Indelible Musings

This will be my 89th post on my blog and 50th for the year 2014. Not bad. I wrote 50 posts this year. Now, I know I had promised myself and otherwise that I would write 30 poems for a period of one month in my "Keep Calm and Stay Positive" series; however, I have to break my own promise and end the series right here, right now. I conclude, it is not as easy as I thought it could be to write 30 poems in one go. You need more time and creative thinking to work in tandem with your imagination. I fell short of either of it once in a while. I did not want the poems to look more of forced writings, hence, decided to end it at   Day 17 . So, what would be my 50th post for the year 2014? I first thought I would go down memory lane. Revisiting the year that is going to end in just Eight more days. However, I have decided to write about it in my next post, possibly. I still have eight days to go to write about 2014. Let me take you through one Saturday evening, to be precise, Dec...

The following poem has been inspired from a book that am currently reading: Success- a walk on a bed of thorns Shed a drop of blood  T hou shall be blessed with it, forever Thorns, sometimes hurt, sometimes don't It may tear your skin  or simply just touch and go But success will come to you either way. Strive for what you have been aiming for Look for your ambition Embrace your passion Walk along step by step Success will come to you either way. There will be a path, right or wrong; One can take you to the pinnacle The other can bring you down  Choose wisely for Success will come to you either way.

The following poem has been inspired from just a mere phase of life: Calm, composing breeze brushes past Inhaled goodness, exhaled toxic thoughts Breathe of fresh air turns on the key to motivation

The following poem has been inspired by love and relationships. Gazing straight into her eyes His tall figure overpowered her petite frame Long and passionate ,  it was, an eternal feeling

The following poem has been inspired from the women, whom we come across almost everyday. When we travel in a bus or train or auto; While crossing a road, or having a coffee at a cafe; While strolling in the park or just observing the many women, whom we feel more beautiful/content/happier than us. Stroking the strand of hair beside her eyes, Her fingers searched for an answer Confused, They settled beside her red voluminous lips

The following poem is inspired by a bride, who is all set to begin her new life. She looks adorable and will probably have an adorable life too. Thou eyes , black large dots spoketh silently , gazing around swiftly making way for your new abode As she walks down the aisle to marry the man of her dreams. Her face blossoms like the new blooming flower. She blushed, like that rose in the garden Her face like a moon on a full moon night drowned in love, she tip toed to another world

Yet again another poem which cannot be seen as a positive and calm approach but still I write it under the same heading. The following poem is inspired by the recent rape incident that occured in New Delhi (Rape of a 27-year-old by an Uber can driver). Bruised lips, teeth dug in Kohl smudged, flesh scooped out She struggled but lost.

The following Haiku is inspired from an image that I drew in my mind. I do not know who it was or whom be resembles but I felt instigated by the whole imagery and this is what followed- Droopy eyes Soulless Cursed Life

This is not really a positive poem. Unfortunately,  when you see such incidents happening in a so called secular country, you can't really keep calm and positive. The following poetry has been derived from the mass conversion of muslims that took place in Agra on December 10. Secularism Gone Hayware Fanatics Abound

I had promised to myself that I shall remain calm and positive all through. In an effort to do that,  I had given myself the task of writing 30 poems over a period of one month. I assume I am already past the deadline or probably may not be able to keep my promise. Thus, I will do a bit of cheating.  That being, I shall write poems but they might not be long ones anymore rather short poems, called Haiku. I came across this style of poetry while reading an article. I searched on the net and felt that this is the best way in which you can express yourself in short and concise manner. Haiku can be anything from an experience to an emotion to even an inanimate object. Thus, my Keep Calm and Stay Positive series is all set to take a different turn as I may end up writing the remaining poems in Haiku style. Here goes my first attempt at writing a short poem. The inspiration for this poem came from my own baby. Curled Up, He Lies, Content, I feel. I may not have written it in th...

