Hail Nature

“Life is like a box of chocolates you never know what you get” – Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump.

Little did Mysore expect to see the vast lush green grass expanse turn white. The hot and sultry Thursday afternoon quickly turned into a cloudy evening. Mysoreans who were expecting a drizzle or a shower were treated to an unexpected hail storm (where pieces of hard, solid ice fall from clouds).

Eleventh May turned out to be more than just a musical produced by the heavens. The thunder and lightning was just a prelude to what was to follow. This slowly turned out to be a symphony which was accompanied by the gusty winds and the hail which came down. But the might of the heavens did not seem to recede and the green spectacle turned swiftly into a white canvas for the heavens to paint. With the sweet smell of the mud becoming evident, the trees danced as if it were inviting all the Infoscions to join them in the celebrations.

The ever-enthusiastic crowd at Infosys who braved to take a stroll under the aegis of their umbrella seemed to have miscalculated the might of the storm. Most enjoyed the rain in total abandon and collected hail. It was a mobile-users delight and most made good of their mobile cameras, while others called their loved ones to tell them their experience.

Though most of us expected the following day to be cool and pleasant; we had to find solace in what Forrest Gump had to say, “Life is like a box of chocolates you never know what you get.”

authentic kindness

In today’s culturally-dishonest world where you are told by your employer to bill for hours you have not worked and pilgrims-cutting-queues in the temple to get an early glimpse of god; a simple act of kindness touches your inner-conscience.

I visited my alma-mater after eight years; every one of those teachers present welcomed me like a mother would welcome her son who returned home after eight years. As a mother would give the sweets to the apple of her eye when he returned home, one very special teacher saved and offered a chocolate to me. During the initial hesitation, I felt like a ten year old declining the gift but yet wanting it deep inside.

With the little chocolate safely placed in my pocket, this gesture spoke volumes about my teacher, who not only taught me but also help mould my character. I, as a child, was taught to share and eat especially chocolates and ice-cream. But today for once I ate the entire chocolate all by myself because it personified love and kindness bestowed upon me in world where it is in such short supply.