My 7 Vows

It is official!


Invitations are being sent out. Senseless amount of money has been spent on clothes, make up, shoes, gifts and a million other things. We have decided to take this life turning plunge and declare ourselves as man and wife in a full-on wedding ceremony in front of some 1000 odd people decked up in stuff we both won't wear ever again. All my female stuff would become commonplace in your wardrobe, bathroom, cabinets, dressing table. My PMSing, mood swings, anger fits, quiet spells, mad urges to sing and many other faces which you have just glimpsed so far would become a part of your daily routine. Scared yet rookie? Well, don't be because the lucky man that you are, I have decided to be a tolerable, fair and understanding room and life partner for our benefit. How so, you ask? The pundit will do his job and make us throw stuff in the holy fire and repeat unintelligible stuff and declare that we have taken the required vows to be married. Vows which we might not understand in the first place to ensure that we follow them. So, I present my own set of vows here. I am no saint and I can deviate from my words. But you'll always have this typed proof on my blog to knock some sense into me when required. So here goes:

1. I hate toothpaste tubes being squeezed from the centre. I hate wet towels on the bed. I hate it when things are not where they are supposed to be. But I vow to remember that my opinion and likings are mine and not yours. I might suggest. But I won't impose.

2. Sometimes I just like to go to a cafe alone and read a book. Just like I have my solitary likes, I'll respect your time with yourself. I promise not to assume time keeper duties. And also not to tag along where you might not want me. Just drop me a hint.
3. I have the entire day planned out and you get called to work. Of course I'll be upset and disappointed. I'm human, and that too female of the species after all. But I promise to be understanding and reasonable. It takes time to kick in. Just bear with me till the time it does.
4. Nobody likes being lied to. Neither do I. I promise to never hurt you with lies and I will trust you no matter what.

5. Jo tera hai wo mera hai. And I just don't mean the good stuff. I might not be able to solve all your problems and tensions, god forbid you have any. But I will stand with you, support you, help you and maybe just listen if that would make you feel better, through thick and thin. And yes, head massages and back rubs are included in the offer. 
6. Women are complicated creatures. They say one thing and mean a score other things. And I don't claim to be much different. As much as I'd want you to read my mind on several occasions, I understand its not possible for you to always know that I'm in the mood for Italian and not south Indian food. Or that I want to spend some 'us' time rather than go out with friends. Or that I want to go watch a movie instead of sitting home. So I promise to not complicate things by assuming. I'll say what I mean and mean what I say.

7. This one is cliché. But touché as well. I promise to love you always. Just the way you are. I might forget to say it everyday, or might deliberately not say it when I'm pissed. But whether we are fighting, or just tired, or too busy to say it, I'll still mean it. I love you. And that shall never change.

And there go my 7 vows.

I would be lying if I say that I won't have expectations, because of course I will. But there shall be no pressure on you.

A very happy married life love. All the best and good luck. God knows you'll need it.

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Hopeless India

We all know India is failing. Oh, we have big bombs and planes and tanks and arms and new policies coming up everyday. But a heinous, unpardonable, disturbing and disgusting case showed India the mirror. The reflection today is dirty and bloodied. We also know the flaws. We all would have atleast one solution to the problems. But we all would have heard counter statements on how those solutions won't work because of some other flaw which we might have overlooked. Some say the mindsets and morals of 125 crore people can't change overnight. Some say the 35 lakh police people can't be taught the right way to deal with a crime anytime soon. Some say the foundation of the country's politics is so weak with corruption that any superficial change for the better would crash down. We are nation of people who are scared to help an accident victim fearing the police's rash investigation or rather lack of it. We are a democracy where the people in power promise but never deliver. So where do we start this change from? Us? Government? Police? Bribe takers? Bribe givers? Is a change ever possible when we know that those responsible to drive the change will either be corrupt or will be made helpless by the other corrupt people in power?

The girl's brutal rape case woke up the country's masses. She lit a flame. Which will invariably die soon. The story will shift from the front to the internal pages of the papers. Some sports tournament or celebrity controversy or the governing and opposition party's latest tiff will distract the electronic media. We'll have a friend's wedding or the weather or a new hobby to talk about on FaceBook and Twitter. And the corruption, which has infested our system to such an extent that there is absolutely no part of our lives untouched by it, will continue as always.
I'm sorry to the girl whose tragic case was riddled with corruption and scandals and politics and incapability of police, to the people who protested, to those who are still positive that change will happen; but the flame will die. And we won't be able to do much about it except express our anger and dissatisfaction, face the water cannons, lathi charge and tear gas.

I have given up hope. The golden sparrow is dead. Bharat mata is being raped everyday by her own people. I'm not a proud Indian.