The Key to my Day!!

As I woke up today, I remembered that I have to iron my Red color T-shirt. Today being the spirit @ work celebrations, every one were asked to wear red to office today. Got up, rushed to bath room and got over all the morning wannabes in a record time. Then devotedly ironed my Red T shirt. Switched off the Iron box and kept it back. Wore the T Shirt. Hmm nice, I felt.

Ok, What about us? My bare legs seemed to be asking me. Crap! I forgot the jeans part! I need one!

I shifted my attention to find a jean, which is clean, wearable and goes with the t Shirt.

Eureka! Found one. Bit crumbled. That’s ok, I thought. Its jean you know, supposed to bit shabby.

I being the last one to get out of the house, everyone locks the main door with their key and leaves. There are three keys for us three. Each keeps one. Well that’s the way it is.

Got my shoes on and came to the door, wow, well before time. Going to be in office at around 9.30am and I can have a luxurious breakfast at Paramount, “yummy” Kerala style breakfast. Nice to get up early and be at office early. At least that way I can have the breakfast I like. And when the breakfast goes well, the day goes well! My heart laughed out loud. Ha ha ha ! I made it on time!!!

Checked for the key in my pockets. No , I didn’t take it. It must be there in my room. Ah. Hurried back to room to get the key. Checked it on my table. No, its not there. Inside the drawer, not there. In the wardrobe, not there too. May be in bed. May be under the bed. No no, no! Oh could be in the pant I was wearing yesterday to office. But where did I leave the pant? It’s not in the wardrobe, oh yea; I left it with the clothes to be washed, in the corner of the room. Took my gaze immediately to that corner of the room. Saw the pant in the basket. Pheeew! What a relief!

Checked the pant pockets immediately, one after the other. Then checked again, and again. Didn’t want to realize that the key was not there. I sunk into my bed, trying to recollect the last time I saw the keys.

Ting! Ting! The sound of ceramic cup I have in my office drawer ringed in my mind! Oh yea, it made that sound when I dropped the house keys into it the last day!

Oh no! Oh no! I am locked inside home with no keys!!! I am hungry! God! Why? Why? Why always me??

Now what? Can’t be in here for all day. That might mean no breakfast, no lunch and no office!!! No! I have to get out. How?

Went back to the hall. Had a painful look at the door, thinking it might open up seeing the pathetic face I have made. But it stood there as if it’s looking down to me and laughing out loud, bwhaa haa haa.

Couldn’t take it anymore. Went back to my room.

Called up roomie to ask how far is from home. He told he is already in office and is loaded with work. No chances of coming and freeing me.

My heart started pounding. Now what? I am all dressed up for the office. That too in a freshly ironed TShirt and a bit crumbled jean. What about the spirit @ work?

No point now.

Went to kitchen to see if there is something left to eat. No, nothing. Just some vessels to be washed. Suddenly the urge to get out of the house overpowered my conscience. I called up a friend of mine, an officemate too, he lives bit near to my office. If 5 kms can be considered as bit. I told him about my situation. He was very much willing to help me out. He told me not to worry, and told he will free me in an hour’s time. That was such a soothing statement! Well friend in need is a friend indeed. So true!

I have an hour with me. What to do? Will watch TV till then. So sat down and started watching TV. The program style check was coming. Hmm nice babes. Well one should indeed be in style. Looked down at my pants, well since I have time, why not I iron it? Yes! I should. I switched off the TV and put the radio on. Nice song! I like this song.

Removed my shoes, removed my pants, plugged on the iron box and suddenly the radio went silent. Idiot radio! I like the song that was on air. I left the iron box and ran to the radio. Checked it. Didn’t understand why it didn’t make any sound. It went life less. Some times the radio acts really weird! To hell with it I thought and went back to iron my jeans.

Started ironing my jean, well iron box is not leaving any effect on the jean. What is going on? Did I forget to switch on the iron box? Why is the iron box also not working?

