Hold On Pain Ends (Hope)

"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. Joseph Addison"

We often fail to recognize the importance that hope holds in our life, we run so fast chasing invisible targets, dreams and we forget those little things in life which makes it beautiful. Hope reminds us to think of a better tomorrow, no matter how hard things are today. There is always a reason for belief for a better tomorrow. There are several ways of finding hope, some use religion, other family, friends, inspirations etc. No matter what your chose as your path for hope remember there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Never forget to evaluate your targets may be they are more than your grasp. Learn to walk through pain, struggle through hardships and even more have HOPE. Learn from nature if there is a sunset there will always be sunrise. You might be down and out today, but tomorrow holds better.

All we need is a little faith

In my opinion, most of us do not have control over the things that are bound to happen, neither  do we know what tomorrow holds for us. We often worry about things that are out of our control. Its amazing to realize how little our world changes when we stop worrying about things that are out  of control. What we need to do is focus on things at hand which we have total control over and works towards achieving the goal that today holds for us. The moments that we waste thinking about tomorrow are moments that we have spend not realizing our true potential for today. We are but here for a short stay in this beautiful planet, why not live in the moment for today and let tomorrow be a new today. The one fact which forces us to worry about is finances, I am no financial guru, if you do not work today how will your tomorrow by any better. 

We are so tuned to laying blames on everything around us that we forget to count the blessings that are around us, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the home we stay in, the family we are blessed with and gift of life which we are lucky to have. All we need is a little faith that what we do today will reflect a better tomorrow. See a child learn from it, the innocence of today and faith in the beholding hands of its parents sees its eat, smile and sleep to hearts content. How I wish we had the innocence back where all we cared for this moment. Life is as good the moment we are in. Live today because tomorrow is not really here yet.

Loss..

They were married for over four years; as every young couple they always carried with them a dream to have children and make a family of there own. However the man upstairs was never kind to them. Two years down their married life; she called him one day, a fine afternoon he remembers she said " I love you; finally I am gonna be a mother". There joy knew no bounds, the waits been long however finally the gift of a child.

Frequent hospital visits and baby journals kept her busy all day; they whispered sweet nothings to the baby in the night, they even started arguments about baby names. It was almost the fourth month; a usual hospital visit it should have been. The waiting all that they could keep thinking in their head was we are gonna hear our babies heart beat. The last time was so special more like the perfect rhythmic music. Those heart beats kept them alive for a month here they were finally time for new rhythms.

The doc finally called them in, usual question and chatting took a few minutes; she was called up to the Scanning table. Probe was probing her stomach line they waited in anticipation to hear a sound which would keep them moving another month. She held his hands tighter. Doc eyes seemed to be asking tons of questions as he kept probing; sudden deafness filled the room, everything seemed so slow. The probing was lasting even longer the doc said I am finding it difficult to hear a heart beat. His heart felt very heavy, he looked at her reassuring her that everything is going to be ok. Finally a small beat filled the emptiness in the room and the doc said "where have you been hiding kiddo?" Tears rolled down her eyes as Doc said " we need to give her some supporting medicines.. heart beats are very faint.. please come in tomorrow for another scan.."

The next 24 hours lasted more like an eternity; they rarely talked. The worried silence spoke more than ever. His reassurance was all that she had. She would just gently pat her stomach as if her fingers were telling her child not to go anywhere. Time seemed like an eternity, each moment felt so lethal. He did seem so brave; when he felt he could not hold on anymore he ran to the rest room; sat on his knees.. tears rolling down his eyes; a pain did he feel that he could not express, his tears did most of the talking.

It was time again; they were the last ones to see the doc; she called them in; tools in place. The doctors search for life was on. She held his hands.. it did not take long for the doc to say the words they did not want to hear " I am sorry".

Tears rolled down her eyes; he had no words to pacify her. All they could do was carry her baby who had no life inside her till the doctors could take the child out of her. The pain... the loss ... had no words.. silence said it all...

