It's Important

I think it's Important...
To wake up really early once in a while just to see the sun rise. And to appreciate how it manages to do so every day. Guaranteed. You can go back to sleep right after.


To help a blind man cross the road every now and then. Not to restore his faith in humanity. But to restore your own.

To lose yourself in whimsy every now and then. So that you don't lose all them lovely colours to the monotony of day to day life.

To accept your mistakes. For that is the first step to never repeating them.

To accept yourself as well. Because you're born alone and you die alone. You better get used to the person you're with most of the time.

To put away your cell phones when you're at dinner or chilling on the beach. The world can wait. Your best friend getting bitten in the ass by a crab won't.

To slow down your car and let an old lady cross the road. 'Cause don't you just hate it when those douchebags run around speeding?

To put yourself out there and to let yourself get hurt. You might have a scar, but if you look at it right, you'll have a great story to tell.

To not forget and to not recall. Because the present plays a much bigger role in deciding the future than the past does.

And lastly I guess it's important to smile. 'Nough said.

How I Look At The World...

This is how I look at the world…

We fight of dragons with little wooden sticks. We climb mountains every now and then. Some are covered with snow. Some are covered with grass. Sometimes we ride around on little rams. Slow and sluggish but surefooted all the same. When we're in a hurry, we hop into the pouch of a kangaroo. Making our way through urban jungle, and over the lake and through the tall tall elephant grass. I see cars pass me by sometimes in slow motion. They disassemble, reassemble and then go along their way. Driven by little fish breathing out bubbles made of sulphur. 

Sometimes we go to the beach or to the circus. We pick sea shells off the sand and try not to get our shoes wet. But we give in to temptation. Our only saving grace, a pair of pants rolled up at the bottom, clinging to us thanks to belts made out of stones. Sometimes flowers. I like belts made out of flowers. 

I stare at myself in the mirror and see a person I haven't met in a while. We shake hands and talk over a cup of tea. Trees hang out in the distance. Breathing and swaying at the same time. Everything I sit on is made out of soft gooey soil. An elephant footprint marks where I rest my bones next. 

My fingers type away and race across paper. My eyes dart from side to side making sure there are no clowns around. I don't like clowns. I think they're horrible people with all that make-up and those oversized shoes. 

The sun sets and the sun rises and no matter how many times I talk about it I am amazed all the same. Whether I'm climbing a coconut tree or talking to sea weed in a yellow submarine, I feel the presence of a force that feels warn to touch, yet is cool when I breathe it in. 

Colours in the sky look like elves went painting again. The Ogre makes a new friend. A bunny rabbit trims his beard. A buddhist monk smiles at his new discovery as we all sway to the cosmic music playing in our heads.

Pretty girls walk by me and smile. Cigarette smoke rises into the purple sky and stings my eyes as I chalk out my next big plan at world domination.

Except the world isn't mine. It belongs to Timothy. Timothy's nice that way. He likes to share his old Beatles records. 

Ukuleles run across the starry night sky. Migrating to warmer climates. Double basses sit at home, worried sick about pretty much everything.

We feel itchy every time we hear about bugs and crawling pests but we forget they've all gone on vacation to Billimora, It's an off-beat place. You probably haven't heard of it.

I sleep when I'm tired and I wake up when I'm still sleepy. I smile at sheep crossing the road, talking about last night's episode of My Super Sweet Sixteen. 

I rub my chin and wonder and ponder about things that are to come. Will they every make those nuclear paperclips? Will I be a good dad? Where do pixies come from? Where can I get some pie?

I see false hope fairies walk around. They drag their feet and sing to the marble steps leading up to the clouds where little yellow men sings old Bollywood duets. 

Sometimes I blink into existence. And slow down time with my little finger. I eat as much as I can and then run away and hide when someone complements me about the kind of person I am. I'm Magenta Green sometimes. But I can't be sure. I don't have my glasses on today. 

Yet sometimes I sit and type on and on and on, staring at the keyboard only to look up and realize that all the letters have changed places. And that I'm typing in Mandarin Chinese.

But I like how I see things. It feels warm and gooey. Like love.

One of 'Those' Guys...

He's one of 'those' guys. The Token Odd Guy He's the novelty item in your class, in your batch, in your college, in your office. He's that slightly eccentric cousin that you would see twice or thrice a year. Always in his own grove. However you interacted with him, you either hated him for being that way or just felt like he didn't belong. Uncomfortable when he was around. He would be there. Smiling, laughing, doing his thing. He would be good at the things he did. A little arrogant at times. A little silly. You don't remember him being a great person. He made that good first impression. Everything after went down hill. He isn't likable. No. Not at all. But he has great entertainment value. And that counts for something. He is praised and he is allowed room to move about. He talks in riddles and says he swims through the space time continuum. Or something like that. It doesn't matter. You have your laugh with or at him. Sometimes he's helpful when you need him. But he's not a nice guy, you tell your friends. He's an asshole.

He has good friends though. More likable friends, if nothing else. You wonder how they put up with him. They joke about it as well. You wonder whether they're just jesting though. You're friends with his friends. Maybe you're in a relationship with one of them. You could never imagine being with him though. Never. You don't know why. Even if you're one of his friends. He's just not... Well you've never thought of him in that light. He's the Token Odd Guy. He must remain in his place.

