Some people, in fact everyone state ego as "sense of self importance or esteem" but I have a different perception regarding it. I define ego as "something you value it a lot and you think that it is under your possession, something you own or someone your own." And I believe this is the sheer root thing which accounts for all the creations and devastations around the globe. Once it is pleased, you dream to touch the skies and once it is hurt, you turn wild (maybe not physically but yes, you do turn). The very same thing I experienced recently and came on a conclusion after introspecting myself. I don't know whether my conclusion shall be valid for your thoughts or not. So here I am presenting my experience with a conclusion in this hopefully the last post of the year.
That was my second visit to the transport office after some ups and downs for my learner's license. There were even some external ties with an officer but unfortunately he was on leave. However, I made it in a normal procedural manner until the final stage, the learner's test. I went through some pesky employees before that who actually raised up my anger level. Even I don't hesitate to accept that I got impatient that day. Moreover, impatience triggers your ego in a negative way. And then happend the most provoking event: I failed in the learner's test. You see it was just a small series of bad luck and I got provoked. 'I feel like a monster!...': Skillet's super-hit song, Monster was going on in my head. I came back to my friends, threw down my documents (though not onto a big radius but just in front of them) and I took one of the road-sign charts which we took it from a counter before the test and tore it. Seconds later, I walked away from that office. My friends tried to stop me but I went away.
I tried to convince myself a lot using a number of philosophies and moral teachings but my mind rejected everything saying: 'Hey!.. Flush away those shits. You are angry means you are angry.'. It is very difficult to implement such things on yourself in practice. Now did you notice? It was my sheer ego. Not that my self-importance was hurt or something but, that was the ego that I know how to drive properly. The ego that my father has external ties with an officer there. I reached home by walk from a distance and saw my friends as the door opened. "Hey guys!.. What has got you here?" I said, giving them an expression of 'Is he bloody psycho or something?'. I played some tracks like Karma is a Bitch and Diamonds and Guns loud enough to be heard in the vicinity. Meanwhile, my mom stepped in my room and scolded for my behaviour and told me to never do it again and not to be like that. After that my buddies patted my shoulder and gave me a hug, saying: "Don't worry baby... Next time you will definitely do it. We know.. don't be so disappointed.". Then they all planned to watch a movie to cool me down.
That night I thought to introspect myself and it actually created two sides of mine. One, the good and the other, the bad.
Good: Ady, what you did was so egoistic and childish!.. Don't you feel guilty?
Bad: Listen to me... What you went through was too good, isn't it?
Good: What you went through?.. Are you a innocent lamb or something who was taken by a butcher to cut down? Is that so hurting to you? Are you a small kiddo?
Bad: But that actually hurt you... And what you did was totally correct.
Good: Shut up! Such things happens to everyone... Just bad luck.. Time game, you see... And there are millions of people without any influence who visit such transport offices everyday. Unlike you, they are maintaining their patience.
Bad: But you own your driving skills, then who the hell are they for not permitting your license?
Good: Oh just calm down!.. You were almost there but failed in the test. And the questions in the test are not set there and then. It's just your bad luck. Time game buddy...
Bad: Arrghh!.. And what about those pesky employees who talked rudely to you and to your friends? So what you did just compensated that and was totally right.
Good: Let those people be as much rude as they want. It's their image, not yours. And when it comes to your ego, see what you have, never see what you don't have. Just see a beggar on a footpath and compare his life with yours...
Bad: Wait wait wait... By the way none of the public there noticed your anger. Only your friends saw it. And you have not done anything so notorious that you are getting so serious about it and you are introspecting yourself...
Good: Oh yes!.. Only your friends saw it. And you have not done some big crime thing to be so serious of!... Then why to introspect?..
Bad: Yeah... I won.. I won...
Good: No! You are introspecting yourself for internal peace.
"Ohhkkayyy... okay.. whatever... Just shut up now." I said to myself.
Now through this I made a point. A point which I think is applicable in almost every creation and devastation around us. Ego. For instance, you assume that you are a project manager of some company and are given a new project to manage. You work on it very hard and the results are appreciated by your higher authorities. The moment they say things like 'I'm proud of you. Good work. Keep it up!', your ego gets praised and boosts up your confidence that you can do something more than this, bigger than this. And if another bigger opportunity comes your way and you do it, you build up some more confidence. This is creation. And if someday you are given with a small, yet difficult project to manage, you will say to yourself: 'Ohh.. It's just a child's play for me.'. But then if you fail in that, you are out of your control. Your bosses shall scold you for your failure and shall use you as an example of failed management skills for some of your co-workers and juniors. This personally makes you feel defeated and your confidence level shall fall down like a stone from a mountain. This is devastation. This is all one thing, the good and the bad, ego. I feel even a desire is nothing but ego. So as everyone expects a story to have an 'happy-ending' and victory of the good, I adopted the good of mine and came to a conclusion: Everything ego.
When I was thinking all this, my father came to ease me.
Dad: So here's the big man!.. You must not have done it. You actually wasted your friends' time.
Me: Yeah.. I know.. I'm sorry. And they are my buddies. We all need just one excuse to have fun. I know they will not regret this. No worries.
Dad: Whatsoever!.. But it was just your bad luck, nothing else. Not to be so serious of like you are now.
Me: Hmm.. I was just thinking the same.
Dad: It just happens.. And don't take any tensions for such things.
Me: It's not tension. It's provocation.
Dad: Tension triggers provocation. Learn to be patient. There's no point in provoking in such a way. That will destroy you. You will have no friends. Be cool whatever it is.
Me: Hmmm..
Dad: Okay now.. Leave it. I have talked to my secretary. He will arrange something.
Me: What?
Dad: As in your license.
Me: Oh no!.. Leave it... I don't want.
