Ek thappad ki gunj

“Iss thappad ki gunj ki gunj tumhe sunaaee degi, Rana” (You’ll repent for the reverberations of this slap, Rana)

The wicked Dr. Dang warns this to Rana Vishwa Pratap Singh when Rana slaps the bad man on his face. The slap followed by that famous dialog was an instant hit which made Anupam Kher’s acting career take a giant leap in the mainstream cinema in a 1986 blockbuster - Karma.

The slap effect seems to be eternal. It still not out of fashion. But here it comes to real life. Some publicity hungry people take that step and the TRP hungry TV channels show it again and again in slow motions with frozen frames and highlighting the areas which they think we should watch.

Again it happened and again the same series of events surfaced.

Rounds of discussions took place. While some gave a perfectly balanced reactions, some lost their controls. Some reacted childishly and some opportunistically. Everyone wants to be famous and talk of the nation.

But can you imagine a slap doing a damage control exercise and actually help image building of a victim(?) ?. Looking at the surprising acts of the current politicians, sometimes I really doubt that Lord Krishna must have travelled in the future then and lived in this era to understand politics and strategies. Then he might have got back to tell Bhagwat Gita. These leaders don’t take anyone’s side. They don’t blame. They don’t give a firm statement.

Getting back to the slap. It an outrageous reaction by some impatient youth from old Delhi to inflation and corruption. He chose the person who is a Union Minster of the biggest democracy of the world. He looked upon the minister as one of the representatives of the system. But he couldn’t even imagine what the smartest politician can gain out of it.

Till then, the news channels somehow were managing their show with the Anna effect, Sachin’s 100^th century or Bhavari Devi where the regional Marathi channels were happy with the upcoming municipal elections, winter’s arrival or some filmy gossips. Along with that, the routine Raj-Uddhav-Ajitdada-Uddhav-Ajitdada-Raj-Aaba spit spats were enough to entertain the Marathi Manus. The recent by-election results showed the receding popularity of the ruling party. But then the slap flap happened.

Although the party supremos appealed to their supporters to maintain peace, they had a long awaited chance to show their loyalties towards their high command. So, they came out on the streets and blocked the roads. They forced the shopkeepers bring their shutters down and even shattered the wind shields of the public buses. This was not enough when Anna’s spontaneous reaction fueled the rage and the whole Maharashtra almost stood still the next day. Still, the leaders kept saying that nothing has happened and this outrage of the supporters is a way to express their love towards their leader. In those 2 days, the party could judge and display their strong foothold across the state at this most crucial stage. The party gained humongous sympathy and publicity out of this sudden attack and became the talk of the nation overnight.

There are few things money can’t buy.. but a thappad (slap) can.

You got to be

It took five good minutes for the correct dimpled key to travel through the brass keyhole of the teak wood main door of his huge penthouse occupying the whole 11^th floor of the Grand Towers.

‘Why one has to try all the keys to find the correct one in the last?’ he cursed the rest of the keys in the bunch which did not fit.

Apart from that extra ‘last’ peg, his filled bladders were not allowing him to keep his feet firmly on the ground. Finally, he managed to enter the house which was already sleeping. It was not new to him and to the house too. More over it was Friday night or Saturday morning by now.. who cares? He had already rung up his wife and if he hadn’t, it hardly mattered. She must be asleep with the little one.

‘Poor kid! I couldn’t even see her properly today!’ he thought for a moment. Then he remembered that it was a weekend and he could take both his wife and the kid for outing in some mall or a water park or any such luxurious entertainment park and could spend a few thousand bucks to buy some happiness and fun for them. He tossed the guilt and felt relaxed. No. In fact, he noticed the filled bladder again and the emergency to go and have a leak.

He turned to the bathroom in the half lit house.

“What kind of work is it that keeps you away from your family for so late?” a firm but caring female voice stunned him.

He could barely see. It was not his wife for sure. She gave up waiting for him long back and now, having the little one around, she didn’t want her to see her father out of balance. So, who was it?

“You seem to be working so hard, son, have some rest dear. The pressure has started burning you.”

‘Oh shit!’, he remembered, ‘how can I forget she was supposed to be here today?’

