The shock or surprise of the year…!!!

It was another of my trips to New Delhi. It had been a long time since I had been to Delhi. I had not seen her face for the past one month – not even on facebook. I had promised her to meet her in November only but could not find any opportunity of seeing her. I had a promise to keep but I had problems at my place myself. Being stuck, I had nothing that I could do. I was just at home passing my time idly and sometimes helping my family in shifting the entire load from the current house to the new one.

Then I decided to give her the surprise. I had already expressed my apologies for not being able to keep my promise and had felt bad. But now was the time to stand up and do something. I had already been at home for a long time now and Delhi was certainly calling.

I told my family about my decision to leave for Delhi. They gave the green signal. Booked my tickets for the last day of the month, that was just a couple of days later. Alongside helping my family in shifting, I also began my packing. I had to return my friend’s bag and attend a marriage too in Delhi. Finally my packing was over and so was the shifting. The L-day finally arrived.

I boarded the train in the morning. I had already messaged her in the morning that I would be a little busy today. Plus I already had a commitment to her that I will talk to her today at 2 in the afternoon to decide when she can meet me in Delhi, that is when I should plan my trip to Delhi the next month.  All through the journey I kept toying with my new phone, trying to catch the idea network (Certainly an idea can change your life but not this one..!! :-P). With no network on the phone, I passed my time in the train sleeping. I had to sleep having slept the previous night at 3am and waking up at 6am. And that day I really enjoyed the train’s sleep – maybe either because I was too tired or I was just preparing for the ‘L’ovely surprise that waited ahead.

I reached New Delhi station at around 12:30 and called one of my very dear friends to know the metro to south Delhi. Having been guided by him, I boarded the metro. All I knew was just the address. I deboarded the metro at the Hauz Khas Metro station. Now I had to get a bus to the destination. As I sat in the bus, waiting for the bus to start, there came a voice from my behind. It was the conductor saying – “Sir ji, gaadi to chalane ke liye Dhakka lagane ki zarurat hai. Zara niche utar ke dhakka lagayen.”

So we around 5-6 people along with the conductor got down to push the bus. After a couple of efforts, it finally started. Fully soaked in sweat, I took my seat alongside my luggage that consisted of two bags. Finally the bus dropped me at the stop. The last time I was at that destination, her place was just 20 meters from the stop. But not every day is your day and I understood it fully that day. This time I had got out from the bus some 2.5km from her place. I started walking towards her place with a bag on my back and another in my hand. I kept asking someone of a different address every 100meters I covered. I could not ask her address directly because what if someone from her home or her known-to was the person, he would have started questioning me there only like an inspector questions an accused. I thought I better save myself from such harassment.

But there was another trouble that could have happened and actually happened which I had not thought of earlier. I was asking a lady of the address and she said whom you want to meet there. I understood it might be that either it’s her home or she knows someone there. I told her that I am actually looking for Mr. X from whom I have to collect something but I just know that he stays somewhere around there only and I have been trying his number but he seems to be busy somewhere. So asking some address close to his place.

At these times, a little bit of luck can do wonders for you and I realized it that day.

Firstly it was Delhi and not Chandigarh where people there is a lot of interaction in the neighborhood and people generally know there nearby’s.

Secondly that aunt was not going to her home but actually coming from home and going somewhere. So she could not accompany me to the place.

By now, I had travelled around 1.5km and now I thought that I could try her number and ask if she is even home or not.

I called her. It rang once. It rang twice. Then thrice. Then fourth time. Then fifth. She wasn’t picking up. I was now feeling the burden of my luggage due to the thought that she might not be home. She might be sleeping. In short, she might not just be able to meet that day. I felt like a beggar who is helpless and all he can do is just hope for others to do mercy. Similarly all I could do was just hope for her to respond. I knew there were still some 500meters to be covered, so I tried to call a few of my other friends. Nobody seemed to pick up. That was really strange. But I could not do anything about it.

With a bag on back, another in one hand, and the mobile in the second hand, I kept walking towards her place. Some 150 meters away, as I was still trying to call her, she finally picked up. I had a sigh of relief that at-least she picked up. Now I was thinking how to reply if she asks that why am I calling her from my Delhi number.

