tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31655268848073232712024-03-05T21:31:03.402-08:00Merchandise...by Aleem MerchantAleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-77602227777805591582020-10-21T07:34:00.006-07:002020-10-21T07:52:25.955-07:00So far, So good...<p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So you’re turning Nine!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nine is not considered a milestone year normally. It’s not your first, nor fifth which is normally a big celebration.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nine is that birthday which is usually low key with the excuse that we will have a grand tenth birthday party. After all, that’s the first time you’ll go double digits.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But nine according to me - is significant.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nine is exactly that moment when you are half your way to being an adult.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Adult. That’s a big word.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The memory of you born nine years back is still so fresh that imagining you nine years later as an adult is something I don’t have words to describe the feeling.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhEqYZ8xbysKKj1mwXWcSowkoMcp2mVXUbMubbOt1gqU5lICdHGaNRjUoFyiyaw4yZBCcxF3p5o8wxKIS8X3hn7883fqvOI0G_aopy65ooi3Hfb8fx6beYBT-TCc9Jn_tDKZ2yz_GCuo/s1079/samaira+merchant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="1079" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhEqYZ8xbysKKj1mwXWcSowkoMcp2mVXUbMubbOt1gqU5lICdHGaNRjUoFyiyaw4yZBCcxF3p5o8wxKIS8X3hn7883fqvOI0G_aopy65ooi3Hfb8fx6beYBT-TCc9Jn_tDKZ2yz_GCuo/w640-h278/samaira+merchant.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thinking of you as an adult is scary, worrisome but most importantly sad.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sad?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ok, like I said, I don’t have the exact word.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When you’ll turn 18, you’ll be eligible to drive, which means I have only 9 years left to drive you around.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You’ll have the right to vote, which means not only will you have a valid opinion, but it will be considered legal too, so probably I won't be able to influence your thoughts and decisions like I do now.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can find a job, and work professionally. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Which means you could be financially independent. (Don’t worry, I’m not hinting at anything). But on a serious note, you won’t always need to come to me for every small expense and you would be able to buy things that I say no to - with your own money.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Besides the privileges of being an adult, there are something’s that go beyond what you are allowed to do just legally.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the next few years…</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You might want to go abroad and study.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You might have a few heartbreaks.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You could possibly have found what your calling in life is.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like most teens and young adults, there will be days when you probably will feel lost, not good enough, incapable, unsuccessful, frustrated and so much more.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You might win and not celebrate the way you should.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You might have a lot and yet think it’s not good enough.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On certain days, you might feel - not so beautiful. A pimple could bother you. A few extra pounds might shatter your confidence. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few harsh words could impact you deeply, anger you, and (I pray not) …change you.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And the more I think about the next few years, the more I realize that - I’m losing you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of these days (and the scary part is we will never know which one) in the next few years will be a series of ‘lasts’.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The last time you might fall asleep in my lap.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The last time you put your head on my shoulder to cry on.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The last time you will want to sleep in our room.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The last time you would want to ‘willingly’ come for a vacation with us.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Or maybe a willingly to a movie with us. Or a dinner party. Or a family gathering.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The last time you will want us to come and drop you at school.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The last time you would depend on us to take you to someplace you want to go.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The last time you would trust our fashion choices, or for that matter any of our choices.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The last time you’d want to cuddle up and watch a cartoon movie at home with us. (Oh that ones already gone I guess)</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’m losing time… fast…really fast.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This ninth year is that inflection point when things can either turn downwards or upwards.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So here’s what we want to tell you.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If something’s bothering you,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There’s a lap still waiting for you.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If there’s sadness,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There's a shoulder you can cry on and rely on.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If there’s loneliness,</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There’s a room you don’t need to knock on to enter.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you think there’s no one,</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are two people for whom you are everyone.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you’re stuck or fallen,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are always there to pick you up.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you’re lost,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We will guide you, with our limited knowledge but all our heart.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If your trust is broken,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We can teach you to find it again.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you’re stuck with choices (except fashion)</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are always there to hear you out.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And if you’re still in the mood to watch that cartoon movie (or any movie),<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A bucket of popcorn will always be waiting.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nine – Here we go. Bring it on!</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let’s see what this one’s got in store for us.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy Birthday, Half Adult!</span></p><p></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-50533954104308663662020-02-17T04:16:00.002-08:002020-02-17T04:46:46.569-08:0066 Blogs I didnt write :(<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I havent written for almost 2 years now. Why? Don't ask. But if I would, and I could, I had multiple ideas and multiple stories. For now make do with 66 ideas which could have been blogs, but as of now they are just 66 pieces of advice I have from my life's learnings.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOx4kTJEmyPWgGbSeizr1SJ3mu6V4sj5z9ReAnGZ_sX8HhbVSeFODB3Xiqza_w8Z_SCV6_v-65jQvpEuYgJqrdPUQOVIxATv104EipeUezNgpZ8xLrby2WwBkzgN66b1dZovpKU8Q54rY/s1600/ALEEM+MERCHANT+66+BLOGS+I+DIDNT+WRITE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="767" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOx4kTJEmyPWgGbSeizr1SJ3mu6V4sj5z9ReAnGZ_sX8HhbVSeFODB3Xiqza_w8Z_SCV6_v-65jQvpEuYgJqrdPUQOVIxATv104EipeUezNgpZ8xLrby2WwBkzgN66b1dZovpKU8Q54rY/s640/ALEEM+MERCHANT+66+BLOGS+I+DIDNT+WRITE.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Whatever happens, happens for the best.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Always return a compliment.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Document your thoughts. Write often.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Be known for your smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dance like no one is watching.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Laugh like no one is listening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Laugh a lot, it’s contagious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Find your God-given gift.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Family first always. <br />
(no matter what)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have a dog. <br />
(learn from them, accept their love)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It’s ok to make mistakes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Be Brave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Be the first to say Sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Listen to Lyrics. Feel songs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Learn the value of compounding interest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Know what it is to be the mediator.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Understand your pattern.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Never do business with friends and family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your Network = Net worth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Remember people’s names.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Be associated with a Charity, a cause, an NGO.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Be a good listener.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jack of all, Master of One.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Be the glue that binds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don’t adopt trends without thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Be quick to adapt technology.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take up Long distance running or any sport.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Stay emotional, it’s not a bad thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Believe good things will come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Whoever you meet, will have a story with
you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When you cry, see how water goes down the
basin.<br />
That’s exactly how problems also disappear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don’t hold on too tight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take illness as a time to reflect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Get lost when you travel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Do something for your country. Do something for the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Review your life every month. <br />
What was your high, what was your low, <br />what did you learn, how can you improve
or change the situation?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Write a money autobiography on Money.<br />
Understand your relationship with money.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Keep a doctor, a lawyer, a cop as close friends.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Volunteer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Notice what excites people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">See the goodness in people first.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don’t be a calf.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Change No to No.1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Maqtoob.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Be superstitious.<br />
(in a productive way, and then dispel the ones that bind you)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jo maa baap ka nahi, woh kisi ka nahi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A funeral is more important that a
celebration. <br />
(never miss one)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You will find only what are you looking
for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(If you look for good you will find good.
If you look for bad, you will find bad)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Build teams. Look for loyalty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have a 4am friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don’t add fuel to the fire.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Zig when others Zag.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Find the good in bad situations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What’s troubling you<br />
could be what someone is wishing for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Record Videos. Dont delete them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dress Colorful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Treat yourself once a while.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Worship your Body.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Be the life of a party.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Heartbreak is ok.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take care of your health.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Speak clearly, slowly, and passionately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Chase goals madly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Read books. Not just newspapers. (At least
the synopsis)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Its doesn’t matter what people do to you,
or what life does to you, what matters is what you do to yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don’t let other people choices,
perceptions, and opinions, dictate your life.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don't count advice. Count your blessings.</span></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-27131960297079168562018-08-21T06:53:00.000-07:002018-08-23T05:50:03.384-07:00Thoughts, not Things<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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How many times have you been in a conversation that goes like this…<o:p></o:p></div>
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You know what happened last week? <o:p></o:p><br />
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What?</div>
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I had a car accident.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are two ways a conversation like this can move ahead…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Oh My God, what happened to the car?<br />
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While I know you would be thinking, that you always first ask if the person involved is ok,<br />
but you will actually be surprised in reality that a lot of people inquire about the car first.<o:p></o:p></div>
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___</div>
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Last week, I really had an accident. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was one of those heavy rainfalls and strong winds that caused it. A tree fell on my car and crashed the bonnet and the windshield. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Luckily most of the engine was untouched, the A/C etc wasn’t affected, and the damages at the garage were pretty manageable. I didn’t even claim insurance, as I didn’t want it to get complicated.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oh yes, I forgot to tell you if anything happened to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m fine. Nothing happened to me at all. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You see, we ourselves put ‘things’ before us, many a time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But kids are different...<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last week, when I did have an accident, the first thing Samaira asked when she learned about it on the phone was if ‘I’ was fine. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If “I” was fine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She asked, not once. Not twice. Not thrice. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In spite of repeated assurances, that I was ok, she still doubted it, until she saw me fit and fine, back home that evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Besides me welling up, it also made me think, how are kids so sensitive? <o:p></o:p></div>
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And why, as we grow up, do we lose this sensitivity and get more worried about the things, in this case, the car?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Often, Swetal, my wife and I, have been accused of being not so great parents because we spoil and pamper our only child. Yes, we give in to her demands, succumb to her tantrums, fall for her emotional traps and still don’t learn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On second thoughts is that a bad thing after all?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Somewhere I now felt, that when we fulfill small demands for things, we undervalued these ‘things’ altogether. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Things - like a toy, a candy, an extra ride on the Ferris-wheel, a new pair of shoes, missing a class for an extra hour nap in the morning.<br />
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If we fulfill these little demands by our kids they will sooner or later realize that these are not the actual things one should strive for. </div>
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There are bigger, more valuable aspirations - than objects.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You obviously have to draw a line on this somewhere, but that's a debate for a different day.</div>
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Today, we all work hard so that our children can live a comfortable life ahead. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A life, where they are not yearning for necessities. A life where they can focus on their education, have a thriving career, doing good for the society and yes, being aspirational enough to even making our nation proud too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In that kind of a life, what value do ‘things’ have?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The problem starts with us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Giving too much importance to things. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes, I am guilty.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A spank, if they drop a cell phone and dent it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A punishment, if they lose a pencil or a water bottle. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A warning, to be careful when they are wearing expensive clothes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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How many times do we do the same, when it comes to dealing with elders, with friends, with younger ones, with the environment, with natural resources…..and yes dealing with us, parents also?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Imbibing the thought of calling their friend, and not messaging, on their birthday. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Standing beside them at a funeral and not avoiding the situation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Encouraging their peers when they have had a bad patch, without giving advice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Respecting the choices their parents made for them, knowing and appreciating their sacrifices.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thoughts, not Things, is what we need to make our children more aware of. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Not the brands they wear, not devices they own, not clothes, not anything that doesn’t add real value to life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m not saying that I won't buy these things. If I can afford it, I will continue to splurge on the little luxuries. </div>
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But will I continue to give the same importance? Maybe that part needs a rethink.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTc_GR47BFxe8_93BmSm-10TedW_lgblc8QeoyU9Z-oAFWqYpa44XT0u9ZSmNJGbSgJCyix00xV3ealPHhdONrjqRWvHCtGcDXWGAwaV3OyD2aYULr93rIJYwbG5BDawoZi7ixEkLjHc/s1600/aleemmerchant+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="619" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTc_GR47BFxe8_93BmSm-10TedW_lgblc8QeoyU9Z-oAFWqYpa44XT0u9ZSmNJGbSgJCyix00xV3ealPHhdONrjqRWvHCtGcDXWGAwaV3OyD2aYULr93rIJYwbG5BDawoZi7ixEkLjHc/s640/aleemmerchant+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />A drawing by my daughter Samaira (6 years), guided by my wife, Swetal)</span></div>
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I believe that if I can raise a child that can be sensitive to the poor, helps the underprivileged, cares for stray dogs and other animals, grows plants and trees, conserves the environment, improves our city, works for our country's larger goals…</div>
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I will have achieved my role as a parent. <o:p></o:p></div>
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These are exact things that will matter when they all will grow up without the worry we have, of a good home, regular income, education, career etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The real wealth in days to come will be real friends they can count on, elders they can look up upon for advice, siblings that will lend them an ear, an environment that is clean and healthy, a country that they are proud of.</div>
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Coming back,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I'll give myself some importance now, and go back to the dramatic topic of death)<o:p></o:p><br />
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Imagine, if something did happen to that person in that car accident...</div>
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Would all those ‘things’ they have, matter?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Will a bigger house, feel emptier?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Will a faster car, have any place to go?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Will a flashy cell phone, wait for a call from ‘Papa’? <o:p></o:p></div>
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A world where every child grows up to be thoughtful will be<br />
<b>a world where everyone might not be rich, but where every one of them will be wealthy.</b><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bolo Baba Aleem ki Jai!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Jai....</div>
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Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-36668622775208536092017-12-04T03:14:00.001-08:002017-12-04T03:55:30.789-08:00Why are you Daddy's Lil Girl?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The thought “if something happens to me” props up once a while in everyone’s mind and I am no different. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But the thought of “If something happens to me, you would never know that I wanted to tell you…” is even more disturbing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If something does happen to me, there is one thing I would always want my daughter to know, and that is WHY she is and always will be Daddy’s lil</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> girl.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While a lot has been said and written about father-daughter bonding, I have a completely different perspective to the reason why daughters will always be that special girl in a man’s life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Something that probably not many people have spoken about (because of the backlash that would follow) ;-)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Since this is a public blog, if you are a woman and if you are married, it is essential that you read this piece as a daughter and not a wife.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Read it like it is about your father...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are a guy, no instructions for you.</span></div>
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_____________________</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are 3 women before a daughter, in a man’s life that shaped him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">His Mother. His Sister and His Wife.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A mother is someone who nurtures him. She is kind and yet strict. She teaches and she corrects. No one can replace the role of a mother in anyone’s life because that is immaculate. But a mother’s job is also to prepare you for the real world. So she reprimands where necessary. Not only does she point out your mistakes, she also helps you correct them. She makes sure you put on a brave front in difficult situations. While she is always there for you, she is also the one who will leave your hand so you can walk on your own. Even after marriage, she tries her best to ensure that you are in good hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A sister plays no small role in a man’s life too. She teaches you the importance of sharing and caring. She guides and learns at the same time. She grows with you and sometimes outgrows you. From her, you learn to give respect and you learn to earn respect. You learn to fight and you learn to make up. You understand boundaries and you also understand how not to cross them. She is the one who will teach you to ride a cycle and she will also be the one who will quietly take her hand off from the seat so you balance on your own. And in that moment she will break your trust with the sole intention of building your confidence at the same time. She is the one who you learn to keep secrets with, to keep secrets from and then probably learn to confide in later too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then comes a man's wife. The epitome of all his relationships. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The one who will help him settle down and yet always push him to fly. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The one woman who loves and accepts him the way he is and the one who still not take anything for granted. The one woman who will help him achieve his full potential and also remind him of his usual pitfalls, for his own good. A wife will love him, care for him and stay with him no matter what and at the same time fight with him and then turn around and cook his favorite</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> meal for him. She teaches him what stability is in unstable conditions. She walks his most difficult path with him and yet helps him look at the wonders that come along the way. She becomes his </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">best companion, friend, guide, and partner and when the going gets tough, she helps discover another reason to </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">be tougher again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then comes his Daughter… (long pause)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GDk8HoMhx2NPfYk4zGNoFS2j79ovn-Gt7w5VMS9njnVTliAy4wpoIvomz8W7cojHd_lF4RHkstGmtTpwgOcvFshREu4TjnKnjb8UVGmgbVnaZBHCci1HwD-d2hylF8bOiPHdcCjVrPc/s1600/AleemMerchantBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Samaira's Drawing" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GDk8HoMhx2NPfYk4zGNoFS2j79ovn-Gt7w5VMS9njnVTliAy4wpoIvomz8W7cojHd_lF4RHkstGmtTpwgOcvFshREu4TjnKnjb8UVGmgbVnaZBHCci1HwD-d2hylF8bOiPHdcCjVrPc/s640/AleemMerchantBlog.jpg" title="" width="480" /></a></div>
