On the drive back from the conference, we climbed into an Uber with a driver who looked like he'd already had enough of the day, maybe the week. His face was all tight angles and frustration, and he didn’t waste time getting to the point. He stared me down through the rearview and said he was tempted to cancel the ride just to get home faster. The only thing keeping him from doing it was some algorithm—the little god of ratings—telling him it wouldn’t be worth it. Fate, it seems, was programmed into the app.

We didn’t talk after that, at least not at first. But Florida traffic has a way of stretching silences until something snaps. Somewhere between the jammed lanes and the flicker of brake lights, he started talking about Bob Marley. Just out of nowhere. And like that, the tension shifted. I told him Marley’s music wasn’t just big in Jamaica or here—India’s had three generations of college kids finding themselves to No Woman, No Cry.

That’s when he dropped it. Casual, like he was talking about an old neighbor. Said he used to hook up with Marley’s kids, drove them around, hung out in the studio while they recorded. He didn’t name names, didn’t need to. It wasn’t bragging; it was just the truth of his life, sitting there in the front seat.

The ride wasn’t more than twenty minutes, but in that time, the traffic and the frustration disappeared into something bigger, something timeless. We weren’t just two strangers stuck on the road anymore—we were two people connected by the strange, quiet power of music. By the time he dropped us off, it felt like we’d shared a secret that didn’t belong to either of us but lived somewhere in between.

The Absurd Adventures of Algernon Featherby

Algernon Featherby, a middle-aged chap with a penchant for tweed suits and a perpetual furrowed brow, returned to his quaint village after a decade of toiling away in foreign lands. His arrival caused quite the stir among the locals, who hadn't seen such a well-traveled soul since old Mrs. Pritchard's parrot flew off to Barbados.

Now, Algernon was a man of peculiar habits. He insisted on addressing everyone as "old bean" and had a habit of twirling his mustache when perplexed. His return home was met with a flurry of tea parties, garden fetes, and the occasional cricket match. But it was the encounters with his fellow villagers that truly tested his mettle.

First, there was Miss Prudence Pettigrew, the village gossip. She cornered Algernon at the post office, her eyes gleaming like a magpie eyeing a shiny trinket. "Featherby," she whispered, "I hear you've been gallivanting around the world. Any scandalous affairs?"

Algernon adjusted his monocle and replied, "My dear Miss Pettigrew, I assure you my escapades were strictly limited to deciphering ancient hieroglyphics and sampling exotic cheeses."

Next came Reverend Cuthbert Chumley, who invited Algernon to the church bazaar. "Featherby," he intoned, "do you believe in the afterlife?"

Algernon leaned in, his voice conspiratorial. "Reverend, I've dined with sultans and danced with duchesses. But the greatest mystery remains: why do church pews always creak during the most profound sermons?"

And then there was Lady Winifred Wimpleton, the village grande dame. She invited Algernon to her soirée, where he encountered a roomful of monocle-wearing aristocrats. "Featherby," Lady Wimpleton purred, "what's your secret to success?"

Algernon sipped his champagne. "Ah, Lady Wimpleton, success is like a well-baked soufflé—delicate, prone to collapse, and best enjoyed with a dash of absurdity."

As the weeks passed, Algernon encountered more eccentrics. Lord Percival Puddlewick, the amateur botanist, insisted on discussing the mating habits of daffodils. Miss Beatrice Bumblebee, the local beekeeper, regaled him with tales of swarming bees and unrequited love.

But it was the village council meeting that truly tested Algernon's resolve. The councilors debated the placement of a new lamppost, their voices rising like a cacophony of squawking seagulls. Algernon stood up, his mustache aquiver.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he declared, "let us embrace the absurdity of life. For what is a lamppost but a beacon in the darkness, guiding lost souls and bewildered hedgehogs alike?"

The council stared, flabbergasted. Algernon bowed and exited, leaving behind a roomful of befuddled faces.

And so, Algernon Featherby settled into his new life, surrounded by hypocrites, eccentrics, and the occasional hedgehog. He found solace in the absurdity of it all—the way the sun peeked through the clouds, the way the village clock chimed at odd hours, and the way Miss Prudence Pettigrew's parrot returned from Barbados with a penchant for quoting Shakespeare.

Yes, Algernon Featherby knew that happiness lay not in the grand adventures of foreign lands but in the delightful nonsense of everyday existence. And so, he twirled his mustache, raised his teacup, and toasted to the glorious absurdity of life in his beloved village.

Taj Mahal

ये चमनज़ार, ये जमुना का किनारा, ये महल

ये मुनक़्क़श दर-ओ-दीवार, ये महराब, ये ताक़

इक शहंशाह ने दौलत का सहारा ले कर

हम ग़रीबों की मुहब्बत का उड़ाया है मज़ाक । 

मेरे महबूब कहीं और मिला कर मुझसे । 

- Sahir

A complaint

Ek Soch Aqal Se Fisal Gayi,
Mujh Yaad Thi Ki Badal Gayi,

Meri Soch Thi Ki Wo Khwab Tha,
Meri Zindagi Ka Hisaab Tha,

Meri Justju Ki Baraks Thi,
Meri Mushkilo Ka Wo Aks Thi,
Mujhe Yaad Ho To Wo Soch Thi,
Jo Na Yaad Ho To Gumaan Tha.


