Link Politics

So, its time to unveil an ambitious project... one that connects Bandra in the Western suburbs to Worli in the city. It is the Bandra Worli Sea Link. Great job with the conceptualization, engineering and execution [it was late, will ignore that for now].
Source:Bandra Worli Sealink Blog
So while it has been ready, we have been waiting for a while to inaugrate it. Do you wonder why? It is simple. The need for a VVIP to inaugrate it so that the common people can start using it. So, where do the authorities go looking?

First Choice [Obviously]: Ms. Sonia Gandhi, Congress Working Committee President
Second Choice [Reluctantly]: Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon. Prime Minister of India
Third Choice [Well, we need 'someone' important]: Ms. Pratibha Patil, Hon. President of India

Such is the mockery of the Executive positions of the Republic of India. Its a pity indeed. Yes, it is upto the government to decide. Nevertheless, no person is greater than the Constitutional heads of the Country.

No escaping the Walk

"I don’t much care where... so long as I get SOMEWHERE," Alice said.
"Oh, you’re SURE to do that," said the Cat. It added "but only if you walk long enough."

Bandra Boy II

~Time of Day: just past midnight~
Friend 2: Okay, that was a long discussion. I think I need to go to sleep now.

Friend 1: What's with sleeping off at midnight? This sounds like the cindrella-esque story of Bandra Boy [BB].

~Both ponder for a while on how BB is off to bed at midnight. Friend 1, the worldly one, offers a possible solution.~

Friend 1: Do you think like you, BB too needs his beauty sleep?

Friend 2: Why would BB need beauty sleep? Do you think it will matter?

~Sounding all smart, Friend 1 replies~

Friend 1: Maybe its for his inner beauty?

~Friend 2 is now rolling on the floor laughing and holding onto the stomach~

Friend 2: Inner beauty? Are we talking about the same person?

~Both slip into deep thought again on the absurdity of the statement. Friend 1, as usual, offers a solution~

Friend 1: Yes, for his Inner beauty! Maybe he needs it to even have a nice thing to say once a day.

~Friend 2 is again rolling on the floor laughing...~

Bandra Boy I

Friend 1: I have not seen Bandra Boy [BB] online or connected with him since the day he was to leave for Canada.

Friend 2: I have not seen BB either. He seems to be incommunicado. Wonder whether he's hooked up with some chick out there.

~Both ponder for a while to realize the incredulous thought they just had. They decide to ignore the thought and act as if it never happened. Friend 1, the worldly one, offers a possible solution.~

Friend 1: Do you think that it is possible that some dudes beat him up out there?

Friend 2: Why would anyone want to hit BB?

~Sounding all smart, Friend 1 replies~

Friend 1: Maybe some Indian dudes thought he was Canadian and beat him up for the racial abuse in Australia?

~Friend 2 now excited by the plot~

Friend 2: Yea, he probably kept pleading that he was Indian. But, when they asked him to speak in Hindi, all he could muster was namaste!

Distorting history

Disclaimer: I have moderate political views. Right of centre rather than left of centre. I support the BJP for their policies. I do not agree with some of their divisive political stunts. The reason I do not support the other party: the Congress, is because they merely hide behind the garb of a 'holier than thou' mask.

The BJP and its HRD minister, Murli Manohar Joshi was chided by one and all [rightly so] for attempting to distort history. A point often raised by BJP baiters. Now, the 'can do no wrong' Congress is doing just that. As a kid, we learnt about Dadoji Konddeo, the mentor and guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the greatest Maratha ruler. The Congress [and NCP] government has now 'changed history' bowing to the demands of casteist organizations, long considered 'vote banks' of these political organizations. An article on this can be read here.

For all those espousing the credentials of the Indian National Congress, I am sorry, but this is a bad slap on your face.

Polyester Connections

Dearest Polly,

I do not know what to feel. A part of me is happy. The other is sad. As she walks on the other side of airport security, I know I will have to fight to hold back my emotions.

You always appeared from nowhere. When someone asks how we know each other, I am still not sure. I remember 'Cousin R' probing that line of thought deeply and persistently. Or Saffron Aunt giving me the third degree. It did ‘suit’ the occasion.

So, we met through some random connection. Then there was that coffee at Moxa. The bubbly you, I was impressed with your joie de vivre. Then we bumped into each other in Newport. The bubbles still there while I was grappling with life in the trenches. I wish I knew you only as that person. But alas, life is one roller coaster of a ride. And so, one fine day past summer, I received the weirdest of messages. I have no idea why I received that call for help. But, I was shocked to see the ugly joke that life had played on you. As we sat in the park, I saw you there… a little kid grappling with a coffee. Wanting to talk and yet, not knowing where life was to lead. The C story, while funny, did not take away the fact that there was a huge perceptible change.

Your journey back home and then back to the city saw you crawl towards a semblance of normalcy. It has been close to a year since then. It’s interesting to see how I have made such a great friend within just under a year. I do not believe in numbers and rankings. But, I will go out on a limb and say that you are the best friend I made in NYC. NAF came a close second. The rice-cooker: the clincher. What we have is different. [Saffron Aunty and Anna, if you are reading this, we were just good friends. :D]

We have shared some great moments: random chats, nautanki, home drops, inane fights, walks in the park, bug bites, movies and the like. Some regrettable moments: inane fights, bug bites, name-calling and the like. Some disappointing moments: Ibuprofen, First Ave visits, late night D train travels and the like. Some awkward moments: Sea, 5am noises and clatter, life decisions, hard-facts and the like.

We are quite different in more ways than one. We stand on different sides of the line. And yet, there is some common ground. There is so much to write. And yet, there is nothing that I can write. As are the ways of life: It was a good ride while it lasted. The flight is now boarding. You return to a faraway land. I may be soon to follow. Out of sight we will be; out of mind, I believe not. I can be an annoying bug.

So long Polly, it has truly been a pleasure. Keep that smile. Be the kid you truly are. Don’t let that rebel die. Be your crazy jhola kurta self. Breathe in, breathe out.

It started with that walk in the park… It’s a new journey you embark upon. Tum toh thehre pardesi…

Jai Maharashtra!

Love and Hugs,
Max