நினைவலைகள்2...

நினைவலைகள்1

இன்று ஒருத் தகவலில் தொடங்கும் காலைப்பொழுதில், மென்மையாகக் கதை சொல்லிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறார் தென்கச்சி சுவாமினாதன். வரது ரிக்ஷா மணி அடித்து பாதிக் கதையில் என்னை அபகரித்து பள்ளி நோக்கி ப்ரயாணப் படுகிறது. பெரும்பாலும் பக்கத்து வகுப்போடு வளைகூடா போர் நிகழ்த்தி வெற்றிக் கொள்வதில் கழிகிறது என் நாள். வீடு திரும்பும்பொழுது குறுக்குப் பாதைகளில் ஜவுட்டாளி முற்கள் கிழிக்க ஓடி ரிக்ஷாவைத் துரத்திப் பிடிக்கையில் ஆடிட்டர் மகள் சங்கீதா ஆச்சர்யத்துடன் சிந்தும் புன்னகையில் நிறம்பி வழிகிறது என் வீர நெஞ்சம்.

முதன்முதலில் தொலைக்காட்சியில் ரஸித்த பெண் மெட்ரோ ப்ரியா. கைகளை வளைத்து பாடல் வரிஸைகளை அழகாய்த் தொகுத்து வழங்கும் அவளை விஞ்சிவிட இன்று வரை ஒரு தொகுப்பாளினி கூட தமிழகத்திற்கு கிட்டாமல் போனது வருந்தத்தக்க ஒன்று. ரங்கோலி ராமாயணம் ஜங்கிள் புக் என கரையும் ஞாயிறுகளில் தூர்தர்ஷன் மாநில ஒளிபரப்புத் திரைப்படம் ஓடிக்கொண்டிருக்க சென்னைத் தொலைக்காட்சி மைய்யம் அடிக்கடி தடங்கலுக்கு வருந்திப் பொருமையை சோதிக்கிறது.

ஒருசில மாதத் தேர்வுகளில் அனுப்ரியா ஓரிரு மதிப்பெண்களில் முதலிடத்தைத் தட்டிச் செல்கிறாள். அவள் மீது கடும்கோபமும் தீராப்பகையும் கொண்டிருந்தாலும், பெரும் மரியாதையும், அதீத பயமும் உடன் ஒடுகிறதே! "மதி"ப்பெண் மதிப்பெண் பெருவது விந்தையல்லவே! "மதி" என்றால் சந்திரன் என்று அப்பா சொல்லிக் கொடுத்தது பத்து வயதில் தான். ஆக இவ்விடத்தில் அறிவு என்றே பொருள் கொள்க. :-)

தொடர்வேன்...!

நினைவலைகள்....

சரித்திரத்திற்கும் சாமான்யத்துக்கும் நடுவே தன்னிலை அறியாமல் சிக்கித் தவித்துக்கொண்டிருப்போர் பட்டியலில் நானும் இணைந்து ஒரு சில ஆண்டுகள் ஆகி விட்டது. ஒளியை விடவும் அதிவேகமாக ப்ராயணப் படும் திறன் கொண்டது எண்ணங்கள். முப்பதாயிரம் மைல்களுக்கு அப்பால் இருக்கும் காஞ்சியில் 8 வயதே ஆன என்னை என் வீட்டு திண்ணையில் மீண்டும் சந்திப்பதற்கு ஒரு மாத்திரை நேரம் கூட பிடிப்பதில்லை.

வரதராஜா டூரிங் டாக்கிஸில் "மருதமலை மாமணியே முருகைய்யா" பாடலுடன் தொடங்குகிறது எனது பின்மாலைப் பொழுது. கண்ணதாஸனும் வாலியும் தொடர்ந்து சிந்தையை கட்டிவைக்க, தாத்தாவின் மடியில் படுத்துக்கொண்டு கதைகள் கேட்டுக் கொண்டே தூங்கிப்போகிறேன். எனக்கு கவிதை வரிகள் மீது ஆர்வமேற்பட காரணமாயிருந்த பொன்மாலைப் பொழுதுகள் அவை.

கரடி மாமா, ஜடப்பளூரார், ராமு மாமா, கோபு தாத்தா என யாரவது ஒருவர் தாத்தாவைப் பார்க்க வர, ஊர் அரசியல் அனைத்தும் அத்துப்படி ஆகிப் போயிருந்தது. விவித் பாரதியின் வர்த்தக ஒளிபரப்பும், உலா வரும் ஒளிக்கதிர், ஒளியும் ஒலியும், எதிரொலி முதலான தொலைக்காட்சி நிகழ்வுகளும் தான் என் சின்னஞ்சிறு உலகத்தின் வாசல்.

