Happy New Year friends

 

HEART PRINTS

Whatever our hands touch…we leave
fingerprints on.
On walls, on furniture, on door knobs,
dishes and books.
As we touch we leave our identity..
Oh please where ever I go today…
help me leave heart prints.
Heart prints of compassion,
understanding and love.
Heart prints of kindness and genuine concern.
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor…
or a runaway daughter…
or an anxious mother…
or perhaps a dear friend!
I shall go out today…
to leave heart prints…
and if some one should say…
“I felt your touch!”
Happy new Year to you my friend

(from net)

This poem goes out especially for all my friends who have given me unconditional love and have always stood by me in good times and bad.love you all .God Bless ..

Spooky winter morning….

Winter is my favorite season of the year  and winter in Delhi is special .

 

The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

Carl Sandberg

Today again I woke up to a dense foggy morn .The chill in the air at six in the morn cut through the bones and all I could see outside was ghostly trees enveloped in early morn fog.It seemed a scene out of some spooky scary movie.Something I love more than anything else.My mind raced as different story plots  emerged from my natural surroundings.

I decided to brave the weather and go for my usual morning walk .By six thirty ,I was out on the cold dark road .The dogs were cuddled under the staircases of different blocks ,sleeping to glory.I could not spot a single bird ,not even pigeons ,who are normally huddled together on window sills .

It sure seemed like a bad idea to go forward ,as the visibility was nil and my nose seemed like a dripping ice cube .

The long straight road that leads to the big park called Vasant Vatika was luring me and I started to imagine myself as part of the  Sleepy Hollow story.A light dew shower fell on me as I walked under the heavy drooping trees along side the road .

The wet misty vehicles parked on the sides emerged slowly as I neared them .The windows streaked with dripping dew ..I imagined I saw something move inside one of them and peered closely .

Yes ,there was a young man inside the dark car,wearing a jogging suit,rubbing his hand to keep the cold at bay .He gave me a strange look ,thinking I may be bonkers to roam around on such a day.I decided to brighten up his day by passing a smile which was neither reciprocated nor appreciated . Damn him , I thought and moved ahead .

Nothing stirred and there was a complete eerie  silence everywhere . I had almost reached the gates of the park which I imagine to be the entrance to some long forgotten cemetery .The park seemed empty except a few stray dogs and the watchman warming himself with last of what would have been a nice fire sometime back .

I asked him if it was alright  to go into the park and he replied that there were quite a few regulars there .I was surprised because all I could see was shadows of tree tops  lurking in the white thick fog .

The gate was icy cold and wet to touch.I went in and took the nearest track.Any other person would have got chill up their spine but not Me ,I was thoroughly enjoying this creepy adventure of mine . The visibility was still low but I could make out some more people in various parts of the park .

So I was not alone . I smiled to myself ,not that I would have minded being alone in such a lovely scenario .I inhaled the fresh morn air , stretched my arms and started my brisk walk .

The regular joggers were missing .Maybe it was too much of an effort for them to step out in cold and dark .Only creatures like me ventured to take on the challenges of the dark .

I started  turning the nature around me into characters of my sneaky spine chilling mysteries of  the unexplained.It was fun and kept me warmed up.

Then I heard the footsteps behind me .Slow and rhythmic.I turned around to see who it  was  but  as far as my eyes could see, the track appeared empty.

Was my imagination running a bit too wild ?? I  kept walking at a steady pace.My ears now glued to the ground And then I heard them again They seemed very close but still not a sign of anyone .The fog was still thick or maybe I should have got my glasses . May be anther jogger ,but why was he/she stopping when I turned ?? The question now started bothering me .

I decided to take a middle path instead of the full round when I felt the hand on my shoulder . My heart missed a beat for a fraction of a second.However I may love the macabre , chilling , ghost stories , I was not ready for this one for sure . Slowly I turned , my face must have been the color of snow,because the person I faced, went into a hysterical laughter .

I gathered my senses and stared at my friend and neighbor with anger rising like a volcano inside me .

“W T F”, I screamed at him as he wiped his eyes laughing and talking at the same time .

“Well ! well! look at you ,The Queen of Dark .hahahahahhaa “.”You look like a dead woman walkin’.”

“You son of a gun ,you scared the s*** out of me man “. I said punching him square on his chest .

“Oh! I am sorry but the moment I saw you all absorbed in the thoughts, I was so tempted to see your reaction.”He smiled as he put an arm around me .

