Tranquility

Another day passing by. Passing by while I look outside the window 'how beautiful the World has been, or was or can be!'. Another moment slips by without realizing that once gone it will be never back again. May be it will be captured in my mind as a calm serene tranquility. Peaceful as the shadow of a mango tree on a harsh summer afternoon when I heard the wind sing to me. The chorus was framed far away by the bell in a cow's neck. I saw those dry grass streaks rustling and whispering that this moment too is passing by.

The fearless moments that I have enjoyed within myself seem to be reborn every time I remember those calm moments. I am sure you had your share of them, don't you love to weave them in paintings, in words, or in your pictures? The moment that gave you a sense of relief from the tiredness, so real. I feel that the people that I know are slipping away, may be it is a magic trick played by my thoughts just to confuse me. I do not know if I have enough chips on my side to raise that blind but I would love to. I would love to see them coming back to me, some time - some moment where we could ride the bicycle as effortlessly as we used to do or swim to the other side of the river and look how tiny others look from this side.

It has become a fast paced, goal based life where these moments are a rare thing. I experience them at times when I am lying down on my couch on a lazy Saturday afternoon, just by myself listening to an old song. It is rare alright but it is worth fighting for. Or when I splash the water on my face while in the shower and there it is that homely feeling, ecstasy. Cherish it while it lasts, search for it until your feet give you the road. 

Splashes of colors

So here is the recipe. Pick your favorite color: Blue? OK. Now throw a can of blue on the spotless white wall. Let it follow its own random pattern. Next, take your second favorite color: Red? OK. Do what you did with Blue and let both of them have some overlapping area and let some of it have its own identity. Go crazy now and take all the colors and start splashing the small cans of them on the wall which was white first. 

Well, that's another way to define life. May be yours, may be mine. Every color has its own significance and you are bombarded with colors all the time. Some of them are painted with a fine brush and elegant strokes. Some of them are born because the bumpy road you had to take to avoid the traffic and reach somewhere early. Many fingerprints are left on the wall as people find and fill empty spots on the wall. Some simply go unnoticed.

Colors and music are so similar and yet are so different. They become haunting when the lights go dim and beautiful when experienced with a good company. Intensity of both can be controlled and yet can be felt intensely with open mind. Like a wild wind running as a child, these colors have their effects and importance. When they get up and get a life of their own, they form shades. Shades define the moment, picture and life. 

landing under the sky

its such a good relief to be with peace for a night. i am sure that if you are in your bed you would love to think of some cheerful moments. its like coming back home and finding your dog jumping on you and asking you if you missed me? 

lying under the stars on sand and holding hands and talking nothing but listening to your heart beats. enjoying the breeze that makes the hair fall, which you love to set to make sure that the moon is visible. feeling the cold through the warmth of being with someone that you care about. 

counting the stars, talking about the non-sensible things of life which you are embarrassed about and missing those moments when life was pushed in the blood. i am sure that when life unfolds tomorrow, i will remember the past. sometimes we just forget to live it all and then it never comes back...

smell the flowers, listen to lyrics, enjoy the music and let life take over...for that's what you are living for and once its foregone its gone, forever. smile today coz now you feel like. 

WWTs...

Ok fine, I don’t have any work right now. So what? I finished it well ahead of deadline and waiting for more. In the free time I was thinking about ‘WWT’ moment of yesterday. WWT? ‘What Was That?’ So thought of listing down a few so that I can come back to them sometime later in life.

· Was walking to the photo studio to get some urgent photographs for some blah blah blah. Got down from the bus and increased the volume of my iPod as the magic of ‘Matrix Reloaded’ tracks spreads in the air. While crossing the road I started feeling that in reality I am not here at this moment and I am just dreaming about the whole situation. Looked at the onlookers and saw a fair girl crossing the road, something like the programmed chick from Matrix. And then it happened. I was brought back to reality by a sudden rush of wind of a passing vehicle. It swooshed so fast that I felt like it had hit me. ‘I am here for sure and I might have realized it by the pain in my body if not for a moment. What was that?’ And that was it.
· I am enjoying the late nights. Not that I hated them. But college days had sharp 12 O’clock endings. If exams would overshadow casual theme of the system, it would get beyond 12.30 AM sometimes. Not that I am doing anything that’s helping mankind or something, but late night dose of Russell Peters or some high volume songs keep me yearning for more. It’s a good time to enjoy UEFA. Quite exciting to see the clashes of former World champions struggling to stay in the final pool of 8 teams. However, in the dreamy vision of the morning I can only think of ‘What was that?’ Another day at work knocks me down.
· I am having more of WWTs at my work. But this is not a healthy forum for them. At least for now. They are better left alone.

