Messi exits because he believes in the spirit of "tyaago" and is simply Fantastico. Raghu will exit because he is Rajan, not Swamy. Britain mulls exit because unke paas Mallya hai. None will ever exit the BCCI nor the Indian Parliament. Of course, tomatoes and all other veggies have exited my plate, and dal-roti is likely to follow suit. I look to conquer my hunger pangs with Yoga. Among other updates, I eagerly look forward to Monday, 11 July, when one crore Government employees will celebrate an extended weekend nestled in rain-soaked mountains or sipping chai-paani at Home. After all, who gets infinite leaves, free lunch and transportation, ultra-flexi timings, a 24% hike in salary and a strike from work?! By the way, what’s their collective CTC (Cost-to-Country)? And then, who is more expensive? Mehengi tarkaari? Or Mehenga sarkaari?

O what a life they lead,

They have all that they need.

A world of order, their range knows no border,

they fly, high, so high.

From Syria to Siberia, wet and wasteland to the Mirage of desert sand,

they’ve seen the mighty ocean and the unwavering Earth and land.

They don’t need an excuse nor a reason to enjoy every season,

they care, they dare and touch those skies where money can’t fare.

And when they kill, it’s purely nature’s will,

no passport nor visa, no attacks nor gun,

they’ve lived, they’ve flown, so what if all alone,

those little big things, that have wings.

Modi travels the world. Barack skips apologies since he owns the right to disown the world. For Xi and Li, China is THE WORLD. However, ultimately, it is Nawaz who’s a proud man; every day, when a spark is ignited, someone, somewhere, even in a remote corner of the world, thinks of him. And no, he didn’t bother with the occasion when his neighbor received a standing ovation in a House that has Demo-Republican representation. As always, while his neighbor will receive accolades for oration, Nawaz will get away with ration, ammunition, a verbal rap and a billion-dollar donation!

What an amazing start to the weekend at home in Thane, the city of lakes. Water supply for the day increased to 35 minutes for today, as against the usual 30 minutes over last 4 months. Tamatar prices at 55 a kg, down from 65 a kg a few days ago; of course, at 55 a kg, the tamatar size and shape resembles mutter. Gourd, prices are only bitter when I think of karela at 90 a kilo. And then, like every year, the roads have been dug like a deep borewell at all places, in anticipation of a strong monsoon. Desh badal raha hai? Kabhi? Kidhar ja raha hai? USA? UK? Emirates? Singapura? Family saath mein? What carries more status and style and less weight? Aadhar card? Ration card? Green card? 15 per cent service tax ki kasam, soch badlo, kaunse desh ko badalna hai?

Jaani, electricity toh hai par bijli nahin. Nal hai par paani nahin. School hai par donation ke paise nahin. Beti jo hai woh safe kahin? Kanoon hai par sazaa nahin. Kisan hai par fasal nahin. Namak hai par dal nahin. Maggi hai toh bread nahin. Raaste hai par jagah nahin. Train hai par ticket nahin. Mango toh hai par kya Alphonso hain sahi? Khuli jagah toh hai, par wahaan bhi pheriwale hain kai. Kya baat hai yaar, ab ki baar woh hain Sardar; in a make-believe world, jo prestige se karein pyaar, woh jashn se kaise kare inkaar?