My dreams

I dreamed of diving in the deep sea,

Swim to the farthest corner,

To see the wondrous creatures beyond,

That live afar from human reach.  

I dreamed of climbing the mountains,

Fancied they would embrace me close,

And then gaze from the highest peak,

At forms of life that would seem like naught.

I dreamed of traveling to all places,

I dreamed of exploring the world,

I dreamed of dancing in the rain,

And I dreamed of singing at a concert.

But now my cold small feet are buried under,

My tiny hands, I cannot move,

The hands ma and pa held so delicately,

And assured that my dreams would come true.

It was the monsters with ugly guns,

“Why me?” I wished to ask but fell on the ground,

I closed my teary eyes with excruciating pain,

My dreams, they wrecked in a second, all my dreams.

Charity begins at home

I really appreciate when organisations talk about all the CSR initiatives. And I appreciate it all the more when I see those talks transforming into action.

But like it's said...charity begins at home. So I am deeply saddened to see the office guards, manning the gates for hours in the scorching heat, without drinking water or not being able to have a proper meal. And I feel really disappointed to see the lack of seating arrangements for the pantry and office boys or the staff cleaning the restrooms. And you know what disheartens me the most, when people speak to them in the most crude manner.

So for that Marks & Spencer blazer that makes you really chic or that Van Heusen shirt that makes you look so classy...Some generosity and kind words will really add so much grandeur to your personality. Don't forget your manners at home while talking to the support staff.

And for the organisations planning their next year's CSR initiatives, a request to begin charity at home.

It's that feeling

It's that feeling again. I step on cemented ground with the same sinking feeling. In the midst of those high rise buildings, my lethargic steps start to move. The same routine follows...I try to scoop the regulars from my handbag and like every single day, get into the scouting battle for a couple of minutes. Troubled and harrowed faces around me with seemingly the same sinking feeling. Disinterested but determined to follow the routine, determined to complain at the end of the day and determined to remain bound.

I close my eyes and within seconds try to transport myself back. I am walking on the quiet cobbled streets again...There a smiling old couple and there the laughing younger lot. People busy chatting in an alien langauge...at ease, happy. The homeless playing the best guitar and the proud wrinkled lady basking in the winter sun. There a gleeful pet dog jumping with affection and then the strong alternating whiff of coffee and smoke filling the air. The breeze is chilly and yet it embraces me with a soothing warmth. Sipping into the refreshing strong coffee in that cafe on the cobbled street, I get the feeling...There isn't a need to worry, to conform, to think.

Capital punishment

I fail to understand the fuss about the capital word.  I can believe it to make an Earth shattering difference in school but do professionals need to read the rightly capitalised words to get the Context right. I mean did you notice the capital E in earth and capital C in context in my last sentence.  You got the context, all right.

I just saw the tag line of L&T with a 'I can't say wrong' capital letter I in 'its about Imagineering' and started wondering why the capital I. Maybe they want to highlight the new word or just cause they Wanted to.

Lord,  save me from losing sanity over capitalisation and rather be more creatively focused.

Why?

So I can't be more convinced with Simon Sinek's 'why' theory.  It is amazing to see people who are brilliant at execution to be unsure about the reason for the execution. There seems to be a fear of looking for the why.

In fact, I feel asking yourself 'why' can really help you understand why are you doing what you are doing,  make a headway to what you ultimately want to do and get a closer look at your motivators. 

Questions that make you seek 'why' challenge your comfort zone, which is why most of us refrain from it. So if I were to ask you what's your job or how do you go about doing what you do, you probably have the best explanation. But if I were to ask you why do you do what you do, you probably will falter and give vague responses like for money or to keep yourself busy.

Think about why. Answer the why for a purpose in everyday chores and long term objectives.

I feel...

As I feel the wind stroking my hair,
I feel it say that all is just fine,
I close my eyes to experience peace,
Groomed hair flows to a carefree tune,
The tune of the silent wind.

As I feel a comforting cool,
I feel it say that all is just fine,
I smell the sweetest scent,
Expensive perfume lost to the fragrance,
The fragrance of nothingness.

I feel my awakened senses,
I feel my existence,
And I wonder hard,
Should I just feel grateful for what I feel,
Or remember and not forget to feel the pain.

Journey outside for a journey within

I feel I now know why we need to take holidays.

The metro cities force us to live and work in enclosed and stifling burrows. Each day we have a false sense of delight looking at how luxurious our burrow is or the growing number of amenities which we surround ourselves with. Once out of the burrows, we struggle through traffic laden roads to get to our air tight work places. And then we revel in competing in the number of fancy feeding places we’ve been to. The façade goes on, goes on till you go somewhere near nature.

If you look closely at the vast hills, exotic greens or expansive waters, close your eyes and think...it is humbling. In spite of their magnanimity and greatness, there always is a welcoming sense that is waiting to embrace you. And you are suddenly hit with a mortifying feeling of being such a small and insignificant part of the entire cosmos. As you intently listen to the absolute silence, it sounds sweet and awakening. As you breathe the untainted air, it seems to cleanse you of all the imaginary ploys. The ploys, which you convince yourself, make you proud and so elated.

So try to make as many trips for that journey within and to reboot yourself to modesty.  

My Confession

I have to confess. Not that it is any surprise but yes I have the deepest, warmest and most sensual relation with someone. It’s been years now and people who are even little more than acquaintances know of my unabashed love. 

I am not sure when or how did the affair start but as far as I remember I’ve always been the helpless lover. Maybe it started on a chilly winter morning when all I was seeking was some snuggling warmth or perhaps on a rainy day I was watching the tender drops trying to heal the heat struck bruised surroundings and there I fell for the intoxicating scent that filled my senses.

So much in love, I have written verses and constantly, in my writings, made references about the mystical effect of this love. 

I just have to close my eyes to feel the smooth texture, the warming effect that seems to melt you into a different world, alluring blend and the tantalizing aroma. Even though I detest PDA, I have no qualms of exhibiting my obsession for this beloved. 

I have even shared my beloved. And whom I shared my beloved with, almost every day, I am confident that they are equally addicted and in love with my beloved.

My beloved and I date often; my favorite place being Costa. Making me lose all hunger, I want to spend as much time savoring each moment as I sip into my age old yet growing love, love for my dearest cup of coffee.   

The connect

I’ve dreamt of spirits. Evil spirits. Not just once but many a times. And these dreams are so unblurred in my memories. 

As far as I remember it has been over 10 years when I first dreamt of an evil spirit. It took control of me, complete control. What followed in real life was a very difficult time, the brunt of which even my mom had to suffer. After a few years it was the evil spirit again but this time I combatted it. Might sound as if influenced by some Ramsay horror movie but I combatted it with a spiritual connect as I fought it from inside a temple. The evil spirit tried really hard to get at me but I was safely snuggled inside a Ram temple constantly chanting god’s name. I was not scared but confident that I am safe. And finally the spirit gave up. 

Recently the evil spirit tried again. This time it was trying very hard to snatch something from me. And I was chanting ‘wahe guru’. I was chanting so fiercely and loudly that I felt I might have spoken in my sleep too. After some frustrated attempts, the spirit went away. 

I am sure this experience is not unique. Others have experienced it too. 

But I am very grateful for the connect. Call me superstitious but I do believe that I have premonition with dreams of these spirits. But as long as I have the connect, I have the confidence of remaining safe and nothing malevolent touching me or the ones I love. I remain protected.