Goha ran inside his home and said to his wife, " The King spoke to me today !!"
"What did he say? "
"Get our of my way, you idiot !"
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Goha and the shoes
Goha was a generous and kind hearted, popular man. He was also target of continous practical jokes from his friends.
Once Goha's friends decided that they'd go over to his house pretending that he had invited them for lunch. On seeing his friends, he welcomed them, but was embarrassed when they told him that they were here for the lunch invitation! Goha ran inside to inform his wife of this. The wife exclaimed, "But Goha! There is no food in the house and no money too !! How could you not have informed me before!!? How can we have guests in the house waiting for the meal which will never come!".
Goha then appraised his wife, of his supposed mistake. The wife, more world wise knew immediately Goha to be innocent and saw through the trick his friends were playing. She told Goha the same who came up with a trick of his own !
He went outside, and collected all the shoes which his friends had removed outside the home before entering, sold those for money, bought food with that. Goha's wife prepared succulent dishes and desserts.
The friends who had been waiting for a long time now, ate and ate and ate until none could eat any more. Only then when they decided to leave, no one could find their shoes !!
"Where are our shoes", they asked of Goha, who then replied cheerfully "In your stomachs, dear friends !!"
Once Goha's friends decided that they'd go over to his house pretending that he had invited them for lunch. On seeing his friends, he welcomed them, but was embarrassed when they told him that they were here for the lunch invitation! Goha ran inside to inform his wife of this. The wife exclaimed, "But Goha! There is no food in the house and no money too !! How could you not have informed me before!!? How can we have guests in the house waiting for the meal which will never come!".
Goha then appraised his wife, of his supposed mistake. The wife, more world wise knew immediately Goha to be innocent and saw through the trick his friends were playing. She told Goha the same who came up with a trick of his own !
He went outside, and collected all the shoes which his friends had removed outside the home before entering, sold those for money, bought food with that. Goha's wife prepared succulent dishes and desserts.
The friends who had been waiting for a long time now, ate and ate and ate until none could eat any more. Only then when they decided to leave, no one could find their shoes !!
"Where are our shoes", they asked of Goha, who then replied cheerfully "In your stomachs, dear friends !!"
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tell me a story!
Once upon a time a monkey used to live on a tree on a river bank. The crocodile who lived in the river became friends with the monkey. The crocodile would give rides to the monkey in water and the monkey would give the fruits of the tree to the crocodile. One time, the wife of the croc said to him, "I feel like eating the heart of that monkey. Hmm.. It must be so yummy ! I just have to have that. Dear husband, why dont you get it for me? I have seen you giving rides to that little thing" When the crocodile retorted saying that the monkey was his friend, the wife got very angry and threatened to throw him out of the house.
Somehow the wife's threat won the moral battle over friendship in the crocodile's brain, and he went to the river bank and invited his friend, the monkey to come for his daily ride around the river.
The monkey, who by this time had come to trust his friend, didnt question when crocodile, instead of taking him back to the tree, steered towards his own home in the middle of the river.
After reaching in the Crocodile's home, the wife told the monkey that she was about to eat his heart. The monkey felt betrayed and hurt and very afraid, but did not lose his cool, and he said, "Oh ! Why didnt you tell me earlier, dear friend?? If I'd have known that your wife wanted to eat my heart, I would've brought it with me!"
The wife exclaimed, " What!! You left it home !!? "
The monkey, having realised that it was working, gained confidence and said, " Of Course !! My heart is so precious. I never carry it with me!. But since dear croc is my friend, you can surely have it! " .
The croc carried monkey back to his tree, and the monkey having learnt his lesson of trust, never looked back.
I love stories !
Apart from providing entertainment, they are the best learning tools invented by humankind. Just like a seed travels in the flesh of the fruit, a message needs a story to wrap it in its delicate folds, giving every member of the audiance the freedom to digest the message according to their power, strength and capability. Stories just give a bigger message than anything else.
