(Part 1)

It was a lousy Saturday night for Shreya, she had been devoted in her work for the past few weeks. She didn’t have time for herself or her friends, no parties, or hangouts or even for simple dinner plans. Most of the time she spent at her place alone, too tired to do anything. She would usually watch tv or fall asleep on the couch staring at her dust-filled guitar which has been untouched for 6 months now.

But not today, she finally had taken some time out for herself. She was sitting on top of the bonnet of her car, near a beach, and a mild cold breeze was passing through her face. She was feeling peaceful for the first time in months.

Shreya was staring at moon and the stars, and felt like there was something missing. At that moment, Rahul walked up-to her with a glass of red wine, and said to her how beautiful she looked in her black dress with small flowers on it. He felt that the dimly lit lights were making Shreya more pretty than the moon and sky full of stars.

They then started to stare at the beach horizon while sipping the red wine and in their own thoughts thinking what the future lies in ahead of them.
Rahul: You know what you have to do right?
Shreya: I know what I have to do, but do I have to do it? can’t I just let it be? and let the universe take care of it for me?
Rahul: I’m pretty sure universe have bigger problems than yours, and is busy solving poverty or climate change or something.
Shreya: But isn’t my share of universe supposed to be there for me and help me out in small and big problems, especially my own, as for now this seems the biggest problem of my life.
Rahul: Come on Shreya, you are strong you can do this, you don’t have to rely on the universe or as a matter of fact you don’t need anyone else.
Shreya: (slightly agitated) You don’t know me, you know very little about me, hell I don’t even remember asking for your opinion, so why don’t you stop interfering in my life and mind your own business.
Rahul: Come on Shreya, this is why I am here, I am here to make you face things you don’t want to, I am here for only you.
Shreya: But you don’t know what it is to me, this is one of the biggest problems in my life. I feel I don’t need any of your help, I will just let this go and leave it on fate and everything will be alright. I am pretty sure this is the best way to go.
Rahul: Shreya, stop lying. You know these are all excuses.
Shreya: Shut up, I am not lying, I am telling the truth, and I don’t want to talk to you anymore. So please go away and stop interfering in my life, because NEWS FLASH you are completely wrong.
Rahul: Okay, whatever you say, just remember you aren’t just lying to me, you are actually lying to yourself.
Rahul(contd.): So stop lying, because remember, I am not real, I am you, I am just a fragment of your imagination.

* (Part 1 ends) *

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* (Part 2 ) *

Shreya: (Laughing) What bullshit? Rahul you are watching way too many films! Stop being so dramatic. My imagination? HAHAHAHA.
Rahul: (mockingly) Look at me, I am Shreya’s imagination haha.
Shreya: You are stupid, all of this happens in movies and books, not in real life.
Rahul: No no, hear me out, I can actually take up doing this as a career? Hear me out no.

Rahul stands up and starts enacting, and tries to be a bit freaky and go near Shreya face says in a deep voice “I will be people’s imagination.” continues “Of-course for 30$ an hour I’ll be your imagination.”

Shreya bursts out into laughter, this was her having an honest laughter after weeks of being busy and alone. She felt good, finally she was happy.

Rahul: Wait a minute 30$ an hour seems a bit less, let me charge 50$, maybe. I could give two packages, one for 30$ and one for 50$. Man, I am really feeling this business is going to take off, or am I just imagining things?
Shreya: Oh is that so, tell me how does it work Rahul? Do they pay you before or after they are done imagining you?
Shreya(contd.): Hah, It doesn’t make sense at all, if they have to pay you before, they would know you are their imagination, then it wont be of use, and if they have to pay after, won’t they just stop imagining you to not pay? This business is a sure shot failure. (Shreya bursts out laughing)

Rahul, now a bit confused but doesn’t want to lose an argument, he takes a brief pause and continues,

Rahul: Oh I have everything worked out, I will meet people and try to talk to them, and once they ask what do you do for a living, and I will be like, I be people’s imagination for 30$ an hour hah.
Rahul(contd.): then, they will be like is that even a career, and I would be like yes. I am an imagination right now.

Rahul continues, “So when I say this, most of the people will be confused, and in disbelief that what bullshit is this, and will try to laugh it off. A few of them just like you, will go with something like, how do you even earn, I haven’t paid you anything and I can still imagine you”

Rahul takes a brief pause, and tries to make a serious face, looks into Shreya’s eyes and with a deep voice says “Well you are gonna pay for it, one way or another” after a brief pause he continues “I either take 30$ an hour or a part of your soul.”

