4. Race (A Verse).

Some run slow, some run fast
Each one has a difference pace

A slow-down makes me turn blue
To be happy, I speed-up the chase

I always wait for that time when
I am supposed to get a salary raise

I get influenced by others and then
strive to build a so-called “own” grace

I crib about being oily and dark but
Black will be the smoke from my face

I long to sleep on a golden bed
Ultimately, I’ll sleep on wooden base

I don’t realize that wherever I go
All roads lead to the same place

Funeral home is the final point
which puts an end to the race

3. Choice.

Choice is what I simply choose to be, to do. That’s all.

Choice and Decision are 2 totally different things. Choice evolves from heart and the action starts. Decision may or may not evolve from heart but prior to action, there is an intermediate step of logical thinking and conclusion thereafter.

Choice is like – I want to do and I start doing it. No reasoning whatsoever. For instance, one fine day, I feel like going for wild life photography and I start my excursion immediately. This is a choice.

Drilling down, there are a lot of intermediate decisions like selecting the best jungle, the safest place, manipulating the risks involved. All this is logic. Of course, its worth if it doesn’t kill the passion; the choice persists.

Let’s categorize choice and decision

1. I choose because I will be benefited from it. – Decision.
2. I choose because I want it – Decision.
3. I choose because I like it – Decision.
4. I choose because I choose it – Close to choice but not choice.
5. I choose. (‘because’ is non-existent) – Choice.

...More to come… after some more logical analysis on Choice and Decision :)

2. Chalte Rehna.

Lakshya se hi shuru hota hai safar, Chalte rehna
Ho sakta hai, lage mushkil dagar, Chalte rehna
Mile na mile koi humsafar, Chalte rehna
Raah pe pair, aankhen manzil par, Chalte rehna

Gali, Gaav, Moholla, Sehar, Chalte rehna
Thak jaaye to do pal thehar, Chalte rehna
Tu kar sakta hai, tujhme hai hunar, Chalte rehna
Aisa waisa nahi hai tera Jigar, Chalte rehna

Chalna hai tera karm, na soch agar magar, Chalte rehna
Tujhe rokne waalo ko samajh kar kaayar, Chalte rehna
Ant me ek hi baat pe rakh kar nazar, Chalte rehna
Raah hai baahar, Manzil hai bheetar, Chalte rehna

KEEP WALKING...

1. Proud.

I always feel proud about some or the other thing. In fact, I feel proud about everything I feel I possess. The vague thing about this is there are things which if some one else possesses (considering he or she doesn’t possess), he or she may not feel proud about but I still do.

Moreover, there are instances where I am proud about a certain thing and if that comes to an end or may be the opposite of that thing become a part of my life; my proud feeling will still stay.

Confusing, huh!!

An example – If I am up by 6AM each day, I will carry a proud feeling of getting up early. After a while, my schedule changes and I starting getting up by 9AM, I will start feeling proud about it saying – I have a leisurely sleep each day.

Analyzing further, I see so many things (actually all the things) I am proud of, which are as follows

I am proud of being –
Practical
Punctual
Short-tempered
Particular
Smart
Dynamic
Impatient
A leader
Illogical at times and logical at times too
Fitness freak
Sporty
A great driver
Crazy
Sensible
Sensitive
Hearty
Nature lover
Humorous
Artistic
Mimic
Extrovert
Fun-filled
Dominating
Chauvinist
Casual

All these so-called adjectives are usually followed by a line at the conscious level. For instance, when I think of being punctual, it is followed by a remark – Dude, no one can be as punctual as I am. This remark is usually to the self but at times as a statement to others too.

I really feel proud in expressing my feeling and publishing it as a blog followed by circulating to my dear ones saying that look this is what I introspect and ultimately, I am proud of my introspections as well.

3. Philosophy.

I was having a dialogue on philosophy with one of my dear pal.

He remarked - Philosophy always is non-sense. Philosophers just move in a circle and reach nowhere and life ends just in fooling around. Only truth makes sense.

Whatever he said was absolutely making sense. Then I questioned myself – What is Philosophy? Is it really a non-sense? Am I just fooling around reading all such books? Am I simply creating a mess? Am I muddling my life?

“Only truth makes sense” – This thought flashed and diverted my mind from those umpteen questions coming up. Whatever is truth, can’t it be any kinda philosophy? And any kinda philosophy can’t be a truth? Can truth and philosophy ever be synonymous?

Philosophy may be a sheer non-sense until it lies in books. Once it becomes synonymous with the way of life, it might start making sense. Nonetheless, this is my Philosophy.

Précis, Philosophy is nothing but a standpoint.

