She!

She loved him at his best; she loved him at his worst. She loved him every minute, every second of the day. She knew what it was to love someone and be loved at the same time. He on the other side loved her only when he wanted to, for he never knew what it was to love someone. He thought love was never his gig, but little did he know that it was the only gig, which, since time immemorial had made living of the people worthwhile.

She couldn’t kindle the thought of being away from him, she at all times wanted him beside her and he on the other hand thought otherwise and didn’t care enough. She loved the way he spoke, the way he annoyed her, the way he ate, smiled and blushed, she managed to find him cute at all times no matter how low the magnitude was, he, was the reason for her smile.

She walked towards him beaming beatifically and said, “Good Morning Honey”.

“Morning”, he snapped curtly. He couldn’t help it and it was too late to have realized.

The smile that was etching from ear to ear slowly started to shrink, but she managed to hold it as long as she could, for all she knew she loved him the way he was, and was sure he would do better, sooner or later.

All his life, he had read and learnt the volumes of life in a different way, which was way different from what he was reading now. He had learnt the way of living life the hard way and was stubborn enough adhere to it, come what may. But, deep down inside he knew he loved her, he knew he wanted her, he knew she deserves to be loved back, he knew she has to get her share of happiness and pleasure, but he couldn’t help ignoring those realizations and giving her only a little. She never wore pride, he always did. She seldom cribbed, he often did. He cared a little, she cared more than anything.

She understood him and stood by his side, despite all his whims and caprices, and forgave him at all times, his mere sorry and laugh made her forget the dirtiest of their fights, she never fought nor argued, but kept her cool and let him blabber and argue in a louder tone of voice. Because she knew he meant nothing of what he said, and he thought he had won over her, but, had he kept score, he would have realized that he won all the times. No, it was never her fault, but she chose to be on the losing side instead, for all she knew, he liked winning.

He did find her cute, beautiful, praised her for what she is, loved her, made her happy, but the extent was nothing when compared to what she instilled on him. He never gave voice to his grievance, but she could feel his displeasure, and he was cute enough to deny it.  She on the other hand, gave a little voice to her discomfort and he made it vanish with a mere touch and smile. No, he is no magician but she loved him to that extent that these mere wounds inflicted by him would not last longer, but she knew he would last forever.

Had she asked him whether he would last forever, he would have denied it with his cute little explanation, and would lecture her about life, death and other crap, but she read him well, his eyes spoke more than him and she could read volumes out of them, his mere presence was enough to sense what was going through his mind.

“I Love you, honey”, she said, which sounded like a cute rhyme from a 3 year old's mouth.

“Okay”, he said funnily yet curtly. But, he did not realize he spoke too much with his eyes, and she read him well, and she read what she wanted to, and smiled, because she knew the change, has arrived!

Adios!

P.S Love someone back for what they give in, they would not have loved you if you were not worth in the first place! The sooner you realize, the better.

Listening- A Lost Art!

Among the various arts that have taken the backstage, one of them not technically a form of art, but the fact that mastering it needs some nerves makes it an art. Gone are those days, when people used to lend you an ear and listen to what you speak, at least the sensible talk let alone the blabbering. It so happens that the moment you want to put out your mind, you already find the other putting it out despite of the fact that he/ she was supposed to be on the receiver side in the first place.

Everyone wants to talk, but no one wants to listen, decipher and respond. Though they seem to listen they can’t decipher it, but they tend to divert the topic and turn the tables and all of a sudden your conversation is down the drain and you find yourself drowning in theirs. Well that is altogether a different form of art.

It would not be much of a disappointment when you are cut off the moment when you start to utter something, or rather start a conversation or share something, but, when your mind is braided with thoughts and you start running with them and if someone pulls the plug that is when one loses it, I mean seriously loses it. Well, we all know who belongs to this category, at least the working cadre of IT sector knows, The Manager. (Pun intended)

People now a day have seriously lost the impulse to listen, they surrender the moment you start to share something, though it is related to them, let alone the things that are remotely concerned to them. One could find only a handful of them who actually listen and respond, well, that means you mean a lot to them.

Everyone wants to burst their minds out, shout and scream and always wants the other to lend their ears, but, they tend to forget that the coin has two sides, well this, my friend is a two way, you can’t have your own way, and in the process no one really has the gist of what other said. Happens to me all the time, when I speak with my Mom.

I don’t remember the last time when I spoke something sensible with someone, and even if I did I don’t recall it, that makes it even worse, because that indicates my ears have been fed with quite a lot of junk already and my thoughts are lying somewhere down in the heap of crap. Yes offense. 

Adding to this, when you take a moment for yourself, cool down and tend to be sober, you are caught on the wrong foot, and find yourself being blamed for being rude and careless. Well you have to understand, you are being ignored, who hard is it to pick up that kind of sign? Seriously, grow a brain.

