Time To Take Leave! Good-bye Till We Meet Again! Varalotti In The US – Final Episode!

Dear Kamla,

I missed meeting you in the States. If it be of any consolation to you, I missed Niagra too. Our hosts figured at the last moment that they could not organise the trip for us.

The man was supposed to drive us down to Niagra. There were some sudden business developments as a result of which we were on our own for two days. We used the time to explore New York city. And Niagra - we did not want to take that kind of risk, that too on the fag end of the journey. There were conducted tours but they started on the wrong day - meaning not on any of those days we were in New Jersey.

And Kamla, what I am saying now is a fact, again from the depths of my heart. I missed seeing you, more than seeing Niagra. I have not seen Niagra or had any knowledge of it that would make me miss seeing it. But I did know you. I badly wanted to see you. But there simply was no time nor opportunity. We were busy packing, making some last minute shopping, going around locally and sort of summing up our visit.

When our flight landed at Chennai in the wee hours of 30th and as my feet touched Indian soil, at that very moment I realised the significance of the Israelian gesture of kissing the soil of their country when they set their feet at the Tel Aviv airport. I wanted to do more. I wanted to hug my mother-soil and I wanted to roll down on the tarmac. Such was my longing to get back to my country.

US trip helped me to see my own life in a proper perspective. I have now learned to love my dear ones more and better. I am not very sure how long this newfound knowledge of myself last. Will it survive the heap of professional work awaiting me, I don't know. But as of now I sincerely believe that I want to be a better person and I want to love more and better. (also read, write more and better)

Well, 50 may be too early for an epitaph. Especially for a person who admired the 81 year old opting for a new relationship. But to plan an epitaph does not mean a love for death or a hatred for life.

To be honest that epitaph was born out of my most intense desire for life. Osho used to say that only a person who loves his life more will not be afraid of death. I should know Osho's lines better because I am now translating two of his finest books. Another life-changing, life-defining experience for me. I seek your wishes and blessings and that of all the ILites to help me complete this project in a manner befitting the rascal saint of India.

Tonight I am boarding the train which will take me to my woman, my friend and my soul-mate. I mean my wife. From Friday onwards I will be donning my old costume - that of a mofussil accountant, to do what I have been doing all my working life. But this I know for sure. As BC and AD divided the history so powerfully, Pre-US visit and Post US-visit will so divide my life.

Please pray that I should write more, write better, love more and love deeper and in general live a life that my motherland should be proud of.

Love,

Dear Sridhar,
Welcome back home. You must have overcome the jet lag and the US lag. Your family will be feeling happy and releaved that you have come back safely, I am also feeling that way. With your return and Deepavali just a few days away, it will be really festive mood in your home. God bless you all!
Do enjoy your time with family! All the best!

Dear Varloo,
Thanks for the nice welcome note. Yes I have reached my base and have slept the jet lag out. I could not see my office desk as a mountain of work is hiding it. I am taking it easy doing one thing at a time.
Diwali is coming and yes, the mood around is festive. My regret is that I could not spend enough time with my wife and daughter shopping for Diwali. That's one thing I love to do every year.
Thanks once again for the kind words, Varloo.
Wish you and yours a nice festive season.
regards,
sridhar

Dear Sridhar,
Hope you are back in India and got over your jet lag. With Deepavali round the corner, it must be happy reunion with wife and daughter and of course other relatives not to leave out the Ilites. Those lines of yours touched me because I too have gone through such experiences. May be I am as emotional too. Only thing is you could express them so well. It looked as though you gave words to my feelings.
I take this opportunity to wish all Ilites as well as you and your family a 'Very Happy Deepavali'
Regards

Originally Posted by varalotti

Hello Malathi,
Thanks for the nice post.
Happy to note that you liked those lines. Believe me, I did not intend to write so intimately, so personally. But as I started to write the lines appeared on the system almost on their own.
I am in Atlanta now. Will be here for another two days. Then going to New York for a five day visit before emplaning to India.
I have already started to think of HE. I have the basic plot ready. Need to develop on that. Let's see how it shapes up.
Happy to see your post after a long time.
regards,
sridhar

Welcome back to this Great soil and may all your (post US visit) wishes come true! I too love Osho's books and the Kathopanishad explained in his inimitable style was a master piece! Good luck for your translation work.

