MCBC (= MFSF) (And don’t teme u duno what dat means!)

Aao huzoor tumko... Sitaron mein le chale...
Dil jhoom jaye aise... Baharon mein le chale...

(Naah, m not takin u anywhr up in the heavens. In fact this post may cause a few hard knocks and bumps!)

So, if you have been able to decipher what the title meant, it indicates you’re fairly familiar with foul language. (No arguments entertained on that note. The only points I will accept opinions on are:) Do you use such language often? Do you greet friends with a “Kya be ma*******” and “Kidhar tha ga****”? Do you resort to abuses in unpleasant situations like traffic jams and deceitful transactions?

I do, and I love it. It makes me fit in with the pack. The only thing I need to do is adapt the abuses to the scene – based on language and degree; Hindi among the localites, fancy English swear-words among the heps and hippies, milder ones with extended family and brutally unembellished ones with the crass and crude folks. I tend to get a tad uncomfortable when people more conversant and knowledgeable display their talents, and also wid the timid and refined who drop their jaws at a simple, harmless “chu****”. But all part of the game... The world is full of all kinds of fools...

The other day, a colleague happened to accidentally hit my bike causing it to fall, leading to a bruised seat-cover. Ever the ignorant and unobservant, I noticed nothing outa the ordinary, but my buddy summed up the damage in the 5 magic words “Gaadi ki maa ch** di”... I did not know whether to fret in distress or laugh out loud at his ingenious and meticulous choice of words.

Before that, thanks to my screwed up office internet, I had to visit the net-café for some browsing and mailing. The man did not look too docile and polite, but I certainly wasn’t prepared when he started shouting profanities at a patron who asked why one could not use the internet for 10 minutes... I mean what happened to the good ol’ sharing of info and all that respecting the customer crap? “Bh******, aana nahi idhar wapis. Idhar dikha na toh pair tod dunga tere...” Whew... I almost shit my pants in agony and fear. When one gets aggressive, whether verbally or physically, there are fireworks! The best thing to do is take to heels and get as far as you can... (Reminds me of a song - run away, run away, run away if you want to survive – heard this as a kid thanks to my bro, then on the verge of pubescence, and in the age whr listenin to English songs is the “in” thing).

Which takes me bac to da time when I saw my first fist-fight... Have I told u about it? I think I have, but I’m not too sure. (I keep writing drafts and deleting them so often that I can’t say for sure which ones I actually wrote in the blog and which I deemed unfit... So, if I have shared this, pardon me. Jus proves my stories don’t change over time!) Seated outside Musicworld in Camp (now some sportswear showroom), I heard this resounding thunderclap, and took a minute to grasp the fact that a guy had hit another across the face, the reason being girlfriend-snatching-and-torturing. While the 2 gangs sorted matters out, I was being calmed and soothed by one of my friends who stayed behind to make sure I was not too shaken (maybe he was jus too sissy to be a part of the actual brawl). Anyways, the point is, scuffles and tussles, be it physical or verbal, are very generously seasoned with first-rate slur and slander. In the show called Splitsvilla on a music channel, a coy dame was dared to list 20 abuses, and she did! (Unfortunately, the censors let nuthin pass except the lip-formations, but bcoz they were all laughin so much, it was no help either. Else, I’d be carryin around a wealthier vocabulary with me right now...)

My current vocab is limited to leme see ... about 15 abuses... sad na? And the sadder part is most of them center around the womenfolk... Time we invented some new ones involving new people and relations... Leme know if you know any exciting, intelligent ones! I’m ALL EARS... Hehe!

Other updates? I managed to set hands on the Mahabharata that I have long been pursuing with Crossword (sickly service team they got, unpolished in manner and unhelpful wrt follow-ups). Landmark made a mark, and my pocket’s a grand and half lighter, and so is my heart! Waitin to start reading it... After I finish the 6 S (70 pages left, the actress’ narrative has been the most gripping event until now and the tribal’s the most disheartening). I seem to have misplaced my Memory Keeper’s Daughter (Actually mum, coz she disarrayed my entire book collection in her Diwali cleaning fervor... Grrrr!) About work, all’s well. Little stressful, but bearable. And about frens, I met an M.A.-mate the other day, and connected wid several online. But the greatest surprise was a couple of long-lost guy-frens callin up on the same day after ages!

