Krishnakshara (celebrating the eternal bond)

Kshara sat beside Krishna admiring the magnificent manifestation of the supreme personality of Godhead. Her eyes sparkled in awe of the breath-taking view of the entire cosmos. “Its magical!” she exclaimed. Krishna was quiet, unperturbed by the magnificence. “Don’t you feel like being amidst all the splendour, you have created? You stay aloof, far away from the magical lands.” she said. Krishna smiled at her innocent query and said “ I am a part of it and yet I’m not. I’m always there but I don’t have to be there all the time.” Kshara didn't understand, “I am very eager to go and explore the magical lands, especially the special place called Earth. Life there I’ve heard is pretty exciting and a great learning experience too” she said. “As you wish!” said Krishna, “but remember it will be a long journey, you will have to live according to the laws of the material nature. There will be happiness and pain, loss and gain, love and hatred, it’s a world of dualities my dear. You have to bear them all with equanimity.” he explained. “ Why do I need to worry when You are there” said Kshara. “ I will seek guidance from you when needed". She added. 

In Krishna’s world every soul was entitled to ‘free will’. It was his way of expressing love for them. Their happiness was his priority, so he let them be, as they wished to be. Kshara, driven by desire began her journey into the magical lands. “Be careful my dear!” warned beloved Krishna “ As Maya takes charge from here. Never forget my name, that’s the only way to connect with each other again.” Kshara promised to keep her word and delved into the magical world.

She wished to be among the flowers as a butterfly, then as a bird soaring in the sky. Krishna fulfilled her every wish. After taking different forms and different births, she finally got the privilege to live the human life, it was her most awaited designation. It felt great to be a human, proud to have many abilities, a beautiful form and a  strong mind with the power of imagination. There was so much to explore one lifetime did not seem enough. She  wished for many such lifetimes to fulfill her dreams and all that she desired for. Her needs and wants knew no bounds. She craved for knowledge, power, wealth,  beauty, perfect spouse, a happy family, prosperity, success and an heir to inherit her legacy. The list never seemed to end. Alas! Blinded by ignorance, she forgot her eternal friend. Whenever there was pain, loss or suffering she would blame Krishna considering him to be the reason for her miseries. Krishna watched from above unperturbed by the condition of his love, for it was the path she had chosen. 

Thus Kshara was entangled in the cycle of birth and death. There was no escape, it was due to her desires that she was entrapped. Happiness seemed momentary and sorrows endless. Her will power began to crumble, her spirit crushed by the troubles. She cried, totally agonised, each time she was approached by death. It was her 'deeds' good and bad and her 'unfulfilled desires' that determined the next life, her next step. Soon, she lost belief in her beloved, when certain people claimed that the Supreme did not exist, she believed in whatever they said. 

There came a day when she was so overcome by grief, she questioned the purpose of existence,  and asked one and all about the meaning of life. Everything seemed worthless, even the beautiful world she once aspired to live in. She was now detached from all the material wealth, relationships, goals and the need to excel. Nothing in this world is permanent, what is there today is gone tomorrow.  As this realisation, dawned upon her, she learnt to move beyond ‘me and mine’ the cause of human sorrow. 

The clutches of Maya were so strong that she felt anxious, aimless, could not reach out to her beloved and re- establish their severed bond. But Krishna was kind enough, he knew what had to be done. He sent few noble souls to show her the way back home. A devotee is what the world called them. They dedicated their life to pure devotion. They spent their precious time to enlighten the fallen souls, to free them from the clutches of material nature and help them rise above the miseries of the world. 

They taught her to dwell upon the holy name, spoke of his glories and his all pervasiveness. “He resides in your heart and also in every particle of this universe” they said. They told her how important it is to follow the Sanatana dharma, to connect with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They called this Krishna Consciousness. Under the Guidance of A Bonafide spiritual master, Kshara learnt to include Krishna in everything, making him an integral part of her being. Shravanam, kirtanam, vishnu. smaranam, archanam, vandanam, pada-sevanam, dasyam, sakhyam, atma-nivedanam- the Nava Bhakti or theNine types of devotional service, she heard were practised by all devotees to attain the Supreme. She practised along with them, thus began her penance. Chanting his holy name was the simplest form of purification. She chanted as many times, as many number of days and nights she spent in this material world, as many number of births that she had acquired, as many number of  breaths she had taken in her many lifetimes, as many number of needs and wants she had wished to fulfill in her all life , as many number of desires and thoughts that had crossed her mind. 