No power? Really? Don’t tell me. Switched on the lights, the current is gone! Just gone!

I pro-furiously remembered the electricity department and their fore fathers!

Ah! Now I have to wear the same old crumbled jean, put the shoes back on .All for what? Ah! There is no point in getting irritated. Unplugged the iron box. Put back my jeans and shoes as fast I could to defy the irritation on the ironing episode. Tied the final knot of my shoe lace and suddenly the radio came back alive loud! As if my shoe lace was the switch to the electricity! Ah!!!! I stared at the iron box with all the anger as if I was trying to heat it up without even plugging it on! Looked back at my crumbled jean.

It’s not that crumbled and jean can be crumbled. No issues. I forced myself to believe that. My lazy soul won’t let me take out the shoes, the jeans and put them back on again. Noo!!!

Switched off the radio. It’s aint playing my song anymore. And I was already irritated a lot with the loudness of it. Came back to watch the TV. Switched it on, Style Check program is still on. One need not be in style. I told it to get lost and changed the channel to sports. Worn out India – Australia match was going on. Well I thought cricket is better.

I heard someone opening the door behind me with the key from outside! WOW, it’s finally the freedom! My hero is here with the key to the freedom! And finally the door went wide open! Fresh light! Oh I was waiting for this moment! Hemanth stood at the door laughing at me. The sense of gratitude filled me up and made me thank him way a lot! Got out of the house with vengeance and rushed towards the bus stop. Hemanth was telling that there was some accident in the airport road and there was much of commotion and traffic.

I decided to take the very first bus rather than waiting for the office bus. The logic is simple, the sooner I get into bus, the sooner I reach office. The first bus approached the bus bay was a Volvo! Known for its comfort and speed! I felt bit relieved. Now finding a seat will be daunting task because its still peak hours.

But to my surprise, the bus was half empty. So I was rather thinking where to sit. Too many options are sometime an issue too. Asked the conductor for a ITPL ticket, he starting shaking his head. I asked him again, “ITPL”. He said something, I couldn’t hear him properly. But he was still shaking his head. It looked as if a denial. I asked him again, “ITPL” and gave him 50 bucks and rested my ass onto the comfy seat, and stretched my hands to get the ticket.

Conductor gave me the change first. He gave me 35 bucks, instead of 20, I looked the conductor who was busy printing the ticket. I was thinking, did they reduce the ticket price? Nice! And he gave me the ticket. Well it says “To Marathahalli” Rs.15. No wonder he gave me 35 bucks back. I called him and told, “hello, I asked ITPL “. He yelled at me, saying “how many times to tell you, this bus will go only till marathahalli” and he turned around walked off murmuring something and all. Now I know why the bus is half empty.

I felt embarrassed. Thank god the bus is not that full. Marathahalli like any other day, is full of chaos and commotion. It’s easy to lose sense of direction. Well I knew mine. The direction towards my office! Waited at the bus stop, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 40 minutes. And finally got into one of the ITPL shuttles. Got to office really late. Well at least I managed to reach office after all that.

Reached my desk and sank into my seat with a feeling of achievement and a sense of gratitude to Hemanth. Couldn’t have breakfast. Stomach is already making “kreach kreach” sound. Will have a early lunch today!

My lunch mate came and told that we will go for lunch bit late today, at around 2 it seems, her brother will be coming. So let’s wait for him and have lunch together. Hearing this, the kreach kreach sound makers increased their protest. I thought, she gives me company everyday, its better to tell those “kreach kreach” sound makers of my stomach to hold on for sometime.

Opened the drawer to keep the house key in the cup. Dropped it inside, “ting ting” , the same sound. I closed the drawer. But the ting ting sound of the ceramic kept on ringing in my mind. The whole episode since morning, flashed in my mind!

