O My GOD!

PUC results out .

O My God!  OMG! what happened to the pretty young things and  cool dudes whizzing past on bikes or  spending time  digging into burgers at KFC or slowly sipping the Barista coffee  or frequenting the Coffee Day with sling bags thrown across shoulders  sporting  trendy dresses or sitting at malls  enjoying themselves or  seeing movies when ideally they should be in class rooms for getting some stuff into their heads.The latest cellphone  with hands free plugs  as if on 24 hour combat will put  any one to shame for not owning one.The coochicoo and noyaas and constant jabbering mundane somethings in hushed whispers all seemed comic.

The bhenjis and the lehenga wallis   took the limelight while the urban  somethings chilled and relaxed splurging  the not earned money to remain cool.There are exceptions to the urban  crowd whereas the majority   foolishly thought to be in  teens and adolescence meant  anything and everything is acceptable from shirking responsibilities and duties to whipping out knives.

The colleges  made rules but the Dudes and PYTs craftily maneuvered to remain within the frame for  cutoff rules. Mind you all within the college time framework . Whichever parent thought what went behind the excellent time framework. The truth comes out when the results are out.

 O My GOD! what happened I studied so well since the previous night whatever could have happened. The parents and the kids wring their their hands O My GOD!

 I for one am very proud that  kids  are working hard to change  life and that of their families who are not from  privileged background .They enjoy life in their struggle while those haves are struggling to keep themselves afloat.

O My GOD! WHAT A RESULT!

The Caretaker

It was a landlocked place with few inhabitants and a few work in progress construction going on.The silence was very comforting except for the occasional express trains speeding by.Standing at the doorway  I could see the caretakers a husband and wife duo  taking sand bags on their heads to the second floor of  the building in progress. Their only child aged two was happily playing in the nearby sand heap and also assisting by shoveling some sand into a sack and lugging whatever his tiny shoulders could withstand, lending support to his caretakers.

The child hummed along .I heard no complaints of not having good toys or  biscuits or Kentucky Fried Chicken or the Cornerhouse Ice Cream.It sounded rather strange.Perhaps not subjected to  enough exposure. As soon as the time neared  for end of a  day's work they quickly freshened  and left for the day. I felt strangely happy  at how the three of them supplemented each other.

Through the windowsill I became  a daily witness to the caretaker and a young inmate of the nearby bungalow.Perhaps for paucity of funds or perhaps the exorbitant fees for  a maid, the caretaker doubled as a domestic help. These services of the caretaker remain unpaid and is not accounted in our national Income.

Yet we find without fail sons and daughters  oozing  oodles of love on mother's day and father's day.

It was a routine, by 10 or 11 each day the young inmate woke up,quickly freshened as if to catch the express train and quickly slung a bag as if  leaving for making better prospects in great haste and returned each evening  in a great rush as if something was misplaced.

It amused  the onlooker because  no value was added anywhere except in  fantasy.This was a daily affair.  Conversations were few and far between. Sometimes just to ask  for the  insipid menu to decide whether it is worthwhile eating. This has been a routine for quite sometime.The onlooker wondered at what was their role in life .It was just pushing each day to the next, no aim at all in life.

One day a singing  bard came to this landlocked place. All the inhabitants came out to listen.Few listened and  and were amused as he rendered it so  flawlessly simple the narration  of his  role as a caretaker in the family.

The young said it was "bull shit' while the old wiped their tears  as it was the same  untold story  in their homes being a daily witness to it.

Creation of Happiness

For quite sometime I have been wanting  to say this.I have come across  many people doing wonderfully well in life because of their singular devotion in doing it. This singular devotion comes from understanding self and the surroundings in its total reality.

Take for example Rani who comes from not a very well to do family. She appreciated her home  and people for supporting her and as soon as she could lay her hands on a job she settled for one. She took over the reins from then on. She saved  a little as it was her right, she looked after her family as it was her duty she  tutored her siblings with hope of creating a face lift to her home. She was positive  in her outlook and she  attracted all the good  surrounding her to  encourage in her upward growth. Her world changed and so also the home. There was happiness and cheer all around.The home knew  the dependence was short lived  as soon a nest would be made elsewhere. That  was not a problem at all. There was happiness all around .The motion of happiness was triggered. This motion became  infectious and it continues.It follows a simple truth of life that happiness has to be created.

In doubt? Take a look at Bindu who also comes from a similar family. She took up a job. She was never satisfied always on a roll of changing jobs..She understood very little of herself and her surroundings.She had no idea about the art of appreciation or respect for the people around her.In pursuit of her  wants she  forgot her roots ,what is happiness and the meaning of happiness to people around.Always in a constant state of unrest and anger. She attracted  a lot of negative forces around her because no one thought good about her.This negativity outweighed the good thoughts  and became a cause for not growing and towards dooms day. The  days turned into months and months to years and the family also deteriorated with only unhappiness and debts  around. The simple truth of life did not work here as selfishness prevailed.

