Things to expect this decade

The new decade has kicked off with a lunar crater being named after Shahrukh Khan. Here are more things you can expect over the next few years

1. The Ramalinga Raju Chair of Creative Accounting - to be set up at the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance and sponsored by Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

2. Dev Anand - the final instalment in the trilogy of films on human ageing,after The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Paa

3. TRIPL - A new cricket series for Those Rejected by Indian Premier League

4. The Rakhi Sawant Channel - It's high time someone started that and spare us the misery of seeing her on the rest. As it is, she'd want one for herself once the programme Living with the Superstar goes on air

5. Rajini Kanth - The new name of Earth as proposed by the Association of Rajini Kanth Fan Clubs of India, more than eagerly supported by the Rajini Kanth fan club of Japan.

6. Mayawati - the new name of the universe as suggested by Mayawati herself

Right now I want to

be standing on the the door of a train with a coffee and a cigarette in hand

sit on the edge of a mountain with my feet dangling off the edge

be on a motorcycle on a lonely mountain road

be in my bed sleeping

swim with the sharks

make a meal for my wife and watch movies on dvd with her

go to disneyland

go on a holiday with my wife once again

go on a holiday with my parents once again

play hockey with my buddies

resign from this desk job of mine

You only live twice

" You only live twice: Once when you're born

And once when you look death in the face.”

-- Epigraph from 'You Only Live Twice' by Ian Fleming

As a sportsman, climber and insane driver I've had several moments where my life flashed past me in a second as I came tantalisingly close to snuffing myself out. At the same time, these very moments have been the pinnacle of my thrill-seeker alter ago. However, there was one moment.... nay 3 days when I stared death constantly in its face and have lived to tell the tale.

Caught in a snowstorm, 200m short of the summit, the three of us sought refuge underneath an overhang that provided some refuge from the blowing snow and howling wind. Between us, we had a couple of bars of chocolate and stories of cars, girls and travels that kept us going. The rest of the climbing party had no option but to leave us to our fate and retreat to the comfort of their tents, their camp meals and a sleeping bag.

Three days later, we staggered our way back, exhausted, numb, frostbitten and almost dead but yet alive. That day I vowed, I would live each day as if it were my last, and more so today since the two others NK and VM are not there anymore.

There are other ways to die as well.........

Red

from Black

And then there is light, a shaft through the crack in the boards
Moments from life swirl in front of his eyes like the dust particles in the light
His face lights up in hope that maybe someone still remembers him
Maybe someone still knows that he lives
But then the car rounds the bend, leaving behind a fading red glow..

... white