COUSINS

Recently, I had been to my cousin’s place. It had been years since I met her. After the “HI’s” and “Hello’s”, she started talking to my sister more, than to me! 

Being the youngest in the family, I always felt left out among my cousins. Most of them are settled abroad and are in constant touch with each other and my sister since they are of the same age. I come to know what they are up to by seeing their Facebook status. It feels as if they are the “known strangers”, to me.

Cousins are the most blissful part of a family. They are the ones to be with you no matter what, to support you in issues… Except for only one cousin of mine, others still consider me as a “kid”. When we meet in a family function or marriage, all they say is “Wow! Aren’t you grown…!” 

It has been ages since “just the cousins” have been on a trip or met at someone’s place and caught up. I can’t force the family time on them. Each one is busy getting settled that they are forgetting the ‘quality time’. Cousins are also the people to carry forward the family name, traditions. Creating a group in Facebook can never be the same as meeting and having fun! I asked my father what would be the condition of the next generation cousins. All he did was smile. Keeping themselves busy with their gadgets, they forget about family and cousins.So, just make that call or mail your cousins. It might be weird at first, but it will turn out to be the best time spent. It would be years before my cousins consider me “grown up.”

Take that step, make that call. After all, family comes first!

POWER CUTS…

Off late, things are being planned according to the time of power cuts! Yes, with the increase in power cuts, EVERYTHING, right from cooking to doing projects… are planned as per the scheduled time of power cuts. Any change in the time of power cut, and our entire day is ruined! But there is no point in panicking since Generators and U.P.S are used to have power even during the cuts.

I remember the days when “Candles” were used to get some light in the darkness. Blissful time, indeed. It used to be so much fun sitting around the candles and playing games or listening to stories from my Grandmother. The buzz of the mosquitoes never bothered us since the fun we had in those ‘dark’ times were great! Memorable!! My Grandmother used to pray to God and ask Him to give us power soon… listening to ghost stories was another level of thrill. Playing hide and seek was the ultimate level of fun, finding everyone in that darkness was a heroic act! Power cuts were considered “family time”. Everyone actually sat down together and shared stories, and talked about things that we would cherish or learn from. Well, power cuts were found irritating only during Cricket Matches though! My mother would manage to cook a great dinner with the help of a candle only. Every house would find their quality time in this break. Playing cards or ‘Snakes and Ladders’ was so fun and interesting when the entire family played with you!

Nowadays, everyone is so busy with their work and with the coming of U.P.S or Generators; the quality time needed is long gone. If power goes, people just stare at each other for the power to come in the “U.P.S mode” and everyone would get back to their work. One good thing is that, even the U.P.S runs out of charge once in a while, so people eventually look away from their laptops or work and start talking! And yes, everyone has also become systematic due to the scheduled power cuts. Every minute detail of the day is planned according to the availability of power… I too am writing this before the power goes. The “Save” option is my hero now! 

Yes, the U.P.S is a luxury and has made our days easier. But, I really miss those “pre-U.P.S” days. Days like them would never come back. The joy of blowing out the candle would never be the same than checking if the power has come or no, by seeing the color of charge in the U.P.S.

CROSS ROADS

People say, “Listen to your heart when confused.”  Well my heart is kind of singing a remix song, all choices coming up at the same time.

I’m standing in such a place in my life where I have to choose between 2 right decisions! It’s the end of my U.G. life and I have to decide ‘what’s next’? I thought I would get placed by the end of my final exams and be working for about a year or 2 and then pursue P.G.

Well, life is all about expecting the unexpected! I didn’t get placed... at all... as there were no proper placements! Disappointed, I turned to pursue P.G...  I cannot decide as to what to do. I want to work so badly since I want my father to finally sit and relax. It’s high time he sits back and enjoys the cricket matches and movies.Coming back to my P.G., I don’t know from where all of a sudden everyone is telling me to do mass communication. Literally everyone! From my sister to my teachers to my friends, they say they’re surely going to see me as a journalist. On the other hand there are people telling me to do something in commerce only, since I have been learning it with great difficulty for 5 years… I have absolute no clue as to what I’m going to do. I see people around me filling up forms, I’m happy that they’re sure about what they are doing, unlike me.I’m scared for the very first time in my life… scared whether I’ll be something in life, scared that whatever I’ll be doing will give me happiness and satisfaction. I got so scared that I wrote this at 2 in the morning…I stand in the cross roads of my life not knowing where to turn, I pray to god to give me a job because that’s the ONLY thing I’m sure about. It aches within me to see my father work so hard even now.

All this reminds me of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” poem!

Let’s see where life takes me…  

Will let you know sooooon…. Hope for the best!

THE WOMAN ON THE ROAD…

I see her every day on the road,
With tattered clothes, hands at the back, in a grievous mode…

A tear drops at times, letting go of a part of her load,

I wonder what could be the story of the woman on the road!

I feel the urge to go talk to her,

Wanting to know what brought her here.

She wants peace, I know for sure,

I wonder what had happened to her…

Where are her relatives, I think..

