When the canvas is blank
The options are infinite
Imagination runs wild
Waiting to explode, a dynamite
 
As the mind tries to process
Crystallize from the ambiguity
Conflicts arise and become
A threat to the fluidity
 
Soon the imagination tumbles
From the wild to a bottomless rabbit hole
And we end up refurbishing our old ideas
In parts or in whole
 
They are either our unfulfilled desires
Or a result of our procrastination
That manifest itself as resolutions
Nudging us to move out of our stagnation
 
Hidden somewhere deep within
There’s also a hint of guilt
of abusing our health, nature
and every resource to the hilt 
 
Time has presented us with
Yet another opportunity to undo what’s done
Time to reconsider our steps
And create and complete our masterpiece in 2021

Pragati was a boisterous girl. Though she came from a tier 3 city, she had adapted quite well to the demanding urban lifestyle. Her mannerisms however, still carried the naiveté of her upbringing. The unforgiving city would sometimes take advantage and pounce on her but she proved stronger and would push back vehemently to maintain her dignity.

Her goal was fairly simple. Elevate her family’s lifestyle and get them out of the debt trap and poverty. She wasn’t sure if they were thrusted deep into poverty or if poverty was thrust upon them. Either way, she had to break out of the bureaucratic shackles and she wanted her parents to experience the luxuries of life. At least the basic if not the grandeur.

She was spotted in the campus interview of her small-town college as a bright candidate. She was one of the few who could speak fluently in English, although with a little local twang.

Monday could make or break her dreams and get her family the visualised Golden era. Despite her immediate superior’s apprehensions, the Cluster-Head had recommended her to make the presentation that could get their firm the next big client. Although she was confident, she worried about the reactions from her own set of colleagues more than that of the client’s questions.

She went through the presentation one last time and realised it was past midnight. Although she needed some rest to be sharp and focused on the most important day of her life, Pragati stayed awake the whole night going over the finer details of her presentation. After all, she could not disappoint her Cluster-Head who had shown such faith in her. Also, her own dreams beckoned.

She was slotted as the second speaker right after the opening overview by the Cluster-Head.

As they all gathered in the conference room on Monday morning, Pragati was impeccably dressed and she looked fully confident to turn the events in one swift move.

The Cluster-Head welcomed the clients and made his impressive pitch with the firm’s overview and fantastic track record. During his presentation using one of the client’s questions as an opportunity, Pragati’s boss jumped in and steered the discussion in such a way that it was decided that he present the financials of their proposal after that discussion. Which meant, Pragati’s presentation would be pushed back. She was upset. After all, the financials were neatly packaged in her presentation in such a way that there would be minimal questions. She did not like being manipulated this way. She had to fight back.

The number crunching was so intense, none other than Pragati realized, they had reached lunch time. She attempted meekly to remind everyone that they all needed a break. With a hearty laugh, they broke for lunch.

Her boss sprung another surprise and opened a bottle of rare wine for the clients in an attempt to floor them with his knowledge of wines. Despite it being against the corporate code for both the parties to have wine during lunches, they agreed to make an exception since it was indeed a rare wine that had already been opened. And one cannot waste precious rare wine.

Pragati was fuming. She knew her boss was sabotaging her chance to success.

What could she do? With such a heady discussion in the first session followed by the aged wine, she knew it would be an uphill task to keep her audience awake. Especially during a presentation with the lights down.

She had to think fast. She skipped lunch and quickly ran inside the conference room to make some last minute changes in her set of slides. After all some of it was already discussed in the first half.

After about 40 minutes, the quorum re-gathered for the important decision making discussion.

Pragati was ready with a wicked smile. She knew she had an ace up her sleeve. 

Her boss gave her a quizzical look. She smirked and continued to welcome her guests with the warmth of her smile.

While she was about to hit the F5 (presentation mode in Microsoft Powerpoint) button, she heard her client say, “The wine really has made us so dizzy – I hope you’re not trying to intoxicate us into submission with the contract”. 

While the members from the client group laughed and thought this was a smart snide remark, the hosts were a little worried at the turn of events. The Cluster-Head threw a dirty look at Pragati’s boss.

He now looked wearily at Pragati. The Cluster-Head contemplated taking over from Pragati. Before he could even move in his chair, Pragati played the National Anthem on the speakers, fairly loud. They all sprung up to their feet and stood in rapt attention. They were knocked back to their senses within the next 52 seconds.

She then began her presentation and to everyone’s surprise, she spoke in chaste Hindi and finally ended her presentation with the image that read “Vocal for Local”.

She concluded, “Hamare pratiyogi bahut honge, par ye jazbaa aur hunar ka killer combination aapko aur kahin nahin milega. Aur apne desh ko aatma-nirbhar karne mein ye aapka mahatva-poorna yogdaan ho sakta hai. Dhanyawad.”

The clients were already impressed with the initial pitch and the financial workings. They were now floored at the earnestness of Pragati’s presentation. They loved her passion and her approach. Pragati’s firm was awarded the contract.

