Rain floods Mumbai 

Water water everywhere not a drop to drink!!!

It is tragic to see what the city of Mumbai is facing... the rain gods have lashed out against the city... thousands stranded without food, dry clothes or shelter, many buried under rocks from landslides and even more trapped in their homes and offices with nothing but the reassurance that the rain gods will have mercy on them some day... hopefully soon.
The lifeline of mumbai the local trains are at a standstill, the BEST is not functioning, the water is too deep for cars.... people are walking it home. People are stuck in their car with water flooding in... a person i know left marine drive to head home and reached thane, his destination 18 hours later!!
There are innumerable such stories of people struggling to get home but for those whose homes are now deep in water where do they go... there isnt dry land left in Mumbai...
And to add to their plight the rain continues.............

Death to the death-eaters

I just finished with Harry Potter and The half blood prince and i am still at Hogwarts by the lake side. For those who have read it you will know what i mean. As you may have inferred if you have read my blog that i am quite an emotional person, i feel the sorrow that i see or read... this is what precisely happened when i finished with the book. I was in the same state as all the characters in the book touched hurt and deeply wounded. For those who have not yet touched the enchanted 6th i shall not divulge into any details because the book is invaluable to disregard its worth and reveal its secrets to future readers. Long live harry potter and his brave set of friends and all the best to them ...

Neglected deserted abandoned........

I cannot believe this day has come. The thought had never crossed my mind that life would play such tricks on me. This is the end, friends do not notice you or want you. When you turn there is no one for miles let alone two steps behind. What do you live for now? what will keep you going ? I can see satan pointing his long bloody fingers at me and saying "That is what you get when you dont blog regularly you ass" Huh?

On contemplating i agree with the big red 'horny' fellow... you get what you give (something like return gifts in birthday parties) in my case i gave nothing so i got nothing...zilch...zero...null. I agree its been too long. Sleeping Beauty must be getting a complex, we share the common love for slumber though mine has been a long siesta from the literary world. I also agree that although i do have my blogger in shining armour who endures the extended wait with patience to drop a comment, more comments would make my day.

SO from now on I pledge my devotion to Blogland and promise to give you a dose of prose more often... what say?

Possession...

I have realised that it is not just kids but adults too who go absolutely gaga over a new toy ( here I must declare that I have included myself in the study under the adults category).
I am a very proud (you may say excessively proud) owner of one of the latest models of a Sony Digicam. Although it has been days since I have bought it I still gush over it like a baby. I didn't know that one could get so possessive over its well being (sounds more appropriate for a boy friend). But all I can say is I am hooked; smitten by that shiny black body, all I can think of is to hold it in my hand and CLICK!
This happens all the time with almost everybody (except for those who have shunned all worldly possessions). Whether you get a new cell with/out a camera or a new awesome comp or sometime long ago your new bike you go through a phase in which all you can do is think of the latest entry in your life.
It just shows how much such possessions mean to us. Possessing something mean that 'belongs to you'...this you gets an identity an importance. Whatever said and done it may mean a lot to you for that standing amongst others or you may just like to concentrate you affection and attention on a new thing... your bike, cam, comp or g/bf.... but then it wears off right...?

Herd of Wild Elephants at Dhikala,Corbett National Park,Uttaranchal 

I'm back...

My absense from the literary world of the nearly famous bloggers without prior notice is certainly unforgiveable, but due to certain unavoidable circumstances created by those controlling forces we call family i had to abstain myself from the creative kingdom. My humble apologies to all.
Actually I was up close and personal with nature allowing myself to be engulfed by the beauty and mystery of the Corbett National Park deep within the Kumaon ranges. Although the cat family refused the proposal of a rendezvous with us in their humble abode we developed a rapport with many other wild animals. Civilisation was something we left behind and even happily so; out of reach from all amidst the forest i found peace (considering i still had exam hangover). Futheron we explored the cultures of the northern regions, their variations, their colours. Returning home after a long soujorn it is good to be back yet something draws me, somewhere deep within a desire has kindled in my heart to decipher the gaze of those innocent eyes looking at me through the deep shadows of the forest.

Who is he…?

This is a narrative about a certain incident which filled me with great empathy leaving a lump in my throat. The beggar i saw in college really shook me up... find out how and why!


