Metrolympics!

The sports fever is becoming an epidemic with the London Olympics kicking off today. And as a warm up today's Express (Washington Post) (07/27/2012 Friday pg. 8) has an article titled:
Medal in Metro.

In a self-centric world, the journalist makes a statement about the audacious metro riders in Washington DC. Basic idea being that ‘riding on Metro must be an Olympics sport for all the efforts it takes!’
Bitch please! Wait till you see the Mumbai locals!
1.       When you say doors in the Metro close pretty fast; are not like elevator doors; and you need to get in before they shut on you, how about getting on a train with forever open doors and if you are late, you can still manage to catch it by running after it? (PS: though the doors are open, you could be up for a wall of human bodies).
2.       When you say you need to make your way through an entire school band that is clogging up the doorway, how about people pushing you to literally shove you inside?
3.       When you say maintaining balance while holding to anything requires core muscles of steel, how about the crowd so dense that scratching you own @$$ seems like an impossible feat? Or for that matters the BEST bus?
There are many more points which can be mentioned as to why the local trains are an adventurous yet mundane facet of Mumbai. And I am confining myself to making a very general statement.

And with all of the struggles for a 6”x6” square to stand on, you see that fourth person on a seat for three; you see couples standing against the side walls; you see the opening human wall with the sight of you running in after the train proving to be the magic words ‘Simsim’! You see the abuses and the calls asking people if they are blind, while the simple gesture to seek forgiveness if your feet touch them! And the festivities, and music, and the smell near the luggage car, it is quite difficult for someone observing it, but for someone inside, it is full of life! You may go away from it, but it can’t be taken away from a true citizen of the city!

As far as the Olympic game status goes, bring it on! It’d only bring some better hopes for Gold for India!!!

Sunshine!

Ever noticed the smile I get on my face when I look into your eyes?

Why do I smile?

Why do tears roll down my eyes?

Why does my heart beat ever so fast?

Because it is you who make me feel so special.

So blessed I am to be there for you.

So lucky I am to know that you will come to me.

That you will call out for me.

That you will run to me when the world is lonely.

That you will find refuge in my arms when it is dark everywhere.

That you can sleep peacefully with your head on my shoulders.

That when all roads are blocked, the one to my heart will always be open for you.

That when the world is against you, I would get to kiss your forehead and make your worries vanish.

That when you need someone to understand you, I’ll be summoned.

That when you feel like sharing a word, my ears will be blessed by your voice.

I feel proud when you say that I’m the only one to have accepted you for who you truly are.

But the reality is that you are the one who has actually understood me.

No one ever has touched me so deep, nor do I have any expectations from anyone else.

I’ll never find anyone like you.

You are like my guardian angel, looking over me at all times, happy or sad.

When you look at me, I see my world smiling at me.

When you give me that sweet smile, I see the stars shining down on me.

When you shine like the stars in glee, I feel I’ve been blessed.

When I feel blessed, I can’t hide the smile.

So every time I smile at you, just know that I love you.

And will always do.

Forever and ever.

I’m forever yours my Sunshine.

Keep shining on me.

Be Bold, Take Risk!

He could see the spark in her eyes. It was difficult to explain the vibes he encountered with every glint. He thought of them as glowing fireflies. When she looked at him, when their eyes met, the fly glowed and then she looked away perhaps shy. But that moment felt as if the firefly disappeared, only that he realized that it was not the glow or the firefly that diminished, it was his world growing dark when she looked away.

He knew this time that she was the one. He should not lose her. He’d been shy earlier and now he repented every moment of it. But now he could not afford to be bereaved of the magic moment he would share with her because of his coyness. If he’d learnt anything from his earlier afflictions, it was this; to be bold. If you don’t ask her out, someone else would. You would need to take risks. “To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure. But risk must be taken because greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing”. He could feel the words coming from an unknown source in his mind. He would realize the miracle of life only when he’d start to live an unexpected life. We have to convert the mundane to extraordinary and that takes courage. Risks need courage. He remembered Paulo Coelho’s word: Magic moment. “…that (magic) moment exists – a moment when all the power of the stars becomes part of us and enables us to perform miracles.”

