Sunday, August 28

Silence...

“Good morning, Sir”

He just nodded at me. And passed a week smile. I wondered why? From past three days I have been noticing. He is like that.

“I hate silence” He used to say. Aged fifty-five, one of the senior most people in our company. Assistant General Manger. Vigorous when it comes about work. Most diligent person. Gives high importance to punctuality. Never will compromise on failures. Anytime he is ready to work hard in lieu of enjoyments. A hard-core believer in ‘Work is God’ adage.

I haven seen him on his chair for more than half an hour continuously. He is always active running here and there, managing his subordinates, and instructing supervisors, monitoring workers and all. His knowledge and experience could have made him revered.

But everyone wanted him out of the company. He was very egoistic. He always gave a deaf ear towards his sub ordinates opinions. “When I was here……., when I was there……..” he was a bit boisterous. He was dedicated to work in such a level that he tried to put his finger on whatever went in front of him. He wanted every work done under his knowledge. This created a stir between him and many senior managers. But being AGM nobody dared to question neither him nor report about him, but fulminated behind him.

This was the picture till few days back. Now he neither rises his voice nor run here and there. He neither puts his head in others matter nor aggressive. Everyone in office noticed the change. Nobody wished to ask him why? Nobody cared to enquire about his current condition. I couldn’t stand this change. Very junior to him, I knew I don’t have to show any ego in front of him. And he haven done anything to cross my way of work. I asked him.

His wife got some mental problems. She has been hospitalized for past five days. He conferred to me. I could only do but console him. And he was very happy that at least I asked him. I hold his hands. Couldn’t speak much. In fact, was at oblivion what to say? Wishing him for her speedy recovery I came back to my cabin.

I thought for a while. Whatever a person is, however he might be, once someone of his beloved is in distress, that men do change.

And yeah, that’s the time when you realize the need of a friend. Life is not only revolving around family and work.

Friday, August 19

Rakhi...Gift....

He was speeding on his bike. It was heavy traffic in the roads. That’s when he loves to speed. He get a kind of ecstasy while overtaking a speeding car through his left side and cut another vehicle from the right giving a hiccup to the driver coming from the opposite side. It was around six when he left to meet a friend.

He was enjoying his ride and watching all the girls out there in the streets. I wondered as if what happened today, streets are filled with voluptuous females. Glanced to the crowded shops where whole gamut of females of all age was there. He wondered whether it’s ‘Upto-50%-Discount-Sale’ going on all shops. Suddenly he saw, in between all the females, whole range of ‘Rakhi’ dangling in front of the shops. He suddenly applied brakes and the vehicle came to a halt. Oh! It’s tomorrow. ‘Raksha bandhan.’ Didn’t get any gifts for sisters, he thought.

Checked his wallet. Found only two Gandhi papers written hundred on them. Without a second thought he raced to the nearby ATM, hoping to withdraw few more. Before he reached he could see a long queue coming out from the ATM building. Without a hiatus he joined the line. Everyone will be a brother of someone who forgot to get the gift; he tried to convince himself. By the time he entered the ATM it was seven. Poor soul of ATM. It might have been a worn out day for him. Got the cash and without a bye he hurried to ‘Archies.’

Cards, Oh no! It sucks. From ages when there were wishes they had these cards. My sisters will read it and poor card with all its golden, sentimental wordings; will find some place near the dustbin a week after. He went on searching for something else. Perfumes. No, already they got many of them. Soft toys. Uh! They are not kiddies to play with them. Nay! Not anything of that sort. Kept searching. Pens, show pieces, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, nose rings, watches; Gosh I am fed up, he thought. Came out from there. Explored ‘Hallmark’ shop and many others. Got more and more bemused.

Went to the sweet shop. It was well lit. Very crowded. Each and everyone busy buying something for their brother or sister. Some buying chocolates in bunch and some buying laddu’s. Some buying Barfi’s and yet some others buying dry fruits. Everyone busy selecting the best and packing it with blazing covers; He still stood standstill not knowing what to buy. They eat sweets everyday. What the hell exciting in it, he thought. Being not able to makeup a decision came back home. Kept on cogitating the whole night about the gift and slipped off into sleep.


