Misrepresented

Audio-Video and Print media declared in big font that Samajwadi Party won the elections in UP and the Congress party lost miserably. In the US, Mitt Romney defeated his Democratic contemporaries to gain a majority in six out of ten states. At the other end of the world, Putin was declared the victor for the third time in a row. Back in India, Sonia Gandhi was heard saying that the party will now have to rethink their strategies concerning the elections in the rest of the states.

Lost. Won. Victor. Defeated. Strategies.

Smartly dressed news anchorwomen, heftily equipped with satellites providing wireless communication, cry these words out loud, again and again. The common man’s TV screen is filled with tiny boxes, each representing senior journalists and former party leaders who dispute and quibble over the strengths and weakness of each party. On the streets, some party banners are raised higher and others are lowered completely. Slogans are cheered and curses are bawled. Sentences are “He cheated”, “He bribed”, “He lied” are exchanged between lower party members, while partaking in official effigy burnings. I understand all the hue and cry and I ask why.

Hear me out. I got it when they said that India lost to Australia in a cricket match. It’s fine when my neighbour kid comes home, all happy, saying that he secured the first rank in his exams (he got sweets for us all). Win and lose are applicable to the above situations since the end point involves a trophy, or a cash prize or even a new watch from the parents. A personal gain. Something you receive as a reward for yourself in the end for your efforts. But when it comes to Politics, if you are elected, you are to represent a large number of people of a particular region; basically take care of their welfare and needs. Hence a non profit job with the title that says ‘Public Servants’. So all that unfettered campaigning, drama loving MLA’s walking in and out of parties, and lest we forget, the tonnes of mud thrown by each politician at the other (apart from chairs and mikes), and they say all these frantic acts are for that sacred chance to do public service. I don’t buy that.

India is not under a Monarchy or a Dictatorship, where the potential heirs have to fight for the right to ascend the throne. Ours is a full fledged, out and out Democracy (with a little bit of Capitalism here and there). In our country, the voter fellow is the king and the queen. We hold the power to assemble or dismember governments. We have the last say. Having said that, let me not go into why you and I are afraid of the government instead of the reverse.

All that am saying is that let us use our words well. We have already corrupted the word POLITICS – it means ‘art and science of administration of government’ and Not ‘dirty devious underhand ways to obtain an upperhand in a hierarchy’. The more we sensationalize elections by using words that represent it like a race, a contest, or worse, a war, then all that we are doing is to make the elections, which is a public issue, a personal one for the politicians. No matter who loses and wins, all that gains momentum is the ego drive of the entire Khadi wearing crowd.

Let us not lose our focus. All the electoral hungama is for that plain and straightforward common man coming out of the polling booth, admiring his middle finger that has the drop of blue indelible ink on it. Remember that he now pays more and more each year for petrol and buys less number of vegetables for the same price. But his income and hunger remain the same.

Priya and Ravi

Limping slightly on her right foot, Priya walks out of her college building. Checks her watch, and it’s 5-ish in the evening. Morning, mercilessly, killed Celsius with its heat, but evening got morning covered. Evening brought along with it, some cool breeze and black clouds from the north. A promise of a much needed rain hung in the air, like the anticipation of meeting a long lost school friend.

Another day of college has ended and the students are hurrying up home. The sky is already quite dark and nobody wants to get caught in the rain. Eagerly waiting autowallahs are called to attention and rapt negotiations ensued. One by one, all the autos departed. People with bikes and cycles followed the same. Priya just stood there under the banyan tree, waiting for the shower to start. She loves the rain. Kinda like Trisha in Varsham. Just that she doesn’t talk to the rain. She likes to listen to its fall. Priya leaned against the tree, waiting patiently for the familiar rush of heart, which comes with the first drops of rain. People say, one day, one becomes too old to play in the rain. Nah! Frolicking with water, falling from the sky, is fun at any age.

Priya unties her hair knot, and lets the breeze handle the rest. Her long, silky hair, dancing in the wind, and the way she pushes back them strands, as they fall on her face, complements the romantic evening.

“Auto madam?” a driver asks, as he pulls up beside her. She slowly nods her head sideways saying no. Her head, still in her favorite thoughts, doesn’t wanna leave the place and go. The auto moves away, revealing the other side of the road, where he is standing beside a Red Pulsar. The bike’s been bought only a few minutes ago and his name is Ravi.

Priya, for a couple of seconds wonders whether those 2 things are real or not. The bike’s shining big time even in low light, and he standing beside it, staring at her. His eyes declaring mine. Not sure whether they are referring to Priya, the bike, or both. Ravi smiles. Priya realizes she has been staring back for long and looks away. She could only manage to look away for a second or two. Her eyes dart back to Ravi.

Handsome.

Priya’s unsuccessful attempts to control her eyes tell Ravi that he got her attention. Time to make his move. With a swift, stylish use of his skinny arms and legs, he unparks the bike from the main stand. The bike is bit too heavy for him. Priya gives an involuntary jerk forward, as the bike almost topples on Ravi. But it’s ok, since Ravi somehow clumsily manages to push the bike into upright position and regains his composure. He looks around quickly, to see if anybody noticed his trail and error. Priya is trying hard to look away and trying harder not to laugh out.

Ravi sees her suppressed laughter and smiles back innocently. He bends down as if to intelligently check the bike’s tyres, and silently curses himself. He knew this was a bad idea to impress Priya. His attitude is not built to act dude. He knows he is not the kind of a person who can show off with a brand new bike and his body is not built for branded clothes. So he decides to walk over to her, before the bike also starts finding him foolish.

Pushing the bike beside him like his faithful pet tiger, Ravi walks towards Priya. “What took you so long?” Priya asks.

“Had to sign many bloody documents. The whole registration process used to be simpler before.”

“Do you really need a bike Ravi?”

“C’mon! It’s my birthday tomorrow.”

“Then get a new car love.” She is concerned. “What did the doctor say after the surgery? Bike riding can be risky for you. And am sure you dint start it yet. Dragged it all the way just to show it to me first.”

“Don’t worry Priya” he assures, “The showroom is just a block away. And the bypass was like an year ago. Am fit as a fiddle. Get on. To the beach we go.”

With her right foot on the metal step, she slowly raises herself onto the seat.

“Careful.” He is concerned. “Your arthritis. Don’t put too much stress on the knee.”

She sits sideways, comfortably on the back seat and slides her hand around his waist. With a simple kiss on his ear, she says “Am fine dear. Now start. I wanna be at the beach when the rain starts.”
As they ride into the wind, with her orange sari pallu gracefully flying behind them, like a beautiful sunset, she’s glad that Ravi bought the bike. It would be a nice gift to Manoj. He would be starting college next week.

