" Sanjay, limit your drinks intake and know your limit, that is what Mrs. Gupta was stressing on her only son who was still sleeping on a Sunday morning. The son who had just got back from Saturday farewell party at 4am was pretending to be sleeping but was awake.
"But mom, chill out, it was Sonny's 21 birthday and it comes once in a life time. It was not like i am drinking each and everyday," burst Sanjay angrily at his mother. He regret what he had just said after seeing the change of expression of his mother's face.
Well that is the normal thing that happens in the Gupta's household each Sunday morning. Arun Gupta is a high ranking officer with a multinational company which needs him to be away most of the time, leaving everything to be dealt by Mrs Gupta, fondly knows as Rani by her friends. Rani on the other hand firmly wants her husband to stop working and start a small business which will let her see more of her husband. They have a wonderful son Sanjay who has just turn 21. Well like mostly young adults, Rani has had her share of bitter experience with Sanjay who being the only son has taken full advantage of that fact.
One day while searching over something over in the internet, Sanjay come across some old photos which were posted on a social network named "Mukh". It had triggered such interest over the photos that he went on for hours in his bid to search more over the photos. What was that in those photos that had caught his attention so much ? Well it was a familiar photos of a couple in their younger days which looked very familiar. It lady was his mother and the man was his father. They were in their late thirties and both were holding wine glasses each . Sanjay quickly did some mental calculation and he figured he was around two years old at that time. Why was the party there ? Well there were some empty bottles on the table and there were some other people in the background which he could not recognize. Well this was very interesting for him. He had secretly printed the photos and kept it in a safe place. He was smart as he knew that it was going to be very useful one day in the future.
Well to his surprise, Sanjay was caught in a red light district soliciting a prostitute and he was taken to the nearest police office. He was naive to be caught and was arrogant as he thought that he would be bailed out again by his mom. Well Rani did come being a mother when she got the phone call from the police officer and when she reached the station, created such a commotion. Well she did bail out her son and took him back home. She was very silent on the way home to which Sanjay interpret as getting away scot- free but was he in for a surprise.
As soon as the main door was shut, Rani turn back and gave her twenty one year old son a tight slap on the face. She was not only crying but was also very very disappointed. She was wailing like a mad woman. Sanjay just took the slap like a young man he was. He just stood there with tears running down his cheek. He knew it was no point to say or do anything at that moment. Deep down he knew that his time would come.
Arun flew in a few days later. Since the incident, both mother and son had been silent to each other and not much conversation was taking place. Arun knew something was amiss since his wife was extremely silent than usual. Well he was taking his morning breakfast and reading his Sports Section when Rani came and sat on the table opposite him. Well she just told him what had happen and what had transpired over the last few days involving their son. Well Arun being away most of the time was not close to his son, thus leaving Rani to held everything. But this time, he had to put his foot down and have a "man to man" talk with Sanjay.
Sanjay knew something was brewing and that there was something being planned for him. Well he took out the hidden old photo of his parents which he thought would come in handy now if not never. Well he got called by his dad to come down and have his branch together with the family. Well he know way before hand what is was going to be about.
Arun was a man who spoke very little but when he spoke people listened and he was just talking to his son about studies and daily activities when he asked Sanjay what he had heard. Well Sanjay was also prepared and knew the time was now. Well before Arun and Rani went any further about his excursion, he took out the old photo of the couple and started to ask question about it. Well Arun and Rani upon seeing the photo were not only embarrass with the photo. Well Arun and Rani had always portrayed themselves as role models and good citizens but this photo showed the ugly picture of a different kind. Well they were not only shocked that their son could have found this photo but also were shamed by their own son. Well you might be thinking that what is the big deal about a couple holding a wine glass each , well it would be fine if the couple were not drunk and were not decent clothed......
So each photo that you upload over any network site should not come back and haunt you in the distant future. Hope that you have enjoyed this simple yet meaningful story that i have put up. Hope that you got the issue that i am trying to address. Well plain and simple, do not give the future generation an avenue to say anything about yourself through any means may it be a old photo in this case. Thanks for taking the time to read and hope that my indirect message was conveyed and if it was not then it is your lost......:)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
my first wonderful trip to India... will not be , my last ...
Ever since i was a small boy growing up in Malaysia, i have always had a hidden passion to go back to my homeland, India. Maybe it was because i am the second generation born and breed Malaysian Sikh living in Malaysia. Well my first time preparation was in 2009 but it did not happen due to so many reason. I got an email from my friends and packed my bags to Guilin, southern part of China.
Then in April 2010, i made plans again and this time made sure that i had got the tickets earlier and in advance and of course worked hard towards the holiday . And oh boy was it a remarkable holiday indeed. :)
My first time trip to India, and i was warned over lots of things and some of them were, make sure that the drink only mineral water, make sure you have warm clothing and make sure you activate your credit cards of course. Well it was nice to have landed and the journey on the plane was pleasant and comfortable.
Upon reaching New Dehli, i got had made arrangement to be roomed at Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, in the heart of Dehli. It was my first and many gurdwaras in India. Having guru ka langgar in the midst of the sanggat was nice. Here i learned that what ever the guru has provided us with is more than sufficient for our needs. He gives us what we need and not what we want. Need and wants are very much different.
I did not like dehli much as it was hazy, lots of air and noise pollution and of course the traffic was bad . I have been to Bangkok and this is like hundred times worst with the honking and all. Well lets just say i survived!!.
My personal aims for my trip was :
!) Some soul searching
2) A lesson on my past my roots and from where i came from
3) To bow in Golden Temple, Sri Harmandhir Sahib
3) To eat at a fast food restaurant either Pizza Hut or Mc Donalds and of course the local Dhaba
4) To watch a movie in the cinema.
5) To go to the farmer and see the life of a farmer in Punjab
All i must say i am pleased that of all my aims, only no 4 i could not manage to do, the rest i had been able to do.
During my stay in the village, yeah i come from a village called Kishan Pura which is slight off the main town of Moga. Well it is a small town and if u want to compare in term of Malaysia well something like Chemor in Perak. Well is has one main street and along the way it also has many small sundry shops. It is a small village and has one bank, one post office, two gurdwara and mostly the people who reside here are farmers.There are other small pend like dhamkot, janeer and gill.
The life in the village is very simple. They are mostly farmers and work hard to get a good harvest. During the time i was there, my cousins working hard at growing rice. They are very hardworking . Let me cite a case of my cousin sister who is also doing her degree. Her day starts at 4.30am every day. She will first milk the buffaloes and then start with making breakfast. Then after making sure that everyone has had tea will she proceed with having her own breakfast. I mean such hard work and determination really impressed me.
In India i learned that what i took for granted in Malaysia is considered a luxury there. I mean owning a motorcycle is considered a luxury or even for that matter a buffalo. Well having a car in the village of Punjab is very very luxury item. But in Malaysia cars are so so common.
My first step into blogging and only constructive comment are most welcome, after all i am still crawling and have not started to walk in the wonderful world of blogging. So much to learn so much ti digest and so little time left. Time is sure running fast. Well hope you like my rumblings of a teacher. Until next time - think of god and god will think of you, think of wine and the devil will think of you....:)
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