Being a First Time VOTER

I wake up in the morning only realizing that I am pretty late. It was 8.00 am and the night before mama papa and me planned to move early around 7.00 am to our polling booth which was 10Kms away. Followed the normal routine and then at 9.00 am started in bike. It was already burning hot. Summer in Chennai is a challenge, I tell you. I hopped up the bike and dad and me zoomed off. It was a different feeling when we passed through the roads which we regularly haunted 5 years back. The only song that was in mind 'Yeh galiyan yeh chaubara...'. I see so many things changed almost upside down. The place which had just 1 or 2 flats when we moved in has become an eerie world. It was crowded. The least thing that could happen to us was traffic jam!!!. But trust me, even at that time there was no frustration. I saw a dead body being carried away by few people. But I saw no one weeping even. I felt lil sad of the demise in some poor man's oops...women's family. In an instant a question came to my mind and I was very curious...I just wished if some one could answer me. I asked papa, 'dad, do u think that old man voted??? or did he not have the luck of doing so before his last breath'. Dad said 'Please don't ask it so loud, else you could also not vote and go up... :P'. Hahaha...:D It was fun. There is no stopping me and dad when we have to pull someone's leg or just pull each others for that matter or in the least expected situation our own. :) We squeeze in between cars and buses and reach our home. Oh...Home! Yes, our own but is rented as we stay near by Papa's office. We meet the people there, have water and wait for mum to reach. She had to travel by bus as the bike could not carry 3. She calls and says 'I am at the booth. Where are you both?'. We were like 'Oh...my God, let's rush.'. Are you wondering why did we have to rush that too morning when the polling was to go on until 5.00 pm? Oh well that was just an excitement!!! After all I was to be the first time voter though it's been ages I was 18!!! Never mind...It happens only in India. Me and mum rush to the Ladies' Queue. I heared someone say 'dekho dekho...Minu didi ayee hai (see see...Minu has come)'. I wondered who could that be. I turned around and saw one of my x-neighbor uncle. Then saw his son who was a just born baby when I had last seen him. Lil did he know who Minu didi is...but I was like 'annn...annnnnnn..hmmm....mama...that unlce'...Oops his name did not strike my head!!! It was embarrassing...But some how mum managed it well... :P Dad's queue was much longer than the one we were in. Me and mum went in, saw approximately 10 members to assist you. There were 4 people with a list. We had to confirm if our name was in the list. By that time another lady called me. I went and she after checking my name in the list gave me some kind of slip. I really had any interest seeing it. I still wonder what that slip was. I went to the next person. He almost poured the ink on my nail. It spread all over my index finger nail. The next lady then took the slip from my hand which the first lady (not the US first lady...:P; but the lady among the election officers). I goto a table which was covered by cardboard sheets around three sides. One side wide open for you to fit in and select the button you wanna press. Let me tell you that the moment I saw so many symbols on the machine I really wondered, What is India doing with so many political parties and yet is just a developing country??? I was bound struck with the number of parties and for just a moment I was just looking at the symbols as to which looked beautiful than the others...:P The lady outside shouted...'Madam please make it fast'....and then I just pressed one and came out...with the feeling of having being an Indian for so long and having done a great job. Looked as if I was for the first time sounded responsible. Looked like I had just grown up...

Thanks to Tata Tea, the group that really took so much effort to wake up the youngsters. Though I was awake I did not have the Voter ID card for 5 years having been eligible to vote, neither were we getting the list updated with our names. It was for the first time and I am still in the notion of the THE DAY... :) Guys I am not sure what politicians really do for us or don't do...but its only we who can decide their fate...

Now that our good people have elected the man finally, I really wish

GOOD LUCK - INDIA... :)