7. Challenge.

The root cause for almost any revolution to happen is Challenge. As soon as I am uncomfortable with something, it becomes a Challenge for me and to get rid off the discomfort I look for a solution.

More intense the challenge felt, quicker and better will be the solution. Well, by saying quicker I don't mean in terms of speedy results but in terms of action taken.

For instance, if I feel that 1BHK is too tight for me, I will strive to look for a 2/3 BHK if I really feel that pain as a challenge. Most of the times the challenge is felt but hardly any action is taken cos Compromise overpowers the Challenge and converts my discomfort to comfort. This makes me feel that 1BHK is also not too bad.
As a real life example, I am just imagining the Challenge that MK Gandhi must have sensed. Like many others, he initially must have felt that we need an independent nation by putting an end to the foreign rule. However, the further thought would have been on the life-death situation perspective. I will die if I won’t come out of the discomfort of bowing down to the foreign administration.

I want to live and hence I want to get the administration of out the way. This would have been the last and ultimate thought and post that only ACTION was the way.
I cannot live in a 1BHK flat. I will die if I continue to live. I want to live and hence from this point of time I want to step forward towards possessing a 2-3BHK flat.

Hey, what if Alexander Graham Bell was happy and didn’t sense any challenge with the traditional mode of face 2 face communication? Oops, my cell phone is ringing so let me think on this point later on.

6. Khel.

Ayodhya me maidan banaao
ubharte hunar ka hosla badhao

Chhodo Jaativaad ke kaand-karm
Cricket hi hai bhaarat ka dharm

Court ke faisley se koi ek kom hogi naraaz
Kya yehi hai, sunhere kal ka aaghaaz?

Sab rahe khush aisaa karein upaay
mohobat ka rishta hai, sab ko miley nyaay

Mandir Masjid to bahot hai bhai
bhagwaan - bhakt ki to hai dil ki sagaai

Prarthana jo dil se nikle wo puri hai
phir ye sab vivaad kyon zaroori hai?

Is liye kehta hun, mandir masjid chhodo
in vivaado me beetenge saal, kharch hoge karodo

Stump thoko, balla ghumaao
Ayodhya me maidaan banao

Afsos....
Aaj Khel ban gaya hai dharm aur Dharm ek Khel
'Wo' hi jaane, insaano me hoga kab aur kaise mel
Hey Khuda, Yaa Bhagwaan, maaf karna tere bache ko
Ret (Sand) ko peel ke, usko nikaalna hai tel

5. Easy.

One of my friends had penned down the following on email -

Woh path kya pathik kushaltaa kya, jis path mein bikhare shool na ho|
Naavik ki dhairya pariksha kya, yadi dhaaraayein pratikool na ho||

to which I replied with a subtle humor -

pratikool and shool
in theory sounds very cool

jab vaastav me fat ti hai
to chhatne lagte hai dhool...

iske liye mat swim karo nadi
jaha already khada hai pul

koi path ko muhskil na banaao
kyonki jeevan me kaam hai atul

to bhai meri baat maano
shool and all that, jao zara bhool

jo life mili hai mast
usko karo total vasool

:-)

Don't mind as mind is missing :-)

4. King and Pawn.

“Once the game is over, the King and the pawn go back in the same box.” - Italian Proverb

1. Many a times, I think I am a king, many a times pawn, and rest of the times am dwelling in between
2. I don't even 'like' to visualize the 'fact' that game will be over one day altho that day is a variable i, where i >= 0 and <= 14600 (considering 40 more yrs and 365 days per year)
3. After the game is over, let the king and pawn go anywhere, but while the game is ON, I want to be somewhere (above all, ahead of all, knowledgeable, identifiable, egoistic, peace-loving, authoritarian, radical, some or all of the above)
4. I don't even know whether I am playing the game or no. Just keep running and think I am playing
5. What do I want out of this game? if i don't know then how does it matter if I am gonna go in the same box or other or wherever. In today's state, I believe only 2 things - a. I am going to be here forever and b. If I pass away, that will be the end of the story. then, who cares...

Apologies - I didn't intend to damage the wonderful italian proverb.

3. Connect the Dots.

Day in day out, I am tying myself in every possible knot
Don’t analyze a thing, never drill down on why and what
Just running behind something, yet not attaining a thing
Am I really working on, what I feel I always sought?

A bunch of such constant thoughts, make me feel lost
The moment shall I transcend, from this world of thoughts
First step then taken, shall really mean lots and lots
Thoughts won’t go in vain, cos realization shall connect the dots

2. Local.

There is this classic story of Mumbai Local train where in a person who wants to get down at a particular station is advised by his fellow passengers that the train is not supposed to stop but might slow down so in case he wants to get down, he should jump out of train and to avoid tumbling down, he should continue running in the direction of train. He does so and in panic, he continues to run faster in the direction of the train. The train however slows down further and the people in the other compartment feel that this guy wanna board the train and eventually they pull him into the coach. Before he reacts, the train is already on the move at its normal pace.

In this train of a stereotypical life, many a times, I feel like doing something eccentric and attempt to get out of the train. However, I fail to stop on the platform and do continue my run in the direction of the train. Quite obviously, some one or other is already there to pull me up. Ofcourse, I am not blaming them as it was me who was supposed to stop and make sure that I am not hooked on the train again.

Someday I feel I should get down on the platform and don’t wait for another train going in same direction. :-)

1. Monopoly.

Buying cities and building houses and hotels over it is amazing fun. While it is supposed to be an entertaining game, it really reflects the craving of getting ahead of everyone by collecting maximum possible money, assets and beyond. As the number of players append, the fun increments. The race becomes more crucial and the competition all the more cut-throat.

There are several defined rules and several customized rules like making partners, taking loan from bank / participants, paying interests, selling the assets, etc – all with an intent of survival.

The game is gonna last for not more than few hours for sure but the excitement / agony / frustration / ecstasy dwells till the end and all the participants who were competitors take their original role by resuming as friends / relatives.

I have always loved to play monopoly. I am relentlessly playing it. One day it will end.