Mumbai, Thoughts and an Experiment

Almost a year back in December, i had been to Mumbai with a few friends for the first time and absolutely loved the city. And visited the Oberoi as well, although it was to use the loo at the hotel ;)

A year later on,the same city Mumbai and the same hotel - is in my thoughts again for a unhappy reason. Its been more than 40 hours, the NSG commandos and the Mumbai Police are fighting relentlessly to rescue people and catch hold of the terrorists. Its so disturbing and paralyzing. My heart goes out to the people of mumbai.

I cant help but wonder,What do the terrorists gain from it? Is India really a free country? Will it ever learn from the incidents? Will the politicians and government ever care for the common man's life?

And you, Mr Thackeray - tumi kuthe gele?? Where are you now?? when Mumbai and the nation needs to fight the real "outsiders". You couldnt save the Mumbaikers! The NSG's were not your local mumbaiya people - they were from up north or down south.

Forget the government and the politicians, do we care enough about the people around us.

Just five minutes back, i got a call from a friend in Blore with another customary inane question - How are you doing,Is Delhi fine? I responded as politely as i could - Thanks for your concern. I silently muttered, If I lay bloodied on the road, Would you pick me up, rush me to the hospital or rather worry about the upholstery of your car?

Stupid but Nagging thought - i wish i could run this lil experiment with all people i know, so i could know who to trash and who to keep.

Peace!

P.S. Thanks to few critics - the post is a updated with facts now.

The Kite Runner

The book was recommended by a friend, and after sitting on the shelf for a few weeks, i finally laid my hands on the copy of the book i bought at a traffic signal. Its such a fabulous read.

The story is of a shia servant of a affluent Sunni Family in Afganistan in the early 80's. It is a heart warming story of two boys - Hassan and Amir and their relationship and their emotional challenges. The story weaves a medley of emotions - pain, pleasure, betrayal, loyalty, redemption, love, conceit, honesty, guilt - with such intensity and sensitivity - it makes you cry at numerous instances. So much so, the storyteller manages to strike just the right chords of the heart and leaves you speechless. It stirs your conscience and shakes you like the after tremors of an earthquake. It makes you totally involved in the characters and their journey. The climax, just as beautiful and satisfying like a fairytale. Go Read it!

Book: The KiteRunner
Author: Khaled Hosseni
Price: Rs 50 from the roadside vendor.
Tagline: There is a way to be good again.
Reading Experience: Priceless!
Warning: The KiteRunner may run you down.
My Fave line from the book: For you, a thousand times over...

The Week that was

Ha Ha...Surprisingly last week never came to an end for me. For the first time in my career of more than 4 yrs, i worked on a weekend. Saturday and Sunday included. My effort sheet boasted of 60 hours, 20 extra hours than normal. I havent worked so much since the Annual Enrollment Period in my previous firm. Thankfully i got some appreciation from my leads, and a compensatory off on a weekday too. But no overtime. No cash, but there have been things to take back and smile about from working that much. The experience of a 7 day work week isnt as bad as it reads. Infact i should call it a 12 day week. Chutti is far, today being monday.

Struggled to take out some time for myself, my routine chores and keep my social commitments too. Felt nice to be busy for a change, and not worry about trivial things. Had a sound sleep at the end of the day coz i was tired. Sometimes, I used to wonder, feeling weak at times when my friends worked long hours and weekends too, that i will not be able to sustain such work routines. Im immensely happy, i proved myself wrong. Now, I know i can deliver when the pressure and expectations are high at work. Quite a satisfying week it has been, im aware that i did a good job, and my leads can count on me. Personally, it has boosted my confidence to make ends meet, when odds are high. Never thought work could be such a source of contentment.
And what surprises me most was, i did not suffer from the usual monday morning blues. Im lovin it :)

And, if its a co-incidence - that you're reading this and you're my boss, i dont mean i want more work to do. I have enough on my plate :D

Its only words

Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but words will never hurt me

All we learnt in childhood may not be true. Well, atleast not for me. There are times when people say things to you, without actually sparing a thought how severe the impact can be. More trouble dealing with words, when they come from people so close to your heart. A fit of anger it may be or a simple wrong choice of words can put us into deep thought into the hows and whys of it. Words go a long way in mending broken walls and causing dents in otherwise strong friendships.

We're courteous with strangers. Saying sorry to someone you stepped on in the elevator and thankyou to the courier boy is effortless. And, when it comes to our closest relationships, thankyou's are absent, the sorry's get lost in the ego battles. Ironical, it is.

I wouldnt care a dime, if someone on the street messed with me, will probably just ignore it. We all ignore the comments from people that dont matter much. And people who do matter already know the good, the bad and the ugly about you. We all have shades of grey - nothing is black or white. Then why black is all people see. A Classic example of Selective Perception. And thats what makes them say things to you that hurt.

Friends may call their mockery as part of their jovial nature, but somewhere they need to know how much is enough. How much mockery and insensitive jibes by friends can you sustain. The other side of the problem is - its a difficult test to know which words to just let go off and smile, and which ones to cling to and feel bad about. Toss a coin anyone?

Sick Leave

A lot of colleagues envy me and are ready to trade jobs with me. Im not at all busy even when im at work. I have lots of time, but nothing to do, nor do i feel like doing anything, eventhough there is so much people suggest i can do with so much time at hand.

My boss knows i dont have work, have asked for it too. Too much work and No work can leave you equally bored.

I have 6 sick leaves left unutilized in my kitty for this calender year, and i think i should use them up. Not sick, but sick of work (read no work). Now, thats a valid reason, right?

Forecast for next few days: Im may fall sick. My boss is going to recieve some communication by phone. Smooth, work-free week ahead.

O Priya-aa-aa-aaaa!!

"Soak it in! Soak it in" - I could hear myself say as i walked down the Priya Complex. Man, it had been ages since i stepped into those lanes again. Priyas was the undisputed place to hangout during my school and college days. There was so much nostalgia in the air. Each little nook and corner brought back memories as old as 15yrs back. Jurassic Park in 1993 was the first movie i saw at Priyas. Gosh! I was a class 5 student then, a 11 year old, now im more than double that number in age. The Priyas Connection is that old, it definitely brings smiles thinking of small lil things.

- Parking in the CBI colony taking a random house num to skip paying parking.
- The Archies Gallery still has the best of cards, gifts and stationery.
- The party at Pizza Hut was our then Five Star Place.
- The street vendors selling books has been replaced by shady cloth shops.
- The oxidised silver-black trinkets,earings, rings i so many times bought.
- The good-old-nirulas and the defunct-fountain where the colg gang once used to sit and watch the crowds, is still there and still doesnt work.
- Standing in lines to get 7 and 11 rupee front row tickets of so many first day first shows at Priyas.
- The small paan/cigarette corner that was our bag/books shelter while we watched our movie still stands there, but fancier now.
- The videogame sessions at Future Zone, buying tokens for 10 rupees. It no longer exists. A new pub has opened in its place. RPM has taken its place.
- The DTC bus number 620 me, S, V and P used to get back home from priyas. The new 620 bus number is a swanky green low floor one.
- Turquoise Cottage has moved to VV from Qutub Area.
- The crowd is at its trendiest and whackiest.

A movie at Priyas, tepanyaki dinner at Kylin Lounge, Good Crowd and excellent company - all that made my evening for sure with so much to bring back home! Kuch bhi ho - Priyas is Priyas afterall.

P.S. The title is a song from a bollwood movie!!