Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Tales from the Metropolis - Part 1

(The below post and this series is entirely a work of fiction. Although some might believe its an exaggerated version of some real life incidents which seek to glorify the protagonist. However the author would like the maintain the pretense of humility which he claims he has stood for all his life.)

Agamemnon was pacing up and down in his study. He has changed his mind three times in the past one hour. His plan was finally shaping up but a few niggling doubts remained. He had hoped to clear them in this meeting. He was really tired, after 3 years of hard work it was finally time to hand over the reigns of his kingdom to a new leader. The council needed a new face. Someone who could inspire both awe and fear. Someone who was both gentle and tough. In short he needed someone who was all he was and much more. After careful negotiations and deliberations with the other lords and the administrators who ruled the city he had arrived at his choice. Odysseus it would be.

The Beginning:
Achilles was always an ambitious boy. Right from a very young age when he led his small band of followers to conquer the east banks of the river, he was touted as a great war lord. Someone who would bring the glory to both his family but the entire city. The idea to rule over the Metropolis came to him when he was just 17. That was when he got together with a bunch of friends and followers and formed his family. Due to his razor sharp financial brain and an eye for good deals he soon led one of the most prosperous families on the outskirts of the city. But his prosperity brought along many enemies apart from the usual admirers.

Odysseus was the quintessential street fighter. His fighting skills were honed by many street brawls and public fights during his days of student activism. He was one of the brightest and toughest guys to head an activist outfit. His charming ways and penchant to spot an opportunity early on helped him expand his network of sympathizers and friends who helped him form his first major outfit which took over the business on the streets of the Silicon city in the early 21st century. But the Silicon city was just a stepping stone for him to his ultimate ambition, Metropolis, the land of dreams.

The City:
The city was divided into 4 main regions Southern, Central, Eastern and Western which were ruled over by their respective councils supervised by a corrupt board of administrators who held every conceivable power on paper but rarely were allowed to exercise them. The council had the region in its iron grip. The council was headed by a leader for a period of 2-5 years (sometimes longer). Most leaders after finishing their stints at the top of the council became legitimate businessmen or political leaders. Few harbored bigger ambitions and tried to head the state or national councils.

The Western council was economically and strategically the most important of the councils of Metropolis. Many of its past leaders had gone on to head the city and state councils and a couple of them had even headed the national executive.

Agamemnon succeeded Leonidas in 2002 after the latter in his glorious 5 year rule had changed the face of the region. Almost single handedly he has shifted the balance of power in the city and snatched it from the hands of the Southern council. After a 3 year reign Agamemnon finally decided to enter legitimate business and channel all his funds and contacts to build a nationwide network of commodity traders.

He had won many wars and battles in his reign with the help of his lieutenants Achilles and Odysseus. Odysseus handled the people who went into the battle and the contacts while Achilles had his vast network of financial resources at his disposal. Together they made a formidable pair, in fact they were the most lethal combination to have emerged on the city crime scene for almost a century. Both were proud and brave, steadfast in their friendship and terrifying in their vengeance.

Today all Agamemnon hoped for was his decision should not in any way weaken this bond which was the foundation on which his empire stood.

(to be continued...)

Monday, July 02, 2007

The Family

The Rich One (also known as 'The Chosen One') and the Wise One hated each other at first sight. But slowly began a friendship which laid the foundations of 'The Family'. Over endless sessions of drinking, smoking up, watching movies and organizing events the family grew into a close knit bunch of individuals.

As it is with any other organization the family soon developed its unofficial hierarchy. Both the founders adopted kids who would inherit their legacy. The Wise one chose a couple to inherit his events and political connections while the Rich One selected his successors to inherit his legacy of technological excellence. The family was supposedly ruled by the council consisting of the Rich and the Wise ones ably supported by experienced people both inside and outside the family. Soon the family extended its reach to encompass all social and political barriers. Members or people recruited by them influenced every sphere of life and strived hard to make a difference. Right from professors to peons to Hitmen to politicians, they all patronized the family.

As time passed the family structure changed to fit into the new social fabric. Women were also made a part of the family. Primary qualifications required were knowledge of geography (country capitals most importantly) and respect for age old family traditions. The family of course protected its female clan and saw to it that each and every person irritating them was followed by threatening calls, abuses and physical harassment (in each and every form).

As human nature changed so did the women in the family, many came, many left but one decided to stay back. The Chosen One had finally chosen someone. However like Karan Johar once said, every happy event is followed by a tragic one, the Chosen one had to leave the shores of the country to pursue greater goals. The Family was going international. Reluctantly the Wise One accepted the great burden of leading the family and keeping it together.

As time passed the younglings migrated in search of love and riches, many members passed the seas, the rivers and the creeks to find their place under the sun. Through a combination of Birthday celebrations, Drinking Sessions and Movie screenings the Wise One kept the family together and ensured that the ties of loyalty which bound them to each other were never broken.

He believed that the family which drank together always stayed together. In his zeal to keep traditions alive a family slogan was coined, so that every family member was proud of it and associated himself / herself with the great family legacy. “Jis Toofan Mein Dushman ke hosh ud jaate hain, us toofan mein hum chaadi sukhate hain” (courtesy: Great Bong) is the war cry the family members roar before they plunge themselves into battle.

Seven years after the founders sat around the council table with holy spirits and smoke, another member of the family prepares to take the long journey across the seven seas to meet the chosen one. The first woman to join the family will now play a greater role in shaping the future of the family in the international landscape. With the family core migrating and the younglings still hunting for their place under the sun its finally time for the family to reinvent itself and unveil its new and more powerful avatar.

Looking back at the splendour and glory which the family enjoyed, the Wise one wishes each and every member of the family every success. Of course the family still lives on. Its only a matter of time before we unveil version 2.0 in typical corleonisque fashion. Till then the wise one signs off with a small verse which the family younglings grew up listening to.

Another turning point
A fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist
Directs you where to go
So make the best of this test
And don’t ask why
It’s not a question
But a lesson learned in time
For what it’s worth
It was worth all the while
It’s something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life