Point Noted

Oh! So now I cannot hold hands with friends in public fearing I'd be married before I could 'register' what was happening.

The concept of moral policing is not new. We have all been exposed to a certain degree of moral policing be it at home, college or in the recent past - clubs and pubs. In fact, I would say we each have a moral police within us - our conscience.

When such is the case, why should people take it upon themselves to make others behave in the manner they deem fit?

My mother has a problem with my wearing noodle strapped clothes. She has not once in the 22 years of my life imposed this 'problem' of hers upon my cousins or friends who have shared a roof with my family. Mum also has a problem with me holding hands with a person of the opposite sex in public. I pointed out to her that I'd rather hold hands in public and proclaim my fondness (platonic or not) for a person than to do so in hiding (the news of which would devastate her). She has not looked at any heterosexual couple with dubious eyes ever since.

A self proclaimed pro-Hindu (apparently) activist, has vociferously heralded that St. Valentine was no martyr but Satan himself. Anyone found tending to the arrow Cupid struck them with, would have to tend to b(l)ows of another sort.

Newton gave us all more than just the laws of motion. He gave us the best lesson we ever needed learning - 'every action has an equal and opposite reaction'. Try as I may, I cannot find a single action or reaction which is EQUAL or OPPOSITE in the mess that we have created for ourselves. I am not game to support the reactions of the opposing side. What I am against, is the fear instilled in me because of such acts.

9th February 2009
I was on my way back from college. It was not over eight and the roads were not deserted. Liking the pleasant touch of wind against my face, I rode at 40 km/h. Half the distance covered, I was basking in the success of the street play I was a part of minutes ago when I heard hooting noises to my right. I did not even think before my heart began to race and a Tata Safari herded with men zipped past me. No sooner had they overtaken me, the hooting stopped and the men retreated their calm and composure. I did not know what to make out of it, especially since a green and orange flag with what looked like a faint imprint of a lotus was hoisted on the bonnet of the car.

Thoughts of owning a gun and flailing it at the goons gushed into my head and I raced home. I did not think much of the event within the four walls of my room and almost forgot the incident.

I now sit back and wonder about the hypothetical possibilities of the event.

Of all the things I said
To you
And all that I should have

When our eyes met
and then again, when you left

Through the intoxicated times
The long walks and rides

There is a lot unsaid
Read.

Pain, it seems, is inevitable
Love, they say, brings in more

Through spoken words
And broken dreams
I continue to be
Yours Truly.

Ninasam, Heggodu

Brown.
The look, the smell
The feel
Earth!

Each step
Inching me
To me.

Naked, raw
Whole
Human and flesh

I'm one. Again.