!!!...Non-Sense Bhagat...!!!

"Recently, I saw the recently released movie, Cocktail." 

That's the first line of Chetan Bhagat's "Recently Written, which I read recently" article. (Home truths on career wives - Beware, it's nothing but blabbering of Urban Cliches). Personally, I liked only Five Point Someone out of all his written novels(?). So I will not comment anything on grammar used in above sentence, and actually, I don't want to drag the intention of this post in wrong direction. Also I am 100% sure that many News-Media Channels will start "Roti Debate" on their prime-time shows. I just got to read this article and as I am a bit less busy today, so trying to put my own thinking on "Woman Empowerment" over here.

I totally agree that a couple feels proud of each other if the life-partner is successful in his or her career. I am not talking about only Husbands or only Wives. Even this is not limited only up to being a CEO, COO, CFO or all such C-Class or any such good job in that manner. This applies to all couples in our Indian Society, from a farmer to a worker and a beggar too. But on the other hand, it is disturbing to read that a woman making rotis and looking after family and home is almost described as "Bechari". It is not. There is nothing wrong in handling household or being a housewife as long as both of the partners are happy.

Before I go ahead, let me narrow down the class of people for expressing my thoughts from here onward  This is the Indian Lower Middle Class (ILMC), Indian Middle Class (IMC), or Indian Upper Middle Class (IUMC). Wow, these abbreviations sounds like some political party, emerged out of Anna Andolan. For poor class, does anyone really care? For elite class, do we need to care?

I think the need of the hour is to manage career as well as family as per priority and convenience. It's both's responsibility to make journey of life smoother. Imagine two different cycles in front of you. The first cycle have both of the wheels of equal size, with two pedals, one in front and one at rear. The second cycle have front wheel larger than rear and with one pedals in front. Which cycle will be more comfortable to ride on? So, it's totally up to the husband and wife to decide how they want to lead their life.

I do cook food for my wife (not always, but I do). I will prefer taking leave from my office or go early at home when she needs me. And I also appreciate that my wife is a working woman. And if a woman is happy being house wife, nothing is wrong in that. But that should not make her lazy enough to give up all her aspirations over the time. Career is not only about earning money. Getting engaged in activities like social work or self-interest activities, also keeps the woman active and encouraged.

Excess of anything is BAD. Whether it is on the guy's part, that he wants his wife to be at home and just keep cooking food and looking after kids, parents and house, or if a woman/man is so career oriented that they neglect their family/kids. Balance in everything is must. 

So all this non-sense I wrote above is what I want to see in IDEAL world. But that is not the case always. I have many close friends, who married to an educated girl and not allowing them to do job, because they don't want them to be independent. Also I have few friends, who dropped doing job after they got married, because of their partner's pressure or at in-laws will. And at times, I failed to explain them that, choosing a capable, independent and career-oriented partner will bring enormous benefits in their life.

Coming back to Woman Empowerment, we don't have other option. If we want to see India as first world country, we must empower woman by educating them, leaving behind our orthodox mentality to keep them ONLY in kitchen. Cooking and House-Handling is also part of life, not only job and career. And so it should be taken by both, not only wife. When I read in Bhagat's article, that they outsource their Roti-Making work, I was shocked. If you really claim to be a Youth Icon, you should better understand the meaning of being independent. By outsourcing your Roti-Making work you are not doing a social service, you are simply exploiting a poor person (and I am sure, that is again a woman). You want your wife to be a COO but someone else's wife to be a servant at your home. Social equality will come only when everyone does all the basic things of their life at their own, like cooking, washing car, cleaning house/bathrooms/toilets, ironing cloths, throwing garbage etc... 

Well, it's lunch time and I am enough done with writing this lecture. This is a never ending topic which will be carried forward by generations to come. So better I end it up. I am pretty much hungry and want to eat soft roti and spicy sabji, made by my wife at 7 in morning. That's LOVE, not a COMPULSION.

!!!...Old Memories...!!!

Not a professional phtographer, But i tried a little to get some good clicks and sharing them with you here.

Lucky - 2007

My BWB's son. (BWB.?? - Keep elaborating.) He is staying with his grand parents since he born as his parents moved to London for earning pounds for him. We had great time together where I tried to teach him lots of words in opposite in his growing stage. This is the age where you learn by others. Few of them are, if i ask him to beat some one he will kiss and if some one ask him to kiss he will beat. Isn't it great if a person is allowed to grow exactly reverse to world and see how he behaves in real world.

Padarth Chitra-2007

I remember our schoold days. In Arts' class our Art Teacher bring some Object with him and ask us to draw the same from different angle. In our gujarati it's called "Padarth Chitra". Here is a photo with such objects lying on a table of one conference hall at Hotel Raianssance. While others were busy hearing our CEO's speech, I captured my first "Padarth Chitra".