The conversation got underway liked this:

Me: Hello

She: hello

Me: What were you doing? Why didn’t u pick up the phone for so long?

She: I was in the kitchen preparing food and phone was in the room. I saw your missed calls. So many of them. Why were you calling so much? What happened? Where you? You didn’t even reply to my message in the morning.

Me: Ya I was calling because I wanted to talk to you. What have you made? Won’t you invite me to lunch?

She: Sure. But you are in Chandigarh Mr., and also you cannot come to my home. It’s banned for you. Your packing done? What you doing now? Where?

Me: Ya packing is done. Me walking towards your home.

She: oh come on. Stop Kidding. That’s impossible. Don’t joke around. Acha why didn’t you reply in the morning?

Me: Oh yes, this is such a joke. Of course, it’s impossible. Sorry. By the way, I couldn’t reply in the morning since I had slept again after messaging you. Plus, my balance got over. So I am calling you from the other number.

She: Oh are you? I can only see your number on the screen and not the number.

Me (thinking: wow, she can’t see my number. Why the hell I had to tell her this. Damn me…!!): oh, is it so?? Nice. Anyways, just think if I am actually outside your place right now.

She (running towards the window of her room): oh plz Mr., stop kidding. And if you are actually here then tell me where you are? I can’t see you anywhere. Plus, tell me what’s to your left.

Me (still just on the way and walking): I am just on the way and haven’t yet reached your place. Plus I have already been to your place once. So I can certainly answer your question that there is a park to my left.

She: ha-ha... Very funny. Tell me what’s there around you, wherever you are and what’s happening in this park.

Me: You don’t trust me. Ok. There is a white swift desire to my left and a red pulsar 150. Plus in front of me on the road, there is a chowkidaar in the middle of the day, on the middle of the road with two other people and a stick in his hand.

She (thinking: these things are generally there every day. Could he be actually here?? Impossible.) (A few seconds silence.): Mr., please stop this. You can’t be here. (Shivering) Dude this is not possible. I beg you. Plz stop now. Don’t come. Or stop joking.

Me: Ok. Now the finale. There are 5 ladies sitting on the chairs and chatting to each other in the park just to my left and a couple of children are playing with a ball there.

She (Silence, I am dead. GOD SAVE ME.)

Me: And now you can finally see me. Can you??

She: Shit. Impossible. Plz say I am dreaming. No. No...

Me: I am definitely not coming to your place. Just walking past. Do turn up at one of the windows. I have come travelling more than 300kms now, passing through I don’t know how many small rivers, bridges, flyovers and lastly walking for more than 2kms. I am really tired and just one glance would really enable me to forget this whole lovely journey that I have undertaken with these light bags in comparison to a heavy heart that has waited for long.

She: I am there. Don’t do anything crazy guy.

AND THAT ONE LOOK WAS ALL IT TOOK TO MAKE ME FORGET ALL THE SWEAT AND PAIN I HAD.

Regards

Yours RAJ…

A poem written in memory of my country, of which i am so proud of...!!! Happy Independence day...

hum sab main hero hai,
bas pehchan ne ki zarurat hai..
hum sab ek hain,
bas samajhne ki zarurat hai..
hum sab main dum hai,
bas aazmane ki zarurat hai..
Aur ye desh mahaan hai,
bas banane ki zarurat hai...

We all need to contribute:

boond boond se talaab bharta hai,
eent eent se imarat banti hai,
haath haath se desh banta hai,
aur insaan insaan se bhagwaan banta hai..

Aaj hindu muslim main kyon ladai hai,
hum sab to bhai bhai hain,
kyon hum pade hain dusron ke khoon ke piche,
rang to laal sab main behta hai...

kyun mujhe lagte ho tum paraye,
jab rehte hain hum ek hi ghar main bhai,
kya le jaoge mujhe dhoka de kar,
aaye the khaali haath, jaaoge bhi khaali haath le kar...

