Happy Birthday Darlings

My Darling Duos

It’s your Birthday today, and it so happens that just at the moment when I was wondering what special thing can I do for my sweethearts on their special day, and that too sitting nearly 5000 Kms away from both of them , Hrishikesh’s prompt on Unsent Letters is up…and can you believe whom we have to write to this time …to our siblings …or more precisely to someone with whom we share an invisible bond … Isn't it surreal…

Words … we never needed that medium to feel or express the love we have for each other..it has been there for us …invisible and unsaid from the time we did not even know it existed. Growing up would not have been so much fun if not with the both of you.

My childhood memories would have been colourless, insipid and dull if they were not full of all the mischief, the drama, the strong held secrets, the frowns, the squabbles, the fights, the laughter, the togetherness we shared. I feel so blessed with both of you around. I don’t want to be modest … I know I have the best brothers in the whole world ..and it is definitely not a cliché because with so many years behind me now I have seen quite a few good ,bad and average brothers and I know that my “Double Pack” is simply the BEST!!!

God was super happy with me some good years back, and so he  decided to present me with the best “Double Deal” he had ever made …he sent me two angels...bundled in one gift wrap. The only grudge I have against him is that he could not hold his excitement for some 3-4 years more. I would have loved to be big enough to receive both of you in my lap… But as HE would have it, I was just a year old when we met J

But that’s OK. He has compensated in many ways after that. I have been so lucky to have been able to spend whole of my childhood and almost all my years till now with both of you around. I may have never told you, but you are the “Colgate Suraksha Chakra” for me … Despair, sadness, sorrow, darkness …nothing ever succeeded to cross that protection cover and reach me.

So on my special day, let me tell you few of the happy memories that we share and that I hold very close to my heart. Memories I cherish and relive constantly …

TV Smashers – You remember the day when we would have been 4-5 years old, and Ma had left us in the room and was busy in the kitchen. And the naughty trio decided to clean up the whole place. And after putting everything in its place, the only thing that was distracting us was that loose black wire that ran right in the center of the room. And so we, the smart kids, decided to make it tight. Instantly we knew what needed to be done. Confidently, we put a cloth across the wire and all three of us together started pulling it. And SMASHHHHHH came the sound and our Black and While TV set was on the floor. Ofcourse what followed was an even bigger noise of Ma screaming at us and cursing her fate to have been blessed with heavenly kids like us.  As soon as she left I remember our rejoice, as we knew that now what will follow will be a coloured TV replacement. 

Door Bell Kids – Those summer vacation afternoons when we had nothing much exciting left to do, we would venture out in the neighborhood, and ring door bells for all the aunties we did not like. I am still to figure out a better thrill. Imagining the all-the-time-ready-to-fight aunts , getting up from their siesta and coming to the door and not finding anybody is so appeasing till date

Glass Breakers – Every time any one of us broke a glass it was the most dreaded moment. Breaking the glass was OK, but breaking this news to Ma …unimaginable. I still remember how much we shivered telling Ma that one of her  glass set is no longer complete. And so it became a highly confidential and strongly held secret between the three of us. And more than that it was a strategic weapon to blackmail each other and get those undue favors like the last cookie in the box, or that extra Maggie.

Remote Fighters – Watching television is so much less fun now, when I am staying alone. No one to change the channel, no one to hide the remote and no one to switch off the main power switch for the TV to not let the other one watch their favorite show.

Kutta Billi Bhalu – And this one is my favorite. I remember three of us were ferociously fighting over something when Ma came and in her cant-take-it-any-more tone shouted on us ..”Kutta Billi Bhalu ki Tarah Ladte ho tum log” (You all fight like cats,dogs and bears) and the moment she left the scene, all three of us very seriously started contemplating that according to her who was who. And finally I being the elder one concluded, since I am the bigger one I am “Bhalu” (Bear), Archit is the sweet one, so he is “Billi” (Cat) and Rochit being the naughtier he is “Kutta” (Dog)

There are so many more memories that I cherish … the memories of growing up, the memories of affection, the memories of togetherness …  all those are special and colourful only because they have both of you in them. I am what I am today because I have grown up in a particular way. And I have grown up in every sense only with both of you. My sensitivities, my sensibilities, my values, my virtues, my vices, my will, my ambition and my strength all comes from both of you.