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(Illustration by Samaira Merchant when she was 5 Years)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The little wonder that wraps her hand around his finger no matter how soiled it is after a hard days work. The girl that will jump from the highest point and trust that her father will not let her fall because she doesn’t know what falling is, but knows what trust is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The one who will blindly follow his footsteps no matter where they go. She never complains about the situation he keeps her in, and in fact, keeps them in her heart as the fondest memories of her childhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She makes him her first superhero. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Her first idol.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Her first love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Her first mentor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She grows up a bit and says that she will never marry anyone and will stay with him forever (and she means it with all her heart).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She's the one who raises her eyebrows and smiles, impressed when you dress up in a business suit and without saying a word, says so much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She's happy when all he got her from the store is a candy and she still loves him when he tells her that he didn’t carry more cash to buy her what she wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She hugs him at night when she has a nightmare and sometimes when she doesn’t have one too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">His advice is the one that she relies on most. His opinion is the one she counts on most. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thick as thieves when caught in a prank and she knows he won't tale-tell. The one she winks at when she’s up to some mischief. She’s the one that helps him discover his childhood again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She teaches him so much without actually teaching anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And that’s the difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The difference is that she accepts him as the most perfect man in the world. The one she wants her life partner to be like only because there was nothing wrong she saw in him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of his faults, shortcomings, misgivings, and mistakes, she never makes him feel that there is anything wrong with him. The room in her heart is so huge and beautiful for her father that small specs of dirt are never noticed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are days she will fight with him. There are days where she will not agree with him. There is the one day he fears most when she will leave him for another man. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> _____________________</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And so… if something does happen to me I would always want you to know that you are Daddys lil girl because you are the one who accepted, loved and cared for me the way I am, and you never ever did anything to change me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>You are the one who “didn’t” complete me. Because you didn’t feel the need to. </u></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-55170570154330284582017-06-17T03:36:00.003-07:002017-06-17T06:26:29.755-07:00My Daddy (is not the) Strongest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In an advertisement or a film, a father is normally a good looking, healthy, fit, fair, well groomed, sometimes rich, in a suit, with a massive bungalow and a fleet of cars, with naukar-chakar and the works.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But in the real world, Dads are different. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dads, just like me. Dads maybe like yours too. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some are short or dark or podgy, paunchy, or partially balding. Not always rich, rather making ends meet. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Most of us don't always fit the description of clever, intelligent, shrewd or a sharp businessman with a towering personality. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">___</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When my daughter had just learned to talk, I had trained her to complete the sentence, when I asked her...</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Papa the….?" and she had to reply “Greatest". </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some weird joys we fathers get.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">___</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One day, we were going through a couple of my old college photos, and she said, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Papa, you are so short”.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ouch! That hurt!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I suddenly felt that maybe she now thinks that her Papa is not the greatest. I am not the superman that I wanted her to believe I was. I am not the one who she would look up to rescue her in times of need.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Maybe she had seen a lot of her friend’s fathers and she preferred them to me. Some were taller or better looking, stronger, richer, and more fun to be with, more intelligent, kinder, nicer…. Aarghhh!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I mean what was I thinking. Just because I run a marathon (with 1000 others) and get her a medal home (because everyone gets one) I would become her Hero?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or just because I get her a cheap toy from the store, and sometimes a chocolate when she throws a tantrum, I would be her knight in shining armor?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Just because I tell her that I go to office to earn money and we can buy whatever we want, I would become her Idol?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don’t know what made me think that I was even capable of being good enough, forget great?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UpOUIxhiGZ_xppgKHE-c0mypL7vxty8lnTZywPdDPK4_PakNOCuS_R-APPAcc-Lp4qLLi1p7iYkZ2VHUqLUXBLGA6jl6bACTsAt2jhXsrxcj_SGfOZh6k7K1oD80Ubg8HsKWW1wOXlE/s1600/blogpicaleem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UpOUIxhiGZ_xppgKHE-c0mypL7vxty8lnTZywPdDPK4_PakNOCuS_R-APPAcc-Lp4qLLi1p7iYkZ2VHUqLUXBLGA6jl6bACTsAt2jhXsrxcj_SGfOZh6k7K1oD80Ubg8HsKWW1wOXlE/s400/blogpicaleem.jpg" width="381" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was a pleasant summer day, we were all in the pool, and having a good time. She was playing in the shallow, where she could comfortably walk and didn’t need a float. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Suddenly her foot touched the point where it sharply slides to the deep. She lost her balance and was about to tip over. I still remember the look asking for help, she gave me just before she lost her control. Out of reflex I just caught her and put her back on safe ground. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Insignificant story actually. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She went on to playing her game. Neither of us said anything, and continued what we were doing. But then she just turned around and gave me a glance, and her eyes said more than she could. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That moment I realised that fathers are not about being tall or short.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Fathers are about being there, about showing the way, about guiding, and encouraging.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Come to think of it, in the real world, it's actually these kids who are stronger. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">First day at school with strangers in a room cannot be compared to a social function where we can simply hide our faces in a phone or rush to the loo as an excuse to not wanting to blend in. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A School Sports day cannot be compared to a registered marathon where the points don't matter and neither does your rank. You arent expecting a podium finish anyway.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Their dance at a school function cannot be compared to a office presentation considering the pressure we put on the kids and the sheer number of people watching. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Examinations and school assessments cannot be compared to client review meetings knowing that even if we make a mistake we can simply pass the buck. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">____</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So it may be a nightmare, when all they need is a hug.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A remark from their teacher, and they needs someone to tell them that it’s OK.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Something they fear doing and they just need a helping hand.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 22.7px; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So here’s a promise from a father. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No matter what you need, when you need it, and how it needs to come to you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There will be this short fellow, with as of now a receding hairline, who's not the best looker, not so rich, or clever, with various shortcomings...always there for you</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> to ensure you don’t tip over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No matter how tough the situation is, he will bail you out, and it does'nt matter that your daddy is ‘not’ the strongest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Whats matters is that your mother, you and I, are together and nothing in the world is stronger than that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Happy Father's Day...to me, for playing the role, in this super-hit film called life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now someone please call the casting director... and fire him!</span></div>
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Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-4932999504687749662017-04-01T08:23:00.001-07:002017-04-01T23:17:12.736-07:005 Stories for Parents of Different Religions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvF-DpCPatxfX_U_8HAeMs-CKEsWOozj47A9-fes47e9t8RIwqgMQ3SbgPHVtpxYQnCE22McFYJIbCu8URxuR1yDs_1CUxZEg43zZp20kpT4Zp8k-kuCIF7NflL1Zfmuzr3LQSUedaN8/s1600/Does-Inherited-Religion-Hurt-or-Help-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvF-DpCPatxfX_U_8HAeMs-CKEsWOozj47A9-fes47e9t8RIwqgMQ3SbgPHVtpxYQnCE22McFYJIbCu8URxuR1yDs_1CUxZEg43zZp20kpT4Zp8k-kuCIF7NflL1Zfmuzr3LQSUedaN8/s640/Does-Inherited-Religion-Hurt-or-Help-.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am born to parents that are from different faiths. My dad is a Muslim, and my Mum a Christian. My wife is a Gujarati, Jain.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We have a 5-year-old daughter.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">If my mother were alive today, my parents would have celebrated their Golden Anniversary soon. An interfaith marriage that long back was a rarity, unlike how common it is today.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This article in intended to share my first-hand experience as a child born with the confusion, a father trying to resolve it and to give clarity to those parents who would be worried about their own child’s dilemma, as they grow up.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The article is not intended to open debate, spark an issue or answer questions on what one should do or not do when in the situation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">There was a time when my mum would pray in front of an Altar, in her bedroom, my Dad would pray with a tazbih in the living room and my wife would be reciting the Navkar mantra in our room, all at the same time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">There is a drawer in my house where the Bible, Quran and Bhagwat Gita are kept together in peace, and they don’t step on each other’s toes, instead exist in the same beautiful fragrance.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And I have best friends from all faiths, Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Jews - you name it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And the good news is my tribe, of multi-faith children, is growing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Like other kids who are born from parents with similar faiths, this is something that multi-faith children were born with and not something they chose.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was something that was given to them even before their name.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are 5 true life stories I would like to tell you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">1. <b>“Values get wired, not religion”</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I was 5 years old, and it was my first day in a Jesuit (like convent) run School. </span>After the first two periods of English and Maths, I eagerly awaited the next session.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A young teacher walked in and announced, “All catholic boys proceed to the church, and all non-Catholic boys stay in class, for Value education.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As mentioned earlier, my mother was a Catholic, and my father was a Muslim. Every Sunday morning, my mother would take us to church to attend Sunday mass, and we would go in happily. We knew the church prayers, the hymns, the stories from the Bible and we even celebrated Christmas and Easter at home with all grandeur. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">My father, was <u>not</u> a big fan of his religion and the only part Islam we followed, was on Eid, when we would have relatives come over, and we would celebrate with sumptuous food and also get some Eidi (Money given to kids as a gift on Eid). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Coming back to the classroom, there I was, a confused kid, not knowing which class to attend. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The one for the Catholics?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Or the one for non-Catholics?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">So I walked up to this new teacher, introduced myself (Just my name - Aleem, gives a lot away about me) and explained her my dilemma.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">She asked me what my father was, and I said – Muslim.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sit in this class; it’s for boys who ‘follow’ other religions.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">“But teacher, I go to the Church and follow Christianity”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">For the next 10 years in school, I was a student of the Value Education class.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Many years later, coincidentally a similar thing happened, there came a time, when my daughter was 3 years old and it was the holy month of Paryushan, a festival followed by Jains, like her mother. A</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ll Jain parents had written a note to the teachers, on which students will be eating Jain food.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">My wife too wrote to the teachers and asked them to include my daughter in the Jain list.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">That afternoon, when we went to pick her up, the teacher was curious to know why we had included her too in that list and felt we had made a mistake.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">On learning that her mother was not only a Jain by birth but the fact that both practised the religion was a pleasant shock to her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I later learnt that my daughter convinced the teacher herself that she would be eating Jain food during those days.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sitting through these situations, I realised that the world judges based on your name or surname, and not what you followed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I learnt as I sat in the value education class, that the teachings in that class and the teachings of the church, and as I went on in life to follow teachings of most religions too, that they all are beautiful, and teach similar things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So while you think there’s nothing new to this w</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">hat I am trying to say is deeper.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Today I am as comfortable inside a Mosque, Church, Temple, Derasar, Gurudwara, Synagogue or Shrine.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Multi-faith kids like me realise that all religions are equal at ‘a very early age’, and that gets rooted down to their souls. They become more tolerant, understanding, and emphatic to people.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Isn’t that a wonderful thing for the world they will live in?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A world, where national integration begins at home.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Cambria; text-indent: -0.25in;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><b style="font-family: Cambria; text-indent: -0.25in;">“Learn all and pick the best of all”</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One day when my daughter was about 3 years she asked me, “Papa, why only boys watch Avengers and girls watch Barbie and Princesses?”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">My first reaction was because Boys like action and girls like beautiful things.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But I was glad I took my time to respond, because she immediately asked me if it was ok that she liked Captain America also, and if a close friend of hers who was a boy, liked Elsa from Frozen.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Darling, you are free to like whichever character you like. Not only that, you must watch the movies of all the characters and you never know which part of which character you will go on to like.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And religion too isn’t too different.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Celebrate all festivals. Visit all religious places. In India, and around the world. You will experience endless joy throughout your life. In that way, you will learn to respect each other’s religion.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Imagine a world, where we all learn, respect, adore and enjoy each other’s faiths with no presuppositions. Take the best of it and make it your own. Like a movie, where a princess falls in trouble and Captain America comes and saves her.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">We mix-breeds are lucky that we get to “learn all and pick the best” and make our own, and not those that are dictated by a person, a book or a ritual.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">These beliefs are well thought out and by us and that makes it more rational and practical at times.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">______ ______ _______ ______ _______ ________ _________ _________</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">“Belief in God is important, not religion”</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Many children wake up in the middle of the night due to nightmares. </span>And parents will always coax them, comfort them, and then ask them to pray to God. But in doing that they also mention ‘which God’ to think about. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In my case, my daughter had a strong attraction to the Lord Ganpathi. It wasn’t something we taught her, it’s just something that she got hooked on to very early. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I clearly recall one night she woke up really scared and whispered in my ear that she had a bad dream. I asked her to pray to God to give her peace. After a few minutes she went off to sleep, and while I was tucking her in her quilt, I saw that her hands were still folded, so deep was her faith and belief.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The point I want to make is that one must always know that even in the toughest situation, God is someone you can always hold on to.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In my growing up years, I went through a patch of being ‘too cool for religion’. In a bid to avoid being asked which religion I followed, I used to say I was an atheist. A non-believer of God. But as I went on to grow up, and experience difficult phases in my life, I realised that when there was nothing to pull me out of darkness, when there was no hope, there always was God you could pray to and ask for help.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">God forbid, but life does throw nightmares in the real world too, and in those times we must hold on to God.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And it doesn’t matter which image or prayer you hold on to.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">You must be thankful to the creator, and once again we are lucky because we have multiple visuals to choose from. Take your pick.<b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>4. </b></span><b style="font-family: Cambria; text-indent: -0.25in;">“The Openness culture”</b></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">When we moved into our new office in 2016, we challenged one norm.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Business inaugurations are normally done in the Hindu ritual. It's something someone never questioned and no one really had a problem with. It’s just something that was done for centuries. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But coming from where I do, and seeing that we had people from all faiths in our office, we decided to have an inter-faith opening prayer ceremony. And with mutual respect, we had staff conducting prayers from all faiths blessing our office. The vibe was so good, and the feeling of positivity was so high, that I strongly believe that it was one of the best ways to start something new.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This credit goes to the tolerant upbringing I grew up in. And the thinking of such ideas comes when you open up your world and your eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Such ideas can help these children build a better world.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">______ ______ _______ ______ _______ ________ _________ _________</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">5. </span><b style="font-family: Cambria;">“Affirmations over memorised prayers”</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: small;">Here’s a video I really liked of a father teaching his daughter an affirmation. I’ve typed the words and placed it in our home. I like the fact that my daughter can read this once a while, and it reinstates her belief in herself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">At some point in time in life, one gets too busy and has no time for God, religion, or prayers. But then again, what are mugged up prayers anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Prayers are and were intended to be a way to reach out and communicate with the creator and sometimes with yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are beautiful affirmation statements you will find if you search.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Download anyone you like, print it, laminate it and paste it on a mirror in your home.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And every day before you leave home, just glance at it and encourage your children to do the same.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: small;">______ ______ _______ ______ _______ ________ _________ _________</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">And at the end of this, what I am trying to say.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I believe that celebrating and following multiple religions, just like following a single religion can enrich and strengthen families and greatly benefit children, our country and the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Being both is not simply a compromise or a negotiated settlement, but a path to a positive, inspirational life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">So if you are a parent in an interfaith marriage and reading this, feel privileged that you too are raising a child that will be a good citizen of the world, if groomed well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you are a child, of interfaith parents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">You are lucky, just like me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>Please Note: </u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The objective of this blog is not to hurt anyone’s sentiments, faith or beliefs. We all are equal and each one is subject to their personal opinions. If anyone is hurt with any of my thoughts or words. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-85269792140575376122016-07-29T01:16:00.000-07:002016-07-29T01:36:03.656-07:00Interview with a New Born<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fresh, Young, Enthusiastic, and ‘just out of Tummy’. The
candidate in front of me was one of the brightest I had ever seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“So, tell me about
yourself”, I said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well I’m less than a week old. New to this world. I’m keen
to learn new things. Explore my potential and give it my best shot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Something about your
background?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My parents are well-settled, well-educated and my mom and
dad tell me that I’m a really great kid. They say I’m the best thing that ever
happened in their life. We are a happy regular middle class family with our
values in place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hmm. Middle class
huh? So engineer, doctor, lawyer etc. That’s your life plan?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not all all. I’m lucky not to be among those who feel that
their kids should be restricted to what their parents say they need to be. My
parents have a clear mind-set that I can be whatever my heart desires. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What do you want to
be then?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I don’t know, I’m still young. I want to see the world,
explore possibilities. Try a few things. See what I like. See what I’m good at.
Only then ill decide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But this world is getting
fast and competitive. You can’t take forever to decide. In fact there are kids
at the age of 5, who are achieving great things these days.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are you serious? That’s insane. Maybe a one-off case. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m pretty sure that I will do only what I enjoy doing as of
now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think you live in a
very unrealistic world my friend. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Things have changed.
From the moment you are born, there are set milestones for you, which is more
like a race actually.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Within a year, you
HAVE to walk and talk. Your toys aren’t going to be just soft cuddlies,
but educational and scientifically designed.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This doesn’t seem right. I have my whole lifetime ahead of
me to learn and pick up these skills. What’s the hurry? Ain’t I a child who
need to simply enjoy my childhood innocence and absorb the happiness of the
best years of my life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhDcB5mqhzRgY2cOqyiumcWAk1sJ42Gj_J5gjQIJrgQWBLrMyJMdKTw5c1PyioQ4MfYDnWQu9Y_ZXezNBy1VIrdjkzoXQc7b1g1u_xKKyp1-vD5ZxuynL6BVD0QDPQ5w72w4Vm96Ucjg/s1600/fatherson.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhDcB5mqhzRgY2cOqyiumcWAk1sJ42Gj_J5gjQIJrgQWBLrMyJMdKTw5c1PyioQ4MfYDnWQu9Y_ZXezNBy1VIrdjkzoXQc7b1g1u_xKKyp1-vD5ZxuynL6BVD0QDPQ5w72w4Vm96Ucjg/s640/fatherson.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like I said, a lot
has changed. In a way it was a good thing when parents expected just one thing from
their kids. Engineer, Doctor, or simply handle the family business. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You mean to say it’s a bad thing, when my parents say I can
be whatever I want to be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s not a bad thing.
It’s just that its more confusing and pressurising. Since the world is an open
canvas for you. We expect you to be good at not one thing, but at everything. This
way we ensure you can become anything you want.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But at what price? This seems lop-sided. Frankly, I didn’t
expect things this way. Can we make a few changes in this rigid system and go
back to what it used to be like, in the good old days?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately no. But
you are not alone. Your parents are going to sacrifice a lot for you. Your
father will work harder to earn some more money so you can be financially
secure. Your mother will sacrifice her professional life to be with you all the
time, so she can take you to the best classes and ensure you come back home and
practice all that you’ve learnt.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That’s sweet of them. But I’d rather spend time with them doing
things we enjoy. Like going for a walk. A picnic at the beach. Playing games in
the garden. I’d love to learn how to pick mangoes from trees and taste them
right there. I’m going to tell them this in more ways than one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh! Don’t be disappointed.
Not only will you get that, but more. The only catch is they will all be
educational trips. Every outing will be about learning new things, knowing the
world’s facts and figures. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wow. That is a completely different perspective to what I
thought childhood was about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, so what value
are you going to add to our world?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That’s easy. I’m going to ensure my parents and me are a
happy family. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A child is supposed to
bring joy and a greater bonding. I’m going to ensure I do my best to give them
all the love I have got for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Where do you see
yourself five years from now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Five years. Well haven’t thought much about it. But I guess
by five, ill learn to walk, talk, run, know what I enjoy most, and have lots of
toys, and friends to play with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I laughed loudly and exclaimed.
My dear child, you’ve got this all wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By five you would be
expected to master at least one sport. Have a vast vocabulary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to be good at music and dramatics. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some of us, will
expect a bunch of medals, trophies too. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You have to be
disciplined, well mannered and have good habits like waking up early, sleeping
on time, eating well balanced meals, no junk and few more other things.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That’s a lot of expectations you have for a fresher like me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And what’s with no junk? So when do I get to eat all that
yummy stuff? I’m sure by the time I get older, I won’t be allowed all that
anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, you know what. I’m not getting a good feeling about
this whole childhood thing. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to survive with
all this pressure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh c’mon. We aren’t
going to give up so easily. We will take you to the best of the best child
psychologists. We will pay top dollar to ensure you get the best treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Treatment? For what? I’m just fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">That’s what you
think, my dear. Latest research shows a lot of children of your age, get
serious mental illnesses like ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism etc.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ADHD. Whats that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Attention Deficit
Hyperactive Disorder.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You got to be kidding me. If I make you do 4 things a day
with no quality time for myself. I’m bound to get a bit irritated and lack
attention. How much can you expect from someone my age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I’m not saying it. A
few tests you take, will.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And what about belief in your own upbringing, values and
teachings. You guys don’t trust that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think this
discussion is going nowhere.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lets get this
straight. If you jumped in the water, you’ve got to learn to swim.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I didn’t jump in the water. You are throwing me in it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I cant express much. I can cry, have mood swings, show you
I’m disappointed in my own way, sometimes even confide in you and tell you that
I’m not prepared to do something you are forcing me into. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t label me as a bad child. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t give up on me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t say I’m good for nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wont be able to take this pressure. I’m small. I need your
hand. I need your smile. I don’t need to be told that I need to try harder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I need a hug and be told that its ok. If you don’t like
doing it, lets just go home and enjoy ourselves. Lets take a break today, just
you and me. Tickle me. Make me laugh. Lets watch a fun movie together. Lets go
shopping for goodies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t wake me up in the morning by screaming I’m late for
something YOU are interested in. Kiss me on my cheeks. Draw the curtain slowly.
