What is F1???

My friend, Nash, asked me, 'What is F1?' pointing out to the fact that the interest in F1 seems to be on the wane and we seem to be forgetting about it..

I would normally have given a reply which could be forgotten, like"It's a sport yaar..." etc etc...

But then, I asked myself again, " What is F1?"... and thus began a quest to define the sport in my own words...

Let's begin with its history...
Europe! That seems to be the place everything began... be it cricket or the Industrial revolution...Europe was the most 'happening place' in the olden era.

It seems that there were some guys who liked to drive, but were too scared that they wouldn't be liked to be called as a 'chauffeur' for the rest of their lives. Thus they

devised an ingenious plan, which assured them a high status in the higher snobbish European society. They planned to have a championship for racing.They sold it so beautifully to their society, thus giving roots for marketing in F1, something which Bernie Ecclestone( he will be explained later) silently thanks for in his prayers, before going to bed!

But what is the "Formula"???
Well, at that time, there were many games which had 'rules'. For racing, as it was gonna be sophisticated,they were finding another term for 'rules' instead of 'rules'. As the game of Cricket was invented long back, the inventors of cricket smartly decided to use the word 'Laws of cricket' instead of 'rules of cricket'. So, as they were at their wits' end to find a sophisticated term, there was some kid who asked," what's the formula for finding he volume of a cube??". No one knows whether the kid was answered back, 'coz all were jumping with excitement over discovering the term they wanted. The Kid was forgotten in the annals of history, and hence no one remembers him...Just like How no one remembers how Bhuvan defeated the English as per the movie Lagaan!

Anyways, excited over the discovery, The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA, founded in 1904, but relevant since 1940s) mobilized everything they could get and standardized a set of rules, which till date are changed every year.

Over the years, Formula racing became a term that refers to various forms of open wheeled single seater motorsport, Formula One, indicates that it is intended to be the most advanced and most competitive of the FIA's racing formula.

Bernie Ecclestone, Who?
Bernie Ecclestone a.k.a 'F1 Supremo' is the president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration. In short, he unoficially owns F1.

Controversy does surround him, but then which celebrity isn't a victim of controversy. His business aptitude made F1 into a billion dollar industry today! Many say that he lacks vision for the future... hmm, strange to say for a man who actually saw the future in the past!

So What is the sport?
A Formula One Grand Prix (pronounced as 'pree' and not 'pricks', you ignorant wannabes!) event spans a weekend, beginning with two free practice sessions on Friday (except in Monaco, where Friday practices are moved to Thursday), and one free practice on Saturday. This is to ensure that the drivers do not make fools of themselves on race day by not 'knowing' the car well.

Additional drivers (commonly known as third drivers, deemed good enough to be in the team but bad enough to actually race) are allowed to run on Fridays, but only two cars may be used per team, requiring a race driver to give up their seat. Thus the 3rd driver serves as a guinea pig; a fall guy, to ensure the best driver doesn't screw up on race day.

A Qualifying session is held after the last free practice session. This session determines the starting order for the race. The person who zigzags around the track in the fastest time possible will start the race in the front-called as the 'pole position'. The rules change every now and then. Just to ensure who starts at the beginning, teams waste all resources like fuel, time and money.

Can't they draw straws instead??

Well, no! 'Coz that is not what F1 racing is about..If it were, then no one would watch it!

Then D-Day comes on Sunday!
The race begins with a warm-up formation lap (its like when you were small and used to play cricket, you always asked for a trial ball when you came to bat...that way.)

After this, the cars assemble on the starting grid in the order they qualified. When seen from above, they are in a zigzag position... just like the bristles on a Colgate Zig-Zag toothbrush seen from the side.

They begin the race, they drive for the number of stipulated rounds around the track (each round is called a 'lap'). The person who manages to stay in front at the last lap of the race wins... Unless you are Mika Hakkinen who manages to lead an entire race, only to blow it up on the last lap and retire from the race (Spain 2001).

