IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME…..

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only beloved son, that whosoever believe in him wouldn’t perish, but would have eternal life. ”  ----John 3:16

You take winter season, which is one of the most romantic seasons. One of the most waited season in Nagpur. A season to curdle-up in your bed with blankets, wear your favorite pull-over jackets and scarf’s, lazy mornings and feel that sweet chilled wind brushing past your hair.

Now just add a chunk of holidays into it. Do I see a hint of smile on your face? Yes I do. You don’t have to study, no work, no college, no waking up early and hot coffee in evening with friends. 

No how about we garnish it with some gifts. We add celebration, cake, chocolate and pastry to it. Now add the birth of Jesus Christ to decorate it.  The bliss that you feel around you, this magical shinning happiness that you see around, the inner happiness that radiates out of you is known as Christmas. Christmas is not just a festival it’s a celebration. It’s one of the best ways to end a year that has been full of ups and down. A way to thank the almighty for all that you have achieved throughout the year, but more than that it’s about asking forgiveness for your mistakes. It’s the time to pray with family and disturbing your catholic friends throughout the day for plum cakes.

 It’s one of the reason why this is my favorite season not only because it the birthday of our savior Jesus Christ but more so because it is the favorite festival of all my friends. Many of my friends have showed interest in coming to church on Christmas and I take them happily. And the one thing that I have learned from it is that everyone is curious and animated about Christmas. The enthusiasm that I see in them just makes this festival even more special for me. I feel so proud when they try to understand the meaning of Christmas as I explain it to them. 

 There are so many beautiful aspects of Christmas that makes it one of the most loved festivals all over the world. But as long as I remember Christmas for me is going to the Midnight mass prayers with my family to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and welcoming him into this world and more than that into our hearts. This is a visible message of Christmas, something that a person on the outside or an individual of different religious faith can see, feel and experience. But there is much deeper meaning of Christmas that lies under its glitz and shinning celebration.  You can see it only if you walk a bit slow in life. If we care to see around ourselves rather than just focusing on our goals and running after them then only it’s visible.

The real message of Christmas is about giving and it can also be very clearly understood from the above bible verses from the Gospel of Apostle John. The Almighty gave the world his own beloved son.  And the whole idea of Santa Claus is based on the idea of giving.  

Some might say that there is no such thing as Santa Claus but if you go back in history the story of Santa Claus is as true as the history itself. The legend of Santa Claus was born in 4^th century. There was a Saint known as Saint Nicholas of Myra. He was born in Patara, turkey in 280 AD. It was believed that he lost both is parents at very young age and used the inherited wealth from them in helping the poor and orphan children in Myra.  A very famous story of St. Nicholas says that there was a poor man who had 3 daughters. He could not afford to marry off them as he didn’t have enough money. One day as St. Nicholas was walking past the poor man’s house he heard the family praying to God. So the next day St. Nicholas dropped a sack of gold down his chimney. More over the legend goes that he did the same for the following two years as well and the man eventually could marry off all 3 of his daughters. 

Another story that is famous about St. Nicholas is about how he would go around the city of Myra and distribute gifts to poor homeless and orphan children in the dark night. 

This is how the legend of gift giving was born with Christmas and this is exactly what Christmas means. I remember last year I happen to meet a very old friend of mine. She brought a group of kids to Seminary hills grotto. They were there to give warm clothes and blankets to the priest so that it could be distributed to the needful. And the kids were more excited than her, carrying the blankets in their own hands.

The message here is not that you give away your old and useless stuff but give needy the needful and there is a big difference in both. The real joy of giving comes from the realization that what you have given is what actually the other person needed. 

An old man in old age home doesn’t require a hearty meal or an expensive gift, all they need is your time. They might not feel like talking to you or ask for your help while they try to stitch their clothes on their own, but for you to just sit there with them for few hours. They might not want to talk on complex political and social issue but on how their day was, how they use to live in there adulthood and for you to listen their childhood stories. On the contrary a 3 year old kid in an orphanage would go bouncing and jumping with joy the entire day if you just give him his favorite chocolate or give a girl hair clips of her favorite color. Similarly a poor man would be just happy to get a hearty meal for that day. Going to them is much easier than asking them to come to you.

No wonder it is called a present. Present means now, at this very moment, this time that is in there and our hand. 

As far is family and friends is concerned they don’t expect anything from you. They just want you to be there for them. If not physically then just a call or message would be more than enough to bring a smile on their face. 

