Diwali cleaning...

We don’t live in bungalows, duplexes or flats. We live in our minds.
 
Yes, that’s our permanent residence. And there are no constraints of square-feet there. It’s a vast space with unlimited area. And you know what! No matter how well-organized your rooms, balconies, garages and verandas are, life is good only when things are sorted there – in your mind.

And that’s where we keep things messy – regrets piling up in one corner, expectations stuffed in a closet, secrets under the carpet, worries littered everywhere, comparisons spilt on the table, complexes leaking from an old bottle, and grudges stinking in a box.

Be aware. For this ‘real home’ of yours, you can’t outsource housekeeping. You have got to do it yourself.

Lets start with our true "Diwali cleaning".

Border

An army personnel enters an ATM cabin in Khwaja Bagh area of Baramulla. He withdraws one hundred rupees from it and places the note neatly in his wallet. Next day, he returns and withdraws the same amount from the ATM. This goes on for many more days.

The guard at the ATM notices this, but refrains from asking about the same, given the old and deep rooted fear of men in uniform.

He resists for days but on a day when there are few civilians around, he musters the courage to ask, for he believes if the army personal gets enraged over him, the civilians around will rescue him from his wrath. The guard proceeds to ask: “Sahab, Why do you withdraw only hundred rupees from the ATM? Why do you trouble yourself on daily basis when you can withdraw a hefty amount that will last for weeks?”

The army personal rubs his forehead as he looks tired; tucks his trousers properly and before he makes his way out of the cabin, tells the guard who is waiting for the answer anxiously: “The mobile number linked to my bank account is used by my wife at home. When I withdraw cash from the ATM, she gets the message on her mobile phone. This way, she comes to know that her husband is alive”.

Respect & Integrety

As an old Irish saying goes....
"Three apples fell from the tree. One for he who tells the story, one for he who reads/listens to the story and one for he who understands."

You will have one apple when you read this .....I hope you receive two!!!

JEWELS UNDER THE SADDLE

Once upon a time, what happened did happen.....or you wouldn't be hearing this story!!
A merchant on a casual jaunt through a market, came across a fine specimen of a camel for sale.
The merchant and the camel seller, both skilled negotiators, struck a hard bargain. The camel seller pleased with his skill of worming out what he felt was a very good price, parted with his camel and the merchant chuffed that he had struck a fantastic bargain, proudly walked home with the latest addition to his large livestock.

On arriving home, the merchant called to his servant to come and help him take out the camel's saddle. The unwieldy heavily padded saddle being too difficult for the servant to manage on his own.
Hidden under the saddle, the servant found a small velvet pouch which on opening he discovered to be filled with precious jewels!!

The servant was overexcited!!! "Master you bought a camel.....but see what came FREE along with it!!!"

The merchant was astonished as he looked at the jewels in his servants' palm. They were of extraordinary quality sparkling and twinkling in the sunlight. 
"I bought the camel" he said, "not the jewels. I must return them to the camel seller immediately."

The servant was aghast.....his master was really foolish. "Master.....no one will know."

But the merchant headed right back to the market and handed over the velvet pouch back to the camel seller.
The camel seller was very happy, " I had forgotten that I hid these jewels in the saddle for safe keeping."
"Here, choose one of the jewels for yourself, as a reward."
The merchant said "I paid a fair price for the camel and the camel only, so NO thank you, I do not need any reward."

But as much as the merchant refused, the camel seller insisted.

Finally the merchant said, sheepishly smiling, " Actually when I decided to bring the pouch back to you, I already took two of the most precious jewels and kept them for myself."

At this confession the camel seller was a bit flabbergasted and quickly emptied the pouch to count the jewels. However he was very confused.
"All my jewels are here. What jewels did you keep?

"The two most precious" said the camel seller.

"My INTEGRITY and my SELF-RESPECT."

The ability to do the right thing or choosing to do the right thing when you could get away with doing the wrong thing."