'R'Factor
Doodle by Ashutosh Kaul. Jan' 2026
168mm X 213mm . Sketch Pen on paper
Rhesus factor is a protein on the surface of red blood cells. You either have it or not. There are several other parameters but suffice it to say that mixing negative and positive Rh factor blood even if it is of the same group could seriously impact health - very seriously indeed! There is a reason they always test for compatibility before transfusing blood. A baby in womb is tested too for compatibility with mother and sometimes a medical intervention is required to protect the baby in utero! I do not have this 'R' in my blood! who says people from your family are your 'blood relations' ! Not always !
Range is generally understood as a starting point and an end point. Only a few years back air warfare meant either dropping bombs to destroy enemy assets or take out enemy war planes in a dog fight. Meaning you could see who you are fighting. It was all within visual range. you hit what you can see. It was the bygone times. Missile technology, Electronic warfare suites and modern long rage radars ensure that you can now engage targets that you can not see. In a recent skirmish between Indian Air force and Pakistan Air force; range became the focus. Indian war planes carried beyond visual range missiles that had a range of 110 km. Pakistan had Chinese PL15 missiles that had a range of 150 km. It was a challenge for the IAF. Today we will not go into how that was tackled.
So some lessons were learnt quickly and India started working on their Astra BVR missile range. It has already gone up to 160km in version 2 and version 3 is ready to be deployed soon. With a range exceeding 300 km. It is now going to be a serious challenge for Pakistan since they do not have strategic depth. it means that most of their military bases are within range and their aircraft can get targeted while still parked on the tarmac - long before they can fly to a position where their missiles can be fired upon Indian assets. Range is going to play a huge role in any future engagement.
Range Rover is arguably the most desired luxury SUV in the world. I used to like it but as I got older I started to think more and more like a true member of the middle class. It is too big ; too expensive to buy and a gas guzzler to boot. Nevertheless its luxurious charm and strong off road capability is legendary. There is a reason why TATA Motors chose it when they wanted to buy a luxury brand. Depending upon the trim the price range for a range rover is US $115000 - 220000. Even at its lowest end I could buy two Lexus cars like mine for the price of one range rover; with change to spare for a star buck's coffee! We are not even comparing with its higher trims; or comparing it with Honda's and Toyota's! This 'R' is an Indian owned company now. I am happy with that! I do not need to own this vehicle personally. But If you want to know how 'R' factor worked for me otherwise......
I have just returned from a short trip to my flat in southwest Delhi. The building is called R*** Apartments. Well some letters are redacted for privacy but notice the 'R'!
I had just turned 18 when I decided to go see my first 'R' rated movie as a coming of age celebration. I got there early, bought a ticket for the noon show and entered Rivoli cinema in Cannaught place on time licking on my softy. 'Des Pardes' movie had just began after a few newsreels and ad spots were shown; when I felt a torchlight on my face. A tough looking usher demanded an id to prove I am an adult because I did not look old enough. He was right I did not. My bad luck that I had left my college ID home. They unceremoniously threw me out of the theatre! It was my birthday and I was crying ! Many years later I got thrown out again on my birthday but that story is rather boring; it won't interest you! There too was an 'R' factor in play. So back to my cinema story...
As soon as I came out of the theatre I saw a massive crowd milling about. It was house full and people were desperate for tickets. A man asked me why I was crying and I gave him my hard luck story. His eyes lit up; you have a ticket, he asked? Here, he gave me a ten rupee note and I handed him my ticket. Ticket had cost me four rupees! My day had suddenly started brightening up!
I took a DTC bus on route 317 to Gyanand, an east Delhi cinema where this same movie was running . It was not the up market Rivoli theatre exactly but anyway I bought a balcony ticket costing 2.50 rupees for the 3 pm show. Well I enjoyed the movie; luckily unmolested by ushers and unbothered by authorities of any kind. Eventually I got to celebrate my birthday for free; made some money on top and got a 'R' factor story to share with my grand kids! Not such a bad deal , wouldn't you say?
My first friend of the opposite gender came along around the same time. She was sort of a local celebrity; a beauty queen who was tutored by an aunt of mine I was visiting during my long summer vacations. I too used to sit in for the chemistry lessons. My aunt would then task me to walk her home. I did not need to be asked twice! I had my first fight over a girl because some random person passed a lewd remark one day as I was walking her home. She was really attractive and her name was R***** R****! Yeah, privacy and gentleman's code etc. etc. You got it! Her way of showing care was bringing me novels to read from her father's horde. We were not romantic, if you really must know!
No, I do not make friends easily. I am a bit asocial and do not like a lot of people; I find fault intuitively and I am a bloody perfectionist. That trait has got me in trouble innumerable times. I am an introvert too. To make matters worse I have ordinary looks; was never rich and never will be! It is a perfect cocktail to kill any friendly feelings someone might have for me. I do not have a lot of friends. Actually Cross that; I only have one friend; named Rakesh. He lives in New York and we have been friends since grade 9 !
In grade 5, I had a classmate and neighbour called Rajesh sahni. A spoilt only brother of two sisters. Son of a rich businessman; who manoeuvred my simple minded parents to let this fellow join us during our trip to Kashmir. I was not so keen on him but nobody asked me. His sisters were better individuals. Anyway I did learn some pretty nasty stuff from this 'R'!
Previous to this maybe grade 3 or thereabouts I had another classmate name Rajiv Rustogi. We were sort of frenemies! Much as I tried; his drawings came out better than mine. His lines were cleaner; his colours more vibrant; his imagination had a wider spectrum than mine and he had better quality art material as well! Realization of my inadequacy pained me inside. Well the thing is that between the two of us I am the only one that has turned out to be an artist of some kind. So that competition is settled now! I think.....
One day about 20 years ago,I was going to my studio in the basement when I felt dizzy. I passed out for a fleeting second; lost my footing; fell down the stairs and hurt myself. The walk in clinic I attended ran among other tests, a 'Random glucose test' on me. Those massively unfavourable results of that 'R' has largely shaped restrictions on my life since. Let us not say more on this!
Tibet got invaded by China and H.H. Dalai Lama took refuge in India with thousands of other Tibetan nationals. In not so old times they used to sell handmade woollen products to supplement income. I had such a thick wool handmade sweater in brown tones. It had a beautiful Tibetan geometric pattern. I looked good in it; felt confident and loved. Obviously I totally adored that sweater and wore it every chance I got - for several years. Even after it started coming apart and got holes in it - I wore it. Eventually It became quite threadbare but I still wore it. It just infuriated my family no end and one day they threw it out with garbage while I was not home. It was the end of what happened to be my most cherished piece of garment ever!
I cried that day and I screamed and shouted at my mother for this transgression. They should not have done it! If only they knew that its value to me was a million times its price! I could not just have something else instead ! The person 'R***'; had spent a large part of her very sparse funds and gifted it originally for no particular reason. A gift of purely innocent care and rare unselfishness! Who can be so presumptuous as to put a value on it! Alas; she has now become so poor that she does not even have a common courtesy left to give ! Not everything or everyone is replaceable! That sweater was a unique item that'd never be replaced. To say, "I miss it" will be such an understatement. People should really think before throwing the garbage out!
You bet the 'R' factor' has been pivotal to my life !
'R'; The story so far!
