Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Why do we need friends for?

A lot has been and is still written on friendship - good and dreamy things. Friends standby you throughout the thick and thin, friends love u the way u are, friends are better than ur siblings… And the glorious words go on and on.

A recent happening, I would rather term it as a mishap, has actually made me think on the sanctity of these thoughts. I will give a brief background - one of my friends (a very close friend of past 5-6 years) is on a self destructive way. She is in hibernation these days, trying to shy away from people who try to help her and try to jolt her back to her senses. For past two years, I have been a subtle, yet a solid support to her. Worried about her, prayed for her, thought for her….but the day I thought I was not being a friend enough, that I need to tell her what she was doing to herself was actually wrong..she severed all ties with me. She stopped responding to my calls, emails, messages…

My fault? I honestly told her that she needs to get out of her shell, make some compromises with her life and go on with her life. But I ended up losing one of my real good friends. Miss her even now.

My question is:

Was I wrong in being truthful?
Had I been good enough for her if I were the indifferent kind of so-called friend? Kind of those friends who show fake concern on face and don’t even spare a single thought on your back.
Couldn't she come upfront and tell me that “hey I did not like it?’?
Didn't our relationship worth a second chance or a hurt (that I might have caused to her unknowingly)?
If I didn’t tell her the truth on her face, wasn’t I like any other stranger?
What would have she done if her sister or daughter was going the wrong way in her life?

I don’t want her back in my life. Though I miss her terribly...she was like a younger sister to me. But she has done irreparable damage to me.

She made me extra cautious with other friends. I guess I am now being skeptical about each friend of mine, or I would say I have lost that unfailing trust that ppl have about their friends.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Incredible India turns into Incompetent India

One day we are praying for monsoon to come...then Monsoon comes and it pours for two days...now we are praying Gods to take away rain. Our dams gave away and there are flash floods everywhere.

Incredible India turned into Incompetent India.

What was the Gov't doing...sleeping? Why weren't they prepared for monsoons? Can u beat it..national highway connecting Delhi to Chandigarh remained suspended for two days. Where should the common man go?

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Honour Killings - Always Wrong and Never Honourable

Just a thought on Honour killing...can there be any honour in killing a person..especially a daughter whom bore and brought up.

Grow up guys, if you or your son languish in jail for next 10 years, would you be left with anything in your life, leave alone your HONOUR.

Friday, July 27, 2007

We don’t want a baby girl!!!

When Jess was born I came across another incident that brought me face to face with stark reality...the crude, raw and naked truth about the status of women in India.

When I was in pre labour room, there was this patient's bed in front of my bed. To me she was sleeping...later on over hearing the docs' discussion, I came to know that she was in comma. Suddenly the docs rushed saying that the baby is coming out. They pulled the curtains on, and then after sometime the baby was born...but the child did not cry. After few moments, an elderly lady came into the room. Apparently she was the mom-in-law of the patient. The docs told her that the baby was dead, and showed her the dead body of the child. She was a baby girl...but that lady started shouting at the docs, saying that she won't take the dead body…the baby was supposed to be a boy. The doctors were shocked. She said they have never had baby girls in their family, and will not accept one...even if she is already dead. The Head Of Gynecology Department came in, and threatened her that the hospital authorities will get her arrested. Anyhowz her family accepted the baby's body, and God knows what they did with her. I doubt if they gave the child a decent funeral

The day next to the one when Jess was born, Renu (the patient) passed away. In the waiting room Renu's mom was in a bad condition. She had not had a single drop of water from the time Renu had been admitted. On the other hand Renu's husband and parents- in-law had no signs of grief on their face. Sometimes, I even spotted her husband laughing. He looked so callous.

Somehow I empathized with Renu's mom and went to express my condolence ...and what she told shocked me. She told that Renu had fallen off from the roof of her house. An hour before the incident, Renu had called her mom telling that she was feeling dizzy after having her lunch. She sounded upset, as after her ultrasound test her in-laws were in a weird kind of mood. An hour later, the phone call came from her in laws informing her about the mishap. Would a nine month pregnant lady go to the roof of her house especially after she was feeling dizzy? Was it a well calculated murder...and perhaps they knew Renu was carrying a baby girl...I asked aunty whether they suspected a foul play…but she looked too scared to answer in affirmative. She just shook her head and said that there was no use in thinking over such things as their child was gone now.

I am pretty sure Renu's hubby would have got married by now, and who knows is a proud father of at least 3 sons...but my heart goes to Renu's old parents who married off their daughter, their only child to this man...thinking that he will be her life companion, not knowing that he will be the one who will kill her. What kind of life would they be living now...I don't whether they are still living; but if they are, it must be a life where every moment is worst than death.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Holding my first child

This weekend went really hectic. Well it was my daughter’s birthday…she turned five this year. We had a great party, with over 50 people were invited to a dance cum dinner party. She wore pink cargo trousers, with a white/pink tshirt (with pink Barbie on it); and her curly hair were all blown up with a band to keep them away from eyes. I had put some casual make up on her face so that her face shines a little bit. When the guests came over, one of my uncles asked her to give a peck on his cheek…she refused saying that her lipstick would go off. Well that surprised everybody. Hmmm…my little angel is growing up fast.

