These two nights that passed , I dedicated to discovering the movies that I had never watched but had heard of. I am sure many jaws might drop at the names of the films and many might shot a glance with sheer surprise and utter "How?" 

Well, I say what they always say "It is never too late!!"

So I have declared this week as a Movie Week. I am going to watch movies all these nights. The first movie in the series was Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding. I must have been in school. Wait, let me check when did it release. Yes, that was in 2001, when I was in my tenth standard. I lived in a very small town where we had all the infrastructure that anyone could expect in a city, but we did not have the luxury of watching films in a theatre. Not because there wasn't any. There was one which played older movies, as at that time it was not so quick to get hold of these recent releases. Well, during the casting I was surprised by the name of Randeep Hooda. And boy he looked to cute and hot in teh film. He has copied an NRI's accent so well. I got reminded of his French accent which he has successfully tried in his recent release Main Aur Charles. The movie is engaging. I love Naseeruddin Shah . Who doesn't? He is such a natural actor. In fact all the actors have done their parts pretty well. 

The next one i watched yesterday was Saaransh. I had to see this. It was their in my list since long. I knew that it was Anupam Kher's debut film. Though he is so young in reality , he plays the role of an old man. The make up does support but his youthful face doesn't. But that doesn't come in his way of acting at all. To be able to play any age or any character, that is why we call them actors. So, the story strikes a chord. For me it was too much emotionally charged. No less than six times , I am sure, I cried during the film. And it was not just tears rolling down my cheeks but I think I wanted to cry as  it felt that his grief were mine too. That was a little strange to see myself crying so much. 

As I watched the film on Youtube and the auto play was on, the next film that began playing was Mr. & Mrs. Iyer starring Konkona Sen and Rahul Bose. I like both of them as actors but have to admit Konkona leads if I need to compare both of them together. Mrs Iyer has a perfect Tamil accent. I quite enjoyed listening to her call out her son's name, Santhanam. I can pronounce it well myself. But how do I write it in Tamil pronunciation???

And Today I watched Arth, again a Mahesh Bhatt film as Saaransh. Its songs are quite famous. I knew them but had no inkling that they belonged to this film. I must admit Jagjit Singh has beautifully composed the poems written by Kaifi Azmi.  What I liked about the film is that in the end Shabana Azmi is not dependent on any man. She doesn't need one to carve out her own identity. She is an individual. And ofcourse Raj Kiran plays the role of a sensible man who supports the idea of her being her and not being subservient to a male connection. Made in 1982, the theme is so contemporary . And we are here still struggling with the same questions !!! 

So, the day is almost over, but it feels good to look back at it. Why? Okay !!! So the other day, one of my friends cum colleague at my University asked me to accompany her in a Polo match which was one of her dreams. I instantly said yes. That was a week ago. Now today was the day when we actually went to the Polo Ground to watch and witness our very first Polo match. 

It was organised as British Polo Day. Mostly the Polo matches are held in Jodhpur but this time round it was here in Jaipur. When I was in Delhi, I would always see pictures of Polo matches in the entertainment segment of the newspaper. I remember once my sister had expressed a similar desire to watch a Polo match. But unfortunately, never ever in Delhi, I got an opportunity to attend one.

Now coming to the match. I would say I know nothing about Polo. Ofcourse there are two teams playing to outdo the other in scoring the goals. I saw some brilliant piece of sports. It was really getting exciting when the opposite team would head to make a goal. Sometimes it was a goal, sometimes it was just a bit or a little too wide.. But simply amazing. I liked the way the Jaipur Polo team's Abhimanyu Pathak played. 

Now I think, I would love to see more matches of Polo, if I get an opportunity. Well, to talk about one of my favourite sports, in Delhi, there is an event of Tennis going on. Today was the concluding day of the IPTL which started on the 10th of December. I would have loved to see some great players, international ones whom I have always watched on television. Now that is one of my dreams : to watch players like Nadal or Federer or others play live. It will be so much fun. I already feel the excitement level rising high just by the thought of it.

Okay getting back to the day, I cannot believe , we missed our lunch to watch this Polo match. So when it got over, certainly our stomachs gave us signals of being empty. We went to a place called Tapri and had food to our contentment. Oh how wonderfully delicious the food was!!

We came back all frozen in the cold. Winter has come, that I got to know today. And now another very interesting thing I did was to gift a book to a complete stranger. One of my friends put a message of sending a book to someone and receiving six instead. That is an idea enough to trigger my zeal.. So as a rule I copy pasted it too. so lets see if i receive my books, my Christmas or my new year gifts I shall consider them. 

And just a little thing to add. I realized that I do not think too much in such kind of projects (lets call it a book project), I found a person, who started asking about the price, what kind of books and all that stuff which never came to my mind, and it would have never come. I am happy to have gifted somebody a book. Yayy!!!

Different strings of thoughts
remain in the head.
Which one to hold on to,
which one to shed?

A state of dilemma
is what it spreads,
"O' Wandering mind,
FOCUS, instead."

"Teach me then the art
of what you just said,
To that path of clarity,
let me be led."

The curtain rises
fraught with expectations
of a performance.
What if there is none?

A few weeks ago,
I saw you
from the other
side of the world.
There you were
shining still the same,
but you seemed dull
a little in that frame,
as my eyes
had been shrouded
with a momentary haze
and yes i was dazed
with another dream,
as my heart screamed
of joy, and delight
filled those nights.
I tell you,
my fascination for you,
dipped a little.
But, back I am to
this world again.
Today, you stepped out
from behind the hill
as I watched from
my window sill.
At loss of words
I am.
You are the one,
the only one
irreplaceable, eternal.

In the moonlit night
from Notre-Dame,
I started my quest for you.

Walking along the Seine,
Waving at Bateaux-Mouches,
My love for the city only grew.

From the locks on Pont-Neuf,
Symbolising eternal love,
I couldn't have asked for a better view.

And then at the stroke of the hour,
Along with the stars,
You started twinkling too.

O Eiffel,
one of the wonders of the world,
I have always been awed by you. 

Autumn

I had an image
of you in my mind,
with trees bereft of leaves,
You appeared harsh and unkind.

But then I saw
in the other part of the world,
there you were in full glory,
a new picture, in front of my eyes, unfurled.

A picture that
forever I have saved,
in my memory
and shall never let it fade.

Red, orange,
yellow and green,
all colours' leaves
add to.your sheen.

Never ever has been
the weather so beautiful,
leaves fall and scatter
under your rule.

Cool breeze
takes them here and there,
some dangle on the trees,
rest move about everywhere.

Fallen leaf

It all began in Spring,

After the bout of cold,

Some respite weather did bring,

Buds sprouting on the stem,

Unfolding a little

Everyday.

