a vision blurred by tears, she read, ‘Meera calling’. She answered it.

A crying Meera responded, “How are you coping with the feeling? You know Raj is leaving on Monday! I don’t know when I’ll meet him next. LA is not even in the same time zone that we can talk regularly! I think of it all the time, but I don’t dare talk to him about it and upset him......”

She could barely control the laugh. Paolo once again was right, as he says in ‘By the river Piedra...’-

All love stories are the same!!!

Love is a Monsoon!!!

Love is in the  air  rains!!!

The flooding skies had forced him to wait under the broken shed. He held his helmet as he checked the status of his wet clothes. He loved the world around him. Kids had returned from schools and were now jumping in puddles; a couple standing under one umbrella, sharing a bhutta. Such bliss! Unmatched!

Now the rains had diminished to a drizzle. He wanted to keep savouring the eternal bliss, but he had just 5 minutes left. So he rode the remainder of his journey.

As expected, he reached on time. But more unexpected outcomes were coming his way. First: He heard the words: “Yes sir, we have a table free. No waiting list!” He actually took out his cell phone to check: Sunday, June 12, 19:03. Just then another shocker arrives. His phone rang- it was her!

“Where are you dear? I’ve reached the security check!”

“Ok. I’m getting a table for us.”

“Ok sweetheart, I’ll be there in a jiffy! Mwah!!!”

Again he checked his phone. Just 5 minutes past scheduled time? Not quite a normal her!

A snap of fingers in front of his eyes got him out of his dumb daze.

”Hello! What are you thinking about?”

Without much thought he said,” Your cherubic beauty is augmented each time I see you!”

“Oh, you are such a practised liar!”

And she walked to the table. As they sat, he felt the urge to ask her if everything was good because the punctual her was something really new for him. But before his thoughts could turn into actions, she started:

“You know what? I’d been to Marine Lines with some friends. The place was full of couples, but even among them was a stand-out one! They were like, old, but mind stuffed with youth. They were like, standing on the pavement, and facing the splurging waves. I couldn’t resist the temptation so I joined them & later, so did my friends.”

“Excuse me sir! Would you like to place some order?”

He cursed the attendant, but said, “A frappe for me and...” He motioned at her.

She asked, “Anything special for the rains?”

The attendant replied, “Yes ma’am, we’ve got a range of hot chocolates especially for the monsoon lovers!”

“Fine, get me any one from them, the best you think.”

He interrupted, “Make it two, and cut the frappe out”

She continued as the attendant left, “So where was I? Ha. Later when we sat and chatted, they told us how they’d first met and how the first few meets were just a coy smile and how shy both of them were to initiate the talks. Finally it was her who asked him out for a walk on the Marine Lines, in the rains, and it was the 50^th anniversary of that walk! Would you believe that? 50 years!!!”

(A waiter set the chocolate on the table and left.)

She continued, “And they were just 15 and 17 then! I couldn’t help but ask them the secret to it. And the grandpa says, ’just have something to love in your life and you’ll have a great reason to live for!’ I felt so jealous I tell you! But I’m happy with you because I know that I can make it through with you alone.”

She raised a toast (chocolate mug actually) and said, “With you, my Buzz Lightyear, TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!!” He followed suit.

All he did all the time was smile. He remembered the days when they were ‘just friends’ and how they talked on matters ranging from politics and sports to mythology and philosophy. He had his own eisegesis and exegesis which he could talk about for long hours. But ever since he discovered his feelings for her, he couldn’t speak word when she spoke. For he never felt like, for all he wanted was to keep looking at her. And even now, he was staring at her smile.

Some more time and she got up with her bag and said,”I’ll make it real fast now!”

He posted a big smile as she left, and sipped in from his mug. He smelled it as he did it.

Life-time is a full year! With three seasons, it has its variety. Love is your chocolate. With life starting with monsoon rains, get your chocolate heated up to enjoy life. Make sure you have the right mug. It doesn’t need to be the best looking one, a cracked one too can keep it warm. It just has to be yours. Blow it a bit as you drink. Don’t gulp it. Sip by sip. Savour the sweet smell. When it gets cold, don’t worry! Just warm it with your hands. Yes, the winter will come, but the frost will go away.

