It’s Another day, and today life has bowled another googly at us…
Someone who we’re responsible for has lost a parent back in India. To say that it is sad is an understatement. To say that it is very unfortunate is to state it lightly. Ofcourse, the person here is overcome with grief. But how capable are we to give them any solace? What solace can we even give anyone at such a time?
This day has brought so many realizations… the first one, ofcourse, is that death is the ultimate truth, and that we all have to face it, whenever the time comes. And the other side of this fact is another hard hitting fact is that nothing we can do or say can take away the pain from death. Pain that the family feels and lives through for the rest of their lives. Pain that will, maybe, grow into a monster, or maybe even tame a monster. Who knows?
And in such a time , with the person affected not even able to travel or go back home, only compounds the pain.
This particular death has brought forward another truth- which we repeat so many times without actually understanding the dimension of it- That there is actually NOTHING that we can do. We are mere puppets in the grand fair that we call life… we can only keep passing through the unending labyrinth of circumstances that lies ahead of us, with nothing but one certainity- it will lead us to the ultimate truth- Death!
As challenging as it is, as we navigate through this labyrinth , sometimes we are needed to help others move forward as well… we may even need to carry some for a while. While the passages of life may seem dark at places, with twists and turns leading us to unknown events, there is a little torch that God has equipped us with- the torch of compassion and love! We are, many a times, so freaking encompassed with the darkness of the labyrinth, that we forget to put on this torch ! Of love, of compassion!
Let’s remember to put it on, who knows, while you’re showing path to another person, you may yourself find a new opening!

પ્રેમ માં નાના નાના કર્યા મેં , જીવન મા બદલાવો

પ્રતિસાદ મળ્યો તારો એવો કે થયો નહી પચ્છ્તાવૉ,

નાના છમકલા જવા દીધા મેં, દીધું નહી બહુ ધ્યાન,

પણ મારા ઍ જવા દેવા થી, બંધાયું તારું અભિમાન…

એકબીજા ની કાળજી કરવી ઍ ભલે આમતો સહજ છે,

પણ જો ભુલો પડે તું, ચેતવવાનું, ઍ પણ મારી ફરજ છે,

પાર્કાઓ ની વાહવાહિ લેતો રહે તું, બની રહે ભલે મહાન,

પણ પોતાના લોકોનું આમ શું, કરતું રહેવાય અપમાન?

અહમ મા ચકનાચૂર થઈ તું, ભુલી જાય છે ભાન,

તીર થી ઉંડો ઘા કરે જે, ઍ છે કડવી જુબાન….

માનુ છું, જીવન ચલાવવા કરવા પડશે , હા, અનેકો બલિદાન,

મુકી દીધું છે ઘણું મે વ્હાલા, નહી મુકી સકુ હું સ્વમાન,

મારાથી નહી છુટે સ્વાભિમાન, મારાથી નહી છુટે સ્વાભિમાન…

So , there’s something that is bothering me , like really bothering me…
This is undoubtedly a very difficult time and phase for everyone, on every level. For people, families, companies, hospitals, even governments…
The pandemic is not something anyone has even imagined, expected , forget experience… the situation is highly unprecedented, to say the least…
Hundreds of thousands of people are stuck , whether physically, financially, emotionally, or all ways…
Every hospital, government agency and other regulatory authorities are scrambling to get out of this with the maximum they can save- people, economy , and even face…
THIS IS THE SAME IN SO MANY COUNTRIES ,THE COUNT IS IMPOSSIBLE….
The stories of condusion, hardship, suffering ,uncertainity, and even death coming out of this time is heart wrenching , to put it even lightly.
It is sad. Very very sad.
But there is something even sadder- there are soo many people who have made it their life’s missions to come out criticizing health authorities, hospitals, policemen, state and central governments, their policies , their actions…. Its like they feel EVERY SINGLE thing the government /authorities do is inefficient, useless and senseless.
Please, I request humbly to such people to do whatever little constructive or helpful deed or volunteering that they can do, even if it’s as little as feeding a hungry person once. If nothing else, please pray.
If not possible to do even that, please don’t spread negativity.
Please. Please.
More grief, criticism and stress is just not needed. Not wanted. To no one.
Please think, please reconsider. Please stop.

कैसे तय करें के वो कौनसा रंग है, जिससे आसमान और खूबसूरत हो गया?
किस रंग ने इसे इतना अद्भुत बनाया?
कैसे बताएँ कौनसी डाल संभाल बैठी है पेड़ की हरियाली को,
और कौनसा होगा वो पत्ता , जिससे पेड़ आबाद हुआ?
कैसे समझें के इतने रंगों से घिरा हुआ, ये चांद बेरंग क्यूँ है …
और क्यूं इन रंगीन फ़ूलों पे कालिख छायी है?
जाने दो जनाब, सब अगर बूझ पाते हम और आप ,
तो ऊपर वाले को कोई खाक मानता ??