I forced opened my drawer and took the key. I should never leave it behind in office. Today there was Hemanth to bail me out of apathy. But in future I won’t be as lucky as today. Kept the key safely in my pocket. The closed door and apathetic situation behind it again flashed in my mind.

I took the key from my pocket and kissed it. Kept it back again safely in the pocket.

Now I will keep it dear and close to me! All the time!

Its my key to the day!!!

Now what?

Now what?

I find myself asking this way a lot. My confused soul keeps me perplexed always. I wish there were subtitles in the movie called Life. How I wish.

Being born on a date of certain month helped someone to categorize me as “Gemini”. Well they tagged, the core characteristic of the person will be – Confusion. Sometimes I think, how could they judge me when I was just seconds old in this world? Then I realized, they have these statistics and calendars. But hell with these statistics and calendars man! I am this confused soul because of them!

Really?

Not sure. Why am I like this? Never so sure of what I really want. Always at the end it’s like someone else had already made the decision. I just act accordingly. It’s like being a push-over by a hand invisible. It’s sad.

Really?

Not sure. If this so called hand wasn’t there, I would have never done anything. Never would’ve selected a thing or a person into my life. Never would’ve made any shopping. But anyone does? Isn’t always this so called invisible hands?

Really?

Not sure. What about atheist? They say it’s their hand in all their chores. They say that the only thing which is invisible is “truth”. But why truth has to play hide and seek game? Isn’t it the only visible – invisible thing around? So is it actually invisible?

Really?

Not sure. All those reformers say, its “passion”, which is invisibly-visible thing. But who ever have got what these guys actually speak? Everyone has their own interpretations. It’s the way they interpret their own life. Their own visibility. Their own invisibility.
Really?

Not sure. How I wish someday I will be so sure of what I want in life. What I look for. What I need from a person. What I want. What makes me happy. What will be right for me. But will it be then my selfishness?

Really?

Not sure. Not sure because I was born on a certain month? Not sure because they categorized me “Gemini”? Not sure because I, myself is a push over of my own altercative decisions?

Really?

Not sure. One thing I am sure is I am confused.

Really?

Not sure.

now i need more!

I had a picture in my mind when i wrote this. I hope you find one when you read this.

with that we have we lived all days
now i need more
with less deprave we lived all days
now i need more
with no volume we lived all days
now i need more
with oh,so less, we lived all days
now i need more

i want all the love you have
i want all the delights of this twilight world
i want all those your pains
i want them all for ever, oh yes.

can i know why you came so close
yet so far?
can i know why you didnt tell me
yet so far?
can i know why you lie,
have you so far?
can i confide it to you my love
that i wanna go all that far

i want all the love you have
i want all the delights of this twilight world
i want all those your pains
i want them all for ever, oh yes.

Tune me up oh world! I knew I owe you these lines! But you still owe me its tune!

Cheers!

Its all hearts!!

Feeling really bugged. Should do something. May be should write something. But what?

What?

What?

Well, topics were never an issue so far. I think I should just write. What ever comes onto my fingertips as electrical senses from my brain? But I always wanted to write from the heart. As they say “Straight from the heart”.

So let it be straight from the heart. Every person on this planet have something they want to pen or to say or to paint or to sing or to design or to dance to or to express in someway, their way; straight from the heart.

We all are straight from the heart. The very own existence of us is a reason which is straight from the heart. It’s the heart. It’s the heart which tells us what to do, where brain tells us what not to. It’s the heart which listens to even when the brain stops taking pulses from the ear. It’s the heart which makes us see stuffs we love to. It’s a big lie that its eyes which help us see. Yea may be visualizing things. But when we really want to see what really the thing is, we see it from our heart. Making us fall in love with the thing or may make us end up hating it. Its all hearts. It’s the heart which makes us cry, makes us laugh, makes us whisper, makes us feel warm and secured in our mother’s arm, makes us feel the cold of the rain, makes us kiss a flower, makes us pray, makes us wink, makes us kiss, makes us sing, makes us dance, makes us believe, makes us oblige, makes us follow, makes us touch, makes us free, makes us listen, makes us have sex, makes us have kids, makes us have home, makes us find love, makes us love, makes us want, makes us understand, makes us learn, makes us proud, makes us patriot, makes us brave, makes us simple, makes us walk on those dew-drop-wet grass, makes us feel Goosebumps, makes us relinquish the taste of mamma made chutney, makes us touch the feet of papa, makes us drop those tiny sparkling drops of tear when we see our kid taking his/her first steps, makes us grow, makes us cuddle-up those Sunday mornings, makes us help, makes us write. Its all hearts!

