Monday, August 29, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Rise and Shine
`Since knowledge is but sorrow's spy,
'Twere better not to know.'
Ignorance is bliss. It couldn’t be any more relevant as it is today. We Indians have lived a life under the shadow of monsters like epidemics, illiteracy, natural calamities and the list goes on. All these problems were visible when they were attacking us. We learnt to fight against them , we succeeded to some extent but we never got used to them. They did not become part of our daily life.
One parasite which we could not detect in time was corruption. When did it become part of a normal man’s life , we could not know. We were completely unaware that we were so used to a type of pollution that would cause a very specific type of cancer in the whole system that runs this country. By the time we realized it, it was already too late.
If you meet a cancer patient on the last stage of his disease, you would see the helplessness in his eyes, in his words , in his actions and worse in the actions of people who are around him. At this point only thing which keeps us attached, interested and fighting against the disease is “hope”.
India is sick with the cancer of corruption. We all know that. Carcinogens like corrupt bureaucrats, politicians, agents and lobbyists are everywhere. If you talk about medicine you would know that only way to cure cancer is to get rid of the part which is affected and stay away from carcinogens.
In a country like India where people are just so unaware, uneducated and so dependent on system, it becomes even more difficult a task to actually do something about the problem. The idea of change is so frightening that even the people who are going to get benefitted do not take the step towards reforms.
The fear that the system can not be changed , is somehow reasonable. One should realize that replacing the whole system in one step is just impossible but a step has to be taken to start reforming the system. Anna Hazare’s movement is the hope that we have, all we can do is support for a bit of the change. It won’t promise a clean system the very next day. Just like medicine works, it would start cleansing the system slowly and one day we can hope to have a corruption free society.
Any medication is useless without restraint. A continuous effort would be required from all, including Anna’s team and all the citizens of this great nation to keep the system free of corruption. It is going to be a very difficult journey but now that we have taken first step we need courage. We need “Hope” and we must have “faith”.
In multiple organ failure scenario, one needs to find out the root cause. Then the attempt to restore health is made. We have got our root cause i.e. Corruption. Let’s get rid of it and then restoration of health would be a matter of time. I am sure there are many problems in this country and I bet that all of them can be solved once the menace of corruption is tackled with.
One can not solve all the problems using one medicine. Unfortunately there is no panacea for a country’s problems. Now that we have lived with thousands of problems for hundreds of years we can live with some of them for some more years. When one problem will be resolved there will be way , there will be energy , there will be passion to head towards the other. So Ms. Arundhati Roy , when you come out of your hole and start shouting for other problems, I beg you to keep you piehole shut for a few days. We need to fight together against one problem at a time. Any distraction would be hazardous. You have your own cause ? Please wait, your turn would come. If you can not participate, then at least do not divert attention neither do you try to get any attention right now. Because, believe me, if you play with our minds right now , you would be kicked so hard that you wont find any ground. This goes for every money hungry politician across the country.
We were used to corruption, we did not know. When Thomas Gray coined this phrase
Ignorance is bliss” he did not know how relevant it would be for us. But we have lived lives completely ignorant about these blood sucking bugs in our system. Unfortunately for those bugs we are aware now. India is on the streets and time is not far before we would change this world.
Rise and Shine !!
'Twere better not to know.'
Ignorance is bliss. It couldn’t be any more relevant as it is today. We Indians have lived a life under the shadow of monsters like epidemics, illiteracy, natural calamities and the list goes on. All these problems were visible when they were attacking us. We learnt to fight against them , we succeeded to some extent but we never got used to them. They did not become part of our daily life.
One parasite which we could not detect in time was corruption. When did it become part of a normal man’s life , we could not know. We were completely unaware that we were so used to a type of pollution that would cause a very specific type of cancer in the whole system that runs this country. By the time we realized it, it was already too late.
If you meet a cancer patient on the last stage of his disease, you would see the helplessness in his eyes, in his words , in his actions and worse in the actions of people who are around him. At this point only thing which keeps us attached, interested and fighting against the disease is “hope”.