Dad: You don't want your license?
Me: No.. I'll do it myself. I can do it myself.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
My first college bunk - Part III
Luckily this time we got the bus quite quickly as compared to that in the morning. And at around 2:30 pm, we reached Varun's place. We all sat in the drawing room and Varun brought some eatables.
"Give it to me.. I'm hungry.." I said as I snatched one packet of chips from Varun.
"Pass it to me after you have it.." said Rajat, conforming that he was also hungry.
"At what time you guys must reach your home?" asked Varun.
"Anytime.. Hahaha.." said Shubham.
"Ae kutte... Tell me correctly. We'll accordingly decide what to do." said Varun
"I'm having enough time. I reach at around 7 pm." said Prashant.
All of us were having enough time except me. I reach my home at 4 pm. I thought to tell my mother or sister, if they would call me, that soon after I reached my place my friends called me and asked to reach Varun's home.
"Okay... Then we'll watch a movie." said Varun, as expected.
Soon the movie critic Shubham and Varun went in to decide which movie to watch. Rajat was in the drawing room listening to some full bass rap songs (as he always does and dreams to be a master of it) in the loudspeaker stereo system which usually creates a mini earthquake. Me and Prashant were in the kitchen making maggi and tea. I always admire Prashant as 'CCM' or, the Chief Chai Maker. Meanwhile, my phone buzzed again: 'Mom calling...'. I attended and said the same as I thought before.
We all were ready and accepted each others' decision (this time avoiding any chaos) to watch Rock On. I had my part of maggi and tea and just slid on the bed pushing Shubham off it. I was too tired and was not able to understand what was going on with the movie. My eyes were just open to see, not to interpret. I saw Farhan Akhtar as some manager of some firm at one time and also as a funky guitarist at another time. All that seemed like a fairy tale and I soon fell asleep.
I woke up after a long nap. I don't remember if the movie was over or not but everyone decided to leave by then.
"Uth gaya ladka... " said Rajat.
"Oh yeah.. it was a nice nap.." I said and stretched myself.
We packed our bags, wore our shoes and then left from there and went our way back to our homes.
While walking towards my home, I thought to write the whole thing and publish it on my blog. On the same night I started writing this but then I stopped. I thought it has no moral, and moreover it might not have an interesting factor either. So I left it.
After a long time, I asked one of my college friends whether to write this or not. And that person said: "Experiences are better than thoughts.". I then composed myself and said: Okay.. let it be the way it is. I'll write it.
But still, somewhere I feel that it is all rubbish. My sincere apologies to you if I have wasted your time in this boring saga.
Thank you.
"Give it to me.. I'm hungry.." I said as I snatched one packet of chips from Varun.
"Pass it to me after you have it.." said Rajat, conforming that he was also hungry.
"At what time you guys must reach your home?" asked Varun.
"Anytime.. Hahaha.." said Shubham.
"Ae kutte... Tell me correctly. We'll accordingly decide what to do." said Varun
"I'm having enough time. I reach at around 7 pm." said Prashant.
All of us were having enough time except me. I reach my home at 4 pm. I thought to tell my mother or sister, if they would call me, that soon after I reached my place my friends called me and asked to reach Varun's home.
"Okay... Then we'll watch a movie." said Varun, as expected.
Soon the movie critic Shubham and Varun went in to decide which movie to watch. Rajat was in the drawing room listening to some full bass rap songs (as he always does and dreams to be a master of it) in the loudspeaker stereo system which usually creates a mini earthquake. Me and Prashant were in the kitchen making maggi and tea. I always admire Prashant as 'CCM' or, the Chief Chai Maker. Meanwhile, my phone buzzed again: 'Mom calling...'. I attended and said the same as I thought before.
We all were ready and accepted each others' decision (this time avoiding any chaos) to watch Rock On. I had my part of maggi and tea and just slid on the bed pushing Shubham off it. I was too tired and was not able to understand what was going on with the movie. My eyes were just open to see, not to interpret. I saw Farhan Akhtar as some manager of some firm at one time and also as a funky guitarist at another time. All that seemed like a fairy tale and I soon fell asleep.
I woke up after a long nap. I don't remember if the movie was over or not but everyone decided to leave by then.
"Uth gaya ladka... " said Rajat.
"Oh yeah.. it was a nice nap.." I said and stretched myself.
We packed our bags, wore our shoes and then left from there and went our way back to our homes.
While walking towards my home, I thought to write the whole thing and publish it on my blog. On the same night I started writing this but then I stopped. I thought it has no moral, and moreover it might not have an interesting factor either. So I left it.
After a long time, I asked one of my college friends whether to write this or not. And that person said: "Experiences are better than thoughts.". I then composed myself and said: Okay.. let it be the way it is. I'll write it.
But still, somewhere I feel that it is all rubbish. My sincere apologies to you if I have wasted your time in this boring saga.
Thank you.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
My first college bunk - Part II
We reached Priya Cinema in Vasant Vihar fifteen minutes before the show. I saw many school goers, probably they were also bunking, wearing designer sweat shirts and jackets on their school uniform to avoid any dismissal by the authorities of the cinema hall. Clever.
"Abe saalo... It's already 9:45! Will we get tickets now for the 10'o clock show?" I said, irritatingly.
"Haan bhai... You don't worry.. we'll get it. I'm assuring you." said Shubham.
I actually felt good when he said that because, of all of us, he is a serial movie watcher. Any new movie with a good review from critics, he becomes the one to be asked for another review.
"Sab nikaalo pachaas ke.." said Shubham and took 50 rupees from all of us and went to purchase tickets.
"Guys, we got in the D row. Fourth one from the screen." said Shubham.
"Abe yaar...:" said Varun, pissed off.
