------------- the hopeless romantic
We watched the movie “fanaa” last night.
Amidst old men singing around the monuments of new delhi, a terrorist desperately in love with his family and some unwanted political statements were more “shers” than I have heard in the last 2 years taken together.
One which I liked sounded something like (corrected since the first post on recommendation by anant... oops Anant) –
Sharaab peene de masjid mein baith kar 'Ghalib',
Ya woh jagah bata de jahan khuda na ho.
So i suggest you go to the movie with that bottle of rum,
To drink for the wasted money and time in gam.

p.s: If you still need to watch the movie, do so at the night show like me, so you feel that much less guilty about sleeping through most of it.

------------- the horsemen
“why do you move so fast?” said one.
“don’t shake up the system. It need not be perfect, stability is more important” said another.
“better to carry forward the existing than to change – you may possibly fall in the effort” said a third.
We grinned –
Girte hain maidane jung mein shehsawaar hee. Woh tifn kya girega jo khud ghutnon ke bal chalta hain.

------------- the knock
Knock knock
Me : who’s there?
Voice : Buddha.
Me : Buddha who ?
Voice : the chief minister of West Bengal, Mr Buddhadeb.
Who has just come to power in a red wave.
And I’m doing my best, this state and this city to save.
Me : yes for better or for worse, both of those are things I must grant you. Congratulations and best wishes.

------ the birthday party
it is my brother's birthday. he is a doctor who is presently studying for his post graduate entrance exams.
we decide to have a party at a nearby restaurant. we arrive at the restaurant, are greated with a smile and a question -- " do you have reservations sir ?". "No" we say... "i'm sorry then, we can't find any seats for you. they are all reserved."
my brother shrugs and says to me with a smile -- "don't worry buddy - the story of my life -- seats are always 'reserved' for someone else..."

---------- the swimming pool

My apartment has a west facing window and a swimming pool view.
This evening typing away on my laptop i draw aside the curtains. i see a brilliant sunset. i see joyous children in the pool screaming in delight at their own games. i remember how i enjoyed these evening swims when i was a kid, i decide to join in their fun.
about to leave for the swim i look at my computer and remember something...
it is now night, the sun has set and i am still typing away -- wordsworth flashes through my mind :

Whither is fled the visionary gleam?
Where is it now, the glory and the dream?

wearily i get up, draw the curtains and return to work.