Koi Sarhad Naa Inhe Roke...!!!

"Border.?? Who cares..!!!" Doesn't this bird's eye saying it. According to me, this bird must be a clever amongst all such birds. See, the way it is observing a thin line on the wire. It came flying here, sit there and now looking at fence and observing the distance between two wires, so that it can call other's and say to them, "come with me, you will go pass through this fence.".

Mere Ghar Ki Chhat...!!!

Me and my friends had best time at the roof of my home. There is one old style wooden bad with some noice if shaken a little. We lay on it staring sky above us. And talk till late nights. During summer, if i do not feel sleepy till late, i keep staring the sky above me lying on this bed and thinking the universal question. "From where all this space came.?" How this earth found this space, not even earth but a single electron or proton. Trying to get answer of such useless question I never remember when I fell into sleep. This photo is taken from that bed.

!!!...5 Golden Rules - For Finding Your Life Partner...!!!

When it comes to making the decision about choosing a life partner, no one wants to make a mistake. Yet,with a divorce rate of close to 50 percent (in USA), it appears that many are making serious mistakes in their approach to finding Mr./Ms. Right..!!!

If you ask most couples who are engaged why they're getting married, they'll say: "We're in love." I believe this is the #1 mistake people make when they date. Choosing a life partner should never be based on love. Though this may sound not politically correct, there's a profound truth here. Love is not the basis for getting married. Rather, love is the result of a good marriage. When the other ingredients are right, then the love will come.

Let me say it again:

You CANNOT build a lifetime relationship on love alone. You need a lot more.

Here are 5 questions you must ask yourself if you're serious about finding & keeping a life partner.

QUESTION #1: Do we share a common life purpose?

Why is this so important? Let me put it this way: If you're married for 20 or 30 years, that's a long time to live with someone. What do you plan to do with each other all that time? Travel, eat & jog together? You need to share something deeper & more meaningful. You need a common life purpose. Two things can happen in a marriage. You can grow together, or you can grow apart. 50 percent of the people out there are growing apart. To make a marriage work, you need to know what you want out of life - bottom line - & marry someone who wants the same thing.

QUESTION #2: Do I feel safe expressing my feelings & thoughts with this person?

This question goes to the core of the quality of your relationship. Feeling safe means you can communicate openly with this person. The basis of having good communication is trust- i.e. trust that I won't get "punished" or hurt for expressing my honest thoughts & feelings. A colleague of mine defines an abusive person as someone with whom you feel afraid to express your thoughts & feelings. Be honest with yourself on this one. Make sure you feel emotionally safe with the person you plan to marry.

QUESTION #3: Is he/she a mensch?

A mensch is someone who is a refined & sensitive person. How can you test? Here are some suggestions. Do they work on personal growth on a regular basis? Are they serious about improving themselves? A teacher of mine defines a good person as "someone who is always striving to be good & do the right thing."

So ask about your significant other: What do they do with their time? Is this person materialistic? Usually a materialistic person is not someone whose top priority is character refinement.

There are essentially two types of people in the world: People who are dedicated to personal growth & people who are dedicated to seeking comfort. Someone whose goal in life is to be comfortable will put personal comfort ahead of doing the right thing. You need to know that before walking down the aisle.

QUESTION #4: How does he/she treat other people?

The one most important thing that makes any relationship work is the ability to give. By giving, we mean the ability to give another person pleasure. Ask: Is this someone who enjoys giving pleasure to others or are they wrapped up in themselves & self-absorbed? To measure this, think about the following: How do they treat people whom they do not have to be nice to, such as waiters, bus boys, taxi drivers, etc. How do they treat parents & siblings? Do they have gratitude & appreciation? If they don't have gratitude for the people who have given them everything, you cannot expect that they'll have gratitude for you-who can't do nearly as much for them!

Do they gossip & speak badly about others? Someone who gossips cannot be someone who loves others. You can be sure that someone who treats others poorly, will eventually treat you poorly as well.

QUESTION #5: Is there anything I'm hoping to change about this person after we're married?

Too many people make the mistake of marrying someone with the intention of trying to "improve" them after they're married. As a friend of mine puts it, "You can probably expect someone to change after marriage.. for the worse!" If you cannot fully accept this person the way they are now, then you are not ready to marry them. In conclusion, dating doesn't have to be difficult & treacherous. The key is to try leading a little more with your head & less with your heart. It pays to be as objective as possible when you are dating, to be sure to ask questions that will help you get to the key issues.

Falling in love is a great feeling, but when you wake up with a ring on your finger, you don't want to find yourself in trouble because you didn't do your homework.

Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.

Wish God Keeps These in Mind When He Prepare Pairs in Heaven - As All Says....!!!

!!!...Social Equality...!!!

