Why?

Why are we so bitter,
Why are we so annoyed,
With small things,
Surrounding our day to day life.

When we all of us know,
One thing for sure,
When you eventually die,
Nothing almost nothing can come with you.

You won’t even remember,
Who said what!
Who accepted you with open arms,
Or who criticized you every single day.

You won’t even know,
Whether you were a success or failure,
Or how much money you added in the wallet,
Or simply spent every last penny.
(1)

You won’t even know,
Whether you gonna die,
Is it in the corner of your room,
A hotel or any super specialty hospital.

Yet, we walk through life,
As if we know it all,
Assuming our belief/rituals are perfect,
And it is above every other person.

Yet, we want our children to learn,
Keep our traditions alive even if they are reluctant today,
When all of us know for sure,
That once you go, you simply go..

You simply go!
Leaving memories behind,
Friends/Family who would recall your words,
And feel the empty space you would create.

So all you can do while alive is “TRY”
To fill each moment with countless memories,
That brings a smile on people around,
And make stories worth sharing with others.
(2)

By,
Tulika Jyoti Vardhan.
5/4/20

COVID 19 Impact

How COVID 19 will change our thoughts/beliefs forever.

COVID19 A New Normal | Work From Home | Digital Work Space| Home Schooling

I would not be lying if I say that I am totally consumed by COVID-19 and every small news affects me in one way or another. Never in my life I ever seen a situation where everyone is trying to maintain a distance as much as possible and staying home. Despite having all the freedom in the world. People are ready to give up maids/household helps just to stay safe. For those who can’t avoid going out are taking all necessary precautions.

You will have people walking wearing a mask on roads and there was a time when even in peak of pollution chaos in Delhi NCR this was not taken up. Avoidance of mass gathering is considered, and families are avoiding birthdays/parties/Puja/creative classes etc. I have a kid who is 6.5 years old and he also understands that he is not supposed to play out till month end. Hopefully!

Even if it goes off it will leave an impact in more possible ways we can imagine.

• First and foremost, we all will learn and appreciate the work done by our house helps/society helpers/security guard etc even with the money we pay them. If they don’t come for a day or two, we panic. With a lock down of weeks slowly we have adjusted to this routine and learnt to most of the work by our self. Things will never be usual self again.
• Ordering food from outside or eating out was common once or twice a week but now we are all eating inside and making most of it. Social Media is flooded with videos and post with respect to cooking. Especially with easy to make snacks items for kids. From baking to Dalgona Coffee everything is being tried at home with all available ingredient.
• This curfew like situation which has come up without any political mess up or any war. It’s unbelievable how things have unraveled over the past few days. You go to a grocery store and you don’t see any items used in your house on a regular basis, you get scared of things to come. From hand sanitizers to surf to fresh vegetables etc. This is much more than shortage of onions and salt which we had earlier.
• Prices of all essential goods will increase, transport cost etc.
• Wearing a mask would seem to be a new normal and instead of looking with a surprise we would be more considerate towards the person. This would be more like a norm as some would wear it against pollution and some would for cough and cold. Whatever is the reason we won’t be surprised if this becomes a part of uniform. 
• If we come to know that someone is sick the easiest thing to be done would be call up the person first and check on the person rather than visiting the person. Sad, but now I don’t think if someone falls sick, would be getting the level of personal attention we got from friends outside our families.
• Home schooling, will come to limelight and you never know in India also there would be a process and acceptance of students who are home schooled. Very recently I was inquiring with a teacher for my son. She said, she would take a web based or skype call to teach. Ofcourse at that time I refused to do the same. Now I think this would be a norm. As video call gets more accessible and cheap to people this would be very easily done. This is already working well in U.S.A and other developed countries. Would soon be very much possible and affordable. Kids will adjust to this video conferencing studies through Zoom or any other channels.
• We would keep washing our hands , avoid touching face as much as possible. 
• Any cough/cold or fever would be checked immediately to avoid any complication or issues. Even now I had to go through a CT scan and what came out was a cough due to Pollen allergy and season change.
• We would not be able to eat street side food with the same zeal and enthusiasm as we used to do earlier.
• Work from home is now a necessity as going to office is extremely difficult and may not esquire any questions hence forth. Neither it would be looked with anxious with a claim that your life is so easy as you have wok from home. We must understand that work from home makes you do more work than a normal day. Plus you don’t get a half hour lunch break/coffee break etc. No one to talk to and discuss the issues. No personal touches. 
• Going forward we would all think twice before touching any one or shaking hands. Hugging would be out of question apart from near and dear ones.
• More respect for people who clean your house, your roads to places you work at. This is required more than ever especially with so many diseases roaming around just to grab a host. 

More than anything else we must change our behavior and thoughts to support each other in good or bad times. May not be in person but through phones/emails or videos. Doctors/Medical industry would make lot of money as anxious parents would rush to them for consultation. I vividly remember when I was growing up no body bothered to take you to a doctor unless you are really sick. Hence, I have grown up avoiding medicines. Post pregnancy and two c-section I am more prone to pop up a medicine than endure the pain. Also, I believe age gets you as well. However, for kids it is totally different scenario one day of sneezing and coughing we take it to the doctor. Even if we know the medicines. Don’t want to take any chance.