On this day, like any other day, I thank the Almighty to have blessed me with brothers like you…I wish you abundance in life … and abundance never comes from outside. It is always within. I wish both of you always feel happy and good about wherever you reach in life and whatever you do. In light as in Darkness, the only assurance and the only permanence that I offer you is my hand. It will always be with you. Not to guide you or protect you, because  I know you don’t need it. Only to be Together.

Love Always

Shiva

Your Second Birthday

2012 New Year Dinner

Three Chipmunks

This is written for a prompt Unsent Letters at Write Tribe.

The Mismatch Girl

The second alarm of 8:30 had also gone unnoticed and Shubha was still in her bed. Ma’s voice jolted her out.

“Oh God! I’m late for my music class…”

But why was she not rushing???

Silently and slowly she picked up her blue towel and went for bath. When she came out she was wearing a yellow kurti with bottle green salwar. Her wet golden brown hair were drooping on her shoulders.  She was truly alive for a new day.

Oh! but why is she wearing one white and one black footwear???

For Shubha all colours are same - Black!!!

Shiva

This piece of fiction is in response to two prompts 

The prompt of "Colored" at WOW  and the prompt of "Truly Alive" for  100 words On Saturday at WT 

Ancient Ruins

Ancient ruins 

Beauty Within

Callous and Carefree

Dainty sitting

Ruminating soon will she be ancient too???

This is my first attempt to ABC poetry, where first four lines are alphabetically arranged, and the last line ends with a random alphabet.

This picture is of a Bengal Tigress and was taken at the Taman Safari, Jakarta. Bengal Tigers , an amazingly elegant and beautiful tiger species which is in the endangered category. My plea - Save the Tiger

Shiva

To be or Not to Be

To be or Not to be

Hope deserts the soul

Love, a faraway dream

To be or not to be

A defeated being’s scream

A sinking heart

And a dying spirit

A path not traveled

A life not lived

Dreams undreamt

Realities unseen

Unexpressed love

Unfelt feeling

So much yet to do

So much to see

So much yet to say

So much to be

If your life is not

Just your own

How your death

Could ever be

It’s a fight to the finish

Finished it has to be

But a finish without a fight

Never was the way, never will be

It’s a moment of impulse

It’s a moment of defeat

It’s that solitary moment

When you give up and quit

That moment needs a hand

To hold on to

That moment needs a voice

To cling on to

Just let it go

That moment… that thought

It just takes a belief

That it too shall pass!

Think of those eyes

For whom the world is you

Think of that scary emptiness

The vacuum… you’ll leave them to

Yes, you are born alone

But die you never will

So many lives you touched

Will be lifeless and still

Be brave my friend

Hold on to life

This is a gift to cherish

Pass it on and make it worthwhile!!!

This is a poem I have written for Write Tribe as part of the World Suicide Prevention Day awareness program. I have encountered two suicide cases  in my life, and I have seen what despair and remorse they leave back. I feel guilty that I could not help those souls to go on fighting and not quit. But if this reaches a single person contemplating "to be or not to be" and it jolts him back to living, I will consider it worth my life.

Shiva

Ode to Mother Earth

Mother Earth Reflection

She has been there, with you, for you, since the start,

Nourishing you and nurturing you with all her heart,

She was smiling when you opened your little eyes to her,

And held you in her green arms when you walked with her.

The walk to school would not have been the same,

If not for her green guards standing tall,

The summer afternoons would not be so much fun,

Without those plums and mangoes and her breezy prowl.

The morning freshness waited each dawn by your window,

To wish a good day ahead for you,

The chirps, the floral breeze and the first sun rays,

Enchanted the morning song just for you.

The first rain drops of every season,

The first rain call of the frogs around,

Spotting a rainbow, walking in the rain,

She gave you her gifts of love in abound.

These are memories now of the past,

When she gave you the best in bountiful,

That was then and this is now, time has turned

She is now shattered and pale, who was once colorful.

You basked in her warmth, slept in her lap,

Exploited her to all extremes and turned your back,

You were but a selfish son and a careless father you will be,

The coming generation will curse you, and so it has to be.

The changes took baby steps and gave you warning enough,

But you turned a blind eye, in your lust to be first.

