Faith | Belief

If you ask most people, they’ll tell you that faith and belief are the same thing. I used to think so myself. And that leads to all sorts of confusion.

The trouble is they are interrelated, which makes them very close in meaning. So close, in fact, that many modern manuscripts don’t always differentiate clearly between the two. And that leads to even more confusion.

What Is Belief?

So our beliefs are things that we are thoroughly convinced of. Usually (but not always) they are ideas, concepts that we gather through acquiring information and experience. Because of that, our beliefs can change over time as we gain more knowledge and experience more things throughout our lives.

How Is Faith Different?

Faith includes our beliefs, but it is bigger than that. Faith requires action. If it doesn’t move us to do something or say something – actually take some kind of action – it’s not really faith at all. Until we take action our “faith” is just a bunch of words. As a side note, some people get confused and turned around on this point and try to do good things to generate faith. The last part of that whole faith equation is confidence.

Putting It All Together

So now you can see how belief and faith are interrelated. The difference between the two is subtle. When we believe the truth with enough confidence to take action we exercise faith. And it doesn’t take much of that faith to see huge things happen, even miraculous things. And you can see where unbelief, that is believing things that aren’t true – believing lies – completely clogs up the working of our faith. Unbelief prevents us from ever seeing the miraculous in our lives. Too often we spend time and energy trying to increase our faith We pray and plead with God, begging him to give us more faith.

The good news is that we can change our unbelief into belief. It’s really a fairly simple, straight forward process. We just need to become more fully persuaded of the truth instead of the misconceptions and lies that we are currently holding on to.

The more we expose our minds to the truth, the more we become persuaded and convinced of that truth. However this differentiation will always be subjected to one's discretion of judgement till the mankind is alive.

Law of Acceptance

Trusting is a fundamental part of acceptance. Many of us have a hard time trusting, possibly because of a deep rooted false belief that life must be hard, or that we don’t deserve the very best that life has to offer. We think it can’t be this easy. But trusting is a part of our Spiritual growth and by affirming Divine Order whenever we seem fearful or stressed, we stay in the positive flow and see how the very best happens. Hindsight often proves this to us.

We start looking at life as challenges for us to grow into the best people we can be, not just problems to be solved. When things are going in a different way than what you have originally planned, when you get delayed or plans get changed, or even when that car in front of you is moving slower than you would like, say to yourself or affirm out loud, “Divine Order, I know this is happening for my best.”

Relax and accept the situation exactly as it is. This puts you right back into your center of peace and serenity. With practice this gets easier and easier and you trust the process more and more. The great thing that is learned is that you do not have to give up your peace, no matter what is going on around you.

As you fully accept what is happening around you, you stay out of any fearful emotions, and can act, not react to the situation. You feel more empowered in the process, not angry at yourself for giving your serenity away. It has been wisely said, our serenity is in direct proportion to our acceptance of life. We can learn to let go of our fear based thoughts, trust the Universal flow of life and enjoy the journey even more along the way. Practice acceptance and things will be better.

The shit called Caste in India

Since time immemorial the world has been divided into different classes and categories, some depending on the birth right, wealth,knowledge and others purely by sense of belongingness. Thus society as a whole has always been on its way of division and its everywhere its absence is inevitable. The worst of all that happens here is when this difference causes the rift in between people who love each other in the form of inter caste marriage when both the parties families are neck on neck against it.

Life in itself is not much of a problem enough that even to be with the one we love and vow to spend the rest of our life is in it at the threshold. It is one of the hottest topics for every generation whether it is the classic Romeo and Juliet or even the next door neighbor. Despite the fact that numerous facts and figures have come and gone with time but the one and only constant thing which is never changing and remains till this day is inter caste marriage problems the much talk about of every nation and caste. Though we have had done so many development in science and technology; even we have been able to send men to the moon, brought up equality and freedom with education to one and all. Brought out the women from being the housewives to working mothers, yet this centuries old tag of issues regarding two different culture, caste or even faith has never been erased by the knowledge gained at expensive colleges or even by the high rise in the standard of livelihood.

Love is a beautiful feeling and true love is the greatest gift to mankind. In this fast advancing world where everyone has their own differences and individualism, it is very hard to get someone to accept us the way we are not for what others think or how the world looks at us. It is a thing to cherish and kept.

I just hope someday people get beyond the logics of caste and religion and accept humans for what  they are and what they do.

The Loss

A friend of mine lost his mom yesterday. I heard about it as soon as I woke up and was left reeling. What shall I do? What am I supposed to do? Shall I call him? Or shall I call his elder sister and ask about whereabouts? What shall I tell them even if I did call? What words and tone do I choose? How might he react? I myself was in a state of shock and remorse and then these questions. I have been crying since morning. I didn’t know if I would be able to talk even if I called him.

And then, I decided to call him, but then I could hardly talk for more than 2 minutes. I didn't want to weaken him anymore. Saying back , “I will call back”, I hung up. And then I thought I would leave him alone for sometime. That might appear rude, yet sometimes the best way to help people in pain is to let them be. Give them time to get over it. His loss is a tragic loss, and nothing I would say can replace the loss.

There is nothing I can do about this, is there? The dead do not come back, no matter how hard we wish they did. Yet I can’t help but want her back. Lots of people die every day, don’t they? Some are wished back and some not, still no one comes back.

And again as I take my hands off my friend’s cell phone number, I wish he hadn’t lost his mom, so that I could help myself from sympathizing with him, so that I could talk to him the way we used to and not feel awkward about it or anything else.

Anyway, the best I could do is: Dear Aunty, you were the best mom my friend could ever have had, and as much as I hope that you hadn’t gone, I sincerely wish that your son would be okay; that he’d have the courage to look after your family and himself too. I only hope he’d be happy again”

 

Breaking Taboos

“Daddy, I am so scared.” Twelve year old Tanaya ran and hugged her father.

“What happened to my big brave daughter?” “Daddy, I guess it’s blood.. Daddy, I think I saw blood in my skirt today.”

Tanaya had lost her mother six months back and Ashutosh, her father was finding it difficult bringing up his daughter all by himself. He was madly in love with his wife and he had ruled second marriage options as proposed by his relatives. He was a doting dad and tried his best to be a mother and father to Tanaya.

“Daddy”, Tanaya spoke again. “Daddy, I saw blood in my skirt. Rashi told me that it is periods. I am on periods. Am I on periods daddy?” It was not exactly a comfortable question for Ashutosh so he tried to evade her questions at least for some time.

