This is not us.Its so Human!!

I am deep into my slumber when I am suddenly woken up by the sudden barking of Moti.Having heard this familiar bark, my instinct tell me at once that this is another of those attacks, where one has to begin the daily fight for survival, for food , for territory, and it's time for me to join in, as this is about my survival as well

Hence I gather myself quickly from my dreamy sleep..And what a dream it was, I was in my fantasy world. I was travelling in  a car and my head hanging proudly out of the windows and enjoying the breeze hitting my face, like I see that scoundrel , Golu  traveling everyday in their family car..I wonder, that why Golu is in that car and not me.The family that he lives with us so wonderful, why can't they have me also as part of the family..They are so nice and wonderful, they feed me well every night, but I am still not part of the family..well tha morning i was, when my dream was suddenly broken by Moti

Cut to the present, I along with Moti ward off this attack as well and ensure that the Rascal, "Kaalu" is pushed back well to where he belongs..I really admit Motis guts, I am sure, alone I would not be able to fake on " Kaalu", the street dog who has been trying to capure My and Motis territory for long..

My name is "Sheru" and I am the most popular and handsome street dog in the entire Greater kai lash,  at least that's what some of the girls who come to feed me once in a while tell me..Moti is my best friend, an old war horse, who has been my support..Both of us rule the lane no 2 of Pamposh Enclave, And house# from 1 to 12 are part of our territory.Yes, we don't have a legal agreement defined to Mark out territories but there is an unwritten code of conduct between us,The old and injured dogs are not supposed to lead but play a key warrior role instead.

 I don't know how in came here,but as far as I remember, I was always at the current place. We were a pack of 4 dogs, I was the youngest one, and was taken care of by the group.I remember the 1st time i continued to the group, was when a group of 3 dogs from lane #4 came to grab our territory..It was like a classic One on Fight, and pretty evenly matched..Since I being the youngest one was away from the action,  in decided to help and attacked the leader of opposition..Even In dogs, unexpected action can cause unexpected reactions, my team suddenly got so motivated by my joining the action that we beat the pack of 3 dogs away..And have been manning the streets of Lane since then

Like with human beings, age catches up with us as well...2 of the senior leaders of our pack succumbed to age and cold..Moti also got injured in many of the territory fights that happened since then..although we managed to retain our lane for almost last 5 years..bu it's come at a price

I wondered why our team never ventured out to capture other territories, but we realised that we were content in what we had..We had at least 5 to 6 good families to take care of us every day..It was like a mutual agreement between them, so odu would fees us lunch , someone would feed us at night, so there was really never a need felt to venture out and leave what seemed like home to us ..But why we're the other dogs so hell bent on capturing our territory, I never realised ..May be it's the human effect which has rubbed on to them or may be they are not happy where they are and hence constantly searching for newer grounds and more territory seems to be the only way of life for them.I have heard that they were not very cordial even with the dogs of the other residents there and had frequent scuffles with them...So was it their greed or the inherent nature was that of dominance and not been able to look inside and do am inrosepevtion for their rrstleessmess and the need to fight and snatch somebody else's right

Moti is old and injured and no longer the strong leader he used to be..Kaalu is getting stronger by the day and is an aggressive and cunning dof. .One day he will drive us out of our territory..Should we wait and fight or should we leave for a safe haven...If we leave for sone other place, there also will be a fight for survival once again, and then we are not sure if the people their will be as good as what we have now...

Why can't we make peace with what we have ?  I don't  know if humans can, but for us dogs, what more do we need than some food and place to sleep...Why the meed for territory and power?This is so human....we are dogs not humans....

China Gate : From Jageera to Vasuli Bhai

Almost 18 years ago was released a movie which dared to Dream Big without the Big names of Bollywood. Rajkumar Santoshi, the man who gave us mega bumper movies like Day mini,  Ghayal,  Ghatak.He is also the guy who gave us the greatest cult comedy movie of bollywood "Andaz Apna Apna"..China Gate was Santoshis labour of love, his magnum opus of sorts.The movie boasted of one of the "biggest line up of actors" and  "not the greatest star cast"...The finest actors and performers of Hindi cinema and some of Santoshi favourite and regular actors were part of this powerful film..The movie unfortunately didn't do too well at the box office, thus reinforcing one of the great lessons of that time, that you need stars to get audience to theaters

A movie about court martial led ex army men who find a mission to redeem their lost honour, pride and self respect..The mission  is to protect the residents of a village called Devdurgh from the clutches of a menacing and mean Dacoit called Jageera....

