My First Love --{@ Indian Railways!!

Indian Railways- a tribute to my first Crush!

Indian Railways nahi dekha toh kya dekha???

The first thing that probably drew me crazy as a young bird were trains, and may be for all those who stayed in Calcutta (not Kolkatta for me, I prefer this always..jo karna hai karlo), and had there maternal homes in the likes of Ahmedabad & Mumbai. All those young kids, whose grand Mas stays in the royal Indian deserts. In all, Indian Railways connect you far & better. India ,a country of many lives; a country of geographical disparities.

The 'dhachak-dhachak' sound of the moving train, passing by fast train at a platform, stil drives me crazy!

 M proudly a guy, like many others, who have sat in almost all formats of the Indian Railways, whether SL Class, AC-3, AC2, Rajdhani express, Shatabdi, even the Toy-train from Shimla to Kalka, The locals from Goregaon to Churchgate(I never miss a chance to purposely strap-hang in the Mumbai suburbans whenever I'm there, even if I have no reason to do so) but m still on...& will be on till I go on.

(Clicked by me during Morning Tea near AbuRoad in Delhi-Ahmedabad Rajdhani running at a monster speed)

This time around while I was going to Pune from Ahmedabad in 'Ahmd-Pune Holiday Special', I tried stopping myself from standing on the gates of the bogie every now & then. I just couldn't stop myself even I tried hard. just kept saying myself - "Shashi! Grow Up Dude, you have been doing this from 6th Grade, when u queerly befooled everyone to stand on the doors!" Grow Up!! But noting stopped me from doing what I was doing. I just didnt wanted to be felt embarrassed in front of a young fille, whom I just clavered! She was a beauty to watch, just like any other girl, I love to chit-chat with!

As a kid when I was in Calcutta, my favourite train obviosuly were fast Howrah- Dadar(Geetanjali Express), Howrah-Ahmedabad(slow, always late)..I just dont get it, why are all trains from & to Howrah are always late? Then, when we shifted to Wardha,  found my favourites as Nagpur-Mumbai (Vidharbha Express); always clean and on time train, Nagpur-Ahmedabad(Prerna Express), I dont know if it still reaches Amedabad at 2 am!

Then Jaipur came into picture, and I was left with no other choice then Jaipur-Mysore Express,. What I loved about this route is the terrains it passes through after Bhopal.

Just brought my love into short terms to make it look sweet!

My years at Engineering after we shifted basse to Ahmedabad were restricted to Buses, just buses! Cripes!! stil, they didnt take the place of my favourite mode of transport. My first Love! My last Love!!

Each & every guy, who stays with his parents away form his/her cousins, masi-mama, nana-nani, dada-dadi, obviously would agree wit the feeling they get when one its in the train!

Have grown seeing stations grow big.. Have grown seen people talking to others in the compartments, discussing Cricket, next station, latest! Grown up seeing, Chaiwalla, Kulads came in, papercups... It still rocks!!

I'm proud to be a dynamic part of the ever-growing Indian Railways, the largest & most organised Railway network globally.

Airways have now become cheaper, People are flying, But the charm of Railways in India can never be beaten. I tried them too, but Railways, the most affordable, the most comfortable, the most organised, the most bonnie mode!

I sometimes find people telling me, like a senior of mine from Haryana- 'yeh mera pehla time hai train mein bethen ka' or 'yaara, aaj tak train mein nahi betha!"... Jesus! not to blame them. If sumone lives with family, or members of their family stay close to their town or city, obviously missed the fun, the charm!

Its connects India geographically. India, land of beauty can be best captured by Indian Trains. My classmates at school were mostly sons/daughters of employees of Lloyds Steel ind. Ltd, Wardha, where my Pa was even working. We knew what it meant when we had summer breaks! Everyone with their parents were away from their family ties, only we in the colony, this was our family!

So, when I would tell Dhanesh, I'm going to Ahmedabad or Mumbai, he would be glad telling me about back-waters of kerala. Soumya would tell me about the life in Cuttack, his village & Bubhaneshwar in Orissa. Wardha guys woud envy us then. He he! Then there was Navneet, who while playing cricket talk about Chennai. Everyone..everyone in a festive mood! And the journey began from Railways! "Which train be, Dhanesh?", which stations?? It was fun!

