Livin” La Vida Loca

Three pseudo reporters seeking an answer to a forlorn question”

What is all this business about living a perfect life? Is it about being to the best places in the world, watching all the 365 sunsets with the person you love, sipping the finest wines, being in the company of people you desire, or watching your baby sleep peacefully in your arms”

No idea.. huh? Life is not something you would have forever (there is no scientific prove to the contrary). And you can’t wait to have lived it to learn how to live it.

Once in a while, me and my friends seek answers to some of these abstract questions. We go down on the Capital’s Roads, busy markets, flashy restaurants and hotels, to find out what our junta thinks about them.

This Saturday afternoon (two years back, this is an old write up!), we picked the bustling streets of Cannuaght Place. Pankaj, Neha and me, all dressed up in white kurtas and jeans (ditto color, to attract maximum attention), with our Identity cards dangling around our necklines, set out on our quest. We took a writing pad and a camera (without reel) along, to counter all suspicions.

Welcome abroad Friends! Below is a trail of our journey, hope you enjoy it as much as we did doing it.. .here it goes“

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” There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers what exactly the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.

There is another theory which states that this has already happened“

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Hitchhiker’s Guide to Galaxy.

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SCENE 1

A guy walking out of Rodeo ( Mexican Resturant ). Has a class, looks smart and handsome” a perfect target..

Neha: “ Hi! We are from the ”The Times of Delhi“ newspaper. Doing a survey on ” What is leading a perfect life all about?“ Could you please tell us what you think about this?( same question for all scenes)

Him: Where is CYRUS ? MTV Bakra Team, right?

ME: ( laughing” we haven’t improved with time also) no no, you are getting us wrong. We are from this ..“

He picks up Pankaj’s I card .. caught”..

* * * * * *

SCENE 2

A guy talking on his cell outside Dominos. Looks like those young steady men from the corporate world.. I ask the question this time. Its past lunch hour, but seeing two females, he hangs on and starts answering on a flirtatious note

Him: “Life is all about being with the person you love. Loving each other and being together at all times with your beloved, that’s life. Caring for each other, surprising each other with little gifts, sending flowers, going out together“. ( arree” hello.. we didn’t ask you what is love? Pankaj prods Neha and tells her “ looks like either he’s passing through a break up or he’s in a new relationship.. . meanwhile he goes on..) loving is life and life is loving”. Love moves the Earth“

Me: (maaf kar do).. Thanks. It was nice talking to you. Your name, age”

Him: (after giving his visiting card) So you guys, which paper huh? Can I have your e mails, would keep in touch ( run”)

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SCENE 3

A lady walking out of Benetton. Pankaj uses his charms..

Lady: Are you from ChupaRustam ( a show on Star TV, an imitation of MTV Bakra)

Me: no Mam, see our I cards. ( Neha pretends she has taken a picture.. all smiles now)

Lady: “ok life. It’s the best gift by God. It’s about staying together peacefully and loving each other. A perfect life, is but living your full life and dying a natural death (good point). Being healthy, both physically and emotionally, is a must. Life should be lived within limits .All the best, bye.“

(Concise)

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SCENE 4

We are keeping some stuff in our car, when a driver walks to us”

Him: Seen you on TV. Which serial? ( Hurray! We are stars now)

We ask him the question..

Him: “( on a melodramatic note) life is like a train journey. You meet people, spend time together, leave them, and continue on our ways, alone. The ultimate station is God’s home.”

( Should have been a driver with Indian Railways!!)

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SCENE 5

An old man walking out of ICICI ATM. Our best one so far.

Uncle: “ life is an endless exploration and the end of it will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time. I am getting late. Bye”

(Neha says she wants to spend time with him)

* * * * * *

“There are of course many problems connected with life, of which some of the most popular ones are why are people born? Why do they die? And why do they spend so much of the intervening time wearing digital watches? Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker’s Guide to Galaxy

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SCENE 6

Pankaj and me talking to an Auto-rikshaw driver

Him: “Zindagi is a safar”( in Hinglish) You don’t get everything you want. Some lose some win. But in the end its only the playing which matters”

Pankaj: Can you drop us till Janpath ( we are too tired to walk even a short stretch)

Him: Sure, Why not..

(refuses to take money form us. Takes out a dilapidated paper and a pen )

Him: ( To me and Neha) Autograph de do

(le lo)

* * * * * *

SCENE 7

A tourist bargaining at a shop in Janpath. Looks like he’s here to learn more about Buddhism.

Him: — The first of the 4 Nobel truths which Buddha taught was, life is a suffering. Life is difficult. It is great truth because once we truly see it, we transcend it. We understand and accept come what may. Life is nothing but just an adventure then.’

(Speaks well. We talk about places in Delhi he can see. He asks us for coffee. Thinking that he’s a foreigner we accept it, at least he’ll pay his own money. We go to Barista, he gives us some more gyaan. We take three espressos, he takes a Barista Blast and Chocolate Pyramid. We pay . He takes another Barista Blast and leaves. .we don’t pay.)

* * * * * *

So where did we start from” . living an impeccable life. Everybody tried to answer that question, either by asking us more questions or gave us fundas, which on further questioning revealed were found to be flimsy.

It was a good day for us. We met all sets of people (20 something..) and they all had a different vista. They spoke words, which were put into their thoughts and were yet to be meditated over. The answer was ready as soon as the question was asked. Just delivered without any premeditation.

Curious about my answer? I did rather keep silent on it. We all have to think and seek our own answers. And they do come, when you think. They might not be the perfect ones, but they’ll be yours, and they’ll grow with you. As you evolve, so would these answers. And everyday, you would move towards a better answer.

Coming back to the beginnings“ wine, sunsets, love, chocolates”. Spilled coffee, late hours, traffic jams, — all this is a part of perfect life too. Whatever it offers, live it to the fullest.

And that is how we lived that day.. la vida loca. Any one for our next quest?