Salt and Pepper

A few years ago , I saw a malayalam movie called "Salt and Pepper" , it was a movie about a foodie and how he stumbles upon another person and how their sapiosexual relationship evolves. It was a nice compilation of a few parallel short stories .  Life is nothing but stories , short stories , long stories and never ending stories . All stories have a takeaway for each one that relates to us subconsciously.  Stories help make the subtleness of those emotions become more prominent . Travel makes me observe these stories more often . Since the time I wrote last , I travelled a bit more . Today's blog is short but smaller , deeper stories . 

Myths around Non Violence : In one of my train journeys , a co-passenger joined my cabin late in night , she was accompanied by a security officer, possibly a bureaucrat or a businesswoman . She didn't know her seat numbers , i helped her look it up in the app . In a few minutes the TT arrived and she hurled her subtle abuses, harsh criticism and condescending expressions on the TT for not displaying a chart . This TT in his late 50s (this lady was in her mid thirties) , relentlessly threatened him, I intervened because I was uncomfortable with this situation when there was hardly an issue. To me , the word "Violence " originates in "Violation" , it doesn't mean just hitting someone or hurting physically . Violence is non contact and verbal too , it's a violation of one's self respect . In a little while , I opened my packed dinner and as social gesture asked her  if she wanted to join. She replied in her condescending style " I am a Jain, so no onion and Garlic food" . In my sarcastic way , I asked her , why , what violence have onion and garlic done ? She obviously was ignorant of the verbal violence she just exhibited . It is a fallacy that only men are violent , to me , The Tongue is a sword , The Mind Is a Tank, we all are violent , the art is to manage your level of violence . I am hurtful in my expressions too but I am cognizant of the fact that my Tongue is a sword , even whatsapp messages can stay in memory and the hurt they cause can stay . If one notices , all artists are quieter people because they carry a lot of hurt . What's bad for the heart is usually good for the art . Some of that hurt is due to the verbal violence . People who assume they are non violent are not cognizant of the hurt or healing words can cause . There is a huge impact spoken and unspoken words have , Draupadi's words caused the beginning of a war , later she begged and pleaded protection from Bhisma because she knew if someone could protect her from public disrobing, it was him. Bhisma wouldn't even understand the spoken words of Draupadi . Had he understood the words at the right time , said and unsaid , the war could have been averted . The term  language is  incomplete in expression. it doesn't mean just words, script and expression , it is beyond words, the expression of heart is more powerful than the language of words.

The "Feham" फ़हम - This Urdu word has always connected with me a lot , it simply means understanding but in fact also means percolated wisdom . It is used in the context of conviction as well . It is used in two words , Galatfehmi and Khushfehmi , which is misconception/misunderstand and illusion. In Urdu literature , Feham is a very personal intellectual fingerprint which is constantly evolving. I always look at how Feham is evolving for myself and people around you . The world is such a noisy place. Loud, haranguing voices keep lecturing me to hustle, to improve, build, strive, yearn, acquire, compete, and grasp for more. For bigger and better. Sacrifice sleep for productivity. Strive for excellence. Go big or go home. Have a huge impact in the world and make your life count and Yada Yada . To me Feham is my own self without makeup , making peace with my worst self . It's about defining myself and making peace with the fact that I am a Shining and Diminishing soap bubble. To me , The universe is always playing a music , a music where instruments are energies , I try and listen to the local musicians, listen to music and enjoy the rhythm or at least make peace with the rhythm. It's an effort not to be another person, not to wear someone's costume and not to wear makeup to hide my own self . Life is about focus, there are always a million thoughts at a time , we are always in rewind mode , fast forward mode or in Pause mode. Sometimes , we just Look and not See , we Hear and not Listen. Feham is about being a listener of universe ,focus is Feham. 

The "Investment" Portfolio : Every day , one is inundated with financial advice calls and calls . Everyone has best advice on how to make "safe" and fast growing investments so that one could use that money at a time when it's needed. Money is now seen as an  omnipotent power , but has human life been completely enslaved by the power called money ? In my travels , I often see people who don't have a huge focus on production , accumulation and consumption of money , yet very happy . In Amritsar , I wanted to buy some books , found one old small book store on Hall Road . I asked to see some Hindi books or books on Poetry . We started to talk on my interests . I mentioned to him that I had been to the partition museum . He mentioned that he was from Sahiwal (thats where my grandparents are from Girot- Sahiwal) and was a retired school teacher . His brothers and him owned the building at some point in time . I looked at the building and noticed that there were Banks and restaurants in that building and asked him if he received the rent for it . He explained that he only owned the little 100 sq feet shop . He was employed in a school , didn't receive his fair share of area from his brothers and after retirement opened this book shop . He has three daughters , One a police officer in Chandigarh , One dentist in Gurgaon and third one lives in US . As conversation progressed , he ordered a nice chai , it was raining and freezing cold. I asked him if he had retirement plans . He replied , his wife passed away a few years back and he lives alone . He owns a scooter only  and cooks for himself . He goes to Durgiana temple on way to shop every day (shop opens 365 days a year) . He said something that will stay with me . He said , I haven't saved any money after my wife's death . On my way home , to shop or to temple , I come across 50-100 people each day , ex students and friends , who wish me well . If I die in the shop or home or in the temple , I know I will reach the right place respectfully , what will money do ? Made me think a lot in my bus journey , there are three kinds of investments and accounts , Financial , Blessings and Karma. Blessings from others keep you happy and safe . When the bus just misses hitting you by a whisker , you just used a blessing investment . When you loose something dear to you , you made a reconciliation with your Karma accounts . God is the master accountant of all three accounts , He is the CAG . How are we doing on these three investments ? 

Today a Bulleh Shah Kafi ; 

Rabb Rabb Karde Buddhe Ho Gaye , Mulla Pandit Saare .

Rabb ka kuch siraa na labaya , Sajde kar Kar Haare 

Rabb taan tere andar vasda vich quran Ishaare 

Bullehshah Rabb ohnu Milsi , Jeda Apni Nafas Nu Maare 

and a song ..The words ....

Main kis nu kive byaan karaan, Apmaan karaan ja  ahsaan karaan.....
 Mainu samajh nahi apni hasti di, Bheekh manga ja daan karaan...