Wednesday 5 December 2012

My 5th in Womens Era! (Nov 2012)

So here is my 2nd poem on Women's Era. This takes the tally of my writing in print media to 5! :) 

I am excited and elated on reaching this little personal milestone :)


Here it is... 'Cupid's Whisper' on Women's Era November (second) 2012 issue.


You can also read it here Cupid's Whisper


Tuesday 30 October 2012

Smothered Innocence

The Venna double murder of a doting grandmother and an innocent infant, touched my heart deeply and stirred up emotions within.

Image Source : Google

Their precious bundle-of-joy,
She filled their lives with bliss.
Showered her with love and care,
Only the best life for her, they wished.

Princess of their kingdom,
Their world revolved around her.
Her every tear, her every cry,
They kissed away clear.

An ill-fated day came by,
With warning, none at all,
Turned their lives upside down,
Leaving everyone appalled!

Baby girl was taken,
Her hapless grandmother, slain
The family was swept in a wave,
Of immeasurable pain.

Grief-stricken by the loss of one,
With no news of the missing child,
Fearful thoughts, unspoken,
Crept inside every mind.

Where was the baby hidden?
Hope she is safe and fine.
Has she been harmed?
Is she in pain?

Their worst fear came true,
Hearts bled with agony,
Wounds got much deeper,
As details poured in, of the brutality.

Who was this monster?
Did God forget to put a heart in him?
How did his conscience permit him,
To commit such ruthless sins?

He traded the life of innocent two,
For mere greed of money,
What can be more inhumane,
Or is this the evil face of humanity?

Dreams of her happy future,
Burnt up in smoke,
They are left with just a vacuum,
That aches and chokes.

Dear God, please be their solace,
As they move on, sans their angel.
Cure this world of such demons,
Bring peace to the departed souls.

Monday 24 September 2012

A biking trip to Kerala-aah!

A lot has been said about the beauty of Kerala. Well, am no stranger here as this happens to be my birthplace and a land I have several fond memories attached with. However, the last one week has been a definite eye opener of the exquisite prettiness that this lovely land of coconut trees, has to offer to the world.

Being married to a biker, has increased the adventure quotient in my life by a good measure, and being fond of bike rides since childhood... I am only loving it! :)



Yup, you guessed it right... we are just back from an advenjoyous biking trip to Kerala! 

Banglore - Munnar - Eranakulam - Cherai Beach - Wayanad - Bangalore  

...this was our route and the entire trip was a week long. This being my second long biking trip, I was better prepared and aware of what am getting into, and was all the more excited!



On Day 1 at exactly 5am, we kicked off the expedition from Bangalore and headed towards Munnar. The ride was enjoyable as the weather God was kind to us and so were the roads. Oh, I have come ot realise that a LOT depends on these two factors, they can make the ride very memorable or absolutely painful!  The little villages and farms that we crossed along the way were a treat to the eyes, which were only used to mundane sights from the busy city life. We passed through the forests of Satyamangalam. Ah, the picturesque beauty of this place is mind blowing... no wonder Mr.Veerappan had made it his home ground for years! The ride through the dense greenery of Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary was delightful, with melodious chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves being the predominant background score that played on. 

Our ride of the first day took us trough the 3 states. We had breakfast in Karnataka, lunch in Tamil Nadu and dinner at Kerala! (I am skipping the details of the exact route we took, because frankly I do not know it! :P I leave this task to my GPS hubby :D) Having covered 450km and with just 40km to Munnar we decided to call it a day at a small town called Marayoor. 

The morning of Day 2, saw us meandering through the climbs of Munnar and taking in the enthralling sights that this lovely hill station has to offer. The scenic beauty is simply spectacular. The freshness in the air gets at you and energy seems to be bubbling within making you want to get out there and explore the place!



By the end of Day 3 we were drowning deeper in admiration of the mesmerising sights that beheld us in Munnar. Every little inch seemed to be covered in tea plantation and even a not-so-much-of-a-tea-lover me, loved the whiff of tea that the many tea factories emitted as we passed them. The best thing about biking is the option to ride into lesser known hideouts and exploring places at freewill. Oh my, every place we rode to was pretty in its own way, I guess I just have to pick Lockhart Gap as my personal favourite. The misty, cloudy, picturesque beauty of this view point completely floored me!



