Helping Others!

In the hot month of August at NH 8; I was coming from a book shop with Siddharth in our lovely car swiftu… Those two eyes met with me for a second, I stopped the car… asked the lady DO you need any help? That was unusual of me stopping the car at the highway … She answered with the mixed expression of fear and happiness yes…. I asked can I drop you somewhere. She was so happy yes I want to go to IFFCO chowk it was not on my way but still I said, ok come and sit... I started the car, with a relief she said I am so happy to get the ride, I am not familiar with this area, I came for an interview and for the last one hour I am waiting to get an auto, no bus is stopping and the Rickshaw wala is charging me very high... Thanks so much... I said, “its fine, this route is different there are no autos and bus doesn’t stop, are you sure that you can reach home safely if I drop you to the Chowk.” The chowk came and she blessed Siddharth and she went her own way….

By mistake or by fortunate, I had received an e mail from a fresher student of Food technology who has sent the application for the job, thinking that I can get him a job… The cover letter was written so badly that whosoever will read ignore it… I took down his no and called him up and told him to give me a call at my cell in the evening…. Without knowing who he is I thought of helping him out… he wanted to meet me , came to my home, and gave him few tips for how to write the cover letter, refined his resume, how to approach people in the industry, which is the different companies he can give a try…. His family and he were wondering that how can someone help without knowing the person….. The same incident happened when a girl from karnal called at our office and our reception transferred the phone to me…

One mail of a supplier came to my desk, the moment I opened I realised it doesn’t belongs to my department, passed it to everyone all said no… I was in a fix how to find out the purpose of the letter… an idea came called up the supplier, he was not on the seat , left the message no reply, called again in the evening… he was in a off mood and tried to be in fighting mood with me, i said ne thing, Dear Sir, I don’t know anything about this letter, I have called to help you out if you think that by fighting with me you will solve the purpose then go ahead, but this is not going to help you rather you should listen patiently as I am going to give you the right person’s name… then he really calmed down…

Yesterday , me , siddharth and my younger brother were coming out of the lift, when I saw one old man struggling with the gas cylinder he was carrying , all of a sudden I approached to the cylinder from the other end and helped him to the car… A big smile was on his face…. J J

It reminded me of few words by Mother Teresa People may really need help but may attack you If you help them. Help people anyway.

I really don’t know why I am like this… May be I do all this to heal my heart, to give happiness or…………….??

Zindagi ek Safar hai……………….
Jisne samajah liya who mast hai…
Zisne paa liya who shaant hai….
Zise nahi mila who talaash mein hai….

Nov. 7 – Siddharth’s Birthday!

Birthday what is the meaning of birthday – I was telling siddharth … A day on which your life , only one life starts, we should make all the good efforts to make this life happy that’s why we call it as happy birthday …. And celebrate it by distributing sweets and to this siddharth said, by cutting cake and blowing candle…

The day started with as other normal day… siddharth was wished by both of us… for him it is another full day for doing things on his own.. he started with by making an aeroplane on the bed with the help of pillows… and requested me to sit on it..as he is going to meet his grand ma at PUNJAB..

Sidharth went to school, we gave some chocloates for the kids in his class, he was given a card from the school, a song was sung in the assembly for him….
I had picked siddharth early from school since i wanted him to enjoy the day on his own, when I asked him where do u want to go, he said pick up some chips and go home..I took him to the book shop(to gift him a book) , today he picked the book himself NODDY ( Do it Yourself) , I hope he will be able to read it word by word by his next birthday …

In the evening the room was decorated with ballons, and stripers… when me and vivek started to put the air in the ballon with the mouth it was difficult but then we could manage to fill alomost 30 ballons… I have invited only close friends of siddharth as he is too small to handle a big gathering…
Here was the time for cake cutting…. Sidaharth was too excited for this.. He handled the knife too softly and cut the cake with full enthu... WOW!!

He wanted to feed his friends!! and we appreciated that..