"It's all good. We'll enjoy. Mast hai. Fourth from the screen." said Rajat puffing cigarette smokes.
We then went in the hall and were happy to see that the show hadn't started yet. There were a few commercials playing on and soon, the movie started. People(school goers mainly) started whistling as soon as the CBFC certificate showed the title 'Rockstar'. I imagined how will they react when they will see their result on the CBSE certificate. Nevertheless, Rajat got hyper and blew a few whistles too.
The movie got over at about 12:45 in the afternoon and we all started roaming and thinking what to do next in the posh Vasant Vihar market. We thought to have lunch first but we knew that any of the restaurants there won't give a single piece of bread for us in our budget. At such times you notice, your stomach itself finds one alternative. The same was with us and we found the good old McDonald's! Or simply as we call, McD.
"Let's go McD." said Varun after ending his conversation with his girlfriend.
"Okay.. I'm feeling hungry." said Prashant.
"We can't cure our hunger with just burgers!" I protested.
"Yes... Exactly.. " Shubham supported me.
"Perhaps this is the only alternative, you see." said Prashant.
We all went in and ate what all was available in our budget. We all were having another three-hour time span to roam around. So we decided to go to Varun's residence where we were planning to watch another movie. - Just getting so casual I tell you.
... To be continued.
"Abe saalo... It's already 9:45! Will we get tickets now for the 10'o clock show?" I said, irritatingly.
"Haan bhai... You don't worry.. we'll get it. I'm assuring you." said Shubham.
I actually felt good when he said that because, of all of us, he is a serial movie watcher. Any new movie with a good review from critics, he becomes the one to be asked for another review.
"Sab nikaalo pachaas ke.." said Shubham and took 50 rupees from all of us and went to purchase tickets.
"Guys, we got in the D row. Fourth one from the screen." said Shubham.
"Abe yaar...:" said Varun, pissed off.
"It's all good. We'll enjoy. Mast hai. Fourth from the screen." said Rajat puffing cigarette smokes.
We then went in the hall and were happy to see that the show hadn't started yet. There were a few commercials playing on and soon, the movie started. People(school goers mainly) started whistling as soon as the CBFC certificate showed the title 'Rockstar'. I imagined how will they react when they will see their result on the CBSE certificate. Nevertheless, Rajat got hyper and blew a few whistles too.
The movie got over at about 12:45 in the afternoon and we all started roaming and thinking what to do next in the posh Vasant Vihar market. We thought to have lunch first but we knew that any of the restaurants there won't give a single piece of bread for us in our budget. At such times you notice, your stomach itself finds one alternative. The same was with us and we found the good old McDonald's! Or simply as we call, McD.
"Let's go McD." said Varun after ending his conversation with his girlfriend.
"Okay.. I'm feeling hungry." said Prashant.
"We can't cure our hunger with just burgers!" I protested.
"Yes... Exactly.. " Shubham supported me.
"Perhaps this is the only alternative, you see." said Prashant.
We all went in and ate what all was available in our budget. We all were having another three-hour time span to roam around. So we decided to go to Varun's residence where we were planning to watch another movie. - Just getting so casual I tell you.
... To be continued.
My first college bunk - Part I
"Time is precious. Once it is gone it never comes back, though you do anything you can. It never spares anyone. So you have to work hard and efficient enough to get good scores. Exams are coming up. Go study. Study. STUDY."- Bah! Who cares about all these when you are with your buddies? No one. So here's a nonsense post, in fact utterly nonsense post about my first college bunk.
A monotonous Monday and the routine follows up. Wake up early, get ready and go to college. While walking towards the cab, you suddenly get connected to your college. You get in a trauma that you forgot about some assignments which were to be done in the past weekend. Shit! Reschedule your assignment work for the next weekend with some more assignments which shall be given in the current week. And of course, prepare for upcoming practical exams. Screwed up! Luckily, that day you put in an interesting book in your bag to read and then you make a resolution to burst your stress - 'Okay... I will read this book whole day.'
I was just a few kilometers away from my college, "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. Rashmi Bansal." said that book cover. After two pages of reading, my phone buzzed. 'Shubham calling...' and I immediately answered.
"Yup. Bol... kya baat hai?" I said.
"Yeah listen... where are you?" he enquired.
"I am on my way to college. I am almost there." I answered.
"Ohkay... Don't go." he said taking deep breaths.
"Why? What happend?" I got serious.
"None of us are going. Me, Prashant, Varun and Rajat.. None of us.. come back.. we'll have fun." he said in a normal breath.
"Alright. Where I have to meet you guys?" I asked.
"Come to Sarojini Nagar market. We will be waiting for you. Chal okay. Bye." he said and disconnected.
And my stress was vanished in some fraction of seconds after the call. I asked the driver to stop the cab. Then I got down and saw a number of 7-seater sharing-type-auto rickshaws one after the other, with all its drivers screaming 'Nehru Place.. nehru place.. nehru place...' in sync with the engine noise.
I waved my hand to one of those autos to stop and when I reached Nehru Place I gave the autowala a 50 rupee note. I thought it might have costed around 20 rupees or something but I got 45 rupees in return. Wow! It's pretty cheap then. (I actually never traveled in a sharing-type auto before my college life). So from there I finally reached Sarojini Nagar market.
I saw Shubham, Varun & Rajat sitting on a bench at one corner of the market. The market seemed so nice early that morning with a very less number of shops open and free from crowd.
"Aa gaya dekh. Don't know what he is reading." said Rajat as I was walking towards them.
"Saale, where is Prashant?" I asked as I shook hands and hugged them - the trademarked 'hello' in a gang of buddies.
"Aarela hai.." said Varun.
"There's a 10'o clock show of Rockstar at Priya." said Rajat.
"Done. First we will watch the movie and then we will plan what to do next." I made it clear.