When I was in college many of my friends would ask me about Santa Claus and how could he manage to give gifts to so many people.

Well here is your chance to be a Santa Claus and the best part about this Santa Claus is that you don’t need a fancy red colored outfit, a long white beard and you don’t require carrying a heavy sack on your back. It very simple, you now know what people require and Santa gives what you ask from him. The most valuable gift that you can give anyone this Christmas is your time because it is yours and you are sharing it with someone who needs it so this makes it even more precious.  

And if you need to know more about Christmas feel free to walk into any church, sit on the bench and ask your question to the person next to you. I am sure there would be something new that both of you will learn. Never hesitate to ask questions.

Christmas is not only about asking for blessings and happiness for you only but taking the responsibility of gifting that blessing and happiness others as well.

Christmas is not just about prayers, it about being an answer to someone’s prayer.

...then she cried all night.

 Isse ishq-eh-junoon kahe ya yaaro ki dua.

Ki char glass sharab pi gaye…tab kahi

teri yaadon ka fir nazar-eh-nazarana hua...

An AC that’s working at 16 deg, a soft and comfortable sofa and an surprised leave from work is all it takes to build up romantic ambiance. And then in one such leave you give a surprise visit to your loved realizing that its one of the best way to spend it. Especially for me as my work domain doesn’t permit me to have weekends off or get leave more frequently. One can’t even fight for it if you are a new joinee as I was.  That why I mentioned ‘surprise leave from work’.

 And here I was sitting on this lavish mid size sofa with the AC pondering me with cold air through its blowers behind by back. It was a bit brighter than it suppose to be for a 7 pm evening in Mumbai.

 I suppose it was due to the advent of summer at her 24^th floor flat in Andheri.  But you could still see the blinking lights of cars on the Western express highway. I sat in a very confined position on the window to have a clear look out. It looked like the lights were getting dissolved in the hot air and dancing air that we usually see over the horizon in summers.

“Since when did you start sitting on windows?” she asked as she stepped out of the shower. Her curly black hairs were all gone.  Now they looked much straighter. Her hair were all over the place as she tried to wipe them off but soon she got it all sorted out giving her hair a left banking.

“It’s my favorite place to sit… even in my flat.” I answered.

“I never knew that… but yes even I find it very peaceful.. Especially in rainy season, you should see the view from here.” She added.

She was smiling as she replied but there was a hue of tiredness in her eyes.  It ddidn'ttook me long to see it. Whenever she uses to get tired her eyes-lashes would get a bit swollen and turn pink. That’s what she uses to complain me many times on the phone. But I never knew that they looked so beautiful in reality. Her brownish eyes within those fluffy pink eyelash looked like yogurt ice-cream with strawberry sauce and a small butterscotch candy on top.

“You seemed tired?” I asked her. It was a stupid question but travelling in Mumbai even in metro is tiring.

“No .. not at all… instead I am happy that you are finally here with me after such a long time” she said pulling me down from the window and making us sit on the sofa. She grabbed my left arm with both hands and pulled herself close to me.  So close that I could feel the freshness of her shampooed hair.

“Either get a blanket or reduce the AC madam you we are shivering” I whispered in her ears as we were scanning through the music channels on TV.

“Its fine.. I am okay ” she replied in a shivering voice.

“yes that sounds really convincing to me… do it” I shouted.

“Ok don’t turn off the AC I will get my blanket” and she jumped off the sofa into her bedroom and was out in not time with her blanket.

We quickly covered ourselves with it and we snug up a little more. So much that I could feel her heartbeats in my arms.

“Why did you wanted me to straighten my hair” she asked

“I didn’t want them to ruin such a moment if at all such a moment happened” I answered with a little laugh.

But she didn’t respond, instead she just grabbed my hand even harder and I could feel the sweetness of her palm. We sat quietly for sometimes and I could feel her breath getting heavier and resonating.

“I am feeling a bit tired, I want to lie in your lap” she murmured

“maybe you should take a nap instead you seemed very tired.”I replied and we quickly rearranged ourselves over the sofa. I sat with my legs crossed and she slept over them. She squeezed her legs to fit inside the blanket and making sure that I get enough blanket as well. I tried to watch Man Vs Wild with a mute volume and suddenly I felt a faint swing on my lap followed by soft sobbing noise. As I looked down on my lap she was all drenched in tears and sobbing harder.

“are ro kyu rahe ho mam?” I asked her in a totally panicked state.

 I could feel the coolness in my thighs caused by her tears. I did not tried to stop her after that I just let her cry.

