May the Lord Almighty protect us all from ill health ! Illnesses, especially of those that are family can cause such deep anxiety that it has the capability to unsettle any given situation. The worry and apprehension that precedes it is simply unbearable. By the evening two from the family take ill and there is naturally concern. They are distant from us, but all the same close enough for us to be worried. I wish and pray that they are brought back to normalcy soon. My missive about the ‘common man’ was not without cause. Neither was it done with any particular motive. Its just that in their proximity, one realizes the importance of thanking the maker for making us. And in keeping us the way we are. Man is an insatiable animal. His desire for more is absolute. But when you listen or are exposed to the trials and tribulations of life through those that are termed ‘common’, you begin to wonder. How does this disparity happen ? Why are some the way they are and some not ? Will there ever be any equality ? With equal opportunities, equal respect and equal acceptance ? I believe that given opportunity there can be productivity even among those that lack it. I meet everyday a collection of such souls on KBC and come away feeling so humbled. Their generosity and affection is so simple that it can overpower the most complex situations. And there lies their greatness. May they ever prosper and grow. Television is a ‘hard days night’ ! Anyone that has been associated with it will understand what I say and mean. There is the immense technology to contend with first and then the manufacture of its content. This is where several minds work together, think and plan together to out beat competition, to excel, to do better than before, so the flag of their construct keeps flying higher than the others. It is a constant unstoppable machine that works non stop like an ogre, devouring everything that needs to come out from and in the garb of entertainment. It is constant. You can never stop and get off the treadmill. Chances are that you never will. But … I read so many stories of Tv stars dropping off exhausted on set. Of falling ill due to fatigue. I can well understand them. Its barely been two days at KBC and one begins to feel that the amount of perseverance and energy that is required to keep it going for many more weeks, is perhaps not available to us. A pity though. I feel now that I would wish to sleep for an entire day, but that is improbable. I wish at times to not do anything. To not be involved in work or the daily essentials that keep coming up, but to be in no command or control of my time. To let the days pass as they are, with no commitments, no pressures of no sort at all. But then the worker in me takes over and every thing starts to fall into place even when it is incapable of doing so. This I enjoy. I love the work and I feel that when you love your work everything just starts falling into place. It is now, and I am happy. Most happy. Love to all … and to all my FmXt a sincere hug … warm affection and even warmer love for associations .. Amitabh Bachchan