Without saying a word, you can light up the dark ...

Without saying a word, you can light up the dark.
Sans blood and breath, you can pump up the heart.
Its unbelievable at times, how you understand it all.
At times I trip just so that, you can halt my fall.

There are times when you say, "how can You be aloof amidst crazy noise".
Why's it so difficult to see that with you, am just listening to your eyes.
When your eyes do the talking, surrounding world takes the back seat.
And then you naively ask me, "M., do I still make you miss a beat".

There are milestones I pursue and achieve, yet never feel the high.
Then there is this random brush of your hair, that still makes me sigh.
There are evenings that I have spent, just looking at you through the rainbow of drinks.
And have noticed you catching me every single time, when I somehow forgot to blink.

Years are mere numbers (Six,today, right?), occasions just shallow instances, their significance just evaporates, as we grow.
Loving can be limited to days, occasions, is something that I critically(and sadly) don't know :-).
But do continue to express your will, through your sublime smile and love set glazed.
Because just being with you and to experience all of above, has an ineffable intoxication and keeps me dazed.

~ Manu

Julley Leh! It was awesome getting LEH'ed !!!

As I somehow begin to jot my thoughts down, I am almost certain it will again turn out into a travelogue, which, is a dreadful thought. It’s not that I don’t like putting down notes about the places I travel to. It’s just that One - I don’t write too many blogs anyways and thus travelogues are the only posts that are there on my homepage to judge-me-on if someday Booker Committee is looking through random blogs to scout the next esteemed winner you see. Who knows maybe, why take a chance. And Two - Because I don’t think I really do justice to Travelogues. I mix too many things - Unwarranted, Unrequited. So my less than 3 regular readers, you still have a choice,whether to spend next few minutes of your lifetime to browse Twitter, Metacafe, FB etc lest you be interested in reiterative useless piece of writing. (See I am giving links also here for your convenience. Social Service Award anyone? No? Ok!)

LEH, Capital of Ladakh. State – J & K... Dear Bucket List. Here goes another one. Swoosh! 

Alas! Anti climax to your expectations (!), I think Leh was 'Okay'. I mean yes it was a different kind of adventure-oriented experience and I seriously witnessed stuffs I had not witnessed earlier but still I somehow found it - Average. Or may be as is something wrong with my hard-wiring, I believe I was expecting a bit too much or  probably 'coz Gangotri - Gomukh Trek has no comparison, whichever be the case, that is how I felt then and still feeling. But having said that, I also believe that it is certainly a place worth visiting once. Its Wet- Dry - Cold - Hot (Yes trust me when I say this) - Windy - Still ... Beautiful! 

Experiences! Leh, is a place that calls for just letting yourself be. It’s testing but protective. I still remember, during the preparations for the trip, I repeatedly told everyone to be prepared for AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), Breathlessness, Anxiety et al and despite of that when I reached there, I was the one who got sick first. Thanks to loads of research, I just allowed myself to relax as much as possible and let Leh teach me how to breath. So exactly a day later I was fit like never before (while some of the other folks were still battling the mild symptoms). And never took to any altitude sickness again. Guess that is the ‘Cue’ there. Just take it easy and don’t overdo yourself. Let Nature take over and Let yourself drift, lightly, without offering inertia !

Bikers! That’s kind of a synonym for this place. You go anywhere, you will find riders in flocks heading towards one or the other terrain. Just kind of fitting into the landscape. Not to be missed if you plan to go there.

Touristy Thing! Some of the places like Khardung-La & Chang-La are definitely worth a visit. You will get an approximate 'near-iota' idea of what life is for armed forces personnel. RESPECT. While the former falls when you drive towards Nubra Valley (An over-hyped place-Diksit,Hunder), the latter is on Leh-Pangong Lake route. Ya! Ya! The 3 Idiot Lake, if that makes you happy. Beautiful but again over-hyped location. :-) And yes, should you need to know, this Lake has appx 150 km spread, only one-third of which is in India. And also that this lake is considered as sacred so think twice before chilling your Godfather (Leh's answer to Kingfisher beer) here. Just in case.

