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.  

My father left us when I was two years old. I remember growing up as a very insecure kid. I had too many complexes. It was my mom and sister who always took care of me and made sure that I always had everything. But still the absence of my father always made me feel sad.

I remember I was thirteen years old then. I was a teenager and you know how fluctuating teenagers can be. In those days, I used to be mighty angry with my mom. She had never told me about my dad except the fact that he left us one day. I asked her many times but she always refused to answer. There were no photographs of my father at our home.

I wanted to so much to know him and to talk about him but noone was ready to tell anything. I used to see my friend’s fathers and feel extremely jealous and very lonely. I hurt my mom a lot during that time. I used to ask her why she and dad separated but she still never told me.

I remember one day I returned from school and found mom talking with a lady in the living room. I tiptoed inside and listened to their talk. They were both talking about my dad. My mom was crying and telling the lady how my dad used to physically assault her and abuse her. My mom was crying so much. She was telling that he was a very possessive man who couldn’t bear the sight of my mom talking to anyone. Her life had become hell.

At that time, I didn’t understand much. I only understood that fact that my dad was a very bad man who gave lot of pain to my mom. But now I can understand. I understand what my dad gave to my mom. He took away her freedom as a person. He wanted to over power her individuality.

My mom has always taught me to respect women. She always told me that If I love her, then I will never be disrespectful towards a woman. She always told me that both men and women are equal and they have similar right to have freedom of mind and expression.

My growing up years were very tumultuous. I had many doubts and also confusions but now I don’t have them. I know I have not become a very important person but I am a balanced person with a peaceful heart. This is the gift of my mom to me. I am because of my mom. I don’t remember my dad now. I belong to my mother.

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

The ‘common man’ and his wife took every decision in their life together. The wife always wondered why the common man never complaint to her regarding anything. She didn’t know that it was common man’s promise to his mom. In his patience was the essence of his mother’s life long efforts to make him a good human being.  

Frankly speaking, I don’t understand what is it with toys. I know I am going to sound a bit of a spoil sport but I am not much in the favour of parents crowding their kid’s room with endless toys. I feel a little irritated by all this. I personally am against it.

Yes- toys are good and every child must have them but there should be limit to everything. Today there are hundreds of toys in the market. There are any number of dolls and all those educative toys that supposedly make your child very intelligent. I don’t understand this. We never had any such toys but I don’t think I have turned out that bad.

I see my colleagues in office spending their whole month’s salary on their child’s toys. I understand the enthusiasm of a new parent but we must try and curb it. I think children should have constructive and limited number of toys. A colleague was telling me that his toddler son gets bored with a new toy in three days and then he demands for a new one and the excited parent obliges.

I really wanted to tell my colleague that this process is only spoiling his child. A child must learn that he or she can’t have everything that she desires. Plus a toy should not be a disposable thing which you can enjoy for three days and then throw away.

I particularly remember my mom used to give us clay toys when me and my sister were young. My mom was working with an NGO and there the people made those amazing clay toys. I remember a clay hut with a little window and door and even a thatched roof. It was my very favourite toy. Even now it is safe with my mom. She has preserved all our toys. She wanted to give them to mine and my sister’s kids but they didn’t seem too excited about them.

My daughter wanted a fancy doll, my son wanted a automatic gun. What should I say to them? I realized pretty soon that I can’t get away from this toy ‘ overpurchase’ mania. I can only try and balance it out.

Increasing and aggressive marketing has made all this stuff too tempting for kids. I don’t blame the kids. They are actually the victims of commercialization. I just hope they value the balance.

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

The ‘common man’ was shocked to know that his kids wanted to know more about clay toys. He learnt that they were planning to make clay toys as a part of their creative school project. The common man was too happy with the development. The next weekend, they all spent with the common man’s mom who taught them with utmost patience about clay toys.

My family thinks that I am crazy. No matter what I do, they always think that I am completely crazy. Now I can’t do anything about this. I still remember the day when my daughter was born, I remember being in the hospital till late and reading the newspaper after coming home.

Somehow on an impulse I saved the newspaper on that day. Ever since then, every year, I save the newspaper on my daughter’s and son’s birthday. It is just a record of what happened on their birthdays every year. I feel a kind of hold, a kind of connect with the time gone by.

