Pappu Can't (Can) Dance...!! -A Blog on Mumbai Terror..

Small joke to start of with…

“.A shooter wins Gold medal n’ Government gives him 1+ crore in awards.

Another shooter Dies Fighting against Terrorists n Govt pays him 5 lacks..!!... Chak De India”

(Sorry if you do not feel it as a joke…!)

Heart felt salute to all the brave NSG commondoes, Army personnel, Poor "Government" Mumbai Police employees,unsung heroes who helped to rescue the victims alive and all people who died in the terror attack without any of their fault.

Now, why Pappu came in the middle of terror attack ?? Let me start explaining who is Pappu. ….Pappu is a synonym for a person who is an introvert, who has inferiority complex, who accepts the things how they come not willing to change, neither complain nor express anything and has lotz of things hidden within which never comes out....in short a "dumb fellow"..! ...more specific you can say..."We ...all Indians (Pappus)..!! "

I intentionally waited little longer to post this blog. I knew this huge echo of hue-n-cry of an anger will remain only for first few days when the wound is fresh.But we all forget (or busy life will make us to forget) and move on...uttering most irritating words like "Resilient", "Spirit" , "Bounce-back"...! Because “Pappu” within us knows that he can't do anything else other than "moving on with the life".

In these three days, I did not turn-away my eyes from my television set, kept on staring "Exclusive/Breaking" news, swapping all news channels time to time. Channels were covering news, i was covering them..! But, wondered how these news channels and reporters behaved during their news coverage. Sensationalizing the dead ones, making terrorists as Heroes…making each news as Breaking and exclusive…may be best time for news channels to make money. Reporters looked like as if they were trying best to get their "Year-end appraisal". Even when the time I was crying inside, for me news all looked funny and dramatic..…even as politicians, news channels also learnt how to influence us…poor Pappus.
All seemed selfish…each one “struggling for his own existence by climbing on others”.

I do want to talk about terror attack, intelligence failure, Government's negligence ...so on and so forth. But, i know you and me are already got bugged up of it.

So, let us give them time to interospect..and atleast act now onwards...as they say “better late than never..!” Because, we Indians believe in forgiving ...even forgiving enemy..! That’s our tradition...you know..!!...he he he....Holy shit..! non-sense…such a crap...!

Burning the candles (...in the wind or shall I say storm..?) for the dead terror victims looked spectacular on TV. Felt like India is back..!! Later realized that same feeling i had got at the end of previous blast...!!

This time Pappu looked a bit serious. He is waking up.Pappu at last expressing his hidden voices. But, he needs to keep shouting till his voice heard. One moment of ignorance from his responsibility is directly proportional to another terror strike.

Pappu should start from ground level.......he needs to stop accepting/giving bribe, needs to be alert on surrounding people, needs to stop asking extra charges in an Auto-rickshaw, needs to stop spreading hatred towards other communities, needs to raise his voice when some politician tries to divide people (for his gain ) based on cast, state or any other regional issues, needs to stop eve-teasing in a crowded festival season,needs to stop staring at nudity in spiritual river when women are taking bath, needs to vote, needs to get regular emission certificate to his vehicle, needs to work with dedication in Government offices........and so on so forth..

If every Pappu keep his eyes open and proud on himself for his deeds.....i bet there won’t be any terror strike..! Trust me.....even Pappu Can Dance....!!

Water..Water ...Everywhere...!!

Tip...tip..tip....I could still hear the water falling from my helmet even in a noisy traffic and in a heavy rain. Its been a heavy rain-fall from last two months in a State's capitol.

8.20PM ....I was getting drenched completely on my two-wheeler on my way to home from the office and its a successive 18th day. I could not see the vehicles infront of me, if I close my helmet glass. So, i had to open the glass...but, suddenly "rich" fellow's stupid car took-over me and flushed my face with a stagnant "dirty" water resting on a state capitol's high-way. I said to him..."Lucky You"...and slowed down my two-wheeler and wiped my eyes with my wet hand. Frustration at its best...!!
It was still raining heavily from a heaven. Holy shit..!! ...On a signal when we all "poor" two-wheeler fellows stopped to countdown seconds, I saw few of my fellow traffic-mates
(two-wheelers association)...they are shaking their head with a sercastic smile...as if saying .."Nothing gonna change..!!" , even I shook my head with an acceptance. Atleast for a moment , i thought India united..!!
Just wondering, shall I blame "poor" economy,since I do not have a car...or shall I blame a hopeless administration who prepares the roads..??

