Enchanting Dream

“Hey guys hurry up! I want to reach the lodge soon!” I yelled at everyone. Climbing the jeep at last, next to the driver my father turned and said “Joanna, we are going to be there for 10 days and you have enough time to do your hearts content. So shut up and sit down!”

I turned with impatience, stowed my hat on my head and stood on the jeep floor to look out longingly at the gates of the wildlife park. It was a beautiful scene, green trees and colorful flowers bordering the gates. Finally we moved.

I took the camera I my hands and kept clicking away. The climate was cool; with a smell of rain in the air after all we were in the midst of a rain forest. The driver took us in the jungle following a well used path that later took a turn and branched next to a flowing canal. The scene before my eyes took my breath away. I saw a baby rhino 3 feet tall grazing. Huge colorful birds chirping on the trees, No one was disturbed by our presence and also by the rumbling of the jeep. Monkeys on the trees watching us pass by; the group of deer’s and sambhar’s feeding on the grass spread and leaves of the shrubs. The canal 40 feet wide was dazzling with the golden-pinkish hue of the sun consisting of a variety of colorful fishes; the variety in growing numbers. We moved further beside the canal following the road towards our destination – the forest lodge. After an hour we reached the lodge. All the way I was in awe looking at nature’s beauty.

We unloaded the luggage and checked in to our rooms. After dumping my luggage I ran upstairs to the balcony facing the canal with my camera. At that moment, it started raining and what happened next was something not to be seen even on television documentaries. There was a flurry of activity amongst the animals. On both the sides of the canal they were running in different directions in packs. Deer’s, zebras, sambhar’s, bison’s, wild buffalo’s, giraffes, elephants and rhino’s and on the other side of the canal monkeys and deer’s moving upstream. All of a sudden out of the blue there came a wild boar charging upstream with a monkey on its back; all running towards shelter. There was movement in the canal as well; fishes were seen moving downstream as fast as lightening. Schools of fishes of all colors and sizes, big a small weaving their way in the water, one in particular had me stunned; it was a 2 feet long fish in black and red diagonal stripes. Unbelievable!

The trees swaying in the breeze, wind howling and animals kicking the earth to move fast, the whole scene had me so enthralled that I forgot that I was soaking in the rain. The canal was filling with water at a fast pace. Then a hand caught me and shook me out of the trance and I saw my mother asking me to walk in.

I turned around and entered the room, and could hear a voice asking me to wake up. Everything went black for a moment or two and then I opened my eyes and could see the sunlight streaming in my room through the open window and my mum shaking me awake. It was time to get up and get ready for a new day. But it had me thinking for days on end about the enchanting scene……………..

- Garima Bubna 3rd Feb, 2009

Don't Know

I wish you could see the life that I am leading
What is being at nature’s beck and call
To know about things and yet pretend to be unknown
Yet shamelessly chasing the time ahead

The world full of dark secrets
And shadows everywhere
The hidden treasure and the mysteries to be unfolded
By a grey hand

The dark hood and the shadowed face
And the frightening silence of the dead
Restless wind and the cloudy night
And the shivers down the spine

A long way to go
On a rocky hill ahead
The valley so deep with unknown creatures
Will I see a light on my way?

- Garima Bubna

Journey of Life

Its been an entertaining journey so far,
the road has taken so many turns,
never know what would happen next.
There have been barren lands and also trees laden with fruits and flowers.

There were famished children playing on
the roadside and plump ones sitting on the pub seats.
A light of hope would be kindled in ones heart
and on the other side the journey to the dark could be seen
with the son's dead body.

These twists and turns of ife
has been an exceptional journey.
The days are grim and the nights are dark,
we don't know where we are.

Have come to a dead end,
the valley is very deep and dreary,
every step is unknown,
But, I have to go on........

- Garima Bubna, January,2008

Thoughts

The valley so deep and green
With the mud and the streams
For years and years
Endures all the fears……

The clouds and the sun,
Autumn and the rains,
Soft breeze and the scorching heat
Yet its there and always will be.