Day by day her faith in him strengthened and the clutches of Maya weakened. She now included him in all her thoughts, the all pervasive  Krishna’s presence awakened in her heart. The once severed bond was revived again. As she meditated upon him in happiness and pain. She accepted everything that came her way, as a blessing for the betterment of self. She spoke of his pastimes, sang hymns in his praise and to the entire world preached about his greatness and opulence. Then came a day when the time had come for Kshara to re-unite with her loved one. While she meditated upon him in pure consciousness, discarding her material body she rose in the form of a spiritual spark and merged into the effulgence of the Akshara; the Supreme Personality of Godhead for eternity in  the highest spiritual realm.

tesam satata-yuktanam

bhajatam priti-purvakam

dadami buddhi-yogam tam

yena mam upayanti te

TRANSLATION

To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me 

Bhagwad Gita 10.10

The Like Fractions

Perception plays an important role in determining the course of our life. There is so much we can learn from life, only if we observe, imbibe and alter our perspective. Living in harmony and adapting to the environment are essential for growth and important to lead a balanced life.One can achieve this only when they learn to see the good in every situation and also the good in others. Every individual is unique and special. A creation of God can never be faulty. If we train our mind to look for the spark of goodness in others, appreciate and acknowledge them the world will definitely be a happier place to live in. 

 The mad race or rat race for success; competition, comparison and the need to excel has strained human relationships. Individuals are dejected at the smallest failures. Many lack coping skills, a support system, in family or friends.

Strengethening relationships is the need of the hour, as they have become fragile and reduced to be just a matter of benefit. Everyone has a list of people whom they dislike and avoid for various reasons. Avoiding people on reasons of incompatibility is preferred for mental wellbeing but not always an optimal solution.

 Every individual has something good in them which is unfortunately camouflaged by their unfavourable behaviour towards us. The vices we see in a person are a result of the circumstances and not necessarily their true nature.

 Empathy can mend  strained relationships. If we understand the other person and respect them for what they do and how they choose to be, life will be a lot easier.

Emotional distress is rising due to interpersonal conflicts and differences of opinion. It has become difficult to convey feelings to one another. The Ego does not permit individuals to share their trauma and insecurities for the fear of being judged. Confronting the troubled mind is essential and communicating with difficult people can certainly change the equation. Sensible conversations help in resolving sensitive issues. 

While it’s a blessing to have someone who is willing to listen to you without judging, lending an ear to those in distress can be very helpful. Sharing perspectives can bridge the gap between distant minds and hearts. Relationships thrive when there is Mutual respect.

 In this vast ocean called life, God has given each one of us a special place. If we humbly accept it, there will be no insecurity in the human mind. However different we may be, we all are equal in the eyes of God. We are a part of him, the like fractions of the Supreme Soul.The day we understand  and accept this truth the world will be a joyous place to live in.

The following shloka from Bhagwad Gita beautifully explains the importance of Equanimity of Vision...

Bg. 18.20

सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते ।

अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्त्विकम् ॥ २० ॥

sarva-bhūteṣu yenaikaṁ

bhāvam avyayam īkṣate

avibhaktaṁ vibhakteṣu

taj jñānaṁ viddhi sāttvikam

Translation

That knowledge by which one undivided spiritual nature is seen in all living entities, though they are divided into innumerable forms, you should understand to be in the mode of goodness.

Always be Yourself

 

 Always be Yourself

The family is the basic social unit of society which ideally demonstrates that inter dependence is the key for survival and progress in life. Care and compassion are the fundamentals on which humanity thrives, with family being the foreground. It is the primary duty of every family member to think about the welfare of their loved ones, apart from their own. 

People tend to worship those they think are perfect. This creates a personal need to live up to the expectations of others.  In the process many people lose sight of what they want from life. They spend an entire lifetime focusing on how others want them to be rather than what they truly wish to be. Ultimately this leads to frustration, regret and loss of happiness as they are unable to reach their full capacity for personal growth and self actualization.

 In life everything comes with its own set of limitations. When expectations cross the line, they become a baggage. The need for space is side-lined and relationships suffocate and may even suffer a breakdown. 

Mutual respect and the need to give space to one another can save many a relationship. Understanding what is good for your loved one rather than what you want them to be can be truly liberating.