Tell me it’s a wonderful day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Treat me like a child. Give me time. I will live up to all YOUR
expectations some day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wait a minute. You
just said, your parents have no expectations from you. They want you to do
whatever your heart desires.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well like you said. I guess it was better when parents
expected just one thing from their child. I guess in the whole process I’m the
only hope of all their expectations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">~ ~ ~<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Breaks down. Inconsolable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mother comes running and takes him to change his nappy, feed
him, check if he’s feeling hot or cold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Enjoy these few
moments while they last, little one. In their eyes you may be a prince or a
princess. But in today’s world, with great love, comes great expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">~ ~ ~<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">World best Dad. World best Mom. Its time we stop taking the
compliment so seriously. We have nothing to prove to the world. But one day we
will have to answer our children.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-2450768477906301892016-07-04T05:14:00.004-07:002016-07-04T05:14:47.268-07:00Footprints in her mind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even before I unlock the door, my
family knows I’m back from office because the 300 million olfactory receptors
in my pet Labradors nose get activated even before my car drives into the
garage, and the vigorous wagging of her tail, gives away my whereabouts.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Few feet behind her, is a now
four-and-a-half year old Samaira, who’s understood this signal, and is waiting
eagerly - not for me, but what my bag has inside for her.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Its almost become some sort of rule
now, that I have to get something for her when I come home.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes a chocolate, a box of
crayons or a small toy. Many a times I have to get special orders, thanks to
the heavily advertised products on cartoon channels.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I still recall hunting over 8 shops
for a particular brand of soap that was offering a ‘free’ Cinderella pendant. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Obviously, Samaira wasn’t interested in the soap.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On occasions when I’ve forgotten to
get anything, I fish out a five rupee coin from my pocket and tell her that I
worked hard all day to get this for her. The trick used to work, till she
realised that with five bucks you couldn’t really buy much.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think I went too far on one instance
when I cusped both my palms together and told her I got some fresh air from the A/C of
my office. Sadly, t</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;">hat one didn’t work.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And before many of you will rightfully
say I’m spoiling her, I'll simply take cover, and wait for the bullets to fly
past, till I can give you an explanation.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Guilty! Yes I am.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But that’s what most fathers do, when
the we feel we don’t spend enough time with our kids - We try and compensate by
buying materialistic things. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Much to the dismay of my wife, who tries hard to
inculcate good values in her instead.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- - - -</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few days back, I got home something
else.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I got home - my work stress.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was having a bad day at work. Then I
had to fight traffic to get home. Followed by a complaint call by a client.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By the time I reached home I was so
tired that I just walked passed both, a very surprised Tiara and Samaira, and
without saying a word went to freshen up.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I ignored her while she tried asking
me what I had got her. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So much so, that even Swetal, my wife, was a bit alarmed.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then Samaira, came to me for a usual
round of wrestling but I snapped back at her and asked her to leave me alone.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My wife quickly bundled her up into
the other room and I stomped out to have my dinner which was already served.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By the time I was done, and a bit of
my senses were calmed, Samaira was fast asleep in bed. I looked at her innocent
face, and sensed her disappointment.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Swetal, my wife told me that she kept
asking for me while she was dozing off.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next morning I left early to work,
much before she woke up.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By noon, the pressure on the project
cooled off, and soon I realized that it wasn’t as big a deal than I had made of
it in my head.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That evening, I went home with my usual gift.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Luckily, I ‘did’ have the same wagging
tail, and eager eyes looking at my bag when I walked in.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But there was a definitely a slight
hesitance in the air, and I realized that Samaira was checking, if I was still
in a bad mood.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I rushed in and hugged them both, and
she giggled with joy on getting her present .</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WmMdQi5M32XwWJHIegu9TsABPhv5pvXDz5-277XGj1DZ_WI_APXsekWVP3tK9BMS8iIVnknXc3bdaOAZjgRay5TkZ9lQdgxGvDgnwTKusz2yUwwcG01rWdychhTtZloTMFZCliQt5Ac/s1600/IMG_8064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WmMdQi5M32XwWJHIegu9TsABPhv5pvXDz5-277XGj1DZ_WI_APXsekWVP3tK9BMS8iIVnknXc3bdaOAZjgRay5TkZ9lQdgxGvDgnwTKusz2yUwwcG01rWdychhTtZloTMFZCliQt5Ac/s640/IMG_8064.JPG" width="640" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Knowingly, or unknowingly, we leave our footprints in the minds of our children. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Our
actions, words, thoughts and deeds, impact their personalities.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But more importantly how we behave
with them shapes their relationships with ‘us’.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How many times have we heard of people
being close only to one parent, and sometimes to none. We too have made our
choices, haven’t we?</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But if asked, what was that turning
point, it’ll be hard for us to recollect the exact moment when we picked sides.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As parents we try hard to ensure that
our children love us both equally. We are careful not to argue in front of
them. We work as a team to guide them to distinguish right from wrong. How many
times have we heard that a child’s mind is like clay. Its time we realize that
at this tender age, our actions will shape their world, and ‘ours too’.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- - - -</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few nights later, Samaira cuddled up
to me, and timidly asked me. “Papa, are you still angry on me?”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hugged her tightly, and I said “Sorry boo, it wasn't your fault at all”.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think at that moment my growing girl
understood a lot more than I wanted her to.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-80554984988737840932016-05-20T05:53:00.001-07:002016-05-24T01:54:59.932-07:00Making Memories...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For two years, every morning we drove to school. Twenty
minutes of ‘our time’. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sometimes, we drove leisurely and sometimes, in a mad rush. Samaira, now in preschool, was quick to point out that I had jumped the red light and I
did a bad thing (something she had learnt recently).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">En route, we had intense discussions, right from what a
metro train is, to ‘heated’ debates on whether the Minions liked bananas or
papayas. On some days we sang funny versions of “Let it go” from the movie she loved- Frozen, and sometimes we played Name- Place-Animal-Thing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ironically, my favourite mornings were those when she simply
took her princess print blanket and slept off. On those days, I would let her sleep it out, till the clock struck 8:30 am, while I would simply watch her sleep. After which I would tap her gently, and
carry her all the way to the school gate while she continued to be half asleep.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Bye Boooo!” I would yell at the top of my lungs, when she would
reach the gate of the school building, as she smiled, and sometimes she slapped
her forehead playfully with her palm, making it evident that she was
embarrassed of my antics.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On the last day of school before the summer vacations
set in, I dropped her, as usual to the gate and waited for her to turn around and say
goodbye, and then it hit me that our daily routine would now be broken. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What hit me even harder was that from the next semester on,
her school timings would be from noon to evening and I wouldn’t be in a
position to go everyday and drop her, because my office timing
wouldn’t permit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I quickly had the urge to click a picture, maybe take a
video of us travelling in the car, or a selfie of us, maybe ask one of the
parents at the gate photograph us walking. But I lost the moment as she
disappeared into the hallways. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She was gone and I didn’t even have
a single memento of these wonderful moments we shared every day, for two whole years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As I walked back to the car, I thought of the days when my
father walked me, to my preschool. I clearly remember some moments, where a
particular patch of the road was tiled, and I always jumped ‘in’ the large square
tiles, trying not to to set a foot on the cemented crevices, some funny game I
invented in my head. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On days we were early, we took slight detour and walked through a garden instead of the road. Those were my most cherished moments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have no photographs of those days but they are clearly etched in my
memory, and many a times I recreate those memories using my own
imagination. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">_____</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I smiled. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Having no pictures was a good thing!</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">With cameras in cell phones these days, every moment is ‘so
defined’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Right from how kids are born, to all activities in vacations,
to clothes we didn’t buy (just wore in changing rooms), small events, a drive
to a restaurant nearby, an impromptu meeting with a friend- We have a picture
for everything, which defines each moment in HD Quality.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">_______________</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This summer we went for a short vacation, and hardly clicked any
pictures. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We came back with not a disc full of pictures, but a heart full of
memories. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Memories - that were open to imagination. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Things we did, and places
we saw, that could be tweaked, manipulated, and blown out of proportion using
vague facts and our own versions of what happened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To top it up, at the end of the vacation, we drew a picture
of the parts she enjoyed the most.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVIInsdJb-cK_2JplC7iJo7pTfiAs6wvBlNZzJuU_iWUCOhhqYXzFyk7bR67s1L7kfuaVrCDcFygCmyFKBLlAVA6JkiB8v37B8q8bnqH3nOgbK1QKb0_xBBFk3Kdt9LrHbJq9TwiDn8M/s1600/MyFamilyDrawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVIInsdJb-cK_2JplC7iJo7pTfiAs6wvBlNZzJuU_iWUCOhhqYXzFyk7bR67s1L7kfuaVrCDcFygCmyFKBLlAVA6JkiB8v37B8q8bnqH3nOgbK1QKb0_xBBFk3Kdt9LrHbJq9TwiDn8M/s640/MyFamilyDrawing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">___ ___ ___ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Try this experiment....</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In this age of social media, where sharing your pictures on
popular image sites and apps, judge your social status- Do something different,
and “click a picture from your heart”. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So the next time you see your child do something for a first
time. That moment you want to treasure forever. Don’t reach out to your pocket
for your camera, or cell phone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Take your hand, shut your eyes and capture that moment in
your heart.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That moment is what you will treasure forever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A
moment that you can change the brightness not of the lighting, but of the mood.
Add filters of joy and happiness. Crop out the noise and maybe add a sound track
of laughter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tuck it down memory lane.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That moment doesn’t need to be judged by likes, but by love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">___ ___ ___ </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As for me, I can always tell my daughter about the
adventures we had when I dropped her to school every day (Like the a day a tiger crossed our path :-p) . She might get bored
of hearing them every time and might just shut me up, but since there will be
no visual proof of them, I can always come up with a new story about those days
to get her interested again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The moments that I will treasure in my heart forever till my
last day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The moments I will see when I shut my eyes for the last time
and say good bye to the world. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Moments beyond pages of photo albums, ahead of timelines on
my facebook page, and larger than what any memory card can fit in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How many such moments do you have?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-92137356426423889232016-04-15T05:55:00.003-07:002016-04-15T06:22:53.689-07:00Confessions of an Advertising DAD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">First 7 Days. First 4 weeks. First Year. First 1000 days. First 5 years. Junior School. Check Point. Senior School. Boards. Graduation. Masters. Doctorate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your child’s milestones will pass by as fast as you read the above line.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If capturing the first time they smiled, first word, first time they walked, first day at school, first time on stage, and so many firsts weren’t enough, we have started adding more to the list these days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Confession:</u> As a father I savour these moments. As an advertiser, me and my colleagues in our profession salivate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have realised that there is an opportunity to sell enthusiastic parents- a product, a brand, a service, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and create a marketing opportunity at each of these stages.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And as parents we gladly succumb.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We make you preserve the umbilical cord to protect your child (from 100 plus unheard of diseases with a promise that we are researching many more) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The nutritional milk additive for the first 1000 days.(Because we convinced you that after 1000 days any nutrition is not as effective)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The multivitamin drink, for height, weight and wait a minute – Brain health! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(And we proved it by showing you a TV commercial comparing two flashy schools. In reality while one school was a normal school, the other one was a rural school, where the kids didn’t even get two proper square meals, and suddenly were given food and the nutritional drink)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And the grand milestone of 5 years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(This one was the hare out of the hat, that tricked everyone). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Because a not so credible (almost mythological) research says that a child can learn maximum until that age. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Someone please tell me if they have 'actually read' that particular research paper that makes the claim, and prove it’s credibility.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let me tell you what it says...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Many children in developing countries are exposed to multiple risks for poor development including poverty and poor health and nutrition. The children will subsequently do poorly in school”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So what we basically did was took a study of children below the poverty line and showed it to people above that line by miles, and convinced you that YOU should be worried about your child’s growth and nutrition.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This all started with many traps.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Things like luxury automobile branded prams, then designer cots and so on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The market is now flooded with these products because of the sheer market potential. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But that doesn’t concern me. I’m all for parents who want to pamper their child with the best products money can buy. There is nothing unethical in that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What concerns me is when parents make their “children” the victim of these marketing stunts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A 1 year old child attending a school before he has learn to walk or talk!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A 2 year old child attending, a school after play school with quarterly fees equivalent to the amount that funded my entire education!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A 3 year old child who just learnt to write alphabets –Now also attending creative writing camps!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A 4 year old child visiting personality workshops!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A 5 year old child grasping Vedic mathematics!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And that’s not all, some children attending more than 3 of them a day besides school!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xUqpcKbIMcFqjfa-sGAjcNSpQmz3pk8jtlOr8XZXqTtDVg-R1cpVeB4NiQL-0b6PL0RI0Foj53Uw0_1-e4hXebCjVCre7RUqymDFHoB1KXcOk-HscBsCvTyessaHUNVhZ7WiWQyLjZk/s1600/shutterstock_403085962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xUqpcKbIMcFqjfa-sGAjcNSpQmz3pk8jtlOr8XZXqTtDVg-R1cpVeB4NiQL-0b6PL0RI0Foj53Uw0_1-e4hXebCjVCre7RUqymDFHoB1KXcOk-HscBsCvTyessaHUNVhZ7WiWQyLjZk/s640/shutterstock_403085962.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I’m not against any of these classes also. It’s good to keep children occupied. I’m not judging any parents either (after all they are my Target audience on my professional front). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Each one to themselves and I respect all kinds of parenting styles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If I consider myself as an involved father, this is just a small peek into another passion of my life- Creative Advertising and Marketing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In our profession as advertisers and marketers there are a few things one should know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the main tricks is Gap Analysis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Gap Analysis is basically studying what’s available in the market within a particular domain and then finding the missing piece and placing your product or service there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let’s take some brands you may have used.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We all buy washing powders. Market research found that some people found the smell of clothes after washing with detergents very clinical. So there is a gap for a product that makes clothes smell good. Enter the launch of a liquid you insert in the washing machine, after clothes are washed so you can have better smelling clothes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But the real trick is in Branding. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So we brand this liquid- Fabric softener. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Because research said that no one will pay a heavy price to just have clothes smell good in a wardrobe, so you add the softening angle and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Viola! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Blockbuster product.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now, playschool, preschool, junior school. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But what about school for kids between 6 months and 1.5 years? Is there a Gap?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now we know that it’s difficult for a teacher to manage such small kids. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The product would simply fail, if children were bawling in the class all the time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So let mothers come to school with them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Viola again – Mother-Toddler Classes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh! You joined it? Thank you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Moving on…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The magic wand called Advertising.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A shoe that shapes your butt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A low calorie sweetener. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A tea-powder that’s healthy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">An all natural fruit juice. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Confession: Just like that, we convinced you to join a All round development in Play-School with two types for you to choose from Montessori vs Playway Method. So we diverted your mind from whether you should send you child to playschool at all to chosing between the two methods. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Making parents who chose not to send any- Unconcerned and Callous!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Again I’m not against it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I sent my own daughter to one, and I think the teachers there do a great job, and really take efforts to make your child more social.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But if parents are expecting their children to excel in academics and creativity there. I think there is a problem as a father. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But as an advertiser I just won another account.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Turn the page to another chapter in Marketing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cross-selling and Up-selling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cross-selling is when you go to buy a bed, and the salesman sells you a mattress and bed linen too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Up-selling is when you walk in gingerly to a gym for a 1 month membership, but land up signing up for a Annual Gold Membership with a personal trainer, to use all the facilities. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So we trap you to buy more products, or more expensive than what you walked in to buy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Just like you wanted your child to simply stay occupied for an hour in some story telling class. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But because the teacher told you that your child has potential in the subject, you signed up for speech and drama too and added the music classes just to make sure you are not leaving any stone unturned in the making of the superstar child’s future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You think that was a rare one-in-a-million case, we think of it as a common way to make our millions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One more section in marketing – AIDA</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Attention (or Attraction)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Interest</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Desire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Action</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The mission of an advertisement is to attract a reader, to interest him, then to convince him, so he will believe it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Did you know that the ice-cream you see in commercials, is actually potatoes? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Real ice-cream would melt under the harsh lights!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The soap that the model bathes in is actually acrylic. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A real one would be all slimy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Remember the impressive dance teacher you see in the advertisements or brochures. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That’s all you are going to see of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or the one you met, with a great personality and elocution, who spent all of 30 minutes orienting you to the syllabus of their “internationally acclaimed course”. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Her job is to simply meet eager parents and get them to pay the fees, sometimes humiliating them if they don't succumb- and giving them the feeling like if you don't send your child for this class, its like you don't care.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Remember the line...Jo biwi se kare pyaar, woh Prestige se kaise kare inkaar!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Most classes, who have a celebrity face, are being run by their students. (Some very talented ones - I agree) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So your child attends those kinds of classes? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thanks again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ill approach those institutions for a expansion plan and a advertising campaign in a few days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These are just few examples. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And if you think that you are smart and make informed choices, remember we are much ahead of the curve and are already plotting our next move for you to fall in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We love you enthusiastic parents. You are what we call Baby Boomers generation, who think you’ll are different, privileged and demand better services, better products and feel that the world is going to change with your and your child's existence.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My intention is not against any particular class, any franchise or any chain of schools. I am no one to say which one your child should go to, how many they should attend and why!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>My point is clear and I want to say just one thing… </b></span><br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Now that you, dear parent, have seen the big, bad world...</i></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i>If I could give you your childhood back, what would you do? </i> </b></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Would you go hopping from one class to another to learn something you are being pushed into because you once said that you liked doing it? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or would you simply live to laugh again? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sleep an extra one hour?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Climb a tree one branch higher just to see what the view is from there?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dive into a river and enjoy the cool water?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take a walk on the beach?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Listen to another story from your parents about their life?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Attempt to break one more mango from the tree and relish it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There will be many years for them to learn how to dance, act, solve a jigsaw puzzle, learn an abacus, draw, paint, pronounce words correctly, solve an educational game and life’s many other skills.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Taking a cue from the one of the most successful and wealthiest singers in India- Jagjit Singh...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<pre style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Ye daulat bhi le lo ye shohrat bhi le lo
Bhale chhin mujhse meri jawani
Magar mujhko lota de bachpan ka sawan
Woh kagaz ki kashti wo barish ka pani</span></pre>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take a moment and give your child a hug, sit amongst nature and tell your kids about how your day went. Not just promise but take them for a picnic to a local park. It doesn’t always have to be a international exotic vacation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Because one day they ‘will’ graduate with a doctorate, and you would like him to thank YOU - Not his music class teacher.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Listen now. Or regret later. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Damn! Even my signoff sounds like a headline for a sale)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Disclaimer: </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I know that a lot of parents are going to be absolutely disgusted with this article, and some will downright disagree with my school of thought. Apologies in Advance. I didnt mean to hurt you in any way. My intentions are in the right place.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>If my colleagues in advertising and marketing guys get pissed off - </i></span><i style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Yes I agree, we also do a lot of other good work where we actually bring positive change and I definitely acknowledge and applaud your efforts there. </i><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>But this was just to highlight the reality, so that little innocent kids don’t get caught in our crossfire. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Cheers to more sales, awards, clients, accounts and case studies where we develop great work for great brands.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I’m no genius in advertising or marketing and I’m not the best father in the world too. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Neither do I feel that our style of parenting is the best. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>BUT if you really want a child to manage a large business conglomerate by the day, dance and play a guitar at the office party, paint a masterpiece in his spare time, write a blockbuster book when on a vacation, speak at an award function with his phonics in place, and take official leave to participate in the Olympics. Who am I to stop you? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>_______________ x ________________________</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>But even if one child gets an extra moment with his mom and dad, an extra hug, or is told one more bedtime story - because of this blog- then a few of my sins will be washed away.</i></span><br />
<br /></div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-84833319325375859392016-01-30T10:17:00.000-08:002016-01-30T10:17:49.942-08:00A Tale of Two Races<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is a story of two runners - </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Father and Daughter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One ran a short 21 km marathon, and the other a long 21 meter race. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On 17<sup>th</sup> January 2016, Standard Chartered Mumbai
Marathon, with minimal practice and almost out of form, I woke up early morning
and prepared myself for my 3<sup>rd</sup> Half marathon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The crisp and chilly
morning wind was a good sign and as we warmed up at the entrance gate, I could
feel the excitement and nervousness in the air among almost 15,000 participants
at the start line. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I checked into my facebook account and dedicated my run to
my daughter, Samaira.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Because nothing in the world drives inspires a parent more
than their child.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As a parent- I know, that if a mountain had to be moved for
their child, even the weakest person will become the mightiest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I had promised her a day earlier I was going to get a medal
for her and she innocently said, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Run fast Papa, and come first”.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I promised her that I would run as fast as I could, knowing
that she had no idea that no matter how fast or slow I run, I would get the medal, even if I crawled
to the finish line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These thoughts were quickly submerged by a load roar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The race began. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Worli Sea Face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bandra Worli Sea Link up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bandra Worli Sea Link down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Back to Worli Sea Face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then it happened…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I saw a young girl, in her pink pyjamas, wearing spectacles,