#I wanted to post this tomorrow but somehow couldn't wait any longer since I had written this post two days back. So, it is basically an advance Birthday wish for Kaku. Have you ever been fond of someone so dear yet who isn't related to you biologically? Whom you meet one fine day through your parents and who becomes an integral part of your life just like your parents, uncles, aunts, cousins etc. Someone, who is far away from you, whom you hardly remember often yet there are times when you remember them fondly and wish they were there. Someone, who is no longer physically present but has etched a never dying image in your mind. Someone, whom you have loved, not just unconditionally, but with as much love and affection as you would your parents. I have. He is (was) my Soumen Kaku. An uncle, whom I met through my parents. He wasn't related to any of us. He was our family friend's relative's friend. You must be confused by now to what relation did he have with u...

You know it is definitely not an easy task to "write" however, it is surely an arduous task to think, imagine, create and then "write." Poetry, for me, somehow falls in the latter category though surprisingly, whatever poems I have written till date have always been impromptu. Hence, I guess I was correct in choosing a theme like this for my "Keep Calm and Stay Positive" series. It will not only give me the mind to think and write but also nurture my ability to be impromptu. This poem is a mix of both kind of writing. While the starting few lines had been hovering on my mind since long, the rest just followed as I typed through. Walk into oblivion Her eyes said it all The 'kohl' was smudged Like she had cried the whole night The lipstick was smeared all over   Like someone had forced upon her. Yet when she emerged out of the dark windows She had never looked so serene and calm Whether it was her way to hide  the atrocities meted out...

I know I have not really followed the days pattern in my series to be positive. No excuses, just a plain simple reason, I wasn't keeping well, neither could I manage to think of poem nor did my little kiddo give me the time to sit down, relax and write something that I wanted to write. I do not know if am succeeding in keeping calm and staying positive however, I do know for a fact that writing these posts do give me that hint of staying positive even if it is for a matter of few seconds. I like it. And, probably because of this I may continue writing these posts till I complete 30 poems, doesn't matter whether I am able to keep the days in order or not. There is nothing really that came into my mind while writing this poem. I merely remembered a scene outside my window, while I was having breakfast standing next to it and looking at the tree outside. There were four crows which tried to shoo away the Koel, which was trying to poke inside the nest of some other bird. They al...

I had read this book even before I started with this   but somehow couldn't generate the time to write the review for the book. I know I am too late in probably reading and reviewing this book however, I didn't want to let those who haven't read Jhumpa Lahiri earlier, miss out on reading this one. Now, Lahiri's debut work, Interpreter of Maladies, was a poignant effort and had some really great short stories that stayed with you, long after you have finished reading the book. Unaccustomed Earth, is not really her best work but certain stories definitely remain etched in your heart forever. The book, Unaccustomed Earth, is divided into two parts. The very first story of Part I is the title of the book. In this story, Ruma, a  young mother is visited by her father, who slowly tends to her garden in the backyard of her house. While tending to this earth, the father strikes a special bond with his grandson. Meanwhile, he hides a love affair from his daughter, keeping it ...

Calcutta, the city of joy, is associated with each and every Bengali living on this planet even though he or she might not have the least possible connection with it. Despite being a Bengali, I am probably the only person (as far as I know) who doesn't like Calcutta as much as a quintessential Bengali would. Having born and brought up in Delhi, I detested going to Calcutta be it for anything. Often being rebuked by my mother for the same, I have heard countless stories of how she and her siblings would be excited about the summer holidays because they would get to visit Calcutta for almost the entire summer vacation. The very thought of spending two whole months in Calcutta gave me jitters. I don't know why I hated going there so much despite it being loved by everyone for its charm, life,  food, people, trains, tram etc etc. My last visit to Calcutta was in 2010, when my friend PC from my Journalism college decided to head home while we the students were being taken for y...

There is a sense of agony in my mind Trying to fathom the obvious I stumble upon memories That are not to be remembered. Driving me through those memories My mind wanders into another zone Where there is no grief, no sorrow Where there is only joy and smiles. I think harder, plunge deeper Deep into the zone which is unbelievable But in vain, as there is a void Before the zone, which takes me in. I had dared to overlook the void I had tried to trespass over it But in vain, as the void was clever It caught me off guard without a warning. Yet I emerge out of the void This time stronger than it imagined And as it tried pulling me in again I shunned it away Like there wouldn't come another day Like there wouldn't come another chance. Traversing my mind's path I see the zone which is unbelievable I move my hand to hold onto it Like a thin air, it holds my hand Takes me into the zone where there are no sorrows, only joy. It takes me deeper and deeper F...

