Anne Sophie’s First Gun

Anne Sophie was from town, called North Bend, WA. She was 55 years old female, single, religious and kind person. She was working as sales manager in Jimmy & Johnny kids clothing store with co-worker,  Peggy. Both ladies were happy in managing this small and sweet clothing store.  Their days were passed in assisting parents to find right size cloths for their kids. For Anne, seeing kids’ delighted face after getting the cloth they want was most fascinating thing in her life.

Anne was a religious lady. She used to attend Sunday service at North Bend Catholic Church regularly and she was active member of group called, Community of Peace. Community of peace’s objective was to advocate gun-free society for non-violent and peaceful American society. They arranged workshops at various parts of city to urge people to  go gun-free. Anne was living quite fulfilled and satisfied life, till 7/26..

On 7/26/2013, one man has killed nearly 10 people in  Columbia mall. On noon of 7/26, Danial Kurbrik, 26 years old man, rushed into the mall and started firing his 12 gauge shotgun, incessantly in all directions, killing 10 and injuring 27 innocent people. He killed people, he did not know. People had no idea about the man who killed them. They happened to be at wrong place & wrong time. Danial shot himself after shooting.. Mysteries of his mind were gone with him…

 
This incident shocked Anne. Death of innocent people, makes normal human being sad but for Anne things were more personal. Columbia Mall was regular mall, like  her mall. There was a connection. “How if some crazy person like Danial,  gets into my Mall, into my shop and start shooting as happened in Columbia Mall ?? “ This thought shudder Anne.

As per his neighbors and friends,  Danial was charming young man, who never hurt anyone. He was frustrated mentally and on 7/26 he vented out his inner frustration at Columbia mall, by killing innocent people and killing himself. These sort of volcanic urges are supressed within person. They keep churning violently inside and finally burst out.  Turbulence of mind was hidden behind innocence of  his face.

After knowing this, Anne got more anxious  “ How if someone with,  this sort of frustration, suddenly come in front of me at Mall and start shooting me ??? “Fear has penetrated into her mind. She kept thinking about Danial  and her fear grew stronger enough to impact her belief system.

 

Anne started suspecting everybody. People passing through her shop or . moving in mall, every body was on Anne’s radar. She stopped enjoying kids’ delighted faces, rather focused on their parents’ attitude.

In this mental conundrum, she spotted Kevin. Kevin was young man, working as janitor at North bend mall. He used mop the floor and collect the garbage. He was reserved man and mostly avoided mingling with others.

Anne’s radar picked him. Anne saw him smoking (she never liked people smoking) and ” that janitor boy.. he never speaks to anybody.… he is  so awkward ..  Is he OK !! what’s happening in his mind !!! “

 

For Anne, Kevin’s sharp eyes, smoke-emanating lips and tense face, it was trigger for greater suspicion “he is looking everything so sharply.. look at his angry eyes.. Is he planning something dangerous ??. what he is upto ??”Kevin finished his cigarette and briefly looked Anne. Anne quickly turned her face away. Kevin left , leaving  Anne burning in anxiety..

 

Days passed but Anne’s fear for Kevin did not dissolve. The another day, Anne was heading towards her shop. It was sale-sunday and Mall was full of people. Suddenly Anne saw Kevin coming towards her.. She tried to change her way, but could not due to congestion. Kevin was approaching her with same sharp angry eyes and intense wolfie face.. As Kevin approached closest, he opened zip of his jacket and his hand was pulling something from inner pocket…”is it shotgun “  Current of fear froze Anne’s whole body.. heart started thumping very hard and senses shattered for  a moment…  

Luckily it was cigarette lighter.. Kevin lighted his cigarette and disappeared in mall crowd.. Anne was exhausted by this horrible incident.

When she reached office, she collapsed on chair.  She talked about Kevin to Peggy. Peggy was as scared as Anne. She described number of people she was suspecting to have traits as Danial Kubrick. This has just added Anne’s anxiety exponentially. 

