Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Tears Of 84

Tears Of 84

I woke up with a start, sweat covering my whole body like the black veil of a Muslim lady, hiding me from the world. My heart thudding hard against my chest, as if it didn’t want to be a part of me anymore, wanting to break free; a shiver of fear sending sparks up my spine. I wrapped the blanket closer still, hiding under the comfort that darkness provides.

It had been a tough life these past days. So many in our village had been slaughtered, no not the hens but people. First came the jihadis, and killed in the name of Allah, then came the Hindus, and killed in the name of Krishna, and now the police, still trying to figure out in whose name they killed. I was 6 before, now I am 19 (or at least I can think like a 19 year old). Just 10 days that we had been running taught me what I might have learned in the next 13 years. They taught me how to live, no, how to kill.

It was my turn to keep watch while my family slept, Dad, Brother and my darling sister. Sleep is such a powerful weapon, it makes all the difference between life and death, but I found this out after I had lost it all. I looked around, but could not see anything. Creeping up to the shed where they slept, I heard the muffled cries of my sister. So the bastards who still hadn’t found a reason for their killing spree had found us. They were 3 of them; one held my sister and the other two my brother. Dad, where was he?

Blood oozed faster than the tears that rolled down my eyes as one of them slowly slit my brothers’ throat. He just sat there, calm and peaceful. She screamed till her throat betrayed her, I cried till I could not anymore. They took her along, I went in to see my brother covered in the same red color as my dad. Consumed by rage but held by fear I sat next to them, the gravity of the situation had still not sunk in, they were dead, I would not be able to talk to them anymore, not play with my dad, nor fight with my brother. I was alone. I am alone.

And my sister, the fact that even she existed struck me like lightning. I had forgotten about her, how could I? Grabbing the knife from the sheath attached to my dads’ thigh, I ran the direction they had taken her. A mile towards the fields, I found one of them bent over her frail body. I sneaked up slowly and let the blade slide into his back. Once, twice, thrice, till his back was black with blood and my face sprayed with the same. He screamed like a wild boar, arching his back, tears streaming down his face he turned, and then fell. He died, next to her.

I never thought I could kill, but now I can, and I will again. Till I can no more. I wasn’t a born killer; neither did I choose to be one. I don’t know if I am right or wrong, but I know I was wronged. I’ll find the other two and more.

Kill me before I kill you.

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Wednesday, May 10, 2006

The Standing Airlines...

The Standing Airlines…

The Name Sounds Interesting & So Would Be The Concept…

Yesterday, while Crawling to the office, one of my friends enlightened me about the new concept that might just catch the fancy of millions around the world. It captivated me so much that I have been thinking about it all this while…

The Year 2011… Lo, Behold… The Standing Airlines…

The concept of people traveling in Airplanes just like they travel in Buses or Trains can usher a revolution in the way people think in terms of distances. And just how would they achieve this??? STANDING… Yes people standing in planes and traveling just like they do in the public transport. It Might Be a Serious Concept but All I can do is Laugh… Imagining The Kind Of Life We Might Lead If This Comes True.

Initially, the fare might be high but would come down eventually, as more and more companies launch their standing aircrafts. People would prefer traveling via this medium as the fare would be cheap and they would be able to visit home more often, Delhi to Bangalore in one hour (Currently from mah place in Bangalore to Office – 1hr 30 mins). We would be having Double Decker Aircraft to accommodate more people.

Later on, with many people opting for this kind of service, some like me would prefer a monthly “PLANE PASS”. The roads would be deserted as many would choose to travel by “The Standing Airlines”, After all, would you not prefer to travel standing in a plane than standing in a bus. Then there would be “Plane Jams” in “The SKY” and we might have to wait for a minute or so for the bigger and better “Boeing” To Pass By. The more jam packed plane might just be seen tilting to one side.

Sometimes the cause of all the congestion in the sky might be convoy of VIP Planes. With red-lights on top, 2 police planes in front and two following the VIP, Sirens Blaring and driver, eh ok ok Pilot, Shouting “Side Kodi Pa”, they would Zip pass most of us. I hope traffic lights would be immaterial but then again what about the traffic police? Using Hover-Crafts and Illegally printed Challan Slips They Might Just stop one of the overloaded planes and ask the pilot to show his flying license. A broken headlight, improper indicators and busted tail light would also attract fines. “The Flying Cops” would even ask some of the passengers to get off …

The airports then would look something like the current bus stands. Instead of the conductor, it would be a Co-Pilot, wearing a tie, chewing "Paan" and with a “Bidi” between his thumb and forefinger shouting out the available seats, (on second thoughts, available places to stand), and the fare. “Coimbatore .. Coimbatore .. Coimbatore” Irrund Seat Irruku, Noor Ruba, Noor Ruba, Nooooor Rubaaaa”.

What pains me the most is the thought as to what would happen to the Kingfisher Air-Hostesses? They would either be replaced by the cheap ones from AI and Air-India or would be used only for the international flights. One of the jokes between us friends while traveling via Deccan would come true… During the flight from Delhi to Bangalore, We encountered quite a lot of turbulence… So used to being jolted on the Indian roads that when I told mah friend “Yaar Road Badi He Kharaab Hai (Dude, The Road Is Pretty Bad)”, He agreed with me whole-heartedly before a second thought brought a faint smile to his lips and the words “Oye – Guddu”

Will update with more thoughts…

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