A Sonnet ! - LIFE IS SMOOTH, SUBJECTED TO THE CHANGE

LIFE IS SMOOTH, SUBJECTED TO THE CHANGE

Only thing constant in this world is CHANGE. It keeps on happening when expected and even when not. Few changes bring in joy, thrill, peace, happiness, excitement, while few bring in absurdity, uncertainty,  sorrow, grief and many a times endless turmoil. Who can be a better judge than the person himself who is actually undergoing a change. May it be within or the environment. 

Why do this change happen? Why is that things do not remain the way it is always? Why can't I be with my beloved my entire life? Why can't I play all day long? Why can't I just relax all the time? Why Why Why?

But then,

Why do you want things always as they are? Why do you want to play all day long? What about the people other than your beloved? Why would you not work for a CHANGE.

Yes, change is good always. You disagree don't you? But then why would you. Or do you? It becomes quite sensitive when this CHANGE is adjusted amongst certain situations. Certain changes are well received only when they work according to our will. And you would agree to that won't you? Yes. But then does everything happen according to our will? Not it doesn't. At times certain things happen unexpectedly which readily calls for a paradigm shift. We all go through this.

I remember few years back, I was all tossed up with the internal conflicts within the team I was working. I felt isolated all the time, or so was I made to feel. I could never discover why was I in such a state of mind. Is it that I felt it or the people made me feel that way? Was I drawing away from them or were they throwing me away? These questions tangled my understanding day by day. 

And I asked my self, "Why am I treated like this in the team?" After all people around were looking at me with great respect, with great expectation. They fore casted me to be the next person in charge." Why they thought so, I didn't know. All I knew, that I was capable enough and ready enough to get to the next level. Every one was looking forward for the right time of declaration where I would be taken up as the new successor for my team. Everything was running so smooth. So gentle and so FOGGY, that I didn't see all that coming. 

I was too saturated to fight with my own team. In front of the world our team was the best and best it was. But from within, a due respect was lost. I could not think of perplexing my team further as my behavior too was giving in to these isolated situations. I thought to find a wonderful opportunity in a sense where people would be new. New people bring in new hope, new ideas, new understanding and work culture. I subjected my self to the CHANGE. A change which I never hoped for, never expected for . But I had to decide. This change might not clear any confusions within the team, but would definitely take me away from confusing it further. 

Surprisingly, one of my mate in my team too got ready for the change and agreed himself to undergo with me. We both opted for an opportunity and got selected undisputed. I was so relieved. 

But everything doesn't happen as it seems. My friend could not join me for some personal reasons. I moved along with the induction in the new company. The atmosphere was new. The apprehension was gone. I felt a treat of new  learnings already. Days went by and I was about to be certified for the training which I was undergoing for the new company. 

Three days were left when I got a call from my friend and he said,

" Hey ... How are you doing?

"Fine. How about you? I hope everything is ok?," because I felt his shivery voice

"Everything is ok. Infact everything is back on track."

"Good. So tell what made you give me a call?

"Uh... there is something I wanted to tell you. Its just that I am unable to find some words.

"Go ahead. Since when did you have to find words to talk to me?"

"Well. But...."

"Let me guess! You are the next in charge. Eh!"

"Huh? I mean.. uh.. umm.. aa.. "

"Ha ha ha, and you wanted to find words to tell me that? I understood dear. Congratulations. You deserved it."

"Hey.. But I thought that....."

"I know what you are thinking. But believe me I am happy about it."

"But still...You ne...

"Forget it. I'll need a treat when I come back. At least you owe me an ice-cream."

"Yeah..and....

"Whatever.. we'll talk when we meet. Good Night. Take care", and I hung up the phone. 

I introspected so deeply that day, that I could not sleep. I knew I had an exam next day, but how can one sleep when something from your hand has already slipped away. I was much confused and more judgmental about what had happened. I started blaming my senior for not even informing once, cause it was always from her mouth that we are one. Whatever happens we'll be honest with each other. 

I could not resist those thoughts and dallied my seniors number. I was all set to blast it out when I felt, certain things need not be undone. What ever my friend had got was his destiny. But still, I need to know, at least I could have been informed by my senior. Why? I was still with my previous company when I was getting inducted for the new company. So as a policy I was part of my "previous organization". In fact i was supposed to go back to my previous organization, serve my notice period and then, join the new one. Strange but true. 