As days grew older,

So did the buds,

Blooming in their vigour

They turned into leaves.

A leaf,

Brightest in colour

Together with its peers

added to the beauty

Of its family tree.

When the wind would blow

They would dangle together

Creating a symphony

That people would admire.

After a long hiatus

Thus came Autumn,

Season leaves dreaded most.

Its neighbours had descended

Their lofty abode,

To lie on the ground

And follow their fate.

The day arrived

When reality hit

Its face too,

It found itself lying

Among the others in the group.

There came a passer by

Who was smitten by the leaves,

In a bid to stamp her experience

She decided to choose a leaf.

She picked the one

That had fallen

Which was once the brightest

And the leaf realized

It had not fallen in vain.

In the labyrinthine alleys
of memory,
I embark upon
a journey.
I head in the dark,
a little unsteadily,
Deep in the corners,
I meet people
here and there,
some I recollect
from the present,
some have
paled and faded away.
Amidst the crowd
A face recurs
every now and then.
Someone
I have known
all my life.
I smile at her
she smiles back.
We resemble a lot
yet we know
we are not the same

The lanterns of hope
kindle my belief
of reaching atop
the mountains
of dreams
I had once
seen with
my eyes
wide open.

And I think about that girl and her ideas...

While I was doing a short term course on Indian art forms at the National Museum Institute, I met a girl who was my course mate, I came to know of her only until the day of field trip and started  talking to her by chance. I do not exactly remember what triggered our conversations at the first place but I do have retained all this while the rest that followed. She told me about her experiences and I must admit I found them quite fascinating and intriguing. 

To begin with, she narrated how she had been working for some US based company and one day she decided to leave her job and do something she really wished to do in life. What was that she desired? She loved travelling and besides travelling what really touched me quite strongly was her passion for serving people through the channels of NGOs. Why are my thoughts going to the girl at this moment? Well, I have just come back from Paris where I had gone for a workshop. 

Since I came back in the year 2009 from France, I always had this desire to go back to the country where I had learnt so much about people, life and above all my own self. It might sound a little stereotyped and mundane but this girl told me what many others might believe in too or might consider a simplistic approach. She had said " Listen girlie, if you really wish to travel to some place, concentrate all your thoughts towards it. When I say focus, I do not mean that you sit at home, daydream and plan to make that wish true. But put all your efforts and work towards it. Tell yourself that yes you have to go to this place and a day will come when you will be seeing your dreams right in front of you. You will be living the dream itself," 

Well, she didn't put forward a complicated, not yet discovered point of view but I cannot express in words why the whole idea got stuck in my head. Let me tell you it is not only about your travelling dreams but just about any plans that you might have in life. Having said that, I also realize and have known myself that many a times, whatever your plans must be, they do not get well coordinated with the Master Plan and hence none of what I have actually written above seem to be real. Well, what can be done in such a situation? To each his own. React the way you wish to and move ahead with a positive approach. 

There was one more aspect to the whole conversation of being thankful and grateful to whatever good is happening in our lives. I particularly remember her thoughts when she made me visit all the people who form a chain in order to provide us food. She started with the farmer who puts in so much effort on the fields and grows the crop, and then so many others like transporters through which these items reach to the markets, and when they finally reach to us, they have already been brought to us through the efforts of so many other people. So the need to be thankful to all of them who have ensured that we get our food. While she went on and on, I found this idea of being grateful so beautiful and I was so touched that I did not even realize when my eyes had welled up. 

I think it through sometimes and remember this girl who made me come face to face with something I already knew. The two ideas are not something out of the box. They have been there along with other beautiful ideas. Here's hoping I come across more beautiful ideas every now and then.

Hold my hand
Come along
Let us make this world
A beautiful place to live in.

When we are together
How would one know
Who is one
and who is the Other?

Barbed wire
act as fence.
Put up
to check trespassing.
You may control
those who'd comply
But what about
the free animals?

The heart
still beats
for the one
it can't have.
The waves
grow rapidly
in the ocean
of the heart
and sound
like a roar.
The memories
come back
after hitting
hard at
walls of the heart
only to
bring back
to life
a desire
unfulfilled.
Only the desire
I am left with.

The world seems 

to have covered itself 

in a blanket;

an old, withered, 

tattered blanket.

The air stagnates,

as does time.

Nothings seems

to be moving.

My mind is coated

with a thin translucent sheet

blurring all thoughts...

In the twinkling of stars,
In the cool sands of Thar,
In the breeze that touches
your heart and soul,
In the darkness of sky,
In the flash of your eye,
In the clouds that spread
a little here and there,
In the waning and waxing
of the Moon,
In all of these and a little more,
You realize soon,
You will find my trace
all about
and everywhere.

Listening To The Sound of Cars On a Misty Evening

Winters were approaching

the Sun had toned down,

that day as I remember

wore some misty frown.

My heart beats went faster

as I walked on my way

to meet you under the sky

and clouds of hues grey.

There you were standing,

my heart skipped a beat,

the smile was inevitable,

my cheeks felt some heat.

You asked me to come along

and experience something

that I couldn't have guessed

you loved so much doing

We walked together.

On a gleeful bend,

our hands brushed a little,

it seemed never to end.

We reached the street

where cars passed us by,

You took me to its middle

and I let out a sigh.

You shut your eyes

as if giving me a cue,

the sound of cars were extraordinary,

so I closed my eyes too

I do not know what was it 

in that simple act that touched me

but now i love doing it too

standing in the middle of a street.

Road to Somewhere

Sometimes narrow,
sometimes wide,
sometimes smooth,
of gravel sometimes,
lined with flowers,
sometimes with cacti,
clouds hover above sometimes,
hard-hitting Sun some other times,
wind blows sometimes fast,
still is the air, forever it seems to last,
sometimes a group,
alone sometimes,
follow this path.
A path to where?
A tad baffled,
but I think,
it is the Road to Somewhere.

Words :
beads of poetry
hang around,
touching a chord within,
that creates unrest,
a turmoil inside
to weave these beads
in exquisite pattern,
one that seductively
gets engraved on
someone's soul.

Be my cloud...

Clouds of dark and light hues

drape the Moon around,

but only for a moment.

My heart longs to be swathed

in your embrace,

if only for a moment.

Let me be the Moon,

you be my cloud,

though for a moment,

who drapes me about.

I sail through the ocean of hope,
that when I reach ashore
and walk towards the Plains,
I'd be able to lie on
the greener grass
that lay always
on the other side.
And if I tread upon the mountain's peak,
I'd be able to have
the heaven-like view
of all the world around.
If my stars would betray me
my feet will return on
the very same path
to find that shore
to reach to the sea,
the sea of hope,
and I shall sail again.