1 Rupee note. Yes. The basic indian currency which is not printed by RBI but by GoI. Government of India. All currency notes except 1Rs. note are nothing but the promisary notes printed by RBI on behalf of GoI. But does this 1Rs. note have any value in today's india.?

Today one of my friend got 1 pence on the road, here in london. And another one got 5£ on the road. 5£, a huge amount here. I have to take 1£ from another friend and that's the way each penny matters here. I remember, in our TechM canteen, if we don't have change, the cashier at counter will give us 2-5-10 rs. hand written receipt in lieu with rest of money. Sometimes I preserve it, but many time I lost it somewhere.

Moral is our currency have no value in our own country. Indeed. A few months back, I called a "Pasti-wala", he asked me how much you are expecting for your garbage, on call. I said, around 500 Rs. He came along with a 1000 Rs. currency note. I was astonished. The biggest currency note I have here is 50£, that too not available in ATM machines, only in banks.

So what is the point I want to make.? Accepted that our economy is booming. When the developed nations are struggling with 1-2% growth rate, we are growing above 8%. Thanks to the globalization policies introduced by our Honbl PM, back in 1991. But in race of getting highest GDP we forgot to take care of the class of people who are still struggling to cop up with high inflation.

We had a movement back in 2006, "Youth For Equality", one of the nationwide biggest youth movement. One more equality we want in India is "Social Equality". From Ancient India, we had enlightened individuals like Buddha, Ashoka, Mahavir, Shankara who talked about social equality. Our old Vedas and Smritis also speak about social equality in a statement "Vasudhaika Kutumbakam (One World One Family)". But even after so many years efforts, we don't have equality in our society.

We don't respect people doing work which is considered to be low-grade. We don't respect people who are living in slum or backward areas. We don't respect people wearing dirty clothes and not living a hygienic life. We don't respect people who are less educated. We don't respect people who have low incomes. These all discrimination divides society in various groups and over the times these groups starts developing hatred for other group. Jealousy developed due to this hatred will force the person from lower group to start practicing corruption in order to get supremacy in one of the factor, like financial status.

So, what is the solution for all of this problems.? Jan Lokpal Bill only ensures that no higher authority will misuse the system and by that it will control the corruption. But what about low level corruption.? And for an instance if we forget that we have a corrupt society, are our problems going to solve to make our nation a developed nathion in REAL sense.? No. Until and unless we start thinking about reducing the gap between verious group or class of people india, in terms of, education, health services, life style, income, facilities etc, we must not claimed our self a great nation. Just a good growing economy is not a factor to judge a country.

Let's for real shining India where,

Everyone gets equal opportunity for education.

Everyone gets equal opportunity for employment.

Everyone gets equal opportunity for health services.

Everyone gets equal opportunity for living life respectfully.

Everyone gets equal opportunity for food security.

Let's start respecting every individual, whoever they are. Don't discriminate on bases of language, race, income, education, life-style, caste, religion... Remember, we all are here just for a limited time, one day we all have to go back from where we came, so let's start respecting everyone who meets you in this journey.

!!!... Godhra Junction ...!!!

!!!...Final Count Down...!!!

Final Countdown

[Under the Bunker of Border (Binary Tree)]

“Something is wrong… I can sense some messy thing is going across the border.[ In the Dept]” Lt. Vasant.

“Hmm… Let’s just send our spies to their territory…” Lt. Makad.

“So, who voluntarily wants to be a SPY?” Lt Vasant.

“Saab Ji, Mein Jaata hoon…” Subedar Nilesh [ Magaj ]

[After a little time]

Dil Ding Dong Ding Bole… [ Wireless Phone Rang ]

“Alfa to Delta … Alfa to Delta … Coming Sir ..: “

“Delta to Alfa … Over …”

“Saab Ji, yahan bahut hi hulchul nazar aa rahi hai. Lagta hai yeh log jaldi hi koi badi saazish karne wale hai. Alfa to Delta Over…”

“Good Subedar, Keep your eyes on situation and keep us updated. Delta to Alfa Over…”

[Again after a short time]

“Saab Ji, Hamare paas waqt bahut hi kam hai… Jaldi se apna Masla Jama kar lo…”

[ In Hindi Masla = Hathyar ]

“Good Subedar, Good Job.”

“Major Prajapati, Go and reinforce our arms.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Col. Sarpreet, Aap Major Prajapati ke saath rahege.”

“Sir, for that no need to give him order.” Major Prajapati.

[Both went to make our position strong]

“Where is our Gun Man, Lt Chirag?”

“He has gone to south region to see the beauty of Civilians… But he will be back soon.”

