Needles come! 'INK ME'

Have you ever thought of becoming a live canvas for a painter and let him design your body? But here comes the twist. Well before you answer just imagine the artist painting you with needles and not a paint brush. CONFUSED!!! Yes you read it right needles. How about daring yourself to get in that chair and getting yourself inked or in easy words getting a TATTOO. Eeeewwww....painful, isn’t it?

While a few decades back it was used as an identification or just some kind of a decoration for humans and as recognition or branding for animals, in the modern times it speaks volumes about the personality of a person wearing it. Even the B-town celebrities could not resist but follow the trend. Saif Ali Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Esha Deol, Deepika Padukone, Raveena Tandon (to name a few) all have got themselves marked with the eternal ink and are boldly endorsing it for some reason or the other. Some have names of their spouse’s, some their kids while a few preferred just some kind of an art form. So, if the celebrities are upto setting up some kind of a trend how can youngsters stay far behind in joining the bandwagon/ following their footsteps and keeping them at par with the latest fashion scene.

Once upon a time whosoever had a tattoo tried to hide it as much as possible, today they manage to make heads turn for praise. Proud owners of such priced possession quip that, “If you have it, flaunt it”, proving yesterdays taboo has become today’s must have. But such kind of a body modification is not for the faint hearted, it takes nerves of steel to face the tattoo gun. One has to pay the price in terms of pain. So people with low threshold of pain better stay away.

But what is it that is driving a whole bunch of youngsters crazy to get them marked with the permanent ink and undergo that excruciating pain?

Minute details and elegance with which a tattoo is designed leaves people awe struck wanting this one of a kind art form on their body too.

Ask today’s youngsters what made them choose the specific design they parade and they are all smiles as it definitely does make them stand out of the crowd and makes eyes pop.

Even though the youngsters are braving all odds to get a different mark on their bodies, the Indian parents are still a bit paranoid about their strong desires. They are still a bit hesitant to give a nod, but give in as they can’t see their pampered lot sulking and all grumpy.

So, if you are craving to get noticed in that crowd and seek all the attention then it surely is TIME FOR A TATTOO!! But hang on the only rule to get a tattoo made is you have to bear the pain which is a very small price that you will pay for an enduring fashion statement.

Media Morals and etiquettes! Where are they...??

Journalism largely consists in saying "Lord Jones is dead" to people who never knew Lord Jones was alive.  ~G.K. Chesterton

One of the first things that we want with our morning cuppa tea but still question its credibility with every sip.



As they say that everything has two ends: one positive and the other negative and probably this is a phase where media is bending more towards the negative end (which certainly does not mean that they don’t show anything positive).

It will be quite unjust and rude to say that media misuses the freedom it is offered with. Media in literal sense is a very broad term which includes Newspapers, TV, Radio, internet (in the form of new media) and even cell phones. Out of these one medium which has failed to show maturity and a sense of responsibility in recent times is the Television.

The entry of television in our bedrooms has made it an integral part of our lives. The booming media industry has somehow failed to prove its efficiency, questioning its own authenticity and the whole concept of TRANSPARENT MEDIA seems to be dangling in mid air. Because of which people are turning back to newspapers and adopting internet as a more serious medium for intelligent information. The freedom that media enjoys has been a matter of concern because of its unruly attitude.

* Today news is treated as commodity. Today’s media has become more revenue based, which till a certain extent is digestible but not at the cost of truth, real and serious happenings.

* Less news and more advertisements is the new age mantra. Hunger to earn more has made news time cut to less than 15 minutes during a half an hour slot. What happened to the 60:40 ratio in the newspaper’s?

* All they want is TRP turning material, yes if you are a TRP turner you have the right to stay on TV 24/7 else get lost is the attitude.

* Where are accountability, credibility, ethics and transparencythat the media has always sworn by? Criminals disguising as politicians are roaming around free and are always given the highest stratum in media.

* Telling how products are adulterated every now and then is half information which as everyone knows is more dangerous! But what do we do next? Never have the adulterations been curbed and to add to the common mans plight they leave us baffled what to eat or consume as they never give solutions and complete information.