Done with his daily chores he got ready to way to office. Suddenly he saw his sisters ready with their rakhi’s. Smiling at him, they came to him. He looked at them. Water drops were falling from their hair tips. They are well dressed and hold a plate on their palms. They were ready to do the rituals. His heart pounded like a horse being left for race. They tied their rakhi’s on his right hand. Everyone was looking them. The holy ritual of bonding themselves to each other. Brother assuring a life long protection of his sisters. But he was thinking something else. Gift! What will I give them? They didn’t ask anything. But still. He went and picked up his wallet. I will give them cash. Let them have anything they want. No, that’s escapism. Closed the wallet.

After some pleasantries and laughter he left for his office. The whole route he felt sad for not finding an appropriate gift for them. The whole hours in office he kept on thinking what to get for them. While he was doing work, when he was having his lunch, when he was talking to his colleagues, when his boss was ordering him, when he was having his tea break; he kept on thinking what to give?

He wanted to give them something, something that no other brother can give. He wanted to make them feel they are very wanted for him. He wanted to make them realize how much he cared about his sisters; he wanted to make them feel proud to get such a brother. For that all these, materialistic gifts are not proper. They can’t render the emotion he hold for them. Confused and more confused he went to some shop. After some time spending over there he left the shop with a huge cover in his hand. His face was not elated. This is not the gift he really wanted to gift them. This doesn’t depict the real love for them.

Oh good gracious! LOVE and CARE is very hard to convince.

Thursday, August 18

Sharing...

Ajit felt giddiness. He wanted to share them. Thoughts were speeding up across his conscience without a break. He felt as if he was going to have a collision. An outburst. The whole day he was thinking about that only. Totally worried he thought he would get some sort of relief if he shares to her. There he was standing in the bus stop, awaiting Anna.

Minutes passed and he could see Anna coming on her bike. He felt as if she were coming in slow motion. His head started spinning. He wished she were approaching him in a jet plane. He felt someone had paused the whole scene for some time. He felt she is riding at a speed of 5 km\hr. He could sense a whirlwind above his head.

She came. Ajit was half relieved. Yes, she is here. She will understand me. Since she loves me she can anytime afford hearing to my tensions. He thought. She will be happy to listen to him. She will sit besides him and will offer her shoulder to support his weighing head. She will pat him on his face; wipe his tears, which are on the verge of flowing down through his cheeks, he thought. She will hold hands and share his words. Though she can’t help him out she will sit besides him silently. Ajit thought.

Anna parked the vehicle. Came near to Ajit. Sat besides him. She is looking enervated, Ajit thought. He looked at her, “What happened?” Anna stared him. She felt someone is there to share her thoughts. She holds his hands. She mumbled about the office tensions, crazy things she does, her family problems, and her tensions. He listened. He forgot about everything. He can’t see her in tension. He wanted to her to be happy. He tried to crack jokes. Acted fool in front of her. Started teasing playfully. Made her laugh. Gave her a boost to get self-motivated. Went for a walk with her. He forgot about his griefs by making her happy. Time went by. She went back home He to his place

Ajit got fresh. Sat to read something. Thoughts started pouring. Tensions and frustrations started to creep in. He wanted to share. He took the phone. He called her, Anna. She was so elated to pick up the phone. She started babbling on all the topics. He paused his thoughts. He felt good when he heard her laughing. He joined her laughs. He joined her jokes.

He always wanted to her to be happy. He always found his joy in her happiness.

Tuesday, August 16

In-security....

He loved her very much. He found her to be very caring. He knows it is she who will understand him. He knew she always listened to him. He knew she loved him a lot. He knew at any time, any day anywhere she will come there to help him. But at times he felt little bit in-secured. He found her developing a friendship at cost of him. She made him convince it is not like that. He believed her. But deep in his heart, a tincture of that in-security feeling was there, buried but smoking out.

Whenever they used to fight upon this matter she always did say, “I never change my priorities in relationships.” But he started feeling she does. That too, at his own cost; something, which he never can afford to adjust. Every day, every talk do ends in verbal fights. Then sleepless nights of mental torture. Once felt insecured, its difficult to regain the original charm in that relationship.

Saturday, August 13

Broken...

Sunday. Friendship Day. He stared at his gadget. Ten messages. He went through all of them. All witty, wacky, motivational, emotional, friendship day wishing messages. He checked all the senders. Some close friends, some distant friends. Some from whom he never expected to get message from. Some from those who never used to message him. He felt happy. But meanwhile he searched for something. That particular name. A name that symbolized a broken friendship. No it was not there. He felt bad. He felt angry. He felt pity for himself. HE replied to all other messages. Wished some more. But didn’t message that ‘particular one’ Why would he? She hasn’t!

