Cobweb series-1

                          A writer cannot be an editor and publisher. If tried, ends up as the lone reader!

                                                                        - A word form ‘Nightmares’

Preamble:

-When asymmetrical thoughts occur in irregular patterns, hampered by fuzzy and inexact recollection, what can he do? 

-If the arguments are flimsy, in an intricate plot catching him unawares, leaving him with a valueless      of text, what should he do?

-Rarely revisits the draft pages, lazy to update and correct it, what should have been done by him?

 Midnight after midnight, burning the LED lights out of their lives, Imaginch could not find satisfactory answers to these questions he had posed to himself. All along, his inner voice, keeping a studied silence, decided to answer them one by one.

 It said," You relearn geometry and practice memory tricks for exact recollection. Try to rewrite with strong arguments or safely bin it. If you had binned it, this question does not arise. Lastly don't burn out the LED bulbs. I am unable to sleep peacefully."

 This should not happen to anyone, particularly to me, he fumed. The very first thing, he decided, to do was, to rectify the shortcomings his inner voice had boldly pointed out. As he had blurted out in anger, the final draft versions would appear as articles under "cobweb series".

 "As a punishment for speaking out of turn, you have to read this cobweb series, without a whimper." He knew very well these words would not have any effect on his tormentor, but anyways he had strongly lodged his disapproval.

 The story of escape artists:

Crime and punishment, and work-life balance. Imaginch had deeply thought about these everyday maladies and decided to do a C.E.T, cost-effort-time analysis. Before that, he planned to do the analysis on himself. He held his breath and waited for his inner voice to come up with some wisecracks. Strangely, it kept quite probably thinking why to waste time as this analysis would not have any impact on Imaginch or anyone would care to know about the outcome. Imaginch did not give up that easily. To get the agenda in focus, he decided to re-read the news items to set the train of his thoughts on the move.

 (A)The other side is green (ease of living):

 One family wanted to settle in a country, which they thought was conducive for living one's life fairly easily. Though they rued losing financial and promotional advantages, at home, the grass in the other country appeared greener than found in the native land. Lesser tax, on lesser earning of course, appeared as icing on cake in comparison with what the native country expected as tax, coolly forgetting various tax exemptions availed and infrastructure facilities used and social welfare programmes getting funded. Imaginch would not have any issue with them if they had said, this noble thought as the reason - “We are moving out to give a chance to one of our brothers and sisters to find a jobs”

The man and the woman have benefited a moderate cost higher education (turning a blind eye on the prevailing education cost elsewhere), landed good jobs and own a minimum of two or three flats and have a healthy bank balance. Now enlightenment dawns upon them, to think of settling down for an ease of life environment. In the process, are they not depicting a poor picture of the native country which elevated and helped them to this level and about the people who still live there.?

If so desirous of settling elsewhere, those of you desiring to leave should do so permanently. But before that relinquish citizenship and pay the society for whatever resources you have used. In the first place, think how you got the job in an MNC?  Because any MNC, counting its dollars and cents, comes here purely dictated by business interests and availability of a talent pool. How can you forget the fact that you happened to be a part of that pool because the nation educated you?

Imaginch felt his comments are   harsher and laying it on thick.  His point was that anyone wishing to settle in a greener pasture could at least do so by not grumbling about missing things, which might be purely a personal perception.

His thought went on to highlight what would invariably happen next. What do they do there, except for driving down the nostalgic lane, while driving the car on the right-hand side! After some time, search begins for people from homeland to mingle with in get-togethers, birthdays and festivals or to meet just like that. Having spent 25 to 30 years, the food habit prompts the taste buds to hunt for restaurants or supermarkets for accustomed food items. 

Slowly, the ruler straight living wears off, stocking up on ennui. Ears yearn to constantly hear the musical sound of native tongue spoken in all its nuances and colloquialism. In case of difficulties run and knock on the doors of a consulate or an embassy of the native country. Suddenly, people who went in search of ease of living turn to develop doubts " Was it worth it?". The present tense becomes a past tense. Is it not proof enough that a known devil is better than an unknown angel?

