I have not given up...

... I have not given up. I don' think I can or would want to.



Time has not been the central factor. Inspiration has never been one too. However, when too many things happen it is difficult to sit down and pen any one thing. Thoughts keep criss-crossing and you finally entangle yourself while you write.



The recession is doing crazy things to my life. It is cutting down on my aggro, threatening to increase my patience levels, forcing me to look further inwards and making me feel more accountable for my present. By the way, I am quite convinced that we need these kinds of recession from time to time to check our excessive greed. My only worry is that I don't become the sacrificial goat.



So this is what's been happening.



I am still the little child perplexed to see the antics of others. I wonder how people do what they, desire what they desire, and how people has just stopped thinking.



I still remain self-critical and stooped in thoughts of "How could I do this?"



My most frustrating activity of the day is doing the 30-minute drive back and forth everyday. However, BBC's podcast is a great stress reliever during that time.



I have watched innumerable movies, the best being Road to Perdition. As Shailesh, one of my fellow colleague, says, "There is about 1500 weekends left to be used." Which means about 2500 movies before I die.



I also completed the Art of Living - Part 1 course and from Ramdev Baba's heavy duty pranayam have moved onto Sri Sri's Sudarshan Kriya - the 30 minute mind cleanser. While we all take a bath everyday, I am convinced our mind also needs a regular wash.



June continues to outgrow me each day. Some of the things that I have come to admire about her:

• Her desire to always take Mummy and Papa along. Though she is mama's child I don't ever feel neglected.


• Her ability to notice the little things and get curious.


• Her quality of never ever not listening to what I say and never trying to lie.


• And like any other child, she is still my best stress buster.

Her most recent demand is that she does'nt want to ever leave Ami teacher's class. She loves her so much you see.

I have read The Japanese Wife, To Kill a Mocking Bird and am now reading Anne Frank's Diary. I also finished the Hyderabad 10K marathon strongly and there were many moments of high while I was running.

My severe neck and knee pain is a gentle reminder that I am slowly moving on the wrong side of 30 and there would be one additional factor to consider going forward.

Lastly, I will end this piece with this photograph.

Kingshuk Som is second from left.

He completed his MBA and joined ICICI Bank. He recently got an award. We interact a lot and have seen each other grow. There are many parts of each other we don't like at all. We are poles apart in our personalities. And both of us have changed over the years as our respective lives have rolled on the different kinds of meadows.

When I looked at the photograph, I was wondering, "Is that him?" It would have been tough to visualize this photograph if he did'nt send this one to me. Somehow, it was this simple photograph which helped me overcome my second writers block.

Thank you, Lito, and I am proud of you as well.