Bhabi’s bac, and the family is doin well... Mum’s on a mini trip (as usual) wid her fren from Delhi. So, housework eating up on my leisure time. But, I had a great dinner yday (hey, Eid Mubarak!) at a new joint called “Barbeque Nation” in Kalyani Nagar. Amazin concept (they have a live grill in d middle of d table dat u can cook to ur heart’s delight and season wid several harmless-lukin weird-tastin sauces!) and elegant ambience, good service and decent food (starters 5 *, middle course 3 * and desserts 4 *). Which adds up to a pretty interesting evening (and an expensive one at that!)

So, all you *^$%(*$%( and ($&^%*&^$%, have a gr8 weekend and come bac in time for my next post!

Byeeee!
An

Freedom

A new month, a new post.
Time’s flying and so are emotions and dreams...

She loves to walk the talk,
A bounce in every step;
A smile pasted on her lips,
She’s full of wit and pep.

Her eyes speak a million words,
As she gazes thoughtfully and frowns;
Causing those who knows her well,
Hearts that in anxiety and fear bounce.

A buddy with the guys,
Yet so much a lady;
Takes her time to open up,
Quick to perceive things shady.

Self-admittedly egoistic,
A Jane of every trade;
Objective yet sentimental,
Hardly snobbish or staid.

A life with no regrets,
A life like a queen;
She can be mellifluous like jelly,
She can be horrid and mean.

God’s favorite child,
A friend for all who need;
Crazy is her style,
She’s unique, indeed!

No points for guessing who I’m talking about... Aakhir kab tak apne poetic aesthetic mind ko apni khud ke suyogytata se juda rakhungi? Hehe...

I was just thinkin d other day... Freedom is sucha double-edged sword. Wid reference to parents and kids, freedom entails so many things that are crucial to a teenager’s existence; night-outs, parties, drinking/smoking, vocations and hobbies, gfs/bfs, and the like. To balance the kid’s safety and joy is a tricky task for the parents. For an employee, freedom means a lenient supervisor who doesn’t draw tight boundaries and fixed processes at work. Which poses the risk of the him/her going completely outa organizational ethical control. For a freelancer, freedom is gud when one’s got 10 assignments in the kitty; but when times are bad, the fixed retainer of a salaried employee seems enviable. Even wrt politics - Would you say India is better off free or was it ok during the times of the British? Sometimes, a semi-dictatorship doesn’t seem as bad as it sounds. Provided the “right” leader holds the reins... Who is “the right leader”? Well, all of us are “free” to judge...


Every situation and action has 2 choices, and we voluntarily make the choice. Under the influence of fear or confidence, knowledge or pseudo-helplessness, anger or contempt. I feel like laughing when people say they don’t/didn’t have an option. My uncle insists he’s trying to let go of the position he holds in different institutions and locations, that he’s stuck there despite wanting to enjoy his retirement years in peace. However, my entire family agrees that he is only saying that half-heartedly, that he can’t really bear to become a (comparatively) nobody once he relinquishes his power. My mum says she is bz all day wid housework and cant find time for herself. Yet, we see eye to eye when we recall the numerous times she’s gone off trekking and tripping to exotic locations, leaving the house to manage itself. And things have worked fine!

In the same way, each one of us as an individual, has an alternative to everythin we encounter and do in life. Be it in academics (don’t teme ur dad forced u to take up engineering; you dint hav the balls to stand up with conviction and say I want to do sumthin else) or careers (u were not coerced to take up a job, u chose it for reasons you kno but may not want to share) or spouses (same, u dint want to take a risk and you went the easier way) or anything else. You choose whether to be sweet to your juniors, or to treat them in an authoritative, derogatory manner. You select whether to eat outdoors or indoors. You opt for the red or green or yellow. And if someone decided for you, then you could pick wther to stand by that person’s opinion, or to voice your own preferences. Don’t teme you had no choice! You very well make your own choices... Whether you accept it wid courage or whether you make a 100 excuses and petitions to make yourself look vulnerable and bechara...