*Somehow the news industry has deciphered that BC’s in their trade really make them go that extra mile in terms of scaling the unattainable (TRP and cash). You don’t know what BC’s is? Aha you naughty naughty it’s Bollywood, Cricket and Controversies aka BC’s.

* Indian media covers bloodshed like it is tomato ketchup. The only thing that is shown during a grief stricken situation is people lying in a pool of blood. Does anyone remember seeing a single scary picture when 9/11 happened?

NO.

But here they go to hospitals and have the audacity to go and question people who are even in a state of coma.

* They want to sensationalize everything.

Like in the Arushi Murder Case where the poor father was thrown behind bars and the mother declared a partner in crime without digging out what the truth was?

Or

People buying land on moon and getting the whole thingo registered! Oink Oink!

And how can I forget the ultimate in the sensation series: Rakhi Sawant-Mika’s ‘kiss ka kissa’ where every channel called a panel and held discussions! How duh! She became such a Drama queen aka TRP Turner that even slapping her ex BF (Abhieshek) was important enough to be covered and shown back to back. Now even if she yawns she says, "Media ko bulao, media ko bulao!"

"Usney mujhey yaha kiss kiya...GEEJAS"








*The rat race to be the first one to cover a story or show the first clipping has led to nothing but disaster most of the times. One of the glorious results of such a tradition was that the terrorists during the 26/11 attack got all the minute details about every move the force made, thanks to the media the rescue operation got stretched leading to nothing but adversity.

* Spice sells in India but for once media should realise it’s not a saas bahu saga created to capture the emotions of a housewife. Just to spice up stuff at times stories and situations are created and they don’t exist in real. Really inspired from Jim Carrey from the flick Bruce Almighty I suppose ‘have the power, go ahead and create’.

* The so called ‘fair and just media’ is owned by crooks, so how can one expect news to be handled in an even manner. A few examples are India News and Sun TV (need I explain more!). Moreover, every channel has a political backup which silently means no negative publicity of that particular party.

A few common trends that channels follow (especially Hindi and regional)

BREAKING NEWS:

Somehow the whole concept behind Breaking News has been diluted to a level where a common man is unable to distinguish between what is important and what should be left out.

A red ticker starts flashing just like a warning signal and boom goes the anchor, “Abhi abhi mili khabar ke anusar Amitabh Bachchan ke ghar se ek cheenti mili.”

This abhi abhi khabar in my dictionary should be a kabhi nahi khabar. Dude we don’t want to know whether Amitabh Bachchan (count all the film stars n cricketers as well) is sweeping the floor or going to meet Rekha (Hold on! This we want to know *wink wink*) or if Aishwarya is fasting for Abhishekh or Salman! Media stoops low to a level where they even tell what colour lingerie celebs are wearing under their clothes in the form of Breaking News.

“Aamir ne SRK ko kutta kaha.” We don’t care if he calls him a kutta or a kameena! (Sorry for the language).

Breaking news has lost its charm... In 70% cases it means Salman driving a cycle or AB going for a regular check up in an ambulance, Aishwarya Rai sneezing, or Dhoni signing a new endorsement deal.

Has anyone tried to cover the mass weddings that take place or just ask yourself how many of you know the name of the man who recently designed the rupee symbol? Why the hell you want to tell us that Aishwarya Rai married a banyan tree or got slapped by Salman!

In short it sticks true to its words. Breaking news’ in today’s era means something that breaks all your hopes what News channels should offer and strengthens your belief that they are good for nothing where seeking genuine news is concerned.


CRIME SHOWS:

“Sanate ko cheerti sansani...”

“Chain se sona hai toh ab jag jaoo...”

Someone tell me how can you sleep chain se and still be awake! Why did we hire a watchman if we have to stay awake all night?

Can crime shows have more ridiculous tag lines than these?

Jokes apart. They show all the gory details about how a crime is committed and also tell the loopholes hence people who want to commit a crime know what to be careful about?

(Though they don't rule the roost anymore as a rule was passed, so channels can’t telecast such a show in better words).


24/7 TREND:

This rat race to show news day and night has engulfed media like a forest fire and disgraced it even further. The challenge to fill slots has made them come up with the most stupid and sick information available on the face of this earth.

