tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68139153685833128682024-03-05T06:41:13.027-08:00Dreams...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967317968642717876noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813915368583312868.post-65412299415820347312016-03-05T01:12:00.000-08:002016-03-05T01:12:35.491-08:00Two mysterious men<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">TWO MYSTERIOUS MEN</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A lake and a beach</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>When
I see the lake, I can see it full. I can see its boundaries. I can see its
stretch through my little eyes. But I cannot see its depth. I do wonder how
deep it is! I wonder about the fishes in it and how they would be living inside
the lake water in harmonious communities!</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPQRR1qy2g85MwcNefyB1X28_I_LOaTzH77PAWrPtNXwkkdAugVHGK4tkWT1yTVw5g42wufi1lIs9bBd6N1JMC9p6RStI-OWCMF-KgdUAgUwsuBey9NGg8afqepQYkbgWf9Va2E9RxBE/s1600/lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPQRR1qy2g85MwcNefyB1X28_I_LOaTzH77PAWrPtNXwkkdAugVHGK4tkWT1yTVw5g42wufi1lIs9bBd6N1JMC9p6RStI-OWCMF-KgdUAgUwsuBey9NGg8afqepQYkbgWf9Va2E9RxBE/s320/lake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pic reference: </span><a href="https://www.goodfreephotos.com/" style="text-align: left;">https://www.goodfreephotos.com/</a></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s a railway station about 25 minutes away from my
place. I have seen this station for the past 7 years and almost all people who
travel in the central railway line of the magnanimous city must have at least
once got down at this station. Many change trains from here to their respective
hometowns. Many live here too. I change my train from here almost each day. This
station I tell you is one of the prominent stops. Local train waits here for
about a minute and I tell you a lot happens in this whole one minute. Sea of
men get down and a large number of men like me wait for them to get down. The
wait seems never ending in this little duration of one minute. After the wait
is over, finally, we all scurry into the train to find a comfortable standing
place. All of this happens in one minute. It’s like mice scurrying in and out
of rags of grains! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But before the train arrives, we often have to wait for the
right train to our hometowns. My train is either from platform 4 or rarely from
platform 1. For the past 7 years, in this busy station, I have been associated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Saengh! Saengh!” reach my ears. It is a soft voice! Of the
man selling ‘singhdana’ (peanuts) to people like me waiting for our trains!
Whether on platform 4 or platform 1, I have seen him on both. I have a fixed
place on the platform because I board the same car of the train, the one which
is near to the exit of my hometown station. This man has the same position as
mine on both the platforms. And hence very obviously, I get notice of this man
even in the hustle and bustle of many men waiting on the platform like me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now this man has a soft voice. There is no aggressive
marketing tone when he vows for people to purchase his garam (warm) fresh
peanuts. It is so soft that I bet you will not notice unless you are hungry and
looking for stomach refreshment. I know his boundaries; he is seen always in
the same position and in a distance of 25-30 steps. I have never seen him
traverse the entire length of the platform to look for customers. Perhaps he
has made many in his limited space on the platform. He is obviously poor but a
neat man. He is well built, his shirt is unwrinkled, his hairs well kept! The
other day I saw that he has a bald patch on his back head but his hairs were
well cut and well kept. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Saengh! Saengh!” I heard once again yesterday. I wondered
about the softness of his campaign to attract customers. It is not that he is
sad about his job but he is not ambitious as well. There’s a certain calmness
and neutrality in his body language. He seems away from happiness and grief. I
wondered ‘where does he live!’ On one of the platforms! Or he goes home late
night and comes the next day for his monotonous life routine! “Would he be
having a family?” I asked myself. I don’t know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>He is like a lake; still and calm! I know his
boundaries but I don’t know his depth!!!</i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>*****</i></b></span></span></div>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>When I see the beach, I love the thunder the waves make!
They come from a distance, the waves, and hit the rocks with all the momentum
they build while coming aggressively to it. Thrilling! Enjoyable! The scent of
sand and a feel of break free! The beach is very vast. I cannot see its
boundaries through my little eyes. When I wonder of its depth, it’s a bit scary.
I know it must be very very deep! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBebejqtJaahztFeWL2XFLqOxXqgzFjZQKGOOKuVjbyhychsHKDlz-hO-kAE4Vq-iHgtlNfiMw7RpV8QjYzQmslvb0DqddVuSjJ4hJ6FTLljFSmsa2wtdeeMtxcmD0Osi4RW5jEErSzmQ/s1600/beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBebejqtJaahztFeWL2XFLqOxXqgzFjZQKGOOKuVjbyhychsHKDlz-hO-kAE4Vq-iHgtlNfiMw7RpV8QjYzQmslvb0DqddVuSjJ4hJ6FTLljFSmsa2wtdeeMtxcmD0Osi4RW5jEErSzmQ/s320/beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pic reference: </span><a href="https://www.goodfreephotos.com/" style="text-align: left;">https://www.goodfreephotos.com/</a></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My job started some six months ago and my company has three
prime locations in the magnanimous city. I have been in all three locations as
they do keep shifting us in the early days of job. When I feel habituated to
one place, they deport me to other! “Yaar jab pinjre se pyaar hone hi lagta hai
toh yeh riha kar dete hain!” (When the bird starts falling in love with the
cage, they free the bird!) To make arrangement in some other ‘pinjra’ (cage)! Anyways,
when I joined the company, I was given the location some one hour away from my
home in local train. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I never got down at this station which is near to the location
I got. It was my first time. Through people, I came to know that we get a 10
Rs. sharing auto-rickshaw to my workplace from the station. Now at this
station, a lot of working professionals get down to go the huge business park
which the town boasts of. My company’s office is in the same park standing neighborly
to many corporate power houses in the park. Majorly, all of the people who get
down at this station go to earn bread and butter through working for one of the
corporate buildings in the business area in the town. And to pick and drop
these men and women, a sea of rickshaws gathers outside the western part of the
station. The scene of black rickshaws one behind the other in multiple lines is
like a horde of crows feeding on a scatter of grains! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On my first day, I saw a huge line of men and women waiting
for the rickshaw. I was like ‘Oh my God! I’ll have to wait in this long queue
before getting the auto.’ But then I saw this man; a tall untidy person. His
shirt was half tucked in his pants, half outside. The top half buttons opened,
revealing his white under-shirt vest. He had brown muddy hairs and reddish
white teeth. He shouted “Godrej! Godrej!.. Haan aa jao! Arey idhar aao!”
