A kaleidoscope of men, matters & moments that make the madness & magic of Mumbai
Whatsapp-ened to us?
The walk from the bus stop to the office is an experience. Truth be told, even if one doesn’t mean to eavesdrop, a bit of someone’s word here or a nod from his partner there can divulge a bit of what they seem to be talking about. A guess can at least be made, that’s for sure.
Bent heads have almost collided and vehicles have probably braked suddenly more than ever before. More fights seem to have ensued online than offline and relationships online look rosy no matter how they seem to be outside those social networking sites.
But where are we headed? My friends tell me, for the umpteenth time, to install Whatsapp on my phone to make my life easier (I don’t seem to understand why it looks so ‘tough’ at the moment for them). Yes, it has no doubt made life ‘easier’, but it has also brought with it the trend of ‘talking’ with ‘smileys’ rather than talking in the real sense.
A woman asked the guy walking beside her how he happened to get to see a picture that was apparently uploaded by her friend when he was not a friend of that friend. Those who didn’t get that line, never mind! For those who did — congratulations! You, too, have been part of such a conversation sometime or the other in your life.
While I appreciate that, I love being old-school at times, sending a handwritten letter to someone and imagining them to be smiling while pondering over the words; dialling the number of a friend whom I haven’t spoken to in years even though I have been in touch through messages. Take a paper and pen, the words will flow; dial the number and so would the memories of the good-old days!
Mind your language
The bilateral relations between India and China are galloping towards new heights and its signs are seen in the Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha. According to university officials, 15-odd Chinese nationals had applied to the university to learn Hindi.
Since this was a positive development, this reporter wanted to write an article on it. So he called university officials on the phone to speak with students and professors.
A Chinese student who had enrolled for a one-year diploma in Hindi was happy to speak with the journalist. Considering the language barrier, he started the conversation in English. But the student replied in Hindi, and the conversation lasted for three minutes in broken Hindi.
Then he spoke with the assistant professor of Hindi, who was just standing with the students. The reporter was speaking in Hindi since he is the professor of Hindi from a Hindi international university. However, as strange as it might sound, the Hindi professor replied in English!
All in a day’s work
No other feeling can beat the satisfaction you get from work. Your work is made easier when you love what you are doing and an even more satisfying feeling is when you realise that you are happy with your work.
This reporter was on the field hunting for stories and talking to doctors regarding the issues that they are facing while working in hospitals. During the conversations, she got to know about their working conditions and the tough situations in which they have to work. Sometimes, we forget that even doctors are human beings and they too need the care and support of people.
At the end of their conversation, one of the doctors said, “Thank you for coming and talking to us regarding our problems. Media support will surely help us get out of this situation. We are grateful to you.”
Hearing this, the reporter felt good that she could provide someone with hope and support, following which, the reporter said, “You don’t need to thank me as I am doing my work and this is part of my job and I love to talk to people and know their issues. I will try my best to help you.” To this, the doctor replied, “It’s good to hear that you love your job because that’s the reason why we are also working with all our heart despite all the problems. We too love our work.”
Tail piece
After BEEF it was natural to ban PORK — but some idiot government steno made a typo.
Contributed by Divya Nambiar, Vishnudas Sheshrao and Manasi Tahalani Compiled by Iram Siddique
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Just when one thinks that the fun and drama in a courtroom has reached its peak and can’t go beyond a point, something unexpected and even hilarious happens. As the hearing of the anticipatory bail application of DIG Sunil Paraskar proceeded on its second day, all the people present were in for an entertaining time at the Sessions Court.
Defence lawyer Rizwan Merchant was going through the model complainant’s tweets to prove that she wasn’t really depressed after the alleged molestation and rape as she had claimed in the FIR. Since the model had also said that she had refused to have alcohol before the alleged rape took place, Merchant was showing the court how she might not be so averse to it. He read a tweet, which featured a popular Bollywood song.
In his gruff, heavy voice, he read the tweet as he would make an argument: “Chaar botal vodka, kaam mera roz ka, na mujhko koi roke, na kisi ne roka.” Merchant apparently had no clue that he was reading out a song. As he proceeded with the tweet, everyone in the room tried to suppress their laughter in the fear that it will anger the judge. However, the judge, Vrushali Joshi, herself started chuckling.
As Merchant was arguing, the complainant’s lawyer, Chitra Salunke, cut in and said that the tweet is actually the lyrics of a song and did not suggest the complainant’s behaviour. To which Merchant said, “I wouldn’t know if it’s a song. I don’t listen to songs, vodka or otherwise.” As soon as the hearing ended, the reporters laughed heartily and just couldn’t stop humming the highlight of the day, “Chaar botal vodka…”
— Sindhu J Mansukhani
