Distance between Life and Death is so small ...literally

This happened a couple of days back.

After a normal , monotonous and tiring day at office , I was on my way back home . Normally , the traffic at around 11 in the night is quite less but on this day , it was a little unusual. There were more cars,bikes and cabs than on any given day at this time trying to speed up to their destinations with no traffic policeman monitoring the traffic at the signals.

The moment I crossed the first traffic signal , I saw the roads getting cluttered with cars and two-wheelers and in no time everything came to a stand still. Some of them were following the sides to find a way to move ahead. It was getting cold and I wasn’t enjoying my ride on this cold day after a tiring day at office.So ,I followed the vehicles moving towards the sides. I was trying to see the road ahead , when I saw a Jeep parked, or rather abandoned, lying skewed on the road. I also saw some people standing in a gathering. It didn’t take me long to figure out that it was an accident . Normally, at least a dozen times in a month I find bikes banging into cars , skidding or auto rickshaws brushing the sides of the cabs . Eventually , things regain the normal course , like the great Raj kapoor said , “ The Show must go On!” . So I thought this would also be another “routine” accident . With all these thoughts hovering in my mind , I was trying to cross the site when I saw a policeman squatted on the road making a few markings with a piece of chalk and scribbling something in his notepad. I was anxiously watching the movements of his hands trying to figure out what he was trying to draw and then Goshhhh !!! , I saw this man , about 35 years old lying in a pool of blood,next to the policeman. This was freaking scary.A fresh accident which happened just a few minutes ago was what I witnessed. The skull was crushed badly as if someone had hit his head hard with the full force in this universe , on the road. The mouth laid wide open eyes gaping towards the sky and his brain had popped out and was lying on the road . You rarely get to see these unwanted, unfortunate and bloody incidents but when you see them , you are forced to realise the fact that death sometimes is so ugly and life is so bloody fragile!!! . For a few seconds, I went completely numb , forgot that I was riding on my way back home . Finally, the honking behind me brought me back to where I was and I somehow gathered my senses and moved ahead. Though all this while , I was frequently turning back to see that man.

Thoughts of all kinds were there in my mind. Was he a techie like me ?? What about his family ?? They must be waiting for his return. Though I was OK by the time I reached home , but while I laid on bed to sleep , the whole incident again came into my mind. You know what. All this made me realise that this gift of life doesn’t come with a warranty . Live life to the fullest. Live every moment of life like there is no tomorrow. Listen to your heart and do what you love to do.

The next day when I was returning from the office , I was passing through the same place where the accident had happened the day before. My eyes were constantly on the road to see that spot where that man lied dead. I could see a piece of cloth kept on the road with few scattered pebbles around it. It seemed to me the cloth was kept to cover something. Probably , it was the brain of the man who had died, lying on the road waiting for the municipality sweepers to come and sweep it of , to make the road clean again for the commuters.


That’s life !!!

Time for a change

Well not too long ago , my eating habits were completely messed up. There was no scheduling for any meals. Moreover I used to gorge over anything that was edible by the humans . This kind of haphazard routine started affecting my other activities as well . It started affecting my work and sleep as well. Though I must say , I wasn't like this since beginning.But 8 years of staying away from the family took its toll over me. Home cooked food made by Mom became like a dream for me. As they say , what you eat is what reflects in your body.Pot belly which is an unwanted by product of this kind of a life style is something that's really frustrating.You only realize this in the trial room of your Levi's store!!!

It was high time . I decided to change.Due to the change in work timings and working late till night , I am hardly able to see the early mornings the next day. Previously , I used to skip breakfast because of this. But now , I make it a point to eat something soon after an hour I wake up.Sometimes its 11.30 in the morning while I have me breakfast , but still I take it. Previously, the lunch used to be heavy and full of oily stuff .Now I rather prefer for something light and in optimal quantity so that you don't get that drowsiness feeling. snacks at around 6 pm comprising of fruits and juices as well at times has also found its way in my daily routine.Also did I cut down on the number of tea breaks in the office . Trust me the machine tea/coffee made up of skimmed powdered milk is not good for stomach.

since its quite late by the time I reach home, I see to it that I take my dinner asap which is again not to heavy.Then I probably read something or surf on the net as one must not sleep immediately after meals.No compromise on sleep .No matter what time I sleep , 8 hours is a must.Though its not a long time that I have started following this routine, the results are more than satisfactory. I also feel that there is an increase in the energy levels in the body. It has also helped me to reduce a little weight as well. I am sure with each passing day, things will improve and I shall be able to get back the body and fitness which I had when I was in school :-)

The reason why I wrote all this is because there would be many who might just correlate their routine with mine(previous) and are willing to opt for a change now. Remember guys nothing is impossible. Its all about making a choice

Trip to space for $20K

Move aside bungee jumping and Rock climbing. Get set go! space tourism is here for you.But is earth not enough for the tourists and adventurers that this whole new concept of a 4 min joy ride has evolved . Well this would surely be the latest "cool" thing for the bigwigs and a dream for the "still to reach there" types.What's more interesting is that there would be dedicated centres all around the world for the booking of tickets as well , just like the regular holiday package booking centres.Is it worth it ? well only those who would have experienced this unique and one of its kind voyage can tell that.That is simply awesome.We all must have used the Google earth software at some point in time or the other at least once and I am sure all of us must have been looking for our houses , the roads on which we travel and spots in our city.Imagine when the whole virtual , buffered and coded earth would translate into the big real Earth , watched by your gleaming eyes ,stunned and stoned !!!(though you wouldn't be able to see your house , unfortunately , our eyes cannot magnify objects in a 2X,4X,8X fashion). Imagine watching the big geographical structures like the great wall of china , the rivers, the forests,etc. and trying to identify them. What's more fascinating and exciting! Out of sight at escape veolcity and experience the zero gravity feel. All I can say is WOW

When Dennis Titto became the first "leisure traveller" in space many thought that the guy had too many bucks to spend or he must have had an unfulfilled dream to become an astronaut in NASA.Not many would have thought that this feat of his would give rise to a whole new revolutionary era of space tourism.Now that we would have the booking centres in India, I am quite eager to know who these bunch of guys would be to give it a shot. Not surprisingly, there would be many sensible guesses - the likes of ambanis,tatas and birlas.Not to forget the cricketers too.

If man ever successfully concludes his experimentation on Mars to prove that its possible to for humans to sustain and life can exist symbiotically, happily and peacefully,then this whole idea of space tourism would definitely be a stepping stone towards that long awaited journey to travel to Mars and shift to his new apartment !!This may sound like exaggeration or a far fetched conclusion but this is definitely going to be something on which the "cosmic" brains of the world would be looking at. It wouldn't be a surprise if after 20 years from now a trip to space would be something well acquainted with people and would cost lower that what it is today.Every desirable and better than the rest thing in this world is getting commercialized and cheaper. Take the example of air travel.Then at that point in time if existence of life on Mars is proved possible and rational, space trip would definitely be extended to the next destination - Mars .

Having said all this , I would like to admit here that even I want to travel in space .Now that I know its very much possible and up for a grab , the craving is more.The only setback is the M factor. I desperately need sponsors.Doesn't matter if its for 4 minutes only,those would be the 4 most thrilling , exciting ,adventurous and one of the most unforgettable moments of life.

God, are you listening????