There is a thought that has been niggling at the back of my mind for quite a while now. About how life is such a whimsical, fly-away little dream. One day, we are happy, boisterous, raring to take the world by its heels and swing away with all our might. And the next day, we are invariably reminded of our own mortality. Falling with a resounding thud into reality.
A few days back, I got talking to a colleague about another colleague who has been away for a while now, battling a life-threatening disease. He is one of the most cheerful, most vibrant and one of the kindest people I have come across in a long time. The kind of people who are bereft of enemies in the world. The kind that breeze in like sunshine and always bring a smile to your lips with what they say. And I couldn't help but feel sad about the unfairness of it all. I think of his two little ones - a little girl whose dimples will steal anyone's heart. Two well-behaved, sweet little angels. I think of the wife who must be battling sorrow everyday, trying to keep a brave facade for the world, all the time praying to God too keep her family intact. And I pray to God too.
Having dreams, hopes, building a future, loving your loved ones, working hard, getting your pay at the end of the month - what does it all mean anyway? What is the ultimate purpose of life? Its scary if one has to pause and look at it all from a distance. We go about our days on automaton, constantly running, pushing, pulling, trying hard to get things to work our way, worrying about immaterial issues, getting annoyed with our spouses for little things and all the time being unaware of what life has in store for us the very next moment. Where will we be tomorrow? Who will be by our side? Why don't we pause and breathe? Why don't we spend more time with our loved ones? A kiss that can linger a little longer, a hug that can be a little more tighter. A little more time to talk to one's mother even when one knows the conversation will mostly be about what one had for breakfast or lunch. A little more singing in the bath even if it is widely off-key. A little more time to laugh, to think, to feel this beauty called life. A little more time to live, a day at a time...
A few days back, I got talking to a colleague about another colleague who has been away for a while now, battling a life-threatening disease. He is one of the most cheerful, most vibrant and one of the kindest people I have come across in a long time. The kind of people who are bereft of enemies in the world. The kind that breeze in like sunshine and always bring a smile to your lips with what they say. And I couldn't help but feel sad about the unfairness of it all. I think of his two little ones - a little girl whose dimples will steal anyone's heart. Two well-behaved, sweet little angels. I think of the wife who must be battling sorrow everyday, trying to keep a brave facade for the world, all the time praying to God too keep her family intact. And I pray to God too.
Having dreams, hopes, building a future, loving your loved ones, working hard, getting your pay at the end of the month - what does it all mean anyway? What is the ultimate purpose of life? Its scary if one has to pause and look at it all from a distance. We go about our days on automaton, constantly running, pushing, pulling, trying hard to get things to work our way, worrying about immaterial issues, getting annoyed with our spouses for little things and all the time being unaware of what life has in store for us the very next moment. Where will we be tomorrow? Who will be by our side? Why don't we pause and breathe? Why don't we spend more time with our loved ones? A kiss that can linger a little longer, a hug that can be a little more tighter. A little more time to talk to one's mother even when one knows the conversation will mostly be about what one had for breakfast or lunch. A little more singing in the bath even if it is widely off-key. A little more time to laugh, to think, to feel this beauty called life. A little more time to live, a day at a time...