Meanwhile Shubham was dancing on some songs with his earphones plugged in and Varun was just playing with his phone in his palm (or maybe he was waiting for a reply from his girlfriend). I closed my book and put it in my bag and took out my lunch to eat.
"Oye hoye... What have you got?" Shubham said and stopped dancing.
"Upma." I said.
"Give it to me here, I'll help you in reducing your tummy." said Rajat, and everyone laughed.
"It's already 8:45. Where is he?" asked Shubham.
"Yeah.. I'm trying since a long time. No answer." said Varun.
"Wait. Let me also try." I said and called Prashant.
"The number you have dialed is not answering at this moment. Please call again later." - said our mobile phones.
After another couple of calls he finally attended. We asked him to come immediately to us and in no time he did the same. We all walked to the bus stand and waited for almost twenty minutes for the bus.
"Screw these buses! I never get the one which I need but when I don't need it, there are plenty of them." said Shubham angrily.
"Yup. You're absolutely right." said Rajat.
"Hota hai.. hota hai... I can understand." said Prashant while consoling Shubham as if he was a small kid who just accidently broke his favourite toy.
"794.. 569... 588... 442... 392... Damn these buses seriously!.." said Varun as he was looking for the right one to come and make our bunk successful.
Seriously! We were barely left with thirty minutes of time and we were still in search of a right bus. I thought I could continue to read my book meanwhile and I took it out of my bag. As soon as I read the first word after the bookmark, I heard Varun saying quite loudly: "Chalo kamino... We got the bus."
... To be continued.
A monotonous Monday and the routine follows up. Wake up early, get ready and go to college. While walking towards the cab, you suddenly get connected to your college. You get in a trauma that you forgot about some assignments which were to be done in the past weekend. Shit! Reschedule your assignment work for the next weekend with some more assignments which shall be given in the current week. And of course, prepare for upcoming practical exams. Screwed up! Luckily, that day you put in an interesting book in your bag to read and then you make a resolution to burst your stress - 'Okay... I will read this book whole day.'
I was just a few kilometers away from my college, "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. Rashmi Bansal." said that book cover. After two pages of reading, my phone buzzed. 'Shubham calling...' and I immediately answered.
"Yup. Bol... kya baat hai?" I said.
"Yeah listen... where are you?" he enquired.
"I am on my way to college. I am almost there." I answered.
"Ohkay... Don't go." he said taking deep breaths.
"Why? What happend?" I got serious.
"None of us are going. Me, Prashant, Varun and Rajat.. None of us.. come back.. we'll have fun." he said in a normal breath.
"Alright. Where I have to meet you guys?" I asked.
"Come to Sarojini Nagar market. We will be waiting for you. Chal okay. Bye." he said and disconnected.
And my stress was vanished in some fraction of seconds after the call. I asked the driver to stop the cab. Then I got down and saw a number of 7-seater sharing-type-auto rickshaws one after the other, with all its drivers screaming 'Nehru Place.. nehru place.. nehru place...' in sync with the engine noise.
I waved my hand to one of those autos to stop and when I reached Nehru Place I gave the autowala a 50 rupee note. I thought it might have costed around 20 rupees or something but I got 45 rupees in return. Wow! It's pretty cheap then. (I actually never traveled in a sharing-type auto before my college life). So from there I finally reached Sarojini Nagar market.
I saw Shubham, Varun & Rajat sitting on a bench at one corner of the market. The market seemed so nice early that morning with a very less number of shops open and free from crowd.
"Aa gaya dekh. Don't know what he is reading." said Rajat as I was walking towards them.
"Saale, where is Prashant?" I asked as I shook hands and hugged them - the trademarked 'hello' in a gang of buddies.
"Aarela hai.." said Varun.
"There's a 10'o clock show of Rockstar at Priya." said Rajat.
"Done. First we will watch the movie and then we will plan what to do next." I made it clear.
Meanwhile Shubham was dancing on some songs with his earphones plugged in and Varun was just playing with his phone in his palm (or maybe he was waiting for a reply from his girlfriend). I closed my book and put it in my bag and took out my lunch to eat.
"Oye hoye... What have you got?" Shubham said and stopped dancing.
"Upma." I said.
"Give it to me here, I'll help you in reducing your tummy." said Rajat, and everyone laughed.
"It's already 8:45. Where is he?" asked Shubham.
"Yeah.. I'm trying since a long time. No answer." said Varun.
"Wait. Let me also try." I said and called Prashant.
"The number you have dialed is not answering at this moment. Please call again later." - said our mobile phones.
After another couple of calls he finally attended. We asked him to come immediately to us and in no time he did the same. We all walked to the bus stand and waited for almost twenty minutes for the bus.
"Screw these buses! I never get the one which I need but when I don't need it, there are plenty of them." said Shubham angrily.
"Yup. You're absolutely right." said Rajat.
"Hota hai.. hota hai... I can understand." said Prashant while consoling Shubham as if he was a small kid who just accidently broke his favourite toy.
"794.. 569... 588... 442... 392... Damn these buses seriously!.." said Varun as he was looking for the right one to come and make our bunk successful.
Seriously! We were barely left with thirty minutes of time and we were still in search of a right bus. I thought I could continue to read my book meanwhile and I took it out of my bag. As soon as I read the first word after the bookmark, I heard Varun saying quite loudly: "Chalo kamino... We got the bus."
... To be continued.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Count your blessings...
I think it was two years ago when I was in high school, the principal gave a speech on blessings. I don't remember it fully though but she said one thing which created a blank sector in my mind. She said "count your blessings". My mind started to find a logical connection for the phrase immediately at that moment. I didn't actually listen whatever she said after that. After some time my mind showed me a white flag for failure of polishing a logical joint. As the time passed on, I forgot it. Many elderly people blessed me when I touched their feet but that phrase never struck me again. Today, after two years or so, a man in his early 40s blessed me for my small assistance.
