"Does he have real balls?"

That's what Don Corleone asks Tom Hagen, his new Consigliari (Counsellor), of John Woltz, a film producer/director in The Godfather. The Godfather, is one of my favorite movies, but I got a chance to pinch the book from a friend over the weekend (after many assurances of returning promptly upon completion). And I just couldnt put it down.

The above dialogue features in the book, not sure if its in the movie. But, as with all things mystical and enigmatic about the Don, the phrase "Does he have real balls" is not as apparent as it seems. (Even if the reference is to courage, and definitely not to the originality of a man's paraphernalia !)

What the Don meant was - does he have the balls to risk everything, to run the chance of losing all on a matter of principle, on a matter of honor?

That's a very thought provoking question. I have recently crossed my principles over a subject that gave me many months of anguish (and still does), and I figured the best course to go through, was to be smart and survive out there. I guess, it was one of my needs that needed to be fulfilled, and it was amongst the most basic. Maslow would surely agree.

But then again, that's what separates great men, from mere mortals as I. Their commitment to their principles, is unwavering. I have no delusions as to where I stand, but then again, I know where my strengths lie, and I also know my weaknesses - there, I believe, lies my greatest strength.

And in sheer contrast to the kind of story that I read in The Godfather, wherein lives are taken purely on 'it was nothing personal, just business' basis, and the violent struggle for power between Mafia families across the nation, is another book that I have had the idea of reading, only a few years ago, but never brought myself to it. Author in question - a certain M.K. Gandhi.

And the irony is not lost out on me here, with the topic in question. This man, M.K.Gandhi, did really have balls, by Vito Corleone's standards. I needn't say more, his accomplishments are legendary.

What was your choice, when you came across such a situation?

When it rains, it pours !!

This oft used phrase couldnt be any more truer than in Chennai, yesterday.

Being a Chennaite, and one of the many victims of her steamy, sweaty weather, not to mention the water shortage, every Chennaite (even off shore ones like myself), hope that it would rain.

But, the saying 'Watch what you wish for, it might come true', turned out to be true in this case too. (Pardon my philosophical drift tonight, I'm quite frustrated !)

What was going to be an absolute classic of a match, ended in a draw, thanks to the rain gods working overtime(and in this case overnight as well) in Chennai.

It was an absolute classic of a match, with a thrilling finish, which wasnt meant to be. India - needing only 210 runs, with one full day left, and 10 wickets in hand, with a required run rate of less than 3 an over. Australia - trying to bowl India out, on a wearing 5th day wicket, with Warney, bowling his best ever in India, and a few Indian batsmen, out of form, not to mention, the lack of a certain Mr. Tendulkar.

The match could have gone either way, and this match truly deserved a result. But alas, we go to Nagpur, having wagged our tail, but not quite getting the bone.

And we go to Nagpur, without one of our stars - Irfan Pathan, who is out thanks to a side strain. And in his place, will be Ashish Nehra, who leave alone bat, cant field for nuts. Hopefully, his main craft of taking wickets, wont necessitate him batting.

And Captain Ganguly surprises me again. Backing woeful-keeper-wonderful-bat Parthiv Patel, for another match. This is one of the things I absolutely love in this man. He backs his men when they arent really performing. And I dont mean the solitary match where they didnt perform, but a string of bad matches. Cricket afficionadoes would remember the mysterious persistence of a certain Dinesh Mongia during the World Cup campaign. Even though I hated Ganguly during those days for persisting with Mongia, I couldnt but help admire him for refusing to give up on him. When one is not performing, it helps a great deal for a player, to have the confidence of their captain. They need not worry about their place in the team, but just go out, play and get in form.

Which is what Capt.Ganguly's view was of Patel boy. We shouldnt judge him by just one match. But one wonders if he had collected atleast half the chances that came his way during this Chennai test...if only....Heck, it doesnt matter. The game's washed out anyway.

Remembering Megha Vaidya

It was sometime last year, that I received an email urging monetary help for a very young Indian graduate student, at Kansas State University - Lawrence. Megha Vaidya was diagnosed with a very rare form of acute leukemia.

I did my bit at that time, and followed up on her progress, which her friends at Kansas State University religiously posted on the web.

Time passed, and this girl's fight for her life, went into the background, and eventually from my mind.

I've been attending a training program for the last few weeks, and late last night, during one of my nicotine breaks, with a guy named Krishna, happened to know that Megha was a very close friend of his. Just as I was realizing, how small a world we live in, that out came the sad news - Megha lost her battle with cancer, a few weeks ago.

Krishna, who credits Megha with his current academic success, all the way back during his undergrad days, gave me insights about this girl, whom I never met, yet, was moved by the sheer gravity of her situation.

There have been days, when I would think about what if I realized I only had a known number of days to live, and what would I really do with the short supply of time.

But, this question, never really hit home, until, Krishna told me about Megha. This is the closest I've come to meeting a very young individual with a terminal illness.

How tender, short and uncertain life is. And yet, we all, in a way, take it for granted.

May her soul rest in peace, and may God, give her family the strength to bear this loss.

And thanks to Megha's friends, who strived hard to raise funds for her treatment, Megha survived longer, and got to spend her last days with her family.

These guys, made a difference, in her world.