ஷோபனா ரவி, அன்பழகன், சந்தியா ராஜகோபாலன், இவர்களில் யார் அன்றைய செய்தியை வாஸிக்கப் போகிறார்கள் என்பது தான் மிகப் பெரியப் போட்டி. படிப்பில் என்றுமே முதன்மை இடம். ஆதலால் அது பற்றிக் கவலைக் கொண்டதே இல்லை.

இப்பொழுது முக்காலும் யெந்திரமாகி விட்ட ஊரில் குழந்தைகள் விரும்பி திரும்பிப் பார்க்க ஒரு சில நினைவுகளேனும் இருக்கிறதா என்பது எனக்குத் தெரியாது.... தொடர்வேன்....

To NewYork with Love! - 2

China Town probably is the busiest place in New York :-) Lot's of police and lots of crime. Should it be the other way around? :-) Never mind. As we rushed into the "Goto" bus office (a room full of boxes, posters and benches) we were informed that the bus to Washington has already left.

"But... wasn't it supposed to be at 7?" - Murali

A beautiful Chinese girl replied - "It got full and left"

"Then what about the reservation we made?" - This is Murali showing the ticket to the representative.

The bus had no reservation options as such atleast for shuttles.

It's only an option to pre-pay :-) and the best part is we have to rush into the bus to pull up a seat for ourselves. If we lag, then someone else takes it up and we should wait for the next bus to return from Baltimore as standing is not allowed. A scenario typical to boarding mofussil buses in my country. It was total fun.

As a bus arrived in front of the office after an hour I ran to board it even before someone can get down and secured 5 seats with my bag and me completely lying on a seat :-) Aiyaa (Rajesh) swiftly followed me to secure some more seats and finally it happened to be a bus going to the shed. We laughed at ourselves and half an hour later we boarded a bus in a similar fashion to start off to Washington DC.

The bus, to my surprise had a restroom and a wireless internet connection. It was awesome and comfortable. I browsed a little, spoke to my friends on phone and finally leaned on my best friend's shoulder as we discussed our past, present and future through the rest of our journey. We missed Mani and that's when our plan to travel to Los Angeles together sparkled. I didn't fail to revisit my hectic day as the bus was speeding at 100 miles an hour towards the most powerful capital in the world.

----Beginning of Retrospection------

Boss engira Ramalingam started along with me Murali and Aiya from the apartment as we strolled down the beautiful streets of New York. Radha with his brother "Kuzhanthai" (as I call him) joined us at the summit of concrete Mt.Empire State and Masthan from Minneapolis joined us at the China Town. Ketha (Murali's roomie) helped me by giving his bag. Chella paandi dropped off the trip due to a production move scheduled that weekend. Lunch at Madras Mahal and a foto shoot with the Empire state were the only relaxed moments of the day. Otherwise I was on a plane, train or bus all the day. Else I was running.

----End of Retrospection------

I lost 5 LBs when I returned home 4 days later

To NewYork with Love! - 1

The prequel to this blog is here.

I was at the La Guardia airport as the Christmas sun shone brightly over the amazing sky scrappers of New York city. I had to help myself to reach my friend's place in New Jersey.

Get into M60 and get down at the Lexington avenue East 7th street junction, he told when I called him up. 7th street and what nagar ?:-) I asked him. And by the way, will you be there to receive me when I get down there? No da... get into the Metro station and board the blue line to Hoboken came the reply. And on your way back to Fairmont avenue, get down at the Journal square. I just told ok. And don't forget! You won't have signal when you get into the station and every time you enter the station you need a pass. I was furious. So you want me to remember everything you told me now? Yes, was his reply. I am new to all this. Train passes, yellow, blue and red lines, Streets and avenue junctions everything. I am from a little village called Appleton.

Follow the route I told you. Don't worry. You won't die. My friend yelled on the phone.

So... how long does it take to reach your place?

1.5 hrs I guess. And give me a call when you get down at the Journal square.

Will you be there to pick me up from there? this is me....

No da... I can guide you to my apartment.

F*****.... hang up! I told.... :-)

I recalled everything he told once and was very successful in reaching his apartment. Well it should be evident now :-) I entered his apartment on the 23rd floor. To my surprise there were 7 guys onboard trying to disturb my concentration and get me out. I didn't know any of them but when I came back to Appleton after a 3 day long trip, I had 7 more friends added to my life.

