Spirit of Las Vegas

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I recently was in Las Vegas. Stayed right on  "The Strip" and that too in the middle of strip at “Hotel Flamingo". On landing at hotel by late evening flight from Chicago. Time was almost 12 am when checked in.  Late by that time, one generally goes to bed but strange enough everything in and out was sparkling with lights and color. Decided to get into the crowd. What a crowd it was everyone holding a glass of drink in one hand, every face smiling rather happy, excited and an overall aura of being together on vacation. Moving from one architectural marvel to another was an experience. Whether it was Lava Show of the “ Mirage Volcano” or Fountains of “Bellagio” or for real feel of Venice, Italy in the insided ecore of "Venetian" Getting one self photographed with topless was another feature but all for fun . Also whole night music concerts on streets, Magic men, and passing through one casino to another playing with with 5 dollars with hope to win million was another pastime.Really Las Vegas was "City Beautiful "as well "City of Joy"

But when I read news few days back of massacre at Las Vegas from hotel room where about 59 died and over 500 injured made me think what that person was doing with 17 guns in his room and evil deed he was to commit in that lovely city.Can this act kill the spirit of City. I asked myself. Initially there was hesitancy but a firm belief rose over all other things. A “city beautiful” and a “City of Joy” can not vanish with spell like this. Las vegas has capacity to bear this shock and be again what it has brought to its visitors. For that matter even if UP Government does not put "Taj Mahal" on its tourist list has no “meaning” Taj will do the same wonder to its viewers what it has been doing for last 400 years and laugh at narrow mindedness of few . History has its own impact on our lives no matter what one tries to wipe it. What more each Prime minister wishes to address nation from “Lal Qila" built by  Mughal Emperor Shahjahan( An Indianan and a Muslim).

Chandigarh , experts termed it City Beautiful  in early 70's. some also termed it  " Nice sanitorium" But today it is a" Urban Chaos" by not understanding needs of it's habitants as everyone cries hard in the name of Le Corbusier Many do not understand that city is a growing organism whether planned or unplanned.

Le corbusier defined a 16 km green belt around city which consisted of phase 1 and phase 2 with total 47 sectors in Master plan. City's green belt has been reduced to nil with new towns like Mohali, Panchkula and latest is New Chandigarh in continuation of city grid .Chandigarh has downward gradient from North east to South west direction. Since city's character was in keeping Horizontal sky line , building heights in N-E were kept 2 and half stories and in S-W side it goes up to 5 stories. Also 14 storeys high secretariat and 11 storey tower in middle of sector 17 were part of corbusian thinking.  Fringes of city are still open for high rise development and they should develop as tese would not hamper any city character loss and will solve some increased population problem. Open spaces kept in sectors were also promised to be used for any demand to be met in master plan ,besides these open spaces are not self sustaining and burden on tax payers. 

City's lungs that is leisure valley can be kept in  its original condition and not disturbed.

Real culprit for city is increased ownership of vehicles which not only congesting streets and parking on community land but are also contributing hugely for increased carbon contents. No more it is enjoyable to walk or drive on city's streets.

Doing nothing in terms of urban solution will make city die soon than expected in master plan

Double Trouble

Decision was made. I must start counting my blessings and be content. I was surprised that I had two cars, two homes, two watches and then when things stated revealing, I was astonished most of the things I had were in Double. Somewhere I got into doubt as I had only one wife but then my conscious felt contented, she alone was equal to having more than two. My friends over casual talks also confirmed that having one wife is having more than one in terms of double stresses, double worries and doubled troubles on home front. But that is true only after you are married for 15 years or more. So question asked was to all eligible parties

Like a exam reappear I felt that I keep on failing when so ever I was tested by in the subject “wife”. I have heard that women are difficult to understand like some difficult subjects. Why men cannot understand women? I was told that each successful man has a woman at his back. Does that mean acts of men should be as per dictate of voice from behind? What about fundamental rights, what about being a man enough. I have learnt now all such questions and even thinking ids inviting double trouble in your life sentencing you to without food for at least one week in isolation and no night sleep for days together.

I meditated and tried to find when I was advised twice by my wife and yet I did not follow once.  It came back with striking note. Yes I was not wise enough to act on single call in timeline. I will keep on adding double the Garam  Masala to cooked meals or forget twice to water plants. This spoiled the equation over the time. I became a useless person and was termed lazy and compared to good for nothing.

It is also true all men want to play a double game too. Suddenly after increased girth and weight around waist, men in forty do become naughty but other half is clever enough to see what’s going on and game is always gets disturbed after a first set of flirting around in the night party. Morning brings back deeds account and day starts with sweet good morning said twice but wife gives no reaction and that starts a week long, may be month long offering from husband’s side to please dear wife. Double trouble dust gets settled only with coming of some guest in the house. I have promised now not to play any double game even not to count Double blessings.