(Godrej people come here. Go in this auto!) He was restless. But he was helping
people getting the rickshaws quicker and saving our time as we need not wait in
the queue. People going to ‘Godrej’, the business park, got the rickshaw with
his help. I too got his service and for my one month duration in that office
location, I needn’t bother to stand in queues. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wondered he must be getting commission from the rickshaw
pullers. But why would rickshaw men bother if people had to stand in queues! “Did
he get money from some generous men among us?” But the working professionals
are always in a hurry. Many of them are too immersed in their cell phones. ‘Who
would be giving money to this man?’ I thought. There was an aggressive campaign
in his tone, a rough tone. He was more bothered for people to get the rickshaw
quicker than the people themselves. For once I thought, he belonged to
everybody but nobody belonged to him. I thought he must be doing this service for
free just to keep himself occupied and for his stomach, he would have made
friendship with the food stall owners who would be giving him something to eat
for free. Maybe this work would be giving him his share of peace like the beach
has its calm surface very far away from the shore. We only watch the waves but
at a distance from the shores, the beach is quite, no waves!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After one month, I was shifted to another location. And
after five months from that, that is a few days ago, I was deported to this
same old place. When I got down at the station on my revisit, I anticipated for
the service of this man. But he was nowhere to be seen. We ‘Godrej’ people didn’t
have to stand in queue and made arrangement to get the rickshaw quicker by our own
selves. The man was absent. I thought he might have got some job, a lucrative
offer to leave this place. Or was he no longer a part of this world! Maybe he
decided to leave to go to a new place to offer new services. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>He was like a beach. I neither know his boundaries nor his
depth!!!</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>*****</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>You, me, we all; can be a lake or a beach. A sea
or an ocean! A ravine too!</b></span></span></div>
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Love,</i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>J </i></b></span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967317968642717876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813915368583312868.post-74421895689148169522015-12-27T00:48:00.000-08:002015-12-27T00:48:30.274-08:00The 'Local Train Syndrome (LTS)'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>CASE 1:</b> It was a bit unusual that 7:26 am
train at Ulhasnagar was not filled much. It came from Khopoli, about 57 kms
from Ulhasnagar. Since the crowd in the train was less, it seemed like X and
his friend had boarded the 7:23 am train which came from Ambernath, just 3kms
from Ulhasnagar. X recalls very clearly that they had missed 7:23 local as he
arrived at the station late. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X and his friend always go together to
work. They have a fixed schedule of boarding 7:23 local to Thane in the morning
and meet again in the evening to board 5:50 pm local at Thane to way back home.
X is a bit lazy and quite often misses the 7:23 local but his friend always
waits for him and with no choice, both have to board the 7:26 local.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">As X recalls, it was a bit unusual that 7:26
local was quite less crowded. Both were happy that getting down at Thane would
be easier. Dombivli crossed and Thane was approaching. Both went forward to
approach the door, to stand behind the co-passengers who were about to get down
at Thane. A person in his late 20s was the immediate next person standing, Uncle
1.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Uncle 1 suffers from a <b>minor case of the
Local Train Syndrome (LTS)!</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X: (calling Uncle 1) Aapko utarna hai
Thane?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Uncle 1: (nods his head, making a bad face
irritatingly) Haan, abhi time hai station aane mein.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After few more minutes, X: (to Uncle 1)
Thoda aage jaiye, station aa raha hai.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Uncle 1: (angrily shouts) Arey haan be jaa
aage, kabse dhaka de raha hai.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Surprisingly, X had not even touched Uncle
1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X: (calmly) Subah subah bhadak kyun rahe ho
yaar!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Both X and his friend got down at Thane
successfully. Surprisingly, the number of people boarding the train from Thane
was huge than usual. Mumbai local train, like Mumbai city; always surprise! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X’s friend: Ch****a, waat lag gayi hogi
uski Thane pe!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X: Chhod na, pehle hi usko biwi ne pareshan
kiya hua hai, tu aur gaali de raha hai. (Both shared a laugh) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">********************************************************************</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>CASE 2:</b> Some other day! X and his friend
were in 5:50 local coming back home. Vithalwadi station was crossed, their home
Ulhasnagar was approaching. Both X and his friend woke up from their seat. They
were behind a person who must be in his early 50s, Uncle 2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Uncle 2 suffers from a <b>slightly advanced
case of the LTS. </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X’s shoes touched the shoes of Uncle 2
while getting up from the seat. Uncle 2’s facial expressions conveyed his anger
to X. Uncle 2’s shoes were shining, jet black shoes. X appreciated the well
kept shoes, the shininess of the shoes in his mind; and gave an apologetic
smile to Uncle 2. Uncle 2 reciprocated with a mild smile. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A lot of people get down at Ulhasnagar in
the 5:50 local and one always gets a push from the men behind as the station
approaches. X was exactly behind Uncle 2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At Ulhasnagar station platform after
getting down, Uncle 2: (angrily shouts to X) Kya pagal hai, itna dhaka deta
hai! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X: (calmly) Mein aapko jaan bhuj ke kyun
dhaka dunga, peeche se dhaka aa raha tha!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Uncle 2 had no answers, but he chose to
stay at the platform. X turned closer to his friend. X’s friend had his back
facing to Uncle 2 but X could see Uncle 2 still standing. X understood that
Uncle 2 wanted to hear cuss words about him and get a chance to attack.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X’s friend: (to X) Be******d, ch****a
aadmi…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X: (in low voice) Shhh… Whho hamare peeche
hi hai!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Both X and his friend started talking some
random stuff while X had his eyes on Uncle 2. Uncle 2 was still waiting for a
chance having his full attention on X and his friend. Luckily, he did not hear
X’s friend’s cuss remarks on him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After a couple of minutes, Uncle 2 left
with no success of getting an opportunity to attack.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X: (to his friend) Kaise kaise log hain
yaar!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">********************************************************************</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Life is not a video game where if you start
playing bad, you can exit the game and start playing all over again. Life is a
game which doesn’t stop and moreover it isn’t perfect. It’s mysterious! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">People suffer from regrets, lost love,
guilt, societal pressures, greed, jealousy, loneliness; and who knows what! Now
narrow down the presence of these people in Mumbai local trains! <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Suburban_Railway" target="_blank">About 4500 passengersget packed into 9-car local during peak hours which has a rated capacity of1700 passengers. About 14 to 16 passengers stand per square meter of the floorspace.</a> So much overcrowding! Of course, it is not a surprise that you will find
people suffering from the LTS. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0-BNeDzLy3gyQeETWVx-kvt3kfk0Obk2ePha5CsP32Fz2rhEeEOqIPK8RyNt_3Pr3BE_3o7jPY95oWOKUO3TTC_vwWJygzZvTMzdGAhIeXh41VQXuCK4uRCnnbcqRLHt6qy91NRqN4I/s1600/Bombay4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0-BNeDzLy3gyQeETWVx-kvt3kfk0Obk2ePha5CsP32Fz2rhEeEOqIPK8RyNt_3Pr3BE_3o7jPY95oWOKUO3TTC_vwWJygzZvTMzdGAhIeXh41VQXuCK4uRCnnbcqRLHt6qy91NRqN4I/s1600/Bombay4.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Source:</b> </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Suburban_Railway#/media/File:Bombay4.jpg</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">********************************************************************</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>CASE 3:</b> X recalls an incident which
happened years ago. X got down at Kurla station from where he used to go to
college. It was like any other busy morning where after much struggle, X
successfully got down at Kurla station and saw this incident. Huge crowd
surrounded a young thin boy and a person in his mid 60s, Uncle 3.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X tells that Uncle 3 was in the <b>final stage
of the LTS. </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Both young boy and Uncle 3 got down at
Kurla from second class compartment adjacent to the first class compartment
from which X got down. The young boy was thin enough for the wind to blow him
off. His facial expressions and body language conveyed that he was the sort of
a person abused on everyday basis. X looked from a distance that Uncle 3 was
shouting constantly at the young boy and the crowd was enjoying as if they were
witnessing fireworks show on a Diwali night. All of a sudden, Uncle 3 gave a
tight slap to the young boy and continued his yelling. As expected from the
young boy, he didn’t move an inch and took all the humiliation till the show
completed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The angry old man Uncle 3 was in serious
trouble says X. Uncle 3 was fighting an invisible ghost and not the young boy.
