Fragmented tries of the ambitious.

Everybody seems to have a plan but me.

With all the craziness surrounding the admissions it seems to me that everyone has forgotten what it is like to take a deep fresh breath and enjoy the sunlight and what a delight it is to actually taste the food you eat.

I probably know this because all I do is…laze around.

Does that mean I’m unambitious?

Looking at all the medicine and engineering aspirants, us, the animals away from that herd feel like our hustle isn’t enough. Well to break it to you all, I am definitely an above average student with dreams to fulfill which are different from being able to eat that last piece of cake in my fridge. I do see myself as a CEO and an empowered woman, but currently it’s just me sitting on the sidelines looking at zombie looking young adults race for those scarcely provided seats.

Reminds me of an enraging thing.

The 9 or so suicides that were committed just because of the JEE mains (First of the many exams to be given to get into IIT) marks were eligible but NOT GOOD ENOUGH. The sudden change in the medical examination syllabus and in the exam itself, two days before the exam, leaving thousands of aspirants preparing since 2 years, totally unprepared.

Our students are trying, killing themselves in isolation and depriving themselves of real practical experiences just to grab a seat in the top or at least decent colleges so that they can secure an unforeseeable future. The ratio of medical seats to students is 1:0.08 (approx.). I think the government needs to be reminded the ration of doctor per patient of 1:50000.

I think it’s time for Indians to be a little more quality oriented and little less result oriented. Our numbers are only increasing because students are killing themselves.

But then this series of surprising events happened. Many IIT eligible kids changed streams to arts and commerce, to pursue a much more involved interest. Well it partially comes down to the society to stop showing medicine and engineering as the most prestigious professions so that parents don’t need to spend so much money and time to bring the child’s spirit to vain before he realizes that’s not what he wants to do.

And well, if you are wondering, it enrages me because how stubborn our society can be and how people are pushed to limits from where one can’t even see any other possibilities which could possibly be their calling. And when it comes to me being a little foggy about my future, perhaps I’m not; sure we might not seem as focused as thousands out there, but I think there is a plan for kids like me who just go with what their gut tells them (gut feelings are 100% of the time wrong when it comes to a situation based on chance).

That being said, we can charm our way through. Don’t worry I have given exams myself to get myself in a good place. For now let’s just look forward to the future and the angry mob of parents that might chase me down tomorrow.

HAPPY ADMISSIONS EVERYBODY!

Writer's Note: I felt the need to write this; I cant explain why. Thus m sorry this is more like a diary entry.

Things we talk with a rickshaw wala.

In an exotic city like Mumbai you might often find yourself travelling in a rickshaw ("an extended scooter with a cap" as quoted by one of my favorite youtubers) and frequently even find yourself chatting with the rickshaw wala. It would be remiss of me not to mention the fact that these men often find company in various passengers they transport. And a conversation with a rickshaw wala is not always restricted to weather, petrol and how the roads in Mumbai are made in potholes.


So here's a list of things you talk to them about, while you are alone in the back hoping you don’t find much traffic in Andheri.

1. Whenever a young enthusiastic biker dangerously overtakes the rickshaw: "Kaise chala raha hai bevda. Kuch civic sense hi nahi hai. Kisne diya isko license." (How this is drunk man driving! No civic sense at all! Who gave him the license?). The rickshaw walas response will usually be a very short voluble one, with lot of flapping gestures with one hand.

2. When you see that the meter is running way too fast and the fare is higher than it usually is. "Kya bhaiya apka ghoda meter hai. Nahi! Mein itna nahi bharne wali." (What brother, your meter runs like a horse. I’m not paying you this much)

This statement usually leads to young rickshaw guys being offended for being called "bhaiya" (brother) and then escalates to you either paying the whole money while cursing under your breath or the rickshaw wala giving you a murderous look while he drives away with half the money.

3. Some rickshaws are decorated like brides. Ornate with stickers on the windscreen. These stickers include vicious cobras, old pictures of new Bollywood actresses and some random incorrectly spelt, grammatically incorrect English phrases. There are chances that in these rickshaws you will even experience a halo of neon green, blue or red lights circling your head making you feel like you’re in a mobile night club, all alone (sans the rickshaw wala).

