KOTA: The Suicide Capital of the country

I had stopped writing on ‘God’ and ‘Education system’ because these topics are least bothered in a country like India where when an actor says something on intolerance becomes instantly the topic of discussion of news channel while the news of death of our army men ends appearing in a small column in a local newspaper. But this time, it is important for us to think where we are taking our country.

A few days back, I met one of my friends who had left the city to seek coaching in one of the most reputed institute in Kota. I asked him how he felt there and what is so special about Kota, that every year so many kids leave their homes to study there. “It feels like a mini India” he told me, “You can see kids from all the states. The first few days are magical but...” he stopped. I asked him what was troubling him but he refused to answer and changed the topic instead. It was recently, I realized what was troubling him while watching a news channel.

It showed a report of a student, particularly a dropper (Dropper is a student who wasn’t able to crack the entrance exam in first attempt(s) and is preparing again) committed suicide. Not only this, in October this year, three students of class 12^th tried to commit suicide.

Kota, referred as the ‘Education Capital’ has instead turned into the ‘Suicide Capital of India’. Every other day a student commits suicide. Suicide news in Kota have become as common as the news of our prime minister going to a foreign visit (I won’t make any more jokes on that because first, I don’t want Anupam Kher to march to my home and second, I like ink more in a pen). Nobody frankly gives a damn.

So why do these students commit suicide? Why do they think that death is a better option for them? Well before coming to the answer of this question, let me bring some facts before you:

1   All the junk food industry (Chips or instant noodles) have their maximum sale in Kota. More and more industries are being opened every other day in Kota to meet the growing demands.

2   Going to Kota has become a trend now a days. Parents send their children forcefully to Kota in hope of a better future for their kids.

And

    There has been a tremendous increase in the cases of drug addictions in Kota. Drugs and Alcohol have become the new pain killer for stress for kids studying there.

So coming to the question, why do they do so? The answer is as simple as hell. It is fear.

Imagine a class of 60,000 students. Jerks, intelligent, dumb all together. In a test, most of them fail but some of them pass. There are some toppers too. How will you feel when your parents are told that you have a rank of maybe 40,000 out of those 60,000. It is sure to hurt and disappoint. Sometimes this disappointment is what takes a violent turn into suicide.

It is not that those who fail in those exams are dumb or don’t know anything. It is just that they are not ready for the competition. Most of them are sent forcefully by their parents and hence are unable to take the pressure leading them engaging into activities like drug abuse, etc.

After reading all this, there must have been a very bad and disastrous image of Kota being formed in your mind but it is the truth. So how can we overcome this problem? How can we stop young minds of our country from committing suicides? There are a variety of solutions to this. Some of them are below:

1.       In a country like India, we need to discuss these things. Yes we have enough time to go shopping. Yes we have enough time to catch the latest episode of our favourite daily. Then why can’t we discuss issues like student suicides?  It is funny to see that no news channel covered the rate of growing suicide attempts in India but instead showed Rahul Gandhi’s latest interview (Well this must be the last thing they would be showing on national TV)

2.       The government needs to take better steps in order to insure that the students don’t feel like they are isolated. Each year about 13 Lakh students give the JEE Mains but only 10,000 get selected. Well all of them, as per criteria meet the requirement of minimum of 70% marks in 12^th board which means that they are not dumb. They actually have a mind. All we need is to create more resources for them.

And

3.       Motivation is what they need the most. Today we have platforms like Facebook and Twitter where we can share our views. we can use it to motivate them. More student oriented movies should be made (Hey, wait. I guess the censors will end up cutting all the suicide scenes so that is not possible as of now). After all, a failed living student is far better than a dead achiever .

India's biggest enemy!

Well the title of the Article was enough to bring flashing images from that of terrorists to newspaper reports with 'Scams' as their headline. But this is not about it. You see him everyday.  Many of us love him. Wait, I am not talking about Yo Yo Honey Singh. It is 'Junk Food'.

