Set me free

It is not the first time that I have stumbled upon a bird In a cage. Perhaps it had become part of a wholesale ambience that surrounds as and that which the combined system senses of visual info and analysis in our brains relegated to a secure background not to be acted upon

But last evening as I made my way through the thick greenery that envelopes most buildings in this city I came across this cage and a bird within .

I would have probably walked had I not noticed an almost melancholic look on its face as it seemed to stare into the yonder . It seemed to be lost in thought it's attention hypnotized by something in the horizon .

Well the horizon was not too far as I chased its vector of gaze and saw a clump of trees from where more fortunate free birds seemed to be making a racket and flying in and out. The cacophony of the chirping which could normally be lost in the noise of our thoughts took on a very disturbing new dimension of freedom or lack of it

The bird saw what its lost destiny in front of it through the cage. It knew there was a purpose to the wings that it possesses but that which had become probably atrophied from lack of usage . It knowledge of mobility and Use of appendages was lost . It had started to get used to the idea that perhaps the 180 degree turn that it took within the cage on its swinging rod was the extent of the movement granted by god to it . Till now perhaps .

The visual confuses the poor creature. Pecking gratefully at grains thrown by its owners it had assumed that it had been fortunate . But the green foliage seemed like a different world . It tried to move its now redundant wings and failed.

I had to move on leaving the avian to ponder over its existence now hijacked by its more powerful masters

I just wonder which law deems it ok to trap a a flying being in a prison with a spade volume of less than 15 liters, disallow usage of its basic and fundamental right as designed by nature. I always disliked zoos but I think a bigger crime is right in our homes where we trap living beings for our pleasure.

I saw myself cruelly hoping the bird died and released itself of this human torture rather than die slowly everyday staring at its luckier flying companions . If anyone owns please do rethink about the practice and let them go .

( The picture attached is purely representative )

Pan Bonds Spring

A little touristic Knick knack resembling the Golden eye duck stared with inanimate intensity from the dark furnished teak table top it rested on. The pages of The world is not Enough by Raymond Benson flapped happily whenever the rotating table fan swished air in its direction. A rotund metal container in not so classy blue printing stood proudly as three pairs of eyes peered at it.

PB looked up at his manager and the visitor who stood reverently with folded hands, his thick lips pursed in a semi maniacal smile.

“Mamma Mia’, he said.’ You really mean it. This is a killer product “

Tim blinked hard stuttering  

“ That appears to be true sir, he believes very strongly in it” Pointing to the still permanently smiling gentleman thick fingered hand still folded.

“Apparently the product is appreciated Pan country across all segments. Apparently very sustainable” Tim continued.

PB looked up. An assignment had come his way after a long time and he was itching to hold a gun again.

 “Tell me more”

Tim looked back at the visitor seeking support.

The visitor gave a Dracula grin and said “Sir you can paint the town red sir". Very divine smelling product sir. Lots of flavor sir. Changes the color of the teeth”

PB smiled “I get it. You guys from that part of the world are extremely smart in natural products. So it should be a breath freshener - teeth whitener you are talking about right? “

“Sir very colorful product sir. We have been painting the country for a long, long time now. Our presence is felt and is visible in every corner of the land, building, road, alleys, theatres you name it”

“Haah Yes you folks are really colorful I know I know” PB smiles knowledgeably

“So sir Pukka samjhu “

PB blinks at Tim with eyebrows raised “What does that mean?”

Tim thinks, looks back at the expectant face of the visitor who indeed looks very different from the more industrialist types he had met before. But the promise of millions was hard to ignore. Easy money to hold a can the way a gun was held was enough to hijack his curiosity.

“Sir I think he wants confirmation”

PB pauses “But why me?”  He asks stroking his beard

The visitor perks up

“Sir who better than you to tell people to die another day”

“Sorry??” PB is startled

“Sir I meant that the world has not had enough of our product. Tomorrow never dies. Have more today. And sir if you can say that holding it close to your chest the way you do with your gun and smile through your impressive closed lips”

“Uh Ok But it is a teeth whitener right, so how can one do it through closed lips?”

“Sir don’t you worry about that. It will look like you have just had some to chew, you are impressed with the fresh breath, the divine smell spreads around and you kill every one with the tin… err I mean you kill with your looks…er I mean you kill the competition with your looks “

“Hmmm You know I am an ardent supporter of health campaigns especially cancer. Hope all that is taken care of?”

“Yes sir, absolutely yes sir, We have been contributing to increase the masses in that cause for decades now. Even the ruling class with their whites are big buyers of our products. You will be happy sir. Your fan following will amplify like Nobody’s business “

PB looks at Tim. Tim Nods. The deal is struck

The visitor leaves.

