2012: The year that wasn’t

Topmost could have been headlines of year 2012.

1. India demolishes Eng 3-0 in the home Test Match Series. Tendulkar hit his first triple ton. Gambhir is vindicated of “see you at home” remark. BCCI decides to scrap away Tests from ICC Future Tours Program. BCCI chief Srinivasan said and I quote “All Tests played in Chennai will be Home Tests and those played elsewhere in the country will be Away Tests”.

2. World not able to witness 21st Dec 2012. Just as predicted by the great “Ronald Emmerich” in his movie 2012, owing to Earth Crust Displacement and massive Earthquakes, 90% of human civilization is wiped off. This news is telecasted from US Space Station. John Cusack is among the survivors.

3. London Olympics 2012, turned out to be a disaster, overshadowing Delhi Common Wealth Games. Kalmadi was grinning from ear to ear with, “I told ya sa” expression. Anacondas and Godzilla’s were cited around athletes’ village. Organizers are blaming it on different perceptions of security standards across the world.

4. US Presidential elections were marred by an act of shooting when a heated argument between Obama and Romney got out of hand. Both took out their M16’s and started shooting at each other and the audience. The audience were already dead of boredom so no harm done.

5. 2012 was landmark year in India as far as women safety was concerned. Women Safety Bill 2012 was passed in the parliament, which led to Women only Police stations and death penalty for rapists. Country saw ZERO rape cases and only handful of eve-teasing incidents this year.

6. AK series phone have made Nokia the market leader in Smart Phones. Foldable screens and Phones which could shoot better than AK47 have done the trick. “We don’t need to buy a gun for Mass Shootings, We buy Nokia instead”, said a consumer. Apple will be filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy during March next year. Samsung is in talk with Yahoo for a possible sellout.

7. United Nations Security Council intervens in the Julian Assange’s case. US/UK could face UN sanctions owing to gross human right violations. Wikileaks brings to light more facts that no one was aware of. “Sun rises in the East”, “Earth is round” and “Blueberry cheese cake is awesome”.

Among other news.
Chuck Norris was not able to kill two birds with one stone. Rajnikant was cited asleep. Superman wore underwear under his pants. Batman finally played cricket. Vivek Oberoi became superstar. Chacha Choudhary got beaten by new Ipad in chess. Manmohan Singh saw movie of his choice.

Change of Weather and Illness

I was waiting for it to happen since I moved to this new city. It just wasn’t happening. It happened eventually and I am coughing like a dog now.

A sudden change in weather has always made me sick especially when it gets chilly. Extended cough/cold bout which never leave without antibiotics. My first encounter happened when I left home for college. Every time I came home for winter holidays, I fell ill. Since I started working, I have visited my native place rarely for the very same reason.

It’s like a known fact that change in climate affects people differently. Is it just the temperature that affects us or is there something more? Let’s try and find out.

As it turns out, it’s not just the weather but also the related infections and viruses (which blossom under certain climatic conditions only) that affect out body and immune system. When I was in school, the seasonal changes never gave me sickness. The reason being seasonal changes happen quite slowly and body gets time to adapt.

An interesting point I read, we tend to fell ill when tropical storm hits (atmospheric pressure decreases leading to migraines) but not much when (say) take a cold shower. Why? Coz temperature is not the prime factor affecting our health. It’s the Pandora ’s Box that comes along.

Weather changes or Wind blows or It rains, Each bring in something new. As I said certain infections and viruses thrive in certain temperatures. With wind some pollen might blow in aggravating respiratory problems. Atmospheric pressure change that ensues also affects our body as stated earlier.

As per cold weather, they say that during winters we tend to stay indoors, get less sunlight and thus germs are more likely to spread. When it is warm, we tend to go out more in open and breathe fresh air.

It’s nice to know now why exactly I have suffered all these years. Damn you weather.

Back Office in the West

Somewhere during the early ‘90s, everyone realized the immense potential of outsourcing industry. With telecom/data rates on the decline, we saw call centre, KPO, BPO, captive units grow rapidly, changing the lives of a whole generation and realizing the dreams of an entire country.

With jobs, money, prosperity; a slow cultural impregnation has also taken place. We never realized when 31st Dec became the be all and end all of cyclical culmination of celebration. We never realized when Diwali holidays became a rarity and Christmas holidays became a norm. Ladoo/Barfi gave way for Cakes; Jalebis became Donuts; Lassi became too heavy to handle and Coffee light.

