sāre jahāñ se achchā hindostāñ hamārā

sāre jahāñ se achchā hindostāñ hamārā
ham bulbuleñ haiñ us kī vuh gulsitāñ hamārā

ġhurbat meñ hoñ agar ham, rahtā hai dil vatan meñ
samjho vuhīñ hameñ bhī dil ho jahāñ hamārā

parbat vuh sab se ūñchā, hamsāyah āsmāñ kā
vuh santarī hamārā, vuh pāsbāñ hamārā

godī meñ kheltī haiñ us kī hazāroñ nadiyāñ
gulshan hai jin ke dam se rashk-e janāñ hamārā

ay āb-rūd-e gangā! vuh din haiñ yād tujh ko?
utarā tire kināre jab kāravāñ hamārā

mażhab nahīñ sikhātā āpas meñ bair rakhnā
hindī haiñ ham, vatan hai hindostāñ hamārā

yūnān-o-miṣr-o-rumā sab miṭ gaʾe jahāñ se
ab tak magar hai bāqī nām-o-nishāñ hamārā

kuchh bāt hai kih hastī miṭtī nahīñ hamārī
sadiyoñ rahā hai dushman daur-e zamāñ hamārā

iqbāl! koʾī maḥram apnā nahīñ jahāñ meñ
maʿlūm kyā kisī ko dard-e nihāñ hamārā!

- Muhammad Iqbal

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English Translation

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Better than the entire world, is our Hindustan,
We are its nightingales, and it (is) our garden abode

If we are in an alien place, the heart remains in the homeland,
Know us to be only there where our heart is.

That tallest mountain, that shade-sharer of the sky,
(It) is our sentry, (it) is our watchman

In its lap frolic those thousands of rivers,
Whose vitality makes our garden the envy of Paradise.

O the flowing waters of the Ganges, do you remember that day
When our caravan first disembarked on your waterfront?

Religion does not teach us to bear ill-will among ourselves
We are of Hind, our homeland is Hindustan.

In a world in which ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome have all vanished without trace
Our own attributes (name and sign) live on today.

Such is our existence that it cannot be erased
Even though, for centuries, the cycle of time has been our enemy.

Iqbal! We have no confidant in this world
What does any one know of our hidden pain?

Laajvanti - Software Engineer 2.

Maher Iqbal, my room-mate comes home pretty late by Satyam standards; he reaches home at around 9.00PM. He works in HSBC, handles software development processes there. But that day, he came back early...8.00 PM.

Maher: (as I opened the door) Hi.
Me: Hi.
Maher: Kya karr raha hai?
Me: Kuch khaas nahi bey. TV pe kuch dekh ke kuch soch ke kuch aur soch raha tha.
Maher: HaHa. Aur pehla din kaisa tha? Koi mili?.
Me: Haan bey. Mili ek gulti.
Maher: Kya baat karr raha hai. Mili bhi to ek gulti?.
Me: Abey nahi, ye maal hai.
Maher: Hmm. Kuch gulti ladkiyaan maal bhi hoti hain!!! Reddy hogi.
Me: Pata nahi, surname nahi poocha.
Maher: To kya kiya?
Me: Abey usko ghar drop kiya tha. But saala uske hostel ke saamne hi bike gir gayi, aur uske saath mai bhi.
Maher: Wo to nahi giri na?
Me: Shukar hai wo nahi giri. Wo pata nahi kaise kood ke khadi ho gayee.
Maher: Phir kya boli?
Me: Mai turant udhar se bhaag gaya.
Maher: HaHaHa. Saale tera kuch nahi ho sakta...
Me: Oh.
Maher: Kya Oh? Accha bol khana khane kahan chalte hain? (The usual question)
Me: Pata nahi. Kahin bhi chal. (The usual answer)
Maher: Subway chalein?. (Another usual question)
Me: Abey nahi, mujhe wo accha nahi lagta.(Another usual answer)
Maher: Phir kahaan? KFC?. (Yet another usual question)
Me: Abey kahin aur chalte hain, KFC mein mai kya khaunga? (Yet another usual answer)
Maher: Needs? (Needs is a sasta Punjabi restaurant in Begumpet)
Me: Haan chal.