Its love what makes us give the heart away, but its heart which makes us fall in love. It’s the heart which keeps us alive and makes us sing

“Oh i, oh, Im still alive
Hey, i, i, oh, Im still alive
Hey i, oh, Im still alive
Hey...oh... “

Cheers to heart!

Safe Journey

As I opened my eyes to say good morning to the wonderful Thursday, I felt my head was so heavy that I thought not to try even to lift it up from the pillow. Ah! This migraine is putting me down too much these days. I messaged my officemate that I will join the work only in the afternoon session. And mentioned in the sms that I am having a bad headache! It has become an obvious reason these days. Brand Varun comes with a bad headache. To hell with the headache, I thought I will beat the migraine by putting myself back to sleep.
Got up again by 11 am. This time the head was slightly lighter. Feeling better, I thought its time to get ready and kick start the day. After reading the benefits of starting the day drinking water on the empty stomach, I have been starting my day that way recently. I reached out to take the water bottle; only to realize that I had drank every drop of it before switching me off yesterday. Determined to start the day with gulping some water down my throat, I gathered myself up and walked to the kitchen. Only then to realize that our house has gone water less yesterday. Wish I could go back to sleep and call it an off at office. I can only wish that!

My room mate was looking at me pitifully and announced, “peene ka panee nahee hai” (there is no drinking water).And he took his stare back to the Times of India. Irritated, I looked for the water vendor’s number and called them up asking to refill our tank. Then told myself that all I get to read is not true. I can start the day with out gulping water too! In fact I was doing so ever since I was born, till the day I read of the benefits. I was hoping that at least water is there to take bath and all. Switched on the geyser and got into the bathroom to get over all the morning wannabes.

After getting ready I asked my roommate whether we can have lunch together. He showed interest and got into bathroom to take bath and get ready. Well he was faster than me, got ready quickly. And we proceeded toward the hotel. After the lunch, bid him farewell and proceeded towards the bus stop. It’s already late. I was hoping there is not much issue at the office. A Volvo bus appeared, it was almost empty. Only few people. The traffic was also relatively less, its all because of the time. It’s almost 12.45 pm. The driver is a middle aged fellow, showing his thrill and excitement steering the Volvo. These buses are a real boon to the chaotic Bangalore traffic. It guarantees a smooth and hassle free air conditioned journey. The ticket also carries the Volvo class. It’s electronically generated and comes with “Happy Journey” message on it.

With the speed my bus was cruising, honking away all the minority vehicles which came its way. I knew it, with this speed and less traffic; I will reach office in relatively lesser time. Indeed it’s a Happy Journey. Volvo B7RLE bus comes with great features. Low-raise boarding. TV, radio, good seats, good leg room and air conditioning!!! Driving has never been better for transport bus drivers. The vehicle is fitted with an automatic gear box, power steering and rear view cam. Other special features include kneeling mechanism for the benefit of the aged and the physically challenged; wide, pneumatically operated doors to enable easy boarding and disembarking of passengers and compliant with Euro-III environment norms.