These days when parents are busy and grandparents are away, the more common media of stories are books and movies.
I've personally always preferred books over movies. Books, because they give you the liberty to imagine, and create a world of your own in the framework of what is provided already! Movies- only some of them really hit home. Those are the movies for which we tolerate the rest of them.
Stories are part of us from even before we are born. The mystical connection, between us and the different stories cannot be understood in a day or a month or sometimes in lifetimes. Stories of love, friendship, morals, humanity, patriotism, kindness, wisdom, smartness, loyalty, truthfulness, bravery, faith, belief make us what we are, who we are. Stories have always been our tradition- The jatak kathayein, panchatantra, ramayan, mahabharat... these are the stories that surpass all dimesions of imaginations.
These stories should not be lost. These stories should not be seen, but read, and even better- be told and listened to.. this is our culture. This is our tradition.
These are what have made us what we are and tell us how we reached here. And we are on the verge of losing it all. Losing ourselves.
Somehow the wife's threat won the moral battle over friendship in the crocodile's brain, and he went to the river bank and invited his friend, the monkey to come for his daily ride around the river.
The monkey, who by this time had come to trust his friend, didnt question when crocodile, instead of taking him back to the tree, steered towards his own home in the middle of the river.
After reaching in the Crocodile's home, the wife told the monkey that she was about to eat his heart. The monkey felt betrayed and hurt and very afraid, but did not lose his cool, and he said, "Oh ! Why didnt you tell me earlier, dear friend?? If I'd have known that your wife wanted to eat my heart, I would've brought it with me!"
The wife exclaimed, " What!! You left it home !!? "
The monkey, having realised that it was working, gained confidence and said, " Of Course !! My heart is so precious. I never carry it with me!. But since dear croc is my friend, you can surely have it! " .
The croc carried monkey back to his tree, and the monkey having learnt his lesson of trust, never looked back.
I love stories !
Apart from providing entertainment, they are the best learning tools invented by humankind. Just like a seed travels in the flesh of the fruit, a message needs a story to wrap it in its delicate folds, giving every member of the audiance the freedom to digest the message according to their power, strength and capability. Stories just give a bigger message than anything else.
These days when parents are busy and grandparents are away, the more common media of stories are books and movies.
I've personally always preferred books over movies. Books, because they give you the liberty to imagine, and create a world of your own in the framework of what is provided already! Movies- only some of them really hit home. Those are the movies for which we tolerate the rest of them.
Stories are part of us from even before we are born. The mystical connection, between us and the different stories cannot be understood in a day or a month or sometimes in lifetimes. Stories of love, friendship, morals, humanity, patriotism, kindness, wisdom, smartness, loyalty, truthfulness, bravery, faith, belief make us what we are, who we are. Stories have always been our tradition- The jatak kathayein, panchatantra, ramayan, mahabharat... these are the stories that surpass all dimesions of imaginations.
These stories should not be lost. These stories should not be seen, but read, and even better- be told and listened to.. this is our culture. This is our tradition.
These are what have made us what we are and tell us how we reached here. And we are on the verge of losing it all. Losing ourselves.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
To be or not to be.
Once upon a time there was, Abul, who was a servant in household of a wealthy merchant in Tanger in Morocco. One day, Abul came back from his daily visits to the suk, utterly petrified, pale faced and shivering with fear. Seeing this disturbed state of his usualy jovial attendant, the master enquired the cause of his dispair.
Abul replied " Master, I saw her!!.. I saw death herself !! Her face was white and she looked at me with the widest eyes. She has come for me, master!! I want to disappear from here. I want to run away form here!! "
The kind merchant gave Abul two of his fastest horses and money and bid him farewell.
Abul rode as fast as only a man escaping death can ride for two whole days and only then did he reach the coastal town of Safi. There, as he entered the stable to tie his tired horses, he saw her standing there, smiling, waiting for him. Abul asked, " How did you find me here!! " and she answered, " Dear friend, I was surprised to see you in two days ago in Tanjer! I feared you will be late for our appointment for today, right here. Now!"