One thing I guarantee you; the day you start accepting responsibility for your actions and standing by your words, you’ll stop having regrets. And once you manage to do that, you will feel mo “in control” of your life. Aren’t we all finally running towards this single goal?

Make this choice. NOW.

Wish you luck!
Anuja

Crib-a-tho(r)n... Coz it pricks...

Analogous to a marathon, is this post, my crib-a-thon, where I am gona crib to my heart’s content. (I know I may regret this later, and I may even delete it, but really need to vent it out now!). Waise bhi my blog’s never gona b a blog of note (that’s the privilege of the rich and the professional), so I needn’t fear about too many unknown folks reading my whines and grumbles... Aur paddh bhi le toh kya... Ki main jhoot boliya? Koi na!!

Startin wid u, Mr. S... I hate you. And I’m sure you know it. You’re a loser who cud never gain respect, a failure who did nuthin worth bein remembered or appreciated. All you think about, is yourself, your convenience, your likes and your needs. At this age where your peers are retiring, you have not a penny saved up, and worse, you’re head-deep (neck's long gone underwater) in debt... Who’s gona pick up your blames and liabilities? U fleeced ur wife who never received any gift from u to cherish or treasure; u never did anything that contributed to ur kids’ growth and development (beyond the basic food, clothing, shelter basics). You’re selfish, crude, petty, dependent, ungrateful, mannerless and audacious. You beg everyone for their money, pity and empathy. Noone I know either admires or values you. And that’s a shame. In your place, I’d die of embarrassment and self-disgust. Boo to you.

Mr. A... How can I forget... A wicked, hypocritical, cheap bugger wid no brains and no compassion. You get your kicks from teasing and troubling others, and you are rude and crass. True, you got the resources to survive, and you can be quite effective in typical situations, but as a relative, you really need major help and guidance. Not your fault; God did not bestow you wid intelligence and sensibility... He left us to suffer!

Ms. J... Hmm... what do I say about u? ur mean and rude. U hav no clout if it weren’t for ur hubby. You do not hesitate to insult others in public, and m sure everyone fears u not out of respect but out of contempt and self-respect! Before embarkin on a mission to improve others, u shud do a reality check on urself. Maybe that wil get ur ego and self-esteem down to a more honest and modest level. Ur a chameleon, and your fake smile is anything but pretty and reassuring. A lesson in humanity for this lady, pls!

Mr. S... U mean a lot to me. It hurts me dat we fight, but ur very close to my heart. Which is probably y u hurt me so much. I gave u dat right when I chose to luv u... V cant take this further for reasons v both kno very well by now, but I will always think of us and I will cherish our memories and times together... Barring a few episodes, I always did everythin for u and ur gud. Several times u decided to ignore that. I learnt to live wid ur immaturity, but u held every shortcoming of mine as a defense against me. For wat? I ain’t ur enemy! I cared for u and pampered u more than any1 else ever did in this world! U need me in ur life for joy n harmony! And u cant deny that... Ego is sucha curse! Yet, I owned up to it. U apologized a million times, but not as often and as boldly as I did; u chose to mask your badness and hold me responsible for all the negatives. I forgive u. Jus coz I luv and admire u... Always will... All the best! And I hope u know wat u lost... Ur actually a wonder... only if things had turned out better...

Ms. S... (Ya, I know. Too many S’s in this post. Too many in my life!) So, woman. I had a lot of expectations from u. I had woven several pretty dreams where u n I were best frens, always laughin and cryin together. But u managed to disappoint every1. Not ur fault, really, coz I know u born n brot up a different way. But watda hell, u cud’v made an effort to change whn u saw that ur style wasn’t takin u far at this new place! U appear pretensive and self-obsessed. One cannot relax wid u, and ur a big bore... Hehehehe.