The next day I got up at around 10 in the morning. Maher had already left for office. Still on the bed, I looked up at the fan and my cellphone started ringing. The call was from a new number. I picked it up.

Me: Hello?
Caller: Can I talk to Sridhar?
Me: Yes, speaking.
Caller: Hiii. How are you?
Me: I'm fine. Who's this?
Caller: I'm Laajo. Remember?
Me: (A sudden chill ran all over me...) O ya. How did you get my number?
Laajo: Abbaa!!! I got it from eSupport.
Me: eSupport? What is eSupport?
Laajo: It is Satyam's internal site, from where you can get details about everyone. Our details have already come there. Remember we filled all those details in Virtue?
Me: (My head was spinning) Ok. So you have internet in your hostel?
Laajo: Yaa re. My room-mate is also from Satyam know. She told me all this.
Me: Oh. That's great. Hey, I am sorry about yesterday. The bike went out of balance.
Laajo: No re, it's ok. Happens. Why did you go away like that?
Me: I was upset.
Laajo: Chumma you go upset. The road only was not good. Lot of bikes fall there, with guy and gal also. In our case I did not fall na. So you did fine.
Me: HaHa. Thanks for being so nice.
Laajo: Shut up. Mental you are. Ok, when are you coming to pick me up?
Me: (Couldn't believe what I heard) You mean for office?
Laajo: No, for my funeral! Of course for office man.
Me: We have to report at 2.00 PM na?
Laajo: Yes. So you come here by 1.00 PM. We will reach there by 1.20.
Me: Why so early?
Laajo: Arey stupid, we'll have lunch after that... 1.20 to 1.50. And 10 minutes is for anything unforseen which may happen.
Me: Hmm. Like falling somewhere?
Laajo: Offo! Can't you think better things? There may be a traffic-jam also.
Me: I'm sorry. I'll pick you up at 1.00. Ok?
Laajo: Ok. See you then. Tata.
Me: Tata.

My heart started thumping dum dum dum. I could not think anything for a while. I tried to control myself by taking deep breaths. Did kapaalbhati for 2 minutes. I felt better. Then I had some water, went to susu, stared absent-mindedly at my watch for 3 minutes, turned off the fan (don't know why), refreshed the desktop of my computer 20 times, unlocked and locked my cellphone 4-5 times, looked at myself in my small mirror and smiled...

I quickly brushed my teeth. Then shaved my face and put on the Denim aftershave I had never used (had preserved it for a special occasion like this). Then went for bath. As I emptied the first magga on my head, I realized I had not warmed the water. Then decided ki chalo aaj cold water se naha lete hain. As I was applying Pantene on my takla I felt glad that I had gotten the side wala hair shaven off the very previous day. So the takla was looking cool. (Or hot?)

After the shower, I sprayed my Addidas Deospray all over my body. Then got dressed and sprayed Addidas again all over my clothes. Then suddenly my eyes fell on my room-mate's imported perfume. I couldn't resist the temptation of spraying some of it on my armpits. I surrendered to the temptation. Sprayed it at a lot of places which I thought must smell good and then placed the perfume bottle back to where it was, at exactly the same spot and in exactly the same orientation.

I wore my best shirt and trousers. Took out a new pair of socks from my suit-case, cleaned my woodland shoes with a wet cloth, wore them. Took out from the suitcase the hanky which my mom had given me long back to use. Cleaned my pulsar with the wet cloth. Made sure the bike was shining all over. Chanted a Hanuman prayer in my mind. Then a Ram prayer. Than a Saraswati prayer. The one before-sleep prayer that I had learnt when I was a kid. Then 2 Ganesh prayers. Then ate 1 spoon Himani Sona-Chaandi Chyavanprash. The time was 12.50PM. And I was ready to leave.

