Manzilein

कुछ करने  की  जब  आंच  होती   हैं

तो  नींद  कहाँ  आती  हैं

सांस  कहाँ  थमती  हैं

और  पैंर  कहाँ  रूकती  हैं

 

मंजिल  तो  हर  मोड़  में  होती  हैं

तन्हाई  की  हर  एक  पल  उस  राह  में

हौसला  देती  हैं

ताक़त  देती  हैं

 

अँधेरे  की  हर  एक  बूँद  

किरणों  की  पैगाम  लाती  हैं

उम्मीदें  तो  बस  कायम  ही  हैं

फांसले  बस  कम  होती  रहती  हैं

 

आँखें  तो  आगे  राह में होती  हैं

सांसें  तो मंजिल  में  ही  लेनी  होती  हैं

दिल  में  तो इरादें  पक्की  होती  हैं

और  कदम  तो   अपने  आप  चल  पड़ती  हैं

मंजिल  की  दौर  में   मज़ा  ही  कुछ  और  होती  हैं
मंजिल  की  दौर  में  मज़ा  ही  कुछ  और  होती  हैं
मंजिल  की  दौर  में  मज़ा  ही  कुछ  और  होती  हैं

Boomerang

Freedom at heart,

Freedom of soul

Glorious past

Beckons to revive.

And all the gestures

Getting ignored

Life’s the way you want

When the stride is right

Sometimes and always

Peep through those painstaking moments

Jamming heartbeats and some more

Up , down and then Up again.

And there goes again

Beat it if you can

I bet you can’t

For it’s the instinct I Am born with

Survival from bruise

Rising from crush

Denying the myths

Depicting my very Existence !

Full Volume

Let the Music Play,

Let the Music Play,

Let the Music Play,

Let it be this time,

All in my Way !

And I don’t care if thy flutter,

Wondering as always,

On the lonesome streets

Under the rainy , cloudy sky.

How far is too far,

When the near seems far

Or the far seems near

Music settles the bar.

The music inside,

Burning inside,

Playing inside,

Let the Music Play,

Let the Music Play,

Let the Music Play !

Riders in the Storm

Not sure of other's perception on this !

But for those , using their bikes or cars on every day commutation to office , might see an eye to eye at least in some of what I am talking about.

If you are traveling on a Bangalore road , make sure you keep yourself conscious of the below three –

BMTC Buses – Yes these are the giants who don’t give a damn about fellow riders passing nearby. The entire road belongs to them and they mean it ! Blow horn or sniffle your headlight – it’s gonna turn futile ! So if you want to cross these giants, at the worst possibility , be ready to sneak your way through minimal space !

Autos – Well if you are expecting some Right or Left signal from these species , you gonna be surprised buddy ! Because the lights which we mostly use to signal our Turns are mostly and seemingly very happily ( ??) unutilized here ! Even if you see a standing Auto , with all lights off – don’t come to any conclusion cause they might surprise you with sudden outburst of engines and even unsurprisingly standing on your way in the twinkling of an eye !

Passerby - The most dangerous form of pedestrians ! More often than not , these lot of people are mostly in a hurry to cross the road even if that means jumping or running just before a car or bike moving at 80km/hr ! If you can see an empty road and want to push the throttle of your vehicle , think again. And don’t be shocked to find somebody suddenly jumping ahead of you when you have nothing left to stop your vehicle.

My personal advice – Keep yourself conscious of these 3 categories and you will have a safe ride – always !

Theater On the Go !

Things do change their perceptions to us as time goes by – well definitely so sometimes !

The last time I had been to my Home – I happened to watch a Theater . When I say Theater , I mean the pure staged Live version of it and not a commercially-shot post-one. This was my razzmatazz with Theater after probably , say 15 years (when I was a kid & I used to hate).

And boy ! I really enjoyed it to the core this time !
You see actors playing scenes where there are no retakes , no re-shoot - it just goes by as it does. To be a good theater actor , you must definitely be very proficient as it’s just a First Time Right concept. Either you do good and get a clap or do bad and get verbal-slap !

The plot was nice based on Pre-marriage pregnancy and the actors did a really good job – the music was spontaneous. Entire show was covered on 2 different but attached stages – when one stage was occupied with running a scene , the other was being prepared for the next scene. And this whole exercise was so neatly and promptly performed that you can not but clap !

What’s more – there were song and dance sequence with pretty good lighting and backgrounds – no lesser than a typical Bollywood flick. And considering this was all done with a running scene and already-seated audience - enthralling !


I heard so much about the Theater artists’ caliber and really they are so prominent. But the only saddening part is , these potential guys (at least some) are really under-paid for their skills.

Hope the Theater culture grows to a larger audience , wider platform and more acclaimed appraisals.

Tax for All Walks !

If there is one thing that all the Working Junta would dread on the common plate , it is the Tax factor. Contrary to our everyday greed when it comes to Tax - The lesser , the better .

On the funny side , I had read something interesting about it and thought of sharing the following piece. It sums up to prove everything aforesaid and that for everything that we do , we have some sort of Tax to pay ! Here is how -

1) Qus. : What are you doing?Ans. : Business.
OK PAY PROFESSIONAL TAX!

