SONS OF THE SOIL

JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DUE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL, ALMOST ALL FLIGHTS ARE EITHER CANCELLED OR DELAYED. BETRAYED TRAVELERS HAVE NO OPTION BUT EITHER TO WAIT OR RETURN

The waiting area is over crowded with travelers who are tired, annoyed & adjusting themselves. The luggage is scattered with all over the place. Not a single seat is unoccupied. Many are standing or sitting over their own luggage. In all they are not happy.

STRANGER 1: Hi (to another stranger). Can you please pass me that “Time” magazine”?

STRANGER 2 GIVES THE MAGAZINE TO HIM.  STRANGER 1, UNINTERESTED IN THE MAGAZINE IS UNABLE TO IGNORE THE BOREDOM AND FEELS RESTLESS. HE WANTS TO TALK TO SOMEBODY.

STRANGER 1 (after a while): Hey!! What you think……….snow will stop??

STRANGER 2 (seems uninterested): It will, if it has to.

STRANGER 1: Yaaaaaaa. I wish they had cancelled my flight. By the way I’m Shahnawaz. Shahnawaz Khan (forwards his hand to the Stranger 2).

STRANGER 2: (Shaking the hand) Hi!!!! Myself Dev. Dev Mehra (still uninterested in the talks)!!!!

SHAHNAWAZ: So DEV, where are you heading?

DEV LOOKS AT SHAHNAWAZ FOR A WHILE. DOESN’T SAY A WORD. BUT SHAHNAWAZ IS DESPERATE TO KNOW AND GIVES AN IMPRESSION THAT HE HAS 1000 QUESTIONS

DEV: I am…....I’m going to Pakistan (says softly).

SHAHNAWAZ: Pa….Pakistan (says questionably)??? But you look like a Hindu?? Are you in media?

DEV (Smilingly): I live there. It’s my home and yes I’m a Hindu and I think Hindus can go to Pakistan. Where are you going?

SHAHNAWAZ: Going to Mom. India. Dad is calling me back. (After a pause) Hey, what a situation----a Hindu going to Pakistan and a Muslim going to India. Ha-ha.

DEV: This is post 1947 Naa!!!!

SHAHNAWAZ: Absolutely. So what are you doing in US??

DEV: I used to work for a bank for the last 7 years. Now finally going home!!!!

SHAHNAWAZ: Lost the job like other bankers (he is so happy to say that)??

DEV: No-No not at all. I decided to quit before letting the big crisis catch me. I myself wanted to go home.

SHAHNAWAZ: But man, your country is in such a mess. I mean, you never know when will Taliban take over Pakistan & you cannot trust anybody as everybody is same. Why don’t you stay back in America? You can do some other job if not boring banking. Atleast you will earn safely. A suggestion!!!

DEV: Shahnawaz, when there is a fire at your home, you don’t leave it or run like a coward. But you arrange for water. If people of Pakistan keep running to other countries then one day Taliban will definitely rule Pakistan.

SHAHNAWAZ: Hmmmm!!! You are right. But my question is that what you will earn there?? Moreover will you be safe (He looks straight to Dev’s face)????

DEV: Situation is not that bad. We are still stable & one can earn his living in Pakistan. Time will change and situation will definitely improve.

SHAHNAWAZ: Insha'Allah!!!!

THE TRAVELERS AROUND ARE NOW LOOKING CALM. SOME HAVE SLEPT, SOME ARE READING AND SOME ARE CHATING. BUT THERE IS TOO MUCH ACTIVITY AND NOISE. EVERYBODY IS WAITING FOR THE SNOW TO STOP

DEV: By the way, why is your family calling you back?

SHAHNAWAZ: Well I came to do my MBA but recession broke the backbone of this part of the world. So dad says to come back and make future in India. He says the country is growing at 9 Perrcentt every year (his eyes expands while declaring this).

