Semester exams are going on and hence consequentially and inevitably I am in a melancholy temper. When in blue doldrums, I prefer introspection. Among all and sundry thoughts that I revisited one contemplation provoked me the most, which was “How my life changed from what it was to what it became, rather than what it was trying to become.” Here are few such changes which I regret having been accustomed to. The underline squabble is I say I am adapted to it, but then why I lament.
My ‘changed’ Life:
How it changed from a carefree childhood to a meticulous grown-up life,
but then why I find there is more anxiety around.
How it changed from sharing grandma’s space to having room of my own,
but then why I miss her stories in insomniac nights.
How it changed from innocent friendships to purpose based contacts,
but then why I long for a listener to share thoughts.
How it changed from everyday katti-milli to a matured band of associates,
but then why I am tangled amid tacit ego-clashes.
How it changed from endless cycling in neighborhood to just small walks,
but then why I feel more tired by comfortable rest.
How it changed from saving pennies for monthly comics to host of novels,
but then why I sometime lack my reading interest.
How it changed from gully cricket amid neighbor’s ire to electronic games,
but then why I miss the obstinacy to win contest.
How it changed from the early morning sky to mid-day waking patterns,
but then why I feel so weary to glimpse the sun.
How it changed from raju’s small provisional shop to big shopping malls,
but then why I find it jaded to enter the shop.
How it changed from long awaited festivals to just any of other holiday,
but then why I feel nostalgic reminiscences of past.
How it changed from playing I-spy during power cuts to escaping faces,
but then why I complain of suffering from loneliness.
How it changed from infinite inquisitiveness to excellent information base,
but then why I ask question whose reply doesn’t matter.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Every dog has its day
Before we begin, an important information for you, this post is not written by your moronic blogger Saurabh. He realized lately that how lacklusterous his last few post have been and how readers (who I suppose are hardly any) are exasperated. So he begged me to write something interesting in a guest column. As we are long time friends, meeting every morning at the tea shop sharply at 4’o clock just before we go to sleep, I couldn’t say no to him and so reluctantly accepted. So, here I go.
Hi all humans out there,
Firstly let me introduce myself. My name is Tiger and I am a stray dog. Few people also christen me Tommy but I abhor that name as it sounds identical to the name of an exceedingly inefficient housecat created by William Hannah and Joseph Barbara, unable to settle square with a little mouse called Jerry. Also it reminds me of an aged Tommy lee Jones who himself declares that there is ‘No country for the old men’. I prefer being called ‘Tiger’ as it projects my youthful vitality and sex appeal; you can snoop to my gorgeous bitch friend as testimonials.
I am young and lazy and I hate incompetence. I try to bark on fellow dogs and bitches a lot, on the benefits of being dynamic, that sucks a lot of my vigor and so I became lethargic. They don’t seem to be bothered for my words, but I confidently believe every dog has its day and till then I ought to keep barking. I remain wakeful the whole night barking devotedly unless and until it perturbs the night watchman and my fellow stray mates.
Mother used to say that dogs and human had a long term friendly relationship since the very early civilization. But somehow you people were the first to discover fire and wheel, while we were busy in guarding and hunting for you and in some of our private roadside activities. These two meager discoveries made you supercilious and disdainful; you people began projecting us as a loyal servant than a sincere friend. That really agitated our community. Mama told that once there was even a plan for mass uprising among dogs during early 1950’s, but the very gratifying human act of giving priority to a bitch called ‘Laika’ as the first native of earth in space, greatly placated the agitation. Other times too there were some minute aggression when our dog friend Pluto was shown as a subordinate to a mouse called Mickey, but again human creations like Scooby-doo, 101 Dalmatians’, Turner and Hooch, White Fang etc helped a lot in pacifying the probable revolts.
Many of you human feel its misfortune being stray dog. Unfortunately they don’t realize how much contentment it is being a stray dog. Agastya Sen of English august fame recognized this and stated ‘I wished to be a domesticated male stray dog because they lived the best life. They are assured of food and because they are stray they don’t have to guard the house to earn their foods.’ He is an intelligent man, an IAS officer do I need any more evidence. In my opinion an IAS job is very similar to that of a stray dog. I have seen many stray blue light vehicles wandering here and there on government fuel without having to return anything significant in return as service.
Contrary to what you humans might think about us I think it is pity hard being human. Must be even harder being students. Daily I see many of them coming to the tea shop which is place of my night halt at 3:30 A.M. There eyes tired with the one night study routine and there talk filled with the frustration about the system they are put into. Its pity to see young kids strained into smoking by the profound quantity of work load.
Though my mother is not sure about the whereabouts of even my own father but she says that once during the time of my grandpa’s grandpa’s grandpa in late 60s there was a movement in dog community to make provision for essential educational training for each and every dog. This campaigning started somewhere in US, crossed the Atlantic and spread away throughout Europe. The consensus of dog’s of Middle East and Africa was not sought of as there dogs were still waiting for similar provisions for girl child educational training. But when it reached India we vehemently opposed such provisions. We send our delegates to US and Europe along with few NRIs of brain drain stream, under secret missions, in order to explain them how Indians are doing fine in spite of low literacy rate. It took time and effort but our mission was successful at the end. I thank God my ancestors succeeded.
