Monkey woes

It is the month of May and the heat as usual is great in the Indian subcontinent. For the rich as well as the poor, for human, animal and plant life, rains are always a welcome respite. And so man prayed. Man prayed and Gods answered. There was rain and dust storm last evening and so a relief from the scorching heat for sometime. Children went out to play in the pleasant evening. Even my heart sang with joy at the wonderful change. But a change in weather brings about a change in the surroundings. It is not just the human beings who enjoyed this pleasant change but also our other companions from the animal world. And I realised it this morning when I went out for my morning walk and found some new companions. Yes, my walk was joined by monkeys. and whatever I may claim myself to be, I do not claim myself to be brave enough to enjoy their companionship. And so when I noticed one monkey observing me attentively, I felt that the only sane thing would be to change my walk into something fast and ran back home to save my life...Afterall I have heard so many stories of people being attacked by monkeys. And I could hear all the birds shrieking in fright. Because they sense danger before man. And I had nothing so as to bribe the monkeys to save myself. Thinking about all the pros and cons now I feel that maybe I should walk only when it is hot and not when it is pleasant, I should better leave that time for my other animal friends. Afterall it is the time to live and let live.

Pauses

You hurt me and then you expect me to love you
You don't listen yet you want me to be there always
When I am hurt, it is laughing matter for you
And you want me to wipe your tears always
I don't hold grudge against you
But I just want you to think me as a human
But even if you treat me like this always
I will forgive you and move away
Where you will never be able to find me

Too dirty

So 'The Dirty Picture' is too dirty for the Indian audience. It is such an irony that while on one hand any amount of skin show is not restricted on the television, a film that traces the journey of a woman who broke the stereotype is. It is too dirty to watch the story of a woman who wanted to be loved by her audience and by one man but died unloved. It is too dirty to watch the story of a woman who wanted to be loved and accepted by her mother but was scorned by the society. It is too dirty to watch the story of a woman who faltered at her peak, who succumbed to pressure of competition because she was friendless. It is too dirty to watch the story of a woman who was alone, unloved and friendless. It is too dirty to feel her pain and sufferings. It is too dirty to feel sympathetic. It is too dirty to watch even after 54 cuts...

Memories...

2nd May, I went with Saumya to an old age home in cantonment area of Lucknow to visit my old school teacher Ms. Protima Sen. I was surprised to see that the home was very well maintained and all the inmates were in good health and satisfied.
Though all of the inmates have been abandoned by their families, they all have formed a happy bond together. The only thing that they desire of is someone else to come and talk with them. We shared lots of our school memories and spent the evening chatting and sharing our ideas and experiences.
After crossing over 70 years of age, we realised that the only thing that our teacher wants from us is to spare some time for her. She and all other inmates are above all material desires and all that matters in their lives is the feeling that somebody is there to think about them. They want to talk. They want young companionship. Promising to return soon, we left unwillingly only because the clock said that it is time to leave.
I feel that it is time to stop and think about those people whom we used to look up to when we were children and spare some time for them before it is too late. They are a part of our memories, they are a part of our lives. They are the reason why we are standing where we are. It is time that we give something back to them. And all they want is our time. They gave us their youth, we need to spare our time when they are old and weak. It is time that we pause and try to give happiness to those who need us more than anyone else.

Unknown

Ah, it is so difficult to forget
To be there where you are
For all I want is to see you once more
To share with things that I feel
But I know that how much I try
I will not be able to do so
All that I can do is to grieve for you
And hide my tears from the world's gaze
For while I struggle in this world
You are far away at some better place

A meaningful evening

I happened to spend the evening of 30th April with two of my closest friends Saumya and Vaidehi and my sister Sarah at an orphanage. We spent our time playing with the children, watching them sing and dance, talking with them and enjoying ourselves as well trying our best to make them happy.
The most of the girls at the orphanage were abandoned by their blood relatives and left at the doors of the orphanage. Interacting with them made me wonder how can anyone with a heart leave their children or children belonging to their relatives amongst strangers. Some of these girls were also physically and/or mentally challenged. It grieved my heart that somebody left his/her child just because the child was deformed.
However, on the other hand, I also noticed that every cloud has a silver lining. There are people completely unrelated to them who are always ready to help them by all possible means. It makes me wonder about what is love. Love is there in the smile of an innocent child, in the eyes of an elderly person. But why is love missing from our lives? Why is that we adults, who are physically and mentally capable of doing all work do not find time to love someone, to spend sometime with others? Why we cannot be more loving, more caring, a better human being?

Vision

I saw you in the crowds
And I saw you in the open
And when I saw you move
Afraid that I will lose you
I ran after you
And I ran and stumbled
And forgot my own path
As I rushed after you
I tried to call you back
But you kept moving
And you went farther and farther away
Till you faded away in the sunset
And the night blinded me
And now here I stand
Alone and crying in the dark
Wishing to be with you
But knowing that is not possible
And I wish you were here
For all I have are tears
While you have gone away