Can Air Purifiers Save Us?

Necessity is the mother of invention. But what if the invention is counterproductive or counter intuitive in the long run? What if it does more harm more than good.  Take for example, the invention of wheels and cars - and how mobility revolutionised the way we worked and lived. Fast forward to a couple of decades later, and vehicular pollution has emerged to be an existential threat. There are more cars than parking lots (think Delhi) and public transport still has to catch up with how the population has exploded in the last few decades. 

The growth in air conditioning sales across India is a great indicator of  the increase in purchasing power parity of India's middle class but have we paused to think why these machines are becoming a norm? You don't have to go too far to find out the answer. Jut start with the national capital. Our cities have transformed into gas and furnace chambers, hotter than they have ever been before. Once the body is acclimatised and used to ACs, it's unbearable for the person to live without it - an addiction we all rarely talk about, except, of course when the electricity bills hit the roof. 

So the necessities that led to these marvellous inventions and made our lives a heavenly experience - haven't they got us into more trouble now? Only if we could learn from our experiences but it seems we are on a roller coaster ride to self-annihilation. And we seem to be enjoying it. Thanks to our advancement in science and technology, we now have air purifiers - devices which can remove air pollutants inside our homes and hopefully, improve its Air Quality Index (AQI). Imagine where we have got ourselves into! No air to breathe and we want to be the super power of the world! 

Any sane person who can afford an air purifier will go ahead and do it, especially in Delhi-NCR. And why not - nobody wants their 5-year-old daughter or 50 year-0ld mom to inhale the poison that surrounds us. 

Going back to the same question - is this necessity of inventing a machine that can solve our air problems temporarily in the four walls of a room become a permanent solution? After all, you can't carry a air purifier in your bag pack, like a a oxygen cylinder always with you. Or is that the future? We never know. 

Treating the symptoms and not the disease may cost us dearly. We have everything we wanted- all the luxuries of the world but we don't have fresh air to breathe in and feel the magic of nature. That sounds stupid. As a species who have come this far, conquering every challenge thrown our way, a doomsday, entirely created and directed by us shouldn't be our collective fate. That would be such a bad script. 

But the question is - will we focus on treating the disease or just treat the symptoms? What we do would determine our end story. Our kids are watching us. Will we rise? And most importantly, can air purifiers save us?

P.S - Electric cars are said to be the future of transportation. Car sharing, car pooling are recommended as the best solution to a choking city. As an intelligent species, we do evolve, but we have to do that at an alarmingly faster pace. 

What the Farrago?

Angrezi ka baap farrago

Far aur go ka pyaar farrago

Desh ko lagta videsh farrago

Neta ka har kam farrago

Rajneeti ka taj farrago

Language ka bheja fry farrago

Tu farrago, Main farrago, Sab farrago

Yahan bhi faila, wahan bhi faila

Har jagah bas farrago,

Ajab desh mein gajab naam farrago

Kuch na samjhe toh bolo jai farrago, jai farrago

Inspired by the recent farrago.

Farrago: noun, plural farragoes. 1. a confused mixture; hodgepodge; medley: a farrago of doubts, fears, hopes, and wishes

सूअर की मौत

कीचड़ में सने, मल में लिपटे
उसके छोटे और गदराये शरीर को आरी की तरह रौंदती गाड़िया
एक के बाद एक, दनादन
मानो रोड पर किसी ने सत्तर किलो का नॉन-वेज केक रख दिया हो

जितनी गाड़ियों की भीड़, उतनी ही ज़्यादा नौटंकी
साइड से गाडी निकालने  की जगह नहीं तो लोगों ने उस सूअर को केक समझ कर काटना शुरू किया
शायद किसी ने गाना भी गाया होगा, 'हैप्पी डेथ डे टू यू, हैप्पी डेथ डे टू यू, हैप्पी डेथ डे टू यू डिअर सूअर'

मेरी भी गाडी अचानक से टकराई उस लाश से
मुझे कुछ कड़कने की आवाज़ आयी
शायद 'हड्डियां' होंगी
थोड़ा आगे जागे गाडी रोक कर देखा तो उस सूअर का रक्त-रंजीत शरीर रोड पर पड़ा सड़ रहा था
न आने वालों को उसकी फ़िक्र, न जाने वालों को

शायद सूअर की मौत मरना इसी को कहते हैं
या हमारे समाज की संवेदनहीनता को?

