Saturday, May 27, 2006

Beautiful Road

Every day while I go to office in the morning or to my room in night, I need to solve puzzle. Yeah…! You heard it right. It is a puzzle solving effort to clear the traffic on my way. The roads appear to be very narrow and taking right moves in jam packed traffic is similar to that of solving a problem. Take a left, cross the van. Take a right, cross the red car. Go straight, over take the city bus. Keep going till you reach the first place in a traffic signal. Ufff…!! Take a long breathe and wait till traffic police man signals GO! This happens every day at Begumpet, Ameerpet junctions at Hyderabad. Poor four wheeler guys, they can’t take all these steps. They need to wait just till their turn comes. It takes more than half an hour to drive half kilometer (specifically from HPS to Ameerpet). If you have a two wheeler as I have, you can apply your dynamic algorithm that suits well for that junction and clear the traffic.

If you look at the same road in early morning at 5.30am, it will be gorgeous. Beautiful black road spread very wide. Yes! You find it to be broader vast and clear. You hardly find vehicles on your way. Zhoom... Zhoom... and Zhoom… you can enjoy riding at greater speeds with some songs singing at the back of your mind (Meghalalo theli pomantu… or Dil... Dewaana … Dewaana… Hai e Dil...). You can smell the fragrance of the fresh air. It is really great experience. Especially in summer mornings, the ride will give great pleasure. Enjoy riding in such an atmosphere… Rainy season is coming soon :-( go on a ride today… if not you need to wait till next summer. Have happy and safe riding.

Friday, May 12, 2006

Paisa Vs Party

I went to my home recently on a long week end of four days. I enjoyed a lot by just eating, sleeping and watching TV (by the way, my Mom cooks non-vegetarian food very well). One fine morning, I heard my mom arguing with some one. I came out and saw her talking to a vegetable seller. “No madam I can’t give any more for 50paisa” said the seller. “I did not ask for 25 paisa worth coriander leaves… I have given you 50paisa and you have given only this much!!!” my mother replied. “How much do you expect for 50paisa, do you need the whole basket… mmm…” said the seller and gave some more coriander leaves and left the place. My mom felt happy. I asked her why she was arguing with the seller for so long time, that too for just 50paisa. “You neither know the cost of the coriander leaves nor the value of a rupee… you just keep quiet!” said my mom.

“Mohan! 20 rupees as a tip for a waiter… No!!! Two or five rupees would be sufficient… give change as tip i.e. coins not notes... Ok…You don’t know the value of a rupee…” said my mom at Malgudi (a south Indian restaurant). “Hello… it is just 11rupees 20paisa... why are you taking 15rupees” my dad shouted. “I have no change sir” said the auto driver. My father searched all his pockets and gave him 2rupee coin and asked him to give back 50paisa. “I don’t have 50paisa Sir” auto driver replied. “Why are you driving auto without change” said my dad and we left the place.

In all such scenarios I was telling them to take things easy. But they always restated one thing…“You don’t know the value of a rupee…” Not only my parents, you might have seen many parents telling the same to their children. Most of the times they are correct, some times they are not. One of my friends watched a movie on the first day. He bought ticket in black for 200rupees. After watching the movie, he said he wasted amount in watching a bad movie. Most of us watch movies buying tickets in black but our parents might not.

Gifts, parties, dressings and in many other things, we spend money just like that. At times I question myself “Am I a spendthrift or is it just because of raise in my standard of living?” Earlier I had parties very rarely. It might be a birthday party, New Year party or some thing else. But now… party – party – party. Week end party, onsite party, team party, friend’s party and at times party-JLT (Party just like that). If we start listing the way we have parties and the way we spend money, it goes on and on. I want to lessen spending money. (In fact my friends spend much more than me… I hope they realize soon). When our parents fight for paisa to paisa to save some amount and help us to have a good future, it is every ones duty to support them in having our future bright.

