Tea Cups

A beautiful anecdote shared from a lady friend. Thus it goes...              

I had a very emotional encounter last year  and I decided to pen it down on the pages of my Mémoire immortelle..
Allow me to share the same with you all..

Last week my hubby and I decided to visit one of my dad in law’s old friends living in Delhi.

He is a retired officer from the Indian army. Very fine couple, well spoken, very well read and widely travelled. They had a son who they lost during the Kargil war, but they never show any trace of pain on their face.

It appeared as if everything in the garden is lovely, but the deep set wrinkles on aunty’s face tell a different tale altogether.

Countless jokes of uncle, humor packed texture of his conversation does a brilliant job camouflaging their pain with grace and elegance.

We had a wonderful time spent with them.
Since they are old associates of my dad in law (He is from Indian army too) my hubby had a gala time revising the old memories of his school days.

Uncle and aunty told some very funny incidents and I kept laughing like a fearless kid.

Soon their care taker served us neatly organised tea and with each simmering sip came even more interesting chain of events from uncle’s well preserved memory bank.

I was wondering as to how could they talk endlessly, without even a small pause.
But soon I realised the reason, I didn’t have to do a double take on that.
The reasons were but obvious..
After we were done with tea, I got up to collect all the cups and the other things to keep in a tray so that I could keep those back in the kitchen.
BUT I was stopped by a very authoritative and strong voice-
.”Noo, Please do not move those cups from there.”
I was astounded by his reaction, I was taken aback and looked at aunty if I had ruffled his feathers by any action of mine.

My heart was in my mouth, literally.
But then, Aunty looked at uncle and said softly-
”Tussi bhi na,
Bacche nu dara ditta, thora aram naal bhi keh sakde ho.”

Uncle realised the sudden change in his voice and very sweetly he sat next to me, held my hand and kept his right hand on my head.

And what he spoke after that, made me cry from within.
It was so painful, simple yet so profound..

Softly he spoke” Beta ji...in cups ko aise hee rehne do, subah tak nahi uthayenge. Kuchh toh ehsaas hoga ki zindagi yahan aayi thi.
The house always remains spic n span, nothing is moved or disturbed and is kept as it is.
Ham taras jaate hain ki koi toh ghar ko ganda karne wala ho.
So let the cups stay that way. We will cherish the sight of it and promise me that you will visit again with your sons.”

All I could do was to hug him and assure him to be back with my sons.

I like my house to be neatly organised and make sure my boys follow the suit too, but unfortunately my younger one still believes in living like a caveman.
So as usual, when I was lecturing him today after seeing the plight of his room, I got reminded of this episode and suddenly, I stopped lecturing him and gave him a suffocating hug.

Leaving him confused to the core.

Circus

Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus.

Finally, there was only one other family between us and the ticket counter. This family made a big impression on me.

There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12. The way they were dressed, you could tell they didn't have a lot of money, but their clothes were neat and clean.

The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in line, two-by-two behind their parents, holding hands. They were excitedly jabbering about the clowns, animals, and all the acts they would be seeing that night. By their excitement you could sense they had never been to the circus before. It would be a highlight of their lives.

The father and mother were at the head of the pack standing proud as could be. The mother was holding her husband's hand, looking up at him as if to say, "You're my knight in shining armor." He was smiling and enjoying seeing his family happy.

The ticket lady asked the man how many tickets he wanted? He proudly responded, "I'd like to buy eight children's tickets and two adult tickets, so I can take my family to the circus." The ticket lady stated the price.

The man's wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man's lip began to quiver. Then he leaned a little closer and asked, "How much did you say?" The ticket lady again stated the price.

The man didn't have enough money. How was he supposed to turn and tell his eight kids that he didn't have enough money to take them to the circus?

Seeing what was going on, my dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and then dropped it on the ground. (We were not wealthy in any sense of the word!) My father bent down, picked up the $20 bill, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket."

The man understood what was going on. He wasn't begging for a handout but certainly appreciated the help in a desperate, heartbreaking and embarrassing situation.

He looked straight into my dad's eyes, took my dad's hand in both of his, squeezed tightly onto the $20 bill, and with his lip quivering and a tear streaming down his cheek, he replied; "Thank you, thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family."

My father and I went back to our car and drove home. The $20 that my dad gave away is what we were going to buy our own tickets with.

