Category: Philosophy

  • The pursuit of happiness

    The pursuit of happiness

    …….The happiness of giving!

    Looking at his father, the son Avium and his wife Ayesha were surprised. But after some time, Ayesha asked her father-in-law to be with them for a while and to have lunch with them. What was the reason behind this?

    Avium was the only child of their parents. His father worked hard to give him the best education and made all his efforts to make him settle in the new city after getting the job. Avium mother died due to kidney disease and his father was left alone in the home after his son moved to the city. Avium married Ayesha and they both had a son named Ritvik. Ritvik is 6-year-old and study in a very costly school. But his father never moved to the city. He stayed in the village only all alone.

    Avium’s father used to live in a village. He lived the simple life. He used to work in a post office but was retired a year before. So, he spends a lot of time in his fields looking for crops. He was a farmer.

    Avium and Ayesha worked in a bank and altogether earned a lot. They lived in a 3BHK flat in a very posh colony. They were rich. They had air conditioners in all the three rooms. They had two lavishing cars which used to drop and pick from their homes to banks. But Avium’s father used to go to his work by cycle.

    Often Avium’s father used to visit city to meet his son and daughter-in-law. He used to share the happy and unhappy moments with them and sometimes give them advice too. They also used to share sad and happy moments with their father.

    But from the past one year, he was very stressed due to crops that he planted in his fields. Monsoon was not good since the past two years so the crops didn’t get enough water. Therefore, he was not able to harvest them. He spent a lot of money and hard work in farming but all went in vain. Due to this, he was not able to meet his son and daughter-in-law from the past one year.

    Suddenly one day he went to the city and decided to visit them. He reached their home and asked them about their health and wellbeing.

    Avium and Ayesha both were on cloud nine when they saw their father was in pink spirits of health and was completely fit. But after a while, they both were stressed and were in a tension thinking that again their father had come for the losses in his money and could ask for money from them because his crops were destroyed due to the seasons.

    “It is by God’s blessing we are earning good amount of money. But we also need money, we also have stresses in our lives, we also have problems. We have taken the car loan, house loan, loan for higher studies of Ritvik and his EMI’s” said Ayesha in a very low tone.

    His father after listening all this went to the washroom to take a bath so that he will be fresh after travelling so much. He came out from the bathroom and sat on the chair of the dining table. Avium was sitting beside his father and was sad. Avium’s father asked him, “Why are you sad? Is there any problem? Tell me I will help you in that.” Avium replied in a very low tone with a smiling face, “Dad everything is fine. Avium asked his dad, “Are you fine? Do you have any problem and if yes don’t hesitate to tell me, I will surely help you in that!”

    When Avium was asking about his father’s well-being Ayesha looked at Avium in an irritated manner. Father replied, “No son, I have no issues. Only your problem makes me worried. Your problem is my problem.”

    After saying all this Avium’s father put his hands in pocket and drew out a bundle of 2000 rupees notes and handed it to his son. While handling this he said to Avium, “The crop of this year was good and I have earned so much out of this.” I got a lot of profit so I came here to give you. All because I wanted to share my income with you. Seeing all this Avium and Ayesha were spellbound. They were in a still because they never shared their profit with their father. But his father came all way long only to share his profit with them.

    It is correctly said that the father could only understand the happiness of giving, not the son. Father said to them, “You both should leave for your office, you might be running late. It is also the time for me to leave.”

    Ayesha convinced her father-in-law to stay for few days because he rarely comes to their home. Avium’s father declined. Ayesha again asked her father-in-law to wait until the lunch. Avium’s father still declined.

    He replied, “I cannot stay until lunch. I had breakfast and that is enough. You both and Ritvik are perfectly fit, I am happy in that only.”

    Avium father washed his hands and went to his village on a cycle.

  • In-laws

    In-laws

    She realized today that to feel the pain of relatives and other people, relation doesn’t come in between.

    Jasmine used to work in a multi-national company and her job was from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Her life was very hectic. She doesn’t get a bit of time for her.

