I close my eyes in order to see,
to see the beauty of her charm,
holding me in her arms,
like oyster and pearl,
in a , lovestruck curl.

I close my eyes in order to see,
to see us like a lovely couple,
having fun like the humorous grapples,
but then I realized that she is pragmatic,
and she feels all this as dramatic

Why cricket was his dream? Was this because of Sachin Tendulkar, Don Bradman or because of its glamour? It is difficult to answer this.

A few days before a survey was conducted among children of age group 5-15. They were asked “What you want to become when you grow up in your life?”

A common response was observed from most of them. They want to help the society by becoming a great leader, scientist, Nobel prize winner etc. They all see some one as their hero, some one who is role model for them. Now we have another important question, how these heroes are made? A hero, most of the time is a outcome of

• First, recognition of his extra abilities
• Second, stamped as hero by our society.

Someone said, heroes are an integral part for the development of our society. They should be properly recognized and honored so that they can become an example for upcoming generation.

He explained “In our childhood days when we started going to school, we were taught about the stories of Gandhi, Nehru, Abraham Lincon, Rabindranath Tagore and many other famous personalities. As we grow up we see a symbol of idealism in them. They become a source of our inspiration and thus give us enough motivation to aim for difficult tasks. Consciously or unconsciously, there is always a hidden desire among us to be like them in some manner or other and to fulfill such desires we work hard. Some of us succeed in our aims and many don’t, and a very few among those who have achieved the success are awarded. These people become the source of inspiration for the upcoming generation, they are the role model on whom our country counts, every youngster wants to be like them and they are worshipped as God. So, it is very important to have role models recognized as icons in our society.

I would like to explain this with a very common example. Today, whenever Sachin Tendulkar is batting millions of cricket lover all over the world are watching him. Whenever he scores a boundary they feel good. He serves as a source of great inspiration for all those youngsters who want to see themselves as a future cricketer, and in order to fulfill their ambition they work hard. Let us suppose there would have been no acknowledgement for the talents and achievements in this world then there would not have been any great leader after Gandhi and Abraham Lincon, there would not have been any Sachin Tendulkar after Don Bradman.”

I completely agree with above mentioned views but still I feel that the real hero’s doesn’t need any recognition; they are like the sun which gives light to entire world without using any external power. On looking in past we find that there have been several heroes who didn’t receive any award yet their ideas are helping us at different junctures in our lives. From history we have Gandhi ji etc who never received any award yet his principles of non violence helped us. This is what is real heroism, which is selfless , purely meant for development of society.

What do you say about this?

It was already 5:30 in the evening and still she(X) was not there. Someone has truly said that Indian trains and Indian gals are very similar; none of them come on time. It seems that both have obtained cordon bleu in irritation. The only advantage that latter have over former is that it can accomplish its task anywhere (restaurant, coffee shops etc) but former does it only at railway station. Being gal she was also the same. She(X) was supposed to be here by 4:30 but still …

So let me tell you about her till she(X) comes . She(X) is my cousin’s friend. I met her during my summer holidays 1992 when I went to my uncles place. (X) was my cousin’s best friend. My cousin is of same age group as mine and a very nice friend. In due course of time (X) became a very nice friend of mine. Mostly I pulled her leg by calling her “moti”. Time passed and we forgot each other. I have’nt even thought about her in past 7-8 years, till yesterday when I got a call from my cousin. While talking she told me that (X) is also there in Chennai. It was just like hearing about and Indian friend in foreign land. I got her number from Pooja and immediately called her. It ranged….

“Hello”.…. a sweet voice came from the other side

“Hello Is this (X)?” …. I enquired

“Yes”.. she said hesitatingly

Immediately I replied “Aur kaisii ho moti?”

“sorry yaar .. pehchana nahin” she replied

“Arre pehchanogi kaisse.. 16 saal ke baad jo baat kar rahe hain “ I answered

She thought for a min and replied “….abhishek”

“hmm…..” I said.

and then we spoke nearly for an hour she told me about her college life, her job , her parents etc. And I too told her the same. At last I told “Yaar abhi thora kaam hai baad main baat karte hain“

“Ok “ she replied

and then we started talking almost daily …..

As usual today morning also I got a call from her

“hulloo ….” I told with my eyes closed.

“abhi tak so rahe ho?” she asked

“hmm” I replied

“Ok phir main rakhti hoon” she said

“yaar main tujhe 15-20 mins main call karta hoon” I replied

I called her after 45 mins. . .

