Just One Of Those Days..

Soft breeze across my face

Laid back I am to the world’s pace

Sit and gaze I with hazel eyes

Taking in nothing as things move by .

Seem to have drifted away

Life being no more than existence

Chatter , laughter fills all around

And I am a loner in a crowd

To mix in have I no inclination

And seek I no reclination

But silently wait I with hope

For those comforting arms around me…

Wish I more than I deserve

Expect I what I’ll never obtain

My mind fills with disappointment

Well , today is just one of those days….

Feels so good...

30.07.07
7:35 AM

I sat on the park bench. The people were slowly trickling away. I was in no apparent hurry. Holidays. The tuft of green in front of my eyes. The still water of the lake beyond that. The chirping of birds. How long had it been since I heard this music! The thousand and one thoughts swirling in my mind slowed down. Decisions could be made later. The right things would happen at the right time. Calm and peace.

This dream could come true..
And it feels so good....

Humbled

Stood there I, paralyzed

Moved not an inch on either side

Open eyed, gripped with fear

In my mind those voices I hear

“Safe not my child, do not, my child

Not for a lad this”, said he

“You are my one, my only one

Leave not my side”, cried she

Walked into the jungle, unfazed, unabashed

Haughty and proud, to none there I bowed

Gleam and glint filled my eye

All this I will own, I did decide

Now they come back, those words unheeded

Helpless I stand, intimidated

Mortal I am, small I am, this

Nature around all powerful

My folly I realize, humbled I cry

Pray I to come out of here alive

Lessons learnt in the hard way some

A second chance I plead it to come.

I looked at him with intense hatred. He had betrayed me. All I wanted to do was hurt him deeper and deeper. He didn't deserve to live anymore.And.....oh my gosh, in my anger....i just killed him! He is really dead. DEAD!! I woke up with a start.Whatever did my dear friend do to me that I actually killed him in my dream!? And was the dream real or what. I was shivering. I was totally shaken by the ghastly dream. I need to get out, I decided. A long morning walk, some fresh air, the serene atmosphere of sankey would do me good I decided.
A blast of chill air welcomed me. I was already feeling better. Taking a deep breath in, I walked ahead, listening to music, looking at the beauty around. The world is normal , I thought. Normal is good, I thought. I was nearing the entrance of the park once again after finishing one round around the tank. I was energized to walk a lot more. As I walked around the corner, I saw people holding on to the railing and looking down into the water. Curiosity took over me and i too looked down. I saw a dead body. I was way too shocked. My heart skipped a beat. Rationality lost all meaning at that moment. Then regaining my senses, I realized that this was the body of an old lady. I switched off my walkman. I could hear people talking about her. I could bear it no longer. My feet felt heavy to walk around the park again and to witness the scene again. I could stay no longer. I felt pale. I walked away, numb, on the familiar route to the place where I would feel safe again...home.

Solitude

Oh, they are, well, all the same

Fun and frolic, very mundane

She seems to be of all who came

Then, pray, why isn’t she part of the game?

Her footsteps slow, eyes open wide

Arms across her chest, she walks out of sight

Seats herself at the very edge, lost

In thoughts ,all fiercely her own.

Watch her I from a safe distance

Irks my mind a certain unrest

Her soft hum fills my ear, I see

Her smile, oh it’s all so clear.

The world she sees, all her own

Not a part, but nature her whole

Belonged here, to the land and sky

Belonged she in solitude.

Odakalu Bimba

Shankar Nag has been one actor-director whom i have always held in high regard . He is one of the finest talents our country has seen. In his movies like Nodi Swami Navirodu Heege and Parameshi Prema Prasanga I have seen Arundathi Nag's acting. But never had i thought one day Ranga Shankara would give me an opportunity to watch her act on stage, live and up close! And it was indeed a pleasure to watch her do what she undoubtedly does best, act! The play is essentially a dialogue between a writer and her conscience. The panache in Nag's skills are proved by her matching the conscience in time so brilliantly;the conscience is a recorded version of Nag! Being the lone person on stage for an hour and acting is itself not a cakewalk. This particular play demands more than just that. The actor cannot afford to even pause a while longer than necessary, leave alone miss out on dialogues because all the cues are recorded and need perfect synchronization. That was the most stunning aspect of the entire play. Hmmm, does technology really make our lives any easier than it already is? Maybe it just tries to make us perfect!

