On your birthday, oh friend

Friend, the earth count your name as blessings

So are we, and we count you as a blessing

A great whim arise when you are around

As you came on earth as a great blessing

You are a very a gift of God, for the world

An unusual felicity spreads on its recollection

As a gift from heaven, you were an insider

And cognizes all there and so God

Everyone at heaven remembers the day

With joy and melancholy they think of you

This day brings a lot in earth and in heaven

Today is your birthday and we wish you

Wish you with a joyful heart and open mind

We pray for you to fulfill all your dreams

May the living God bless you to realize him

May he bring everything you want

May you get so much of pleasure in life
we look forward to savor our friendship
for many more of your birthdays.
I'm so glad you were born, to be our friend

Wish you another year Of laughter, joy and fun,
Surprises, love, happiness and success
Hope you feel deep in your heart, on this day
oh friend, as your birthdays come and go,
you mean to us very much, more than you imagine

And so, we call you Asish, the blessings

As everyone else do call "hard working"

My Daughter

“It’s time to get up, the time is 5.30 am” .I woke up and my eyes focused in the wall calendar. 2^nd June 2011, my one and only daughter Liz is joining her high school today. She needs to travel more than 5 kilometers to reach her new school. The position of a high school student usually makes people to mark students similar to elders. But Liz has only 12 years of exposure in life. I was confused how she will manage to go in a world where a 13 year old girl is treated like an elder person. There are still days for Liz to join the more serious club of ‘Teenage’, After 46 days, she will be counted as a teenage person, but I am not sure that she can be matured to join that elegant club in just 46 days. How can these days bring the much awaited change in my daughter? She needs experience and exposure to get matured, for which I did not find any solution.

“God” I prayed, please listen my prayers…please equip my child to behave according to the demands of the age.  I deferred my daughter to God; the presence of someone supported me to come out from that anticipated dilemma. “No need to worry”, your daughter is better and matured than many other girls of her age” I heard someone telling in my inner soul.  Those inner calls made me comfortable and then I moved to kitchen.  Still an unknown pain was there in my heart.

After leaving Liza to her new school, I went to the market to buy some vegetables and cereals. There I have seen girls of Liza’s age selling vegetables and actively defending the bargaining women. That scene again consoled me even though the situation of those girls was a bit disturbing. My daughter who is of her same age is safe and secure and has a good life without taking any tension like these girls. That thought brought more happiness in me and I was cheerful and enthusiastic while driving back to home. I thought of cooking a brinjal curry and fish fry as Liza like those dishes very much. While cooking her favorite dishes, I was missing my dear daughter a lot. I was not sure whether all the mothers are like this. I always think of her. I live for her and I am ready to die for her.

After cooking I sat before the computer and planned for her birthday party. After having a deep research in her costume style I have given order for her birthday dress and paid for it online. I looked at the images of her party costumes, and forwarded them to Liza’s Dad, who will be reaching to attend Liza’s birthday party from London. After doing it, I sat to read the news paper. Again some shocking news was there. A thirteen year old girl was raped by her father and his friends. But I was confident on my daughter’s life, nothing will happen to Liza as her dad is the best dad in this world, my daughter studies in the best school where she is safe; it is me who used to drop her and pick her up every day. Once again I made up her mind that she is safe. I had my lunch with that confidence. I did not touch the brinjal curry and fish fry as I liked to see her eating it. With sweet and nice thoughts about my daughter I went to bed.

“It’s time to get up, the time is 3.30 pm”. The alarm tone from my mobile woke me up. I need to go to Liza’s school to bring her back. While going to the toilet I switched on the T.V. After the bath I heard the voice of a reporter saying that “the girl is 13 years old and is studying in 8^th standard and has been raped and by her own teacher”. I didn’t have enough time to notice the news as I need to reach Liza’s school at 4 pm. I rushed and went to pick my daughter. The school gate was unusually crowded with media people carrying camera. I asked a person who was standing there, she told me that a 13 year old girl is being raped. I was relieved of the age. My Liza is still 12 years. I walked towards her class room. She was not there, so I went towards the staff room. There also she was not there. Finally I found my one and only daughter laying on the cement floor near the toilet, tormented and tortured. I ran towards her and took her in my hands.  We were the focus of a lot of cameras and eyes. Some eyes were full of tears and sympathy whereas others were full of vilification.