I have all the newspapers methodically in a file. Now I know what happened in the world on my daughter’s ninth birthday and on my son’s sixth birthday. I just know it. I can open the file any time and have a look.

My family says that I have crossed all stages of being sensible. Now tell me- what’s so insensible about it? I just want to feel the special days in my life and if I save the newspaper- what’s the harm in that. I do everything myself. I don’t expect anything from anyone.

I strongly feel that we should keep something that always reminds us our children’s growing up years. It can be anything. It can be pictures, their used up things or even newspapers. I find it very tender and warm. On lonely evenings, I just open the file and read my daughter’s thirteenth birthday newspaper all over again. It is very important. Afterall it was the day when my daughter became a teenager.

No matter what my family says I will always keep on doing this. I love this and feel there is nothing crazy about it.

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

The ‘common man’ opened the file and saw the newspaper on his son’s first birthday. He remembered it was the day when a new museum opened in the city. He saw the picture in newspaper and felt happy.

My wife has joined a charity organization. The organization aims at providing orphaned kids good education and upbringing. She has decided to volunteer two hours everyday on weekends to be with kids and spend quality time with them. It is a small step but a constructive one and I am very happy about it.

Two days before, my wife came after a visit to the orphanage and told me that kids there don’t have proper woolens and blankets to keep them warm in the freezing cold. She was pretty hassled and we decided to sort things out. We have a lot of old sweaters of our kids that we never gave away. We packed them neatly in a bag along with spare blankets and took them to kids.

The kids were extremely happy. the smile on their faces was very heartening. Somehow I couldn’t bear the sight and came back soon to home. My wife didn’t understand my mood. It is not her fault. Actually I have never told her. When I was a kid, we had very less money and winters were a complete hazard. I used to go to the market with my sister. There was a shop there that sold old, worn sweaters and blankets at minimal prices. We used to get our woolens from there.

I remember we used to wait for the shop to open at the beginning of winters and run to get our share. We were always scared that we might not get what we wanted with the money we had. My sister used to bargain for prices endlessly. I have seen her fighting for a single rupee. Since we were kids, the shopkeeper always used to avoid us. He was always more interested in families who took woolens from him frequently. He used to pretend that he was not listening to us.

I can still see my sister standing in front of the shop waiting for our turn to come. Even today, I often pass the same shop. Now it has been rebuilt. The old shopkeeper has gone and someone else sells ethnic mementoes over there. Many a times, I have stood near the shop, recollecting my childhood memories.

Today I am in a position that I can give something to kids who are not fortunate. My heart fills with gratitude at the kindness of God. May God make all those kids very independent and prosperous. I am feeling a silent peace inside me today.

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

The ‘common man’ rang up his sister and they both talked for a long time on phone. They both together remembered their childhood moments. The common man told his sister about his contribution to the organization. The sister was filled with pride and they both thanked God together. 

Well- today I have embarrassed my wife a great deal. I am feeling very bad about that. Let me tell you from the starting.

I admit that I am a miser when it comes to certain things. I am not really a miser but I feel that if we can get along finely without spending money on something, then it is for the best. This is the reason why I purchase new socks only after a gap of three years. I mean what’s the point in purchasing new socks every year. I don’t understand that.

My feet are always in my shoes and at home- it doesn’t really matter. Now my wife is always after me to get new socks. Once she even got the socks herself for me but I put up such a terrible row that she was in tears. From that day, she stopped asking me for new socks. I was also happy with my pair of good, old socks.

Now recently, I got holes in my sock’s toes. I am honestly telling that I was determined to get a new pair this week only. I was all set when a few acquaintances descended at our home yesterday. It was a surprise visit by them which turned literally into a shock visit.

We were just chatting together when my friend’s wife insisting on reading my foot lines. She said that she was great foot reader. Now all of us were really amazed when she read my wife’s foot lines so well. Everything she said was completely true. I became highly excited and in my excitement forgot all about my sock’s toe holes.

I got my foot out and it was then that my toes peeped outside the holes as if they were more excited than me. Everyone was amused. My friend and his wife teased me a lot about it. My wife was really embarrassed. She gave me the sternest stare. I didn’t know what to do at that time and thought it better to just laugh the matter off.

