Knowledge

Knowledge dispels all delusions and confusions.

Missed my flight

My wife was at her parent's place for delivery of our kid. I had booked a 17th.Feb flight, but in order to surprise her I told her that I have booked a 18th.Feb flight. Telling the same lie over and over again, does its damage - it camouflages the truth. It was set in my mind that my flight was on 18th. So, on 17th morning I came to office, and I was working on my workstation, as usual. My coworker Ravi was sitting behind me in my cubicle, working on my test machine.
I was excited to be going on a 2 week leave, the next day, to welcome the baby in the world and to enter the world of fatherhood. I opened my air-ticket, to fire a print. Once the ticket was open, I checked the flight date and time, and to my surprise my flight had already departed in the morning. My eyeballs started bouncing like ping pong balls between the flight date on the ticket and my system date. I froze for a moment, and then exclaimed – ohh no, I missed my flight. It took me a while to realize that the damage had been done.

After some time, to add insult to injury, my wife called me and said that the doctor had advised them to go for the delivery, the same day. She was sobbing, and I felt helpless and so damn stupid, for missing my flight – when I could have made it on the birth of my kid. I called up the airline, asking them for a partial refund and to book my ticket on the next flight to Baroda. The airline stated that the airfare won’t be refunded since it was a “no show”. So, I booked the next flight, which didn’t leave till early next morning. I spoke to my parents and booked them on the evening flight the same day.

But, the Delhi attitude had gotten into them to the core. Reaching the destination on time, is a strict no-no for Delhities, whether it be a marriage or the airport. They left home at leisure, and didn’t make it to the airport on time, thus missing their flight too. The worst part was that instead of cutting a sorry figure in front of my Mom, my Dad went to the airport coffee shop, and bough himself a nice hot coffee. My Mom was fuming with anger. Hadn’t it been winter time, the whole airport would have experienced corona temperatures.

At around 3pm my father in law called me and said that a boy was born. But, his underlying tone had a crisp and clear message – “now that you have become a father, come out of your boyish attitude, and grow up”. I was super excited to hear the news but felt equally miserable for missing my flight. My friends came home to congratulate me in the evening, but, most of them hurled abuses at me instead of congratulating me. Well that’s friends, they show you the real mirror.

I took a late-night bus to the airport the same day, to catch my early morning flight, but, the airport security wouldn’t let me in, because there was still a long time for my flight to depart. So, I occupied a bench in the airport waiting area, and slowly and steadily I stretched my legs till I covered the whole length and breadth of the bench. It was chilly outside, because it was Winter time, but I managed power naps, constantly keeping a watch on my watch.

Next day I reached the hospital in Baroda and looked at my baby sleeping in the pram. It was the best moment of my life. I just couldn’t take my eyes off the little chubby, Chinese looking reddish infant. I bent down on the pram, and kept staring at this most beautiful thing, I had ever seen. I picked him up in my arms and hugged him gently. I then went to my wife and said, “you did a great job”. My parents too reached Baroda the same day, thankfully nobody missed the flight.

Don't underestimate the little butterflies

School’s Annual day brings in a lot of excitement and fun. One, because it marks the end of a strenuous year, and gives the children an opportunity to dance, be playful and break out from the mundane study schedule.

It was my kid’s annual day on 18^th.Feb, one day after his birthday. On his birthday we had a party, and he ate as many chocolates as he could lay his hands on. During that night he had an upset stomach and vomited out everything he had consumed during the day. We feared that he may not be able to participate in his school’s annual day, since he was dehydrated and energy less. We thought we will call the school and inform them that Bhargav won’t be performing in the annual day. But he persisted, so we allowed him to go.

There he was, a lower kindergarten kid, dehydrated and energy-less, but not spirit-less. He was super excited to be a part of the annual day. Indeed, he had practiced hard for this day, and he didn’t want to let it slip.  At just 4 years, he was getting a chance to show the world, how to dance, and how to be happy, tapping the feet. 

While I was dropping him to school, I told him that we are planning to get a big banner with his name printed on it and we all will shout “Bushy Bushy” (his nickname). I dropped him to his class and told the teacher not to exert him much. Teached assured me that she will take good care of him and not exert him much.

