When I look back at life, I see so many things. I see a lonely but loving childhood. I see the most amazing mother and the best sister in this world. I see a school that gave me zillion of complexes and a college that gave me a new kind of freedom from them.

When I look back- I see my brief courtship period and my wedding to the girl I love. I see me and my wife together building our home. I see my sweet kids coming into our lives and just changing every perspective we had.

When I look back, I see myself colliding with strangers and making some of them friends for life. I see myself having a real home and living happily.

A common man like me has all these things as his treasure. I have not done anything that could be ever written about in any newspaper, but I have just tried and lived peacefully and make a home. This is my only contribution to the society and world.

There is guilt but no regrets. If I had to live my life again, I will do the same mistakes that I did before. I think I will live again like this. This is me and I am not under any complex now. I am happy and calm. I wish to God that everyone feels the same when they look back.

Let me take your leave now. Today I want to rest and take a nap. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’ took a nap and dreamt that he was sitting with his family at home and sharing a meal with them. The common man didn’t know- in his sleep, he was smiling so much. The common man was happy from his heart.

Today I have decided to stay back in office. Actually my daughter has planned to give a party to her friends at home. She has been making all the arrangements from a week now. This is for the first time, she has organized a party at our home. She has always been to her friend’s houses before that. So this time she has decided to throw a party at her own place. I quite agree with this.

Since I would have been too much of a bother, I have decided to stay back in office and work some more. It is a good opportunity for me to complete the pending work. Otherwise everyday, there was this rush to reach home and prepare dinner. Today the dinner has been ordered from outside- so everything is just fine. My wife is there at home watching over the kids. She said that atleast one sensible person should be with the kids. They might need something anytime.

The logic is simple and sensible. But I am feeling a little lonely. I mean, everyone in the office has left and here I am sitting all alone away from home. I know it is sounding weird but I like to be at home. But it is okay- it is just for one day and then this time tomorrow, I will be reclining on the sofa in living room and watching television.

I wonder what my kids and wife must be doing. I just hope they are having a very nice time. I have met some of my daughter’s friends and they are all good kids. Infact I was pretty shocked at myself when I interacted with them first. I have always been shy and reserved with everyone whole my life but when I talk with kids- I am just a chatter box. I like being with kids, listening to their talks and understanding their problems.

Now I am really smiling. But let me delay no more and complete my work. Please take good care. Let me take your leave. Bye.

The ‘common man’ was shocked by frantic calls from his house. The common man was very worried when he picked up the phone. But his frown creases widened in a smile when he got to know that he was wanted at home. The daughter’s friends were feeling very bored and wanted to talk to her dad whom they liked very much last time. The common man left office with a very warm and happy smile.

Yesterday I got a call from Mrs Lawrence. Yes- I am talking about the elderly lady who lives at the end of the road. It was a panic call. Mrs Lawrence was not feeling well and she called me at my place. Thankfully, I was at home and rushed to see her. I called the doctor and after proper examination, the doctor revealed that Mrs Lawrence was just feeling passive and lonely.

I talked to the old lady for a long time after that. She told me all about her daily activities and finally when I pestered her to tell me the real cause of her worries- she told me that she was very desperate to meet her daughter who now lived in Australia. She wanted to go and meet her to see what the matter was as the daughter was not replying back to her letters. I could feel the panic in voice and I knew she was very, very worried.

Mrs Lawrence told me about her two year savings in the bank which she wanted to use to fund her trip to Australia. She wanted me to make all arrangements as soon as possible. I came back home after promising a worried mother.

The arrangements regarding the trip are not a problem at all. I will do them today only but the problem is I am not very sure about Mrs Lawrence going for this trip alone. She is really frail and constant tension has made her ill. It is not proper for her to make this journey alone. The lady has noone to call her own. I have been thinking a great deal about it. I don’t want to sadden a mother’s heart.

I think the only solution is that I accompany her on this journey. It only means a week- I will make some excuse at work and well- I will also travel by air. Yes, I think- this is for the best. But I will need to explain this at home. I don’t how my wife is going to take it. She has been asking me to travel by air since years and I have always refused and now I am planning to do this.

But I must ask her before I take any decision. Let me take your leave now. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’s’ wife was very, very surprised when she heard the plans and her husbands reasons for the trip. For a moment, she felt angry and sad but her anger soon subsided when she thought about the dear old lady. She was rather proud of her husband. She wondered how many husbands did this for others.

 

I remember distinctly the second year of my job at office. The work load was huge at that time. It was a time of utter chaos. I was still new at work and wanted to do just everything. I took on more and more assignments and it slowly became a huge burden.

I remember not coming home for days. I used to stay in office and work all the time. It was the time when me and my wife drifted apart. She tried to talk to me many times but I was just hell bent on chasing the deadlines. She waited endlessly for me but I never paid heed. She asked me questions but my mind was always lost. I was never with myself, leave alone being with my wife.

I had become a walking machine. With time, the deadlines became complete. But when I returned home one day and saw my wife, I knew I had become late. My wife had become so silent. She answered all my questions but never talked to me. She was moving away from me. I could see the sadness in her eyes. She was alone and I knew it was all because of me.

