The Rain of 28th

It’s been pouring since early in the morning. But it didn’t bring the traffic jams with it this time. The usually euphoric ahmedavadis today didn’t venture out to enjoy corn and a garam cuppa of cha. The rain today does not bring with it the fragrance of wet soil. It brings with it the stink of burnt flesh, and gun powder. It brings the shrieks of the people who received the ball bearings in there hearts, heads, faces, and died. No child is seen playing in the showers. Only policemen searching something that might help them escape the shame of failures. The failures of letting people die, sleeping while some trouble mongers planned to kill them, and there kin, there people.

I am afraid of death. I am afraid that I might die like this one day. And I am ashamed that I am the one who is to be blamed for this mess. I accepted this system while it slept. I let them take liberty and be complacent about my security. And I have no guts to stand up and fight against this evil force of religious terrorism, and the evil system that lets it strike at will. I am ashamed that while DIG Vanjara the police officer who allegedly killed Sohrabbuddin, a terrorist, is rotting behind the bars, I ignored it just as another piece of news. 

I am ashamed that I always thought that this happens to other people. Somewhere I am also having blood on my hands. I think I contributed to the massacre by not raising a voice and taking a stand as a responsible citizen, for improving the law and order situation of this place.

  
 

The different tomato..!

Georgie is a different guy. He is just not like the others. He has been like this since the time he was 5 years old.

When he was in the 2nd standard, he was different. All the kids liked to go home after school, and Georgie liked to remain in the school, and dig the playground, looking for coal mine under the soft sand. Roy, the principal’s son, used to assist him. And sometimes, he would hide in the rickshaw, trying to be the last to get off after the rickshaw had done the complete route. The rickshaw driver never understood what made Georgie do this.

The days went by, and before he realized, Georgie was standing at the crossroads, which will decide the future course of his life. He had finished 10th and had to make a choice whether to join the medical stream like some in the family, so the non medical stream, like most of the people around. All the maternal uncles, paternal uncles, cousins, elder sister, were science graduates. Georgie chose commerce. None liked the choice. But he chose commerce, and went on to live a carefree life, unlike his over burdened classmates who chose science.

After he completed 12th, again there was choice, and needless to say, he was thinking something different again. He joined the new course B.B.A. All in the family wondered what was going on. Why B.B.A and not B.Com? At-least they had seen some successful people who were not doctors or engineers, and were B.Com. But BBA it was.

This didn’t stop here. After completing his MBA Georgie decided to come down to Ahmedabad, while all other classmates went to Jaipur and other towns in Rajasthan. Georgie had to be different..!

Even today, Georgie’s colleagues wonder why he likes to come to work wearing Jeans and t-shirts, while all of them wear formal cloths. His mother wonders at his choice of music, food, everything.

Recently, Georgie realized this and wondered, why this was so. Was it just a coincidence that he liked to be different? And he got the answer.

Being different was a choice that he made when he was 5 years old. He was taking a paper. His friends were faster at writing, and finished earlier than him. So the kid decided to leave the paper, halfway, and go play with the other kids. All was well until he reached home, and mom asked how did the paper go. Poor kid, told mum that he left the paper incomplete as he wanted to play with his friends. Mum was furious. So was dad. Georgie was taken back to the school. Produced in front of the principal. And his father requested the authority to let him complete the paper. Principal refused. This was shameful, thought Georgie. It was embarrassing to stand and see the elders wonder at his innocent little self. And it was hard to bear the scolding.

So he thought to himself that day, I’ll not do what the others do. It is not right. And so he became a different guy, when he was 5.

Rains

Long before the news stations started making reality shows out of floods in mumbai, i was not very enthusiastic about the rainy season. I am not a happy bathroom-singing bather.

Reason- water gets i wet and soggy.

But this is not about my bathroom, or my singing talent. Its about the rains in Ahmedabad, and the fetish of AMC(municipal corporation). Fetishes by definition are strange habits. Now, AMC has a Digging fetish. They are into digging every road this city has, or could have. And what is typical is, this fetish is at its peak every time its the rainy season. Wet and soggy is not enough they think, it has to be wet, soggy, muddy, bumpy, filthy Ahmedabad.

The rains it seems work as an aphrodisiac, getting the AMC into action.