He mustered all the courage he had and walked up to her. He feared nothing but being away from her for being a coward under the pretext of being shy.

He got up to walk to her desk. She looked at him getting up and smiled. That smile gave him some confidence. He rolled back his shoulders and held his chin high.

His heart hammered against his ribs. He took a deep breath and said, “Hi!” She smiled. He smiled back coyly and continued, “Would you like to go out with me tonight? We could have dinner together and catch a movie perhaps. If you can’t or have some other plans, it is okay. I won’t feel bad. I completely understand it’s such a short notice and I’m not sure if I’d be the best company to spend a Friday night with…..” After the first two sentences, his manly voice had micrified to a feeble mumbling. She cut him out and said, “Actually I do have some plans for tonight, so I can’t really go out with you for a movie.” His face still wore a smile but he was despondent inside to the core. She continued, “I need to go to my friend’s pretty late tonight so maybe we can go out for dinner!” his heart was now racing. He wanted to say a lot of things, wanted to act as if it was not a big deal, and he was cool, and he wasn’t really excited, but true emotions can hardly be hidden behind a mask. He was ecstatic and it reflected on his face and in his voice as he said, “Thanks! See you at 7:30 then, I’ll pick you up!” She gave him an ethereal smile as he turned back towards his desk.

It wasn’t that difficult, he thought. Perhaps it was a magic moment!

Barcelona

It was a warm, pleasant evening. Not just the weather, but being with her always made it warm and pleasant. It was an irony of life that despite being a couple, they’d meet once every 3 months and the bliss would just last a week. He believed that this made the bond stronger. The longing to meet her was what made the 3 months worth living, and then the few days in her company would seem like heaven.

She however hated to be away from him. Her work had handicapped her. She could not go with him on his trips, nor could she resign. However much exciting it may sound, she hated his job. Being a wild life photographer was his dream and he was living in it. She wanted to be a criminal lawyer and (touch wood) she was doing great! Why couldn’t he like something which kept him with her all the time?

But both of them would leave behind everything for that one week, to be lost! Lost in a place which neither of them knew, in a place where he knew only her and she knew just him. A week on the bewitching beaches of Barcelona had been a great choice for this time.

A room overseeing La Barceloneta beach might’ve been heavy on the pocket, but sunrise over the Mediterranean with her head on his shoulder was priceless. Tomorrow’s Mediterranean sunrise would be the last one he’d be with her. They sat in the balcony as the night had begun to set in. Reliving the moments they spent together, savouring them before they parted for another 3 months!

Tomorrow's last sun would rise to bring hope!

Sunrise at La Barceloneta beach!

He kissed her on the forehead as she smiled at him. These were the times when no one needed to speak. Just look into her eyes and they conveyed the message. The moon was up already and the stars had just started to show up. He looked at his watch, 20 minutes to 10 pm, 21^st June. He looked back at her.

She saw what his eyes said. Getting up to go back to the bedroom, they just wished to live every moment of the shortest night of the year!

Life is but a dream!

“Go ahead, open it!”

“What?”

“Aren’t you going to sleep, baby?”

“Just this last paragraph and I’m done. But what did you say right now?”

“Like, when are you going to sleep?”

“No. Before that? What did you say?”

“What did I say? Did I say anything?”

“Goodness me! You don’t remember what you said seconds ago?” She cachinnated.

“Don’t ridicule me. I’m half asleep! I haven’t even opened my eyes.”

“I know. But never seen anyone blabber in their sleep!”

“Maybe I’m not blabbering. Wait! Did I say something like: ‘open it’?”

“You said, ‘Go ahead, open it.’”

“That explains it!”

“Here, look at me dear.”

“No, I don’t wanna open my eyes yet. You know, uh, I can… I can see this image in front of me: We’re at some fair; you, me and Adira. It’s some kind of a fair. We’re playing Bingo and Adi’s won something and I’m telling her to see what she’s won. So the words ‘Go ahead, open it’!”