maybe about 5 years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She was standing with a plate of biscuits, quietly and
almost hidden in the crowd and she waited patiently for runners to take one, if
they wanted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was 6:30am on a Sunday, she could have chosen to catch
some extra sleep if she wanted or make some excuse instead of standing on a
road, but she chose to come there, bearing the cold, holding her goodies for
people she had never seen, met or known before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By the time I could manage to get my thoughts together, I
had passed her by a few meters. I looked back and thought that just to
encourage her actions, I should take a biscuit, tap her little head and say “Thank
You’, but by the time I could finish the thought, I was already moving ahead,
and it was like swimming against the current to go back and put my thought to
action. For a moment I even felt like going back, but I didn’t, it would affect
my timing, and I pushed ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I didn't know I would regret that much later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For the entire Haji Ali sea front that little girl kept
crossing my thoughts. Until I reached Peddar road and saw many other children
standing there handing out sweets, water and oranges. I tried to thank each one
of them, and most of them looked upon me weirdly, and some acknowledged with a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It’s no surprise that I could see my little daughter in that
girl and that’s a common thing we parents do when we see cute kids, which also made
me tear up a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For those who know me well, would know that I'm quite a leaking
tap in the eye department that way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I managed to pull through Marine Drive and finally up to the
finish line at VT, in a decent timing for the effort I had put. About seven
minutes slower than my regular timing, but I was thrilled because I was expected
to complete in much more time than I did in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Nonetheless, I took my medal and was satisfied I kept my
promise to Samaira. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I almost could visualize her running up to me and saying, “Wow
Papa, you kept your promise”, and that thought kept me upbeat even while I was
feeling a bit sore in the legs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Victoriously I went home and kept the medal at the bedside
and waited eagerly for Samaira to return from her Grandma’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The doorbell rang. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My heart skipped a beat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She came running in the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I looked at her proudly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Showed her the medal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Her smile disappeared. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And she said… “but Papa, I wanted a Pink one, and a round
one...not this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For second my heart broke. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then we laughed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She wore the medal and walked around the house for some time
and finally returned it back and got back to her dolls and games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On January 28<sup>th</sup> January 2016, about ten days
after the marathon, on a hot so called winter afternoon, Samaira prepped up for
her sports day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Eager parents dropped their kids at the gate and they rushed
to their teachers and friends, sharing none of the emotions of their nervous
and anxious parents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A year back, at the same ground, a timid, much younger Samaira
stood at the start line and when the whistle went off, she ran hesitatingly and
even though she picked up speed. She wasn't sure of what lied ahead and let
other participants go ahead, and only after a few finished she went up to the
finish line. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I will admit that my heart broke not to see her win, but the
little one had no clue then of what was at the other end of the track.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We quickly made two assumptions that day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One, she was not the sporty type, which was kind of ok. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Two, our daughter was more of the dainty type and would
prefer to shine in a dance or fashion show rather than spoil her nail paint on
a sports day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So our expectations were not great.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But there is something that is yet to be told.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A day before the sports day, in a quiet moment, Samaira
walked up to us and said- Mama Papa, tomorrow I promise you I will win in the
sports day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Understanding that she wasn't the quickest, we told her that
no matter what, we would be proud of her and will always love her, whether she
won or not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Just before we left for the sports day, I asked my wife, Swetal,
to take one of my older medals and keep it in her bag, which she did, but also
told me that we should teach her what it is to lose. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The principal declared the sports day open. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The announcer, who also happened to be Samaira’s class
teacher, told us to cheer for the march past and to out utter surprise we saw that
our little daughter had grown up, and was leading her class proudly with a
board that said ‘Junior KG – B’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She made our day again (life actually).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We clicked pictures in spite of being told not to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was a moment to remember. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our little baby who could barely crawl a couple of years
back - was leading her class. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Every kid in the school had so much charisma and panache in
their walk. It was unimaginable for us parents, to achieve even half of their
confidence, if we knew we had to run a race in the next few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My mind took me to the marathon start line. I recalled that
not one of us was walking confidently and enjoying the moment. We were busy
discussing our timing targets, pace plans, hydrating, some praying, and some
frantically pacing up and down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After a couple of races, finally it was time for Samaira’s
race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My heart beat faster, but I hid it, and acted calm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The whistle went off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Within a few seconds, Samaira was at the finish line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A volunteer was marking her hand and writing No.2 on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were cheering at the top of our lungs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Unbelievable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Podium finish. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Silver Medal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> “I told you, I will
win a medal” she screamed to us from far, while her principal laughed and looked
back, while honored her with her shining new metal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She had kept her promise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At the end of the sports day, she saw me from a distance and
I ran to me with her prized possession, I picked her up and threw her in the
air. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She squealed and laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She knew Papa would never let her fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But she didn’t know that he would always help her fly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09pu-SToV_UgZUF-qc-hPF4Je-9G5jmQbIjvJyUm5kJD1Tuqkh_NdtTeVXYfKhUGfysc8SBcxLbiEFZtohJS6rjEcvyORe9KZMS7s_HOO-xfbUIGwvlt7PHySgfECGO4ZQ92MLbhbQgg/s1600/BeautyPlus_20160130232016_save.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09pu-SToV_UgZUF-qc-hPF4Je-9G5jmQbIjvJyUm5kJD1Tuqkh_NdtTeVXYfKhUGfysc8SBcxLbiEFZtohJS6rjEcvyORe9KZMS7s_HOO-xfbUIGwvlt7PHySgfECGO4ZQ92MLbhbQgg/s640/BeautyPlus_20160130232016_save.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dear Samaira,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This month two medals came home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yours and Mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But there is a huge difference between the two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My 21 kilometers was miniscule and too short a distance - Compared
to your task of 21 meters, not in length - but in challenge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You overcame more than me, because you learnt more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your hesitance transformed to confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your promise transformed to achievement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> And that’s how you
emerged a winner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Life is like that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There may be times that people may think that you can’t do
certain things. But if you keep your confidence and passion alive, there is
nothing that can stop you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I lied to you about my medal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I lied to you about my speed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My medal was just about completing a race which I knew I
could do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You are too small now to know that, and I could easily
manipulate you by just showing you my award with a make-believe story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your medal was an achievement of what no one thought you
would achieve, but yes, all hoped you would.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It’s not just your win we celebrate; it’s the change in you
that we are rejoicing about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We know that you can’t win every race in life, and we don’t expect
you to also. I couldn’t be more truthful than that but we are always there in
case you feel you can’t even run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here’s a story…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There was a girl who stood early morning encouraging and handing
out biscuits to runners, like me, whom she never knew, met, or seen in her life
before, but she simply enjoyed the moment of helping others achieve their goal.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I selfishly was worried that I wouldn’t finish in my
expected time and didn’t thank her for her gesture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I know for sure, that this little girl will one day, run the
Mumbai Marathon, and be cheered on by someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I just hope that one day it’ll be a much older me, cheering
on the sidelines, and she will take a biscuit from my tray. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Samaira, what I want to tell you is sometimes we are the
runner, sometimes we are the one who cheers and wishes well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Do both and do them with utmost sincerity and honesty and
most importantly enjoy this inevitable race of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Always remember that in life, saying ‘Thank you’ is one of
the most important things we should do and it costs nothing but means
everything to the person who stands there for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thank your teachers, your friends and your elders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is one more thing I learnt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The actions of parents matter more than words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If my action inspired you even by a percent I will feel that
I have done my role as a parent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am not taking away your spotlight. That’s yours only. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But you must know that we will always be there as an audience
or spectator watching you, with our hearts racing, no matter what you set out
to achieve in life. And we will pray and prepare you, so you can give your
best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We will cheer and clap the loudest when you win, and teach
and encourage you the most when you don’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We know that if you put your mind to something, you will
achieve your best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And if nothing, remember your Mama and Papa will always have
a prize in their bag ready for you,<br />
- and that prize is Love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And our Love can be whatever color and shape you want.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-12784292081118273102015-09-19T10:46:00.000-07:002015-09-19T10:50:07.209-07:00The Reluctant Father<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5JHu_avT3CtP5iuobvOYIJAYq5q_1cnuyzDcjEmEgL8jq9atfnjVPKNJk3uyCzfgCGKQOJGvdOt68xjkrLZj8dacxgjqwj-ztym79_kxo9SHrcna7UaOKtFb5f66Kx_w0yhF98C5pCg/s1600/IMG_20141004_212007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5JHu_avT3CtP5iuobvOYIJAYq5q_1cnuyzDcjEmEgL8jq9atfnjVPKNJk3uyCzfgCGKQOJGvdOt68xjkrLZj8dacxgjqwj-ztym79_kxo9SHrcna7UaOKtFb5f66Kx_w0yhF98C5pCg/s640/IMG_20141004_212007.jpg" width="636" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was 20 years, with some of my really
close friends, partying away, dancing and enjoying myself. It was a usual
affair to spend Friday evenings till the place had to close for the night,
after which we would drive to some place for dinner and return home only to wake
up the next day to party again.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thought ,there was nothing I would trade for the
good times.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was 25 years, at a bike trip with my
gang, at 120kmph on my Yamaha, on a 5 day impromptu trip to the mountains. It
was about chilling, relaxing, and just exploring.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thought there was nothing I would give up for this
freedom.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was 30 years, waiting up in my room,
trying to settle down my 2 month old daughter, changing her diaper, holding her
milk bottle patiently till she finished it, and trying to soothe her to sleep
with a bad version of a lullaby. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I know, there is nothing that can compare to the satisfying life I live today. Nothing.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So that's where we all land up. Right?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not if you really knew who I was first.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Brash. Carefree. Spoilt. Wild</b> – these were
the words that would call me before people even knew my name sometimes. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I made
fun of people who had kids. Stayed away a mile from anything that related with
babies, and worse - I had a bank of horrific stories, of what I would do to
kids if they came within my periphery, which I told anyone who knew me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had no intention of having any kids of my
own. Ever. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My life plan was clear –Business ,Money.
Cars. Travel. Bike Trips. Boy Trips. Party. Freedom </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then it happened...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Love. Engagement. Marriage. Ups and Downs.
Highs and Lows. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then they said...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">C’mon C’mon. 5 years huh. Now you must
plan.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then she came...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Angel. Beautiful. Princess. True Love. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But along with her came...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bibs and Cribs</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Booties and Charibootis </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mittens with Kittens</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Huggies Diapers and Cotton Wipers</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sleepless Nights and Floor Lights</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mosquito Nets and Out go the Pets</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Soon...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beer bottles made place for milk bottles</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Late night parties were replaced by late
night crying</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rock music made way for Rock-a-by-baby.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And you know the best part</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We loved it. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This new tag team of me and my wife.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We loved every moment. We cherished every
second. Soaked in every learning. Tried our best to be better. There was
nothing that made us happier than just seeing her sleep peacefully at the end
of the day. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Only to wake up in fifteen minutes and we
were at it again.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today my daughter is on the brink of
turning 4 years. I feel a sense of purpose of my life. I know that when people
told me good times will come. This is what they meant. I have joined that gang
of irritating people who go and tell young couples....Ab settle ho jao. 1+1=3. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cliche? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No. Touché.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So this goes out to those guys, who
identify with the 20 year old me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are like- No way. Me? Never! Not so
soon. There’s times for that. I have a long way to go. Let me earn first. Let
me live my life first. That’s for much later dude. Someday..not today. Career
first. Money first. Life First. My freedom. My dreams. My life?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I respect your opinion. I understand your
concerns. Been there, done that.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But if you are- in between. Stuck in grey
area. Not sure. Need to be sure. Under pressure to plan a family. Read on...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>The Top 3 concerns of married men but not
yet fathers.</u></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Concern
1: Money<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most common worry and biggest myth- Having
a child, needs a lot of money.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So let me answer this in two parts.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes a child is an additional expense. It
does entail buying a lot of stuff. Finding a new place to stay for some. And
breaking a few savings for many. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A lot of your elders will tell you that a
kid comes with his own fate and money. And while you are about to think that I
am going to rubbish this claim- Sorry, but I won’t. I support it. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s true. A child does come with his own
fate.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Money won’t come raining down your roof. You
won’t suddenly strike a lottery.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But what will come is a huge amount of positivity
and power. A change in approach to your work and goals. A new you will emerge.
Business will do better, or your job will offer you more.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You will be compelled to discover avenues,
where you see none. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You will be forced to look in places you thought
were useless. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You will be pushed beyond your limits.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And you will find a way.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The best part is- It won’t be difficult.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Frankly without realising, we spend way too
much money on useless things, like expensive clothes, gadgets, night outs and
so many unnecessary things. Sometimes we don’t even realise that we spend way money
on people around us who are just looking for a “treat”.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With a new child, all this stops. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And you realise that you can channel your
resources in more meaningful, planned and better ways.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You even learn to negotiate better in your
professional life. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You learn to say No when it needs and Yes
when it demands.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And that brings a huge change in your
overall financial scenario.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now to clear the bit that a child is a huge
expense.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Frankly no.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many of us don’t even sneeze before paying
off a bill at a high end restaurant.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The amount you’d spend on that one night at
a bar is sometime equal to a month’s supply of food and medicines of a child.
In fact the few initial months, the child has very basic needs, and all we buy
for the child is just for our own happiness.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Children don’t care what they wear. Don’t
care what they play with. And don’t care what even the size or temperature of
the room is. For them it’s all new and all exciting. They will adapt, after all
they’ve just been living in a tummy full of water and eating off whatever the
mother eats. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The question is will you adapt?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If I had to ask you money for a blanket,
some clothes, and 6 small bottles of milk a day would it hurt you financially.
I’m sure not. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By the time the child is 3 and you start
thinking of school fees, trust me, you’ve would have already made your money to
plan much ahead.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So if money is your worry. Case closed.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let’s move on to some other things.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Concern
2 : Sacrifice<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So you don’t want to part with your
friends, your social life and your exciting plans.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let me give this to you slowly.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sooner or later, all your friends will move
on.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unfortunately -That’s true.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This happening scene is not forever. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People. Times. Life. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It all moves on.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s not too far you will be sitting alone
on a Saturday night and your friends will be at a family gathering, or have changed
residence because of a job, or not into partying anymore. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let’s just sit at home and chill. How often
have you heard that?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If more than a couple of times. Get the
picture. Change is coming..fast.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Life won’t wait for you. Make your move.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As far as sacrifice is concerned. Let’s
relabel it. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s not sacrifice. It’s a blessing.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A child brings with it joy, satisfaction,
fulfilment.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A child becomes your best friend.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When a child smiles at you, or just holds
your finger. You will know what a real friend is.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unquestioned. Unspoken. Unconditional. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A real relationship begins here. It’s
something you would have shared with no one else.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No one. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You know the funniest part now. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forget sacrificing your social life, you
will sacrifice a body part just to see your child smile. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Would a friend do that for you, maybe not.
Would you do it for a friend? I guess you’d be a fool to do that. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is no comparison between what you
would be sacrificing and what you would be getting as a father. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Case closed.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Concern
3<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Performing the part</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So now you thinking, if you do have a
child..</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Will I be a good father. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Will I understand what to do when they cry?
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Will I be capable of handling the responsibilities
that come along? </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Will I be able to protect my family?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now don’t feel bad, but frankly the world
expects nothing much from you.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not insulting, but frankly we men, are
pretty useless.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This moment was the one that was ignored
when they coined the term - weaker sex.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And if women are the weaker sex, then men
should be called - the insignificant sex.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So little is our role in being a father,
that it can almost be neglected in terms of giving.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But you learn.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s like going to school all over again,
only difference is you will pick up fast and you will absorb only as much as
you want to. The rest will take care of itself.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Holding a baby the right way. Bottle
feeding. Changing a diaper. Putting a child to sleep. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are far easier to learn than changing
the tyre of a car.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even if you fail, the system lets out a cry
and you learn quickly the right way.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You will read, listen, watch and get
better. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You will want to improve day by day and
before you know it, you will be doing your job better than anyone else. In fact
you will almost go about saying, that you are a very involved father, and you
are far better than the other ones you know.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And to prove it -One day you little angel
will come and tell you- Papa you are the best! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That day my friend, you will stand first in
class. You will pass with distinction and no one can ever take that away from
you. Top of the world.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope this closes Concern No. 3 also.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">____</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I said I wouldn’t come in the labour room.
But I stood there the whole time. I saw my baby covered in blood. I didn’t pass
out. I clicked a picture.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I said I won’t be able to stay awake at
night. But I wake up at the slightest sound. Now I problem-solve in my sleep.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I said that finances would be a bit of a
stretch. But we live life better than before. We party. We shop and we aren’t
worried about tomorrow. Because we have each other.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I said I won’t be able to do much, most of
it will have to be done by my wife. But I do my little bit, pat myself on the
back and am ready for my next task, any time you want.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">____</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I stand by my daughter today...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When my little angel wakes up in the
morning and looks at me, when the world is still asleep.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When she cries because she doesn’t want to
go to school and needs a hug to tell her everything is going to be fine. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When she looks at me longingly because she
wants a toy.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When she throws a tantrum and just wants me
to hold her and tell her that- she wins, I lose.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When she comes running to the door when I
am back from office to hug me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When she sneaks a smile at me and pretends
she is sleeping.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I am her hero, even when I'm down and
out and had a terrible day.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When she wants me to play with her after I'm back from work and have no energy, but yet manage to, but yet put up a show.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When she chooses me over anyone else in the
world.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do you think that even the slightest
thought of that party, that bike trip, that social gathering even peeps into my
thoughts? Never. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is no bigger joy. There is no better
blessing. There is no higher feeling.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trust me...</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have changed as a person..for
good..forever.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">___</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brash. Carefree. Spoilt. Wild – these are
the words people call <b><u>her</u></b> even before they know her name. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After all she is her father’s daughter.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-46598810900989786202015-09-17T03:14:00.000-07:002015-09-17T03:30:21.035-07:00Fwd that Smile<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxl3vsnjQSO1LjnHTsCTs9kdH5CocUbLQp_okLoHeM0dxCu-Gj-zovBpX5eAz1N9sCegL8v0zE4Zswi5CFZobtROgmpGvXNdKjmoFuq3dON8f1DfVwpQHJh6mYu7uiwZ0qDSbMgz0oAc/s1600/Flower+Delivery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxl3vsnjQSO1LjnHTsCTs9kdH5CocUbLQp_okLoHeM0dxCu-Gj-zovBpX5eAz1N9sCegL8v0zE4Zswi5CFZobtROgmpGvXNdKjmoFuq3dON8f1DfVwpQHJh6mYu7uiwZ0qDSbMgz0oAc/s640/Flower+Delivery.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just for a day, I want to work at a flower shop, as a
delivery guy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just for one day, drive a Taxi.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just for one day, wrap gifts at a mall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just for a day, work at an amusement park, manning the ride.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm curious to see the face of the person receiving the flowers at the
door light up, blush or even turn red. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To experience the impatience of a person who has to reach an
important meeting, or even better, a date and helping them reach on time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To be part of making the presentation of the gift much nicer and more exciting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To know that the ride is so exciting, that just making the experience worth waiting for is a joy in itself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In my world of advertising - Closed door meetings, signed
NDAs (Non disclosure agreements), brain storming sessions, daily executions, TTDs, and deadlines on various
projects don’t allow me many a times to experience the true joy felt by the
ultimate consumer of our product or service. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Does yours? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you ever experienced the satisfaction of a customer
when they are enjoying the benefits of your hard work and passion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The moment of truth when a person uses your product, your
service or your end deliverable. Have you seen them smile, feel relieved or relaxed?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then I ask myself, is there something I can do to feel that
thrill on my client face? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What can I do to make my clients happy?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How do we rate our business deliverables - on the Happiness Scale? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many a times, a client will get on the negotiation table to
reduce the cost of what we offer. But let’s face it, getting the cost down for
a go-to-market strategy, or a creative advertisement, or a film is not exactly
how I’d like to satisfy my clients. It may give momentary ego massage but that’s
not going to last long.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But if we give work on time, or before time, deliver a
creative that’s beautiful and is witty, or clever – That is what gets us brownie
points.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So just for a change, instead of focusing on OUR job satisfaction,
if we simply focus on our <u>customer’s</u> satisfaction, I think it will serve
as a paradigm shift in our workplace culture, and our overall job satisfaction.