2) Qus. : What are you doing in Business?Ans. : Selling the Goods.
OK PAY SALES TAX!!

3) Qus. : From where are you getting Goods?Ans. : From other State/Abroad
OK PAY CENTRAL SALES TAX, CUSTOM DUTY !

4) Qus. : What are you getting in Selling Goods?Ans. : Profit.
OK PAY INCOME TAX!

5) Qus. : How do you distribute profit ?Ans : By way of dividend
OK Pay dividend distribution Tax

6) Qus. : Where you Manufacturing the Goods?Ans -: Factory.
OK PAY EXCISE DUTY!

7) Qus. : Do you have Office / Warehouse/ Factory?Ans - Yes
OK PAY MUNICIPAL & FIRE TAX!

8)Qus. : Do you have Staff?Ans. : Yes
OK PAY STAFF PROFESSIONAL TAX!

9) Qus. : Doing business in Millions?Ans. : Yes/No
OK if Yes PAY TURNOVER TAX!
And if No , Then pay Minimum Alternate Tax

10) Qus. : Are you taking out over 25,000 Cash from Bank?Ans. : Yes, for Salary
OK PAY CASH HANDLING TAX!

11) Qus.: Where are you taking your client for Lunch & Dinner?Ans. : Hotel
OK PAY FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT TAX!

12) Qus.: Are you going Out of Station for Business?Ans. : Yes
OK PAY FRINGE BENEFIT TAX!

13) Qus.: Have you taken or given any Service/s?Ans. : Yes
OK PAY SERVICE TAX !

14) Qus.: How come you got such a Big Amount?Ans. : Gift on birthday.
OK PAY GIFT TAX!

15) Qus.: Do you have any Wealth?Ans. : Yes
OK PAY WEALTH TAX!

16) Qus.: To reduce Tension, for entertainment, where are you going?Ans. : Cinema or Resort.
Wow ! PAY ENTERTAINMENT TAX!

17) Qus.: Have you purchased House?Ans. : Yes
OK PAY STAMP DUTY & REGISTRATION FEE !

18 Qus.: How you Travel?Ans. : Bus
OK PAY SURCHARGE!

19) Qus.: Any Additional Tax?

Ans. : Yes
Tax : PAY EDUCATIONAL, ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL & SURCHARGE ON ALL THE CENTRAL GOVT.'s TAX !!!

20) Qus.: Delayed any time Paying Any Tax?
Ans. : Yes
OK PAY INTEREST & PENALTY!

21) Qus.: Do you own a Vehicle?Ans.: Yes
OK Pay Road Tax!

22) Qus.: Do you drive a Vehicle?Ans.: Yes
OK Pay Toll Tax!

23) INDIAN :: Can I Die Now??

Ans :: WAIT WE ARE ABOUT TO LAUNCH THE FUNERAL TAX!!!

P.S. - The above conversation is just for fun only.
The progress of a nation like India is so hugely dependent on the taxes that we pay. The more money you pay , the more contribution you make and hence the more valuable (& responsible) Citizen you are !

So till you are acquainted with some tax-saving policies , Keep paying the Taxes !

CWG - A Wealth Building Exercise

A national level pandemonium does not stand as a surprise to us – we have had plenty of them !
But the scale of height reached by the CommonWealth game issue is something sufficient enough to hurt the pride of every Indian.

The recent hullabaloo over the Construction ( read – Misconstruction !) of the CWG arrangements and the subsequent Breakage , the filthy paper-photos of the dilapidated ambience within CWG – would leave no stone unturned to bury the nose of India !

Thanks Politicians , Bureaucrats , Contractors and all those associated with CWG for this misfortune ! We are pretty sure you might have pocketed plenty of monetary fortune by selling the pride of India.

Doesn’t this raise the question – if India is not prepared to host something of International Standard ?

Personally I believe it’s just not worth watering 70,000 crores on CWG – No offence but what are we trying to prove ? Don’t we have more Internal problems , issues that needs more of that money instead of CWG.

Common Wealth game – have definitely made a section of people Commonly Wealthy for sure !

Ayodhya to India

And the most awaited verdict on Ayodhya is on the hot platter !
The whole nation is looking upto the decision that would be taken by the bench of veterans - something that surely holds the gigantic strength to shake the Nations' backbone.

A decision favoring Either would tread on the Sentiments of Another - Marking the defeat of the common people in Both ways !

A Temple or a Mosque – would never solve a problem - it never did until and unless we are ready at heart to accept the positive changes way above our Religious believes.

I am not here to polish my judgmental shoes but as a citizen of a democratic country , I definitely don’t see a Temple or a Mosque as the most viable and benevolent solution in the 21st century.

India has deeper needs , succumbing infrastructure , poor people and hundreds of other on-fire crucial problems which requires the so-called attention very badly. So the point is , instead of a Temple or a Mosque , why don’t we invest in something  bigger, better prospects , good of Humanity and the Country and build anything more relevant – An Old-age home , a Feeless-school , an Hospital , a Training Center for the Physically handicapped , an Orphanage – there are so many worthwhile options available !

