Morning Raga

Rise... that's the keyword that comes to my mind when I think of mornings. Sun rises, new day rises, plans, chores, tensions, schedules, everything rises anew; of course along with the individual himself/herself. I rise and I start living beyond the unlimited sub-conscious horizons of my dreams. Just the fact that I have woken up, instills the novelty that defines what mornings mean.

Although it's not like everyday I, or anyone else for that matter, I wake up feeling at peace or elated. Many mornings, I have brooded over past and present. Many I have spent sleeping preferring the world of dreams over the supposedly 'real' counterpart. And many I have just plainly forgotten in the routine of the day and later realized I remember nothing special about that morning, except getting ready and getting on with the matters at hand. But yes, many some good mornings are like today's.

Like many of it's categorical predecessors, this morning instilled a feeling of peace. I woke up without any worries or apprehensions (not that I don't have a big bag full in my hand). I woke up to realize I had just taken hold of more hours in the day by getting up early. I woke up to feel the soft warm morning sunshine of an October morning. I woke up realizing, I am glad I am living the life I am, even with all its flaws. I woke up with a smile for all the hopes I have, and a grin for all the things I want to achieve. I woke up just to be satisfied that I have another day which I have the opportunity to spend as per my capabilities right now. I woke up without thinking so many of the things I mentioned above, and still feeling all of them. I woke up.

So what is it that made me start noticing this morning? The previous turmoil of the days gone. As the proverb goes, "It's always Darkest before the Dawn". I guess a part of the esoteric meaning of it indicates towards the fact that sometimes you've gone through so much turbulence, you come to realize the importance and satisfaction of things you've taken for granted. In the heat of the race that life has become, you forget to appreciate and be grateful for the many simple things in life. As I realized the same, it brought a smile to my face. The thought that kept me from diving back into the well of apprehensions was "Things could be a lot worse".

Probably I won't be feeling so light at heart and glowing inside within an hour or so. But I have this hour within me to rejuvenate the spirit of life. I remember the old lessons, To be motivated by looking up, while be grateful and humbled by looking down. And this is what makes this morning free of mournings. (Although the similarity in phoenetics lights a spark of curiousity and thought in my mind. I guess I will leave it for some other morning.)

So I stand now smiling. Looking at my long-time friend, basking in his warmth and thanking him for breaking the spell of darkness. I stand enjoying my element, ruffling through my hair and caressing my slumber wringed skin. I hope it rains today too. The ground could use some respite from the October heat. And I selfishly would be able to enjoy getting drenched in the downpour. Life might not be good enough. But it is better than many.

P.S. It did Rain today... and I did get drenched :)