The invisible ghost that represented his own life! Uncle 3 must be fighting at
least one person a day. That gave him satisfaction, contentment as a reward to
stay in the web of life. Uncle 3 had fallen in an infinite depth of rowdiness
and he will stay there for his entire life perhaps. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X recalls the Joker. The Joker is actually
a hero. The Joker has given some wonderful satirical wisdom quotes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Joker:</b> Madness, as you know is like gravity! All it takes is a little push.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbqCCiUjBw6dVlFFcxgP0a-ANizo9ILV-x3zLJubfKmt-kqQ_j4Q8ong9HQ51_ABb9f_7EwBLjIUgECAx97p2-kSgveGkPeFnKRfJklVRc6YJaeFBGFK6eBkHJMhtlxL-GyDMuVkUY3o/s1600/MyCard_The_Joker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbqCCiUjBw6dVlFFcxgP0a-ANizo9ILV-x3zLJubfKmt-kqQ_j4Q8ong9HQ51_ABb9f_7EwBLjIUgECAx97p2-kSgveGkPeFnKRfJklVRc6YJaeFBGFK6eBkHJMhtlxL-GyDMuVkUY3o/s320/MyCard_The_Joker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Source:</b> </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/The_Joker_(Heath_Ledger)</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">********************************************************************</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>CASE 4:</b> Coming back to present age! It was
only a few days ago, X and his friend were travelling to Thane in 7:26 local. X
very modestly tells me, “Hey, this time I was not late. It was my friend!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Both X and his friend made some space for
themselves while the train was approaching the next station Vithalwadi. A
person in his mid 40s entered the local and stood aside X. He is Uncle 4.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Uncle 4 was very much busy in his mobile
phone and was using his both hands involved in mobile, maybe for typing. Hence,
he was not taking the support of the hanger in the train.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The train was speeding forward approaching
one station after the other. When the train took a sudden break while moving in
fast speed, Uncle 4 accidently leaned over X. Realizing this, Uncle 4 instantly
took the support of the hanger and avoided further leaning. X too, saved
himself from falling by tightening his hold over the hanger. X expressed his
discomfort by making a slight irritating tone but without uttering a word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After a few more minutes, the same thing
happened. The speeding train took a sudden break. Uncle 4, much engaged in his
mobile again leaned on X. This time, the anger got over X.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X: (irritatingly to Uncle 4) Arey kya kar
rahe ho yaar!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Uncle 4: (paused for a second) sorry dear!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X: (instantly came out of his mouth) It’s
ok!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X ponders, ‘Did I make a mistake?.. No!
Such small things happen!’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">X didn’t know what happens in the life of
Uncle 4 days in, days out! Uncle 4 didn’t know what happens in the life of X
days in, days out! But everything was handled well. Few words and everything
sorted!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">On this incident, X recalled the Joker
again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Joker:</b> Why so serious?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">********************************************************************</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Closing note: </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Be patient and understanding. Life is too short to be
vengeful or malicious. (<b>-<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillips_Brooks" target="_blank">Phillips Brooks</a></b>)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">By the way, X told me to wish you all a very Happy
2016!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967317968642717876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813915368583312868.post-60579573351751235342015-11-08T09:29:00.000-08:002015-11-08T09:29:44.790-08:00Smart Diwali<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The city decorated like a bride with sparkling lights is
back! That happy season with love among people and society bejeweled with lamps
is back! Diwali is back and like every year the festive season has brought with
it; the enthrallments, the enthusiasm, the joys, the hopes, the love! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaxnLtX5K7jRdBw4IG6ySYg4btMdF6RCtvz9WEuM4jZ5EappsmLUWlSeE7uPTsFdP3Lm9N1LV85f2K1pNK9K0kxb81FrzJXYIZGEHkAn5P8PIF22YC00uIZlaK5DV07O0g_bbdhCeTtE/s1600/diwali+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKaxnLtX5K7jRdBw4IG6ySYg4btMdF6RCtvz9WEuM4jZ5EappsmLUWlSeE7uPTsFdP3Lm9N1LV85f2K1pNK9K0kxb81FrzJXYIZGEHkAn5P8PIF22YC00uIZlaK5DV07O0g_bbdhCeTtE/s320/diwali+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The common love message people share with each other is
<b>‘Have a happy and safe Diwali!’</b> Now, there is an obvious reason for the mention
of the word <b>‘SAFE’</b>. The word ‘safe’, as we all know, is used because of the
association of firecrackers with Diwali. The original idea of the use of
fireworks and firecrackers is the recreation of the event of Lord Ram returning
to Ayodhya after the victory over Ravana. Another obvious fact! And we all know
that though the intent of fireworks may be joyous, its evolution and use has
been the cause of problems like people suffering from hypertension, high blood
pressure; environmental problems in the form of smoke and noise and also birds
fatality! While we don’t think of environment much, we at least have the
courtesy to wish fellow people ‘Have a happy and <b>safe</b> Diwali!’ </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">With the rise of violent crackers that are bound to shake
you when they explode, the word ‘safe’ found its place in the wishes. Some
people loved the explosives and many forcefully loved it because they thought
this is the way to celebrate. Speaking against the disturbances that naughty
crackers caused was considered not so trendy for some while those who spoke
against it were considered non-trendy. Obviously, I am speaking about the mass
public and not the intellectuals. Even though the intellectuals did speak and
believed in crackers free Diwali, the thought did not have much reach. But then
with the age of internet, the ‘good’ realization and the awareness were a gift.