“Oh! Hi, Mom! Why are you up so late?” he tried hard to keep his voice low and controlled his fumble. His mother woke up from her half sleep on the large leather sofa in the drawing room.

“I thought I could see you before I sleep,” she got up to go towards him.

“But why, Mom? You know that I have to work late. We could talk in the morning,” he only knew how much efforts he had to take to suppress his escalating irritation level. He started walking away from her to hide the pungent smell of that sparking golden liquid.

“I can see the work is taking its toll. You are not even able to stand firmly,” mom, being a mother, notices each and every movement of her kids. He couldn’t help but being amazed for a moment. But then again regained his self.

“Enough of it, Mom,” he couldn’t hold it now. He almost yelled at her, “no need to be sarcastic. It is called social drinking and you don’t know anything and even you can’t. You are a told story now. Now, let me have some sleep.. bye”

If you can’t convince, then shout. He had developed this philosophy since he achieved that big cabin in the office.

“But, food.. son” her lame try was outdone by the noise of big thud of his bedroom door.

***

“Why does she have to come here?” the entangled shoe lace was equally irritating as his mom was, sometimes.

“She comes here to see us.. especially you. You are her only son and now mature enough to understand this,” his wife, who was used to his tantrums, was as cool as possible.

“I don’t like anyone interfering in my life.. not even my mother. Do I go to her to peep into her life? Let her come here.. enjoy her puja and all and play with her grand daughter.. that’s it!”

He looked at her as she didn’t talk anything.

“No. don’t give me that ‘she has done this and that for you’ thing. I know it already”

“Fine then. You know everything. Her whole life revolves around you” She put a full stop.

Luckily, the lace was finally untied and the imported black leather pointed shiny shoes flied somewhere in the corner. He had to rush to the bathroom.

***

“Now, where’s she?”

The bathroom visit took a little long. But it was good. Feeling much better now.

“Where could she go at 2 in the midnight?” he was wondering when she came from the balcony.

The little one was on her shoulder, sleeping peacefully.

“Where the hell were…”

“Shhhh”, she put her finger on her lips and whispered, “I was putting her to sleep.”

“At this hour? You were alone in the balcony? Sounds pretty brave,” sarcasm was splurging out from every word. She also didn’t forget the days when she used to wake him up even to go to the bathroom at night and now, she went in the balcony all alone in the dark.

“You won’t understand.. you have to be..”

“.. a mother! Yeah, I know..(the same old crap)”

“Good then.. you seem to be tired.. good night!”

She was used to this stage by now where she expected snoring in reply.

“Huh! These Friday parties!” she sighed and put her hand around the little one and looked at him.

He didn’t even change his clothes. Sometimes she pitied him. He had earned what he deserved. But the newly developed attitude not worth at all.

***

The clock hit the digit 10. Air conditioners put the heat so down that you couldn’t come to know whether the sun born or not. But it was Saturday morning. Thanks to the technology and thanks to the hard earned money.

‘Newspapers have nothing to tell but the gossips and scandals. Bloody hell! Oh, the breakfast seems to be happening.. at least the smell is announcing something good’

He sat on the chair next to the dish containing a spicy thalipeeth.

“Wow! Amazing, darling!!” the hot piece in the mouth made him take some efforts in pronouncing those words. But she deserved a word of appreciation.

“Thanks!”

“Hey, so you finally managed to achieve the same taste as my mother’s? The pickle’s great, yaar! By the way, where’s mom?”

“She’s sleeping..”

“So late? Previously, she used to beat me if I don’t wake up before 6 am even if it’s a holiday.. age is taking the toll”

“She’s not feeling well.. she woke up early as usual, but fainted. So I only forced her to sleep.”

“That’s why I don’t like her to be awake late in the night.”

“And more over she went to the market yard to bring fresh raw mangoes..”

“What? Why did you let her do that?”

“She brought them on her way only.. and then didn’t even caught a nap in the afternoon.. She had to prepare something for her son..”

“Oh! And I was wondering you only made this..” he realized what had he done yesterday.. He cursed himself, “..and she wanted to see me enjoying the tangy taste of the fresh pickle made in mustard seeds.. She still remembers it… I am a big fool.. But then I don’t understand, why didn’t she tell me anything?”