I came back home, only to return after 2 hours, when the annual day would actually start. The kids had to be dropped early, so that they could dress up and rehearse before the final act.

We came in after 2 hours and were seated somewhere in the back. All the front rows were already taken by the super excited parents. All the parents were eager to see their little butterflies perform today.

The annual day was dedicated to all mothers and their ultimate sacrifices for their children. The performances continued one after the other, and was fun to watch the toddlers perform with full enthusiasm and energy. While a performance was underway, the next performing batch would stand next to the open stage, to occupy it after the ongoing performance. After a couple of performances, we saw a batch of kids standing next to the open stage and among them was an overzealous kid, waving at the audience.  I was amazed, at this overzealous kid, waving at the swarm of people in front of him. Suddenly my wife burst out laughing and said “See Bushy’s waving at us”. I was like “Ohh Boy, this kid has got a lot of nerve”. He not only spotted us amongst hundreds of people but was also continually waving at us. We were happy to see him finally, and were eagerly waiting for his performance. He had no stage fear, and nothing could make him conscious.  If I would be in his place, I would have fainted, seeing so many people in the front; leave alone waving at them and then dancing in front of them. 

I remember, when I was in 9th standard, everyone in the class had to read out the morning news, during the morning assembly. When it was my turn, I locked myself in the bathroom, and stayed there, till the morning assembly was over. Such was my fear of stage.
Another surprise awaited us; Bushy was playing the lead role in the act; that of the mighty King Shivaji. We never knew that he was playing the lead role. The opening scene was that of ‘Shivaji’s’ mother ‘Jijabhai’ doing his ‘Aarti’ and praying for his longevity, before his departure for a battle. The song that played in the background was “Ram Krishna Ka Avtaara”. After this act, Shivaji (Bhargav) is shown going into a battle with his enemy, and returns after defeating the enemy.  To celebrate his victory, Shivaji (Bhargav) and his army, dance to the tunes of the ‘Malhari’ song “Bajne de Dadak Dadak Dhol taashe Dadak Dadak” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3b8Vy4vkxI).

The toddlers danced so well that it was hard to believe that they were all 4 years old. During the whole dance act, I was hooting at the top of my voice.  In my excitement, I even forgot to hit the record button on my camera, even though I had held the camera up, during the whole act.
That moment I realized that our kids are capable of achieving much more, than we think they can.  Sometimes, we should just let them span their wings and let them fly. Let them try and discover their true potential. They may fall and fail multiple times, but, let them get up on their own.

Let them go through the metamorphosis of becoming a butterfly from the infancy of the chrysalis.
Later I met the class teachers ‘Bhagyashree’ and ‘Rose’ and congratulated them for a splendid performance by their kids. It was a day full of joy and a good parenting lesson.

Japanese man’s travel to Banaras

It was 26th.Dec and I was travelling back from Tokyo to India. I had been there for 6 months, for a client project. Now that the project was over, I was returning home, to celebrate the new year with my family. I was a happy man to come back home. During these 6 months I missed my folks, home cooked food, and that extra warmth at home.

I was taking the Japanese Airlines flight (JAL) from Tokyo to New Delhi. I boarded the flight, and there was a nice Japanese young man (probably in his late twenties), sitting next to me. We greeted each other and settled down for the flight to take off. While the flight was mid-air, he stuck a conversation over mid-air dinner.

Ito San: Hello, my name is 'Ito'. Where do you live in India?

Me: Hello, my name is 'Amit', I live in New Delhi.

Ito San: How far is Banaras from New Delhi, and how to reach there?

Me: (curiously looking at him) Hmmmm I don't know. I have never been to Banaras. (after a pause) Are you going to Banaras.

Ito San: Yes.

Me: (Now even more curious) Why are you going Banaras?

(I was thinking, why is this guy not going to metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, or tourist attractions like Agra, Goa and Andamans, why only Banaras???)

Ito San: Banaras is a sacred place, popular destination for attaining nirvana. My friends went there last year, and they told me all good things about Banaras.

Me: (More bewildered) Ohhh!! Really! I don;t know about that. (Feeling ashamed of my ignorance, about my own heritage and religion)

Ito San then told me a lot about Banaras, and that day I realized that it is not only important to chase your material goals, but also to find a way to attain moksha, by way of knowledge and spirituality.