2. NRI.

Disclaimer: The topic NRI (Not Returning to India) is by no means intended to hurt anyone.

“What is the average salary these days in India for a profile similar to us?” – This is a classic question from a bunch of my friends who “once in a while” think of returning back to India for good.
Instead of replying this question, I ask a counter question. ‘When are you targeting at returning back?”

Here come a classic reply again – “In a couple of years, may be”.

There are some other replies on similar lines. Here we go –

May be 2009/2010
Shall decide about this next year.
I have started thinking on this. Too early to say but shall soon come to a conclusion.
Probably, shall make some final decision while in India during my 2 week Xmas vacation.
As of now I think it should be good enough time to be back to India. Let’s see though.

After these gentle replies, I have a mixed feeling but still prefer to answer the initial question.
There is nothing like average salary concept here. It’s the number (amount) that is gonna bridge the gap between your expectations and company requirements. Further, the terms like “couple of years” and “2009/2010” (that too in conjunction with “may be”) makes the conclusion too early to anticipate. On top of that, the feeling sounds more like – “As of now” feeling. Hence, the chances of the change are pretty high. More or less, the change is synonymous with postponement here.

Also, once the permanent residency (may be GC, PR, etc) process initiates, it becomes all the more difficult. This is quite psychological. Hence, one either has a target date (exact date of return) or else just keeps playing around.

Of course, there is no harm in staying there for a while or may be for life but I feel that the vision should be crystal clear if one really intends to take any step in life. This may sound hypothetical.

There is an agreement on this, most of the times but with an asterisk mark saying conditions apply. Some do quote Newton’s law – “… in the absence of an unbalanced external force”.

I totally agree but doesn’t this happen at each and every stage of life? What if some one is thrown out and forced to come back to India? Will he be left with any choice? There are sometimes in life where I really can respect and enjoy my own choice. Come what may. I always feel like eradicating the "external unbalanced" stuff although I am not doing it completely.

It’s me who should drive my life. If I am not the one who does, what kinda ego I am carrying with me? THERE IS NO NEED OF AN EXTERNAL UNBALANCED FORCE TO DRIVE ANY OF MY CHOICES (please don’t read DECISIONS).

Concluding, I just wanna tell one thing. Trust me, from your perspective if you like it there, please go ahead and enjoy life there. It’s all about perception. I am the master of my life. This is the feeling that treasures me.

Hence, be a NRI all your life. NRI might be Now Returning to India, Next-year returning to India or Never Returning to India. It’s your take.

PS: This blog contains excerpt of dialogues between Jimit and me.

1. Sarkar Raj.

The Nagres are back and this time they aren’t alone. The only regret I have about Sarkar Raj is I witnessed it a bit too late. Nonetheless, this one is a high-profile political drama on the backdrop of a “power” project. It’s a magnificent piece of work by the man who is so very sure of what he is making (kindly unread Aag and Naach). If RGV is reading this, I need to tell this – “Please finish the trilogy”. The climax hints in that direction too but as RGV is quite unconventional on professional front, it’s hard to forecast.

The best part is without any kind of narration the drama gradually explains the link with the former part. The first half is pretty gripping. The plot-building activity is accomplished in a profound manner. Although the head-spinning close-up camera moves are at times a bit annoying, they append the intensity. The post-interval drama is more of a bloodbath. In an edge-of-the-seat thriller like this one, the thrill loses a bit when the spectator starts suspecting the usual and un-usual characters. Here, one gets no time to even think of suspecting anyone.

The casting is far-fetched. No words for AB & AB Jr. as Sr. and Jr. Nagre respectively. They simply excel. Particularly during the second half Sr. AB outshines as a rebellion. Excellent output delivered by new comer Rajesh Shringarpore as Sanjay Somji. Dilip Prabhavalkar as Rao Saab is at his second best after Lage Raho Munnabhai. Of course he is a seasoned performer with many golden feathers in his cap. ARB as Anita Rajan is ok. A nice surprise performance by Govind Namdeo as Hassan Qazi (Thank god he is not roaring this time) is visible. Ravi Kale as Chander is clichéd but not too bad. Sayaji Shinde as Karunesh Kanga is too hyper for his role. Tanisha, Victor Banarjee and Upendra Limaye mark their presence in a small but vital role.

Technically, the sturdy areas are the dazzling direction and charismatic cinematography. The sturdier ones are the exceptional editing and debonair dialogues where Prashant Pandey has done an outstanding working with his pen. The sturdiest though in my view point is the breathtaking background score by Amar Mohile.

On the whole, this high intensity feat is worth a watch.

My verdict – 8/10.