My High-points of the Trip? Well actually couple of them;

• Visiting Phyang Monastery and spending over 2 hours there, debating origin and traverses of Buddhism with Head Lama amidst ongoing preparations for Revd Dalai Lama's visit 2 days later. 
• Visiting Shanti Stupa at 5:30 am in the morning and getting a feel that World is nothing but a figment of our imaginations. The only place I ever felt completely disconnected from everything else,worldly.
• Visiting Hemis Monastery and feeling the sensation which you only get when you are at a place different from others. As per my research (thank you thank you), this is place where the documentary proofs of Jesus’ stay in India were archived for ages. Apparently Christ spent his youth in Kashmir learning whatever Buddhism had to offer. Don’t believe. Read New Testament & Bodhisattva’s teachings and trace the striking similarities.
• Random Bike Rides - Pick Enfield 350 cc and just let it be. It just enhances the whole experience.
• Border road organisation (BRO) – Amazing efforts of building roads through all so magnificent mountains. Respect. And hats off to those who crafted your captions – e.g. – I am Curvaceous, Please Handle my Curves with Care; Darling I like you but not so Fast; and so many others.
• People - Interact with locals. Its therapeutic...

 It was indeed a memorable trip and if I were to summarize it all in 3 pointers they would be;

1. Immense Respect to Armed Forces for everything. You will know what I mean when you visit Leh, once.
2. Peace cannot be sought outside. Its always within your own self.
3. We, humans are nothing. Absolutely Nothing in the magnanimous design of Universe.

Julley Leh. You were lovely and it was awesome getting LEH’ed there …

----

Shanti Stupa

Where Skies are as clear as Hearts!

Buddha@Shanti Stupa

Beauty & The Bridge ! @ Camel Safari,Hunder

Pangong

Saffron spread enroute Hemis Monastery

Flakes!

Flights of Fantasy !

Those for whom LEH is not a touristy circuit!

Traverses !

Buddha @ Diksit Monastery

Blooming Beauty!

Canopy !

Hemis Monastery

Escape to Self !

These days routine has become a bit too idle. All my plans regarding joining Guitar, Photography, Swimming, Archery and what nots have literally gone down the drain and all that I could manage to do (worth quoting here) is stealing a quick trip to Bhandardara, a beautiful hill station near Maharashtra. Only if monsoon had arrived as it had committed,the place would have been atleast thousand times more amazing. Only if ! Few days of absolute serenity in Bhandardara were kind of detoxing for my internal psyche after over 5 years of non stop work-life. 

Now back home at Meerut for a month am gearing up for the amazingly poised Ladakh trip starting 11th of this month and am kind of losing my sleep over it. 6 cousins on a 7 day long escapade without their better halves. I am not taking the credit for this remarkable feat but you then got to give some respect to the catalyst as well. Wouldn't you!

There is so much to write, if only I am able to pose  myself some serious pretexts and ask for answers but now is not the time. Will be back soon,hopefully,after the Ladakh trip.

Bon Voyage to Self ! Escape to Self !

Corporate Travelogue !

Few more days to go for 5 years of my not-so-awesome stint in corporate life. For the uninitiated, 14th May 07 was when I recall having taken the last real decision in my life. A decision to eternal (its such a b'ful word. Completely absorbs the meaning implied and is pretty revocable as well at later date) bonded slavery. When I had let short term logics take over long term dreams and decided to take a plunge. A pretty deep one at that. 

If you actually managed to read through that preamble,Respect. 

So, having established that and in sync with my infrequent blogging (which I modestly explain as not been able to gather thoughts ofcourse and which actually can mostly be ascribed to psychic lethargy) I am just going through this phase of 'not-knowing-what-I-should-be-doing' syndrome. 5 years is a landmark in general terms but I somehow feel its very regressive. How? 

