Plebeian's Den

Haven't you seen some boys gathering outside your home at the shop on the corner of your lane? Those boys utter slangs at times, they also try to sing bollywood songs, they talk about everything, starting from India's economic policy to the beautiful girl who lives down the lane. They are heroes in their own world. For some gentlemen, they are hooligans. Although they have never spotted them getting indulge in any brawls yet they coin them to be a hooligan. They keep on staring at the boys who play gully cricket. They feel like playing, yet they refrain themselves from doing so thinking about certain social protocols. They realize losing their childhood and steeping in the youth. They smoke cigarettes at times. The smoke gets lost in the atmosphere in the same way their innocence gets shattered in the society.Yet there lives a child inside them. They dream a lot. They have tamed a lot of dreams within them for decades. Whenever they see a cricket match going on, they dream to be Sachin Tendulkar. With every blockbuster they dream to Salman Khan. With every melodious song they dream to be A R Rahman. They even mug up dialogues from movies. They are dwelling in midst of hopes, aspirations and expectations. Their family expects them to earn a lot and they hope they shall do it one day. Every morning they come with a dream to achieve big and by every evening they assure themselves that the next day shall have something good for them. Those who have lived it, they understand and as for the rest, they are just some hooligans. For some, they are just like the millions; yet surprisingly, everyone of them is unique, just like everybody else.  

Stereotyping 13

12/09/2015

Guwahati

I was ready for my best shot. I was sure to win. I saw towards him. Just like the last few times he was confident as always. I saw his eyes, there wasn't a pinch of fear in them. Perhaps he was a born champion. He never stared at my eyes, or rather I wasn't the person that he should have been afraid of. If he would have stared at my eyes he would have noticed immense fear in them. The fear of losing again. Finally I lost. Perhaps I wasn't prepared to give my best shot. I will try again the next time.

13/09/2015

Guwahati

I was fully prepared and ready for my best shot. Although he won the last few times, yet this time I was unbeatable. I am the champion. I lost just because its 13th, the unlucky day. Had it been any other day, I would have been holding the trophy and posing for pics.

It is strange how we blame a date for all the bad things that has happened to us. It is time to end this stereotype. 

The Epics say it all..

The Hindu Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata teach some great  lessons.

Ravana, the emperor of Lanka, who has been the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva and who was blessed with immense knowledge, power and strength by Lord Shiv himself got himself trapped in insatiable love of Mother Sita. He was so fascinated by her charm that he went to the extent of kidnapping her. Ultimately he had to lose his life and kingdom. This teaches us that love for an woman shouldn't be beyond bounds and is she has no consent, then shouldn't be forced at all.

Duryodhana and his brothers were jealous of their brothers. They also tried to kill the Pandavas by animosity. The Kauravas also tried to trick them in gambling and send the pandavas to an incognito period of twelve years. Ultimately the Kauravas were shattered in the eigteen day long war and the Pandavas succeeded to the throne. This shows that greed leads to death.

Manthara, who was the maid of Queen Kaikeyi helped her plan the plot and ultimately Lord Rama, who was the successor to the throne of King was sent to exile and his younger brother Bharata was asked to take the throne, which Bharata declined. Vibhisana, who was Lord Ravana's brother knew that his elder brother was doing wrong and he advised him not to do so. When his elder brother refused to listen to him and joined the right side. Manthara and Kaikeyi acted villains although they were associated to the sacred family of Lord Rama. On the other hand, although Vibhisana was Ravana's brother yet he chose the correct side. This shows contrary to the common belief that a man is known by the company he keeps. Instead it is not so easy to judge a man by his company.

It happens in Love

"Aren't you hungry today?" she asked.

"Hmmmm.. Yeah, but I don't want to go out today."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Nothing such in particular."

"You seem little off today."

"It's nothing like that. I am fine."

"Then come out boy."

"Okay I am going", replied the boy. He sounded little confused yet he tried to act determined to keep his word in front of her.

They met. She was clueless about his sudden abnormal behavior.

"I am hungry. Come, lets have something", the girl proposed after she discovered sudden silence among them. She was more keen to start the conversation then to have something to eat.

"I am not hungry", he replied.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Please have your food. I will wait and sit beside you."

She ate as her order arrived. Although she got her food when her hunger was at the peak and she should have been happy at that, yet she wasn't. In fact she was disheartened.

After the food, they walked to the shop at the end of the lane from which the boy bought his daily quota of cigarettes after their evening snacks.

He didn't walk towards the shop. Instead he stared at her.

"Can you lend me 100 bucks? I will return you at the earliest."

"Okay sure."

She drew out a hundred rupee note from her purse and handed it over to him. 

"I saw your purse empty. By any means, was it the reason that you didn't want to come out to eat?" asked the girl.

"Yeah."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. For the last few days you have been paying for my food and booze. I feel guilty. Today I had to ask for the cigarettes. I don't know what shall happen next."

"Oh now I get why you were behaving like a jerk all this time. Please don't say such things. You have paid for my food, shopping and outings whenever you had money. In fact most of times you have spent most of your salary on me."

"I don't feel okay since for the last few days you have been spending your salary on me."

"Oh come on, we have been together for years. If you could have skipped lunch and saved for my birthday gift then this is nothing in front of them."

She hugged him tightly. As the girl pulled him to leave, the guy stopped her.

"I am hungry. I want to have bread omlete."

Hearing this the girl laughed her heart out. She watched him have his food.

As they both were leaving, the boy slowed down gradually. The girl couldn't understand initially. As she rolled her eyes in inquisitiveness, she discovered the bar around her. They both entered and drank beer.