Love Aaj Kal

Naye Zamane ka Pyaar (Paikhana!)

Relationships mein padna, bahar nikalna paikhana ban gaya hai...

Din mein do baar aana jaana zaroori ho gaya hai...

Ek hafte se nahi mile matlab koi aur mil gaya hai

'We need to talk' har weekend ka pravachan ban gaya hai...

Left right swipe ke zamane mein pyaar instant ho gaya hai

One Night Stand love ka naya trend ban gaya hai…

Relationships mein padna, bahar nikalna paikhana ban gaya hai...

Din mein do baar aana jaana zaroori ho gaya hai...

I love you se who are you ka safar ek click mein khatam hota hai

Compromise main kyun karun, vo karein… ab har laila, har majnu kehta hai

Inteezar kaun karein, time ab na kisi ke pass hota hai..

Har samasya ka hal ‘c’mon, move on yaar’ hota hai

Relationships mein padna, bahar nikalna paikhana ban gaya hai...

Din mein do baar aana jaana zaroori ho gaya hai...

PDAs mein jo maza ab sabko aata hai

Private mein wo pyaar na janae kaha gul ho jata hai….

Saat janamon ki kasmein ab orkut ho gayi hai

Haan-na bhi ab status update se breaking news ban gayi hai….

Relationships mein padna, bahar nikalna paikhana ban gaya hai...

Din mein do baar aana jaana zaroori ho gaya hai...

Paikhana. Shit. Literally 'faeces',originally from Urdu (slang)

Hai tu yahin pe, kahin pe

Hai tu yahin pe, kahin pe

Meri har saans mein, jeene ki aas mein

Is ranj mein, shayad mere ansh mein

Hai tu yahi pe, kahin pe

Kuch yaad mein, kuch khwab mein

Kuch badalte ehsaas mein..

Hai tu yahi pe, kahin pe

Kuch beete lamhon ki aahat mein

Kuch parchaiyon ke badal mein..

Hai tu yahin pe, kahin pe

Meri har taalash mein...

If you like what I have written, please tweet or share it. Follow me on @itzkundan and let's chat. :)

Tax Katao. Desh badhao. Or so they say.

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. - Benjamin Franklin

That is such a profound thought by the great US Statesman, Sir Benjamin Franklin. For deep thinkers like Mr. Franklin, coming up with such deep insights was a regular affair. I also arrive at similar conclusions, though the frequency of my philosophical outbursts is very limited in number and quality. For instance, I'm only reminded of the inevitability of paying taxes, when the financial year is drawing to a close and the emails from the account department are moved from the inbox to the important folder.  I contemplate over the absurdity of the tax system. Then after a week or so, when the reminder mail comes again, I hurriedly take steps to mend the ways and invest. I also google for books written by Adam Smith and Karl Marx to understand the tax system, but it all leads me to nowhere because banner ads on SIP, Mutual Funds, LIC and possibly every other financial instrument follow me like a ghost. Making frequent calls to dad, uncles and senior colleagues also is a part of the process. Some give consolation, some good advice and some are happy in the fact that ignorance is bliss. And before I delve deeper into the chaos and complexity of it all, I do what seems necessary and right in the moment. After few days of mourning over 'tax cut gaya yaar', I happily accept that I've paid the government to build public projects and fund my convenience. I feel proud to be a responsible citizen unless I go out in the rains and find an unplanned city getting ruined by even a half-an-hour rain. But blabbering and ramblings apart, here are a few lessons I think are note-worthy. 

