Twin Tryst Spin!

Well, After a fuzzy ride back home, speeding my way through madness, I looked forward to this wedding reception which I was to attend. This particular ride back home was a little shaky because Im so used to riding back home in the night and to ride in the dusk was something of a change to me. So much so, I was indeed a little amazed and in this forethought, I did have a few close shaves. After reaching safe, I looked back and realised that I was lucky because I rode like I was drunk or like the other person was drunk. Either way...I was confused and I came back home in a hurry and got dressed to have a peaceful and pleasant evening (hoping my fuzziness was going away)...

Traditionally dressed, we stepped out and got hold of an auto to take us to this famous wedding hall called the MRC Hall. My mom began in the journey by telling me that it was one of the most expensive wedding halls and it was one of the best too. We I already began calculating the expenses if I had to have a wedding in a place which was at least 1/4th the cost (not literally though). Anyways, she was also explaining that weddings have now become a meeting point of unknown and unaware relatives who always surprise us by telling how old and tall we have become and how we were 2 feet tall an all of that hugs, hoopla and the hype. I was looking forward to that too...to be honest. In a few moments we were in the hall and it was buzzing with people. Oh before that, I must admit, the line of cars parked outside and the swarm of drivers and chauffers was just impressive.

Now to the main part of the story...the pleasant music of the mandolin began to soothe the mental agony of mine and I just began to settle in my chair and suddenly, a kid runs past through yelling on the top of her voice with her hands held high...I thought to myself that she was being chased by her other friends and many other kids who end up in weddings. In the next moment, recovering from that little run, curious to know who was chasing her, I turned my head and to my amusement, the girl's twin runs in the same way...and with the same yell. For a moment, I paused and laughed at myself...it took me a while to realize that they were twins...I did feel the effect of my fuzzy ride coming back to me.

More enough so, another awakening happened after those moments...another set of twins on stage with the bride's sister and in her arms, lay those 2 beautiful just borns...a boy and a girl though...their dresses gave it away and my mom close enough to confirm to me that they were indeed twins...that was my second sighting. A few moments and songs passed by from the band and I was just again settling down until I saw my next revelation of the day. A little girl, say 3 feet tall, steps out of the side of the reception stage and runs her way to the other side...kids day out I thought to myself...but the very next second, like a magic trick, when the one i saw disappeared, another one appeared from the same door and ran in the same direction as the previous one. This time, I let out a loud laugh and pretended to wake up from a dream, unsuccessfully though this time. My mom was again beside me to keep my reactions at a check and confirmed yet again that they were twins yet again. My right hand was now scratching my head and calculating my days proceedings to see if I was sane or...insane. More to know as I continue...

After our round of on-stage glory was over (posing and greeting) we stepped down to join the crowd, enjoying the evening concert and prepare our soul and mind for a hearty dinner. It was then a beauty passed by me and a whiff of her perfume, got hold of my sensors and my attention was directed to her immediately. Style and elegance was in every step of her walk and talk and I was loving every moment of it and like all good dreams popping at the bad time, my folks called me to watch the concert duel. As I turned to get to my chair, I turn to see the same face in a different get-up altogether. Same beauty, same perfume, same style and smile and this time I was floored (twice!). The first was in Black, and this was in Blue...and I was totally black and blued...another twin and this time I was in a total spin.

I thought it was one of those days where Ive been on a high like Ive never been drunk or stoned. What a day it was so far. Well, the worst was yet to come. To keep myself sane, I pushed my parents to go for dinner so that i could get away from all the madness and amidst all those efforts, I was again miscalculating and this time it was face-to-face. Firstly, this boy comes upto me in the crowd and calls out a name on the other side and then out of no purpose and curiosity, my head turns to see who in god's name was most wanted by this young boy...and it was none other than his brother...his twin brother. Now my head was spinning and I was almost laughing at myself...there was no use askin my mother about them now...it would only lead to a confusing family line of whose root line I wouldnt want to know..at least that day.

In all this chaotic moments, my hunger swarmed and hit me to the ceiling and this gave me an opportunity to relish my dinner and I overate, trying to forget what I had been through...struggle to sanity. What a spin this was today! After the paan and the kulfi dose, we stepped out bidding farewell to all known and unknown people and we left a story behind of how certain relatinships were and how they would continue. As we exited the mighty hall, another kid ran past us while were walking back home and I looked around to see if there was another following suit...none followed or looked similar to that. The next twin I saw that night was myself in the mirror...ironical, satirical and cynical, but true.

My tryst with the twins that day certainly prompted me to pen this down and I just couldnt stop thinking about it even after Ive penned it down. Like a disclaimer, this is this indeed is a true story and all the characters described were true and honsest descriptions. That day was truly an unforgettable twin spin...