Originally Posted by varalotti

Dear Kamla,

I missed meeting you in the States. If it be of any consolation to you, I missed Niagra too. Our hosts figured at the last moment that they could not organise the trip for us.

The man was supposed to drive us down to Niagra. There were some sudden business developments as a result of which we were on our own for two days. We used the time to explore New York city. And Niagra - we did not want to take that kind of risk, that too on the fag end of the journey. There were conducted tours but they started on the wrong day - meaning not on any of those days we were in New Jersey.

And Kamla, what I am saying now is a fact, again from the depths of my heart. I missed seeing you, more than seeing Niagra. I have not seen Niagra or had any knowledge of it that would make me miss seeing it. But I did know you. I badly wanted to see you. But there simply was no time nor opportunity. We were busy packing, making some last minute shopping, going around locally and sort of summing up our visit.

When our flight landed at Chennai in the wee hours of 30th and as my feet touched Indian soil, at that very moment I realised the significance of the Israelian gesture of kissing the soil of their country when they set their feet at the Tel Aviv airport. I wanted to do more. I wanted to hug my mother-soil and I wanted to roll down on the tarmac. Such was my longing to get back to my country.

US trip helped me to see my own life in a proper perspective. I have now learned to love my dear ones more and better. I am not very sure how long this newfound knowledge of myself last. Will it survive the heap of professional work awaiting me, I don't know. But as of now I sincerely believe that I want to be a better person and I want to love more and better. (also read, write more and better)

Well, 50 may be too early for an epitaph. Especially for a person who admired the 81 year old opting for a new relationship. But to plan an epitaph does not mean a love for death or a hatred for life.

To be honest that epitaph was born out of my most intense desire for life. Osho used to say that only a person who loves his life more will not be afraid of death. I should know Osho's lines better because I am now translating two of his finest books. Another life-changing, life-defining experience for me. I seek your wishes and blessings and that of all the ILites to help me complete this project in a manner befitting the rascal saint of India.

Tonight I am boarding the train which will take me to my woman, my friend and my soul-mate. I mean my wife. From Friday onwards I will be donning my old costume - that of a mofussil accountant, to do what I have been doing all my working life. But this I know for sure. As BC and AD divided the history so powerfully, Pre-US visit and Post US-visit will so divide my life.

Please pray that I should write more, write better, love more and love deeper and in general live a life that my motherland should be proud of.

Love,

Varalotti,

Though I have not been replying to the Varalotti in The US series, I have been reading it with much interest and learning many lessons - some practical, some philosophical. I must say that your enthusiasm for living and loving is contagious.

I have nothing new to add to the thoughts and words of the lovely ladies who have replied regularly to you. Except to say that from their replies, I have learnt too. But two things, I wish to say.

You have written that you will merge into the sea of tourists with a look of wonder on your face. Indeed, who among us is not a tourist in this life, on this planet? And a look of wonder is the best way to look at things. The miracle of life, people around us, their civilizations and values- they instil awe and wonder in all of us. Your Momi is a pure classic example.

And then you have said that you will return to the life of a mofussil account. Mofussil- I thought that word went out with the British. Places and locations do not define a man. There are some who go out in search of the world. And then there are some, the world comes in search of them. I have always felt that you belong to the latter category- the blessed ones. So, as you get back to being a mofussil account- we wish you all happiness and peace.

regards
Vidya

Dear Malathy,
The best compliments that a writer can hope to get from his readers is "you have expressed what has been on my mind all along." You gave that to me, Malathy. I am grateful for that and some day hope to fully deserve those kind words.