Seeing her helpless makes my heart sink.

She walks up and down the entire time,

I wonder when she would see some sunshine!

Where does she sleep, what does she eat,

How does she face the unbearable heat…

People look at her with sympathy,

All she seeks for is some empathy!

Why is she crying, I think…

The tears do try to convey something!

Yet, she calmly continues to carry her load,

I wonder what could be the story of the woman on the road!

THE BUS RIDE...

Everyday when I board a bus, I feel irritated by the ever-talking, over-the-top noisy people around me. I usually prefer the window seat that allows me to think about a LOT of things, and be ignorant about the people around me. With my earphones plugged in, I wonder… everybody in the bus has a story. Everybody has a reason to be in that particular state of mind. 

 Someone is about to give up, while another has just gained something. While someone has enough reasons to complain, another has that one reason to be happy! Ever wondered why people get irritated at the slightest of action? Why one curses, while someone remains silent, showing no emotion but wait for the destination? Why the driver does not stop at certain points… 

Someone’s story, someone’s anger, someone’s happiness makes me curious. One’s reason reflects on their action and there… evolves a chain of reactions!

While someone is fighting with his/her girlfriend/boyfriend, someone boards the bus with the happiness of a newly married life ahead; someone’s happiness knows no limits as they are expecting a baby, while someone is nervous about a relative’s condition in the same hospital. Both get down with curiosities lying ahead. The driver would have had an argument, either at home or with fellow-drivers on road. The frustration, taken out by harsh driving, but also keeping in mind our safety. And then, there are the cute school kids who worry about standing together with their gang despite the crowd and say, “I did not complete the assignment. Hope the bus reaches our stop on time…”

YOU ARE NOW PRONOUNCED AS EX-HUSBAND AND EX-WIFE

They say, “Marriage is a heavenly bond, the couples decided by God.” Nowadays, there is a small addition to this saying- “It is ended in court…” 

A lovely and wonderful part of life- marriage, that not only links two people but also two families and culture, is celebrated as a grand event. It has all reasons to be treated as one.

The rituals, the environment, the laughter…oh and not to forget, the food, stays in everyone’s memory forever! Two totally different people come together to spend the rest of their lives together. Of course no marriage is a “happily ever after” story. There are ups and downs. It depends on the two to stay together to make these ups and downs a peaceful journey. 

Everything has a solution. I believe in it. Why would problems or misunderstandings ever exist if there were no solutions at the end of the tunnel…. It is the same logic as Black and White, Male and Female, Plus and Minus- everything has something! The main cure to these problems is to solve them at ‘that’ given moment and not let it pile up like one’s laundry. You take your laundry out later, it doesn’t give a good feeling, right!

It is saddening that there are so many “made for each other” couples who become “who the hell you are” couples. Caught between the tug-of-war is the kid. There is something called the “Can Do/Cannot Do” concept (I sincerely thank a very special sir of mine to acquaint me with this). Got a problem? See if you ‘can do’ something about it. If yes, then go ahead. If no, then cheers!! Honestly, I have had so little things to worry about, since then.

Instead of pointing out each others’ faults, try to focus on the so many positive things that actually brought you together. Instead of nagging about not having time to spend with each other, try to set aside that “special” time. The journey would seem much happier and peaceful. I pity the couples who go ahead in the same path, without each other. Is that all you know about each other… Also, your attitude would be reflected upon on your kid. Remember, as you sow, so you reap!

All you got to do is sit down and talk. What more than to talk to your loved ones… That’s what they are there for!!

20

Another big step in one’s life. Marks the end of teenage. 

I too felt a change. Not only in me, but in others who are 20. From having a birthday party in teenage to making eye or organ donation, the change is simply wonderful!!

I feel happy and proud of the people around me, who are thinking about others and not themselves- now and after the end of their lives. Saving a person’s life by donating organs, giving a person the gift of sight by donating eyes, is truly a noble work to do. A lot of people I know have already signed up for either one or both of the noble causes!

Once when getting branded clothes was important, saving others life seems important now. Thinking of the future, what higher studies to be done, where to work, what to get, how much to spend, how much to save… phew! It sounds tiring and interesting. 20 does bring about a sense of understanding, of oneself, the world and what not. The change is loveable, the responsibilities, challenging. The journey ahead seems exciting with so many tasks to be ticked off the ‘to-do’ list. Everything seems to be in a different perception, everyone right and strong in their point of view, sympathy and empathy seem in abundance, anger when necessary and forgiveness to let go…

I also wonder from where suddenly so many “relatives” appear suddenly. 20 gives them an open invitation. Their phone calls have a standard line “I know a boy. Marriageable age. He is my husband’s colleague’s sister-in-law’s husband’s cousin.” No thank you..!

I do not know what is ahead. But I know that it is exciting and that I’m ready for it. I feel myself grown up. Hey! I’ve asked my father’s permission so as to sign up for eye donation. Maybe one day I’ll adopt a tiger as well…