I know its been long past the fifth day and I should have posted it before. But I couldn't manage earlier seriously and so I am a little later than never :) Day 5, Poem Five: I am your life Life isn't about what you have Life isn't about what you have not Life is all about living in the moment Life isn't about only sorrows and grief Life isn't about only happiness and need Life is all about coexisting Such is your life that you seldom find time Yet you behave like you have given all your time Time is important, for you and for me But don't make it look like  yours is more important than mine. Like you, I too am coexisting I may not be the happiest  I may not be the saddest  But what I am is your companion Longing for your belonging I want you to hold me within Like you hold you lover I am your life,  You exist because I do. Don't chide me away Like I am good for nothing Keep me in your spirits  Let yourself flow with time ...

There are days when you are low. There are days when you don't know how to keep up with all the good things happening with you. Then there are days when both the high and low come together and in the end, what you get is a fulfilled day. Today is one such day for me. I had been feeling very low since morning. Then came a lady to meet me and my son. This lady is someone I met for the first time today. Until today, we had exchanged only a few or rather quite a lot chat messages/whatsapp messages and a few phone calls after I was back in Chennai. In fact, she was the first to call me after I returned.  Isn't it strange how people you hardly know, make you feel special in their own little ways?  This lady, I call her aunty but I would prefer to address her as 'this lady' in my blogpost for now. We accidentally became friends on Facebook. She must be in her sixties but has a heart of Twenty something. She looks old but her enthusiasm, nature, always ready to help sp...

I have to confess. It's a tough deal to stay positive for a day, forget an entire month. I have been thinking everyday rather putting myself in the comfort zone and trying to be as positive and as cheery as possible. However, something or the other keeps cropping up and all my penchant for staying positive goes for a toss. I fail to understand why is it so tough to be positive everyday? Why can't we keep aside the negativity and move on? Why is it that if something wrong happens with us, we keep on to it forever and ever? We simply refuse to grow up, it seems. There's got to be something that drives us towards a positive outlook everyday. What could that be? It could be a warm hug, a gentle kiss, a cute smile, blooming flowers, so on and so forth. That's precisely what we should be looking for to have that zeal to carry on. As I write this post about being positive, my mind is playing a game with my heart. While the latter wants me to be positive, the previous has so...

Happy Children's Day to all! I know its a bit too late to wish now. But its better late than never. No? So, in my attempt to stay positive and keep calm, I am going to attempt my third poem in this post. Though the three days have been hardly anywhere close to being positive, I have at least tried being calm. It is as if no one around me likes me being positive or is it that they are jealous of me being positive? Who cares. Since, it being Children's Day, what better theme to choose for my third poem than the children themselves. Oh Lord, She's a girl She gasped for breath, Clutched the sheets,  "Push, Push" said the doctor She was breathing heavily Her noise was loud and clear; "Hold on, Hold on" said the doctor She was waiting for it to let go As she let it go, A loud cry freed her  from the labor pain, The doctor smiled, She faked a smile, The doctor held her little soul  cupped in his hands Her smile broadened  as she saw her ...

Niharika was late for school today. Unlike other days, she dozed off moments after her alarm went off. Her mother finally woke her up from her dreams and asked her to get ready as soon as possible. It was quarter to 7 and her school bus would be here any minute. She walked up to the dining table where her father was reading the day's newspaper. She stood for a while looking at her father, whose eyes were glued on the front page of a leading daily. Realising that he would never look up, unless she made a move, she coughed a little to distract her father's attention. "Yes, my darling. You aren't ready yet? Isn't your school bus about to arrive?," said Sanjay Rao, Niharika's father. "Daddy, I was thinking if you could drop me to school today? Please?" said Niharika making a puppy face. "Well, that would require some bribe." "No Daddy. Taking bribe is an offence. Mam told us." "Oh yes sweetheart, it is. But a sweet little...