Just as I started my bike, my cell-phone started ringing. It was Laajo.

Laajo: Hey, where are you?
Me: Outside my home. I am starting. I will be there in 10 minutes.
Laajo: Ok. Come fast. We need to go to Hyderabad Central before going to office.
Me: Central? Why?
Laajo: To get movie tickets.
Me: You can buy them online. Go to www.pvrcinemas.com
Laajo: I don't know all that. You come, we will quickly get the tickets and go to office.
Me: Ok. But which movie?
Laajo: You ask too many questions. And waste time. Why don't you come here fast. Idiot!
Me: Hey I can get the tickets and then come to your house. Central is closer to my house.
Laajo: That's a good idea. You make sense sometimes. Ok, get 2 tickets for Jodha Akbar, Sunday night show.
Me: 2 tickets? Sunday Night?
Laajo: Ya.
Me: Ok. See you.
Laajo: Listen, don't take if you get 1st or 2nd row seats.
Me: Ok. Fine.
Laajo: Now go fast. I am waiting for you.
Me: Bye.

I cut the call, put the mobile in my pocket, started the bike and headed towards Central which is at Punjagutta Circle. There was heavy traffic as usual at Nagarjuna Circle. As I was waiting for the traffic to clear, I started thinking - Who the hell was Laajo going to the movie with? That too night show! Did she have a boy-friend? Saala, who cud that be? And what wud they do after the movie? It was a long movie. Wud end around 1.00-1.30 midnight. - I was so engrossed in all those thoughts that I did not hear the honks of the car behind me until the guy from the car stepped out and gave me a jolt. I raised my eye-brows at him. Not sure whether he could see that through my helmet. I was so angry...with the guy and with Laajo. Took some deep breaths and tried to cool down. Then I started the bike and drove to Hyderabad Central. Still very disturbed. I was not feeling like buying the tickets. Still stood in the line at the ticket-counter. A sexy girl in a small skirt standing in front of me offered some distraction. But not for long. My anger kept coming back. I couldn't decide whether to buy the tickets or return back with an excuse. What could be a good excuse? I was confused.

 

To Be Continued...

Laajvanti - Software Engineer 1.

Laajvanti and I joined Satyam together. The moment I entered the common waiting area in Satyam's office in the Masha-allah building on the joining day - 21st November 2007, I saw Laajo, and I knew she was the one I'd like to spend the whole of my bench-life with. She was wearing a white kurta (or kurti?), an orange salwar and an orange chunni. She had shiny long black hair oiled and plaited gulti-style. She was so cute, I instantly fell in love with her. I went and sat on the chair by her side. Couldn't stop staring at her. She was uncomfortable. So I spoke -

