It begins with me!

DISCLAIMER: the following post is the outcome of agitation of the author. Those with narrow outlooks and over rated self pride better don't read. Those ready for spending a minute thinking of something except food, clothes or football: go ahead!

                                       Right since I was a kid, I've always heard "charity begins at home". It was like the most common good thought I would read on the blackboards. It seemed so simple as I grew up. Compared to the huge, complex philosophical things I read around, such thoughts appeared childish. Later on I realised, these good thoughts that I was made to learn in the school in the value education class (if I was lucky enough to have a school with one) were the most hard to implement. Thoughts like "do a good deed daily" or "cleanliness is next to godliness" are something that I preached hard but practised : never. Why? I was too busy! Busy running behind some assignment. Busy fixing up a problem in the computer. Gossiping about who's going out with whom. Busy complaining about the bus I missed. Crying over that one opportunity I couldn't cease. My question is, did those things really deserved that amount of time or attention?

Its a pity that I live in the so called exponential times where indulging into a hobby is done to add the credits to the resume. Its sad to see that I often stand up to some causes not because I am meant to, but because that grabs me attention. Its a pity where I can't stop adding random people on my friend lists judging them on the cute profile picture they had or coolest info updated. While this is happening, I hardly find time to enquire about the sick maid who missed her work. Has my mind become so calculative that human tendency of caring is disappeared? Or just "click and share to save a baby suffering from cancer" is enough?
                           I crib about how dirty our country is. And yes, I don't care a penny while throwing the candy wrapper somewhere on the street. I blame the government for every single mess around though I find voting a waste of time on the only day off I get at the office. I insist my children to study in English medium schools and yet, never introduce them to books better than twilight. I speak in any foreign language I know when I visit MacDonald's and then complain that My mother tongue is disappearing with times. I can spend my Sundays watching stupid shows like "Roadies" and then conclude that "satyameva jayate" is a over-hyped program. I feel the education system is crap, the competition is killing talent. But yes, I don't feel guilty when I buy a seat I don't deserve. And then off course, I attend anti-corruption rallies and light candles that are supposed to change lives. I always walk out of the room without turning off the lights. I keep my laptop on stand-by mode. And then I write a one hundred marks paper of environmental science.what a paradox though : I score! I start driving before I am allowed to. I indulge into addictions, including social networking before I am permitted. But yes, I am too young and too busy to think about social issues. I am too young to start donating. I am too young to be aware of the problems around me. I never realise, I need an intervention.
                       I need to know, when was the last time I felt proud about my country! when was the last time I helped someone random? when was the last time I made someone smile selflessly? when was the last time I stood up for something I felt? when was the last time I fought against some injustice?
when was the last time I made plans of my life that did good to the world?when did I last do my share towards the environment? when was the last time I realised that the change begins with me? and I guess I know the answer for all these questions. But again, I am good at explanations!

P.S.: this article is for those who understood what I meant when I said "I", others : ignore, like 'I' always do.

To the place where I Live :)

                                         Civics taught us : food, clothing and shelter are the basic necessities of a human being. Economics added education and money to the list..( spare me if I am jumbling with the subjects..I am a science student). But value education always said : "The house or shelter is not a home unless it contains food and fire for Minds as well as body" how true is that! Home is the best place on the earth you can ever be. It is the real cave for all your feelings, thoughts, ideas and dreams. This article is dedicated to My home..probably the only way I can ever express my gratitude towards it..! Housyy dear..wish you could read this like you read my mind!
                              I live in a big old beautiful house. Yes..it is big like with 10 rooms and a backyard of which I can never get enough of! I have been living in this house right since I was three months old. And this house stands in it place and belongs to my family from 40 long years. My grand dad built it when my dad was a kid.  Righteously named "samruddhi" meaning prosperity and happiness..my house has both of these things in plenty. It has seen the childhood of both me and my dad. It has always been there. It has been with us when my family barely had a cycle and also has been a shelter to our dazzling cars. Its one of those things like stars in the sky for me. However hard the day might have been, its always there for me when I get home at night.
                              For me, my house means my sisters. I see our childhood in its every corner. I see my eldest sister playing the innumerable doll games in the backyard in summers. I see my younger sisters doing all the naughty pranks all day long. I still recall the uncountable cassettes we recorded with our singing and screaming. The uncountable board games with the neighbourhood kids. The occasional scrabble game with my grand dad. My grand mom's pleading and running behind us just to attend one classical music sessions she carries out in her room. And without attending that even, we siblings being one of the best performers at the yearly classical exams. My house means the various tricks my Mom had to make to make us eat when we were too busy playing. Its like a big timeline profile of our childhood. I will never have to look at the photographs of my childhood as long as this house stays. It has those memories carved on its walls.
                                     For me, My house means arts. It was the place I first read Charles dickens. My house has like 500 books from different authors and on different subjects n different languages. The atmosphere is like anyone can fall in love with reading. My house means music. It has heard my grand parents, my dad and me- all three generations singing. Its a very rare day when there are no songs or tunes played in this house. The musical tastes may have varied from classical to gazals. From old Hindi film songs to rock music. But the music has stayed. Its like even if we don't need it..the house demands it.
                             I am sure most of you will agree to this. Every house has a fragrance. Its neither good nor bad. But its distinct for every house. My house also has one. Its a mixed aroma of my Mom's kitchen, the crafty glue my grand mom uses in her arts class, the smell of different kinds of books my grand dad keeps in his closet and off course to top it all..the aroma from the trees in my backyard. From bananas to jackfruits. I don't know what it appears like to other people, but for me its the the fragrance of bliss and sanity. Its magical.
                          My house has taught me to have faith. It has taught me that the leaking roof means there is shelter. It has taught me that the scorching sun in the noon means the bright sunlight in the morning. It has taught me that all things can't remain the same. They need a change. All that matters is adaptation with the new times. It has taught me that you can choose the colours of your life like you choose them for the walls of your house. It has taught me to be big and accommodate everyone despite their differences. It has taught me that I can find god in the little idol residing in it and that I don't need to search it outside. It has given me the comfort to dream, try and even fail. It has given me the solitude when I most needed it and the togetherness when I wanted. It has been that integral part of my life on which I can always count. I may sound materialistic..but yes..this very house is the symbol of my belief in love, trust and happiness.
                             I have lived in this house all my life. Time may come sooner or later when I will have to leave. I might leave..but never separate. I wonder if my kids will ever play in its backyard like I did! Will they ever understand the stories the walls of his house witnessed! But I always will. It will take care of my parents and grand parents even if I am away. It will understand my need to leave and will always be open for me whenever I want to come back. It will rejoice when I succeed and will never let me loose my hope when I fail. Wherever I go, it will be with me. Because I don't live in it..it resides in me! My home : My family : My love : My life..:)