Rêves…

Rêves.. It’s a french word which means Dream. You will be wondering that why the title is in french. Well I will explain that by the end of this post.

Now I should bring you to the main context of this post i.e. Dream.

If we go by dictionary the meaning of Dream is “A series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.”

But is it so? Dreams are much more than that for us humans. They are our ambitions which we have inside us all the time. Dreams don’t die; they are there inside even when we think they can’t be achieved. They effect our lives alot as they control our emotions as we achieve them or lose them.

Now why out of blue I am writing about dreams?

To answer that, I will share you an incident that happened recently during one of my travels.

It was a busy morning as I reached Mumbai Airport to catch an early morning flight. During security check I was informed that there is a delay in take off by 30 minutes. So I decided to spend time in the food court area to have a cup of coffee.

I took a table from where I could see flights take off and land. I don’t know why but a family caught my attention. The table in front of me had a family consisting of 3. 2 aged parents and 1 son in his mid-twenties. As I sipped my coffee I noticed that all 3 were looking outside watching planes. The old man then looked at his wife and smiled. The smile had a sense of happiness, a smile that said something special was happening.

I thought they would be happy about going to vacation. As I was trying to give my own reasons to their smile, the young boy received a call and he moved a side to attend it. As the boy moved from the table, old man spoke to his wife “You know I always wanted to take you on a plane, but in our lives, we could never afford flying in a plane.”

“You gave me everything in life and it is enough for me. And now we are going also” The woman replied.

“But I always dreamt of us flying together. With the time, I had given up on this thought. But it seems that what you really wish, that do happen.”

Both of them smiled at each other and again started looking outside.

That small conversation that I overheard, made me think throughout my flight and till date as I write this post, I think about it.

Should we give up on our dreams? Or should we keep them safe and wait for them to happen. Because we do get bogged down when things are not happening like we expect. Are we not giving time to our dreams? Or should we be so obsessive about them?

Even though I don’t visit temples or believe in the deity worship, I do believe in the literature that all religions have. I have heard that Bhagvad gita has all answers to your questions. And when I looked for an answer for the question that was rattling me from inside, I remembered this

‘"tasmad asaktah satatam karyam karma samacara

asakto hy acaran karma param apnoti purushah"

It means “Go on efficiently doing your duty at all times without attachment. Doing work without attachment, a man attains the supreme.”

Inculcate the habit of being open to everything and being attached to nothing. Attachment does give strength to work and love beyond ourselves, but it also limits us and makes our journey and growth difficult, especially if the object of our desire is taken away from us.

Too much desire can be bad, as it turns into greed. Greed takes you away from your true calling and dream, be it to achieve, create or innovate.

Do not be super attached to your work, as it makes your journey as an entrepreneur difficult and closed. You cannot wear binoculars and run the rat race.

You have to keep an open mind about the ever-evolving changes, adapt to them. Keep a close eye on your goals but do not get obsessive and be open to accept changes as and when required.

This post is for all of us, who have lost hopes on things that did not go the way we wanted. Life has better things to happen and you have to just keep moving. Let’s not be obsessive about what we want but embrace what we get. Sometimes we miss to enjoy what we have because we are obsessed with what we are looking for. Dream but don’t get stuck at them. Live more and feel what you never dreamt off.And to end with, why title in French? Don’t hate me for this but I thought that having a French title will be more sophisticated and different ‘:-P’.

NEW YEAR RESOLU-SHUNSSS!!!!

‘Hey Happy New Year!!!’ my colleague greeted me.

“What new year? Everything is the same, same office, same desk, same YOU!!, What’s so great about today. It’s like every day.” I so much wanted to say that. But again, I have been told that I should be nice to people around me.

“Happy New Year Dude” I replied to him with same enthusiasm which he had shared.

“So what did you do? Drank like a fish. Your most favorite activity?” He enquired

Again, I never wanted to break the bad image I had. My life is personal and people keep assuming things which I don’t deny. I won’t like to tell them that I enjoyed the peace at home watching an English tv series with lots of food and sprite. I mean why anyone should be bothered how I live my life but then human nature is to nose into other people’s life.

“Yeah! You guessed it. Hope you too enjoyed yours.” I replied and sat on my desk to end the conversation and get back to my life.

“Where man, we are not lucky like you, had to sit with my wife and kids”

Who told you to marry? No one had put a gun on your head to do that. And if you have now got married then atleast try to be happy with them. Hipocrat!!

“Ok! A nice family time.” I replied thinking it will be end of a boring conversation.

“So what are your Resolutions for 2017?” he continued

“God it is not easy to end a conversation. Why are interested in my resolution. You take one and break it.” I answered in my thoughts.

“I don’t take resolutions. It’s something not serious but funny.

 “What you don’t make resolutions? Its good thing. What is funny about it?”

“Well I think 99% of resolutions are Resolu-Shuns.. that end by 2^nd week of January.”

