PERSPECTIVE

There I lay – in wait of my master. Around me were others, doing the same.

I looked around at my surroundings. There was a pair of worn out chappals, one which had seen many a long, dusty road, lying close to a pair of branded flip-flops.

I tried to imagine the two owners standing side-by-side, just like their footwear. All I felt was despair. It seemed unimaginable.

I looked at myself, an ordinary pair of Bata sandals. Even I couldn’t stand my ground near those flip-flops.

Mundane thoughts filled my head.

Suddenly there was a huge commotion. I looked ahead and saw two mangled vehicles! A bus and an SUV. People scurried across to see how they could help.

I heard footsteps near me and saw a pair of unknown, hirsute, dirty feet wear me and walk hurriedly away from the scene. First, the footsteps were urgent, then they slowed down, and then they turned back toward the accident site. I thought the thief had had a change of heart and wanted to return me to my owner. However, he crossed the spot where I was kept and ran toward the accident site. He started helping others in breaking open the jammed windows of the bus.

The SUV door had already been broken open. A bloodied and unconscious young man was carefully being carried out by what seemed like street urchins. They were thin, grimy and disheveled. The man must have been wearing white shoes, which had now been ripped apart in the incident.

I saw a sliver of a blue tick mark on what remained of the shoes. The urchins wore no footwear.

Though I missed my owner, now, I didn’t mind the thief either. He moved from one window to the next, skillfully breaking them open, without hurting the ones inside. People were slowly trying to crawl out.

From one corner I saw that the flip-flops (remember the branded ones?) too had reached the scene, and was helping a haggard old woman out of the bus. After getting her out, he swiftly bent down and brought out her cloth bag and slippers, ones which had seen much wear and tear. He helped her steady herself on the ground, gave her a smile, and then busied himself with getting the others out of the mangled remains.

Hope. Prevails.

So Far Yet So Near….

As the day to part draws near

I wonder if that is all I fear

Would you remember me..or..you won’t?

Would you call me if I don’t?

I wish I could show that I don’t care

But fooling the heart is not something I dare

Wish I could listen to yours like I do mine

Wish I knew all would be fine

Wish things would be clear….

things..I hold so dear..

You know how much you mean to me..

yet..This is how you wish to be..

So near yet so far..

The insides always at war..

to be frank or not to be

It’s all plain, yet you don’t see..

Wonder what stops you..

Wonder why it doesn’t stop me too..

One is to try though he fails

Live life with all it entails

Then, why do you fear

And are So far..yet so Near..

Isn’t life to get a chance?

Why throw it all away at a glance?

I Know of all the pain inside

but they are for oneself to take aside..

With someone to share it all

(whom you are trying to stall..)

You want one to be there and yet not be..

And I agree to be..

So far..and yet..so near..

For someone so dear….

For my Friend....

An integral part you were

Of something that was never meant to be

Now it feels sorrowful

To let go of something so mundane

Though I pushed you away

I still needed the assurance of your presence

Somewhere..Somehow

But now I'm told

To release the tie that binds

For it binds you..not only to me..

But to everything which we had together..

You needed to move on

And only I could help

To unclasp the clasped hands

Was the most difficult thing to do

Wondering what it all meant

And why it just had to happen

Forgive me if you can

Maybe one day I'll be courageous

To face you, to face my mistake

Till then..don't miss me..

Move on to people more deserving..

But one thing I'll say..

You, my friend, will be missed..

For being there..when I wasn't..

Of Sights and Sounds..

On one boring day, (one of the many odd boring days that I had the pleasure of enjoying) having time to kill, I found even the softest of sounds..even the merest of sights..appealing to me..

Had never stopped to wonder how much the sound of footsteps on dry leaves fascinates me..the rustling of leaves in the wind..the sound of an enfield cruising by..

the sound of your favorite song playing across the corner..the sound of an airplane or a helicopter..that instantly makes you look up..the sound of your cellphone ringing when you are expecting a call..the sound of distant..rumbling clouds..the sound of the rain against your window..the sound of galloping horses ( yeah..don’t get to hear that often..)

the sound of the guitar being strummed (yes..it was Les Paul’s b’day yesterday..) the uncorking of a bottle..the boiling over of milk..the flapping of pages in the wind..( some books get opened only that way :P ) the splashing of water..