Lets see what I factually lost in all these years

• Creativity of thought, of action
• Humanitarian touch, empathy
• Focus, determination
• Consistent persistence towards a goal, visible, invisible, deemed, non existent
• Capability to build long term touch & affection; and maybe a few good people. More about that later.
  
  

What have I gained?

• Can I count in my Car & LCD here if allowed to? No? Ok ...

No. I wouldn't say that its been a bad phase. That would be unreasonable apathy towards all that I have accrued but yes its been a pretty very average run barring few and far niche 'n nicer patches.

Was reading this brilliant book translated into English by Bhawana Somaiya - Krishna: The God who lived as a man. Remarkably amazing book. And at one instance when Krishna (I am Peepal amongst the trees - Bhagwat Geeta) while lying against the bark of Peepal tree, foot bleeding with the arrow shot from the bow of Jara the hunter contemplates and sighs - 'Life is more like the path taken by a Trapeze artist walking over tight ropes. To balance himself he has to keep moving come what may but in the end he will have to invariably come back to the starting point every time' 

So true. That's precisely what I have been doing and unfortunately have been seeing people around me doing  all the time. Walking on the tight ropes. Trying to find a balance amidst acute chaos. And at such times I feel that at least I accept the status and am aware thus not attaching artificial glory to some petty achievements. There are several of those who don't accept the status as it is. Sadly. 

And then the quintessential rat race. I am ok with the rat race after having spent some time in corporate. I am also ok with staying the rat even after coming out as a winner of the race (as if I have a choice here after having run with the rats) but atleast then one got to be complete rat like. Communal, Participative and Harmonic. Guess only humans can be so amoebic. Rat at one instant, a Canine at another and mostly like a Cuckoo bird, taking someone else's credit and throwing off other's efforts down the drain. Mostly. 

But am I being a bit too caustic? Yes of course but again this is not a remorse or regret. As I stated above, this is just because I am aware of what is happening to me and surroundings. The changes. Variables. Its a cognition and not repentance and for reasons deep rooted within me,I have to keep shoveling myself at regular intervals just as to ensure that I am still pretty much alive ...

I realize that even this post like many others on this blog can be termed as 'Karna' I guess. Born merely out of curiosity ... Curiosity to drill 'n grill and hard-press the haywired psyche. 

Its a Long journey ahead. Bon Voyage to self !

Camping.Trekking.Wanderlust.LIFE !

Even at the cost of reiteration and pretext of being finicky at all times I hereby would reinstate my views. The most beautiful things in life almost always come for free. This was the note on which I planned the said trip itinerary of mine and this was precisely the affirmation that came out of it. Seclusion. Roads less traveled. Non-touristy circuit. Midst of forest range. Friends and Long Zoom camera for company. Bliss.So while the weekend before last was spent amidst the frothing serenity of Kashid, with family; this was the weekend of sheer adventure, thrill and fun unbound as 6 of us,office colleagues, backpacked and drove down to Lonavala for a camping cum trekking trip to Rajmachi Fort. Before I start this travelogues, let me put a word of thanks to oh so wonderful Abhijeet & Maansi from Letscampout - a team that organizes such camps for wanderlust driven souls like ours. 

So, having reached Lonavala (which infact is just over 75 minutes drive from my part of the city) we took an SUV cab to Rajmachi. I somehow have become an unofficial trip planner for my department over past 1 year but then this time even I wasn't very sure of the whole rendezvous as there was no prior evidence of success. Blank but excitedly we disembarked at Village Rajmachi and headed to our campsite. Amazing comfortable camps awaited our arrival but we wanted some action so after an awesomely sumptuous lunch we took off for a casual walk to the cliff and then to the nearby lake. A lake crossing session was organised for us and while it tested stamina, it nevertheless was good fun. Back to camp site a barbecue and campfire was organised and it was further corroborated by spooky tales we discussed. This followed by a (mid) night trek - lit only by solar lanterns was worth every missed beat. And the best part, after so many years I could actually see so many stars in the sky and crescent moon all so close to us. Silence is the best healer and that was evident from the all-so-cheerful conversations. Was wondering all the time if this was all in some way lost courtesy our work, routines, life.