Before understanding who played Jageera let's see who all were these army men ..Most of these bollywood actors have been theater biggies and harbingers of parallel cinema movement in bollywood for years together


The Great "Om Puri" who plays the team lead
Naseerudin Shah plays Sarfaraaz,  a toughie
Late Amrish Puri Sahaab, playing Colonel kidhar kant puri, a perpetually irritated, frustrated,  large hearted , Punjabi , angry old man with a heart filled with biases, insecurities but a warm person

Danny Denzongonpa as the Tough Man, Major Gurung, who suffer a from a terminal illness and like a true soldier, his mission is to die with his boots on

The Veteran, Kulbushan Kharbanda, another of Santoshis favourites, playing a man hounded by his family

Tinu Anand as Captain Beejoy

Viju khote,  Jagdeep in important roles..The movie also had the sex siren of late 1990s, Mamta kulkarni, in perhaps her most author backed and de glamorised role ever

The Theater legend, Girish kannad, playing a small part in the movie as the forest officer whose daughter is played by Mamta kulkarni, who wishes to avenge her fathers death and fulfill his mission of freeing the villagers from the clutch of Jageera

Pares rawal also plays a very interesting and comic loaded role of Inspector Barut, who is a corrupt officer and makes life hell for the ex armymen in the village

And with so many powerful performers on board, you have a young debutant playing the powerful role of the menacing "Jageera", named Mukesh Tiwari...While many may not even know or remember Mukesh tiwari, he gave one of the most powerful performances in the history of dacoit themed  movies in bollywood...At one time in 1970s to 1980s,  Dacoit movies were the flavour of bollywood, fresh in the wake of Sholays mega collections

Mukesh tiwari, held his own, in front of seasoned theater veterans and legendary actors and gave a career defining performance ..Unfortunately the movie isn't fare too well at the box office and Tiwari was striving to find a foothold , till Golmaal series happened and he went on to become the Famous character called "Vasuli Bhai".....

for more bollywood  Gup Shup keep reading this space 

molestation

"Slap slap".....kisne kahi the tai se is taraa sadak ke beech mein woh chorron te baat karan .....bhaag ke na aa sakti thi......

This whole drama was unfolding at the colony ...

the girl had tear in her eyes..while crying, she said "tauji....what is my fault in this ?"..those 2 boys maari kaa galti hai isme....woh dono chorre manne pareshaan kar rahe the.....mohalle ki chowk tak peechcha kar rahe the tauji.....koi na aaya maari madad ko taauji"

"Re chupp kar....sharam naa aave tanne chhorri....apne taaya ke saamne pura varnan kar rahi se"...re kya saari laaj sharam bech khaayi se....The uncle said..

Girl: Tauji...main sadak par rukki unko jawaab dene ko....woh meraa peecha kar rahe the pichle 10 din se taauji....pehle filmi gaane, phir naam pataa, phir gande ishaare, phir gandi gaaliyan denaa shuru ho gaye tauji...Mai 10 din se bhaag rahi thi....

A passerby : Chaudhary saab....chorri jhooth bole se....Ye dono chorre to bike pe baithe...imme kuch na kiyaa.....Yo to yeh chorri ne inke jaake tamaacha maar diya.......ab laundo ke tamaacha maaregi..toh launde bhi to laundaagiri dikhaayenge....unne bhi dhakka de diyaa....

Girl ::: Sharma ji....."aap ne yeh to dekha ki maine inne thapadd maara....par yeh naa dekhaaki woh mujhe kitni door se tang kar rahe the..woh to mohalle ki chowk pe aakar yeh kog rukk gaye....

Uncle::: Re chupp kar....and slapped the girl again ....Zabaan chalaa rahi hai....yo shehar ka bhoot nikaalna padegaa teraa...teri maa ki taange tod dungaa.....wahi te yeh laaj lakshan aaye hain tere.....

Looking at the commotion..a police bike came and checked about the situation......arre chaudhary sahaab.....ke huaa....on being apprised  of the situation ...he gave out a loud laugh....re ke baat se apne "Baaruhera" ke laundon ko.....laundiyaa se maar khaa ke aa jaate hai.....the passersby had a heary laugh on this.....the 2 boys were seething with anger......

The people disbursed....


SCENE AT HOME:::

re lataa ki maa......kal se tu hi chodd ne jaa inhe school mein.......aur sun.....isne lassi pilaa lassi....dimaag garam hai iska.....lassi se thandaa kar......

At the night, the girl narrated the whole incident to her mother......

Mother:: Tu ne mujhe pehle kyun nahi bataaya lataa....woh tujhe 10 din se pareshaan kar rahe hai....aur tune maa ko bataaya hi nahi.....

lataa: maa tu khud itni pareshaan rehti hai......baapu ki daaru ki gandi aadat pehle hi teri jaan le rakhi hai.....

Maa: betaa main tere bhai ko bataa deti....woh aake un ladkon ki khabar letaa.....