“Oye Rachya, tu wapas aa gaya… kaise… Tu to ghar jar aha tha na…”

“Saab Ji, Mein ghar hi ja raha tha, lekin raaste mein mujhe Major Prajapati or Col. Sarprit mile… Suna hai khatare ki ghanti baj rahi hai.. aise mahol me mein apne saathiyo ko nahin chhod sakta…”

“Good Hawaldar, Apni Position sambhalo.”

“Yes, Sir Ji.”

“Major Makad, you , with Major Makwana, think on our action plan.”

“No, need to make any plan, I believe in quick action.”

“Fine, but it will be your responsibility to look after all situations.”

“Don’t worry, We will handle it. Kyon Jigu?”

“Mara thi kai na thay.”

[And the both came back with our weaponry. Containing two Bags Colored RED, BLUE, GREEEN]

“I don’t think that anything will happen.”

And then suddenly a Battalion from Pakistan End [Toilet of our Department] rushed towards the Line of Control [Fence near Parking].

“Jawano Apni Apni Position Sambhalo. Dushman samne hai… Unpe fateh Haasil karni hai. Anti-attack ki chinta mat karo. Aage Badho.”

“Let them come close, then we will show them.”

 

Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.

Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal.

Jai Hind.

“Attack...”

And all of a sudden, I heard a blast, and the whole atmosphere fill up with Blood Colored RED. GHOURI missile, GREEN colored, is sent through the ways of Pakistan by Abdul. On the other hand we BLUE Indian reply them from LOC with front Hawaldar Rachit and Rifle Man Raju.

Makad and Jigu were busy to make strategies and counting the casualties. The artillery shelling was continuing from both the end. The whole atmosphere was filled up with fragrance of smokes. The injured soldiers from both sides were indistinguishable. The clothes and faces were Blood Colored with hair like Pigs from mud. I don’t know what they were enjoying with this war.

From the other side, they were continued to increase in numbers. Our soldiers were helpless to handle the situation. Still now we were within our LOC. But this was time to get cross the LOC and attack on them. With the Hand Granade Bombs of color GREEN, BLUE, RED coming from different direction, both side army men was face to face to fight.

           As I am the army commander, I have to be safe to be in war till the end of it. So I keep my self safe and be at last behind BUNKERS [ Trees in Parking]. From where I was keeping my eyes on the horror scene of JUNG. It was almost half an hour that all were involved in this. The eyes of rest of the countries of the world were on the entire situation.

          And this was time to repeat the same history as World War I and World War II. Where, just because of war between few countries involved the whole world. Same history repeated here. The other viewer [from other dept.] of this horrible WAR involved in it. The battalion from different directions came to join the WARRIORS.

          It was like “ KURUKSHETRA “ [ Green Grass Between Road and Entry of Dept.] where thousands of people were enjoying this fight. With malign equipments. I was affraid whatever was happening. But I was safe behind the bunkers. But I can’t see my Brothers from dyeing on battle ground. So I started to praise GOD.

“ Hey Prabhu, Please help us. Your Devotees need your help.”

And suddenly what I was seeing, LORD KRISHNA, appears into sky.

“Hey Vats, Kyon Chinta Karte Ho, Kis se Vyarth Darte Ho…”

“Not Again, I read this daily in my house’s wallpaper…”

“Jaisi tumhari ichcha… Bolo Kya Problem hai tumhe…”

“Hey Prabhu, Bharat Varsh ke kshatru ke naash ke liye hamein aapki sahayata chahiye.”

“Avashya mitra, avashya”

“Prabhu, Pakistan mein aap paani ki baadh la do.”

“Tumhari Wish puri ki jayegi.”

          And within a short time, POK filled up with the water. One region get a ample amount of water that it flooded very badly, almost lots of mud around that. So, it was chance to our army to penetrate into POK by crossing LOC. The BLUE colored Indians ran into the grass of Punjab of PAK.

          It was the greatest braveness of Hawaldar Rachit, who was the first to reach near the flooded area. The aim is to capture the area as much as possible. And many other joined the was. Our whole Battalion was across the border, with all the artillery support. Now the strategy is changed by our Makad and Jigu. Stop throwing GREEN,BLUE,RED hand grenade bombs. Just try to push them all into the Nuclear Region (NR) [KADAV-KICHAD]. And our code for it is “B’DAY”.

“Jawano, Drop them Into KICHAD” Abdlu.

             Our strategy is leaked by a GADDAR. I don’t know who he was. And our strategy revert back to us. And the first casualty from our side is Hawaldar Rachit. I close my eyes, as I cant see him to be beaten like this.

Few enemies from other side hang him up and drop into that FLOODED Area.

“Maa.. Shakti…. Shakti Maa….”

            And suddenly a divine light appear which energize our brave man. He standup again, now he was the man who has fully dominated himself to this war.