Friends I would have loved to share few interesting incidents of my life worth sharing, but an impatient Saurabh says I have this limitation of space. I think he is afraid I have not been of much help to the blog, but after reading the prior posts I think, so is not he. In case if he allows me another chance I hope we can continue till then bye and take care.
Bark N Snarl fully yours
Tiger
Hi all humans out there,
Firstly let me introduce myself. My name is Tiger and I am a stray dog. Few people also christen me Tommy but I abhor that name as it sounds identical to the name of an exceedingly inefficient housecat created by William Hannah and Joseph Barbara, unable to settle square with a little mouse called Jerry. Also it reminds me of an aged Tommy lee Jones who himself declares that there is ‘No country for the old men’. I prefer being called ‘Tiger’ as it projects my youthful vitality and sex appeal; you can snoop to my gorgeous bitch friend as testimonials.
I am young and lazy and I hate incompetence. I try to bark on fellow dogs and bitches a lot, on the benefits of being dynamic, that sucks a lot of my vigor and so I became lethargic. They don’t seem to be bothered for my words, but I confidently believe every dog has its day and till then I ought to keep barking. I remain wakeful the whole night barking devotedly unless and until it perturbs the night watchman and my fellow stray mates.
Mother used to say that dogs and human had a long term friendly relationship since the very early civilization. But somehow you people were the first to discover fire and wheel, while we were busy in guarding and hunting for you and in some of our private roadside activities. These two meager discoveries made you supercilious and disdainful; you people began projecting us as a loyal servant than a sincere friend. That really agitated our community. Mama told that once there was even a plan for mass uprising among dogs during early 1950’s, but the very gratifying human act of giving priority to a bitch called ‘Laika’ as the first native of earth in space, greatly placated the agitation. Other times too there were some minute aggression when our dog friend Pluto was shown as a subordinate to a mouse called Mickey, but again human creations like Scooby-doo, 101 Dalmatians’, Turner and Hooch, White Fang etc helped a lot in pacifying the probable revolts.
Many of you human feel its misfortune being stray dog. Unfortunately they don’t realize how much contentment it is being a stray dog. Agastya Sen of English august fame recognized this and stated ‘I wished to be a domesticated male stray dog because they lived the best life. They are assured of food and because they are stray they don’t have to guard the house to earn their foods.’ He is an intelligent man, an IAS officer do I need any more evidence. In my opinion an IAS job is very similar to that of a stray dog. I have seen many stray blue light vehicles wandering here and there on government fuel without having to return anything significant in return as service.
Contrary to what you humans might think about us I think it is pity hard being human. Must be even harder being students. Daily I see many of them coming to the tea shop which is place of my night halt at 3:30 A.M. There eyes tired with the one night study routine and there talk filled with the frustration about the system they are put into. Its pity to see young kids strained into smoking by the profound quantity of work load.
Though my mother is not sure about the whereabouts of even my own father but she says that once during the time of my grandpa’s grandpa’s grandpa in late 60s there was a movement in dog community to make provision for essential educational training for each and every dog. This campaigning started somewhere in US, crossed the Atlantic and spread away throughout Europe. The consensus of dog’s of Middle East and Africa was not sought of as there dogs were still waiting for similar provisions for girl child educational training. But when it reached India we vehemently opposed such provisions. We send our delegates to US and Europe along with few NRIs of brain drain stream, under secret missions, in order to explain them how Indians are doing fine in spite of low literacy rate. It took time and effort but our mission was successful at the end. I thank God my ancestors succeeded.
Friends I would have loved to share few interesting incidents of my life worth sharing, but an impatient Saurabh says I have this limitation of space. I think he is afraid I have not been of much help to the blog, but after reading the prior posts I think, so is not he. In case if he allows me another chance I hope we can continue till then bye and take care.
Bark N Snarl fully yours
Tiger
Friday, April 3, 2009
WISH YOU WERE HERE....
Once upon a time, not very far from now, in a small city there was a group of ingenuous friends. They were friends even before they vaguely knew what friendship really was. It was not their similarities which bonded them as one but in fact it was the respect for each others differences which tied them…some times these differences clashed causing fiddling spars but it was at all times a brief one, reason “ they didn’t knew how to exist without each other..”
Sooner the differences mixed and formed a common color which identified each of them. Their backgrounds and circumstances may have influenced who they were...But their friendship was most responsible for what they became. I speak so cause I happen to be one from that posse.
I never realized when but we almost made it a custom to squander our evenings meeting on the banks of Ganga (sounds more possessive than Ganges) away from the ghats, where we were all left alone by ourselves. Particularly I and Abhishek were most addicted to that tranquil corner away from the clamor of the city at a place where no one could hear us and no one could observe us.
