PEACE. LOVE. GURU. 2009

The coming of a New Year, for reasons unbeknownst, is cause for celebration.
I am ushering in 2009 while understatedly reveling around a bonfire in the company of close friends. Of course, there is a certain indulgence in the temporary pleasures afforded by alcohol, albeit in moderation.
And music and comfort foods.
But more than anything, it is the aura, the ambience created by the harmony of like-minded people coming together with the simple intent to be happy.
Even, just be.
Peace.
Love.
Gratitude.
Humility.
Well-being.
This is my wish, my vision for you in the New Year.
And me.
Always.
“I have a dream."

SNICKERS

What do Snickers and Guru have in common??
They both SATISFY!!

TUESDAY IS MONDAY

There are so many thoughts in my head at this time that it is difficult to begin. So I am beginning with the beginning in the hope that something constructive, and palpable, will materialize.
I’ve been multitasking, in the truest sense of the word, all day today.
Putting out fires and attacking raging bulls, barehanded at that; all this while I’m not even in Spain!!
How I wish I was.
I remember my travels in the Canary Islands, the ferry ride from Ibiza, Rebecca; the crystal waters of Majorca, the green eyes of Anna, Barcelona, Madrid; but I digress.
From West Bengal to New York, “crisis management” was the order of the day.
I try to take one day at a time; but today several Mondays attacked me all at once!!
The saving grace has been the modest, yet effective, workout I got in in the early AM.
And, of course, the four square meals for which I remain grateful.
What I am really looking forward to now, before bed, is the hot shower and a steaming cup of milk with ground turmeric and a teaspoonful of sugar.
And the tranquility which follows post yoking you with my feelings.
Today is Tuesday.
You know this drill.
Surely, you understand.

GUILTY, AS CHARGED

Life and freedom are my only rights.
All else, is a privilege.
And you are guilty of losing this thought in the humdrum of your routine.

SHE

Melting wax off a smoldering candle, she was weak in the knees.
The parameters of her demeanor bound only by my potent gaze.
Her lips moved continually; her eyes did the talking. She said what she had to, albeit, perhaps, not what she wanted to.
There was a dove like peace about her fluttering, a swan like calm where she floated.
A certain serenity enveloped her being.
A devilishly angelic aura separated us.
But she was closer; closer than she was physically aware.
I knew.
She was determined in her resolve.
Yet, unsure of it. Her resolve that is.
She is not here now.
But she is.
She doesn’t know.

DELHI TRAFFIC

The traffic jam in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), like the changing of underwear, is an unavoidable and daily phenomenon.

Rules of cause and effect cease to exist in this space as a sizable segment of India's one billion plus populace attempts to huddle to a destination.

My love for driving is challenged, nay marred, by this flood.

"Open road" is synonymous with "Jumbo shrimp" here.

Meeting by accident is never as unpleasant a surprise as it is in Delhi traffic.

WHO AM I??

The search is on..

GRATITUDE

Pigeons have made their home in the balconies of my apartment.
Yes, there’s never a dearth of shit!
I am grateful for my boy servant who has become particularly skilled at the task of cleaning up, what with at least three of the eight balconies being in the line of fire each day.
Be it winter, summer or anything in between, enjoying my cuppa (and an occasional twilight whisky) in the balcony is an experience I treasure.
For air, water and sunlight, I am not predominantly indebted.
For the fact that I am,
I exist
and 

have an opportunity to cherish these privileges,
I am grateful.

WALKING ON SUNSHINE

A barefooted man was walking on sunshine today.
It's not a phenomenon.
It's not a revelation.
It's reality.
Of diminutive stature and slight build, his dark body clothed only in leftover fragments of a “lungi”, a loin cloth, he trudged an upward path lugging his pull-cart heaving with three large, visibly weighted sacks.
Driving past villages of rural east India, I am exposed to this and many more realities these days, realities which I conveniently put on the back burner of life.
And many of you don’t even have the opportunity.
It’s mid-day now. He will complete the task and return home with his pull-cart in a few hours to a family dinner comprising of rice and a vegetable. Fish, if he was fortunate at the lake while making his return journey.
All cooked in water from the same body where he, his family, his sheep, his cows bathe.
I think about evolution.
I think about life.
I see it.
Here.
You're walking on sunshine.
It's just not the same.

MY MIDDLE FINGER

My middle finger goes out to the Indian Railways for a shoddy display of crisis management, or lack thereof!!
Twenty-nine hours on a ride to nowhere got us exactly there.."NOWHERE".
Boarding an express train should be an experience; and it was!!
What an experience. Seven“f*******”teen hours late!!!!
In these non-medieval times, thirty hours can get you around the globe; we are talking North-West to East India for cryin’ out loud. 

Not Chandni Chowk to China!! For that, we have Bollywood.
Are we in the 20-something century?? Someone tell these folks.
They seem to have missed the boat; Noah’s Ark at that!!
The Delhi Metro.
The Commonwealth Games.
2010.
I shudder at the thought.
Something tells me I should retract my finger;
I’m afraid it will break!!

OYSTER EYES

the joy they shed

the pearls they bled

in omnipotent thoughts are manifest the sea

of oblivion

parched

yearn divinities

infinite bounds of virtual solace

obscure 

my freedom

in a world of lies

defined

my love

in your oyster eyes

HER PERSPECTIVE

i made another friend today.

she breathes and smiles innocence.

a chat with her revealed an essence more fragrant than the sweetest rose.

simple is beautiful; beauty is simplicity.

she's looking for a life partner, a husband.

i don't claim to understand the concept of marriage in our times.

yet, she gets my vote and blessing for nuptial bliss.

her beauty is fathomless;

to the untrained eye, she means not much.

to the soul, she is everything.

everything she could want is perfect in her world.

her world is not mine.

it's beautiful though,

her perspective.

YOU

as with eons past, stars shine bright,

while time goes by

the sky remains blue

cherish, in a special way

there's friends

there's family

and then

there's you..

PAIN

Whether physical or emotional.

Whether minor or major.

Pain is pain.

The pre-workout pain in my shoulder today, hurts.

What hurts more is reminiscing a recent chain of events.

November 26th.

Pain.

CHANGE

Love was what I used to.

Use is what I love to.

Surprisingly, I'm doing much better!!;-)

THE REASON

Do you love them because they are family?

Or are they family because you love them?

Which is important??

AN UNEVENTFUL EVENT

The afternoon siesta has not lost it's charm.

Au contraire!

I quite enjoyed the nap.

It readied me for the evening's event.

A business associate's son's wedding was the highlight; along with my newly found date, of course.

Friday night and the subsequent weekend revelries always beckon.

Tonight's event remained, uneventful.

Solace is found in the strangest of places..sometimes.

A NEW BEGINNING

My "Aha" moment is here!

The beginning of a new life chapter.

The culmination of my thoughts can, and now will, unfold to the world.

I have been tested; I am ready to put to test.

I am here; I think.

Light.