On one lonely night

The email contains nothing but 3 black & white photos. As usual. She nods her head from side to side, with a muted smile. He tries so hard to impress her all the time. Showing off with his half sketched writings and incomplete frames. Should she like him for his efforts or pity him for his attempts? Either way sounds the same.

She takes the road less traveled.

A single click here and here and she's done seeing his photos. Likes them but finds something missing. As usual. Gives him a call and asks him not to send anymore photos again. "Why?" he asks, "Are they not good?" "No."
"Then?"
"There is no Then" she frowns. "There is not a point sending them to me. I'm not a professional photographer."
"That's not the reason why am sending them to you every time."
"Then?"

I Love you.

"So?"

"So", a smile explains, "You've become my most important person ever and I wanna share all that's me and mine with you."

"I don't want to."

"I understand. I'll wait"

"I don't want you to"

"I'm not doing it for you love. Its for my love. I'm holding onto the most precious thing I ever saw and loved. I don't need you near to feel you love. Your thoughts in my mind. Your presence in my heart. Your picture in my wallet. Couldn't ask for more. Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there."

She cuts the call. Bloody fellow.Always talks this nonsense.
She switches off the light and lies down on the mattress. Its late and she has to wake up early for work. Pulls the blanket around her tighter and closes her eyes. Bloody fellow. Always talks this nonsense.

A couple of curses and a couple of minutes later, the weight of a long day takes over the steering. Slowly, her eyes become heavy and breathing goes steady. His gentle humming in her ears, softly cradles her into a dreamless sleep.

Flashbacks

“Storytelling is not what I do for a living - it is how I do all that I do while I am living.” Donald Davis


I knew last night’s fried rice would do me no good.

My large intestine woke up before me, and spent the next fifteen minutes trying to wake me up. Quietly I made my way to the bathroom, with my intestine honking to make me go faster.

As I sat there, feeling good about going with the flow, my drowsy mind switched to a video of a tumbler with limited water, a hand carrying it, and two feet rushing on a dirt road along a paddy field, desperately trying to find a secluded spot. I felt grateful. A thank you for planned cities.

My work’s almost done and I have almost gone back to sleep. Wish I had something to do than just sit. I would have brought my Fountainhead here to read, if my fried rice dint rush me in. I could have brought my cell but it wouldn’t come. It has heard the rumors. Rumors of the tragic end of my ex-cell.

People saw me and my cell go into the bathroom together. Later they saw me come out fine. The cell never made it. Its death was blamed on me. They said I mercilessly drowned it. Like it was the garbage that it fell into. I pleaded innocence. I reminded them of the day of me and my cell’s auspicious union at the cell store, where I pledged my solemn vows to be with it through thick and thin. For four years, we never were even an hour apart. It was guaranteed that we would stay together forever.

Tear-faced, I explained why it committed suicide. It was dying. Its suffering was huge from some rare spare part dysfunction. It almost died once. Fortunately, the fat bald guy at the cell service managed to resuscitate it somehow. Wiping his sweat off his brow, the guy told me it hasn’t got much time left. An immediate replacement of one of its essential parts is a must now. I ran some small errands here and there, desperately trying to raise the money. I almost pooled in the required sum. Just wasn’t in time. It couldn’t bear the pain anymore.

They felt the loss I went thru and sympathized with me. Searched for another cell and finally found someone compatible. Months passed and people forgot and only I remember that fateful day.

It started as just another time in the bathroom for me as I sat there relaxing. I was engrossed in the Hindu, reading about what’s gonna happen next with the Nuclear deal between us and them. I forgot I had an appointment. My cell sat waiting for me in my jeans, which I hung up on the wall. We usually spend time together whenever we come here. So it waited. I was reading. It waited. I was still busy reading. It was losing its patience waiting. I moved onto another article. It started calling for me. Loudly. My senses panicked. I thought I told it to remain silent till I’m done. It was an awkward position, where I needed to sit still as much as I needed to stand immediately. Finally, with a lot of haste and extreme muscle stretching, I managed to reach out to my cell. But before I could let it know that I was here, somehow my hand slipped. The scene turned slow-mo from there. My cell jumps my fingers with a small vertical leap and lands with a smack on the newspaper folded on my lap, which tilts slightly downwards, letting my cell take a grand nose dive into the murky depths. It was there and gone within the bat of an eyelid.

Maybe, it was my hurry, or my anger that I got disturbed, or just wet fingers. I know not till this day.

There was never a day in between when I dint regret what has happened. We were so close. Day and night, we used to sit and talk to each other for hours together. Even though considerable time has passed, its memories are still fresh within me. It’s sight real. It’s sound clear. As clear as the angry knocks I hear on the door now, followed by a crisp female voice asking me to come out immediately or face the consequences. It’s funny how time flies as time flies. Time. Fragments of space moving forward with us, connected by our lives’ little tales. I’ll make a move now. Brush, bath and get ready. Start the bike and college. That’s one story. There is another one where I skip and go to my friend’s place. There could be another one where I go back to sleep complaining about pseudo fever. All stories and everything in between are as interesting as its next.

Its time for me to clean up and move onto another story. By the way, to cut it all short… I fumbled, it fell, and I flushed.
Have a Nice Day.

Extinguished

Ladies and Gentlemen! I am at the bus stop. I am wearing my favorite shirt. It’s spotless. It’s neat. It’s clean. Just has been expertly crafted by our colony’s dhobi. My certificates in my right and my watch gleaming in the sun on my left. And why am I here? That’s right people! Today is my day. Today is the day I nail it in! Today is the day of my first ever Interview. And what a day it is! Its feels so good… Looks so good… Smells so good. I know I’m not making any sense, but I’m so excited! It’s an interview for my dream job. Something that I always really wanted to do since I was a child. All those studies, books, schools, colleges, sum up to this day that I have been earnestly waiting for, over the years. That’s it baby! Today is my day. I’m going to crack that interview wide open. Whoever that guy taking my interview is, he better be ready. Ready for this smart guy’s charm and ready wit. One look at me and all my A+ certificates, he will be like “Sir! Why you come all the way, sir? Please sit down sir. Why only one job sir? Take two jobs sir. Take my job also if you like sir!” What more could an employer hope for, than for a guy like me. Tell me?

