YOU CAN”NT” WIN!!!

There’s a must read book by Shiv Khera titled “You can Win!”. The
author has exemplified on how one can achieve the limitless if he has the
wit & grit to fight the odds in any situation…!!!

I fully agree with Mr. Shiv Khera but for one occasion… When the other
party is daunting to nail you… yaan kaan prakaan!!! (By hook or Crook)

Once upon a time a cute Memna (lamb) was drinking water down the
river. A wicked fox saw him & found him a juice prey. He went up to the
lamb & snipped at him “ Tu mera paani kaisa jhutta kar reha hai…” The
intelligent kid looked sheepishly into the eyes of the fox & politely
replied “Sir, but the water is flowing from your side to mine! Main aapa
pani kaise jhoota kar sakta houn!” Realizing the argument was valid the
fox countered “ aacha tune mujhe pichle mahine gaali di the na?” Again
the lamb courteously replied “Sir I was born this month only. Main aap
ko gali…”. “To tere baap ne di hogi” roared the fox getting annoyed with
the witty lamb. “But my father died two months before I was born sir. Vo
bhi kaise…”. “Hmmm bahut baat karta hai Chokre” Roared the wicked
fox leaping onto the poor lamb countering “To wo teri maa hogi!!!”. The
lamb got killed for a legitimate reason!!!

Such situations can be witnessed on Indian roads too… When you feel as
helpless as the lamb!!!

Once, early morn, on a nearly deserted road, I consciously accelerated on

my car paddle, on a signal, to skip the crossing, a nick before it turned
red. & I did it… I reached the other-side of the signal while it was still
yellow but was to my fury a Police constable ambushed me, waiving &
whistling at me to stop. Getting late to the college, as I was, I still obeyed
to explain the law enforcer the urgency. “Signal jump kiya” said the
pumpkin faced cop, in a guttural voice, as if still recovering from last
night’s hangover. “But I left the other side while the signal was still green
& reached this side well in time” I argued in anguish looking at wrist
watch. He nodded in sarcasm adjusting his broad, brown belt which
seemed to keep his paunch in place.

“License” he demanded, stretching his hand thru the window. I pulled

out my wallet & tucked out my license. He immediately turned it around
to see the backside. More interested to verify that it’s originality rather
than it’s ownership!!! Fortunately it was Original.

“Papers dekhaiye” Once again his hand reached my car-steering

dropping the license in my lap. I opened the glovebox & wriggled out the
polythene bag & urged to the police man trying to earn some sympathy
votes “Sir, saab papers hain, aur main Professor huin, aur college ke liye
late ho raha houn!” Unturned by my appeal he went thru all papers in
great ease.

“Pollution kahain hain?” he questioned, adjusting his broad, brown belt

that supported his pot belly. I pointed at the round sticker adorning the
rear windscreen saying “abhi last week hi karaya hain saab!”. He
glanced, raising his eyebrows thru his spectacles & explained sternly
“Pollution certificate dikhaiye vo to token hain…” I frantically hunted my
glove box but was unable to locate this document. Maybe I thought it was
a receipt & used it to claim the money at my office. “Challan hoiga” he
proclaimed, with a distinct solace & quirk in his smile. “Per Sticker pe
saab saaf hain!!!” I exclaimed jumping out of the car & rushing to the
dickey to prove my point. He stood, Undisturbed, unconcerned… Opening
his register & aligning the carbon papers - he waited - as though giving
me a cue.

I felt very sheepish, akin to that lamb, & reached out to my wallet again.
This time to pullout the money… Late for the class, a little poorer, but a
lot dejected, desponded, demoralized…!!!