Those were the Days !!!

Friendship is an emotion close to every heart and at every age.In childhood, friends are playmates, in adolescence they are partners in crime and  'chief source of information' :-) But in youth they are the be all and end all of existence. 

In fact youth is the time when the 'friend antenna' is always in receptor mode. The world is your playing field and the motto is 'the more the merrier'.  So, you have your childhood friends, school friends, college friends, dance class friends, tuition class friends and then  of course all the friends' friends, cousins' friends, friends' cousins and cousins' cousins  are all your friends. 

 And why not ? This is the stage in life when you are taking baby steps into the 'real' world where friends are your guide and support. They are a breath of fresh air from the 'do's and don'ts and 'should and should nots' of elders and monotony of siblings and families. They are in effect the family you can actually choose. Someone who has the same likes, dislikes and preferences as you . Someone who understands you, whom you can pore your heart to, discuss and share your dreams as well as dark desires and secrets. What would life be without friends to love, fight, tease argue and hangout with. ??

But alas!!! as life progresses, situations change, paths alter and some friendships fade away.New people enter life and professional contacts, spouse's buddies or parents of children's' friends become your friends. New friendships are formed and fresh memories made. But the old friendships remain etched in our hearts in gold. And those days are unforgettable...

Here's to my Old buddies and to the memories of those fantastic days.. CHEERS to OUR FRIENDSHIP GUYS LOVE YOU ALL :-)

Those were the Days !!

Those were the Days !! 

When friends were  life,
We met every day and there was rarely a strife,
Our hearts were overflowing with shared secrets,
Of Crushes and Loves and conflicts with parents.

Those were the Days!!
Of our endless discussions on the ways of the world,
On hopes , dreams, aspirations and options untold.
Dreaming of happiness, love, romance and ambition,
Life would only get better from here was the clear assumption.

Those were the Days!!
When the first rain, a book sale, a movie ticket, a concert pass, a party invitation,
Were enough to make us happy and excited and call for a celebration.
Watching romantic movies made us gush and mush,
Their tall, dark handsome heroes were our major crush.

Those were the Days!!
Which now seem silly and immature,
For some of us they are but a blur.
Coz we are now adults full of responsibilities,
Mature, responsible and dealing with our realities,
But every time we light a candle or a lamp….
Let’s take a moment to think of the times..
When we shared the beauty of life and its splendor, When life was just friendship, fun and laughter and nothing more

Why Oh Why ?

Her lips were painted a hue of the dusky sky in autumn,
Her beautiful almond shaped eyes kohled to perfection,
Her starry bindi twinkled on her forehead like a star,
Her long shapely hennaed hands adorned with red and white wedding bangles,
But her eyes as heavy as dark clouds on a monsoon day,
Why oh why did he stand me up?

It was midnight and he was not home yet,
No message no phone.
Be ready he had said, for a movie and dinner date
Worrying endlessly,
Heart beating like a bullet train,
She waited, chugging out dark, scary thoughts
Why oh why did he stand me up?

Ting tong !!! Finally the sound she awaited,
She scampered to the door,
She would run into his arms, pour out her  tensions on his sinewy chest,
And lovingly  curse him and ask,
Why oh why did he stand me up?

Ting tong went the impatient bell again,
She grinned, twas so much like him to not  hold back his horses,
She peeped through the key hole,
And the night turned darker than hell !!!

Why oh why did he stand me up?

His shirt was a crisp white as in the morning, save the little red  stain on the chest,
His curly hair in a neat heap as he always liked,
His favorite black leather satchel by his side,
His handsome face so peaceful in a frozen half-smile,

She fell into his limp arms, pounding his chest, sobbing like a baby,
The weight of the wedding bangles crushing her arms,
Her henna but a crimson smudge !!!

Why oh why did he stand me up !!!

A Tribute to My City..My Love !!!

No Mumbaikar can ever forget the Dark Night of 26/11/2008 when terrorists held our dear city to ransom. Every time I think of the day my eyes well up with hot tears of anger. Today is the Anniversary of this attack and I have penned this poem as a tribute to the City which has given me so much. Mumbai I love you and Miss You. Here is my heartfelt tribute to you.

O MY CITY MY LOVE!!!

O MY CITY MY LOVE!!

Thou, that never sleeps,

Thou that twinkles in the sheen of the stars bright,

Thou, that breathes fumes so that her children may feed tonight,

Thou, who opens thy welcome arms for one and all to pursue their dreams and follow their heart.

O MY CITY MY LOVE!!

Thou art resilient and strong,

Thou taketh every shock in stride and move on.

Quakes and Shakes, Deluge and storms, Blasts and bombings. ..But thy show goes on …

Towing the burden of the nation's coffers, Broken and mended and broken yet again…

Thou falleth and riseth on and on..

O MY CITY MY LOVE!!

I cry with you.. tears of blood .

For this day of terror I refuse to disregard,

The day, Thy core was shaken and Thy pride  shattered

Thy brave khaki protectors and innocent children massacred,

A slap on thy face a dagger through thy heart !!