“Oye aa jao…saalo… Wahe Guru Jee Ki Sok… Aaj agar Maa ka Doodh yaad na dila diya to mera naam bhi Rachit Nahi.”

This more energized our other WARRIORS. Nor it’s time for me too… to get involved into this battle. I put up my fear aside and jump onto the ground. Now the ENVIRONMENT was so blurred that I even not able to recognize “APNA AADMI” and started to fire at any direction.

            Indian women are really brave. This proved by two of our Battalion Members. Lady Lt. Jack and Lt. Param. They were dominating their role by keeping busy PAK lady soldiers. Till now, Lt.Chirag has joined us, while Rifle Man Raju was tired and he was feeling bore, so our emergency stretcher put him back to grounds.

           The all enthusiasm was due to Greatest Commanding Voice of Major Prajapati. But, as a sexy TV reporter, Miss Nikita Patel , joined the ground, for live coverage, few of our soldiers diverted from their path. Most of all were dropeed into that NR. And now the war converted into the Swayam-WAR. All want to win her by cutting maximum of enemies. Either INDO or PAK. But my target was neither Indo nor Pak.

It was more than 3 hour this was continued. Our most of the army has penetrated till the end. It was now time to reach their Super Power [ Teachers ]. With the help of other back-fire we enter into their HOME [Staff-Room]. Where their supremo were sitting.

“Either you come out. Or we get in.”

            We got success in this mission also. We captured their capital into our hand. And make it Blood Colored. We returned from there by achieving our target. Hawaldar Rachit was still enjoying his bath into NR. Most of all have put under “B’Day” operation. After the victory, we get together again behind LOC under the BUNKER. Now it was time to celebration. The photographers from all around the world came with cameras and take our victory snaps.

"Jai Hind”.

!!!...INS Arihant...!!!

India reached milestone on Sunday 26th July, 2009 when our PM inaugurated country's first indegenous nuclear-powered submarine INS-Arihant. PM Manmohan Singh's wife broke a coconut and performed pooja and after which she named this ship INS Arihant. Arihant, literally means "destroyer of enemies". Isn't it a great achievement for Indian Navy to have it.? Yes, indeed.

As per our PM, "Nevertheless, it is incumbent upon us to take all measures necessary to safeguard our country and to keep pace with technological advancements worldwide". That's true if you think from country's safety perspective. Also today we are celebrating 10th anniversary of Kargil war and victory, as Vijay Divas. India is on the way to progress in all the fronts.

!!!...Is Baar Nahiii...!!!

Is baar nahin
Is baar jab woh choti si bachchi mere paas apni kharonch le kar aayegi
Main usey phoo phoo kar nahin behlaoonga
Panapney doonga uski tees ko


Is baar nahin
Is baar jab main chehron par dard likha dekhoonga
Nahin gaoonga geet peeda bhula dene wale
Dard ko risney doonga,utarney doonga andar gehrey


Is baar nahin
Is baar main na marham lagaoonga
Na hi uthaoonga rui ke phahey
Aur na hi kahoonga ki tum aankein band karlo,gardan udhar kar lo main dawa lagata hoon
Dekhney doonga sabko hum sabko khuley nangey ghaav


Is baar nahin
Is baar jab uljhaney dekhoonga,chatpatahat dekhoonga
Nahin daudoonga uljhee door lapetney
Uljhaney doonga jab tak ulajh sakeIs baar nahin

Is baar karm ka hawala de kar nahin uthaoonga auzaar
Nahin karoonga phir se ek nayee shuruaat
Nahin banoonga misaal ek karmyogi ki
Nahin aaney doonga zindagi ko aasani se patri par
Utarney doonga usey keechad main,tedhey medhey raston pe


Nahin sookhney doonga deewaron par laga khoon
Halka nahin padney doonga uska rang


Is baar nahin banney doonga usey itna laachaar
Ki paan ki peek aur khoon ka fark hi khatm ho jaye


Is baar nahin
Is baar ghawon ko dekhna hai
Gaur se
Thoda lambe wakt tak
Kuch faisley
Aur uskey baad hausley
Kahin toh shuruat karni hi hogi
Is baar yahi tay kiya hai

A Poem By : PRASOON JOSHI

!!!...Line Of Fire...!!!

Vivek Pradhan was not a happy man. Even the plush comfort of the air-conditioned compartment of the Shatabdi express could not cool his frayed nerves. He was the Project Manager and still not entitled to air travel. It was not the prestige he sought, he had tried to reason with the admin person, it was the savings in time. As PM, he had so many things to do!! He opened his case and took out the laptop, determined to put the time to some good use. "Are you from the software industry sir," the man beside him was staring appreciatively at the laptop.

Vivek glanced briefly and mumbled in affirmation, handling the laptop now with exaggerated care and importance as if it were an expensive car.

"You people have brought so much advancement to the country, Sir. Today everything is getting computerized."