Shreya again bursts out into laughter, she just admires how stupid Rahul was acting, she missed this, she missed talking about stupid things in the middle of the night with her loved ones. Rahul, still marvelling over his new business idea, “This is a nice idea, I am going to freak out people and earn money. Obviously who wants to give a part of their soul, so 30$ an hour it is. Yay.”

Shreya: Sure sure Rahul, sounds great, but tell me something, why would anyone believe you at all? Hah even I don’t believe you, how are you gonna convince people that (raises hands to mock him) “you will take a part of their soul”
Rahul: Oh well, is that so, you don’t believe me?

Rahul stands up straight, takes a step away from Shreya, trying to get into a storyteller’s vibe and in the most dramatic way goes, “Well well well, let me tell you the ‘Tale of Mr. Vincent Valles’ the one who did not believe me at first, but then he did once he ended up los-” Rahul shushed himself “What am I doing, no spoilers, I will tell you right from the beginning, grab your seats ladies and gentleman, because this it ‘the Tale of Mr. Vincent Valles’.

* (Part 2 ends) *

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* (Part 3 ) * The Tale of Mr. Vincent Valles

It was a………

The world is currently frenzied and under lockdown, more than half of the world is right now under COVID-19 scare, or affected by it. Doctors, nurses, medical staff, sanitation workers, cops and many more are on the front line of the epidemic, and trying to control it as much as possible.

Although the mortality rate of the disease is about 10%, it is responsible for over 35,000 deaths across the world, and thousands more battling it. Although proper healthcare, precautions, social distancing methods are implemented trying to control the epidemic, but amidst that a major uncontrollable issue is, false information.

India is currently under a major lockdown, citizens are said to be isolated in their home for over a week now, and the false information, panic, hysteria, anxiety among them is rising day-by-day.

While talking to people, although the government seems to be sharing everything about the pandemic, people seem to get themselves involved, and share information, opinions, and news, even without fact checking and trusting unauthorised sources.

People are reacting to it in different ways, a few are untrusting of everyone, and have hoarded commodities, ration and other things, and are scared of everyone and have locked their doors and cut off all external communication, watching news and waiting for the lockdown to end, while a few are thinking this is all a big multi-government conspiracy and are indifferent about everything and following the rules at their own whim, thinking they are invincible and just believing in cures as prescribed by WhatsApp forwards.

Some are

Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation of 1.3 Billion people on 24th March 8 p.m. regarding the growing COVID-19 pandemic in the country and announced a total lockdown of the country for 21 days from midnight.

At the time of announcement around 500 people were infected and nine deaths due to the ongoing pandemic, and the nationwide lockdown was expected to post the ‘Janta Curfew’ on 22nd March.

COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus, is said to be originated from Wuhan, China at the end of December 2019, has traveled across the world with infecting more than 3,00,000 people worldwide, and more than 13,000 death toll as of the time of this article.

The epicenter of the virus shifted from Wuhan, China to Italy, where the death toll has reached over 6000 cases reached and over 65000 confirmed cases, and the situation does not seem to come in control.

This is a crucial time for India as with a population of 1.3 Billion, India is very likely to be the next epicenter of the virus if the situations aren’t kept under control, and the way the cases have progressed in other countries with better health care and medical facilities. India with lower health care facilities than all of them would be at the worse end of this pandemic, with reports suggesting the cases to reach over 6,00,000 if kept uncontrolled.

Prime Minister Modi in his speech emphasized the importance of the 21 days lockdown and said “If we are not able to manage these 21 days, the country and your family could be set back 21 years. If we are not able to manage these 21 days, several families will get devastated forever.”

So as India prepares itself for the complete lockdown(barring essential services) for the next 21 days with the motive to combat coronavirus, all of the citizens are urged to maintain social distance, remain at home, and follow all government guidelines.

In a bizarre turn of events, Delhi Police asks for Police Protection whereas Lawyers demands Justice.

On November 5th, 2019 Hundreds of Delhi Police personnel, along with their wives and children staged an unprecedented protest in front of the Delhi Police HQ against assault on their colleagues by lawyers at the Saket and Tis Hazari courts.

