The Disappearing acts of Differences

I think now I will never understand the true differences which may arise due to caste, country, or religion.

Why can't I see them like most of the orthodox people? Why do I only see a human and not a caste or religion?

Experiences of my life have taught me only one thing. A good heart can be found in anyone. Caste or religion has nothing to do with someone being righteous and brave and honest.

I did my graduation in a college in Haryana. The first time I had to travel back alone to my college, I missed my stop. It was 7:00 in the evening. Dark. Cloudy. And I was on NH1, with no one I knew, in Haryana. Where we have the notion that women are not safe at all. I was in an shared auto. A young man asked me why I looked worried. I told him, that I had missed my stop. He asked me to get off where he got off. I was scared. I checked my phone, and noticed there was not much battery left. He was a jaat. I was just a fresher in college, with no clue about where I was. He told me to cross the road and take another auto back to my stop. It was already dark. He waited with me there. Autos came filled with men. Terrified I was. I thought, I would never be able to reach back to my family again. The young man was on the phone. He called his brother, and asked him to get a bike. Horrified I was. The bike came. He told me he would drop me back to my hostel. I had no choice, but to trust him. And so I did. He dropped me back to hostel, told the warden he was my cousin and I had lost my way. I got into no trouble, and reached back safe and sound. A jaat. On NH1. I never met him again. He never asked for my number. He just made sure I was taken care of. Wanting nothing in return. And he somehow saved my life that day. I have met the meanest of jaats, I have met the sweetest of jaats. So not every man in Haryana is going to take advantage of a lone woman on the road in the middle of nowhere.

Most of the people I meet, have issues with people from different religions. Marrying someone from another religion is such a huge issue. But why? I have been cheated on by a man who belonged to the same religion as I did. And I was in a vulnerable state, when someone from another religion had caught my attention. He knew all about my past, and if wanted to, could have taken advantage of my vulnerability at the moment. He did not. Till date, all he tells me to do, is not let my past affect my present. Him belonging to another religion didn't make him that bad. He is one of the most nicest person I know till date. Rude sometimes, but honest nonetheless.

So isn't that what we all look for? An understanding? Love where one understands exactly what you are going through and not take advantage of the situation?

Prejudices just hinder our development and make us close minded. Yes! We should be safe and be smart! But to stay in hiding because someone is from a different caste or religion. That will never make any sense to  me. I m glad, that I can look beyond prejudices most of the times and meet wonderful people. Maybe life is given for this exact reason. To understand that the difference you see are not of any importance at all. It is the similarities that we don't see, which matter the most.

The Lost Global Citizen : Part 1

For years, thanks to my dad's job I have been around the world and witnessed in true sense what people call the cultural diversity. I was born in Yemen, and of course I don't remember much about Yemen, but yep! That is where I was born.

I started my schooling in Russia. I went to nursery, and I used to speak fluent Russian! I don't recall that either, but yep! That is what I used to do! I remember the beautiful Russian house-help we had, Natasha. Tall and beautiful. She would smoke while she and I traveled back from school to home. I was amazed. My mother had never smoked or had a drink in front of me. I stole one of my dad's cigarette's and hid it with my toys. I would try smoking one as well! I was six. Fortunately, I forgot about the cigarette and my mother found it before I could. I was questioned, for obvious reasons. I told my mother how I saw Natasha smoke. To that my mother answered, "We are Indian women beta. We do not smoke or drink alcohol." And those lines are now etched in my mind. Even when there are times I do try to smoke, I remember what my mother had said, almost 20 years ago.

So for then, being an Indian woman meant to me "NO SMOKING. NO DRINKING". I came back to delhi, and was there for two years. All I can remember from those two years is that I learnt to skate, and I learnt to accept my mistakes and be ready to face the consequences. I had not done my homework, and the teacher was punishing children who forgot to do their homework. I was young and naive. When she came to me, I got up and put my hand forward. I said, "Mam, I have not done my homework. It is my own fault." She asked me to sit down. I was spared from the beating.

Then came the USA. What did I learn from three years there? I learnt not judge. I was only 9 years old, but I could see the cultural difference. I realized by then, somethings were welcomed in a certain culture which might not be liked in another culture. I was sitting next to children from all over the world. And sitting there all I realized was that we might eat different cuisines, might go to different places for worship, may dress differently. But all we really wanted was a holiday and less homework. There was something common. So, I stopped judging the 9 year olds who were dating or cursing. I accepted the fact that they are brought up in their own certain way. And as long as no one was getting hurt, I accepted them as they were with no judgment. And with the virtue of not being judgmental came one more notion to my head : " It really doesn't matter what other's think of you, as long as you know what you are doing is right" .

Boy! Did that get me into trouble or what! I was back in India, in school. I had turned into a tomboy then. I had been introduced to basketball in my Gym classes in New York. I was damn crazy about basketball. But apparently everyone in my class would play volleyball. I started playing basketball on my own. And what followed was a storm of boys. Puberty had just kicked in. Of course I had crushes! But never on the guys who I played with. Big damage to my image! But didn't stop me from playing basketball nonetheless. Eventually I interacted with the girls in class, managed to top among the girls and attained third position in class. The wonders that did! There I learnt one more lesson : " In the end, if you are successful, people will accept you no matter who you are! " .

55 Word Story : Distance

She put down the phone and closed her eyes as a drop of tear made its way out. The doctors said, "We are sorry, he is no more.". But he still was there. Her father's warmth was still there. She still felt protected. The distance might have had increased, but the love could never cease.

55 Word Story : Possession

She frantically searched the drawers and the wardrobe. Nothing. She looked under the bed, behind the curtains, in the bathroom. Nothing at all. Then reality hit her and tears started to roll down her rosy cheeks. She realized that all the evidences of his existence had disappeared. Her most prized possession, her man, was gone.

55 Word Story : GOSSIP

Chinese whispers. She knew the game too well. She knew how the final message was just a manipulation of the initial one. And that is precisely why she didn't care what people thought of her and was never to quick to judge. She was wise enough to know, gossip was the "GROWN UP" Chinese whispers.

55 Word Story : MAGIC

Her imagination ran wild. A little magic, and her problems and stress could disappear. Such thoughts brought an evil smile on her face. Until, her imagination ran so fast, that the magic burst through her imagination and entered into reality. The sudden surge of power was now horrifying. If only she knew, imagination fueled magic.