After the race, the top 3 finishers park their cars, head off to the podium and receive their trophies after the National anthems are played .They then spray Champagne on each other, and give whatever remains, to their pit crew, below the podium.

I haven't covered the entire set of rules and regulations as they are prone to changes every year. I recommend visiting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One_regulations for a better explanation and http://www.formula1.com to know more about the wonderful sport of Formula One Racing!

Well, in a nutshell, apart from being a Function key on the computer keyboard, F1 is also a sport wherein sophisticated speed junkies called 'drivers' mindlessly drive their specially built cars around a tarmac (called a racing track) at various locations throughout the world throughout the year, guzzling oodles of fuel contributing to global warming, losing lots of weight, having no loo breaks in between, in a bid to achieve world supremacy, just to find himself under great pressure to defend it the next year, something which the crowd derives great pleasure from.

Thanks to Wikipedia.com for references. Hope I don't get shunned by our F1 community in Mumbai and hope they don't put a fatwa on me, banning me from all future F1 events for this piece...And Nash, I know you still love F1, esp. Kimi...Cheers!

The Autobiography of Death

The Autobiography of Death.

Hi...I am Death! I'm the guy that roams around with the sickle in a black suit and look like a distant cousin of the guy from the movie "Scream"(You know, the one that killed everyone in the movie, except the lead actress. Pity, he was human!)

I'm the guy that gently tells people," Hullo, you're next!", and they have to say this clichéd line-" You're the last guy I wanna meet/see!!"

So, how is it the way I am? Why do many people hate me? Why do some people love me? Why do some people think I have a lack of social life?

So, just to clear out all the clutter, I have decided to use Sudhir as my 'ghostwriter' and write my own autobiography.

I, Death, was 'born' in eternity. Some say I am 'God', but then, I preferred being called 'death'. There was two more who were there with me, all having equal strength...The eldest of all triplets, we decided to call 'God', and he would create everything. I called myself 'death' and would destroy everything. We were freaking confused as to what the middle one would do... So after thinking it over a nice cuppa, we decided that the middle one will be the link between the creator and the destroyer. But still, we were unsure what to call the middle one.

While we were brainstorming about his role, he quietly slipped outta the room and went out. Somehow, he decided to be on his own, coz he felt disillusioned with us.

Now, we were in a quandary. God created something out of reasons best known to him. But I couldn't destroy anything without reason. I mean, what benchmark was i gonna set?

One hand, God was just creating things, and on the other hand, I was just twiddling my fingers waiting to know when I was supposed to do something.

You see, when we got into all of this Universe creation and all, we decided to set some rules. One of them was "Everything happens for a reason". A corollary was also set-'For every action there's and equal and opposite reaction'[Screw you, Newton!! Uhh, well i did, didn't I? Snigger!!]

Then one day outta nowhere, the middle one came. Said He," See, I've got trees, abundant water, fresh air, green grass, colorful flowers....Ha! What’ve you got except your skull-like face?"[To be honest here, I did look scary...God was the best looker, followed by the middle one]

And then, outta sheer frustration, I took what my hand could find, and struck my brother. I felt power so great, that I now knew I was indestructible.... Not even the creator could stop me now... I was great!"

And then it dawned...I just struck my brother... He was not living...So what was he now? Even God couldn't figure it out. He seemed so...lifeless. Almost like as if he were sleeping without breathing! He was cold... the weather, which a moment ago was pleasant, had turned chilly.

"WHAT IS GOING ON???WHY ISN'T HE SPEAKING??"

I turned to look what I was holding,,, A sickle... I didn't even know it existed...

I had now started what I was here for.... I knew I didn't need a reason to do what ever I wanted... I was liberated from rules!

And this troubled God...said he, in a tone never heard before," Death, be not proud!"

Wasting no time, God started on what would become a mega creation... To keep me sane, and to prevent me from harming him. Of course, in my right mind I couldn't harm him, because apart from God, I had no one else now...