And, how can I forget, Soumya taking me to Wardha junction during junior colleges, where after few days, every Samosa selling vendors knew us by name! (He He).. and just after our AISSE exams in X, Soumya taking me to the railways tracks next to our colony, from where the South-bound trains from North would go! We would, on a hot day, sit on the Rail-track leading to Lloyds yard (because obviosuly no rain would go from there as it wasn't a main-line)..and look at blietkrieg runnig trains from North to South & South to North!

I'm out of words & expressions, there is sooo much to boast about my experiences and talk about Trains! So much to gasconade!

Its the bag full of fun right from age 1 to age 23! Every trip in the train is a story by itself, a new expirience in itself! Every station always new. All the trips are stored in my brain-waves, and I will cherish it all my life!

Dude, India mein reh ke isse experience nahi kiya, toh kya kiya??

Disclaimer:Few images have been uploaded from the search.

North-East!! Connection Needed!

Folks, do you know the capital of Lakshadeep?


Ever thought about going to Manipur to witness the eye-catching beauty?


Ever thought about Andaman's coral-reefs(rather than the Oz ones) aside remembering it for Tsunami, instead of the ones near Australian island? 


Ever..ever thought of hitting Dzukou Valley for a break? Its beautiful! These are our assets too..
But why don't we mostly think about them? Because we don't get to hear them..even talk about them. No News channels actually throw lights to what is happening in N-E, in Lakshadeep, in Andaman, Leh, Ladakh, apart from a natural disaster or some elections. Not even a weather report! Big Boss mein yeh hua, Dhoni ki nayi hair-style.


Tibet's spiritual leader Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal makes news, because this is where China is involved. But how many really know 'Tawang' is the district in Arunachal Pradesh, which China calls it disputed & demands it as there land??

 

"Boss, whats the seat number you are alloted with?..Mine says 14" - I ask a guy finding him on seat number 14.  "Mines 14 too" -he replies. "Cripes! these bus wallas, I told them I wanted a window seat, they played foul again"- I think hacked off  by this act.

Going up to the driver I tell him, how can he give two persons the same seat? "kya bhaiya, uske goddi mein bethun kya jaake?"

"Sir, why dont u take up 13, next to 14"- he responds calmly.

"I obviosuly will have to.. "-my brainwaves suggests! I return back to the row & make myself comfortable on 13. "Hi..dis is Shashi" -I smile & greet my fellow. He poping his eyes out of his long hair, anyone would guess out, He from North-Eastern India with his chinese cast.

"Hey, my name is Bijju"- he replies.
"You must be from North-East? your looks suggest so"

"Ha ha..Yeah..I'm..M from Manipur".

 "Thts cool, so what u doing here in Pune studying or working?"

"Well, M studying M.A from Pune Univ." " What do u do? u working here?"

"No I work in Ahmedabad, just came to spend my weekend with pals, they have benn calling for long"

"Great, Ahmedabad is a great place, I studied in Baroda, M.S. University"..I love that place"

"And what about Manipur? Don't u go there?"

"I do..but its 3 years since I have been there..Its far..have no good educational instiutes, We have to come to other parts of the country for career."

This just reminds me of all the North-eastern people I get to meet, same woes! This small conversation just fizzed my brain-waves when I was listening to an Indo-China debate on NDTV.

North-Eastern India comprises of 7 states (also known as the seven sisters): Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. North-Eastern people and the place itself seems very beautiful to be in! India has got so much in it after all! It's almost a new place to be in. But, still... this part of the country is always spoken off by insurgencies, tensions between Central Govt. & states & ethnic groups.

Our government always has an habit of not working! If some one just would care enough about the Tourism & development of almost every part of country.. this nation would obviosuly be a better place to be in.

What does the Govt. really needs to act on? Just developing infrastrucure; mapping infrastrucutre in a way that it gets well connected to rest part of the country. I haven't seen a train or heard of  as usch as rfequemt flights going to Imphal or Gangtok! It's really demoralisisng! The place is boosted with so much of green nature and stuffs!

