Princess Kiran

Don’t let numbers misguide you

2009-12-14T13:46:00.000+05:30

As the Indian cricket team reached the pinnacle of the ICC Test Rankings, a certain statistic in a newspaper caught my eye. It said that Dhoni has a 100% win record as Indian Test captain. That sounds highly impressive, doesn’t it? But probe a bit deeper and you come to know that Dhoni has captained the team in only 10 Test matches as yet. While nothing can be taken away from his leadership qualities, it can be said that numbers can often be misleading. When we look at numbers from just the top, we often miss out on the real picture.
The same happens with retail equity fund investors. Newspapers of late have been running headlines about the inflating size of the fund industry’s assets under management. From Rs 6 lakh crore in May, to Rs 7 lakh crore in August to Rs 8 lakh crore in November, these numbers seem so impressive that any lay investor can be forgiven for thinking that people are putting in huge amounts into funds once again. However, that is not really the case. Let me explain why.

Basically, the Indian mutual fund industry is made up of two very distinct industries within itself. First is the wholesale debt fund industry (where the money comes largely from corporate companies) and then there is the retail equity fund industry (where the money comes largely from individual investors). Of course, there is an overlap of the two parts, but in context of the total AUM, this overlap is of a minor quantity. Over the past few years, the wholesale debt fund industry has come along quite well. In 2004, the size of this industry was about Rs 1.15 crore. It has reached Rs 5.9 lakh crore now, a growth rate of almost 40% a year. During this same time, the retail equity fund industry grew at a rate of about 50 % a year, from Rs 25,000 crore in 2004 to Rs 1.9 lakh crore now. This statistic, by itself, is fairly impressive. But when we probe further, we find that picture to be not so rosy because during this time the markets grew by 3.5 times, taking the Sensex at the floor level. Compare this to the equity fund industry’s growth of 2.4 times, and it becomes clear that the holla created over reaching Rs 8 lakh crore doesn’t paint the right picture.
The reason behind this is the investor behavior towards market gyrations. When the markets rise, everyone starts investing money, when the markets fall, everyone sort of hangs around, waiting and watching, and when a slight recovery is seen, everyone redeems their investments to avoid further losses. I have written about the futility of this investment approach a number of times. And the fact that the equity fund industry has grown so sluggishly can also be attributed to this approach.
For example, in February 2009, equity fund assets were at Rs 1.09 lakh crore. They rose to Rs 1.44 lakh crore in May 2009. Had the equity fund industry’s growth been in line with that of the markets, then the assets should have been at Rs 1.8 lakh. The missing Rs 36,000 crore is the amount that was redeemed by investors in a hurry. No wonder the funds underperformed the markets.
We are partly to be blamed for the equity fund industry’s sluggish growth, but we are completely at blame for the under performance of our own portfolios. Had you stayed invested and not redeemed when the markets rose, then today your investments would have certainly been worth more than what you got. And therein lies the lesson that all investors need to learn.

2 ghosts and a belt

2009-10-07T18:49:00.000+05:30

2 ghosts and a belt

Clever Monkey

2009-10-07T18:30:00.000+05:30

Clever Monkey

Why Me

2009-10-04T16:47:00.001+05:30

ABC OF MOTIVATION

2009-10-04T16:30:00.000+05:30

ABC

My Princess

2009-09-12T13:31:00.002+05:30

I recently adopted a Dalmador (Mixed breed - Dalmatian and Labrador), a lot of people asked me why did I opt for an adoption and why after all these years did I bring a dog at home when I was scared of dogs in the first place. Well the answer is simple, this was an impulsive decision taken from the heart. There are times you take decisions that have no rational explanations for them. I am no good with children and have no experience in raising a dog. It is frightening at times, especially when it is a rescued pup, who has been traumatized since birth, but nevertheless I took the bold step and ventured out to give the pup a home. 20 days down she seems happy with me and is opening up to her new found world.

To answer the question why I adopted a dog and why didn’t I buy one, well the answer is simple, I wanted to give the pup a home and not own it. Our relationship is born from the heart and not by materialistic things that are unknown in doggy land. Her innocence, playful gestures capture my heart and make my day. We all go for pedigreed dogs not because we know anything about them but because we think that our own status will be enhanced.

What is a pedigreed dog? It is an invented species- take a perfectly natural dog, what you would refer to as jungli, and then work on it for 20 years of selective breeding to make the end product into a bizarre shape, size and colour and there you have a pedigreed dog. Suppose you want a short black longhaired dog. You keep breeding black dogs and killing those that are tall. Keep intermating brother and sister of the shorter dogs till the size becomes short. Then kill the ones that have short hair and keep mating the ones that have longer hair till, after so many years you will get the short, black, longhaired dog. Along the way you will have killed at least 5000 or more dogs which did not fit your vision. The Indian contribution to the pedigreed field is the Rampur Hound, the ultimate joke played by the Nawab of Rampur on dog breeders. He kept experimenting with strays until he achieved a uniform size and then entered them as breeds in dog shows where they won awards due more to his status than theirs. And the Rampur Hound was born.
Breeding pure dogs is the ultimate cruelty. Their size, their structure, their self-defence systems are all tampered with to suit somebody's strange notion of beauty. As a result they suffer from all sorts of genetic diseases. Dalmatians and Pomeranians are prone to deafness - in fact all white coloured dogs are partially deaf and some are completely deaf , poodles to epilepsy, Lhasa Aphsos to fatal kidney failure and cataracts, Alsatians to hip dysplasia (in fact they have stopped breeding them all over the world because every alsatian has this problem of hind legs collapsing), and bull dogs to heart disease.
As a result of inbreeding to create and maintain their characteristic appearance, each breed has many genetic defects. The Basset Hound's short and thick forelegs have chronic elbow dislocation. The standard that demands their eyes to be soft, sad and sunken creates a large gap between the lower eyelid and eye which catches dust and debris. Similarly the Dachshund's short legs are inadequate supports for the dog's long straight back, so spine dislocations are common causing enormous pain when they move. No engineer would design a bridge with so many roadways between its support legs and expect it to stand. Take the bulldog. Its wrinkles and huge skin folds become the site of infection. Its nose is required to be set back deeply between the eyes causing severe breathing problems. A bull dog lives a short life and one that is a constant struggle against suffocation. Is it their fault or that of those who have turned beautifully made living creatures into toys?

Each day is a new day for me and I am learning a lot from the pup who is merely 4 months old. Together we will and we can what say Princess …………………………..

Thank you for the Music

2009-08-05T17:26:00.003+05:30

The King is dead, Michael Jackson thought the world hated him! This recent revelation by brother Tito is a shocker. And yet, quite believable considering media obsessed more with MJ’s eccentricities than his greatness as a musician while he was alive. It is only in death that the King of Pop got his due and has been accepted as the greatest of 'em all.

Michael was a born showman if ever there was one. His cherubic face as a five-year-old was as fascinating as the many faces he changed as he grew up. In fact, he probably was more faithful to his sense of fashion than he was to the face God gave him. His leather jackets, single white rhinestone glove, broad shoulder, military look and ankle-cropped trousers were perennial favourites and definitely stood out.

Sadly sometimes it’s better that legends die young; at least in death Michael Jackson achieved what he didn’t in life. MJ lived and died a broken man, grappling with charges that were never proved. Media finally gave him the title of the greatest! It’s difficult to imagine a Jacko who couldn’t moonwalk or dance with the unusual energy that characterised his movements. That would have killed him worse than Death did. It's time the world lets him rest in peace. Someone who brought smiles to so many people deserves this much. Long live the king.

Buddha N Recession

2009-07-29T13:07:00.000+05:30

Buddha, one day, was on deep thought about the worldly activities and the ways of instilling goodness in human. The following is the text of conversation between him and his disciple.

One of the disciples approached him and said humbly “Oh my teacher! While you are so much concerned about the world and others, why don’t you look into the welfare and needs of your own disciples also”.

Buddha: OK…Tell me how I can help you?

Disciple: Master, My attire is worn out and is beyond the decency to wear the same. Can I get a new one please?

Buddha found the robe indeed was in a bad condition which needed replacement. He asked the store keeper to give the disciple a new robe to wear on. The disciple thanked Buddha and retired to his room. Though he met his disciple’s requirement, Buddha was not all that contended on his decision. He realized he missed out some point. A while after, he realized, what he should have asked the disciple? He went to his disciple’s place and asked him “Is your new attire comfortable? Do you need anything more?”

Disciple: Thank you my Master. The attire is indeed very comfortable. I need nothing more.
Buddha: Having got the new one, what did you do with your old attire?
Disciple: I am using it as my bedspread.
Buddha: Then…hope you have disposed off your bed spread.
Disciple: No…no…Master. I am using my old bedspread as my window curtain.
Buddha: What about your old curtain?
Disciple: Being used to handle hot utensils in the kitchen
Buddha: Oh…I see…Can you tell me what they did with the old cloth they used in Kitchen?
Disciple: They are being used to wash the floor.
Buddha: Then, the old rug being used to wash the floor…????
Disciple: Master, since they were torn off so much, we could not find any better use, but to use as a twig in the oil lamp, which is right now lit in your study room….