For the next 6 cycles of sunset, he created the most fascinating things. Things I wouldn't dream of. Things which God felt I couldn't harm because they were fascinating.

But God knew, when I killed the middle one, I had lost my last sense of attachment, and to fulfill my destiny, I could never be attached to anything-material or immaterial!

On the 7th cycle of sunset (known to this material world as 'day'), God seemed to ask himself endless questions...for the entire day, he was asking himself questions, some
I recall over hearing," Is this creation worth it?”, “Is this right?”, "What if it destroys itself?"...and hundreds and millions of questions. I was least bothered.

And finally, he came near me. Said he, “What happened to the middle one was sad. We had our rules in place, and I thought they were just, true and fair. But it took the middle one just a few moments to make you break them. You may have wronged in destroying him, but you were right too. There is no place for complacency and mistrust. If we are to become satisfied with what we have, how can we make ourselves better? The laws will state that Evolution is necessary...."

"And to be fair and just, I have decided..."

“Since when have you started to decide on things, God?"

“It is a path I choose... I choose to decide what is best for everything...It is my destiny....And as I was saying, I have decided, in all fairness, that the middle one be bought back..."

"NO CHANCE... “Screamed I, “His is mine!!!"

“.... he middle one will be bought back...in another form...He shall be the link between you and me. As long as he is there, so are you and me...because without him, our destinies can never be fulfilled!"

"Think again God, It is better to think it over again"

“Made up my mind, I have already. As my equal, I want you to be in this with me"

"So you are creating something, that will eventually be destroyed by me...and we fulfill both our destinies…”

"Yes...and no.....I was so hurt that my own blood had killed the other, I went into a wretched depression... This strange feeling, I had never felt. I did not create this feeling.
So what was it that was giving rise to this feeling? The law, I saw forth my vision,'For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction'. Then I knew it-'To get this depression out, I needed to counter it with something beautiful; Something that gave hope...Something like all my creations in the past 6 days.I have created something enchanting in the past 6 days, now I am getting tired. But, the memory of the middle one still remains and it is good that it will remain, because his existence wasn't the cause of the event that happened.; rather it was our inability to know what we had to let him know! It happened because of all of us, which eventually led us to our destinies
[Universal Law# whatever happens, happens for the best!] What better way to commemorate his existence than by letting him enjoy what we have worked hard for..."

"And of course, dear death, I know that you will not part with his soul. So, I decided to create a being today...Someone, who will be a link between us, and who shall enjoy the creations...in memory"

"A being??? That will be highly impossible to create!!!” spoke I...

“Nothing is impossible if you have your heart and mind to do it...I have created him... I shall henceforth call him 'Adamanushya'. He shall be known as 'Adam' to some, 'Manushya' to some...or just 'Man'.

"And if your creation is an action, what is its opposite?"

"That, too, shall come"

It turns out that God created Man and let him loose on earth(his major creation!), but had rules so stringent, that he wouldn't go our brother's way.

His opposite creation was called a 'Woman'/'Streeve'. And then chaos began, which is well documented by all scriptures.

Man went on and created things of his own... He created bad things and he created good things. I wasn't complaining, because I went on fulfilling my destiny.

For each creation of God, there was my destruction. No sooner a baby was born, than I took away the life of its old neighbour. It went on and on and on...

One day, God came up to me and asked," Eons have passed... my creations are slowly dwindling."

"Hmm...I know"

"Death, I see that people have also taken to killing each other.."

"Don't say I didn't warn you", I remarked...

"No...my purpose of asking you this is, what about those whose destinies were left unfulfilled just because someone decided to fulfill theirs? Do they not deserve a chance to do what they have to?"

And after endless deliberation, we finally decided this:
-Living beings will only be bought back to Life under special circumstances, immediately after death
-Introducing a concept of 'reincarnation', wherein after the death of a person, his/her soul would be given an other special chance to do what is needed to fulfill their destinies.