Violence had broke out between Police and Lawyers on 2nd November, 2019 over who had rights to a particular Delhi parking spot — escalated with lawyers setting fire to a police van and other vehicles as officers ransacked lawyers’ chambers. Three lawyers were shot, media reports said, as police used batons on lawyers. At least 30 people were hurt.

Another video emerged on 4th November, showing a fully-robed lawyer punching and slapping a policeman on a motorbike, prompting the protest.

Delhi Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik urged the protesting police personnel repeatedly to resume work and promised to address their concerns. “The government and the people expect us to uphold the law, it is our big responsibility,” Mr Patnaik said. Lawyers, for their part, have also been protesting, with some threatening to go an indefinite strike.

But this isn’t the first time, the Lawyers and Police have a love-hate relationship as both of them work in close coordination with each other for the prosecution of offences.

The rivalry between the both has been much visible, where the police are often at the receiving end of lawyer’s wrath inside the court complexes as lawyers are present in large numbers and are well united. However, the situation turns to their disadvantage and if they face police action outside court complexes.

But this time its not only about, Police vs Lawyers, but its Junior Police personnels vs Senior Police officials. The protesting Police Personnel demanded immediate recalling of the suspension order of the police officers who were actually the victim and were clearly angry with Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, who earlier requested the officials to call off their protest. There were chanting of slogans against Patnaik too, “Police Commissioner Hai, Hai” The police officials also demanded setting up of a Police Union.

The unfortunate circumstances, where police personnel are expected to be obedient, for the first time have come out to share their grievances. This only exposes how the subordinates officers are being suppressed, and they continue to carry out their duties just like in the British Raj to protect the Whites, but now they are protecting the Babu and the elected representatives. It is high time that the police department revisits the police manual such that police will be needed for the protection of the masses and government properties in India and not like the current state they are in.

On the other hand, the incident also exposed that both the Lawyers and Police, more than being blinded with their own power and duties, should serve the public, but at the same time should support each other as strong pillars of democracy- Legislature, Judiciary, Executive and the Fourth Estate. As now, both the police and lawyers have locked horns and cannot see eye to eye with each other across the country which has affected and endangered one half of the democracy.

No one saw the recession coming.

— Gordon Ramsey.

All the trade pundits, business tycoons, analysts, and politicians can only predict that there is going to be recession and how the next recession will destroy everyone, and it’s impact, but no one can see it coming, or warn people about how the dawn of economy is upon them.

Majority of the Indians are still busy talking about section 370, and without any care in the world about how it’s been nearly 10 years since the last global financial crisis that plunged the world into an economic recession, and the next one may be as soon as two years away, predicts IHS Markit in a report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF)

The trade war between US and China, grows day by day, most of the investors are in the fear of a recession and don’t know what to do next, equity markets have hit a roadblock and if the world does slow down, India will not be immune from it. Most of the global rating agencies have already slashed or downgraded India’s growth forecast, as the Central statistics recently released the GDP numbers for April-June quarter, with India’s GDP growth slows to 5% in April-June 2019 – the slowest pace in last 6 years, and the recent low of Dollar to Rupee reaching at 71.63 , is almost a gist of what’s about to come next.

India’s auto sector has seen a slump in sales for nine consecutive months till July, and Among services sectors, only the trade, hotels and communication segment has grown faster in the June quarter at 7.1% than the preceding-quarter growth of 6%. Both financial services (5.9%) and public administration services (8.5%) have decelerated in the June quarter.

The question comes down to “Is India equipped to deal with this economy?“

Many economists are optimistic and are expecting a cyclical revival after the third quarter of the current fiscal year, and the numbers indicate that a modest growth recovery is expected later this year. However, it is very risky to rely on a natural recovery for the growth of the economy, consumer demand is weak, and the trade war has crimped international demand for exports.

There is no quick-fix for the slowdown, but as The key difference between the growth recession earlier this decade and the current one is inflation. It is under control and is creating space for an immediate demand boost. There is more space now for a monetary stimulus rather than a fiscal stimulus.

Monetary policy is the best bet right now. However, it works with a lag of around three quarters in India, which means that a rate cut today moves the demand needle nine months later. So, the fiscal lever may have to be used as a last option in case demand destruction continues. It should ideally be directed towards sectors such as home building, roads and automobiles that have strong links with other parts of the economy.

In conclusion, if the current state of the economy continues without any government intervention then it will continue to decline and the country would witness the longest growth recession in a decade.