Silent Silhouette

Short story[1]

2012-01-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

Writers digest gives writers some interesting story prompts. Here's the story I scribbled for today's prompt. Enjoy!

The link -> http://www.writersdigest.com/prompts/one-very-memorable-night-but-not-for-good-reasons

The prompt -> "While out at a bar, your old high school sweetheart approaches you and gives you an unexpected kiss right on the lips. This causes you to have one intense reaction that will lead to a very memorable night—but not for good reasons."

The story ->

I adjusted my bright red sari as our car screeched to a halt. It was a Saturday night, and being a page 3 journalist meant dressing up and interviewing celebrities at a high profile pub for the day’s “Breaking News”. Unfortunately, I had never been able to get into the skin of a page 3 journalist. Sure, I liked the money, but hey! All I really wanted on a Saturday night was to cuddle up and watch a cheesy movie with the perfect man. Like the camera man who had accompanied me to the pub. Ah! An absolute dream boat. What I wouldn’t give, to be with him right then, all alone, in a faraway place. Pubs were surely not for me. They were for all those celebrities out there. The wannabe actress out there in a strapless green gown, for instance.. How I wished she would commit a fashion faux pas so my boss would get his “Breaking News” of the evening, which would mean I could try and get a vacation for real. Oh, after asking out the cameraman, of course.

I tried to exchange a few words with a caked up celebrity model with a high pitched voice and weird girly laugh, when I saw a man amongst them trying to chat up every pretty girl on board. His broad shoulders and flirty dark eyes reminded me of someone very familiar. Then I remembered. He was the dude from high school I had a silly crush on. Thank god I had long outgrown high school and all its burdens. The tall, intense, intelligent men were what I wanted now and those baby blue eyes just sealed it for me. God, I had to get this camera man out of my mind.

I got back to getting my “Breaking News” for the night. Just then, I felt a light tap and I eagerly turned around thinking my camera man had for once decided to talk. Then, I fainted. Only to wake up and find my camera man look at me with an “Are you OK?” expression. I sighed and like an impulse reaction I returned his kiss. The kiss that had just made me faint! But something dint seem quite right. The expression on his face didn’t do justice to my kiss at all and all eyes were suddenly on me. Why were all the rich and famous curious about my simple love life?

“It was you who kissed me, right?” I asked my cameraman, who looked mad enough to hurl his camera at me.

“No, it was me, your college crush, remember?” It was the dude from college I spotted earlier. Er, why wasn’t the world ending?

Yes, I could see it, right then. “BREAKING NEWS: SARI CLAD JOURNALIST SEDUCES HANDSOME CELEBRITY INTO KISSING HER AND IN TURN KISSES THE CAMERA MAN “. Clearly, I had lost all chances of asking out the camera man or taking my vacation.

Gargi

Submissions

2012-01-14T22:10:00.000-08:00

As I begin to take my writing seriously, I wish to keep track of submissions for the sake of motivation ;)

1) The Cha Magazine "Encountering" poetry.
2) "Three poems" to "The weave magazine".

The list will keep growing. Amen!

Gargi

Short_story[0]

2012-01-13T09:15:00.000-08:00

Readers digest gives writers some interesting story prompts. And here's the story I scribbled for today's prompt. Enjoy!

The link -> http://www.writersdigest.com/prompts/i-know-im-supposed-to-keep-this-a-secret-but

The prompt -> "The plane lifted off the runway and into the air. The person next to you turns and quietly whispers in your ear, “I know I’m supposed to keep this a secret, but I absolutely must tell someone.”"

The story ->
I hated air planes. They made me sick but this was a trip I had to make. I could only hope it would be uneventful and predictable. I carefully made myself comfortable on my window seat as the plane took off. Take offs always made me funny in the stomach. There was something about being lifted off the ground when seated in an unknown enclosure that made me very uncomfortable every time.

I wanted this to get over fast and I was in no mood for any conversation either. My co-passenger, however, seemed to have different plans. He startled me with his deep voice when he said, “I know this has to be a secret but I have to tell someone. I was waiting for the right person and you fit the bill”.

“Excuse me?” I said trying to bring some expression. God, please make this easy and quick.

“The man behind your seat. I murdered him and you are going to have to take the blame for it. If you don’t, my accomplice will raid your home and then, god save your lovely daughter”, he smirked.

“What the..”, my mouth dried up and my mind was numb with dread. God is this real.

My daughter! I wished she wouldn’t have again forgotten to switch the lights off when she went to bed, else I would have to strictly reprimand her when I reached home. Oh dear lord, what was happening to me? I was supposed to be focusing on what the man was saying and not keep thinking about admonishing my daughter’s absentmindedness.

I barely heard him as he continued, “You are going to have to give your handkerchief which I am going to plant as proof against you when the cops look for evidence”.

“What the hell is this about? Why did you kill him? and why do want me?” I managed to bring words out of my mouth. The AC inside the plane was making me colder than it ought to. Why were airplanes so ill designed?

“Stop stalling and hand over the handkerchief” he repeated. My hands went numb. Damn the AC. I tried to focus on the present thinking I would comply with his wishes now and hopefully figure something out later. All those Agatha Christie novels had to come into use some day, dang it. Though I had no idea how. Oh hell, I didn’t even know where my handkerchief was. Goodness I was in a mess.

“Why the hell is it taking so long”, he growled.

“Um.. er..”, what the hell was I supposed to say.

And then from nowhere came an abrupt, exasperated voice that broke the tense silence.

“Cut! Cut! Cut!. For heaven’s sake, can’t you memorize 4 simple lines?” It was my director. I had forgotten my lines again. Being an actor was tough thanks to my wonderful memory.

We had to redo the shot all over again… right from the sickening air plane take off. Sigh.

Gargi

The devil's deputy advocate - 1

2011-12-20T00:44:00.000-08:00

Frankly, I am a little tired of the numerous "social networks are making us unreal" articles floating around on the social networks posted with tags like "So true", "Absolutely agree", "Check this out" etc. Okay, I get the frustration that these guys have about people losing their real faces behind an imagined reality or about people getting so sucked into the virtual world that real life relationships are forgotten and authentic face to face conversations are lost.

To all these people, I just want to say - duh. And here's why.

Reality is most times a grave and boring ritual to me. I find it such a relief to be safely behind the internet in so many cases. I am not a social butterfly in any sense of the word. However, that doesn't mean I am an introvert either. I enjoy good, witty conversations. I enjoy meeting people I genuinely want to meet. But I still say social networks are a dream come true for me.

I can have all the conversations I want on a chat client and still spare myself of the ridiculous judgmental tones, pronunciation errors and sarcasm filled sentences which I would otherwise have to politely deal with. Its easy, because I just choose to ignore the absurdly constructed smileys (sometimes even the sentences) which are supposed to convery sarcasm and similar sentiments.

I can let the world know that there has been some development in my life without actually going through the rigmarole of listening to them analyse and give unasked for opinions! Its easy, because I just pretend my internet was down when they sent me that message that contained advice filled with concern towards me.

As for the complaints about sending text messages when 'they are just a call away'. Right! As if we dont know it! Why would I want to call up a person and talk for hours when all I actually want to say is 'Hey maybe later, a bit busy now(yeah, right!)' Its easy, because I just choose to keep my sanity and their sentiment. Why is that so bad?

More importantly, I am sure all of us on these social networking sites have two kinds of people on our friends list:
1) Those that you know, love and would keep in touch - social networks or not.
2) Those that you are supposed to know and be polite, though you couldn't stand them for more than 4 lines even on your chat client!

These social networking websites, I think, are a blessing in disguise when it comes to dealing with the second category of people. You dont get rude, they dont get mad. You hide your irritation under a " :-) " and they under a " :-| ". And as for the precious few who come under the first category, nothing in the cyber world can stop me or them from sitting next to each other in a cozy cafe and conversing endlessly for hours!

It is a total win-win I say!

Ever grateful to "social" networks,
Gargi

Poetry & writing contests

2011-12-14T07:59:00.000-08:00

1) To all those interested, 'cha' is conducting a poetry contest for Feb 2012 issue, last date being 15th Jan 2012.
Theme: Encountering
Details here:
http://asiancha.blogspot.com/2011/10/cha-encountering-poetry-contest.html

2) And there's another:
http://www.sampad.org.uk/learning/opportunities/competitions/
Theme: Tagore

Gargi

The unspectacular quirks.

2011-12-13T03:26:00.000-08:00

The Rules:
1. Link the person who tagged you – Sadhwi (sadhwi.wordpress.com)
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Quirks:
1) I have always felt that my hair has a mind of its own. It never settles the way I want it to. Ever.

2) Its extremely rare that I can sit through a movie completely.

3) I have a very deep, almost maniacal regard for: humility, kindness, capability and courage in the same order.

4) I hate falling ill. The most important thing that cures me when I am ill is the fact that I hate falling ill.

5) Most people I meet, find me cold, aloof and almost arrogant and therefore I find it very convenient to actually make an effort to befriend the ones I genuinely like and let the others remain thinking as is :P

6) I have a very wild desire to win the Booker prize someday for my 1st book and my 10th book (sigh!).

