Role Model - Lakshmi

Something that touched me!

Nurture yourself; you’re the master of your own self…

“Sacrifices are must and I don’t mind working hard to see my dream come true” says Lakshmi. She wears that ever green smile on her face despite all hardships. She was born and brought up in a family which could neither support her nor guide her. Lakshmi was wedded in her early teens and her lifestyle didn’t change for any good. It only brought additional unwanted responsibility and burden. Despite all odds, she stands all confident and believes that there is something great that’s waiting. She quotes that ‘when the going gets tough; the tough get going”.

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 Lakshmi had to make important decisions to sculpt her children’s future. Her decisions and strategic moves play a very important role in determining their future. She is very much aware of her limitations. Lakshmi being a road side vendor selling consumers non durable and perishables finds it very difficult to manage her expenses. “Chennai is a very expensive place, prices are sky rocketing. It’s sometimes very hard to meet our basic necessities. It’s the game of survival of the fittest.” she says. There is no immediate scope to either expand or diversify her business. She felt the only way to sustain is to save!

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 A strong believer and a patient achiever is what defines her. Being a school dropout she had experienced the pain of not being educated. Her strong desires to see her children educated propelled her and convince others in her neighborhood to join the ‘Post office saving scheme’ thereby save every penny they earn. When asked her “How difficult it was to save a portion of her income, when she was in dire need of finance?” She smiles and says “It has taught me how to manage my expenses, prioritize my needs and reduce my wants”. Laksnmi started her savings account with mere two hundred rupees and over the years it has multiplied and reaped her returns amounting to ten thousands rupees ‘ I value every rupee, I encourage and advice everyone to save” she says. Lakshmi has indeed seen her dreams come true. Don’t be reluctant to save; it is going to give unimaginable returns in the future. Believing in one’s own self and being self reliant is key to success.

“Sow the seeds now; reap the benefits soon”

I know you are CrAzYY’`!

    A thin line between friendship and love can drive you crazy at times!

 Yet the mixed feeling showers some sort of bliss in you. You stand gullible and vulnerable trying to understand your special friend, not realizing you have understood very little about your own self.

You have been at your best to impress and win over and been disappointed like a little kid expecting the same in return

I have seen you shamelessly lose the bet every time you decide ‘I shall be myself’ and you are totally clueless of what you’re made of.

 Every minute you sense an element of confusion, trying to figure out the actual relationship! Your tears, unnecessary laughter, secretive behavior probes me to investigative further; you deny with one single illusive word, “Ah its just friendship”.

Whenever there is a buzz you eagerly snatch your phone from my hand, and electric current jerks you up! God only would know how a single ‘hey’ could brighten up your mood…

You seemed so upset when preferences changed in life; you felt it’s probably the best time to leave. You are too tender and meek you easily fall prey to single phone call

I admired the way you ran up to me, seeking advice, looking fully motivated and enlightened by the words I tell you. For I know you have made up your mind already even before you approached me.

You are unclear- You love and hate at the same time. You feel guilty to let go and move on.

 I understand how you feel.   It is not infatuation, not a stupid crush, definitely not friendship and it is far from love.

I am there to give you a big hug, whenever you need. I am there to listen to the same stuff you’re going to repeat

Please don’t think you are insane! Everyone might have gone through some crazy phase like yours! You’re perfectly normal, at least to my eyes you are.

P.S: I don’t have an option- For am your crazy best friend.

Discovery!

Ready …set …go... And I was there all geared to take up any or all of the competitions ranging from sports to singing. I had` that irresistible urge to win always. I stretched myself far  too beyond – learning, unlearning and relearning lessons about which I had no clue all just to be part of that crew!  Destination to me mattered more than the journey. I strongly relied on jargons like “Never say die”, “Be better than the best” and so on. To me winning was “The Ultimate”. I was straining every nerve and cell just to be on that winner’s pedestal. Oh what a pain!

                                                            

The strains showed on me and I could not retain the victory cup always. I was left behind and I watched others surging ahead with that winning spree. Distressed and dejected I was, unable to cope with the fact that I wasn’t always the best in life.  The painful realization taught me valuable lessons.  I gradually changed my mindset and believed that just participation will do and it is “After All Everything”. But again the deep desire to be a part of everything had not died.  It was in fact furiously racing within. No wonder, I madly participated in almost all competitions, now that the journey mattered more than the destination!! But participating wasn’t so easy either. It made me

apprehensive and anxious stressing me out.

