Where there is fear, there is courage
Where there is despair, there is hope
Where there is pain and sadness, there is gratitude and fortitude
Where there is cruelty, there is love and mercy
Where there is chaos, therein lies calm
Where there is restlessness, there is patience
Where there are survivors, there are warriors.
Penned this down a couple of years ago after watching the annivesary coverage of 26/11. Some soul-stirring and hair-rising programs on tv channels like Fox, Nat Geo et al., where survivors and families of those affected by the events were interviewed. Found this in drafts and now I find it is relevant at any phase in life.
Life is all about contradiction, in fact it seems to revel in it. Our personalities are that way too. At least speaking for myself, I've always been confounded by my own sense of extremes. With age, one learns to accept these with love rather than confusion and dilemma, and eventually embrace one's own sense of self. From pieces to peace...life's quite a ride :-)
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Paaoos! Pitter Patter & Peter
That pretty much sums up this glorious night. As well as being a fabulous, fresh return to writing after eeeons (Inglees is a phunny lengvage, no?).
Baarish aur mitti ki taazi khushboo. Automatically break into rashtriya bhaasha when inspired or in a good mood.
It starts pouring suddenly without warning and you feel like singing and dancing like they do in Marathi movies. Then its like the rain suddenly remembers its falling in Amma's singara land and falls intermittently, gradually petering out like it never happened.
Its been too long and too many years of watching the rain fall outside my window. And only staring into and at too many Windows.
Miss the rain gear. Loved my raincoat during school years--a bright cheery pattern on lemon yellow. Plastic sandals from Bata. Ah, those were the wonder years indeed.
Baarish aur mitti ki taazi khushboo. Automatically break into rashtriya bhaasha when inspired or in a good mood.
It starts pouring suddenly without warning and you feel like singing and dancing like they do in Marathi movies. Then its like the rain suddenly remembers its falling in Amma's singara land and falls intermittently, gradually petering out like it never happened.
Its been too long and too many years of watching the rain fall outside my window. And only staring into and at too many Windows.
Miss the rain gear. Loved my raincoat during school years--a bright cheery pattern on lemon yellow. Plastic sandals from Bata. Ah, those were the wonder years indeed.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday Foto
The slogan on the cup demanded to be displayed so a photograph was a must for posterity!
Indian Railways zindabad :D
Monday, November 02, 2009
Virtual Ville
After days of working hard on farms, cooking and serving up hot dishes, and visiting friends' apartments--all virtually, I am exhausted. Farmville, Cafe World and Yo Ville caught the imagination and attention completely; so much so that I am ready to check into Facebook rehab.
Stepped out into the real world only to visit a friend's place for a birthday party--a house party after eons and a short walk in the neighborhood. The party was alright, life was injected into it almost toward the fag end when a talkative latecomer joined. Food was alright--biryani, cutlets, baked spinach and cheese augratin, parathas, paneer butter masala, chips et al. The dessert was of course the devilishly rich chocolate birthday cake. The company was also just alright, all new faces barring a few. The mood was uplifted once everyone congregated on the balcony amidst thunder and lightning followed by a cool downpour.
The walk was nice considering the weather these days is just lovely. I ought to do this more often, kinda forgotten what its like to walk amidst nature without being constantly interrupted by friends and some nosy neighbours for inane conversation during an evening walk.
So I'm discussing the weather and my virtual life in a blogpost. That's how slow my life has been lately. Social networking activities has taken up more time than an active social life. Time to get back to life, back to reality!
Monday, October 26, 2009
DGW - Gift 3
In March this year, my dad was hospitalized for a week or so after he had a fall and hurt his head. He has quite a few health problems and has been unwell since a year now. Dad’s sister and family live at the other end of town and could not visit us at the hospital more than once. My uncle arranged for his factory employee Arun to visit the hospital and help Mom and I for errands etc. Arun came almost all days and helped us in many ways – as an attender so that Mom and I could take turns to relieve us of hospital duty, he even helped feed my dad, helped him walk, during billing etc.