Sure Money-minting System aka SMS RACE:

Do you want to pee?  SMS

Will Aish conceive this year? SMS

I puked...SMS

And the foolish janta is ever ready to waste their hard earned money. Guys! Grow up. Try and consume these bucks by calling a distant relative or a long lost friend rather than wasting them on such stupid choose A or B options.

TALK SHOWS:

These one hour talk shows which most channels swear by make me laugh at times. One the anchor is just flaunting his own collection of facts and figures and two the panel called to debate always has a handful of so called experts who are either not related to the topic of discussion in any way or have the tag FOOLISH hanging over their face.

DAILY PREDICTIONS:

They literally get on my nerves when I get to hear a different forecast every time I flip from one channel to the other. One says wear black today and the other avoid it. What do I do in such a case? Erghhhhhhhhhh...!!

Scales my temper to unimaginable heights of irritability wanting to kill all the horoscope readers in one shot.

Haven’t they heard about, 'United we stand divided we fall'.
Don’t think so as unity in their predictions till date has been like Indo-Pak peace talks aka failed miserably.


STING OPERATIONS:

Well the picture speaks loudly for Sting Operations.

A few questions that I would love to ask the media twonks...or mad media members

·       Why only high profile cases are given weightage? For eg. Jessica Lall Murder case (coz of Manu Sharma) or the famous BMW case where even the criminals wedding was covered.

·        Why are ministers never caught taking bribes or their assets questioned?

·        Why is Bollywood and Cricket considered as the backbone of media? Is media this weak and fragile that they need to be dependent on them?

·        Why have they never highlighted the plight of the martyr’s families who laid down their lives for us during the wars but stand in front of Amitabh Bachachan’s house on his birthday every year?

·        Is a child who fell in a bore well to be covered continuously for a whole day more important than girls who are sold every day for as less than `2000?

·        Why is Sania Mirza, who has hardly won any tournament, covered more than Saina Nehwal who currently ranks No. 2 in the international ratings? Just coz the later is not as pretty and camera appealing?

·        If a certain area is flooded, why the hell reporters cover that at a stretch? This won’t help the water levels or even rainfalls lower anyways. In fact in 80% cases the situation is exaggerated and is not as grave as they show it to be! And yes why doesn’t the whole unit get drowned in the floods ever? Guys please conduct a poll for this. LOL.

·        Is a beggar who burned a few thousand rupees just to warm himself up more important than farmers who commit suicide for as less as a debt of `250?

·        Why is it that poor men for that matter of fact even a middle class individual’s plight and pain never highlighted? Give me a count when a candle March vigil was carried for a poor man and the answer will be none.

·        Why does media always try so hard to make things look worse? 

·        And the question still remains unanswered, where is the credibility and transparency that media has always sworn by?

It’s high time, media needs to be shaken and told to assess the gravity of their actions. They should face reality and not give more than they can deliver! Coz we are not asking for it anyways. The out of control media needs to be tamed down.


Media needs to weigh the responsibility (in terms of freedom of expression) that they are carrying on their shoulders and act keeping their moral sense intact.


As of now the dominating attitude and stagnation is just suffocating the viewers and we are longing for that professionalism to come back.

Way to go Indian Media! 

Good Luck and here’s hoping someone gets a Pulitzer back home real soon which keeping in mind the whole scenario seems a far-fetched dream.

P.S. Showing media’s ugly face does not mean it is good for nothing. I’m thankful that it keeps me updated about all the important matters and happenings around the globe and makes me believe that it is nothing but the truth (which no one can be sure of until and unless the news is related to them *wink wink*).

Its a MAD MAD Life...!!

When I recall all the funny incidents in life, I start laughing no matter where am I sitting or whosoever is around me. I think everyone has a collection of such moments in their photogenic memory whose mere mention brings a smile on our face and wants us to relive such unexplainable moments (because putting such moments in words is possible but the whole emotion is not).


CRUSH MR. CRUSH:

I had a huge crush on Leonardo di Caprio when the movie Titanic released (I mean like he is the cutest looking guy I have seen till date). Me being such a love struck fan of his, that my friends started calling me Jas Di Caprio and Leonardo, their Jiju. Till date my friends address me by this name and I am amused to bits, wondering how weird it used to be, looking back on to how crazy I was at that point of time.

