Life is a struggle

Well yes. The title says it all. Life is a struggle friends and we all know that already. But now, after dabbling a bit in astrology, I can prove it through the planets. Every kundli or birthchart has malefics and benefics. Saturn (Shani), Mars, Rahu, Ketu usually cause the difficulties or ups and downs in various areas of our life depending on which 'houses' they 'aspect' or see. For example, if Saturn is in your first house in the birthchart, it will see the 3rd, 7th and 10th house. 3rd house stands for relatives like brothers, relations with them and also communication. 7th house stands for marriage and hence is one of the most important houses in the chart and lastly, 10th house stands for karma/work life and fame. Typically, Saturn in first house will make you face problems in these areas of your life. Your marriage will be delayed, your job may be stressful or not give desired results soon and you will not have good relations with your brother/s. This is ofcourse based on a very generic understanding. In the same way, every chart has its benefics like Jupiter, Venus etc. If a person has a strong Venus in his/her chart then he/she will enjoy all the comforts and luxuries of the material world. A strong Jupiter will give the person respect in society. Ok, I will stop with these anecdotes now since my idea was to just give you an example of benefics and malefics and not to get into indepth astrology here. Coz I am not an astrologer. Period. My reason to write was of a more philosophical one. Like sometimes, when I see people suffering or pining for something/someone in life and that includes me, I wonder which 'house' or area of their life is troubled that has made them shed tears. We all (or atleast the idealistic ones like me) want to believe that there will be atleast someone in this world who will have the perfect life, the perfect partner to die for, the perfect job with wealth flowing in, the perfect children and ofcourse the perfect health. But more and more as I grow up each day from summer to winter solstice every year, I realise that such an Utopian world is impossible to exist. We all have our faults/crevices, our gaps and loopholes that make our life whole and put it all together like an entire book. As I already mentioned, every birthchart has its Saturn and Rahu and Ketu alongwith its Jupiter and Moon and Sun. These are not just planets or heavenly bodies out there in the space. We feel that how can they, so far off in the space affect mere mortals like us on Earth. But then how do you explain the ebbs and surges of waves with the movement of Moon. These planets are worshiped in few religions for a reason. We, as Indians, have heard of Shani ki Saade Sati and Mahadashas. I know some will laugh at my post shirking it off as a rambling on astrology. But think about it, when you hear of divorces, job losses, you do give your birthchart a thought. You may not show it to an astrologer, but the best of intellectuals I know fear Shanis and Rahus in India. So again, the point of writing this monologue is thus, a man/woman cannot escape suffering. The only control button that you have is of your own 'free will'. The circumstances around you will be on God's will (planets and their positions/aspects) but the reaction to it is purely upto you. Whether you want to murder your boss for firing you or whether you want to simply search for a new job, whether you want to adjust and ignore the smaller differences between you and your respective spouse or march out of the court with divorce papers. That is why, it is difficult to predict future because future is changing every moment based on our actions/reactions to situations. And even though a human being is very small in the larger scheme of things for the universe, this particular universe was made keeping the small human being like us in mind. God cares and that is why he aspects through his tools (read planets). Never can you change the tides and upheavals in your life but you can always control and act your way out of a sticky situation by acting rationally and not foolishly. Adios Amigos!

that

A story

The world was lost around her as she walked the road enclosed in the colour of night. A lone figure with open hair dangling till her waist covered the moon face of Soumya. She was determined this time, to not turn back from the freedom she so longed from this dreaded life. Rudra left her for another woman in his office and life did not bless her with the love of children. After Amma died, she was heartbroken and empty inside. Job was never an option thanks to a congenital heart condition since birth. She knew her husband wanted to murder her so that he acquires the Bandra flat under her name. That truck accident was not merely a coincidence. She knew the man behind the wheels. It was an acquaintance of Rudra. Rudra's disappointment in seeing her survive the accident was clearly visible in his eyes. “So why should I live?” Soumya told herself. The rat poison did not do its job that day but today jumping from the bridge will definitely work. Suddenly Soumya sees a dagger in front of her. A brawny man holding it. The steely dagger glistening in the light of the street lamppost. “So Rudra wont even let me die on my own terms. “How desperate can someone be to see a person's end?” she thought aloud.