The reason for growing insurgency & rebel in India is lack of care for people in that part.. whether its growing maoists in W.B or Jharkand..they are what they are because of ill-treatment catered to them.

North-East always seems unexplored. It always seems u being to a new world! How can we forget & be proud that this part of the country is ours??

Its a de-facto that out government from then to now, has actually never worked... every Indian pays tax( India is the 2nd populous country in the world), we got pleanty of money then, N-E pays tax too, like Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad or Hyderabad does, then why isnt sum1 actually concernd about linking N-E to the rest of India?

If Britons could do it then, why can't we now? And then we talk about being High-tech. Instead of thinking about landing on moon(LoL)..why dont we actually thinking about linking every part of the country into main-stream?

Are the terrains leading to North-East as difficult? Leave North-East aside, why isnt Rajasthan well-connected bywith railways? Why is there a meter-gauge leading to Bikaner from Jaipur? (and that too the Britishers made it), why isn't railways connecting every part of Maharashtra? Why are we running out of roads in M.P.? Why are some parts of Orissa still living in dark-ages? Why a mineral-rich state like Chattisgarh has unemployment & poverty? Why isn't anything done for farmers in Vidharbha, considering India still relies on Agro and despite the fact that Gujarat, which was considered a non - cotton growing zone, is now able to cultivate cotton ( beacuse of some hard work shown by the ministry and the planning of farmers there) more than Vidharbha where farmers are comitting sucidies? These look big problems, which in real they aren't, only just a glimse & few things in place..and we are actually out of it!

China, which we obviously take up as villian, has actually brought Tibet into the main-stream Chinese map. Reason? they brought railways & roadways to Tibet. WHY IS INDIA NOT WELL CONNECTED? India accuses the China of sponsoring regional tensions, and we know how China is eyeing our few beautious North-Eastern states that lies on it's borders, and we will be to blame ourselves if everything isnt okay, because we havent ever ourselves cared about everything that we have. Because we have it, we dont realize it's importance. Indian and state governments' concerted effort to raise the living standards of the people in these regions have started.  However, militancy still exists within the region. Among the rebellions in the area are Tripura Rebellion and Assam Conflict. We cannot blame any one else, How can we? Our Govt. keeps ignoring & passing buck, and the mole turns a hole.

I atleast believe, we can actually start thinking & be proud of a rich North-Eastern India which actually belongs to us!

Proud to be an Indian!

Chiggy Wiggy on the Signals!! Fritters me Pink!!!!!!!

Place: Jaipur, 'Pink City'!

Month: Early August.

Hot afternoon...I mean real blistering hot afternoon!! Jaipur has always been extreme hot until late October! After that?? Insensate cold!! I remember seeing the first befog winters in Jaipur in my first year of B.E.! After all, Wardha(Maharashtra), where I spent my teenage, was never that cold. Yea..summers toh Massah Allah!!)

But must tell you, Jaipur is the only city in the boastfully large list of cities I lived in, which I really don't like to be to! Though, it is one of the major tourist destination in India & the capital of the largest state in India...kya karein apne apne Fundae hotte hain!! lol.

Anyways.. I modeled myself in a cycle-rickshaw which is very common in the Pink City. I caught it from Polo Victory for Railway station, where I had to seek my chances for reservation back to Ahmedabad for the other day! Because I wasn't sure about my return, I didn't reserve my return-ticket.

The distance between  Polo Victory & Railway station isn't that long actually.. But it was real hot & I was there for just a two-day official jaunt!! 

Polo Victory is one of the major tourist spot in Jaipur which almost all the desi & foreign tourists, who have visited the Pink City, know! Named after Polo Victory cinema and very close to both railway station and the bus stand, this is a famous age old hangout and probably the center-nerve of the city!

I started ramming in the cycle-rickshaw, just when I reached the first signal on my way to the station. Just then, I saw a gang of women working on the flyover construction site. They were bespeaking a anguish of a fellow worker, who was expecting & had to be rushed to a near-by hospital immediately!

