Opportunity

In the bustling heart of the city, amidst towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, there was one man whose name echoed through the corridors of finance and success: WG. He was the epitome of wealth and influence, a titan in the world of business whose every move was scrutinized and speculated upon. As a reporter for the prestigious City Times, SC had landed the interview of a lifetime with the elusive Mr. WG. 

SC was known for her sharp wit and relentless pursuit of truth. Armed with her notepad and recorder, she entered WG's lavish office, adorned with modern art and sleek furniture that spoke volumes about his taste and wealth. 

The interview started off predictably, with questions about WG's rise to prominence, his early struggles, and his vision for the future. SC, however, was itching to uncover the secret behind his phenomenal success. "Mr. WG " she inquired, leaning forward with a glint in her eye, "what would you say is the key strategy that has led to your success?" 

Without missing a beat, WG reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a checkbook. He slid it across the table towards SC. "Write any amount you desire, and I will gladly sign it."

 

SC was taken aback. Was he serious? This had to be some sort of test or joke. She chuckled nervously, glancing at the blank check before her. "Mr. WG, I appreciate the gesture, but I'm here to conduct an interview, not accept gifts." 

WG nodded knowingly. "Fair enough," he said as he withdrew the checkbook. "But remember, SC, opportunities are fleeting. The key to success lies in recognizing opportunities and seizing them." 

SC raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Could you elaborate on that?" 

WG said: I gave you an opportunity to become rich and you did not take advantage of that.

Embarrassed by her own skepticism, Sarah continued the interview, though her mind kept returning to WG's strange offer. What did he mean by opportunities? Was there a deeper meaning she was missing? 

As the interview drew to a close, SC gathered her things and prepared to leave. Just as she was about to exit, WG called out to her. "SC, one last thing." 

She turned to face him, curious. "If you had written an amount of one million dollars on that check, would you have meant it?" WG asked, his expression unreadable. 

SC hesitated, caught off guard by the directness of his question. "I... I suppose so, but..."

WG interrupted gently. "And I would have honored it, SC. Remember that." 

With those enigmatic words hanging in the air, SC left WG's office feeling both intrigued and slightly unsettled. As she sat down to write her article later that day, her mind kept wandering back to the missed opportunity, wondering what could have been if she had taken WG's challenge seriously.

PS: I wrote this as a short story.  But this is not my imagination.  This interview and content actually took place.  That rich man is Bill Gates (William Henry Gates).

A Short Story

Note:  Mr. KP (https://kparthas.blogspot.com) is the best story teller I have come across.  I always wanted to imitate him in story telling.  Finally, after several rough drafts, here is the story I wrote.

James nervously watched as his girlfriend, Emily, chatted with his parents at the dinner table. He had always been close to his family, and their opinion of Emily mattered deeply to him. He needn't have worried. Emily's warmth and charm had captivated his parents from the moment they met her. 

Over plates of home-cooked lasagna, Emily effortlessly engaged in conversations about art, her recent travels, and her passion for volunteering at the local animal shelter. James couldn't help but notice the fond smiles exchanged between his parents and Emily. They seemed genuinely impressed, and he felt a swell of pride mixed with relief. 

As dessert was served, Emily shared a humorous story that had everyone at the table laughing. It was then that James's mother, a woman of few words but sharp wit, leaned forward slightly and said, "If this doesn't work out, Emily dear, we're dumping him and keeping you." 

There was a moment of surprised silence, followed by laughter from everyone at the table, including Emily, who blushed slightly at the unexpected compliment. 

As they said their goodbyes that night, James's mother pulled Emily aside for a brief moment. "Thank you for coming tonight, Emily," she said sincerely. "It was a pleasure to finally meet you. And remember what I said earlier—we meant every word of it." Emily smiled warmly and gave James's mother a heartfelt hug.

Upset

You thought I was going to write about USA beating Pakistan in T20 World Cup? I was but changed my mind to write about upset. 

Per dictionary “upset” means make (someone) unhappy, disappointed, or worried. 

Upset happens in electoral competition or in sports. But how this word was evolved? Some people say this word was used first in the year 1877. But this word “upset” became popular because of the following incident: 

There was a race horse named Man o’ war. This horse was considered the greatest horse of the 20th century. Won 20 out of 21 races between 1919 to 1920. Established 7 track records for speed over various distances. 

His only defeat was in the 1919 Sanford Memorial in the Saratoga Race Track. Want to know the name of the horse who beat Man o’ war? Name of that horse is Upset. 

Per Britannica, The loss gave rise to the popular belief that Man o’ War’s defeat was so monumental that it marked the beginning of the use of the word upset in reference to surprising sporting wins. 

Now you know all about “upset”.

Chat Conversation

Last week I was playing a video game in my lap top. All of a sudden, a chat site popped up on my screen. I should have deleted that site. Instead, I went to that site so see what is happening. It is a meat market. That is all I can say, 

Later I was telling this incident to a friend of mine. She is in the habit of going to these sites for “entertainment”. She started to laugh. She said there are many sites like the one I mentioned. She also said most of the participants in these sites are Asians, and particularly Indian men. She said many are there with a fake westernized name, but she can recognize Indian men with the language they use. She gave me some examples: 

Your good name please? (instead of what is your name) 

Ur likes? (Ur for Your) 

Your asl dear (what is your asl) (fyi: ASL is age, sex, and location) 

Searching for good friendship (his reason to be in the chat site) 

Can I ask you something? 

r u married? (r u for are you)

How r u? 

Where are you basically from? 

Nice name dear 

Give me a missed call 

I am here for timepass 

I have a doubt 

God promise 

I will be out of station (meaning out of town) 

Revert back (I will reply)