How to Save Tax (Lessons from a failed tax saver)

1) Start early in the financial year. The more you delay, the more hefty feb-march-april will be. You'll cry like a kid who has been deprived of all his money from the piggy bank. 

2) Think twice before investing in LIC. Remember, insurance is not an investment. It is just freaking insurance. See your SUM ASSSURED and imagine what your family members will get once you are not there. The average rate of return on LIC is a mere 4%. Consider the rate of inflation when you calculate your returns and you'll find out, it is a loss making proposition. But why do people do it? Because of the so-called security net of LIC, which agents sell pompously. I'm not saying don't do LIC. But make sure, you're not wasting all your hard-earned money on LIC policies. Don't let the agents fool you. Here's how LIC is bailing out the government and its PSUs, every single time. So much for securing our future. LOLism. It is a tool to fund loss-making PSUs, that's it.

3) Get a term-plan. And yes, term-plan isn't a LIFE insurance. It insures your family members in case of your unfortunate death. You may choose not to buy money-back, ULIP, child plan etc but don't delay in taking a term-plan. It safeguards the future of your family. If you have sufficient assets and investments to provide for your family post your death, it is ok not to take a term plan. But how many of us have so much wealth to leave behind. A handful of us, right? Make sure the current cash flow remains the same for your wife and kids even when you are not there.

4) Get a home-loan if you can afford. It takes a huge chunk of your tax savings. Buying a house is a certainly a huge, huge liability but there are some positives that outdo the negatives. Think ahead. I haven't taken a home loan yet because I can't afford but my knowledge says, it can be fruitful in the long run. I know the burden of EMIs is equally painful. It is a call an individual has to take personally keeping in mind his financial robustness.

5) For 3 or 5 year financial goals, invest in ELSS and SIPs. The ROI is far better than a LIC or any other bank instruments. They help in tax savings and come with a lock-in period.

6) Retirement fund is often ignored and we generally tend to laugh at the mere mention of it. I do the same. But investing in PPF can possibly safeguard your financial life after retirement. According to my understanding, divide your retirement savings between PPF and growth Mutual Funds (if you are young, 25-35) to compensate for secure investment and some wealth growth. 

There are many other investment tools and 'n' number of ways to do it.  I know a person who has put all his life savings in a Savings Bank Account, because he is afraid of doing any investments in any financial instrument. He should be called the Father of Conservative Thinking. But then, to each his own.

Amen!

PS: Do contact your tax consultant or aliens to understand everything before investing. If you have some money you want to donate, please feel free to contact me.

Finally Decoded: JK Rowling's Success Mantra. And it's Hilarious!

She has created one of the most adored characters of all times. And probably the only school on the planet Earth where all kids would want to go, everyday of the year. 

The author of Harry Potter fantasy series, JK Rowling has achieved what every writer can only dream of - success, fame and most importantly, abundant love from her readers. With so much love and success, it is easy to assume that she has the master secrets to succeed in life. 

At least that's what a gentleman assumed, who had created a video on 'JK Rowling's Top Ten Rules' and shared on Twitter. 

JK Rowling's witty reply will leave you in awe of her. And very, very silently, it says everything about the fixation we have with success of super achievers. We try to find patterns in each success story and then project it on to others. But honestly, it all isn't so simple, as JK Rowling points out. Read her awesome reply below! 

I loved her response. She is so witty, just like her characters!

What do you think about her response? You can share your thoughts in the comments below or click here to follow me on Twitter (@itzkundan). 

Regards,

Kundan

ख्वाब हो या कोई हकीक़त

ख्वाब हो या कोई हकीक़त,
उम्मीद हो की अफसाना तुम,
कुछ पलो की बारिश हो,
या कुछ शब्दों की दुनिया तुम,
कितना समेत लू तुमको खुद में,
बहती नदिया की धारा हो तुम,
अविरल, निश्चल, चंचल प्रतिमा,
हस्ती काया में तुम सिमटी,
खुद की एक अद्भुत दुनिया हो तुम,
ख्वाब हो या कोई हकीक़त,
उम्मीद हो की अफसाना तुम...