One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.
Abul replied " Master, I saw her!!.. I saw death herself !! Her face was white and she looked at me with the widest eyes. She has come for me, master!! I want to disappear from here. I want to run away form here!! "
The kind merchant gave Abul two of his fastest horses and money and bid him farewell.
Abul rode as fast as only a man escaping death can ride for two whole days and only then did he reach the coastal town of Safi. There, as he entered the stable to tie his tired horses, he saw her standing there, smiling, waiting for him. Abul asked, " How did you find me here!! " and she answered, " Dear friend, I was surprised to see you in two days ago in Tanjer! I feared you will be late for our appointment for today, right here. Now!"
One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
A stitch in time saves nine.
And a tooth filling in time will save nine thousand.
Well ! This new realization hit me today. On my visit to the dentist.
I am not the only person who procrastinates the visit to the dentist until arrival of the evil 'pain de gum'. Well..I'm not proud of it, but just as predictable as I am, I did not go the first time I experienced something funny in my upper jaw, and kept smiling . well, smiling is good, but not whilst ignoring what should be given priority numero uno.
I reached the dentist's office 5 minutes late, as ususal, but the receptionist was kind and instead of lecturing me for tardiness asked me to sit on the waiting couch. After waiting for 5 minutes in an okayish waiting room, I was lead to this blue walled room oooozing with smell of antiseptics.
Oh man !!.. This is it. I cringed as I sat on that chair surrounded by long metal tubes and pipes looking viciously like torture devices in some sinister hollywood movie. My overimaginative hyperactive super scared brain started to look out for blood stains and what not on the instruments. I had to conciously remind myself of why I am here.. and even if I had to sacrifice a few drops of blood to get rid of the PAIN, I was ready.
Few moments of tensed muscles and eyes super tightshut, and an amused smile from the doctor later, he got busy working on my teeth, and I got busy thinking, and relaxing for the first time in what seemed like a long time.
And I thought, why did I get so late in coming here? Obviously, when the brain is re-assured practically that there wont be any pain coming this way, it gets smart and starts thinking. And so did mine.
The root-canal question of the day is 'Why do we delay things that actually matter !?' What ARE the things that actually matter?
Well, listening to comments from the doc, dental health is not the most important thing in the life of IT proffessionals. But, generalising this a little more, are we wanting things in the correct order? Lets not use we.. I assume most people are brighter than me. But still, How many people even visit a doctor or a dentist until something itchy, bloating, feverish or painful starts to happen?
But then again, why should we go when we are perfectly fine!
How many times do you check the balance of your bank accounts in a month? Do you check it only if you are bankrupt and your debit/credit card wont swipe money out anymore? I think you get the point.
Well, today is the day, when even though ALL of those damage promising metal menace causing things have disrupted the tranquility of my mouth, but I DO feel better. Painless.
So, I think, no matter how busy our jobs, relationships, lives in general make us, we should once in a while stop and check the well being of those who actually support in all of our ups and down. Our real best friends. Our own Body and Mind.
With all that we put them through, I think they deserve it. :P
(Just my message to anywone who got to the bottom of this blog !)
Well ! This new realization hit me today. On my visit to the dentist.
I am not the only person who procrastinates the visit to the dentist until arrival of the evil 'pain de gum'. Well..I'm not proud of it, but just as predictable as I am, I did not go the first time I experienced something funny in my upper jaw, and kept smiling . well, smiling is good, but not whilst ignoring what should be given priority numero uno.
I reached the dentist's office 5 minutes late, as ususal, but the receptionist was kind and instead of lecturing me for tardiness asked me to sit on the waiting couch. After waiting for 5 minutes in an okayish waiting room, I was lead to this blue walled room oooozing with smell of antiseptics.
