Furry Friends

Pets have this amazing capability to heal us and bring us to a state of peace and joy.  Spending time with a pet, even if its just a few minutes can leave us feeling rejuvenated.

Pets animals have a high life force energy, and that is what energizes us. In today's world, life has become very fast and competitive. People spend a lot of time with electronic devices and the fast pace of life has made us lose touch with ourselves.  Studies have shown that just patting a pet for a while can relieve stress and it also has a positive emotional effect on people. 

That is why many hospitals have therapy dogs to help patients recover.  There are places where people can go and spend time with animals, bond with them and feel the connection.  Dogs are known to help children with learning and behavior disorders. They also have a positive impact on older people. 

I have experienced the benefits of bonding with pets myself. This is an experience I can't really describe in words. I feel it in my heart.

So for those of you who have pets, I think you already know the benefits of having them in your life. And those of you who don't like keeping them at home can always visit an animal rescue and spend some time there. A few visits and you might just decide to adopt a pet! 

It's the same life that exists in all of us - humans, animals, plants. Previous generations knew and were consciously aware of this, but with time we have forgotten and have got busy with our life and goals. May be it's time to re-kindle the connection.

A Short Post

I haven't written in a while, so here goes! This is going to be a really short post.

A lot of times we judge other people without knowing what is going on with them. Sometimes, what we see is only a part of their lives, and we don't know the entire story.  So if their behavior changes we come to a conclusion about the entire situation in our mind.

To add an example here, I recently saw a huge change in the behavior of one of my very close friends, whom I have known since many years. Ours is the kind of friendship that was very gradual and took it's own sweet time to grow. My friend never took my calls when I called her, nor did she respond to my texts. And after some time, I felt as if she was doing it on purpose. I had built a story in my mind about how she didn't want to be in touch with me for reasons unknown to me. I felt quite hurt, and a little angry as well as I hadn't done anything wrong. So why would she do that? Many thoughts raced in my mind. One day, much later, I suddenly got a ping from her asking how I was. She called me that day, and I told her that I felt bad that she hadn't kept in touch with me since long. I then got to know that her relationship was going through a rough patch.

I had no clue about all this as she hadn't really told anyone about it. We spoke for a long time that day and it felt good to be updated about each other's lives. A big realization dawned on me that I had judged her too soon. I shouldn't have. I had seen things from my perspective, without thinking that there can be so many other reasons for her change in behavior.

We all do this, sometimes knowingly, and sometimes unknowingly; at work, at home, with friends. Sometimes we don't realize but we come to conclusions about how others behave towards us.

If someone's behavior changes suddenly (someone you have known from a long time), then there might be a reason for it. A reason which you don't know. You never know what someone is going through in their life, so you shouldn't judge them. May be just let it be, or may be just give it time. 

Thanks To All My Readers !

Today, my tiny blog reached 18k views! And I must say, I'm touched that my writing has managed to reach out to readers across the world.

I had never planned on starting to write, but it so happened one day by chance; and I continued it as and when I could.  It has been a long journey. 

They say that our friends encourage us and push us when we need to be pushed. They are there with us through thick and thin and I want to thank some of my friends who have been there since the start of my blog. You guys have always told me to continue writing no matter what.

While I write, I don't plan the post much in advance. I have an idea or a topic, and I just go with the flow of it. I have always kept my writing simple and true, so that everyone can relate to it. Some of it is fiction, some parts are general views and other parts are inspired from real life.  

My readers !!!!

A big thanks to all the readers from all over the world, especially from my country India.  You guys have been very supportive and encouraging! 

If I have managed to touch even a few lives through my posts, I consider my little blog to be a success. :)  I have never written for fame or commercialization. I write for the love of writing, and my theme revolves around life.  If my readers are inspired or touched by my work then nothing makes me happier. 

I do hope to continue writing, and I do wish that all you readers continue to read my posts.  I hope I continue to brighten up, inspire and touch the emotions of my readers in the future! 

Once again, thanks guys!!!! :) Lots of love to all of you. Muaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh :) 

Just Another Story

Astha was a Tulu Brahmin and she stayed at Chennai with her family.  Astha had an elder brother who was settled in the US with his wife.  She hailed from a middle class family and was a software developer.  She was very creative and enjoyed singing in her free time. She was 29.

Amay lived in Bangalore.  He was a Tamil Brahmin and was his parent's only son.  He was a Business Analyst in a leading software company. He was also into theater during his free time. Amay also came from a simple and close knit family.  He was 31.

Astha and Amay met each other a few months ago through a common friend.  They had met just once, but decided to be in touch through whatsapp and facebook.  After sometime, they started talking over the phone, and once they would start talking, they would continue for hours. Eventually they moved to Skyping each other almost daily.

Astha had gone to Bangalore to visit her friend Rashi one weekend and also met up with Amay during this visit.  By then Amay was serious about Astha and he knew that she was the girl of his dreams.

He proposed to her that quiet sunday evening at a Chai Point outlet. There were no chocolates or big gifts, as that would become very cheesy.  Amay got Astha two roses - one yellow rose and one red rose, and a ring.  He remembered Astha tell him that it is important to be friends first in a relationship.  The yellow rose signified friendship and the red signified love.

Amay also said the following lines to her:
"You complete me. You inspire me to become better in life. I am not perfect, but I will take care of you and love you forever. I'm bad at speeches, so to cut it short, ..will you marry me?"

 Astha was a very sensitive and emotional girl and Amay's proposal made her cry of happiness.  She said a "Yes" and he hugged her tight and kissed her forehead gently. She trembled out of emotion.  He was 6 feet tall and she was just 5.2 feet.  She looked tiny next to him, but his embrace comforted her.  She felt like she belonged in his arms.  She blushed and had a shy smile on her face. Her eyes still had tears.   Astha had liked Amay since the first time they had met but she wasn't the kind of girl who would propose a guy. She was the shy kind, and so she never spoke to him about it.

Astha had to return to Chennai that very night. Amay dropped her at the station.  She was happy that Amay proposed but sad that she had to leave Bangalore. She wanted to be with him, and spend more time together.  Long distance relationships can be difficult. 

After a month, Amay and Astha decided to speak to their families about each other. They wanted to spend their lives together. The news came as a shock for both the families as they had no clue about the relationship.  Amay came from a Tamil family and Astha was Tulu. This would be the first inter community relationship in their families.  

When Astha's and Amay's families met for the first time, they got along quite well, though there was a certain amount of nervousness in both them.