It will help reduce attrition, keep employees motivated and create a much happier
workplace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After all, there is more joy in giving, than getting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have seen the energy in my workplace when we get an
appreciation letter from a satisfied client, and that cannot be measured to even
monetary incentives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So just for a moment, let’s think of our customers as the
girl on the others side of the door. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our product, a bouquet of flowers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our service, like that of the delivery boy’s</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our brand experience like the freshness of the petals.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">______</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
If you thought of your job like that...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Would you get out of bed in the morning, more energetic, because you would be making someone happy by simply doing your job well?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Would you be on time to work?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Won’t you make your offering, the most beautiful one?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And the experience, worth remembering.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Would you smile a bit more?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Would you feel motivated to stay longer at work because you
get smiles in return -for doing that bit to make the world a happier place?</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s really not that difficult.
Just ask yourself, who do you work for, and how can you make that person smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A company owner should think of his employees smiles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A manager should think of his team’s smiles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An executive should think of his customers smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A back office guy should think of his superiors smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and as a customer or client or a superior- Be generous to praise where it is worthy and return that smile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If all just did our job to ensure that we make the other smile, and nothing else, imagine the change we could bring in workplaces.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So try it today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like the flower delivery guy - Focus on the customer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like that taxi driver- Deliver on time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like the girl who wraps the gift- Make the product, or
presentation more beautiful and exciting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or the guy at the amusement park – Make the experience memorable.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You never know, what you will receive in return.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-style: none none solid; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Good luck. Keep smiling and keep spreading it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Smile it Forward"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-26696454769164238842015-08-25T05:32:00.000-07:002015-08-25T05:39:47.959-07:00Selecting an Agency = Selecting a Cricketer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h4 style="text-align: left; text-indent: -18pt;">
</h4>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</h2>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS17JcVa8i_fgRMrkFdeDslq8qC0SH4N19xWdAQR5CzJsdW0fjgrNJl9HQON1WwcfreVUeIH6e2Rw99H12iSwtReVfOOcpDS5alIYiyogPnBcyzpRtJj4gw7pvt-WJjqhlRe8Uu_I7gKw/s1600/Selection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS17JcVa8i_fgRMrkFdeDslq8qC0SH4N19xWdAQR5CzJsdW0fjgrNJl9HQON1WwcfreVUeIH6e2Rw99H12iSwtReVfOOcpDS5alIYiyogPnBcyzpRtJj4gw7pvt-WJjqhlRe8Uu_I7gKw/s400/Selection.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So you
need a marketing agency that gives you a great strategy and award winning creatives?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Not
only that, but you also want to work with good people who you get along with,
and don’t throw their pony tailed attitudes?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Not to
forget you want the goatee bearded hot shot creative team to maintain their
enthusiasm on your account for all the deliverables of the campaign?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />If you
answered yes, read on...<br />_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Imagine
this. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You are assigned to select players at a cricket match for a large
tournament, and you spot a talented batsman, swinging away every shot. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Your
excitement and his strokes surpass all boundaries. You just know that this is
the talent your team needed.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />You
approach the player and ask him to play a match in which you will take a final
decision.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />He
puts all his efforts and scores a sparkling century.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />The
reference check given by your current teams players glow enough to light Mars.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />His
fee is affordable and the future seems bright.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Congratulations
you have a star player aboard.<br />_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />You
sign up... but...</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->You
make him field all day and don’t give him a chance to bat.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> <o:p></o:p>·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->If
you make him bat, it’s at a gully cricket match.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><o:p></o:p>·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->You
make him play football.<br /><o:p></o:p>_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />After
which...</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->You
challenge his capability.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><o:p></o:p>·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->You
compare him to another small time player, who you feel is more value for money.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><o:p></o:p>·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->You
threaten to fire him (because he didn’t score a goal).<br /><o:p></o:p>_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Sometimes
advertisers make choices of their agency partner in a similar fashion and make
pretty much the same mistakes.<br />_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Imagine
this now..</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />An
Advertiser brief agencies and ask them to come up with ideas without any budget
constraints (Ever heard? “Dont let monies restrict your thinking”).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />He
wants their best creative work. He promises the agency that the project is huge
and will change the fortunes of both companies.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />The
agencies pitch with their best efforts and top teams, and eventually the best
one gets the job.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />What
follows is a whole new picture?<br />_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Now in
reality...</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
budget is tight.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><o:p></o:p>·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
work is more BTL and almost no ATL.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><o:p></o:p>·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
actual requirement is not the same as the pitch brief.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><o:p></o:p>·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
boss feels his neighbour’s friend’s nephew will be perfect for the shoot.<br /><o:p></o:p>_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Now
when the work is not creative and not strategic (because the deliverables have
mostly been about a 70% off sale)?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
advertiser threatens to fire the agency.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><o:p></o:p>·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
advertiser demands to complain to the Top management, or asks for a review
meeting with them.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><o:p></o:p>·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
agency is fired.<br /><o:p></o:p>_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Whose
fault is it?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />I know
you’d expect me to say the advertisers.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />But
like they say, you can’t clap with one hand (you can slap with one though)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->It
often happens that the team that works on the pitch is not the same as the one
that works on day to day operations.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> <o:p></o:p>·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The
full gloss team happens to involve themselves only if the project is a TVC (to
be shot in Bora Bora Island). Which is not fair because the leadership teams’
job is not just to win the account, but to provide service and take
responsibility for the deliverables? <br />
<br />
I’m not saying that the CXOs have to ensure that the T’s are crossed and the
I’s are dotted. But at least check if from a messaging point of view, the
strategy is aligned.<br /><br />·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
enthusiasm is only till the agency wins the account and the champagne glasses
are clinked. After which the agency
moves on to the next win and some interns are put on the project to bear the
burden of work.</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The
client is now navigating the boat with an inexperienced and unenthusiastic
team.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _</span></span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">From
the agencies point of view (this one is closer to the heart)</span></span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">If
you chose the agency for its batting, then play cricket and make them play in
the position they are good at.</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Remember,
you can’t score a century in every match.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">If
you need a footballer, then don’t ask a cricket team to show up at a pitch. (Pun
Intended)</span></span><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">_ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _</span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">All
said and done, when Advertisers and Agencies work together, it’s like an
India-Pakistan match: </span></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The tension is everywhere, but everyone has fun at the
end.</span></span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">PS: Also
because India always wins.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l6 level1 lfo6; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-15395814163764651172015-06-05T02:07:00.002-07:002015-06-05T02:07:50.983-07:00Prepaid Honking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was 2005, I walked out of my hotel in Dubai and
stood at the footpath to cross the road. A huge Land Cruiser screech stopped and allowed me to pass. I was so dumbstruck that it took me a while to
take a step and move, while the driver not only waited patiently but also gave
me a smile. What surprised me even more was the cars that were behind him, also
waited and allowed me to cross like as if I was a celebrity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is 2015, and I walk into my living room, turn around and walk back
into my bedroom and shut the door and windows because I can’t bear the noise of
countless cars honking just because the road signal seven floors below - turned
green. Drivers in India honk because they want to turn, cut someone, show the driver ahead that he has a
horn, or control the pedestrian with his horn because he is convinced that it
is a remote control to his feet, or the most important reason which is – Honk for
no reason at all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The two contrasts we live in are so wide apart that it makes
me think if there is a common ground at all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">_____________________________________________________________</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had attended a TED talk a couple of years back and it was interesting
to hear two speakers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">·</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Anand Damani spoke about honking and the disastrous
effects it has on our health.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">·</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Yashraj Khaitan spoke about how they came up
with a service that provided villagers prepaid Electricity.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">·</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">I simply put the 2 together and came up with an
idea: </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Prepaid Honking!</b></li>
<li><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></b></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">·</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">No, I didn’t speak at TED.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now Imagine a world with PrePaid Honking:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A taxi driver going to a local store on the street and
asking “Bhai zara Dus rupiza ka horn dena” and the shop keeper gives him a
scratch card, which he keys into his mobile phone and is ready to honk. Only
this time he will honk wisely.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or a discussion among riskshaw drivers on how honking is
become so expensive, and an old timer saying ‘Hamare dino mein yeh to free hoya
karta tha! Kya din the. Wah!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A news headline saying ‘Government increases the cost of
honking once again! This budget is not for the common man!!!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Biker caught giving bribe to hawaldar for using unlicensed
horn.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even the kind of honking will change... </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From the looong beeeeeepps to just a missed call kind of
horn. Just bip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From hard rock music honking to just sms type honking. P.P.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From air horn to just </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">just a flicker of a
headlight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then imagine this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Walking down a road and listening to the man selling flutes who
is playing a beautiful melody himself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The sounds of a child scream “McDonalds!” when he spots one across
from his car window.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The pleasant sound of a bopu wala idli, because his horn is
not come under the scanner yet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The conditioned voice of the bhangar wala, in his typical
echoing voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wouldn’t that be a wonderful world!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is a quote on the last page of your driving license
which says – </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Driving is a privilege, not your right”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well said Sir!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-71680642162587570112015-06-01T04:48:00.001-07:002015-06-01T04:48:52.873-07:00The Science of Sharing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday I shared a print campaign of toothpaste, which I
thought would win the advertising awards in the next season in my wall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week sometime, someone I know very well, shared a video on my wall, saying he
knew I’d find it funny.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last week, a friend of mine retweeted a tweet by a celebrity he is a fan of.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Studies say videos of puppies and babies, shot with mobile phones, get
more shares/retweets/repins, compared to those shot by the best film makers in the business, because
most people find innocent animals more interesting, than the brand who invested millions on
the filmmaker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then again, every day I attend a meeting where brand managers are
talking about “engaging their customers” online.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But why on earth would I want a furniture shop to haunt me every time I
log on? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An anti-dandruff shampoo give me gyan on hair care on my facebook
wall? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A jam, to tweet me pictures of fruits and facts about the
nutrition value?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Which brings me to my topic, w</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">hy brands on social media need to go beyond likes
and instead look at sharable content?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What is sharing
in the real world (not social media)?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If I had to share a cake, the one thing I assume is </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><b>
"Someone else may have made this cake, but I bought it and now this is MY
cake" </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />IF I want to share it, I think, </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Here you can have some MY cake" </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you want me to share something about your brand it has to somewhere
be belong to <b>ME</b>, whole of me, a
thing about me, something I like, something I relate to, something I think you
need, or can have. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s about I. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It's about me. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, now that I know it’s mine. Ill share it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forget brands for a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What is it that I readily share in life? What makes me </span>immediately<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> log on to social networking and motivates me to post something?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I want to share news about my achievements, about my child's milestone,
or recognition given to me by the society, a big news about the company I work
for, or a luxury item I purchased, or a fabulous place I visited. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And sometimes a not so pleasant experience of mine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Again it's about me.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So in social media you see a lot of shares (and not likes) about things
to do with me, myself, my life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So if brands touch me, in a very personal way, I'll share.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But then again we do share ads we like, ideas we love, things we find
funny, things I know that you will find funny, or inspirational, or
informative. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do note. It's about me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why do I share?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I share to be seen as clever. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I share to be seen as informed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I share to be seen motivated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I share to be seen happening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I share to be seen upmarket. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I share to be seen with a sense of humour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I share because I care (about myself)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brands term their presence on social media to stay engaged with their
customers. But actually, most of the times it’s about them, and not about me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, Hey you brands! When you post something about yourself, I don't want
to know things about you, I want to know how that makes me feel good about
myself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Only then I'll share. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, for all
the times you shared things and people asked you why you did. Remember it was
your cake, and they should be grateful you agreed to let them have a piece of
it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unfortunately
brands can’t think that way.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-87051648663244150902015-03-10T20:24:00.001-07:002015-03-10T20:24:55.310-07:00Yeh Kutta Katata Hain?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The question that hounds every pet parent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a problem with every word in that question. A big
problem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You walk on the road. You open your house door. You enter a
lift. You sit in a garden doing nothing. You chill on the beach - and
perpetually you are asked this question by strangers giving cheeky smiles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyone with a dog whatever size, whatever breed, whatever
age is asked this question and every pet parent would know this very well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even Tiara, my Labrador with eyes that can make the hardest
heart melt, is looked at with suspicion and then within seconds her integrity
is questioned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let’s break this question into four parts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
It looks like a simple four worded sentence, but it’s far more complicated than
you think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First word- “Yeh”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What is Yeh? Is this an object? Is it like asking a
shopkeeper the price of a soap? “Yeh” kitne ka hain? For God’s sake this is a
living thing. I don’t expect people to refer animals with a dignatory “Aap” or
slightly casual version like – “Tum”. In fact even a derogatory “Tu” would do
in this case. But Yeh is something I just cringe when I hear. (I don’t expect
people to come and say “Behenji Aap katate ho?”) So please people, back off if
you can’t give it the basic expression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next word- Kutta.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s almost abusive. Maybe it’s the dictionary word for dog,
but I still have a problem. Forget Kutta, I don’t even use the word ‘dog’, when
I am talking about my pet. I’m not for banning the word, since banning things
is in fashion these days. But this is my personal pet almost childlike (in many
cases more than childlike), so please don’t call it Kutta. I refer my pet as
doggie or by name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now when it comes to cats I am a little biased more towards
dogs. Actually ‘little’ is an absolute downplaying. I don’t like cats. OK I’m
saying it, I hate cats. (It’s my doggie instinct I think). So I don’t mind if
your call a cat a cat, and not catty and even Billi is fine by me- but don’t call
my pet Kutta. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Kutte Kaminey” is something I wish Dharmendra didn’t make
famous for saying in the same breath. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dog is man’s best friend. A dog is loyal. A dog’s love and
friendship is unconditional. It’s not with malice, or string attached. They aren’t
rascals. So when did these both words come together in the first place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In fact a dog will never drink your blood also. Unlike, what
the famous dialog writer fathomed. I think he was a cat lover- that man, who
made this loving animal sound like a Dracula like thing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Katata?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So does the dog have no other work besides biting? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When a stranger approaches my pet Tiara or any doggie for
that matter, she looks at them endearingly. She wags her tail uncontrollably. She
invites you to stroke her head. She will readily give a paw. She will also
allow your little toddler to pull her ears. And you know what most dogs will
even allow you to put you hand in its mouth – and not bite. You heard that
right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most dogs wont bite and I know I gave away the plot in that
sentence by using the word most. But that’s true. Most cats won’t like water.
Most horses like running. But personal preferences and temperaments differ
right. That makes us unique. But yes, most dogs won’t bite you if you don’t
mean harm. And if he does intend biting you, he will let you know much before
his teeth sink in your skin. There will be a growl. There will be a bark. There
will be a warning snap and then there will be a bite. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most ‘pet’ dogs won’t bite for any reason (Stray dogs are
differently bred, and their circumstances and fears are different). It’s not
that our pets will go around simply biting everyone and we’ll be sitting on a
beach side with it - unleashed, waiting for them to find their next meal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If someone means harm, I hope and I genuinely doubt that in
some situation someday my doggie will rise to the occasion and - does bite. But
most of us pet parents, will never know, because heroic stories is one thing,
but we all secretly doubt that even if a robber enters the house, if our dear
little pet will turn into The Hulk or will it just scamper away to the closest
hiding place, waiting and hoping for the whole thing to end so he can wag his
tail and give us company after it’s all done by begging for a treat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hain?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In this context Hain is meant something between “Yes” and
“All the time?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tu subah uththe hi pissab karta hain?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tujhe rasgulley pasand hain?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tu school jata hain?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For Dogs sake, why are you making assumptions? Do you walk
to a cute little infant who you just can’t resist and say, “If I pull his cute
cheeks, will he cry?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don’t recall any stranger coming and asking me this
question before trying to get my daughters attention when she was in my or my wife’s
arms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Though most infants will cry on seeing a stranger
approaching or giving a hand or pulling its cheeks. Yet strangers happily go
around doing it, knowing that the child will - and will cry and then they
cheekily walk away leaving the already hassled mother to complete the task and
calm the child down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So my answer in most cases when someone asks me that
ridiculous question if Tiara bites is – </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Haan! Bahut zor se katata hain. In fact
who aapka hi intezaar kar rahan tha. Usse bahut bhook lagi hain. (She bites
really hard, and has been waiting all day for someone like you to walk past by.
