Bhakti - Love for GOD...

 There is a quiet crisis unfolding in the modern soul. We have mapped the genome, built artificial minds, and placed the sum of human knowledge in our pockets, yet we have never felt a more profound emptiness. We are data-rich but love-poor. In this landscape of cold algorithms and anxious striving, the ancient path of Bhakti—the yoga of love and devotion—is not just a sentimental relic. It is a radical, necessary act of rebellion.

Today, the world tells you that your destiny is a ladder to be climbed with bruised knuckles and clenched teeth. We are taught to be the architects of our fate, gripping the steering wheel of life until our fingers ache. But Bhakti whispers a sweeter, more terrifying truth: you are not the doer. Destiny is not a prison of cause and effect; it is the sacred script written by the Beloved.

This is where Bhakti moves beyond religion and enters the realm of romance. It transforms the cold concept of “divine order” into a warm, intimate conversation. To the Bhakta, God is not a distant judge dispensing predetermined verdicts. He is the mischievous, loving playwright who has written a drama just to watch you eventually run into His arms. When we view destiny through the lens of love, our suffering changes texture. A setback ceases to be a punishment and becomes a tight, protective embrace from the Divine, pulling us back from a path that would lead us away from Him.

Think of the love of the Gopis for Krishna, or the aching, desperate poetry of Mirabai. They didn't love God to get a promotion, to heal a disease, or to manipulate the stars. They loved Him because the heart simply cannot function on logic alone. In our current age, we have pathologized this longing. We have medicated the very instinct that makes us human—the desperate, wild need to love something infinitely. We try to pour this infinite capacity into finite vessels—careers, relationships, approvals—and we shatter when they cannot hold the weight. Bhakti is the permission to let this love flow toward the only shore vast enough to receive it.

Importantly, Bhakti frees us from the tyranny of the “self-made” identity. We are exhausted by the persona we curate for the world. But in the privacy of devotion, we can finally collapse. When you weep at the feet of the Divine, you do not need a resume. You do not need to explain your trauma. You simply offer your broken heart, and for the first time, you are held by a Destiny that knows your name without needing to read it on a screen.

There is a profound emotional rest in surrendering to a love that pre-dates your birth. Bhakti teaches that God is the eternal pursuer of the soul. While we are chasing pennies and accolades, He is chasing us, orchestrating sunsets, arranging chance encounters, and writing “coincidences” just to get our attention.

In a society that worships productivity, sitting down to cry, to sing off-key, or to simply gaze at an image of the Divine with longing is a protest. It is the heart declaring, “I am a human being, not a machine.” Bhakti is the bridge between the life we have and the life we yearn for. It assures us that our destiny is not random. It is a love letter, written in the ink of time, guiding us home to the only embrace that will ever truly satisfy. Let us put down the weight of the world and dare to feel again. The Beloved is waiting.

~ Embracing Change...~

 In today’s fast changing world of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data , robotics and what not ..all the jargons are manifesting in our real lives and forcing us to change and adapt to their percept…. your world was always about change and over a period of time, we realize that the change should always be welcomed with open arms and positive affirmations…as they say “ The Change is the only Constant…” that will live with you till eternity….

Many of us are not adept in the change that is warrant of the time, because we don’t want to leave our cozy zones…we are so used to performing same jobs, following the same routine that has seeped into our daily lives…any hiccup or change that should happen is not acceptable to our living – for that we need to adapt and learn new things…we have to teach us the new dynamics of living and working and leave far being what we have been doing since ages…. For those who quickly see this coming, they take the advantage of this happening, for the rest, they loose their footing and are left over….

Certainly, we have been oblivious to the life that we have lived so far…change was and has been always the norm of the day,,, you were once a toddler and then entered school and college after some years… then came a time when you went for higher studies and finally landed up in a job and got married and became a parent… it all happened in front of you. 

You were not asked if this can be done…it just happened as a natural phenomenon of a human life…you didn’t warrant it nor could you stop your growing up….phase by phase things happened and it so happened for good…

Life is progressing in its own pace and will do so…change being the inevitable eventuality will happen ..you want it or not…the best thing you can do is to embrace this change and be in line with what the universe demands….the signal and the tinge of the other world is always right and beneficial. It is just that we don’t understand that change as we don’t like it either…as a human psychology, no one wants to leave his /her comfort zone and embrace the change….