After their departure, the jubilant Cluster-Head made an impromptu announcement of Pragati’s promotion and a celebration that very evening. Pragati did not notice the tears roll down her cheeks.

As they reached the venue for celebration in their fancy bus, while alighting, the Cluster-Head stopped by Pragati’s seat. She had dozed off and was fast asleep after a long night and an unpredictable day. She had a smile on her face though.

He gently woke her and softly said, “Pragati, you’ve arrived finally. You have lots more to do. But you need to stay alert and stay AWAKE”. 

We can control NOTHING
AND
NOTHING can control us

After all we come from NOTHING
And go back to the vast NOTHING

The wise say we know NOTHING
We also claim NO one or NOTHING knows us

If you truly believe you have nothing
You have the option to have and experience EVERYTHING

But if you Desire ‘EVERYTHING’
You will end up enjoying NOTHING

In the journey from one NOTHING to another
Experience EVERYTHING and Enjoy every experience like it was NOTHING

Acceptance is the key
As things are, learn to see

Balance is elusive
Peace, however, is inclusive

Basic Fabric of a ‘Society’ is ‘Inter-dependence’
Yet we strive for ‘Freedom’ and ‘Independence’

That right there, is the root of all the stress
Yet, we continue to struggle, nonetheless

Contradictions and conflict a lot
Society being the melting pot

Stop the struggle, break the bubble
And solve the puzzle

Acceptance is the key
Simply BE and Let BE!

At the designated time and site
Prakash waited for his daily byte
Kalpana bounced in with her usual delight
And by default, sat to his right

It was time for their stories to take flight
About forbidden apples, not meant for a bite
Land disputes and brothers breaking into a fight
Or the ones that would invoke some fright

She would narrate them with all her might
Be it splendours of the colourful kite
or the divinity of the pristine white
the character’s plight with examples galore to cite

Prakash enjoyed her versions, heavy or lite
Till it was time to switch off the light
He would savour the delicacies of the imaginary sight
As it would always be DARK for the blind, whether DAY or NIGHT

You are but a data point
Nothing more nothing less
In the journey from birth to death
The occassions are countless

You are but a statistical input
A cog-wheel in the societal throughput
An analyst at times
And at times an analytical output

It’s an intellectual trap
An evolutionary mishap
Ended up at the wrong side of the map
A constant *BOLO* for a U-turn gap

The gap of basic freedom
The oft hyped and overrated freedom
The trick is to “exercise” freedom
And not succumb to the systemic fiefdom

Thereby lies the true choice
To define and re-write yourself in whole
Move from being a mere data point
To being a Free-spirted soul

_{*BOLO – Be On the LookOut
*Fiefdom – a territory or sphere of operation controlled by a particular person or group.}

The basics of living a healthy life
Has been written
The basics of a peaceful life
Has already been prescribed

It’s almost as if
We challenge the texts by
Complicating the situation
And ask for complex answers

But the answers are still
Basic and minimal
It’s up to us to delayer the complexity
And apply the same old prescriptions

No new pearls of wisdom
To be found
No new preaching
Really needed

It’s almost criminal now
To add to the oversaturated
Set of texts
With our versions and interpretations

Information detox
Is the need of the hour
Application of existing knowledge
Is the need of the hour

We just dive inwards
And lo! And behold
The magical wand
Is right there – within

Satiating a need
becomes the seed
to explore possibilities
but soon turns into greed

We need x
But we make y
Just because we can
And end up with surplus on hand

Surplus poses an opportunity,
And We manufacture Demand
We use ‘Marketing’ as a tool
And ‘Push’ for Sales through the roof

Caught up in the crossfire
Between Toplines and Bottom-lines
Ignoring the underlining fact
There’s no “Ownership” on Resources

It may never have been a ‘NEED’ for others
But the ‘DEMAND’ is now created
And the ball is rolling
Albeit in a new direction

Now there is a ‘Demand’
With an obvious ‘NEED’ for ‘Supply’
And a ‘NEED’ for a ‘System’
To carry out every ‘Transaction’

Need has conveniently shifted
from being ‘Basic’ and ‘Individual’
To a creator’s ‘MANUFACTUERD’ system
For a society to ‘FOLLOW’

If the Individual goes back to his needs
The system is at risk of a collapse
Not the individual, but
He is a part of that very System – NOW

The situation today reminds me of a myth:
The society has consumed something
That one can neither spit
Nor comfortably gulp

• 

Why is it always a choice?
Why do we have two minds?
One busy with the future
The other always Rewinds
 
Why do we have to convince ourselves?
Why are we seeped in self-doubt?
Underestimating ourselves
Or at times overselling, we go about
 
Ironically we need intervention
With “Self-Help” – Why?
Constant conflict with
What’s right and what’s wrong – Why?
 
Is our intellect really a boon or a curse?
Abusing the five elements and reaching beyond the sky
We know what we have done and what we have not
But do we really know – WHY?