2020: Bane and Boon

2020: Boon or Bane

When the clock ticked 12 and the year changed, we could all hear the hustle, bustle and cheers of welcome. As the tradition goes, people bid adieu to the passing year and hoped the new year to bring fortunes. 2020 was welcomed with lots of hope and aspirations. People all over the globe celebrated this with utmost job, making resolutions, some of which were broken the very next day :P and some that would be changing someone’s life. Everyone was ready to tick off their goals, some sooner some later. But while everyone was busy welcoming the unknown, one part of the world was feeling the sorrow rise. China became the epicentre of a pandemic outbreak: The birth of COVID-19 virus. What had started a couple of weeks ago as one patient in Wuhan, turned out to be a much more disastrous scare, one which the rest of the world was unaware of yet. 

Categorised as one of the deadliest genomes of virus to ever exist, this was the beginning of a long wedged war against death. Starting from China and failing to be contained, this virus spread throughout the globe, sparing no race, no gender, no age. What was initially localised at Wuhan, now spread its wings across the entire globe. January saw the rise of cases, though at a steady rate, but unstopped. By February end, most of the countries had traces of this virus entering their territories. And by mid March , almost all countries on the globe had fallen victim to this deadly virus. What was more fearsome was the fact that the virus not only affected the person who was infected, but it passed on to others like a chain reaction. Every person could be viewed as a human bomb, ready to infect anybody who comes in contact. And no country, mark my words, no country could find a way to tackle this situation.

What followed the breakout is one of the rarest events to have ever happened in our lifetime. Millions of people were affected, thousands died. Every country closed the gates to travellers, to save its own and stop the spread. Travelling stopped, airlines, railways and roadways shut. Different governments imposed lockdowns to curb the infection. Businesses were hit, economies crippled.A state of chaos had engulfed the entire humanity. It seemed as if the world had come to a stand still. There was an evident fear on everyone’s face, as never seen before. People could not meet others, maintain physical distance. What seemed as basic necessity turned luxury: no going out freely, no contact to people, no travelling and scarcity of everything one could think of. Be it the poor or the rich, the powerful or the weak, everyone learnt fear. From the riches doing things they earlier thought to be below their level to the poor suffering of scarcity, nobody was spared. Mankind had learnt a lesson: Do not hurt nature, it will hurt you back.

It is often said that no matter how bad the circumstances are, no matter how down we fall ,some good shall always happen. In today’s time, where time is equivalent to money, the social priorities took a back seat, even if it is for a short time. For most of the people, this much needed break turned out to be a boon out of a bane. Humans have been given a chance to check their perspective, to look back at their life and introspect what they have missed, to reflect on their past actions. With the comforts of life being stripped, people have resorted to self service. Today, most of us are homebound, with our families, trying to rekindle the lost emotional connect. Over the past two months, we have all learnt back the value of relationship, the value of having someone around. Parent are connecting back with their children, brother and sisters amongst. It has been a good time reminiscing the olden days, something this busy life kept us away from. A sense of belongingness has reemerged, for some at least. The sounds of multiple laughters out of a house, discussions happening, some love and some quarrels has filled the entire world with a buzz. And somewhere sometime, we can see a sense of relief on a mother’s face, a sense of security on a child’s. For those who are staying alone, it is not all lost. It has established a sense of responsibility and enhanced the survival skills. While most of the professional obligations still stay, people have learnt to manage time to deal with professional life and take care of their own household. What was weekly or monthly communication between kins is now a daily catchup. 

On the other front, nature has been rapidly healing itself. The flora and fauna have flourished. Some of the almost extinct species of animals have been sighted. Migratory birds are seen flocking in large numbers. Pollution levels have gone down incredibly. Some of the most polluted cities now face no urgent threat, breathing conditions have improved by far. The rivers have cleaned up. Unimaginable improvements have been witnessed in the waters of Venice canals in Italy and Yamuna River in India, amongst many others. The atmosphere has cooled down, much to the relief of all. The large hole in the ozone layer has filled up. According to recent researches, Global warming threats have gone down magically, healing and improving Earth like it was more than a decade ago. 

We have all learnt a lot from this  experience. The most important thing we realised as a whole is that the biggest luxury of life is life itself. If not for the fear of life, we would still have continued with the the pace of life, ignoring a lot of more important things. The fear of death has brought the entire world to face this threat together. For once, we have stopped thinking about boundaries and embraced others with the same warmth. We have all learnt to respect and be grateful to the small things in life, respect the people around us. There is one thing we have all learnt for sure: TO CARE ABOUT OURSELVES AND OTHERS.

It happens only in India 🇮🇳

One fine afternoon, I along with a friend entered a sweet shop. She has great affinity towards white rasgullas and so, we decided to have a few.

After having the delicious rasgullas, as we were about to get out of the shop, she pulled my hand and turned me around.

