The Known Stranger Part 1

The Known Stranger Part 1

P.S. I still love you - Part 2

P.S. I still love you - Part 2

P.S. I still love you - Part 1

P.S. I still love you - Part 1

Indian Election League: IEL

Welcome to the great Indian Tamaasha or Nautanki, or whatever you want to call it. Its here and how. The election season is on with great fanfare and loads of nautanki. Parties have released their manifestos claiming what all they will do, once they come into power, blaming what the incumbent couldn’t do, the incumbent claiming what they will continue to do if selected again, the hate speeches, the constant blame game. Now if that is not tamasha, then what it is?

Politicians can stoop to any level to win our votes. Samajwadi Party released its manifesto which stated that they want to ban English language and Computers along with futures and stock trading and merchandised farming. Only a moron can think the way this party thinks. Even the most insane person on this earth won’t make such a manifesto. India’s IT sector is pride of India and these cartoons want to ban computers. This very thought is outlandish to say the least. Majority of outsourcing happens to India and this party want to ban English. That is so preposterous. What on earth was going on their mind when they prepared such a manifesto? Together IT, ITES and BPO contributes handsomely to the Indian GDP. They are the invisible receipts of funds and one can only imagine what will happen to India’s BOP(Balance of Payment) if we end up banning computers or English.

Instead of focussing how to take the country forward the demagogue of this party is plotting how to take this country back to18 century. Instead of making a road map as to make India literate and technosavy these lunatic men are only interested in power and position and it is a disgrace that Sanjay Dutt is campaigning for such a party. Today, internet has the power to change the society and computers are a must if India has to progress. The classic example is mobile which has penetrated the rural India. Education is a barometer of Country’s progress and for that English is a must.

Nowadays lots of ads are coming urging people to vote. I do agree that people should go and vote and exercise their rights. But I don’t think that I'm going to vote this year.

My heart just won’t allow me to vote. For whom should I vote? For BJP, who are always bickering as to who has more power, who is more capable to lead, who has more experience and one of their leaders, Mr. Narendra Modi responsible for the ghastly godhra and is now busy accusing Congress for being budiya party and then backtracking and calling them gudiya party as if he has been inspired by the movie “The curious case of Benjamin Button”. For MNS, and that coward Raj Thackrey, who is playing the messiah of Maharashtra and creating rift among the Indians and when 26/11happened, couldn’t muster even courage to speak neither could tell his men to come and help those trapped people that day. He is not even a Maharashtrian, let alone an Indian. For congress, whose CM, after the day attacks were over, was visiting the Taj sites along with his son and a famous director. Or for that matter shiv sena, who at a drop of hat want to create violence and declare bandh and change name of various entities in Mumbai.

These politicians are worst than prostitutes. The latter sells her body for money, the former has sold their soul. The elections have become a battleground for blame game. Everyone is taking a shot at another and nobody is willing to talk about what they want to do for their country. It’s a shame that such harebrained men and women are at helm of affairs.

I’m not saying that perfection is required in politics, but neither do we require leaders who are inept, impotent(not in a literal sense), lunatic, coward and interested in playing blame games. We need leaders who can run this country selflessly and to their best of abilities, and who can put country before them. I want this country to vote but I won’t be one of them. Someday I will float my party and join politics but until then I will enjoy this Tamasha called Indian Election League.

P.S. Bring the cheer leaders.

2 years and a Lifetime of Education and Fun

When I think of IMT after graduating, there are host of emotions and memories which come to my mind. The 2 year stay at IMT was a big learning curve for me as a person. Apart from specializing in Finance, I also specialized in understanding of human nature.

I was cognizant of the fact that these 2 years wont come again in my life and these were indeed years of great learning, making friends and more importantly understanding one ownself.

On 24 June, 2007, 287 students came together from different parts of the country to form one big family which stayed together until March 2009. Everyone of us has some or the memory attached with this institute. If someone asks me what memories you will take home, it will be difficult to point one. Be it the first day of ragging, or the first time we got our results(1^st trimester results) or India winning the inaugural T20 world cup where every guy removed his Tshirt to celebrate(though I was too shy to do it), the Round Table Conference in Mumbai, the numerous booze parties we all had, night outs in girls hostel when rules were less stringent, the night walks which continued till early morning, the tussle with the managements or the mail which shocked the entire campus when all the commodities aka gold and silver wanderers came out, the placement fiasco due to economic downturn and egoistic Mr. Black or the final farewell, the list just continues to grow along.

During these 2 years I also learnt alot about how people behave, how they conduct and I was lucky to see some of the bright minds out here that had some serious talent. I did manage to learn a lot from them.

I also learnt that people will always find ways to bring you down by criticising you, by passing comments which are pugnacious or downright preposterous but the best way to deal with them is to ignore them else you will be hurting your ownself. I made some fantastic friends who I know will get busy in their own life sooner than later but the friendship will last forever.

