moving on...

I saw you behind that big crowd of friends you had. Amidst the sarcasm, pride, and stupidity. I knew you did not fit in there.

I saw you again, this time with that green long sleeved shirt. You looked at me.
I wondered if you had something to say.

Two autumns later, we held our hands and walked through three blissful springs. And as I turned to walk towards my dewy path, I heard you cry.

I hushed you to sleep. Your cheeks still wet with tears.
And I watch you now, for the last time; scared of the world that awaits me without you.
But I must go.
Before the dawn brings another dusk.

haiku

I peeked through the fog

I snatched a sight. And behold!
I loved what I saw.

monsoon

Bike is clean, road’s dirty

The trees look green and happy

It must be the rain.

for my Harry pottter maniacs

guys,

I just discovered this quiz from jen's blog "which Harry Potter character are you? ". It's fun! I scored 45 and that makes me

Hermione Granger :)

43 - 59
You're clever, ambitious, and have enough brains to be in Ravenclaw: You're Hermione Granger, Harry's super-smart sidekick.

Try it out and tell me which character are you in the comments section.

The image is from the Internet

seasonal whispers

Create your own visitor map!

Telugu

I’m into my 7^th year now in Hyderabad. Not one day have I felt the need to learn the local language (Telugu). But as I get into the interiors, meet children in rural schools, I feel a pang of regret. So much is left unspoken.

I decided to give it a try…I’ve never tried learning any new languages, this is my first attempt. The picture below is the white board in front of my desk.

Wish me luck!

phone rings ~papa and mama calling~

Me: Hello

Dad: rubiee

Me: Hi papa! what’s up?

Dad: it’s been long so wanted to talk to you (three days)

Me: yea...I was thinking of calling you.

Dad: Hi Koda? (what’s up) Are you sick? (meaning you don’t sound well)

Me: No…just yimra (meaning cold. seasonal sickness). I’ll be ok

Dad: Did you go around without a sweater late in the night? You must not let cold wind get into you.

Me: papa, this is Hyderabad. We don’t do sweaters here.

Dad: ahh…true …but you must take care. Drink warm water…and mom is saying heat some oil and fry some garlic and drink that. You will be fine in ten minutes.

Me: aaereerrrr Mama also na! Papa please don’t worry I’ll be fine.

Dad: Haoha (ok if you say so) and Hi, thanks for the shirt…I really like it except for the color…

Me: Oh! You don’t like it?…pink is my favorite, and I thought its time you start looking pleasant…you know you’ll look real sweet in that. You wear to church this Sunday.

Dad: hahaha I’m old I don’t have to look sweet. How’s wallie and apok? Are they fine? Do they also have a cold?

Me: No, no cold for them….they are doing great…and they don’t even miss home! I don’t either. *giggles*

Dad: yeah..i don’t miss you either…(I could hear that laughter) I’m keeping the phone...ok? (hanging up).

Me: alrite…and don’t you spend your entire day in the garden papa?

Dad: I don’t! Ok..am keeping the phone.

Me: ok then..bye.

:)

You are a Career Girl!

You may not be a CEO yet, but you're well on your way to success. You take your career seriously, and you wouldn't stop working for any guy! An independent woman, you pay for your own car, clothes, and housing. And men appreciate that - at least, the ones as driven as you are.

What Kind of Girl Are You?

Men See You As Choosy

Men notice you light years before you notice them You take a selective approach to dating, and you can afford to be picky You aren't looking for a quick flirt - but a memorable encounter It may take men a while to ask you out, but it's worth the wait

How Do Men See You?

i long.

to feel the warmth of your embrace, to see your cheeks curving out when you smile, the moles on your upper lip, those long hard fingers clasping in mine, your eyes when your secrets unfold. To watch the evening turning into night, to watch our shadows nestled in the comfort of our love.

food for thought

My mom cooks very well; she can make a sumptuous meal out of some vegetables. It would actually taste like a meat curry. Despite that, as kids and such brats we were, would crib away demanding for visible meat in our plates. Then my mom in all her diplomacy would say that love was one of the ingredients put into the food. And therefore we were not supposed to complain.

It took us time to discipline ourselves. But today, when I’m invited for a meal by my friends, or my friend’s parents, the food always taste good. Not that it isn’t cooked tasty. But over the years, my mom’s words of wisdom over our dinning table has conditioned my mind that indeed “love” has gone into making that food.