Thank you for not closing your browser. I know all of us have been hearing shit about 'Junk food is fatal' and 'we should avoid it' and much more from childhood but frankly, no one (including me) gives a damn about it because we have much more important issues to discuss (The new song from Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, for an instance). But today, I am going to highlight some important facts that will force you to think on the condition of 'Citizen Fitness' in this country. But first of all, let me make one thing clear:  I dont have hatred against fat people. I think that I am overweight too so that is not a problem.

So coming to the point, Yes India is lacking fitness. How do I know? Just simply take a ride through your area and check if you see an obese person or not. While that would be very weird to stare at random people, just for the sake of finding out do it. I am sure you will find hell lot of obese people (mostly chilldren). A study shows that one of every three is obese. Well you might be wondering that being obese isnt a big deal (Probably because you can hide it by wearing oversized clothes) but it is not about appearance. It is about what is happening inside the body.

Obesity leads to following things:
1. Diabetes
2. High Blood Pressure
3. Coronary Artery Disease
4. Coronary Vascular Disease
5. Heart attack
6. stroke
and even
7. cancer.

So how can we avoid it? I mean in today's busy life, we hardly have time to click a selfie or two (hard coughs). How can we manage to get rid of this major threat. Well, we can do it by taking the following steps:

1. Take some steps. Yes, literally take some walk. Use the stairs instead of elevator. Go on foot for short distances (Keeping in view the growing lazyness among humans, there will be one day when they would be using  means of transports even to go to pee)

2. Avoid junk food. While this isnt as difficult as holding breath or climbing everest, it can be easily done. You wont be doing anyone a favour by doing this.

3. Have a healthy lifestyle.

4. Eat a balanced diet.

And more importantly

5. Discuss your fitness.

So next morning when you wake up, stand in front of the mirror and ask yourself, 'Am I really fit?'

Thanks to my friend Dhruv Gupta who taught me the importance of fitness in one's life.

P.S: This article was written when the writer was having a Maharaja Mac burger with large coke. So dont take him so seriously.

P.P.S: This article was uploaded through the free wifi provided by McDonalds. Thank you McDonalds!

Meeting Mahatma..

‘Happy birthday Gandhi! Happy birthday Gandhi! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday Mr.Gandhi!’ I sang as I opened my laptop to post my annual ‘Happy Gandhi jayanti to all!’ on Facebook. I sat on the sofa in the living room. 

No one was home. My family had gone to their respective work place to get a photo clicked of them holding a broom and cleaning an already clean road to show their support to the ‘Swacch bharat Abhiyan’ (more particularly, to appear in tomorrow’s newspaper).

I opened Facebook and typed a long and boring message highlighting what Mr.Gandhi did for the country and how we can contribute to it. These things are very odd to post in my age, when people post useless shit.

‘Thank you’ a voice said. The voice appeared to be that of an old person. I brought my ears near the laptop’s speaker to check whether the sound was coming from it.

‘I said thank you’ the voice again said. I shifted my view to the other sofa in the room. What I saw made me shift in my own seat. Mahatma Gandhi was sitting on it, smiling at me.

‘What the!’ I screamed as I got up and covered my face with my palm. I was really scared at that particular moment. Thinking that the spirit would've vanished, I removed my hand from my face. And to my horror, he was still sitting there, smiling at me like I had seen in his photos. He was wearing his all time white dhoti and Kurta.

Frankly, I emptied the whole water bottle. Sweat beads appeared on my face even though the fan was on its maximum speed. I was in a state of horror and shock.

‘Mahatma?’ I said fixing my gaze on the person who out of nowhere appeared in my  house and sat on my sofa smiling kindly at me and ‘Thanking’ me for wishing him.

I mentally kicked myself. Who the hell told you to stay at home and sing that Happy Birthday song of yours? You think you are Arijit Singh huh?

‘Laksh’ he said, ‘what are you thinking?’.

‘Thinking how someone who died a long time ago can appear in front of me’

‘I am here only because of you’ he said, his expression serious.

‘Me? Wait, I haven’t done anything wrong! I love my country! See my laptop’s wallpaper is a photo of Tiranga’ I said showing him my laptop with shivering hands.

‘I know that you love your country. You wanted to ask me some questions don’t you?’ he said. He was right. I had thought about some questions to debate on with my friends. I wanted to knew what Mahatma would think about the present situation of our country. His ideas of practicality and non violence always amazed me.