7) I don't care too much about rules and hence the addition of the 7th quirk and of not tagging others.

Gargi

Sins and Forgiveness

2011-12-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

A certain summer's morning,
a little flower foolishly flew
a little away from the tree
not knowing mistakes came with a fee.

It flew with no direction
only to find sunken void spaces
only tempest winds and sullen seas
all full with empty thoughts where life ceased to be.

It came back a little later
back to the all encompassing tree
hoping to find the same warm groove
where it could cuddle safe and finally be free.

Alas there was no groove no love
it was received like an untrusted dream
only to find its place was now fully taken
by thorns called resentment and animosity.

The tree had judged and shrugged,
and welcomed to the groove thorns anew
There was forgiveness there for all..
for all - except for the flower that flew.

'Tis the most tender part of love, each other to forgive.

Gargi

Our forgotten friends

2011-11-17T02:27:00.000-08:00

Too many mouths,
often offering advice.
Two honest ears,
forever deciding between virtue and vice.

Too many self proclaimed evangelists,
with long 'you-should-do' lists.
One forgotten friend,
forever listening, patient and wise.

Too many books reciting experience,
all pretending to have been in the same strife.
One hidden heart,
to have actually lived your life.

Too many men depending on other men,
all appearing with intentions seemingly nice.
When all you only need for the right call,
are two ears, one friend, one heart and a disillusioned mind.

Best,
Gargi

Green thoughts

2011-11-10T03:00:00.000-08:00

My work place recently conducted a slogan writing contest about 'going green'/'green IT'. I thought up a few quickly before sending the least crappiest one. Rules said it had to have only 4 words. I thought I should put the rest here :P

1) Keen to engineer green
2) Lets engineer operation 'gogreen'
3) Engineering operation 'go green'
4) Turn your hearts green
5) Engineers keen on green
6) Live the green life
7) You green at heart?
8) Engineering a green tomorrow
9) 'Green'ing technology, honing lives.
10) We dream of going green
11) Green-way or the highway
12) Green globe, clean globe

I know I could've done without the word 'green' too, but somehow it felt nice having it!

Gargi

Update: I won it! :D

When the ocean meets the sand

2011-10-23T02:18:00.000-07:00

My thoughts, illuminate, turn inward.
My breath, my seraph, takes a pause.
My mind, tempest, rests in peace.
My soul, evanescent, stops and belongs.

The blue of the ocean,
this is what it does to me.
Drifts me away from the trodden path,
trudges me along to where I belong.

My heart, my jobler, beats to a different tune
as if having met a lost acquaintance.
My feet, unconcerned, just too stubborn to move
as if having found their destination earth bound.

The sand in the desert,
this is what it does to me,
Takes me to idyllic lands of liberty,
My eyes, they understand, they capture this instant - for posterity.

Gargi.

Poetics of Poetry

2011-08-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

As another weekend departs, my love for poetry deepens. In an effort to bring some structure and method to my study of poetry I've penned down a few poems in different styles. I don't claim them perfect in technicalities - they are only some words and rules I played with.

Syllable : A small unit of pronunciation that has a vowel sound either by itself or surrounded by consonants. Example: River is a word with two syllables (Ri-ver).

1) Haiku - Rules for English Haiku are not as forceful as it is for Japanese Haiku. A Haiku generally has 17 syllables ( 5-7-5). Various other forms and variations also exist. They are based mainly on everyday nature and ordinary objects and experience narrated in not-so-everyday ways.

Vast blue sultry skies
Quivering deep emotion
His extraordinary eyes

Special sizzling spice
fresh coffee aroma announces
Mother's arrival home.

2) Diamond poem - This cute technique requires building a diamond using words (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 3 - 2 -1) Opposites are generally chosen as the topmost and bottom most words.

                                                          Humility
                                           True    Beautiful
                                       Reviving       Beckoning     Succeeding
                             Success    Friendship           Warmth      Life
   Sickening Scathing    Friendless
   Commonplace Pompous
                                                          Arrogance

3) List poem - List poems are organized around an idea. All sentences describe feelings and things that we relate to that central idea.

A bygone friend suddenly discovered
as gentle as an evening sunbeam
as reminiscent as a long forgotten dream
as a much desired companion in life's lonely path
as a ringing bell singing its sweet song
as a panacea for past's wrongs
sweeter than solitude, the sweetest song.

These were some of my favorite styles. Remaining styles remain for another day.

Best,
Gargi

Love - like it has never been.

2011-07-23T00:43:00.000-07:00

Love - like the rainbow that piercingly splashes the atmosphere,
like it stamps the skies with its signature - colors that some adore and some fear.

Love - like the madman who starts his passionate unending unrelenting riot,
like he knows of nothing - but the burning desire in his heart.

Love - not like those women who love just so the world can enviously see,
but like those - for whom with the lover, the world simply ceases to be.

Love - not with the colorless tiresome ordinaries of existence,
but with the belief that tests even the unimaginable idiosyncrasies of persistence.

Love - like the maiden who seeks nothing in return, no complaints they hear,
like she lives her infinite life, with demure brown eyes and determination they fear.

If you ever love, make sure you do so with an intensity that can overthrow all previously known limits of love. :)

Gargi

To be a bumble bee

2011-07-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

Oh what a lovely affair -
to be but a little sunflower
unaware of its existence
yet beautifully alive
to not care a hoot of the world otherwise

Oh what a lovely affair -
to be but a humble bumble bee
fearless of any competitors
yet a content winner on the sunflower it finds
to care less about what the world would surmise.

Gargi

Baby blue bird

2011-07-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

One night, a blue baby bird
she confessed to me -
how lovely it was really
to be forever flying free.
How exciting it is, the possibility
of exploring the realms of infinity.
She told me once, of the blood red stones
the ones she found when she flew alone
she spoke of how they glistened at nights
she spoke of the sea, the sand and the infinite land.
This bird, she comes so often to me
she speaks of miracles, magic, hope and glee
She kindles in me this desire deep and quivering
of love and life and unearthly ecstasy.
She is my happiness with god given wings
She brings to me the sweetest of things.
She urges me to break the walls and fly with intensity
She prods me to do what is deemed an impossibility
I have always thought she deserved a name of real beauty
From today, we shall call her serendipity.

For my favorite english word - serendipity :)

Gargi

Chasing Rains and Rainbows

2011-07-14T05:08:00.000-07:00

Rain, the destroyer

Burdened sullen sky finally having its say
nervous trees keep swaying away
it has begun to rain today.
Evening's gloom has deepened itself
drowned in a spurt of the sky's regret
Old men are reminded of their failing affairs
little kids are robbed of their games again
The evening lamp has embraced death
not withstanding the wind tempest
Muddy waters and naughty stones
are showing their talents at impertinence
How far away have you gone from here?
Have you lost your way in this madness of rain?

Rain, the inspirer

Bountiful sky has begun the celebration
the trees have joined in joyous liaison
it has begun to rain today.
Washing the evening gloom forever away
Enticed by the sprinkles of water and earth
old men are reminded of their wonderful youth
little kids can make mud balls under the rainbows again!
The evening lamp has modestly given way
to the resplendent moonlight coming our way
Cleansed earth and purified hearts
now renew the love and goodness of heart
Here I live with no worries no fear
Knowing you'll bring an umbrella and a warm sweater

On a rainy evening,
Gargi

Love is:

2011-05-23T00:13:00.000-07:00

Love is:
its own madness its own reason
its own danger its own rescue

Love is:
its own mission its own inspiration
its own adventure its own justification

Love is:
the old woman's only enduring memory
the little girl's lifelong dream

Love is:
the bride's precious anticipative anxiety
the widow's never-ending misery

Love is:
how the ideal world should ideally be
what unconditionally unites you and me

Love is:
what's needed at every step to infinity
what lets us ourselves be

Love is:
what keeps me warm and sets me free
what brings me home to none but thee

Love is:
what makes me write despite all reality
what we are and what we forever wish to be

Gargi

Last night

2011-05-22T23:18:00.000-07:00

Last night we visited
the yellow flower atop the beckoning mountains
the one which the bee loves to tickle tease
the one which once was his first gift to me
Last night we sat lingering
under the charming wide canopy
we spoke of him and me; our legacy
and sung songs that dwell in possibility
I dared not venture even a casual touch
one touch could have woken us to reality
Soon we had to leave for the bell had struck twice
once for his mind and the next stubbornly for mine
Tonight we might visit the sublime blue sea
if only we both dream the same blue sea

Best,
Gargi

I'd rather have you

2011-04-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

I'd rather have your special scent beneath the moon and starry skies
than a bunch of scentless diamonds on a loony meaningless night
I'd rather climb the mountain for a glimpse of us in paradise
than climb onto a rich saddled horse for a life that runs on dice
I'd rather come thirsty and slogged to a place which has you home
than lie on a bed of satin quilts and a flowered garden to roam
I'd rather live only a day and love you with all my heart
than spend a lifetime in which you play no part

:)
Gargi

Still unsung songs

2011-03-23T04:59:00.000-07:00

They surround me today
the long lost memories of yesterday
the paintings of people long bygone
coffee and conversations of yore
of the loving long letters I wrote
to forgotten souls living in faraway places
of the endless words I strung for poems
on the endless lonely moonless nights
of the days where nothing seemed all that right
and of some still unfair but perfect for me
of the bright purple dress I once had
with the pretty flowers on the hem of the hand
lot has changed between then and now
my heart still holds those silent unsung songs
of my undefeated love miraculously clearing the wrongs.

