The Spectator

I'm the spectator
that enthusiastically applauds
and cheers the players on.
Not for me,
the glitz and glamour,
of the central spot.

I sit back content,
and thank God,
for slowing me down,
and blessing me with the awareness,
that enables me to appreciate,
the beauty and the drama of life!

I Want...

I want....
two words that determine the course of our lives,
and set the rhythm and the pace of everything we do.

Life is like a double edged sword,
joy and sorrow its two faces,
and we see-saw from one end to another,
propelled by our desires.

As one goes slip-sliding from joy to sorrow to joy,
you realize that periods of euphoria are shortlived.
You delve deeper to discover why,
and all you see is a series of 'I wants'.

You pause to take stock,
when the 'I wants',
don't go the way you want them to.
It's then you realize,
that you aren't in charge!

Get back on the saddle
and watch your mind at work.
Desires like colorful bubbles
come and go,
and you discover freedom,
as you sit back and enjoy the show!

Do you see the joke?

Why are adults called 'grown ups'?
A better term I think would be 'Weighed downs'
Weighed down by problems because we're constantly running away from them,
Weighed down by cares because we've forgotten to smile,
Weighed down by our children whom we forget to enjoy,
Weighed down by emotions that tie us up in knots,
Weighed down by a tomorrow that's not yet arrived,
The only way to reclaim life
is to take lessons from the real 'grown ups',
Our children.
They know,
How to enjoy every moment,
How to delight in gifts and hug spontaneously,
How to play and fight and make up,
How to build sand castles,
and come back and rebuild them all over again.
How to love and trust and give with an open heart,
How to giggle over something silly,
How to ask questions and discover,
How to take pride in putting something together,
and delight in taking it apart to see how it works.
Do you see it?
The joke is on you,on me , on all of us
and we are weighed down,
because we've forgotten to laugh.

The Mirror

The mirror reflects,
the passage of time
The lines grooved along a smiling mouth,
the crinkles that fan out from eyes
that have seen so much,
a network of lines carved,
by the intimate hands of experience.

What remains untouched,
is love that quickens the heartbeat,
shared laughter that bubbles over with fun,
silent tears that build inner resolve,
warm embers of silence,
shared between friends,
the faith of a little child
that helps you move mountains.

These lines carved on my face,
are testimony to the fact
that I have lived
life to the fullest.
I am aware
of the changes that
time has wrought,
and I smile unperturbed
as I perceive
all that is changeless
within me.

Omkara

Omkara is a movie that resonates in your mind long after one has seen it. The lyrical quality of the movie mesmerizes you, even as you watch the characters moving towards a tragic end. The Western U.P backdrop with it's dusty, golden haze is the
perfect backdrop for the story that revolves around Omkara a powerful,simple hearted chieftain. Ajay Devgan's presence fills the screen, but the parts where he displays his vulnerability is outstanding. His silences speak for him.
Saif as his cunning henchman,with stained teeth,his bawdy language, and raucous laugh steals the show. Kareena is charming, Vivek and Konkana performs effortlessly.
This adaptation of Othello leaves you spellbound as the interplay of strength and vulnerability is beautifully played out by actors who are perfectly cast.
Omkara is not to be missed, it's a movie that touches your heart.

Ties

Ties that tug at heartstrings,
cannot be seen with the naked eye
You feel them deep within you heart
at moments when you need them the most

The comfort of a mother's hug
friends who understand your silences
and share your laughter,
These invisible ties,
keep us going through difficult times.

The Dewdrop

I am a dew drop on a leaf, reflecting the jewel bright colors of life! It was a sunny,pleasant existance for the longest time and I thought that I would always live this way.
Then there was a storm, the trees swayed and trembled and I tumbled over and over at great speed, my calm existence completely shattered. When the storm subsided I found myself hanging on the edge of the leaf and all around me I found the radiant colors of the rainbow.
I'm wiser now. Experience has taught me that storms and sunshine go hand in hand. It's only when you brave the storm, does the sun peep out and reward you with the rainbow.