Good to see many good things happening in the life of my close friends. Hearty congrats to all of them. This is me signing off from this place promising that I would be back soon.

PS: Time for tea now!!! Got any WWTs? Post them. Would add them in my next post.

Sing a song

Sing for outer space, so deep inside.
Sing for your heart, an untamed flight.
Sing for yesterday, a new experience
Sing for a better future, an unknown science.

For today has all the moments,
Enough to steal, all the minds.

Sing for a better place, a beautiful sight.
Sing for a new journey, a passionate delight.
Sing for the childhood, an open heart.
Sing for a song, your own part.

For sunshine is as pleasant
as gripping your child's hand.

Sing for a glimpse, driving you crazy.
Sing for the euphoria, clear yet so hazy.
Sing for the story, a grave irony.
Sing for the climax, sing for the glory.

For sweetness in life is a precious gift,
a widespread wing, for the big hit.

Free

Not always will time stay.
Not always will the kids play.
Its the change that is blurry,
perspective makes special ordinary.

Think beyond the chains,
the world exists.
The road travels beyond senses.
let yourself be free of fences.

Its back...

And it starts raining again in the beautiful city of Mumbai. The first day started with a bang. Something like “This is Sparta” from the movie 300! With the lights flashing through the wet pane of my bus, I think how much has happened in this last year. Life has changed so much for me, you and for all. For later!!

Monsoon’s back, its like homecoming. Bigger than the time when the Indian T20 team came back and landed. Without any controversies it’s here to shine the streets. This is probably a good time to visit this part of India since its rains like ‘There’s-no-tomorrow’ and it gathers pace everyday. The evenings are spent with family or friends indoor, gazing, sipping coffee and silence. Remember the xcitement of opening your new book in the first lecture of the season? The feeling is synonymous. Its congruent and in-synch with passion of this city.

Places to visit:

1. Marine Drive on a rainy afternoon.
2. Juhu beach when its raining heavily and enjoy your unlimited serve of ‘Parathas’.
3. Any ice-cream shop when you are drenched in water and re-strapping your trousers.
4. Lonavala in the midst of clouds kissing the roads.
5. Empty local trains on a lazy afternoon with friends and catching the droplets.
6. In the kitchen where the fresh lot of ‘Mirchi-bhajiyas’ are made.
7. On the rear seat of a bike singing songs.

Its an awesome time to enjoy an awesome town. Are you game?

Something precious

Once you have the skill of feeling things that other person is describing, life becomes more than a reality. You can enjoy life on a different canvass and enjoy the dripping drops of moments to a greater extent. The shivers, thuds, goose bumps, texture of things and feel of surrounding environment transforms life. Its better to live life like this so as to enjoy life's offerings more than the reality.

I am glad we are walking this distance together. For not many people have people close to their heart, never let go of this established thread. Else what will remain will be the ash of moments we shared and though ash makes glass, its after the essence has perished to the last atom of its existence.

Just hold hands and enjoy the rhythm music offers for thats happening, its all real.

Time came calling

And then the time came calling.
When it was a normal day, just stalling.
For I never had thought of this day as mine.
I always cared for it cheaper than the petty old dime.

When the days came, I enjoyed life as it came.
Postponing worries for the last rains, woes.
And then when I stared back in darkness
I saw loneliness and the beast’s soldiers.

Draped in shadows in their black veils, they
charged for they were His messengers finding my way.
They looked in my eyes and I saw both angel and demon.
Wait was a cancer and I couldn’t wait to be One.

The ripened time had gone sour and I was Trojaned.
To hold its arm as if it was my lover’s.
I held it tightly, close to me like never before
For death came visiting and the day was mine.

Richard Bach in ILLUSIONS

There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands.
You seek problems because you need their gifts.

Whispering Mirror!!!

Just passed the alley again
it was waiting for me,
the pick of the day was there,
It was a mirror in the alley.

I was eager to peep in the reflection
of time, of life and of the alley
Had time spelled a spell on me
difficult to break through or not yet?

Feeling the suffocation of the alley
I starting moving the open canvass
A hand pulled me back from the mirror
it was me, right in my face!!

I wanted to leave and asked for a leave
It rejected like it owned me, it did
But why now, what was in for me?
I gulped down the rising pressure

It blinked, held me tighter, a demon
was about to swallow me, it grew
darker than night and it came out
like a door had opened!!!

