Me: Don’t know. But I can’t find free time. Life has become hectic. It’s rush hour all the time.
God: Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results.
Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

Me: I understand. But I still can’t figure it out. By the way, I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on instant messaging chat.
God: Well I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you some clarity. In this net era, I wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.

Me: Tell me, why has life become complicated now?
God: Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

Me: why are we then constantly unhappy?
God: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your habit. That’s why you are not happy.

Me: But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?
God: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

Me: But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty..
God: Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Me: If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?
God: Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don’t suffer. With that experience their life becomes better not bitter.

Me: You mean to say such experience is useful?
God: Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

Me: But still, why should we go through such tests? Why can’t we be free from problems?
God: Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

Me: Frankly in the midst of so many problems, we don’t know where we are heading..
God: If you look outside you will not know where you are heading.. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.

Me: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should I do?
God: Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock.

Me: In tough times, how do you stay motivated?
God: Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.

Me: What surprises you about people?
God: when they suffer they ask, “why me?” When they prosper, they never ask “Why me”. Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want
to be on the side of the truth.

Me: Sometimes I ask, who am I, why am I here. I can’t get the answer.
God: Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation.

Me: How can I get the best out of life?
God: Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

Me: One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.
God: There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.

Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat. I am so happy to start the New Day with a new sense of inspiration.
God: Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don’t believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve.

Nice ! Got it on my mail and instantly felt it needed an audience !!

So.. apart from a hugely spasmodic morning in the region of the back and a restraining mobility, everything else was.. well.. ‘hunky’ ! I am leaving the ‘dory’ bit out deliberately, because it wasn’t. Meaning it wasn’t all that good to start of with, but there is nothing that can keep an intense dosage of pain killer-shiller-diller, down. After its consumption therefore - doc’s consent sought of course - the world suddenly started rotating on its axis again… would you believe it !!

“KILLER-SHILLER-DILLER”.. was straight out of nostalgia. Delhi University campus lingua ! 1958 in the Univ Cafe ! Just behind Miranda House.. ya.. THE Miranda House..the ladies College.. and outside which ,most of the University hung out ! It was an expression for the dude that walked in wearing Wrangler jeans - a rare speciality those days - his copy book folded and immersed nonchalantly in his hip pocket, shirt tucked in casually with the collar up, curled locks falling on the forehead, the pointiest of shoes on his swaggering feet and the most desirable Miss Miranda beside him !!

How we envied those guys !! They had the knack, the guile and the guts and the following, to be able to achieve what they did in those three years on campus. And we’re not necessarily talking academics !!

What a following they had ! The girls hung around them because of who they were. The guys hung around them because the girls hung around them ! What times ! Miss all of it now all over again and wonder if we could get an opportunity to relive them. Not for the following… naaa… that came later, on its own.. but the atmosphere and the life we existed.

And the ‘following’ too came not because of ourselves, but of what people perceived us to be through an image on the screen. It was natural then. Now it has many ingredients, active ingredients !!

Following… well.. ok.. I shall concede came from the results of acceptance of the character in film. So, alright you did something that surprised some of them and they decided to like you and admire. But that comes with limitations. You hit the ball out of the park and they are there. You stop making those home runs, they stop wearing your logo peak caps ! Rochelle, must be loving this bit ! Ya baby ! We love our cricket, a delusional mirage for you, despite Daisy M’s valiant effort in spelling it out ..BUT, we also catch up with the odd game of baseball, Cyclones and all !!

Ok.. back on the pitch and out of the dugout !!

Following !! Yes, it has been an experience for most of us. And a joy that it still weathers some stormy years, to be with us. The Sunday crowds, the blogosdom and the odd ones here and there. Most of them possessing great potential for humor.

On the flight in to Singapore on SIA, charming Indian air hostess looks after you with that extra courtesy and smile. Some others working at the back, come in too, to seek autographs and the digital mobile photographs. A few fellow passengers send in requests for a signature on boarding passes. The Captain wishes for one too. And he is not Indian. When all the fuss is over, male Singaporean steward walks up to the seat, leans across to me and wispers -

“So, when are you running for President ?”

I smirk an embarrassed facial contort.

