The day which taught me to be present in the moment

The day started usually with me waking up at around 6.00 am in the morning. It was a cloudy day and I felt so sleepy. But I had to carry on as it was a working day. So I dragged myself and finished all the household chores and prepared my daughter for her school. I had some projects lined up also so I hurried along.
After leaving my daughter in her school I went to buy vegetables and groceries. When I was in the vegetable shop it started pouring and I realized that I was not carrying my umbrella. I took it as an excuse to walk in the rain and happily reached home never realizing that it was just a beginning of a series of forgetfulness. There was no power so I had to walk up to 4th floor. As I entered the house exhausted and thoroughly drenched and placed the plastic bags on the floor I felt that something was missing. There was no vegetable bag!!! I was too tired to go back to search for it and thought that I will search for it in the shops later on. But the misplaced bag kept nagging me and I could not concentrate on my work.
I left home early and visited all the shops which I had visited that morning and at last reached the vegetable vendor. I sheepishly asked him about the bag and he gave it to me. I tried to smile at him but he doled out some advice for me. In a rather serious voice he said “why are you in so much hurry always? Slow down, it will do you no harm”. I gulped down his advice knowing how true he was. I could not help but appreciate his observation power. I reached my daughter’s school to find her in a not-so-good mood as she was the last child left in the school.
Earlier I had planned to take her for a haircut and after much coaxing I succeeded in taking her to the barber. She kept quiet and didn’t cry. I thanked god.
We came back home and met our neighbor near the lift. As we chatted along her daughter enquired about my daughter’s school bag. It was my third mistake since morning. I immediately knew where it was. I must have left it at the barber’s shop!
I asked my neighbor to take care of Titli who was not very keen on staying back. But I persuaded her and rushed to the barber’s shop. As I approached the shop he saw me through the glass door and came out with the bag. I fumbled for words and managed a sorry and thank you at the same time.
I again rushed back home and took the lift and at last reached our flat with all the bags and baggage.
I didn’t venture out that evening in fear of again misplacing something. When I look back I realize how just rushing through the chores landed me in so much trouble. I was preoccupied in my own thoughts which led to this series of mistakes. Had I been present in the moment I would have saved a lot of trouble to myself and to other people also.

Bubbles make me happy

I was frantically working on my laptop. I had taken up a new content writing project and the file types were unfamiliar to me. It was already 5.30 p.m. and I was running short of time. I suddenly felt a tug at my forearm. My daughter was standing there. She smiled at me and expressed her wish to play with bubbles. I tried to explain to her how I was pressed against time. She kept on insisting. So I had to sternly speak to her. Tears welled up in her eyes. I felt bad and took her on my lap. “This is not done”, I told myself and reached out for the bottle of soap water on the table. As I blew the first bubble her face brightened up. She smiled lovingly and her innocent eyes lit up. As she chased the bubbles around in the room I looked on. Her fleeting feet, clapping of her hands and giggles filled the room. She tried her best to catch the bubbles. But those attempts mostly were futile. With each futile attempt her smiles broke in squeals of laughter. Her laughter lifted my spirits also. I joined her in chasing the bubbles.
Next few minutes were spent in blowing bubbles and bursting them.
She became tired soon and rested on my lap. Her face was so contented that I could not help but feel happy. She gently hugged me and asked me continue with my work. As she left me alone in the room I felt like a bubble. Light, soft and reflecting the colors of life. I pondered over those few minutes which brought so much pleasure in our lives. I proceeded to finish my work quickly.
And now whenever I feel pressure mounting up, I take out two minutes to blow some bubbles. They make me feel light, happy and carefree. Those few minutes have taught me an invaluable lesson on life. To be happy you need nothing much but a heart to create and feel it.

How a doctor made me feel proud

Last week had been very trying for me. I had signed up for a few new projects and work kept pouring in. Not that I want to complain about this extra work pressure but what made the task difficult was my daughter’s sickness. She developed cough and cold with high fever. For days she remained ill and could not attend school. She was in a very irritable mood and was not letting me work. As she was not improving I took her to the doctor. She likes this Homeopath doctor as he gives sweet medicines and his chamber always holds a special attraction for her because of the collection of pens he has.
On that particular day she was not her cheerful self. As we sat in the doctor’s chamber she started bombarding me with her questions. As I had nothing better to do sitting in that tiny room so I tried to provide acceptable answers to all her probable and improbable questions. The questions ranged from why does the doctor need two torches one yellow and one red to why does he keep red sketch pens and why are there stools in the room, who lies down on the bed and why and so on and so forth. As soon as I managed to get rid of one set of questions, I was barraged by another set. At one point I wondered how come a little brain hold so many queries. She should have some mercy for her beleaguered mother!
When I was going through this question answering session, the doctor was patiently writing prescriptions and preparing medicines for her.
After examining her he turned towards me and said that although he was busy with his work yet he was paying attention to what was happening in the room. He congratulated me on answering her queries successfully. He praised my effort and went on to say that this will enhance her learning capability and also encourage her to seek more. This actually will help her to grasp concepts and ideas better in her later life and also make learning an enjoyable experience for her.
I really felt proud. Although I have been doing this since she started talking as I already knew some of the good impacts of it but no one has till now praised my efforts openly. I felt good about myself.
As we left the doctor’s chamber my daughter waved him goodbye and sprinted along with me towards home. Both of us were feeling better although for different reasons. The doctor really made my day!

