It was scorching hot as Raheem got off his rickety cycle,wiped the beads off his forehead and looked at the nameplate.He rang the doorbell waiting with an envelope in hand.The maid answered.The money order was for her.She couldn’t read/write so he opened it and counted the money for her.Her face beamed up.He smiled back as she expressed her gratitude and then he rushed off to finish the day’s post crisscrossing the streets.Everyone in the small town knew him..awaited him..and shared a story with him.He had heard many in his life…he had shared many a smiles…and some sorrows..he had seen wives wait for their husband’s mail from the metroes…or parents awaiting to hear from their son…but nonetheless each time he had made sure to leave them with a smile.
Done with the day’s work as he returned to his desk…he found a ‘post-box’ piggy bank on his desk along-with some fresh mail and money-orders.His colleagues informed it’s a gesture from the Postmaster to appreciate their daily toils.He looked at it and got pensive…how much money can he collect…how long will it take…to buy his daughter Gudiya a new school bag…or a new pair of shoes.He thought atleast this would make her happy today and he slipped the piggy bank into his bag.
Gudiya rushed to his arms on hearing his cycle bell.And her eyes twinkled with joy when he handed over the small ‘post-box’ into her tiny hands saying.. “It’s for u my darling…for ur pocket-money”.Dancing and jumping with joy she rushed to show it off to her Ammi as Raheem washed his hands and feet and sat down for some tea.
A few months later…one evening as she sat in her father’s lap relating tales from her school…she suddenly jumped to her feet and rushed inside.She was back in a moment with the same ‘post-box’ piggy bank and handed it over to Raheem saying..”Abba..it’s full !”
Raheem was bit perplexed and asked “You could collect so much in these few days ??”
Gudiya smiled and nudged him to open it for her.
When he did…he was confused to see a stream of various stamps fall out…as he looked at her and picked up one he noticed a small message behind it.. “17th Aug 2010..Abba made someone smile… “
…and so was written behind each of those colourful tiny squares and rectangles…
She had carefully collected each stamp from the discarded envelopes….carefully collected all those meticulously delivered smiles…….
Submitted to Thursday Tales
My baby cousin sister when back from her exam at school was very happy and jubilant.
Me : How was ur paper dear?
She : Very Nice ! I did all answers correct !!
Me: Wow that’s very nice !! Well done !
She : U know what..’Miss’ is so forgetful..she gave the picture of orange in place of apple to identify…
Me : And what did u write ??
She ( confidently) : Apple !!
Generally the term ‘broken’ implies something on the sad or negative side..I was kind of too reluctant for this one…but just ‘struck gold’ in my kitchen 
Colour of life !
Colours of Nature !
Colour of Love !
Our favourite colour !! Beautifully captured by hubby 
This has to be my favourite theme forever And in these snaps by hubby, he has captured some vibrant colors for me…just like he has added his colours to me for life
As soon as i checked this week's theme hubby clicked this 'Pick up sticks' game app
Tempting enough to rest a while.....
Colours keep life on the run
Few months back while browsing blogs, I came across this wonderful quote and the person’s thought about it. [Since I wasn't really into blogging then, I failed to take note of the blog/blogger.But I give due credit to whosoever it might belong to ]
I have learned a lesson. There is always someone worse off than you (that part I already knew ) However, there is always someone worse off than you with a better attitude about life. How humbling for all of us. You can look around at people and think, man they have it bad, how can they be happy? Then you spend some time with them and you learn they are happier than you are!
I too have always realized the same..and have been anxious about someone somewhere being worse off than us, in difficult times and trying situations.And this humbling realisation has always helped me to learn to be content with what we have and be grateful for this life and the kind of life we have.But this thought above surprisingly made me learn further..that ‘being happy with what we have’ can apply to anyone and everyone no matter how better/worse off one is.It’s their attitude which makes all the difference.Someone can be blessed with all riches and good family bonds but may never realize what he has got,may never appreciate his life and the people around,may never be grateful for his family/friends…always craving for something more..but on other hand there could be someone an absolute pauper but happy to his heart’s content with his family and 3 meals daily !