I have almost got over my jet lag. On my first day in Madurai I slept for 15 hours straight. Mountains of office work pending for my presence is looming large. But I love this excitement of living under the shadow of such a mountain of work. To me that's a blessing.

I have to catch up on my writing assignments too.

But this is life in India, in Madurai and every thing about it is just fine. I am now trying to live it one day at a time.

Thanks a lot for your wishes for the translation work.

Thanks for your kind welcome note.
regards,
sridhar

Dear Vidya,

I did miss your reply in this series. I thought at least one post in the series might be good enough to deserve your reply. But seeing that there is none from your end, I resolved to write better when I start my next series. But now seeing your response for the last post, I am really overwhelmed. Thanks, Vidya.

I have been seeing the US with a judgmental look till I saw the country in its flesh and blood, I mean its people. Sitting thousands of miles away from the US, it is easy to take a stand that Americans are morally depraved people, they are lazy, and a life in America is risky and so on. But when you land in that country and when the look of wonder is there in your eyes, you find that it is a great country and its people are at least as good as any other people in the world.

Sitting here I first abhorred American's 'brazen' attitude towards sex and marriage. But after moving with some of them I find them simple, direct and open about everything in life including sex. One feature that makes them lovable is that there is very little gap between what they are and what they project themselves to be. Osho used to say that we Indians have more sex in our minds than the Americans in their lives. (Well, his words were more powerful; but I had to tone them down for reasons of Forum Etiquette).

Originally Posted by Vidya24

And then you have said that you will return to the life of a mofussil account. Mofussil- I thought that word went out with the British. Places and locations do not define a man. There are some who go out in search of the world. And then there are some, the world comes in search of them. I have always felt that you belong to the latter category- the blessed ones. So, as you get back to being a mofussil account- we wish you all happiness and peace.

Nothing sort of a motherly affection for me could have made you write those kind words. I take them as your blessings. It is beyond my ken to even attempt to thank you for that.

regards,

Varalotti,

All your posts in this series were educative. Actually, I did not reply cos I was not sure if my language and me are worthy enough to reply in your column. Anyway, if it spurred a resolve to write better, that is good enough.

I appreciate what you say about the judgemental attitude. We, Indians, me most included tend to be incredibly judgemental. Cause and result is always in our minds. We even go to the extent of swishing away /rationalising the grief of others as the well deserved fruit of their purva karma. The Americans may lack our depth of thinking and our philosophical heritage. But in terms of sheer kindness, sensitivity and forgiveness- I think they score better than us.

I still contend that you are the few fortunate ones who do not have to go seeking blessings. The world awaits on your threshold. I am glad that you liked my thoughts on this. But for heavens sake, dont even call that motherly affection. For one, I am not a mother and dont really know what motherly love is. And second, I am hardly old enough to be your mom, 28 years as you have been for the last zillion years.

Looking forward to reading more from you.

regards
Vidya

Originally Posted by Vidya24

I appreciate what you say about the judgemental attitude. We, Indians, me most included tend to be incredibly judgemental. Cause and result is always in our minds. We even go to the extent of swishing away /rationalising the grief of others as the well deserved fruit of their purva karma. The Americans may lack our depth of thinking and our philosophical heritage. But in terms of sheer kindness, sensitivity and forgiveness- I think they score better than us.

I fully agree with you in this regard. As this thread has become a little too personal, I do not mind confessing here that I too am guilty of being so insensitive to one of my friends. With no malice in mind I had made an unwitty comment which was so badly timed. Well, to be honest, Americans are far better. One of the most important lessons I learnt during this trip is that it is inhuman to explain away the grief of another person, however close that person may be.

Originally Posted by Vidya24

But for heavens sake, dont even call that motherly affection. For one, I am not a mother and dont really know what motherly love is. And second, I am hardly old enough to be your mom, 28 years as you have been for the last zillion years.

One need not be a mother to know what motherly love is. Age is not a requirement either. Motherly love is a state of mind, which was profoundly manifest in your post.

regards