The engagement happened in a simple way. Only the families and a few close friends were present. After spending some time with each other, the families realized that there were so many differences in their customs.  She was Tulu and he was a Tamilian.  The families had to communicate in Hindi and English.

In the midst of all the differences, there was something that connected both the families as well.  It was their simplicity and goodness. It was their joy in the small things of life.  And most of all it was the love between Astha and Amay. It was also the shy smile and dreamy eyes of Astha, and the happiness on Amay's face.  These things were enough for the cultural differences to be wiped off.

After a lot of confusion, and new customs, Astha and Amay got married.  They got married twice - one in the Tulu style and the other in the Tamil style. The guest list was kept small - families, close friends and some near and dear ones. 

And that is the story of Astha and Amay. 

-- The above post comes under the category 'Fiction'. Any feedback is welcome. 

A Pen and Paper

We all live a fast paced life. Life is not the way it used to be many decades ago. Many years back, life was simpler. People had more time for themselves, there was no virtual world.  People went for walks, did gardening, read more books.

Though we have progressed a lot, at times we can feel tired with the fast pace of life.  Sometimes we feel disconnected with ourselves or think where the world is rushing to.  And at times like that it is best to get back to basics. Writing down our thoughts as they come in the morning or before going to bed is a great exercise. This process is also called as Journaling and has been around since ages. It doesn't require any extra stuff. All we need is paper and a pen.

When we write, we need to go with the flow. Write the thoughts as they come. Don't control or stop anything. Don't resist any thoughts and ideas. Just allow it to come out onto the paper. Sometimes, we will not know where to start, and at times like this we just need to write whatever comes to our mind first. And allow the words to flow out without us judging ourselves.  We will sometimes have a lot to write - many pages, ideas and inner dialogue. Or at times a couple of pages will suffice.

Whatever it is, just let it be. And once we are done, we should read what we wrote. In the middle of all the extra words and thoughts, we might find some valuable insights about ourselves.

This practice is useful for getting into the state of mindfulness, where we let out what is going on in the mind to make space for new ideas and thoughts. Journaling has proven benefits for stress relief, calming the mind, and getting into a state of being in the present moment. It is also regarded as a form of meditation, just like Zen doodles.

This was practiced by ancient monks and bright minds long ago. Older generations also wrote regularly. It is only with the advent of phones and computers that we lost touch with this practice.

Journaling is gaining a lot of importance now as people are realizing the benefits of this practice.  So those of you who haven't written in a long time, go grab a dairy or sheets of paper and a pen and get scribbling! 

Ankit Becomes Invisible

Ankit worked as a sales manager at a small company in Chennai.  He originally belonged to Coimbatore and had moved to Chennai for work.  He lived in an apartment with two other guys.  A normal day in Ankit's life started with a morning walk at the nearby park. He got back after 30 minutes and got ready for work.  He was at office by 9:30AM sharp.  His long day would get over by 7:00PM, after which he would head back home exhausted.

Ankit worked for a small firm. He wasn't very happy with his job. He wanted a higher position and more salary.  Most of Ankit's friends were settled; some in India, some abroad.

One day Ankit went to a shop with his friend to buy a tee shirt. It was Pongal time, and he felt like gifting himself a tee shirt.  Ankit picked up a gray tee shirt and left. He didn't bother to try it out as he knew it would fit him. He had to go home the next morning as it was Pongal season.  While he was packing his bag, he tried his new tee shirt on.  He didn't feel that anything was different until he looked in the mirror and couldn't see himself!! He got very scared and removed the tee shirt immediately.  He was able to see himself now! For a moment, he froze out of fear and shock! He couldn't understand what had just happened. He tried wearing it again, and the same thing happened. Again and again and again. It took him an hour to get to terms with the fact that the tee shirt made him invisible. How and why, he didn't know.

He wore the tee shirt again and this time he went to his housemate's room. His housemate was listening to music and doing some work.  He entered the room, and the housemate had no clue he was there. Ankit confirmed that the tee shirt indeed had the power to make him invisible.

Ankit had always envied his housemate Alok because he had a much better job. He earned a fortune and owned a big house in Pune.  Ankit had thought that his life was great - a big house, a huge salary, lots of savings.  But that day, Ankit heard Alok speaking to his aunty. Alok wasn't in talking terms with his parents and siblings. The only person who spoke to him was his aunty.  He spoke of how much he missed his parents and sisters and longed for their presence in his life.  All of this came as a big shock to Ankit , as he hadn't anticipated all this.  Ankit didn't wait in the room much; he left.  He got back to his room and wondered why Alok's family broke their relationship with him. He didn't know.

Ankit took his tee shirt with him the next morning to Coimbatore. He was very amazed with it's super powers and didn't want to keep it away. Pongal is celebrated in a grand way in Tamil Nadu. Ankit family and relatives had come home and grand celebrations were on.  Ankit 's relatives ask him the usual question when they met him - when was he planning on settling down.  Ankit had to answer to everyone patiently.  Some of his cousins made fun of him.  He felt quite bad and sometimes wished he had also got married earlier.

One of his cousins Suraj had come from America. His wife and daughter couldn't join him as the daughter had her classes.  Suraj's marriage was spoken to have been one of the most perfect weddings of the family.  His wife was beautiful, and both of them had great jobs. Suraj was the ideal guy of the family - a very big salary and a good marriage.  Ankit's relatives always compared him with Suraj.  Ankit had felt quite envious of Suraj many times before.

That evening Ankit tried out his invisibility tee shirt and was walking around outside his house. He didn't want to speak to anyone for a while, and so he wore the tee shirt.  As we walked, he spotted Suraj speaking on the phone. He spoke of how he hardly ever saw his wife, let apart speaking with her. Both of them were highly successful in their careers, had made a lot of money, but their marriage was empty.  To the world they were a super successful family, but in reality their life was empty.

Many such small incidents happened after Ankit got the tee shirt.  It made him realize a very important thing. He had always thought he wasn't fortunate enough, rich enough, and successful enough. But he now saw that the person who had a huge salary was lonely. Money and success were there, but life as such had no meaning. They say money can't buy happiness, and Ankit had seen it for himself.  The person whose marriage appeared great to society was actually miserable. That day Ankit realized that he should stop complaining about his life and just be grateful for it. He had a job,a family, and so many other blessings.  His life was good.

We sometimes feel that others have it easy or that they are better off than us. But in reality, everyone has their own story. Most of the time, we don't know what someone is going through. So the best we can do is to not judge another person, and to trust that our life is the way it is meant to be. What works for someone might not work for us.

