Human beings are a part of our everyday life. Our relatives, social circles, family etc become a part of a bond which is, even in today’s world, unbreakable. We laugh with them in their good times, we cry with them in their bad times. However, there are a few finer things which we tend to miss out. Those living beings which are actually a part of a family but are not considered as a family member by lots of people that I come across. They are our pets, our companions during tough times.
My dog was always considered as a part of my family. I think remember, around 16 years ago, when my dad got a phone call from one of his friend about a puppy which he was giving away. Dad immediately went out to his house to get the pup. My mom, my sister and me were at the window, as anxious as a would be father outside a delivery room, waiting to see and welcome the new member of our family. A rickshaw stopped and my dad stepped out. He turned around and made his way into the society with a small white snow ball [:)] in his arms. That very moment, a sense of happiness overcame me. The happiness, which at that age also, told me that we had someone new in the family. Someone cute, someone whom I can spend hours on end and someone who can be my companion for life time. My pet dog had arrived! Dad came and placed her in front of every one of us. The puppy, although only 4 months old was aware of the new surrounding and studied each and every one of the family while we were sitting around it. Then it made its 1st move, it slowly, hesitantly, moved towards mom and fell into her lap with ease as though requesting her to take care for life.
She looked like a god sent dog! To such an extent that Lord Dutta’s picture frame which was put up in our mandir at home had pictures of animals surrounding him. One of those animals was a dog which resembled in all ways to her. She always used to be there for me during my good times and especially my bad times. She came to me sensing that I was depressed. She was the solace that no one ever could provide me.
Life was beautiful for the next years to come as having such a cute bundle of joy in the family, someone who is more expressive than all 4 of us combined was really a blessing in the most convectional kind of way. I for one was very proud to have a dog at home. Not only was she a great companion but an awesome conversational piece with friends, relatives and all. I simply enjoyed the times when she used to undergo her mad spells of running here and there in playful moods and biting and tears stuff which was exclusive for her and also some stuff which carried some importance.
She was the most mischievous of us all. She used to hide socks, towels all in her little den and used to sit there and wait for us to come and take it off her. She used to give up her treasure but not before providing a fight! I still remember the day when we thought of getting her “married”. We got a stallion of a dog for her and made them talk in a room but to our dismay, they were totally not into each other and sat at the 2 ends of the room!!!
As years went on, the fun, the comfort, the presence grew more than ever. However, it seemed to me that whatever she used to do previously was something she began to avoid. For example, as our house was on the 3rd floor, she used to perch up onto a window with great speed and agility. However, as days passed, the speed and agility seem to slowly fade away. Although she didn’t ever have any illness in her early years, cold, cough and sightlessness were beginning to creep in. Her time was coming and slowly I realized the same.
I would never forget that week of August. She was trying to be the most cheerful one but wasn’t able to. She was constantly fighting the cold and the cough which irritated her to the max. Even in her worst conditions, she would make an effort to try and come to me. But then, on the unfortunate day of 31st August 2007, she left us. She went to a place where she could once again roam around freely; she could company those souls who had enough trouble in their stint here on earth. She would go and bring joy and happiness to the afterlife….leaving me alone.
Some people make an impact on your life. When they desert you or leave you, you feel lonely, left out, as if a part of your body has been separated from you. Same goes for living beings who can’t speak anything but have an enormous impact on your life with their presence. You don’t feel much when they are around you, when they come up to you with their wishful, hopeful eyes and give up all the feeling of belonging which they want to give without asking for anything in return. But when such things stop happening, you do feel cut off. Even today, I sometimes keep my hand on the side of the bed with a hope that she would pass under it……
But I know that she is there…watching us…not forgetting the house where she was loved and adored. That is why this year, on the same exact day, she sent her messenger, a small cat that came into our house, made it its own, visited places where she used to sit and then vanished the next day! I wonder if the cat came only to provide us with the support we needed to go through the day when we lost one of our family member, on the day when I lost one of my companions I had known for 16 years…….
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
The formula for Success!!
No!!! This is not another inspiration speech on how to attain success in whatever you do. This is more an observation on what I think nowadays holds the key for people who are successful in the modern world. Also, this is not a piece where I am pouring out my jealous for anybody, anyone.
My dad always used to say, “Son, whatever we do in life, we should do it honestly, be true to yourself and we would achieve what we have set out to achieve, attain our destiny”. As a kid, I had no alternative but to listen and follow my dad’s work. So I began my life’s journey, took on both sorrow as well as joy in whatever I did. The tension of studies, the emotions of a good/bad score, I had everything in life. Got good marks, attended college, did my degree, got recruited into a good company. In this short journey, I had the usual ups and downs with the ups playing a dominant role. However, when I look back now, 3 years since my graduation, I don’t think the ups in my life hold any value. I wonder, what is it that has led me to this position in life?
