Unplanned Journeys

I know it’s politically incorrect, but I really do not relate to our old national Heroes anymore. Gandhi, Nehru, Tilak …I’m sure they were all fine men and Heroes in their own right, but they are too old for me. Look; I understand that they may still be relevant and what they have left behind is of great value to us…but that’s not what helps me live everyday now. Let me explain. You see, if this was the 1940s and India was fighting for independence (or something) , I’m sure a lot of us would get inspired by these people, but not when my mobile ring tone changes every hour to suit my mood. I need Heroes and role models that inspire me now , in 2010, to become better, do more, seek higher…exactly what a role model should do. That too in everyday life. Let’s look at the remaining possibilities (in terms of available role models) that may inspire the current lot, in which I include everyone from age 3 till the age when one still gets inspired (choose). 1. Sports stars. Very few. ...

Mehak and I have been married for over a decade (that’s a lot by today’s standards) and we married for love. She was my boss when I ‘patao-ed’ her. She still is in many ways. We were like any other duo. Love, fight, make up, love, fight, make up…and life was normal. Whenever the arguments turned into heated debates, we would guard our positions, and; win or lose. When debates turned into fights for positions, we would battle. When fights turned into matches, we would gain fair points. When matches turned into cursing each other’s morals and education, we would do it to our hearts content, and feel no remorse. When even that didn’t suffice, we would shatter each other’s heads and not feel apologetic. This prototype for us was periodic and consistent and on checking with other married friends, I found it applied universally (where ever people were brave enough to accept). This was before Mehak started reading the ‘Cosmopolitan’. I don’t know what they put on those pages, but over time I ...