Life is Beautiful

Life gives us so much – much more than we ever can think of!! It's biggest gift to us is ‘itself’; were we not in a dark, unknown realm before it touched us? Did we know about its existence, did we ever crave for it, did we fight our way to reach it? No. It came to us…..slowly, steadily, tip-toed towards us & engulfed us in a warm embrace. That’s when we are born & what do we do – cry aloud. Why? Are we not happy with the gift, perhaps we want more from it.

“Look at him; he has everything a man could wish for – money, power, a beautiful wife & all the perks that comes with his position. And look at me, why does life have to be so unfair?”
“Look at him; he has everything a man needs – loving kids, dotting wife, time alongwith a wonderful family he can spend ‘it’ with..…..if only life cared to give me atleast one of these?”

The grass is always green on the other side. Busy comparing our lives with others, we forget to live our own lives. If we can just be our own unique self, if we could leave the world aside & live our own life, then we can appreciate how beautiful it is!! If the not-so-rich man could realize this fact, he could have valued the presence of the wonderful people around him who love him for what he is. He would have known that the source of motivation that propels him to excel is his close-knit family so that he can tend to their needs. Life led him to his loved ones & now life is giving him time to fathom the underlying truth, but time never stands still, and as usual is running away .The sooner he realises the better for him otherwise he will end up losing those whom no materialistic thing can replace. If he runs out of time then his success won’t be success. He might have a much bigger house but it will not be a home, he might have number of flatterers but no real friends, he might have power, means, luxury but he will not have the time & loved ones to share it with. That doesn’t mean one should be wary of success. On the contrary, success is necessary to live life rather than lead life. But the trick is to keep in mind the source of motivation always, which you tend to forget. You take them for granted till the point they are no longer there. And then even if you have climbed till the top it loses its significance because the people for whom this feat has been achieved are no longer there to cheer. You are alone. Rather if you had attended to them as & when needed on the journey, probably you would have to climb down once in a while, you might even take much longer than you should have but finally when you do reach where you want to – your loved ones are there for the grand finale; they are there to share the award!! You have achieved success without losing your source of motivation which will propel you to further heights & greater success. Does this not sound better?

On the other hand the rich man, if he envies the common man’s wealth of love & bonding - he is a classic example of the person who has failed to preserve his source of motivation in his pursuit of success. His only motivation now, is his greed for power & money & it does not take a genius to understand that this is devastatingly unhealthy. He is lonely, but he doesn’t realise that life is still with him. Even now he can find purpose in his life. His success is development afterall, could be local, regional or national or even global. Whatever it is, his success would lead to development (read success) of those who are in some way involved in or contributing to his success. He could live his life for them. He could feel their sense of achievement, their happiness on fulfilling small time dreams which matter to them, as his motivation factor to excel, to soar higher. In the process he will also earn true followers who will be devoted to him since they owe their success, however small or big, to him. So he will no more be lonely as he will be surrounded by people who love & respect him from the bottom of their heart. He will get back the life which was amiss in his life.

The mirror always shows our own reflection. If we want it to smile back, we should not be frowning at it rather we should smile as long as it does not return a similar reflection which undoubtedly it will at some point. All we need to do is trust it, live it & love it – and it reflects back all that we give & much more – much more than we expect & probably much more than we deserve. Few of us do not realize this & shun it away, betraying life in a way. A little insight & afterthought on the journey we have had with life till now will prove how much we owe to life & how much of it can we give back till we reach our common destination. The least we can do is enjoy its beautiful & enigmatic company till the journey’s end!!

Wasted Weekend

Last weekend was quite a long one, Friday being Labour’s Day. We (me & my husband) stayed at home as I had a GDPI scheduled rather "conveniently" on Saturday. Anyways Friday we had been invited to our relative’s place for lunch & the rest of the day just moved on.......