“No! it depends on you and your will power. If you want you can do it. Probably you don’t have.”

Oh Man! You take back those words. It is my will power that you have never been slapped by me since you walked into this office.”

Well my will power helped me and I asked calmly “Ok what was your last year resolution?”

I guess he never expected me asking that. :P

“I don’t keep it but I was in general asking.” He replied shyly.

“Well bro! you don’t keep it, I don’t keep it. Let’s keep it that way.”

I turned around and switched on my laptop.

Resolutions are personal goals that one sets. And it is no rule that you should do it only on Jan 1. Anyday you decide to do something, tell yourself that is your resolution and not a January Resolu – Shun!!!

Channa Mereya...

Sometimes some songs just hit you so hard that you keep on thinking over it. 

Yesterday, Karan Johar released a new track "channa mereya" of his upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. It is a song that gives words to the emotions of heartbreak and it's essentially a parting song. And the words just kept touched me deep inside as they meant so much. Ranbir as usual killed it with his beautiful expressions and acting, adding power in the song.

And today as i was walking back to my apartment, it caught my train of thoughts.. This is what i was unable to express when Radhs was getting married. I had not written much about the how i felt seeing Radhs getting married (in post below) and had summed it up in 3 lines (highlighted below).

http://koolthinktank.blogspot.in/2010/12/i-am-bad-very-badd.html

(After the marriage ceremony, i had left early to go home for some work. I was a li'l uncomfortable also with so many unknown faces around me. I had sms'd Radhs and Rakesh while leaving and they had replied me asking  me to come next day for lunch at Radhs place where they were going after the marriage)

And now i feel that this songs speaks what i could not write. May be that is why the writer of this song is writing for films while i post here :P 

A few lines of the song below - 

Accha chalta hoon

Duaaon mein yaad rakhna

Mere zikr ka zubaan pe swaad rakhna 

Dil ke sandookon mein

Mere acche kaam rakhna

Chitthi taaron mein bhi

Mera tu salaam rakhna

Andhera tera maine le liya

Mera ujla sitaara tere naam kiya

Channa mereya mereya 

Channa mereya mereya

[channa mereya = my beloved (my moon)]

Channa mereya mereya beliya

O piya.. 

GITA - Modern Day (Krishna Arjuna Discussion)

As I sit through the night alone in my flat, watching television I wondered on how people were celebrating the birth of the divine lord on the eve of Janamashtami. As I surfed through channels, I stopped at one which was discussing Bhagwad Gita, i.e. the discussion between the warrior Arjun and the greatest of greatest, Lord Krishna during middle of Mahabharata.

And it just popped in my head, in this era, what Krishna would be advising to the modern day Arjun i.e. every single person in this world who is in his or her own set Mahabharata (day to day fight).

Arjunan – Oh Lord! Please guide me. O Krishna! Enlighten me. I doubt if I am on the right path. I used to be the best during my early days of school and career. I do my duties with full devotion and loyalty. But I am not appreciated anymore, nor I am getting the promotion I deserve. I feel I can do better than what my boss is doing and I deserve more.

They tell me that I have to overthrow the people above me to succeed and show my talent. Is it not wrong? I learnt from my senior and how can I stab him from behind?

My family keeps complaining about me not giving them time and staying at home. I am working hard to earn money to give them comfort and the best things. Still why I am wrong O! Dayanidhi? Am I wrong oh Lord?

Krishna – (Smiling as usual – thanks to cute Swapnil Joshi, Krishna of Ramananda Sagar’s Krishna)

Oh Arjuna!!! My Dear! Why are you still stuck in this Mahabharata of your own? It was over yugas and yugas back. In this era I gave you a life to live, a life of satvikan, a peaceful one. Gave you a family, a decent job and money to survive and fulfill your basic day to day needs. When you have all this then why this duel with yourself? 

You are into a maya of this world. You had nothing when you came, nor you will take anything when you leave this world. Your kids will earn for them then why stacking of this wealth?  You give reasons of giving good education and facilities. Did you have any when you were small? You grew up pretty well. Give them good education and a will to succeed and be their guru about life.

And most important thing you need to give is love. Teach them how to love and share it to the world. Like I have loved you and gave you everything that is needed to survive this life.

You say you succeeded as you were young, but it was the starting point. With every stage I had made you tougher and accordingly you need to enhance and learn new ways to win as you proceed with life.

And you can’t do same things and get success every time. Dedicate yourself to compete with your own self instead of looking at next position. Your today is the truth and if you can resolve all the problems I give you today, I will automatically take you to next level. You have to trust in yourself because I reside in you. Oh Arjuna! You are me and I am you.

You are doubtful if you should overthrow the one above you. But that is the rule I have set for nature. The best survives and flourish while the weak dies. Your boss would have taught you things but if he/she doesn’t improve and stops you in your karma, you always have to go above him. Karma is everything and there is no compromise on that. Don’t stop yourself thinking you are doing wrong, you have to move if you have to achieve what you aim.

