How F&B brands hurt themselves by Food-Courting?!

Posted: May 23, 2011 in Uncategorized
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First there were iconic individual restaurants..

You remember Khyber, Copper Chimney, China Garden, Little Italy and many more of such type.

Far some of these may have been, but we’d drive down on the Saturday evenings, wait in queue, but ensure that we get a table and enjoy the great fare they’d serve.

And then came franchising.

And suddenly we had many Copper Chimneys. And we were tempted to go to the ‘nearest’ Copper Chimney.

Unfortunately, not every F&B brand can do franchising like McDonald’s does. With the result that the different outlets would not have consistency. So you start missing the ‘real’ Copper Chimney, for example. But by now, the brand has given you a disappointment, and now you are not so sure, if you want to take the trouble to go all the way to the ‘original’ Copper Chimney. Also you have a doubt whether the quality is down for the brand itself, since you did eat from a Copper Chimney itself, didn’t you?!

Well, if this was not enough to damage the brand, we now have the Food-Courting of good F&B brands!

The temptation of those huge spaces in the malls, where there are thousands of footfalls, got these branded restaurants to open cubby hole spaces in the food courts as well. Well know and very popular restaurant brands like Little Italy, Swati Snacks and others have started opening these mini-outlets in the food courts of malls.

With disastrous effect!

In most cases, they are unable to live up to the overall quality or experience standards associated with their original branded outlets. I have personally had very disappointing experiences with both, Little Italy (at K Star Mall in Chembur) and Swati Snacks (at Oberoi Mall in Goregaon). Food quality, service levels and apathy on the part of the people on the counter were the main reasons for feeling bad!

So what happens? The goodwill that the brands built painstakingly over the years, is damaged, due to being unable to maintain those standards, perhaps constrained by the format of the food courts.

Why then, do these brands still get to the food courts? Are they not killing the golden goose in the process?

Kashmakash – film based on Tagore’s story, Nauka Dubi – slow, but interesting

Posted: May 23, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Subhash Ghai and his company, Mukta Searchlight, seem to be encouraging some young filmmakers doing alternate cinema. I saw two trailers of films coming from his stable, even as I saw the one that was actually released, viz. Kashmakash.

Kashmakash is based on a story by Rabindranath Tagore, called Nauka Dubi. Story-wise, there are elements of a Salim Javed lost and found style of old. But other than that, there is no resemblance to typical Hindi cinema at all.

In fact, it is a classical Bengali style, based in the 1920s, and superbly directed by Rituparno Ghosh.

The story is about dialogue, and moves slowly. Yes, there are times when it seems too slow too. But if you can take the slow pace, there are enjoyable moments in the film.

There are elements of small town, and of periods gone by. Old houses, pianos, villages by the river, traditional Bengali wedding, all have a certain charm about them. Make for excellent visuals too.

The director has ensured details – the old style fans and regulators, the short and puffed sleeved blouses of the women, typewriters, fountain pen written letters that needed to be “air-dried” before folding the paper, etc. Nice touches, all.

It is interesting that the director uses the otherwise more glamorous sister, Riya Sen to portray the illiterate village girl, and the other sister Raima Sen to be the city girl. Not that it would have made much difference. It was not a modern day story, which would have allowed Riya to play a real glam-doll that she does in other modern cinema!

Gulzar’s lyrics have his magical touch, and the end, is surprising but interesting.

I can only say that I am even more of an admirer of Bengali culture, art, writing, cinema etc. now, than I was before! If you like that kind of stuff, you may enjoy this film..

If all businesses were run like the IPL business?

Posted: May 12, 2011 in Uncategorized
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I understand that IPL is all about entertainment, for the viewer, the spectator. And which is fine!

After all, entertainment is good business.

But for the business owners, is it about entertainment, or is it about business like any other?

So how would it be, if all businesses ran like the IPL business??

I mean, as business owners if the family and friends came together and partied, not really worried about where the business itself was going?!