We spent our second night in Munnar in an amazing resort called The Tall Trees. The charm of this place is something that HAS to be experienced. Soft treks amidst its vibrant wilderness, walk to tea plantation and an delectable array of breakfast... ah, this place is definitely worth a stay.

By noon of Day 4 we were packed up again and headed off to Eranakulam. My uncle and aunt stay here and we planned to spend half a day with them. On time for coffee and a yummy spread of home made goodies, we reached around 4 in the evening. They were happy to be of help to us tired bikers and pampered us with comforts and yums... oh we enjoyed it all! :)

After a scrumptious breakfast on Day 5, we headed towards Cherai Beach, which is just about an hour away from Eranakulam. This is a cozy little beach, hidden away from the hustle bustle of the city. Our resort was aptly positioned to face the beach on one side and the backwaters on the other.

We spent Day 5 and 6 here frolicking in the beach sands and enjoying the therapeutic sounds of waves splashing against the shore.

Early Day 7, we bid good bye to Cherai and zoomed towards Wayanad. Oh, this ride was tiresome. The sun showed no mercy on us and glared with anger, sucking out every bit of energy and tiring us completely by the time we reached our destination at around 2 in the noon. Owing to fatigue and lack of time, we couldn't do much justice to Wayanad, as all we could manage was a 2hr long ride through the place and a few clicks. The best part of the day was the much needed comforting sleep that we enjoyed! 

Day 8, we were ready for our last leg of the biking trip. The ride started out well and with every kilometre covered, we were happier to get closer home! The last 100kms was the hardest! The once-in-1hr break became as frequent as once-in-10mins! Oh, our backsides cried for mercy and we had to oblige by taking short breaks often :D Finally, the last turn onto the street where our apartment resides was so exciting... ah, the feeling of coming back home sweet home! :)

The week long trip leaves us with loads of fresh and fun memories. Our bike still bears an MH registration, and this caused several baffled onlookers to stare at us with looks that clearly conveyed the thought running in their heads 'How insane of these two to be riding all the way from Maharashtra!' :D And the distinct accent with which most of the locals conversed in (broken) English left us struggling to stifle our giggles. The usage of elaborate punctuation in spoken English and the vivid expressions to express what they really want to say, left us amused though very grateful of the effort they made to guide two non-Malayalam speaking tourists. One particular incident left me in splits. We approached a resort in Cherai and asked if a room was available and when the answer was a nod, our next question was 'Tariff??!' (yes, we too had learnt to speak in monosyllables with punctuations, instead of framing full sentences :D ) a lungi-clad local Mallu, very enthusiastically stepped out and  pointing to some random direction hospitably exclaimed 'Toilet avade undu!!'  My minimal understanding of the language helped me comprehend the sentence to 'Toilet is there!!!' I am still trying to figure out how the word 'tariff' sounds anything like 'toilet' :D

From the winding roads of the ghats, the misty clouds over the peaks and mesmerising wilderness of Munnar to the sun-kissed beaches of Cherai... the trip was fabulous and every kilometre of the 1720km covered was worth it!! An experience I would cherish forever!


Kerala is truly God's Own Country, and He was a pleasant host to us! :)

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Share some love!



Renounced at birth,
Her hope for love, was dim.
Aching for a bundle-of-joy,
Their lives, were grim.

 Her coos and babbles,
Melodies to their ears.
Tears welled up in their eyes,
Of ecstasy and new found cheer.

She needed to be cradled,
Loved, pampered and kissed.
They yearned to do just all that,
As they trudged along, endless wait.

 Those soulful infant eyes,
Tugged hard at the woman’s heart.
The emptiness in her life, died
As she fondled the baby, with utmost warmth.

 The moment was magical,
As they welcomed the precious one,
A new relationship was born,
Painted in the colours of love!

Friday 20 July 2012

Thus, I learnt...


I was vexed with my sandals,
… they did not compliment my dress’s green.
Until, I walked a mile in the shoes of a man,
Who had none, to cover his bare feet.

I felt disgruntled at a restaurant,
…the Italian dish I ordered, lacked extra spice.
Until, my eyes locked on the famished urchin outside,
Dreaming of a mere morsel of rice.