The soil is eroding, the land degrading; the air has polluted stealth,

The ice is melting and sea is rising to get the kiss of death.

Your children will be the witness; they will see the mother die,

They will have no company, no fish to swim, no bird to fly.

All they will have is an unanswered question,

All what will remain is an unheard cry.

Wake up now, its now or never,

You can no more turn deaf to the tremor.

The mother earth is calling for you,

It’s your turn now to return the favour.

This is a poem I wrote on Environment day. Posting it for the .indiblogeshwaris-that-tuesday-thingy prompt.

Shiva

Same Same but Different

Spot the Difference

Day “Seven” *** Object “The Divine Duo”*** Disclaimer “It’s not a mirror image and yet it is” Cameraman “Your Truly”

So we come to the last day of the Write Tribe Festival. Before I say anything my heartfelt bow to all the UBC challengersrs  … You Guys rock!!! Just seven days and I am struggling already and you guys managed it for 31 days … This is incredible!!!

So, coming to my Day 7 picture … My most favorite thing in this whole world are my twin brothers Archit and Rochit … They are my colour Pink (Know more about this in colours-of-my-life The best “Buy One Get One” offer I got till date. September is their Birthday month; God sent them to us on the 25^th day of the Ninth month. Ma had a normal delivery, so they were handed over to us at a time gap of twenty minutes. (Well, just to clarify, I was only 1 year 1 month old, when they came.) So with this twenty minutes gap, one became elder and one younger, assuming, Papa didn’t mix them up till the time an identification black thread was tied to the elder one, Archit.

They were absolutely identical. Ma tells me there were instances when one was fed milk two times and the other one deprived of his share. As Kids, the duo was madly famous in our neighborhood. People would come to our house asking them to be dressed in identical clothes and would take them all around the locality.

We share a special bond … I am the only person who has till date never mixed them up .. I just know who is who … Even today in old pictures, where Ma Papa cannot differentiate the two of them, my word is the final. As kids, we grew up together as a unit, and even till date we don’t need to see or hear each other to know what the other person is upto.

So to end the festival of Words, which has seven as the theme; let me tell you seven things that make both of them replicas and yet seven other things that makes them their individual selves.

SAME SAME STORY

1.            Both of them have the exact same face cut, features and height.

2.            Both of them are great painters. I have already shared one artwork by Rochit.(gods-own-eyes)

3.            Both of them love to eat.

4.            As kids, both of them fell sick for the same reason at the same time.

5.            Both of them are 1000 times more responsible and sincere than me. They are the “ideal boy” kinds

6.            Both of them are the nicest and most humble people I know.

7.            Both of them love me the most, and will go to any length and breadth to see a smile on my face.

BUT DIFFERENT STORY

 1.  While Rochit relishes non vegetarian food, Archit till date has not even tasted anything moving.

2.  While Rochit is the Sunny Deol, Archit is the Sanjeev Kumar of the house. Basically Rochit a No-Nonsense Guy and Archit – Wont Hurt a Fly guy.

3.  Rochit loves to drive, Archit never tried his hands on driving. He believes in being chauffeur driven (in his case his driver is Rochit)

4.    Rochit is a BIG cricket fan, will watch 1993 cricket match between Australia and England with rapt attention, and Archit only watches Daily Soaps on Start Plus and Colours.

5.  Rochit is a Papa’s kid and Archit the perennial Mumma’s boy.

6. Rochit can only make Maggie and tea, and Archit is the “Sanjeev Kapoor” ..makes delicacies which even Ma cannot.

7.    Rochit is the slogger and Archit the Royal Highness …   

If you ask me, I love both my Precious, just the same, for all the same same and different reasons. I cannot imagine my life without them.. They inspire me … I want to be them… Sensitive, emotional, caring, loving and humble.

Shiva

I am celebrating the Write Tribe Festival of Wordsand will be posting every day for seven days, starting 1st September. The theme for the Festival of Words is “seven“.  I have decided to post  my top 7 photographs which I hold very close to my heart. 

The Golden City of the East

Day 6 *** Location - Imambara Lucknow *** Cameraman - "As always*** 

Shaane Lucknow ….

A city of Nawabs, a city of Kebabs ..a city of culture, a city of mannerisms and demeanor  …a city of sepia tones …a city of smiles …a royal city ... my city …city of Lucknow…

There is a famous adage that goes like this … “Muskariye ki Aap Lucknow Mein Hain” which means smile as you are in Lucknow. And I feel this line defines the city. 

