Anecdote 2

"Sir an auto driver is here to see you" My PA came in and announced. I assumed it to be BS's auto-driver who comes everyday to pick him up and drop him at his work place. But BS did leave with him in the morning, what's it that he wants I wondered as I asked him to be shown in. The guy who walked in wasn't the same driver. I didn't recall seeing him earlier. "Sir, do you remember you came by my auto with another lady three days back?" he asked me. I couldn't recollect. I gave him a blank look. "Is this another ploy to swindle money?" was my first thought. What plan it was I couldn't fathom though. "You got down first sir and the lady got down near your house", he continued. 'Ah, yeah, I remember" I exclaimed, "It was my sister with me"! "Yes Sir, but madam forgot a book in my auto". But Kumi hadn't even mentioned having left behind or lost anything. She'd even left for the UK the previous day! "This book Sir", he showed. It was surely what Kumi and I had bought at the Gangaram's. A book on infant dermatology. "Yes I remember that book" and I gleefully accepted the book.

"If it were a cheap book Sir I'd have probably sold it off. But I saw that it was expensive. I even came twice to your place while on this side but there was none at your place. And, the servant couldn't speak either Kannada or Hindi. Then today she said, 'saar's aafice is opposite'. I could understand that much telugu of hers and came here". I really was touched by what he said. I was lmoved by his act of honesty and his integrity. I asked him his name. 'Chaand sir, Chaand Pasha'. Two preconceived notions that one can have about people were crumbling right in front of my eyes.

I offered him money. He refused all that and said, "Sir just give me the auto fare as I'd to specifically come here this time and it'd be 20Rs" he said. I paid him as he asked, took a snap of his along with his auto. I was left speechless for quite a long time after...Later in the day, Kumi called to say, 'Su I think the bokstore people did NOT give me the book I'd bought the other day". "No Kumi, they'd given it. You'd left it behind in the auto. The driver brought it to the office today". "WHAT???" she screamed.

A Nation Without Grace

No, it's not Pakistan I'm accusing of being graceless. It's India and us Indians who have proved to be absolutely disgraceful in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Mumbai.

It took Shivraj Patil 47 terror attacks and stern orders from Sonia to put in his papers - and he continued to say he did his duty! Manmohan Singh struggled to read from even a prepared text during his address to the nation that was telecast live. Pratibha Patil thought it was more important to tour the South East Asian nations while the nation fought the terrorists.

A Chief Minister made the most disparaging remarks in decades at a house of death and thereafter too. Achutanandan even dug in his heels to say that he said nothing wrong. Public rallies, ultra-political pressure was needed to make him say, "I'm sorry IF I've hurt his feelings". A conditional apology! Muqtar Abbas Naqvi was equally (if not more) sick. I really wish the media had played the video often enough so that the 'pseudo-leader' would've been made to eat crow. Alas, other events were more pressing for the press! RR Patil too made his exit after his infamous belittling of the enormity of the attack.

Vilasrao Deshmukh thought it made great photo-op to be seen with son and Ram Gopal Verma at the Taj recce - the first after the clean-up process. And, he said there was nothing wrong in taking his son to the Taj. To top it all he added that RGV was there near the Taj and just joined along! Callousness never knew these heights earlier. RGV was equally shameless in his interview to the NDTV.

Modi and Advani and the rest of the BJP is trying very hard to prove their 'deshbhakti' credentials and showing what turncoats they really are! The same police officer who was castigated and criticised by them no end, Shri Kirkire, now is a martyr!

Every security agency - the police, the Navy, the IB et al - is busy playing the blame-game. None wants to admits to one's lapses. 'We want actionable input' the Navy Chief asserted. What in the world does he mean?

The icing on the cake has been Narayana Rane. All that he could think of during the current crisis was himself and his right to become the CM of Maharashtra!

The entire nation is making an ass of itself by pointing fingers - as usual - at Pakistan. Retrieving a list of 20 most wanted from 2002, it has demanded action and their deportation from Pakistan to India. Who in the right senses will listen to the cliched talk?

Most of the citizens are busy asking for action against almost everyone and everything. Not one is willing to see what role each of us has played in bringing the nation to the state it's in today. The only saving grace I could find was the honesty with which Mr Chidambaram spoke and admitted to lapses. The lone courageous person in a billion? Sure a proud moment for the Country. India's truly shining!!

Anecdote

I was at my friend's office in CV Raman Nagar. It was lunch time and we walked to Bagmane Park to grab a quick bite. "What do you wanna eat?" I asked Sirish. As his wont he said "Anything Sudhir". I responded as always with an irritated glare at him. Anyways, the place was teeming with people. And, odours from various joints in the food court were appealing and nauseating at the same time. I thumbed down the idea of eating from the Paramount. It was McDonalds at last - Sirish reluctantly agreed to eat a burger, as he hates bread for lunch or dinner. A sardar smiled sweetly - the contrast of his pearly whites against a jet black beard - at me as I tried to push my way through the serpantine queue. "Oh! I didn't notice there was a queue" I said sheepishly and stood behind him. 15 minutes and we were greeted by a still-chirpy girl. "One chicken happy meal, one medium fries, one mcveggie. Give me a coffee in place of coke" I told her. "That'd be Rs.182 Sir". I handed her a Rs.500 note and waited for the change and the food plate. She returned Rs. 218. "Is that 282?" I asked her. "Ah Sir..." and a pause later "It's 182 and I have given you 318 as change". "You've given me only 2 100-rupee notes lady". "Oh". I couldn't read her expression. I asked her again. My food arrived in the meanwhile and the change was still coming even as the girl went on attending to other customers' requests. After three repetitions with a resigned "here you're Sir" she gave me my correct change.

I gave her a benefit-of-doubt that it was NOT deliberate and it's possible that she thought that it was I who was trying to trick her! I normally would've given a mouthful and screamed at the counter-staff in such situations. It was a different experience today. Surely something that did NOT leave me all worked up! :)