Unmatched relations…

Meditation the newest mantra in this world of chaos .This mandatory ritual of our work place was supposed to make us more stress free (most probably it was to bear them). 20 minutes of sheer waste that's what I thought of it. I could productively use this time to download a music or play a game or WhatsApp. Why waste it on a thought less mind. After all isn't an empty mind devil's workshop? This thought amused me and I really wanted to know whether a devil resides in my mind so I closed my eyes to meet it.

It could be because of a casual remark by a colleague about women's day or a conversation I had heard before....my mind shifted to the many women in my life. My mother, sisters, sister like, girlfriends, wife. Everyone made their appearance on the reel of my mind and like a slow motion movie did their roles to perfection and left. My mind went blank. We have relations hence we love them, I wondered would these women have cared for me if I was not related to them.

Today on the eve of women's day I would like to fondly remember the two very special female relation who are more than just relations to me both have a hand at making me more healthy. Because of one I quit smoking and the other one brought down my habit of drinking. The irony here is that I started with these vices also because of women .At the age of 20 I lost my first love (that is if school days don't count). She disappeared as suddenly as she had appeared. I replaced her with drinks. The second one brought with her a series of mysterious tales to the extent that I wondered whether she was real. To reduce this tension I took to smoking. Soon smoking, drinking and I became inseparable.

I used to smoke in my quarters, my neighbour was a very pleasant lady living with her family. Whenever she would pass my door to her flat I could see her twitching her nose. The strong smell of cigarette bothered her. A casual acquaintance became a small friendship when she brought me a cup of tea after a tiring day. One day she gifted me a cigarette lighter. She openly made it clear that she knew I smoke. I justified saying that it was only few in number. Her tone was reprimanding, her voice gentle, her expressions caring and her attitude loving. I quit smoking. I had fallen for her genuine advice.

My second experience is in relation with my drinking. I made friends with a family near my work place. They were a family of four I used to call the gentleman my elder brother and addressed the lady as my sister. It was easy for the bachelor me to get along a new place with people of my own community. Soon we became good friends. Drinking became a pleasurable activity and soon an addiction. From having a bottle at a time to making a complete fool of myself I used to wander in-n-out from sense to senselessness and back. I don't remember how many times but it was always this family friends of mine who used to make me comfortable. After my mother I found her to be the most hospitable person I ever met. She never argued or advised me to quit drinking but she was always there to look after and care for me after it. Be it a cup of coffee after the hangover or gentle words of love and kindness she was always there when I needed her. I have not quit drinking but today I don't drink as much as I used to because I know nobody will care as much as she did.

The office bell rang signalling that the 20 minutes of meditation was up. I am more peaceful today. I realize the power of women. They are inborn with a caring nature. They care irrespective of a named 'relation'. I salute all women for their tireless, caring contribution to our society.

Happy women's day