Red Means Stop.

Traffic safety is something that is taught to every child once he reaches an age where he can fully comprehend and understand things. "Look, left, right and then left again" has become the anthem for helicopter moms and policemen. Don't run across the road or step in front of a car are some rules that children don't tend to forget easily, not with their self preservation at stake.

But we mustn't forget that not only humans use the roads but other animals also do tend to cross them. These animals unfortunately cannot sense the flow of traffic and its up to us to drive sanely. Any Indian worth their driver's license should know that. Stray dogs sometimes dash across the road madly in an attempt to somehow reach the other side. They act completely out of instinct and don't know how to judge the oncoming traffic. Their first reaction will be to cross to the other side at any cost. One slight mistake by a careless driver and that dog will never reach the other side.

Not only dogs but other animals too are in extreme danger of being hit while crossing the roads. Buffaloes especially. These animals generally move around in herds and you can often notice the traffic breaking around them like a stream would around a rock. These great beasts simply don't budge from their path whether its a car about to ram into them or a bus! No one has taught them to walk on a foot path, they don't give a hoot to our skimpy human customs.

So in other words its almost too easy to run over a wayward puppy or cat. I've had too many painful and real life experiences with these kind of accidents. Just a few days ago a puppy I saw alive the previous evening  was smashed to pulp the next morning. The people who commit these kinds of crimes ought to be charged with murder. Believe me it would be a big deal if it was a person under the wheel of the vehicle rather than an animal.

The law would catch up to anybody who was involved in the accident and make them pay. The thing that's really sick about this is that the same kind of injustice happens everyday with animals but is failed to brought to notice. The worst thing about these drivers are that these scum never stop for a second to check whether the animal they hit is going to be okay or has already passed away or what. They owe at least that to their victim.

But I'm sure that not everyone is so thickheaded. So, Please if you see this kind of thing happening on a road near your house, make the person who brought about the suffering pay and provide the animal care. It's not the mere fact of being human that induces humanity in us but only by executing any act of kindness that helps a lesser being we understand the true meaning of being humane.   

Love you, Brother.

Life is a Journey. This is a universal truth which no one can deny. We begin our Journey when we are born, and it is intensified once we set our goals. There is no denying the fact that it is a bumpy road and we often tend to get jostled during the rougher parts. And that is where our family steps in. They right us and put us back on our feet sort of like the pit stop crew of a racing car. My family are the reason behind why my life rocks. They are the reason why I recover after a shock or renew my determination after a minor setback. 

I am terrified of looking bad in public. If things go wrong the incident places a dent in my self esteem and it takes a lot of reassuring to make me believe that I am capable again. I have a lovely family, my Mom: my philosopher and guide, my Dad: my pillar of strength and the object of my eternal love, my Bro: my hanger out and occasional conscience, my Grandparents: my lives and last but undoubtedly the most important my Dog: my baby and my true love. And of course my extended family, namely my teachers, friends and other wonderful people who taught me that Life is an adventure that we should enjoy to the fullest. 

But since I've dedicated this post to my brother, I'll just brief you on him. He is an overgrown monkey, my twin and a complete headache. Excepting the times when he annoys the hell out of me, I find that I really enjoy having him in my life. We gamble for our parents attention and often they turn into hostages in our never-ending  wars. Being the same age as your sibling can be exciting and at the same time frustrating. You don't have the power to oppress him with the excuse of being elder than him, you don't enjoy the benefits of being the younger adorable sibling, so its kind of balanced out with each no edge over the other.

But looking back on all the time we spent together I just can't believe we spent so much time fighting! My brother is  really sweet guy and needs to be pushed into the spotlight a bit. But once someone does the mistake of giving him the mic the floor is completely his. I'd like to say we too have our moments of bhai - behen  pyaar but we just skate through them cause it is just the teensiest bit awkward to tell someone who you spend the majority of your time fighting with that you love. Inspite of me clawing his face of on more than one occasion my brother stands up for me. He just can't take any criticism directed at me and neither can I tolerate anyone badmouthing him.

I do love him very much but he isn't the only boy who is a brother to me. Technically I consider all the boys I'm friends with to be my brothers but there are quite few who really stand out. For example the boy next door (or rather opposite my house) and my best friend, is  brother to me in all but blood. He and I have known each other since childhood and we share a certain comfort level. He is the only guy who I can speak to freely without feeling self conscious. To him, I'm his best sister (he loathes his own . . . figures)he ever recieved and is relieved to have a female friend who he can speak to without any awkwardness.

Every Raksha Bandhan I march up to his house and ask, no demand my Rakhi present from him while brandishing my rakhi like sword! The poor guy always complies. But that is besides the point. I love the feeling that two good guys are always looking after me and will haul me right back up if I stumble. So, thanks guys for making my life even more rangeen with your presence!