I peeped out of his bedroom window in awe. The New York skyline on the banks of a standstill Hudson was a visual treat. I didn't have the luxury to enjoy the sight for long as I, along with 6 others had to rush for a little sight seeing before boarding a bus to Washington DC.

Missed lunch at Saravana Bhavan, missed climbing the Empire state, missed a long time fun at rock feller. My friend was taking us in rectangular paths despite several warnings from me that his iphone GPS is taking one-ways into account and he is in "travel by car" mode. He used his experience on the streets of New York as an advantage to overshadow my common sense until I got into a rebellious mode by not walking further with the group. He then realized his folly and it cost me a much anticipated lunch at HSB after a year. The wish was satisfied only in September 2009 at Sunnyvale.

We ran and ran and ran from Rock feller to the Manhattan as it was getting late to board the bus to Washington. As we entered the China Town past Manhattan, nativity bestowed upon me. I felt like I was in Burma Bazaar, Pary's corner.

Will continue....

My way of life....!

ஒன்பது பத்து வயதிருக்கும் எனக்கு... நித்தினோடு அவன் வீட்டில் விளையாடிக்கொண்டிருந்தேன்...அவன் பிறந்த நாளைக்கு அவன் புதிதாய் வாங்கியிருந்த Chuckles ஓடு சேர்த்து கிட்டத்தட்ட அவனிடம் GIJOE பொம்மைகள் அனைத்துமே இருந்தன. பெரிய Tankerகள், விமானங்கள் எல்லாம் பார்த்து ஆனந்தத்திலும் ஆச்சர்யத்திலும் நான் அந்த பொம்மைகளுக்கான கதைகளை யோசித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தேன்.

நித்தினுடையப் பாட்டி மிகுந்த அன்பு கொண்டவர்கள். என்னை ஆதரித்து விளையாட அனுமதித்தார்கள். அவனின் அப்பா அம்மா கூட மிகுந்த அன்பு கொண்டவர்கள். நான் அடிக்கடி அவன் வீட்டிற்க்குச் சென்றேன். கதைகள் சொல்வேன். அது முழு ஆண்டு தேர்வு முடிந்து விடுமுறைக்காலம்.

நித்தின் என்ன நினைத்தானெனத் தெரியவில்லை. திடீரென சில பொம்மைகளை உள்ளே வைத்து மறைத்துக் கொண்டான். சிறிது நேரம் கழித்து பாட்டி என்னை வீட்டிற்க்கு சென்று ஓய்வெடுத்து விட்டு மீண்டும் மாலையில் வரச்சொன்னார்கள். பொம்மைகளின் மீதிருந்தக் காதலும், என்னுடைய முட்டாள் தனமும் சேர்ந்துக் கொண்டு என்னை அங்கிருந்து வீடு திரும்புவதை தடுத்தது.

"நித்தின் சாப்பிட்டு தூங்கணும் கண்ணா. சொன்னாக் கேளு"
"இல்லப் பாட்டி நான் wait பண்றேன்"
"அம்மா கிட்ட சொல்லி உனக்கு இதே மதிரி ஒரு பொம்மை வாங்கித் தர சொல்றேன்.. இப்பொ சமர்த்தாய் வீட்டுக்கு போ!"
பாட்டி சாதாரணமாகத் தான் சொன்னார்கள். எனக்கு அப்பொழுது தான் என்னமோ போல் இருந்தது. இல்லாமையயை முதல் முறை உணர்வு பூர்வமாக அனுபவித்தத் தருணமாக அது இருந்திருக்கக் கூடும். GIJOE Full set Rs. 2500. அப்பாவை கேக்கலாம்.

எங்கள் வீட்டுக் கூரை மழை நாளில் எங்களுக்கு அவ்வப்போது அபிஷேகம் செய்யத் தவருவதில்லை. அப்பா அச்சு ஒடு போட முடிவெடுத்திருந்தார். 2500 ரூபாய் பிடிக்கும் என்று பேஸிக்கொண்டிருந்தனர். PF லோன் போடணும். அம்மாவிடம் நடந்ததைக் சொல்லவில்லை. நித்தின் வீட்டிற்க்கு செல்வதுமில்லை.ஒரு வேளை இல்லாமையில் வந்தத் தாழ்வு மனப்பான்மையாக இருக்கலாம்.

