Abhishek's Musings

  A DRAGON’S APPLICATION ESSAY TO EMPIRE BEAUTY SCHOOL   Dear Mr. Marc Robinson,    Imagine a world where the most ferocious dragons could walk down the ramp and win plaudits on the international stage. She would make heads turn with her impeccable hairstyle and flawless makeup. Wouldn’t that be a sight to behold? Let me introduce myself: My name is Kaida, and I am not just another run-of-the-mill female dragon but a dragon with stars in her eyes and a dream as big as the Eiffel Tower. I aspire to attend your prestigious Empire Beauty School, where legends of beauty and style are born, made and groomed.   You may wonder why this strange fetish of a dragon to gain admission to a beauty school meant only for fairies. Allow me to state my case. I greatly appreciate the artistry and grace involved in the beauty business. I am in deep awe of all your past beauty queens who passed out from your esteemed school and made a mark in the international arena. I have al...

  UNBOXING A LEGEND: GRANDDAUGHTER DISCOVERS SECRETS OF AN INFAMOUS HEIST IN ATTIC   In a twist that was more like an Agatha Christie novel than reality, Tipra Thomson’s innocent ferreting about in her grandmother’s attic has unearthed a long-buried secret: Her great grandmother, Ginny Smith, was one of London’s most elusive and skilled thieves, a member of the notorious Forty Elephants Gang.   The discovery was made when Tipra stumbled upon an old box, dusty, black, tucked away in the corner of the attic. Inside were meticulously kept secret diaries, records, maps, plans, and photographs that spoke of a life shrouded in deception and audacity. Among the trove of artefacts was detailed evidence of Ginny’s most notorious heist: the legendary “Park Street Job.”   On a foggy, chilly winter evening in 1936, Ginny Smith and her fellow accomplices from the Forty Elephants executed a heist that would baffle Scotland Yard and MI6 for decades. Disguised as elite print journal...

  BONDING OVER FOOTBALL   “Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts as we begin our descent into Frankfurt, “the flight attendant announced.   Harry peered over his glasses, closing the latest John Grisham novel “The Exchange” with a satisfied sigh. Seated next to him, Conrad was animatedly recounting his latest adventure to a pretty young brunette flight attendant, who was all ears.   “So, there I was on a desert safari, looking at the starry skies and making some great memories, with nothing but a bottle of water and a camel for company,” Conrad announced dramatically. The flight attendant smiled, clearly impressed by his charm.   Harry cleared his throat, drawing Conrad’s attention. “You know Conrad, not everyone has a fancy for nightlife and sandy beaches or crossing deserts on Quad bikes to find excitement. Some of us find it in quiet pursuits like reading than climbing atop the Burj Khalifa.”   Conrad laughed, an infectious laugh that drew ...

  THE UNJUSTIFIABLE CRIME   I waited for Sundays the entire week, when I would be at the studios, behind the microphone, broadcasting over the airwaves. The studio felt like my kingdom, and the seat was my throne. I was the undisputed ruler and the greatest broadcaster: the Melville Demello of broadcasting. Some even called me Zabbas: the new age Ameen Sayani, the undisputed ruler. The sweet girls at the Times even gave me the title “the father of broadcasting”, which had gone to my head, but I felt proud. I understood my tremendous reach and power to shape opinions, influence, and dominate.   “Good evening, listeners…” I began, my voice crackling over the airwaves, steady and commanding. “This is your host for the most Zabbas…for the next hour, we will talk about the buzz in the campus.” I quickly put the fader up for the song “Night Train” by Kadoc as I scanned my script gathered from my sources: government contacts, press, and loyal college juniors, all feeding me the ...

  THE CAMPUS BULLY   Zabbas. The name still sends a chill down the spine of anyone who had the misfortune of knowing him. To those who came in late, he was just a porky, stout, white, bespectacled college senior who imagined himself to be a radio personality of great repute and cruised around town in an Opel Astra. But behind that show lay a vicious bully, a calculating tyrant, whose long reign of terror left deep scars on the unsuspecting.   “Hey, new kid on the block! Think you can hide from the Voice?” Zabbas’s voice would boom on the campus radio, dripping with scorn and malice. His broadcasts were more than just songs and entertainment; they were loaded missiles. With information and intel channelled to him by his loyal syndicate—comprising government officials, private media contacts, the press, and kids from his own college—Zabbas targeted his prey with an almost predatory and clinical precision.   His gang operated like a well-oiled machine. New students, fir...

  SOME FUNNY QUESTIONS I ASKED MYSELF   What was the best surprise I ever received recently? When I thought it had all ended,  But it was the beginning of something  that I had always dreamed of frequently.   What is my favourite Louis L’Amour book? Last of the Breed, I can still hear the horses hoofs.   What is my go-to karaoke song? Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” This song can never go wrong.   What was my favourite subject in school? English was so excellent that it made us drool.   If I could listen to one song for the rest of my life What would it be? Bob Dylan’s “Blowin in the Wind “while sipping  Green tea.   Who would I choose if I could be friends with a  Fictional character? I would befriend Don Michael Corleone and learn to  Be a gentleman cavalier.   If I could listen to one song for the rest of my life What would it be? Guns and Roses “Sweet Child O Mine” by the Sea.   What is the valuable thing I have l...

  SOME SERIOUS QUESTIONS ON MY MIND   1.                    Why do good people suffer in life? 2.                    Why don’t we recognise the value of people when they are alive? 3.                    How can some people have no accountability while others are made to pay the consequences of every little mistake? 4.                    Why do we sweep uncomfortable issues under the rug instead of addressing them? 5.                    Why do the selfless, honest people of the world do the bulk of the good work while others shirk or sh...