इंतज़ार

कोई दोस्त बनता है तो कोई प्यार,
किसीने मेरी रूह को छुआ और किसीने मेरा दिल।

एक के साथ मैंने कई सपने देखे 
और एक के साथ मैंने कुछ और सपने पूरे किये।

इन सब उलझनों मैं,
इन्ही करामातों मैं प्यार कही खो गया।

बस रह गयी यादें, उम्मीदें और एक टीस।
एक टीस जो चुबती है इस खालीपन मैं।

मेरे कर्मों पर रेहम कर मेरे मौला,
मुझे इस खालीपन से बचाले मेरे मौला।
दुनिया की जन्नत भी इसे भर नहीं सकती,
इसे प्यार से भर दे मेरे यार।

ऐसे ही कब तक चलती रहूंगी मैं मंज़िल के इंतज़ार मैं,
राहों से भी तो दिल बहलाना है मुझे।

नूरला, लदाख

एक अलग ही दुनिया मैं आयी हु मैं।
'Indus' जिससे 'India' को अपनी पहचान मिली,
नाम मिला
उसे देख रही हु मैं।
उसकी शीतलता और उसका रौद्र रूप दिखा मुझे
पहाड़ों को काटता हुआ रास्ता दिखा मुझे।
यह नदी ही है जो देश की सीमाएं अनदेखा कर दे।
दो देशों मैं पानी बांटे।
एक अलग ही नज़ारा है यहाँ का।
इस देश की बेटी हु मैं
पर अलग सा लगता है मुझे यहाँ।
पत्थरों के कंक्रीट से पहाड़ों के बीच।

कितनी अलग पहचान है लदाख की,
कितनी दुर्लभ है यह जगह।
इनको समेटना चाहु मैं अपनी आँखों मैं,
पर नैनों की सीमाओं के परे है यह दुनिया।
फिर लगता है इसे यहाँ छोड़ दू और
अपने तरीके से जीने दू।
चलना होगा अब मुझे,
नए रास्ते की तलाश मैं।
चलते ही रहना है
नया सूरज खोजने,
एक अलग दुनिया की तलाश मैं।

Ladakh Travelogue

Tonight I ate Laddaki special 'Chutake' for dinner with tomato soup and momos. Food can never be a problem for people traveling to Ladakh.

Nurla, a place after Alchi, offers a spectacular view and stay near river Indus. It also provides a good one and a half hour trek to a village on top of a mountain complete with waterfalls and a Shiva temple. It was here, where for the first time, I tasted pure glacial water from the small rivulets running to meet Indus.


Ule
↓
Nurla
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Alchi
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Village - Taargaon

शिवालय

जब देखती हु गोरैया को तो पाती हु तुझे।
 जब सुनती हु हर चिड़िया को,
जब रंग निहारती हु, तो लगता है
तू समाया है उसमें।
जब देखती हु उत्तराखंड को,
तो तेरा तांडव दिखता है।

जब देखती हु शीतल नदी को
तो तेरा प्रेम दिखता है।
जीने का मकसद भी देता है
और मरने का भी तू।

हिमाल बुलाये मुझे बार बार
कभी बर्फ के बीच
कभी बादलों की छाओ मैं
कभी अपनी खिसकती मिटटी मैं
कभी अपनी शान सी ऊंचाई मैं।
कभी दिखता है,
हिमाल हरियाली के बीच,
कभी सिर्फ पत्थरों मैं,
पर तू ही है जिसने
हिमाल है बनाया
और हम ही है जो बिगाड़ते है इसे।

हिमाल बुलाये मुझे बार बार,
मिलना है इससे काफी बार।
वक़्त है कम पर देखने है हिमाल के कई रूप कई रंग।
और कुछ देखूं न देखूं,
पर मिलूंगी तुझसे मैं कई बार।

मन करता है
तुझे समेट के ले जाऊ
अपने साथ अपनी नगरी।
पर वह कैसा प्यार जिसमें तू खुश न हो।
आउंगी तुझसे मिलने मैं दोबारा,
और कई बार,
इतना पता है मुझे, मेरे हिमाल।

Pangong Tso

After a long break it was good to see unexplored, pristine mountains. Pangong Tso, a place open to tourists only for six months, teaches you that nature's beauty lies in its naturalness. Such unspoiled crystal clear water, it's hard to imagine that this lake turns into a long sheet of ice during winters. That the only humans seen here during winters are the villagers who pack their food supplies beforehand like ants. Behind the mountains I can only imagine the Chinese border that holds two thirds of this beautiful lake. Visit to such miraculous places makes life worth living. I think travelling is the best anti-depressant. I am fortunate to experience the beauties of Earth and understand their worth because I am a human being. A stay at Pangong Tso is a must for every tourist visiting Ladakh. It makes up for the entire rough ride. The colour changing waters of Pangong Tso are magical to the eyes of a Mumbaikar and having no network connection is the best part. This place brings out the philosopher in you.
If you are the types who prefers quiet time admiring nature's beauty then a stay at Pangong Retreat Camp is the best bet. Otherwise the more common and popular option is Martsemik Camp. The distance between the two is 20 kilometers and a rough road.