I groaned that my weekend was over,
… lazy to start a new work week.
Until, those tiny hands cleared the dishes from my table,
And headed on to the next, without a break.

I scoffed at times, on being told what to do,
… irked by endless words of advice.
Until, I met a friend, who yearned to be cared for,
Orphaned, left to fend for herself.

I grumbled as the power went off,
... my favourite TV show was on air that night.
Until, I looked at those kids out door,
Bent over chalk slates, studying under the street light.

I felt tormented by the stress at office,
... home and work, tough juggling the two.
Until, my home-help turned up for duty one day,
Bruised, beaten black and blue.

I frowned at the mirror,
… my hair just wouldn’t style, like I desired.
Until, I was shushed by a smiling little boy,
His cancer-stricken bald head, left him undeterred.

I lamented as my treasured ear-ring was lost,
… sulked and moaned for days.
Until, I read about the martyr’s young wife,
Bottling anguish, she saluted the coffin. Her life astray.

As I looked around, I realised,
What a pretty life, mine is.
A rush of gratitude over powered me,
Thus, I learnt... to count my blessings.

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Beloved!

[Dated: 6th Dec 2009]


Like a garden of scented flowers,
You blossomed into my life…
Like the warm rays of sunrise,
You decorate my days with delight.
With those captivating velvet eyes,
You trap my every thought…
With that mesmerizing dimpled smile,
You steal my sleep, night after night.

Each morning as I wake,
My eyes yearn to meet yours,
The second you make your presence,
Shyness precedes my gaze.
Even a simple conversation with you,
Seems divinely poetic,
Just a casual glance of yours,
Seems incurably magnetic.
A mere touch of your hand,
Exudes the warmth of a loving embrace…
Kindles unknown desires,
Brings a glow to my face.
Feelings for you,
Makes me want to dance in the rain,
Moments with you,
Rids me of all worries and pain.

I realize I smile to myself,
Every instance you come to my mind.
I realize that I smile all day long,
As you reside in each thought of mine…
My treasured dreams,
Are painted in rainbow colours, anew…
With full hearted faith,
I hand them over entirely, to you.

Sunday 15 July 2012

Kid Sister


The one that started it all! In 1994, a ten-year-old me penned this down.... my first poem! :)



A kid sister is more than fine,
I like to have her all for mine.
I like to watch her play in the sand,
While she is wearing a pretty little band.
But sometimes I don’t like a kid sister,
Because she would be a big pester.
She dirties her blouse and messes up the house,
And she enjoys chasing a big fat mouse.
She walks on her toes,
Into the kitchen of course.
To get some jelly,
And feed her belly.

Thursday 12 July 2012

Moments...

[dated : 3rd May 2004]

 


They walked together,
Hand in hand,
Leaving behind footprints,
On the beach sand.
Moonlight smiled upon them,
As the water kissed their feet,
Cool breeze ruffled their hair,
A lovely tête-à-tête.
She nestled her head,
On his shoulder,
Looking at the vast stretch of blue.
The moment was beautiful,
The timing was perfect,
And he whispered, ‘I love you..’
She smiled and looked,
At his handsome face.
She loved him too,
And told him so.
As they begin their new life,
As husband and wife,
They are glad they have each other,
For now and for ever.

Friday 11 May 2012

Twice on Woman's Era, May 2012! Yay :)

Woman's Era May(first) 2012 edition is special to me! 

 

I was aware that my poem 'Hush, baby girl!' has been selected by the editorial panel of Delhi press and that it would appear in a forthcoming edition of WE. The moment I got hold of WE, May (first) edition, my eyes scanned through the Index for the poem title. The instant I spotted it, I browsed directly page number 23 to see my work in print! As in the case last two times, a sense of satisfaction and pride warmed me :) 
  
However, nothing prepared me for the exhilleration I felt when I accidently bumped into my article 'Wedlock and its Golden Keys' as I was casually glancing through the rest of the magazine!! :) Wonder how I completely missed it on the Index page! :)




Thank you Woman's Era for considering my work good enough to be featured twice in the same edition! :)

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Tragedy...