I just kept on moving strands of hair away from her eyes time and again as she wept. Wiping her nose off my t-shirt and putting her arms around my back. I just kept patting her back and waited…. And waited….. for her to speak.

“I am sorry, I am really sorry for looking so tired this evening. I think you expected me to look fresh but this Mumbai weather and work has drained me out so much. Its very hectic I am not sure if I could do it any longer, not alone…not by myself”

“I know how it feels…don’t worry you looking even more beautiful when you are tired.” I gently replied.

“Please do something, kuch toh karo….Please take me somewhere far… Mujhse nahi hoga. I cannot imagine myself without you.” And then she busted into loud cries as she grabbed me even harder almost pinching me with his long nails.

“don’t worry… relax we will do something…you trust me na?” I asked her

“hmm” she replied in the most sweetest voice ever.

“maam aap tension maat lo.. I have faith in motivation and you are my motivation.  I know kuch acha he hoga aapne sath.” I sound very confident but my reply wasn’t that gripping.

“I always wanted to sleep on your lap… kya mai thodi der so jayu” she asked me after crying for 15 more minutes.

“you better do…. And by the way sleeping and crying on my lap is not free, fees deni padegi.” I tried to crack a joke and she acknowledge with her 5 km long smile.

“mujhse bhi loge fees?”She asked me half asleep in a very babyish voice.

“Damn right miss rodlu…1 pappi per 15 mins crying” I said in a naughty voice.

“Okay….lena hoga toh lelena nind me….warna mai uthke khud he dedungi fees kudse… rone ki bhi aur sone ki bhi.”

Soon she felt asleep and I could feel her breathing getting longer and feathery and her body becoming still and relaxed. As I gently stroke her hair, somebody or something within myself made me say

“please GOD… please..give me strength to be the one with whom she could feel proud to stand with. I don’t ask for miracles but courage to achieve what is miraculous. Dear god I don’t ask for lighter burden but for broader shoulders. Please god ….please ….please….” it started off like a prayer but then firstly it got converted into tears and finally I was sobbing and it sounded like I was begging to god by the end.

Suddenly she woke up to kissed me … then she cried all night.

But there was this one thing I learned that day.

 LOVE IS ABOUT GIVING……AND NOT WANTING.

feedbacks are welcome....

From Heart to Pen......

Safar aur manzil me itna he farak hai kafir….

Safar se fasla mitata hai…. Aur manzil se musafir….           - 17th october 2014

This is about yesterday, I was just returning from my night shift at around 7:30 am in the morning. My flat and office are walking distance way and I mostly prefer walking to and from office Ericsson Dakc. Usually I find it hard to keep track of the day... my life works on shifts....as suppose every individual working in operations knows. As expected I had forgotten what day it was until I came the square near my flat.

 i saw a slim girl in yellow top  and white jeans standing there, she was looking very fresh and ready for a hectic day. Later I realize that she was carrying a very big Back-pack and dragging a small trolley too. only then I realize that its Friday morning and unlike me its there last working day....even further disappointment set in when you realize that it the start of a very very long diwali week... again as i walked past the square  saw few more such individuals pulling their trolley bags.. Mostly were from Larsen & Toubro Infotech Identified by their yellow ids.

it feels even sadder to know ki not only you but most of your friends too wont be coming as well. for me the reason to go home in diwali is to meet them.. Coz it the only time in the entire when they all are home and we can meet together... it has been a very hectic year and a very dynamic as well.. many things and individuals have change.... I have learnt a lot during the build-up for this diwali. I have learned that ... friendship breaths with time.. It just requires time... and In fact even love requires time... love flourishes and blossoms with time. I know this by what have experienced... when there is absolute faith in mind things are achievable... having faith in dreams is important. Dreams fuel our drive and efforts towards its achievement....the moment you realize that someone has fallen in love with you is very exciting but once you realize that you have risen in someone’s love is even more satisfying and compelling. Its not necessary that your love for everyone should reach its ultimate goal.

But being there when the life is at its low is important. This too is something that I have learned that once the tough times are over and you move back on to a uphill trajectory of life people just let go of you… forgets you. I feel like a bloody bus…. One uses it only when his personal vehicle is not working. But the fact is people have to eventually move to better things in life. I find it hard to believe ki how people forget so easily. Except for a few case, and these few cases are friends.