PB looks up at Tim.

“I think we struck Gold here. That is one NiceTin. I look forward to holding it to my heart. Been ages since I did that. I hope that country chews on that a lot and welcomes my contribution to their whitening and freshening era”

Tim nods “Time will tell sir “

Puja, Pandal and Bhog

The sound of bamboos tumbling out of a truck's back inevitably had us springing out of bed. The uniformly sized sticks crashing happily together on the ground like a bunch of friends rollicking in the dust and bouncing up and down on each other before settling down and allowing the next batch to land next to them. Living right next to the open air auditorium, we rushed to a safe distance to watch the half open truck unloading its very serious ware. The pandal makers stood nearby sizing up the package received and indicating that they had received one bunch less. These besides the excited loudspeakers were the first important signs that week long Durga Puja celebrations could soon take over the neighbourhood.

The entire programme managed by the Durga Puja Sarbojanin samiti was always an exercise in excellent project management. I can safely say that I have never seen more unified efforts than by a group of people( employees of HAL where my father worked) from the Bengali community. Their visit to our homes a month before the actual festivities even before the bamboos struck ground usually heralded the oncoming festival season. They usually came in groups of four and being acquainted with father they usually began the banter with a “ Aur Ranganath Saab, tho kitna tickets “ and some light jokes and denied cups of tea later they moved onto jovially to the next house in the colony. Have never seen a more apolitical set of friends gathering public approval with so much ease.

Back to the bamboos then , which were followed by blue plastic tarpaulins and the bundles of jute. The workers usually arrived overnight and by the next morning an impressive structure networking a roof holding the blue tarpaulin spawning hundreds of meters appeared. In one important corner god began to take shape. Specially invited artists from Kolkata worked with delicate hands to put to life goddess Durga from her invisible omnipresence. We never tired of watching them through the night because it also gave us a legitimate reason to stay awake and outside our homes.

And not to mention the lovely mattresses which became our acrobatic ground. Jumping up and tumbling down, performing head over heels gymnastics with the friendly mattress cushioning our impact before the good natured uncles gently chased us away.

The celebrations were usually culminated daily with number of shows ranging from Sachin Shankar-Mamta Shankar with their outstanding dance shows to lovely Marathi dramas, a much awaited Orchestra either by Babla Orchestra ( Kalyanji anandji's younger brother) or late Manna De. We had the opportunity to watch Kavita Krishnamurthy, Sudesh Bhosle, Late Gopi Krishna, Hema Malini and even Johnny Lever.

Bengalis besides being extremely jovial and chatty are also amongst the most sweet people. No wonder then I have a host of close friends from amongst them and understand Bengali fairly well. It helps that my name also helps people mistake me to be one.

Having Bengali friends also meant that one got to partake of the best part of Durga puja, the Bhog. The special Khichdi which is made during the day at the pandal when beautifully dressed women in their rich red sarees, hands and legs hennaed a beautiful and the men in their light brown cotton collarless kurtas ( only from Kolkata with their flowery embroidery around the neck) came together in jolly celebration. I always had a standing invite.

Today as the festival progresses in India, I recalled the bhog and called up my friends Somnath and Jayathi to get a detailed recipe of the Bhog khichadi. Strong visual memories came rushing back and I had to make this East Indian version of the Pongol with a rollicking mix of Mung Bean and Rice frolicking around with roasted spices ranging from clove to star anise to cinnamon.

The result was good but still something was missing. I think it was the vibrant positive air at mass gatherings of happy humans that makes the cooking even more smack worthy. Well for now this should be a good second to anchor down the beautiful memories before they disappeared

Happy Durga Puja friends !

Air conditioned welcome - Claustrophobic Exit

Have you people ever noticed that when we go to a movie we enter through a glamorous entry door
with the most fanciful decor that the multiplex can afford and blasting air conditioners requiring you to reach out for your cardigans ushered in by the most polite staff this side of the exit door

Fast forward to the end of the movie and post the mandatory credits song number you look out for the smiling usher and face a stern cleaning personnel who glares at your popcorn burping face . You hurriedly deposit your carton and plastic cup into the yawning plastic bag and then look towards the shady hidden exit door next to the screen as she now stands blocking the door you came in by.