The co-growth of the social media and the smart-phones has made everyone aware
and the number of intellectuals is increasing at a rate never seen before. In the
resulting age of opportunities, there are many campaigns with the message <b>‘Say
NO to crackers!’</b> The campaigns are dedicated to their cause. Additionally, many
people have started recognizing that Diwali can be celebrated in a much better
way with only lights. There is no need of exaggerated show! The diyas are
enough, the simplicity is enough! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was thinking about what will happen to fireworks
manufacturers if crackers are banned. A thought came to me what if
e-firecrackers are made! The <i>barud</i> (gunpowder)
free firecrackers! Maybe some kind of electric or programmable crackers! I
started researching on the internet. And this is how I ended up writing this
article. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Speaking a bit commercial, why would the major fireworks
manufacturing companies support the anti-crackers move. Why will they want to
stop their profit earning work? Just spare a thought; there are many people
involved in the business! How can we suddenly ask them to switch their source
of income from the stabilized industry to something else! Even if there has to
be a complete ban on crackers, it cannot be immediate. It cannot be
an overnight process. There should be a considerable time frame for them to
shift. Otherwise there will be no justice to the firecrackers industry. Even
then, there will be no fairytale ending to the ‘NO crackers’ movement. There
are emotions involved with profession. There will be no absolute end. While thinking this, I queried Google on how will the people be affected if crackers are banned. In India, the Supreme Court refused to impose a complete ban on fireworks in
late October 2015. <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/sc-refuses-to-ban-firecrackers-manufacturers-question-the-very-logic-of-pollution-and-health-impacts/">The
fireworks industry in Tirupati, the largest in the country with over 800
fireworks factories, also supports over five lakh families.</a> The picture below shows fireworks manufacturing in Sivakasi city.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4iMyaNrVqmQIpbnWDO4zhV0-uilbKnuyAzyDnIfaV8pR-7VkX-1Msj9xbJwMP-gH-YRtr06fp4DRHptXPg3xh7dVRbuiL4R3lx0FEK-Z1GYR77kvE6lSocUAD8-VJAavqvdd4ja3grA/s1600/Fireworks-in-Sivakasi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4iMyaNrVqmQIpbnWDO4zhV0-uilbKnuyAzyDnIfaV8pR-7VkX-1Msj9xbJwMP-gH-YRtr06fp4DRHptXPg3xh7dVRbuiL4R3lx0FEK-Z1GYR77kvE6lSocUAD8-VJAavqvdd4ja3grA/s320/Fireworks-in-Sivakasi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ok; not thinking commercially; thinking about the dangers
and un-necessity of the crackers; it is so very correct to not involve the <i>barud </i>(gunpowder), the explosion, the
thud in the moments of joy! But what if one wants to involve the sparkles, the
colors! What if one wants to see the sky filled with erupting sprinkles
synchronized with fusing noise and then disappearing into the eternity! The
little kids awestruck with creative crackers that make the golden lights rise,
rotate and dance in front of their little eyes! <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/firecrackers-go-green-this-diwali/1/157360.html">"Diwali
is known for fireworks, it is not complete without bursting crackers. So the
best way is to opt for eco-friendly crackers and save the environment without
dampening the festive mood," said Akhilesh Gupta, a businessman.</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HoTGNNdqadTTOBOdDx4u3iRjB6uM4cYGaA1dkfziD3A5V5YukBE-Nnw4ryxQfQ4Ri90XQL5F-g-2LjFYR4vhYN1ghvdw1yXUvPT2OpeBi1lUobok6D9s2-8ykDaznkQ_Il-Yo6DzFPw/s1600/diwali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HoTGNNdqadTTOBOdDx4u3iRjB6uM4cYGaA1dkfziD3A5V5YukBE-Nnw4ryxQfQ4Ri90XQL5F-g-2LjFYR4vhYN1ghvdw1yXUvPT2OpeBi1lUobok6D9s2-8ykDaznkQ_Il-Yo6DzFPw/s320/diwali.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now, this is interesting! There is no one solution if we
think of every perspective. But I feel we can be smart here. We can have a
responsible Diwali even if we use crackers. There are always golden mid-ways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>1. Fixed time for the use of crackers</b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We
do think that crackers should not be used after 10 pm. We blame the police, the
government and what not for not involving strict laws pertaining to this! But
can’t we do something ourselves? There are WhatsApp groups of societies,
communities, city locations, friends, etc. We can decide unanimously that we
shall adhere to fixed timings that will least affect the society. Do we need
the police to take the initiative?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>2. Smartly purchasing crackers</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A
flowerpot cracker is more delightful than a sutli bomb! Fireworks like sutli
bomb shall not be purchased. I strongly feel that the lover of sutli bomb is
actually a lover of gaining attention of the people or a lover of violence!
There are choices of chakris, the flowerpot and other low intensity delighting
fireworks if one looks for smartly. There is positivity regarding this. The bombs
that make loud noise have become less popular with people. <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/home-garden/3D-or-electric-Which-cracker-to-buy-for-Diwali/articleshow/44887627.cms">A
fireworks dealer in city said, "Due to a decrease in demand of such
crackers, we have slashed the stock of bombs and other sound-producing
firecrackers by half this year. Even then, not even 50% of that stock is
expected to be sold this Diwali."</a></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Interestingly, fireworks companies too are
coming up with a range of eco friendly crackers every year with as low price as
possible. The eco friendliness of the crackers being increased with each
passing year! <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/home-garden/3D-or-electric-Which-cracker-to-buy-for-Diwali/articleshow/44887627.cms">Another
dealer said, "We are noticing an increase in demand of eco-friendly crackers
with each passing year and therefore, we have increased its stock this year by
50% from the last year."</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>3. Having scintillating sky shows at prominent locations only</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fireworks
like 1000 shots, 500 shots, etc. that lit up the sky are always a treat to the
eyes. But what about the birds! Obviously, they must be getting scared. It also
leads to their death. <a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/do-fireworks-cause-bird-deaths-what-do-fourth-july">In
December 2011, 5000 birds died in Beebs, Arkansas due to fireworks.</a> We
don’t even care for the number of bird fatalities due to crackers in India. I
did not find a single statistics.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But we can easily work upon the situation. What
if prominent areas of cities are only allowed for the use of sky shows! Like
the Queen’s necklace in Mumbai! (Shown in the pic below) The government and people can work on this
together; assigning suitable blocks of land to launch such crackers. If this is
implemented in a disciplined way, birds can find places away from such
locations where there is no such danger to them. <a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/do-fireworks-cause-bird-deaths-what-do-fourth-july">There
should be promotion of commercial display of such fireworks rather than setting
of own pyrotechnic devices.</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnY5QnV-CEdYaEsAospqfL_Z28L3Hw7_CPdcIIZX74tsxBGWh56IeruVnlwJ62USdzC8k-tr2UFezaKepjXUVK2VCjmLXs67m4kCM9nqs1zuEgNesWImhYDM_wv9-O2BJG7YHeKpdhcQ/s1600/Diwali-1_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnY5QnV-CEdYaEsAospqfL_Z28L3Hw7_CPdcIIZX74tsxBGWh56IeruVnlwJ62USdzC8k-tr2UFezaKepjXUVK2VCjmLXs67m4kCM9nqs1zuEgNesWImhYDM_wv9-O2BJG7YHeKpdhcQ/s320/Diwali-1_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>4. Innovation</b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
fireworks industry shall always aim for continuous evolution. There is not only
Diwali, there is New Year’s Eve, there are marriages, there are occasions of
victories of <i>netas</i> (politicians),
etc. Crackers are part of every celebration. The industry should look out for
chemical engineers, innovators to work on developing eco friendly formulas. The
fireworks manufacturers should always aim for environmental friendly goals to
achieve along with profit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We can easily celebrate Diwali in our own way. All that matters is being responsible. If we think of everyone's perspective we can have a grand festive season. So, let's have a <b>'smart'</b> Diwali and thus a <b>'safe'</b> Diwali!</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Happy Diwali 2015!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">-JATIN S W</span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967317968642717876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813915368583312868.post-66374978328182586402015-10-04T02:21:00.000-07:002015-11-30T21:13:26.837-08:00What's your 'Date of Death'?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">It was the time of cleaning in my home. In a drawer, I got
hold of a small piece of stone. Some of my childhood toys were kept in the
drawer. A few moments later I recalled that the piece of stone was a magnet
which I had kept along with the toys. ‘Yeah I used to play with it!’ I recalled.