At first it seemed to be weird, but then we got the hang of it...

Time passed, people came and went...The souls of the good were sent to the heavens while those of the bad were sent to hell. Lucifer, in all his evilness, made sure that he
had the highest number of souls in his kingdom of Hell. But, I wasn't bothered...my duties involved no attachment to either God or Lucifer. I was on my own, deciding who
should return back to life, who should be reincarnated or just whose life should end. With this great power came great responsibilities, something which Stan Lee of
Spiderman fame made it more famous.

Umpteen poems, couplets and prose have been written on me. Each one glorifying me, or criticizing me; being scared of me or not being scared of me...and even writings which were untrue to many-an-extent!

I am not who you think I am...Just because I am associated with taking something beautiful like life doesn’t mean I am a misanthrope...

Just because I look less handsome doesn't mean I am evil

I have no feelings because I am not attached to anything...

You may say, if I don't care about how people feel for me, why write this?

It is because Sudhir had nothing to do on a Sunday, and wondered whom to bore the blazes out of someone....!

It’s funny how he approached me.... He asked me 'what do you know about the relation between 45, Corpus Christi, Basker-Phoenix and 1:34???'

Hmmm...We never got to answering that, but we sure did write about me...

So, there it is... My journey so far....my quotidian work...As long as people exist; life of any sort exists; I fulfill my destiny. I need life more than anyone...Without it, I am as good as non-existent. With people killing among themselves, with the earth not able to sustain itself for long, and with the bleak future that threatens to continue… when I shall take the last life on earth, where will I turn to? With no earth left, where will I send the reincarnated? God will make newer creations elsewhere, but I am worried if I get attached to planet earth...because, when I see people not having a proper direction in their lives, when they are waiting for me to take over them, I see the Middle One in each one of them...

This is the Life of Death...

Mea Vulnerabilis

Mea Vulnerabilis, thy will not become an anthem,
I have showcased you my susceptibility...
I feel hatred towards love...
Why do I do what I don't want to do...
Why do I feel empty despite having a full head....
Why do I stutter despite not saying anything?
Why does the sky fall even if i have held it up with everythin I have?
Why do people call themselves people?
Why are we who we are?
All of this causes me harm....
I run and run and run and run...
I stay rooted to where I am...
I find myself in another place...
I am dead, yet breathing...
My heart beats, yet my pulse doesn't...
I hear things, feel things, see things...
But they don't exist...
I feel I am insane,
Yet my sanity is still there...
I can see...what I have got myself into..
Played into the hands of Vulnerability...
No prayers can get you out...nor me
except.....
The Anthem of Mea Vulnerabilis...
Know what is to be known, Learn what is to be learnt...
Thus, The Hanged Man's efforts never went in vain...
Because He wanted it, and after death he did,
and he went on to live even after his death...
It is difficult to know where Yggdrasil is for me...
But I know, It is there for me...

What is needed to be known...

Why does a tear fall when I cry?
Why does my heart beat?
Why does it not stop?
Why do my eyes frown when I am tense?
Why does my heart become sad when I become sad?
Why, in all loneliness, I think...I think too much only to think more...
Why do people think like they do?
Why do I think about people and the way they think?
Why do i type now and think about people and think how they think?
Why am I confusing you?
Why am I confusing myself in confusing you?
Why are you reading this?
Why are you here?
What if you weren't here?
What if you were someplace else?
What if you were someone else?
What if that other person, who was you, wasn't you?
Would you be you?
So, I've proved, from the above... I feel for you, I'd cry for you, My heart would beat for you, I would be tense for you, so that you wouldn't be anyone else than YOU!
Thanks for being who you are and comin into my life....
Who is it, you may ask?
That person knows....maybe...
But I know that person will read this...
And ask, 'what's gotten into you?? '
And then I shall answer....
I shall answer the question...
But 1st, I need to be asked this question by that person only...
So that I know...
So that I know...
What is needed to be known.

