To live or not to

Yay, I love sneaking breaks at work when possible.. and this one is just before a team meet :o) !

Yesterday I passed this office on the way home, after a park walk - Co-operative Funeral Service. My first thought was, "people here even need to plan their funeral ?!?! Do we not leave it to our children by default and trust they would take care ?? Is it not a given we do our parents last rites ??" Yeah, that's the desi in me popping out and playing it's part.. but three and half years is a long time to be spent abroad especially if you have made only one trip back home in all the years.. the pardesi in me pops out next as expected, "What's wrong, why not do it ?? You can't seem to plan your birth but why not at least choose to be sent off in (your)style ??"

I continue thinking as I walk towards the lights. I conjure up this picture of me-no-more and suddenly wished to be burnt on sandalwood logs; could imagine people around the neighbourhood(of the crematorium of course !) sniff the air and comment, 'must have been such a sweet (smelling) person' !
As a rude reality check, I could also imagine suddenly the fodder it is likely to provide political & various other religious parties back home -
National Party One - "We need a reservation to help minorities access sandalwood more when they are gone.."
National Party Two - "We will ensure a sandalwood forest is created for the majorities, it's their land and deserve more even if no more !"
State Party One - "Sandalwood here belongs only to state-born, lets drive out everyone else after ensuring they contribute some more to help ease our sandalwood stocking budget.."
State Party Two - "We all would fast until death if no sandalwood after death assistance is provided to our neighbouring country which is another motherland to these state dwellers.."

Now shifts the scene in my mind to our media, we can never do without them, can we ! I began to sweat in spite of the chilly evening as I imagined every channel hosting chat shows about me-no-more(a person who loves to be alone in a crowd !)
"Enough is NEVER enough - a NRI's dream"
"Sandalwood Scandal vs Watergate Scandal"
Every paper in the country, digs into nooks & corners of my life to bring out some smashing headlines of my closet skeletons -
"She bought an ice-cream from Rs.5 found on the road, how immoral and unethical even when only seven !"
"She flunked her Maths(lets forget she was off ill and turned up to school to find it was an exam day), must have got through college by corruption. Please sign online petition for an enquiry into her examination results"
"CBI probing possible nexus between her and Veerappan, they were both Madrasi. (Aren't South Indians are ALL Madrasi ??)"

I reach my apartment and take the lift to friend-cum-neighbour's home, but my mind is still working out if-am-no-more facts...
The news obviously catches International attentions and I could envision the debate it was going to set off abroad too
"Migrants loot locals to die in style"
"Migrants to be made to pay for their death". Well, that's just what I thought I did !
"Let's call for a quota system on the number of migrants to be allowed to die"
"Let's tax all migrants who die in our country"

I knock on the door and my friend opens, smiles warmly and wishes "Happy B'day dear, come on in.."
Suddenly, it struck me life is more fun when you are living it than not ! I smiled :)

Meet the Parents !

When a good friend plans a vacation home it's time for a happy smile. If the good friend taking a break hails from the same city it's time to rejoice - after all, you can send stuff home and receive for free :D !

So while helping my friend with her shopping last week, we landed here looking for an iPod. Standing next to the catalogue rack and browsing while she goes off to pay and collect, I noticed a little boy arguing with his mum. He seemed absolutely upset at his wishes not being granted and scowled every time his mum said NO, a little louder. Running a house is no simple task, so she leaves him alone to attend to more pressing issues while the child unhappily watches few customers collecting their PSPs and walking out in excitement. Overcome by sudden grief which lugged and tugged at his little heart, he reacted by succumbing involuntarily(???) to a berserk moment by lifting his tiny leg and KICKING ME !!!!!!!!!!! Dropping the Mothers Day catalogue which no more attracted any interest, I turn to face this child. I looked at him sternly as he continued to scowl warning him of consequences. He seemed least interested in my sermon, so decided it's time the mum was brought into picture. I walked over to her and explained her sons' action as well my reaction. She was quick to apologise which kind of eased the situation but then let her son go without reprimand.

What is it that stops us from pointing the right from wrong to our children ?? Agreed, we are all under pressure from external factors, more than our folks did but does it justify in anyway when we fail parenting ?? No wonder we see children all around us with access to state of the art luxuries but lack even a decent amount of courtesy and respect ! So, who is failing whom ??!!

Tempt Me ;) !

Fridays are tricky if you have pending work to attend to ! As the clock moves past 3.00 in the noon, it gets increasingly difficult to do what you are paid for - work ! I tried consoling myself - login from home clear the long To-Do's tomorrow..as if that would ever happen :o), tsk !

Further more, it has been interestingly noted, hunger always strikes when less work is done..though logically it does sound contradicting. Perhaps it's the nothing-else-better-to-do syndrome striking again ! As I contemplated if a trip to the vending machine was really required or it was possible I attend to some work instead, the unopened box of shortbread from my trip a week ago flashes upon the inward eye.. Oh no, not so soon ! One does feel guilty to such a treat, especially with the To-Do list growing from a just then arriving Customer request and the 'healthy diet only' resolution adopted but the previous day popping into mind.

A plan now formed causing a quick ping to be sent to a friendly colleague on the intranet communicator(ah, the luxury brought by technology !), 'Hey.. how about some shortbread ?? Just remembered having left a box on my desk.. fancy some ??' I now tell myself, 'if she says no it's NO to you as well ! Leave the box alone.' but my inner voice feebly protested..'..you have invited a person who skipped her b'fast and made a face about lunch served, she is but a victim !..' I straightened thinking more practice should be attempted to keep one's mind from faltering.

'These are hand baked..so have some more' - conscience prick was making one turn extra nice now. As, I turned back to my desktop with a big chunk in hand to chew, I realized having understood my own question in a better light !

Well, like a friend of mine used to quote Oscar Wilde - I can resist anything but temptation ! :o)

Quo Vadis ??

Spotted on the company in-house communication channel, whilst enjoying a cold sip from the water fountain -

Save the Orangutan BOS Project sponsored by XX(censored duly)

The above project has been termed 'social responsibility' and 'donation of a defender' ! For all those first timers of Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation(BOS), a lil general knowledge gift awaits here !

One couldn't help but wonder about a possible ripple effect in this case as is but only too well known a certain sophisticated evolution resulted from the Ape family the species above belong to.. ;) ! But I digress, don't I !!