All Is Well – My Life’s Greatest Armor

My husband stays away.
Family support is weak.
Alone, with my child, in a metro city like Delhi, balancing work, life, and parenting.
And on top of that, life doesn’t let me stay in one place.
Work and responsibilities pull me across different cities within NCR.

This is not easy.
Not at all.

Today, even my child’s doctor asked,
"How does your family run like this?"
I simply smiled and said,
"Sir, it runs."

Yes, it runs.
Because situations are just situations.
If we have purpose, even the most unusual arrangements keep moving forward.

Our family runs.
Yes, it’s hard.
But it runs.
Because situations are never perfect.

The difficulties I’ve faced for ages now may seem unjust, overwhelming, and imperfect.
But the truth is – no one's life is perfect.

Yet, this relentless dose of difficulty has shaped a different human in me.
Stronger.
Wiser.
More resilient.

Today, I can honestly say –
All is well.
I feel it deep in my soul.
Everything is okay.
Everything is alright.

The most beautiful part?
I’ve learned to find happiness in nothing.
In simplicity.
In small moments.
In just being.

As a girl, while many of my friends adored Shahrukh Khan,
I always admired Aamir Khan.
Not for the flawless movies – many had critiques and pointed flaws –
But for his relentless pursuit of perfection.

Even amidst criticism, his movies held moments that felt just perfect.

Just like the iconic phrase from Three Idiots –
“All is well.”

I heard it years ago when the movie released,
But now, I truly understand –
"All is well" is the greatest armor for life.
Not a lie.
Not blind hope.
But a choice.
A mindset.
A shield.

So yes, my life runs.
Despite the chaos, the uncertainty, and the heaviness,
It runs…
With grace.
With purpose.
With an unshakeable belief that all is well.

I Count My Failures Too

Counting blessings is gratitude.

It’s what we often forget to do, but should do, to realize how fortunate we truly are.

Yet, I count my failures.
Not as a punishment.
Not as guilt.
Not as misfortune.

One thing I’ve always been certain of –
I never consider failure a misfortune.
Deliberately, I don’t.
It has become my way of thinking, my behavior.

Failures are not misfortunes.
They are not bad luck or destiny’s cruelty.
They are simply outcomes of miscalculation, misjudgment, or incomplete understanding.
Never misfortune.

Fortune is always good.
Or at least, we must train ourselves to believe this truth –
That fortune, in any form, is always good.
There is no misfortune.

So, where was I…
I count my failures.
Sincerely. Honestly.

I count them to understand how and why I failed.
How many times I failed.
How far I was from success.
And most importantly –
What lessons each failure taught me.

I count my failures to recognize how fortunate I am.
Fortunate to know what doesn’t work.
Fortunate to understand what can go wrong.
Fortunate to gain wisdom in hindsight.

Because every failure is a step forward.
A sign of effort.
A lesson earned.

So yes, I count my failures too.
With gratitude.
With clarity.
With purpose.

Life Was Never About Perfect Situations — It Was About Rising Through Them

Reflect for a Moment

Tell me, what was the best situation you ever had in life?

If you pause and truly look back — not at the highlights, but at the full journey — you will realize something profound:

You never really had a "perfect" situation.

And guess what?
No one did.

Life was never about perfect beginnings or effortless journeys.
It was always about facing the chaos, navigating the mess, growing through the pain, and finding joy amid the imperfections.

A Life Full of "Not-So-Good" Situations

Take a walk down memory lane:

·        Childhood:
Most of us were born into small towns, modest families, ordinary surroundings. Dreams were bigger than circumstances.
It wasn’t a grand start — not a good situation.

·        Education:
Studying was hard. Expectations were high. Failures stung. Focus didn’t come easily.
Not a good situation.

·        Love:
Our first loves didn’t always end in fairytales. Hearts broke. Promises faded. Goodbyes were painful.
Not a good situation.

·        Career:
The job we ended up in often wasn’t what we once passionately envisioned. We adjusted, compromised, learned to find meaning where we could.
Not a good situation.

·        Marriage and Relationships:
Building a life with another person, handling differences, sacrifices, and growing pains was challenging, sometimes overwhelming.
Not a good situation.

