AIN'T THEY COOL???

I *heart* KIRAN and SUMANT!!!(You guys are the best!)

LET THE INNOCENCE BE…

They are young and uncorrupted

Purity they personify

With dreams of new toys and candy

They want to reach for the stars and conquer it all

Angels on earth they are

Think that there can be no wrong

With awe and surprise they believe IT all

And all they want is to have fun and play along

Treat them like they ought to be

Give them the love they deserve

Protect them from the bogeyman

And shield them from all the hurt and pain

Do not make them grow up in an instant

Do not make their years go by so fast

For their fault there is not any

Please give them a fair chance at life

Let their naivety not be snatched away

‘Cause they can be children only once

And there can be no greater sorrow

Than for the INNOCENCE to be lost

[Semi-inspired by “TWO BEDS AND A COFFEE MACHINE” by SAVAGE GARDEN]

ABOUT ME…

[Being forced to sit in the examination hall long after you're done with your exam can be productive!]

Gemini-is crazy most of the times-lurves RoM cOmZ!-has dimple[s]-addicted to music[gen.one song for a full week-currently "HEY THERE DELILAH" by PLAIN WHITE T'S]-lurves ChOcOlAtE!!-talks in abnormally long or insanely short sentences-can't stop writing if wanted to-born in the year of snake-horrible at sketching but will continue to-idealist who turns cynical at times-reads a lot-has two piercings on each ear-name means "a girl who is always smiling"-spends a lot of time in buses-believes in second impressions-likes laughing for no reason at times-semi-scared of darkness-has an already gigantic and ever increasing list of 'movies to watch' and 'books to read'-lurves her FaMiLy!-can be annoyingly optimistic-believes "WE" are the change we want to see-mood swings last not longer than 5.48 mins-taking random pictures is a forte-over analyzes things-lurves her ACG's and soon-to-be-owned CONVERSE shoes-likes CaPtAiN jAcK SpArRoW!-is a good listener most of the times-confused-thinks very highly of the 'InTerNeT'-will get a tattoo done someday-makes 'TO DO' lists-talks to self quite a lot[read,all the time]-swears a lot in the head-wakes up at insane hours during exams-wants her 'FaIrY tAlE' ending someday-has a thing for funny and interesting convos-has a ScRaP bOx!-lurves to make things for people who are leaving-likes to imagine-SaRcAsTiC!!-is a sucker for cLiChéS!!-can cook to survive [yummy bread n omelet!]-not very fond of people at times-likes sleepovers-emotional-likes to find/research about [new] things-thinks every person is innately good-dislikes a lot of things-FrIeNdS mean a lot!!-believes n being HeRsElF!!!

[The ABOUT ME space wouldn't be enough to describe MOIself and neither is this a complete description!Whoever said I wanted to tell it all!!]

FALLING APART

The world around me is spinning

In a dizzy haze I watch it pass by

It suddenly comes to a screeching halt

And I’m faced with the harsh reality

I wish I was blissfully oblivious

To everything happening around me

But it would only be wishful thinking

‘Cause I’m painfully aware of it all

Sometimes I don’t feel a thing

Numbness becomes ‘the way’ of life

But forcing myself not to feel

Only makes it come back stronger than ever

Feeling the pain over and over again

Doesn’t make it any less

Only makes me want to

Wrap myself with the blanket of numbness again

Nothing matters no more

And the hurt keeps coming back again

When all seems perfect to the world around

I’m losing myself and falling apart…

DREAMS, ASPIRATIONS AND REALISATIONS…

I sometimes ponder over one of life’s most mysterious elements, ‘TIME’ and something about it makes me think about dreams, aspirations and realizations. Everyone wants a shot at success, but SUCCESS is a tricky affair because no two people want the same thing from life. But for a simple Joe or Jane, the dream graph would be something along the lines of:

When around,

10yrs: one wants to play all day and play some more

18yrs: one thinks about changing the world and living life

to the fullest

30yrs: one wants to get a better job and own the car that’s

on everyone’s mind!

40yrs: one wishes for a happy family

55yrs: one wishes that the kids are well settled

70 yrs: one wishes for a peaceful death

From living ‘in the moment’ to making a difference to wishing for a peaceful death, one wishes for it all.

