They never say “Bye”!

Why is it that people shown talking on the phone in Hindi/English films, always end their conversations abruptly? They NEVER have a proper “signing off”…most of the times, they don’t even have a one-word “Bye” kinda signing off…On the other hand, here is how my phone conversations with my friends end…in ascending order of warmth/friendliness…

Least warm, but friendly convos:
Moi: All right then, Bye
Friend: Bye

Warm convos:
Friend: All right then, bye
Me: Ya, buh-bye. Take care
Friend: You too…talk to you soon/See you…
Me: Yep. Bye. Take care (again)/See you
Friend: Have a good day…
Me: U too! Take care…

Super-warm convos:
Friend/Me: All right then, you get back to your work…I’ll get back too…
Me: Yep
Friend: take care
Me: u too
Friend: Talk to you soon/See you
Me: Talk to you soon/See you
Friend: Hope you have a good day…
Me: U too! Take care…
Friend: Good night!/bye
Me: Good night!/bye

Wow! Am I the only one or do screenplay writers need to catch up with "real life" phone farewells??

Bombay: The City of Dreams in a Sea of Apathy

Recently, a former classmate met with a road accident. When some of us went to visit him in the hospital, his sister lamented that no one had come forward to help her grievously-injured brother...This didn't surprise us at all. After all, we've all heard this before. People die/fall/get raped and few come to help...So, how come our people come out in droves to help out if there is a flood, or if there are blasts, but completely ignore the isolated individual deep in trouble? How come there are tales of extreme heroism from these same people in the time of wide-spread chaos, but when it comes to ONE individual needing help, he/she is generally ignored?

Get this, I've always felt a deep pride in our city, a city that lets people achieve all their dreams. You want to become rich? Want to become famous? Want to start a new life? Don't want people meddling in your life? Want to forget things and start afresh? Bombay is the sure-shot, guaranteed solution for the above-mentioned issues.

Our city is known the world over for its professionalism. But I think this one quality that helps us do our business so impressively is also the trait that causes us to hurry about to our work when someone clearly needs our help. I mean, how can you think of helping a person on the street when it could mean getting late for office where tons of work and a cranky boss are waiting for you. Naah, we all have too many better things to do instead of trying to save the poor sod on the street who, who knows, may even be a mafia guy, God forbid! Sometimes, I feel bad that the very pace that is contributing to the growth of the country is also responsible for us turning into apathetic insensitive unthinking souls.

Scarlett and the Horse Whisperer

Managed to catch a part of The Horse Whisperer when it was showing on TV (was it on Zee-Studio?? HBO?? don't remember!) the other day...although I couldn't catch the whole film, I still feel compelled to write about it...Scarlett Johansson plays a very young girl crippled in a horse riding accident. Her performance was moving, amazing, beautiful...I could keep going...because while watching her get angry one minute and cry the next, you feel as if you really are watching a girl facing the prospect of living her whole adult (and teenage) life as a cripple.

But the film is not just about her...it's about her horse, which is as badly affected by the accident as she is. It's about her mother and father, who are not sure if they are going to last as a couple...and it's about the brilliant but human horse whisperer...I liked the story of the film (later researched about the film on the net, haven't read the book), the way it manages to tie in so many plots in one single track...lots of emo and lots of courage...my kinda film!

Workaholics Anonymous

The other day, my friends and I happened to talk in passing about the brother of one of my friends. This guy is a complete workaholic and works on saturdays and sundays too. One friend said it was very presumptuous of this man to think that his company couldn't survive without him, that his company was totally dependant on him. She didn't say this cattily at all, coz all of us respect this man. But I have myself been at the receiving end of comments like these from catty colleagues. And I think people who pass such remarks completely miss the point.

I was a workaholic. Currently though, I believe that I still work hard but also spend time on leisure with people who matter to me. But I do remember the time when I gave work all my time and energy. And it simply was NOT because of the notion that my company could not survive without me. It was because some of us really do find a lot of fulfilment in work...so much so that we sometimes neglect other things in life, which is wrong of course. But that's hardly because of the egotism some people would attribute to us.

Love's Young Dream...

...were Hussain and Tina yesterday on the TV show Nach Baliye 2...The two danced on a dreamy romantic number - Bahon ke darmiyaan...It was beautiful! Tina is not a great dancer, but she does seem to understand instinctively what a dance needs...and she compensates with the sincerity in her performance...compare this with another couple Hiten and Gauri. Gauri looks so indifferent in every episode you wonder why the two bother to grace the dance floor at all...anyway, the show has put on some wonderful performances...one that comes to mind was the one that had Manav and Shweta do an Indian classical dance...It was amazing...and very very creative! But my vote goes to Hussain and Tina - they dance well and seem like they're made for each other.

Update: On December 18, the grand finale of Nach Baliye 2 saw Hussain and Tina win the contest...Hmmm, don't the words "I told you so" sound very musical :)