Why do the righteous suffer?

Why do the righteous suffer?
Before you answer this question, ask yourself first - How do you define 'righteous'?
Many references and dictionaries later, I concluded thus-A morally justified person.
So, why does a 'morally justified person', who obeys all the rules and treatises laid down by religion or law of the land, suffer?
Why does a friend, who amongst us is the most religious, has to suffer and see his mom pass away because of some one else's bêtise?
Why does a person,a priest at that, has to suffer and see his son die before him and he cannot do anything?
Why does a person, who has blind faith in God, has to see his family break down in front of him?
Why does a person, who is involved in charity and healing the sick, has to bear the suffering of losing love when it matters the most for him?
What about a person who sacrifices his whole life for his family, but is kicked on his backside when he asks his kin for support in old age?
What about a person who has never got the love required from another person(who should have actually done so), and now that other person behaves in the worst possible manner with them?
Where is religion when it fails to hear the screams of the needy?
Where is Law during times of injustice?
With these instances, I do not wish to highlight and gain your sympathy for them... coz I don't want you to think that I am just making these up....
The more I delve into these lives,I seem to ask myself...Why does God wanna do things like this? Is he trying to act like a bully? Stan Lee has remarked," With great power comes great responsibility"...Never a truer line of course...so is God acting irresponsibly?
I would like to bring up a case,which you may argue till times' end...
Someone's close relative passed away.... It was death through suffering. On the day of the condolence meet, people said,"...Maybe (the close relative) is up with God and looking down at us right now..."; "...Maybe God willed it so because he was testing you,and the strong person that you are, you will probably fet through this"
Hmmm...I ask...So if the person was less strong, would the relative have lived on? What proof exists that the person is upp there next to God??
There's one school of thought that says "If you sin, you are punished"...So, why have the people ,mentioned above and who definately would have sinned far,far less than your average crooked person, to suffer more than the crooked person, who probably is raking in and enjoying his life to the max? If God decided to punish the righteous just because they may have committed a sin,that too maybe unknowingly, then isn't God trying to prove that he is the biggest bully? Coz he knows he can control the righteous, but not the persistent sinners. Some will say that after their life, their souls will be punished..Ok...Any proof?
So, WTF God thinks he(?) is???
Ok,let's see this from God's perspective.... Imagine you are God...So, why would you do the above things?
For the kicks?
Why do you do something to others that you won't do to yourself?
Hmm...ok, let's play a game...you answer my question taking everything I have said above into account. I would love to hear your views on the same.Once we get on exchanging ideas, we can help us understand each other. You can give me your views-Whatever they are!
Cheers!

Have you ever...?

Have you ever got an evil, malevolent thought?
For eg, when you wished ill of a person without ever realizing it?
If you have realized it, then that makes it more significant...
Why is it that we say something and then regret we said it later? Coz, we have already said it,right?
How can we take something back which can't be taken back?
Normally, We all try to be as good as possible...But when a moment comes that our mouth works faster than our minds, all that 'trying to be good' thing comes to a null.
We will curse people....curse them that either they slip on a banana peel or just curse them the worst.When it comes true, the emotional reaction you show determines what type a person you are.
Agreed that this is all subjective, and may not apply to everyone.
I will not continue this further as I don't know what the solution is.
For those who I may have inadvertently said these things, I do not ask for forgiveness.Saying sorry has lost its meaning a long time ago.
Only Hope, that things turn out well...for everyone concerned.
As far as people against me are concerned,I have forgiven everyone except a ménage. And only The Spirit Time knows the reason why...

Day out....