 (B)The Right type of disconnect:

                                                                  News: Right to disconnect from work and life-work balance

A nation harbours poor to super-rich and many layers in between. Peasants to professors, industrial workmen to industrialists and white colour executives.  Imaginch could not fathom the impact of this news on overall well-being of a nation.

Advancements and innovations result from unwavering focus backed by long hours spent in their pursuit. This kind of people may not stand scrutiny if work-life balance criteria is applied. But their contribution is essential for of people who use their contributions, to find work and earn a living. How can anyone run away from putting in long hours after enjoying the fruits of such long hours spent to give this present opportunity? In the other place will it be only work as you please? There too, one resettling will be gently forced to work for someone else or replenish the working hands!

In an individual’s life, importance of work and quality of life should be balanced but not at the cost of the other. Is it not a personal ambition which motivates an individual to work hard and achieve excellence? The repercussion is in slowing down the pace of economic growth, which in turn affects the individual as well as the nation? Is it not the responsibility of every individual to contribute to the overall growth of a country? 

In the long run, the diminished capacity pushes the nation down the ladder of development. If stressed think of changing the job and try to live within your means. Listen to your mind and body instead of a utopian dream sold by Public Relations professionals. These PR publications have microscope-readable fine print – the story of the fox in a grape garden!

The respected and shining examples, of persons in noble professions did not leave them. How long they will be ladders and stools? Can't they too aspire to get a lift in status!  If it is an excuse, think of the soldier guarding the nation. If they decide to opt for an easy way of life, which country you would like them to try? Think of those who left and decide to come back – for ease of living or conducive environment?

Having said all he could think of, Imaginch felt compelled to include, “If it has to be slavery then let it be here. Whatever be the profession, at least it will work, for the fellow country men, women and children.” Instead of advocating for “let us catch up with the west”, a more mature approach would be to compel recognition for importance of hard work, ambition, and sustained productivity, which would indirectly ensure a healthy and motivated working environment.

You may be tempted to ask, “Are you an economist or holding a position of power or run an enterprise?” Rest assured, I am none and a nobody. Only, another cry in wilderness!”

(C) Come what may (way of living):

In any given country, people born in different races could be living. The same country could have autocratic, democratic and dictatorial rule. The laws governing the people might be viewed through a kaleidoscope. Crime and the punishment for it is not a matter based on logic or fair play. The playing field is slippery for some, with paved stones for some and smooth as a glass for those wearing anti-slip shoes. And ease of getting away from the net is different for different people, in any country in the world. After all life is a reflection of our times and more so on the mirror we face.

A miniscule percentage of the population would wield overpowering influence on events and others. The source of such influence comes from wealth, power or easy approach to power corridors. The wielded influence could be a quid pro quo, transferred gifts or finding a way to a bank account.  Once caught in this web, corruption takes deep roots and in turn corrupts those exercising that power. Given the chance, Imaginch would alter the wise saying "power corrupts " and enlarge its scope to read - "corruption too corrupts power."  This is a game of mutual benefit for all, in that vicious circle, played without any gaming license.

The influential person enjoys a hefty windfall benefit and when get entangled, pick legal luminaries to unravel the knotted threads.  If, the person happens to be part of a power structure, hires a team of lawyers to haunt the courts with batch petitions. For this public spirited’ one, is it not logical for the public to pay? The bills for their efforts get promptly paid from public funds!  The cases against them are given the uncanny knack of settling down, at the bottom of Mariana Trench, without the help of a submersible! Or, made to age, rivaling the longest living tortoise. Whereas, the case of ordinary people, floats like a cork on choppy water, drifting and never reaching a shore. So much for the ordinary people.

Imaginch fumed and recollected Hook’s law. By borrowing the concepts, he formulated this Laws of escape:

(1)   Ease of escape is directly proportional to the power of influence squared.

(2)    The litigation time is proportional to the elasticity of time, without a limit, and to the quantum of misappropriation.

He hoped that this Law would be universally accepted; locally a Padma award and globally a Nobel in

economics!??