All these people here at the bus stop look so sullen in the morning. Not me. I’m just all smiles and happy to be alive. Well, its 9 already and the bus would arrive any minute now I guess. Never traveled much in buses before. Guess have to ask one of these sullen guys for which bus to get onto. Look at this guy! He is so tensed and all. Rushing through these long sheets of paper. Busily preparing for god knows… hey! He is also going for the same interview. He has the same letter, the company sent me a few days back, to attend the interview. Cool! Let’s ask him about the bus. “So when do you think our bus would come?” I ask, and give him this friendly wink of understanding that I know, we both are going to the same interview. “5 minutes” he says seriously, adjusting his specs, and dives into those papers again. Preparing for an oral interview!? This kid here needs to loosen up a lot. Look at me! No preparation nothing. It’s all processed and complete in my head. I’m ready to rock and roll!

Good! Here comes my chariot. It’s already filled to the brim. Cool! Now is the time for some foot board traveling. It’s been long since I have done that, and I’m in the mood for an adventure anyway. I squeeze in my hand and manage to get a hold on, on the edge. “Hang on buddy!” I call out, as the bus starts, to my nerdy friend dangling beside me. This is so cool man! Nothing but the road below me if I look down. As if I managed to levitate off the ground. And as the bus picks up speed, I can the feel the rush of air thru my hair. Bright sun and heavy wind on my face. What a combination! Feels just like flyi…

I open my eyes. I’m sprawled on the side of the road, on the grass and on the mud. Many eyes are on me. I try to get up and hear this crunch somewhere near my knee, followed by some excruciating pain. Its better I just sit. I look around for some explanation about what just happened here. Everybody is having this anti foot boarding expression on their faces, which pisses me off. “What happened?! Where is my bus? What am I doing here?!” I shout hoarsely at the nearest bystander. “Try to relax. The ambulance is on the way” he says. Who wants the ambulance? Call that bus back! It may not have gone that far. I need to be on that bus now. Call it back!!
As I am being hauled into the 108, I hear a guy say that he thought he saw a guy in specs push me off the bus. He is not too sure since it happened so fast. I dint care much about it. I don’t care much about anything now. I just wanna go home and get some rest.

Momentum

I knew she was the One. One look and I knew it had to be her. I was just headed home, sipping lemon tea, thinking about the Parent-free week ahead of me, when I caught sight of her. She was standing at the entrance saying bye to someone. I just couldn't take my eyes off her. I found an empty bench opposite her, and just sat there, forgetting to sip the tea, forgetting the time... forgetting to breathe.
She felt the same when she looked at me. She pretended to talk to that grey haired man, but kept throwing those quiet and shy glances at me. Standing at the threshold, her eyes were asking me to take the first step. Oh man!! This is love. I knew she is like that Rainbow about to disappear any second. I didn't want her to. She didn't want to. Alas! Too Late... The whistle sounded, and the train started to move. Her gaze stayed with me as long as it could. Then it got stuck to the last bogie of Guwahati Superfast Express and rolled away. Reality stepped in. I had to get up. I had to move. Finally, got my feet to work the way out. Walking towards the Station exit, one can always wonder, how a guy can fall in love with 6 girls (or was it 7 girls), just within 45 minutes of his trip to the Railway Station.

Makes Sense

The sound of my cell ringing is distracting me. I am trying to concentrate on listening to the wind screaming in my ears. It blows real hard at these heights. This is a building under construction at a busy intersection. I guess the work here has been stopped since sometime. Probably from the time a couple of workers were killed while unloading a lorry of bricks. Unfinished building in the middle of its finished peers. Reminds me of myself.

I have no idea how I ended up all the way up here. It’s ok with me though if I can’t remember how. My end is more important than my means. It’s actually quite good up here. A long stretch of waving blue far off. Twists, turns and rows of trees interlacing to form huge patches of green here and there. Long arteries of roads, alive with noisy people and quiet machines. Crowds. People with their purpose, and machines with their function, long forgotten. Suddenly I’m wishing I wasn’t here to look at them. I can close my eyes to block out the view, but the hope that I can open them again disappoints me. I can doze off, but I will wake up soon. I can blindfold myself but it will start itching.
After all, the best way to make the world disappear is as simple as closing one’s eyes… and keeping them closed.

I think the workers knew that I would wander up here one day. They left without building the parapet wall. I stand on the roughly cemented edge, with a little bit of my chappal hanging out. I look down. It’s pretty high. Not scared, just excited. I smile mischievously at all the innocent bystanders below. They have no idea whats gonna hit them. I take pride in thinking that in a few moments so many eyes would be on me. Soon, one question would be on everyone’s mind “who was that guy!?” I feel light.
The wind is blowing from behind me. One simple leg and hip motion and I would be facing it. Arms stretched wide, and eyes wide open. I guess it doesn’t require much physics. A gentle weight transfer to my back and the wind would take care of the rest. I would be reaching the earth fast with eyes straight towards the heavens. I can feel all my blood pulsating thru my body, my nerves strung tight. My head is as clear as the blue skies above me and I know my time has come. I’m the one who called it.
I take a deep breath and let go. I laugh all the way down.

I am hungry. Feels like ages since I’ve had something proper. Got bored sitting here on my terrace, staring at that god forsaken building all day long. I know I need a bath. It’s been a hot day. I probably can come back later in the night. Or there are always other ways to keep oneself amused.

Expressions

I know I need a bath. I am dripping water from head to toe. I am lying on the ground. A distant light up above, shining brightly through the water falling on me. I might be under the street light, outside in the rain. Maybe in the bathroom, on the floor, with the bathroom light, a little too bright. I need to open my eyes to see the difference. I open. The conductor is asking me where do I get down. Why does he care? The guy standing to the right of the conductor’s left elbow is staring at me. He is carrying a heavy leather briefcase. Full hands shirt. Just ironed trousers. He is still staring. Does he know that I dint brush today? A couple of minutes, he stares away. I reach out and punch him. There is an ink stain on the top right corner of his left sleeve. It’s mocking me. I dint like that stain. I taste my blood. They pushed my onto the road. Its raining hard. I’m left alone under this lonely streetlight. I walk away smiling. He still doesn’t know where I am going.

By Chaitanya Anusha

Kedar is his name (Of course, you know that already. Sorry for redundancy)
He is also known as K and KD;
Age: 22 (as on November 26th, 2008);
Body growth level: Okay;
Mind growth level: Lower Kindergarten;
K is the simplest form of a human being.
K thinks.
K writes.
K reads.
K runs.
K sings.
K dances.
K draws.
K doesn't know how to take care of himself.
K bathes only when absolutely necessary (no, this isn't for water conservation)
K eats and sleeps on a minimum basis only when he wants to.
K likes to be silent.
K speaks only when he really has something to say.
K tries to crack very funny jokes.
K likes to listen.
K is very selfish. (if you know what selfish is)

And..