This time they are out creating underground tunnels, which they say will be the final final show of the digging fetish. After these are laid, the AMC, the GAS pipelines, gutters, telephone cables and all other sundry things will be laid in the privacy of these tunnels, keeping the Ahmedavadis unaware of the action.

But i am sure, that means all the existing underground cables and pipelines need to be dug out..

28

Two beers.. couple of friends
was all it took to celeberate..
occasions came and went,
not that we stopped short to invent

Life was like this forever
since the begenning of the time
parties giggles dances
boozing panting pranks

I ain't no drunk
hooked on to some to some shit
yup i need a high
and life gave me a hit

thought i'll mellow,
be upright types as i grow
may be some girl will come
and get a man out of the young

but that was not to happen
the brat says never die
parties giggles dances
boozing panting pranks
this is how shall i die.

http://laurenceplatt.home.att.net/wernererhard/fightfle.html

There are three possible responses to real or imaginary challenges:

fight,
flee, or
face up.
It's the third possible response that interests me. What facing up really is is becoming present to the situation. The first two, fight or flight, are for the most part automatic responses. There's nothing wrong with either of them. We are constructed to respond that way from time to time. That is what ensures our safety and our survival. Literally, that's what comes with the package. But what facing up brings which is new, which doesn't come with the package is accountability, responsibility, and possibility. This is who I am. This is what's happening. I am responsible for this. Now what?

These realizations are the very stuff of transformed living. They do not create themselves, neither do you have a right to them, and neither are they easy to wrestle with. If transformation were easy, wouldn't the entire world be transformed by now?

Ask: What is my choice here? What possibility can I invent here? Whatever the answers to these questions are, asking them allows something new to emerge, something more than simply a hormonal endrocrinal keyed response for which no one except your own clockworkness can take any credit.

Notice you can't answer these questions authentically and neither will anything new show up until you get present to the situation and face up to the challenge - fight and flight are not options. It's not just that you can't have a worthwhile inquiry when no one is at home. It's that the problem state, whatever the problem is, is always axiomatically congruent with the über-conversation "this isn't it". Simply by facing up to it, the problem state is vanquished. Nothing changes out there, yet the missing link - presence (or listening, if you will) - returns. Someone is at home. The train is in the station. It is OK the way it is, and there is choice in the matter of the future again.

What stops you living a life you love is not the past you had but the future you don't have. What makes for living a life you love is inventing a future worth living into.

Werner says "You can have what you want or you can have the reasons you don't have what you want.". Werner also says "What you got is what you chose. To move on, choose it.".

Bhupen Hazarika-jajabor

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

Good One..

Bbye Surat.. Hello ahmedabad....

Finally.. i am in the place i wanted to be in.. And i am loving it, for more reasons than one. Lovely as ahmedabad is. Some of my favourits in the city..

Cutting Chai

Well surat has been a disappointment of sorts.. I wass so proudly told by many a surti's that it is one of the cleaner cities in India, while i have to agree it might just be one, but surely not the cleanest one. I found Rajkot, and even Jamnagar far cleaner than Surat, may be it is the size, and the population that is a limiting factor.

The second disappointment is the traffic. Indians are bad at traffic sense, as a people. And if we have to choose the worst drivers, I would say, Surat would be top in Gujrat. First thing u notice here is chaotic traffic, and it is frustrating as the Jams are not so much the result of lack of infrastructure, as might be the case in many other cities, but of complete ignorance of traffic rules in the people.


There are Good things that impress me.. But this was inevitable after todays one and a half hour torture in the Jam at the pandhesara, Dumas road.

:)

Surat bhi hai khoobsurat bhi hai..

Aaah.. it is fun to be in action.. It is satisfying, to be responsible for setting up sales operations in two cities of impotrance for a new enterant in the ever so competetive telecom markets in India.

Am just eying(and admiring) Jemie heywood(Dy CEO Virgin Mobile India) he has done it for two countries in the ever so competetive markets in Asia.


Hello surat.. VMI is here.. and so is viv..(not for long though..)

watch this space for the cutting chai surat style..

Up Up and AWAY..!!!

Things are looking good. We are in the finals of the U-19 worldcup. Both the kohlis, from delhi nad punjab, have done well, being among the top ten run getters of the champoinship. Our U-19 team looks good, and is in safe hands, with an experienced dev whatmore taking care of them.