In the confines
of my far-reaching thoughts,
I invite you sometimes,
to hear from you
a word or two;
to share with you
the moments,
though a few,

when I drowned
in the whole idea of you.
You had hummed a tune
in that brightness,
shone from the Moon,
my heart's strings had struck too,
the music, I heard within,
but it wasn't emphatic enough,
a little struggle
on its way to your heart,
Alas! It breathed its last
without seeing the rising Sun.

Then, you scale the walls of my thoughts
and leave at once
or I ask you to go,
not so later again,
you do find your way through.

At one instant,
you are with me,
and at another,
you have taken
a flight,
to the distant
territories,
on which I have
no control,
you love
to feed on
my anxious being,
You wonder at me,
at the
strength I exhibit
at times.
And that strength
signals me
that in no time
I will
rein you in
and it shall be
peaceful once again. 

In the face of reality,
no one is spared,
however,
some remain privileged,
others are ensnared.

Sitting by the lake,
Our eyes in the
waters meet,
Moon from behind
the hills,
has come out from
his cloudy retreat
and so mesmerisingly it greets!

My eyes are veiled
with pictures of you.
No wonder
the world seems
beautiful.

Tiny droplets
being gently drifted
by the breeze.

Gone are the days !

Gone are the days
when I was in school
and it would rain heavily
each year.
Neither I am in school
nor it rains profusely,
Gone are the days!

Net case

Oh I forgot to write this one. This thought again passed by the lanes of my mind. I think it is trying to become visible. So here it is :

The other day I went to the tennis court. I played my game and it was now someone else's chance to play.. I came out of the court, stood in the middle , right where the net is.

The player served a first time. The ball did not cross over but remained in his court. Naturally it was a fault, But what it did was, it hit the net quite hard and that is when this bizarre idea hit my mind too.

How tough is life of a net that has to bear all those hits that someone misses, that one fails to make it cross over into other's court. 

Ever been in a net case?  Wondering!

Live

Life

But ...

Brightness
gives way to
grim and dull

Your Unconditional Love

Beyond the walls
of my comprehension,
lies an unending
treasure of your
unconditional love.
No day and night
would pass,
without you thinking
about me,
about my concerns,
about my problems,
finding their solutions.
Selfishness is a word
nonexistent in your
world.
A word of gratitude
appears minuscule
an effort, to express
what I feel within.

What is it that you do to me!!!

It's not only me,
I think it's destiny.
I have been lucky always
to reside at a place
that gives me a view
of the Charming You.
Reluctantly I stepped out
in my balcony,
there you were
hiding behind the hills.
Dark clouds
veiling you purposefully.
But they know
they have to leave.
There you are now,
smiling at me
I wish I could click
the picture of
what I see
and show it
to the world
and add to their glee.

Light and sound show

Lightning,
Wind buzzing,
Voila! It rains.

Clouds

Dark and grey

they blanket,

flashing lights

every now and then,

murmuring

a tad too noisily,

"We vent it out here?"

Carpets of grass
sprawled all across,
have been waiting...

The 100 th !

What better day than this,
Nothing seems to be amiss.
A little shower
falling from Heavens,
appears in sync
with the song
playing in my room.
I open my balcony door,
green carpet of grass,
a bit greener trees,
and the hills
greet me together.
A gentle breeze
welcomes me to
their marvelous world.
My admiration
reaches the sky,
still laden with clouds,
yet reluctant
to pour out completely
their hearts,
as if in a playful mood,
deliberately teasing me.
My gaze reaches
the top of the hill.
Amidst natural harmony,
my eyes trace a lone deer,
in deep contemplation,
looking in my direction.
I wonder what goes on
in his mind,
and wave at him.
How would he react?
Does he react?
I feel he does,
The deer as still as the hill
twitches his ear.
Did he acknowledge?
A little later,
another pair of ears
gradually come closer
from behind the hills.
And then two more.
The family stays together.
I leave them in peace
and look around.
I catch a glimpse
of a couple,
sticking together,
sheltering from falling drops
in someone's balcony,
sprinkling rain
offering them
some moments of togetherness.
How pleasing this world is!
A blessing, I feel
has surely touched me.

Pictures

A picture

brings a smile 

on your face,

taking you down

the memory lane.

It brings alive

the moment

you once lived,

fills your heart

with rapturous pleasures.

Pictures are your moments, 

your only treasure.

A little relieved...

A little better
apppeared this day,
far from yesterday's anxieties,
some relief on its way.
But as it is human nature,
a certain something,
has occupied the mind.

"Do not get stuck!,
Let your mind stray!"

Anxiety pangs !!

And the day arrives.
What I have been asking for
is getting realized.
But hey!
A wait so long,
and now a sudden
eruption of this feeling
so strong.
"Do you really want it?",
asks the inner self.
The kid within
has tears in the eyes.
The sudden realization
of distance dawns upon.
A voice whispers in the ears,
softly it suggests to run away.
The other self sits back and watches
as it knows
this is how everything starts,
a ritual in its own way
has it become.
But in the end,
things fall into place
and shall get comfortable
in the newer space.

The Silent Trail

So when I would look at my facebook friends' pictures in the mountains, a desire would knock at my heart, constantly reminding me of the places I would love to go to. Generally, I do not count myself to be a mountain person. I'd rather prefer going to the seas. There is something innate that pulls me naturally towards them. However, it doesn't mean, I do not like the mountains. I would love them if I do not have to set upon the roads that lead me to them. That is because I have motion sickness as many others have I believe.

Despite my dread of undertaking the tortuous path, I have still taken those ways a few times. But those few times were to places that attract too many tourists. I found these places to be too commercialised.

This time once again I set forth to some place in the mountains but only it was less commercialized, too close to nature and exactly the way I would have liked it to be.

So with my sister, brother in law and niece, we went to a place in a village called Padampuri. It is some 16 kms ahead of Bhimtaal. We reached the village in the evening when night had already descended. Fortunately, the Moon shone bright in the sky, giving us some light as there was no light around. We had to take a 4 kms trail up hill to reach to this property where we were going to stay. Horses had been sent for us but it was advisable not to ride them.during night.  This had been told to us by the property owner, Radhika, a very warm and hospitable lady. However, these boys kept on asking us to climb the horses as it would take us around one and a half.or two hours to climb up.