SHAHNAWAZ: What an irony (says with sad expression)!! You are going to your country because it is in a mess and facing crisis. And I am going back to enjoy my country’s growth at 9 Perrcentt every year. (He Pauses). Why can’t our countries grow together?????

DEV (Dev turns to Shahnawaz and is now completely in the debate): Shahnawaz, if capable people like you and me keep coming to this country then our motherland can never-ever actually grow. We dream of finding a job, marrying a girl and then settling comfortably in one of the suburb of US, thinking that we are developing ourselves (sarcasm is his voice). But we never ever realise that in the end we lose the battle. In the hunt for our personal growth we don’t even know that how much profits we have given to this country and how much loss we have cause to ours.

SHAHNAWAZ LOOKED STUNNED AS IF HE HAS HEARD SOMETHING HURTFUL. FOR THE FIRST TIME HE WITNESS THE INSIDE ANGER OF DEV MEHRA. AN ANGER BURNING FOR YEARS

SHAHNAWAZ: Nice dialogues man!!!! Bollywood needs you (he says to cool the debate). I know you are right. Sometimes I too feel the same. But why you only blame the brain-drain? Don’t you think that our countries should also end our cold war to grow together? It’s like two brothers tearing each other over a shit of papa’s property, trying to be as ignorant as possible to each other and saying “I don’t need you”. But the irony is that both desperately need each other. And in the whole circus, it’s the outside audience that’s having fun. The longest running circus of the world for the last 63 years (he try to justify his point with his hand movements). What you say??

DEV: I think you should write for Hollywood (Both laughs). We all know that what our common problem is. And that is, that heaven piece of land (his index finger try to point something) that has made our lives a hell. So better to ignore the problem and focus on other things which are not at all any problem for us.

SHAHNAWAZ: Don’t you think that ignoring will multiply the problem??

DEV: The problem is that this problem can never be solved. Even if the world’s greatest problem solvers sit and vomit their wildest imaginations or their bestest strategies.

SHAHNAWAZ: But why??

DEV: Because they don’t want to solve it, God dammit (yells)!! SHAHNAWAZ (Dev sounds irritated) the world doesn’t want our biggest problem to be solved. Can’t you see it? Every year, this superpower giant gives billions of dollars to Pakistan to fight terror which Pakistan uses to buy weapons and artillery from China at special prices in the name of fighting terror. And that money is used against India. At the same time China keeps India busy in fighting naxals. Like Pakistan it also supplies large number of weapons to Naxalites. And together both US and China are world’s top 2 countries.

SHAHNAWAZ: Then what to do??

DEV: Stop the fight. The more we fight the more we will burn. History says that wars and violence has burned more economies than recession and depression together. E.g.: Great Britain—World War 2, Sri Lanka----LTTE, Pakistan—Taliban war, Russia---Cold war, Now US----Iraq & Afghanistan War and India-----Naxalite and Kashmir war and Afghanistan-----Invasion of Afghanistan by Russia.

SILENCE ELUDES BETWEEN THE TWO AS IF BOTH HAVE TIRED VISITING THE LAST 100 YEARS. MEANWHILE SNOW HAS STOPPED ALREADY

#

SHAHNAWAZ: WOW!!! What a day. I never imagined all this. But in all these talks I’ve imagined that you and I are discussing as if I am the Prime Minister of India and you are the President of Pakistan. How quickly we get to know each other and how quickly we realized what the best solution is without even solving the problem. I wish if this could have been a summit like Agra and like this we would have beaten our differences to death

DEV: Agra Summit?? Even thousand such bullshit summits cannot even solve the problem. Every PM of yours and each President of ours is such a big coward who neither has the balls nor the heart to take a landmark decision. Both the loosers only meet to complicate matters and make the mess even more messier. You know the actual problem is that this problem has become so old and outdated that we don’t even know what to do with it. It is big mistake committed by our ancient leaders. Now we are facing the brunt.

As I said---people like you and me. Common people of Pakistan and common people of India can solve this problem. Because it is the problem of our home and it is the problem which we created. Politician’s sucks and they will only divide us.