Simply observe the time when you were born and have reached the stage you are in today… slowly and steadily time makes things happen…now that you look yourself in the mirror… you see the adulthood in you or may be approaching age…. Change happened but in silence…that is the beauty of it… it is happening and it will…as someone has beautifully articulated …” Change is the only Constant…!!!”

~ After All...Its Life...~

The Complexities of life are simple…it is us who have made it uniquely complex to a phase where we can’t handle it…

Sit down a bit and go through the day – ponder how you start and plan your day…many a time you would have made big aspirational plans and achievements which you want to accomplish…just out of the blue…

As night falls and you get tired to the brim, you contemplate your whole living past 24 hours…what you had planned and what you actually realise or did… you will be flabbergasted many a time to see the variance in the results… That’s the summary of life in a day…!

Well, living over a considerable number of days in my life, what I have summarized…. Live situations as awareness….and accomplish them day by day...not grandeur plans…not big hopes and aspirations…Afterall , you were never here to accomplish BIG FAT things…but to remain happy and what all is needed to do it….it is not ONLY titles, money, power , fame but family time, health, a soothing tea cuppa, sitting idle watching nature, birds , flowers , street dogs, cats…they are all around you to make you realise…that .. when you would be gone and your time is up …it is just these fond memories which you will take along…your karma will accompany your soul to the next birth….Just remember You are who you are in this birth. Your titles , fame , accomplishments are here for this time not for eternity…

Life’s not that complex and complicated…we have made it to be…as we have to make a mount hill  first and then make efforts to achieve it throughout our life…. As I give a real life example of a man I know who is very fond of playing soccer and wants to accomplish a feat of hitting every goal for his team…. As we play, we finally give him a pass to just shoot at the nets…instead he takes the ball away from the goalpost and then tries to hit with a 45 Degree angle like Ronaldo only to be missed!!!!

That’s all what we do…. Life’s simplicity is not very complex… live it with all the resources you have…your family ,friends, acquaintances… animals …what not… and see for yourself your happiness quotient makes a tangible mark in your living… your face shines with all ear to ear smiles always and in all situation…as you now have started to live in tandem with nature’s laws and have correctly understood your presence as to who you really are and for what purpose and that is to be Happy…..!!!

~ khush bandeyan nu haale tu taan milya ee nahi. Jehde mile ne bechaare bas kaamyab ne ~

[You havent met any Happy person...all You met were Successful People!]

~ Dreamy Boyz...~

His smile wins heart, the father son duo make a formidable businessman, not haggling for even a rupee, they are astute as the afternoon son – blistering and for a purpose.

My recent excursion to a famous Shiv temple made me meet people with varied colors and creed, many of whom have shanty shops just outside the place of worship, for they know that the footfall of devotees would make them bring customers – the scorching heat is another key factor for them to stash bottles of water and many soft drinks. 

Not to forget the ample sachets of betelnuts and raw tobacco – ask them as to why have they kept in close visibility of the customer, the father is quick to respond “Sir, it is a most saleable item!” – In this part of India – and here I am mentioning Gujrat , “most people, including females have addiction to chewing tobacco!, it brings good business.” 

He was slate clean in his remarks as being a business he was – Gujrati people are known for their precision business acumen and insights, you cannot haggle much for what they have priced is the benchmark of the goods they are bound to sell.

“Ramprakash” and “Govinda” were their names, the father was dressed in his pristine local medley of traditional dress Gujrati rural folk wear – though his son Govinda was dressed as if to mingle in the crowd of devotees who had throng the famous shiv temple to pay obeisance  to the Lord.

As I conversed with them – “How long have you been running this shop?”, the answer was quick ( but with a Colgate smile) “ Sir its has been almost thirty years!” – “Quite a long time,”, I said.

“Yes, sir, very long time” , he affirmed.

“So what does Govinda do? Does he study or he sits with your and wants to run this shop and become a businessman, as trademark for many Gujrati families!”

“Sir, he studies in class eight in a local school, but he is not interested in studies and want to be Dhirubhai Ambani!”, he boasted as a mark of respect for India’s largest private conglomerate business house which he set from scratch.

“Yes, I know may Gujrati’s adore his ambition and I haven’t seen many of you guys working on a salary. Even if you start with a small shop or a shack, for you respect of being self employed is much more than working for others!” – as I spoke this words, Ramprakash’s chest was swollen with pride and he quickly affirmed my sayings, standing just next to me was his son Govinda, who also felt a sense of greatness and pride as I could see smile on his face and a bright sparkle in his eyes as if raring to go to conquer the world.”

