Look with your own eyes

Once live an old man who had difficulty with his vision. He visited a doctor who told him that his eyes need replacement.

The old man refused and replied, "Doctor, i have a wife, 4 sons and 4 daughters-in-law. So this put together 9 pairs of eyes. When i have 9 such pairs why should i replace my eyes?"

The doctor obliged.

This went on well till one day suddenly their house caught fire. All those with eyes who could see the fire escaped. As per the nature of law, they tried to protect themselves first. However, by the time the old man realized that his house is under fire, the fire has spread all over.

All those who came out now screamed stating that their beloved old man is still inside and some one has to help him out. But none had the guts to enter the house with fire and save him.

The old man in search of a door, ran from one place to another but got hit against the walls. Alas! he died.

This shows that only eyes of your own will come to your rescue whenever there is an emergency.

Moral: One can listen to n number of suggestions but the decision has to be yours.

A story of 4 Wives

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives.

He loved the 4th wife the most. He adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show her off to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He loved his 2nd wife too. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was about to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart.

The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!"

The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave."

The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go."

The merchant looked up and there was his 1st wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!”

Actually we all have 4 wives in our lives!

4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die

3rd wife is our possessions, wealth and status. When we die, they all go to others

2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave

1st wife is in fact our soul. It is often neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual pleasure.

It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament.

A trip to Mahabaleshwar?

I decided to go to Mahabaleshwar during these deepavali holidays, this time. Visiting an hill-station always brings a worse feel of déjà vu, as the uphill / downhill roads, the pathways, the lush-green mountains, lake with boating, riding on a horse’s back – all seems to be similar. I knew one cannot escape these in a hill-station. I doubt, can there be a hill-station without all these mentioned here.

Initially, I thought I would be taking rest in the chill climate in a hill-station that too during Deepavali holidays and planned for a 3-day-rest. However, what happened to otherwise.

I never felt the chillness in Mahabaleshwar though it was November in a hill station. The place was warm enough and I had a tough time climbing up hill roads (though I walked a little). The taxi association had fixed rate for stipulated places of visit which I feel is exorbitant fares.

The place, Panchganga (five rivers converge in a single spot) is a place worth-seeing. All these five rivers join in a single place and they enter a statue of a cow from its rear and come out as a single stream through the cow’s mouth. How could they have drilled a through hole in the statue in those days? One must need a CNC machine for such a job nowadays. The other question is where all the water goes that come from cow’s mouth. This stream of water falls in a tank like structure.

Pratapgarh Fort is another place one should see. Construction had been the major source of employment in those days and no doubt, Indian construction must have had their own style of civil-engineering which they failed to record. This is pretty obvious because the fort built before 400 years is still intact whereas the steps built 40 years ago to climb the fort is in a dilapidated condition. They climb that during earthquake, the mountains have caved in. Of course, it is unfortunate.

Panchgani is another spot to be seen. Invariably, in all hill stations, the nature is abused by the cine-shooting group and Panchgani is exception to this. I am surprised; these spots become famous because of the cine-shoots. “Palanket” of Raja Hindustani is no Palanket but Panchgani only. The table points (as they look like tables) are another spot to look at. Strawberries are available plenty here.

If I did not mention about the hotel I stayed, I am doing injustice to it. It is not a promotion blog but genuinely i enjoyed the stay. Pratap Heritage is the resort I stayed and I had a nice stay. The hospitality is too good and the food is pretty good. The variety they had was astonishing. Khila khilake maarte hain. Only problem is, if you drop at 6 am in the morning, you should be prepared to wait in the lounge till 9 am to occupy your room.

My holidays went on well and the only complaint is it was not cool as I expected. Perhaps, is it the sign of global-warming?