Goli No 8...Prosperity….. Patriotism…. Vada Pav……

........ 26th January… Republic day of India…… wifey warning me…. "Today no …. vada pav talks …….. focus on..... daughters …. Republic day celebrations….at school"

..... hurried into my white churidar kurta….. and saw wifey and daughter in white churidar and kurta’s….. She reminded me of Lalitaji of Surf fame…..

Outside the school… saw thousands of parents…. Childrens…. Teachers….. all in white salwar kurtas and sari’s….. Tiranga dupatta’s and blouses….tiranga bangles.... tiranga bindis...... thought we had arrived at a Yash chopra…. Karan Johar set….

....... huge trailers decorated….. with patriotic slogans…. Images of Mahatma Gandhi….. Mother Teresa…… Loud drums belting out …… “Hum Hindustani”……. “Vande Mataram”……. “Meri Desh ki Dharati…..

...... Luxury cars…. Decorated… with flowers...... ribbons....... balloons…. Painted with patriotic sentiments…. . and tiranga’s…..

Young Indians in white …. .. face painted with tricolour…… screaming 'jai hind'…. It looked like a carnival….. with thousands of parents….. teachers….. and children….. of schools bringing patriotism to the streets of Mumbai…..

In all these humdrum of republic day........... It seemed that I had forgotten…..

And “Aila…. What do I see……. Vada Pav....…..

......Thousands of people..... dressed in white..... with tiranga painted..... in some form or the other.... celeberating republic day......... with..... VADA PAV....... looked at my wifey and smiled...... but she was engrossed munching into her Vada pav......

........ Returning back home….. My heart was swollen with pride........... summarizing the days events.... I thought

...... Prosperity…. Patriotism … and vada pav’s.....

........ my car braked with a screech....... as the traffic lights turned red….. a stream of urchins…. Rushed to my window….. with poverty written all over their faces….. with tiranga’s in their hand…. As they fought with each other to gain my attention…. heard these words……

"Saheb...... Jhanda Le Lo...... Bhook Lagi Hein...... Vada Pav Khana Hein".........

......choked….. stammered…. Stopped my car...... got some vada pav's....... for my fellow ........ brothers and sisters of India..... went back home with a heavy heart…. Thinking ……

.....Poverty….. Patriotism…. And Vada Pav……