We set ourselves free the moment we trust in the timing of our life and when we stop comparing our life with others. 

Chance? Destiny? Or Just Life?

Richa had just moved to London to pursue her Masters in Art History.  She hailed from Ooty, a small and beautiful hill station in India.  Richa was 28, very independent, smart, and a coffee addict.  She was an introvert and had a small circle of friends whom she cherished.  She loved reading books and she always had one with her, no matter where she went. Books took her to another world, far away from the real world.

Richa had recently got engaged to a family friend's son Ashwin.  He was a doctor, looked very good and was a decent guy.  Ashwin worked in Hyderabad.  He lived with his family and owned a pet labrador.

The first month that Richa spent at London went in her getting adjusted to the new place.  She didn't know anyone there, and felt quite home sick.  She kept herself busy reading more books and studying.  She had always wanted to move outside India for higher studies and in spite her parents telling her to not apply, she did.  She was a good student and got admission in one of the best colleges in London.  Her parents were sad and anxious to send their only daughter to a new country but as for Richa it was a dream come true.

Ashwin spoke to Richa once every few days.  The difference in time zones, his job and her studies made it difficult for them to catch up daily; and they were just getting to know each other.  Richa's mother was a close friend of Ashwin's mother and that is how they came to know each other.

Richa was very ambitious.  She worked as an art director at a studio in Ooty for a few years before deciding to pursue higher studies. She had a boyfriend in college, but once college was over they parted ways.  Richa was busy with work after that and she never really met anyone worth dating ever since.  When her mother asked her about Ashwin, she said yes as he was known to her family.

Richa's classmates comprised of people from many countries.  There were a few Indians as well but they didn't speak much to her. After a couple of months of her first semester, she was grouped with Jake for a project submission.  Jake was from Singapore and had come to London to study Art.  Jake had always wanted to visit India, but never got the chance to.  Richa and Jake became friends instantly.  They were comfortable in each other's company.  Richa taught Jake to speak some sentences of Tamil and Hindi.  There were two other people in their group doing the same project and they hailed from Australia.

Jake had had many girlfriends during the course of his life. But after meeting Richa, something changed in him.  He had never felt anything like what he felt for Richa.  There was something about her that lit up his heart.  Jake had fallen in love with Richa.  But he knew that Richa was engaged to Ashwin and so never spoke about his feelings to her.

Their course got over, and everyone parted ways.  They had completed their Masters in Art History and  their happiness knew no bounds.  Richa moved back to India after her course and Jake to Singapore.  They remained in touch even after their course. They would talk over skype and discuss everything from Art to movies to food to their lives.  Richa started working in a museum at Goa and Jake took up research in the field of art.

Time moved on and slowly Richa and Jake got busy in their own lives and lost touch.  Richa was planning on getting into entrepreneurship eventually.  Jake wanted to become an art researcher.

A couple of years had passed by.  The prestigious Noman Art Fest and Award Ceremony was happening at London and Richa was attending it.  She was part of the alumni volunteer group of her college.  Jake happened to have been selected for the Youngest Contributor in Art Research Award.  It so happened that life brought Richa and Jake back in touch with each other.

Richa wore a Kerala sari and a big bindi for the event and was looking absolutely stunning.  Jake saw her and felt himself feeling the same way for her as he had when they were classmates.  He was still in love with Richa.  After speaking to her, he got to know that she and Ashwin had decided to part ways a year after she returned to India.  Both of them didn't feel any connection.  They weren't in love.  As for Jake, he wasn't dating anyone and kept himself busy with his research work.

That evening Richa and Jake spoke for a very long time. They spoke about everything they had missed out in each other's lives, and what was going on in their lives. To Jake's surprise Richa told him that she too had liked him while they were studying but hadn't said anything to him since she thought he didn't feel the same way for her and that he had someone else. And she was engaged to Ashwin.

Destiny, fate or chance? Or just life? No one knows. But that day Jake proposed to Richa without a ring and Richa said a Yes! There was no Ashwin or any girlfriend to come in between them. They were meant to find each other and they did.  Life has strange ways of working.  Two people from two different countries were destined to meet each other in another country and fall in love. And they did.

They got married in Ooty, and moved to Singapore a week later. And Jake's wish to visit India came true, in fact he now became part of an Indian family.

Finding Inspiration

We all have those times when we feel like we need a little extra inspiration. It could so happen that while we are working hard, we feel a little confused or our focus is blurred.  It's a race out there and at times we can end up questioning where is everyone (including us) headed to.

Inspiration can come to us from unexpected places and at a time when we don't expect.  It can come from nature, a pet, a stray, a movie, a known person or a complete stranger. We always need to be on the lookout for inspiration.

I have personally found nature to be very healing and relaxing. It teaches us to be patient and take one step at a time.  After all, if we observe flower, it blooms only when the time is right.  Not one day before, not one day later. Fruits grow during the season when they are meant to. They don't hurry to grow or ripen.

I saw a video by a completely unknown person today. It was a very short video, and what he had to say wasn't much. But it had deep meaning, and made a big difference in my life. I hadn't meant to watch his video but it just so happened.  What he said was that it is important to get away from it all every once in a while. And ask ourselves why do we do what we do. So if we take up learning a new language and feel demotivated after a while, we need to ask ourselves why did we start in the first place. This helps us get things into perspective. It gives us some fresh thoughts and ideas.  He also spoke about how he goes running every morning and how it helps him clear his mind. He returns feeling motivated, and good. The video is really short but I highly recommend it to anyone needing some focus and inspiration. I will share the video details at the end of this post.

Inspiration can also come from family or friends, or at times strangers.  My sister has always brought me back on track every time I felt I was lost or confused. They also say that it is not the quantity of friends you have in life, but the quality of the relationship you share with them.  Some of my friends have seen me at the best and not-so-best times. They inspire me as well.

So every time you feel your clarity is blurred or you need motivation, turn to someone or something that inspires you. A pet, a plant, a walk, the stars, your friends, or yourself.

And keep shining.

The video details: Why I Made This Design Channel By Cody Brown.

La Luna

Nikhil and Priya hailed from Karnataka.  Nikhil was a software developer in a company in Bangalore.  Priya was in the midst of switching careers.  She worked in a PR firm for a few years, but eventually realized that her passion was somewhere else. She then took up some courses and was studying to get into a new field.  She too lived in Bangalore.