She’s hungry.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So just for the record- Dogs can bite and do bite. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They bite when they sense fear. Did you know Dogs are
experts at reading body language? In fact they can actually and really smell it,
because in fear, a human being's sweat glands get more active and produce a
slight body odour, which a dog can easily smell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In conclusion…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you don’t own a dog and yet like to walk up to strange
dogs and pat them, ask a different question, like…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What’s his name? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Is it a male/ female? (Don’t stare at its privates to check).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How old is he/she? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What breed is this? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Is he/she playful is a more decent way of asking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you are a pet owner- and are hounded by this question every
time you go for a walk- you know my answer, and there are no copyrights to
using it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">PS: This article is going to piss off a lot of people I know. If you have a different point of view, I'm all ears. Apologies to anyone with a previous history of being bitten in childhood or later on behalf of the entire doggie community. Give them another chance please. Start with Tiara. Doors open always.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-89026416061756017622015-03-04T05:12:00.000-08:002015-03-06T09:34:13.920-08:00Mirror Mirror on the Wall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have faint memories of my father taking me to the salon. I used to hate the idea of sitting on the wooden plank the barber placed between the handles of the chair, so he could raise me higher to a comfortable height for him to cut. At four, I was barely 4 feet tall, and the hairstyle was normally dictated by my school rules. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Short karna hain.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Which meant I would land up looking like a porcupine at the end of the procedure. In fact I do recall boys in school calling me names like Porcupine - I didn't even care.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This soon transitioned to something called Tapeli cut. Tapeli cut is what would happen if I took a round cooking vessel and put it on your head, and cut whatever was visible. Later this was popularly known as pineapple cut, or mushroom cut.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As the hairdresser cut my hair, I would look around at the frames, which were mostly the ancestors of the owner, the rhombus shaped comb, which is almost antique in today’s age, the left over hair dyes in the tea cups with broken handles, the slab of alum, and the rough tiles. What interested me most then was the Dukes lemonade bottle which had a shiny metal spray. I always wished owning one for some silly reason. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My thoughts then were simple. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wouldn't bother at the outcome of the cut. I was more concerned about how many overs of the cricket match I had missed in the building compound, or how much more time I would have been left with to play a game of football.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once done I would rush out without bothering to pay or tip, because Dad would handle all that after his cut, shave and head massage.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I soon outgrew the ancestral salon and heard of my school friends going to an upmarket salon down the road, called - Precious.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I asked my father if I could go for a haircut to Precious with a friend. I did sense his displeasure then, but while I thought it was because of the cost, it was actually because he lost out on time with me to do some guy bonding. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I had moved on, and he didn't want to clip my wings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Precious was a clean, granite floored salon with lots of stylists.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Men were reading magazines, watching television, and talking in English to each other. I waited for my turn and soon was whisked away to a seat. I cringed on the thought of him asking me to sit on that plank. But he didn't.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He simply turned a ship like wheel behind the chair which automatically lifted me a few inches above and voila, I was a grown up!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was sold! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So often I visited this new find of mine, that I had a stylist who was assigned to me, and knew my hair better than me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I styled it in all sorts of ways, mushrooms, pineapple, cross side locks and many more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Until that one day when he asked me.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />“Shave karogey?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What did you say? Shave? And me?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I mean, I had tried using my Dad’s razor just to see what it feels like, hoping that one day I’ll have a beard and look all manly. But the fact that an outsider felt the need for me to </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">shave was like a huge achievement for me. A milestone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I shyly said “No” but inside I was beaming with delight!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I spent the rest of the evening and night observing my newly found facial hair. I was becoming a grown up. Which meant, I’ll go to college, drive a car, go to discs, allowed to see an adult movie in Regal or Eros theater, and not stopped while riding a bike!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">____________________</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My sister suggested that I grow my hair before I go to college. So I grew my hair in the vacation when school was done with.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It grew till my shoulder, really long.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One evening, when I was alone at home, I saw a tube and bottle of hair color, and Ammonia Hydro-chloride. Without a thought, I smeared the cream and liquid all over my hair and forgot about it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Until a friend asked me a few days later if I had colored my hair. I denied until I recalled what I had done a few days back.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You know what, my hair looked cool. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Awesome- Golden Brown. Colored by 'Yours Truly'</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I didn’t need a professional stylists to colour my hair, I did it myself, and most importantly I carried it well, and that’s what made all the difference.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For 2 years of college I was known by my hair colour and style. Quiet a stud I felt I was. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">:-D</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />Until one day, when a guy came up and told me, “Without your hair you are nothing!”. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I took that to heart and decided to shave my head off and prove a point.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />The barber asked me thrice.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Pakka na? Pakka na? Pakka na?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And with each time I said Yes, my voice grew weaker. But it was too late.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was Bald.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Bald to that level that I couldn’t recognize myself anymore. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I felt People ignored me at college, (but actually they didnt recognize me). I lost my confidence. I lost friends. Not because of my hair, but because I was ashamed of myself. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Was that guy right? Was I nothing because of my hair? Will I land up being a no one? I had people calling me Takloo and making fun of me. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />It was weird and horrible.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Probably the darkest phase of my life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Soon my hair grew back, and I grew it as long as it could be tolerated in office.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bored of the routine and standard cut, a friend suggested me to visit Juice (now known as b:blunt). The same place which was known for cutting the revolutionary hair styles for Dil Chahta Hain – The cult movie.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I booked an appointment through the phone speaking in my thickest accent, because the voice on the other side was equally thick. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You know how it is when a Gora speaks to you, and you respond back with the same.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />We happened to be in Bangkok for a week and almost spoke Thai accented English.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Understaaaaand?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Same thing happened when I was in Dubai.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Undderrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrstood?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />So, I landed up in front of this chic looking stylist feeling the texture of my hair. She cut my hair really well. She gave me spikes. That turned into my identity for many many years.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I visited various good salons after that. Once even Adhuna Akhtar herself styled my hair! </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />The same Adhuna who actually had cut Aamir Khans hair in that cult movie. That’s different that she cut it at a event called Hairathon, where India’s best hair stylist were cutting hair for just Five hundred rupees for some charity cause.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />______________________</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Years later, trips to the barber were a shave, and a haircut.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />And then it happened.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Sir, Aapke baal jhad rahein hain. Aap yeh tel lagao.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(Sir apply this oil, you hair is thinning and falling)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Aaaarrrggghhh!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />I was balding!!!!!! Nooooooo!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />I disregarded his opinion and solution, and chose to live in the bliss of ignorance.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But the man had ruined my life in a moment.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Now every time they showed me the mirror after a cut, I would take a sneak peek at the slowly forming bald patch instead.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Soon the requests turned to “Sir, dye karogey?”</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />I feared going bald with the remainders being grey.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Why was going bald so difficult for me? And then it struck me. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Was it that guy who told me, that without my hair I’m nothing? Would I lose friends again? Would I lose confidence? Is this going to be a déjà vu of those dark times? Would people call me takloo again?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />In this darkness, I saw a rising shiny sun. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />No not a shiny bald oily patch. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />I meant a actual ray of hope.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />I saw the Indian cricket captain- MS Dhoni, shaving his head off after the victory of the world cup in 2011. I saw Shahid Kapoor shave his head for Haider. Bruce Willis and my favorite Vin Diesel were bald. I could look like a movie star. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />All I had to do was muscle up now, right? </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Another problem area!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Then I thought - What the heck! Life may have taken a bit of my hair today, but not my confidence.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />The again, my hair may have got thinner but definitely not my waist size.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Aargh! Can I stop being so critical about myself. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />And I ask you - Can you stop being critical about yourself? </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Looks are determined by your confidence to carry yourself. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We all are normally very critical of ourselves in front of the mirror, especially when it is the mirror of a salon. Suddenly, those 30 odd minutes spent in front of the salon mirror, make you conscious of you double chin, wrinkles, dark circles, pimples, etc etc etc etc. Thats all you seem to notice doing nothing. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As for me, </span>I’m still facing the mirror and wondering if I should consider hair transplant, or maybe that hair growing oil or the gym and that protein supplement or that dietician, that exercise routine... endless.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">____________________</span></span></div>
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<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over half of people globally agree that when it comes to how they look, they are their own worst beauty critic. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 1em;" xmlns:tcm="http://www.tridion.com/ContentManager/5.0" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Documented in an award winning film, Real Beauty Sketches, Dove explores how women view their own beauty in contrast to what others see.</span></span></div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 1em;" xmlns:tcm="http://www.tridion.com/ContentManager/5.0" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The results show clearly that when it comes to the way we look, the biggest beauty pressure is the pressure we put on ourselves.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 1em;" xmlns:tcm="http://www.tridion.com/ContentManager/5.0" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On a final note. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Spend sometime in front of your friendly room mirror (You know which one I am talking about, don't you).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The same one where guys take off their shirts and check their non-existing yet blossoming muscles. And girls wear their old clothes which barely fit now and tell themselves that are still thin.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ask that mirror and you will know that you are awesome! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Because You are...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">_______________________</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
<b>See the Dove commercial here- Highly recommended</b></span></div>
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Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-37428508534913185272015-02-12T05:40:00.000-08:002015-02-12T06:23:43.435-08:00Name your Pain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>It’s been more
than 7 years that I have been living with a chronic pain in my legs, which slowly
moved to my wrists and eventually... in my head, they say. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>If you spend half
an hour with me you will see me stretching my legs, pressing my calves or
flicking my wrist, unusually.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In one of
the conversations with my Dad, who has a similar problem, I learned that even
his grandmother had the same issue. So obviously this was something hereditary
that was being passed on like a curse to our family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">My visits to
the doctors started with an Ortho who doubted it to be Gout, but the uric acid
levels were only slightly high which </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> justify the immense pain I was
experiencing. Nevertheless I took the medication and followed the diet religiously for a month.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">At the end of which I </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> experience any relief. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Taking me to the second doctor.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A neurologist who accused me of being hyperactive, and did some tests which
involved small electric shocks in my hands. Reports came (shockingly) normal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some doctors
conveniently blamed bad posture and the long hours spent on the computer,
assuming that every young male is a software engineer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A prominent
Rheumatologist, in a even more prominent hospital, suspected Rheumatoid
Arthritis. Negative. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I also went
to a doctor whose clientele included some of the top cricketers, and actors of
India. “Fibromyalgia” he said, without blinking. So convincing was his
explanation that I was left in complete awe of him. “No wonder all these top
guys go to him”, I thought. He recommended a physiotherapy session at a high
end clinic. Upbeat with the path forward and optimistic in my approach I spoke
to the physio who was going to conduct my sessions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Fibromyalgia
is a name we doctors give to a problem we don’t understand!” said the physio coldly.
So cold that it poured water over all my expectations (You know the Hindi
saying)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I read a report about Blackberry Thumb, caused by excessive usage of your smart phone, and did a week of daily sessions of expensive ultrasound radiation therapy. Turns out my smart decision was quiet dumb.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I then happened
to meet a doctor who was a pain specialist. She asked me a question that
shocked me out of my wits. “Have you ever been involved in a car accident?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many years
back. One of the wild partying nights, I had crashed a friend’s car into a
concrete divider. (No, I can’t call the friend- a friend anymore, or the car- a
car). So bad was the bang that when the car was towed, it looked like a steel
cupboard being dragged, because all the wheels had either rolled away or were
crushed in the bang. Surprisingly and miraculously I was unhurt and walked away
from the whole incident. But that’s a
whole new story all together. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This
particular pain specialist doctor told me that the impact of the crash may have left
a sprain in my neck because of which the pain radiated to my hands and legs. So
great, I now had a spondylosis of the neck also.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway, this
was the most convincing diagnosis from all the doctors I had met. The case was
wide open now. I was thrilled to know that with a few injections in my legs and
neck I would be cured of this pain. I took almost 10 injections all over. Painful
10 injections, all because I was promised that the relief was going to be worth this ordeal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And it
worked. Worked like magic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The pain was
no more...for about 2 days...until the </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">anesthesia</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> wore off. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">She had
given me a mild local </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">anesthesia</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">!!!!!!!!!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In a matter
of a year I had visited over 15 doctors who diagnosed me for everything under
the sun, including a cancer. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is not including the amount of doctors I was
to visit on recommendations from friends and family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In between
all this, was Mr. Know it all, the Google search. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I googled
the symptoms, and obviously thought I was going to die because that was most
internet searches about your health problems make you feel is going to happen. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I almost wrote
my will (on a bus ticket, I </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> have much to leave behind). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I was surprised to find hundreds of people who were
suffering from pain that was un</span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">diagnosed</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> and were frantically finding some clue about it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One such
search landed me on a blogger's page that talked about a relatively unknown
disease called, Restless Leg Syndrome, which caused an urge to keep moving your
legs, especially at night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That’s it, I
said. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Restless leg syndrome. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hereditary. Chronic.
Intensifies at night. Yes. Yes. Yes! <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">All boxes checked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I went,
proud with my search, print outs, possible treatments, drug information and proof
documents to a very well known, well read, Ortho, and gave him a version of my
diagnosis. In my mind I was excited to see how he would react to my expertise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Restless
leg syndrome?” he laughed. “I haven’t heard of such a thing in 30 years of
practice".</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I was
shocked. To my dismay this </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> even a valid medical disease, and according
to him a figment of someone’s imagination.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was ready
to accept his point of view, but all I wanted was a name to this disease that
was slowing draining me of my energy and life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over time I
accepted that maybe the doctors were right. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This thing
was in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally my
last visit was to a psychiatrist, who conveniently put me on an antidepressant and
something for anxiety. I happily took them because that was the only way left.
Block the thought that says- It’s paining.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So cutting
the long long story short. I went through allopathy, homeopathy, ayurveda, yoga,
reiki, physiotherapy, radiotherapy and every bloody ‘apy’ that exists, but my
pain was right there. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the bargain my wife has almost become an expert in foot massage therapy!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was suffering
from a nameless, faceless, and unknown disease and all I wanted was someone to
give it a name.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But no one could.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No one?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Was it so
unique that it was yet to be discovered? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Did you know,</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> s</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">ome diseases are named for the scientists or doctors who had
a hand in discovering them. Others got their names from a famous person who
suffered from the disease.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><i>Some gyan..</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Alzheimer’s </span><span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;">was first presented
at a lecture by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Dr. Alois Alzheimer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Sir Joseph
Lister is remembered for the bacterial infection named after him, Listeriosis.
Listerine mouthwash was also named after him!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS) is commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's disease,"
named after the famous baseball player who was forced to
retire after developing the disease.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, the same ALS for which the who’s
who and the who are you attempted the Ice Bucket Challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe, this
was an opportunity for me to go down in history and have a disease or condition
named after me – Aleem’s Disease or maybe The Merchant’s Syndrome.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I thought,
why did I want a name for my pain? </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because I wanted to deal with it. I wanted to
fight it. I wanted to know it’s game, how it works and how it functions, because
I wanted to kill, shoo it away, get rid of it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Because I
hate it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then it
struck me. I know someone who could give my pain a name. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I named
it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I named it -
The Lizard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> sound
as glorious as the name I thought it was going to have, but I don’t fathom a disease
named after me anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A road, or a
landmark, after me- maybe, but not a disease for sure. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So Lizard is
not a medical name. It’s just the reptile I detest. I find it eerie that you
can kill it but its tail still kind of stays alive. The way it walks silently on a wall and kills its prey.
The thought of a lizard in a room gives me the creeps. Call me sissy if you
want. But I just shudder at the sight of one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Getting rid
of a lizard, on my own, would be my biggest achievement because I can’t stand
the thought of being in the same room as one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, there
have been occasions where I had to. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once, when it
was in my office and I gathered the courage to send it down the toilet flush. But to most that was a comic scene (including for my then to-be wife-
Swetal) who was present and the incident (or joke) is still discussed at
some parties on how I leaped when I got a feeling that it had climbed up my
trousers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The second time
was when Samaira was about 3 months and in her crib sleeping, when a lizard
walked dangerously close to her bed. My newly protective fatherly instincts,
released a surge of adrenaline and I managed to shoo it out of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So there it
was, A Lizard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The name of the pain
that crept to my legs and hands every now and then, and all I had to do was
brave up and shoo it away. Which I do. Everyday. Every time. All the time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The pain has
not gone. You will still see me stretching my legs, pressing my calves or
flicking my wrist. But what I have managed to do is defeat the monster in my
own way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It still
lives with me, in the same room. But I can see it, </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">recognize</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> it and choose to ignore
it and sometimes kill it, even though a bit of it's tail still freaks me out.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">_______________________________________________________</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Pain - the
most common word used by patients to doctors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope and
pray that this word that doctors hear every day from every patient is taken
seriously every time. Because only that patient who suffers from that pain knows
the strife that is caused by their monster, their reptile, their enemy, their
battle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wait for
the day that every person has the medical name for their disease or condition. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Till then,
we can only call it names.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Telling a
patient what the exact, and correct cause of their pain is definitely a major
step towards control or cure. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>But if your story is similar to mine try this out-of-the-box method to overcome your pain, and do let me know what you call
yours.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>This is not my
sob story. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>If I can change the way even one person can overcome their pain,
this article is completely worth it. So please share it with anyone you know
who is dealing with a pain, condition or health problem. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>As for me, I’m
on my way for my next 21km marathon and I'll make sure I defeat the Lizard and get my Finishers medal
too.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-48310766135698370812014-05-27T05:02:00.000-07:002014-05-27T05:02:53.180-07:00A 'Grand' Mother<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dearest Samaira,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By the time you are old enough to read this, there might be
no memory of the person who spent her last few years with only you on her mind,
and whose last words were - your name.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The person who you lovingly called - Dadi. Your grandmother. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Your Dadi was a jovial, well spoken, God fearing lady. Her laughter
was an infectious one that echoed down the hallway and that was her trademark
signature. Her smile was bright and sparkling and so was her warmth to everyone
around her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Walk into her room in the noon and she would be praying
quietly and followed Christianity to her last breath, in spite of being married
for over forty years to your Dadu, a Muslim. Like all mothers, she had tried
hard to teach me about religion and God and was instrumental in shaping me the
way I am today. She was the one who managed through hook and crook to get me
into one of the city’s best schooling institutions. She was the one who would
attend a lot of my parent-teacher meets. She worked for twenty-five years with
one single firm as a humble steno typist. Her boss I have heard, called her
Speedy Gonsalves. Which was a merger of her tremendous speed for typing and her
maiden name. It also was a famous song then.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My early memories of her are of a lady who could drape her
sari perfectly, wore her make-up everyday, which included bright lipsticks, and
matching nail paint. Even though being less than 5 feet tall she had a vibrant personality
and shone in a crowd of people. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She painstakingly fed me and my sisters and brought us up.
It was never easy, as Dadu was a hard working salesman and travelling for days
in a row was a part of his job. Right from getting 3 kids ready to go to
school, to ensuring we are fed, bathed and done with our homework, she managed
it all, and not once do I remember her complaining. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I fondly recall how she was such a connoisseur at picking
fresh fish and cooking it to the best possible east Indian blend. She had once
got live crabs and had challenged us to catch one of them, for prize money of
five rupees. We were barely four years then, and had no guts to even make an attempt.
Finally she gave up and picked them up like a pro and took them away, laughing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With time, she fell ill often and gave up her job. My faint memories
allow me to just recall her resting in bed for long hours, but she was always
prompt in checking if we had our meals and bath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once in a while she would get up and cook us these exclusive
kheema patties and bread pudding which she made from leftover breads. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are three things I learnt from your Dadi in my life.
These aren’t greatly philosophical or something you might have never heard till
now. But it is the impact of her belief in these words that left a lasting
impression on all of us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1.
<!--[endif]-->Forgive and Forget</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2.
<!--[endif]-->All that happens, happens for the best</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.
<!--[endif]-->Pray </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are a few things I never picked up from her. <br />
Save for a rainy day. Never lose your temper and to be patient.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After we moved to our new home, Dadi got even more unwell
and would lie in bed for even longer hours. But never did she miss her prayers,
twice a day and calling her sister and sister in law once a week on a specific
day. The day she would miss the call she would get a call back from them
wondering why she hadn’t called.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When we would travel on vacations without her, getting
something for her was the most difficult thing, because her needs were so minimal.
Maybe a pair of slippers, a handbag, a small cosmetic kit or maybe a foot
scrub. That’s because her biggest gift was having us back home- safe and sound.
On seeing us she would express her worry and say – I was praying for you
everyday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over time we grew older, taller and stronger than her. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Often I would pull her leg over her Parksinsons which had
her shaking her hand continuously. I would tell her that I could put a guitar
in her hand and she could play all day long. Though it will sound mean of me now,
but she always took it in her stride. Children are allowed that leeway with
their parents. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I would catch her and make her smell my underarms as she was
much shorter, and would love to hear her say Shhheeee Aleem!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes I would carry her around the house while she
laughed and asked me to put her down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hadn’t realised that she was older yet wiser. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shorter yet greater. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Weaker yet stronger.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our last vacation together was in Diwali, 2010 to Matheran. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Vacations discussions at home were only about when to go,
never where to go. Because we only went to one place all our lives-Matheran. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The horse rides, chikkis, monkeys, walks, and afternoon
naps. They were beautiful moments that will stay with me for life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This time, as always, she boarded the human rickshaw while
we walked to the hotel. Usual ritual. As we needed someone to take and guard
the bags while we relished the fresh air and lemon juice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One evening, that October, we managed to convince her to
come along with us to the lake. The weather was pleasantly sunny and windy. We
managed to reach the lake just by sunset, when suddenly the weather did a volte
face. Literally.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was thundering and lighting, and a heavy downpour. We
rushed for cover and found one in a shut down tea stall. We waited two hours
till we finally decided to walk back to the hotel in the pouring rain. The rain
gods were not willing to give up. It was dark and wet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At her age, she put up a brave front and walked the
distance. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When we went back all she said is God is great and – Good we
had a torch, otherwise God knows what would happen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A year later, the day you were to be born she was up all
night at the hospital. She blessed you and was most pleased to see her new
grandchild.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You would spend your afternoons sleeping beside her, sharing
her pillow, holding her. You would question her all kinds of things and babble the
few words your knew then. She took care of you in whatever capacity she could,
and also sneaked you a lot of chocolates when no one was looking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Your laugh was what kept her in best spirits, and often we
would enter her room when she was sleeping and surprise her by tickling her or
jumping on her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dadi’s last few months was where she proved her fighting
spirit was nothing to be compared with.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was Dadu’s birthday and everyone had gathered to spend it
with him at home. It was a nice family gathering. Cake, Food and a lot of
laughter. They were so happy seeing their grand kids playing around them.
