Monday, April 11, 2011

A SO(A)REE STORY

Experience is the greatest teacher, they say. But I thought "Why not add exagerration to experience?" After doing so, the result is here......Vishwa is only the mouthpiece for my experience-exagerrated....

A great man has said "You are the creator of your destiny". Maybe, that's true about our life and dreams years down the lane. But, our life for the next 20 minutes or so seems to be predestined. And sometimes, we make the wrong choices at the wrong times to land up in the wrong places. Let me narrate a story:

Vishwa is a young boy, who recently completed his 10th std. exams. Let us hear what he has to say:

 "Recently, fate and choice played "mixed-doubles" with me to send me to a place where time stands still when you have the right set of people - the saree showroom.
The marriage of one of my cousins is round the corner - nearly a month and a half. But time flies: except in the saree showroom, as I have already said. I had been to my aunt's house to lend a helping hand in the preparations - it's holidays and I have no other work to do. It's also said that helping in marriage earns one good karma.- My uncle and I had to then go out on some other errand. We come back to find the house locked!! He immediately called up my aunt and she had gone with another aunt of mine to a nearby saree showroom.
At that point of time, I was presented with two chances - one - to get the key from the neighbouring house; two - to go to the showroom. I made a choice that I would regret over the next 3 hours.
My uncle and I went to that showroom. Infact, the story had just begun. My aunts had settled down just then. The showroom owner was all smiles at the sight of customers. Little did he know that those smiles would not last long!!!!
My uncle and I took our place on the sofa placed there. Probably, the owners knew that such comfort level were required to help sons and husbands, who come with the ladies, to patiently bear those never-ending hours. At first, the "marketing rep." displayed sarees by selecting them himself. He gave an elaborate description of the design, the fabric and the present trend in the market. My uncle had a new-found pal in the young son of one of the customers. Even the kid seemed to be at ease with his new friend. Even I took part in my uncle's talk with his friend. After sometime, I checked my watch - we had been in the showroom for nearly an hour already. And the deal seemed to be getting nowhere. The smile had slightly fadedfrom the "marketing rep."s face. Yet he managed to carry on.
We - the patiently waiting people -  were served tea: the tea was great: anything would seem great if you wait for that a huge span of time. But it didn't end there. The "marketing rep." was now showing sarees my aunts chose. Slowly the sarees rose in a mountain around the "marketing rep." Still, my aunts were not satisfied. The AC in the showroom made me feel sick. My uncle was dozing off. Yet, my aunts took no notice. They seemed to be in a world of their own, oblivious to what was happening around.
Another hour gone. I started taking a stroll around the showroom. From one position, I could sight the "marketing rep."s face - they were gleaming with beads of sweat!! Poor guy! He was having a real tough time! I go and sit next to my aunts. Then, they realised that uncle and I were there. They decided to wrap up  the deal in another few minutes.
They took another 20 minutes to choose a saree for themselves. I went and woke my uncle up. He went and washed his face in the restroom and had another cup of tea before my aunts came. They had taken another half hour to bargain. And finally we returned home.
Sorry if my story was too long - I think I deserve that after having spent nearly three hours in the saree showroom, don't I??"

This is the story of  Vishwa, who probably woke up on the left-side of the bed that day. May peace be with him. And, may he not make such a wrong decision again!!!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

THE RAAS LEELA

Recounting an episode from the life of one of the greatest characters in INDIAN MYTHOLOGY


On a calm and peaceful night,
The moon is shining bright -
He is beautiful!! He is round!
Vrindavan is silent - without a sound.

The silence is waiting -
'Tis expecting a sound
Any minute now, any second -
The end to its wait is bound.

Adding thrill to the wait,
Is a cool breeze blowing.
Even Yamuna seems to be waiting -
Sans a noise she is flowing!!

Waiting on the sands of the Yamuna
Is She who taught the world love.
With Her beautiful feet in the Yamuna,
Gazing at the stars is She now!

Flying slightly with the wind
Is Her thick black hair!
In front of Her, the Moon appears gloomy!!!
Oh God!! She is so fair!!

Who is it that stole the stars
To put them in her eyes?
Her beauty will last eternity
Though for others - time flies!!

A music so melodious
Comes in the wind floating by.
One can feel in the heart
Of that music, true love lie.

