Kites * * *

The first thought that comes to your mind after seeing this is, why the hell it took them two and a half years to make a film like this. Was it difficult to get Barbara's dates? Was it the constant interruptions of Suzanne on the sets following the Hrithik-Mori link up ? Or was it the gloomy Kangana Ranaut taking her cool time to cope up grooving along side the hottest ever dancer in bollywood? Whatever dude, the result is not something extra-ordinary anyways.

Even then, it's a great romantic thriller.All the couples must not miss this one.The movie presents to us a all together different aspect of love.Two people who cannot speak the same language, can fall in love.Not just fall, fall really deep that they decide to let go off all the wealth they always wanted, all the glory that they always dreamed of.Not just that, they put their lives on the line for the sake of being together knowing that it won't be for long. The cinematography is really worth watching.The movie will make you believe that love can make you do things you never thought and things that you will never understand.

The couple really looks hot on screen and they do compliment each other.There are a couple of scenes in which barbara has done a real good job.She has not been sidelined by the Greek god. Hrithik on the other hand, hasn't impressed.Maybe, the expectations after such hype were colossal but still.Couple of songs by KK are the soul of the movie and the theme song sung by Hrithik himself is the worst noise in the movie you will hear.Besides the songs and Barbara, the only thing that you will notice is the boring high speed car chases. A typical Hollywood chic-flick action movie.

The reason for it not being appreciated here is India is pretty obvious.The sad climax.Oops ! did I say too much.The opening few lines of the movie say it all that it's going to be a tragic end.So, right at the very beginning of the movie, you can predict at ease.Anyways, yeah yeah unlike all Bollywood movies this does not end on a good note.But then, to me, it's more practical. Most of people in this Kalyug don't end up living happily ever after.It takes some guts to finally show the audience what you want to show them, rather then ending up in showing them what they want and what they have been.Good job Anurag Basu ! Just for the guts and nothing else!

Dolphin Swiming Pool

For a while now I have been planning to go to some pool. It has been more than a year since the last time I jumped into a water body.I missed swimming.Last night after coming from work I was feeling really really sleepy at 10.It is really embarrassing to sleep that early when you are not in school anymore.Anyways, I did realize that the night before I had just slept for three hours and it was OK to compensate that. Ergo I slept and ergo I woke up at 5 in the morning. Somehow it is not possible for me to sleep more than 7 hrs.It felt really good when I came out to the balcony.Dim light and some what cold breeze kissing my face good morning. Waking up early in the morning gives you a confidence that you are ahead of the morons who are still sleeping deep.I know that's crap but that's one damn true fact.

So, I thought I can use this time to swim which i have been wanting lately.Googled 'Swimming Pool Hyderabad'.Got a few numbers.Called here and there.There was one in banjara which started at 6 in the morning.Bingo! Did the basics in the bathroom, took my bag and vroomed to the Dolphin Swimming pool. Finding that place was not at all trouble courtesy google maps. The way the receptionist answered my phone, I thought this got to be some posh pool and good keeping and not so many people.But I forgot, that o my darling, ye hai India. The pool which he promised was a Olympic size one, was not even half of it.There was no changing room for crying out loud.Oh no, there was one, only for the ladies. So unfair, it's not like Man have no ..... never mind.There was a shelf for keeping your stuff which was covered from one end and people were supposed to change on the other side. When I suggested the receptionist that they should at least have a changing room, he came back to me saying," Kya bhaijaan , towel hai na tumhare paas, kyun itna sharmate ho !".

