Tennis to my rescue

So I have this mundane life where I get up, pack my heavy laptop bag, go to the library, sit and work and then come back, have food, again go back to the library with the same heavy bag and after a few hours get back to the hostel and sleep. Wow, how boring! I have nothing to look forward to. I dread carrying this bag that takes a toll on my shoulders. I don't want to hold anything in my hands. I am fed up of carrying the laptop, the copy, the pencil bag, the water bottle, my phone. Why can't my hands be free of all this burden? So I am complaining silently about the routine that has become my life And out of nowhere, one day, the saving grace appears via a message on my phone. My friend asks me if I want to play tennis in mornings. I instantly say yes. Who would not love to play tennis? I reply him positively and voila I have something interesting in life (yes that is quite exciting for me). The best part of my day is when I hold that tennis racket and feel like one great tennis player. 

So we start playing. I have resumed playing almost after five years. In fact, five years ago, I learnt how to play this sport. I have always liked watching tennis and playing too. So, during our practice sessions, we try to rally as much as possible. In the beginning, it was hard to keep the ball inside the court. But now, that I am playing regularly, the rhythm comes gradually to me.

So the first match we play is of three games ( If I recall it well), which I lose. The score is 1-2. I atleast manage to win a game.The following days we start playing match of a whole set. There have been scores like 0-6. Of course the 'love' in the score is mine. But I have improved a lot. This one particular match where I had served first (I serve first in every match though), I won my game with the initial score of 1-0. Then it seemed my friend played a better game and I made quite a lot unforced errors, the score progressed like 1-3. I bucked myself up and levelled it to 3-3. I was so happy. The score went further on equals and it became 4-4. And then, again I got caught in the web of unforced errors. And the final score read like 4-6. However, I was satisfied with my performance. 

Now, today, I had an equally good day in tennis. So, I lost my first game, 0-1. Then I bounced back by equalling the game at 1-1. It seemed today, we were meant to break each other's serves. I only made one point on my serve in the whole match. Now, again, it was a neck to neck match today. The score had gotten to 4-4. The next game, my friend, he won. He broke my serve. And then the final one. I had thought I would manage to make the score 5-5. But it so happened that after having so many deuces and advantages, finally I faced a defeat again. The score was 4-6.

Now, I have challenged my friend that tomorrow, it's going to be me who will be the winner ( though I had changed the perspective while telling him and said that he is the one who will lose). Well, whichever way, the winner is going to be me tomorrow. Let's see, how interesting tomorrow's match is!!

My Train Journey!

I love travelling by trains. I have mostly travelled by trains in my life so far. And whatever it has been, I have loved every bit of it. Indian Railways are beyond doubt the lifeline for Indian masses who would have otherwise not been able to cover the length and breadth of the country so quickly. It was during my train journey to Goa that I got all the more awed by travelling in trains. 

Railways have always fascinated me. Right from the engines of trains to their coaches, the railway tracks to the platforms, the hawkers with their items, the stations' names on the yellow or white boards, the bridges and the rivers that trains pass by, the mountains and the tunnels they take us through, the lush green fields or the deserted terrains, the countryside, the people we meet during our journeys, the inevitable complaints about a dirty toilet, or the unappetizing pantry food. All of this contributes to my love for train journeys.

When I came to know that I was supposed to go to Goa, I didn't even care to check the flight tickets. I knew the prices would be sky high for me even if they saved my time. But who wanted to save time? I decided to board a train instead that would take around 30 hours to reach my destination. But I wasn't sure if I would get a ticket as all of them were booked already and were running in waiting. I had been left with the only choice of getting a ticket through Tatkal. Now, Tatkal is yet another adventurous option created by Indian Railways to add to the thrill of your experience. I certainly had my share of chills and thrills but somehow I managed to get my ticket and I knew I was getting on to this train that would cover more than 1800 kilometers to reach Goa.

And I am glad I took a train. The only journey I had made till now to the west of the country was going till Bombay (for me it will always remain Bombay and not Mumbai). I hadn't been further south until this trip. And I discovered the joy of travelling through Konkan Railways. With this train, I had traversed 6 states to reach the seventh. Each state has its own set of topography that distinguishes it from the other. The first day took us through Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, MP and Gujarat. While the next morning I got up in Maharashtra where my train had stopped for quite some time. We had stopped at a place I would have otherwise never known. Though it wasn't a stoppage, since on the way ahead it was a single line, it was supposed to stop at many of these small stations as it had no choice. So this morning I got up to find myself in Kolad, which happens to be a rafting destination.

And my train, to my utter delight continued to stop at unknown small towns. After a while, we reached Ratnagiri. We had some fresh cucumbers that the lady had been selling at the station. There was also this watermelon guy with juicy watermelons. However, I did not step that far for the fear of missing my train as it only had a two minutes halt. But I decided to taste them for sure when I would be on my return journey (and yes I did). At each station, we came across some tea vendors, some wadapav walas or some fruit sellers.

When we were travelling on the Konkan Railways route, we came across several tunnels. I have never taken on a journey in India where I had ever come across a tunnel, so it got me all excited about this trip. Passing through tunnels, then coming out of them, traversing the beautiful and rustic landscape of the coast made me drift away in my dream world. My thoughts also went to the labourers and the workers who had actually put in all their efforts to lay the railway tracks in the country in all sorts of terrains and again I was awed. I cannot be enough thankful to them who make my journeys so interesting when I travel by train.

Following all these ideas in my head, I finally reached one of my dream destinations with all the excitement and fervour. I wish to go again to Goa but whenever I go , I would like to take a train.