Watched Batman: The Dark Knight on August 2. Wonderful movie, I must say. The beautiful manner in which the dark side of human psyche and mind games has been portrayed has to be commended. Lines like, “Why so serious?”, “If you are good at something, never do it for free” (Said by none other than the Joker…) make you think. Of course there are many lines that make you wonder… Ponder…think…
***Spoiler Warning here***
One of the best examples of understanding the human psyche is towards the end; There are 2 ships-One filled with prisoners and the other with civilians. On each ship is a detonator for the other ship. The Joker announces the same, and says that if one ship blows up the other, that ship will be spared. But, by 12 am, if neither blows up the other, He shall blow both of them. What happens later…Watch the movie! Total Paisa Vasool...
But really… a wonderful illustration of the Game Theory. Economics majors + Batman Freaks, rejoice!
And ya, a wonderful dialogue against someone who is in a solemn mood… “Why so serious?”

Whilst I was watching the movie, I really couldn’t help but wonder…Why don’t people keep their mobiles on silent or vibrate mode? Why is it that when some character is in the midst of delivering a great dialogue and someone’s mobile blares out a Himesh Reshammiya ringtone!!! As if the conventional Nokia mono ringtones weren’t bad enough!! These people are so illiterate to use the mobile phone. Agreed, no one fully is, but still at least keep the cell on vibrate or silent!!!!!!

The Starcity Theatre at Dadar/Matunga is nice. Sofa seats for Rs 80(morning show) and Rs 120(subsequent shows). They’re comfortable to sit in, but the headrest could do with some improvement. But its definitely better than shelling out Rs 700 at Metro…

We watched the Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor after Batman. But any movie after watching Batman would seem so nullah, especially when it comes to the action scenes and dialogues.

Went to Worli Sea face for the 1st time in my life! And boy, it’s really a nice place. The sea seems so much nearer. The clouds were wonderfully organized, without a hint of being contrived. The Sea wanted to kiss the shore… But each time it tried, it was restrained by the father-like rocks, who stood between the sea and the shore. It tried, it really did. But as we were leaving, I felt a tinge of happiness that if not tonight, the sea shall definitely kiss the shore by overcoming the noncompliant rocks. Neither one was evil here nor was anyone good. Each one doing what they were supposed to do. And, even if the ocean fails trying, the rocks can never stop the ocean from becoming rain and falling directly on the shore.

The day ended so fast… 24 Hours… It seems to run so fast, does Father Time. What remains is memories of watching some delightful things- be it a movie or the sea or just the wonderful chatoyant sky which seems so lifeless and colourless at first, but iridescent as you watch it more.

The Power that is..Music.

I hope everyone loves music. Its so universal, so neutral… Music doesn’t differentiate on what religion you belong to, what your wealth is, nor any thing else!

Even a deaf person can make the greatest of music.

Even a blind man can go on to become a great singer…

Even the music of the dead lives with us till today..

So, why is it so? I dunno…

You give a kid, a 1-2 year old kid at that, a colour pencil and paper. Under normal circumstances, the kid will scrawl something illegible. [well, on the brighter side, that may become a priceless piece of art after some years!]. But under present circumstances, that’s what a kid can do.

Now, give that kid a drum. No, Not a guitar, but a drum. That Kid’s too young too learn the nuances of knowing the guitar. So give a drum…

I assure you that the kid will play something that will make sense to a musically inclined ear.

That’s the neutrality of music… Anyone, Anyhow, Any where….It can be played under any circumstances.

Music is played at Birthday parties and at funerals. Music is played when teams win and also when teams lose in sports… You can’t escape it nor do you want to.

The sound of water dripping on an aluminium sheet… listen closely, and u’ll get your music.

When you listen to a person whom you really adore / love to world’s end…. That comforting voice… That’s music.

Music is Magically Understanding Self in Chaos.

The Lyrics, the Sounds, the Beats… The Melody…. The Message…

Music… is the antidote for something that has no cure… When music enters your mind, allow it to take over for a brief moment. And if you are sane and don’t dope, for that brief moment, every part of your body shall feel free from the clutches of a rigid, monotonous day.