‘Come on. Ask me whatever you want to’ He said.

‘Will you have some tea?’ I said. Which spirit on earth drinks tea Mr malhotra?

‘Oh sorry. I have three questions. All three of them are based...’ I said as he interrupted me.

‘Based on the present situation of our country?’ he said.

‘Um. Yes’ I said.

‘My first question. What do you make of the ‘Swach Bharat Abhiyan’?’ I asked, ‘And is it necessary for us?’

‘Laksh, have you ever been to a temple?’ He asked me. Well, I am an atheist and the last time I went to a temple was nearly four years ago.

‘Yes, I have been there’ I said scratching my head. How is temple related to the Clean India Campaign?

‘So what do you do before entering it?’ he asked. It looked like he was interviewing me.

‘The temple?’

 ‘Yes, the temple’

‘I...Remove my shoes’

‘Oh so does anyone remind you about that? Does anyone keeps telling you to remove your shoes every time you go to the temple or you do it by yourself?’

‘I do it by myself’

‘Yes that is the point. When you remove shoes by yourself, without anyone telling you, why don’t you throw waste at right place without these big holdings and banners that remind you of disposing things at a proper place?’ He said, his expression the same. He had a point.

‘But I don’t throw waste on road!’ I protested.
‘What about the wrapper you threw from your car on the road yesterday?’ He said. Looks like you cant outsmart Mahatma Gandhi!

‘What can I do?. There are no dustbins’ I said in defense.

‘Tell the government to use the money they spend on my statues to buy dustbins and place them in every locality’ he said, 'I dont need that large land the government has occupied in the name of my grave. I never said bury me in 100's of hectares of land. The land could be used to make new schools, hospitals and many more things that can help the nation!'

‘They will think I am an idiot!’ I said. Who on earth will believe that I met Mahatma Gandhi?

‘Everyone has views  like that. But they don't express it because they think they will come across as an idiot. And that is where our nation sets back’

'So we simply don't need this clean India campaign?' I asked puzzled.

'The world doesn't need it. But our country does' he said his eyes observing the living room.

‘Okay, I have your views on the Clean India campaign. Now my next question, what do you have to say about the terrorism that is growing day by day in this world?’ I asked. The conversation was getting interesting!
‘

You know what, a bullet could only kill me. Not my ideas’ he said.

‘Yes I understand’

‘But you know what peace and nonviolence can do?’

‘No’ I said. I guess all it can do is increase the syllabus of history in schools!

‘It can change a person’s mindset. You can convince him to get on the right path and he will turn into a good person. It can create new ideas’

‘So what you want to say is that we can convince them to get on a right path’

‘Yes. The main cause of terrorism is illiteracy. These people are young, literate and gullible. And this is where evil people strike and take advantage of their innocence’ he said, letting out a breath.

‘But we simply cant go and speak to them. It is difficult’ I said. His expression suddenly become cold.
‘It was never easy to get India independent son, still we did it’ he responded.

‘And my last question, do you have anything to say to the youth?’ I asked, coming to the end of the conversation-interview which I wanted never to end.

‘I only have to say is that you are good. All you need is to become better. Its you who will make the country better. How more do you think these old people in the parliament will keep the country balanced.  Today you have  these Facebook and many more social networking. Use them as a platfrom to discus social issues. Use them to bring changes. Change your mindset not your profile picture’ He said, with that smile returning to his face. Even Mahatma Gandhi has a good knowledge of social networking, I smirked.

‘Thank you Mahatma for answering all my questions. I just loved your answers. Wait, let me bring my camera. I want a photo with you’ I said as I rushed towards my bed and picked my camera.

As I returned back to the living room, the sofa was again empty. The spirit of Mahatma Gandhi had disappeared teaching me a lot of things. Things every youth has to follow.

‘Wake up’ My mom said.

‘What time and date is it?’ I asked her rolling my eyes.

‘It is 10:00 and the date is 2^nd of October. You slept on the sofa whole night and what book is that
you are holding?’ she asked me as I brought the book closer to my face. It was ‘My Experiments with Truth’.

