Phoenix Croons...

Colors

2011-11-24T19:59:00.001-08:00

When life was tender and fresh
With starlit boxes of dreams and love,
I saw the sky adorned with
Red and yellow and green.

When the sun came shining
Bright and young,
The saffron changed to golden glow
Basking in the shore of hopes.

A little later, darkness prevailed
Soaking in the palette of blue
Along came the ghost of solitude
Peeping through hamlet of sorrows.

The pain grew deeper with
The befallen night
And the color of black
Darkened the hue of tears.

But the sun rised again
To bring back
The evergreen rainbow silhouette
And life kept on smiling
To the beautiful song of love.

The Lost Heartbeat

2011-10-21T21:44:00.000-07:00

When the sun was tender
And dreams yet to shape,
I skipped a few beats here and there
Never to recall those beats in tears.
Then the wanderer came sailing
Through a strange way called likeness.
And crush happened sweetly...

Along came the river of solitude,
To take me afloat another wave
Where eyes learned to kiss the stars
And back to be with the tear drops.
That's where began the endless lovelorn saga.

A few tearful stories ahead,
The sun shined again in the heart,
And I saw many a full moon nights
Flattered by the new wings of hope.
Dreams started flying high only to
Fall deeper in the chasm again.

But phoenix never stops rising
From the ashes of love and life.
Out of the torn wilderness of loss,
He came rising like the eternal sun
To brighten up my heart with life.

Somewhere in the middle of the stormy night,
I once heard of an unspoken beat that
Rushed like a hurricane of desire
In an unheard heart with an innocent song.
It was once and for all that I heard that beat.

Never ever did the storm return.
But that storm stole one beat of mine
Not to give it back for ever.
That beat is never to be found again.
Nor that song is ever to be heard again.
Yet...whenever feelings storm out,
I hear a little sound of that lost heartbeat...

Unspoken

2011-10-12T21:19:00.000-07:00

He seemed confused
From the very first
Moment of sundrop twinkles.
Not an iota of love
Does he understand
Of the unspoken words.

He never counts the stars
Of the lonely sky.
Nor can he tell me
How the dreams get wings to fly.

When the river of longing
Flows from the seaful eyes,
He keeps on wondering
Why the heart speaks of
Strange sign language.

His is an innocent mind
Ignorant of tears and sorrows,
Of the complicated cobwebs
Of love and desire.

Yet he sings merry in
Solitude and gloom.
His eyes are oblivious
Of unknown delight.

That I keep sketching
The canvas of rainbow hues,
And building the castle
Of love and liveliness,
He is lost with a feeling
Even unknown to him...

Life and its Side Kicks...

2011-09-30T00:09:00.000-07:00

'Mundane' is a depressive word. Or at least I would like to think so. It simply reminds me of the unruly traffic, noisy honkings, serpentile footpaths, dust-clad roadways, crampy by lanes, irritating music from FM radios, Paan-stained loudmouths, and a messed up canvas of all these. But the mess does not stop there. It unknowingly transacts the same amount of mundane depression to the red building as well. The brick building that makes my bread and butter eatable. For sure, I get my comfortable money. And at the same time, the regular dose of depression. Not that it spreads too much of negative energy. But the mundanity most often bores me nearly to lifeless death. Especially when friendly faces are not around. Same old visages of truth and lies, same old oddly funny tricks, same old dusty world around.

However, as a matter of fact, life is not that bad after all. The only good thing constant is the same old salary I get every month. And the same old friendly faces that make my day worth living in those unsympathetic cabin holes (I won't ask you to try them even once!!). Life becomes much more fun when I see those familiar smiles. The sincere hugs from the near ones make me warm enough to feel the vibes of life. And it is because of all these that even the age-old cob webs in the red brick building fail to challenge my dream of living big and living full. Meanwhile, life goes on sketching the fairy tale dream and its wings...

The Other Me...

2011-09-21T03:03:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, a very good afternoon to all my near and dear ones out there. Sometimes we feel restless almost to the point of throwing the feelings out, well, I mean quite literally. At least I myself have gone through such experiences many a times since carefree days. There is this strange image within, a visage so horrifyingly true and convincing that I had to nearly come to the edge of an insomniac spirit that could survive only through literal throw-out on yellow pages. It's not many moons back that I realized the friendly ghost in me. A ghost that would later get the recognition of always following me like my shadow. Sometimes now, I even feel strongly that my shadow is the mystified ghost, and vice versa. Let me provide you with a little more reasoning behind this weird state of my otherwise stable mind.