As my visit was almost nearing its end, I requested for a pic to be published on this platform, they both readily agreed and also told me to WhatsApp the link – today they will surely be happy to learn about their story on the internet landscape– not to forget, they told me that they would tell their fellow shopkeepers to have achieved this feat …. This small gesture would give them immense popularity amongst their peers….

As I said a final goodbye…there faces light up in all smiles… taking their whatsapp numbers, they now eagerly await their photos to be published in the virtual world of internet….

~ The Game of Life...~

  

What became as my liking of an outdoor activity, Football as sport which I loved became my everyday binge. Hours were spent in sweating on the ground and besmirching clothes with mud.

But as growing up years were spend getting absorbed in the game, I unknowingly fell in love with the sport – so much so that I happened to think of serpentine moves and arcane tactics to score a goal. The next day and hour was thoroughly awaited to hit the ground. My Naani used to be precarious of the time when I had to step out, never to return for hours of sweat and toil not to forget the dilapidated condition of clothes and bruises on the body. 

The key question being what football has to do with "NOW" when I have well surpassed the age one can play it with equal aplomb. The answer is ‘Football’ has made me the Shakespearean character that I am in the world stage. The game is a strong interlude of maneuvering passes and strict discipline. It makes an individual a strong and forward-looking thinker with an ability to think beyond the rational. It bestows on you a sense of ownership and teamwork, cascades along many boundaries to show your true character as a leader and a playmate.

Finally, it makes you ponder with the game you played and gives you an opportunity to ascertain your follies today – those selfish instances that you were close to the goal and by all possibility you could have scored had you given the past at the last moment to your teammate who was left unchecked and in a pole position. The best part of the sport at the end of those ticking timelines is the analysis which one gets into – with heated debates and no potential outcomes, the bond with the team gets cemented – you also get to know individualistic weaknesses and start to work upon them slowly and steadily.

As they say the passion never fades away, life comes back at different times – There have been many instances that you still shake a leg and dribble past this young generation (in a par nearby before the Pre-Corona Era). You test your agility with the skills of years you have acquired on the field. If not, you have left your position to be a forward (considering the demanding position it is), you can well equip yourself to be a center half and be a strategist and give formidable passes towards goal conversions. The rhetoric of passes, the deliberate fouls, the friction between players of opposite teams all still becomes the part and parcel of the razzmatazz, such is the charisma of this Game.

 I have realized that I am in awe with this game and it is the on top of my list of to-do things when I will next spot the street urchins playing at their usual self in the park. Afterall, age has nothing to do with your love of life – I love football and would continue too do so till eternity!

The best part of playing this game is when people ask “at this age, how you maintain your sprint, focus and quick thinking on the field?” My quirky answer is “The football does not know how old I am. All you need to do is to stop yourself to stopping yourself to play the game.” – I thank football not only as a game but shaping myself into a person which I have become today!

~ Penning Your Life...~

Just pen down the various vagaries of life you have gone through – obviously you can hide the no show events and the gross mistakes that you made in your earthly journey unless you are incisively honest like The Mahatma’s Autobiographical “My Experiments with Truth!”.

Because telling your story is essential to your close ones, of course, people around you will more or less live a life just like you, in many cases have the similar circumstances and rock up the same situations and struggles, happier moments that you have gone through.

As someone said Blessings come in many Disguises, this idiom is so true in your living – spearhead the events of your life with full throng – tell people what were your best achieved moments and what were not – where you faltered and where you achieved the triumphs – of course making mistakes in between – the multitudes of life remain more or less the same for many of us.

Writing can be conversationalist, the thoughts churn from within – certainly there is another you in you whom so certainly you talk with just often! There are moments that you want to show to the world how you feel about this living – what have you achieve and what not – what have you observed and what according to you is right or wrong – writing is the power to broadcast to the universe of how you feel while you live – don’t succumb to the thoughtful injuries within, after all you are a human being and capable of taking plus and minuses of life at the same GO!

Write , for it is therapeutic and surely a stress buster – every time you don’t have anybody alongside but YOU yourself… talk and jot down the talking’s and see how beautiful you feel form inside… as they say that the best friend of you is ‘YOU’, then who else can describe your inner self via jotting down few words of how you feel – after all you are Destiny’s child – what if you are not a millionaire or insanely famous – you are human like them sans all the fame BUT with same level of feelings and emotions.

