Hallowed Be Thy Name!

In a dark and damp room, he sits. After months of grueling torture he has finally come to terms with this. Initially when the judge announced his punishment, he was terrified and felt he’s been wronged and that everyone was being harsh on him. But now, after three months of thinking, he understands.

He was at ease with his judgment now. For the past few days he felt a remorse as well. All the crimes he committed, could have been averted if only he was taught the difference between the good and the bad. But alas. He was an orphan who lived on the streets and did odd jobs to make ends meet. There he met with people who introduced him to the world of crimes. He was excellent in whatever he did and crimes were no different. Petty thefts turned into robberies and then to murders.

Sitting in his cell, he cursed his fate. He cursed God for killing his parents and making him an orphan. The more he came to terms with his oncoming fate, the more he cursed God. He though all his sufferings were because of him. And even though he turned more humane than what he was when brought into the jail, he ritually performed the daily cussing of his Lord. All of this was about to change soon though, when he saw a new guy coming into the adjacent cell.

He asked the jailer who the man was and why was he brought there. To his surprise, the man was to be put to the gallows for teaching a new religion. “A new God?” He thought. How could this be possible? In the free hours he asked the man, who was looking rather content, why is he doing this knowing how strict the king of the land is.

The man smiled and replied, “my friend, what’s the purpose of life if you don’t do try doing something good for others and something that will peace to them? I know the king is harsh and cruel. He oppresses his masses and the people of this land need salvation. So I’m willing to do my best to give them that. In whatever way possible”

He looked at the man with shock. He couldn’t understand the calmness of those eyes when he knew they both were to be hanged the following day! The man smiled again and continued, “I see your in doubt, but don’t be. I don’t fear death, and neither should you, for only the body that wither. The soul is ever lasting. It will after our deaths go back to the eternal being from which everything you see is created! Our Lord!”

Laughing he asked if he was worthy to be meeting his maker, as he has sinned throughout his life. The man responds, “Why not. Everything meets the maker in the end. No one is big or small, right or wrong, good or bad in front of him. That is the only truth. Everything else around us is just an illusion, a dream. All one can do is to be good to others so that unlike yourself right now, one can die in peace.”

Finally understanding the meaning behind the man’s words he quietly stood up and went back to his cell. The entire day he kept to himself. He remembered as many wrongs he had done in his life and repented each one of them. He too wanted to be at peace before he died.

At dawn, he woke up to the sound of the bells ringing in the courtyard. He knew his time was near. Tears welled up in his eyes as he saw the man from the adjacent cell taken by the guards before him. The man looked at him as he went by and smiled. Just then, his cell was opened and he too was taken out. In the courtyard he saw two rope nooses on the gallows. Suddenly the thought of dying along such a man gave him a sense of pride and he felt maybe he too has a chance of salvation if he is killed alongside him.

Both the prisoners were taken to their respective positions. The noose tightened on their necks. The jailor asked them if they had anything to say before the executioner pulled the lever. He was at a loss for words. And just then he heard the man beside him say in a soft tone, “Hallowed be thy name.” He smiled as if he had heard something enlightening and said, “Hallowed Be Thy Name!!”

Dreams & Reality

A couple of years ago, a good friend of mine, who also has a great taste in manga, recommended this manga. The name in itself sounded weird to me. “Bakuman?” I wondered.. what would this manga be all about? All he said was “it’s a manga about manga and created by the author/illustrator of Death Note”. I was into manga’s for couple of years by then and so the idea about getting to know more about this world piqued my interest in it. Also, knowing that it’s the work of the pair who created the famous manga Death Note!

For those who do not know, “Manga is a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, typically aimed at adults as well as children. And mangaka refers to the author of the manga.”

What was so great about this particular manga that I’m writing this, you’d ask? Well, for me, everything about this manga was fantastic. Before reading it, I was not even close to knowing how the manga industry works. But now I do. And I truly appreciate the work of every manga artist out there. As I know how many hardships the mangaka has to go through to get his/her work published and to keep it going for years and years. How it affects them mentally and physically! I always used to think it was an easy job, drawing manga’s, but after reading Bakuman my entire perspective has changed. The dedication and passion they possess is far beyond than what I imagined!

Back to the manga itself, the art is fantastic, the shadings, perspectives, faces, the detailing, etc. The character designs are done to perfection. The story is gripping and you’d feel nothing is out of place. The pace of the story makes you go on and on reading it till your eyes hurt. The most important thing is the character development though. Very well handled I must say. Every side character is given enough importance and enough time to develop and blossom throughout the story.