Still remember my birthday that year when all the gifts I got. Leonardo di Caprio’s posters, key chains, postcards, a batch, a pencil box and yes even my slam book had his image. Guess he should consider himself a bit lucky to have a diehard fan like me. Not to forget the the nasty fight with one of my friends’ just coz she said that I was too much into him. The fight turned so ugly that she decided to leave the group (So, no one better say anything against him or there would be rivers of blood everywhere :-P)

PENCIL PENCIL ON THE FLOOR:

Back in school somehow I could not help but split into laughter even if the teacher scolded me, or the matter of fact anyone. So, whenever I felt like laughing or teasing my bench mate, all I needed to do was throw a pencil on the floor and glide under the desk. For what? To sit under the desk for a while, where obviously the teacher was not able to see me and laugh like crazy.

One fine day one of my subject teachers suddenly found me missing and asked where I was? And out I came from under the desk saying that my pencil had fallen on the floor. She found me missing a few more times but didn’t say anything. Another day and the ritual continued. Finally, one day, she smelled a major rat. She somehow couldn’t help but walk till my seat. The teacher observed me, for a good 60seconds, holding a pencil in my hand and giggling away to glory. What next? She was kind enough to crown me the naughtiest child of the class. Now the end result is, every time I drop a pencil on the floor I just can’t help but chuckle.

YO! IT’S A CHALLENGE:

As crazy as I could get one fine day I went and challenged all the guys of my class to play baseball for once and give cricket a break. Challenged that girls will make them taste defeat and they will have no place to hide hence after. Alas! We (the girl’s team) didn’t even manage to make one home run and then what followed was far beyond imagination. All the guys laughed at me mockingly and the girls literally passed a verdict to hang me till death.

AN OOPS SITUATION:

My art teacher had asked all the students to bring charcoal sticks for the next class so that he could teach all the non artists shading and gradation. Fortunately the teacher was on leave that day and unfortunately I forgot to buy them. Just to kill time I borrowed a charcoal stick from one of my friends Mr. X and there went the destructive artist in me to create something which is different aka meaningless.

I sat in a corner silently (very unlikely me) and started colouring the whole sheet, no design nothing just coloured the white sheet black. Somehow I was unaware that there was a lot of charcoal dust on the sheet which I had not cleared.

As loyal as I could get I walked up till Mr. X and said, “Since you lent me a charcoal stick, I want you to be the first one to set your eyes on my one in a million creation” and showed him the sheet that was nothing less than a TAWA. Out of shock he bent over the sheet which was poles apart from my description.

God knows from where one of my friends came running and thumped my drawing book from below. I looked up at Mr. X and oops what do I see his whole face was covered with charcoal dust. Promptly I said, “Oye! Tera toh muh kala ho gaya” and I heard laughter all around. He gazed at me angrily and questioned, “What did you just say?” and with childlike innocence I replied, “Yahi ki tera muh kala ho gaya, ask anyone around!” The gaze got stronger and more furious leaving me baffled. He asked again, “Do you even know what you are saying?” Oops! Realising what I had said my eyes popped out and mouth opened big enough to swallow a python in one go.

To add to his misery my laughter producing statement spread like wildfire, batch mates came up every now and then to inquire that show us the guy jiska ek ladki ne muh kala kar diya.

The sound of hilarity still reverberates in my ears and Mr. X’s poor charcoal coated state flashes in front of my eyes every time I see the colour black.

A SHATTERED STATE:

I have always considered myself to be nothing less than a Diva and cameras have always fascinated me. The classes at my journalism institute were under electronic surveillance. To polish my acting aka DRAMA skills and to put such soul peepers to good use one day I suddenly started giving different facial expressions while looking into the camera (of course there was no one in the class). And voila! As I feared no one scolded or complaint.

This made me shed all inhibitions and every day I started dancing (hip hop, bharatnatayam break dance, TANDAV), making funny faces, acted giving different expressions as if I was about to slap them or throw a shoe at whosoever is watching in a hope that my talent will be recognised (and yes an empty classroom was no more a concern).

