Rain Rain Go Away

Laila has helped Chennai by showering her blessings on Chennai but not before wreaking havoc on the commuting public inside the city and its suburbs. Roads now resemble a beach resort where boats may ply. Every rain brings to the fore its own share of problems like water-clogged streets, power cuts, phone line failures, etc which we remember only till the next bout of summer dries out our roads. The expectations from local bodies in the city are mainly to provide motorable roads throughout the year, Drinking water and General Cleanliness/Hygiene. If the local bodies are not able to provide even these it takes away the charm of living in a metro and its suburbs. Ofcourse we are partly to blame by throwing all types of plastic garbage into the storm water drains. It is high time we take up a social view and think before dumping our waste.

Will power and ability

This is about a small anecdote about Buddha I read yesterday in Hindi. Buddha on realizing the miseries available in life tried various methods physical and meta-physical to arrive at the solution to life's problems. He was at one point exhausted and started back to home. En route he became thirsty and had a drink from a Big river. After that Buddha took a rest in the river banks when he noticed a small squirrel splashing water from the spring on to the banks. The squirrel kept on doing this. Buddha became inquisitive on seeing this action. He went and asked the squirrel what it was doing. The squirrel replied that the river had swollen in the rains and killed all its Kids and destroyed its nest and she was now taking revenge on the river by emptying her. Buddha laughed and said with your efforts it will take many generations for drying the river and your lifetime is also small. The Squirrel replied whether i'm successful or not in my efforts I'll make a dedicated effort and I'm not worried about the result(an example of extraordinary will power).
On hearing this Buddha realized that he also was more tuned towards attaining enlightenment than putting the required effort. Then he once again returned to his penance and attained enlightenment.
Thus goes the story but what's there in it for us?

My idea is many of (y)our good tasks may go unrewarded today but we should not stop doing them. Our focus should be on our deed rather than on the result. Too philosophical isn't it but there is an element of practicality in it too, since Expectations create anxiety. The task may be beyond your ability but we should always apply ourselves with will power.

First Flight

After dreaming for a long time and hesitating many times, ultimately I took my first flight from Chennai to Delhi in a Plane (only domestic but nevertheless a plane). After telling (boasting to) every soul that talked to me in person as well as on phone for the previous week that I was going in a plane the D Day finally arrived. After writing an exam (which necessitated the Plane travel) I came back home and started to the airport at 3.30 pm itself (flight was at 6.10 pm) in a call taxi. After reaching the air port I scanned my luggage (with fears that my bathroom chappal will be discovered and thrown out) and attempted to get my Boarding pass for my air India flight Changing Three queues (luggage tag was not working in one, printer in another) all other flyers had only two or three persons standing whereas Air India counters looked like a vegetable market (Finding no 1: Now I know why Air India is running in Loss, too many employees but too little efficiency).
After an age of waiting in queue my colleague got his boarding pass (He had only hand luggage with him). “MY TURN CAME” but the counter person made a startling observation- “Your Boarding pass is already taken at 04.53 pm” the time was 04.57 pm then. I started arguing (begging) with him when I remembered one more colleague had to come and we both booked the ticket in a single transaction. Immediately I started to frantically search for him. After three panicky mobile conversations I was able to locate him at a distance of ten feet from me. After learning that he had my boarding pass too I heaved a sigh of relief. The relief vanished as soon as I was told that razors, scissors, etc are not allowed in Hand luggage (I had them in my bag so had to take them only in cargo). I almost swooned on looking back at the queue. My colleague’s smart negotiations with the staff there pointing out their obvious mistake of giving two boarding passes without verifying Identity not only made luggage booking easier but also got us a front seat in bay 8. (Finding no 2: If you catch AI in the wrong footing you can get them to do a lot of favors).
After entering the gate it was a long wait before boarding was announced. In the airport everyone I saw resembled a celebrity. In staring here and there I almost missed our Home minister P Chidambaram coming inside the boarding area. I just got a glimpse of him before he went inside the airport and was pleasantly shocked to see him seated in seat 1 in my plane and reading a Tamil newspaper.
I got myself to my seat 8B which was near the emergency exit. I was just about to sit when the airhostess told me that I cannot even have a small bag on me since I was near the exit. I had to put it away in the luggage compartment. She also explained the way to open the emergency exit in a hurry and then only allowed me to sit (it was quite informative for a first time flyer).
Air India proved that they will delay flights even if the Home minister is on Board and started almost an hour later thanks to some drunken foreign lady (http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/chennai/Drunken-woman-delays-flight-with-PC-on-board/Article1-541419.aspx.) .
At last I was airborne. It was quite a good feeling. The in-flight entertainment was good but they last only half an hour and repeated again. After listening to a comedy talk show by shekhar suman thrice and some TV serial called Forgotten twice, I was bought to Delhi but the pilot taxied the airport many times before finally stopping but not before getting curses from many passengers.
I was frankly amazed to see PC board a bus with us, get down, pick up his own luggage and move out of the airport. Quite a simple guy for his status!!!
Even though we have evolved enough to undertake air journeys the queue barging, jostling spirit has not died. This was evidenced at the cargo luggage conveyor belt. If people stood five feet away from the belt and moved closer only when they see their luggage everyone will find it easier, but no chance everyone has to stand touching the belt (reminding me of Thirupathi laddoo queue) obstructing the view of those behind. I had to run behind my suitcase and got it after three valiant attempts. PC and my friend with hand baggage only are truly intelligent people. (Finding no 3: Less luggage is always more comfort).
Thus ended my first flight saga. Though I’ll seldom fly even after this day, I’ll always recall this first flight with fond memories. It reminds me how fortunate I’m.