Devil

I have never seen a devil. How would he look like. As I look in the mirror and slowly enlarge my eyes...raise my eyebrows..the upper set of tooths out of the mouth..with a stare. - I think may be this is how a devil would be. If everyone has a god in him/her......the person does have a devil in self. Are the terrorists devils ? Or the Demons / Rakhshashas.

People who follow their own interests and dont care about what happens to others are devils. Being selfish and hurting others create devils in humans. We all are devils in one way or the other. Its something like matching the balance sheet at the end of your life and see if the God wins or the Devil. Depending on that your life-after-death would be decided.

I recollect a story related of Jesus - When someone sinned, he/she would be stoned to death. That was the law practiced. When they asked Jesus about the woman who was caught practising adultery, Jesus told " Only those can throw a stone at her, who have never sinned in their life". Everyone backed out. The moral is - we have a devil in ourselves. Purify yourself before you ridicule others. All these may not be a bit practical, but kill the devil in yourself and tame the God [:-)].

Devils can also be cute, handsome and beautiful. Its all in the character, the mind and heart. Look at the mirror and judge to what extent are you a devil. I would suggest..either be a devil or be a God..dont live like a dead man.

Love

An attempt to define love. Or you can say an article on love. What is love..define in one word. You might have had innumerous discussions on what love is ..and your unique definition of love. Or as SRK says..pyaar dosti hai.

For me, love in one word is "Unconditional". There should be no conditions in your conscience to love the other person. To me thats what love is.... the love of a mother for her son. Even the mother-son relationship is sometimes not enough to explain the extent of love one can have. It depends on the person. Mostly, parents have unconditional love for their children as I have seen and experienced. To have a condition means having a self interest, I believe. Are boyfrens and girlfrens made of that kind of "unconditional" stuff. Do we have friends who we can say are unconditional ?

The shadow of a tree is unconditional, no matter whoever wants to rest under the shadow of a tree can do so. That is nature's love for you. No matter who are and what you do..... your true love will like you and love you more. As I write this line I remember this song...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsVPThOPlX4&feature=related

Arguments: What do you say if my son goes into bad company ..do i still love him...bla bla bla ?

"Guru kumhar shishya kumbha hai ghadi-ghadi kadhat kot
Bhitar haat sahar de bahar bahe chot"

Translation: A teacher scolds you on your mistakes but he also supports you to do your best so he can be defined as a potter who beats the pot on outer side to give good shape and design while supporting the pot by putting a hand inside it so that it does not break.

Love unconditionally does not mean NOT to show the right path. The teacher does not have a self interest in beating the child and so its unconditional love and aim to guide the child in the right path.

More to follow. Still open for discussion. Give it a try...be unconditional to whom you really love.

28th Street South East

Every damn thing I need is available on 28th Street, Grand Rapids. Seems my world is now limited to 28th Street same as the frog in the well. Early morning even before the hens wake up..I leave for office..in the dark...into 28th Street and take a right on Patterson Avenue..driving slowly, afraid the car might skid. As the darkness fades away..we are already done with our standup meeting every morning.

The only best friend I have in US is my laptop. I know its angry with me for tapping its board..every now and then, no regular timings. As I peep out of the window, the basket ball court is filled with snow....my car has a snow-blanket over it. I had to buy some groceries today and unwilling got ready to go out and firstly clean the car and go to "Meijer". Meijer is departmental store..something like Walmart. And you get all the indian vegetables there....That too is on the 28th Street [:-)] just after the I-96 flyover. For all other indian requirements..specifically Green Chilli and Paneer, I go to "Spice of India", again on the 28th Street. A bit expensive I felt, but you have no other option in Grands Rapids. Bole toh monopoly hai.

I dont live on 28th Street. The hotel is in Stahl Drive but at a stone's throw from 28th Street. No covered parking for vehicles..even though they are sure..it snows almost half the year. The county corporation toils hard to clear the roads [of snow] to ensure safety. I was always under the false assumption that being with snow would be great..but this is too much. Anything in excess is not good. The good season to visit Grand rapids is like May to October....m waiting for those moments of view free from snow.

Everything New

Leaving San jose was bit difficult for me...and my frens ..the weather and adjustments I had made to the atmosphere [both work and personal life]. I moved to a different project....was moved. And on the verge of entering the ninth year of the 21st century, I am in Michigan on a different project..new people-to-be-made-frens, new challenges...new weather..and a changed Kartik. Learning from past experiences and carrying the burden of uncertainity..I moved.

And then a trip to columbus to meet good old frens...a learning experience on many fronts...meeting new inpsirational people who can change "thought-process". Amazing trip it was..to gatlinburg and had a nice time..thanks to folks whom I joined. Slept on New Year night - with a thought to wake up will all new energy for the new year and march towards a year..which is going to change my life.

One thing I have concluded in last year is - The more things that you see and are accessible to, the more you learn..the more you grow as a person. Its bout opportunity and making the most of it. Have met some really wonderful guys over a period of time..my orkut list has grown from around 100 to almost 200 now ;-)

Change is inevitable. Changes the way I work...my thoughts..dream more [:-)] ... and I also intend to have a great personality. Kya karu..mere bhai !! Changes are needed when you are not upto your own expectations - this is what I believe in. I have started to spend a lot of time in my iPhone and Nintendo. I am sure this is not achange I was looking for..but very happy to get involved in both :-)

Not been able to post or even change the blog-image...technical problem :-(