Revised Edition

Someone I hold in very high esteem has given me some advice. Turns out, I have mentioned my age far too many times across various posts in this blog. It seems like I'm trying to almost rub it in? Well, I did that because I believe that understanding something in the context of age adds a whole new dimension to the experience. A 9 year old's response to witnessing a murder would be very different from that of a 32 year old. Nonethless, I have decided not to mention my age anymore.
While I was going through each one of my posts to figure out how many times I've made mention of my age, I happened to read "Mutant", posted on Friday, November 23, 2007. And I realised that I need to make a few very significant changes to my views expressed there. I could have edited that post itself but that wouldn't do justice to the fact that I really believed those things when I wrote them but have changed my mind since. A garish eye opener in the time that has elapsed between November 23,2007 and now.
Following are the revisions in my views:
1. The women are not necessarily stifled and suffocated. If anything, they have more opportunities here than anywhere else to express their "skills" and "talents". On most days its bordering on cabaret performances.
2. 85% love the fact that they are living the life of a page 3 wannabe. I had overlooked the fact that most women everywhere, by nature, would give anything for so much glamour.
3. 95% don't mind that all things formal translate into a saree.
4. They also love that the partying, socialisng and things begining and ending with the letter "A" are neverending. Its the ideal place for cut throat competion while you get also get to look drop dead gorgeous at the same time.
5. The ass licking will never end because the lickers love the ass.
6. They will all crib all the time about how much they hate it. But make no mistake, its all a superbly executed act. They love doing all of the above and if possible, will create more "avenues" for healthy interaction or was it cut throat competion or perhaps outlet for projection or whatever.
7. You must watch and guard yourself at all times from them. Its a gruelling, ruthless race and we all know what the prize is.
8. I'm digging my own grave by saying all of this.

So, as I learnt, I'm a misfit and I'm probably the only one who feels suffocated and stifled. But I was born here and I will probably die here. The sound of the bugle in the wee hours of the morning and the mangled mahindra jeeps and the spirit of the selfless jawan is what will keep me here. That's what brought me here in the 1st place.

I know I sound like an absolute hypocrite.

P.S. The only thing I seemed to have judged correctly back then was the fact that it is indeed, nothing short of a feudal set up. Only difference being, the peasants in this case adore tilling the land round the clock. The fruit, oh well, we all know what it is.