…………………
…………………

She checked her mobile. Her inbox, full of messages. A glee rolled out her lips. Went through all of them in a jiffy only to find the exception of one sender. She sat idle. After a brief thought she replied everyone, but not him. Why should I message? It’s a closed chapter. Why should I initiate it. Nobody understood me. Nobody understands me. Then why a track back? Now no more pretensions. She kept the mobile aside.

Friday, August 12

Mention not...

He stood dumbfounded. I looked at him and smiled. “What happened?”

“What did you say right now?” he was curious.

Pradeep, our company driver is twenty-five. I had forgotten to get one important document from my place. I rang him up and made sure that he gets it while coming to office. A low-income-below average family brought up, he studied only till seventh standard. From then he had tried finding a living driving taxis, rickshaw’s, trucks and now in our company.

He had a flashing memory, at least regarding the roads and places. That’s what I had prejudged about him when he joined our company. But he shows interest in other things also and learns things very fast. He had sneaked on others computer when he was free and learnt many things with ever evolving questions. Now he can switch on a computer, log in to his company id and play ‘Solitaire’, create a drawing in ‘Paint’, scribble something in ‘Word’ etc.

Only knowing his mother tongue Marathi and national language Hindi, he used to listen when I spoke in English or in my regional dialect Malayalam. He asks its meaning very curiously and try to pronounce the way I used to. And every time he used to use those words with while conversing.

“What did you say?” He asked me again. I got out from my thoughts. I had thanked him when he brought me the document I had left at home. When I thanked he was very happy and said “Welcome!” giving an extra stress to the second syllable. He was feeling an overweening pride. It was then I said “No mention please.” He hasn’t heard that term used before. I instilled its usage into him. He was very happy. He skedaddled from there reciting those words in joy.

How its true, curiosity is the mother of invention.

Wednesday, August 10

How...And...What..

He was pretty dark, naïve and smiling. After the aptitude test held for the recruitment of the company I was just sipping some juice in their canteen, waiting for the results. This is when he came towards me and said hi. My minimum decency policy prompted to wish back. I offered him a chair besides me. Cheerfully he sat and introduced himself to me. Seeing my name being called out before the test and recognizing a south Indian surname he was of a conjecture that I might be somewhere from his place.

When I started to talk him in English he was a bit reluctant but gave answers. Then he started off with broken Hindi and asked me about tests and my whereabouts and being.

“I feel the scare” he said. What this guy will say in group discussion ahead, I thought.
Ten more minutes of chat with him made me feel sympathy for him. He was very ambitious and in need of a job. He knew his shortcoming about his language but sounded pretty confidant to appear for the group discussion.

After half an hour we both were heading to the conference hall, both in the same group. After self-introductions the topic for discussion was disclosed. Out of twelve or fifteen attendants he was the only one who was not good in English. All twelve spoke about the topic, their views and counterviews. After a furious session of half an hour we all got out. Now is the turn of results. The same guy came to me.

“You spoke well on the topic.” His eyes were sprinkling. “I Wish I talk more about the topic. I was stuck in between. Like stammering.” I looked at him. His eyes shadowed defeatism, for the first time. I recalled what all he talked. Yes, at times I felt like laughing when he spoke. But noticed an upbeat attitude in him. He was one of the three, who really spoke after understanding the topic thoroughly and aptly elucidating his views. Save him good gracious. I simply smiled at him. We had a quick confab related to the same topic given inside. I was very well impressed by his views and thoughts.

We had our snacks and came back to hall. There, the recruiter was with the results. I looked at him. I prayed for him also to get selected. I saw his hands quavering. She called out the names. I couldn’t hear any of the roll calls. But in a few seconds I saw him running to me. “We both is selected” I smiled. “Are” I corrected.

Now I realize, its not how you speak, but what you speak matters.

Tuesday, August 9

Strangers...

He didn’t hear the alarm. Got up late. Did his daily routines in a hurry. “Do you need Tiffin?” his mom asked. He heard, but didn’t reply. He took his bike. His sister came running holding the jacket “Take this if you need. You had asked for it yesterday. Its raining.” He didn’t answer. Wore the jacket and raced towards office.