Although we didn't get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus could ever provide.

*That day I learnt the value to Give.*

*The Giver is bigger than the Receiver.*

*If you want to be large, larger than the life, learn to Give.*

*Only if you Give can you Receive more. The Givers heart becomes the Ocean, in tune with the Almighty - The Source*

*Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything.*

*Wishing you most & more.*

Compensation

Someone asked Bill Gates, Is there any person richer than you?

He said, yes, only one. Many years ago, I had been dismissal and I had gone to New York airport. I read titles of newspapers there. I liked one of them and I want to buy it. But I didn't  have change (coin). I abandoned, suddenly, a black boy called me and told, “This newspaper for you.” I said, but I don’t have change. He said, “No problem, I give you free”.

After 3 months, I went there. Coincidentally, that story happened again and that same boy gave another free newspaper again. I said, I can’t accept. But he said, “I give you from my profit.”

After 19 years, I had been rich and I decided to find that boy. I found him after one and half months searching. I asked him, do you know me? He said, “Yes, you’re famous Bill Gates.”

I said, you gave me free newspaper in 2 times many years ago. Now, I want to compensate it. I am going to give you everything that you want. Black young man replied, “You can’t compensate it!”
I said, why? He said, "Because I gave you when I was poor. You want to give me when you are rich. So, how do you compensate?"

Bill Gates said, I think that black young man is richer than me.

You don't have to be rich or wait to be rich to give.

Disclaimer:  this is copied from social media. ..don't know genuineness of the same. ..just take this as a fiction story.

Yes I am Changing

Days slip into weeks, weeks turn into months and months transform into years. Calendars are changing and so am I.

Yes, I  am changing.In certain things age has mellowed me down, in others I have become more aggressive . Sometimes I find myself acting very wise and sometimes I just go crazy. Certain issues will have me speaking vociferously whereas at others I just shrug and remain silent.

Yes, I  am changing. After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, my children, my friends, now I have started loving myself.

Yes, I  am changing. I just realised that I am not “ Atlas ” and the world does not rest on my shoulders.

Yes, I  am changing. I now stopped bargaining with poor vegetables and fruits vendors. After all, a few rupees more is not going to burn a hole in my pocket but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.

Yes, I  am changing. I pay the auto walla/ cab waala and walk away without waiting for the change.The extra money might bring a smile on his face.After all he is toiling much harder for a living than me.

Yes, I  am changing. I stopped telling the elderly that they have already narrated that story many times.After  all, the story makes them walk down the memory lane and relive the past.

Yes, I  am changing. I have learn not to correct  people even when I know they are wrong. After all ,the onus of making everyone perfect is not on me.Peace is more precious than perfection.

Yes, I  am changing.  I give compliments freely and generously . After all its  a mood enhancer not only for the recipient but also for me.

Yes, I  am changing.I have learnt not to bother about my creased shirt or mismatched skirt.After all, personality speaks louder than appearances.

Yes, I  am changing. Nowadays I don't bother  if my eyebrows are not done or fine lines are showing on my forehead. After all beauty of my soul outshines the beauty of my face.

Yes, I  am changing.I am learning not to let others make me feel incompetent.After all I am not only what they see in me. I might not be good at certain things but I am excellent at others.

Yes, I  am changing. I walk  away from people who don't value me.After all, they might not know my worth, but I do.

Yes, I  am changing. I remain cool when someone plays dirty politics to outrun me in the rat race.After all I am not a rat and neither am I in any race.

Yes, I  am changing. I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions.After all it's my emotions that make me human.

Yes, I  am changing. I now tell  people if I like them.After all ,there is nothing wrong in liking someone.

Yes, I  am changing. I have learnt that its better to drop the ego than to break a relationship.After all, my ego will keep me aloof whereas with relationships I will never be alone.

Yes, I  am changing.I demand  for whatever  is due to me.After all, accepting injustice is almost as bad as doing injustice.

Yes, I  am changing.I have learnt to live each day as if it were the last.After all, it might be the last .

Yes, I  am changing. I am doing what makes me happy.After all, I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to me.

And I am loving the new me!

Life Marathon

Lata , a 65 year old resident of an small village in Buldhana district in Maharashtra, lived with her three daughters and husband. She and her husband worked very hard throughout their lives and married off their daughters. All the savings which they gathered over the years were spent on these marriages.