Moving Out

My father explained a statement in one of the old movies, by telling me that most part of an average person's life revolves around 3 basic necessities - Food, Clothes and House. He then ended up explaining to me the difference between the concept of house and home. I always thought my dad was smart, probably not in the worldly ways but in the way he could conceptualize and imagine things, if he wanted to that is.
All of us, even everyone non-human (although I don't think they will be mentioned hereafter), from the moment we take our first breath, live somewhere. For some, it is a permanent place with memories and stories of their life, all happening in the same set of rooms and living area. For others, the place keeps changing. Change of friends, change of surroundings, probably even a change of culture; irrespective of why that change happens. But the fact is, most of us humans, usually do change our house and/or homes once in our life, whether we like the change or not.
I was born and brought up in a congested city area house. It was my home, because my heart was in it. Most part of my childhood, my early years till the time I touched adulthood, were spent living in the place I used to call my home. All the happiness, sorrow, excitement, disappointment... I can still remember major part of everything I try to remember about it. I can say I am lucky that I got to have the childhood I did. It wasn't a smooth drive, but there were definitely a good amount of fun times I had. And then we moved.
I remember it hadn't hit me that hard that I was going to live in a different place while the new house was being prepped. The point came to light when we started packing. When all the things and belongings that I had never thought of moving from my room, from my house and from my home, needed to be packed and moved to the new place. Then a couple of days before I moved I realized, I won't be living in the same house. Not even in the same part of the city. That actually made me realize how it'd feel to have a black hole in your stomach. I know it sounds weird but that is actually what it was. Whatever I thought, whatever logic I came up with, all the rationale, was just accepted and there was still that void left inside you that at that time seems will never go away. Somehow I didn't even feel like saying good-bye to my friends in the neighbourhood, in the hope that of course we would still be able to spend all that time together that we used to earlier, which never happened again.
And when I moved into my new room in the new house, it was a total strange experience. I had my bed and cupboards from the old room, so that brought a touch of familiarity. But the anonymity of the space left me numb for weeks. And then I went to visit my old house after everything had been moved. It was an empty space. As if life had been sucked out of its very bricks and all that was left was an endless array of memories associated with each and every corner of it. I didn't know till that time, what was the pain of leaving behind someone you loved. And when I did, I realized how cruel I had to be to move on in life. Because yes, we did need to move to our present house. But then, a part of me wished I could live in the old home once in a while. Won't it feel alone with all of us gone?
My father had told me that a house is a structure made of building materials, which we use as a shelter against the weather and a place for personal requirements. But a home is something far more deeper and alive than just plain building materials. It is like a parent taking care of its children, protecting them from the elements so that they can live happily. It is an elder of the house, which watches generations grow up and go about their ways and carries on as a silent spectator being amused by the frail actions of us men to be happy. It is a part of us, which we hold close to in our hearts without even realizing it. And we are equally a part of it.
And I still can't help missing my old home. I have had some enriching experiences in life since then, and probably more change of places to live than anyone I know of yet. I have lived in 5 different cities by now. And every time I move, a bit of that black hole returns. And I guess I have become more used to moving on now. But the memories of those early years are sort of like a movie, that you start playing in your mind, whenever you feel like watching an oldie inside your head.
It's hard to move on. Not at the time of instant of separation, but in the oncoming days and months, when you realize the absence of that familiarity you had grown accustomed to - whether it was family, friend, even a foe, and yes, even non-living (supposedly) entities like house, first car or bike, an old game or whatever you feel attached to. But move on everyone must, because there is no way that life around you is going to wait for you to finally take all the time you need to let go. Sometimes all we can keep with us of things lost are memories. And then move on making some more. Walking the path of life has cruel lessons to be taught many a times. But learn we me must because we can't move forward until we do.
When was the last time you had to move from your home into a new place? Ever felt as if you yourself had just ripped out a part of your life and closed the book on it? Ever wonder what all you left behind?

She's just EXTREMELY Nice

Ok... for the first time I deleted everything I had written previously because I felt like it was nothing but simple things written in round-about fashion. Man it feels stupid to take so many words to write simple things.
Ok this entry is for someone who is close to me, is going through some heart-wrenching feelings right now and seriously needs to cheer up:

1. Life's too long to live with guilt, too short to live with regret

2. Thou shall not commit wrong to thyself, then no wrong to others

3. Time's funny, it seems to be so intense in present, yet passes away so quickly

4. Talk to someone. Don't worry about being judged, blamed or mocked, just share. You will be surprised how much you will find in common

5. Don't let anyone mock you for your choices in life, they weren't in your shoes, so don't let them get under your skin

6. People who love you, will be happy if you are happy... trust me it shows

I have told you all this already, but just putting it on for you to remember if you ever have a doubt or bad day.

Idea of a Hero

Seldom one comes across a story that makes something inside you feel alive. Tonight such a story made me feel that way. It felt like someone had personified Hope, Sacrifice, Wisdom, Courage, Nobility, Compassion and Ability of the epitome of what humanity will ever have to offer. Suitably, people who symbolized these in medieval times were called "Knights".

All right, I believe there are people in this world who don't have a superhero (or maybe several) that they would idolize. Not to forget plenty who haven't read their comics or watched their animation, and more recently not been much of their movie adaptation viewers either. I am not one of them, no offense. I am an apt follower of all 3 of them, and would grab hold of an opportunity with either at the first chance I get. And probably what this story so amazingly stirred inside me was the real reason why I always liked the concept of someone 'Saving the Day (or Night)'. Ofcourse, I always wanna be the Superhero doing that.

We face the so-called forces of Good and Evil everyday in our lives. From the smallest good deed to the worst crime. I also know that when we discuss perspective of Black and White, there are as many acts in shades of Gray as there are in the absolute extremes. Some crimes are heinous, some efforts divine, and there are many which will always be a matter of which way you look at it. But sometimes being so wise and realistic, isn't what you gain strength from.

