Don't Pair 'Em

After hitting the snooze button 5 times in a row, she gave in to the routine. Microwave beeping in the background, she hums a song, completely wrong, because that's the way she likes it. Clothes on, breakfast done, it's almost time to start the day's struggle by persuading the sly Uber driver who might blame it on "not enough fuel" not to cancel the ride.

She pulls her socks up and smiles. Today she's feeling purple and hot pink. Someone had once asked her the reason and she had just smiled. The same smile behind, "Isn't a bachelor's degree enough?", "Isn't it already time to get married?", "Oh my God, you don't cook?", "That's too dull a color for a girl", "You're putting on some weight, what happened?", "What's she doing here?", "Oh they won't be ok with night shifts" & of course, her favorite, "Can she do it?"

Smile, and just do your thing. Don't Pair Them!

Trident

Hair carelessly strewn about,
Weapons off guard,
On a flexed bicep, 
maybe a few puffs of grass.     
Then comes the fierce face, just peeking,
artfully done, with a meaning
the mighty one, with three eyes,
a dance, a trance, and passion just fine.
a few colors thrown in
a few bold strokes,
all on a breathtaking bicep, the sleeves all rolled.

Moondance

Do you think about me like I do?
Quietly amidst chaos, smile?
Raise secretly a toast to us like old times?
Jump at the mention of my name?
Tell our stories, play that game?
How those evenings turned into nights,
Carefully wrapping every second tight.
Tight into smiles, into careless laughter,
Into dance, into delightful thunder.
Into rain, into interwined fingers,
Into shadows, mysteries and moon light that lingered.
Light that stood still, refusing to sway,   
I tried blowing it out, it won't go away. 

Untitled

Sometimes smiling, sometimes wounded,
Funny today, tomorrow irritated,
confused this year, has a vision the next,
Holds on tight in love, curls up when hurt. 
Wins a battle when bold. Let's the sand fall when dies hope.
Curious, Talkative, Full of Mistakes,
Picks herself up, ready to race.
wins applause, faces backlash.
Just goes on with some blush, and a laugh!
What would the world be without her?
Would you know what it's like to be cared for?
Would you know what unexpected surprises are meant for? 
Would you know what it is to laugh in the middle of the night?
would you know the sound of raindrops falling just right?
would you know the lyrics and not just the tune?
would you know what it's like to let go too soon?
would you know what it's like to argue?
would you know what it's like to be told you're wrong?
would you have opinion and meanings?
She's a million words and a billion feelings.
She's just herself, and stories she's weaving! 

She just stepped into the world ~To Tara

Ever so softly, she broke into a toothless smile,
No, she does not recognize,         
Nor does she remember,
Yet quietly sat in my arms, trusting me for a while.
I made weird sounds,
I walked her around,
I even told her my name,
She just nodded,
every time the same.
She held my finger tight,
Like she'll never leave it behind.
Didn't ask me questions,
Didn't ask me my crimes,
Ever so softly, she broke into a smile. 

4 A.M.

Bengaluru International Airport. 4AM.
Sleepy eyes loitering around the baggage belt waiting for their piece of luggage.
People struggling to free trolleys from the interlocked line.
An occasional ouch from someone bumping into, stepping onto or driving their trolleys right into someone's leg.
People trying to get as close to the baggage belt so as to not miss their bag while making sure they look cool enough to not look like they're in a hurry. Same as everyone waiting for the first person to get up as soon as the seat belt sign is switched off.
The cool dude, that hep family, the old couple with assistance, another one without, other people.
And.. eavesdropping me..

Man on Phone : Goooooddd Morning Bete !
Haana a rahe hain bas papa. Office ke kaam se gaye the na.
From the other side : I obviously cannot hear.
Man : arre mummy ko bolo. Wo denge mangva ke.
From the other side: No idea what!
Man: haan bete! You are always right!


Me: When did we go from being always RIGHT to so terribly wrong most of the time???