the road less travelled 7 August, 2018 What does this picture tell you? A lone traveller on a deserted road? A path where the flora towers over mankind? Are we are mere inconspicuous beings? For me, this photo not just brought back memories of my awe-inspiring walk on the lone road, at Balur, Chikmagalur, South India; but also conjured up a medley of words in my minds eye, by my two favourite poets, Rumi and Robert Frost. “Beyond right…
Twenty-four by seven: #WriteBravely #WRITETRIBEFESTIVALOFWORDSJUNE2018 She toiled twenty-four by seven at Donna’s kitchen. “No rest for the wicked”, she always said with a winsome smile. Donna’s Kitchen was her life line, her haven and her home away from home. She had no family to call her own, but the staff and Donna were family now. Amelia actually enjoyed labouring almost twenty-four hours at Donna’s kitchen. After all Donna had given her everything, when she had just about nothing. And…
Thank You, Babi: #WRITEBRAVELY #WRITETRIBEFESTIVALOFWORDSJUNE2018 My Dearest Babi, I dedicate a few lines to you, on this monsoon day. The sun is playing a constant game of hide and seek, while the clouds outstretch their arms in a stoic cover of grey. The muggy air looks on undeterred as nature performs a spectacle of sorts. It’s a good day to be thankful, for you should know how deeply indebted I am to you. Babi, thank you for believing in…
Rain and Its After Effects: #Writebravely #writetribefestivalofwordSjune2018 It poured all of last night. The rains finally lashed Gurgaon with unfettered fury, giving the parched residents of our millennial city a much-needed respite from the sweltering summers. I was awake beyond midnight, listening to the rhythmic pitter patter of the rains, which would suddenly rise up in crescendo. The winds continued to holler along side, tapping furiously, and at times gently on our glass doors and window panes. I woke up…
Last Song of the Dusk: #WriteBRAVELY #WRITETRIBEFESTIVALOFWORDSJUNE2018 At twenty-one who would have known that leukaemia would ravage Antara’s being, reducing her to a bag of bones. It was hard to fathom that the bubbly, effervescent Antara, always brimming with joie de vivre; was now counting her last days. But not without a plan at hand. Antara’s bucket list was ready on her sixteen birthday and she had planned to tick the list off in the next ten years. Little did…
Because daddy says so: #Writebravely #writetribefestivalofwordsjune2018 Because Daddy says so, I chose to stick to his life’s lessons. Daddy doesn’t always get preachy, he lives, and let’s live. When I was growing up, into a gangly teenager, with reckless thoughts and frayed emotions, Daddy gave me three life rules to live by: 1. The Serenity Prayer: I love the Serenity prayer. It helps me keep my sanity intact, and power through life with these three wonderful qualities of serenity,…
I want to break free: #WriteBravely #WRitetribefestivalofwords2018 My girlfriends and I are road tripping from Madras to Pondicherry. It’s just the three of us. I am at the steering wheel of a feisty green Ford Figo, manoeuvring my way through the lush, bountiful landscapes, blasting music on the stereo. We are singing off tune and head banding to, “I Want to Break Free.” Suddenly Rinks jumps out of her skin breaking our make-believe world, “Did you hear that babes?”…
GIFTED Rob and the woods had an inexplicable connection. He found his inner peace amidst the deep, dark woods. And walking through them at dusk gave him more pleasure than a Zinger burger would give a youth his age. That particular evening as Rob walked past the huge oak tree, he heard a soft wailing sound. Rob thought it did not sound like an animal. He stopped short and turned back. As his feet trampled the dry leaves, the wailing…
Our paw prints are all over the place, in this charming apartment on the fifteenth floor. We live with our family of four. Each day we also leave our heart prints on them with our tiny, little deeds. My name is Laila (pronounced at Lie-lah, and not Lai-la or Lay-la). I’m a 4-year-old, toy Shitzu – 28 years in human age. I’m so tiny that people mostly assume I’m a puppy. Well, I’m not complaining. I love being cuddled and…
I spent all of last week in the pristine lap of the Havelock, in the Anadaman & Nicobar Islands; away from choking habitation and non-stop hum-drum of the city life. This vacation was a welcome respite from Wi-Fi and phone connectivity, cradled in the arms of nature, sun, sea, sand and occasional downpours. We were staying at Barefoot Resorts, one of world’s best Eco-friendly resorts. Barefoot lies nestled between the Radhanagar beach and a thicket of over 70-80 feet…