Me: Hi, I'm Sridhar.
Laajo: I'm Laajvanti.
Me: Java?
Laajo: No, Mainframes. You Java aa?
Me: Yeah. But I know some JCL, COBOL, CICS, DB2 also. I learnt when I was in TCS.
Laajo: So you are from TCS aa?
Me: No. From Geometric Software, Pune.
Laajo: Accha.
Me: I was in TCS before that.
Laajo: How many years experience?
Me: 3.5 years. You?
Laajo: 3 years.
Me: Which company you were working previously?
Laajo: TCS.
Me: Yo! Ultimatix and all!
Laajo: Yes. How long you worked in TCS?
Me: 6 months.
Laajo: 1st company?
Me: Yes.
Laajo: You broke the bond!
Me: No. I paid the bond money and quit.
Laajo: Joking aa?
Me: Really, I paid. See I have the relieving letter too, from TCS. (Opened my file to show her the letter)
Laajo: Arey, it's ok re. How much you paid?
Me: 77k.
Laajo: O my God!
Me: Yes. I was too ethical.
Laajo: (Smiling) Too much. You were an idiot.
Me: (Embarrassed) Ya. I guess so.
Laajo: Did you get the medical examination done?
Me: Yes.
Laajo: (Smiling) What all they checked?
Me: What do you mean? (Wondering why she asked that. She couldn't possibly mean that...could she?)
Laajo: Forget it. (Still laughing)
Me: Ok. (Confused)
Laajo: I heard they will put us all on bench.
Me: Oh really? I'd love that.
Laajo: What? You are a strange person.
Me: Why?
Laajo: Who wants to be on bench? Everyone wants a project.
Me: Why do you want to work if you can get paid without working?
Laajo: Ayyo! You are really a psycho.
Me: Psycho? Why?
Laajo: Leave it. Where are you put up?
Me: What does that mean?
Laajo: Put up, as in, where do you stay in Hyderabad?
Me: oh! Banjara Hills.
Laajo: That's a costly area I suppose.
Me: Yes. But I am sharing with a guy, who has been staying there for a while. So the rent is low and then divided by 2.
Laajo: That's good.
Me: Where do you put?
Laajo: What do you mean?
Me: What did you ask me?
Laajo: O, 'where are you put up?'
Me: Yes Yes, that only.
Laajo: I am staying in a hostel in Ameerpet.
Me: That's close to where I stay.
Laajo: So?
Me: So... nothing. Just telling.
Laajo: (Smiling) Where are you originally from?
Me: Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.
Laajo: But your name...
Me: I am gulti, basically.
Laajo: Don't you say gulti. I hate that word. Say Telugu. Dumbo. (Smiled)
Me: Hmm, so you are Telugu?
Laajo: Yes.
Me: But your name is North-Indian. How come?
Laajo: My mother liked this name. She put it.
Me: Oh. But why did she like this name?
Laajo: I don't know. Which place in Andhra?
Me: My par-dada was a cassanova in Visakhapatnam. (Laughed)
Laajo: Anta Scene Ledu Meeku.
Me: Oh.
Laajo: What oh?
Me: Whatever you said.
Laajo: Shut up.
Me: Oh.
Laajo: Stop it. (beats me on my hand, feels my shoulder and blushes)

Just then, my name was called by the HR guy. He wanted to verify my documents and give me my ID Card and Appointment Letter. I went to him, got the things done, and came back. I saw in his list that Laajo was next to be called.

Laajo: How come your name came so early?
Me: I am a lucky guy. Since you are with me, I can make your name come next.
Laajo: Very funny!
Me: I'm serious. There you go. Abra-ka-Dabra (I waved my had in the air. And the HR guy called Laajo.)
Laajo: Elated. You really are a psycho! Wait, I will go and come.
Me: Yeah! I am here.

Laajo went to the HR guy. He cracked some jokes. Sala, saw a beautiful girl and started flirting. I hate such guys. Laajo came back in 5 minutes.

Laajo: Hey, I'm done.
Me: Yo! Congratulations. We are Satyamites now. Satyamites Dynamites!
Laajo: Yes!
Me: Let's go out and celebrate.
Laajo: Ya. He said we may leave for the day. Tomorrow we have to report to some Basil Phillips at Harsha Towers near Karkhana in Secunderabad.
Me: Ya, Me too, same.
Laajo: Ok, I am very hungry. Let's go and have lunch.
Me: Ok, chalo.

We went to Banana Leaves restaurant just outside the office. Ordered 2 veg meals.

Laajo: So where do you eat? You cook?
Me: No, I eat outside.
Laajo: What do you eat?
Me: Anything.
Laajo: But that is bad for health na. Look how fat you are.
Me: (OOps! Embarrassed!) Ya, that's bad. I also skip meals. Very often.
Laajo: Why don't you cook?
Me: I don't feel like.
Laajo: Guys are all so lazy. When they are tired of eating crap, they marry. But they'll never cook.
Me: No, that's not true.
Laajo: Then what?
Me: I don't know.
Laajo: I know. You guys are sick. You treat girls like cooks.
Me: No. Cookers. Pressure Cookers. HaHaHaHa.
Laajo: That's a sick joke.
Me: Oh.
Laajo: You and your 'Oh'!
Me: So do you cook?
Laajo: No, not possible in the hostel. They give breakfast and dinner. I eat that. I am looking for a house. After shifting, I will cook.
Me: Oh.
Laajo: Oh. Oh. Oh. (Punching in the air towards my nose) I will break your nose.
Me: That would be so sweet.
Laajo: Ok Ok. Eat fast. Rassam is very nice here.
Me: Oh. I don't eat Rassam. I like sambar. Rassam does not have anything in it. It is water.
Laajo: As if you know! Now shut up and finish your meal. I'm done.