Buddha smiled in contentment and left for his room.

*Moral: If not to this degree of utilization, can we at least attempt to find the best use of all our resources at home and at office….?? It becomes imperative in the critical time of Recession…..*

THE WISE OLD MAN’S LESSON

2009-07-24T12:53:00.001+05:30

A wealthy man requested an old scholar to wean his son away from his bad habits. The scholar took the youth for a stroll through a garden. Stopping suddenly he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there. The youth held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. The old man then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The youth pulled hard and the plant came out, roots and all. "Now pull out that one," said the old man pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out. "Now take this one out," said the old man, indicating a guava tree. The youth grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge. "I – It's impossible," said the boy, panting with the effort. "So it is with bad habits," said the sage. "When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted." The session with the old man changed the boy's life.

REFLECTION

Habits form character and character is destiny- we sow our thoughts and reap our actions; we sow our actions and reap our habits; we sow our habits and reap our characters; we sow our character and reap our destiny. Thus, first we form habits, then habits form us.

Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of. It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.

There is an old saying that, one can't kill a frog by dropping him into hot water. As we drop him into the hot water, he reacts so quickly that he immediately jumps out unharmed. But if we put him in cold water and gradually warm it up until it is scalding hot, we have him cooked before he knows it. The encroachment of bad habits in our lives is very much like this. The chains of bad habits are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.

Conquer your bad habits soon or very soon they will conquer you.

What is Life

2009-07-10T11:38:00.000+05:30

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983.
From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed: "Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?

To this Arthur Ashe replied:

"The world over -- 50 million children start playing tennis, 5 million learn to play tennis,
500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam,
50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals,
when I was holding a cup I never asked GOD 'Why me?'.
And today in pain I should not be asking GOD 'Why me?' "

Motivational Video

2009-06-22T14:27:00.003+05:30

Friday to Monday

2009-06-22T14:08:00.002+05:30

Work OverLoad

2009-06-22T13:46:00.002+05:30

Going to school

2009-06-22T13:21:00.002+05:30

DO NOT HURT YOURSELF

2009-06-18T13:41:00.000+05:30

Understanding Stress and Workplace Stress

2009-06-17T16:28:00.002+05:30

Stress is normal. Everyone feels stress related to work, family, decisions, your future, and more. Stress is both physical and mental. It is caused by major life events such as illness, the death of a loved one, a change in responsibilities or expectations at work, and job promotions, loss, or changes.Smaller, daily events also cause stress. This stress is not as apparent to us, but the constant and cumulative impact of the small stressors adds up to big impact.

In response to these daily stresses, your body automatically increases blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, metabolism, and blood flow to your muscles. This stress response is intended to help your body react quickly and effectively to any high-pressure situation.However, when you are constantly reacting to small or large stressful situations, without making physical, mental, and emotional adjustments to counter their effect, you can experience stress that can hurt your health and well-being. It is essential that you understand both your external and internal stress-causing events, no matter how you perceive those events.

Stress can also be positive. You need a certain amount of stress to perform your best at work. The key to stress management is to determine the right amount of stress that will give you energy, ambition, and enthusiasm versus the wrong amount which can harm your health and well-being.

Important Stress Causing Issues, Characteristics and Traits

While each person is different and has different events and issues that cause stress, there are some issues that almost universally affect people. These are the stressors you most want to understand and take measures to prevent.

Feeling out of control,
Feeling direction-less,
Guilt over procrastination or failing to keep commitments,
More commitments than time,
Change, especially changes you didn't initiate or institute,
Uncertainty, and
High expectations of self.

What Affects Your Coping With Stress Skills?

During times of stress and uncertainty, you can anticipate some predictable issues, problems, and opportunities. For instance, during any change, members of an organization have:

a) Different ways of regarding change. Some people have difficulty accepting and adjusting to change and uncertainty; others will relish the changes and view them as great opportunities. Some people initiate change; others prefer the status quo.

b) Different amounts of experience and practice in stress management and change management. (What is devastating to one individual may excite another or only mildly irritate a third person.) Theoretically, people become better at managing stress and change with experience.

c) Some people need to "talk it out." Others suffer silently. Some find relief in complaining. Some talk and talk and talk, but are really supportive of the change. Others find ways to sabotage changes and undermine efforts to move forward.

d) Different levels of stress and change occurring in other areas of their lives.

e) During change, people will experience different amounts of impact from the current changes and stress producing situations. They will also experience different amounts and types of support from their spouse, significant other, friends, supervisor, and coworkers.

All of these and other issues impact your ability to manage workplace stress and change, to continue to function productively. It is important to recognize that people who are experiencing serious stress and change may not be capable of performing exactly as they have in the past.

Stress can cause physical, emotional, and behavioral problems which can affect your health, energy, well-being, mental alertness, and personal and professional relationships. It can also cause defensiveness, lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating, accidents, reduced productivity, and interpersonal conflict.Too much stress can cause minor problems such as sleep-loss, irritability, backaches, or headaches, and can also contribute to potentially life-threatening diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

During stressful times or situations, people often blame themselves for being weak or for their inability "to handle it." Often managers in organizations do not understand the normal progression of change or stress-producing situations and they expect employees to immediately return to total productivity after a stressful event. It doesn't happen.

Stress Results From Change

People have deep attachments to their work groups, organizational structures, personal responsibilities, and ways of accomplishing work. When any of these are disturbed, whether by personal choice or through an organizational process from which they may feel quite removed and uninvolved, a transition period occurs. During this transition, people can expect to experience a period of letting go of the old ways as they begin moving toward and integrating the new.

When you consider stress in the workplace, understanding these components about stress, situations that induce stress, and employee responses to stress, can help you help both yourself and your staff effectively manage stress and change.

LOVE IS ...................

2009-06-15T13:09:00.002+05:30

Don't Change the World

2009-06-10T14:43:00.001+05:30

Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled a prosperous country. One day, he went for a trip to some distant areas of his country. When he was back to his palace, he complained that his feet were very painful, because it was the first time that he went for such a long trip, and the road that he went through was very rough and stony. He then ordered his people to cover every road of the entire country with leather. Definitely, this would need thousands of cows' skin, and would cost a huge amount of money. Then one of his wise servant dared himself to tell the king, "Why do you have to spend that unnecessary amount of money? Why don't you just cut a little piece of leather to cover your feet?" The king was surprised, but he later agreed to his suggestion, to make a "shoe" for himself. There is actually a valuable lesson of life in this story: to make this world a happy place to live, you better change yourself - your heart; and not the world.

Way you look at things

2009-06-10T14:12:00.000+05:30

One day a father and his rich family took his son to a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, "How was the trip?""Very good Dad!" replied his son.

"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked."Yeah!""And what did you learn?" The son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden; they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon."

When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless. His son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are!"Our outlook on life depends on the way you look at things. What others may think as riches, others may want.

The most important things in life are your friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life. If you have these then you have everything!

Sharks in your life

2009-06-10T13:45:00.000+05:30

The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever. The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring in the fish. If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh. The Japanese did not like the taste. To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen and they did not like frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price. So fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks. After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tired and dull, but alive. Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference, because the fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste.The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish.

So how did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem? How do they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan? If you were consulting the fish industry, what would you recommend?

How Japanese Fish Stay Fresh: To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks. But now they add a small shark to each tank. The shark eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a verylively state. The fish are challenged.

Have you realized that some of us are also living in a pond but most of the time tired & dull, so we need a Shark in our life to keep us awake and moving? Basically in our lives Sharks are new challenges to keep us active and taste better..... The more intelligent, persistent and competent you are, the more you enjoy a challenge. If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are steadily conquering those challenges, you are Conqueror. You think of your challenges and get energized. You are excited to try new solutions. You have fun. You are alive!

Recommendations for us:

Instead of avoiding challenges, jump into them. Beat the heck out of them. Enjoy the game. If your challenges are too large or too numerous, do not give up. Failing makes you tired. Instead, reorganize. Find more determination, more knowledge, more help.

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but he did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

Disappointments are like road bumps, they slow you down a bit but you enjoy the smooth road afterwards.. Don't stay on the bumps too long. Move on!

When you feel down because you didn't get what you want, just sit tight and be happy, because God has thought of something better to give you. When something happens to you, good or bad, consider what it means. There's a purpose to life's events, to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry too hard.

No one can go back and make a brand new start. But anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

The Monks

2009-06-08T17:02:00.002+05:30

Monks

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Frogs

2009-06-08T15:53:00.002+05:30

Frogs

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Turtle

2009-06-08T15:18:00.002+05:30

Turtle

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It's called MINDSET

2009-06-08T14:10:00.000+05:30

Till Death do us part

2009-06-06T14:46:00.001+05:30

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held herhand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and atequietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; I had lost my heart to a lovely girl called Dew. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, 30% shares of my company and the car. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Dew so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Dew. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again. In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage. This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy.Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request. I told Dew about my wife s divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset.I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest... I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning... This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Dew about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me; she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart.Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mum out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.But her much lighter weight made me sad.