Wherever I go, my pen-and-paper kit follows me sincerely. I love to meet new people, visit new places, learn new habits, and try newer ways of living healthy - both physically and emotionally. Every new person I cross path with brings in new motivations for me to create new web of characters. Each new location I visit crowds me with newer canvases for rainbow stories.Among them, the most attractive ones are the hill tops and its snake-coiled lonely lanes. Every bit of the pine and oak trees, haunted bungalows, deserted hotel rooms, dry and stony brooks tends to chase me with its own fairy tale. And I enjoy them all while penning down the thoughts on my yellow pages.

The point is I realized only recently that I have the ghost of a writer in me. And how! Every new thing crossing my way is a shining bright trail of unspoken emotions of unknown characters. Now even my dreams are inhabited by these wonderful emotions. All I need to do is write down the characters, and canvas the beautiful poem of emotions. This is an amazing life. And I am trying to live it to enjoy the best of it. The writer ghost in me is so alive and kicking hard! Thanks to my dreams and hopes and imaginations and adventures to the lesser known sylvan lines, and to Rusty, the man of my spiral dreams, I am on the verge of weaving a story of love and hate, smiles and tears, of eyes and ears,of a life worth living and loving. Wish me luck!

Unknown

2011-09-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

His thoughts alone
Bring the raindrops down
From the sky of seaful love.

That one odd look in his eyes
Flows the river of hopes and love
And thousand dreams.

He never knows why phoenix croons
The nameless melody of life.

That strange silence screams aloud
Of the unheard words of endless love.

Yet he never knows why butterfly dances
To the glory of dewy-eyed moons.

He weaves a beautiful poem
With every sunshine and silver line.

And in my own sky,
The silhouette shines bright.

And he is still unknown to this unspoken world...

(P.S. Now that you have woven the sylvan carpet of magical words, hope the moon shines brighter tonight!)

Less Like a Poem...

2011-08-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

What's in those eyes
I really don't understand.
But I can definitely feel
The restlessness settled in there.
Sometimes they scream loud
The waves simply wash me out.
At sleepless nights, they sing to me
A thousand twinkles of nameless love.
When sunshine smiles bright,
They capture dreams of silent thoughts.
And I find myself in the isolation
In his lost dreamy eyes.
Is it just my imagination?
Or I'm flying in his sky
Those eyes never say it right
Or I am living my dream.
But I'm sure
I am eager to ponder...

P.S. Dedicated to the curious eyes right opposite...!!!

On a Rainy Afternoon...

2011-08-19T01:46:00.000-07:00

It's raining now in Ghaziabad. Whatever the place be, rain with its rhythmic thunders is just the right thing needed after scorching heat. Today is one of those precious days when raindrops start a wonderful affair with the earthly fragrance. The weather is simply awesome. Such magical moments always remind me of special thoughts to be pondered delicately (and executed practically if possible). Let me share some of these rainy day thoughts of mine super-typical and yet superbly amazing...

...A warm cuppa with its delightful aroma.

...Munching a full platter of pakoras while indulging yourself in some honey-dip nostalgia.

...A romantic fiction is usually an inevitable requisite in a lazy and relaxed rainy day.

...I wonder if I have a small pool of fresh water to float my paper boat on. Sounds kiddish but it's extremely pleasurable, I tell you.

...Listening to Gulzar or Ghulam Ali will be an automated joy. However, Creed or ACDC also gives me an equally emotional high.

...Be at home or work, a company of wonderful people simply makes the place a happy home to unconditional happiness. Say yes to happy high!

...But being alone and left with your most favorite fiction, flick or music is the best thing to touch and feel my own world in a wonderful rainy afternoon.

Till then, enjoy your love fiction and pakoras and a hot cuppa.

Bookworm again!!!

2011-08-17T03:14:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

Seems monsoon has already reached the threshold. And it's really wonderful to feel the smell of rain-kissed earth. Apart from my mundane rush, life is going smooth. The best part is the revolutionary wave flowing among us Indians about the Anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare. India is finally boiling, and the politicos feeling the heat already. But I am here to share something more personal here.

