Don't worry, just breathe!

We humans, just worry too much. Don't we? We worry when our work is not recognized. We worry when our partner doesn't give us adequate attention. We worry when our friends are busy in their life, unable to talk to us everyday like school/college days. Being social freaks, we also worry when our updates in Facebook are not liked by many. Deplorable but true! Humans are the easiest prey to the predator called "ANXIETY".

Yesterday when I was strolling in my terrace, my eyes rested on a bird who was singing merrily in a carefree manner. The red roses also grabbed my attention that have adorned my little garden. I smiled and thought if only we humans can live in such a beautiful way. Like the bird and the rose, we are also a part of Nature born to celebrate life and make the universe beautiful by our presence. Everyone is transient in this universe; everyone of us have come here for a limited time. Then for the limited time that we are on this universe, why worry so much?

The thing with humans is that we think that we are superior. Yes, superior to other forms of life on this universe. We believe in our subconscious mind that we are immortal. We never contemplate on the fact that we are here for a limited amount of time and will perish once that time gets over. Then what is the use of all these petty worries with which we build a house of anxiety? 

Our presence in this universe is successful only when we manage to bring a positive difference to this universe, no matter how small it is. A rose charms everyone without ever thinking that it will perish the very next day. A bird sings to its merriment without worrying about food or weather. Humans should learn from other creations of this universe to make a difference to the world. Can't we also be like that rose to someone? Can't we be that carefree bird who sings without any greed of admiration?

Life is a gift of the Creator and by worrying about the future endlessly, we convert that divine gift into a burden. Most of the pain that we humans have to bear are really self-inflicted. The reason for it is wandering time and again in the dark lanes of anxiety.

Is it really needed?

Can't we just value every breath of ours?

Can't we celebrate life always?

After all, we all will perish one day. Let's make this universe beautiful by our presence now.

Dad~~~My Role Model

Scars

Every time

You turn your face away from me,

A thousand needles

Prick my heart without any mercy;

I shield my agony

With a smile of resilience

Conceal my eyes 

With dark colored glasses;

I let my pen

Scribble my scars on the paper,

My tears remain transient

My bruises turn immortal.

Every time

You insist to see my notebook,

A humble plea

Escape my lips;

I have secluded my scars

Amidst the riddles and metaphors,

My tears have desiccated

In the breast of those words;

I hesitate, you insist

The paper gets mangled,

I laugh as you glare

My scars celebrate my triumph.

My Role Model

I am writing about #MyRoleModel as a part of theactivity by Gillette India in association with BlogAdda.com.

A role model is someone who inspires you to walk in the right path of life to attain success.He is the person who enriches you with valuable lessons of life and fills you up with an invincible zest to be an achiever. He is the person who guides you through out the ups and downs of your life, wipes your tears when you are exhausted and helps you inculcate more courage with every failure.

My role model is undoubtedly my father for several reasons. I was twelve when my mother passed away. The day she passed away, I saw Dad crying like a broken sky. His tears knew no end and that was the first and the last time when I saw him so vulnerable. We shifted to a different place after that and my father donned the role of both the parents in my life with deftness. On one hand he had his hectic work schedule of being a business contractor and on the other hand he used to take care of me like Mom. From packing my tiffin to dropping me in school and bringing me back, he did everything which Mom used to do earlier. He cooked delicious dishes for me, talked to me like a friend and did everything to ebb down Mom’s absence.

I was eighteen years old when I was unsure about the direction of my life. Dad narrated me his struggle and told me to chase my dreams, believe my instincts and never give up. I learnt from him several virtues like resilience, patience and perseverance. When Mom passed away, it was Dad’s patience with which he brought me up so well. It was really difficult for him to be both Mom and Dad to a teenager child. I was moody and suffered from psychological problems but Dad never chided me. He handled me with utmost patience, concealing the pain of his wife’s demise. There was no one who pacified Dad at that moment but he never let his anguish affect me. He couldn't sleep well for four years after Mom's death but he made sure that I had a hearty sleep every single night.

I also learned how to love unconditionally from Dad. My Dad loved Mom very much and in fact he loves Mom with the same intensity even today. Not only did he took care of me after Mom’s death, he also took care of my maternal grandmother who was a patient of breast cancer then. He helped her recover from that malevolent illness and now granny, Dad and I stay together as a sweet happy family. Today when I am matured enough to empathize with Dad by being Dad’s best friend, I thank God for giving me such a wonderful father in this life. We keep talking about Mom, how Mom would have reacted in this place if she was there, what Mom used to believe, what Mom wanted and so on. I can see the twinkle on his eyes every time we talk about Mom. Dad has kept Mom alive in his heart forever. 