“Christ ! I thought someone just stepped out of my story and started following me “I said.

“hahahaha”

“Oh ,come on girl I will treat you to a hot roadside tea ,you sure need one “

I hated this man but gave a smile instead .A hot cup was sure the need of the hour , though I would have preferred something stronger.

We completed the routine and walked till the end of the road where the business had just started .A few people were already digging into salted fans(crispies) and sipping  hot sweet tea.We ordered two and parked ourselves on the pavement nearby .

Some morning it was .I checked the time ,it was around seven thirty.After our cuppa we strolled down the lanes till our block .I thanked him for the tea and we decided to go together the next day .Just as I closed my main door I shouted to him

“Hey buddy !Thanks for makin’ my creepy morn come alive .”He waved and said “you still rock girl ,any other girl would have fainted on seeing the man inside a wet, foggy, parked car. “

“What”??? I be damned .

He winked and closed the door .

That’s Life :(

Date ec 29th Time :6:30PM

A heart rendering shriek filled the evening air.I saw a Red Maruti 800 zip past me.The driver was a policeman.

And then I saw IT. A soft ball of white and brown spots covered with blood,lying in the middle of the road .The hind legs torn from the body and the entire back side crushed .

The speeding reckless driver did not even bother to stop and have a look at what he had hit and killed so mercilessly.

Late spoty

Within a moment all the dogs from the lanes nearby gathered .The mother on the other side of the road along with the other puppies was too dazed to react .The siblings of the dead puppy cried non stop  and cuddled closer to their mother .

Slowly the mother realized the loss and started howling .It was a scene I will never forget .Many people were going towards the market but they just stood there as curious bystanders or just glanced and went ahead ,not bothered to take any action.

All this happened inside the colony gate where one is expected to drive slow.

My elder son, who too witnessed the scene ,went to tell the guard to at least remove the little pup from the middle of the busy road .On his insistence the gate keeper got some old cloth ,wrapped the pup and took him on to the side some where .

It was a sad moment . Sad not just because of the death of an innocent little animal but because the death was caused by an unfeeling , careless human being for whom maybe the pup’s life had no value .

I was traumatized by the hard reality of life .In a fraction of a second a beautiful life was brutally ended .

WE had spotted the litter some days back and played with them ,fed them at intervals .They were puppies of our local bitch and we knew who the father was because of the markings of the pups .A handsome dog who mostly guarded the main entrance to our block.They had brought so much life and joy to the neighborhood.

Just yesterday I had told Adi to remind me to take them to the vet camp being organised by the welfare association.

bundles of joy

I decided to call for the animal care NGO to take the rest of the puppies before they too succumbed to some speeding vehicle.

What struck me hard was the attitude of the driver . How insensitive we are to our surroundings,to life and to death  .

We will miss little Spoty .May his little soul find joy in another world.

2 to tango 4 to run ;)

Ravin tagged me to do this

From the four Vedas to the Fabulous four, the four cardinal directions to four suits of playing cards, four Greek classical elements to four Evangelists to The Fantastic Four..four seems to a very significant number. The only number that has  the same number of letters as the number itself is “Four”! …More information found on the Wiki page for the number. Interesting surely!!!!

Here goes:

4 places I go to over and over again

The Grand Canyon

The ministry of magic

Monica Bellucci’s body (as spirit;) )

George Cloony’s Bedroom ..ooops

sigh ..I wish I could ..those were wishes with wings

4 places I go to over and over again

1. The India Gate Lawns

2.The Priya  PVR complex

3.My favorite Book Stores

4.Loo (esp in winters )

4 people who mail me regularly

Hmm  I wish Someone like Farhan Akhtar or Amitabh Bachchan,Brad Pitt or  ….would email me but …

1 Padmini sharma (my akka)

2 Subodh ( my elder  bro)

3 Sanjay Roy

4 ??? guess who

4 of my favorite places to eat

aha This one is my fav.

1. Slice of Italy

2 khan chacha at khan market

3 dhabas at Gudgaon Delhi border

4 Gulati’s  pandara road

4 places I’d rather be now

1. Any hill station ..Auli  for example..snow ,snow n snow

2. Australia

3 On Nile river cruise

4 Dubai doing Desert safari

4 favorite TV shows

1 MTV Roadies

2 In high Spirits

3 Highway on my plate

4 x files

4 Movies I could Watch again and again

1. Robin hood,Men in Tights

2 Anand

3 Satte pe Satta

4 chupke chupke

I want to tag ….

