June Tidings!

 A new month makes you feel anew. It’s a different kind of a feeling where you wonder about the months that have passed and the ones that are going to come. 

What have we achieved so far and what do we plan?

Sometimes I feel, do we really need to plan? 

In the age of uncertainty, I believe more strongly in “ Live in the Moment”!

This is all you truly have and are truly bestowed!

Nothing other than that is truly yours.

Make the most of it.

Live it to the fullest!

Make each moment count!

Have a blessed month ahead!

Blissful Petalled Paradise!

 Roses have always been my favourite. There’s something about their fragrant hues and colourful warmth which brings a smile unchecked.

I remember back then when I was in school, how I would love planting them in our garden. Taking special care. I learnt from my grand mother how to graft it with different cuttings and bring an exotic shade of Rose!

There’s something so strong and regal about this beautiful flower.

It always gives a feeling of holding immense strength, resilience yet being soft and dewy!

It just adds so much brightness and colour wherever it goes. Always leaving everyone with smiles!

These Roses have been pictured in a friend’s garden in Kashmir!

Truly “ Kashmir ki kali”!

Blessing in Disguise!

 We were all getting upset with the new lockdown timings. But being humans we are always ready for change.

Adapting to new things in a jiffy. Finding our own little ways of keeping us happy.

Breakfasts are the new meal of the day to meet your loved ones. Early to rise and enjoy a hearty meal together.

It becomes especially wonderful when you are surprised by your favourites.

I was treated to home baked quiche with spinach and cheese .u favourite desserts . A little early in the day but I can never say no😆😆😆.

A beautiful morning started with my favourites and loved ones.

There’s always a silver lining .

You just have to look closely.

Have a beautiful Sunday blessed souls!

Keep smiling!

Stay safe!

Ice -cream of Life!

 

Whispers in the wind!

 This morning I came across a poem prompt “ Shhhh”! 

I just thought of whispers in the wind , imagine actually whispering and taking you on a beautiful journey with them.

Taking you away from reality for sometime. Sometimes we just like to travel the world in our imagination.

Away from woes and trouble . Just enjoy the journey for sometime. Till we are brought back to reality.

Travelling with the wind to all your favourite places and sweetly being brought back.

Today’s it’s my poetic imagination taking me for a ride.

Iztirar

 

Language of Love

 

Journey of Life!

 Zaina was a very happy go lucky person . She always laughed, made people laugh around her. She never let the woes of life weigh her down!

She believed in spreading positivity and optimism around. Mother of 2, it was never easy for her. All the time in a rush. Yet she took out time for her besties, her childhood cousins and her other social obligations. 

She worked as a counsellor, so it was not easy for her. She lightened herself, ventilated by going for a walk out in the open amidst nature. Her yoga gave her the much needed balance.

All was going fine until one morning she felt herself growing tired and weary. It was unlike for her. She rested a bit but woke up with a tightness in the chest.. she dreaded it. Hoping it was not “ covid” the dreaded.

Unfortunately by evening after her scan she did come to know it was. The first one week she managed staying at home and monitoring it and doing fine. Suddenly after a week. It hit her like a storm.

Her saturation fell, she went into ER. By evening she was admitted. 2 days she did fine in the hospital. But suddenly after 48 hours she grew serious . Only 48 hours given by the doctor. It was not the fear of death that actually woke her up from slumber . 

All her unrealised dreams, aspirations, hopes which stared at her and mocked her. Asking” What did you think? That you have forever? 

How fleetingly her life had gone by? What about her wish list, her bucket list, still written in her diary. Not one realised.

The beauty of life and breath all understood by her .He was kind up there. Smiled and said “ Lass I’m giving you one more chance to live life! Do your Best! Don’t disappoint me”!

That’s what made her fight back!

Do you think now she will live?

Satisfaction

 All different instances and experiences lead to some new thoughts.

Always enlightening and inspiring!

Each gives us a new lesson to learn or imbibe!

Multi Tasking

 Sometimes I’m the,

Undisputed queen,

At times,

Guest of honour,

And most of the times,

Maid of honour,

Running around,

With the broom,

In one hand,

The ladle in another,

I’m adding Lizol,

To the bucket,

And spices in,

The cooker,

Sometimes I leave,

My cooker on sim,

And run around,

With my duster,

Until a faint,

Burning aroma rants,

The air,

Making me realise,

What is burning!

I hear a faint,

Yell from the,

Kids bedroom!

The battle is on!

Then I hear my,

Vimla bai reminding!

“ Amma this is over”!

I rush with my car keys!

Out and about!

I long for,

Some me time,

At night when,

There is silence,

All around,

I sit down,

For my own sweet time!

