Warmth of relationship

For the past three years, we have been visiting India during the winter season. So when my parents planned this year’s visit during the summer season, I was not comfortable. I was afraid of the scorching heat over there, away from the comfort we enjoy in the UAE.

The most hectic season of this tropical country, summer scorches almost all the parts of India with boiling heat. Hot winds and blazing sun are the two most inseparable parts of Indian summer.

I was so reluctant to go that my parents had to cajole me with one promise or the other.

I had no choice. I obeyed and accompanied them on the journey. Even after landing at the New Delhi airport, I was not happy. I was just thinking of the heat wave outside the airport. But there was a miraculous surprise awaiting  me. As soon as I got out of the airport, I saw my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins standing there with a warm heart waiting for me. I could not believe my eyes at first. I thought it was all a dream.

I realised the love and care everyone had for me. As the days passed, everyone’s love grew stronger and thus I did not feel a bit that it was summer.

I realised that the warmth of relationship had overpowered the heat wave of India. I have learnt that weather should not affect our relations. Our relationship should be fresh and loving, not cold, irrespective of hot and cold weather.

(Published in The Gulf Today on July 13, 2013) 

Resting on laurels

I was recently taking a stroll in a beautiful park with my cousin sister who is now in grade 11. We were just looking at the pretty flowers when we met my cousin’s old friend.

My cousin asked, “How is life going on?”

She had hardly finished when the girl spoke up, “Fine. Do you know that I have earned many awards?”

And she told us about the prizes she had won. “I won this..., I won that...,” were the only words we heard from her. It seemed that the list was never-ending. We congratulated her. But she just kept boasting.

In the end I asked her, “When did you win the last prize?” We were surprised on her reply, “Five years ago.”

I thought of asking her, “What she has been doing for the past five years? Is she just resting on her laurels?”

But I realised that she was not the only one. There were many like her. A boy living next door was one of them. In grade 10, he had passed the exams with flying colours.

Everyone praised him and blessed him. Last year, he was in grade 12 and his final exams were approaching. But, most of the time I saw him playing in the streets.

Once I asked him, “How is your preparation going?” He replied, “Don’t you know, I have passed grade 10 so nicely.”

With these words, he began telling me his marks and the praises and blessings he had earned from everyone. When the result was declared, I heard that he couldn’t pass in a few subjects.

A girl, who has recently joined our school, is next in the line. She always begins the talk, “I used to be great in studies. Everyone used to praise me. My handwriting was neat. I got good marks. I was always active in the class.”

But I always get surprised when I hear this. After all, she is not so good in studies and gets no good marks.

I have realised that it is good if you achieve something very honourable. You should not just rest on it, but try to improve on it.

(Published in The Gulf Today on June 29, 2013)

Good old diary

With the advancement of technology, the good old diary is losing its charm, despite the fact that a personal diary used to be a wonderful companion.

You can express all your feelings to a diary. It is a friend that will never let you down. It won’t tell anybody anything that you said to it, unless you  allow it to. I believe that when you write in a diary, you feel that you are talking to it and it is talking to you. If you love it, you will feel it. You will even feel the fascinating scent of paper.

I have my personal diary. A beautiful diary in which I write everything that comes to my mind and my heart. I feel light after that.

Also I write diaries so that I can remember all the important incidents I come across when I grow up. My diary includes my experiences, thoughts, feelings and also my opinion on current events. My diary is full of secrets, hopes and dreams.

Nowadays blogs are used instead of diaries. People say blog is an electronic diary. But I don’t agree, as there are  lots of differences between the two. The most important difference is that a diary can remain personal, but blogs will always be public.

Very often I have to think when I wish to write something for my blog, because I know it is public and I need to be cautious while writing for it. I don’t feel blog is as friendly as a diary.

With the arrival of iPad and other handheld gadgets, it is easier to carry your blog anywhere anytime just like a diary. But nothing can replace a good and friendly diary, not even a best friend. It is because even best friends would by mistake someday split your experiences, thoughts, feeling, secrets, hopes and dreams, but the diary will never. 
 
(Published in The Gulf Today on June 22, 2013)

‘Ctrl Z’ option

Life has become a race. Everyone, from a business tycoon to a labourer, is trying to earn more money to feed his growing needs. Students too are in the fast mode to earn maximum marks. Everyone is competing with each other so much that they don’t even get to enjoy the precious moments of life fully.

I often wish that we would have the Ctrl+Z option in real life too, so that we can go to the past and enjoy as much as we wish.

A few days ago, I discussed my wish with my friends and to my surprise they all agreed with me.