Writing can take you to that supreme level of thoughts and ecstasy to prove a point that there lived You in flesh and blood and that you thought the way your writings gesture – you live beyond your death and so is the case with famous men and women who live through their writings and the words they penned whilst they lived

Write for it is the most beautiful gesture and the gift you can give to your near and dear ones and to let them know how you thing about this grand design of life and situations around you –  how you thought of your family the unknown people  you might met only once and would never meet again – you can freeze the situations through the ink – after all , You have every right to “Write” for everything we do in this life demands a note…

 

~ Bath of a Lifetime..~

 If God Exists, I expect HIM to be sane enough to have formed rules of life and those are called 'KARMA" - what your 'Sow' is what you will "REAP" - this postulate of living exhibits the life of people i see in my day to day observation.

If he DOES not Exist : there is no point praying to a non-existent entity and it is tantamount to wastage of time and energy - so in this case, all we need to do is to live life and tackle circumstances and situations as according to their occurrence, believing that this is a pure Karmic base happenings in our life and that we have to fulfill and adhere in a the way situation wants us to live.

In both the outcomes of this rational thoughts - Living the Karmic way is a unanimity  and one cannot ignore its applicability in real life - all you need is to co-exist with the situation and observe the outcome.

In recent holy dip in the Ganges during "Karthika Masam" , I could see scores of souls come from far off places during holy dip of the Ganges - on of the most sacred rivers of Hindus - to wash away their sins and get "Moksha" from the unending cycle of birth and Death - Their belief is unilateral and firm on one proponent " That Mother Ganges is kind enough to give exemption from punishment of any sins that we have done knowingly and unknowingly!" 

Again for the rational and thought provoking mind - the situation emulates to a scenario where a Murderer kills innocent being and realises that he has sinned and the only person capable of forgiving him is the JUDGE!

oblivious to the belief that the Judge himself is bound by certain rules of society and is bound to punish him as according to the criminal act he has committed...just apologizing and accepting his crime would not suffix - he has to "PAY" for the crime he has committed and has to serve the punishment in accordance to the act he is liable to be punished....

The verdict is clear....the laws of living have been clearly demarcated by HIM in a simple fashion - they are same for everyone who has taken birth on earth and who is acting differently to avoid punishment for the crime he has committed.

As we grow old and grey our hair, we will become a firm believer of certain facts of life which we have learnt the 'hard way' but in certitude , they are the real 'facts' and 'wisdom' you will take along with you , when you depart from this plane - though the holy water of the Ganges comfort you - it is soothing - it certainly wont purify your karmic wrong-doings - for that , the only penance would be to live your karma and pay back with full interest what you have sowed.....

~ A Young Shopkeeper...~

She is the youngest and the cutest of the shopkeeper I have ever encountered in my life – Radhika was quick on her heels when we approached her and asked like a professional as expected from a shopkeeper “Yes, what you want?” – As she stood just in front of me – not even half of me in height, she was confident enough to face anyone.

As her mother has a small flower shop next to a temple nearby, she has lot of paraphernalia to be sold – as her mother was not around, her question was in line with what she asked – As I reverted that “I want a flower garland “ , she was quick to respond and picked up one and quoted the price – Rs 30” - her answer was short and crisp - to the point.

I was flabbergasted at her training , how on earth a toddler be so upright and a good Smartian, must be her training – I could not see either or father of mother around – this small kid was handling things of her own.

Now the best part – as I gave a Rs 100 currency note, she went running to a vendor next door and quick to ask ‘ Uncle Change De do” –[ Uncle please give me change] – All this was interestingly observed by me – she had something in her – a upcoming early entrepreneur but the next thought was – at what cost ? – Why her parents are making her work? – What about her studies and her childhood.

These were perplexing questions to my mind – the kids of her age and enjoying with their pals , here is a toddler burdened with life in early age…though she is enjoying her journey – the freedom and learning things early.

She truly is the next-Gen toddler - with a smart phone she was well versed and adept in looking for reels and videos - benchmark trait of the Gen Z! - 

As her mother turned up – I asked her the only question in my mind – “Didi, does she not got to school? it’s her age to study and you are making her work!”

She laughed and replied “ Radhika does go to school and study in a nearby primary government school – she comes early and then lovingly sits with me on this makeshift shop – I don’t force her to work, but out of gut she loves to be here!”

