Friday, July 13, 2012

Problem child


Here I am, bed ridden with one of the most easily communicable sicknesses, the common cold. In the silence of my bedroom, I seek something beyond the ticking of the clock to accompany my loneliness. I am, interestingly, on a self-discovery mode. Having experienced a cold-prone childhood, ice creams and other cold savouries were told to be my perennial enemies. Little did my parents know that I would outsmart them into including these edibles in my regular diet, so much so that now I am daring enough to have one even on the day of my concerts! Don't get me started on how good I sound on all those occasions ;)
Apparently, they affect the vocal chords over a period of time and the unlucky few, like me, will end up coughing at old age, while Asha Bhonsle would still be judging Indian Idol. But my idea of not giving up ice creams revolve around a totally different logic. I am in the process of making myself immune to them :D . Ok! Stop there, Mr. know-it-all, who is prepared to attack me with a scientific theory that'll prove otherwise :p !

Aruna Shanbaug, around 40 years back, was a smart young lady who planned her life with great conviction, only to be hit irreversibly by fate. A single rape by a sweeper, which was an act of revenge, dented her life forever, multiplying pain and sheer torture by several amounts. While people from all over India visited KEM Hospital to get a glimpse of the 'damsel in distress', she became just another 'object of display'. Captivated in a single room for forty years, it's the spirit in her that keeps her alive and kicking even today! In this vegetative state, all I would pray for her is euthanasia, though I might be denying the hope within her, despite diminishing health. Pinki Virani, a journalist, has written 'Aruna's Story' which is a true account of the rape and its aftermath. She initiated the request to allow mercy killing for Aruna and has been unsuccessful so far.

...and every time I read of such pain-stricken stories, I instantly forget all the pain in my life, which half of the time is in my thoughts rather than in reality. But the fact is it all creeps in once I'm over with empathizing. Our problem is actually our problem and no once can ever get it how much ever they try empathizing. Some smart tweeter had once said that - if we were given a chance to sit across the table and exchange our problems with others, within five minutes we would leave back with our own.

Like Chris Martin had sung in Coldplay's 'For you' .

Everyone of us is scared
Everyone of us is hurt
Everyone of us has hope

9 comments:

Abhilash Sudhindran said...

Huugee huugge fan !! :)

Best wishes for all your endeavours !

Abhi

Neha Nair said...

thank you :)

VVS said...

Talking about pains and stuffs..hmmm..!!! It remembered me about Sunitha Krishnan's Speach which I think I should share here.. Watch it..

http://www.ted.com/talks/sunitha_krishnan_tedindia.html

VVS said...

One more video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gV-RqBcsOE

dudeshere said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jeff Jose said...

True. Nothing surprising. A log of the everyday lives of people. I once wished people to be more considerate towards the sufferings of other people. I wished them to judge regardless of religion, caste, age. There are exceptions, but very few. Nobody cares for the miseries and pains of another. Now, if you ask me if they have to, I wouldn't say yes and neither would I say no. It's the quality of empathy that comes from within your heart that matters. But that's all. Nothing more. In then end, eventually, you are all alone.

Nice, simple write up though. Keep them coming in. Oh, and, big fan of your singing. Thank you!

rakesh n said...

some crazy stuff happening. the guwahati incident now. shameful.
get well soon. stay safe. and yes, u sing real good.

Anonymous said...

"Having experienced a cold-prone childhood, ice creams and other cold savouries were told to be my perennial enemies. Little did my parents know that I would outsmart them into including these edibles in my regular diet, so much so that now I am daring enough to have one even on the day of my concerts!" There is a comma needed between the above 2 sentences and the construction of these words are cumbersome or difficult to read. Take little time to proof-read but other than that you have a wonderful skill in writing. Wish you the very best!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rahul K said...

another well written one neha!
keep writing . :) all d best :)