A WOMAN WHO WAS MAN ENOUGH!!

There was this funny thing that happened a few months back. Mom n I were standing in a crowded market which has recently created a network of one way streets to ease the traffic congestion, not that its helped, but that's another issue.
Suddenly all eyes got riveted to this woman behind the wheel of an azure grey Honda City, honking and shouting like crazy. Coming from the opposite direction, wrongly, on the one way street, was this white esteem with the Govt Of Delhi sticker and a policeman sitting in the passenger's seat. This woman, with looks strikingly similar to that of Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, whom i had the fortune of meeting in rather strange circumstances at Mallya Hospital in Bangalore the night rahul decided to become a bike stuntman, sat behind the wheel, and did not budge an inch. The police officer from the other car came and started to explain to her the mistake but she was adamant that he move car from that street before she moves her. Continuously lambasting him for being the government and still flouting rules so blatantly, she literally shepherded him back out of that street.
It was heartening to see a common citizen force some sense and responsibility into the upholders of law and order, but this episode also brought a question to my mind. How would the situation have been different had there been a man in that Honda? Would the police officer have been so courteous with a man as he was with a woman? And more importantly, would a man have had the sheer gall to stand up in such a situation?
There're always two ways out of any road ( yes, even a one way street ) and it takes a courageous person to take the harder, but correct way out. That woman could have easily maneuovered her way around the officer's car but she chose to instill some sense into him and fight for her right.
As Robert Frost has famously said -- " two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."

Sometimes I wonder what I would've done in her place. I wonder and wonder, and still dont know.. Ignorance is bliss, i guess...

See The Humor in it!!!!

Recently, I was given this valuable piece of advice from a friend - "See the humor in it". The reference, of course, was to my last post, which although she admired, she felt was too newspaper-ish. And my writing style like that of a newspaper editor. ( I do consider it to be a compliment frankly, though my brother disagrees!! ) I admire this female a lot, and since she'd told me to write stuff from the happenings around me, how could i say no!!!
So, here goes nothing. From this moment on i'll try to share my thoughts reagarding stuff that i've observed, learnt, loved, or hated in the last few months here in delhi. I didnt ever think i'd pen this down, as i find these to be quite kiddish, silly and many a times down right irritating, but, i've promised and i gotta keep it up ( Yes, i do belong to the fast fading community which still believes in keeping promises).
I just hope others and especially you, yes You who's making me do all this, appreciate it and enjoy it!!!

T 20... A bag full of surprises, and then, some familiar stuff!!!

The T 20 Cricket World cup had almost reached its end with the semi finals and finals left.

This tournament, criticized by some, applauded by some, and even dismissed by others as "Fun" has thrown its own set of surprises.

Astonishingly, West Indies, after thrashing SA for 205 in the opener( albeit they lost that match) went down to Bangladesh, making it the second time in succession Bangladesh has ousted a "Big" team form a major tournament.

Even more Astonishingly, Australia lost to Zimbabwe and ricky ponting was forced to use some harsh words for his players. Stating the top order's performance to be "diabolical" and asking his players to show more respect to the game in such frank and honest words was something I hadnt anticipated from Ricky.

After australia's 2nd loss, to pakistan, adam gilchrist came out stating that he found T 20 much more enjoyable while watching rather than when playing. I guess that's the case with all teams that end up on the losing side, Gilli!!! Andrew Symonds has also seconded Gilchrist stating the "unpredictibilty" and "frustrating nature" of this format. Now, make no mistake, Australia are by far the best cricketing team in the world, but these words seem to indicate sore losers, mighty ones at that.

To quote Symonds-- "It's a frustrating game because you can be beaten by the lesser sides and they have to be good for a shorter period of time," Symonds said. "That's why he [Gilchrist] is probably finding it frustrating and I'd probably have to agree with him as well."

As far as i know, wasnt the side that LOST the game supposed to be the LESSER side, at least on the given day?? Cmon Mr Symonds, even 5 year old Girls dont whine like that!!! Guess Aussies are just not used to losing and find it pretty difficult to digest!!!

Another revelation of this tournament has been the Pakistani Side, especially Misbah-ul-Haq and Sohail Tanvir!! Misbah, criticized after he was selected at age 33, and over Mohd Yousuf has played two of the best innings of the tournament, one tying the match agianst India, and the another winning it against the mighty australians. Sohail Tanvir has, quite simply, caught the world on the WRONG FOOT, pun intended.

Thankfully, especially for India, not all has been new and there have been some familiar going ons in this world cup too.

India still maintained its record of not losing to Pakistan in a world cup match, winning this one in the most curious circumstances, the BOWL-OUT. The ludicrousness of the situation compelled Dhoni to quip about winning his 1st match as captain with a scoreline of 3-0.

And just today, South Africans lived up to their name of CHOKING at the crucial moments of the big tournaments, and were again ousted at Durban in the 2nd group stages, a venue which wud still bring nightmares to Graeme Smith after the Duckworth-Louis fiasco in World Cup 2003.
Just a few days ago, Shaun Pollock had commented that this format is too small and fast for SA to have time to choke... Wonder what his take would be now!!!

In some quirky tales,
Yuvraj avenged the thrashing by the ahnds of dimitri at the oval and repaid England in kind by smashing 6 sixes in an over off poor stuart broad;
while KP proved his mouth is bigger than his bat when England were given a sound spanking on the ass after his call to "humiliateA" the world champions and avenge the ashes.

All in all, as SA again proved that maybe its not destined for them to win a WORLD CUP, India live to fight another day, and fight hard they will have to, given their match against australia.

For all of Australia's supposed lack of interest and amorance for this form of the game, they still are a might to be reckoned with, and India would have done extremely well if they manage to put it past the aussies!! If they do manage tat feat, i just hope the Aussies dont start up again about the frustrating format and "Lesser Teams"!!!!

Yours worst fears always come true

"Your worst fears always come true".
How often does this happen with you? A sense of apprehension, of how and why things can and will go wrong, even when u desire with all your heart that they don't. Your mind paints many different pictures for your discomfort, each bleaker than the previous. But, the most vivid picture is painted of the scenario causing maximum discomfort and anguish, and agonizingly, it often is this reason that turns out to be true.

After overcoming the initial shock, and the few speechless seconds, the first thing that you have to decide is whether to follow your heart or your mind. Often, your mind tells you to do the logical thing. Respond to the situation in a measured way, not forgetting the fact that you are more than likely to have caused the soup you are in. "What's happened cannot be changed, be a man and deal with it" is the vibe u get from up there. The heart, as is its want, is always a bit selfish, after all, its beating inside your body, and wants the best for yourself in all situations. You might well have been majorly responsible for the current situation, but then, you want to make it all right and also, get out of it scot-free.

What you choose to follow, your heart or your mind, may well determine your satisfaction in the end. Choosing the mind may well lead to a major heart break and a feeling of let down, even if u may get the small satisfaction of having done the morally and logically right thing. Choosing the heart, on the other hand, will definitely give you a feeling of high, but that depends on whether the outcome is in your favor or not.


Needless to say, something similar happened to me recently. Without getting into the intricacies of the particular incident- as that'll make for another interesting read, some other day, some other time- lets just say it was something I had been dreading for a couple of days, for no apparent reason, and as is often the case, my worst fears came true. Facing the situation, I have to admit, words started tumbling out of my mouth, which, in retrospect, were not the ones intended or what I wanted to say. I guess, it did seem the correct way that time, but may hurt a lot in the wrong run. Don't know why, but am getting some apprehensions that it'll turn out to be just as bad as i'm dreading it to be. I hope i'm wrong, but then, what was that thing about your worst fears always coming true!!