K is committed (This is new! Did you know that?!)

(Is this called a testimonial?)

The Enigmatic Answer

“Do you believe in god?”
“What!?”
“I asked do you believe in god.”
“Ya! I do. Why do you wanna ask me that now?”
“Nothin man! Just like that. So you think god exists?”
“Shut up and pass that cigarette. I dint bunk my class today so that we can sit and discuss theology!”
“Ya! But still don’t you think its something… something…??”
“Something what?”
“Mysterious! Or something strange. Like look around, so many people believe in him, pray to him so many times a day, even spend so much money trying to please him, still none can actually give a proper answer to his existence.”
“…and how does that bother you?”
“It doesn’t actually bother me. I mean, don’t you want to know whether he is real or not?”
“No”
“Why?”
“Why should I want to?”
“C’mon ra! Just now you said you do believe in god.”
“So?”
“What do you mean so!? Don’t you want to know for sure? Like completely and totally sure whether you are right or wrong.”
“The only reason I said that I believe in god coz’ that’s what my parents have been telling me… my grandmother has been telling me… see those people erecting the tent for ganesh puja… what they have been telling me! And now you too… who wants to disturb my quiet afternoon smoke!”
“You mean you don’t know whether he is real or not?”
“I don’t care whether he is real or not.”
“Arey! How can you say that? We need to know whether there is a god or not. Or at least something like a supreme power or something. You know…”
“No I don’t.”
“Arey!”
“Give me one good reason why I should care.”
“I can give you many!”
“Okay. I’m waiting…”
“Don’t you want to know who made this universe? Who controls the elements? How were you born? Who made this huge ocean… and this bench?
“I’m not totally sure, but I think it’s the GVMC.”
“Ha Ha, real funny! I am serious ra.”
“Chill! Ok, it’s true, I don’t know who made all these… and my subject happens to be medical microbiology… so in what way do you think I need to concern myself with the Big Bang theory? I deal with disease causing microorganisms, not with Origin of life!”
“What if you have to go back to the basics? Like with your germs and all. What if you need to research about how these organisms were created in the first place? Where did they start and when did they actually start affecting people and all that? Then what?”
“Hmmm… good question. I guess then I would sit and analyze all the technical data I have with me. Interpret all the options I see. Use my logical abilities to find an answer. But how can that be a concern for me now? First of all, I know I don’t have to go that far. Secondly, even if I have to, I can’t do anything about it right now coz’ I don’t have all that information. How can I worry about something, without even having a go at it? How can I conclude anything now itself, just like that?
“Maybe… but that doesn’t answer anything.”
“Why?”
“Coz’ you are talking about god like you are talking about some scientific thesis. I am talking about having faith in god and his influence over us. You and me ok. Not all people will do research, trying to find out whether there is a god or not. Believing in god is a matter of faith. Not of experimentation and inferences!”
“So you mean to say we shouldn’t go by our logic?”
“Not exactly…! Like see, there are so many things that happen all the time, which go beyond our understanding. Even for the smarty NASA guys. Logic somehow doesn’t answer everything.”
“True! There are things that go beyond human comprehension.”
“Hence people turn towards god regarding things that are not in their control. Pray to him. Follow religious customs and all. All these stuff for his help.”
“So we need god, since we need his help?”
“You don’t have to look at it that way! I mean all don’t go the temple just because they have a tough exam tomorrow. Oh, shut up! I only went twice, that too it was math, and I managed to pass too. See, it works!”
“Okay! So I wake up early. Dress up neat. Go to the temple. Offer my puja to god. Request him for an easy paper, or a first ranker beside me, or at least a blind invigilator! Right?”
“Well! Not exactly…”
“…and that too, irrespective of how I studied last night for the exam.”
“No! That too is important.”
“I wake up early. Dress up neat. Go to the passport office. Talk to the passport officer. Offer him some money, so that he will speedup my work, or ignore the discrepancies in my paperwork. How about that?”
“How can you relate that to this? This stuff is illegal!”
“I thought if we can do that with god, I guess it can be done the same way with my dear passport officer too. I guess his name is Mr. Babu Rao or something like that. What you say?”
“That’s different man! See, I study my best for the exam and I go to the temple and take god’s blessing. Like we take it from our elders before we do something important. Not every time we pray to god to ask him something. We like him as such, and thank him for all the good things he gave us. What’s wrong with that?”
“Good man! You are on the right track. I think that’s how it should be. But again, that doesn’t apply to me.”
“Why?”
“Coz’ I don’t care either way.”
“As in?”
“Like, I do all that I can do. I give in my best whenever and wherever I can. I need no other help. Be it a blessing or in any other way.”
“Man! You are too conceited.”
“I guess you can call it that.”
“Since you dint take the blessing, what if you fail? I mean asking god for help has its own advantages you know.”
“I’ll take my chances. I am not worried about that. I fail, I fail with no excuses. I tried hard and lost. Fair enough. I never said ‘help me’ when something went wrong. I won’t say ‘thank you’ when I win. I take things as they come. I like that way, and I am pretty much cool with my life.”
“What! Are you some kind of a free spirit individualist or something?”
“Hmm… maybe. I dunno. Never actually thought about. Any more cigarettes left?”
“No ra. All done. You know something, even if tomorrow we come to know that god is real, he won’t be of any use to you. Coz’ I see there is no reason why you need him! Haha! Imagine tomorrow god will appear in front of you, and ask you what do you want, and you will be like… ‘Don’t disturb! We have enough door mats. Go to the next house.’ Man! That would be so funny. What happened? What are you thinking?”
“Nothing… Chal! Let’s go. Let’s go and eat something, and go for a matinee. I’m in a mood for a celebration!”
“Celebrate what?”
“Your second girl friend’s birthday! Shut up and come. Nothing to do for today kada… let’s roam about the city. Where are my bike keys?”
“Here. Where are you running off to? Ok fine, but we need to be back by 9, or my parents will screw me! And I have those assignments to complete for tomorrow too.”
“Chill dude! Tomorrow is another day. Here I start! Last one to reach the noodles stand is a rotten egg!”
Damn! This guy is fast. Wait ra idiot! I am coming…”

a Love never in Vain

The wind gently kissed me.

A distant sun warming up to me for the love I can give.

The birds, all flocked around, chirping for a Hug which will bring flight into their hearts.

I sat there waiting for her, wondering what made nature love me so much that day!