அம்மாவிடம் பொம்மை வேண்டுமென்று அடம் பிடித்தேன். 63 ரூபாய்க்கு ஒரு பொம்மை வாங்கித்தந்தாள். அவளுடைய அம்மாவிடம் அன்றிரவு சொல்லிக் கொண்டிருந்தாள். பாவம் பொம்மை வெண்டுமென்று ஆசையாய் கேட்கிறான். இவன் அப்பா வீட்டை சரி செய்ய இப்பொழுதுதான் லோன் போட்டிருக்கார். 2500 ரூபாய்க்கு பொம்மை வாங்கித்தரும் நிலைல நாங்க இல்லையேமா...குழந்தைக்கு எப்படி சொல்லி புரிய வைப்பேன்.
எனக்கு என்னமோ புரிந்தது. இனி யாரையும் எனக்கு மைல்கல்லாக வைத்து கொள்ளாக் கூடாதென முடிவு செய்தேன். எனக்கு நானே மேற்கோள். இன்று என்னிடம் ஒரு GIJOE இருக்கிறான். அடுத்த ஆண்டு மேலும் இரண்டு சேர்க்க வெண்டும். நானே காசு சேர்த்து வாங்க வெண்டும். அப்பாவை கேட்பதாய் இல்லை.

அப்பொழுது அந்த குணத்தின் அருமை தெரியவில்லை. பின்னாளில் ஒவ்வொரு தோல்வியிலும், ஒவ்வொரு தாமதத்திலும் நிம்மதியும் அடுத்த நடவடிக்கைக்கான வ்யூகமும் தெளிவாய் தெரிந்தது. அடுத்தவருக்குக் கிடைத்ததைக் கண்டு உள்ளம் குமுரிக் கொண்டிருப்பதில் என்ன அர்த்தம் இருக்கிறது?
என் பாதை வேறு, என் பயணம் வேறு. அடுத்தவனின் தேவையும் இருப்பும் எனக்கு எந்த மட்டிலும் சம்மந்தமில்லாத ஒன்று.

பின் பங்குனி உத்திரத்தன்று கோவிலில் விற்கப்படும் சாணி பொம்மைத் தவிர எதையும் நாடியதில்லை. அப்பா எல்லாம் தந்தார். சிறந்த கல்வி, சிறந்த மருத்துவம், சிறந்த உணவு, சிறந்த உடைகள் என எல்லாம் தந்தார். எல்லாமே அவருடைய சக்தியை மீறித்தான் செய்தார். எல்லாவற்றையும் கடந்து என்னையும் Sriniயையும் அன்போடும் ஸந்தோஷத்தோடும் வளர்த்தார், இன்றும் வளர்த்து வருகிறார்.

எனக்கு என்ன வேண்டுமென்று எனக்குத் தெரியும். அதை அடுத்தவரின் விருப்பங்களோ வாழ்வியல் முறையோ முடிவு செய்வதில்லை. எல்லோரும் அப்படி இருக்கத் தேவையில்லை.

What To Name it?

It's 07:30 PM Friday Night. Rain played a spoil sport... So no cricket today. I am skipping dinner too. I don't feel like eating. I am not in a mood to write. But something is pushing me...

There had been times when I was obsessed with browsing. That was when I had a dial up connection at home and Internet access was restricted. Mom was trying hard to save money on phone bills. 54Mbps has made a huge difference. I don't care to browse anymore. There had been times when I used to fight with my brother on a packet of lays. The classic lays family pack on the top of the refrigerator at my home is already heading towards expiry. There had been times when I used to steal few cashews that mom used keep in a safe place at home. She would have bought it for some upcoming festival. I have half a kg of cashew lying untouched for months in my kitchen shelf now.

Does it convey something?

To me it does. When things are rare, they become special. When things open to abundant access, they fail to attract. Rather I don't care. Linking this back to the management principle, if there is too much demand, the value goes up. Quality is secondary. If the supply is huge, the value goes down. Again Quality becomes secondary.

When a product opens up to a huge demand, there is this initial craze. The value goes up. The excited producers produce more dreaming of larger profits. As the seasons swing, the craze dies down. The value goes down. Finally the producers go down. Premier Padmini of early 90s and LML Vespa are wonderful examples. Don't forget to consider the competitors around. They are significant in the product life cycle. In most cases they made the others fall. And their fall is inevitable too. Unless they upgrade, strategize and stay fit.