One more point that I would like to comment on is about marriage. I do have faith in this institution but still I find how hypocoristic it has become. Not for everyone but for many. I firmly believe that marriage isn't the ultimate goal of someones life. I know many of my friends who are not married and are supremely happy and proud about it as well. Specially girls.  In the past 3 months I have seen countless girls posting their engagement photos on facebook. But I find it hilarious more than anything. As a matter of fact I find the once not engaged or married even more happy.

There are two types of girls in india… there are those who pursue their dreams and ambitions…. And then there are the remaining once who get married….hahaha.

Girls are not a commodity. Neither they should be treated like one nor they should use it as an excuse to chicken out of life.

Life is shit no doubt….but it is still the best thing that has happen to us. Life runs on commitment and motivation. It shouldn’t be dragging or just stall. Even a simple thing like clapping and cheering can make wonders in life. similarly an I love you too could make you walk bit more confidently. It dosnt matter if you say it to a known person or a random person. I remember on such incident few years back when I was in church with my family after Easter Sunday mass. A very small girl walked up to me and said “hello bhaiya… happy easter (and shook my hands), mujhe na meri didi ne bheja hai, unko kehna hai ki ap bahot ache lage unhe…aur who apko pasand karti hai.. unke tarf se I love you and happy easter”.

And she just left, vanished. i didn’t even knew her neither I knew her sister…. But it did filled me with a sense of belief. That what motivation does. Same goes with my holidays as well…. Ab kaun sa hafta bhar ki chutti mang raha tha.. 20^th se 23^rd tak ki… That’s it!!! now will have to sit alone in my flat on diwali. Even kaku our cook is on the leave… just Imagine. So I am gonna have to bake my bread and eat it too….

i find it hard to think what the hell m I going to do this diwali all alone? aisa nahi hai ki i am vella..... i have to study and write for Backbencher November edition as well..... but it is really hard for me to accept ki I won’t be going to Nikhil Kale home with pinky tai and aaji for pooja this year as always... i wish thoda break milta to acha hota...... so all those going home.... i envy you as much as i am happy for all you guys...and for all those who couldn't like me... i totally understand your pain... those in Mumbai... i would be cooking some really lavishing stuff for myself please feel free to jump in...

and all those going home... I won’t mind if you send me some santra barfi and ferrero rocher or Cadbury tempetation or celebration... and all the mumbaiwala reading this I need chivda and chakhli with laddu…  or maybe just a phone call....

and if you get a chance to visit my home... tell my mother that....

I AM ON DUTY...

Aaj jaane ki Zidd na karo.

An inspired Fiction……celebrating 50th article on my blog...

Friends and Mumbai is a very rare combination, but friends in Mumbai are party combination. I really felt that it was the last time we were together. And adding friend’s girlfriends in this group is….. Speechless. Coz travelling in harbour line with girls isn’t a tough task and this is the best part that I like about it. There is no issue if ladies travel with gents in second class gent’s compartment. An idea that would sound very close to suicidal if you consider central line and specially western line even in the non-peak hours. 3 of my diploma friends decided to come to Mumbai with their girlfriends & fiancés(unlucky man) to witness Ganesh Visarjan an event that pump adrenaline and faith into even the smallest of the streets.

But she arrived a Day late……

Technically speaking she was roommate of my friends Fiancé during the entire engineering years until after final year when she moved to Hyderabad for better career options. Thanks to whatsapp even this distance didn’t mattered much, In fact to all of us. Still seeing her after so many year was refreshing. Didn’t knew how. 

3 days zoomed by my side. And it was 9^th September evening….

 The rest had left earlier in the afternoon to their respective destinations following the Ganesh visarjan. But she had to stay back. Her train was LTT-Secendrabad Duranto express scheduled at 22.50 pm in the night from kurla terminus.

We boarded the 9:50 pm CST local from Nerul heading towards kurla in a local which was relatively empty. We sat on the ends side of the 2^nd class boogie because she wanted to see the view. But even though it was late we didn’t feel uncomfortable or scared. In other words we were more comfortable around each other as we sat next to each other closely.

This was what I felt since last evening. We decided to go South Mumbai on bikes to various places like girgaon Chaupati to see ganesh Visarjan. Since all my friends had already brought their baggage or pillion with them I was left to give her company. And trust me it was like an answer to my prayers. I was totally over the moon and even she was happy to sit on my super cool hero Honda hunk.

 It almost felt perfect to be in the city you love on your super amazing bike and with one of the most beautiful and chilled out friend like her. And this unpredictable monsoon just hypnotises you. Like I had said earlier monsoon doesn’t let you to stay alone. The light drizzle on an endless Eastern Express Highway is almost the last thing one can ask for. She was wearing black salwar and everything matching to it.