Lataa::: Maa.....bhai se madad.......Main mar jaaungi maa......bhai se madad naa lungii.....he himself went to jail for .........Lataas voice choked with anger....Her brother had been booked for attempt to rape on Lataas friend...who used to come home with lataa often.......The rich and influential Chaudhary family had bailed the boy out.......tbis was to be celbrated as one of the things if manlihood....while never openly encouraged, but was not banned either ...

Lataa:: Maa hamaare baaruhera ...mein ladkiyon ka yeh haal kyun hai......Maa tu to shehar se hai maa.....

Mother:: Betaa...sirf baaruhera nahi...ham auraton ki haalat puri duniya mein hi aisi hai betaa...hum mardon ko janam to deti hai...par unhe insaan nahi banaa paate..

Lataa; Nahi maa....aisaa nahi hai....hamaare yahaan hi aisaa hota hai....bade shehron mein ladkiyon ko thodi to madad milti hogi....

Mother:: ek baat bataaun betaa...kismat pe mat ro....Yeh tiraskaar to auraton ki kismat mein likha hi hai.....

ScreenPlay

Screenplay for my short story ::: Are you listening ??

Scene
Office setting , looks a very busy and hectic day i  office..people are busy with their work...typing into their laptops...busy attending telephone calls


focus: On a guy, who looks very stressed out and is working . .a senior official comes upto him...this man is that guys boss

Scenes start

Boss: Shyam how are u feeling now ?

shyam: i am fine sir..(in a very matter of factly and stressed out tone)

Boss: Hows your son doing ?? Kya naam tha uskaaa...ya Anuj.....hows he doing ?? Must be a big  boy now

Shyam: theek hai sir...he troubles us a lot...me and jyoti both

Boss::(with a troubled expression) ...Shyan...u know how much this organisation values you and especially me...But i think you need to now start accepting the reality and move on.....thats how life is ???

Shyam: Boss i have moved on...and living with a reality....all of us have a different view of reality boss.... i am living with my view of that elusive reality ...


In the evening, after work, while going back to office , picking up vegetables from market & buying medicines from the medicine shop.....reaches his home


Background ::: Now at home :::sees his mother...Mother looks happy to see the son

Mother: aaj thodaa late ho gaya betaa.....

Shyam: haan maa...aaj late ho gaya tbods..where is Anuj ?

Mother: Anuj has gone out with his friends...will u have tea ?

Shyam; not now maa....i will go to jyotis room 1st....

(This had been a ritual which Shyam had been following for the last 2 years religuously..straight on reaching home from work..he would head to Jyotis room and chat up with her...on his day at office ...the daily rigours )


Shyam : Jyoti really sorry yaar...just cudnt find time to call you...had a terribly bad day..i wonder at times, why are we  working so hard ? For what ?

u know what today Varun had called

(Cut to Shyams mother talking over the phone with somebody )
Doctor sahaab...still not much inprovement in shyam.....its almost 2 years....

(Cut to the scene in room with Jyoti and Shyam)

Shyam: Varun told me that he and urvashi are separating...they are filing for divorce...

I couldn't believe my ears...In fact i even asked him to speak to you....so that u could  counsel  both him and urvashi...10 years of marriage + 5 years of a courtship .....15 years of togetherness just vanishing into thin air......whats happening to our lives and the world we live  in ?? This also has a negative impact on kids.....

Touchwood apnaa Arjun theek ja rahaa hai....achcha listen.....y dont you pick up Arjuns call....whenever i tell him that he should call you to discuss any issues at school, he gives me a very cold look and says "mummaa nahin uthaayengi phone"

(There was a knock on the door....Shyaam come and have some tea betaa....Arjun is also back)

Shyam: Chal...i will go out and chat with Arjun.....theek hai ....

( and he walks out .....cut to focus in the dark room and zoom in jyotis photo with garlands)

Cut to the conversation between mother and doctor ....

doctor...Mrs mehraa....Shyam is living in a delusion ...at times breaking such delusions can be harmful for the patient ...especially after jyotis death....hes gone into a shell and his delysional belief that jyoti is alive...is whats giving him that relief....soon he shall start coming to terms with tgis reality...till such time....please let him be in this delusional world )......

The Great Indian Men

The Great Indian Men ,  my Bretherton. ..what do I say or write about us ? We are one of the most unique set of creatures that God almighty created and then left us to our manky and macho demeanour to evolve..Considering Indias population of a nearly 130 crores , we would represent approximately 9% of the world's population..now that's quite a number....want it be interesting to know some of our traits,  behaviors and mannerisms, which have led us to nurture some very strong beliefs about ourselves

1) We suck when it comes to behavior with kids : We don't ask the parents before offering any stuff to their kids to eat , We feign ignorance and keep asking gender of the kids repeatedly. .At a recent family wedding, one of the relatives, in an attempt to get too familiar with my son, kept asking him his gender..."beta tu to girl hair , tu to girl hai. .may be some very the fir his frustration...I finally had to humbly request my son to take down his pants and let the over concerned relative check for himself , much to the embarrassment of the uncle. .

