Life. Here. Now

  Those of you, who know me, would be familiar with my ongoing torrid love affair with Nature’s favourite (and also spoilt, in my opinion) child, Rain. It’s a predictable one, like most, a love-hate kind, with more love, and less of the latter. He never fails to inspire awe in me…a child-like wonder! While ousting me from the most stuporous of slumps, I can’t help but wear a smile, as worries seem to magically melt away. He amplifies my cheerful spirits on a good day, to one of unadulterated joy, awakening the slumbering poet within me into pouring out the most reverent odes, like the one I’m spewing right now! Whoever says that chivalry is dead hasn’t experienced him deftly blending in with the tears streaming down their faces, shielding vulnerable selves from curious, inquisitive eyes. Very much the tease, he enjoys keeping me guessing, as I stew over his intentions;   A few warning drops here, a pleasant drizzle there, a shower where there’s eager anticipation and...

This morning, as I sat in my car, and drove to work, I took in a deep breath, and was startled as I realised that it was my first conscious deep breath that I’d taken freely, without resistance in almost two weeks! I can almost see your foreheads crinkle in disbelief and mouths twist at my exaggeration. Well, that’s what it felt like. Like I hadn’t breathed in weeks; and this free, unrestricted inhalation and exhalation, brought upon me a sense of release, like steam being let out of a pressure cooker! Phew! What a relief! A huge weight instantaneously lifted off my shoulders, the heart felt lighter, and my mind,restful. This lightness was   further enhanced by the delightful pepperminty freshness of the sugar-free mints, that I’d popped in my mouth.   It had been a tough last couple of weeks. Plagued with worry, anxiety, tense hours, unrest, tiredness and illness. The emotions of intense dislike and hurt, and my grudges disappeared in a flash, along with the...

You sneaked in through the iron bars of my heart, caught me unawares Unobtrusively so. Unalarmingly so. Realisation dawned, but a moment too late, by when You sat, comfortably encushioned between my battling morals, pleased ego Warning guilt, traitorous desire, emotions running high and low. Why do I deceive myself so? I watched you closing in, watched you snare your hook Knowing fully well, it was against the rules of the book Neither friend nor foe, yet, I dipped in, a toe I met you halfway, then why do I deceive myself so? Flattered beyond words, ignorance I feigned As I spied naked desire, in your eyes, and on your face Fooling myself by closing my eyes, I slipped you the keys, hand-in-hand Nonchalant on the outside, doing an excited little jig on the inside Controls in-hand, my time, I did bide. Then, why do the tears flow, unchecked so? From the pain of disappointment, as you draw the blinds? I helped you drive the blade ...

For as long as I can remember, my gal pals and I, have always cribbed about being a few pounds overweight. Over the years, the few pounds have multiplied in magnitude. Even when I did not have a weight-issue, I remember grumbling about my being ‘fat’, or not having a small enough waist, all because it was expected, and the cool thing to do! I remember in class 9, the corridor loo would be our hangout spot between lessons. It was anything but fancy! Just your regular cubicles, smelly most times, with washbasins in front, each with a mirror of its own. We would just crowd around the mirrors, giggling, primping our hair, reapplying lip-balms, moaning over emerging acne while secretly comparing waist lines, which unfortunately in most cases, was also an indication of one’s coolness, attractiveness, social-superiority or lack thereof. I cant help but laugh as i recall, how we used to loudly announce and invite our ‘cool’ friends to hang out with, in the loo, of all places ...

Tweet Tweet Tweet I remember how it began When you brought the gingerbread man to life I knew then; You were the one When I held your hand, and You promised to stay with me, joy or strife. You introduced Enid to me, I shall be ever thankful Racing through the corridors of St. Clare’s and Malory Towers Hobnobbing with ‘The Famous Five’, adventures with ‘The Secret Seven’ Never a dull moment with Enid, As we whispered and snickered together, Under the teacher’s baleful glowers! Never did I feel so important That summer, when we shook hands with your friends of old Dumas, Wallace, Defoe, Alcott… a sprinkle of humour, a pinch of adversity, a dash of adventure, entertainment aplenty Classics evergreen, they humbly welcomed me into their fold. Over the years, our romance blossomed stealing sweet kisses in between classes holding hands during those heavenly long drives snuggling under the covers at home Fascinated by our endless devotion, even ...