Smile !

Smile ! :-)
Offers Nothing But Smile !
"Hey your blog name is about offering smile and you have not posted any article which offers it...why? " ...... So here it is.... Smile !

Smile, the word always reminds me of my all time favorite movie "Life is Beautiful". The way Roberto Benigni teaches his son to smile at any situation come across, no matter how critical it may look. The only thing which can make you stronger when you are in difficulty.

Have you ever been in the middle of an especially trying day when someone, unexpectedly, gave you a smile that lifted your spirits? It's a wonderful experience, but did you know that smiles can come in different forms?

"Kya har hasi ke piche hamesha khushi hoti hai Babumoshay?"...as Kaka said in Anand. Smile ! It may not always means happYness( no "i" ...yes "Y"....after watching The Pursuit of HappYness, I changed my way of writing this word ). The collage made above( thanks to flickr ) is self illustrative how different feelings that SMILE can express. It could be full of Wonder, Dreams, Satisfaction, Cunning, simply Joy, or sometimes it may cover with Sadness. Even while thinking of someone SMILE just comes to your face, unknown to you. It relates to your heart , in fact, I would like to say "Smile paints your Heart on your Face".

In physiology, a smile is a facial expression formed by flexing muscles most notably near both ends of the mouth, but also around the eyes.

We all have come across through this phrase : Smile! It improves your face value. The sentence set me thinking of the immense value of stretching our cheeks with such difficulty sideways a bit, a rare catch in this present-day hectic, tension-ridden, hurried and harried life. We have no time to smile at others but nevertheless find time to laugh at others. Its the biggest close-up smile (laugh).

They say that face is the mirror of our thoughts and it reveals all the feelings and emotions hidden deep inside. And smile adds glow to our face and grace to our personality. To express anger, it is said, we strain more nerves, while to smile only a few nerves are put to work. With a charming smile, we can do wonders. Others are put to ease with a sweet smile and they feel we are more closer to them. A mere smile even without uttering a word, reveals affection, appreciation and at times, sympathy.

Some people manage at least to grin like our air-hostesses. Of course, the latter add an artificial Namaste too. "Laughter is the best medicine." May be because it eases our tension, helps unwind the pent up feelings, and often forget our worries at least for a short period.

A smiling face gets instant welcome. Though the person may not be of much worth otherwise, the smile makes up the difference. It creates a pleasant feeling in the mind of the onlooker. It helps the person to establish a good impression. It shows the attitude of the person and willingness to lend a helping hand.

Smile has its own wonder. It enlivens the atmosphere and creates an envy in the minds of the neighbors, to put the ad way 'neighbors' envy, owner's pride"! They say a sprightly child is an asset. We put up a smiling face ("smiling bravely") in adversities, in moments of sorrow (feeling in depth) and during other trying periods as a social obligation. Then of course we can smile away certain embarrassing questions or avoid any commitments by using this harmless signal!

For the salesmen, this is an indispensable work tool he can not do without. It is his survival kit, a preface to the gift of the gab he might possess. This can even be described as a bait for his daily bread! Sometimes if we are not quite welcome, the greeting takes the form of a broad grimace. We no doubt enjoy a hearty laugh. But what we actually wish to have the last laugh on certain tricky issues!

With a flash of smile and being vivacious, we spread exuberance around. It makes the gathering scintillating. Like we score a little more mark in the exam simply because of our neat handwriting. In life too, we gain more marks by a cheerful smile and thereby expressing an agreeable face. A tremendous amount of goodwill is gained through this seemingly simple gesture.

If you wear a big smile on your face just before you say goodbye to somebody over the telephone then they will "hear" it. Don't ask me to explain that. All I know is that it works. You can just tell. Experiment with a friend. You will see that it is true.

Most important benefit of a smiling face is ease of relationship in family. It generates optimism, energy and a keen sense of belonging spontaneously. This collectively leads to togetherness. Isn't that what a family is all about?

In the end, I would like to share one poem I came across about Smile

Infectious Smile

Smiling is infectious; you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin
When he smiled I realized I'd passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile then I realized its worth,
A single smile, just like mine could travel round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected
Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!

Keep the smile going by sending Smile, on to a friend.
Everyone needs a smile!!!
Keep Smiling :-)

-Harshal

Public Holiday !!