It told me, I am you, you from past
you from future and you now
All that has changed is the mirror
or your perception towards me!!!

Shocked, my shoes moved again like
there was no tomorrow, haunted!!!
I looked back and it smiled on me
I loved the gripping experience and the alley!!!

I visited the alley again, for today was new.
I saw nothing, but the crap lying lonely
it floated up and down in the corner
where I had found myself!!!

Home coming!!!

Here I come back again,
though my walk falters
and my fingers tremble
its coming back home

I have walked the empty streets
where words are sold off the shelf
it’s the path that sheds relations
and I longed for your touch

The painting hung on the wall
cries the rivers, fires the peeling color
It sends jitters down my spine
It separates the two worlds

The walk gets tiring as I take a step
the pillars standing are by gone
the fields have gone barren
I wanted this to happen ever long

The wait is over, words dried pasted
Back on the wall, sinking the shades
of pain, agony and fear
Its like coming home!!!

Are you Ready?

'Who am I ?', I asked the originator.

He replied you are a dummy sent on a planet just to play a game called life. You have been granted senses for you have excelled in your earlier performances on other planets. You will have many strings attached to limit your movement viz. relations, testing conditions, etc. They are the hurdles that govern every stage that you live in. You can either escape the hurdles or you can jump over them and win a star in your roll. You have to make choices to make yourself a better player.

I will mend the game so as to make the game tougher at different levels. You will have only one life to make it to the end and as per the choice you make your results would vary. Its just like living in parallel universe. You will meet other robots on the way who will stay with you for sometime of your journey. You can avail some benefits from other players if they opt for it.
The game ends and starts at my orders. You have won earlier levels. Are you ready for the next one?

Push "PLAY" to start.

Time for Introspection

I remember that I had mentioned in the second post of this blog about my feelings last year about 15th Aug and 59 years of independence. I was rather blatant in saying that corporate sector had a big role and so did the government.

Now after a year has passed and I see that how wrong I was. It’s not for the corporate sector and government to improve situations around for public but for the public itself to identify their hidden talent and improve them. This would serve two purposes. Firstly, this would shift the decision making power from absolute zero to more responsible people. Secondly, it would give more confidence to people working on it and make them aware of their strengths and areas of improvement.

Having said this, how much have I worked for social upbringing? I could have gone and taught at least one child and made him ready for the future, so that he would take care of his family. Or I could have helped people in arranging for the medicines required by collecting money from those acquaintances who would be on the other side. I could have done so many things. I hope I do it now since I realize the importance of it.

Just Another Lemon Tree

I walked through the garden which had been my secret partner for I dont know how long. The dry leaves knit carpet on the garden road was as beautiful as in every winter. The color of the leaves hanging on the tree was changing to a brownish shade, the grip just loosening from the branches. The flowers had long disappeared and all that remained were memories.

Every step was taking me closer to my best friend, who knew all my secrets. My first crush, my first beating at home, my first prank on mother and every other story in thick and thin was written on the pages of our friendship. He never spoke a word, just stood still and waved when I was happy and shed leaves when I lost my patience. My friend was like my shelter for every rain who would protect me from the thunderstorm which threatened every base of my life.

As I came closer to my favorite lemon tree it spread its arms to hold me close. It had shown me the care I always dreamt of, just being there was enough for me. I lifted my head and smiled and said my warm 'Hello's to my dear one. It smiled back and swayed with the wind. I was so happy that day since I had achieved my dream. I had lived that complete day just for myself. Till now every moment was captivated with the soulful thoughts of others and today I had my life, just my own to live.

I spent the day with few of my old friends, who had walked all the way to meet me with their walking sticks and they smiled at me. That was enough to fill me to the core, to give justice to all the past nightmares. I walked another mile to meet my family. I saw a happy family with my sweet grand-daughter brushing her forehead hair and came running towards me. Her soft tender fingers gripped mine, as we walked towards my daughter. She waved at me and looked at her happy daughter. We spent more than two hours talking about the past and the future and she had to live for her classes. She had completed her PHD and taught at the top Univ in the area.

I walked back towards my house. As I opened the door I saw the walls I had seen on the first day when I had shifted here with my wife. It was a moment of pride and joy, pride of having the gift for life in the form of my wife and joy for she had liked the colors I had spent hours on, for the very moment. As we walked our first step she held my hand and kissed passionately, that was her way of saying 'Thank-You for everything'. I loved her so much. Her dreams had given me wings and I never looked back and I had achieved so much in so little time.