·        Family Responsibilities:
Managing the needs, emotions, and expectations of partners, children, and parents demanded everything from us.
Not a good situation.

·        Health and Loss:
Illnesses struck. Accidents happened. We lost people we loved. We battled grief that words could never capture.
Not a good situation.

·        Financial Struggles:
There were losses — sudden, painful — that rattled our stability, humbled our pride.
Not a good situation.

·        Parenting:
The joy of having a child came with sleepless nights, endless worries, sacrifices so deep we forgot ourselves.
Not a good situation.

At every step, life was hard.
At every stage, we faced storms we never saw coming.

“Life doesn’t happen in perfect conditions. Life is the art of dancing through the storm.”

And Yet, You Moved Forward

Despite all of it — you are still here.

You made it through every tough phase.
You conquered challenges that once seemed impossible.
You healed from wounds that felt unbearable.
You rebuilt from ruins you thought you’d never escape.

You bettered every situation — slowly, painfully, imperfectly — and you grew stronger with each one.

And then you stepped into the next challenge with new scars, new wisdom, and a new layer of resilience.

That’s what living truly means.

The Big Truth: It Was Never Meant to Be Easy

The reason the present moment feels tough is because that’s how life has always been.

There was never a time without difficulty.
There was never a "perfect situation" waiting around the corner.
There was only you — learning, fighting, growing.

And if you understand this truth, a remarkable transformation happens inside you:

You stop waiting for perfect conditions.
You stop feeling defeated by temporary struggles.
You stop labeling moments as “good” or “bad.”

You start seeing them simply as they are:
"Situations."

Nothing more, nothing less.

"The obstacle is not in your way. The obstacle is the way." — Marcus Aurelius

Happiness: A New Definition

When you stop chasing the perfect moment —
when you stop measuring happiness by how easy things are —
you finally unlock real peace.

Happiness isn’t found after the struggle.
Happiness is found while dancing through it.

You realize you can smile even when things aren’t perfect.
You can laugh even when you’re tired.
You can love even when your heart is healing.

Because you are not living for a perfect life —
You are living a powerful, beautiful, real life.

And that life is happening right now.

Final Thought: Trust Yourself

Life will not always be easy.
It will not always be kind.
It will not always make sense.

But you — armed with your experience, your resilience, your courage — will rise through everything, just as you always have.

The next time you feel overwhelmed, lost, or defeated, remember:

You have survived 100% of your worst days so far.
You have risen from every “not good” situation.

And you will do it again.
And again.
And again.

Because that’s who you are.
Because that's what life is all about.

🌟 Be happy — not because everything is good, but because you know you are good enough for everything. 🌟

