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courtesy xkcd

It shocks you when you first encounter it. A well read, progressive, liberal, open minded woman asks you what your sunsign is.  How the fuck does it matter woman? How does it matter where the Sun was when I was born?

And dont even get me started about the ‘horoscope’ columns in newspapers / news magazines. Everyone knows that anyone can write a horoscope prediction without knowing shit about the stars, sun, atronomy, astrology etc. 

In fact, let me try to write one off the cuff, just to prove a point. Here goes..

‘You will face many challenges today. Money is an important goal, and you will have help from your peers in achieving this. Your partner will remain distant, romantic involvements will cause tension’

See? Its like a piece of cake eaten during  a walk in the park!

Why dont these dumb things understand that there’s more to me than the position of the Sun on the day I was born. I demand to be treated like the complex, interesting individual I am.

In the immortal words of Sivaji, The Boss, VAANGA PAZHAGALAAM!!!

Why dont our weddings have a Kasi yatra for the bride?

Why is politics called Arasiyal? The word literally means Science of King/Royalty. I always thought the government was the servant of the people. Naive me..

1. Chandrayaan

2. Baby P

3. PSU Officers Pay Hike

We are each 4 beers down and stumbling down the footpath to the nearby restaurant. I spot a beautiful creature standing to the side of the road outside the five star hotel. Its like she has been, like the Urdu saying goes, made by God at leisure. 

About 5′7″, dusky, hourglass figure, shapely legs. She’s wearing a dark brown low cut blouse, a khaki colored skirt reaching down to her knees. She carries a small dark brown handbag, which hangs stylishly from her shoulder. She wears her hair in a tight ponytail reaching the small of her back.

Having spotted her from afar, my mind runs through the possibilities and it quickly becomes obvious. My drunk comrades confirm it. She is propositioning passers-by.

Normally I give these types a wide berth (What disease might I catch?). Alcohol plays games with men’s minds, and I am no exception. I decide to get a close-up look.

I ‘drunkenly’ angle up to her. She turns, and looks up into my eyes.

One expects to see one of many expressions in a whore’s eyes. Vacant (drug addict), listless (resigned to her fate, and emotionally disconnected during the act), lusty (enjoys the act, and the money it brings), many possible emotions, that many expressions.

What I see slaps me in the face.

Her face may be heavily made up, but her eyes remain honest. Slightly moist, the eyes search me. Look at me, they say. Look at what I am doing for my next meal. Her eyes entice and haunt at the same time. Make me want to sweep her off her feet and protect her and care for her. A long moment passes. She smiles wanly. A lump refuses to go down my throat.

She doesnt say anything. Knows the law, this one. She can be arrested for solicitation, but not for just standing on the road.

I angle away from her.  Part of my drunk mind tries to pump blood to my groin. Another part gives sage counsel about the ways of the world and my place in it. Yet another asks mockingly, ‘Can you afford her?’.

The coward wins. I walk away. A friend makes a lewd joke about swiping a credit card. I slap him on theback of his head, light a cigarette, dont turn around. I cant bear looking into those eyes again.

Doesnt that literally translate to ‘He who ruled’? Doesnt that mean whoever ruled no longer rules? And there is no respect for the ruler either (ok Aandavar is also used..)

A simple word, a wealth of meaning..

Lazing around in bed for the past two days, with a viral fever, I have had lots of time to follow the final moments of the biggest marketing campaign ever – The 2008 US Presidential Election Campaign

America stands at a historic crossroads. Polling has started this morning, and in less than 24 hours, we will know who’ll helm the world’s most controversial democracy.  

This election has been different from previous ones in so many different ways, I have simply lost count. What seems obvious is that Barack Obama is almost being pushed into the Oval Office by a tide that seems to be moved not by one, but seven moons.

Americans are known for their knee jerk reactions (from Iraq, to electing Dubya the second time based on Osama’s threat). One wonders whether the vote for Obama is really a vote for him or just a vote against Bush. Does he really have the experience and the depth of knowledge needed to bring about this Change he is always talking about? Where was Obama 4 years ago? Who was he? What was he doing in Senate? Have the American people really accessed and analysed all the facts at their disposal before voting for this guy? 

Now I am not a Republican, and I vehemently oppose many of the GOP policies (I can happily oppose them from half a world away ). But in their anxiousness to get rid of Bush, and in not wanting to appear racist, are the Americans putting a manufactured man into the White House?

In the absence of a sensible opposition,  will Obama’s absolute power corrupt hm absolutely?  

As one of my friends put it, lets be selfish and hope that whoever comes to power fixes the economy and makes sure industry stays profitable. India’s economic wellbeing seems to depend on it.

I dont miss her

dont miss the way she laughed

dont miss the way she said poda

dont miss her gm messages

dont miss her sensible advice

dont miss the strength of her convictions

dont miss the warmth of her arms

dont miss the comfortable silences we shared

dont miss those stories of her day at work

dont miss her hand gripping my shoulder while driving in traffic

dont miss a thousand iloveyous a day

dont miss her at all

wait, maybe a little bit.