Time to feed friends Aditya, Malika and Tanu… with the cake…

First was of course Malika and then Tanu....

Photo session with the friends ( from left Aditya, Tanu, Siddharth and Malika):

After eating cake all his friends were sitting down and playing with the toys… Everyone was excited with the puzzle, cars, hammer, beads.... Good Siddharth was also sharing his toys with the friends....

Siddharth was back to his puzzle …. Overall it was a good day for siddharth and I am sure he has enjoyed it the most ..

I was just thinking ONE LIFE LIVE IT…………………………..

Different mood swings!!

Have You ever enjoyed Frooti like this!!

Isme kya hai!!
Mama ko pata chal gaya!! Caught you!!

Creative Puzzle and Siddharth!

Kids learn things very fast …. That siddharth has shown me in so many things..

Few days back I bought the another puzzle for him, thanks to one of my friends, she use to tell that you should expose the kids to different kinds of puzzle, they develop the brain layers to do solve the things in more than one way, I don’t know how much it is going to help.. But Siddharh can solve the puzzle from the age of one and half year and he enjoys doing it so I pick mostly the educational toys and puzzle for him…

This puzzle is about the play and spell, where you have to make the things like bag, car, fruits by joining the three or more pieces..

Intially I gave him all the pieces of one word, he joined.. within fifth attempt, now he can recognise the particular word pieces like Car, Cake, Dol, Mango and he can pick the pieces from the pool and join them…. and he made mango and frog.. the another good thing after making frog he will jump like frog....

And then he will say Mama clap karo... I will just look at siddharth and say WOW and then think what next puzzle for him...

A mother is a mother!

Sidharth is down with the fever for the last three days.. we were managing the baby sitting.. and siddharth was also feeling happy to be with us at home.

Today morning I thought of taking off from work and spend the day with siddharth.. I wanted to go to temple in the morning, honestly I was scared to see siddharth shivering day before yesterday night, I wanted to say thanks to Sai Baba for making him good today.. and today besuase of thrusday they do a special archana of Baba… wanted to attend it..

Siddharth also came with me to the temple, I was amazed to see his patience at the temple to be there for almost half an hour and attending the pooja…

When we were coming out of the temple, he wanted to have tikka and prasad, I requested the pujari for him.. he is such a loving kid, everyone loves him and the way he speaks Jai Sai Ram, I am sure Sai Baba will also feel happy…

We reached home and siddharth told me Mama I want to go to school, I was surprised to see his confidence and could not say No, though I was scared from inside, even when I was bathing him, checking his body temp. After giving the course of medicene and feeding siddharth we got ready for his school and my office.

When I left him at the school gate, he went quitely to his class, his class teacher screemed with joy, siddharth we are so happy to see you in the school.

I was giving some instruction to his class teacher and requesting them to monitor his body temperature …. Telling her that anytime she is more experinced than me as her kid is older… she said, we understand your feeling and after all a mother is a mother..

Her words brought the tears in my eyes which I was hiding from her … and came quicly to my car and started my journey towards my office with a tough heart, I was having the hard feeling of leaving siddharth in the unknown hands….

I know sometime you have to make some choices, which you feel that kash yeh decision mujhe na lena padta………….

People by Looks!

A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off the train in Boston.

Walked timidly without an appointment into the president's outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard.And probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge. She frowned.

"We want to see the president," the man said softly. "He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped. "We'll wait," the lady replied.

For hours, the secretary ignored them. Hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. But they didn't. The secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president, even though it was a chore she always regretted to do."Maybe if they just see you for a few minutes, they'll leave," she told him. The president sighed in exasperation and nodded.

Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them. But he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits cluttering up his outer office. The president, stern-faced with dignity, strutted toward the couple.

The lady told him, "We had a son that attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed.

My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus". The president wasn't touched, he was shocked. "Madam," he said gruffly, "we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. He continued," if we did, this place would look like a cemetery."