"Thanks," smiled Vivek, turning around to give the man a look. He always found it difficult to resist appreciation. The man was young and stockily built like a sportsman. He looked simple and strangely out of place in that little lap of luxury like a small town boy in a prep school. He probably was a railway sportsman making the most of his free traveling pass.

"You people always amaze me," the man continued, "You sit in an office and write something on a computer and it does so many big things outside."

Vivek smiled deprecatingly. Naiveness demanded reasoning not anger. "It is not as simple as that my friend. It is not just a question of writing a few lines. There is a lot of process that goes behind it." For a moment, he was tempted to explain the entire Software Development Lifecycle but restrained himself to a single statement. "It is complex, very complex."

"It has to be. No wonder you people are so highly paid," came the reply.

This was not turning out as Vivek had thought. A hint of belligerence crept into his so far affable, persuasive tone. " Everyone just sees the money. No one sees the amount of hard work we have to put in. Indians have such a narrow concept of hard work. Just because we sit in an air-conditioned office, does not mean our brows do not sweat. You exercise the muscle; we exercise the mind and believe me that is no less taxing." He could see, he had the man where he wanted, and it was time to drive home the point. "Let me give you an example. Take this train. The entire railway reservation system is computerized. You can book a train ticket between any two stations from any of the hundreds of computerized booking centres across the country. Thousands of transactions accessing a single database, at a time concurrently; data integrity, locking, data security. Do you understand the complexity in designing and coding such a system?"

The man was awestuck; quiet like a child at a planetarium. This was something big and beyond his imagination. "You design and code such things."

"I used to," Vivek paused for effect, "but now I am the Project Manager."

"Oh!" sighed the man, as if the storm had passed over, "So your life is easy now."

This was like the last straw for Vivek. He retorted, "Oh come on, does life ever get easy as you go up the ladder. Responsibility only brings more work. Design and coding! That is the easier part. Now I do not do it, but I am responsible for it and believe me, that is far more stressful. My job is to get the work done in time and with the highest quality. To tell you about the pressures, there is the customer at one end, always changing his requirements, the user at the other, wanting something else, and your boss, always expecting you to have finished it yesterday."
Vivek paused in his diatribe, his belligerence fading with self-realisation. What he had said, was not merely the outburst of a wronged man, it was the truth. And one need not get angry while defending the truth.

"My friend," he concluded triumphantly, "you don't know what it is to be in the Line of Fire".
The man sat back in his chair, his eyes closed as if in realization. When he spoke after sometime, it was with a calm certainty that surprised Vivek.

"I know sir,..... I know what it is to be in the Line of Fire......." He was staring blankly, as if no passenger, no train existed, just a vast expanse of time.

"There were 30 of us when we were ordered to capture Point 4875 in the cover of the night.The enemy was firing from the top. There was no knowing where the next bullet was going to come from and for whom. In the morning when we finally hoisted the tricolour at the top only 4 of us were alive." "You are a...?" "I am Subedar Sushant from the 13 J&K Rifles on duty at Peak 4875 in Kargil. They tell me I have completed my term and can opt for a soft assignment. But, tell me sir, can one give up duty just because it makes life easier. On the dawn of that capture, one of my colleagues lay injured in the snow, open to enemy fire while we were hiding behind a bunker. It was my job to go and fetch that soldier to safety. But my captain sahib refused me permission and went ahead himself. He said that the first pledge he had taken as a Gentleman Cadet was to put the safety and welfare of the nation foremost followed by the safety and welfare of the men he commanded... ....his own personal safety came last, always and every time."

"He was killed as he shielded and brought that injured soldier into the bunker. Every morning thereafter, as we stood guard, I could see him taking all those bullets, which were actually meant for me . I know sir....I know,what it is to be in the Line of Fire."

Vivek looked at him in disbelief not sure of how to respond. Abruptly, he switched off the laptop. It seemed trivial, even insulting to edit a Word document in the presence of a man for whom valour and duty was a daily part of life; valour and sense of duty which he had so far attributed only to epical heroes. The train slowed down as it pulled into the station, and Subedar Sushant picked up his bags to alight.

"It was nice meeting you sir." Vivek fumbled with the handshake. This hand... had climbed mountains, pressed the trigger, and hoisted the tricolour. Suddenly, as if by impulse, he stood up at attention and his right hand went up in an impromptu salute.

It was the least he felt he could do for the country.

PS: The incident he narrated during the capture of Peak 4875 is a true-life incident during the Kargil war. Capt. Batra sacrificed his life while trying to save one of the men he commanded, as victory was within sight. For this and various other acts of bravery, he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the nation's highest military award. Live humbly, there are great people around us, let us learn!

!!!...A lot can happen over a coffee...!!!