Let me ask few questions, if some body dare to take:

1.Capitol city of a state is not ready to take so much of rain, what about the poor-villages and small cities?? Why can not Government take the pre-cautionaty
measures to avoid "chaos" during rainy season?? I presume, we have weather forecast team...!!
2.Its strange when I saw "stagnant" rain-water, on a fly over. On a fly-over how come Government do not have a mechanism, to make rain-water flow from the road?
3.Oops...Give me a break..!! Government thinking of building "Artificial clouds" ...for god sake, first try to control "normal rain". Simple theory of life goes, "If you want something,be ready to face the consequences....!! ", Are we ready?? is the BIG question.
Questions increases...as long as there are no answers...!!!

Administration, at least wake up before angry clouds pisses on you again..!!!

ohhhhh....+ve...!!

Blood flowing from my nerve in a pipe and getting accumulated in polythene blood container drop by drop....!!
While blood was flowing, my mind starts wandering again. I remembered the first time when I donated blood in my college without informing to my parents lying on a not-so-clean bed. I still do not know why I took that decision. I was not real philanthropic person at that time. And there is no one who required urgent blood to survive...!! I can say, cuz of my instinct, as most of them say...

I was very thin at that time. (Look little better now..!! :-))
I still remember blood stopped momentarily while it was flowing...i got shocked obviously. But, nurse assured me, that it is common and happens.
Sigh of relief for me....!! I felt very happy, once I completed successfully donating blood first time, i felt like a real soldier, who had finished First World War..!!

With this excitement I called my parents at night on the same day to announce my heroism. You might be guessing what will happen in a middle class-orthodox-Brahmin
family....yup...I got all the scolding. That’s obvious with respect to them. For them blood should only come out if there is anything unexpected bad thing happens.
They did not bother about biological science. :-( I disconnected the call as early as I could. But I was still at cloud nine.
You always feel good when you do some good things "First Time" and it’s unforgettable. Like some body truly said,” You will never get a second chance to make first time".

Still my tiny blood drops were flowing...150ml more to go...!!! In the mean time nurse came and asked whether I am feeling fine. I nodded my head with an agreement.

Now, the second time.....I was feeling little bit socially responsible after I started earning. Thanks to my previous company, they had arranged "Blood Donation" Program. This time I had to do...so that I could be proud of myself. It went all good. And this time, I did not call to my parents and also came to know its not a heroism at all. Of course, I had to do, if I want to do.

"You are done...!!" , nurse said. I suddenly came out of my past. Removed a needle from my nurve. I asked her, whether was I third time successful..??? . She said,” Yes" with a confident smile. This time I had donated a my O +ve blood to a needy person. Relative of the patient looked at me with his numb eyes and thanked me.

I patted on his back with a smile and said, "Dude…. I do not mind donating blood again after 3 months..!! ".

Had a juice....and came out from Hospital thinking how many more times I can donate my hot red blood.....anyways what should I do having excessive blood in my body....!!! Bloody blood...I will come again..!!

Italian Girl To Suicide Point..!!

One more journey started with playing cards in an A/C Sleeper Bus ....after having quick dinner. Before that every one of us finished work..and we were anxiously looking forward to the journey.
Seemed like Pavya is the one who was eager to go...as he was the first one to arrive at the bus spot nearly 2 hours before the departure…!! ;-)

Me,Avi and Shiv came by an Auto-rikshaw after cursing so many times Bangalore traffic. Shekh,Harsha and Harsha's two more "magical legs"(
thats how Harsha prefer to call..!! ) arrived in another Auto-rikshaw. All are set to fly to Madhurai..!!

I brought Playing cards, Avi brought his amazing i-pod, Pavya brought his digicam (which he has bought from Korea), Harsha brought Magic stics , Shiv with his two heavy bags as though he is going for live onsite project and Shekh with his fast track glasses. Fast track glasses and i-pod had huge competition among us. As the Bus started making an unusual sound we were all settled in random way. Shekh and Harsha started research on Avi's i-pod in a lower berth. Me,Pavya,Shiv and Avi started playing cards in an upper berth. First game we decided to play was "Bluff"...!! ;-) Guess...!! Who won ?? ..me..ofcourse !! You can say "Bluff Master"…!! After that game I felt little uncomfortable in upper berth...and thought, its better to have some good sleep...before exploring Kodaikanal. I slept at another lower berth, where later Avi has joined after few more card-games.

