PENNAME

When...when you're on your own, When all you've got is your soul! When you don't judge and aren't judged by, When you're beyond how,when,why! Then...then we'll talk my friend, Of sunny mornings and rains! Then...then we'll walk my friend, To places that have no chains! Then we'll be what lies my friend, Beyond put-up smiles and petty pains!

Akshat: Are you in periods? Jigyasha: Wha...! Akshat: Since morning, you've been making faces like you have a sharp pain in your lower abdomen. Jigyasha: Am not in the mood really, so could you keep your wisecracks to yourself today? Akshat: I'll quit if you stop sulking over a point two gpa score. Jigyasha: That's not the case. I really thought I'd get more. Akshat: Nope! You didn't. You are upset because somebody in this college scored more than you. Jigyasha: Nooo! You are not getting it... Akshat: Am getting it alright. You are just trying to put up a front here. You aren't ready to accept the fact that you can also come second and you're overreacting. Some guy in the college getting a point-two more than you hardly counts. I got a seven-point-four. Jigyasha: Can you be anymore mean? Akshat: If "honest" to you means "mean", then feel free to live among kinder souls. Jigyasha: Wait, where are you goi...

Akshat and Jigyasha were in the same class for the last six months but had hardly interacted more than a couple of times. Jigyasha is your kind of girl who is great at all things academics but stops short somehow in confidence in approaching a guy for chit-chat. Akshat on the other hand has hardly any confidence issues, yet is too proud to talk to a girl until she approaches. This combination explains their situation despite them having so many mutual friends.                    Its not that they were unaware of each other's existence. She checked him out occasionally as did he. She found him funny and probably good-looking. You see, this "funny" is a very funny emotion that girls attach with guys. It's always open to interpretation so they use it most often. He checked her out mostly because she was well, the topper. Akshat always had a thing for smart chicks. And with all this back story, t...

          Being an Indian patriarchal male, I reserve my right to comment on anything and everything under the sun. Well, by everything I mean almost. I am not allowed to speak on matters of religion. Thats out of bounds even for even the "high and mighty", but everything else is on the table. Of course, I am sensible enough not to criticize the government of the day or for that matter any manner of politician. It is not an ideological stand, just survival instincts.             So no messing up with RELIGION OR POLITICIANS. It still leaves a lot to talk about. I can talk about corruption, everybody does. But this freedom does not necessarily extend to criticizing corrupt people because more often than not they are politicians or corporates or even religion-folks. All no-go areas! Similarly I can comment on issues like governance, healthcare, education, cricket etc but with the aforementioned caveats....