The ruins of my dreams…

I will never ever be in a position to walk on the streets of dazzling streets of Colaba and NOT duck whenever a car breezes past me…

The city that made me, taught me how to dream, taught me to be me will never ever be the same anymore…

The happiness I felt has turned to terror and tears and it will make me watch my back whenever I would take that lazy stroll near Nariman Point…

The pain and anguish is there to stay in heart for I have heard the silent cries of many people…

The disgust will never die away as I watch the ruins of my beloved city over and over again…

I wish there was an answer…

I wish there was a reason…

I wish there was…

I wish…

I…

Never at a loss of words…

The Glory

The Pain

This is the second day when I’ve woken up with a smirk for people who show me the same expression at India’s plight at present. 

The international news channels keep on repeating that Indian intelligence has failed and the way things are being handled is ‘fascinating stuff’. The news readers are literally chuckling while saying that the states of India do not get along well and do not have coordinated security measures…

 
Well India does have limitations. But where was the intelligence in these parts of the world when 9/11 took place? Has there been no terrorist attack in UK, Europe or any other part of the world ever? Why are these people pointing fingers and seem to be driving pleasure out of India’s pain? Australia and Singapore have already officially warned their travelers not to go to India for the possible terrorist activities. As if…

 
Anywhere in the world is not safe if you look at it that way. And some people have still gone to work on Thursday and are working on Friday in Mumbai too. This can not be taken lying down with that eternal ‘life goes on’ sentiment. Other countries and their mothers can not just send in regrets and supports and smirk because India is a safe target of these terrorists…

 
The problem is, everyone is busy driving conclusion right from the top politicians to journo’s while a common man just loses some friends or our family members feel scared once in a while when these attacks happen.

 
I read headlines like ‘Mumbai attacks are the first challenge for Obama’…ha! Have these people forgotten that he is not the president or prime minister of India? They fetch Deepak Chopra on TV to comment on what? And this brave lady journo from India wants to shout and has put it in everyone’s mouth that ‘This seems to be India’s 9/11′?

 
Has India suffered less in the past? Especially in past one year with so many attacks on so many cities that we had to wait for something bigger happen to us to call it 9/11? Why are we running around to seek jolts to wake up? If all the terrorist casualties and damages counted in past few years that India has sleep walked through…doesn’t it all surpass 9/11?

 
My mind is wandering into all directions. But the thought that tops all of it right now, we need solutions and not random conclusions. India is as safe as anywhere else in the world at present. India’s future is still in the healthy, able, strong, thoughtful hands of those Indians who would work day and night to still keep India to be the country that has tremendous potential, man power and intelligence – it just falls flat once in a while when some religious fanatics crowd it, like rest of the world… It is just one corner of India that has taken the hit right now, and this time Mumbai has to be back with a vengeance. It is glamorous to call it India’s heart, financial capitol, nerve system or whatever; it is not the only place in India either…

 
…and if you fear that while visiting or living in India means living in fear of a terrorist attack, travelers and investors are smart enough to know that it could just happen anywhere in the world…or so do I hope…

so stay calm, and come back with a bang…for these incidents are not meant to be forgotten…probably we might not trust the friendly cab driver or the street hawker at Colaba anymore but we will surely see a better day…a better tomorrow and Mumbai will again be the city of dreams again…

Entrapment

Chained

Hopelessly bound
unfettered
by the chains of love’s grip
- greatest gift,
fate’s cruelest curse.

Wherefore do I weep
at knowing the joy,
the warmth,
at feeling the peace,
the fire.

Wherefore do I weep
unable to complete ,
to be,
unknown the kiss,
the flames.

Wherefore do I weep
at loving not living
seeing not touching
breathing not sharing
holding not loving?

All,
because I, The Fool,
am no more? 

Sans Life

Today crouched beneath the barracks,
Huddled close to a dim lantern,
I yield my thoughts on paper.
Afraid of being too late tomorrow
When the sun shines.