But one fine day (just a few days before I said good bye to the institute) I came to know that the cameras were broken since ages. Ouch! My heart broke into a zillion pieces and ahh! My talent had no takers. And once again I was a reason for some more smiles okay okay laughter at the institute.

So, in the end I would say:

Crazy moments are here to stay,
Even if people go astray.
Summer, winter, autumn or spring
Will keep adding moments to my life’s string.
So, cherish every moment that makes you smile,
Because that’s what is called a MAD LIFE!


P.S. I didnt realise I was making MEMORIES, I thought I was just having FUN...!!

What Women Want...?

What women want...?

An unanswered question just like what came first the hen or the egg, a mystery more mysterious than the Bermuda Triangle, an unresolved issue which dates back several centuries than the Kashmir issue. But fret no more, help is on the way! Now women will speak and you boys out there stop scratching your brain like a scratch card with assured gifts and catch hold of a pen and paper. For what? One thing never question women, Oh I have already begun! Aha! Pen and paper to take notes on WHAT WOMEN REALLY WANT! *Wink wink*


1) WOMEN- One word that makes male emotions go for a toss every time it’s mentioned. But guys its WOMEN and not WOO-MEN, so spare her the wooing part and let her do what she is best at aka make you woo her.

2) If ever want to sweep a girl off her feet then all you have to do is RESPECT her without a second thought. After all God’s best creation needs to be treated with honour and prize. Yo man! Just load yourself with this respect giving attitude and Voila! We’ll adore you even more.

3) COMPLIMENT her as often as you can, even more than you can inhale and exhale. It will definitely make you shoot up in her favourites list. If she has pimples try and compliment her on that as well like for eg. Say chand mai bhi daag hota hai. And for your kind information compliments compel us to smile and feel special.

4) We don’t always need expensive materialistic things but what’s more vital is the TIME you give us out of your life. Spend time with us watching the sun go down or hearing the birds chirp. A song sung together or a poem recited will leave an everlasting impression and yes you’ll be treasured in return. Aha! But that doesn’t mean expensive gifts take a backseat. Wink wink. At times we love to be materialist like the Material Girl! So, if you tickle us saying GUCCI, GUCCI, GUCCI we will unquestionably LV you!

5) We want to be PAMPERED. Hey there, yes you, cut down on your boozing spree and take the girl on a beauty spree instead if you want to live longer.

6) Never have that audacity to QUESTION her decisions or actions especially when she is upset. Questioning her means welcoming trouble and adding to your already volcanic struck lava coated state.

7) They say LAUGHTER is the best medicine but why are we females in this 21st century being deprived of this drug? A female is the centre of all talks when it comes to male conversations but what goes wrong when they laugh their lungs out at a public place. Why those frozen stares? We want to laugh! Don’t stop us people; we don’t have pyorrhoea that will scare you to death.

8) Never ever, I repeat, never ever dare to say that she is a store house of adipose tissue aka FAT even if she is a whooping 1000kgs. Just say she is very fit and of course the most beautiful thing on the face of this earth. Yes that goes for Koena Mitra as well.

9) We are born COUNSELLORS, even if you don’t have any problem we will wish that you have one and we get a chance to guide you through adversity. So, people even if not in trouble you know where to come because our angelic guidance comes with a free price tag.

10) Try and be FUNNY, I don’t mean Jim Carrey but we women love that funny streak rather than being with someone who will suffocate us to boredom.

11) Gimme an L, Gimme an O, Gimme a V, Gimme an E. Yes yes yes! Love us today, tomorrow, forever, every hour, every minute and every second. Difficult is it!

12) Well guys women’s AGE never exceeds the 16 mark in extreme cases it is 21. That’s it. Yeah you guessed it right BAA (Kyunki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi fame) is 16 and not a 1600 year old monument as you thought earlier.

13) We need SPACE in life and not only the wardrobe section. Don’t keep cross questioning us as if we are friends with Osama Bin Laden.

14) SHOPPING is survival. As essential as water. It’s our helping nature that forces us to shop without any reason and want. If we don’t shop, do you think all these brands would have survived for this long. So, once again it has been proved that women are the most essential part when it comes to survival of mankind and in turn its creations.