Reminds me of anodr Ms. S who was a part of our family once. She became the sister I never had, and a buddy to my mum. Evry1 in my family loved her, but Fate (the funny thin dat it is) took her away from us, and now we’re as gud as strangers... Or rather, as BAD as them....

Ms. D, Mr. G, Ms. N, Mr. S and all u others I saw as great frens... I don’t know why u left and I duno what went wrong. All I know is I had fun with u and I was terribly attached to you... I did my best to make the relation work, but maybe we (each as a pair) wre pursuing different goals. U had a short-term end in mind, whereas I was lookin for sumthin more constant and reliable. I want to know I left my mark in ur life, and u still think of me in a good way. No sweat. I still think of u and I still miss u. I hope ur happy... Just not as happy as me...

Moving on, all my frens and relatives, thanks but no thanks. U never did anything for me or my family. U jus exploited my dumb parents who were too polite and generous to see thru ur cunningness. I hav never felt any love or concern for any of u. I hav jus done my duties and hated u for it.

Aur kaun bacha??? I think dat covers the major ones. Bakiyon mein abhi the gudness is still at a reasonable level, so I wont drag thm here. Once they reach the boilin point, u know wats gona happen!!

I'm happy now, but I'm waitin to end this phase of my life and move on to a new place wid new people and new attitudes. Familiarity breeds contempt...
Not enabling comments on this post. I know none of u wud’v likd this. Neither did I. But as I said, sumtimes u shud do thins u don’t approve of. Especially if it makes ur heart lighter and gladder...
Lonely Princess

Chhoti Si Baat

Hi,

I’m halfway thru the Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup. It’s about this high-profile murder that takes place, and as the title suggests, there are 6 completely diverse and independent individuals who are held under suspicion. Someone’s a tribal, someone’s an actress, one a politician, even a foreigner (!) and so on. How they all happen to land up on the scene of the crime wid a weapon in their possession is the mystery, and who finally is the real killer is the climax. So faa, so gud... But, the book gets a lil monotonous at times, especially when the bhoot of Gandhi takes over this corrupt and crooked IAS chap, and a petty thief falls in love wid dis rich chic who’s related to the thief’s pa’s murderer (ekdum apna Bollywood style). Contemporary characters like Salman Khan (did u know 10 ka Dum is wrapped up?! Rakhi Sawant was the last celebrity guest) and Barkha Dutt, as well as the MNS group are drawn upon to make the book more relevant and exciting, and one gets curious as to how every piece of the jigsaw will fit into place.

Conducted an off-site at Khandala over the weekend. A 120-people group at the Velvett Country (I was pretty eager to check out the location, but twas not as amazing as I’d expected, or as magnificent as it sounded). The program was exciting as usual, and tiring, but thankfully not as stressful and arduous as Jaipur. Assisting people to come up with their own learnings and “Aaha” moments is a rewarding experience, indeed. Of course, every facilitator is not the same. Effective facilitators are those who can outline the right observations and corporate equivalents, and dish it out with wit, humor, accuracy, diplomacy and confidence; all in a friendly and non-threatening manner (not to forget, wid decent communication skills too). Quite similar to counseling where the counselor merely aids the counselee to come to terms with what he/she wants and deems right. As I myself believe, one can only help the other by hand-holding to a particular stage. Beyond that limit, one must be allowed to make his/her own mistakes and learn lessons from practical experience. No two people are the same, nor are their personalities, nor their life situations and experiences. Let each one come to their own awareness and opinions (so that later they cant come hounding you with a “You told me so!” shriek and grunt).

Quite a few holidays in October! Apart from the 4 weekends, there’s Gandhi Jayanti (bless his noble soul!), Dassera, and Diwali, which all adds up to about a week of relief. Work’s gona be chilled out, too. Wish I cud dash off sumwhr n make this interlude worthwhile...

Life is so unpredictable. Was remembering an old college-mate, who passed away in a freak accident when we were in our first year of Bachelors. A timid, sweet girl, she was celebrating Friendship Day with her gang at Mulshi or sumplace. I can’t recall the details, but the gist is she drowned when they were playing in the water... Had she, even for a minute, thot she wasn’t gona return home, when she left for the picnic in the morning? Did this ever strike her parents that they were seeing their daughter alive for the last time? I was shocked when I heard of this catastrophe, and try as I might I couldn’t digest the fact that someone as young as me (actually younger) could meet sucha fate. All those years of slogging and studying, all those dreams of the parents and teachers, all plans and ambitions, all gone in the blink of an eye...