But then I hung up without even talking to my senior. I was so tired mentally that i caught a nap. For that instance, at least my worry was over. When I woke up, I saw couple of missed calls. One from my senior and another from my friend. I wonder what he wanted to tell me now?

I cleared my certification and went back to serve my notice period. I didn't even bother to meet up my senior. To my surprise everyone other than people in my team consoled me. They said whatever has happened is not what they expected. One of them asked me," Why don't you go to the senior management ask for a clarification." For a moment I did think of getting one, but then what was the point. 

"I wanted a change to happen. It has happened. Why should I cry more over it? If not now, I would never be able to learn how to learn a change. But, I needed my answers. Not that there would be no consideration to what I say, but only one question haunted me. Why didn't my team update me? My senior to be precise."

"Hey.. you are back!", said a voice from behind. It was my friend. 

"Hey there. congratulations bro and don't forget our treat!".  We hugged each other. There was no negative thought about him. After all, he was not the one whom I wanted to question. 

He shared all his apprehensions while he was signing the letter. But now it didn't matter anything more to me. And when I met my boss, I didn't utter a single word, as I could see those eyes were full of shame. They were filled with regret, but who cared. I knew beforehand what actually was going to happen. I was expecting the worse and this was not it. I was somewhat at peace. 

Meanwhile things changed a bit during my last days in the organization where I was given a wonderful learning opportunity in the same organization itself. I opted out of the new opportunity for which I was already trained. For next three months I continued to work under my friend for some time till I was totally shifted in the new vertical. It was fun. I had earned the respect for me much more than before.

Many changes happened to me within those three months. I could learn to work under a person who was once a subordinate and now a boss. How patient a person has to be, when fighting such a situation. For a moment, It feels that entire world has conspired against you, but on the other hand there is a way out of the entire fence which would lead to meadows and grass lands. 

And then, after that, whatever happened to me, was always good. It was no luck I must say. Tasks that came along were not easy. But it got easy and I feel it because of my acceptance to CHANGE. Things would have been a lot different if the CHANGE was rejected. But I had learnt, change, for a time being might hurt, but accepting it and going along would always help in keeping up the pace. 

Looking at the brighter side would always keep a smile on the face!

Hu Ek Atulo Vichru Chhu

Aankho ughadi aa duniya ne,
Ek nazar thi parkhu chhu,
Laagi pade koi saathe na saathe,
Hu ek atulo vichru chhu.

Dhola chhe aa doodh sama rang,
Aankho ma pan vaadal na rang,
Man na mela varn sama joi,
Jaat ne parakhi harkhu chhu

Maage chhe koi haq na daana,
Aape koi je swarth na raana,
Bhekh sama jeevan ne nihali,
Maanu chhu ke sarkho chhu

Bhinjai chhe aa dharti ghata thi,
Lehrai chhe aa parna havathi,
Ek disha ni mitt je maandi,
Nayane nirasto ashru chhu

Aashao mogham ghani chhe,
Vichari ichhao so gani chhe,
Purna thati aa raat na path ne,
Khauf hraday na visaru chhu,

Netra chhe jaane unda kuva sam,
Smit chhe jaane daana suva sam,
Aave na aave, koi vyatha toi,
Jeevan ne hu bharkhu chhu!

Friends in my Life (Part -5) - Bhavnagar

(1)

"Hey there, what's your name?", asked me a skinny looking guy from the corner of a room. He had big eyes, a smile on his face, a slightly broken teeth and the haircut of a cadet. "Aye, batana tera naam kya hai?", he asked again.
"JAY". I replied without looking at him.

"Oh! Hi Jay, I am Pradeep. Tuza ghar kuthe aahe?," he added a question to his answer.

"GHOGHA CIRCLE", I said. And then he disappeared into the classroom. That was my first day at school. I was inducted in 1st standard. I had studied in a kindergarten before joining this school. But kids in there are not much bothered who else is enjoying the building blocks or pole rings. They are more busy in rubbing off or slurping up the liquid from their nose. And most of them are busy with their tear rolling for which even the teacher  is not much bothered.