Is it because that I am the luckiest man alive?
Death too, upon me, then and there, I bet can’t take away that luck from this young soul!

A young soul to which the world has opened up its bosom.
Care and comfort, rained upon him.
Something good and great. He could never comprehend (something to do with his hormones probably!)

She made his days pleasant and peaceful.
Nights calm and quiet.
She whispers him to sleep, all the sweet things that are in store for him tomorrow… and the days that follow.

Life was never, this clear to him.
Nothing bothered him anymore.

His past, too distant to be a pain.
His present, a bliss in honey!
His future, a rose about to blossom.

He never stopped to ask whether all this is real. Was it too good to be true?
Spring never came so early and stayed this long.
But why should he worry? All his world is none, but his angel of dreams… and here she comes in flesh and blood to talk to him, all those words of love and light, without which he could never live.

Why the hell this should not be too good to be true?




Yet….

This, as he finds out, is too good to be true!

Those were no words of love and light, but brilliant flashes of darkness thrown at him, making him go blind, numb, and frightened.

He could sense his fallen angel repeating words, which he never thought, could be made into sentences…
Sentences, they were not, but a final ultimatum to all the things he holds dear.

Even now, he remembers not a word from all she has uttered. The essence always remained fresh in him.
The words were never important. Her eyes conveyed all the meanings.

He never knew when she finished her torture, when she walked away, when the night had fallen.
A blink of an eye and the Spring stolen from the Seasons. Forever.

The wind stopped blowing.

The sun hid its face.

The birds lost their voice.
Even they couldn’t believe the scene, they’ve just witnessed.
He couldn’t see their pain. They could see his.

I got up slowly, walked a few paces, something made me turn back.
I was not surprised to see the reel stuck, repeating the horror, in slow agony, again and again, till eternity.
My eyes refused to watch, legs refused to walk.

I had to run.
Run as fast as I can.
Run from this cursed place, before it can eat me alive, bit by bit.
But I guess it wouldn’t make any difference. Death has already come upon me and I just stand there… without my heart.

This dead man could never remember how he spent all these days. (Sheer luck, I suppose!)
But nature abhors no vacuum.
Fear got better of me, lost in pain and lost in life.

Days always cried, nights always taunted.
Asked me about her. They already knew the answer. I guess they wanted me to know too.
I didn’t want to accept it.
I don’t want to face it.

Truth gives knows no options. No room for excuses.

Is this how its going to end?
Is this how he’s going down?
Is this how I wish to complete what I started long back?

Why ask questions when you don’t know what to ask?
Give not this young soul hope or inspiration. Give him not love or trust.
Preach him not, the stories of the Brave. Teach him not, the 101 ways to be Happy.

Just give him my word as I give it to you now.
Shake his hand. Pat his back.
Gift him the ten rupees Bar-one and tell him his love will never go in vain.

I’m sure he will smile back at you.

SHUT UP

If the doctor never told me that I’m a boy,
You would surely find, in my bag, a Barbie toy.

If my mom never told me that I have to go to school,
I would have sat in my house and be not a fool.

If my teacher never told me 1+1 make 2,
I never would have asked her “Says who?”

If my dad never told me that I should always save money,
There would be a hole in my pocket, and man! That would have been funny.

If my friend never told me that he got the first rank,
I probably never would have pushed him into that Tank.

If my girlfriend never told me that I’m her only Mr.
I surely would have also loved her sister.

If my boss never told me that I was the best in the team,
I would have left the company long back and chased my dream.

If my wife never told me that she wanted so much of that, and more of this,
I’m very sure she would have been Happy with just a kiss.

If my children never told me that I’m growing old,
I would have ended up being more cold and bold.

If my priest never told me that its time to redeem my sins,
I never would have walked with him till the bins.

All my life I’ve been told and told…
Listened to him, and listened to her, and now the mystery unfolds.

With ears closed and eyes open. Hands flung wide, and feet fast on the ground,
I see now what I’ve lost and found.

This is what I learnt. A statement from the best in me.
This completes my story which never even made sense to me.

If they never told me “that can’t be done!”
I guess doing that wouldn’t have been this Fun.

ESCAPE

This is no dream.
This is no movie.
Room is dark. The Moon light through the frosted glass window fell directly on us.
We both lay naked on the bed.
My head on her breasts.
No movement from us. Both are totally exhausted.
After 22yrs of patient waiting, I just lost my virginity.

The whole room remains quiet. Watching us from every corner.
The AC blows on. Successfully bringing us closer. She is gently ruffling my hair.
I hang on tighter.
I keep still, listening to her rhythmic beats, as my fingers play with her body.
Fingers walking here and there. Velvet to Velvet.

Ears engrossed in counting her beats per minute.
Eyes mesmerized by the shape of her nipple against the light.
Then she speaks…
“You do realize that this is just a one night stand! Right?”
“Ya! I do.” A voice calls out from me.

Then it hits me hard.
The final brick in reality hits me hard.
What was I thinking? She was never mine.
Probably, never meant to be.
But still…
My lips fumble in search of hers.
Hand to Hand. Head to Head. Heart to Heart.
We do it again.
She’s a monster. I barely manage to catch my breath now and then.
My body busy with pleasure. My mind far from it.

As we sweat it out, my thoughts drift afar.
Tomorrow she will move on. Both in form and implication.
Tomorrow I won’t be alive anymore. Only in implication.
Things will never be the same. My love has changed me.
Forever.
There is a naked girl in front of me and all I can think of is…what do you do when you want something very badly and you know it ain’t coming your way?

Finishing it for the second time and she falls on me, tired and full.
I realized that my face is wet with tears.
“Did it hurt you or something?” She asks.
No is my answer. Yes is the truth.
“You better get some rest. You look real tired.”
She is right. I could barely keep my eyes open.

I watch her sleep all night long.
Cuddled up in the sheets. Her head on my chest, her hand on my waist… I watch her sleep.
She turns around. Her bare back towards me. Softer than any pillow I touched. Slowly without disturbing her I lay my head on it.
I start counting again…

Morning slowly replaces night.
A day was about to begin. Mine was to end.
I get up and dress up quick. Her parents will wake up.
“Going already?” she is awake. Hair unkempt. Blanket barely covering her body as she yawns the question out. Oh my god! She is so sexy.
“Ya, I got some work to do. Close the door and sleep. Will wake you with a ring later.”
“Am I going to see you again?” she asks.

I turn around. I can see that we both are there. A second in time when we both felt it.
A moment where last night was still alive.
The moment passed…
“Na, I don’t think so. Will be a little busy.” I walk away.
As I step down the stairs, I hear her close the door.

