Finally, the first post on my blog!! After one whole week of pondering as to how good the beginning should be, i sat down today in front of my computer, determined to write SOMETHING here, however amateurish or stupid it might sound. And i really could not have found a better day than today to start writing my first words. Why?
No, its not because its a heavily-clouded, damp saturday afternoon here in Bengalooru, which is not fit for doing anything.
No, it really is not because i am sitting at home, alone, with no other work than to stare at my Facebook page or open a few random sites.
And no, it definitely is NOT because I believe that the positioning of planets and stars might end up giving me brainwaves on this day.
Well, I think the title of this post says it all. Todays the day that starts the 25th year of my existence here - the completion of two dozen years filled with happiness, tears, hugs, farewells, heart-breaks, laughter, and every other emotion possible.
Years where ive found lots of wonderful people to share my time with.
Years which have taught me everything - from science and mathematics, to trust and friendship, to humility and loyalty, and most importantly, taught me that its not enough just to "live, and let live", but rather to live with love, and let others live happily by sharing the same love around.
Years which have taught me the simple fact that for everything that goes up, there has to be something which automatically comes down. For every laugh that has been laughed, there is a corresponding tear being shed elsewhere. And that everytime there is a group of people partying at one place, there are equal number of people mourning in another place.
This brings me to a set of questions that i had never contemplated before.
Today is my birthday.
Is this the day I spend celebrating a year thats gone by?
Yes
Is today a day with cakes and candles and birthday songs?
Yes
Is this a day where i spend time with people near and dear, and a day filled with wishes and happy thoughts?
Yes
So, is today a happy day?
Erm... NO!!
Surprising? Well, if you follow my train of thinking, i doubt it will be. Mind you, the question was not "Is today a happy day for me?", for which the obvious answer would have been a big YES. But the question was more general. "Is today a happy day?". And the answer is a definitive NO.
While its been a day receiving calls and messages which has kept me smiling here the whole day, this day (very sadly) has been marked as a black day in the history of India. Today is the 3rd anniversary of the attacks at Mumbai, which claimed more than 150 unfortunate people.
While its been candles on cakes here, its been candles in front of graves at Mumbai.
While its heart-thumping songs of joy and merriment here, its heart-wrenching songs of loss and mourning there.
While here i stand blowing out a lit candle, making silly, riduculous wishes, there people kneel laying down lit candles, and asking for one small wish which can never be granted.
While i am here smiling, waiting to receive gifts from people standing next to me, there are people there, only wanting those people to just stand next to them.
Is this a happy day for me?
Yes
Is this a happy day?
.....I think you can answer this now.
Now that i have finished my first post, i think the title of my blog seems a lot more clear. It is these simple riddles, these small thoughts which drive a simple mind like mine to experience what i have never experienced before, to understand what ive never understood before, to feel what ive never felt before, and to become a person that i never was before.
Signing off with a smile, a wink and a bow.
Enigmatically yours,
VAH