After a slightly disturbed sleep (imagine sleeping in the middle of a forest with monkeys climbing over trees and dogs sniffing around. Add to that news of a wild boar hunted down in the vicinity in the evening) we got up to a clear 'n chilly morning. After freshening up we headed for a trek to Rajmachi fort which is considered as second most difficult trek in Maharashtra (not really!). 2 hours and gallons of sweat later we left from the campsite to Lonavala.

It was all very rejuvenating and the silence was so connecting to self that while driving back, honking of horns was a pain to ears. Back to the rut, I was feeling completely out of place and completely out of sync. Having said that, I feel light, determined and so much more willing to take up another excursion soon. Very soon. So next weekend I am off to MP for some tourist thing coupled with relative-bonding. 

If only time could just cease to tick whenever heart is at bliss missing beats ... if only ...

Kumaon Sojourn & Psychic Travelogue ...

Been some time I wanted to upgrade my Camera and the impulsive person I am, waiting for someone to come from US to get it for me was absolutely a no-deal. So while the new camera is again a point & Shoot one, it suffices my requirement of playing around with scenes and colors ... 

One reason of why I love my organization (alas ... will be qualified for gratuity next April) is the concept of 10 working days' compulsory stack-leave which translates into minimum 16 days of off-days. This means I can play around with any new vocation while at it. This time around it was a trip back home coupled with a road trip through Kumaon Garhwal. 

Ok. I have no qualm in admitting that Tihri & Pauri are way much more beautiful and absolutely breathtaking but then even this trip wasnt too bad. Infact it allowed me to step back and contemplate, slowly-rejuvenate and above all facilitated connection with the self;if I may say so. Strangely it wasnt very satiating for someone who has walked all the way to Gomukh during one cold October. But never mind. Every place is distinct in its own way. Thats what my sojourns have taught me.

Birds of Feather !

A drive past Haridwar provokes senses like nothing. Watching migratory birds sitting on rotting tree trunks was a catalyst in my perpetually oozing thought process;the most prominent being why I moved from Delhi to Mumbai. Something that I still need to find answer to. Was it all worth it ? Maybe for someone who believes in the eventual good in all instances still needs to see the merit that has gotten accrued. 

Choices !!!

And then life is all about the turns we take;the choices we make. There are times when I wonder if life would have had been different if my choices were based on different stances and the answer is vehemently affirmative,always. And I am not talking about professional choices here. I am talking about the psychic and personal choices. I am not being judgmental thus would refrain from drilling further but thats' my strongest learning over the past few years.

Ekla Chalo !

Then there is the innate fun of treading unknowns, alone. I mean yes I am absolutely social but then serenity,peace of mind is something that I can only experience when I am on my own. So,when I am high or low or whatever phase,all I need is to be alone. During engg it used to be closing myself down in my room and reading/writing poems; It was in MBA I discovered the soothing effects that walking has on me. Something I love till today wherein a daily walk of 6-7 kms is an everyday ritual. Alone... Even today I travel only during off seasons to all tourist places. Somehow cannot survive too much of activity. Get tired,phased out.

Doors to Heavens

The most irritating habit of mine then (for my closed ones ofc). I just am not religious. I just cant stand overt display of religion. Ok,to clear the air it doesn't mean that I am anti-religion or sort. I am absolutely Ok with it but then unfortunately I cannot connect with One supreme being. I somehow see Him in so many things. There are times when I cross my heart at a milestone or a beggar on street and then there are instances wherein I have traveled all the way to Yamunotri & Gangotri and haven't even stepped inside the revered shrines. This particular mosque at Nainital drew me,aesthetically.

Focus !!!

Focus. Believe that is something that had remained my core strength all those years,till MBA happened. I know.Strange but that is how it is. Admittedly, today but for a few brilliantly loving relationship(s) I got out of my B-school, there is nothing that matches the overall development of my tenacity and robustness at Engineering college. It was at Engg that I learnt to value the most obvious chords of life - Friends for that matter and Focusing on the priority items. This pic strangely reminded me of me-then. Giving even a damn to the environment and only looking forward. Today its just so different.