India is sick with the cancer of corruption. We all know that. Carcinogens like corrupt bureaucrats, politicians, agents and lobbyists are everywhere. If you talk about medicine you would know that only way to cure cancer is to get rid of the part which is affected and stay away from carcinogens.
In a country like India where people are just so unaware, uneducated and so dependent on system, it becomes even more difficult a task to actually do something about the problem. The idea of change is so frightening that even the people who are going to get benefitted do not take the step towards reforms.
The fear that the system can not be changed , is somehow reasonable. One should realize that replacing the whole system in one step is just impossible but a step has to be taken to start reforming the system. Anna Hazare’s movement is the hope that we have, all we can do is support for a bit of the change. It won’t promise a clean system the very next day. Just like medicine works, it would start cleansing the system slowly and one day we can hope to have a corruption free society.
Any medication is useless without restraint. A continuous effort would be required from all, including Anna’s team and all the citizens of this great nation to keep the system free of corruption. It is going to be a very difficult journey but now that we have taken first step we need courage. We need “Hope” and we must have “faith”.
In multiple organ failure scenario, one needs to find out the root cause. Then the attempt to restore health is made. We have got our root cause i.e. Corruption. Let’s get rid of it and then restoration of health would be a matter of time. I am sure there are many problems in this country and I bet that all of them can be solved once the menace of corruption is tackled with.
One can not solve all the problems using one medicine. Unfortunately there is no panacea for a country’s problems. Now that we have lived with thousands of problems for hundreds of years we can live with some of them for some more years. When one problem will be resolved there will be way , there will be energy , there will be passion to head towards the other. So Ms. Arundhati Roy , when you come out of your hole and start shouting for other problems, I beg you to keep you piehole shut for a few days. We need to fight together against one problem at a time. Any distraction would be hazardous. You have your own cause ? Please wait, your turn would come. If you can not participate, then at least do not divert attention neither do you try to get any attention right now. Because, believe me, if you play with our minds right now , you would be kicked so hard that you wont find any ground. This goes for every money hungry politician across the country.
We were used to corruption, we did not know. When Thomas Gray coined this phrase
Ignorance is bliss” he did not know how relevant it would be for us. But we have lived lives completely ignorant about these blood sucking bugs in our system. Unfortunately for those bugs we are aware now. India is on the streets and time is not far before we would change this world.
Rise and Shine !!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Leftovers
Disclaimer - All persons and places in this story are purely fictitious, and any resemblance to real people, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
......
......
......
......
Prologue –
......
There was an uncomfortable silence when I looked up and saw her gazing out of the window. She was staring at a dress which was on display in a showroom right in front of the restaurant. We had just been out of the theater after watching “Prince of Persia”, the love story of the movie had both of us thinking although not showing it on our face. We sat in our usual table in our usual Chinese restaurant. Everything was so usual – same old sluggish service, too much chilly in Chinese food, waiters busy in their own conversations and so on. Manager in his same old red shirt and black pants was trying to talk on the phone with someone. After a wait of 30 minutes waiter brought our regular order of vegetarian manchurian and noodles. Looking outside the window her face was turned a little away from me. A tress of her hair was resting on her face and red and green lights of the neighboring toy shop were flashing on her face alternately.
I did not want to disturb her but I had to. We started eating, making small talk. I knew she felt something for me. I did not realize that we were almost done eating, almost! The last piece of Manchurian was left in her plate, I had my eyes on it, she looked up and said “ I don’t feel like having it, you want some ?” I said “yeah, sure”.
Leftovers!!
She was like that last piece of Manchurian in someone else’s plate that I wanted, desperately. I knew it was love or something very close to that and I was sure that I wanted to travel the distance and reach the pinnacle of love with her. As she served the Manchurian from her plate, I was wondering if her boyfriend would be generous enough to drop her in my “plate” (read: life). I knew it would be impossible for her to leave him, years of long relationship with a promise of love, care and marriage is a difficult thing to find and she was not going to let it go for me. I knew I had nothing to offer her other than my feelings. In that state of mind all I was craving for, was some of her time and attention which she could spare from her “real” boyfriend.
