Enthralling Trails

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you   strength , while loving someone deeply gives you courage”   ―   Lao Tzu I read the article ‘Its Hope that keeps us Going’ by Eziekel Isaac Malekar. It said that ‘Hope’ literally means  expectation and desire combined. Hope though deceitful carries us pleasantly to the end of life as its hope which keeps us alive.  I read these lines a number of times, each time memories recalled ‘him’. He was there for me and my husband whenever we needed money. He was there to comfort us when we felt we had lost each battle in life advising us to not lose hope. He like everyone else had his mood swings. He was tall and well built. He was agile and could keep anyone busy in a conversation or at work.  He and my father were friends but poles apart in likes and dislikes. He liked reading, but never wrote. He was an ocean of knowledge who would not spare a person till the person heard the whole story. The last time when I...

“Patience is power.Patience is not an absence of action; rather it is "timing" it waits on the right time to act, for the right principles and in the right way.”   ―   Fulton J. Sheen People have a weird way of reacting in situations. Some ignore and walk away displaying inhumane feelings while the others enjoy helping out and spend their whole time in that situation, living it every moment.  If a person falls down or collides with a bus or any other vehicle within minutes you will find a crowd of people in Ind ia . They leave their vehicles aside. Pick the person, dust him, calm his agitated nerves, pick his vehicle and leave it aside. They may enquire the person’s wellbeing then and wait till the hurt person goes back. If there is a problem like a fire or shortage of water or a quarrel, we find these people running about and not resting till the situation is under control. These are looked upon as volunteers and are highly respected in Ind ia . Perhaps it is the...

Ruskin Bond feels being alone is accepted as an individual seeks it, while loneliness is the curse of being alone without a companion when a person yearns for a friend. Mega vision  diagnostic scan and X-ray centre  is a popular one located a little away from a Mosque near Nigdi Bus Stop in  Pune. It is accessible through Pradhikaran too. My annual sonograph to check multiple fibrosis was due for long. A faculty meet and development programme in the afternoon gave me some  free time in the morning. I took a quick decision and raced through the by lanes on my scooter to reach the place. The intention was to be the first and return back soon. In my enthusiasm, I had raced a little ahead of the place. I tried turning back with a little effort as the road was inclined. It was eight in the morning, but the whole locality was quiet. There was a voice from nowhere saying ‘it opens at nine’. I turned to glance at the person. She slowly walked towards me with a f...

Happiness and a life of deep  fulfillment  come when you commit yourself, from the core of your soul to spending your greatest human talents on a purpose that makes a difference in others’ lives- Robin Sharma The festive shrieks of the kids made me peep into the open door. I saw a man in pale blue shirt holding a huge blue bag accompanied by a few more people as they called out names. A young girl was given a gift. They asked her to open the gift and show it to the others. The girl could hardly wait to see it. It was a beautiful doll set. I felt it must have been a prize won in a competition conducted. They resumed giving wrapped gifts to each of the children who were present in the gathering. As they got their gifts there were small and loud yells displaying their joyfulness.  I went back and sat in the office. The office at Nachiketa Balgram is a small one with a thatched roof of asbestos in a small clearing paved with shahbad stones. It has a table ...

“Keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.”   ―   Marilyn Monroe Pradhikaran is a well-planned locale in Pune. Nestled near the post office in one of the lanes in Pradhikaran lived old Mrs Navale. My first encounter with her was when I went in quest of  a music teacher to continue learning Hindustan i classical Music. She was a retired professor and a teacher who taught Violin to students at their place as a passion. Wednesdays were reserved for vocal music by a sir named Mr. Malta ni who came to her place and taught vocal music, harmonium, a percussion instrument called tabla. Harmonium is a type of reed organ that generates sound with foot-pumped bellows. He started at three in the afternoon and taught till seven in the evening. He taught young children, ladies and men. I and a few more ladies and  men were taught at 5.30 in the evening. Sir taught us classi...

Wealth has to be won by deeds of glory. Rig Veda Money has varied significance and is viewed differently depending upon what it means to the person. It is a retreat for a rich person to spend it while it is a measure to buy basic necessities for a poor person. Money is also viewed as a status symbol as it can buy you diamonds and  other possessions to flaunt. People say they are basic necessities, but still money can buy a dwelling but not a home, riches can buy a bed but not a goodnight’s sleep, it can buy food but not an appetite or hunger. It can buy a coffin, but not the affection of people who will miss you and mourn for you. These basics are perhaps evoked through goodwill gained by people rather than money earned. True value of money is actually known to those who are in a financial crisis with its need for food and clothing. Every year an employee is given an increment in the pay. An employed person looks forward to this to plan life with greater purchases like a ...

Holding on to   anger   is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. – Buddha The shop owner was a  young lady who seemed busy as she handed a beautiful glass framed poster of horses to the buyer. She had cautiously wrapped it with a newspaper and showed the purchaser the way of holding it so that she would not drop it.  She was neatly dressed in a saree sporting small pieces of jewellery, her hair loosely tied with a few locks of hair deliberately left to make her look attractive. She was plump and well built. The shop was a tiny one, very near the Mumbai Pune highway, in a lane. The shop had framed pictures of Gods and Goddesses, the sheen of the frames added brilliance to the pictures and the dimly lit shop. The lady was busy attending a Phone call on her mobile, and used crude language while speaking, then her eyes sparkled as she yelled at the speaker asking him to reach early. Just next ...