Now my wife is not speaking to me from yesterday. She is not even looking at me. I am feeling so sad. It is all my fault.

Let me take your leave now. Please take care, bye.

The ‘common man’ went to the market and bought ten new pair of socks. He went to his wife and gave her the packet with the gravest face. The wife was alarmed and thought something bad had happened. She hastily opened the packet and laughed like anything when she saw the socks.

I have been doing this from last ten years now. It is an integral part of my life and always fills me with immense satisfaction. It was my mom who used to do this and I just followed her example.

Everyday I place a bowl of bread crumbs and water on the terrace for birds. My mom always says that we must keep a share for birds. She has been following this activity for all her life now. Nothing, absolutely nothing could ever stop her from doing that.

I remember once when I was a kid, there were only two breads at home in the morning. Somehow mom had forgotten to get a bread packet from the market. Now I always used to have only bread in breakfast before going to school. I was eagerly waiting for the breakfast reminding myself that I will make do with only two breads today.

I was shocked when my mom brought biscuits for me in breakfast. She told me she had given the bread to birds as they needed it more than I did. She said I had many other options to eat but the birds have that only. Just imagine. My own mom gave my two breads to birds.

At that time, I was very angry but slowly I understood my mom’s reason to be so disciplined. Feeding birds gave a purpose to my mom. It gave her satisfaction and it was her way of thanking God for his kindness.

I follow her example and have been doing the same from many years now. So many birds gather on our terrace everyday and i feed them the tiny crumbs and drinking water. Earlier they used to fly away when they saw me. But now they don’t feel scared of me.

On days, when I am gone to some place and stay overnight, then my wife and kids see to it that birds are fed properly. I feel very happy to see my kids feeding the birds with so much love and care. It is one of the precious moments of my life.

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

The ‘common man’ sat for a long time on the terrace and watched the birds eating bread and drinking water. In that moment, he felt a stillness in his life. He felt that he was at peace with himself. The common man was a happy man.

My wife has got curly hair. Ha ha ha ha!!! They always remind me of Maggie noodles. They are really curly. I have only made the mistake of making fun of them twice in my life and both times I had to pay heavily for the mistake. My wife has a strong dislike to everyone who even mentions anything remotely to her curly hair.

The fact is that my wife is rather proud of her curly hair. Apparently, they have been ruling the roost from many generations. My wife got them from her dad and her dad from his dad and so on. So it is kind of a family fixture. I can’t resist telling you about the very first time I referred to them. Actually I had been invited for lunch at my wife’s place by her parents when we decided to get married. It was my first ever visit to their place and in my excitement I was a little confused about the home number.

I had reached the block and in order to set things straight, I asked a person about the address. The person looked at the address, smiled widely and asked me if I wanted the family with ‘curly mop’. That was it. Later on when I told the incident to my wife, instead of finding it hilarious, she pounded on me like a wounded lioness. That was first time, I had seen her claws and I was pretty petrified.

The second time was on her second wedding anniversary. It was a working day and me and my wife were supposed to reach the restaurant separately on a fixed time. Since I reached first, I placed the order and was waiting eagerly for my wife. My wife entered, gave me a thousand watt smile and suddenly just froze with the angriest stare on her face.

I followed her gaze and found a plate of Maggie noodles on our table. I was flabbergasted. I had no idea how it came. It was a mistake, a blatant mistake. I immediately called the waiter and enquired. He apologized profusely and admitted that he had swapped orders. I didn’t know what to say to him. the evening was completely ruined. My wife didn’t eat a morsel and we returned back home feeling sad.

So anything even remotely linked to noodles is never mentioned in our home. Our kids understood this from the very beginning. On some days when sun is shining brightly and I am in a rather brave mood, I feel like writing a poem on my wife’s curly hair but then I let go of the idea. My wife will be really hurt if I will do that.

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

The ‘common man’ looked at her wife who was sleeping peacefully in the room. He was feeling really adventurous today. While his wife slept, the common man ordered a plate of delicious noodles and ate to his heart’s content.

I am seriously in a fix today. I had a long talk with my daughter today and my head is reeling. We started with studies, moved on to career and finally reluctantly started talking about marriages. My daughter’s views have given me a three sixty degrees spin. I don’t know what is happening to present generation.