I gaze up at the sky
The star spangled canopy bearing
A thousand hopes,
The twinkling diamonds the goldsmith
Dusted onto the canvas above.

The heavy sound of shells,
Break the perennial serenity,
Tanks, machineguns and missiles,
Witness the way odyssey.

The end is near yet I gape,
At the starry wonder above,
Accounting for the timber of laughter
And the pleasant warmth of love.

All seems too soon, as the curtain falls,
The sky ablaze with embers.
A stray bulled lodged into a bleeding soul,
Pouring out hatred forever.

As the world dims afore me,
The sound of silence rules.
I realize what they meant now:
Of tomorrow not being the same,
Of death as a termination,
Not agony, sorry or pain.

Each life affects another…

We may not always realize that everything we do,
Affects not only our lives but touches others too.

A single happy smile can always brighten up the day
For everyone who happens to be passing our way.

A little bit of thoughtfulness that shows someone we care
Creates a ray of sunshine for both of us to share.

Yes, every time we offer someone a helping hand,
Every time we show a friend we care and understand.

Every time we have a kind and gentle word to give,
We help someone find beauty in this precious life we live.

For happiness brings happiness and loving ways bring love,
And giving it away is the treasure that contentment is made up of.

My Funeral

 

I want a large funeral. Now I am sure you might be wondering that it is such a bombastic statement that I am trying to make out here but it isn’t and such things have been going on in my tiny brain since quite sometime. It’s nothing to do with the oomph or glamour that I abhor neither it has got to do with any materialistic pleasures. Anyhow, I decided that I want a really big funeral. Not because I’m a fan of rather elaborate ordeals. I actually prefer life to be simple. No, I didn’t say I want an ornate funeral; I said I want a large one. An ornate funeral looks pretty. A large one has lots of people attend. See the difference?

“Why a large funeral?” you may ask. Because I want people to know I’m gone. I don’t want people at my 70 year high school reunion to say, “Where’s Vi? Oh she died? Really! I didn’t know that.” No, I want people to know that I’m gone, and I want them to know because they’re going to miss me. I want them to know that my life was nothing but a wait, an ever-lasting wait and I want to revel in that. When I take my last breath, I want people to rejoice and dance with me when I unite with the universe. When I will be a free spirit and I will always be there for them, like their guardian angel on their shoulder. Always waiting and watching and protecting them and I want to make enough impact in the lives around me that people are afraid they can’t go on, but they’ll know that’s not true because I’ve explained that to them as well. I want to be the shoulder people cry on, the smile they see on dark days, the friend who shares a silent laugh with them, the one who listened to their hushed tears, the one who they cried during those lonely nights of summer, the friend/sister/mother/daughter/stranger who was always there, and the person who made life feel livable.

Sure, I’ve got some lofty goals. But will I ever be truly successful if I don’t have lofty intentions? I don’t think so.

So, when I die, I’ll make sure you know. Hope to see you there!

Obscurity at its best

If obscurity had a face…

Balance…

The balance of life is what I strive for

But is the balance worth waiting for?

Heya…!

Hey sugar boy! Thanks for coming to pick me up! I know you told me 8.00 but I still have to put some more eyeliner on, listen to more songs on my iPod and just pretend to be super busy. Why don’t you have a seat on my lovely couch – just knock a few of those cushions off, ah! There you go! Watch out for the candles though! Isn’t my home lovely? I opened a shopping catalogue and just picked a million things. Gosh shopping makes life easy!

Excuse me while I go freshen up. Don’t worry my mum is around here somewhere, she’ll make awkward small talk with you to prepare you for the evening, while making judgments about you in her head – which her and I will discuss at length when I get home!

Sorry that took so long; I have no idea what I do in the bathroom for an hour! Gosh, I look pretty! I see you met Chau and Mau, my kitties! That’s great that you’re pretending to like them and pet them when really you are severely allergic and will probably have to take several anti-histamines later. Well, let’s head out, shall we?