I gave a look at the women they were pointing to, she really looked in pain. But, before I could think of anythig else, they started imploring me for money!  Atleast 3 women surrounded me with their stressed voice asking me for atleast an  autoricksaw fare to get her to the nearest hospital!  They were pleading for atleast 100 rupees.. which obviously came down to 70!!

I tried confirming the rickshaw wala, if it wasn't fishy! He gestured it wasn't! I immmediately took out the money & gave the ladies! I was more amused by the other people in their cars waiting at the signal & not even being stirred by such a human demand!

May be because, India is a country with such a large population which has actually made us worry about us more than anything else! Never Mind, The ladies took the money & not even blessed me! Cripes!!

Chal Chodd... The signal opened up & my amusing ride on the cycle rickshaw took me straight to the reservation office for the tickets, which I finally didn't get.. I though did check on the internet that I would get a WL 15 for Aravalli Express.. But after standing in the long queue for almost 20 minutes, my patience gave up!! जाने दे न.. अहमदअबाद के लिए खूब वोल्वो और फास्ट बस हैं ,उसमे ही निकल जऊँगा! This was  what curbed my mind.

(clicked in the same evening, this road goes straight to Polo Victory)

The very Next Day:

Me in a auto-rickshaw (this time not a Cycle-Rickshaw), another signal comes up on M.I. Road from where I was to return back to Ahmedabad, M.I. Road being a famous shopping street of Jaipur.

(Golcha Point, on M.I. Road..clicked by me)

Another Red signal comes up. A young boy in his rags, wakes briskly towards me & suddenly finds himself being scared of by my auto driver! The Auto-Driver then looks into the large mirror just above the wind-shield of his auto and looking into my reflexion, he then says "अरी भैया.... यह लोग बहुत फर्जी ( used for शान्ने in Rajasthan) होते हैं!" He then continues: " कल के अख़बार में आया था की एक भिकारी के पास बैंक में  3 lakh रुपियाँ हैं! "

After looking at me & my pal enjoying & finding us pushing this funny debate further as always..He too gets excited & then bursts out saying.." यह आगे Polo Victory के पास जहाँ पूल बन रहा है, वहां पे कुछ औरतें लोगों से सिग्नल पे कहती हैं की उनकी साथ की मजदूर को बच्चा होना हैं और हॉस्पिटल ले जाने के पैसे दे दें ! " "लोगों को बेफ्कुफ़ बना के खूब कमाती हैं !! ""

.. Listening to this, My brain-waves took a flight back to the previous arvo! And, my pal , whom I told about the whole incidence just an evening before, as I just couldn't come out of it as my mind was always boggling me back to the women whom I saw in backbreaking pain!

We both just gave a look to each other & there he was all laugh & throwing silly pokes against me to the auto-driver, he said: "अरी अंकल, क्या बात कर रहे हो?? हमारे एक दोस्त के साथ भी ये ही हुआ है! उस बेचारे को भी उन औरतों ने दू बना दिया !! " क्या लोग भी जानसे में आ जाते हैं !!! "

But for me, it was nothing more than a night-mare, because they even didn't address a blessing for me!! I just could'nt believe being thuged in the worst possible way! That was really inhuman! How can people fool you on the basis of deepest humanity? Because , the feelings had haunted me almost every minute, I couldn't just eat my luncheon & couldn't stop cursing other people waiting on the signal for not helping the woman!

It's not over yet. One more pathetic event happened to me probably on the same day.. 

Just a month ago, when this happened to me I was riding my moto-scooter on C.G. Road, near Lee's Showroom (Ahmedabad), I saw an aged woman with her wrist not at all present with her & the whole thing was covered with a bandage full blood-stains!! That was another day, when to be honest , I didn't feel like buying a pair of Jeans!  I tell you. it was really heart-touching, & real graveling to remember!

But Guess whhat? Grrrrr...... I saw a similar woman with the same patch & blood-stains,this time though not that too red, that very day when I was going back towards the bus-station to catch a bus back to Ahmedabad!

