Love And Music

He never gets angry.
She was so happy that she would meet him after four days. Why he got angry and shouted at her, she didn’t know. He never did. But he did. And it did hurt. A lot.
She got him all wrong. He was not angry on her. He was happy that he was going to meet her after four long days. He was angry on his friend. His friend was supposed to submit his assignment on the selected day. He came back to learn that the assignment was submitted well after due date resulting in precious marks lost. He tried to reason out with the teacher in person, explained him the situation, but for no profit. She came to him seeing him agitated. He snapped. He slapped her.
Sunday Evening. Ashima entered the church. It was the nearest pious place from her college. She went past the benches and lighted a candle. She put it on the altar along with many candles and sat on her knees looking at the cross. Rain was dropping ceaselessly since morning. She sneaked through the lull in between, dry.
Few moments later, the doors of the church cracked. Aditya entered drenched. He walked towards the cross, shivering. His clothes completely wet, bent near Ashima and took out his candle. His hands still quivering, he tried to light up the wet wax. Ashima got up and walked to the nave and sat on the third row silently. Their eyes refused to cross each others. Aditya managed to heat up the wick and stick it near Ashima’s candle. He crossed his hands looking towards God, got up and walked towards the end of the benches, sitting near the last row. Sitting silently, both got transported to a day’s eve.
…………
‘Where were you guys?’ Ashima asked. ‘Yes we were about to leave. And how was your rehearsal?’ Shikha added.
‘As usual. Ashima’s man has again missed the first beat of his line.’ Sameer said, giving a knock on Aditya’s head.
‘How am I the defaulter? Pulkit always forgets to play his notes.’
‘Me?’ Pulkit exclaimed. ‘I am supposed to start from the second line, the first line is monologue.’ Both Sameer and Pulkit knock on Aditya’s head.
‘You guys can do this forever. Linkin Park ko chodke kuch gaana aata nahi.’ Ranjana imitated Pulkit playing the guitar. Everyone started laughing.
‘You never even listened to Linkin Park. You consider Himesh as a rockstar. What do you know about music.” They start fighting again with each other. Ashima hushes them up.
‘Stop it guys. And tell us about the plan for tomorrow.’
‘Plan unchanged. Morning six o’clock. Marine Drive.’ Aditya replies quickly.
‘Why are we going at all at this stupid place so early in Sunday morning, that too in the rain. We get eventually bored. You and Ashima move away from the group and spend time separately’ moaned Ranjana and everybody joined.
‘Hey guys, we never did that.’ Ashima protested.
‘Yes. We always bear with the awesome jokes of Pulkit, and try to smile in most of them. We never complain.’ Aditya explained.
‘Saale, maar khaega.’ Pulkit hits Aadi’s stomach.
‘Then my car tomorrow?’ Sameer asked.
‘No. Me and Ashima will meet you directly. We will take a rickshaw. I can’t bear Pulkit so early in morning.’ laughed Aditya. Again Pulkit and Aditya started in a mini fight.
‘Let them go. Else Aaditya will bore us crying like a little boy the whole day.’ Everyone laughed and moved to their respective hostel rooms. Pulkit promises Aditya dire consequences once they are back in room.

Morning 6.30am. Ashima and Aditya are sitting on the banister facing the sea at Marine Drive. Ashima knows that Aditya loves water, just looking at them, listening peacefully their frolicking, relieves him, and Ashima is relieved watching him happy and smiling. But now she is a little panicked as the other four are yet to arrive and it has been half an hour already.
Aditya’s mobile starts ringing.
‘What happened? Did you ask where are they? Aaah… great. Now the rain starts.’
‘Perfect.’
‘What perfect, Aadi. We will be drenched. And where the hell is this music coming from?’
Ashima turns around to see Pulkit with the guitar and Sameer with the keyboard all setup in the distance. Shikha and Ranjana are smiling nearby. Ashima is confused. She gets off the wide banister, and runs towards them. She hugs them both while the music is in full swing now. Ashima turns around to see Aditya, now standing on the banister facing the sea. He is humming, and starts singing.