‘Gosh Laksh, you were reading it all night. Go have some sleep’ she said as I stood up and rushed towards my bedroom and opened my laptop.

‘What are you doing?’ my mom said following me to my room.

‘Writing a blog....’

Some 'More' on the latest project!

Dear reader,
I have decided to name My next will be named as 'Revenge Digitalized'. It will be written from perspective of two people, one from a father and the other from the son. What makes it interesting is the little cross cutting of ideas of the father and the son. Moreover, the son has the ability to break the fourth wall ( Talk directly to the readers). All these things I am experimenting for the first time. Please keep supporting me. And one more thing, thank you for more than 7,000 views to my content.  Its a huge number and I hope this number keeps increasing. Frankly, I never imagined such a huge number. That too without a Times of India's front page ad!  Please follow me the next time you like one of my posts to show some more support! And one more thing,  I will not be selling my blog to adsense as suggested by google (google's  advertising website) only for money. I don't want money. I only want love!







   Below is some more from my latest.

‘Car crash kills two’ I read out the headline of the newspaper to my little six year old daughter. I had promised her that I will teach her how to read her the newspaper so that she can show off her extraordinary skills (heavy coughs) to her friends. 

I didn’t know whether it was appropriate to start with such a news but I could find anything else more interesting. Accidents are not a very common thing in Jammu, my city. Wait, I forgot to introduce myself. I Kartik Kumar am the head of marketing department of Hewlett Packard (known as H.P) computers of the Jammu head office. I live with my daughter, son, wife and parents. And my fate to say, I am ‘Middle class’.

‘What?’ she asked me puzzled scratching her little chin. Looks like kids don’t understand road accidents.

‘I said that a car crash has killed two people. Oh wait; the two were father and son. Poor fellows’ I said lost in my own pity and poor world. What a life did god gave to them.

‘Dad see. My friend Astha, Shobha and Amishka know how to read a newspaper. Teachers praise them and all the class clap’s for them. I also want to be like them but looks like you cant teach me. I better ask bhaiya’ she said with anger in her eyes. Frankly, for that second even I was scared of my daughter. She was behaving like an idiot, I guess.

Thinking of an idiot, my phone rang. It was from my boss, the General Manager of operations, Sh. S.K Iyer . Frankly, he was an idiot. A south Indian from Chennai when gets transferred to a city like Jammu and adapt to the north Indian way of living gives you my boss.

‘Yellow’ he said in his thick south Indian accent. His taste in food must’ve changed but his accent didn’t. He wanted to say ‘Hello’.

‘Good morning sir’ I said as I don’t know why, stood up from my chair startling my daughter.
‘Good morning eh? Martik..’
‘Sir it is Kartik’ I said. That bastard had a terrible habit of acting to forget my name to show how much unimportant I am in his life.
‘Whatever. So Kartik, is today Eid?’ he said. I was puzzled and glanced at the calendar on the opposite wall.
‘No sir’
‘Diwali?’
‘No sir’ I said. Bastard should have a calendar in his room. Why was he asking me such things?
‘Yidiot, then why are you not here’ he shouted. It felt worse than a dog’s bark. I hurriedly checked my watch. It was 11:40 and I was late by half an hour.
‘I will fire you!’ he again shouted.
‘And I will set you on fire’ I whispered as images of me pouring gasoline on a hand cuffed and tied with a chair Iyer appeared in my mind. He tried to speak but was gagged. Suddenly I took out a matchstick and set him on fire. A devilish smile appeared on my face.

‘What? I didn’t hear it. Bastard come to aafice. I will see you today’ he spoke distracting me from my thoughts. Thanks heaven he didn’t hear me.
‘Yes sir coming’ I said as the ignorant bastard hung up.

‘Meenal!’ I shouted. In a fraction of seconds my wife appeared in the room with a tray with my blood pressure medicines and a glass of milk filled above its capacity almost about to spill.

‘No time for this. Where is Lakshman?’ I asked her. Lakshman, my useless son which had a habit of sleeping through days and I guess nights too.

‘He is sleeping’ She said politely with a smile.

‘Bastard! He told me that he will help me with that god damn presentation today’ I slammed my wrist on the table. My daughter who had just gone into sleep woke up with a jerk, in her seat. I work like a donkey and my son sleeps like a horse!

