Meaning of life, and all that hogwash

They say you get time to reflect on life and its meaning only while you're waiting for a torrent to download, or while in the shower, or while staring into the night sky finishing off that half dozenth peg of Blenders Pride. Okay, even then you mostly think of sex. But sometimes, the other 10% of the time, you do think about life, the universe, and other such big big stuff.

It's during times like these when a little dude inside your head tries to make small talk with you.

"Mama, the weather's nice no? Cool breeze and all."

Heh, yeah it is, but it's gonna become hot again tomorrow anyway... Wassup?

"Nothing ra...just wanted to catch up. It's been a while na."

Whatsyourpointbaap.

"What do you think the meaning of life is bro?"

*raised eyebrows* Baane ekkindi ra neeku! :D

"Dude...we're having this conversation tonight. You can't just escape like this all the time!"

What are you, my girlfriend?? Stop threatening me... Let me just fill my glass again. You want more?

"Dude pls."

Cheers!

"Mama suno toh..."

That's that. We successfully dodge the question and resume our routine like an automaton. Tragedy averted. Or that's what we think.

Here's the deal: humans as a species have always wondered, if only fleetingly, about their place on earth. We're here - okay, fine. But why? What does the universe expect of us that it has put us in this great comedy of (t)errors? Did it give us intelligence so that we can invent the internet to look at pictures of cats and LOL? Or so that we can argue in Youtube comments about who the shittiest actor of the lot is?

Or wait, maybe the universe doesn't care at all. Maybe it created us by accident and said, "Oh shit. Alright, umm...look, live out your lives in peace. Aaaaanndd...try not to disturb others, OK? Gotta go now - I have expansion plans. Kthxbai."

The universe is our heartless bitch mom who never came back to check if we're okay.

See, we are but specks of dust in cosmic sand, and our petty lives and imaginary problems are nothing in the grand scheme of things. We are matter that doesn't matter. We just eat, shit, fuck, reproduce, and make the produce repeat the exercise, and then we die. You and everyone you've ever known will be addressed as "late", sooner or later. There is no meaning to our lives.

All of this might sound really negative and depressing. Like there's no fuckin' point in living out whatever is left of this dreadful existence. Are we doomed?

Nope, there is hope. Cuz we can create meaning even if there is no pre-written one. We can define our own purpose, like many amazing men and women did before us. And find reasons to live and laugh and drink and be merry, among other things. This might be the most hippie thing that might come out from my mouth(or from my keyboard, rather): Love life, and life will love you back. Try sharing that love with fellow humans and pups too. It's all good.

And it's time we stopped looking for light at the end of the tunnel. Because it's in our flaming hearts. :)


PS 1: There's a very profound quote by renowed cosmologist and awesomescience thinker Carl Sagan about our lives and the planet we call home (you can listen to it here). I strongly recommend reading his work to gain a new perspective on things.

PS 2: Try listening to that little dude(or dudette) inside once in a while. They might actually be the best friend you've always ignored.

PS 3: The Man City - Barca game is about to begin, so I should stop writing any more PSs. Until later then!

Building from Scratch.

When I was a kid, I saw a movie called Top Gun on Star Movies. And immediately fell in love with it. Even though every part of the dialogue except "Roger that, Captain!" flew right over my head (Haha. Punz.), every single thing about it appeared super cool. Tom Cruise and his aviators, the stylish dogfights...and most importantly, the kickass aircraft.

Kids around me wanted to be regular boring things like policemen and teachers once they grew up. But then I had decided what I wanted to become.

A fuckin' fighter pilot.

Fire away missiles from my F-22 into enemies while "Danger Zone" plays in the background, and then fly through the falling bits of metal and flames with panache. Land the beast and alight from it, while a gorgeous damsel comes running to me (yes, on the runway) in ultra slow motion. I'd hold her tightly, take my aviators off and say something cool like, "Am I late for the movie date, honey?". Then she would throw her head back and laugh.

That's it. I'm gonna be a fighter pilot and flying-kick all the bad guys' arses... Now where do I have to sign? 

Except I didn't get to sign anywhere except in friends' slam books(in which I still wrote Fighter Pilot in the Ambition blank).

Apparently it turned out you didn't always get what you wanted. Life is unpredictable, you see, much like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates. (But hey, I want at least Bournville if not Ferrero Rocher, okay? Not Aasa toffee.)

A few years passed, and it dawned on me that it takes a lot of dedication and hard work to become a pilot. But there was another way, an easier one(or so I thought) to be close to those flying machines. Aeronautical Engineering. 

Though I love technology a lot and wanted to do something in those 4 years, I despised my college and the whole education system in general (3 Idiots days, those were). Slowly, acads took a backseat and I began doing everything else except study. And though I had some really good experiences, I came out of B. Tech with fading colors. Heh.

Now after a stint in content writing(yep), I'm back to square one. All I have is a wealth of experiences that taught me it's okay to fail. That wounds aren't permanent, and that their scars will make you a tough dawg. Wiser and weather-beaten, I begin again...to explore and discover what there is. And what is to come.

Gotta put a dent in the universe. Or at least a few scratches. There's really no point, or else.

And I'm juuust beginning to sharpen my claws.

P.S: I had this aviation pin-up girl as my wallpaper until recently when my mum saw it and gave me a disgusted look. Another case of parents killing our childhood dreams. :/