Beauty lies 'within' the Beholder

Finding beauty in everything we do. How often do we make an attempt at peeping through the wall and throw an appreciative glance at the fiercest of our competitors ? This pic... This pic is nothing but a calibration that came out of continuously hitting auto-correct in Microsoft Office Picture Manager. Before that it was a very very ordinary pic. How many of us hit self-correct options with this kind of vengenace and more than that accept the need to hit that button in the first place. Strange. Life is the simplest riddle of all. Provided we are simple and grounded enough.

I realize that I started with a very different notation of putting up this post but then no point going back and making amendments. It has gone into an entirely different dimension of my least favorite subject - Philosophy ... But then it happens all the time. And at least for a change let me accept it gracefully :-)

So long ...

The missing strands from yesteryears !

आया है मुझे फिर याद ओ जालिम, गुजरा ज़माना बचपन का,
हाय ! रे अकेले छोड़ के जाना, और ना आना बचपन का...
(- देवर/आनंद बक्शी/रफ़ी)

All of us at some point of time get reminiscent about our yesteryears and the connecting threads to those beautifully naive days. Dont we? Typically the existence amidst bare essentials and still an eruptive self confidence & heart at peace. Or may be this was the very reason of having such strong bond with those days. I mean the joy of getting my new car never matched the joy of getting my first second hand bicycle. The freedom of getting any amount of pocket money I want from our already restrained monthly budget was umpteen times more liberating (and satiating) than splurging on the latest point & shoot from my own salary. The fun of going to relatives' places during summer vacations was much more rejuvenating than traversing exotic places that I visit now,every year... 

1989-90 : A typical family sized vacation cum post b'day cool-off

Why is it so ? What is that one strand that I am missing ? What is that single chord that needs to be reset again as to render that ol' perfect harmony ? What is the missing component that is facilitating the staggered disintegration of my innate capability of drawing pleasure from smallest of the joys ? 

Or are these things not specific to me ??? Are you too also one of those who when get a chance to contemplate,get surprised by how much you have changed in past 1 decade ? Affirmative ?

 Genesis : Was watching Rangoli after so many years, the only streaming connection remaining from those days till today. Was reliving the joy of Sunday @ 8am till power went off.

कुन फाया !!! An attempt at translation/interpretation !

To admit on a cursive note, I am not at all a music buff (or Soofi :-) and there are just two criteria for me to love any composition ; 1) It got to be hummable with unique notes & 2) Lyrics ... In exactly reverse order of priority ... 

So even though Rockstar didn't click the way I expected it to; Irshaad Kaamil is now the new someone in my life, purely in terms of writing ...  Been a long time I came across deep poetry .to say the least ...  This leads me to the reason behind this post. Putting down below कुन फाया ... song from the same movie, as highlighted /Philosophized by Priyanka and interpreted by me ... Beautiful Song, Zillions interpretations. Regret any unwarranted anomaly to the one that you may have referred to ... 

Happy Sailing through ...

####################

रंगरेज़ा, रंगरेज़ा …

(O Dyer! We dye in your color – Referring to God who colors everyone in his own color; each one in his own and HIS own  )

कुन फाया कुन ...

(Be & It is ~ As per Quran - Sura Al-Baqrah Verse 117, when God as originator of Heavens and Earth wanted to create both the worlds He decrees – BE and as they are created He says – IT IS )

जब कहीं पे कुछ नहीं भी नहीं था, वो ही था  ...

(One of the most soulful lines in the entire piece. Carefully reading, it says, When in the World even ‘nothing’ was not there, He was present!)

वो जो मुझ में समाया, वो जो तुझ में समाया ... मौला वही, वही माया ...

