A DEV(EM)OTIONAL GOODBYE.

Much awaited day

Of the year

Another facet of Mumbai-

THE happening city.

Sea of people

Walking towards the Sea

Religion, caste and class-

Forgotten

Dancing, singing, making merry

Blaring music,

A song here

Another there –

Creating a fusion of sorts

Above the rhythmic beating

Of the drums.

People walking,

Standing and watching

Some more queuing

For free snacks and drinks .

Order among chaos

Lakhs congregate

To bid emotional

Adieu to the Elephant God....

Shouting slogans

“Ganapati Bappa Morya

Pudhchya Varshi Lauka Ya.”

{Yesterday was the last of the 10 day Ganesha festival here in India. “Ganapati Bappa Morya Pudhchya Varshi Laukar Ya” – means – O Father Ganapati, come soon next year}

For - dVerse

GIFT.

The Light His Action, and the Dark
The Leisure of His will
There is no corner, no dark place
Your love cannot fill
Its fingers spread like fine spun gold
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops-at all -
With grateful memories in a gift....
I wish to stay entrapped forever.

{The lines I have used are from the poems of Emily Dickinson, David G. Kelly, Sheelagh Lennon, Mark R. Slaughter and Anthony Kolos.}

For - dVerse - Centos 
           g-man

THE DIVINE COSMIC DANCE.

You are the creator
As well the destroyer.
     Through Lasya
     You create
     Love, so divine. 
Though engulfed in flames
You burn
To enlighten.
    Your Tandava
     Destroys the illusions,
    Ignorance of years
It's my soul you dance on.

{Note : Lasya - a gentler form of dance, associated with creation of world by Lord Shiva  and Tandava - Violent form of dance associated with the destruction of weary world views.}

For - dVerse

SOMETIMES I WISH....

We, a group of talented bloggers from around the world are currently on a tour....a blog tour. Our theme is "Sometimes I Wish."

Don't we always wish to fulfill our wishes? Only that the wish list goes on and on. Here's one of mine.

Some days back, four of us, friends, had gone out for lunch. Conversations are never complete unless you touch the topic of one's hubby, mom and kids....well, most of the times. 

And sure enough moms were being discussed. I just sat there listening to their amusing stories. I had nothing to contribute. Corinne, the sweet heart she is, informed the other two friends that I had lost my mom.

Yeah, it has been 4 years now. Well, slightly more than 4. High time to let go. I sure have moved on. Yet, there are times when the pain hits hard and catches me unawares and opens up the wound again.

As I realized much later after she had gone, she did not have friends all through her married life. She was friendly with neighbors but, never had a friend with whom she went out or shared her joys and pains. Her day started with us and ended with us. Period. She did not have a life of her own. And, I doubt she even had a clue about it or even missed it. 

How I wish she was around for me! I would have loved to lay my head on her lap and just be....something which I never did when she was alive. Sometimes I wish she was around just for the heck of it...I too would have something to contribute to the conversation!!!!

                                     * * * * * * * * * *

I was preceded by Daisy of Tumultuous Journey. Daisy is a strong woman who takes life head on with all its ups and downs. A woman who adores her grand kids and is a wonderful photographer too.

I will be followed by Jessica Mokrzycki of AscendingTheHills. She is on a spiritual journey and is drawn towards Lord Krishna and The Bhagvad Gita. In fact, she knows about the Eastern philosophy more than the Easterner's themselves know...including me.



 

Shhhhh.........

A perfect morning
To wake up to.

Sun is in deep slumber
As clouds obscure him.

With steady drops of rain
Falling on them
Even my winged friends
Are forced to remain mute

It's as if the time has stilled

Afraid...
Batting my eyelids 
Will break this spell

I close my eyes
To soak silence.

For - dVerse
          g-man

FUN, FROLIC AND BLOGGERS.

The fun of bloggers meet, is in coming face to face with our online friends and fellow bloggers, whose writings we admire and connect to.