Aaj lagta hai ki hum azaad hain,
phir bhi kyun aadha desh bimaar hai,
agar sab ko rahegi apni padi,
to kon karega desh ki sewa badi...

Aaj kyun main dukhi hota hun,
dusron ki bajaaye khud par rota hun,
kyun kuch karne main hun mai asamarth,
na haath bandhe hain, na bhavnayen hain pasth...

Main bhi bol kar chala jaunga,
kuch to desh ka bhala kar jaunga,
par kya tum kabhi khud se puchoge,
ki agar tum nahi to kaun sochega...

Ye waqt kisi ke liye theherta nahi,
ye hawa kisi ke liye thamti nahi,
aane waale chale jayenge,
bas kuch itihaas ke panno main reh jayenge...

Happy Independence day to my country...

Hope it achieves the real independence within my lifetime..

By:
Chetan Taneja

Proud to be an indian.

This might fix a few problems…!!!

I am lucky to own and drive a vehicle in this country where according to some estimates, more than 50% of the population lives on less than $2 a day. At the same time, I have been unlucky to be driving in one of the densest places in India where average number of cars per family are more than any other city. To manage vehicular traffic of this scale, the government has deployed a large pool of traffic personnel throughout the city. I have been driving for close to seven years now but like many of my friends, I had never been challaned until recently, but with a big difference. I had never been challaned because I drove carefully and never broke any law. On the other hand, almost all my friends were caught breaking traffic rules, a huge number of times, but always got away by bribing the traffic personnel. The stories of these bribes are quiet famous in almost all friend circles. Bribing is considered easy because it is good for both – the general public as well as the traffic personnel. Due to the prevalence of high fines for traffic violations, traffic personnel are easily able to extract bribes from the traffic violators, who also don’t mind giving quick bucks to save themselves from a visit to the licensing office.

Apart from the phenomenon of bribing traffic personnel, I recently got to know of another easy way of getting our challans cleared. I was standing in the queue at the licensing office, waiting for my turn to get my challan cleared when I noticed a person standing upfront. He was arguing at the window that he had been wrongly challaned as he had crossed the lights when the light was green but was challaned for crossing a red light. The officer at the window told him that once a challan is written, it cannot be cancelled and nothing can be done about it. The person resented a bit but finally gave up. So, he was asked to pay the fine. But instead of paying the fine, he asked for a date at the court to get his challan cleared without paying a hefty fine. I could hear his conversation from my place and was somewhat taken aback to hear him asking to be sent to court. Agreeing with the majority opinion, I firmly agree that delay, high costs and cumbersome procedures mark the courts in India, but this person seemed happy to go to court. Not understanding this astonishing demand on the part of the person, I decided to stop him and asked him about the details regarding clearing of challans from courts. He told me how easy it was to get challans cleared from the courts and at the same time, paying lesser fine. However, I realized another reason for the huge number of backlog of cases in our courts.

On the basis of this experience, I visualized this solution which might be able to target a few problems at the same time. But to make things simple and illustrious, I would present my solution with an example:

During 1970s and 1980s, the income tax rates in India were very high, touching a peak of 97.5% at one time. In spite of such a high tax rate, the government revenues were not impressive. Instead high default rate was prevalent, along with unchecked rampant corruption.

                After the reforms in the early 1990s, the government gradually brought down the income tax rate to the maximum rate of 30% prevailing today accompanied with huge exemptions. Still, the government revenues have been steadily increasing every year. The default rate has come down drastically. The effect is also depicted in visibly less corruption compared to earlier times.

                In a similar way, I believe that reducing the fines for traffic violations can have a positive effect on reducing corruption and a cascading effect on increasing overall tax compliance and reducing burden on the judiciary. With low fines, people would prefer to pay fine and get done with the paper work on the spot rather than bribing the personnel. Certainly people would no more like to go to the court.

                It may be argued by some that lesser fines may result in moral degradation and in fact lead to more violations of traffic rules. I do not support this view for the simple reason that frequent small fines would actually end up as more accumulated fines of the people in the long run and at the same time, more revenue for the government. This would also ensure more compliance to traffic rules in the long run.