One Black Coffee “One black coffee. No sugar please” He told the Café CoffeeDay employee. Every day at 1:30 in the afternoon he ordered exactly the same configuration as dessert after lunch – sometimes after skipping lunch.

The girl standing next to him eyed him curiously. “Americanized!” she remarked with a smile on her face. He was jolted. It was a clear intrusion into his privacy. She had no business accosting him like that.

He wanted to tell her how annoying her remark had been. But he didn’t – mainly because the girl in question was Monalisa Kumari. Twice she had been unanimously elected the Crown Princess of SoftSol, the company both of them worked for. Monalisa was part Indian part Deutsch. She was fluent in Hindi, Spanish and French apart from Deutsch. She was so beautiful that it was difficult to describe her beauty in words.

He would accept any word spoken by this girl. Guys considered it a privilege to talk to her. She was still looking at him.

He realized he had to respond. “Not exactly. I love black coffee.”

She nodded, “So you are saying, you loved black coffee ever since you were a kid!”

He thought about it, “No, only in the last five years”

“That is – after you visited the West”

He was surprised, “How do you know I’d been to the West?”

“Oh, that’s pretty easy!” she replied casually, “One: you said Black Coffee. No Sugar and not Black Coffee without Sugar. Two: You said Please! Three: You look quite old. Everyone in this firm of your age had visited the West at least twice.”

He laughed, “One and Two are quite good. But I think it is Three which gave me away!”

“Right Dr. Watson. So you started your tryst with black coffee after an expedition to the West! Am I correct?”

“Yes” he responded.

“Quad Erat Demonstrandum” she smiled.

“That doesn’t prove that I am Americanized” He retorted, “It only proves that I was introduced to black coffee’s virtues in America”

“Same difference, ain’t it?” Monalisa gestured him towards a table nearby. They walked to the table and occupied it.

He sipped his piping hot black coffee and started talking, “You know! It is not the same. Americanization means – a paradigm shift in the way we think and operate. Just liking your coffee black does not mean you are Americanized. It just means that you are familiar with certain Western practices. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

She stared into his eyes. “Whatever it is. I still believe people drink Black Coffee just because it is the in thing you know… and not because they love the taste of it. Who would love that bitter liquid anyways.”

He was offended. She might be the most beautiful girl of the campus. She might be a swift driver of a Swift. She might be a 99 percentiler. But she still had to respect the tastes of her colleagues.
She knew at once there was something wrong. “Oh I am sorry Srini. I didn’t mean to hurt you. You know I really don’t know why people like this black coffee.”

He composed himself and came up with the most daring proposition of his life so far. “Why not give it a try?”

She was surprised, “Black coffee? Eeeks! Thank you very much. I am pretty much Ok with my Latte – full of Sugar – Soulful!”

He asked her, “Have you ever tried it?”

“No!” came the emphatic answer.

“Alright. Let us play a little game. Tomorrow onwards, every afternoon at 1: 30, we will meet here and have a cup of black coffee – for five days. I suggest you don’t drink any other type of coffee in this period. If at the end of the fifth day you still don’t understand why people drink black coffee, I will stop drinking it.”

There was silence. Pin drop. She eyed him suspiciously. It was evident that he wanted to spend more time with her. She knew it.

“Tomorrow at 13:30. Same place.” She said.

Day 1:

Monalisa examined carefully the contents of the cup.

“Do I really have to drink this?” she asked no one in particular.

He didn’t respond. He knew she cared a damn for his answer. And then she took the first sip.

Her facial expressions changed at the speed of light. He waited. She eventually came back to this world. He didn’t say a thing. She silently walked over to the trash can and threw the coffee cup into it.

“Let us get out of here. I want to show you something.” She gestured him to follow her.

Half an hour later – they were seated in a dilapidated dhabha off NH45 twenty kilometers from the office. He sipped the three rupee coffee sans sugar. It was delightful.

“What do you infer from this?” she asked him.

“That coffee in a NH45 dhabha twenty kilometers from the office tastes really good?” She laughed, “You do have a sense of humor”

He smiled, “Maybe yes. What is the point?”

She sighed. “One way of looking at it – pay 3 rupees and have a lovely coffee. Or pay ten rupees and drink the rubbish you’ve been drinking till now.”

He was stupefied, “you want me to drive twenty kilometers to this dhabha just because it offers me coffee at 3 rupees?”

“Think about that” she took her purse out.

Day 2:

Srini was curious. Monalisa sipped her black coffee and told him, “You know! We don’t have to do this. I am most certainly not going to like this liquid.”

“We decided. We follow.” Srini was adamant.

Monalisa winked, “All this just for black coffee?”

Srini thought for a moment, “I am enjoying these meetings”

“Friends?” she extended her hand.

“No” He was firm.