One of the most beautiful quotes I have come across with regards to the freedom that music offers is in the movie , “The Shawshank Redemption”. The main protagonist(Andy Dufresne / Tim Robbins / being in jail), is alone in the warden’s office cleaning and arranging stuff. He comes across a Mozart Record. He locks the warden’s office, puts in the record, places the Public announcement system Microphone near the Player. This is what Ellis Boyd Redding (His fellow inmate / Morgan Freeman) says when Mozart’s Duettino Sull’ Aria is being played over the PA..

“I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don't want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I'd like to think they were singing about something so beautiful, it can't be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you, those voices soared higher and farther than anybody in a gray place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free.”

THAT, my friends, is the power of music…

The Well...

Filled with despondency… I really was. June 13-14 2008. Friday the 13th was bad as the day is.
Whilst coming home, my mind was racing with thoughts…Thoughts that caused disconsolateness...
Nox arrived, away from the Sun.
My lachrymal gland worked overtime that night.
T’was now 11-ish. Nothing to do. Put on the radio on my mobile. Dean Martin playing on 107.1 FM.
Then suddenly, I came across a well. It was nearing dusk.
Melancholia taking over.
Descended down the well.
Staring down at the bottom of the well.
Now I know why people meant that phrase…
It’s so sad to see the bottom of the well…
A well’s disfigured life with all the trash at the ground…
You feel your own life moving towards it, towards the junk..,
Waiting to bide time till it takes over.
I saw many dead at the bottom…
I cried…
Fate had decided itself.
What’s this fluttering around?
A Butterfly to keep me company till I descend?
It was a Black Butterfly…But so beautiful!
As I was descending, I saw it rest on the surface of the water.
My legs now touched the surface of the final frontier.
Slowly now I thought… resigned to Fate…
The Butterfly took in its wings, sat.
There was no reflection of it…
I kept on watching, waiting for the reflection…
I could see no one except the sky.
The Sky!
It existed…
The fact that it manifested was proof enough of its existence, waiting to be touched.
The B’fly raised it wings.
Flew skywards..
Saw up I did.
Far away I was from up.
Hope
It still existed…
I just needed to trust it…
And for no rational motive, I did…
Came the Butterfly, overgrown now to size dragon-like…
Lifted me from my descent… by its claws
And raised me high
Oh, what a beautiful feeling!
To touch the untouchable sky…
Flipping in air, to music
Screamed I…
And opened my eyes, Dean Martin had stopped; Tom Jones was now playing…
My ticket was redeemed…
Switched Off my mobile; went to sleep.
Woke up, things were unchanged.
But,Now,
There was Hope...

Rendezvous with Mr. Helios

Me:
“Well, Hello!Seeing you after a bit, eh Sol….All this rain and everything. Howz u been hiding behind the clouds?”

Helios: “Heh! Hiding eh? Oh well,I’ll take that. Been so different you know;Was at my fullest glory in May..and now, come June, I’m eclipsed by the clouds. Job hazards,one of them, this is!”

M: “Oh ya… But man, no offense, but there are many people over here that are glad that u into ‘hiding’. You were shining so hard this year between March and May that people wished that you went away…Of course you shouldn’t… but still…people were saying that!”

H: “Hmm…I know. Heard from Brother Zeus that day whilst I was in Greece the other day. Also Narad Muni… Felt a bit down that night. But then, It was night.”

M: ‘Ya, I know.. very depressing.’

H: “But what the heck, I gotta go back to work the next day anyways. Work is worship…at least for me!’

M: ‘Coming from someone who’s worshipped all over the world, that’s humble!’

H: ‘Ya Sid…You see, people will attack you all the time-be it at work or off work. Some would rather want me sinking in the ocean in the West and never come back. But then, you know, no matter how tiring the day was; you should just get back on our feet and start shining the next day!”

M: “Wow…but then, people will start all over again. They’ll say ‘Oh, here he comes again “

H: “Yup… they will.. and so may their sons and daughters and grandchildren. Understand, my dear brother, that if you are doing something with the right intentions, you will never go wrong!”