All this happened in India coz the jobs coming in were from countries like US, UK etc. I wonder what would have happened if the jobs would have originated from India and Indian culture would have influenced countries around the world.

The light footprint of the world would have been dazzling, the Diwali Night. The next day of Holi, people around the world would have gone schools/colleges/office having tinges of pink/green color on their faces.

A certain person in NY would have woken to Aloo Paratha with butter for breakfast. Haldiram’s would be in place of MacD/Pizza Huts all around the globe. John would have taken his family for a Kachori/Jalebi outing and VadaPao would have been blamed for Indianisation of the west.

In a Hollywood movie Tom Cruise would have a father settled in riches of Mumbai. He would have taken the son to US to get him marry a white girl. A son hell bent on marrying some Priya from Chandigarh. How the Hollywood would have sung, “Come, it’s time to go back”. No Pankaj Udaas, but a certain Snoop Dog would have sung, “A letter from my country” and the American Diaspora would have wept the Nehru Centre.

Mr. Abe would be Shree Abe, or let’s go a step ahead, would have changed his name to Abhimanyu, just to fit in. Roger would have walked into a back office in the heart of London in Kurta Pajama and HR would have coached in how to wear a Pajama with perfect crease. There would have been Chai/Lassi/Thandai machines in the breakouts with a few Charpai thrown in to relax.

The VadaPao/Chola Bhatura joints in NY/London would be decorated with diya’s on Diwali’s eve and people would be discussing, Ram and Sita and the history. People in Italy would protest forceful conversion to Hinduism funded by RSS and would deliberate enacting anti-conversion laws.

Restaurants would be designed so as people would be seated on the floor and waiters serving them food. World economy would be centered in Mumbai with New Delhi bombing countries in South America for their religious extremism and their getting close to develop Nuclear weapon.

I am already ROFL. The potential to explore on this topic is immense but I would excuse myself now lest I think some more and go berserk.

The immortality of Maggi

The immortality of Maggi comes to fore time and again. Just when we forget all about the existence, it rises from the ashes to become part of life once again.

Maggi has been a phenomenon which has touched everyone alike. It transcends through age and gender. Ask a child, a college student, a working bachelor. A lot of imitators have sprung up over the time but none been able to come even near.

What is it about Maggi then? The flavor for once; the mouth watering Maggi tastemaker. It’s heaven. Next is the companionship in thick and thin. It unites among diversity. It’s home away from home. When I went to college, Maggi never let me feel away. When I am travelling to diverse places, I have my staple with me.

Of late I drifted away from it and got into bad habit of eating so called healthy food. I can never apologize enough to you My Dear. But you never deserted me. WhenI was hungry that night, you came to my rescue. You let me sleep peacefully.

To be true, however hard I try to find reasons why I like Maggi, I can’t find many. Maybe that’s the magic, that’s the secret. It just is immortal. It just is Meri Maggi. Cause and Effect can take a hike for once.

Life of Richard Parker

Some are meant to make you laugh, some are meant to make you think, some are meant to make you fear, some are meant  to make you thrill, but once a while there comes the one to inspire. I am talking about the movie Life of Pi.

The movie was about not losing hope, to hang in there, to labor through the rough. The movie is narrated from the point of view of the protagonist Pi Patel. What about the perspective of our very own Richard Parker?

It’s a story of hope for Richard Parker too. Stranded at ocean amidst the shipwreck, how he braved the circumstances and lived on. He had to swim to the safety of the boat. He had to compromise on his ethic and eat the dead (tigers don’t eat the dead, they eat their prey), to survive. Richard learned about the need to change. Against the instinct to attack and kill Pi, he eventually learnt to become subservient. Pi was keeping him alive by providing with fish and fresh rain water after all.

However he had been kept captive by humans. He knew given a chance, Pi and its species would not hesitate to enslave him again for its pleasure. Pi owed its life to Richard as much as Richard owed his life to Pi. It was a give and take. Richard learnt the importance of freedom at ocean. When the boat reached Mexico, Richard jumped off and escaped as soon as he could. There was a good chance that he would have been captured or killed by humans had he stayed.

It was just smart of him to leave. For him it was the process to gain his freedom. It was the process to gain his life back after captivation by humans and having faced death at sea. That he didn’t kill Pi was his gratitude enough to the race that reveled in capturing and enslaving him. It was more to ask to turn back to Pi and say a good bye.

His good bye lied in gifting Pi his life. I guess it was too much for us humans to understand.