I changed and got into my speedo.I thought I'll just go and dive in to the deep but some how I was feeling that I might have forgotten how to swim. After all, it has been a while. Scared by the thought , I joined a few children on the shallow end. To my surprise, there was no one in the deep end.In fact there were very few people in the pool itself. At least something good about the place.I slowly regained the art of swimming and moved to the deep end.I proudly reached the deep end and congratulated myself for not forgetting the skill.After a few iterations of free style, I got bored and asked the trainer there to teach me some other style,Butterfly may be, I thought.He said, "Come for two more days and then we'll talk". I felt like pulling him into the water and drowning him deep down. May be he is only nice to people who take the member ship of the club. Damn business minded jerks! Back to free style.I covered some more distance.While i was at it, suddenly it felt like some aeroplane crash landed into the pool.When I got a view, it was just a big fat kid jumping into the pool.I think we lost half of the water because of him. And there stood, the proud big fat mom and big fat dad cheering their fat son's blow-up. I wonder did he broke the family record of spilling maximum amount of water out of the pool by jumping from ground zero.I think he did. Then suddenly some more kids joined in. Some with their parent. Suddenly the pool had turned into a water park.

But still, there were fewer people at the deep end. I thought they will never come here.But soon they conquered even the deep end using the tubes and other stuff. They were so many of them. For a second, I thought I had one inside my swim suit as well.Population ! After struggling for few more minutes, I gave up. Never going to this place again. Any how, not a bad start for a weekend.At least, got to swim.

God's own children

There is something special about the place you live in. Even when its just an empty flat. A not so big but not so small room.With a mattress on the floor, few novels on the table, few books for competitive exams, few cloths which demand to be ironed since ages, a deo and a picture worth a thousand words. And also, we got a TV in the hall specially to watch EPL\IPL. For the record, I just chipped in so that I could watch Manchester United lift the trophy for the forth consecutive time.But fate it seems, is not without a sense of irony.My friend Binu who claims to be a chelshit, seems more happy because the red devils didn't win, like zillion other Man Utd haters.

So I was saying, there is something special about home sweet home.All I want to do after nine freaking hours of freaking work that doesn't make any freaking sense, is to go home. I have no clue why I rush so hard.No one awaits me there. No one will be there on the door to hug me in. No one will keep dinner ready.But still, home sweet home.The ride back home was smooth.Although few people with no driving sense at all always bump into you.I wonder why all the people are in a hurry when they are driving. If you were feeling the pressure, why didn't you use the office loo for crying out loud.Anyways, i dropped Binu near the grocery store and came home.Just when I was about to open the door, he called me. He said there was this physically challenged guy near the grocery store who needed some help. I told him that I'll be there in a few minutes. I knew this man he was talking about. In fact ,I admire that guy.His courage.His determination.He is physically handicap and cannot walk at all. He uses a personalised two wheeler to travel to and fro from home to various places. He is an artist. He earns money by making portraits. When I met him the first time, he told me about himself. He asked me if he should make my portrait and I can give him whatever I feel was apt. He not even for a moment seemed sad at his fate. He had no complains. He seemed so happy. At that very moment I questioned myself that why do I complain about life. My problems are nothing in front of his. Nothing.It was a sudden realization. I found my eyes wet in public. I gave him whatever I had and told him you owe me a portrait. He smiled and said he can do it in five minutes.Some other time my friend, I walked back home deep in thoughts. Since then, I met him a few times at the same place.He once told me that the thing that bothers him is that people treat him like useless dirt and and that it makes him very happy if someones just comes and talks to him. I agree my friend.

So, end of flashback. I rushed to the store where Binu was standing near him. His personalised vehicle was out of transmission fluid. He said he has been asking for help since morning and also that this thing has happened so many times that he is embarrassed to ask for help anymore. We told him not think like that. He seemed disturbed today. He said, what good am i doing here, why is God not calling me up there. We told him that because he made such good portraits. I thought this would make him smile, but he didn't.Then we went out to get some petrol for his vehicle. When we got back, we filled his tank and he was good to go. And then he even offered to give us money for the petrol. We told him to keep that for the next time he runs out of petrol. Finally, even though it was a teeny-tiny one, but he smiled. He was all set to go home after a rough day. He needed a push as his vehicle had no self-start button which we all have in our overpriced bikes.Binu gave the push, and there he went. For a moment we stood there, watching him go.

I really admire people like him. You can learn so much from them.And believe you me when I say, they don't need money.All they need is attention, few minutes of your time, a smile may be.That's all. I hope you can do that for those special ones. For God's own children.