I miss those days when we friends sat and talked for hours together, with most of the conversations still being recalled till date, people have evolved now, they have grown a another mouth and have cut down on their hearing organs and ergo no conversation lasts for a couple of minutes and anything beyond that is most of the times- nonsense!

And, all those who listen, keep up the good work, if it weren’t for you hell would have broken loose long ago and most of us would have been scrambling here and there for an ear!

Adios.

Can We Just Get Over The Madness Already?

Call me a retard, but there has to be some sort of respite from the ongoing gaga over retirement of Sachin Tendulkar. I mean seriously, there has to be some sort of a limit to everything. I look at the news papers, you have 2-3 sheets which talk about him retiring, never seen before stats, never heard before quotes and not to mention the kind of farewell that is being put in place for him; I log on to my Facebook, twitter- the epidemic prevails there too.
 

So, what is the big deal about him retiring, everything ceases sooner or later, everyone has to hang his boots some or the other day, one cannot go on to enthrall people throughout his life. I have nothing against Sachin, no not a thing, in fact I believe him to be the greatest cricketer of all time who has nourished the bowlers like no other batsmen, who has played shots that would have been possible only from his bat, and needless to speak about the records that he has under his belt.

Everyone seems to be taking pleasure in discussing and betting on the no. of runs he is going to score in his farewell test, had they been so keen towards their life miracles would happen every other day.

  

I mean people have made cricket their religion ever since it has come into life and cricketers their demi-gods, and this madness has etched so deep into their brain that other sports are just passing clouds for us. We have legends and world champions in other games too, but they hardly get any attention as cricket is what everyone has on their mind.

In spite of players not scoring well, losing matches in a streak, scandals and controversies the madness still prevails as the like some kind of incurable epidemic. As harsh as it sounds if at all anyone should be looking at the stats they have to be stats from the past years Olympics and Soccer, no wonder we couldn’t host Olympics nor Soccer the two greatest spectacles on this planet. What a pity that a country with over a 100 million population couldn’t host the two most sought after spectacles in other parts of the world.

I have known people who would watch a test match day after day and ball after ball munching nachos and popcorn, now what would that fetch them apart from a couple of pounds to their belly fat? Seriously, there has to be an end to this madness. I know writing about this would only fetch brick-bats, and this write up would be touted as “we don’t care what you say” write up.

In all honesty I have nothing against cricket and not to mention Sachin. But, what I couldn’t get over is the kind of hype that has been doing rounds ever since he has decided to call it a day! 

As, I said other games have legends too, no one received this grand farewell or hype when they hung up their boots. Imagine the kind of good that the money spent on one man could do to a all those people who cannot quench at least their thirst and work day and night to make their family’s ends meet.

If anyone should be blamed I think it should be the not-so governed government, had it (government) paid a tad attention to other sports, this epidemic would have been eradicated long ago. Also, cricket in India has turned in to a religion and opium of masses if you will, and, they- cricketers are used to and enjoy the cult following!

The Free Advise Paradox!

It has been quite some time that I have written something for my always-thirsty blog, and here I am now quenching its thirst. I have been pondering on the way people advise people, and I somehow had the urge to colour my thoughts by penning them down. 

Most of us might have gone through that phase of life where we had to play the advise seeker role, regardless of the outcome the advise produced, if at all it was put in to play. But, has it ever occurred to you that most of the time you ending up on the giving end instead of the receiving end. “Glass Shatters”

Now that the glass has shattered, most of you might have realized that it is strikingly true that you have unknowingly been on the giving end. Well, let me keep the give and take thing aside and shed some more light on the way one pours his soul in giving an advise. I don’t mean to be sarcastic or rude to anyone here but then, soon, the glass will shatter.

Not all of the people come under this category, a category that I like to call “I-now-own-your-life”, that name speaks for itself, you ask the cult of this group for an advise, and you are in for a spin. Most of the advises that people of this group are based on the events of their lives, and in a way ill-logical, what are the odds that same advise will lead to ground breaking results? They give you advise and then follow up, they like to be kept posted on all the events henceforth, and they take utmost pleasure in dealing with your problems as if they are the ones going through it, and this endeavor they tend to slip away and starting digging the problems in their life and end up being on the receiving end. 

“Thank god-I am-not-going-through-this”, huh! This breed is one of my favourites. They listen to you; nod, and then, they listen more. No, they are not deaf and dumb; they are talking to themselves, elated inside with a sorry face on the outside. And, at the end of the feels trip they come up with something out of the box, that actually is shallow, and undulates your mind in a negative way for the lone fact that they have never been through it, and ergo have devised a subtle sorry line during your heart pouring session.

“Aah-could-you-keep-it-to-yourself?”, well these are the ones that play neutral, they neither give advise nor take it, they know there are slight chances of ending up on the ugly side either way- you give advise, you screw up others life- you take advise, you screw up your own. These have life of their own and are belligerent about dealing with it alone, regardless of the repercussions. 