Here, I close mine.

I Do

Sitting on the terrace in my shorts.
Sipping hot coffee, reading the paper.
Politics and sports, business and cinema.
Many paragraphs with long sentences. (Not to mention the difficult words!)
I still don’t understand why I read it.
The sun is about to wake up. His first rays warming up the air.
I stand, stretch, and take a deep breath.
A tiny trickle of sweat from the temple. A distant muscle being flexed out from slumber.
Time to go.
The hands in my pockets, and a tune on my lips.
I walk down…
I Think of you.

A silent shower, a colder breakfast.
A dash of deo, and a whole lot of comb.
Blue jeans, red shirt.
Wet hair and a day old stub.
I look into the mirror…
It’s been only a month and I have changed this much.
Sleepless nights and untouched dinners. Bag of bones and bags under my eyes.
Hair all ruffled. Nails all uncut. Empty sockets and a broken heart.
That’s all I got left with me.
It’s been only a month…
I Think of you.

On the road, it begins to rain.
Ah! The faint sweet smell of earth as it gets drenched.
I run for cover. The bus stop is full.
I squeeze in somehow; somewhere between dripping gunny bags and a leaking roof.
I sit and watch a normal day getting beautifully distorted by the rain.
A toddler with a huge raincoat gets a goodbye kiss from his mom as he gets on to the bus.
Urchins playing with paper boats. Watching them disappear down the drain.
A couple huddled tightly under the umbrella as they walk. Hand in Hand.
I clean my wet specs with my wet shirt to see more.
More clouds gather…
I Think of you.

Open highway, fast pace.
Horns and lights, left and right.
Stop and go, up and down below.
The world is spinning fast.
5^th gear in position, the accelerator to the max.
The speedometer rises, so does my heart rate.
I feel the rush of wind and water against my face.
I’m cold, shivering, and wet to the bone marrow.
I’m alive…
I Think of you.

Back bench in class, first to doze off.
Closed eyes and open mind, hovering somewhere between alive and absent.
I drool, I doodle, and I am bored.
Periods move on. Dull story with the same actors.
Fervent jotting down of notes. Ticking away with calculators. A beg here and a borrow there for a pen.
All signs of study! Everybody plays their role well.
I only worry about what the hell is wrong with my watch?
Nirvana is the word I am searching for.
At last! Saved by the bell…
I Think of you.

The rain ceased. The puddles are ready to leave.
I’m back home.
Drop my bag in my room; I go out for a walk.
All the birds are returning to their nests. They worked pretty hard at the office.
Stained collars, crumpled shirts, empty carriages. Behind them is a long day’s work.
I reach the ground.
A game with the buddies is a must after an exhausting day at college. What can be better than a ball in the goal, or a bail off the stump?
Vegetables and fishes are all sold out. Anybody wants to eat Pani-puri? Noodles?
With our stomachs full and muscles all tired, we march back home.
Up in the sky, the sun is going back to sleep. Every cloud gets its silver lining.
I see them…
I think of you.

The moon’s on the high, so am I.
Back on the terrace, under the blanket of tiny dots.
My back on the ground and eyes to the skies.
A coke bottle on one side, and a switched off cell on the other.
Clouds from the Far East. Is that a duck there? Doesn’t that one look like a car?
I let my imagination run wild.
A quiet breeze picks up. The moon floats, the clouds stand.
Haha! I see stillness in motion.
The moon, the clouds, my tiny winking friends, and a chilled carbonated drink. Could have asked for nothing more!
Then…
I think of you.

Tomorrow will be another day.
The drill of the same old routine will continue.
A circle has no edges. It will rain again…
Or maybe not!
Will I read my paper tomorrow or will I save that money to buy myself a gum later?
Will I finish my college or will that backlog keep me for one more year?
Will this be my last second or will Alzheimer’s disease kill me when I’m 90?
So funny life is!
Something new every minute. Something hiding around every corner.
Still I say… Einstein is wrong. Not everything is relative.

As simple as a promise one can make.
As real as every breath I take.
No matter what. No matter where.
Whether I’m lying in the gutter, ready to die,
Or high up in the air, with my wings spread wide.
To my deepest desire. To my admitted pain.
I will always think of you, My Love…

I Do.

That's Me.

Today I start living again.

I feel the sun. Too bright, too dim for my spirit.

I stare long and hard into the light... I feel my own eyes on me.

I don’t fear the fear no more. I’ve embraced it.

Yesterday was long… Tomorrow will be longer… Today will be the longest.

Every second seems to be stretched to an eternity. An eternity is too small for me.

My past can’t touch me. My future can’t see me. My present can’t catch up. What a Loser!!

I want everything. Everything is not what I need.

I don’t wish upon a star. I live among them.

I don’t believe in miracles. I am the only one.

Never complained. Will Never explain.

Don’t want to be good. Bad is not what I am. I am just right.

Deep mountains, Quiet storms, Tall oceans… My wish is my command.

I give nobody the right over me. I have nobody’s right over them.

I state no rules. Rules don’t exist. But… Isn’t that a rule in itself?

Don’t try to understand it. That has been done long back.

No contradictions exist.

No illusion can be stronger than its maker.

No We can be bigger than the I.

My words are my actions. My actions are me.

Strong are my arms. Strong are my legs. Strong is, every word I speak.

I don’t take, I create. I don’t continue I start. I don’t breathe, I live.

Nothing goes beyond my control. Beyond that, my control ceases.

I have been tough on Life. Poor thing! Pushed it too far.

Never learnt to give anything, coz I can only give, what you can give yourself.

I bend down and kiss my feet. I have fallen in love with myself. Just the way I love you, when you love yourself.

I won’t trade my life for anything or for anyone.

I sacrifice nothing. I oblige none. I will listen to all.

Long road, I have to walk before I sleep. I wish to run.

I choose to make a choice. That’s my bottom line.

I stand at the edge of Evolution. I fall over.

I am only an ordinary guy with extraordinary dreams.

Hence I say…

Today I start living again.

The Future Question

"Throughout the centuries, there were men, who took first steps down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision."
Ayn Rand


"I don't know What to do next.....??"
"NO! That has no future....... I won't take it!!"
"It seems good, but my friends are not opting for that. Soooo...... why should I be the odd one out??"
"Yaaaaa!! I know i like it........ but you know my parents. They are like no and stuff like that."