My Dad is the best human being I have ever come across. Whatever I am today, I am because of his values and upbringing. For being the world’s best father, for loving my Mom unconditionally and for inculcating several principles and values in me, my Dad is my hero. I really wish I can be more patient, calm and tolerant towards everything in the days to come. I really aspire to be a self-made successful person with wisdom and virtues as my limbs, just like my Dad.

Broken Nest...a novella that pierced through my heart!

There are certain books which take us to a different world through a few pages. We are transcended to a place where we can see the incidents in the books happening in front of us. The words used in such books pierce us and enter deep down to our soul.

 I completed reading the acclaimed novella, "Broken Nest" by Rabindranath Tagore this morning and I am tongue tied. A tornado of emotions seem to have enveloped me tight. The tender and delicate manner in which Tagore had painted the innermost feelings of a woman in this novella is break taking. The novel begins with Charu abandoned by her busy husband, Bhupati. Bhupati's cousin, Amal teaches her in his leisure and both of them share a great camaraderie. Their friendship intensifies when Charu discovers that Amal has a flair for writing. With Charu's encouragement, Amal becomes a famous writer and Amal's writings in turn inspire Charu to pen down her thoughts. Both of them enjoys literature. The difference is that Amal wants to write for the entire world and Charu wants to write for only Amal. The beautiful bond breaks when Amal moves to England after his marriage, leaving Charu secluded. The sensitive side of a woman is beautifully portrayed in the novella. The longing and the depth of a woman's love is painted magically with the hue of Tagore's words. The philosophical metaphors used in suitable places are extremely thought-provoking. The sudden change in Amal's behaviour, the monologues of Charu and the feelings of Bhupati when he discovers that his wife desires another man is flawlessly written. 

The helplessness of Charu almost moved me to tears. "Amal is in good health, yet he does not write. Charu wants to ask Amal this question and receive and answer, face to face, but there is an ocean in between-and no way to cross it. Cruel separation, helpless separation, beyond all questions, beyond all redress, separation." The agony which a person feels when she is abandoned suddenly without any explanation is marvellously expressed in the novella. I could feel every word and every sentence used in this book from the kernel of my heart.
Those who haven't read this novella has surely missed out a precious gem in the mine of literature. I feel blessed to have read this book.

Never let faith seclude your heart!

Whenever we face an adversity or a danger, we become hysterical and panic in trepidation. Our faith starts alleviating abruptly. We often forget that faith is our most precious armour, without which we are weak and debilitated.

I heard a story recently about faith which touched my heart. I thought to share with you all:

A man and his wife were crossing a river in a boat. Suddenly a fierce storm appeared out of nowhere. The waves of the river became gigantic and the boat started twirling dangerously. The wife started crying as the boat tossed and the waves hit her recklessly. She looked at her husband to find him in an absolute calm demeanour rowing the boat. After about thirty minutes, the intensity of the storm depreciated. 

The wife gave out a sigh of relief and asked her husband, "Are you a lunatic? We could have died any moment. How were you so calm?"

The husband took out his knife and pointed it towards his wife. He said, "Don't speak a word, else I will kill you."

The wife laughed in beguilement. She said, " Stop joking!"

The husband interrogated, "What makes you think that I am joking? What if I kill you?"

The wife spoke softly," Impossible! You can never kill me. I have that faith in you."

The husband smiled and replied, " The same way you have faith in me, I too have invincible faith in my Almighty. I knew that He will not kill us but rather He would pull us out of this danger. So, I was calm just like you, when I showed you the knife."

The wife understood and smiled in agreement.

It is easy to have faith in good times but having faith during an adversity is what redefines the intensity of your faith. The person who has faith is the most powerful of all. Also do remember that having faith in God is also about having faith in his timings. Never let faith seclude your heart. It is your strongest asset.

Cheers!

A book that bewitched me completely!!!

Blurb of the book: An intensely romantic story that unfolds in the beautiful hill station of Shillong in north-eastern India, The Last Poem (Shesher Kavita) is considered by many to be Rabindranath Tagore's finest prose work. Amit Ray travels to Shillong to escape from the drudgery of his middle-class existence, and finds himself ensnared instead in a web of passion and poetry with the elegant and enigmatic Lavanya. As the protagonists grow closer to each other in this unconventional love story, they also discover themselves, their strengths, ambitions and follies.

