Friends Are Forever!!

Today I want to dedicate this writing space to my friends. Friends who came and went at the right times…..friends who taught and showed selfless love, undemanding care and who helped me become a better person. Why suddenly about friends? Well what always triggers me to write is an emotional outburst when any unusual incident takes place.

I came to Ipswich and met lots of people of different types. But as is with nature, the ones who touched a cord in my heart were people like me. One of them was a girl I came to like immensely. I came to enjoy her company in just a couple of meetings. It was so easy to talk to her on any topic of the world. You talk to her about politics, history, mythology, religion, culture, journalism(one of her favourite topics), cooking, household, career, kids, husband, in-laws and the list could go on and on. She seems to listen to me patiently. She can express her views very clearly and confidently. It is not at all necessary to come to an agreement on any topic. She also takes another person’s argument very positively. She is very keen to accept new ideas and views. I never need to explain to her what was meant to be a humour and what was to be taken seriously. I sometimes feel that she is a better listener than me. But the saddest part is that she is shifting from here and I feel a kind of emptiness now.

It is so amazing how we can come to like some people so dearly without any inhibitions. We can just be ourselves with some people, without having to sit on guard to defend ourselves. What we always look in a relationship or friendship is the security of not being hurt. When we strike a cord with a person then we feel so safe and comfortable with that person. Such relationships are easy to make when we are young. Because children and teens are usually without any defences. They are very transparent and selfless. It is so easy to share each others’ very personal things, belongings and emotions at a young age, but as we grow older we tend to become more formal and rigid.

Friends are there to comfort you without demanding anything in return. They never even suspect your motives or intentons. They take you at your face value with great simplicity and lovingness. But when we grow older and “wiser” we begin analysing everyone’s behaviour. We begin suspecting everyone’s intentions. We lose the innocence of childhood. We tend to hurt all our well wishers because we make our thought process so complicated that we cannot even identify them.

I have lost touch with many of my school and college friends. I am in touch with some but we all are so caught up in our lives that it is ages before we catch up with each other. But there are a few friends to whom I don’t have to think twice before talking or writing. They are always there for me and I am always there for them.

I wish I could find more friends like my old golden days. I wish I can be simple and innocent where reaching out to people becomes very easy and smooth. Friends enrich our lives and make it colourful. May God bless all with good friends!

Another poem for my daughter!!

It is one of the poems I wrote for my daughter. It was in series to my earlier poem itself and feel that I should put it down for long keep. Date of creation----24th December, 2005 Saturday


मेरे भरे पूरे घर में इश्वर ने बना दिया इक झरोखा,

उसमें से इक नरम रेशमी किरण का आगमन होगा.

वो किरण मेरी बिटिया तुम ही होंगी,

मेरी सारी अधूरी आसें अब पूरी होंगी.


सोचती हूँ मैं की इस नन्ही परी की क्या अच्छी माँ बन पाऊँगी

इस जग में भरे सय्यादों से कैसे तुम्हें बचाऊंगी?

प्रभु मुझे धैर्य और हिम्मत प्रदान करें,

अपना संसार तुम खुद रचो ऐसा प्रावधान करें.


तुम्हारा सलोना मुखड़ा जाने कैसा होगा?

चन्दा से उधार लिया इक टुकड़ा, ऐसा होगा.


तुम्हारे दो नैनों में जाने कितने ही अनुराग होंगे,

मेरा जीवन रोशन कर दें ऐसे दो चिराग होंगे.


सतरंगी सी इक छोटी मुस्कान तुम्हारी,

इन्द्रधनुष सी हो जायेगी ज़िन्दगी हमारी.


कर्म स्त्रोत दो कोमल से हाथ तुम्हारे,

जाने मेरे गालों को छूकर लगेंगे कितने प्यारे?


उन्नति के पथ पर ले जाएँ ये दो नन्हें कदम तुम्हारे,

कर्तित्व और विवेक रहें सदा हमदम तुम्हारे.


माँ का आँचल और पिता का साया,

तुम्हारे स्वागत में है हमने पलकों को बिछाया.

Taare Zameen Par!

Today we went to watch a movie Taare Zameen Par by Aamir khan. It is a splendid movie and it moved me a lot. I cried a lot during the movie. It touches a very sensitive issue of dealing with a child. Parents having small children must watch the movie. My friends also tell me how they were affected by the movie. It is the story of a child who is suffering from dyslexia and whose parents are not able to identify his problem.

The way they treated him for his naughty behaviour and disinterest in studies made me cry. Not because I felt they were doing something wrong, but I treat my child similarly very frequently. I am always forcing him to finish his milk, finish his breakfast, eat food and all other things. I think I am struggling with the boy and that my life is going to remain like this always. But what I don’t do is give him space to breathe. I am always trying to fit him into a routine and always wanting to discipline him. I also feel sometimes that I am sacrificing my life and career for him. Which is so mean on my part, to think of it. No one asked me to do it in the first place. It was my choice and I happily chose it for my child. I wanted to enjoy his childhood and my motherhood. I do enjoy these moments but sometimes I fall into a conflict with myself. Some tough moments come when I begin doubting myself.

In the movie, the boys teacher points out that every parent these days wants a high performer. He comments that such parents should breed horses and not have children. Parents are always trying to impose their own ambitions and dreams on their children. With the increasing competitiveness it becomes so difficult for a child to keep pace. They are not allowed to think freely and express freely. We even try to control what the child should say and what he shouldn’t. We feel very proud when our child learns all that we teach him. Like a parrot he repeats all the niceties.

The movie gives a very good message of how children are just like stars on earth or like delicate flowers. Also what caring is. I know people who feel that they care for children when they bring home expensive toys and gifts and lots of books for their children. But what is required is our valuable time for our children.

The movie has reminded me of all the things I do to my so precious child. I knew all these things
but never inculcated them in my behaviour. I hope from now on I can make my child feel very special by letting him be just himself.