1.Afaque

2 snow

3. Nabina

4. Jayshree

Another award :)

This award is given to a blog that invests and believes in PROXIMITY – nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Thank you Afaque and Snow for considering me worth this lovely award .Friendships go beyond the boundaries of any sort .I always say that our heartstrings are connected to people across the globe and writing blogs is just another medium of joining hearts together ..It is a chain of love ,friendship and understanding of self and all that is around us .It is about getting connected . This is my second blogger award by friends .:) Ritu gave a Brilliant bloggie award 2006 long time back for my nature blog. It feels good to know that one is appreciated and read. Thanks once again from the bottom of my heart . So here it goes to seven caterpillars who left their cocoon to make the world more beautiful,they are the most wonderful butterflies.

Nabina Das

for writing such wonderful blogs.An inspiration for all the new bloggers like us .

Aparna

For her nature blogs and wonderful poems

Ritika

For her simple blogs that touch the heart and remain in memory for a long time

• Ritu
  
• FOR being my mentor and adding a new dimension to blogging.A must read for all those who love good writing
• rohit gore
• For his awesome stories and thought provoking blogs

Anika khan

For the most touching and relaxing blogs I have come across

Ravin

For amazing writings ..though irregular yet very captivating.

Bhed (discrimination)

“The children are starving since last two days .Please get something to eat from somewhere.” “I can not see them suffering.”

“I am trying dear, morning till evening I try to get something that can sustain our children .Even I can not see the family going hungry each day.”

“Why don’t you try the MCD garbage dump?” “Maybe you may find some leftovers there.”

“Absolutely out of question, that place stinks and the entire colony throw its garbage there, it’s such a bad place, I won’t go there.”

“Please this one time,” she said with her eyes welling.

“Oh! Alright I will go.” He turned and hurried towards the garbage dump at the end of the long road.

It was cold, foggy and there was no sigh of sun.

She waited impatiently. Her children cuddled close to her. She looked fondly at all of them .They sure will have food today.

Hours passed and she started getting worried .Her eyes fixed on the road. She could hardly see beyond the nearest tree, but then she saw him running toward their home .He held something in his mouth.

The children gathered around her full of hope.

He dropped what looked like a loaf of meat, in front of her. Trying to catch his breath, he sat on the ground.

“What is this?” she started inspecting the thing lying in front of her.

“Oh God! This is a newborn human girl child.

Their eyes widened at the sight of the dead female infant.

“Are you sure”?

“Yes, I am”. “Someone who did not want a girl child dumped her in the garbage dump.”

“How heartless and cruel these humans are .Thank God we don’t discriminate between our children.”She said licking the nearest one fondly.

The puppy, happy at the sight of food and love, wagged its tiny tail.

“Let’s have our meal quickly, it is question of our survival”, he said.

No one moved.

The thought bodies

We all have thought bodies and in those thought bodies are spaces .Spaces in which two souls connect with each other .Be it humans or any other thing, living or non living .I feel everything is alive, breathing with exuberance of life .Even the rocks, hard from outside, have a space with in where you can touch and feel their pulse. One can only find these spaces, if one is silent from within. Most of us are unable to do so because we all talk so much even inwardly .we are hardly quite .

I talk to birds, animals, flowers, pebbles everything around me and they respond, in silence.One just has to connect with the energies around oneself.

Nature is our best friend, giving unconditionally all the time, and the more you reciprocate, the more you find the depth of love and warmth seeping inside you through all that exist around you. You just have to be open and receptive to all the good and abundance the universe has to offer.

The sickle moon, the wild plant that cracks the sidewalk to open up n bloom, the trees which become homes for so many birds even when dry and in full bloom they give shade to one and all irrespective of who and why, they all have spaces which call you and if you are receptive, you can enter those spaces and become one with them?It happens with humans too ,with unseen unknown people .It has happened with me .

Nature heals; it helps you find answers .Sitting in silence, emptying oneself of all the thoughts helps me at least to see reason.

As humans, what do we learn from what’s around us?

Most of the time, Nothing at all.

Unwilling to let go, we want to hold on, to possess, and to own. We can’t share, can’t love, and can’t let the other person be a separate identity than our own reflection. We want to mould. We feel jealous, hurt, let down, so full of negative emotions, assumptions that we lose more than we gained. Many people I talk to say ,kiddo these are human emotions ,we are all humans ,or some go further and say that they have risen above all this and do not give a hoot .They claimto be complete in themselves .I wonder if they really are ?I wonder if any of those are right observations .