The Loneliness

I am finally settled in my apartment in the new city. Packers have moved, taps are working and food is cooking. Last two weeks went by at such a frentic pace, I didn’t have any time to stop and think. Now that I have, the realization strikes slowly. I am all alone.

Loneliness is a very wierd thing. Sometimes you have no one around and still you won’t feel it. Sometimes there are lots of people around and you would still feel lonely. Mysterious!

Coming back to situation at hand, I have come to realize the importance of family. With time it’s not as easy to make new friends. Work becomes priority which does not give you time enough to socialize. It’s not that you can’t, it’s just that the chances and the instances and the zeal decreases.

Here is where family comes in. If you shift to a new place with your family, I guess it’s not as strange a feeling. You don’t have to form social/friends circle on urgent basis just to pass the evenings. You don’t have to go shoppings alone. You don’t feel that pang of strandedness.

Moving to a new city, to a new job is teaching me new lessons daily. I think next time I make my move, I’ll try and have my family with me.

Herogiri Mellowed

I feel like I am getting old. People around me call it maturity. Whatever it be, the aggression is taming down. There one good thing though. Adjusting to this new behavioral trait might be strange but it is nowhere uncomfortable.

Let me give a bit of the background to explain it better. I have been a kind of person who you can call moody, rude and even insane. I have rubbed people the wrong way in a fit of mood. But somehow with time, I find myself becoming passive. Things don’t bother me the way they used to. Prioritisation.

Just last day, a senior person in my firm called me and asked me to close the top button of my shirt. The thing is I feel kind of suffocated with the top button in my shirt tied. However instead of explaining my point of view and going into an argument, I simply closed it and smiled back.

I have never liked being dictated to. In fact such an incident would have insesnsed me, but I feel nothing but calm. You know an year back too someone asked the same thing, I leaned forward and asked the person to go ahead and close it himself. Kinda rude but that’s how I was.

Anyways, as of today, I just don’t like arguing with people. It’s a grand waste of time. I have better things to do. On my way to salvation!

Notice Period: Employee Behavior

The period when you put down your papers in the firm and till you join the next firm is quite unique. In fact there is scope of detailed study into it. Since I have passed the said period recently, lets try and give it a closer look.

How professional you are, decides the amount of work you do during the notice period. I have seen people idling away; I have seen people working hard to give handover; I have seen people settling scores; I have seen people being just normal. Last bit is the most difficult. Employee characteristics tend to change once he/she enters the notice period. I suggest one should keep sanity. But it’s easier said than done.

Almost everyone leave due to a better opportunity. But the reason behind looking for one in the first place decides the behavior. Easiest are the ones who leave just for the pay hike and no other reason. They were happy with the work, work environment, current management, peers and everything about the firm in general. Basic traits include being themselves; trying to finish the pending tasks at normal speed and working towards handover of the project. Management mostly try their best to retain such people by making a counter offer and promises. Chances are high that they agree to remain with the firm.

Next are the people who were not happy with the work given, but had no issues with the manager and peers in general. They seem disinterested with the project during the notice period and just do the bare minimum that too when specifically asked. They remain cordial with everyone and try and chillax. Basic traits include coming late to office, remaining away from the desk, lurking in the breakouts, sweating out in the gym. You get the gist. Management try and offer them change of project/team. They are less probable to go with the managements offer.

The next category is the most dangerous. They have had issues with the manager/management/project and had to look out ’cause of it. They feel aggrieved and forced to leave the job. For them putting down the papers is nothing less than relief. Then begins settling the scores. Work for them comes last. They skip meetings, handovers are a formality, try and irk people around as often as they can. Nothing can force them to finish the pending tasks, which more often than not are left incomplete. They could be found venting out their anger in front of peers; egging others to leave the godforsaken firm too. Mostly no counter offer is advanced to these people.

Depending on the seniority of the last category of people, the concept of garden leave has been implemented by employers. Such people are sent on forced leave for the entire notice period or are sometimes immediately relieved of the job.

I won’t admit to what category I belonged to but can safely say that I have had some fruitful years with the firm and have left with more friends than I had earlier.

Addicted

I have an admission to make,
I have a problem,
It took some time to realize,
I am addicted to you.

I close my eyes and there you are,
I open my eyes and there you are,
Like a shadow you follow me,
I am addicted to you.

When you hurt me,
It makes me long for you more,
You give pain, I enjoy,
I am addicted to you.

I tried therapy, no help,
I tried ignoring you, more pain,
It just is not going away,
I am addicted to you.