Now let me get bit technical about it. The B7RLE comes with an awesome engine. It is Euro 3 D7C275 Vertical 6 cylinder 4 stroke. Overhead valves, EDC injection, Turbo Intercooled. CIM Multiplex electrics. Displacement: 7.3 dm3, Output kW (hp): 202 (275hp) @2200rpm, Torque Nm: 1085@1200rpm. And disc brakes on both front and rear wheels. For Indian public transport takers who have never seen anything better than this, who have always boarded and descended from the buses which always resembled the match box buses their children made, it is already a cynosure. Traveling has never been better. All credit goes to the team who inducted these 7,500,000 rupee Volvo buses to Bangalore roads. They came, they saw and they conquered.

All for a price though. Like an auto rickshaw, the minimum fare on a Volvo bus is Rs 10.
It worked well with the middle class pliers.

With in 20 minutes the bus had covered almost ¾ of the total distance which otherwise took almost 40 minutes. I was joyous. Was thanking the government for giving us this Volvo delight. Today I noticed something unfamiliar with the Volvo bus drivers. The driver to this bus was honking furiously at every vehicle which came its way. Honking so hard that they had to push themselves out of this bus’s way. As a mighty war horse, our bus was thriving and pounding on the battle field, the poor road, which is narrower than our politician’s mind. The bus is cruising. Taking speed a public transport is not allowed to take. I was bit worried about the speed. I know the other passengers might have been too.

All in a sudden it happened, there was a bang sound, a scream and some screeching sound of metal, plastic and something else. The driver applied the brakes with all his might, as if testing the so called disc brakes, then opened the door and ran outside towards the rear side of the bus. The conductor followed him.
When I looked out of the window to see what really happened, I saw a middle aged man, a woman, and their bike lying on the road. God damn! The bus hit them! They were bleeding, but thank god nothing looked very serious. The lady was pointing towards the median of the road and was screaming. Suddenly one of the by passers who were helping the duo to get up and get to the side of road, ran towards the median and came back with a heavily bleeding kid, the duo’s daughter. She is hardly 3 year old. She injured her forehead and is bleeding a lot. And had swelled too. Since the time the person gathered up the kid, she is crying at the top of her voice. Dear god, I prayed, please not let anything happen to the kid. Please. Her injury looked bit serious.

I had got a printed slip, the ticket, promising the journey to be “happy”. But I am sure the family who were on the bike, never needed a slip to ensure that. They might be on the way back from a family outing. Or on the way to one. Must have been humming their family song or laughing to their favorite joke at the time when Volvo banged them and their happiness from behind. The journey became something which is farthest from being happy. A nightmare. May be the worst of the worst of the nightmares in their life. Now it’s not a happy journey for me too. For none of the passengers. I wish the ticket boasts a “safe” journey than a happy one. When one is Safe, one is Happy.

Driver of my bus was already getting trashed by the on lookers and by the father of the kid, who himself is injured and is bleeding. Mother of the kid, seems to be in state of shock. The kid, who was crying at her best, now stopped crying. Now she was staring at all those who gathered up there. Her stare was too harsh and too painful. One that we can never expect from a three year old. They couldn’t look into her eyes. They felt ashamed. I too felt ashamed. They new that the kid is asking what did she do to get this? She seemed to asking everyone what was her mistake. She was questioning every one of us, wasn’t she our responsibility? Wasn’t it us who forced her to come to this world? Isn’t she so young to know the bloodiness of the world she is asked to live in this soon? Yes she is. She is so young to even understand the difference between the bike and the bus. The make of the bus. The quality it assured. The safety it assured.

But why am I blaming the bus? What did it do? It was not in auto steer mode. It had a capable, healthy and eligible driver behind its steering. It had promised to stop when ever it was asked to. But the driver didn’t ask it to. If the bus had a soul, it must be screaming at its best to let know the world, it’s not its mistake. I know. We know. Whom to blame? We need someone to blame.