I verified by bringing the stone close to the main door. It attracted to the magnetic
lock area of the door in my home. It was confirmed that it was the same old
stone I used to play with and boast to my friends that I have got a magnet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Finding the magnet, I recalled another thing. This time a
concept of Science which we all learn in school! We are all taught that in a
magnet North Pole and South Pole exist together. Even if you cut a piece of magnet
into two, each will still have its own North Pole and South Pole. The two poles
cannot be separated. Never! Single magnetic pole just cannot exist. You keep on
cutting the magnet and make it shorter and shorter; still the shortest piece
will have its bi-poles. An infinitesimally small or an infinitely large magnet
will have its North Pole and South Pole. The length does not matter. But poles
matter for property of magnetism!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi9G8iQAjOeIL64cU5NVWQrDGWbzfD2MseBa5ABKipp5fE87_CwJitT5thz7JAmjYpKb74VIOe3o0h1VY9hx7NBfES-dJ8fvbYEOnVE9KZEif5SDMsAzubjb3cJts1W9MX5Fbh6FB7ew/s1600/mag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi9G8iQAjOeIL64cU5NVWQrDGWbzfD2MseBa5ABKipp5fE87_CwJitT5thz7JAmjYpKb74VIOe3o0h1VY9hx7NBfES-dJ8fvbYEOnVE9KZEif5SDMsAzubjb3cJts1W9MX5Fbh6FB7ew/s1600/mag.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Science so closely follows nature. We are born and we all
die one day. The length of life does not matter but getting born and dying
matters for us to be called living beings. It’s like getting born is the North
Pole, death is the South Pole and our life is a magnet. Obviously, we all die
at different age. Again, the length does not matter. The two extremes matter.
If you are born, you are bound to die. Whether a child dies in the womb of a
mother or a person dies at the oldest age making the Guinees world record, the
end result is the same: death! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">This is what makes life interesting; its length
is unknown. Imagine each one of us would have known ours ‘Date of Death’, how
life would have been! We would all have complaints with God for being impartial
for giving larger life to others and shorter life to us. Imagine people meeting
each other for the first time, each of them would become so interested to know
how much time does the other person will serve useful to him. Instead of asking
‘Date of Birth’, new friends would start asking each other ‘Date of Death’!
Competitors would try to gather information about each other’s life validity.
Some people would be like ‘I have a lot of time before I die’ and they would
waste time and some would be like ‘I have less time than so and so and I have
to do more than them’ and they would ignore their family. Governments would
announce schemes based on ‘Date of Death’ and people would make fake documents
to avail the schemes. Actually, ‘Date of Birth’ would never have focus and
there would only be ‘Date of Death’ of importance everywhere. The worst part
would be that the start of love and romance between a girl and a boy would
become corrupt. When both the boy and girl would become attracted, they would
immediately try to know each other’s ‘Date of Death’! You know why! </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> Since we don’t know
the length of our lives, we can realize that it is a gift. We can realize that
death is not in our hands and all we have is the present time to utilize for
what we want. Death can come at any moment: maybe right now. And the best
resource to realize the gift of life is ‘Time’. Life comes one ‘Day’ at a ‘Time’.
And we can make so much use of it. Close your eyes and sit for five minutes.
Ponder over your day to day activities. Ask yourself some basic questions: Do I
spend my time on jealousy, hatred and anger? Do I make my loved ones happy
often? Do I always say only ‘Yes’? Does my work make me internally happy? When
you get your answers, you will realize the gift you have! You will start living
your life. The magnet will start attracting iron. The length will no longer
matter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">My friend Sanjay Murpani once told me an incident about the
great Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs used to live each day of his life like it was his
last. Once at a party, Jobs liked a girl. After the party, he had to catch a
flight so he couldn’t be with the girl any longer. He was on his way to the
airport. But suddenly, he cancelled his trip and turned his car backwards.
Later, the same girl became his wife. I don’t know how much of this is true but
this is what life is!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Finally, I will share the dialogue of Leonardo
Dicaprio (Jack Dawson) from the movie Titanic which I am sure all would have
seen: “I figure life’s a gift and I don’t intend on wasting it. You don’t know
what hand you’re gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at
you… to make each day count.” </span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967317968642717876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813915368583312868.post-20477310239079240332015-09-15T04:18:00.001-07:002015-09-15T04:18:06.887-07:00Sadanand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Sadanand bhau (Brother Sadanand)</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Dear, please do something about
the electricity! There is no power and Sachin will find it very tough to study!”
Sadanand’s wife Tukabai told him at dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadanand barely earned enough
that exceeded his family’s needs. It was always a battle for him to earn as
equal as needed. A clerk in railway office, Sadanand was an aam aadmi (common
man) of Ambernath, a small place in Maharashtra. A Marathi manoos (man),
Sadanand was in his mid-40s. He was characterized by white khadi shirts with
white banyan visibly covering his village body. He had no body hair; he was a
short, thin person with the world easily understanding his monetary status. He
wore black pants, hairs nicely done with oil, not black but without a single
bald patch and wore spectacles with frame’s thickness telling you that they
were made some 10 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadanand was a huge fan of Sachin
Tendulkar like every Indian and he kept the name of his son ‘Sachin’. This was
the only significant decision he had taken after his marriage. Rests were taken
by Tukabai as she was smart, much more confident than him. But she always
supported Sadanand and this was the secret of their marriage. Sachin had taken
more of his mother’s genes for the sake of society’s matter. He was the
smartest kid in the local. A tall teenager now, he scored well in studies and
even helped his parents in daily chores with whatever little he could do. They
say a name has a lot to do with your personality. Sachin was very fond of
cricket and a class player of his school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadanand was proud of Sachin. He
was grateful to God that Sachin had an authoritative personality which he did
not have. But with years, Sadanand’s life was the definition of monotony. Wake
up and the same struggle of earning began for him. It was not as if
opportunities never came! Whenever there were opportunities, he did not take
risks. And whenever he was ready for risks, the ‘Sun of favors’ was covered
with clouds of bad timing! There were times Sadanand’s mind asked him ‘Will my
life be boring like this till the very end?’ Sadly, there were no answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> **********<o:p></o:p></span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘Just keep moving on. There is no
other option!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘You blame! You cry! You
complain! Even though you are right, nobody will listen. You better keep your
feet moving!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadanand somehow knew this
already. He expected these kind of instructions on reaching the checkpoint.
Reluctantly, he kept walking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was wonder-filled path. Fully
green, country-side path, leaves dancing in wind which was blowing after rains!
The check-point was wooden, the board being attached to the ground permanently.