The high point of Blogadda's hp  meet At Fat Cat on the 8th Sept., was coming face to face with Sagarika. A sweetheart, whom I had met online.

The evening kick started with some fun activities....tweeting away to win prizes. 36 tweets in 2 hrs, no doubt I won the prize. Never have I tweeted so much in my entire twitter career!

Mr. Ghosh, National Product/Channel Head HP introduced us to the advantages of printing with hp printers. The cost effectiveness of a ink printer as against the laser printer was highlighted.

As a homemaker, I find the printer useful in completing school projects of my kids. HP printers have revolutionized the printing world with many possibilities making it user friendly and simple for us to operate.

                                               Writing an introduction about ourselves...:)

                                                           Capturing memories

                                         Mr. Ghosh giving an overview of hp ink advantage

                                              Premium bloggers sharing blogging etiquette

                                                            Balancing Act of Jenga

                                      Celebrating 5 years of Blogadda and Mother Mary's Feast





An evening well spent in the company of wonderful friends!

A SHORT LOVE STORY....

He came,
He saw,
Got me hooked....
And tied the knot.

(A short love story....going on since 22 years.)

For - dVerse Poets
          Mag 135

SOME DESPERATE MEASURE?

When I so want to write
All I face is a wall,
A blank space of white.
The black spots 
Swimming in the front....
Words fail me
Or do I fail them?
I look around,
"Come on Nature, inspire me"
-"Go take a hike,
For all I care...
I am constant,
You are the change."

For - G-man

PROVE IT TO ME MR. HAMILTON.

Me and my brother were estranged for many years. We got together last year...though there were issues, it seemed that all those years of separation did not exist at all.

As adults, we discovered we shared some common interests. 
He and his daughter, are F1 "FANATICS"  and Lewis Hamilton, their God! I was not a F1 enthusiast till he got me hooked!

Last year, at an Vodafone sponsored F1 event in Bengaluru, my brother had the opportunity of not only meeting Hamilton himself, but, also got to ride a hot lap with him! How cool can that be!!!
As he was recounting his experience, I could feel the shivers of his excitement. I want to experience the same.

To be very frank, I heard of Hamilton, only when my brother mentioned him. I was like - 'Hamilton? who?" My brother had this incredulous look on his face....a look that clearly conveyed that I was demented not to know Hamilton.

Wow! You should have heard the sermon he gave right after that....going on and on about Mr. No 1.

Well, Mr. Hamilton...I did see you perform on the track after that on TV. Now, let me see for myself if you are as good as you seem to be. You must be, otherwise, you would not be here. But, I am not going to agree blindly without checking out myself. Is your 'lap'
(pun intended) as exciting as it looks on TV? Hope you will impress me and thrill me with your speed and control and leave me begging and panting for more!!!

This is written for "Are you fastest Indian Blogger?" -"The#VodafoneSpeedFest Experience".

A MOMENT OF GOOD INTENTION.

Separated from her mom,
Surviving her predators, 
Lost, bruised and battered
Wet in the rain
She wails for help.

Everyone is good at heart
And have intentions to match that too
Yet, they just pity her
And walk away...
They have things to do.

Her wails pierce my heart
Thou' I have two of my own,
We bring her home...
Some warmth,
Some love,
Some stability
Some security and 
Some food was her need.

She is frail and scared
Trust doesn't come easy
She can't stop crying
The situation is dicey.
She is fed
And given warm bed
As she learns to love
She learns to trust too.

Note- This is a poem about a injured tiny kitten we helped survive the rains. This can as well be good for anyone.

For - POETRY JAM

PURPLE, THAT IS A SAFFRON.

Oh! they love him, the Sun
Gently and tenderly, he kisses their petals
They smile and dance
To the warmth he spreads.

Rows and rows of saffron galore
In this small town of Pampore
A paradise within a paradise
A sight one will adore.

As silvery night unfolds
Enhancing their beauty
Enveloped by their sweet fragrance
Its difficult to snap out of trance.