Post daughter’s marriages, she and her husband started working as daily wage workers in the nearby farms, they used to make enough to survive.

One day suddenly, her husband felt uneasy and was diagnosed with some serious infection. Lataji was left baffled, with no money in hand and the creepy situation, she couldn’t understand what to do. She took him to the nearby government hospital, doctors recommended her to take him to the terminal hospital in Baramati as few tests had to be conducted. Lataji was in tears, she felt pity on her misery. She couldn't see her husband dying in her arms. She felt helpless and sorrowful.

Courageously, she begged her neighbours, relatives and every possible person she could and gathered a small amount and left for Baramati for the further tests of her husband.

Doctor moved her husband in the check-up zone, she discreetly sat outside the room with the teary eyes, praying god to save the only wisdom in her life. Doctor came out of the check-up ward, her eyes lit, eagerly waiting to hear the well-being of her love. But Fate had some other story written for them, Doctor advised further costly tests and medications, which were going to cost them a bounty. Lataji's world collapsed with her nowhere to go, no money to treat her husband. Her world was shattered, her heart ached, overwhelmed by emotions, she cried with helplessness.

They came out of the hospital heavy-heartedly, stopped by nearby samosawala, had two samosas on piece of newspaper, her eyes stopped on the bold Marathi headline on the newspaper, her eyes lit, heart skipped. The headline was about the ‘Baramati Marathon and it's prize money'. She was excited and all sorts of thoughts flooded her mind.

Next day, Baramati Marathon was about to commence, everyone geared up in their sports shoes, cozy shorts and tracks, sweat absorbing tees. And there she comes, the 67 year old Lata Bhagwan Khare, wearing torn saree (lugda), bare footed, tears in her eyes. She argued with the organizers, they weren't ready to let her participate in the marathon, she pleaded, she begged, she convinced them to approve her participation.

Marathon started, she hitched her saree just above her ankles, she ran like a wizard, like a 16 year old teen, she didn't think of anything else, she could just see her husband's agony and the winning amount in front of her eyes ahead. She didn't care about the hard hitting rocks and pebbles on her way, her feet bled, but she ran and ran. She won the marathon and was awarded the prize amount. It meant a life to her, she was going to see her husband live. Crowd cheered her, streets of Baramati clapped for her. People were flabbergasted, they saluted her and applauded her.

She collected the winning amount and made sure her husband received the proper medication. This is love, this is devotion. She didn't blink an eye, she never thought about how she is going to win the marathon, how is she going to run barefooted, how'll she survive. She only ran with one motive, to save her husband.

I salute Lata , for her courage and fortitude. In the world full of excuses, you just proved to be an icon.

Disclaimer:  Don't know whether it is true story

Right Here Right Now

At what age in your life did you consider it the prime time of your life?

Finally, it happened. I was in Standard VI. In the classroom, the blackboard looked hazy. I was unable to see what the teacher wrote. I came home and announced, with dignity and pride, that I was now eligible for a pair of spectacles.

The next day, my father took me to the ophthalmic doctor, who meticulously examined me and instructed me to read ‘ABCD’ with various lenses on, asking me which of the lot provided the clearest vision. Finally, I gave my valued opinion, at which he laughed, took the frame out and passed two fingers where the lens should have been, to confirm my worst fears — I had no eye problem. My dream of walking to the school in stylish spectacles was shattered.

Spectacles and full pants were the fantasy for most of us at school because naked eyes and shorts made us feel like kids. At that age, we just wanted to grow up fast, whatever the means.

By the time I turned 42, my son told me that I was holding his comic book too far, when we read it together in bed. The ophthalmic doctor did the same ABCD test and wrote down the prescription for a pair of glasses. I reflexively asked: can I get contact lenses instead? Hair dye, contact lenses, loose shirts and Levis jeans at 45 are all directed at the same thing. Trying to look young, pretending that we have not grown up. Many of us got stuck for a couple of years at 39 before we had the guts to pronounce to the world that we are finally on the wrong side of 40.

When young, we desperately want to grow up and once we are there, we regret having grown up. At 89, my father does not care whether he grows old or looks young, whether people presume him to be 78 or 91; he is worried only about his grandchildren, both in college. While the grandfather is worried about their safety, the perturbed grandchildren say… “Grandpa, we have grown up, we are not children anymore.”

