Most memorable Journey!!!

I was drenched with sweat when somebody’s voice: “Its Nagpur” woke me from my slumber. I was traveling by a sleeper class train in the middle of April from Pune to Ranchi. I saw my watch. It was 2 Pm. The fans were loaded with dust indicating that it was about a year ago the fan had stopped working. I could not take it any longer. I planned to go down. There were 12 people already sitting down. It was summer vacation in most of the colleges and school and the train was full of waitlisted people. I had somehow managed to get a seat. It was too much for me to lay down fighting against the intolerable heat the roof was transmitting. I peeped down to see those faces full of anticipation. The anticipation of those people, who were supposed to get down at Nagpur. I sighed –“Wish Nagpur was my hometown”. I did not know how would I manage the rest of the journey. I could not take this anymore. I thought I would prefer standing near the gate rather getting sapped here. I got down and straight away made my way to the gate. The sun was burning red. The heat had taken a toll on the vegetation as the barren land spread as far as I could see. I felt sorry for the plants.

I had finished off the bottle of water I had. I wanted to buy a bottle of water as and when I reach Nagpur.. I checked my pocket to find my wallet.
Oh god!!! I was horrified to discover that my wallet was missing from its place. I had dropped it somewhere. Somewhere? But where? I was blank.
. Trying to retrace where could I drop it I retraced my steps to my berth. I looked at each and every corner of my berth, my luggage, only to find one thing – “Disappointment”.
I no more felt sorry for the plants because I was too engrossed in feeling sorry for myself. The only voice I could hear now was that of that vendor who was selling a water bottle. Between all this chaos I heard the train screeching and finally halting. One NOBLE voice said, “don’t worry, Go and report this at the nearest railway police station”. I was aware of the fact that the train stops at Nagpur station for 20 mins. I thought (at least then) that it was the right idea. Asking that person to take care of my luggage I got down of the train to look for the police station. After 10mins of struggle I found the railway police guard room. I stormed inside to narrate my plight to the officer.

The police guard quite bluntly replied back saying that as I had lost my wallet before reaching Nagpur station, the case did not come under his jurisdiction. I could not muster any word, not because I was scared to do so, but I was too feeble because of the thirst. Resigning to the fact that I would never get back my wallet I started my way back towards the train.
I was horrified to see the train moving. I didn’t realize that I had wasted 20 mins in finding a merciless police guard who showed no concerns for me. Somehow I threw myself inside some compartment and started making my way to my coop. My horror had no bounds to find my luggage missing along with the Mr.NOBLE (Now you know why I had used this word in BOLD). It had to be the most disgusting day of my life.
I pulled the chain and dropped out of the train. The train had moved three kms from Nagpur station. The sight of barren land looked so familiar. The plants looked as if they were feeling sorry for me now. I knew for sure, the police guard could not make the very same excuse because this guy had got down with my luggage “Under his Jurisdiction”. Each step seemed a milestone covered. I was dying of thirst.
I was terrorized to see eagles hovering above. It reminded me of all those Hindi movies where the villain drops in some desert and they feed on him. It gave me some motivation to move faster. I could see the railways station at a distance now. I managed having a smile and minutes later, couldn’t help myself chuckling at the sight of a water tap. I knew it would cater the most impure form of water but I thought I better die of diarrhea than die of thirst and then be perched by beasts.
I opened the tap to find cold water flowing down. It was the best thing that had happened to me in the last 1 hour. I cupped my hands to drink water. I drank it all but I could not quench my thirst.
Why? What was wrong? Was it not water?

I shrieked…..

And the next sight was of the A/C compartment I was inside. I was traveling from Bangalore to Chennai. It was nothing but a stupid dream. My throat was very dry. Now I knew what was the origination of this dream (I rather call it a nightmare). I was a little thirsty before going to sleep but I was too lazy to pick the water bottle that was on the other side of the berth. I made a silent prayer to the almighty before finishing off the complete bottle. I was ecstatic to see my entire luggage intact, my wallet in my pocket and only six people in my coop all-sleeping in peace. Cuddling the little bag I had I again went back to sleep.

Are We Really Republic?

What happened in Mangalore forces me to ask a question to myself. Are we a republic country? Our we really democratic? Are we moving forward?
It so ironical that on one side our president was talking about our country taking great advancements in all the fields and visualizing the dream of becoming a superpower in coming years, and on the other side few maniac trying to script the future of the country in the most barbaric way.
We are proud of our democracy and value our integrity but do we all think the same.
Unfortunately the honest answer is No!!! There are a section of people who think that they can take the control of people’s life and can drive the country in their own way.
Whenever I used to watch the videotapes made in Taliban I used to take a sigh of relief. I used to thank god that my mother, my sister, my friends who are girls are born in India, but can I still think the same?
I am scared for my sister, my friends (girls). Are they safe to have meals in a restaurant? Can they “afford” to party anymore? I don’t think so.
There are bunch of ‘Nobody’s’(I like calling them nobody’s because that is what they are) who are trying to make me live my life their way.
The most brutal part of this saga is that they have named themselves as “Ram Sena”. Why doesn’t somebody ask them to narrate the preaching of Lord Ram?
It’s utterly shameful that the so-called disciples are doing this in the name of “Maryada Purushottam” Ram.
What’s the difference between the terrorists and these people? I can only site similarities but no differences.
We talk about peace and maintaining harmony between our fellow Indians. We talk about joining hands to fight terrorism.
Its high time we start to learn the art of Self Introspection. Lets clean the country internally first, from these beliefs. Lets all respect women because we are what we are because of them. Lets pause and think once before hitting a woman that god made us stronger than them because he wanted us to protect them from all the evils and not to harm them.
Lets police ourselves first before policing others. Lets act responsibly now.