All I wanted were “Leftovers”.
She –
......
It was not love at first sight. I don’t even remember when I saw her first! She worked in the same office. She was quiet and reserved. My attention was drawn to her only when our office womanizer went to drop her home.
I thought hell! One more girl fell in the trap.
A few days later, a friend of mine invited her to have tea with us at our regular tea shop. She was in a white and blue combination sweater and brown trousers. In the middle of the conversation, she suddenly said that she was fat! I wanted to reply with “I don’t think so”, but I didn’t. I found her lively and interesting once I got to spend some time with her. The Best thing about her was that she was open for new things. However she already had a boyfriend! And a nagging one at that, well at least for me! He incessantly kept calling her every hour, and as any single man trying to make things happen with a girl, I wondered, what they talked about.
We kept hanging out, first less then more and then almost always. I had no idea what I was getting into, was I going to get another “best friend”? At one point she suggested to be my wing woman. I looked at her and shrugged, screaming in my head “I need a woman not a wing woman”!
There was something about her which drew me towards her like a moth to a flame. She was intelligent and smart; more importantly I loved her company. Hang outs, movies and late dinners became our daily routine.
After a tiring Saturday in an amusement park we sat in a coffee shop. She suddenly looked at me and asked – “Do you believe in Open Relationships? “. I was too dumb for that question, I replied in question – “What is an open relationship?” Believe me I had no idea!
That question from her that evening got me confused, what were her intentions? I had felt warmth when she held my hand during those rides, walks and sometimes in movies. I had seen her eyes when she looked at me, there was something that I was too scared to explore or ask about. So I let it go every time but now I was caught off guard, when she spoke out in open. Open Relationship? I was not sure.
Absurdity of the idea or at least the unacceptability of the idea of having an affair along with your “real” relationship was repulsive. I know I wanted her, but this way? Again I was not sure. Every second I thought about her. I wanted to spend more time with her just to be sure.
This was the time when a small “romance like component” got added to our relationship without any mention. This was a relationship without any proposal, at least for me. I treated her like I would treat my girl friend; I depended on her like I would on my girl friend. I loved her. There was no way for me to actually find out how she felt. What was it that she wanted? It was her suggestion which brought an “Open Relationship” as an option. I did not know what to do after that.
We kept hanging out together. I did not have courage to go and ask her. I kept muttering something often but never said it out aloud. It seemed cursing myself, God and conditions was the only thing that I could do then. But I was sick of it. I knew that there was no future to this relation. I had always avoided putting my efforts into something which was going to give no results. But somehow she felt worth all the trouble. Every time I felt that she was worth it, I felt ready to take a step.
One evening after office on our way back, I held her hand. She looked at me and I asked “ Do you want that open relationship now? “. She nodded in affirmative and smiled. Yay!! Elated that I was, I wanted to jump out of the cab in happiness (But that was risky ). I yelled at auto driver “take us to Geofrey’s“. It was time for celebration!!
The piece of Manchurian that I wanted was finally in my plate. Now she was mine, at least for a bit.
I got the “leftovers”.
..
Epilogue
---
We have lived happily in an extraordinary relationship which border lines an arrangement. There is same intensity that any complete relationship would have but there is something missing, I don’t know, if for good. Sometimes we get a little possessive for each other and ask about each others’ whereabouts. But then we realize that this relationship has no place for idiosyncrasies of a normal relationship. But resisting that from happening seemed impossible. It still is!
When you are in an open relationship with a girl who already has plans to get married to someone else, what is it that you are supposed to do? You cannot madly stay in love. You cannot afford to allow all your expectations to be lingering around one person who, you know, cannot fulfill them. The day will come when you would lose this relationship. So while you are enjoying every moment of it, you have to be ready to let it go when time comes.
I have “Leftovers” and I still wonder sometimes if I want more.
.....
......
......
......
......
Prologue –
......
