Elections and  Selections Part 1 :

Date – 31^st Jan 2007. Time : 10.50 Pm. Place – A Mumbai Suburban  Railway station.

After a heavy pressure day at office, I get down wearily from the train and I meet an old friend’s younger brother. An I.T guy. Young and restless.

We exchange the usual “ Hi’s “ and “How are you’s” and “I am doin great”- stuff. Since we happen to stay nearby, he offers me a ride on his bike.

As he leads me into a nearby “galli” with dim lights and an unmistakable odour of human toilet , I ask him “Do you park here everyday?”.

“Yes”, he replies.

“Any parking charges?”

“No, its free”.

“Is it really safe to park?”

“Haven’t lost anything so far.”

This is one of those moments when you feel as if you are the most dumb person in the world!

Have to change the subject.

“Hey, Good Bike”, I remark as he unlocks his “Splendor”.

Now my knowledge of bikes is just as good as nothing.

But  I have learnt from experience that the adjective "GOOD" is just too GOOD to be used in such situations.

Soon he sits, puts his helmet and off we go!

To our homes – which also happen to be the place where we go when we have nothing else to do in office.

He is a real rough driver and  I am really enjoying my ride. The cold Mumbai wind  hits me on my naked face and I feel elated.

"So going to Vote tomorrow?” I ask. Tomorrow are our local civic polls.

"Nope."

"Why, man ? Not interested?"

“No that’s not the point. Our office starts at 9 AM.”

“Now gimme a break, dude. Even ours starts at 9.30 AM but we are allowed to go 2 hours late or leave 2 hours early. That’s as per Govt rules.”

“ Ya … but we work a bit different.”

I am amazed, shocked and angry at this guy’s employer.

“But voting is a constitutional right granted by the ….” I go on with my usual “gyan” as we zoom in a what-must-be a 85 kmph speed.

I really speak candidly against his “cruel” employer and go on great lengths to drive home the point that this is not only wrong but also a grave inhuman crime.

What kinda I.T companies are we working for ?

That which rob us of our rights to vote just because they have to cater to international clients.

The bike slows down.

.......
Oh! Home Sweet Home.

I really must have spoken for a great deal of time.

 And in all my emotional outburst, I had forgotten to ask the guy HIS opinion on all this.

I ask him the point-blank question.

He thinks for a while and slowly replies....

“ Look here, Rahul. At the end of the day, it’s the client whoz gonna pay!!!”.

I am shocked, speechless, dumb-founded, aghast, and…………..

also a little wiser !