"Oh, no, we don't want to erect a statue”, the lady explained quickly.

"We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard." The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed.

"A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical plant at Harvard."

For a moment the lady was silent.

The president was pleased. He could get rid of them now. The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a University? Why don't we just start our own?"

Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment.Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California. Where they established the University that bears their name. A memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about!

Their story reminding all of us to never, ever JUDGE PEOPLE BY THE LOOKS!

What will you do if you don’t have to go on work tomorrow??

Have anyone of you asked this question to you or are we prepare for the day. I am preparing myself for the answer … Few options are , I can spend more time with siddharth, can work on few of my dreams i always wanted to do but could not get, can complete the reading of my books on my wish list, but all these things will not take much of the time…

I was discussing with my friend, then he said, “ Swatantra that’s fine, but I want you to think that whatever you choose for this time , keep one thing in mind that 15 years of your another career depend upon this decision only.”

I was stunned to hear this that there so much of truth in this… I am in deep thoughts now….

There are only few days has been left that I will come to office, they have asked me to move to a remote area (definition is far from the family) Nine months back when our MD was discussing with me the plans for the R&D, and now he is asking me to relocate… How will I manage this relocation with my three year old son...? Can I be so selfish that to save my career I should put my son into trouble? If I put these two things on the plate one is my salary cheque and other thing is Life with siddharth... I believe being emotional for my son is perfectly fine … That’s what I have told to my boss today morning I cannot move……

I am meeting all the big shot in the food industry… I go with the full enthusiasm and come back with a fuse bulb….. Yesterday Vivek and Siddharth came along with me to meet one of the people, when they both were waiting at the Barista and Siddharth was playing the guitar ... Again putting me into thoughts you can do so much to complete siddharth’s dreams…..

But that feeling of getting ready for the office, and a person like me who is managing both the fronts very well… what will I do now. Till the time I don’t get the new job……

In the morning prayers I ask him to show me the new direction, I never say why this to me?? because I know that I am his favourite candidate and my belief into this thought," CALM sea never makes a skillful sailor so GOD wants me to be come perfect sailor……………and the three words I have known in my life IT GOES ON…………… "

Pastry at Narula's !!

One fine evening in Gurgaon, i had some work went along with Siddharth, Vivek was having dinner out with some less important office people so thought of having dinner with Siddharth at nearby Narula’s restaurant, due to some technical error at ATM, could not withdraw money. With a thought of so called debit visa card as the payment mode me and Siddharth with a shaandar parking in the designated parking lot entered into the restaurant

To our first surprise the first person who seems to be a waiter to me said sorry madam we don’t accept card… here is Siddharth shouting with excitement on seeing all different kinds of cake Mummy i want the cake… so i thought of going to the manger and requested him the same problem….

Here is the manager with no believe into me that i am a genuine need and thinking of me as some crook , asked where do u live i said phase V and my office is nearby with a polite and innocent expression of motherly love answered…. With no expression of kindness he replied,” madam you don’t know that card are not accepted at any fast food restaurant , I was like what to do situation… since SIDDHRTH was still excited to see pastry and cakes … aur meri nazar padi ek black forest pastry ke rate par… 25/- .. and struck into my mind that had only this much change in my change bag..

Rushed to the car with siddharth baby let’s go to the car and bring the money… he was too good to understand that and came quietly with me…. Here was another twist MR. Rajindera the parking boy, requested him don’t have money the only money I have is to buy my son a pastry from so called professional people… to my kindness he agreed on first thought and asked me to give back the parking slip…

We entered again to the restaurant this time with more grand smile on our faces… paid him and Siddharth was enjoying his pastry to the last bite.. Unaware of all this which was going through my mind…

Then i remembered … that last time at PIZZA HUT we paid by VISA card…. Before leaving the restaurant i went to him and told him that PIZZAHUT accepts card.. and blessed him May God never put you into this kind of a situation…..