Realising what is right for you and your loved ones can make life more meaningful and peaceful. Loving your family is important but loving yourself is not selfishness. Self care is essential to enable you to care for others. Hence it is important to be yourself and also help others to discover their true potential. Rising above unrealistic expectations is the first step towards Liberation.

“Doing as others told me, I was blind.

Coming when others called me, I was lost.

Then I left everyone, myself as well,

Then I found everyone, myself as well!”

-RUMI

Essence Of Dharma

 

The Human Mind is constantly engaged in the battle between Right and Wrong. One is either trying hard to be Right or judging others for being not so Right. What we need the most is to accept people the way they are and focus on the well being of one and all. What is right for One may not be right for the Other. It’s a matter of perspective and the circumstances that influence peoples behaviour. 

 

Everything in the world belongs to God, everything is a part of him. He who has truly realised God, cannot hate anyone. God gives innumerable chances for people to correct their mistakes but never rejects them. The law of Karma makes people face the consequences of their actions, helping them to work towards betterment of Self, aiding spiritual growth. His unconditional love makes room for the weakest, the cruelest  and the most imperfect. This is Dharma.

 

Dharma is acceptance, empathy, unconditional love, working towards the well being of others. When we stop loving, we embrace Adharma. We judge, condemn, and reject people. Invalidate them in hatred. We stop being generous, become mean minded, petty, clingy, stingy and possessive. We are often clueless and confused, in search of wisdom and direction. We forget the path to the Supreme Being. We entrap ourselves in rigid, narrow mind-sets. 

 

In the pursuit of wealth and power, we fail to empower others. In our lack of wisdom, we lose the golden opportunity to enjoy life, make life enjoyable for others and find joy in giving not just taking.

 

Life is difficult and people are imperfect. In the struggle for survival, to cope up with the vagaries of this world, everyone makes mistakes. True love is the ability to love people, despite their mistakes.

 

Dharma is about the human ability to share and care, about giving, not just taking. It is about realising  the spiritual reality through material reality. It is about questioning the notions of property and identifying the root cause of greed , envy, rage and hate.

 

 It is about realising that in every human being is a frightened beast, seeking survival and significance and knowing that humans can outgrow this beast only through EMPATHY . This process of outgrowing the beast is the process of discovering GOD. 

 

The Bhagwad Gita provides us a true understanding of life, that which prevents false interpretations of circumstances and false expectations from the world. An enlightened heart loses its craving for power and embraces love. Life becomes blissful if we participate in it rather than trying to seek control over it. The ultimate Goal being Spiritual Reality.

ATMA and AHAM

Atma the soul is indestructible. Atma defies all laws of nature- it has no form, it cannot be measured, it cannot be experienced using any of the five senses. It is a self assured entity that does not seek acknowledgement or evidence. One has to believe in it. There is no other way to access it. Atma is the essence and objective reality of all forms of life.

Brahma (the creator) has no faith. He refuses to look beyond the flesh. He ignores Atma, and so catalysed the creation of Aham, the Ego. The ego is a product of imagination. It is how a human being sees himself or herself. It makes humans demand special status in nature and culture.

Brahma is every human being. He is described as emerging from a lotus, a metaphor for a child emerging out of the mothers womb. This is also a metaphor for the gradual unfolding of the imagination.

Every human being is subject to his own imagination of his self and the world around him, thus imagines himself to be special. Every human being is thus Brahma, creator of his own Brahmanda(subjective reality).

Prakriti(Nature) is the objective reality and Brahmanda ( A man’s imagination of himself and the world around him) is the subjective reality. 

Atma witnesses Prakriti whereas Aham constructs Brahmanda.

Human self image is expanded beyond the body and includes possessions. His world is spilt into three parts Me ( mind and body) , Mine ( property, knowledge,family and nature) Not Mine (things that exist in the world over which he has no authority).

The concept of Me and Mine is humankind’s greatest delusion through which humanity seeks to generate meaning and Identity. Tranquility is lost when human yearns for that which does not belong to him, leading to anxiety and restlessness.

Realisation of the true nature of existence helps in destroying the Aham( ego). To attain this one must look inward,work towards a better understanding of Atma the Soul. When human becomes aware of his mortality, he does not seek materialistic gratification. His fears cease to exist and he learns to live in harmony with Nature.


