Make or Break!!!

Sakshi lived in a rich home, warm and safe. Her room had the best garden view. She had a driver to take her where she wanted, a cook to prepare a hot meal any time of the day, maids to respond to her much before things were asked for. Like most of us she lived, she worked, drove to her office; She had interesting hobbies to kill time; she was a good reader, she adored music, she  was good with the television. She had an aquarium where she passionately fed the golden fish which was the only chore that she stopped the maids from doing.

She had everything, and also emptiness! She had grown up children who were now enough grown to take responsibility of their own and each others. Over years of relentless work her husband had become  a CEO in a honorable firm. The entire World of IT knew him but she hardly knew her husband anymore. He was forever busy. Working, travelling, conferencing had become more important in his life than his life. Time and work had floated them apart without them realizing it. Her own people had become guests in her life, more living in memories than in real. Did she ever make an attempt to stop by and seek his time and attention? Did she take effort  to make the father more than just a guest in her children’s life? Did she give time for time?  These thoughts disturbed her mind as she disturbed the traffic, driving through the busy city to her office. As her leg landed on the brake pedal of her metallic grey Honda Civic, her mind softly whispered “break”.

 “Break” was the only thing she could find solace in and get out of the mid-life crisis. She needed some time with time to think about her life and what to do with it.

Her cousin owned a holiday cottage in the lush green lands of Kemmangundi. She with her husband had made it their favourite summer camp in the honeymoon years of their wedding. The cottage was surrounded by thick forests and adored a salubrious climate throughout the year. The location was blessed with silver cascades of mountain streams and lush vegetation. The duo often lost themselves in the ornamental gardens and enthralling valley view around the cottage. The very thought of the cottage brought her golden memories. As she sipped her tea standing by the window looking at the sunset, the spectacular sunset at Kemmangundi blurred her mind’s eye. She decided she was going for a break to Kemmangundi.

-----

Anurag got out of the car and stretched. It appeared as if he defined mannerisms. A personality of pride, patience and perspective, with calm confidence on the outside, a burning challenge inside, talk soft-laugh light outlook, responsive, responsible - that was Anurag. It had been a tiring day for him though the day had just half gone yet. He had a bad head-ache by the time he had got here. Rest was the last thing on his mind yet the rumble in his head told a different story altogether. He lead the host of whites who were with him with the most polite and caring gesture possible. It looked as if they were there on a business discussion. After a brief freshen-up they gathered at the corporate lounge that the cottage hosted. The wet, misty weather, and a spot of rain did not disturb the tough business guys. As Anurag continued his discussion, sound of a car from behind nudged him. As he paused, his clients looked at him with confusion while his gaze stuck to a striking woman appear from the car. Sakshi’s wonderful sun kissed complexion was further enhanced golden by the black saree that she draped. She looked stunning. The stern corporate man in Anurag felt as if someone kicked him in the gut. From head-to-toe she looked absolutely stunning. Not just Anurag, anybody’s heart would skip a beat at her. At 40 she had a flawless skin, well manicured fingers, sharp nose, perfect lips, striking eyes. The Coach handbag that she sported on the shoulder kissed by a high-collared blouse, a single diamond stud shining on her ears, deep-black perfect sized dot on her fore-head, straightened hair let loose by the side well reflected the HR profession that she was in for years. 

The cottage manager greeted her, took the bags and led her to her room. The greet brings back Anurag to his discussion. Finishing the meeting with clients, Anurag politely informs them that they could rest for the remaining of the day and meet the next morning.

From his room Anurag silently looks up at Sakshi seated on a lone table at the dining. He sees her sit down quietly, refusing to meet any eye. A closer look helps him notice the melancholy behind the otherwise sparkling eyes, dried lips otherwise rosy, the pale face otherwise bubbling. He observes the trembling hands of the bold and beautiful personality as she gets herself a glass of water. She looked like she needed company and he was disturbed beyond imagination from her very look outside her car. Will she agree? Was this the time for romance? Does it sound decent to escape from the clients and listen to the heart? He dumped these questions aside and made his move.

-----

He ran to the nearby bouquet shop, packed a bunch of lovely roses, picked a card and headed towards Sakshi’s room. He stared at her with a small smile on his lips as she opened the door. "Hello", he said simply, while she stared back at him with mixed emotions. Her fingers clasped into fists to keep them from shaking. Without a word Anurag hands over the red bouquet of love with the card. With hesitation Sakshi opens the card to read "Nice room you have here, do you mind if I join you wifey? Can we get younger by 20 years?”  Love, Anurag!!!