That night my thoughts went back to the day she was born. It was early July morning; at around 3:00AM I experienced the first labour pang. As I was at my parents place, I woke up my mom. She got up with a jerk…and quickly started making preparations to take me to the hospital. That got me nervous, and I started crying. She told me ‘Don’t worry…just think of the gift that you will get’. Well I could not understand what she meant.

I was taken to the hospital. The pain escalated as the time went by. It took me16 hours to deliver her. By the time she was born (around 5:55 PM) I was drained out of energy. Finally she was born…the docs took her to a pediatrician, and within few secs I heard her cry… a shrilling but a very sweet sound that sometimes still rings in my ears. The doc brought her to me to show that it’s a baby girl. Now I see this very fair pink child…crying in the arms of the doctor. I felt something strange in my chest…a feeling that’s hard to explain in words. My first few moments of motherhood were that of awe. I was surprised…and was continuously looking at her till they administered the valium shot to me, so that I could sleep. When I was brought to the post natal ward, I was asleep.

After few hours (around 9:00 PM), one of the co-inmates of the ward woke me up saying “Hey didi, wake up. See your child is fairest of all babies in the ward. She is so lovely and is awake”. I opened my eyes and was surprised to see her lying just besides me. She was looking directly at me, as if figuring out whether I am her mom…Then I got up to sit, even though staggered for a while.I held her.

I won’t exaggerate if I say that I totally forgot the 16 hours long pains that I had gone through. It was an eternal moment of joy and happiness…truly speaking it bettered all the joys of the world. It was a moment that took me to an altogether alien world of motherhood. I was smiling, and had tears in my eyes. Now I knew what mom said ‘The Gift’. She is the gift of life to me...they say once you become a mom, you stay so for all your life. Yes!!! I am a mom now. I held her close to my chest, and thanked God for giving her to me. I and my husband had already chosen a name for her: Jessica. It is a hebrewish word meaning wealth.

During my stay in the hospital, I had my worst experience of the gender bias in India. No one in the ward congratulated me…I was surprised and disappointed. Whoever heard it is a girl child patted my back and said ‘Never mind. Next time we hope you have a son.’ I felt like hitting them...When my hubby held her in his arms, he thanked me for giving him such a beautiful child. He told me that I had given him the best gift of his life.

Daughters are a true treasure of life. As a daughter myself, I know the kind of affection that a mother daughter relationship holds. Even though the wishes of my well wishers came true and we were blessed with a baby boy last year, Jessica holds the same position in our lives. She is an apple of her dad's eyes. Even her little bro (who often is manhandled by her :-D) adores her completely. I very fondly call her 'Chandaa' (moon). May god bless my little girl with a happy and successful life.

This goes perfect for her:

Chubby cheeks, dimpled chin
Rosy lips, teeth within
Eyes are blue (naaahhh light brown)
Lovely too
Momma's pet, is that you?
Yes I am, Yes I am

Watch her sing

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

The legacy that I inherited

The virtue called Honesty

My father has been a banker all his life. He worked in a nationalized bank and after his job tenure retired respectfully from his organization. During his job tenure he faced lots of office politics and manipulations but one thing he never parted with, and that is his integrity and honesty.

His commitment towards his organization hit me...yes I am using the word 'hit'. It was when he was going through the tough patches in his career; we made a practice to criticize his bank's policies and management. He never said a word to stop us. He used to look quietly at us and smile. Then the time came when he had to retire.

We attended his retirement party, and was astonished by the applause he got when he rose to give his speech. After the party when we rose to leave I saw him avoid stepping on the foot matt placed at the entrance of bank building...I saw him bend down and touch it. I asked him why he didn't step on the foot matt...he quietly said that he has never stepped on it as it had his bank's name written on it; and when he bent down to touch it he was thanking the bank for giving him such an honest life...making him capable enough to support his family and bring up his kids the way he wanted. He just looked at me and said ' How could I step on the name of my bank...I belong to this place...and have worked here for 40 years'. His eyes were moist and now when I am telling you the incident that happened six years back I still have tears in my eyes.

The truth about truth:

Another virtue rather weakness that I inherited from him is the habit of telling the truth always. I don’t lie...ever and that is the toughest part. I can't lie about getting late to office, going on leave, getting job offers, during appraisals...I just tell the truth.
There was a time when I use to lie sometimes to save my skin. But then again an incident changed me completely. I was looking for the job after graduation. I was called for an interview by a Private bank. I was surprised when I received the call from the branch head. He confirmed my name, my father's name, his profession and blah blah.... He called me and told me if possible bring along your dad. I was a new comer in the corporate world and took my dad along. After interviewing me vaguely he called my dad in. He asked my dad whether he is still in inspection department. My dad was seriously surprised...but said yes. Then this guy tells my dad that he will offer me a managerial position in his bank if my dad could issue him a No Objection Certificate for his FOREX account.