We all need something to believe in, something that out conscience can treat as an example to evaluate our own actions by, something that fills the void of what's the right thing to do. Religion, Gods and Prophets are one such source of faith and belief. Other set is that of Legends. Legends that have stories told of them in epics, in folklore and nowadays in the media I mentioned before. It doesn't matter if the real story behind the hero was that of mistakes and some wrong choices. But what is left for generations to remember (and this always happens) is how loudly did his actions say what he achieved. Legends are Immortal. And for something to survive such a long span of existence, it will be made an example of.

Nowadays superheroes are portrayed more human than ever. They are portrayed with the human traits that will be expected of any human like selfishness, glorification, self-righteousness, dilemmas. But the inspiring part of this portrayal is, they never win without admitting to the fault of their ways and always work to make a better choice next time. To me that's as perfectly human any hero will ever need to get. That's what I like to believe in when I think of what I would do if I had all those extraordinary abilities that are depicted so often. That's who I like to turn to when I feel that the problem is beyond me.

Mostly always, being a Hero means making the Hard Choices. Do you give up or not? Do you let things go or not? Do you kill or not? And someones Hero, might be someones Villain. Indian mythology is filled with instances of such antagonists, who were shown to be there, just for the sake of being defeated by the protagonist, for there to be a moral to the story. But could a selfish, powerful monster, might have been a Good King to his people? Could a Thief who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, might have been the nightmare of hard earning people? Still Heroes become heroes when they are viewed beyond such perspectives. What we see as a Hero is an idea of what a Hero that person can be.

So what does a fictional Superhero do to be deemed worthy of its existence in our beliefs? He makes us remember that maybe we haven't been wrong about the beliefs handed down to us through million of years. He makes us believe that ever under the most adverse conditions, we can make the right choice and still survive to talk about it. He paints a rosy picture of idealism in our minds, that however tainted it becomes with our logic as we grow, the tint of the color will always be there.

Superheroes make us Believe that we can be More than what we expect ourselves to be.

Silence

Silence is scary - both within and out.
For in it, truth rises mercilessly.
A silent gaze can freeze fear in its tracks.
A silent gesture can change the world.


It is not easily found.
It is quickly lost.
It is like a veil of darkness.
Waiting to be pierced by realization.


In Silence, one's efforts may seem futile.
In Silence, one realizes the power one holds.
In Silence, one becomes his worst foe.
In Silence, one becomes One.

Milestones of an Year

Results of the graduation exams were out. He hadn't topped them although he wished he was lucky enough that he struck gold with the meagre preparation he did. However, he thought that above average results were good enough. He already had secured a job with a reputed company, which would look like a solid start on his resume in future. He was glad he finally did get a job. The placements in the college had gone well this year, but he didn't get as high paying job as many of his classmates did. And the company he was waiting for did interview him, but they decided they were better off not shortlisting him. He still remembered the time after the interview. He had stormed out fuming inside and trying to reassure himself that he was too good for them and they probably thought that a sharp guy like him won't be staying long with them. And his friends reassured him about it. He knew they were just being friends, and soon they were off the club to dance and drink off their grasp on reality. He remembered that he cried holding her at night, asking he didn't have any clue as to why they didn't select him.

The gang was devastated. Not one of them was going to end up in the same city as any other person. It was as if fate had decided they were better off placed in different corners of the country. Girls were hit the hardest as to now they would have to find someone new to live with. One out of the 2 couples in the group was the most hopeful, because the guy was ready to take over his father's business, and once settled, the girl would leave the job and they would get married. The other couple was his own, and they had decided 2 months ago, that they weren't going to be able to cope up with the distance and had to focus on their careers. Still it was hard for him to think that this was their last day in college. Somehow they had managed to convince each other to stay till the results came out, but now no one knew how to react to the parting of the ways. Finally, they ended up hugging each other one by one and tears hit them one by one. Girls had promised each other last night they wouldn't cry any more, but the guys tear-stained smiles made it impossible for them not to.
*************
He sat back into his chair staring at the screen. Six-months into his first job, and he already felt like he was going to pull his hair out. All that he had imagined about living the professional bachelor life had come true. He earned enough for himself, his lifestyle was comfortable as per any standards, he had his choice of girls to ask out on weekend nights and none of them was looking for a serious relationship or so they said, and he was a picture of healthy youth. Yet he knew what he was missing was something none of the satisfactions could shadow and hide. He thought he was wasting his time. At first he thought the frustrations were rooted because he didn't have his friends or family around. But then he realized that most of the time he didn't have the time to spend time with them even if they were there and if they were, they would have their own life to attend to. It had taken him 3 months to understand that college life will never return. And when he did, he called up the entire gang and his family, to tell them he missed them. They finally made him smile with the sheer variety of their reactions and responses. He had made peace with that.