One of them shared her thoughts. “If I had Ctrl+Z option in real life, I would have gone back to the time I had visited The Atlantis. I had a lot of fun at the Water Park and the Lost Chambers. I would also like to roam like a queen in the whole magnificent palace. I would stay in the hotel as long as I like,” she said.

Another friend said, “If I had the option, I would have gone back to the summer vacations last year when I had visited India. I would have enjoyed the time spent with my adoring grandparents, my caring uncles and aunts and my loving cousins. I would have enjoyed a lot.”

Now that our class is shuffled, I would also like to go back to the time when I was together with my classmates and had fun.

Our discussion went on till the bell rang for the next period. Even after returning from school, I kept thinking about the same.

But I realised it soon that life has no Ctrl+Z option. I wish everyone realised this and learn to enjoy the moment we live in as much as we can. If we do so, we would never wish to have the Ctrl+Z option.

(Published in The Gulf Today on June 15, 2013)

Heal the world

One fine morning when I reached school there was hustle and bustle in our classroom. It was announced that we would be going somewhere.

We were so delighted that we forgot it was the World Environment Day.

We realised it only when we reached the auditorium, where the senior students were ready to perform various song and dance-based programmes dedicated to Mother Earth and highlighting the occasion.

It was a joy watching the programme, but it was not just for fun as it also had a moral telling us how our dear earth was being destroyed. The programme made us aware that we were responsible for destroying the earth as we were polluting air, water and land. They also performed skits highlighting ways to protect Mother Earth. We realised that there was still a chance and that we could heal the world if we tried to.

The World Environment Day, the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action, stimulates worldwide awareness. Through it, we are able to do something for the cause. It makes everyone realise his duty to be part of the campaign and support sustainable and sensible development. It is also a day for people to ensure a cleaner, greener, healthier and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.

The World Environment Day calls for action. We can do many things to save Mother Earth and Mother Nature. The possibilities for us to help the environment are endless. We can clean up our neighbourhood, stop using plastic bags and curb food waste to start with.

(Published in The Gulf Today on June 8, 2013)

Separation pain

You feel sad when separated from a person with whom you have spent a long time. But meeting again after a gap gives out-of-the-world joy. I realised this when I met my old classmates recently.

It was heartbreaking when I came to know that our class was going to be shuffled. I was feeling dreadful as we had been together for so many years and now we would have to move to a new class. I was half-relieved when I got to know that a few girls of my old class will be accompanying me to the new one.

On the first day, I was nervous and was feeling odd. I was missing all the fun we used to have earlier. I had thought that we will be in the same school and will keep meeting during the recess. Later, I realised that a brief meeting was not enough and I kept looking for a get-together.

Last week, I realised that it was an old classmate’s birthday the next day. I contacted a few other friends and planned to throw a surprise party when all of us would come together and enjoy.

We were all excited. I was so electrified that I made a delicious cake for the party. I also bought a few gifts for others and a few items for the party.

The next day I was impatient as I reached the school. When the recess bell rang, we rushed to the school canteen. The birthday girl cut the cake and shared with us. Later, we also played games.

It was a joyful occasion as we all had gathered together after such a long time.

(Published in The Gulf Today on June 1, 2013)

Gentleman’s game

I have been following the Indian Premier League 2013 (IPL) since its beginning about two months ago. Now as it is going to conclude on Sunday, I am feeling nostalgic about it.

I am going to miss all the shots and the unique styles of the players. A few of them have created their exclusive styles to celebrate their success on the field. Like Darren Sammy used to celebrate by popping up a child-pacifier in his mouth. It became such a hit that many of his fans started following him.

The Gangnam Style was also popular among the players. Many of them like Chris Gayle, Harbhajan Singh, Adam Gilchrist and others were seen performing the famous steps introduced by the Korean singer, Psy.

Unique hairstyles also gave a distinctive image to a few players. Like the hairstyle of Lasith Malinga, Ishant Sharma and Chris Gayle must have made the batsmen confused. I guess there would be a long queue of their fans outside the salon to make a hairstyle like them.

I was most surprised when it was time for Gayle’s smart shots. I realised that he was not called “Gayle Storm” for nothing.

But, I got confused when I heard people talking about cricket matches in olden days. Recently, when I visited my uncle’s place, I heard his friends criticising the IPL.

“Then, people used to enjoy the shots made by batsmen, not the funny reactions of players on the field,” said his friend.

“Yes, cricket was once called a gentleman’s game. With all the fanfare attached to the IPL, the game is losing its original charm,” said my uncle.

I am still puzzled. I think I should watch a recording of an old cricket match one day and judge which format is better.

(Published in The Gulf Today on May 25, 2013)