The Maverick's Mind-Space

"I'm going to show them a world-- a world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries, a world where anything is possible."

PyareLal and Aamir were in the midst of a heated argument.

" Nothing equals pure love. Love is the best thing that can ever happen to a person. You can't buy love with money."

" I won't accept that. Love is nothing without money. Try telling your loved ones that you're bankrupt. The next minute, you'll be alone."

" That only means it isn't true love. And I am talking about true love. The one who really loves you will not leave you at any cost."

" Really? Try living with your wife in a dirty shack for a week. You'll know."

" See..All i can say is...Money is nothing; absolutely nothing. If you have love, you don't need anything else."

" Humbug!! If you have money, you can get everything else."


FLASH!!!!

There was a streak of lightning, and both of them were blinded for a second. When they opened their eyes, they saw a lady, as graceful as a flawless moon.

She came towards Pyarelal and asked, "I give you a choice between Love and Money. What do you want?"

Instantly came the reply, " Love, of course. I'll prove that Love is the only thing one ever needs."

"So be it!", she granted. Then she turned towards Aamir and asked, "What do you choose? Love or money?"

"Money! Lots and lots of it. I don't need anything else."

"So be it".

And in an instant, she was gone.


A month later..

Pyarelal and Aamir happened to meet each other. Each of them could see pain and remorse in the other's eyes.

Pyarelal asked," What happened? You look so pathetic. Didn't she give you lots of money?"

Aamir replied," Yes, she did. I got loads and loads of money. But I realised that without love, nothing is complete. My daughter estranged me. No one cared for me. As if these were not enough, I stopped loving food; I stopped loving everything. And the worst part is, I've stopped loving money itself. Now, whats the use of having so much money when you don't love it?"

Aamir continued, "Anyways, didn't you choose love? I thought you must be living a wonderful life."

Pyarelal nodded. "I did choose love. And now, I am in as pathetic a condition as you are. Since I chose love over money, I lost all my money. It didn't end with that. Do you know what happened? I started loving Money. But I cannot get any."


--Abinand

It was 11 in the night. My cellphone buzzed. A message.

"Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya." Send this message to 20 people, and in 5 days, you will hear a good news."

I hate such messages, and I mercilessly delete them as soon as I see them. But that day, I didn't. I patiently forwarded it to 20 of my friends.

"Why did I do it? What is happening to me?", I wondered. But I already knew the answer--

It was the 27th of May, exactly 5 days before my Visa interview.

Such was the impact, the fear of Visa had on me. But now, its all over; and I understand that "Visa is nothing; absolutely nothing."

Today(June 1), now that I've got my Visa, dont expect me to forward any goodluck spam messages. I am not superstitious anymore:)

SHADES OF GREEN

It is supposedly true that one questions the existence of God when misery strikes. This was the reason why Aslam was an atheist right from his childhood. Born in a very poor family, he was the eighth child to his parents. With little food and no education, he spent 20 years in the world as a tramp, doing all kinds of minor work for people in return for a piece of bread or a meager amount of money.

One day, as Aslam was staring at the clouds, his father called him. He informed him that Nawab, the writer had called for Aslam. Aslam knew what Nawab wanted. Once in a while, the writer would ask Aslam to get dinner for him from a restaurant in the city, which he believed was the only one that made clean food.

As Aslam bought the dinner and went inside Nawab's house, he saw the writer kneeling down and praying. “Why wouldn't he? He is happy in his life. So he believes in God", thought Aslam. “If only my parents had sent me to school, I would have been a writer today (a perfectionist like him), and as happy as he is."

Nawab finished his prayer and opened his eyes to see Aslam at his side. "Were you praying along with me, son?” he asked.

"I don't believe in God. In fact, I never have. If we are the children of God, it is his duty to keep us happy. And if he doesn't, I can very well conclude that Man is not God's creation. Rather, God is man's creation--in order to explain the unexplained.", replied Aslam. "I don't mean to offend you, sir. You are happy in your life. So, you are not ready to wake up to the truth that there is no God. Goodbye, sir.” Saying this, he walked out of the house without even waiting for his money.