Now that the raindrops have already drenched my heart, I have started feeling rejuvenated with life. And yes, I am back to the world of books now!!! It's really interesting to find that young and amateur authors are being inspired and motivated to put their untold feelings into wonderful words. Remembering the old habit of mine, I recently have visited a familiar bookstore. Two and a half hours later, I found myself happily carrying home a bag of five books. So I am going to explore again the mysterious world of feelings penned by these young minds. Let me savor this wonderful penned-up retreat, and then share with you these feelings. Till then, happy reading!!!

Something without a Name

2011-08-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a wonderful weekend. Although the incessant rain never left a single chance to play spoilsport, there was indeed life fresh and lively. I like such rainy days when I can indulge myself in a nostalgic splash. A nostalgia that hardly has a name. But it has a memory as sharp as the eagle's eye and as bold as the phoenix's dreams. The smoke is not much from a live fire, but it definitely exists somewhere in a remote corner unknown to my heart...

Let me clear the air a little. I am thinking of him now for whom I am a sweet dream. It gives a great feeling to be someone's poem, a special story, and an amazing journey. A little while ago, this guy reappeared out of the yellow pages of my diary and made his biggest confession that he likes me and feels special about it. The confession was indeed a special one. An honest and simple confession. He never talked much when we used to bump into each other in early years. Though we were friends. I hardly remember him even looking at me, forget giving me unusual stares. So in short, falling for me was the most unlikely thing to be imagined from his side in those days. Instead, I used to feel a little nervous when we crossed ways. He was quite a guy. But, maybe, I was the last person on earth to be thought so romantically. At least, this is what I thought then.

But then, life is not how we make of it always. Looks and thoughts can be deceptive sometimes. Seasons after seasons, we crossed ways, exchanged a few 'hi' and 'how are you?'. The likeness I had for him got hidden somewhere in my mind, and I went ahead in search of sunshine dew. It's been years now. I am no longer a versity student, and nor is he. We both teach now. He looks exactly the same. Only a little weight gained to be called a cute looking potbelly. But we still exchange regular 'hello's. Old friends never forget old habits...

Only a few months back, he resurfaced with the shocking admission. Sometimes, shocks give us a different high. A positive one. He likes me but does not want to be with me. It is a likeness that can never be defined in terms of any conventional relationship. He is already content in whatever way life has gifted him a sense of completeness in a sweet little family. He has a successful career. He has everything to be happy in life. But there is still a corner in his heart that dreams of candlelight romance, unknown nervousness of a nameless feeling. I took every word of his confession as a gesture of honesty and sincerity. He was indeed sincere. Some feelings do not go by convention. They don't have a name or any identity. But they still exist. There is always the smoke flying low, but for sure. Whenever I think of that smoke, I feel strongly that someone somewhere is burning to ashes.

Rendezvous

2011-08-15T22:58:00.000-07:00

I woke up in the morning
Crooning to a wonderful song.
My eyes dazzled in a rainbow dream.
My dream soaked in a thousand waves.
The waves floated with the sun-kissed smiles.
The smiles said there was a kiss.
The kiss was sealed with a rhythmic feeling.
The feeling sang to the starry notes.
And the notes whispered, "It has a name".
The sky sent the moon to sleep
And rose the eternal sunshine.
The dew cleared its throat
And began to speak.
My heart answered to me, "The name says you"...

After-thoughts

2011-08-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

It was a gentle breeze.
Soft and tender.
Just like his stealing glares.

That smile still makes me
Think of the thousand twinkles.
Does he still smile that way?

The mystery in his eyes
Still wakes me up in the middle of the night.
And I ask myself, "Why would he?"

I wonder if he thinks of me
And of the humble kiss.
He sealed it with trust and a phoenix touch...

My days are now shining bright.
And crooning love notes.
The ones that make life live like dreams.

Yet that mystery peeps sometimes.
When the green of my heart comes out.
And I surely ask myself, "Why would he?"

P.S. The mystery beyond love and likeness keeps coming back at my threshold.

Thousand Thoughts of You...

2011-08-05T01:40:00.000-07:00

This morning reminded me of a sunshine
Deep and bright and love-like.
The feeling was sylvan, and delicate.
And I just thought of you...

A thousand dreams and seaful tears back,
Life was a lot like the endless chasm.
Then came the season of the sun and springful rain...

