Modi & Medu Wada

Modi & Medu Vada - The connection sounds weird? To the typical IT guy standing beside me at the Breakfast stall, it didn't. 
Thanks to America, Indian vendors, and theaters in the IT hubs like Pune & Bangalore have started following the weekend pricing policy these days. For watching a movie over a weekend, we need to shed at least 50% extra bucks as compared to a regular weekday. Well, to many of us in the corporate world that might seem okay. As far as the theater owners are concerned, people are ready to pay, so why not.

Even though one would think that this wouldn't be the case with the small streetside vendors, things have changed. Besides the 3 times price raise in every commodity including food in the last 4 years, I also noticed a change in the financial quotient. The prices seem growing inversely proportional to the financial quotient of buyers. Comparing to smaller cities and less commercialized areas of big cities we all are paying a bigger price. The reason - because we can! The thought process has turned to service and people wouldn't mind paying extra bucks for a better price, even if those extra bucks might not be worth it.

One lazy Sunday one of my best friends and I went to the nearest stalls where small vendors sell breakfast in the morning. There was a huge rush on one of the stalls which had recently opened. There was this gentleman who had opened a sandwich stall. Because of the rush, we thought of giving it a try, if there are so many people waiting, it must be good. After 15 minutes of wait and ordering a veggie samosa sandwich, what we got is a vegetable samosa stuffed between 2 slices of bread. Not grilled, just with some ketchup and mayonnaise. Price? Rs. 80!! Gulp! Comparing that with the very popular Desi Rs.10/- Wada Pav, can you imagine what was so different? The vendor was speaking in English. He had a target audience in mind, which was the typical service-oriented IT crowd, and he was doing quite well communicating with them. People were paying extra for the smile and English. Did people complain? Nope!

People have been very surprised when I used to tell them that I have never been to a CCD, Barista, or Mocha. Is your tiny size coffee worth the Rs 120/- that you are paying? Maybe not. I believe, their business is not coffee, they are selling a place for you to sit and chat with your friends or have an official conversation. Do people complain? Nope!

In the above 2 cases, people did not, and I don't think they would complain. They are buying into the service, class, and communication.

Now coming to the Medu Wada story, there is this vendor at the nearby chowk selling Idlis and Medu Wadas. The typical corporate guy came and asked how much he should pay for the delicious, succulent plate of big Medu Wadas that he just finished. The vendor asked for Rs. 30/-. 

IT Guy - "बाकी दिन तो 20 रुपए ही लेते हो। दाम बढ़ गए क्या?" Vendor  - "आज Sunday है,  आज का rate 30 है। "IT  Guy - "अरे यार, अब तो मोदी आ गया, फिर भी ऐसे रेट ?? "

Unwillingly he took out 3 Rs.10/- bills from his huge wallet and gave it to the vendor. While the vendor was just implementing the "high-rate-because-you-can-pay-for-it" policy, the buyer wasn't so happy giving the money to the vendor. Reason? He had nothing more to offer. Not even a smile or a casual conversation.

People won't reason, won't bargain, and won't object the prices. They all are hoping that with Modi's leadership, everything is and will be alright. This was just a small instance, compare that with the price of larger commodities, the biggest example being real estate. Is that 2 BHK flat worth the 70 Lakh you are ready to spend, just because everyone else is?
Well, there is nothing a Modi or a Gandhi can do for you if you can't do anything for yourself. We all would be part of that typical sheepwalk. Get an engineering degree, get into an IT company, go onsite, buy a flat, keep paying for it rest of your life, raise kids, bored to death in the old age, because the kids are somewhere else far away from you. I consider myself part of that same sheep walk so far. I wish the steps I have taken and want to take, would materialize and I come back to the human race.

Unless you take those steps to get away from this sheep walk.....Keep waiting for that "Modi Medu Wada Yojna", it is never going to come!!!

कब्रगाह !