(Announcement)

Attention Please: Flight US—210, US---561 and US---117 heading towards India, Pakistan and South Africa respectively are ready for departure. I repeat……….. (Continues)

SHAHNAWAZ: Now I understand what drives you back. I will take your message to India. In the entire conversation I stupidly wished a lot. And now again there is a wish---A wish you and I could board the same flight and that too, to the same nation where we live together. Together we will make the difference. Let me have your contact details.

BOTH EXCHANGED THEIR DETAILS. THEN HUGGED EACH OTHER AS IF TWO LOST BROTHERS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES AND NOW THEY DON’T WANT TO BE LOST AGAIN. AND THEN TAKES THEIR DIFFERENT PATHS!!!!!!

To be contd………..

999

The Conversation was written by the author during an entrance exam!!!
Feel Free To Comment!!!


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"My Dear Eyes"

Just imagine that you are driving a car on a road which is covered with deep forest on both the sides. It doesn’t even have any street light and there is no vehicle except for yours and the night is very dark. Suddenly your head light goes off!!! Mammaaa Miaaaaaaaaaa!!!

If I am not wrong then no one would dare to carry on driving on that scary and black road because of the low visibility. It means you are struck. This wouldn’t have happened if the tyre would have punctured. Because in most of the cases a tyre would have been repaired or replaced immediately but lights couldn’t (at that moment).

Inserting the metaphor into our real life, I believe that eyes play a very crucial role in a person’s life. I am not trying to downright any part of a human body but I am saying that eyes have an edge as far as importance is concerned. Eyes consume most of our energy because it is employed in the tinniest to the greatest work we do. In fact we consume this world because of our eyes. Even if you are thinking or in a brown study or just sitting idle then also your eyelids are open and if they are open then they are at work. Not only this but a person’s character and expressions are reflected in his eyes. Eyes are like a brand ambassador to a human body.

And when your energy is emptied by them you have to take rest to relax them. When you sleep the brain keep sending signals, the heart keep on beating, in fact every cell, every blood vessel is on duty. But it is the princess eyes which are busy taking rest. Even we blink after every second or two to give a break to them because of their sensitive nature and their high involvement.

The theme of this article is not to weigh the importance of eyes but to stress and point out its significance and role in today’s context. Dude, “The world is going online”. One of my friend once said that “life is on the web”. The recent example which will supplement my theory is that CAT (Common admission test) ---India’s most competitive and also the most sought after entrance exam now requires a mouse. I mean it has gone digital. An era started. The future might witness other competitive exams also going online. And in preparation a student might also be practicing in galore on a computer to be perfect on the D-Day, thus hectic working hours for eyes. Welcome to the digital world.

Remember some time back we stood in queues to deposit electricity and water bills, to withdraw money from banks, or to file tax. Often we wrote complaint letters to heads of different government organization. Today almost every transaction is a click away. You don’t need to stand in queues. Whether it is a complaint letter or a compliment one the professional mode of communication is an e-mail. 21^st century is getting accustomed to reading newspapers & magazines online, even you know where you are reading this article. In the future we’ll read books on Google’s online library. For every question we go to search engines, to learn things we watch videos and even listen to music on computers and laptops. The projects made by school children or other students are given birth online. Every Friday two to three films are released in India attracting our eyes in the name of entertainment. When a person is employed in an MNC he is given a laptop because without it he is a handicap. Welcome to the digital world.

The rich history is reminisced for talking and meeting to people personally, for the personalized and face to face social gathering and civic mixing and if not face to face then telegram to telegram. Today there is no face to face but Facebook to Facebook. Welcome to the digital world.

When everybody is extracting labor from eyes then why television should remain behind? The occupancy rate of shows on different channels have increased, news has gone 24*7, reality shows are never-ending and churning seasons after seasons, daily soaps are immortal with every 20 year leap, spirituality and yoga classes are more on TV than in actual, even the advertisement these days are so innovative that we can’t afford to miss them. More than 300 channels have something to offer to all of us so that we can’t ignore them. And there is a TV in every living room, so no rest for eyes. Welcome to the digital world.

