Sep 6, 2013

Driving Adventures - Part VI


Like every other day, I was driving to work.
Like every other day, I was listening to music and singing along.

I stopped the car at a signal and moved ahead when it turned green. This was a stretch where I get to drive fast because the traffic is generally less. Suddenly, something came in front of my eyes, on my windshield just above the steering wheel. I got startled, the car steered a little and I applied the break to slow down.
A rodent was trying to climb on the windshield. Thankfully, it was outside the car. I was in the middle of the road so had to keep driving on. The rodent realised that it is not possible to climb further so it got down and moved towards the wipers and tried to get inside the bonnet but was unsuccessful. So, it kept roaming on the bonnet and then moved towards the right side rear view mirror, i.e. right next to me!
I was watching it carefully as I didn't want it to fall and get crushed under the tyres. By now, it was possible for me to stop the car and I did so. I tried scaring the rodent so that he can get off the car. But, he seemed adamant and was not interested.
I was on my way to work and could not have waited for too long for it to get off. So, I started moving again. The rodent seemed to be enjoying the ride and was busy looking at himself in the mirror!
I took his picture when he was busy admiring himself.


This has not been the first time when a creature decided to take lift 'on' my car. I have given lift to a lizard too in the past. In fact the lizard had traveled all the way to my office.
Also, these creatures love to pose. After the rodent was done admiring himself, he moved closer and sat on the window next to me and started posing. Earlier, the lizard had also given a good pose for the click.
Here is that pic.


This time, I didn't click the rodent while he was posing as I had packed my camera. Moreover, I felt that the rodent was sitting in a precarious position and could fall any time. Hence, I moved closer to the central verge on the road as it had good over growth and thought that it would be a safe place for him to get off.
Sure enough, he jumped off but to my horror, started running towards the middle of the road. There was another car behind me a few meters away. The last I saw him was when he ran right under that car. Thankfully not under the tyre. Have no idea if he managed to cross the road or not.

I kept thinking about the rodent for a while and then a thought struck.
I was keen to save his life when he was outside my car. Had I found him inside my car or at home, I would have done everything possible to kill him.

Earlier posts....
Driving Series:
Prelude
Part-I
Part-II
Part-III
Part-IV
Part-V

Sep 1, 2013

Moving On ...

Recently, I ended up having an argument with a 'friend'. Actually, argument would not be the right word. 

Every interaction between two people come with a set of expectations. We may claim that we don't have expectations, but we always do. As per my understanding, hoping someone would laugh at your jokes or would understand your point of view is also expectation. As mortal beings, we can not, not have expectations.
Even here, the person in question and I had certain expectations from each other and they didn't fit well. This lead to some friction & then silence...
I was hurt and introspective. In that mode I decided that I need to change myself so that I don't have to face such disappointing situations & feeling of hurt again. When I was going through these emotions I read a story.

 "
The Spider and the Sage
“I would rather be fooled than not believe.” 

 In India, there is a story about a kind, quiet man who would pray in the Ganges River every morning. One day after praying, he saw a poisonous spider struggling in the water and cupped his hands to carry it ashore. As he placed the spider on the ground, it stung him. Unknowingly, his prayers for the world diluted the poison.
The next day the same thing happened. On the third day, the kind man was knee deep in the river, and, sure enough, there was the spider, legs frantic in the water. As the man went to lift the creature yet again, the spider said, “Why do you keep lifting me? Can’t you see I will sting you every time, because that is what I do.” And the kind man cupped his hands about the spider, replying, “Because that is what I do.”

The story touched my heart. I resolved never to change myself because something didn't go my way or the way I expected it to. After all, I am doing 'what I do'. This does not mean that the outcome would be what I want it to be ...
The story helped my find peace... Incidentally, this story is from a book gifted to me by the person in question ...