When I was about to sleep, looked at the window glass....it was a dark hazy night..!! Temperature was decreasing slowly in the Bus...I felt little cold...but was not shivering. Sudden rush of random thoughts made me to forget about the cold. I started thinking on upcoming blog of my own (This blog..!!)…. First of all why I mentioned that I won the Bluff game??
Do I seek attention from rest of others..? or Do I blowing my own triumph..?? ..We always have tendency to shout louder when we "win" or "successful" in some things.. but
on the other side we maintain silence like a dumb animal, like a soul-less object when we "lost" or "failed". …..such a paradox….!! Once I read some where ,”To differentiate between diamond and stone, first you have to know which is diamond and which is stone..!!” So as Success and Failure. Keeping feet firmly on the ground how long/higher you go, is most important.

"Tshhhhhhhhh...." sudden noise of the brake woke me up and we reached Madhurai at 07.30 am. We all took our luggage and got down from the Bus at last.

We all went to have quick tea and planned about our next move. It was a chaos...!! ;-) All had different opinion...!!! ....Madhurai -The city of biggest temple I have ever seen ...looked very different city...unknown language, different tradition. My eyes were scattering all over Madurai people…to avoid chaotic discussion.
....But finally we agreed in unison on a plan. Plan was that "we all go to Kodai and stay at night and next day evening at 4 pm we will be returning to Madurai."

Tourist mini-bus to Kodai was ready for us. I was the first person to get in to the Bus...!! My eyes did not take much time to identify a place in a Bus to sit. Guess…where?? ….beside a Italian-tourist girl...!! ;-) Me and Italian girl ( who came to visit India on a vacation) sat in a two seater...!! Rubbing each other ....on a consistent time interval made my journey from Madurai to Kodai a memorable one....!!! Oooops..!! I lost my friends.....where are they....?? ....yup they were also got in to the bus..and occupied some empty seats…(Are they jealous on me sitting with opposite “color” girl..?? Hope they were not…!! ;-) ) Through out the three hours journey, we both (me and Italian gal) lost in the conversation...!! I felt very nice to talk with a
that girl....hope she also felt the same..!!! But, when I asked about her experience in India...answer was shocking, but not surprising....!! She expressed in anger and disbelief that
some Indians tried to cheat her...!! And even some tried to mis-use her....( She did not tell me what and how exactly they did…!! )....I was laughing inside after listening to her. Being an Indian for me it did not look very strange….when I reminded about Mumbai molestation....!!! To divert her mind and to gain respect for India from an outsider, I gave her a “English Literature In India” book to read, which I carried along with me. Her eyes were glittering after reading a poem from that book…!! Purpose served..!!! ;-)

Beautiful nature surrounded Kodai made us to stop our “daily” crisis conversation. Rubbing shoulders detached…No fire arise though…!! ;-) We both started to fill our eyes with deep valleys, Rock Mountains surrounded by huge forest and a cloud cover on top of that…!! We were getting glimpses of how Kodai might be..….when we actually reach there. Mini-bus was going upwards in a dangerous curvy road…as if trying to catch the clouds, if not sky.

Yup…..we finally reached Kodai….as we all got down from the mini-bus, I waived my hand towards Cecilla ( yup…same Italian tourist girl) to say Good Bye..!! Did I say that her eyes were wet..?? …no way…!!! She was sending me off with her beautiful smile…..Adieu..…Cecilla..!!


We all went to a Lodge and booked three rooms (2x3)…and got ready within an hour to finish off seeing some of the “Tourist” spots at Kodai. It was 4pm. We went to Lake which was very near by to our Lodge. Huge crowd gathered at the Lake….some were doing Cycling, some were boating and some were riding the horse….!! We all also wanted to do all these things….so we started with Cycling..(as most of us were not did cycling for long time)..!! Harsha and Me took a two seater cycle with four peddles….and the cycle was very heavy…!! Praveen, Shiv, Avi, Shekh took there favorite one seater cycle…and we had to complete 6kms “curvy circle”. ( Is it correct word
…how can it be a circle..if it is curvy..??? or how can it be a curvy if it is circle…?? Some time word Circle is used if “starting” and “end” points are same during the travel…!! )

We finished 6kms cycling after few stops in between…for snaps and for Masala tea...!! Masala tea was very nice ….so as the typical Kodai “old” man who prepared the tea, ( He was wearing Monkey” woolen cap,woolen sweater) I requested him to pose for a snap with all of us…!! He gracefully accepted and here we go…..”Click”….!!! That was one of my favorite snap during this trip.

