O Aunty Shiela too old for Jawani !

O Aunty Shiela,  walking down nostalgic lane  exchanged notes of  growing up with a friend far away from the maddening sick world of so called intellectual brats.The neo brats who have nothing to  think and ruminate about  old times because of a   a mobile to talk in hushed tones or a laptop to  hide a face behind pretending to be engaged all the time.

The pains , the sharings , the poverty, the exchange of dresses, the honesty of conversations all bring sweet  memories of yesteryears matching RK Narayanan's  stories in all its simplicity. There was a reason to live and grow up and maintain bonds and ties earnestly never for a moment forgetting  the foundations  whether it was shaky or strong.

So many thoughts come crowding in, time passes. The old memories are countless.

The old have  quickly adapted to the modern changes and have a whole lot of powerful memories to cling to but the frustrated neobrats  always complaining  and whining have  nothing to think about neither past nor  present. Not only  because of STML(Short term memory loss) but also because they forgot to   learn the simple art of appreciating the uphill climb.

Learning  and getting on with life as a son or daughter,  proud to be  rich even without bank balance or a string of letters post the name.

Amidst  pleasures and palaces though you may roam be it so humble  there is no place like home.

Because as Winston Churchill rightly said, "We make a living by what we get, but we  make a life by what we give".

Tring ! tring

The mobile rang.
A familiar voice.
I was so excited that  an elderly person remembered me.
Tears streamed down my face, this is all that I expect in life.
Not money  nor wealth can buy such happiness. These are the values I liked to instill.
Thank God for making it happen and blessing a thousand showers on me.
Thank you for initiating it.

My Perception

Times moves on at its usual pace not bending to pick someone or push someone. The person who respects  time  forges ahead the other is left lamenting behind. People are of different kinds. Some have a definite aim in life. Some just drift along, some sponge along and some are drivers of change. No one decides it for the other. Reliability, responsibility, credibility, are traits which each one selects to be known by it since they are not inherited by birth but acquired over time.

Sorry used often has no meaning .Everyone makes mistakes. It is quite natural . but when the same mistake is done repeatedly it loses its charm. It just says loud and clear that it is being done deliberately as  a way of life . In all probably the person is acting smart or aping someone. But this is also  a message loud and clear to others that credibility, reliability, responsibility and individuality  is wanting.

Some  take things in stride and move on. Some give priority to how life has been bad all along and moan over fate and everything around  while drowning pots of coffee hosted by friend/s or self at a café or mall to meet often to continue the last conversation left incomplete.

Pretending to be what one is not is just an excuse to wriggle out of an unpleasant situation created by self. These pretensions can prove quite fatal if not checked in time. Some take advantage of situations. It is not hard to come by the many who rush to tuitions  as if life is at stake and giving the  picture of a serious responsible person. But the doer knows best whether it is a guise for going to the mall or being with friends .The thrill experienced is sure to give momentary happiness. The time and opportunity lost goes unnoticed. Many a time the root cause for regrets later in life.

A select few turn around and make up for lost time . Just a hi / bye and  get on with the priorities in life.  

The ones without priorities meet again  loyal to the café , the chair, the same old story to discuss on the bitterness of life, continuing to pretend  while  drowning coffee/ shakes. This time the hike in the cost of coffee /shakes is added to the list.

What a pity!  a shame to the brook ,for men may come  and men may go but I go on for ever.

Abraham Lincoln wisely said “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” 

Culture & Traditions

Culture and traditions have a lot to offer each one of us. It brings out the humanness. It is a reminder time and again that good prevails over evils.

Emancipation from culture and traditions does not mean forgetting them just remembering to abide them  at all times to keep self at peace.

Culture and traditions is not exhibiting it in the presence of select few to show  one is traditional. It is all about practicing it as values to be cherished  for life.It is about loving self  and creating a ripple effect.

None is responsible for it other than self .
Valuing culture and tradition is knowing who you are and your response to it. It is not about going the off beaten track to show emancipation. It is about being within knowing the good and being emancipated.

Women Empowerment vs Empowered women

Woman is the common factor .
But  divergent views when empowerment sinks in.
Is this the empowerment we talk about?
From a hapless, shy,  carbon lying somewhere, polished to adorn the  mantelpiece to take leaping strides to be a business tycoon.
From the woman with folded hands in prayer to take care of her family  to forgetting to clasp hands in prayer.
More things are wrought by prayer than the world dreams off.
Better to cut off the empowerment and empowered and leave the woman as is condition for better sanctity.

That moment

When we hear that a friend is no more, it brings in a lot of good memories and  thoughts sowed in us.
I was shattered when I heard my friend Rachel is no more. 
There was a not a single day when I didn't think of her. It was her simplicity and niceness. She was a very ordinary person who touched others extraordinarily.Full of love in abundance and forgiveness and patience galore.
 The notes she pushed into my hand without asking as  an angel in disguise, the golden bangles pushed into my hands to adorn my wrist telling me they look good there than in the dinghy locker.
Tears streamed down my face in love and gratitude.
 If only  I could have told thank you  just once  face to face for being a nice person to me. 
Alas, I have missed a chance.

Test of Experience

The last decision which was crucial did not depend on the grades you scored or the rank you obtained which flashed beaming faces from parents coupled with chest heaving in pride.

It is the test of experience and understanding the path you trod, the trying times, testing times, the less privileged times which made you cringe in shame amongst friends and foes and the many times you let it go by.

The test of experience . Those hands which cradled were taken by surprise at the turn of events. A fleeting thought that if I had received this sometime earlier perhaps I could have had some happy moments lost on account of economic setback, tiredness and lack of time. Alas, who can put the clock back?

It is so strange that  when one wants some thing one will go any length to get  it, even doing the mundane chores which one detested  will be done as it is a part of one’s goal setting. Rules change overnight because now ownership and accountability is there.

Whosoever is ignorant of parental effort will not be able to shoulder responsibilities as they cannot appreciate the time and effort put in to erect you.

But the bruises and pains cannot be restored when experience sets. It will be nothing but a bundle of guilt day in day out purchased out of laxity and irresponsibility to be carried for the rest of your life. As someone said that  there is no tomorrow but only now.

Children should grow into a person who could appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others, to get things done, and a person who would give due importance to love, family and money and not be  the slave of entitlement  mentality.