Only for kannada audience : Nara Naanu

Nara Naanu

Ekadashi bittu, dwadashigundu vaividya Naivedya

Nara naanu, muniyalla, ootavonde naa thilidha satya

Kashta bittu, ishta pattu, koothalle kande sowkhya

Nara naanu, iruveyalla, kelasa-dhudime nannadalla, sadhya!

Bhaava bitte, rasane marethe, lowkika jeevana bayasi

Nara naanu, kogileyalla kooralu kombeyadi

Kashtabeda, sukhavonde nannabali irabeku ende

Nara naanu, praaniyalla, panchabhoothagala vashapadisidha thande

Naranemba ankitha bittu berenilla, naa marethe

Nara naanu, nannaththa iruvudhella bari korathe

Random thoughts

I deserve to be expelled from bloggers list for the long sabbaticals I take with no particular reason. Thanks to blogspot and my readers who walk with me. I am here again J

I feel like writing but often feelings dont get reflected in writing well. Not many interesting episodes to key down in the last month. While I really want to write and have started to write, I have not much clue on what to write. So please do not expect much out of this post, unless I switch to some REALLY interesting topic without my intent.

It is 11:16 am precisely, a Wednesday pre-noon. 3 hrs past my entry to office. I see grey cloudy skies thro’ the tinted windows across my cube. Nice weather, not much work, what better can be a time to blog? Still be warned not to expect much out of me today :)

Ok - here I get. Let me talk to you about the happiness funda. Sometimes I get into this self-introspection mode, let me show u a bit of that "ME".

I often repeat these questions to my friends, specially the ladies, - How long(more) do you want to work? Are you such a techie that you work for the satisfaction that it gives? Are you one who doesn’t want to let go the knowledge you have earned investing your father's money and ur time on education? Make big money? Kill time? Well, not sure if I am really interested in knowing their replies, but I do want to see if I am normal like anyone else. So I do ask, for the questions I posted above are my reasons to continue working.

While the other reasons stand justified, "making money" sounds little off-the-shelf, though most % of working people do so to make money, a big one. And the reason that everyone does give is "a pursuit to happiness". Let me not argue for the million population, but speaking for myself, I have never been in a situation where I have felt the want for something. I do have good memory which my mother boasts often. She says I remember times from my childhood which she doesn’t. Well, that shouldn’t make you call me a tale-teller. If I trust my memory, from the age of 3, I have never been disappointed at any point in time with the lifestyle I have had. My father and mother, both worked in decent firms, but I have never heard them discuss their pay in front of us, as kids. Ignorant of what they earned, I always had a pampered life, just a thing line behind getting spoilt. We had our regular goodies, new clothes on every occasion worth mentionable, more-than-needed school/college accessories, cycle, bike and car as we grow with our parents. Whenever someone went out of town, it was a mandate that they get us something. We would not even look at their tired faces as they return back, but constantly gaze at their bags to see what was in store for us. Birthdays demanded 2 pairs of clothes, one for the birth "date" and other for the birth "star" which very rarely coincided. I don’t remember a time when my father and mother refused to give me money when I asked for. Infact they did so before I could go to them. They knew when I needed money to buy books, to treat friends, to go shopping for my personal stuff etc.

And today when I see, I earn fairly more than what my parents earned over years. And it gets better with every passing year. For the moment, it’s just the two of us at home, no major family responsibilities, no 3rd person to share money with, ofcourse we do have the household stuff to be taken care of. Maybe now I buy clothes without reason, buy new bags just because I find them good hanging in front of shop, buy fruits and vegetables and see them getting rotten by days and trash them finally, pay a huge sum for the maid servant, spend just as much on one salwar-suit as I would have spent for 5 earlier. It’s not just me, my parents' lifestyle, on the other hand has changed equally. It’s definitely way better than what it was years earlier. I am not trying to use my blog space to maintain my expense account; the point I am trying to analyze is - is there a better satisfaction quotient with bigger money, bigger and better things, stylish life? While big money allows us to experience the best that life has, it closes our senses to savor life's little pleasures. Money does matter upto a certain phase of life, where one has to worry about the basic luxuries(need is a term long forgotten). Once we have enough to waste on what we want, having more money wouldn’t make a big difference in life. We may afford a vacation in Malaysia, but that wouldn’t buy the happiness that a country side cottage can bring us in India.