But, why did I blog this???? Just in a day, two secrets opens up which gave me a tough time whole day!! Karne chala bhalai, Ho gayi Chiggy-Wiggy!!

The 5-Second-Rule!!!!

What??? you haven't heard of it..??? Shame on you!!!


He He...It' Okay.. I hadn't either.....until yesterday!!

It’s a funny story!! But this is how few things that happens in life gesture us our rules!! Well, here is how it goes...

This one hot afternoon yesterday, one piece of potato flakes jumped off the wrapper of the potato chips, and my friend who was sharing the packet with me, picked it right off the floor and put it in his mouth without giving another thought!



I was could do nothing, but just stare at him with despair, because one of the first etiquette you learn in any school is 'Dont you dare pick up any eatable that's fallen on earth, despite it even being your most favourite.'
So, while feeding himself with that earthy flake, he suddenly looked my expression and said.. "What??..It's Ok.. Haven't you heard of the 5 second rule??". He paused..looking deep into my eyes...He then said.........."Anything that falls on the ground is safe to eat, if picked up within 5 seconds."

(Hey.. Hey.. Hey.. Guys!! Don't imagine my pal & me as Chickens!!!! that's silly, folks!! Its just a risible display I shared!! That didn't look too funny I hope!!)


Anyways, I was sure he was trying to make up for his impulsive action. I kicked his buns for this act.


But, I couldn't stop myself & did check it up today morning and to my surprise.....here is the link to the Wiki-page:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-second_rule




But, what if you eating a something jelly? Are you gonna apply the rule? Internet and google is full of these 5-second rules, folks!! And, all I can say is "What???" Any rule for an excuse!?!"
So... Life turns out to be so funny sometimes!! Blooming heck! we humans have excuse for almost everything on earth!! Did u guys find yourself in any such funny learning situation??? Phew!!! :D


;)










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Archiekins finally to propose!!

My Favorite comic character has finally decided to settle down!! Ya..I know this is no social issue, but it's Archie!!!! My favorite! How can I forget those days of keeping Archie comics between my study books & reading them, hiding from Mummy!!! It's a big news for me & loads of Archie fans.....

So, the age-old love triangle of Archie comics has finally been broken, after Riverdale's ultimate Andrews picked the vixen Veronica over girl-next-door Betty to be his wife.

So what if Betty was a blonde, loyal and kind- when it came to popping the question Archie chose the raven-haired, charming and rich Veronica.

According to what I read on Yahoo.com. after 67 years of being in a dilemma, Archie is all set to tie the knot with the vixen-a choice that left many Archie comic fans in gasps.

Archie Comic Publications announced on May 27 that the flighty redhead from Riverdale picked Veronica over Betty Cooper.

Already in mid-May, the publisher sent speculation swirling when it announced a special marital-themed storyline for release in August, but didn't reveal the lucky lady.

The wedding will take place after the gang graduate from college, and venture out into the working world.

However, the response to the proposal has been markedly divided-Betty fans like me, are outraged that the girl next door has been ditched yet again for the beautiful, yet spoilt, Ronnie. :(

While many fans are questioning whether Archie should marry at all, because it could mean a possible end to the enduring comic-book soap opera.

A Sacred Dream???

This story was written by me in 2005 when in 1st year of my B.E. programme . I wish to share the story. No presentation of this story and any of it's part is allowed. I also can't be held responsible for any misconception.

-Shashi Shekhar Vyas

What was that ???
Was that a dream???
Dream or truth???
Or a trip in real???

“Mr. Samuel Vatmore?”
“Yeah! We are here.”
“OK, fine you are next.”
“That’s fine.” Answered my uncle as I was looking and gazing around the hall. Everyone seemed tensed, worried running here and there; atmosphere of tension all around. And, those white apron wearing nicely built up doctors seemed to be quick, but relaxed. Such an attitude of doctors flashed my brainwaves taking them back to classroom full of students biting nails with their hair standing at the top and facing them is a teacher correcting papers quickly, as if habitual of it as ever. Signing those big heap junks of papers with scribbling all around was never easy for anyone except them.

