::Who decides our fate::
I know fate is defined as predetermined course of events which according to our science and literature is independent of our actions. Yet, when things don’t go as per planned or when one gets cornered in life, one can’t help but ponder about it and the above mentioned definition of fate tends to look a little farce. One starts questioning the path chosen and often asks oneself, “Who  decides my fate, If not me?”. I too belong to such a band of abashed souls, hopefully trying to seek an answer.

::God n Fate::
I have always wondered about the existence of a supernatural entity governing the cosmos. The one, which would hold us accountable for our deeds irrespective of our cast and creed.
I am not at all an atheist and hence don’t deny gods existence. Rather, i do believe in him but prefer being called an agnostic-theist as i personally can not prove his existence. Since we do not decide our fate, i am guessing it should be this supernatural entity or the so called “God” governing our life.
This random belief makes me all the more anxious to know various parameters on which our deeds are adjudged..and..the various factors which aid god in deciding our future or our so called fate.

::The Unexplained part::
Fate is something which doesn’t have a specific timeline and is dynamic in nature. Hence, It is right to say that a mans fate changes every second or that a mans fate is revealed to him second by second.

I have asked a lot of random people to throw some light on my queries and i have come across various views and explanations.
Some of them were really enlightening, but i guess adhering to them or believing in them is more of a personal choice. Few of my favorites explanations and approach are:

• Men’s fate and nature are governed by their stars. It is the pattern and layout of the heavenly stars that play an important role on deciding the course of events in ones life. There is a pseudo branch of science (Astrology) which studies the effects of planets and other celestial bodies on human beings.

Failure and success seem to have been allotted to men by their stars. But they retain the power of wriggling, of fighting with their star or against it, and in the whole universe the only really interesting movement is this wriggle.           ~E.M. Forester

• Fate is a resultant of Karma. Karma means action. It is also the reaction that follows on an action. The process of compensation for any given feeling, thought or deed is completely automatic. Karma, however, is ones unrestricted power of choice, and it makes sure that for every choice one makes there will be a just consequence. Hence, the law of karma is often expressed with the quote: “As you sow so shall you reap”.

Men are not punished for their sins, but by them.
~Elbert Hubbard

• There is nothing as such as fate. Life is nothing but an autobiography and hence every person has his/her own version citing different experiences. Everything that happens in ones life is purely an aftermath of series of actions. These actions could be direct or indirect. It could be expressed as “being in the wrong place at the wrong time”.

There’s much to be said for challenging fate instead of ducking behind it.
~Diana Trilling

• Fate is nothing but a path chosen for us by the almighty. It is his own mysterious way of making one wiser. It is this reverend almighty who holds us accountable of our deeds and hence makes us tread the necessary path in life called ‘fate’. Hence, every second of our life that we have lived is fate accompli.

You know that saying, that when God closes a door he opens a window, well, sometimes out of nowhere he’ll do you one better and he’ll kick a whole wall down.
~Ryan Murphy

::My take on it :: The Mid-Course Correction::
All of the above mentioned points are nothing but point of view of random people. Hence, everyone of them holds true for its own believer. It is not justified to outcast a particular person just because he has a different bent of mind or just because his views seem blasphemous to someone. With all respect to everybody i am not trying to be judgmental about the right approach. I respect and honour every one of them.

As nothing is proven, i intend to incline myself towards the most optimistic approach. Which happens to be the last of the above mentioned explanations.
I too have now started to believe that we are treading a path chosen by the almighty and every obstacle that we face only makes us wiser and hence, gives us a chance to correct our measures for a better future.

For e.g:  A ship is flagged off from a port with the required set of directions regarding its course. Say, after covering 100 miles they unexpectedly come across a big wave which is heading towards them. It is then entirely the Ship-Captain’s decision to either take a detour or to make a correction in its course to avoid the impact. This is what is called as “The Mid-Course correction”.
Similarly, in our lives god seldom give us chances to make such mid-course corrections. In order to steer our life in a positive direction we need to make the most of it. God has his own mysterious ways of imparting wisdom.
Like the smart people say, “There is always a catch”. We just need to decipher them.

In the bout of life:
fate is like a tough opponent who at times strikes real hard,
face him and learn from him so that next time you give him a good fight anyhow.
~ Me