We are scared, scared of being alone. We can not live with our own self, we become lonely .If we do not have any living person or thing to hold on to, we hold on to the memories .We need crutches. Each one of us, including me.

However I try to stand still, the butterfly does not come and sit on my shoulder. Why? I ask myself. Because, though my body remains still, am not calm from within, the stillness is missing from inside .The urge is strong and it keeps the butterfly away .One needs to be still from within.

Can we change from within to become for once in life, unconditional in our approach to life as humans and justify our existence on earth? May be yes .And that’s precisely I am trying to learn. It is difficult in many spears of life for taming the mind is exceptionally tough task, and it is our mind, the devious little thing, not the heart, mind you, that dictates and lures us into the realms unknown .Coaxing us to take some action which many a times our heart resents .

I am learning to listen to my heart strings once more.

To still myself and connect to the child within .

To bring out the innocence and purity of a child’s love ,the curiosity and the inquisitiveness and total surrender to the cosmic energies around me .

Building Faith within.

I feel that as long as we do not tie ourselves in knots with anything that touches our lives we can coexist beautifully with it, be it love, memories, nature, anything .I trust my inner voice and know that it guides me in the right direction, though it may not be the one taken by all .To walk alone and walk with conviction is right as far as I am concerned.

To dream, irrespective of the fact whether they realize or not, is to live.

To love unconditionally irrespective of any reciprocation, is true love.

To place oneself a step below and open oneself to life is living fully.

To be able to gather small bundles of joy that come your way instead of looking for the treasures that you do not even know exist ,is justifying your existence on earth .

To be able to smile in times of intense pain befriending it as one more lesson to learn is true learning.

To think of Death as a friend with whom you have to start a new adventure, is letting your soul, your spirit free .And you are free from within .untouched by fear .For it is the unknown, uncertainty that scares us .Living in now in this moment of joy is life

As they say

Defer not till tomorrow to be wise,

Tomorrow’s sun to you may never rise.

Calm Outside But Raging Within

I lost a friend at the Trident on the fateful day Mumbai was rocked .Another friend smsed how he got saved while returning from the airport .I just could not react for a moment .It was a day I will never forget .so much happened in so little time .

Is there a global Will to stop these powers who are affecting our life and mind? Are we willing to talk openly about these terror agencies taking roots across the border and within our country ?Can there be a mass uprising against the shameless politicians who are worse than these terrorists ?Blood sucking parasites ,look at what they did and said.Can we keep our head held high and say we are proud to be part of democratic India ?

Why is it that we have to attend funerals of martyrs and innocent people ,can’t we have enough safety measures to stop the deaths themselves ?why do we always vote for an impotent
government ?Huge sum is spent for the intelligence agencies in our country ,then why is it that the terrorists are able to carry out their plans with such impunity?Are laws like POTA effective in handing the aftermath ?

Why our police force is in pathetic condition,less pay ,less resources ?where is the tax money going ?why do we pay the taxes if the govt can not ensure the safety of the common citizen ?

we talk about the “indomitable Mumbaikar spirit”,but correct me if I am wrong ,will not an average mumbaikar have a mindful of fear and dare to step outside only because he /she has to earn a living ?A necessity ,a need to survive .Are we all not scared for our lives and of all the others?

I talked to someone who said ,thode dino me sab thanda ho jayega life goes on you know .

Are we so desensitized or do we carry this feeling of falsified bravery that keeps us from thinking rationally?

A friend ,a family member who till now had a name ,a face ,an identity of his own suddenly becomes a body ,a corpse .Does it matter ?The media sensationalizes the events does anyone care?

Is it not time to stand up and make our voices heard ,to bring a collective change especially within us ?

A two year old baby cries for his mother at the Synagogue in Mumbai during his parents condolence prayer meeting.Who will tell him they fell to the bullets of the merciless terrorists ?

yesterday it was Mumbai today it could be any other city ,are we equipped ?

There is still inadequate security at all the major railway stations ,airports etc .Now Three major airports are under threat .Is it not time that the society needs to mobilise themselves if our government is going to sleep.

I am an ordinary citizen ,concerned citizen who needs to know what is the guarantee that tomorrow I may not be lying in a pool of blood on some street ,a victim of negligence of our elected govt and be referred as “Another body “?

Who is going to answer my questions ?who will take the responsibility for a safe secure nation ?