I hate you!

I hate you!

Hatred!

It's a strange feeling. In such a beautiful world where there is plenty of room for smile, happiness, joy, how can we have hatred virus? The virus which is highly contagious. Specially with recent season changes. And now I think me too, have caught this infection!

I hate you!

Because you are labelling me with my surname and my choice of worship.

In my group, it really doesn't matter, which God I believe in or whether even I believe in God.

What really matters is we are friends in spite of that.

But now you have re-emphasized my labels/our labels beyond friendship.

And hence I hate you!

I hate you!

Because you are grouping my neighbourhood with definitions other than "humans".

In our neighbourhood it doesn't matter whether you are Kapil or Tahir.

What matters is we are one united group and we stand with each other.

But your provocations are now confusing my own neighbourhood and shaking our till date firm bonds.

And hence I hate you!

I hate you!

Because you chose biased news coverage showing only one side of ugly truth.

In our society, it's not right if we listen/understand only one side of story.

What matters is whether we have open ears and clean brain to internalise truth on both sides. (even if both are equally murky)

But whichever media house you are. Now you are showing us only half truths. And I have to switch between 2 polarised channels to guess what the reality is!

And hence I hate you!

I hate you!

Because your sympathy lies with only a particular community.

In my country, it doesn't matter whether I am orange or green or blue or any other color.

What matters is whether we empathize with each other and stand next to each other in the hour of need. And we all come together to make one peaceful white.

But your pseudo-secularism is looking at us with single coloured goggle and you fail to understand that in reality we all are standing united.

And hence I hate you!

Yes!

I hate you!

I don't know who started to spread this virus.

I don't how to control this infection.

I don't know how to quarantine.

What I know is this hatred virus is rapidly deteriorating my health, my society's health, my nation's health.

What I know is, this is not good.

What I know is, if as always I choose to be silent spectator then this virus will cause irrecoverable damage.

And hence somewhere I am happy that this virus has hit me but not on wrong side of my brain. I wish more of my common man community gets hit by this virus on right side. So that our voice becomes much louder and force you all to take a step back.

Yes, I am hoping to get cured very soon!!!

Hoping not for myself but for you.

I still hate you!

But, I wish you "Get well soon!"

- Hatred virus infected stupid common man!

(by abhisule)

Darling open the door..... (Mumbai aaj kal.. {now and then})

Darling open the door....

(Mumbai aaj kal.. {now and then})

Mumbai!

City of dreams.

City that never sleeps.

City that measures distances in minutes.

City where you are safe on road at any time of the day (and night!).

There are few things that always remain same irrespective of year mentioned on calendar.

But, there are few aspects that change as overall socio-economic profile shifts for a city or country. One such aspect is the front door of Mumbaikar's home!

In last 25-30 yrs many Mumbaikars on island city have moved from old small compound buildings/chawls to new redeveloped standalone buildings. From 4 to 10 doors opening in common corridor/gallery to 1 or 2 houses on each floor.  Those open areas in middle of compound are now taken over by extra FSI. That clay got replaced with paver blocks. And whatever leftover open space was there, it was taken over by parked cars.

This new lifestyle also brought new questions/challenges/insecurities. Let's take a quick on these roads of aaj-kal.

Scene 1: Aaj (2020)

Msgs on soc WhatsApp group:

A: Hi, I am seeing too many unknown people daily sitting in our building's lobby. They are from Nio Company and spending their afternoon hours at our lobby. Who has approved this?

B:  yes. I agree. Let's remove the sofa from lobby. Then they won't sit here.

C: I have also seen a milkman who sits every day at 8:30 for his coupon counting.

B: we shall stop all this. This is not safe.

Scene 1: Kal (1995)

a: are aaj woh sare postmen nahi dikhe. Woh to hamesha aate Hain na dabba khane.

b: Haan. Kal to the. Shayad late hua hoga aaj.

c: apne compound mein trees hai na. To unhe bhi yahan shade mein baithke Khana achchhaa lagta hai.

a: are Kal woh paperwala aata hai to use bolna humein bhi paper chalu karna hai.

b: subah 6 baje milalo use. Apnehi compound mein aake woh uske papers arrange karta hai.

a: yahan? Kyon?

c: aur Kahan karenge? Unke paas thodi na office hota hai. Kar lete hai koi bhi building mein baithke.

Darling open the door!....

Scene 2: Aaj (2020)

Another discussion on WhatsApp.

A: someone threw water on my head from xx floor when I was taking walk. If this happens again I will call police.

B: even there is dirty water coming to our home from xx floor.

C: it's not dirty water. Why will we throw dirty water?

....and dirt-ful discussion continues on WA group.

Scene 2: Kal (1995)

a: (walking to B's home) hi, there is water leakage at my home from ceiling. Is there anything wrong at your bathroom.

b: Oh! Sorry. There was new flooring work at my home in bathroom. Will get it checked. Sorry again!

Darling open the door!.....

Scene 3: Aaj (2020)

Again on same WA group

A: hey, why policemen are taking nap everyday afternoon in our building.

B: yes. Even all maids from our and neighboring buildings have daily mini gathering at our society's parking in evening.

C: this is not safe. Especially considering only elders are there at homes throughout the day. We shall ask our security to not to allow anyone of these.

Scene 3: Kal (1995)

a: are baee, that uncle is not well. I have to go there.

Baee: ok bhabhi, aap jaeeye. Main Hoon baby ke paas. Niche na woh bhabhike gharpe aanewali xxx baee hogi. Aap usko bulalo. Woh aayegi aunty ko help Karne uncle ke paas.

b: I will ask that mechanic if he can drive uncle to hospital.

Darling open the door! ....

As the years have gone it seems now same old neighbours have closed the doors of their new flats so hard with additional safety grill door that they are not able to hear what's happening in the building or even on the floor. They have not spoken to each other for days but are eager to fight on WA group. Is it just the new lifestyle of me/myself/my safe world or real issues of security/righteous way/betterment?

If we think from either ways both point of views may seem right. But what is getting lost behind those closed doors is something which we call communication, friendships, trust and a beautiful mixture of this called as my neighbourhood.

Dear Mumbaikars, don't let this ghost enter your building. Let’s unlock those latches and bolts once again and stand together against all the ghosts.

That's why I say...

Darling open the door!

- abhisule