Words don't come easy to me these days. Can't say why? But i always try to draw inspiration from those to whom they do. It's a pleasure reading other's point of view, especially when it happens to reflect your own. There are times when your mind is a blank, somewhat like looking out of the window of a fast-moving train. You like the scenery but at the same time you feel that the things outside are moving too fast for you and you have no control over what's happening. It is surreal. One wishes to have a better understanding and insight into the situation but has no inkling as to how to go about it. Anyway, all in good time. ''Lord for my sake, teach me to take.......one day at a time.''

ATITHI, TUM KAB JAOGE??????????

I took the kids to see this new flick yesterday as it is good, clean family entertainment. On coming back from the movie some thoughts sprung up involuntarily about ''atithis'' and their likes. My maternal grandfather was a well-known figure in Kanpur. Some of my traits ,or should i say most of them, have clearly been inherited from my mother's headstrong ancestors. With great enthusiasm he built a house which my family inhabits till date.
But their peace of mind is constantly thwarted by the ''atithis'' in our house.
One of them stays right above us since decades now .The lucky chap does not pay any rent. He only has to deposit the paltry sum of Rs.300 in the court as the house is governed by rent control laws. Thanks to our judicial system he enjoys a safe co-habitation which is almost free of cost.He dictates where we should park our car, whether we should lock the main gate or not, whether we can repair the leaking roof or not, even whether we can access the roof-top or not. The last straw was when he lately called up and mother and asked for a settlement , if she would agree to pay him a substantial amount of money. Reminds me of the Seema Biiswas ad on television where a court case is going on for years..........''chalta rahe....chalta rahe.....''
"justice delayed is clearly justice denied''.........but who will explain this to the makers of the law or better still those who implement and execute it. My grandfather also constructed a separate block for his special guests. Little did he know it would be occupied by people who knew the real translation of ''atith devo bhav''. Someone who refuses to move out once he safely lodges himself under your roof. So for those who wish to invest their hard-earned money into the construction of a house, my sincere advice would be not do it. Instead, be smart, go live in someone else's house and then conveniently develop amnesia and forget to move out. After all ''atithi bhagwan hota hai''.

It has been a while.......and life is not really sailing on smooth seas. But all said and done it has some good moments too. Sometimes your faith that goodness still exists in human kind is reaffirmed. My trip to Bombay was not under the most ideal circumstances but i managed to snatch a few brief moments for myself. On paying my regular visit to ''Crossword'' in Kemps corner, i was pleasantly surprised to see children having the run of the place. One could see them in every nook and cranny exploring books while parents clucked over them like mother hens. Very heartening to see them doing something other than watching T.V. and playing video-games. Going to book-stores is always on my to-do list, no matter where i am.
Another attraction was the ''Hobby Ideas'' store adjacent to the book store where a number of creative ideas have been given shape. Hand puppets, moulds, tampera paints, modelling clay etc. You name it they have it. Manifestation of ideas to encourage unbridled ceativity for kids and adults alike. It was a pleasure looking at so much colour and craft in one place.
But the Bombay traffic was a real killer and pollution was at an all-time high.
People looked high strung and flared up easily (witnessed some cases of road rage). But amidst all this one could still see the thread of compassion and resilience that runs through the Mumbai people. Always willing to lend a helping hand. And the famous never 'say die spirit' still going strong and still intact despite several attempts by undesirable elements to break it. God bless them!