There was an uncomfortable silence when I looked up and saw her gazing out of the window. She was staring at a dress which was on display in a showroom right in front of the restaurant. We had just been out of the theater after watching “Prince of Persia”, the love story of the movie had both of us thinking although not showing it on our face. We sat in our usual table in our usual Chinese restaurant. Everything was so usual – same old sluggish service, too much chilly in Chinese food, waiters busy in their own conversations and so on. Manager in his same old red shirt and black pants was trying to talk on the phone with someone. After a wait of 30 minutes waiter brought our regular order of vegetarian manchurian and noodles. Looking outside the window her face was turned a little away from me. A tress of her hair was resting on her face and red and green lights of the neighboring toy shop were flashing on her face alternately.
I did not want to disturb her but I had to. We started eating, making small talk. I knew she felt something for me. I did not realize that we were almost done eating, almost! The last piece of Manchurian was left in her plate, I had my eyes on it, she looked up and said “ I don’t feel like having it, you want some ?” I said “yeah, sure”.
Leftovers!!
She was like that last piece of Manchurian in someone else’s plate that I wanted, desperately. I knew it was love or something very close to that and I was sure that I wanted to travel the distance and reach the pinnacle of love with her. As she served the Manchurian from her plate, I was wondering if her boyfriend would be generous enough to drop her in my “plate” (read: life). I knew it would be impossible for her to leave him, years of long relationship with a promise of love, care and marriage is a difficult thing to find and she was not going to let it go for me. I knew I had nothing to offer her other than my feelings. In that state of mind all I was craving for, was some of her time and attention which she could spare from her “real” boyfriend.
All I wanted were “Leftovers”.
She –
......
It was not love at first sight. I don’t even remember when I saw her first! She worked in the same office. She was quiet and reserved. My attention was drawn to her only when our office womanizer went to drop her home.
I thought hell! One more girl fell in the trap.
A few days later, a friend of mine invited her to have tea with us at our regular tea shop. She was in a white and blue combination sweater and brown trousers. In the middle of the conversation, she suddenly said that she was fat! I wanted to reply with “I don’t think so”, but I didn’t. I found her lively and interesting once I got to spend some time with her. The Best thing about her was that she was open for new things. However she already had a boyfriend! And a nagging one at that, well at least for me! He incessantly kept calling her every hour, and as any single man trying to make things happen with a girl, I wondered, what they talked about.
We kept hanging out, first less then more and then almost always. I had no idea what I was getting into, was I going to get another “best friend”? At one point she suggested to be my wing woman. I looked at her and shrugged, screaming in my head “I need a woman not a wing woman”!
There was something about her which drew me towards her like a moth to a flame. She was intelligent and smart; more importantly I loved her company. Hang outs, movies and late dinners became our daily routine.
After a tiring Saturday in an amusement park we sat in a coffee shop. She suddenly looked at me and asked – “Do you believe in Open Relationships? “. I was too dumb for that question, I replied in question – “What is an open relationship?” Believe me I had no idea!
That question from her that evening got me confused, what were her intentions? I had felt warmth when she held my hand during those rides, walks and sometimes in movies. I had seen her eyes when she looked at me, there was something that I was too scared to explore or ask about. So I let it go every time but now I was caught off guard, when she spoke out in open. Open Relationship? I was not sure.
Absurdity of the idea or at least the unacceptability of the idea of having an affair along with your “real” relationship was repulsive. I know I wanted her, but this way? Again I was not sure. Every second I thought about her. I wanted to spend more time with her just to be sure.
This was the time when a small “romance like component” got added to our relationship without any mention. This was a relationship without any proposal, at least for me. I treated her like I would treat my girl friend; I depended on her like I would on my girl friend. I loved her. There was no way for me to actually find out how she felt. What was it that she wanted? It was her suggestion which brought an “Open Relationship” as an option. I did not know what to do after that.
We kept hanging out together. I did not have courage to go and ask her. I kept muttering something often but never said it out aloud. It seemed cursing myself, God and conditions was the only thing that I could do then. But I was sick of it. I knew that there was no future to this relation. I had always avoided putting my efforts into something which was going to give no results. But somehow she felt worth all the trouble. Every time I felt that she was worth it, I felt ready to take a step.