Dreams got wings and tears, the tulip-red twigs,
Each shined in the sky of love.
Stars asked me twice, "Are you twinkling more than me?"

And I was sitting on the yellow leaf,
Floating over the pink sparkles.
Morning glory told me, it's the new color of love...

And I floated on the thousand thoughts of you...

Rain, Wild Mushrooms and a 11000 Feet Dream...

2011-08-01T03:59:00.000-07:00

It was a sunshine morning when the bus stopped at Bhuntar. When I boarded the local bus, the fresh feeling started to sip into my mind. A really wonderful feeling that gives you wings to fly - without any worries, tension, and with just a relaxed heart. The bus trip was pretty cool from New Delhi. My point is when you have good company, every boring place on earth gets disappeared in a fraction of time...

It took me into another world of lush green luxury when the bus left me at Kasol. A paradise in Himachal Pradesh for travel bugs like me and my pals. I love green as always. The serene view, the restless river Parvati, and the wonderful hilly ambience. I just loved it. The paradise of hippies ideally made us the ones among the seekers of sylvan adventure. So coming to the point again, hill stations in India are those places where you surrender yourself completely in the heavenly hands of nature. And the sureshot bonus is the innocence of love inhabited in the rustic hearts...

Our final destination was Kheer Ganga. We started on a wonderful morning after having filled our hungry tummies with Israeli breakfast and Fruit Muesli. It took us six and a half hours to witness the most amazing sunshine splashing behind the snow-clad Himalayas. The hot spring bath was just relaxing. Add to the butter-laced cake is the privilege of savouring Pizzas with Lemon tea in front of a wild furnace at an altitude of 11000 feet. So to speak of my mind, great food, good company and a snow-covered greenery can definitely make you feel like the queen of the paradise on earth. Does that come from a BMW or a 6 BHK flat...

Love to say that we should love nature for what it gifts us. The sylvan ray that we see around us, the greenery that breathes around us, and the heart that dreams within us - these are the stuff we should always carry forward. Hills are where love always plays and grows quietly. A mind with love for nature can only understand this. And I say, paradise abodes here...Happy nature loving.

Hues...

2011-04-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

It's a large canvas
And I'm painting love
Blending with two eyeful of greens
A sea-ful of blues and
A heart-ful of pinks

Then came the starry sky
And a thousand moon
I gave them wings to fly
And a heart to smell life
And the rendezvous came alive

Two breaths later it asked me
What's on the menu for dreams
And I thought of rainbows
It then said, "What color do you want love to be?"
Then I thought of you...

My Newfound Love...

2011-04-16T03:19:00.000-07:00

It's only 6.50 in the morning, but the hustle and bustle started already. The new 6-coach metro train has a bigger coach reserved for ladies. But that does not hold any solution to the ever-growing crowd. There's hardly any place to stand properly, not even to breathe normally...

This is how my day starts. Monday to Saturday, life is indeed a metro ride for me. Climbing buses in early morning, rushing for catching the crowded metro, waiting for a tense 10 minutes for the cab, hopping along with the Dasna dust, and not to forget the railway crossing just before my college gate. I wonder if there will be a single day without that bloody traffic creeping near the crossing...I know that day will never come...

I am living the metro life - typical, fast-paced, creepy, dusty, noisy, and the adjectives go on for a long unending queue. I am working, independent, enjoying life on my own terms and conditions. Financially independent has a lot more to tag along. I am flying like a free bird, but it has its own cost too...

The city is getting crowded, roads noisier, places busier. But I am loving every bit of it. Surprisingly true. The girl who used to hate noise and long only for pleasant calmness and poetic silence, is now in love with this noise. However, it is a different noise for me. The busy and noisy life of Delhi has a somewhat special silence and calmness drawing me deeper and closer. It has been more than a decade that I have made this city my home. And I love my abode...

Everyday I start with the same noise and same rush, but every time it gives me a different taste, a different high. Even in the rush, I find love coming through my way silently. I usually travel standing among the crowd in the Ladies Coach of metro. No option left regarding that choice. But the feeling of love comes afresh all the time. Love surrounds the air and crowd I travel in and with. At the end of every busy day I spend, I feel being loved with an unknown but wonderful pleasure. I am in love with the city, with its noise, its rush, its craziness, its weird creepiness, its dust, its rain, its pleasure, its pain...everything that flows with the city gradually connects me to its heart. After all, it is my home now. The joys, sorrows, smiles, tears, friends, competitors, folks, companions, crushes, food, shops, movies, walks, rain, sunny days, quiet evenings, disco nights, lethargy, cheats, fakes, rush, songs, poems...everything I got from this city has made me the free bird I am now. And I love to fly on my own little sky...