And when the summer of your life sets in, you can still enjoy your chocolate, now cold, for it has still not lost its sweetness. Love will not be any less sweet. You’ll love life!!!

Don't let the monsoon go away dry. It's the monsoon that makes the chocolate worthy!!!

He saw her coming back and called for the check. She came and sat to finish her chocolate. He paid and they prepared to leave. But as she got up, he held her hand. “Don’t ever leave!”

Teasing him, the movie buff in her said, “Saiyaan, Baiyaan chhod na!!!”

He didn’t care! All he could do is smile!!!

P.S.: Title to the post is borrowed from a poem. Please listen to it too.

Love is a monsoon!!!

Love is a Monsoon (on Youtube)

Diem Perdidi???

Lying down on the ground, back wet with dew,
Staring at the full moon, its aura so blue.

Things of yesterday, I don't think of you!
And of tomorrow, I have no déjà vu.

Mind is so clear, nothing occupies it;
Like a supersonic craft, but no one flies it.

Potentials it has, to soar like a lark,
Burn like a forest-fire, with the slightest of spark!

So much to threaten it, so much to dare,
So much to ignite it, so much to flare!

I am not a swindler, not an absconder.
I am young and have no fear!

I demand a mutiny, against the shut mouth.
Shut mouths that chant peace when there's nothing to recite about!

Let's do away with the candles, light up the torch,
And together, towards a new day, let us all march.

Everyday I get up, I want a new day; rising to sing a lore,
And at the end of it, say: Diem Perdidi*? No more. No more.....


*Diem Perdidi: (Latin) day lost.

How good is yours?

Some farmers were spending a cold winter night around a fire in a hut.
They soon became involved in a heated discussion on the merits of their respective religions.
The eldest of the farmers sat quietly, just listening.
The other farmers turned to him and demanded, "Who's right, old man? Which of our religions is the right one? Which shows the path to salvation?"

"Well," said the old man thoughfully, "you know there are three ways to get from the fields over here to the mill.
You can go right over the big hill. That's shortest but it's a steep hill to climb.
You can go around the east side of the hill. That's not too far, but the road is rough.
Or you can circumvent the hill from the west side. That is the longest way, but the easiest!"

"But you know," he said, looking straight at all the faces, "When you get there, the man in charge doesn't ask how you came. He just asks, 'Man, how good is your cotton???'"

RADAR!!!

It's called RADAR!!!
Inbuilt in every guy!
It's not that we make any conscious efforts to turn our heads. Nor is it when we'd stare somewhere specifically. :P
We stare b'coz we care!!!

I'd like to share some real life incidents with you to make my point clear!

1) Me and Durga sitting in front of the stationery shop at LP. A girl comes up from behind us and moves ahead with her back at us all the time.
Durga comments something about her hair.
I say, "Even her face is sweet. She's cute!"
Durga was bemused as in how the hell did I manage to see her face?
I explained that actually, this girl had passed from that place some time ago. Durga and I were busy talking, but me being a guy, could MULTI-TASK and check her out as I chatted with Durga.
Durga: Kandy, kaisa faltu hai re tu!!!
Men will be men!!!

2) Me, Jathan and Dhanashree in Airoli Bus Depot waiting for their respective buses. Dhanashree is a bit pissed off and expressing her anger to some extent.
I interrupt and say: I hope Thane bus comes late.
Confused, they asked me why.
I said, "That cute girl in green is going to board a Thane bus."
After some time, she did embark a bus bound for Thane.
Dhanashree gave me a this-deserves-a-... look and asked me how I'd known that.
I replied, "Forget that. The girl in blue would enter any bus for Mulund!!!"
Again this was what happened!!!

3)Many from the LOSS group waiting in the auditorium for Sarvesh's speech as the Sports Sec at FE orientation.
Rameez: Damn these prof's speeches are too dull. Let's check out some girls.
I agree.
Rameez: I'll check the one's behind and you check the one's in the front.
Now the problem with my section was that I could not look at the faces from the current vantage point.
But after scanning and rescanning, Rameez shakes his head with a negative.
Obviously, with the dim lights, it was difficult to judge which girls looked good.
I replied:1 row before ours. To the extreme right corner seats. just behind that bald man. The one in Purple!!!
I tell you, we must've been at least 50 seats away.
I wont boast of all this coz this is not any quality, its just the RADAR system. Good reception that's it!!!
Now when the orientation is over, we are standing outside. RADAR senses a familiar reception. I turn my head around and see the girl in purple.