Let’s keep the eyes glued onto something positive and intellectual - far above the sentimental ( and judgmental) delicacies .
I am very much optimistic and confident that the final verdict would be something in the progressive interest of the Nation !

Dabangg

Watched Dabaang this weekend.
And boy ! Bollywood ,for sure, has produced such solid potboilers on rare occasions.

Dabaang can not boast of a radically distinctive storyline but despite the way it is presented – the style , the dialogues , songs , desi dance moves – you can not help getting enthralled.

No nowaday-so-common Swiss or NYC locations, no unnecessary fancy outfits , no cost-you-like-hell swampy glitterati. Instead scoring all over – Desi Tadka – true Indian style , makes you forget the contemporary cinematic dreamworld ( rather Dematerialized Fancy world for the common junta ) .

All said and done – the movie belongs to Salman Khan – you can not think of anybody else as the bad-ass cop - brat , witty , stylish , full-of-attitude - Chulbul Robinhood Pande , except him !
Cutom-made , it so wonderfully fit him - Dabangg would definitely either make the critics praise him or if not so at least silence their voice.

Keep your critical hat off , leave the judgemental glasses behind - just sit back and watch - entertainment guaranteed !
My 250 bucks did not bite the dust after a long long time !

And I was happier !

Tasking the Multi

Multitasking has been , seen and done it all – with a lot written , argued , fought over it !

Nevertheless I would ,anyday, prefer not to agree to its credibility - Multitasking does not pay the dividend at all – even if I sound sarcastic – then I am despite all the sumptuous arguments that you might appreciate me with !

When you have one job at one hand and the only thing in your mind to get it done – the sense , the efforts and the heed strikes one dimensional chord. Unsurprisingly better results , better profits and surmounting productivity !

These vicious words probably come from the fact that – personally, it’s never been a smooth ride at all instances of Multitasking. Even at certain cases of Pyrrhic victories. Juggling the balls does look nice at times but it sure paves the way to bite the dust.

Have you ever tried writing a piece of article , putting the clothes in the washing machine , eating an apple-pie and answering a call – probably you might think of some better sane tasks to multitask . But the point is while trying to pack all of them and get it done more often than not we screw up. At least I do – but if you are amongst Those unlike me – Yes I do envy you.
I would rather finish my article at peace , put the clothes in the washing machine , answer the call and reward myself with an apple-pie – jostling and juggling are quite not my cup of tea!

And I pride myself on that !

Mann Lafanga Bada

Man lafanga bada

Apne mann ki kare
Hoo yun toh mera hi hai
Mujhse bhi na darre
Woh bheege bheege,
Khayalon mein dooba rahe
Main sambhal Ja kahun
Fisalta rahe
Ishq mehnga pade
Phir bhi sauda kare

Hoo jaane kyun,
Udaasi iss ko pyaari lagey
Chaahe kyun nayi si
Koi beemari lagey
Bechaini raaton ki,
Neendon mein aankhein jagey
Lamha har lamha kyun,
Bojh sa bhaari lagey
Hoo bhanwra sa ban ke machalta hai
Bas tere peeche peeche chalta hai
Junoon sa lahu mein ubalta hai
Luccha be baat hi uchalta hai

Woh bheege bheege,
Khayalon mein dooba rahe
Main sambhal
Ja kahun fisalta rahe
Ishq mehnga pade
Phir bhi sauda kare

Oo ambar ke paari,
Jaane kya takkta rahe
Baadal ke gaon mein,
Baaki batakta rahe
Teri hi khushboo mein,
Yeh toh mehekta rahe
Dheemi si aanch pe,
Ishq sa pakta rahe
Oo teri hi baaton se pighalta hai
Chai mein cheeni jaise ghulta hai
Deewana aisa kahan milta hai
Pyaar mein yaaro sab chalta hai
Ho bheege bheege,
Khayalon mein dooba rahe
Main sambhal
Ja kahun fisalta rahe
Ishq mehnga pade
Phir bhi sauda kare

P.S. - Just love this song - Awesome lyrics !

Yeh hain India Meri Jaan !

So you scaled the world over off from a foreign land and just reached India?

A warm Welcome first of all.

Rest, be assured of some really good experience here -breathtakingly different, find-no-where stuff, almost Out Of the Box!

Talk about being different - unimaginable things are made possible here , in the-road-less-travelled-way, every other day !

Almost Out of the Box . Yes they are !

How much of the below would you ever find anywhere in the world -

- A cart, a car and a bull racing against each other on the road.

- Water-filled potholes on the lane and sometimes even people fishing in that.

- Besotted blokes lying on some field-corner in sunny day-time.

- A traffic police watching hue and cry on the road from a nearby pan-shop.

- Mercedes and a Bicycle parked side by side .

- People running beside and behind to catch a Moving bus.

- Footpaths half-occupied by sellable items

- A fearless cow , rolling unscathed ( mostly) , on a railway track !

- A bunch of people who walk on the road before election and roam in bullet-proof car thereafter – we call them Politicians !

Nevertheless all the Exciting pandemonium , this land would appropriate that you have a ball of a time as we believe in – Atithi Devo Bhava ( Guest is God ) !

So enjoy madi !