These are the answers we generally give when confronted with questions of our future. The career questions.
CAREER
That one six-letter word, which freaks most of us out. It is that one most important decision we should make, that molds our entire adulthood. A choice which decides whether our breakfast will be in Subway or at a roadside idly stand.
Man!!
That's one important step to take. No wonder, most of us loose our cool in the process.
But still, I ask the question. Is it that tough? That confusing?
Isn't career supposed to be something we enjoy doing...... and also get paid for doing it. Isn't career like a journey to a whole new level, and not a destination in itself?
Isn't it supposed to be.......... a Happy thing!!!!

Still we feel, choosing a career is a big burden dropped down upon us. Some kind of a punishment, nature intended for us, for reaching puberty!
WHY
Where did it all go wrong?
Where did we lose the focus?
Why are we so scared of it?

Let's go to the beginning.
Did you know that there was a time when we were very clear about our future?
Remember the good old days! (Before puberty) The times when we were kids. Some big uncle or aunt would walk up to us and ask what do we want to be when we grow big, and we would like, with our cute voice say that we want to be a doctor, or a pilot, or a singer, or things like that.
I am sure, at that age none of us would have said "let me check the newspaper or ask my friends, to see which is having the "boom" now!"
Kids also never say "please ask my parents about my future. They are the ones who choose what's good for me."
We, so well knew what we wanted from our life, at that age itself! Our plan was already made at that time. It was so clear then.
Where did those days go?
Where did all that innocence and clarity of mind go?

But hey.... then we grow big!
We come to know that the world is bigger than we thought. We get to meet many people, see many places, and experience so many new horizons. So many that, we end up loosing ourselves in that crowd.
Gradually, the "change" factor sets in.
Our favorite songs, along with our favorite bollywood heroes......Change!
Our dress style, our eating habits, our relationships with the people around us....... Change!
So radical is that change that even our attitude, our beliefs, our method of thinking, doesn't remain the same anymore! So many influences from so many sides, make us forget our perception towards life. The lines we drew between right and wrong go haywire.
Bottom line...... We loose our focus.
The Result........ We don't know what we want to be anymore.

Then the day comes, after schooling, where we have to pick that specific course for our career. (Ex: choice for MPC, BiPC or MEC for 2).
I very well know what happens at that stage. All our elders, teachers, friends, and what the heck........ even cousins from America, come to our aid.
C'mon..... Don't lie!! I know what we all did at that time. Frantically, running here and there, trying to get the last minute advise before we turn our application in.
We don't want to know whether we like that subject or not. Our interest lies in knowing whether everybody likes it or not. Hence starts our ruin.


From there we jump to the "obvious" stuff.
"It's obvious Kedar...... I am doing my engineering now, so I'll sit for a campus interview, or write CAT or GATE or Whatever !!"
"Isn't it obvious Kedar........ Since I took BiPC I'll be doing medicine. What do you mean there other fields too? When you take BiPC, the only next logical step we have is doing MBBS. The other options are tough to pursue. You tell me....... What else can i do??"

There is nothing wrong taking the GATE, CAT, or the GRE if that's what you want to do. But doing it, as if that's the only option left to you, or it's some kind of an obligation forced upon you, then it's wrong. It's almost like murder, except that you are both ,the victim and executioner too.
Imagine, if your lifespan is for another 40 years, and you end up choosing something you don't like. Won't those 40 years become some kind of a torture for you?
Is that how you wish to live your life??


WHAT TO DO??
It can not get simpler than this.
Just do the right thing.

Everything starts from one small thing called as "Dream".
Have a big dream? The rest follows.....
A dream is nothing but a recognition of our wants. Our wants are the things which keep us happy all the time. Everything from our choice of toothpaste, to the friends we choose, is the end result of our wants. No matter how small or big that choice is, we should be able to appreciate it, and be glad that we choose it. Nobody wants a bad toothpaste or a bad friend!!
The same goes for your choice of career. Do not worry about whether it has a "future" or not. Become its future. Do not worry if nobody is taking it. You take it. Logical deduction is all you need.
If you are plain lazy, or just disinterested, then nobody can help you.
But wait! I see that you do have a burning desire to prove yourself. To do something, that will be worth your efforts. To be someone everybody can look up to. So don't just sit there . Go ahead and do it.
Just do the right thing.

The best part of the story is how this simple decision, if taken right, by all our youth can change the face of our country. Imagine India having Doctors, Engineers, Athletes, and CEO's working, not for the money or fame, but just for the love of what they have chosen to do. That would be more than enough for us, to become the super power by 2020.

Think about it. Anybody can tell you "How" to travel, but the "Where" to travel, is your sole decision.
There is a road with your name on it.
Walk it.
Claim it.

A Perfectionist...

For the Completion....

Why people dread perfection? They say perfection is only available on the celluloid or in the pages of a heroic epic. We believe perfection is impossible by ordinary human beings. If perfection is achieved by somebody, then that guy is surely a genius, we can never hope to be.

Are we right?

What exactly is this perfection?
It is the art of performing a work to its best quality in the most efficient manner. Trust me.... It's not as tough as it seems. Let me explain with an example....

Suppose you have to make a chocolate cake. You get all the ingredients required and mix them in the appropriate amounts and Voila! The cake is deliciously ready. Now if any one of the ingredients is replaced or if they are not mixed in the right amounts then the cake will not be the cake you wanted.
You might say that each one us have a different type of taste for chocolate, and there is no way of determining whether that chocolate cake is made properly or not..... but we all know that a particular “chocolate cake” will have its own unique taste, and any other taste apart from this will either be bad or a different chocolate cake altogether.
Either way it will not be the chocolate cake you wanted to eat, no matter how good or bad or "differently" it turn out to be.

Hence a proper execution of a set of instructions results in a proper outcome. Any other deviation produces a different outcome which is not intended. This proves that if are keen on getting 100% out of your hard work, you will make sure that every step you take is done to the mark. We have been so used to mediocrity that we dwell in it all the time, and refuse to do a work completely or should I say “to perfection”.
To be a perfectionist is not something that is impossible but, the simple yet hard way of finishing something as it is supposed to be done.

In simple words, being perfect is just doing the right thing at the right time.

The other reason why we dread perfection is that, we are too busy with both our eyes on the destination, and hence lose our interest in the journey.

Like...... 'We all dream of being rich, popular or influential in some way or the other. We look into the space and smile at those dreams. But how many of us also like dreaming about facing all the hardships and hurdles that stop us from being rich, popular and influential… and nevertheless keep smiling.'

How many of us do that??

What I am trying to say is that we should learn to love the troubles that come in our way. Welcome them with open arms, since it is only the sun of the desert that makes us appreciate the shade of the oasis!

