Does ink stink?

I am a bit pissed off these days. Because I have been proven right. Mumbai really does deserve the kind of rushed decadence that it's been wallowing in.
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And Delhi, for all its supposed small-town naivety and rusticism, is now finally emerging as a far progressive and better city to live in.

Sorry about that all you proud Mumbaikars who have snubbed us bhangra-dancing, pan-chewing, eve-teasing Delhiites over the years.
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We may not have your brand of bling, glamour or your famed round-the-clock throbbing energy, but we still turn out in large numbers to vote. A good 5% increase over last year, mind you.

Although I must admit, it was heartening to see you doing peace marches, candlelight demonstrations and some more forms of sheer melodrama post the terror attacks. But then you played the stereotypical Indian who forgives and definitely forgets.

What else can explain the 47% voter turnout this year, with South Mumbai giving a less-than-average 44%? The long weekend? Right, now why would you give up an extra day in a fancy Alibaug beachview resort with a pool for a chance to vote for some idiot? So what if there was a massive PR campaign that had been urging you to exercise your fundamental right?

You've seen this drama forever now. You know fluff when you see it, because you have always, in your own small way, been instrumental in producing and promoting it.

You are smart enough not to fall for advertising gimmicks because you've seen it at close quarters... enough to realise that it's made by a bunch of "creatives" who churn out the age-old formula get celeb, attach cause, find corny punchline, sell.

You know that the millions of signboards with John Abraham showing his ink-smeared finger are a sham as are the ridiculous radio campaigns that tell you that you ain't cool if you ain't voting. You know that coolness can't be dictated to you through billboards.

It comes from within. You would rather join Obama fan clubs on Facebook or closely follow his wife's sense of style.

After all, how cool is it to have a Black American President. Perhaps your busy life rarely leaves you enough time to introspect.

That should be taken care of. The dark monsoon clouds are coming. Soon your street drains will be clogged and you shall be stranded in your semi-flooded car on your way to work and you can sit back and reflect on all that makes for bad governance. And plot yet another candlelight demonstration to protest.