Charles Darwin: Pros and Cons of Marriage

This is what the 29-year-old Charles Darwin wrote in a letter to his friend regarding his thoughts on marriage. This was scribbled in the 18th century but the thoughts are timeless.

Marry

"Children — (if it Please God) — Constant companion, (& friend in old age) who will feel interested in one, — object to be beloved & played with. — better than a dog anyhow.– Home, & someone to take care of house — Charms of music & female chit-chat. — These things good for one’s health. — but terrible loss of time. –

My God, it is intolerable to think of spending one’s whole life, like a neuter bee, working, working, & nothing after all. — No, no won’t do. — Imagine living all one’s day solitarily in smoky dirty London House. — Only picture to yourself a nice soft wife on a sofa with good fire, & books & music perhaps — Compare this vision with the dingy reality of Grt. Marlbro’ St..."

Not Marry

Freedom to go where one liked — choice of Society & little of it. — Conversation of clever men at clubs — Not forced to visit relatives, & to bend in every trifle. — to have the expense & anxiety of children — perhaps quarelling — Loss of time. — cannot read in the Evenings — fatness & idleness — Anxiety & responsibility — less money for books &c — if many children forced to gain one’s bread. — (But then it is very bad for ones health[19] to work too much)

Perhaps my wife wont like London; then the sentence is banishment & degradation into indolent, idle fool –

He then produces his conclusion:

Marry — Mary — Marry Q.E.D."

Amazing, isn't it? To actually write a list of pros and cons of marriage!

Infinite thanks to the BrainPickings team, who work hard to reproduce such age old gems. Do visit their website, it is the best thing that could happen to the Internet in the 21st century.

#DadTaughtMe: Father's Day Poem

Father's day 2016 is just around the corner. Here's a small poem I wrote a couple of years ago dedicated to all the fathers out there. 

From teaching you

how to ride a bicycle

to making you comfortable behind the wheels.

From teaching you

how to hold the cricket bat perfectly

to helping you sign your first cheque.

From teaching you

how to save coins in your piggy banks

to the long tax-saving lectures.

From teaching you

how to work hard during college

to encouraging you to take a leave and visit home.

From teaching you

to dream big in school

to motivating you to dare after graduating college.

Dad was, is and will always be

The greatest teacher of your life.

Tell us what all have you learnt from your dad?

#DadTaughtMe

You can share your comments below. If you love what I've written or want to just chat with me on any random topic on Earth, please follow me on twitter @itzkundan. 

Regards,

Kundan

The Butt Bomb

Note: The below described incident is a real fiasco that happened to me on a Monday morning at my work place. My Monday blues turned into Monday yellows. Read it to find out what actually happened. 

He was restless. So he had to go. And mind you, he had to rush. 

Four to five cups of Cappuccino and Latte in the first half of a yawn-ing Monday morning leaves some tiring work for the digestive system. The pressure on the hapless system is more if the Sunday was a late-night party. A lot of chemical reactions takes place inside it and the result is some fertilizer which unfortunately is too much for the body to handle. So ultimately, the brain asks the body to dump it.

So he rushed and reached his favorite lavatory, ultra-modern, studded with big mirrors and compartmentalized lobbies. Aha, “it is a luxury in India”, he thought. 

The jaguar advertisements flashed through his mind. Those lonely, dracula-type models hovering around those expensive water taps, bath tubs adorned the set-up. He was humming a song. He opened one of the doors and got inside. The lid of the commode was firmly closed. He always wondered that commode is such an unromantic name for such a sophisticated machine. 