References: Devdutt Patnaik- 7 secrets of Shiva

Vande Guru Paramparam

The stage was set for the performance. The violinist, vocalists and the mridangam artist took their respective places. The programme commenced with Ganesha stuti. A string of melodies enthralled the audience. The performers received a huge round of applause!

The students were beaming with joy. It was their first performance. They thanked their Guru for helping them achieve their dreams. This big day had come after years of hard work and dedication. These aspiring singers always yearned to learn more but their Guru insisted on teaching them the importance of music first. Singing in tune or memorizing the lyrics isn't  enough. A soulful rendition also known as ‘Manodharma’is the ultimate goal in music. How does one achieve that?

Sangeetha in sanskrit means a Good Song. "What makes a song good?" The students had once questioned their Guru. “A song connects the Atma to the Paramatma" she said. “Since the paramatma resides in our heart, sangeetha is a way of worship. He who sings with heartfelt devotion does not have to seek the supreme god elsewhere! Thus a song is a celebration of this beautiful relationship!” remarked the Guru. “There is no competition in music, no one superior or inferior. It is an individual's connection with his creator.”

“Why do we perform then?” asked another student. “Don’t people sing to impress?” He added. “No!” said the Guru.” “We perform to share our joy with others!”

Since then the students had put in their heart and soul into every kriti (composition) they learnt. Classroom had become a centre of spiritual enlightenment. Bhakti rasa, karunya rasa, vatsalya rasa, veera rasa, shringara rasa...so many emotions came alive with their respective ragas. They also learnt about great spiritual leaders like Basavanna and  Akka Mahadevi who through their vachanas(compositions in the form of prose or poetry) strived to eradicate  the social evils such as discrimination based on caste and creed, prevalent in those times. The dedication of the Sangeetha Trimurtis- Saint Thyagaraja, Muthuswamy Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri inspired them to be more passionate about their work.

As they delved deeper into the vast ocean of knowledge their understanding of life improved tremendously. Their vision extended beyond the unseen, unknown, infinite and inexplicable. Their Guru helped them emerge from the darkness of ignorance. Vande Guru Paramparam.

Befriending Solitude

Tic- tock! Tick- tock! the sound of the clock magnified with each passing hour amidst the deafening silence. Life seemed to have come to a stand still. There was no commotion outside: neither people moving around nor the sound of vehicles. The creaky sound of the swing from the park, children screaming at each other, parents chatting amongst themselves, conversations of the outside world had gradually subsided.

Sumathy amma switched on the television. The daily soap was being aired. A family drama which she enjoyed watching many years ago seemed uninteresting, she couldn't relate to it anymore. She switched off the television, bored yet restless.

She thought of completing her pending chores. So many clothes to alter, ladies blouses and children's uniforms. Her fingers were sore , they refused to comply to her wishes after a hard day at work. She sat on the sofa gazing at the wall, her thoughts were the only companion at the moment.

Memories from the past flooded her mind. She could recollect her little daughter running around the house refusing to finish her food. “When will you grow up and learn to eat on your own.” “ I’m too tired now, stop troubling me!” She would often say. Life then had been so busy around family. Today she regretted saying that. Family was something that existed  back then. Her husband and daughter, her world. Every moment revolved around them.

 Years later, her daughter moved to her “rightful place” post wedding, busy making  a new home. Sumathy amma’s world shrunk a little, now fitting just the two of them. Husband and wife both gracefully accepted this new phase. They spent a lot of quality time together, reading, cooking, visiting temples, watching movies, dining out, listening to music and travelling. There was so much to explore even at this age. It seemed as though they had all the time on earth for themselves.

On a fateful day, a loving heart stopped beating. Sumathy amma’s husband's journey came to an end. We all come alone and go alone. Nothing remains except our sweet memories in this mortal world. Whether it rains or shines life must go on.

Sumathy amma tried hard to gather the broken pieces of her life and moved on. There was nobody she could go to nor anyone who needed her. It was against the rules of the society to expect anything from her daughter. “Anaatho daiva rakshakam"(meaning he who has no one is always taken care by the almighty.)-The popular phrase from the Bhagwad Gita  echoed in her ears. She sat clueless for hours trying to find a solution to overcome her despair.

The next day a lady came in “ Hello amma! I just read the board outside. Do you stitch ladies blouses?” “Yes Dear!” she replied, from then on there was no looking back. Sumathy amma was always busy with ladies of all age groups coming to her for tailoring work and petty alterations. Her skills gave her a new lease of life.