Rashi

I was walking on the shore when I suddenly heard someone sobbing. Very few people were at the shore that day with few children playing here and there. As people on the shore were few, there was a silence over there except that sobbing sound. I was not sure from where it came, but the sound was pretty audible.It was not dark evening, the shore was lit with the moon light. The wind was blowing and I felt as if the wind was getting furious gradually. I thought storm might be arriving and I must leave for my home. But, I was able to hear the sobbing sound. Some one was sobbing continuously for all the two hours I was at the shore. I was concerned. I tried to look around for the person sobbing and OMG, it was Rashi, my office colleague. "Rashi! whats the matter dear! Why are you crying! And, you are all alone at the shore, you didn't come with anyone? By the way I didn't find you in the office today. Someone told me you had been to some hospital. Is every thing all right? Everyone in your family are fine and healthy?" I asked every thing in one go.Rashi was a very sober kind of person and very soft spoken. But to my astonishment, her answer was in the roughest possible way I had ever heard someone answering me. She yelled at me "Can you please leave me alone and mind own business? Do not try to be too smart to know what the hell I am going through. You snobs don't understand other's privacy. Just leave me alone. Leave the place dam it." I was shocked. I was really hurt. But I dared to reply my insult in an humble manner. I told: "Okey, okey dear. I shall leave. But I didn't expect such a reply from you. I was just being concerned dear Rashi." Then she turnrd her face towards the sea, her ters were rolling down her eyes. She took a deep breadth and then she told something which shocked me even more. She said: "I am HIV positive damn it." "HIV!"I was not sure of what I heard. She confirmed "yes, I am HIV positive." I did not know how I became so informal, but I asked her: "Rashi, who is that son of the bitch who passed on you this disease." Rashi looked at me with a very painful eye and replied "I have never been in any relation of such. But, I have to learn how to face these type of questions now." I was sorry, really sorry for my question. I should not have asked such question anyway. But in few minutes, I found myself giving her my shoulder and comforting her. She told me in a very low voice, "I regularly have blood transfusions. I have hemolytic anemia." I don't know what was happening to me that day, I was coming very close to her that evening and I realized I was really kissing her on the cheeks, eyes, ears, and was trying to console her in my best possible way. I think I was really concerned about her. She was relieved to some extent, but of-course, she could not be relieved completely. As we left the shore, it started raining heavily. We took shelter under a roof nearby and when the rain slowed down a bit, we left for our homes. That was the day I came so close to a lady. I was a smart guy, but I was always shy when it comes to ladies affair.We, then often met. I used to console her and inspire her every time we meet and she was becoming confident in my company. She used to read a lot. Whenever possible I used to gift her some nice books of her choice. She would say with a smile "I shall surely complete it before I am dead." I think, I started respecting her for her courage for trying to live a normal life with such a serious disease. It was a Friday night and both of us left office together. I proposed her that day. I was not madly in love with her or any thing like that. But I had great regards for this lady and my respect for her was increasing with every time we spent together. I told her on my knees in the office garage: "Would you be my lady love, Rashi? Will you marry me?" I felt her tears falling on my hands. She told in a chocked voice: "I am not meant for marriage dear. I am good to be just a friend. I am fortunate enough to have your friendship. But, I can't make a successful married life for you. I am not meant for marriage with my god damn disease. You had been too grateful to give me your company, but I can't spoil your whole life marrying you dear. No, no, no, a hundred times no. I can't marry you." I pulled her ring finger, put the ring in to it and told with a strong commanding voice: "We are marrying each other. You get it? My life will be very fine with you. I need you as my wife. You get it?" She calmed down with this. She looked at the finger with the ring with some short of disbelief as if she was not seeing something real. Tears rolled down her eyes and she whispered: "Yes, I shall be your lady love. I shall marry you."We tied knot the very next week on Sunday. We kept our wedding a low profile. Only very few close friends and family were invited. Its been seven years to our marriage. For twenty days, my wife Rashi, has been admitted in a hospital. Doctors have left hope for her survival. She is too serious. She can't even speak now. She looks at me but I don't know if she recognizes me now. But, she often looks at the ring I wore her in her fingers at the garage that day. She looks at it and tears rolls down her eyes.Today, I took her to that shore on her wheel chair. The wind gradually got furious even today. But, she was not sobbing today. She was silent as rock. She was't saying anything anymore. I parked her wheel chair near a rock at the shore and sat beside her. I sobbed today. I sobbed a lot. I sobbed for hours in that shore. I no more cared about the wind getting furious any more. Storm has already entered my life and will blow away my wife from me for ever. I was sobbing for hours in that shore beside my wife. But, no one was there to console me. Every thing about these seven years were flashing in front of my eyes. I sat there till night with my wife. Then, I composed myself, pulled the wheelchair and we returned to our home. Six months from now Rashi and me had adopted a baby girl. Rashi was too fond of her. She loved her like any thing. I was happy. Our family was complete with our baby.Rashi had told me on the day we adopted: " Call our baby by my name when I die." I said to it: "Don't be stupid. I shall give my baby some beautiful name and my dear, you are not going anywhere. I won't let you die. You get it?" She smiled and whispered "You shall call our baby Rashi." Today I called our baby "Rashi." She responded. But my wife is no more responding to my call.