Why can’t be it made sexy and appealing like- Butt sitter, Bum Kisser or something similar. Makes it more marketable, isn’t it? Anyway, the machine with two layers of lid and a bulging U-shaped stomach like design always scared him. To open the lids was always a challenge, not knowing what would you see ahead. But if you don’t open it, you won’t be able to dump! So courageously, he opened it.

And…

It was an unpleasant, treacherous, and monstrous sight. Just like any other human being, his reflexes immediately ordered him to press the flush button. He did it frantically and shut both the lids. Aghast, he returned from the terror spot. He pushed the flush button again. You can call it vengeance. It didn’t matter if the mammoth organic-inorganic heterogeneous yellowish-brown chemical was exited to its much-deserved heaven- the sewer. As long as the lids were closed, he could flush the chemical a thousand times and imagine it dying atom by atom. 

In that moment, he just wanted to destroy it without even looking at it. You can say he didn’t have the courage to see it in eyes and kill it. He banged the door and rushed in the lavatory lobby area. He washed his hands and face, just a psychological and physiological response when you see something that humanly disgusting. As he leaves the lavatory, the whirlpool in the machine had subsided. The earthquake was over. He just wished the chemical was all dead, bruised and flushed.

He hastily walks out of the often visited satisfaction chamber which millions of Indians don’t have the privilege to access. As he sprinted towards his work station, images of such a nasty bomb flashed again and again. He tried to be strong and meditate on all the beauty left around. Even smell has memory. He thinks to kill it by the ‘deodorant’ he fortunately carries in his bag pack. But all the while, he just wanted to meet that butt bomb terrorist who planted such a nasty chemical n one of the most visited places in any human inhabited dwelling. 

Now, this is surely corruption. It’s incomprehensible how low can one stoop to hide such quantity of lethal bomb under two awesomely designed imported Italian commode lids. Was it too much of an effort to destroy them? Definitely not! A gentle tap, a playful trigger of the shining flush button could have exploded that bomb (stool, dung, turd - just in case you want me to say it exactly), completing its destiny and giving it salvation. Was the water force inside that scientifically advanced machine very slow? Absolutely not! It's high-end, always functional. Thanks a bunch to the proactive admin department.

But whoever that scumbag was, he didn’t bother to do it. Mental corruption, seriously. It is these same scoundrels who put India on the list of most uncivilized countries. It is these same people who spit on roads and walk away sheepishly. If you find such butt terrorists around, kindly give them a punch or two so that next time you are there for unloading your self-inflicted garbage, you don’t have to shit about it. All you’ve to do is to sit and relax, thinking of all beauty around you.

P.S: Don’t think about this when having your dinner or lunch. :-p And, please unload your butt bombs safely. It can kill others.

5am, Local-101

In the compartment of the local train,

I don’t search for a soul to talk.
There is no one but
a stinking frail old man;
sleeping in the corner,
aside his garbage sack,
shivering in cold.

I prefer to be alone; unruffled,
Placid outside, agitated inside.
Clamors of the hanging lose metals
Strike the ear hard; cold winds struggle,
They penetrate my windcheater,
Barging into my ears.
Spine-chilling sensation
engulfs the body,
I remain unperturbed.
Looking aside,
The old man yawns.

The train halts at the next station;
people rush in to fill the vacuum.
They pounce on seats,
their first victory of the morning.
l know some of them by face,
They also know me,
But we rarely talk.

We only communicate
in the dialects of our eyes.
Yet we are unified
by our journeys,
dreams, tragedies,
lust, greed,
hopes, fears,
mediocrity, civility,
recklessness, masochism
prostates, mustaches,
odors, audacity,
multitudes of thoughts,
zillions of desires

The train comes to a screeching halt,
I see the old man collecting his belongings.
His odor diffuses into the compartment,
he is despised by everyone.
Abuses hurled, brows frowned,
He leaves the train calmly.

When I descend,
My eyes search for him
I could choose;
to forget him,
to help him,
I look at my watch, I was late for the office,
I postponed the later
May be, for next time……………

Finding Myself

It’s not a war

I’m fighting.