His wife put another hot thalipeeth in his dish and did nothing but smiled in reply.

She learnt this art of smiling, apart from the spicy thalipeeths, from his mother only.

“I understood. Don’t utter,” he sighed.. “you got be a mother to understand this and that a man can never be!”

***

He just walked away!

Finally, I picked up the phone to call that gentleman.

I had been avoiding him for last so many days.. for no reason. He was neither a nagging salesman nor a prankster or not even a goon who calls up to threaten you. He was not even a borrower who constantly calls you up for money. He was not at all a nuisance. He was a gentleman. It was me who was on fault.

I was avoiding him and not picking up his calls… was not even replying to his text messages. Simply because, I couldn’t complete the work that he had assigned me for. I could buy some time. But that was already done. He had certain plans on mind on the basis of what I was going to do for him. He had his deadlines set and I was stretching them too far unnecessarily. The poor man helplessly tried my number which I didn’t answer.

I had nothing to say. I had nothing to confess. I couldn’t complete the assignment in time was the only truth and I had no courage to face it. That was the only reason I was testing the patience of that gentleman.

But today, I picked up the phone to call him. I was going to beg his pardon for ill treating him. It was not my greatness. This another gentleman prompted me to do so. His single act injected that courage in me to face the fact.

He stepped in with billions of expectations and a cool head on his shoulders. In fact, he was also eager to achieve a new milestone on this day. His confident moves were intending clearly that he was going to touch that enviable golden spot that day. But destiny had some different plans. That unexpected delivery took a thin edge of his bat. The sound was so weak that the umpire standing at the 22 feet distance couldn’t hear it. The loud half hearted appeal was denied by the umpire. The disappointed bowler was visibly unhappy. Obviously, he had almost grabbed the most priced reward which he could have cherished for a lifetime. But, the god just walked away.. calmly and firmly. He knew that the ball did take the edge of his bat and rested in the pair of gloves behind the stumps cleanly without touching the ground. In the 21^st century people may call him a fool for being a non opportunist. He could have stayed there till the decision came from the upstairs. But he just walked away leaving all of us disappointed.. but proud.. proud to be the worshipers of the great god.

He not only raised the grace of the game, but also prompted the spineless guys like me, who couldn’t gather the courage to face the problem.

He walked away and the next moment I picked up the phone to call that gentleman..

GODS MUST BE SORRY!

Once again we proved that you don’t deserve us, God! In fact, we should have decorated your bravery or at least could show you that we tried. But we did nothing, as usual. Once again we failed to take you closer to your dream or we don’t want to do so. You spent your whole life giving us pride and confidence. You did it for the sake of the pure love for what you have been doing and we always thought it was your duty. After serving us for more than two decades, you saw a little dream and shared it with us. We too promised you that we will make it true for you. But are we really worth of even sharing?

We have been doing this for years. Whenever you accomplish something great like this, we give up trying to take it further. Somewhere, I am feeling that you are responsible for this. You spoilt our habit of relying on you. We have been watching you making everyone awestruck. We have been so busy admiring your matchless enthusiasm, effortless looking skills, out of the world persona, godly humanity and that every single thing making you extra ordinary. In this whole process, we forgot our duty to learn from you and put our at least 10 percent to add to your glorious performance. But we failed.. almost each time and you made us lazy, God!

And then the-anti god factor kept on repeating that ‘you perform, but we don’t achieve’. And we get busy arguing about your greatness which has been proven for more than 1000 times.

But you were god and will always remain the way you are. You never bothered of us or the anti ‘you’ factor. You kept on doing great for us and kept on learning from your mistakes.. silently and effectively. You don’t talk, your weapon does. But till when, GOD? Till when will you keep doing such great things which will go in vein just because of us and yet forgiving us?

I am feeling strongly that the god sitting there above has made a blunder. HE has sent YOU in the place where there are people like us whom you don’t deserve at all. We are the people who have always let you down, but still you loved us. Even those GODs must be sorry to send you, our own god, here amongst us.

Sorry Sachin.. (I know you’ll forgive us.. the way you have been doing for years)!