Anne could not sleep that night. Kevin’s sharp eyes, smoke and intense face, bothering her. She got hallucination of Kevin rushing into her shop and shooting vehemently… bullets piercing kids’ cloths….. Anne could not bear this scary thoughts and she got drank heavily but incepted fear was much stronger than Vodka.. .… Next morning she got up late and missed her Sunday service at church.

Anne’s ingrained perceptions were changing and her belief on  gun-free society were getting feeble. She  was seeking protection.. “If he suddenly drops into my shop and start shooting, how would I protect myself, my shop and my consumers ?? World has became very dangerous and one has to protect herself… what should I do.. ??  I can protect myself.. only if I have …… GUN as Kevin had.. “

She stopped .. what the hell she was thinking !! Gun.. Anne with Gun… whole her life she had advocated Gun-free society. She had written numerous blogs against fire-arms and supported anti-gun laws.. and now she wants to have gun for herself…  “what rubbish” she thought..

But her mind argued

“ When society has person like Kevin, Gun can protect you… if one of ten person killed at Columbia Mall, had Gun, Danial would have been killed before he killed anyone.. If I have gun, I can shoot Kevin before he shoots me..  “

And this thought stayed with Anne.. It kept re-occurring, no matter how many times Anne tried to suppress it. Anne, fierce anti-gun lobbyist, started liking idea to own gun for her protection…

 Now Anne is sitting in her kid’s cloth store. Amidst c Toy Story characters  and Disney princesses, she is looking at her first Gun.. loaded with bullets.. “ Now I am safe. The moment I feel slightly threatened by Kevin, the moment I feel slightly unsafe,, I will pull the gun from my purse and shoot.. the bullets will pierce Kevin’s chest and kill his heart forever, making me secured for ever…Now I am safe.. my Gun will make me safe.. “

 

Anne did not recognized that her gun made her safe, but made world more unsafe..

Gun has entered into Anne’s house and it’s going to stay and who knows in future, who is going to use it and how ???? . May be Danial’s mother bought shotgun with same intension.. to protect herself… !!!!

An eye for an eye makes world blind.. is it true for Guns as well !!

A gun for a Gun makes whole world _______ ?

Smile of Red Bus

It was bright winter day. Mild winter child, mixed with Mr.Golden sun is terrific combination.

Tina and her daughter Alia, were heading towards bus stop from Alia’s school. It was their daily routine. Alia was 5  years old girl, student of Rainbow private preschool. Tina, female 37 was software enginner, and now a housewife.  While Alia’s father Abbas was busy in minting money for his family, Tina took care of everything as paying utility bills, Alia’s schooling, lunch & dinner, shopping, grocery, taxes  etc. Sometimes she felt that life as software engineer was much easier than housewife. Housewife is 24 X 7 X 365  job, without any vacation.  But point is, She was enjoying her life and family was happy.

 

They reached to bus stop.  

 

There are two bus alternatives from school to home. Green Bus and Red bus. Tina always preferred green bus as it’s frequency was higher and it was dropping closer than red bus. But somehow since last few days, Alia was more tempted to take Red bus. Due to  Alia’s insistence, Tina unwillingly  riding Red bus. But not today…

 

Today Tina was behind her schedule. She had dental appointment and she was already spent more time in chatting with Alia’s teacher. It was important for Tina to reach home early, have lunch and visit dentist before Abbas arrives. Abbas had invited friends for the dinner, thus she required time to prepare meal and if something was missing, she might need to go to grocery store.  Her engineering mind was logically drawing flow chart of tasks and scheduling activities. She decided she has to reach home early, by taking Green bus.

 

She told Alia : Alia today we have to take Green bus as we are getting late.

Little Alia, engrossed in talking with her imaginary fairy friends, thrown into reality..

 

Alia: No mamma, we can’t take Green bus.. it’s bad.. I don’t like it.

Tina: Alia.. I am telling you we have to take green bus.. I have dentist appointment..

Alia quizzed: why ?

Tina: Because my tooth is paining so I need to meet dentist.

Alia: Will he make you cry ?