It’s not a path

I’m following.

It’s not sanctity

I’m searching.

It’s a deluge

Of monologues.

It’s an illusion

Of stories.

It’s a game

Of thoughts.

It’s a struggle

I’ve chosen.

It’s a pain

I’ve to go through.

It’s an oasis

I’ve to cross.

It’s a Me Vs Me

I’ve to face.

To tell a story

Never told before

Never lived before

What if you get an infinite paid leave?

Imagine you don't have your 9 to 6 job. I can see the grin on your face. Pardon my insensitivity, it is actually, not 9 to 6. It is 9 to 9 or even more depending on your luck and of course, the industry you are in.  So you don't have to sleep hurriedly only to be worried about waking up early the next day, preparing breakfast and packing lunch (if at all, you are able to do the sacrosanct  task of carrying home-cooked meals at work), and driving to your office in a traffic condition that deserves no introduction. Sounds great, isn't it? Wait, I've to add some butter to the bread. You don't have to go to work anymore. But you'll be paid. And paid the same you are earning now. Wow. Where was I till now? Me for Prime Minister. Me for POTUS as well.  By now you will be tempted to hastily bash me on my ridiculous, utopian and fantasy fairy tale-esque assumption, but hear me out now that you have read this far.  You have, right? 

Now with all the time in the world on your plate and the money you are earning, what will you do? 

Here's a possible list I could imagine. 

... Sleep all through the day

... Binge watch movies, TV

... Sleep more

... Read all the unread books lying on the dusty shelf.

... Clean the dusty shelf

... Then, clean the house

... Arrange the decor

...Browse gateways, weekend and otherwise

...Read more 

... Stay delighted all the day

... Sleep at random times
.... Hit the gym

... Smoke

... Drink

...Watch Netflix 

... Spend times with kids (if you have)

...Go and meet mommy
...Browse more social media

And so on and so forth.

It certainly looks like a wish come true. 

But what seems to be such a promising proposition will rarely last forever. The reason is embedded deep in our psychology. Just like our 9 to 6 jobs, other aspects of our lives can turn out to be equally boring and often exhausting. After the 10 day mountain camp in the Himalayas and another 10 days of meditation, you might start missing your home. And even more so, your work, in case you are a workaholic like me. The problem isn't the vacation or the number of days of you are on a leave. The fundamental issue is what we carry in our minds. The expectations that may be this leave will sort me from all work and life woes. Well, it won't. It may leave you on a high, refresh you, relax you and energize you but only if you are ready to leave your entangled thoughts behind. And  are really willing to enjoy the time out there. 


Also, I strongly believe that there is a reason why we do what we do. Yes, yes, EMI and paying bills is on the top list but once you have had money, what matters is the meaning you derive from your work. There is a whole lot of pride people attach to the work they do. If you can't fathom the private sector salaried people doing that, imagine the army guys, the creative guys, who really are into their work. A wise man once said - there are only two secrets to enjoy a work. Either do what you love or love what you do.

May be you start teaching underprivileged kids and you wish to do that forever. But that would be a work you have always wanted to do in your life but only discovered recently. Unlike the big shot software engineer or sales professional you are currently. Once you have found something that excites you, it is easier to bear the pain of office politics and digest the things in your profession or life that are beyond your control. A teaching job might not pay you six figures like a software gig would, but now you'll have a sorted mind. You'll have figured out, what's important for you and not for the world. 

For me, this fantasy of an infinite paid leave has always been my sweet dream. I always imagine I'd be the best person I can be, once I've all the time and money in the world. I'd write everyday for a few hours, become a disciplined monk, go running, cook my food, read books, sleep in the afternoon, and dwell on the deeper philosophical questions about life and death. And yes, the most fascinating of it all - get a ripped body, decorated by a six-pack abs. 