I was getting back home after meeting a friend in the morning at around 9 AM or so, a man came from behind and asked:
"Bhaiya!.. Where is the station?"
"Which station?" I asked.
".. railway station" he replied.
"Yeah.. It is nearby. Take a left from here and go straight." I answered.
And he went on his way till a point and suddenly turned back at me.
"Bhaiya! Is it this station only?"
I said, "Yeah.. This is the only railway station in this area."
But then I noticed that he was carrying a tourist bag on his back and I was getting quite sure enough that he was lost.
I asked him, "Where you have to go?"
Then he took out a bunch of folded papers from his pocket, searched for the right one, and showed it to me. It was a rail boarding ticket.
"Umm... Date of journey... 6th Oct.. okay... 15:35.. alright..." I was reading.
"Ya ya.. exactly bhaiya." he went on syncing with me.
"The train is for Bilaspur and you have to depart from Delhi Safdarjung."
"yes yes... bilaspur... that's where I have to go... That's my place." he made it definite.
"Hmmm.. but this is not Delhi Safdajung. It's just a local train station. No express trains depart or arrive here."
He then again took out some other bunch of papers and showed me one which was written in Hindi. I am quite weak in reading Hindi language.
"Motteee - Bhaag.. Okay okay.. Moti Bagh.. yes.. that is where Delhi Safdarjung is." I said.
... And I can see his eyes filled with joy, gaining trust on me.
"So from where I have to go Bhaiya?" he asked desperately.
"You see it is quite far from here. Take a bus or an auto-rickshaw." I said.
"Okay.. bus.. Which bus shall I take bhaiya?" he enquired.
"You better prefer an auto-rickshaw. It will drop you at the exact place." I answered.
"They will charge a big amount of money right? Maybe around 200-250 rupees?" he asked.
"No!.. who said that? A max amount of 40 rupees shall be charged from here." I replied strongly.
"Is it so bhaiya?" he questioned.
"Yeah..." I answered.
But he was a denial. He wanted to save money by commuting by a bus.
"I think bus would be a better option." he said.
But again he suddenly made his mind to spend 40 rupees for an auto.
"No no bhaiya.. You are right. Three-wheeler is a better option." he said.
"Yeah." replying with no substitute for my reply.
"Can you help me hire one bhaiya?" he asked.
"Sure. Why not?" I replied.
The auto stand was on the way and meanwhile he went on clarifying his chaos with the big city.
"Bhaiya, so were they making me roam like a fool in the city?" he got me puzzled.
I asked, ".. who they?"
"The railway enquiry people. I first went to New Delhi. Then they sent me to Nee-jaa-moodin station and from there, they sent me here."
"Yeah.. those are waste fellows." I said.
"Okay.. so they are waste fellows." he said as if I was dictating something to him and he was making notes of it.
"Your train is at 2.30 PM or so, then why are you going to the station so early? Still five hours are there." I enquired him.
"Bhaiya I came to Delhi just a few days ago. I was quite scared that I would be lost in this big city. So that's why I wanted to reach there as early as possible." he said using past tense which made me clear that he was relying on me.
"You have been lost." I replied.
He gave me a laugh.
We reached the auto stand where I hired an auto for thirty-five rupees. He then looked at me with a defined smile, took my hand in his hands and touched it with his forehead which depicted that I meant like an idol to him. He then thanked me and went off.
I don't know his name, I don't know his religion, I don't know his anything. He is just a person who came to me seeking for a little help. What I meant to him, it was his view. But I took his view as a blessing for me. At that time, the speech by my school principal got me again. Especially the still evergreen phrase, "count your blessings." I again wanted to shape the logic behind the phrase. But this time, I paused and said to myself:
Some phrases don't have any logic behind them. It might have and maybe I shall realize the true meaning of this after some more time of experience. Till then, I shall follow it and 'count my blessings'.
I was getting back home after meeting a friend in the morning at around 9 AM or so, a man came from behind and asked:
"Bhaiya!.. Where is the station?"
"Which station?" I asked.
".. railway station" he replied.
"Yeah.. It is nearby. Take a left from here and go straight." I answered.
And he went on his way till a point and suddenly turned back at me.
"Bhaiya! Is it this station only?"
I said, "Yeah.. This is the only railway station in this area."
But then I noticed that he was carrying a tourist bag on his back and I was getting quite sure enough that he was lost.
I asked him, "Where you have to go?"
Then he took out a bunch of folded papers from his pocket, searched for the right one, and showed it to me. It was a rail boarding ticket.
"Umm... Date of journey... 6th Oct.. okay... 15:35.. alright..." I was reading.
"Ya ya.. exactly bhaiya." he went on syncing with me.
"The train is for Bilaspur and you have to depart from Delhi Safdarjung."
"yes yes... bilaspur... that's where I have to go... That's my place." he made it definite.
"Hmmm.. but this is not Delhi Safdajung. It's just a local train station. No express trains depart or arrive here."
He then again took out some other bunch of papers and showed me one which was written in Hindi. I am quite weak in reading Hindi language.
"Motteee - Bhaag.. Okay okay.. Moti Bagh.. yes.. that is where Delhi Safdarjung is." I said.
... And I can see his eyes filled with joy, gaining trust on me.
"So from where I have to go Bhaiya?" he asked desperately.
"You see it is quite far from here. Take a bus or an auto-rickshaw." I said.
"Okay.. bus.. Which bus shall I take bhaiya?" he enquired.
"You better prefer an auto-rickshaw. It will drop you at the exact place." I answered.
"They will charge a big amount of money right? Maybe around 200-250 rupees?" he asked.
