BEYOND HOPES

Mumbai: An agressive city with no hope, no future!

2009-06-12T22:25:00.000-07:00

What is an average Mumbaikar like?
I'd say agressive. They have exactly followed Darwin's 'survival of the fittest' theory and know how to thrive on limitted sources by fighting it out.
Is it a good thing? I'm not sure but I, for one, wouldn't vouch for it.
Fight to get into a local, once in, fight to get a seat, preferably a window seat. And, if you're one of those unfortunate who don't have the privelege of getting into a starting local you fight for that coveted 'fourth seat'. I've never been able to understand why women plead, prod and more often demand from sleepy, tired commuters to squeeze in so there is a little space for a fourth 'candidate'. Actually, there's barely any space to place your bums (sorry for the laguage) there and its as good as squatting in space. That you cause discomfort to those who were already sitting there is another story.
Get off the train and you'll see people shoving and pushing each other to get ahead out of the platform.
Go to buy vegetables and fifty fingers will hit on one 'tokri' of ladies' finger and there will be a rattle-tattle to bargain.
Go to buy a train coupon or to renew your first class pass, those standing in the queue will start yelling, hooting, complaining and making faces just because you don't have to stand in a queue - that's the only privelege, which first class commuters get, in fact.
Does this place have any hope??!!
I'v stayed in Mumbai all my life, barring the first seven years and honestly, not once, not for a single day or a single moment have I fallen in love with this place. They call it the city of dreams, the financial capital of India, Bollywood's haven and what not but I'd say 'the grass on the other side is always greener'.
There is no hope left in Mumbai anymore... its been over-exploited. It has a weak infrastruture, which cannot support the influx of new immigrants. It has a poor transport system, though its better than all the other cities in India but that is not truly the right benchmark.
There is water shortage, long hours of loadshedding (though the main Mumbai city is saved), flooding during monsoons, bad sticky weather and the most important terrorism threat. Why do people still want to come here? For money, period. I

've come across millions of disgruntled, disoriented, distressed Mumbaikars who lead a very mechanical life. I'm turning into one... save me!!

Movies, finally!

2009-06-08T02:50:00.000-07:00

Finally, we'll have some bollywood movies to watch. I'm not a big bollywood buff but to be honest, i really missed new movies, songs, videos, reviews and interviews... Radio FM channels keep running the same 'hit' numbers through the day while music channels, most of whom have transformed themselves into 'youth channels' showcasing dirty reality gimmicks, don't take the pains of surfing through their stock of albums and videos to show us something new and catchy. I'm honestly sick of the repeat telecasts of ;Splitsvilla' and ;Fast & Gorgeous; (where the girls are anything but gorgeous) on MTV. General Entertainment Channels are getting sloppier, no matter how much you talk of competition.

I love Sony Entertainment's 'Bhaskar Bharti' about this casanova who turns into a woman one morning after his ex 'Geeta' pleades before Lord Krishna to teach this guy a lesson after he dumps her on their wedding day. Fresh concept and absolutly hilarious! Thats about it... Television doesn't really have anything very interesting except for some shows on Discovery, Travel & Living and Good Times.

Weekends are getting sadder with pinching summers taking the sweat out of you and shopping in these distressing times isn't a great option.

So you see, movies were indeed awaited.

The first one releasing will be Kal Kisne Dekha. Though I'm not really looking forward to it but I'd definetely go for it - first day, if not the first show!

The official website of the movie is damn interesting and fundoo. But, of course, that does not suggest or guarantee the movie will be any great! But I don't care... Even if its as bad as Chandni Chowk to China I'm not going to complain... Some entertainment is better than no entertainment!

And, yes if you have any ideas on killing time happily, tell me... Please don't suggest joining classes - dance, pottery, gym, sports, swimming - Iv worked all possible options and it doesn't work. So, don't add to my woes! :)

It's not going anywhere

2009-05-29T02:09:00.000-07:00

A narration by a mother of a 24-year old –

He couldn’t sleep all night. May be it’s the heat but that had never bothered him. He could sleep anytime of the day, in hot sweltering summers even without a fan! Not anymore it seems. He can’t bear the heat although I think its not so much… its tolerable. Is he worried about something? He says its jitteriness… of missing a train or losing a job or yes, perhaps, a loved one?