“You used to look shorter na? How come you grew up so tall?” I said.

“kuch bhi.. I am too screwed up to get any better” she replied.

“I am finding it hard to drive with you sitting back” I said.

“Why so? Don’t you dare tell me ki mai moti ho gayi hu” she said while checking herself.

“no no it not you… it basically your flying black dupatta, your thick dark mascara your black eyes, black bangles and along with it everything in black in my rear mirror is distracting me” I replied with my fingers crossed.

“Hmm” she replied casually.

“Anyways I am glad to see all of you here.” I said.

“So am I…. and how am I suppose to answer it….but actually I am more happy to see you with me” she added.

“Oh ho madam is trying to over smart me???? shyanpatti k mamle me mai pura mumbaikar hu… you know…BAAP hu mai….BAAP…BAAPPP !!!!!” I shouted as she busted into loud laughter. It took just 45 minutes to get rid of all the rust and hesitation. By the time we reached girgam 5 years just seemed to have vanished.

As we sat on chaupati watching waves after waves of devotes bringing idols and submerging them I remembered she used to be very tomboy and chilled out girl. When did she turn into such a beautiful lady?

“How come this happened to you?” I asked her.

“Excuse me?” She asked.

“This… this entire new you” I asked her gesturing my hand from her head to toe.

“You used to be very casual and roadside kind of rebellious girl, suddenly I find you more sophisticated, kisi ke Ishq me padh gayi kya?” I enquired.

“It seems you know very well about it, as if you did love someone too....” and then she stopped after all my friends were laughing over this stupid argument.

“maff kar maa” I smiled and replied.

But in this stupid argument something broke in us. A lock to a deep deep secret locker within our hearts was picked. Although she didn’t tell but her eyes were truly hiding something. I knew that I have cracked that code. And even she felt the same as if I was watching my own eyes in mirror. Our secret was no longer a secret.

And now she is leaving….. again. As we sat next to each other on the wooden seat starring at each other.

“Stop starring at me.. I feel like a weird witch” she shouted.

“Are you stop starring at me” I shouted in return.

“No you stop and by the way I wasnt starring at you I was checking your hair” she replied.

And then somehow something inside me propelled me and moved me towards her. So I just went with my heart, leaned over and kissed her on lips. It just simultaneously happened.

“Why? What wrong with my hair?”  I asked her as I leaned back on my seat as if nothing happened.

“No…..nothing… its ok…no problem” she said without any dramatic reaction.

“Short hair looks good on you” she said as we walked to kurla terminus from Tilak Nagar station 11.00 in night.

“tu zada tension mat le… seriously it’s ok… no problem” she reiterated.

“Are you sure ?” I asked her and she nodded yes.

“I am sorry for last night”.

“So am I for tonight” I added.

“Then we are even”.

Her train was already standing on the platform. As we neared her 3 AC boggie I wanted to hold her back. But it was almost time for departure….

We stood facing each other on the platform as she tried to grab my shirt and even pinched me on my stomach as if trying to say something.

“kisi samajhdar insane ne mujhse kaha tha…. NEVER LET A GOOD THING PASS” I said.

“chal tu abhi ghar nikal.. It’s getting very late” she said as if what I said didn’t matter to her at all.

“Why? Abhi time baki hai na??”

But I didn’t realise that her eye were already moist before I finished my sentence.

And she replied “kyuki Agar tu nahi gaya….. toh mai nahi ja paungi.”

Inspired by ‘Aaj jaane ki Zidd na karo’  a song by Fayyaz Hashmi. 

The Delhi Trip Diary_day2

Day 2:  Zeyarat-eh-mukhlis…..

Its not easy to sleep in a Air conditioned room specially when you are not habitual.  But in delhi you can’t sleep in night without AC. It too damn hot and when there is very little rain you don’t have any other option. And when 3 good friends meet after 3 years you can be rest assure no one can sleep. Somehow all the possible bullshit talks happen in night. I am sure everyone who meet there friend after a long time will clearly understand what I am trying to say. we had lights out at 11:00 pm but we just couldn’t sleep till 3 am.

“tum saale mujhe sone nahi doge,mera office hai kal” sardarji said while trying to sleep.

“koi nahi sardarji kal office mat jao” chintu said laughing.

“saale naya manager aya hai sab log work from home karenge toh who baal nochte baithega” he replied.