“Tanaya baby, do you want an ice cream? Chocolate flavour?” Tanaya made a face. “You know daddy, Rashi was right. She told me that you wouldn’t talk to me about this. Even she discusses all this with her mom. I wish mom was alive. I am sorry I told you about this. Just forget that I ever told you this.”

Ashutosh was startled and a little ashamed. He didn’t want to make Tanaya feel bad about something which was so normal. He just wanted to buy some time for himself. “Tanaya sweetie, why would you feel like that? I am your mommy too, remember? I wonder why Rashi would put such things into your head.”

“Then why wouldn’t you talk about it daddy? I am so scared. Will I die like mommy too?” “Oh no baby, never ever say that. You are daddy’s princess.” “But daddy.. blood?” “Come, we’ll go out, have ice cream and then discuss about this. This is a wonderful thing. Always be proud of this.” Ashutosh held his daughter’s hand and escorted her outside the door.

As Tanaya took a large bite off her orange flavoured ice cream, Ashutosh asked her to narrate the day’s happenings. “Daddy, I saw blood on my skirt today and I am very scared.” “Well little Tanaya, let me narrate a little story to you.” “Oh sure, daddy. Make it an interesting one.”

“It is an interesting one, kid. When your mommy was as little as you, she also saw blood on her skirt. She ran up to her dad who told her that she had received the biggest gift of her life that day.” Tanaya had her doubts. “How was it the biggest gift of her life daddy?” “Because that day she got periods for the very first time. It gave her the power to be a mother. It gave her you.” “Does that mean daddy, that I can become like mommy too?” “Yes, of course, you’re already like your mommy with your hazel eyes and chestnut hair.” “Thank You daddy. I love you. I’ll tell that annoying Rashi that my father is the best. He told me everything. I have some more questions but I’ll ask them tomorrow. I need some sleep.”

Ashutosh heaved a sigh of relief. He’d broken a taboo. Tomorrow he would be adequately prepared to break another taboo and talk to her about something society would not have approved of. As he put Tanaya to sleep, Ashutosh could feel his wife smiling at him. He had not been a good husband to her while she was alive but he would try his best to be a good father to their daughter.

Courtesy – Ministry of Humor

One of the beautiful story I have read recently. As a society we need to develop perspective, talk about things that we have been always uncomfortable about, let loose our apprehensions, free our anxieties.

It’s a beautiful world and we can definitely make it better.

Haider – The Hamlet Eulogy

Re-read the "Hamlet" (the adaptation). Came across this piece

"Hamlet remains unconvinced that the Ghost has told him the truth, but the arrival of a troupe of actors at Elsinore presents him with a solution. He will stage a play, re-enacting his father's murder, and determine Claudius's guilt or innocence by studying his reaction. The court assembles to watch the play; Hamlet provides a running commentary throughout. After seeing the Player King murdered with poison in the ears, Claudius abruptly rises and leaves the room: proof positive for Hamlet of his uncle's guilt."

And all this was represented in this 4 min long song. Penned in one of the most perfect way. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_73kIBWN6rU

It takes real genius to transform something from what Shakespeare envisioned to a modern day ballad; keeping the message strong and impactful.

Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play and among the most powerful and influential tragedies in English literature, with a story capable of "seemingly endless retelling and adaptation by others." The play seems to have been one of Shakespeare's most popular works during his lifetime and still ranks among his most-performed, topping the performance list of the Royal Shakespeare Company and its predecessors in Stratford-upon-Avon since 1879. It has inspired writers from Goethe and Dickens to Joyce and Murdoch, and has been described as "the world's most filmed story after Cinderella".

It needed a very traditional yet a modern treatment. Not sure how others would have treated it but a craftsmen like Vishal Bhardwaj, using the tools of metaphors, dark humor, soliloquies, monologues and emotions does perfect justice to this piece of literature.

Decide for yourself if you want to watch because such piece of art is tough to be portrayed on a commercial canvas these days.

Volume and Sound Byte

Of Late the common man finds difficulty in prizing truth from a plethora of comments and opinions on offer in print and the electronic media. The reason is not far to seek. There is a perceptible deficit of truth in statements from persons, who are charged with telling the truth. Politicians, in general, the world over are perceived to be economical with truth and enjoy little credibility — a fact brought out forcefully in a worldwide Gallup survey commissioned by BBC World Service almost 10 years ago.

The common citizen is confused and confounded by layers and layers of views. It is compounded by the fact that the media often adds its own twist to statements from leaders, which suffer from a serious lack of transparency in the first place. There have been lengthy discussions about the credibility of the media, particularly in the West, and the way news is presented. It is just not the media that lacks credibility in popular perception, but world leaders, politicians and officialdom all enjoy little trust for their utterances. Facts are presented not the way they happen, but the way some people would like them to happen.

It is no accident that reality is substituted by make-believe. It is a result of conscious efforts based on Hitler's dictum that "a lie thrice repeated becomes truth." Regrettably, they are repeated not just thrice, but ad nauseam. What is lacking in substance is made up in volume and sound byte.

And to glean the truth one need to place the statements in appropriate categories and then decide on the quantum of discount to attach to each. The determination is subjective and individuals make their own classification.

Subtle and Indistinctive

Everyone says that love is a special feeling. We keep holding ourselves for quite a time until we realize that it’s best to open oneself to it.

It’s apparently very difficult, in fact extremely hard to articulate one’s feelings about his/her love. But still let me give it a shot. When I fell in love with her, I started loving things around me a little more than before and this didn't stop there. I felt that when you truly love someone past their redundancies, you feel so ecstatic, your self confidence gets such a boost that invariably all your relationship get better than before. The bond you share with your family, friends gets stronger. It’s more of a juvenile experience. I never thought I would fall in love with someone. You love actually gives you yourself. It helps you to accept yourself. It’s always a comforting feeling to know that there is some one who is there just for you. Human beings have always desired exclusivity, Love bestows you that.

Everything makes so much sense. My life pivots around her. It gives me the courage to be myself and believe that eventually everything will be fine. It helps you to fight the daily battle with more vigor and audacity. You might loose out on someday but still things would make sense to you. And that feeling pushes you to the threshold to the extent that you become comfortable with redundancies around and combat the aberrations.