Gargi

Books or nothing

2011-03-21T02:15:00.000-07:00

A long term dream finally brought to fruition. I have read numerous books. Some well known some akin to hidden treasures. Silly as it may sound I have never wanted to lose track of the jewels I have tracked.
Which is why -> http://booksornothing.blogspot.com/
( I am also proud to be able to take the photographs of the cover pages the way I want)

Now that I have a backup of the busiest part of my brain, I can sleep happy :)

Love,
Gargi

Tinkle thoughts

2011-02-26T10:17:00.000-08:00

Uncle Pai is no more. I am sure all of us who were addicted to Suppandi's hidden genius will take a moment and remember Uncle Pai. He was the man who gave me my most enjoyable childhood evenings. All useless drama of a tiresome day was forgotten once I laid my hands on "Tinkle". I used to dream about Shikari Shambu in English classes! About how lucky he was to get away with anything. Few people have that kind of luck. Of course there was Kalia with his uncanny ability to foil Chamataka and doob doob's extremely well crafted plans. Maths classes were easier thanks to Suppandi. He is and always has been a source of inspiration. That's how I got through school! Doing everything like I was told without using an ounce of brain. Heaven.. :P Tinkle Tricks and Treats were enough to stimulate my lazy-from-textbooks neurons and "See and Smile" gave me all the humor my 10 year old self needed.
Today, I got a copy of tinkle digest on my way back home and I cant wait to relish some Tantri The Mantri ideas (yea, he teaches you what innovation is, trust me :) ).

Thank you Uncle Pai for Tinkle and some amazing childhood memories.
You are super awesome.

:)
Gargi

Thought tapestry

2011-02-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I tripped on destiny
who was engrossed in weaving some secret mystery
Didn't they say she was a perfectly abstract entity
but yesterday she was here composed to reality
She smiled a knowing smile, something on her mind
my smile was confused and curious - a painted fake
I wondered whose tapestry she weaves
She refused disclosure despite my desperate pleas
She laughed a silent tune when all my attempts had ceased
I looked her eye asking if the weaved web was for me
She was gone abandoning me, all answers have a hidden fee
I was left looking at the web in all its decorative glee
Tonight when I was pondering the web with curiosity
I heard myself laugh the same tune with ease and simplicity
I realized to who belonged the tapestry, who carried the mystery
I was finally set free.

Gargi

Too silly for a title :P

2011-01-27T03:54:00.000-08:00

Climb up the rainbow
and come running down
Dance in the rain
in a pretty pink gown!

Play on the beach
Build a cute castle
Sleep a lazy afternoon
Without any hassle!

Win that challenge
Get raring to go
Nothing's difficult
We dont have to bow!

Not losing to failures
Brushing them aside
Dreams on our side
To efforts we abide!

Die hard optimism
That's the way to be
You'll get those stars
They'll be there to see!

Gargi
(On a perfectly boring Wednesday afternoon :P )

Will it have you

2011-01-15T11:37:00.000-08:00

I will bring home the sound you whispered
The thoughts you wished for
The smells you trusted
The distant stars you wanted
The many colors you painted

I will bring home and lay them by you
If you only promise that my home will have u

Gargi

Loneliness

2011-01-02T07:02:00.000-08:00

In sultry summer's mornings
In winter's pressing gloom
In a room filled with laughter
In today, tomorrow and day after
In syllables, stories and poetry
In birth, death and later glee.
In presumptions, arrogance, conversations
In smiles, sounds, pursue me.

Gargi

Can I leave this without a name?

2010-12-28T09:01:00.001-08:00

To find joy in a smile that's smitten
In silly flowers and the poem unwritten
In prancing butterflies pure and mild
Pleasures only the mind can find

To marvel at the ocean moon
To indulge me like your homegrown
To touch my heart in ways unknown
To make the mystery unravel on its own

To bring in soundless shells from sea
To also bring in the joy like thee
To ponder me but ask no proof
Like a miracle that is kept aloof

The language only some can speak
The thought the best would seek
To have the songs that are always right
To be the distraction of the sweetest kind

To be the poem, my touchstone.

Gargi

Enchantment

2010-12-28T08:45:00.000-08:00

He will an enchantment remain
unparalleled, undoubted and understood
The puzzle still stubborn and sore
my mind will solve it no more

Some things will stay the way they are
some loves that are too improbable to be
faraway smiles and majestic souls
some that were and some that are to be

Gargi

Tonight

2010-12-02T22:01:00.000-08:00

My words have a guest tonight
tonight will sure be long
yes I should pause and belong
the guest wont be here for long

Tomorrow will soon come along.

Stop

2010-12-02T20:59:00.001-08:00

Stop
look back
turn around
do I seem sound?
Where did you go?
you lost me at the bend long ago
Did you find the old yellow paper?
it was my poem in a beautiful wrapper
Stop
look back
turn around
Is it you?
Where did the paper go?
Has it fallen into the hollow?
I have nothing but that poem
that's all I have - to give you.

Gargi

It's not mine

2010-12-02T20:37:00.000-08:00

How can I trouble my tears to no mercy
over something that was never meant to be
like always I should let the thin thread break
and I should hand it to my friend - destiny

How can I ask in all my prayers divine
something that can never be forever mine
my prayers are only answered up to the comma thereof
God always forgets to search for the full stop

How can I surrender and sublimely belong -
to some loose notes that can never be a song
my box is full and filled with many a colorful petal
only missing is the middle and the petals inevitably fall

Can I wish for one more eternity beyond?
where there's just you and I and a pond
where the heart is not held at ransom by the mind
where I am yours and you are mine to find

Gargi

Timeless rhyme

2010-11-26T11:56:00.000-08:00

Precious things and darling friends
are usually given at sudden steep bends
good things come at the oddest time
that's when my words forget to rhyme

Gargi

The curl of hair

2010-11-26T11:47:00.000-08:00

The curl of the hair
on the maiden fair
vowed her bother at every touch
wouldn't rest at her retouch

Her charming eyes
and matchless sighs
it laid itself on her docile lid
did not seem she could get rid

Then it fell on cheeks no care
in the dimples depths oh so rare
quite stubborn it stood midway
stayed on till she smiled it away

When crazy curls you cannot cajole
come draping the face of an honest soul
the mind it travels to Elysian land
strings of pearls on a strain of sand

This one is in love of my sister's beautiful curly hair :D :D

Gargi

V r lyk dis only!

2010-11-22T19:44:00.001-08:00

Shakespeare once innocently said "Brevity is the soul of wit". It makes me wonder what dear Shakespeare would have to say now when people have managed to raise their "wit" quotients to a level where they can write and express their month long vacation to the Himalayas in mere 140 characters. Well, we don’t write really, we just tweet! A 16 year old cousin was casually questioned after his trip to Europe about the different languages he might have picked up on his vacation. "Java" came the proud reply. So much for our expectation to hear a ”Spanish" or a "German" for an answer. Gone are the days when professional resumes contained "English" or "Japanese" in the "Languages known" section. Now it’s more or less like this - "Java", "C", "Python", " blah", "eh, what" etc.

PS: I am not at all against the influences technology can have on language. I actually love it! Imagine how dry and boring life might have been without a "bug"gy neighbor, a pizza from a "googled" pizza place or a friend born with a "runtime" error!

Gargi

Higher self

2010-11-22T19:44:00.000-08:00

"There is this point", he began
They listened in rapt attention
Then he seemed to lose his thoughts
They looked on with apprehension

"Or maybe there was this point", he continued
They looked on hopes renewed
Then he seemed to look away
They thought he had lost it midway

"Actually, there should be a point", he said
They dint think this was going good
Then he kind of turned around
They thought he looked quite unsound

"What a total waste", they said
He still dint seem to come around
He had kind of reached a thought
Where their minds could penetrate not.

Eh? :P
Gargi

Have you seen that line?

2010-11-20T23:22:00.000-08:00

One side you see the sunlight
the other side the delicate night
If it wasn't for either
how would you have known the other
The blending thin line of transition
between the night and the sunlight
are where all true things originate
before they come to choose their fate
The sun looks up with majestic might
The night looks much alright
The sun spells class and sophistication
The night bestows some raw emotion
How do you choose a further path
when you know not the aftermath
Do you go with the sun mammoth
or do you take the moon to oath
Do you choose the casual and carefree
or do you go into the realm of contemporary
Is controlled passion the way forward
or is free spirit of independence the word
Is life to be lived with prudence puristic
or do we need some experiments exotic.

