The sweet coin-candy swap

Was it so long ago that we used to beg our mums for a little extra change so we could come back from the store with some candy? Kids these days don't need to worry about that, for the change is itself candy!

During the initial days of this phenomenon, people only joked about it but often humoured the 'candy givers'. Alas! Yet another situation where acceptance has led to forced adaptation. To counter this, many a smart person has tried it in reverse, presenting a Rs 100 note along with an eclair or two to make up the balance. Alas again! Apparently, only one set of people have adapted.

Some basic questions must be asked. How and why did this practice begin? Did the Mint not dole out enough coins, or did the Indian Willy Wonkas get a few extra trucks of sugar? Does anyone know someone at either end of the spectrum who can answer these questions? They could redefine the term 'sweet deal', once and for all.

Charity begins at ...

Of late, she had been noticing that she turned heads while at the billing counters of most stores. Not just the shoppers in queue but also the cashiers gave her a second look. At first, she was sure it was because she was 'Fashion Faux Pas Queen' - either what she wore or what she was buying - but that didn't make sense while buying groceries did it? Choosing one brand over another surely didn't deserve an uncomfortable look from someone else.

So what was it?

She found out recently when she was at a clothes store. Could've been Max or Lifestyle...same difference, really. After billing her stuff, the cashier asked, "Mam, would you like to donate Rs x to charity"? "No!", she said. He was caught off guard but rather than ask outright why she didn't want to, he stared at her in a puzzled manner but then caught himself and went back to closing out the bill.

More than mildly offended, she asked him if he had any idea which charity it was, what was the cause they worked for, how much money went from the store to them, and a few others questions along those lines. His answer? A resounding "no". "So why should I contribute to this charity?", she asked to which he meekly replied that it wasn't mandatory.

"You think!", she wanted to say to him but realised that her anger would be misdirected. It wasn't his idea that she donate; he was simply parroting what he'd been told by his manager, who in turn must've received his instruction from some place higher up in the food chain.

Many have likely been in a similar situation -- one where the organisation is simply "charity". One where the person is so far removed, but still doesn't question why they're giving. It almost becomes a force of habit, similar to accepting a piece of candy instead of a rupee coin. Or worse, a way to assuage one's guilt. Or worst, an unshakable belief and trust that one is indeed doing something "good". Nothing more.

She hadn't always thought of it this way. It was only since she had watched 'First as Tragedy, Then as Farce', and thought about it in greater depth. Since then, her answer to the charitable donation question, especially at a store, was always a "No"!, irrespective of who looked at her or thought of her poorly.

Watch the film if you're in any way curious -- it's well worth the ten minutes. Else, say no when it's your turn and ask similar questions. Both scenarios could be equally interesting.

That's what it was!

"Can the number of posts in a year indicate how one's year has gone?", she wondered.

Are many posts an indication that lots of things are happening, so lots to write about or do fewer posts indicate the same because of not enough time to write at all? Anyway, everyone has these phases. Busy ones, boring ones and the opposites too. So what makes someone choose one topic to write about but not another? How does the mind differentiate and give precedence?

Is it based on chronology, meaning when something happened or when something was observed? Or is it based on impact, meaning how much something touched the person or how important it was? Or here's a third, is it based on a random fleeting thought? The kind that just flits about momentarily but leaves you feeling something. Something that wasn't enough to hold on to then but something all the same that makes the writer go "Aha, that's it"!?

Yeah, that was exactly it.

Lingaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!

It's interesting that yet another movie in the recent past (Katthi being the other) has focused on a topic that is a staple in recent news - water. Although I haven't watched the latter yet, I'm guessing that it was just as bad as Lingaa. Oops, did I just give away the gist of this post?!

(Those who haven't watched it yet, don't worry, no spoilers here.)

The Good
Amidst the drama, masala and political intent that one expects (and loves) in a Rajni film, the plot revolves around many aspects that go into the building of dams - displacement of villagers due to flooding that will be caused by the structure, resettlement in the form of allocating other land, compensation for the land lost, and the angst and confusion among the to-be-displaced partly due to mistrust and party due to having no knowledge of the mechanics of how it all works. The film highlighted these important points such that lay people, who are often clueless about the other side of 'development', can understand.

The Bad

• The comedy was a joke. (Get it?!)
• The soundtrack - really, the movie might have been more tolerable without any background score or duets at all. (Yes, the one time where being delayed to the movies would've been a good thing. Even the SPB/Rajni opening song sequence was pathetic.)
• Sets, costume & makeup - The amount of money spent on this could possibly have been used to fund the construction of a small-sized dam! (This statement is purely based on my imagination and has not been influenced by any knowledge of the film's budget or of the actual costs of dam construction.)
• Dance sequences - the one area where thalaiva has always struggled, and continues to do so. The editing has tried to minimise close up shots but the discomfort is more than evident even from a distance. (Using foreign dancers and glaring outfits can only cover up so much.) 
• The female lead(s) - Two for the price of one. (Two times the pain!)
• Fight sequences - Would've been better left to the viewer's imagination. (Felt a bit like watching Po go through the Matrix motions!)
• The villain - WHO?
• The one-liner - was a one-worder and certainly not worth repeating. (Naa oru darava kooda sollirka koodadhu!)

