Lest I forget..

A day to remember:

• Free from office at 6:20 PM (earliest ever!)
• Very little work
• Stuck in traffic for over an hour in the most awesome weather ever

The Millenium City has finally been blessed. Allow me to share this with you - There is a slight drizzle in the air here, and I say 'in the air' because as I look out the window, soft droplets are melting quietly along my cheeks - like smiles masquerading as tears.. (isn't that a first?).
A few others though, are actually smiling back at me.. as they glide gleefully on the window-glass of my cab.. like polished ballet dancers on an ice stage - obliviously elegant in their moves, yet fully aware of my poring eyes marveling unbashedly at their style.
Wait a minute, they're in tune with FM's "Naa Chode Yaariyan..."

The breeze is sneaking playfully through my jacket too - its warm enough to keep me smiling, yet chilly enough to redden my cheeks. 

*chuckles to self*

Did I tell you I'm stuck in traffic?

Happy Birthday to Me!

Courtesy: Internet

If procrastination were a religion, I'd be God.

I've been wanting to write about my birthday (and lots of other stuff), for really long now (uh, my birthday was 2 months back!) and I am amazed at how I convince myself that that next weekend, will be the weekend (you know what I mean?).

Anyway, my birthday this time was really special - my sister joined B-school (Wohoo, the loser me has been trying for years now), my parents came over to Delhi, my sisters and I were together and I got to meet my cousins too..
And, I also went to Ummeed (an NGO under the Dil Se Campaign, that I work with on weekends.. Basically, we teach/mentor/ have fun/spend time/ organize moral-based games activities for the children there).

So, I was trying to hammer down a few concepts of Quadratic Equations (and remembering how my dad used to scream if I didn't understand or atleast try to understand the concept behind each maths problem-"If you don't know the basics,how will you move ahead!!").. I remember thinking exactly the same thing with this kid.. I looked at him with utter disgust, when he tried to learn a maths problem.. Uh, I thought, this silly kid is trying to learn maths, huh.. If you don't know the basics, how will you move ahead, tell me! And then I controlled my temper (in my mind) and started to re-explain. Uff, I thought, I don't like kids one bit.

Meanwhile, my two friends Harpreet & Deepkiran, were playing softball with children in the next room. They called me saying they'll need a little help. So, I gave this child  a few problems (by the way, this trick really works and I think all teachers use it - whenever you want to get rid of a child for some time, give him a set of maths problems that you know he'll struggle with. And tell him/her with authority.. If you cant solve these then we'll go back to the Chapter in Class II.. And quietly leave the kid to solve his own problems :P Now have your chai, coffee and come back when you wish. PS. Remember to act exasperated when you're back!)

Anyway, I went to the next room to see a bunch of around twenty kids, each with a card in hand!!
I don't know whose idea it was, but it a really really awesome!
I gave them sweets (which by the way, they brutally snatched and seized right out of my hands.. Two of them fought for a Ravalgon, like army men on the Kashmir border (except that we sorted this issue much faster).. It was striking to note that when the supply of toffees was lesser than the demand, they didn't show the slightest hint of the manners we've been trying to teach them for so long.. (Urgh, did I tell you I don't like kids one bit)

Anyway, it was a great great feeling to get those cards and they made my birthday special. Hmmm, maybe they're not so bad after all (yeah, the kids).

Happy Birthday to me.

Here are a few of the cards I got:

Amita Bidi, Ha!

           Isn't the cake absolutely delectable? Its fresh fruit mind you, this kid has good taste.

I like the hearts with hands and feet and wings. Its like, literally giving wings to your imagination.

This card came in a matching envelope with blue taped border. Talk about perfection! Except that I don't like it when they spell my name incorrectly (Urgh, these kids. "If you don't know the basics, how will you move ahead!")

The Confessions of a Volunteer



My whining heart tingled,

You're not that warm or nice

What are you going to do there-

Is that ego in disguise?

I groped along in darkness,

Trying hard to find that light -

And no it didn't just come along

We had no heroes, no fight.

I wept alone in silence,

Could stories really end that way?

There had to be that happy end,

I'll wait, I thought, I'll stay.

I watched and watched,

and watched and watched, it couldn't really be like that -

If I could watch just a wee bit more,

It would come, and I knew that.

Guess what, it didnt - And I'm still there

Though my flimsy heart now sings:

I've understood, I knew I would -

Its hope that gives us wings.

Dedicated to: The children of Ummeed Aman Ghar and the Volunteer DilSe Campaign



"Hope is grief's best music. -Author Unknown"

PS. I've been itching to flaunt this card for months now!



I've had my own set of crazy inhibitions with social work. An Ayn Rand fan and "wannabe corporate" (whatever that is!), I couldn't relate to the concept of being selfess. I still can't, not totally, but my experiences at Ummeed have atleast given me different lines of thought.

I have learnt how happiness, and wealth, to a very large extent, are mutually exclusive. Yes, this is cliched -but I've seen proof!

I've also learnt that life is undeniably unfair, but then, people are incredibly good-natured as well. It's like nature's balance.

I'm still grappling with issues of selfishness, but the happiness that I felt when Babu recognized me on Saturday (I thought all of them must've forgotten me - I was coming back after 3 months) totally made my day and actually compelled me to write this post.

I'm honoured, more aware of myself and maybe even a little more sensitive than before.

Thank you Ummeed.