Boondo k motiyon mein khulke ehsaas aya.
Waqt se nikalke lamha dil k paas aya
Choo k guzra tha par dil ko na mehsus hua
Ab jo dekha to vo lamha dil ko raas aya
Yun ki taiy kar nap au re
Dil ki baat main hawa k zariye pahuchau re
Ya khud hawa pe chalke aau re
Tumse pyar hai ye khulke
Jinme keh pau re
Lafz vo kahaan se lau re………

Music continues. Aditya comes down and bends before Ashima.
‘Ashima, will you marry me?
‘yes, you fool. Yes.’

Pulkit and Sameer continued the music without destroying the moment. Aashima and Aditya kissed each other. Ranjana capturing the beautiful moment.

……………………

Ashima looks back towards Aditya. He, settled on the bench was also looking at her. His eyes moist and regretful. Ashima runs to him and holds him tightly.
“I am sorry. I won’t do that again. I promise.” Aditya says.
“I know. Just don’t say anything, my love.”

Educating India?

Recently, we are listening of all the plans of Kapil Sibal, our honourary HRD minister, of revamping the education system of our country. And it is including all kinds of different methods, from eliminating the marking system and introducing grading system, decreasing the board exams to singular, and on the bigger stage, allowing foreign universities, and uniting all the schools under one board are quite motivating for a ministry which was long ignored by the government. Seriously, the last time I heard of any change in education system was the introduction of the OBC quota, which didn’t go well with me. But again, that is a different issue I don’t wish to comment on.

Some people also speculated that Kapil Sibal is moving way too fast than supposed. On this thought, I remember an article by Shekhar Gupta, some days later, titled “Babuji Dheere Chalna” becoming the anthem of our society. Clearly, when we have an important ministry under a person highly educated, we are bound to see such changes coming by.
What even astonished me, that the board exams which were reduced in standards from the time I gave exams, were again re-patterned to introduce some innovation compelling the students to think of what they are studying. Clearly, marks will not alone matter because, the marks are vanished. So, read to gain knowledge, not marks.
Speculations are important part of an democratic country. It helps in the betterment of the society. I was reading a editorial in Indian Express titled “The Marketplace Of Ideas” by Mr. D. Raja discussing the after effects of the redesigning of the Indian educational system. Clearly, an in-depth knowledge and far sightedness can lead to such articles. And I totally affirm with the predicament of the salaried middle-class people. But while reading, I thought, is it “wrong” of HRD ministry, or the psychology of the people. And I will discuss more about this, rather than giving a decision on the decisions.

For a long time, we are seeing the importance of brand-name over knowledge. Getting admissions in the public schools, coached in the best institutes, then IITs, IIMs. The knowledge period starts from a time when the child is just learning its own being. Pre-nursery, nursery, LKG, UKG, school, graduation, post-graduation, the list never ends. And all the parents need the best. If asked, what is best? Most people don’t know the actual reason.

I am not talking about IIT or IIM here. They are the topmost college not for their name only. The curriculum is very tough and is designed specifically to bring out the best. Day-night classes, assignments, two exams in a day. It is a fanatic race of educationists. Clearly, the students deserve big bucks for all the efforts they have put to clear the exams. But is clearing the exam enough to judge a person of his capabilities? If yes, then how many IITians become scientists and how many IIMians become future business leaders? And if IITs have so terrific curriculum, then why most of them choose IIMs, and the biggest question mark, how do companies prefer such people?

The success of a student clearly depends how much he can absorb from the environment. If a student who is liking what he is doing, he will definitely do good, no matter what his alma-mater is. And when we are talking about schools, the differences sublime. I have seen many idiots from top public schools, and many excellent students from government schools. Leaving the fame, we should stress on the quality of the education and the abilities of the child. Let him choose the right path, let parents help him to choose his destiny. When he will do what he likes, he will definitely prosper in it. And that is how, a better workforce will be built for the country.
Recently, there is a beautiful film released which dealt with this question mark in its ulterior. And I clearly remember, “Baccha kaabil ban, kamyabi jhak maar ke piche ayegi”. Go for excellence, success will follow you. And to the larger part of the audience who believe this part is unachievable, the fact is that it is true.