“I-will-advise-you-anyway”, yes, these are the always blabbering ones. The ones who have seen it all, the “had been there done that” types. They have this arsenal, an arsenal full of- how do I put this delicately- CRAP. They somehow have this striking ability that makes them realize they are needed here, and they hop down to you, and well, there you are witnessing your faith in yourself and humanity plummeting as your ears are in for a feast.

Well, during the pursuit of finding the right advise, you either see the light at the end of the tunnel or you get hit by the train (read as future). Needless to say, only few of them actually work, and most of the time you just end up with nothing on your plate. You place your life in forfeit for what? Nothing

Most of you might ponder on the times that you have got the right advise and it actually changed the course of your path, but some part of you might have realized that had you not wavered during the tough times, and had been as strong as a nail, you would have actually paved a path for yourself- a better one. “Glass Shatters”

Since time immemorial, we human beings couldn’t suppress the oozing impulse to help another human being and that impulse was passionate and not to mention “gone are those times”, the clock has struck hard. Times have changed and so have homo-sapiens.

Now, bring in those advises about this write up let the glasses shatter!

Life always has the last laugh!

Most of us might have come across the above phrase, but you would only get the essence when you feel it. We take too much for granted that when we are let down by someone we give up on them, then we give up on ourselves and eventually we give up on life.

All through our lives, we have ups and downs, some have more ups than downs and vice-versa but, moving on taking whatever life throws at you in your stride, is what makes one’s living worthwhile!

I was at the local hospital yesterday, with my Mom for her regular check-up. Walking the corridors of a hospital has always given me creeps and hence I always preferred to stay in the lobby, while my Mom went upstairs to get herself checked up. I was busy reading Jhumpa Lahiri’s book “Interpretators of Maladies”, yes I had to have someone for company, and books can be the best companions. 

I looked up and saw a woman in a burkah with a kid probably 10 years old walk past the door of the lobby. The woman came back, gaped at me uttered something to the kid and left, he started walking towards me and I in a way felt intimidated by the way he walked and his head bobbled around.

 

“What’s your name?” he said, clapping hands together, making sure they don’t make sound.

“I looked around for a second and said, my name is Aditya” and I could see the disappointment in his face.

“Oh, sorry” I thought you were my cousin Ayub, you look similar to him. His mouth twisted in a weird way as he spoke.

That is when I understood why people assume a person with no moustache, only beard as a Muslim. “No problem” I said.

He extended his shaky hand and I extended mine. “Nice talking to you” he said.

“Same here” He then sat in the chair opposite to mine, got up and sat again, “whi..which school?” he asked. (I often encounter this question even at the age of 22)

“I am working for a gaming company called Electronic Arts” I said, and I could see the glow in his face and the smile that etched from ear to ear.

“Nice Nice, I like games” but mai khel nahi sakta because...

I could see his mom from over his shoulder calling him; he then got up and turned to leave then came back.

“I have brain fever and a tumour so is the reason I cannot talk and walk properly and often mistake people to one another” he said.

I stared at him for a second, flinched and said “I am so sorry to hear that”. 

“It is okay, bye!” he said and I could see him walk to his mom in the same manner he walked towards me, only this time his head did not bobble the way it did before, or maybe he did not let it bobble thinking of the possibility that I might find it funny.

I sat still for quite some time, thinking of cruel life could be, we take many a things for granted, we wish for luxuries right from our childhood, we want a hassle free and peaceful life always, we want and always wish for our parents and grandparents to live for 100 years. Then there are people who in a way are just an added weight on the planet with no use whatsoever. Mere vegetables if you will.

But then there is this kid, who fighting for his life right from the age of 10 with faith and hope being the only 2 players in his arsenal, the age where most of us spend in front of televisions, playing our favorite video games munching cookies and then demand for a new game.

 I could see my mom walk past this kid from a distance and I saw she turned twice to look at him before she could reach me. “Mom, remember the times you wish Dad could have lived for a few more years?” See that kid? He has a brain fever and a tumour and he is bloody 10 years old. “What possible crime he would have committed, that he is being put through this hell at the age when he supposed to be in the play ground amidst friends.

We humans are never contended with what we have, we always desire for more, regardless of the need, we just want it. Be it money, happiness, luxuries, materialistic pleasures but not sorrow because we wish others have it. And despite our sincere efforts of eluding sorrow if at all we encounter it, we blame it on life saying "life has been harsh on us" even after savoring numerous happy moments. Balls to that!

No matter how hard one tries to carve his life into being good or bad, you will have to dance to its tunes at all times, at one instance your face might wreathe in smile and agony ain another, you have good times, and bad times. Memories that leave behind the scars be it good or bad, no matter how hard one tries, life always has the last laugh. Period.

Adios!