Monday, May 08, 2006

Gang Bath

Every day early in the morning on my way to practice yoga, I notice a group of labourers bathing together (Gang Bath). What a beautiful scene is that!!! Even though they all fight with each other for their turn of getting soaked with water that is coming out of single tap, the scene looks beautiful. In spite of their worn out underwear or Gochis (a Telugu word which stands for a piece of cloth worn by a male to cover his genitals) and ugly looking ambience (because of drainage which is beside the tap), the scene is still beautiful. All the beauty lies in their smiles. Majority of them don’t use soaps, they all use coir (fiber from Coconut) or squeezed plastic covers to rub their body. No shampoos for their hair, they all use fine sand mixed with water. Still they are clean, healthy and happy. The reason for their cleanliness is every one helps the other in cleaning their body (specifically back and hair). They are happy having bath with their friends and beloved ones. If you see them, then you understand the happiness in having a bath with your near ones. These smiles and happiness are priceless assets which mostly poor have (might be because of lack of bath rooms).

This scene reminds me of my stay at Banglore, while I was in search of a Job. Bachelor life is really memorable. It has many sweet memories, funny events, lessons, etc. We were seven (at times even ten) staying in a small room with open bath room...Yes!!! No wall and no door. You can have free shows every day. You can take help of your friend to rub your back. You might help some one who is taking his bath. If you are a kind of person loving to have freedom bath (with no undergarment) then you should wait till every one leaves the room and have your bath at the last, after closing the main door. Those days were really funny :-). The smiles of labourers bought the same on my face with all those memories flashing in my mind.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Do not have (More) Expectations in a relationship…

This is what my colleague and friend Mr. China Boy (not his actual name) advised when I was dull, thinking about one of my friends’ behavior. I accept what he said because if the expectations are not met, then it gives you only sad and sorrow. The problem is... to judge what is “expecting more”.

My friend came from Sweden (not the correct place) last month. He came to my room (in Hyderabad) with out prior intimation and it was really a surprise. It was a working day, so I couldn’t spend time with him on that day. He said he is going to stay in Hyderabad for three days and meet all his friends. I thought, if not on that day, he would spend some time with me, some other day. I was expecting a call from him for lunch or dinner so that we can sit and discuss. It didn’t happen on any of the days during his stay. And all this time he was staying with me under the same roof.

He was very busy all those three days. He met his ex-colleagues and had a party. He met his college friends and had another party. He was busy watching TV late in the nights. He had some offering at regional temples, so spent some time there and at last called me while he was in the bus, going back to his home. This made me think for a while. Expecting that a friend will spend some time with you, who is in your room for three days that too coming after a long time…Is this expecting more? I couldn’t judge and I couldn’t even be the same as he.

By the way today is “Relationship Renewal Day” – a day to thank all our friends, beloved ones, relatives… every one with whom you have a relation. Thanks to all of you.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

My cute infant dream…

If our world is filled with only kids and no adults, then… How will it be?

Every one on this earth will be really good looking and beautiful. Boy or girl, rich or poor, black or white, native or foreign, nothing matters… even dressed or undressed doesn’t matter ;-) … what ever he or she is, every one is beautiful.

Every thing you do will be appreciated with a true heart. Your smile… cho... chweet. Your walking style… will be more attractive than cat walk. Your words… will be recorded and replayed very often as they are really sweeter than the voice of nightingale.

Every one will be friendly with others. No politics, no cheating, no revenge, nothing negative… every thing will be just innocence. You can play with any thing you find interesting bat, ball, computer, vcd player, cell phone, etc. You can even break or make them useless. Don’t worry; you will get a new one. All that you need to do is simply cry :-(.

There will be nothing to worry, to take care of, and to think of… every thing will be taken care of by some one… and that some one will be The Almighty. You cry and he will give you all you need. You feel hungry or you need some thing just cry and you will be gifted with what you want. Hope to see you in that dream land…