These words pacified my to some extend – I could not see a life getting spoiled early as for me this is the right age to exemplify your abilities to learn and educate and certainly not be on the streets – said that, on the contrary I see million such Radhika’s plying on streets, begging, doing street dance, selling petty goods and making ends meet for their parents – unknown to the fact that life would be tough for them in future!

As I said a lovingly goodbye – she reciprocated with a big smile and a “Bye- bye” – it made my day not before promising myself to be a regular visitor and enquire about my little friend – but at the same time pondering about other such souls on Delhi’s streets and also with a silent prayer for their upliftment in life to come!!!

Death wont do us Apart

 

“Kal kisne Dekha ? “ [who has seen tommrow?] this was always his mantra of life and he truly lived by it – Manoj is no more today but what was his steadfast resolution he lived by it – Always !

He died in his sleep may be due to a silent heart attack – may be he had premonitions so he had started to talk on a different tangent altogether – he was fit and fine and had no major ailments but as luck would betray us all one day – the calling will be “final” and we all have to obey it honestly – no escape! 

Manoj was a lovely friend and always chirpy and would crack jokes on life’s situations- as if for him life was just a dream to be lived and one day when you will “Wake” up in true sense – you would be gone – for him, there was no God and he was a total Athiest – life was a beautiful coincidence which just happened on this planet .. “ There would certainly be other dimensions and parallel universes which would have formed via the same coincidences, but science would take generations to unearth the enigma!”  - he would always parrot these lines…. 

I loved his sincere thoughts and clear thinking about his living on this planet – no frills involved a simple life and no greed for money or Power… Life, as he kept so simple was a true embodiment of a “Wordly Saint!” as I would call him always, as we always joked on this topic!

For him “ Life is beautiful till you make it one…there are zillion problems that one would face every now and then and you have to steer your ship of family, finance, health, relationship through the best possible turmoil – But somehow you will have that faith on yourself that You always Will!

My major confrontation with Manoj was with relation to ‘GOD’ and His Existence – he was clear in his thinking about this – for him all the events in this world – where kids are dying and people are suffering – is GOD making them suffer ?? – IF yes, then why were they born at first place – just to Suffer and live in penury , born blind or with no Arms and Legs…. And with All sorts of bodily Ailments…??? 

Does God want his ‘Puppet Kids” to remain like this and make him Happy??? – to this argument, I would always say “ Manoj – It is due to one’s Karma” – he used to quickly revert then “Do Good Karma – why believe in his existence…even if Exists in an iota , he would have to abide by his rules and have to thus honor his creation – why pray for mercy?”

The argument used to go in a vicious cycle with no end or conclusion – now that he is gone, his thoughts and vision will aways remain with me forever and this is a subject I would always keep my search on for valid and rational arguments…May be one day when I meet him in other world, I would win by giving him an argument he would have no counter argument for …Till then enjoy your journey Manoj as I do here …your meeting me in this plane was momentous!

~ Life's Giggles...~

 “So, what was the most Giggling moment of your life today?” – this is the primordial Question that I often ask kids when I meet them – be whatever time of the day or night it is – this has to be asked to start a valid conversation!

Kids being kids, Many a time I get a story of sorts about what happy moments they have lived in a day – be it in school, home or park or college…most of the time I hear all sorts of stories and parables from them which made their day and made them laugh.

If the answer is “Nothing / No” – I cheekily put forward another question “Ah! Life was too serious today …hah! 😊!” – Kidds are all smiles then…

For me there could be no such moment in a day which life offers you and you don’t smile or make you happy – it could be as foolish for people as you wearing different pair socks or shoes to schools and inadvertently notice when you reach the premise – you will laugh on your own self on this folly and you nailed the moment as a mark of true remembrance in your life to come – may be to store in your memory to be refurbished in times to come for your kids or younger ones!

In today’s world of hard core competitiveness and comparison – everyone is trying hard to exist to his optimum – chasing never ending dreams and aspire to get something better and best than what they already have – The journey begins with kids as they are groomed to do their best  and obtain good percentiles in schools and competitive exams – parenting is tough but we all are giving our baggage of failure to them – what we could not achieve, we want them to achieve – for what? ..just to satisfy your own ego and tell the world that you have arrived!