Oh Partha! Remember what your learnt in archery class, just aim at the eye of the bird and not let your focus divert on other thing.

Your family complains about you not giving them time. Remember that you are the one who binds them. Your kids are your future, and your family i.e. your spouse and kids have right on you more than anyone else. Devote most of your time to them because they are going to be with you as you live this life. This job, this money, this maya won’t give you the love and care which your family can.

Oh arjuna! Your life is not Mahabharata which I started but something you started on your own. Get out of this war and enjoy this life that I gave you. The life you are wasting in your own search for maya.

Oh Partha! Live your life and believe in me. Nothing else is required because I decide what you are destined to do and I have blessed you to live. 

Your Dream is Your Signature

 

Your dream is your signature...

A quote that has always given a rush inside my body. A quote which gives birth to a thousand questions varying from who am i? to what will I leave behind?

In this world where you are one in the ocean what is that you leave back in this world?

Is it the your children? Your properties or something else?

World tells you to follow the path defined by them. You take birth, study hard, grow up, get a job, play safe, get married as you need company, have children and then get old and die.

All follow this and it is not wrong. But I do not want to follow the line. Is it wrong? I do not want to prove it to others but me only.

I do not want money in my bank account for a future I do not know but for now when I can spend it.

I would like to live like a human and enjoy this life gifted to me as a human. And I want at least one person to remember me for the things I did in life and not being the one in this crowd.

And if there is an afterworld, will you be satisfied with what you achieved or are we going to again find life as reasons for not achieving the success

For those who would argue that from doing big if I mean to build some monument or leave a property behind. No I don't want to any of that. I think you don't hav to do anything but live your dream and it could be anything that keeps you alive even when u r gone.

Sounds vague. For me too but then you come across people and life.

I have a close friend of mine who always talk about her father. I don’t think there would be a day when I have not heard atleast something she learnt from her father or how he was an awesome person.

I have not seen him but I think I know how wonderful that man would be. He not only gave them the best in terms of all materialistic amenities but he filled their souls also with love. He taught his daughter to be a leader. He gave his children a power to dream and follow them.

And I am talking about 15-20 years back when girls were still considered to be a burden on family. This man raised her daughter and son equally. To live head high and survive even in the toughest. I guess that was his dream and he achieved it.

Today he is not in this world but I believe he is alive. He left his signature in this world with his two kids and through them he is still alive. Or else i won't have learnt about such a wonderful human.

 Living this life depends on you. How you PROVE it to YOU and not to the WORLD.

How you leave a mark or live your dream is a question only you can answer.

As Malcolm Forbes rightly said, you cease to live when you stop dreaming. 

KRA For Life

"Arey yaar, fir se KRA ka time aa gya..." my friend cribbed as he closed the email that came from human resources. 

I turned towards him to reply but before i could he started again.

"Sahi hai na..? Every year we are told that you need to this and that will be your parameter to know what you did. How can our work be defined by just 5 points? Plus someone's KRA would be to screw my KRA." He shrugged.

I smiled. Anyone who employed in a private firm would relate to this. What he said was true, KRA or the Key Responsible Areas are 5 major points where your organization wants you to work and then whole year you are made to do work across all other areas. Plus our KRA will be killing someone's else's job role. 

The above thing got me into thinking. Are KRA's necessary? And then it came to me.

KRA do helps you set goals for your profession. You know what is your priority and what you need to do to get those incentives and bonus points. Rest can wait because these 5 points are the points which organization wants from you. 

So we do profits for them but what about us? Yes we do get an increment and if you are continuously performing, you get promotion that means again more work ;-)

But why do we work? to have a better life and then it seems like our life is to work.

If we can set annual goals for our work why can't we show that commitment to our own lives?

When we go a step ahead to achieve what our bosses wants, even if we hate to do that job, then why can't we take a step ahead and do one thing which we have in our heart probably from years? Is money turning more important than happiness. Are we turning into that man from temple run who is just collecting coins and has no idea what to do with it? LOL funny to think like that.  

All these thoughts made me take a pen and jot downs my KRA for life for next 1 year. 4 points which was there for many years. I will do them.

I will.. Can you??

LFS

LFS - Large Format Stores, that is the name of the BU i have joined last month. And i have re-christened it as Life @ Full Speed just because now i do not have time at all. I start at 8 in the morning and stay back at work till 9 or 10. Lately, in my also sleep i am planning about activities for business and the challenges.

But this post is not about my new profile, but about life, which this blog is all about. 2014 started at a low point. Some plans failed, which i believed would be successful. It is like "Dreams in my eyes are my nightmares today". People say failures are part of life, whoever came up with this thought, that guy must be crazy, Hehehe. Its not the failure but the disappointment in life that creates void in your existence itself and you can't just live like that. 