Oh yea, the driver! How could he forget with great power comes great responsibilities? How can he put the happy family through this nightmare of their life? Why did he do this to the kid? The three year old, whom, I am sure, never did anything to offend anyone. And my selfness, made me ask this too, why did he do this to me? Why did he spoil my day? But thank god, it’s just a day to me; he might have already spoiled the life of the kid. God forbid that happens.

They the mob, forced the driver of the bus to go along with the people who took the family to the nearest hospital. I really wish that there is a hospital so near. And all of them get all the needed medication on time.
I wish and pray that the kid be safe and sound. And the family gets back to their happy times soon. I want the bus people to write a “safe journey” too with the “happy journey” they boast on the tickets they give. I will be a preacher of safe driving and may be for helmet too. I would try to let the drivers know “with great power come great responsibilities”. But how? How can I?

I want the government who gave us the Volvo delight, to give us some responsible drivers too.

Have a safe journey people!!

Coorg – The home to the brave and the beautiful. – Part 1

When Guns and Roses sang

“Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Oh, won't you please take me home

Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Take me home Oh, won't you please take me home”

I dint know it was about Coorg – The home to the brave and the beautiful. It must have been about Coorg. Or at least I can relate it to Coorg. A paradise land hidden away from the crowded and the chaotic cities. A treasure which needs to be guarded and preserved.

Let me share my weekend visit to Coorg. As planned by a friend, we started off the journey in a chauffeur driven car from Bangalore by 1.00 am of 12^th May. Bangalore was quite “not Bangalore” that late night. Quite open roads and silent neighborhoods. Bangalore sped away at a greater speed, which was achievable only during such late nights.

With great anticipation and excitement all of us were so keen to reach Coorg. After couple of hours roads became narrower and started to get bumpier. The roads became lonesome and then it became curvy. It was uphill ride and somtimes downhill drive. All this made me feel that we are getting nearer to our destination. Speeding on the bumpy, curvy drunken roads was getting more exciting since we all knew that the tiring journey was gonna end. The wind became crisp and was blowing with untouched freshness. It was all more exciting because it made me feel that we are already in the vicinity of our destination. At around 5 my friend Naveen, who was the planner and architect of the whole trip, announced we are in the Coorg region. He was late in announcing that. The vegetation, the mountains, the coffee plants, the lonesome granny trees, thick green blanket of the region and the crispy fresh breeze had already sung the welcome chores. This is Coorg – The home to the brave and the beautiful.

We couldn’t resist the urge to step out of our tavera and scream out to the sleepy bushes and to the lazy mountains that “look we are here, Wake up!!” I think the best time to step in to Coorg’s premises is at dawn. One will fall in love with the place at the very first site. The greeny smell of the wind was a magical healer. It took all the tiredness away in a brisk. The crispness it carried was enough to rejuvenate our soul. I knew that I will never be enough with words to describe what I was seeing, what lay in front of my eyes. The misty flora and fauna was so proud that they belong here. They were all majestic.

The tavera took us to the home-stay where we had booked our stay. The lush-green drive way, the coffee plantation back yard and the boundaries set by the mountains was the location to our home-stay. My mind murmured “Oh dear god how happy am I to be here, how lucky these people are to be here at this paradise”. It is home to an elderly couple, who pass their days welcoming, comforting, and wishing bon voyage to many. Let me mention them as Uncle and Aunty. Uncle greeted as inside the house. A cozy home with bigger than average room dimensions.

(to be continued)

Keeping my Fingers Crossed

Was counting days to go home to be with my lonesome mother. Dear God I pray everyday, please take care of my mother. This time it’s been a while since I been home. After the “job” happened, “bus trips” never happened, started to believe it’s fun to “fly”.

Well this time god had another plans for me. I suddenly made up my mind to book a seat in the Bangalore- Thiruvananthapuram Volvo bus. From office I called up Kallada (bus) office to book the seat. He said it’s all booked, sorry. 19^th being UGADI (an official holiday for the state) the number of people looking for these seats is large. I showed the so called regular customer tag and got the seat “adjusted” to my name.