Nawab was stunned by Aslam's words. "Eternal sorrow surely makes a thinker out of every man", he said to himself. "But that boy easily went off saying that I am a happy man. But am I?"

As he looked around his house, which was very clean, with all his things arranged in an unbelievably symmetrical fashion, he was once again taken in by the thoughts of his misery. This was one of the many reasons why his wife left him. She was intensely irritated by the manner in which Nawab would walk with her, avoiding the cracks in the sidewalk. There were numerous occasions on which there were incessant quarrels between them-- about his inability to discard useless items; his unusually long hours in the bathroom waiting for the soap to dry before he came out; his hesitance to respond to her touch, saying she was not clean; and much more. Then one morning, she packed up her things and left the house. Nawab could not even open the front door to go after her since he feared that the door handle would be contaminated (his wife had touched it only a few moments ago). Such was the severity of his Obsessive compulsive disorder. As he went outside deep in thought, he saw his neighbor’s son, Kunal, walking on the street, singing happily. "If only I were born to someone else, I wouldn't have had this horrible disorder and I would have been as happy as that boy”, Nawab muttered.

"Kunal! Where have you been? Your father was anxious", shouted a servant.

"Oh, no!!” sighed Kunal. As he entered his house, Kunal heard his father talking to someone on the phone. He did not know who he was talking to, but he heard these words- “I am sorry; Kunal has gone to his aunt's place. I don’t think he'd be able to join you on the tour."

As he saw Kunal coming, his father ended the call and asked him, "Where have you been, son?”

"Whom were you talking to, Dad?", snapped Kunal.

“Answer my question, you mannerless rascal! Have you been partying again?"

“You still haven't answered MY question, Dad. Have you been sabotaging my outing again?”

Saying this, Kunal rushed in to his room and bolted. A few minutes later, his servant knocked at the door. When Kunal opened the door looking at him questioningly, the servant said," Kunal, here's the bottle. Your dad wants you to fill it."

Kunal was expecting this. "Okay, Ramu, Come back after an hour and collect it", he told the servant.

It was before an year, when Kunal had just begun partying at nights. Though his father couldn't stop him from doing so, he hated the idea of his son partying late at nights. He was afraid that his son would get exposed to drugs and alcohol. When he was of Kunal’s age, he had got used to drugs and drinks at late-night parties. This was why he believed that his son would get exposed to them, too. Hence, every night when Kunal returned after a party, his father asked him to fill up a bottle with Kunal’s urine, which he'd check with his family doctor for the presence of drugs and alcohol.

As days went by, Kunal was really irritated by this strange action of his dad, that one day he decided to do drugs and liquor. Though he was aware he would spoil his own life by doing that, he felt that this was the only way he could punish his father. And now, there he was-- an alcoholic and a drug addict.

Kunal's thoughts were disturbed by the sound of someone shouting. He knew who it was. He went out to the window. It was Aslam, standing with a bottle in his hand.

“I hope no one noticed you. But what took you so long?” Kunal asked.

“I had just emptied when you sent for me. So, I had to wait.” replied Aslam.

“Oh! Stop it. Thanks for the help, anyway. Get your money later."

"Okay Sahib", Aslam said, and went back.

After a transfer of the fluid to the other bottle, Kunal called out for his servant and gave the bottle to him. "Give it to dad. And tell him that I am as clean as ever.” he said and bolted the door again. He was hoping his dad didn't watch the movie from which Kunal lifted the idea.

Now, a thought came to his mind.” How strange! When I was clean, my parents thought I was bad. And now when they have made me bad, they'll think I am clean. I hate this kind of life. If only my parents had more faith in me. If only I was as free as Aslam, I would have been a good man-- a very happy man."

ITS HAPPENING!!!
Bryan Adams is coming back to India after a gap of 4 years. He is performing at Mumbai and Bangalore.

@MMRDA Grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai on 4th Feb 2006 and @Palace Grounds, Bangalore on 5th Feb 2006. Tickets are on sale from 6th Jan 2006.


*On 4 Feb 2006 at MMRDA Grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai
*On 5 Feb 2006 at Palace grounds, Bangalore.

The tickets are already on sale..