Priya was a simple and fun loving girl.  She found happiness in the little things of life, like a hot cup of masala chai.  She was very talented and was still finding her place in the world.  She had hit her 30 a year back and her family and relatives were concerned about her wedding. A Mr. Right had to be found for her soon, or else all the Mr. Rights in the world would be taken, according to her relatives.  While all this was happening in Priya's life, a similar pattern of events was going on in Nikhil's life as well. He was a couple of years older than her, and his family wanted him to find his Ms. Right soon. Nikhil was the serious kind. He read a lot of books, participated in theater, and enjoyed instrumental music. He was a tabla player himself, and still played the tabla at local functions when he got the time. 

Nikhil's proposal came for Priya through an aunty and both the families were very excited even before anyone had really met.  After a few days, Nikhil came to Priya's home with his family and they spoke for a while. The families liked each other and so did Nikhil and Priya. In the days to come, they decided to meet up a few times and after about a couple of months, they realized they had found 'The One'.  The families were very happy that the marriage was fixed.

In India, marriages are a huge affair. People spend months planning and organizing the function. For many people, it's all about candid photography, clothes, food and all of this. Many people prefer having destination weddings. Priya and Nikhil's parents wanted to make the wedding a very big event. They wanted a lavish wedding. They thought of places for the wedding, but couldn't find any idea that hadn't been thought of  before. Beach weddings were common, hill stations were also increasingly common these days. They also thought of places like Rajasthan, but then that again was common. 

"So what now?", asked Aunty N (Nikhil's mom). To which Aunty P (Priya's mom) replied "I just thought of a wonderful idea. Why not have the wedding on the Moon?"  Aunty N was a little startled but seemed to love the idea just as much as Aunty P. "But can we really do that?", asked Aunty N. "Öh yes, absolutely! Lets start our planning", replied Aunty P.

A spacesuit designer was specially called  from Mysore. He had many years of experience in the field of designing ethnic and rich looking spacesuits, with lots of intricate work.  The color of Priya's spacesuit was peach with gold and lots of stone work and Nikhil would be in a blue spacesuit.  The theme of the wedding would obviously be "The Moon".  Invitation cards were printed and everyone was busy getting ready for the wedding. 

Priya couldn't believe that the families were actually planning a Moon wedding. "Are they serious?", she asked Nikhil. Nikhil gave a blank look. He was yet to believe it too. Priya and Nikhil got along really well. In-spite of all the differences in both of them, they never got bored with each other. And there was a mutual affection between them.  They connected really well. Both of them didn't like loud functions. Simplicity was their cup of tea. But as far as their wedding was concerned, no one paid heed to what they were looking for - A simple and warm function with a few important people. 

Aunty P and Aunty N had a tuff time finding a caterer. All the caterers said they only took assignments on earth. After a lot of search, Nikhil's dad found a Rajasthani caterer, who agreed to prepare a few Karnataka dishes as well. He asked for a space suit to be designed specially for him. He wanted his spacesuit to have the logo of a camel on it. Aunty N frowned but eventually agreed to the demand as he was the only caterer available for a moon assignment. 

Most of the arrangements were made, except that there was no pandit available who would travel to the moon. An uncle offered to disguise as a pandit, but this idea was ruled out by the others. What they needed was an actual pandit. 

In the midst of all this, Priya and Nikhil felt very stressed out. He had a job that took most of his time, and she was busy figuring out her new career field and courses. The moon wedding to top it all up freaked both of them out. 

A wedding is nothing but a function that celebrates the union of two people. Why complicate it so much? Why think of wedding themes that take up so much energy when all that matters is that the two people to be married are happy with each other?  All these thoughts went through the minds of Priya and Nikhil. They discussed this every day with each other. They didn't find any meaning in such complicated functions. They felt that the personal touch of the function seemed to have got lost.  

A lot of planning continued, and there was no end to the number of event managers the families had met. A lot of it seemed so superficial and unnecessary to Priya and Nikhil. 

"I really want to get away from all this. So much stress for a wedding, that too our wedding, that too on the moon!!!?? ", said Priya. Nikhil was equally tired of all the unnecessary drama and preparation. "Are you thinking what I am thinking?", asked Nikhil. "How will I know what are you thinking, Nikhil?" , asked Priya, astonished. "Let's just have a register marriage. It is simple, and easy. We will speak to our families and if they don't agree, we'll elope ", said Nikhil after taking a sip of chai. " Eloping in an arranged marriage does sound funny, but that would actually mean we can get married on earth, and not involve the moon wedding", said Priya. 

Though they had made all plans to elope, they didn't really have to.   The moon wedding had to be cancelled as no pandit agreed to travel to the moon.  Nikhil and Priya had a register marriage some time later! The families were very disappointed, but most of the important people attended the function. And that is what mattered.  The Rajasthani caterer was asked to handle the reception and he wore his camel spacesuit to it. 

What matters is how well Nikhil and Priya got along, and not how big their wedding function was. We can find happiness in the simplest of things.

<< My first attempt at writing fiction. Feedback is welcome. >>

Just Another Sunday

I don't usually write about movies on my blog but this post is among the few that come in that category.  I love movies that we as common people can connect to - the simple, straight forward movies without too much of superficiality; movies that talk about real life and not some villian and hero chase.

One such movie that I absolutely loved was 'Tu Hai Mera Sunday'.  This is an old film (2016), which I somehow never got to watch until now.  I came across it by chance today and am glad I watched it.  It is about 5 friends who love to play football.  It is shot in the city of Mumbai.  It is very different from the usual Bollywood masala movies, and comes with a dose of reality and simplicity. This movie warms the heart. Most of the cast are not very famous but they are really talented.

The movie makes us realize how each of us has a story and how everyone is dealing with something in their lives. A young lady is abandoned by her husband and she lives with two small children in a flat, yet she always has a smile on her face. It breaks the heart to see her alone with her small kids but her attitude towards life is wonderful!

An old man leaves home and is brought back by Arjun (one of the 5 friends).  The helpful nature of Arjun touches the heart once again. He is shown as a sensible and sensitive guy. He follows his heart, and doesn't follow the crowd.  He is romantic but in a non-dramatic way.  He also happens to be one of my favorite characters in the movie. Arjun's character is played by Barun Sobti, whose performance is very good in the movie.  And Barun is soooooooooooo cute !! :)

The movie portrays day to day life, the tiny incidents that happen, and the many moments that make up life.  There is humor, anger, rage, fear, insecurity, vulnerability, and an array of emotions.