A soulless faceless enemy.. And the World just watched

O MY CITY MY LOVE!!

They say forgetting the past sets you free,

In Forgiveness and Love is thy victory,

Words I say mere words are they !!

Taking the high road is not the way

Terror's fangs are merciless and ruthless

Shredding Innocent preys to bits be it Mumbai or Paris

Kill them and break them, leave no stone unturned, 
No mercy, No love, No human consideration..Total Elimination and Annihilation.. The lone solution

Horsing Around !!!!

 
Clickety Click Clip Clop Clip Clop!!! went the hooves on the golden sands . The mighty steed gallantly rode into the crisp morning air, in perfect unison with his little rider who was confidently bent forward in position, holding the reins, her legs barely reaching the stirrups. The morning breeze cajoled her hair and cooled her flushed face, pumped up from keeping pace with her sturdy mount. And away they dashed into the sunset in a speedy blur !!!!


I think its a Sagittarius thing … HORSES are my most favourite creatures in the world. (Sagittarian symbol of the archer is a Centaur who is half human, half horse). I find them mysterious and fascinating. They have kind eyes, a majestic gait and a tranquil aura about them. When standing they appear like meditating hermits deep in thought.  But when they are on the move they metamorphose from quiet, nimble creatures into fierce powerhouses of unbridled speed and wild fury!!! Riding a horse is the ultimately thrilling experience for me.  I have been lucky to have  experienced it numerous times on different locales, different terrains and different mounts. But the result has been the same always.. Unparalleled Thrill and excitement!!!


My tryst with this unusual interest (definitely out of ordinary for a through city bred like me), began many years ago as a little girl (yes that was me in the first para :-) ). The credit for this ingenious idea goes to my father who introduced me to it one Sunday morning at the Chowpatty Beach in South Mumbai. Growing up in a city like Mumbai in the early 1970s (it was Bombay at that time) horses were not so easy to come by except of course on the famous Mahalaxmi Race Course or in children’s parks. Visiting the former of course was a definite no-no for the non-elite and definitely not for children. Of the latter, I had wide experience on weekends and holidays. But the park horses were mere ponies, weak, under nourished smelly and unkempt.


But that cool March morning on Chowpatty beach, near my home I was introduced to the “real” thing. There were 5 or 6 steeds well bred, bathing in the morning sun, properly fed and exercised, sturdy looking no nonsense animals with polished bodies and shining manes. I remember being in awe at the sight of these regal animals in their finery  and my love for horses began. I am guessing I must have been one awesome pony rider to graduate to riding these fabulous animals so soon. (Admire my father’s courage and confidence in me). My father negotiated with the owner and selected a  majestic brown horse called Raja for me. As I sat on the tall horse my short legs barely reached the stirrups. But I felt on top of the world just sitting on this magnificent creature with a long silky bronze mane. The expanse of the long empty gilded beach lay in front of us and the  foaming waters of the Arabian Sea on our right. Raja’s trainer was Bahadur. He  supplied horses for films and occasionally hired them to interested parties like us. Raja was still a trainee just like I was so it was a perfect match. So off we went, across the beach, slowly at first. Bahadur jogged along giving instructions to me on posture, gait, signaling the horse, holding the reins and above all moving with the horse. But all I could feel at that moment was the thrill of riding this royal animal. I watched the slow movement of its sinewy back and its silky mane fluttering in the sea breeze. The walk turned to a trot and finally to a gallop. I was bouncing atop the saddle trying to move with my steed, the wind in my hair, the familiar musty smell of sea breeze in the air and everything else was just  a blur. I felt  overwhelming EXHILARATION . …and I was hooked for life.


Raja was my companion for many Sundays that summer. I learnt the nuances of “galloping” as I called it and soon graduated to managing Raja by myself as Bahadur chatted with my father. I even galloped independently to the amazement of some of the bystanders who looked at me as if I was some “wonder girl”. Those days are etched in my memory in gold. !!! Raja and I, a mighty steed and a little girl..bonding, trusting, secure in each others company, looking after each other ..connecting at a surreal level !!!


After that day it has been more than 40 years, but  I have never ever missed an opportunity to ride my favourite animal. Be it on school trips to hill stations, college treks to the mountains or family trips. I have always showed off my galloping skills. A couple of years ago on a trip to Sonmarg in Kashmir  I requested our horse owner to let me gallop over the beautiful green plains surrounded by snow capped glacier. He looked at me quizzically and then at my fourteen year old son . I am sure he was thinking I was nuts. But when I galloped, it was amusing to see his shock and open admiration for my riding skills.


Even today each time I ride a horse, I go back to being the care free little girl on Chowpatty beach reliving a part of my childhood. The  part, which has gone a long way in building my spirit of adventure, resilience to face life’s challenges and the courage to experiment with the unknown. For this, I will always be indebted to my old friend Raja who made me feel on top of the world and to my dear father who gave me a passion for life.