As I turned and closed the door of my room, I was welcomed by my OLD DIARIES and they were so happy for me being there, back with their company to revisit the moments I had thought were important. Like the time my little daughter had sang her first song, dancing to its tunes and rocked her hair. Or the time when I had bought my first car and the ride we had the other evening, ripping through the dawn till it was pitch black. Life has been so kind to me.

I walked out towards my best friend. It was a heavy walk towards the end of the park.

Dreams...

I was walking on the cleanest beaches that my life could offer. It had been a sunny day, just another sunny day. I was watching at the lone, pure and untouched grains of sand; life was so much simple and beautiful in the mind of the grains, I thought. I could feel the grains kissing my bare feet as I walked and get picked up and displaced, shining and happy. The view that location had to offer was the best my human eyes had ever witnessed. I was holding hands of the crazy, kiddish wind as it danced its way, touching all corners of me inside out.

I bent down. Why? I saw an ugly rock dropped on that soft sand. Was wondering what was the destiny of that rock and what had brought it here. May be just another kid who threw it here or a lover had thrown it in the ocean while competing and laughing with his lover and the surfy waves just got it here. It was just lying there on that sunny day, as if this is what it always wanted to do. Just be there and stare around or be itself.

It was an ugly ovular but not oval, circular but not round kind of thing. Hope you got what I want to convey here. I felt it with my fingers and it was rough on the surface and smoother on the corners. My eyes gazed the details it had to offer. There were serrations, mountains and valleys, some moon craters and some pimples on a beautiful face. It smiled back at me.

I was falling in love with the moment and that stone. I looked around and was astonished about my luck and couldn't believe what I had just seen. There was a pearl lying on the sand, waiting for the observer; since people just are so lost that they don't look at the things closest till they are lost. I walked towards it and observed the curves, shine and the beauty of that pearl. I liked it for the first few moments. It had its own story to tell.

"Which one would you pick? An ugly stone or the pearl?" asked the fairy mother.

Another instant in life which would be termed as perfect, I thought. I looked straight at her deep eyes and just enjoyed that sight for a moment. Coming back to senses I thought about the choices.

"If only life was so simple and choices so easy to pluck. I would rather walk now." I replied smiling as an innocent child.

I looked up. Smiled. Thanked God and kept walking. I slided my hand in the left pocket and I was shocked to find the ugly love of mine. I smiled as I rubbed my eyes and got up.

Dry Weekend??

I remember weekends were the most awaited phase of the week, from my college days . I would peel off the other days just to have some moments of rest. Rest from work, rest from thoughts, rest from rest of the world. Though that was always was the top thing on my scheduler I remember most of the weekends were spent with friends, deep in woods or searching for a place to sit and have a cup of coffee or planning a night out.

Sudden stop!! That's life. It has come to a standstill today. I wake up and I have no plans to meet anyone and enjoy. I have no bike ride awaiting me nor a beach to leave our footprints. I used to enjoy the college weekends the most. They were mostly spent in family or woods. Family? Yes I had a close friend whose family was so inviting that I couldnt resist being a part of them and yes the lovely food his mother used to cook for us. Still miss the yummy food and the fun. Otherwise we used to go and spend the time at the lake where we had made a friendship point and would go swimming just to enjoy the feeling of water.

Else pick the bicycles and go through the muddy and 'open-armed' roads of the villages circling around the wheat farms. The swaying of the crops, the sweet melodies of the birds and the rhymes sung by the water, superb. It was The Unknown that would make me go faster than the rest of the lot, shouting out loud may be to scare away the bad spirits. I used to sing songs and enjoy the beauty, simply loving the brushing winds. Nothing can beat a lunch in the cane farms after a bicycle ride of 7-8 kms. Total life, simple life, life.

I remember the kiddish look on my friends face when we pulled their legs and ganged them up. I was the prey too, but not quite often, may be I am a scary old man!!! Remember the weekend around Nagpur spent in the open wild with no protective equipment. The dark night was the queen and we were the tax payers. Dont know for how long I will visit the journey in my mind, a true fun that life is. Full of uncertainities, laughter, darkness, moon lit night and life.

I miss all you friends out there!!! You people simply rock guys!!!

Life...so easy

Have you ever wondered what has attracted towards a person?

It might not be the talks and the big names attached but just small gestures. A smile, a deep glance for a fraction of second, style of holding things and the dart is on the target.