Raghupati Raghav Rajaram....my cellphone started ringing and unwillingly I had to leave my beautiful dream in halfway.I drew my head away from a shawl and by the time I picked that call, I missed it. I dragged my legs out from bed and I turned towards the monitor balancing myself from early morning laziness. I hit the chair and switched on my computer. "On 30th Jan, the day on which Mahatma Gandhi was shot...IITM enjoying rock show...what a pity...shameless people...".....this two lines of status message caught my attention through half open eyes. First of all rock show was over 29th night only. On 30th , some fusion music and hip-hop band were performing. But still I got his feelings behind that status message.

I strongly disagree with his statement.Why shouldn't we enjoy on such days? Do we need to stop all our work for it? Why??? I don't think it is necessary to sit down at home dumping all our fun time, work time. I know many of you won't like my thoughts. Those may be out of your so called Moral Respect towards national Heroes. But try thinking other way and ask one question to yourself "How many times have you given 'Shraddhanjali -bilkul Dilse'... to them on such occasions?? " I am sure atleast 90 % of you will answer NO to this question. Why do government keep national/ public holidays for such days? Just to relax at home ?? Take a break from office, studies ?? Why ?? ( This doesn't mean that I don't like holidays ;-) ...) But the purpose of keeping day off is not satisfied. So why is it against of so called Moral Respect ? Why should not we enjoy on such days? If you want to remember our national Heroes then just keep one day for remembrance to all and on that day you show your respect towards them.

P.S. - If anyone want nokia keypress ringtone for Raghupati Raghav Rajaram.... then write that in comment. I will post there.

Random thoughts

I know I'm sitting jobless and still have a trillion and a half things running on my mind. My current state of mind is so haphazard that I can't even bring it out in the form of words. No no, these aren't my mood swings. Call it multi-tasking or simply the lack of ability to streamline one's thoughts and think coherently to put up a proper post. In simple words, call it just an excuse.
The rate at which am watching movies has reached its zenith and the rate of socializing and networking has perfectly balanced my state of ennui(so bored...just trying some uncommon words :p). With the newly acquired musical collection, I couldn't be more busy!
Have you ever felt that you could be surrounded by a huge group of chattering people, yet felt lonesome ? And be with one person and find hours evaporating into seconds ?
And why is it that when you need people around, all of them are either busy or not reachable or are onto things that obviously make u feel measly.
I don't wish to live in this moment !
Hope is a misnomer !

The End !

I don't know how to start this story...like most stories similar to this one, doesn't have definite start. This incidence happened with one of my best friend recently.He is a straight-forward, calm guy. This post is based on the conversation I had with him. So little background about it, till he realised the feelings he was completely changed. She had started coming through his poetry, his dreams, in everything. Like all so called lovers he started experiencing sleepless nights, dreaming about her always, started watching SRK's typical stupid(?) movies , lost concentration in studies and what not. He couldn't hold his feelings longer and he finally decided to tell her everything he felt.