The smell, Oh! The sweet smell,
I can’t fathom something else,
The smile, glows my day,
I am addicted to you.

There were times when,
I tried to forget you, hurt deep,
Ended up memorizing more,
I am addicted to you.

There seems no hope, hopeless,
Not sure if you will stand by me,
Still I can’t dare leave,
I am addicted to you.

अध्याय

गूँज उठी आवाज मेरी,

पसरा सन्नाटा था,

खाली मकान हुआ वो,

घर था मेरा जो कभी।

एक एक कर चुना था सब,

एक पल में सब छूट गया,

मुहँ से शब्द न निकले,

गले तक आकर थम गए।

वो बस ठहराव न था,

जीवन का था एक अध्याय,

सुहानी यादें, खुशनुमा पल,

आज था जो, बन गया कल।

कुछ और भी था जो छोड़ा था,

दूर अपने से उसको किया,

जीवन इतना कठिन होगा,

सोचा न था मैंने कभी।

थोड़े दिन की बात है ये,

फिर से कमल खिल जाएगा,

राहें मंजिल को पहुंचेंगी,

मौसम जब रंग बदल लेगा।

बस तब तक न भूलना होगा,

लक्ष्य पर रखनी होगी नज़र,

जिस कारण से विरह चुनी हमनें,

उसको सार्थक करना होगा।।

Bitter Sweet

I said it’s time to go,
She said to me don’t,
It took time to grow,
I so wish it won’t.

Longing for something,
So much inside,
Not quite able to get,
Did a terrible fight.

It feels away is close,
Gives you perspective,
Something we both chose,
Emotions eruptive.

Better not to hold back,
Let tears flow,
Life always bounce back,
Darkness void by glow.

He tests the strength,
Of the bond between,
To make us  sure,
If we are indeed keen.

So let’s go with it,
And check back with time,
If us for real,
Of just passing dime.

So much wither away,
Hope we do not,
Let’s survive test of time,
Win the battle tersely fought.

Not tough but not easy

After four and half long years in Mumbai, I decided to move to Pune. I have been with the same firm, same colleagues, same house and same city for long. Moving has been far from easy. Emotionally. Everything that we have lived for sometime becomes part of a habit. The craving is immense.

By comparision leaving home for college and leaving college for job was pretty easy. But moving to a new city now has not been. It made me wonder why. There can be a few reasons to it. The life in Mumbai has been the one that I have created for myself. Every brick in the wall chosen by me. Every color in the dream filled by me. This has been my life. But then again I might be just getting old and interia seems to be taking effect.

On the other hand movement has become a part of modern life. It’s part of survival. Better pay, better job, hope of better future. As I said, it has not been easy but not been entirely tough. Globalization helps. New office doesn’t seem like new. New place doesn’t seem like new. Offices are clones of each other. Cities are clones of each other. Same brands, same shopping places, same eating joints. It doesn’t feel entirely different.

As for me, I am well settled in a week. Got a place to stay, Got my things moved here and am good to go. Modern life has it’s poisons but the good thing is anti-dote is provided beforehand.

Overworked and Underpaid

Most of the time I talk to my colleagues, friends and other working population, One thing seems common; everyone by his/her own admission is overworked and underpaid. Well I too share the feeling and hence it becomes a common cord which helps us empathize.

Come to think of it, if everyone is overworked and if everyone is underpaid, it would be doing wonders for our economy. Imagine working 20 hrs a day for paltry sum, this would for sure create a huge amount of societal wealth and rid us of poverty.

Alas! That’s what I don’t see happening around. Where are things going wrong then? Well my friends, the things are going wrong in the brain and in the heart. Overwork and Underpay is just a facade.  There is no such thing in real. In fact it’s a vicious circle.

We always think that if we get more money, we will work harder. Hence most of us keep on changing jobs. But once that pay cheque becomes static too, we start feeling underpaid. The pay cheque remains the same, the work hours remain the same; just that our needs and wishes increase.

The easiest solution for this is become dynamic. Even if the work hours increase, if the rewards are dynamic too, the underpaid feeling will not pitch in. I am not just talking of monetary rewards. It constitutes mental peace and satisfaction too. Most of us who feel over and under are stuck with something we don’t really get drive from. It’s just a daily chore we need to perform.

After a while when our heart is not in it, it becomes unbearable. Whatever amount of money will not satisfy us. There will be a shallow feeling of being used and abused. Used and abused by the society and the system at large.