"No!.. who said that? A max amount of 40 rupees shall be charged from here." I replied strongly.
"Is it so bhaiya?" he questioned.
"Yeah..." I answered.
But he was a denial. He wanted to save money by commuting by a bus.
"I think bus would be a better option." he said.
But again he suddenly made his mind to spend 40 rupees for an auto.
"No no bhaiya.. You are right. Three-wheeler is a better option." he said.
"Yeah." replying with no substitute for my reply.
"Can you help me hire one bhaiya?" he asked.
"Sure. Why not?" I replied.
The auto stand was on the way and meanwhile he went on clarifying his chaos with the big city.
"Bhaiya, so were they making me roam like a fool in the city?" he got me puzzled.
I asked, ".. who they?"
"The railway enquiry people. I first went to New Delhi. Then they sent me to Nee-jaa-moodin station and from there, they sent me here."
"Yeah.. those are waste fellows." I said.
"Okay.. so they are waste fellows." he said as if I was dictating something to him and he was making notes of it.
"Your train is at 2.30 PM or so, then why are you going to the station so early? Still five hours are there." I enquired him.
"Bhaiya I came to Delhi just a few days ago. I was quite scared that I would be lost in this big city. So that's why I wanted to reach there as early as possible." he said using past tense which made me clear that he was relying on me.
"You have been lost." I replied.
He gave me a laugh.
We reached the auto stand where I hired an auto for thirty-five rupees. He then looked at me with a defined smile, took my hand in his hands and touched it with his forehead which depicted that I meant like an idol to him. He then thanked me and went off.
I don't know his name, I don't know his religion, I don't know his anything. He is just a person who came to me seeking for a little help. What I meant to him, it was his view. But I took his view as a blessing for me. At that time, the speech by my school principal got me again. Especially the still evergreen phrase, "count your blessings." I again wanted to shape the logic behind the phrase. But this time, I paused and said to myself:
Some phrases don't have any logic behind them. It might have and maybe I shall realize the true meaning of this after some more time of experience. Till then, I shall follow it and 'count my blessings'.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
The Gandhian Policy
The 'trending now' column of every news is having the name of the man who brought the mass to fight for a national cause. Kisan Baburao Hazare. Or as popularly known, Anna Hazare. The ex-Army soldier went on a indefinite fast against the government for the alteration of the lokpal bill to Jan Lokpal. This powerful bill equalizes every citizen of the country and punishes those who are corrupted or support corruption in any form. The media widespread attracted many people in India and also across the world and gave birth to the non violent anti-corruption movement.
Now you all might be thinking that why I am writing the synopsis of the whole thing that you already know. This is what this post is about. We all know what is going on now-a-days around us. For every crime taking place, for every inch of a land shaken, for every move in politics, for every drop of water flown. We know each and everything. Now how do we get to know all this? Media. Media in the form of news telecast, radio, newspapers, internet, mobile phones, etc, etc. I was thinking about the times of the freedom struggle of our country and I suddenly got an idea to publish this post.
Think about the time when Mahatma Gandhi was on for the freedom movement in our country. There was no media, no approach and media existed only in one form, i.e., news papers. But there were a limited number of people who read newspapers. There were messengers who sent news from one village to another but, it wasn't enough to spread the news of freedom struggle all over. Four big towns, rest were small villages and almost 60-70% of India was just forest.
Now how Gandhiji did it? This is what fascinates me. Even I don't know how he arouse revolutionary ideas in every Indian. Maybe the situation was so critical that everyone thought that there was a 'need' for independence but they neither had any courage nor ideas to take a step. Or it maybe the power of speech Gandhiji had to attract the mass, or maybe both the cases. The path of non violence and truth was the Gandhian policy to protest against injustice and inequality. Whatsoever, I am so amazed how did he created and led such a big movement non-violently.
My elders often say and also as I read in many books stating, "Gandhi was the man. A hero behind the independence of India." I just used to irrationally accept this fact as almost everyone did. "Okay, there was a man named Gandhiji who fought for us. He is so great that his name is the first Indian name which has not been underlined in MS word." Stupidity.
Today when I see Anna Hazare adopting the Gandhian policy, a sudden realization takes a flight within. An immediate pride of being an Indian. Watching everyone united and realizing their rights. What a feeling it is! Totally patriotic. Now I know why Gandhiji was honoured with the title 'Mahatma' and what Gandhiji really meant for our welfare. Even today, many are there who don't realize this and irrationally accept 'Mahatma Gandhi' not as a person, but as a word. Just a word. All thanks to Anna Hazare who made me realize this. Now I feel I am a true Indian. A salute to you sir!
Now you all might be thinking that why I am writing the synopsis of the whole thing that you already know. This is what this post is about. We all know what is going on now-a-days around us. For every crime taking place, for every inch of a land shaken, for every move in politics, for every drop of water flown. We know each and everything. Now how do we get to know all this? Media. Media in the form of news telecast, radio, newspapers, internet, mobile phones, etc, etc. I was thinking about the times of the freedom struggle of our country and I suddenly got an idea to publish this post.
Think about the time when Mahatma Gandhi was on for the freedom movement in our country. There was no media, no approach and media existed only in one form, i.e., news papers. But there were a limited number of people who read newspapers. There were messengers who sent news from one village to another but, it wasn't enough to spread the news of freedom struggle all over. Four big towns, rest were small villages and almost 60-70% of India was just forest.
Now how Gandhiji did it? This is what fascinates me. Even I don't know how he arouse revolutionary ideas in every Indian. Maybe the situation was so critical that everyone thought that there was a 'need' for independence but they neither had any courage nor ideas to take a step. Or it maybe the power of speech Gandhiji had to attract the mass, or maybe both the cases. The path of non violence and truth was the Gandhian policy to protest against injustice and inequality. Whatsoever, I am so amazed how did he created and led such a big movement non-violently.