The Unspoken...

2011-04-07T04:39:00.000-07:00

The dawn seems alright
The sunshine quite bright
The only missing thing is you...

I've been to the skies and back
The rush was inevitable
Because you made my day...

The stars felt shy
When you became my moon
And we weaved a sea of dreams...

Together we crossed the wish lake
And made vows of love
To remain in love forever...

Now the dreams seem alright
And love shining quite bright
The only missing thing is you...

Dreams

2011-03-24T01:59:00.000-07:00

Dreams of gold...
And dreams of diamond
Dreams that speak the glitters of sunshine
And dreams that smell the petals of rose
Some more dreams to feel love...
And yet some more to smell life...
Dreams that come through the morning glow
Dreams that go beyond the star-clad sky
And there are more skies with more dreams
And I still cherish among all those dreams
The dream of you that makes me alive...

Romancing the Hills...

2010-12-19T22:02:00.000-08:00

There is something special about the hills, something extraordinarily wonderful and attractive that draws people to its realm. For me, it's an unconditional romance with the hills. I love to explore those mystic, sylvan mountains, get disappeared somewhere in the green lines, the snow-clad carpets, the mysterious glares of the hillocks, and yes, the innocent charm of the aboders there. The whole experience takes you to a world of dreams totally different from the hustle bustle of stereotypical practicality. And again and again, I would love to say, I love hills...

My recent trip to McLeodganj (a popular destination for trekkers, foodies and mountain explorers) was one such experience full with vibrant emotions. It's a paradise both for adventure enthusiasts and foodies. Now let me share a little more detailed information about this wonderful place. Situated in Himachal Pradesh, India, McLeodganj is a small township with mostly Tibetan population. The mini Tibbet is actually the current abode of the Dalai Lama. No wonder people out there are not at all surprised to find celebs like Richard Gere roaming around the busy market areas. Wish I could find him there during my trip...

For the adventure lovers, the place offers a number of trekking options. For records, I accidentally bumped upon the idea of enjoying a 24Km long trekking to Triund (a must visit for trekkers) through Dharamkot above Bhagsu Valley. The camping sites on top of Triund were just too amazing, and I simply could not resist the chance of camping there for the night. The moon looked exceptionally radiant that night...

Back to foodies' interests!!! This is something I would love to repeat...! Crowded by foreign tourists throughout the year, the food junctions are simply mouth-watering!!! Mexican, Israeli, German, English, French, you name it, and all the delicious cuisines will be ready at your service. And mark my words, the taste will remind you directly of its original source. The apple pies, banoffy pies, carrot cakes, lasagne dishes, pancakes...simply finger-licking...

Nightlife in McLeodganj is truly a treat for nocturnals like me. You can hop on Hookah Bar for a delightful Sheesha experience. Or visit Nick's Italian Kitchen and Jimmy's Italian Kitchen for a romantic nightout. Don't forget to rush to Family Pizzaria in the small hamlet of Dharamkot for the most delicious pizzas ever...

New year's approaching. Santa's ringing too, it's time for attending the midnight mass and devoring to your heart's desire at Dilli Haat. Till then, keep smiling and prepare your dance numbers for the New Year Bash...

Fun can Wait

2010-05-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

Hi folks, this is a crucial time I am going through these days. While trying to concentrate on my skin, I keep myself occupied with studies too. Well, the last phase of my PhD has finally arrived. And I am excited to share this small yet special kind of happiness with you. After some candid years of get-togethers, aimless evening walks, afternoon tea times, midnight strolls, and then some tense moments of unnecessary hurdles, sudden upheavals, unexpected break-ups, and again some wonderful discovers of love, friendship and happiness, I am finally over with my thesis. The most important point is my PhD stood by me through all the time of ups and downs. And now, it's time to deliver the fruit. I'll be submitting my research work of five long years within the next two weeks. All I want to say at this point of time is that I am very happy with how life took me through all the lights and darks, goods and bads, togetherness and loneliness. Just want to say thank you my dear friends for being with me throughout. The close ones will definitely realize the depth of my feeling now. For everyone out there, let me just wish you guys a very happy and wonderful weekend. If darkness hovers, don't close your eyes. Just face it and be sure that 'EVEN THIS WILL PASS AWAY'. Take care guys. Ciao.