That's the paradox of life. The young want to grow up. The grown-ups want to remain young. The elderly are bothered about their grandchildren who, in turn, feel that they are being overcautious. At every step, we want to change our role. Why not take a pause, look around and just enjoy the present? Every stage in life has its pains, awards and surprises. Savour it now, it will never come back.

I enjoy the aroma of everyday coffee rather than waiting for that rare outing to an expensive candlelight dinner.
My prime time? Every single day of my adulthood.

Be Grateful

The qualifications that gave you a job is the same qualifications someone has, but does not have a job.
Be grateful.    

The prayer that God answered for you, is the same prayer others have been praying but without success. 
Be grateful.

The road you use safely on a daily basis is the same road many others have died on.
Be grateful.

The temple in which God blessed you, is the same temple other people worship in, but  their lives are still in discord.
Be grateful.

The bed you used in the hospital, you got healed and were discharged, is  the same bed many other people died on.
Be grateful.

The rain that made your field produce good crops, is the same rain that destroyed someone's field.
Be grateful.

Be grateful because whatever you have is not by your power, your  might, or your qualifications, but it's the  Grace of God.
Remember He is the giver of everything you have.

In everything give thanks.

Short Journey

*"Our Journey  Together is so Short"* A beautiful message for all of us....Take a minute please

A young lady sat in a bus. At the next stop a loud and grumpy old lady came and sat by her. She squeezed into the seat and bumped her with her numerous bags.

The person sitting on the other side of the young lady got upset, asked her why she did not speak up and say something.

The young lady responded with a smile:

"It is not necessary to be rude or argue over something so insignificant, the journey together is so short. I get off at the next stop."

This response deserves to be written in golden letters:

*"It is not necessary to argue over something so insignificant, our journey together is so short"*

If each one of us realized that our time here is so short; that to darken it with quarrels, futile arguments, not forgiving others, discontentment and a fault finding attitude would be a waste of time and energy.

Did someone break your heart? *Be calm, the journey is so short.*

Did someone betray, bully, cheat or humiliate you? *Be calm, forgive, the journey is so short.*

Whatever troubles anyone brings us, let us remember that *our journey together is so short.*

No one knows the duration of this journey. No one knows when their stop will come. *Our journey together is so short.*

Let us cherish friends and family. Let us be respectful, kind and forgiving to each other. Let us be filled with gratitude and gladness.

If I have ever hurt you, I ask for your forgiveness. If you have ever hurt me, you already have my forgiveness.

After all, *Our Journey Together is so Short!*

Appreciate

Question: What is the best advice your mother ever gave you?

Answer By Jonathan Pettit

I was about ten. My mom had just finished creating one of her amazing meals, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Delicious. Later, as I was washing the dishes, my mom came up to me. “Sorry dinner was so awful again,” she said.

I was shocked. “What? No, it was great. I loved it.”

“Really?” she said, with mock surprise. “You always eat so quietly, never saying anything. You’ve never told me you liked my cooking, so I thought you hated it.”

“No, you’re the best cook I know.”

“Then you should tell me that,” she said. “Whenever someone does something nice for you, you should thank that person. If you don’t, then she might think she’s not appreciated and stop doing those nice things.”

Something clicked right then. From that day forward, I thanked everyone for literally everything. If you did something that even vaguely helped me, I thanked you profusely. It became a habit, something I didn’t even think about, and that’s when the magic started happening.

People liked me more. They talked to me more, shared with me, were more friendly. In my first year of high school, during the final week, I came home and found a giant freezie (a kind of sweet frozen snack) waiting for me. “Thanks, mom,” I said instinctively.

“This isn’t from me, she said. “This is from your bus driver.” He had been driving that bus for years, and my siblings and I were the first people to ever thank him as we got dropped off. Those two simple words made a huge difference, so much so that he went out of his way to tell our mom and give us a present.

That’s the power of appreciation. When you have it, all is right in the world, but when it’s missing life is empty. My mom taught me many things, but taking two seconds to say ‘thank you’ every time, in any situation, was the best.

*Debriefing of this Story*

You would have met people who call themselves as good critics but have you ever a person who says I am good at appreciating others? Isn't that a sad part of our society?

Let's start appreciating people more frequently especially people who are close to us.

"The sweetest of all sounds is true appreciation"