We have grown up in an environment where before teaching ABC,
we are taught of what people will think of how the ABC is taught and people
judge you for the way you say your ABC. The will of the ‘society’ over powers
our will to live. This atmosphere cannot be separated from us, can it? So all
we do is adjust to its whims and fancies. It becomes so much a part of our DNA
that we don’t realize that we are mere puppets at the hands of our ‘society’
So what makes you live? What is the driving force that separates
the enthusiastic US from the rest? In my
opinion, it’s the smile on the face of our people.
Weird? Thinking what’s the connection? I have gone mad? Think
of it my readers. Ever smiled seeing your parents smile? Ever see your mother
frown over petty issues? Doesn’t that smile on the kind lady who offers you a seat
giving up hers make your day? We all come home to delicious smelling food,
irrespective of our mother’s mood. It is the magic of that smile. The smile
that lives for other people. The smile that encourages you to never give up.
The smile that hides a million tears behind it.
Every day while travelling to office, I see a hundred
smiles. Behind those hundred smiles lie a thousand worries. A thousand
mistakes. A thousand compromises. And ONE will. The spirit of never giving up.
The spirit of seeing someone else smiling. The joy of being the reason for someone
to smile. This gift of JOY can come in different packages. A welcoming
home-coming smile from your mother. A re-assuring smile from a friend when you
are worried. A smile from your sister, saying I love you more than anyone else.
With so much happening in life, the fast paced nature, the
every changing tide; all I can sit back and think is this! What is the true
meaning of life? It is the glowing face of my mother, my teacher, my friend and
my sister or a random lady in the train; who without complains, without frowns
and without a fuss just move on to keep me smiling. Like the insect eating us
all up from inside, but giving up Is not an option is it? That is the true
meaning behind these everyday goof-ups and smiles that cover up for those.
What’s so Indian about it? God gave the same set of aesthetics
to the counter-part countries. But the heart of the smile, comes to an Indian.
Somewhere we all have given up on a dream to fulfil our parent’s dreams, haven’t
we? Or some of us have even found our dreams in theirs. We’ve gone out of our
way to support their dreams. To see a ‘smile’ on their face. It is not
something extra ordinary that we did. I have friends who have done it. They are doing it with as most passion as their own passion. They are amazingly successful. Too much of a 'local bite'.
Moving on, we’ve all grown up in that culture of ‘love’
to do that. Finding life in the life of another person. Taking up a profession
for the sake of service. Trying your bit to make our society a better place. It
is the virtue of life. The best a man can give to his fellow-beings is the gift
of LOVE and support.
Why do we hold ourselves back from doing what we were
born to do? Why do we restrict ourselves in the name of ‘societal burden’ and ‘paise
ki daud’? All you got to do is, pause a minute, look around, hold a hand and
walk along. Take the people along.
Am I too idealist or too optimistic? I could be either! I
still consider myself a step ahead of someone not making an effort. An effort
to make our country a better place to live in.
I chose to see what does not meet the eye. What people often forget to
mention, is what I chose to identify. What people often consider irrelevant is
what I chose to believe. The inner voice. It echoes louder than your words. The lost friend or love shouting out that
he/she still cares for you. The silent parents smiling that they are proud of
you. The distant sister, reiterating that you mean the world to her. The
complete strangers reverberating that they care. It is all out there in the
open for you. Close your eyes and feel the magic in the winds, they sing a song
for you. Dance to the tunes they sing and life will be a musical!
Cheers to the spirit of life and magic of a smile.
This one is a dedication to all those beautiful strangers
and friends who made me realize that there lies a beauty in the unsaid things.
Giving, lies not in the need of expectations but the ecstasy of just giving. Making your parents proud is not a fact but an
emotion. Thank you for giving me this vision that every single person is just like
you and me. All we need to do is give them the opportunity to make a
difference.
Every time I read something that you've written, you manage to bring both; a smile and tear to my face.
ReplyDeleteI don't know when you turned into such a beautiful writer; but am glad you chose to write.
You, my darling sister, make me so proud of you, with every step that you take.
Keep writing and we will try and keep making this world a better place to live in, with as many smiles as we can :D
Wow!! Only you have the talent to express your thoughts in such a beautiful way. Sanskriti bhatia way too good
ReplyDeleteThank you so much didi. Your support and love means so much :)
ReplyDeleteThanks latika :) keep reading :)
ReplyDeleteSans..I never knew one as young as you could write with such emotions and clarity about something that is so innate and characteristic of every individual. I really liked your style of writing and the choice of words which made this piece an absolute delight to read. I was imagining you bent over like you do in office when you write. Penning down such thoughts came as a pleasant surprise to me.
ReplyDeleteKeep writing girl..! I'd like to be pleasantly surprised time to time. :)
Thank you so much priyanjali. Humbling words. Will definitely keep writing :)
DeleteDear Sanskriti, a very passionate composition indeed with a maturity in content way beyond your age :) :) !
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of fact, with cultural, societal, parental and offspring values dwindling alarmingly, your narrative is soothingly surprising.
What we get to hear these days and what most of us get to practice these days is an adaptation of the *east meets west* hullabaloo whereby one neither nurtures the east nor assimilates the west thereby unleashing a predictable confusion. In this confusion, societal values, religious values, parental values, relationship values so on and so forth gets diluted and mostly looses its vibrant charm. While it is a sad reality, we have to acknowledge that a certain sense of detachment has sustained in these present days. While some take refuge in the argument that it is the globally wanting world that demands a recharacterization of oneself, others take refuge in the fact that lack of cultural discipline is the culprit. Amidst this, they (including me) tend to forget that it is WE/US who are the custodians of values, discipline, freedom and awareness, have diverted from the course of righteousness and adopted a egoistic principle of selfishness. Does it do you any good - NO! Does it do others any good - NO! Then why should you adopt such an attitude - Ahh!
Remnants of a bygone era of love and harmony does linger in parts of our hearts. A mass resurrection is what is required. Perhaps your initiative would propel all to perhaps think in the superior way you think and carry yourself in words and deeds.....hopefully :) :)
Well done, dear. Do write and drop me a hint to read it, if your don't mind. In my busy schedule of reading one too many, I would not want to miss out on your writings. I have gone through some of your other posts and commented were time permitted. Have a wonderful day, a blessed day. Thanks :)
Please pardon the typo errors too, Dear :) :)
ReplyDelete