And, pridictably, and very VERY excitingly, we are to battle with the naughty boy aussies in a best of three finals of the CB series.

Both wins will be milestones. Amen.

55-words

The room was dark, nothing visible. She had been here before. She wanted to run as far away from him as possible. She hated his brutal grip on her. The sprint had left her panting, and the dark room was suffocating. She held her mouth, suppressing the coughing. This was her last chance she thought. The door opened, slowly. It was him. terrified she tried to run out, but he was way stronger then her. Lifting her in his arms, he said, baby, homework karna hai, ghar chalo...

come love

come love..
come love lets do something..

lets pour some fire on gasoline
electricity on water
put some colour in the keliedoscope
some dreams in the sleep

come love..
come love lets do something..

lets make tranquil shrieks
pastures in creeks
hold with hands open,
release with clenched fist

come love..
come love lets do something..

Jerry

I have recently changed my job. And while i complete my previous workload(imagined) and look forward to the busy future(right, Imagined again!), I get to spend a lot of time home(Jerry's). Jerry has been on a high since i put up my papers, who wouldn't be, i thought to myself, to have a full time dedicated servant.

So here i was, making coffee for Jerry and myself(BIG J doesn't like his milk without coffee, my maid had instructed before she eloped with her husband's brother), and wondering what were my options to endure the day ahead, without getting bored. And Jerry the enlightened one, growled, understanding perfectly what i was going through. So as decided by him, we watched malaika arora showing off her already always bare legs, saying something about roses, and juicy lips, with Nana trying to dance(he's better than sanjay dutt at least). While i dozed of again, trying to read the half eaten TOI, Jerry watched TV, trying to formulate his financial plan, watching NDTV profit.

What a financial planner He would be. I think he would invest in pedigree dog food co. all my wealth, for it is his bread and butter. But then Jerry never ate dog food, he likes parathas, and sweets, so may be he'll shortlist Haldirams as his investment option. And TOI, if need be.

Suddenly, i was thrown out of my thoughts, by some noise, looked like someone was robbing my neighbour. Now, i am not a very courageous man, so i decided not to move, and remain safe, i live alone after all, i thought.

Wait..! Jerry is not there!! Is he out there? Is he safe? Is he the robber? are the neighbours trying to kill him? Are the coming to kill me for not treating him well? All these and many more questions occurred to me in one 1000th of a second. So i ventured out, in my simpsons pyjamas.

It was a tug of war, Jerry wanted to read the Gujarat samachar today, and JigneshBhai can not go to the loo without GS. Nature was calling, and Jerry was his own stubborn self. Should i intervene to help Jigneshbhai? should i help Jerry finish his reading? should i stand there and watch? I was confused. But sense prevailed.. I shut the door and came back to my bed. Waiting for Jerry. And He came sooner than i thought, with Gujarat Samachar. Bless u Jerry, Jigneshbhai never pays up for the cutting chai, i smiled to myself. What did Jigneshbahi raed that day..? I wonder..

Besotted Phull

Miaqadaa tha badaa khawaaron ki jannat hardam beshaq
Kuda ko dekha tere humpyalaa hone ke baad.



Hota har waqt tha imtehaan mere sabr ka shab-o-roj
par aisi besabr saanse pehle kabhi na thi.

besotted phull

gulbadan hath bas u hi chehre pe firaa de mere,
beshumaar pyaalon ki bekhudi, or ik pal ka jeena.



kaise jindaa hote deedaar-e-yaar k pehle,
be-mausam barsaat se saawan nahi hota.


umr guzri intazaar-e-mohobbat kiyaa karte,
ek nazar dekha use to jee bhi lie.

Maid's on holiday

If there's GOD.. its got to be Him...

39...!!


and counting..!!

George Hollis

Everytime I look at you
I see what the future brings
When I see you smile
I can hear the birds sing
When you look at me
With eyes that shine so bright
Your face radiates with love
Glowing like warm sunlight
Your gentleness of spirit
And beauty in your soul
Loving you completely
Truly is my goal
Watching you while you sleep
Waiting for you to awake
The morning comes and you give
Your love for me to take
Being loved by only you
Is a dream of any man
No one has ever been able
To love me like you can
I'll cherish you always
And love you forever
Stay with me always
And leave me never
My heart is yours
Held within your hands
What I see in you, my love
Is so easy to understand


This guy kinda knew what i am feeling these days.. Came accros, and thought it should be here..

