Alok's space

I know….the title is confusing, may be contradictory too.But what the h***… it is meant to be like that- to get attention. If you don’t know what I mean- why do you think Terminator (the Hollywood movie) series is named so, especially the part 3 and 4- well, everyone is terminating everyone.Naah…I think it is to get attention. I mean who could forget Mr.Arnold The Governor doing what he does best- removing his supposed to be mechanical eye with a knife, and that unforgettable line- I WILL BE BACK……

I seriously went to see all the rest just because he was there in them.So now that you know why the title is so important- and the more mysterious it is, the more confusing- the better, let’s talk on the subject now- at least I shall try:-

It so happened that yours truly went in for a simple, innocent courier to an all- American turned desi Courier agency, having a worldwide network. I have been a regular customer, and do get promotional updates at time. They….the best in the business had a problem with my package (a set of CDs containing office data)- I must produce a valid photo id….., hold on- did I mention valid photocopies (2) of my valid photo id.Doesn’t matter that I have all the docs to prove that I am a legal tax paying citizen, having all the proofs they need. Why is it so interesting?For starters, there was no Xerox machine in apun ka Mumbai area for a km or so, and as Murphy would have it- the package was urgent to be sent today.

What happened next is not important, what is important is this :-

- A day before the above happened, the Air Cargo terminal in an airport was looted, and some gold and silver coins were robbed, in broad daylight- in Air Cargo Terminal.Take my word for it, it is supposed to be a high security zone- not one arrest has been made, not one bullet was shot- NO CLUE, NOTHING!

- Back to the courier agency- they have had incidents in which someone sent something in a packed box, and somewhere in transit the item was found having narcotics. So who pays the price-NOT the courier agency, NOT the man/woman who sent the narcotics since he/she is yet to be caught, NOT the security personnel at any of the airports anywhere- BUT me…….

- Yes ME- a tax paying law abiding citizen because I happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Because I am not carrying guns and not having security around me carrying guns too- after all, the only ones who need protection are the ones in power even though they have to pay the least or perhaps NO taxes. It doesn’t matter to them since we need to travel on the roads(so-called) and them (the hard-working power holders) travel only in helicopters.

Restrict all freedom if you want, but please give me all the security I need- that is my only prayer……..

I discovered something important and useful today- It is not enough to be uncomplicated,straight-forward, clear-cut in your dealings, you also need to be perceived like that. This is especially true when it comes to relationships:-

We could spend many years or even a lifetime together, but nothing really prepares us for for the future changes. How you are perceived is as important as to how you are! If there is one thing which really hurts the most, it is to be judged- to be judged by people without enough data in hand, without enough evidence of that they speak. I read somewhere that the sure sign of a low mind is this- that you judge people and think of them as inferior to you without enough reasons to do that. This is BIAS and PREJUDICE in its purest form- “We don’t like something because we haven’t tried it and we feel not comfortable with it.If we try it, we may start to like it- this is bias.”

“We don’t like something, we do not want to try it, and we do not care how it is actually or NOT- we JUST don’t like it, infact hate it- this is prejudice.”

I know these definitions are not exactly dictionary material- but they will do for time being. I feel the least we can do is not to be judgemental about people, places, cultures- atleast not till we have tried them out, I think this is the least we can do. We hear the raise of intolerance in society everyday- rise of violence. Sometimes I think this violence happens because we citywallahs are too busy to hear anyone’s viewpoint, dismissing it as backward, orthodox and what not- it gives rise to violence and an excuse to people to engage in violence. You do not want to change your viewpoint about anything- YOU, who is educated, accomplished etc. and you expect a hardly literate or illiterate person to just give into your demands and do what you want-Is it not a form of violence too, violence of the mind???!!!

What does it take to do what we need to do,REALLY do it. I think:

• Passion,
• Determination,
• Attitude,
• self-motivation,
• hard-work

All the self-help books,and related media- books like “The Secret”, say the same thing- Dream and believe in the power of your dreams, believe in yourself and know that if you “act as if you will not fail,you will NOT fail”. By act ofcourse it means to work, not to pretend. I don’t know about this funda much, but in my own experiences- whenever I have done something with determination,and self-belief, I have succeeded, and whenever I have let self-doubt creep in- success has eluded me.

Oh yeah! we know what we are doing- getting wet thatz all!!

Roads shinning- tadka maarke…………

Green green……….

and more green……..

a dash of red…..

speechless…….

red riding hood(yellow)…….

as red as it goes………

Hmm…..

and thatz happy and Gay……..

Well,that was some trip………..

Yaad hai tumko wo pehli chuan,jab teri unglian mere chehre pe bikhar gayi thi...........

geeli shaam ki aahat mein geele se dil ne teri palkon ki chaon dhoondi thi,

aur phir sookhe kisi kone me tujhko bhi chupaya jaise,

geelee chahton ko sookhe dil se nikalte dekha tha,

dekha tha uski mitti mein ugti har dubi khushi ko bhi jaise,