Then he dove himself into his work thinking now was the time to climb the corporate ladder as fast as he could. He worked, he performed, and he made his share of mistakes. His office life wasn't half bad as he hoped for it to be so that he could put the blame on it. But when you feel like you are wasting the most valuable asset in one's life, you can't put the blame on anyone else but yourself. How you utilize your time in this life, is no one's responsibility but yours. And worst part was, he was smart enough to know this fact. But he couldn't lose to doubts now. He had planned out certain aspects of his career and wavering from it now, would definitely render him lost on the way to achieve his ultimate goal - To be filthy rich; because money was a requirement for everything in the world today; directly or indirectly. With this rekindling of his motivation he got up from his chair and went to get a cup of coffee; she had gotten up for the same and he had been waiting for a chance to strike a conversation today. It was high time he tried asking her out.
*************
It was raining. Maybe someone likes me up there, he thought. It was exactly one year since he had started his work life. And he was sitting near the window looking out into the city, drenched in rain. He had been thinking about it the whole week. Last night, he had asked her out to spend the entire day with him. She was delighted. He knew she was hoping for something long-term and why wouldn't she? She was his constant beckon call on more weekends than he wished to recount, and she knew the contents of his refrigerator better than him. Still, when time till lunch seemed to be stretched and he didn't know what to talk about, he told her that he wanted to be alone. She left with a look of care and understanding and asked him to call her whenever he felt like talking. He looked at the rain and wished he had opted for a sea-view apartment. The falling drops would seem more picturesque that way. It was still evening, but the clouds made it seem like a starless night and seemed in no mood to stop their downpour any time soon.
Yet he loved the rain. He knew he was a sucker for them. All the people close to him knew about it. He thought of taking out his new car for a drive in the rain. Maybe later. There was something in his mind that was trying to break free. And he was afraid. Not because it was something terrible, but because it seemed that it was something that had been suppressed deep for so long, it would hurt when it came to light now. He distracted himself with thoughts of the work lined up for next week. Work? Was it all that he could think about now? There were things in his life that he had hoped he would enjoy once he was out on his own, but hadn't got a chance to do them. No that was wrong. He hadn't looked for a chance to do them. It was always later. And what was he doing right now? He was spending time in fulfilling his plan. Did he really want that plan so much? Was it really his plan or something he picked up from somewhere? He had matured enough to realize that he wasn't someone special as he had hoped he was like the protagonist in a story. But then who was he? What distinguished him? Most importantly, am I not the person right now I am living as? He felt the shell inside him cracking.
Suddenly, his cellphone rang and his thoughts were replaced by the curiosity of who called. It was surprising how eager he got whenever he was called these days. It was him. Probably they had finalized the date for their wedding. He was suddenly filled with guilt before he pressed the answer button, remembering he had missed their engagement the day before, just because he was working. He answered hoping it was a flurry of unmentionable swearing, rather than a disappointed question as to why he wasn't able to make it. The former would mean he was still forgivable, the latter meant he had scarred one of the few people he could call a friend. The swearing followed without any formal greetings. He smiled. He kept on apologizing, and listening to the words that meant nothing except than a verbal beating figuratively speaking, and that he was sexual abomination literally speaking.
"We are all waiting for you at the club. And I mean all of us. I had to call in all the favors with every one of us to keep them here for today and you better get your butt here. I don't know who was the person who missed my engagement, but buddy you better wake yourself up. It's been an year and we are not spending it without a rotten ba***** like you. You've got 15 minutes and I know it is at least a 20 minute drive. Deal with it!" His friend hung up.
He couldn't remember when he was this happy last. He put on something acceptable in a rush, and without even looking in the mirror, he rushed into his car. They were here. All of them. And suddenly has he raced the car out of the parking, he realized nothing else mattered. He had spent a year trying to mature, but he still got the rush from the same things in life. And maybe he needed money for many of those things, but no amount of money was worth missing out on any of those things. Maybe he hadn't grown up at all, maybe he was a long way from becoming wise, but he was happy. He swerved maniacally at the turn and pressed the accelerator. The rain was merciless but tonight he felt like he was invincible. He still had 3 minutes to cover a 9 minute distance. He sped on, but the rush outside was nothing compared to the calm taking over inside. He had to follow the things he really wanted. And if the life he had right now didn't allow a place for them, it had to change. The changes didn't have to be radical, but they would be if required. And hopefully she would be there. He missed her. He never realized that the only reason he let her go, was because she didn't fit into the plan. He was so stupid to forget that he fit into everything else so perfectly. It was time to pursue her again.