One Rainy Day

It all started on a fateful Tuesday morning. Waiting for class to begin [which never did eventually], we ended up talking about [duh!!] shopping!! How we fantasized about our walk in closets filled with ultra mod fashionable clothes and our dressing tables with 3 mirrors and make up and jewelry. Who ever said you need booze to take you on a high?! So on this high that we were, we decided to schedule a shopping trip on Thursday, right after KR’s class.

It has been ages since I shopped so guess I was more excited than most others. Seriously!! So much that most of what happened in today’s class was an OHT as far as I am concerned. Class ended and finally we could leave. Yay!! Well, the fact that I ignored Ravi’s ingenious comment about how passionate I am about shopping and studies just shows how much I was looking forward to this!

So we set out on our much awaited shopping trip on 4 bikes and it seems like I just have to differ from the rest at all times. I took the easier route via Cauvery and then again the only proper route I know to MG Road. And it turns out I need to take a U turn, a forbidden U turn at that, to park my bike. Well, can Miss.Ash ever do things patiently? Yeah, you guessed right. The turn I did take, escaping Maama’s watchful eyes. But what ever made me think I could get lucky twice? Apparently, the second time around I was spotted and Maama even wrote down my vehicle number. I might get my very first driving ticket soon then. Hmmm, something I’m so looking forward to!

So again I was distanced from the lot and I drove on to Commercial Street, our dream destination. It turned out Fate had other plans for us…it started pouring cats and dogs at 2.30 on a hot May afternoon!! “Surprise surprise” cried the skies. I took the shorter route to Comm St, a direct consequence of being a totally law abiding citizen. I was drenched thoroughly, and sought shelter at some Bank near Comm St after parking my bike. Sigh!!I had to be the one on my own when the others were together in a group. Who knows? Maybe they stopped at some cozy café on the way while I was stuck with strangers, all alone in this crazy world that punishes innocent girls for sticking by traffic rules!

So I decided to get in touch with my dear pals and tried calling them. And finally some calls later Viji picks up her cell. And here I learn that the pillion riders are abandoned by the more fortunate lot and the poor gals had to parade the busiest street of Bangalore before they could find an auto fellow willing to give them a ride. I gave them directions to come to “my shelter” and waited for them to arrive. I was talking on the phone talking to Viji when I could see ever hyper Miss.Rado’s arms frantically flinging out of the auto. They were trying to reach the place I was directing them to, little knowing that they already had! So now i had to try to get them to spot me. The crowd of strangers at “my shelter” suddenly seemed to be extremely interested in my conversation and when my friends finally did spot me, the little world around me was again a happy place! I left the refuge I had sought and after some crazy road crossing incident we ended up at another shelter. Everything that was happening seemed so crazy and bizarre and I was laughing so much.[ Big surprise, I know] .

We waited for the brainy trio who had left their cell phones with us to contact us, while we ourselves had nothing to do but wait for the rain to subside. It was unanimously decided that KFC would be our next destination, and we started off

to KFC. Funny things happen to us even then!! A man actually stopped Viji to ask her where she bought her Payals!! Apparently he had never found that design anywhere else. And I’m trying to cross torrents of flowing rain water, when a man rudely asks me to move to the side coz I was coming in way of the picture he was taking! Bangalore was once known to be a friendly place you know.

Another thing worthy of mention, hehe, I walked the entire stretch with my helmet on!

Now for once our plans seemed to work, thankfully! We had a nice time in KFC[Yeah, they actually did let us in]. The others joined us shortly. The only disappointment was not being able to shop after going so far. Not that we would mind shopping, but unfortunately the shop owners would. Still, we just couldn’t resist and we did browse through the stuff in Westside and Max. But our jeans were literally bogging us down and we had to end worthy tasks midway and head back home. The ride back was chill; we had actually stayed in wet clothes for 3 hours! Thankfully long hot baths awaited us at our homes, and in my case, mummy dearie made nice bajjis. Aaah, purrfect isn’t it! Funniest part is, even though we were unable to shop, none of us were really frustrated. Have we learnt taking things in our stride or what?J. Well, all is well that end’s well!

PS : Gals, fun it was;)