That Must've Hurt

Some kick you to take out the frustration of a recent fight with their girlfriends; some kick you out of frustrations of not having a girlfriend. Some kick you because they could barely pass; some kick you because they missed out on topping by a mark or two. Some kick you because they’re the best footballer; some kick you because they never kicked a football in their life. Some kick you because they got kicked; some kick you because they want to get kicked.

The Kicking is inevitable, and so is the pain in the arse (pun intended), but it makes me wonder, what would life be without birthdays being celebrated this way? What would you look back to when you tell your kids about your stories in the hostels? The cake facials, the exorbitant treats, you had to take loans for? What would a birthday be, if people came over, had dinner and left? What would a birthday be, where u don’t feel special, in the wrong areas? (Disclaimer: the kicking is being referred to here).

The birthdays in our childhoods had their own fun, life was simpler, wants were different (won’t use the word “needs”). Going to school dressed in Casuals, the whole school knew it was your birthday. Girls you never spoke to, but had secret crushes on, would come to you, shake your hand and wish you, making you turn red. Teachers would excuse you for any crime you commit, as heinous as not doing your homework. The whole school saw you as THE celebrity that day. Everybody hung out with you, waiting to plunder your financial reserves. Your mother would make that special dish for you (for me it always had to be “kheer”), your dad would get you that ever awaited present in the evening (though, you always wanted it in a different colour).

I personally have always hated the last few hours of my birthday. You feel as if a superpower is being snatched from you as the seconds flow by. The world would change from the next day onwards. You’ll become Peter Parker for one whole year again. But then it’s up to you to make the day feel as if it could not be lived better, be the best Spiderman that can possibly exist. Make sure you convert all the calls you get from your ex-girlfriends (MBA people, express your solidarity). Make the most of those special twenty four hours, and most importantly get kicked in your ass like there is no tomorrow.

So here is to all people that have ever been born and have ever celebrated their birthdays, giving us the opportunity to kick them!!

CHEERS!!

The Grey Revolution

Chetan Bhagat: The blue eyed boy of The Indian Literature Industry, (he doesn’t have blue eyes of course), has done it again. He never disappoints us, reason good enough for him to have left his high paying Investment Banking job in Hong Kong, to become a storyteller. Wise decision I must tell u. He has come up with his new book, Revolution 2020, and I hope, it DOES bring about the revolution, that he is talking about.(On an entirely diff note, he will be called “Father of the GREY revolution”). Like his work, and his style, the message is out there in black and white. His USP, of writing for the masses and creating a change, is what that drives him to come up with stories like these, truth or fiction, this is a moving one.

One thought that after the brilliant “2 States-The story of (his) Marriage”, this guy would probably come up with a witty novel, or one that’s light, and makes u smile all along, but this one, Man, he came up with neither. This one will make u frown, groan, smile, laugh, all at the same time as u turn red with nostalgia, reminiscing your own struggle (if you’re an engineer), to become one. I respect Chetan Bhagat for his writing style, no frills, no verbosity, plain English, good enough to get the message across and boy, he is good at making the message stay.

So, enough praise for the guy and lets delve into the book “Revolution2020” now. It is centered in Varanasi (witty choice, considering, he is targeting people to wash away their sins and start on the righteous path, away from corruption), where three lovers (nopes!! no classical love triangle), play with each other’s lives (yes literally!!!). The Book does look a little less researched, probably because it is not his own story to tell, but nevertheless, he describes the plight of students today, with ease. He mixes the love story with finding flaws in the “Great Indian Educational System” so well, that it becomes difficult to decipher when he is thrashing whom. The book has its tidbits of humor, but this is a serious one. I feel, this book is the first among many to follow on societal evils, however, considering that we read his books for the brilliant wordplay in Five Point Someone and 2 States, both rich in wisecracks and retorts, that’s something you’ll miss in this book, if I’m honest.

The book begins with the childhood of the Protagonist, Gopal (Gopi) and Aarti (his bachpan ka pyaar) and Raghav (the stud). He loses out on the girl because of his underperformance in JEE and AIEEE(how lame?), but then he goes on to become the director of a college he builds from scratch, in 3 years(with help from some unscrupulous people, of course) and eventually wins the girl back from the JEE AIR 1123. Meanwhile, Raghav is hell bent on making the society corruption free, through constructive journalism, and eventually is about to fail, when Gopal turns up, sacrifices his love for the Nation and the bigger picture, and helps the cause. Don’t despair if it doesn’t appear to intriguing. Trust me, and give this book a shot. You’ll love it for the images he builds in your mind, with each passing scene. It is sheer brilliance.

So now, what would happen if all of us, just for once did our bit, to save our nation from going down in the dumps because of corruption. “The average income in the US is 50 times that in India, does that mean their people work 50 times us, or they are 50 times our intelligence?” Think about the millions rotting away in Swiss Bank Accounts, and how well that money could be utilized to create a change. I could offer a billion solutions to the problems our country faces, but the question is, whether I will stand up for it, when the need arises? Will you, is the question.