The rationale in his brain kept reminding him, that this was just momentary. When he got a reality check tomorrow, after everyone had left for their own lives, he will realize the importance of his efforts leading to his life till now. Will I? He shrugged and grinned. Maybe. But then now I know again what makes me happy. Being myself. Letting go. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon I will be brave enough to face the truth and then I will be glad of being who I am. It's not the same as not knowing the truth. He was almost there. He thought he didn't have time to be a miser and will let the valet take care of the parking. He breathed, preparing himself for the rain's attack, and looked out to the club's terrace. They were all there. He could never forget how they all looked grouped together. Only one missing was him. It was time. He opened the door and shuddered at the coolness of the rain drops. He closed his eyes to enjoy the rain before making a run for indoors.
**************
She had waited for him the entire evening of the engagement party. Not just, everyone had. He was probably the most simple-minded, cliched and average of them all, but that made him so forgettable to everyone who didn't know him well. To them, he was the eternal hope of a child hoping to grow up someday to be a super-hero. Few of them were protective towards him, some made fun of him and rest adored him, but she loved him. She always did. She had left her job last month, to pursue something she actually enjoyed doing. He did always say she was the first person he came to with study problems. And now today it was raining. He would be happy. He was such a kid when it came to rains. And she hated it when he would always expect something beautiful to happen in rains. She knew her feelings for him were still mixed with confusion, and probably accentuated by not being able to see him for an year now, but today it was raining. She knew she was going to at least kiss him tonight to make sure something was still there.

Someone from the group mentioned that it seemed like his car. The groom-to-be joked that he still was 3 minutes earlier than he expected, still a rash driver. They all called out to him from the terrace. Then the driver came out and stood for a while in the rain holding on to the door of the car. It was definitely him. She smiled and in a flash her hand reached out to him impossibly screaming. A car smashed into the door of his car at full speed. The running car's brakes screeched and it swirled into a frenzy on the wet road, coming to a halt hitting it's back on a lamp-post. But the door of his car hanged halfway across its hinges and he was not getting up. People rushed towards the site of the accident. Guys from her group rushed downstairs. She stayed watching the aftermath, half hoping that he would get up and say he was all right. After all it was raining. Magical things could happen.
**************
He saw the lights of the approaching car probably a few moments too less to reach inside into his car or run away from it. Suddenly he realized that all he could think of was - Is this It?

Don't Look Back

It's 3:19 in the morning right now. Every night for long I have thought about getting back at the seat of writing down whatever I am thinking, but I realized I was nothing but lazy. So what made me sit down and finally do it..? It's something which hits us once in a while, pretty often through life... Rock Bottom!

But I am jumping ahead of myself. Let's start with something more subtle... Change. Ok, maybe it's not that subtle always, still it is something we all have to accept. Wise ones accept and adapt to it, some just accept it as fate and the stubborn ones keep fighting it through either denial or defiance or maybe both. All of us play either of the above roles at every "change" we face... change of roles at different points. But do we change?

