Rama Moondra

To me. Summer is a season of joy. I am sure, not many would agree to this. When you are an inch close to being gone and burnt to ashes given to forty-six degrees of heat, my statement may sound either contemplation of a vacation or a neurotic heat disorder.

 Trust me it is neither. It is another blissful way of “Hopelessly optimistic” my school of thought.

 And why not? Which other season brings you the sheer pleasure of eating mangoes for dinner? The juicy-fruity watermelons and oranges in amazing colorful hue  remind me of life yet to be lived is going to be similar. Colorful and sweet.

 The prizewinner is of course, Ice –Golas. Read them slush if you wish to but let me confess, nights after nights walking near River Thames in London, sitting next to River Sean in Paris and eating orange slush with friends in both places in so called summers, I have longed to be back home and eat real Ice gratings dipped in fragrant rose syrup.

 A few things in life do not change and thank heaven for small mercy. Summers have not changed and so is my attraction of bounty it brings.No wonder, when I got a call from my dear friend Neil to be back in the summertime in Europe, he stated,” Mad or what, summer in India?” my reaction was,” Mad or what, summer in India.”

 Where else…

A recent article In Times attracted me. “Life comes to full cycle,” Says India’s Ace tennis player for another world champion. It is a soul stirring experience sharing of how they stood against each other when the karmic chakra turned out changing positions.

 I heard long ago, “You meet every person twice.” It means whatever you have done to someone, good or bad, comes back to you. May not be from the same but similar for sure.

My visit to passport office proved it so true. I was denied ECNR stamp. “Go to Mumbai or get a State degree”. The woman was upfront. I knew city office could do that here too. “Listen, I have not been a student here,” I can not have a Gujarat Univ. degree.” She looked at me and asked me to leave the queue. Undeterred, I asked for the senior official. I went to his cabin, explained and offered my documents. Instead looking at them, He kept looking at me, almost making me uncomfortable. Meanwhile, my passport went without documents for stamp and I got a coke to drink.  

 “Do you remember giving blood to some hurt fellow who you picked up from road once late night and took to hospital? He was hit and run case.” Nothing related to the basic conversation that was on, I must have displayed bewildered expressions. A quick journey down memory archives, I did. “Yes, almost four years.” “I have not changed much though,” He smiled. Amused and very happy, I shook hands all over again. My passport came back and I got up saying thanks for the favor. It indeed saved me a lot of hassle.

  He smiled back, “I returned one today. It all comes back to you one day.” I walked my way back to car thinking all the good things I am yet to offer to lot of people.

It  will come back to me living a full cycle and one summer afternoon will become a smiling bond of two strangers.

Life has its own style of coaching and it depends on the human beings to take that learning. My relationship with life has made me learn more than usual. I meet new people everyday. I have seen admiration, adoration and pampering. I have seen jealous, hatred and crib always people. I think we all do.

I have clients and friends who are permanently upset. I am sure even god can feel sorry about some of his creations. “How do you remain so cheerful?” I face this question thrice in a week.

To me, it is about an age-old game of Expectations and Possibilities. There is nothing called “unconditional giving”. We all give to get it back and when one does not receive in the same proportion, it pains. Sometime, people do expect everything without investing much and keep blaming their counter parts. If the other person believes in giving a long rope to relations, poor person had it. Some expect unrealistic just because one does not care much and other cannot care less.

 Sure-fire recipe of becoming happy go lucky is the ability to be grateful. It is so important to be thankful. Every day with a new sunray on my face, I smile to life and say thanks to almighty. After all, I get up from a comfortable bed, on my own and can afford to get all luxuries. (Moreover, capacity of buying is relative term). If anything goes my way,I feel great about expextations fulfilled,if not,I deposit that in failed possibility account.

I have learnt that though its bliss to have care and love, even more blissful is to give it back . Some relations will betray, some will die their death and a few will be frozen in archives of time. What makes life going is to meet strangers, be a part of their life, get and give happiness.

That one capacity decides how much life we live in every moment.

 It pains to see people go. Goodbyes hurt most when you do not get to say them. However, I think, what hurts most is to trust and be cheated.

Why would people cheat? When someone asked me this recently with choked voice and weepy eyes, I did not reply then. Actually cheating is pure definition of someone not behaving the way one should have. Days in and days out, it happens to most of us.

Life plays a game of expectations to keep human race going. If there were no expectations, there could not have been possibilities either. Some break ups are permanent damage. Therefore, someone moving on from a serious relationship may not signify a new beginning always. Someone having tear soaked, painful break up from close relationship may not amend the cracks in crystal vase ever.

“What would have happened if I were not vulnerable? Have I been emotional fool?” I heard it many times in silence recently. How could one prevent oneself from loving someone? How could you not be emotional to your own heart and people who live in that cozy corner?

We all are vulnerable to love and then to let go. Nevertheless, it is worth loving and let go hundred times then  to close your heart and not let it brighten from power of giving. It pains, it hurts and it proves that you are alive. May not be for a new beginning but for own strength of being able to give and breathe afresh.

For all those who have loved and lost, with a silent prayer that you must find your own strength. It is within you just the way once love was.

Place- Amritsar. Time- 2.30 am. Venue- Golden Temple. Temperature – Minus two degree.

 I stood silent next to sarovar. It is holy tank where people take a dip before going inside. I am not a religious person. I do not even believe in doing any rituals. Therefore, curiosity took me to temple that early morning. It all started from the hotel lobby. “The temple opens at 2.30 am” The receptionist informed me. “I am sure not in this season,” I smiled to him. “Oh no, it’s been that way ever since. No matter whatever the season is.” He gave me a look that made me feel like an alien in wonderland.

I could walk to temple from hotel. I gathered my courage. Two am my alarm rang and I came out of hotel. Absolutely deserted road, shivering under my spine I walked two steps. I had to go back to lobby again to get a torch. The fog did not allow me to see anything despite streetlights. I was sure that I may not get a single soul on my way to temple so walking with utmost caution; I looked around when I heard footsteps. I felt better seeing some more people on the way. When I reached temple, there was a crowd walking along the parikrama route.

 Nevertheless, I stood speechless when I saw people taking a dip in Sarovar. Freezing cold, foggy night and wind that could drill a hole in bones, people were bathing in icy cold water. My eyes were moist. I bent on my knees and bowed down. For once, it was less for the superpower and more for the amazing capacity of human beings. I bowed down to the power of faith. It instills power to overcome any hurdle, Faith that keeps us going and faith that there will be a better tomorrow.