15) One more thing errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....!!!

Hold on guys how can God's most precious creation be deciphered just in a few thousand centuries. Let their wants be a mystery till eternity because that is what makes men drool for us women more. So, guys go ahead and try exploring the unexplored without worrying much about the results and the after-effects. Till then Good Luck and keep venturing.

PS: Oh Boys! Assuming is amusing but experience is enlightening. Hope you are enlightened enough.

MY LOST FRIEND.....

The day my friend walked out of my life,
The first thought I had was, “How will I survive?”

She wanted her friendship back from me,
Just like dry leaves parting from a tree.

She was in all my thoughts,
And I felt as if I have been killed in a single shot.

I said, “Hey friend! Please don’t go...?”
“But I don’t need you anymore?” She said so.

I didn’t want her to leave and clinched her shirt,
But she was the one who left without a word.

The wind blew like an unending storm,
And even the most pleasant moments were not enough for me to calm.

Tears were flowing unendingly from my eyes,
Just like a very disturbed ocean tide.

She walked out smilingly from my life,
Not knowing she had cut my heart with a sharp knife.

I kept looking at her like a dove,
But it was she who no more wanted to give me her love.

It was probably my mind which she was not able to read,
Else she would have stayed back, knowing she is the one I need.

But I still love my friend from deep inside,
And want her back to stand beside.

If ever I find my lost friend one day,
I will never let her go and feel so gay.

Without her I feel my life has ended,
Coz’ the heart she broke has still not been mended.

But her name is still carved on my heart,
As I was always loyal and truthful on my part.

I can never forget the day I lost my friend,
It was that very day, when my trust on people nearly came to an end.

                                                                                           

                     JAAZH

LIFE WITHOUT YOU....

What is life without you...???
Maybe like leaves craving for dew.

A road that leads to a ravine,
I still cherish the day you came in.

 Dived together in the deep ocean of life,
Where we found pearls to be kept aside.

 Pearls were memories collected with time,
Sparkling bright for each day to shine.

Firefly, sun, stars and moon,
Shimmered up seeing our love in tune.

Love, to explicate memories unwavering,
Built up with heavenly showers so caring.

Never thought it would end up this way,
You left the world leaving me astray.

Heard you exodus, shaken up was I,
Betrayed me my love any reason why.

Can’t confound your thoughts and feelings,
Pleasant seasons bring no healing.

You darkened my life, took the light,
Stars don’t shimmer to fill up the night.

Sun no more shinny, fireflies don’t glow,
Unhappy is life to see you go.

So, come back here or take me with you,
Tears roll down to start life anew.

                                         JAAZH

Sunday Laziness + Cellphone = Errrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhh......!!!!!

It was 12:30 in the afternoon when suddenly my phone started ringing. Oh..!! Don’t ask how it feels to take a call on a Sunday, when even 12:30 in the afternoon feels early after an exhausted week.

The cell phones ring feels like blaring music that you hate the most and the caller a criminal who should be sentenced for such a heinous crime. But as a curious human being, I still managed to half open one of my eyes to see if the call is worth attending, else the call goes on a silent mode.

In no time the crime scene shifted from the caller and started hovering over me. Not again! Was my reaction. Thinking why...??? How could I, be so senseless to, save a number, by a name which, I know is tagged by at least half a dozen people in my phonebook?

COMPLICATIONS that is what life is all about and COMPLICATED is what we as humble humans flip a simple situation into.

Ahhhh....what to do...what to do....??? Should I disconnect or take the call (Still not knowing which Varun was on the other side) the thought ticked, in my mind, faster than a second needle of a watch could tick. What if it was the same Varun that I have been avoiding from the past few months (the reason why his number was still there in my phonebook, indicating NEVER EVER take a call from this number) or what if it’s that Varun who owed 5000 bucks to me. Shit man trapped in a situation early in the morning...Oops...!! I mean early on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. Taking the call meant either I make or break my beautiful Sunday.

In no time I dug my head deep inside the blanket (as if I will find a message flashing there whether to answer the call or not) cursing my docile handset and wanting to kill the caller.