Why are my poems full of unanswered questions? :)

Gargi

Lest I forget

2010-11-19T23:01:00.000-08:00

I want what I cannot get
Let me name it lest I forget
I want the sun, the moon and sky
I want the catcher in the rye
I want the boat that's always sailing
I want the bird that doesn't stop singing
I want to hum the song unwritten
I want to hug the smitten kitten
I want June on a December day
I want April to go the August way
I want a day that's lightning paced
I want a trip that leaves me dazed
I want a word that doesn't rhyme
I want a friend who knows no time.

Gargi

Several first times.

2010-11-19T02:04:00.001-08:00

Then she seemed to retreat into the folds
the ragged fabric of her thoughts
She blended into the wholesomeness of his existence
she intertwined her thoughts with those of his
She plucked out his pain with the feeling of bliss
He should enjoy the spring's pointless beauty
his prehensile mind relieved from the otherwise infinite duty
He always was her most awaited of distractions
like being woken from a disturbing dream
She lived her wish of being his jobler
last of her blanket attempts to win him over
There will be another first time.

Some people

2010-11-15T09:05:00.000-08:00

An instinct is all it sometimes takes
sometimes everything falls into place
some people are just meant to be
if we open our minds and let our hearts see

There cannot always be a reason
like the rain that comes out of season
some people enter in small measures
and end up being the best treasures

Some friends get so special
some moments turn so true
I wish I could hold them tight
no clue about tomorrow's plight

Is there a way to let people know
that they are like the sunshine on a pile of snow
warm enough to protect, mild enough to savor
true enough to surrender, rare enough to remember

Words come to me best on silent lonely nights with velvet blankets.

Gargi

The rainbow outside my window

2010-11-13T23:14:00.000-08:00

I am all dressed with nowhere to go
I am all read with nothing to know
I am all heard but nowhere understood
I am all experimented having nothing to show
I am full of colorful pictures with no clear connection
I am a mosaic of experiences with no emotion
I am a mirage on sand who will disappear on demand
I am the light in the room the main reason for the shadows
I am just an imagination just a form of illusion
I am the wife of the pianist he who disappears with mist
I am the bee who knows the song but has forgotten the hum
I am the shell by the ocean taken and thrown by the waves of the sea.
I am the soul with no body, I am the thought with no means.
I am the dream that will never come true.

Gargi

Equally clueless

2010-11-13T22:38:00.000-08:00

She jumped from cloud to cloud ..
hoping to get a better view
of the star that had fallen through.
Minutes before she was in conversation
with the most beautiful star in creation.
She thought he was her guiding light
in the otherwise chaotic night..
but suddenly he had responded with a fall
the earth seemed to have given him a call
Why did the earth always want to befriend the star?

She could never completely comprehend
she being just a blob in the sky with no end
the handsome star seemed exotic to her
but the earth always seemed one step ahead.
She had hoped he would be drawn to her..
why couldn't earth be satisfied with what she had?
The earth was ever the selfish being
couldn't she let her have one star worth keeping?

But there was something she would never realize
looking at the sky tranquilized,
was the earth who was equally clueless
of the star and his where'ness'..
What happened after she had called for the star
didn't it seem like he was almost there by far?
He would finally be hers with the moon left bare
and she would show him why she was better,
she would make the scars on the moon her weapon.

But where was the star who was almost there?
Who was it who stole him midway?

Gargi

The thing to do when it rains, is to let it rain.

2010-11-12T22:33:00.000-08:00

I am hungry for more rains in-spite of the generous showers we have had recently. I cant seem to get enough of looking at water pouring on me from nowhere. So on today's unimaginably hot weather I went into my stock of rainy memories and came up with some rainy thoughts.

***************************
Some mirrors created
from puddles of water collected
Why is it showing me my reflection?
Is it time for some introspection?

***************************

The little drop
on the green leaf
beside a pink flower
on the lovely lawn
slips sleekly down
moving to another leaf
slightly smaller than the former
perhaps for the better

***************************

The moon looks perfectly done
only in the distant pool of water
just like the love that seems perfect
only because it never happens

***************************
The bubbly blue butterfly
kisses the leaf and turns shy
making the leaf glow so much greener
an honest kiss and its untold power.

***************************
I wish it rains now,
Gargi

Precious poetry

2010-10-19T06:50:00.000-07:00

Poetry, precious poetry
please let me have my way and get away..
Let me be a passionate romantic today
and turn into an impassioned purist tomorrow
Let me turn love purple with an orange outline
or change the colors to white and black when I sign
Let me be a silent spectator today
and give them all an impression I am always this way
and tomorrow, let me talk to my heart's glory
blurting my deepest feelings, ideas not only
Let me playfully flirt with words the way I wish
and fling them out the window with a twirl and a swish
Let me run outside and get them back in..
put them on paper and get them singin..
Let me make a handsome man look very dumb
and tomorrow, please let me call him my dream!
Poetry, precious poetry
you have been especially lenient with me
Like a kind friend, you have let me set my soul free!

Gargi

The beauty in humility

2010-10-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing that can completely take me in, its humility.

There is something so charming about being humble, about acknowledging that there is a world outside of us, that there are people exceedingly better than us, that everyone has conquered some frontiers - which may not always be external. Maybe the very fact that it has become so rare to find truly humble people is what makes them stand out. Senseless stupid sentences, loud nonstop conversations, boastful sounds from people who are so full of themselves has become such a disgustingly common place thing to me these days. I thought college was bad with stupid immature people unable to accept that there can be anything outside of themselves, better than themselves. Turns out the "corporate" world is worse.

I struggle to find people who can manage to keep their big mouths shut unless they can contribute something useful or pleasurable to everyone who can hear them. I struggle to find people who have discovered the magic of modesty - the haven from where all virtues shoot. Most times, I honestly struggle to understand exactly what a person really wants to say even after he has spoken for almost 2 hours.

The respect I might have once had comes crashing down the minute the person gets vocal about senseless things. If somebody has done something good, the world will figure it out sooner or later. Maybe we can do them a favor and give them a chance to discover it themselves. I have tired myself out asking what drives a person, (who can otherwise be exceedingly excellent) to such idiocy.. I have tried answers like " the proverbial rat race ", "plain insecurity", "serious mental disorders". How most people can be so blind and live in denial about some of the the most fundamental truths will always be a big question in my head.

Gargi

Over confident mind.

2010-10-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

What are you so proud about?
What are you showing off?
The castle that you think you own?
with those beautiful pillars on lands unknown..
Or the tomorrow you think you have sealed?
manipulating a million minds, thinking you have it all..

Can you hear the laughter..
directed at the wisdom you are denied
look, the waves are approaching your castle
which is nothing but a mirage on sand
waiting to take away your vain glories, your illusions of wealth
did you say your castle was strong
look closely, the wind is on the other side

Listen there is that laughter again
directed at your assumed arrogance
you think you are an unwritten law, a know it all?
look, the page you were on has just been ripped off
the tomorrow you have conceived is already a yesterday
with the same mistakes and fallen pride just like all yesterdays

what a weird poem, :)
Gargi

Voice of whispering colors

2010-09-14T23:20:00.001-07:00

His voice was a shade of light, lazy lavender.. the shade I absolutely long and relish .. the rhythm in the sound sometimes reminded me of softly falling snow flakes on an already snow lush mountain. When he spoke of his ambitions, the warm lavender turned alert taking a deeper, vibrant shade.. The intensity of his words took me to a crystal clear flowing river where an artist had forgotten his lavender smeared paint brush which now lent its brilliant color to the water..

Love turned his voice darker still pushing it into the purple'ish' realm.. Sometimes his naughtiness seemed to mix crazy, ticklish, endearing pink to the already passionate purple. Wherever he went, he seemed to leave a soaring dark shade of satin red behind.. the kind of red that makes people fear when they are guilt ridden and fills them with hope, energy and confidence when they are innocent enough to understand reds.. You could neither love him nor ignore him.. He induced confusion just like how green can sometimes confuse me.. Is it a green filled with envy or is it the innocent green which fills the leaves..

It always managed to break something inside me when his words turned to whispering blue.. But blues didn't last long with him.. he was immune to blue.. I can never describe him in black or white. He has always been an enigma with a tinge of grey that perhaps hides the blinding brilliant gold inside.

Exhibition of love

2010-09-13T11:48:00.001-07:00

Can we have an exhibition
of fairy tails?
of the dwarfs telling us their tales?
Can we have an exhibition
of forgotten nights?
reminding us of our dearest dreams
Can we have an exhibition
of stolen kisses?
One given, one bought and one for free..
Can we have an exhibition
of today's hopes
So we can catch a glimpse of tomorrow's promises
Can we have an exhibition
of colorful bangles
And not allow anyone,so I can have it all for me..

Figment of imagination

2010-09-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

Is there a pattern to you
or are you just a random stroke
Are you here to carve a niche road
or are you just a wandering soul
Are you for real
or are you a figment of my imaginative mind
or probably of my childish heart..
Are you really priceless
like the pearl inside the ocean
or are you just a fools' paradise..
Do you listen to my silences?
Do you play with my shadows?
Do you understand my nuances?
Do you cushion my falls?
If so, why have you come out tonight?
go right back inside my heart..