Note - Srinagar is the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir. Pampore is a small town 14km from Srinagar where saffron, the world's costliest spice is grown. Kashmir is rightly called the paradise for its scenic beauty as it is situated in the Himalayas.
Though I have not visited Pampore, have heard a lot about the saffron fields of this town. Supposed to be breathtaking in the moonlight.

For - dVerse

COOL ENOUGH TO GRAB AN AWARD!

Blogwati G was gracious enough to nominate me for the LIEBSTER BLOG award.  I feel honored and great. Blogwati G is a crusader of sorts...she has kicked up quite a storm in the blogging world.

I really had to overcome my own inhibitions to start blogging, and once I did, theres no turning back. The journey has been wonderful so far. I have connected with people who previously were not in my orbit.

Rules -

If tagged or nominated,you have to post eleven facts about yourself.

Then you answer eleven questions the tagger has asked you and you post eleven questions for people you are going to tag.

Tag eleven blogggers (with no more than 200 followers )

Tell people that they have been tagged.

No tagging back.

11 facts about myself -

1. I am impulsive.

2. I forgive easily. But, that does not mean that one can mess with me or take me for granted.

3. I am really bad at 'judging' people.

4. Though I can't relish many cuisines, I am a foodie.

5. Highly emotional, my eyes well up with imaginary pain.

6. I have OCD for cleanliness...my way is the way!

7. I am punctual...else, I am paranoid.

8. A super cool mom...my kids will vouch for me. 

9. Technology challenged...I take the help of my kids for every thing.

10. I love both reading and writing.

11. My friends mean a world to me.

The questions I have been asked to answer...

1. Do you think 3 am friend is a myth?

No, they are real, but they just don't pick up my calls!

2. Who would you rather be? A celebrity or the PM of the country?

Definitely a celebrity....that's where fame is. PM's are boring 
unless they are French, Italian or Russian.

3.What is the one quality you'd like the older generation to imbibe from the younger generation/

Undoubtedly, tech savvy-ness.

4. What's the one quality the older generation must pass on as a legacy to the next?

Respect all - humans, nature, resources et all.

5. What's your take on beauty contests?

It's there today, gone tomorrow unless surgically enhanced. Let's use the money for better causes.

6. If there was one thing you could make a difference, what would that be/

Equal distribution of wealth (Between me and my husband ;))

7. What has your electrical consumption been the last month? Is it gonna change for the better?

INR - 1880/-. I am a sort of person who participates in the Earth Hour when the whole society is celebrating Diwali. It will change if the Reliance reduce their tariff.

8.Who is the one person that inspires you?

My mom.

9. Did you ever go back to school and meet your teacher? Why?

Did not go back...there was no reason to.

10. What colors would you paint with if you had just two shades to choose from?

Wanna paint my world red and 'blues' to keep me grounded.

11. Since I am bestowing the award, what one liner would you write describing me?

A sensible woman through and through.


MY 11 QUESTIONS FOR THE NOMINEES.

1. Is feminism overrated?

2. There's a debate that bloggers are not writers - your take on this?

3. One thing you would like to change about yourself.

4. Can online friends become 'real' friends offline?

5. One issue you are passionate about.

6. According to you what's the greatest revolution of this century? why?

7. A book that has influenced you the most.

8. The one cause you would really fight for.......

9. Beauty and brains......( complete this sentence)

10. A quality you hate in others.

11. Money vs happiness.

THE 11 BLOGGERS I TAG ARE - 

Nilanjan Bose

Martha J M Orlando

Vijay Shenoy

Rimly Bezbaruah

Anshul Gautam

Ron Reed

Privy Trifles

Swarnali Das

Rutavi Mehta

Priyadarshini Joyce

Portia

DEJA` VU.

Dear Diary.

7^th Sept.

All of a sudden, I feel the need to record my feelings...don’t know why? Of course, I will carry the memories with me as I have all these years. This is for just in case.

I fell in love with him on the first of the college. We were in the same class, had same group of friends. The stolen glances, the heavy silences, the tension and the awkwardness when I was with him, alone, meant something.