    It was the hottest day of the summer when she decided to come back from the office early. She came back from office to home as in the living room and lie down there because she was very tired and exhausted. Due to the sunstroke, she suffered from a headache. Her head was aching so much that she could barely open her eyes and grabbed her forehead very tightly.

    Her husband John was at the home only. He saw that she was suffering from pain. So, he gave her two painkillers along with aa glass of water. Maybe this could be some relief to her. But it takes time for medicines to work. She wasn’t getting any kind of relief. She wakes after 10 minutes and got up in a hurry because all her household works were pending. He woke up and rushed to her kitchen and started making dinner for her and her family.

    Seeing her father doing all this their daughter Rashida was greatly influenced. Rashida was 4 years old only. She left her drawing book and the toys with which she was playing. She wore her little cute slippers and just like dad pulled out the drawer and too out painkillers from the tablet box. She took 2-3 painkillers out from the box and went to the kitchen and gave medicines to her mom and said, “Mom, please take the medicines you will not feel any pain. It will give you some sort of relief.

    Her mom took the medicines and her eyes were filled with tears to see her daughter’s caring nature and her innocence. She pampered her daughter and blessed her for this act of kindness and compassion. Rashida moved out as soon as her mom nodded to take medicines.

    Suddenly Jasmine’s mother-in-law came from temple to home. So, after seeing all this she immediately went to the kitchen and asked Jasmine, “What happened? Is there any problem? Are you alright? Are you in your pink spirits of health? Are you fine? Rashida told me that she has given a few medicines to you.

    My head is aching said Jasmine to her mother-in-law. Jasmine’s voice was very low she could even utter a word due to this pain.

    Go and take rest. Just have a nap, said mother in law to Jasmine. I will prepare the food. Don’t take tension about this.

    Jasmine said, “But dear mom, you prepared the food in the morning only”. Let me prepare the food this time.

    So, what! I will prepare it to gain, it is not such a huge task and if in any case, I need help I will call John. Don’t worry about this. Go! Jasmine goes to her room and takes some rest. Her mother-in-law started picking up vegetables from the basket and started chopping them. Jasmine took a deep breath and was so relieved after hearing this that after all, she could take rest. She remembered while lying on the bed that at her maternal her mother asks her sister-in-law to make food even if she is suffering from fever or pain she was forced to make food. Her mother-in-law is far better than her mom. He was thinking all this when her mother-in-law knocked the room and came inside. She had prepared tea for Jasmine with some masalas and herbs that would cure her headache. She offered tea to Jasmine. While offering a cup of tea her mother-in-law said to Jasmine, “If in any case you are having any issue regarding your health or other things just tell me. I will be always there for you.”

    Jasmine nodded after hearing all this from her mother. Her eyes were filled with tears and she cannot control her tears. There were the tears of compassion and kindness of her mother-in-law.

    Mother-in-law got worried and asked Jasmine, “What happened?” Are you missing your mom and your home?

    No Mom. I was just thinking that why not all mothers-in-law are like you. You are too kind and loveable. Your heart is so soft and you are too caring that no one can ever imagine.

    My dear daughter listens, “I am a mom first then your mother-in-law. And before any mom, I am a woman first and therefore I understand all your pain and happiness. I will share all the happy and sad moments with you because I am your mother.

    Mother-in-law put her hand on the head of Jasmine and gave her blessing and told her to take rest. Go and sleep for some time my daughter said her mother-in-law to her mother.

    Jasmine kept talking with her mother until she falls to sleep. This was her best sleep ever.

  • Longing

    Longing

    Longing.

    That’s what we all are doing.

    Longing and searching for something we are unaware of. Looking for something which has no definition or perhaps it does, but somehow it’s only visible to us.

    We are frightened of showing it to others, scared enough to let them know what we want.

    What are we searching for and what are we scared of?

    Do we need someone to rely on ? Do we need someone to hold us, so that we can be saved from falling apart?

    Certainly, if this is the question and the answer, maybe we all are going wrong.