It was a typical scene of completion of a stage in an adventurous video game. ‘Must
be one of the inner paths of Ambernath which Sachin would be knowing surely!’
thought Sadanand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Sir, it takes two days for all
the steps to complete. I assure that there will be no power cut in your home
after two days. But you will have to bear for two days as you have paid your
bills late!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Take this 500 Rs. Note! I can’t
afford power cut as my son has to study.” Sadanand said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The official in light office:
(laughs) “Sir, my charge is Rs. 300 but still I can’t take it as I can’t do
anything about the power cut in your house. It will take minimum a day to
forward your request through bribe. You better wait for two days officially.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadanand never used to pay
bribes. But with time, he learnt that to survive, he had to drop values more
often than never! Now even the concept of bribe was failing. ‘People treat me
so insignificant. Looking at my stature, people feel pity. Tuka said just look
after upbringing of Sachin. I trained my mind to work hard so that Sachin can
have a better future. I never had any wishes for my own-self so that Sachin can
reap the benefits of what I do! Still, life gives only dukha (sorrows) to
people like me. We are the symbol of sadness created by God!’ Sadanand’s mind
was sad. He had stopped walking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The checkpoint reappeared. This
time the instructions were not predictable to Sadanand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘Sadness is a dangerous emotion.
It makes you fall in love with it very easily. Just be sad for a single thing
and get lost. No sooner you will enter a helix of sad thoughts with infinite
loops. You will enjoy sadness! You will enter a comfort zone!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘I will take Sachin to the
railway office with me. He can study on my chair. I can use the extra chair in
the room. It is usually there. No worries even if there is no electricity in
the home. There is always a way out.’ This idea stuck in Sadanand’s mind.
Sadanand realized that if you stay sad for a long time you will enter your
comfort zone. And to move on, you will have to come out of your comfort zone! He
started walking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">**********<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was breakfast. “But it still involves
monthly cost of at least more 10000 Rs. And, in India becoming a successful
cricketer is like counting the exact number of stars.” Sachin said protesting
his mother when she told Sadanand that their son was selected for advanced
training in the sport by the school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tukabai was very keen that Sachin
take training in cricket as the school suggested that he had in him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘In life, all you get is that one
chance! That one strike! Grab it! Else somebody surely will!’ There was no
checkpoint. There was no green filled path. Yet Sadanand could read it. He
pinched Tukabai. “Oouch! Kai kartas? (What are you doing?)” Exclaimed Tukabai. Sadanand
realized he was not dreaming. It was morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadanand said, “Beta (son), go
for your training! Never ever sacrifice your dreams for the sake of your
parents. I have been working for so many years, I will find some way out. After
all, what is the goal of my life?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tukabai was surprised, happy! She
answered on behalf of Sadanand: “Your success son!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The fan started running and light
tube was suddenly ON. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadanand: “Ohh wow! The power has
finally come. And surprisingly in one day. Dear Tuka, put off the light! It’s
still morning.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 14;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 14;">**********<o:p></o:p> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 14;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967317968642717876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813915368583312868.post-86626262863964680922015-07-13T05:32:00.000-07:002015-07-13T05:32:11.441-07:00Too Costly!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
TOO COSTLY!</h2>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Teacher to Garima: How can you
see with your eyes?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena was the only one to raise
her hands. Getting the chance to speak, she answered “The light from the
source, say a tube-light falls on the object. It gets reflected from the object
and falls on our eye which is a lens.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everybody was amused with Reena’s
smartness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Garima, after a few moments, just
after the teacher praised Reena: Then, how can owls see only in the dark?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Teacher: Reena, any idea?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena was quiet, pondering over
the query. Some students were excited with Garima’s return war on Reena.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Teacher: Anybody else?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seeing nobody with an expression
of getting the answer, the teacher said: Well, first of all, we are interested
in studying the characteristics of light and not in vision of animals. But
Garima, different animals have different sensitivity of the eye. Owls have
night vision unlike humans. Nevertheless, I asked the question to see what you
can think about vision.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Garima was irked with the teacher
not praising her. But she was happy that she was able to put forth a question
which Reena could not answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The students were used to such
kind of battles between the two girls. In fact, Vikas and some other naughty
lot of students were maintaining a diary. They recorded each battle and who won
them. Garima was the topper in last two UTs. Reena was just a mark below Garima
in UT2. But Reena boasted of her dancing skills being far superior than that of
Garima’s and her team’s win in basketball over Garima’s team. Also Reena’s
beauty being the talk among boys was something which Garima’s profile lacked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vikas: So who’s won the battle
today? Considering that the teacher did not show much hurray to Garima, Reena
deserves the win. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kushal: But what a question by
Garima! How the hell can one think of an owl so quickly! Even if not today, she
is the Serena Williams, the champion!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The entire gang busted out in
laughter. Vikas said, “Reena is definitely Sharapova then.” All echoed “Yeah!!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena: This Garima will never
stop being jealous. What the hell was she proving by asking the stupid question
of owls! I swear I will beat her in UT3. I want to win every battle with her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shweta, Reena’s best friend: This
talk of ‘battle’ irks me! I mean, the competitions between you both are OK.
But, what the fuss with this stupid rivalry! And in every little thing! I find
this stupid.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other day Sagar and Reena
were decided as partners in a dance competition. Sagar was arguably the best
looking guy in the class. He was also a great dancer. As Sagar was a newcomer and his academic profile
did not match to the standards of Reena’s, there was never much interaction
between the two. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the evening dance rehearsals
in school, Sagar asked Reena, “How are you going home?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena: My home is near. I go by
walking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sagar: I have my bike. Should I
drop you? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena: No, thank you! I will be
fine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A little smile flashed on Reena’s
face. It was a little blush. As the days passed, there was attraction building
between the two. They were the prime dancers and were the centre attraction of
the entire sequence. They guided other dance couples. One of the junior student
asked guidance to improve academics in between breaks between rehearsals. Sagar
told him, “Buddy, ask princess Reena. She is the topper, a true scotch!” Reena:
(smiles) Yeah! I am the only scholar!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day of final dance
performance came. The function finished late. Sagar: Reena, it’s late. I will
drop you home. Reena just smiled. Both were off to home on the bike. It started
raining. The two stood under a shade. Sagar: I love rains. It is so romantic
season. “What romantic! So many puddles get created. People cannot even go
out”, Reena said. “So you don’t want farmers to be happy. You don’t want
reservoirs to be filled princess”, Sagar flirted. “I am not princess.” Reena
smiled. “Garima is the real princess of the class.” Sagar said, “You are
amazing!! You remember Garima in this lovely weather!! See, even rain God stopped
pouring rains. Reena laughed and both were headed home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena was enjoying the attention
from Sagar. By now, the class knew about the sparks flying between the two. The
two of them ate together, walked home together. They planned to study together
for the UT3. One evening, Reena and
Shweta met in the park. “Did you start preparing for UT3?” asked Shweta. Reena
replied, “I am preparing with Sagar. This time I will show to the class that I
can have a boyfriend and still top the exams.” The uninterested Shweta said
“Hmm.., I got to go. Mom has some work. See you!” Surprised Reena asked “Then
why did you call me to the park?” “Forgot about Mom’s work!” replied Shweta while
walking away. Reena doubted Shweta’s sudden exit. Slowly walking, Reena, in thoughts,
left the park too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was Geometry exam the next
day. Sagar: Thanks Reena for teaching me constructions. Also, we have discussed
every chapter. Let’s revise everything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena: I have to do the extra
sums. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sagar: But, they don’t ask out of
the book questions. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena: I have to be prepared
extra if I have to beat Garima.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sagar: It’s already late. You can’t
complete all the extra questions before morning. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena: I will give it my all. I
will at least go through the extra sums and then revise the book.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sagar was scared when he saw
Reena study all day long. He doubted his own preparations. To avoid his lack of
confidence, he told Reena that he will study on his own for the remaining
exams. He was happy with his academics. He did not want to disturb his contentment
with the marks he used to get. He was not interested in Reena’s commitment to
work hard. He started losing interest in her. The top status of Reena never
baffled him but rather now he was disturbed by it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena thought, ‘I will show them
all. Sagar cannot digest my will to shine. It hurts him. Even Shweta seems to
be affected with envy on my status.’ Reena worked overtime. She managed to beat
Garima in UT3. She was very proud of herself. She invited Shweta to the park
for some time pass in the evening.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shweta: Nobody cares who comes
first in exams. It’s great to be on top. But you are taking it too seriously.