On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind... I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I do not want the divorce anymore.She looked at me, astonished. Then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death does us apart. Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote: 'I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart'

The small details of our lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, the property, the bank balance that matters. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

THE BARBER

2009-06-06T12:50:00.001+05:30

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they started a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that ?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither sufferings nor pain. I can't imagine loving a God who would allow all these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber." I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." "Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me." "Exactly!" affirmed the customer, "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and sufferings in the world.

How To Dance In The Rain

2009-06-05T13:47:00.000+05:30

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted my hand and said,
'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.' I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought,'That is the kind of love I want in my life.' True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message. This one I thought I could share with you. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. I hope you share this with someone you care about. I just did. 'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'

Coping With Stress

2009-06-05T12:55:00.002+05:30

Coping with stress

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Ways to enjoy work

2009-06-02T16:04:00.002+05:30

ways to enjoy work

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Money has no memory

2009-06-01T15:02:00.000+05:30

Money has no memory. Experience has. You will never know what the total cost of your education was, but for a lifetime you will recall and relive the memories of schools and colleges. Few years from now, you will forget the amount you paid to settle the hospitalization bill, but will ever cherish having saved your mother's life or the life you get to live with the just born. You won't remember the cost of your honeymoon, but to the last breath remember the experiences of the bliss of togetherness. Money has no memory. Experience has.

Good times and bad times, times of prosperity and times of poverty, times when the future looked so secure and times when you didn't know from where the tomorrow will come... life has been in one way or the other a roller-coaster ride for everyone. Beyond all that abundance and beyond all that deprivation, what remains is the memory of experiences. Sometimes the wallet was full... sometimes even the pocket was empty. There was enough and you still had reasons to frown. There wasn't enough and you still had reasons to smile. Today, you can look back with tears of gratitude for all the times you had laughed together, and also look back with a smile at all the times you cried alone. All in all, life filled you with experiences to create a history of your own self, and you alone can remember them all.

The first time you balanced yourself on your cycle without support... The first time she said 'yes' and it was two years since you proposed... The first cry... the first steps... the first word... the first kiss... all of your child... The first gift you bought for your parents and the first gift your daughter gave you... The first award... the first public appreciation... the first stage performance... And the list is endless... Experiences, with timeless memory... No denying that anything that's material cost money, but the fact remains the cost of the experience will be forgotten, but the experience never.

So, what if it's economic recession? Let it be, but let there not be a recession to the quality of your life. You can still take your parents, if not on a pilgrimage, at least to the local temple. You can still play with your children, if not on an international holiday, at least in the local park. It doesn't cost money to lie down or to take a loved one onto your lap. Nice time to train the employees, create leadership availability and be ready for the wonderful times when they arrive. Hey! Aspects like your health, knowledge development and spiritual growth are not economy dependent. Time will pass... economy will revive... currency will soon be in current... and in all this; I don't want you to look back and realize you did nothing but stayed in gloom. Recession can make you lose out on money. Let it not make you lose out on experiences... If you are not happy with what you have, no matter how much more you have, you will still not be happy. Make a statement with the way you live your life: How I feel has nothing to do with how much I have...

LIFE IS

2009-06-01T14:44:00.000+05:30

Ideas are True Assets

2009-05-20T15:23:00.000+05:30

Once there was a monk living in New York. He was an ex-lawyer, who was now spreading spirituality and a more peaceful way of living. He was originally from India and was going back to his hometown in Punjab for a holiday. Before going to India, he went to his bank and asked them for a $10,000 loan and in return, he told the bank he was willing to let them keep his $200,000 Ferrari limited edition sports car as a security. Now the banker very gladly accepted and gave him the $10,000 at a rate of interest of 3% per year. He took the money, and the bank in return, kept his Ferrari in their garage. Whenever he returned the $10,000 with the 3% per annum interest, they would return his car. After he left, the bankers started laughing and wondering why he would do such a silly thing. He was either not as wealthy as people thought he was, or he was extremely unaware of how finance worked. Leaving his $200,000 car for just $10,000 wasn’t that smart – at least this is what they thought.

This is the working: 3% Interest on $10,000 For the whole year:- $ 10,000 x 3% = $ 300 For one month:- $ 300 / 12 = $ 25

After around one month he came back to the bank and gave them the $10,000 and also 3% interest per annum, which works out to be $25 for a month. The bankers handed him the key to the car and told him he could take his Ferrari from their underground parking. Now the bankers, who all had financial degrees and PhDs and MBAs from the best B-schools in the world, were curious about what he did with the money and were wondering why he took a loan of only $10,000? He was considered to be a very wealthy man like quite a few other spiritual gurus. Why would he need such a small amount? One of the bankers decided to be intrusive and politely asked him, “Sir, why did you take this loan? You surely didn’t need the money.” The monk smiled back and calmly replied, “Where else could I park my Ferrari for just $25 a month in a city like New York and be sure it is safe?”After saying that, he drove his Ferrari past them.

I’m guessing rising parking charges in New York, might have made him use some of his creativity. Even when times get tough, a few people, instead of cursing their luck and the economy use their ideas, and many times, these ideas are what change their life forever.

Improve your speaking skills

2009-05-11T13:04:00.002+05:30

10 Tips to Improve You’re Speaking Voice

One of the most important components of public speaking is the sound of your voice. It influences the impact of your message, and might even make or break the success of your speech. Fortunately,for many people, good voice quality can be learned.

Instructions :

Breathe from your diaphragm –Practice long and controlled exhales. When you speak, use breath to punctuate your point. For example, take a breath at the end of each phrase whether you need to or not. Use that opportunity to pause and let the listeners absorb what you say.

Use pitch -Lower pitches generally are more soothing to hear. However, modulating your pitch for emphasis will keep your listeners engaged. Develop your pitch by practicing humming.

Moderate your volume -Find out if you speak too loudly or too softly. When you begin speaking, ask your audience how your volume is (each situation is different). Try to stay at the appropriate volume throughout your speech.

Moderate your pace -This one is also closely related to breath. If you speak too quickly, people can't keep up. If you speak too slowly, people will lose interest. Record your speech to determine if you need to change your pace. Get feedback from others.

Articulate -Try exaggerating your lip movement to reduce mumbling. Practice articulating tongue twisters and extending and exaggerating vowel sounds. Become an expert at articulating tongue twisters as quickly and crisply as possible. Focus on the ones you find difficult.

Practice - Practice your speech in advance and determine where you want to pause for a breath. For more emphasis, pause for more than one breath. Mark your breathing points in your notes.

Loosen up - Before you begin. Look side to side. Roll your head in half-circles and roll your shoulders back. Shift your rib cage from side to side. Yawn. Stretch. Touch your toes while completely relaxing your upper body, then slowly stand up, one vertebra at a time, raising your head last. Repeat as needed.

Posture -Stand up straight and tall to allow full lung capacity and airflow.

Record - Record your voice repeatedly using different ways of speaking. Determine which one is most pleasing.

Practice breath control -Take a deep breath, and while you exhale, count to 10 (or recite the months or days of the week). Try gradually increasing your volume as you count, using your abdominal muscles not your throat for volume. Don't let your larynx tense up.

DID I MARRY THE RIGHT PERSON

2009-05-04T12:05:00.003+05:30

During one of seminar, a woman asked a common question. She said, "How do I know if I married the right person? The Speaker noticed that there was a large man sitting next to her so he said, "It depends. Is that your husband?" In all seriousness, she answered "How do you know?" The answer to this question is weighing on your mind.

Here's the answer.

EVERY relationship has a cycle. In the beginning, you fell in love with your spouse. You anticipated their call, wanted their touch, and liked their idiosyncrasies. Falling in love with your spouse wasn't hard. In fact, it was a completely natural and spontaneous experience. You didn't have to DO anything. That's why it's called "falling" in love... because it's happening TO YOU. People in love sometimes say, "I was swept of my feet." Think about the imagery of that __expression. It implies that you were just standing there; doing nothing, and then something came along and happened TO YOU. Falling is love is easy. It's a passive and spontaneous experience.

But after a few years of marriage, the euphoria of love fades. It's the natural cycle of EVERY relationship. Slowly but surely, phone calls become a bother (if they come at all), touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your spouse's idiosyncrasies, instead of being cute, drive you nuts. The symptoms of this stage vary with every relationship, but if you think about your marriage! , you will notice a dramatic difference between the initial stage when you were in love and a much duller or even angry subsequent stage. At this point, you and/or your spouse might start asking, "Did I marry the right person?" And as you and your spouse reflect on the euphoria of the love you once had, you may begin to desire that experience with someone else. This is when marriages breakdown. People blame their spouse for their unhappiness and look outside their marriage for fulfillment. Extramarital fulfillment comes in all shapes and sizes. Infidelity is the most obvious. But sometimes people turn to work, a hobby, a friendship, excessive TV, or abusive substances. But the answer to this dilemma does NOT lie outside your marriage. It lies within it. I'm not saying that you couldn't fall in love with someone else. You could. And TEMPORARILY you'd feel better. But you'd be in the same situation a few years later. Because (listen carefully to this): THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND...

SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. It'll NEVER just happen to you. You can't "find" LASTING love. You have to "make" it day in and day out. That's why we have the expression "the labor of love." Because it takes time, effort, and energy . And most importantly, it takes WISDOM. You have to know WHAT TO DO to make your marriage work. Make no mistake about it. Love is NOT a mystery. There are specific things you can do (with or without your spouse) to succeed with your marriage. Just as there are physical laws of the universe (such as gravity), there are also laws for relationships. Just as the right diet and exercise program makes you physically stronger, certain habits in your relationship WILL make your marriage stronger. It's a direct cause and effect. If you know and apply the laws, the results are predictable...you can "make" love.

Love in marriage is indeed a "decision"... Not just a feeling .

“No one falls in love by choice, it is by CHANCE.

No one stays in love by chance, it is by WORK.

And no one falls out of love by chance, it is by choice”

Don't Stop Singing

2009-05-02T15:34:00.002+05:30

Dontt Stop Singing

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My Trip to Water Kingdom

2009-05-02T13:45:00.002+05:30

Water Kingdom

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What does women empowerment mean ?

2009-04-08T12:11:00.002+05:30

Does progress and success exemplify women’s empowerment? Does it mean that women who make their own decisions and live life by their own terms are strong women, while the rest are not? Are these women who are successful and independent, free women, and millions of others are not? Does a woman’s problems end with her attaining a job, becoming self-sufficient and rubbing shoulders with men? How I would love to believe it does, but sadly, the explanation does not simply transform a woman’s world just like that. And I am compelled to wonder what does women’s empowerment actually signify.

I was recently talking with a friend of mine who is a modern woman of today’s global world, successful and living life king size. If that’s what we relate partying, shopping and flaunting independence with, then she has it all. She is a woman who enjoys complete job satisfaction even in the uncertain global meltdown when we are at our wits end. Her family is her strong back-up and she has a loving husband to pamper her. To top it all, she also has two sweet little children whose nurturing is efficiently and affectionately handled by her in-laws. She does not have to worry what to cook when she gets back from work; her mom-in-law sees to that. The table is laid for her family without her having to move even a finger. The kids homework is looked after by her father-in-law. Doesn’t it seem like a dream situation that most of us women would crave for. How we all would love to swap places with her! But, this so called empowered modern woman has issues too. She is being plagued by a monster within her that keeps making her feel guilty. Her guilt pertains to trivial issues but they keep her awake late at night, pondering and comparing. What was supposedly her responsibility after marriage like bringing up a family and caring for the home is being shared by someone else which is making her feel that although she is a competent employee at her workplace, she lacks in simpler basic capacities which so many other women have in abundance. This is making her sulk.

I often feel that more than the outer world that is being cruel to us women, its we who are judgmentally crucifying ourselves at our own hands. Strong women, women made of steel have begun to show signs of cracking.. Not because they are mortal, but because they are under too much pressure to be the perfectionist. We have always portrayed ourselves to be the goddesses of multitasking. Now we are trying to live up to this superhuman persona.

Why cannot women who have peaked in their career, sit back and enjoy the fruits of their success without having to look back on the time that has gone into achieving that success as wasted quality time that could have been put to a better use had it been spent with family. Why are we forced into feeling guilty that we have neglected our other responsibilities just because we have forayed elsewhere achieving professional success? Do we have to continue to be multi-dimensional all the time.

I somehow think that we face a strange social dilemma – of success adding up to feeling worthless. If we do not have a successful job going for us, it makes us feel that we lag behind the stiletto tottering boardroom beauties who rule today’s world. If we are not able to cook for our families, it leads us to feeling emotionally incompetent and inadequate as a wife and mother, unlike our mothers and grandmothers. If we cannot carve out a little time to visit our parents, we feel like a selfish daughter caught in a vicious cycle of individualism. And if after a tiring day at work we flop off to sleep, once again we allow guilt to clamor our lives. We are becoming self-oriented strivers who have raised our own bar to a level that we struggle to get there. And its a difficult task podium that we have built for ourselves.

I also have another friend who is at the other end of the spectrum. She walks the thin line and balances her career with her home task. She is a working mother and has to go that extra mile to balance both work and home. She comes home and cooks for the family, feeds the children, help them with their studies and then tucks them in bed. But at the end of the tiring day she doesn’t feel anything like a superhuman with tremendous potential, like the type that I was talking about, but she transforms into an exhausted weak woman who would gladly want to jump into my other friends shoes.

This woman’s day while the newspapers were galore with articles portraying strong and independent women, showing off their empowered status, statistics that flaunted their progress, amiss the natural happiness that flared up within me, I couldn’t help but ask the same question. Are these women actually happy? What do you think, are they?

COMPETITION

2009-03-31T13:14:00.001+05:30

After thinking for a while I’ve come to know that unknowingly or unintentionally we all are the part of rat race, with one common motive of winning the race and I am surprised to see that this thing starts right from the age of 7 or 8, when our

parents says, look, the other girl/boy is better than you(in studies, sports, dance etc… ) you try hard to prove, to be in

competition…

We grow up wondering whether ever we’ll be there at the top someday ? In college somebody else takes your trophy in a typical filmy way and you just end up playing the sidie(dancing behind the hero/heroins)… …

When you enter into professional life (with whatever amount of courage left inside) your colleagues and most importantly

the BOSS waits for you( like a hungry lion waits for a poor goat) with the butcher’s knife(though invisible) in hand…

Finally one fine day you come to know that there’s a word called blogging where you can be just yourself and lo, here too

you are worried for the comments, just don’t wanna be out of the competition…right?

What’s the solution??now please don’t say that you care a damn about this competition, because I know that all of us secretly dream of winning this race…don’t we??

The Grass is always greener ................................

2009-03-31T12:51:00.002+05:30

The grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence—isn’t it? Of course it does, at least appears to greener from where you are at the moment. Hmmm…don’t tell me that you have never felt that way! Am sure that you have…and don’t worry –it’s only natural to feel that way. Why? Of course we are humans na? As human beings-- we many a times fall in the category of ‘little minded people’ and this is exactly our status that of ‘Little minded people!’ I feel that every other individual is better off than me and me keeps thinking about everything else that others have around me.

The person on the other side of the fence is definitely thinking the same about you—sounds ridiculous—doesn’t it? But that’s the fact. We never appreciate what belongs to us or what is ours. Because most of the time our thoughts are focused else where—meaning to say they are rather fixed on what the others have or what the others are enjoying. This happens because we always think that the things that the other people have or their situations always look better than our own, even when this really isn’t the case. There are times wherein we think that maybe we could be better off in somebody else’s shoes—but we also know that it isn’t convenient –yet we keeping hoping! You all the pains of wearing footwear that you aren’t comfortable with—now imagine actually wanting to be that same situation which you are unable to handle—quite painful –isn’t it? Very often when we do this, i feel that in a way—we pacify ourselves, we feel sorry for ourselves, the situation that we are in at the moment —and hoping that we were else where instead of the particular situation that we are at that very moment.

I always feels that we are put in a situation because God wants to test us, test our patience, our perseverance and how much we can hold in times of these adversities! Rather than analyzing the situation that we are thrown into, we lose precious time envying others –wishing and hoping that we were in their situation rather than trying to make the best of the situation in which we are placed at that very moment.

Avoid Negative Thoughts

2009-03-24T14:42:00.000+05:30

"How do I stop my negative thoughts?" - is a question that I have been asked many times. If you have ever asked this question then you will feel such enormous relief in knowing the answer, because it is so simple. How do you stop negative thoughts? You plant good thoughts!

When you try to stop negative thoughts, you are focusing on what you don't want - negative thoughts - and you will attract an abundance of them. They can never disappear if you are focused on them. The "stop" part is irrelevant - the negative thoughts are your focus. It doesn't matter if you are trying to stop negative thoughts or control them or push them away, the result is the same. Your focus is on negative thoughts, and by the law of attraction you are inviting more of them to you.

The truth is always simple and it is always easy. To stop negative thoughts, just plant good thoughts! Deliberately plant good thoughts! You plant good thoughts by making it a daily practice to appreciate all the things in your day. Appreciate your health, your car, your home, your family, your job, your friends, your surroundings, your meals, your pets, and the magnificent beauty of the day. Compliment, praise, and give thanks to all things. Every time you say "Thank you" it is a good thought! As you plant more and more good thoughts, the negative thoughts will be wiped out. Why? Because your focus is on good thoughts, and what you focus on you attract.

So don't give any attention to negative thoughts. Don't worry about them. If any come, make light of them, shrug them off, and let them be your reminder to deliberately think more good thoughts now.

The more good thoughts you can plant in a day, the faster your life will be utterly transformed into all good. If you spend only one day speaking of good things and saying "Thank you" at every single opportunity, you will not believe your tomorrow. Deliberately thinking good thoughts is exactly like planting seeds. As you think good thoughts you are planting good seeds inside you, and the Universe will transform those seeds into a garden of paradise. How will the garden of paradise appear? As your life!

Aamir Khan - Tata Sky

2009-03-06T11:42:00.002+05:30

Aamir Khan Pepsi - 2

2009-03-05T18:43:00.002+05:30

Aamir Khan Pepsi - 1

2009-03-05T18:27:00.002+05:30

Aamir Khan - Toyota

2009-03-05T18:06:00.002+05:30

Phew!!!! It’s election time AGAIN …………………….

