The Journey

It was a hot sunny afternoon in January with sun shining bright at Fort Kochi. The bust stop had about 30 - 35 kids and the place was alive and kicking when the world around them looked almost deserted and still. There was this excited buzz and all of them had a bright smile on their faces. I was missing something important. What for had these kids assembled here. I kept looking at them and trying to hear what they were talking, all I could catch was the words  “..thanupu (cold).. valluthe..(big) etc. Etc.. there were people pulling each other.. some was saying me first me first... words cant describe those smiles.. After about 2 minutes I noticed 2 ladies approaching them and each one was carrying a small kid on their hands.. They had bought something in a cover and all the kids rushed towards them.. It was ‘sip up’... perfect silence took over the places except for  ‘sluurp’... :)

What were they doing in that bus stop.. Curiosity got the better of me.. But I remained patient and kept watching the infectious smiles. Suddenly out of some where a big orange bus came and stopped in the bus stop. Pause. Zuiiinnn... The door opened and there was a collective sigh from these children. Many did not expect a door to open by itself.  Immediately there was a mad rush to get into the bus and once every one got in and the ladies joined them. From outside I could feel the complete joy in them to get into this bus. All of them took one of the window seats and pushed their heads onto the window and looked out and smiled. It was a camera moment to see a boy who had maybe 5 teeth all grinning ear to ear and enjoying the same bus stop from where he had got in. The conductor gave each one a ticket from his hand held machine and, boy proudly dint they display to the outside world.. A church father came and paid the money to the conductor and the doors closed yet againg with zzuiinnn and I could only ‘see’ these kids were actually shouting inside and waving tata tataaa... to us in the bus stop.. and the father!!   

Where way they going.. to far  far away it seems.. To meet the fairy God mother?? Well the ride afterall seemed to the Airport. Let me admit it guys I would have been even more excited. I spoke to the father and he said all the kids where from an orphanage nearby and they were travelling in the Volvo Ac City bus for the first time and they were all going to the airport for a picnic. I would remember those smiles many times. But above all it gave me one valuable lesson, there are those lil things in our life that always bring those smiles. At our age it may be holding our gals hand, having a long talk with a good friend,  going for a walk and many things. But if those kids could be happy travelling in a AC bus or going to see a airport we can also be smiling. They did teach me happiness is what we decide. Love you kids wherever you are today. You did make my day !! 

The Dark Corridor ;)

Ones life is always a mixed bag. The good and the bad times come and go. So far in the last few years, I have always come across this place where there are different corridors that I get to choose. The brilliance of these corridors is that the lighting technology is such a way that some look well lit at the entrance but its dark beyond.. some you see light so faint, some are too dark, some small, some long, but none showing whats inside. The scariest part is that, every one of the people around me day in and day out bring me to this chamber, and I m mercilessly told start walking, I ll meet  you soon. Its as though the they have planned something evil for me and I feel monsters and ogres inside waiting to have me for a lunch. These are the moments I sincerely pray for the angels to come to my rescue. well 1800 - Angels is usually a busy number, and post recession, God has indulged in Downsizing his staff. !. The point I m trying to make is choices are really difficult to make. These corridors some times have the paintings of people on their walls - a tribute to people who have chosen that route. But usually A Google search does not reveal it. - sad that  , Google is still not the answer to our lives.. Hmmm...
Well once you start entering a corridor, you are usually cheered from behind, but when you start walking the sounds become faint and the only sound that you hear is the sound of your heart beat. Its kind of eerie,  and well here and there you find a picture or two, mostly of people whom you don't recognize.

A day came to me, when I was told , Mr., 'Walk'. A dilemma started and all corridors looked equally scary. I looked around, but there wasn't any one in sight. But on the far left hand corridor I saw this inscription :
                
                               Stranger, You Aint Alone,
                               The  Routes Aint Dark,
                               Thy Mind, is your Friend
                               Thy heart is is your Enemy.

On the Right End yet another Inscription read as follows :

                               Stranger, You are Alone,

                               The  Routes are Dark,

                               Thy Mind, is your Enemy

                               Thy heart is is your Friend.

 I was baffled at this opposites and sat down and re read all the Eight lines. I some how was puzzled at the logic. but I was sure there is some meaning to all this. Maybe I should put them together..
And here is what I found, These are  inscribed just to confuse your mind. We come across many Situations where our heart and Mind speaks differently. For Example, I love that Guy, But He is  not financially Stable.
When Choosing the corridor, is to question your mind, convince him to be a friend.
A situation will come when mind has no answer, for example - Why Do I Love him ? Don't go for your mind to answer such questions . Trust your heart, its usually always right. But listen to it carefully, cause when you start walking through the corridor, remember you ll hear only your heart beats, and don't be scared then.
This may look like no logic to you. well I just wrote it just understand myself..
anyways, Thanks for reading till Here.. see u !!