So at the tender opening of the infrastructure project, the owner gets along his wife, sister-in-law, and a few (20-30) friends to the opening. And even as the officials get down to the business of opening the bids and discussing them, in the reception lobby outside, champagne and cheese is served. And the ladies appreciate the new diamonds and the Gucci bags that some of them have carried on them. Light music’s in the air.

People keep coming and going, with papers and intense discussion going on inside.

Once in a while, the sis-in-law asks the wife.. “when will jiju come and join us here?” and the wife peeps inside, and looks at the hubby who’s in the middle of the tender opening. And the wife shouts out to him, and he looks up, and kisses her an air kiss. And she winks back..

And comes and tells her sister, “soon now.. “.

And when he comes out, he is offered a ready glass of champagne.

Did anyone ask about the tender itself? Oh.. who cares?!

And as for competition? Hey, it’s all fun. We are friends. And we party together.. !

So who cares about market share or profits or other such boring things, right?

One of the best dance sequences in Indian Cinema: Hoto Pe Aisi Baat

Posted: May 8, 2011 in Uncategorized
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On a relaxed Sunday, happen to catch about half of Jewel Thief, the Dev Anand classic from old times.

The movie was a lot of fun, but I was again (as I have been in previous viewings) amazed by the absolutely fantastic dance sequence on the song, Hoto Pe Aisi Baat.

Note these facts:

  • The song is from those days where technology was so much poorer compared to today,
  • Which means that they didn’t have sharp edits that could get stitched together, and look like one single camera sequence,
  • So if you see a single camera capture of Vyjantimala’s magic, it was ACTUALLY done in a single shot,
  • See HOW MANY of such long, single shot sequences are there in the song? Unbelievable, from today’s times, where they cut and chop and somehow put  a dance together (e.g. Deepika in Dum Maro Dum – pathetic compared to this!)
  • Think of the choreography with the support dance troupe, and other stars like Dev Anand, floating in between the long sequence otherwise focused on Vyjantimala,
  • That was the time when actresses were actually trained (long term!) in dance. Vyjantimala of course, was the best of the best. But others like Waheeda Rehman, Hema Malini and others have also given some great dance sequences.
Check the song out – it is outstanding:
If I ever get to meet Vyjantimala, I’d want to touch her feet in salute, ONLY for this dance!! All else she has done is bonus.. !

Can I “de-frag” the memory in my head?!

Posted: May 7, 2011 in Uncategorized
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I clearly suffer from this.

And I have heard similar thoughts from some friends.

About forgetting names and sometimes forgetting words.

Struggling on them, and suddenly, they come back. Ahh… eureka!

Like how a typical Windows machine, sometimes takes a little time to fetch a file, sometimes slows down..

And we are recommended that we need to de-frag the hard disk, and maybe, things will be fine again…

Do I need to de-frag the disk in my head too? 🙂

Well, the situation is not much different.

All of a sudden, we are seriously stretched for things to remember. The number of individual points or references that get into our heads has multiplied many fold.

Take for instance, the number of people we “know”.

In traditional times (and I am talking no more than 10 years back), we had a few of our school and childhood friends, some college friends, neighbours, relatives, in-laws, and perhaps, we belonged to 1-2 clubs or gyms and knew people there.

And now???

Hundreds or thousands of additional ‘connections’ / ‘fans’ / ‘followers’.. ! You know what I refer to, right?!

How often have I been greeted at events by smiles and handshakes with “thankfully, you look like your DP on Twitter – so I could recognize you”, or “We connected on Linkedn, remember?”

Heck, I DON’T. Remember!!

I just have a few thousand connections on LinkedIn, and a few thousand followers on Twitter or few hundreds of people I met and shook hands with, at various events.

No, I am NOT trying to make myself look busy and important. At all!

I am saying, this is life. And if the person opposite to me feels I should remember him because we connected on LinkedIn, it is only a matter of time, when HIS LinkedIn connections go to a large level as well, that he will realize why I didn’t remember him today.. !

And besides people, think about the things that we need to remember today.