Then there are times when the RADAR has false alarms*. Some girl would be very good as you look at her from the rear. Anticipation builds up. You wait for her to turn around just to look at her face. 90% of the times, disappointment is what you get!!! You curse yourself and say it would've been better if you'd not have seen the face. Coz human mind can imagine great things!!!

It is very natural. It happens with every guy. I just hope that I have put forth the exact kind of description. I know guys would relate to some similar incidents in their lives. All I'd say is, feel free to share them here. Shed your inhibitions. Leave comments. Girls would curse you a bit but let them understand what it is exactly to be a guy. And how embarrassing it can be to be caught doing so even when it is something you don't do on purpose. Let them know why their BFs or husbands behave in such a cheap (?) manner when they see a hot girl!!!

I spoke for all you guys. Now please don't leave me alone. Let them know that I'm not alone!!!



* False alarm: A technical term in RADAR engineering. It's a case when desired object in not tracked. Instead, some object appearing as desired target is tracked when the reflection off its surface exceeds the threshold level. This is a disturbance and must be avoided for better working of the RADAR.

(Special thanks to Ninad for the idea. Refer: http://corrompu.blogspot.com/2011/03/leer.html
Jathan and Harshad, for the discussion we had the other day.
All the guys for sharing the good times.
And all the beautiful girls for the good times. :P)

Conspiracy!!!

Humpty Dumpty!

Did he fall, or was he pushed, or was it that he jumped?

Or was it, in fact, none of the above?

There has always been controversy surrounding Humpty Dumpty's famous plunge from the wall. Historical details are sketchy at best. Eyewitness accounts conflict. And even the exact location of the original wall remains uncertain.

In a famous lawsuit, two rival farmers, each claiming that the original wall stood upon their property, and each receiving a hearty annual turnover from tourists who paid to view it, sued each other. Humpty refused to substantiate either claim and the case was thrown out of court.

Conspiracy theories abound. One hinges on the matter of Humpty's real identity. According to some, he was a failed Bindass TV Reality show star called King Horseman (all these find a mention in the rhyme) who reinvented himself by taking on the exotic, foreign-sounding name of Humpty Dumpty and performing a real-life stunt, without the aid of a crash mat.

This theory was dubbed the 'Did He Fall (on purpose) Theory'.

It does not however, stand up to close scrutiny, as extensive searches through the Bindass TV archives have failed to turn up a single piece of footage, from any TV show, that involved a heavy plump stunt man.

The 'Was He Pushed? Theory' stands upon even shakier ground. It encorporated a number of co-related sub-theories, listed below:

• Sub-theory 1: He was pushed by: (a) a jealous lover; (b) a miffed business associate; (c) a rival, in love or in business; or (d) an assassin hires by any of the above. But he survived the fall.
• Sub-theory 2: He did not survive the fall. In this theory, he actually died and was replaced by a lookalike.
• Sub-theory 3: He did survive the fall, but was replaced by a lookalike anyway and went into seclusion somewhere. He was anyway earning a lot from the royalty he received since the rhyme was created.

The 'Did He Jump? Theory' puts forward the failed suicide hypothesis. It hints at depression brought on by Humpty's obvious eating disorder and draws support from the interview he once gave on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' on which Humpty spoke at length about his weight problem.

Critics of this particular theory state that Humpty's appearance on the show was nothing more than a cynical marketing exercise to promote his latest book, The H Plan Diet.


Yet another theory has it that there was more than one Humpty Dumpty, but no wall involved: one Humpty fell from the side of a grassy knoll and other from the window of a godown.
This is known as 'The Particularly Stupid Theory' sometimes referred to as the 'Bullshit' theory.
Here endeth the theories.

Now it is your decision My Lord that we all await.




(Imspired from an idea presented in a book named "The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse" by Robert Rankin)