My friend, the cloud

2010-09-13T11:28:00.001-07:00

My friend, the cloud has visited me
I know the cloud the moment I see
It tries to hide in its shapless spree
Knowing it can never hide from me
There is not another prettier cloud
with a shape more endearing than thee
In the infinity of unnamed and forgotten clouds
my friend, the cloud has escaped this night
A different mask can change the form
the outward shapes don't matter to me
My friend, the cloud has visited me
I know the cloud the moment I see

Monsoon memoires

2010-09-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.”

Our recent trip to Udupi brought back to me memories of my years in Mangalore. Mangalore resides in me as a particularly cozy little world with a very humid weather and full of Konkani speaking people. Mangalore knows just two ways of being - either soaking wet or scorching hot. My summers in Mangalore were mainly spent getting badly tanned and drinking limitless "bonda" water .. The rains however are a very different story turning Mangalore into a really wet and an equally dreamy place..

Coastal Karnataka has this unmatched charm about it.. Everything including the aroma in the air changes soon as we cross the ghats entering the lovely coastal regions.. Cold Bangalore weather departs to welcome the ever humid Mangalore air with its constant smell of the sea and jackfruits .. The kannada accent of the coastal reigions sounded really funny when I was new to Mangalore and now my Kannada is a weird mix of Bangalorean and Mangalorean accents which is a standing joke with my friends from both places.. sigh.

Mangalore will always have a special place in my heart.. for reasons more than one. It continues to hold me in its nest of wonder. Maybe forever.

"Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach."

Best,
Gargi

Some more of you..

2010-09-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

Stay with me one more day
hold me another time
give me another smile
one another look
give me a little more love
a little more of you
give me one more chance
to take in some more of you
give me a little more magic
some more memories
some more laughter
some more of you..

Gargi

Why are you not here?

2010-08-10T10:45:00.001-07:00

Why is the water so wet?
coz if it weren't, I'd keep it on my bed.
Why is the grass not blue?
coz if it were, I'd go and paint it green.
Why is the sky not pink?
coz if it were, I'd blame it for not being blue.
Why are you so adorable?
coz if you weren't, I'd just let you be.

Why is the baby so little?
coz if it weren't, I'd lift it fearlessly.
Why is the friend so genuine?
coz if he wasn't, I'd just be a fool.
Why are sisters the best?
coz if they weren't, I'd miss the brother some more.
Why are you not here?
coz if you were, I'd keep you locked in me.

Gargi

Untitled.

2010-07-24T23:46:00.000-07:00

She wrote a hundred songs
and woke a hundred mornings
She lived and wept, died a little each date
She waited for the turnaround of fate
She had no reason
nor any rhyme
Yet she danced to the tunes of a long bygone song
She longed for him to come and see
She longed to be set free.

Best,
Gargi

Of rainy days and saturday mornings...

2010-06-12T00:18:00.000-07:00

My windows are open bearing witness to the pouring rain outside..droplets of water fall on my face as I sit leaning against the window sill with a piping cup of coffee in hand.. I wonder why rain is called rain.. why not just water .. why do we say "its raining" .. wouldn't it have made more sense to say "its watering" ? Probably.. but who cares .. all I am sure of is that the watering would take me in just as much as the raining does..

Its a lovely Saturday morning.. lovelier than usual .. these poor school kids don't have their Saturdays off. Its a half day they say.. like it makes any difference. I see them running around in their colorful raincoats.. A yellow one catches my eye.. The boy seems to be having fun getting wet, maybe its fun to attend classes with wet clothes and dirty feet.. I wonder what he is thinking, probably about how late he is going to be for class.. or maybe not .. little boys think about more important stuff like which computer game he would be downloading the next day..being Sunday! Sundays are fun.. but Saturdays are better coz the anticipation of a holiday is always better than the realization of a holiday..

Anyway coming back to the raincoat, the yellow raincoat has these big green buttons! I think its kinda cool, though I would not be caught dead in that thing.. I was more into yellow raincoats about 14 years back.. Now its just grey and probably a muted blue.. oh wait maybe red too! Ya.. raincoats ought to be audaciously bright to bring out the color of the rain.. grey is just not it.. hmm I should go buy a yellow raincoat..

Gargi

Today's sky...

2010-06-04T12:36:00.000-07:00

There is joy in today's sky
the clouds sudden and divine
seen heralding a couple
holding glasses of wine...
There is a smile on the face,
the dimples sealing the case :)
Happiness heralded everywhere..
Even on the rainbow so rare!

Gargi

Stories on a lens.

2010-05-29T05:24:00.000-07:00

I recently found the phrase for the kind of photography I have always wanted to do. I have never wanted my photographs to be only a copy of what the eyes saw. I always want my photographs to be able to express what the heart saw. Turns out the phrase for such a thing in the photography lingo is "concept photography".. You create a mood out of the scene leading the viewer to something deeper than just what they can see.. Probably like narrating a story without words.. or like inviting the reader to imagine his own story based on what he sees..

And yes, a dear and close friend of mine has gotten an awesome new camera for me as a gift!!!!!! ( Oh yea, I know I am lucky .. please go ahead and envy me! :P ) and I just cannot wait to click some stories. :)

Immensely excited,
Gargi

The inexplicable.

2010-05-07T10:54:00.001-07:00

The trace of a dried raindrop..
The final word before the full stop..
The love in a rapist's heart..
The new born baby's past..
The sorrow in the happiest look..
The cliche in the finest book..
The lame man's winning dance..
The dream in the dying man..
The life in the sickest room..
The hero of the forgotten war..
The vision in the blindest man..
The quirk in my middle name..
The shadow in the brightest room..
The hope in the broken heart..
and the wish that always comes true :)

Inspiration -> "The gin soaked boy" :)

Best,
Gargi

Can it get better?

2010-05-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

An old book with its comforting stories
A new one with its untold mysteries
Aroma of a freshly brewn coffee
This is pure bliss, can it get better than this?

For nothing could ever rekindle my soul
like a moonlit evening and a chocolate bowl
I decide this is perfection topped with some cheese
For how can anything get better than this?

A sweet melody ringing background
and the delighted birds chirping along
My wordless heart and its endless song
Can it get better after so long..

Who's that by the door?
Love and happiness galore!
It cannot not get better than that?
Can I ever be mistaken more? :)

Love,
Gargi

Stolen memories

2010-04-16T05:37:00.000-07:00

Hidden in the deep abyss of my existence
lies safe the most precious part from another's soul
The voice always reminding me of a long lost friend
and the fleeting touch divine from god's end
Scents though bygone remain near and familiar
Stubbornly tying to be rare but refusing to leave my air
The words that never failed my truest smile
and a ringing glow to my eye even from a mile
the bitter sweet panacea to all unsaid fears
The secretly borrowed memories to away wipe my tears
The most precious feeling ever to be given
resembling the feel of water to a desert so raven
The momentary blessing I'll value beyond all
I belong to the part - heart and soul.

Suddenly poetic, :)
Gargi

Gifts..

2010-03-14T05:14:00.000-07:00

She found her meaning and happiness in a polka dotted sea shell, while I searched for mine in the approaching waves of the ocean hoping they would spill me a secret. For her, an evening of enjoyment meant a couple of different flavored, cashew topped, king size ice creams, while I failed to find mine even in the most luxurious of homes surrounded by hordes of people. She found pride in the smallest of achievements - in catching a butterfly, flying a kite and in scaring the neighbour's son out of his wits. I couldn't find mine in numerous college degrees and the many bank accounts. Her world started at our doorstep ending near the main gate. For me, sky was the limit which so soon had started to seem so less.
She ran to him with careless abandon and flashing dimples as he entered through the door. She clung to her father who had just returned from work as if he were her long lost treasure. I wondered where I had lost my gift of reckless joyousness and free expression of love I was once loved for. I knew she had got it from me... and so did he. The dimples were his though. He looked at her like she was the most precious thing in the world. He got her a doll and a pretty pink frock. He always said I looked lovely in pink.
I waited. He never came back without something for me. This time, I got a kiss.. on my daughter's cheek.

Gargi

I have learnt..

2010-03-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

I have learnt to remember that silence is "almost always" the best answer
and to recognize the situations which dont belong to "the almost always"
I have learnt not to try to stop things which want to run
and to lovingly embrace things that will never leave
I have learnt that prudence and preservation have their place
but so do experimentation and curiosity
I have learnt to live independently of others
of their thoughts, their opinions and their presence
I have learnt to never underestimate the power of dreams, hard work and obsessive love
and to never overestimate arrogance, power and loud noises
I have learnt that darkness in the room is nothing to be feared
what is to be feared is the darkness in the mind
I have learnt to love passionately like no tomorrow
and never ever expect to be loved back
I have learnt to be receptive to the simple pleasures
to smiles, friends, music and rain
I have learnt to believe in myself beyond a shadow of a doubt
in my endless ability to work till I get absolutely anything I want.. in its purest form
I have learnt when to work hard and never give up
and when to let go and walk away
I have learnt when to make things happen
and when to go with the flow
I have learnt to listen and respect all opinions
but never to forget that its my life
I have learnt not to assume, judge or conclude
and just to listen, trust and explore

I have learnt to live my best life :)

Gargi

Keeper of dreams.