Life is so simple when it comes to decoding the informal speech. Just have to be observant and understanding for grabbing the attention. You need to know which cards to play and you have your man/ woman. Most of the marketing tools must be based on the same. During a stint of one week of marketing job I had observed my senior doing the same. The way he would greet, voice modulation and his approach while departing were simply perfect. He was named manager after his experience of 8 months with the firm.

Sometimes the temperature can be changed by just the gestures and without any words exchanged result change. so be observant towards these things in life and win over. Remember that innocent kid smiling back at you and waving his hand in the mall and you just smiled your heart out.

One for me!!!

Life is so astonishing. Every time you think you have lost the choices, it offers you more. Two choices for every moment. Pick one and add a new journey or enter a new alley. Every time I feel lost, I wonder what went wrong and it offers me the answer. Choice or the walk.

Every alley has its defined rules and they hold true for every traveller but might have different edges. For small feet, the same alley can be a wonder place where he can find a box full of magic tricks, hidden by the great magician from the world. For college love, the alley might be a hideout with his love and a reason to live every moment more passionately. For an old stick, the place might be full of nostalgia. Memoirs of the beautiful evenings, animated talks and cuppa tea.

Giving up is an easy choice. Many people use that as an excuse and an effective solution. Surmounting the cliff is the path less travelled, more full of adventures, new experiences to share on the way back. More scars on body for others to question about and greater opportunities to woo people. Its merciless. Its killing. The air on the way up can throw you off the edgy uphills. But whats life without risks?

Strange when people say that they have settled down. For me it defines death. Being settled? Life is so uncertain that it itself is shocked by the development from the wrinkles it has and they are as important as light in a dark, small tunnel which smell of last beast it sheltered. Don't they find it fascinating to check what lies beyond the darkness, beyond thoughts.

The feeling of lifelessness is like sitting besides the train track and waiting for the train to pass. You know it will, but still wait for long just to feel the friction. Feel the scratching and jerks inside your head like clinching teeth together. The growing beats with the incoming thud of the train. Deeper breaths, shivering hands. Ain't this even the person who has lost everything and waiting for the train to free him, feeling deep inside. What makes him to overcome this fear and knock the door fearlessness?

Life is a single experience which you will miss and you know for yourself how. No one can define it perfectly for you. You had your share, I had mine. We made our choices and tasting the delicacies we cooked for us. Whats there to repent, or rejuvenate but the journey towards the lighthouse? Reaching on the top is just for the moment but what we own at the end is the journey and its memories. As a friend quotes from a movie, Finding Nemo, "Keep Swimming". That's what you are here for. Enjoy every stroke towards the shore and don't worry for the wrong ones.

Customer handling in fast paced growth market??

This refers to a visit today to one of the top notch Telecom companies' shop. The experience can be summed up to one word 'Unbelievable'.

As we entered I saw a young couple on the only operating counter (the second one was closed) and a middle aged guy on the payment counter. Thinking that I am at right time, I was ecstatic about the timing. Turned out that the shop services close at 8.00 PM sharp. No probs but with Sunday option cancelled I was more than disappointed since I had lost my opportunity.

" I have spend 16000 bucks dammit and that's why I want it NOW" was the outburst of the girl as she was trying to control her boy(friend). He was more than angry, quite visible through his impatient actions. She banged the box (mobile packing box) and demanded to see a superior. I was thinking is this right? Spending hell lot of money and losing peace of mind???

A '23'ish guy walks out and claims to be the in charge of the facility. He listens first but then confuses the air around. As he shouts " turn off the lights" I can see the spectacled service agent frustrated with the situation though trying to be professional.

On the second counter I could hear everything crystal clear coz the volume was abnormally high pitched. " You freshers are not responsible but you are the ones who are made to sit on the counters and you get all the customer frustration. I had showed it earlier and you cant solve my case??" He was damn angry. Again I was sceptical of buying a service from this telecom giant ready to enter new market technology.

India is shining and with it is coming technological advancements in everyone's life. People are getting more and more busy at work and quality time is a new term. An urge of getting everything sooner than earlier is developing, since its the need of the hour in a fiercely competitive market. The settings are no more the only thing that people are attracted towards and they want real products and they are spending money for that ( Remember your autowala getting down with the latest handset??).

I was feeling sad, angry and empathized with the customers and I wonder why? I remember I have faced it twice with Globally Indian companies. Why do we suffer? May be because we don't drag the ill-treating companies to courts and they have their share of story to tell. No matter what the customer should not be made to pay the price. Make him feel special and he would help your business grow is the mantra. Anybody listening??