On that day he reached at the pre-decided venue 5 min.s before time. She arrived there and looked for him but she couldn't. Suddenly he came forward and gave her surprise...she was totally shocked and happy to see him. His mind was completely out of his control...he was not able to speak with words...just smiled towards her and they both got inside restaurant. A beautiful track from Saathiya was playing, favourite of both of them. Few minutes passed, no one was speaking a single word. Finally she broke the silence and started conversation. She kept talking and he was only listening and observing her. "Hey, today also I am late. Complete 9 mins late. Sorry...really sorry."..."Its ok, chalata hai", he replied with smile as usual. She asked in little serious voice, "XXXXX, promise me one thing."... "About what?"..... "Promise me, you will not leave me though I do any mistake. Irrespective of all my mistakes ,you will forgive me. Promise me... you will be with me whole life." After listening all this, he got little bit shocked, " Yes, I won't leave you whatever may happen XXXXXX. I will always be with you. But today, why are you asking me all this? " Smile came on her face and she answered," Thanks...thank you very much... I just felt somewhat nervous today that's why I asked you. really lucky I am." ..."Hahaa, its ok stupid.",he smiled. They talked for an hour and then she asked him, " You are going to tell me na , who is she? I couldn't guess...tell me na.." ... "hahaha...wait na..I will tell you". "ok".
He was somewhat circumspect. " Why your hands are shivering? Shall we tell them to turn off the AC? Are you ok na? What happened? ", she questioned him watching his situation. " Nothing re. I am fine. Aisehi bass. I think now your favourite song will be played- Tu hi meri shab hai", he smiled. And what a surprise , same song had started playing. He was thinking good mood has been set up, really nice..this is right time to tell. Both smiled. "Are you going to tell me today or not?" ... " Ya, ya...I will tell you today only. Just wait. Listen to the song, after that I will tell you"...And then finally the moment came. "You wanted to know na, who is she?..That person is you only"....Total silence...."Wait..don't look at me for few minutes. I don't know what to speak"..."ok...", and he turned his head...no one spoke for 10 minutes then ,"Arre I am not that good re. You are too good in fact best ...I never realised your feelings.", she covered her face with hands....again silence spread but he got the answer from her face. He was totally lost, completely down. " Do you want me to speak something? "... "No, I just wanted to tell my feelings and that I told. I don't want to hear anything."...His voice was down, he just stopped breathing. Its really hard when something like this happens. Still his face was smiling but he was crying inside. She held his hand in her hands. He felt somewhat relaxed by her touch....felt like she had kept her hands on his heart and stopping its fast beating. "XXXXX, I will never leave you. I will be with you till my death comes. ",she expressed her feelings. But he was not able to say anything at that time, he just closed his eyes....He took back his hands from her. He felt like someone is tearing away a part of his heart same time. At that time song playing was also one of sad song- Bheegi bheegi si. So much pain he was experiencing with fake smile still on his face. Again for some time no one was speaking. Then he changed the subject and chatted for an half hour and they left the place. While taking leave he realised that he had forgotten to give DairyMilk that he had brought for her..he took that out from his pocket. ohh no...its condition was just like his heart. Still she took it from him and they both left.
Next day I went to his place asking about what happened . I asked him," arre tell me yaar, what happened yesterday? and why are you upset? forget it yaar...ye sab chalta rehta hai..relaxed buddy"...." Arre Harsha, you will not understand all this and I can't forget re...and I don't want to forget too...Those are the most beautiful moments I ever experienced in my life. I can't forget them. Harsha, I am not upset at all( he smiled towards me). I am happy...arre I am lucky enough yaar..at least I didn't come to know her sandal number....", he kept his head on my shoulder and he started crying like little boy.

Note: One request, if you have identified HE or SHE in the post ..then please do not disclose their names in comments.

Faith !

After searching movies for half n' hour on DC, I ended up downloading movie TROY (starring Brad Pitt as Achilles...he is just awesome), I was going to watch it for one more time. But this time as I was watching the movie, I was thinking about new aspects I realised after watching it. I liked the movie a great deal even though it was long. It was very entertaining and loosely based on Homer’s The Iliad, along with Greek mythology. So long as it’s even close to how the ancients thought about the gods, it’s enlightening. The confidence they had when they spoke of the gods of Apollo or Poseidon or Zeus was absolutely amazing to me. According to Greek mythology when Achilles was born, his mother, Thetis, tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the river Styx. As she immersed him, she held him by one heel and forgot to dip him a second time so the heel she held could get wet too. Therefore, the place where she held him remained untouched by the magic water of the Styx and that part stayed mortal or vulnerable. Achilles died from a heel wound as the result of a poisoned arrow fired by Paris. To this day, any weak point is called an “Achilles’ heel”.
Aha....don't think that I am going to write everything about TROY....that was just introduction to what I am going write. The idea I want to discuss is the Concept or faith in Almighty GOD... Almost everyone has faith in HIM. I was thinking that , am I superstitious ? Do I blindly follow some signs or what? ya.. I found out myself superstitious to some extent. I do many things though I know doing those really won't change anything . But still my mind can't controll myself at that point of time. That point is perticularly exam time. If I do well in first paper then many times ,it follows that I am going to wear same dress through out the exam. I really don't understand why am I doing this. This is completely unrelated to exam but still I do it most of the times. Umm...one more thing..in this semester , I happen to eat one cadbury before many tests and the one on which I didn't , resulted in bad performance. I know that eating a cadbury will not make my paper better than how it is gonna to be. Still I eat it , just for a blind faith. I know that I am not the only person who do all such stupid acts before exams. I have seen many doing very arbit kind stuff before exams....writing with perticular pen, to listen to perticular song before leaving, to take same pad for writing and many like this ( you can mention your habbits in comments, I would love to read those. )
My question is, why do we do all such stuff though we know the truth? is it just because of fear that make us to do these? ....I think its not the fear which drives us . We just think that doing this things will not make any harm so whats the problem. Doing these kind of things only boost us psychologically. What is Faith ? Faith is a spiritual substance. When you have this spiritual substance in you, it communicates to you a certain inner knowing that the thing you are hoping for is certainly established, even before you see any material evidence that it has happened. Faith only raises your confidence level and make you feel comfortable with the tension you are going to handle. So have a faith in something you believe and enjoy the life as it is going.................
-Harshal