‘Cool down ji. Cool down’ she said, ‘Have you taken your medicines?’
‘No. Thanks for reminding me’ I said with a smile and galloped down the tablets, taking a sip of the milk. Who needs a personal assistant when you have such a caring and lovely wife!

I wore my bag and waved my daughter and my wife good bye. I sat on my old rusted, 1998 model bike and kicked it to ignition. I was lucky it started on my third attempt; else it takes me about a dozen. With smile on my face, I drove towards my office.

‘Wake up Lakshman!’ my mom said shaking me while I was on my trip to the Kennedy Space Centre, US. Well to be particular, in dreams.

‘What time is it?’ I asked as I rolled my eyes.

’12 of the evening. Your dad was too much angry today because of your lazy, late waking up habits’ She said.

‘Tell me something new mom. And I am just sixteen. It is the age of waking late and partying hard’ I said.

‘You are missing something’

‘Umm.. Showing off your new clothes to friends?’ I guessed.

‘No! Its studying. You don’t study much. Your dad said you told him that you will help him with a presentation today but you didn’t. That is not good’

Frankly, I am just like you. Yes you, the one holding that god damn novel and laughing on my situation. The only difference is that I am a little screwed, middle class and wait a teenager too

Exclusive Passage of my upcoming Project! Plus a Little Thank You!!!!

My dear readers,

Thank you for constantly (more constant then the value of Plank's constant!) supporting me. It makes me feel good when I hear your views on my blogs and stories. Its been recently when people come to me and ask me my blog's website (which saves me from advertising) and feel related to in a sense to my blogs. Thank you for your support! Thank you again! I love you! Below here is my latest project's exclusive Passage. Hope you like it!

P.S: Do watch this space on 2nd of October! A little Surprise

Laksh Kishore

                                                  I

‘Hurry up Gopi!’ His father said, ‘We are getting late! School tomorrow’ he continued as his little five year old son stood on his toes peeping inside the ice cream van’s fridge searching for his favourite flavour. The owner of the van rolled his eyes as he checked his watch. It was half hour past midnight. His kids would be waiting for him too.

The road was empty. The only street light flickered. The man and his son Gopi had come to a roadside ice cream vendor to buy ice cream for themselves.

‘Grandpa likes butterscotch’ little Gopi said coming back at his feet.

‘I don’t know whether he likes butterscotch or not, but I am sure that if you don’t hurry I will kick your butt’ His father said as he yawned. Middle class life is worse than all. Work like a donkey, earn a little, save a little and then die.

Gopi giggled as he told the vendor to give him three butterscotches. The vendor thanked handed the kid the ice creams and thanked the almighty as he took the money from Gopi’s father because it was the last buck he earned today.

‘Thank you’ Gopi’s father said holding his little finger’s ready to go to home.

Suddenly the sound of scratching tires startled Gopi and his father as well as the vendor. A car was coming straight towards the van in high speed. 

In a fraction of seconds the car ripped through the van running over the father and son while the vendor’s blood spread on the car’s body as his body, in a mashed condition rested on the wind screen.

The driver got out of car and cursed heavily in the air while talking to someone on phone. It was clear that he was drunk and was using his cell during driving which caused the accident.

‘Shit!’ he vomited, struggling to keep a balance and holding a phone in his right hand.

‘Nothing baby. Nothing happened. I am coming... Oh no that was just a... dog’ He said on his phone.

Gopi’s was no more. He was breathless; his eyes wide open with blood covering his face but his father was still alive. He was breathing heavily as he saw the driver with pitiful eyes.

The driver hung up and glanced at Gopi and his father. His father placed his hands on his chest as the car drove ran over it injuring him badly.

‘Sa..ve... M....e’ his father cried watching the driver intensely. The driver was in his mid 20’s and had a muscular yet small frame. He had a fair complexion.

‘No! No! No!’ the driver said to himself again cursing in air as he got into his broken car and reversed it causing the bruised body of vendor to fall down.

‘Plea..se..’ Gopi’s father cried again. The driver sped off in thin air and watching the car rushing through the empty road, Gopi’s father too become breathless and closed his eyes preparing himself for a journey to a new world.