Yes sir . You cannot go out as you came in . You stumble out into a claustrophobic windowless unpainted tunnel that reeks of two decades old trapped air and seems to keep opening through mysterious dirty doors into even more darker dirtier pathways till you hit the final door

You either land straight out in the garbage laden footpath behind the multiplex or thrown out straight into a road away from the mall and the multiplex

I wonder at the marketing strategy of the mall and multiplex folks. Do they perhaps conclude that these margarine or caramel burping folks have hit rock bottom on their liquidity and there is no lurking customer within so no point in pampering him or her with a plush exit . Or perhaps they are ashamed of us . " How could you even watch this movie ? Sneak away please . We are ashamed of you !"

Of course I spend my silent tread back through the dirty corridor listening to the hushed critique of the patrons and wonder what was so " dhaasu" or "sahee" about the movie.

The most telling comment I have always heard is " This is a Dvd movie . No point in wasting time here "

I wonder if it meant we can waste time watching the movie anyway but no point wasting time walking through the dirty exits

Sorry Sindhu you lost the gold because of Me !

Sorry PV Sindhu. You lost because of me! I know I am as shocked as you are. But believe me I have convinced myself that you lost the gold because of me. So it started like this.

Post a hard day’s work I reached my home and proceeded to unlace my shoes outside the door. There was the faint sound of TV with those clucking shuttle sounds coming through the lizard gap at the bottom. Lizard gap ..What’s that you ask ? Let me not digress because that is another big story. So I push open the door with the friendly auto lock and I find an apparition. Well not an apparition really. But for want of a better word on finding my stunned wife staring wide eyed at the TV set. I looked at the vision on the Television and found you Sindhu playing with a slightly grim expression on your face. The score was around 15-10 I think.

My wife turned and glared at me with Hindi Soap opera eyes – ( what is soap opera eye ..you ask ? Well that is another story ) -

“ Why did you come ?”

I managed a “ Uh ! “ because she is thrilled whenever I come home late and I thought my involuntary attempts to come home earlier than usual could work in my favor.

“ Do you know what you have done ? “ She growled

“ No” I said meekly

“ She was one game ahead and now she is down and trailing “

“But ‘, I protested , ‘ she is trailing NOW .. so she must have been doing weakly since sometime ?” I asked probing possible exclusion from being insinuated with more serious charges.

“ No “ she said and stomped off to the kitchen.

I looked back at the screen marveling at the extremely competitive game in progress. Marin’s forehand was strong I told myself flinching that it could be the undoing for my compatriot . She kept slipping while my wife reappeared with hot scalding tea in a cup in her hands. She looked at the screen and glared accusingly.

“ Look what you have done!! She has lost her confidence now ever since you have come“ I stared back at the TV screen stupefied not sure of my till now, unknown super powers, currently not acting in a beneficial way for sure.

“ Look Mrs. There seems to be some mistake you are blaming me for the game for no valid reason . You cannot be doing this “ I looked hoping to find some look of possible relief abdication in blame.

But no luck. You PV Sindhu lost another point and that was that. The remote was seized from the table . The TV switched off. I walked off not too sure. I wondered when my wife had had morphed from a quiet invisible individual who mouths seventy words per week without emotion to a fiery and superstitious patriot. After a while I made the mistake I came back and switched the TV back on and you were doing well at 14 -10 . Well not too bad. And then 16 -12. Oh oh this was getting bad. I told myself . My wife wanted nothing but gold. And I had to work really hard. I tried focusing for you. But Marin was good. Soon it was over and we were delighted with the silver you won. Or so I thought when I heard a shriek behind me.

“ You switched it on again ? . Don’t you realize your being inside with the TV off was helping her gain ground . She was 10-10 and she won the first game reversing her bad game. You’re not being in the house helped a lot. The least you could have done for your country is to have stayed back at office till this match was over !!! “ Eyes fiery red looked at accusingly at me.

I shriveled. Horrified at how I had let my nation down.

“ But she won the silver for us . The first silver? “ I offered meekly as a consolation. But my wife could have none of it.

“ Just stop. You let the gold slip away. Poor girl had put her heart and soul into it” My wife stomped to the kitchen and returned with my food plate in her hands.

“ Now have your dinner” I looked at the TV set.

The TV anchor was announcing that you PV Sindhu had settled for silver. Settled ? Settled ? I mean like you fought for it. Why settled? I looked back at my dinner. Two Indian breads sabotaged to their sunny side in dark brown up stared back at me. Well the cook was angry for sure. I too settled to my dinner. The only silver lining in my day I guess.

But Sindhu O Sindhu. Congratulations You have done the nation proud ! Next time I promise to keep the TV switched off or stay back at the office .

Jai Hind !

Sorry Sindhu you lost the gold because of Me !

Sorry PV Sindhu. You lost because of me! I know I am as shocked as you are. But believe me I have convinced myself that you lost the gold because of me. So it started like this.

