Impact of an alternate decision

The story is abstract and fictional.

Homeless. Jobless. No one for support. No one to guide. Alone in the streets of a city that never sleeps. Even the gardener in the nearby society feels that the garden is more important than a stray individual just outside of his society. I cannot blame him though, that's what humanity has turned into. Gone are the days of the Good Samaritan, I thought.

I saw many robbers roaming for their daily bread. What they were doing was ethically wrong. However, who will even listen to someone like me? I saw them stealing and living each day as if its a daily-wage job. I have an easy way out to get out of this rut. And this city promises to make me self sufficient if I follow this route. There are even people in power who will support your activity as long as you support them by parting with a section of your daily wage. Somewhat like taxes for the elite class. The other option the city provided me with is to struggle my way up the ranks. In other words, learn how to do something and work and improve on it. Here, the wage will be monthly and you might have to end up paying tax.

Three years later:

I live in a chawl (small one room house - even considered as luxury in this city). I am working in a small garage with minimum possible wage. No taxes however! I know my work. Some people know me. I have some people I call friends. They are also struggling to grow, yet they all know how to survive one day at a time. No illegal activity. Struggle, survive and enjoy life the way its meant to be.

One day, as I was working in the garage, I heard a lady scream and pointing towards a man who was running away. It didn't take me long to realize that she was robbed. Now, this is normal in our city. People on the same street, who witness this incident on a day-to-day basis, hardly care. You see, if they never cared for a hapless life on the street few years ago, why will they care for a purse? Something forced me to help the lady. I immediately started chasing the guy. He seemed to be a new guy in the area as he didn't know any shortcuts. I somehow managed to catch him and snatch the purse from him. He immediately hid his face using his hands. Though I got what I ran for, I felt the urge to see his face. Maybe he has seen me running and knows me. He didn't want to be recognized. Since I was dominating the scene, I pushed his hands away from his face. I recognized him immediately.

That's when reality and science defied me. I actually saw myself. He was my mirror image - a guy who could have taken an easy way out three years ago! Thoughts started randomly appearing in my mind with no clear understanding. How can this be happening? Meanwhile, he saw my shocked expressing, smiled at my adversity, pushed me aside and ran away. I was left alone with no explanation of the incident whatsoever.


Image: Google Images

Had I taken the robbery route, I would still be alive and kicking in the city and would have earned more in one month than slogging for three full years! I would still have had a place to live, like-minded people as my friends, no taxes, not only know how to survive for the day but also know how to sustain myself during 'slack' period. Win-win situation at one end and a struggle at the other. I chose the other end. Why? Because I thought (and I still think) it's the right decision to make. I still have my dignity, though it hardly matters here, and I don't have any need to fear anyone in the city.

It taught me that I can also survive with ethics in this city. The city where dreams are fulfilled - sooner or later.

PS: I know the story is totally abstract. Thought of writing something different this time. I intended to show the impact of making a right decision even though it hurts in the short run.

Book Review - Love, Peace and Happiness: What more can you want?

Love, Peace and Happiness: What more can you want? is a collection of short stories with a difference. The stories revolve around 3 basic facets of human existence (or the lack of it, in today's world): Love, Peace and Happiness. The protagonists in each story has his / her own way to perceive the above mentioned facets. Some are morally right, some not. You may even feel the story resembles the life of someone you know. That someone can even be YOU!

Target Audience:

1. Youngsters and working population living in cities / metros as they can relate to most of the stories.
2. Readers who want to explore relationships and the attached complications.

3. Readers who want to explore a "different" way of reading a story (more on this later)

4. Readers who prefer books that go beyond love stories, friendship and a time pass read.

Plot(s): As mentioned earlier, the book consists of nine short stories revolving around the basic theme of Love, Peace and Happiness. Every protagonist perceives it in their own way. Some of the stories are simple and will not surprise / shock you. But as you read on, you will come across stories that will keep you hooked. Also, it's important NOT to forget the characters from the previous stories - they appear again. The stories take you through a myriad of emotions and relationship webs that are difficult to cope with. And its highly likely that some of the situations will resemble a real life story, maybe yours or one of your closed ones. Want to view a mirror that tells you the truth? Buying this book will provide you with just that!

Writing: The writing is simple and straightforward. Author has ensured anyone and everyone with basic understanding of English will be able to understand and comprehend. However, there are some typos in the book, some of which you may ignore or may not even realize. There are places where the anticipation builds for a thrilling climax and then ends abruptly. This, I believe, is because the author has deliberately and tactically ensured that the reader should visit the website for alternate endings and read the new climax.

Relevance in today's times: The book is as relevant as relationships are, in today's times. With social network booming and relationships at an all new low, you will hardly find the following anywhere - Love, Peace and Happiness. The book is, in a way, a mirror that shows exactly what is happening. The book doesn't explain why such a thing is happening and how to cope with it - and rightly so. The concept is to let the readers understand it the way they want to. 