It's that time of the year, when the entire India witnesses Autumn but our very own Madras (Chennai) has its share of monsoon. And, It's rained hell lot since yesterday. So much so that the schools were shut (same old story) and there was water everywhere (Nothing new here too). But amidst that rainy weather, like how rains usually lighten up your mood and brighten up your day, there were several of those winged wonders huddling on the parapet, the trees, the shades (wherever they could find it) and shutting themselves from everything around. I couldn't help but stare at them and how they moved to remove that one drop of water which probably had fallen on them while they flew from one tree to the other looking for a shade from the incessant drizzle. But still they showed no sign of distress, because they believed they were in safe haven.  Inspired by those winged wonders, who believed, is my second poem:  That bird on  the Peepal Tree Seven 'o' clo...

Are you wondering where is this coming from? Well, well, well, I am inspired. A bit too much. I started reading "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne (okay now don't give that 'I-should-have-read-it-earlier kind of look). I am done with reading it. What have I derived? Positive vibes. So much so that I am inspired to write an entire blog post on it. Rather, I am inspired to 'Stay Positive'. Going by the kind of person I am, I thought of challenging myself a step further. Hence, I am going to definitely follow what I have been inspired to do. Not for a day, but for an entire month. Thirty Days. Period! What new am I going to do in these thirty days, I haven't yet thought about this. However, when a day of being positive can make me write this post. I wonder what can a month long of positive feel can make me do. I remember a friend of mine doing a month long culinary experiment on her blog during our Durga Puja festival. Now, my month long 'Stay Positive' ...

Let me confess. I have not read a single book by Devdutt Pattanaik. However, I have heard a lot, and when I say a lot, I literally mean 'a lot'. His books were on my list of "to-read" for quite some time now. Hence, when BlogAdda  announced that they had 25 copies of this book to be reviewed, I registered instantly. Knowing well that I am not used to read mythological books, I gave this book a try. I must admit, I don't regret reading it. So, here goes my review of the book. The book, 7 Secrets of the Goddess, is divided into seven chapters where each chapter talks about seven different goddesses- Gaia, Kali, Gauri, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Vitthai.  The book starts off with Gaia, which seems to have been added to make the book more 'inclusive'. Gaia or the earth mother from Greek mythology, is represented as the primal female deity. The chapter then goes on to explain the various other mythologies and tribes across civilizations to show the impor...

I bury myself on the comforting sofa Trying to keep the lights dim But I realise that it's already dark As dark as the no moon night Now I want to keep the room lit Brighten it up with lamps and lights But however much I try This light eludes me It looks at me from a distance Laughs an evil laugh Speaks up just when I try to grab it "Didn't I tell you before? Keep me with you, I'll lighten up your world" I argue with it to come back to me I promise it to never let go But it has had its share I have plunged into the darkness, it says Have I really? I think I hear a cry as I think A cry loud enough to wake me up From my dreams As I open my eyes, I see only lights My room is lit bright Now, I laugh an evil laugh and say "There is light at the end of every tunnel"

Ravi Subramanian has managed to do something that till date no other author has been able to do to me- sit straight and finish a book in one go. Well, yes. I take quite some time before I manage to finish a book that too in one go. Moreover, if you have a five month old baby to take care of then finishing a book becomes quite a task.  Lets get down to the book now. The book begins with a discussion between two corporate honchos. After a year, the US Government is shaken by the Wikileaks exposure and Bitcoins come in to the picture. As you flip the pages, lots happen. An explosion kills a bureaucrat, a close aide of the US President; this leads FBI into a mad chase. Meanwhile, back in India, things are taking their own course; a prominent banker dies after slipping from the rooftop of a building in the middle of a party. A small gaming company, Indiscape run by Aditya Rao and his friend Sundeep gets on the world map after Varun, Aditya' long lost son, joins them and turns i...

Read the previous part of the story here Photographs of Shekhar, Tara, Cyrus, Jenny and Roohi were pinned on the green board that hung inside Java's office room. Java scratched his head hard to draw a connection between Naina's murder and the five people who were present on the fateful day at the Dutta's. "There's got to be something more here than what meets the eye," he thought. As he flustered with his pen in one hand and his eyes glued to the board scanning the people in front of him; one of his constables entered the room. "Sir, Your tea." "Keep it on the table." Just when the constable was about to head out, Java called him, "bring in the brown envelope that we discovered at Cyrus' home that day." As Java waited for the constable to return, his eyes now narrowed down to Shekhar's photo. "You better have a good reason for the evidence that I have else I shall make your life hell just as you tried doi...