Subtle, Indistinctive, dramatic, energized. I don’t have more words than mere saying that I love you :)

हर कोई भाग रहा है यहाँ

हर कोई भाग रहा है यहाँ
कोई ऑफीस जल्दी जाने को
तो कोई घर वापस आने को
कोई पिज़्ज़ा डेलिवरी on टाइम करने को
कोई अपने बच्चे को दो कौर खाना खिलाने को

हर कोई भाग रहा है यहाँ
कोई प्यार पाने को
कोई प्यार से दूर जाने को
कोई साथ पाने को
कोई साथ भुलाने को

हर कोई भाग रहा है यहाँ
कोई ४ गज़ ज़मीन पाने को
कोई बारिश में भीग जाने को
कोई उस गली से अपनी गाड़ी निकालने को
कोई सड़क के पार जाने को

हर कोई भाग रहा है यहाँ
कोई अपना वजन घटाने को
कोई अपना stamina बढ़ाने को
कोई marathon की तायारी पक्की करने को
कोई record बनाने को

हर कोई भाग रहा है यहाँ
कोई जीत जाने को
कोई अपनी हार को ना अपनाने को
कोई ४ पल की शांति पाने को
तो कोई अंजान चेहरों के बीच पहचान बनाने को

मेरा कहना है कहीं भागने की कवायत में
आज ना भूल जाना
कहीं पहचान बनके की कवायत में
अपनो को दाव पे ना लगा देना
थोड़ा रुक आओ , संभाल जाओ फिर भाग लेना

नींद आती है

जब शरीर का कतरा कतरा थक जाता है तो
नींद आती है

जब किताबें वापस घूरती है तो
नींद आती है

जब Laptop की रोशनी ज़्यादा हो जाती है तो
नींद आती है

जब सपने देखने की इक्षा दोबारा जागती है तो
नींद आती है

जब  वो चाँद खिड़की से मुस्कुराता हुआ दिखता है तो
नींद आती है

जब माँ से हर शाम बात हो जाती है तो
नींद आती है

जब office का excel crash हो जाता है तो
नींद आती है

जब भूक पेट को एक Maggi मिल जाती है तो
नींद आती है

और जब एक खराब दिन के बावजूद वो प्यार से Goodnight बोल देती है तो
नींद आती है

Little things that count in life - Really ?

A day which eventually I spent with lot of kids, not too tech kids but definitely more aware kids. I was taken back to my childhood days along with my siblings when we valued and enjoyed the smallest of things that came by far and between. Summer vacation was the most heavenly thing we ever knew. We had heard of air conditioners but weren't really close to it. Fine dining was an unknown concept. Money was so valued. Infact there really was very little money, no Kindle or iPad, no Xbox or Fischer Price toys, but we were thrilled enough to split the new Cadbury three ways. And wait for what the next day threw up.

And then I turn up to kids these days. They rarely waits for things, and rarely thrilled beyond seconds and have usually moved on to the next bicycle or earrings or clothes they wants. From the too-little-too-late story of our childhood, kids these days seemingly have too much too soon, losing the sparkle and joy of small things. It is nice to have an improved economy, globalisation and all of that, but could we also have a happy, needy child at home?

As I travelled back across my memory lane I cogitated if those little things still count in today's dynamic and run after mill life. Is the joy of small things lost somewhere ??

Midnight Confrontations

How early in life should one think about the morality of one's career choice — while embarking on one's career, or mid career, or after one has made enough money? Is it right to give up a cushy job or close down a running business on moral grounds when family or employees depend on them? What should get precedence — morality of the work that one is doing or one's responsibilities towards one's dependants ?

I am personally of the opinion that it is important to look beyond one's desk as further as possible to ensure that one's work does not have an undesirable social or environmental impact, even if that means sacrificing one's passion or financial stability. It is also necessary to continually apply ethical tests to one's practices, however noble the cause. For some reason the means to the end are as important as the end itself. At times you feel guilty of having applied moral tests to your work when you had made your money. Many a times we do do not believe that is the way to go.

The question that vexes me currently is how deep should we delve, if we must, while confronting our vocations with the tests of morality? Should one apply the test to the work done by the individual, or broaden its scope to the work of his or her organization, or further stretch it to the areas of application of the work by the customers of the organization or even beyond?

Answers - probably I am still seeking for.

Random and More

I always feel we are living in troubled times. We rarely get time and freedom to stand and stare like the celebrated poet William Wordsworth. Quite unwittingly, we get trapped in a “Time-machine.” We get accustomed, much against our nature, to a kind of routine from dawn to dusk and even beyond. Our life seemed to be programmed inflexibly, inexorably. Evidently, we are brought up that way and habits die hard. Infact they never die they just get transformed into something more convenient - opinion, perception; I am not sure. We bring up our kids too to adapt themselves to this regimen. Any deviation or relaxation would be resented, frowned upon and voted out. Our nervous system is conditioned to such a punishing schedule, with poor prospects of respite. Quite inadvertently, we hurt ourselves. We hurt the helpless kids too to conform to such a standardised schooling.

Life in a metropolis gets standardised more and more. With everyone running from pillars to pillars, somewhere we get subconsciously delusioned. Pavlov and Skinner subjected animals and birds to a kind of standardised behaviour while they studied classical conditioning. Seldom did they imagine that their theories would make human beings the guinea pigs. We are depriving ourselves of the freedom to be what we should submit/succumb. Not a day would pass without a plethora of do’s and don’ts, should’s and shouldn’ts. Lists are invariably our bon-appetite.

If only we find a little time for ourselves, sit back without our laptops, smart phones, facebook, twitter, whatsapp and other smart apps which boast of connecting people. Tough world, tough run. If only we could be less predictable and more random.

Random is still charming though

Great Expectations

Right from the black and white era, there has always been a satire in our movies in which one character will open up a newspaper and read only death related news and then sigh with exasperation. I used to always think it is an overdose and does not clearly reflect the situation in the country. How I wish I still can think the same way.

After the recent rape incident in bangalore, a part of me is badly ambushed, my self is deeply saddened by the way our society is shaping up. No one is safe, not even a 6 year old kid. What can we expect more. So many of us keep on protesting against such indecent and cheap methods to make one’s point. But how long should we keep protesting and stop acting. To me at times these protest too seems a measure of "vote bank" politics. The only people who have to listen to us refuse to do so, taking shelter in the fact they will lose elections and thereby power if they do the right thing. What is the use of power when you cannot ensure the safety of innocent civilians. What we need in people who are in power is action; not just an analysis of why the same event keeps repeating again. While dealing with the lives of people, how long can we and government blame each other and then do nothing about it. The fear factor that is gripping the country is undoubtedly detrimental in nature.