    It’s good to rely, it’s good to search, it’s good to find, but what’s better is to be found.

    To be found by your own self, and not by someone else.

    It’s good to yearn, but for your own soul.

    Nobody in this universe is as helpful as you alone can be to yourself.

    We all have our own insecurities, our own fears, hiding behind a fake smile, peeking and seeking freedom.

    So let this, break free. Let’s face the monster who has taken hold of us.

    Let us kill the real fuss.

    Start your search again. Look for the real you. The one you want to live. The one you are proud of. Stop creating a circle around you. Don’t allow this is to bind you, be it whatever, relationship, job, fake friendship or the soul which has become rotten by time.

    Breathe. Breathe as much as you want, but then look for yourself.

    Dress beautifully, smile gracefully, and leave anything or everything which is making your energy low gradually.

    It’s good to find, but nothing is more beautiful than to be found.

    Found by your own self.

     

    Image Source : http://curitibainenglish.com.br

  • Cage

    Cage

    have you ever

    Have you ever been caged ?

    Caged in your own thoughts, where you have no idea whether to hope for freedom or fall in love with the dark.

  • FAMILY TIES

    FAMILY TIES

    One of those things you do not have the power to choose.

    You simply chance upon a few people, grow up around them, coincidentally forge similar mindsets and ideals, and learn to call them your family.

    Or, maybe not.
     

    Maybe you don't just 'chance' upon them. Maybe they were handed down to you for a specific reason. Just maybe there is quite a good explanation for why you chose to take birth in the particular house that you were born in.

    Amidst those people you first opened your naive eyes to.

    Down those rusty halls that you crawled and troddled around which you would begin to rightfully claim as your home.

    That sneary sibling who loves teasing you and whom you'd learn to love to hate, have a lot of fights with, and alongside whom, you would grow. That same one who would proudly or whiningly boast of her abrupt new tag, 'the elder one' amongst friends, duly because of you.

    That senile, wise, worn down couple showering upon you all their love, amused with your silly old antiques; never letting a moment to spoil you, pass them by. Yes that same couple who you'd suddenly start calling grandparents, something entirely new and endearing for them.

    Was all this really sudden, unplanned, not chosen and abrupt?

    Were you actually powerless in picking out your clan mates?

    Or is this yet another abstruse, ambiguous and enigmatic query that stays hidden beneath the layers of stark facts stored in your brain.

    Were you destined to make your entry into this world through a particular womb, which was made ready to especially nurture, shelter, shield and protect you when you do arrive, whose eyes were taught to fathom out what you needed even when you could not spell it out to her.

    Remember that first time you clutched onto your daddy's big languid hands with your tiny tender ones… was it really the very first time, or was it a routine gesture; something you did to reassure yourself that you've landed in the right place, that those hands were still right there to support you, caress you, even after the elapse of such a long time.

    Oh yeah, that infuriating sibling you had to put up with, all those years. The one you shared a lot more than just a room, maybe even another lifetime way before, was she given to you for a specific reason? Maybe you would help ass to her responsibilities, even as she's unaware of that big word's meaning. And she will in turn help you evolve and grow up in a way, no one else ever can or ever will.

    The innumerable days you spent with her- bickering, fighting, wrangling and laughing. Those chilly nights you slept next to each other, snuggled in, each comforting and cradling the other.

    All those birthday parties, anniversaries, vacation trips and shopping sprees and every other occasion where your lot stuck out as a "family" and endured it all together, that personal package of your halcyon days was maybe conspicuously gifted to you.

    Yet another infant being born on that day in that hospital ward that day. Maybe that was what you were.

    Or maybe your lingering, craving spirit, took a human form that fateful day, to play its due part, assume its indisputable role in the long running, untold, unshared story, that only you and your 'coincidental family' mates have been a part of, have been living since eons of lifetimes before.

    And maybe every argument you have, every hug you share, every laugh resonating within those familiar walls, every damn emotion that you dispense amongst yourselves, somehow works in weaving and strengthening these enchanting family ties.