2010-02-20T02:29:00.001-08:00

Time cannot touch her
she is the keeper of dreams
Too late to take over
No man and no means

She has found the journey
to her only destination
Answers to her questions
a state beyond confusions

Her heart bears him no expectation
only a belief to the point of obsession
Her love is strong and blessed
with miracles beyond imagination

Love,
Gargi

Can you?

2010-02-20T02:26:00.000-08:00

You can build a dam..
can you stop the waves?
You cannot stop the wind
you can just build caves
You can stop the war
can you bring in peace?
You can kill the woman
touch her soul you cannot.

You cannot stop the revolution
you can just lock them in
You can have her body
can you win her mind?
You can force their words
their loyalty you cannot
You can make him bleed
can you mar his spirit?

You can close your eyes
you cannot stop the sun
You can force her to abandon
but can you steal away her heart?
You can keep her out your eyes
you know you cannot from your thoughts..
You can cheat the world
can you your mind?

You can try but you will fail
the hearts have long since set sail

The Rice Mother

2010-02-20T02:18:00.000-08:00

"The Rice Mother" - The book I was reading today. I dont remember any book after "Memoires of a geisha" that has evoked such emotions in me as this did. Every page made me sob. Every line gave me a new thought. I should have read this long long back. My friend gave this to me and I am so glad she did. Everything I am going to do or think hereon will in some mysterious way be connected to this book. Its amazing how life silently steers you towards hidden and forgotten treasures on an otherwise innocent saturday afternoon. The crisp, yellow pages soaked in my favorite "old book" scent has taken me away to a distant land. The cover picture of the lone woman on a sailing boat gazing with determination into an unknown future beautifully captures the story's essence.

The book is grand. You have to do a lot more than just read it to know it.

Oh and by the way, do make sure you have in your life, atleast one friend who is a true piscean. I have one and she always manages to push a bit of her piscean charm into my pretentious leonine life :)

Gargi.

...

2010-02-19T03:15:00.000-08:00

Many a times I have wondered about the concept of rebirth... If the whole thing is fact or fiction. Till recently, I used to discard the theory to be total nonsense. Today makes me hope otherwise. For various reasons. I so desperately hope that there is a new life, a second chance at everything.

If there is such a thing, I want it now.

:)

2010-02-17T10:02:00.000-08:00

You are what dreams are made of..
you bring the dreams to life.
The day gets its cheer and the night its peace,
just by the love light of your eyes.

You are too wonderful -
you can only be admired.
too beyond the ordinary..
for anybody to conspire.

You make everything else look so mundane..
small and inane and pointless..
just a brush of your hand,
the world is tossed into nothingness.

You are too pure to be touched,
you can only but be felt.
too divine to be loved,
you can only be worshiped.

You belong to everybody,
yet you are a stranger to all.
God's most beautiful creation..
His moment of pride, his stroke of inspiration.

Love,
Gargi

2010-02-15T07:52:00.001-08:00

Sometimes sitting alone
I notice the small creations
the ruffling leaves
and the sailing moon
birds busy in flight
clouds in search of the infinite
the vain rose with all its thorns
the stubborn fly fighting all norms
the greatness of nature
and the smallness of man.

Random musings

2010-02-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

I have always wondered whether he wanted life to be his complete signature painting or just his ever editable canvas. And I always reach the conclusion that it is just a canvas. A huge white canvas where different strokes are brushed, different lines are drawn,, different colors painted. Any completed painting for an artist is a labor of love... and we would always want our labor of love to be perfect. In every sense.

Life is a huge project. A labor of love that cannot be completed or perfected so easily. I am sure he must have realized it. I hope he has realized it. I hope life is just a huge canvas ever on the path to being a perfect painting.

Love,
Gargi

Forbidden treasures

2010-02-10T09:44:00.000-08:00

Words unspoken
Feelings hidden
beauty that's unadorned
intelligence that's innocent
Always have a special place
like the secret of heaven

The things we tweak
for the results we seek
the unsaid assumptions
the unwritten laws
none hold meaning
when the feelings get going

Forbidden love
special treasures
unexpressed emotions
bygone days
Always have a special place
like the secret of heaven

Gargi

Like the day..

2009-10-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

Like the day we sat by the ocean
Speaking of fishes and sand and moon and the tide
Of how often the sea searches without
Only to once again find it all within.

Like the day we walked under those trees
Speaking of greenery and birds and war and peace
Of how cruel a cause can sometimes get
Of the pervert in every priest.

Like the day we sat on that mountain
Speaking of heights and depths and sunlight and rain
No, we didn't speak anything much
But Oh! we spoke so very much..

Like the day we sat in our lil ol' house
Speaking of memories and people and bygone days
No we didn't speak anything much
Yes, we spoke so very much!

Kalyan Varma's photography workshop - Of lenses and landscapes

2009-06-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

Lalbagh has never seemed so beautiful or so complicated as it did this Sunday. "Perspective" is the word. Till today all I saw in Lalbagh was the never ending green patches of grass and some contrastingly colored beautiful flowers. See it from a "photographer with a mission" perspective and you'll marvel at how much Lalbagh has hidden in its moist grassy patches and that beautiful little hill top.

Kalyan Varma, the wildlife photographer ( and an amazing person ) conducts these regular photography workshops and I was lucky enough to be a part of this weekend's workshop. It was a basic workshop that discussed all the fundamental and extremely essential photography concepts which help make a good photograph. A two day session which armed the wannabe photographer in me with some great know-hows. Kalyan, who believes in sharing both his photos and his knowledge (which I respect to no end) gives you some of these wonderful insights about the nitty-gritty of making a photograph look the way you have always envisioned.

Our photography assignment at Lalbagh ( of course it was not a stupid theory cramming session at all ) was to capture the essence of the structure on top of the Lalbagh hill. Trust me, it certainly isn't as simple as it seems. However, I set out with great enthusiasm hoping to get some decent shots. To be honest, I was really surprised at how well some of my photos came out (though most others were as sloppy as usual). It's absolutely amazing how knowing about stuff like lenses and shutters can give an edge to what you capture! Recipe -> Know the basics, use your sense of aesthetics throw in some amazing guidance and voila!

The blurred look I have always craved for.. that striking sharpness I never got.. that particular smile, the soft look .. the seductive dewdrop - all this is now going to materialize!!

Learning the photography tricks - magical .. meeting the magician in person - an honour.

Yours "click"fully,
Gargi

The Stranger and the Baby

2009-02-27T21:00:00.000-08:00

Darkness overcast
And Silent birds
A sleeping Baby
Amidst the woods

Comes a Stranger
Love and a smile
Lifting the Baby
Wrapping his arms

Smiles the baby
with silent delight
safe and huddled
with the stranger tight

Farewell world
I have seen enough
Take me stranger
Far enough

Away from all
To your land
Where I am yours
cuddled on the sand

I promise I'll be good
Everything understood
The Sun and the sea
The Stranger and the Baby

Best,
Gargi

2008-03-30T22:41:00.000-07:00

Out of the blue.
--------------------------------------

You came out of nowhere..
as sudden as a flash of lightning..
making my life a poetic paradise
which suddenly had found all its meaning..

As welcome as a ray of sunlight
in the thick of the winter storm..
you came in like the long awaited rains
for a desert thirsty since long..

No color in the rainbow
Can describe the shade of feeling
No expression ever coined
Has the power to express the longing.

One look in the evening twilight
An entire song sung with a smile
Words seemed so redundant..
Your eyes had said it all.

Best,
Gargi.

Just another random thought.

2008-02-21T02:03:00.001-08:00

Firstly, I don't know how much sense this blog is going to make but i am gonna give it a shot anyways :)

I can trace the origin of one of my "current most haunting" thoughts to a nice lil sentence i read a few days back which goes something like this.

“Really great people make you feel that you too, can become great.”

Mr Mark Twain must have told this on one of his exceptionally intelligent days :) .

I have this really odd habit of analyzing conversations, meetings, mails, chats and the like with people long after they are done and forgotten. It gives me special pleasure in doing so because every analysis gives me a new chain of thought, something that i had totally missed when the actual interaction was happening.

I have had the pleasure of meeting some really interesting/wonderful people. Intellectuals, so called "philosophers" :), teachers, managers :P , technical people, bankers, farmers, artists, musicians, etc etc i have met them all. Though they may not have been the "really famous" ones, they have been remarkable people by themselves. Some of them have been true and honest, some kind and understanding, some proud but very capable, some proud but seriously stupid and the rest plain hypocrites.

Regardless of what profession they have been in, regardless of their origin/place/birth, there are some things that are so insultingly common in all of them/us that it makes me wonder at times about the striking simplicity that exists amidst the seemingly complex human behavior. One of them, i have made an attempt to describe in this blog. This is just a personal observation done over a period of time :).