People say that the foundation of your success is laid down in the early years of your life. Well, in that case, in my early years, I have been a dedicated student, always completing my homework, being disciplined when it comes to exams and studies. I carried this attitude into college. Being a regular student in college, having 90% attendance, being a teacher favourite, being on top o my game, I thought I had laid that foundation well. But now, looking at the situation, I feel lost! All the friends/acquittances I had during my study years, those who were exactly opposite me, have achieved something in life. Something big, something interesting, something which even I couldn’t achieve. They have achieved success!!
So, what is it that drives a person to success? Is it the financial backing? Well if that is so, then unfortunately I didn’t have that. Was that a mistake on my part? Should the amount of money in your family’s account determine how your success should be? Bottom line: Can Success be bought?
The answer is a complex one. It’s a yes and no. Yes because, money allows you to secure the tools (degree, skills etc) to attain success. Money can also help you buy yourself a job, something which is also considered as a corner stone for getting success. No because, there is a limit to which you can use cash to go up the success ladder. Wait, does it mean one has to buy aka bribe i.e use the dishonest path to glory? As I said the answer is a complex one. But I will try to explain this.
Success is like a linear equation. You need to balance both sides. It’s a system. The amount of inputs you provide, based on the nature of the input, you get an appropriate output. People who make use of money and other negative means to achieve success might get it eventually, but what they fail to see is how much grander the success would have been if some amount of money was substituted with hard work and honesty! As for people like us, well, once we really come face to face with success, our life has come full circle.
My dad always used to say, “Son, whatever we do in life, we should do it honestly, be true to yourself and we would achieve what we have set out to achieve, attain our destiny”. As a kid, I had no alternative but to listen and follow my dad’s work. So I began my life’s journey, took on both sorrow as well as joy in whatever I did. The tension of studies, the emotions of a good/bad score, I had everything in life. Got good marks, attended college, did my degree, got recruited into a good company. In this short journey, I had the usual ups and downs with the ups playing a dominant role. However, when I look back now, 3 years since my graduation, I don’t think the ups in my life hold any value. I wonder, what is it that has led me to this position in life?
People say that the foundation of your success is laid down in the early years of your life. Well, in that case, in my early years, I have been a dedicated student, always completing my homework, being disciplined when it comes to exams and studies. I carried this attitude into college. Being a regular student in college, having 90% attendance, being a teacher favourite, being on top o my game, I thought I had laid that foundation well. But now, looking at the situation, I feel lost! All the friends/acquittances I had during my study years, those who were exactly opposite me, have achieved something in life. Something big, something interesting, something which even I couldn’t achieve. They have achieved success!!
So, what is it that drives a person to success? Is it the financial backing? Well if that is so, then unfortunately I didn’t have that. Was that a mistake on my part? Should the amount of money in your family’s account determine how your success should be? Bottom line: Can Success be bought?
The answer is a complex one. It’s a yes and no. Yes because, money allows you to secure the tools (degree, skills etc) to attain success. Money can also help you buy yourself a job, something which is also considered as a corner stone for getting success. No because, there is a limit to which you can use cash to go up the success ladder. Wait, does it mean one has to buy aka bribe i.e use the dishonest path to glory? As I said the answer is a complex one. But I will try to explain this.
Success is like a linear equation. You need to balance both sides. It’s a system. The amount of inputs you provide, based on the nature of the input, you get an appropriate output. People who make use of money and other negative means to achieve success might get it eventually, but what they fail to see is how much grander the success would have been if some amount of money was substituted with hard work and honesty! As for people like us, well, once we really come face to face with success, our life has come full circle.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Caged Animal
Violent games, movies provide me entertainment,
action has become my latest craving,
but the problem resides in me,
caged animal in me wants to break free.
Society doesn't treat me right,
my friends spit on me at every sight,
I cant do anything about it,
fear of rejection grips me,
caged animal in me wants to break free.
Workplace has become a horror story,
Every monster plays trick or treat,
Their tricks are making me vary,
there is no future in the path that i see,
caged animal in me wants to break free.
Slowly but surely the animal has been growing,
it groans at all the mistreats it sees flowing,
but the laughter covers the groans,
but the fire is raging in me,
caged animal in me wants to break free.
action has become my latest craving,
but the problem resides in me,
caged animal in me wants to break free.
Society doesn't treat me right,
my friends spit on me at every sight,
I cant do anything about it,
fear of rejection grips me,
caged animal in me wants to break free.
Workplace has become a horror story,
Every monster plays trick or treat,
Their tricks are making me vary,
there is no future in the path that i see,
caged animal in me wants to break free.
Slowly but surely the animal has been growing,
it groans at all the mistreats it sees flowing,
but the laughter covers the groans,
but the fire is raging in me,
caged animal in me wants to break free.
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