Now that the batch of 2007-09 has graduated, life will never be the same for each and every one of us. Some will go abroad, some will get married, some will start their own business, but whatever it is nobody will ever forget the 2 years they spent at IMT Nagpur, the happiness they experienced, the friends they made, the girls/guys they had crush on, the lonely times they spent on campus, the fight they had on trivial things, the affairs they had, the assignments they did at 2 am, the night walks they took, the birthdaybumps they got, the professors they adored, the places they visited etc. Probably 20 years down the line, sitting in a balcony we all will be telling our families about all the things we did here at IMT.

After some years when we will have an alumni meet we might come with our family for the meet, we will laugh at absurd things we did, we will meet the girl/guy whom we had crush on and introduce them to our respective spouse, meet the professors who shaped our life, the canteen guys who helped us stay awake by providing us tea and coffee, say hello to our once close pals and inquire about each other’s life, exchange numbers and then go back home with a smile on our face, by remembering those moments we all shared together, because moments become memories and these will live with us forever because memories make a journey called LIFE!!!!!!

I had this dream of doing an MBA and 2 years of my dream has now come to an end. I have woken up, but some memories of this dream will be etched in my mind forever. So here Iam, logging off as a student and logging in as an Alumni of Batch of 2007-2009 of IMT Nagpur.

Sana Khan: Part 2

Chaos had gripped the entire road. Rajesh took Sana’s unconscious body and started moving towards the Bombay hospital. There was blood and terror all across the place. Somehow Rajesh managed to get a taxi and took her to Bombay hospital. There were patients all over the place. The hospital had become a fish market of sorts.

Somehow Rajesh managed to take Sana to a room where there were doctors attending different patients. Rajesh then put Sana on a bed. A nurse came and put Oxgyen mask on Sana. “What do you think nurse, will she survive? Rajesh asked in almost choked voice. He was breathing heavily . “Please have patience. The doctors will be attending all of these patients one by one” nurse replied.

At that very moment Sana regained some consciousness but only a bit. She caught hold of Rajesh’s hand and told him ” Listen Rajesh, I don’t know If I will be able to survive” “You will” Rajesh assured. “Shhh, let me speak” Sana continued, “ I don’t know how much time Iam left with, there is heavy bleeding going on. You have to promise me one thing Rajesh. I have a daughter who is just a year old. Her name is Fiza. My husband had divorced me 2 years back and he is in US. He doesn’t even know that I have a daughter and neither did I bother to tell him. You please leave her in an orphanage. I want my daughter to live her life regardless to what happens to me. She will cry initially because I wont be there, but she will soon accept the fact. Take these keys and go to my home. Please do this for me, this is my last wish before I go”

Suddenly Sana’s heart rate began to fall, and seeing this Rajesh shouted at the doctor, “Doctor please come here fast, her heart beat is slowing” . The doctor started rushing towards Sana, and that very moment Sana’s heart beat went really low, and Sana uttered her last words “Please fulfill my last wish, so that I will be happy in heaven. Allah O Akbar”.

Rajesh’s eyes became moist and he sat beside her and started crying within few seconds. But he wasn’t the only person who was crying in that room. There were people all around him who had lost some or the other of their loved ones. Rajesh took Sana’s purse and checked the address and went straight to her house which was in Andheri. He opened the door and saw a beautiful little girl smiling at him. She was unaware of the fact that GOD had not been kind to her. She looked at him and that moment Rajesh closed his eyes and tears started coming out of them. He wondered, what was the mistake of this sweet little angel who has been separated from her mother forever. “Ammi” she uttered and smiled. Her eyes were searching for her. Rajesh sat around her and started to cry more profusely. But the girl was smiling. Innocence was written all over her face. She looked in Rajesh’s eyes and once again uttered “Ammi”. Rajesh took her in her arms and started walking out of the home.

He had to leave her in the orphanage but he realized he cannot do so. There was something in him which was stopping him to do so. He then took a bold step and took the little angel home.
Rajesh was a married man with a 2year old daughter. On seeing Rajesh reaching home safely, his wife was relived. She asked him “Who is this little girl with you?, and then Rajesh explained her the events of the day and she supported Rajesh to raise this kid along with their own kid. It was only because of Sana that Rajesh was still alive.

26th November 2014
“Abbu, Ammi is calling. Dinner is ready”. Fiza informed Rajesh. Rajesh had bought up Fiza as a Muslim and not as a Hindu.

“We offer remembrance and condolences to those who died that fateful night. May God bless them and their family” TimesNow announced on its 9oclock news and with that news ended.

