R-E-L-A-T-I-V-E-S

There are so many things that I cant understand in this planet I live in and one among that is R-E-L-A-T-I-V-E-S. How did they evolve? Okay, this I know but things like - did they evolve with brains - is something that has made my mind wonder.

You ask me 12 years back about my relatives then I would proudly tell you that they are my family but now I feel that they are this weird bunch of people who just love to wreak havoc on people. Whenever we came from vacations relatives would throng our houses and my dad like the summer Santa Claus would fling all kinds of "Faareign" things to them. They will lift me and my siblings, pull our cheeks, kiss us and never let our feet rest on the ground. Sigh! It was magical. They would all camp in our house when we leave for the airport and cry with copious tears. All the drama... phew!

Then we came here for good. I was waiting for all the attention and affection and all but where did everyone go? Soon we started hearing things like we don't help, we don't care, we are selfish people and after all they (relatives) have done for us we hardly mind them. Yeah, it tickled my funny bone too.

Recently, my uncle and his family came from abroad, so we and the relatives clan went to see them. I saw history repeat itself when my aunties and uncles were cuddling my uncle's kids, pinching their cheeks and slobbering their saliva all over them. Ugh! I was sick.

That's not all. There is always comparisons as to- 'oh my kid studies better!' or 'look I've got a kid who doesn't have a boyfriend' or 'I have brought up my kids with such discipline!' or 'look at me - I am the best.' I am so tired of such ramblings that I grew immune to it now.

I do envy some of my friends families who have such amazing relatives - they are like this perfect, fun-loving family - being there for them through thick and thin. I don't know what went wrong where in my family lineage. I just hope that my child doesn't write a blog post like this on my brother or sister's kids.

Dear Dan

Dear Dan,

I have learned so many things in life from you. I feel like writing it to you so that it would always be there no matter what. I learned from my life with you that affection need not be displayed and that it can be understood even when you are silent. I learned that having a fight would never alter your feelings or mine, now or forever. After a storm there will always be sunshine. I learned that God is truly love and he lives in us. 

I know there might be perfect couples out there but I love the way God paired us up. Perfect would be too boring. I love to wrestle with you, call you names, talk in the night till I fall asleep and fight for the last piece of chocolate in the fridge. Yes, I love being a kid with you. I find it beautiful that you are weird just like me. I love the way you give me my space, freedom and put up with my stubborn moronic behavior. I love to watch you sleep like a child each morning and I like the way you make me laugh (of course you have made me cry too – I never liked that :D).I love the way your ego works when after a fight you hold me in your arms in the night thinking I will never know because I am asleep.

When people told me that I would be making a grave mistake choosing to start my life with you, I believed in us. I am glad I did. Life was not a bed of roses, but we made it till here. Yes, the first few months were hard but I realized you are just like wine - the older you got, the better you turned out.

Of course you have your anger, impatience, and craziness that comes with the package, but Love does conquer all. Celebrating 2 years of our roller-coaster life together on this day, it just feels like getting married all over again.

The Prodigal Son

"As the Sun rises each day so will I rise to show the world that I am not a gas-bag"

These words were written by a really great person. Any guesses? It was by my brother - Gibson. It might have had a taste of corniness to it before but not anymore.

My brother was, in my words, a guy who never liked to be tied down, totally irresponsible, and a free-willed person. I grew up very close to him. We used to be a pair at home during childhood, always against my younger sister (yeah, we do that now too ;) ) However, as years sped I felt that he had an easy life (atleast that's what I thought). He was the apple of the eye to my dad. He had more freedom than me and my sister and I found that very annoying. When we were in our late teens we started having lots of differences and we fought a LOT. Then he left off to Chennai and as usual being a first-timer in Chennai, he had all the fun.

When his exam results came, he had  arrears in almost all subjects. Professors from his college would call home complaining about his laziness and poor attendance. My dad would be irritated and sad at times looking at his progress. Then he moved into his own apartment during second year and he became even worse with his academics. There was even a time when he was about to be debarred but thankfully that did not happen. He hardly came home, not even during Christmas. That was the time I found his diary, usually kept for writing contact numbers and codes. He wrote this line and also a page of how he would keep my dad proud and come out as a graduate. This he wrote when my dad went to Chennai to join him in college. My dad only went for Gibson's admission. Mine and my sister's was done by my mom. Finally, he finished college with 34 arrears.

Then he felt a little remorse so he joined Sutherland and decided to work and study. In the end he had 4 arrears - all maths. He was allergic to maths. That's when my dad fell sick. My brother took care of my dad for a month, washing his wounds and staying in horrid hospitals. He slept on the floor. There was no greater gift for my dad than to see his darling boy take care of him. I never expected that from Gibson. Noone did. In a month  my dad was gone and I still have the image of how my brother cried like a child in front of my eyes. He passed right the next semester becoming an engineer.

I went to Chennai last week, and I saw him in his car. He has an awesome job and with that he got a second hand car. He could get any car asking my mom if he wanted, but he wasn't that brat that was 5 years ago. He took care of us during our stay in Chennai. I was looking at him talk to everyone with such mannerisms. I felt swollen with pride. I can only imagine what my dad would feel at this instant, he would just give the whole world to him. I saw in him care and affection. I saw a responsible, hardworking, loving person in him that day. That's when I saw my dad in him and tears welled up.You are not a gasbag, I think you proved that to us.

All Work & No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy

Yes, I'm back after such a long time - thanks to my busy work and office life. To all of you who love sitting and hitting the keys 24/7- this isn't what you should be reading. Hey, I have nothing against my job or anyone's , this is my personal opinion.

I'm sure all working people would have come across varieties of species in your working environment- the hard workers, the slow ones, the workers who have fun, the ambitious employees, the 'pain-in-the-ass' workers, the so called 'ass-kissers'... yes loads of 'em. I have seen many and yes, you all must have too. For all those of you who haven't- you surely will. Here's a link to a poem that I really liked. [link]

There is something disturbing in a few. There are people who love their jobs s much that they fail to see the other beautiful things in life. Now don't get me wrong here, work is important but never more than family. So many of them sit late, work extra hours neglecting their closed ones. And I really can't understand WHY? Get a life people! I have made it a rule in my life that I will never sacrifice the time I keep for my family to be invaded by my work. The world has made people think that they have to keep competing with every living soul on planet earth to be someone in life. That's crap..you can be someone by focusing on your family and close ones for a start. Why work on a Saturday when you can take your kid out to a beach and have your wife holding your hand, or have a laughter filled get together with people whom you forgot even existed during your 5 days of bee life. Never give up your family for a measly good name or extra pay.

I know so many people who just work their entire life away from family and country and come for just 30 days to spend with their home. I just keep wondering what do they really earn in life? Their kids hardly love them and it takes a while for them to even understand ' hey, it's my dad/mom'. I know for some people its different and they just want to provide a better future for their kids.

Don't ever keep your work above home. Always spend how much time you ever can to bond with your household. Never say a no when they ask you to take them out during weekends and don't ever unleash your stress and anger on them. I know my dad used to do this and now we are so closely knit that we have to talk to each other every day no matter where we are. And I want to have an exact same life. Do the work assigned to you instead of being overtly smart and everything will click at the right time.

In the hope of winning something don't lose everything you've been gifted.