~ 24 Hours to Live ~

Someone asked me the other day in a casual mood “What would you do if someone tells you that You have only one day or 24 hours to live? What is the best you can do and how would you take this news in your life?”

Seems interesting! - this is a point none of us have thought in our minds as almost all of us are busy in our day-to-day struggles and aspirations that if in reality this happens what are our final plans – or do we really have any plan left to execute of life for ourselves? In all probability the answer would be “NO” – no one has thought what if tomorrow you die – what is that you need to accomplish in life on last day on this planet. 

We have not been raised to think differently – but in cacophony of societal thoughts – get raised, get settled , marry, have kids, settle them and then call it quits – that is the circle of life which almost everyone lives and creates memories of.

Coming back to the question, I answered, “I want to just go to the hills and meditate – think retrospectively what wrong that I did or what I could have done better – and alas! – thank the almighty about this beautiful life which was given to me with all its situations and scenarios to tread.”

As I continued, I spoke “I have no qualms of not getting what others got as I dully know there were many people much better deserving than me who didn’t get what I got. – so as obedient servant of the almighty, I want to sincerely thank HIM for what path he chooses for me.! – Yes, as I faltered many a time and could have done much better in some situations, but stumbled – I heartfully say “Sorry” – may be next time.” 

As according to me, this is the best I could have asked while I depart from this earthly life – full of balancing acts – and false ego and aspirations. If you sit down and ponder at this question. 

You will more or less come up with your own answers but with a basic sense of similarity – that many of us want to rectify things which we could have done better and that we could have taken up situation which we sidelined – the opportunities – the friends you are no more in touch with – or for that matter married your girlfriend which you could not.

Today contemplate on this imitable question – what is the last day on this planet would be like – what you want to do , what you want to thank for or for that matter what you regret or want to say sorry for…. Everyone of us must be having some hidden desires or aspirations which we wanted to fulfil but now by virtue of this question “Your time is Up!” – you must be confronted with limited set of answers – so ponder and come up with an Earnest desire and answer this question to yourself – “What if you have only 24 hours left to live?” – Think well!!!

~ Be Ordinary...~

Your Best achievements will fade away one day and turn out to be a sham – no one would remember what effort you exerted to achieve your life’s aim, call it folly or beauty of time – but this is the way it is. Just go back to your past and you will recognize that once the best love or achievement of your life – something which you earnestly wanted in your life and you got it too , has not much importance – not that it is not relevant but it is just not worth it anymore with stamp of time – though it would have been a stepping stone in your life or career but still you somewhat not like talking or even remembering about it. 

People’s memory is short lived, when you are on a pedestal all the goodies would be showered on you – you make the best of the friends – though internally many will envy you 😊 – but overall, you are on seven skies… It here that the ‘trick’ starts and all those airy feelings will seep inside you and would start to give you a feel that all this melodrama will be always there for you and things and situations will behave the way you want them to…. Utterly wrong! –

Be whatever you achieve or leave when you are far gone from this world, People will forget you – it is general human tendency. If I were to ask you some questions, in all probability, you wont be able to answer them all – another strong possibility is that you may not even be interested in answering these questions – but think of the man, the moment which had happened in the past which got recorded in history and formed this question – how much of an effort and sweat must have gone for a particular achievement which leads us all to talk about the situation or a person who did this wonderful achievement. 

If I were to ask you to name the last 5 people who won the Noble Prize or Name the last 5 Miss Universe or Who was the first one to win a 100 m Olympic medal in the world! – Most of us would not be able to answer or ‘Remember’ the names – the point is ‘Applause Dies with time’ and awards are not remembered no one is interested in remembering the headlines of far-off yesterdays! 

Alternatively, if I were to ask you that Name your Math's teacher who taught you the subject in all simplicity or Name your first Boyfriend / Girlfriend who made you feel special or for that matter Name the friend who always have been beside you in times of need – In all probability , you would would have remembered the names of all of them!