My New Interest

2010-04-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

Summer is back in Delhi, with its characteristic dry days, irritably scorching heat, accompanied by long power cuts. Studies are going fine. And so is my freelancing. In fact, these days I'm quite occupied with my research work. For updates, all my chapters are done. All revision works completed. I am currently busy doing the formatting stuff. So in short, my thesis is finally going to be over by next month. I will be over with it, and that will be the end of my student life if at all I prefer not to go for a Post Doc program. For the time being, there is no plan of studying any longer. But you never know...

Well, apart from my thesis and the freelancing and routine life, there is something I have recently developed interest in. And it is SKINCARE. I think for the first time in my life, I am focusing on my otherwise neglected skin. And I am really enjoying it. Last week, I gave it a thought, a serious one. And I started reading on skincare types and products, almost everything about skincare. And believe me, I felt so relieved to know my skin type and the products recommended for it. Earlier, I found it very 'girly' stuff, but now I think I was wrong. Caring your skin is very essential, especially when you are at the threshold of ageing. So I went to the nearest shopping mall for cosmetics shopping !!! This was INDEED a 'girly' thing I did and it didn't bore me even once.

So I ended up buying a couple of skincare products including a new face wash, a body lotion, day cream, night cream, and foot care products. I made a total change in my cosmetics box. However, I am yet to buy lip care products, and crazily hunting for a good foot cream. All this while, my guy was being supportive of everything. I liked it that he showed special care to go with me and help me do the cosmetics shopping which most guys would otherwise hate to do. All I want to say is I am happy with whatever I bought. And more than that, I am very much happy the way my guy stood by me in everything I did. Being 30 is now, I believe, a blessing I am enjoying right now. Wish everybody has a great weekend. And friends, please do take care of your healthy skin to keep it healthier.

Heritage India

2010-04-13T01:57:00.000-07:00

Nothing can surpass the beauty of the heavenly Taj Mahal, Agra.

Akbar's predecessors lie peacefully at Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi.

Feel your contact with the Divine at the Lotus Temple, New Delhi.

On Parents of Delhi's Kids

2010-02-16T10:49:00.000-08:00

Much to my discomfort and annoying situations, something typical happened today evening at my colony. The place is a residential area. I like it as it is not noisy at all and inhabited by families. So I'm pretty much at home when I sit all day long on my computer to work on my thesis or my freelancing assignments. There is so much peace in here.

However, the peace is broken sometimes although occasionally. Today was one of those moments. While trying to concentrate more on my thesis revision, I heard a very irritating scream of a child. This is very much common in the evenings as children of this area come out to play. That is when the noise pollution starts, I must say. So I tried to avoid that scream thinking some mischievous kids are at play again. I continued my focus on the chapter.

After a few minutes, a few other voices added to the kid's that caught my attention again. When I went out, I came to know that some paedophiliac has tried to do something with the little child when she screamed. This is really serious business; the security of children is at high risk today especially in metros like Delhi. I was really taken aback, but I knew such situations are not new here although it is really unfortunate.

When I saw the child, she was literally shivering. Poor girl, but she was brave enough to save herself from the clutch of that idiot. What made me irritated and a little angry is the argumentation of those two ladies. When I came out to ask what exactly happened, they started accusing me of being so ignorant about the whole thing and clumsy enough to avoid the situation which would have been more dangerous for the child had she not saved herself. Then my neighbor also came out and the two ladies again directed the same accusations to them.

What is unfortunate is that the bad thing was almost about to happen to the kid. What is ridiculous is that the two ladies didn't think it wise enough to take care of their own children. I realized soon that one of the two ladies was the mother of the child. She sent her little daughter to buy milk from a shop at the back of the colony, and that too in the late evening. She didn't even once think it to be her fault to send her daughter in the dark, but kept on accusing her neighbors for not attending to the danger of her daughter.