Confused why she pulled me inside the shop when we were done with the eating and payment, I looked over at her face.

She- You shouldn’t leave the shop or house after having something sweet. Have some water and then let’s go.

Now the exact hindi statement the she said was:-

Meetha khaa k bahar nahi nikalna chahiye. Paani pi k chalte h ghar.

I looked at her puzzled, trying to find the logic behind this move. But then, it has never been in our capability to question ladies.

Me- Okay

As an obedient boy, I went ahead to the water cooler, had a glass of water and turned around.

Me- Is it okay now?

She- Haan! Let’s go now! :)

Looking at her face, it was obvious that she was pleased with my actions. Done with it, we came out of the shop.

Her

She wasn't always cold

Careless Of the burden

Of life and time.

She wasn't always numb

Down to the core

that she couldn't feel.

She wasn't always broken

Her heart was once 

A livid treat

She wasn't always quiet 

Time keeps of when all that was heard

was her sound and laugh.

She was once a treat of a company 

Resonating her vibrance and symphony 

Sporting a smile that couldn't go unnoticed

And the hearer-bearer to everyone's tale.

What changed her is not to question 

But to introspect and ask within

Are we the reason to her distraught 

To the loss of an inevitable smile

To the scars to her heart

Or are we the reason to her paleness

Because we let it go unnoticed 

Unabashed we stood in our own sway

Undeterred by what happens

Just to keep ourselves at arm's bay

And live a life that looks for one

Ourself but for none.

The Crippled Kid

The Crippled Kid

I ain't crippled of all sorts

But all you see are the odds

My flaws are my fine

that diminish all my shine

for I was bestowed upon with such;

To get it, I did not do much.

Nobody looks around the flaw

Neither skips a chance to put the claw.

For once if they looked inside

keeping all the assumptions aside,

the real me shall appear upfront

who carries the scar of the burnt.

But I've never seeked redemption

All I seek is mere exemption

From the opinion they hold on me

that demand them to have a glee,

They bind the bird within

That could fly aflight of my skin.

हुअा सवेरा

हुअा सवेरा अाँख खोल
मन में झाक दिमाग खोल
अब वक्त ह, न तू थम
जो तू थमा तो रह जाए गम।

उस लक्ष्मी की रक्षा कर
जिसने माँ बन तेरी हर मुश्किल झेली।
उस दुर्गा को इज़्जत बरत
जिसने खुशी से तेरी हर तीर खुद ले ली।।

औरत वो कहलाती है
और तेरे सारे गम वो पी जाती है।
उसका सब तू है
ऐसा आखिर क्यूँ है।
क्यू है तेरे वजूद की उसे परवाह
तेरे हर खुशी की वो है गवाह।

तो आज कुछ कर्ज़ उतार
उसे बरत इज़्जत और प्यार
तेरे केशिश में न हो कमी
न हो कभी उसकी आँखों में नमी
कहते तो लोग उसे तेरी पहचान हैं
पर वो तो तेरी भगवान है।।

Mom

                                                         Mom

Who is she? Is she an angel in disguise or goddess herself?
I'd say she is someone above them both, and better.

Right from very first breath of our existence, while we lay in her womb,she
pampers us and provides the best possible care.
When the entire family cheers for the birth of a child, she gulps the pain equal
to that of twenty bones shattering together to get us into this world, still
sporting a smile and happiness that remains unmatched. Our first step brings a
smile on her face. While we cried all night, she was the one who stayed awake,
until we slept at peace. She stays by our side when we are down, and more
surprisingly, even when she is. Every scar we attain is like a stab to her
heart, and every success is her own celebration.When we are busy partying, she
is busy worrying. No one knows how many meals she has skipped just to have our hunger quenched.
She loves us unconditionally, now matter how flawed we are.She is the wall that
keeps us safe,the pillar that keeps us intact. She is one person who stays by
our side, through the thick and thin of life. Even when the entire world tries
to put us down, she fights to let us rise.
Even with her greying, all she seeks and wishes is for us to stand tall, today
and always.
It is a pity how some people undervalue the most valuable possession and
disrespect her. She did not take us to be a burden when we kicked her womb while inside it, and so we ought not consider her a burden at a time when all she
seeks is a bit of love and space.

She is the first love to a son, and the closest friend to a daughter.
For me, the most cherished and valuable possession is my mom. I wish I happen to be her son in every possible life and afterlife, is there exists one.
I don't feel we need a day to wish our mother. For me, Everyday is Mother's
day. :)

-Mumma's boy. Today, Tomorrow, Always. :)

Why seek peace?

Why peace?

Why peace, when we can kill each other and stain our hands with the innocent blood of our counterpart?
Why peace, when we can have laments across both sides of the border, when a lady cries for her husband or son, and a kid cries for being orphaned?
Why peace, when we can target the innocent for the deeds of a handful of culprits?

