Thursday, May 17, 2007

Reflection

There are an umpteen number of times you would've felt after hearing a song that you are the one who's singing it. It would've occurred to you many a times after watching a movie that the story revolved around your own story. Or say, after reading a piece of literature you would've felt as if you were the one, who'd written it. And then arises, a deep rooted urge to know more about the writer who wrote the song, movie or the piece of literature in question.

One writes straight from his heart on what he experiences and observes. There is nothing like being completely fictiitous.

That's where you get convinced that there's a different story altogether in some different part of the world running parallel to yours. Things start getting intriguing and interesting. You feel like reading more to know about the writer. But, what if he deliberately chooses to obcure himself into anonymity. Enough to drive you crazy. Isn't it??

I've come across many such literary pieces but nothing comes as close as these ones.

english-august.blogspot.com written in anonymity.

Everything that he/her writes makes me feel as if he/she is spying me closely.

Whose thoughts are these? He/She could be anyone. Upamanya Chatterjee- the author of the book English August?? or Rahul Bose who played the lead role in the movie based on the book. Could be anyone? Thats not something that bothers me; or makes me happy either. What makes me curious is the thoughtprocess. Same thoughts, feelings, emotions, everything that could be understood from the words- everything same.

One of the many, that I liked is "Between"

Between

"There exists a place called 'between'.

'Between' is in the middle of here and there. It is also in the middle of this and that.

The first time I reached 'between', she hit me out of nowhere. I didn't know or plan to be in 'between', but somehow I just landed up there. It is strange, the places where life takes you. Sometimes expected, most of the time unexpected. And when the unexpected happens, the myth of 'between' becomes a reality. A reality that you may or may not want to face, but you have to. And so, 'between' begins to exist. And thus is born 'grey'.

'Grey' is 'between' black and white. It is also a place. It is a place in 'between'. It is the place you can see the most easily, and hence what you associate the most with 'between'.

But beware, what you see is not what you get. I can feel myself reaching another 'between' very soon. 'Between' is also a place where things change. That is why it is in the middle of here and there. It is also in the middle of this and that. And in the middle of 'between' everything is black and white. And that is the irony of being in 'between'. It gives you the perspective of being in the middle, and being able to see things clearly, while in obscurity.

They say obscurity gives rise to confusion, but from 'between', confusion could have never been clearer. And it is in this clarity, that one takes a decision. And that decision is what remains, even when you are not in 'between' anymore. When you take a side. When you move to one of the sides. To here or there. Or this or that.

Things change. But 'between' continues to exist. "

That's indeed my reflection.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

As if it were the last day...

“If I must be faithful to someone or something, then I have, first of all, to be faithful to myself. If I’m looking for true love, I first have to get the mediocre loves out of my system. The little experience of life I’ve had has taught me that no one owns anything that everything is an illusion- and that applies to material as well as spiritual things. Anyone who has lost something they thought was theirs forever (as happened often enough to me already) finally comes to realize that nothing really belongs to them.

And if nothing belongs to me, then there’s no point wasting my time looking after things that aren’t mine; it’s best to live as if today were the first (or last) day of my life.”


Above is an excerpt from Paulo Coelho’s (author of the international bestseller THE ALCHEMIST) Eleven Minutes. Not an outstanding storyline but just a good read.

Nevertheless, I found the above piece a little relevant so put in here. The thought might sound very generic and repetitive. Some might even think it to have a sharp pessimistic edge. But I like it. Life indeed gets spiced up if you were to think it’s gonna end soon. You’d feel like doing so many things, you always wanted to do for yourself and more importantly to others, lest your life ends abruptly and you go incomplete with a complete dissatisfaction.

You tend to run faster. That’s it.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

"May be..."- Disappointment or Hope??


Calvin: Hey Amy, your exuberance is attractive. Feel like talking to you. BUT... Do you mind coffee sometime??

Amy: Thats weird! Coffee?? Don like it! May be for somethin else may be...

Calvin: (thinking) Since when did complimenting a gal become weird?? I like that "may be" in the end. Didn't realise movie is a better option. MAY BE...

Amy: :) Smart

Calvin: (thinking) 'May be' is a politically correct and a sweeter way to say 'NO' . May be ... :)


Friday, May 4, 2007

Different Faces

"कभी है इश्क का उजाला
कभी है मौत का अँधेरा
बताओ कौन भेस होगा
मैं जोगी बनू या लुटेरा
कई चहरे है इस दिल के
न जाने कौनसा मेरा "*

I wish I were the same to everyone। But I am not.

You define me. The world defines me. I am what you all make me. And so is everyone.

You define me externally. I am the same internally.

BEHAVIOURS VARY. NATURE STAYS ETERNAL.

*Song: Maine dil se kaha, Film: Rog (2004), Lyrics: Nilesh Mishra

Strange Path

"हज़ारों ऐसे फासले थे
जो तय करने चले थे
राहे मगर चल पडी थी
और पीछे हम रह गए थे
कदम दो चार चल पाए
किये फेरे तेरे मन के"*

This path is extraordinarily strange. Journey is all the more amusing.

I move in one direction and the path moves in the other.

Destination is not known to me. All that I know is to keep walking.

I am the one to decide the destination so as to make the experience enriching. I do not know whether I am heading in the right direction as what I have is nothing but a confident assumption. I needn’t worry because I at least have the direction. Moreover, the journey has already been decided by my destiny.

I just need to keep matching my pace with that of the path. I sometimes like to halt and rest but I can’t, because I know neither can the path. The minute I stop I start sliding backwards.

That’s when I say, I couldn’t match up with the pace and fell back in time.

All that I need to do is run faster.

The path is LIFE.



* Song: Maine dil se kaha, Film: Rog (2004), Lyrics: Nilesh Mishra

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Going Up!

(Two young office boys wait for the elevator. Their articulation, behavior and accent imply their UP-Bihar origins. Have already waited more than enough for an elevator that has to go two stories both ways)

Youth 1: Dhur saala, itna der mein to hum paanch maala chad lete. (a little bit of annoyance cropping up on his face)

Youth 2: To kaahen nahi gaye. Doosre tak to jaana tha… Ha ha ha (a slow, intermittent laugh that fades away with every ‘ha’)

Youth 1: Aisa baat nahi hai be. Hum dekhe hai aisa lift jo lage hai ki chhat phor ke nikal jaayega. Aur yeh, lagta hai sabzi ka thela hai.

Youth 2: Haan be, paisa to happak ke kharch kiya hai office banane mein, lekin lift lagai hai ekdum lapadjhannu. Chal be aa gayi.

(Both of them bend, lift the carton they were carrying and enter the elevator. One of them presses the button for the second floor and the door closes. Once the lift motions up, a feminine voice very pleasingly declares in English “Going Up”, to which one them blurts out satirically.)

Youth 1: Leov, kar lo baat. Humai dabaye, aur hamai ko batai… Going Up!

Ha..... ha...... ha..... ha ….

(And both of them burst out together in sync with the same loud, slow and intermittent laugh that fades away with every ‘ha’.)