Can you
imagine what lies in store for you, when you accept an invitation for a grand
party to be held in connection with some important event? No way. Actually it starts an
exciting thinking process ahead of the day. Some mental planning ensues. For
instance, regarding the choice of a suitable dress for the occasion. Since you expect
to meet, many friends or acquaintances after a long time gap, you naturally and
consciously picture yourself wearing a certain dress and suitable accessories to enhance
your personality.
This apart, you begin to look forward to some carefree and fun
filled moments of eating and chatting, exchanging notes and updating yourself
about each others' past activities. In short, nostalgia sets in, imagination
soars on cloud nine, and expectations fly high like colorful kites near
‘Basant’ festival. On the appointed day, trying to look your best, you step out
of the car wearing your favorite heels, looking fresh, smart and elegant.
Imagine your
surprise when you reach the entry gate of the venue, there is no one to receive
you. You walk to the elaborately erected 'Pandal', where you find a few people
strolling about like lost souls because the hosts were nowhere in sight.
The caterers too seemed indifferent and unsure because they had not been given
proper instructions about serving the snacks. So much for that grand party!
In fact, one runs into such situations, which
belie our expectations often in our lifetime, though with minor differences. Moreover,
in lighter vein you term such circumstances as falling from the sublime to the
ridiculous or just encountering a damp squib when you had hoped for a grand
spectacle.
Another case
in point is the beauty products where there is a deep chasm between reality and
expectations. You start using a particular shampoo, hair oil or conditioner,
because of the fake ads where comely and curvy models walk around seductively
displaying their lustrous, shiny and bouncy hair. They sell you false images by shrewdly
working on your psychology. You suspend your disbelief and begin to identify
yourself with those gorgeous looking models. The result is disappointment and
empty pocket.
Similar is the case with expensive beauty
lotions, anti-aging creams, face washes etc., which promise the moon with
flawless, wrinkle free, glowing skin. The unscrupulous companies earn the
moolah by manipulating our vulnerabilities.
Surprisingly, for my
mother, curd or fresh milk heated and cooled, applied gently on face and rubbed
on body while bathing was the panacea for all skin problems. Soap was a big No.
Let’s go a
little further:
The curious
thing about life is that one is never likely to get what one expects or imagines
in the course of one’s short sojourn here on this earth. We imagine something
and something else happens. It is, I think rare that one’s dreams are fulfilled
completely. It does not mean however, that one should stop dreaming about
making it big one day. The beauty of life lies in ceaseless striving and knowing.
The gap between what we expect and what we
achieve is actually a grandiose scheme of the Almighty to make our lives exciting
and adventurous.
Friends,welcome here as always!