The Grand Old Man...

I was breathing heavy with my running and in the distance I saw an old man moving slowly.. all around life was moving so fast yet he moved so slow.. his wrinkled face smiled as often as he could.. I had to look closer to see if he was really smiling.. his smile had a story to tell.. As I approached him in running gear.. I decided to draw a story of his life in my head.. I am usually good Judge of how and who people are.. I looked at the dress he was wearing.. check shirt (white and black).. he had a wooden walking stick (one piece).. no fancy watch.. still had very nice white hair.. his pants seemed rather fine finish.. his sandals was quiet clean and outstanding.. his specs really made his look nice.. what made me study him more was his wrinkles.. rather heavy ones.. a thought pondered in my head.. will I grow to be this old.. his smile was slow but really had something special attached to it.. I thought to myself.. I am going to talk to him.. and see what he really is.. Is he the person who I think he is??

I slowed my pace of running as I came close to him.. walked up to him catching my breathe.. I said "good evening sire".. he looked at me smiled.. a smile so radiant.. "good evening son" he responded.. "Would you mind If I gave you company?" His reply amused me .. " Son do you think you can catch up with me".. interesting I thought... " tell me something about you" he said.. the big mouth that I was started " I am so and so.. I do so and so.. and yadda and yadda.." went on for some time.. he listened patiently as I elaborated my life in front of him.. He never for once lost my words... paid keen attention to all of my words... i finally ended ".. now sire I am really interested in knowing about u"..

He smiled he said proudly " my name is Khan.. professor Khan.. I was a professor in university of Delhi.. been teaching all my life.. I hold a PHD in maths.. " .. my pace of walking slowed and I felt he was moving faster than me... he went on .. " I am father of five children .. 3 sons and 2 daughters... all my children are married .. i am now 76 years old.. I am grateful that I can still walk on my feet.." I could see his wrinkled hands move to tell a story .. I listened gulping at his stories.. I could see his eyes widen as he explained in detail.. several stories associated with his life.. some made me smile.. and some made me feel small.. .. he paused in between to take deep breathes.. my eyes questioned him to go on.. finally I asked him .. " how come in dubai".. he replied " well I stay in an old age home".. he smiled.. " my children are too busy making there lives.." he looked at me.. " they have made it big.. have grand children as well.. came here to celebrate my 76th birthday... it was nice to see all my children together .. have a feeling deep within me this is the last time I am going to see them.. tomorrow I fly back home... not home .. Delhi.. my old age home await me.. a few days for my race in this world to end.. "

I felt my legs feel heavy.. I could not keep up wid his pace.. I felt very heavy.. my heart was so heavy.. I held his hands.. and i said " I will wait for you next year this time.. will you make this walk with me ?" he smiled and moved on .. leaving me behind.. I looked back.. and I felt like I walked long.. my feet just would not let me move.. I sat on the chair beside the walk way.. and watched him walk the walk.. The Green mile looked so close for him and yet so far me..

A Salute to Motherhood

Mothers they are just made specially made by and they complete creation. Scholars have so put it correct when saying Matha (Mother), Pitha (Father), Guru (Teacher), & Deivam (God). Mother she fills the gap of Nine months between creation and being a creation. She lends her own body to be a carrier of life, then she nourishes.. watches her child grow to to be a man or women she dreams him or her to be. Many times these dreams are shattered and she is let down by her own blood. Yet she braves tides and we see what really is made of.

A mothers smile is best gift you can give her for bringing you into this world. Watch a mother work and you might end up learning how to run a company; her effective time management and peoples management stand out. Her diplomacy is a superb business tool. Her efficiency can only be termed as near to perfect. How does she do it? How does she be so good at what she does? How can she handle so many things together? Is she really super mom? I guess the answer lies in the ultimate truth .. its because she is a mother.