Earlier, you forgot what they taught you in school, when you went to college. And then when you went to work, you could forget your college stuff. It was enough to remember what you were currently involved in. And read the papers for a bit of this-and-that on current events. Could safely take you through an evening party, in terms of conversation pieces.

And suddenly, the world has expanded in terms of the bits and pieces of information that people talk about. At parties. Not just in R&D labs!!

Cloud computing, Quora, Android, Wikileaks, Kanimozi, KG basin, derivatives, Miss India, Get Idea, leopards and Mukesh Ambani, the Land Rover, Kate’s dress at the royal wedding, nano tech, Warren Buffet, China, tsunami, etc. etc. etc. etc.

And words.. new words thrown at you everyday. So Wikileaks is a common noun now? What about Radiagate? And those twitter / SMS short forms. You are supposed to know what FTW means, and that WTF is not just a Welcome to Facebook 🙂

Can my head cope with all this??

Hey you medical types? Have you come up with a concept of de-fragmentation of the head, just yet? I might be interested..

Women and children in Abbottabad: the witnesses!

Posted: May 7, 2011 in Uncategorized
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They say there were more than 30 women and children, in the safe house (well, not-so-safe ultimately) of Osama Bin Laden, in Abbottabad. Some even saw the killing personally.

I am reminded of Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Mission Kashmir.

Where a young Hrithik (well, a child artist) is witness to a killing in the family, by an Indian security force (Sanjay Dutt), and grows up with revenge in the mind, and becomes a terrorist.

We don’t want a Mission Abbottabad!

On the other hand, these women and kids and perhaps, other mute witnesses who are not that harmful, have a huge economic opportunity.

I am sure the big publishers of the world, and the television networks, are all clamoring to get to these survivors.

For book contracts, to begin with:

“My Days in Abbottabad”

“Osama: The Last Days at Abbottabad”

“Know The Man Behind the Terrorist: Personal Encounters with OBL”

Ah.. I am sure, the publishers are salivating at the thought of these titles, and the multi million dollar opportunities that each convey.

And the television networks?
What a scoop if CBS can get an exclusive of ‘the child who was in the room, when the Navy SEALS reached Osama in Abbottabad’, or an interpreter assisted first time to the world, interview with ‘women of Abbottabad’.

Oh, the riches that these survivors will get, will hopefully make them forget the stress of “that night in Abbottabad” and we will not have a repeat of Mission Kashmir..

What do you think?

Most Wanted Men Summon Designers For Special Suits

Posted: May 7, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. However, any similarity to persons living or dead is purely intentional :)

—-

Panic had set in the ranks.

Tension of this kind was never ever seen before. Not when the Americans entered Kabul, nor when they attacked Iraq.

Their safe havens were always safe. Dubai, Karachi, Islamabad.. no one could touch them there. No matter that American troops were present in Pakistan. But there was enough protection to them, from their friends in ISI and elsewhere in Pakistan.

Life was fun.. !

And then, one night, the Americans came quietly, without letting anyone know, and took out Osama Bin Laden, in his own home, closely protected by the nearby military academy, in Abbottabad.

The board members of GTA (Global Terrorists’ Association) were in total panic now. If the Americans could get into Abbottabad, no place was safe anymore.

What is their next strike was in Karachi?? Or in Islamabad, for God’s sake?!

An emergency board meeting was held. Most of them could turn up and attend, but those who did not make it, still came on the video conference, and it was a 100% attendance. Panic does this to people. Everyone was concerned and for once, they had to join hands to figure out their solutions.

After a lot of debate, and after going round and round in circles, there was no solution in sight to possible prevention of such attacks by the Americans.

So when that debate was not going anywhere, finally the veteran terrorist made everyone quiet and said: “Friends, we are going nowhere. We will spend days trying to figure out how to stop the American rampage, we may not get answers, and who knows, if the Americans find us here, and attack all of us together?”

The possibility shook everyone up. And suddenly there was quiet in the air.