And then we did boating…and then horse riding….!! First time heart came in my mouth…by seeing Harsha doing Horse riding…( as Harsha fractured his leg and still a rod inside his leg…!! ).
Thankfully he did it successfully. ;-) Then we went to Coco-Rocks…to look at “Telescopic” view of Kodai…for that we needed to climb around 100 meters up. We are all worried about Harsha…but brave guy…he managed. We were all enjoying…taking snaps and enjoying the beauty of Nature.
Shekh gave an unusual idea for taking snaps while we were on air while jumping….!! Me,Shiv,Avi, Praveen all were giving jumping pose to the camera….!! And really it was a nice fun….and improved our quality of taking “motion” pictures…!! Praveen was the best amongst all of us..!! …When Harsha also tried to jump….we all did not control our anger…and scolded him like anything asking him to take care about his legs…so that he can jump more in future…!! Harsha felt little sad (so did we)….and next 15-20 mins he lost in his own world….!!!

After all these sight seeing..we gathered at our hotel room and planned for wild night party. We decided to bring dinner to our hotel room, so that we can chat in privacy without disturbing others.
(As I speak very louder…..!! ;-) ) While having dinner Shekh again initiated hot topic for discussion …where each one of us had to share his honest opinions on others. As night is becoming is darker and darker…our discussion heated up. Contradicting some one’s opinion, and
applauding the unanimous opinion…and justifying some ones thoughts…as each one was right in his own point of view…!! But it was a very meaningful and interesting discussion ,we as a group ever had…..till that point. At the end….”Intellectually Introspect” was a buzzword which stood apart….!!! ;-)


We went to our respective room to have a warm sleep in chilled Kodai climate. Avi slept beside me…and within few moments he went to deep sleep…!! I knew he was tired….!! So were we.
But….I can not sleep very early even after exhausting energy…(Insomniac you know..!!;-)) I started “intellectually Introspect” ing again from the healthy discussion we had few hours ago. Did I say anything wrong to any one..?? or did I shout too much..?? or did I bore others…?? Or was I too funny…??.... Before coming to anything “concrete” , goddess of sleep embraced me with her both hands…!! I went in dead state ….!!

Next day we booked a Car to visit all remaining places in Kodai…and all were again assembled at one room at around 9am. We had a quick break-fast and jumped into Car…!! All were spectacularly dressed for the upcoming “snaps”…!! We visited some places..(I am not able to recollect names of each spots..!! excuse me..!! L) that includes one small water falls in a huge Forest, Pine–forest ( amazing Pine trees which are very tall…nearly touching the sky…and straight like an arrow.),Huge lake ( very romantic…we must have opposite sex to enjoy there .Mostly couple’s place) in between the high mountains, Suicide Point…now they call as Green valley point..but I still feel later one was best description of that spot. Very scary…and if we looked down from that view our heart beats could stop…!! In such a cliff-hanger to maintain “broken” leg Harsha was a difficult part…..But this time we did not scold him..but were looking after him each moment…!! He was enjoying fearlessly.

Guyz…did I miss any spots….?? Later we went to a shop where all except me bought Kodai’s home made Chocolates…but I saved those money and bought Masala tea powder for my parents..!!

Packed our luggage and left from our Hotel rooms at around 4.30pm and again the same mini-bus to Madhurai was waiting for us….this time also I jumped first in to the bus..but “NO LUCK”….No Italian girl…!! L Sat beside a bus-driver. As Bus was departing from Kodai .. I was feeling sad and was looking at the window to see final glimpses of beautiful nature….!! Nature at its best….!!

As Bus came to the earth from heaven ...I felt like sleepy..or shall I deliberately making myself to sleep, to have a quick flash-back about Kodai’s nature…I do not know..!!! But, when I closed my eyes ...all frames from Italian Girl to Suicide point were passing like a motion picture.


Note:
1.Later next day after my friend’s marriage we went to Huge Madurai-Meenaxi temple…nothing more to describe from there, as I felt like “Lost in the crowd”.