I'd again ask, why peace, when a friendly India Pakistan game can be embroiled in the political infinite loop?

Why peace,  when hatred is all that is taught to us by the one's whose sole motive was to fracture the brotherhood and humanity?

I do not, in anyway intend to promote sarcasm, but would request each one of us, be it Indian or pakistani, to stay still for a moment and ponder on the topic, the reason why we've had recurring wars and consistent hatred towards each other.

Why have two nations, that share the same origin grown to have such hatred toward each other that war lurkes upon them each moment?
While the harbingers of  enemity are being worshipped, those of love and peace are often bombarded with inappropriate punishments and boycott.
Why is there a need to fight, when each time a soldier is killed, his mother weeps of bloody tears? Each time a bomb explodes, hundreds of lives are shattered. The feeling stays common on both the fronts, each one of us feel hurt when an innocent is plagued.
Why do we need to fight when we feel the same way, bleed the same blood?
If logic is questioned, nobody would have an appropriate answer to the reason of this enemity, but if aggression demanded, thousands would raise.

I stand aware of the delicacy of this topic and seek no motive to deduce someone's action as wrong, but to highlighten the reason why we've had unnecessary bloodsheds for the last seven decades, when all that was needed was an embrace of love.

Had the blot of partition not stereotyped our minds, we'd have had greater number of excellencies popping up. The map would have had a larger part as one nation. We'd have escaped umpteen deaths. And being a cri ket fanatic, I believe our cricket team would have been the best team, with the Indian bastmen and Pakistani bowlers coming togethor for one nation, their nation.
Revenue wouldn't have suffered, the country would have bloomed to be a powerhouse.

Now that being said, what is past is history, all we can do is to help build a better future for all to survive in a healthy manner. Make peace, not for them but for yourself.

Signing off!

Today's loss or tomorrow's gain?

To begin with, I'd like to share a short story that I heard in school.
There were once two frogs who happened to be best of friends. One day, both of them set out for food search. On their way, they saw a jar full of milk. Being both young and adventurous, the duo jumped into the jar, failing to judge its depth beforehand. Soon after quenching their thirst for milk the two thought of getting out. But then, they had just fallen trap to the lure of hunger. They paddled for an hour, made recurring attempts to jump out of the jar but neither of them could get enough of height. Frustrated of the trails, one frog chose to quit his efforts and let life fall apart while the second one still held tight to a ray of hope for survival. The frog who had let it loose soon drowned but his counterpart managed to squeeze out as much effort as he could to paddle. With hours paddling by, the milk thickened and turned into butter. As the floor got solidified,  the lone survivor escaped, leaving behind the reminiscence of his friend soiled somewhere deep in the butter.

Coming to my point, People fail. Yes, they do fail, but not because they flunk; it is rather the lack of a forthseeing vision.
When you are put under peer pressure and the necessity to perform, there are chances that you'd fall short of the target, or in other case, succeed. If you succeed it is fair square but not everybody has his luck accompanying him on the day. But hold on!
You might be thinking the reason why I am hell bent on retracing the lost battles, but I argue that it wasn't the battle that defeated us, but our will to not retry until god gave us the grace.
Had Steve Jobs not incured the first loss of his academic career by dropping out, god knows what would the word be like without his efforts in the field of technology. Not just Jobs, everyone who has achieved success, has a history of failures down the lane.

Talking about my personal experience,  I feel whatever happens,  happens for a good reason. There have been times I have failed, but all that has done is to enrich me of experience and cautions. And nobody knows what life has in store for me. Maybe a mistake I commit today produces a fruitful tomorrow or maybe the other way round. All I want to say is that one should never lament on one's loss, considering it to be the end of the road. There is always something in store.

To wrap up, I quote
" When life pelts stones at you, take it hands down and build a house out of it."

Thank you!
Take care. :)

Swap'em!

What if men and women swapped their life for a day ??

 

Google, wiki, bing!

Think of an answer to the topic. How weird and unsettling would it be if men and women were to swap their life just for a day. The thought itself seems confusing to imagine but given that we were forced to be in one such world, the idea seems to tickle the mind. :)

The normally testosterone rich man would undergo the pain similar to that of 20 shattering bones to bear the li'l one while the usually physically soft one would wait with a mixed feeling of tension and happiness to receive the newest member of the family.
Rather than a shrill voice welcoming the kid, he/she would face a heavy and directing voice. The infant would feel hard beard when it learns to feel rather than the usual soft skin of the mother. The newborn would feel the caress of a rough hand rather than a soft gentle hand stroking its back. The bearded parent would learn the kid's first step while the pretty one stays off place.