                I would also like to point out that the increase in the fines has not acted as a deterrent to violations of traffic rules and there is no direct relationship between increasing traffic violation fines and decreasing number of violations. In fact, in many places violations have increased with increasing fines. But heavier fines certainly leave ample space for the corrupt practices to grow. There have been instances where a single day’s traffic violations have been more than the collective number for a few preceding weeks.

               

In this season of scams and hunger strikes, I’ve proposed a modest way to a few problems that I have come across. I would be wrong if I say that this is the best method, or in general there is any one best method, to eradicate all the wrongs in the system. This is just another proposal to improve the system. No system can be successful unless there is cooperation from the general public.

Regards

Chetan Taneja

My Rail Journey and Her Phone no...!!!

It was during one of my frequent journeys between Delhi and my home town, Chandigarh that this interesting incident occurred. I had boarded the train to return back home that day in the scorching summer afternoon in Delhi. I noticed my seat in the middle of the row with two elderly people on both sides. As I exchanged smiles, I could hear my inner voice reminding me that like all my previous trips on not only this route, for that matter, but on all the routes been without any exchanges with girls. This is just a fact I’m stating, friends. Never have I even seen a decently good looking girl on my numerous train journeys. This was just expected to be similar.

But destiny had its way. Soon due to the arrival of new passengers, the girl sitting in the row ahead of me with her mother, stood up and took the seat on the opposite side of the table in front of them. I had not noticed them sitting ahead of me as I was sitting behind them. But now they were seated facing me and I could not take my eyes of the girl. She had a mystic aura around her. She was so beautiful that I could safely assume every gentleman sitting in front of them could not have afford to take their eyes of her even for a moment, throughout the journey. She was decently dressed in a white Punjabi Salwar kameez and yet looking so elegant that I could not think of Bollywood hottie comparable to her. 

My eyes were stuck at her when the old uncle sitting beside me on the window seat enquired about the time the train will take to reach Chandigarh. Without shifting my eyes, I answered four and half hours. My non-interest didn’t deter him from enquiring more and kept asking questions relating to the journey. And I kept answering with my eyes now shifting frequently between the pretty face of that beautiful girl sitting in front of me and the uncle. It might sound an over-statement but I was in awe, looking at her. Her face had literally imprisoned me. Many a times, I had to ask the uncle to repeat the question.

After almost half an hour, when uncle finished my one-time interview, I finally asked him about his profession and reason for going to Chandigarh. He is an ex-army man, going to visit his son currently posted in Chandimandir, an army cantonment on the outskirts of Chandigarh. Then he started telling me about the problems of army, then problems of India, then China and USA fighting for supremacy with India not even in the global picture and also Corruption. How could he miss out on the hottest topic of today’s times – Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev. Luckily he was sitting beside me and not in front of me so that I could lend him my ears and my eyes towards the mystic beauty sitting in front, who had by now smiled a number of times. I had started feeling uncomfortable now, not because uncle was busy telling me the problems that our mother India faces but because the girl and her mother had been joined by the company of three seemingly abled young guys of around my age, totally entertaining them. And one glance at the guys was enough to reveal their feelings. All were really enjoying, I guess, including the uncle on my side, except for me.

Suddenly the uncle said you are even worse than all your earlier generations. I was shocked to hear that. I was confused. I had not been giving much ear to his speech but now I could not take my eyes and ears of him. Had he seen me staring at the girl? All sorts of questions flew in my mind. I asked him in some strong and firm voice what had he meant by that statement of his? He was taken aback at my question in a little harsh voice. I thought he certainly would have felt me too friendly with him. He clarified that he was talking about my generation as a whole. With ever increasing rates of crime everywhere, especially crimes related to Rape and Robbery, our generation was largely responsible. And it was only our generation which holds the key to all the solutions of all these problems. I felt somewhat relieved to understand his position but tried to argue that out generation is not as bad as he is telling. And after a few arguments, the topic was laid down and I did not initiate any further topic. I had almost forgotten the beauty in front and now decided to focus on her now. It was the first time I had such an opportunity where a pretty girl was travelling along and I could not have let this opportunity go, without even trying. The three guys by now certainly had the upper hand but the only thing in my favour was that they were three and thus, might end up losing as depicted in Golmaal-1.