Like every commodity the ticket fares have gone up. Well the new me who “fly” was happy because the trip will be quite a break from flying, but the truth being so harsh and stubborn. MONEY.

The D day arrived. I had plans to leave early from office to board the bus on time, 5.30 pm @ Madiwala, which is almost the other side of the city from office. But I ended up taking leave for the day because of the “not feeling well syndrome”. After meeting
Madhu, I left for Madiwala in rickshaw and reached there much ahead of boarding time.

After getting the boarding pass, as usual my eyes where looking for any familiar faces around. And “eureka” I found one. Subin. He was my graduation college mate and used to be a friend-lad. He eventually dropped out of the college and came to Bangalore for a better one. Bangalore had had its punk-effect on Subin. Now his attire resembles a popular rock band member.

After exchanging surprising “Hi”s and a curious dig into each other’s last four years, we settled on the comfort level of having each other for the “usually dull” journey.

Almost all the seat cushions got pressed quickly and the wheels began to rock and roll.

With some hindi movie playing, I felt nice to be back on wheels. Bangalore started to get farther at the rate decided by the driver and the traffic. I was hungry. The dinner stop for us is at Dharmapuri. The road is usually quite trafficy. The places appeared out of my window seemed to be new. Felt lost for a while. They would have found some new routes to make the journey shorter. The outside world seems to be lesser explored, current and basic development seemed like it’s not for them. The picture outside started to lose its brightness and process went out to make them mere silhouettes.

I got back to the 21’’ TV screen where salman khan and akshay kumar were trying to win the same gal. It’s all worn and out formulas. I realized that there was a romantic saga going on in the seat in front of me. Young couple. Boiling blood and freaky hormones were doing their best. Everyone at the neighboring seats started to pay attention from the corner of their eyes. The elder couples on my right looked and murmured and smiled. Silhouettes outside seemed to be not moving at all. Realized that we came to a stand still. There were couple of trucks ahead of us and couple of local buses behind us. The reason to the halt I thought was some accident.

Time went by, after an hour or so people grew real restless and started to flock-out. The reason to the halt was horrible. Around 150 yards ahead of us, there was a bridge under construction. Some people, tried to sacrifice three 9 year old kids for the long life of this bridge. Timely intervention of the villagers saved the kids. But it had infuriated the villagers a lot. And hence the “bandh”. They told us that bus can leave only when the district collector comes and address the issue (scheduled at next morning 6 am). The whole issue made me feel really dull, not because that we have to stay there till the collectors arrival. But the incident made me remember a recent news which were doing their TRP based rounds in the channels and News papers - Noida killings of kids. None are sure about the number of kids who were brutally murdered after getting sexually abused.

Where is this country headed to? We are at the so called poised Indian era. The Man remains the same I am afraid. The childless India isn’t that far as we go on constructing more of such bridges and keep on tolerating such abuses towards the little ones as in Noida killings.

Our driver gathered up some courage and somehow took an U turn and managed to get back to the national highway. The sad halt got lost in the traffic. People got back to salman and akshay. And some to the couples seated in front of me. The trip was back to its groove. But many would’ve shaken up and did some reality check after the halt.

I am upset. I know, someday I am gonna be a father of a nine year old. Some day there may be a psycho staying at my neighborhood. I am scared. I know many are. God bless this country and its kids. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I know so do you.

new day , being super optimistic!!!

I am glad that I reinvented the optimistic and hilarious soul in me today. The incidents so far (since I got up today morning) have been a nightmare come true.

After booting up my shoes I was patting my shoulder with so much ecstasy that I can board the 7.55 am bus (which is cheaper, and takes me to office on time). I was like, well done Varun you did good!

