Bug

I squint my eyes over the lines of code

the yellow highlighter jumping on every press

the red breakpoints lining the left

the screen keeps blinking

time keeps ticking

working like a sleuth to find the bug

inching closer and closer

not to the bug but a mirage

time keeps ticking

and the mouse scrolling

seconds seem like minutes

and minutes seem like hours

days and days trailing the bug

sniffing around like a poodle

suddenly I'm in,

inbetween the lines,

lines of infinite code,

I rub my eyes and there I am

following Mario ,in search of his girl

dodging big mushrooms

and overhead bricks

I slip into a tunnel

right into the desert

chased by a Dino who jumps over cacti

and then I'm running

right onto a train

grabbing coins on the way.

Grabbing a dime up above

and in a temple i am now

chased by the monster

whose idol I stole

I run into the temple door

ding ding ding

the bells all ring

ding ding ding

they still do ring

ding ding ding

the ringing doesn't stop

my hand hits the ringing source

and a blaring voice says

"I need the P1 bug fixed now !!! "

The Fluffy seed

Laying cosy in her pod,
stuffed along with her friends
was the fluffy seed.
Happy she was,
believing, in the pod

PC

she would always be.

One bright summer,Pop!
the pod burst open
out she was thrown.
Hither tither flew her friends,
the days of happiness to an end
Flying with the wind,
part, she had to with her comrades.

For long,she had company.
Though not friends,they were a group.
Over the fields,they flew,
the wind pushing them hard.
The white bundle of seeds,
gliding in the air.
Places they saw which
they had never seen.
Colours they saw,which
were never in their breed.

Day by day,their numbers decreased.
Tired were some and
on unknown soil they rested.
The wind lead the rest,
farther away to the distance unsaid.
Finally,we were two.
Just me and him.

Now,pals we became
and in him I trusted.

PC

Holding our hands,
soured high we did!
Lived through the breeze,
and even the storm!
Parted our ways,we did not.

Now it seemed cosier than the pod.
Wishing we would continue to be.
But Alas! The day came ;it did,
when me and him had to let go.
Aimlessly flying we were that day,
over the lawns and meadows green.

When a little blond girl,
jumped up to us and
in her hand was my pal helpless.
Struggling to turn back,
fighting against the wind,
I wanted to be with him,
and help him from
the trouble he was in.

Helpless was I and so was he.
Hopes we lost and our glee.
But a moment of happiness
swept through me.

PC

Opened her hand slowly she did,
and let free my pal to be one again.
But destiny had other plans.

Flew high did he
where the gust took him
but light years away were we.
Whoosh!! a gush of sudden wind
pulling and hauling me
to somewhere I never wished.

Distances increasing and so our woes.
Now it was clear,we were not meant to be.
Flew away did he to another land,
not a word uttered he,
not even a good bye!

I floated over seas and over mountains,
with no one by my side.
The colours now vanished,
all bleak and bare.
The ground lay washed in fairy white,
the leaves now buried out of sight.

Trees stood naked ,strong and tall.
The sky and land were a whitewashed wall,
searching for the horizon ,
I could find no more.
I slowly glided and lay on the ivory snow.
Cold and desperate ,I curled up alone.

The snow sprayed all around ,
the wind lend a helping hand.

PC

I lay covered in deep white clouds.
Thick white snow and layers of ice.
I lay there sleeping ,sleeping
unable to breath and choked.

Days went by and I lay there sulking..
I stretched myself but the snow tightened on me..
Breathless was I..
but determined not to die.

I pushed through the mud of snow,
one step at a time..
I made my way through,
but I guess it was the other side..
All the way back to where i started,
and further away my journey continued.
I continued with ease,
with undying zeal.

Now the mud softer on me,
slightly warm and slightly wet...
I raised myself over the earth...
and opened my eyes to freedom
The wisp of spring air,
the fragrance of flowers,
and buzz of bees,
the azure skies and cotton clouds ..

I had found my way and my destiny...

The Skype call

I opened my diary and turned to December 15th. Today's entry was only 81 words.Day by day my entries were getting shorter.I stared out of the window, people walked slowly in the garden while others sat on the benches  ,deep in thought.It was only their thoughts ,their memories which kept them alive but it was the same memories that kept them sober too.

I flipped the pages back to Feb 15th.The day I made 'the decision' or was forced to make it. I was shocked to learn how fast people's mind change,even your own daughter's.Raghav had died the previous year.Sandra was already married and settled in the US.She stayed with me for a few months, 63 days to be precise.I really didn't know what she was planning,because she never discussed about my life-to-be after her father's death.She seemed detached.As days past ,I felt she was being restless.Constant calls from her husband to go back made her frustrated.Every time I was around the corner ,her phone calls would become hushed.I began to sense the unhappiness in her voice and actions.She was starting to get annoyed by whatever I did.