I hope i did right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here we go back thanking the Rajindera for waving the parking fee…i had the time of my life was playing in the car……………………..

Walking on the narrow path!!

He always amazes me with the small small achievements!!! When he will scream with joy on seeing a tiny light of the airplane in the dark, or seeing an airplane when i am trying to get him in the car from the crèche (that’s the routine time for an airplane), or seeing an airplane anywhere.

Last sunday while going from the front of the Mall he had really amazed both of us by noticing a small airplane moving from the back of a building…. which i believe can be noticed by us only after paying the attention…
Yesterday evening in the park, a small girl was walking on the narrow path, he got excited and wanted to walk on the same narrow path... and i am a kind of mother if he gets excited about anything i will be excited at the level double than him…

The challenge was when he actually was on the narrow path he got scared of falling down… suddenly an idea came to my mind.. While going up the path i holded his finger but while coming down i told him to walk himself, then he started sitting on the path, then all of a sudden another idea came and i started putting my finger in the middle of the path and asked him to concentrate on the finger… How fast these kids pick up things Kaash hum bhi aisse hote… after few while he was walking on his own on the narrow path and now it was my turn to scream with joy!!

September 11......

Satyagrah - a battle for the opponent's mind……………… September 11, the day when two aero planes smashed into New York's Twin Towers the day's abbreviated form, 9/11, immediately became shorthand for violence. And five years down the line, it continues to be so.

Few remember that the same day — 9/11 — was actually synonymous with non-violence. Exactly 100 years ago — September 11, 1906, to be precise — this day also marked the birth of Satyagrah……. Truth (Satya) implies Love and Firmness (Agraha) engenders and therefore serves as a synonym for force… that is to say, the Force which is born of Truth and Love or Non-violence… [If] we are Satyagrahis and offer Satyagraha, believing ourselves to be strong… we grow stronger and stronger everyday. With our increase in strength, our Satyagraha too becomes more effective, and we would never be casting about for an opportunity to give it up." –Gandhi

Recent Indian history provides hundreds of satyagraha movements within many environments.

Code of Discipline

The following points were laid down by Gandhi as a code for volunteers in the 1930 movement:
1 Harbour no anger but suffer the anger of the opponent. Refuse to return the assault of the opponent.
2 Do not submit to any order given in anger, even though severer punishment is threatened for disobeying.
3 Refrain from insults and swearing.
4 Protect opponents from insult or attack, even at the risk of life.
5 Do not resist arrest nor the attachment of property, unless holding property as a trustee.
6 Refuse to surrender any property held in trust at the risk of life.
7 If taken prisoner, behave in an exemplary manner.
8 As a member of a satyagraha unit, obey the orders of satyagraha leaders, and resign from the unit in the event of serious disagreement.
9 Do not expect guarantees for maintenance of dependents.

"In violence, you attack the enemy. Non-violence appeals to the conscience of the enemy. It is not anti-opponent. Satyagraha aims at stirring up the finer side of the opponent,"

Ganapati Bappa!!

Mumbai … Hadsoon ka shahar… These were the first words I had heard about Mumbai Amchi Mumbai… in one of the songs... The city sounded me very different than I have seen in movies.. I was there to halt for a night to catch an early morning flight to GOA for my product trials…

All over the streets the idols of Lord Ganesha were made to celebrate his birthday … the enthusiasm amongst people were so much it came on street from home……. The first introduction to me of this festival was from the movie Dard ka rishta where they celebrate this festival to save the life of Sunildutt’s daughter khoshboo... and now I was the part of it and worshiping with other people of Amchi mumbai…

Is it we really understand the meaning of Lord Ganesha the GOD of knowledge…A large forehead indicatation of a brilliant mind.

