Independence Day

August 15th. Independence Day. Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel; pride goes before fall. Why be proud of something when you did not have a choice in it? Since it was Independence day, my flatmate and I went to see history being mangled by 'bollywood', like a a dog chewed on shoes. It was supposed to be patriotic, especially when the hero laughs and tells the British guy torturing him that he was a dog. (Cheers from the audience) If the depictions and scenes, if not the story, were real, then not much has changed in 150 years. Instead of white feet on brown backs, it was brown feet on brown backs. The next day, Karthik came and we went to see my old flat, his friends. The old flat was crowded now, with three more people! I guess I was kicked out at the right time. Karthik was happy that the guy who wanted to get me out within a week was not there. Then we went to Juhu beach and had cotton candy after a long time. Since it was independence day, the beggar urchins at the beach thought they had the freedom to climb inside our autos to demand money, and we exercised our right to shoo them away. At the South Indian store near Andheri station, I bought as much Upma as I can. Now, I have to hide them away from my flatmate.