But this was entirely a new place. I felt I had achieved the highest degree from the kindergarten and graduated to this place. The display was entirely different from the previous institute. There were benches, where at least 2 can fit in appropriately and if required one more can be accustomed. There were shelves for the books and a cupboard which I could immediately relate with the one I had in my house. There was a HUGE blackboard on which a date was written on the top left corner. I thought why they have made such a huge slate. Then I thought maybe we are supposed to study too much and write a lot. As my eyes scanned further, there was white  powder at the bottom of the blackboard and few chalk pieces lying around.

I was busy observing the surrounding when Pradeep suddenly pulled my hand and took me to the two seater. Although not bulky for my age, It took me some time to climb up the seat. I wondered why did they make a 3 storey bench for a 4 year old kid like me. Pradeep, no doubt was holding my hand then, pulled it hard and made me reach the top floor of the bench. I was still hanging my bag on the shoulder and thought to shed some weight.

By the time i adjusted to this new seating arrangement, there were couple of more guys who stood around my seat and kept on grinning at me. I did not know what to reply or to say. So I grinned back harder which turned their grinning into a giggly laugh. Just when their giggly laugh was going on I heard a roar inside the classroom where everyone said "GOOD MORNING TEACHER". When I looked around, everyone including Pradeep was standing on the floor. I thought,"GOD I just made it to the 3rd FLOOR and will take time to climb back again."

Pradeep once again pulled my hand and asked me to greet the teacher. As if I knew what I was doing, I said,"GOOD MORNING TEACHER". The difference was that only my voice filled the air and the teacher could clearly notice who that individual was.

I was filled with surprise and felt so shy about the entire thing, that i giggled a bit. And in return, entire class, including my teacher gave a hearty laugh. Post that She too greeted us all with a smile on her face and said,"GOOD MORNING".

(2)

For next few days, Pradeep became my obvious choice for all the activities that we did at school. I had joined in late by a week, and he was my guide for the things that we were supposed to know. We used to have lunch together, play together. I remember, we used to follow each other to the slide which normally kids use it during the breaks. The SLATE which I saw on the first day was actually used by my teacher and it relieved me of thought of writing so much on it. However, the feeling was limited to blackboard, as were were given notebooks. A checkered one for MATHS, a four line for ENGLISH and a single lined for GUJARATI & HINDI. Then I thought a black board was far better than writing on these patterned papers.

By the end of that year Me and Pradeep grew fond of each other. Although he was a Mahrashtrian, a Patil, I observed him spelling the alphabets like M as Yem &  N as Yen. This sort of pronunciation is observed in South Indians. Like how would a South Indian spell MOON. (Yem Wo Wo Yen). Funny ! Gradually we started competing  each other academically and in sports. But all in good sense. He was a wonderful athlete, so was I. He was excellent in English as I was in Maths. We used to forge adhead even during the annual functions. Cultural activities mein bhi hum log saath mein rehte the. But even after all this, he used to be a step ahead of me in academics. Atleast in terms of results. We had a class of 24, where he stood first every time. Being second was not bad enough, but, my parents, insisted me to beat Pradeep once. Just once.

And I studied hard. Hard enough that I almost ignored him. He walked up to me and asked,"Where are you now a days?, I don't see u often." To which I replied," I am supposed to beat you in exams. And that's what my parents have asked me to!.

"So you are going to hit me?"

"Big time. And you'll see that soon." I said to myself.

 He smiled back and left.

(3)

"Arey wah Jay, wonderful. You have scored good in your exams. Wonderful. You are one of the top ranker in the class," said Miss Bhavna. Our class teacher. I had completed the 1st standard and was feeling so great to enter the next level. 

"Who has come first?," I asked. The answer was as expected ,"Pradeep"

I felt no pain, no sorrow as my best friend was at the top in exams. I forgot the competition which was virtually existent. He was not in school at that time to get this wonderful news. I kept on waiting for him as I wanted to be the one who would break the news. He turned up after half an hour and went straight to the teacher. His mom accompanied him to the desk. I could not hold further and shouted. "O Pradeep, taro pello number avyo chhe!. Everyone looked at me in surprise, but who cared. I gave him a big smile. 