SO, let me get back. Why do I work? I hope I am convinced not to say “ make money” J. Easy to say, lets see!!! I might still say I work to make money. But money defining happiness quotient is still debatable!!!

I wish I could see me

When somebody adores me
I wish I could see what’s it in me
When somebody hates me
I wish to comprehend why this me

It is always the same “me”
People arrest diverse personas in "that" me
Like one day, hate yet another
Only makes me wither

Today isn’t like yesterday
Tomorrow, a different way
I do not see what they see
For I know me as ME

Being sensible to sensitivity!!!

I do not like to give "bhaav"(attention) to certain situations and/or people which I think do not really deserve. This may sound callous. Anybody who hears me saying this would think I am cold-blooded. But my point is, if you go on sympathizing a person for every small fall, you would contribute more to his weakness. Instead empathize and on empathizing, if you think there is a need for sympathy, then do "feel".

That was just a thought that came up during one of the tea-time conversations. And that wasn't what I came here for. I wanted to talk a little about being sensitive; not little, rather shout my mind out on it.
Some people have a dis proportionality in sensitive temperament. Let’s not deal with the case of HSP(Highly Sensitive People) disorder, that’s a physician's task. My question here is what amount of sensitivity is obligatory in normal life? To me, sensitivity is being quite receptive to every move happening around us. While being sensitive is regarded good, why do people not see it in right light? While in a conversation, to a sensitive person, even a brief pause creates an emotional overload. This small act may probe in 100 questions leaving the mind disturbed. The person starts his introspection of every word that he uttered, every pause that he gave in the conversation to analyze what would have made the other person take a break. And if the other isn’t sensitive and not sensible to sensitivity, he would have just got away from the conversation as he may have not had much to speak and no hard feelings there. As simple as that. The sensitive person would have strained his brain(should I say mind?) for no "real" reason! Such people are the thinkers, the cautious ones who think before and after they talk, who think about what they talk and what others do too.

It’s true that sensitive people pick-up on subtleties that non-sensitive people are not reflective to. While this turns out to be advantageous at situations it can be mess brewing too. Sensitive people tend to feel the energy of others, they have a preparedness to future events and have a solution to almost everything. Their emotions get the best out of them when they are with other sensitive lot. But in a crew of non-sensitive people they feel misplaced. Besides all their traits they also have an expectation from others to be sensitive towards them, not be very impulsive, take a minute, empathize and act.

It isn’t so easy to "fix" either natures. As the word goes, it’s the innate nature of a person to be either sensitive or not. A little maturity and detachment is what it needs for a sensitive person to avoid sweating on small stuffs, be more discipline with emotions and more rational. The non-sensitive lot have to know, sometimes emotions get responded better than logic. Acknowledge emotions. At times, do read the unwritten, hear the unspoken, feel the unshown; Avoid blaming a sensitive person for his/her mood, give him/her time to deal with, back with your affectionate shoulder if you can. That’s all it takes! It isn’t fake or superficial, it’s just a way of showing what you feel and feeling what you show.

I understand being sensitive is not same as being emotional, but they are woven intimately. Being sensitive or sensible does not help. Being “sensible to sensitivity” is the mantra!

Having spoken so much, I am a misfit to either natures. I am one who doesn’t give superfluous attention to things that do not qualify to be attended to and at the same time highly sensitive :P

aah .. ok... just let go!

How many times have you faced the un-noticed, ignored, invisible "YOU" behind actions that to your part may seem reasons to be acknowledged?  How many of these times have you just shrugged with a "let go" thing instead of making the other person know your want for acknowledgement?

My recent posts are trending more towards behavioral pattern. No! I am not doing any management program. My blog just happens to be in that phase now!

Well, to be on point, is it wrong to expect acknowledgement? Personally I don’t think it’s any wrong and I for one do expect it in lot – enough feedback, compliment and goody goody words make me feel good. I don’t see those words as formality factors. "Hey good job", "well done", "Nice, I liked it" blah blah.. are motivational verbs to me and its just a way to get to know what the other person felt about my action. It may seem “ceremonial”  to some people, but ask me – I would say I do care for the other person and sincerely would like to know if he/she liked what I did.

On the flipside, only when acknowledged verbally is a “done thing” felt or received well? - There could be a contrary argument of this kind. “Well, I felt good and satisfied, but after all its you, you aren’t an outsider, I don’t have to thank you or say ‘well done’ for what you did”! - could be the other person’s call!

Does it mean you(I) are much evolved than the rest?