I had only once sat on a horse before and that too in plains only for a matter of two minutes or so. Therefore, I was quite skeptical to not set on foot but on the horse's back. As we started, we knew it was going to be a very difficult trail for everyone of us and especially for my brother in law and sister who took turns to carry my niece. A little while later, we climbed up the horse's back as our feet was on th verg of betraying us. And for whatever time I sat there, it was quite an adventure. Though I was scared to death as the horse would tread only from the corner of the path giving me  feeling that I d tumble down along with it, but it was quite an experience. Amidst so much of fear I managed to find the situation quite comical too. However, that was for a short while and I got down from the horse to cover the rest of the trail on foot. What a trail it was! There was the moon, I so wanted to enjoy the moonlight trek completely but the strenuous path wouldn't allow me.

Then finally, we reached to this property. And boy! It was worth the trek. A beautiful house with gardens and trees all around and some rooms for the guests. The owners had been waiting for us. It never felt a if we had come to a hotel or a resort. The feeling of being at home was all over the place. There was a library with books of many subjects. One could just stay up there and get immersed in the books.The kitchen was open to the guests. If we wanted to cook something, we only needed to tell the staff in advance to get things required. There was another couple staying at the place. It felt indeed as a family gathering, only the family had new members.

We stayed over the weekend. We decided to leave in the morning. The trail looked so beautiful with the mountainous landscape that we had missed during our hike in the night.

It was one of the kinds of experiences that I d like to have more often. So thanks to my sister n brother in law who put some sense in my head and made me finally say yes for this trip.

Eternally yours...

Only yesterday
I walked amidst
the curtain of
tall trees
on the Silent trail
where your
silver glory
filtered through,
and here I am
today,
immersed in your
uninhibited white light.
I liked you yesterday
as much as I do today.

wonderful weekend !!

So this really needs a mention.

Such a great time I had with my friends. Friends, those few people in life (apart from family) who have been their for me everytime I needed them. How fortunate I have been to have such nice friends. The weekend was dedicated to them. So the plan was to spend the night at friend's places.

I have so much to write but I do not feel like writing. I have no idea if I would write this later. Oh, how I do not like myself in times like these.

Okay so maybe not descriptions but I could just mention what made the weekend special.

# Long (unending) queue at metro station.

# Dilli Haat, Maharastra and Bengali stall

# India Gate : It had been long that I had been to India Gate. Flooded with people.

# Fren's place, chitchatting, gossipping, television

# sleepy weepy (hehe) no only sleepy and slept

# Early morning whatsapping.

# Talking to uncle and aunty

# getting ready for friend's swimming classes. I was so excited to see them swim.

# Daab, breakfast, news, discussions.

Btw, did I tell, how hot it has been all this while. I decide to leave for campus at 12 at noon which certainly does not seem quite an idea. Everyone asks me to go a little later. So,

# Kulfi, 

# Sleepy again in the summer afternoon

# Lunch

and now I feel I have been doing injustice with my friend who has been waiting for me since long and that I should for sure leave.

So, I pack my bags. Aunty is still not happy as it is still too hot . But the stubborn me would not listen. 

# Rickshaw ride to the metro station. And I understand why she had been asking me not to venture out in 45 degrees.

I reach campus. My friend and I make plans. We watch movie on a laptop, go out for dinner. When we come back to campus, we want to roam around here and there in the campus, but it seems we (especially I) are very tired. 

I finish watching the movie that I had left in between. Nice movie it is, Piku. and then the bed is just so inviting, that there could be nothing else than sleep.

Next morning i.e. today, I get up at 5. My fren's still sleeping. Anyhow she gets up by 5 30. we decide to go for a walk . people are cycling, walking, coming back from the library. 

the next thing is going to the Church. My first experience of a Sunday Service. And then the dramatic way to get our movie tickets. was just so much fun.

I am quite tired right now, so ...

Temple of faith

The world is harsh,
its trials and tribulations
of every second
can tear your faith apart.
That is when
the moment needs
to be siezed.
If your steps falter,
you could drown
in deep sea of despair,
but you need
strength and conviction
to fight back
and stick to your ground,
that is where
you are lead to
the temple of faith.

You have stepped out 

of your regular hiding.

Wherever I go

to look for you,

all I find are

high-rise buildings,

determined to 

stop me 

from looking at you,

admiring you.

And then, I see those 

independent houses

with beautiful terraces,

drenched in your light.

Oh, how inviting!

How if I lived in

one of them

I would not have

deserted the terrace

for a single moment.

But here they are

no one standing 

in the balcony 

or the terrace.

It appears

these people 

have gone in

constant hiding,

unmindful of

what they miss.

The ephemeral life

Lofty as a mountain
you stand,
looking down upon
others,

A rift has surfaced
between you
and us
and it grows further.

What you count
purposeful now,
will come down crumbling
as the Earth shudders.

The eternal journey !!

"Come!
It's time
you held my hands
and walked away with me,
Tread gracefully
to a world
that awaits you
for a new dawn,
of which you
know nothing,
Leave behind
your sorrows,
your joys,
your angst
for you
will start afresh."

When your voice wears those words ...

When your voice

wears those words,

sheer words come alive,

and metamorphose 

into poetry

so deep and profound.

A voice

as smooth as silk

strung in a melody

caresses me, 

so heart warming,

it bewitches me

to play that song.

My words escape,

evaporate,

they get scattered 

here and there when 

I want them to 

fall in place

to express that 

which overwhelms me

when I am cocooned

in your soulful voice.

Endeavours fail,

energies drain,

I try even harder

to put your aura

into words.

When nothing works

I decide to soak in your voice

by playing your song

over and over again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUec04_6gRs

Radiance of the Present

A flight
it takes
to the impervious
future,
meanders around
its contours,
ready to sneak
inside at
the sight of
any fissure.
Alas,
there is none.
despondent, it returns
to the radiance
of the Present.

The unscripted Life

"You cannot script everything",
she had written,
"coz it is Life after all."
these words in black and white,
in the tranquility of morning
incites the 'wondering chord'
in my head.
I live everyday without a script
and yet I am awed
by the idea of Life, unscripted.

The dark orange ball of fire
decides to take some rest
after having toiled hard through the day
burning at its best.
The blue sky then covers itself
with a velvety black sheet
sometimes accompanied by the Moon,
where scores of stars greet.
I lay down on the green carpet of grass
counting the twinkling stars,
one after the other, I now lose count
when the gentle breezes pass.
Soft and balmy,
they wrap me in their arms
carrying me along to
a world of wonders and charms.

The Tempting Territory of Unknown...

I swim on the surface
close to the shore
As far as sight goes
everything's blue and nothing more.

Deepness of the sea,
invites me
to uncover the mysteries,
eager to be seen.

Charmed I am,
as it would open a door,
a door into another world,
the unknown it stores.

My mind races forth
as fast as sound,
what if I embrace completely
the new world and never be aground.

Do I leave behind
what I already own,
and head towards the Tempting
Territory of Unknown ?

As beautiful as ever !