He came to me and said," Vandho nai next time!"

I didn't bother whether next time or any other time. All I had in my mind was that I had a friend who was a the top. I was proud of it.

We continued to be the best friends for the next year.  We were the dynamic duos. No change nothing. We even did not need anyone else to get in between. But as they say things do not always go as planned. Although we didn't loose anything between us, there was a definite addition to our group. 

PRANAV PANDYA: A smiple guy with wit and humor. He used to make us laugh almost at anything. They say as a person grows up, he adds to his sense of humor and wit. We never knew when we were going to grow up. But this guy was full of it. 

He was there in our class since I joined the school. But we never interacted much. Only after we spent time together at our school picnic. It was also discovered that he used to stay nearby where my home was.

His humor was so intense for us that we got punished for laughing in the class. Me and one more guy from our class heard him say something funny and we laughed like hell. Next thing we were standing out in our undies outside the class. Our teacher had punished us for LAUGHING. We were holding our ears, and people were just gazing at us moving around in the corridor. 

Every kid in our class was laughing at us. Except for those 2. That day was quite weired for us. But we had the support of our dear friends, Pradeep and Pranav. Pranav was so silent that he didn't talk to me for next few days. His eyes were asking for apologies, where there was nothing to be said. Friends do not ask for apologies. In no time we were back on track. 

We were now the three stooges in the class. The school which i studied was graduating along with us. The first standard started with us and so was the second standard. New rooms were getting made next to our existing classes. We as kids were always eager to run around here and there. 

Pradeep was standing in one of the newly constructed room. We saw him and he said," Ahiya bau pochu pochu chhe, dodvani maja aavshe." The place was newly layered with cement. Getting the footprints on the layer was our new time pass. Kids do not see any logic behind such activities, do they? So we ran and ran and ran, till entire floor was covered with footprints. We were 5 of us, who contributed to this original masterpiece. 

We thought of giving a final touch where two of us stood near the door and rest three stood near the window of that room. Pradeep was near the window. Get set go! and BAAAM !. 

Next thing I could remember was my forehead was bleeding. Pradeep's nose was bleeding. We both bled to death. Ha ha ha.. We as kids saw the blood for the first time. I saw the red fluid for the first time. We were crying out loud for other people to listen. First aid attention was given to us and we were given a day's off. 

I still have that scar on my forehead and Pradeep still answers for the one which he has on his nose. 

(4)

I was getting late for school. It was the day of our result and I was graduating for the third grade. But I was not happy about something and that was hurting me very bad. My father got transferred to Ahmedabad and we were supposed to shift with him. I was in no mood to collect the result. All I could think was,  how would I face Pradeep and Pranav. I din't expect things like this. I didn't want this to happen. 

As I entered the school, I thought I would go straight to the teacher, get the result and move out. In that way need not talk, need not face anyone. Reaching near the class room door I could only see Miss Bhavna, the desk and bunch of papers lying on the table. She immediately spotted me and called me in. My mom and dad pushed me in as they too entered the room. I ran towards the desk without looking who else are in the room. Miss Bhavna didn't utter a single word, to which my tension grew. I lost a heart beat. "I had failed. I knew my Gujarati was weak. I could re-collect entire paper in a flash."

I didn't have guts to look at my parents. I just took the report card turned back when I heard, " A Jayla, TARO PELLO NUMBER AAVYO CHHE"

I turned towards the voice, and it was Pradeep.  He shouted again." Ela tu to pello avyo." All I could do was SMILE. "Ela tu pello aavi gayo?" Pranav added. To which all of us laughed.

I was facing my friends. As I walked towards them, we exchanged the report cards. Pradeep stood second and Pranav was not bothered much about the rank. We could hear our parents talking about the scores and marks and the paper checking style and all. 

"Jay, chalo jaiye? Tara friends ne aavjo kai de. Te kidhu emne? Aapde amdavad jaiye chhiye?. My father broke my silence. 

I bid farewell to my friends. 

Pranav is working with a firm and Pradeep is working for a leading telecom company. We often chat amongst us recalling the days when we became friends.