Post a hard day’s work I reached my home and proceeded to unlace my shoes outside the door. There was the faint sound of TV with those clucking shuttle sounds coming through the lizard gap at the bottom. Lizard gap ..What’s that you ask ? Let me not digress because that is another big story. So I push open the door with the friendly auto lock and I find an apparition. Well not an apparition really. But for want of a better word on finding my stunned wife staring wide eyed at the TV set. I looked at the vision on the Television and found you Sindhu playing with a slightly grim expression on your face. The score was around 15-10 I think.

My wife turned and glared at me with Hindi Soap opera eyes – ( what is soap opera eye ..you ask ? Well that is another story ) -

“ Why did you come ?”

I managed a “ Uh ! “ because she is thrilled whenever I come home late and I thought my involuntary attempts to come home earlier than usual could work in my favor.

“ Do you know what you have done ? “ She growled

“ No” I said meekly

“ She was one game ahead and now she is down and trailing “

“But ‘, I protested , ‘ she is trailing NOW .. so she must have been doing weakly since sometime ?” I asked probing possible exclusion from being insinuated with more serious charges.

“ No “ she said and stomped off to the kitchen.

I looked back at the screen marveling at the extremely competitive game in progress. Marin’s forehand was strong I told myself flinching that it could be the undoing for my compatriot . She kept slipping while my wife reappeared with hot scalding tea in a cup in her hands. She looked at the screen and glared accusingly.

“ Look what you have done!! She has lost her confidence now ever since you have come“ I stared back at the TV screen stupefied not sure of my till now, unknown super powers, currently not acting in a beneficial way for sure.

“ Look Mrs. There seems to be some mistake you are blaming me for the game for no valid reason . You cannot be doing this “ I looked hoping to find some look of possible relief abdication in blame.

But no luck. You PV Sindhu lost another point and that was that. The remote was seized from the table . The TV switched off. I walked off not too sure. I wondered when my wife had had morphed from a quiet invisible individual who mouths seventy words per week without emotion to a fiery and superstitious patriot. After a while I made the mistake I came back and switched the TV back on and you were doing well at 14 -10 . Well not too bad. And then 16 -12. Oh oh this was getting bad. I told myself . My wife wanted nothing but gold. And I had to work really hard. I tried focusing for you. But Marin was good. Soon it was over and we were delighted with the silver you won. Or so I thought when I heard a shriek behind me.

“ You switched it on again ? . Don’t you realize your being inside with the TV off was helping her gain ground . She was 10-10 and she won the first game reversing her bad game. You’re not being in the house helped a lot. The least you could have done for your country is to have stayed back at office till this match was over !!! “ Eyes fiery red looked at accusingly at me.

I shriveled. Horrified at how I had let my nation down.

“ But she won the silver for us . The first silver? “ I offered meekly as a consolation. But my wife could have none of it.

“ Just stop. You let the gold slip away. Poor girl had put her heart and soul into it” My wife stomped to the kitchen and returned with my food plate in her hands.

“ Now have your dinner” I looked at the TV set.

The TV anchor was announcing that you PV Sindhu had settled for silver. Settled ? Settled ? I mean like you fought for it. Why settled? I looked back at my dinner. Two Indian breads sabotaged to their sunny side in dark brown up stared back at me. Well the cook was angry for sure. I too settled to my dinner. The only silver lining in my day I guess.

But Sindhu O Sindhu. Congratulations You have done the nation proud ! Next time I promise to keep the TV switched off or stay back at the office .

Jai Hind !

Silver smiles

Three dozen mikes of channels were stuck into a gentleman's face . Actually just about his chest . The gentleman appeared to be standing up or possibly on a chair as he appeared to be straining to catch some spectacular event unfolding in front of him . But the 3 dozen miles did not appear interested in capturing what was unfolding behind their backs

The mikes almost wanted to transform themselves into cameras to capture every straining vein of the gentleman.
The anchor meanwhile guessed in soft tones . "Something really good is unfolding there "

True we were keen too , to know .

Finally the suspense ended. The gentleman broke into a huge dignified roar compounded with wide smiles

The anchor went " yes she has done it "
And the gentleman jumped down while the miles still on a coalition course with the gentleman s face

The anchor finally clarified " Silver medal assured . She is now into the finals "

A small picture appeared at the corner of the screen while one gasped finally understanding. PV Sindhu had finally gone into the finals assuring India of a silver at least.

Well this is television today . You can watch the actual match and the real protagonist in replays . For now the channels are concerned with the " fantastic " scenes with the friends and families . Sigh !

Applause PVS ! Will search the channels to really search your winning moment :-)