As I walked in I let my eyes wander about aimlessly drinking in the now very familiar sights and sounds of the Boat Club, my second home. I looked around searching for familiar faces and many hands waved back in reply to my smile. Everything seemed the same just the way I had left it only a couple of hours ago. Well as every COEPian I may proudly say “all roads lead to the Boat Club”. That warm sip of tea (Note: quantity obtained is defined as a sip and not as a cup) that hot vada pao and that inviting cut dosa (spoiling yourself is allowed sometimes) does leave you wanting for more visits in the day. So Boat Club var chill lavne is a must each day.
Yet as I entered today something seemed amiss…something was wrong…I could sense it but could not point it out. There was an uncomfortable feel to the whole place. It felt as though there was an intruder somebody alien to my home had barged in. Sudden bursts of laughter distracted me from my thoughts and I hurried on to get an inside on the latest gossip. All disturbing thoughts left me momentarily as I settled down to fruitfully waste my time. I was thoroughly enjoying the whos dating whom talk when, in between outbursts of laughter and jovial crooning, I saw him!
There he stood like he had no worry in the world mumbling to himself looking here and there but seeing nothing. He stood out as if he didn’t want to belong here as if he had just lost his way, was headed elsewhere. Everybody noticed him but didn’t want to show it. Everybody looked at him, glanced sideways and watched his every move out of the corner of their eye. Yet he was immune to all the silent unrest, he didn’t sense it or maybe he didn’t care. Alas I realised what had made me uncomfortable… that man, that intruder.
Who was he? Where did he come from? His appearance showed that he had no belongings that he did not have a thing to call his own. Sanity had left him, maybe life had played a cruel joke on him. Some said he is a beggar; what was he doing in the college campus. Some thought he was too mad to have come here intentionally. Some already began to put their heads together for a solution to stop ‘such’ people from getting in. Some pitied him while others loathed him despised even the look of him but no one flinched a muscle.
He kept moving around talking to himself or some imaginary friend. He began eating out of empty plates, laughing as he did so maybe he offered some to his ‘friend’ who refused. Finally he was driven out by a few. On seeing this, immense sadness engulfed me. Here I am complaining that my mother forgot the essential pinch of salt in my vegetable when this man eats leftovers. Here we are fretting when our clothes get dirty when this man has hardly any on his weatherworn skin. What right do we have to protest of a year old pair of shoes when he has none on his feet?
He breathes the same air walks on the same earth but yet he is treated as an untouchable. What wrong has he done to you for you to despise his look feel disquieted by his presence? Nothing at all. But then “c’est la vie” it is life … for him a full meal is bliss… a roof on this head is royalty, things we take for granted. I believe that if you cannot extend your hand in aid atleast do not draw it away in abhorrence. Although your hands may be tied or too small to extend to help those in need true sympathy and compassion felt deep within the heart makes a human… human.

Friends Forever...

I had written this poem for a particular friend of mine when our friendship was going through turbulence. This poem has been a catalyst in bringing us closer together so that we remain..... Friends Forever!!!


Friends Forever...

I’ll do anything for you,
Anything you want me to,
That grin, that smile,
That laughter that goes a mile,
All I want is for you to be happy,
For us to be together…………
“Friends Forever”

I want to hold your hand,
Stand looking at the ocean feet deep in sand,
Talking about nothing at all,
As long as we are together……………
“Friends Forever”

I want you by my side,
All my life I want your helping hand,
Your calming voice, your soothing touch,
All my life I want us to be together……………
“Friends Forever”

I will never let go of you,
Even if I have to leave everything for you,
I will leave no stone unturned,
To help you stand in trying times,
I will not mind all that I have to lose,
To gain a friend like you,
As long as all my life, we are together………………
“Friends Forever”

My dear, I will always have you close to my heart,
I will always need you, want you,
To wipe the tear off my cheek, to make me smile,
To bring joy and happiness to my life,
Because without you I am incomplete,
I am what I am when we are together…………………
“Friends Forever”

I wrote the article 'What destiny had in store' just a few days after my illfated accident so that i could express my feelings at that time. Today after four months i am still suffering from vertigo attacks. It seems like it wll be quite a while if ever i return to normalcy.

What destiny had in store...