One evening after office on our way back, I held her hand. She looked at me and I asked “ Do you want that open relationship now? “. She nodded in affirmative and smiled. Yay!! Elated that I was, I wanted to jump out of the cab in happiness (But that was risky ). I yelled at auto driver “take us to Geofrey’s“. It was time for celebration!!
The piece of Manchurian that I wanted was finally in my plate. Now she was mine, at least for a bit.
I got the “leftovers”.
..
Epilogue
---
We have lived happily in an extraordinary relationship which border lines an arrangement. There is same intensity that any complete relationship would have but there is something missing, I don’t know, if for good. Sometimes we get a little possessive for each other and ask about each others’ whereabouts. But then we realize that this relationship has no place for idiosyncrasies of a normal relationship. But resisting that from happening seemed impossible. It still is!
When you are in an open relationship with a girl who already has plans to get married to someone else, what is it that you are supposed to do? You cannot madly stay in love. You cannot afford to allow all your expectations to be lingering around one person who, you know, cannot fulfill them. The day will come when you would lose this relationship. So while you are enjoying every moment of it, you have to be ready to let it go when time comes.
I have “Leftovers” and I still wonder sometimes if I want more.
.....
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Stay Away From Fear, Enjoy the Moment !
Happiness is so addictive that it makes the thought of getting the high over so scary. On the days when everything seems going towards your way and you just can’t be anything but happy, when the day gets over and you sit down pondering over the stuff that’s going on you start wondering what would happen if these days got over. After all how long can one be just happy, soon this thought makes you get goose bumps and then you start wondering a little pinch of sadness won’t be such a bad idea to have if it promises to maintain the balance of universe in terms of sadness and happiness? I want to stay happy the way I am, there is a lot that I can achieve there is a better life waiting for me that I can have but what if the life then fails to be as happy as this one is. What if this life ceases to be as happy as it is after sometime when I have lost all the opportunities to move on to a better one. Guess, we all have to take our chances, don’t we?
Is there any way we can know if moving on would be a good idea? I am not sure. What does your heart say? Whatever it says, is it reliable? As much as I want to ensure a happy life, there is no way to promise that even to ourselves. How, then, we are supposed to promise happiness to anyone else? What can be done to attain eternal happiness? Can getting spiritual be an option? Living a meaningless hedonistic life can make you an empty vessel, but is that so bad? If it is, then how bad is it? Running after meaning in your life, is it worth all the effort that it takes? What is the meaning of life? Is there any way to find that out? Don’t we all decide that for ourselves? How can we be sure that whatever we have decided for ourselves is right or does it have to be right at all?
All these questions, when they started rushing into my mind, I had no idea that I had already started on a slippery slope. This simple fear of losing the happiness I have right now, made me wonder how fragile everything is. The questions that I asked myself a few minutes ago are just a fraction of questions that you need to ask yourself in case you start falling into the spiral. All I want to say is that, this moment is so important, when you are happy. Stay away from fear, enjoy the moment.
Is there any way we can know if moving on would be a good idea? I am not sure. What does your heart say? Whatever it says, is it reliable? As much as I want to ensure a happy life, there is no way to promise that even to ourselves. How, then, we are supposed to promise happiness to anyone else? What can be done to attain eternal happiness? Can getting spiritual be an option? Living a meaningless hedonistic life can make you an empty vessel, but is that so bad? If it is, then how bad is it? Running after meaning in your life, is it worth all the effort that it takes? What is the meaning of life? Is there any way to find that out? Don’t we all decide that for ourselves? How can we be sure that whatever we have decided for ourselves is right or does it have to be right at all?
All these questions, when they started rushing into my mind, I had no idea that I had already started on a slippery slope. This simple fear of losing the happiness I have right now, made me wonder how fragile everything is. The questions that I asked myself a few minutes ago are just a fraction of questions that you need to ask yourself in case you start falling into the spiral. All I want to say is that, this moment is so important, when you are happy. Stay away from fear, enjoy the moment.
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