Monday, July 21, 2008

Uncertain

I can’t remember now, from this morning, how I wanted to start this post.

There’s always THE phrase that begins it, na?

I had it, the moment I shook off the shattered glass from the shoot out. At the Ashram flyover. They were chasing Manmohan Singh’s envoy off the road, while guerrilla snipers [they might’ve been Mayawati’s commandos] from distant peripheries shot sleek bullets through tense air.

And where was I going, during curfew hour amid political turmoil? I think either to attend a sanity defying 11-part film at the festival, or a swim. [Don’t we have such an acute sense of juxtaposition, irony and drama? The Greeks really knew their shit.]

Somewhere, an official, high in the ranks plotted with cold precision. They had amputated his conscience gland decades ago. Apparently, it is a compulsory drill when you enrol. Those who don’t survive the operation are, naturally, considered martyred to patriotic duty. And I recollect thinking: so this is why… Why didn’t they tell us before?

Daylight, I’ve decided, creates confusion.

So Manmohan was whizzed away; his quiet, turbaned dignity bundled off in a dark screened, red-light-flashing blur.

A circus set up camp, just off the flyover. They had sharp shooting snipers and fire juggling politicians, bicycle balancing actors and lion taming heroines. A million sycophants thronged the gay canopied gates, and a raging stampede was born. Barkha captured the frenzy with valiant persistence while Renuka Chaudhury juggled offal-shaped slippery words with an experienced glove. Pranoy wielded a joystick in a remote OB van on Lodhi road. And then I saw, the road was crawling with an epidemic of cockroach winged OB vans.

Meanwhile, a sad eyed, blue turbaned fugitive snuck into the laundry room of a crumbling government bungalow in Moti Bagh. Nimbu pani was served and no one spoke. Least of all a shell shocked girl rudely stopped short of a sanity defying 11-part cinematic experience. [Or was it a swim?]

I awoke with the guilt of his downfall on my conscience. The Bhopalis had their best chance with him. Na?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

"an epidemic of cockroach winged OB vans"-wow that was real good.will put it next to "tv is filled with nubile reporters who believe that history is some thing which began when they joined the news channel"

Ben Ditty said...

I tried to watch a 6 hour film series once, but I didn't make it through. Probably hurt my chances that it started at midnight.

H said...

Hahahahaha. Lost, this is fantastic. Whose words are these?

Ben, you could've been Odysseus.

Sh'shank said...

Abhi pikture baki hai mere dost!!!
Manmohan has a chance (still)in the bollywood drama...

H said...

Sahi kahi, Pricky bhai.

NanNan said...

I'm so out of this league,, I can't even recognize the sport-- way too much action for me-- glad to hear you held on to your conscience-- with all that amputation going on---

H said...

Nan, I wouldn't blame you. I'm talking Indian politics + my head = confusion of cosmic proportions.

My conscience is a poncy rat. Too lazy to abandon the ship. Too nervous to take the blow with dignity.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like someone had an exciting day...even without the swim. And yes, I agree: the damn Greeks really knew their shit - and then some.

H said...

Liz. Night, more like. Let me explain. Two days ago The PM of India, Manmohan Singh, survived a no-confidence motion by the opposition [who were supported by the present govt.'s allies.]

Manmohan Singh is probably the cleanest PM India's ever had, despite his reticence/ inaction on issues he should've done something about.

So there. I hope it explains this post. 'twas very disturbing: feeling responsible for the less-than-happy state of affairs of an entire nation, even for one iffy night. Can't imagine feeling so screwed five whole years.

Pavitra said...

post Post POST!

Anonymous said...

I totally agree. POST!

Anonymous said...

Bravenewworld...It could've felt a bit differrrrent:) na, as you said "Too lazy to abandon the ship. Too nervous to take the blow with dignity."

H said...

Rajiv, sorry for the late response. Fun can be distracting. But... how different?

Anonymous said...

H, wait for ur next post has become like d wait for Ms.Roy's
next work of fiction:-

24 frames said...

A really interesting blog... made my day complete.

Anonymous said...

H... come BACK come BACK from wherever you are! We miss you and your throbbing, err, well. We miss you a lot.

H said...

Thank you Lost/ Shouter. You've been very kind.