Forgiveness

Read this and loved it. Here have a dekko -

"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it".    Mark Twain

Some Borrowed Words

The year's gone by.
A mixed year - it was. Fun, revelry, personal loss, grief, betrayal, hurt, tender love, happiness - I had it all. A few reflections in some borrowed words -

What does not destroy me, makes me stronger. - Nietzsche.

And forget not that that earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. - Gibran.

If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished. Rumi.

And then here is the resolution for the year that greets me. Again some borrowed words -

Meditae.

Live purely. Be quiet.

Do your work with mastery.

 Like the moon, come out from behind the

clouds! Shine.

     - Budhha

FUN DAYS AT ANDAMANS

DAY AND NIGHT

The mesmerising sea - a countless shades of blue, the white soft sand, clear skies with a few vagabond clouds drifting away lazily with the bright Sun smiling down. That is the magic of Andamans in the day !

The dark velvety night resplendent with a million twinkling stars, the gentle crash of the surf, the whispering coconut trees, the shimmer of the silvery moon and the soothing silence that lulls you to sleep. That is the magic of Andamans in the night !

A Goodbye to the Maestro

I feel bereaved.

Jagjit Singh Sahib passed away  on 10 Oct 2011.

There is a deluge of  many precious memories....falling in love and listening to Jagjit Sahib's gazals (agar hum kahen aur woh muskura dein..........teri ankhon mein hamne kya dekha) late in the night and then drifting away to sleep - only to rewind the cassette on waking up....quoting from his gazals (ek brahman ne kaha hai yeh saal accha hai...), missing my chidlhood in Arunachal ( woh kagaz ki kashti woh barish ka paani...), when being ribbed by friends (tum bhi mere jaise ban jaoge jab ishq tumhein ho jayega), just sitting with Shoby, my dear room mate and listening to him......... exchanging his albums with Amin bhai.......while being in Lebanon and missing home (hum to hain pardes mein..). The list is endless!

May he rest in peace!

PS - Elsewhere, Steve Jobs, another icon of our times logged out.

May, he too rest in peace!

     

What makes me feel good?

Sitting quietly, sipping lemon tea, soaking in the morning - the dew kissed plants, the gentle warble of the doves, the shepherds herding away their goats to the pastures even as the blue mountains languorously stretch out from the canopy of the clouds. (In sync with nature)

When I sit with my angels and talk about their dreams and about Barbies’ and racing cars. And also about butterflies, the moon and the stars!  (Enjoying the togetherness)

Playing an intense game of badminton, keenly fighting every single point and then deciding to honestly call a sideline shot of my opponent - “in” instead of saying “out”, aware that by doing so I would not only lose the point but the match too. (Being honest)

While getting down from the train, helping  the old couple to alight first  and then assisting them in managing their luggage much to their surprise and gratefulness. (Serving)

When I rustle up a surprise breakfast for my wife or when I leave behind a note that reads “I love you” and in turn feel warm and happy, seeing the smile on her face. (Loving)

When I appreciate my men for a good job done and shake their hands warmly and in turn feel humbled with their appreciation that’s conveyed by their misty eyes. (Genuine appreciation)

When I see, Shadow, my dog wagging its tail when I am at the door and then seeing it jump up to give a slurp or two to my face. (Devotion)

When, I am running the odd 5km trying to better my timing and my heart tells me to just forget it and give up and yet a tiny resolve within me refuses to die and I lengthen my strides and manage to shave off a few seconds.  (Determination)

When, I know fully well that my views on the issue are not in consonance with those of my boss and yet I choose to articulate it much to his annoyance and discomfiture. (Speaking my mind)

When I feel like shouting at Rahul seeing him trying to finish his homework before the school van arrives (realising that he could have easily finished it last night had he not watched Jhansi ki Rani) and instead check my temper and write it for him as he wolves down his breakfast. (Managing anger)

When, I feel like pushing out the guy who is fiddling with the ATM for ages while I stand out baking in the Sun and instead use my time to clear away the junk from the inbox of my cell phone and mouth a polite “it’s alright” to him when he passes me by, by saying “sorry, thodi der lag gayi”.   (Patience)

Dreams

What do you say when someone adopts your dream as his own and engineers it for you ?

I call it love!