Let us imagine a situation where we have had the chance to have a conversation/interaction with someone who is considered "good" at something. Has the conversation made you marvel at the beauty and the elegance of the job they do or has its complexity amazed you? For me, it has almost always(with a few exceptions) been the latter. I always have wondered at that point, how any mortal could do something like that within such short time and the like :). There have been exceptions where the conversation has been successful in making me understand the job/work and realize the simple but profound logic in it :).
And time and again, life has proved to me that such people who make you feel their job is the easiest on earth and u can be as good as he/she is, are the ones who really know what they are talking about :)

When i say simple, i don't mean they have done it by down playing their job or work. They have done it by stating stuff in simple, straight clear terms what the job is all about and what it takes to get there. No fancy words, no frills, nothing.

Maybe we all do it at some point.. exaggerate everything a lil more than what it actually is. Use stupid jargon and confuse others. Make it sound really nice and wonderful. The really great just don't to do it.. they don't need to. And such people will always have all my respect and admiration :). Explaining something the way it is(not the way they want it to be), so that the other person understands the elegance in it is an art.. which unfortunately most people don't want to learn. Decorating something that should not be decorated might make it look nice momentarily but in turn makes it lose its central meaning, and its beauty.

Maybe we should all contribute by example to form a space devoid of hypocrites and big and empty talkers. Rather, look towards creating an environment of honesty and truth.. Looking at things as they are and telling them as they should be.

Just adding one of my most loved sanskrit subhashita that is kind of relevant here:)

Sampoorna kumbho na karoti shabdam
ardho ghato ghoshamupaiti noonam
Vidvan kuleeno na karoti garvam
gunairviheenaaha bahu jalpayanti

Best,
Gargi.

And here it comes :)

2007-10-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

"Alright so where on earth is she going to sleep?? How are we going to keep her entertained? Will she feel lonely when i am off
to school?" my sister seemed to be over flowing with infinite questions. Mom and dad were pretty amused and equally
curious as all of us awaited the arrival of the newest member into our family. As far as i was concerned i just had a distant curiosity
towards this new member though i had my doubts about how we were going to include "her" with us.

It did seem like a really long wait. We were waiting since morning; it was already 12 pm and there was no sign of her at all.
My sister was on the verge of losing her patience and i on the verge of losing my interest. My grandma was dead against this new addition. She somehow
felt that this "extended" family would be more of a nuisance than anything else. But, its common knowledge that when my sister's
determination is combined with my mom's support it forms a deadly combination and something that people usually dont dare to oppose.

And all of a sudden we hear a very familiar yet a new voice.. My sister jumps out of her chair and screams "Mom, akka i think she is here!!".
I could almost taste the excitement in the air as my sister opened the door and let out a scream of joy.. All of us rushed
to the door to find out what exactly had caused such a reaction. Grandma resolutely stayed inside the room. There was this kind aunty
who accompanied her to our house to see that she would not have any trouble during the journey. Mom and sis welcomed them both with open arms.

Mom immediately took her in her arms as if it was her long lost daughter, my sis was just not in this world. Dad was laughing
at all the frenzy being caused and i felt it was pretty silly to be so exited about this new arrival though i did not dare to
voice out what i felt. I mean, just imagine being so exited about some furry creature running around all over your house, licking and smelling
everything on the way barking uncontrollably and making a nuisance of itself.. and for all you smart people who still have not guessed
lemme take the opportunity and tell you that this new addition was none other than our dog priya :P

This was about 8 years back :) Now Priya is a full fledged, most loved, most accommodating, most attractive (ahem),
and the sweetest member of our family. She is the darling of the entire family and the neighbors :) Its been 8 years and not once
have i felt or even bother to realize that she is not a human. She is much more than just a dog. She actually likes it if people
come to our house. She only barks if they park their vehicles outside our house and end up going to our neighbour's house :P

Well there have been one or two stray cases where she has really been a source of tension(for others :P) Priya in her childhood days
used to get this weird pleasure out of destroying our maids' slippers :P and of entering into any house where the door was innocently kept open.
But then all of us have had our bad days isnt it? Coming to the achievements our priya has managed, my grandma happens to be the one
who loves her the most now !!!( apart from sis that is.. ;) ) Anybody who happens to visit our house seems to find priya most engaging :)
Nobody leaves our house without actually speaking to it( including my uncle who is considered to be most stubborn and who at one point used to hate dogs :) )
My cousins whenevr they happen to meet me ask me " Hey gargi, soo how s priya ?? ", well i guess i will have to be satisfied
in describing priya's latest gimmicks rather than my boring, routine stuff :P .

I know it would be hard for people who never have had a pet to relate to this blog, but believe it or not once you have had a dog as
wonderful and as interesting as priya, you would never find another doggy related conversation boring :) Having pets is a pleasure
and having a pet as gloriously superb as priya is.. well.. just out of this world.

So here s hoping that out "priya" priya is always as happy, as wonderful and as cute as ever :)

Sister genius :)

2007-08-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

The campus looks like a dream. Assam known for its beauty and its monsoons is a photographer's dream come true. Look around and you either see some breathtaking instances of mother nature's aesthetic sense or pouring rains, the former as lovely as the latter. In the lap of the mountains and on the banks of the river Brahmaputra resides the lovely IIT Guwahati. The campus spans around 700 acres of endless beauty and sheer intelligence in design. You see loads of IITians rushing around on their 2 wheelers (bicycles i mean.. one ingenius rule inside the campus -> no motor bikes. One of the reasons why the campus air is so pure and unpolluted).
The guest house meant for the parents and ahem sisters(and oh yea brothers too) of the chosen few is located close to the entrance and offers some wonderful rooms(ac, tv, balcony and the like ;) ) along with some incredibly finger licking oh-i-ll-never-forget-this-dish sorta food. You get to see the most beautiful, really big cricket ground right from your room balcony making you marvel at those genius IITians who are great even at sports.
I always had thought that a place like IIT would be full of geeks with only libraries all around and people who have forgotten how to be normal. I was in for a huge shock. Once you see the campus and interact with a few IITians, you realize IITians are as normal as u or i, albeit smarter :).
I had an easier time interacting with an IITian coz coincidentally this particular IITian happens to be my kid sister. I used to wonder why in the world she needed to study so hard, slog for two years just to get into this place called IIT. Now, i realize how stupid my thoughts were, because now, i am the proud sister of a lovely IITian :). The kind of reactions and expressions you get when u say u r the sister of an IITian is something you should experience yourself ;).
Once i saw the campus, i suddenly felt that if anyone deserved to study here its these guys who have slogged and dared and finally achieved their goal.
So to all you unfortunate people out there who have not had the chance to visit any of the IITs my only advice to you is -- please get your kid sisters or brothers to start slogging for the next two years :P.
I dedicate this blog to all those dedicated, smart, perfectly normal IITians who have achieved their goal, and especially to my special IITian for making me so proud :)

2007-06-06T06:25:00.000-07:00

She suddenly remembered the butterfly. She remembered the beautiful color and the intricate pattern on its wings. She thought with a smile how she and her friend ran all day behind it, just to catch it, and once they did it made them so happy that they just left it free.
She remembered the city fair, how she and all her friends used to wait for the school bell to ring and dash away to the fair. They used to play on all possible merry go rounds, even the one which just turns you upside down. She could still feel the adrenaline rush in her at the mere thought of it.
She could still feel the taste of the brinjal chutney her mother made that day. Mmm. tht was so awesome, her mom was the best cook. She had her maths exam that day and her mom had this weird superstition about brinjals being auspicious. She loved her mother. She wanted to get a gift for her this new year, which also happened to be her mother's birthday. She had even thought of arranging a small party, and inviting all her friends over.
She remembered her first cycle driving lessons, her dad being her instructor. She smiled slightly when she thought of how she fell down and her dad helped her up and consoled her, gave her confidence. She had always admired him, he was the world's best dad.
She wanted to go back home to all this. She wanted to lie on her mother's lap. She wanted to be warm in her dad's arms. She wanted to live and enjoy her life. She had prepared so well to win the painting competition at school. This wasn't fair. She was just 10 years old. She did not even know wht dying was, but there she was, lying on the road in a pool of blood. She saw her leg. It was bearly hanging on to her torso. She wondered how mom and dad would react if they saw this. She wondered which antiseptic from her mother's first aid kit would cure this.
She turned her head. She stopped wondering. Her mom with her eyes wide open lay dead. Her dad struggling with his crumpled hand, whining away in pain. She was helpless. She heard a couple of men speaking about how her dad was a negligent driver. She knew he wasn't. Nobody knew the truth. The actual culprits had fled, harmless. She wanted to go and hold her dad and take him home. She wanted to scream ...
She saw a van approaching. She saw them get 2 white clothes, one covered her mother, the other her "just dead" father. The 2 men lifted her and put her in the van. Her - "her leg". She wondered what would happen now. She wondered about the future. She could not handle the pain. She heard the men laugh over something. She suddenly seemed to have forgotten laughter.
The 3 rd white cloth was out. "It s too big for her body" laughed the men. She had always wanted to "die" on her mother's lap. The men would never know.