No! You are not being natural, it’s all fake – could be the counter!

Sometimes the counter isn’t wrong either. There are cases when we, to our conscious will know that something could have been done better,  but hear ourselves saying…”Its fine. Decent job” – thats just not to disappoint the other person. Ofcourse we may take time and effort to explain things to him/her later, but there is  this ready - courtesy face all the time! A need to be a good-person to everyone every time!

More questions than opinions or statements! but that’s natural when we deal with any topic that revolves around human behavior –  always as complex as it can get!!!

I guess acknowledging someone for their action is more an emotional need and that’s how our brain handles the emotions. Whether we truly feel the need to acknowledge the other person or not, a bit of it can do good..be it fake too! A lie isn’t a lie if it can perk up a person’s mood and better things.

Also there is no wrong in seeking acknowledgement from people whom you think are imperative. If they aren’t the kind, they will soon become one. “Don’t wait for someone. Show how and you will get it soon!”.

A gentle tap for a job well-done, a “thank you” to a simple act-through can make a huge difference in life!

I meant this and you understood that????

If everyone always agreed on what to call things, then my word would be same as your word, and what my content intended would be mutually understood. Well, while trying to talk about vocabulary problem I guess I have drafted my very first statement with complicated vocabulary. To keep things simple, let me tell you this! When someone asks you - "How are you doing"?, If you reply with, "I am ok", the other person can mean you are just OK and there is something that isn’t keeping you all happy. But on your part ok could mean "Oll Korrect" - everything is in place and that means you are doing good.

The impulsive choice of words to speak the same content differs with people, and the probability of two people using the same word is little. The problem could be one of these - use of same word with multiple meanings, use of different words with same meaning, or variation with your normal usage, well the last case is if the person knows you closely enough to know when you say “OK” - it means you are stiff; “okay” – only official, no personal favours please; When it’s an  “ok” - there’s no meaning beyond just ok, “k” - you are indeed busy and when you type an “Okie” - your mood is really light(ofcourse this is just my experience with my close chat-associates).

"I meant this and you understood this". - Do we not end up spending extra hours on small things which could have otherwise been avoided? By the time the two people in conversation come to a degree of consensus, friction, argument and many more would have had their unhesitant journey inbetween. But how to avoid this vocabulary problem? How to mean or convey something in a way the other person understands or atleast doesn’t misunderstand.

In most cases the problem lies with us than with the other person involved in the conversation. Sometimes our words deceive our action. When we say "ok", "fine", "go ahead" - we actually mean the opposite of it. Let’s put our thoughts in words - as frank as we want them to mean and not give space for assumption. Empathy is probably an alternative solution. We should assume that the other person doesn’t have one and that we have it in lots and give freely. When we say something to the other person, let’s be at the receiving end and perceive, if in the context our usage of the word makes right sense? Another thing that spots on is, with too many things on hand and mind, we tend to be discrete..and answer in points. We often forget we are humans and we have adequate senses. Why don’t we just say, "hey thanks. I am doing ok, how are you " - this would avoid people from interpreting us differently for we would’ve spoken out every word and leave nothing to assume instead of just “I am ok”.

It’s also possible that a person’s meaning or interpretation of a word depends on the region and environment he is from. While that’s one part of it, even among two close people within a family, simple statements can get misunderstood. That’s because everyone who involves in a conversation is a person and not a machine. Each will have his own belief, opinion, experience on every word that he utters. It’s the context he is familiar with and the word-usage that he is used to, he uses with/on you. So, when we see the person behind the word we will avoid most of the mis-interpretation.

This isn’t an exception with official communication. When its personal and/or emotional, an after word could  atleast solve issues springing from mis-communication. Think about those words that can make or break a deal in business. There’s no chance for a second explanation. Many a times the clients would be from a different geographical zone and although we may share the same official language, there could be a regional tinge which could make same words mean different to the two parties. Here is where a need to understand  the person’s meaning of a word and use the same/similar one while communicating with him to avoid mystification.

Well, if we don’t interpret, much of the problem gets solved; but interpretation is the basis of communication.

You need to interpret what’s on your mind and put it across. And I need to interpret your words as I listen and take action. But let my action not be to point fingers at you.

Lo! Vocabulary problem doesn’t have a solution. Hope it fades with our efforts:)

No time, no patience and no time for patience!