The pain surges into my head with every movement, even a nod results in excruciating agony. The burns and wounds behind my ear are slowly responding to medicines but they will forever leave a scar behind that would remind me of that ill-fated night when my mother and I were out, just shopping.
We were walking into a popular shopping arcade on an even busier road bustling with people. A new shop was being inaugurated at the hands of a famous model. The road was crowded to watch the spectacular display of fireworks in the sky. Nobody took notice of the fact that the firecrackers were laid dangerously in the middle of the road blocking vehicular traffic nor did they bother that the airborne crackers were bursting a little too low for comfort. As every other ignorant citizen I didn’t bother to give it another glance and walked on. That’s when catastrophe struck. There was a loud blast nearby and my mother having being hit on the back screamed out in pain. The agony in her eyes was frightening. Before I could react, that wretched firecracker hit me behind my ear. The noise of the blast was deafening all I could hear was a loud ringing. I screamed out in agony, I could hear nothing. All I could see was people running around, some came forward and asked if I could hear. Thank God I could hear!
My ear was all hot and swollen, the pain unbearable. I was taken to a nearby hospital, I could hardly manage the journey, it was traumatic. Although that the doctors and nurses were instantaneous in their aid the hospital certainly lacked the necessities of an emergency room. Running around for a swab of cotton is not what should be done when an accident case arrives. The ill-equipped medical store of the hospital didn’t have the required medicines for even burns. But all said and done I was taken care of, my burns and wounds tended to. The doctor checked for internal injuries but I had none luckily. I was left to rest till my right side swelled so much so that my ear was now thrice its size. It looked quite artificial and elephant like. One look at myself and I pondered: why me? But I found no answers just a throbbing wound and a sensitive swelling.
My health has slowly but steadily improved, the swelling has reduced my hearing has become almost normal and the pain has ebbed. According to doctors I narrowly escaped major damage to my brain, important nerves and blood vessels. Like every forgiving Indian in the hearts of whom the desire for revenge is overcome by humanity I have forgiven and forgotten that night. Yet every time I hear a firecracker burst, I flinch. As always I am still a fireworks lover, but today I have awakened from the slumber of ignorance. I request you all to follow certain safety measures to avoid such horrid accidents from taking place because you may never know, tomorrow fate may turn around on you.

Jassi or.... Jessica

Although people proclaim that looks do not matter , what they say is not what they believe. With the recent much debated Jassi makeover the fact has been strengthened beyond doubt that one is gauged by ones appearance. Jassi had become a lifeline to all those women who were constantly egged into believing that what beauty they do not possess was their shortcoming. The old Jassi in some way helped them believe in themselves and that nothing else matters as long as you have a sound character and you work hard. All their hopes were shattered when their own idol did a volte face on them. It is a fact that society has been biased with cindrella, the ugly duckling story and many Day-to-day instances like matrimonials for fair pretty girls being a proof of it, yet what comes forth as shocking is the recent survey that even parents are biased towards more attractive children. All said and done when one was getting the feeling that society as a wholewas coming of age, alas, one is sadly mistaken.

First timer...

Hey... nice to see that you were actually interested in checking my blog out. Im absolutely new to this to tell you the truth i had to start from scratch ( i didnt know the full form of html)...
Kindly forgive me for any blunders and remember
THIS SITE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Hope you have lots of comments to leave and ofcourse tips to improve this blog are welcome (as long as your suggestions dont start getting on my nerves)
All said and done im a first timer so handle with care ;o)

the 265th Pope 

Pope Benedict XVI

I was closely following the election of the new Pope to succeed theimmensely loved and respected Pope John Paul II. I was touched to seethe jubilation and happiness on the faces of thousands gathered whenPope Benedict XVI entered the balcony and delivered his openingspeech. Although his opening speech was not as impressive as that ofPope John Paul II I am looking forward to good work being done underhis guidance by the church. He is a man of God; simple, humble andfirm in his beliefs and actions.

My letter to TOI

I was lucky enough to get my first letter to the editor of the Times of India published on the 13th of April 2005. I hope you take interest in it and for sure leave your comments.


E-way Bashing
This is with reference to your report, “Caution to the wind” (TOI, Apr. 3). Every article that comes up about the Pune-Mumbai expressway is negative to the extreme. It is time you took a break from the usual mudslinging at the expressway authorities.
I am a frequent traveller on the expressway and see nothing on the road that would come up as dangerous. If you observe the picture accompanying your report closely, you will find that there is no need for a diversion there, which indicates that the signboard was put up temporarily and even appropriately to avoid confusion. Every road needs maintenance, especially before the monsoons. Then why the distrust? If the exact reason for why certain roads were blocked is not known, then why infer that the authorities are not bothered. Why the pessimism?
According to statistics, more than 90 per cent of the accidents on the expressway occur due to the mistake of the driver: he is either catching 40 winks in the wee hours of the morning or is too drunk!
Instead of always jumping to conclusions about what the expressway authorities have not done or have done wrong, why not try and applaud the efforts of the alert Delta Force, or the installation of green plastic dividers in the ghats that cut out the direct beam of light from oncoming traffic, or the main advantage of a safe and fast journey?
— Sandnya Deshpande, Pune