After Rain, Fire

When I left home at 1130 in the morning for work, I scarcely had an idea that this was about to happen. The news channels at that time were concentrating on the successful test launch of Agni-III. It was exciting to watch the fiery trail left behind by the missile as it soared into space as a new chapter was written in the country's history.

By the time Arya and I reached office, I had gotten about a dozen sms' and missed calls enquiring whether I was okay. Initially I wondered if some rumour of my demise had gotten around and then I realized that the matter was far more serious.

I realized that the the news channels had shifted their attention from waterlogged subways and stranded pedestrians to burning buses and unruly mobs, one can only wonder what the bloody hell is wrong with the city... I guess the BMC got lucky again.

Of course, there are other cities in the state that have started burning already; the question on everybody's lips - will this turn out to be a replay of 92/93?. I certainly hope not, and I hope the authorities and the 'politicos' are doing everything in their control to ensure that this conflagaration is controlled and a full-blown flare up is avoided.

I would personally love to see some of these politicos put away for life where their angry, divisive voices of hatred will never reach the ears of human beings. The morcha just left our office after ensuring that nobody was working, thankfully they couldn't peer through the thick brown glasses. The fact that there's a TV Press outfit here helped.

So I have no clue how I am gonna reach home in time to leave home again to catch that morning flight to Bangalore. To make matters more interesting, I return at night. I lead an exciting life indeed.

Btw, why the hell are there no flights to Bangalore between 7 am and 9 am? Mallya ji, are you listening?

A grouse: Mr.Wadia, I had the misfortune of returning to Mumbai from Delhi via your late night flight. The steward/stewardesses were in their own world and totally lacked courtesy. It was also the first flight in which the lead steward was continuously busy with a bloody chewing gum. It sucked.