I tell myself once again, 'No matter what your intention is, an action is considered right or wrong based on the effect it has on yourself and others'

The boy knew a lot of people in the city. That was what made travelling appeal to him-he always made new friends, and he didn't have to spend all of his time with them. When someone sees the same people every day, as had happened with him at the seminary, they wind up becoming part of that person's life. And then they want the person to change. If someone isn't what the others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.

- From The Alchemist, a novel by Paulo Coelho

Lal bagh visit

I came back with some decent pictures after my last weekend visit to Lal Bagh flower show. Some of them here.

Time and Money

After a lot of contemplation, I conclude.
The pleasure you get from both Time and Money is not in how much you have got. The pleasure is in spending them the way you like.

Freedom

Aug 15th, Independence day.

I am in the process of moving some of my furniture to my new house in Hosur in a small truck. As Hosur is inside TamilNadu, we have to go past the security check post. The truck driver tells me that we have to pay tax to cross the border.

"How much do they charge?”
"Around 300 rupees", he says, “and that excluding 100 rupees for the officials"

He continues, "They won't let you go if you don't pay them, you know?" I don't ask any further as I kn0w the way things work here in India. As we approach the counter, I tell the driver that I will deal with the payment part.

There are three men, two at each counter and one across the table. He is in Khaki uniform and his name batch reads "Ravi Kumar"
The man at the counter looks at the truck documents, takes a piece of paper and writes down the tax charges.
He writes 250 + 5 = 255. At the end of the seemingly tough calculation task (for him) the man murmurs "And 100 rupees" and half-corrects the result as 355. I smile to myself as I move on to the payment counter.

I take three 100 rupees bills and shove it across. The driver looks on quizzically. I ignore him. I rummage through my wallet in search of five rupees and I tell the cashier, "I do not have five rupees, sir". Meaning, I want the remaining 45 rupees back. Though probably disappointed the cashier says, "That's alright if you don't have five rupees", in a tone sounding magnanimous. He says he would settle for 45 rupees, 55 lesser than what I am SUPPOSED to give him.

This is not the first time I have faced something like this. I tell myself I need to do better than before. I stand there with a curious look on my face and making it clear that I will not budge with out getting my money back. Finally the cashier gets the message. But the approval has to come from the officer in uniform. He looks at him. They exchange few words through eyes. Finally the cashier takes out my money reluctantly. With an air of disbelief around him, he thrusts the money in my hand. "uff", so much for being right.

As we walk back toward the truck, the driver does not say anything. I wish he had. At least something like, "You are crazy."

Future

Whenever I think of future, this thought crosses my mind. Just brilliant!

"The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them, changes both the maker and the destination. "

-John Schaar

Driven by Values

I have always had a high regards for my maid servant. She is a nice lady in her forties. Despite language problem and her regular absence I liked her work. Neat is the word I find appropriate.

Whenever I leave something uncovered in the kitchen, she will always do it. Occasionally when I leave the newspaper on floor, she will fold it neatly and put it on top of the table. I never had to demonstrate how to mop the floor cleanly, like I did once to my previous servant. She will always notice when cobwebs appear and get rid of them instantly.

What happened today is something I will remember for a long long time in my life.

This month she was absent more than usual. Though I wanted to tell her that she is becoming increasingly irregular, I never felt like. I know I was not a good employer. I never told her that she does a good job though I should have. I never told her she should be more regular. I never gave her a hike.

I usually pay her within the first 2 days of every month and try not to delay beyond that. This month I failed to visit the ATM every day and could pay her only today, the 5th. When I gave her the money, I said to her in an apologetic tone, "Sorry, late aagiduchu". (I talk to her in Tamil and she speaks Kannada)

She dismissed my apology with a smile on her face and said, "I was not regular to work either, this month"

I was stunned. Not many people have the guts to accept that they have not done a good job. Not many people can recognize the association between duty and rights. These are the people who reassure me that life should be driven by one's values. These people are one of the reasons why I still have faith in human beings.

I am proud to have met someone like her in my life. I really am.

I don't crib any more!

One of the reasons (in fact, the only reason) for me to create this blog page is that I wanted a forum where I can crib, crib and crib.

As you see, I am coming back to this blog after few months after seeing someone else's blog by chance. All the while, I did not feel like coming here and crib. This raises a couple of questions (to myself).

1. Have I found another medium as a vent for my complaints?
2. Have I stopped cribbing at all?

Honest answer to both the questions are 'no' . Then it must be that I have stopped cribbing, which I feel is not good for a human being. It's not that the whole world has become a nice place and I find everything and everyone perfect. If that was the case, I have a valid reason not to crib. But that's not the case here.

When you stop cribbing, that may mean that you have lost interest in the world. To me, the amount of "cribbing" you do is directly proportionate to your attention to the happenings around you. You just can't stop looking at the world. You just can not take things the way they are. You have to crib when there is a chance.

Now that I have reopened my blog, you are welcome to add your cribbing here :)