Even free time is not free for the eyes. The different gadgets being introduced in life like Playstation, 3G, I-phone etc keep them occupied. Even if you are playing and relaxing, your eyes are handling the technicals of the game. Even if you drive a sports car, beat a sumo to death or type a text message your every complicated and thought out move is directed by the brain and executed by our dear eyes. Welcome to the digital world.

Well apart from these, there are other n numbers of digital ways to disturb the perfection of eyes but I don’t want to detail them. But from this I can conclude that eyes are the busiest organ in the human body like the Prime minister of India who is the busiest executive in the Indian Parliament and eyes like him are involved in every important step taken and decision made. You might argument that we do every work with hands, we walk with legs or stomach digest the most complicated food material or brain thinks a lot. But there are certain occasions when one of these organs is relaxing. Eyes never takes an off. Eyes are like the guiding force to this huge body mass. It directs all other organs to function in coordination.

I am only concerned for the people of this country. I am afraid that this digital world doesn’t plant eyeglasses on the innocent faces of our children or the people of our country are not typecast as “week eyes” candidates. Infact the crisis has started. Small and innocent eyes of so many children of our country under the tremendous pressure have taken the shelter of spectacles or lenses. The problem will perpetuate as the next decade will witness the mushrooming of internet and its penetration in every corner of India. There might be a computer or a laptop in every home. And this machinery creates addiction to children. So instead of playing outdoor games they prefer sitting in a chair and riding a sports bike.

Though I am not a communist and very much proud of our development but somebody very correctly said “development always cost you something”. Hope this is not the eyes of our countrymen.

Our Hindu Mythology has made our country proud of our ancient warrior Arjun who because of his perfect eyesight infact somewhat better than that could claim the eye of the fish without even seeing it directly. Let’s wish we have many Arjuns’ in this country.

Digitising is the need of the hour and even I don’t want to roadblock it. So there are some ways to take care of your eyes:-

1.      Have your eyes checked every 12 month

2.      Go for the best quality contact lenses

3.      In summer, always wear sunglasses

4.      Eat what is good for you and your eyes

Vitamins C, A and E, folic acid, selenium and zinc are definitely beneficial for the health of your eyes. It is known that whatever is good for your body is good for your eyes, too. So put a carrot and a bunch of grapes into your lunch box.

5.      When you read or work on the computer make sure that the light is right

6.      10-10-10--every 10 minutes, look at an object 10 feet away for 10 seconds to get them adjusted to long-distance too, so you are ready when you get off the computer

7.      If you wear contact lenses, take proper care of them

8.      Don’t ever rub your eyes when you have something in your eye.

9.      Exercise your eyes, and also be sure to relax them.

10. Adjust the screen settings. You will find that if you make your screen a bit more dull, it is actually easier to read. The screen should be just as bright as your surroundings, and should not appear to be a glowing box nor pitch black object.

Exercise                         

·        Hold a pencil in front of you at arm's length. Move your arm slowly to your nose, and follow the pencil with your eyes until you can keep it in focus. Repeat 10 times

·        Make up and down eye movements, starting from up to down. Do this 8 times. Then do the side to side eye movement, starting from left to right. Repeat this 8 times. Make sure not to add pressure to your eyes! It only worsens your vision!

·        Close your eyes tightly for 3-5 seconds, then open them for 3-5 seconds. Repeat this 7 or 8 times

    Eyes are under a huge pressure. You have to see the world, you have to see a lot of movies and tele series, everyday you have to read newspaper, you have to see yourself age, your children to grow, you have to meet new people, you have to drive, you have to play sports, you have to cook, you have to write, you also have to see your dreams and see them come true and many more. So there is a war ahead and you should be ready with your ammunition i.e. your eyes.

999

"The article is written because of authors constant use of a computer"
Feel free to Comment!!

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