Well at that day it was Abhishek who instigated, I who straight away agreed and Varun who had no other choice but to amalgamate. That was mid-summer time and the stream was partly desiccated leaving behind lumps of sand. Three of us were sitting by the river-side with our backs on sand and feet in water, feeling the unruffled breeze after a long scorching day spend partly indoor at Abhishek’s home and then at a countryside dhaaba, taking hot tea in mid summer afternoon.
“So in what direction is the wind blowing?” asked Abhishek.
I took some sand in my hand and let it fall freely, observing its drift I replied “eastwards”.
“Then you better come and sit on my right” said Abhishek “else the smoke will exasperate you” and lighted his cigarette.
“You know Abhishek there is this excellent thing in you” said Varun.
“Tell me out what do you find good in me”
“It is the way you care for others” concluded Varun and then jointly laughed with me.
“Chalo! at least someone realized my goodness” said Abhishek blithely.
“But there is a bad point too” it was me this time.
“Ok tell me the hell whatever it is?” voiced Abhishek sounding interested.
I pointed the smoke while shifting to his right. Now when he was to justify his so called manhood I became a Kid.
“Listen kid! It’s your first year in college. Let see how will you disapprove it later on” replied he.
“Let’s first see will we be like us that long” pointed Varun.
I didn’t bothered to react to any of them. I doubted Abhishek’s query and found Varun’s prophecy pointless. After that for a long while no one voiced a single word. Each one intoxicated partially by the smoke, second hand and direct, and fairly by their thoughts delved more into it. I have this awful habit of filling a gap in a conversation by my own voice but that day due to no particular reason even I too preferred to remain silent. May be, lying there, we were mesmerized by our sense of alienation from other people or may be we knew each other long enough that we didn’t needed words to convey our thoughts. Whatever it was, for a long while, we remained just like that.
It’s almost two and a half year since then and never again we three got a chance to sit there together. In fact none of us three has seen other since a year. What Varun forecasted, unfortunately seems to have happened. We are no more us. Today in the evening I recalled all this while wandering alone desperately. I am yet to form an opinion on smoking. But I wish I could go back to that conversation. I wish we could get those silent moments back to voice them. I wish we had never changed. I wish we had never grown and I wish you people were here today.
Sooner the differences mixed and formed a common color which identified each of them. Their backgrounds and circumstances may have influenced who they were...But their friendship was most responsible for what they became. I speak so cause I happen to be one from that posse.
I never realized when but we almost made it a custom to squander our evenings meeting on the banks of Ganga (sounds more possessive than Ganges) away from the ghats, where we were all left alone by ourselves. Particularly I and Abhishek were most addicted to that tranquil corner away from the clamor of the city at a place where no one could hear us and no one could observe us.
Well at that day it was Abhishek who instigated, I who straight away agreed and Varun who had no other choice but to amalgamate. That was mid-summer time and the stream was partly desiccated leaving behind lumps of sand. Three of us were sitting by the river-side with our backs on sand and feet in water, feeling the unruffled breeze after a long scorching day spend partly indoor at Abhishek’s home and then at a countryside dhaaba, taking hot tea in mid summer afternoon.
“So in what direction is the wind blowing?” asked Abhishek.
I took some sand in my hand and let it fall freely, observing its drift I replied “eastwards”.
“Then you better come and sit on my right” said Abhishek “else the smoke will exasperate you” and lighted his cigarette.
“You know Abhishek there is this excellent thing in you” said Varun.
“Tell me out what do you find good in me”
“It is the way you care for others” concluded Varun and then jointly laughed with me.
“Chalo! at least someone realized my goodness” said Abhishek blithely.
“But there is a bad point too” it was me this time.
“Ok tell me the hell whatever it is?” voiced Abhishek sounding interested.
I pointed the smoke while shifting to his right. Now when he was to justify his so called manhood I became a Kid.
“Listen kid! It’s your first year in college. Let see how will you disapprove it later on” replied he.
“Let’s first see will we be like us that long” pointed Varun.
I didn’t bothered to react to any of them. I doubted Abhishek’s query and found Varun’s prophecy pointless. After that for a long while no one voiced a single word. Each one intoxicated partially by the smoke, second hand and direct, and fairly by their thoughts delved more into it. I have this awful habit of filling a gap in a conversation by my own voice but that day due to no particular reason even I too preferred to remain silent. May be, lying there, we were mesmerized by our sense of alienation from other people or may be we knew each other long enough that we didn’t needed words to convey our thoughts. Whatever it was, for a long while, we remained just like that.
It’s almost two and a half year since then and never again we three got a chance to sit there together. In fact none of us three has seen other since a year. What Varun forecasted, unfortunately seems to have happened. We are no more us. Today in the evening I recalled all this while wandering alone desperately. I am yet to form an opinion on smoking. But I wish I could go back to that conversation. I wish we could get those silent moments back to voice them. I wish we had never changed. I wish we had never grown and I wish you people were here today.
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