Salutations to the Martyrs of 26/11

Blood on the platforms of CST, total mayhem in the Taj, Bullets being fired haywire in Cama hospital…this was the situation last year on this specific day…! On this dreadful day the last year, Mumbai witnessed the most horrendous terrorist attack!!! Mumbai’s landmarks were attacked by 11 Pakistani terrorists (okay…so finally after all the drama Pakistan accepted the fact that the terrorists were Pakistani nationals…phew!)

Many of our brave police officers like Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, and NSG Commandos lost their lives in this horrid battle. They fought for us so that we could be safe. According to me, the lone surviving terrorist Ajmal Kasab must be hanged! I don’t understand why the hell on earth our government isn’t doing so….!??!? He has been proved guilty…so damn it just hang him! The fact that irritates me the most is that the statements which Kasab is making…First he said hang me (which our country must have done way back!), then he said he doesn’t have faith in the Indian Judiciary…and now…He wants the matter to be taken up by the International Court of Justice…you fool do know the spelling of it!!!!

Many people lost their lives in those 60 hours of pandemonium! Some were brutally injured. I would like to pay homage from the bottom of my heart to all those who lost their lives on 26/11/2008…I hope that their souls rest in peace. I hope that the Almighty gives their families a new hope to continue to live their lives…

I just hope that the world becomes terror free. I hope that we are well prepared for the next time. There’s no use of blaming anyone. Instead we should pay more attention towards rectifying our mistakes and getting prepared for next time .And here we are, after one whole year after the ruckus…living a normal life or in other words living it with the Spirit of Mumbai…Mumbai is well known for it’s this spirit…which no one knows what it is all about. But we still continue to praise it. I salute this enigmatic spirit of Mumbai and the people. I LOVE MUMBAI coz it is MY JAAN….!!!!

Jai Hind!

My College Fest...

Heya people…all this while I was cribbing that my college doesn’t have a fest…But now it does have…!!! But it’s a little bit bizarre that it doesn’t have a name…lolz! So my college fest is not a big one like Malhar(Xavier’s), Umang (NM) or Mood Indigo(IIT- Mumbai)…it’s a small scale fest limited to the students of the college…sob sob…: ( This was the first time my college (St. Mary’s) had organized the fest…so obviously there were some flaws. But that was okay…at least I had a fest…phew!!! So people…let me tell ya’ll about my so-called college fest…lolz…

DAY 1 - 12^th November 2009

So my college fest had finally kicked started (okay I’m felling really weird to have a nameless college fest…so according to me it should be named KARMA...) On the first floor, the rangoli competition was going on in full swing (I know it’s a really stupid event to be included in the fest…lmao) Though many people didn’t participate but still the participants were quite wholehearted and giving their best shot. The girls were trying to create to their magnum opus. They really made vibrant and colourful rangolis I must admit…!

The collage making competition was being conducted in the classroom on the first floor. The topic was “Go Green”. The participants had to create their art work around the topic. All were thinking hard to come up with some innovative and appealing idea so that their art work would be the best amongst all…At the same time, slogan writing competition was being conducted in the adjacent classroom. The participants were lost in thoughts, thinking about an attractive slogan which would be unique and appealing…

The singing competition was held in the stilt area. The event began with a short speech of my college principal. My class teacher…Mrs. Shilpi Bhattacharya…was the announcer for the event. The competition began with a boy who sang an old hindi song. BORING!!! He was making some stupid howling sounds in between…I guess that was an attempt to be cool…which wasn’t at all! The audience burst out in laughter after listening to it. The Gong Gong aka Shalem was next. He sang “She will be loved” by MARRON 5. He was even strumming a guitar.I have to say this…he was best amongst all…gosh!!! And I think that song was dedicated to Bhavana…AOWAHA bhavs!!! And how can I forget Aurpita…she sang a classical song which was boring. And yeah don’t forget the facial expressions! Roflmao!

DAY 2 - 13^th November 2009

I was quite nervous as it was my event that day. I had participated in spelling bee competition and Just A Minute aka JAM. Actually I was nervous only about JAM. I got a nervous breakdown and finally I quitted! I hate myself for it. Damn!

The extempore was okay. The participants made a good effort. But the topics in JAM were really stupid! There was a RJ competition too.

Next was my event. I took part in spelling bee. I brushed up my spellings on the last moment. All set to answer. I made it through the first round. Then in the second round, the participants were bombarded with words which I never heard! And to my surprise…I won! I stood first! Yay…

DAY 3 -14^th November 2009

It was the last day of the fest. The final day began with group dance. There were various dance forms. Right from contemporary, hip hop, freestyle to typical bollywood. Some groups made a poor attempt. Their dance turned out to be a disaster. Some danced on famous tracks like Whine Up, Right Round, Sugar, Bebot, Boom Boom Pow etc. And yeah…the gong gong and his gang struck again! That was hilarious! Some of the groups put up quite an entertaining performance. The college fest ended with prize distribution. Yay…even I got a prize!