लाशें, जनाज़े और अर्थियां,
सपनों की, यादों की,
ख्वाबों की, जज्बातों की,
गुस्से की, झल्लाहट की,
चीखों की, आवाजों की,
कोशिशों की, उम्मीदों की,
हर रोज़, मैं अपने,
कंधे पर उठाता हूँ ,
और दिल के कोने वाली,
उसी कब्रगाह में,
बड़ी हिम्मत के साथ,
दफ़न कर आता हूँ!

With You There To Help Me!!

In days of peace
Sweet smelling summer nights
Of wine and song;
Dusty pavements burning feet.
Why am I crying, I want to know.
How can I smile and make it right?
For sixty days and eighty nights
And not give in and lose the fight.

I'm going back to the ones that I know,
With whom I can be what I want to be.
Just one week for the feeling to go --
And with you there to help me
Then it probably will.

I won't go down
Acting the same old play.
Give sixty days for just one night.
Don't think I'd make it: but then I might.

I'm going back to the ones that I know,
With whom I can be what I want to be.
Just one week for the feeling to go --
And with you there to help me
Then it probably will.

~ Jethro Tull

Frustration!

When you know, you are not perfect, why is it that every wrong deed that others do, makes you feel irritated to the core?  When would people come out of their own little confined box and look at the world outside? There are people outside that stinky, slimy little box of theirs, that get affected by their deeds. Makes me wonder if they were born dumb or they had to take some special training.. 

कुछ लोग कहते हैं, तुम rude हो…  मैं नहीं सुनता ... लोग चुतिये  होते हैं .....

With you always...

Some lines that I wrote for a close friend long time back.. found it in an old email.. 

Be it good, be it bad,
Be it happy, be it sad,
In all your pain,
In all your gain,
I am here, with you......Always

When you just need a shoulder to rest,
When you think life is taking a test,
If you need a big laugh,
Or just want to share half,
I am here, with you.....Always

Don't think about how would I feel,
You'll make me smile, no big deal,
To wipe every tear from eyes of your,
I am here, with you...Always and that's what are friends for!!

अलफ़ाज़

Thoughts...As described by some famous poets..


तन्हाई से इस क़दर मोहब्बत हो गयी है हमें,
कि अपना साया भी साथ हो तो भीड़ सी लगती है।।
.
.
थक सा गया है  मेरी चाहतों का वजूद,
अब कोई अच्छा भी लगे तो इज़हार नहीं करता।।
.
.
ढूंढ रहा है वो हमसे,
दूर जाने का तरीका,
सोच रहा हूँ खफ़ा होकर उसकी,
मुश्किल ही आसान कर दूं ...!!
.
.
बेरुखी, नाराज़गी, बदमिज़ाजी,
क्या क्या नाम न दूं इस बेचैनी को,
जो बस इस सवाल में उलझी है,
जो तू मेरा नहीं तो फिर मेरा क्या है?


Some thoughts always wander around our minds. Not all the times you get your own words to describe them. At these times, the verses from famous poets come in handy. :)

Last one was mine, as posted on Facebook. =)

Aji suniye!

Aji Suniye..... 

Dil ka ek tukda hum chhod aaye the,
Wahi pichhli dafa jab hum cinema aaye the. 


Us ek muskan ne, us ada ne ghar kar liya,
Un chamakti aankhon ne, har ek sapne ko bhar diya.

Yun to ada mein, badi shokhi, badi shararat hai,
Aji jo muskura dein tab maalum ho, kitni nazaakat hai..


Miyan yu to mijaz humare zara rukhe rukhe hain,
haan unki yaad aati hai jab, muskarane se kahan chuke hain.


Kad hamara zara chhota hi sahi,
Dil ke to hum bhi Amitabh hain...
Itni pyari surat aap si na rakhte ho bhale hi..
Dildaari mein hum aapke bhi baap hain....!! =)


P.S.: Rumaani shayari hum kam hi likhte hain, par kambakht kuch chehre mazboor kar dete hain likhne par. :P