Everythin happens for the best, right? What good was hidden in this? Her mum was devastated, everyone who knew her was shaken and distressed. But my unyielding faith still says that maybe she was saved from a more traumatic life. Don’t we all agree better dead than handicapped for life?

Whatever happens to us is our own doing, either directly or indirectly. The good is multiplied manifold before it reaches us, and the bad is cut half before it hits us. And once you surrender yourself to Him, you needn’t worry one bit. You’re taken care off way better than you yourself cud have ever dreamt or managed. Trust me!

Trust Him...
You’ll be glad you did...

Love,
Anuja

Post No. 50 - Shaadi Ka Ladoo

Hiya folks!

First of all, thanks to all of u for joinin me here on this post. Half a century done, and many more to come! When I wrote my first blog, never for a moment I thot I’d keep at it so relentlessly, and your love and encouragement was sumthin I never imagined in my wildest dreams. But well, both came together, and here we are celebrating this landmark! Cheers! (Wheeeeee, this feels great!!)

Back to business... A lot of people are getting married - my frens, frens of frens, family frens, and the entire universe out thr. Marital bliss seems to be the ultimate desire of Gen X (or Y or watever). Have I joined the bandwagon? Not yet...

(Hehe, couldn’t resist sharing this, wid evry1 tying the knot around me, somehow my dreams showed me the image of my Head of Dept bac in the Univ holding a wedding invitation and requestin me to attend the function! This wouldn’t hav been so outrageous had he not been married for a good 30 years at the least, and wid grown-up children! Dreams are ridiculous!)

So wat exactly do you look for in a life partner? Looks? Money? Understanding? Patience? Romance? Commitment? Family background? .....

Be it love or arranged, I guess most of the parameters are common. Nobody wants an irate, good-for-nothing, inept, hapless dharti-pe-bojh. At least not for starters. (It doesn’t really help coz post-marriage, everyone feels their partner has suddenly grown horns and fits this description to the T).

Ask the teenage girls, and they croon... “Ooohhhh! I want a guy who is caring, understanding, sweet, cute...” Add about a hundred other vague metaphors and bingo! You hav outlined their perfect guy.

Ask them a lil later whn they start working and hav a lil experience with the real-life guys and relationships, and they’ll say wid practiced clout, ease and candor ... “Well, he must be financially stable, mature and liberal”. All the rosey, lovey-dovey ideas seem to hav escaped like steam from the cooker!

What about the men-folk? At any age, each male wants a partner who is beautiful, fairly clever (yet dumb enuf not to see thru his silly excuses), and tolerant. Someone who can fulfill his simple needs (read food, sex, sleep) and not crib too much. Although several applaud the independent, self-sufficient 21st century woman, not many would want to have such a strong-willed and smart-minded wife. Especially if she has more power, status, salary and intelligence...

When it comes to the parents (assuming they HAVE a say in the matter, in the first place), they obviously are looking for a match where both husband-wife can live together in peace and harmony thru thick and thin. So, more than love and mush, their appraisal is based on tangible possessions and long-term, tried and tested, researched and proved qualities. (Quite sane, I mus admit! Especially coz arranged marriages seem to last longer than love marriages. As they say, in love marriages, the marriage is screwd after the love ends! And love is screwd the moment the nuptial’s complete).

Reminds me of a note I read in Myers’ Social Psych text at M.A. It talks about paradoxes like “Is it true that opposites attract? Or that birds of a feather flock together?” and “Is pen mightier than the sword? Or do actions speak louder than words?” another one “Are two heads better than one? Or do too many cooks spoil the broth?”