The veteran terrorist continued, “Let us be practical here. Till the time we figure out how to stop such attacks, we have to address the next issue. IF an attack happens on our hideout, and if they take us down, it’s all over for us! What we must figure out is a way to survive. If we are alive, we can still hope for help from our politician friends all over the world. And maybe regain our power in course of time.”

There was a murmur in the room. Everyone agreed. The wise veteran terrorist had made a crucial point.

The young, brash, new kid on the block terrorist asked “But sir, how do we save ourselves? Osama was not even armed, he did not fight, and yet, they took him down. How can we hope to survive?”

The veteran terrorist responded “Ah, the trouble with you young kids of today. You do not want to do any homework, and just rush into battle.. ”

The young kid on the block did not like the comment from the veteran. He was about to shout some profanities. Nobody told him things like this! But looking at the hall and the seniors around, he held back his response.

The veteran terrorist continued “Check this story out. Can you spot the opportunity of survival there?”

And as he said this, and clicked the mouse, the story was flashed on the giant projection screen in the room. It was long form text and not SMS / Tweet length 140 characters. So it took time for the GTA members to read and digest it.

First one, and then others, slowly got the message. And they were aghast. What WAS the veteran terrorist suggesting??

The headline of the story suggested:

Only a naked Osama would have been spared the bullet

By the time they were all done, and murmuring amongst themselves, it was again left to the young, brash new terrorist to blurt out, “What? You are suggesting that we roam around in full monty? Are you crazy or something?”

The veteran terrorist shook his head again. He looked at his senior colleagues hoping to get sympathy from them, but they were also all staring at him in disbelief.

What the hell was this old man suggesting?!

Finally, the veteran terrorist responded, “You are a real slow lot. No wonder terrorism is going to the dogs and the law is catching up on us. Where are your smarts, you idiots?!”

“Wait, I will not speak anything.. let me call a few guys whom my boys have ‘picked up’ from Mumbai!”

So saying, he summoned his team to bring in the guests, all blind-folded…

And slowly the faces became clear. These were all name brand designers from India – Manish Malhotra, Ritu Beri, Rohit Bal, Neeta Lulla and others.

The group was still open mouthed. What the hell is this veteran upto?
And the veteran – well, he looked at the question marks on the faces of the group, and shook his head. He thought, “now I know, the days of terrorism are numbered – we have such idiots who have to be told EVERYTHING..”

And so he explained, “Guys, I wish you’ll would have understood. But dumb that all of you are, and still not getting the point, I have no choice but to spell out the details to you.”

“As you saw in the report, as per US rules, if the terrorist was naked, they’d have spared him the bullet. Now, I do not expect all of us to walk around without clothes (and while saying this, he looked sharply, at the young, brash terrorist – who, in turn, turned his head down!).”

“What I am looking for each of us to do, is to wear clothes, which can come off FAST. So if you sense noise outside your room or unusual movements or noises from your compound, within seconds, you need to be naked.”

And as he said this, there were small smiles coming on to the faces of the group. There were nods of affirmation and sighs of relief.

The veteran continued, “In the last couple of days that these famous Indian designers have been here, we have got them to come up with concepts of such clothing. To suit all of our tastes, and yet have the fundamental feature of quick removal.”

“The challenge given to the designers was a 5-second removal target. And by jove, these Indian designers are creative. And respond to challenges. We have two dresses here, which can actually come out in 3 seconds, and others in the 4-5 seconds range.”

“And not that these are sparse.. these are good looking to suit our respective preferences, and yet quick to remove.”

“We will see demonstrations now, and we have flown in John Abraham and Akshay Kumar to walk the ramp, to demo these dresses, including their functionalities!”

The guard at the door observing the goings on, murmured to his colleague, “Ah.. now I know why those 500 bundles of VELCRO were ordered the other day.. !”