A few stars
jeweled the sky
till a little while ago.
Taking my breath away,
the reluctant orangish Moon
has now found its way.

Life : A maze

A maze
set by You.
Born in this world,
how do I evade
the labyrinthian alleys of life?
All emotions and feelings entrap me
thus weaker I become.
When the tone is set
or so I think,
when life gradually unfolds its mysteries
or so I believe,
next moment it betrays me.
Why do You put us
through such a maze?
Why are we here? What purpose do we have?
Questions abound.
Answers evade.

Eternally yours...

I hark back in time,
I rummage through pages of my life,
To recall that one moment
When I first lay my eyes on you.
As far as you could be,
You must have winked at me
With those eyes
That I so dearly carve out
From millions of miles away.
There is something about you.
You have been there with me
Since I was a little girl.
You have walked along my journey, my life,
Shedding light through dark nights
And I still wonder
What is it
That has kept me spellbound
And will remain so, forever.

The magical world of my Mom's Idlis :)

No words put together
can create that world,
a world of magic
that my Mom creates,
not with words
but with her hands.
When she makes
those Idlis.
What's the secret recipe?
The ingredients we know
remain the same
but what she adds
to them
is her love and soul.
When the Idlis
melt in my mouth
I cannot thank enough
my stars and my Mom
to have woven an indescribable
world of magic.

At the platform

The lady announces
Arrival of a train,
Not mine!
People start pouring in
And suddenly,
The abandoned platform
Bustles with activity.
Right in front of me,
A young college couple?
So I assume,
Try to be as discreet as possible
In showing their affection.
But could they evade
These observant eyes?

At a Platform

Trains came
Trains left
Monkeys came
Attacked a few
With food,
They ate
They left too.
Platform stays,
Along with it
I stay too,
Waiting for that
One train
That is not the only one
To be running late.

An ancient book
Shields in it
Mystery of
This entire world.
Buried deep
Within the expanse
Of Earth,
How does it,
The mystery, reveal itself?

To my Daddy !!

A wish, a hope, a dream he had,
the one he could not have for himself.
He never forced anything on us,
for he knew we were slaves to our own desires.
And yet, the word reached our ears.
Would anyone of us turn his dream in reality?
And then the Universe conspired and answered in a yes,
Today I am ecstatic, for I know he will be too,
as I am the chosen one, destined to make his dream come true.

Lost I am
in world's obscurity,
Faraway blink
some shining stars.

The brightest one,
winks at me,
Now I know
it is not so far.

I follow till dawn
that enlightened path
as my eyes rest finally
at the dew drop on a flower.

Just like that !

a speck of sand in my shoe
as i walk along deep blue waters
far in the horizon the setting sun
splashes an orangish hue across the sky's canvas
a slight breeze brushes my face
as that solitary tree spreads its green wings
attuned I am to the rhythm of nature
so I follow those footsteps that lead me to you.

Jaipur Part I

A trip without something adventure is like a cake without an icing. So a few days ago, we went on a trip to Jaipur. My sister and I have been to the city before but it was for our mom. She had not visited the Pink city before and had a keen desire to do so. Hence , we thought of taking her to explore this beautiful city. 

The idea of a visit had been there since long but the plan got finalized only at the last moment. I love the idea of planning, researching about the place, looking for lodging, places to eat and visit. But this time, I let my sister do all of it on her own. I took a back seat and did not care at all where all we were going to stay which train we would board. I knew we were in safe hands. 

A day before the scheduled departure, in the morning my sister did all the reservations, bookings of hotels. This time she went ahead with a Groupon deal for a hotel. She had shown me pictures of a few that she had shortlisted and both of us together zeroed in on the one we decided to go ahead with. This was the day when I had an interview too. So in the morning till afternoon I had been out. When I came back home, I knew I had to do some packing. Since it was just a two days trip, it would not require much of an effort. We packed our bags and slept after dinner as we had to board the train in the morning. I booked a cab for us till the railway station and then slept. 

The alarm on my Mom's phone rang at 4 (or was it at 3 30). I had woken up but was lazying around a little. All of us got ready in time. I called up the taxi driver and he said he would be there in time. He was taking sometime to reach. so I called him again. The anxiety level was shooting up in my sister and mom for the fear of missing our train. After a while he shows up. My brother in law sees us off. So the gang of girls set forth in our journey. Gang includes our youngest member of the family, my mom, my sister and I. 

Where is adventure so far? Do not stretch your imagination too much. We are not going to tell you stories of things like jumping off Amer Fort or diving in the "Jal" to reach Jal Mahal. 

So where were we? In the taxi. While we are sitting in the taxi, my phone rings up. It is my brother in law calling. He has a piece of information for us. And quite a significant one. The voucher of the groupon deal has been left in the house. We have forgotten to carry it along. Generally, they need to check the voucher to be able to avail the deal. For a second, I feel tension mounting . But come on, we live in an era of smart phones. Where we show our e tickets in train without wasting paper, we can show our vouchers on phones too. We believe in saving our trees. So I ask him to send the voucher on my email. This is resolved.

The driver is taking us through roads we have never seen. Actually, I have never been to Gurgaon's railway station before. So I am clueless anyway. Even my mom is and my niece too. My sister, I guess she knows. But only once she has been there too. So I am clueless on her stance as well. But the problem is not the route. The problem is the driver. He is driving as he pleases. Not slowing down at all, he would have almost hit a cyclist had he not applied the breaks on time. Not that he was at fault but he should have atleast been alert to avoid the sudden application of break. My mom has some problem in her spine so she has to avoid such thrills. And this one has certainly hurt her a bit , or a bit too much. With strict words we tell him to be careful. A few minutes later, we reach the station. Finally.

After a few minutes of waiting, our train's arrival is announced. We get all ready to board the train as it stops only for two minutes. We have two bags, my niece to be carried. I tell my sister not to worry. I assure her we might find some help amongst our co passengers. Not that we are only looking for help. We can certainly manage on our own. The train enters the platform. My niece clings to her mother as tightly as she can. The whistle of the train, so loud has frightened her a little. The train stops and we board it. My mom enters the train through the second door. I jump on to the compartment first with the bags and then my sister and niece come inside. We have to pass by a few seats to reach our places in the compartment. As I drag my bags, I stop in front of our seats. My sister, niece and my mom have taken their seats. I am standing right now, waiting for others to pass me by and settle so that I can keep the bags at their places. The bags are not light. They are kind of heavy but not that heavy but still it is not like a feather either. I ask my sister to help me put the bags in the cabin above our seats. Amongst the whole crowd of men passengers, only two gesture to help, which is quite nice of them. When the bags settle, everyone settles, we settle, my sister reminds me of the help I had just talked about. And then I realize that in reality how less people help each other. But somehow I think you will certainly find someone with a helping hand. 