So people…that was my college fest. I know it was a little bit boring but still I enjoyed it. I hope it gets better next year. And I hope it has a name next year…

PS- I envy all my friends who have great college fests like Malhar, Umang, Visions and Utsav…!!!

Malignant...

Heya people…! Here’s a short story written by me. I hope you all will like it. Please do comment and give your reactions!!! Happy reading….!!! : )

Reena Malhotra was in a state of despondency when she left her doctor’s clinic. Dr. Agrawal told her that she had brain tumor. It was on the last stage. It was too late now. She didn’t know what to do…?

Reena was 26, smart, good looking and very sincere in her work. She had shifted from Delhi 5 years ago from her aunt’s place. Her parents had passed away when she was 14 years old. Since then her aunt took care of her. But she had already decided that she wanted to do something really big in her life. So she finally shifted to Mumbai when she was 21. Now, Reena was working in a call centre at the designation of Chief Office Manager. She got a good salary with which she was happy. She now had all she had ever dreamt of…

But until this day, when she got the news of her tumor…which was Malignant…She immediately went to her house and called up her best friend Serena Thompson. Serena and Reena were friends since 5 years. They worked together in the call centre. “Hello, Serena?” Reena said, filled with melancholy. “Hello, Reena. Why are you sounding so low? Is everything okay?” she asked getting apprehensive. “I’ve got to tell you something but not on the phone. It’s really important. Meet me at Costa Coffee in 15 minutes. Meet you there. Bye!” She kept the phone. She went to the bathroom, washed her face and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She thought that this face will now die…..

Serena was already sitting in the coffee parlour at their usual table. Reena came and sat opposite her. “Hi Reena! I’ve already ordered your favourite coffee. Café Mocchiato….!” Serena said stressing on the word coffee. Serena knew that Reena just simply loved coffee. “Thanks sweetheart!” Reena said. After two minutes the waiter arrived with the coffee. He placed it on the table and gave the ladies a pleasant warm smile. Without wasting much of time Reena came to point. She knew that it was going to be excruciatingly difficult for her to tell it. She said “Serena… How would you feel if I told you that I am going to die?” “Do I have to answer that hypothetical question? You’ve called me for this...for answering your stupid questions?” Serena shot back. Reena’s eyes were now moist. Tears started rolling down her cheeks. Serena now realized that something was terribly wrong. “What’s the matter?” Serena said. Now she started getting nervous. “I am going to die! I have brain tumor on last stage. Nothing can be done now. The doctor told there’s no hope. I’ve just got two months to live.” Reena said. The words just came out of her mouth. These words of Reena were still echoing in Serena’s mind.

The atmosphere had now become silent and tense. Serena couldn’t believe it. The reality was way too distressing. “So what are you going to do now?” Serena said with tears welling up in her eyes. “Die!” Reena said, feeling defeated. Reena never thought that her life would come to an end so soon. She had many plans for her future. She wanted to travel the world, publish her own novel and marry. But furthermore she wanted to LIVE. Now she had no option. She had to die. That was her fate and nothing could be done now. She accepted the bitter fact of death. “I want to travel the world. Would you like to come along with me?” Reena said soaking her tears with the handkerchief. “Obviously you fool! I’m totally in.” Serena said.

So finally Reena and Serena went on a world tour. They went to USA, France and Italy. Reena’s one wish was fulfilled. She saw the world which she always wanted to do. “Now I can die!” Reena thought .Serena spent time with her friend. She made each day of Reena a memorable one. They came back to Mumbai after a month. Every day Reena and Serena would go out for a dinner, watch a movie, watch a play or else spend time with each other. Those were the best days of their life.

After they had dinner in Olive which was Reena’s favorite restaurant, Reena said “Thanks a lot Serena for making my last few days so wonderful. I feel privileged to have a friend like you. You don’t know how good I’m feeling. Thanks a million!” “You don’t have to be so formal. Anytime time for you my best friend!” They left the restaurant and headed for their houses. Reena reached her house. It was a quite cool night. She changed into her nightdress and lay on the bed. Reena thought of her favorite song “One Last Breath” by the band CREED.

“Please come now I think I’m falling

I’m holding on to all I think is safe

It seems I found the road to nowhere

And I’m trying to escape

I yelled back when I heard thunder

But I’m down to one last breath

And with it let me say

Let me say

Hold me now

I’m six feet from the edge and I’m thinking

That maybe six feet

Ain’t so far down”

She knew that the moment had arrived. She thought of all her sweet memories. She tried to remember the faces of her parents. She thought of the time she spent with them. She recollected the time spent with her best friend Serena and the fun she had with her. She finally thanked God. She closed her eyes and she was lost in the darkness forever…..