First day, second show!

Gutka, panparag, chutki,(mouth fresheners) perpetual chewing and ‘abey yaar, line pey kharey ho. Dhakka kyai ko marta hai?’ Then from some corner, ‘Bhai saab, picture kaisa tha?’
Kajol hain na? Apney dheka na?

This experience is a ’muddledom’ as in E. M Forster’s novel but that’s our trait and we exhibit it with pride in our homeland and a land far from home!
The door opens and yet again we have to be reminded of the queue! Meanwhile, I’m wondering if the seats are on the run. Why else would ‘gentle’ man and even ‘gentler’ ladies break the queue?
On eavesdropping my query is answered, it’s Sharukh and Kajol, the magical pair making a comeback in the highly anticipated Karan Johar film, hence the excitement and the frenzy!
Having safely made it to the seat I’m of the opinion that the storm is calm for the much awaited two to sprinkle their magic. However, that was just my fancy, the minute lights are switched off, there’s a cry of desperation from babies no older than six months and I’m made to wonder again. Question: Why do new mammas drag their six month olds to the show? Will the magic of Sharukh and Kajol fascinate their world of innocence too?
Or, are they doubtful that the 'Dolby' surround isn’t deafening enough!

Incidentally, one of the ‘new moms’ is my neighbour for the night and I’m entrapped by her world . There’s a battle of desperation between the lad and his mom. Mamma’s desperate attempt is to hush him to sleep so that she can happily munch her popcorn and sip coke while slipping into the fantasy world of SRK and Kajol; the lad on the other hand wants his way out. It appears that our mamma didn’t remind the innocent lad that it was her day out, not his.
Oh, I’m taken in by the ‘live show’ instead!

‘Please don’t die, Mandira. No, no, no, don’t die Mandira. Mandira, mere ammi ney kaha hain( Manidira, my mummy says... ’)
This is so much like the stream of consciousness novel; my mind must get tuned to the 'live' and the celluloid all at the same time and register the preaching of both SRK’s ‘ammi’ and my neighbour who goes,
“ Acchey bacchey ki tarha,so jau. Mummy ko picture dekhni hain.’ (Be a good lad and sleep. Mummy needs to watch the movie).

Now the ‘desperation fever’ has caught me and I’m anxious to ask, ‘‘But why did you bring the lad to the cinema? Don’t you think he’s still too young?’
However, I refrain, maintain my calm and decide to go with the flow! The madness is only two and a half hours, I say to myself.
With that reminder, I transcend and toss between the ‘live’ and ‘fantastic’.

Thrives

One killing wasn’t enough
so, the grave was dug,
bones drawn and trampled again.

Traitor and turncoat in real,
but comrade in guise
and make-belief paradise.

Escapes the wrath of the dead
without repentance .
‘Thriving world’ or so it seems!

LOSS

While you lie in that peaceful state we cry
Longing for the eyes to open
And the lungs to breathe one more time

The human machine has failed,
Let the soul escape.
Tons of things went unsaid
Now its just effervescence.
Body is mud and the soul is hole.

You see but we've lost sight
You are the air that perfumes our room
Yet, strange is its fragrance.

Black are the days, blacker the nights.
Life cannot replace life
Emptiness is all.

(Lara, sorry, I had to pen this down)

Purpose of it all...

Soft music fills the room as those nimble fingers strum the chords and the voice proclaims, ‘ Where is love?’ in all its innocence. The only conscious effort is to attain perfection at both, therefore the numberless attempts. On the other hand , 'Where is love?' from 'Oliver!', serves the purpose of soothing and provoking. Gradually the lyric takes shape and begins to pose questions.

It’s the season of love with hearts in plenty and the song sings, ‘Where is love?
Does it fall from skies above?’ I don’t really know if it falls from skies above but surely you’ll find it in all its austerity carved in the deepest of red on display everywhere. Desperate are people to express their deepest feeling through ‘hearts’ that can be bought. However, I do wonder why there’s so much desperation to buy this purest of feeling. And is it for real? Who can guarantee its permanence when life itself is impermanent?
Sometimes it appears that technology has stunted emotions along with deforming the external. Eerie and steely!

JEWEL IN THE CROWN!

Ladies and their art of getting into a conversation, it doesn’t matter where, or when or with whom. This is an inherent gift that helps bridge barriers and builds ties.
Isn’t the weather lovely today? Is he your son? Do you come here everyday?
These are just few questions to trigger a start and in no minute the stranger is transformed into an acquaintance. It’s not an easy task to be able to break the ice, yet womenfolk with their natural talent do it effortlessly, they need no special coaching sessions or training. The urge to speak leads them to discovery and knowledge. There’s revelation; eyes sparkle, voices squeak and faces glow.

The introduction part actually comes in the middle of a conversation, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m Sunita.’ ‘Ah, Sunita! That’s a lovely name, nice to meet you, Sunita. I’m Cathy.’ ‘Right, Cathy, nice to meet you too and where are you from Cathy?’
These question and answer sessions play a seductive role of luring you on and how amazed you are to find that in spite of external differences you share similarities in terms of likes and dislikes, preferences and taste. That’s when realization dawns that we are of the same race and these differences are only skin deep. There’s no classification and no criteria for differentiation. We breathe the same air though our taste of food and beverages differ yet we all need them for the same basic reason that is survival and just as we can’t do without food, water and air, we can’t do without society either.
Therefore, a simple hello and a friendly warm smile are every woman’s jewel in the crown.

Dream come true!

It’s reshaping history yet again for Dubai. No oddities seem to pose any obstacle for her, as she’s resolute in her decision of being a trendsetter. She’s a city in love with superlatives; the highest, the tallest, the biggest, the longest, the broadest…the list goes on.
She has the eyes of the world set on her with her vision, innovation and experimentation.
Burj Khalifa, the 828-meter tower, the tallest in the world was officially open yesterday among spectacular show of fireworks, water, light and sound. Over 800 meters and with more than 160 storey’s Burj Khalifa holds the record of being the tallest building in the world with the highest number of storeys occupying the highest floor, having the highest outdoor observation deck with the tallest service elevator that has the longest travel distance in the world.
Standing tall and majestic, Burj Khalifa has changed the skyline of Dubai and is both an architectural and engineering wonder that beckons to the world.
It’s crowning glory is the telescopic spire that consists of more than 4,000 tonnes of structural steel.
The ‘tower of pride’ opened with a blend of breathtaking fireworks, dazzling laser beams, choreographed water displays and sound effects realizing the vision of Sheikh Mohammad, the ruler and prime minister of Dubai. No other date could be more perfect than the 4th of January which marks the anniversary of His Highness’s accession.

As a citizen of Dubai I’m swollen with pride to be a witness of such an epoch making event; it’s a land of opportunities for all, may it continue to flourish and stand tall against all odds.

BURJ KHALIFA IS OPEN