Instantly being reminded!

The test papers, 

Of my students,

Still lying in a pile,

The chores never ending,

As long as the River Nile!!!

I long for my carefree days,

The spa licious,

Chocolate filled moments,

The joys,

Laughter!

All a distant memory!

Now the music to,

My ears is,

Cooker whistles,

The shouts and screams,

Of my offspring!

The gentle voice of,

Vimla bai,

Who keeps my,

Sanity in check!!

Picnics with Family!

 As I was writing for my poem prompt, I came across this picture. Instantly bringing back so many memories. 

The days when we would be out in the open . Looking forward to picnics with all my aunts, uncles and cousins!

Whole night we would not sleep out of excitement. Planning all the games , our snacks and what we would do. 

I remember the bus ride. Singing and cracking jokes , enjoying the ride.

Once there we would immediately start our walk . Then get into the mood of games. Everyone together would be playing in different groups. 

On the day of the picnic, we would be so hungry . Everything would be polished away in sometime.

We would enjoy the seasonal fruits. Guava , poly mangoes( kairi) with the masala.

Aam ras , pickles, all the home made specialities. 

Listening to stories from our grandparents times. Some so funny which would leave us rolling .

All our favourites were carried lovingly by our elders.

What a lovely time we would have!

The day would pass beautifully under the shade of trees.

Before dusk we would leave.

Tired and spent but truly happy.

What beautiful days!

How we miss those carefree days.

Enjoying to the hilt!

Musings!!!

 Sometimes just simple thoughts go a long way in making a day or ruining it.

How we start the day with what kind of mood and tone, sets the pace for the remaining day.

At times it plays a huge role in setting the pace for the week.

We do have our moods too, and it’s perfectly fine to give in to a not a good one too.

But morning positivism goes a long way.

In resting times falling back on simple things helps us immensely.

Have a beautiful week ahead😊

Breathe in positivity!

 

The art of hearing!

 The art of listening!

Even in counselling the first thing they do is let you speak your heart out .

That’s the first form of therapy . Unfortunately in the era of conversation becoming a dying art.

Speeches are automated. We are more used to texting.

Is it the reason that people feel bottled up?

Counsellors are on the rise. The need for man to be heard growing up.

Alas! When they feel unheard, not able to ventilate, it leads to a lot of psycho somatic problems.

Anxiety, mental health issues are drastically scaling greater heights!

Is it the pandemic?

Is it the loneliness?

Communication, venting out your thoughts is paramount.

Everyone does need a sound box . Someone who they can express to without being judged.

Gratitude journaling at this time is a tremendous help.

Making you a little aware of all is still not lost.

Speak to your friends often. It helps!

Stay in touch with near and dear ones.

The pandemic has forced people to be indoors, but don’t let that stop you from communicating.

Keep the faith!

Dinner extravaganza!

 The day dawned bright . I had been relentlessly interrogated regarding Jay’s likes and dislikes about food. His preferences, his favourite dishes and so on and so forth. Resulting me in disturbing Jay again and again leaving him in giggles and me in mortification .

My aunts started from 5 in the evening “ I hope you are wearing something beautiful”! 

The one one” Zara kuch bright colour pehno beta”!

Ohhh god! Not again!

Their match making  Skills in full swing.

Finally 8.30 the bell rang.

I was dressed in a bright red outfit, to please my dear aunts more than Jay.

Jay was immediately bulldozed by them into  interview round 2.

Mind you! The first one by the river.

Poor Jay! He was smiling, witty and answering as best as he could.

Then my aunt’s  sly glances, those happy grins coming my way sealed the deal.

I was tactfully made to sit next to Jay.

Now his lineage, his place of birth and his family background came next.

One aunt asked him point blank” Beta aap ko kaisi ladki chahye?

Which left me choking!

I so wished, I could disappear somewhere!

Thank God!

The dinner ordeal came to an end!

We fast forwarded to dessert!

I wanted to fast forward to next morning!

Finally it was time to bade goodbye!

My whole entourage was at the porch.

It reminded me of a scene straight from “ My big fat Greek Wedding”!

Jay promised to be in touch.

I wanted to apologise to him.

Once he left .

I was pulled into the interrogation round!

They had all approved. So far!

Wanted to hear the wedding bells ringing!

I was dying to hear my next day morning alarm ringing for a change!

Making me believe, it was a nightmare! 

Definitions Redefined!

 Times have changed. In today’s times every thing is being redefined. 

It’s the era of masked identities! 

Are emotions also being disguised! Who’s wearing which mask?

Is there any honesty and compassion left?

Are emotions also being masked?

