#100happydays

Finally I figured out a way to getting back to blogging. Since past few months, a phenomenon called 100 happy days is seen all over the social media. This is an attempt to get out of the electronics world / social media which we thrive on every minute and think of real things which make us happy. And it goes without saying that we have to tag (or rather hashtag - I really never understood the purpose of hashtag though) the things which make us happy on social media for 100 days continuously. However, I feel this concept solves a bigger purpose - gives a reason to smile everyday, be hopeful again and try to do things which make us happy in stead of just wiling away time on our gadgets.

I always wanted to take this challenge but somehow didn't want to force it on hundreds' of walls. But now I can conveniently start this on my blog and trouble only a few people who would randomly land on my blog.

Looking forward to survive this #100happydays challenge!

Back to blogging - hopefully for a longer time !

Writing had never been easy for me but the day I started this blog, I fell in love with writing. I could write my thoughts, travelogues, fiction or anything for that matter within minutes. But now, after a gap of almost 3 years, I am struggling to pen down even a few words.

Last 3 years changed my life and even to some extent has changed me. Change is supposed to be good but how is it good when it makes you 3 shades darker and look 3 (or may be more) years older L I used to be a carefree person seizing every opportunity to travel, eat out, party with friends and have long talks / chats with friends. Now, before every outing I spend hours worrying about my budget, tanning, putting on weight, limited time I spend with my friends and all such crap.

I wish I could be the person I used to be and the first step to that is to express what I feel and not what I should. So, here I am – back to my blog which has always been a good listener to my random ramblings J Hope to come here more often and relive at least some part of what I used to be earlier.

5 feet barbarous giants or humans?

When I opened my eyes, it was still dark. My 2 little kids were peacefully sleeping. I looked at them for a minute, smiled and kissed them. “It’s time for morning prayers kids. Get up and don’t be late.” They opened their eyes at once, very obedient I must say. Soon all of us were singing our morning prayers when the first rays of sun beamed. The rays charged us up with its freshness and energy. We were ready to leave our house and spend the day wandering in different lands as usual. The kids already had plans of going to some other place which they had accidentally discovered once. I was going to the same place I had been going since last week.

After 10 hours, I returned home as I had done over the past so many years. But today something was different. I couldn’t find my house. Anxiously I looked around. Things had changed. These barbarous animals had again exploited us and destroyed our homes. I could see the big branches lying dead on the ground. In the lap of one of the branches was my home, lying there in pieces beyond recognition. My friends and neighbours had started returning and soon there was a commotion when they realized the harsh reality. Shocked in utter disbelief, not knowing what to do, where to go, I was just hovering over my tree when I saw my kids flying in.

“What happened to this branch? Where is our home? Where will we sleep tonight?” asked my sweet kid innocently. “Who did this? How could so many branches die at once? Were we late for our morning prayers today and God punished us?” asked the other. “No, my dear. It’s not your fault or our fault. It’s the work of 5 feet barbarous giants who live near us. Time and again, they just destroy our world for no reason. They don’t know how it feels to lose one’s home in a day. God made us small & them giants. They are just using this to their advantage. Someday a bigger giant than them would come and destroy all their houses. ” I said.

“Hmmm. I loved my cosy bed. Where would we sleep tonight?” asked one of the kids. “Don’t worry kids. We would find a new house soon. There is almost no place left on the few branches that these giants have spared. I guess we can sleep somewhere on one of the fallen branches. Don’t worry, I would be awake all night and see that you are safe.”

Ramblings of my mind

Knowing a thing and not practising it is equivalent to not knowing. Very true indeed! I had always read that what people regret the most are often things which they didn’t do/say. Yet, all these days, I just didn’t practise this. And now, whenever I look back, I feel sad about things not said/done. There have been many times when I wanted to say something but could never overcome my mental inhibitions. But from now on, I would try to speak my mind.

So, what’s in my mind right now? At this juncture of life, when I have almost all elements of a successful life (touchwood), my mind is struggling to seek answers to some everyday dilemmas faced by me.

In life, just like management, nothing is absolutely black or white. Everything is a shade of grey and it depends on us as to what colour we give to it. Speaking one’s mind may sometimes hurt other people while by not speaking it, one may hurt oneself. We may choose either but not always should we choose the same one. Consistency in situations like this could be detrimental. But then how do we decide which one to choose under what circumstance?

This is one of the many questions which bother me. If everyone cares for his/her own happiness, wouldn’t everyone automatically be satisfied and happy? What if everyone cares for some other people but still no one cares for some people? What ultimately should be our goal – to be happy or to make others happy? I know the ideal answer is to be happy by being a reason for others’ happiness but not everyone can achieve this. How do I convince myself to be happy just by seeing others happy? What should then be the code of conduct for lesser mortals like me?

Or maybe, I should just stop thinking. Maybe, the happiest people in the world are the people who don’t think!


PS – This post could be incongruent and irrelevant as I just wrote what I was thinking.

Summer of 2011 : Last Part

Please read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 before reading this.



Intelligently or co-incidentally Adel had started running opposite to that boy. After running for a while, the noise of other people fainted and finally stopped. He did not know where he was. The only thing he knew was that he was tired and hungry. He wanted to eat the delicious dinner cooked by his mother and sleep on his soft bed. “I wish I could just go home every night, have dinner, sleep and leave home in the morning,” thought Adel. But at this moment he couldn’t even go home. He was lost and there was no one on the streets to help him get back home. However much he wanted to be independent, he knew he had to take help of someone and get back home.