In doubt?? let us once again take a look at Seema  who also hailed from a similar background. As usual after degree took up a job. The moment  chikkadis  touched  she  became a totally transformed person.She thought the world about her. She did not want any one any more.She thought she was cool in her attitude and outlook, spent lavishly and partied hard and the home remained a house without growth. The siblings found it hard to digest of the change in her.There was general unpleasantness around which increased by the day.Her income outmatched her lifestyle and was soon in debts.She felt herself alone and miserable. She attracted a lot of negativity and started realizing. She quickly mended her ways. She arrested her debts and from then on  curtailed her lavishness, looked after her family and siblings . There was an improvement in situation, happiness started trickling in  slowly at first then it became a routine. Her debts were cleared by her as she felt genuinely sorry for being a cad.There was happiness all around .The motion of happiness was triggered. This motion became  infectious and it continues.It follows a simple truth of life that happiness has to be created. The family started growing and  Seema and her siblings changed the outlook of their home.Hard to believe?? Yet it remains the truth.

Be it Rani, Seema or Bindu ,Rahul or Joe . Each one is entitled to have a  different outlook about life . However ,each  is responsible for changing situations and spreading sunshine around.

Similarly it is in our hands to attract  positivity and negativity.Selfishness,deceit have no place at all. With love, understanding, spreading sunshine we have the greater power of attracting the good things of life.

To get happiness we have to be in tune with self, family and surroundings.Being at peace involves being at peace with self and family first and then others.

Remember to climb a ladder you have to first step on the first rung. The first rung invariably is self and family.This creates the ripple effect of happiness.

Now do you agree happiness is creation.

A surprise on turning 56

It was past midnight  when  the little one comes and whispers a Happy birthday and the phone rings and a birthday wish from overseas. indeed a nice way to start a day.

 A friend sends a message  and many new new friends  follow suit.

A day not different for me from my regular one. I  happen to go to my brothers place as his vehicle was with me as mine went for servicing .In the stop gap arrangement i wait till he finishes his chores and take a trip to my mom;s place. Yo! la she is making  payasam for me. Something out of the blue. I savoured every moment and evening kids arranged for a cake cutting and  dinner  with the family at Tamarind.

Now this is what is called Birthday bash of binding ties and relationshisp.
This is about being grateful  for all the things in life.

Totally Confused

Tomorrow morning , what to make. Is it puris and curry or chappati and chana. So exciting.

Will the jackfruit  get ripe by tommorow. or will I have to wait? Should I make haste and make it to a curry  ready  early morning. If it is sweet then it may not  be good.

The sweet smell of two football sized jackfruit in the kitchen is intoxicating.

How happy when you know the wait is worth it.

 I am not talking about the jackfruit but about tomorrow's breakfast. Will I bungle it again  as usual or make it worth the while.

Let me make a difference this time.Take a deep breath and release quietly.

Blessing in disguise

Once upon a time, many years ago, in a small  suburban place called Manganam in the Land of latex called Kottayam lived a young man called ,"kuttan". During his heydays  he was the MGR of the place, helping   the needy and always there for every one.

Just like the wheels of time  is always on the move so was the fortunes of this young man. The onset of bad days cast its temporary spell for a good 25 years to follow.

As time moved  on,he left the shores  to a faraway land to start life afresh amongst unknown people and surroundings far away from his family.Much so much to become a not so known  to the next of kin as time went by as visits were  less frequent and far between..

The salary was not very  handsome but enough for self and to keep the flow of  payment to creditors  steady.However  like every  other human being from the first salary  earned off shore   a sum quite big in those days was sent.

The joy and happiness of receiving money from abroad was evident. But the first thought  was not of  spending it  but choosing  to hand it over to Fr. Chandy who is no more today for the welfare of the  orphans under his care then.This was a  thanksgiving to God..

After a long gap of so many years  with no creditors left , free soul just imagine receiving  a sum with an extra zero to what was received 25 years ago once again for the end use of children.

This is what is called a blessing in disguise.

Love times Amma & Daughter

I just  put across the idea ' No change is too small, as big was once small.' . I was intent on raising some funds  towards the Carmel School  and Ashalaya where I pitch in for about three days a week..

My 75 year old mom appreciated the idea.She was the first to jump into  the bandwagon of donors.
I can't give huge sums but if you collect from different people the amount can get bigger.

She definitely had a point there.

She chuckled as she handed me the cheque  to be filled in. I was awe struck at her cheerfulness in  giving me the cheque. This will add to our placing orders for books and stationery or perhaps towards a  kids school fees for a year as best Elizabeth decides.

How she promotes education. She took care that her maid's children at least finished SSLC and over the years  always goaded us to help  her  in this cause.I really don't think richness is measured by a person's bank balance. Richness is measured by being a good human being .

Today my day was made when she handpicked some of her sarees and gave them to me. She said,' Don't buy if you wish to wear some  of these just come and take from  here". She served me food with love.She takes pride in cooking and serving her children and grand children . She keeps  us together , subtly indicating united we stand but  divided we fall.

 I must definitely mention what I had missed out in life is getting poured out in full .I am enjoying every ounce of it with love. I am blessed.