So work where your heart is. Short term you may earn some money elsewhere but believe me no point making your life a hell in the long run. Instead, you my friend have hell of a life to enjoy!

I can hear it, true

Sleep seems not in sight,
Rest, reads a word too tight,
Run away, sounds a whisper,
I can hear it, true.

So much happening around,
Things on verge of out’o’bound,
Like something gotta go,
I can sense it, true.

Impatience, anxiety, restlessness,
Trying to clear out the mess,
Mess about to turn messier,
I can feel it, true.

Everything was in my hands,
Somehow all slipped away,
I held my fist quite tight,
It couldn’t be tighter, true.

Grappiling in shallow waters,
Can anytime drown in now,
Try hard to hold on to some,
It’s nothing but air, true.

Mountain high, Low of abyss,
Swinging to and fro hard,
About to snap anytime now,
I can’t pause it, true.

However you may shake me,
I hang in there, a strong will,
Will fight hard, try comeback,
I can commit it, true.

Simply Insane

The last time I went for a long holiday was long-long ago. To be true, I am not a holiday kind of a person in the normal sense. For me holidays do not mean going on vacation, living out of suitcase, hopping from one tourist location to another. For me holidays are all about chillaxing. There have been times when I have taken couple of days off and slept right through. For me it’s all about brain reboot.

After a long time, I seem to have this craving to put myself to sleep mode. The late mornings, the lethargic afternoons, popcorns, refreshing old seasons of fav shows, lots of writing. And the best of all, lying on the bed, just staring up to the ceiling fan. The feeling of nothing. The absolute zero of chaos. Admittedly juvenile, but my secret to rejuvenation.

There is no single way to handle the worries of life. Some takes them head on, some run away from them. I practice a mix of both. Running away for a while eggs me to take them on. Sometimes the cure is not with the medicines but without them.

I have had some crazy hours to my name. 75hrs without sleep, 32hrs of nonstop sleep, 76hrs without eating. All these date back to the college days. I don’t have luxury to insanity no more. But believe me, it’s the insanity that takes to where we aspire, makes us who we want to. I will be travelling this weekend but I have promised myself some not as insane rest soon.

लहू का सागर बहने दे

सुबह की पहली किरन,
होती कितनी कपटी है,
सारी दुनिया की बुद्धि,
उस एक ऊँगली में लिपटी है|

एक कश लगा जोर का तू,
छल्लों को फिर उड़ते देख,
सागर की गहराई में भी,
गहराई का वो आलम कहाँ|

सिक्का जो है खोटा वो,
उठा के उसको फेंकें सब,
तुझको तो मैं तब मानूं,
उस सिक्के को चमकाए जब|

हैं दुनिया में कितने इश्वर,
राम रहीम येशु भर भर,
करेगा क्या तू इश्वर चुन,
अपना एक नया ही इश्वर बुन|

रातों को जब सन्नाटा है,
चीर उसे जो पाता है,
उसे ही पूछा जाता है,
नहीं तो दूजा खाता है|

आग को थोड़ा दे और हवा,
थोड़ा तो संयम को कम कर,
उठा हाथ में एक पत्थर,
और हो जाने दे शीशा चूर,

युग नया कभी ना आता है,
तिल तिल के बनाया जाता है,
तिल तिल के अब मरना छोड़,
हवा के रुख को अब तू मोड़|

होली रंगों से कब तक,
क्या ऐसे क्रांति आएगी?
लगा तिलक तू माथे पर,
औ लहू का सागर बहने दे||

iPhone 5: A mystic affair

The hype and frenzy every time a new iPhone is launched, seem to be a mystic affair. The zeal surpasses the age groups, the income groups and the continents. What is it that creates this craziness? Is it the new technology? Is it the media built-up? Is it the status symbol?

To a large extent it can be attributed to the herd mentality. “I want it coz if I don’t I won’t be cool”. But that herd comes in later. What drives the early buyers? And it’s not just limited to the buyers. Even the people who can’t afford it are ever more interested. Why so?

We can try and find an analogy in “Who wants to be a millionaire” TV show. What has the TV viewers got to win? Nothing! Still millions sit in front of their TV sets to witness someone else becoming millionaire.

The answer lies in human psychology of “Collective Ownership”. When a new iPhone is launched, it’s not Apple who owns it. The people own it. It is their own. And here is where publicity comes in. Company like Apple would never publicize it as a product by Apple rather it would be an “Apple iPhone”.