2009-02-27T13:44:00.002+05:30

India despite many of its drawbacks has come a long way since Independence making progress in leaps and bounds, making us Indians feel proud of the various achievements in every field, yet we do have our shortcomings. Try as much as we want-- to do away with these shortcomings –they simply refuse to let go, stubbornly sticking on.

Might is power—and this is very true. Be it any part of India, the chances that the mightier party will surely and definitely gain the votes is cent percent, after all it’s a matter of a bottle of liquor or a paltry amount of say Rs.50!!!! --- Need one say more?

Now with elections just a few weeks away—all the political parties want to prove that they are the best in the field and are having a ball of a game! Everybody seems to be adopting every gimmick in the book and putting it to good use. All glossified to attract the crowd and the people in the usual manner take it-- like fish in the water. It’s irrelevant whether India get leaders who have the leadership qualities or no! What matters is which political party gains power or who gets to play the power games, finally!

Every political party stinks! We have actors, cricketers joining these bands of politicians—God alone knows what they hope to achieve. Do they join a political party with the larger interests of the people at heart or is it self? I always thinks it’s for their-- own gain. Only a few have actually ever taken the seriousness of joining politics i.e feel the plight of the masses and do some good deed. These are people with big money –guys! No wonder they get invited to join a particular party. Parties which are floated attract big money too. Heard recently that incase one had any ambition of joining this particular party being floated by a Tollywood actor, one needs to possess 5+ Crore rupees, the entrance fee being 5 crores! They probably feel that they can do good to the public—with their fame to add to their crown—but will they? Will they good leaders? No doubt in their respective field as actors and cricketers they excelled--- but will they as politicians, be equally good? What do they have to offer to the common man? Does the common man even identify with them? No doubt –their fame will surely swing the votes in their favor, but will this benefit the country.

We have enough monkeys swinging around and having a field day –do we need more? Hmmm…agreed not all are primate mammals.

Where are all the intellectuals-- people who will probably make better leaders than those already exist?

Team Work

2009-02-24T12:43:00.002+05:30

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Team Work

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Leadership

2009-02-22T13:58:00.002+05:30

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Leadership

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Leadership Lessons From Obama

2009-02-19T12:42:00.002+05:30

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Leadership Lessons From Obama

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Quote of the day

2009-02-18T14:17:00.000+05:30

Rainbow

2009-02-17T12:22:00.000+05:30

How do we live

2009-02-17T12:12:00.001+05:30

Pics

2009-02-16T17:16:00.002+05:30

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

2009-02-14T17:58:00.000+05:30

What is Love ...........................

2009-02-14T15:01:00.002+05:30

If you love some one because you think that he or she is really gorgeous ...

then it's not love .. it's ~ Infatuation ~......

If you love some one because you think that you shouldn't leave him because others think that you shouldn't ... then it's not love.. it's ~ compromise ~.......

If you love some one because you think that you cannot live with out his touch ....

then it's not love .. it's ~lust~......

If you love some one because you have been kissed by him ... then it's not love.. it's ~ inferiority complex~......

If you love some one because you cannot leave him thinking that it would hurt his feelings .. then it's not love .. it's ~charity~....

If you love some one because you share every thing with him ... then it's not love... it's ~friendship~...

but if you feel the pain of the other person more than him even when he is stable and you cry for him ... that's ~LOVE~ =

if you get attracted to there people but stay with him without any regrets... that's ~LOVE~

If you let him go knowing that he has to go but he doesn't want to ... that's ~LOVE~

Over the years, I’ve read so many Valentines Day story. Some of the most touching stories I have read about usually happens back in the day before I was born. One such story was about two teenagers who met and fell in love at a high school dance. Got engaged, but for some reason or another, they broke it off because “it did not work out.” Back in the day, people say things like “It didn’t’ work out” which usually translate into religion conflicts or perhaps one side or both sides of the family of the couple didn’t approve. The guy went on to serve his time in a war, met another girl and eventually got married and had kids. The girl met another guy, got married and had kids. Years later, both of their spouses died. This guy remembered his first true love and decided to try and find her, he somehow located her in the phone book and called her up. She was surprised and thrilled to get his call. He told her he just needed a friend to talk to. She told him she’d be his friend. Their friendship rekindled beyond that and they fell in love all over again. And, they eventually got married. Their love was as strong, if not more, as the day they first fell in love with each other. I find stories like these to be quite inspiring and happily after ever. Whatever reasons it didn’t work out, it took years before love sealed their fate once again. So, before saying it isn’t’ going to work, think twice before you give up on the prospect of a true love.

Happy Valentines Day to ya’ll!!

QUOTES

2009-01-28T17:26:00.000+05:30

Michelle Behind Obama

2009-01-27T14:34:00.000+05:30

Tempted as I am to write about the simply smashing and verbally impressive Barack H. Obama, I think I’d better save the world of another Obama impressed article. Woman that I am, I prefer to talk about the woman behind the President. The credit of Obama’s success as a man, a politician and now a changeover President goes entirely to him. That is for sure. But, somewhere next to him, maybe, just beside him lies a woman whose contribution to the present US President’s success is by no means less.

Here stands a woman, black by race, an unexpected candidate for First Lady whose colour rather than her academic qualifications or her cool and strong willed nature keeps the public guessing.
‘What does she have in her that makes her qualify for such a high post?’ This question seems to be running in most people’s minds. In fact, it has even been a matter of speculation in many debates and television shows during the Presidential campaign. Somehow, just before the President entered the White House people realized that Michelle was no ordinary woman. A lawyer by profession, she has a mind of her own but prefers to not use it to build probable political ambitions quite unlike Hillary Clinton who permitted her professional desires to dominate her personal life. 45-year-old Michelle is the youngest First Lady since Jacqueline Kennedy. People are looking up to her, wanting to see how she projects herself in a world known for its unjust prejudices against colour and race.

Introduced as ‘my rock’ by Barack Obama on stage, she is the woman who keeps him fixed on the goals he has set before his country and himself. Known to call a spade a spade, Michelle has all the attributes that make a successful First Lady. That hand on Obama’s shoulder is one of a lifetime support and commitment for a man she considers strong enough to lead a troubled nation. That hand is there to comfort him in troubled times which are bound to be many considering the post he commands.
That smile on her face reveals her pride in her husband’s success. It also gives the world a message – don’t mess with him- I am just there next to him! And, look at him smile! It is as if he is telling us to not bother much about him. I will be fine. Look who’s there with me? Both have gone through periods when life had not been very just to either of them. Yet today, they stand tall really having a ball telling the world that things will be fine. If we could do it so can you. Obama is stated to have said about his wife, "There's something about her that projects such honesty and strength. It's what makes her such an unbelievable professional, and partner, and mother, and wife."

What more would a woman want from her husband?
Women learn lessons that they never thought existed. They experience little joys that mean the world to them and both husband and wife continue weaving dreams for a fulfilling future. Somehow, in the picture above I see my husband and myself as we take the path of life, hand in hand, ready to take on the challenges life has to offer to us. How much justice will I do to my jobs as wife, mother, daughter and professional – this is yet to be seen.

The president of the United States Of America and his First Lady.

2009-01-22T16:06:00.003+05:30

For all of us, one of the most important aspects of an Obama presidency is being overlooked: the model of a healthy relationship....For example, Michelle and Barack do something we've never seen before in a presidential couple: they look directly at each other when they're speaking to each other. They also laugh at each other's humor, and they allow their sexual attraction for each other to be visible. Contrast that with other presidential marriages, in which the sexual attraction to each other was not visible but their sexual attraction to others became highly visible. Michelle and Barack talk openly about their feelings for each other. They're real, and they are the GENEXT couple for the world.

That's the Power of Love- Sudha Murthy's Autobiography

2009-01-15T15:30:00.001+05:30

It was in Pune that I met Narayan Murty through my friend Prasanna who is now the Wipro chief, who was also training in Telco(TataMotors). Most of the books that Prasanna lent me had Murty's name on them which meant that I had a preconceived image of the man. Contrary to expectation, Murty was shy,bespectacled and an introvert. When he invited us for dinner. I was a bit taken aback as I thought the young man was making a very fast move. I refused since I was the only girl in the group. But Murty was relentless and we all decided to meet for dinner the next day at 7.30 p.m .. at Green Fields hotel on the Main Road ,Pune.

The next day I went there at 7' o ! clock since I had to go to the tailor near the hotel. And what do I see? Mr. Murty waiting in front of the hotel and it was only seven. Till today, Murty maintains that I had mentioned (consciously!) that I would be going to the tailor at 7 so that I could meet him... And I maintain that I did not say any such thing consciously or unconsciously because I did not think of Murty as anything other than a friend at that stage. We have agreed to disagree on this matter.

Soon, we became friends. Our conversations were filled with Murty's experiences abroad and the books that he has read. My friends insisted that Murty as trying to impress me because he was interested in me. I kept denying it till one fine day, after dinner Murty said, I want to tell you something. I knew this as it. It was coming. He said, I am 5'4" tall. I come from a lower middle class family. I can never become rich in my life an! d I can never give you any riches. You are beautiful, bright, and intelligent and you can get anyone you want. But will you marry me? I asked Murty to give me some time for an answer. My father didn't want me to marry a wannabe politician, (a communist at that) who didn't have a steady job and wanted to build an orphanage...