On Saturday I had this GDPI (I would not name the institute as I am not going to say too many good things about it :D). We left early in the morning since we had to reach the venue by 8:30 & the college was quite some distance from the outskirts of Bangalore. The college had a huge campus; it was typically a residential course. The construction was still going in some parts. Frankly speaking I was there just to boost my adrenaline levels. I am not mad enough to spend 9-10 lakhs on an MBA course from any college. Fine, if its an IIM or ISB, no one’s going to think before shelling out 10-20 lakhs. But with this college, I just couldn’t expect a return on investment. But they had few rounds in their GDPI session (GD stands for group discussion & PI for personal interview), which I did find interesting. They had a preliminary elimination before the PI based on the scores in the test which would be of the GMAT format & an extempore. I simply wanted a general assessment of how I would fare in both of these, as these tests kind of stimulate me & extempore would be good experience as I hardly knew how I would react to it. PI held least interest for me as I was not particularly inclined to grab a seat there. Even after reaching the venue on time, i.e, 8:30, the test didn’t start before 10:00. It lasted for 45 minutes & it was as simple as it could be. The next in line – the extempore, didn’t take much time & started around 11:15. There were 15-20 expectants in our room & 2 panelists, apart from the 2 hosts who were there to guide us through the rules, etc. My turn was somewhere in between, so I had the opportunity to listen to a few people & judge what was going wrong in their presentation & kept in mind not to repeat them. I also intended to include some novelty which uptill then was not introduced by any of them. The topic I was given was quite simple – "Westernisation of Indian Culture", a very general topic, so I did have some pre-conceived views on it which were quite unique & thus formed the introductory phase of my speech. I tried to make my presentation interesting in terms of content as much as possible in the short span of 5 minutes preparation time, & while delivering the speech I kept modulating my tone, stressing on the key points, thus I was to able to hold their attention. Panning through the room & keeping eye-contact with most of them, I was happy to notice that they were listening. The presentation was supposed to last for maximum 3 minutes though it could be less than that, also the last 30 seconds were meant for concluding the speech. Though I had completely forgotten about the time management aspect, bless my good luck, I just finished in time. Covered all my points & shot a flickering glance at the time slide running in the reverse mode, there were exact 30 seconds left, enough time for me to pack up. It couldn’t have been better!! And then a good round of clapping which just puffed me up :). After these 2 rounds they were going to put up the score chart for the preliminary elimination. In the meanwhile, there was going to be a presentation by the faculty about the college & the prospects it held for us. As instructed, all of us met in the seminar hall by 12:00 after the presentation round. However, we were again made to wait & the Faculty Presentation started around 1:45, thankfully didn’t last for long & we were sent for lunch by 2:15 with further instruction to assemble by 3:15 at the same place. I went downstairs to join my husband & we went for lunch. He said we were the last batch to leave, it was then I realized there was this other batch which was the cause of all this delay. Hungry as hell, it didn’t take much time to finish off my lunch. I didn’t feel like staying back anymore. I even asked my husband to pray my name’s not there in the list. As I said I was not going to take admission here, it was just the test & extempore that I was interested in & that was done. But my dear husband wanted me finish all of it & come. So I went upstairs again. Once inside I was chatting with a girl sitting next to me & there were few inputs from her which were kind of useful. She told me they have increased the number of seats & they would have to take almost all of us to fulfill the intake. I was little surprised. Once they had put up the list, I was sure what she was said was right. Only a handful of people were eliminated, rest were all sitting there including me. There was only one reason I was still there – to feel the sense of achievement on seeing my name in the final list. But how can you feel a sense of achievement if everyone you are competing with is selected? Though my name was put up in the preliminary list, I quietly moved out with the few whose names were not. I relayed all of it to my husband, & then started insisting to leave rather than wasting another 3-4 hrs. He couldn’t help laughing…….and after sometime we were back on the road. So much for the wasted long weekend. However, there was one good outcome that day, I managed to write a poem in the long hours of forced waiting!!

“Whatever Happens – Happens for Good”

This is a very common idiom but essentially relevant in our lives. Life can be much simpler if we trust this saying to the core. Everyone of us has come across situations in life where this proverb was proven to be true. Its just that in the grip of a tough situation, we tend to forget its significance.

There are trillions of instances which support this fact. Consider this – a high school kid, who’s an exceptional athlete, is working very hard for more than 3-4 years & is quite determined to make a mark in this field. Then all of a sudden comes the blow, he has a uneven growth in his hind joint & is advised rest (i.e, no form of exercise) for more than 3 months. He has an important meet coming up & that is completely blown off because the doctor’s visit was scheduled just the previous day. And after learning the facts, participating in the meet was just not in the cards!! Shaken but not completely broken, the kid not only recovers but also starts regaining almost the same momentum. But destiny had other plans for him, few months down the line he starts feeling this weird pain in his ankle. He doesn’t utter a word of it to anybody fearing being dragged to a doctor who would then push him to another period of rest & boredom. But it only gets worse & he is advised a year’s rest this time!! Now the kid has to choose between sports & academics. Though he is very passionate about athletics, being an athlete seemed to be a far-fetched dream & he had to settle for academics. He graduated with a professional degree with fair results which fetched him a descent job. However after finishing his graduation, he had acute spine problem which landed him into bed rest. It was during this phase of his life, medical facts were dug & explained and after thorough diagnosis, it was stated that his body couldn’t retain calcium & his bones tend to be fragile. All through his formative years the various episodes were subtle hints, but only after the person passes teenage the problem comes afloat. Now can you imagine had things moved smoothly, no doubt he would have been a top-notch athlete but for how long – maybe a year or two & then a lifetime of pessimism. He would have left academics & would have been far behind his peers. He would hardly have any options for an alternate career & would have been leading a mediocre life which he is not attuned to. Leaving sports was a difficult decision for him, but given the present scenario, he has no regrets. Don’t you think whatever happened was for good?