I finished. I paid for my meal. She paid for her meal. We came out of the restaurant.

Me: Now what is the program?
Laajo: I'll go home.
Me: Oh. Can I drop you?
Laajo: You have a car?
Me: No, a bike.
Laajo: Hmm. You drive well?
Me: Ya, but you have to sit with one leg on a side.
Laajo: How can you ask a girl to sit like that? It should be her choice how she wants to sit.
Me: I'm sorry. If you sit with both legs on the same side, I will find it hard at turnings and when we go slow.
Laajo: Whatever! I don't want to go with you.
Me: Hey, I'm so sorry. You can sit the way you like.
Laajo: But you just said you cannot drive properly if I sit with both legs on a side.
Me: Ya, I used to have a problem, but that was long back, about 4 months back.
Laajo: No girl sat after that?
Me: Many have, but all with one leg on each side. They all wore jeans.
Laajo: (Smiling) So you take many gals around on your bike?
Me: No No.
Laajo: What No No? You have many sisters?
Me: No No.
Laajo: Dumbo!
Me: Oh. (Smiled, didn't know what to say)
Laajo: Ok, I will sit with one leg on a side.
Me: Ok, I will get the bike from the parking.
Laajo: Which bike you have?
Me: Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTSi. Definitely Male!
Laajo: Wow, I love it. Now go.

As Laajo waited at the gate, I came out on the bike and stopped right in front of her. She climbed my bike from the left by stepping on the side-foot-support (whatever is the term for it) and with her left hand pressing on my shoulder and her right hand pulling the bottom part of her kurta up so that she didn't sit over that. The bike was bent by 45 degrees. I was scared we might fall. So was she. Finally she was behind me, and I set the bike up and stright with all my energy. She put her bag between me and her, to avoid any contact between me and her. Then she adjusted her Chunni - spread its middle part over her head (like Benazir Bhutto did), wound the rest around her neck and brought the ends in front of her, so that it didn't fly when the bike would move.

I put on my helmet. Then I started my Pulsar by pressing the auto-start button. I had been wondering whether I should kick-start to make it look more manly. But I had never tried the kick-start and was not sure whether it worked or not. So I didn't take the risk.

There was a lot of traffic. And Laajo was heavy. I had a hard time driving slowly through the traffing with Laajo sitting behind me. The handle was shaking all the time. But she was kind enough not to mock my driving. May be she was scared I would mock her weight.

Finally we arrived at her hostel. I stopped right in front of the gate. But as I stopped, I could not control the weight. The bike tilted to its right, and as it was falling, Laajo had her foot on the ground. She somehow got off the bike and stood as I fell down with it, unable to balance myself or the bike.

A few men, who were standing at the pan shop near by, came running. They lifted the bike. Though one man tried to lift me, I resisted and got up on my own. It was all so embarrassing. Impression ki whaaat.

Laajo asked if I was ok. I said I was fine, asked her to take care, started my bike, said 'bye' and quickly escaped from there. As I was driving from Ameerpet to Banjara Hills, I recollected all that had happened that day. It had been wonderful, until I drove Laajo home. I regretted having thought of dropping her. I felt she'd never speak to me again. She sat on my bike inspite of being told of my inability to drive properly. She expressed so much confidence in me. And I disappointed her. How would I face her again? She'd definitely not talk to me ever again - that's what I thought. But I was proved wrong the next day.

To Be Continued...