I was going through this blog about how we as intelligent and progressive human beings look upon other similar brethren with disdain. I mean ... I am talking about how women ... especially elderly women ... precisely mother-in-laws.. look at the birth of a girl child with disdain. I wonder sometimes what happened to the girl that they gave birth to and who is to be married off and can't get a decent husband even after searching for them. The question that comes to my mind is ... is the birth of a girl that bad??? .. Yeah.. yeah. the birth of a son leads to very many advantages... like son earning and looking after parents etc., and in many cases a hefty dowry. But .. come on people ... personally I think the birth of a girl ... is like my grandmom used to say... the birth of laxmi... or prosperity.

I remember when we were very young... my grandmom was very happy that after four grand daughters in her house, finally a son was born. We were very pampered especially after my brother was born a year later, and we were even taken by my grand parents to live with them when we were just about knee high. All that I am trying to say is that, this thing about girls being born in families is really a good thing. If they were not there, there would be never any wife’s or daughters, or mothers, sisters, girlfriends etc, people who give us so much joy and satisfaction. What would life be without a wife or girlfriend.... think of the most common thing that a man usually thinks ... the sex would be restricted to only the hand... and man, that would defintely suck..Life would be so drab... and even if women were around ... they would be serious brawls about who would marry who among men... the progressive lot.

I am not trying to say that I hate men, I cant, because I am one and then I would be hating myself. All I am saying, lets keep what we have ... because if nothing more even two sisters born in a family is probably the best thing that could have happened. Seeing my sister work her way through in her life and the kind of support that she gives us... even if she is the youngest ... and the square headed mind that she has... I personally think that it would be a great loss if I hadn’t known her or if something bad is to happen to her. She bosses around with me... since I am the eldest... and the other brother is married and lives far away... dada dont do this...give up cigarettes.... go to the gym....don’t eat fatty food... eat at home... or giving a piece of her mind to dad and mom... or to the maid that works in my house... or.... many things. Its amazing...Usually, she is on my case most days and if I don’t call her at least once in a week, she gets mad at me. She calls at all hours of the morning or night. I mean she is big pain... but a pain I am more than willing to endure.

Sometimes I guess we don’t see the positive in everything that we do... I believe that negatives are never going to end... and maybe more than the positives. But we just need to chill and favour the positives more than the negatives. I realise that most days with the busy humdrum of life pulling you down, may not put you in the mood to look at the positives ....but every once in a while, it definitely makes me feel good about the things that I have... the struggles that I have gone through to get to wherever I am. It’s always been my driving force to get up every morning and start the day.

Many people when they knew that I was in US for a while ask me why I had come back... and initially it used to irritate me no end. But nowadays, I just say that Mumbai or any place in India is good enough place... because its home. Yes there are riches to be had ... when living in US/UK/Canada/Australia etc, but somehow looking at the people here in Mumbai or even in Delhi (where I spend a considerable amount of my life) gives me the comfort of a home. I just cant explain the feeling ... but its what it is. Mainly because my parents are here and even if I work in Mumbai .. its only a few hours ride to Kolkatta. It would be sad to not help my parents when they need me...not that if people living abroad cant do that but I prefer being close. Moving back home was the best thing that I did, honestly and I am really not looking forward to shift to any other country, unless of course the pay is exceeding handsome, that is the net pay after taxes and monthly expenses is more than 80% of the total net pay packet, there is always a possibility that I move toward that destination like a moth to a flame... but post retirement will definitely be spend in the environs that I call home.

There’s PP, who has a daughter, …. And frankly she is not the greatest…. But when I hear PP talk about his daughter and the things that she has achieved in her little life in school or elsewhere, and the things that he has planned for her … (which usually changes every two three months…), I take consolation in the fact that there are still many people who don’t see having daughters as a bad thing. I mean knowing PP, even he once told me … that given another chance to have a baby… he would definitely opt for a girl. I agree with him… when I do get to marry … if ever… I would insist on having a girl… if a boy is born, doesn’t matter… but a little girl would definitely be something to look forward to.