What astonishes me most is how one keeps settling for lesser goals or how ones aspirations constantly drop. Or probably they don’t, probably one doesn’t really lose track, it could be that ones’ PRIORITIES change! But what happens to those who do not want to compromise on their DREAMS? Are they less content? The big question here is ‘WHAT HAPPINESS REALLY IS?’

Is it about accepting what one has got and working on it or is it about going that extra mile to get what one wants? Is it about compromising or fighting till the end? I don’t even know if LIFE works this way but if it does, I can’t help but wonder where I’d be, which boat would I be traveling in? I guess I’d be LOST IN TRANSITION!!

GOOD OL’CITY BUSES

Each one of us has taken a city bus [CB] at least once in our lives [or has been taking them for sometime or for a long time...].Some of us enjoy traveling in them but more often than not one hears the incessant ranting, cribbing and “bus mein yeh hua…bus mein who hua”.

One reason that’ll most likely top the list of “100 things to hate about CBs” [wonder if anyone can come up with so many reasons…then again, impossible is nothing] has to be that they are CROWDED/JAM PACKED and there isn’t enough place for BACTERIA to move. To top it all, people around can get annoying[er] by the second. Half of them [bus taking citizens] can be categorized under:

THE GOSSIPERS: They can talk about everything on God’s green earth and their general course of conversation starts from movie stars then moves to cricketers and then to ‘which friend of theirs is going around with, having a huge fight with, breaking up with another friend of theirs’.

THE ‘I-don’t-give-a-damn-about-anyone-else’ a.k.a THE RUDE ONES: These I cannot stand them one bit. They either have to shove you [feel like throwing them out of the bus] or have to stomp your foot with all their might [OUCH!!] or just go ahead and put their bags, rather forcefully, on you as it’s their sacred duty or something [um, have you ever heard of a little thing called MANNERS???] and DO NOT apologize!!

THE GROPERS: They are the worst of the lot. Ask any girl and she’ll vouch to having met at least one of these. They do not let any opportunity pass by and it’s disgusting to have to do anything with them.

Another reason that makes an entry in the aforementioned list is the system of allocation of separate seats for men, women, physically challenged people and senior citizens [found in most parts of the country, this is an honorable idea] but the problem is the fact that 9 out of 10 times, it’s not followed which leaves the physically challenged people and senior citizens, more times than we’d like to, standing or having to ask people for seats that belong to them in the first place[People, it’s there for a reason, respect it!!].

Not mentioning the “punctuality” of CBs would equal to not writing on my boooring neighbour’s boooring son’s boooring wedding [that’s another article for another day!]. Coming back to the CBs, all of them have to start within a gap of 3.43 mins [or even lesser] of each other and if you miss these buses, you’ll realize that it’s a bigger mistake than say, disliking chocolate and you’ll be stranded at the stop for a looong time.

Like everything has two facets, not all’s unendurable about CBs. De facto, they can be tres cool to travel around in. Returning to the human species, the other half can be classified into:

THE GOOD NATURED: These are a rarity. They give their seats to those who need it more than them [a small thing it maybe, but a kind gesture nevertheless] and help the others. I once saw a chap paying for someone else’s ticket because the later dint have enough money [again, not a huge deal, but the point is, how many of us would have done it?].

THE TALKERS: These, generally, are strangers that we start conversing with and sometimes end up having an interesting chat with! CBs are also great places to make friends and a lot of these friendships start with convos like these.

THE PECULIAR ONES: These people, if you are one of those people who like observing others, are a treat to watch. They either stand out because they wear clothes that are over the top or because are speaking non-stop on their mobile phones from the moment they get into the buses till they get down [I sometimes wonder if there’s someone on the other side].

Another important purpose that CBs serve, in a world that has become supersonically fast, is that it gives you time to spend by yourself. You can catch up on your reading or listen to songs or think through issues and sort them out. It gives you time to do anything you like without anyone questioning you.

This might sound like taking it a bit too far but CBs actually teach you to become more self-reliant and confident. You handle situations better [where else do you get first hand experience of tackling mean people better? Or not letting others intimidate you?] And the best part is as CBs aren’t really expensive, you get to save a lot of money and spend it on anything you like!!