Random Questions VII

After a lot of contemplation, introspection, speculation, revelation, jubilation, desecration, contraction, construction, destruction, imagination, traction, fraction, action and education, I bring to you the 7th edition of Random Questions...here we go:

• Isn't the IPL an overdose and excess of the mix of entertainment and sport?
• Hasn't the war in Sri Lanka been used as propaganda in the current election campaigns?
• Is there any respite to the summer heat since the evolution of mankind?
• Has anyone assessed need and necessity vs luxury?
• How much wood is required to print a currency note?
• Will the rising number of skyscrapers make the planet earth appear like it has spikes?
• Why do kids talk about the English Premiere League like they coach them or own them?
• Has the election become a stage to hate speeches and exercise ones throwing skills?
• Does killing ones family or themselves bring back lost jobs?
• How fair is it for IPL to have made Bollywood actors as owners, who don't know the game or talk on the game?
• Do rich candidates stand in campaigning parties stand to earn people's respect or earn their savings?
• Why is it that people break the one way road policy when it is painted, written and announced? Who's uneducated now?
• With the Tata Nano hitting the roads soon, where will parking space come from? How much more will we pollute this planet?
• Do you know that every grain of food we waste or demand, is a grain of food begged for in another place on this earth?
• How can India be a developed nation when women are still being raped, ill-treated, ill-spoken, ridiculed, disrespected and disowned?
• Why are companies sacking those people who once generated revenues for monstrous MNCs?
• Shouldnt entreprenuership be the call of the economic downturn?
• How do we know that the water we drink is clean?
• Where does the wastes and rejects from renowned and established factories end up or get mixed into?
• Are there even pucca roads and rail connecting each village and town in this country?
• Are allotted budgets for any given government project fully utilised? Where does it get swallowed?
• Will law makers and law protectors ever mutually exist and care about the country and its people than fighting among themselves?
• Why is this terrorist, who infiltrated our country on a dinghy boat, carrying heavy weaponry, killing innocent citizens and people, still alive and well? What are we trying to prove what is already evident?
  
• Does it take an election promise 5 years to be fulfilled, provided they survive that long?
• Who decides the fate of the nation when it has been a democratic choice for so long? Where have we gone wrong? Can we get it right this time?

I feel better, now that I have expressed my views on what is happennig in my (sorry, our) country. I hope this series has brought about a fire, more than a food for thought as we near the day we decide the fate of this nation. This is our only chance and it will take another 5 years to rectify if we dont get this right.

Please cast your vote and do not ignore your power to decide who is to run this nation and do keep in mind the Tata Tea 'Jaago Re' Ad. Till the next cut is delivered...Jaago Re!

Purely Elemental Synchronization?

There are moments that last forever and there are some that last for a minute. According to me, the most fondly remembered moments are those that last forever. But these moments can take just minutes to happen and need not necessarily take its own sweet time. Those who are able to carefully observe and capture them are the lucky ones for sure as they are just in the right place in the right moment. Wonder where I am heading with this? Does this have any connect with the title? Read on if you are intrigued...

All of my weekends are both sporty and relaxed...and this weekend was no different. I was on my way back home on my two wheeler from my friends place where we regularly played cricket. It was a touch late and my hands were accelerating like I had no control over it, an unusual hurry I thought. I usually play music when I ride to take care of my distractions while riding...it could be a rule breaking or a traffic jam or just a pleasant person that holds my attention. At most times, the tempo and the rhythm of the music, determines the kind of ride I have and this is so true and in most of my rides. Wherever I am, I tend to deeply observe the people and their mannerisms a lot and also the environment in which I am in while I ride or travel generally. But the best place to really think about these things in detail would be during a signal stopping and Ive had my share of some great moments and some odd ones too...bet its the same whoever is reading it this far.

On this evening, at a specific signal stop at R A Puram (near Kaliappa Hospital), while the red was working fine, the amber wasn't and was flickering like an ECG count. Amidst this, there is a high tempo song going on in my MP3 player and this builds up to what I am to explain. The rate at which the amber was flickering was beginning to match with the song playing in my ears and this synch was magical to witness. What a feeling! Above this, to make things better, there was another tempo in which the vehicle was beating when it was on idle and this too had matched exactly to the song in my ears. This was just getting better and I was the only one smiling in the junction and everyone else grim, waiting to be unleashed at the sight of the green signal. But the icing on the cake was up next...the cars ahead of me were to take a left from the signal and their indicators were blinking to signal their intentions. The synch extended and this time it matched with the indicator flickering rate and this was just amazing. The only thing I could do was jus to clap once in true amazement and laugh to myself to what I had just witnessed. For a moment I dint realize that the train of thoughts of the others was derailed by this and they seem to be a little perturbed and also a touch amused...who cared!!!

All of this took place in a span of say hardly two minutes and it was just brilliant and I was perhaps the only person smiling at that signal point at that moment when the others were fuming or just emotionless. For the first time, I dint want the signal to turn green...I was in such child like joy in just witnessing the synch of light and sound. According to me, our attentions has always been pulled by light or by sound and when both happen together, it is a sight to behold and we wouldnt mind swaying our heads or shaking a leg to feel good, wouldnt we?

These are moments we cannot resist but smile about and such small things are the most remembered and cherished. So let me now throw open this field to all and ask you to think about certain instances when light and sound have synched and where you have been the only witness (well not necessarily) where others werent fortunate to even know what you had felt...think about this and see how we can all find small patterns that bring us a big smile in grim moments. I honetsly feel that the elements of light and sound defines and encompasses all what we call essential and important to all life forms.

At the edge of these thoughts, like all breaking dreams at the wrong moments, the green signal finally gave people their passports to their destinations...patience tested and certified. After a quick wake up call by the vehicle behind to get me moving, I raced off quick but calm...homeward bound after witnessing what I call purely an event of Elemental Sychronization!