Recently I was in an auto in one of the bylanes of a metro city. Into one of the narrow lane, (where everyone apparently wants to be first one to move) was a young lady driving a nice red shining Polo from the opposite end. She cruised past the auto without using her dipper nearly surviving the side outer rear view mirror crash. She should have used proper signals before making the move. I agree it was a mistake. But what happened next was shocking and frivolous. The auto driver, a man in his early 50s stepped out, abused the lady and then spitted with rage on her car which had just passed across. The action was so amalgamated with aggression, rage and subtle violence that I could no longer continue in that auto. My morality just didn't allow me. Even if she did not use a dipper before passing across the auto driver's machine, he had no right to spit on her. I immediately left the auto and chose to walk before I get one. But before I left, I just said to him one thing - "Bhaiya, you probably might have a daughter of the lady's age, think before you act"

I often realize, what is it that is stopping us, the police and the politicians from acting tough? To the common man, the solution to this problem looks woefully simple. But to the leaders, it is apparently very complicated. A sense of innovation is clearly missing in coming up with solutions. A sense of courage is clearly missing in dealing with unruly elements. And a sense of compassion is also missing in dealing with the victims. Are we really safe from the whims and fancies of dark element of this not so wise society. Is that the leaders we elect, their only sense of duty stems from the fact that they want power, only power and nothing else.

Alas, we have to understand our fair share too. If you think the only thing you can do is write and protest. Probably not.

The Fear of Loss

Of all the things that scare us, fear of loss seem like the most terrifying. At times, I’ve thought about it with such dread that it’s felt overwhelming. Loss, whatsoever of any kind is always a tough thing to bear. Especially if the entity has been personal or close to you, the loss just creates a perpetual void in your life and soul. Humans always seek to be running from this fear. It has something that has been daunting people and civilizations for ages. It's this fear that sets us on the back foot.

There are greater loss and small losses, but then there are these everyday losses: If I don’t do this, will I lose someone’s respect? If I don’t do that, will I lose my own? If I don’t go, will I lose some as of yet unknown opportunity? If I don’t stay, will I lose my sense of comfort and security? I might even go so far to say that whenever I fear something, loss is at the root of it. I suspect I’m not alone.

These are our own fear which comes riding back into town, ready to avenge us for casting it out. We have treated fear as the enemy, so it has gone into fighting mode. In fighting mode, fear is ruthless. In fighting mode, fear attacks by pulling us into a dark and catastrophic drama where we become so panicked and terrified that we can’t ignore the fear any longer.

The question that lingers is how to combat this fear ? Well it's something that I still don't have too much of clarity on.

Dialogue or a debate

It has been said that more blood has been spilt over the cause of religion than over any other cause. This statement seems to be confirmed by what we see today. It is a paradox that religion is at once a cohesive and divisive force. If religion, with its potential for good, has turned a destructive force, it is only a perversion of religion.

Shakespeare suggested - "It is excellent to have a giant's strength, but tyrannous to use it like a giant."

All the values advocated by religion are threatened by greed, violence, competitive religion, exploitation, commercialisation and similar negative forces. Religion in its most vital sense is the antidote to the spiritual malady afflicting the modern world.

It's important that we come together for a dialogue and not a debate. The purpose is to understand and not to prove us right and silence the others with our arguments. Let us be a little humble; Let us think that the truth may not be entirely with us; Let us cooperate with others; Let us, even when we do not appreciate what others say, respect their views and ways of life.

Yes, we definitely need a dialogue and not a debate.

Amiss the new MISS

Enough is being said about women empowerment. Every other weekend when I turn to the editorial of a newspaper, I always find an article on women empowerment. THE MODERN-AGE, mobile-flashing, up-market and sassy lady of the new millennium is a great symbol of empowerment of women. There's just one little catch according to me. Empowerment doesn't just come from a part of the population getting their share of rights or maybe more. It needs an awakening in everybody.

What about the women in the remote areas of the country, who haven't even graduated to gas stoves from the old wood and charcoal fires and can only fantasise about three meals a day for their family and maybe, healthy kids. The women who slog as domestic helps, construction workers and worst of all, those who are forced to sell their bodies to survive, don't they deserve their share of empowerment? How many of them have even the basic right of exercising choice. Our society is still inhuman enough to speak of prostitutes in hushed tones and ignore their presence while the males continue to exploit the ignorance.

Why are we so vexed about understanding and portrayal of sexuality. It is true that our country boasts of the Kama Sutra and it is great that women have a choice of dress and freedom of will. But, the message going across is that every woman on the road is a mannequin on display. Why does a "flashing scene" on a late night American show become news in the national newspapers here? Means why are we so hypocritical about sexuality.

I strongly believe women are not meant to be married off as soon as possible to get a `burden' off; neither do they need a groom bought for them with dowry. So what if the girl is past 27-28 years of age and yet unmarried; means doesn't she have a choice to find someone right for her, who likes her for who she is, not just for how she looks? Women's rights are not favours done by men for women. Male chauvinism needs a break. Letting the lady of the house make decisions is not by the man's choice, it is the lady's right to have a say. Let us not confuse obscenity and vulgarity with liberty and emancipation.

We need to grow up and change our outlook. Protecting or helping a woman from a mob trying to molest her or humiliate her is a responsibility of every self-respecting citizen present there. Do not let eve-teasers go unpunished, they will only grow into molesters. Women are much more than weepy, dumb, decked up decorations meant to look "hot and sexy" and not utilise their brains. They are human beings, with brains, the ability to use them well, feelings and thoughts. If you are in a relationship with her, stop being a dick; trust her, respect her and let her be what she is. Probably then would be the case that you really love her. The day we learn that probably then would be the day when they are really empowered.

Trust and Worth

Everyone wants to be trusted and this is true in a personal as well as professional relationship. Imagine how difficult it is to sustain in a work environment if you boss cannot trust with the work that has been endowed upon you. It will only stress out the environment and make things complicated. But being viewed as trustworthy is not something that just happens by accident. Trust is something that one builds into gradually and then it needs to be valued and maintained.

Often human beings are seen struggling with with trust issues these days even when there is no tangible reason for mistrust. This is because trust involves a whole array of complex feelings like faith, belief, hope, conviction, confidence, expectation, dependence, and reliance. In other words, it is a huge emotional investment which, if abused, can increase you vulnerability to a lot of mess and distress.