At this point I shall mention, you wouldn't be striking any conversation with this rickshaw wala. But rather making awkward eye contact with him, through the rear view mirror while he silently grooves to the music on his speakers (yes there r speakers in these types rickshaws). By now you are wondering whether you should courageously jump out of the rickshaw for your own safety, or wait till you reach your destination, and then run for your life.

So if you ever find yourself in a rickshaw with "love is shweet poison" banner below the steering handle, I suggest jump out of the vehicle.

4. Very rarely, you will find a rickshaw guy who is educated, and even more rarely you will be travelling with Mr. Rickshaw driving teacher. If you are in any kind of uniform, you will be fired with math questions you have been escaping in the class.

"Sin ka formula kya hai?" (What is the formula of sin?)

"Grammar aata hai?" (You know grammar right?)

"Padai kaisi chal rahi hai? Apni mummy papa ka naam Roshan karna haan!" (How are your studies going? You shall live up to your parent’s name!)

Just sit and stare blankly acting like kid with a low IQ. Believe me there is no pressure at all to answer these questions.

No pressure at all.

In this one sided conversation, your response will range from stammers to false hiccups and the journey will end with you paying and running away without collecting the change.

True story.

5. Its highly frustrating when someone doesn't give you change. And in a journey worth 60₹ the rickshaw wala doesn’t have 100₹ change, other than the fat stacks of 10₹ in his breast pocket.
"Kya bhai saheb, pura din hogaya, aur apke pass chutta nahi hai? Kya karte kya ho aap log itne saare chutte ka?" (What man, the day is over and you don’t have change? What do you guys do of so much change?")

This will either end with the rick guy making a tch tch noise and removing his stacks or you giving up and walking away without change and leaving a happily grinning beer bellied man.

6. Weather, food and traffic are very common topics you will be talking about with the rickshaw wala. And these are the only conversations you will be initiating, intentionally. Either you are bored and hungry, or just one of those chattering people who talk to every second person they find.
"Haiy! Kitna traffic bad gaya hai Mumbai mein!" (Lord! The traffic has increased so much in Mumbai!)
"Haan saheb, Andheri se Jogeshwari tak kitna traffic hai." (Yes sir, there is a lot of traffic from Andheri to Jogeshwari.)

This will be followed by a long awkward pause. Then you might ask him what he had for lunch. To which the common reply would be "vada pav" (round fried potato balls swimming in oil, in between buns like a sandwich. They are delicious though)

By the end of this journey, you have made a friend who will come to take you anywhere you want at a call, since you have already exchanged numbers. But yet, at the end of this trip, you will still be fighting about the meter running too fast. :)

7. This is the most experienced and shortest conversation/interaction by EACH AND EVERY MUMBAIKAR. You will be standing by the edge of the road and waving your hand for a rickshaw. A rickshaw might stop and the driver will look at you expectantly, and with crossed fingers and a clenched stomach you will name your destination. Again, At this point I shall mention that... The probability of the driver saying yes for taking you to your destination much less than Miley Cyrus becoming Hannah Montana again. And the way the rickshaw wala denies you is a gesture of sheer arrogance and attitude.

They simply drive away without giving you a second thought. And you will be standing there like a lost puppy disowned by its owner.

8. This is one of those times when one would not prefer having a conversation with the rickshaw driver. Because there are chances you will be busy making out with your boyfriend or girlfriend in the backseat. And if you haven't noticed, the driver will be adjusting the rear view mirror (which look like two ears for a rickshaw) not to look at the vehicles behind, but to look at you doing hanky panky in the back seat.

You Bad child.
Not based on a true story.

So well, that's the end of the list, I guess. We Mumbaikars have learnt to live with these conversations since they are part of our daily routine now. Rickshaws travel on the roads of Mumbai like blood flows in a body and get stuck in a traffic jam like a clot on a wound. How much ever we cry about the rickshaws fare shooting skywards, we can’t help but use the phrase "bhaiya [enter destination] jaoge kya?" (Brother will you take me to [enter destination]?)ever so often.

So either keep up with the soaring prices and unwanted/awkward conversations or learn to fly.

Few words- Rickshaws are also known as "Auto". for some reason. For more information go on wikipedia. I just saw a whole page on rickshaws there. I love vada pav.