Sincerely praying for us and everyone around that we are able to beat this and many other diseases that will come our way. Amazingly, so much of technology and machine learning is still not enough for curing this. God only knows what future beholds for our children.  However, we must appreciate every day that passes by. 

Thanks,

Tulika Jyoti Vardhan

(19-03-2020).

How I wish!!!

How I wish for time to wait,
Wait for me so that I can slowly sip my tea,
By turning pages of a crisp and fresh newspaper,
Skimming through Politics,
Through BIG words of Editorial to sports and to Page 3.

How I wish time to eat,
Without flipping through channels,
Or waiting for some work to be done,
Or trying to ensure kids eat well.

How I wish I had time to read,
With no disturbance and sound,
Binging into the words written in books,
Rather than watching or hearing it online.

How I wish I had time to talk,
Just sit in a group and conversation would begin,
No botheration about background/caste or culture,
Not just talk but listen to what others view and journey.

What amazes me is,
When we had the time to do these things,
We never bothered and valued,
What small things like these meant?

 By,
Tulika Jyoti Vardhan
(27/2/20)

Let Go..

I Let go…

I let go of an early morning drive,

To the best dhabha in town,

Just to eat Aaloo Parantha with Chai..

I let go…

Travelling with friends to new places,

Or the late night shows,

While in a training or while working,

Due to fear and my own inhibitions.

I let go…

Of friends who wanted me to be there,

In odd hours and listen to their stories,

Heartbreaks or any other topic under the sun.

I let go..

Of buying anything new and big,

Even though I badly wanted,

By convincing me that it is TOO EXPENSIVE.

Now, at this juncture,

If I could, would go back and tell myself at that time,

Don’t let go of things that you love,

Take necessary precautions and do at least some of it.

No matter what you do and say now,

The time that went by, Will never come again.

As you grow old, you have responsibilities,

There are thousands of things you need to think,

Before you can pack and Gooo!

Even if you can do all such things,

It would never be same again.

And some of the things would appear silly,

Or health won’t support these choices.

So, do what you want to do NOW,

Be what you want to be NOW,

As when time turns on you,

It won’t stop any time soon.

By,

Tulika Jyoti Vardhan.

25-11-19

My Lady!

My Lady, do not crib, cry or sulk,

When someone says nasty things to you,

In your office or personal space,

Simply smile and let it go.

For they are fools and don’t understand,

The value of things being done,

Day in and out,

With lot of detailing and care.

My Lady, don’t feel so bad,

For clothes that won’t fit,

Just try and take simple steps,

And See the difference it makes.

Every tiny step you take,

Feel free to do it at your own pace,

With smile in your eyes and happiness in your soul,

And witness its impact on all of us.

My Lady, for once don’t ever forget,

You are a mother and whatever work you do,

Or whatever work you don’t do,

Or the way you look!

Makes no difference in your kids’ life,

Rather what matters,

How you feel when you are around them,

And this will be engrossed in their memory.

At every step, you will have,

People/family criticizing for your choices,

My Lady, you do whatever you feel,

Is in your best interest.

Above all these,

My Lady, do not forget to smile,

Even for a while,

Just before you sign off for the day.

All said and done,

You are what you are,

Created with lot of care by GOD,

So, don’t judge or devalue yourself, No Matter What!!

By,

Tulika Jyoti Vardhan
(28-5-19)

What Just Happened?

What just happened?

To that book with a page folded,

Lying there silently,

With characters waiting to be unfolded.

What just happened,

To that beautiful dress,

Bought once with care and love,

Worn once but kept with care.

What just happened,

To those friends,

Who would come and talk,

Sitting silently or during a walk.

What just happened,

To the places you once visited,

With zeal and enthusiasm,

Now it is a vivid memory.

What just happened,

To those dreams and aspirations,

Which nagged you day in and out,

Now seems to be a distant memory.

What just happened,

To that beautiful smile,

Careless, carefree and bliss,

Now it hardly stays for a while.

Sitting on the chair,

Staring at the laptop,

With the “To Do” List,

And yet wondering what just happened.

Where did I lose,

Thoughts, dreams I choose,

Now it seems as if it belonged,

To a different person in a different world.

Pondering between thoughts,

Running between work, life and kids,

Will there ever be a tiny “Moment”?

To realize what just happened?

Because what just happened,

Was a phase that passed,

A phase that changed,

Making you a “grown up” person.

By,

Tulika Jyoti Vardhan,

29/3/19

Silent Words Works?

A question mark or an answer,
A view or an opinion,
Credited or Debited,
Hard to say or Hard to recognize.

What Works when words are unsaid,
Or What happens when said but unheard,
You keep Working at it without fail,
Silently in background.

Like those background musicians,
Or that team who helps in writing that perfect script,
Or that chorus singer who hit the right chord,
At every single pause.

Who knows their names or values,
Who knows how much effort is put behind.
It remains silent right there behind you.

Silently they move and keep it moving,
Without much expectation to be recognized,
It works synchronously,
Shining brightly right behind.

No one to notice,
None to hear,
None to give credit,
None to make it visible.

But if for once the silence STOPS,
To take a pause and change tunes,
Or write its own script,
It has power to Disrupt and Stand Out SILENTLY.

By,
Tulika Jyoti Vardhan
(30th June 16)