My grand-dad always used to tell me that as a child I should pick up good habits and character, because at that time I was like soft clay ("kachhi mitti"). He said, that sooner than I think, I would be set into a mould; that even if I wanted, I wouldn't be able to change (without breaking something inside me). I used to think I he was being over-critical and that I will always be able to mould myself, as I wanted to. Hell, there were quite a few things I wanted him to change about himself, and even though knowing they weren't wise habits, he carried them on. So I thought, maybe this is how as we grow older, we make this excuse of becoming less adjusting, to stick to our cherished drawbacks.

And suddenly, I think of him tonight and realize how important that little statement was. Change is something I have never fell short of. People, places, emotions, ideologies... ample of them all. And at every crossroad in life, I have dug deep into the same pool of ideals, virtues, desires and beliefs, every time. It is as if whatever was put into the empty glass of a growing mind, stuck and most of the new stuff that pours in, either just overflows off the brim and some of it sticks, which can mix with the already present "stuff" in the glass. So if the basis of our choices is still always the same, do we ever change or just keep hardening into what we are currently?

I am sure most of you (and me likewise) will be thinking,"Of course I change(d). Imagine what I would have done in the same situation few years back, which I faced in so-n-so manner recently". Of course your point is completely valid. And so is my question. We will have to "imagine" what we would have done or not done in the same situation. As dynamic as our experiences and thoughts are, core values don't change so often, because they stand alone with no alternatives. You choose to have them or you don't. It's not a matter of good or evil. It's a matter of choice. And once that choice is made, there's no looking back; because "I Am, what I do" (I will save "I Do, what I am" for a later work). It's hard to make hard choices, harder to live with them.

So if one's character is the clay, values are the mould, and crossroads and choices are the roasting inferno, don't we actually get set into our mould? Since we made those hard choices, and we have to stand by them, the basis of those choices stick to our mould, to keep us sane and sorted out and thus more experiences we go through in life, the lesser susceptible we become to changing ourselves. And if one really does take upon himself/herself, to change their mould, it cannot happen without shaking up your roots, and for some time leaving you totally clueless. In many of the extreme cases, this would lead what we usually call a Nervous Breakdown.

Hard choices... they are not that hard, personally speaking, but many a times their aftermath is. And sometimes, the right choice is hardest one to make, not to mention it's as if all hell breaks lose right after it. And then you find yourself between our infamous Rock Bottom and a hard place.
We wonder, "Did I make the right choice?". But is there a point now, thinking about it? Choice has been made for better or for worse. If it's your worse, you are the one who has to deal with it. So maybe life is interspersed with these stars called choices. Some shine, some burn. If you hit rock bottom, and there's no end to it, then wait, because nobody said rock bottom is momentary. It can stretch for a n unpleasant amount of time.But life is still simple, "You make a choice, and you don't look back"!

Rock bottom... it is as much the lowest point in your life as well as the most profitable. Why profitable? Well if you've got nothing to lose in regards to the situation a.k.a. rock bottom, you can only go up now, that means profit with no risk of further liabilities. But the funniest and cruelest thing of hitting rock bottom is, you don't know exactly that you've hit rock bottom. It just feels like it's rock bottom, no assurance it is. You will be extremely surprised as to "What could be worse than this?" until shit happens. Before the ball bounces back you are again and again surprised as to what not to take for granted. And unfortunately we do start taking so many important things for granted until we lose them, or in some fortunate cases they are threatened to be taken away from us.
Getting up is the only option. You can not cry, brood, procrastinate, indulge in self-pity forever. Life calls, and you have to take it. And starting the journey back to achieving their goals, one realizes what has changed within. For some, the moulds are broken, they are left to face the inferno of choices again. Some face the crossroads with a dent here and there in there moulds and others with moulds made of more stubborn (or tougher) stuff not changing at all. Still you have to get up.

A wise person once told me that before I judge myself for the choices I made in the past, I should clearly understand that person I was then, and the person I am now; for better or for worse. That is the only way I can make peace with my past and live my present, hoping for a desirable future.
So I can look back at the choices made, but not standing where I was before. Because if I do, I put myself in the agony of a choice that has already been made, inflicting the shroud of doubt and dilemna upon myself unnecessarily.

And let's face it, once you've hit Rock bottom, one can always give himself/herself a break :)