Wednesday, December 30, 2009

What do women really want?


Heard this great story somewhere...

Young King Arthur was

ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom.. The monarch could have killed


him but was moved by Arthur’s youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, If after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.
The question was:
What do women really want?

Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, And to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death he accepted the monarch’s proposition to have an answer by year’s end.

He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: The princess, the priests, the wise men, and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.

The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question but he would have to agree to her price first.

The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table, and Arthur’s closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage and made obscene noises.

He had never encountered such a repugnant creature all his life.. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden,But Lancelot, having learnt of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big a sacrifice compared to Arthur’s life. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur’s question thus: ‘What a woman really wants?’

She said,
‘Is to be in charge of her own life.’

Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth.

And that Arthur’s life would be spared.


And so it was.

The neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom.And Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.The honeymoon hour approached and, Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom.

But, what a sight awaited him.The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed.The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened.The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, She would henceforth be her horrible and deformed self only half the time. And the beautiful maiden the other half.


‘Which would you prefer? She asked him. ‘Beautiful during the day …. or at night?’


Lancelot pondered the predicament.

During the day he could have a beautiful woman to show off to his friends,But at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch!

Or, Would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day? But by night a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous, intimate moments with?

(If you are a man reading this…) What would YOUR choice be?
(If you are a woman reading this) What would YOUR MAN’S choice be?

What Lancelot chose, is given below: (BUT… make YOUR choice before you scroll down below… OKAY?)

Noble Lancelot, knowing the answer the witch gave Arthur, said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself.

Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time.Because, he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own
life.

Now… what is the moral to this story?

The moral is…
1) There is witch in every woman no matter how beautiful she is !
2) If you don’t let a woman have her own way, things are going to get ugly.

So, always remember:
IT’S EITHER ‘HER WAY’ OR IT’S ‘NO WAY’ !!!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Jessica, Ruchika, Priyadarshini. Who next?

Why should I feel bad? After all what is the point in trying to harp on something that happened ages ago, 15 years to the day, to a family I never knew existed. Nobody molested my sister, nobody molested my daughter. My brother was not booked for crimes he never committed. My parents never had to live with the memory of a daughter who drank poison for there was no justice for her. So why should I feel bad?

Yet, I am feeling bad. I am feeling guilty. I am feeling ashamed of myself. And I am angry too. I am angry at the judicial system, I am angry at the law of the land which could snuff out a young life like this. And I am angry at myself for feeling so helpless.

19 years ago, Ruchika Girhotra, at the tender age of 14 decided to raise her voice against the then IG of Haryana Police SPS Rathore. When she did that was she aware of what she was getting into, that too in a state that even in the modern 21st century boasts of such grand activities as female infanticide, honor killing and dowry deaths with such alarming regularity? Or maybe she was foolish enough to trust the judiciary and all the judicial machineries. After all fourteen is the age of naivety when we believe democracy has the cure for everything and nobody is above the law.

What can a minion like her or her family do when they are pitted against the wholesome insolent might of the state machinery intoxicated with power. After all don't men in power regularly do these things? Ruchika was neither an adult nor was she raped. So why so much brouhaha. These things are best kept under the carpet. But no, this girl had to prove a point. She was a fool and she was shown her proper place.

Actually there was an overkill. Every single government machinery worked in tandem with an alarming synchronization not generally associated with my country. The police, the doctors, the judiciary, the political class and finally the cog in the grand wheel of democracy- the masses. Everyone made sure that Ruchika paid the price for raising her voice. Her brother was implicated with false cases and severely beaten. Her father was transferred. She was harassed, thrown out of school, thrown out of he tennis coaching where Rathore was the president. Not only was a 14 year old teenager molested and forced to end her life, the whole family was molested mentally and socially. And it culminated when on 28th December, 1993 Ruchika finally decided to end her life.

Justice was done, may be bit too late and may be bit too little. After 19 long years SPS Rathore is convicted with 6 months of jail and fine amount which would out to shame even the word tokenism. Did someone say travesty of Justice. Is that all it takes to drive a girl to suicide. Is that all it takes to kill a family? That's all it takes. And that's how it works.

The judicial system has failed. We have failed. We have had one too many of Ruchikas, Jessicas and Priyadarshinis. But not any more. As a new year dawns upon us it's time for an awakening, a new beginning for our democracy, for our judicial system and for us. Yesterday it was Ruchika, tomorrow it can be be me.

As I sign-off I can not refrain from quoting John Donne.

"Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee."

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Agony Aunt!!!

Yahoo! Answers posed this query by some girl Megan. I tried to give an answer.

QUE> My Boy Friend Told Me He loves me and that he never wants to be with anyone else but me. I really like him, but i don't love him, I Feel really bad because He Is An Amazing Guy But I Don't Know If I Want To Be With Him. Im So Confused. I Want To Dump Him But i want to love him. Help?

ANS> Such confusion. Such youth wasted.

First thing first. General assumption is girls* lead boys into this. They may not love/like the guy but they can't do away with the attention showered on them either. Girls need it for self gratification. In the deal the guy is left high and dry. He can't even complain. The girl always said "we are good friends". She never brought up the 'L' word. But is it so simple. Is life so simple; all black and white and no shades of gray?

It's a win win scenario for you. You have an admirer, a satellite, a puppy. What do you have to lose. Why even bother telling him? Dump the idiot at your own convenience. You never uttered the 'L' word, right. It was he who said it, not you?

But, but, but, if you cherish your friendship do your friend a favor. Tell him honestly. Make it clear to him. How you do it is up to you but DO make it clear (Black and white). Cut him out (for some time at least) to convey that you are serious in your intention.

Short term Repercussions:
1. He will hate you.
2. He will call you a b*&$#
3. He will have a miserable few months. This phase will be for your friend to handle.

Benefits:
1. You will be honest towards this relationship.
2. You will be happy and in the long run your friend will be happy too.

So, matey go ahead and be honest to both of you. See it as a duty towards your friend.

*Why blame girls only; even guys do it.
DON'T LET SOMEONE BECOME A PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU ARE JUST AN OPTION IN THEIRS