GROWTH

Everybody wants to grow. But growth is a natural process. You can only help it to give it a direction. You can not control it. And there is a limitation inbuilt how much you can grow. Many times when we fail to grow, we try to add and acquire to give the false picture of growth with the hope that others will be fooled by it. But whom are we kidding ? We are only adding to our burden and panting underneath while feigning a smile of satisfaction lest the game will be out in the open. This is not real and we know it. That brings the disconnection and dissatisfaction. We become fake and grow as fake. Let's face it and unburden ourselves. There will be so much freedom and happiness. We can get back ourselves whom we have lost under the addictive additions. We can smile. We can grow.

Mumbai Visit

Looked out of the window of the aircraft to take a bird's view of Mumbai. Strange, various shades of color blue was coming from various places of the city. What is this love for color blue of the Mumbaikars ? Don't know really and didn't get an answer when I asked my friends. May be the sea nearby still entices and occupies the minds of the people of this city. As I was passing through the busy street a city soaked with rain was just trying to move indoor to create and search for some warmth. Jokingly I said to my friend, " Mumbaikars perfectly know the price time carries. As true business people they try to take the maximum price for their time. But they don't use it for themselves as this will be opportunity lost for them." He smiled and said, " We love it that way. We want our pleasures to be big and willing to pay for it through our nose. But we won't have it any other way." That's Mumbai. Willing to change and unwilling to change at the same time. Lovely people. They keep the drab city warm through the warmth of their heart. 

Myth of Sisyphus

He pushed himself out of the bed. It is 5am. Winter mornings are cold and sometimes, as it is today, there is a slight breeze making it colder.But he always makes it a point to get up at that time since his childhood days. It gives him some time to sit down and reflect on the day that he is going to meet. the city always goes to bed late. And it is afraid to reflect when it is awake. It tries to drain that shrill inner voice with the cacophony of sound. Only some how it has left the morning untouched to some extent. He remembers he is pushing the burden of life through many ups and downs. Like the Sisyphus he has seen him carrying his life to the pinnacle many times only to see it slip away to the bottom again, and again he has pushed it up and again it has slipped...Initially he was excited, he was mad at himself alternately. Now he is puzzled. He does not know if he is carrying the life through these ups and downs or the life is carrying him through these. He is dragging the weight or the weight is dragging him. At times the meaninglessness of it all strikes him as brazen and he ponders if it is worthwhile. But then he realises that there is no escape. The action keeps him active and fills his time with occupation. If he does not keep at it the weight will run over him and crush him underneath. There is no escape.A cold sweat comes over his body even in the cold ambiance. He feels very warm and takes out the covering. There is a wrench in his stomach and things start to churn in it. He felt like throwing up and ran to the wash basin. From the corner of his eyes he sensed his shadow pulling him towards the basin or is it the Sisyphus!

Alexander, THE GREAT

Purus stands vanquished. Nothing to loose more. The Kingdom is gone. Only matyrdom may lift the darkness and dishonour of defeat. It is not difficult to be brave when you are cornered. Comes striding the victor with his soldiers around. The victory has washed off the painful losses of life of many in pursuit of the target. The entry to the famed land has been made. The breach head has been achieved. The unexpected war style of the alien land has been faced and conquered. Now he knows what to expect and can prepare for it. A great achievement. Dreams are going to materialise. Time when he can play with his prisoner like a cat with mouse and douse the pain of losing men and material in war. "How do you want us to treat you ?" he asked. "Like a king should with another king" came the reply. He took it, thought over it and pondered. Only a brave man can respect another. Not the copy book stuff, but then he did not have the best teacher of the time for nothing. He cann't act in ordinary manner, for that will not show the teachings of the great man. He acted extraordinarily and released him. Unbelievable stuff from a superhuman person, Unrivaled exhibition of strength of military and mental prowess.

THE STRIKE

It was saturday morning. It was declared as a holiday by the state government. The tension came up as we realised that this will be prefixed to the proposed strike and the last working day just vanished as if it never existed. The telephones kept buzzing as news of pressure at various places started to come. To play one up no body thought of anything called ethics. In best of times the administrators in Banking are the least ethical. They merely look to be on the right side of the law. And this was the worst, they were showing their true colors. Tried to entice people or put pressure on them, even lying to mislead them. We had to pass on the truth and we were doing it. In spite of the heat and dust, when it settled, the picture was ominous.Did not show much success for administration. These were dangerous moments. We knew they must be licking the wounds and preparing to attack to kill. They were in animal spirit and ferocity was natural. We waited with bated breaths for round two. As night was pushing towards midpoint to touch the next date, the news came about the truce. The tension suddenly released on both sides. Claims of victory were made by all and sundry as if a football match has just ended. They were looking for the score card. It was not there. Only the primitive nature in them was reflecting in their face. Cruel and crooked, nothing human.