In doing so kids are at the receiving end, see for yourself the cases of depression, suicides and other mental issues kids are facing – in schools, the most sought after teacher for parents is not of Math's / Physics / Chemistry or Economics but of ‘Counsellor” – parents are seeing psychiatric help for their kids in school as they face mental and behavioral issues on day to day basis…the peer and parental pressure alike, kids are turning nerds and stale – often forgetting that life is to be laughed , lived and enjoyed in its journey and not merely be lived with seriousness all the time!

My experiment with kids have been successful so far as whenever I meet kids, they are always grinning and ready to tell their best moments of the day – they have certainly become conscious of the fact the laughter is the best medicine for any sort of depression and tension – once you are in a good mental health, your acts will make things fall in place…

So start doing it – test it yourself and ask your kid this Golden question “What was the most funny moment of the day you lived?” – see the smile on your kids face …resplendent with story about to be told….See for yourself how you turn your kids to a better human being ready to take life’s challenges with equal force as life throws at them everyday….!!!

Celebrate Life...

 I often read on many obituaries “Untimely demise of …."

I question myself, who is deciding the time of our departure? How can we? are we capable enough to do so or to begin with did you choose the time to get born?

Were your parents were thinking of you when they were in the 'Act'? These are questions that comes through deep thought or may be just by observing and thinking at a different tangent!

Just the other day , I heard about a far off acquaintance who left for his heavily abode - ( sometimes I too think that there must NOT be any Hell , as I have not seen anybody writing or going there :) ) - the discussion amongst our peer groups started with a melancholic note - Mr X was a good human being , why did God did this to him - he has a small kid and a family to fend - old parents and all sorts of responsibilities - a home loan and what not. 

My only question to them was - Can you stop your death? - if tomorrow something happens to you, do you have in your control that you can say NO to the happening?  Gods’ plans are 'perfect' and 'Timely' - you cannot predict the accuracy of a particular soul's departure - yes, it is a huge upsetting emotional trauma if one goes from one's life - unannounced or just like that - but again it was all part and parcel of his time and destiny that he had to be in your life for that very time and years.

As Osho always said " Rejoice Life, Why Sulk and wait for your death??" - Live as if there would be NO tomorrow and that you won’t get up the next morning to see the sunrise! - In this percept, you will start to live more deeply and with consciousness - with remembrance of GOD and someone who is channelizing this Universe!

In this short span of your living, live to the best of your abilities and performances - live each day as there would be No tomorrow - you will not rise from the Bed - this way, you will see that you have aligned yourself to what universe has decided for your and that is - just live to the optimum and be Happy! 

Why sulk for things that are beyond your comprehension and control - you can’t change the situation - example 'Death' it is harsh reality and we all have to leave our near and dear ones one fine day - but what have we doing till the time we are alive? , are we thanking his presence and his gift of life as human being - most of us would say "NO" - Start doing it - offer your gratitude towards HIS grace and you will see your life changing - you will be better off many people who Death would choose soon -

Your obituary should speak about how you have Celebrated your life and how you have touched life of people around you and what a human being you were...!!!

God , Freewill , Karma?

 The tussle is between ‘Karma’ and ‘ God’s Will’ or ‘Your Free Will’ – Who will win?

The topic was deep dived with my recent engagements with a priest of a temple I visited recently – his bend of mind obviously was towards ‘Gods Will’ as by virtue of profession he was in – continuously sitting 2X7 in front of God’s idol and sometimes meditating on his mantras and form!

As I put my argument in front of this octogenarian, “ I worked hard and got what I wanted – that was my free will – Had I not worked hard, how would it be possible to achieve what I have?”

The priest’s answer was unequivocal: “ May work hard with great free will But still not able to achieve what they want?, where is the concept of free will then?”

Point taken, but then the counterargument followed immediately “That was their Karma too, they were not destined to get what they ought for! – their karma was not good enough to have the fruits in this life!”

His cheeky smile made me think that he was obviously thinking my arguments as ‘Kiddish” or lack of knowledge – he was born 20 years earlier than me and so might have much knowledge of the world and their working.

He quickly followed with another great example “ People come to this temple with all sort of problems, I listen to every problem and pray on their behalf, you will be astonished to know about the miracles of prayer and ‘Gods Will” – you only have to fall at his feet and ‘Submit’ your ego and knowledge Infront of him and see how he shapes your destiny and Your life!

