Kindness

Some days back, I set out of office one evening, leaving a bit early for home than I normally do. Walking towards the auto stand. Within a matter of seconds, I am caught in a heavy downpour with no umbrella or raincoat whatsoever. Not a single auto is ready to take me to my destination. I keep waving by at empty autos, but alas! The bus route has been diverted due to the construction of the Metro. No cab is ready to come within the next 1 hour. Try calling up some friends/family/colleagues. All are stuck in the rain at different places, far from where I am stuck.

By now, the heavy downpour has reduced to a "steady" drizzle and my waiting continues unabated.

I stand by the corner of the road, under a tree, feeling cold and forlorn; watching people passing by, feeling the rain drops from the tree, observing the speeding cars and bikes, insensitively splashing the rain slush/drainage water all over the pedestrians and the lesser mortals who walk on the roads.

It must have been a while when all of a sudden, I am pulled out of my reverie by a grey Honda Activa which stops right beside me. And the lady rider looks towards me and says " Hey! I am going to Indiranagar. Would you like me to drop you somewhere that side?"

I am baffled and suddenly feel hesitant and wonder why....what... how...

She senses my hesitation and quickly chirps in "I saw you standing there wet and alone in the dark, perhaps looking for an auto. Thought would find out where you need to go and drop you somewhere if it is the same direction as mine."

This random act of kindness from a stranger really touched my heart. Truly, such incredibly small ways to reach out to our fellow human beings and make a difference. We just need to make the effort- to be kind and sensitive.

A soap opera with a different twist

I confess I don’t fancy soap operas. But this one is different.
And well, like most soap operas, this also has the K element! (Thankfully, it does not start with it!)

The events unfolding in our neighbouring state has kept me engrossed over the past few weeks - a 100 % edge of the seat thriller.

My take on this : As Lord Acton famously remarked, Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Power like lust, is all pervasive and blinds the person to all raison d'être; makes you indulge in a self-serving game of constant deceit, one-upmanship and manipulation.

Its an abyss.

******************

My Interview pick of the week : Karan Thapar (KT) interviewing Nawaz Sharif (NS) in London, it goes like this:

KT : So, on the 10th morning, which is Monday, Nawaz Sharif will be standing on Pakistani soil.

NS : Hopefully.

KT: When you say hopefully does that mean…

NS : Hopefully means Insha Allah.

KT : Is it in God’s hands or yours?

NS : First God and then of course in our hands.

Aaaah!

Insha Allah, Nawaz Sharif did step on Pakistan soil only to be deported back to Jeddah.

Don’t know who had the last laugh though – God, Musharraf or Sharif!

Does livelihood and meaningfulness co-exist ?

In the pursuit of one's livelihood, if we lose track of the meaningfulness, does it matter ?

This state of 'disillusion' is precisely that - And I am told that there is no problem as such, it is merely the disappearance of an illusion.

Ruminating...

You are what you are.
And I am what I am.

Then why this game?
Why ?

What is it that you wish to prove ? And to whom ?
Where is the end to this ?

And does any of this matter in the bigger, grander scheme of life ?

when stark is beautiful.

on a cloudy and windy day in Bannerghatta - forest area.

The Broken Sandal

- Denise Levertov


Dreamed the thong of my sandal broke.
Nothing to hold it to my foot.
How shall I walk?
Barefoot?

The sharp stones, the dirt. I would hobble.

And–
Where was I going?
Where was I going I can't
go to now, unless hurting?
Where am I standing, if I'm
to stand still now?