According to my daughter, everyone must elope and get married in their life. She feels that otherwise life is very boring and marriage sans any adventure. Now I never associated marriage with an adventure but my daughter thinks otherwise. He head is full of movies where couples elope and get married on a journey. She finds the idea highly romantic and has some serious plans to follow the example.

I am very troubled by all this. I tried a lot to get sense into my daughter’s head but she was simply not willing to listen to me. She gave me DAD YOU WON’T UNDERSTAND -stare. Why in the world will I not understand? I also married her mom. My wife’s parents were against our wedding but we never thought about getting eloped. The idea simply didn’t come to us.

My daughter has already made up her mind that I won’t like the guy she will choose to get married to. I don’t think I am a very rigid or fussy father. If the guy will be reasonably sensible, I have no problems to them getting married. I want my daughter to happy above all. Nothing else matters. When I told this to my daughter, Instead of becoming happy, she became rather serious and sad. It was like I had thrown water on her dreams.

She really wants me to behave like a bad daddy forcing her to rebel and finally eloping to get married. This is foolish. Only God knows how such ideas get into the heads of kids nowadays. If you really want to have an adventure, then there are several thousand ways- why to make the poor dad a villain? I don’t understand this at all.

When I asked my daughter if she liked someone, she gave me a very mysterious stare. She is hardly fifteen. I am getting jittery now. I have no idea if she has made some fantabulous plan with someone as kiddish as she is. I need to find out soon about it. I will talk to my wife about it. But I know she will just laugh it off. She will say that I am too old fashioned. She always abhors the idea of interfering too much in the life of kids. But will you call it interference? I call it saving my kids. They are too young to take such big decisions.

I will find out today only. Let me take your leave. Please take care. Bye.

The daughter was talking to her school friend on phone and narrating how she scared her dad like anything today. She was laughing so much. It was a prank that worked very well. The ‘common man’ heaved a sigh of relief. He was really happy now. He would have danced if he was not hiding underneath his daughter’s bed and listening to her conversation with her school friend.

I am very busy these days. Christmas and new year holidays have come up and I am busy making the ginger bread home for us.

I am in love with ginger bread homes. They are simply too good. As a child, I was pretty attracted to them. I have very fond memories of my mom making the ginger bread home every Christmas. I know I am going to sound immodest, but my mom made the most beautiful ginger bread home. It looked almost magical. Me and my sister used to decorate the home with candies.

My mom used to try a new design every year. Sometimes she would make green windows and sometimes an elaborated dressed up door. Me and my sister used to make up imaginary stories of us living in the home. I remember once mom made an igloo as a ginger bread home. That year, it was bitterly cold, so mom said that let us make an igloo.

From last fifteen years, I have been making ginger bread home for my family but I have never achieved that kind of perfection. I somehow just make a structure that faintly looks like a home. My sweet kids decorate it with so much excitement. I really miss my mom so much.

My mom is at my sister’s place in these holidays. I know she must have made a spectacular ginger bread home. I am little envious also. I requested mom to be with us but she said she wants to be with my sister during this time. This is so very partial. My mom always has been biased when it comes to me and my sister. She is always in favour of my sister.

Oh God- I don’t know what is with moms. They always make just the perfect things. I don’t know how. My wife always teases me. Whenever I make the ginger bread home- she leaves no stone upturned to give me technical suggestions about the home. Oh dear- I wish mom was with us.

Let me take you leave now. I must finish the ginger bread home today only. My kids are waiting for it. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’ was busy constructing the four walls of the home when he had to rush to open the door. Someone was outside. It was a neatly wrapped gift from her mom and sister. The common man opened the gift and couldn’t help smiling. In front of him was the most beautiful ginger bread home in the world. 

I am feeling wretched today. I can’t forgive myself for what I have done. I don’t know how I could have done this. I am feeling very lonely and very strange.

Today I went to the church like every weekend. I was returning back when I suddenly saw a boy standing outside the church. He looked very sullen and also hungry. He was looking at everyone with miserable eyes. I couldn’t stop myself from asking him what the matter was. When I asked the boy, he just started crying inconsolably. He was crying so bitterly that I didn’t know what to do.