Yesterday as i was preparing half yearly report for my business, i thought what did my own report card says for this year. And i realized that after my failure, "i did not live this life but just existed." And suddenly i felt, Damn you Prasanth Prabhakaran, you may be a failure whole your life, but still you never existed, you lived your life fullest even with those failures. Yes i was a shameless creature who has failed so many times with a smile, lol.... I realised that i wasted so much of it, last week i went to Goa with my friends, and the only thing i did was sit silently and watch my friends playing in sea. Heights was that i slept at the shore while those friends were playing at the beach in candolim. 

But now it seems that there are things to be done. Especially October had always been a special month for me, so i feel to start things afresh. Started it with taking up operations plus sales (yes sales which i avoid taking up) for my BU. Blogging whenever i could get time, (if LFS let me do so) and then clicking whenever possible. Watch movies. Yes, i have to mention it, because i could not believe it that i have not seen a movie since youngistaan. Even when i have all the latest movies on my PC, i have not seen them. Now what can be a more disgrace than that. Dad's birthday is coming in November so have to plan that. Same way many things are pending to be done. 

In the end it seems right to quote

 "One must let go of the life they have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us." 

Kabhi Kabhi...

Kabhi kabhi mere dil main khayal aata hain
Ki zindagi teri zulfon ki narm chhaon main guzarne pati
to shadab ho bhi sakti thi.

Yeh ranj-o-gham ki siyahi jo dil pe chhayi hain
Teri nazar ki shuaon main kho bhi sakti thi.

Magar yeh ho na saka aur ab ye aalam hain
Ki tu nahin, tera gham teri justjoo bhi nahin.

Guzar rahi hain kuchh iss tarah zindagi jaise,
isse kisi ke sahare ki aarzoo bhi nahin.

Na koi raah, na manzil, na roshni ka suraag
Bhatak rahin hai andheron main zindagi meri.

Inhi andheron main reh jaoonga kabhi kho kar
Main janta hoon meri hum-nafas...

Magar yoonhi, Kabhi kabhi mere dil main khayal aata hai.

Maybe It's Just Me...

Maybe it's just me, but you seem finally happy
I don't think I've seen your face just glow
Like a neon sign and maybe I should be alone for ever after,
Cause even though the nights are long
At least I'll make it another day...

Cause I can't live if you're not happy
I can't live if you cry, 
But I can live without you if it makes you smile

And maybe things got weird after all that went down
Things were oh so clear,
That I could never get the right
So tell me what your plans are
And tell me what you're doing
The only thing I'll hold against me is a picture of you tonight

Cause I can't live if you're not happy
I can't live if you cry, 
But I can live without you if it makes you smile
And I can't wait to see you rise 
And I can't wait for you to shine
But I can wait for you if all you need is...

Time for you to think things over
Time to talk the drama down
It's not a contest of who'll try harder
Or who'll cross the finish line

And I can't live if you're not happy
I can't live if you cry, 
But I can live without you if it makes you smile
And I can't wait to see you rise 
And I can't wait for you to shine
But I can wait for you if all you need is time

It’s a Good bye for Now

Hello everyone, it has been long that I have been missing from my blog after my fallout with GOD (missing as if anyone was looking for me… LOL). It should not matter too much for me if someone was looking for my posts or not because I write it for me. I won’t deny the fact that someone really had inspired me to write my blog but then that person also left. Life is like a train journey; people come, stay and then move out. You can’t cry or make fuss about it.

Well today there is nothing specific I want to write, it is just about the things happening and how confused I am in the whole process and what I think I should do. Life is giving me a bag of mixed emotions. It is like life is throwing lemons at me and I think I am going to make lemonade from them.

I am feeling my dream, my passion is still haunting me because the more I am trying to achieve them, more I feel that they going away. It is like a mirage, you feel you can reach them but then they are still away.

My current job is going fine, but then there is no energy or kick that would drive me to office. The feel is not right at all to work in that kind of environment but my commitments stop me from quitting.

And the worst part it previously when I used to be in such a phase where I felt low, when the things didn’t look fine, I used to just pick up my phone, dial number of my close ones and just talk random. Sadly today the busy world has taken over everything. Sometimes they are in meetings, sometimes they are with family or sometimes they just don’t realize because the phone is on silent. So other than the above said 2 points this fact kills me more that world has taken over my space in my people’s (I don’t call everyone my people) lives.

I guess the phase is not right for me. Some people say it is all about time, and God will make things right. I don’t feel so because it seems the so called GOD is trying to put me down, trying to bend me with his wits. Well if that is the case then I guess the “WAR is ON”. If I have stood by people in their tough times, I guess I can stand for me when required. Like my childhood days, the years when I spent my time alone in house, all alone, I had been my friend, my philosopher and my guide. I recall those times, when I used to stand outside our society playground where kids of my society used to play cricket and watch them playing. I was never taken in team because they knew the moment my mother reached back from office, I would have to leave the game halfway and go home.