Breaking News: A Scene at the “Indian TV” News Office

Posted: May 4, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. However, any similarity to persons living or dead is purely intentional :)

(Warning: Mostly written in Hindi, with some profanities too.. )

—–

The reporter was excited. He had finally got his scoop, and perhaps his 30 seconds of fame, of a national headline story. And a chance to impress the editor… !

He shut down his laptop and almost ran to the editor’s cabin. 

Panting as he reached the editor’s desk, he barged in and started:

“Sirji, sirji… ek dhamakedaar story hai.. “

“Aisi breaking news story hai, saare desh ko hiladegi.. “

Editor: “Arre… haafne ka to bandh kar, aur bata story kya hai?”

Reporter: “Sir.. waqt zara bhi nikle nahi isliye maine saari screens tayyar kar di hai.. main aapko dikha deta hoon..”

And he starts his laptop. 

Unfortunately, he does not carry a Mac, and the Windows machine takes a while to get started 🙂 

(** “cheap shot at the Windows machine :)”  – author **)

Reporter (even as the machine boots): “Sir, mai chahta tha ki ye khabar logo ko hum hi pehle pahocha ye.. “

“Is liye maine saari tayyari kar di hai..”

Editor is busy with some papers on his desk, not really paying much attention to reporter’s mumblings.

Reporter (continuing in excitement): “Sirji.. woh Aaj Tak-Kal Tak, E TV-F TV sabki chhuti kar denge hum, is news ke saath..”

Editor: “Abe hai kya itna is news me, kuch bata bhi…?”

Reporter: “Sir, khabar hi kuch aisi hai.. Pakistaniyo ke baare me hai.. unki thodi burayi ho rahi hai.. apni public ko aur pasand aayegi… hahaha..”

Editor: “Ha, woh to sahi hai.. kuch aisa dikhaye jo unko ch*****ya dikha de, to apni public khush ho to hai.. “ 

Reporter: “Maine Amrican source ki baato me se ye scoop dhoond liya.. aah.. dekhiye, PC shuru hua..” 

Editor seeing the screen now:

BREAKING NEWS: JAB AMERICA OSAMA KO MAAR RAHA THA, PAKISTANI FAUJ ANDE KI BHURJI BANA RAHI THI..

Editor: “Abe ye kya khabar hai?? Ye ande ki bhurji kaha se aayi? Aur ye tujhe kisne bataya be??”

Reporter: “Sir.. Amrican commander apni baat bata rahe the.. uske bayan me ye baat chhupi hui thi.. jo maine pakad li.. “

Editor: “Yaane tu ye bol raha hai, ki American commander ne sabko public me ye bataya ki Pakistani fauj omlette kha rahi thi, aur ab tak aur kisi ke dhyan me nahi aaya, sirf tujhe pata laga hai, is baat ka..?”

Reporter: “Nahi.. Ha..”

Editor: “Ye ‘nahin’ aur ‘ha’ dono ka kya matlab he ch****ye?”

Reporter: “Na is baat ki, ke woh omlette nahi thi.. ande ki bhurji thi. Haa is baat ki ke commander ne ye baat batayi hai, aur ab tak kisi ne nahi pakdi na ki ise cover ki hai..”

Editor (thinking for a moment and then speaking): “Agar tu jo bol raha hai woh sahi nikla, to hamari channel ke liye se sansani bhari khabar hogi.. utni hi TRP milegi, jo bacche ke kue me gir jaane vali khabar ko mili thi…” 

“Bata pehle, ye commander vali cheez kaha mili tujhe..ek baar dikha mujhe bhi”

Reporter: “Mujhe pata tha, aap pucchenge.. isliye mai sab tayari ke saath aaya hoon. Ye dekhiye, unke bayan ki transcript..”

Editor reads it carefully. And then his face becomes red in anger…and he gets up from his seat, and screams… 

“Bh****od, hum gair ghuzare hai, lekin itne bhi bewkoof nahi dikhna hume..”

“Angrezi ki A, B, C nahi aati, to news room me kaam kyu lete ho, Ma*****od”

Reporter (shivering, nearly in tears): “Sir.. sir.. lekin yaha to likha ha…..” 