And plus, he seems happy with himself. Too happy with himself. Content. How dare he? He is so full of himself! Loud and proud. Though you've never really talked to him, person to person. If he made a bad impression the first time, there's no question of really wondering how he actually is though, Is there? Because let's be honest. He isn't even there more often than not. Both physically and mentally. Why is he ever here anyway? He seems to have this glorious life around him anyway. Such a freak, you say to yourself when you've been thinking of him for too long.

But why are you thinking about him? He's nobody. He's one of those guys. The Token Odd Guy. He's not one of us. No matter what he says. No matter what people will have you believe. He can't be!

But what if he is? Maybe he's made of the same stuff has the rest of us. Maybe he's caught up in a shit storm for most of the day just like the rest of us. Maybe he isn't the Token Odd Guy. Maybe he's not one of 'those' guys. Maybe he could be your friend some day. Maybe he'd wrap his arms around you and tell you that everything's going to be alright. Maybe he'll high-five you when you succeed in whatever you set out to achieve. Walking by your side throughout the journey.

But then you hear a loud voice. A louder laugh. You turn around and there he is. Token Odd Guy. Such an Asshole.

In response to an article:

Here's the article:

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/extraordinaryissue/entry/why-i-love-mumbai

Here's the response:

And yet we manage to smile. We laugh and goof around within the (rather unjust) limits set around us. We bend the rules. We break the rules. We have fun. We march on grooving to the music that plays in our heads, maybe right towards our doom, but we march nevertheless.
What do you expect us to do anyway? The few of us that struggle to breathe are outcasts in this "Modern" India where "Chalta Hai" is our new national motto. We could vote. If we could get our Voter ID cards. I didn't. After applying twice I didn't. Say we had our voter ID cards. Say we went up to the poll booth on election day. Who would we vote for? picking between the two 'National' parties is just a matter of picking the lesser evil. Independent candidates rarely win (remember Meera Sanyal?) and getting into politics is something I'd never do. And no matter what my reasons are I'm sure I'll be pointed at and told that I'm a coward. A disloyal Indian, complaining but not acting.
But wait. I'm not. I'm not complaining. I do my bit, Where I can. When I can. I'm happy. For all I can do is keep myself happy in these dark times and hope for the best. Hope that someday, someone will lead us to the light.

Regards, Mehta.

Sunday Evening Sigur Ros

I've had an insanely awesome day and I'm tired and sleepy and mellow.
The city is shuffling along outside as the twilight gives way to the cool night.
My Mac is playing the new Sigur Ros album.
Life's good. Nai? :)

Highlights of being 18/ Summer Highlights 2012.

So the Summer (In Mumbai) is coming to an end! And every year, near the end of Summer, I finish yet another trip around the sun. The following are, in no specific order, the highlights of this summer and the last trip in general. (Things I'm So Very Thankful For)

~Love
~The Sun
~The Skies
~The New Sigur Ros Album
~Meeting and getting to know a Wordsmith, a Poet and a Thinker.
~Realising that I am, but a Story Teller.
~Angels.
~Extra Chewy Chips Ahoy!
~Finally being able to drive.
~Driving in general.
~My Awesome Bhabhi!
~My awesome brothers and sisters.
~Discovering Stand Up Comedy.
~Random Sunday Afternoon meetings with the new friends I've made.
~The New Friends that I've made.
~Complaining at Candies about the horrible service. Declaring I'll never come back.
~Going back to Candies for that awesome vibe.
~Every moment spent with The Guys.
~Finally playing some pool after forever!
~Random Radio Club evenings.
~Random Airport pick ups.
~Women.
~Stories
~Going to my Bestest Friend in The World's place when he's not even there.
~Law College.
~Audio College.
~Music
~Comedy
~The Lack Of Sleep they cause.
~Giving tours of the City, Showing it off.
~Telling people I\|'m from Grant Road..... West.
~Making People Laugh and Sing Along.
~People.
~Super Seniors! (Specially the Catholic ones! :-P)
~Driving out of the Sunrise. The sun behind me, lighting the way.
~Seeing people meet their loved ones after so damn long at the airport.
~Meeting my loved ones at the airport after not so long.
~Making it through 12th boards.
~Not being able to study at NYU.
~The New (now most recent) Foo Fighters Album.
~That Feeling of being absolutely drained right before you sleep.
~Mom and Dad.
~The Ukulele
~That brain that wakes you up in the middle of the night to write something.
~Those epic days in college and 'with' Prakash! :-P
~Breathing
~Trees
~Did I mention Love?

PS: I've probably missed a million more things but I honestly cant remember more.

All About The People

Comedy on The Big Mic. Photo Courtesy: Aditi Mehta

It's all about People.

No. Not just the ones in the audience. It's about the ones you chill with before and after. The ones that will call you on a random Sunday morning to hang out. The one's you nod and smile at while you walk down the street. It's about the ones who call you up when they're down and out. The ones you can make laugh or even smile through a joke or a song or a hug. It's about the people you look to as an inspiration. The ones you look to for support. The ones that'll give you a pat on the back and the ones that will scream at you if you even dare to think of stopping.

You can see me in the picture there. The little blurred person on the cellphone screen. And it seems so very fitting. My actions are rather insignificant. But their results astound me every time.

The connection we form with people is what keeps us going, I think. It's the fact that we can be ourselves and really connect to an absolute stranger in the most honest way possible. It doesn't matter where you're from or where you're going. What matters is that one moment. That one space. The room becomes smaller. The distances shorten. We are in our natural state of being. Connected to one another on the most intimate level without even realising it. I guess that's what gets us hooked to performing.

Look at that picture once again. You can see it now, can't you? It's all about The People. :)