The darkness of the night had multiplied with every passing moment, what a long night it was! and well spent recollecting memories. She could soon hear the chirping of birds. What a relief! She was glad that it was time for sunrise! The new rays of the sun every morning, inspired her to live and love life.

A couple of hours later the gnawing silence faded away making way for conversations, queries, cheer and mirth. People came in one by one looking for her.Some of her customers would drop in for a chat and others to get their work done. These customers soon  became her friends and well wishers. Sumathy Amma greeted everyone with her lovely toothless smile. She got her share of happiness BEFRIENDING SOLITUDE!

“In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself!”-Laurence Sterne

In Pursuit of Happiness

“Happy Children's day!” screamed the crazy bunch of friends, as they posed for a video followed by selfies! The entire neighbourhood lit up in joy watching these lovely mommies and their kids, celebrating together outside their homes. What made them special was their enthusiasm and simplicity. Bhoomi the beloved member of the group, distributed chocolates among one and all. Bhoomi , Vani and Savi were the most wonderful souls one could ever come across. Their love for life was amazing. It was their idea to celebrate children's day in this manner, bringing back memories of childhood. Their children too loved this novel idea of having a party with mommy and friends.

The happiest memories are associated with childhood, pure and blissful. As we grow older, we get so occupied with responsibilities that we forget the child in us. That little innocent soul who wants to explore the world, gain knowledge, discover new things, loves people as they are, gets completely engrossed in this materialistic world; forgetting the true essence of life- simplicity!

Happiness lies in small things, we get to hear this phrase quite often! The spiritual leaders talk about finding happiness within. How exactly does one learn to be HAPPY despite all the odds in life? When the mind is engulfed by darkness, heart filled with misery and insecurities. If we look around we can find a lot of unhappy people, dissatisfied with life. Eliminating the darkness within seems an impossible task. That is when people like Bhoomi Vani and Savi inspire us to take a new perspective towards the otherwise mundane life.

The beauty of life lies in simplicity. Spending time with family is more important than spending money on them. Bonding with loved ones over a small cup of coffee and conversation is far more satisfying than spending hours sulking about unnecessary things. Focusing on what to be done today makes more sense than worrying about the future. Asking for help is much better than pretending to be alright. Expecting less and accepting people as they are is more gratifying. Respecting another’s opinion without being offended brings peace. Spending time with people who love you brings joy.  Fill your heart with love for others, let the Ego perish. Be kind and good for no reason. Help people without expecting any favours. It’s the most minute things we need to focus on to find true happiness. Most importantly a positive approach towards life!

“Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with Love, Grace and Gratitude.”_ Denis Waitley.

The BITTER Self

Every individual has a bitter self- the negative emotion. Anger, hatred, envy, the list is endless. Both emotions positive and negative as a whole make a human persona. No individual is devoid of these emotions. Some of them let these negative emotions rule them, to such an extent that they subconsciously harm themselves and intentionally people around. Toxic people: as they are commonly referred to by those who dread their presence.

Understanding and Dealing with a Toxic Person:

Negativity:  They never see the good in any situation. Their pessimistic nature dampens the spirits of the most enthusiastic souls . They always wish the world comes to an end and so do their problems.

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Help them change their perspective and acknowledge the beauty of life

Inflated Ego: Highly sensitive and egoistic, they cannot hear a word against themselves but are very good at picking others flaws. In any given situation they are always Right!

Perfection is a myth they should know. To err is human, bring them back to reality.

Self-pity : “I am the sufferer”; “I am the most hardworking” they are obsessive and cannot look beyond themselves. Using self pity to justify themselves, is something that they love the most.

Everyone has problems, you never know what others are going through. Help them shift focus from "me" to "we".

Envy: Someones happiness reminds them about their own misery.  Others success reminds them of their own failures.These individuals constantly compare themselves with Others, hence remain unhappy!

Contentment is the key to happiness, they need to know.

Revenge: They seek revenge for the smallest acts. Humiliating and laughing at people they dislike, for their own pleasure. Compassion does not exist in their dictionary.

Learning to let go brings peace. You cannot survive with an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth strategy.

Criticism: Toxic people often judge others, they never mind criticizing their near and dear ones for trivial reasons.They master the art of portraying people in a bad light.

The world is full of critics, ask them to be an encourager.

Irrational: They fail to realize that life does not go according to our plans. We need to adapt to Life. Hence Bitter!