You have one in your life,
Whatever happens, whatever comes
It will always be there for you……
Waiting ……………………………….

Garima Bubna, June 20, 2007

WOES OF WORKING WOMEN

Gone are the days when office work for women was a taboo. Today’s corporate world is decorated with women executives and employees right from bottom to top levels.
Women and Office work never went hand in hand in India till 1980’s. However, the scenario is totally different in the 21st century due to a rapid growth of the country’s economy and an influx of foreign investment in different sectors.

Recent surveys suggest that women are better performers than their male colleagues in many fields. They rub shoulders and stand as equals. "A working woman" is the trend of the era.

The urge to excel in the new opening in the society has changed the female count in an organization. The ratio of women employees has gone up from 1:75 to 20:75 (approx.). Females are proving to be better than males in the working world today. Any field it may be IT, manufacturing, banking, telecommunication, pharmaceuticals, human resource etc. They are present everywhere. Especially, HR field in almost any organization is ruled by women nowadays.

Even with all the changes that have taken place in the society, an overnight change in the mentality of people is not to be seen, India being a secular, religious and an underdeveloped country.

In the rural areas, the conditions are still not conducive for the female sex. Literacy rate is poor. They are underpaid and overworked.. They are driven by the social constraints and dharma, wherein the life they live is that of ignorance. Their lives are that of a frog in a pond that thinks the world is only as big as that the pond.

A vast majority of women, in rural areas, go through the medieval pattern of minimum education, early marriage, families to take care off and kids. Their lives revolve around their families, society and dharma. They do house work and in some places they even work from their homes in the form of part-time jobs on a day-to-day basis. They have been blindfolded towards the practicalities and the real world. They are not allowed to peek outside the window at the real world - the fast pace it has taken up, changes that the country is going through in terms of technology, goods and services and trends. And it is rightly said that "Ignorance is bliss".

Conditions for women- working and non-working- in the urban areas too cannot be dubbed as ideal, however they are improving gradually as a result of growing economy and dearth of workforce.

Unlike men, women have to prove themselves at every step as not merely their work but their living style is also judged. For them it is a dual challenge of making something out of their lives and even shaping their family members’. They become perfect in time management and training. They are performers from every angle.

There are various award functions organized for the business women in today’s date like "Women in Business Awards", "25 Most powerful women in business awards", etc. which portray the levels a women has achieved. And at a time like this why forget Parmeshwari Godrej, Swati Piramal, Punita Lal, etc the living epitome of a successful business women.

Even after all these achievements a woman is not granted the same respect in various work places just because of her sex. Her credentials do not matter while they are being put down in comparison to the male species. Quotas along with a code of conduct have been put in place for women in the constitution in various fields but yet sexual harassment cases are not less in the work places. Women have to go through a lot of loops to get their personal and professional lives in order. Because they are not expected to work by the society, only run the household, raise families and pretend that they do not have a mind of their own. The drive to prove this thinking wrong has brought the women out of their shells to the stage where they are the best professionals in the community.
India is in the phase wherein it is moving from the medieval era to the new ear, where women stand and rub shoulders with the men in all fields. But the question is When will the quest be over to prove that all are equal and talent is what counts the most?"
Women have the right like every human being to use their talent gifted to them, will we acknowledge it as a society about it?

- Garima Bubna

Capricorn Women

A lot has been published about the capricorn women before today and most of the traits and facts have been proved to be true about this beautiful and stubborn, saturn ruled - Goat. I would like to add a some of them myself carefully observed over the period of years.

This woman goat is very proud, selfless, passionate, career - oriented, not a social climber, believes in self, sticks to a decision, an excellent character judge, criticism is not her armour, reserved and last but not the least an emotional character.

Its easy to recognize a capricorn woman - if you know her from a long time you will see the changes in her appearance, when she is young, she looks more matured and older compared to the other children her age, but as and when the years catch up with her she gets more beautiful, looks young and fresh.... she is the kind of beauty which does not require cosmetics, it enhances over the period of time. The long lasting natural beauty is that of a capricorn woman.