Mujhe Baithe-Baithe Guma Huwa
Guma Nahin Tha Khuda Tha Woh,
Meri Soch Nahi Thi Khuda Tha WoH
Woh Khuda Ke Ji Ne Zubaan Di,
Mujhe Dil Diya Mujhe Jaan Di,

Wohi Zuban Jise Na Chalaa Sakein,
Wohi Dil Jise Na Manaa Sakein,
Wo Jaan Jise Na Lagaa Sakein.

Kabhi Mil To Tujhko Bataye Hum,
Tujhe Is Tarah Se Satayein Hum,
Tera Ishq Tujhse Chheen Ke,
Tujhe Mai Pilaake Rulayein Hum.

Tujhe Dard Doon Tu Na Seh Sakey,
Tujhe Dard Doon Tu Na Seh Sakey,
Tujhe Doon Zabaan Tn Ka Keh Sakey,
Tujhe Doon Makan Tu Na Reh Sakey,

Tujhe Mushqilon Me Ghira Ke Main Koyi Aisa Rasta Nikaal Doon
Tere Dard Ki Main Dawaa Karoon, Kisi Garz Ke Main Siwa Karoon,

Tujhe Har Nazar Pay Oboor Doon
Tujhe Zindgi Ka Shahoor Doon,

Kabhi Mil Bhi Jayengey Gham Na Kar,
Hum Gir Bhi Jayengey Gham Na Kar,

Tere Ek Honay Mein Shak Nahin,
Meri Niyaton Ko Tu Saaf Kar,
Teri Shaan Mein Bhi Kami Nahin
Mere Is Kalaam Ko Maaf Kar.

Why do you weep, O Mind by Javed Akhtar

जब जब दर्द का बादल छाया
जब ग़म का साया लेहराया
जब आँसू पलकों तक आया
जब ये तनहा दिल घबराया
हमे दिल को ये समझाया
दिल आखिर तू क्यों रोता है
दुनिया में यूँ ही होता है

ये जो गहरे सन्नाटे है
वक़्त ने सबको ही बांटे है
धोड़ा ग़म है सबका किस्सा
धोड़ी धुप है सबका हिस्सा
आँख तेरी बेकार ही नम है
हर पल एक नया मौसम है
फिर क्यों तू ऐसे पल खोता है
दिल आखिर तू क्यों रोता है

Some Random thoughts

Yet another birthday. Mid-life crisis. I question myself on almost all decisions I have taken till now. Did I do this the right way? Should I have taken this career? Am I not trying hard enough? Is there a meaning to all this hard work, if fate has already decided what to do? I look at all the faces on the train while I commute to work and see shades of these same questions on them.

Ghalib says:
ग़म अगरचे जाँ-गुसिल है, प् कहाँ बचें की दिल है
ग़म-ए-इश्क़ गर न होता, ग़म-ए-रोज़गार होता

And Faiz Ahmed Faiz adds:

वो लोग बहुत खुश-किस्मत थे
जो इश्क़ को काम समझते थे
या काम से इश्क़ करते थे

हम जीते जी मसरूफ रहे
कुछ इश्क़ किया, कुछ काम किया

काम इश्क़ के आड़े आता रहा
और इश्क़ से काम उलझता रहा
फिर तंग आकर हमने
दोनों को अधूरा छोड़ दिया

Gayathri v/s Darth Vader

I used to laugh at my friends and cousins who read "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus."
I remember scoffing and feeling a sense of deep disdain whenever somebody talks about it.

And then I got married.

Don't get me wrong, Gayathri is very sweet and is quite accommodating to my momentary bouts of insanity.(though I can't shake off the feeling of coming closer to getting punched in the face at times...)
But there are times during our conversations, when I really feel that we are on totally different pages.
The most recent incident happened when I downloaded a wallpaper of Darth Vader from the internet. Gayathri has a strong disregard for English films, which I learnt the hard way when I tricked her into seeing "Wrath of the Titans (3D)" in place of "Housefull 2". It was one of those silly mistakes that you always regret, but without which you would have never learnt those searing lessons of life.
 Coming back to Darth Vader, I always wanted to introduce the Star wars universe to Gayathri; but with my current quota on English movies that I am allowed to watch, it will be close to a year before we reach "Return of the Jedi". Being a teacher, I decided to take a fast track approach - familiarize the topic by including star wars references in our daily conversations.
I decided to take it one step further by changing the wallpaper to StarWars characters. Hence the Darth Vader wallpaper.
"Gayathri, this is Darth Vader" I shouted holding up my laptop for my wife to see.
"Who ?" She asked without taking her eyes off the curry she was making for dinner.
"Anakin Skywalker, he bought balance to the force" I replied. The fast track approach, you see..
"He does not have balace?  Must be a problem with his ear." She is still working on the curry.
"No no, you don't understand. Anakin was ..."
"No, I understand perfectly." She cut me off. " My grandmother had this problem of losing balance all the time. We took her to the doctor. He said it was because of the fluid in her inner ear."
"It is not that balance I am talking about. Its the force, light side and dark side... Remember I keep telling you?"
"Bilateral vestibulopathy" She shouts back at me.
"What ?"
"The condition is called Bilateral vestibulopathy". Gayathri is also a biomedical engineer, among other things.
"Aargh... we are talking about Anakin Skywalker. He did not suffer from any condition except severe burns on planet Mustafar." My patience is completely lost now. But I am determined to do this.
"Don't you remember Gayathri ? About everything I told you about young Anakin ?"
I saw her look up from the curry.
"Well, I don't remember exactly!" I could sense a feeling of guilt in her voice. Looks like I can push her to watch the movie today itself.
"Shivetta..." she suddenly called out,
"Did he come for our wedding reception ?" She asked curiously !