USP (Unique Selling Proposition): Undoubtedly, the concept of alternate endings. It's as if the story is being enacted in an alternate timeline. This concept has been tried and tested in the Hollywood movies. What this does is, it increases curiosity among the readers who has just read one story in the book. You get an urge to explore the story more and analyze how the other ending fits. The author wants the reader to end the story in the way s/he wants it. If you are not convinced with the ending (it'll happen for some stories), you have an option to read the alternate ending from the author's website. If you are still not convinced, you have another option to writing the end you want and send it to the author. Something like this has not been explored (as far as I remember) and is unique. This concept will work wonders for e-book publications.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience reading the book. Each story has some inner meaning waiting to be explored and readers are given the option to read and accept what they want! One word of caution though: Read this book when you are connected to the net or have a smartphone with you. You might want to check how the story ends differently!

My Rating: 3.5 / 5

Wish I had lived those two hours differently..

I was travelling in a crowded bus with a group of my college friends talking about the day, pending submissions, our exams and as always, our crushes. We enjoyed each other's company. I loved to be with them and my family all the time. They made me feel secure. Those were the days when Orkut was popular and some guy named Mark Zuckerberg was busy comparing pics of different people not knowing what it would eventually turn out to be!! We had mp3 players back then, but it was for the "upper" class. We believed in networking with friends - in person.



But that day was different..

Our bus was stuck in a traffic jam. Amidst all the tiring and sweating bodies standing around, I peeked outside. I saw a shiny silver car. It was very beautiful, one that you will admire just by what you see!! The car was Mercedes Benz!! My dream car since I was a little one who couldn't even spell M-e-r-c-e-d-e-s. I tried looking inside the car. I couldn't see the person who was driving it. But thanks to the reflective glass, I saw myself. I wondered how difficult it would be for me to own it. That's what dreams are made of, isn't it? My dream of having a Mercedes grew stronger. And I was determined again!! But how? With my busy college schedule and socializing with friends, I will never find time to develop my skill-sets and become rich and buy a Mercedes. Wish I had two extra hours every day!!

Twenty years later..

I hate this traffic jam!! It's been there since the time I can remember. Indian economy is growing, and we are producing more cars at a rate which is second only to India's birth rate!! Wish there was a fly-over above the fly-over I am driving on. And its bad for my car too!! How on Earth can a Mercedes wait in a queue with Nano's and other equivalents!! Ohh yes, you guessed it right. I am driving my own Mercedes - and that too an imported one. But how, you might ask. I made my two extra hours a day count!! I worked hard for my graduation, did post-graduation, sacrificed my family time, sacrificed socializing with my friends - my own people who made me - ME!! I had a one point agenda to become rich and drive my Mercedes - which I did. Boy, am I successful now?

But that day was different..

Enjoying my music and breathing out of a cool, temperature showing, costly air-conditioner - I peeked outside. I can see everything that's happening outside - the same cannot be said for people outside though!! I saw a crowded bus. People struggling for space, and quite literally pushing each other to even breathe. I sympathized with their situation and those of my struggling days. This made me feel even more successful!! That's when I saw a group of office going guys talking to each other in the bus. Even they were struggling to find that key element in a crowded bus - breathing space. They appeared to be close friends. They were showing their mobile phones, were sharing something to each other and laughing!! Laughing even in adversity, I thought. I saw one guy closely. He was looking just like me, but behaving much differently than what I would normally behave with people. You see, I am more decent and dignified now while interacting with people. That guy was more outspoken and not concerned what others would think of him. I was like that, you know. He reminded me of someone - ME, back in those days!!

That's when reality slapped me like a girl would do when she's betrayed by her prince. The guy I am observing was actually me - with an alternate timeline. He is exactly what I would have been if I hadn't made my materialistic dream a reality. Had I shared those extra two hours with my family / friends, I would still have them around. I would still be all that guy in the bus was. I kept staring at him, with deep regret and a sudden loss of interest in life. In between his talks, he looked outside the bus. I lowered the window pane and looked at him. Our eyes met. I saw that same passion in his eyes to own a Mercedes. He looked at me and winked. I smiled. And then strangely, he started talking to his friends again and completely ignored me. I pitied myself. That guy, my alternate self, made a decision looking at me that he will never become what I am. I, who was the king of my life, became a peasant again!! Twenty years of hardship suddenly meant nothing to me. My dreams shattered me!! Wish I could get back those two extra hours every day that I spent on climbing the ladder of success!!

I would have been the same person had I utilized my two hours differently back then. I concentrated on career and only career and here I am - with everything I ever needed, but no one to share it with. There, that guy, probably doesn't even have a car, but has friends / close ones who will be with his through the adversity!!

I won the battle of career but lost the war of life!!

Just two hours!! That's all it takes. And the best part is - you already have those two hours with you!! Now It's upto you how / where to find it and, more importantly, to make it count!!