You have programmed yourself too much into academics. You will only lose
smartness and not gain anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena: Don’t worry. This is not
as serious as you think.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The two enjoyed chatting for some
time. Reena knew the genuineness of Shweta’s friendship. She was happy with her
achievement but it was true that the UT3 had exhausted her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena’s uncle: Drop this packet
in the post box while going to school.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena: I don’t remember any post
box coming in the way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena’s uncle: It is near the
Hanuman temple. You have not seen it even once!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena: Ok, I will get it done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After some time Reena comes back
finding no post box. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena: Come on, there is a rashan
store, Vicky ice cream shop, a few more shops. Where the hell is the post
office!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena’s uncle: Oh God! Girl, I am
talking about the red post box, not the office. Come, I will show you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reena’s uncle takes her to the
post box, the opposite corner of the temple. “What, you are a topper! And I have
to come with you for this little thing!” said Reena’s uncle in a taunting way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But this was the eye opener for
Reena. She was paying too high a cost just for being on top. </div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967317968642717876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813915368583312868.post-5661112981811193732015-07-02T04:45:00.003-07:002015-07-02T04:45:42.487-07:00Breathless<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Breathless I was!!</h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyB5fle-fMK3HOPUtXj3cflV8oKFeRo_m2EC0PTmZIQlQm5x8cDv3e6lIO6V2yWBjCM-ifZgmgdUkvX9URHdn8Xol65qHVzi_YzXTebtFUGYBgCzzkeCkFhYBsn6BKPTTeq9hZGxO_9lk/s1600/don2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyB5fle-fMK3HOPUtXj3cflV8oKFeRo_m2EC0PTmZIQlQm5x8cDv3e6lIO6V2yWBjCM-ifZgmgdUkvX9URHdn8Xol65qHVzi_YzXTebtFUGYBgCzzkeCkFhYBsn6BKPTTeq9hZGxO_9lk/s320/don2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That epic moment when Amitabh Bachchan made me breathless!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>“Sonia tumhe pata hai ye revolver
khali hai, mujhe pata hai ye revolver khali hai;<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i>.. Lekin police ko nahi pata yeh
revolver khali hai!” </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(High pitch background music
following this dialogue: something like ‘<i>Tain
Tain!!’</i>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was 13 years old in 2006 when
my dad sat with me and made me watch the 1978 classic <i>Don</i>. It was the time when Shah Rukh Khan starrer Don, a remake of the
former classic was going to release. Dad thought why not revisit the old
classic before watching the new one. Dad was 13 when he watched the legendary
Shri Amitabh Bachchan’s <i>Don</i>. I was 13
when the legendary Shah Rukh Khan’s <i>Don</i>
was releasing. A sort of history was going to repeat! I was not quite inclined
to watching old movies naturally as every kid. But here, I was quite excited as
the character Don was stuck in my mind!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right from when the movie
started, my eyes were glued to the TV screen. The entry of Big B, the wonderful
dialogues, the way Don spoke, the way he walked! It was all over my mind. Don
killed Ramesh and his fiancé Kamini was here to take revenge. The set up for
the song <i>‘Yeh mera dil pyar ka deewana..’</i>!
Kamini removes bullets from Don’s pistol much to his disguise. She seduces him
till the police arrive for Don’s arrest. The song ends with Don seeing from the
window, several policemen waiting to arrest him. Understanding Kamini’s
intentions, Don brings up his pistol from another room. Kamini tells her that
she had already emptied the pistol. In a series of dialogues between smart
Kamini and Don, Kamini tells Don that it was no way out for him and he will
have to surrender. Finally, Don tells the dialogue which I wrote above, making
me jerk, leaving me completely breathless!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yBLVDjpuUOUBgXlFpR3FfFz6NdNNJAN2r-GrHv33mtgAoJV3icQVH9IMAQbLlus5gytnt4Gb7tXxUxRaS61sLduDOjhbAqMqxSyvs6TttcOms7xCPFepPG1qv3ghgsF82CfwJvE8OdE/s1600/don1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yBLVDjpuUOUBgXlFpR3FfFz6NdNNJAN2r-GrHv33mtgAoJV3icQVH9IMAQbLlus5gytnt4Gb7tXxUxRaS61sLduDOjhbAqMqxSyvs6TttcOms7xCPFepPG1qv3ghgsF82CfwJvE8OdE/s320/don1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Wow!! Simply awesome… What a
dialogue!’ I said. Not only the dialogue which was so witty, so suspenseful;
the Kalyanji Anandji music at the end of the dialogue gave me a sudden jerk. I
was left breathless with the magic of Big B’s aura. I watched the full movie
that day and Don was on my mind for many many days to come! This is how I
became a fan of ‘<i>Sadee ka Mahanayak’</i>
Shri Amitabh Bachchan. After Don, I watched many of ‘The Angry Young Man’s cult
classics: Deewar, Trishul, Kala Pather, Sholay to name a few. Every movie made
me even bigger fan of Big B and each movie left his charisma on me. His
dialogues, his style, his aura left me breathless every time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was contemplating and
recollecting the moments that made me breathless. I was walking towards my home
today, coming from a class. I was sweating and the polo T-shirt I was wearing
was the one without buttons. I felt that my chest hairs were revealed to the on
lookers. Also I have not shaved recently. While I was walking past girls, my
walk changed to a confident, stubble young man who doesn’t give a damn! I was
showing of, creating an impression! The image of Big B in his young days came
to my mind. I suddenly recalled the epic scene of Don which first made me
breathless watching the legend on screen. I was like Wow! What an epic moment
to remember! I was all smiles!!! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967317968642717876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813915368583312868.post-16165347445769363872015-06-18T08:22:00.001-07:002015-06-18T08:22:59.096-07:00The Paraglider<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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THE PARAGLIDER</h2>
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"Welcome to the 'All India Duet Singing Championships' Misterr.. Ritesh Bahl and Miss Swati Arora; what would you like to present?", said judge 1 as other judges welcomed the participants with smiles.</div>
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Ritesh was an instinctive genius. He loved spontaneous challenges, was never nervous on big occasions. He was from a well to do family. His father owned a large general store in the city market; a single destination for all home stuff, grocery to stationary, rice to soaps to toothpaste! Ritesh had a pot belly; was hairy, though not too much; he loved wearing a cap. He never used to come in the awe of situation. But he also never used this quality to his benefit. He was careless, had no ambition, no purpose in life. He drifted in the direction life took him.</div>
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''Tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa toh nahi", said Swati.</div>
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The judges nodded and both of them begun the song. All was going well until...</div>
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Ritesh: Tum jo kehdo toh aaj ki raat, chand..., chand hmmhmm nahiii, </div>
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chand ko rok do (singing this line really quickly)</div>
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Ritesh went offbeat. He had forgotten the line. This made Swati nervous. She was not prepared for this. Upon her lines, she reacted...</div>
