THE RED BULL SMASH

It was not only exciting but also an unforgettable F1 race of my life. The date was 30^th May 2010. Yes! It was the Turkish Grand Prix 2010. The day happened to be a Sunday. We heftily bribed our office boy with a fortune, to allow us take the projector along with us on the Friday night. It was decided to enjoy each and every passing moment of the race as our reputation and job were at stake. We emptied the refrigerator and stuffed beer in it. We were all set!

The cheer girls in red hot pants with tank tops and red shades were so appealing on the projector screen that I decided to watch ‘’The making of Kingfisher Calendar” next, if I’m spared and not fired for watching this race on an office projector, unofficially.

It was a great start from the Red Bulls but Hamilton aggressive as ever, re-took Vettel and moved back into second. Schumacher got the jump on Button. The whole ambiance was mesmerising and I was regretting that I couldn’t witness it live, sitting beside the track. It requires balls to drive @ 320KMPH and guts to withstand the thrill of watching it live, sitting at the gallery along the tracks.

                                           

Vettel had managed to jump Hamilton to take second. After being involved on the projector screen for 40 laps, gulping down five pints and heart beats synchronized & vroooooomified with the woofers, we witnessed something unbelievable. VETTEL crashed with his own team-mate! AMAZING!  The crash almost blew off my room’s roof, with its sound effect. I was sure that the neighbours would have prepared a long list of grievances to be presented before the landlord.

                                          

Vettal furiously gestured, “Have you gone nuts?” and walked away. At this point we felt the excitement was all over. However, it was Hamilton’s turn next. After a while, we saw Vettel on the Red Bull pit wall. He was hanging around with arms around the shoulder of his mates. Hamilton won the race from Button, but the main talking point was the Red Bull crash.

It was eight in the evening and we packed up. We packed up to start for an early office on Monday so that projector would be placed back at its original location. Next day we were back with the Monday morning blues but till date, mention of the office projector gives tickles in our belly. The Turkish Grand Prix was an epic drama we ever witnessed.

My Ganesha is bigger than yours

I came rushing to my window as I heard numerous crackers bursting and loud ‘dhols’ being ruthlessly beaten up. My ear drums were not used to the acoustic ambiance created near my ground floor house. It was the procession of one of our favourite Gods, Lord Ganesha. I am pretty sure that he would have showered some extra blessing for the guy who was dancing paranormally in front of him.

I had a quick worry in my mind. If I happen to spend my weekly off watching TV, what about my part of the blessings which I am supposed to receive from lord Ganesha? That would absolutely be far lesser than those freaking guys dancing or beating dhols out there. As the thought bubble busted, I restored myself, closed the window and resumed watching TV.

The question remained!

The answer was a No! There is a thin line, which I believe, differentiates the non-atheists or so-called “Believers”. A bunch of them call themselves God fearing while the other group identify themselves as God loving. I won’t elaborate much as they are self-explanatory and it must have started haunting in your mind about which category do you belong to?

It’s not about who beats the loudest dhol or who does a ‘Hrithik’ in processions. It’s about the myth in which people believe in. Lord Ganesha is not going to listen to your prayers only if it is coming through a loud speaker. Earth is a very small planet in the universe. We don’t even know how many universes lord Ganesha would be listening prayers from. It’s practically impossible for a loud speaker to reach where we expect Gods reside.

You are definitely not a genius if you spend millions on your belief of fear or love in a country which is the home to the largest number of hungry people in the world? Instead of colonies competing on the beauty and size of idols, can’t they compete on the number of hungry people they feed during these festive seasons? Why can’t they follow Ranbir Kapoor’s DoCoMo mantra by keeping the entire proceedings simple and pay school fees for those who can’t afford? Why do you have to wait for someone to do a ‘Anna’ and make govt. realize something when you, yourself are capable of bringing a huge change. Why can’t we pledge 30% of donations for the upliftment of under developed societies?  