I asked the boy about his parents and about his home, but he kept on crying. I felt very sad and took him to a near cafeteria. Over there we had sandwiches and coffee. The boy ate so hungrily that I felt very angry with God. I felt very sad for him. When we were about to leave, I gave the child some money and in the spur of the moment, I gave him my pocket bible that I always carry to church.

Oh God!!!!!! Why did I do this? I should not have done that. That bible was most precious to me. It has been my companion all these years. It was gifted by my mom to me on my first day in college. She had gifted me with so much love and told me that the bible will always show me the way. Ever since then, I have the bible with me, reading from it often, in moments of happiness and also crisis.

Now I have given away the very same bible. I don’t know what made me give the bible to him. I could have easily given the money and come away. But no- I had to become this great person. I am foolish, foolish and foolish. No other word describes me best. What do I do now? I feel a certain emptiness inside me. I feel that I have lost something dear to me.

I even quarreled with my wife. She was so surprised. She listened to all my ramblings and didn’t even say a word. Now I am here writing and she is busy talking on phone. Nobody cares for me in this house. Even if I will be lost, then my family wouldn’t bother to find me. Infact I am sure that they will heave a sigh of relief and think- Good Riddance.

I am feeling terribly upset. Let me take your leave now. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’ sat alone in his room when he felt a reassuring hand on his shoulder. The common man was so shocked to see his mom standing in front of him. They both sat and talked for a long time. The mom listened to everything that had happened and to her son’s astonishment gave him a new bible that she had brought with her. The common was touched beyond measure. Now he knew whom his wife was calling when he was so sad.

The common man knew one thing now- he will never be lost in his life ever.

Today I got a surprise. I was just watching television when my son came along with his school friend. I know my son’s friend. They both often hang out together. I like the boy very much. I had thought, they were planning to do some homework together. But I was really surprised when the boy told me that he specially wanted to meet me and thank me.

I didn’t understand and waited for him to elaborate. It was then that he told me that everyday my son shares his lunch with him in school. He told me he has never eaten such tasty lunch and looks forward to something new everyday.

I must say, I was really happy. He was speaking with genuine admiration and I became a little embarrassed. He told me that his parents work late hours and therefore it was difficult for him to get lunch from home. He generally buys his lunch. But from last few months, he has been sharing lunch with my son.

We sat down and talked a great deal. He told me how he loved the Italian rolls I made once. He requested me to make them frequently. I was really touched. I would love to make them for the boy. It will make my heart glow with happiness.

All this time, my son was sitting silent and downcast. All these years, my family has never appreciated my skill to cook. They think I am mad. I can’t tell you how much stern I have to be with my kids- only then they take lunch from home. I emotionally blackmail them to do so. My daughter doesn’t even eat her lunch everyday at school. She says it is so very boring.

I am glad someone liked the food I made. I will surely make new things everyday now. I have so many dishes in my mind. I will make them all. They are all nutritious as well as yummy. I strongly feel that kids should eat properly while growing up. They need a lot of energy.

My son and his friend left some while ago. I feel happy and contented today. Let me take your leave now. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’ was preparing dinner in the kitchen when he saw his son sitting sadly in the living room. The common man walked upto him and asked him what the matter was. The son didn’t say anything. He just hugged the common man and said sorry.

The common man knew that everything was happy.

Frankly speaking, I am out of my mind. My kids have been demanding the most strange things from me. Since my daughter loves Ron in the Harry Potter Series, she wants to have a mouse as pet. And my son, who idolizes Harry Potter, wants to have an owl as a pet. This is simply too much.

Already we have our pet dog ‘Happy’ at home. He has been making my life hell all these days. Now when I have become used to his presence around me, there is this new demand of an owl and a mouse. What are my kids thinking? Do they want to make our home a zoo? I am simply not listening to such absurd demands.

If tomorrow, another favourite character in a best selling novel will have a crocodile for a pet- will we have a crocodile at home? I asked this to my kids and they gave me most angry stares as if I am hurting their sentiments most brutally.

Under no condition, I am having an owl or a mouse in my home. Why don’t my kids understand that I don’t want animals at home? I don’t hate animals but I can’t have them around me. Moreover, who will take care of these animals? My kids will bring them feeling excited but forget all about them in one month. Then, only I will have to take care of them. No- I am not ready, I don’t want it.