Tired of waiting, I did muster up enough courage to convey my feelings to him. He laughed at me and said – “Grow up! Assumption is the mother of all f*** ups! There are many fish in the pond!” Eventually, I let go and moved on or so I thought.

To prove his point, he got himself a girlfriend, more of an arm candy. He was trying hard. I had gotten myself a boyfriend too...and we both knew we were miserable. Was it ego, fear of commitment, or religion? But, love is a religion...

College done, we led our separate lives, until one day I got an invitation for me for a party. Both surprised and curious, I went. He had got himself a job abroad and was going away for good. I was devastated to learn this, and left the party. He called me many times. I did not answer his calls. He messaged me giving his flight number and the departure time and date...and had said – Please come.

Could I resist?

I went. As soon as he saw me, he just came and hugged me. Years of pain, hurt, unresolved emotions started to rain from my eyes. “Oh! Baby, I am sorry...I have been such a p****”, he said.

From then on everything happened in a blur. He produced a ring from nowhere, went down on his knees and said –“Enrich my life, please be my wife.” Amidst tears, I was smiling and nodding my affirmation, too shocked and spell bound.

Years of nothing and now...this! We embraced each other for what seemed to be an eternity. I was grinning and waving to him as he went through the gate to board his flight.

I collapsed on a nearby chair and smacked my forehead with the palm of my hand, cursing myself. How could I be so dumb to let the opportunity pass? "I should have kissed you...my love."

Now, I will be his wife in less than week’s time! Can you believe it? It is slowly sinking in. I could not be happier.

Have to go shopping...ciao!

12^th Sept –

He was reading her diary for the upteempth time.  This was to be their wedding day. They were meant to be...but, the fate had other plans.

She had died in an accident the very day she made her diary entry.

For - RFW- Challenge # 44

GB2

VEILED VISION.

"We see what we want to see"
And, I see good in people
True, we are all guarded,
Build our own walls
Wear masks
Yet, I cannot see through
Their facade,
Call me naive or blind...
What have I got to lose?
Does TRUST mean a lot?

For - dVerse
Poetry Jam

BALLE BALLE.

When it comes to eating food in a restaurant, I am cribby-crabby, crappy (Yes, I am), selective, fussy, rigid....and you can add any other expletive that fits the bill. So, for me to eat food at a particular restaurant, it should come with high recommendations.

It was with a recommendation by a friend, that I and my kids decided to celebrate my hubby's birthday on the 2nd, at this particular restaurant. He was working and we celebrated anyway! But, as luck didn't have it...that particular restaurant was closed for renovation and we were to find another 'good' hotel that catered to our tastes.

I did something I seldom do...I got adventurous and tried out a totally 'new' restaurant...the one which I had seen while passing that way.

This is the Northern Tadka- the flavor of Punjab, in Andheri. After a warm welcome, I was taken by the blend of both rustic and modern interiors.

The window drapes are dark and colorful while the tables are more earthly in tone.

There are some beautiful paintings of which I started off clicking pictures (of course, with the permission)

Started off with Tandoori Aloo, recommend by the staff. Boiled aloo stuffed with cottage cheese and spices. The main course was of course the usual rotis and paratas with Dal Makhni...my daughter's all time favorite; and 'ghoongatwale subzi' so named as it is cooked in a earthen hand, the seal of which is broken just before serving.

Finished the lunch with the malai kulfi for desert.
I was not disappointed with my adventure, as I like Indian cuisine a lot. Great place for those who love Punjabi food.

BORN THIS WAY.

Non-conformists
Freaks and eccentrics
They were all there before
Revolutionizing freakiness
Has everyone going "Gaga" over her
Violence, power and sex
Sells
Extreme is not extreme to her
Controversies, her love game
Riding the charts
Just dancing away
To the edge of glory
With unabashed vanity
Feeding the paparazzi
Raking in the moolah
And her mantra -
"Don't be a drag, just be a queen"
Revered by millions...
Why do we love deviants?

For - dVersepoets.com