So, here is a sneak peek into 7 must see places in the city, which will tickle you to come here and realize for yourself the charm and the heritage of this place.

Bara Imambara

A tale of architecture ... an artwork of grandeur ... a depiction of royalty

Clock Tower

 For a happy Go Lucky at ease city, this may seem out of place..but they say it has the biggest clock of its times

Chota Imambara

A marble piece

Roomi Darwaza A Gateway to the Kingdom of Rulers

British Residency

Abode to many during the 1857 Mutiny,,still carries the scars of the battle

Bhool Bhullaya

                          A perfect place to be get lost. The maze you would not want to come out of...

Begum Hazrat Mahal Park   
Memoirs of the Lady who fought ... 1857 Mutiny warrior

The Lucknow of today is the blend of old and new, fast and slow, heritage and modernity ... I love the city because it lets you be. It doesn't force you to run and nor hinders your sprint. You can choose your pace and enjoy the choice your way....

At end all I have to say is...

"Kisme hai Dam ki Hamse Chhudhaye Lucknow

Lucknow Ham Par Fida hai ..Ham Fidaye Lucknow"

(Who has the guts to take me out of Lucknow..

I am in love with Lucknow, and Lucknow in Love with me)

Disclaimer - All the pictures except the first and the last, are courtesy Google. 

I am celebrating the Write Tribe Festival of Words and will be posting every day for seven days, starting 1st September. The theme for the Festival of Words is “seven“.  I have decided to post 7 photographs made by me which I hold very close to my heart. 

Sea to Believe

Day 5 *** Location - Indian Ocean *** Cameraman - "Of course Me"

Being born and brought up in Northern India, growing up on the banks of Ganga and Gomti, I had never imagined the vastness and might of the sea till I put my foot down first time in Mumbai. Like for many, for me too, it was love at first sight.

The sea and its moods, a sight to watch anytime of the day, month or year. Yes, this lady like all others has a mind of her own. Yes I have always imagined the sea as a woman, beautiful and mysterious. So I was telling you that our lady has a mind of her own, nobody tells her what to do and when to do. She can be calm like a bride when she wants to, and ferocious like a lady in action when she needs to.

And we all know about her love story… her eyes are set up above the sky. They say there is a handsome looking someone called Mr Moon.  His love drives her … the swell of her emotions, her desires to meet him make her sometimes rough and other times rougher.

We all have shared a moment with the Sea. Who have not, please get going..this is one thing you must do before you die. SovLet me talk about my seven Sea moments which made me love it more  each time:

1. The first encounter … I still remember my first Mumbai trip, and the taxi took a left and we were on the marine drive road. The smell of the sea is still so fresh in my mind and I remember in our first meeting, she was calm and quite, as if introspecting.
2.  The first time I walked on the Juhu Beach barefooted … and the life on the beach made the sea look livelier.  So many kinds of people --- loving the sea and its sight in their own ways ---some jogging, some chatting, some shopping some eating and some just looking into the deep eyes of the sea.
3.  The first sunset I ran against time and across the sea to catch. …And we almost made it. Please notice the “We” part made it more memorable *Wink*Wink*
4. My first pat on the back by a high tide at Goa beach, when she and me were in a playful mood.
5. During all my official trips to Mumbai, and I was lucky to have many, after the dinner, I used to pick up a Naturals ice-cream (Mostly anjeer or cheeku) and sat on the marine drive. Relishing the ice-cream and talking to myself. The only company allowed was the soft sound on the shore.
6. The lighthouse moment at Vizag, when me and my bestie, Vidula, got so engrossed in our chit chat that we didn’t even realize when we got locked. And the only witness to our being locked was the unending and beautiful sea in front of us.
7.  The last moment has been freezed in time…This is the one in picture with my shoes and bag. It is beautiful and precious for me. This was the last time I was near a sea and was “myself”

Now I am in Indonesia, and I look forward to another soulful encounter with her. As I told you, you have to Sea to Believe.

Shiva

I am celebrating the Write Tribe Festival of Wordsand will be posting every day for seven days, starting 1st September. The theme for the Festival of Words is “seven“.  I have decided to post 7 photographs made by me which I hold very close to my heart. 