Bottom line: CBs may not be the most comfortable or the easiest way to get around but they ROCK and I love traveling by THEM!!!

OH WHY OH WHY OH WHY???

Oh why oh why oh why

Aren’t we taken seriously?

Conveniently kids we’re made

And grown ups we’re forced to become

Oh why oh why oh why

Anything we do isn’t good ‘nuff?

There always is something

That hasn’t been achieved or won

Oh why oh why oh why

Aren’t we given our due place?

“You know of not the world’s ways” they say

Let go off us and might as well conquer it!

Oh why oh why oh why

Are our dreams laughed off?

Is it because you think they’re unattainable

Or is it ‘cause you weren’t able to realize yours?

Oh why oh why oh why

Aren’t we given a chance?

All we ask from you

Is to be treated like “US”

WHAT I WANT…

Everyday is a new beginning

A new mask to wear

A new role to play

A new shoe to be filled

What I want

Is lost in the maddening world

Is fighting its battle to be heard

Is begging to be understood

Everyday is a new beginning

A new story heard

A new problem fixed

A new secret kept

What I want

Is no longer a part of the world

Is buried deep inside my soul

Is dead, has died a death of its own!!!

MOMENTS IN LIFE…

Here’s a list of things [in no particular order] that will *hopefully* bring a smile on your face or fill your heart with warm fuzziness or make your day!!

[A/N: This list is a compiled one and it would be wonderful to see it become bigger...So go ahead and leave about things that make you REALLY happy in the comments section…This list would be incomplete without`em…and a BIIIIIG ‘THANK YOU’ to everybody who has contributed to this list and to PRAKASH who helped me edit it!!!]

Seeing a little kid smile [in a way possible only by them].

Finding money [every penny is worth!] in the pockets of old pants.

Seeing a person across the street smiling to him/herself.

'Accidentally' hearing someone say something really nice about you.

Buying yourself a BALLOON! [It really doesn’t matter if you are 8 or 18].

Striking an interesting conversation with a complete stranger in the bus/train.

Finding something [book, photograph, shirt…] that you thought you lost ages ago.

The smell of the first drops of rain.

Your favorite song being played on the radio.

Getting an A+ or 100/100 in an exam.

A friend who isn’t in touch calling to tell you that he/she misses you.

Looking through old photographs.

Playing along and answering ‘the most important’ questions of a kid.

Finding a ‘paper chat’ you had with a friend of yours [in an extremely booooring period] in an old book.

Listening to the pouring rain with your eyes closed.

Thinking about the ‘good ol`school days’.

When someone makes you smile when there are tears in your eyes.

Laughing without a reason till your stomach hurts.

Eating ‘garam jalebi’ and ‘ice cream’ in the rain!

Being truly appreciated for all the hard work you do.

Going for long walks on lonely roads.

Watching cartoons [they rule!!!].

Looking through old birthday cards and slam books.

Smiling when someone around you is [it’s contagious!!!].

CHANGE…

Time changes

Like all the things in life

For better or worse

Is something that I know of not

The change can bring

With it joy and peace

Or can make you want to

Breakdown in grief

You’d like to think

It’s all happy and gay

But look inside it

To find everything’s not okay

Life takes a turn

The going gets tough

The weathers become rough

And that’s the way it is

It’s difficult and hard

To get past it

And can break you inside

While trying to override it

I do not know what to feel towards

Things happening all around me

Because Time changes

Like all the things in life

And not a thing I can do about it!

MISERY…

I feel broken inside

And it’s déjà vu…

It all came back again

Not a thing I did

Let it happen to me

Not a word I said

It’s now become a way of life

And I like it this way

`Cause it feels better

Than going into the arms of hurt again

My old self has left

And the one left now doesn’t care

I know I can change the way it is

But maybe, it matters no more

There’s a whole lot to do

But is it worth anything?

The hopes that they have

Don’t drive me anymore

Makes me wanna listen

TO ‘Iris’, ‘Boulevard…’ and ‘Breathe me’

All through the day

And drown myself in misery

But life goes on

Is what they also say

Sure it does, I say

Haven’t denied it

But

I feel broken inside

And it’s déjà vu…

FRIENDS AND FRIENDS WITH *SPECIAL FRIENDS*…

[All the characters and thoughts expressed in this article are purely fictional and bear no resemblance to any person living or dead…..This has been written in good humour and the reader is asked to read it that way.]

