Papa ji - Our Rockstar

Papa ji – that is how we call our grandfather fondly. And now when I am pretty grown up to understand the world ways, I am thankful we dint call him Dada Ji. He was no way less than a father to me or my family.

I lost him on April 23^rd and I feel life will not be the same. Like I know Lord Shiva is by my side, I feel my grandpa will be my side too but the realization that he won’t be around anymore – is nagging, it irks me and brings tears. I was and still known as – his favorite grandchild. But you know what – it doesn’t matters, for I always maintained that I am God’s favorite child – whether he showers blessings or he tests my patience. I know he is around and for some reason he took away Papa ji – that too suddenly. He was doing Ok – health wise and otherwise. He lived like a rockstar and now he is a 'star' up above in the sky.

I and my family are finding it difficult to cope – because he was very much a family man. We celebrated his last B’Day in October - all together. We feel blessed about the day – we gave him a happy b’day though we dint knew it was going to be the last with him around.

May be I am writing so much, because I saw death so closely for the first time, by this day I had not thought about it or about losing a closed one in a fraction of seconds.  At the funeral – I overheard people saying that he went like a blessed soul – because he dint feel any pain or problem and he dint of course let anyone know that he is going away. It was a normal routine day – he went for the walk, played with my niece and everything just so normal. And I get a call in the evening – with the news that he is gone.

There is absolutely no denying the fact that he was the most attached family member to everyone, a caring husband, a friendly father, concerned father-in-law, fantastic uncle and a doting grand dad I ever came across. And he had this forever ‘ZEST’ for life and to ‘LEARN’.

Life ‘goes’ on – I have learnt this in the last week but the memories come to me every day in each moment.  Whether it was my fee installments for the 2 years of my MBA or the engagement day, he was with me. He used to keep the record and remind dad about my course fee installments or it was my first step to enter the new life or new family – he took me arm to arm.

He was extra-proud of me.  On my first flight – he called to ask me, how was my first flight? I remember I used to call him on each important day of my life- an exam, an interview or a speaking event. I have had the best of conversations with him – On spirituality and books.

Whatever he would read or relate or feel lonely at times – he used to call up & share. Funny it might sound, but he used to call me to complaint about my grand ma and even his grand children. He was always a Best Friend and now will be my BFF till the end of life.

Another best thing about him is, he used to maintain a Family tree record. I am sure not everyone has read it – but he used to update it. He had his own Facebook well maintained even before I was born. He used to update all life events – my dad’s wedding to my wedding and even the details like High School, Senior Secondary and our Graduations are well tuned into it. Latest being the birth of my niece & nephews.

Sharing below the things is learnt from him:

1. Be Cool. Eat well, sleep on time, and worship God and just chill.

2. Live Life and Appreciate beauty.

3. Age is just a number, it doesn’t suggest – one should stop learning.

4. Love children. Do Good for the orphans. Service to mankind - the needy, the orphan or the underprivileged  is better then religious service. 

5. Respect Women. (I do not remember a single incident of him telling us to not do something because of being a girl) 

6. Care for your partner and the family.

7. Keep Working and maintain good health.

8. Eat what you like. It is ok to experiment with food.

9. Celebrate life and the little events of it.

10. Read – it helps.
11. Forgive easily. That only makes you better.
12. Keep Faith in God. Just do your job.
13. Stand your heads up - it is you who know what you are. 
14. Follow trends, keep yourself updated with the world.

Not that you are gone but you are more with us now for we all know that you are a family man and you just cannot be away from us. And I know you will always be around. 

Love you Papa ji. 

Growing up needs Courage!

Running away from things is never a good thing. Face it from front is what I have always been taught! What a bad phase it would have been that I had almost thought to not accept the Birthday Wishes because I was cursed for my being and for treating it as a reason to celebrate. The freedom to be me in my own way was gone and I am trying to get to terms with it. 

