The three minute walk

As I rushed to get out of office I found him blocking my way. It was the usual rush time where every second counted. He was busy with his smartphone which was really annoying and I was about to interrupt him with the polite "Excuse me" when I stopped. He was unconsciously murmuring a song. It was the antara from Dheere dheere chal chaand gagan mein. I didn’t feel like interrupting his unconscious business so decided to take a time hit and walk behind him. The walk was approximately 3-4 minutes till we reached the parking lot. He ended up crooning the whole song. Not an accomplished singer but had his own individual and beautiful style.

I wonder if he really realized that he had sung the full song because he was glued to his phone. If not, well, what a loss! The three minutes, as I walked quietly listening to a beautiful song, I was thinking that life has its moments but we are too busy to notice. I don’t even remember how the rest of my day went but I remember the moment when I decided to not run and listen to a total stranger crooning. If one can really sing unconsciously....guess life is not that complicated ;)

Song

For someone who appreciates words I find only noise around. And hence I always miss the soulful songs that many new movies offer.

Raahon ko badal daalein
Aahon mein asar toh hai
Banti hai bigadti hai
Taqdeer magar toh hai
Saagar mein kahin apni
Koi ek leher toh hai

A beautiful antara from a lovely qawalli - Daata Di Diwani  in Youngistaan ;) Listen to the song here.

The best FSM ;)

For the beginners - A finite-state machine (FSM) is an abstract machine that can be in one of a finite number of states. The machine is in only one state at a time

A conversation between my friend Neha and her 4 year old kiddo Riddhi.
Neha: Riddhu, lets sit down and cut your nails.
Riddhi: Why?
Neha: Because big nails are bad for health. Dirt accumulate in them and then while you eat they get inside you stomach and cause you pain. At times you have to go to the doctor too who may give you an injection.
Riddhi: But what if I keep them clean. I will wash them every 30 minutes so that they are clean.
Neha: Well, you cant always do that. Its easier to just keep them short.
Riddhi: Ummm....Ok mamma!

A relieved Neha cuts her nails and comes back smiling to me at her logical victory. But I guess the victory smile was a little too early. Riddhi soon called her back -
Riddhi: Mamma!
Neha: Yes baby?
Riddhi: Why don't you cut your nails too if its easier and healthier to keep them short?

I rolled down the floor laughing. Color drained from the poor Mamma's face as she envisioned her exclusive manicure completely ruined.

Moral of the story: Get you arguments premise checked before you utter them to the best FSM in the world - Kids!!!

Quote

"When life robs you, sometimes you have to rob it back"

~The book thief

Do your best and leave the rest ;)

I had been on this junction a thousand times but it was only today that I observed him. I guess because the snarl at my end was nastier.

He worked hard - shouting, yelling at people to make way, almost abusing the errant hawkers to move aside. One could not miss the urgency in his voice. He wanted the spot clean and the traffic cleared. Just when he was about to succeed, in walked three cows - guess that makes it an Indian Road post ;). And cows do not pay heed to requests or abuses. They have their own rules and their own leisurely pace. He stood wondering what to do!  And then I saw him doing the unimaginable! He picked up a small bunch of leafy vegetable and bribed the cows to get out of the way into a different path. And lo! They obeyed. He got back to his position and continued to man the traffic. Yet again thanklessly!

For a mind that has been uncontrollably tensed it was a beautiful lesson. Accolades or no; acknowledgements or no; reciprocation or no; our only duty is to do the task to the best of our ability. An act well done should give you peace rather than the outcome.

Out of place ......and hence beautiful

Usually the Volvo buses in Bengaluru are crammed with the same type of people and with similar play things. Busy professionals checking emails on their smart phones or laptops, some unnecessarily going thru' files and folders as if the laptop is more interesting to stare at than people in flesh and blood. If nothing, they have their earphones on. The scene is the same every single day, irrespective of the time of the day. In the evening, it’s just haggard faces but the laptops, smart phones and earphones stay the same nevertheless. One major reason is the bus fares for these air conditioned Volvo buses really burn a hole in the pocket. So I guess it has become a trademark of the bustling professional who is ready to shell out exorbitantly for even an iota of more comfort.

Today was no different but when a candy floss man decided to take a seat amongst the honored professionals, it was a sight to watch. Many squirmed wondering where he would put his candy floss packets. Obviously none bothered to glance at their own baggage. But then you don't even utter candy floss and laptop in the same sentence let alone compare them ;) Many were obviously wondering if he could afford that ride, well I thought about it too, but I guess we all can get whimsical and choose to do what we like. So I quickly adjusted to the thought. Soon the man was forgotten and people resumed their tasks but all thru' my journey I kept looking at him. His pink candy floss looked so adorable in the sea of blacks, grays and whites. And of course not to forget the man himself who was completely at ease being out of place. How many of us dare to be that?

Friends!

Had been long since I called up Neha so thought Friendship's day was a good day to just reconnect.
Me: Hello Neha
Neha: Haan bol
Me: Happy Friendships day
Neha: Silence
Me: Hello, I said happy friendships day
Neha: Silence
Me: Silence
Neha: You ok? Did someone mix vodka in your coffee?
Me: Aye nalayak....
Neha: yes, NOW you sound normal...

So much for trying to be nice to an old buddy. I guess being nice is next to being unnatural when it comes to friends ;)

Happy friendships day [Yeah.....a very belated one ;)]