(He, who is now in My soul & He who is now even in Your soul; He is the God; He is the ultimate mystery)

रंगरेज़ा रंग मेरा तन मेरा मन , ले-ले रंगाई चाहे तन चाहे मन …

(O Dyer – The God, color my body, my soul with Your color; As the fee for coloring, take whichever you like – My Body or My Soul)

सजदा सवेरा मेरे तन बरसे ... कजरा अन्धेरा तेरी जान की लौ ... कतरा मिला जो तेरे दर बरसे , ओ मौला ...

(The morning showers its blessings on me when I pray …  and the darkness of my soul is enlightened … When I get even a small bit of You from Your abode )

कुन फाया कुन ...

हो मुझ पे करम सरकार तेरा , अरज तुझसे करदे मुझे, मुझसे ही रिहा,

(It would be your generosity on me O My Lord, I pray thee to free me from my own self)
अब मुझको भी हो दीदार मेरा, करदे मुझे मुझसे ही रिहा,

(Grant me vision of my own real self, O Lord, free me from my own self)

मन के मेरे ये भ्रम , कच्चे मेरे ये करम ... लेके चले हैं कहाँ, में तो जानूं ही ना ...

(These illusions, vanities and these misdeeds of mine … They are taking me to the unknown places. )

तू है मुझ में समाया , कहाँ लेके मुझे आया ... में हूँ तुझ में समाया, तेरे पीछे चला आया ... तेरा ही मैं एक साया ...

(You reside within me and see where have you brought me O Lord … And I am residing within You, thus perpetually following You, because I am Your shadow and nothing else)

तुने मुझको बनाया , मैं तो जग को ना भाया ... तुने गले से लगाया ... हक तू ही तय खुदाया ... सच तू ही है खुदाया...

(You created me and I was never suited to the worldly ways … You embraced me … You have my true ownership and only You are the truth …)

कुन फाया कुन ...
  

####################

Adieu to the maestro !!!

A truly sad day for someone who hated Ghazals to the hilt till he discovered Marasim and Jagjit Singh and then got captivated by the sheer brilliance of this bagpiper... Still am. 

I, who claims vehemently of being a no-regret persoon hereby declares that the only regret I will always have will be to never been able to attend any of his live concert.

Here is to the maestro who may have departed but his voice and his songs will always remain immortal for generations to come.

हाथ छूटें भी तो रिश्ते नहीं छोड़ा करते ...
वक़्त की शाख से लम्हें नहीं तोड़ा करते ...

मुंबई शहर में बस एक गम है , हर घर में एक कमरा कम है ...

मुंबई शहर में बस एक गम है , हर घर में एक कमरा कम है...  

(This particular line is inspired from here) 

मुंबई शहर में बस एक गम है , हर घर में एक कमरा कम है...

तीन पत्ती के खेल जैसी, खुद पर दाँव खेलती जिंदगी,
घर-सफ़र-काम की बिसात में उलझा है हर आदमी,
उधार बनिस्पत साँसों में यहाँ पर, सूद ज्यादा असल कम है ..
मुंबई शहर में बस एक गम है , हर घर में एक कमरा कम है...

व्यक्तिगत प्रलोभनों से सरोकार बस सबको है यहाँ,
स्व-विवेक है बिन मोल , महत्वाकान्छाओं का कारोबार यहाँ,
मिटटी के मोल मिल भी जाए एक बार को जिंदगी,
मोल दे के भी न मिले , सच्चे पतित जज़बात यहाँ,
बिखरे सपने, थके इरादे, आँखें सूखीं और दिल नम हैं... 

मुंबई शहर में बस एक गम है , हर घर में एक कमरा कम है...

 

संस्कृति के शहर में हर आदमी है अजनबी,
जाने यहाँ क्यं आगे नहीं, ऊपर बढ़ना है लाजमी,
अपनी ख़ुशी खुद तक रखने को नाम देते हैं सादगी,
पैसा खुदा और बस इस खुदा की करते हैं सब बंदगी,
जाने यहाँ की मृगत्रिष्णा है, या बस मेरा मतिभ्रम है ...
मुंबई शहर में बस एक गम है , हर घर में एक कमरा कम है...