When I went to Hubli I told my parents about Murty and his proposal. My mother was positive since Murty was also from Karnataka, seemed intelligent and comes from a good family. But my father asked: What's his job, his salary, his qualifications etc? Murty was working as a research assistant and was earning less than me. He was willing to go dutch with me on our outings. My parents agreed to meet Murty in Pune on a particular day at10 a. m sharp. Murty did not turn up. How can I trust a man to take care of my daughter if he cannot keep an appointment, asked my father.

At 12noon Murty turned up in a bright red shirt! He had gone on work to Bombay , was stuck in a traffic jam on the ghats, so he hired a taxi(though it was very expensive for him) to meet his would-be father-in-law. Father was unimpressed. My father asked him what he wanted to become in life.

Murty said he wanted to become a politician in the communist party and wanted to open an orphanage. My father gave his verdict. NO. I don't want my daughter to marry somebody who wants to become a communist and then open an orphanage when he himself didn't have money to support his family.

Ironically, today, I have opened many orphanages something, which Murty wanted to do 25 years ago. By this time I realized I had developed a liking towards Murty which could only be termed as love. I wanted to marry Murty because he is an honest man. He proposed to me highlighting the negatives in his life. I promised my father that I will not marry Murty without his blessings though at the same time, I cannot marry anybody else. My father said he would agree if Murty promised to take up a steady job. But Murty refused saying he will not do things in life because somebody wanted him to. So, I was caught between the two most important people in my life.

The stalemate continued for three years during which our courtship took us to every restaurant and cinema hall in Pune. In those days, Murty was always broke. Moreover, he didn't earn much to manage. Ironically today, he manages Infosys Technologies Ltd., one of the world's most reputed companies. He always owed me money. We used to go for dinner and he would say, I don't have money with me, you pay my share, I will return it to you later. For three years I maintained a book on Murty's debt to me.. No, he never returned the money and I finally tore it up after my wedding.

The amount was a little over Rs 4000. During this interim period Murty quit his job as research assistant and started his own software business. Now, I had to pay his salary too! Towards the late 70s computers were entering India in a big way.

During the fag end of 1977 Murty decided to take up a job as General Manager at Patni computers in Bombay . But before he joined the company he wanted to marry me since he was to go on training to the US after joining. My father gave in as he was happy Murty had a decent job, now.

WE WERE MARRIED IN MURTY'S HOUSE IN BANGALORE ON FEBRUARY 10, 1978 WITH ONLY OUR TWO FAMILIES PRESENT.I GOT MY FIRST SILK SARI. THE WEDDING EXPENSES CAME TO ONLY RS 800 (US $17) WITH MURTY AND I POOLING IN RS 400 EACH.

I went to the US with Murty after marriage. Murty encouraged me to see America on my own because I loved travelling. I toured America for three months on backpack and had interesting experiences which will remain fresh in my mind forever. Like the time when the New York police took me into custody because they thought I was an Italian trafficking drugs in Harlem . Or the time when I spent the night at the bottom of the Grand Canyon with an old couple. Murty panicked because he couldn't get a response from my hotel room even at midnight. He thought I was either killed or kidnapped.

IN 1981 MURTY WANTED TO START INFOSYS. HE HAD A VISION AND ZERO CAPITAL...initially I was very apprehensive about Murty getting into business. We did not have any business background .. Moreover we were living a comfortable life in Bombay with a regular pay check and I didn't want to rock the boat. But Murty was passionate about creating good quality software. I decided to support him. Typical of Murty, he just had a dream and no money. So I gave him Rs 10,000 which I had saved for a rainy day, without his knowledge and told him, This is all I have. Take it. I give you three years sabbatical leave. I will take care of the financial needs of our house. You go and chase your dreams without any worry. But you have only three years!

Murty and his six colleagues started Infosys in 1981,with enormous interest and hard work. In 1982 I left Telco and moved to Pune with Murty. We bought a small house on loan which also became the Infosys office. I was a clerk-cum-cook-cum-programmer. I also took up a job as Senior Systems Analyst with Walchand group of Industries to support the house.

In 1983 Infosys got their first client, MICO, in Bangalore . Murty moved to Bangalore and stayed with his mother while I went to Hubli to deliver my second child, Rohan. Ten days after my son was born, Murty left for the US on project work. I saw him only after a year, as I was unable to join Murty in the US because my son had infantile eczema, an allergy to vaccinations. So for more than a year I did not step outside our home for fear of my son contracting an infection. It was only after Rohan got all his vaccinations that I came to Bangalore where we rented a small house in Jayanagar and rented another house as Infosys headquarters. My father presented Murty a scooter to commute. I once again became a cook, programmer, clerk, secretary, office assistant et al. Nandan Nilekani (MD of Infosys) and his wife Rohini stayed with us. While Rohini babysat my son, I wrote programs for Infosys. There was no car, no phone, and just two kids and a bunch of us working hard, juggling our lives and having fun while Infosys was taking shape. It was not only me but also the wives of other partners too who gave their unstinted support. We all knew that our men were trying to build something good.

It was like a big joint family,taking care and looking out for one another. I still remember Sudha Gopalakrishna looking after my daughter Akshata with all care and love while Kumari Shibulal cooked for all of us. Murty made it very clear that it would either be me or him working at Infosys. Never the two of us together... I was involved with Infosys initially.

Nandan Nilekani suggested I should be on the Board but Murty said he did not want a husband and wife team at Infosys. I was shocked since I had the relevant experience and technical qualifications. He said, Sudha if you want to work with Infosys, I will withdraw, happily. I was pained to know that I will not be involved in the company my husband was building and that I would have to give up a job that I am qualified to do and love doing.

It took me a couple of days to grasp the reason behind Murty's request..I realized that to make Infosys a success one had to give one's 100 percent. One had to be focussed on it alone with no other distractions. If the two of us had to give 100 percent to Infosys then what would happen to our home and our children? One of us had to take care of our home while the other took care of Infosys.

I opted to be a homemaker, after all Infosys was Murty's dream. It was a big sacrifice but it was one that had to be made. Even today, Murty says, Sudha, I stepped on your career to make mine. You are responsible for my success.

The new Satyam nursery rhyme

2009-01-10T14:58:00.001+05:30

Raju Raju sat on the wall Raju Raju had a great fall Balance sheet died Shareholders cried Raju Raju made a fraud.

Raju Raju Yes baba Cheating us No baba Telling Lies No baba Open the balance sheet HA HA HA.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2009-01-02T00:08:00.003+05:30

QUOTES

2008-12-23T17:04:00.000+05:30

Worrying does not solve tomorrow’s troubles……………… It only takes away today’s peace.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

2008-12-18T13:24:00.000+05:30

"No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

2008-12-17T12:51:00.001+05:30

Believe in your dreams and they 'may' come true.
Believe in yourself and they 'will' come true.

26/11

2008-12-01T12:15:00.001+05:30

Mumbai is bleeding not only due to the bullets and grenades but also because of being helpless and vulnerable. This is where I grew up… The images of places that I frequented as a child,as a teen, as an adult… smeared with blood, shattered by bullets and torn by hate!

To be honest, I’ve seen it before…when the city was hit by riots and bombings!

I want that 'Bombay' back…the one where we breathed free as one…did not see where we came from,the colour of our skin, nor even knew each others caste or creed…

Where is it now? How did we let it go…? Will I ever get back the Bombay that lives in my dreams

My heartfelt condolences to the families of persons killed and taken hostage. My heartfelt condolences to the family of the brave officers of the Mumbai Police, the Indian Army, Navy, the NSG and the various other security forces who were dealing with the crisis.

How long will India succumb to outside political pressure and do nothing while our countrymen are slaughtered year after year! We need to take a firm stand.

We cannot leave this to keep happening. These people will face it one day. The day cannot be too far. As Indians we need to stand together as one to battle the ugly face of terrorism.

Let's start a Non Corporation movement. Something to show our leaders that we want our safety.Lets ask for what's our Right, our right to live fearlessly. Lets devote one evening of our life to it. Lets all come together at Gateway Of India on 3rd Dec 2008 at 6 pm.

ANT & GRASSHOPPER

2008-11-17T12:19:00.003+05:30

Enjoy this........ ........and also think over !!!

An Old Story:

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter. The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool and laughs & dances & plays the summer away.

Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed. The Grasshopper has no food or shelter so he dies out in the cold.

Indian Version:

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter. The Grasshopper thinks the Ant's a fool and laughs & dances & plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be that this poor Grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the Ant's house.

Medha Patkar goes on a fast along with other Grasshoppers demanding that Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter.

Mayawati states this as `injustice' done on Minorities.

Amnesty International and Koffi Annan criticize the Indian Government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the Grasshopper.

The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the Grasshopper (many promising Heaven and Everlasting Peace for prompt support as against the wrath of God for non-compliance) .

Opposition MPs stage a walkout. Left parties call for 'Bengal Bandh' in West Bengal and Kerala demanding a Judicial Enquiry.

CPM in Kerala immediately passes a law preventing Ants from working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and Grasshoppers.

