Palace of Illusions

I recently read a book called “The Palace of Illusions” written by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.  The author beautifully narrates the story of the Mahabharat from the eyes of Draupadi. As I read this book, I realized that there are so many ways in which this mythological story written thousands of years ago can be related to even today. The situations that the characters face and the way they react to them are lessons to learn from.

After being allotted their own kingdom, the Pandavas called on the services of a craftsman called Maya to build their palace in Indraprastha. This palace was said to be very beautiful and the work of the craftsman was very great and unique. Draupadi took great pride in her grand home and called it ‘The Palace of Illusions’. It is here that when Duryodhana stepped into a pool of water, Draupadi mocked him, and thus started a chain of events leading to the battle at Kurukshetra.

All of us have built our own Palace of Illusions some time or the other. Our palace is what we perceive as ideal. And when we start to differentiate between the ideal and the real, that’s when we get our palace of illusions. 

Building the palace of illusions is no easy task. It is built only after you have earned something. When you know you possess something or when you have something that others see as perfect. When what you have with you, is almost faultless. Little problems can come and go, but the big picture is rosy. All the pieces of the puzzle are in their right places and they make a beautiful landscape. However this palace is highly volatile, one small mistake, or one little oversight and you could trigger something you never thought could happen to you.

So what happens when one day you realize that the whole thing is coming apart? What you thought was true, is only a façade. Everything you worked for and everything you dreamed of has been flattened in just one moment. That’s when you realize that maybe you were living a dream.

Walk around your palace and you’ll see. The paintings on the wall now show a different picture, the glass ceiling is actually thin ice, the doors and windows have turned into walls and the flower buds in the garden have withered away. In front of your eyes, your palace has turned into ruins.

So do you wait there, lying in the ruins, hoping that the palace will rebuild itself? Or do you get up and do it yourself? This is the time to get up. The palace must be rebuilt, not with glass and mirrors, but with bricks and mortar on a solid foundation. So that next time around, there is no illusion.

Shopping Woes

My mom says that every purchase made requires at least three trips to the shop. Once, to do a survey of what’s available. Second, to actually buy what you liked. And third, to exchange what you bought and buy something else. In all probability, after your three trips, when you’re finally satisfied with what you have bought, you will see someone else having the same thing, of a better quality and bought at a lesser price! Such are the ways of this evil world we live in!

A girl can never have enough of anything, isn’t it? Open my wardrobe, it may look like it’s full, but when the need arises, I shall have nothing to wear! With this thought in my head and my wallet in my hand, I decide to head out shopping...but of course, things never happen the way they should when you plan them!

When I want to buy something casual, I can only find the top of the range party-wear or super smart formal stuff. And when I need some office wear, there's a brand new collection of t-shirts in the stores! And sales? Don't even get me started! What I like is never on sale, and what is on sale...I don't like! Does everyone feel this way, or is it just my luck? 

So, the moment I step out of my house to go to a shop, all the salespersons(or is it salespeople?) have been warned. It’s time they get their act together and ensure I leave the shop empty-handed. Yup, you read it right. Salespeople never want me to come back to their shops.

Why are salespersons (I shall not say men or women because both have the same characteristics in this regard) the way they are? Why is it that there’s never a helpful salesperson when you want one? And why are there too many when you don’t need them?

Case 1: I’m actually looking for something to buy.

Me (M): *taps salesperson* Excuse me, I’m looking for something... can you…

Salesperson 1: * walks away*

Salesperson 2 (S): Yes?

M: Hi, I’m looking for a perfume in the range of Rs 1000-1200. What do you have?

S: Madam, we have a special offer on XYZ perfume - 700Rs only!

M: Okay, but I need something in the range of 1000-1200. Can you show me something else?

S: Yes madam, but you try this one! It’s a very good scent, only 700Rs!

M: I’m looking for a gift and I want something between 1000-1200 Rs. I don’t want this one!

S: Okay, you can check this one. It’s 2500Rs. It’s very good Madam!

M: Do you have a smaller size which costs lesser?

S: No.

M: So… which of these cost around 1000Rs? Can you check with someone else?

S: But Madam… Rs700… special offer…

M: *irritated**leaves shop never to return*

So, it’s either the confused people who just don’t get what you want. Or, it’s the over-enthusiastic people who don’t get that you don’t want anything! Read on.

Case 2: I’m window shopping because I have some free time on my hands.

Salesperson (S): Hello ma’am, may I help you?

Me (M): No thanks, I’m just having a look.

S: Would you like to see some tops/jeans/ jewelry / stuffed toys /furniture (depending on which shop I’m in)?

M: No thanks, I’m not looking for anything particular.

S: But we have a special offer on tops/jeans/ jewelry /stuffed toys/furniture (depending on which shop I’m in)

M: Okay, but I don’t really want to buy anything... I’m just looking around.

S: Why don’t you see our latest collection of tops/jeans/ jewelry /stuffed toys/furniture (depending on which shop I’m in)

M: *irritated* *leaves shop never to return*

It’s only once in a blue moon that you walk into a store, your eyes fall on something in the far corner of the room, its love at first sight… and you know that you have to buy those shoes! Then the perfect salesperson comes along, waits patiently and helps you find your size, tells you that your chosen item has a discounted price, and then you buy it and walk out of the store feeling happy. (Of course, this happiness shall only last till the first shoe bite, but let’s not go there now!)

Thoughts...

I’ve always had thoughts in my head, but I felt that turning them into words was not easy. Thanks to my friend Soumya, I’ve finally decided to start writing (rather, typing). Soumya, this one’s for you and for the countless thoughts in my head.

What is a thought? There are multiple definitions available in a dictionary but this is the one I like, “the product of mental activity”. As humans, our minds are constantly active, always thinking, always running, either towards a thought or away from it. Even if we are physically inactive, our minds are alert. We could be doing one thing and thinking of ten others. But what are we thinking of? Happy thoughts or sad ones? Simple thoughts or complex ones? Thoughts about the past or about the future?

A happy thought is something that evokes a smile. Bonding with my family, laughing with my friends, helping someone, receiving praise, achieving something on my own, these make me happy. They give me the strength to face each day. They give me a reason to not give up on myself and to continue working. These small, everyday joys are a constant reminder to me that life is indeed beautiful.

A sad thought, on the other hand, exhausts you. It fills you with negativity and suddenly makes you tired. There even comes a point when you’re so overwhelmed with these sad emotions, that they almost make you forget the happy ones. It’s up to you to let go of those sad thoughts, push them far away and let the happy thoughts take control again.

I believe that happiness is the highest form of energy that one can attain, that’s why it’s so important to never let go of your happy thoughts. So focus on them, remember what created them and treasure them. Now, to avoid getting overly philosophical, I shall leave the next part of my ramblings to another entry J