My niece is one year old. She has learnt how to walk. She loves walking by herself without any help. In all this excitement of hers, she doesn't understand how she cannot walk everywhere without our help, because she is unaware of the danger of hurting herself. This awareness is only our responsibility. Oh, how free she is! So in the train she would like to walk a little. It is actually a little difficult to contain her movements. Sometimes under my supervision and more often in her mom's she walks a little in the very narrow passage that has been provided to her in the compartment by Indian Railways (I am not at all complaining here)  After some excitement, she might have tired herself and she dozes off in her mom's lap. 

We come to have some calm and peace. The train approaches its destination. We have to call the travel desk of the hotel to get us cab. The hotel people will provide us a free pick up from the station which is quite the norm in Jaipur. My sister takes care of it. She has been asked to message the train details and so she does. We know there is a cab waiting for us. We have now reached our destination. We get off the train. 

As soon as step down, my sister takes out her phone to check on the cab driver if he is there. The call ends itself without even ringing once. She asks me to call from my phone. Same thing happens with me and similar is the case with my mom's phone. All three of us have the same network connection and same company phones. There is some problem which we are unable to understand. This inexplicable phenomenon gives us our share of headache. We come out of the station. I whatsapp my bro in law to call us to check whether our incoming calls are doing fine. And guess what? We can receive calls. So this whole confusion takes place for about 15 to 20 minutes when finally the travel desk calls up my sister and asks us to board the taxi. We ask them in turn to ask thE cab driver to contact us because we are facing a serious problem with our phones. As soon as he hangs up, we see a man with my sister's name written in a sheet of paper. So everything is so simultaneous, that we finally take a deep sigh to let this whole thing sink in. 

We have now gotten into the taxi., The hotel is not very far from the train station. We reach there in say ten minutes. The hotel is beautiful from outside., It has a traditional Rajasthani architecture that attracts us all the more.  We get inside the hotel. We go straight to the reception desk, ask him to check our details. We tell him about our Groupon deal. The e voucher it seems should be okay with the hotel people. He doesn't ask us for a print out. Can we be now relieved a bit? Yes ofcourse, you would tell us. But no, we can't. This guy he cannot find our reservation. He checks the computer there is no entry of booking in our names. How is that possible?  It is one of those moments when any one of us can lose our cool and shout out loud on this guy who has just ruined our whole excitement by declining the idea of us booking a room. To our surprise, all three of us are as cool as the morning breeze. We are chatting normally, trying to locate where resides the problem and also the solution. 

As of now, our phones have remained in the same state of being non functional with respect to outgoing calls. So we ask permission to use the phone at the hotel. My sister calls up my bro in law to check out with Groupon for such a huge mistake. She also uses the internet to check out other hotels. There is one right next to this one, which is just about okay but would not match the standards of this hotel. I have been asked to find out whether the other hotel is booked or does it have some place. I go and check. It seems almost vacant. No one has preferred to stay in this one. As the rooms do not fulfill our requirements we decide to keep on checking other hotels. We are also aware that our empty stomachs have been too empty and they need their share of food. So we go to the restaurant of the hotel to have some food. While in the restaurant, my sister and bro in law are still looking into what can be done. 

                                              The hotel that wasn't supposed to be ours  

So basically, we have reached our destination but we haven't yet found a place to stay. Our schedules are running behind what we had planned. There is a taxi wala who had been booked to take us arounfdthe city. He has been calling us. He doesn't understand the intensity of the situation we have found ourselves in. And then I think, with a few people getting involved in the whole issue, what finally comes out as a solution is that the hotel's owner who has two three properties in Jaipur has decided to make us the very first guests of his new property whose inauguration is today and that is in the outskirts of the city near Le Meridien. This was not at all how we had planned it out. We finally decide to go ahead with it. The historic moment in their lives and in our lives too. (Historicity comes at its own price). So we take a cab till this hotel which takes us all the way to Delhi Jaipur highway and then drops us to the hotel. It seems at one point that our travelling part would never end. But finally it does. We have reached. We certainly have a place to stay. 

But this trip hasn't come to an end yet my entry has. I feel now I cannot write anymore today. So maybe if I feel I would continue it in the next entry or just leave it like that.. I am so unsure myself!!

So I am going to rename my entry's title as Jaipur - Part I or should I leave it as Jaipur?

PS: Do not be surprised if no Part II follows. Pray for my mood to be as in form the next time as it is now to have the complete picture.

So much is possible

Wrapped in the blanket of supreme vain
veiled by false sense of pride
sheathed in superficiality,
I wonder how do you breathe?

Coiled up in a world of your own
where artificial replaces the natural
Unburden yourself a little I say
follow the cues that Nature offers.

Shed your cosmetic existence
Open your eyes and look beyond
Feel alive to the rhythm of life
where so much is possible.

Echo from those brief summer days !!

The days were warm
Evenings bright
As you would come visit me
Delightful were those nights.

A whiff of curiosity
enveloped us both
when one would listen to the other
and let dreams float.

Then, the day approached
when you had to leave
We knew it already.
It wasn't that hard to believe.

As we let each other
take some space
in our own worlds,
This, we had to face.

As a souvenir
we both chose
to gift each other
the book we loved most.

As I open that book today
and see your name
I know the secret of life it shields
as you had claimed.

I am yet to read
the treasure you gave
something I will cherish
till the end that I will save.

I have walked alone till so far

dare I say they find it bizarre.

I tread the path with spirits high

my own rules and norms I abide by.

Now, you wait for me to cross the threshold

It appears as a stranglehold.

For you, the waves gently wash our feet,

To me, they drown and so I retreat.

This strangeness might hit you pretty soon

when you realize I lay too content in my cocoon.

 

Sing that song!

In the summery nights
after we would fight
you would take my hand
almost unplanned
and utter the first word
bitterness would thus get blurred,
a trail of words would follow
all anger would seem hollow,

words weaved in a song
and I would sing along.

Sing that song
when we walked along.

You refuse to leave...

You have taken a remote corner of my heart

Immovable and adamant 

you refuse to leave.

I rejoice, recall the memories past

And each time breathe fresh air to you.

You refuse to leave?

Or shall I say

I deny you a way out.

The Distant Echo

of Trojan Odyssey

reminds of Leaving Eden

when Blood is the Sky

Till some days ago, I had been consumed by the idea of writing. Some of my thoughts got weaved in words, some were posted on my blog, some sheltered in the crisp pages of my diary and some unfortunate ones could not get translated into right words and hence drowned in the sea of thoughts in my head.