Now that I am getting messages about Many Happy Returns of the Day, I wonder what people who know of it are trying to say! And then I am telling myself –

Come on! I can’t still keep my happiness for them who treated me as a back-up plan! The post is certainly not about me or I. But it is more about ‘we’. I turned 31 today and I wonder what went wrong and where? I am an individual first and at least that should be taken as it is. I am not asking anyone for any undue favors, I don’t beg you for generated love and never am I going to demand materialist favors.  I firmly believe – every human being on this planet deserves – to be treated with humanity & respect. 

And wondering that I realized, I can abandon myself from the love of friends and family for these are the people who always remind me - that I am certainly 'God's favorite kid.'

I am happy for those who want me to be happy. Those who believed that I am a human and deserve to be treated as one.

I am happy for those who chose to ignore me and all the great memories we co-created. 

I am happy for what happened, at-least I got to know more about life. I learned it quite early and I am sure it saved me a hemorrhage.

I am thankful to the God for giving me this life and to keep me calm enough to realize that we get only one life. 

I am thankful for the people around me who are reason enough to make me believe that life itself is a reason enough to ‘smile’.

I am thankful to people who without knowing about my circumstances, on hearing a timid voice say things like – ‘No you can’t be tired yet – you have a long way to go’

I am thankful to my younger brother- who said, ‘It is my sister’s birthday so that should be a reason enough for you to celebrate’

I am thankful for Google Doodle which read, ‘Happy Birthday Jigyasa’ as I launched chrome this morning on my machine. 

I am thankful to my grandparents for wishing me the most genuine wishes of my day as they make me realize that I was born special and still hold that special place in their hearts and mind.

I am thankful to friends who took time to wish me and those who surprised me my doing so. 

Alas, I am thankful and may God always make my life one; to be thankful of.

All this makes life a little simpler and helps me breathe feeling, ‘I am thankful to be’. And then I found this tweet as the day was coming to an end – “You can’t fight every battle. Choose which ones are worth fighting and let the others go."

Life without touch-ups!

We all should always try to lead a life without touch-ups! It is real and it keeps the essence maintained. The natural beauty, the real meaning and quintessential life is the one without touch-ups.

Imagine a picture, when you see it without touch-ups, it certainly makes you smile but when you try to make it better it leaves you analyzing and when you try to perfect it – it loses the essence.  

Why is it becoming necessary for most of us to lead a perfect life? What is a perfect life? Is it the one which we see others living, is it one which we read in the books, page 3 and celluloid.  No, life is all about small & simple moments of happiness we create, we share and also about those moments which test us on our faith.

Live Simple. Stop Comparing

Is is not life just perfect when we live it simplified? Now I am not trying to pull in any old school or new school philosophy when I use the word simplified.  

Simplified here suggests, the way it makes us happy. Why complicate it with comparisons, with adaptations to fit the bill. Where are we trying to fit ourselves into and with whom and why for all reasons?

Have Choices. Take Decisions

I love the present day youth for this reason. They don’t believe in any race. They all want to be cool in their own ways. The young parents of today do not want to impose things on their kids; they want them to grow, to learn and most importantly to CHOOSE for them.

I have observed, a child who grows in such an environment becomes a better human being, a bright professional and is always considered approachable socially. Because he/she has learnt to adapt, to talk out and to share fearlessly because they know they will be heard, understood and once again not forced to follow decisions.

Give Space. Nourish Relationships

Be it your personal or professional life you need to give space. This space is important not just to nourish relationships but also to live healthy and grow healthy. Healthy Relationships are the key to success at work, it leads to strong bonds of friendship, trust and makes everyone is them empowered.

By saying giving space, I mean to allow them to be on their own in thoughts, viewpoints and situations. This works to bring in the sense of responsibility. When they know – you are there to help them always, they develop the sense of belonging and this confidence helps them face life with face up, no matter what.

Choice is always yours. Choose to lead a life with No Touch-ups! Like an Image, life too will not leave its essence. Have a Happy Life, Stay Blessed.