My elders often say and also as I read in many books stating, "Gandhi was the man. A hero behind the independence of India." I just used to irrationally accept this fact as almost everyone did. "Okay, there was a man named Gandhiji who fought for us. He is so great that his name is the first Indian name which has not been underlined in MS word." Stupidity.
Today when I see Anna Hazare adopting the Gandhian policy, a sudden realization takes a flight within. An immediate pride of being an Indian. Watching everyone united and realizing their rights. What a feeling it is! Totally patriotic. Now I know why Gandhiji was honoured with the title 'Mahatma' and what Gandhiji really meant for our welfare. Even today, many are there who don't realize this and irrationally accept 'Mahatma Gandhi' not as a person, but as a word. Just a word. All thanks to Anna Hazare who made me realize this. Now I feel I am a true Indian. A salute to you sir!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
A Dream
It was about 2-3 weeks ago, I had a dream about my high school alumni club called the "Happy Club". The very next day when I woke up, I started typing what all I got in my mind and posted it in the facebook group of my club. It got several hits there, and so I thought to post it on my blog too. This is what I wrote. Enjoy reading.
"Our network eventually got expanded all over the country. We made huge amount of money and we mostly spent it in fests, parties, etc, etc." Varun told.
"You guys have drinks/drugs in your parties?" asked a really concerned lawyer.
"No. Never. Happy Club is not meant for all such things. We don't find any happiness in that. By the way, why you are asking this? I think it is quite irrelevant..." I told as well as I asked.
"Nothing. My daughter is also a Happy Club member." said the concerned lawyer.
"What about the money? Where did you stored all the money?" asked a income tax officer rolling his eyebrows and putting extreme pressure on the word 'stored'.
"We didn't. We didn't stored money. We opened corporate accounts in various banks" I said after sipping a glass of water.
"You guys make twenty-five cr. a month?" asked another man in black.
"Hundred. Two hundred fifty cr. a month." told Shubham.
"See sir, i know only one thing. That we didn't do anything. It is not a crime to have such a big club. Then why you all people prosecuting us?" I said angrily as I was fed up with their queries.
"It is illegal you ******." said the home minister angrily using abusive language which got him suspended permanently. He was no longer a home minister.
All this because we guys helped loads n loads of teenagers under pressure by our Happy Club network which in turn gave us a public appreciation and people started marching for us guys with warning messages which read "Don't put them in jail, or else, you will be finished.
"Ohkk, what were your future plans?" asked another advocate.
"We were about to start Happy Club for call center employees too. As a study shows that young employees are getting heart problems/blood pressure/diabetes, etc. So this could have increase our club funds and also the age limit for Happy Club members could have changed from 16-24 to 16-28". I said.
~~~ A BLACK OUT AND DREAM ENDS FINALLY ~~~
At around 6.30 AM:
"Wake up... wake up aadii... Your friends are waiting for you. Won't you go for a jog with them? Wake up...." My mommy woke me up.
I told my friends about this a bit and said I will post this dream on Happy Club's wall on facebook. So almost after a two-hour long exercise session, remembering all this funny shit, I posted. ;) :D
hope you fellas like it. :)
To my bloody cool happy members,
This post is a real dream. Though dreams are not real, but I got it yesterday night about our club! It somehow follows the story line of the movie 'The Social Network'.
Okay.. so it was 2AM yesterday when I slept off after having some fun with books.
~~~ DREAM STARTS ~~~
Me, Varun & Shubham. We were under prosecution by the government. In front of us, the finance minister, home minister, lawyers, judges, bunch of income tax officers, police officers and media people. All of us were in a big conference room as far I remember. Nevertheless, the room was too scary.
"So how much you made?" asked a lawyer after going through a fat income tax file.
"9,850 cr. sir" I replied.
"In how much time?" asked another about-to-die-advocate.
"In 1.5 years, sir" Shubham replied.
"How you guys started all this" asked the home minister banging his fist on the conference table.
We all were cold with dried throats but somehow Varun started without forgetting to test the microphone as the whole nation was watching us.
"Hella hella mic testing... So, it just started off with a schooly affair. We actually never thought that HAPPY CLUB could get this much big. It was just like a community."
Now his lines were like a boost for me and shubham.
"... yes sir, we expanded our group with loads n loads of members every week. We didn't knew what we were doing. As in all that was just for fun and most importantly, to be happy." said Shubham.
"We made progress in a small time span of 2 months and our club reached more than 10 cr. (100 mn) teenagers in the country aged between 16-24." I said.
"And after that...?" asked another lady in black.
"We made some rules. like each member has to contribute 100 bucks every month, helping each other, expanding the network, and all the stuff which gave our club a caption
'HAPPY CLUB - To be happy & to make happy'.
And if some member feels depressed, he/she could call the Happy Club helpline and our computers would redirect to anyone of the member who is not busy.
So it runs just like your government. Something 'for the people, to the people, by the people' " said Varun.
"You got notices from software firms like microsoft, yahoo, google, facebook & myspace for using their network commercially?" asked a cornered lawyer.
"Stupid fellows. Everybody wants money. Anyways, we deleted those pages. Now we have our own social networking sites." said Shubham.
"What about those 100 bucks thing and these very famous badges" asked an old lawyer.
"100 bucks were for club fund. So that we could have parties or help our members, in any way possible. And regarding these badges, these are special smiley-signature badges behind which the name and sign of the respective member is printed in the center and 'HAPPY CLUB :: ORIGINAL' which is also printed on the boundaries in an arc form." I told.
"I can see that. What else?" asked the same old lawyer.
"All these badges have built-in GPS chips." I replied.
