Wednesday, October 10, 2007

A Hundred Miles.....




Ever wondered what they call as Loneliness ? Ever been amidst it ? If not, you will hear from me a stranger version of the norm and if you have had a travel through it already, probably this will come in as a surprising new wave .

Dwelling more than 20 years of my life in a place they call home, where you have the warmth of your family blanketting you from the storms and the wild winds, I knew little about what waited for me beyond the safe shield. I was reared up in a place where as many time I stumbled, I found a minimum of a dozen hands helping me getting up. I know they loved me for I was the first child in the generation. I woke up in my mother's lap, played in the courtyard with grandma and aunts , slept in the arms of grandpa when tiredness and laze engulfed me much. Coming back from school I found eager faces waiting with a zeal to know what the little baby learnt in school today. Sundays were always given a special feel when they helped me venture out places of interest, places where there are plenty to learn, enough to add to joy !! Never in my life did they make me call out for help cause that was available in plenty. In an admixture of all these emotions I found myself growing up, knowing new people, having new friends, setting out on adventures which were wild beyond imagination.

That was just the beginning. Soon I came face to face with the fact that I knew all beyond the sphere of the knowledge about myself. It was quite a sudden affair that taught me the value of exploring my own self first before setting out to venture the world around. And when the moment came, I found I was as lonely a soul like a lost gull in the bay, even amidst all these happy members of the family. I knew how to fly, but not how to steer myself when the wind changed its direction. I knew where the food was , but not how to get it on my own accord. It was a shocking truth which hit me hard on my face. That was when I murmured a silent prayer and set a goal to curve out a niche for me and most importantly, by myself.

The day when I set out of my cosy little town, all I saw was tears for they loved me much to loosen the string that stiched our hearts. I was leaving behind a thousand emotion just to travel a hundred mile towards a life that challenged me in a million different way. Hope was one thing that brought in a surprising glue with itself and Belief was a supplement that came as a value addition. As I flew over the seas and roared across the mountains, I knew the joy I would fill him with by just being there. And that brought a happy curve on my face..they call it a smile. I knew this was my chance to make him happy and to spread the same curve on his face too. For me that was Life redefined !! And I knew I could make the others smile too in a fresh way. I knew I can make them a proud happy family.

And from where we left the thread of loneliness, we can hook it up with a new definition. It is like the same seagull hovering alone in the sea but now with a new found control of the steer wheels. It is a wonder discovering all the inate abilities, unfolding the hidden wings and realizing the 'I' in wInnIng.

Monday, October 8, 2007

The Journey Begins



It happens in every one's life probably, when he comes to a stage from where he cannot see what is there a few steps ahead. In a situation as tender as that, it is likely that he falters, stumbles and falls for it is dark as far as he can see. For me ,I had always been an ever hopeful soul. I have fallen down many a time, and hence I have quite mastered the art of knowing how to get up and gather courage to set a new goal. But there are times when experience ditches you in a big wild way. What is the walking stick then ? When the horizon seems to grey down and leaves no trace, when all that you have learnt simply fades away or even mocks at you, challenging you to take up the new yet interesting bait of life.

I still very often ponder how fate is shaped and why some people are always happy. Or is it just a facial gesture.I believe so.I asked an aged once, whether he regrets having done anything markedly wrong in life. The answer I got was amazing. He said, at an age of eighty he doesn't sit to judge what he had done was right or wrong. All he knew was, he has travelled an extraordinary journey, where you know not what your destination is. All you know is you have to take a course which has the least rocks on it. It is but natural that in an attempt to make the journey a smoother one, we often take a diversion which is not right ethically but which is just considering the gravity of the current situation. Hence it is foolish to regret having done something and it is wise just to reminisce the episodes with a smile on face.

I was greatly impressed with the advice the old heart had for me. I had decided to set out on a new journey called Life on that day. Here on you will read so many wild, stupid, exciting, dull, intriguing or commonplace tales. A tale that will have a bit of me in it. Wish you a happy journey with me ....Koyel .