My uncle and me were at the main surgery Dept. at St. Georgia Hospital, the name every local passer by knew of.

I was living with my uncle and aunt at Baker’s street, north of town. My uncle, a cool head just like my dad. Now that’s obvious. After all, he is my Dad’s younger brother. And my aunt? The deadliest lady ever born on planet earth. When she used to stare me with those big eyes of her; oh! I could get burnt inside for sure. And more to that she used to teach me in my college and it was quite difficult not only for me but anyone to raise their head in her class. She always made me feel, how much I really missed my mom.
My mom, she was a damsel by heart, as gentle as dew running down a red-rose petal at a wintry dawn. But, she was living far away in a county-side with my dad back home in India. That place was heaven’s paradise; seemed like Almighty took every care to make each corner of it by his own charming hand with a delighted heart!! I missed my family a lot, had it not been the higher grade of my academic education, I would have been with my sweet family back home in India!
But, why the hospital and that too a surgical Dept.? A good question to ask. Actually, I injured my right wrist in a local football match. How? No comments anymore.
I was to be operated soon as I hurt my right wrist quite badly. Though, a small surgery, but it was my first surgery from the time I was born on this planet. But, I wasn’t tensed, and, thanks to (Mrs.) Dr. Muswell, head of the surgical Dept. in St. Georgia Hospital, Westwood County. And also, credits to my uncle, who never made either my mother or dad, get worried over the whole process.
In fact, he prepared me in such a way that we were kidding and joking just few moments before the weird thing ever was going to happen with me. We laughed and giggled at a person with a fractured shoulder who looked fit and was not walking to the operation theatre on his own, but was carried through hospital stretcher but he came back quite unconscious and that’s why probably he needed that wheel-bed for sure.
“He’s given with anesthesia” --- My uncle told me calmly. I asked anxiously then, “What’s anesthesia?”
“Oh! That’s a fluid injected to your body before you are to be operated, so that you become senseless and don’t sense pain during the whole process.”
“Will even I be?”
“Yeah! Even you.”
Oh! Sigh, I hate only two things of the whole medical system; one those chemical tasting, sour, bitter pills, which are like thousand needles injected to your tongue and other, the injections!
My heart sank of thinking those needles pierced into my body “Mr. Samuel, do you need a wheel bed?”---a sugar-coated voice gently inquired my ears. I looked up and fell in love with those deep blue eyes. She was a beautiful maiden, whom I recognized as a sister or nurse.
“No, Thanks!”---I replied back, trying to prove myself a gentleman, to show her how gentle I was.
“Mr. Sam Vatmore, do come in.”
My uncle looked deep in to my eyes and waved me off, as if I was to be going on front against the Nazis.
“Name?”
I was surprised, he himself called me in by my name.
“Ah! Samuel Vatmore.”
“So, Sam, you seem to become a wrestler or Schumacher or something, don’t you?”
“Nah! Just got myself jogged and dodged in a local football match practice, that’s it. ”
“That’s fine. Turn right and you will find yourself in the operation theatre.”---He said by handing me over a paper-bag, seemed to be full of bottles probably of glucose, and few other equipment.
As my feet turned around, my ears started getting red. I was nervous; my heartbeats were soaring high. I was to be in a surgery room for first time and I could see it with my dark eyes.
I entered the room. The room was dark with only and only three lights flashing round on the bed kept exactly at the center of that room, say large room. The bed, yes, the bed. This is where I’m to be ‘dissected’ today.
I remember myself dissecting dogfishes cruelly at college. But, they were all dead! How could god do this to me? Now, It was I, alive! I could only hope ‘they’ were not as cruel as I was.
‘They’, they were those nicely built up humans tapping their feet on the floor with some sorts of weapons around them. Only, they had their faces covered, probably, to keep themselves unrecognized in case they could do something wrong to me.
The room was quite dim and I felt like a poor chick at a butcher’s shop.
“Get in here.”---Said one of those butchers pointing me towards the bed where I was to be dissected.
I moved slowly towards the bed and they covered me all over. Pushed me tight on the bed, one of them putting my right hand on a stand next-by. He caught my hand tightly and moved out a needle I was most afraid of.
I pushed him off quickly in fear. Then, a beautifully made-up voice, not as good as that nurse’s calmed me up.
That needle was pierced in…and…s.l.o.w..l..y…..
“Name?”
“Samuel Vatmore.”---I replied automatically.
What the hell? Why was I asked my name again? And, wait, what happened to that dark room, those butchers?
I looked around, every one in cool white outfits with gold rings on top of their head, just like a fairy dream! Oh! Hell, Holy cow! Just another dream I seemed to be in.
“No, Sam, no dreams anymore.”---Came a voice which was like enchanting strings of my heart. “Come along.”
That white fancy man took me to a comfy office, one of the biggest I had ever seen. No walls, no doors, just white glittering fog all around. Oh! Wait, take that back, there wasn’t a floor!
After a few walks, the most memorable, I can never ever forget in my life, I was at a reception, a sort of I had never ever seen before. It was so unusual; so much of a fairy.