This morning I saw a little boy with his father on his way to school. The most simple word that can be used to describe the scene would still look complicated in front of the simple, unassuming sight that I saw. The father was taking his boy on a 2-wheeler, I cannot name the vehicle. It seemed smaller than a luna, resembled a bicycle but was motor driven. In the middle of the road the vehicle had a break-down. Neither the father nor the little boy showed any sigh of frustration. Instead he got down and started pushing his motor-driven-cycle with the boy still sitting on it. The boy seemed to enjoy this more than when the father ran(rode) the vehicle. The smile on the boy's face sought a smile from the father. They reflected a low-economy lot, but the smiles on their faces were worth a million.

Well, I am not mincing words to articulate what I saw. This exactly is the description of what my retina captured. How many working fathers today have time and patience with their kids like the one I did see?

With money, sophistication, hyped life styles where do we take life simple? We see many parents growing wild waiting for their kids' school bus if it doesn’t come on time. Don’t we lose patience while waiting for our office cab? We have no patience at work, no patience back at home, no time for self, absolutely no time for others.

Over the space of a decade, and across many work-styles and workplaces, no matter how many time-saving tools have come up, people just keep getting busier.  No time for even things we like doing. You wish to pick a gift for your best friend; though you like shopping and you would love to hand-pick the special gift for your special friend, you end up shopping online. After a long day at work, people have no time for self and no patience for family. Even a little boy waiting for his parents to be back from office gets the same treatment. No interest to cook the food we like and savour it; no mind on the things that once were very close to our hearts; no care towards our own health; no time to spare; no time, no patience and no time for patience! Where is this generation heading????

Adding to the post....

“One morning”

I wish, one morning, the chirping birds wake me

"It’s always me" - yells the alarm bee

I wish, the silvery sun peeps thro the silent window, wish me a happy morning

The screeching cabs across the road sound their horn never fading

I wish, one morning, I wake up to a no-agenda day

The mobile phone beeps a long "TO DO" list in sleep as I still lay

I wish, one morning, the coffee aroma pokes my nostrils while I am still asleep

Lo! The dry coffee machine lies asleep till I fill it with water deep

I wish, one day, just one morning I lead a life unhurried

Tension, anxiety, work, commotion - all masked!!!

Will I get my “one morning”?

Every “you” will wish for an unhurried life away from today’s race. Isn’t it? Am sure you will be able to relate to it!

Window-side mystery

She stood there, looking outside through the window; Greeshma's blinking eyes made the only noise stirring "arctic silence" that pervaded around. Unconsolidated marine sediments and sandstones marked the scenery outside her lonely stone house. Major part of "Harigundam" was a gently sloping plain except for remnant hills in the eastern region. The aquatic landforms encompassed sand mounds and barrier dunes along the coast on which this little town rested. While the well-known-tourist-attracting sections of Harigundam were characterized by enormous flat sandy beaches, extensive recreation-clubs around water spots protected by pebble ridges, landscapes comprising of low rocks and beautiful cliffs, the area where Greeshma lived had no resemblance to that recreational smudge. 

The color marshy green is something we see in pictures taken off places like Rameshwaram, Srilanka and edited with some decent Photoshop. Everything was "naturally" of that color in Greeshma's neighborhood, even during peak summer. It was the kind of dirty green that’s seen near uninhibited lakes with no air and light to alter the color and odor.

Unlike the rest who would peep out of the house with a hope to see if sun ever stepped out, Greeshma lived in her grey world. Her world of gloom showed not a bit on the freelance writing that she did. Yes, Greeshma was a writer - she wrote for most of the best-selling kids' magazines. Her language was crisp and undemanding unlike few writers (like me) who take pride in using the soggy-ever words from dictionary. How would it be to say “It's an indubitable incongruity for you to instigate such a preposterous notion” in place of a simple line - “It is definitely wrong on your part to have brought out such a silly idea”. Simple words best convey the meaning, rather than fumbling around for several complicated-artistic words; after-all her books were for kids and not for students of literature. The lady in her best-thirties was a favorite to all the kids; even grown-ups  upto 14-15 years old enjoyed her writing; but “ONLY" through her books. This talented young lady was least known as a writer in her neighborhood; she was famously rumored as one having a definite hardness and severity of nature. People hardly knew who and what was she. Was it the always shun house-door, semi-lit living room, silence-filled-dwelling that made people frame such an opinion? Or her austere sense of dressing left such an image?  Dull and deep colored kurtas over jeans, thick black framed spectacles, hair tied in a raised pony-tail, metal strapped watch, tight lips, sharp eyes, sticky cheeks – would be anybody’s description of her, from a glimpse of what they would have captured through her window.

