Watch out! She has the power

As I walked out of the McDonald opposite my office, I noticed some construction work on the other side. I had just munched on two great snack wraps and was digging deep in my teeth, searching for the lost taste. I waited patiently and watched a few cars zoom past me. It was not uncommon to have a few stares.

The light turned Green for me and I started walking at an easy pace. As I crossed half the distance I saw that construction on the other side had slowed down the traffic completely. People were getting impatient and were looking at their watches. I saw a lady talking something as she steered her car in the middle lane. She looked in a hurry and I was doing what I do best when stuck in traffic. I was looking at the cars and sketching a few thoughts in my head. As she came closer to the crossing line I backed out even more, just to be safe.

She pushed the pedal, brake pedal and looked at me. Gave me a smile and waved indicating me to cross the road. I smiled, whispered 'Thank you', as I waved back. I saw cars following her, a little impatient. 'She had the power and she used it for some one's benefit' I thought as I reached the other side.

"If you want to test a man's character, give him power" - Abraham Lincon.

story of ants and grasshopper

so some tales are here to last. may be when i grow older as a grandfather i will repeat this story. the reason for this would be simple, its a story applicable over various facets of life. 

in the current economic meltdown car manufacturers have crashed down and are caught in the tornado which is forcing them to be puppets. however, a salient feature which has kept Japanese and Korean manufacturers up is their ability to save when it is summer. these companies have truly been global in terms of adapting to changing cultures in their respective markets. Hyundai Motors Co has made India its small car manufacturing hub.

well this is also applicable for people who were not investing greedily in the Wall Streets and Dalal Streets of the financial worlds. there were some of my colleagues who were cautiously approaching their investments and there were a few who were lost in thoughts of early retirements. finally the ship has sunk and many are left with dreams. 

just read a great article on Toyota and how it has faced challenges and what lies ahead. Would like to share it with you guys. 

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2155

Letting go...

Now a days, with the thought of what others would think of my thoughts I have limited expressing, literally. I feel like a lost elephant in a new jungle. This comes to me as a shock, that even this blog seems like a page borrowed page from someone which I might have to return back. The drawn pictures, the wet leaves cease to exist. As a dear friend had mentioned "I hate short-talks".

I am feeling a bit nostalgic of the times in Mumbai. I am missing the stupid times I have had enjoyed at IIT Powai's Lake House. It was not only a spot where we went recluse but also enjoyed being silent for a change. The crazy dancing, singing and future plans were all witnessed by those moments. Rohit's adventure with his new camera, bike rides, swaying platform on the lake and Pizza party are so fresh in memory. Most visited address searched in the google of my brain. 

I am still confused with how people act situational, me included!! Is the algorithm scribbled in the same way for everyone? Yesterday this fact led me into a long discussion with a couple of friends. This discussion brought me to the same conclusion "don't expect anything from anyone and you are better off". GoSo are you listening? 

Life has slowly become like an artifact which is absorbed with the colors of past. When the colors were wet and the canvass blank, it was glorious. I want a new page on this canvass so that I can start a new adventure. May be it also signifies that I get lost with the small things in life. Get too people centric. Too mechanical. 

PS: As I mention the drawn pictures, I remember the college bag of Ninzee. A mechanical form of Lord Ganesh was drawn on it. Wonder what rules the mind of that artist?

Free

Not always will time stay.
Not always will the kids play.
Its the change that is blurry,
perspective makes special ordinary.

Think beyond the chains,
the world exists.
The road travels beyond senses.
let yourself be free of fences.

Quest for perfection

Life has become more of a thirst for perfection. No matter where you go your eyes want perfection in everything they observe. Nothing wrong you will say.

My point is by searching only for a perfect companion, perfect music, perfect home and perfect job we are losing any scope of indulgence in creativity. We keep our thoughts beamed through the glass of other's vision and what they would consider as perfect. We drink the beer holding the glass in a perfect way thus losing an opportunity to discover a new style. Our word selection is perfect, thus obstructing the flow of a poetry. When we hear the hero say "Perfection ko improve karna mushkil hain" (It is difficult to improve perfection) we cannot stop ourselves saying Cool. We calculate perfectly how many words to say even when we are talking with our companion and thus avoid adding a new dimension to the whole process of companionship.

I am not against perfection. Someone had said "Work done 97% perfectly is good enough to start a new one". However, in a rush to prove, to impress or to grow we select dream of perfection over dream of creativity. Just imagine how the world would be if everything is perfect? Yeah it will be perfect!! But then will it be fun? Will you be able to give an excuse of getting late because of a traffic jam? Will you love the sweet made by the nukkad halwaai over your mother's blend of creativity? Its not such a tough thing if you look at the bigger picture. You might impress hundreds but forget to diversify your own skills and limit experiences. Its up for grabs, take it or leave it. Why am I searching for a perfect ending to this thought process?

Richard Bach in ILLUSIONS

There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands.
You seek problems because you need their gifts.

A Fight Within..

I am fighting with myself, fighting for you.
Fighting the dark clouds surrounding my mind.

I am fighting myself, fighting for dreams.
Fighting the fight till my end.

I am fighting with myself, fighting for peace.
Fighting the wind that toppled the king's empire.

I am fighting with time, fighting to win myself back.
I feel like a soldier pulled in a battle to be killed.

I am fighting your words deep in my head.
For they go deeper than the core.

I fight the dark shadows in my dreams.
Its evil to keep up this fight.

Your smile reflect the smiles in my thoughts.
I fight them in the dark room of being me.

I fight the fight that we fought.
I am tired of it all, staring back within.

only good is bad

In a small village there lived a saint. He earned a reputation of being good even to the bad ones. People respected him for his patience and sanity.

Once a wealthy man of the village invited the saint for a meal. Reluctant earlier, the saint had a desire to indulge in sweet taste. He told the rich man that he would pay a visit only if served sweet food to which the rich man agreed.

The day arrived. The saint smiled and started his journey towards the home of the rich man. On knocking his door he was welcomed with a sweet smile and this delighted the saint. As he washed his hands his meal was served and he started consuming the first round of delicacies. He finished the first serve in a matter of few minutes and was instantly offered some more. He enjoyed the second serve with a smile and thought why he had refrained himself from this for so long. At the end of the fifth serve he ordered the rich man to stop making sweets for him but managed to eat the sixth time.

The saint was found dead in his hut the next day for overconsumption of sugar.

Lesson: Too much of anything is bad, even good. Only when you taste bitterwill you respect sweet.