the balacing act

Just had a glimpse of 'India's got talent' yesterday night; gabbar singh made his daughter, reshma, to do the rope balancing trick with few variations. It was no new trick and i have seen such performances many a times, right from my childhood (the photo was taken last year at marina beach, madras); this is not to take away any credit from the perormer, a kid of 5 years, but one fact which could not be digested was the reaction of the judges especially karan johar. KJ acted as if he was seeing such an act for the first time in his life and if he truly was, then one must reach a conclusion that he lives in a world devoid of reality. Kareena's plastic expression simply gave away that she was on a acting mode.Mrs. kehr was so afraid to see the act itself that she covered her eyes with saree pallu; malaika arora khan was the only judge who gave some sane reaction that of giving the kid a hug. Pity these celebrities...

Caught!

The day when I was caught in the act and that too by my dad; that day, that very moment remains fresh in my brain. It was something straight from some movie script. He had come to drop me at Mattuthavani (an integrated bus terminal just outside Madurai). It was around 6 pm; the sun was slowly retreating but heat was still on. The bus to Bangalore was delayed; we stood watching the usual melee associated with arrival of a bus; men and all scampering to get seats through the door and windows, some threw their luggages including chappals on the seats as a mark of advance reservation.

As I was scanning through various shops, I saw her. My heart raced on seeing...it was almost a week's separation; we had parted company around Othakadai. Soon I started pestering my dad to return, there was no point in wasting time. He, eventually, gave-in to my request and said bye.

I rushed and soon we kissed; Bangalore had taught me not to worry about others. There was no guilt in me; I had earned this. I was fully immersed in my little world and thus, failed to notice pat on my shoulder. Eventually I heard some voice saying, "dey! the bus is parked there". And I turned to see my dad standing as I let Wills cigarette smoke on his face. I saw him hit his forehead and expected a long sermon but he tersely said, "fire at one end and fool at the other". Pointing me the bus, I saw him walking out slowly... with the cigarette firmly in place between my fingers...soon I crushed the stub...forever.