What was the hidden melancholy behind this youthful figure? Even people who shared their house wall with hers couldn’t explore.  Let us not squander our effort on it. 

The outside world that night, and every night in Harigundam was a light-black churning blend of ground and sky. Set against the seamless dark milieu was the outline of a man. He seemed to be a man in his early forties. He had wrapped a scarf around his neck. Not the poking nose, wandering eyes, popping tongue kind, he just walked his way. While crossing Greeshma’s house, he tripped over few sheets of paper outside her window. Least realizing the content in these sheets would bring an enormous turn in his life, he causally picked them up to avoid the ink getting dimmed by the misty night.

---

Sagar's was a darker house than Greeshma's. Grey and shade lit his house bright. Was there anything about this corner of the lane which dawned gloom on houses that stationed there? Never know! Sagar stayed in a house adjoining Greeshma's. While we know not the reason for Greeshma's melancholy, Sagar's was a known one. He had a son aged 10 which was affected by Down Syndrome. Often this syndrome is associated with some cognitive impairment and physical growth. 3% of the world population is affected by Down Syndrome. This scene at home explains the "grey and black".

---

Back home, Sagar reads from the sheets which he would have picked from-near Greeshma's house. He knew little that his neighbor was a writer, a good one too and one who writes for kids. The sheets that he collected would have inspiring short stories (Greeshma would have drafted them for a magazine and the sheets would have got blown out by the wind). Without conscious effort Sagar starts reading one story from the lot, a little loud and the 10 year-kid, Kausthub would begin to follow the narration. Sagar wouldn’t have noticed this. By the time he finishes reading, Kausthub was seen standing next to him giving a patient ear. Kausthub’s eyes were dancing, his face was seen to glow. It felt to Sagar as if he saw his son come alive after long. Soon Sagar dismisses this momentary hope dubbing it aside as  just a coincidence and that a mere story cannot perk his boy's mental health. He would have tried treatments from various parts of the world for Kausthub. When no science, no medicine had churned a change in him, how could a meager story bring such a transformation?

---

New day dawns upon. Morning Sagar would see Kausthub in a state of peace, much better than his usual hyper-active irritated mental status. He would be seen sitting with a book and color pencils sketching a rabbit that the little boy in Greeshma's story did. Sagar now starts to deposit faith in the miracle of her story. Any father would go a mile for his son and the father that Sagar was, the only parent taking care of Kausthub with so much attention and affection decides to go by Greeshma’s window side and look for more miracles. That night, he creeps by Greeshma's window, notices piles of sheets and few magazines on the table. He picks little pages from the table and disappears into the dark. He would read out yet another story to Kausthub.

Improvements would be noticed in the boy; he now seemed to be more of life. Sagar starts to feel positive and gains an unwavering belief that there could be progress in his mentally challenged son and that the cure lied just in few sheets of paper. Greeshma's writing fills in a ray of hope in Sagar's life. The father that cared becomes a mystery by Greeshma's window side.

He would take few papers from her place every night, read them to his son and carefully place them back before anybody could notice. The habit continued with remarkable levels of improvement seen in the young boy. The boy would now mimic things from the stories, he was seen happier than before, his cognitive sense had improved several times...more than anything his hyperactivity could now be brought to control and the boy was quite manageable.

Routine continues till...till Greeshma, one night,  notices somebody by her room window.

---

She doesn't scream. She doesn't feel her heart beating fast. She just watches still as the man disappears into dark. Greeshma was a bold lady and to top that she knew there was nothing in her house that people wanted to raid. She did not own expensive things; she had the life of a writer; pens and papers filled her chest, room, table and house. The day next she causally comes up to the table by the side of the window and makes sure her things were intact. (Sagar places back the sheets/magazines everyday with no miss; essentially there is no mystery. He makes sure not to leave behind any mark.)

This runs into days and days into months. Sagar makes sure not to get spotted while sporting a thief. Even if Greeshma observes a shadowy figure by her window, she would shrug that away. She would just go about her day despite the strange appearance by the window.

---

Sagar now sees remarkable changes in the young boy. His daily activities improved. The quality of his life got better. The anxiety and panic attacks, mood swings, facial tics saw a positive drift. A state which wasnt cured by any/many specialists/experts could be treated by Greeshma's stories. Though Greeshma was shut in her house, her writings were colorful. A self taught artiste, her stories were cheerful and were laced with creative curing. She painted nature and all its colors through her pen strokes. For the boy who was locked between the walls, this definitely brought a lift.