2007-05-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

There are somethings in life which you cannot understand, which you cannot change(though you would badly want to).. I dont have to tell you about the feeling when you are forced to leave someone you don't want to.. When you are forced to go away from someone you suddenly started liking and are having a desire to know them better. Its unfair i know. Its frustrating to me when some such thing happens. I want to tell so much to that person.. but there is no time, i want to share so many things with that person .. but i have to go away.. I feel helpless.. I feel hurt..
I feel like staying back.. but this journey is something that you cannot cancel, cannot postpone. Its the journey i have to take. I know i sound confused.. That's because i am confused.
I feel so helpless.. I always felt i could do anything i wanted, i could achieve anything i wanted.. but i was wrong. Life is powerful.. very very powerful I t can make you rather force you to things you would never otherwise have done. "That's life". I usually love life and living but today there is a certain something against this life.... I just hope it does not last

Love,
Gargi

2007-05-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hi,
Ever felt the need for someone who understands everything about you? Who knows you layer by layer, to whom your heart and your eyes would be sufficient to read your mind.. With whom words would look artificial, expressions would seem redundant??
Someone who accepts you as you are, loves you unconditionally, respects every thought, every emotion, converses with you only thro' eyes. Well, i definitely do.. Maybe that s what they call "Love".. the most basic, the most essential and the purest feeling mankind can ever experience. People may call love a waste of time, a useless pursuit.. but, frankly speaking can we exist at all without this feeling?
I am not speaking only about the love between 2 people.. love is boundary less.. it is beyond people beyond boundaries.. sometimes even beyond imagination. Love can be towards anything.. your wife, husband, girl frnd, dog, poetry, dance, nature just anything.. If you feel this is the thing which understands me fully, which allows me to express fully, which gives me complete undisputed freedom, then congratulations you have found that special something or someone that i was talking about..

For those of you who have found it .. congratulations.. and for those of you who did not.. i hope you do soon, coz life without love is like a lamp without oil. it just cant give out light.. just cant survive..

Lost in thoughts..
yours
gargi:)

Golden words

2007-05-06T10:30:00.000-07:00

hi there....

these quotes and sayings below are the ones i have long admired and
appreciated .....just read them...give them a little thought and tell
me what you feel...and please do send me some of your fav sayings...!!

-- Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it.
Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe
nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just
because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just
because someone else believes it. Believe only what you yourself test
and judge to be true.

-- It is not worth an intelligent man's time to be in the majority. By
definition, there are already enough people to do that.

-- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of
comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and
controversy

-- To repeat what others have said, requires education, to challenge it,
requires brains.

-- silence is the highest form of grace!!

-- Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.

-- The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to
listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give
each other is our attention…. A loving silence often has far more
power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words.

-- The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think,
than what to think - rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us
to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with thoughts of other
men.

-- Real knowledge and wisdom din't come thro' books or teachers..They
come thro' struggle , effort, and thought!!

2007-03-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

Its sometimes strange how people (including me sometimes) are so much interested in others lives than they are about themselves. We are bothered about everything that has got not even a remote connection with our life or work. It sometimes amazes me how much satisfaction we get in proving others are wrong, we are perfect, others are irritating, immoral, dishonest etc etc etc ad infinitum.
Whereas, if we really set out to think about it, such things dont really do us any good other than take away some precious mental energy and time :(. But it s also so true that its kinda difficult to avoid it, especially considering the environment we live in, the kind of people we are surrounded by. They say curiosity is not a crime.. But is it worth our time and concentration to be curious about other s lives, love stories, personal affairs, shortcomings?? Why do we have to be so judgemental about everyone? Cant we just let them be as they are as long as it does not make any difference to us?? Well i dont know. Some things are just so confusing.
But maybe given a chance i would prefer to leave others alone and concentrate more upon improving my quality of life and work. Ultimately i value myself with how true i have been to myself all day and what i have accomplished at the end of the day. Maybe its time we started proving ourselves through our work rather than proving others wrong thro our words and expressions..

lots of love,
yours truely :)

friend

2007-03-08T10:17:00.001-08:00

I can't give solutions to all of life's problems, doubts,
or fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will
search for answers.

I can't change your past with all it's heartache and pain,
nor the future with its untold stories.
But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can't keep your feet from stumbling.
I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall.

Your joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;
Yet I can share in your laughter.

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;
I can only support you, encourage you,
and help you when you ask.

I can't prevent you from falling away from friendship,
from your values, from me.
I can only pray for you, talk to you and wait for you.

I can't give you boundaries which I have determined for you,
But I can give you the room to change, room to grow,
room to be yourself.

I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting,
But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces
and put them back in place.

I can't tell you who you are.
I can only love you and be your friend.

another grt one written by some anonymous entity

awesome...

2007-03-08T10:03:00.000-08:00

This one is not my own.. found it on the net and loved it to the core..

I miss you since God called you
To his radiant realms above;
I miss just being with you
And the sharing of our love

I miss you in the morning
When the sunrise gilds the skies,
I miss your tender greeting
And the love light in your eyes.

I miss you in the daytime
As I walk my lonely way,
Knowing how much more I'll miss you
At the closing of the day

And yet, deep down within me
Far beyond the grief and pain,
I know that sometime, somewhere
We shall surely meet again.

That in the shining realms above,
Beyond life's little day
Will come the flowering of our love
Along God's chosen way.

I searched the wonders of nature
For visions as lovely as you,
Found snow-covered peaks and waterfalls
And roses with sequins of dew.

Then taking my palette and brushes
I captured the joys that I saw
And hung all the canvases on my walls
Till the walls couldn't hold any more.

Surrounded by these many splendours
My dazzled mind held in their thrall,
I spent several hours and didn't feel
The pain of your absence at all.

But alas all my beautiful pictures
Began to dissolve in the night,
And walls once again stark and empty
Greeted the cold morning light.

I thought of you then and remembered
All the treasures beyond your sweet face.
And I knew you were one of the wonders
That nature could never replace.

I desperately crave for the day when i ll be writing things as beautiful as this.

Me calling....

2007-03-08T09:48:00.001-08:00

Why are you always so near to me...
in my thoughts........
Yet in reality....
I am unaware of your whereabouts..

Why did you give me
all the love,the warmth,the laughter....
was it just to take
everything away from me soonafter........

I depended on your words, your love,yourself...
you gave me all this and much much more..
but suddenly one day ...
you were there for me no more..

Was it my behaviour,
my words that hurt you??
Or was it just..
a game played on me by you??

Why does this happen to me
each time i like someone...??
Is it the destiny that has decided..
that for me there should be no one??

A simple thought

2007-03-08T09:45:00.001-08:00

hey friends....

Have you people ever wondered what life and happiness is all about??...... i am sure you have.... and i am also sure none of us have ever found any convincing answers....... well thats why life is the most mysterious thing ever created....

we see loads of people in our lives...experience a contrariety of emotions... undergo huge number of different experiences.... but at the end of the day what is it that seems to be most important for us?? what makes us feel most satisfied and happy??

Do you feel happy just because your english teacher praised your excellent expression or is it because you won the gold medal in table tennis ...or because nobody could beat you in that tough programming contest...or is it because that someone special said you looked great in blue??? well i do agree all these things make us feel great... but believe me friends none of them last..all these happiness are just momentary....

So what is it that gives us actual pleasure??? let me tell you what it is... All the real happiness and satisfaction depends on how true you have been to yourself all day... what is that small thing you have done to lighten up somebody else s pain..... to make a grieved soul laugh....

The happiness is not because your english teacher praised you.... its because you helped a friend who is poor in grammer and he got the highest marks in class..... it s not because you won a gold medal in the game...its because you had the character to step down from the game to take a sick freind to the doctor..... its not because you won or didnt win the programming contest.. its because you gave it your best shot.... its not because that someone special complimented you its because you complimented someone who is usually ridiculed.....

So dear friends .... you see what makes you actually happy???? Its not about what the world gives to us... its about what you give to the world without any desire for returns..

please give this email a thought and let me know what you feel....

A bit of me

2007-03-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

I have often wondered about what kind of a person i really am beneath all the fake smiles and stupid expressions i sometimes have to give... I realized there s nothing as difficult in the world as figuring out yourself.
I am someone who wants a lot of freedom.. complete undisputed freedom about everything. I want to live the way i want without anyone questioning. I want to life my life , every moment to the fullest. I hate it when i have to give explanations, though i realize that we need to be in the good books of others at least to some extent in order to survive.
Of course that doesnt mean i hate people, or i am an introvert or something. I love quite a many people. I like people who are capable, mature and sensible. The more emotional the person is the more he/she appeals to me. I have never really bothered to find out what others feel about me. I have never felt the need for it. There are some people who have accepted me( or maybe are tolerating me) as i am and i will not ask for more.
But yes, there was a time when i was slightly younger when i felt a desperate need for friends and friendship. That was the time when i was not very successful, (not tht i am now :P) , not very out-going or good looking or any of such things. But i never got anyone at that time, I dont feel the need for them now. Maybe i have just outgrown them. I sometimes wonder if such people really do get any friends at all?? Maybe somethings are better left unanswered.
But i have 2 to 3 friends whom i respect and love, who have stood by me like a rock and i can do anything for them I want people to appreciate me for wht i am and wht i do, not because i look the way i do or some such crap. Of course the circle would be much smaller but does tht matter? as long as they are true?

hello all

2007-02-12T22:49:00.000-08:00

still building....