Prayer.......
my first interaction with this word  came in childhood when my mother used to forcibly
makes both of us (me and my brother) to chant the morning and evening prayers and the graces over meals......then there were prayers in school..in temples..at all religious functions.

At that time i hardly believed in it or used to understand the reason behind
it, but slowly as i gathered my senses i started cultivating a belief that this is the bribe u offer to god for getting your things done.

Thanks to the religious outlook of my mother. I still remember how i literally threatened god to get good marks in my scholarship exam.
It had become my answer to all the problems of my golden school life. Be it exams , my soccer matches, or parents meet...... i never  forgot to plead to god.

Then on fine day......when my kitty was ill, for the first time in my life, i prayed for someone else.....and this time it was more heartfelt and sincere. Since i had learned that if you pray from heart, then it never goes unanswered.

Finally she left me, but then, she had taught me to pray for others.

Then as i started getting exposed to other people lives, i realised that my problems were much silly as compared to others ...but  then apart  from helping them , i can utilise my equity with god........by praying for them.

Yes.......praying for others......be it praying for my best friend who fled from home to marry a girl of his choice....or my other friend who had been preparing whole year for his exams......or the old lady whom i get to see eveytime on my way to  office begging for money......

So then have i stopped blackmailing god for myself.........not at all......but only after i make sure that i first pray  for all those who require more of his attention and  blessings......