But then at times it's the only thing we have. It's equivalent to choices we make in life. The choices which affect the palpable changes in our lives. It's never as complicated as it seems.

Attention and More

“You validate people’s lives by your attention.” -Unknown

For as long as I can remember, wanting attention has seemed like a shameful thing. It's been like you are screaming your weakness to the world.

“She’s only doing that for attention.” “He’s only telling that sob story for attention.” “She only volunteered to help for attention.”

Have we ever said or heard something like this? I know I have. Many times throughout our life, we’ve analyzed people’s words and actions and essentially judged whether or not their intention was to hoist themselves into the spotlight or take the centre stage. Every time we’ve done this, somewhere inside us we’ve thought, “It’s bad to be desperate for attention.” And somewhere underneath that, “I hate that I’ve been desperate for attention.”

Call it second child syndrome, but we all came out of the womb screaming, “Look at me!” And then “What are you looking at?”

The way evolution has seen itself we have a healthier sense of self these days, but I can still be triggered by (what I might believe is) attention seeking behavior—and it’s generally because I’m subconsciously judging many of my former choices.

Not everyone acts out to gain approval, but no matter how you slice it, the desire for attention is a call for love and compassion. What would happen if we started seeing it that way, instead of turning attention into a four letter word?

I’m not talking about enabling people when they’re doing dangerous things, or condoning disrespectful, inconsiderate choices. I’m talking about shifting our perceptions so that we’re less apt to judge and more likely to understand. That doesn’t mean we need to be pulled into drama. It just means we look a little below the surface to empathize before responding–and in this way, we’re better able to recognize when attention seeking is actually a cry for help.

We all look for validation every now and then. We’re all people who want attention. And we can all choose to be compassionate when we see a call for love and recognition instead of judging the need.

Complicated perhaps not.

Paradox

We are all human; but few are humane. Most of us think we are virtuous; but few are bereft of vice. We are all uniquely blessed with the power to imagine, extrapolate, inquire and to perceive beyond immediacy but so few see beyond the reach of their noses and so much consumed by the grind of daily existence.

Many of us feel self-righteous; but few shrink from hurting the weak and vulnerable. "To be fallible is to be human", but individually we think we are infallible. Why does human intimacy rob mutual respect and interpersonal relationships so hard to sustain when man is so gregarious and craves for human contact? We are endowed with the unique power of reason, wisdom discrimination but we act so often without them. We behave as if we were deprived of these virtues. I agree we are infinitely creative but then often mindlessly destructive. Instead of feeling ashamed for our anger and avarice, so many use them as a cover and justification for their actions arising from them. We make daily choices but often avoid facing the consequences.

What is the measure of greatness? Indeed, what is the measure of man? Are good and bad, virtue and values elastic terms, relative to the time, place and provocation? What is morality in an age of images and instant satiation? What are the permissible limits of moral transgression in tune with the times? I have always struggled to differentiate right and wrong. I always think that the concept is a 'relative' one rather than 'absolute' one. That's why I believe more in concept of fair and unfair.

The way I have been seeing people shitting the morality arguments whenever they feel defeated in a conversation I am forced to think - what is the essence of morality? Is just 'truth' and 'non-violence' the guiding light. Are the norms of good and bad, virtue and vice specific to each place and time or are they immutable, universal and eternal? Why are we so judgmental when it is so difficult to think like someone else?

Can we ascrive every happenings to the doctrine of cause and effect. ? What is the interplay between human's free and fickle minded fucked up will and omnipotent divine will.

In other words are we behaving as we are supposed to behave, just playing our doomed parts? If so, where is the room for any remorse or guilt? Do we still have a chance to redeem ourselves, pull away from the precipice?

Too much to ask, too much to answer

More Advice, More troubles

However diverse we are in our culture, there are certain common traits that run through our society and connect us all. One such characteristic is the compulsive urge to dole out unsolicited advice. It is given by relatives, friends or even total strangers. In fact, the less acquainted you are with the adviser the more forceful is the advice.

The sadist in me is delighted when I hear parents of children in the final years of schooling being besieged with suggestions about their future. One person predicted that with the ever-increasing demand for electricity, a time will come when there will not be enough power to run all the computers and hence IT as a field has no future. Another said to a parent whose daughter joined a basic science degree course: whatever be the state of affairs, the world cannot exist without trade. So, doing a degree in commerce is the most prudent thing.

Why is it that according to the adviser all our decisions are always wrong? You would have cogitated for ages to sink your hard-earned money in a flat. This lady says, “A flat? You have made a terrible mistake. How can you get the happiness of living in an independent house? I am sure that in due course the residents in the flats will not cooperate in anything from paying the maintenance fee to hiring a night watchman. Poor you.”

If you think you are smart in owning an independent house, listen to this adviser: “Oh! If you reside in a flat you don't have to worry about finding someone to repair an electrical or plumbing fault. The secretary of the association will do it for you. Also, you have forgotten the safety aspect. You are a sitting duck in an independent house.”

Invariably, the adviser is neither an expert nor has he any experience in the field but says what he has read or heard somewhere. Perhaps, offering advice makes him feel important and worthy of existence. But then the receiver can become a mental wreck faced with a multitude of contrasting suggestions coming from various advisers. He can become depressed and lose his self-esteem. The only way he can redeem his self-esteem is to feel important and be worthy by doling out unsolicited advice himself.

Ah, inadvertently, I have found out why people give unsolicited advice.

The omnipresent companion

Expectations are simply omnipresent. It's what you expect from the people in your personal as well as professional relationships. From your co-worker to your best friend to your spouse, you have expectations of everyone in your life. You expect your boss or your human resources representative to hand you a paycheck on pay day. You expect your parents to remember to call on your birthday. You expect the new person you’re dating to call, or text, within a certain timeframe after a date. If you set your expectations too high however, and the person does not meet your standards, you are the one who winds up feeling sad or angry.

Managing expectations, both our own and those of the people in our life, creates breathing room for our experiences, allowing us to live with more certainty and calm, encouraging less reactivity, avoiding upset. We all have expectations of people, events, our work, the movies we go to, the restaurants we eat at. Most of the time our expectations live below our subconscious mind and we do not know we had the expectation until we are either happily surprised or disappointed. It takes some time to realize it though.

However one question that always lingers in my not so thoughtful mind is why is managing expectations such a big deal? Why is the power of expectation so great? And why do people spend so much of their time these days frustrated, angry, and pissed off ? Are some of these expectations genuine or is it synthetically created. Is it a transition from feeling neutral - to feeling excited - to feeling disappointed. Are we alone responsible for laying down guidelines for what to expect and what not to. Someone also said - "today’s expectations are tomorrow resentments” or “expectations are resentments in training”.