The feel of being alone is not new to me. But since I got some freedom, I had made up a family of my own, of my people, the people I called friends, rakhi sisters or so called brothers from another mother. I have not been alone in recent past so it feels odd a bit now to find no one around. But then no one promised me to be there, and even if they did, they have their own lives.

There are some decisions I have to take to move ahead, to fight with this world, which tries to change you the way they want. I have my dreams to achieve, I have to show this world that I have lived alone and I can live alone again. I still won’t change, you all can look for me, this guy will still be there for you. Not like I will be there but unavailable when needed. I will be there, the way you have always found me.

This will be my last post till I have finished my first script. The thing I want to do for me, and till that time nothing else. There are some more steps I need to take, some decisions which may end some stories or which may make them believe that I left.  My stories never had an ending, I just leave them halfway. I don’t like endings but then I will accept the fact, that end is necessary. And there will be endings in every story of my life someday.

Till the time I am back, its good bye from me. Thanks for being there.

The Atheist in Me

"In the face of all that is so wrong with the world, the very worst thing you can do is survive. And yet you must survive. It is this dilemma that makes us believe and cling to the lie that we have a soul, and that there is a God who cares about its fate."

I had been a God fearing person and have always respected in the belief of the people and their religion. Since childhood I have been made to visit temples and stand in long Q's, as i saw people standing around me begging for their wishes to come true in front of some power whom they call God. But lately I tend to disagree with this concept called GOD. 

The quote mentioned above is a line which I read from a book which i was reading through and it stuck to me. Is it not true, the whole idea of this GOD and miracles is so fake and made up. The rules made by some people born long ago just to create a fear and run this world. We live in a world which is like a State of Fear. What I feel is that this world runs of fear and as a matter of fact, whoever has tried to overcome this fear has ruled in this world.  When it comes to GOD, we have a fear embedded inside our minds that we are being watched by some invisible force, who actually have hired an accountant and keeping records of the good and bad things one is doing. And based on that we will have our fates and life fixed. How convincing and easy it was to handle the state of affairs with this fear inside every living human being. 

Does it really happens? If that was the case, then I guess all the criminals across the world should have rotten to death, but that doesn't happen. But what we see is, some innocent people get killed under the rubble of illegal buildings, beneath the rich guys cars and then their kids roam across the streets as orphans. The world looks at them with hatred and punish them more. What wrong they did? The only mistake i could see is that they took birth in some poor family. 

This is a topic of debate and as I write this post, I know what all i am writing will be total rant, because whoever reading this will be having some fear in them about this thing called GOD. I somehow have lost the belief that there is some power which actually takes care of the world. Everything is in one's own hand, the power is inside you. You can't get peace sitting inside a temple if you have some major issue going in your life, while you can sleep peacefully in a scorching sun, if you are at peace from inside. The confidence to face the world comes within and nothing else can bring it until you have faith in your own self.

The world is blind and have its own angle to look at you. And for those who say that there some power actually, If that is the case and someone is actually managing the world then MAN, that person needs to improve because right now IT SUCK's!!!!

Maut Tu Ek Kavita Hai...

In 1971, when Indian Cinema was at verge of new dimension, a movie called Anand was released. A film about a man, who knows he is going to die, a man who knows that life had been unfair to him, but he then teaches the world how to live. I have always loved to sit and watch that movie again and again and always tried to live as per a dialogue in that movie "Zindagi lambi nahi, badi honi chahiye". We should not try to live longer but live life kingsize. 

Lately there was a phase when i wanted to live longer but then again I was not liking it, and then something happened in my life. Some losses teaches you many things and reminds you some forgotten lesson. And then i recall this poem of the same movie 

Maut tu ek kavita hai .. 
mujhse ek kavita ka vaadaa hai milegi mujhko .. 

doobti nabzon mein jab dard ko neend aane lage 
zard saa cheharaa liye chaand ufak tak pahunche 
din abhi paani mein ho, raat kinaare ke kareeb 
na abhi andheraa ho, na ujaalaa ho, na raat na din 
jism jab khatam ho aur rooh ko saans aaye . 

mujhse ek kavita ka vaadaa hai milegii mujhko .. 

Translation

Death you are a poem.. 
a poem has made pact with me that I shall meet her .. 

when drowning pulse will bring on painful sleep 
when Moon carrying her yellow face will reach horizon 
when days still in water and night close to shore 
there is not yet darkness, neither light, not night not day 
when body is gone and soul still breaths. 

a poem has made pact with me that I shall meet her ..


It reminds me that Death is something that will come. So instead of trying to live longer in the way I want, I am accepting what is coming and going to live the way I used to. And will wait for my poem to end. ;-)

My 2012 - An Overview

 

 

The Year 2012 was a bag of mixed emotions. Some very happy moments and some sad. But overall it was a good year, and like my friend always tells, its only the happy things that stay, bad everyone forgets.

