Reflections - A Journey Through Life

It glided like a ship sailing on a calm sea… Though for work and non-work I use commonly available pens, I still am a confirmed fountain-pen person. At home I keep even now a fountain pen which is not very costly but writes well. It gives me a special pleasure when the inked letters flow out of the tip of the nib joining into words and coming together to portray what I think. Perhaps while writing with my fountain pen, the writing itself changes, becomes more alive with fresh ideas, may be because of the pleasurable state of mind; innovation comes forth and takes shape on the blank paper. After more than five decades on this still beautiful earth, in the company of people, trying to communicate and failing many times, I now understand to some extent the challenge of communication. I think, form the words in my mind approximating my thought and speak out the words adding intonations on the way. But the words never could express exactly my thoughts. My friend or foe or casual ...

Would you know me? All over the world, across the cyberspace or across a few inches between two persons sitting on a park bench, in silence with intense loudness or in whispers this question is asked, yesterday, today and tomorrow—as long as relationship would matter. We assume things about a person that may be partially right or fully wrong, there is really no other alternative. She may not say anything significant about herself to let you know, she may not even know herself let alone let you know or she may intentionally let you know what she is not. On top of that lies the uncertainty embedded in human language—you want to say something, instead you say some other thing and she understands something else. You have to assume always. Depending on the quality of pairing between you and her, you understand her or she understands you. But finally, it is your assumption about her with all its uncertainties built-in. Is it a tragedy? Is it helplessness? I think not. Even if ...