For more details on the tickets, contact the following no.s

Feb 4 Mumbai MMRDA Grounds Bandra Kurla Complex Tickets
Jan 20, 2006 + 91 22 26493665

Jan 20, 2006 + 91 80 25705858

MOST AWAITED MOVIES

The New Year is nearing and people say that no one knows what it holds in store for us. But I do. Among others, one thing I know about and expecting are some of the great movies that are going to be released in 2006.

Here is my list of the most awaited movies of 2006.

1. Lady in the water (English):

Written and directed by Manoj N. Shyamalan, this movie is being talked about in almost all the movie forums in the world. Arguments are going on about whether the movie would be a fairy-tale or a thriller, and whether it would have a twist or not. The trailer has raised the expectations. Still not interested? Read the plot outline below:

Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti) has been quietly trying to disappear among the burned-out lightbulbs and broken appliances of the Cove apartment complex. But on the night that irrevocably changes his life, Cleveland finds someone else hiding in the mundane routine of the modest building – a mysterious young woman named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard), who has been living in the passageways beneath the building’s swimming pool.

Cleveland discovers that Story is actually a “narf” – a nymph-like character from an epic bedtime story who is being stalked by vicious creatures determined to prevent her from making the treacherous journey from our world back to hers. Story’s unique powers of perception reveal the fates of Cleveland’s fellow tenants, whose destinies are tied directly to her own, and they must work together to decipher a series of codes that will unlock the pathway to her freedom.

But the window of opportunity for Story to return home is closing rapidly, and the tenants are putting their own lives at great risk to help her. Cleveland will have to face the demons that have followed him to the Cove – and the other tenants must seize the special powers that Story has brought out in them – if they hope to succeed in their daring and dangerous quest to save her world...and ours.

2. Rang De Basanti (Hindi):

A star-studded cast (Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Kunnal Kapoor, Siddharth, Soha Ali Khan), awesome music (A R Rahman) and a really interesting plot. What else do you need to make a film so much anticipated? The songs are already topping the charts. They give a feel of what would happen in the movie. The story seems to be a cross between Yuva and Lakshya.

Plot outline: A young idealistic English filmmaker, Sue, arrives in India to make a film on Indian revolutionaries and their fight for freedom from the British Raj. Owing to a lack of funds, she recruits students from Delhi University to act in her docu-drama. She finds DJ (Aamir Khan), who passed out five years back but still wants to be a part of the University because he doesn't think there's too much out there in the real world to look forward to. Karan (Siddharth), the son of Industrialist Rajnath Singhania, who shares an uncomfortable relationship with his father, but continues to live off him, albeit very grudgingly. Aslam (Kunal Kapoor), is a middle class Muslim boy, who lives in the bylanes near Jama Masjid, poet, philosopher and guide to his friends. Sukhi (Sharman Joshi), the group's baby, innocent, vulnerable and with a weakness for only one thing - girls. Laxman Pandey (Atul Kulkarni), the fundamentalist in the group, the only one who still believes that politics can make the world a better place and finally Sonia (Soha Ali Khan) - the sole girl in the group, tomboy and vivacious spirit, engaged to Ajay (Madhavan) - the dashing air pilot. Sue's film makes DJ and his friends stop and stare at themselves for being the actual descendants of these great men and never recognizing and celebrating their courage and spirit. 'Rang de Basanti' is a youthful drama, yet light hearted in the moments that the group shares amongst themselves... before some incidents effect a serious change...which ends in the climax.

3. V for Vendetta (English):

Written by the Wachowski brothers who made The Matrix Trilogy, this movie is being hyped as the most anticipated movie of the year 2006. Hugo Weaving, the baddy Agent Smith in The Matrix Trilogy is the hero V in this venture.

Plot outline: Set against the futuristic landscape of totalitarian Britain, V For Vendetta tells the story of a mild-mannered young woman named Evey (Natalie Portman) who is rescued from a life-and-death situation by a masked vigilante known only as "V." Incomparably charismatic and ferociously skilled in the art of combat and deception, V ignites a revolution when he detonates two London landmarks and takes over the government-controlled airwaves, urging his fellow citizens to rise up against tyranny and oppression. As Evey uncovers the truth about V's mysterious background, she also discovers the truth about herself - and emerges as his unlikely ally in the culmination of his plot to bring freedom and justice back to a society fraught with cruelty and corruption.