He was pushing his head into the air conditioner last night to get some cool! I’m amused at his ways to beat the heat! He had a fitful sleep and I too, interrupted by frequent noise of opening and shutting the window. He drank more water than he does on any normal day. I never had to keep a jar of water by the bedside for him. What has happened?

I know. I’m afraid to talk about it. This is bothering me too, equally if not more. I stay home all night thinking about it. I cry in solitude, call over some friends to keep myself busy. But what could he do? After a day’s work, he can’t even rest.

And, all this because of my own daughter. She’s getting married... sometime this year or next year or next month, I don’t care. It should be a big day in our life, really but it’s not. We are sulking, cursing each other for giving birth to her. And, cursing her for choosing her own man.

It is our responsibility to decide who she should marry. That’s what happens in India, in majority, if not all, Indian homes.
She says times have changed. This is 21st century. Girls are educated, they are independent. I say, ‘so’?

She says, “We get one life and we must live happily. Life’s not so complicated. It’s easy to be happy, to be satisfied. Why can’t you be practical? Arranged marriage is NOT part of our so called ‘rich cultural heritage’ anyway. And, yes, if you’re so hung-up on this, then get it arranged! Find out about his family, meet his parents, get the kundalis arranged. Simple. Its done!”

I’m not convinced.

I’m wondering did we mistake educating her. She’s bright, doing very good for herself. We feel proud about that. She’s fun loving and everybody’s favourite but I can’t come to accept this… I hate her… We hate her for this.

Pops a sleeping pill and off she goes.

Angel & I - Part II

2009-05-27T20:50:00.001-07:00

"Happiness is within you
joy is around you
If again life turns all blue
don't you know what to do?"

I thanked him, he vanished,
his thoughts I nourished.
The 'angel' is our fortune,
his 'wishes' are the gifts - friends, love, talent etc
When we miss an opportunity sad we feel
little do we know within us lies the heal.

The angel still comes to me,
like to flowers come honey bee,
He grants me wish, sometimes not,
but thats no more on my happiness a blot.

Angel & I

2009-05-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

This doesn't have an ending.... In fact, I won't put it now... Would like you to suggest how to close it :-)

One day I sat by the beach,
lost in thoughts and dreams,
there appeared before me an angel lovely
Asked my wish and beamed.

I said I want to fly, he gave me wings
I said I want to swim, he gave me fins
I said I want to read, he offered a library
I said I love ice-creams, he opened a dairy.

"Ask for more, go on," he said.
I thought... "give me happiness," I said.
His smile faded
And, he began to cry
"What's the matter. Can't you grant my wish."

I sat down next to him to pacify his angst,
I told him jokes and tickled him
I acted funny to amuse him
but nothing seemed to work.

Disappointed,
I turned to stare at the vast sea, the blue sky
I asked them how to make my angel laugh again
'You are the answer', they claimed.

Yes! I got the secret, I cracked the code.

I ruffled the wings, the angel gave
and flew up to the mighty sky,
I saw the world up from there as I rose to fly
Tall trees touched me, cool breeze kissed me
I danced like a peacock, sang like a cuckoo
I landed back safely and before him I bowed.

I could see he was smiling, I asked him to wait.
Before he said anything, I jumped into the sea
I swam, I dived, I used his gift - the fin
I went topsy-turvy with the dolphins to see my angel grin

I sought forgiveness for my greed
"It's ignorance," the angel did plead.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT??

Quarter-life crisis!

2009-05-26T00:43:00.000-07:00

I don't want to get up to lazy Monday mornings,
I don't want to waste my life in local trains,
I want to fly, swim, trek,
I want to dance, paint, shout,
I want to rule my heart, my soul, my mind
I want to struggle only for my find...

I've been on the hunt for my true calling... I'm a journalist and I always wanted to be one. It gives me pleasure to see my story appearing in a newspaper or somebody telling me - 'you wrote that beautifully. I think you're an expert.' But deep inside I know that's not my true calling. I get so busy with office and travelling that I don't get the time to explore myself... to learn something new - an art, a sport or a place.
How many of us do this? A majority, I'd say. We struggle in our school days to get into a reputed college. We struggle there too, though we bunk lectures and ignore poor grades. And, finally we get into a job thinking all's going to be well. I'll be the king, do what I wish etc etc... Does that really happen?