Walking Kaleidoscope

02-Oct-2013 So here I am, sitting in THE most expensive area in the world, overlooking Manhattan towers and observing the place called New York City. Well, to start with, this is not a place for romantics. It is cut throat, it is more real and probably the most advanced version of Urban Metropolis Life. Went to the Battery Park Harbour riverfront area.  Unlike most harbour areas that I have seen (In S’pore and in South Africa) this is not all about rest, relaxation and party. The area is  ingrained as a lifestyle in the people of this city. People take subways to jog in the waterfront, there are cyclists, baby strollers, skaters, commuters, office goers..this is a REAL place. Unlike most touristy locations which try to give you a surreal feeling of existing in a make believe world..New York so far keeps reminding me of reality…maybe that is the beauty of the place or maybe that is the irony of it. Next in line was Times Square. Well the world doesn't lie when it...

The Magic of Rains - While every season has its own charm, there is still something mystical about rains. It evokes memories. Maybe its got something to do with the fluidity of water.. Am yet to come across someone who does not have a memory associated with rains..and most of them would have memories of every stage of their life.  Today while I was travelling to work in my car  I suddenly realised that how much I miss the auto rides to work. Somehow in the openness of that auto, I had total access to rains. In my car, while I can see the rains..the rains dont touch me. I put my hands out of the window to feel those tiny drops and I can suddenly feel the life coming back to me..I suddenly feel alive..all senses awakened. In that moment, I forget everything that is there or could be there or is not there in my life. The moment is just me feeling those rain drops falling on my palms and the regular tic tac toe dance of the raindrops. And then I look out at the kid walking on ...

My first ever Women's only trip - and I know one thing for sure - best things come, unplanned for. Again an experience which did not figure in the wish list for 30 odd years of life, happened, and wow- my life will never be the same again. Went to South Africa and Zambia with 24 other fellow women from different walks of life. The place itself deserves an exclusive post, but for the time being..let me focus on the smaller nuances. It all started amidst a life that was moving towards boredom very fast and was asking too many uncomfortable questions. Just then, I fumbled upon an FB page and somehow, that page stayed with me for a long time. I thought about it for good 2 months before finally paying for it. As they say, things fell in place and I was destined to be a part of this experience. I was scared - this was my first experience with the unknown after 7 years. It almost felt like the first day at B-school or the first day when my school became co-ed. Seeing all of them at th...

The thing about happiness is that it makes you take yourself easy. Something so simple, which most normal human beings, take deep pride in complicating. Fretting over everything, confused about the options, trying to decide the path of your life, figuring out the moment you will die - We find some deep pleasure in doing all of this. I do too. I have even gone to the extent of planning my death speech and checking from the abyss how people would respond to my death. Better still, I have even felt sad about the fact that a particular person xyz will not cry over my dead body! All at the expense of the moment, which was waiting for me to be made my own. There are very few moments, like now, when I feel that the moment that I am in now, is all that I will ever have. It feels good. It feels good to feel your body, hear your heartbeats, submit to the stillness.It feels good to have a hearty meal (now yes, I did fret over planning the meal), jog in the park, feel the rains, just let yoursel...

बन्दे ने बोला खुदा से:  तूफ़ान से कश्ती मोड़ के, हम लायें हैं तेरे पास, ऐ खुदा! अब तो बता दे, हम आम हैं या ख़ास। यूँ आम लोगों की ज़िन्दगी हमको गवारा नहीं, रोज ख़ुद को पीसना, कोई सहारा नहीं। रोज ज़िन्दगी के साथ, एक नई लड़ाई लड़ना, रोज अधूरे कामों पर, तकदीर को कोसना। कोई तो ऐसा रास्ता हो, की मैं भी खुदा बन जाऊं, मेरे भी कई पुजारी हों, मैं भी ख़ास कहलाओं। खुदा बोला बन्दे से: ऐ बन्दे! तुझे मैंने ज़िन्दगी का तोहफा दिया है, ऐसे मैंने तुझे ख़ास किया है। क्यूँ रोता हैंअपनी तकदीर को, आँखें खोल कर देख, मैंने तुजे इस दुनिया मैं क्या क्या दिया है। इस दुनिया को अपने ढंग से देखने का, प्यार से इसे सवारने का, मैंने तुझे हौसला दिया है, ऐसे ऐ बन्दे! मैंने तुझे भी खुदा का दर्जा दिया है.

तेरे आने की ख़ुशी में हमने, यूँ इतने चिराग जला लिए.. दिल को चिरागों में जला कर, हमने अपने अरमान सजा दिए.   अरमानो की सेज सजी थी, हवाएँ दस्तक भी दे रही थी, हवाओं में बह कर हमने, खुद को पागल भी बना लिया. हर दस्तक पर दौड़े हम, की अब तो तुम आ ही जाओगे. पर जब दरवाजों पर खाली सर सराहट ही हुई, खुद में ही आंसुओं को छुपा लिया. कितना छुपते छुपाते हम , खाली सिलवटों पर. साँसों की भी तो उम्र होती है,  टूट तो वो भी जाती हैं, थक कर हार जाने पर.

There is a sea of questions am floating in. struggling to find out the me in me. A voice less known, is often suppressed. not allowed to decide the path that could be correct. A loud noise, often misleads.. Is it a party or a rhetoric of creeds? When everybody is yelling the same words.. Could my words still stand out? When the crowd is walking the other path, Will that hand, still hold out? The road less traveled sounds very alluring, It needs a heart which is very daring. Can I dare to leave all that I have? Can I dare to be happy with losing? Can I dare to stand up to all that I knew? Can I dare to make something new my own? Can I dare for once, to not ask questions? Can I? For once?