But history proves me wrong. Right from America's Got Talent to India's Got Talent to Bollywood to IIT entrance to Cricket, there are incredible examples of people who have done  what they wanted to do, and that too, in the same 24 hours, despite several human limitations and resource scarcity.  

So even an infinite paid leave won't do wonders, because the truth is- no matter how much time and money we get, if we are really not managing it well, and are not internally driven to achieve our dreams, even a whole life of vacations would be consumed like a few blinks of our eyes. 

You want to be a musician. Sneak a couple of extra hours from the 24 hours and practice daily.

Same applies to any profession.

You want a healthier and fitter body? Stop cursing the long, long office hours. Dance with your shoes on and wrap up the bloody work and move your ass to the gym. Remember, Chris Gardener (Will Smith) in the Pursuit of Happyness? He was bound to finish his work by a certain time because he had to pick up his son from the play school and rush to a first-come-first-serve home shelter? If he misses the bus by a few minutes, it meant he and his son would have to sleep in the subway or may be under the sky.

How well are you using your time? Do you plan your day? Regretfully, I haven't been doing it for a long time and I do realize, it has impacted my productivity and peace of mind. 

Do let me know your thoughts and trips and tricks (if you have any) on how to better manage the everyday.

regards,
Kundan

A Writing Prompt - Part 1

This piece is my effort to describe a scene as per the requirements of an assignment. 

Assignment:

Write a scene (in not more than 500 words) based on the following outline: Wife is at home. Husband enters. They have not been talking for some days. One of them tries to cajole the other. The other withdraws. The first one goes back to doing what he/ she was doing. The other comes to the first one and kills him/her. Please note that the scene cannot have any dialogue. So you can only write the scene-description.

The doorbell rings. The wife opens the door. He finds the husband standing there. He is drunk and losing control of his body. His shirt isn’t tucked in, the coat is in his hand and the tie is loose from its knot. The wife doesn’t make any eye contact with the husband, leaves the door half-open, and heads back into the bedroom. He steps inside the house, latches the door, hangs the key on the key hanger and sits on the sofa in the drawing room. He unties his shoe laces, takes out his socks as he glances on the wall-clock in front of him. It’s 11 pm.

 He looks toward the bedroom anticipating some response from the wife. But there is none. He nods his head in denial and moves ahead to freshen up. He walks to the wash basin, washes his hands and splashes some water on the face. He wipes his face down with a towel and looks at the dining table.  The table as usual, is neatly set for the dinner. He opens the lid of a bowl and smells it. He loves the aroma. He takes a morsel of bhindi-roti and tastes it. His attention goes to his wedding pictures hung on the wall. He gets closer to the wife’s photo and touches her lips with the morsel of food.

He now picks up the plate and move toward the bedroom. The curtains on the entrance of the room are drawn out. He moves the curtain aside and enters the dimly lit room. The wife is reclined on the bed and looking into her phone. As he enters the room, the wife sits back and keeps herself busy with the phone. She ignores his presence totally.  The husband sits by her side on the bed. He takes a mouthful of food and gestures her to eat it. The wife refuses to open the mouth. The husband tries again. She looks sideways. He again gives it another shot. But she now moves to the other side of the bed.

The husband gets impatient by this time. He keeps the plate on the table. He moves near the window of the room and looks out. His eyes are misty. The city is flooded with the night lights of a typical busy metro.  He can see a couple in one of the storey’s, in the high rise building in front of him, dancing together. He looks at them and smirks, pitying his situation. He gazes into the eternity from his window and she is typing furiously on her phone. Suddenly, his vision starts getting blurry. He turns back and stares at her, his eyes wide open. He tries to find a support to stand as everything fades from his eyesight. Swati is now looking at him. He falls on the floor like a log of wood, foaming in the mouth. As Ramesh lies dead on the floor, Swati types a message on her phone.

‘Game Over’ followed by three-four heart smileys.

The close up of her WhatsApp screen shows the name of some other man.