India Shining

  India          Shining

Day 4 *** Picture Location – Tata Motors Lucknow *** Occasion – Independence Day *** Cameraman – As Usual

My Country…My Pride … My land …. My Love

As you would have seen I have been talking about few of my favorite things in the write tribe festival, through my pictures.  My country is definitely one of those. The bond I share with my land, my people is special for me. I belong to this place. I don’t think I could have been anything but an Indian. When I say this, I am not at all undermining any country or place, it is just that I was destined to love my country more than another place and I respect all my friends who feel the same for the countries they were born in.

I feel blessed that God chose me for India and India for me. Because the more I know my county and the more I know myself, I feel we just belong to each other. I am a true Indian in all good , bad, colorful and grey ways there are.

Let me share the Top 7 things that make India the only place in the world of its kind

Food

Photo Courtesy Google Images

The food the aroma the diversity… From the richness of the north to the simplicity of South, Poha of the West to Rassogulla of the East, You can never have enough of Indian Food

People

Photo Courtesy Google Images

The happy go lucky, smiling warm people, who take it as their right to know everything about you. Yes there is no personal space, your problem is my problem, though I may not be able to help you much, but I can always give you my shoulder to cry on. Yes, India is a land of diversity, and really speaking, it is many countries in one country, but looking back at all the travelling I have done in India, I have concluded that the expressions may change depending on which region you are in, but in the heart of their hearts, they are genuinely concerned people, who do not want to hurt. But fickle minded ..yes they are..They get swayed. 

Places

Photo Courtesy Google Images

If you are a wanderer, if you want to explore beauty, if diversity and colours  attract you, if  routine and pattern is not your calling ..then my friend India is the place for you. Yes, I accept, we do not have the best roads, the comfort of resorts, easy to traverse distances..but to me that's the beauty. India has endless beauty, only the beholder has to be patient and strong.


MYTHOLOGY

Photo Courtesy Google Images

My childhood would have been incomplete if not filled with the intriguing and exciting mythological tales my grandmother filled me with. My lives philosophy to a large extent has been shaped by the "Mythological Mahanayaks" (Superheroes). I learnt sacrifice from Ram, and friendship from Krishna, Shiva is the epitome of courage and Brahma of Knowledge. Even in the mess of today's world, the country still stands, because it has roots in a rich culture.

Movies

Photo Courtesy Google Images

Drama is the soul of India. We all thrive on larger than life, melodramatic life ... that suits us. And Bollywood is the heart beat of the nation. We live to see movies and we see movies to live and this is no exaggeration. Our fashion statements, our social outlooks, our economic development everything is a mirror image of the bollywood showcase. In my opinion, the reason, Indians, and here would like to  remind you that the India, I am talking about "Stays in villages" and is below poverty line, so even in all the adversity, the reason Indians are still happy, is a lot because of Bollywood. It makes us forget where we are, what we are. Yes, you may call it "filmy", but I will call it "our style"

Music

Photo Courtesy Google Image

We are  happy we sing, we are sad we sing, we are in love we sing, we are heartbroken we still sing. The auto rickshwaw, to the barber shop music is everywhere. Instrumental, vocal, folk or fusion, you name it and it has already been mastered in India. No, please dont take me wrong, I am not saying genetically all Indians are singers. Truly speaking many of us suck at singing. But that does'nt lessen our love for music a wee bit.

Seasons

Photo Courtesy Google Images

For a nature lover, India is a paradise. Its vast and diverse landscape makes it the proud owner of all the seasons there are.The freshness of rains, the chill of winter, the happiness of sunshine and the green envy of spring, the smell of autumn..well India has it all. You need not travel across geographies to relish the variety, just stay at one place and stay long and you will see it all. 

So I told you all that is good and bad about India, from my eyes. Each Indian may have a different image of India, because that is how we are..we all are similar but at the same time unique, we may feel the same but react differently ...basically the sons of a soil as rich as India are not clones. All of us are our own self. 

What makes you proud of India???

Shiva

I am celebrating the the Write Tribe Festival of Words and will be posting every day for seven days, starting 1st September. The theme for the Festival of Words is “seven“.  I have decided to post 7 photographs made by me which I hold very close to my heart.