and speaking of prayers Vand recently brought to my notice this unusual 'prayer' that had been the cause for much headache and yet some wonderful creative challenge :

"I do my thing and you do your thing.

I am not in this world to live up to your expectations,

And you are not in this world to live up to mine.

You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful.

If not, it can't be helped."

imagine a relationship where one swears by this, and the other doesn't understand what the fuss is all about! :p

Prayer

The last peice of advice Mr.Balan gave me, before we said goodbye was to '"Sit down and pray everyday", "ask god for his grace and strength". Surprising as it was for our conversations over the years were always rational and intellectual. And his dogged emphasis on faith and devotion that balmy night, only made his unwilling pupil more defiant.

A few hard knocks hence, now i realise he saved his best for the last :)

Apathy

You can hold yourself back from the suffering of the world: this is something you are free to do,... but perhaps precisely this holding back is the only suffering you might be able to avoid.

-Kafka