 A world where real humanity existed. A world where happiness was the only money. A world where technology doesn’t controls people....

Poor kid's Rich Dream!

I checked my watch. It was 1:51 PM as the car stopped outside my institute . I had to attend my English class at 2:00. I got out of my car and thanked my driver as I saw him leaving. I stood in the sun feeling it burning me until I felt something against my feet.

A little kid wearing a Bag that Read 'Lenovo' holding Shoe polish was trying to clean my shoes with a cloth.

'Hey! You don't have to do this!' I protested, bending down to his height, on my knees and Holding his shoulders firmly as I observed him.

He seemed poor. Poor as hell. He had a too much short hair cut. His skin was Tanned. Why was he working? Doesn't he go to school? Welcome to the real india, Laksh

'If I don't do this, I will have no money to buy food and Die of starvation' he said and smiled. Death? In such a young age?

'You want to eat something' I asked him as I stood up.
'Yes' he replied as he smiled. I checked my watch again. It was my time to attend the class. It was 2:00.
Classes can wait Laksh, This guy cant!
'Follow me' I said as I made my way towards NesCafé near my Institute.

'So why do you have to work? What do your parents do?' I asked,  walking.
'I don't have parents' He said, 'They died when I was young'
'So where do you live?'
'I live in my Grandmothers House. It is there' he said pointing towards the west.
I stopped as I was standing before NesCafé's door.
'Come in' I said to him as I held the Door open.
He was shy from entering the Cafe.
'Hurry up!' I said and this time he followed and came inside.
I took him to the counter and told him to order whatever he wanted to.

'This. This. And This' he said pointing towards a pocket Pizza, Sandwich and a  cheese patty.
I ordered all of them for him.
'You drink tea?' I asked him. He nodded. I ordered a tea too.
'Sit there. I will come and join you' I said pointing towards the round chair. He followed my instructions.

I pay the bill and took the tray containing all that stuff to the table.

'That's all yours' I said as he smiled again.
'You won't have?' He asked me as he stuffed a bite of everything in his mouth.
'No. I have had lunch. Hey, eat slowly. Its all yours. No one will take it' I said.
'So what is your name?' I asked him.
'Arun. My name is Arun' he replied sipping tea from the disposable glass.
'So Arun, why don't you go to school?' I asked with a serious face.
'Because I don't have money. My grandmother is old. She can't earn. That's why' he replied.
'Okay. What is your aim in life?' I asked him being intrusive.
'I want to become a police men. People will salute me than. I will have a large home. Large, Large car' he said as he spread his hands farther, signifying the size of his car.

'I guess it won't happen' I said.
'Why?' He stopped eating and looked at me.
'Because if you keep doing this, no ones ever going to salute you. You will never have a large home nor a large car' I said pointing to his Bag which contained shoe cleaners.
He became sad. Happiness fell of his face. Maybe he realized what I was speaking was true.
'So you know what you have to do to become a policemen?' I asked him.
'Yes' he replied with a smile.
'Can you tell me what is it?' I again asked him.
'Go to school' he said. Mission accomplished! I high five him.
'Okay Arun. I have to go' I said as I stood to leave.
'My grandma is also hungry' he said. I understood and went to the counter to get 2 Cheese patties packed.
'Here you go' I said handling him the little brown packet. He happily accepted it.
A group of people sitting next to us offered him their Sandwich. He took it and put it into the bag.
'Okay so lets click your picture' I said as I took out my camera and clicked pics of his happy face.
'Okay Arun. Bye!' I said as I stood to leave.
'I want to tell you something in english' he said.
'Okay!'
'Thanku' he said in broken english. I waved him good bye as I left the Cafe and Reached for the elevator. I entered it and pressed for Third floor.
It was 2:45. I am going to be screwed big time.
I entered the Institute.
'Where is Sir?' I asked the receptionist.
'Sorry Laksh, he has gone for a meeting. He wont come today, I guess' the receptionist said as I smiled.
Karma. What you give, you get....

The Swach Bharat Abhyan Swag!

