Paanch kahaniyan – five stories

Women understand women better:

I travelled a lot using public transport when I was in Toronto for 2 years. There generally bus does not stop once it leaves the stand even if you are late just by a second or two. But I was pleasantly surprised when I saw a lady bus driver stopping for a lady who was carrying two heavy bags and it was quite cold and windy outside. I was thinking why we don’t have more women professionals, we would have been better off. They understand each other better.

Appearance does matter:

Generally, I take office cab to commute for work but one day I had to come early so I took metro on my way home after office. As usual metro was crowded so I was standing by a pillar. Three stations passed by and I still couldn’t get a seat. One guy who seemed younger than me got off from his seat and offered me his seat. Despite telling him that I am OK and asked him to stay put but he still got up and insisted me to sit instead. I couldn’t understand why he would offer me a seat. I wasn’t looking tired or sick. I thought he might have to alight at the next stop, but he continued for at least 3-4 more stops. It got me thinking. After much deliberation in my head, it struck me that it could have been the case that I was wearing suit and talking in English. Is this the only criteria? I was happy to get the seat, but it dichotomized me that how people get influenced just by appearance.

Balloon seller at the signal:

While coming back from office, we were waiting at the signal at AIMMS flyover when a ten something years old girl came to our car to sell her balloons. We were not interested to buy balloons, but the girl was relentless. She dropped the balloon inside the car and immediately after, signal turned green and our car started moving. We tried everything from persuading to threatening her so that she can take her balloon back, but she didn’t budge. We finally had to throw the balloon out. Yes, they are living a tough life but what if some mishap happens and there are so many vehicles on the road? Also, I don’t encourage young kids to be wandering in the streets selling things for partly sum.

Encounter with another balloon seller at midnight:

Like any other night we were out for coffee at midnight. After finishing coffee at Galleria market, while our way back we were accosted by a balloon seller. He was pleading so that we could buy a balloon from him. Then suddenly, he started saying, Sir you spend so much in party and food and this balloon costs less than that of a beer price. That kind of infuriated me. We also work hard to get what we get, may not be in as tough conditions as they do but it doesn’t come easy for us as well. I was so put off and decided not to buy his balloons. Should I have bought his balloons?

Kindness goes a long way:

Once I had to go to Mexico Embassy to get my Visa. I entered into office leaving my bag at the gate, but I had to come out to get my office ID card. I opened the gate and asked the gatekeeper if I can take out my ID card. He agreed and said "Sir,aapne jis tareeke se poocha, mai aapke liye kitni bhi baar permission de sakta hoon" (The way you asked me, I can permit you as many times as you want). After taking out my ID card, I closed the door gently and did all the Visa formality.

When I was leaving, the guy comes and says, "Sir, yahan to chaprasi bhi pair se darwaja kholta hai, aap toh bahut gentle hain (Sir, here even peon opens the door by pushing his legs, you are too gentle)”. I smiled, and he reciprocated. Kindness goes a long way

Ending with a smile because it is contagious.

These are true stories. Comment below if you have any interesting story to share.
Tis the season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Shaayari

वैसे तो फ़ूल सारे पसंद हैं इस बग़ीचे के
लेकिन महकूँ तो महकूँ मैं गुलाब की तरह ।
कहा वो मेरे आँगन मे खेल कर बड़ा हुआ
आज वो धूप भी मुझे देता है पैमाने की तरह ।
यहाँ कोई हिंदू कोई मुसलमान कोई सिक्ख कोई ईसाई
जियूँ तो जियूँ मैं यहाँ इंसान की तरह ।
वैसे तो सब एक दूसरे के रंग में रंगे हैं
गर बुलाया जाऊँ मैं तो रहूँ उनके तौर तरीक़ों की तरह।
अब बस एक यही ख़्वाहिश हैं की हर तरफ़ उजाला हो
क्यूँ हीं ना जलना पड़े मुझे जुगनु की तरह । - अनिल

Perils Of Social Media And Free Internet In India

While I am down with cold and cough and enjoying this sedentary life for past 2 days, I thought of livening up my blog after a long hiatus. 

As we are living in a free world and in a free society and are always surrounded by gadgets and internet we often fail to understand that we are missing more than we are thinking we are gaining.

We are earning and working extra hard to upgrade our mobile phones but not to upgrade our education or food or to insure health. We pretend to be a having lot of information but when it comes to knowledge it is scant.