This is not the India what it used to be 25 years back. People now follow the trend of “Grow-up” & “Move-on”. We Indian are very good at it, without compromising our cultural heritage. We need to understand the simplified versions of our rituals and shift to the same without letting our culture suffer.

A disputed piece of land - Give it to whom it belongs!

I live in a secular country, respect all religion and pay equal amount of gratitude for the warmth shared by people belonging to any other religion. I worship Lord Rama, don’t know why? May be because my parents do so! This is the same reason, why my Muslim friends preach Islam and my Christian friends preach Christianity.


For any reason, we are not ready to give up our religion and I see no reason for the same. But for many reasons we disrespect other religions. That’s due to the past incidences, unfair means adopted by political agents, for some political gains.

Whatever said and done, we are divided on the basis of religion. How would it feel being deprived of preaching your own religion, in you own, so-called, a secular country? The debate is about a place called “Ayodhaya”.

When the Muslim emperor Babar came down from Farghana in 1527, he defeated the Hindu King of Chittorgarh, Rana Sangram Singh at Fatehpur Sikri, using cannon and artillery. After this victory, Babur took over the region, leaving his general, Mir Banki, in charge as Viceroy.


Mir Banki enforced Mughal rule over the population. Mir Banki came to Ayodhya in 1528 and built the Mosque. The main reason to build the Mosque in Ayodhya was because it served as a central point of India under the Mughal Empire. Later on the Mughal Empire shifted to Delhi.


Ayodhya is revered by devout Hindus as the birthplace of ancient King of India and Hindu God Rama, believed by Hindus to be an avatar of Vishnu. Mir Baqi after building the mosque named after his master Babar.


A movement was launched in 1984 by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP party) to reclaim the site for Hindus who want to erect a temple dedicated to the infant SriRama (Ramlala), at this spot.

Knowing the history so well, why are we restraining ourselves to give up the land, to a community, which this land actually belongs to? This community doesn’t go out and kill people in the name of religion; neither has it differentiated black and white people. This community wants its holy place back. It needs a place which has similar meaning of Vatican City for Christians and Mecca for Muslims.

I don’t support the demolition of Babri Mosque. It was an unfair act which had hurt the sentiments of many people. But now, when we have a chance, why can’t we really try to offer a better deal. This can dissolve the parting line between Hindus and Muslims.

If such holy places are not distinguished, then an entire community is under threat. As I see India, from my point of view, the 80% population of Hindu will be reduced to 50% in the upcoming 20 years. Why? Poor Indians, who are in need of money, get converted to some other religion. Just because they are paid to do so. It has also been brought to notice that a group of people, belonging to certain religion (not Hindu), get married to Hindu girls and convert them once for all. The population of other religions in this country is growing three folds as compared to Hindus.

My point is not for or against any particular religion. I too want peace in my country. Let’s accept the fact and provide this land to whom it actually it belongs to.

Has the media gone nuts???

A news channel telecasted the ply of Muslims in this country stating: Is the urban educated class anti-Muslim?

Before I further express my views on this telecast, I would like to make myself very clear that I have no intentions to hurt the religious sentiments of any segment of this society.

Coming back to the point, issue was that Muslims are finding it difficult to obtain a house on rent. The news channel expressed it with a grief and seemed to be in full support.

If a house is built spending lakhs together, then it’s obviously not the choice of these private news channels or any Tom, Dick or Harry’s wish for renting it. The owner of the house is free to rent it to any person belonging to any caste, any religion and any sex. The paid media, looking for the sympathy of a particular community, to influence government’s support with this particular community, has got no rights to create hype on this matter.

Being Hindu, I too was denied a room/house for rent because of a simple reason of being non-veggie. For few, a major concern was my marital status: Single. There may be numerous reasons for not renting a house to any person. It’s obviously inappropriate to project it as a grievance of a particular community.

