10

10 days to the new year.
10 days to the new decade.
10 days to the new month.
10 days to a new beginning.

I wish it turns out to be a perfect 10/10 year for me and everybody around me.

Here's an early wish for all of you - Happy New Year!!!

Run Lola Run

These days Iv started walking again for reasons more than one. Something funny happened today and made me realise something I was doing all this while without taking notice. The last 100mts or so to my house, I began to jog as usual. And out of nowhere a stray dog came behind me and started following me. I got scared, that it'l bite me and take me down. I stepped up my pace to find the dog also running faster and closing in on the gap between us. Ran some more, turned back to see the dog still behind me. I stopped for a second, stood still, looked at the dog and continued walking. To my surprise it didnt follow me anymore. I was so relieved.

Walked the rest of the stretch back home, thinking how often we run away from things. The more we want to escape, the more it chases us and comes behind us to haunt us. Problems are like the Hutch tagline telling you, wherever you go, our network follows you. You try and dodge it, you'l find it around the next block. Such a futile exercise it is.

I've learnt today - Taking the bulls by the horn is the only way to go ahead, if its blocking you. I would no longer run away from things, but run towards life!!

Battle of the Sexes 1

After the team lunch at foodcourt, Deevya asks if everyone wants to have icecream.

Ram: I dont have icecream and dont like it either.
Deevya(retorts): Tumhari life barbaad hai.

Ram couldnt handle the remark, asks Deevya.
Ram: Tumne Kabhi Beer pi hai?
Deevya: No
Ram (smilingly): Tumhari bhi life barbaad hai.

And all others start laughing.

P.S. Icecream can also be equated to chocolates. Beer with Daroo

Tu Jaane Na

Kaise bataayein, kyun tujhko chahe, yaara bataa na paaye.
Baatein dilo ki, dekho jo baaki, aankhein tujhe samjhaye.
Tu jaane na.. tu jaane na.. tu jaane na.. tu jaane na..

Unlucky Lottery

Time and again I have made a hue and cry about things not meeting my need, cribbed about them. And then there are things that ground me, so much that I feel ashamed of cribbing and feel blessed at the same time for what I have.

This time the grounding factor was Paa. Saw it today and was taken down by it yet again just like Taare Zameen Pe. One in a million cases of a 'non-normalism' could happen to you or someone close to you. With over 3,000,000 DNA base pairs, if just one goes wrong, what follows is a life long battle of constant worry, underlying uncertainity, compassion, resilience, frequent crises, never ending hope, shattered dreams, daily challenges and the high stress and drama in their lives and so much more which probably I cannot fathom and if I try to it just gives me goosebumps.

What would you do if you were that unlucky one in a three million? One lottery nobody would want to win. But then, as far as life is concerned, expect the unexpected.

Payback Time

Something happened at work today and Im not getting into the details of that here.

All these years, I always preferred to avoid conflict and retaliation. Internally, I justified this to myself as not stooping down to the other person's level. As a result, the other person always mistakes it for being meek. Unfortunately, it projects, I was just getting trampled on.

Well not anymore, I have now adopted a policy I use sparingly. Some people only understand things only when they are given a dose of their own medicine. Until then nothing works. And Im giving it back to them. The results are quite visible and fast.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth also follows the Newton's third law of an opposite and equal reaction. Tit for tat provides a balanced approach as per Game Theory too, a strategy that is optimistic, proactive and forgiving without being weak in its responses. It is proven, logical and effective.

Most of all, it's the type of person I try to be.

Spaces, Marriages and Wishes

Its the wedding season, and seems like everyone around me is getting married. And if there is one gift that I would like to give them all - is this beautiful quote. Its from 'The Prophet' - by Khalil Gibran.

Here it goes -

Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Wishing all of you a blissful married life. To You Sumukh, Shweta, Divya, Shruti, Archit and the already married folks!!

Best Wishes!