Once my car was confiscated by the police because it was parked in the lane next to the hospital which apparently is a towing zone, but the parking area was full and so in a hurry I had left the car there early morning, only to return around noon and find it locked! I was in a state of distress as I had to go to the bank and run many other errands, so I had to walk quite a bit to the main road to look for a police patrol car and request them to unlock the car. Usual fine for this is Rs.300 and I was quite annoyed with myself since this whole thing was also wasting my precious time. At that moment Arun who was in dad’s room called for something and I mentioned I was waiting for the police to unlock the car. He got a nurse to sit in dad’s room and came down. By that time a police van had come and I asked them to unlock it. Arun requested them to let me off since I was already tense with dad being in the hospital etc. The cops said I could pay Rs.100 and would not write a ‘challan’! I was grateful to Arun for saving me some time and money during this stress-filled period.
On the day dad got discharged and came home, Arun was right there helping us carry stuff and help dad into the house. We are eternally grateful and thankful to him for helping us so much, more than any family member or friend, but Arun being practically a stranger, behaved like family and did everything that was asked and even unasked. We have not seen him since March now - he lives on the outskirts of town - but we have spoken to him over phone and he has also called to enquire after my dad’s well-being.
Recently, he has become a father twice over. He has a little boy and now a baby girl ! We have wanted to gift him something since March and have mulled over a suitable gift, but had not acted on it. Certainly we cannot repay his kindness ever, but at least give a token of appreciation from our side.
Using Diwali as an excuse, I finally went to the market yesterday and got him a shirt piece, a sari for his wife, a ball for his son. We wanted to get some clothes for the kids but do not know the sizes and neither have we seen them yet. I did not find anything suitable for the new born baby so included the rattle I had got for my cousin's 5 month old daughter who lives in another city. I had purchased this at a crafts fair a couple of weeks ago. The total cost of gifts amounted to Rs.500, and is nothing in comparison to what he did for us, which is invaluable and immeasurable. The gifts will be sent through my uncle who is Arun’s boss. :-) It will take a few days to reach him since I hear he is out of town. I’m sure they all will have a bright future ahead filled with happiness, love and peace, since we have included our heartfelt wishes sent as good vibrations and prayers along with the material gifts :-) Of course, this is only the 'starter kit' in the set of gifts that will be coming his way! :-)
Once my car was confiscated by the police because it was parked in the lane next to the hospital which apparently is a towing zone, but the parking area was full and so in a hurry I had left the car there early morning, only to return around noon and find it locked! I was in a state of distress as I had to go to the bank and run many other errands, so I had to walk quite a bit to the main road to look for a police patrol car and request them to unlock the car. Usual fine for this is Rs.300 and I was quite annoyed with myself since this whole thing was also wasting my precious time. At that moment Arun who was in dad’s room called for something and I mentioned I was waiting for the police to unlock the car. He got a nurse to sit in dad’s room and came down. By that time a police van had come and I asked them to unlock it. Arun requested them to let me off since I was already tense with dad being in the hospital etc. The cops said I could pay Rs.100 and would not write a ‘challan’! I was grateful to Arun for saving me some time and money during this stress-filled period.
On the day dad got discharged and came home, Arun was right there helping us carry stuff and help dad into the house. We are eternally grateful and thankful to him for helping us so much, more than any family member or friend, but Arun being practically a stranger, behaved like family and did everything that was asked and even unasked. We have not seen him since March now - he lives on the outskirts of town - but we have spoken to him over phone and he has also called to enquire after my dad’s well-being.
Recently, he has become a father twice over. He has a little boy and now a baby girl ! We have wanted to gift him something since March and have mulled over a suitable gift, but had not acted on it. Certainly we cannot repay his kindness ever, but at least give a token of appreciation from our side.