The list seems endless..but what nature enables us to see, too, is equally enchanting..

The sight of the setting sun..the rush of waves towards you on the beach (did I mention waves in the sounds?? )

a baby smiling at you..

great dancers on the floor..

a flock of birds flying in a formation (and you have no clue how they maintain it and why) the rains splashing..and the trees swaying happily..

the sight of good food ( a yummy dessert maybe? ) the sight of wispy clouds whooshing by.. a shooting star..the starry nights on a cloudless day..the crescent moon..that stays on only for a few minutes..

One could go on and on..but..how often do we actually sit down to enjoy what we really like?

Was this post about time to see and hear of all this..or the lack of it? No clue..

End terms...........Tomorrow!!

Everyone's busy studying..People hardly coming out of their rooms..staying locked up inside..coming out only to eat.. (Sometimes not even that !!) Missing the sound of chatter in the hostel corridors.. :(
Wish that time would just fly..and end up "at" the afternoon of Thursday :P Wishful thinking..

But then..there is always a little time to enjoy the subtle pleasures of life I guess.. Realized this in the evening, when I looked out the window..and saw the sky turn a beautiful crimson-yellow-orange color..as the Sun bid us adieu for the day..promising to meet up early tomorrow..yes..am going to rise early tomorrow..which reminds me, I still have loads to study.. Bye for now.. :)

HAPPINESS..

A word which has different meanings for different people.. a word with a myriad of interpretations.. so how would you define the word? An A in the project? Getting your dream job? A lot of money in hand? Booze all day? A date with your spouse? A Long drive? 2-square meals in a day? A place to live in? Watching a movie for the umpteenth time and still crying at the emotional climax????

Or..when you get to smile so much, you forget all your worries.. and just want the feeling to continue?

As I'm writing this, I see myself remembering all the good times I've had in life.. and trust me, none of them connect with money.. I’ve had so many beautiful moments in life.. When I got a beautiful watch as a gift.. When I was thrilled with some results.. Whenever we went out with friends.. Whenever we friends, remembered our outings.. Some first experiences.. and lots and lots and lots more..

But then.. do we feel happy because we were able to get a gift without spending money? Because we could go out and get to spend money on stuff we really like?

Or is it because, you feel happy when others around you are happy? You get a surprise gift, it’s the surprise that gives you joy.. when you see your parents are proud of you, you feel you are worth it.. When your friends miss you when you aren’t around..your life’s got meaning..

When you walk on the streets and find a tramp begging..and you give him a chocolate..you see a smile light up his face.. doesn’t it make your day??

Happiness is all about perceiving it in your heart..not about measuring it in your brain..

Just go out there..and let loose.. probably that will give you the happiness you seek.. Holding yourself, restraining yourself..doesn't help.. Happiness is all about being yourself..not being what others want you or expect you to be..

Have a Happy Life..

This post is written in reply to a post by a friend, @ www.theplaceanindyo.blogspot.com

(Boral, you better treat me for the free advertising I just gave your blog :P )

First rain of June..

There I was..standing still as usual.. no wind blowing..not even a breeze.. nobody beside me.. no one dares venture outside these days.. but I'm always outside..forever waiting..for those sweet little droplets of water..

It was growing dark in the western horizon.. Another show of a storm I thought..these had teased the city for the past 2 weeks now.. I stood still.. I knew it was just going to drizzle and blow off..

The cool winds started blowing..and I started swaying happily..

The clouds kept gathering over me..but no sign of rain yet.. Will it elude me again?

No.... here come the first drops of water..and as they hit the earth, the divine earthy smell.. And there I was..swaying and dancing in the rain..taking it all in..after all, it was June's first rain..

As it rained more, the land and I cooled off..and the weather was immensely pleasurable again..how I wish it was like this forever..

As the rains subsided, one could clearly see the true beauty of nature.. The lush greenery everywhere.. every blade of grass, every little plant..every tree..showing its true colour..it was their way of thanking the clouds..it was their way of showing their joy at being showered upon.. I, too, was beaming with joy.. I was one of them..