I have always compared this to relationships. When love and care is available in abundance, they get noticed initially. People go gaga over the relationship. After a while, the respect dies down. Again please owe this to the competitors with better strategy around. :-)

But if you closely notice, my dad and mom have always loved me with abundance. And some thickest friends too. 25 years and still going strong. Like the "New Britania" and the "new Colgate". :-) Though they were shadowed by glossy competitors at times, they have never died. The glossy competitors did.

I am not driving towards any valuable conclusion. In this column I have just decided to pen down my flow of thoughts.

Materialism and materialistic relationships die. Rather they get replaced. Now please don't argue that Britania and Colgate are a part of materialistic life too. :-) Just listen or quit!

The impact my past relationships had on me were significant.

I don't care to bother if something slips. As long as my family and friends stay, I stay.

There had been testing times. There are testing times and there will be testing times. I just say to myself "This too shall pass" (இதுவும் கடந்து போகும்)

Telling this had been easier. Making it happen was a challenge. But not anymore. When few things broke, there had been times

I didn't know the reason

and then

I didn't want to know the reason

and then

I never knew the reason :-)

In business "Reasons" never count, Only "Results" does!

PS: My first blog without a draft, without a reference to a dictionary and without a pause to think.

The 20$ Bill

A Christmas eve in New York city should be exciting. Time square probably is the brightest junction in the world. Then that World’s tallest Christmas tree at rock feller? Another important place to pose in front of. I shall meet my best friend after a gap of 8 long months since I left India. That makes this trip all the more special. I shall go with him to the World’s most powerful capital, The Washington DC. I am going to be happy for the next 4 days. My heart was pounding with excitement as I waited at the Appleton airport for my flight to arrive at the gates. My excitement quickly changed into perturbation when the speaker announced a delay in flight due to pilot problems.


I have to reach New Jersey tonight. I was determined. The connecting flight at Detroit should be delayed too. I prayed. All my prayers went in vain. The last flight to New Jersey has already departed from Detroit. I waited in the long queue patiently for hours, explaining the situation to my friend on phone. I was provided a hotel room to stay for the night and got my flight tickets booked early in the morning to reach the La Guardia airport in New York. An overnight delay might mess up with the tour plan I thought. It will be almost afternoon when I reach there. And I have already missed the fun of Christmas eve. It ached.

After resolving an issue that my fellow passenger (a colleague) had, I reached the hotel room post midnight. The day broke and I was ready to get into the first shuttle to the airport. Wishing a merry Christmas to all the unknown faces in the hotel reception, with a warm smile, I got into the shuttle. Walk, walk and walk miles inside the Detroit airport and finally I was there at the terminal. A window seat should be mind blowing I thought. I can capture a few aerial photographs of the New York city. As the flight lands, I shall have the beautiful sky scrappers trapped in my eye piece. Fortunately it was one.

A charming cute child with a pink hat and coolers came dancing through the walk way of plane with her mother swiftly following up. As I looked into her eyes, I could see the innocence, anxiety, happiness and excitement. She is in all smiles. Should be 4 years old. Within minutes I understood that she will be my neighbor for the next 2 hours. Her activities bought in a great deal of nostalgia. I remembered how I used to crave for vacations and long hours journey. Meeting my cousins and going around places. Those were the best days of my life I thought.

Now there is a dilemma. I know how I used to fight for the window seat during my childhood. Why Childhood? I still do :-). The child in us is still awake. Even a while ago I was thinking about it. But now, a 4 year old will be happier to be there I thought. Even for me it’s the first time. I want to enjoy the beauty of the cities underneath as the flight flows through the sky. Should I still give it to her. She never asked for it but still, she would love it. I know. I could see that in her eyes. Finally I made up my mind. I am giving it to her this time. I can probably capture the sky scrappers from the ground and of course there is always this another time. But will I ever get a glimpse of that child’s beautiful smile again in my life time?

I started talking to her. She should be from Iraq, Arabia or may be India. The traditional Muslim costume that her mother wore indicated. I asked her to take the window seat and I got back what I expected. A million dollar smile :-)

She was so happy. That made me happier. I was talking to her mom too who was in her late thirties. Seemed to be a nice women. She was talking about my profession and my reason for traveling. About my family for sometime and then my education. I came to know that they belong to Punjab but have got settled in United states a few years ago. All the while the child was enjoying her window view. I realized the pleasure of sacrifice. As the drinks and snacks came in, I took the responsibility of helping the child drink and eat those.

After a nap, I again woke up to see her enlightened face. The flight was about to land. The following conversation took place between me and the child’s mom Ms. McSuda when she unexpectedly pulled out a 20$ bill from her wallet and gifted it to me.