My Take on it:

An amazing and exceptional book is the one that you feel to re read once again from the 1st page after you have completed it. It is a very rare feeling which occurs to any reader after reading a book and Tagore's "The Last Poem" is one such gem. It is a saga, an epic love story. Tagore has brilliantly weaved poetry with prose and made every page of the book beautiful. The novel is deep, witty and extremely romantic. It is the type of book that will linger in the minds of the readers for long. 

The character of Amit is wonderfully etched out as we turn the pages of the book. His character of an eccentric, moody, poetic romantic soul metamorphoses to a matured, responsible, calm minded person. 

Similarly, the character of Lavanya which begins with a reserved, studious, strong hearted girl soon changes into a fragile, soft hearted romantic woman who craves for love. 

Amit and Lavanya complimented each other beautifully in the book as their camaraderie and moments helped each other to overcome the weaknesses they had.The two souls met each other in Shillong, fell in love, helped each other rediscover their inner self and then parted with a smile to settle down with different individuals. 

When Yati asked Amit whom he actually loves, I loved the metaphor used by Amit:"What binds me to Ketaki is love, but this love is like water in a vessel.I'll draw it and use it everyday. My love for Lavanya is like a lake, which can't be brought home in a vessel. My mind will swim in it."

The last poem is definitely the most poignant poem out of all the verses used in the book. It was thought provoking, touching and heart wrenching at the same time. The lines that touched me the most are:

"Grieve not on my account,
Wide is the world with many tasks.
My cup is not discarded
Shall fill again-
Let this sustain me forever.
I may yet be blessed
If there be one eager heart
Waiting for my footsteps.
I long to give myself to him
Who can see the compassion of love
The actual me, a blend of good and ill
Who can light up the dark night
With flowers plucked in moonlight."

The translator Dilip Basu has done a great work and the illustrations of Dinkar Kowshik added beauty to the book. I know I will surely read this book time and again as this is surely not a one time read. Lastly, I take a bow to convey my respect to Rabindranath Tagore, the genius.

I am absolutely bewitched by this book and I am still under it's spell. "The Last Poem" has definitely become one of my favorite books.

A must read for all literature lovers.

Euneirophrenia

There you were

Enveloped in fog,

Ogling at me

With your winsome smile.

I ran amidst the woods

My breaths laced with angst,

Desperation dipped in soft pleasure

To enhance our proximity.

With slightly trembling fingers

I brushed your cheek,

My eyes gently closed 

As I touched my dream.

My smile broadened

With your delicate whisper,

Your eyes hinted

Shades of woe and ecstasy.

Our pulsating heartbeats,

Inter weaved into one

The lilac sky

Embellished the dark silence.

With silent amazement

We intensified our embrace,

Till the second

I recognized my state of euneirophrenia.

What makes us like a person?

You meet an absolute stranger, interact with him/her and then come to a perception. Either you like that person or dislike him. 
I have been thinking of late what makes us like or dislike a person based on only a few interactions.
Looks, personality, talking style may catch our fancy soon but in the long run, these attributes will fade. You can't like a person throughout based on his/her looks or personality. In the similar fashion, you can't dislike a person forever owing to his/her shabby looks and lame personality.
There is something deep in human psychology to like or dislike a person you meet.
We tend to develop a liking for every such person who makes us feel good about our own self. In the presence of that person, you feel happy and proud about yourself. That person's words may encourage you or inspire you in ways unknown. You feel secured and you value yourself better. Every person who can manage to make us feel good about ourselves by even a simple tweet, message or post, we like that person.
On the contrary, we also have several people around us who makes us feel bad about ourselves. Being with them or seeing their updates, you wallow in self-pity, doubt and uneasiness. That person's words for you may feel sarcastic or their attitude may be indifferent towards your joy or achievements. They may try to pull you down often by providing you with criticism. Every person who makes us feel bad about ourselves earns a certain amount of disliking instantly.

The same goes for us too. If you notice there is someone who dislikes you, the reason may be any of the above. So, let us resolve to try our best to make everyone feel good about themselves to earn their liking for us. 
Cheers!

Rain...my beloved!!!

Rain...my beloved!!!
You put my heart beats into harmony
Make my soul sway in ecstasy;
I breathe a new life with your arrival,
The symphony of your music sets me in motion.
You heal my implacable scars
Make me one with Nature,
A love so pure and unconditional!

Rain...my beloved!!!
I don't own you, yet you are mine
I know we have to bid adieu after some time;
I am pure and reborn with your every touch,
The plants and me are now nothing but one.
The earth is a utopia this moment
And utopians revelling in the petrichor,
A love so peaceful and euphoric!