.... the day your brother was born, i was terrified; i had wanted a girl, for i had experienced the two brother situation very well: my father and his youger brother and then my own two brothers. i had always wondered what made we sisters never feel jealous at all; the day i left for my college hostel, my mother had everything ready for me, and my sisters were happy that one of us got a chance to pursue higher education ....
-my mother


we often take self-blame, not being able to disassociate shallowness of people from their abilities and skills; for it seems like sucess has character, but is that the case?
The realization doesn't come that easy, but when it does, there is not an equally liberating emotion.
- to a friend


- So did they give you credit, recognition for the benefit you brought to them.
-- What credit? That way I could only pay back in a small way what they have done for me throughout my years of service. And then as you yourself just said, its not money that matters.
- My dad, on having inreased the investment in his bank 18 folds in an year


I'll drive, if you don't mind. This is my car. I bought it couple of months back. These things are good, just that they cost a lot.
- a date... I didn't know if she wanted me to ask how much her car cost; I did not. We didn't have a second date


.... but what i cannot handle is the pretence of friendship. all this disturbs me, the fact that saddens me deep inside is that i cannot have reciproaction of affection from somebody who i adore so much. all i know is that i do and will love you for all what you are. but i will never let this continue the way it is now. these double stands on my part, its impossible for me to deal with them. if you have a commitment, its your life, dont feel guilty about anything. i had to say all this because i just had to .....
- to somebody


.... I see a brilliant head over those shoulders, Jatinder .... I am very impressed at the way you handled the situation. This would be called acceptance and detachment.
- a guide, a very respected person


You have a photogenic face. You should be modeling.
- she's a model in SFO.

---

From childhood

Look at the ego he has. Too proud to apologize; the other guy said sorry.
- my english teacher, made us stand for an hour in class for talking; called us in another class and put a note in out diaries to be signed by our parents; I think this other guy got punished for nothing. I could never imagine a teacher feeling insecure with a class 7 student. I was afraid, I knew my mother won't understand me, I forged her signature, the teacher couldn't make out. The next class she made us sit apart when she found us communicating, I cried.
I wasn't too proud to apologize, I felt insecure.


Don't be so good, the world won't accept you; they will rip you apart
- my teacher, grade seven


Class Monitor: Komal says if she can see your report card?
- My class teacher added the carry over in addition twice while calculating my total and I was declared first in class. I couldn't give away my report card, may be it will be easier for me to face my mother, I thought. The next day after I had shown it to my mother, I went to class teacher and asked her to correct the mistake, she did. I don't know if Arpana, Komal's friend knows how she eventually stood first in the grade report.


What did you think after all ... I'll tear this, not talk to your father and take it to grave..
- my mother.... caught my love letter, class eighth


.... Raju beta, what will I say to your grandpa now.
- my mother: kinder garten, I must have been very young, but I remember, I felt important, realizing how my standing sixth in class would matter that bad to my gradpa; my mother succeeded in creating a motivation


- He's the most intelligent person in class
-- No he's not.
- Why not, he stood first
-- But....
- I couldn't defend myself; was sixth in my last finals.

----