I confronted her with the big question.She didn't reply.Without much of a pause ,I suggested I would stay here alone."No,we are planning to sell the house",she said without batting an eyelid.

Think Twice!

I woke up feeling unusually happy,

But my eyesight slightly blur.

Walked towards my study table,

Picking up my books,

I looked at them longingly.

Beautiful prose in untidy handwriting,

Quick illustrations and shabby notes.

Walked back to the window sill,

Sprayed water on my potted plant,

Inhaled the beauty of the world outside.

I turned to the wall beside my window and

Ran my hand over my medal collections.

I ran quickly across the room excited

At the sight of my beautiful wall paintings.

Mesmerized by the beauty, I slowly drifted

Humming the lines of the song playing on my player.

I stared long at the family photo in my wallet,

How much I missed them between the four walls here.

The door suddenly opened and came in my friend,

“Hi Natasha”, I said, but

She shrieked and ran back!

Walk the talk

In this age of laptops and smartphones ,where everyone's bums are glued to their chairs and necks are always craned ,its time to pull our butts off the chair and remind our legs how to walk!! Walking necessarily doesn't mean exercise ,it could be a leisurely walk with your loved ones to spend quality time leaving behind the technology leeches.

I have had a few wonderful walks in my life.Walks where talks were more ,emotions were more and where miles seemed short and time never seemed enough.My walks started with my family.We used to walk all the way to the nearby park during weekends. Grocery shopping was also fun when we went walking together.Coming back with a grocery bag in one hand and a tetra pack on the other and endless chitter chatter.From school news to office news ,future educational plans,vacation plans ,imaginary plans and what not!!
Then the leisure walks around the college campus after college hours.Licking on cold ice creams,or munching on hot evening snacks our gang used to roam around.Sometimes exploring forbidden territories chatting away.

I didn't quite forget walking after joining work either.Our idle time was spent strolling on the green lawns of our office pacing slowly around the magnanimous well maintained gardens.Talking about anything under the sky but work!! Sometimes it was to accompany a pregnant friend on her daily routine walks discussing what to name the baby .

Walks with my roomie were rare ,but the ones we had were beautiful.Blabbering along with no ringing phones,no office calls,no whatsapp pings and no fb. Just 100% plain and pure girlie talk ,gossips,banters,giggles and sometimes serious life matters.We would never realize how many topics we had covered.

Walks with besties are true treasures whether walking on the bustling market streets or the silent wave lapping beaches.It'll seem like everything around you is just standing still.Lost in the world of words.You know what bliss is !!

So what are you waiting for!! Pull your loved one by the hand and step out!

The Girl in the Glass box

The girl in the glass box
she never slept.
She looked at the painted glass walls,
Frantically searching for a way out.
She wasn't unhappy,
even though in a box,
Because she was herself
and followed her heart's whims!
She sang and danced and dreamt sky high,
and wrote and painted the tall glass walls.
She cooked and played 
and lived life her way!
But she was here..
all locked up and alone.
Surrounded by glass walls,
with not even  a hole.
She dreamt of the day,
she would be free..
She did what she loved
and didn't follow the crowd.
She didn't hide behind curtains,
when society scorned!
Instead held her head high
and walked straight by!
People and opinions ,
she heeded not!
Coz with bricks and bats,
She could make a home!
Fearless and bold ,
she was meant to be!

The Golden Lantern

I hung above the "Golden Lantern Inn",
been hanging here since the beginning.
I was all bright and dandy,
but now turning ninety.
I flickered now and then,
but I was alive and could ken.
Been guarding the Inn,
though inside,it's always a din!
But age was taking a toll on me,
my glasses cracked,
hinges hanging,
and light a tad dimmer.
I hung there everyday,
smiling on passer-bys.

One day,there she stood.
A chick ,she was, in a single glance.
Straight and streaked burgundy hair,
Pouting lips in bold purple lipstick,
a ring adorning her nose and belly,
cropped top , ragged denim shorts
and knee long black boots.
But she wasn't sexy,
until she looked up at me!
Her eyes lit the filament in me!
I glowed a little more brighter!
I hung staring at her,
as she waited long for her cab.
Bullies around ,gave dirty looks.
And whistled around her as she left.
She glanced not their way,nor gave a damn!
If a pet dog,I was,
would have bitten their asses!!