Having an animal at home is a huge responsibility. You simply can’t have it for fun. You have to love it like a family member and take care of it’s needs. It is not a joke. I have told my kids that they can have any number of animals when they will grow up but not now.

May God save all the parents who are haunted by their kids to have such amazing pets. Let me take your leave now. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’ was tired of his kids constantly pestering him to get them new pets. He wanted to be alone. The common man went for a walk along with Happy. As he walked in cool air with Happy walking beside him, he knew atleast Happy was happy.

Yesterday I was talking to my son. I thought I should talk to him about various issues and we eventually started talking about career and priorities. When I asked him what he wanted in life, he said that he wanted to become rich. I was amused and asked him how rich. His answer took me unawares and really made me think a great deal. My son answered that he want to become that rich that whenever he enters a shop and likes something, he can simply say –pack it without looking at the price tag,

Well- this answer has really bewildered me. I don’t know what to say. My son was very determined and there was a kind of steely resolve in his eyes. I tried to argue about it but he said that he won’t change his mind. He said that he feels and wants to be that much rich.

I hope and pray that he becomes that rich. It will only give me happiness. But I am also scared for him. May God always protect him.

To be honest, I have never purchased a thing in my life before looking at it’s price tag. Infact this is the first thing that I see when I purchase something. If the price is beyond my means, then I don’t bother to even look at the thing. I have never felt the need to have things that I couldn’t afford. I was always happy with what I have. But I guess this is not the case with my kids.

I don’t feel bad about it. Every individual seek his or her own satisfaction in a different way. When I look around, I see people running to acquire materialistic things and then flaunting them. Somehow we have started gaining satisfaction outside. I know- I Know, I am sounding all preachy. I won’t take it further.

I can only say for myself. The reason why I have been so happy in my life is that I have been satisfied in what I have. Now many people will argue that it is the reason why I never became a ‘big’ man. It can be true also. I know my own family thinks of me as a ‘loser’. They feel that I have not done as many efforts as I ought to have done.

I will say it is all about priorities. My priority was a simple, small home and family. Price tags never featured in my list of important things. But the truth is that they are important for my son. I will always try and help him in every possible way.

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

The ‘common man’ looked at his son as he sat on the study table keenly solving sums. The common man didn’t know what future had in it’s hold but he knew one thing- he will always be with his kids. That was what he always wanted.

It was when I was in ninth standard, that I realized that I was short. Suddenly all the guys in my class became taller than me. Frankly, at that time, it was a panicky situation for me. I felt sheer sense of discomfort and also a complex. I had always been among the taller boys in class and now it was no longer that.

When we were growing up, one’s personality was strongly attributed to one’s height. It was felt that taller guys had a more impressive and intimidating personality. I also felt the same and therefore I felt my shortcoming very keenly.

My friends advised me to join a gym but my mom was completely against it. She strongly felt that hard core working out at a gym at such a tender age was not healthy. Now I know how right my mom was but at that time, my rebellious and scared mind was stubborn to join a gym. I argued, fought and threw tantrums. But my mom was firm on that point (thank you mom). Instead she encouraged me to do more exercises and physical work. She advised me to cycle more, to do skipping and to go for jogging.

At that time, my mom didn’t ignore me. Infact she took extra care of me. I still remember having long talks with her at night when I told her how the guys in the class made fun of me. She used to always love me and tell me that everything is going to be alright.

I worked hard. I remember doing 800 skips in one go everyday. I built up my stamina and really in six months I gained height. I was once again amongst the tallest guys in class and the entire class shut their mouth.

I didn’t stop exercises. I made it a way of life. Infact those early years of being fit have kept me happy so far. I read somewhere that if you work upon your body and keep it fine for first fifty years of life, then it will sustain itself in the next fifty years. Body is like a temple- this is what my mom always said.

Height never became an issue after that for me. Luckily my kids have taken after me and my wife and are both on the taller side. It’s good for them but I really want them to appreciate the other side of life.

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

The ‘common man’ always told his kids that they should never forget that an individual’s personality is about his or her values, ideas and desires. He also told them to value people and not appearances. This was afterall the long and short of life.