"From where did you get all these GPSes, netowork, etc.?"
"It was one of our members who made a deal with some international dealers for GPS chips and the software stuffs" Shubham said.
This post is a real dream. Though dreams are not real, but I got it yesterday night about our club! It somehow follows the story line of the movie 'The Social Network'.
Okay.. so it was 2AM yesterday when I slept off after having some fun with books.
~~~ DREAM STARTS ~~~
Me, Varun & Shubham. We were under prosecution by the government. In front of us, the finance minister, home minister, lawyers, judges, bunch of income tax officers, police officers and media people. All of us were in a big conference room as far I remember. Nevertheless, the room was too scary.
"So how much you made?" asked a lawyer after going through a fat income tax file.
"9,850 cr. sir" I replied.
"In how much time?" asked another about-to-die-advocate.
"In 1.5 years, sir" Shubham replied.
"How you guys started all this" asked the home minister banging his fist on the conference table.
We all were cold with dried throats but somehow Varun started without forgetting to test the microphone as the whole nation was watching us.
"Hella hella mic testing... So, it just started off with a schooly affair. We actually never thought that HAPPY CLUB could get this much big. It was just like a community."
Now his lines were like a boost for me and shubham.
"... yes sir, we expanded our group with loads n loads of members every week. We didn't knew what we were doing. As in all that was just for fun and most importantly, to be happy." said Shubham.
"We made progress in a small time span of 2 months and our club reached more than 10 cr. (100 mn) teenagers in the country aged between 16-24." I said.
"And after that...?" asked another lady in black.
"We made some rules. like each member has to contribute 100 bucks every month, helping each other, expanding the network, and all the stuff which gave our club a caption
'HAPPY CLUB - To be happy & to make happy'.
And if some member feels depressed, he/she could call the Happy Club helpline and our computers would redirect to anyone of the member who is not busy.
So it runs just like your government. Something 'for the people, to the people, by the people' " said Varun.
"You got notices from software firms like microsoft, yahoo, google, facebook & myspace for using their network commercially?" asked a cornered lawyer.
"Stupid fellows. Everybody wants money. Anyways, we deleted those pages. Now we have our own social networking sites." said Shubham.
"What about those 100 bucks thing and these very famous badges" asked an old lawyer.
"100 bucks were for club fund. So that we could have parties or help our members, in any way possible. And regarding these badges, these are special smiley-signature badges behind which the name and sign of the respective member is printed in the center and 'HAPPY CLUB :: ORIGINAL' which is also printed on the boundaries in an arc form." I told.
"I can see that. What else?" asked the same old lawyer.
"All these badges have built-in GPS chips." I replied.
"From where did you get all these GPSes, netowork, etc.?"
"It was one of our members who made a deal with some international dealers for GPS chips and the software stuffs" Shubham said.
"Our network eventually got expanded all over the country. We made huge amount of money and we mostly spent it in fests, parties, etc, etc." Varun told.
"You guys have drinks/drugs in your parties?" asked a really concerned lawyer.
"No. Never. Happy Club is not meant for all such things. We don't find any happiness in that. By the way, why you are asking this? I think it is quite irrelevant..." I told as well as I asked.
"Nothing. My daughter is also a Happy Club member." said the concerned lawyer.
"What about the money? Where did you stored all the money?" asked a income tax officer rolling his eyebrows and putting extreme pressure on the word 'stored'.
"We didn't. We didn't stored money. We opened corporate accounts in various banks" I said after sipping a glass of water.
"You guys make twenty-five cr. a month?" asked another man in black.
"Hundred. Two hundred fifty cr. a month." told Shubham.
"See sir, i know only one thing. That we didn't do anything. It is not a crime to have such a big club. Then why you all people prosecuting us?" I said angrily as I was fed up with their queries.
"It is illegal you ******." said the home minister angrily using abusive language which got him suspended permanently. He was no longer a home minister.
All this because we guys helped loads n loads of teenagers under pressure by our Happy Club network which in turn gave us a public appreciation and people started marching for us guys with warning messages which read "Don't put them in jail, or else, you will be finished.
"Ohkk, what were your future plans?" asked another advocate.
"We were about to start Happy Club for call center employees too. As a study shows that young employees are getting heart problems/blood pressure/diabetes, etc. So this could have increase our club funds and also the age limit for Happy Club members could have changed from 16-24 to 16-28". I said.
~~~ A BLACK OUT AND DREAM ENDS FINALLY ~~~
At around 6.30 AM:
"Wake up... wake up aadii... Your friends are waiting for you. Won't you go for a jog with them? Wake up...." My mommy woke me up.
I told my friends about this a bit and said I will post this dream on Happy Club's wall on facebook. So almost after a two-hour long exercise session, remembering all this funny shit, I posted. ;) :D
hope you fellas like it. :)
Dreams may or may not be true. It's a personal experience during a nap. No matter how silly it is. But the thing is, you have dreamt. Now whenever I remember this, I laugh out loudly. Because this is the height of dreaming to such extent!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Photography
Hello there. These are some of my self clicked photographs. Hope you like them. :)
@ 7 PM
Moonbeam
Everybody is in a hurry. (me too)
Don't really know which flower is this.
Extra studying causes eye strain.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The First Post
Its 2:12 AM this side and this is my first post on any blog. Let me start with a quotation. Its kind of math-related.
"Don't differentiate ourselves, be integrated". Yes. And I mean it. No religion in this world teaches violence. But why do we involve ourselves in riots between our religions? Why don't some people understand that we all are the children of the almighty?
"Don't differentiate ourselves, be integrated". Yes. And I mean it. No religion in this world teaches violence. But why do we involve ourselves in riots between our religions? Why don't some people understand that we all are the children of the almighty?
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