Editor: “Bho***ke, ye kya likha hai padh ek baar…”

Reporter: “Isme likha hai na:

‘Pakistanis were reacting to the incident that they knew was taking place in Abbottabad. Therefore, they were scrambling some of their assets'”

Editor: “Iska matlab samjhta hai, saale… ? Iska matlab ye nahi ki woh ande hi bhurji banane baith gaye.. iska matlab hai ki woh apne hawai jahaj aur helicopter vagereh tayyar karne lag gaye..”

Editor (now laughing): “Saale ch***ye, kab nikla hai college se.. thodi to angreze seekh ke aata.. bhag yaha se.. bh****od..”

Reporter (feeling bad, closes his PC and walks out of Editor’s room, mumbling to himself..): “Ye Amrican bhi, bh****od, aisa kyo likhte hai, saale.. hawai jahaj aur helicopter ki baat karni hai to ye scrambled assets kyu likhte hai, ma******od..!” 

Rotary Project: My Saturday Experience

Posted: May 1, 2011 in Uncategorized
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I have been in the Rotary Club movement for many years now. About 15 years or so.

Most of these were as a member of the Rotary Club of Bombay Worli, where I was even Director on the Board, for a few years. I was reasonably active and had a great time as a member there. We did some good projects there, besides having a lot of fun at parties and picnics and outstation trips.

Then, we sold the business and I moved to Delhi for a year and a half. And due to that reason, I came out of Rotary for a couple of years.

Once I returned back to Mumbai and started the new venture, Social Wavelength, for a while I was busy with the set up. But Rotary Club beckoned, and I found my current club, the Rotary Club of Deonar, and joined it. But with a new startup and the priority that work takes in life, and on account of the fact that the weekly meetings are on a weekday evening, I have been a pathetic participant in Rotary Club activities of this club. Not liking it, but that’s how it has been.

Few weeks back, I took a resolve. No, not about Rotary. But about my life and my time!

We have two Saturdays off, in a month, and I realized that I would end up working most times. And I did not want to do so, as there was no end to work, and the holiday had to mean something. I decided that I will NOT work on those holiday Saturdays, and typically, try to do funner things like visiting new places, or something equally interesting.

And I kept at it for a couple of these holiday Saturdays – a trip to Lavasa once, and then to Shapur to a temple another time.

This time, around, we got a Saturday holiday by accident. Our events team at the office, finalized the 2nd anniversary party on the Friday night, and as it would be celebrations that go on till late at night, we decided to give the next Saturday as a holiday (well, we will work on one of the following holiday Saturdays to compensate!). And I got this unexpected Saturday off, which was the 5th Saturday of the month.

I had no other plans on this unexpected off. Then I remembered a Rotary project that was to happen on the Saturday and I decided to go for it.

Our Rotary Club has been associated with a few villages in Taluka Karjat. As a part of this association, there is set up a Rotary Community Corps (local voluntary body) also, out there. In association with the RCC, our club has contributed a lot of good community service projects there, including some 36 borewells, toilet blocks, desks in schools, etc.

I found out most of this information when I went for the project yestrerday.

Seeing this one can really appreciate how some small tasks for us, can give meaningful life for so many.

The households for whom the toilet block happened, live in hygenic surroundings now.

The village gets better water from the borewells.

Classrooms look like classrooms with the desks, and motivate children to go to schools and parents to send them.

In similar vein, we had gone for yet another new project for the village.

There is a river that flows past this village. If left to flow, the extent of water that collects in the lake there, is small, and it also dries up by about December or January. The village has a tough time coping with the last few months of summer.

There is a concept called a check dam – a dam of a few feet in height, that will hold some water in place, allowing the rest to flow over , with the river. There was an old government constructed check dam earlier, but it had got breached and it was not possible to repair that one.

The villagers would then use bags of sand etc. to serve to check the water. This was ineffective beyond a point.