What a gentleman you are! Thanks for getting the car door for me, I love men who believe in gallantry. Well except when it’s sexist, I get to decide when it’s ok and when it’s sexist! Fun, no? Don’t worry I won’t reach across and get the lock for you. I know it’s raining out and all but I’m too busy wondering why you’re taking so long and making me wait while you fumble with the lock!

What a cozy restaurant you’ve chosen! I never choose, I always tell you I don’t care where we go and then if it’s somewhere I don’t like you get to hear me complain about it endlessly! This is fun because it takes the pressure off me and lets me judge you yet again!

I know you told me we were going for dinner and all but I’m actually not that hungry, weird no? I guess I’ll just order a salad and the most expensive martini I can find. Are you going to eat that pasta? I should have ordered pasta.

Let me tell you all about myself! I have all these friends who are the BEST ever! I can gossip with them and giggle endlessly about other people! Did you know that Jennifer Aniston is dating John Meyer? I’m glad my friends and I can talk about all that important stuff together! I know if I ever had a real problem they would probably start acting really busy and not return my phone calls but they are seriously the BEST EVAAH!!

I know I have this super cool and super creative job but I still love to talk about it! Especially about the clothes other people wear there and who’s dating whom! It doesn’t matter that you’ve never met any of these people; I’ll still tell you all about them! It’s almost like you DO know them! How lucky are you?

Well, dinner was nice but I’m awfully tired and there’s a rerun of FRIENDS that I’m dying to watch! I’m going to pretend to offer to pay for the bill, but if you actually wanted me to pay any of it I’d be shocked! I don’t even think I brought any money! Then I’d have to tell all my (BEST EVAAH) friends about how you made me pay on the first date!

Well here we are, back at my place! Why don’t you walk me to the door so we can have an incredibly awkward goodbye? How about you pretend you had lots of fun and say that we should do it again sometime? Ok, well awfully nice spending time with you! What was your name again?

Smile

A 32 second conversation with my HR manager inspired me to write this post and I have been thinking about this since quite sometime. With the turn of events in my life and with the state of metamorphosis that I have been trying to reach, I started wondering why, in real life, days seem so long, and nights pass so quickly? But mentally and emotionally, most of us never even see the dawn, let alone the noon sunshine. I won’t allow that to happen. I won’t allow myself to wander aimlessly through life. I will set a goal that will be my beacon. Actually, I already have. Care for me to share?

Once upon a time, about six years ago, I decided that the world was a miserable place. Fairly pessimistic, isn’t it? I thought to myself, “No one smiles anymore. I bet the world would be a better place if there was more smiling.” And that’s my goal. Every single day, I have to make one person smile. That’s it. Sounds simple enough, right? What about when I don’t feel like smiling myself? What then? I still have to make someone else smile because that’s what I do best. And do you know what I’ve discovered over the past six years? People appreciate it. I smile at them. They smile back. I share a silent joke with a stranger at the grocery store. I leave a flower on a random person’s car. Maybe I just help someone pick up something that they dropped. They all produce the same effect, a genuine smile.

To me, that was step one in waking up. I’m not there yet, but I’m working on it. This blog will more or less record my journey, both inside and out. Take from it what you will. Leave behind anything you’d like. Learn something, even if it’s at my expense. Maybe that knowledge will make you smile. And isn’t that what this is all about?

A dream…

Dreamwalker

 

When we get there, we’re gonna
jump in air…
No one can see us ‘cause there is
no one there…
After all, you know we really
don’t care…
Hold on I am gonna take you
there…

The walk…

A walk down the aisle...

 

In the realms of those dark nights, I see that light which enlightens my soul. A light which makes me walk through the tunnel that smells of death and despair. I walk on this lonely road and think of you. I try to figure out that the gargoyles that we used to see near those sun kissed sands were real or surreal? Those ancient arches which used to awe us till eternity have started fading in my soul. There are times when I try desperately to get a grip over reality and try to feel the waves that we once felt on the lazy beaches, those sacred moments and those times of reverie but now that I sit back and feel nostalgic, all I know is that those ancient figurines will always remind me of you..