Oh man !!.. This is it. I cringed as I sat on that chair surrounded by long metal tubes and pipes looking viciously like torture devices in some sinister hollywood movie. My overimaginative hyperactive super scared brain started to look out for blood stains and what not on the instruments. I had to conciously remind myself of why I am here.. and even if I had to sacrifice a few drops of blood to get rid of the PAIN, I was ready.
Few moments of tensed muscles and eyes super tightshut, and an amused smile from the doctor later, he got busy working on my teeth, and I got busy thinking, and relaxing for the first time in what seemed like a long time.
And I thought, why did I get so late in coming here? Obviously, when the brain is re-assured practically that there wont be any pain coming this way, it gets smart and starts thinking. And so did mine.
The root-canal question of the day is 'Why do we delay things that actually matter !?' What ARE the things that actually matter?
Well, listening to comments from the doc, dental health is not the most important thing in the life of IT proffessionals. But, generalising this a little more, are we wanting things in the correct order? Lets not use we.. I assume most people are brighter than me. But still, How many people even visit a doctor or a dentist until something itchy, bloating, feverish or painful starts to happen?
But then again, why should we go when we are perfectly fine!
How many times do you check the balance of your bank accounts in a month? Do you check it only if you are bankrupt and your debit/credit card wont swipe money out anymore? I think you get the point.
Well, today is the day, when even though ALL of those damage promising metal menace causing things have disrupted the tranquility of my mouth, but I DO feel better. Painless.
So, I think, no matter how busy our jobs, relationships, lives in general make us, we should once in a while stop and check the well being of those who actually support in all of our ups and down. Our real best friends. Our own Body and Mind.
With all that we put them through, I think they deserve it. :P
(Just my message to anywone who got to the bottom of this blog !)
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Love stands.. alone
Marriages are pre-ordained..
Who are you to judge the worth of the groom?
Rejecting the soothsayer's words
your daughter sits gazing
at the blue lillies of the spring
with a heavy heart and tearful eyes.
Her choice is not wrong.
- Kurunji ( her friend to her mother)
Who are you to judge the worth of the groom?
Rejecting the soothsayer's words
your daughter sits gazing
at the blue lillies of the spring
with a heavy heart and tearful eyes.
Her choice is not wrong.
- Kurunji ( her friend to her mother)
Monday, January 4, 2010
Settled? Hmm?
<'Click here', and listen to it while reading this... that's how it was written. I hope you like it :) >
set⋅tle
1 /ˈsɛtl/ Spelled Pronunciation [set-l] IPA verb : settle down,
a. to become established in some routine, esp. upon marrying, after a period of independence or indecision.
Wow ! Congratulations!!!
These words ring out of my mouth quite not seldom these days as 3 out of every 5 phone calls I get in a day or similar random figure about emails, is to inform me/invite me to a wedding. I extend my best wishes with my cheery most voice, and why not! I'm happy for them. But every time the phone rings.. I'm like- Oh No! Not another wedding invitation!.. Not because that is some obligatory burden on me, per se.. but because, its almost always followed by an inevitable question- 'So, when are you getting settled?' Okay - pause - breathe in - breathe out- basically to prevent myself from retorting... Hey! I will when I will! How do I know! ... I always have to explain myself.
I went on to discuss this with my mother, and she too, world wise, tried to explain, 'Beta, this is the time to settle, proper age'. Maybe ... Maybe not..
Maybe because yea yeah... I know.. the reasons.. the biological clock .. because in India, an unmarried girl above 28 is stale goods..because it goes in synch with the plans your family has made etc etc..
Maybe not because... okay.. here, what I'm saying is my own opinon or maybe words really get to me. I hate the word 'settle' in this setting. I know it is meant in the other good way like house and family, but to me it sounds like - to settle.. same as to settle for something.. less.
Why should I 'settle' with someone I hardly know when I can gloriously fall in love with someone with whom I feel above and beyond petty worldy pleasure? Why cant I want to spent my entire concious and subconcious moment with the person, rather than have to 'settle' because I have to.
The catch is that I dont know if something like that really exists.. or is it the biggest scam thoroughly hyped by movies and songs and books duly taking advantage of our gullible souls.