Nothing satisfied them more than having all their kids and grand kids under one
roof.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two days later, she had a massive brain stroke which left
her paralytic. We rushed her to the hospital where they declared to us that she
had only a few hours to live and we can inform the rest of the family.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But she hadn’t seen your face yet then and we didn’t know
how much that meant to her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Two months she battled life and death. You were not allowed
in the ICU as you were just 2 years old. Those two months she hardly spoke, and
sometimes only opened her eyes to see us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After which we moved her to a nursing home for additional
care.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally after that long gap we took you to meet her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Her eyes glowed and she managed to move a bit. She noticed
your hair clips. She kept taking your name and wanted to hear your stories. She
smiled. The nursing staffs were surprised to see her progress, and you never
failed to brighten up her spirits with all your antics and innocent words.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When it was time to go, she would moan in pain- Don’t go.
And we would wait a few minutes more before she went off to sleep. I know for
sure how disappointed she would be when she would open her eyes later to see
you not around. Her body didn’t permit her to stay awake for longer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For four months, every once a week, you would meet her. Talk
to her. Play with her. Tease her and motivate her. She gave it her best. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One Sunday morning, you went with your Aunt to meet her at
the hospital. The time you went without me and I learnt from your aunt that
your Dadi did open her eyes and said only one word- your name- Samaira.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That same evening was your last visit to her with me, which wasn’t
the same as all other trips were.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">She was sleeping, and we prepared you by telling you to
scream your loudest so we could pleasantly surprise her. You were excited and
all prepared for your act. We reached her room, you took a deep breath and in
your loudest pitch – Daaaaddddiiiii.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No response. Again. Daddddiiiiiiii. No response. For fifteen
minutes you went on, and with every call, your spirit died a bit, till you
finally gave up, but she didn’t open her eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We walked away trying to coax you and tell you that she was
tired and sleeping.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A few days later, she passed away peacefully in her sleep.
Leaving us with only memories.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I took you to the graveyard the next day. To answer your
question, I told you were going to Dadi’s garden. We stopped at her grave which
was yet covered with fresh flowers and you made it even more beautiful by
putting a few.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Now whenever you want to meet your Dadi, you have to come
to her garden”, I said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You looked at me quizzingly but didn’t say a word. We
asked you to fold your hands and pray and you did.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That moment I felt her presence among us in that quiet cemetery.
I’m sure she saw you from above and smiled and said- Whatever happens, happens
for the best.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The sun was setting and we were getting ready to leave. As
we neared the gate I could almost hear her say- Don’t go Samaira. But I promised her, that we will come soon, and come often.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">RIP Mom. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You may or may not have not been the best in the world, but
you definitely took were the best in ‘our’ world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-84194747958053457142013-08-16T05:42:00.000-07:002013-08-16T05:42:46.549-07:00Are you in Love with your Client?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The relationship between an advertising agency, and a client cannot be generalized categorized and summarized in simple words.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The win of an account, as I have learnt, doesn't depend always on the creative strategy and innovation in thoughts, but on various other factors.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Chemistry, being one of the most important one.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">In my opinion, a relationship between the two is no different from any regular relationship we would have, and identifying the key to making things work can be as simple as comparing them to what kind of relationship one has.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The most important thing in a fruitful relationship is trust.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">In this scenario it is difficult to categorize something that takes years to build, because many a times we begin a relationship in the first interaction itself.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">That’s why I feel that this relationship can be compared more universal - LOVE</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Falling in love with your client can be a beautiful process. It can be instant, or can take its own sweet time. It can be conditional, and sometimes unconditional. It can be paternal, maternal and brotherly. It can be a fling, a one night stand, or a commitment for a life.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Like any relationship, its needs time, patience, understanding, and it also needs sympathy and empathy to overcome the ups and downs that life’s situations may bring.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">In my professional career, I have built relationships with various kinds of clients, and it’s difficult to categorize them all together, because some are complicated, but there are a few categories I have managed to slot.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b>Here goes:</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b>Infatuation</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Infatuation is a feeling that’s based on fantasy, and not on experience.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">It’s the feeling a when you are given a foot in the door of a client who was beyond your reach till today.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Until now, you have read about the great client in the news and admired their brands. Suddenly you are shaking hands with the guys behind the magic and exchanging visiting cards. You are mesmerised by their credentials, amazed at their strategy and the brief completely floors you.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The agency visualises that someday they will sign a big contract and this is their claim to fame.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">This is a beautiful moment but many a times, when they really get to know each other, the feelings diminish, because either the client has called you for an extremely small brief or your expectations have been too high. Your hopes of bagging the big brands fade away over time. Financially it doesn't make sense and it’s nothing more than a talking point among your peers or a logo in your credentials. Alas!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b>Puppy Love</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">This is that same childish feeling, only difference is that it is between adults.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Mostly experiences in an agency’s start up days.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">In this stage, the agency spends a lot of time on the projects. They admire the small briefs, and believe something great is going to come out of this. They almost become partners in the venture and share the tiny successes and moan the failures, against the big bad world.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Most people believe that things won’t work out between these two, and more understanding and stability is required. Eventually a rocky patch blows the ground off their feet and things don’t turn out the way one would want it. But since involvement is at its max in this stages of an agency, the attachment to the ideas is more.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">One feels that this is the peak of their creative thinking.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">If only the agency knew that the future has much better to offer after the heartbreak. Like life, after a teenage crush.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b>Unrequited Love</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Ouch! This one is about the ballads and sad songs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Unrequited love is a love filled with heartbreaks and one that almost all of us have experienced sometime in our life. It’s the dreaded one sided love. The agency had dream of working with the client. Tried hard. Pitched harder. Put in the late nights. But things didn’t work out. They never would. Something was unbalanced. It just wasn’t mean to be. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">It would be wrong and useless to be spiteful. The best thing is to move on, because you never know...life will always give you another chance, and no effort goes waste.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b>Platonic Love</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">This is Vanilla flavored love. No chocolate chips. No fruity bites.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">No deep feelings but, there is respect and understanding.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Platonic love is the simplest of all types. There are no strings attached. It’s pure and friendly. The kind of relationship you have with close childhood friends.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Its starts of with the initial excitement and fun.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Over time this gets stagnant but yet both sides are committed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The agency is to the point. The client is upfront. No great out of the box thinking. A retainer is signed and it’s been going on and on. No tiffs and if there are any, they are sorted on email and agreed mutually.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">It’s good for both, because both benefit in some way or the else.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The agency is proud that they have a client for so long (shows trust) and the client is happy that they don’t need to spend time scouting for someone who they will need to explain their business all over again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Why fix it if it’s not broken?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b>Maternal Love</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">This term usually connotes love that is fostering, tolerant and caring. The agency has a past here. The agency understands the client’s roots. They know their strong and weak points, sometimes better than the client knows itself. This could be because of the attrition at the client end, and the agency being the only constant.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The agency cares and nurtures the brands, to get the best out of it. They sit and spend time with middle management before they present to the top bosses in the final presentation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">These relationships are precious. Having a client who believes in you to that level is an important guiding light in an agencies lifetime, and leaves a lasting impact on the learning curve.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Trying and meeting expectations is a constant endeavor.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Agencies love working with such clients because sometimes they are judged by passion and experience not only outcome.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b>Paternal Love</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Much like maternal love, but this one comes with a twist - A good chance of being misunderstood.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Love that involves control and some power. Paternal love is the one a parent gives when they are preparing a child to be ready for the outside world. They will put in the long hours and in the end won’t give up easily. The agency stays in the power seat in their domain and won’t take no from the client, for an answer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">If you are a client, and if you have ever encountered such an agency in your life, I can just hope you haven’t misunderstood your agency. Somewhere they still brood over what they must have said to you to hurt you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Pick up the phone and call them right away with a big Hi!! And I guarantee you will get a bigger Hiii! back!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b>Romantic Love</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Finally!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Butterflies, bliss and love songs, is all you need to think of when you experience romantic love. It’s beautiful, and just what Cupid ordered. It’s got passion, attraction, caring and respect.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">You feel the tickle in your tummy, the world looks so much more beautiful and you can’t hold that grin back, no matter what happens. The agency loves going to the client’s office, and the clients are invited to the agency’s parties.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Agency happy. Client happy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The world’s is a happier place.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Everyone’s having the time of their life!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Agency wins awards.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Client wins promotions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The world is in envy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Some gossip that this will never work out, and is going to break soon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">But who cares?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">This one relationship... is for keeps! Wedding bells someone?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b>Companion Love</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Best Friends feel this kind of love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">It’s about those times when you feel you can go for a drink with your client, without the awkwardness after you are a few drinks down and slur that follows.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">There is warmth, understanding and a bond that goes deeper than just work.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Personally this is my personal favorite.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">It’s unconditional, to a level. It’s the one client, you feel obliged to give good work to, and the client reciprocates by clearing the payments as soon as possible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">It’s fair, just and long lasting.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The kind that if things go wrong, you are ready to talk it out and move ahead, together.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b>Soul-mate Love</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Many a times you walk into the office for a regular credential presentation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Something clicks and the next minute you have a project on hand.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The timing is so perfect that it’s almost God sent. It happens. Right place. Right time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">It goes beyond math, physics, chemistry and biology.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">In the second meeting your strategy and creative clicks and you have a client to bank on. If you look back and think, this may have something to do with good karma! Trust me, its happened more than once to me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;"><b>Unconditional Love</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">There are three F’s why a agency works with a client.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">1. Fame. 2. Fun. 3. Finance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Most of the time its only one of F’s that are a reason to sign on the dotted line.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">If the work is fun, then you might not get fame and finances.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">If it’s for fame, chances are you've hardly been paid, and it’s not really been fun.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">If it’s for finance, there are chances, you are neither having fun, or anyone is going to care what you did.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">When it’s for neither of the above it’s just because you want to.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">It’s not great fun, it’s not going to make you famous. It’s not going to give you great monies.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">It’s just because you want to. You feel good about doing it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">When an agency does a project for free. Maybe for an NGO, or a charitable cause, or a friend in need.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Just to see a smile.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Not to win an award for Social Service campaign.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">A client sometimes reciprocates by referring your name to another client.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">Not because he has a motive, or it was a prior condition, but just because he likes you, and wants to see you grow. God bless them!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">___________________________________________________________________________</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">So as you see its many categories, and types. Many a times its not just one and can be a combination of more than one type.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">The Big Question is, “Do you love your client?” and if yes, “What kind of love is it?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">If you are on the other side of the table, maybe you asked yourself,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">“Does my agency love me?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">If the agency in question is Synapse, just call me to help me clear your doubts (if any)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">I’d like to take you for a dinner.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.71875px;">It’s on me!</span></span></div>
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Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-13110947218216970432013-08-13T07:16:00.000-07:002013-08-13T07:16:04.636-07:00Time to give Marketing's 5th P it's due<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In 1960, Jerome McCarthy invented the 4 P’s of Marketing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Product. Price. Promotion and Place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They were made famous by Philip Kotler in his book 'Principles of Marketing' in 1967 and is worshiped as a Bible, for many marketers across the world even today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But in the world of marketing today, the consumer sits in the cockpit, and not on the backseat. Audiences are broken into fragments and slices in excel sheets of rows and columns that don’t print on a single A4 sheet. (Even in landscape mode)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Products have turned into experiences.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Prices have changed to bargains, deals and value.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Product promotions have moved online, offline, below the line, above the line, in circles, squares, triangles and every possible smart art shape you can imagine.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The new ecosystem is millions and billions of unstructured one-to-one interactions leading to previews, reviews and overviews, sometimes even before the brand in launched.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Loyalty is a fantasy, and survival is no more simply Darwin.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This means that many of the tools and assumptions we grew up with are no longer valid on their own, and newer tactics need to be added to a marketing plan.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In this environment, one humble 'P' has always been used, to get spikes in sales and many a times changed brand image, helped it earn an advertising award, and create connect with the consumer, but not given his fair due.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I say, enough of this step-brotherly treatment and it’s time this little P is given his due, and his rightful place in the great hall of ‘P’ame... I mean Fame.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bugles please. Drum rolls.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Announcing...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The much awaited entry of...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The P that helped us achieve targets with clever thinking...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The P that spoke to the hearts of our customers...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The P that won Gold at Cannes (and still didn’t get credit)...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Inducting in the great 4 of P’s of Marketing...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Presenting the 5th P</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Promptness”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(Ok, after all that hype, I’m sure you were expecting something earth shattering. Something that made you think, Oh My God!. But it wasn’t like that. Right?)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But here is my case on why 'Promptness' is my nominee for the 5th P.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Promptness means, being on time, carried out or performed without delay, to move to act on spur, to assist with a reminder.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Promptness is the reaction of the marketing team to capitalize on an event, or a current happening. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Like a breaking news, a sudden occasion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Like a win of its home soccer team, a unexpected success of its brand’s ambassador, a reaction to a move by the government, a quick answer to a possible challenge, a retort to a competitors move.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Promptness is all about being street smart and quick to react.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It’s those smart moves that wins awards, spikes sales and conquers hearts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Promptness is when BPL Mobile reacted to Orange Mobile’s entry in the Indian market by publishing a advertisement, saying ‘Welcome Orange’ and an image of a fruit juicer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Promptness is when Surf Excel appears on the cover page of a news daily, with a Green Tshirt hanging on the clothes line, saying Dho Dala, immediately the next day after India defeats Pakistan in a cricket match.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Promptness is when Las Vegas’ Casino congratulates the Royal Family on it's latest family member with a invitation to the newcomer after 21 years.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Promptness is when Durex wished all the mothers of their winning Football Team, and thanking them in media, for not using their products.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Promptness is when Orange Mobile printed names of their loyal customers on the newspaper front page, along with the regular advertisement, personalizing the message. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And it’s not just great brands, with great budgets that can do this only.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even a simple action can get that mileage with the right thinking.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After the 26/11 episode in Mumbai Taj Attack. The city was enraged. There was an unsettled feeling in each one of us. We wanted to be heard. The common man wanted a platform for him to voice his feelings.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A huge candle march protest was organised outside the Gateway of India a week later, which was attended by many, including the rich and famous of Mumbai. In that crowd there stood a young man, with an A3 printout, holding it as high as he could.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The poster had an image of colorful Bangles and said...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“A gift from the people of Mumbai, to the politicians of the world”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next day, a chain mail was making the rounds in people inbox's, of images from the parade.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That day, my phone didn’t stop ringing, my mailbox was flooded, and my SMS’s inbox exceeded its limit.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People who I had remotely met in life also called or forwarded the mail to me, to confirm if that was me, holding the poster with the bangles. I confirmed their doubt sheepishly, and after seeing the overwhelming response, I secretly feared that I am going to get a threat call too.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Luckily I didn’t.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was a prompt idea. Designed in 5 minutes and printed on my office printer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cost: Rs. 5.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Media buying budget: None</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eyeballs: Every proud Indian.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH69xjOy6C1M8ANlFAOIUocjxjB6GC38XpMZsI0qCc5rdVhc3imyVjMwbBewoYvUpbrqm1tFLLE57GJ2Pnyd1uwoTPcNlAWSsO7pLP_6AzA3ZkQKqLV_xAdS5Wnlh_iZB1Gs20gLul1A/s1600/peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhH69xjOy6C1M8ANlFAOIUocjxjB6GC38XpMZsI0qCc5rdVhc3imyVjMwbBewoYvUpbrqm1tFLLE57GJ2Pnyd1uwoTPcNlAWSsO7pLP_6AzA3ZkQKqLV_xAdS5Wnlh_iZB1Gs20gLul1A/s640/peace.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That’s Promptness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It’s nothing new. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We have been doing it all the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By being opportunists. Dance pe Chance. Bouncer pe Sixer. Mauka pe Chauka.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Being prompt, by saying the right thing to the girl at the right time and right place, and seeing her blush, giving you a clear indication, that you got her attention.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some might argue, that this theory could be a branch of Promotion, and I would agree and disagree on a few points. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Promotion has three benefits:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To present information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To increase demand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To differentiate a product.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But Promptness is a blend of promotion and place too with a relevant purpose to be there, and not just push information. It talks directly to the consumers, with perfect timing, while they are more receptive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It creates talking points like as if it were their own creation, or personalized to them directly. It not always talking about the product benefit, but it pursues them to stay loyal to their brand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes, it doesn't even have a reason to present any information about the brand and it's benefits. You won't see too many promotions being retweeted, liked, forwarded on social networks, but a act of promptness goes all the way up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Its because today's generation lives in the now, its all about getting those likes, posts and status updates and repins.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I guess lets accept this new P in the family, and give it,the much deserved due.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The 5 P’s: Product. Promotion. Price. Place and Promptness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I agree that it doesn’t have the same zing sound as the others, but has far better zing when practiced with precision.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Kotler, this humble student, rests his case.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-46357016812351312702013-07-24T05:37:00.000-07:002013-07-24T05:37:11.614-07:00Agencygiri<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Th</span>e last resort</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">_____________________________________________________________________________</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Dadagiri.
Bhaigiri. Gandhigiri. Annagiri etc</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Keeping
with the trends of the times, we have witnessed a sudden rise of the suffix </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">giri</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #533e23;"><span style="line-height: 120%;">, added nowadays to any
sort of </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">behavior</span><span style="line-height: 120%;"> that is unusual, with a certain attitude.</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">These revolts have been synonymous, with being cool and trendy. Further glorified by the
Indian film fraternity. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">It</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s a zig when the world zags, action, by
revolting and rebelling - with style.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">So
Gandhigiri was when the father of the nation, chose non-violence over violence.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Dadagiri
was when a group of thugs, did the exact opposite.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Followed
by Bhaigiri, because </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Dada</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">, sounded a tad older and the younger crop
needed a fresher and more evergreen title.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Bhaigiri
was much more evolved. They had brand ambassadors, led by some top bollywood
faces, their own lingo, a signature attire, a swagger and what not. Bhaigiri
soon became a brand to reckon with. You have to know a few in your area to get
your work done.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Then
came the reincarnation of the Mahatma, with Annagiri. A man who got his share of publicity. The
masses and classes both loved him. Journalists were eating from his hands,
which left him none to feed himself. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Till he finally realised that the trick
worked brilliantly to garner TRP</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s, and for a change got the
opposing parties to show that they agree with each other.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">No
matter <i>yeh kaise </i></span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">giri</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">, there always is something
for marketers to learn, ponder, and take references from their case
studies. After all, each of them had their briefs, researches, challenges, big ideas and flawless executions.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Each
of them got footfalls, eyeballs which is every marketing assignment</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s end objective.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">What
was common between all these </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">giris</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Think
Different</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Gain
Eyeballs, Footfalls</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Embarrass
the Target</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>Force
action without forcing the target</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Gandhigiri
was all about thinking different, and they embarrassed the British, by not
retaliating and the world took notice. Eventually winning freedom for the
country.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Dada</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s thought different again, and embarrassed the
poor, by throwing their utensils out of the home, especially the </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">atta ka dabba</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"> which was full, no matter what the financial situation of
the family. Making loud noises, enough to wake up the dead.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Bhai</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s preferred to make a simple phone call to the
rich and famous businessmen. Promptly covered on front pages, embarrassing them
for their vulnerability, and finally giving in to their demands.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">______________________</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Now,
being in advertising, the thought of connecting with a few bhai</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s must have occurred to most agencywalas also,
once a while.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Why?