His ears, which appear like large winnowing baskets, to separate grains from dirt, one must use discrimination (viveka) to separate the real (Brahman) from the unreal (Maya). His large ears, like the winnow, also sift the bad from the good Ganapati meaning leader of the ganas (public) as a leader should listen to everybody. It is also important for a leader not to let out all that he knows or all that he has been told; that is why Lord Ganapati has a large stomach.
A large trunk to scent out the smallest problem. The biggest and minutest of tasks are within the range of this trunk which is symbolic of Ganesha's intellect and his powers of discrimination.

A unique combination of his elephant - like head and a quick moving tiny mouse vehicle represents tremendous wisdom, intelligence and presence of mind. Also, his corpulent body, awkward gait, broken tusk and guffaw tell us that outward beauty has no relation to inner perfection.

By following few of these things in our efforts and the culture, can lead us to big results … not much like the Lord Ganesha but at least to the positive direction…

Happy Ganesha Chaturthi!!

Keep your fork!

There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So, as she was getting her things "in order", she contacted her pastor and had come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman also requested to be buried with her favourite Bible.
"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What's that?" the pastor replied.
"This is very important," the woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked.
"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor. The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favourite part because I knew that something better was coming like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie.
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. However, he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of Heaven than he did. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favourite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question "What's with the fork?" And over and over, he smiled.
During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right.

Therefore, the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, oh, so gently, that the best is yet to come.

Dil dhoonta hai!

Yesterday evening few girls in the park were playing a game we use to call as “pichoo” i use to play in my childhood days by numbering the different blocks on the ground…

I had never known the concept of evening dress and slippers, because i grew up wearing a “v” shaped chappal and few froquees (similar to the girl wearing in the above picture) which was the evening cum night dress…

When i go for choosing a dress from my wardrobe, it takes me back to days, i had never thought of my own wardrobe, own car and few money in the accounts……………..

I had less and was very happy and contended with that …. May be i had less so i admire for more now and pray to GOD for having more out of my efforts and lagan …..

I still miss the tune of dili doordarshan tune of only sunday evening movie and now i am in delhi ……………..and my only single precious white suit to wear on all the family function…………….

Dil dhoonta hai phir wohi fursat ke raat din……………….is playing on my radio……….

world of alphabets!!!!

A – Admire good work and service…
B – Believe in yourself ….
C – Courage is more important than strength ….
D – Determine to your dreams…….
E – Encourage others to do great things ….
F – Fear is the key to success….
G – God is great ….
H – Half glass is full….
I – I can do whatever I plan ………….
J – Just do it…………
K – Knowledge never goes waste….
L – Live happily …………..
M – Music can relive from stress… …
N – Never give up….
O – Overcome your obstacles…………
P – Pyaar se sab mumkin hai….
Q – Quit the things you don’t like………….
R – Remember 3 R’s Return, Risk and Results…
S – Seek for god advice………..
T – Trust the loved ones………
U – U can do anything………
V – Value your vision……..
W – Work for your dreams………
X – Xtra efforts are required to reach for your dreams…
Y – You and only you know yourself truly…..
Z – Zeal is the power of all………….

Bhayia aapne tika nahi lagaya!

Yesterday evening at the Sai temple my three year old son has amazed me……

Every Sunday evening we go the Sai temple near to our house….. Yesterday we got late because of some unimportant work. When we reached temple the Aarti was performing and just after the aarti the temple gets closed.

My three year old son is fond of Prasad … since the temple was closing down, because of Baba went to sleep so there was no Prasad and Tika (tilak they put on the forehead) was given.

As we were coming out, Siddharth said that tika nahi lagaya … I said ok baby let’s go back …. As I was just turning around and the moment he saw the pujari he rushed to him and said in a very firm manner Bhayia tika laga do …. I was stunned, I was thinking of requesting the pujari Bhayia, but he reached and got what he wished…

There are so many dreams and wishes of our life … my friends I want to wish you all , reach out for your dreams…… as one of the favourite quote it’s always the first step and the journey of thousand miles starts with the first STEP……………………..