Tina: No.. he will not make me cry.. Doctor never make anyone cry.. they help us..

Alia quizzed again: You are not scared of going to dentist.

Tina: No.. I am not scared.. and neither you should be.. ok.. so  we have to take Green bus..

Alia looked at her.

Alia: No mamma, I don’t want to take Green bus..

Tina: We have to take.. you don’t have an option.

Alia: I want to take Red bus..

Tina(loosing temper) : Why don’t you understand.. we will get late (her voice got harder). We have to take Green bus.

 

Little Alia looked up to her mother and saw that Mr. Golden sun got covered by dark gloomy clouds. She got tense and tears were about to fall from her little eyes.

 

Alia: I don’t want to ride Green bus.. I don’t like that..

 

Looking at Alia’s grief stricken face, mother Tina calm down and understood that this matter requires elaborate attention. She looked at the eyes of Alia and told

Tina: What is problem, Alia ? Green bus is as good as Red bus. It’s just color difference. Green bus is faster. Please help me to take Green bus.

Alia: No.. I don’t’ like .. fast Bus. It scare me..

 

Tina had no time to convince little child’s stubbornness or she had any inclination to go deeper into the world of Alia and understand her perspective. She changed her tactic.

 

Tina: Ok.. hmm… I can give you Pink candies, if you take Green bus.

Alia’s eyes glowed for while but she resisted temptation.

Alia: No.. you told me that pink candies spoil tooth.. like your’s.. I don’t want to go to dentist.

Tina increased her dose of temptation.

Tina: Ok.. I will give you chocolate ice cream, your favorite. You can eat today.. OK..

Unbearable force of temptation, shock Alia. But she dealt with it and firm on her demand.

Alia; No.. I can get cough .. I don’t want it..

 

Tina was confused because her temptation tactic is not working. The arguments she was using to stop Alia from over-eating candies and ice cream, backfiring now.

 

Green bus was arriving. Tina changed approach and decided to use force, as temptation was not working. Stick and Carrot approach. Carrot did not work, so now ruler is using stick.

She yelled at Alia.

Tina: Alia.. we have to take this bus.. .come on..

 

She tried to drag Alia but Alia was firmly holding bus-stop bar. She resisted vehemently. She was stronger in pursing her path, especially after curbing the desire of heavenly candies and ice-cream.

God has given superior physical force to adults and ability to generate loud, shrilling   cry to children as resistance.  Perfect balancing act.

 

As Tina used her physical force, Alia emanated ear-piercing sound (call it crying) People around looked at duo and that embarrassed Tina.

 

Tina gave up.. Green bus left.

 

All passengers were boarded on Green bus, leaving mother-daughter alone at the  bus-stop.

Tina was very upset. She sat on bench, looked at little Alia and shouted “ HAPPY !! ”..

Little Alia was confused. She was feeling her mother’s pain but not sure how to deal with it. She took Tina’s hand, tugged towards her.. and urged “Mamma”.

Tina was not looking at her..

Alia urged once again “Mamma, look at me.. “

 

Tina did not responded..

It was tense moment for mother and daughter.. Alia’s touch & tug, mixed with urged voice, was melting her mountain of anger, exponentially.

 

For little Alia, her mother’s unresponsiveness was unbearable. She could tolerate anger, yell  or even slap but mother’s turning face was like mother is not accepting her existence.  She climbed to Tina’s lap and hold her face and urged third time “ Mamma look at me..” in  a very pitiful tone(as best as she can) .

 

Meanwhile, Tina’s anger mountain had already submerged.. she turned her face to Alia.

“What !!”

Mother’s turned face, and Alia’s existence bounced back.

 

Alia and Tina looked at each other in eyes. It was moment of love and moment of mutual exchange....

 

Alia smiled and “Redbus .. Ok”..

Tina (hiding her smile) : Ok..

 

Just now Tina lived precious moment of her life and unfortunately she did not knew about it.

 

Tina re-scheduled her dental appointment and her logical mind started making new flowcharts and schedules. She was confused about the reason behind Alia’s intense liking for Red bus.