Skipper.. U make me Proud..

If we played like champions today, it was due to the spirit you have inspired in the team.

RP Singh said it all when he said.."Its a gift to our Captain".

You do not need any introduction in the cricket hall of fame, and today, you are in my list of great leaders.

Winning is a habit, I hope, our guys develop it and mature to the champions they deserve to be.

Vijay Varnadhikaar

Kaale Safed Laal Gulaabi
Meethe Khatte Feeke Chatpate
Gungune Surrd Geele Sookhe
main apne ehsaas chunta hu
kudrat har rang deti hai
har swaad chakhati hai
swayam har mausam me main apna mauam chunta hu

Do Chaar Cheh Das
Samay Jagah Jeevan Maran
Sthirtaa Parivartan Vikas Kshaye
main apni avastha chunta hu
apni soch ki dishaayen
astitva or sachhaayee
swayam aginat pathon se main apna path chunta hu

Sahi Galat Safal Asafal
nahi samajhta, nahi tolta swayam ko
main sambhavyata hu swayam ki, bas yahi sambhavyata chunta hu.

Cricket.. Lives on...!!

This is a comment to an article, by an australian cricket enthusiast..


Posted by whits106 on January 08 2008, 04:42 AM GMT

Mr English, Once again you have written this story and told it how it is, and I applaud you. I am Australian, and I have not supported the Australian cricket team for some time due the many reasons which have become blatantly obvious to everyone finally. It's what i've been telling people for years. Ricky Ponting is following the old cliche "ignorance is bliss" and this proves it. The only reason he has never "run to the umpires" before is because no team has ever stood up to them, and thrown back at them what they have done for years. Untill now, and they don't like it. Aww, poor you Ricky, I have no sympathy for you or any of the team.

......and i became a salesman..!!

Kumble's men.

I have played enough Gully-Cricket, to see how the Australian team approaches the game.

Cricket they say is a Gentleman's game, and Ponting's dirty Aussies look adamant to prove this wrong. It is heartbreaking to see such accomplished cricketers become such dirty sportsmen.

But, i guess they never were a sporting side, be it healey, border, Waugh, Taylor(only gentleman in this extra ordinary league), Gilchrist and now ponting.

Our men, in stark contrast, have maintained such great dignity, my heart reaches out to them. If you have played cricket at any level, you would understand how it feels to be surrounded by a hostile fielding lineup, and maintain cool. I do not blame Bhajji, for what he did, though it was avoidable(imagine him coming up with a great performance after the incident). Nor do i blame the umpires, they being human can commit mistakes. I hold the Aussies responsible, for playing the game without any dignity.

I am sad we lost the match, but am very VERY proud that My team does not play cricket the Aussie way.

The Cheating Bastards.

Angry Kya..

I have since long started telling myself that I have a stable temper, that I do not get angry easily. And I am fairly right in believing so. I am no more the Hot potato, i used to be.

And I do have a hearty laugh thinking about things i have done, letting Anger taking control of me..

One of them...



2.Having gone through a bit of push-play getting on a train, was pretty angry. One man comes with a HUGE luggage, and blocks the entry to the compartment.. and this followed...

Viv- excuse me..

Stranger- Utarna tha to chadhe kyu the? *BIG Frown*

Viv- Itna saamaan le kar travel Kyu karte ho? Pura compartment book kara rakha hai kya??

Viv's friend-are kya kar raha hai.. chod na..!

Starnger- idiot..!

Viv-No..! You are an idiot..!

Stranger-go away.. spoilt brat!

Viv- at least not an Idiot..!

Stranger-zara pakdna ise..

One hand from god know's where holds my collor.

BANG- Five fingers on my face.

Stranger-to my friend-Iske papa mile to batana kya kar raha tha ye.

(As it turned out, he was an Army officer, and i was insisting he was an Idiot, in front of his 20 men.)

Forget it Jumbo

Bowling O M R W Econ
RP Singh 21 3 108 4 5.14 (1nb)
I Sharma 17 2 65 0 3.82 (2nb, 3w)
SC Ganguly 6 1 13 0 2.16
Harbhajan 20 2 88 2 4.40
A Kumble 20 0 82 1 4.10
Tendulkar 5 0 14 0 2.80

With this sort of bowling, I'd be happy with a draw.