Last breath......Never!!

Is it that our loved ones cease to exist after their last breath?? No...I do not mean life after death, afterlives or re-incarnation! But, I intend to express that our people still stay alive in our thoughts, actions and reactions.
They keep on living in the values that they have ingrained in us, particularly those of which they have practiced rather than preached. These principles illustrate in our conduct and gestures, every once in a while. They are alive in the way we behave and thus, they are judged by our demeanor. You think twice before being rude, if your deceased father was always polite. So, let our behavior demonstrate the positive aspects of our deceased family members.

They are existent and active in our minds and hearts. Whenever we stand at a crossroad or badly miss their advice and presence, their invisible guidance leaves a cue for us to ponder over or open up a new ray of hope. After all, they have been our well-wishers and can't bear to see our lives in chaos. So, let us not write off the lost ones as dead or hate them for abandoning us. 

We find their presence in our children in their little forms. I am not kidding!! I can find my father in my son's posture, way of thinking, eating, sitting, drawing logical conclusions, being inquisitive, the way he crosses his legs while standing, so on. So, our dear ones haven't been far away from us. They can't stay without us. Death can't do us apart, literally!! 

Our approach towards our life, outlook towards others and children are the ways to pay respect and show our gratitude to the loved ones that we lost. 

World Cup is Entertaining!!??

The tournament is as much entertaining to the game-lovers as it is to the novices like me and my kids. We only understand that each game of the World Cup has two 50-over innings and that Virat and Dhoni play for India. We are neither ardent fans nor do we know the schedule. But, we do watch the matches for the brand new ads designed specially for this season. Who would afford to miss the Fevikwik, Cricbuzz app and other interesting commercials......even if they are re-played every 5 minutes!!

Chain of Coincidences!!

Where to start..... My in-laws ask us to attend the wedding of their friends' son, on their behalf. (I've met these friends once at a common gathering for a brief five minute introduction....thats it). In the evening, I come to know that my neighbors are also going to the same wedding from the bride's side!!! Expecting to be at a place where everyone would be a stranger (except my neighbors), I enter the marriage hall. 

I feel a sense of 'deja vu'...many faces seem familiar!! I find someone whom I think I had seen on Facebook and remember the relation. I am caught in a dilemma whether I recognized him correctly....to speak to him or not??!! Finally, my anxiety gets the better of me.... I clarify with him and find that I know his wife's family and the marriage is of his wife's cousin sister. This explains the familiar sense that I have been feeling.

Having resolved my confusion to an extent, I conclude that I am still mentally sound, reassure myself that I am not hallucinating and proceed to the dinner to be surprised yet another time.

My mind's google returns the result of another known person.....I am dumbstuck!! I quickly pick up myself......she is my classmate during college days and got in touch through Whatsapp few months ago. She also happens to be the colleague of bride's father and is here. These are the series of coincidences that occurred in a matter of few hours!!

Back home, I try to join the dots that formed the sequence......in-laws, their friends, neighbors, connection with the bride's cousins, classmate..... Too much for my grey matter to handle!! I abandon the idea of connecting the random happenings as my brain is tired.....end up convincing myself in the words of my classmate....'Earth is round' and I add the extension....social media make it a fuller circle!!

Full moon night!!

One more date with Hussainsagar on a full moon night...calm Necklace Road, lonely and dry lawns, gentle breeze and trees with minimal foliage.....the nature displaying its spring-summer collection on the ramp set by moon-light!! This place surprises me every time with a new look!! Vacation yet to begin.....but, kids already in the mood.....left us alone to sit back and enjoy the scenic beauty, while their games went on and on in the open space! Being at the right place at the right time really matters!!

Empowerment??!!

What stupid choices is the woman talking about?! What nonsensical empowerment do the other 98 women in the video intend to portray?! 

Please do not include us in your bandwagon! Empowerment has a different meaning for us. It is about being courageous enough to make the choices in our career, partner, or have a say in the decisions pertaining to our lives. It is not about choosing to frighten, dominate or crush men with our unprincipled conduct, unscrupulous choices and caustic voices!! 

Please do not mislead umpteen girls who look up to all of you as role models or consider you as inspiration! Do not confuse them with false choices. Don't synonymize empowerment with immoral and unethical behavior, for them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtPv7IEhWRA&feature=youtu.be

Honesty and Authenticity

Honesty must start with acceptance of truth within oneself. Merely making an attempt to convince others over a truth that one doesn't accept, never qualifies as honesty. This draws the fine line between authenticity (a quality that defines a person) and honesty (a quality that a person interprets). Simply put....when you believe in and mean what you say, you are authentic; else honest (until proven otherwise)!!