First day at school

I had been waiting impatiently for this day. I had planned a lot and prepared myself too. My daughter was almost three years old and it was time for her to join a school. Before the Christmas holiday, I started searching for a playschool for her. I took her along with me and she enjoyed these trips. I felt assured that she will settle happily in her new life. I selected a playschool which was in the next block. It is a quaint place under the administration of the local Christian community and I liked the ambience. She was very excited about going to this school, much to my relief.
I went about shopping happily for this special occasion. I got a pink tiffin box and a school bag with the motif of a dog and she liked them.
The day was 4th of January. I woke her up early and got her dressed. She was very happy and putting the bag on her back set out holding the hands of both of her parents.
The school attendant (generally known as atthya here) greeted her at the doorstep and tried to take her inside. Much to our disappointment, she refused to go and started crying. I accompanied her to the classroom and tried to explain to her what exciting things were awaiting her. But everything failed and she clung to me. The teacher asked me to leave immediately so that she can handle her.
I gave her a hug and wished her from the bottom of my heart. Strange emotions flooded me. This was her first step towards a new life. A life which would be different from the one we had created and nurtured for all these years. Now onwards she will have a separate life of her own which will be filled with exciting things like friends, secrets, new games and of course a whole new world of knowledge. She will get entangled in his new life and drift from our world. I hope she enjoys this new life as much as I did my own and still cherish lovingly. I also hope to be a part of her new life and see her grow up into a happy and confident girl.
As I turned my back I saw her looking longingly at me with tears in her eyes. She was calling for me. I stood still on the stairs and listened to her wailing. As I traced back my steps her wailings kept ringing in my ears. At one point I felt like going back. But the mother inside refrained me. I spent the next one hour restlessly in the house thinking about all sorts of queer things. I even expected a phone call from the school asking me to bring her back. But nothing of that sort happened.
After one hour when I entered the school I saw her sitting on a bench with tearful eyes. She came running to me and I took her in my lap. She refused to get down and I had to carry her home. She was a bit shaky and came to her normal self only after reaching home.
Next day she was reluctant to go to school. I had to coax her a lot. She cried a lot but I hardened myself. When I went to get her I found her sitting on the same bench staring at the door. But she was much better and walked on her own with me.
Now she has settled in school. Though she has not made much friends but she enjoys going to school. My little girl is no longer a little girl anymore. She has rhymes to learn and alphabets to practice writing. While returning from school she is usually her chirpy self and talks a lot. She shares tidbits about her school and I enjoy those immensely. I hope she continues with this so that I can witness the shaping of young mind into a matured one and be friends with her for life.

So glad that I met "Jab we met"

So glad that I met "Jab we met"
When I was leaving Kolkata to settle in Delhi my best friend gifted me with the vcd of “Jab We Met”. For months the vcd lay in my suitcase as I tried to settle down in my new life. I had left my job to look after my daughter and I found the life of a housewife too tiring. Then one day, suddenly I remembered about the film and longed to watch it. It was my first break from my housewife’s routine and how much I enjoyed it.
The first thing that touched me was the freshness and simplicity of the storyline and the conviction with which the director has made the film. All the characters were real and very loving. I could almost identify myself with their hopes, dreams and vulnerability.
The script lacked the usual drama and twist that Hindi films are popular for. The acting of all the actors was quite convincing. Although Kareena kapoor won several awards for her enactment of Geet, yet it was Shahid Kapoor who stole my heart as Aditya. The initial Aditya immersed in depression, and then his transformation into a successful businessman has been very beautifully portrayed by Shahid. His love for Geet, the way he expresses it but never expects reciprocation of it, felt so very real to me. In fact, Aditya showed me how to love unconditionally and accept a person in totality.
There are several scenes in this film which have moved me. But I would like to mention a few which kept on haunting me for days. I am particularly fond of the scene when Aditya asks Geet why she plays with her life and the simple way in which she explains her philosophy of life. According to Geet, whatever decision she takes, she takes on her own, and even if they turn out to be wrong, she will only have herself to blame and even then she will be happy that she took decisions on her own. Though simply, yet strongly she expressed her belief in herself. I also like the scene when Aditya leaves Geet in Simla and decides to move on with his life cherishing the memories of togetherness.
I love the part when Geet says how much she loves herself and she is her own favorite. At times, when I feel inadequate and life seems like a burden I try to remember Geet and want to embrace life with its sorrows, disappointments and hopes like her. I also want to love myself and accept myself with all my limitations.
I love all the songs of the film but a particular favorite is “Tera na hona”.
In these long two years, I have watched Jab We Met several times. In fact, whenever it is aired in any cable channel I make it a point to watch it. Not that I always watch the full movie but even watching parts of it make me feel so rejuvenated.
I think this is the eternal appeal of a classic movie which unearths different meanings every time we see it and we in turn grow up a little more