God was kind to me and we together built our house after strife of one month. We promised to each other that we will always balance out home and work. We promised that no matter what happens, we will have always dinner together. We promised that we will not become lost in the wild goose chase. These promises kept me in good stead and even today nothing has happened wrong with us. Our relationship has been going very strong and there was never a moment of doubt or second thoughts in our life.

I will always be thankful to my wife. Yes- we have our moments of disagreements but overall we agree on mostly everything and or find a midway. She is been my true companion all these years and kept me sane. She is really my soulmate.

Today my wife has decided to make dinner for everyone. She is in a very happy mood and I am enjoying the cozy atmosphere at home. Let me take your leave now. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’ and his family sat together and ate dinner. The dinner was very yummy and the common man complimented his wife. In her smile, he found utter peace and simplicity. He now remembered the time when they met for the first time. Life was indeed very good.

Some months before, I gave a loan to a neighbour. Actually he came to me and told how he was in a tight situation and needed money immediately. The guy is quite older than me and I felt very sorry for him. So I loaned him the money. The guy was too happy and promised to return me the money in one month.

Now three months have passed and there is no sign of the guy returning back the money to me. I paid a visit to his place but he was unavailable. I even called him but he never took my call. I don’t know what’s going to happen.

It makes me feel sad to see such people. It’s not really the money but the attitude of people that makes me feel so bad. I can’t help but admire my mom when I think about such crooked people. When my father left us, he ran away after taking loans from most of our neighbours. He just grabbed the money and vanished away one day leaving mom and his two kids at their mercy. My sister tells me that those were very hard days. We had virtually no money and everyday some neighbour used to come and warn us of dire consequences.

I was too small then but I remember one thing. Every month, my mom used to save some money and she eventually returned all the money that my father took from the neighbours. She specially went to every house, enquired the amount pending and returned it with a heartfelt sorry. My heart swells with pride when I think about my mom.

There was no need for her to do that. She could have easily shrugged it off or ran away with us to some other place but she chose to stay at the same place and return the money which someone related to her took away. There are very few people in this world who are like that.

I feel very happy that I am my mother’s son.

Let me take your leave now. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’ visited his mom and hugged her tightly. In her old eyes and wrinkled face was a life led with honesty and truth. The common man was thankful to God. He knew that as long as there were good people like his mom in this world, the world will be a happy place

It is freezing cold nowadays. It is becoming increasingly difficult to step out of the house. I am always shivering. My kids make fun of me. They don’t understand that I have become older and feel the cold more than them. I wrap myself in so many layers even at home.

My heart goes out to people who don’t have a roof over their head even in such cold weather. I mean- this is simply too much. Despite the shelter home and night stay shelters provided by government, there are still loads of people who spend their nights in the open. I don’t know how they do that. It is completely inhuman.

There are people who don’t have food to eat, leave aside something hot. When I look outside window at the falling snowflakes- I can see the beauty of nature. I can see the magic of nature. But at the same time, I can see hundreds of people shivering and striving to keep themselves alive. I don’t like this at all. What is a sight of pleasure for one person is fate’s cruelty for the other. 

I wish everyone gets a home, enough clothes to keep oneself warm and food to quench body’s hunger. My colleagues in office have started a mobile van in which they move around the city at night and distribute warm blankets and hot bowls of soup and bread to people who live on pavements and in parks. This is a really noble gesture. No effort is small or big. I have decided that I will be a part of this mobile van.

I have talked to my wife and we have decided to contribute to the cause. This month we will not go out for dinner and contribute all that money to this venture. My wife is also very eager to accompany me on the trips. So this is final now. I am calling my colleague right now and telling him that we also want to be a part of the team.

Let me take your leave now. I have to do many, many things. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’ called his colleague. The colleague was just too happy to have him. they all made night trips on selected days and brought warmth and comfort in the lives of atleast a few people. 

I remember when I was a kid, my mom used to keep the kitchen locked. It was not because of food but because of my adventures. Somehow the kitchen always attracted me and I wanted to do all my experiments there.

I remember I used to switch on the gas burner to smell the gas. I used to love that smell. I know I am sounding weird but I used to love it. I used to take out all pans and glasses and play my music. I was pretty serious about it. I always tell my mom that I couldn’t become a renowned musician because of her.

I used to wash the dishes and play games with them. It was whole lot of fun. But my mom always thought about it as a nuisance. She gave me strict orders to never enter the kitchen. Moms are the most loving but also the most irritating people in this world. My mom is also like that. When she becomes angry, she becomes really angry.

You know what is the right plan of action with my mom. The right thing is to pacify mom, the very moment she speaks the first sentence because once mom starts speaking then nothing in this world can ever stop her. Then she would keep on speaking for hours and it was so, so, so unbearable.

My mom used to keep a strict eye on me. Now when she sees me working in the kitchen, she tells my kids all my adventure stories. My kids are pretty amused. They can’t believe that their good daddy was once so naughty. I don’t blame them. Ever since I have become a dad, I have become a really innocent guy.

But such is life. I remember the good old days of kitchen adventures with a lot of nostalgia. They are absolute fun.

Let me take your leave now. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’ went into the kitchen and looked at everything with delight. On an impulse, he took out the pans and glasses and started playing music (screeching sound). The common man’s wife and kids hid themselves in their rooms. It was the common man’s official time to go crazy.