Spread some Fragrance

It is pitiful to watch an old man lying on his deathbed. That man traveled places around the world, met wonderful people, read books & gathered a lot of knowledge throughout his prime. But it would have been meaningless had he lived it for himself and kept all these for himself. He spread his knowledge among other curious beings, curious for information, curious to know the culture of distant countries, curious to know what books have to say.


While we are busy toiling hard, accumulating heaps of insignificant material for ourselves, why not stop and think about this ?
We all are set on the same path as the old man. We know our destination and we know we have begun our journey but the distance is unknown, unknown till the very last moment. So why not wander off a little and pick some flowers along the way and let us collect them in a basket for while we travel, the fragrance can refresh some travellers, old and new.


ફૂલ વીણ સખે! ફૂલ વીણ સખે!

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.

The above line was quoted by Steve Jobs in his famous Stanford commencement speech in 2005.
At almost 22 years of age I feel old and paralyzed. Not physically of course, but the burden is something not visible, not understood, nor deserving of sympathy.
At the age when my friends are putting in their efforts to clear exams of a professional course with possibly the lowest pass percentage, I am wasting my time sitting at my home, pretending to study. Hardly calculative in my approach to life, I am unsure how I could survive this calculative profession.
I don't know my passion, nor have I come to recognise my talent, if any. I don't know what I love and I don't know how to find it. Where my future lies I am unsure.
I am not hungry but I surely am Foolish.

The Sun & The Clouds

I sat on the plastic chair in my porch for a moment to enjoy the weather. It had rained last night and it was probably going to rain today. The sky was overcast and and the roads were wet. I could see the distant buildings and trees, dull as the sun was blocked by the thick clouds but clear as the rain had soaked in the dust from air. 


As a small frog hopped into view, hopping a step at a time and then still for a while before it hopped again on its little feet slipping on the wet cement, I drifted into my thoughts. I was unsure of the day ahead, had a lot to do and didn't know where to start and how much time should I spend doing a job before I took up another. As my eyes followed the frog I saw a slug moving slowly, leaving behind a slimy trail. Well, I could even do nothing and relax reading a book or watching TV. When was it the last time  I did nothing ? It took a short time for the slug to get me bored and I looked back to the skies when I heard quick steps hitting the tiles as if determined to break them one day. My Mom bolted out of the house carrying a pot of water for the plants. She quickly turned without wasting a moment to water them, without observing the weather, the clean air, or even the floor to not accidentally crush the frog or the slug in her way. She had to hurry after all she had all her morning chores to do, like everyday, that demanded speed. Well, I guess that's the key, I'll start and work as quickly as possible and complete all the work. No backlogs for tomorrow. I might crush an oncoming opportunity in the rush though. Today, Now, focus and no straying.


My senses moved towards the obvious humanly activities now. My next door neighbour came out of his house wearing dull coloured iron clothes adding to the dullness this morning carried with it. With aTiffin in his hands, he kicked his scooter, and he did this everyday on the same time. His hair still wet and face bath fresh, but had no aura or freshness of the morning. He carried fatigue of yesterday's work at office, he seems to have been carrying over that for months now. I wouldn't get into rut like this when I'll start earn a living. No way. I'll earn few bucks less then he does for my own good.


As his scooter hummed away into the distant there was a moment of absolute tranquillity and I forgot about all the work I had to do. And then as if the heavens had overheard my thought, the clouds opened a hole and drifted to get the sun down on the earth. For a moment the sun shone brightly. Brightening up the Trees and the Buildings and all the plants washed cleaned by the rain. As the sun warmed my feet, I stood up and started the work that came in hand. After all if wouldn't start anything, I am definitely not finishing it.

The Blame Game

If you are from India and have recently cleared HSC/12th Grade/Standard Exams then you like many other students of your age has spent time talking to your parents, teachers, friends and to yourself about selecting a graduation course that will help you shape your career. And for some of you this must be a tormenting period as to what you'll be doing. Should you select the course that interests you or would you select the course that pays well (and your parents advise you to take this one up) or the one that your friend has selected? I don't have any advices as to which one should you select. But I have an experience of my own to share.


Four years back in 2007 when I cleared my 12th Standard from General Stream, I had a 'feeble' conviction that I wanted opt for BCA (Bachelor of Computer Application) completing which I'll go for the masters (MCA). However, since I had scored decently high percentages, it was my parents' wish that I opt for Chartered Accountancy as a course taken by the people who scored good. But I had aptitude for Computers and I knew I would do fairly well when it will come to programming. I was smart, I loved computer troubleshooting and could learn almost anything that interested me (everyone of us can).


But it was an important decision to be made, and since no one from my family were well informed as to which course I should pursue, outside help was taken. A well known professor of a college in my city (of whom I later learned was well known for his aggressive behaviour and his dork-iness.) was consulted. He, in his usual air of a genius, told my Dad that MCAs can be hired for Rs. 1,500.


This was it. The closing chapter. I was convinced by my parents to drop the M from MCA.


Today. My Dad met a guy who did MCA after completing his CA. His earning are over Rs. 1 lakh per year, employs 18 people to work and to top it all he says its no use doing CA. Yes, he earns income from developing software now and he is earning more that Rs. 1,500 every month.


Although now I am a CA Final student, I have reached here only marginally. I am certainly not satisfied with the course that I have taken, and I am frustrated. I feel like blaming everyone for setting me up here. But then I can't blame my parents for this, they only wanted me to earn good money and be happy. Neither can I blame the cracked professor. Well, God made him that way. I guess I should take up the blame for my own misery. I am to blame my self because:

1. It should have been Me who should have had the information of the courses and its scope in earning. I shouldn't have been ignorant about it. I can't expect my parents to inquire and survey this for me.
2. Stronger conviction, something that I lacked back then and I lack till date. I was unsure if really wanted to do this or that, either of them.
3. Courage: I didn't have enough to take up my choice and stand to whatever consequences. After all no degree holder of any sort dies of hunger.

I had made my choice and my time is now gone and I can't win it back whatsoever. But if you still have your options at hand... you now know what NOT to do.