Good old days

Almost everyone has "those good old days" that they wish would come back to them.

Impeccant, carefree days of endless laughter, boundless fun, trueness, faith, love, and friendship; that had the strength to do wonders. 

Those days when you didn't have to care about practically anything and anyone.

Days when you could curl up comfortably in a warm- cozy blanket with your bestfriend after having played in the rain for a really long time.

When almost everything in your world would shine with the smile of that one bestfriend of yours.

Times when you didn't know what and how to cook, but you would still exercise your nonsensical culinary skills and make the most inedible foods but would still eat, just because you're too young to handle money (to order food from outside) and you're too hungry and nobody's home.

When school homework would get over in 2 hours (just because you're so brilliant) and then theres all the time in the world to talk, play and laugh. 

When you didn't have to think twice before saying something, only because talking out loud was as good as talking to yourself, or talking to the mirror.

Days when there was no one to judge you by the way you looked, the way you dressed, the way you spoke.

When you could laugh loudly and don't feel shy about looking like a demented horse. 

Days when innocence, sisterhood, purity, trust, hope and love was the order of the day.

Yes, those were the times. Those were the days, the good old days. Sumi.

The mid-night silence.

The mid-night silence knocks at my door, waiting to hug me in the dark.

It reminds me of your charming words and of your beauteous touch.
your aura still lingers around, im surprised for its gotten too far.

The mid-night silence knocks at my door, waiting to hug me in the dark.

No, I don't want to respond to it tonight, for it brings with itself the awareness of your absence; making the hurt overtly agonizing.

But the mid-night silence still knocks at my door, waiting to hug me in the dark.

Maybe it knows about the vacuumed crack that's plunged by the absence of your jollied self. But that's nt where silence or loneliness is to reside, for what'll stay there is the never-dying desire to see you again and fill in those gaping holes with the alive beams of your laughter and love.

The mid-night silence knocks at my door, waiting to hug me in the dark.

And while it waits in the dark to embrace me, i embrace the acceptance of your absence tonight.

Know God or no God?

Religion. It indeed is a deep subject, something that the average teenagers and youngsters don't usually talk about. There are ofcourse more important and significant issues to be discussed, the peppy pink dress that the wicked girl staying next door bought, or the new haircut that Shruti's bestfriend got done, the new girl Rahul is running after, or the new phone that Payal's wanting to buy. Oh, the issues never end. The little substantial topics like these hold absolutely no prominence!

However, today, while going through something on the internet, i came across a photograph of a supposedly religious guru, Asaram Bapu, wherein a girl, purportedly her disciple, was sitting on his lap and his hands seemed to be in a compromising position. Now, i don't know about the verity of that picture. But yeah, I saw it on the net.

That somewhere sparked a discussion with a friend, who happens to be an atheist, a hardcore believer of godlessness. The discussion began with the existence of the agnostics- people who claim that they cannot have true knowledge about the existence of God, but at the same time, do not deny that God might exist. To this, he said that this is exactly the problem of people, they need a middle ground to rest. They don't have the guts to defy his existence because, to put in layman's language, they're simply God fearing. Maybe he's right, or maybe it's because you don't always necessarily have to be an extremist, you can at times, stay moderate about a few things in life. Like how I'd put- the ones who'd have the prasad and the aarti, but never light up a deepak by themselves. 

Now, this is actually a fact, there are not many atheists in hinduism. Most of the Hindu homes would have a corner devoted to Gods, a small temple. However, atheism in Hinduism is an old pick too. He sent me this link to support his view- Atheism in hinduism. He complained, "Why are these teachings of the Vedas kept hidden from us by the learners and scholars of Hinduism? When the concept of atheism has been prevalent since ages, then why do these gurus blame it on the influence from west?"

Well, true. Atheism is not a new idea. Im sure it's been there in existence  ever since the concept of God's there in the world. With light, there's dark, always (in no particular order here.) But the westernization too might be a major reason. Indians are known to copy, it's sad, but true. Like how there are those wannabe taporis with a cross (Jesus) around their necks, for absolutely no rhyme or reason. They wear it solely to look "Cool." They may have never visited a church, but they'd always be wearing one. On similar grounds, there'd be a lot of people who'd irrationally call themselves "atheists" and a say few harsh dialogues against the almighty to get themselves counted in the league of the "smart" ones from the west. It's all only about pretension.

Some time back, I was sitting with two friends, Priya and Reena, late at night, talking about everything and anything. Reena had a book on Buddhism with her.

Priya- What's this that you're carrying with you?

Reema- It's a book on the theories and lessons taught by Buddhism. My mum and me, we follow it. It's done wonders to us. 

(and she went on describing the ideologies and hypotheses of its teachings. Because, i'd read The Bhagwad Geeta and The Ramayana, i had a basic idea of its lessons; and could easily see the similarities between the two. But i didn't want to be the intruder, so I only listened.)

Priya- This seems to really very interesting. Can i borrow your book for a week? I want to read it. Also, if you could tell me about some of the sessions on Buddhism, so that I can attend a few?

Reema- Sure, I will let you know about them.

That conversation ended there and Reema handed over her book to Priya. 3 months, and Priya has still not touched that book. Neither has she bothered going to a single session of theirs. 

Why did she show so much interest that night? Not because she genuinely felt a connection, but because she simply wanted to try some thing new. It honestly doesn't matter what the concept is, all that matters is if that'd gain you some kinda popularity! Or earn you some good comments and remarks.

Religion literally means "A strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny." Today, almost anything is being done in the name of that Almighty! Right from taking money to breaching laws and trust and taking lives. His name is merely a name now, the meaning is somewhere snatched outta it. Everything's come down to showbiz, nothing's spared any more. And sad enough, religion is no exception.