M: “Heyy?!! That’s what my friend said too! What a coincidence!”

H: “Then you surely have made a good friend Sid…I know… and may the heavens bless your friend” “Coming back to what I was saying… Yes, if you do something with the honest of intentions, no one…not even the greatest of Gods can punish you”

M: “Greatest of Gods… who’s that?"

H: “Let’s leave that shall we… unless you want religious riots or something!”

M: “Ok Ok…”

H: “You know Sid… The fact that I have to hide myself from the world is the result of my own karma!”

M: “Uhhh!!! You!! And Karma… explain dear brother!”

H: “You know, when given a chance to do something we like, how we tend to go to the highest limits to shine brightly?”

M: “Ya…I think”

H: “Well, when its March, I sorta shine with too much pride. You know that…At the same time, As I am shining, The waters of Oceania (The Oceans), The Seas, and every water element on terra firma evanesces. And when all elements of Nature coincide,(Geography and Science taking over), It rains! So you see, my actions lead to my own judgement. The more I shine, the more it shall rain. The more it rains, the less I am seen."

M:
“But then don’t you see that everytime?”

H: “I do…initially, I objected to the Rain Gods. But then, as I grew older, I realized one thing… They couldn’t hold me back for long. I realized that Gaia had thought things out well. She knew things which not many did at that time. She told me ‘Helios, What you are going through is understandable. But despair not, thy moment shall arrive. The Circle of Life is just. “Pactum serva ; Keep the faith”” M: “Oh ok…”

H: “So after a long drawn monsoon, when the clouds exhausted all their might, It was my turn to come back; just as the laws said I would. For my patience, I was rewarded…reward being the chance to shine sometimes during the monsoon. And as a token of my goodwill, I gave birth to the rainbow.”

“So you see Sid, its important to know that resurrection is possible through hope… by being true to yourself and your own self first, and then to others. What you sow, you reap. The laws of the Universe work in ways strange for the common man, but they work fine. Believe in them, but believe in yourself first.” M: “Hmm… You speak wisely, as always Helios.”

H: “And remember Sid, arrogance will get you nowhere…You know what happened between me and the wind sometime back right?”

M: “Yea..I remember reading about it in my 1st standard English text book. But that was way back in 1991-92 yaar… Care to refresh?”

H: “Hmm..of course…T’was during winter when I met Mr. Wind (blowing away a bit arrogantly that day). He came upto me and said “Ha…Sol! They call you powerful! Obviosly they haven’t seen the best of me yet!”. I said back, “Dear Wind, There is no one greater or smaller. We are all equals.” Obviously that didn’t go well with him and he challenged me. He saw this villager wrapped around a blanket (This was around 6:30 morning btw). Said he, ‘Aditya(I was in India this time, hence he called me by my Indian name), I Challenge you to blow away the blanket from the body of this man!”. I sensed his arrogance. I told him to proceed first. He started with great pomp and pride.. Blowing away at that man…But the more he blew himself, the more determined that man became to catch the blanket. Half an Hour passed…and then the Wind said (with its arrogance intact) “Think You can do better??!!!”

M: “And??”

H: “And what? I just had to shine. (I’m hot , you see!). No sooner I came, than that man took off his blanket, and proceeded onwards to his destination. So you see, the larger the pride, the easier it is for someone to bring you down”

M: “Gosh… That was nice…Of course we didn’t have you account of how it happened, as well as the moral of the story…But It was nice to hear that again…especially after 17 years!”

H: “Well, its night now, and you gotta have dinner now. Go fast or mum will blame me for keeping you all night. I’ve got nothing to do now na…except shine in the southern hemisphere.. but that shift’s ok…It’s the northern hemisphere I am worried about, especially with the Developed nations who are almost screwing things up. Heh!” “Take care Sid, go now… And remember, Life gives you a chance to come back-be it next morning or the next season…but you do get a chance.”

M: “Heavens bless you Helios….Shine on!”

H: “Cheers…!"