Almost half the journey had completed and all I had was just a firm decision to do something, but no idea as to what to do. There was a continuous struggle between my eyes and all the heads in between preventing her view. And my eyes were determined to see her only as there was nothing else to see, neither outside the window, nor inside the coach. Another hour passed and we reached Ambala. Nothing much had culminated from all my efforts as I felt she had not noticed me even once. I was losing out on my patience and desperation seemed to be overtaking me. The train had a stoppage of around 15 minutes at the station. The three guys had got down on the platform. I was starting to feel comfortable.  The uncle beside me also hadn’t said anything for quite some time now. Now, I could concentrate on her totally and it paid off.

She looked at me in a passing glance and I was able to hold her glance at me and convert it into a stair. My hands had signaled her to look at me for a moment and so her eyes were struck at me for around 15-20 seconds. I tried to tell her with my hand gestures and a large smile that her smile was very cute and she should keep smiling. She didn’t respond except for a smile, enough to make me think for the next step. She now turned her face towards the window. The train started moving slowly, leaving the station. I thought I should ask her to meet me. The three guys had by now returned and started talking to the girl and her mother. She was smiling at the conversation. I have to admit with the thinking of those three guys “THE WAY TO A GIRL’S HEART GOES THROUGH HER SMILE.” And they were certainly trying their best.

I finally decided to do something. I tried to contact her a couple of times but she seemed to ignore. But I still kept trying. She finally gave me her eyes. I immediately gestured to her that I am going to the entrance of the coach and would be waiting for her for 5 minutes. In a few minutes, I was out of my seat and on the way to the door. I felt she would come as she had not left her seat even once in the whole journey and now I was giving her a reason to do that. I returned after 10 minutes back to my seat (extra 5 is because of my desperation). She, of course, had not come. Now seated on my seat, I tried not to make an eye contact with her. Anyways, she was not looking at me but only me who constantly looking at her. I could always give an excuse to me that she might have not understood me correctly but I knew I had done too much too early.

The three guys certainly had an upper edge now, as they had all throughout the journey. But I somehow doubted all three to be able to do anything more than just chatting. And my turn was certainly more than over. I felt like having lost a won battle. We were approaching Chandigarh station now and people had started taking out their luggage. They were standing in the line to get down. I was seated deep into my seat, disgusted and frustrated. I didn’t want to see her go in front of me and was therefore seated head down on my seat, my head resting on the food tray. The train halted. People started rushing out. I suddenly saw a piece of paper fallen on my lap. I immediately looked up to see who could have thrown that at me and hoping her, I looked towards her side but she was moving the opposite direction. I understood it could not be her and the paper must have fallen by chance when someone was taking his luggage from over my head. I still decided to look at the paper. I opened that deeply rolled paper and found on it written:

“NEHA” and a 10-digit number, followed by a smile.

Regards,

Raj – Naam to suna hoga :P

A night of some help and some useful tips..!!

As was happening for the past few days, on 10th june also, i decided to go to Punjab university and study there till late at night in the library. I was now kind of getting into this habit of studying there till late night and then returning back home. But this day, it was different. I could feel something was coming but i didnt know it was going to be this big.

As usual, i left at around 2 from the library, sending a message to my dear, asking if she was awake. For a change, she wasnt awake that day. Generally, i would come back home riding on my bike, talking to her all that time when i am driving but it was not to be on that day. I start my bike and leave the university campus, thinking what will i eat after reaching home and stuff.