This was something quite cerebral for me to digest – for sure I knew there exists some ‘Great existential power’ in this universe who is channelizing and governing this world on certain precepts! – He surely is omnipresent in every aspect.

 But still the question from my side was partially answered “ If everything is Governed by HIM and his grace, the why are we trying so much and running around with our aspirations and fluid expectations – many of which don’t get materialized and then melancholy follows!”

His percept was candid clear and quoted Bhagwat Gita – a rule book of life – in which Lord Krishna spells his divine wisdom “ You only have the power to act according to your knowledge and sphere of influence – the end results of your action and Karma is in my hand and NOT yours!”

Your Karma’s from previous life play here and it is also Karma from this life which is in activation – it is a grandeur mix of both these that will bring froth the situation and scenarios you are currently in!

Though you have to live your Karma But you also have to fall at HIS feet for forgiveness for any bad karma which you have done knowingly or unknowingly – the ball is always in HIS court, he might give you according to your aspiration or he might not – you cannot challenge his decision!”

So finally, after arguments and counter arguments, I could only decipher one thing which forms assimilation of this verbiage “Keep on doing your good karma > Without any expectations > knowing fully well that there is some Mighty “Great” who is watching your acts of benevolence and your day to day behaviour towards others ..The story and concept of living life ends here….. 

~ From Kid to a Man ~

 I have seen him in arms to a grow up in adolescence – how life changes and time flies, really.!

Kashiv was the name his father, a general grocer I my vicinity, had given him happily and how as a first born ‘Son’ was rejoiced by his father, distributing sweets to the entire clan which he knew and also who’s who came to his shop!

Now as years have passed, Kashiv turned 21 and today as I saw him after a long time, I made him remind the very day when I ate sweets when he was born 😊 – his cheeky smile was a reminiscent past of his reaching this stage of his life – as his father stood by – still working and getting up at 5 a.m to open his shop which has been an integral part of father and son journey.

Today, the day came when his father again spoke to me about a prospective match, he was seeking to get kashiv married and relieve him of his duties – a typical household mentality in India of every parent.

“The boy is settled in his own might and has finished his graduation and MBA and is working in a company!” – the proudness in his father’s voice was apparent and came from a man who didn’t study beyond class 8^th !

“Sir, I could not study as I lost my father early in life when we came from my native village in Bihar – I had an uneducated mother and two sisters to take care of – being the only Eldest sibling and a Son, I was tasked to run the show!”

“Though life treated me little differently, and I have not much regret, I vowed upon myself to make my children educated and achieve great heights!

The words were surely brewing with wisdom and I guess almost all the father’s in this world would share more or less the same thoughts and sentiments, and it must be, as what more great than a son bypassing his father’s achievements and making him proud!

As we were discussing things, Kashiv came and tried to change the topic, which generally kids do as he wanted to start his career in ‘Corporate world’ and make a mark for himself!

Getting back after my buy, I started to reminisce the life of father, son duo and how time subtly changes, seep by seep, day by day until we as parents realize that you have a handsome hunk and a beautiful damsel standing in front of you as your son or daughter, ready to take on the world and materialize your dreams which you could not due to unforeseen circumstances beyond your reach!

Life is such for everyone, and that is the beauty of time…waiting for Kashiv to get married but also achieve his dreams which he has so rightly thought so!

~ Life is Beautiful ~

 ‘Life is beautiful…Jiyo Dil se!” – the laugh that followed is a lifetime remembrance- It was surprise as It came from a man which apparently was a villager and of little means!

Everyone has a different percept of life and one is living as according to his beliefs and aspirations, I thought and moved ahead – it was a short stint with a man who I met on a recent excursion in the hills.

Damodaran he loved to call himself and he is a villager and has never travelled in a Car – if he does so, It would be an achievement – again, thinking so , I realised that there are people in this world with little ambitions. 

To fend himself, Damodaran makes ‘Lemon Water’  or Neemboo Pani as people call it in local dialect and thus makes a ‘Decent Living’ – as it was a chance encounter, the heat and humidity accompanied me and made me exhausted – Call it a meeting which was destined to happen and it do so at the right time – Damodar had a bad habit as I could sense and Smell – he had made a Morning Drink for himself – probably a peg as I vividly thought so.

