Live Your Lives

Lately two Hindi movies have caught my attention; Rock On!! and 3Idiots(Inspired from five point someone).The reason behind is that both the movies had characters who wanted to do something in life and ended up doing something else which their family wanted them to do. But they finds out their actual goal of life and starts pursuing their goals. That was something new to me someone who grew up in an orthodox society at Kerala in the Southern tip of India. There society or family tells you what you should do. Options are limited. There is no go back. Doctor, Nurse, Engineer or Govt. Service. Exceptional case is jobs at “Gelf” ( what they call middle east countries) .These jobs have acceptance and respect. For others, society watches them either with sympathy or ridicule. So many times I had faced a question “O.K. Your brother in law is a cartoonist. What he does for a living?”. Means they don't consider cartoning as a serious profession. I myself had envied my cousin who does Salsa dancing and Theater along with her studies with full heart. In my academic days doing anything other than the studies of course material is a Taboo. You are allowed till high school to dance or paint or play cricket. After that it is strictly No No.
The immediate trigger for writing this article is the meeting with my close friend .We used to be best buddies during our college days. In our Engineering College he had lots of fans, especially the ones from other gender, because of his talent in dancing. Once he gets on the floor he would be like a wooden house on fire. Every moment he enjoyed. But as the time passed on he kept aside his passion and now leading life with a water treatment company. I doubt if he can dance for even five minutes now.In my immediate friends circle itself there is only a few people who actually chased their dreams; an MCA graduate who took career in singing, an Architect who started a new career as a film actor……

What happened to others including yours sincerely? We listened to our wicked mind rather than our innerself. The mind along with Intellect shooed us away from doing what we liked to do. Had we listened to our innerself and acted accordingly lots of souls would have been leading better lives. Very often I had heard the answer” am doing this job good and am happy with this” followed by a sad sigh.Meaning they are actually not happy with their career, life...

I had asked some of them “Well you are doing something that you doesn’t like from inside. Would you allow your sons , daughters follow their dreams?” They will think for a while and say

“No. We don’t want our sons or daughters go after their dreams”.

“Why?”

“Its risky. Even though we are not happy with our lives at least we are taking home fat salaries. Similarly if they take the PRACTICAL way and do some Professional course they can also lead richer lives, monetarily.”

So again am confused. What is the goal of our lives? Making money? doing what we feel good to do? or making money doing what we feel to do?

My Xanthippe has a dream, she wants to make lots of money first and dedicate live for doing charity. “Why you want to make money first?”

“It will ensure our future.”

“But by the time we make enough money if we two become old and is not able to actively do what we wanted to do?” I looked at her curiously posing this question. She had no answer.

Life is short and uncertain. Nobody knows what will happen the next moment. You might die, you might get imprisoned, you might get paralyzed also. What is point in thinking I should have lead my life meaningfully and to the fullest when you are about to die or you are lying in your bed paralysed. Do what ever you wants do NOW. Because there is no tomorrow. You dedicate every minute, every second to your passion. Let you be in any job draw a parallel line and give atleast half of your time for what you love to do. Life is not for one who regret and keeps sighing. If you regret or remorse for the days lost even a single time in your life, you are the biggest loser . Live happily, even if you have to die next moment die happy. Make everyone around you happy. That’s how you can make your life meaningful.

Guys

It was a long overnight journey from kollam to palakkad by train. I was traveling to Pondicherry. From Palakkad I boarded an early morning bus to Thiruppur. The conductor asked me to get down at middway at Coimbatore and board another bus to avoid time delay. They will be having a halt for 15 minutes there. I was confused; should I get down and get another bus or wait in the same bus. Anyway let the bus reach Coimbatore. Then I will decide.

The guy in the front seat turned back and asked help to open the bus window. I helped him and he thanked me.

He asked “where you are going?”

“Thirupur”. I answered casually. Was trying to study that guy. He’s a young chap with a baby’s innocent face. A chikna amul baby.He told that he completed Ayurveda medicine course and now doing internship at their med school at Thirupur. There was a feminine trace in his voice and body language which I was observing curiosly.

“Whats your name?” He asked

“Krishna.” I replied in a stren voice.

“Hmmm Krishna. Are you like Lord Krishna. Do you have so many girl friends?” He started giggling.

“What? No.I don't have anyone am married .” He again giggled at my answer.

“You look very smart”. He told. Yes defenitly this guy have got some problem.

“Where do you belongs to?” Just for conversation sake I asked him.

“Calicut”. Again a chuckle. I smiled and shook my head as I understood everything. Calicut has got a bad name that there are lot of gays overt here. Is he a…..? No it must be my bad judgment. We cannot generalize people. If there are some incidents like that happened to my friends in my college days doesn’t mean that this guy’s sexual orientation is wrong. e Those days even my close friend Tiger had a bad experience. He was the macho man in the college. He was coming back from Calicutby bus and one person approached him and tried to seduce him. The way Tiger handled him was famous story among our friends. The guy had got trashing in such a way that he was not able to walk properly for another week.

“So how many girl friends do you have?” I asked with a smile.

“I don’t have any girl friend. All my friends are boys only”. He giggled again. This was irritating me for a while. I tried to close my eyes and pretend sleeping. But suddenly the bus stopped with a big sound. OK the driver had put sudden break, nothing to fear.

“ Why can’t you come to my seat.? We can talk and enjoy the journey.” He’s not going to leave me. Man this guy is going to be a pain in my neck.”Or else I will come to your seat.”

“No.” My answer was a bit loud. Nearby by passengers just turned their heads towards me.” I mean I want to get some sleep. Couldn’t sleep properly at night.” . I said in a lower voice trying to be calm.

“OK. Are you going to stay at Thirupur tonight. If you want you can stay at my hostel. Guests are permitted there.”

What the hell? I just looked at him for a while.

“Look boss I don’t want to stay there. And further I always try to keep a distance with strangers.” My answer made him a little sad.

“I didn’t mean anything. I was just trying to help you. You told you are going there for official meeting. Thought I will help you in a new city. That’s it.”

“Ok thanks for being so kind . But I fear I must refuse your offer.”
By that time the bus reached Coimbatore bus stand. I got off the bus without him noticing me and took another bus. I just sat relaxed. What all kind of people we have to meet in daily life. Some time it is too difficult to avoid these people. However you try to avoid them that much they try to make a contact with you.

The bus started moving. A dark middle aged man came and sat next to me. He smiled at me and I smiled back.

“Whats your name?” He asked putting his land on my lap.” You look smart.”