But this day was very different. On my way, when i was passing through the 37-41 dividing road, i saw two guys pushing a broken I10 on the road. the car was badly hit. So, out of my humaritarian concern, i took a u-turn from the 36-37/41-42 roundabout and decided to help them in whichever way i could. On reaching there, i got the know that this one guy who was drving this Maharashtra registered car had gone into sleep mode while driving and had thus hit a Chandigarh map board on the road side, having crossed the footpath. This guy was at a very senior post in Walmart and was returning home from the workplace at Banur, Punjab. The other guy that was helping him in pushing the car, was among his employees in that company who resided nearby. The two were pushing the car to reach it to sector 38, where the guy lived.
I stopped over to help them push the car. I even called on the taxi service in chandigarh at 0172-4242424 but they had no idea about any towing car in chandigarh.I guess they could only provide taxi service and no other help. All this time, the maharashtrian car owner kept complaining about the 24 hour towing service available in mumbai. he certainly hadn't spent much time in chandigarh and had neither faced much trouble here. Then after some time, a couple of bikes with two policeman on each, come over to us. They suggest us to call on 100 for help and that is what we finally decide to do. And yes, all of you who dont know how quick and helpful is this service, this service is really helpful. it wont take more than 5 minutes to respond to you for help.

The nearest PCR reached us in around 10 minutes, which is really fast, compared to the notion in india that here pizzas reach faster than an ambulance. We can certainly be prouud of chandigarh police till this point. but please listen to the whole story before you develop any opinion about the chandigarh police.

Now the PCR has arrived and we tell them the whole story. the policeman realises that there is a loss to public property in this case and thus reports it to his officer incharge to come and see for himself and make a deicision as to what to do with the car owner. The PCR was called to help tow the I10 to his home and they even carried all the required things to carry out such directives but since there was loss to the public property, they were told to hold on till the Officer incharge makes a visit and decides on the matter.

We waited for a long time, more than two hours for the officer incharge to finally pay us the visit. All this time, the maharashtrian car owner was irked over the attitude of the police service towards the general citizens. he kept repeating that police is there to help the citizens and not aggravate their problem. We had spent all this time sitting on the divider while the two policemen in the PCR spent their time looking at the funny videos of punjabi songs on their mobile.

When the officer incharge arrives, we sit in his truck and are accompanied to the site where the chandigarh map board was smashed. The loss was not much and it needed just a little bit of welding to again erect the board. The officer incharge took a look at the whole picture, heard to what the car owner had to say and finally took his decision. The car owner was made to write a letter according to the actual circumstances and was then left home. It was around this time that i was taking aside by one of the policemen who was in the PCR.

He had some useful tips to give to me and i certainly would never wish to forget them. He told me that if i ever come accross such an incident again, i should always try to by-pass, saying that i didnt notice anything. And even if my humanitarian soul shines brightly, i may help but should never say that i have witnessed something. This is because if i ever insist on being a witness, i may be attached to a case to which i am least associated to, but then i will have to handle all the court proceedings and regular journeys to courts. he also suggested that one should ask police for help when there is no other possibilty because calling police might land you in more trouble than help. I had a clear example that night only of this suggestion. The work that would not have taken more than 15 minutes, took more than two hours to complete. you can make your opinions about chandigarh police but they were certainly helpful, even though a little late...

Certainly. "Better late than never..."
And "All is well that ends well..."

Regards,
Raj

A frustated Engineer at his job...!!!

This is the story of my friend Raman, who worked in a multinational company in Gurgaon. He joined the company in the campus placements when this company had come for recruitments in the college. Here, i present his conversation with his bosses that shows the height of frustation in Raman and also the kind of work culture that is prevailent in the company.

Deputy GM to Raman : "Mr. Raman, I don't like your way of working in the office. You do not respect your seniors here."

Raman replies : "Sorry sir but I do my work. I hope I come here to work and not praise people even if they don't deserve it."

Deputy GM : "I didnt get you. What did you mean by that?"

Raman says : "Sir, I just meant what i said. One should not keep praising himself for no achievement at all."

Deputy GM : "Your behavior is unacceptable. I will report to Senior GM."

Raman : "Sure sir. I was already thinking of meeting him, anyways."



Senior GM to Raman : "I have recieved a number of complaints against you, Mr. Raman. you do not seem to be going weel with your peers and seniors."