Cool, eh? Anyways, the point is what makes an appropriate couple - opposites or alikes?
In my opinion, opposites do attract, but they don’t stay together for too long. It’s very exciting and endearing to sacrifice your likes and needs for the person u love for a short while. But in the long run, you need someone who shares your views and choices. Cuts out the pressure and the clashes. I wouldn’t be too thrilled if my partner were to suggest swimming when I wanted to sit home munching on popcorn and watching the reruns of my favorite shows. And who gives in to who? And for how long? Deals like sometimes you and sometimes me often become a game of “I always do what you want” and “You never listen to me”. (Just like whn me and my mum play cards and both keep cribbing that “Its always me who deals the cards!” To hell with the always... in all ways...)

So, wat kinda partner do I want? I remember my uncle asking me the same Q when I was fresh outa school and I made this entire list of items starting from “hygiene” to the all-pervasive “understanding” to about 10-12 other terms. Then, when I told him I’d found someone suitable, he made me sit down with the list and tick the items that matched. Quite a few did. Now when I think back to the outdated list, I feel so silly. Time for a new one! (Which I’m sure will also sound archaic when I refer to this at a later date!)

Anyways, here goes! In random order...

A guy with...
1. A masculine and agile body (stay away, paunchy!)
2. Practical knowledge and moderate-high intelligence
3. A great sense of humor (laughter goes on forever, even after words end)
4. Financial security and stability (as the wise folks say “pyar se pet nahi bharta!”)
5. Concern for family a little greater than commitment to work
6. The capacity to see the brighter things in life (pessimists and cynics, please excuse)
7. Oodles of patience for my monstrous ego and short temper!
8. The willingness to keep wife, kids, wife’s family (and others who matter) happy
9. Honesty, adaptability and cleanliness (in body and mind!)
10. Not too many strings with the past (in terms of obsessions wid prior girlfriends)
11. Enormous confidence and trust in me, my judgments and my abilities
12. The ability to rise over challenges (sissy or crybaby not welcome)
13. An objective yet caring outlook; good balance of emotions and practicality
14. Tremendous energy and enthusiasm (lazy ones take a hike!)
15. An open mind (not so open that his brains fall out!)
16. No addictions to drugs, smoking, alcohol, gutkha, etc
17. Lots of love and dedication to me first, kids next and others thereafter
18. The strength to own up to mistakes and ignorance (no trumpet-blowers, please)
19. Gratitude and appreciation for others (not an evil critic on the rampage who takes everythin for granted and behaves as if he was born to be served!)
20. The knack of getting things done, and the benevolence to acknowledge and repay it

I guess I shud stop thr... The list could actually go on forever, but nobody said I wasn’t looking for a customizable hubby! All you matchmakers out thr, if you’re listening, and if u gotta guy in sight like dat, pls knock on the Rathi’s door and display your goods! Ladki baalik ho gayi hai ;-)

Raising a toast to the newly-weds and engaged!
May you have a long, happy, married life!
And may the constant bickering (the supreme sign of a wedded couple) be laid to rest as you re-discover the goodness in each other!
And the joy of being together...

Love,
Not-so-lonely princess
(Don’t prick up your ears, gossip-mongers. That doesn’t mean m engaged or anything. It’s jus a state of mind... Adios!)

P.S : (On Oct 15) What could be better than this?!! My blog's gettin noticed, and this post was requested by Simply Marry - a marriage portal to list on their bridology page! Cheers!!! Here's the link: http://www.simplymarryzine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=20&Itemid=96

How does it feel...

How does it feel...
When something you’ve planned all along,
Doesn’t happen for a reason unforeseen;
Leaving you in the doldrums with regrets umpteen,
As people sympathize saying “no big deal”...
How does it feel?

How does it feel...
When someone you love,
Fails to see the intensity of your sentiment;
Appeals to reason lead to argument,
“You’ll never understand me” is the final seal,
How does it feel?

How does it feel...
When those that you hold close,
Refuse to value your respect and need,
To others they their commitment and support feed,
Washing out your harmony and zeal,
How does it feel?

A million reasons to cry, a zillion to smile,
The former hard to notice, the latter discernible over a mile;
To lift up your spirits and erase your frowns,
Needs much more than silly surprises and colorful clowns.