She turns around, She sees Him
With a hug is their greeting.
He silences his flute. And now
In the silence of the night,
They hear each other's heart beating!!

"Radha" His heart beats Her name
"Krishna" is the instant reply.
They are lost in each other's eyes!!
Since it is He who rules the world,
For them time never flies!!!

After some time - what seems like eternity
(For them - not more than a second)-
They come out of their trance.
He, again, begins playing His flute
She, overjoyed, begins to dance!!

His music spreads over Vrindavan
It weaves magic all around!!
The heart of Gopis takes a leap!
They rush towards the magic sound.

The Gopis see Radha-Krishna
Their envy turns them green!!
Krishna with Radha is a sight
They wish they never had seen!!

Krishna, not wanting to pain the Gopis,
Again, his magic he weaves -
With each Gopi, dances a Krishna!!
No heart any longer grieves!!!!!!!!!!

Nobody really knows the truth -
With His Radha He really lies!!
After thousands of years,
We still narrate their story:
Because true love never dies!!!

Monday, April 4, 2011

PROSPECT OF DEATH - a "grave"ly serious matter!!!

On this day, when we are welcoming the new year - according to the Hindu calender, writing about death seems ironical enough. The idea behind it is if you respect death, it will respect you and stay away from you. It is like bribing death to save yourself from it. It is to celebrate the spirit of life!!!!!

I had a dream one of these days:

All of a sudden, I die!! Nobody knows why. Nobody knows how. Neither do I. And, as per Hindu mythology, YAMAKINKARAS - the servants of Yama, the God of Death, come to chain my soul and take it away. I struggle. I struggle hard. Yet, I can not free myself from them. I feel life ebbing away!!

That's when I woke up with  a start - I found myself sweating. I threw away my blanket and switched on the fan. Ah!! What a relief it was to find myself alive, again!! It had not been a dream - but a nightmare!!! That was when thoughts started flowing - for after a nightmare, you can seldom sleep well that night. I questioned myself what it would be to die. Well, nobody knows - those alive don't know. Those dead cannot return to tell how it is!!

At this point, I would like to narrate an incident that is said to have taken place in the family circle years ago:

There was this person who was suffering from illness. That person's health deteriorated to the the maximum and everybody - including the doctors - gave up hope! That person was shifted to another hospital. The patient was in coma. The doctors declared dead. And all of a sudden, that person stirred. There still was life in that person. It was declared nothing short of a miracle!! And when others asked what it felt like, that person said " I had been to hell!! I saw Yama. He told that since I had "accounts" to clear still on earth, I was not fit to be dead so soon. He sent me back to earth."

We can never verify the authenticity of what that person told - for that person is no longer alive. Was it the effect of the stories heard during that person's life that made them to see YAMA'S DARBAR? Perhaps it was. Or is it real that there exists a Yama, the accountant with his assistant, Chitragupta? We never know.

The word death seems very interesting and has an air of mystery around it - for nobody knows what is beyond death, do we?

And many times we "feel" we missed death by a whisker - whether or not we were close to death. Recently, my friends and I went to WONDER LA, one of the biggest and most popular amusement parks. And as we sat through the dry rides - I took part only in a countable few, not all - I felt life moving out of my body. I knew nothing would happen. Yet, the fear of something happening, the fear of death overtook my enthusiasm. I don't feel embarassed or ashamed to say that I was scared then. It is just that I love to live and I love life a lot!! "Is it wrong to love life?" is my question to those who call me a coward. Even though I know nothing happens in these amusement parks, for they would have taken the measures beforehand, I don't want to risk my life for a ride which I dont feel comfortable with.

Though people may say "I dont care for death. I am ready to face it", there will always be fear in their heart, which seems to be hidden beneath a layer of superficial bravery. Infact, it is only the soldiers who are the real bravehearts. Hats off to them!!

Even though I love life, I find myself sometimes being too philosophical and thinking that death is an inevitabilty; I am powerless; let me face it even if it consumes me right now. I know that is not me - for, as I have said, I love my life.

At this moment, I again feel philosophical. I find myself saying "Ah! It does'nt matter even if I die. I have seen India lifting the World Cup. What else does one require??!!" I deserve a tight slap off myself! I will give it!!