થોભ જરા, જરા વિસામો લે, થાક ભલે, પણ હાર નહી…

લાગશે ક્દાચ ડર તને, સ્વ માટે નહી, પણ સ્વજનો માટે,

અરે હશે જો રેખા જીવન ની, તો જિવીજ લઈશું , બાકી મોત થી જો ડરી અને બેસી જઈશું, ઈ ડર નો તો, કોઇ પાર નહી…

કરાવે છે કોઇ કસરતો સવારે, રમાડે  છે કોઇ રમતો, ગીતો ગાઇ ને, કોઇ બહેલાવે છે મન ને, તો કોઇ કવિતા સંભળાવી આપે છે હિમ્મત,

એટલા તો એટલા સમય માટે, આવત પ્રેક્શકો ના મનમાં ,

અસુરક્ષા અને દુખ ના વિચાર નહી…

માનવી છે તું તો, લાગણીશીલ ઘણી,

એમ ના બને કે આટલા દુખ નો, પડે તારા મન ને પડકાર નહી…

લાગશે તને કદાચ, કે નજીવા, નક્કામા છે તમ સૌ ના પ્રયાસો,

પણ મગજ મા આવવા દે તું, એવા વિચાર નહી…

થોભ જરા, જરા વિસામો લે, થાક ભલે, પણ હાર નહી…

Who says the heart can’t travel back in time, even if we can’t…

A beautiful moment from my trip to Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya.

In the recent days , people all over the world have been standing up and applauding the police, the medical, delivery and even cleaning communities…
But what about these ones inside, the ones who are locked in with you?
Did we think of praising our parents, Trying to make ends meet even after their incomes have fizzled below their imagination ever could. Who worry about us day in and day out, many gripped with fear within, but showing us some solid strength. Trying to Instill in us unshakeable faith and hope, even if they aren’t sure themselves!
We have all given labels of “real heroes” to various people, even our own kids …
But, How many of us have thought of the SHE-ROES of our own homes? The mom , or the lady of the house? From cooking unlimited meals throughout the day, to cleaning the never finishing utensils, to catering to the demanding working from home husband’s whims and the schooling from home kids, trying to keep the house as germ free as possible , she is the one handling it with as much grace as possible. To top it all, she’s probably working from home too. All this without the legendary Househelp that are ruling the world of memes these days!
Forget the cheering or clapping, Are we saying a humble thankyou to her? Or acknowledging the fact that we have a meal on our plates? Or are we sulking that it’s not what we wanted?
The least we can do is to give her a smile everytime she looks at us. Ask her to sit down for the meal with us. Maybe give her a back rub at the end of the day.
Atleast, let her get away with her silly Saree , coffee or such other photo “challenges” on Social media , while she battles and wins the real ones at home with us!
“Can we” would be a good question to end this blog, but it’s more important to ask, “Will we” ?

It’s Always been said, that if you love someone, tell them. And that there’s no time like now.
But this “now” is different from all the other “nows”, isn’t it?

Who would have thought that flying back to your loved one in another country , state or city would be restricted? Who thought that the relatives we love , but weren’t so enthusiastic to entertain, would now be missed? Who knew the whole world would yearn to see friends who live only a few blocks away? And did we ever think it would be weird to hear our own doorbells ring?

Why is it that we are craving for even a single hug from that “chipkoo” friend or cousin?
We had forgotten that we are humans, a social animal, and that physical human interaction is a necessity for us…
But also, lets be thankful that we are in the times that we’re are now , I mean this is the age of 4g and high speed internet , of video calling apps and social media to keep us in touch with all those people we cant connect to physically.
But this “now”also a time of fear , we don’t know who, where and when will be the next victim of the deadly virus, who may not come out on the other side of these trying times… or if at the end of it, we will have the means to be able to reach or own people..
So in this “NOW”, Let’s connect with all those who we miss, let’s video call them, call them or message them- Today, now…
Because, now, more than ever before, is the best time to tell them, “I love you, I miss you”…

I saw some ‘friend’ post a poem which says, “Sab yaad rakha jayega” …
Now I donot support the fanaticism of some people in promoting and spreading the hatred (on either side), I dont even understand it, Just how can you be so ignorant ?
If you say it’s a trap, why are you walking right into it?
कुछ पंक्तियाँ आपके नाम-

तुमने कहा, “सब कुछ याद रखा जाएगा “,
चलो, स्क़्ब कुछ याद रखते हैं ,
तुम भी, हम भी, भूल कर, के हम एक ही हैं,
ज़ुल्म किए जो पहले थे , आज फिर दोहराते हैं …
गलती से कहीं खिल ना जाये, गुलिस्तां है ये ,
तुम्हारा भी, हमारा भी,
चलो, इसे अब फिर बर्बाद करते हैं!
मैं कहती हूँ लेकिन,
“छोड़ो यार, भूलो सारे शिकवों को,
नए सिरे से लिखते हैं इतिहास आज नया हम,
कुछ हम भूलें, कुछ तुम संभलो,
सदियों से उजड़ा पड़ा है, ये चमन हम सबका,
इसे हम तुम मिलकर अब, आबाद करते हैं !”

Everyone HAS to be positive and only contribute to building bridges, there is just no other way!

Let’s be sure we make a strong one this time, based on strong pillars of faith and understanding. Let’s reach out to one another based on truth, not on rumour mongering.