The Ugly
The last 11 minutes of the film.

I said no spoilers, and I've kept my word. Watch it at your own risk or under the influence - of friends, what else!

nine

i don't know where to begin this story
or is it a poem?
a poem doesn't have to rhyme, does it?
and verses don't need punctuations, or meter, or capitalisation, do they?

maybe you won't agree with that, i can see you cringing as you read this.
and maybe you won't agree with many other things,
maybe you won't see life like i do.

i'd like to tell you, show you, and shield you
but i won't.
it's your journey and i'm just your friend
and i hope to stay that way
especially when times are rough and hopefully when it's fun.

some days can make you feel foolish
others can make you lose hope,
but wait for them to pass.

be gentle, kind and thoughtful,
be warm and loving.
be just the person you are.

that's all i want to say.

The puzzle of the unnecessary middle

Compromise, meeting midway, give and take, adjustment: all words associated with, among many other things, relationships. As much as it seems paramount, maybe because of all the psychobabble around it, this idea of giving in to the point that you don't lose yourself, is it really necessary?

Picture it, in a tangible sense.

A line with a definitive start and end will have a middle, but just close your eyes and imagine something. Likely, it's difficult to picture the start and end because the thought is an abstraction. You define the start and end in some random manner, without being able to pinpoint accurately. So how do you find the middle?

Now, think about this in the context of relationships.

When and why did a relationship start? Can you actually put a date to it, even though there might be a legal date? More importantly, why did it start? Was it the spontaneity? Was it the 'off-the-beaten-path' approach to life? Was it just one thing or many? Can they be quantified or brought within a boundary in their entirety? If they can't, then how can a midpoint be calculated, especially when it's two sets of 'whys' that need to be understood and explained?

So then, is there a need for a middle?

Can there not be just a whole? One that does away with the arrogance of a left or a right, that demands that there be a middle. A nebulous composition of thoughts, ideas, opinions and everything else.

A whole that can possibly explain much more than a middle can.

Where the heart is...

What is home?

It's fond memories. It's a good mental space. It's what you think of when you're feeling down and out. It's also what you think of when you feel thrilled to bits! It's your past but not necessarily your present or your future. But it's still home.

Madras was her home. No, not Chennai. Madras. Is there a difference? Yes! Especially for those who don't live there any more or haven't lived there for awhile, the difference is huge. Chennai doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as does Madras. It sounds a tad pretentious and it's just not....Madras! That's all.

As adamant as she was about calling her home Madras, she was equally adamant all her life that Madras was her only 'home'. No other place that she had lived in and loved could become home.

Until quite recently when she realised and accepted that it's OK to have more than one home.

Home is the present and the future. Home is fondness. Home is memories. Home is love. And to be corny, home is where the heart is.

And her heart was firmly planted in more than one place.

Just do it

When something's that close, how do you feel when it doesn't go your way?

Do you try to forget the very few moments where you could've done something different or do you relive the many that set you apart? Do you worry that you might not get another shot or are you pleased about how you performed? Do you think of the many that write you off or the few that really believe? Do you wish you could do it again or do you just do it?

Just do it. Please. 

The little red soldier

A giant brown thing was blocking his way. Annoyed, he looked up at it. It seemed like it had no beginning and no ending. It was just huge! He made his way down what seemed like an infinite path. It took him some time but he eventually got to a corner. He could only make a left turn and so he did.

Another infinite stretch of brown greeted him. So he continued trudging along. He walked and walked but had to make a sudden stop. There was something bright red in his way. It seemed different from the brown...a bit soft and juicy, maybe. He tried to climb over it but slipped. Finally, he managed to sneak into a teeny weeny gap and continued his walk...but not for long.

A pale green thing blocked his path next followed shortly by a yellowish-orangish smelly thing. As he went closer to inspect it, the giant brown thing moved! As it seemed to lift off suddenly like a helicopter would, a few little brown pieces fell down. One piece would've landed on him had he not jumped to the side in the nick of time. He breathed a huge sigh of relief and was trying to figure out his next move when the brown thing landed again right next to him...with one small difference.

It had a little curve near where he stood. A small indent that altered the shape...and consequently his path.

Curious, but also scared, he walked slowly into the curve. To his surprise, he found someone just like him, albeit a bit bigger, standing there. They gave each other a once-over and then the bigger of the two smiled and said, “This whole wheat bread is simply divine but the cheddar cheese stinks and the tomatoes and cucumber are soggy”!

Just A day

There's mother's day, father's day and every other family member's day.
There's valentines day, friendship day and even hugs day.
There's national secretary's day and international fruit day.
There's earth day, water day and plant a tree day.

I bet you can think up something, type it up in google and find a day for it. So I thought and I typed. And I was sure that I was the smart one.

"Nothing day"!

Alas, there are smarter people than me and they've taken that day too!

There's been an all fools' day since forever. Is there a who's had the last laugh day?