Heaven Will Be Somewhere Here In

II Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya II

The notes of Shepard, the music of spring;

The hills and mountains say me many thing;

The lady picking lumbers for her kitchen, the man hooting at his stallion to carry his belongings;

The adolescent standing in solitary, eyeing at every vehicle as if he knows the vehicle and the people in;

The young lassies turning their back to every vehicles as if hiding their preen beauty to every stranger passing;

The mountain is lush green in the spring;

Rocky it looks when summer peeps in;

The rain shows you the wild flowers, the exotic plants;

When you look closer, you shall find the beetles inhabitants;

Deodars stand tall, touching the skies;

They shoot up from the green mountain ground;

The step farming, the colourful houses;

Drying corn is found in every house thatches;

You can find some healthy mongrels waging their tail;

Jackals of mountain will fox you to be canine;  

On mountains, the birds are never tired;

They flutter from peak to peak and hills to hill from morning till dark;

When winter falls, snow covers the mountains and hills;

Believe me when I say, heaven will be somewhere here in;

The thick snow rug, chilled clean fluffy and white;

The cloud touches the peak as if umbrella planted there in;

Sometimes clouds cover the hill surface and clad the hills with a grey fur quilt;

So, the mountains also feel the cold sometime then?

This is something I ask about mountain now and then.

That Autumn, They Say the Autumn Wind Had Blown

II Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya II

An autumn came with a leaf that hesitated to follow the season’s wind;

The leaf was dried, yet so stubborn;

Enticing in it’s divinely shade of golden sun, the curls in the leaf were taking some different direction;

Dried the leaf was, it had least flexibility, but see the guts in it that it stands against the wind;

It had left its tree, left the branch, the youth had left it and it was only to mix with soil, yet see the guts in it and its will;

The wind knows no such drills, from the start of universe it has always flown in the nature’s rule;

But who shall make this solitary leaf understand the nature’s rule?
 Perhaps it believes that an ant can swim an ocean if its will is pure and true;

The autumn king was passing by and the leaf was struggling against the wind; 

Came near the king to hear something that the leaf was murmuring;

The leaf was saying:

“O! Lord, on the tree you gave me a secured life;

I had to do my work and had a place to stand;

 Came rain, came summer or winter, I had my place to stand;

Now, I lost my green, I have turned yellow;

They say I have reached divinity and I don’t need to stand;

Wind will carry me and finally I shall be one with the soil;

But before all these, I shall return to my tree once and ask it, was I able to give my service to my best?

If I was, I shall flow with the wind and if I could not have satisfied my tree, I shall decompose at the feet of it;

This is the final service I shall provide before I disappear for ever;

With no limbs how to travel such distance my lord!”  

That autumn, they say the autumn wind had blown to carry the leaf to its tree and then away from it, away far away, from the tree;

Say it a coincident, or say that may we not know, but every effort we put is noticed by some authority;

That Autumn, They Say the Autumn Wind Had Blown

II Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya II

An autumn came with a leaf that hesitated to follow the season’s wind;

The leaf was dried, yet so stubborn;

Enticing in it’s divinely shade of golden sun, the curls in the leaf were taking some different direction;

Dried the leaf was, it had least flexibility, but see the guts in it that it stands against the wind;

It had left its tree, left the branch, the youth had left it and it was only to mix with soil, yet see the guts in it and its will;

The wind knows no such drills, from the start of universe it has always flown in the nature’s rule;

But who shall make this solitary leaf understand the nature’s rule?
 Perhaps it believes that an ant can swim an ocean if its will is pure and true;

The autumn king was passing by and the leaf was struggling against the wind; 

Came near the king to hear something that the leaf was murmuring;

The leaf was saying:

“O! Lord, on the tree you gave me a secured life;

I had to do my work and had a place to stand;

 Came rain, came summer or winter, I had my place to stand;

Now, I lost my green, I have turned yellow;

They say I have reached divinity and I don’t need to stand;

Wind will carry me and finally I shall be one with the soil;

But before all these, I shall return to my tree once and ask it, was I able to give my service to my best?

If I was, I shall flow with the wind and if I could not have satisfied my tree, I shall decompose at the feet of it;

This is the final service I shall provide before I disappear for ever;

With no limbs how to travel such distance my lord!”  

That autumn, they say the autumn wind had blown to carry the leaf to its tree and then away from it, away far away, from the tree;

Say it a coincident, or say that may we not know, but every effort we put is noticed by some authority;