Heal the World !

Uh..been away a bit, haven't I ?? Blame it on dog days at work which a coolie grins and bears to receive some meager wage rewards. Afterall, there is more than one mouth to feed..

So this evening happens to be yet another one where the mind is thinking of those numerous lines of code which produced a simple result - error; the eyes peering out of the bus window yet not registering; the body crying out silently still hoping to be heard of it's disdain at having to sleep irregular hours on account of the mind not being able to fix the code. Predictably it's a Bridget Jone's mood !

As the bus pulled over at a stop and passengers alighted/disembarked on journies, my eyes wandered and fixed on a figure, slowly bringing the old lady into sharp focus. She was panting but still ain't no quitter. Carrying her shopping bags, half buckling under their weight, she hastened towards the bus with every ounce of energy her slender frame could muster. I could make out the lines on her face, her wrinkled skin and her desperation to not miss this bus - probably she had a reason to try so hard.

Just as she nearly made it to the bus, just as she came up to the big swinging doors and slightly lifted one leg to try and board, the driver slammed the doors shut. They looked at each other for a brief moment - stoic, stony glance versus an indignant yet pleading eyes. The bus moved on..leaving her behind.

I simply cannot understand people.. the indifference, uncompassion and the insensitivity the soul is capable of ! Probably I should give myself some rest, might wake up to see a world somehow better(am I to believe my own words ??) or atleast a resolution to something 'BUG'ging me..

Not just the cat has nine lives !

Standing on the busy station platform crowded with the daily commuters, it was just another Monday to work.. The two white pigeons that dared defy rules cozily nestling against each other claiming their space on the railway track attracted all my attention. I veered a tad close to the platform edge, smile on my face, to have a better look. Call it instinct, call it sheer luck or call it an act of God.. something made me look up in time to notice the fast approaching train and I pulled back hurriedly as the train sped by.. At the precise moment when the last carriage passed me, the public announcement system blared, 'The train now approaching platform no.4 does not stop here, please stand well behind the edge of platform no.4..'

Can't help but think caution may or may not work but precaution will..

Day One.. part Three

Speak..Indian language !
Absolutely gobsmacked I blink at the mobile he thrust at me.. The situation was getting a bit too out of hand for my liking..
TTS: Please ask her to come here soon.
You are marked, I tell myself. Resigning myself to the then current circumstances, I speak into the phone,
Hello..?? Helloo ??
The palm tree bathed in sunset screen saver stared at me once again..
"Sorry, looks like the call got disconnected.. we are back to the waiting game !"
TTS seemed certainly far from happy and in no mood for games, understandably.
Yoo-hoo..!! My Gate info flashed on the display board screen and lit up my face.. scram now, says inner voice.
I face TTS to break the news. "Sorry again, but I need to move on. Incidentally am boarding the Los Angeles flight too but the one leaving before Shivani's does.. I would have offered to hand this mobile over to the cabin crew to announce and pass on had we been on the same flight but obviously it does not seem the case ! I need to rush, so wish you Happy Holidays..good bye.."
Reluctantly TTS mumbles safe flight and good vacation in return
Am free !! I start walking towards my Gate with a lil spring in my step.. vacation is happening afterall..

Listen up people, I played my part with all sincerity mean me could muster. Had been on the edge ever since morning when the airline's ground staff approached me to ask if I would be willing to give up my seat for an alternate flight and $1200(commercialism at its confusing heights!) - ah, everything in this world comes with a price tag, so did my vacation..but the tag would make it loud and clear it's priceless ! I was meaning to meet a good friend after a long time..years that might have even convinced us we have gone seperate ways. In the name of friendship, it was imperitive I board that flight.. and leave no stones unturned at that. So off I go..looking for directions to my Gate..

At this point in time, ideally I believe us to be on the same page. Did Shivani make it to Terminal 3 in time ?? Did she manage to locate TTS.. did they both meet ?? Did she unite with her Motorola mobile ?? Na tum jaano na hum..but we are the kind who love happy endings and therefore hope so tad emotionally..

Life is short, sweet AND full of surprises.. so doston, picture abhi bhi baaki hai.. ;) !

