In Defence of Pappu!

             When you are deciding the future of a billion people in a nation where the mind is full of fear, and you have to choose between pappu and pheku where would you put your money or whatever is left of it? Detractors of pappu have made a big song and dance about the lack of experience saying Pappu cant dance saala, but I would remind them of the wise words of perceptive prognosis from the angry -once young- man who offered you sweets to proclaim Pappu pass ho gaya!

            Pheku can project himself and his apparition in 3D and Imax 3D all day, but pray what will happen if pheku has to solve our boundary disputes or even go and get the marines back from Italy to stand extended trial in our esteemed court. He can’t even discuss the weather in a conference on climate control. He doesn’t have a visa!!! A Master Card may be, but no VISA! Our long forgotten patriot brethren on foreign soil will emerge like a phoenix to deny him that with a flash flood of signatures.  After all, they have been following the entire progress of pheku on twitter and facebook and with their brilliant intellectual capabilities have been able to denounce the few million desi’s who could have been easily misled due to their native ignorance.  And the guardians of our nation’s conscience who religiously take part in our Independence Day parades on Fifth Avenue and watch our nation’s progress on the television will ensure that the ignorant natives are set right.

And do we need such a leader who is domestically sequestered while his entire cabinet is globe trotting? We have long suffered in silence at a silent PM, now do we need to feel sorry for a Home Alone PM?

            But the clincher for Pappu is in our filmy history. When the pheku rattles out facts and figures, thumping his chest and thundering, Mere state main development hain, progress hain, investments hain, Mere paas experience hai, tumhare paas kya hai, all pappu has to say to elicit a collective sigh from the billions and make them bite the ballot is to reply “Mere Paas Maa hain”.

The Recalcitrant Star

          I wish I could recreate the magic of her fingers ploughing through my hair, my loyal strands parting ways to ensconce her slender digits, the embrace of the tuft extending to my arms that held her legs, as I rested my chin in the cradle of her lap. She refused to be embarrassed by the moon making a full appearance and staring shamelessly at the wanton display of amour, or the stars mischievously winking at each other enjoying the spectacle. We had shut out the universe, seeking refuge in each other’s irises, content in the world that had formed in the circle of our arms.

           The stem cut through the dark waters and the foxle dipped menacingly lower spraying my senses with ice cold water, snapping me out of my reverie and washing away the magical moment that never belonged to me. The miles that my ship left behind the port seemed, but a lazy drift, compared to the distance that we had sailed apart in the last couple of months.  My voyage now had a destination, my path a charted course.  I was a brilliant navigator and my eternal friends, the stars never failed me.  But how did they fail me at my birth? How is it that I failed to chart their path, which would have convinced her parents, that the stars never foretold any calamity that would befall them? It would be sacrilegious to even assume that the stars would not stand us in good stead, because they were my only true friends? Many a time, they had held my hand and guided me to safety when the miracles of technology had failed me. Many a nights we have spent in each others company, talking about the weather and the swells of the oceans.  

            But how were we to know that we would be such great friends when I was born.  How were they to know that my mother had heralded my arrival and that they should rally around to welcome their future friend? It is not their fault.  I looked at them now, resplendent in their golden coats, seeking guidance for my current voyage, forgiving them for their betrayal in my search for a soul mate. I winked back at them, my eyelids forcing out a tear drop in its effort, my weak smile engaged in replacing memories with thoughts of a new port.

CREATIVE WRITING – AN EXERCISE

 

This was an exercise conducted at the write club. The assignment was to create a dialogue between two people with a time lag, i.e., the conversation is not in real time.  For this the following scenario was created.  NASA sometime in the future has selected a teenager from one of the colleges to participate in its manned mission to the moon, as an observer.  The teenager is allowed to communicate with one friend on earth  at a designated time every day, by sending a short message.  He will only receive the reply from his friend at the same time the next day. So there is a waiting period associated with the reply after the message is sent.  Here is what I wrote…..

Sent: 1200 hrs Day 1

Dude, Its amazing out here, I am literally on the moon! The journey was cool and the Space Station is kick ass man – just out of this world. I am having a ball out here, never gonna come back man! Just lovin it!!! How’s college dude? Must be boring without me ..

Received: 1200 hrs Day 2

You lucky dude! I should have put my name on that entry form…anyways happy for you! Enjoy your time there buddy. College sucks as usual. BTW Meena was asking about you.

Sent:1200 hrs Day 3

Meena asked about me!! Dude, all these days, waiting at the parking lot, canteen, the library (oh, I hate that place) for a word with her and she asks about me now!! And dude, you know better than to slip in a statement like that so innocently. What did she ask?

Received: 1200 hrs Day 4

Hey, Chill Man. Actually, she had been noticing us following her around.  So when she saw me alone, inquired if you were keeping well. I am surprised how she didn’t know about your selection for the moon mission. She didn’t have change for her library dues and so I helped her out. She will return the money tomorrow.

Sent: 1200 hrs Day 5

What!!! You got friendly with her? She is meeting you tom?? Bro, you know how much I like her, don’t you? Talk to her about me dude! Man, this space station is getting on my nerves. I can’t keep the times these people want me to, for everything. Dude, message me as soon as you get back.  I don’t think I can sleep tonight.

Received: 1200 hrs Day 6

Chill, Pal.  Don’t get excited and fall off the space station, it is a long way down! We had coffee today at the canteen.  She is not the snob that we thought she was, in fact, very down to earth!  You are the one on the moon!! Just kiddin! Do you know, she is a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan. Will be catching a SRK movie tomorrow.

Sent: 1200 hrs Day 7

Hey!! Catch a SRK movie?? Who?? You, She or you both?? Buddy you cant do this to me! This space station sucks. I am gonna ask them for a parachute. I have to get out of this place. Buddy I can’t take it anymore here. Need to be there!

Received: 1200 hrs Day 8

Relax Mate. Enjoy your time there. The movie sucked, she watched SRK and I watched her. Boy, I proposed to her after the movie and she said YES!!! Sorry Buddy, I was also crazy for her. You have the moon ride to be proud of, let me have my moon on earth, yeah man, she means the moon to me!!! Meet you when you are down to earth, till then take care…..