The Rule of 21 and other random gyaan !

The Rule of 21 !!! That's been my Gtalk status for quite some time and many of the folks around found it quite intriguing ... As in, what exactly is this strange rule and how does it find place on my gtalk ... So here it goes, for all those who think its worth an explanation.

The rule of 21, as per Robin Sharma (Oh yes the left handed 40 something young chap who was known to leg sweep balls hitting out of his off stump. Huh ... Get a life ... That was Robin Singh) the author of The monk who sold his Ferrari and couple of thousand similar titles ; says that any conduct or practice if repeated for 21 days transforms into a Habit ... Very useful info for those who can count the days that lapse between 3 consecutive weekends ... So that's what is there to talk about The Rule of 21 ...

So? As in what so? Oh, you mean so how does it land onto my gtalk status. Yeah, I kinda' alarmingly needed this kind of a rule for something that was very difficult to shrug off or rather put off ... Very very adhesive inherently ... Not something that's bad or addictive ... Or maybe I can retain addictive .. Take off bad ... Addictive it was ... So, that's what I do ... Once resolved, I just clinged to this rule and trust me, it kind of works ... Not only with substance, material et al but also emotive disorders of first kind ... Observation !!!

So, if you are like say addicted to alcohol, try this. Wanna quit smoking. Give it a shot . Want to move on over someone or maybe recover your self-respect,identity, try it once, desperately intend to fall in love, ahem ... Ok not sure but what harm in trying anyways ... 

In fact, as I write, I also realise that I always had this inbuilt mechanism to apply Rule of 21 since ever. Even before I read Robin Singh's book. Ok,cut Singh,replace with Sharma. Just that I always called it as will power ... So, 10 years on, I still dont eat Rajma, salt over cooked food, spilling abuses ... See... It works ...

So,this is how it found its way onto my status and sat pretty till this new Marasim thing replaced it :-) Gulzar above all ...

But nothing above self-identity and self-respect ... Guess so ...

Highpoints of this random thing called life ...

Like always a very random vibe coupled with strange thoughts that are always cross crossing my all-so-amoebic mind.

 

Hypothetically assuming that having lived beautifully well for say over 80 years of an enriching lifetime, wondering, if on your deathbed, whether any of the following items/instances/days will picture as your lasting memory of the world you lived in for say 80 odd years.

• The days when you stayed late at work to finish off that one mailer and the night you burnt the mid night oil just to get oh-so-awesome ratings during your appraisal.
• The days when you sat for 10 hours continuously on your chair lapping up your system but on reaching home got irritated when your kid demanded just 10 min of undivided attention
• The day when you were called on stage and applauded for your undying efforts. Undying is the operative word here.
• The day when you were promoted beyond your own expectations and more so beyond everybody else's as well. Could this be better ?
• The day you received a bonus that was roughly equivalent to your annual salary.
• The day you got a brilliant job in an even more brilliant (erstwhile reference) organization with an amazing paycheck and promising future
• The afternoons when you were bestowed with sumptuous sponsored luncheons and cocktail late night parties,courtesy your work profile
• The instance when that one project plan you prepared for a new initiative was so successful that it was replicated all across the organization.

Or will they somehow fall into following;

• When you took that long walk with your spouse, under the rains nibbling on corn
• When you took your parents for a holiday or dinner or even small-time shopping after getting your first job,as a genuine thanks.
• When you took your kid in your arms for the first time and she smiled,toothlessly.
• When you noticed a kid begging at a traffic intersection, decided to do something for her and got her admission in a school and ensured a future for her.
• When you took your kids to her first trip to an amusement park and could not take your gaze off her, while she was running all over the place.
• When your teacher came up to you and said you have been a good human being and you could actually see their eyes getting moistened during your farewell.
• When you traveled across half of the world just to be on the side of your best friend when he/she was getting married and he/she couldn't resist his/her tears.

Wondering if most of the things we would want to keep as cherished memories forever are not those which usually always come at a price that you can easily afford and most often are for free. Just wondering.