शब्द माझे संपले ( गझल )

::::::: शब्द माझे संपले ( गझल ) :::::::::

होंठ माझे जोडले, अन शब्द माझे संपले...
तुज समोर पाहता, शब्द माझे संपले...

ताल ह्रिदयी, लय श्वासाची, सर्व काही हरपले...
रात्र माझी जागली, अन शब्द माझे संपले........

सांजवारया सोबती जे, गंध तुझे; मज स्पर्शिले....
आसवे सोबतीस आले, अन शब्द माझे संपले....

ह्रुदयतली तळमळ कशी तुला मी दाखवू.....
मन बोलु लागले, अन शब्द माझे संपले.......

अंतरीचे गूढ सर्व, आतच-आत दडवले....
सांगू कसे तुला मी, शब्द माझे संपले...

व्यक्त केले सर्व भाव, किती कवितेत लिहिले....
आता तरी समज तू, कारण शब्द माझे संपले.....

----------------हर्षल पाटील ( मेघराज )...............

OneDay Matram ?

"Hey machchaa, are you comin for Vande Mataram's screening??"...."No da, What will I do goin over there?.. pack da..." this was the conversation I had with one of my fellow hostelite on 7th sept. Yes, September 7, 2006 to mark the 125th year celebration of "Vande Mataram" creation. "Vande Mataram"...two magical words.... the national cry for freedom from British oppression during the freedom movement.

Why politicians are compelling to sing the song Nation-wide?.....Is it so necessary that singing few lines for a day will create spark in our mind and will motivate us to do something for nation??...After that conversation I went back to my room, unwillingly skipping the "Vande Mataram" screening program in CLT. I laid down on bed thinking of what magic was there in these words during freedom movement and now those are being used just for political fight?......after googling I went back to origin of 'Vande Mataram'. Around 1870, the British rulers of India had declared that singing of 'God Save the Queen' would be mandatory...At that time Bankimda wrote it in a spontaneous session, and those became the word to fight with British Raj. Means song which was originated because of compulsion of British song, today giving birth to controversy for compulsion of itself...what irony...Why people don't understand that compelling such things won't create patriotism...is our pride for nation limited to 'ONE DAY MATRAM'??...What difference will it make by singing a song for a ONE DAY and then fighting over presence or absence of 'X' personality( who is not even having Indian Origin) ?

The point is whether to celebrate it or not? Even on someone's Birthday we try do things as per one's liking, then what is wrong in singing a song for that day? Why some people went on street protesting against 'Vande Mataram' and sung 'Sare Jaha Se Achchaa' ? If our first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad had declared that 'Vande Mataram' should also be given equal status with 'Jana-Gana-Mana'....'Jana-Gana-Mana' song written for praising to a loyal welcome of George V on his visit to India. And the otherone 'Vande Mataram'....song to fight against British compulsion....then why people are fighting with it? Even our first ever national flag bears 'Vande Mataram' on it. What will affect you if you sing that song for ONE DAY MATRAM....? Nothing will change na? On 7th Sept. controversy, I will only say that , if you are compelling 'Vande Mataram' then you should sing that everyday....why only ONE DAY ? and those are opposing 'Vande Mataram' , they should at least sing it for ONE DAY.....at least show some respect to nation by singing it on its anniversary.

Vande Mataram, Jai Hind!

-Harshal