I got out of Burger king with disappointment. No burger was able to feed my hunger. I was still hungry. I went to the shop nearby and asked for a Pack of Chips and Cold drink. I ate them all the mid way to my hotel, and threw them on the road.

"Hi!" A foreigner greeted me as I stopped near him after 10 minutes of Walk.  He looked like he was of 'british' origin. He was Wearing a large blue cap and aviators in Hot,  burning sun.

I was on my way to hotel from Connaught Place. I glanced at my watch,  It was Three of the evening. My family was waiting for me in the Hotel.

'Hi buddy. Any help you need?' I asked him. Athithi Devo Bhava is in our blood.

'Yup. I just needed some assistance with these' He said as he showed me an empty wrapper of 'Lays' and Two Cans of 'Pepsi' he was holding.

Whoa man! Did I come across as a municipality officer or some poor sweeper making that Gora ask me such question? I checked my clothes. I was wearing a red T Shirt and Blue Denim jeans. God, I never have seen a sweeper in such better condition. So why is he asking me so?

'Assistance as in what?' I asked as politely as possible. He smiled.

'I want to dispose them. But no Dustbin is here in my sight. Do you know where the bin is?' He asked. I literally laughed. If I was in his place, I would have Thrown those on the road and than Cursed the Government for not maintaining  cleanliness.
Ironic, isn't it Laksh?

'I am not a resident of this city. I don't know where the dustbin is' I said struggling for a straight face.

'Never Mind. I am Jack Luke. I live in NY' He said as he brought his empty right hand towards me. We shook hands and I told him about myself.

'So you are also staying in The Park!' He said after I mentioned him my hotel.

'Who else is staying in there?' I asked

' Well I am also. And My Delegations too' he replied with a smile.

Gosh why are these foreigners always happy? The joy on his face was brighter than a Person who just qualified for Delhi University's Cut Off.

'Lets go then' I said as we both started to walk towards the Hotel. He was holding those wrappers and cans firmly in his left hand, like someone protecting diamonds.

We talked about India. The Modi sarkar. I told him that he looks like those people in the swach bharat abhiyan ads who like to throw things in place. He laughed.

'So you mean you like the Swach Bharat Abhiyan?' I asked him.

'Yup. Your country needs a campaign to make people realize this whereas in my country, its our responsibility not to dispose waste in public' he said.

'That is very rude of you' I frowned. Boy he had a point.

'You know what, we get to pay fine if there is more than 25% of food in our waste' he said with a serious expression.

I would have been in Jail if such policy existed in India due to my food wasting habits.

We reached our Hotel. Still no dustbin was found. The impression of Indian Authorities in his mind must be worse.

He disposed those in the Large green bin outside the hotel, and than returned to me.

'Mission Accomplished' he said with a dazzling smile.

'Congrats' I said.

'Well did you recognized anything?' He asked.

Recognized? What? My poor country? Lack of Dustbin?

'No' I said, confused.

'Those were the wrappers and can you threw on road. I was watching you distinctly but I didn't said anything' he said. What the? Shit. I felt embarrassed in front of him. A foreigner teaching me 'How to be a good indian?' Shit

'I am S...Sorry' I said.

'Don't be sorry. Improve your actions. Remember US was also once like this only. We changed, the world changed' He said as I waved him and entered the elevators and went to my room.

My younger sister was having some sandwiches in the room. She declined to eat the rest and hence wasted it.

'Eat it! Remember US was also once like this. We changed, the world changed' I said to her. And my fate to say, she dismissed it like she always does...... 

The Story of a Fat Depressed Kid!

The lazy fat kid got out of his school van. His heart was pounding as he knew; today Class 10th Results would be out. His mind was playing tricks on him. All these thoughts made him sad.

He slowly walked towards the Gate of his house. With each step; the pain in his heart was increasing. Suddenly a cat crossed his path. The lazy fat kid didn't believe in such superstitious things. He is an Atheist. But the myth of being unfortunate after a cat crosses your path (hindu mythology) made him even more depressed. He opened the gate and walked up to his house.

He saw his mother sitting on the sofa and talking with some relative on her phone as he entered the home.
"I have heard the result is out!" His mother screamed. He gave her a wry smile as his heart pounded even more after hearing the news. He said nothing. He went to his room and changed his School uniform. He was now wearing his old rugged t shirt with pyjamas.