A few days later, I was again consumed. But this time, it was by the idea of reading. I had been reading here and there at my own leisurely pace. To this, I added some enthusiasm and decided to read at a better speed. I lay my hands on the Reader’s Digest’s special edition of abridged versions of four books compiled in one. While I was going through the collection, I realized I had read at least one of the stories from each of the books. But there lay one book that seemed untouched completely. I picked it up and another one of which I recollected having read the first story. This time I had made up my mind to read all the stories of the book. Collecting the two books, I started my journey, my journey with the stories and with the characters.

Well, the first book I finished reading all the stories. I started with the story of a teenage girl trying to understand life. The next one was about this Marine expert whose love for sea was unmatched for even at his age and his adventures of thwarting a hazardous plan that could put the whole world come to a standstill. While reading his story I came to admire him a lot. With his sharp reflex and intelligence, he appeared more like a formally trained Intelligence Officer than an underwater expert. But he was only too perfect for reality.

After having finished my underwater exploration, subsequently I found myself face to face with the journey of Vinnie, an Ojibwa Indian and Alex his white friend to trace Vinnie’s brother who never returned after setting forth on a hunting trip with four people in the Canadian wilderness. It turned out to be a story of revenge that took many lives including that of the four people and Tom, Vinnie’s brother. The only idea that I carry with myself from that journey is Vinnie’s idea where he says “It needs to stop somewhere.” Violence as an answer to violence spawns more violence.

So, I had finished reading one of the books. Next book found itself in my hands too quickly. I chose to begin with the first story. It is very unlikely of me to start with the first story ever. At school, I remember reading my text books at home where I would start with the last chapter, then search for the chapters in between and then end up reading the first one. The first chapter was the most unattractive to me back in school.

The first story’s title however was quite fascinating in this compilation. The Afghan appealed to me more than the rest of them. Thus I set upon this trail of Mike Martin, a retired British Officer, who disguises himself as the Afghan, taken by the American forces and put in Guantanamo Bay. After a period of training on the various aspects of the Afghan’s life, his childhood events, his language, Martin finally finds himself on the most important project of the Al Qaeda forces. The plot is unknown to the American and British. And Martin is the one who shoulders the responsibility of being the key to unearth it. The plot doesn’t get to its desired end by the schemers.

The end was not to my liking but it was real. How badly I wanted Martin to be alive. How I also wished the Afghan and Martin crossed their paths once again. The Afghan had been once saved by Martin and I would have liked to see when both stood opposite each other. How I also wanted the story to not end. Besides, I wished I had laid my hands on the original and not the abridged version.

Now the next story lays there. It looks at me, all set to offer itself for a read. I begin with the first page. I try reading but just can’t focus. Mike Martin and the Afghan have consumed me entirely that I have to take a break so that the rest of the journeys become as interesting as the previous ones. 

In the name of God !!!

When I was a young girl, I had been introduced to my religion by my parents. Born into a Hindu family, I came to identify Gods and Goddesses through various idols kept in the house. I might have been asked to learn a few shlokas (though I cannot recall when and how I happened to learn them) because that is how I still remember them and recite them whenever I pray inside a temple. I would recite them, hands together in a prayer position, without knowing what they meant. Today when I recite them, I sometimes pay attention to each word and try to understand what they mean. The overall meanings of the shlokas which I recite have become clearer than when I was a kid. Not a compulsion, however I recall going to the temple in our colony once in a week. But actually as I go back in time, I recollect it was like going to the temple whenever you wanted to.

As a young girl if I would get into some trouble I would talk to this invisible power that all of us call God to help me. And that was not necessarily in front of the idols or in the temples. I would just talk anywhere making him present in my world. If happiness would come my way and if I believed it was because of his divine intervention, I would again talk to him mindless of the place I would be in. During all such conversations, I would not visualize any idol in front of my eyes. It was rather acknowledging the presence of one God, the Invisible, omnipresent, all knowing, all pervasive. I Believe in God and I still talk to my God in tough and happier times.

I remember somewhere last month in the news channels the question of conversion began surfacing. It was some Hindu organizations whom I saw on TV performing some rituals and converting people to Hinduism. There have been and are cases of conversions in each and every religion. But watching that video, my mind could not come to believe that only by performing a ritual how can someone become a Hindu or a Muslim or of any religion. Perform a ritual and change one’s religion appears quite ludicrous to me. I cannot imagine myself being part of a ritual that would change my religion until and unless I would really be attracted by this other religion or its ideals. Well, there is a lot of politics that play around the question of conversion which I certainly do not wish to enter.

I look around and find many people who would go to gatherings of various gurus and listen to them very attentively. I once asked a lady who happens to be my cousin aunt, why do you need to go to any of such gatherings. Her answer would be the answers of many. She said the religious Guru talks of God and isn’t it a nice thing to be listening to? I found her answer to be uniquely comical. And it’s not with her but most of us. While people congregate to pray to the Lord, they will follow a guru who will enlighten them with all the Gyaan. But what is the use of this Gyaan when after leaving the congregation or after having chanted the name of Lord you start badmouthing others, you are jealous of all around you, you do not wish your colleague does better than you or you wish bad for others, do not help the needy, become all selfish. Is this what a religion tells you? Why not be a good human being first than chanting the Lord’s name in vain.

Another thing quite unfathomable to me is the need itself to follow a guru. Some argue that the guru guides you to the right path. To some extent I might concede but I do not know if I accept it fully. I believe it is your own individual journey. I do not wish to follow any religious guru and certainly not the ones who have created an empire and made religion a business. I feel if one really wants to be guided, why not take out some time, read your own scriptures, reflect, analyze, question and interpret it yourself. You may discuss it with others and see what opinions or views they have on it.

There are a lot of TV channels where you could find a guru giving all the good Gyaan. They talk sometimes about the description of Gods or their stories in the mythology. And otherwise it is a talk on being a good human being . When I listen to them, the question knocks again at my mind’s door, why do I need a guru who tells me the very obvious things in the world, the obvious things being to be nice, tolerant, patient, generous and so on. Why cannot those who go and listen to him intently just introspect or reflect and maybe find answers. After all it is your personal journey and you need to inculcate all the virtues in yourself. How can a guru make you patient and tolerant if you yourself do not wish to be?

And then there are people who kill in the name of religion. No religion teaches to kill people. For God’s sake let us make humanity our religion.

