Nia

It was one of those kindergarten days when a classmate was distributing the customary birthday goodies. This time, the goodies comprised of candies in assorted flavors, and of course, each student was allowed only one. The entire class had their eyes fixed on the chocolate candies, and Nia was among the few who got one. She was on cloud nine, but she also felt bad for her classmates who didn't get the chocolate candies. One of them named Ruth offered to exchange a pineapple candy with hers and Nia felt too charitable to refuse. She regretted it almost immediately. She was crestfallen and complained about it to her friends. She decided to ask for it back and Ruth said no. Nia was so disappointed that she didn't want to keep the pineapple candy either, so she returned it to Ruth. And then, she went home to her parents, teary-eyed and thinking how it wasn't fair that she didn't get to keep even one candy.

Twenty years later, nothing has changed, except that it isn't kindergarten anymore. Her loving heart is the chocolate candy, her self-respect the pineapple candy, and life, her classroom. And Nia still thinks that it isn't fair.

Not Me

One step, two steps, three steps, four-
Steps I took till my feet were sore;
Leaving behind a chunk of innocence,
A dab of mischief, a slice of romance;
Some tears, some laughs, some anger, some glee,
Some things that made all, not some of me.

Phials

Phials of tears, angst and sorrow,
Phials she carried like there's no tomorrow;
Today, she walks among the dead
And hides one phial under each head,
Wishing no living would find her phials of folly
And live like her, lost in melancholy.

A Womb in Sorrow

Halfway gone, halfway to go-
Not a soul for these emotions to show.
A second of mirth, and a second later,
A pool of tears in the heart's crater.
Life's struggles pull apart every bit
Of what was left in this lonely pit.

Oh look! There's something moving there!
Trying to enter a realm unaware.
Is that what brings the storm within?
Or is it because of the unforgivable sin
Of feeling, crying, speaking out,
Of deeds of love that naively sprout.

Alone you can conquer the world, they say;
Alone you can find your destined way.
Alone you should try, time and again,
Alone you will fail, once more slain
By needful urges of your spirit weakened,
Bringing you closer to your self sickened.

Apologies if these lines weren't meant
To light up your day, or fix your life's dent;
Sorrow is the truth that we all face
And yet deny it to run the rat race.
Happiness isn't all that matters;
A real cry fixes what a fake smile batters.

Stay motivated!

Diwali Nostalgia

The evening began with Deuta and I struggling to light candles and diyas in our tiny compound, finding the perfect spots to protect them from the wind. Maa was busy in the kitchen, making sweets and savories. Our house was bathing in the fragrance of agarbattis. Pablo was running from here to there, restlessly eager to burst the crackers that Deuta had neatly arranged on a table. Friends started pouring in slowly, irrespective of caste, creed, region and religion, to celebrate with us. And like every year, we inaugurated with phuljharis. We used them to write our names in air and to light the other crackers. There were chakras (my favorite!) and anars, and if people were feeling adventurous, rockets and bombs. Maa's delicious goodies kept coming, and the merriment kept going even after the last cracker was lit.

Bidar

Disguised as a neglected mass of red land that lies hidden in the north-eastern corner of Karnataka, Bidar, with all the cons of a small city, unveils patches of archaeological and natural beauty that will amaze you. As the city shares its border with Telangana and Maharashtra, it is an ideal symbol of India's cultural, religious and linguistic amalgamation. The Bidar Fort is the place to be, early in the morning - deserted and clean with blue skies enveloping its vast expanse, and if you're lucky, the echoes of local people singing. Religious or not, you must visit Gurudwara Nanak Jhira Saheb, or you'll miss out on some of the best parathas that are served in a neighboring cafe. As for the fauna surrounding the city, Bidar hosts a good variety of birds, especially annoying little cattle egrets who follow the buffaloes wherever they go, hoping to sneak a taste of the insects flying around the animals. However, the main attraction here is the endangered blackbuck. Mother Nature took her own sweet time to create this magnificent creature, whose enchanting stare brimming with innocence can leave you dumbstruck.