Change

Today I came across change of two types ... and it made me wonder.
In the morning I met my friend A. After exchanging the usual "Hi.." , he told me that he was going to OOC. "So you are going onsite? " I asked him. "When are you going?" He told me that it would be next month. "Oh. Then are you taking Ammu with you?"
"No." he said and was he actually blushing ?? "She is actually carrying. I am going to be a father." He was speaking the last sentence so softly. I was literally surprised. A's marriage was in October only and wow here he is ... going to be a Dad soon.
Two changes that happened pretty quickly in succession - he changing to marital status and then now to parental status. I must say though that both are changes for the good only. And I am really happy for A and Ammu.
Then, after lunch as I was strolling with a friend, I saw someone familiar. "Hey. This guy looks like X. Hmmm or more like the thinner version of him." My friend turned around in that direction and said "Well, it is X." I had to blink twice to convince myself. Yes, it was X only. The last time I saw him, it must have been more than a year ago. He was not fat and not slim either then. He still had hair though maybe a slight receding hairline. Whatever ... he used to look healthy. Looking at him now, I must say, he looked sickly thin and I could see a small white patch on the back of his head, like a small cap. I don't know if he starved himself to this size or if he's suffering from something. It was kind of shocking to see him like that. Sad. X was laughing and talking to someone. But how happy or healthy is he really ?? Here, change has happened also. X has progressed in his life - professionally and personally. But the change that is so obvious to your eye is nothing pleasant.

Salut & Farewell ...

Strange ..., in French "Salut" is used to greet one another.
In English, the military salute their superiors and those of higher rank. And now I want to salute all those bravehearts who have sacrificed their lives for us and our country...
Also, Farewell to all those who had to leave us, not because they were protecting us from the enemy but because there was no one to protect them. Sainia Sehgal Saikia is one of them. I feel sad for her family. I don't know her, but everyone who knew her seemed to love her. She was a foodie and an acclaimed food critic. She stood out from the long list of people who got killed mercilessly.
The reason why I mention her is because I loved the obituary cartoon that TOI had published for her: 2 angels in front of pearly gates and one saying to the other : "we've got a famous food critic coming and I hope our nectar will be up to her standards.." This was so different from the so common "We will miss you ... " obituaries.

It is now one week that this incident has happened, and still the fire of anguish and hurt is burning in peoples' hearts. People go out and burn candles and pray. They show a lot of solidarity. And I was wondering ... There were bomb blasts earlier too happening in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bangalore but never have we seen this kind of solidarity. I don't think that the death of Kamte, Karkare , Salaske & Sandeep Unnikrishnan is the reason. Rather, I believe, the reason is that this time, the attack was focused on the posh places such as the Taj, Oberoi and the Trident and killed many high-society men and women. All this time, the men and women from this strata of society must have thought that this could never happen to them. And why spend time and money for the death of some poor people !!! As long as we are safe, why should we bother or complain? And bang .. see who is talking now... You have Shobhaa De, Karan Johar, Mukesh Ambani etc talking sense and sensibility all on a sudden. Sadly but true, this has been an eye-opener for the government as well. I hope this time we will be able to do something !!!

Fate or Faith

What is it that makes some peoples' lives so successful and some others' so miserable ? I've been often wondering. Some say, its fate, others say it's their faith. I feel they are quite interwoven. Fate must depend on one's faith - if not in God, at least in oneself or someone else. When we have to take important decisions in our lives, we look for some signs or symbols that would tell us the right path. One can read this even in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Some throw a coin to find out the right way. But is it true ? And I tried it myself ... It din't work that well. From mathematical aspects, probability can tell us too the chances of head or tail ... I am confused.
My road ahead has many branches ... which am I to take ? Which will lead me to happiness and success ?

Sobriety

"I am an alcoholic." The priest was telling us on Sunday in Church. I was shocked.
Did I hear him correct ? Or was he referring to someone else ... which would have been the easiest thing to do? No. He was talking about himself only. And he was trying to tell us something.
Our priest was explaining that he was an alcoholic and that he was trying to get sober. And to attain sobriety, there were four steps:
* Keep it in your mind.
* Positive Action
* Preventive Action
* Influence your life with this thought


1.Keep it in your mind.
Every morning the priest got up, he would start with this thought:"Dear God, please let me be sober. Help me not to take a drink."

2.Positive Action
If there was a chance or reason for the priest to take a drink, like for eg,some lady testing his patience ;), he'd ask God "Let me not take the first drink,God!"

3.Preventive Action
The priest would try to avoid bars or parties lest he'd get tempted to have a drink.

4.Influence your life with this thought
The priest would make this thought a part of his daily life.

He was saying that this approach could be applied to anything in our lives. And yes, it's so very true ....