A person with a smile, seem to have glued on his face, frowning & running down his finger down a very, very long list. I heard him mumble something but, his dress-up took my attention. He looked just like an Indian mythological hero from a series on sacred drama. A gold crown covering his head with head curling out from it, gold pendant swinging from his shaved-looking chest.

But, suddenly, his facial expressions changed completely, no more glued smile.

“So….err… Mr. Samuel Vatmore? Mr. Sam… we oh, sigh, Mr. Samuel Vatmore, we weren’t expecting you so soon. You were supposed to arrive on 31st June 2075 at 13:06:43 PM.”

“Oh!” That’s all I could think of to say. Here’s me wrestling with a weird-looking hospital gown because I must say there was quite a draught from up here, and unfortunately you weren’t allowed knickers in that hospital for some strange reason. Now, I come to think of it I couldn't really remember why the hell I was in the darned thing in the first place.
My head spun around and I took a guess where I was “Am I dead?” I asked in a whisper.
That man who guided me to the reception nodded apprehensively from behind and winged. I took that as yes.
Turning slowly around, I felt was in the twilight zone for the goodness sake. This was just plain silly, I was only 19! I stared at various people in the evergreen single line behind me. There was this one woman who looked as if she had been on earth since the beginning of time, the earth was born. How she managed to shuffle her feet forward every once in a while was behind me. She didn’t have the average amount of wrinkles but she was made out of them! Then, there was a young boy of about 7, I would guess, he was twisting a piece of thin straw between his teeth nervously. He kept closing his eyes tight and then opening them again only to gawp at everyone else’s. Kind of, like me, I guess.

His dark silky hair was getting in the way of his eyes from under his red cap because he kept pushing it back.

I took a glance at the… um… receptionist who was the mythological hero, though, he seemed to have never ever had hair on his chest or something. Cool-looking dude. On earth, he probably would have been the next fashion icon!!

“Ah-elm.” That same old middle-aged man who guided me here was looking at me intently with the dullest eyes I had ever seen. They weren’t only grey, but off-white really. Quite annoyed, he looked.
“I’m afraid, you’re scheduled to go back now, Mr. Samuel. Sorry for any inconvenience, this may have caused you.” He spoke in a quite vital tone. But, now his face changed quite completely, staring at me with hollow eyes. Coming into my eyes, he spoke “But remember, if you speak about this whole event ever to anyone, then, you know you have to come back here.” “And, it might happen, you may be called quite badly, in the most dreadful way, your earth had ever seen.”
Before I could say anything it was all fogs around and in no time he ticked his fingers. And then, I felt being carried hurriedly somewhere out and could smell disinfectant and something like rotten eggs.
“Samuel? Doctor! He’s coming around!” I heard a familiar worried human voice shouting. I could not believe what had just happened. Nor, could I remember. What had happened before it. That was stressful, I was quite unconscious.
“Samuel, sweet heart? Can you hear me?” Well, of course, I could as he was about an inch from my face.
“Oh gawd….. Was that garlic this fellow had in his lunch, bleurgh.”
I murmured something under my breath which even I think, I couldn’t have understood, but that garlic-lover doctor did. He seemed to take it as a signal, I was awake.
“He’ll be alright now. Just getting conscious against anesthesia.”
“But, we would like to run few tests if that’s ok? Bholaram, get him to the ward." Then, he seemed to say something again to my uncle; “You can take him home tomorrow morning, if that’s fine.” That was all garlic-breath talking.
“Yes, doctor, that’ll be fine.” I think, I again felt fast asleep. When I woke up, I found something soft under my head. But this time no garlic and no more human sweating smell resembling to those of rotten eggs and discarded standing socks.
But, I got to remember the dream; wait a minute, was that really a dream or a?
Months and years have passed by, but I still try to remember that dream and wonder was that true? Still confused.
But, that has changed my life for sure. I now know every one has to pay for his deeds here, so my new Mantra for life… Be good...Do Good deeds & that’s how I live my life now! Visiting orphanages, old-age homes! In other way round, I seem to have found the real sense & motive of life!!
Even today, when I stroll down a lonely street, pass-by a meadow or lake or walk along the green woods, I still try to inquire myself- Was that a scary dream or a sacred truth, which I can’t share with anybody!

