Her Phone, Her life, Her friends

My phone started ringing and I thought who could it be! My phone was new, slick and smart and so new, most of my friends did not know of it, which I wanted desperately to show, though I knew too well that they would only laugh at me for being still fond of showing off new things at this age. I stopped short of taking it out of my bag, as a very catchy tune started as a ringtone and the girl standing next to me on the zebra crossing, waiting for the light to turn green picked it up hurriedly and started talking animatedly. Poor girl, I thought, she is so engrossed , that she did not notice she was almost shouting at the caller and before I could restrain her she started moving forward even with the light being still red. I saw a minibus approaching and just caught hold of her dopatta and tried to pull her back, but she did not even seem to notice my move and the the approaching vehicle and the next thing I saw the young body being flown past me and hitting the footpath, bloody and dead.



I wonder why these young people do not think twice before putting their lives at risk. I have travelled almost two thirds of my life and still I value my life, I treasure my life as a special gift of God. I know I have been given once chance in life, which I would live to the full, enjoying and savouring every second of it. But look at these young ones, they just throw caution to the winds for the sake of staying connected to their friends and family at all odd hours at all odd places. It seems, they think nothing else exists, while they are on call.

What is the use of having a mobile and a host of near and dear one, if you are not there to hold it in your hand and stay connected.

I wish there was a smart phone which would flash the word CAUTION or cry out LOOK OUT/STOP if its owner is crossing a busy road, is on the friving seat or at any such position that requires attention.
Is anybody listenting!!

On a bad day

On a bad day


Little Jojo was having a Mango
And enjoying it much !
When he spotted a monkey
On a tree giving him a mean watch !
Monkeys are fond of banana
That was what he knew,
So he called -‘ mama please give
Me a banana, will you!
Sure child but first you finish
Your Mango she said,
Mango is for me mom,
Banana is for the monkeys sake.
Really, you have turned
much too witty for your age.
This boy is no good, so I should
Try myself, mused the brute
And he jumped to snatch the fruit,
Giving Jojo a slap on his way;
Mama came in a moment and
Looked for the skins of mango.
A monkey took it home,
Said the frightened Jojo,
Should be ashamed of yourself
Boy, I am sick of liars you should know!
Little Jojo stood confused and sad,
What a cursed day that turned everything so bad.

I call a gentlemanly act.

I sometimes wonder why people deny other's their due credit. Think of Bidhu Binod Chopra, so happily renowned, successful and popular filmy man, fights shy of giving Chetan Bhagat due credit on his book in his super hit film 3 Idiots, in the opening titles. Why should he be so mean as shout at the media persons while debating on this issue. We all know that the young Bhagat was the author of Five Point Someone the book which Chopra adopted and the scripts were undoubtedly based on this. But no, he has to deny any credit except a minuscule reference to the author. This is extremely unfair. My sympathies lie entirely with the author.

Likewise I was so surprised when the famous Gulzar copied scene by scene a Classic bangla film by Tapan Sinha “Apanjon”(1968) , featuring Samit Bhanja, Rabi Ghosh, Swarup Dutta and Chaya Debi written by Indra Mitra and made “Mere Apne” (1971). Starring Meena Kumari, Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha on the story and the titles on the film showes Gulzar as the writer and director of the film. Such a disgusting and shameful act.


But a little known gentleman Sriram Raghavan. Directed Johny Gaddar Starring Priyanka Bose, Dharmendra, Rimi Sen, acknowledged gratefully with due respect the influences of James Hadley Chase and Vijay Anand’s film ‘Double Cross” while writing and making the film.
Now this is what I call a gentlemanly act.

If my son asks me

When my son asked me!
Mom…look at that old woman
Sitting desolate, looking lost,
Ragged and filthy cloth
Clinging on her frail body !
Mom…why does she remind me of
My own granny !
Can we call her and give her shelter
Offer her food and decent cloths!
Can we mom, please !
I would share with her
My room and my blanket !
Don’t get angry with her mom
Like you used to be with my own granny,
For I would always love you more.
Can we call her mom , can we please.
She would tell me stories,
She would listen and she would sing,
Just like my good old granny!
Can we adopt her mom , please say I might
Like Mani aunty adopted a child ,
My heart was gripped tight ,
But I could find no answer .