Can’t people make good use of the SMS service or the internet, to be precise, rather than putting a serene human who has just opened his eyes, in a condition far beyond imagination. Lazy losers don’t want to waste their energy typing but more than happy to waste energy of others, that they just merely managed to regain, after a good night’s sleep. I mean what urgency would have popped up at such an odd hour (all hours seem odd when your eyes are shut and you in a state where one is unaware of anything and everything happening in their vicinity).

My expressions seemed as if I had just seen a gory sight, and my eyes popped out to a distance beyond imagination, in a hope that I will get to catch a glimpse of the caller on the other side. Well without much thinking I came to a conclusion that even the Modern Technology had not been able to match up to my geniuses’ of wanting things a certain way. LOOSER is what everyone seemed to me at this point of time.

The phone was still ringing to my astonishment. Have you ever observed how a call seems longer when you are in a fix to bring it to life or bury it but an important call ends before you can get till your handset even if it is lying a few meters away. STRANGE but TRUE.

Mustering all my courage I decided to take the call (remember 5000 bucks, getting them meant shopping bags in my room before the evening ends). How positive can someone be, when big bucks are at stake? Wow...!!! Instead of the display name all I could see was 1000 rupee notes flashing on my cell phone screen which shuffled between shopping bags and malls.

Humans can be greedy even when half asleep, now this is a self made discovery!!! Someone has righty said that the mind never stops working even when you are in coma (deep sleep). So, practically, my mind had to work as I was only partially sleeping.

My thumb switched from the Red button to the green, still hoping that some miracle would happen and I come to know which Varun it is. But alas...Sob sob my pendulum like thumb had to decide for itself, keeping in mind it gets all the respect, whether it chooses the red or the green one.

Before I knew, my cell phone got pulled towards my ear and my throat let out a whiff of air that sounded like HELLO. God Dammit...!!! The thumb answered the call.

“Hey...I left so many messages but you didn’t even care to reply back”, a girly voice shrieked. Now what was this...??? A boyish name and a girlish voice...!!!
Mind, as you guys already know, never stops working, started working as it never did. How could I be so insane to have saved a girls number by Varun’s name?

“Hello. Who’s this?” I asked with a suspicious tone.

“Good, now you don’t even recognise my voice.” The girl replied tauntingly.

How could I when suddenly Varun becomes a girl, and the shopping spree dream turns out to be an actual dream.

“I am sorry, but whose it?” I questioned with a raised brow.

“C’mon yaar...It’s me...Soumya...!” she said with utmost excitement.

“Soumya...!!! You bitch...!!! How have you been and when did you come back?” I sounded more excited, silently smiling at my thumb.

“Well landed just a few days back and tried calling you ever since, but the number I had does not exist.” She sounded as if I was unaware that I have changed my number. “But fortunately Varun had your new number.” She added.

Varun, for people who don’t know, is Soumya’s lil’ brother, the one I have never avoided and also the one who never borrowed 5000 bucks.

“Hey lets meet up in the evening. It’s been almost two years and I have a lot piled up”, she said with exhilaration.

“Done, same place where the gang belongs”, I smiled.

“For sure”’ she laughed, “But do expect a few guests!!”

GUESTS!!! Now what was this last statement all about? One, I get to meet my friend after 2 years and two; she gets guests along with her. “So, private life talks take a backseat at least for the day. Hmmm...!” I muttered.

“What kind of guests? Do I know them?” I asked dumbfoundingly.

“Well now let this be a surprise”, she cackled raising my curiosity level 10 degrees above normal. “5 in the evening, sharp. Try and be on time you lazy butt. Don’t keep the guests waiting for a change.” And she hung up.

Errrhhhh...I hate such flabby situations. The best they can do is leave one obfuscated.

But still, the whole excitement of meeting a mate live, that too after so many weeks gave me wings. Suddenly, the clock started ticking at a much slower pace. Well, when you are really looking forward to meet someone, suddenly the second needle seems like a minute needle and the minute needle an hour one. Wait a second...! What about the hour needle then? Holy Cow...! A whole calendar month. Man...!!!


                                                                                                  

                       JAAZH