Not only you gave yourself that extra five minute's pleasure of pillow-cuddling, you took relatively less time to finish the morning wannabes. Even the tune I been trying to hum since the winter started, suddenly threw me a visit. With the surplus supply of surprise and enthusiasm, I tried to hum it and opened the shower, oh dear lord only then I realized that "I forgot to turn on Miss. Heater ". Jumped off from her vicinity and stretched out my wet hand to turn Miss. Heater on!

Miss. Heater was taking relatively longer time than her human counterparts to produce some heat and to sooth my shivering naked body!

With the hope that she will produce what she promised I gathered some courage to open the shower tap again. Winter was at its best and was probably enjoying the sight of me shivering like a banana leaf. Sadism is every where!

Shiver had some other tune to hum, my visitor got offended and left without telling me. Would have got offended because instead of giving it attention I was busy with my shower tuning!

Our Police has become role model for many. One of them who got much influenced is Miss. Heater. Only after the whole scene of crime, police reacts. But bathing such a big crime? She thought better late than never. So started producing some hot water when I was washing my towel after I used it to wipe my wet body and hair. Lucky son of a towel my towel cleansed itself in hot water, what a luxury!!

Well I thought its better to wash all the grievance away with some RadioCity."By 2 Coffee" (the program) was rocking. Ah such a relief. With my shirt and pant already been chosen and kept for today I saved some time.

Blue shirt, I love this shirt. It's been a while that I wore this to office. So I was anticipating friends asking me "New shirt? ". Stepped out of house at 7.45am. Then usual "hi and make my day good" to all the roadside temples on the way. Was admiring my shirt in the tainted window's of local real estate agent 's car.

I was pretty impressed. So was someone else I believe. As I took about ten steps from the car towards my bus stop, the Mr. Admirer , ( a crow) showed its admiration all over my Shirt. What they eat so much, to produce so much of waste and so much of stink?? One sms joke flashed in my mind, "thank god that elephants don't fly". I thanked god and the funny sms's author. Took an "about turn" and headed back home. Called up roomie to book the bathroom. Had nothing much to explain to roomies, coz the crow's admiration was pretty visible and was pretty stinking.

Took off the shirt, washed it a bit, took a quick shower off the washbasin and headed to wall robe with confused mind. The only left out shirt (pressed and clean) was the blue one. Took a shirt once wore last week, didn't bother to smell it or see to its usability. Minced it with "due de toilette" .

It was already 8.20. Reached bus stop in record timings. Got into a Volvo after much of negotiation with patience only to know that I may need tones of it. Well Volvo is very much a boon in this chaotic city for people like me. It's a very comfortable bus but can get bit uncomfortable with people plying with truck load of luggage with them. Got hit by a similar passenger who was trying his luck to get out from that super crowded vehicle. It was my head's mistake that it came in the way of his suitcase. The hit did shake up my world a bit. Well at last got a seat to rest my aching back and head. Settled down, dozed of couple of times, a big thanks to the bottle necks and the traffic chaos. A lady asking for her change from the lady conductor reminded me that even I have to get some 15 bucks change from the conductor.

As expected she had a sorry face and sorry feeling while telling "Sir no change with me too".

How can I just let go 15 bucks? So told her to get it from somewhere. Some how she managed to find me the money, and I proceeded towards the door to realize that it's already half a km past ITPL.

Graciously I thanked the impatient driver, inefficient conductor and ineffective myself for not keeping change while traveling. Walked all the way back to office, with head super heavy with ache, but the optimist in me told me to thank the guy with suitcase for not traveling with a "trunk case". I asked the optimist to shut up! And my hilarious soul asked me to burst out. Good half a km laugh, on myself , on the crow (my admirer) ,on my blue shirt, on my co passenger with suitcases, on the conductor , on the driver and upon everyone who were looking at me with a pitiful look thinking "zannak gaya saala" . But oh lord that was a nice laugh with zero inhibitions and zero regrets. Now feeling much better. Still looking very much forward to this great day. I know it ought to be good!!.

Ha ha!!

Cheers!!