I took my daughter to the car. Her red eyes seemed to be full of tears and trouble. Her body was weak and her face was full of blood. I watched her as if she met with an accident. I told myself, my daughter has not lost anything. She met with an accident and I need to take care of her. While returning home I bought dettol along with the first aid box. I made her to take a bath with dettol water. While bringing her back from the toilet I told her that your body is now clean. I can get your mind also cured soon and I can wipe your tears soon,  but I cannot wipe the sympathy and vilification from the eyes of the people. So forget it. Think that you are cured and safe and they are still not cured.

Life of Colors

That morning, I woke up after a sound sleep and a wonderful dream to see the beauty of earth. My dream appeared like a comedy movie in 1970’s. Everything was perfect in my dream, there was happiness, there was excitement, but something was missing… the events in my dream was in black and white….the missing colligate was color…there was no color….I realized that like my dream, my reality also is missing colors, but I could not understand the reason behind it..

I was in a vacation, and was staying alone at Kodaikanal. My dream led me to the balcony and was putting effort to continue the joy I had in my dream. Suddenly the phone rang. That unexpected phone call seemed to be a real disturbance when I was enjoying the calm and cold morning with a cup of hot tea.  With a prolonged reluctance, I went in the bed room to answer the call, but it got stopped when I reached the bed room. The sudden advent of silence made me happy again. When I was about to return my mobile started ringing. The mobile phone screen showed the face of the caller and it was my wife. I felt a bit relieved but showed my unhappiness in my voice while answering the call.

“Dad”,voice of my 5 years old daughter eliminated all my unhappiness

“Minnooo, U woke up, where is your Mom? “My sound was full of anxiety

The answer was prompt, “I want to fly, but mom is not letting me”

“Oh dear, you can’t fly, only birds can do fly” I tried to make her understand, but her answer was embarrassing, “No Dad, we also can fly. I have seen people flying on TV”

At that particular moment, I really hated the one who invented Animation and made a fruitless effort to convince my daughter that human beings can’t fly. Being unsuccessful, I left that giant task to my wife. When I returned to the balcony, I wished to get back my childhood with all its excitements. When I was a child, I used to watch movies with greater level of exhilaration. I did pray for the well being of heroes and heroines of movies. I did cry for them, I became happy for them. I could not explain the happiness I had when my heroes came out of troubles. I don’t know from when, I could realize that these heroes and heroines are not real and both the happiness and sorrow along with respective colors in their life are scripted by someone else.  That might be the day I lost my childhood.

Losing childhood to become a mature individual was not a good experience. I lost that level of excitement by watching movies. Now I know these are scripted by someone. I lost the feeling that these movie characters are a part of this world. Now I cannot give my mental support to the characters of the movies as I did before. Most importantly, I lost colors in life. Now instead of looking at the green forest, I would hurry to reach home where my family is waiting for me. Instead of enjoying the beauty of rain, I will rush to office where I have a lot of things to do.

Now, when I lost childhood, I preferred to become busy rather than going outside and see the colors of the world. The argument of my little one made me wish to get my colorful childhood back with all its innocence. I want to believe that the western border of the planet is Arabian sea, eastern border is Punnamada lake, southern border is Kallikkaadu and northern border is Pathushery…. From that limited planet, I want to believe that there is something colorful outside this planet and I want to fly to see that…Now I could understand why I missed colors in my reality and I wished to go back to my childhood to have access to the greater extent of colors which is practically impossible. The  realization that my desire is not achievable brought two tear drops in my eyes….yet I am waiting for a miracle….a miracle that bring colors back to my life again.

You are the strength in my weakness

I was happy when I was in the comfort of your lap.
I was comfortable when I slept in your generous hands
I was consoled when your touch was there to console me
I was in peace when you were there to take care of me

Oh my Love, I don’t know to tell you how much you really mean to me
I don’t know to convey my feeling when you held me close
My soul was breach on a daily basis by your intense love
Your voice made my heart swing on the stars.
Your eyes were truly the window to my soul

I am not happy as I am not in the comfort of your lap.
I am not comfortable as I am not sleeping in your generous hands
I am not consoled as your touch is not there to console me
I am not in peace as you are not there to take care of me

Here in this lonely room, I am alone without you
Thinking of a day when you will come back for me
Thinking of a day when you will bring all the best in this world.
Here I count this loneliness as a beginning of great reunion

My eyes brings the image of pain in my eyes which are wet
Hot tears that flow from my eyes like a stream bear your name
The painful heart and tearful eyes make remember that I am week
Because it was you, only you, were my strength in my weakness