As far as I am concerned I still am looking for answers. But one thing I do realize is that managing expectation is easier said than done and it's definitely an omnipresent companion to one. One may able to tame this animal but may not simply curb it.

Medieval Opinions

Enough has been said about it already. Enough has been written about it already. I accidently happened to read an article today evening which was titled - "Dress Code for Women". First thing first, I was deeply disturbed by the title itself and as I progressed I only got more flustered. Initially I thought it was a joke and that the writer was being sarcastic. As I continued to read I was shocked and outraged, and just had to pitch in.

I am a 27 year old and have been working since 23. I come from a small town which is somewhat conservative in it's thoughts but yes I have spent quite a time in some foremost metros and tier 1 cities of India. I have also travelled to some developed countries and have been working with people from different race and culture. I have been closely following the dress-code controversy in the papers and on TV in our country and I have a few observations to make.

The first is on the actual dress code issue. I have noticed the repeated use of words such as modesty, decency and obscenity. Would the people who use these words please tell me what they mean? What is so indecent and obscene about jeans, T-shirts and skirts ? I don't see it anything more than the personal choice to be comfortable and feel good about it. If women wearing jeans are viewed as lacking modesty and serenity, women wearing saris should also be called immodest, as they expose some parts of their body. The baseline is that it's totally a bullshit argument without any rationale.

Fundamentally women wear jeans and T-shirts not to emulate western culture, but because such clothes are more comfortable. No one is deriding and discarding anything because it is age-old, or accepting some things just because they are modern. If it is a question of micro-mini skirts and barely-there tops, which leave little to the imagination, it should be known that only a small minority of girls dress this way. Even if they do so, it is their choice. If people are offended by them, then they should not look at these girls.

I find it very distressing to see that educated people condone such patriarchal behaviour. It is especially disturbing to see that some women also encourage this behaviour. While it is fine to have your own views, it is improper to impose them on others. Why is there such fear of a woman's freedom and empowerment? As a progressive society we seriously need to think about our opinions.

I feel that we are trying to treat the symptom and not the disease. We are trivialising the problem by issuing dress codes and other such dictates and restrictions. The real issues are our medieval views on women, and that is what needs to be changed on the whole

Man, Machine and Maniacs

I wonder what makes a gentle considerate person the devil incarnate when he is behind a machine. He behaves as if he is the lord of all that he surveys and any mortal on his way is treated with the contempt that person deserves. Consideration, politeness and sympathy are alien words not in his dictionary.

The other day, I found a big, powerful motorcycle headed my way though I was walking on the edge of the road in the absence of a walk able pavement. The motorcyclist slowed down a bit but took his machine through the narrow space between the curbside and the road hump. I asked him whether he should use only that space, on the wrong side, when he is supposed to drive on the left, slow down and negotiate the hump. He stopped gave me a stare as if I just intruded his personal life.

I dared not argue further. So much for consideration and politeness. The bigger the machine, the bigger the importance of the man behind the wheel. Bigger is the ego to treat the pedestrians with contempt. Take the example of our own city bus drivers. Anything on their way is a nuisance to be negotiated anyhow as they are always in a tearing hurry to reach their destination. They are known to intimidate other drivers with incessant horn and even nudging the other vehicles in a clear indication they mean business when it comes to demonstrating who is the master of the roads. People do not argue with such drivers who in general have the sympathy of the scores of passengers inside. “Might is right,” the jungle law, is very much practised on our roads. The very Indian roads. I have been quite a law abiding driver. The other day while I was waiting for the signal to turn green, an auto driver menacingly just paced his machine through the inches of space available to my left. I thought - "when will we ever learn to slow down".

I had had the chance to visit a couple of advanced countries and I recall nostalgically the consideration shown by drivers to co-vehicle drivers and pedestrians. Honking is taboo, except as a means of greeting or in dire emergencies. No one overtakes on the wrong side. Immediately after overtaking, the vehicle comes back to the left or right side of the road so that other vehicles could overtake if they so desire. If a driver were in trouble due to his machine, those behind them would stop and render all possible assistance.

I wonder whether we will ever learn some of those eminent guidelines for good behavior on the roads or continue to be acting like maniacs in a tearing hurry. When we talk so much about globalization, why can't we learn some of the good practices of the advanced countries where safety, orderliness and discipline are ingrained in the citizens, come what may? As a citizens using the road we need to show some respect to each other

Co-linear/Non-linear

Humans are so rational that we always connect the dots whether they are co-linear or non-linear. While co-linear dots are easy to connect and easy to justify but I am really intruiged and fascinated to see how painstakingly we connect the non-linear dots. We all are fascinated by stories we like to hear, the stories we would like our heart to believe. In fact we are so fascinated that we convincingly deny to see anything that might seem more rational or logical or factual.

May be we have always been like this. May be we have been designed to be like this. Undoubtedly we are one hell of a species. Not so homogenous homo-sapiens. Too much of a thought to cogitate on a saturday noon.

10 of a billion may be

Guys don’t like to talk about how much they love their girl to other guys. They have been generally keeping their feelings to themselves. It’s like showing how pussy whipped you are. Well, I’m about to change that. Breaking the non-conventional is something we all have to do to build a progressive society.

I am with the best girl ever. She has been the best friend for last 8 years. That makes it even more special. There are a hundred million reasons why I love her, why I am so proud of her. First and foremost, she puts up with me, which makes her stronger than Hercules. There are other reasons as well. Let me break them down into a top ten list? Taking into account the scoop whoop's trend everyone loves top 10 things or top 25 things. Right ?

10. Patience - Mentioned in the opening, she’s like that solid rock of my world. When I’m pissed off or frustrated or in sad state she clams it by saying - “Dude, it’s ok things will happen for it’s own good.” I remember missing out my coveted B school admit last year. She was the one who calmed me down that I only feel more motivated to apply again. (Yes she calls me ‘dude’ :) )

9. Smarts - She’s the smartest girl that I know. She has done great in school. A 9 pointer not many can boast of. She is doing great at her job. Very accountable and responsible towards her work. She does have good programming skills. Can develop android apps, write good codes, design databases. Plus she knows where to draw a line. Not many girls I know have been street smarts unfortunately.