The way Milind Dhaimade, the director of the movie has depicted the emotion of love is also beautiful.  It is very simple, real, deep and non-perfect.  In today's world where relationships are so complicated, and many people go out with each other just for superficial reasons, this movie shows love for what it is. A beautiful and complex human emotion. None of the characters plan on meeting each other, but unexpected events bring them together. Something like destiny maybe.  There are no dramatic romantic songs or long dialogues. Everything just happens at it's pace during the course of the movie. The chemistry between the characters is good.

I really hope more such movies are made in future. Stories that we connect to, that we enjoy watching and that are great with a cup of chai :)

They Don't Need To Get It

We live in a world where society expects us to live a certain way and be a certain way.  Right from the time a child is born, he or she is expected to fit in. If a child doesn't get good marks in his or her exams, he or she is termed as a 'failure' by society.  If a child is quiet or hyperactive, then again society classifies him or her as a child with issues. It is not just during childhood that all this happens. It affects us adults as well.

Society has so much expectation of us in every part of our life. If we happen to be a little different from what we are supposed to be (as per society) then we are questioned for sure.  What has happened to us is that we are taught to be part of a herd (as Paulo Coelho mentions in the book The Alchemist).  We are not encouraged to think outside the box. We are confined by society.

But what if we don't like following rules? What is we see things differently? What if we want to move out of that herd and see what lies outside? What if we want to live life our way and not the herd way? Something like Jonathan Livingston Sea Gull, who knew that he didn't really fit in and yet he learnt how to fly. Many gulls scolded him and made fun of him, but he didn't give up. He knew there was something beyond the crowd and and there was more than what he had been taught to see. He discovered Freedom.

So if you feel like you don't entirely belong in the crowd, it is probably because you are different and you see things in a different way. The worst thing you can do is suppress yourself just to be like them.  It is ok to be who you are, even if it means you are not like 'THEM'.  Dress up your way, break a few rules, travel, sing a song, adopt a cat, whatever it be just follow your heart. 

Don't give up on your dreams just because of people and the crowd.  Not everyone will understand where you are in life, nor will they relate to it. And that is ok. Most people are busy in their own lives.   They won't always get it and you don't need to explain. Once you take a step towards accepting who you are, the universe helps you out in small and big ways.  After all, " It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."- Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist.

The Dairy Of Naomi

Many people are looking at me and most of them appear amazed. Some of them clap their hands, and the others are too busy clicking selfies with me in the background. Some of the kids try to speak to me while the others are just too busy staring at me! Ok, now this is a little irritating. Why do they have to look at me and take my photographs? My eyes hurt because of the flash. And the sound of the camera is one of the most unpleasant sounds I have heard. Can't these people get a life? Can't they mind their own business? How would they feel if my friends and I did the same to them? And now here comes another wierdo who is actually throwing food at me! I mean seriously, back-off dude!! I have more than enough food for myself and I don't need the stuff you just threw at me.

Oh in the midst of all the anger and desperation, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Naomi the rabbit. I live in the Waffles Zoo at the 5th Street. I got here when I was 4 months old. The older buds I have say my uncle left me here. No one really knows about my mom and dad. No one has seen them. I feel a deep urge to meet them and ask them why they left me. But since the time I remember the zoo has been my home. While I was a kid I used to enjoy the attention but now, I have changed. Grown up maybe?

  I have a nice group of friends at the zoo. They are of all age groups. The elder ones seem more matured than me and are not as sensitive as I am. They don't care about how many selfies people take with them, and many of them are not really bothered. The old ones have reached a state of apathy (which is scary).

As for me, I really want to get out of this zoo. I mean, imagine being born and spending your entire life entertaining other people? Being around people who don't know you, who don't really care about you, and who are just there to look amazed. I mean I can't spend the rest of my life like this. I want to get the hell out of the Waffles Zoo and discover myself.

I want to see places, climb a bus, have red and orange carrots and see if I can actually spot the difference between them. I want to have an adventure before I grow old. I want to live for me and not as an object of attraction for these strangers. I hate being the center of attraction anyways. It is such a big, wide world. There are so many mountains, grasslands, lakes and rivers. There are volcanoes and there are wild sunsets. And all of that is much better than living my life locked up in a zoo. I want to run away from here, I want to fall in love, I want to have an adventure of some kind.  The zoo isn't really my place.

I don't really know when I fell asleep thinking about all this. The next day I opened my eyes and found myself in a completely new place. I was in a room that looked very beautiful. There were red and orange carrots kept near me and a bowl of water. "Where am I, I wondered!". I knew it definitely wasn't the zoo! I was a little anxious as a new situation in life is always a cause of anxiety. I got up and went towards the window. There was a beautiful garden outside. "Öh you are up! My darling rabbit", said a voice. I turned around and saw a little girl. She said her name was Tina. She knew everything about me. My thoughts, my dreams, my anger and fear. I wondered how. She then said she could communicate with animals. She understood their language and thoughts. That was her super power.

She had come to visit Waffles the previous week and heard me saying that I wanted to move out of the zoo.  She then decided to take me out of there and wrote a letter to the zoo authorities. Her dad knows the manager there and so here I was - at her house.  She said I could stay there for as long as I wanted and leave whenever my heart wanted to!!

I couldn't really believe it! How my life had changed so much. It was totally unexpected. And all I could tell myself at that moment was 'Miracles do happen. So never stop dreaming, as you never know when your dream will come true! '

-- The Dairy Of Naomi

Dexter's Story

"Hey guys!!" I'm Dexter, a 3 year old Lab. I'm beige in color and oh ya my paws are white. That is probably because my father was white in color. I live on the 21st Street in Blossom Town with my owner, master and family - Ray. Ray is the best owner any dog can have. He is caring and at the same time gives me space to bark my heart out when I want to. He doesn't mind my chasing away pigeons with my right paw. I love sleeping and I also snore at times, but Ray has never scolded me for snoring loudly. Ray and I love exercising. Both of us are very sporty. We run for an hour every morning at 6 AM. And I love running with Ray. Where do we run? Oh, there is a park near by and it's the perfect place to run and exercise.

I'm handsome, super sexy, have many fans in the park, I live a healthy and fit life and have a wonderful master who gives me yummy chicken, leafy vegetables, potatoes and rice. Occasionally I also get pampered with some ice cream from Ray!

I thought my life was perfect until one day everything changed! Life took a new turn and my perfect life felt not-so-perfect. Yes yes, I know, you must be wondering what happened that changed everything. Lily happened!

Lily had just moved into the next house with her master. I usually hate having neighbors right next to us because their loud human voices and languages that I don't understand irritate me and disturb my sleep. But this time it was different, because Lily was there.  I first saw her at her balcony, looking deeply at the aquarium her owner had just placed. Lily was a mix of white, brown and black colors - a rare combination I must say. She was small built, looked tiny but very pretty. There was something unique about her.