Lalu Prasad allocates one free coach to Grasshoppers on all Indian Railway Trains, aptly named as the 'Grasshopper Rath'.

Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the ' Prevention of Terrorism Against Grasshoppers Act' [POTAGA], with effect from the beginning of the winter.

Arjun Singh makes 'Special Reservation ' for Grasshoppers in Educational Institutions & in Government Services.

The Ant is fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes,it's home is confiscated by the Government and handed over to the Grasshopper in a ceremony covered by NDTV.

Arundhati Roy calls it 'A Triumph of Justice'.

Lalu calls it 'Socialistic Justice'.

CPM calls it the 'Revolutionary Resurgence of the Downtrodden'

Koffi Annan invites the Grasshopper to address the UN General Assembly.

Many years later...

The Ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi-billion dollar company in Silicon Valley,

...AND

As a result of loosing lot of hard working Ants and feeding the grasshoppers,

India is still a developing country...!! !

What do you do when it all goes wrong?

2008-11-13T13:00:00.001+05:30

1. Laugh .
Laugh hard and laugh often. Laugh like there's no tomorrow - given the above, there may not be. Seriously though. . .laughter will put you in a much better frame of mind to deal with life's interruptions without losing your sanity.

2. Breathe.
If laughter isn't possible, and sometimes it just isn't, then focus on your breathing. Breathe in and out, in and out as deeply as possible until your pulse stops racing or you let go of the throat that somehow found its way into your grasp.

3. Regroup.
When the walls are caving in around you, take five minutes and figure out what you can do to keep at least one thing moving forward.

4. Give thanks.
"What? Give thanks? Are you insane?"I can hear the grumbling from here. Do it anyway! Grab a piece of paper and make a list of everything that you are thankful for - chances are, you have it better than millions of others.

5. Get out.
Get out of the house and out of the office. Whether you choose to go for a walk, have lunch with friends, go window shopping (leave credit cards at home) or browse the shelves at your local library, get out and enjoy yourself for a bit. You'll return in a much refreshed frame of mind and ready to tackle whatever life throws your way.
Let's be real. Sometimes problems are just problems and not "opportunities". Sometimes lemons make bad lemonade. And not all clouds have a silver lining. When everything goes wrong, try one (or all) of the above techniques, accept it and move on knowing that things will get better!

Happily Single or Happily Married

2008-11-05T13:58:00.002+05:30

Happily Single or Happily Married

Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy because we will always want to have something else or something more. - Brother David Steindl-Rast :

Contentment is the key to happiness. If we are contented with what we have or whom we are, we will find true happiness. Success is not the key to happiness but rather happiness is the key to success.

Happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you can still feel happy.- H.H. the Dalai Lama:

The process of being happy does not depend on others. You create your own happiness.If you love what you are doing , you will find happiness.

You can be happy as a single as well as being in marriage but I think I rather prefer to be married and being happy because of the joys of a family life and snuggled up in the warm embrace of a loving relationship.

Life is more fulfilling and compassionate when you have children in marriage. It gives meaning to what life is all about . A man who does not marry is like a fruit tree which flowers but bears no fruit.When he grows old, he will be cold ,lonely and living in an empty void.

It is not that they do not want to marry but their expectations are too high or too perfect and no one can live up to their standards or they have not found the right one yet.

If you are single ,be happy and if you are married, be happy too. Being married is full of challenges and if there are no challenges in life, life would not be worth living.

NECK EXERCISE

2008-11-04T13:57:00.002+05:30

How the Corporate World Talks

2008-11-01T13:11:00.002+05:30

Four frogs sat upon a log that lay floating on the edge of a river. Suddenly the log was caught by the current and swept slowly down the stream. The frogs were delighted and absorbed, for never before had they sailed.

At length the first frog spoke, and said, "This is indeed a most marvelous log. It moves as if alive. No such log was ever known before." Then the second frog spoke, and said, "Nay, my friend, the log is like other logs, and does not move. It is the river that is walking to the sea, and carries us and the log with it." And the third frog spoke, and said, "It is neither the log nor the river that moves. The moving is in our thinking. For without thought nothing moves."

And the three frogs began to wrangle about what was really moving. The quarrel grew hotter and louder, but they could not agree. Then they turned to the fourth frog, who up to this time had been listening attentively but holding his peace, and they asked his opinion.

And the fourth frog said, "Each of you is right, and none of you is wrong. The moving is in the log and the water and our thinking also." And the three frogs became very angry, for none of them was willing to admit that his was not the whole truth, and that the other two were not wholly wrong.

Then a strange thing happened. The three frogs got together and pushed the fourth frog off the log into the river.

Kashmir belongs To INDIA..

2008-10-30T15:05:00.001+05:30

*An ingenious example of speech and politics occurred recently in the United Nations Assembly that made the world community smile.*

A representative from India began: 'Before beginning my talk I want to tell you something about Rishi Kashyap of Kashmir, after whom Kashmir is named.

When he struck a rock and it brought forth water, he thought, 'What a good opportunity to have a bath.' He removed his clothes, put them aside on the rock and entered the water.
When he got out and wanted to dress, his clothes had vanished. A Pakistani had stolen them.'
The Pakistani representative jumped up furiously and shouted, 'What are you talking about? The Pakistanis weren't there then.'
The Indian representative smiled and said, 'And now that we have made that clear, I will begin my speech.'

And they say Kashmir belongs to them........................

STOCK MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD

2008-10-30T14:05:00.005+05:30

TOKYO

JAPAN

INDIA

PARIS

NEW YORK

FRANKFURT

AND

PAKISTAN

INDIA ON THE MOON

2008-10-29T13:25:00.000+05:30

INDIA ON THE MOON

TO ABORT OR NOT !!!!

2008-08-25T19:19:00.003+05:30

Niketa Mehta is a 30 year old woman who is currently into her 26th week of pregnancy. If the child is born, it will be her husband Haresh and her first child, and possibly their only child. Naturally they would wish for a healthy and normal baby. The Mehtas had approached the court two weeks ago to be allowed to go for MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy), after the foetus was diagnosed with a congenital complete heart block. I think they had possibly also gone to the media, who went into their usual overdrive debating the pros and cons of the issue. This time they were probably justified, as a veritable can of worms was opened. Initial reports had suggested that they might be granted permission to abort but the court eventually turned down the request. The Judge sympathized with the couple but also said that to abort a 26 week old foetus would be like euthanasia and not an abortion. The judgment was based on a medical report by a J J Hospital doctor that it was not impossible that the baby born might be able to lead a normal life.

The Indian MTP laws do not allow for abortion after the 20th week as it is dangerous for the mother’s health. Apparently some countries allow it till the 25th week. The question that arises in everyone’s mind is when does a foetus almost become a human being? When does abortion almost become like murder? I don’t think abortion can or should be wished away because there are times when it is essential. The woman who has conceived has a right to decide whether she wants to have the child. Sometimes it’s a matter of the mother’s health, sometimes it’s an accidental pregnancy. An early abortion is often just a means of birth control. In India, abortion has also happened (and still does, despite the laws) because of gender issues. In this case we’re dealing with an educated couple who desire to have a child. The issue is apparently nothing to do with the child’s sex either but with the desire to have a healthy child. So, is it right to abort a child in the 26th week because he / she will be born with a disability? It is easy enough for us outsiders to say that it is not right but life with a disabled child is tough on the parents. It is tougher in a country like India where there is no thought given to making life for the disabled a bit easier. No lifts to take them to platforms, hardly any buses that have low steps or buildings with ramps, etc etc. I believe a lot of schools avoid children with physical disabilities. It would be expensive for the couple to put the baby through all the medical treatment that it will require. And yet, is abortion right? What would be the definition of the perfectly healthy baby that one wants to deliver? Can we choose its sex too, and the colour, perhaps the level of intelligence…? On the other hand, medical science is making it possible for us to know whether the foetus has any serious disabilities. Shouldn’t one use this facility and not be saddled with a child who will lead a tough life and make the parents’ life tougher? Questions, questions, questions. No clear answers.

I wonder how many of those who have been born with various disabilities and survived feel about the raging debate. I wonder how it feels for them to know that they might not have been born. I wonder also, how the Mehta’s child will feel like if he / she later learns about how the entire nation debated over his / her right to be born.

Anyways junior Mehta won't see the light of day, probably the baby could sense it's mother's fears and didn't want to be a unhealthy human, so the baby called it quits .....................................

A WOMAN'S POEM

2008-06-22T10:53:00.002+05:30

Before I lay me down to sleep,
I pray for a man, who's not a creep,
One who's handsome, smart and strong.
One who loves to listen long,
One who thinks before he speaks,
One who'll call, not wait for weeks.
I pray he's gainfully employed,
When I spend his cash, won't be annoyed.
Pulls out my chair and opens my door,
Massages my back and begs to do more.
Oh! Send me a man who'll make love to my mind,
Knows what to answer to "how big is my behind?"
I pray that this man will love me to no end,
And always be my very best friend.

MUMBAI AS SHANGHAI

2008-06-17T09:36:00.001+05:30

Heavy monsoon rainfall in Mumbai - India, water-logging streets and disrupting transport resulting inconvenience to people.