You may ask.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Well
it</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s simple. Any kind of business, no matter what
it is in, has one universal concern - Collections.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Collections,
not like hafta, but your own money which needs to be paid as a remuneration for
your services and products. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">You
slogged nights and weekends, sacrificed lunch and make-did with sandwiches for
dinner. You managed to finally get the project done in the nick of time. You
send the bill, feeling bad about the amount you estimated and negotiated for, realizing it was
far less for the amount of time and effort it took. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Then
suddenly</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">…</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">The
client is travelling.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Stuck
in important meetings.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Phone
is unreachable.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Extension
is busy. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">If
they do ring, they refuse to accept your calls, and somehow mysteriously claim
that the umpteen texts and reminder emails 'never reach' them.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">To
make matters worse, the new Point of Taxation Rules 2011 under Service Tax,
require advertising agencies to pay the tax as soon as soon as the invoice is raised,
irrespective of payment collection. This service tax must be paid within a
stipulated time after providing service.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">The
nail in the coffin is the industry</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s credit period norms that
vary from 60 days to 90 days. If you have been in the business for even a small
while, you will know that this means that they finally </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">look</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"> at your bill on the 90th
day and point an error in the amount, or worse - Negotiate.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Which
means on the day you were expecting the monies, all you get is a returned bill,
and you</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">ve lost the service tax amount you paid well
in advance!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Then
the some unknown manager steps in, and points out that the accepted rate card
is now changed. Accepted? Who accepted? A bunch of people who have no clue how
the an advertising agency works? Comparing two agency strategies, and creative outputs, like they compare two photocopier
vendors!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">It's
sad when a purchase manager calls the agency, and asks what is 'so different' in
what they are offering, not understanding a clue of what the S of strategy
means. Yet, has enough power to cut his bill by half.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #533e23;"><span style="line-height: 120%;">Unfortunately,
agencies have to survive in this industry. They have to deal with the same
people, time and again, and if not him - his boss, his colleague, his </span><span style="line-height: 19px;">neighbor</span><span style="line-height: 120%;"> or maybe his assistant, who will one day become a client himself. </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">So
the Bhai idea is ruled out, most of the times.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">_____________________________</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Solution?</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>Agencies
need to start their own rebel system- Agencygiri!</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Advertising
Agencies, need a more sustainable solution to collect their dues. My
recommendation is an in-between road that has the assertiveness of Gandhigiri,
and the aggressiveness of Bhaigiri. Yet is sophisticated and well thought of. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">The
Agencygiri Protest Fundamentals</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>Who.
Where. Why. When. How.</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>Where?</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">We
understand that we can</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">t reach their phones.
Emails aren</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">t acknowledged. So the only option left is, go
to their offices and meet them personally.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Unfortunately,
their extensions just keep ringing, and if the receptionist does get through,
they</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">ll keep us waiting endlessly. By chance, if
they do come out and meet, they</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">ll be rushing or pretend to
be rushing, from one meeting to another, and will casually tell you that they
will call you that very evening. Yeah right!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">But
one thing is clear. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">This
is one place they can be contacted. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>Who?</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">One
would think that this is an obvious answer. Who are we targeting? We have to target
the client, company, department or division at fault. But aren</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">t we doing exactly the same thing, and
failing.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">So we
take a Rule No. 1 of giris - Dont Zig - Zag. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">The
uniqueness of Agencygiri starts with Who.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Most
of our clients have nice elaborate reception areas. Frequently seen here are
the client's valuable partners, their own clients, other business owners,
traders, suppliers and vendors and many a times you might just spot a client
you know from another company, who is now waiting for his interview call here.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">So we
target these guys, with nothing much to do here. Sitting and grabbing
newspapers, their mobiles, simply staring at the receptionist, or reading the
company values, out of sheer boredom. Or anything they can get their hands or eyes
on.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">These
guys? Why?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>Why?</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Let
me explain why.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">The
reception is the face of the company. It</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s flashy, clean and quiet.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">More
like an attractive web banner, leading you to the virus inside.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Everyone
comes to the office reception...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">From
potential candidates, to international delegates.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">From
secretaries, to signatories.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">From
the fresh chic interns, to the sales returns.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">So
visibility is guaranteed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Media Planners - take notice of the award winning
product and promotion placement.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>When?</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Prime
time is important.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Let</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s catch them when the rush is maximum. Taking
a cue from our predecessors- footfalls, eyeballs are important. Only then it</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s got the potential of a succesful </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">giri</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">So we target the morning
hours. Right when everyone is trailing in the office. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">_______________________________</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">So
here we are. At the client</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s reception, early in the
morning, targeting everyone but the client.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">But
what are we going to be doing here? Can someone please explain what are we
going to do, or say? Simon go back???</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Well
Simon, please go back to your agency studio department, one day prior to the
protest.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>And
here is the Big Idea.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>How?</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Get
your own accounts department introduced to your creative department. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">They
probably have never met. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>Climax:</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">An
office boy waits for the client to walk in the next morning, leisurely.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">The
boy tells the client, that the banner he asked for is ready.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Puzzled
as he will be, his reaction will be </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">–</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"> What banner?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Open
our nice big banner, in the center of the reception.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Viola!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">The enlarged pending bill
printed to the size of 6 feet x 4 feet'</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">And
then the boy wraps it up back in a jiffy, ensuring that none of the people
waiting at the reception get a real good look, but the client gets a clear view of
the enlarged bill with subject and amount. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">With a red status stamp, that reads -
Overdue.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Oops,
Sorry Sir, wrong artwork got printed, and walks away.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">That</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s Agencygiri.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>Effects (and side effects):</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Client
calls (and he will), tell him it was a mistake. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Clarify that it was a
banner printed for the accounts team offsite training happening today, and it was sent to him
because of some misunderstanding. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Apologize
and promptly follow up for the payment status.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">End
the call using your best comic timing, saying you will send the large print, if
he needs a copy. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Evil
Laugh Huhehahahaha.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">The
client will rush to his desk and process your bill, no questions asked.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">He
might even appreciate that you didn</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">t escalate the issue by
going to his boss, because he might realize that you could have.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><b>Disclaimer:</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">This
is a work of fiction. </span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Names, characters, places and incidents either are
products of the author</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">s imagination or are used
fictitiously. </span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or
dead, is entirely coincidental.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">No one
was harmed during the writing or researching this blog.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">We
have never tried this. So positive results aren't guaranteed.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 19px;">Stunts have to be performed by professionals. Don't try this at offices, unless guided by expert supervision.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 19px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 19px;">But I hope, simply reading this will end the strife caused to any agency from this Chu***giri.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 19px;"><b>End Note:</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">Luckily
we have a beautiful bunch of clients that have been built more on trust and
relationship, where we don't ever need to resort to such tricks, and we simply
call the client and tell them we are in need of the monies. That probably is
the best way to sustain in business and keep your business afloat.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;">We
also proudly say that, No vendor has tried it on us, and hopefully won't. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #533e23; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Caption1" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #533e23; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 120%;">Forward the link, at your own risk. If it works for you, let me know. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-17147949455366813772013-04-19T06:53:00.000-07:002013-04-19T06:53:06.593-07:00What's common between Destination and Designation?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Destination<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the early hours of the morning, a quiet group of friends gazed
at the soft orange hue of the sky. The morning sun rose, scaring away the
darkness of the night. At that moment, they decided that they too needed to
rise, and break free from the darkness that envelops them. They needed to find
and embrace joy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Determined to achieve their blissful dream of Utopia, a land
mentioned in innumerous holy scriptures, they set out on their journey with
endless zeal and enthusiasm. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The land first kissed by the gentle rays of the sun. The endless
humdrum clatter of the city drowned behind them as they headed into the forest
with luggage heavy with essentials, and hearts light with hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Days passed as they crossed rapid streams, high mountains,
treacherous valleys, and stormy weather. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hopes gradually dwindled, as did the energy of their mind, body
and souls. Soon, only few persevering friends were left with a journey still to
continue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Days later, paths were crossed with a sage dressed in orange,
silently meditating and radiating in an ocean of monotone green. A sense of
calm that was spread over the Sage as he opened his eyes and summoned the
travellers over. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On hearing their story, the Sage calmly said that though their
enthusiasm was admirable, it had clouded their line of vision and led them on
the wrong path. In the excitement of reaching the destination, they had failed
to see the signs that life had manifested as their guides.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Awakened, the travellers carried on their journey further in the
direction that the Sage had directed them, with renewed enthusiasm. Soon, the
signs and messages began to manifest. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The first night, a woman who saw one of them limping due to a
fall, offered them riped mangoes and shelter, which helped them strive on at
dawn, full of hope and strength. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At noon, a feeling of being lost started to shadow them. A man
selling baskets met them and on hearing their story, drew them a map to a
waterfall where it was said that the hearts strongest desires would come true. Exhausted
by their struggle, the travellers stumbled down a trench as directed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Suddenly, the whole world seemed to be thrown into chaos and
everything vanished. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then, a burst of bright white light thrust them onto their feet.
On opening their eyes, they were bewildered at the marvels they saw. Pristine streams
reflecting the wholesome bright moon, fireflies among the stars in the clear
sky, the fragrance of flowers floating in the air, it was heaven.</span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Their
Utopia.</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At that moment, they thanked the guidance of the Sage, the help of
the woman, and messages of the man, that helped them in achieving their hearts
desire.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Designation<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What is in it for you, when you read the story?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How does it help you in your life?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If these questions are on your mind, then read on further.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Each one of us in our professional lives, is given a designation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you look closely they each have a deeper meaning that just
being a tag.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Analyse your designation, get to a deeper root of its meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Being closer to Advertising, here is a small example...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The VISUALISERS are like the travellers with vision and dreams,
high on enthusiasm, and efforts and never spared, but they cannot do this
alone, they need help and guidance. They need to be shown the right path time
and again, because the illusions of the journey can be misleading. Clarity of
thought and message are essential.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The DIRECTOR directs us in the right direction, much like the
experienced and wise Sage. The Director’s job is to show the way, more from a
macro point of view. He has a larger vision in mind, for the company, the
people, not just its brands and products, but also the end benefit on the
whole.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The COPYWRITERS write clear messages and draw accurate maps,
helping us reach our goal, same as the man who sold baskets. Same is the true
for STRATEGISTS and PLANNERS. Keep people on the right path, in day to day
operations, and the end result in mind. With loopholes checked, and threats
covered, opportunities realised.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And the MANAGERS replenish our strengths, helping
us exert and display our optimum best, just like the helpful woman. They manage
the situation, help in operations, and assistance, to the on ground team<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Without any of these building blocks of any organisation, success
wouldn't be possible. It is only when all our efforts and strengths are
amalgamated into one, does success prevail and an organisation reaches new and
brilliant heights. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So the secret to the land of Utopia is to see the similarity
between Designation and Destination.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sit back a moment today, and reflect on your current designation,
and the one you desire, someday...</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">PS: Thank you Takshama for help me put this thought in words.</span></span></div>
</div>
Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3165526884807323271.post-86287881504123309812012-12-22T03:22:00.000-08:002012-12-22T03:22:35.519-08:00A Miracle in the Meeting Room<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>An Unreal Story, That Happened to Me...</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have over three hundred powerpoint files on my laptop, which can roughly also mean that I have made the same number of presentations in the past eight years, plus minus a few that may have got lost, not been backed up, or missing for reasons that seem irrelevant today.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are few things that I have almost got used to the routine of making these presentations.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The drive to the client's office is usually a long one, sometimes catching up with emails, phone calls, ideations, small talk, but one thing doesn't change, traffic, and the impatience that comes along with it. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A standard template text message to the client informing about the duration of delay, expected arrival time, and an apology which in most cases I don't really mean from the bottom of my heart, but more of blame the infrastructure that our honest municipality offer us here in Mumbai.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thirdly, comes the irritating security at the gates, most of them untrained in basics of manners, mostly making you look like a hindrance in their lives, and almost giving you the feeling that your laptop is a ticking time bomb. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A register to mark your entry, with your name, company, mobile number, and some more details I have to give voluntarily. I wouldn't be surprised if they ask me my education qualification, underwear size, and other intricate and personal details. There always is a completely stupid form field, called Purpose, and its Official all the time, I can bet my life that if I write, Bombing, Mass killing, Data Theft and I'll happily be allowed to pass through. This is then followed with a leash around you neck, with a big black font of 72 point size, saying VISITOR. <br />So much for Atithi Dev Bhava. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Part 5, is a rude, or fake smiled receptionist, who will ask who you want to meet, but never dials to tell them you have arrived, which you then have to inform via your cellphone. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then comes the "reception meditation" - Which is the endless silent wait for the client to finally have some pity on you lingering around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Followed by the hunt for a meeting room, after battling with others, which is no less than the Panipat Battle of the 18th century. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally you are in. A few handshakes, exchanging visiting cards, the treacherous long wait for the laptop to load, the projector to connect and Eureka! It's camera, lights, action!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Only this time the story takes a new turn.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An unexpected turn I would never ever forget in my whole life. Who knew?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So its the usual, loading the laptop, cards exchanged and a wait for a few more colleagues to join in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Small talk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The man on the head of the conference table, is a senior, grey haired, jolly looking man, content with his position, and fairly senior in designation. His personality exhumed confidence and an aura of experience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My colleague is elated with his presence.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"It is an honor to have your presence in one of presentations Sir!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He laughs at the compliment and doesn't accept it, humbly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I like this guy", I say to myself. Something nice about him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The wait is a little longer than we expect. The man picks up my card out of lack of activity going around, and studies it...</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"You know my first boss' surname was also Merchant, he tells me. We were in Indo Pharma, Biddle Sawyer and some other companies together." He says fondly almost slipping into nostalgia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The companies he names sounded very familiar. I had heard them, and not because I work closely with the healthcare market, but for other reasons. I had heard these names in my childhood. These companies didn't exist anymore, and No! I wasn't an ardent reader of the newspaper then.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am tempted to ask him, and for some reason I don't hesitate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An unusual question.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sir, what was your first boss' name?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yasin Merchant, he replies promptly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I feel a huge surge of emotion. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My ears feel the gush of blood. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Adrenaline pumps.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Heart beats faster.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My excitement cannot be contained. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My hands feel a tremble. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I manage to mumble a sentence.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"That's my Dad"</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Six people in the conference room. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All turn their heads to me, unbelievably.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The gentleman verifies my statement. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"You mean, Yasin Merchant, from Kemps Corner?" </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"The building which was near Cumballa Hill?"</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Tall, lean man who used to smoke?"</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And I am just nodding my head in approval. Yes yes yes....</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I stand up and shake hands with him again. This time it was different, not like a business handshake. It was on an emotional level, because words couldn't not explain 'our' excitement levels, and the entire room sensed it.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The gentleman, begins narrating anecdotes about my father. He recalls the times when he interacted with him. He starts with his personality, tall, dark, sharp, very good at his work, how he was mentored by him, how he was 'brewed' by him, my dad was his inspiration and how he was a big reason behind this man's success.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is a five minute speech. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">In between the man's boss comes in, but that doesn't deter him from going on.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am overwhelmed. I cannot contain my tears. I can almost feel my eyes moist. I quickly blink a couple of times and try to stop them. I manage to, with extreme difficulty. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For a person like me, who can have tears rolling down my eyes for a flop movie, like Waqt, starring Amitabh and Akshay Kumar, this was a real story... MY dad's story, so you can imagine my plight.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The man wants to talk to my father, right there, right now. I quickly dial my landline, but since its noon, the phone just keeps ringing, with no one to receive it. I then dial my wife, and ask her to hand the phone over to dad. She tells me he is sleeping, but I tell her to wake him up, someone wants to speak to him. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Surprised, she gently asks dad to wake up. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Its urgent, she says.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The gentleman takes my phone and humbly, very humbly, introduces himself.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Boss? Boss!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(And this wasn't like the Boss you refer to someone to meet in the train or bus, who you want to ask for way, or someone you intend to push of at the next stop.)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Boss...as in your senior. Someone who you call fondly 'Boss', because he or she is someone you look upto, and sometimes you don't want to refer by name, out of sheer respect.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Boss? Its me. (Introduces himself by name) Pehchana?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kaise ho? How are you? Long time sir?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All good?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Your son is in front of me, making a presentation.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Very happy to speak to you Sir!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes Sir! Aata hoon. Ill come and see you soon.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course Sir!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See you.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bye Bye Bye!.....</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am handed over the phone. He is beaming with joy. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am confused. I am now really wondering if my dad could really place the guy. But one thing was for sure, this man respected my dad to the end of the world.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The tough part begins now.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am to start my presentation. Most of the times, I am labelled as passionate, energetic, and dynamic in my presentations. But I am full of doubts this time....of myself. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was suddenly going to be measured against this huge mammoth of a man, who meant the world to someone I was presenting to, and the bar was set so high, that I knew I would never be able to meet that standard, forget beating it. I had to only ensure that I don't create the impression of being a loser, compared to the man I was being put against.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was like Rocky Balboa and his son.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I manage to put up a decent show, the ideas are liked, a few are shortlisted, its seems like the mission has been accomplished of getting the assignment. I am not even considering the impression part. I cannot contest this competition, and I am ready to succumb to my defeat. The white flag is raised in that department.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nope! This is not a case of "Haar ke bhi jeetne waley ko Baazigar kehte hain"</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We all stand up to sign off for the day, and we get the parting speech.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"There is no doctor who didn't know him. When he entered their clinic, they would stand up and greet him. They knew him by first name."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Merchantsaab bolne ka."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Yasinbhai bolne ka."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Even the directors of the company would never accept his resignation.They went to his home when he put in his papers, and didn't allow him to resign."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He wanted to say more...I could sense it. But he stopped himself, I guess he was getting emotional talking about his mentor. My dad. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I manage to gather some words...</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Sir, I make presentations almost everyday. But today I was nervous for the first time, not because of anything else, but because my dad's name was at stake"</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He laughs. "Don't worry. You did well."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> still dazed. The drive back is mostly in silence. I had lived a moment that probably will never come back to me again. No discussions on the outcome of the meeting. No talk on the future possibilities. Just about the utter coincidence.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Coincidence- is too small a word for this. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Serendipity - too frivolous.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Miracle, is what I am talking about.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God's perfect timing. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Truth is, the past few days were worrisome for me. I was worried about my dads health and overall well being. Anything remotely bad happens to him, and I am all nerves, and this was just one of those times when I needed a little hand holding to get me through.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Imagine something like this happening to you, and it reinstates your faith in God's grand plan for each one of us. I was filled with optimism, hope and love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't go back to office. I rush home. I want to see my father, hug him, and tell him how proud I am. I run up to the lift. Open the door, but he isn't home. I am disappointed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a few minutes he arrives, but in my head that moment was lost. How I hate myself for that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We look at each other, smile and I am still excited. I call everyone in the living room and narrate the incident. My dad smiles proudly at my story. I somewhere guess that he senses my emotion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He narrates his side of the story. Only this time I listen differently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These stories I had heard from him many a times. About his work, his interviews, how he trained his juniors, how he knew all the doctors of Mumbai, and how they knew him. How his boss wouldn't accept his resignation and how they had come home to convince him. How he was liked by his colleagues because of his deeds and another hundred stories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But this time I heard it in a new light.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wasn't hearing it from my dad. I was hearing it from one of the best sales officers in the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My world, and that gentleman's world, and God knows how many peoples world who he had touched in more than one way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For me he was till yesterday, a humble, fun loving, sometimes solemn and strict, generous, talkative man. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But starting today he was a larger than life hero.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A man who's standard I would never be able to match. I can only pay ode to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know for sure that I wont ever be able to reach where he has reached...ever. And the truth is I don't want to even try. What I want to do, is learn from him, and continue his legacy of touching peoples lives, transforming them in my own way, and maybe someday...you never know....I can just barely, slightly aspire that Samaira will meet someone, someday who will tell her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I knew your dad, nice guy"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That much also will be enough for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks Dad! You always were my hero, but now you are bigger, better, stronger! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This made me feel like going back to nursery and telling my friends..."My dad is so strong, so strong, so strong, that he can.......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">_______________________________________</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Love You Dad! You are an inspiration.</span></div>
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Aleem Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12647500906425595484noreply@blogger.com6