recipe to happiness

Recipe-

This word has brought me innumerable memories,of tempting meals,of satiating aromas,of garnished foods,of mouthwatering dishes,but in all these there is this particular recipe that has been most close to my heart.
One recipe that I believe I would take with me to my grave.
One recipe that has somewhere somehow helped me be the way I am.
It was the year 2007.
I was working with a not so famous very small NGO(Non Government Organisations).

Aashray-Home for the abandoned.

Every morning we went to railway stations to pick runaway children,some lost and some whose parents had abandoned them and many more of these kinds.
They all were kept in this small 2 bedroom place-Aashray,their home cum basic school.
I went there to teach them,keep them happy and entertain them so that they could feel like a family and have the zest to grow.

They had a very simple transparent process of making food.Every evening the NGO personnel collected whatever funds and money they got and all children some 30 to 40 and the 4-5 people gathered as if like in a serious meeting.And then the staff told the children the exact sum they had and the possible variety of meager items they could buy.
And all after discussing came to an unanimous decision and that particular item was bought.
But whatever it was they ate with wonderful zest not once complaining.
I had heard that many a times they went to sleep empty stomach too.

But being from a reasonably good family I never believed that even now people could sleep without food.

One fine day I was there teaching these children acting.
Soon it was lunch time.The same meeting took place.
As it was birthday of a boy so all wanted to eat sweets.
The special dish at that part of the country was rice balls added with sugar and rolled into balls by using a lot of butter.

This was what the children desired to eat.

I thought the NGO people would surely say NO as this would require a lot of butter and hence would be very costly.To my utter amazement they din'y say no.
And then the preparation started.I couldn't hold my guessing for too much and went inside the kitchen to check how were they able to manage such a costly item when even basic food was a delicacy for them.

And then it dawned on me.

The NGO just wanted to keep the children happy.
I saw there that the balls were rolled using water-plain placid tasteless water.
And then the head told me that although we afford only this we can't make these small young children unhappy.
An hour later this dish was served.The children offered a prayer to the almighty and ate this dish as it was the most wonderful dish ever made.They offered one piece to me too.
Yes,it tasted like the worst thing I had ever eaten but still I yearned for more just because of the feelings that were served in the dish.

That day we friends gave a party to the children at Ashray and later gave them many more.
But it was one recipe that I never know and can never forget.

It was the recipe to happiness.



~Harsha

Salaaam Saab......("Is respect so COSTLY")!!!!!

Few days back I was discussing the aspect of respect with my mother.
We both had been contemplating at this thought since long.
She is a teacher at a school.

And then she told me that sometimes how much more it meant to wish a maid at school
or their school buses conductor than their colleauges
(Although I am not saying we shouldn't wish our colleauges).
Because we generally tend to take these people for granted,thinking that since we are on a higher position as compared to them so its they who should wish and respect us.
And then somewhere I made a mental note to treat one and all with equal level of respect,
the respect that I have always yearned for....

Next day was a friday.
I came to my office.
Before entering into our floor we have to sign-in in a register place near a security guard.
Since the last 2 months I have seen this guard stand up without fail and wish me good morning.I always treated him with respect and gave him a warm 'Very GM'.Actually his standing up seems even more noteworthy me as he is more aged than me.
And then there was this friday.
As ususal I came climbing the stairs running and there he was sitting at my ODC(floor's)entry.
And before he could stand up and wish me I greeted him Good morning.
He seemed dumbfounded.Although he din't say anything like that but the surprise was evident.
For the next 5 minutes while I was standing there and doin my sign in he complemented me on my attire,my shoes and finally wished me good day...

I know he obviously felt happy,but the happiness that I felt was astronomical as compared to him.

Days have passed since then and daily there is a race between us that who greets the other first.Had a chat with these guards.As my office is at 5th floor so when I climb up till here I pass all the guards one by one on each floor.And since there duties circulate on all floors,so it means that at one time or the other we had interaction.

And even today while I was coming up I cud see familiar faces waving me at each floor as I was coming up.It was actually a heavenly feeling.Its rightly said give respect and earn respect.

I know that there are millions who give respect like a gentleman but I have still seen some few who take other ppl for granted,wishing only their seniors or the ones from whom advantage can be extracted.

Even if one person understands this,then I would feel the work is done.
And yup thanks mom for giving me this wonderful advice..


Try it friends,it works..............
You will Actually feel gud:)


Harsha

I learnt

The best things of life aren't learnt in the classrooms,or at religious places,universities,internet

rather these things can be found at even the smallest corner of an alley,a deep crowded road,a wayward slum or even in a million dollar suite(Sounds as if inspired na).........

The only requisite being dat u need not try to learn,needn't try to force yourself,just let yourself serenade,move with the wind and all would be yours and you would be of all...

So,sit back and relax coz now I am about to let you peek into the portal of my learnings

or better my opening up......

TOWARDS KNOWLEDGE..

So,ahoy we go(ALL ON BOARD)

Single line,Stay with me(Gladiator)