Now you will ask me what breed she was?  Ok, let me tell you - she was not a dog like me, but a cat! Ok, laugh if you must but the truth still remains that I fell in love with a cat! It was love at first sight for me. They say you never know when love happens and it defies all logic and turns your life upside down. Well, that is what happened to my perfect doggy life. I would sit for hours and look at her balcony in the hope that I would get to see her. And when I would, my eyes would light up. Her voice was very childlike. It wasn't rough like the other cats. There was a certain kind of innocence in her and that is what I liked about her. She was the dreamy kind, most of the time in her own world.  I can go on and on about Lily but I guess this is enough introduction about her.

One morning, my uncle Jimmy (the black lab from the next street) had come to meet me at the park  and he noticed a change in me. He asked me what the matter was and when I told him I had fallen in love with Lily, he fainted! I then had to ask Ray to get some water and sprinkle it on his face.  Once Jimmy was up, he tried to talk me out of the idea of asking Lily out. He said 'she is different from you. There is nothing common between you. How on earth can you think about her (a feline species!!)' Jimmy said he would introduce me to some awesome doggy ladies from the neighborhood.  There was a black Pomeranian called Sheela, a pug called Rixy, and I think he said about a dalmatian called Ash! But all my heart wanted was Lily. Yes, Lily my cat.

The biggest worry Jimmy had about Lily and I was our language. I mean come on, I bark and she miaws. How on earth will we communicate? How would she understand what I meant and how will I get what she says! Well, yeah Jimmy had a point - a very valid point actually. But then you know what? I told Jimmy I would learn the miaw language for Lily. Jimmy gave me a long lecture that lasted for about half an hour and when he was done, he left. I am sure he was still in shock!

After about six months, I still felt the same about Lily. I would wait to hear her voice and see her come out of her house. My taste of music changed and now I listened to dreamy and soft doggy songs. I also listened to some cat songs and enjoyed them just as much.  Her presence definitely had an effect on me. If Ray knew that I had fallen for Lily and fallen so bad, I am sure he would have understood and helped me out as I have heard that human beings also have something called inter community relationships.  But mine isn't even an inter community relationship, it is inter species!!

I was a little scared of what my family would do if they had known about Lily. She was beautiful, cute, adorable and childlike but then she was a CAT! And a dog and a cat can't fall in love! At least according to the world they can't. I am sure Lily had no clue of what I felt for her. But six months had passed and I decided to tell her about my feelings with a ring and an imported fish from the Indian Ocean. (Cats love fish, that is why.)

I took Jimmy with me to the ring shop and picked up one with a fish shaped stone. I got our names engraved on it just to personalize it more. My Indian Ocean fish had been ordered online, and it would reach me in a while.

Everything was ready and I had practiced what to say to Lily a million times in front of Jimmy until Jimmy had a headache. I was scared, a little anxious, but my heart beat very fast. I felt excitement that I had never felt before. I didn't care about anything - the other dogs, cats, our language issue, etc. I just knew I had to tell Lily.

That day Lily didn't come out from her house. I was worried, but I waited for her. Much later Jimmy came and said Lily and her family had shifted to England.

Ok, guys so that is my story. Now it's time for my daily run with Ray and Jimmy is planning to join us from now on. Bye guys!"

Brinkley Lands On Earth

It was a usual morning in India. The monsoon shower had just got over and it was starting to get sunny. A small part of the rainbow was visible in the sky. A child who was waiting for his school bus along with his mom looked at the rainbow in awe.  Dogs were sleeping near newspaper shops. Buses and auto rickshaws were honking loudly. Vegetable vendors were neatly laying the fresh vegetables down.

A spaceship was traveling far away in space. It started from the moon of Saturn and was on it's way to Mercury and back.  That morning, the spaceship happen to cross Earth and Brinkley (one of the aliens in it) was awestruck at the beauty of our planet. Shades of blue with a hint of green and white and brown! He instantly felt a deep desire to land on Earth, if just for a while. He spoke to the others and after a long discussion they said they would drop him off on Earth and let him explore. They would be back after some days. Brinkley was very happy.

After a few hours, the spaceship hit Earth's surface and Brinkley was dropped off here. Due to the fact that he belonged to an advanced alien race, he didn't have issues adjusting to Earth's atmospheric changes. He landed near Hyderabad and in a while reached old Hyderabad. He looked quite different from us, he was pale green in color, was a little shorter that human beings and had very deep eyes. While most people looked at him and passed by, no one really came to speak to him. He was excited as he was on a totally new planet but he also felt a little lost.

After he walked for a while, he reached a shop where people were sitting and eating. He saw mostly groups of people, and wondered where to sit. He spotted a boy who was sitting alone and he went to him. The boy looked a little sad and depressed. When he first saw Brinkley, he was amazed. He wasn't scared but he was very curious. Brinkley and he spoke and in some time they seemed to have become friends. Brinkley said he had a few days on our planet and he wished to enjoy himself.

The boy told him a few thing that he could think of.

1. Try the masala chai in a road side shop

2. Have pani puri from any small chat shop

3. Make a visit to a nice city like Rajasthan and sit on the camel there.

4. Sit on a gaint wheel

5. Go to an ocean that isn't crowded

6. Visit Ooty in the toy train.

Brinkley had a long list now. He knew that he would have a great time. He asked the boy to join him and both of them started off with their list.  His advanced powers meant that he could travel across cities at the speed of light. He didn't need a train or bus (how cool is that!). He took the boy along.

After his holiday on Earth, Brinkley felt like a new being. He had made a friend on Earth, seen some places, listened to the sound of the ocean waves, tried some yummy food, and also done some shopping. He bought himself a kurta and mundu.   Brinkley's spaceship came to take him back after some time. Brinkley left with a heavy heart but one that was filled with many memories.

He also took with him a huge box of pani puris for his friends in the spaceship.

Friendship .....................

"Good Friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you know they are always there." This is a wonderful quote that is so true.

Most of us have many friends - they are the people we meet at school, college, office or life brings them into our life in some way. But out of these people, some of them become our true friends. They say that the best things happen when you least expect. A true friend will most likely be the person you never thought you would ever be in touch after college or work. They might be people you smiled at but never really spoke. And as life progresses, these people come back into your life and become your true friend. 