[Dated 19th July 2004. This poem is on the fire accident that happened in a school in Kumbakonam in 2004 http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/jul/16tn.htm]



It all seemed like a nightmare,
A cruel prank played by fate.
They were all here just minutes ago...
And now, this instant...they are gone.
With childish eagerness,
They were reciting lessons.
When all of a sudden,
They were rudely hushed.
Wails of anguish,
Replaced rhymes...
As the little ones battled,
Ruthless flames of fury.
Left to fend for themselves,
They panicked, they cried.
Hugging each other for support,
They hoped to find a way out.
When it finally ended,
The scene was heart wrenching.
In the once merry class rooms,
The silence was deafening.
Charred school bags and text books,
Unopened Tiff in boxes...
The odour of burnt flesh,
Told poignant tales of the tragic ordeal.
The day will be remembered,
For the distress it has caused.
The life of ninety young souls,
Was cruelly snuffed out...

Oh God, please let this not happen again!

Thursday 29 March 2012

In his eyes…


                                     

In his eyes… I see…
…the love he has for me.
In his eyes… I envision…
…beautiful days as 'we'.
In his eyes… I feel…
…the depth of his passion.
In his eyes… I mirror…
…the longing… the attraction. 
In his eyes… I cherish,
…countless memories of sweetness.
In his eyes… I  experience,
...unexplainable happiness.
In his eyes… I realize,
…my dreams coming true.
In his eyes… I nurture,
…fantasies anew.
In his eyes… I search…
…for secret desires.
In his eyes… I find…
...questions for me, unanswered…
In his eyes… I gaze…
…wishing time would freeze.
In his eyes… I drown…
…mesmerized and pleased.

Wednesday 21 March 2012

A cozy little dwelling, that we call 'Home'! :)

Someone very rightly said, 

'A house is built with walls and beams, a home is built with love and dreams!' :)

Like many other newly weds, we had been nurturing this desire of having a beautiful comfy little retreat to call our own, where we could celebrate our lives together. After months of hunting for that perfect home of our dreams, we finally zeroed in on one place which best matched our criteria, in almost every way. Yes, we bought it.

It being a resale apartment, needed quite a share of renovation to bring it to shape to best suit our taste. The following couple of months, saw us carrying out careful planning, cautious budgeting, tedious purchasing and meticulously putting together ideas and thoughts. And when the make over finally came to its finale, the end result made our heart swell with joy... that's when every minute of the back breaking process seemed absolutely worth it!  

Over these few months we had witnessed our newly owned asset slowly grow from a mere concrete structure to a warm cozy abode... which we fondly call 'home'!! :)


 Welcome Home!! :)

 some fancy chairs frolicking in the hall

 a sneak peak at the cozy corner

 our fav textured wall

the low seating lounge by the dining area

 
a glimpse of the master bedroom

the second bedroom, doubling up as the computer room

 
the chef's zone :)  

wats cooking today?!

the lil wash basin with some fancy decor

 
our tribal frnds from Andaman guard the mini wash basin :)

Saturday 4 February 2012

Hush, baby girl!




[This poem has been published in Women's Era May 2012 edition. Click here to view.]

It is dark in here Mama,
I feel frightened and alone.
But my fear is lulled by the thought,
Of snuggling in your loving caress, soon.
My tiny little fingers,
Seem impatient to clasp yours.
The little heart within me,
Pounds excitedly, as the D-day nears.
My daddy’s princess,
I dream to be.
 And get pampered in the love,
That would be showered on me.
Oh, I just can’t wait,
To live this beautiful life you are gifting me.
I fail to express my gratitude,
To you, for creating me.

Is there something amiss Mama?
I sense tears in your eyes.
I wanted to bring only joy to you,
Incomparable to anything else.
I may be small,
But my emotions are real.
I feel your pain like you do mine.
You seem saddened a great deal.
I am scared. I am confused,
What’s all the turmoil?
Why do they detest me so much?
Just because... I am a girl?

I will be a good child Mama,
I promise, I would.
I am like a flower waiting to bloom,
Please don’t nip me in the bud.
So what if I am not a boy,
I love you the same,
God planned me this way,
How am I to be blamed?
Oh dear, my wails of plea,
Are bouncing off deaf ears.
The smothering hatred outside,
Feels darker than the darkness in here.