Day One.. part Two

Do you know to use a Motorola mobile ??
I must have started looking way beyond my years already or it was the way I dressed - better work on both ! Or simply, he was wearing wrong pair of glasses.
I nod in reply. Flipping open the Motorola V3, I dismiss the palm tree bathed in sunset screen saver to access address book.
Hello..??
I had found, zeroed in and dialled India-Home.
"Hi..uh, this is a call from er, Heathrow Terminal 3, I believe Shivani lost her mobile and am wondering if possibly there is someway we can reach thru to her. She can collect her mobile from the security over here.."
Voice at the other end: I am her sister here. She called to inform us about her lost mobile..she is waiting to board the 11.00AM flight to Los Angeles(uh, am possibly tampering with info here :p)..
I was unsure of what now. "Thanks, I will keep the official here informed and in the meantime if Shivani is to ring you back, do let her know her mobile is safe and can be collected.."
Earnestly, I relay entire conversation to TTS, who now scans the crowd expectantly but to my unease does not budge my side. Am now serious about the tee on my next vacation.
We heard the mobile in question ring, jolting us both. TTS hurriedly flips open the instrument, fumbles with the controls before finally speaking into it..
TTS: Hello..??
TTS: Yes, can you please collect it from me.. meet me inside Terminal 3..
His sense of humour, to me, takes the cake.. Terminal 3 spans 1000's of square feet, lined with many number of duty free shops, with innumerable passengers milling about shopping and waiting for Gate info on their respective flights. I had to intervene on compassion grounds..
"Hey, do you reckon mentioning the Dixons in Terminal 3 as your location could help her perhaps ??"
Could not help but strongly believe I have spoken out aloud to myself.
More minutes pass. I impatiently glance at the Gate information board, pocketing my mp3 - it had somehow lost it's appeal. TTS has not moved places at all, only shifted his legs.
Mobile rings once again but we are not jolted - I had half expected a dozen calls by then !
TTS: Hello.. yes, am still in Terminal 3. Please come and collect your mobile soon.
Looks like TTS is a person who stands by his word - metaphorically and actually too ! It takes all kinds of people to make the world and by now was glad am not Shivani but me !

We both need a break now - reliving such an experience takes courage, energy and a fridge raid ! Come back if you want more..

Day One.. part One.

Ah..don't you love to be on a vacation ?? The luxury of extra sleep, additional dream time, goodbye to cooking, forget those calories are all part of the pamper yourself package teaching you to spend rather than save.

Awaiting my gate information, I was happily tuning into the mp3 when I heard a voice, "Shivani ??"(yeah, obviously I changed the name).. I looked up from my reverie enquiringly at the Terminal 3 Security towering over me. "Indian ??", he continued shooting questions. "Yes, but am not Shivani", I answered thinking if ma had ever thought of such nice ones before calling me names officially :p !
TTS(Towering Terminal Security): Shivani lost her mobile..
Seems Hilary is losing the election. So ??
I stared at him, clueless at why am being fed such classified information.
TTS: Can you speak ??
Excuse me ! One of us is deaf, possibly more, definitely dumb..and it's not ME.
TTS: Can you speak ??
But this time he pointed to the mobile in his hand, driving home the message.
I nodded, "Uh, whom do you want me to speak to ??" Perhaps I should wear a Tee that announces, 'Stay away.. 1st day of vacation' perhaps ??
TTS: finally breaks away from his one liners but launches into rapid sentences.. You can call someone in India, her home. She has reported the mobile as lost and needs to be passed the message it can be collected from me here in Terminal 3.
He missed the point completely..am now sure about his score in History lessons. India does not speak ONE but atleast 22 languages and chances are I might blink and make anyone at Shivani's home blink too ! But khair ek hindustani hi dusre hindustani ke kaam aa sakta hai.. all around the world Indians speak one language - English. I reached out for the mobile.

Ah, caught your curiosity, did I ?? Watch this space for more guys..

Glory be..

Sacrifice.. always thought this to be a powerfully sensitive word until I happened to read this article which proved me wrong and shattered my misconception. The author has made his point, loud and clear and Bips has done it again - hogged the limelight for her unselfish self !

AND to think there are soldiers in the army actually sacrificing their lives but do not get mentioned any place..what a bunch of losers!! Well, such is life I say !

Good ol' times !

Snoozing the alarm, a pair of groggy eyes flutter open trying to manually focus in the dark. 06.30AM. Pitch black windows. Ah, usual around this time of the year. Shrugging off the sheets, feet firmly on the ground, one goes about the morning routine in an ever so mechanical fashion. WHERE did the toothbrush disappear ?? Nevermind. WHAT happened to the comb ?? No worries. Grabbing the jacket with one hand and b'fast with the other, I next make haste to find my shoes which having worn is realized to be the wrong pair. White trainers never go well with black blazers. Stumbling onto the street, the crack of dawn is finally visible to the naked eye and so is the big Red Bus.. whoa, I almost forgot the timings ! Dashing down the road towards the bus stop with the chill wind blowing life into my senses, one awakens to be enlightened.. 'I am back.. it's all going to be normal..'

Apologies for my rude disappearance patrons.. with such insolence as not to leave behind a note informing my absence. Perhaps I was hoping secretly, there would still be traffic showing on my statcounter.. To confess, I took a break this festival season to Columbus only knows where in search of the Sun.. reality caught up with me somehow forcing me to find my way back but a settling in time is mandatory it seems.

Rukhavat ke liye khet hain but will soon come back to bug you all as always..