Its windy, it’s noisy

Been here for long

But this is not where I belong.

Like a winter leaf blown,

I stand alone.

Hoping the wind will blow me away

Hoping I never see the next day

I stand on the peak

Watch the blue mountains turn brown

And I stand alone

Cry over my lost sight

Of no use, this blinding light,

Open doors, closed roads

Caught in a maze I spun,

Confused, I stand alone

He said he will there

I turn around; only to watch him go

Now all is bitter or sour

My sweet senses long gone

Quietly, I stand alone

No one cares

But all question

All ears but none listen

Dreams I fulfill, but none my own

Smiling, I stand alone

I stand alone,

But can’t fly to my sky

And I wonder why…

You watched me soar

And then shot down

So here I again, I stand alone….

-- Brinda

Not just his lips,

Even his eyes could lie,

I hung my head in shame,

While he recited the perfect alibi.

What he calls truth, my every reason denies,

And deeper I sink in a quicksand of lies,

I was still holding on, when he let go,

I don’t want to know, I don’t want to know

Not knowing what to do with the feelings untold,

I made the same mistake, made by most

Bottled them up and threw them at the waves,

But the waves always bring things back to the coast….

The other day I was browsing through the communities in Orkut and I came across this community called “I hate Aishwarya Rai”, and I am pretty sure not one person in that community knows her in person. Then, what makes people hate somebody even without knowing them? It is a very subjective question….and may involve too much of discussion and debate….about liking or hating a person without reason….just by the looks etc etc. But, what can make people hate a beautiful successful woman, they don’t even know? I personally think, it is because of her success… the picture perfect face, the sculpted body, the titles, the name fame, life and lifestyle….all so much the focal point of most of the glamour world, which all these people cannot even dream of.  I am not a great fan of Ash. In fact, I think she is good enough for being a model and a beauty queen, but not an actress. But I do not hate her. It may be true that she is given undue attention and her success overrated…the Cannes jury…all the Hollywood-Bollywood mixie-movies...n now a complete Hollywood movie itself… just because she is blessed with such beauty. On the other hand, there are many other talented actresses who go unnoticed, or a few others who might actually deserve much more than what they have got. In that case, the media and the superficial world of glitz are to be blamed. Not Ash!!

But if I were Aishwarya Rai, and if came to know there was a hate community for me, bless me….i would very happie!! :D

Getting hate mails/calls might be the first sign towards popularity!! :D when people hate you enough to send out signals and notify you,…..BOY!!! U R FAMOUS!!

A classic example would be Elliot Abrams response to the threats he received because of his anti-Vietnam War speeches ….. “I thought, I’d really arrived”.  Threats and hate innuendos often mean that somebody is intimidated by your popularity.

A more common instance would be investigators getting threats when on the right track in a case!!!

So, hate mails, calls n communities mean you are shooting to the top of the rating charts!!! People love you so much that there is a group that hates you for being so loved!!! Sadly…I haven’t got any hate mail so far L

Knotted strings….black, red, saffron, yellow, orange, maroon, with beads, with charms…..u can see them all hanging in the shops in shops outside temples. These strings are symbols of faith for most of the Indians. A typical Indian would have such a string tied on their wrist. There are ones for safe travel, health, safety, long life, spouse’s health, kids…….and these days there are ones for transfers, visa….and wat not?!

Even I wear on my right wrist…a yellow string….for good health. I do not believe in it. But my parents do. And I wear it because I respect the faith my parents have.

I believe in god. But do not believe in religion and the all the fuss involved. In this age, I think God and divinity have been overrated than ever. A new religious leader, a new preacher is born every other day. But none seem to posses the charm, wit or wisdom a leader must have. And the day’s mundane lifestyle has it that a lot of people are moving around in search of some peace and calm, and they resort to these so called preachers. Lucky for them…..the self proclaimed gyaanis become Gods overnight.

Are people making a mistake in being too religious? I would have 2 minutes of peace in front of a deity at home….rather than getting crushed in the insane crowd of a temple, [and you barely get to see a glimpse of the deity after all the sweat and shit you suffer through] because the deity out there is supposed to be granting everybody’s will. Come of it…..how can educated people believe that everybody’s wish can come true???? How will it be possible even for the most powerful entity in this universe to satiate all the endless demands of the human souls????? [Am reminded of the scene in “Bruce Almighty”, when Jim Carry just grants everybody’s wish to come true….and there is chaos everywhere.]I think the only person who can understand my point is the Lord himself. I don’t find the people around even worthy of a discussion on this topic.