"What has happened. Why you look so sad?" His mother asked. He had to reply.

"Nothing. Just nervous. Has dad checked the official website?" He said. With every passing second; his nervousness was also increasing.

"Yes he has. But he says that due to heavy load; it is unable to load. You should also try from your Phone" his mother said. He turned away towards the washroom to take a bath.
He entered his room again to take a towel with him. There he found his tablet. He stood there thinking for a while. Should he check the website ? What will be his result? Will he ruin his parents expectations? What will his relatives think of him?

Thinking these things he opened the official site of CBSE and typed his Roll number and Date of Birth. The page loaded slowly slowly; one line at a time until it loaded the whole page.

"8.8!" He screamed as the tablet fell from his hand. Fortunately enough; it landed on the bed beside. He felt too much sad for himself. Sad for his marks. Sad for the world.

"What? 8.8?" His mother asked shocked as if she found her son was an ISIS Agent.
"Ah; Yes" he said in a broken tone. The world fell apart for him.
"I am calling your dad, send me the screenshot" his mother said. Obeying her; he sent the screenshot of his result to his mom's phone.

Sadness took over him. His friends would laugh at him. He should jump from the roof or he shouldn't?. He took out his phone and one by one called all his friends.
"10!" Screamed one
"9.8!"
"9.4"
"9.2"
"8.8" the last friend answered. He felt relax as there was someone who had the same marks as him. But inside; a fire burnt him. A fire named 'Jealousy'. He went to his room and sat quietly on the bed. He broke into tears.
Suddenly his phone vibrated. It was from a friend who he never talked to . He ignored the call and hung up.
Again his phone buzzed. Again; there was a call from that *ignored* friend. He picked the call up in anger.

"What the heck do you want?" The lazy fat kid glared on phone.
"Whoa brother. How much did you got?"
"8.8!" He said as he was tired telling his less grades to everyone.
"Congratulations!" His friend said. This was the first Congrats of the Day to Him.
"How much did you got?" He asked. He wanted to know every kid's grade point. Jealousy had hit him too much bad.
"7.8! And you know brother; I am happy for myself" the person on the other side said.
What? 7.8 and happy? Has he lost his mind? He should have been committing suicide but he is happy....

"Tell me. Which mithai are you going to bring tomorrow?" His friend said.
"Have you lost your god damn mind? Mithai? Celebrations? For 8.8? You should have died of shame you poor shit" the lazy fat yet jealous kid said.
Was jealousy seriously burning him up?

With this he hung the phone and lay back on bed staring the roof.
Suddenly two persons looking exactly as  the Lazy fat kid appeared before him. One was dressed in white and another in black. He jumped in his bed. The White and Black dressed kids exchanged glares.

"He got so much less marks. But he is still happy. Why cant you be happy? So what if out of 10 lakh students; 3 lakh have more marks than you. You should be thankful to god that 7 lakh students are still below you. And what are you doing? Sulking and being jealous over your friends good marks and planning suicides? Boy you are being an arse!" His intelligent side dressed in white said.

"The world has ended my boy. Nothing is left for you in this world. You can't make a good life out of 8.8 grades. What will the family think of you? Your parents will be ashamed of you. The whole clan will spit on you!" His idiotic side dressed in black said.

"Can you please shut up!" He shouted at the black dressed look a like. His younger sister startled as she heard his shout. Immediately both the Fat Lazy kids disappeared in thin air.

He found the words of his intelligent side  better. He felt Relaxed. So what if he couldn't have a good score? He still could contribute to the world and country. He could still be a good citizen. He could still be a good student. After all life is not about Marks.
Nobody remembers their  CGPA or Percentage or Selection on their deathbed.

The Lazy fat kid picked his phone up again and Dialed the last number of the *ignored* friend.

"Hello bhai; I am sorry for my behavior. Which mithai should I bring tomorrow? Should I  drop you there tomorrow?".........

P.S: The Above Mentioned Lazy fat Kid is Me. Thank you for reading all this. Thanks for your time and Love......
Love
Laksh