McSuda: Please have this as my gift

Me: Not at all! Please… but Why?

McSuda: When you go back to India get something for your mom with this money

Me: No aunty.. I won’t take this. I shall convey your regards to her. That should do.

McSuda: Son! Listen to me… I know you are earning a lot probably more than we do. I know you are capable of getting your mom the best of things that are around. I am not giving this to you , because you don’t have it but I wanted to gift a mother who should be proud and happy to have yielded such a nice boy…

It’s a great thing to be a mother. You will not understand. :-)

Me: speechless!

She just smiled and requested me to take it.

I again objected. I told her, I just need her blessings and nothing else. She forced the 20$ note into my palm and wished me a long life and a successful career. I thanked her. That was my first ever Christmas gift. A Muslim presenting a Christmas gift to a Hindu on an auspicious day. I thought, above caste, creed, culture and religion, affection and humanity prevails. That Thursday was no less than the best days of my life.

The flight landed. The child departed happily waving her hands at me and I waved back with a gratified, peaceful and ecstatic heart. I still hold the 20$ note safe in my wallet and I shall gift my mom with something bought out of this.

True! If at all I am a little good, I owe it all to my parents. When I spoke to my mom, she was puzzled initially but when I explained, she just told I am good. I don’t know what made McSuda think that she should gift my mom. Probably it’s between mothers which I don‘t understand. :-)

I then reached my friends place and we had an excellent and tiring trip. It was fun. The capital house, white house, Washington monument, time square, the wall street, Brooklyn bridge, the empire state and the statue of liberty. And much more of this kind. But undoubtedly the 20$ bill still remained the best.

PS: The New York trip was an interesting one and had many awakening, comical, frustrating and tiring incidents. I shall write about those sometime.

The A^2 Syndrome - A Post to honor a great friend!

Crazy are the thoughts sometimes! Crazier the dreams are…

I meet my childhood friends, colleagues, well wishers, parents and relatives every night, one or many together at a time under incomprehensible circumstances only waking up in the morning to realize that it was but a dream. Sometimes it’s a total bizarre.

Even when conscious, I recall the golden days of my career life quite often to cherish the sweetest of happenings that are only a history now. The thoughts make me laugh, cry, emote, dance and sing but only within me. Probably I am totally jobless these days and hence giving too much to the past. I decided to introspect. Let me not discuss the results of self introspection here.

I deeply felt that one such retrospection should be written about. Before leaving India I went through a relatively tougher phase in my career. Nothing was working the right way for me. After a profound analysis I found that it’s “Time’s” time to play a spoil sport and I can do nothing about it J

Relationships have always been dangling in my case. I always believed that college is the ultimate place for a loyal, affectionate friendship and there is no such thing beyond that. Though many of my colleagues have proved me wrong by now, this one person was amazing.

She was known to me by name for few weeks then, by person a few days ago and she was there near me to listen to me and support me during my turbulent times right away. I neither requested her nor expected it from her. I thanked her for being so generous and she just smiled.

I don’t know. I keep my pathos to myself when I am dejected. I crib sometimes but it’s rare. There are 2 reasons. Cribbing doesn’t help. I don’t trust people easily.

But she looked deep into my eyes when I spoke to her. I could see honesty and empathy in her eyes. For hours I would talk about my plans and activities and hindrances and she would listen so sincerely and affectionately. It took a while for me to realize that I was self -centered and stole a lot of her time. She never complained. One morning, during a coffee break, I casually asked her why would she be so kind to me. Her reply was spontaneous.” What’s so important than spending some time to listen to a friend?”. Mine was a boring melancholy. I know. She told it never was. She told she could feel the agony, the anxiety, the passion and the pain. I was dumbstruck. She is a friend! A true friend for life …I told myself… My instincts are usually right.

I talk to her about my everyday activities so consistently and seek her advice on important things I do. She is still generous to lend her ears to me though she is working assiduously on her tasks. She proved me what difference, a friend can make to one’s life. Even an arrogant, level headed and emotionally balanced person crave for a friend to paddle out of trouble. I found one in her. It’s her character to help and support people. How noble? Am I not gifted? :-)

I have a bunch of treasure in the form of friends and she is a precious stone in the lot who would stay close to my heart.

"There is blessing in disguise when you undergo tougher times". You ascertain your friends and others hands down. I now realize how true this adage is.

PS: The title is still relevant to the post but not obvious.