Talking a little more about true friends - 

Most of my true and close friends are those whom I had never thought I would be friends with. Most of my friendships have taken time to develop and eventually we have reached a point of 'forever friends'. 

So how do we know if someone is a true friend? 

Well, this is a tuff one! But I guess we will know. Our heart will tell us who is true and who is not. And if I have to be a little more specific, then some of the points to know are:

1. A true friend will always tell you the truth no matter how much it sucks. So, if you get a new hair cut and it looks hilarious on you, a true friend will tell it to you on the face. They won't sugar coat things. They wouldn't mind a few scoldings from you for having said the truth but no matter what they will speak the truth, 

2. They are true to you. 

A true friend will never lie to you or talk about you behind your back. They will never gossip about you. 

3. They accept you as you are.

So you might be a wierdo who loves to have chai at 12 midnight. Or you love watching romantic movies and you might even cry during one. You might want to take a late night walk in your pajamas and tees with a messy hair bun, or you are a hopeless dreamer who dreams of fairy tales and happy endings. No matter what, you are accepted just the way you are. You won't feel the pressure to change yourself just to fit in. You can be you without any worries whatsoever, and this is true friendship.

4. A very good listener and adviser.

We all have those moments when we need someone to listen to us. Someone to just listen. There are moments when we feel like talking for an hour or may be two hours. And all we need is a patient listener. Someone who not only hears us but listens to what we say. Someone who is attentive to what we are talking about and who is there through it all.  Just talking for an hour can be so relaxing and if a friend listens and advises us when we need advice then that sure is the trait of a true friend. 

5. You laugh at jokes which no one else understands.

There are times when all you need is some good laughter. And sometimes you need someone who can make you laugh and who laughs with you! 

6. Helpful people

Your true friends will always try to help you no matter what. Be it something small or big, they will be there for you!

They know the good, the bad and the ugly you. And yet they love you unconditionally. They see your flaws clearly but don't judge you. They might be people you never spoke to for a long time, but the friendship happened at it's own pace. A true friend happens unexpectedly. In fact most of the beautiful things in life happen when you don't plan or expect anything. 

So always keep your eyes open as you never know when you find a true friend!!

FREEDOM !!!!!!!!!!

Isn't it beautiful to watch a bird fly high in the blue sky? There is a certain emotion that arises in our heart when we see it. That emotion is Freedom. It makes the heart feel light and we automatically start smiling! There is immense power in freedom. It is one of the biggest gifts we can possess.

When we are free, we feel happy. We feel a sense of contentment. Our heart starts to sing. You know, the song in the heart? It doesn't really have a tune or any words, but it can be felt by the heart. I call it 'That Song'.

Life was meant to be lived freely. But in our society today, most of us have forgotten that we are free. We have so many things on our mind and in our lives, that we forget to appreciate the simple pleasure of being free.  So how can we feel free completely, if just for a moment?  According to me, it's best to start with the small things. So, if you want to take that trip, then go take it. If you  feel like learning something new, go learn it! If you want to color your hair red, go do it. Start with the small things that make you feel free, that make you feel like that bird in the sky.

There will always be people who will try to make you feel guilty for wanting to be free. The best thing - don't tell them about your plans. Just go and do what your heart tells you to. Society doesn't really need to know or judge you. There will always be uncles and aunties and unknown people who will question your freedom. They will ask you to be one among the herd. They will ask you to fit in. To be a good girl and follow rules. They will try to make you feel like something is wrong with you for being a freedom lover. But you know what? It doesn't really matter what anyone thinks. It is ultimately between You, your Heart and your Freedom. As long as you don't harm anyone, it is OK to be a Rule Breaker. And you can do it your way!

So find your FREEDOM and don't follow THEIR rules. Follow your HEART and be like that tiny bird in the sky.  And when the herd sees you on your own, doing your thing at your own pace, their hearts will also want to fly!! Their hearts will start singing as well.  And after a while, they will become birds too!! A sky full of free birds and souls!!

Them and Us

Our world consists of human beings, many species of animals and plants.  What connects all of us is that common force called 'Life'.  All of us are alive. Yes, we are. And in spite of the outer differences that we possess, the inner force that drives us to survive on earth is but the same.  

Human beings, out of all the life forms seem to have forgotten this connection. We have become so engrossed in our own life, that we have lost the connection with other forms of life. What has happened to us? Why are we in a constant state of rush, why are we forced to run the rat race, why are we made to think that we can survive by letting other forms perish?   We are so engrossed in our little stories of success, failure, promotions, relationships, etc. that we have forgotten to take care and respect Nature, plants and other animal species. 

All we see in big cities are huge buildings instead of lush green trees.  Our roads are filled with vehicles and smoke. Pigeons and other birds struggle to find a place to hide. Many species of animals have become extinct due to the shocking change we have brought about. 

The truth is that we can build a wonderful connection with plants and animals. A simple example-Adopt a plant and keep it at your home. Water it daily and spend 5-10 minutes with it each day. Try to connect to it. And in some time, you will feel a mutual connection. Plants have the ability to clear out stress and bring in harmony. So this is something you should definitely try. If you have space in your balcony, then you can make a small garden over there. Spend some time in your little garden and see the difference. You will feel fresh and happy. 

If you are an animal lover, and you stay at your home and not in a hostel, you can consider adopting a stray.  This is a big responsibility, so before getting into it, make sure you are prepared for it. If you are, then this is one of the best investments you can make in your life. A pet animal like a dog brings in unconditional love into your life. He doesn't expect much in return. All he asks for is care and affection. Animals also have tremendous healing power. They can relax you when you feel tired after a long day. Spending some time cuddling your pet is one of the best ways to rejuvenate. It is so much better than surrounding yourself with electronic devices. 

In olden days people lived in harmony with animals and plants, hence they lived healthier lives. These days, we live fragmented lives. We have pushed away all the others in our desire to move ahead. And this is costing us and no one else.  But, it is never too late to revive the connection we have with our fellow earthlings!! We might make some lasting friendships with them too! 

And trust me, it will be worth it.

Your Tribe !

We live in a big world filled with lots of people. And during the course of our life, we come across many kinds of people. Out of those who resonate with us, a select few become our tribe.  Our tribe can comprise of our family members, our friends or anyone else.

It is always nice to know your who your tribe is.  They are the ones who are there through thick and thin. They see you at your best and share your joy and happiness. They are the ones with whom you laugh, dance, make Maggi, watch a super boring movie, and do so many more things. They are the ones with whom you pluck mangoes off trees in your college, the ones with whom you go and color your hair red.

They are your people. They are your tribe. 