Soon the colour around me changed to a bright yellow, though it was evening..then a dull red..

Soon it will be night..time for a slumber..

I'll dream of those playful days again..when kids used to play around me..when they came to sit in my shade.. and I would happily listen to their chatter..

Yes..those days would come again soon.. for summer's almost over..

I'm the lone tree..standing in the ground.. soon I'll be surrounded.. The First rain of June has made me feel young again..

Not All's Lost....

Destiny's a word that's doing the rounds inside most of my friends' minds at the moment.. But I doubt if ever anyone would be able to understand its working.. Fate.. as some people put it.. Who decides it for everyone??

Do WE get to write it for ourselves? I doubt.. A lot many events which unfolded in the past one month definitely made me sit up and think.. about this mundane existence which we call "Life"..

What is it that drives us forward? What is it that makes us strive..even though we know we may not get our fair share of the pie?

Luck, they say, favours the brave.. the deserving.. But it doesn't favour them all the time does it? Why is it so?

Failures may be the stepping stones to success. But if each failure makes you go deeper into a shell, when will you find your staircase to success?

Wish someone was out there waiting to answer all my queries..

They say, Whatever happens, happens for the best.. But I'm starting to think of it in a different light..

Whatever happens, happens to bring out YOUR best..

HOPE is the only way forward. It helps one perform to his potential the day he actually needs to..

And as for the staircase to success, one probably just needs to build an elevator.....

A Long Hiatus

Have taken a long break now.... but am yet to come up with something good enough to write..

It's been so hectic, this semester.. what with assignments,tests,training and all those other things which we never want to do!!

I've been drained of the little energy that I had got..

So, even though these thoughts may seem inconsequential to you..the reader.. I sign off with a promise..only to myself..that I'll soon come up with something more concrete to write about.

Not some garble that comes in my mind the moment I open my blog page!!

I don't know what to title this post.. A subject, which everyone knows about, and still ignores.. Because they only feel apathy towards it all..

Try being a woman,walking down the road.. You'll see.. rather, feel the male gaze at the back of your head.. Don't even think about it in a crowded bus.. Jostling near the ladies side is a favourite passtime of many a male.

Have men never seen women before??

A woman wearing jeans is looked at, stared at, as if she's an alien and is new to the planet.. whereas every second woman on the road is wearing one.

What i don't understand is, if you can wear jeans, why can't I ?

Why am I expected to toe the traditional line and wear something "demure" like the salwar? Do you don traditional attire everytime you step out of the house?

Why should I be told what to wear and what not to?

And, Who are you to tell me?

Do I keep staring at you when you wear earrings, initially a "girl" concept ??

The problem is when someone utters something and goes off in the opposite direction, I normally do not have time to go after him. When I say "I", I signify the general woman. And even if I do have time, what do I tell him? Half the time I do not understand what the person utters.

I can't go slap him in the face.. He might say he never spoke to me in the first place and then I might have to suffer a backlash from the crowd, which would definitely have gathered by then....

Filing a complaint with the police is a farce. What is the maximum that can happen? He might have to spend the evening on a bench in the station,gossiping with the constable.. And then when he comes out, he starts looking for me, vengeance in mind!!!!

So,all I do is swallow the anger, and keep walking as if the guy doesn't exist.

But what if you keep facing these problems everyday? Do you just pray to God that "One Fine Day" it should all stop?? Do you start wearing "demure" dresses??

Why should you? It's the male who needs to change.If he doesn't, you go your way and he'll find his..

If he can wear trousers,so can she. When he studies,so does she, better than many.. When he goes to work, so does she. Do males feel jealous? Are they wary of the extra competition from the oppsite sex? What really is the problem with people??

Only men know.. The "Male Chauvinism" is yet to be vanquished..

"I'm a male and She'll do as I say.."

If she doesn't, she's characterless..

You are SO FULL of it, "character", when you stare at a girl your sister's age, just because she's wearing jeans.. After all, how dare she? Jeans is the birthright of males.. Females cannot usurp that right can they now?