Now you will tell me that actual perfection in every thing is impossible. I agree with you.
It is impossible!!
But does a perfectionist means that he does things perfectly.
No!

It means that he makes real honest attempts to do things perfectly.
Here is an example.
You need start from your college and reach your house. Its a thunder storm outside. You might even die in the process of reaching your place. Still, you start. Now I am not going to tell you what the climax will be! You might die trying, or arrive safely.
That’s not important to the Perfectionist.

He has nothing to do with the result. He has already won the battle the very minute he decided to start and then stepped out into the nature’s fury.

Do not fear the result. You do your part, and then sit back, relax, and enjoy, as you see nature taking its own course.

I Am a Hero !!

Let me face it....! I can never be a hero. I am not at all like the guy in Prison Break. Don't even have the brain to break out of my own house.... what the heck can i break out of prison ?? No super-powers either i.e. if you can exclude the magical power of dozing off, as soon as the lesson starts. Bollywood stunts are completely out of question ! Too lazy, too tired...... to run here and there, saving crying mothers, strict fathers, and rouge and lip stick dripping heroines. Boringggg !! Rather let the villain kill them all, and let me watch Tom and Jerry in peace.

But still..... i want to be a hero. They never stopped to inspire me.The way they go on carrying themselves. They way they conjure a solution out of thin air. And most importantly, the way people treat them. People always liked heroes. No matter where they come from or what they do....... people will surely stand for hours in the heat and cold, just for a fleeting glimpse of their favourite hero as these guys run into their Audi. Or people would surely stand at a busy intersection, straining into the sky above, arguing with each other, whether it was a bird, or a plane or, what the heck that they saw flying above their heads right now ?? Won't that be tooo coool ?? Obviously it would be !! To take a shotgun out of your sexy leather jacket, and with a real cool tough dude accent say "AstaLa'Vista, Baby".

Man ! That's life.

But hey...... i never got to enjoy all that. Just because i am not brainy, not brawny (i don't even know if that's a real word), and not that so called "hero" material........ doesn't mean i can not be a hero or at least be treated as one.
I know i am right.
Right ??
Right ????

Well....Whom am i fooling ? Let me face it. I can never be anyone of them. Never. Years went on, and i committed myself to this hard-to-digest facts of my life. Resigned to my fate to be a just another ordinary guy, with..... you know...... ordinary life to lead.

But, one fine day (just like the movies !!), she came and told me that...... picture abhi baaki hey dost ! She told me nothing much. Nothing great...... Just that i don't have to be ordinary no more. I was always born to special, to have big dreams, to do great things, and i have the power to make others believe that they too are as special as me.

She told me that...... even i can be a HERO !!

That's all she said, and she went back into the crowd. Never came back. But i'll never forgot what she gave me.

There is a hero in all of us. Take a small peek into your life. You will know. If you completed a very tough maths assignment, or a tough science project, which you thought you would never be able to even start !!........ you are a HERO. If you thought you don't the courage to apologize to your best friend, about the fight you had with him last night, and then you go........ and say sorry !! You are a HERO. If you felt liking tearing yourself apart for that one puff you want, real bad and then stand up and say "What the hell ?? I can surely live without that dumb cigarette".......and then My Friend, Congratulations, You are a HERO now.

Check your surroundings, There is heroism all around us. We all are heroes. We can be one. Just stand straight with the Right people who wish to the Right things in the world, and there........ you will get your Diploma in Hero management. (I don't even know what that means !!)

But trust me, this tougher than those filmi and cartoon heroes we see. Tougher than anything else. But at the end of the day, you will realize that you are the "ONE", and also that you are that real Hero of your Dreams.

The Beginning....

The night is on the high, a dawn too far.

Slowly and steadily, the mist is killing me, none at my side for the little warmth i crave.

Its all over, its all done, they have won the battle and i have lost the war.

Then i hear, A small voice. Only i can hear it, only i can feel it.

It says nothing, explains nothing. Its nothing but a small voice.

Then i suddenly start to roar, i tear open the darkness and save the dawn and swallow it whole.

Now i am the dawn. I am the light. I am the fire.

The battle begins again....

What is the most important thing in your life? What is that without which you wouldn't survive? What is that thing that makes you as you are?

Long times have we pondered on such questions. Wasted infinite amounts of time and space on worthless theories, looking down alleys that lead nowhere. Looking for "someone" who will show you the right door. Always feeling sad and down that we never get the answers to our questions. I have a question for you. Are you asking the right questions?

Imagine a whole field of weeds and insects. You are assigned the job of cleaning up the place and removing all the infestation. What will you do? Sit down there and brood why and how weeds and insects have evolved through the ages or, feel pity for them since they are also living beings and you have no right to hurt them and its all in Lords hands to do all the dirty work? Would you think like that?

I'll tell you how the man does it. He would'nt waste his time over the so called philosophical or spiritual aspects of his work. He will roll up his slevees and get his nails dirty, and his back will only straighten again, when his work well done. Then he will walk away, tired and hungry, and with a smile of satisfaction on his face.

Have you ever asked yourself, when was the last time you had that smile? How many times you felt that it is not just your limbs or mind you have put in your work but your entire soul? We do nothing, but wander aimlessly in our life, searching for a purpose or a goal,or a person or a thing which will give meanig to our existence, but we don't realize that we are the ones that give life into them and not the reverse.

Man is the one who defines the surroundings around him. He is the one who chooses the road to walk upon, and sometimes makes his own roads. All i say is that, don't waste your time sleeping on the rooftops, seaching for yourself among the stars but stand straight, stretch yourself to the limit and go beyond them.

Don't ask yourself "why should i do it?" or "can i do it?" and stuff like that. Close your eyes for a moment, find that little voice, find that spark in you. Then you will be asking yourself "what do i need, to do this thing?" and "how should i go about doing this thing?". They are the right questions.

You have been sent here with a purpose, and the best part of the story is that you get to choose it, and that's nothing but the most important thing you wish to have in your life.That's your baby you wish to make with your own hands, with your blood, sweat, tears. Feed it with love and care and watch it evolve.

The ending is the best, since you will have that smile on your face, since you just didn't live your life, but also left a legend in every step you took.

Remember. Its not what you do or how you do, that defines you. Its why you do that forms your core.

Shed your inhibitions and fears. Forget the world. Forget yourself. Just go out there, onto the battlefield and get what you want. Grab whatever you can get out of your life. Trust me, there will be no more regrets or sadness in your life, since the day is fought long and hard, and of all the above, a small smile acknowledges your victory.