I appreciate this man, because how many of us could openly admit our wrong doings and mistakes ?? Rather than making me dislike him, I have started to respect this man more .... In the end, he's just like one of us.

Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na ...

Today I went for "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na" with my colleagues ... It was the second time that I watched it. And I still love it !!!
I just love Jai and Aditi and their friendz - Bomms (or is it bombs ?) and Rotlu, Jiggy and Mala. Don't know if I remember the names correctly, but what does it matter? The entire movie was a joy ride and it spicened up my senses like a fresh shower... I feel wonderful. Wonderful ... to know that there are people like me out there who love their friendz and life ! I am not Aditi but I see similarities between her and me. The beginning of the movie itself reminded me of that. One might think that Aditi was crying for a dead relative or friend,but it is for her cat that Aditi cries inconsolably. I did the same when my dog died but I didn't have my friends cry with me. It's not that Aditi or I are mad, but that our pets are special too.
When Rotlu starts singing to his new found love Bomms and then everyone discloses their love song .... nice ... you need not be a good singer to express your feelings.
That's why I love music and people who sing ... Papa sings when he is happy ... Maybe that's why I always wanted to get a hubby who sings.. And yes, Roy does sing :)
but then who doesn't ??

Nice subject for a movie... when I heard it first, I thought it would be copy of a Malayalam movie which I had seen many years ago, but I was so pleasantly surprised that it was not so. Friendship turning into Love. Can it be ?? It can. It need not -at the same time. Jai and Aditi are friends with characters some so opposite from each other like day and night and some very similar. Jai Rathore a peace loving guy with such a sincere smile .... and Aditi so bubbly and vivacious, she wouldn't mind kicking a guy. Her curls are different from mine,but I like them better. Both share a goodness, their parents couldn't be happier to have such kids as their own. Friends who are there for each other... Though I doubt if all 'friends' hug each each other and get so intimate. Also, whenever one of their parents suggested that theirs was more than friendship, both ridiculed it as if it was the stupidest thing to say... I wonder, did Jai and Aditi never think about this ? Instead, Jiggy suggests they find themselves a boy/girl friend to find out the truth.
And then yes, Jai finds his lady love... you could say it was love at first sight. But then only at sight I guess. Aditi also tries her luck, but with a guy who doesn't mind a long list of 'special' ex-girlfriends for him but not the same for Aditi.
Strangely, it is her brother who has to tell her that it is not this hunk but Jai who is meant for her. I just love the way he explains it. "Of course I hate him !..." But then what makes both realize that they love each other ?? Jealousy as always.Strange again. But that is life I guess. Someone has to enter your life for you to find out whether this is the one for you or whether it is the person who has seen so much of you and vice versa.
I'm happy for Jai and Aditi coz they found each other ... I know it's just a movie but there'll be certainly a few Jais and Aditis out there ....

Not all friendships end in Love, but some Love ends in Friendship.

I said that I see similarities between Aditi and me. I don't mean the looks or the nature, coz perhaps we couldn't be more different. There is a deeper connection to it, something that cannot be explained in words perhaps.

Great are SMALL Things

"Great are SMALL things ..." these were the words that struck me in sunday's church service. "Great are small things. Great are small people. Big things come out of small things." Deacon Tony was speaking about a parable in the Book of Mathew, chapter 13 and ended with these lines. When I look around I see that everyone is trying to be great only. It's a gadget mania everywhere. The latest i-Phone, laptop ,digi-cam etc ... Same with our attitude. We want to rise the success ladder as quick as possible ... We want to be great.

Friday blues

Another friday ... Another day in office. So much activity, so much work, but if I was to think about how much of it has made me happy, I have to admit not much. I wonder if I am the only one ... My friend says "Start a hobby, and then you won't feel so bad." Hmmm .... A hobby. Come to think about it, there are so many things that I'd want to do ... playing games, painting, joining a dance school .... and even "serious" stuff like learning to cook more delicious stuff. (Just joking.. I am not an anti-cook :))
If I start imagining, I can see every day of my life like a rainbow. I mean every hour of it would be filled with doing colourful things that would only make me happy.
But, well it's not a rainbow now. Will it ever become ? My inner voice says "Yes, if you really want it!" And I wonder "How do I start??" Should I start with my job? It's the place where I (literally) spend most of my life. Hmmm... I have been glued to it for too long a time. In this time I have seen many come and go. Are they happier now ?
A colleague of mine has been thinking alike, and he's done something about his misery. He (being a fitness freak)is planning to open a fitness gym. He's a certified aerobic instructor. Nice. If you can make your hobby your profession.

Well,... as long as I have my rainbow dreams, there is still hope for me !