Here in Tokyo, I made a new friend M. She is a very jolly, cheerful person.She always keeps inviting people to her home.Mostly every Thursdays her house is packed with guests..rather ‘friends’ I should say. Because That’s what I realized when we went to her home.I felt that she invites people as ‘friends’ and not as ‘guests’ and so she doesn’t really care how her house looks…whether it’s properly set or not and all those ‘at times hyped’ fuss.I have seen pics of about 10-12 people packed in her small flat but then what it actually reveals is her big and open heartedness.She is full of welcoming love and affection and that makes everyone and anyone entering her home ‘feel at home’.I hope and would like to believe that I do that too
What matters is we be comfortable about ourselves,our home, family, friends, our decisions, our life. Because then only we can let others believe too that we are happy.Or else how can we expect others referring to us as ‘happy and at peace’ if we in our very hearts don’t believe the same.
The other part comes when we find someone better off than us.And that happens too…many a times.And at such times what ‘naturally’ first crosses our mind is comparison..whether we have what they have..what we don’t have and they have…how much more well off they are than us..whether we should buy this or that to reach the same standards..and what not.And this not only continues on the visit to their place but also lingers with us a while after that (depends how long ).Now here also it’s absolutely upto us how we take it.We can just go on and on with the list and that would never change things other than triggering off some ‘suddenly indispensable’ otherwise irrelevant shopping.Or we can choose to accept the fact that no matter what level or standard of life we lead, rather are blessed with…it’s absolutely probable that there would always be someone somewhere better off than us
And only with such acceptance would come the realization of peace and contentment and happiness and only then can we be humble enough to be grateful for this beautiful life,our amazing family and wonderful friends,our lovely home,the 3 meals everyday, good health and positive attitude, making us ‘successful’ in true sense in every sphere of this blessed human life with love and compassion in our hearts and smile on our faces….
I had decided few months back that I want to write regularly. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I started right away. I posted on this blog once a day ‘sincerely’ for only a month of 2011. I found it wasn’t easy, as I didn’t want to write just for the sake of it.I want to write when in any random odd hours some thought creeps up and rattles in my mind enough to vent it out or when in some subtle moment my peaceful heart wants to sing in words I guess this would make it fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful.
A word of caution : I realised that I couldn’t stick to the earlier attempted ‘postaday’ challenge because of my inherent nature to break free of any restrictions and limitations !! I just kinda hate rules 
But then a little discipline is always desired in life…so what am gonna do is participate in the ‘postaweek’ challenge only for the weekly photo challenge because I found myself enjoying it again because of my ‘inherent’ passionate heart and love for photography So now am back to writing to the freewill of my ‘buzzing mind and passionate heart’ !!
[I had to change the theme and name/tagline because I guess my childhood habit still stays with me...of not being able to write/study/read/concentrate unless my table is set right..minimising the clutter and allowing me to see only an appealing nice crispy blank page and my favourite pen waiting for me to zoooooooom off ! ]
To my reader friends : Thanks for bearing my random posts and the lack of it too,appreciating them and helping me to stick to writing.Hope I can actually pour out some interesting sense now. Please ‘never mind’ me
Cheers !! XOXO !!
When I think ‘HOT’ I think ‘My Hubby’ Next in queue could only be these beauties from our visit to the Motor Sport at Tokyo….
Strangely it was quite hard finding something ‘hot’ when it’s actually scorching here in Tokyo ! Guess this should give a glimpse of that…
I grew up listening to such cassettes and miss my collection back home..This one stays with us and plays my song for hubby on our First Anniversay..so is very very special !!
“A tree that is flexible survives the storm, the ones which are not don’t”
And this helps me deal with the random situations life throws upon us.This helps me be gentle and giving and willing to learn and grow.
I Love U Mom
