NO LIFE WITHOUT STRIFE!!!

I walked down the building steps just to be confronted by a heating argument between two women. “How dare you throw that dirty water from your floor? Couldn’t you have warned us before doing that?” Said the huge lady with a red-angry face. “What do you mean? I did come to tell about it but what could I do if you never responded to the door-bell of yours?” answered the other lady with equal aggression in her eyes. “You think you are very smart, huh?”, “Yes, I am! What will you do?, “ Mind your bloody tongue, you @$#%”, “Shut up you *^%$#@^"...the virtual war went on. I slid silently from there, not knowing whether to laugh aloud or sigh at this childish behavior.
As I was crossing the road I noticed that a crowd had gathered nearby. Falling prey to my overflowing curiosity, I peeped in to watch the scenario. Two men were having a nice wrestling match, or maybe a ‘who-breaks-who’s-teeth-first’ competition! Nearby were two dented cars and broken glass pieces accompanied by the heavy spells of slang language in the back-groun d. It was becoming clear, what exactly might have happened. Even when I wanted to stay there and watch the interesting, sensational ‘breaking’ news, I had to carry on as I knew that if I wouldn’t, I would have to take a shower under the insults in my college!
During the History lecture, our professor taught us about the Mughal era. He went on to the socio-religious life during that period. “There were major conflicts between the Hindus and the Muslims due to their contrast way of living and unique culture…” I wondered, how foolish people could be to fight in the name of God!? You have so many other weird reasons and topics to quarrel on! At least leave Him alone!
The personified strife seemed to follow me where ever I went. While returning back home, I was again sand-witched between a group of ‘desperate to fight’ women in the train. Poor me!
I reached home and with a hope to get away from this ever-arguing world I switched on the TV. And lo! Mr. Argument had even entered the idiot-box! The conflict in between the saas and bahu, given encouragement by the spices added by the sister-in-law! Enough is enough! I need a break!
I thought about all this for a while and landed to a conclusion that, strife enters those places where he notices lack of adjustment. Today people want to obtain things easily. They have forgotten what patience is and the word adjustment does not exist in their dictionary. To add to this, entire people do not want to accept their mistakes! They do not realize that by doing this, they are doing nothing but inflating their dear egos!
I think taking life coolly, is the only way we can kick Mr. Strife out of our lives! What say people?

Mother, I salute thou!

“He is no more…” says the eighty-seven year old independent lady as she speaks on the telephone. The body of her son lies motionless in front of her eyes, the same eyes that had taken the first glimpse of her son and had seen him grow from a child to an adolescent and from an adolescent to a confident young man. She saw his success, his journey. These eyes had shed tears of joy at his birth and today they are filled with the sorrow of his departure. I wonder how difficult it might be for a mother to see her child blossoming and then even withering away in front of her, and she can do nothing but be helpless.
I still remember the days when I had felt like a mother to a little kitten in our building compound. My bond with it was so deep that I could understand its feelings. I was totally shattered when the little one had been thrown into the mouth of death by a group of wild crows. If this is the case between me and an animal, what might be the case between a mother and her child? If there would be something beyond shattering it would be the mother’s state, on seeing her child depart to the abode of death…
As I think about this issue, my mind takes me to the memory of the ill fated night. I had switched on the television to have a look at the news when my eyes fell on the picture of a lady crying uncontrollably in front of her martyr son’s body. Her son had given his life in the service of his dear mother land…her true, dutiful son.
This brave son had at least given his mother the opportunity to shed tears of pride, but what about those sons who make their mothers weep blood? This is one of the reasons why I most dislike the people who smoke, drink, gamble and indulge in all such type of vices. Does a mother give birth to a child and tolerate all the pain just to see him burning in the fire of his vices? Is this the reward we have to give her for keeping us for nine months in her womb and later selflessly nurturing us? It is impossible for us to repay her but we also do not have any right to hurt her.
A mother’s love is priceless, and her world revolves around her child. Let us not do anything which will cause pain to her delicate heart. After reading this article of mine, I would like you to instantly go to your mother, hug her tight, and say “I love you.” She might give you back a tight hug and whisper back “I, too, love you” or might just say, “What’s happened to you suddenly?” But believe me; you will never be able to measure the immense amount of joy she received just because of this little act of yours… :)

THE EXHIBITED TRUTH

On a bright Sunday morning, my father took me to an ethnic exhibition at Bandra. Being well-acquainted with my taste, he was sure that I would enjoy it. We reached there and I was pleased to take a view of the brilliantly organized exhibitions set there and experienced the power of our Indian culture. There were stalls displaying beautiful bronze deities, intricately carved wooden statues, authentic dress materials of a particular state, and wonderfully designed Sarees and ornaments. But one of these stalls pulled me towards it and the centre of attraction was none other than the idol of Lord Jagannath Maharaj with His associates. I love collecting idols related to Shri Krishna and always ask my parents to buy them for me. This time, too, it was the same case. I dragged my father towards the stall where the tiny idols were placed well decorated with bright paint and shinny dresses. As we reached there, a stout man with paan-stained teeth welcomed us. I asked him to show me those small idols. Before even giving me those idols the man started blabbering about his store, “We sell all authentic Orissi goods. You are lucky, girl, you have met Jagannath Maharaj. Take Him, take Him!” His tone sounded so fake and business like. I had a look at the beautiful idol, when he again started,” It’s made of pure neem wood…it won’t decay, buy it!” I looked at my father. My father doesn’t like people who chatter so much in the first go itself. I could see the awkward look on his face but for my sake he asked the shopkeeper, “Beautiful idols! What might be their cost?” The little man, trying to sound religious, opened his big mouth again, “I won’t tell you its cost till you actually decide to buy it. “ He said this by pointing his red eyes into my father’s eyes. I could see the discomfort overflowing from my father’s body. I pulled him away from the stall and did not even ask him to get the idols. We never went back to the store. This time I wasn’t the usual me throwing tantrums. Nor did I find myself upset because I hadn’t got my way. Surely the idols were pretty, but prettier was the lesson that they had taught me. I always searched for God in idols and always thought that, the more idols you buy, the more God will stay with you. That day, I realized that God was always within us. Jagannath Maharaj is always within me. Devotees may say that I missed an opportunity to welcome the Master of the universe in my house but, I say that we always- everyday, every minute, every moment have the opportunity to realize God and welcome Him in our lives. It’s just for us to realize.
















Jagannath Maharaj (Extreme right), along with His
brother, Balarama ji (extreme left) and sister,
Subhadra Devi (centre).