A regular ,she was at the inn
and customary became our visits.
Though she kept me alive everyday,
I was dying day by day.
Then came a day,so mean and cruel.
The winds blew hard
and the moon under hiding.
I tried to stay hooked,
to the hinges,clinging.
There she arrived unusually late.
Her hair tied into a twisted bun,
a full sleeve shirt and striped trousers.
Today looked like business for her,
though she was a party animal.

The winds gushed stronger,
the trees holding on to their roots!
She stood there waiting,
but her cab was found,no where near.
Came the bullies once again!
And today was their golden day.
They circled round her,
like hungry hounds.
They barked at her and closed on her.
She,not giving a bloody damn!!
But the alarms rang loud,
when they pushed her down!
She resisted with all the strength of hers.
But they began ripping and stripping,
and  longer I could not stare!

My light flickered and grew dimmer ,
and almost died out,
hanging by a small rusty hinge.
But ,let her die,I wouldn't.
I mustered my strength and
forced the filaments to light!
As I opened my eyes,
my anger began to rise!
Trying they were to eat her alive!
I had to fight for her life!

I rocked myself harder with the winds,
to rattle the shards of old glass within.
Fell a few pieces of broken crystal.
She picked them up and poked their hearts.
Still ,stood up one to strangle her!
but let go, she didn't ,any one!
Even then,came another big bully,
grasping her from behind!
The winds,now a banshee ,raging and furious!!
The moon came out from behind the clouds.
Now was the chance to strike!

I rocked myself harder and harder,
till the hinges were creaking and breaking.
Came I,falling down right on his head.
Fell I did,along with the bully.
But dead was he and safe was she.
Happier than ever was I,
As I saved her life.
She picked me up,
as my lights dimmed out,
Thanking me -"The old golden lantern",
As I fought for the ladies of the world!!!

Barefoot College - Spreading Light

I was zapping channels, disappointed and demotivated at life. Even my favourite channels didn't have anything to enlighten me .Suddenly, I stumbled upon a program on a channel I rarely visit –The great DoorDharshan.

But the story was a great one!! It just took a few illiterate women to instil a confidence in me and make me feel better.

The program takes us to the village of Tilonia, a remote village in Rajasthan close to Ajmer. A group of illiterate and semi –literate women from different countries in Africa were being taken to Tilonia .They understand and speak broken English and the rest of the conversation with the college folks includes just signs and gestures. They have left their families and villages to come to India and start their new careers. They have come to become ENGINEERS!!!

Solar Electrification classroom

Barefoot college, Tilonia is a college run by NGO -Bunker Roy, to help people from underdeveloped countries to become self-sustainable and independent .The aim of this initiative is to utilize the skills and talents available in the village rather than depending on the urban crowd.One of the initiative includes  a 6 month course where women between the age of 35-50(They are called grandmamas or mamas) are invited to India to study solar electrification. And to return to their homelands to help light their villages!! Can you believe it? A bunch of women who don’t even know to read and write are going to light up a village! The next surprise element would be that the teachers and students do not have a common language that both groups understand!!How do you expect to teach a group about resistance, capacitance, transformers, voltage, diodes and resistors without a language they can understand!! And for 6 long months!!Well, the people at Barefoot College have made it happen and they have helped light up 4,50,000 villages around the world.

Never Knew...

Never knew when it started
Never knew when you crossed my path
Never knew what I saw in you.

Never knew I was so obsessed with you
Never knew you would haunt my dreams
Never knew I would chase yours too..

Never knew you would be the only one I saw
Never knew why I felt different about you
Never knew how to express what I had for you.

Never knew that days would end thinking of you
Never knew you would change me inside out
Never knew I could feel you ,even though miles away.

Never knew your eyes could mesmerise me
Never knew I was falling into you
Never knew I was yearning for you
Never knew you could make me feel this way..

But...

Never knew that the fire inside was burning a hole.
Never knew you wouldn't read my eyes
Never knew you were someone else's.

Never knew I wasn't destined for you
Never knew you would be the cause of my tears
Never knew you would teach me what pain is.

Never knew you were living inside me
Never knew I would have to live without you
Never knew you wouldn't know that I was in LOVE ....with you......

Petrichor

When the drops touch my face,
When the drops bounce on my palm,
Each little drop douses the fire in me,
Each little drop evaporates in the heat of my worries.
All the memories that daunt me washes away,
All the illusions dissolve in the rain.

When the drops tickle my eyes,
When the drops kiss my neck,
Each little drop quenches the thirst within ,
Each little drop clears the windows of my heart.
All my woes are flushed away,
All the pretentious masks melt away.

When the drops drench my hair,
When the drops trickle down my skin,
Each little drop delves deep into me,
Each little drop rejuvenates my soul.
All my breaths seem fresh and anew.
All my dreams are reborn..