 

 

The Questionnaire-

1. Best Moment of the year- Coming back to India finally on 1st April 2012

2. Best Finding of the year- Didn't find anything Best

3. Best Asset of the year- Friends

4. Best Learning of the year- You have to be selfish somewhere. I learnt but have yet to learn how to be implement.

5. Best Decision taken in 2012- Following my dreams

6. Top 5 movies of the year- Agneepath, Cocktail, Barfi, Kahaani, Vicky Donor

7. Top 5 songs of the year- liked many. naming 5 will be injustice.

8. Saddest Moment of the year- Losing a loved one...

9. One bad thing happened in 2012 - I am selfish in this case... Don't want to share

10. Something you loved and lost in 2012- Did i? If i lost it, it was never mine, i misunderstood.

11. Your long awaited desire fulfilled in 2012- Living in my home in kerala for 2 months.

12. Your Best Click of the year-  Will post few of them in next post.

13. Your Best new place visited in 2012 - Went many places.

14. A new and interesting food joint discovered in the year- Sereneya, A tibetan restaurant in Malad West, mumbai

15. Best Dream you saw in 2012 (While sleeping)- Saw someone with me at our home.

16. One new love/interest developed in the year- to Read.

17. Best Family Moment of the year- In dec 2012, there was a perfect moment i had dreamt.

18. Best office moment of the year- When My team in Qatar came to see me off at airport.

19. One change in you from 2012- Little impatient nowadays.

20. Any new habit adopted in 2012- Don't know about it

21. A wish pending for 2013- To hear someone express what i really wish to happen

 

 

This was my friend's idea. You guys who want to do the same can go ahead. Take care...

Is It the System or Us??

Nowadays whenever I switch on a news channel or any newspaper, the main highlight is CRIME AGAINST WOMAN. Everywhere it is the Delhi rape case or some other crime against woman which is being discussed. I had promised myself to avoid writing about it, not because I am least bothered about a human life or I do not respect women, but I just didn't want to be a part of people who just talk and blame. To my agony, I recently saw some of my friends from abroad putting up statuses saying 'How India is unsafe for Woman and every 20 minutes a rape happens in India'. Well I do not know how to react, how to tell them that this is not true, but then it is us only who are portraying this in front of the world. Instead of finding a solution, we somehow are making lots of hoolah.

When I think about the incident, I wonder who is to be blamed. The government, the police or is it us? I won't blame the girl or the friend because that is the most foolish thing anyone could say. Travelling in a public bus or going out with a friend is in no way a mistake. But I want to ask myself and all these people who are actually standing out on the road, showing their anger. What have we done, are we not somewhere responsible in this? I feel we all have some hand in it, and we are doing it without our knowledge.

Statistics shows, 65% of the accused in all the rape cases are juvenile or in their early 20's. Apart from rape cases which have increased in the recent times, if you try to account more crimes against woman, the cases where Acid is thrown on a girls face or abduction of girls also have increased. Sad part is that these cases go unreported or do not have much TRP to be shown on news channels. Majority accused in all these cases are in their teens or late twenties. What is this telling us? Are these people born rapists or can't they identify what is wrong or right? Well I think we all are the reason for increasing this number at such a rate.

How many times have you been a part of discussion, where a friend of yours has proposed to a girl and she rejected him. Try to recall it and look at it from an outsider’s viewpoint. You will find that we rarely try and console the person, instead we are mock them that he has been let down by a girl, a meagre creature, adding agony to an already hurt person. This agony somewhere turns in to need to revenge. 100% of acid throwing cases have a similar story like this behind them. She dumped me or didn't say yes to be my friend and I felt insulted, and took revenge.

Somewhere I also feel that our society is moving in a direction where Women are now considered as a commodity. Those who don't agree, please tell me why is there a need of an item number in movie then. If you want to create hype, put an item number and people talk about it. Woman will have a role to sing and dance only while guy is the hero who fights and leads the way. Similarly, if you have a girlfriend or a woman around you, you are a DUDE or else you are nothing. You have an event, you need tall models in short dresses to stand at the gates, if you are in sales, you try to hire good looking woman to increase your sales and send them for sales pitch, Cheer girls for cricket matches and so many more situations where women are used like a product. What are we doing? We are actually killing their value and that is why every tom dick and harry thinks he can pick up any second girl from the road, do what he wants and then throw her on road. And mostly these thoughts are really boosted when you are drunk, which we have seen as most of the accused of rape cases are drunk when they committed that horrifying crime.

We blame the police that they don't do their duties. What about our civic duties?? There were reports that people were taking pictures of the girl who was raped and thrown on road naked. Instead of informing authorities and draping that poor soul, we click pictures. Are we humans anymore? News guys who are supposed to create awareness are using these opportunities to increase the TRP's. Infact everyone is trying to take on this opportunity and utilize it in their way. The supposed God men preaching about gods and telling that rape victim should have called for god. Sms company sending messages creating chains and forwarding the message, where they earn money on bulk messages.