Some of the other movies which are being awaited for are:

The Making of a painter – M.F.Husain’s autobiographical venture

Shivaji, the Boss – The Union of two stalwarts, Rajini and ….A R Rahman

Sholay 2 – Ramgopal Varma’s daring attempt at remaking a blockbuster

Fannah – Aamir Khan plays the role of a terrorist

The Davinci Code – Dan Brown’s best selling story + Tom Hanks

Ice Age 2

Mission Impossible 3

Jurassic Park 4

-0-0-0-0-

Antonio Gonzalez

“I love my house. I have been staying in this house of mine for many years. I was happy when I was alone in this house. But now, I am not.

This man, Henry, with whom I have been living for around 3 years, is an extremely boring individual. He never cares for me. I don't have any respect in this house now. Even the dog barks at me. I feel like killing myself but I can't.

Now, what am I doing at this time, instead of sleeping? Why am I pondering over my plight?

Hey! What was that noise? It came from the other room. It’s very unusual in my house. No one moves in the house after 11 PM, except me. And I don't think I am moving either. So what was that sound? Let me go and check it out. No... No... What if it’s the dog? He would start barking at me and wake up my neighbors. Hmm... Let me guess. Would it have been Henry? No… That’s not possible. He sleeps like a log till morning. What if its a burglar? Shall I go and see? No. No...

Hey! Why am I not ready to go and check it out? Am I scared? Never! How can I get scared? No... I am not afraid. I will go and see for myself.

Hey! Did I hear the sound again? Yes, I did. But this time, I guess I saw a flash of light too. Let me move slowly towards the light.5 steps and that's it..

1..

2…

3.…

4..…

5.

AAAAAAH!!

Oh! It’s you, Henry! I was so scared. Anyways you can't hear me talk. What's the point in talking to you?

Everyone knows that humans are afraid of ghosts. But does anyone know that the feeling is mutual?"

-Antonio Gonzalez
1948-2001

Interview: Kunal Kapoor

source: rediff movies

After playing the hero, no actor would like to do a second lead. Actor Kunal Kapoor, however, says, he's different. "If the hero is Aamir Khan, I don't mind playing a fourth lead either," says Kunal, who plays the role of a Muslim boy Aslam in Aamir's latest, Rang De Basanti.

So, what was the reason for his long disappearance?

"It was a long break, but it was not a forced decision. Firstly, I did not get the kind of work I wanted to do and, secondly, when I did get it, I didn't have the time to do it as I was working on Rang De Basanti," says Kunal.

Coming from a family that is into the construction business, Kunal's tryst with cinema began when he started as assistant director with Rakesh Mehra in Aks. After a point of time, the six foot-plus actor decided to try acting instead. "I just felt that I needed to act rather than direct," recalls Kunal, but he is quick to admit that direction is never too far from his mind.

He does not reveal too much about Rang De Basanti, only saying it is a middle class youth film set in contemporary India. When questioned about Aamir playing a youth though he is almost in his 40s, Kunal gets defensive. "You have to see the film to understand it. You will see why he is in it. He is not a college kid chewing gum in the film. This is different from anything else in the history of Indian cinema. The way the story is told is different."

When asked about his role, Kunal says, "My character Aslam is a guy who travels by bus and is studying in a nice college. He is emotional and will not leap into things because he is rational. He will look at things from both sides – someone on his own trip in life. He is very attached to his friends. He doesn't care about his appearance. Friendship plays an important part in this film."

Did he get any acting lessons from Aamir? "Firstly, I learnt how to solve Rubik's cube," he says, jokingly. On a serious note, he adds, "I learnt the importance of team effort in making a film. For Aamir, what matters is the movie. For him, it is all about the character he plays and that is the greatest thing about him. He is always in character."

What next for Kunal Kapoor? "Nothing right now. I have got something and am waiting to sign. I have never been frustrated about not getting work. Also, I was working with Naseeruddin Shah's theatre group for the past year. I have always looked up to Naseersaheb and Aamir. Thankfully, I have worked with both of them."

