there was a time…no so long ago…when i used to treat the ‘Reader’s Digest’ as a must read. this was much before i started reading the same for its jokes..only…! anyways…so this one time…there was a wonderful article on this dude who, when he was 18, made a list of 30 things he would wanna do before he turned 30. its almost a cliche now…but at that time the idea sounded quite cool. and this dude actually went on to accomplish each and everything on that list…and the article was all about how he managed to do so. just so you know…the things listed there were not exactly…”brush everyday”…but “travel on a bike for more than 3000 miles” sorts..!!!

and then…after a deulge of such posts by EU and SB….here is my version of the things i have done…would want to do…and would never want to do…(and this would be extremely India specific…somewhat inspired from EU’s entry…and in no specific order)

Index:

• Have done
• Want to do
• Dont want to do

1. thrown garbage on the road…paused….picked it up and dropped it in the thrash
2. had golgappas from the same guy who pulled out his snort a minute back
3. ran after a bus and caught it finally
4. slapped an auto guy cause he refused to go where you wanted to
5. saved a lady from being harassed/molested
6. watched an entire episode of krishi darshan
7. been on a bus…with just one foot on it
8. driven without a license
9. driven at more than 120 kmph
10. drove away when a traffic cop tried to stop you
11. asked a cop “jaante ho main kiska/kiski beta/beti hoon…?”
12. for guys alone – scratched your (you know what) thinking that no one saw
13. scribbled on a protected monument
14. cheated in a school examination
15. been on “palace on wheels“
16. been to atleast 3 sanctuaries in India
17. sang something special…for someone special…
18. stayed up all night and saw the sunrise
19. met anyone from the indian cricket team
20. pee-ed on the road
21. milked a cow
22. ate sugarcane…the traditional way
23. stayed in a village without electricity for more than 2 nights
24. shopped for vegetables atleast 100 days in a year
25. paid a begger more than rs 100
26. had a househelper who was less than 15 years of age
27. been to a temple, a church, a gurudwara AND a mosque
28. stopped at the red light when no one else was…
29. requested for a song on the radio
30. called the KBC phoneline atleast once
31. waited in a queque for more than 2 hours
32. bribed your way through to get a government document
33. tipped your barber
34. driven a bike in 5 degree centrigrade…with your tee and shorts on
35. been to atleast 3 beaches in 3 separate states
36. been to the North-east
37. travelled to the lakshwadeep islands
38. hiked to the mansarovar lake
39. studied beyond the age of 23
40. started your own business
41. driven an ambassador
42. looked at the night sky through a telescope
43. slept under the stars
44. kissed your gf/bf right infront of your parents
45. gone dutch on your 1st date
46. washed someone else’s puke
47. cried in public
48. visited the taj mahal
49. seen a live cobra
50. had dinner with your domestic help…on the same table
51. worked on a 386 computer
52. tied/worn rakhi to/from a total stranger
53. danced naked in your room
54. cried infront of your parents, after the age of 18
55. touched your parent’s feet

life has been slightly hard lately…more cause of personal reasons. lekin theek hai…it moves on…!!!

~a

PS: and yah…feel free to add stuff to the above…which highlights true india.