She is quick, intelligent, smart and a nature lover (although there are always exceptions). Does not believe in pretence and formalities. She accepts you just the way you are.

This career-oriented, goal -oriented goat respects intelligence, others passion towards their career, craves knowledge (the more she gets the less it is for her), though not a party goer a very enthusiastic adventurer (you say lets go for water rafting and she is ready, does not stop to think).

Has a very professional approach towards her work, puts in long hours and does not complaint about the same, always comes up as a leader in the group. The urge to lead is inbuilt in a capricorn but believes strongly in team-work.

This mountain climber is very strong headed. Once she believes in a idea or gets one in her head its very impossible to move her from her line of thought.

Is very meticulous and straight in her work. Loves cleanliness and has a systematic approach towards and in life.

A lady of few words is a capricorn woman. Talks to the point. Does not believe in getting involved in gossip. Likes to get at the heart of the matter instead of going around in circles. Very emotional and sentimental. A "good doer" of the community but never expects anything in return, but when she asks for help (that is also in dire circumstances) and is not heard she is very hurt.

If she dislikes a person she won't comment behind the back or gossip about the same, instead she will ignore that person altogether.

A music lover, deep thinker and an avid reader is our dear capricorn darling. Has a liberal, practical and a realistic approach towards life. An excellent home - maker and simply adores children. Believes in equality and expects as much as she gives. Due to the high emotional and sentimental ingredients in her character you will find a lot of writers to be ruled by the saturn planet.

This Goat has electic characteristics. Beauty, Brains and Selflessness is to be found always in a capricorn woman.

A man is lucky to get a capricorn as a partner - but beware, earn the respect don’t impose it ! ! !She is proud, don't tell her what to do, discuss it with her, reason it out....... BUT NEVER ORDER HER AROUND............... ! ! ! !But all the most LOVE Her ! ! ! !

- By Garima Bubna

Success and Lonliness

Success and Loneliness
A person, just stepped out of a university with some ideas, has the passion to prove them a success, no matter they are practicable or not. As he starts putting the wheels in motions to give the ideas of his a physical appearance, he gets worldly with each step he takes.

His understanding of the way the world works, how does the society function and how to manage that, increases with every passing day. That management, be it towards time, work or resources.He even learns the role of relationships in his professional life. To what extent can he commit himself to relationships in his life be it towards family, friends, partner or colleagues.The need to succeed runs like an adrenalin in the blood, nothing can be seen when he is on that drive. There is only one motto in life at the time and that is "to succeed". He works as if there is no tomorrow. 24 hours in a day are less. Drives himself to the point of exhaustion to get up the next day and put in the same hours for more success. Starts measuring the rate of success as per the number of hours he puts in the business. And forgets everything but work.But have you realized that as the years push by and his ideas flourish in the tangible form what does he lack in his life? In the rush to succeed he forgot about what he requires apart from the professional life. What he requires at the end of the day when the work is complete? Towards the drive of success he forgot the essential requirement of a human being that of a home and companionship to live life.He even realizes that as he grows on that ladder, the loneliness increases in his life. He has less and less people to share his thoughts with. Has to guard his tongue all the time, check himself every time he speaks. Caution becomes a second nature to him. Relationships take on a stressed mode. He is measured by his success and not by the man he is.
He can't speak anything and everything to his boss and the same goes for his subordinates. And think that if he is the boss whom does he speak to? Imagine and you will be stunned as per how lonely a man can be when he is at the highest position on the ladder. At that time he craves companionship and relationships which he had put on hold for a lot of years to carve a niche in the professional world.
A person can only realize this if he has ever climbed the ladder and been on the run for his career. So don't judge a person by all the goodies that he has in his bag, but always by the amount of bank balance of happiness he has in his account..... cause money is a necessity but its not happiness.
You can buy a companion with money but not companionship.
You can buy colors but its not necessary that you can color your life with it..........
At which stage are you in life?
By-
Garima Bubna