In strangers we trust (An open letter to Jaywalkers and Rash Drivers)

Dear Jaywalkers & Rash Drivers,

You walk on the street.
Putting it in a realistic way, YOU JAYWALK ON THE ROAD.
You don't deny it, and you know there is no hurry to die. Then why risk your life?

I know that you KNOW you will live long. If a road accident was the only way you would die, you would live for eternity.
But still you won't listen unless there is a rule to impose fine on jaywalkers.

You do it because you trust me. Yes, you trust the stranger in me. You are confident about your jaywalking - you are probably the best jaywalker around.
Having said that, you being so sweetly confident about me not knocking you down with my car, is not sweet at all.

You think that my mom told me to avoid strangers, so I would avoid you and therefore, not knock you down.

So even when you are driving, you are not bothered about it turning out to be a rash ride once in a while, because you know that you can trust the strangers on the wheels around you. Right, we would take care not to knock you down, even if it's your fault.

Even if I honoured you with the choicest words for being careless on the road, you would probably think it's just out of 'strangerly' affection. Wouldn't you?But I know why you are like that. I know why you jaywalk. I know why you drive so rash. I know because I am one of you, maybe sometimes. I am the 'I' in you.

Please don't Jaywalk. Wait for the pavements to be built. Wait for zebra crossings to be painted.

But yes, you can drive rash, because we fellow drivers know you would be there, and the people walking around anyway trust you like you trust us.

Keep up with the trust in strangers like us,

Strangely yours.

Kya aapki degree me namak hai? MBA try karein!

I was at my doctor's clinic last week and as I waited for my turn, I could hear a young man trying to demonstrate his medical prowess to the doctor. The doctor, intelligent that he is, kept his calm and handled the guy in a very gentle yet effective way - ignoring his 'I think this I think that' crap, he made it sure to take care of the patient and not get bothered by her son.

Okay, so it was my turn next, I went in and as I took a seat, the doctor checked his records for my past reports. Once he was done with the checkup and started preparing the medicines for me, he started with his usual "aur kaise hain sab ghar pe..."

Soon the discussion steered into the world of medicines. He spoke. My responses were limited to "Hmm", "Right", "Haan", "Oh!", "Achha?"

Next point in discussion was 'people who think they talk like doctors'. It didn't matter much to me because I knew he was good at his work and he was nice to people. He needed to vent out. I was okay. So, as he spoke while preparing the medicine, I was only hearing - hearing, not listening.

And then came a bolt from blue. "These days anybody can do an MBA. Anybody. Even a rickshaw-puller."

"Huh?" I was taken aback.

"Yes," he said, "I mean that boy is pursuing MBA, but he doesn't even speak proper English. He just argues on whatever he is told."

I kept staring at him blankly. I was trying to find words to suit the situation. I was helpless.

"Oh. Don't get me wrong. I didn't mean it that way."

Everything is going to be okay.
I am an MBA.

Thank God he realized that the 'quiet' guy sitting right in front of him was also an MBA. Only this one never argued over what he was not good at.

I only ask him one question every time I go to him, "How many more years is it going to take?"

"Weeks. Just a few more," his weekly reply. Homoepathy :(

"I am sorry," he said regretfully.

"Don't be. I know it was not for me," I smiled and we both had a good laugh.

It's a free world. People are free to express their points of view - talk, debate etc. But does boasting about a degree - MBA, CA, MBBS or B. Tech, make their argument stronger? No.

As I walked out of the clinic, smiling at the incident, I was thinking, "there isn't a degree for MBA in Medicine yet? Business opportunity!"

Until next time..
Main Bas Aya