Truth , Honesty, compassion and kindness, are they easily found?

Is seeing believing?

We are seeing a world being torn apart?

Then where does our faith lie in these tormenting times?

In the turmoil, where do you seek true emotions?

Is everything lost today?

Healing!

 

Confounded!!

 I’m reeling with shock!

When the world is in the grip of the deadliest pandemic possible, acts of terrorism still do not cease!

Alas! Behold!

People are dying. 

Running Helter Skelter to save their loved ones!

Some are losing them. Some have already lost them.

We are caged in!

In our man made concrete jungle!

And children are being killed in a senseless way!

Is this the price to be paid?

To live in today’s world?

Where there are displays of humaneness?

There are displays of such acts too!

When are we going to learn?

When will this hatred be wiped from the world?

When?

When ? Will we give our future generations a beautiful negative free world to live in?

Free of animosity!

Devoid of Misery?

When?

Thoughts and prayers with the bereaved?

Those beautiful souls who were deliberately wiped out before they blossomed !

Heartbreaking!

City of My Dreams!

 My winning entry for a poem Prompt!

But truly what I envisaged here could be a reality!

What a beautiful place to live!

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

The Best!

 In a world where we are always in a competitive mode for everything, being true is tough.

Beauty has standards. 

Art has standards.

Academics and so on and so forth.

Then does truth and honesty stand a chance?

But believe in your true self!

The way you were made because you were made by the best.

He made everyone unique and everyone special!

So don’t let anyone define your original specialness!

You came here and were sent for a purpose!

If you are still breathing, feel blessed!

Feel inspired each day if you wake up alive!

You still have something to do!

Keep the faith!

Keep the calm!

Stay blessed beautiful souls!

Farouche!

 Farouche means a shy person. For a writers page 😊

Velvet River

 It was a beautiful morning. Tara woke up to excited chatter around her . She longed to sleep more but unfortunately the noise wouldn’t let her. She resigned to her fate. She woke a bit grumpy . Longing for her huge mug of cappuccino. The thought of it, instantly brightening her. It always managed to cheer her up! No matter whatever the day or mood. Her coffee ☕️ always cheered her up.

She got dressed and went down . Gearing up for the questions ahead.

Starting with her eldest aunt” Tara shaadi kab karogi”? 

Ohh no grunted Tara . Here comes the shaadi nuclear attack!

Then it went full blown . She was tossed around like a ball, being asked the same question. Finally she escaped with her friend out.

She came home in the evening. All excited about going to the river and doing some water sports there.

For once Tara was excited too. 

Next morning they set out early. Amidst singing and dancing in the bus. Thank God the shaadi nuclear attack was forgotten.

The day unfolded beautifully. Tara and 2 of her cousins went for river rafting. Half way through the rapids became intense and Tara was tossed . She landed near the sand, just missing the rock.

Lost now. She had no idea where she was.

Suddenly she heard some voices. She saw a life guard with a group of children explaining about the pros and cons.

He came towards Tara.

Something about him made Tara keep looking at him.

He cleared his throat and repeated the question again.

Tara suddenly blinked and explained the situation.

He offered to help Tara.

Along with the children they reached where everyone was waiting. He handed the children to their parents.

Then walked Tara to her anxiously waiting family.

They were so happy to see her. 

Jay had to introduce himself. He was treated like a hero. Invited home for dinner. A gesture of appreciation.

Stay tuned for more.

kind gestures

 Today times are very sad and heart rending. People need a lot of solace. Each household is either losing someone or someone is battling for dear life.

What can the rest of us do in such times?

Be there!

Check on people!

Speak to them positively!

Keep encouraging them.

Help them in whichever way you can.

Keep them encouraged and motivated.

Help them in whichever capacity you can.

People start feeling dejected, de motivated, learn to be their support .

Hope is what we are holding on to tight!

Kindness, compassion and Hope requisites to live in the now.

Stay blessed. Stay safe 

Flowered Joy

 How they endeavour to spread their colourful hues and brighten each’s life. They only know how to bloom and blossom whatever the situation around .

The joy of seeing their smiling , cheerful faces is so therapeutic.

Whatever might be the occasion or celebration nothing is complete without their lovely presence.

Cheering a loved one is complete by Just sending a beautiful bouquet.

Weddings , birthdays any celebration is only perfect when it’s in the presence of flowers.

Flowers do make your day.

With the chaos today, I wanted to step a little away from all the disturbing facts and wanted to cheer with the presence of these beauties.

Flowers do add colour and joy in every form!

Have a lovely day!

Spread your cheerful presence in everyone’s life!

Right now many need it!

Have a blessed day ahead!!