Spring Reverie!!

I was talking to someone one day. In the middle of our conversation, she happened to utter a beautiful sentence. She said, “I would love to get lost one day.”

To some it might sound crazy. To a few like me, it might strike a chord. And for some others, it wouldn’t ring any bell at all, like the option of ‘can’t say’ in the surveys. And yet there would be other set of people reacting to it in various ways.

When I think about it, ideas ripple in my mind. Do I want to get lost? Really? Am I not already lost in this huge, wide world? I don’t know where am I headed towards. So am I  lost? And then it strikes again. Yes I would love to be lost. Although not like someone gone missing and then her/his family n friends worry to death. No I hate to imagine all the worst possiblities that one would or could come across in this whole idea of getting lost.

And however, I would like to be lost. Lost in the nature! I dream of travelling by train someday and getting down to some unknown destination, that was never supposed to be mine. Maybe somewhere closer to the sea or higher up in the hills? Where there would be fields, blooming flowers, clear blue sky with deep blue waters of the sea. I’d get lost in the lap of nature, in its calm and serene environs, where I’d savour every single moment.

I’d be far from the bondage of society and yet far from the worries that encompass our daily lives and farther from superficial social connections. I’d lead life in peace with a diary and pen ofcourse at my disposal. I’d create stories while lying down on the greenest of grass, under some shade of some tree where the sunlight would stream in on me.

When the sun would start setting, making way for the night, I would go near the sea. I would listen to the sounds of waves under the starry night. Ideal for weaving dreams!

And if some traveler, some day would pass by my abode, I would interact with her/him. I would listen to his stories and s/he would hear mine. I could give her/him letters addressed to my family members and friends to let them know I am safe and comfortable and would be visiting them soon.

How fascinating! I wish I could lead a life like this for a while. Away from civilization and then when I would have had enough of my fantasy I would make my way back to my people who would have been genuinely waiting for me.  

Amidst moonlight,
against this dark night,
step into your dream
and sail through.
Able to weave
a world of your own,
sit across the sea,
stroll along the shore.
Abound with liberty, this
abode of pleasures,
scent of the roses
spreading all over.
Awakened thus, by the sunshine
streaking against the morning mist
surfaces the real,making you
aware of the withered delight.

A day old,

I had held you in my arms.

First time ever, a baby so small,

had I cradled,

overcoming my initial fear. 

That night

in the hospital,

you denied us sleep

with your recurring cries,

worrying us to the core.

And now you are

a month old,

I brim with confidence

when I rest you in my arms.

You are the first for me,

whom I have played with

at such a tender age.

You are so small and fragile,

your clenched fist

loosen sometimes to hold our fingers,

and that small cute nose of yours and your thin lips,

that sometimes give a smile

make our hearts bright.

But the best for me is

when in fleeting moments

you change expressions

while still asleep,

you cry at one instance 

and suddenly you would smile

unmindful that you are being watched

by these affectionate eyes.

 

Wintry mornings!

I open my eyes. It's still dark. I check for time on my cell phone. It's 6 in the morning. Realizing, it is yet not time to get up, I pull up my blanket a little. I slide in for the warmth and shut my eyes, ready to weave another dream.

A little while later, though this little while spans for almost two hours, my eyes open again, I can feel that darkness has slipped away. I CAN get up at this hour. But no, this is not the right time, not for someone who has been embraced by  laziness that wintry mornings engender. No force within me can fight this state.Or should I say, I have tuned my mind not to. Such is the delight in a winter morning. 

These days, every morning I wake up, I go out of my room and when the cool air brushes my face, it seems the day has been colder than the previous one. By everyday, winters seem to fortify their position. I don't know about others, but there is someone who has been reveling in these cold winter mornings. And that's none other than me. 

I wish they stay here for sometime. I wish there be some more fog. Fog that envelops you in its embrace to the extent that it blurs your immediate surroundings. I wish there be some cool breeze that touches your face, seeps inside and give you the chill and thrill. 

Why do I feel guilty? Why do I sound cruel? By the night, there is a clash of the romantic and the realist within me, the one that glorifies winter mornings and the other whose thoughts reach out to those who dread winter for the lack of protection from the frightening and fatal cold. Thus, I earnestly wish, everyone gets protected and gets a chance to witness these enchanting winter mornings.

The first entry of 2014

I always write when there is an urge to pen down my thoughts from within. And yes, I have an inspiration in this new year : the Little Angel who joined our family a few days ago. The first thing that you'd notice about her is that she is so small as any other new born, of course they are meant to be that way. I know it is a plain and simple fact but yet it could be a little overwhelming to hold this small little child in your arms.  

I wonder what should be going on in her thoughts. Till so far, she had been hiding from the big world in her mother's womb. She only knew her mommy as she had been protecting her. And here she is now facing us all. So many people around her, that she will recognize as her family when she grows up. Her eyes don't even open completely yet. But whenever she opens them, they seem to be contemplating or so I am guessing. As the time passes, she will be discovering the world. 

It is not only her, I should admit who is experiencing this newness. The parents themselves, my sister and my brother-in-law are having a never before experience and that will change their lives. Bringing up kids in the world is such a huge responsibility. Their whole world will now revolve around the little girl. She is the cynosure of their lives from now on. Knowing them, I am certain they will make a pair of very cool and wonderful parents. She is for sure lucky to have them.

Having a new member in the family always brings such an immense joy. And that we have entered this new year with the blessing of this little angel, I can foresee the happiness, pleasure, adventure that await us through out this year. I hope this year be fruitful for all of us.