IF

Nowadays I’m spending a huge chunk of time with IF.

IF is now a persistent term.

IF refuses to leave us easily.

After the conclusion of every dialogue, we make space for IF.

Ironically IF, UFF and OOPH have started sounding so similar; we don’t try very hard to differentiate.

Everything begins with IF. And everything continues in a sleepy pace; but with a resounding IF.

IF is necessary.

IF is vital.

IF is seen clinging to the rim of a teacup.

IF is seen pasted, posted, painted and plastered on social media.

I wonder why aren’t we repeatedly chanting – No Ifs, No buts.

That is how IF has entered our lives; taken complete control of it.

When we stare out of our windows, an IF waives at us.

When we stare at our own home from somewhere outside, the entire building seems to be painted in the shade of IF.

We are living with IF.

We are sleeping with IF.

We are rising with IF.

We are huffing and puffing IF.

We are exchanging one IF for many Ifs and we are trading back with many Ifs to own one prestigious share of a big IF.

IF I may add; IF doesn’t seem to be in a mood to take up the status of being ‘temporary’.

IF is permanent. IF is adamant. IF is absolutely audacious.

Have you tried switching the television nowadays and tried surfing between channels? IF is trending on every channel.

Prominent news anchors are debating over IF.

Panelists are being appointed to analyze IF.

IF is being weighed across different strata of the society.

IF is being criticized, questioned and at the same time replicated across civilizations.

IF is confident. IF is redundant. IF is with us, for us, by us, of us. IF is seeing us.

Till the time this big, bold, bitter IF continues to plague our lives, we will continue to share IF as our Whatsapp status.

So, till the time IF is here; we will only continue to exist.

IF there is no IF, we may someday step out too.

But till then we need to remember, IF is definitely around.

-Virtuous Vociferous

May: Blog #1/ May 19-2021/ 03.00 PM/ Location: The closest boundary wall of an IF

The Missing Rainbow

Photo Courtesy: Google

Deaths are defeating lives.

Diseases are endangering survival.

Everything has changed around us.

Conversations muted. Movement limited. Socializing curtailed. Freedom denied.

The windows are open; the rays of sun are in; the birds are chirping; but human voices have gone missing.

The doors are open; the breeze is in; the dry leaves of plants and trees are flying in; but humans aren’t walking in.

The world seems to stand divided between – Inner and Outer world.

Everything has come to a standstill.

Happiness seems to have vanished.

Time has paused.

The car, which was left parked after a road trip hasn’t gone beyond the housing colony. The air pressure in the tyres is decreasing every day. The fuel tank is on the verge of running dry. The bike, which is in urgent need of servicing is stationary.

Vacations stand cancelled. Engagements and weddings stand postponed.

We have lost half of March, the whole of April and few parts of May.

Our financial scenario looks pale. Our emotional scenario appears scarred.

Queues are to be seen; outside wine shops, ration shops, police stations, offices of local political leaders. Some want to get drunk; some wish to continue staying overstocked; some are willing to go home; some are still eager to seek privileges.

Trains have stopped running. Flights have stopped taking off. Vehicles have stopped moving between cities, districts, states and countries. Ships are anchored at the shores; there are no immediate signs or symbols of them sailing anytime sooner.

Exams have been cancelled. Projects have been stalled. Employment opportunities have been thinning out. The processes of recruitment have been slowing down.

We made some noise. We lit some candles. We did every possible thing to keep the crisis away. But, strangely the crisis seems far from getting over. Every single day, the crisis keeps growing, multiplying.

Deaths are defeating lives. Diseases are endangering survival.

Hotels aren’t available to stay. Restaurants aren’t serving. Sea beaches are sealed. Resorts are shut.

Once upon a time, this life seemed like a colorful rainbow. The rainbow has gone missing.

Right now, desperately seeking The Missing Rainbow.

- Virtuous Vociferous | May 06 | May Blog-1 | What If | 2020

HIT HARD, HIT DEEP

Picture Courtesy: Google

Some people will never change and you have to accept that.

Take for instance, the not so curious case of the little country in our neighborhood. Over a period of long time, this little neighborhood of ours has been involved in most of the disturbing events in our country. Even though they have been in constant denial of the same, a sizable global audience held a common opinion – our neighborhood is a fertile premise, which has been honing terrorism for long.

But what I wish to write today is not about that little country in our neighborhood. But I wish to write about our great nation, which decided to hit this little country hard, and hit it deep down in its hovel.

As gathered from the news headlines and the photographs now made available by ANI, the targeted spots were hotbeds of Jaish-E-Mohammed terror camp. But I still fail to understand as to why they had the flags of US, UK and Israel painted on the staircases of this camp!

All of the above might have its own share of debates, to be followed throughout the day and the days to follow. But the real thing is about India deciding to hit hard, hit deep. Hadn’t we recently been told through the movie URI? Yeh Naya Hindustan Hai. Yeh Ghar Mey Ghusega Bhee. Aur Ghooskar Maarega Bhee (This is a New India. This India will break into homes. And will hit out too). And, very gracefully the country’s leadership made sure to stand true to its words, to exercise complete freedom, to protect our nation.

Coming to talk about the little country in our neighborhood, I am left to wonder as to how they would now retaliate. They will retaliate. But they will retaliate in the coward and overt ways that it has been in the past.

Now, at this moment of time, just come to think of it; India as an idea and India as a nation. Both are so terrifically powerful. Yes we are powerful. All of us, the Indians, no matter where we are born, where we hail from, the pride is to be felt in the way, the world will stay geared to address us – The Indians did it. The entire vibe around these words is about seriousness. As if there is an ongoing echo in the background, which is being repeated – Don’t mess with us the Indians, don’t mess with us the Indians, don’t mess with us the Indians.

Touted as Surgical Strike 2.0, this is our strategically timed reply to not only that little country in our neighborhood. But this is also our straight faced reply to those, who take us for granted. Reviving memories from yesteryear, our nation was once counted as many of the nations, which appeared in the ignored list of third world countries. I think that debate of first world and third world should be put to rest. We are here to stay and we are here to show our might against those who shall attack us, back-stab us and leave us feeling unsettled.

As I move closer to conclude this post, I would like to seek your attention to a comment made in the past against our nation. Someone had said – We will bleed India through a 1000 cuts. I think, today’s strike has put the straining impact of this comment to rest.

Now that we have retaliated, let us be sane enough to not praise an artist who would want to cross over from the little country in our neighborhood and render service in our film industry. I am sure, our film industry will also respect the recent action and the past tragedies.  

Signing off, I wish to express my immense gratitude towards the country’s leadership, which just didn’t preach but made sure to practice. So, if someone asks me – How is the Josh? I shall happily reply, “ALWAYS HIGH SIR”.

- Virtuous Vociferous | February 26 | February Blog-5 | Never Settle | 2019