Another thing can be the story behind the invention. Would gravity be equally amazing without the back story of the apple that fell? The mysticism surrounding Jobs has flown down to his coveted baby. Do we hear any such story behind say Lumia or Galaxy? No, all we see is a product. But with iPhone it’s much more.

The other reason lies in the legacy. People loved iPhone coz of the technological advancements Jobs envisaged and brought to life. Similar was the case with a 4.8inch android phone recently. It was something novel. People thronged for it. Give the people something innovative and having high standards and they will make you a billionaire.

It won’t be long when people will ditch iPhone. Yes, we are that cruel. We are just waiting for the next messiah. Till then revel Apple in the limelight, as much as you can.

Scared Humans

We humans are such afraid beings. We are afraid of sun, we are afraid of moon, we are afraid of rain, we are afraid of pain. In fact, one does not come to know how scared one is without experiencing it firsthand.

Last month I was facing acute pain in my right eye, right side of nose and right side in the mouth. I keep ignoring it as usual and allaying myself with pain killers. The regular excuses of “No time” and “It will be alright”.

One fine day, I was having lunch with a colleague of mine. I shared about this pain. He looked at me and bam, “Dude, you might have Bell’s Palsy”. I couldn’t properly understand the word at first. Quizzically, I looked towards him. He took out his cell phone and googled and explained it to me. It’s facial paralysis. He went on and on and one.

With his each passing explanation, I began to shudder. How long has the pain been? Is it only on one side or the whole face? Can you pinch your cheek to see if you feel anything? I was white with fear. All my excuses and machoness took a hike. I immediately called up the hospital nearby and took and appointment with a dentist and an ophthalmologist.

Fortunately it was just dryness in the eye, sore nose and sensitivity in the teeth. All three separate problems pounding at once causing a smokescreen of terror.

Anyway, the point is humans can be scared the easiest because we let our psyche get attached.

गया काम से तू

लबों की वो लाली,
पल पल की गाली,
चढ़ती मदहोशी साली,
गया काम से तू|

थी जुराबें गुलाबी,
छंछंनाती पाजेबें,
मोरनी से हैं पंजे,
गया काम से तू|

मटकती सी आँखें,
दिल में हैं झांकें,
हैं नश्तर चलाती,
गया काम से तू|

उलझी सी जुल्फें,
कि थोड़ी तो सुल्झा,
लगाती हैं फांसी
गया काम से तू|

इधर तिल उधर तिल,
थकता ना गिन गिन,
हैं नजरें चुराते,
गया काम से तू|

मजबूर है दिल,
बड़ा है ये कातिल,
जबसे उसे मिल
गया काम से तू||

Some Vintage Days

Some vintage days, gone are they

Some vintage memories, left

Ups and Downs, gave they to us,

Heavy and Light talks abuzz

Those lengthy evenings, graphs and charts

Those bickering, arguments tarts

Whatever you told, I often repulsed

But the words come back to me

You said it from your experience

I could not grasp much then

They hit me now, like wine of old

All said and done, memories built,

Will meet, paths will cross again,

Some vintage days, gone are they

Some vintage memories, left.

Friendship Day. Really?

Just got a call from a long time friend. “Hey pal. How r u?”, asked he. “I’m fine”, said I. “Just called to wish you friendship day”. And we both laughed to tears for next 30 secs or so. A day for friendship. Who are we Colonists? Ok, bad joke.

Friendship is the essence of humanity. Why is there a need to put a day for it? Ok…let me try and go with it a bit. It’s friendship day, today. What am I supposed to do? Call up my friends? Greet them? Shouldn’t I be had been doing it regularly if they are my friends?

Historically such days were declared to celebrate some achievement. Independence Day, Republic Day etc. What I feel is sometime down the line, it became a fashion to declare days just for the sake of it. I mean friendship day? Who are we Invaders? Again, bad joke.

In college I understand, it gives a shot at maaroing chance. What after that? Also with declaring days with increasing frequency, it’s not far when we will be marking more than one thing on a single day. Imagine Friendship Day and Animosity Day falling together. That would be hilarious, now wouldn’t it?

To me it seems yet another capitalistic agenda to mint money. Friendship band, cards, gifts, tv, movie and what not. That’s genius by the way. Respect.

With the scale getting larger year by year, not long before I get mutated too. Who knows my friend, you will get a card from me next year.

This Lonely Isle

I could not fathom the smile,
Lovely pink, shining white,
I just remember the pleasure,
Stranded on this lonely isle.