Raman replies: "Sir, I had joined this company to work and not learn back-biting. And everyone here certainly doesn't seem to be enjoying, seeing me working. Working hard doesn't seem to be typical of this company, sir."

Senior GM : "You must learn how to speak to your boss. You do not have any ettiquettes. I will make sure you don't work long in this company. I have also told my HR that no student of your college will join this company after you."

Raman replies : "Dont worry, sir. I also have no plans of enhancing my stay at your company. Plus, I have also told my juniors not to join your company."

Senior GM : "What are you so proud of Mr. Raman? What can you do? Do you have any powers?"

Raman replies : "Sir, i don't have any such powers but i have the power to aware others of you and your company."

Senior GM : "Thats enough. I will make sure you are not able to join any company in the future."

Raman : "Sir, I would have certainly not been able to join any other company had i stayed here any longer. So, here is my resignation letter. It gives you a 20 day notice."

Senior GM : "You can stay at home from tomorrow only. You may go now. And settle your dues by today evening."

Raman : "Anyways, i had to join this new company tomorrow only. So, thanks Mr. Khanna for discharging me early."

Raman left the company that day only and joined the next company soon. Today he is working in an indian MNC and totally enjoying his work.

A dedication to hard work, luck and most importantly passion...!!!

The poem is the original work of myself, Chetan Taneja, who has been inspired in this life to write about the importance of Hardwork, Luck and Passion. In no way, i want to demean any one of them compared to the other. I have just tried to express how i feel about these three factors that contribute hugely to any success. None can exactly comment on the proportional importance of each of these factors and thus, i can not hesitate to accept that i may be wrong in my assessment but can certainly not be wrong in my expressions.

It is a story of three friends,
One was luck and other was hardwork.
The third was passion who stood quiet in the corner.
Luck and hardwork fought for a cause,
with each holding himself superior than all.
Both had their success and both had their failures,
with each playing blame game with the other.
Hard work always complained,
even if i pass the person, the credit goes to you.
The luck himself complained,
when you fail the person, i share the blame for you.
Both had a fight for superiority and together with passion, they went to the God.
Luck favoured his win because he thought the God is associated with luck.
But he had forgotten that God is impartial.
God asked both that I am the supreme power, I am the God,
so, what would be the reason for my success at all?
Luck and hardwork again began to roar,
that it must be them that made God - God.
So, God asked again that I am the supreme power, I am the God,
but if i even fail who is to be blamed for the cause.
Both stood silent as none could share the blame,
but then stood passion alone in the stain.
He said to the God, that i am to be blamed,
for there can be no failures without lesser passion and zeal.
The god smiled and said, all can claim to be the reason for success,
but few can claim the responsibility for a failure.
Luck and hardwork understood the importance of passion,
but none could counter the importance of luck and hardwork.


Chetan Taneja.


On my special request, the poem has been edited by my very good friend, Mr. Pawan Kadyan. Mr. Pawan's blog is http://pwwwn.blogspot.com/. The edited poem is as follows:

Luck, Hardwork and Passion were three friends,
Luck and Hardwork fought as if there were no other ends.
Passion alone stood in the corner,
watching it all with little to bother.
They fought and fought with no result,
blaming one another for no fault of the other.
Hardwork complained in success that Luck stole his credit,
Luck vetoed seeking an apology for failure leading to his discredit.
To help solve it needed someone else's nod,
so with Passion alongside they sought the help of God.
Luck thought that now he had an upper hand,
Having forgot that God didn't favour anyone's stand.

God said, "I am supreme of'em all,

Who then for success is the cause?"

Luck and Hardwork roared, "It must be us",

as they made God who he was.

God asked again, "I am supreme of'em all,

Who then for failure is the cause?"

Both stood still as they didn't want the blame,

but up rose Passion the hero that he was.

Passion said, "Its me who is to blame,

failure comes to those whose passion does not flame.".

God smiled and replied, "to revel in success is everyone's ask,
but to burden the failure is a more difficult task.".

Luck and Hardwork had now understood,

the story is not complete had Passion not withstood.
No one could counter what Luck and Hardwork had to pass,
But without Passion it would always be an impasse.