Man, when people close to you begin their journey of the never ending “LOVE”, it is such a pain! All they can ever talk about is the OTHER person [let’s call`em something more colourful, how about Humpty Dumpty, HD for short], their moments together, their fights and their… [The list is bottomless]You are called up to be told about how their date went or what they fought about and for the*extremely*important reason of reassuring them. This, for people like me [who am I to talk about others?], anyway, for even someone like me who is a self confessed ‘die hard romantic, lover of chic-flick n mush’ does get a little [strike that off] absolutely overwhelming at times. Picture this, bazillion people galloping towards you from every direction imaginable at the exact time to tell you the same thing, that is the feeling I get sometimes and all I want to do is scream my head off and tell them that there is more to life than ‘LOVE’ [I, for one have no idea about what it is or how it feels like, but the definition according to my friends nearly changes everyday]. I get it that HD has suddenly fallen on earth from his planet and has become extremely and super duperly *important* to you [OMG! HD looks sooooo cute when he smiles….the squealing makes me want to throw up! And that is only the beginning] but that does not mean that the entire 1440 minutes of the day be spent on talking, thinking, gushing over HD [[how can you do it for so long???? ever heard of getting bored???? guess not, my bad].

Now, the last 12 months have taught me a lot [they really have, so much that I can write my thesis on *LOVE*] in this regard. Friends I’ve known for a long time It has to be made CLEAR that we [friends and I, me, myself] spent hours making our conversations insane with a mission, talked about boys [it never was out n out about `em though], clothes and our plans to conquer the world and who would be THE NEXT SUPREME RULER, have a whale of a time mimicking teachers or just sitting in a comfortable silence … have become…

1. “HD is the *most *important person in my life”, who, without, and I mean WITHOUT my permission becomes the most *important*person in my life too [cue my sigh] and does it matter if I dislike/tolerate/despise/loathe/hate HD`s existence???? Um… I don’t think it does…..

2. “I can’t really concentrate on anything”, me thinks your concentration is a lost cause because you can’t have a convo that does not involve thinking, talking, giggling about anything other than our very special HD for more than 2 mins, tops!

3. Every convo of ours has to “begin and end” with “THE HONOURABLE UNO” [THU, pun very much intended and name changed because I couldn’t resist it!]

4.Every time we go out, which of course doesn’t happen very often because everyone’s spread out, HD darling has to message or call once every 20 mins[and that’s a record! Cue applause everybody!!!] And it has to happen every freakin’ time we meet [which is for about 2-3 hrs] and that it is killin me [and not softly, amazing song that one is!]

5. And this has to be the *most* cruel [est] thing that happens to the likes of you and me, WE GET DITCHED and it happens over and over and over again and they have no qualms about it[Bloody Hell! swearing like a pirate does help a little, ah, JOHNNY DEPP and ORLANDO BLOOM, ahem, separate tangent… sorry]It’s the HD lovers who call us up and plan on meeting[[no prizes for guessing what or rather who we end up talking about though!] and then out of the blue, they ask you to leave or they leave to meet…. surprise, surprise HD[it has happened so many times, I’ve lost count …] and the truth is, IT FU****G HURTS!

It might seem like a major right angle shift from my aforementioned personality[the mushy side and all that jazz]but I guess all this has made me cynical about what “LOVE” really ought to be…and for all I care all the HDs can go to HELL and burn really bad![cue -evil laugh-mogambo types!!!]

ALONE....

You are alone....

Always have been and always will be.....

You come alone and also go away.....

Don’t realize it until you learn it....

And life teaches you only the hard way.....

People leave or you do....

By choice or circumstances force.....

And there’s not a thing you can do.....

You find, or rather try to, find happyness........

Without knowing what it is......

Thinking it’s a magic spell away.....

Only to realize that you’re alone......

You say you have your family and friends.....

But the truth is they have a life too....

You think you have it all.....

But tomorrow you find it all gone.....

Makes you ponder over life’s mysterious ways......

Only to come up with the answer......

You are alone…….