Oh- I am feeling so bad. I am feeling extremely bad. I am feeling very, very bad. It is my daughter’s birthday today. I had planned so much to make my daughter happy on this day. Instead she is sitting outside in freezing cold and crying. I can never forgive myself for this. I am just so bad. I am a very bad father.

I had decided to take an off today and spend the day with my family. My kids and wife had also taken the day off. We were all so happy yesterday night planning everything. It was ‘our’ day. We had planned to go for a movie and then have lunch outside. Oh how happy we all were. My daughter was bubbling with joy. Me and my wife had decided to take her shopping and get a dress of her choice for her.

My wife had seen a nice dress at the mall and she was thinking we will take our daughter along and get the dress. But everything has ruined. It is all because of me. I got a call from office in the morning about an urgent meeting. It was too important and the office people told me it will get over in two hours. I rushed to the office promising everyone that I will be soon back. But the meeting kept on stretching and I couldn’t even inform them. I was receiving missed calls on my phone but there was no way i could attend them.

The meeting ended only an hour before. I returned home and found my daughter crying. My wife told me that my kids refused to go out with her alone. They have all been home whole day. Everything is so sad. When I tried to pacify my daughter, she looked in my eyes and asked me if I couldn’t come out of the meeting even for one day. I just don’t know what to tell her.

How should I tell her that I am too small a cog in the wheel to do so? When all my seniors are there attending the meeting, I can’t say that I can’not attend it because it is my daughter’s birthday. I feel very bad. I feel so helpless. What I have achieved till today? Nothing-absolutely nothing. I am good for nothing. I am just so common. I am very bad.

I am feeling very, very sad today. Let me take your leave. Please take care. Bye.

The ‘common man’ sat silently on his bed when he found a hand tenderly placed on his shoulder. He looked up and found his daughter smiling. The common man didn’t know what to say to her. But he didn’t get a chance because the birthday cake was waiting for him in the living room. The daughter cut the cake and everyone along with common man ate it with delight. They all kept on talking till late in the night. Everything was back. The common man was happy.

You know what- my son has got a T-shirt for me. Ha ha ha. I don’t know what to do with it. If this is not enough- it is bright yellow T-Shirt with the caption ‘I AM COOL’. He wants me to wear it to office on a casual day. When I looked at him amused, he gave me the ‘please dad- grow up’ stare.

My kids have grown up feeling strongly that I need to grow up a great deal. So they keep on finding out ways and means to speed up my growth process. Apparently the yellow T-shirt with the cool caption is one such way to achieve the goal. There has been a lot of emotional blackmailing going on in my house.

My son has got exactly the same T-shirt for himself and is convincing me that we should wear it together. Ha ha ha. The kids think that I will fall into their trap. No- never. I am happy the way I am. I have four T-shirts and I have been wearing them from last four years. I don’t like all these captions. I have plain T-shirts with neutral shades. They are my comfort clothes. I feel so good wearing them.

I can’t even imagine the look on the faces of my colleagues if I will wear that yellow T-shirt to work. They will be just so happy and it will mean a lot of gossiping. They have all held debates on my facial expressions whenever a colleague has worn such funky clothes to office. I simply can’t do that. I will be the butt of their thousand jokes.

My wife told me that my kids are adamant about it. Now tell me- what should I do? They are sometimes really stubborn kids. Have I ever forced them to wear something or not wear something? Tell me. Yes- I ask them to wear proper layer of clothes in winters. But that is another matter. They can’t force me like this. I am their dad. I am cool. I don’t need a T-shirt to tell everyone that I am cool. I have always been a very cool dad. But no- they are adamant. I think I have to become a not-so-cool dad now.

God knows what things kids get in their heads. Let me take your leave now. They are both knocking at the door. I think they will blackmail be more but I am determined. No cool t-shirt for me. Yes- that is it.

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

The ‘common man’ opened to door expecting his kids to throw tantrums but it was his wife who came inside with a sad look. She reported how the two kids were on a hunger strike with the demand that their dad must wear the T-shirt. The common man was baffled. He talked to his kids in detail. Finally they settled upon an agreement. The common man did wear the t-shirt but not to his office. He wore it to the market to buy grocery.