 

Red bus arrived and door opened.

Lady bus driver looked at Alia and welcomed her with her usual note.

Bus driver; Hi.  Young Princess welcome on-board ! Shall I take you to the  land of mermaids ? 

Alia looked at bus driver, smiled and jumped in utter happiness. Someone had  called her Princess.. It was divine feeling.. It made her day..

Now Tina noticed it.. She thanked bus driver for her kind gesture.

 

Mother and Daughter were settled on seat.

Tina asked Alia: Do you like when bus lady calls you princess.

Alia smiled : Yes

Tina: Does it make you day ?

Alia smiled: Yes

Tina: Ok.. than we will always take Red bus..

 

Alia looked outside the  window.. dark clouds were gone.. and Mr. Golden sun was shining again.. Sending lots of kisses to little Alia..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brand Modi’s six Killer Applications

With my limited knowledge of branding, I have attempted to analyze  Narendra Modi’s branding strategy.   

1)     Surprise

Element of surprise in military warfare, confuses enemies and has always been Modi’s election campaign strategy.  Distribution of numerous Modi-Mask  in 2007 and   use of 3D technology in 2012(Gujarat election)  and projected himself as “chaiwala(tea boy)” in 2014 elections are part of surprise element to confuse opposition and hence distort their combat strategies.   Tea-boy surprise was master stroke. He kept this card to his chest. He never used in Gujarat state elections or before, but introduced this secret AFTER he was declared PM candidate. During election rally on Sep 13 at Rohini-Delhi, first time he presented himself. He said..  “tea-boy.. a boy who sold tea in trains in childhood, today standing in front of you”.. Crowd cheered and yelled.. Appeal went straight into the heart !!!

He saved this card for the right moment, and he used it effectively when moment came.

 A poor  boy selling tea in trains.. is an  emotional stirring visual.. it has un-deniable appeal to Indian masses. All tea vendors across country suddenly found their counter part in politics. In any town of India, tea stall is place of social gathering and political discussion. Namo Tea became instant hit. His popularity bound to grow.  Modi’s political campaign took new heights. He used this theme again and again. Chai pe charcha campaign and Namo Tea stall, are initiatives to capitalize  tea-boy appeal. Congress had no clue about how to deal with this tea-boy appeal. Congress was totally baffled by this surprise element.  

 

2)     Attack the core leadership

Modi never indulged in any argument with Gujarat congress leaders, not even during Gujarat elections. He never argues or attends accusation of congress leaders as  Digvijay singh, Manish Tewari etc. From 2002, most of his attacks are concentrated on Gandhi Family only and he is doing it ruthlessly, effectively. He knew that attacking Gandhi family will shake entire congress and make him popular in at national stage. During 2007, Sonia Gandhi’s remarks “Maut ka Sudagar” directly pitted him against Gandhi family as personal rival a challenger to dynasty,  in eyes of common Indian.

 

3)     Dictate your enemy’s move

The good strategy is to dictate your enemy’s move. Modi declared himself as unmarried person in election affidavit till 2014. In 2014 election, suddenly he declared himself as married. It made Congress and others to attack his personal life. But they did not knew, that it’s Modi’s trap they are falling into. Due to his clean character, more his personal life attacked, more sympathy he got from common people.  Declaring himself as married, was calculated move. Similarly he made Puppy statement. That statement was bit confusing that it can be interpreted in various ways.  Intension was to create inflammatory reaction from Media and others. Finally he clarified the statement in elaborate way, proving his innocence and victimization of himself, by media.

 

 

 

4)      Heroism

His personality and verbal eloquence has made him STAR in common men. During his rally speeches, he crated Star persona by his attractive attire and flawless dialogue delivery. But to be Hero, something else is required, which is villains. If there is no Villain, there will not be Hero. Somehow Modi projected himself as sole fighter, attacked by all Media channels and political parties.  From Gujarat experiment, he knew that more media and all other political party cursed him, more sympathy wave he garner from common man. So during 2014, people saw him single handedly dealing with Sonia, Rahul, Mamata, Nitin, Lalu, few TV channels etc..

