Dil Se

Relations today are simply fair weather It is only money, money and money that matters There is no kith there is no kin Money wins over everything. We are embedded with the dirt of lust and greed It makes us forget our own breed Who says blood is thicker than water Relationships now are cold as cement and mortar. Kill each other, grab with all the might What need not even be our right ‘‘I am the owner of all I survey’’ Is all what we would love to say With all this can we get away God cannot let it be that way. How can we build our base on other’s right Does our conscience never bite Surely we know the wrong we do Then why do we do, all that we do. By wrong means the things we acquire Will never be there when we require Easy come and easy goes All that will remain are tales of woes. Our near ones listen But pretend to stay clear They will always say They cannot interfere. They pretend to be nonchalant But play both sides using their talent They enjoy this drama from a distance But will not be of true assistance. No one has the courage to say what is right Each have their own reason to fight To trust ones own has become a crime There are crooks roaming a dozen a dime If you are trusting you are called stupid The world today is of the crooked There is no respect for age or relation When it is power all is forgotten. Deeper and deeper we fall into this pit Where are all our values? Simply forget it A messiah today is what we need To remind people to do good deeds If then the crooks still wear the crown Then God almighty will have to come down.

Do not drown in the pool of disappointments When things don’t go your way do not waver Reach the bay like a good swimmer Surface to brave it out Soon, very soon you will be the winner. Never let things bottle you down Or ever dampen your spirits For if everything went just your way No excitement would there be in each new day. God has his way of doing things He knows for us the best What today may seem really bad May later be so right and just. Hard work is never futile Results may sometimes take a while Never shake your faith in Him He will guide you through thick and thin. In His council you keep your case All your problems He will face You will be free and happy then To face the world with new zeal again.

Said one friend to another ‘‘destiny is what you make yourself’’ Said the other ‘‘destiny is what God wills’’ Said the friend ‘‘as you sow so shall you reap my dear’’ Said the other ‘‘what has to happen will happen, its clear’’ Said the friend ‘‘those who helps themselves, God helps them’’ Said the other ‘‘but when helpless, who comes to help? Only Him’’. Down the lane they go for a walk On the way they have this long talk Along passes a car in the heavy rain And there darts a dog across the crooked lane Under the car is crushed, his body Whom does he belong to? Knows nobody. He was destined to die this way The car was the means used that day Can destiny be what we make ourselves, Oh Lord But what we make of ourselves is also destined by God. There is a child, for basic needs he cannot pay He studies under the street light, comes up the hard way No one can deny this as now he has all the money That he has made his own destiny. We work hard, we do our bit God on his side will not forget it Together it works hand in hand Remove one the other cannot stand Destiny is in both these hands

How often are we in this dilemma To go by the rules the head lays Or follow the path the heart paves. If all went by the heart and its feeling The world would be ecstatically reeling Full of spontaneity, love, cherished by all A living paradise. But alas this is only a fantasy The reality is not this to be Instead often cruel, cold and calculative as can be. It is the world and the people in it Who by their actions and reactions Transform you bit by bit. You end up often taken for a ride By friends whose rules you do not abide Their avaricious attitude makes you wonder Doing anything for them must be a great blunder. You think hard and mind comes into play The heart takes a back seat now all the way The beauty and spontaneity is now wearing away Careful treading has come to stay. Have the courage to be ourselves – never to change later Because of the cruel actions of a few crazy The bitter sweet pain of the hurt is better Than living in the garb of hypocrisy. There is no dilemma then, believe me If you let your heart pump the body The head then will also show the way With all this and a little more – a rejuvenated person you will be.

If expectations are what we have Disappointments we sure will get When aspirations are what we go for Desperation becomes the fate. Contentment is what we need But resentment comes to the fore Serenity is what we should wish for And wish as never before. Our leisure is all missing Our hobbies are forgotten and gone We are running a mad race Wither to? Knows no one. Take a break – rest a while We have actually forgotten to smile There is more in the world than run to the top Enjoy the nature – just try and stop. Look at the trees, feel the breeze Sing with the birds - admire the seas The skies are blue, the grass is green Why don’t we understand what they all mean? Simple luxuries created by God We have not given them enough thought Worldy pleasures is what we strive Is this really our goal in life? We want this, we need that We cry for this, we shout for that We expect this, we get that Always short of this and that. Transitory things are you and me Then why all the fight, where’s all the need There is more to life, just try and ponder Look beyond and there is heaven yonder.

As we are celebrating our 50th Wedding Anniversary this year, a young friend of two years of marriage under her belt asked me about some experiences I could share and tips I could give for a successful marriage. So I thought of writing this piece – “Metamorphosis of Marriage”.

Inspiration from Gurbani ‘‘JaapSahib’’

“Japyau jihn Arajun Dev Guru phir sankat Jon garabh n ayau”

For Fluffy, I will never forget you

For my parents 60th Anniversary