GS' Beats

Chapter 1 - The Meet - Now " Thambi , don't you have change? Don't you even think it is unfair to give 2000 rupee note for a bottle of water?" "Sorry Anna . Have only Rs.15 otherwise." Elan was wondering what other options he has. Return the bottle? Go to the next shop? Go to the ATM at the CMBT's concourse to withdraw some cash? 'Have to rule it out. ATM will rule it out.' "Anna, Can I use Paytm to make the payment?" "For Rs.20?" "I will pay Rs.100. You can give me some change also." "I don't trust these things. And even I don't have any change to return. Either you pay Rs.20 or leave. Its 12 in the night and I have no mood to argue." Elan kept the bottle on top of the boxes with butter biscuits and was about to leave, when he heard "I can give you change." It sounded familiar. He turned to his right to find a familiar face. The girl who lived opposite to his house at Nerku

The gruesome Pollachi episode will forever remain etched in our memories. Anger, fear, frustration, disgust, helplessness... The myriad emotions that one experiences can barely be explained. One may not have experienced it first hand, but the fact that this incident is the closest to the epicentre that I have been. At least to the extent that I can immediately recollect. All of us heard about the Grooming Gangs of England , who had been regularly exploiting teenage girls and conditioning them to submit to the gangs sexual fantasies and desires. Even when reading about those, I was largely indifferent thinking that these are things from faraway land, and not something that would ever happen in India. Leave alone in my own State. Definitely not in a town known for its rustic charm. Like most on the social media, I am not privy to all facts surrounding the case, expect to the limited extent I get to read on the news magazines, which are falling fast on the credibility meter. Its b

The UP Municipal election results are out and BJP has won. And people are going bonkers. At one end, BJP is taunting Congress for losing and losing very badly, and at the other side, Congress is highlighting that BJP has lost a seat / few seats in the constituency of Yogi Adithyanath / Keshav Prasad Maurya. Considering that this sounds more like that famous "Pass Persua Fail Perusa" from the movie Gentleman, I can happily ignore their rants as a joke.    It is the media coverage of the same is the one that gets my goat. There is a moron who confidently concludes that "Yogi Adityanath has kept the BJP's vote bank of upper castes firmly with him as these results indicate.". And another moron has attributed BSP's victory to the support of Dalit-Muslims. Where do they get these inferences from? Are they having access to some information which even the Election Commission does not have? Has any one ever mentioned their caste when they vote? No one

A person starting his own business is often cautioned against making such folly. If you fail, there are thousand monkeys to come around and scream "I Told You So!" on your face. If you succeed, there are thousand pigs calling you greedy and money minded. Your failure is attributed to your lack of wisdom and foresight, and your arrogance of not having listened to the sagacious lazy bum. Your success is, of course attributed to unethical means, greasing the palms of the high and mighty, and sale of your soul to the devil.  I am not ignoring the fact that there are people who are genuinely interested in your life, and would be by your side, rain or shine. They share their views matter-of-factly and heartily wish you on your success, and steadfastly support you during periods of distress. All without making any hurtful wise ass comment, unlike the loathsome bums, who will be waiting to scavenge on your failures. The group of bums who, like the agony aunt, are