My father's face clouded...and his expressions were thunderous...I have never seen him so angry. He just said that "Mr Singh I will not lie...I have never lied not even jokingly in my life. I would rather have my child's career halted for a while than lying to my organization. I would rather die than lie to anyone".

And trust me guys, at that moment I felt so proud that I just looked straight in the eyes of that guy and took my resume back from his hand. I felt so proud of him…surely the kind of feeling that a celeb’s child would get watching his/her dad do something grand. The glow of honesty and truth shows on his face till date.

Now when my friends, family members and co workers sometime tell me that I am a misfit for the corporate world...coz I am stupid as I am too honest, have no interest or rather tact of office politics and manipulations, I just remember that day when my dad gave me a life long lesson of commitment and honesty.

I would rather be called stupid, than lie or be dishonest.

Friday, June 15, 2007

'You say it best when you say nothing at all'

It rained yesterday night...giving us respite from the extreme heat of mid june. We were invited on a dinner party at a friends place. Dinner went on till late time. By the time we came out of the party it started raining hard. Kids were asleep and we both went into a silent mode that usually follows when you have talked and laughed a lot. My husband switched the car stereo on...and the song was playing..

'You say it best when you say nothing at all'

The song started ringing into my ears and took me several years back.

My father belonged to Punjab...a beautiful state with wide fields, glowing faces and lovely native language. My grandfather had a huge house. It had sixteen bedrooms spread in rectangular shape...with the open space in between...the aangan was covered from four side. Ours was a huge family...6 brother each having two kids...that made 7 couple (including grandpa and grandmom) and 12 kids. We all use to visit grandpa during our vacations with the whole house buzzing with activity all day long.

Our winter vacations were on and we had gone to Punjab. Early in the morning I was in a habit of praying and offering water to sun (do surya namaskar). That morning I went upto the roof and did the same. When I opened my eyes...a very tall sikh boy was standing on the roof of house across the road. He smiled at me the moment I opened my eyes. My eyes widened and I stared back.

That evening grandpa told us that we were invited on dinner by the family living across the road..I was bewildered. Told my folks that I don't want to go. But my grandmom told me that they were family friends and their son has come back from Canada...so they have invited us. Well with mouth dropped till my chin and creased brows I went there. Aunty met me very well and she was surprised I had grown up so much..Arghhh how boring I thought. Then the same guy came downstairs.

Everybody looked at me and asked...Pehchanaa (meaning did you recognize him?). I looked at him again and then it struck me..oh my godd he is Shaan...my childhood buddy who used to play with me for the whole day. Amusedly his mom said 'You know Shaan used to insist that he will one day marry you' Everybody gave a hearty laugh. The moment I looked at him speechless he gave me a small smile that meant something more than a mere smile...and I blushed..so badly that my eyes and ears started burning and I felt I would not be able to breathe.

For the next few days, Shaan became a regular visitor in our house. He rode a bullet motorbike (most favourited in Punjab). I was very reserved with him...obviously I knew why he used to come to our house and remember in earlier post I had written that I had decided that i will never ever fall in love. I kept reminding myself this resolution; but at the same time the whole day long my ears used to long to hear his voice..that strong hearty laugh and that naughty chuckle the moment I used to come in front of him. Suddenly I had started paying more
attention to my appearance and clothes. Well I was always a very simple looking girl and all those make up things were not my cup of tea.

But still he used to compliment my looks..one day he told me I had deep eyes that told everything about me...the whole evening I stood in front of mirror trying to figure out how deep my eyes were. Things got complicated...the accidental brush of his hand...or slight rub of shoulders made us increasingly aware of each other. But we never said anything to each other.

Vacations were about to end and with each passing day a gloom started appearing on our faces. He also became quiet and tensed. Every evening saddened us the more. A deep pit seem to tightened my heart. I called up Rachna and told her about the same...and she laughingly told me that I was in love. IN LOVE??? Hey no....I didn't know that...how did it happen...but yes...the
slowly the feeling had started sinking in...Yes I liked..noo loved him.

Last day of vacation and we were given the farewell dinner by his folks. I was standing on the roof when he came behind me. Slowly he turned his face towards me and looked straight into my eyes. We were silent...for two three minutes. We both knew what was there between us but somehow both could not say a single word. Someone called us and we parted...not knowing that it was forever.

We came back. One day a phone call came. His mom had called. She wanted me as her daughter in law. But my father was against intercaste marraiges. He came upto me and told me that he has declined the offer. He asked me if what he did was right. I looked up at him and said
nothing at all...but I thought he would understand my silence. My dad didn't...well how could he..

Now when I look at my husband and kids...I feel I didnot lose anything. My hubby is a loving husband and a doting dad. I have two wonderful, cute kids. But why does sometime a winter morning sun sadden me...why did I never visit my gandpa's place after that...why does I feel that if you love somebody you need to show it...

Sometime.... its not good if you say nothing at all. Sometimes silence cost you your love and happiness.