RANG DE BASANTI

I guess this is the first music review of 'Rang de basanti'. It has been written by a person with a screen name 'univ', in www.uglued.com. And since the page cannot be visited by 'googling', I present it here..

"
I will warn you that usually songs by ARR require more than a few hearings but still I go ahead with the review.

1)Ek Onkar: Seems like a prayer. A small song. OK.

2)Rang De Basanti (Daler Mehndi) This is the song in the first promo. There's a strange bit of music(you must have heard it in the promo) and that's the best part of the song. I would have wished ARR used it more, but it appears only at the start and end. The song is really long and the lyrics sound repetitive. Most probable the song will sound better with the visuals.

3)Paathshala(Naresh Iyer) The best song of the album. There is another rap version to this song. It has youthful lyrics by Prasoon Joshi. Some of the lines in chorus include "I am a rebel","Na koi padhne valla, na koi seekhne valla" ,"apni tho patshalla,masti ki patshalla" and "Cruise Control". Then those who listen to his tamil music will know how they include lot of English lyrics in the song.This song has lots of it with words like yaaron ki equation,love multiplication,alpha,theta, ishq ka practical kiya,H2So4 hai...... Music mainly involves lot of Guitar.

4)Tu Bin Bataye(Naresh Iyer,sadhna Sargam) A very slow long melody song

5)Khalbali(ARR) Sung by ARR the song has a Arabic feel. Hope its not inspired from some Arabic song.

6)Khoon chala(Mohit Suri) Another slow melody.

7)Patshala(Blaaze) Repeat but this is the RAP version by Blaaze. It seems to be a patriotic song with lyrics like " To the mahal of taj,to the minar of qutub,to the kumari of kanya, to the panjim of Goa.... all have something to say". There's also a strange beep that comes twice in the song and it feels as though your PC is making the beep!!!

8)Luka Chuppi(LataM and ARR) Another melody with Lata and ARR singing together for the first time.

9)Lalkaar(Aamir) Sung by Aamir. They needlessly hyped this song. Its just dialogue by Aamir with ARR's typical haunting music in the background

10)Roobaru(Naresh Iyer,ARR) A good song with a Lucky Ali type of feel to it. A good song to listen when ur traveling.
"

I got this e-mail forward yesterday. It was a wonderful story where you actually can visualise what the author says. At parts, it reminded me of movies like BEFORE SUNSET, ANBE' SIVAM and one more movie whose name if I give out will spoil the story for you.
Here it is..

She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I cannot describe her
beauty in the limited time I have here. I was 23 and fresh out of
college, when I saw her. I don't know if it was the hormones but I loved
her at first sight. She was the girl of my dreams.

It is said that matches are made in heaven. It was sheer destiny that we
were traveling to Chennai on the same train, The Niligiri Express. We
were in the same compartment, S1 and were seated next to each other, 25
and 26. It was an amazing coincidence as my ticket had been confirmed
only at the last minute.
"Hi, my name is Shalini," she introduced herself with a beaming smile.
She stretched out her right hand. I was shivering when I shook it.

"I am Sunderesan," I said and added, "Pleased to meet you."

She had a serene, innocent face; the face of the kind of person who gets
bullied in school. The image of a woman who couldn't hurt a fly if she
wanted to.

"How old are you?" I blurted out. It was the worst question to ask a
woman but I was a nervous wreck and I wanted to talk to this woman.

She smiled at me and said, "Never ask a man his salary and a woman her
age."

"I'm so sorry. I don't..." My tongue adamantly stuck to the roof of my
mouth


"No, it is okay. Let us say, I will be sixty seven in 2050."

I worked out the math. She was twenty two. I was twenty three. It was
perfect! A match made in heaven.

"Do you have a crush on me?" she asked.

"What? How could you ask...?"

"Do you have a crush on me or not?" she asked emphasizing on 'crush'.

"To tell you the truth, yes," I said meekly.

"It's okay. You can be bold about it. I'll tell you a little secret."

She pulled my ear next to her mouth and whispered, "I think you are
attractive. I might even love you. Can I kiss you?"