Finally it was decided to build a new check dam. The villagers themselves contributed a decent 20-25% of the cost of this, another good percentage came from a person in the Netherlands, who has been a contributor to projects in this area. Rest of it was arranged and the project coordinated, by our Rotary Club.

Yesterday was the inauguration and final handover of the check dam. This was done by the District Governor Elect, Rtn Vijay Jalan.

Post inauguration, there was a small meeting arranged with the help of the village folk there. Young school girls of the village entertained us with some group singing.

Besides small speeches, the villagers served us vada-pav, sweets, watermelon etc.

There were 5 cars full of Rotary folk (and I mean 5 cars FULL) who had gone for this visit, which only speaks for the extent of interest and effort that the members at Rotary Club of Deonar take, for project and service.

Post this project, we had a planned stop at Saguna Baug, an agro-tourism desination. Run by extremely dedicated and highly motivated folks, the place strives in complete sincerity, to promote the virtues of being an agriculturist, and seeks to guide all of us about agriculture.

A fabulous place, it merits revisit, and perhaps a stay too.

All in all, it was a good trip, a good opportunity to be at a Rotary project after a long time, and interact with fellow Rotarians, and a motivator now, to be a little more regular in Rotary hereafter!

The Accidental Candle Light Vigil: Another in the “Scene” series

Posted: May 1, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. However, any similarity to persons living or dead is purely intentional :)

—-

A busy and crowded evening outside Chembur station. So what’s new, right?

The Vashi fast had just reached Chembur and scores of passengers coming back after a hard day’s work, rushed out of the train, and towards the gate. Few alone, few in pairs, few others in smaller groups. The regulars, you know.

And as Ramdeo and Prakash came out on the street, amongst the first of the passengers, they saw this group of 5 young people – 3 boys and 2 girls – bent down, with scores of candles out there, and a whole host of rolled poster papers with them.

Hurrying home as they were, they still stopped in their tracks. The cause was important, and they needed to show their solidarity. They picked up a candle each from the road, and using the matchbox that Ramdeo was carrying, they lit the candles and stood there.

Even as many others floated out of the railway station, and seeing these 5 young people bent down with the candles and the posters and seeing the first couple of people with lit candles, most felt it to be their duty to support the cause. After all, there was strength in numbers, and it was time that the citizens united and did their bit.

“Are ye na, thodya vel thambu na ikde? Aplya fariz aahe ki nahi?”

“Aree, ushir hote ki? Accha chal, pan fakhat paanch minta ki, ho? Ghari jaoon swayapak pan karaycha aahe, ajun…”

…

“Hey dude, wassthis man? Cool candle light vigil..”

“Come, lets hang in for a bit.. should be fun…”

…

‘Nayi, nayi… main nayi rukta.. meyre ko laite ho raha hai.. khana khatam ho jayega.. phir mere ko hoteel me khane ko jaana padega.. mayy jaata hoon..”

“Tch.. saala khane ke vaste chala gaya.. aakhir desh ke liye apna koi farz bhi hai, na? Samajhta hi nahi, saal.. chal aapun khade rehte he thodi der…”

…

And before you know, 50 odd people were there with candles lit and waiting out there.

Ahh.. the salt of the earth, as represented by Mumbaikars. Always willing to pitch in for a cause.

Made for a nice scene just as light was fading at dusk, and the 50-people with the candles out there.

Waiting for the group of young people to get up and roll out the posters in their hands.

Oh yes, those 5 young people…

3 boys – Aakash, Dhruv and Melvin, and the 2 girls – Sonali and Ruchika.

On that crowded footpath outside the station, with their eyes on the ground, focusing on the candles on the ground, clutching at the roll of posters in their arms, and having large number of feet passing by them, as the passengers exited out of the station, in a mad rush.

And as Aakash took a breath and looked up, he sees these people standing all around, with the lit candles in their hands.

And he nudges the others to see the scene, open mouthed and unbelievable!

And as some of those people now see the young boys and girls looking up at them, they give smiles.

Smiles of encouragement.