To be precise, if I were to rent a house, I would have definitely not allowed my tenant to bring/eat beef in my house, inspite of belonging to any religion. It hurts my religious sentiments. Secondly, if a bomb blasts in my city, I would definitely not like myself to be interrogated. Why is it always that the religious sentiments of only a particular community are our media’s concern?

It’s high time for the paid media to shut up and look out for better deals.

One of the most disastrous scenes from my novel

We left for the airport to receive her parents. Her charming beauty was at its high. As usual her smile was a pleasant one, but today I could see stars twinkling at the corner of her lips. Her eyes were saying it all.

“I am so happy Rishi, I am seeing my parents after five years. I am dying to meet them. I waited so long to see them together. Drive faster!” – Shreya Said. I was happy to see her so happy.

The basic problems with cute girls like Shreya is that they are very talkative when they are either happy or sad or angry or when they are about to have sex.

“Don’t pounce on them when you meet. You people can come back home and carry on with all your love scenes” – I said. It was difficult for me to remove my gaze from her beauty and drive.

“You guys will never understand the importance of parents especially when you start making money on your own. You need parents only to pay………….Rishiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!” BANGGG!!!

YES! It was an accident.

I preferred to look into her arresting eyes than to notice a traffic police stopping us from entering a no entry zone. He was lost from our sight very soon. I could only see his face for half a second and then he flew off my windshield. She hated seat belt as it would not allow her to come closer to me. The impact left her unconscious.

I know I am good at messing up things around but not today. She waited five long years to see her separated parents together and I left her out cold. I almost killed the poor police officer and above all what do I tell her parents now?

“She is all right” said the doctor leaving a great sigh of relief on her parent’s face and mine too. I thought, Thank God! It’s over.
“She went unconscious because of the shock and the baby is also safe” doctor added and left, gazing at me.

Her parents equally confused sharing puzzled looks with each other and me. “What baby?” they murmured. I now understood that what she meant when she told me she missed her periods last month and I ignored. My conscience screamed out loud this time, “It’s not over yet”.

The “Not yet over” thing with me is always accompanied by a phone call indicating another disastrous upcoming news. It’s a divine signal which confirms that I am screwed now. But now I didn’t get any call which meant “It’s over and things will be under control soon”.

And then my phone rang.

Get rid of the deprived

Last night, while driving through the ring road, I was caught by a tholu (Traffic Police). He charged me for drunken driving. I stopped, went to him politely and asked - how much? I didn’t resist as I was really drunk. My intentions were to bribe him and get away. I also wanted my vehicle number not to be registered in the police records.

“1000/-” - he murmured.

I argued as the fine would be 2000/- and if I am not asking for the ticket, it would go in the tholu’s pocket. So, why to pay that much? I asked him to manage the scene with 500/-.

I got a very strange reply to which I was dumbstruck.

“Babu, its UPA 2.0, pay 1000/- or come to our Saheb”

I felt pity. Not on myself but on him. A public servant with limited salary, bound to give his children better education, feed them appropriately and look after his family, would find it so difficult without an another source of income. I paid him and escaped but couldn’t escape from his reply.

The thoughts started haunting me. Consequences of inflation has not only let people die of hunger or left children starving and suffering from malnutrition but has also augmented the corruption. There is more, yet to come. With every penny spent, common men with think twice of their needs. Luxurious stuffs are just ruled out as primary needs are the question of an hour. How is the happiness of countrymen justified? When I thought of the people below poverty line, I simply was frightened.

Referring to Planning Commission’s report, I learnt that 10% of food grains get wasted every year that equals to 20 million tonnes. Apart from this 30% of food grains are lost due to lack of proper storage. This is one of the basic reasons for inflation. UPA2.0 is too busy in keeping a watch on what its ministers say or busy in handling scams done under its nose. I think, providing the grains to poor, before it is wasted, would be a last thing that UPA 2.0 would take up.

If this continues, irony of the situation will be that there will be no poor alive in this country and thus country will be free from people below the poverty line. Nice strategy I must say. Hats off to UPA 2.0. Congress Zindabad!