Faith….is what keeps us going. It is really important for everybody to have faith in something…that may be God…religion….oneself…friends….people….anything! And of all these, faith towards religion and God is definitely the most popular one. And it really irks me when people start judging you based on who you have faith on. Anybody who believes in oneself is considered too heavy headed. And sometimes, ones display of faith [on God] becomes a metric for judging their character. It is funny, but I have seen parents nodding in approval, and smiling when they hear of a guy or girl who goes to temples and does all kinds of rituals at home, but is completely weak minded, indecisive and always dependent on elders for the smallest of things. All other short comings are immediately forgotten. It doesn’t matter how dumb or totally irritating that person is, but the acts of religious fervor compensate for it all. I call this syndrome as “Public Display of Faith”. Is it necessary to carry your faith on your wrist? Neck? or forehead? Isn’t it enough if you carry your faith in your heart?

Now….what happens when ones rationale gets better off the faith parameter? One just starts respecting the faith others have. If elderly believe that tying a string, or a pendant or wearing a ring would keep us from harm, youngsters often accept such things to keep the good faith of the elders alive. It’s a mark of respect and not of belief or submission.

I believe god and religion are just pillars in your life…..you can lean over on them when in trouble. But they are not the engine itself. They will not solve an issue for you. You have to take the initiative, and the decisions. Talking about decisions…. I have known people who let God decide on the course of action by picking flowers and other crazy ways. Now….tell me the truth….. Why is one afraid of taking decisions in their own life? Because you would be help responsible for it later? Because you will be questioned if the decision turned out to be wrong? So is God a scapegoat for all the mistakes one makes???? Very funny!!! Whatever you do is an act of your own accord. And whatever you get is the result of what you did.

It’s really unfair to give so much importance to religion that you forget to have fun and be happy in your life. You can get closer to God and inner peace by being polite and friendly. How many people spend quality time with family? Get off the petty fights and start getting to know the people around you. That is what will help you get the peace you are searching for. Play a game, get out for a dinner, and talk about life, politics or sports. Get to know each other, instead of sitting in the courtyard of a temple. No problem can be solved by sitting in front of an idol and meditating and reciting hymns. Issues are resolved by opening up, by being friends, respecting other’s opinions and being accommodative to new ideas. And then, one should visit the temple and thank God for giving a happy life. I hate it people who complain about their life to God. I mean….why do you always have to keep asking for more??? If I were God…I would shut my ears to all those frequent visitors who just keep asking for one thing after another [ well…am sure God does that….otherwise why would all those people keep lining up again and again??]

And another thing that irritates me is astrology and the blind faith people have in it. I do not understand; my parents always kept me away from palm readers and all these astrologers all my life. I always grew up thinking they are not to be believed and that my parents also did not believe in them. But now, suddenly I see that astrology is the most important thing that is going to decide who my life partner would be. Ridiculous!! I believe all the arranged marriages in this country are governed by the rule of planets. They all must have been decided based on the matching of horoscopes. Then why do so many couples land up in court for divorces? Didn’t the pandits foresee the divorce??? Beats me!!  If ones fate and future could be decided based on charts and planets, then why should one work hard and aim to succeed in life? Assume it was in my fate to travel abroad and be rich; then, I would rather sit at home and wait for a prince charming to come and marry me. Rather than working my ass through all the many years….struggling at school and college, and then fighting it out at my work place. I mean…isn’t that silly???? And if it had in my fate that I would never ever make it to any good in my life….I would still happily sit at home and be a dumb house hold girl, watching TV whole day and doing chores; rather than having to work my way up to a place where I am not destined to reach. What is destiny? Of what fairness is your lord if he did not offer you a chance to make your own destiny? In truth, God is full of fairness and justice. It’s the human intervention that is unjust and ridiculously unfair.

So where does your faith lie?!

It’s true that you need some support when things are unsettling. But does it have to be so deep that you start defying rationale? I really hope, wish and PRAY that people start looking beyond blind faith, into each other’s hearts…..am keeping faith!!

On a lighter note……u could grow your as long as you want it to be….for one deity. And then, when it’s not in fashion any longer to have long hair, get tonsured for another deity. All that cannot be done on the name of fashion, can be done on the name of God :D

I just wish body piercing and hair coloring becomes the ritual of some deity, and then maybe I can do all that without being picked upon. :D