And we all busted in loud laugh at 2 am in the morning.

The next morning initially we had just planned for Akshardham temple. For that we had to hopped from red line to yellow line and then into blue line towards Noida city center. The demography of delhi just remains the same. Everywhere its just the same endless structures, no scenery and very little to look outside the metro.

Until you reach the Akshardham temple which can be seen clearly from atleast 2 km away from the station itself. And it is huge and even huge is not the correct word to describe it. The security check is un-parallel there. It wasn’t the first time I was visiting this place but chintu was awestruck by its magnificence, planning and carving.

We took advantage of this opportunity and pray to all the gods and it was really an inspiring experience. The last time when we came I didn’t pay attention to small details like the minute carvings depicting early life of lord swamynarayan.  my attention was towards someone else the last time I visited this place.

Thinking of her just brings a stupid smile on my face like I have one right now. But it was different this time. 

She wasn’t but I am…..we meditated 20 mins and promptly moved out. 

Without wasting any more time we decided to move on from the place. And just then it struck me that I haven’t been to hazrat Nizzamuddins Dargah.

“hazarat nizzamuddin  ki dargah challe?” I asked chintu.

“chalo bhai… muhje bus apna time waste nahi karne hai… I mean I want to fully utilize my time here” he added.

As we walked out of the temple we called sunny to ask him the directions for dargah. He said “noida link road se direct auot milega”

Thanks to my screwed up GPS mind it took us around 45 mins to reach hazrat nizamudin.

 The Dargah is located a km or so inside from the main road we had to walk our way into it. The narrow lane was filled to the neck with people but still we didn’t mind. We just kept on… neither of us had been to this place before so we just followed the crowd. Honestly it was the crowd that was taking us towards the dargah. In some time we found ourselves in a sea of ziaraatin in lane which just kept getting narrow and narrow. Where flower shops thong on both sides of the lane the shop owner were shouting and literally pulling people in their shops requesting them to remove there footwear and buy chadder and flowers from them.

Even though it was hot and humid the entire lane was filled with various scents and fragrance of iter and rose flowers. We found an empty shop just randomly and removed our shoes infront of it.

“As-salam-waleh-kum” the shop owner greeted us. He was in complete white outfit and sat in the midst of rose petels.

“wahelh-kum-asalam” I greeted him back.

We washed our hands and asked him “miya do zeyarat dijiye”

“sirf phool ya chadar bhi” he asked

“nahi chacha aaj sirf phool” I said

“miya 4 lagege… andar do dargah hai… ek amir khusro ki dusri hazrat baba ki… toh 4 zeyarat lagenege” owner said.

Chintu and me looked at each other and then he noded.

“thik hai chacha 4 dedijiye” chintu said.

And we continued our journey towards the dargah in a lane which kept getting narrower and narrower.

But once you enter the dargah compound it’s a totally different place. You find people standing in queue to enter the shrine and volunteers rigorously shaking big fans to provide coolness to the visitors. One can literally feel the heaviness of prayers in the atmosphere. First we visited Amir khusro shrine and what you feel inside there is unexplainable. It is filled with prayers, wishes and thanks. But it wasn’t the main shrine.

Then we headed towards the main shrine of hazrat nizamudin. The place has a magical effect. It totally elevates you to a new place. You know you don’t feel anything apart from the divine and yourself. As we entered the shrine a lady gave his zeyarat to chintu and said “andar chadha dena”.

Chintu was shocked and didn’t knew what to say and so we just kept moving with the crowd. But once you enter the shrine it you and the divine only.

That day I realise that there is no harm in joining hands and bowing head in front of the divine. Once you enter the dargah with your handkerchief tied around your forehead, no one is rich no one is poor. Neither you are old nor you are young. All are one it dosnt matter if you are a Christian, hindu or muslim. Once you seek help of the divine he never differentiates. All he expects out of you is faith not necessarly in a particular avatar of him, but in him generally.

We kissed the chadar lying over the shrine and prayed and thanked the almighty.  Faith and belief can neither be created nor destroyed in one day. It an intangible part of our personality.

Before leaving the place we sat for a while listening the qawali.

I didn’t feel like leaving the place but we have to. Sardarji had left his office and we were due to meet Adi as well.

“acha chacha baba ki meer rahi toh dubara zarur ayenge” I said saying goodbye to the shop owner

Instead in return he replied “In-shah-allah”.

 Trust me I was totally filled with satisfaction and relief after visiting the place but the day wasn’t over yet….