What needs to be done to achieve that kind of higher being or is it all in our minds?
We all are hard wired and programmed to perfection that we believe that this is the right age to fall in love, so we do... this is the right age to marry... so we do. Those who dont have even that are incessantly complaining about the lack of a girlfriend/boyfriend in their life. But do we do all that out of an insane urge to be together with that person, or because we know that this is what they talk about, so this is what it must be?
Maybe all of them have got, what I have not.. maybe they were never searching for what I'm looking for.. or maybe they have convinced themselves that this is what and when they should settle with and for. I dont know.. It may also be that they all share a story too special to be told, although the cynical side of me barfs at the last one :)
Or maybe, it is expected out of you, as a result of your education and upbringing, that by this age you be wise enough to have found all the answers to your questions by now, hence forming your own philosophy and be ready to start another world of your own.
I don't know precisely at what point of time things changed, and instead of path makers we just became the path followers. I don't even know if I'm correct in contemplating all this.
I just know.. that I'm too unsettled to settle now.. or maybe.. I wouldn't settle for anything ..less.
A time for us..
set⋅tle
1 /ˈsɛtl/ Spelled Pronunciation [set-l] IPA verb : settle down,
a. to become established in some routine, esp. upon marrying, after a period of independence or indecision.
Wow ! Congratulations!!!These words ring out of my mouth quite not seldom these days as 3 out of every 5 phone calls I get in a day or similar random figure about emails, is to inform me/invite me to a wedding. I extend my best wishes with my cheery most voice, and why not! I'm happy for them. But every time the phone rings.. I'm like- Oh No! Not another wedding invitation!.. Not because that is some obligatory burden on me, per se.. but because, its almost always followed by an inevitable question- 'So, when are you getting settled?' Okay - pause - breathe in - breathe out- basically to prevent myself from retorting... Hey! I will when I will! How do I know! ... I always have to explain myself.
I went on to discuss this with my mother, and she too, world wise, tried to explain, 'Beta, this is the time to settle, proper age'. Maybe ... Maybe not..
Maybe because yea yeah... I know.. the reasons.. the biological clock .. because in India, an unmarried girl above 28 is stale goods..because it goes in synch with the plans your family has made etc etc..
Maybe not because... okay.. here, what I'm saying is my own opinon or maybe words really get to me. I hate the word 'settle' in this setting. I know it is meant in the other good way like house and family, but to me it sounds like - to settle.. same as to settle for something.. less.
Why should I 'settle' with someone I hardly know when I can gloriously fall in love with someone with whom I feel above and beyond petty worldy pleasure? Why cant I want to spent my entire concious and subconcious moment with the person, rather than have to 'settle' because I have to.
The catch is that I dont know if something like that really exists.. or is it the biggest scam thoroughly hyped by movies and songs and books duly taking advantage of our gullible souls.
What needs to be done to achieve that kind of higher being or is it all in our minds?
We all are hard wired and programmed to perfection that we believe that this is the right age to fall in love, so we do... this is the right age to marry... so we do. Those who dont have even that are incessantly complaining about the lack of a girlfriend/boyfriend in their life. But do we do all that out of an insane urge to be together with that person, or because we know that this is what they talk about, so this is what it must be?
Maybe all of them have got, what I have not.. maybe they were never searching for what I'm looking for.. or maybe they have convinced themselves that this is what and when they should settle with and for. I dont know.. It may also be that they all share a story too special to be told, although the cynical side of me barfs at the last one :)
Or maybe, it is expected out of you, as a result of your education and upbringing, that by this age you be wise enough to have found all the answers to your questions by now, hence forming your own philosophy and be ready to start another world of your own.
I don't know precisely at what point of time things changed, and instead of path makers we just became the path followers. I don't even know if I'm correct in contemplating all this.
I just know.. that I'm too unsettled to settle now.. or maybe.. I wouldn't settle for anything ..less.
A time for us..
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)