P.S. If u have any function at your home or anywhere else & if food gets wasted, call 1098 child helpline in Delhi & NCR. They will collect the food and provide it to poor children.

WALK-DATE - A SCENE FROM MY NOVEL

We planned to take a short walk and then go back to our places for dinner. We started moving down the long empty road behind her hostel. It was covered in a dark blanket of night with fine beams of light. Light, from the lamp posts, trying to penetrate thick branches of long trees, which were spread throughout.  The road was empty but not bare. Tiny yellow and pink flowers were paved entirely as if they were inviting us. Few of them were on their way from sky to land. As we walked through, they kept falling on us one by one. The cool breeze was spreading the aroma of these flowers. It seemed we are being welcomed in a wonderland.

With scenario being such and dream girl by side, my urges were getting stronger. Urge to hold her, kiss her and make her mine, completely. Felt like clutching here silky locks tight in my fist, pushing her to the tree by side and giving her a kiss of lifetime. As it was our first unofficial meeting, so all these commercial breaks were ruled out from our featured film. I was supposed to impress her, take a next step and move into a smooth relationship. I was having no intentions to crash land into a relationship where mortality rates are higher.

As we walked together, I observed each & every movement and possession of hers. She was walking slow and composed. Her Pink slippers were matching with her pink t-shirt, pink bracelet, pink hair band and pink hair clips. I wondered whom was she going to date in her dreams. I was sure that this was her night dress as I didn’t give her the time to change. The cool wind used to blow her untied string of hairs. She coiled them into her finger, which had cute short nails painted pink, and fix them behind her ears. With every blink of her eyes my heart skipped a beat. No doubt, she was looking gorgeous and I was melting.

Tanya, can I hold your hand and kiss you? My soul shouted but due to lack of acoustic features, the voice of my soul didn’t reach her. I thought, it’s high time and I must break the silence to save my walk-date which was about to go in vain. Before I could say anything, it started drizzling. That was the conspiracy by devil’s above. Like other terrible times of mine, I could hear them laughing on me this time too.

“We must return otherwise we’ll be drenched” – Tanya said.

“It would be great then. Let’s get soaked. It’ll be fun.” I tried to convince her. After all, I wanted to stay longer with her, walk with her and tell my feelings. Moreover, I wanted to know what she feels for me.

“No Rishi, we must leave. I am in no mood to enjoy the rain” – she frowned.

“Why? Are you made up of ice and going to melt?” I questioned politely.

“I am returning back and that’s final. Are you coming with me?”  - Tanya yelled, turned and started walking away.

Without Tanya, the view ahead just changed. Beautiful street now seemed like a haunted and deserted path to hell. Long trees appeared to be calling me as if they were about to squeeze me between their thick scary branches and drink my blood. I found an insect crawling on my neck which might have crept in from a flower which was resting on my shoulder. Suddenly, the thunder striked. Unlike Hindi movies, she didn’t come running back to me but I decided to join her.

“Are you going to leave me here, in the middle of this ghostly place? What if a Dracula comes and rapes me?”  - I cried.

“Don’t worry. Dracula would be more interested in your blood and as I know he is not a gay.” – She replied back turning to me and gave a naughty smile followed by a wink.

By the time we reached her hostel, she was drenched and I was quenched. A sky full of chilled water was poured on my hot feelings. She was looking even more beautiful. Her wet looks were appealing and my desires were burning. I held my gaze at her till she asked me to leave.

“it’s getting late. You must leave. Your brother might be waiting for you.” The lioness was now a deer. She was avoiding eye contacts with me. I don’t know what happened to her. I left , thinking about this all my way. May be she is falling for me? Maybe I appeared too sexy to her? Was I supposed to stay some more time with her? Was she was sad because we were parting off. All these questions haunted my mind till the time I reached home.

Later at 3.00am, I found the answer of her shyness.