He walked and walked and continued walking. Finally he came to a place where there were a few houses. He went up to a house and knocked the door. There was no response. He knocked again, this time with all the force he had. He could now hear some movement inside the house but still no one opened the door. He knocked again but in vain.

He decided to continue with his walking, taking random turns. He could barely lift his feet now. He was scared by the dark, lonely streets and walking alone seemed no more fascinating to him. He did not want to play anymore. He wished his mother called him from somewhere and took him from there. He would have to live in a small, dirty, smelly hut like that woman and would have to steal food like that boy if he lives alone. He certainly did not want that but he had no more energy to walk any further.

He felt like a cool breeze hitting his face. He smiled and opened his eyes. His parents were sitting beside him while he lay down on his bed. Seeing him smile his mother exclaimed, “Oh Adel! Where had you gone? We searched for you the entire night. Thank God the police found you lying on a street and you are safe and healthy. Why did you do such a thing? Do you know how we felt when you were gone? We love you so much dear. We stop you from playing so that you don’t get sick. We love you sweetheart and care for you. Promise me you won’t ever do this again.” She almost broke to tears as she said this.

Adel was happy to be home and see his parents. But he could not stop thinking about the women and the boy he met last night. He wished he could meet them again and give them something from his house.

PS: Finally my first 'long' short story is complete. All comments/suggestions are most welcome :)

Summer of 2011 : Part 3

Please read Part 1 and Part 2 before reading this.



Lost in his thoughts, he was still walking very fast when suddenly he hit someone and fell down. A boy some years elder to him had also fallen down in front of him. Adel very politely apologised and stood up. The other boy did not say anything and looked behind. Adel asked him “Are you hurt? Are you waiting for someone? Why were you looking behind?”

The boy hurriedly replied, “It’s not your concern. Just go away.”
Adel’s curiosity forced him to continue, “Please tell me why you are looking so worried. This is such a pleasant night. This is just the perfect way to enjoy summer vacations.”

The boy was touched by his sweetness. After a long time someone had spoken to him in kind words. All he used to hear were the shouts and curses of people. After a moment of silence he said “Actually I was running away from some people. They are chasing me because I have stolen this bread from a shop,” and took out a piece of bread from under his shirt.

“Why did you steal? Don’t you know it is a bad habit? I will tell your mother and she would scold you,” said Adel.

“I don’t have my mother with me. I live alone and I had not eaten anything since yesterday. I was very hungry and had no money. So I just stole this once piece of bread. What else could I have done? No one gives me any work because I am not old enough. And even if they give me some small work, they don’t pay me and throw me out after a few days.”

Adel replied, “How can you not have your mother? Have you also left your home like me? Why do elders don’t understand children? They throw away so much of food. They can give that food to you. You would then not have to steal.” As he said this, he realized that he had not eaten anything since morning. He thought of the tasty dinner his mother used to make for him. He drooled at the mere thought of it.

The boy smiled at Adel’s idealistic suggestion and said, “I wish that were the case. Then many boys like me won’t have to sleep hungry. Wait a minute... Did I hear you correctly? Have you run away from your home? Why have you done such a thing? I have no parents and no house so I am living this way. You are lucky to have a home and nice parents. You should go back to them.”

Suddenly a noise started which soon became a shout. A few people were running towards them shouting and cursing the boy. The boy just said “Run” to Adel and started running in the opposite direction.

..... continued in last part

Summer of 2011 : Part 2

Please read Part 1 of this before reading this post.


Through the dark streets of Amenia, Adel wandered around kicking off the pebbles on the sides of the streets. After aimlessly walking on the unknown streets for hours, Adel knew he was lost and for a change was happy being lost. He was happy to be away from the restricting world of adults. While he was still smiling, lost in his own world, a sound came. A stone which he had kicked off had hit some metal object. A small child was sitting on the pavement playing with a metal utensil and the stone had hit his utensil.

Adel walked up to the child and asked what he was doing there? The child laughed seeing Adel and said a few unrecognizable syllables. Suddenly a young lady came and lifted the small child in her arms. Adel then saw a very small hut on the other side of the pavement where a few other people were staying. The lady started walking towards the hut when Adel called the lady in a reflex. The lady turned and asked what he wanted. Adel had never seen people living in huts built on street-sides. Innocently he asked why she is going towards the small dirty hut with her child. “That place is so dirty. Don’t go there,” said Adel.

The lady amused by Adel’s innocence and care replied, “Kid, we live there. That is our house. We don’t have enough money to live in a proper house.”

Adel, “Why don’t you have enough money? My dad has a lot of money. You can take some money from him and build a good house. I live in a big house at 8th floor and it’s very clean and beautiful.”

Lady, “You are still a small boy my dear. This world is not as good as you think it is. May you be untouched with the harsh cruelties of this world! But why are you wandering alone at this hour? Are you not scared? Do you know your way back home? Where are your parents?”

“You are such a good mother. You allowed your son to play even during the night. You love your child. But my mother scolds me a lot and never allows me to play. She does not love me so I have left my house,” Adel started walking as he said these words.

Adel increased his pace of walking fearing that the lady might get hold of him and return him to his parents. His mind was running at the same pace or even faster than his feet. The small and shabby shack was still in front of his eyes. How can anyone live in such a place? That place smelt so bad. Poor people have to suffer so much still they are happy. I want to be poor. At least then my mother would let me play the whole day and not shout at me even once!

Meanwhile, Adel’s parents were questioning all his friends & neighbors, frantically searching the nearby roads but Adel was nowhere to be found.

....continued in Part 3