Will Mumbai ever become Shanghai ....................

CROSS CONNECTION

2008-06-12T12:19:00.005+05:30

A boring 12 hour train journey to God’s own country, the middle seat, a re read Chetan Bhagat’s book, and a fresh break off!!!!
What an amazing combination for an ideal journey. Every one seemed to be getting lucky in love, the umpteen number of honeymooners on the train, even my maid servant.

All of a sudden a girl tapped me on the shoulder. She looked like a Thai girl short, chinky eyes, black hair with a Chinese accent. We exchanged pleasantries and introductions. She was from Pattaya, and her name was Mia. She was on her way to Kerala.

In between conversations Mia started rummaging through her pockets and handbag. She finally located her keys, “My boyfriend warned me, “she began. “Great”, I thought someone else who is happily hitched. So, she worked in Dubai and they were both dating other people. One fine day both of them got dumped and chemistry happened. He was from Kerala and she had met his parents and stayed over at his family house. Her folks knew that she was dating someone.

“What kind of marriage will it be?” I asked. Her eyes widened “Who’s getting married?” This I hadn’t expected. Would a good Kerala boy live - in with his Thai girlfriend.

She laughed at my confusion. “No we’re not going to end up together”, she offered as explanation. It still made no sense to me.

Apparently their cultures dashed far too much. She couldn’t expect him to convert to Buddhism and she was not ready to accept the Christian way of life.

“How can you be so casual?” I had to ask as she spent two hours telling me how much she would miss him. She shrugged. They always knew it wouldn’t work out. “Why get into it in the first place then?” She shrugged again……………… “I like him a lot and he likes me too” she said softly. “As long as it lasts, it lasts then we’re done”.

The talk moved on to other things. Salman Khan and even Mahatma Gandhi, but I wasn’t paying attention. What would I rather be? Single and self piteous or date someone I knew I wasn’t going to end up with. Still no clue. But I hope Mia finds a way to end up with her boyfriend. Strange this LOVE thing.

PETROL PRICE HIKE

2008-06-12T09:27:00.002+05:30

AT LAST IT HAS HAPPENED ....................................

BEER IS CHEAPER THAN PETROL ..........

ENJOY !!!!!!!

DON'T DRINK & DRIVE

Mumbai Rains

2008-06-11T22:53:00.003+05:30

Phew !!!!! Almost a week that it is raining, But I am loving it . I sure am glad that the rains have arrived earlier than usual. It was a really hot summer. The heat and sun was driving me nuts. I am so very glad that the temperatures have dipped many degrees. It’s a beautiful season, isn’t it? Quite a romantic climate. Some times I wonder maybe the rains are to be blamed for our ever increasing population. I am not usually so enthusiastic about rains. I hate getting drenched and muddy. All my pastel and white dresses will have to be kept at the bottom of my closet. I don’t want to get them dirty. But still, this year, I welcome the rain. The down side of rains in Mumbai is the flooded roads and traffic congestion. Sure enough, I was delayed to work because of traffic jams. But, what the heck, I am just going to enjoy the rains this year and hum the song -

Aye dil hai mushkil jeena yahan
Zara hat ke zara bach ke,
yeh hai Bombay meri jaan

DUS KA DUM

2008-06-09T23:38:00.003+05:30

The most expensive show on air, and the host gets paid 90 crores.

Plus the guy gets to keep his shirt on! Come on Sallu what on earth are you thinking man !!!

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

2008-06-09T11:41:00.000+05:30

“A part of you has grown in me. And so you see, it's you and me together forever and never apart, maybe in distance, but never in heart.”

Aakash walked into the house and automatically picked up his mail. A familiar handwriting caught his eyes, since Office had come into existence very seldom would one find a handwritten letter. He slit open the envelope, took out the letter and started reading it. Half an hour later he was still standing at the door tears in his eyes.

The letter began like a conversation, no greetings, just words…………….

We had spent a large part of our childhood n teenage years together. It amazes me that we never actually dated, but we did have a few intimate moments that left us a bit “giddy” and “blushed”. I remember the time you proposed in true filmy style with a hibiscus in hand and the clichéd words “Will you be mine”, it was tacky but I fell for it and do so every time I think about it.

You need to know what happened that July day …………… Some things cannot be left half way it has to be finished.

HE forced himself on me on that fateful day when there were celebrations going on in your house, a ‘family get together’ you told me, and I had to be there to represent US for you were out travelling, but it was more of a ‘gossiping get together’.

The family get together was going on and everyone was on the terrace, I came downstairs for some fresh air and peace of mind to free myself from all the gossips and back biting I was subjected to. He made his way into the house on the pretext of using the bathroom, he was not alone two of his friends accompanied him, all intoxicated and stoned. I was just being nice since I was in HIS house otherwise the very mention of his name disgusted me. But when he stepped into the house he made the decision, which would change my life tremendously.

HE and his friends forced them selves on me, taking advantage of my being alone and scared. They held my arms and took my clothes off, I told them to stop plenty of times and tried to push them away, but they just kept hushing me, kept holding me down, touching me kissing me, and taking my clothes off. I did all I could do with the power that I had at that point of time. I scream, scratched and pushed them but they were so extremely strong and it did not seem to make any sense to keep trying. I was worn out and tired. They were all over me and I had completely given up. I just stopped. It felt like an outer-body experience. It seemed as if I stepped out of my body and was watching what was happening, not able to do anything about it. All I was thinking was that they could take my body, but I would not let them take my soul! I did not feel a thing. When they were done they just left leaving me there wounded and crying. I passed out instantly. When I got up I got dressed and left for the police station where I made my statement. All the procedures and medical help took really long and by the time it was all done it was four in the morning. I was extremely tired, hungry I just fell off to sleep.

On waking up the next day all the cards had been turned in my direction, I was the slut and the story teller. One can do wonders when they have power and money, and that is what happened, the victim turned into the accused. I was alone, scared and miserable I tried calling you several times only to receive a sms from you which said that you didn’t want to stay in touch after all. Such is life ……………

You must be thinking why now when I had been silent for six long years. Do you know what makes me write to you today? I need to say good bye to you, after having spent six years with your ghost that has walked, slept, eaten and lived between my husband and me. I have come to realize that your intrusive presence has been there because I don’t want to let go of you. The man whom I loved for years, the man who deserted me, and the man whom I lived for has to be buried six feet under.

It took me an excruciating six years to individually erase every single memory I had of you. Every touch of your hand, the way you looked at me, your smile, your sense of humor, you sitting pressed up against me in the taxi ………. Those were my moments of hell after you left.

The past with you worries me……… I can’t be dragged back into time. I have finally settled down …………. Good job, great husband! I finally feel successful………… you represent failure to me. Failure to be strong enough to accept me in my moments of despair, failure to fight against your family for the unjust done to me. I wanted to be with you, and suddenly all the bitterness has gone away and I want to be with you again. I am no longer in love with you, but I think I still love you. Is that possible? I want to hold you and maybe make you laugh and maybe truly laugh myself for the first time in six years.

I love my husband a lot. He has made me a better person. He is handsome and accomplished and we’re quiet content. He is the sole reason I am living again and all I want to do is be with you right now.

And the letter ended just like that, disgusted with him self, Aakash scrunched up the letter and threw it in the waste paper basket. Then he picked it up, smoothed it out carefully, folded it and inserted it into his wallet.

THE TERMINATION

2008-06-09T10:01:00.001+05:30

They sat in the waiting area, almost looking like a regular couple except that when the nurse came bustling in with the ‘good news’, they didn’t look so happy. They had hoped that their fears had been baseless. They had hoped that the inevitable didn’t have to happen. It had happened. They met the doctor and took and appointment for the abortion.

The interim period of waiting was painful as between them hung this unspoken sense of guilt, accusation and regret. This wasn’t a planned conception and it simply had to go. It was very early yet and it didn’t matter so much. It was no point discussing it either. Yet Sasha felt such a great heaviness weighing her down. It was as if she could not quite breathe properly, or eat, or talk. This could have been her child, their child…

Everything felt so cold inside the Operation Theatre. The floor, the air-conditioning, the doctor’s hands, her detached smile, the bed on which she lay. She looked up at the huge steel dome containing lights. The doctor gave her a shot. Gradually she passed into a state of being where she felt light headed. It didn’t seem to matter so much any more that she was here not to give birth but to terminate a life. It was so peaceful here… if only the baby wouldn’t cry.

But the baby wouldn’t stop. The crying grew so loud that Sasha had to cover her ears. She looked at the others in the room who were going about their tasks with absolute unconcern. She tried to ask them to stop. She wanted to scream, ‘stop please, can’t you hear the baby crying?’

Her lips wouldn’t form the words and she gradually sank into unconsciousness. The child’s crying slowly faded away as darkness enveloped her.

When she came to, she was feeling very groggy and not quite there. He sat by her bed and took her hand in his. With that gesture, she began to remember slowly and she felt the physical difference in herself. She remembered desperately wanting to say something to the doctor but no longer remembered what it was that she had wanted to say. Yet, her eyes filled, perhaps at the unexpected act of kindness from him who sat by her.

‘Its over now darling’, he whispered.

‘I know, I know’, she said. And the tears kept flowing.