There was a stunned silence. She was swept off her feet. “What did… why?”

“I don’t think we can ever be friends. You are too beautiful to be a friend.”

She stared at him, “When Harry Met Sally?”

“Partly yes” he responded.

“More than twice?” she asked.

“More than twenty times. I own the DVD.”

“Aren’t you taking it a little too seriously? It is possible for a girl and a boy to be just friends.

Give me a break. We see so many such friends in the food court everyday.”

He shook his head, “I don’t want to talk about others. Myself – I am attracted to you. Wait! I am
not saying anything wrong here. All I am suggesting is that we can never be friends.”

She finished the black coffee in three quick gulps, “Goodbye Harry!”

Day 3:

She was dressed in a black chudidaar. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“You are staring.” She said gently.

He was caught off guard. “Not my mistake” She smiled and sipped the black coffee.

“You know what! This is turning out to be a very interesting incident.”

“Drinking black coffee?” He asked her.

“Drinking black coffee with you.” She looked into his eyes. He lowered them.

“Why are you so nervous when I am talking to you?”

He looked up. “I told you yesterday.”

“Srini, you do realize this is not a movie.”

He nodded. “Yes”

“Real life is not reel life.” He cringed, “Thanks for the cliché Monalisa!”

Her face turned red. She kept the black coffee cup on the table and stood up.

“What do you think you are Mister? Just because I am drinking coffee with you – doesn’t give you the right to say whatever that comes to your mind.”

He was surprised, “All for that pathetic cliché?” For a while neither of them talked.
“Coffee’s on you.” She said.

He agreed.

Day 4:

“As such life is a great mystery.” Srini told her. They were driving down the highway NH45 to the dhabha. It was a pleasant afternoon. Traffic was scarce.

Monalisa laughed, “What a cliché”

Srini shook his head, “It is the truth.”

“So you speak truth and nothing but the truth. When I say something I speak cliché and only clichés”

He smiled. “You have a way with words.” She didn’t reply.

“What are you thinking Monalisa?” He prompted her again.

“Mona. Call me Mona.” She deftly swerved right throwing Srini off the seat.

“What the hell was that?” He was dismayed.

“I was avoiding a speeding buffalo you idiot.” She yelled, “God! I hate driving in India.”

Srini was silent. They reached the dhabha. She ordered two cups of coffee. He observed silently.

She knew there was something wrong.

“OK. What is it?”

“What?”

“Why are you so silent?”

“Nothing. I am OK.”

“Idiot?”

“Yes”

“Can’t I call you idiot, dear?”

“How can you? I want to be treated with dignity…” He abruptly stopped and stared at her.

“What did you just say?”

“Can’t I call you idiot, Dear?” She ruffled his hair, “Can’t I?”

“Wait. Whatever happened to being platonic friends?” He asked her.

She didn’t reply. “So Harry met Sally?” She nodded.

“I saw the ending again yesterday.” Srini couldn’t suppress his quirky smile.

“A lovely little fool I know told me sometime back that real life was not reel life.”

“Yes. Don’t push it though.” She sounded cold.

Day 5:

“I still don’t like this black coffee. Will it really make a difference? It is the final day – right?” She pleaded with him.

“The agreement is binding Ms Monalisa Kumari” He was ruthless.

“No way out?” She wouldn’t give up.

“There is” he smiled.

“Great! What is it?”

“Number one: Since you don’t want to finish the fifth day black coffee, I need not stop drinking black coffee”

“With no sugar?”

“Or without sugar.”

“OK. What is number two?”

“You tell me what made you talk to me on the first day.” She didn’t expect that.

“What?” He was serious.

“Tell me Mona. Why did you initiate the conversation on the very first day?”

“I thought you were cute”

“Bulls. There were many more cute guys around. More handsome and dying to talk to you.”

She looked around. “I can’t see any?”

“Don’t change the topic. Tell me what made you talk to me? A bet with your friend?”

She stared at him. “You knew!”

“Yes. Unfortunately your friend is my friend’s girlfriend. He told me last night when I was raving about you.”

She stood up; held his hands and said, “It all started because of that bet I agree Srini. However our black coffee encounters introduced the real Srini to me. The bet did not govern my actions after the first day. Please believe me.”

He shook his head. “And all the time I thought you were really interested in me.”

She was horrified to see tears in his eyes. “Srini please. I like you. I really really like you. I am extremely sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. But tell me Srini… How would I ever have known the real Srini if it were not for the bet with my friend? You are an introvert. You don’t talk to girls. How could I have found you otherwise?”

He kept his black coffee on the table and walked away.

“Srini. I said Sorry.” She shouted completely ignoring the other people in the cafeteria.

He stopped, turned back and told her – “Convince me.”

She went to Café Coffee Day and said – “One black coffee. No sugar please”