Insights & Instincts

To view the first chapter of the story, click here To view the second chapter, click here This chapter is the last one of the fiction story, 'And there she was...'' Thank you all for reading!  The phone kept ringing. Unknown number. I never pick up calls from unknown numbers as 9 out of 10 times they are from some freaking bank desperately wanting me to avail their free credit card offer or it’s from Vodafone. It kept on ringing. But the third time it rang, I picked it up supposing Vodafone or any bank cannot be so desperate. I was wrong. It was from a bank! ‘’Fuck you for waking me up in the middle of my afternoon nap!!’’, I said and hung up. Not sure what to do now, I switched on my PC and started working on that Presentation on Indo-China relations. And the phone rang again; kept on ringing, for a fewer than fifteen minutes. ‘’I wouldn't pick it up this time, I know you’re just those ‘Sir we are offering you a free credit card’ jerks!!’’, I s...

(Part 2) This chapter has been written by my friend Drashti Wani. Thank you so much Drashti for this. I had no idea this can be lead somewhere. Now I'm working to the third and the final installment. to view the first chapter click here. “I am sorry I am late”, she busted out, for a moment made all those people in the cafe look at her with bizarre expression. I was reading a beautiful article about Mr. Sachin Tendulkar, which someone had shared on my Whatsaap. All throughout my life, I have been a die hard Sachin Fan.   I looked up. She was standing right there in front of me, somehow managing to assemble the tons of shopping bag she carried with her. It was our third meet, in the same Santosh cafe.  We were supposed to meet at 5:00 pm, but as I looked at my watch it was almost six. “You are loud” I said, trying to escape the embarrassment. She gave me a tough gesture of how stupid it was of me to not stand up and help her with her bags. I was about to stand u...

The railway station was bustling as usual. Coolies in their everyday red shirt and white bottoms, gathered around me offering or literally begging to help me lift the thirty pound bag pack I was carrying. I carried heavy bags all around Japan just like that! Strong shoulders I have, I thought, turning all of them down, flaunting my imaginary biceps. As soon as the train arrived, people started running here and there lifting their bags and suitcases, pushing me over as if it was the last train available and they’d die if they don’t catch it! Huh! I always have and will keep hating the sun. Okay so what it gives us life? It also ensures to take it away by harassing us with the 40 degree Celsius temperature; which is why I prefer travelling in the early mornings if using public transport. But I am not the only smart guy in the world who fancies travelling in mornings. There are other people.  Too many people. The train was packed. Like a subway sandwich; veggies almost ...

It was back two years ago when I started to apply for KL-YES program i.e Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Study, which offered a scholarship to spend a year in the United States. It was mainly targeted to inter-cultural learning and exchanging one’s ideas and views with fellow exchange students arriving from Pakistan, Germany, Japan, Istanbul, England, Russia ; so far and so not. I had made up my mind, filled the application form ‘neat and clean’ and in great handwriting, which is by the way against my habit. However, one thing was missing in it. It was my parents’ signature resembling their willingness and approval. I was waiting for them to have the best possible mood and then I would approach them, explain, and get a big YES! Nevertheless, that didn’t happen.                                      ...

I see myself today in the mirror, and I see a bright future. It is filled with happiness. I see myself today in the mirror and I see that I'm travelling. Across the world, I'm learning. I wish to eat on Indian streets, Socialize and get to know the Pakistanis, Sleep on a beach in Spain, and feel on my cheeks, Mumbai's rain. I wish there were no wars, and we lived in a world that is ONE where love, friendship; triumphed; always. And then my final wish will be, that all of us, wish the same.  I again see myself in the mirror, and I see that I am smiling.

Every week I hear or read about a girl raped in some remote part of the country. Which is followed by people protesting in front of the parliament house or any other place for justice. After few days, the government, under political pressure, will make promises or commitments to the country which are a complete hokum. Talking about a recent incident, a 5 year old girl was raped in New Delhi by a somewhat 22 year old guy. The sentence itself is horrifying! Touch-wood the girl is out of danger now. This is just a case that has been reported. There are numerous other cases of sexual harassment which aren't even brought up due to some orthodox mentality of people. The question ahead of us is 'WHY?' The answer is sex-education. Yes. Remember last time you were watching TV with your family and just then a 'condom' commercial poped up and the whole family starts searching for the remote control ; embarrassed. Unlike west, sex is a totally alien thin...

This has happened to me time and again. I come into contact with a person, talk with him/her and that person starts moving up in my 'MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY LIFE' list.  This time it happened to me just on the phone!  Her name is Akshi. We came into contact as participants of the AFS KIZUNA student exchange program and parted as best friends-for life! It was a get-together of the KIZUNA participants' families. Our parents were discussing few important things likewise how are we going to the national orientation in Delhi and what documents etc. we should be carrying during our travel. Just then, I got a call for an unknown number- Needless to say it was Akshi. The voice on the other side of the phone said in the most lovely yet funny 'kathiawaadi' accent, " Hello? Is this Vedang?" For a moment i started thinking who the hell is disturbing me when i am discussing something really important and i felt like disconnecting the ca...

vedang96@gmail.com It was sometime around August when i learned that I've been selected ; Yessssssss! Selected and won  a scholarship to Japan. Blood was running in my veins at the speed of a Japanese bullet train. So here is how all this happened. Scene 1 : I knew about AFS since long. Its a non-profitable organization promoting world peace and friendship which sends, every year, Indian students to countries like the USA, France, Japan, Germany and Italy. It also hosts foreign students from these countries and helps these students get an idea of the Indian culture. Thus, every exchange student learns a lot about the country he/she is staying in and tells his/her fellows about his/her own country. I have friends who went to one or the other country for 10 or  6 or 1 month(s) exchange programs. One of them also went for 15 days short term program to Japan. All of them; Changed; Before and after; Huge change in their personalities; Definitely positive. So, ...