Thus the learning which comes from life’s episode is that the people who you always tend to remember may not be Millionaires or with much money or awards or achievements but humble simpletons who have been carrying on with you in your ups and downs and in your journey of life – Life is full of such ordinary people who have been beside you in your rough tide and have made the world a better place for you – Sometimes being Ordinary is a great Blessing… Cherish your ordinary friends and Parents, brothers and sisters and many such souls around you who make you special everyday with each and every nitty gritty of life – hold them tight and see for yourself what life does to you!!!

~ Hari - as the Name So Suggest...~

 There are certain moments in life when you meet ‘Special ‘souls who are truly different – in each aspect they show their grace and their aura to mesmerize your persona. – In a recent trip to the hilly region of Mt Abu., I was fortunate to meet one such fellow – named ‘Hari’ a truly blessed and contended soul , always accepting you with an open smile.

He was no CEO or a big businessman or a boisterous corporate honcho but a small-time waiter / facilitator filled with true gratification towards his contemporaries and life – he had no qualms being doing a job many of us will filth doing, but there he was, truly satisfied and in restful stance of life – no running, no hush in doing things. 

As I met him for the first time, I was naturally attracted to his calmness – so will you! – he came to us on the table to take the order for lunch and very politely asked “ Sir, What would you like to have in lunch today?” – the subtleness in his voice was full of calm – his gentle smile added much demeanor to his personality – as I asked him to come after some time as we were in no mood to order our food, he was cool and said ‘OK sir, let me know when you have made up your mind to have finest of our cuisines!”.

I wondered, how can a man as serving us know the skills of serving, almost certain that I was, he must not be much educated or have attained a degree for hospitality or hotel management, yet his etiquettes were spot on – he had truly impressed all of us on the table within 120 seconds of intermittent conversation – how can he do that – but the fact was “he already had done so and had won our hearts 😊!

After some time we called him to take the order, which he did , not before explaining the cuisine jargons most of the hotels write on the menu – more than that a common customer like me in all likelihood bypasses all the complexities of menu items and order plain food comprehensible and easy to order – but as Hari’ made it look like so simple, he explained the preparation of every dish were interested to taste – Rajasthan is famous for its Maharaja Cuisine as so I am not shy in stating the prestige we were having to order the best of the lunches of a lifetime – till now! 😊

Soon the lunch was served and to everyone’s surprise, it looked sumptuous and have it all – Hari stood by our side from time to time and always kept on asking if anything else was indeed needed.

After we satiated our desire, it was time to leave the table, not before having a brief conversation with a gentle soul, who still was smiling and standing to say a final adieu for the day – his duty was getting over and it was time for him to go – as he stated himself, “ I live in the hotel premises and study after doing this duty, I am a Nepali and was born here and am doing my graduation in Arts!”

I congratulated him for what he had made himself and also inquisitively enquired as to how he is so comatose in todays ruptured world? The answer stupefied me “ Sir, I love my parents and want to stay with them and serve them, being the only child , it is my duty to help them, now that they are getting old and cant work to earn – I cant go outside this place to search for greener pastures – here I am not saying that I am not aspirational, but my Karma is here and I long for doing great things in future in this place – Mt Abu!. May be one day I might own a hotel or a restaurant of my own , life is full of surprises – but in this journey what God has given me – My parents , I am very thankful to him!”

His one-minute sentence flashed the gist of life in front of me – we all were freezed…a this tender age, the man had acknowledged the meaning of life and its living!

As we parted ways, it was time to say bye for the day, not before a great ‘Handshake’ with this gentle soul, who far away in hinterland of mountains was living in ‘Peace and composure’ , away from the chaotic world of false aspirations and achievements .

I could not meet Hari the next day as we had to board early for our return to our place, though these beautiful memories and his smiling face and composure would always be a part of my remembrance and learning, until I make a plan to visit him again.

Truly though, his name "HARI' is what his composure is all about - after all he is a living embodiment of God in a gist Soul...though calm quite unlike most of us!!!