“uth gaye ?” she asked

“haan yaar!!! actually kal office se kaaffi late se aaya tha “ I lied

“hmm aur kya kar rahe ho aaj ?” she asked again

“abhi tak to kuch nahin …. agar tum khali ho to milte hain “ I asked expecting a affirmative answer

“hmm.. par kahan ?” (X) asked

“whereever it is convenient for you.”

Finally it was decided that we will meet at 4:30 p.m at the coffee shop in Isphani.

It is already 5.45 p.m and still she is not here. I have been here for long, watching others, talking on phone and finding several other innovative ways to pass time. But all in vain, now its too much and I am going back. I called her to tell my decision. It ranged….

“hello..bus ek minute aur . ”

“Koi nahin I am leaving , its getting late for me ” I replied

“Yaar I am at entrance and I ll be there in a few seconds” she disconnected the call after replying.

Suddenly I saw a very beautiful gal entering the coffee shop. Well you may have seen heroine’s arrival in thousands of films. Suddenly winds start to blow, thunderstorm strikes, music is started to acknowledge her appearance. Lots of lyrics has been written by poets for this. One reads the incomprehensible stuffs about those rosy lips, those cheese cheeks. Though I don’t have the skills of poet and the flourish of dramatist but I admit that I floored. Suddenly Ms. Beautiful took out her cell and started calling someone.  “Lagta hai ye bhi fixed  hai ”  I felt sad.  Suddenly my phone ranged.

It displayed

“(X) calling…”

“Hello” I answered

“Haan … kahan ho tum” she asked

“Main to wahin hoon jahan tumne bola tha” I replied in an arrogant manner

“Main bhi wahin hoon yaar” she told

“hmmm… acha tumne dress kya pehaa hai…. Mainne black T-shirt aur blue jean daal rakhi hai …. Can you see me?” I asked

“I guess yes ….” She told

I turned around but didn’t find her but I noticed Ms Beautiful was approaching me. She looked amazing. She was like a painting , a song , a calm breeze, early showers of monshoon  and all others that could have been described by a poet. I was just overwhelmed by her graceful beauty. She flowed towards me like a breeze with her hairs flying and earrings dancing , with a whiff of perfume, she asked “abhi…..?”

I was stunned. She asked again “Are you Abhishek ?”

“Ye ….. Ye…. Yes” I replied

to be continued ……….

30 mins more, after that again they will again ask me the same question “Beta aaj to tumhara exam tha .. iis baar kaisa hua“,   “aur be kitna phoda aaj.”  He never liked these questions and a few times he even told his others not to ask such questions, but who listens !!!! everyone is busy is there own world, who cares about others …..  no one … neither I nor you… we all just blindly some irrelevant customs of the society … no one thinks that a small act of theirs may hurt others … no one bothers about his unheard carping ….

They used to call themselves as his best friend but they were never there to hear his unsaid problems. Directly or indirectly they led to enfeeble his confidence, he was doleful. Many he even tried to convey the same but he got the same old answer “abbe yaar senti kyooun hota hai “…(Oh friend why are you getting emotional)… followed by a sarcastic grin.

Time passed by and so do the ppl, he also became like them … uncaring …  besimerched … raucuous… Now they like him, they call him pragmatic. Now, whenever he sees at his past he smiles and says “kalyug main sab chalta hai”….(everthing is possible in this evil world)… The more you betray others … the more are liked among them……  this is the unwritten rule of our newer generation.

I tried to write this blog earlier but due to unavailability of  time  I  could’nt post it; anyways its better to be late than being never.

I read this book a couple of weeks ago, and it inspired me a lot. To share the same inspiration I am here.  A brief glimpse of the same is as follows ; Tuesdays with Morrie is story of dying professor(Morrie) with his student. They meet every tuesday and discuss about the different aspects of life….

I think each and every one of us should read this book; it gives us an example how can one be happy or lively(I think lively would be the better word to describe it) in adverse situations. It helped me realize that living life not only means to be glutton but it means to enjoy it in adverse conditions.

Today when I see around I find everyone is in some kind problem, some one wants to earn money while the other wants to have girl friend, someone is upset b’cos his boss screws him up but does life is confined only to these nut shells????

I think no , it is something more than that and we should make it larger.

“People have’nt found meaning in thier lives, so they are running all the time looking for it. They think the next car, the next house , the next job. Then they find those things empty too and they keep running “

I don’t know how long  this book will have an impact on me but at least for now I am sure in all the adverse I will try to be other Morrie.

But , what about the job , projects , deliverables ? How should  I manage them ? Thinking  about these makes my mind schizoprenic and I feel as if I am suffering from paranoia. But I am not alone, there are million others who are sailing in same boat. Many get drowned and only a few survive.

Trying to be one among survivors, I am here