For Common man it’s one man army against all media and political parties, and that perception made him Hero.

 

5)     Understand the Audience

Modi was first to grasp, power of youth and women. He made special effort to create vote bank of youth and women. He understood that youth have temptation for technology. He is using terms as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsUp, YouTube regularly in his speeches to make people believe that he understands those technologies. Use of 3D hologram technology and Chai pe charcha campaign gave impression of his technological adaptation. Rural young man or woman, with cheap cell phones, does dream of smart phones and when she sees Modi’s technology affiliation , she finds her leader in him. Other political party leaders go by percent of internet connectivity  in rural India and discard the impact of social media. But they fail to grasp the aspiration of rural youth who KNOWS about the internet and yearns for connectivity. Modi saw that and tapped on it.

 

6)     Holding Brand Value

The one of the major accusation against Modi is that he never apologize for 2002 riots. But that’s his brand value. The moment, he will apologize about riots, he will dilute  his Brand value. His stubbornness  to resist Media pressure has made him most popular national leader . He talks about inclusive growth and development. He also mentioned the pain of 2002 riots but he will not utter the exact words of apology. From 2002, battle between Modi and Media was, for this apology and Modi knew that this battle is making him interesting person who can’t be ignored.

 

Finally, branding alone does not help. His solid work at Gujarat is backbone of his popularity. Without concrete track record, branding is like resume of person, who has not born yet.

 

 

 

 

Mrs.Woods from Redmond, WA

Year 1975

Kathrin Woods was 35 years old American housewife, resident of  Redmond county, suburb of Seattle. Her husband Steve was hardworking farmer.

 

In year 1975, America was moving towards prosperity, so does this American family. American agriculture landscape was changing. New fertilizers and farming technologies have increased agricultural productivity exponentially. Steve never missed agriculture extension agent’s presentation on new varieties of crops. Mrs. Woods used to help him in cultivating vegetables which they were selling to grocery stores and occasionally at downtown Saturday market, during summer. They had two lovely children, Nick and Jenny.

 

As child, Mrs. Woods had experienced horrors of World War 2. She has seen her parents’  struggle to feed their 5 children. She had witnessed rapid economic growth and American social and economic transformation, as well.  Shopping malls and freeways were built. Car, TV set and Microwaves became necessities than luxury. Women started working in offices.  Some couples  were living together without marriage. Such relationship were not accepted 10 years ago.  Civil rights movement led Civil Rights Act of 1964, that banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in employment practices and public accommodation.

 

Whole America was changing rapidly. But Mrs. Woods had nothing to do with it. She was least concerned about Vietnam war, Martin L King movement or cohabitation practices. Her world was her family. To cater her family needs, take care of her children and keep them happy was only objective her life. As social service she was giving tuition to black kids after Sunday Church sermon.  And she was quite happy about her little contribution to her community. 

Even though Mrs.Woods were not actively following American social, political and economic transformation, she could not remain untouched either. Freeway between Seattle and Redmond has been operational and lots of economic activities started taking place in Redmond. Few of her friends started working as nurse, teacher or as telephone operator. Because of modern electronic gadgets as MW oven, vacuum cleaner,  and washing machines, life had became  easy for women and now they had  more time to purse own aspirations.

Mrs.Woods also tempted to work as teacher. She had never earned any money. She never had dollar bill of her own. She had desire to buy something for her children by her own money.
That night, at dinner table Mrs Woods slowly started topic of working women. Steve rejected the idea of working woman, saying “ Why woman need to earn money! Its man's job. If woman starts work in office, who will take care of family… !!! ”

Listening to Steve, introvert Mrs. Woods assumed that he will not like her working as teacher and she never asked thereafter. Her desire to earn money for her family had died in very infant state.

