! A journey by train !

Sometimes I wonder how God handles all of us. Yes it includes ALL of us, everyone on this planet - human beings, animals, insects, every flora or fauna. We are indeed puppets in HIS hands as rightly said in an old Bollywood cinema. Everything happens for a reason and that too a good one. There is a reason behind the chirping of birds, there is a reason behind roar of a lion, there is a reason behind life and death, and there is a reason behind every accident and incident. In my, not very long lifespan, I have not come across any incident, which has not positively affected me. Even the mistakes & blunders did make a huge impact on the environment around us.

Recently I encountered an interesting episode, in which the mistakes done could have been a disaster, if it was not God's wish. But to view it in other way, again it was a lesson to teach how to avoid our carelessness and un responsive behaviour. And there is a third view to it as well, that there are infect many good people around us. Its up to us if we encounter them or not!

We were returning from small town of Punjab after attending a family function. Our trip was very comfortable while going from Delhi to a small green village in Punjab. We were traveling by train this time leaving our cozy comfort of the car. My husband actually does not like to go for long drives. :) Isn't this so unromantic? Anyways romantic long drives are there only in movies and TV. So we got our train ticket's print outs and identity cards to show at the time of travel. We boarded the train in the evening around 7 pm from Punjab to Delhi. As soon as we boarded we found ourselves in the compartment full of Sikh men and women. I was amazed because it cannot be a co incidence that whole compartment is full of Sikhs. In few minutes we came to know that the whole compartment is full of a group from Sikh community. They were coming back from holy expedition to their famous pilgrimage located in Amritsar. They were of all ages and gender. Women were doing their 'path' and men were also in the process of arranging seats to their people or just relaxing after their holy encounter. What was making me furious because some other people also occupied our seats? Especially I was annoyed, as I having habit to react very quickly on any action done in front of me. Well! My husband was just trying to understand the situation at that time instead of getting angry. He has this innate capacity to be calm and quiet in worst of situations. 

After discussion for few minutes, kids and me were given a seat in the nearby compartment. There also few of their seats were booked. After good 15 minutes of wait, my husband came to me and told me shyly that we carelessly checked the timings of train and our train to Delhi is already gone in the morning at 7 am. And that strange '24 hours format' has done it again. The moment he told me this, I gave him a stern look as if he belongs to some terrorist group. 

But it took only few seconds to regain my calm back. 

What amazed me was the behaviour and attitude with which people in the compartment held this situation, especially group of Sikh people. They not only gave us seats but also provided us the dinner for all. As it was a ticket, which would have provided us with dinner also, had we boarded the right train? My kids were accommodated comfortably and played throughout the journey with other kids in the train. Overall it was a pleasurable journey and a great learning experience.

Though we could not get a chance to formally thank them, but in my heart I prayed for them. 

This incident solidified my belief that we all are interconnected with each other in this world. 

It’s only about striking the right chord. And moreover its up to you only, what kind of people are attracted towards you - good or bad: clever or simple. 

! Rain again !

Whenever there is a rain be it in winters or summers, it makes me more vocal, active, romantic and I suddenly become eager to shed out words out of 'brain bank' about anything. Today in winters of January its raining outside and that too very heavily since morning. The wind is heavy and very cold. My kids are gone to school and husband to office. I am trying to take time out to write something amidst this cold winter morning. Well ! finally I got myself settled in front of my Mac and started typing on key board.

And suddenly I was out of words as if simply words were not coming to me. Then I realized that here I am sitting in the cozy comfort of my study room, enjoying this awesome weather, and there is someone out side my home, colony, city or country who is much less fortunate, struggling hard - full of frustration fighting a lone battle with this weather.

I mean what am I thinking ? Rains, baarish, mausam these all are beautiful romantic words for me and someone else's life is disturbed and shaken by these rains. Homeless will be drenched on the road and that will include small kids also. When I am bringing my kids in comfort of cars, umbrellas & raincoats, at the same time some kids will be shivering of cold in a broken shade without proper clothes forget about rain coat.

While I am writing and waiting for the hot lunch on my dining table, someone else is running pillar to post for a single cold meal of a day. When will those days come when fundamental rights to live respectfully will be provided to each and every one. Definitely, it can not be achieved only by thinking about it. It can only be achieved by moving our pretty ass from our cushioned seats and do something about it, create value or take responsibility of at least one child. Again this can not be preached or taught. This feeling has to come from inside, from the heart.

And then rest of the others will definitely follow. Like you, they will also follow their heart. Try to change life of atleast one individual, and that will change everything around.

And here I am from romanticize baarish to visualize roti, kapda aur makaan....at their basic level.

! Its your choice !