Thumb which I sucked slowly,
Hiding face, feeling secure,
I just remember the comfort,
Lying on this rocky isle.

The fights, the arguments,
All leading to truce; embrace,
I just remember shouting at you,
Mumbling on this silent isle.

Mad, immature, childish,
Teaching, Preaching Day n Night,
I just remember you nodding,
Gazing at this unresponsive isle.

Pushing me away, No No No,
Mighty struggle in my arms,
I just remember you losing,
Fighting this unrelenting isle.

Calling at unearthly hours,
Talking for long, without care,
I just remember fighting sleep,
Insomniac, this uncomforting isle.

Forcing me, Adamant you,
Holding it, fingers wrapped,
I just remember the feel of it,
Lying dry, this barren isle.

I think, I never said enough,
How lovely you, how smitten I,
If only we could meet again,
Separated by this isolate isle.

Of Batman and Bollywood

With anxiety about the latest Batman flick running Everest high, Christian Bale is the name on everyone’s lips. This masked and caped vigilante has brought a sense of respect to comic books, missing till now. There have been many a actors who have donned the cowl over the years ranging from the heroic Val Kilmer to the forgettable George Clooney.

This led me to wonder how would the character have panned out had our own Bollywood stars played The Batman. Let see one by one.

1. Salman Khan
	The accented Khan would have suited best as when he speaks in accent he is hardly intelligible, much like Batman whisper. How awesome would it have sound. Catwoman: “Tumne Gotham ke liye bahut kuch kiya. Ab bas karo”. Batman: “Nahin, ek baar jo maine commitment kar di, toh main apne aap k bhi nahin sunta”.

2. Shahrukh Khan
	He is no alien to wearing tight body suits and saving the town. Unlike Batman, his sign would be posing sideways with arms stretched out. Whenever he would do that, Inspector Gordon would run into his arms with music in the background.His melodrama and his enemies would die weeping. Casting Robin for him would be a no brainer!

3. Akshay Kumar
	A flirt Batman. A Kishen Kanhiyya. More like Bruce Wayne, partying with models on his yacht. His endless gags one after the another and his enemies would go insane laughing. Dialogue: “Mein apne desh ka pehla launda hoon jo chimkadad ban ke ud riya hoon.”

4. Ajay Devgn
	The Singham Batman would break the fingers when pointed at. Aata majhi satakli, aali le aali Joker, teri baari aali. The superhero with tilted head would be famous for car chases, blowing and flying cars as he chases his enemies in Bat Car.

5. Saif Ali Khan
	The cool urbane Batman with a sheepish smile. “Ek baar mein samajh gaye ki main Batman hoon ya mein waapas ghoom ke aaoon”. He has his readymade Batgirl in Kareena. He would roam around flirting with umpteen girls while his enemies would get eliminated. “Bade aaraam se”.

6. Aamir Khan
	The perfectionist Batman. He would sleep hanging upside down at the ceiling, lest the character gets diluted. He would surgically get bat wings and paint his face black. Instead of fighting crimes, would fly away and live with bats in their caves. His logic, Bat’s don’t fight crimes, they just hang upside down and terrorize people.

7. Abhishek Bachchan
	This would be the first Batman of its kind. Liberation! Instead of the Cape, he would be donning a gown. Instead of all black, it would be all red and pink. He would charm his enemies and live with him happily ever after.

Anna you betrayed us

Amidst the chant of “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, the atmosphere was all charged up. Patriotism was in vogue again. A huge crowd had gathered at the ground while million more stuck to their TV screens. All were living a force-fed dream. A dream of corruption free India. A dream that we can make a difference. A dream that we do matter.

We saw rebirth of a frail, thin leader. A fighter without arms. Not the demand for food, but the refusal of it shook the very foundations of the legislative of the biggest democracy of the world. We all stood in unison, we did what he said, and we followed wherever led.

As the days passed. One…Two…Three, the pressure started mounting. The health started deteriorating. People were anxious, government was worried. Not for his health but for the backlash, if something happened. More so coz the ideology of party in power was based on fast-unto-death. There seemed no way out.

Some back room negotiations ensued. A tainted ex-CM from financial capital was rushed to Delhi. Anna you agreed. Having been betrayed by Govt., time and again, you still acceded to the letter and promises as if you were just waiting to pounce upon. It’s tough for me to say, but Anna it would have been better if you had withered sitting on the fast. Alas! somewhere down the line, your fast-unto-death became wolf cries.