 

Year 1982

On summer of 1992, Mrs Woods was happy after selling all the vegetables on  sunny summer afternoon at Redmond Saturday market. As they are packing up, Mrs. Woods saw a strange creature.... a brown man.  Apparently he was not white as herself or black as her students or Chinese from Hawaii .... but appears as brown Asian. She whispered to Steve.." STEVE look at that man.. he looks so strange. Who is he !!!" Steve took a look and responded "honey he is Indian.. " Mrs. Woods replied” he cant be Indian ... look at his eyes they are so different" Steve replied" Oh Kathy he is not native Indian. He is Indian from country called India. Gandhi’s India.. You do know about Gandhi, right !!  "

 

Mrs Woods did not knew much about geography and her knowledge about external world was very limited. She had heard about India and Gandhi, during her schooling but she never expected that someday man from land of Gandhi will reach in her small town, Redmond ! She kept looking at him as long as she can…

 

That night Mrs. Woods could not sleep.  She got obsessed with that Indian.  On the bed, Steve was about to sleep. Mrs. Woods shock his body and asked " Steve, What that Indian was doing into our town??? Why he is here  ?? " Sleepy Steve got angry. "Katy.. How the hell I  know about him !! And Why are you worried about him ??? You have asked same question 20 times since you saw him. Is he going to be your new boyfriend!!! Mrs woods shouted" NO of course not. How dare u say that."

Steve closed his eyes" sleep now and let me sleep, don’t think about him ..”

 

Lights were off and Steve was sleeping happily. Mrs. Woods was still awake. She was feeling uncomfortable. Presence of this new stranger was bit irritating. She loved her cow-town and her smallness. She felt like somebody has intruded into her house. "What he is doing here in my town" She murmured to herself.

 

Next day after Church service Terry told Mrs. Woods that Indian is working at newly opened company , called Microsoft." Microsoft !! Is it detergent company ?? " She asked. Terry replied "No its kind of computer company". Mrs Woods made eerie sound" Computers  what's that ???". Terry replied" Albert told me its kind of   big calculator. He told me that computer going to be big thing one day.. kind of change the world". Mrs. Woods had nothing to do with computers or changing world. She kept quite.

 

After 10 Years

Days and months passed and Microsoft became world's biggest software company. Redmond has developed along with Microsoft. Roads became wider and cars became swankier. People used to spent lots of money on things. Mrs. Woods’s both  children left Redmond to pursue their carriers. Nick went to New York to work for financial company and Jenny settled at Denver to study architect. Steve was retired and living a happy life.

Mrs. Woods had accepted all the social, political, economical changes but could not a cope with one fact: growing numbers of Indians in Redmond. Since Microsoft and Boeing were hiring Indian engineers, their population was on rise. Mrs.Woods was uncomfortable with that fact. It’s not like she had any racist feeling about them. Its just they were alien and they were not part of Mrs.Woods childhood essay of

" my beautiful Redmond". They appeared quite stranger to her. 
Mrs.Woods has learnt that her neighbor, Terry had sold her house and  moving to Florida. Terry explained that her son has settled to Florida and there was no point in staying alone at Redmond. She has sold her house and bought bigger house at Florida. Mrs. Woods asked about new owner of the house. Terry replied "They are Indian family working for Microsoft." Mrs. Woods jumped from her chair. 'INDIANS you sold house to Indians...'Terry replied “they were paying good price and allowed me to stay till my florida house gets ready. What’s wrong with Indians? Why u are reacting so hard ?”

Mrs. Woods was confused. Now she will have Indians as her neighbor. She was worried.

 

Indian family of 5 moved in: man, woman, 2 kids and an old man. Mrs.Wood assumed that they must be husband , wife, their kids and who was that old man !!! May be father of man or woman!! 
As days passed Mrs.Woods curiosity to know about her new neighbors grew.  Sometimes she used watch their behavior, hiding behind windows curtains. 
She observed that woman used to do most of household work and man was very busy in his work, (just like her and Steve in their young days). Old man was mostly being in house and spending his time in watching TV, playing with kids, or giving instructions to family.. The only responsibility he had was to pick and drop kids from the school bus. Few strange thing she noticed that woman and man used to vacate their chair for old man in respect.. Old man had sort of invisible control over house.   Sometime woman used to wear Sari.. a long single piece of  cloth, wrapped around the body. She also noticed that man and woman never kissed or hugged even when man used to go for long travel.  They are very restricted to show their love. She felt it very strange.