Star Blaze

Have you ever befriended a star? I don't mean a movie star or a rock star, I'm refering to those people who blaze in and out of your life and fill it with energy and color.
I've had a couple of stars for friends and the time I've spent with them are ones I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. It is a kind of relationship that sharpens and energizes you and leaves you wondering what will happen next, but despite the unpredictability there is a warm inner core that draws you to them.
It's a bond that's hard to define, and the energy is so contagious that you'd wish to hold on to them forever. Obviously there can be no permanance because a star cannot be tied down.
There are trails to blaze and places to go, and stars just have to move on. When they leave you know that things will never be the same again. There is so much to do and to keep the energy and the joy of my stars alive I have to pass it around.

Pick up the sword!

It takes courage to stand up for what you believe in but it takes greater courage to stand up for someone else. Injustice towards the innocent , the poor, the meek, It happens everyday. Sometimes it happens right before our eyes and we move on thinking what doesn't hurt us shouldn't bother us.

Do we derserve to be called human? I don't see a spark of humanity in the high society lady who lives in a penthouse apartment,in my building. She flexes her mucles to get a poor , old sweeperess chucked out of her job.I can actually see her talking to her La Di Dah friends about how much she's doing to spuce up our neighbourhood. Does this lady know what it is to go to bed hungry? Does she know what she has done is actually destroy an entire family.Why doesn't she pick someone her size?????

Am I any better, if I just hear of this and do nothing about it? I realize it is not enough to just be good person.It's time to act, to pick up my sword and proclaim my intentions. Then I won't need words, my actions will speak for me.

I may be an idealist but who cares, if the realists are people like my diamond clad neighbour,then I'd rather be an idealist. Armed with a sword I will go about my business quietly. What makes me really happy is the fact that when my neighbour meets me next, she will not stop to say hello.

Made for each other

Some of the best things in life come in pairs.I've made a list of things that seem right for each other.

Here goes.....

Rainy days and hot pakoras
Gulab Jamuns and icecream
Movies and popcorn
quiet evenings and music
winter mornings and bed tea
books and bean bags
comfy clothes and lazy sundays
old friends and good times

I like the idea of mixing and matching things until you hit a note that feels just right. It doesn't take very much to be happy. In fact if one closely looked at happiness you'd realize, its all about savoring those special, unexpected moments that come together to warm the heart.
So seat yourself in a comfy chair and savor the hot pakoras with mint chutney as the rain beats a tatoo on your window, or do whatever it is that pleases you. Take time out and sit back to enjoy these moments, that are made just for you.

The Promise

Life is change,
and everything moves on
leaving behind a trail of memories.
Like the lilac, orange colors
steaking the evening sky,
its beauty more poignant,
as the colors fade away.
The twilight hour brings with it
gathering shadows,solitude
the knowledge, that one is always alone

The star studded sky
is a reminder,
that the show goes on.
One just needs,
to be alive to every moment.
The sunsets long gone
warm the heart
with its beauty and its silent promise,
of a new begining.

Reaching for the stars

He walks through the door,
shoulders back, bracing himself for
the fresh start, he's about to make.
A curious mixture of vulnerabily and defiance,
15 going on 21,
My heart goes out to him.

it's time to step back,
and watch him go
towards the doorway called life.
A voyage of discovery,
that'll help him grow,
and reach for the stars,
that beckon to him.

Dream on...

I'd like to live through a month of sundays,lazy,relaxed,uninterrupted, slouching on the bean bag ,a book in hand,oblivious to everything around me.


Or sit on a craggy peak and watch the world beneath my feet, soaking in the exhilarating quietness.The cool breeze and bird calls my only companions.


Or burrow my feet into cool sand and watch the vibrant sunset. The rhythm of the waves is a lullabye, darkness cloaks me, the night sky lights up with a thousand stars.

I like my dreams.. they carry me away for a while and I come back refreshed,ready to take on anything, anywhere, anytime.

Monsoon Echoes

The Monsoons are my favorite season. Rainbow puddles and the scent of damp earth bring out the child in me. I love the brown, bare branches turning to green, colorful umbrellas jostling each other, the succulent corn with its tangy lemon masala.
I can spend afternoons watching the rain lash across the window panes, dreaming my dreams, as the world around me turns blurry.The monsoon colors from the darkest grey to the brightest green, gladden my heart. The new green leaves and the rain washed roads look so bright and new. This promise of new beginings finds an echo in my heart.