Smiles that say, “Yes, we are with you.” or “We appreciate your initiative. This is the young India we are proud of.”

And then they point to the posters, and point with their hands (only because in all the noise, words may or may not reach), “Hey, open those up now..”

And just about then, the open mouthed 5-some finally regain their voice.

It is Ruchika in fact, who shouts, “hey, what are you guys doing.. ?”

——————

CUT:

Let’s go back 30 mins in time.. to Dhruv’s house on 11th road, Chembur..

Music playing the background, “And tonight’s gonna be a good, good night.. and tonight’s gonna be a good night..”

And the gang mumbling things to each other, shaking their heads to the song, and once in a while, with big smiles on their faces, pointing to each other, and singing along with the song, “YES, TONIGH’S GONNA BE A GOOD, GOOD NIGHT..”

The mumbling…

“So, what’s the total number of candle packets we have?”

“50 packets of 20 candles each.. that’s 1000 candles in total.. ”

“Yeah, that should be more than enough.. ”

“And posters.. how many are there?”

“Oh.. I think, we got to 20 in total.. ”

“Cool.. ”

And they started packing the stuff.

“Must you use these paper bags? Candles are heavy, you know.. ”

“No man, nothing’ll happen. Also my mom doesn’t allow us to have any plastic bags at home..”

“God, this is heavy, yaar.. and plus these posters.. shit, too much.. ”

“Those two.. Stanley and Kuljeet – saale they went off early, with no weight. They should have been here to help, no?”

“Yeah man.. especially, with the rush at the station, at this time..”

“I am just praying this paper bag holds the weight. Else we’ll have a problem on the streets..”

“Arre kuch nahi yaar, chal let’s nikal.. its going to be late.. ”

They walk up to the station, lugging the rolls of posters in the hand, and the paper bag with the heavy weight of the candles.

And as they near the station, Sonali is just not able to handle her large purse and the posters. She looks at Melvin carrying the large paper bag, with volume to spare.

Just outside the station, she stops him and says, “Open the bag..”

Melvin: “What? Why..?”

But he open it all the same..

Sonali starts putting her purse into the bag (“what WAS she thinking..?”) while speaking, “Can’t see how I’ll manage these posters and this purse while getting into the train.. so put the purse inside the bag..”

AND… SPLASH..

The weight, the volume, the sharp edges of the buckle of the purse.. don’t know which of these was the final straw on the camel’s back..

The bag split, and….

There were candles all over.. the weight had managed to break the thin paper covers of the candle packets as well.
Some of these rolled out to a distance on the slope there.

Screaming and shouting, the 5 of them bent down to gather all of these (still not clear, where they will park them next..).

And as they were all knelt down, and bent down, the Vashi local reached the Chembur station, and  Ramdeo and Prakash, and then the rest of them came out and took some of the candles..

—————-

CUT:
Back to the present..

Ruchika shouted, “hey, what are you guys doing.. ?”

The dudes who had taken the candles and were standing out there, replied, “Chill girl.. only trying to help. Showing solidarity to the cause, man.. ”

Ruchika, screaming now, “What cause? What are you talking about..?”

Dude guy: “The one you are protesting again. The one for which this candle light vigil is being done. Oh, the one you have made these posters for..”

Ruchika, now uncontrollable, because they have lost so much time, there is chaos, and this dude is talking of a candle light vigil.. she screams, and runs around to the other 4..

“Okay, you want to know what these posters are about.. ok, here, here and here.. let’s open all of these and show these guys what this is about.. ”

And one after the other poster opens up..

‘THANK YOU, PROFESSORS.. FOR THE AWESOMEST 4-YEARS OF OUR LIVES..”

“ST. XAVIER’S CLASS OF 2011 – FAREWELL NIGHT.”

“TONIGHT’S GONNA BE A GOOD, GOOD NIGHT.. FAREWELL PARTY IN THE COMMON HALL”

“1000 CANDLES FOR OUR 1000 THANK YOUs”

etc. etc. etc.

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