“Good morning, Sir” Genial receptionist greeted him. No, this time also he didn’t react. He went to his cabin. The whole day he was insipid. He returned home early. Then he went to the sunset point that was very nigh to his place. Hw saw the sun dipping down the horizon. He wanted to shout. He wanted to talk. He looked around. Strangers, he found only strangers. The whole world seemed to him full of strangers. Where are my friends? He searched. Or did I have any? He pondered…

He went to meet his friend who had promised to meet. Waited. Waited some more. Friend came. “Sorry, how long have you been here? Actually I am little busy and have to go.” He didn’t answer. Smiled at him. Bid Goodbye. Came back home. “Come and have food.” His father said. He didn’t react. He went inside and covered himself under the blanket. Strangers, the whole world is of strangers

Monday, August 8

Bunty and Babli...

Does real life heroes exist? If someone asks me this question, sure i am gonna ask him to read about this man. Sub Inspector Kadam. In days of Mumbai deluge when most of the officials and politicians were trying to hide safe in their secured flats and apartments,this person proved opposite to them.

Sounds very filmi. But Mumbai Police Special Branch officer Mr. Kadam showed his bravura by saving lives of two recent born kids in Mumbai. Such incidents prove there are people who really act up on humanity and dare to do anything to save others, albeit all the risks.

Mr. Kadam, who is a very reputed officer among colleagues and a terror for criminals took all the risks to save people who had affected by the deluge. In his uniform he not only gave hopes to common man but also did a heroic act by saving lives of twins who were born on 22nd of July, four days back the flood hit.

Sunil and Rajani Yadav, reminisces about the incident. Mr. Kadam, with his friend arranged a boat and engaged in rescuing affected people, though it was a leaking one. When he heard about the twins born and the couples he didnt waste any time to reach them. Yadav's, residing in the first floor were dubious about his claims to help them. However he managed to convince them and rescued the twins from there who were starving for past two days.

Sunil Yadav, a hard core movie buff, also an Abhishek fan had put his new born kiddies under the names of his hero's recent hit flick 'Bunty aur Babli'



Read the whole story

Sunday, August 7

Smiley...

Beep. Beep..

I took the mobile. A smile flowered on my face. Whenever I see her name on my mobile I smile. Went to the inbox where it read, “Happy friendship day, if you were to dedicate me one song which one you would have been.” Found very funny. Kept my phone aside. Stupid silly girl! Continued with my reading.

But couldn’t concentrate anymore in that book. She was smiling at me and asking “which song?” I picked up the phone and replied back. Within seconds got a bunch of smilies. Nice she would have felt. And now I am feeling very nice. Long live friendship!!

Friday, August 5

Cup of Life....

I kept the phone receiver. It was ten minutes past one. He had rung me up at midnight. Seventy minutes. He is an okey kinda friend of mine. But first time this long chat over phone. Long lamentations. Hectic job, uninteresting activities in the office, lack of social interactions, loneliness, fear of responsibilities, deadline pressures, collegue cold wars, low concentration, low moitvation, aimless office life, affected personal life, many topics he went on. I listened to all those.

After i kept the phone God knows till what time i kept on thinking. He was not the first person to tell me like this. Many more people have the same cord. People wo are elder to me, my classmate, youger ones... All are bugged up with the stressfull life. After passing out in 2004 hardly its been one year since they are into their professional life. And here they are not content with what they got and not satisfied the way life is leading them to.

One complaints me about the never ending work hours, the other comments on their unsupportive superiors. One remarks angrily the way they are trweated and yet another about the tensions due to deadlines. Some laments about the field they chose and others the nature of their work. I kept on pondering for any solution for all these dismays. I am happy the way I am. Why? I was not before. Why now? I digged the conscience and all facts and came to the conclusion,'Am doing what I think what is right and what interests me'. And I think its a defacto thing I believe, now I am content with the way am leading my life rather the life leading me.

I thought of a story read somewhere, which might help my friends who are under stress to re-organise their bedlam life style and outlook towards life.

A group of working adults got together to visit their University lecturer. The lecturer was happy to see them. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. The Lecturer just smiled and went to the kitchen to get an assortment of cups - some porcelain, some in plastic, some in glass, some plain looking and some looked rather expensive and exquisite.

The Lecturer offered his former students the cups to get drinks for themselves. When all the students had a cup in hand with water, the Lecturer spoke: "If you noticed, all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal that you only want the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. What all you wanted was water, not the cup, but we unconsciously went for the better cups."