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Swati: Tere bina zindagi... se koiiii... shikwa toh nahi, toh nahi... </div>
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She stopped singing. Ritesh tried bringing her to life again. But the look of judges was enough for her to resign in the moment. </div>
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The judges obviously shown the doors to the medium sized, amicably dressed in shining black outfit, serious Swati; and her best friend Ritesh, dressed casually in white T-shirt, blue jacket, blue jeans and his trademark blue cap.</div>
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It was Ritesh's error which made Swati nervous and succumb to the occasion. She was very excited to come on TV as the show was meant to be broadcast. But this performance meant that both of them would now become victims of bullies and jokes by the people when they see the show. The exact happened. The channel regularly showcased how they were rejected by the judges, in advertisements, to generate TRPs. Swati was depressed. It took her time to be normal. Her friendship with Ritesh was affected. The chemistry was no longer the same. This made Ritesh sad as he could not bring the equation with Swati back to normal.</div>
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Ritesh's father decided to handover the responsibility of the store to Ritesh. He felt it was the right time. He struggled a lot to rebuild the shop after floods devastated the market six months ago. Although the shop did not boast of the glittering appearance it used to, Ritesh's father had managed to re-establish the shop decently. But now he handed over the job to Ritesh.</div>
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After six months of Ritesh occupying the shop, the sales had gone down. The earnings were affected. People preferred to purchase from the new downtown mart, although it was far from the market. The regular customers were now seen rarely in the shop. Ritesh excused that floods and the new mart had affected the business and it was normal. He argued with his father that they are still far from the situation of taking loans and a little less income should not be an issue.</div>
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One night, Ritesh and his old man had an intense discussion. Ritesh was very defensive about his approach to work. But Ritesh had no answer when his father told him, "I am proud that you don't get affected by the sudden storm. You are always ready to face the changing winds. You are a paraglider who knows that sky is not always the same. But remember son, this alone is not enough. A successful paraglider knows how much to steer the glider when the winds are opposing." That night his father passed away and his words were etched in his mind. </div>
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Five years later...</h3>
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The Grand Resort Hotel was shining as ever. The lawns was the busy place where media and press men were waiting. There was a constant buzz as to when will the glider land. It was the occasion when the head of 'Bahl Marts', a nationwide chain of general stores, Mr. Ritesh Bahl, on a record paragliding journey, was to land. He was to complete a record journey of 500 kms to mark the growth of his company which had reached a figure worth of 500 million dollars.</div>
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It was the end of March. But to everyone's surprise, there was lightning and heavy rains gatecrashed the occasion. Tension mounted on everyone's face as this was certainly not predicted. Such an environment was definitely not suited for paragliding. The sky made transition from light blue to dark in no time. Every thunder of lightening increased the worries on everyone's face. The topic of the occasion changed from the company's success to hope for a safe return of Mr. Ritesh Bahl.</div>
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While in the sky, Ritesh, held his calm. He remembered his father's words. After a healthy struggle with the winds and of course the lightning, he successfully landed. He calculated his risk in the flight of how much to steer and how much to exploit the wind. His risk paid off. The charming, well built, amicably dressed in black suit Mr. Ritesh Bahl arrived. His success story and obviously his paragliding journey hit the newspapers everywhere. He was talk of the moment everywhere in the media. He was now a symbol of inspiration.</div>
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The morning after the paragliding journey...</h3>
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"Sir, there is a message from the 'All India Duet Singing Championships'. They want you to grace the finale occasion by being their special celebrity judge", reported the manager.</div>
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Ritesh: (smiles) I would love to...</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967317968642717876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6813915368583312868.post-2342489559035228292015-06-15T05:11:00.000-07:002015-06-15T05:11:53.689-07:00Dreams are Magic!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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DREAMS</h2>
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We all have dreams. Rather, we all dream. No matter we are ambitious or not, we are in 'love' or not; we all imagine stuff; stuff, which is not in reality. Dreams are often co-related with ambitions! An ambitious person often speaks in this way; "My dream is to..."; and we all go 'Awww...' But, isn't the word 'goal' more appropriate in such a case! Also those in love imagine situations and circumstances with their partner and it leaves a gentle smile on their face. In both ambition and love, dreams are an integral part of life; dreams are the building blocks of encouragement, happiness, self-being!</div>
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The other very common emotion associated with dream is 'fear'. We often get shocked in movies when protagonists wake up from sleep taking deep breaths; making us realize that all the incidents shown were the protagonists' dream. Once I dreamed of failing to appear for an exam, and getting a 'zero' in the second attempt of the same exam! It was dreadful, more so because the subject was taught by the teacher I feared the most in school days!</div>
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Dreams are weird! The very basic characteristic of dreams is their weirdness. That which is not real, is weird! Dreaming about the school teacher teaching an engineering subject and failing you is weird. Dreaming about having kids with your crush is weird too! Though it gives happiness, it is not existent. Hence, weird! While dreams in the day are more realistic, or I should say more structured; night dreams are total mad! I reach the position of my Dad and sign my own cheque; I become self-reliant and purchase my favorite car; and more such imaginations we do in day are structured, realistic. All my college classmates sitting in my school classroom being taught by my Mom is so unrealistic! It has never happen and will never happen. Night dreams are mingled in multiple lives of ours. They simulate environment which is a mixture of non-overlapping incidents. But they are invoked by our emotions; joy, fear, love, anger, disrespect, etc. </div>
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Dreams are 'hope'. Dreams are 'goals'. Dreams are 'fear'. Dreams are invoked by our every emotion. This power to dream can make us feel on the top of the world and even in the bottom of a never ending valley! Dreams thus can drive us in our lives. They give us the inspiration to convert goals into reality. They make us realize what actually fear is! We dream our hopes and our hopes make us pray! Dreams are thus the evidence of suspense that life is, the evidence of unexplained, the God!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967317968642717876noreply@blogger.com0