They were all sitting together having their weekly meeting when Allah said “Hey Rama what’s with your people wanting to kill my people? Actually what’s with all your people wanting to kill my people?” He said pointing to Jesus, Jehovah, Guru Gobibd Singh and all the other Gods and Goddesses. Guru Gobind Singh and the others shook their heads “we’ve never attacked first, we defend when attacked otherwise our people help all of yours when they fight. Rama responded “Well, we picked this idea up from you, no?” Meanwhile Jesus interjected “actually my people started this whole ball rolling with the crusades. Still, I maintain this whole religion thing has gotten out of hand. I wish we’d all prescribed that there was only one way to “find” us and we had never started this whole various places of worship crap.”
“Okay we are almost at time for this meeting so let’s decide on the other item and we can call this meeting closed.” said Rama. “Are we on track for release?” asked Guru Gobind Singh. “Oh we are way way ahead of schedule. If everything goes per plan humankind on earth should be destroyed in 10 years.” said Allah. “Looking at the situation below, I wonder if we can make it happen in 5 years” said Rama with a sigh.
“We can try” all the others agreed. “Oh I’d like to propose a new agenda item for next week” said Jehovah “never ever are we creating humans again. Ever.” The motion passed immediately.
7/100
The war against Raavan has been won. She was overjoyed to see Ram and was looking forward to going back home with him.
He, however, wanted her to prove she was still pure. “Don’t you trust me?” she asked. “It’s not a question of whether I trust you. Your chastity has to be unquestionable if you’re to be the queen of the land.” he said. “What if Raavan had forced himself on me? Since I did not consent, would I not be chaste still?” she asked, her hope fading. “No” he said, “I wouldn’t be able to accept you, your lack of consent notwithstanding.”
She didn’t go home with him. She became leader of a ragtag bunch of women, all of whom had been set aside by their husbands for real and perceived sins. That’s how Sita became the most renowned warrior queen in the land.
6/100
At a Tam Brahm wedding circa 1965
The bride’s father stood to a side wringing his hands, the groom’s family had threatened to call the wedding if they did not get Rs. 2500 immediately. He’d checked with all family members to see if the money could be borrowed but to no avail.
Close to tears, he wondered what to do when his wife walked up to him and held his trembling hands. She said “Let’s call off the wedding. Lalitha’s educated, she knows typing and shorthand, she’ll find a job. I’ll not have her future held to ransom by these people.”
One year later: Lalitha was junior assistant to the MD at Telco.
5/100
The DJ at the party, was taking requests and announcing who the song was dedicated to and by whom. Since most of the requests were of the romantic kind, his intro to songs asked the guests to think back to their younger days when they were newly in love.
His jovial manner and his good natured patter had most of the party attendees (primarily 40+ year olds) reminiscing about their college days. He wasn’t immune either…. he thought back to the first time he met Neetu when he went to see her at her house, their brief engagement and then wedding. They weren’t on the best terms now, but they’d had a number of good years. Maybe, they could rediscover their love again.
Meanwhile, Neetu was thinking back to her college days and her boyfriend, the one she’d reconnected with after 10 years. Things with Anil were at an all time low. It was time to cut her losses and move on.
4/100
Congratulations on the #nofilter #nomakeup Vogue cover shoot babe – her friend had texted.
She stood in front of her mirror – dark circles under her eyes, stringy hair, hollow cheeks and acne too. She quickly snapped a selfie, did a side by side layout with the Vogue cover photo and posted it to IG. The caption said “now it’s #nomakeup #nofilter”
She lost 200K followers and was sued by Vogue. She received DM after DM from ordinary women thanking her for her “courage”. She thought it was a fair exchange.
