A college in North India. Year- 1986.
A group of giggly girls with admission forms in hand.
Girl-1 , "Listen yaar.This says, Arts or Commerce?"
G-2,"Commerce re..its better.."
G-1, "Nooooo. You mad or what. Its Not really hot ! Let`s fill up Arts."
G-3 , " You think so?"
G-1, nodding vigrously, " Of course. Come on . This says -Choose any three options besides English."
G-2, " ,we could take Economics".
G-3 , "You are hung up on Commerce !You want to work in a bank or what? Babugiri?"
G-2, " No! Bhaiya said it`s a smart subject."
G-1, "Okaaay, but next one is my choice, Geography! The teacher is really thanda. No issues for attendance. Plus we go out for trips, it`s very scoring also."
G-2, "Hey , I am not very good with drawing maps and diagrams."
G-3, "Shutup! We took your subject na ? Now tell me Anthroplology ki Psychology?"
G-1 and G-2, "What is Anthropology? "
G-3 ," Surabhi said you study things like,' why Africans have curly hair and why are Europeans fair'.You know very new kind of subject. Practicals too. So very scoring."
G-2,"I have never liked Surabhi. I think we should opt for Pycho."
G-1 , " Are you mad? It`s a weird subject and that Ms. M who takes the class is really strict. Forever screaming. I am not taking it. I think Anthro."
G-2, " Sometimes I wonder, ' Are you really My friend?' You can`t take Pycho for me ?"
G-3, " Listen ,just shutup! We took your Eco na? Bhaiya`s smart subject. Now write Anthro. "
A little later in the day.
G-1 , " Mummy... I filled my form today."
Mummy, " Good. Girls college na? "
G-1, " Yes Mummy. Arts."
Mummy, " Ok. "
January 2010. Metro city in India.
A group of people chatting animatedly in a Restuarant.
Dad-1 , " So, how are the prelims.?"
Dad-2, " Just ok. I don`t think we will hit 80."
Mom-1, " Did you get the form for RN College? "
Dad-2 , " No. I think we will go for JNS. I think ISC is better board. "
Mom-2, " Yeah, we even went to the Career Counselor. He feels ISC is a better bet."
Dad-3, "Really ? I think you are making a grave mistake. Go for CBSE. It will train your kid for national level exams. "
Mom-1, " Yeah ,even my niece did that. RN is very good. Classes from 7 to 1 pm. Then Training for national level exams from 2 to 7pm. No time for loittering around."
Dad-4 ," 7 to 1 and then 2 to 7 ? Isn`t that a lot? No , No I think maybe HSC is better then. No attendance issues. We could take the integrated programme."
Mom-5, " Thank God , my Daughter wants Humanities! I think we are opting for Eco, math, Stats. All very scoring, except Eco. Then ,maybe go for LSE in 2012."
The cell phone rings.
Dad-1, " Yes C ?"
"Dad can I apply for Humanities? All my friends are..."
Dad-1 cutting him short, " Have you lost it? We can`t do that! I will be home in a while."
Itna paas bhi na aayo , ki tumhe dekh na sakun,
Itna duur bhi na jayo, ki tumhe dhoond na sakun ,
Itne raho mere aas paas he tum ,
ki jee chahe to nazren mila ya chura sakun.
I will be Happy when.....
1. I get a bigger house..make that at least a 4BHK with terrace and sea view.
2. My son tops his class...actually make it school!
3. My daughter gets into A particular school.
4. I buy that gorgeous LV bag.
5.I buy that sexy black peep toe shoe.
6.I get a pair of solitares.
7.We go for an international holiday..add the Bahamas or Alaskan Cruise ..
8.I get that job in the top management institute..make it part time with hefty renumeration.
Whoa!! I could go on and on...That`s a tall order for being Happy. And what if I get that LV bag? By then there would be another one that I would start craving for..And if my daughter gets through, I would probably want her to get into the school football team and if I got the house I would then want top-notch interiors..Hmmm spend my life running after Things that could make me happy.
Now , I realise the futility of it all. Happiness is a state of Being. If you attach happiness with a certain event, object, person, achievement then it is going to be elusive forever.Equating happiness with material comforts , luxuries and relationships means inviting trouble. Its like handing over yourself to others. They control your emotions and thus your life.
I definitely don`t want that. So I choose to be happy irrespective of all these coveted luxuries. If it happens, good and if it doesnt even Better. Cheers to that!
What about you? When will YOU be Happy???
Mumbai Voter turnout- 45%....Such a shame!
One of the most popular , rich, urbane city, the economic capital of India , city of dreams...none of it matters. Peace march, candle march, angry outbursts..none of it matters...terrorist attacks, slums, horrible infrasrtucture, roads caving in ,skyrocketing prices...none of it matters..
What matters is the break you can take..long weekend..Alibagh, Lonavala,Ganpatiphule here we come..and the ones with deeper pockets..USA, UK, Spain, Australia..
And it is so so so HOT! The temperatures are soaring and we can`t step out in this heat to like vote or something..Puhleeze..
Such a shame. I am ANGRY..Mumbaikars or is it Bombayites ( whatever) have stuck to what they are great at..APATHY..Mumbai always bounces back and it has and how...we loose, we suffer, we cry , we forget and we move on and then go for a holiday to regain our spirits..vote? For what? For whom? Forget it ! It`s a fabulous opportunity to take that much needed break..Anyways if a couple of us don`t vote it hardly matters...
But it does..And it`s a shame that educated people are the ones who have chosen to ignore their right and power..
Baatein hain bahut si ,
Par kissi se kehne ko ji nahi karta.
Ajab se mod par hain zindagi ,
Par kadam uthane ko ji nahi karta.
Jaanti hoon ,tum ho paas
Phir bhi ,haath badhane ko ji nahi karta.
Kya yahi hai Zindagi ?
Jawab jann ne ko bhi , ji nahi karta.