There’s another instance which many have faced. Unfortunately I have personally seen some of my very close people experience it. Two matured people meet, fall in love & decide to spend their life together after considerable thought. They are responsible people who have known each other for years, but sometimes parents fail to realize the fact that their kids have grown up. Many a times, this might surprise you; the only objective of the parent is to object although there is nothing wrong with the alliance. Had he been asked to choose, he would have made a similar choice but it hurts him that his son has taken the decision for him. What he eventually forgets is that the son has taken a decision for himself, its afterall his life & he should be proud that his son has made such a wise decision. In arranged marriages, we leave the selection process in our parents’ hands but the final decision is still ours. We decide which alliance to proceed with from the selected grooms/ brides. In case of love marriage, if the couple is able to convince the parents then one couldn’t ask for more. However, if that doesn’t happen, don’t worry, the world isn’t going to end!! Just think about it, if your spouse’s parents are so vocal about their objection before marriage, would they turn into a new leaf after marriage. You have already lost respect in their eyes probably you might have lost respect for them too, do you think this is the right way to start a new relationship, which mind you is a relationship for life. The only support is your spouse, what if he/she changes? Though you know each other for a long time but still you don’t know a person until you live with him. And in the process of the headstrong confrontation that you had resorted to with your respective parents, you have hurt each others’ feelings immensely. But since they are parents, your own flesh & blood, they might forgive you or vice-versa whatever be the case. But what about the verbal or non-verbal exchanges between the concerned parents? That’s something which won’t be forgotten for a long time to come. Can you accept such a relation (read no-relation) between your parents & in-laws? Don’t attempt to ruin your whole life just to save a few years relationship. So, even if a long term relation ends because of family pressures or because of your after-thought, don’t worry, better things are in store for you. There’s a loving, caring & understanding spouse whom you are yet to meet, in-laws who would treat you as their own child. A family you always dreamt of; which is just like the family you have been born & brought up in. You deserve it and you are destined to have it & that’s the reason this relation failed but remember you didn’t. You might find it hard to believe now but at a later stage in life you will be happy for what happened & will have no regrets whatsoever.

Afterall every cloud has a silver lining. And the cloud happens to be there for a reason, that’s to warn you of the upcoming storm. The cloud may linger for a longer time than you want, so you have to endure pain or inconvenience but once you successfully avoid the storm you will appreciate the significance of the silver lining & cherish it forever. Whatever happens to us might not be rosy or right at the moment, but time will prove it to be the best that could have happened to us. Be optimistic - life can't resist optimistic people!!

Mystical thoughts

Few days back, I was watching this horror movie - The Wrong Turn. By the way, I am a big fan of horror plots – could be fiction or real. But I have not yet seen or read or heard anything which could have that ‘chill down the spine’ effect on me. The genre of horror movies sadly has changed tracks drastically. Its more to do with psychic cases than paranormal or supernatural beings or should I say things!!

Nowadays its more of bloodshed & brutal violence rather than a good, thrilling storyline. Afterall, it’s the same human body that is being dissected – just that the character & instruments keep changing depending on the plot. At a certain point, it becomes monotonous. The same psycho, the only innovative thing about the plot would be ‘what turned him into a psycho’, on a killing spree hell-bent to kill everyone who comes in his way. Now in most of the cases, since they are shown as extremely mentally disturbed, there’s no explanation as to why victims are killed. But some plots are original enough to deviate from this cattle-killing trend. As in, the psycho here is more of a genius but unfortunately in the perverted sense. And he/she gets a high by proving his/her mental faculty; they are least bothered about the consequences. In these plots there is a certain pattern followed both in terms of victim as well as the incident. And the story revolves around the identification of the scheme / modus-operandi rather than the killer; the more interesting & innovative the pattern, the more interesting the climax.