"Just like in life, if Life is Water, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold/maintain Life, butthe quality of Life doesn't change." "If we only concentrate on the cup, we won't have time to enjoy/taste the water in it.

Thursday, August 4

Mumbai floods...!

Mumbai… the worst affected part in Maharashtra due to Monsoon rains. Lots of people already talked about the subject. All national and local newspapers carry related stuff. All television news channels cover them live. So there is no more to tell from my side. Lost lives, broken routines, tossed railway lines, crashed buildings, wading people, relief centers, starvations, epidemics…

Always in a situation there will be two stands. Right and wrong. Many accuse politicians and government for lack of help and support and many praise their timely actions. Normal citizens, businessmen, army, navy all are into relief works. Meanwhile I went through an article about some people who are government employees and are still continuing their help in spite of their family. Kudos to them and all others who are of that genre! Long live humanity….

Read here

As I said there are two parts for a situation. Reading through all those heroic activities found this article, which writes about some fraud also. Along with real victims, double the strength, tries to claim the relief support in form of money. Many people had come claiming of losing their home, family and what not. Down, this breed of people who shadows the magnanimity of humanity. Report says many people come with false identities and documents to prove themselves qualified to get the relief cash amount for the time being. But thanks to the relief team who strictly checks the validity of such claims and get the suffering people only what they deserve.

Read here

Tuesday, August 2

Beautiful Ugly...

Ashok banker is determined. He is going public against one of the heinous crime in this world, Rape.

He is going to make a movie on how a rape victim suffers after the crime against her occurs. The society is defiantly going to be ashamed once this project is finalized.

Ashok Banker a very famous writer is going to make a non-profit movie in which the protagonist will be a middle aged house wife who gets gang raped. The writer, who had given internationally acclaimed ‘Ramayana Series’ a story retelling based on the epic, is a noted columnist. Now his current work is revolving around the script making for his new movie ‘Beautiful Ugly’. The story revolves around a lady who gets gang raped by four people and how she gets discarded from her very own family. A model by profession, she gets nothing but avoidance from her own family. The family gets blackmail calls, threatening of publishing the photos of the incident, gets horrified about the disgrace its going to bring to the family.

By making this movie he wants to dissect the society and show its ruthless attitude towards a rape victim. One thing he never understood is the way his own family members bahaved to her.He wants to make this movie and is planning to telecastfreely in public only to make everyone aware of the pains that a rape victim and her son had gone through. And therby he wants to create moreagainst this social crime.

Deeply moved by this story, the stunning factor is that,this happened in a so called high class society of Independant Democratic India.When such things happen in a highly educated society what more descency can we expect from the lower ranks of society.Let's hope this motion picture will trigger a mass movement and more and more people comes against this injustice. Thereby ensure ensure this world to be safe for woman, anywhere, anytime.


Read more...

Monday, August 1

First.....

I recounted it. There were ten currencies. All of them new. I didn’t know what to do. My hands quavered with those ten green shining currencies. It was written 100 in those currencies. I tried to calculate how much it will come to, but succumbed to the tension and handed those money to amma.

I never expected a bicycle will need this much money to buy. I was around seven and was totally ignorant about the money valuation systems and pricing of commodities. It was the summer vacation I remember when this happened.

My uncle and family usually comes to home during these times. A period when I love to enjoy. Summer vacations will be full of hoopla’s. But at the end when everyone leaves for their own place, seldom we were happy. Before leaving for his place uncle seeing my dejection asked, “What do you want next time when I will come?”

I didn’t even look at his face. Face down, I was fingering on the ground with toes. He repeated the question two three times. At the end he asked, “Ok, leave next time. What do you want now?”

“Hero”, I jumped and said. ‘Hero Cycles’ were the trend those times and dream of kids like me. My mom got embarrassed with my demand. “he was just kidding”, she tried to justify my stupidity, and gave me a dread stare for being impolite. But without any shame I again asked, “You had promised me to get anything. I need a bicycle.”

Everyone laughed and my uncle said, “Ok, but from where I will get you bicycle at this wee hours. Hardly any shops would have opened.” He patted on my cheeks.

“Then give me the money. I will buy it later” While saying that I thought it will be some coins he is going to handover to me. But sans a wait he handed over the money from his wallet to me. Amma tried to take it from me and give it back saying we will get it later. But uncle objected.

Meanwhile I was staring at those currencies.