The smell was apparent and staunch and it led me to talk to Damodaran with a whimsical smile back as I asked “ Sir, Subhay – Subhay hi chadda li 😊?, Din tak to ruk jatte !” { Sir, You had a drink in the morning 😊 , could have waited till afternoon at least!}

Hearing this he laughed like anything as there was nothing beyond that – I just left his gist about his laughing from heart – he surely has life a very observant life, as I thought – he matched my thoughts as if it was some kind of frequency match and thus spoke “ Zindagi mein aish karo, kal ka pata nahi – jo mann karta hai karke jao – kal kya baankar aauge wapis is duniya mein, kisko pata!”  { Life is uncertain and whatever you need to do , do it right away and don’t procrastinate – don’t know when, where and as what you would be born again, Who knows ?”}

Hearing these words of wisdom was so in line with my percept of Damodar – he was a man of wisdom – though he didn’t seem much educated and all his life, he had lived in his village and had hardly moved out to town – his simplicity and knowledge of life was remarkable. 

The talk deserved another Neembu Pani {Lemon water} and as I ordered so, he was quick to prepare one with much enthusiasm, alongwith he started to ask me about my whereabouts – what you do and where you work – much of it was sort of over head transmission for him, as I could sense his reaction to my answers.

The second Neembu pani was much tastier 😊 – don’t know why, but maybe Damodar had accepted me as a friend now 😊 – as I paid him and started my journey, we exchanged an open ended goodbyes – “open ended” because, you never know what is store for us – we may meet again in sometime, which both of us wish so – till then ..let seconds pass…

~ And WE Met Again ~

He withholds the test of time – his age and maturity is beyond comparison – just 4 years back when I met him, he looked the same and this time I see him in the same dimension – Alas! , somethings don’t change for good.

Raghu has been selling Tea and local snacks for most of his life – he lives on a plateau covered with lush greenery and to the amazement of everyone, always blessed with pleasantness of weather – the western ghats are truly accommodative to rains in much of the year.

Treading the western ghats with slush and slippery terrain, you can reach his small makeshift shop – He will always be present with his welcoming smile and asking you that medieval question “ Sir Chai?” [ Sir Tea?] – this time I met him after a gap and as a natural human tendency he didn’t recognize me, but thanks to rage of Camera Phones, an old pic gelled the bond – instantly a loud laugh made its way between both of us !

Life is so funny sometimes, you meet strangers and develop a sense of intangible bond and you want to capture those finetuned moments that one can remember back home – seeing the pics and living the moment again and again – this was once such occasion.

I asked him to make ‘Kadak Chai’ [ Strong Tea] for me as a mark of remembrance of this meeting – he readily agreed and offered me a place to sit – it was nothing more than a finetuned rock covered with a neatly labelled cloth – as the meeting progressed, we exchanged pleasantries as now that he had recognized me Suo moto on the basis of last trip’s pictures.

I keenly observed his aura and found he had not changed at all – Raghu was the same man I had met four years back – the only change was his salt and pepper look – his hair was greyed and he had grown and dense beard – his tone and calm and welcoming demeanor was the same! 

As I enquired about his family , I vividly remembered about his two daughters that he had told me last time – both of them were now in local college! – the adage “Girls grow fast!” had again proved itself!

AS I again asked him “What about your wife?, does she not come here to help you?”

With a comatose smile, Raghu answered “ No sir, Who will look after the girls then!, I stay here for whole week and then close my shop on Sunday and go and meet them in the town!”, a routine that Raghu has followed since he got married.

“Sir, Kamana bhi toh hai!, Ghar kaise chalega agar kaam nahi karenge!” – that was the responsibility almost All of us shoulder in tandem – The living and character of World remains the same wherever you go – it is the essence of human  Nature.

“Raghu, aap chai mast banatey ho!,”[Raghu you make fabulous tea!], as I prodded after having my first sip – in reciprocity, he laughed gently – a general talk regarding customer footfall and business followed – Raghu was happy in his life and always paid his obeisance  to the almighty – indeed, I knew him to be a God fearing man, a point which was proved by the pictures of Gods he had in his shop.

After a brief stoppage, it was certainly time to say a “Goodbye” , until destiny would meet us again – As a token of respect for each other, pleasantries were exchanged and a friend hug culminated this meeting….{don’t worry, I paid him too for my tea cuppa 😊}.

Thanks Raghu for the sumptuous cup of Tea that you always make with all your love – hope to have it again, don’t know when though – but for sure before we say goodbye to this world, hopefully things would have progressed in your life till then….and you would have a different story to tell!!