KL is beautiful. Modern and organized and clean. The arrival was stately. Bodyguards and police escorts from the aircraft and then 2 pilot motorcycle police escorts with the car as I drove to the Hotel. Wow !! I do not deserve all this attention. But am grateful to the authorities for giving me this importance. We were here last at Genting Highlands for IIFA and that was a most memorable visit too.

As I transferred from the plane to the rail car to take me to Immigration a young man, European by appearance came up to me and asked for a photograph. He said he was was French and had seen ‘Black’ and enjoyed it greatly. I obliged, but also took pride in the way Indian Cinema now truly has started finding its identity internationally. All along various posts at the airport there was recognition by the locals and officers manning important positions, but what really took the cake was the Immigration officer at the desk breaking into our National Anthem the moment he saw our passport !!

“Jana Gana Mana, adhinayak jaya hay…” he recited. I was moved !

The clouds were low today and the majesty of the KL Twin Towers was even more pronounced as the top extremities disappeared into the vaporous clouds. Nations building these massive structures now vie with each other on the distance they reach in the skies. New York and Chicago were prominent for a long time, until the middle east and Dubai in particular took it further. They are building again. And this promises to be even greater in unbelievability than anything else that may have been attempted. KL is among the recognized high rises and perhaps Japan too. But the one being done in Dubai is truly phenomenal.

At the rate they are going, we could all probably be in an elevator on a visit to the heavens !!

Closer my Lord to thee !!

There are some pending informations that need to be spoken of to the EF regarding the blog, but in the absence of rigid details I am unable to put them down. I shall presently. They concern some of the facilities that are being introduced to make our interaction user friendly and I do look forward to that.

It is peaceful and quiet here in the room. I shall get a better frame of mind to complete the foreword to Madhushala now. Most of the thoughts are in place and have been scribbled down, but they deserve better construction. I am hopeless with that. It is a test of my adequacy in the field. I know it shall be judged by all that come to it. But the worry shall always be what my Father would think of it ; for, think about it he will.

Where does this desire come from ? This desire to do, to please the ones that are close. We work hard to bring happiness and joy in the hearts of our parents. Parents offer immense sacrifice to envelope their off springs with the best they can. When we are attracted to another away from the family, we strike proximity by noble deeds and acts that are endearing. Sometimes strangers that come along you on a street or on the way side become participants in your generosity and kindness, not for a motive but just for the feeling of goodness.

When there resides in us so much to give in affection and care, what then beckons us towards hate, indifference and violence in the other ?

The passenger in the seat next to me in the flight from Singapore to KL, seemed from the moment I occupied my place, to be unhealthy in temperament. You can always make this out. Its the kind of body language you encounter ; the look on the face, the way he will address the hostess, his posture on the chair. It is customary perhaps that one nods a smile of welcome as you settle in with your immediate neighbor. And when there is stoic expression or no response you know that you are in for an unattractive ride to the next destination.

As I adjusted myself to doing just that, my hand brushed his as I delved to the side to pull out my tray. I excused myself for the inadvertent touch by an apology, which went unacknowledged. Instead, I found his end of his seat belt rudely flung at me as he got up in obvious disgust and went and occupied a vacant seat some distance away. I tried to catch his eye soon after and through most of this short flight to perhaps appease him in case he felt I had offended him. But he would have nothing of it.

For most of the flight thereafter, the benevolent crew kept coming up to me for autographs and photographs. The empty seat next to me, abandoned by fellow traveller came in handy for this operation, but seat belt thrower never changed his expression. When the flight landed, even before it could park by the bay, he was up and opened hatched for his carry on and by the door to leave in a hurry. But one can leave in a hurry only when the gate opens. It took time and time enough for others including me to be exactly in the same position he was by the door, despite his electric start. He was shorter and found himself, because of the queue, to be right below my nose. I whispered another get well to him, only to be greeted by an exaggerated fling of his lustrous hair without looking back, which found company in the corners of my grey stubble. His hair smelt terrible !

I am certain he had washed them earlier. The rest of him certainly looked as though it had been through a scrub. But how gracious it would have been had he scrubbed his temperament as well.

We shower early to start off a day with clean hygiene. We end the day at times with similar attribute. How wonderful then to at times clean up our temperament as well, while we are about it.

We may have followed all the right principles of cleanliness and hygiene. But if our mind is dirty, it shall travel up to the body and affect it. It shall prompt you to keep throwing seat belts at your neighbor and adamantly refuse to entertain his outstretched hand of forgiveness and friendship.

Good night dear EF’s and sorry if I touched your sleeve inadvertently.. I stretch my hand out to you.. take it.. it goes out with affection and love..

Amitabh Bachchan