With positive changes in Kausthub, Sagar decides to stop his window-side mischief and leave the boy to its own course. He would be thanking Greeshma in all his heart but wouldn’t dare to walk upto her and extend his matchless thanks fearing her reputation in the neighborhood as a "non-approachable-stern-angry-young-lady". So thinking, Sagar would look for a peaceful night, lays his head on the bed beside his son..no stealing..no story reading..life s changed so much for good..thoughts flow as he drowns into deep slumber.

The same night Greeshma will spot a mysterious figure, more frail and short, by her window side and the boy would be missing from his bed!

A story after long

<1>

"Hey Sameer. I'll be late home. Have a code drop and the entire team is under pressure. Please don’t wait for me. Do not bolt, just lock the house and I shall step in late; I have my keys" -said Saadhana and hung her mobile. She indeed had a long tough day, but had already stepped out from office and was standing on the highway that cuts through her office complex. The highway she was on stretched the length of the state. Saadhana would travel kms to her office everyday which was on the other end of the city. Tall buildings stretched before her, running like an impassable barrier. She stood at the corner of the highway where the road found its winding path through village passes connecting to the outskirts. 

The weather was chill. Bangalore nights are known for it, specially if it is during sep-dec. The pre late-night darkness along with the nearby brightness of street and neon lighting hid the road side vendors and even the street from view but for the vehicles roaring by. The cold gushy wind was blowing Saadhana’s long dark hair from behind her ears covering her sight of the approaching vehicles. She wore a blue embroidered saree and a blouse that was a tight long sleeved soft knit fabric of a darker shade than her flowy saree complimenting her skin tone.

A white indica just then sped along eating up miles on the highway. The driver stopped by the yellow post where Saadhana was standing, opened the door briskly and headed to her asking if she was the one who booked the cab to Shyamnagar. Saadhana confirmed the booking that was in her name and after a struggle to pull open the passenger door, she said firmly to the driver "The Tamarind Cove resort. Head to the road adjoining Shyamnagar". She sat comfortably and politely ordered to run close the windows, turn on the ac and music.

Without an obvious stare, the driver side-glanced at her to notice the fresh yellow knot around Saadhana's neck and the thick red sacred powder(kumkum) on her forehead which sent a clueless trace of a newly married lady. In all his heart he wondered what she was running away from or running eagerly towards. Hundreds of questions ran thro' his mind. Was she not happy with her marriage? Was she eloping away? Was it that she was joining her husband who was waiting at the other end? All the "Was she?" "What if? " "But why" ? - questions were silenced by his just-stick-to-duty attitude. As a driver he would see people of many colors and this was yet another to him.

Rafi's music was being played at the back and Saadhana much appreciated it. Shyamnagar approached. Saadhana paid for the cab, thanked the driver with a corporate gesture and got on her way to "The Tamarind Cove resort" whose huge entrance was seen from the end of the road.

<2>

Tamarind Cove was a five star property having best of all facilities and comforts. It had a unique blend of Muzhal and Hindu culture aesthetically designed and architected. The luxurious resort spanned across a sprawling 20 acres plot along the side of palm groves facing the dancing ripples of a waterfall. It made a tranquil spot away from the city life.

Saadhana went there to confirm her booking and monitor herself the decorations and arrangements she had ordered for. She examined everything in her plan, right from the reception, food, the special room, recreation package etc. She did not want her special day to be a miss!

As she was run through her plan by the resort manager, her thoughts wandered

~ imagine being lost in a faraway place surrounded by lush greenery, whispering solitude… imagine being on a dreamy date with your loved one along calm and serene bushes that never seem to end. This was what she longed for, for the past one week. She was happy she planned it well.

Saadhana verified her booking, booked a taxi from the resort to drop her back home. It was past 11 by the time she reached. She quietly slid the door to find Sameer switching TV channels with sleep in his eyes. He gave her a warm hug and enquired how her day was. They then hit the bed.