Even as Parents,  our behavior is nothing inspirational. .We force our kids to communicate with other kids or even elders. Parents rebuking their kids for not talking in English is a common site and a huge source of embarrassment for kids...We commonly discuss their marks, their shortcoming on public forum, thus driving a personal parent to parent ego agenda,  through our kids. .

Expectations :: This is a killer. ..Why do all our expectations, all our unfulfilled desires,  ambitions be passed on as burdens on the kid...by the time our kids are out

Lakshya kaul

13th October is my by kids birthday, as I write this we celebrate his birthday as per lunar calendar tomorrow. .where do I begin writing from ? Lakhsya Kaur. ..you came I to our lives 3 years ago....and made me what nobody ever could have made me...A father. ..

I don't know how you rate me as a father till now, at best you can term me as a Work in Progress...On this day I wish you great Happiness and also bit of struggle. .let me explain. .Happiness, as I genuinely feel you are a special human being..If you know your father well, you would know that your father has always tried to all a spade a spade...So not juts because you are my son, but genuinely you are a noble soul. ...Why I wish you but of struggle ? Well it's struggle that brings out ones strength of character and makes you a better person. .at the same time I also wish that God grants you enough strength and fortitude to handle your struggle

may God give you strength to handle your failures and learn from them to become the success that you truly deserve...

Let reason and rational be your guiding force in life..let you not be biased by dogmas,  blind faith and irrational emotions

May God give you the confidence to scale peaks and also give you the humilityto touch the ground

May God give you the courage to stand for your conviction your beliefs, value systems and rights.At the same time may you have the fear that refrains you from going astray

May God give you great and adorable qualities and also give you vices which you keep conquering and keep becoming a better person ever and ever

Son..Let your goal in life be happiness. .i know pressures will keep mounting a slide become tougher for you, as you step pour of comforts of your house into this world. ..but trust me, ignore those who say it's a bad world. ..The world's is only a reflection of your inner self

Remember ..Listen to your Heart, find your passion, live your life ..Go in to create your destiny....Never stop dreaming. ...Never stop trying...Never stop learning...and most importantly Never Ever Quit !!!!!! The Universe is with you. .Win the world but always remember Winners don't have it easy. ...get ready for the Ride Sunny


Lots of love. ....

Wedding talks and Gup shup

Just returned back after a 6 day break from Jammu. ..had gone to attend my brother in laws wedding..its been quite a while i attended a wedding with so.much leisure time..So it i spired me to write about this most imortant occasion in ones life from the perspecyice of the peripheral activties that surround it...that itd a great union of hearts souls and minds ...and the normal blaabering not withstanding...

Normally Kashmir weddings span over a 5 to 6 day period with at least 3 to 4 function split in between...relatives pour in from nook and corner of the country to spend these days together with their once upon a time near and dear ones. ..

General bantering, Chit chat, card sessions , singing sessions (bathroom only) over endlessccups of chai and nit bits till the tummy can't take it anymore ..where the only physical exercise is the shuffling of cards or lying down to sleep. .that's what big family weddings are supposed to be..relatives catching up with each other after months or may be years...While we are quite a savvy relationship when it comes to social media and Facebook, but nothing beats a good candid one to one chat.....

sisters interested in knowing about each other things of ybeir personal lives which are of  great national interest as Modijis maharaja campaign .....For example ...Their children's marks ( school going children), how are they doing in Engineering (by the way Engineering and MMBBS are as important for Kashmiri parents as Rahul Gandhi is to Congress )..discussions also veer around which bahu Is most ill mannered or ill tempered....Their husbands monthly salaries ( don't be amused if these are jacked up by 300% ..After all Inflation is growing )

So all this and more usually peps up a good and big family wedding. ...Another important sequence in these magnum opus events is the unveiling of the new bride's famous Attachii or suitcase. ..This is the suitcase that will seal the fate of the bride to be in houses for generations to come

so many people's prides, hope and ambitions are attached to this attachi. ... ( now I know why it's called attachii) look at the sphere of Influence and people which this attachiii can impact. .

The bride,  the groom ..obvious comparison of the bride's families with the previous or newest bride ..The comparison of groom with his brother. ....The relatives whose expectations are dashed to ground , the grooms parents. ....All for one attachiiii


So next time you go for the big Indian wediing....Don't look at the attachiii