 

Once Mrs. Woods heard some loud noises from backyard. She found that Indian family was having a family party. Mrs. Woods could not stop herself. She hide behind bushes and observed a mysterious civilization. She saw women in bright Red saris. Men were also dressed in colorful attire she had no words to explain. Children had similar kind of colorful shiny traditional cloths.. Red, Blue Green Orange....She has never seen such a fashion. They were laughing loudly. Women and Men had their own groups. Strangely men were holding their drinks while she has not seen any woman with drinks. Their food was different. They used eat, using fingers... Their music and dance was so .... vivid and LOUD.

Suddenly Steve shouted "Katty What are you doing there in bushes ?"Mrs. Woods returned quickly and got angry on Steve "u need not to shout like that. Stupid man" She murmured. Steve wondered because his  Katty got angry very seldom.

Inside kitchen, Steve asked gently " What were you  doing in bushes  !" Mrs. Woods was feeling ashamed to explain her weird peeping-ness. She replied "nothing". Steve wondered" nothing !!! Really". Mrs. Woods had to tell the truth. She explained  " Okay okay… I was hiding behind the bushes and watching Indian party"

Steve smiled "so tell me what did you see ?"  Mrs.Wood " they are so different. Their clothes, traditions, food  sooo different, so loud and colorful.. .  it scary.. ..  “. Steve started laughing.. “ Kathy, You are obsessed with Indians… “..and he left, leaving Mrs Woods confused..

 

After 20 years

Redmond kept filling with more Indian , Chinese and other Asian immigrants because of ITization of Redmond. Asian grocery stores and restaurants sprouting up. . Mrs Woods had not made peace with changing times. She was missing old Redmond with no alien cultures. Whenever she saw Indian men, women or object, she used to feel ….uncomfortable.. ...

At age of 65 Steve passed away and her children were in other cities pursing their dreams.  Mrs. Woods got lonely. She was missing her family and old Redmond..  Redmond with no Microsoft or Boeing or Expedia !!  ... Redmond without any outsider!! But it seems impossible now. We can’t just turn the time-clock backwards.

We just can’t.

 

One November afternoon, lost in such thoughts. Mrs. Woods was waiting for bus to home. She has stopped driving car after Steve passed away. It was windy and rain started pouring. Mrs Woods did not had umbrella and was completely helpless.

Suddenly a car stopped and a voice came  “ Please come.. raining very hard..”. It was old Indian man from neighborhood.

 

Since Mrs. Woods did not had any choice, she got into the car. Old man smilingly told ..” raining very hard.. Problem without umbrella”…  It seems old man’s conversational English skill was not good.  Mrs.Woods just node.

Old man kept driving amidst heavy rain... windshield’s cracking noise was disturbing silence inside the car.. Mrs. Woods was in dilemma, as she was seating with man from alien culture.. She did not know what to speak, how to speak.. and why to speak ??

 

Mrs.Woods gathered enough coverage and asked “ Do you work !!!”.. Man replied “ No.. I was retired 20 years back in India.. Voluntarily retirement.. my son took me to USA.. he works for Microsoft.. we are US citizen.. “ and he smiled. Mrs.Woods smiled back…

They reached home. Rains stopped.  Mrs. Woods got out the car and thanked Old man.. Old man replied “No Problem. You must visit our home sometimes.. my daughter in law speaks good English.. American English.. not like me.. she will like if you come.. we are neighbors..“ and he smiled again. Mrs Woods responded with a sweet smile..

 

He left and Mrs Woods kept looking at his car. Suddenly miracle happened.. She felt liberated. She felt that all the confusion and irritation she had, melting away. She opened her door and stood next to window to look at Indian house with new perspective. She saw Indian lady waving  hand to her and she waved back..

 

Fear of unknown can be countered by knowing the unknown and she did it today..

 

The End