It happened 59 years ago when we became republic. Lets start feeling the same now.

Her Beauty!!!!

Ever since I wrote my first blog, she keeps on complaining….
Why haven’t you written about me? Don’t you love me dearly? Am I not worth writing about?
Dear love, I have loved you since I was a toddler. I fell in love with you at first sight and will love you all my life.
The only answer, and believe me I am not being mushy or cheesy but whatever I write about you, I fear I might still not be able to explain my feelings for you.
What I think about you, might not be put in words, but then I "really" want to write about you. Want you to be a part of my blog world. I was thinking about it, all these days, until I went for lunch at the local food stall.
I had to come for work alone and eventually had to have my lunch alone. In my solemn effort of having my lunch peacefully without uttering a word, I caught upon what people were talking about you. They were discussing you. It didn’t give me a little sense of insecurity when somebody said he was passionate about you. Its your beauty that nobody can keep himself away from falling in love with you. I know whatever I write I might still not be able to justify my feelings for you so I thought it would be better off to write what they felt about you.
Yes, they were talking about the passion of my life-‘CRICKET’.
One of them said that it’s the IPL that had made the game more commercialized and was of the opinion that money had taken the game to another level. He believed that It had brought in, more fun to the game and how the younger generation have started pouring in thousands, for a 20-20 game as they thought they didn’t have 6 hours to spend for an ODI leave alone spending an entire day for a test match.
The other guy said, that he still found test match cricket most entertaining, as it was the purest form of cricket. He found 20-20 to be an adulterated version and thought the moolahs associated with it would bring back the scary “ghost of match fixing” back.
The third person opinioned that it is only the world cup which is most interesting. He felt that it takes the nerves of the players to a breath taking level. He found the battle between the countries very patriotic and felt that no other form of the game produces those sentiments.

I was wondering how three people can have three different opions about you. But then one thing was common among all. Everybody loved you in one form or the other. Its your beauty that whatever form it is, people love you dearly. I had finished my lunch still wanting to learn much more about you until the waiter came and presented the bill to me.

When have you been the happiest?

I had gone to my cousin’s place to find my niece holding an autograph book which she had got as a gift from one of her friend.

It looked to me that it would be a five min job and I would finish this off within ten minutes. The questions were pretty obvious at the beginning and I was just checking my speed to maintain good hand writing as my thoughts were much faster than my fingers which were holding a pen after long time. Then the questions became tougher where I had to write about my favourites. (From fav movie to fav food) It was difficult to chose one of its kind from a large pool but somehow I could figure out my favourites wondering what would Rang de Basanti or Chinese tell me if they all of a sudden were infused with life if they came to know that I had betrayed them by chosing Taare Zameen Par and Paani Puri respectively over them. Feeling sorry for the two I moved ahead and was made to face much more difficult questions. Each questions started taking more and more time and I was reminded of exam days where I wanted to peek in from my neighbors copy to have an idea of what the question requires. I somehow finished with all questions except one--- What gives you maximum happiness?
It was so vague and I didn’t have an answer right then. My niece was losing her patience very much like my examiners who were all ready to snatch the papers after the 3 hour paper and very much like my answer sheets I returned back the autograph book to her with one question unanswered.
I wanted to write something to finish it off but then I wanted to be honest with each answer. I told her that I would give her an answer someday later and I moved out for her place. All this while thinking, what has given me or could give me maximum happiness?
I reflected back trying to figure out the answer.

I went back to my childhood days. I was reminded of those days of plastic guns and hot wheel cars I had. Wow! Those days were of super fun and I used to be so happy. But then I thought, does it still appeal to me? The answer was a blunt No.
Then I thought of the cricket bat that my mom had gifted me on my birthday. I was so happy and it was the most prized possession for me then. Then I thought of the state of that bat today. Last time when I had been home I had seen termites feeding on it and I had thought of reminding my mom to do something about it, but then, eventually I forgot. Are we supposed to forget the things we love so dearly? The answer from within was no and I tried moving my thoughts to something else.
I thought of the moment when I bought my first bike. Wow, it had to be the best moment. It reminded me off all those trips I made in rain and all those high terrain expeditions. But then I realized I had parted with it a year ago because it had started giving me troubles and I didn’t want it anymore.
I was straining my brain all this while till the bus conductor announced that electronic city had arrived. I got down of the bus still in that thoughtful mood until I bumped into a little child who was a rag picker who looked in total disarray. He had loads of tears in his eyes.
The thought of this child took the driver seat now. I was wondering if had banged into this child with a force and had accidentally hurt him. I asked him if he was okay to which he didn’t respond. His eyes had so much in it apart from the overflowing tears. I couldn’t control myself and asked him again what was there which was bothering him so much. He said that he had not found anything substantial from the pile of garbage and he didn’t have any substantial material to give to his owner who gives him 10 rupees for a kilo of plastic. He didn’t have enough money for dinner. Tears were rolling down his cheek as he was narrating his plight to me.
I was dumb struck. This little child toiled all day but was unlucky to arrange a dinner for himself.
I took this child to a food joint nearby and got a dinner packed for him. A beautiful angelic smile took over from the tears which had played its part to perfection in leaving this child with red eyes.
He only raised his hand probably in utter joy or may be he didn’t know there was a word like thank you and ran away with the packet in his hand. It felt he had achieved gold. In moments he was far away and the next moment I could not see him anymore. But then, his smile was captured in my eyes.
I have never felt so ecstatic, so contented before. I came to know where the real happiness lies. I know now that its there in a child’s smile!!! The autograph book would be fully complete tomorrow!!!