The corrupt politicians unclothed you in front of public. The cheer-haran was painful. I ask Why? Why did you fool us into disbelief if you were not ready to go the distance? I know it’s tough to give one’s life and I for one cannot. But why did you make false promises?

Your movement is in tatters. Our belief stands shaken. You sided with the limelight hungry, self proclaimed Guru to get the zing back into your campaign, but I am scared now. Scared to be betrayed again. Scared that I will be left again in the midst to fend myself off.

It would be tough for me to believe in another Anna. So long Hazare!

No Country for Emotional Men

“Real Men do cry”. This has almost become a modern cliché. Of the past, men were considered to be this hunk, who were strong physically and emotionally. They seldom broke down, could take right decisions even in traversity and could carry the family on their shoulders. Of late this perception has changed. Emotional sides of men have come to the fore. They do cry, they do break, they do are humans.

How does our society behave with these mortal beings? How does the emotional men treated? Well not quite well to be frank.

What I have observed is, however we may evolve, however we say its fine for men to be emotional, the truth is ‘emotions’ and ‘show of it’ is considered by and large a weakness. On your face nobody would say anything, but you would be mocked behind your backs and the worst part is, at the next opportune moment, you would be ripped off and your emotions en-cashed.

Not only people who don’t matter to you, but also the people who matter to you a lot, your friends and family, will chance upon. Might not be music to your ears but it’s true.

How many times have we seen parents trying ‘emotional blackmail’ just because they know their ward is an emotional fool? How many times did your girl fake cried just because she knows you will break? How many time a colleague told an emotional story just to get some money out of you? It’s all a big hoax.

The thing is, there is no place for emotions in this cruel-cruel world. None outside, None inside. Especially, if you are men. My tip would be to keep to yourself, not let anyone in your emotional side. Not unless you want to be short changed.

People will try to make a fool out of you, just because they can. No other reason.

Years in Wilderness

Have been around a month since I jotted something down. And no I was not on a break. Last couple of months I have experienced something new and refreshing.

All my life I was lectured upon for lack of it. “You have the potential but lack that thing”. To be frank, I always laughed it away. Either I didn’t understand what was said, or was in denial. What I am talking about is the virtue of hard work.

I would be the first person to admit that I have never ever put myself through the grind. Everything that I had done to-date has been a natural flow.

Last couple of months I have come face to face with hard work. And I can’t explain in words, the feeling. It’s celestial. Earlier I used to wake up and go to office, lacking any excitement. It was just a routine. Now I am eager to go to office as I am eager to take on the work. I find pleasure working.

I was trying to figure out the reason for it. To a certain extent it’s again something I avoided to date. It’s called in depth knowledge. I prided myself to be jack of all trades, a versatile sort of. You know it’s nice to be jack of all, but in today’s day and time you got to be master of something. You have to go through the grind to become one and it’s not always pleasant.

I read it a long back what I have understood only now, “Most of the tensions in present day life come if you are not good at what you do”. Give your 100% to what you are doing, or don’t do it at all. Be the master at your work, your whole life will be a smooth ride.

I have promised myself to make up for the lost years. Got to rush. Have some work. Ciao!

पता चल न पाता कभी

दिल का धड़कना होता है क्या,
सांसें आखिर कैसे चढ़ जाती है,
नींद रातों की कैसे जाती है गुम,
तू न मिलती, पता चल न पाता कभी|

लटों की उलझन में फसना है क्या,
डूबकर आँखों में तैरते कैसे हैं,
मार खाने में आता है कैसा मज़ा,
तू न मिलती, पता चल न पाता कभी|

रात दिन, एक कैसे जाते हैं हो,
भूख लगती है, खा क्यों न पाते हैं हम,
एक चेहरे में पहर कैसे कट जाते हैं,
तू न मिलती, पता चल न पाता कभी|

रिश्ते नाते सब गैर लगते हैं क्यों,
क्यों बेगाना ज़माना ये हो जाता है,
प्यार भी सबका लानत क्यों लगने लगा,
तू न मिलती, पता चल न पाता कभी|

सर्द रातों की गर्मी में तपना है क्या,
चंद बातों में दुनिया का बसना है क्या,
चाँद तारे तोड़कर कैसे लाते हैं सब,
तू न मिलती, पता चल न पाता कभी|

इजहार-ऐ मोहब्बत होती है क्या.
कैसे दर्द-ऐ-जुदाई तड़पा जाती है,
प्यार का रंग खूनी लगता है क्यों,
तू न मिलती, पता चल न पाता कभी||

miao