The life I had with you was golden and no One can ever take away the love we had
My modality was always perfect with you as you made me feel loved every time
I am looking forward to be with you again, as you became a habit to me
I once again want my life and days to be something special as you make it special

Oh…It Was Me

In a sweet stargaze, I did see a butterfly, with colorful wings

Wings with a lot of colors as if it is a rainbow of dark glosses

Being a rainbow of colors, butterfly was really attractive

I sensed an magnet in all those eyes..I don’t know why

The small flower plant was really happy to meet the butterfly

Being an adorer, the flower plant was magnanimous to invite the fly

The fly could not resist visiting the flower and enjoying sweet honey

While the fly imbibing juice, I felt the taste on my lips ..I don’t know why

The butterfly was happy and I sensed a real happiness aroundme

The happy mind, tasting lips and attracted eyes made the fly dance

I found a movement on my legs, I am also dancing religiously

Now I know the grounds for taste on my lips and the feeling of happiness

Now I know the grounds for taste on my lips and the feeling of happiness

As it was me and my unknown wishes made the butterfly fly

This revelation was amazing and I continued dancing and enjoyed the flower

As never before I could see my face in the rainbow of that beautiful fly

Then I realized, it was me and I shouted, oh…it was me…..

El Roi- “The God Who Sees Me”

Hagar is a woman chosen by God to deliver Ismail for Abraham, the chosen one. Even though she has been chosen for a special cause and exceptional purpose, Hagar was not mature enough to maintain the quality of being a part of a great mission. It is that immaturity led the entire world to end up in a great continuing war.

Hagar an Egyptian slave, when got power of becoming the second wife of Abraham in confidence of her own master Sarai, she failed to use that power in a proper way and misbehaved to her own master. This made Sarai annoyed and she harassed Hagar with her huband’s permission.

Hagar could not bear the bad treatment and left her master’s house without permission. As the mother of an infant, she was not supposed to make such a deed. She was expected to stay back and suffer everything for her child. But she could not.

Hagar, after leaving her house was happy for a few minutes because she believed there is no one to see and control her in this desert and she can leave a life of her own wishes. But suddenly, she could find desert as a villain. It had nothing good in hold for her and her child.

Hagar was collapsed…she was disappointed…she found that she is alone and she would die in this desert along with her child. Yet, she did not return and considered it more feasible to die rather than returning to her master’s place. Her pride does not let her choose the good way.

Hagar when crying met an angel, who consoled her and provided for her. The angel asked Hagar to go back to her master’s life and to live a life of obedience. Hagar could find happiness in angel’s words and returned under Angel’s guidance. She did not know the name of the God, who visited her. So she called him El Roi-  “the God who sees me”

Now, we need to think of ourselves. Can’t we find a Hagar in us, a person of immaturity? Hagar was lucky she could find her Elroi- the God who sees her. Let God, help us also find our Elroi- the God who sees us, as only he can save us and guide us in a proper way. 

From the life of Budha

Here is an incident from Budha’s life.

As part of a travel to spread his doctrine, once Gauthama Budha reached sravasthi. A very rich man came  there to meet Budha. He told Budha,

“ Lord, forgive me as I cannot treat you well as I am sick. I am suffering with obesity. I am not able even to move my body according to my will. Smaller motions cause larger pain in my body. This obstructs all my daily activities and so I want you to forgive me as I am not able to treat you well.  ”

Budha’s heart sunk in favour of that rich but poor man. He looked at the fat guy and asked in a sweet voice,

“Dear, do you want to know the reason for your sickness?”,

“Yes my Lord”, the fat man replied in a trembling voice.

Budha kept silence for a few seconds and started telling in a calm voice. There are five reasons for your sickness.
1.Over food
2.Over sleep
3.Laziness
4.Rude behavior
5.Lack of responsibility

The fat man looked like he accepted all Budha’s comments. Budha continued telling that you can get your health back if you can obey my instructions. To get rid of from your decease, at first you need to control your food, make use of your talents and finally make sure that your talents are being used for the well-being of the society.

The rich man accepted Budha’s words and followed them strictly. In less than six months he lost his weight and became healthy and enthusiastic. This made him happy and he visited Budha and told him,

“ Lord, I am healthy and happy. Now give light to my mind and soul”
 

Budha smiled at him and told, worldly man enriches his body where as spiritual man enriches his soul. The one who searches for worldly wealth destroys his soul and the one who searches God, gets long life and real joy.