My little World of Playing Cards

 Somebody posted this photo of the new cards, without the picture cards. I remembered that as a child I used to imagine that those king, queen, and jack were real. I loved them in an obvious girly sequence of Hearts, Diamond, Spade and Club. I would wonder, how must they get out of their margins to talk with each other. Was there a world for them, after we were done playing?

On those summer afternoon,s were they waiting for us, to finish our lunches and take them out? Oh how they must've been waiting to catch the cold breeze, coming from the khus ki tatti (Curtains made of vetiver roots) and feel relieved, in that hot Nagpur summer. Inside the box of pack of cards, did they ever feel stuffy? I would also wonder, how they walked, as they had heads on both ends; and I would think they were so lucky that they can eat their favourite food twice because of two mouths.

Beyond the square margin, was there a different kingdom unreachable for us humans, but lived only by the cards? Did the jack (known as ghulam or slave), really serve his masters and the queen? Did the king go hunting and the queen enjoy her luxurious baths or spend time singing and dancing around a castle, we never saw? Did the ghulam go to the market to buy everything the king and the queens wanted? Was the queen of hearts, friends with any other queens or was she proud to be most favourite amongst the card players? What role did the Ace play in their lives?

Oh those endless questions and the endless possibilities of answers. I don't know who invented them; and so I googled my question, and discovered that they were invented in the ancient China in the 9th century. Yes indeed it has to be Chinese, which is still written in picture alphabets; and probably the imagination that is nurtured through such alphabets and words, makes chinese people so intelligent.

Therefore not only should we retain those three main character pictures, we have known all our life, but if possible add more pictures for other number cards as well. It does stimulate the right hemisphere of creativity and imagination, while using logic from the left one. Therefore playing cards must be mandatory for elementary school children and entire human race confused by the dilemma created by digital world.

I am ready for my next game, are you?

Angels

We read about them and listen endless stories from our grandma and grandpa about 'em. We try to model our lives similar to them. The angels, the heroes, the good souls. We see ourselves as the messiah. We are going to be somebody big with great healing power or touch and we can wipe away the tears of all humanity.

As we grow, we face reality right from our own house to school. The sibling rivalry does not end with time but increases. Our classmates are mean and selfish. Some cheat and still manage to be in good books of the teacher. For the job interview, someone with less merit gets past us and we are left to face the barbaric and unjust world. We could not even get the admission in our favorite field and college in spite of having the deserving grade, deserving attitude to help the mankind. The shrewd girl at interview who had hatred for poor patients is proud student of the prestigious college.

We get a job and try to make best of it. We are in no competition with the neighbor and are very satisfied with the life. We have healthy and happy family. Our spouse is an example of good Samaritan and children well behaved. We never wish ill to anyone in the world. We are appalled by the way medical professionals sometimes conduct themselves, hand in glove with the pharmaceuticals. You ask God why did he not give you the privilege of being a doctor and helping the needy. God gave you empathy but medical knowledge to those who kept mum during the Hippocratic oath.

And then someone tells us about the doctor who offered to make a home visit because the patient was weak. He comes at 2 pm after seeing all the patients at his clinic and is going to see another patient who's bedridden and then the doctor heads home for lunch. This doctor and his doctor wife prepare lunch for a pregnant lady doctor who works for them. Then you thank God. He did make a person who shares your empathy and is doing a job to make mankind proud of him. He is the angel you always aspired to be. May God give him  a long, healthy and happy life. May God make more such humans. This is truly "Being Human."