In all this what we forget is that we are not taking any step to prevent these incidents in future. Its not new to have protests and candle march. In 2008 Scarlett Case pulled alot of  International attention towards rapes happening in India, similarly many more cases there was an uproar, we shout, we scream and then we expect the police and government to do their duties. What have we done to change the situation?

 

How many of us have ever thought of organizing a community patrolling in your own area during nights? How many of us have offered our neighbourhood women help if we find them going alone in night? Have we ever tried to make our friend realize that, if a girl has dumped him or said no to him, it is good for both of them, because it is better than having a relationship where either of them is not happy. If i talk about rape cases, how many times have we tried to help a woman when you see that she is being harassed or in danger. And how many of us have come forward and helped a rape victim to come back and live life normally. When you see a crime happening, report it or try to stop it, instead of being selfish.

We have to work on which can improve the condition of society. I am not saying that these silent protests should be stopped, but we need to act more and work to improve our society.

Tell Me O' Khudaa!!!

Statuatory Warning - Readers are informed that this post is written at 2 AM by the writer as he is sipping his 6th cup of black coffee mixed with shot of Cogniac. In short he is drunk and the pot may make no sene. Moreover letter 'S' on his keyboard is broken so there may be some 'S' mising inbetween. Readers can avoid if they want.

Ye jo world hai na world, this is made up of 2 kinds of people. How many kind?? 2 kinds, one who are good and one who are bad. Well the general misconception is that if you do good, then you get heaven after death, while the bad people end up rotting in hell. Ok, sounds good but that is after death. What about before death???

 

My mom ued to tell me, that be good boy, help people, love the beings around you and you will be loved and cared. Really?? Naah, I don't think this world runs on that track at all. If it did, then all the billionaires whom we know, would have been having white clean sheets of their life. Infact every famous man in the world has a dark history. And it seems like people with bad reputation are only respected. Make a controversy and you are looked up by everyone. You guys don't believe me?? Well let me explain...

 

Let us go back to our college days (those who are in college, open your eyes). College is a place where you will find 2 type of guys, the good guys, the geeks or sweet guys and then the show offs or the hunk kinds. Well most of the girls in college are attracted towards the hunk, who actually takes advantage of these so caled smart girls. And the good guys are left with their shoulders which comes in use when girls realise that the Hunk was just fooling around. Now the good guy thinks that now he has a chance but Naah. Then also there is a very less chance of them to get in, because by then Girls says "I don't think i can be in relationship with any guy. All guys are same." hahaha.... the good guys have no chance.

 

Now do you believe me?? Still No?

Oh God!! You need more examples.

Ok then lets go to our own indian mythology. Ok firstly, i do respect our mythology and the names I am mentioning are with due respect, and with no intentions to hurt religious sentiments.

 

Let us take an example of Lord Rama and Shree Krishna. Both avataars of Maha Vishnu. Lord Rama, the good guy, an obedient son, a good husband, a fair king whereas our favourate Krishna bhagwaan, the prankster, eve teaser or u can say the hunk guy. Ram ji was obedient, and he was sent to exile, one man woman that too was kidnapped, blamed on, half of the time was made to stay away from her. Anyone could come and say things to him and as a fair king he used to accept them, be it taking agni pariksha of wife or parting away from his kids. On the other hand our krishna bhagwaan, he used to steal since childhood but was loved by everyone, the guy had so many gopis, some 16K wives but still every woman of that era adored him. He practically told the cheat codes to Pandavas to win the battle and still he was much more famous and greater when compared to Shri Ram. You can see through it in practical life also, for rama no one generally says bhagwaan but for shri krishna bhagwan word comes automatically from our mouth. But if you look at the good and bad scale, Shri Ram has an upper hand.

So now tell me oh almighty, is being good really practical or somewhere one can be bad. I am not saying that be bad, do all the shit crap things but being good and nice is one foolish act. And if you still worry about the afterdeath, I say HELLYA!!!!

Life - What is it all about?

Sometimes in life, a thought comes to you, making you realize things about life. The funny fact about these thoughts are, that these things you might have heard so many times, but that realization which you have now brings a lot of change in you. 

Today a similar thought pooped (:-P) in my head and i asked me that what is life? It is a common question we all ask to ourselves at some point of life. I think my point came.

Life, Is it about achievements, the money you earn, or is it about being good at your work, or is it about being famous and rich? What is it all about? Is it really the materialistic aspect that makes your life fun? 27 years down the lane of my life there are many things I did, they surely make me happy when I think about them. But the real happiness i feel is when I recall the moments I had with my friends, thinking about the time I spent with someone, even for 15 minutes when there was not even a conversation. The funny incidents, the pranks, the fun, the fights with my sister, the leg pulling of my brother, ragging of a junior who ended up being a friend, a google search that lead me to find a very wonderful person, when I think of them, it is actually that thing which makes me happy. The saturdays at my cousins, the funny arguments I had with my bhabhi, the plans to escape office to go to friends party and many more like them.  These thoughts fills my heart with sheer joy, and then a wish comes out from my heart, to go back and relive them somehow. 

