I'm sure most of you Bombayvasi's must have read the Mumbai Mirror story last Friday about the 24 year-old girl who fell off a local train and lost her arm (the article is no longer available online but a Google cached version exists here). What was more saddening is the fact that she was to leave with her parents for Haryana the same evening to get married on the 28th.

Now like me, most people reading about the incident must have gone 'oh that is so sad!' following which 24 year-old girl who lost her arm is forgotten, her story being filed away somewhere in the archives of our mind.

Reason I'm talking about this is because this whole thing of one unfortunate second changing a persons life forever is something I find really scary. So what do you reckon will happen to that girl then? Will the guy marry her ... will any guy marry her? Will she somehow be able to live a normal life ... and the most important: will she ever be happy again?

Probably the most difficult question to find an answer to -- Why me?

***

On the reservation debate that seems to have occupied the nation-- Well, I'm not sure which side to take, really ... in fact I'd even say I'm neutral. It's kinda like the clogging in the Mithi river that runs through Bombay (one of the main culprits in last years flooding, which in most places doesn't even remotely resemble a bludy river - more like a industrial toxic-waste dump if you ask me). To put it very simply -- what goes in must come out. The problem though is that what comes out is usually very foul in comparison to what went in. And that to me is what has happened with the caste-system (which we're still not terribly keen to shake off) and the ensuing reservation problem.

***

On Fanaa-- Haven't seen it yet, but I must say I find it quite silly that so many people are going to watch the movie (in spite of the shit reviews) only to see Aamir and Kajol. Now what I'm thinking is this: if there is indeed such a hunger to see them together, then instead of spending so many crores making a rubbish movie, why not get Aamir and Kajol to sit in the back of an open car and parade them through every major city in the country (except maybe in Gujarat of course) ... Not a bad idea, yes?

Peace, love, and lots more where that came from.

I was a fool to think
you'd always be there
like the sand on the beach

.... I was a bigger fool
for trying to stop you
slipping through my fingers
like the sand on the beach

Two words I utterly detest: Anything & Whatever. Take for example you're at a restaurant with a friend.

So, what would you like to eat?

Anything

In that case you might want to go to the lavatory and help yourself to some SHIT! It's free!

Or, your friend is upset over something and you're trying your best to cheer the blighter up by treating him to a nice meal.

Try the Spicy Chicken Shashlik. You'll love it ... they make it very well.

Whatever

How 'bout I shove a live chicken up your rear-end, you ungrateful turd! That'll lift your spirits!

Now do you see what I mean ... how these two words can really irritate a person. Anyway, this is just something I wanted to get off my chest.

***

Such a big noise over The Da Vinci Code. Have to say I'm pretty disappointed with the Catholic leadership in this country though ... they seem to be quite unsure as to where they stand/what they want. If you want the bludy thing banned, then don't rest until you've achieved it. But starting off with such vehement opposition and then timidly settling for a disclaimer at the start of the movie will only result in your protests not being taken seriously the next time something like this happens. And what about the faithful who heeded your call and went about fasting until death and took out signature campaign's and morcha's in the gruelling Bombay heat - they must be feeling like a bunch of idiots.

You want Dan Brown killed, no problem. For the right reward I'm sure you'll find quite a few youngsters from I.C. Colony, Borivali more than willing to do the job. Or how about kidnapping Tom Hanks and leaving him on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere with only a copy of The Da Vinci Code for company? ... and that French chick - I say put her on a diet of snails till she starts to grow a shell. Whatever it is - decide what you want to do and get it done, dammit!

***

Thanks again for all the blogversary wishes. You guys are the best .... And you girls are so sweet, given the chance I'd want to date every one of you!

BFN.

Freedom's just another word
for nothing left to lose

Can we ever be free? Free of this world and all that it demands of us - day after day, year after year ... lifetime after lifetime? There is always something left to lose; something we want to cling to because we're too damn afraid of what will happen if we let go.

Richard Bach once wrote: "When you come to the edge of all the light you have known, and are about to step out into darkness, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something to stand on, or you will be taught to fly."

***

Blues Over Troubled Waters is now in its fourth year. Long time, no? And this year I forgot all about the blogversary (May 11). I want to thank all of you lovely people for being part of this most wonderful experience. My apologies for the vanishing posts and for not replying to comments - that's something I'm very bad at.

Peopel often ask me how I do what I do, especially with regard to them picture-posts. Well, if I were Kaavya Vishwanathan I'd be able to tell you. But I'm not, so I can't ... though I find it quite amusing that some of you think I'm a girl. Do I sound like a girl?

I don't remember who it was that once said to me: 'Thank you, SwB ... you have touched many lives'

... Again, what can I say? You're welcome.

Peace, love, and false prophets.

and I know now
that the reason I loved you so much
is because I loved myself
so little

just keep going
it's not over yet

... for the writing on the wall
usually gets overwritten

all at sea
my thoughts and me

neither captive
... nor free

On these picture-posts (I won't call it poetry - don't want to upset any of the 'real' poets) of mine that seem to be quite popular, I've often wondered whether, if shown the same picture, you guys would be thinking pretty much the same thing I was.

So I'll tell you what: this time you'll come up with words/poetry/whatever to go with the picture you see below (keep it short, no ram-kahani's). Leave your entries in the comment box (multiple entries allowed) .... show us how spicy them brains really are! :)

is it really
what's inside
that matters

... or is it more
what's underneath?

.... and yet
there is always hope

for however hard it might seem
it is better to untangle the knots
than to burn the rope