8. Beautiful - Everything about her is beautiful. I love her eyes, the way they rest in on her face. I love her cheek bones. I love her nose. I love her chin. I love the way she smiles. I love the way she talks. Means I can go on and the list might never end …

7. Willing to try new things - She’s always getting into things that are new and intriguing. Football, Cricket, Excursions, Movies, books  etc. She’s adventurous and will jump at the chance to do something out of the ordinary.

6.  Fun loving - She’s always laughing, smiling and pleased with the world. She makes even the most mundane tasks fun and enjoyable. Her attitude and energy is infectious, she makes you want to smile back at her.Even during my lows she just instills so much of energy whenever I talk to her. I have a viral fever while I am writing this but then I don’t feel like one. Reason I just talked to her.

5. Caring  - She truly cares about me. She’s worried about me when I’m down. She tried her best to bring best out of me when I am a little low. But besides my own needs; she has a thing for society. She wants to give back to society in her own little way.

4. Strong - She’s tough, strong and won’t back down from a fight. Plus, she’s mentally strong, knows how to handle things. She like to fight for things and has a positive “not give up” attitude. That makes me her fan. 

3. Stubborn - She’s stubborn in a good way. When she has her mind set on something, there’s nothing that can get in her way. She’s committed to her values and ideals. Plus, if she wants me to do something, I have to do it or I’ll never hear the end of it, but in a good way. (I like fulfilling her wishes all the time because she never has any irrational wish)

2. Leader - She’s the leader of the pack. At her old job, she was super active in participating off-office events, plays etc. In her friends, everyone waits for her to do something or set something up because she’s expected to. All her friends like her and some boys love her. (That never makes me insecure, :-) in fact makes me glad and proud of her personality )

1. Big heart- She’s a bleeding heart. She reaches out to the sick and lonely. She cares about homeless people (which even I do till some extent). She cares about me (I’m like sick lonely and homeless all at the same time.)

These are just ten of the billions of things about that make her the most special lady of my life. Does that make me sound like an idiot or nonsense? Yes, may be but I hardly care about it. I love her that much.

Continuity

The world is moving at a boisterous pace, with changes happening every passing moment of our life. Wise men have said that the all the changes taking place is for better, but then I am forced to cogitate, "Really, are all changes for the better ?" There are at times when the heart and mind inside the human torso battles hard to accept the changes.

Good changes are always welcome but then not-so-good ones are out there and too many in number. They exists like a heap of gravel of multitude dimensions. With time advancing at this brisk pace, the complexities involved are just being multiplied multifold. Continuity has been a part of life; mine as well as of yours. But then it comes with certain trade-offs.

As Balasubramina Pavani in one of his articles says - "Trees are felled mercilessly, giving way to majestic roads, which look beautiful. But the soul is missing. The shade of the selfless tree knows only to give and not take"

But sadly in this ever-changing rapid era, such sentiments have few takers. Great men say plant a tree, lesser men say chop it for it’s an obstruction. Had earlier generations thought that way, where would we have landed? Where would one rest under a hot summer sun?

Change and continuity is good and fascinating but are we willing to make so many trade-offs ?

A busy afternoon in Bangalore

Late night at work, an early morning flight, 2 hours of sleep, 3 hours of working from airport. A little unnerved because you’re out of your comfort zone. Out of the comfortable routine of a familiar place with familiar faces. The bustle of this city - the busy streets full of purposeful people - can get to you. They all seem to have a plan which they are either executing or are constantly aware of even when relaxing. You have none. You have nothing pertinent or of social relevance to be executed. Nothing major that the ecology should be made aware about. You just have this sweet desire to spend some time with her. Talk about sensible and nonsense simultaneously. May be you just have a small list - mostly with just one single item - in your head that you want to tick off before the day ends. Just one important thing that brings you here; despite brushing sides with several unconventional. There’s a natural hiccup in becoming a part of a conversation. And when you do, the ease or difficulty in relating to all of it. Your mind is still dominated by solid memories from the past even though there is a hint of deja-vu - a translucency - in what’s happening around. Choice has always been the real problem for one.

There is an external push - not a motivation, but a raw push - to have a plan, to be more ordered. There is this opportunity to tweak yourself a bit and relate to that talk. It calls for making yourself open to see the new, aware that the memories may still flow in any moment. You need to handle that. You need to be flexible to allow and appreciate the new, yet take part; stand guard. Pull the past appropriately so you don’t get lost or change completely in this new place. You have to contribute as quality is as much driven by the subject as by the object.

There is this newness you need to regard. There are boundaries you need to keep in mind. And then, there is this choice to engage. Requires subtle courage. And perhaps the conversation leads to a fresh dimension, a new beginning may be or existing one with a new flavor.

For now life seems with less regret for sure :-)

How about being silent for sometime ?

How about being silent for sometime ?

We are a larger democracy no doubt and often we are at our loudest during election time. No one seems to want to keep quiet, and everyone wants to have the last word. So there is a verbal barrage, with discretion and decency often thrown to the winds. Scandals and secrets galore do the rounds, making you wonder where they were hiding for so long. What starts as a campaign often results in the mean and nasty exchange of words. Every one is hell bent in finding arguments and counter arguments. Everyone is trying to put words in the mouth.

What if we consciously remain simply silent for a few hours every day? The noise within us would recede; our ears would keenly take in the rhythm of the noises naturally offered to us. The rustle of the curtains, the wail of a baby, delightful shrieks of children at play, the whistle of the pressure cooker, a gate opening far away, a car reversing, a mother calling out to her child, a door bell ringing, a door creaking, and so much more.

To remain silent requires will power and it will be a sort of mental exercise. Like walking, this can be practiced daily. The best part of it is that you dont need to step oiut of your house or run on a treadmill inside. As you strengthen your mind you’ll be surprised at how things around you change for the better. The clutter of thoughts waiting to be articulated, stops right in your brain. Edgar Allan Poe, in his writings expressed the two faces of silence. These are 'body and soul' and 'sea and shore'

In silence we streamline your thoughts, filtering out the unwanted and only expressing what is necessary. Every human torso is in a battle with itself. Tonnes of apprehensions and anxieties keeps making it's way. You inhibitions are always loud. While you incessantly try to keep solving the puzzle you always keep missing that one piece. The small piece which can make this looks simple and straight. The result of practicing silence would be obviously sensible, welcome and soothing. Stop for a moment, halt wherever you are and think about the profound voice of infinite urging us to seek solace in silence.