Pakistan on the 'Line of Fire'!!

Another Saturday and I'm back home after having a hot mug of chocolate at Freeze-Land cafetaria with pals. Freeze-land, my new hot-spot for the month! No ones at the flat, cousin's gone along with other members of the family to a Holi get-together organised by a family friend. He knows it's no use calling me as I always snugg off any social gatherings, after all I still don't know a lot of people here. So, I'm up again with my dinner table ready.

My fingers ready to exercise some buttons on the remote control as usual. I was back to my peculiar hobby while dining; recitating my finger-tips on the remote control of my television-set. Starting with channel No.3:-Times Now, No.4:-Star News, No.5:- Aaj Tak, now let me tell you one thing very remarkable about Aaj Tak which I encountered, I find it the most entertaining channel. Whenever I'm into boredom, I ususally switch on Aaj Tak, it just entertains me; the background sound, back-ground voice trying to add some aggression is just something outta a masala-packed bollywood flick.

 It used to be my favourite channel in High School. I still remember that evening while I was in Grade 9, the first time I encountered the channel when it was airing a coverage on the 'Tehelka Kand' of NDA government. It remained my favourite channel since then. Never missed any news a day, but I just lost hopes when once it made a coverage of a 'miracalous' driver who was driving an Indica Car in Delhi sitting next to the driver's seat. The channel covered anything it could on the basis of a video sent by some Call-centre employees who spotted the driver reading the a newspaper and no one on the driver's seat! The news anchor even went ahead saying that 'Sai baba ki tasveer bhi nazar aa rahi hai car mein. Kya yeh ek jhaado hai???" It was that day & till today I have never seen the channel with the difference.

While exercising my fingers, I stopped at Channel No. 6 Headlines Today. Refreshingly Different, it was broadcasting a live coverage of India Today Conclave 2009 where former Pak dictate and President General Pervez Musharraf was speaking.

My fingers didn't want to exercise anymore. After a long flow of time, I enjoyed a debate so much like never before. I started him almost half-past his speech. This was something very interesting. I really appreciate his intentions on coming to India to represent Pakistan at a stage when there is such a high-peak tension between the two nations after 26/11 and Pakistan quickly loosing it's shade as a stable state. Throughout his speech the General accented on building up a positive environment between the two nations and leaving behind whatever happenend in the past.

"Riingggg"...rings my cell phone. "Mummy Lagos Calling" reads my Nokia 3110. Its how I saved it. Mummy asking me about how I have been doing & all....guys know Mums & especially people knowing me well know my Mum, how much she remains concerned about me even at this age!! After Mummy's call ends, there's another one....."Soumya Calling"...Whoomp, my oldest & probably the closest pal working in Jindal Steel, Raigarh calls in.. "Hey Shashi! Did u get my VCD???" Talking about the same old 'Blood Brothers'(1990 release) VCD about which he has been screwing me from the time I came back from Pune.