In a bad mood.

Want to vent about builders and the way they don't think or blink the way I do while busily proposing plans to ruin my city.

Want to take a sniper rifle, aim, and shoot when one of them says this city's housing solutions involve going vertical - building more highrises, "to create more housing stock." Constructing one Mumbai upon another.

Want to file a suit when I hear of shaky highrises being built on uneasy reclaimed land.

Want to rant and rave when I hear demands for FSI and redevelopment permissions are met with so much ease. While my simple plea for getting the big ditch outside my building gate filled up is met with so much indifference.

Want to puke when I hear what one of the biggest builders of this city told someone who protested against his blatant illegal usurping of acres of land across a protected coastal regulation zone area. "I've built this city. There's nothing I will not be allowed to do."

Want to bang my head against my desk at the thought of the sheer number of agencies involved in doing a story on any one of these issues. The municipal commissioner isn't apprised of what's happening at the grass roots, the assistant municipal commissioners invariably only listen to the sounds of power and money, the housing development authority will hurl you from one door to another, the railway authorities want permission letters on letterheads even if you want to use their office toilet, the bus transport authority want letters as well as a suitable groveling approach to all interactions with them. The corridors of the Mantralaya are better than most, ineffectual but better - but that's only if you manage to get in through the front entrance. And if you don't speak Marathi, you can forget about that as well.

They do all this, I found, after a rather tough day, mostly because it works. I'm off their case in a heartbeat because I can't stand it. They win.

Our beloved Sania Mirza was eaten alive by Martina Hingis in the first round of the Dubai Open, 6-3, 7-5. Headline: 'Sania Loses'. Almost as proudly as if they had been saying 'Sania Wins'.

She hasn't gone beyond the second round in any tournament this year. But hey, she did lose to Martina!

Feel much better :)