In sorrow the heart sighs, in misery your head reels,
Teary eyes at bedtime, listless presence at meals;
In search of bliss, the eyes dart,
You look up (and what? Fart?!!)

(Oh, so that drivel rhymed, but what the hell?
Am I here to sing, or here to tell?)
You’re the master of your destiny,
None can your joys steal,
And now sweethearts, tell me
How does THAT feel? :-)

Cheers!
Anuja

Back again!

Boy pointing to pregnant mum’s stomach: “What’s that?”
Pregnant mum: “This is my darling, sweet, lovable baby...”
Boy: “If he’s so lovable, why did u eat him?!”

;-) Ok I know that was silly... but jus thot I’d share it wid u... Would u hold it against me if I told anodr sillier one? Oh c’mon... Dats not too much to ask for!

Teacher to girl student: “Why are u late to school?”
Student: “A boy was following me.”
Teacher: “So?”
Student: “He was walking slowly.”

;-) Hee Hee Hee...

Hellooooooo!

How ya doin pals? I attended a lecture-cum-meet yesterday convened by the local NHRD chapter. It was on Adult Learning and delivered by a wonderfully witty and excruciatingly entertaining chap from Australia who goes by the name of Aaron Smith. My first such organizational endeavor, I was a lil anxious initially as to how to network and break the ice with strangers, but soon it came fairly easy when I saw most others were as bemused and awkward as me! Managed to meet quite a few people, managed to form quite a few opinions about the public, what goes and what doesn’t and a host of other learnings. Quite an interesting experience...

As I was riding to the venue - Hotel Le Meridien behind Pune railway station - I was inspired to draw a comparison between the traffic scenario in India vs. the way of life in India. I know you have now come to regard traffic and crazy driving as my pet hates, but well, each one to his own! So, here goes...

Observation: Most pillion riders, irrespective of their gender, cling to the rider.
Parallel: How would it be if all of us were really as trusting, loving and supportive of others in other situations, too?

Observation: People don’t obey signals.
Parallel: Why then do we adhere to age-old rules and restrictions that segregate people on the basis of caste, creed, gender, status and other aspects?

Observation: Everybody loves to honk! (tho every1 knows that no1 wants to stay in one place!)
Parallel: Why aren’t we as effusive and vocal with our applause and appreciation?

Observation: Few switch off the ignition at a red signal lasting more than a minute
Parallel: Why do we turn off our charm, concern and helpfulness when we see some1 in need?

Observation: Ages after the signal turns green, people turn on the ignition (those who have turned it off!)
Parallel: Why don’t we delay our anger, hatred and contempt in just the same way?

Observation: People inch forward in any small nook in jams.
Parallel: Why don’t we search for similar gaps in learning, understanding, compromise and cooperation, and try to bridge it with proactive zeal and dedicated effort?

Observation: Abuses and dirty glares are offered in dollops at any inadvertent instance
Parallel: Why don’t we look down with similar distaste on those who attempt to put us against each other, rise against other groups, and create chaos by blowing up silly or minor issues?

Observation: EVERYONE, on the move or at a halt, is on their cellphone!
Parallel: How is it that we refuse to be so available when we know we could be of assistance to our country and our countrymen (and women, and kids)...

Well, too heavy to digest? Couldn’t stop my whirring mind and spinning senses...

Anyways, other updates - I am now reading Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup, the author of Q n A. He has a very typical style, he writes disconnected chapters. The plot as usual is good, and there is quite a bit of variety, but I haven’t had too much time to read, only 80 pages down in the last 3 days... Finished the Last Don by Puzo in under a fortnight... Will finish this one in about 10 days and move on to Kim Edwards.

No good movie coming up it seems. Haven’t watched TV in ages (except for “Balika Vadhu” on Colors that my mom loves to watch while I’m having dinner... Upsets my digestion, but that’s a small price to pay for letting my mum have her way, once in a while!)

Chalo, time to sign off. Thot for the day – Never judge a man’s actions until you know his motives (written by Anonymous, read by me in 6 S)

Adios!
Anuja