Using Diwali as an excuse, I finally went to the market yesterday and got him a shirt piece, a sari for his wife, a ball for his son. We wanted to get some clothes for the kids but do not know the sizes and neither have we seen them yet. I did not find anything suitable for the new born baby so included the rattle I had got for my cousin's 5 month old daughter who lives in another city. I had purchased this at a crafts fair a couple of weeks ago. The total cost of gifts amounted to Rs.500, and is nothing in comparison to what he did for us, which is invaluable and immeasurable. The gifts will be sent through my uncle who is Arun’s boss. :-) It will take a few days to reach him since I hear he is out of town. I’m sure they all will have a bright future ahead filled with happiness, love and peace, since we have included our heartfelt wishes sent as good vibrations and prayers along with the material gifts :-) Of course, this is only the 'starter kit' in the set of gifts that will be coming his way! :-)
Friday, October 23, 2009
DGW - Gift 2
In August 2009, I spent 2 weeks at a yoga and meditation retreat. Every morning after asana practice we had coconut water and coconut pulp to refresh us and have a healthy, nutritious start to the day. I missed that after my return home and mentioned it to Mom. She said there is a chap who sells the same and comes by often. She sent word and he turned up one fine day. We bought some and enjoyed it and requested he come at least once/twice a week.
Many weeks later he showed up again and when asked about the long gap, he said he had forgotten. He had gone to other houses in the neighborhood, but had not knocked on our door! My mother admonished him and asked how could he have forgotten even after specifically requesting that he come regularly. The poor guy profusely apologized. I was listening to this conversation and suggested that he be given Rs.50 since Diwali was about a week away. Mom looked at me like I was nuts ‘coz she had just purchased some fresh coconuts from him. I reminded her of JGW and DGW (:P) and she promptly obliged.
Now the face of this man was a sight to behold! It was just 50 bucks but he couldn’t stop beaming and smiling nonstop! He seemed quite touched and very happy and left after thanking Mom. I suppose he will also be very regular from now on since he came again after that, again all smiles :-)
He was back on our doorstep after the Diwali weekend--as expected--to find a box of sweets and an Azzaro Tshirt waiting for him, which again he received with much gratitude. I also found out he has two school going kids--so now I have already identified my next ‘gifting victims’! Hehehe! :-) Will get them the Ecobuddy notebooks for starters...maybe even some books from Pratham.
Many weeks later he showed up again and when asked about the long gap, he said he had forgotten. He had gone to other houses in the neighborhood, but had not knocked on our door! My mother admonished him and asked how could he have forgotten even after specifically requesting that he come regularly. The poor guy profusely apologized. I was listening to this conversation and suggested that he be given Rs.50 since Diwali was about a week away. Mom looked at me like I was nuts ‘coz she had just purchased some fresh coconuts from him. I reminded her of JGW and DGW (:P) and she promptly obliged.
Now the face of this man was a sight to behold! It was just 50 bucks but he couldn’t stop beaming and smiling nonstop! He seemed quite touched and very happy and left after thanking Mom. I suppose he will also be very regular from now on since he came again after that, again all smiles :-)
He was back on our doorstep after the Diwali weekend--as expected--to find a box of sweets and an Azzaro Tshirt waiting for him, which again he received with much gratitude. I also found out he has two school going kids--so now I have already identified my next ‘gifting victims’! Hehehe! :-) Will get them the Ecobuddy notebooks for starters...maybe even some books from Pratham.
This guy was not in my original list of people who help us throughout the year with various errands, but I'm glad I was aware enough of wanting to give something to a stranger and remembered just in time. Technically, this incident cannot really be labeled a gift/act of giving, but boy, o' boy, was it worth it to see those beaming smiles! Feels like I'm the one who received!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Happy Diwali ! :-)
My favourite firecrackers are phooljadi and anaar....sparklers and fountains. Love 'em :D Enjoy the Festival of Lights everybody, and have a joyous and wondrous New Year!
On another note: "May you remember that some people's lives are parched dry...and be grateful for the abundance in yours. If you can, please light up just one life - that of a stanger this Diwali. Wish you all a very happy & prosperous year ahead. Lots of love & good wishes! Happy Diwali :-)" - copied from a friend's status msg.
On another note: "May you remember that some people's lives are parched dry...and be grateful for the abundance in yours. If you can, please light up just one life - that of a stanger this Diwali. Wish you all a very happy & prosperous year ahead. Lots of love & good wishes! Happy Diwali :-)" - copied from a friend's status msg.
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