Questions

Is it to make fellow humans around, the society nod? 

Is it to ascend the stairway to heaven and witness God? 

Is it to enjoy your freedom and fly in a dreamy sky? 

Is it to tell a tale to someone who'll be born after you die?

Why should I live a life that is a lie? 

Tell me why! Tell me why!!

Is it by floating along the life river that flows? 

Is it by following a path an anonymous book shows? 

Is it by going with the instinct of a sensible mind? 

Is it by not looking at the colourful world by being blind? 

How should I live a life that I don't love? 

Tell me how! Tell me how!!

Red

Do you remember the TVC of Satyamev Jayate wherein Aamir Khan would be judging who'd and how many would watch his show by pointing out to the people who stop or not stop at an empty junction when the traffic signal turns red somewhere past midnight? It is about following the rules humans have imposed upon themselves, regardless of whether you're under the vigilant eye of a power or not.

1. As a newborn baby, we are all random. No rules for the infant. Soon, in our childhoods, we learn the rules as they're taught, and abide by to perfection. Gradually, we follow our parents and idols as we grow into adolescents. Later on, we take inspiration from the world around in our attempt to learn from the entire world. And as we mature into the youth, we freeze into the last viewpoint we hold and enter into the backfire mode in case we are challenged. It is important to teach the best lessons, by practice more than by word.

2. You're in the rat race of running from A to B alongside many others travelling between many other places, running other races, thinking at different paces, all those different faces. While it is humane to compete and let your ego come between, remember that the bus driver is safer while jumping the signal than a 70 year old on his little Luna. It's more important to reach B to know whether you won or lost, assuming that the ambulances don't go to B. 

3. It's not a crime to wait for the green, to be overtaken by a bus and a Luna. And it'll be fun to watch the world run the rat race, being a mere spectator. Try standing at the entrance gate to the main metro station/railway station and observe the people. You'll know why Shakespeare called this entire world a stage. I would still be speaking sense if I'd ask you to plan your next vacation not to Leh/Dehradun/Darjeeling but to Rajivchowk/Dharavi and embark upon your viewpoint, and watch the nature at work. Oh yeah, forget not, humans are also a part of nature. Please judge how well do we look compared to all those beautiful groups of animals. 

Thanks for reading the boring thought process. Happy weekend.

Extroversion

A trait that is associated with most successful people of the millennium. Entrepreneurs to scientists to writers, often to players and dancers too, people who can say it in front of a group, a crowd are those who can perform. Have you ever heard a successful man of today's generation say, "I have sat by a window that looked over the emptiness, contemplated the situation and decided to do this?" And to take your skills of communication and socialising with people around into account might not sound good, but it is far worse.

I've been there, done that. Brought up in a almost rural suburb, educated in schools where memory power meant marks, and in systems that cared for your problem-solving skills more than your ability to express, we never knew who extroverts were. Until we met these super-talented cool dudes from the urban convents, oh how fluent their English is, how cheeky their references to literature are, and how easily do they come up to initiate tasks and relationships while we sit in the corner of the same group praying no one points out to us and says, "how about you start?"

Yes, they were the cool dudes, the civilised ones, until we saw them at work, across the table, peeping into their sheets and screens to see how coolly they would have performed the same task we'd both been assigned. And thanks to good fair selections all the time, we were all in the same boat. Yet they're the leads and heads, just because they can socialise well with the higher officials, fake up smiles and relations, carry out tasks well (as they flaunt it) and not to mention, negotiate us introverts like a boss.

As if that were not enough, as if we only belonged on a farm and not on campus, the introverts are often ignored out of gangs. And we well know that introvert gang is an oxymoron. Thus, being a teacher who's introvert at heart, extrovert by profession, I now see what efforts it took me, and how different my personal and professional lives are. And it is very true that the measure of ones language and presentation is leading the measure of work abilities. You better know how you judge.

Friends

A mould of clay, in inertia of rest lay, passing night and day, to know a better way,

to become a human, to be the only one, with all thoughts done, to shine like the sun, 

and give to mankind, what they didn't find, in the dark lust blind, let my story unwind.

Once upon a time, I found a pal of mine, whom I could mime, in every virtue or crime. 

Came the person two, a pal of mine too, whom I would woo, and trust to be so true. 

Came a person three, I got many pals free, thou be my talking tree, thou be my thinking spree.

It's the verse third, now I am flying bird, the philosophical nerd, the perverted shepherd. 

The clay my wings shed, washed in an emotional flood, in tears had been bled, let it go enough said. Thanks for being by me, I'm not me I'm we, let us celebrate this chi, oh that is the peace key.

Kites and strings

A bright day and the sun was up, the cool winds blew west.
The kite took flight and in moments and joined the rest.
I watched at it from very far, to see the kites' random dance.
And now I don't rejoice my great flight, no more lost in the trance.

I lived by a pond with a lot of fish, most of them were bland.
I wanted to know something new, and flew across the land.
It's been a long time I've moved out, tasting every prey,
my feathers have worn out, my white wings are now grey.

On my way, I met black feathers and many such kites.
I've made many friendships and enjoyed my rights.
Now I see that I am lost, there's no more bland fish,
to return to my own old land shall be my last wish.

Oh, look at all these kites that are bound to their own,
and yet by breezes are brought up and flown.
After the day is done and the night has come,
they have a place called own where they are from.

It is good to fly long and free, to hover and soar,
and to fill yourself with the storms' lightening and roar.
But where you come from and who you are,
is all you shall not forget when you travel far.