I am the Boss

I was wide awake at 4 A.M.
my head in a complete whirl,
It was worse than being in a traffic jam,
On a Monday morning at 10 A.M.

I must've gone to bed
with something nagging me
and instead of acting upon it
I just let it be

That nagging thought was waiting,
for just this chance, you know?
It overpowered my logic and reasoning,
and threw them out of the door

Then the worry grew in size,
and began crowding my mind.
Blocking all exits, thinking
it had me trapped this time

I snapped out of my stupor,
and looked it in the eye,
and said 'I am the boss out here'
I know who you really are.


The minute I confronted it,
it vanished without a trace.
It's upto each of us you know
to deal with the problems we face.

Enjoy the show!

To live every moment of life, we have to be alive. By being alert to every moment and by opening up to experiences,both sweet and sour we truly savor the flavours of life.
We tend to turn away from people who are spiteful and from doing things that have to be done.By turning away from them we hand over the reins of our lives to those very distasteful experiences.
To accept everything that comes our way without reacting to it, is not an easy task. We have to strike a balance between aggression and submisiveness.
Life gets easier only when we stop fighting and learn to watch things unfold calmly. Only then is one able to see the humor that underlines everything that happens to us.
Everything in life is so fleeting, yet we hang on to our experiences for years.
Letting go is never easy, but I'm getting there.It does hurt,when someone is rude,or when I encounter unpleasantness, but I'm learning to sit back and enjoy the show!

Sunsets

Orange streaks turn to lilac,the colors swirl one into the other, the sun an orange gold orb that bids a graceful goodbye. The clamorous cries of the birds winging their way home as the fading colors weave their magic across darkening skies.
Sunsets bring with them a sense of quietness, peace and the promise of a new begining.
Sunsets are beautiful they make my heart sing!

The MadHatters Club

How would it be if all the Madhatters of the world came together?There would utter chaos, but it would be great fun!
Every person is unique but there are are certain traits that set the MadHatters apart. Here are some of them.

They believe that:
Chaos leads to creativity
Time is an ally not a dictator
Norms are meant to be moulded to suit the individual
Speaking one's mind is a natural thing (and if the rest of the world is out of sync... too bad)
Dreamy, slightly eccentric, unpredictable- labels created by the prople who do not belong to their club
Enthusiasm is the essence of life,ranging from tea drinking to collecting beetles. It could be just about anything.

Madhatters are fun,there's never a dull moment with them. What this world need is a MadHatters club in every town to bring some fun into everyday life!

The Number Game

Our lives are shaped by numbers,
every step of the way
starting off with grades in class
to the salaries we earn today.

Age is defined by number
and beauty by the weighing scale
social status is the amount of clout
that your money can purchase

The number of cars you own
or the rocks adorning your hand
the villas you own in farflung lands
are they, the measure of you as a man?

In this dizzy world of numbers
you are in a constant spin
a turn of the wheel can change your luck
with numbers you can't always win!

A true winner is one who stands apart
and watches the ebb and flow
realising that its just game
numbers come and Go!

Mr. Sunshine

This is a topsy-turvy world all right,
A nuttier place, I’m yet to see.
The folks that inhabit this
Blue-green space,
Are as crazy as can be!

When I appear at my glowing best,
They look at me and frown;
Peer at me through squinting eyes,
And swear that they’re turning brown.

Hey!I am the sun and that’s my job,
I’m always shining bright,
What you see is what I’ve got
Whether you like it or not.
I don’t know why, you go on and on,
About how uncomfortable you are,
If I do the bunk one day,
Then, you won’t know where you are.

Now lets take a look at that fellow you love,
That rumbling thundercloud,
He makes an impressive bow,
With lightening and thunder in tow.
He looks so dark and mysterious,
With nary a smile on his face,
Yet you dance with joy when you see him
And call him your saving grace.

He is so full of himself,
He swaggers about the sky,
And when he comes pouring down,
You go mad with joy!
Once the showers over,
He exists no more;
Just because he’s so elusive,
You guys love him so.

I guess you are used to,
Seeing me day after day,
so you tend to take me for granted,
And sometimes think I’m in your way.
It's good I know my job quite well,
I will always shine,
And warm your little planet,
Until the end of time.