Solitude

We live in a very tense society. We are pulled apart constantly and we all need to learn how to pull ourselves together. I think that at least part of the answer lies in solitude. So cherish your solitude. "Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep out alone under the stars. Learn how to drive a stick shift. Go so far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back. Say no when you don’t want to do something. Say yes if your instincts are strong, even if everyone around you disagrees. Decide whether you want to be liked or admired. Decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you’re doing here". Believe in kissing. Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.

A creation of importance can only be produced when its author isolates himself, it is a child of solitude. In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.

P.S - In cognizance with Eve Ensler

The world’s toughest job

Work 24x7x365, with no breaks, no sick leaves, no personal vacation, no casual leave and of course to top it all no salary. Well this is how the job description is for what is the world's toughest assignment is. Yes the difficult of all, and somewhere down the line we all debilitate it. Mothers do that job

I was inspired to pen down my thought on this subject after I saw an advert that went quite argumentatively viral on Facebook. I even liked it one one of my friend's wall. I even tweeted about it and got a couple of favorites and retweets too. One of the comment on the video read "awww".  Frankly, that’s the only non-lexical filler I could utter after watching the video.

So after watching the video my mind kind of went into the orotundity of thoughts. I kind of experienced a slideshow of all the things that my mother did for me. Staying up late when I was struggling with high temperatures, bearing the brunt of my father's disgruntled mood when did something wrong, wiping my biological waste and throw up (sorry I was too novice to the world then). And then there have been times in my teenage when I shouted back. "Mom you don't understand !" And then few years later I realized Don't understand what ? She understood my emotions and perturbation when I was nothing but a bag of protoplasm wrapped under skin and bones that only produced non productive and useless sounds. But that is different right ??

The story continued. She was there at the most joyous moment of my life. When I scored distinction in boards examinations, when I topped my XIIth, when I cleared my National Defense Academy exams. When I got placed with 3 other companies and then later ZS. And the she was there at worst times also - when I missed my IIT-JEE marginally (which I only came to know about it much later and yes apparently I was too a JEE obsessed kid), when I did not fare too well in CAT (never was CAT obsessed though), when I decided to leave National Defense Academy (the toughest of all). Of course even my father was supportive too (I do not intend to undermine his role) but yes somewhere I have a special room for my mother. They say, you don’t understand things fully if you can’t express them in words. Well I don't understand my mother. She gives me all that lip smacking chicken and I happily gorge on it and then she come up with chapati and dal. I ask her why and she replies "Oh I know you like chicken so much. I am fine with dal for my dinner" I doubt if I would do the same if I were in her place. I seriously think am I so selfless. May be selfless is the least virtuous word I can ever use to describe her.

And then I slant out of my car window (yes there is a 180 second red light at a traffic signal) and see mother everywhere. A cow feeding its baby, a bird feeding it's offspring with pre digested food, a day worker, along the roadside, toiling all day and feeding his girl child with rice mixed with dal. Words fail beyond that point. I wish I could say to entire world that my mother is the best ! But wait, no , not just "my" mother. Invariably every mom is the best. My inside heart made a sound "mummaa" The girl-child at the signal cried along with me. I realized the traffic signal had turned green and I moved on.

Last month I was back home during holi and while musing over an ibnlive article, I fell asleep on my bed, with a packet of Lays in hand and my laptop over my belly. I woke up in the noon - in my bedroom, with the empty Lays packet in the trash bin and the laptop neatly kept on my study table for charging (with lid slightly folded to cover the keyboard, lest dust settle on the same). I smirked "magic does exist in these otherwise obvious world"

To be or not to be – yet again

To be or not to be to be able to survive is a wonder in itself. To be able to come out of a fiasco is a mere footnote in the bigger journey called life. Yet we get so engrossed about such things that when they actually play out in our domain, we kind of become blind and oblivious to the outer world. We do not respond to the outer stimulus and behave like a dead body, frozen in time and sensibilities.

We are a living body with a dead soul. We all are. Ok.Before all of you protest that you are not, ask yourself when was the last time you had smiled or cried when you were not directly affected by the events. Sounds mad? I don’t think so. It only sounds sympathetic. Remember Prometheus? The Greek titan who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to the mortals? We need more of him and not of grandeurs.

We are all consumed with the challenge of making our life a better one. We are so occupied by the unknown future that the present is always a miss and yet a mess. We are a product of so many sacrifices and voluntary services and we take them for granted. We always demand gratitude for services which we never paid when we were at the receiving end of that. Yet we call ourselves rational, intelligent and justified.

These days there are no childhood, because there is no child anymore. All are either a well oiled machine or a bunch of crap. Nobody wants a human, all want successful cheerleaders. Sounds unapologetic? Pessimistic? Copy cat? If only life could give us a second chance! Even we take chances also for granted!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dedicated to souls like me who were in deep trouble and continue to be in (not in a way that world definitely understand)

7 years ago

Your magnificent dark eyes, dark emeralds aflame
Your not so silky black hair, still perfect in rain.
The way you walk, a light, mirthful peacock in prance
So cheerful and happy , ever ready to dance
When I hear your sweet laughter, a sweet melodious tune
I feel alive, full of joy; I could probably fly to the moon
On those rare moments, when your eyes meets mine
I feel a warm pleasure and chill down the spine

I know not how it started
Perhaps 7 years ago
I know not how I met you,
definitely it did not happen in a go
Those long night chats, the long night talks
Discussing every damn spree
I sit idly all night always wishing you would see
Perhaps even come and sit down next to me

I have seen my friends and I know myself
I owe you a million thanks for all your help
Through thick and thins, through summers and through winters
You have been there, you have been there in dreams and in shatters
you are my genie and you are the whole
you are in my dreams and you fill my soul;
you are a genius and a perfect magician
As you change my life with a magic wand

I am not photogenic and I can not sing
I can not play and neither I am outstanding
Though I have always thought of boon and bane
But I am always up for a walk with you down the lane.
I am happy with you and I am happy without you
I am happy with your presence beyond sight
I never have to fight and I never have to moan
I can always meet you in a state of delight

You know that I don't open my gates
and you know that I don't believe in fate
You know that I need space and I need mind
To talk, to share and to help me unwind…

As I watch the evening's amber sun
and I calm myself down, from thoughts weighing a tonne
I watch you smile, and it send jolts through my heart
The soothing orange invigorates my mind
As you do, always so kind
Stay there as you are
Right in my wishes and in my sweet dreams
I pray that you remain pure and perfect
and keep smiling with warmth forever.