“Are you a coward?” a voice echoed within. I felt as if darkness was laughing at me in exceeding joy. Was I surrendering to the dark evil?! Something dawned on me all of a sudden. And I watched the transition within me. After all being just “ordinary” wasn’t a crime! I longed to be a passive spectator watching the drama of life. I had graduated sensibly into a plane where I could rely on my inner signals and sense the nascent aroma of freedom. The need “to become” dropped, and I wanted to” just be”.  It gave me heavenly joy and happiness... The freedom of being an unknown, unrecognized an invisible nobody brought me unimaginable peace. To me “anonymity” seemed as the most invaluable gift one could possess.

Wake Up India...

Malice and greed has overpowered humanity. With the recent outrageous brutal actions in its lead such as molest, rape, violence and the like, the future of our country remains at stake.
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I am amazed to see youth responding to social issues, voicing out their opinion on a public forum. Certain issue catches the media’s attention and it is talked about world over. Why not wake up for other issues concerning civic sense, corruption, traffic rules, environmental issues health and other social evils all of which need large media coverage and immediate attention. Why can’t we awaken our conscience from the deep slumber of apathy and indifference? Why is that we are insensitive to few issues and over emphasize others. Why this` disparity? What about the hundreds of incidents that happen in front of our eyes but we have never bothered to voice out?  Why blame the system and its mechanism? What have we done to better the system?  Being citizens of a democratic country we all owe responsibility in building and safe guarding the values and integrity of our country. I personally think we need to act not react. Let’s be the change we want to see. After all if we don’t care for each other who will?
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Rationing SMS!

Gone are those days, when the shriek of the old rusted  metallic alarm wakes you up, the magical golden sun rays greets  you in the morning or  the chirpings of the birds tell you what time it is. Well, we are the youth of today, setting in new trends and lifestyles.  The very first thing we do even before we are out of bed is to take out our mobiles, read  new messages, recall yesterday’s conversations, update the face book status and then decide the schedule for the day.

Strangely for the empowered youth of today, mobile phone has become an indispensible tool to the extent, life without it, seems next to impossible.
 The latest issue on the ban on SMS &MMS more than ‘5 Nos’ per day has raised eyebrows, leaving the ‘exasperated youth’ with confusions and anxiety. The million dollar question is how long is it going to continue?  With the new ban starring at us, we the youth feel totally immobilized, just not knowing what to do. Sadly the active phone stays idle without any buzz, driving us crazy. The day seems incomplete without texts, chats, conversations and the like. Looks like the very life force has been sapped out leaving us gasping. On the flip side the parent’s communities go about their routine unaffected. The same ‘SMS’ issue has different effect on different people. While it serves just as a basic utility phone for some, it acts as a life sustaining instrument for others. Oh my god! I just realized I have got only two messages left! Who should I text? Will be back soon:p

Crossword...

Every time I conversed,
I had to adapt.
Running through;
A mix of emotions.
        .
 ‘Jus to seek approval’
         
         .
I have to sugar coat;
Statements & apple polish people.
Approve immature statements,
To avoid unpleasant situations


            .
Just to be a part of d jocund crowd,
To stay and be liked.
It’s a hard job,
Being a puppet all d while.


          .
I just realized,
They valued my speech.
To disagree& breech


            .
Now, I agree to disagree.
N jus move on.
For there is no one ryt answer,
In the journey of life.

Revelation...

Reminded of past memories;
Arrested by past happenings,
Immobilized by future thoughts,
There I stand all locked up.


              .
Mind seems frozen,
Thinking space almost lost.
My senses gone on a holiday,
Away, simply out of sight.


                  .
Now I wish to dust myself,
I know it’s a hard job!
To trace out the lost key,
To open up the locked space.
        
                 .
And then when I opened,
Could find the boundaries melting,
The past & future fuming,
The present greeting with,
All earnest warmth & love.


                    .
How did I miss you out?
I was under a malediction?
Oh! You a maverick soul,
How will I repay you?
For presenting me the presen