Oct 2012

Festive season is here again !

Lots of holidays, shopping, decorations and loads of fun. Days start running when this season of the year comes or it seems natural due to some movements in space and days become short and nights longer. Whatever it may be, things become special and enchanting. Markets display all their products with lots of specialties and heavy discounts. But God only knows if they give genuine cut in prices or its fake to lure the customers. Shopping bags become double in numbers and money vanishes from the purses.

During the same period when once I was spending/wasting my husband's wallet in one of the up class markets of metro city I met with a strange incident. 

Moving from one shop to the another I was feeling really good, as I purchased few accessories and clothes for myself. Of course ! What do you think? shopping begins with lady of the house and also ends at her fancy. Well ! I also bought some beautiful caricatures and art pieces for my home. I bought some nice n cute clothes for my boys. And then I entered another home furnishing shop, which I find the most attractive in the whole shopping area. I felt someone is following me since when I purchased those expensive caricatures for home. You know, women possess an EYE in their back, and if someone is looking at her in the crowd she will come to know at once. I could feel someone's eyes at my back. Suddenly I felt cold. I told myself that though I am alone but this market is full of all kind of people. I instantly discouraged the thought that no one helps you when you are in need in the open. Newspapers are full of these kind of horrible stories.

Being optimistic I again told myself that this is my doubt and  I won't be hurt in any ways. But my heart was saying something else and also thumping little faster than regular. Anyways I took a deep breath and tried to look out with all my might to see if someone suspicious is there. I was standing among the ultra beautiful light and wall hangings looking out, I saw a very crudely dressed man, in his 20's, darker than dark complexion, yellow teeth, cluttered hair locks, very thin, bare foot and very restless looking here and there. In the middle of such a beautiful things he looked more ugly. His eyes were marble white with dark black pupil filled with remorse and concern. Now I was sure that this man is following me. I felt little afraid of him but little only, somehow he was not scary.

Till now I was totally out of my shopping mood and my mind was fast running like a horse who wants to reach at its destination.But now what should I do? Moreover the effective sales man inside the showroom was also diverting me from my thinking horses. Sales man wanted to sell some awesome stuff to me. Anyways I have to face it. Should I take help of sales man or some one else or I should sort this on my own?

That moment was like an hour for me in which I was given a question paper and I don't even know a single answer. Being hard hearted and strong has its own disadvantages, the one I faced now. And I decided to be on my own. I gathered all my might and remembered my God and came out of that amazing palatial showroom. I started walking fast towards metro station, now again I could feel those Black and White eyes on my back. Now that was frosty. I was almost running while walking as evening had started putting its grey blanket on the mother earth and grey was always very scary and creepy. As I left the market area I started feeling calm, it seems there is no one following me now. I slowed down a little and tried to look back. Damn ! this cervical pain, I can't even move my neck. So I turned myself completely to look back. And there was no one. As if there was no one following me. There were regular people moving around. I took a breathe of relief after such a long time. I smiled inside. And as I turned back to move to metro station, He was standing in front of me. I was zapped to see him. Before I could do something, he said," Madamji, yeh apka samaan gir gaya tha, mein apko bahut der se dhoond raha tha, maaf karna madamji ek baar samaan check kar lena."

I was speechless. In his dirty black hand he was carrying my pink christian Dior pouch which was carrying my license, cards and cash. I slowly took my pouch from his hands, thinking how our thought process changes just looking at a person and we start judging & presuming them with their outside persona. This was a  lesson of life. I instantly said," Thank you, ismein bahut zaroori samaan tha, aur yeh aap rakh lo." I grabbed first picture of Gandhiji which came in my hand and moved it in his direction.

He very genuinely smiled and said which I shall never try to forget," Nahi madamji yeh nahi chaeye, yahan market sab poochte hai kaam karega magar kaam koi nahi deta, jinhone bhi kaam diya unhe apna gussa utarane ke liye koi chaeye tha, to mujhe rakha, mann kara maara, mann kara gaali dee. maar khaane se acha sadak par hawa khaana theek laga mujhe. mere madad koi nahi karna chahta, sab apne madad kar rahe hai. gareeb ki madad karke swarg milege sochte hai, magar marne ke baad kisey pata kaun kahan jaata hai.

Thank you madamji."

He turned back and ran away in that dark grey blanket which was getting darker every second. And I felt haziness inside my eyes.

By now, it was all over. My shopping experience gave me a teaching. We philanthropist by choice, and those who do philanthropy need this assurance the most that whatever they are doing, they are doing it for the sake of poor and deprived. Well, it included me also.

And slowly in the dark blanket I reached the metro station and put my bags on the escalator to catch my AC women compartment.