<3>

Day dawns upon. The early morning bell rings...Both Saadhana and Sameer spring up to the maid servant's wakeup alarm hardly remembering the day that was. They greet each other with a morning kiss and step out to the door. They yawn, stretch and rub the sleep from their eyes, standing at the door expecting the maid servant."Good morning Sir. Here is a booking in your name for an exclusive holiday at Tamarind Cove resort. This is a special gift from Mrs Saadhana Sameer Sir. Wish you a great day Sir." So saying, a driver-in-white hands Sameer a bouquet and says, "I shall wait out to pick you to our resort, Sir". Before he could finish, yet another neatly dressed, driver-looking man appears from behind and greets "Hello, I am  from Tamarind Cove resort. There is a gift for Mrs. Saadhana for a special day-out at our resort. An exquisite gift from Mr Sameer." Saadhana and Sameer look at each other. A sense of surprise runs through their spines. Each had planned the same to party their first month after wedding - "A day out at the most elite resort at the outskirts of the city".. Isn’t this true love, true understanding of what the other person's likes is? Isn’t this an evidence of a real two-way connection? - For a second both get lost in such thoughts. They dismiss one driver and get ready for the most special holiday they ever had.

"Never had such a beautiful day. I truly felt like in a fairy tale being in the arms of the man I loved so much, a whole day just for ourselves in such a beautiful place" - Saadhana tells Sameer on their way back home at the end of their date. Its indeed a day to cherish - adds Sameer. The Honda City that they were in honks at the gate of their apartment to drop the couple back.The driver honks and honks..honks and honks...

beep beep...beep beep....beep beep...beep beep....

trnnn trnnnnn...trnn trnnnnn...

"Hey Saadhana cant you hear the alarm go by for long...get up..get ready for the day..you said you can’t afford a day off..get going honey"..”Oops! I thought that was the car honking..Oh My God! where am I? was that just a dream?? Huh! Never mind, I better get a quick wrap to office." says Saadhana, the sleepy head. "Sweet heart...Love you. It’s been a month since we are married. Sorry I can’t take the day off and make it special for us. Have a meeting with the client." she continues. "Oh that’s alright honey..I thought you wanted some celebration for the day...Was afraid if you had planned something and I couldn’t make to it.. I have a presentation at work. Well, one month isn’t a big deal and it’s to be celebrated by those who just count the days. I wish and entreat we have many such months unfurling into years and years into ages marking this togetherness forever. Isn’t that true celebration???" - ushers Sameer. Few drops roll down from Saadhana's eyes..."Never knew we think so alike! Love you", she whispers(she meant her dream too :)).

Back after a pause

Life has changed in many ways. So have I. For the followers of my blog, I am no longer a person who fears change. Infact I was surprised to know it myself. I ve always seen me as one who would keep away from changes and prefer a monotone regularity. Wow! now things are different!

New place, new people, different roles....and the ONLY advice people gave me to handle this with maturity was

 "Do not try to change the wind, just adjust the sails." - And it works amazingly well.

When we craft a statement that this is what I am, here is what I am going to do, it shuns the door all by itself. Instead embrace who you are, let go things you can’t change, rejoice in the changes that you bring in successfully, adopt (to) the positivity of others. More than anything, define your life. Have a ready Yes; surely ways will fall open such that you can do it all.

“Nothing that is can pause or stay;
The moon will wax, the moon will wane,
The mist and cloud will turn to rain,
The rain to mist and cloud again,
Tomorrow be today.”
-HW Longfellow

A naïve exposé

A day when nothing happens

Yet another when upside down turn things

Thoughts run weird, voice silences

Is this life?

Sun sneaks in

Air feels warmer, opens a new begin

Glide through tough terrains bygone

Life is this too - christen

Silent dances

Animated musicians

Incomplete portraits

Unsung poems

Infinite patterns

Speckled audience

Blurred images of lucid pictures

Nothing seems everything

~Words can only  guess the sense

And sing a melody beyond the fence  

Can a poet play a ploy

On life and its destiny???

Just a thought

There are many mobile service providers competing for name and place in the meadow ; , but tell me if there is one who can provide me this kind of service? Please wait, I shall place me plea :)

(Pardon my ignorance if there already is 1 such.)

The available plans now are plentiful….say for instance 399 Rs. rental every month with any number of free calls to mobiles under same service provider...or 249 Rs. rental with free sms and 600 calls only, over and above 600 calls, per call rate is say x/minute ..say something of this sort.

Can there not be a dynamic plan, where at the end of the month our usage data is analyzed (ofcourse fits only postpaid) and sorted under the plan that suits us best. Say this month, I use my mobile extensively for emailing, the next month there may-be more US calls, month later texting might be my key usage. Anybody out to buy this plan :)? Don’t forget to pay me royalty.

If someone is already offering something similar, pardon my post and please notify me :)