I nodded. She kissed me on my cheek. I turned pink the next moment.

"Hey you believed me, didn't you? April fool, go to school. Tell your
teacher, you are a fool," she shouted. She laughed at the top of her
voice.

I checked my watch. It was April 1st, 2005 and I had been made a
jackass. I didn't want to look at the woman's face again. I loved her
but I hated her for what she had done. I turned to the opposite side and
stared out of the window.

She noticed my sulking face.

"Hey, don't get mad at me. It was a joke. That's all. I'm sorry," she
said.

I didn't look at her and didn't reply.

"Okay. What can I do to compensate?"

"You could sing a song for me," I said softly. I wanted to know how well
my girl could sing.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you." She stood up and went to
the centre of the compartment.

"Friends, we have a birthday boy in our midst. I want all of you to wish
him happy birthday."

The entire compartment including the TTE (Train Ticket Examiner) was
singing "Happy birthday to Sunderesan."

She took out a vegetable sandwich from her bag. She said that it was a
substitute for a cake. I cut the sandwich and gave her the first piece.
She removed the tomato and cucumber from the sandwich. She pasted the
cucumber and tomato all over my face. I distributed the remaining bits
of the sandwich to everyone in the compartment. It was the best birthday
I had ever had.

When all the euphoria died I asked her, "How did you know that it was my
birthday?"

She pointed to the card on top of my bag.

"Will you make a birthday resolution for me?" she asked.


"Sure. Tell me."


"Promise to always smile because life presents too many opportunities to
cry. And you look ugly when you are sad."

"It is a promise." I rested my palm on top of hers.

The perfectly romantic scene was disturbed by a child's cry coming from
the adjoining apartment. She took her hand off mine. I thought, "Damn,
tough luck."

She went to the next compartment to see what the problem was. The boy
was two years old and his mother was not to be found. Nobody seemed to
care about the boy.

She carried the boy in her arms and brought him to our compartment. She
cajoled the boy by singing a lullaby for him. She had a sweet voice; the
voice of a nightingale.

"I love kids," she said.

"I love kids, too," I replied, eager to show we had similar tastes.

The boy did not stop crying. He appeared to be terrified of us. His
mother was nowhere to be seen.


"You don't like songs. Okay, I will tell you a story. Once upon a time,
in a faraway land, there lived a king."

The boy listened intently for a second but started crying as soon as she
paused.

"Hey, relax. Give me time to think of a story. You are an impatient
baby. In this land..."

"I will look for the boy's mother," I said. She nodded her head.

I found the boy's mother, two compartments away. She had gone there to
meet a friend. She had forgotten about her kid.

When we came back to S1, we found the boy sound asleep in Shalini's lap.
She had used all her powers of persuasion to make him feel secure in her
lap.

"I want to thank..."

"Shh...Your son is sleeping. Don't disturb him," she whispered to the
boy's mother and gave the boy to her.

"Do you want the Nobel peace prize?" I asked her cynically.

"I love people. When I am around, the people around me should be happy.
That is my philosophy in life," she said, sincerely.

It made me feel small and stupid in front of her. I began to rethink
about my mission in life. Should I be a priest? No, can't marry her.
Social worker, peace activist...maybe.

We heard a voice in the distance shouting "Is there a doctor on this
train?"

"Dr. Shalini, here. How can I help you?" she shouted back.

We waited to see the face of the voice we had heard. It was a
co-passenger, a bearded man who seemed anxious.

"Doctor, my father is serious. Please do something."

"Come with me. You could be of help," she told me. She caught hold of my
arm and guided me along the compartment. I had absolutely no say in the
matter. Oh! The power of women!


The old man was in a grave condition. His breathing was heavy and he was
coughing profusely. He seemed ready to make peace with god. "Open the
windows," she told me. I opened all the windows to allow fresh air to
come in.

"Hold him up for me," she instructed.

I made the old man sit up. She took out her stethoscope and checked his
heartbeat. She checked his pulse for variations.

I watched her lovingly as she worked her magic on the old man. She was
so soft and tender with people. Whether it was a little boy or an old
man, she had so much affection for them. Unbelievably, the old man was
normal within half an hour. His son didn't have enough words to thank
Shalini.