These are the people who don't care if you are in your pajamas and tee and your hair is a mess. They don't expect you to be at your best.  They are the ones with whom you can be YOURSELF, without the slight concern of being judged.  They are the ones you can go to, to have chai at midnight. The ones who don't get tired of listening to your never ending stories. They give you confidence when the world has taken it away from you, and tell you that you rock just the way you are.  They listen and not just pretend to hear you. They understand you even when you don't understand yourself. They are the ones who love you unconditionally for the mess that you are. These people never sugar coat things.  They are frank. They see the truth for what it is and tell it to you.  They are not people pleasers. You might not be in touch with them daily but when you speak, the connection remains.

They are your people. They are your tribe. 

These people have also seen you at your worst. While many people walk away or silently disappear from your life during the hard times, your tribe will always remain. They might be in another country or place, but they will never leave your life. They show you the silver lining when all you see are the clouds. They offer you the simplest solution when you go blank. If nothing, they just tell you that they are there.  And sometimes that is enough.  They are the ones with whom you can have the deepest conversations and not get bored.  They are the real people. They might come into your life at different times, but they are the ones who remain, long after the crowd has gone....

They are your people. They are your tribe.

Each of us has a tribe and they are the ones to be cherished....

Life !!

The journey of self discovery, of exploration, of finding our path! Well yes, that is where many of us are at our life right now. This phase of our life can be a little scary because we are pushed out of our comfort zone. Each day seems different yet the same. When we look closely, we realize that each day is showing us something about ourselves that we didn't know or were not consciously aware of - our likes, our dislikes, our interests, our priorities, our tribe or the people who resonate with us. Many things are changing in our life. Our dreams, our priorities, our circle of friends and those whom we trust, our area of interest, etc.

While this phase of our life is scary, it can also be a wonderful time if we allow it to be! No matter where you are, if you also feel like things around you are changing and that you are questioning your life and who you were previously, then some of these tips might just help you.

1. It is ok to be where you are..

Know that it is OK to be at this phase of your life. It might be a little intimidating because you are discovering and seeing life in a new light. But then, this is a beautiful change in your life and it is showing you who you truly are or truly can be! So embrace it!

2. Self Care 

When you are discovering your life path, it can get a little unsettling since you are in the middle of so much change. During this time, you should practise a lot of self care and self love! Exercise, do what you love, paint your nails, eat an ice cream, listen to some awesome music and dance your heart out. The simple pleasures of life can bring a lot of joy!

4. Many won't get it, and that is ok.

So, if you are at a place of discovery, you will feel like trying out things, learning things, starting something or leaving something. Sometimes even you won't know what your doing. And since ours is a society where if we are different, there will be those who will ridicule us or make fun of our journey. And that is ok. NOT EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET YOU. YOU DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF TO EVERYONE.  The right people will get it. 

5. Embrace being IMPERFECT

In our world where so much emphasis is given to being perfect (just look at the advertising industry), it can be a little intimidating to face our own imperfections that come up during a phase of self discovery. But we need to tell ourself that A REAL PERSON IS IMPERFECT. PERFECTION IS FAKE. So embrace all those imperfections :)

So to end my today's post, just remember to follow your path, your journey, and your timing in life. Don't compare yourself to a friend or family member. Everyone has a specific set of gifts and each one's life is timed differently. Go with the flow and rhythm of your own life!

Being a Konkani

So I'm back to writing after a long time.  And this time I'm writing about a topic I've never written about before.

Everytime people ask me what's my mother tongue and I say Konkani, I get a mixed response from them.  Some people think Konkanis are the same as Marathis. Others think we are the same as Tulu Brahmins. Some know about us. And then there are a few who haven't ever heard about our community.

Ours is a community which is spread across many parts of India. The Brahmin community has different sects like Goud Saraswat Brahmins, Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins, Rajapur Saraswat Brahmins, etc.  There is a slight difference in the dialect of Konkanis settled in different parts if India.  So, when a Mangalorean Konkani speaks to a Kerala Konkani, we find many differences  in our way of speaking. Over the generations, our language has taken in some of the words of the local community. So those of us living in Kerala use a few Malayalam words in our day to day conversations. The same happens with Mangalorean Konkanis, and those settled in other parts of India.

We can also find some differences in the cuisine.  Those of us settled in certain parts of India are pure vegetarians, while the others are not. There are some different dishes which are included in our food based on where we are settled.  In spite of these differences, there are many commonalities in our food. Delicacies include Patrodo (prepared from a leaf), Ghasshi, Val Val, Adgei, etc. Konkanis from all parts of India prepare these dishes or variations of them.

There are many theories of our origin. According to a theory, the Vedic people settled near the banks of river Saraswati and we are the descendants of these people. Some historians believe we were originally from Goa and fled to different parts during invasion of the Portuguese rulers. There are other theories as well.  Konkanis are around 6 million in population.

Ours is a community which is very old and has seen the rule of many dynasties, kings. It has lived through many changes. It has kept a little of each experience, but has not let go of its traditions and culture.

It's wonderful to be part of such a small, diverse and ancient community!

The Old Man At The Station

It was a usual day.  I alighted from the train and walked along the platform. There were many people -  a sea of people actually; all running towards their destinations. Some were college kids, with text books in their hands, memorizing some long theorem in their book.  And then there were the working people, who are always in a hurry. There were a few sales people with small bags of wonderful things. Their bags contained wonderful gemstone earrings, hair bands, clips and a large number of other things.

In the midst of all this, a little ahead of me was an old man. He looked very old. His hair was completely white. He wore a simple white shirt and brown trousers. He had a pair of spectacles. He carried a backpack which actually looked very cute on him.  There was something different and unique about this old man. He wasn't in a hurry towards any place. He did have a destination to reach, like all of us do, but he didn't rush. He took his time to enjoy every step. He observed his surroundings carefully with a look of contentment and peace.

After a while, I crossed him and started walking away. And then when I turned back, I could see him far away; strolling slowly and joyfully.

I sometimes wish we could all be like him. Being in the moment, and enjoying what it has to offer us. Instead, our society expects us to rush and reach our goals. It is a never ending race. People in MNCs are rushing to climb and reach the top of the corporate ladder. Children are made to rush to learn extra curricular activities and top their class with flying colors and grades. We even get to see people rushing to enjoy their weekends at malls, shopping centers, and restaurants. There is a rush for online shopping too!!

May be we can learn a lot from the old man - to quit the rush, to stop pushing so hard, to let go, just be in the moment, and enjoy the simple things of life!!