Here in India, people are quite touchy on religious issues. Some of these people have quite an overactive grey matter. Yesterday I saw a statement made by a saffron clad person. The statement was quite funny. The next instant, there was a Muslim making statements. Since past few months a lot has been revolving around religion. I seriously do not wish to be a part of a religion that creates chaos and disturbs people. Whatever is happening around religion these days makes me believe that in India, people should not be allowed to gather and give religious speeches. No religious congregations should be allowed. Why? Because some of these people create an environment that disturbs others by uttering just about anything only in the name of God. Giving unnecessary statements by these self proclaimed religious people would actually lead to a disillusionment of a section of society from the religion itself. Well, they do not even know what religion is. I have not read the Scriptures. But whatever scant reading I have done tells me one thing very clearly, that God is in every one of us. If God is in every one of us why not behave well with others?  I would rather get disenchanted with Religion if these men and women do not stop making preposterous statements.

I feel following a religion is completely a private affair. What I follow is my personal choice. Let me decide which path I wish to take. And I wish to be left on my own. I do not wish to be guided by any guru. I have a relationship with God, I have faith. I believe in some things and I wish it to be left like that. 

And let’s follow the true religion.  Let’s be humans first. 

I open my kitchen window

As the carrot and beet soup simmers on the stove

In the darkness of sky,

I lay on you my eyes.

It has been longer than I could imagine

You appear a tad brighter I have ever seen

No, your brightness remains the same

Only my eyes are to be blamed.

And then my mind does a pirouette

With a bizarre idea instead.

My eyes twinkle at the sight of soup,

Not the taste but its colour I choose.

What if I bring some mischief to the fore?

Splash the carroty beet’s colour to your core.

My mind then jumps to the wagon of spinachy green

Your smirk tells me, “Only in your dreams!”

Well, I like you with your silvery white,

Always adds to my dreamy delight.

Here, the soup seems ready to be served,

I close the window and leave you undisturbed.

First day of 2015

So we have entered the New Year 2015. I sincerely hope to make this year a fulfilling, beautiful and magical one.

The feeling of writing the first entry of the year is so overwhelming that my mind has completely gone haywire. I am searching for the right words to find their way in my blog. So much is brewing up inside, yet it seems a humongous effort to write. Let’s see what gets weaved here in the following space.

Well, to begin with, the first day of the year also happens to be my mom’s birthday. She has been so selfless and has always kept her children and her family first on her priority, I feel extremely fortunate to have her as my mother. I know every child feels this way for his/her mom. Yesterday, it was her birthday dinner cum New Year’s Eve party. Why was it yesterday and why not today? Because today she has some fast. It has nothing to do with being her birthday or the first day of the year. Every month she observes a fast on a certain day and that certain day happened to be today.

I was quite excited to be making dinner for my parents yesterday. Though the food wasn’t perfect, but I am sure they saw the soul in it. My Dad never knew I could be interested in cooking and that I could cook so many things. But I am sure this was an effort worthwhile. Preparing dinner for them is the least I could do. I am uttering the words again but I can’t stop thanking my stars to have given me such wonderful parents. Though sometimes I just do not think about their emotions and sentiments and do a few things that hurt them for sure. I sincerely wish in this year I try to be a tad more considerate towards them.

Well, it seems it has become some kind of thanksgiving on the first day. Let’s get back to my mom’s birthday. So, I had asked my sisters of what could be gifted to her. I had thought of buying it online and surprising her. So when I was discussing it with my sister, she told me she would be sending her a gift and I could order a bouquet and the cake ofcourse I would bake. The surprise gift ordered by my sister is still on its way and my mom stays unaware. She is the last person who would check my blog post so I can, without the fear of ruining her surprise, declare that there is a gift on its way. And, my sister also asked me to write a poem for my mom. It had been there in my mind too. But all this while, I would sit and write about everything else but that one poem for her. So this was when I was chatting with my sister. She asked me to write. And I got motivated. I wrote a poem then and there. And the biggest surprise for me was that I wrote in Hindi. I had wanted to write in Hindi for a long time. I finished writing the poem and at that very instant, I messaged my sister to go through it and give me her reviews. She got back to me in a while and said that apart from the first two lines that seemed incoherent, everything else seemed perfectly placed. The next moment she was telling me that I had become so “filmy” and “dramebaaz”. The next day I asked my eldest sister to review it. She also found problems with the first two lines and gave a positive response. And then she added that it was more of a shayari that I had done. She said I could try another one.

Two days passed I had only been thinking of how to write. That one foggy morning when I was still in bed my mom offered me bed tea. And it made me so pleased. Not because I love having bed tea (That was the first time I had bed tea) and I generally do not take tea and especially not the first thing in the morning but the whole idea of my mom bringing it for me made my mind work as fast as I could imagine. So that morning I wrote a poem in Hindi, got positive reviews from both my sisters and yesterday was the time when I would place it for my mom to see today morning.

She got up today and was surprised to see a greeting card from her grandson. She couldn’t understand how it reached her as there were no stamps or address that showed any sign of being delivered through post. The next thing was my poem. She really liked it. Even my Dad told me it was good. (So much appreciation on the very first day is a good start.)

The day went by calling and wishing near and dear ones to have a fruitful year. We had our neighbors who paid us a visit. In all this, I had been thinking of the bouquet that I had ordered. I hadn’t got any call from the delivery guy. It was around four that I received his call. My parents’ were busy playing Chinese Checkers. They just adore this game. I would not like it earlier as I would lose all the time but now with a few wins I feel attracted to the game. Well that was not what I wanted to tell. So the delivery guy calls ups. It is drizzling. It has been drizzling since morning. He asks directions to our house. It can be very tricky to reach our house if you miss on to the instructions. It is not that difficult to reach our place however, we have had experiences, or it would be more apt to say, previous delivery boys have had experiences of getting caught in the labyrinthine maze that leads to our house. So this guy proves to be no exception to the previous ones. He calls me a few times. I am standing at the gate patiently waiting for the flowers.  After a good fifteen minutes, the guy has successfully spotted our place. Though I had been patient, there had been also a sense of exasperation. I take the flowers which are covered in the newspaper and a polyethene bag to avoid getting damaged by the rain. My first remark is about the flowers that might have gotten wet and then I see this guy who is without a raincoat. His jacket is all soaked in water. I tell him the obvious that he also has borne the brunt of the drizzle to make myself appear a little less selfish. I genuinely thank him for the delivery and wish him a happy new year. He smiles and thanks me in return. I feel a little satisfied by his smile. After all he doesn’t really mind delivering flowers in this slight rain.

I certainly want to surprise mom with the flowers. But my parents are busy playing in the room. I keep the flowers on the central table thinking when they finish and come to the drawing room , flowers will make themselves noticed. And then this idea creeps inside my head to keep the flowers at the corner table. In between something very important shoots up and the three of us are busy discussing the cause of the trouble. It is only when one of the neighbours who came to wish us pointed out the bouquet that the secret was revealed. She thanks me for all the efforts I have put in. She might think there are no more birthday presents. Well, there is a surprise waiting and wanting to be revealed.