When Silence Speaks...

I interviewed a 68 year old veteran for one of the open positions in my client's company( This blog was drafted couple of month's back, I just dint get a chance to publish it. This incident was back in September 2019 ); and he had so many things to share. He was a Vietnam war veteran, had been stationed in Middle East; and after leaving army has been working across the world, and now at the age of retirement has come back to his hometown Pennsylvania where he grew up. John's definition of retirement was interesting. He said he was still fit, lean and hits gym everyday, works out to stay healthy. One thing he mentioned, as he was sharing his decisions in life, was that he doesn’t have any regrets. And I told him, that it’s my goal to say that when I am 68 years old.  I know we all are busy. You all have numerous goals - buy a home, buy a car, get married, get a job,  find a school for your kid  and so on. And I also know, that days pass by without even realizing that ...

I FaceTimed my mom this morning, (her night) and kind of had a funny conversation. She was suffering from fever early in the week and is just recovering. We had enough pampering conversations before this. So here it goes. Amma - My head hurts like hell, it just doesn't go away. Me - You know what Amma, when you meet Chitragupta *, that Yama's * assistant or whatever, ask him why is he making you suffer with headache. Obviously no doctors here have a solution for your headache, you have been dealing with it for so many years now.  Amma - (smiling) Chitragupta hmm. Me - Yeah, he should have a reason right for making you go through this headache. Amma - He won't know, he just keeps record of all our karma in this world. Brahma * is the one who writes the fate, of what we will be in this world. Me - Oh yeah, Chitragupta is the balance sheet guy, he keeps track of our actions, right. So then you should ask Brahma. But he is so old and he is so slow, by the time he a...

खुली दरीचे से झांकती ये तनहा निगाहें है , ढूंढ़ती वो चेहरा जो कभी अनजान था | ना खबर नाम की , ना कोई पेहचान ना ही कभी राब्ता हुआ एक दुसरे से | पर हर दिन, इसी वक़्त, वो गुज़रता इस गली से है | भीड़ में चलते, वो बस दो पल के लिए ठहरता है | उसकी नज़रें बस पल भर के लिए उठती है , और घंटों भर की बातें कर जाती है , मानो जैसे कोई गेहरा रिश्ता है उस से | अजनबी ही सही, पर दिल को छू जाता है | इस पलभर की मुलाक़ात में , इन नैनों की गुफ्तगू में , एक उम्मीद एक एहसास एक ख़ुशी है , वरना ये ज़िन्दगी तो यूँही बेजान सी कट रही थी | और ऐसे लिख लिया हमने, ये गुमनाम प्रेम कहानी, अपनी ज़िन्दगी के पन्नो में | अब वो चेहरा अनजान नहीं, कुछ ऐसी आदत सी हो गयी है उसकी अब , कि रोज़ इसी वक़्त, खुली दरीचे से, इंतज़ार उन निगाहों की रेहती है | - सरिता  27th January 2020

Finally, I tried to put together the itinerary of the 14 days backpacking trip in SriLanka I did with a friend in December 2019.  Some general notes -  For accommodation, we used Hostelworld.com  ; Booking.com ; Airbnb.ca On an average $7 - $15 USD we get good accommodation in hostel/airbnb. Coconut water - 80 LKR (because I drank a lot of it :)) TukTuk - always suggest you check with locals on what's the average price, so you can negotiate with the drivers better. Bus & train - most preferred mode of transportation, cheap, depending on the time of the day there are chance of it being crowded, but hey - if you want to get the sense of the place and people, go for it. In the expenses I have not included accommodation or food or rides within city.  Used Splitwise app to track my daily expenses. Carry USD in cash. local banks do give good exchange rate if you don't convert everything in Colombo airport. People bank of China did not charge ...

Dear Dost, I know you are dealing with a lot in life. A lot has happened in the past that has changed you. A lot is happening right now, that is forcing you to change. A lot of decisions you have to make that's exploding your brains.  You are multi tasking like some superhero. You have issues at home, in the family, in your personal life, that you are juggling with. You have professional problems that you are dealing with.  A lot - that's what's happening to you right now.  When I met you, I saw "a lot" has changed in you. I have changed too, and so have you. But what I could not ask you was - are you still you? I remembered Gulzar's words, written back in 1995 (atleast that's what the source says, I had listened to Jagjit Singh singing this, and it had registered in me since then).  din kuchh aise guzārtā hai koī  jaise ehsāñ utārtā hai koī  dil meñ kuchh yuuñ sambhāltā huuñ ġham  jaise zevar sambhāltā hai koī  aaina ...

Who sets guidelines or standards for an acceptable purpose of life? Some are fighters whose ultimate purpose is to fight; for environment, for nation, for religion, for women, for sick, for poor, for justice, for universe etc..etc.. (doctors, lawyers, politicians, NGOs, environmentalists, socialists, defense forces, civil forces, economists, saints, monks,etc..). Some are creators whose purpose is to create that one masterpiece for the world (people like writers, musicians, artists, composers, scientists, researchers, innovators, farmers, influencers, engineers, chefs, designers, architects etc..etc..).  Then comes the category of skill or hobby loving folks who find purpose of life in their skills or passion like acting, teaching, singing, climbing, mountaineering, sports etc... But all these together form just 5-10% of the society. The major part of this world don't have any said purpose. Not everyone's ultimate purpose is to save the world. Rest of this world lead...

I don't usually write product review blogs, but today I realized I have been enjoying this product for over a decade, and it has been major part of my life; so it definitely deserves a recognition and my thank you. I became a Bose fan back in 2009. I wanted a new set of earphones, and I did some research, and thought of giving their in-ear headphones a try. That was it. There was no looking back. I never put any other earphones into my ear since then.  https://www.bose.ca/en_ca/products/headphones/earphones/soundsport-in-ear-headphones-apple-devices.html#v=soundsport_ie_headphones_ii_apple_energy_green I kept replacing the worn-out Bose earphones for next 8 years. I think I replaced them 3 times in over 8 years; and that's awesome durability for an earphone when its owner is a person who always had her ears plugged in - at work, during travel, at home, at gym, on hikes, when going to sleep etc.. (and am no delicate handler.) Year 2017- I was t...