Proud…

Men think it is cool and classy…
Women think it is obnoxious and freaky…
Workmates think it is weird and geeky…
Friends think it is interesting and sassy…
Well, I think it is hot and sexy…

Controversies

Controversies of life never leave me

 But they surely make a stronger me

Freedom…

Its not always about facing the storm

i wish

 

its also about singing and dancing in the rain

Topics of my book

if i ever ever write a book then these would be the topic of it…

*laugh! laugh*

Late flights and airport delays
Early morning office meetings and cursing under the breath
Lost key chains and broken pencil nibs
Lyrics and youth of the nation
Music and work
Love and death
Chai and smoke rings
Highways and potholes
Eternal sunshine and pollution
Movies and their baseless themes and morals
Psychedelic colours and visions
Ghosts and karma
Water and chlorine
Leather bags and torn wallets
Advertising and its goof ups
Chewing gums and sari paloo
Bald women and Jainism
Boardroom conversations and fist fights
Clients and their stupidities
Food and amoeba
Office humours and rumours (italic thoughts)
Calvin and Hobbes- better then Homo sapiens
Thoughts and goosebumps
Books and their parodies
Life and its ironies
The Cannes Lion and Mount Everest
Wife Distribution Center
Jig-ass and Jigi-ssa
NRGs and Aborigines

A morning through the green doors

Behold, the morning in her
Golden gown
Scuttled by the trees, so chaste
And brown,
Her flower bedecks the jejune
Ground;
The wind which whispers
Into my ear
Teases n tickles, makes me
Red like a Scottish bear,
Softly combs my wavy hair,
This ripples like a cascade
So elegant and rare.
Through the curtain
Thread the netted sun rays,
So brilliant to transcribe, so
Lively and gay.
Marsh ground, they smell so
Sweet,
Raindrops trickling down
The lush green weeds;
Lovely! Lovely, is the nature
Around
So innocent, so lively in her
Golden gown.

Ashford Ad Campaign

Ashford

 

Ashford

 

Ashford

 

this is one campaign that i had loved working on. it just brought the real me.

Nature’s Symphony

Haena beach,Hawai

 

i was browing through some pictures and i came across this one…it was breathtaking and inspired me to write a poem on it…

I listen to the Orchestra of Mother Earth,
I’m amazed by her sights and sounds.
I know the beauty of infinite worth,
From above and beneath her grounds.

The sky solos its uncanny silence,
Wind pitched rain weeps her sorrow.
Oak and maple, a heavenly fence,
Birth nuts as the dogwood grow.

The breeze of an ocean, her unique smell;
Fluted sand holds many treasures all its own.
Millions of years manufacture shells,
Combining salt, wind and sand for tone.

Pastures of green and gold carpet the land,
Providing food for creatures large and small.
Babbling brooks and waterfalls so grand,
Create a majestic, harmonious call.

Mountains of clay glitter in the sun’s presence,
Her mirage; composes pristine shapes.
The sharpness of copper and gold, their penance;
Canyons rise and fall in melodious capes.

Thunder and lightning stages Nature’s symphony;
Swayed rhythm bends branches high and low.
Wrapped in my chamber like a cocoon I see;
A rain-bowed ovation, of Her Majesty’s show.

We…

We are not born
we cannot die
we build our castles in the sky
we build our homes upon the earth
and ride the cycle of rebirth
We are not apes
we are not gods
we struggle on against the odds
against our fading memories
of old mistakes and calumnies
We cannot win
we cannot lose
we fork the paths each time we choose
and split in two and carry on
and take both routes to where we’ve gone
We do not see
we will not hear
redemption hovers very near
fulfillment just a breath away
our chatter holds our dreams at bay
We cannot stay
nor yet remain
trapped on the wheel of joy and pain
for truth is lost where truth is found
and still the wheel turns around
There is no peace
there is no war
it doesn’t matter any more
there is no wrong there is no right
and everything will be alright.