Out as the doors of the plane open, helpful ladies and gents guide and escort you to the buggy. Such a relief. Changi Airport is a city by itself. Immigration personnel look at you with delight and recognition. Seek autographs. Male Singaporean steward standing in the crew queue a long distance away from this VIP DIPLOMATIC EMBASSY serviced immigration formalities lounge, gives that knowing smile and gestures -

“When…?”

Funny guy.

Some more staff and officers join in. Now I’m really looking important. A host of other passengers taking mobile shots and shaking hands. Volunteers helping picking baggage off the belt, loading it on trolleys, rolling them out for us.

Customs. And stern looking uniformed officer, stretches out his hand. I, smile on face extend mine.

“No !”, he clips, ‘your passport !”

I hand it over to him, suppressing a sheepish one-upped embarassment.

“Step to this side, sir !” , the uniform commands and leads me away from gleaming entourage.

Smile now decidedly vanishing from face I follow instructions. Never mess with a cop in foreign land !

“This, this and this” he dictates, choosing three pieces of ’suspicious’ baggage from well looked after trolleys.

“Open”

That was still the uniform eh ! Just in case you thought it was describing expression of my mouth.

I did the needful. Rummaging took place. Nothing drug infected was found. And without closing them up the bags were dismissed back to the trolley, with a terse, “Thank you !!”. Ok that sounded soft. It wasn’t. It was -

“THANK YOU !”

Tails between our weary and track panted legs, we hurry out.

Male Singaporean steward, loading his bags on to van, now wishing to change his earlier statement !!

Did someone say following….?

Amar Singh ji recovers well. I spend all the time with him and tell him of the concern shown on the blog for his health. He wishes to read all those comments. I assure him that I surely will arrange. As he rests in the day I drive around a few spots. They are busy out there in the streets and everything is within walking distance. Its inspiring. And I try it out. Take all the instructions from the wife, who along with son and bahu has been here for a while and ‘knows’ the terrain. Helpfully she draws out a diagram to follow, as I venture out to go back to the hospital. I am by myself now. Just me, my sneakers and the hoodie slung over the shoulder. Out on the streets ! Quick references to the drawing from wife. Right out from the gate, main junction right again, left and there right in front, the hospital, she had calmly explained. I do exactly that. I am happy. I walk alone. No one interested or giving that look of recognition. O boy ! This is the life ! On the footpath. Quiet and alone. Not a soul around. Some traffic passing by on further road. And then… the sudden sound of running feet from behind..!!

It is dark. That stretch of the pavement is filled only by me.

Every perceivable image of all the action movies seen and enacted, rush past the brain in anticipated fear !

And then in most dramatic angry young man, VIJAY DINANATH CHAUHAN mode.. I turn to face the oppressor -

A breathless lady running up. In sandals that threaten to come apart. Panting and excited she blurts -

“Amitabh ji…Amitabh ji… I just had to shake your hand and take a photograph.. I was driving by and noticed you from the car.. and I told my husband it was you.. he never believed me… this is my son.. can we have a photograph please… we’re such big fans of yours..I am from Pakistan.. please.. could you.. what are you doing here walking all by yourself… where is your security…

CLICK ! CLICK !… thank you… just out for a stroll.. thank you..

And off. Off rather rapidly towards the destination in diagram from wife. Ah ! there it is, I mean thats where she said it is. I look up. After walking for half an hour, I am back at the spot where I started from !!

And ladies and gentlemen of the EF, do not ever find fault in directions given by the wife. Because… THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT !! End of discussion !!

As I stand there bewildered and helpless, a car window rolls down and gentle Sushant, a young man from Mumbai, working in Hotel Management here in Singapore for the last one and a half years, wonders if he could be of some assistance.

I am back where I stay. I had been dropped off by dear Sushant and his friend at the Hospital. Masked faced we have spent time with AS, done some more photographs with staff on floor, staff of Malaysian Royalty, who serve and guard their master also admitted at the far end, photographs and hugs with a whole community of Bangladeshi’s there to be with a relative having stomach problems, eaten some home cooked food and deciding to not strain the back any further.

The DAY ends with some concern for Maharani Gayetri Devi of Jaipur. She is quite unwell and has been admitted to Hospital. One of the most beautiful women in the world, a friend, a gentle and generous host to me on several of my trips to her beautiful palaces, now caught up with age. My prayers for a speedy recovery.

Love

Amitabh Bachchan