I somehow am more inclined towards paranormal narrations. Its way more creative, it plays more on imagination & the climax could be anywhere between perfectly logical to extremely bizarre. Depends on the horizon of your imagination – you can create a world which didn’t even exist in your subconscious mind. I don’t think you have to be a firm believer of paranormal occurrences to be receptive to such plots. I am quite neutral towards it but I enjoy such narrations. If they do exist, I would like to experience it atleast once in my lifetime. Basically because the theory excites me & if its not just theory, I would like to be a part of it. To be part of the world made of people who were like us probably days, months, years or centuries ago. And if the basis is nothing but illusion, then again it will be pretty interesting to study the reasoning behind these innumerable incidents. Either ways I find it a very thrilling subject & at any point of time should I have the means or opportunity, I would definitely like to pursue it.

Coming back to narrations, I feel the plot should be intriguing, should have lot of substance in it instead of being stretched (in all possible directions) on the basis of some vague thought. Well, it could start with a vague thought but the thought has to be well processed till it gives you good number of ideas which are not only logically related to it but also equally uncanny. For, if the ideas lose their intensity, the plot will not be consistently stimulating & the viewer/reader/listener’s attention will stray depending on the occurrence of such ideas. Thus the parent thought & the specific ideas born out of it form the basis of the plot.

Once the foundation is set, half the battle is won. What remains is the creative prowess of the writer. Introducing characters which camouflage with the script & nerve-shattering incidents which extend from the ideas mentioned before is the next level. Off-course the inter-relation of the characters & the sequence in which these incidents are knitted to reach the climax smoothly, play a very crucial role in presenting the script. It’s the same carbon but under different circumstances turns either into graphite or diamond!!

A very good script can be turned into a box-office hit or a best-seller only if placed in the hands of the right director or borne in the mind of an ingenious author or narrated by a gifted storyteller. Things can topple on the other side as well in case of a mediocre director/author/story-teller; they are capable of ruining a very good script. While the director can make use of sound-effects (or sometimes the absence of it – very eerie!!) & light effects (no make-up stunts, that’s the least you could do for us), to make the most of the plot; the author could make the scene alive with his writing skills. Though the director has more of an advantage as far as the tools are concerned, the author if successful in achieving what he/she is set to achieve makes the effect far more long-lasting than a well made movie.

Whichever way the book or the movie is made, when it is out in the market, it is ultimately at the mercy of the receiver’s judgment. Its individual perception, what I find interesting somebody else might sum up as ridiculous. Just as in, if you have had the patience to read this stuff till this point, you might end up feeling you wasted your time reading this mindless jargon or you might enjoy every bit of it if you are kind of ‘my type’ or akin to it. Whatever it is, I enjoyed penning down these mystical thoughts.

Vague Reflections

I know what I don't want......but I don't know what I want!! I am sure there would be many who would agree with me. How I wish I had the ingenious capability to reverse this filtration process. I have passed a quarter of my life not knowing what to do with it & to be frank most of it was spent without any genuine interest in the quest. But now that I desperately want reach the end of this tunnel..........I have this wierd feeling that I am completely lost!!

Work can be fun if you enjoy doing it.......this sounds so very ghisa-pita but its undoubtedly true. All one needs to know or rather hunt for, is the kind of job one is really passionate about. That's the most difficult part (difficult is just not enough to describe how difficult it is) & that's where all your senses & faculties fail you. Probably the harder you try the more distant a dream it becomes for you. Just like holding sand in your hand, the tighter you grasp it, the more it slips through. And then there's time which has never ever been man's friend, so I can hardly rely on it to stay still till I do all my pondering. Anyways where is all this maha thinking going to lead me.... even if I put all my efforts into reaching a particular goal, who's to guarantee that it is what I am destined to do, it is what is going to give me eternal happiness & blah ....blah...???? Its like a well wrapped gift, unless you open it you don't know whether its of any use to you or its just going to be a showpiece in your house.

My heartiest congratulations to those who have already received a useful gift & leading a meaningful life. And all my best wishes to those who haven't, who knows a little more insight or a little more gambling with oppurtunities might bring your desired gift to you. Or perhaps if you are lucky enough, without your moving a limb or disturbing any of your grey cells, Lady Luck may comfortably place it in you lap - that's in case she is real fida on you!!

ASPIRATIONS

I know where I want to be

It's just a matter of time

The whole world shall witness

The ‘Rise’ – trotted on a path;

Embracing challenges

Consoling failures on the way

Wiping out useless grudges

Avenging destiny in a way

How? Well…..

By seizing success from its clutches!!

And here I am where I always wanted to be

Drenched in the pure glory of triumph

Exhausted in mere ecstasy

Now I want to live the moment

Live it forever

Even this wish will be granted

Humility is all that is needed

This is a happy realization

As it will immortalize my exultation

Which for me is far above salvation!!