After filling my stomach, I make sure I do not fail to fill my mouth with words of appreciation for the efforts and consideration. Cooking and feeding someone is a very loving and generous act, and must always be appreciated. And after all, it could be me cooking for someone next, and I wouldn’t want people to complain and not be grateful.

The ladies night out was bombastic! I might not come up with a detailed write up but there is something I wouldn’t want to risk forgetting so I’m making a note of it here.

I said we would be talking about our single sweet bosses. My friend from Mumbai had something different to tell us. In her own words: “she was worse than a bloody boy friend!!” (her ex boss happened to be a divorcee 40 something) we rolled!!

One word meme

Stolen from Dolce Bellezza

1. Where is your mobile phone? Desk

2. Relationship? Sweet

3. Your hair? Layered

4. Work? Life

5. Your sister(s)? Married

6. Your favorite thing? Perfumes

7. Your dream last night? :)

8. Your favorite drink? Tea

9. Your dream car? Gift

10. The room you're in? Bedroom

11. Your shoes? Comfortable

12. Your fears? Loss

13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Writer

14. Who did/will you hang out with this weekend? Friends

15. What are you not good at? Patience

16. Muffin? Rarely

17. Wish list item? Success

18. Where you grew up? Nagaland

19. The last thing you did? Brushed

20. What are you wearing? Shorts

21. What are you not wearing? Shades

22. Your pet? Teddy

23. Your computer? Noisy

24. Your life? Vibrant

25. Your mood? Melancholic

26. Missing? Dad

27. What are you thinking about? Home

28. Your car? None

29. Your kitchen? Nourishing

30. Your summer? Hot

31. Your favorite color? Pink

32. Last time you laughed? Today

33. Last time you cried? Yesterday

34. School? Competitive

35. Love? Beautiful

ladies night out

My mind is whirling with images of those Afghan children from the Khaled Hosseini Novel, The Kite Runner. That, and the long list of unfinished tasks. Blogs to update, teachers to meet, text books to read, writing to do, laundry, tables to dust and friends to meet.

I find myself panicking each Friday. Esp. this time with three friends from Mumbai all from different circles, all coming over the same weekend.

But am especially looking forward to tomorrow's ladies night out. This will be a happy one, no nagging about torturous boyfriends. We’ll be talking again about delicious Goa food, and how we love walking on the sand with shorts and halter tops, and that there are no good men around, not even in Mumbai…We’ll be commenting on hair colors and layer cuts, talk about our sweet single bosses.

We will also talk of work, future plans, vacations to take, books to read, families, homes…the food will get cold as we talk away. Then we will take a stroll perhaps, do some shopping and be grooving the rest of the night. That’s when I’ll forget my long list of things to do, and fill my heart with laughter and love of my friends.

illusion

I now count the stars
wear lipsticks and eyeshadows
I think I’m in love.

The hills, slopes and green

Faces I know, hands to hold,

My heart aches for home.

Miss you!

Drenched in the monsoon rain,

Cold in a corner I sit and wait

For your arms, in mine.

trial haiku

I walk in silence

Barefooted, on the soft beach

Walking towards my sandals

purple breeze

I have friends of all sizes, big and small, tall and short. But they all come with that same large sized heart. Sometimes they understand me better than I do, as it is with most people. Sometimes I hear from them what I “need” to hear.

Just when I thought, I was incapable of being a “loving” person again, he tells me:

“Well, you are a very passionate person and expect the same from the other side... when they fall short ... you don't know how to deal with it... you just need to meet that person who is as loving as you are”.

I smiled, and it stayed for a long time.

The Waking

by Theodore Roethke

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me, so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

the memory cupboard

I once dated a guy who was tall. He stood above me by a good few inches. We both loved dancing, esp. those slow ones. But when we danced, my head couldn’t rest on his shoulders. I therefore decided to buy high heeled sandals. I ended up with a dozen of them.

When we broke up, I didn’t know what to do with the sandals. So I tucked them away along with those songs and lyrics, gifts and letters in our 'memory cupboard’ at home beside a pile of dad's old love letters and photos of his college crushes.

It’s been three summers now since I’ve opened that cupboard.