2.Kodai- is a short form for Kodaikanal

My movie list

Listing some of the good English movies which I have watched ....and the list is dynamic..!! ;-)

Good will hunting
The Station Master
50 First Dates
Feel Like heaven
Chasing Liberty
Little Manhatten
Click
Lucky You
Freedom Writers
Breaking and Entering
Frida
Breaking Up
Midaq Alley (Mexican+English)
Fools Rush In
In The Name of Butterflies
Persuit Of Happiness

Books - A Physical torture…!!!

Over 7000 books...over 1000 authors...over 5 racks and over 12 rows, thats how we arranged books in our home. Sad part of me is that I have never glanced any of the books, apart from few. "Few" are the only one whose author is my Dad. Infact Kannada poetry. Not only read my father's books, but even gave my "foolish" comments....that the only thing I am good at. Commenting on others....!! And worst part of it, how many times I thought "I would have never commented like that..!! " But arrow pulled from a bow can not be taken back. That sucks…. Oops..I am wandering somewhere else...letz get back to blog….!!

Yup…. Over 7000 books. Lifting these books from the racks and arranging these books in order back is biggest hurdle we face in our home, whenever we decide to paint entire home to make home look “new”..!! We keep weekends dedicated to lifting books and same for arranging. Mom used to prepare tea in between when we are working on this huge task.

Whenever I pull around 20 books from rack, each time I wish I would have read the book facing towards me i.e.20th book. And every time 20th book will be a different one..!!! In other words all books are “highly” intellectual ones and deserved to read once. You take any good author’s name you will find at least one book in pile of books.

There are not too many romantic novel and stories….!!! Most of them are “philosophical”….Contradictory philosophies of Gandhi, Osho, Madhwa, Lenin, Tagore …etc. Amazing different logical answers to each of your questions against life. Looks each one are correct in some ways.

There was a thought in one of the book (may be from Zen philosophy…!! I am not sure..!! ) .
Every human being used to say “I have more than you” . Like I have more “money” than you,
I have more “respect” than you, I have more “good looking” than you , I have more “books” than you…!!! …..not only good things…even I have more “sorrows” than you. And the thought even prolonged saying that even a person having more sorrows has sub-consciously feels “happy”..as he has more…!!!
Even I hate this thought…..but worth to spend some time thinking on this thought.

Thought books will give only mental strain….but tremendous physical strain too when you have too many books…!! Finally yet another time successfully “lifted” around 7000 books ….and when we completed the task I promised myself that I will read at least “few” books in coming days…!!

Me and Dad finally get exhausted,,,,,in the mean time heard a loud voice from my mom…”Tea is ready…!!! “ :-)

Its another day...!!

Clock is ticking.....new year on the way....Thanks to Gregorion calender...!! :-)

Celebration over!!...came out from new year hang-over..!! Came out from vivid 31st December night...!! Body is paining after a "dirty" dancing. My phone bill has doubled....!! Felt as though I am at cloud 9..in these count down hours-minuites-seconds to the new year 2008......!!

After all this....it was 1st of January...!! Nothing has changed really...all looks same as previous day....!! Same old office hours, same old heavy-traffic congestion..,same old struggle for existance.., same old "Yeh dil mange more..!!" attitude....Unconcious cunning nature...all remain the same.

Hey..how was your party...?? hey how much did you drink yesterday night....how much money you spent..? where did you go for party? did galz were there..?? how they were looking...??.....such irrelevant questions (as though every one trying to say they had great time compared to others) popping up from every body.

In the middle of the overwhelming celebration of new year night...we all forget the most important thing "interospection". What all the things I have done wrong in previous year....and what I planned to achieve in new year...!!

One more funny thing would be the "new year resolution...!! ;-)". Usually it intends to give-up some "bad" habits which were there previously. Just wondering, should we really wait for "new year" to give-up our bad habits...?? Infact, some people will carry their bad habits till Jan 1st of new year...to make resolution. Quite funny..isn't it?? :-)

Every one has to celebrate some "rear" days...to forget rest of the things..which any way will come along with you day-today like a shadow...!! But celebration must also includes looking back and looking forward..!!

Just remembered a poem from Robert Frost...
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep"

Very true...letz kick-on with life...Ultimately celebration of life that is what matters....and this celebration is every moment...!!