The guardianship of the family shall rest in the soft hands, thereby demonstrating the irony to what the world claims. There shall be no female feticide now that the social status of the oppressed sex shall rise above us men. For a change, the girl's family shall receive the groom, and the much unapplauded dowry that flows along. While the women works outside to fetch the family bread, the man shall be the perfect homemaker who balances the duties at home as well as at the workplace. He'd also be the emotional pillar to the family when life demands, and help his better half to handle situations, knowing the fact that she has someone at home to lend a hand if she falls.

While growing grey, the men shall be the one to impart affection and preaching while the women keeps a silent gaze on the offspring's, unless need be there.

For once, the patriarchal society shall taste the sweet or bitter taste of its own medicine, whichever it maybe.

With this blog, I solely aim to pay respect to the mother, sister, wife that stands affirm in pain or gain. The main reason to bring up this blog today is to remind the society that if men are the bricks of the house, the ladies are the pillars to it. It seems easy to measure the pain they undergo for us, but when put into the situation, even the best of man could fall short of the target. The reason I started off with an unorthodox and unconventional situation was to put men in the situation and then deal with the measurement of the work women do for us, still falling short to count it successfully.
On the other hand, Id request all the male readers' to pause for a second and look into my words, rather than being the conventional somnambulists we're turning into. And if I am able to direct even a single man to the right path and save a single lady from the wrong she is bestowed upon, I'd call myself successful.

Thank You !

'Life'

 

                      LIFE

What'd you say if someday someone turns up to you for the definition of this simple word?

It's rightly said that some of the simplest questions contain an answer that could envelope all the knowledge into it, yet fall short to justify its stand.

What'd you call life to be?
An eventual turmoil of situations that describe your future; or could it be the timeline of you growing up from a foetus to a person and finally growing old. Well, speaking frankly,  it'd differ from place to place, person to person.
For someone who's had his time with the hardships of survival and won over, it'd be hos tale of success, while for someone who's gone down it'd be the path of his diminishing stars.
On the other hand, for somebody who's just landed on this funny place called Earth, It'd be the forecoming surprises. For the vaguely living old people, It'd be the bus they've been waiting for all long.

No augury could stand advocating the real meaning of life. Life, as simple as it sounds is one unsolved helix.
One moment you seek to thank the almighty for all you have, while the very next moment that brings misery turns your opinion by 180°, thereby changing everything.

What I wanted to reflect from the long text I just mentioned is that LIFE is nothing but how we hold up to our situations. It is a simple assignment if we take a day at once, or a yet incomplete novel if we're still marking its pages.
Hindu mythology claims that we write our own destiny and as correct as it may seem, it stands more than firmly true.

And life is what we name the way of carrying ourself.

So, I'd say you to unfurl your wings and set to write your own destiny, cause Life is what you're going to make out of it, good or bad may it be.

To all the patient readers who managed to scoop out time from their busy schedule for my thoughts, A BIG THANK YOU and I wish someday, this crap if mine be of some good use to you.
Stay happy stay blessed. :)
Signing off for the day.

Where's humanity drifting away?

'Mom I have stomach ache today'

'Akram, don't be a bad boy. Get ready for the school fast or you'll be late.'

'But mom...'

'I'll ask abba to get you a chocolate when you return from school.'

 

... And the mother still bleeds of tears to have stopped her 7 year old son from skipping school for a day, now that his soul rests in peace, finally and forever.

Over the past couple of decades, there has been an exponential rise in the terrorist activities that shake the pillars of humanity. Not just Asian countries like India and Pakistan or the Arab countries, but the entire globe has been a victim of such dreadful and painstaking events. Be it the serial blasts or the 26/11 attacks in India or the 9/11 attacks on the WTC, each and every of this has lead to despair to the civilization and is uncompensatable.

The latest of the inhuman acts, the tragic and unfortunate Peshawar attacks demonstrate of how ruthless these terrorists are. Killing innocent school going children just to seek a revenge can never be a justified recoil against any government, not even in the worst of cases. If for a second we leave behind our selfish interests and try to think of the mother's lament and of her helplessness, we shall know the grief she has levied on herself. For an entire life, she is left behind to accuse herself of her child’s death, though her efforts were for the betterment of the kid in every possible way. Not just this one mother of the father, but everyone who lost somebody that day laments to undo what has fallen upon.

It seems a desultory of mankind that we have not been able to eliminate those who stand as blotch to humanity. The atrocities of terrorism snatch away what is called the feeling of life, leave alone happiness and celebration. If an anabasis is not called by the society against the terrorists, the future generations shall fall short of wood for pyre and grave for the dead. While all good shall end, evil shall emerge as the winner.

The reason I didn’t come up with the usual salutation is my sorrow of what has happened to the society and I shall end it with a prayer to god to restore peace and love in hearts of those who have been mislead.

May the deceased find peace and their families strength.

Amen!