Going ahead, I’d say that I haven’t come across a manga which shows human emotions in such an apt manner. A host of emotions are on display in every volume. One moment you’re happy the other moment you’re laughing your ass off and the very next moment you feel sad. Coming back to the art again, I’d especially like to mention Takeshi Obata’s skills with which he has crafted this manga. His mastery can be seen when he makes you laugh only by the expressions of the characters. Even the antagonist or the competitors of our protagonists I can say, have a very cheerful vibe to them and keep on providing comic elements. The best being Niizuma Eiji. I liked his character more than even the protagonists.

Talking about Tsugumi Ohba, a mysterious writer whose identity is kept a dark secret by Shueisha, the publishing house of the manga. After knowing that he was the author behind Death Note a super selling Mystery/Thriller manga, I had not imagined he would be able to write such a slice of life manga! But well, they say the greatness of a writer lies in his flexibility to switch genres and yet hold on to that magic. And magic is what Ohba has delivered! His punch lines are simply amazing and well timed. The sadness of the characters can be felt through their words and so is their excitement and happiness.

You will feel the ups and downs in the path of the protagonists as they strive to reach their ultimate goal. Also you’ll feel a sense of achievement when they do reach it. That is exactly how captivating Bakuman is. And when you finish reading the manga, you’re left with an emotion that is so fulfilling that you’d certainly want to read it again.

Anyways, 180 chapters and 3years since, I have read it over 3 times, watched the entire anime series twice. And also recently I started collected all the printed volumes as well. Why not buy the entire box set for a discounted price? Reason being, the anticipation of getting the new copy delivered to me each times makes me feel super excited and I feel just like the protagonists who eagerly wait each week for the results of their hard work. And I can surely say that I will be reading them 10years down the line as well, for Bakuman for me is the most complete manga in every sense that I have ever read.

Eyes..!

It wasn’t that bad a day. Actually almost too normal to start with. As lazy as a summer morning could get - getting up late, having a heavy breakfast and a heavier lunch.

Well, a slight turn of events happened when she got upset over a small misunderstanding and it ended up in a fight. To think about it now, it wasn’t a big issue to fight over. But seemed quite big and important at that time!

Maybe it’s all kinda vague to think now, but the thoughts keep on coming. She was the only one after mom & dad passed away, to give meaning to life and to make living worthwhile. To fight over such a silly thing and make such a big issue of it seemed like the biggest mistake now.

Deciding not to talk to her for a day because of her hot temper, wasn't seeming like a good decision now. Leaving for the gig in anger on the bike was another one in the series of bad decisions made today!

The anger, which was always a negative in the relation. Both having a high temper was the cause of this situation. "Anger blinds a person and his thoughts" - proverb seemed too apt but there wasn’t much that could be done now!

Everything now was fading, doctors making rounds checking the vital stats. The accident was bad and too much of blood was lost. And as the doctors gave up on the slightest of the hopes of survival, and all that could be mustered was a faint and blurred image of her standing near the door of the room.

All the love in the world professed, gone in vain. Only if the fight hadn’t taken place, only if they were able to sort the misunderstanding in time!  A flash lights up in front of his eyes, he sees her standing there, her eyes, filled with tears calling out his name...!

Journey, Destination and The Caravan

Well, they say, the journey is more important than the destination. And I have believed it as well. But this recent trip to the adlabs imagica made me doubt it. Was my first trip with office friends, so I was kinda apprehensive about it in the beginning. The plan started to take shape a week before. And went down to the midnight of the day before the trip. And all for a just a days trip (lol). Anyways, the journey began, everyone was super excited but it all started to fade a bit as the sun started to show its strength. As it was a long weekend, the toll booths took their toll on us quite literally: D with the long queues and dust blowing, etc.

Anyways, the point being the journey wasn’t that epic :P

We were a group of 12. Few of whom I knew well and few of whom I didn’t, as I’m a newbie in the office and the others know each other for a longer time. And being as introvert as I am, I felt a weird sense of being out of place. But that changed once we reached there and started our imagica adventure! Slowly it seemed like I’ve known them for a long time. A feel of belonging in the group. Time flew like it had got a dose of super speed potion :D enjoying ride after ride, or standing in the queues. Hell we also made a rukus with aunties shouting and what not while making a few of our friends, who were late to arrive at a ride, jump queue to reach us :D We also started a new trend of lying down in the 360 degree theater while watching the movie. Looking at us almost all of the teenagers, kids and young adults did the same, the older ones were I guess kinda embarrassed to do the same! :D

And as the day came to an end, I was completely one of them!! I have to admit I was surprised myself as I have never opened up to people so easily. Was it them or me or the magic of imagica?

Coming back, almost everyone was half dead. Tired, sleepy and exhausted I reached home. After a good warm bath and dinner, as I laid on my bed reminiscing the entire day I spent with everyone, a faint smile came forth, the most that my weary body could muster at that moment as I dove into a sweet nights hug.

So, to me it seems that people who you travel with, the moments you share with them, let it be happiness or sadness, are the most important things, more than the destination and definitely more than the journey! :D :D