Take life as it comes! They need to know.

Dominating: They try their best to control other people's  life because they have no control over their own. Literally suffocating their victims.

Educate them to live and let live!

Inconsistency: They are good to you when the need arises but stab you in the back when they perceive you as an obstacle in their path.

There is nothing more painful than having an enemy in disguise.

One who comes across Toxic people should know that distancing them is not the only solution.  Confrontation is the ideal way to put an end to the troubles they inflict. They can make life miserable if Ignored.

Life experiences are meant to enrich us. Accept the good things as blessings and the bad ones as lessons. Our inability to cope up with the adversities is what makes us bitter. Dealing with Toxic people is quite a task. Healing them with Compassion is the need of the hour.

“ Toxic people will not be changed by the Alchemy of your kindness. Yes! Be kind, but move on swiftly and let Life be their Educator.”_ Brendon Burchard.

Just a HOUSEWIFE!

Soaring past the white clouds scattered, in the vast blue sky was a great feeling. This is where she wanted to be. This is what she wanted to experience- ABSOLUTE FREEDOM. She aimed to reach the sun, moon and the stars. Taking charge as a pilot was a dream come true for Roohi. She was beaming with pride. All of a Sudden! she lost control, the plane seemed to be headed for a crash. She struggled to control the situation, alas!

Trrrrrrink! Trrrrrrink! rang the alarm bell. Roohi woke up startled and breathless,her heart beats racing. She desperately looked around only to find herself at home! Gosh!! Another dream, she was still alive, she pinched her self to make sure this was real. Oh my god! It was time for school. She rushed to wake up her daughters. Dressed them up, packed their Tiffin and sent them to school.

She sat sipping a hot cup of tea, thinking about her dream. “That’s never going to be true” she thought “I’m far from achieving it! Why does it trouble me every now and then!”

As she prepared breakfast for her husband, her mother in law walked into the kitchen. “We will have around six guests for lunch today. I would prefer Punjabi dishes on the menu. Make sure you are done by 1 pm!” Roohi obliged.

The otherwise dull living room came alive with non stop chatter! The guests seemed pretty excited, school friends had finally met over decades. Roohi entered the living room with a tray full of Punjabi starters: paneer tikka and tandoori baby corn. As she placed the dishes on the table her mother in law introduced her to her friends. “This is Roohi my daughter in law” she said. “ You have a lovely daughter in law Seema!” exclaimed a friend. “What do you do dear!” Asked another. “Oh! She's JUST A HOUSEWIFE ” her mother in law quickly replied as though there was nothing else to say about Roohi. “Aren’t you bored at home all day, have you never wished to work?” asked a friend. “Work? I will be very happy if she finds a job but managing home and kids, leaves her so exhausted. I don’t think she has time for a career !” snapped Seema; Roohi's mother in law.

Trapped in the conservative mind-set, Roohi had never focused on her dreams. She was far from being ambitious. She had always been told that family should be a woman's priority. Early marriage and two kids had taken up all her time. She only dreamt about freedom to live a life of her choice! Her mother in law's sarcastic statement crushed her self esteem.

While she was feeding her younger daughter in the evening , her elder daughter came running holding the news paper “Mamma look what I found, there is an Aviation Academy in our city. Why don’t you enroll for the pilot training course!” Pihu knew what her mother had been longing for, she had always seen the despair in her mother’s eyes. “It’s time you pursue your dreams Roohi.” came a voice from behind. It was Aashish, Roohi’s husband. “We can manage ourselves” he added. Pihu  jumped in excitement “ Yes momma! I will take care of my little sis, you don't worry.” Roohi was taken aback by the turn of events.

Before she realized what was happening, she could hear her mother in law screaming at Aashish. “Have you gone mad! You don’t care about your mother. You expect me to run the house at this age? Ridiculous!” a heated argument followed between the mother and son.

The next morning Roohi headed to the Aviation Academy with Aashish for an aptitude test. This was the most promising day of her life. As she awaited her turn at the academy a fellow candidate introduced herself “Hi I’m Neha! Pretty excited to be here.” Roohi smiled and said, "Same here!". "what do you do?” she casually asked the candidate. “Me? I’m JUST A HOUSEWIFE!” was her reply. Roohi quickly shot back “ Do your best today and you will never have to say that again!”

 As Walt Disney quotes “All your Dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them!”