Touch of love

My next door neighbours are an old couple with kids all settled in their lives. They were sceptical when they came to know in the beginning that their next door neighbour is a woman staying alone. As time passed we came closer. Needless to say, I won their hearts. Food started getting shared between the two houses, the lady found a confidante in me. They started seeking my pwhen they faced problems with their PC. We started getting very fond of each other. Then came the shock. They were shifting to another area. As the day drew near, tragedy stuck and they had to go to their village due to a sudden demise in the family. We said our byes and I closed the door. I felt a pinch in my heart but I promised myself I wont think too much, I wont get too attached to them or else I will hurt myself. Love and attachment always leads to pain in separation. Days passed by and I got busy in my routine and practicing getting used to their final leaving when they return and go about with their delayed schedule of shifting. Yesterday, I returned to the empty home and as I proceeded to the kitchen to cook, my cell started ringing. Irritated (I was in a rotten mood yesterday remember???) I rushed to pick the call. My neighbour's name flashed on the screen. I smiled and answered. The next few minutes of conversation was touching. The old lady had called to find out how I was. She said they called because they missed me. I could hear the old man prodding his wife to tell me to eat properly and not to skip any meal. Tears welled in my eyes. I told them I missed them too. I hung coz I did not want to foolishly break down with their knowledge. I switched off the gas and sat down. I could not hold back my tears any longer. Who was I to them? They were treating me as their own daughter. They cared for me. They showed this rebel child their unadulterated love.
In our fast paced lives, does it take too much time to reach out? Appreciate someone today, make that call you delayed for a while today. Egos can wait. Procrastination may mar that relationship. Greet a stranger. Appreciate even a stranger who warmed your heart with even a small gesture. Make a difference in someone's life.
I got up and finished my cooking. The food tasted even better. Maybe its that old couple's love that added up to the taste..........

TIME TO STAND AND STARE

It was a Sunday. Like any other weekend, this weekend too I had planned out my itinerary which was choc-a-block with schedules – meeting the contractor to fix up a deal, meeting the ex-owner of my house to pay my share of property tax, a colleague coming home… Then there was a long list of chores to be done – cleaning up the house, washing clothes, preparing masala dosa for the neighbours… Gosh! No time to stand and stare and woosh.. Sunday is gone. But man plans and God disposes. The ex-owner meeting got cancelled and I rejoiced that finally I had some time to myself. Then I remembered, “Oh No… there is an office report to be completed” It was nearing six in the evening. Grudgingly, I switched on the office lap top. A blank screen mocked at me and the laptop reminded me that it was Sunday and it was enjoying a holiday. The workaholic in me started getting restless. I still had the household chores to get done. I permitted myself to take a 15 minute break and switched on the TV. Nothing interested me. I switched it off and went and sat by the window. The view outside took my breathe away. The sun was setting. The water in the swimming pool in the neighbouring building glistened in the golden rays of the setting sun. The birds were returning to their homes. Everything was so surreal and peaceful. I felt my restless mind calming down. The thought stuck me – I have been staying in this house for over four and half months. But I never really noticed the natural beauty right outside my window!!! My permitted 15 minutes slipped by. I did not force myself to get up and continued to drink in the beauty and serenity. So what if the chores were yet to be done? Life does not end there.In today’s times, our lives are bound by the clock and stringent routines. We really do not have time to stand and stare and soon enough its too late. Take that small break today. It does not hurt to postpone some routines a bit. Life is not just deadlines. Gaze at that butterfly…. Smile at a neighbor….. sit by the sea…. You may never get a tomorrow !!!!