Rajesh looked up in the sky and closed his eyes and remembered Sana and uttered “May God bless you Sana”. As he opened his eyes he saw Fiza standing in front of him with a plate of food. “ Come Abbu, Lets eat” Fiza said in her sweet soothing voice. He took Fiza in his arms and looked up in heavens and prayed “God, let the brave new world of hope, peace and prosperity usher in. Allah O Akbar”

P.S. Mumbai attacks have left deep scars on the entire country. Bullets were fired to all and sundry. There were reports in TOI that terrorists did not want to kill Muslims, they were under instructions to do so. But they forgot one thing; bullets do not discriminate between Hindus and Muslims. There were many Muslims who were also killed during this fiasco.

We have wasted so much time, energy and resources to prove that one particular GOD is better than other, but the truth is GOD resides within all of us; and if we love HIM, it means we Love everybody. Hatredness has no place. Let there be peace, prosperity and happiness all around; so that when the next generation is born, they live with their head high and without any fear. Let the brave new world be BORN. Amen

Sana Khan: Part 1

It was 26th November 2014. Rajesh was sitting in his balcony watching the cars passing by. It was cold November evening in Santacruz. It was 8pm, and news channel were telecasting news about 6th anniversary of Mumbai attacks. 26th November, 2008 had changed Rajesh’s life forever. He was alive till date only because of Sana Khan.

The harrowing experience of that day was still fresh in his mind. Sipping the evening tea he started recollecting all the events that occurred on that fateful day.

“Rajesh you have a meeting at 8:30pm at the Taj with Sana Khan” Manish said. He continued “Its already 8pm”. “Yeah man, Iam leaving” rajesh replied and he began to pack his bag for the meeting.

Rajesh worked for JM financial and was a investment banker and Sana Khan was his client.
At 8:40pm Rajesh reached Taj, and proceeded towards the main hall. On the second table from left, Sana was sitting. “Iam sorry Sana, was held up in traffic”. “No issues, I understand” Sana replied.

Sana had a beauty only few could match. Her skin colour was fair and she had blue eyes and her hair was silky and soft.

Midway through their conversation, firing took place. Sana looked at her watch and it was 9pm. “What the hell is going on here? sana asked in a choked voice . Then one of the guards announced “ We request all of you to please vacate the building. Terrorists have attacked. We will help you in all the ways possible but please cooperate with us. The police is on its way”

The scene became chaotic and everybody started running to the nearest safe place, be it bathrooms, the kitchen or the hotel rooms. Sana and rajesh ran to the first floor to room number 105, as terrorists had gained control of the ground and slowly were gaining control of entire Taj.
“I don’t know how we will get out of here” Rajesh remarked. “Dont worry man, keep the faith” Sana assured, with fear gripping her entire body.

Just then somebody started knocking the door hard. A chill ran through both Sana’s and Rajesh’s body. “Open the door now or we will fire from outside and barge in” one of the terrorist said. “No don’t open” Rajesh ordered as Sana started to walk towards the door. The terrorist shouted “Open now or you will repent for your actions. Iam counting till 3 and then even Allah cannot save you”. “Now I said”. With that Sana opened the door. There was this terrorist standing standing right in front of her with a AK-47.

What do you want? Sana asked the terrorist with fear in her voice. “We are here for revenge” the terrorist replied with blood and revenge written all over his face. “We will kill all you Indians and make you realize the importance of Muslims in this country, that Muslims cannot be taken for a ride or you cant merely subdued them”

“What is your name? terrorist asked sana. “Sana khan” was her reply. “Oh so you are a Muslim” the terrorist said with a smile. He continued “Dont worry we wont kill you. We are not here to kill any Muslims. By the way who is that man with you? Terrorist questioned Sana again. “He is my husband". Sana continued “His name is Sajid Khan” . At that moment Rajesh could not believe what he was hearing. “Salam Sajid bhai, we are not here to kill any of our Muslim brothers. You guys can leave”

Sana took Rajesh’s hand and they both started to go downstairs towards the exit. On their way down they saw 3 dead bodies, all of the Taj staff and suddenly they heard the firing upstairs. They ran outside the Taj to the main road.

“Thanks Sana, I owe my life to you” Rajesh said in a relieved voice. “Its ok Rajesh, Iam sorry I did not take your real name, if I had they would have probably killed you” Sana remarked. “I understand, its ok” Rajesh replied with his eyes becoming moist. Sana continued “These people are killing in the name of Allah, without understanding that Islam never preaches violence. They are all brainwashed”

Sana then shook hands with Rajesh and just when she took back her hand, a jeep containing 5-6 terrorist were firing aimlessly towards the people, and as she turned around to see what was happening, 1 of the bullet hit her right on the chest and she fell down. Rajesh could not believe what he saw. The blood started coming out profusely from her chest and Rajesh’s body frozed as people started running helter skelter. Sana was lying down on the road unconscious.
(to be contd)