I love you my mother and thank you for bringing me into this wonderful world and showing me what life is all about. I do not think I would ever be a good person if it was not for you. All that I am I can only say I am grateful to you.

Japan 2011 - An Eye Opener

March 11, 2011: This is the day when an earthquake of the magnitude 8.9 on the Richter scale struct east of Sendai, in Japan, what followed this phenomenon was nature venting its fury out.. Tsunami.. small quakes.

Well what I have to write is not about the quake or the aftermath. Men claimed to be gods of earth; created a home in space; built ships which can travel in and on water. Air travel, space travel and oops now its space tourism.. Medical break throughs; inventions & patents by the hour. I watched on TV with my eyes filled with tears and deep sense of grief within my heart as Man and all his inventions brought to knees in a matter of few seconds by mother nature. What are we in front of nature?

Japan is a developed country; rather they are no two in terms of its economy. When nature stuck it never made any difference to whether you are rich or poor; whether you own a business or you a doctor or an engineer or you are a street hawker. All i took is the simplest form of a shake and water in its liquid state to bring a nation to standstill. Japan crumbled and the world watched and feared the worst. Death toll and missing people list just seemed like an endless wishlist of nature. Homes lost, children orphan's, families lost, Business shut, factories lost, production stopped, hospitals destroyed and a nuclear plant at the verge of creating havoc. Looks like nature had a field day.

Can Japan repeat history? They did come out of Hiroshima & Nagasaki. Did nature pick a worthy opponent in Japan? Can humanity win? Will the world stand as one to support a nation crumbled nation?

These are questions that will be answered in time. We need to wait and see. lets not be mere spectators as Japans answers this question. Let us also use this to see where we are as a nation if nature does decide to have a go at us.

I wont say pray for Japan, I will however close by saying Do for Japan.

An open letter to MS Dhoni

Dear Dhoni,

I have always a been a fan of yours from the days you had long hair to the now days when you are the captain of the Indian cricket team. I have always enjoyed watching you lead this team to series wins; T 20 championship and No Uno Test team in the world.

I am now concerned with your approach to this World Cup 2011. My boss ex boss once told me.. when you sit in a chair for long you feel comfortable and you become complacent with your choices and decisions. For once you have with you resources (an almost good team) which can aid you in winning this cup. Spare a thought for us Fans; we cheer for you, we buy products that you endorse. We also watch your schmuck advertisements. We give you enough TRP's to earn over 300 corers an year in endorsement deals (an average Indian possbily wont earn that in a life time). We know that you are playing for the nation please do not forget the fact that we the fans make up the nation.

I humbly therefore request you let your ego go by.. choose the right combination; spare a thught for the players you have at your disposal ( I am totally hinting at Ashwin) and please stick to your winning batting combination (Yes I mean Virat Kohli coming at two down). Pathan is an awesome player let him play his best ( I refer to him and his pinch hitting in the death overs) at a position that best suits his type of playing. Yuvraj and you kind sir havent really stuck form (so try and play a good supporting role).

Zaheer is good but not great. Nehra is to good when the pitch plays in his favour (understand his limitations). Munaf I feel for him as does you (hey lets wait till world cup is over). Chawla yes he is good players ( do we want to experiment at this level) however he has had his chances and I do not know if he has delivered. Ashwin deserves a shot. Sreeshanth might just be the answer to your problems right about now.

What you have going in your favour is Sachin, Shewags and Gautis form; lets us not screw it up by putting excessive pressure on them to perform each time they are up. Our middle order needs to complement them. Our strength has always been our batting specially in the tracks that we play this world cup on. Let us continue doing what we are doing good now and it is kinda of working for you ( I mean the 7 batsmen thing).

I know and I am aware in a game of Cricket the better team playing on a day wins so I hope that my team no I mean let our team win. Be the Dhoni that we want you to be.

All the best against West Indies ( I mean Pollard in particular).

Play well and Win this cup for India & Sachin

Thank you for reading.

Regards

NT