“It seems you’re equally excited as Adi about the carnival visit tomorrow! Perhaps that’s why you’re thinking about it.”

“Well, that’s okay! I have had dreams earlier. It’s just that I usually don’t remember dreams! It’s like… I know it’s a dream. I know I’m describing it to you! I know you’re here, and you’re here for real! But I’m still in the dream!”

An awkward silence followed.

“You there?”, he inquired.

“Yes. Yes, I’m right here. Just don’t know what to say. Well, nothing’s wrong with you for sure. I’d say you better have a good sleep, ‘cause we’re going to have a tough time running after Adi at the carnival tomorrow.”

He felt a hand stroke his forehead, running through his hair. It felt good. He could sleep now.

“Daddy, wake up! It’s Saturday, you promised us. We’re going to the carnival today! Yuppieeeee!!!”
Nothing can be compared to the bliss of being woken up by your daughter jumping on your bed. He laughed as he remembered his friend's words, 'Any fool can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a Daddy!'

The day passed with more of such cheers from Adi.

The excitement had reached the pinnacle by the evening. And the drive to the carnival was chaotic as expected.

"Daddy, I want to go to the Ferris wheel!

Papa, I so want a Candy floss.

Can I play the Water gun game?"

The joy on her face was transcendent. Balloon shoot, Whac-a-mole, SkeeBall, all accrued smiles, on both her face and his.

“Papa, I want to play Bingo!”, came Adira with an electrifying smile on her face.

“Ok Adi, let’s play.” Yes it was a déjà vu!

The game went on. Caller called, “Four, Eight. Forty-eight.”

“Daddy, I got the top line across!”, jumped Adira.

The Caller summoned her and said, “We’ve got a winner for straight line across!”

Adi came down beaming with a red box in her hand.

“Go ahead, open it!”

Neha stared at him with a smile.

But all he could think of was Dan Wilcox' words:

I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich.

It was a weird pun in saying that he was living in a dream!

Freedom to be!

“What took you so long?", he asked. "I've been expecting your call for half hour now. You know how impatient I become when I don’t hear your voice at 8 every night!”

“I was out with my college friends so couldn't call then. I just reached home and the first thing I did, even before changing is I called you. And you still would say that I won’t give you enough time.”, she replied.

“Who were you with?”

“You know, just the regular group! Chirag, Danny, Amu, Adira and all.”

“Oh so you forgot to call your boyfriend because you were too busy with that Danny! If it is him with whom you feel comfortable and cozy, why don’t you say that to me? Why hide it?”

“I think you are taking this way too far! How many times have I told you that it is not the way you think? He’s just a good friend that’s it! Don’t attach any other tag to it.”

“OK you must not be having anything in your mind but I just know that it’s not the same from his side.”

“Please don’t say such stuff. And anyways it’s got to be equally reciprocated from my side. And I can promise you that it is not the case. What should I do to assure you of that?”

“Don’t talk to him henceforth. That is what would make me believe you!”

She was no more in a state to negotiate. She had no strength to argue on the same topic which was the reason of the rift since the last happy days she remembered. She couldn’t recollect for how long this had been going on. It felt like all the happiness of the day has sublimated without leaving any trace. She was tired; of ‘untagging’ herself off friends’ pics, of getting her ‘status updates’ censored.

She hung up the phone and switched it off.

She pondered over the situation for she didn't know how long. She’d read these words and they kept reverberating in her mind:

One doesn’t place any restrictions on other to protect or to help someone.  If we act that way, we are perceiving the other as a simple object, and we are seeing ourselves as wise and generous persons. This has nothing to do with love.
Also one doesn't love in order to do what is good or to help or to protect someone. Same situation again.

She couldn’t find reason why she held on to it. She remembered the days when they co-existed happily. The day when she expected the reply- ‘The Magic Moment’- that instant when a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ can change one’s life forever. She now felt that her life had changed indeed.

She wanted to be free again, be out of the bounds, have the freedom to be!
But something held her, she knew not what!

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