That's how parents are in Delhi, at least most of them. You go to the theater and will surely find at least one kid loitering in the isle crying and searching helplessly its parents. Be it in the shopping malls or any common marketplaces on festivals, the parents here are least bothered about keeping their kids together. What bother them most is their bargaining with the shoppers and how successful they can get in striking the cheapest deal while buying the latest saree or sandal. I think it's high time parents here become more responsible for securing their own children rather than bothering others to keep an eye on them. The metro is developing fast and so is the cloud of danger. It's time parents should spend more time with their kids rather than on earning and spending money. Meanwhile, I want to tell that kid that she is really brave and I wish her all the very best for everything that comes on her way.

30 and Loving it

2010-01-14T01:36:00.001-08:00

So the new year has brought a new leaf too. I'm thirty now! And guess what, I'm enjoying it like any other of my teen years. Life has not changed much, although people around me changed a little. Not all, though. My new beginning started in a bus, was travelling, enjoying every bit of life. There was a good old time when I used to think of being-thirty as the end of freedom. I always thought of the thirty-goers as quite old lot who are mother of (at least) one child, happily messed up life married life and of course, the mundanity becomes practically the romantic world for them. They have to keep themselves occupied with the lives of their husbands, children and in-laws. So technically saying, that's the end of their personal freedom.

But now, after crossing that line, I have realized it differently. Being thirty is not that bad for a woman, that too an unmarried one. Although there is family pressure for the wedding bells, things are pretty cool when I think of my life as that of an absolutely free bird. I am still enjoying my student life. I am freelancing and growing my little piggy bank faster every day. It's nice to feel how independent I am, financially, emotionally and practically. This is the time when I believe I can take care of my life pretty well. I can smartly step ahead with serious decisions in life. I can understand all the small and big problems and issues of my guy. I can speak to my parents on why I don't want to get married now. I can take a quiet stroll around the campus to enjoy a beautiful evening all by myself. I can simply pack my bag and set off to a hill station for the weekend. I can discuss problems with cousins and close friends without any inhibition, and laugh out together when we know things are being stretched unnecessarily.

So being thirty gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction to realize that life is actually beautiful with all those ups and downs I have experienced till now, and indeed braved them well. Sometimes, we should complement and thank ourselves for what we have done, how we have done, and for being the way we are. There is nothing good that we cannot do, and nothing bad that we cannot face and survive. Bad has its own meaning, and it's in our hands to turn it into something good. At least this is what I feel about my life. Things can be different with others, and I respect their decisions and reactions. But what happens in my life definitely can be under my control. I can work on it, even if it does not change me into something great overnight, I know life still has to go on, and I can make it a better one in coming future.

A little too philosophical I guess. But this is how I felt on my thirtieth birthday. And I felt quite strong to realize all this. Let me wish myself a very happy new year ahead. May God shower upon me His kindness and love so that I can see the beautiful side of things and feel the uglier side, and turn it into a better one. Meanwhile, keep smiling and enjoying every bit of life.

Festive Time and My Farmville Syndrome

2010-01-14T00:59:00.000-08:00

So these are two topics now. The fun fever that started with Christmas is continuing with much fervor. I am happy to celebrate Magh Bihu, Makar Sankranti and Pongal today - all the festivals related to the harvest tradition of India. Being an Assamese, I am entitled to enjoy the festival of feast (Magh Bihu is the feasting festival of Assam). So there are traditional Assamese fish curry for Bihu. Thank God, I've learned how to cook my traditional dishes (all by myself though!). Meanwhile, feasting is going on...

And at the same time, my tryst with Farmville (on Facebook) is almost becoming an obsession. I simply cannot stop playing it even if I know I have little time to do my pending works. It's becoming a healer for me relieving me from unwanted tension and other stress. I even dream of my virtual farm sometimes. Once I was collecting farm cashes in my dream after selling off vegetables. That is heights! But thankfully, it is not that of an obsession due to the festive season. Anyway, Farmville still continues...

Coming back to the festive moments, I am heading to the holy city of Haridwar soon. The Maha Kumbh Mela starts off today. Devotees will crowd the place, but I will be there for some relaxation. Not in the worship place, but at my guy's home. Planning to have a wonderful weekend with friends and loved ones there. Till then, I wish you all a very happy and enjoyable weekend. Life is not about long or short. What matters is how much you enjoy your present. And I hope you are doing just that.