"He is okay now. Don't disturb him. Let him sleep well," she instructed
him.

"I never expected you to be a doctor," I said.

"Men always think that beautiful women don't have brains."


I didn't know how to reply to that remark. Did she mean that she was
beautiful, or brainy or both. One can never understand a woman's mind.
So, I diverted the conversation.

"What made you become a doctor?" I asked.

"A lot of things. It was my father's dream. Above all else, it gives me
the power to make people smile; the power to save lives."

"Will you marry me?" I asked, spontaneously. I had never been more sure
of myself.

"Is this April fool?"

"No. I am serious. See, I know that I am unemployed. I am not even as
educated as you. I don't even look good. I have no caliber. But I love
you. Will you marry me?"

"You know nothing about me. I don't like commitments. I live every day
like it is my last."

"If you marry me, I will live everyday like it is my first."

She closed her beautiful eyes. She took a deep breath and thought for a
moment. The suspense was killing.

"God, why didn't I meet you earlier," she said.

I had no time to reply. The doors to my mouth were sealed by her lips. I
thought that my head was immersed in the clouds. The people in my
compartment pretended to close their eyes. But I could see the men
looking at me with envy through the corner of their eyes. It was the
most beautiful moment of my life. It still is the most beautiful.

The train came to a screeching halt. We had reached Tirupur station. It
was hard to believe that so much had happened in two hours.

There are some moments in life which you can remember even in your
sleep. For me, it was what happened at Tirupur railway station. It
redefined my life forever.

"I am hungry. Get me something to eat," said Shalini. She dug into her
leather handbag and brought out twenty rupees.

"It's okay. I have money. What do you want?"

"Get me Strawberry milk to drink. And honey, I love you," she said,
earnestly.

We kissed again. For the last time.


The milk booth was about hundred feet from S1. It gave me time to think
about the sudden changes in my life. My parents were conservative
people. I had to convince them about Shalini. If they agreed, good. If
not, who cares? I loved Shalini more than my parents.

My thoughts were disrupted by the sound of an explosion. It sounded like
the aggregation of a thousand thunders. The impact of the explosion
threw me off my feet. I turned to look at the train. S1, S2 and S3 had
been reduced to pieces, like waste in a manufacturing process.

My only thought was about Shalini. I ran towards where S1 had previously
been. I searched for her amidst the corpses. All I could find were
severed hands, burnt flesh and a fresh stream of blood. Not a single
body was identifiable in the three compartments.

Who on earth could do such a cruel thing, I wondered. I swore that I
would get even with the people who had taken my beloved Shalini's life.
I wept like a little boy who had lost his favorite toy. Amidst the
tears, I thought about the two hours I had spent with Shalini. Something
she had said had struck me as strange.

"You know nothing about me. I live everyday like it is my last. God, I
wish I had met you earlier." "Could it be Shalini," I wondered. "No, not
Shalini. She had too innocent a face to do such a dastardly act.
Besides, she was a doctor. And they know the value of a human life," I
reasoned to myself.

The next morning, my worst fears were confirmed. A newspaper report
said, "A twenty two year old doctor named Shalini had committed suicide
on the Niligiri express. She had taken the lives of hundred people with
her. The reasons for the attack are unknown."

I never understood the reasons for the attack. It could have been
personal or ideological. All I can still remember is her face, how
innocent it looked. How she made everyone around her happy. How she
showed love and care to kids and old men alike.

That face was a mask. Beneath the benevolent mask, was the true Shalini.
A hard-nosed, sadistic, terrorist capable of sacrificing human life to
satisfy her selfish needs.

She truly changed my life. From then on, I realized that every human
wears a mask which he develops over a period of time. It is the mask
which is exposed to the world. Beneath that mask, after layers of deceit
there lies the true nature of each individual. This real person in each
one of us is intricately more fascinating than any figment of wild
imagination.

Shalini's mask was my first love. I will always love her




PS: People living near Coimbatore can recollect the tiruppur train blast

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I actually wanted to name him 'dog'. When ppl can call their dogs 'Tiger', why cant i call my tiger a dog? But since I am not them and I am me, I call him 'Podnik'.