I don't understand why we humans are so materialistic? Why can't we look at the life simply, why is it important that if you love someone, you need her or him to love you back? Why does your work takes over your life, when work is supposed to be a part of your life? Why do we end up forgetting our old buddies while we we keep on adding more facebook friends. Why "I am there" has turned into just a phrase while you are not there when you are most needed? Why relationships have turned into burden which are supposed to be the support system of tough times. Are we actually living life or wasting the best gift we  have?

I feel that life is all about the happy moments you earn in your life. The moments which you will recall and a smile will come on your face, as you will go into your last sleep. I wish to get wealthy with those moments and that is the prayer that comes from my heart.

To end I would quote Rajesh Khanna from Anand "Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi." (Life should be big, not long)

Words Unsaid...

“Yeah, I am at the airport but they tell me that flight is delayed for 2 hours. Postpone the meeting to a time in evening and make sure the client has no complaints. Now I am hanging, I have a call waiting.”

Raj disconnects and reconnects his held call “Yes Maa... Sorry kept you on hold for long.”

(Mom says something from the other side) “No Maa, i am going to delhi for work, i am not going to meet any Sharma ji ki daughter in between. “

”Yeah, I know my age, but mom, please. I told you and i am sticking to it. Mom there is another call coming, i am hanging up. Bye, Love u... “

Raj disconnects and again answers the new call “Yes Abhinav, (listens to abhinav) No dude!!! I can’t. Tomorrow i have meetings with Investors, and then evening, i have to leave for Mumbai. You know everything, and you call me asking for time. You know, every minute i have scheduled for my work. I can’t spare time for anyone.... Hey.....!!!” and there was a sudden silence.

While he was answering the call, he had turned around, to see the person who tapped him from behind and Life was standstill in front of him. “Hello, Hello... Raj” voice was audible from phone while Raj stood dumbstruck

“I will call you back... Yeah... I will... Hanging up now...” He disconnected the phone still looking at the person who had tapped his shoulder.

“Why are you looking at me like this? Don’t tell me, you don’t know me.” She spoke as she smiled.

__________*****__________

As they sat across the coffee table, Raj kept adoring her beauty, she still looked the same she used to be 5 years back. Those black eyes, her hair flowing down on her right side, her skin glowed now also as if she daily baths with milk. It was like yesterday, when they used to be the best pal, totally different but still best friends or that is what he still said. Best friend whom he never contacted in last 5 years.

“How are you? Where have you been so long?” she enquired as they sat across the coffee table at the airport coffee shop.

“Just got busy with life and then got lost in the crowd. Now handling my own business, IT solutions here in Mumbai. ” Raj answered

“Busy?? You just vanished after college, what happened? Kabhi yaad nahi aayi dost ki? (didn’t you miss your friend)”

To miss you, I have to forget you. “Nothing, life happened. You tell, how are things with you? So hows married life?”

"Married? who? I am still single ... And you?” she was a bit shocked on that question

“Why? I thought... (he stopped for a sec) Where’s Karan?”

“Karan? Who Karan?” she enquired

“Karan Singhania, our batchmate. He proposed to you the last day, and i guess you liked him.”

“What?? He did propose me, but i didn’t say yes. Why will I?”

There was an awkward silence for a moment, Yamini looked into his eyed and asked “You thought, i was in love with Karan..? and that’s why...”she stopped

Raj was silent, His face betrayed him, they showed the guilt and pain in his eyes as he looked into her. Raj wanted to express, but he didn’t have the courage like he didn’t have 5 years back. But this time he was caught. He could see it in her eyes and as he was about to explain when Yamini got up “My flight has been announced. Raj it was good to see you.”

She turned around and started walking, to the counter to check in for her flight. Finally a drop of tear just got through the strong barrier of her will and came out flowing on her eye; she immediately wiped it and kept walking. She also loved him, even 5 year earlier but she thought he didn’t. Today when she realised that 5 years of her life she lost because she didn’t tell her friend that she loved her, just because of fear that Life will change if she told him. But life did change, but not the way she thought.

Raj could see her walking away from him, he had to do something, He had to tell her that He loved her, even 5 years back he was in love with her and till date he is. He didn’t want to miss her and he got himself indulged in work. But today he realised she loved him and he had to tell her that he loved her too. It was getting late, as she was walking away. But now she was not visible, she vanished as she checked in and entered the transit zone.

Last time they didn’t express and lost 5 years and today when they realised they could, but again didn’t, how many years again they don’t know.

Tell what you feel, because sometimes things unsaid always stay in your life as a question that “What if i had expressed?”