Our priorities are changing. We are making new friends whom we may never meet and losing people whom we have known since childhood. We seem to have forgotten the word repair – if phone is damaged we get a new one, jeans is torn we order a new one, shirt button has come off, we buy a new shirt. Gone are the days when one cycle was used for 2 generations. Internet is taking away our life and we are not able to notice it. Everything is available at the touch of few buttons. We are losing our patience and it has a broader repercussions. If friendship is not working or there is issue in relationship we don’t come together to amend it but try to find ways to get away with it.

People go to places to take photos and not to enjoy the beauty of it. By the time they are back home they only have snaps and can’t remember how the place like was. They will record the fight between two parties and also broadcast it live but wouldn’t come forward to rescue them. Word fear has come to our life and empathy has gone from our dictionary.

Internet has almost taken our most beloved possession – bargaining skills. It indeed is a skill. We order everything online now, even groceries. I feel sense of pride if I can bargain even if it is a few bucks. J

Internet is full of fake news, biased information and preconceived thoughts and we are so credulous to believe whatever is served by internet that we don’t even check the veracity of the truth. We have to check from so many different sources to understand the truth and sometimes that also is not enough.

Use internet and social media wisely. Let us not become servitude to the technology. It is not bad but if not used wisely, it can get worse.

Take care and Happy Diwali!

The Masters Sunday

 

The 82^nd masters is already a memorable one with so many stories. Starting from Jack Nicklaus grandson holing in one in par-3 contest on Wednesday, Tiger Woods returning to masters after 3 years, Vandini Sharma putting up stories about her brother in the associated press, Tony Finau shooting 4 under in his very first round in the masters after having to go through MRI scan in the morning, Phil Mickelson hovering around the cut line and the defending champion Sergio Garcia shooting 8 over on par-5 15^th.

It has been amazing week in Augusta. The champion will be crowned tomorrow. Who will slip into the green jacket? We will know that tomorrow but by looking at the leaderboard it looks like whoever wins it, it will be his first masters win as two times masters champion Bubba Watson is 8 shots off the lead.

Patrick Reed and Rory Mcliroy are at the top of the leaderboard with Reed going into the final round having 3 shots leads. Will we be witnessing another Ryder Cup duel? Will Rory be able to avenge his Ryder Cup loss? After these two at the top, there is Rickie Fowler who had a great outing on Saturday shooting bogey free 7 under and currently sitting at solo third and then one shot off the lead is John Rahm. Can John Ram give back to back masters title to Spain?

Everyone eyes will be on Reed and Mcliroy. They have a great rivalry and patrons love to watch these two whenever they play each other. Reed hasn’t been this close in the masters while Rory can understand the feeling as he was in a similar situation in 2011 but blew it up on Sunday. The pressure will be on both. It will be a matter of nerves. They cannot afford to get carried away or look too far ahead. It will be a great spectacle of golf tomorrow.

Rooting for Rory!

First of many masters for Shubhankar

I haven’t waited this anxiously for a Thursday morning before. The excitement is over the roof as the young Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma will be teeing off for the first time at the coveted masters alongside two local boys Rusell Henrey and Larry Mize.

After great 4 months and terrific play at world golf championship in Mexico last month where he led through 54 holes, Sharma got the invitation to play in the masters, the first of four majors. He is only the fourth Indian player to play in the masters. It is a dream of any golfer to play in this tournament and then getting to play this early in life is indeed a special moment for him and for the entire nation.

While all the attention will be on resurgent Tiger woods, Phil Mickelson who is vying to become the oldest masters champion at the age of 47, Rory Mcilroy who will have an opportunity to complete the career grand slam or Sergio Garcia who will try to defend his title after Tiger Woods did 16 years back. Each one of them is chasing greatness.

The field consists of some great past champions and some exciting young guns, but there is man who can inspire billion people back home if he does well. It will help increase games popularity in Asia like Tiger was able to do for US and for rest of the world.

Sharma is playing well and he is high on confidence. He is calm and composed and is not stupefied by grandeur of the occasion or is overawed by seeing his childhood hero Tiger Woods.

I hope he starts well on Thursday and carries on the momentum. He has got the great caddy in Mitch Knox who has experience of caddying a major winner and have walked on the greens umpteen times which will help him making better and informed decision while hitting the shots or rolling the putts.

Asian golf is in good hands but we need more players and role models to draw more people into this sport. A masters winner here can open the doors for this change.

Hoping for a strong finish from Shubhankar Sharma on his first masters tournament. All the best!

Go Shubhankar!

He tees off at 12:32 EST or 22:02 IST on Thursday.