Will our stories survive beyond us? Arms wide open, I stand alone. I’m no hero. And I’m not made of stone. I stand here burning. Casting my warm glow upon the wrinkled skin of the frail old man.He is the lone inhabitant of this timeworn and run-down ancestral home. Now abandoned and forgotten.The old man is lying … Continue reading Candle in the wind
The Power of Silence: A Tale of Listening in a Noisy World
Noble Silence - Inner Peace – Peace on Earth Thousands of years ago, when the shadows danced and whispers echoed, and gods and demons roamed the earth, I was a mere mortal who dared to cross a line that no one had ever dared to before. When they were moving heaven and earth to set … Continue reading The Power of Silence: A Tale of Listening in a Noisy World
A LAMENT FOR THE MOTHER OF ALL TONGUES
The Eternal Elements Of Eloquence I lie here on my deathbed, a grand old lady with a legacy that spans the entire world. I am the mother of all languages. The one who gave birth to the words that humans use to communicate with each other. My once vibrant and lively spirit now flickers dimly like … Continue reading A LAMENT FOR THE MOTHER OF ALL TONGUES
Metamorphis of the Spirit and Mind – A Cats-eye view
Purr-fectly Blissful I’ve got a shiver in the dark. It’s raining in the park. But meantime, I scamper onto the shelter of the grand old tree. I’m a black cat. I’m nothing but bad luck. Something evil that is passing by. People get spooked when they see me in the dark. Or when I cross the … Continue reading Metamorphis of the Spirit and Mind – A Cats-eye view
NESSIE – NESTLING IN THE DEEP
Far from the madding crowd I’m drifting on the empty waters. I’m searching for the holy grail of leviathans. I know she’s waiting. Waiting below. Ready to attack, and my life is at stake. I’m armed only with the belief that this legendary creature is not myth. That there really exists this monster. I know. … Continue reading NESSIE – NESTLING IN THE DEEP
PERFECT STRANGER
Resurrected from the shadows of another day There was a great industrialist here today. Talking of cars and technology. For more than two hours he held everyone spellbound. He wasn’t talking about what is yet to come but what had already been achieved. I have a special reason to be fired with enthusiasm on this … Continue reading PERFECT STRANGER
How To Walk Into Infinity
Cracking The Ant Code In the misty mornings, I stand on the edge of time. I inhale a lungful of heavenly oxygen and prepare to follow my bliss. I live a few days here every month in this wooded area. Among dense growth of trees and vegetation. I step out into the haze, all geared … Continue reading How To Walk Into Infinity
GO GO GOA
Why Doctors Can Never Retire In Goa It's the summer of 1986. I'm on my way to a village in Goa riding my RD 350 Yamaha. We're looking for a place called Querim. My friend and I are on this bike trip. And we are refreshed after a good night's sleep in our beachside homestay … Continue reading GO GO GOA
NOT ONLY SHAKEN BUT ALSO STIRRED – The Gurno incident
The Global Local Gurno was every bit a tramp who lived happily in a remote village where even google maps may not bother to map. He had never gone beyond a 10-kilometer radius of where he was born. He couldn't read and write but from what I've seen, he believed in the slogan - Think … Continue reading NOT ONLY SHAKEN BUT ALSO STIRRED – The Gurno incident
Pea in the ground
You may call me by any name, but you got to serve me to everybody A sudden gust of wind blows straight from the heavens with great gusto, and we land on earth. Some of us fall on rocks. Some of us fall on thorns and bushes. And some of us fall on fertile land. … Continue reading Pea in the ground
The Shamelessness Project
Preparing for the New Year A few weeks before the New Year countdown begins, I have just one thing on my mind. It's one of the first steps I must take to gear up to enter the New Year on a sure footing. During this time of year, I suddenly become capable of bending my sense of propriety and … Continue reading The Shamelessness Project
The Red Dot
A gift of generosity from a real Santa I kick my car's tyre and blink at the moonless sky. How on earth did this happen, I exclaim under my breath. I’ve always been checking tyre pressures while filling up fuel at the pump, and nothing ever seemed wrong with these fairly new tyres. The long stretch … Continue reading The Red Dot
Frame of Tranquility
An edifice of true grandeur built with a higher purpose The growth of the U.A.E. has been monumental, and there seems to be a certain charm that works on everyone who lands here that makes them comfortable and feel at home. Expats tend to live here seemingly unmindful that they are merely like birds of … Continue reading Frame of Tranquility
How to conquer the world, (well, almost!)
Napoleon reveals his secret weapon to Josephine This really may have happened. Nobody apparently recorded this in history books, but for now, let us imagine that this may really have happened. It's no secret that Napoleon Bonaparte was eager to conquer the world. His war strategies were perfect. According to legend, his strength lay in … Continue reading How to conquer the world, (well, almost!)
Urban Dilemma – to smile or not to smile
Is a smile still your first instinct when you make eye contact with people? She was standing in the bright sunlight. Picture-perfect. Peaceful and tranquil. Totally at peace with herself in the barbecue-hot summer sun and the busy traffic, displaying the greatest of smiles that could halt traffic. The traffic signal anyway was doing just … Continue reading Urban Dilemma – to smile or not to smile
N’oubliez Jamais (Never Forget)
We live. We forget. Yet we survive. Over the centuries I imagine there was a time when generations traditionally yearned to listen to stories, songs, chants, and poetry that were passed down from generation to generation from elders. The accumulated experience and expertise in survival were crucial to be passed on through oral storytelling. How … Continue reading N’oubliez Jamais (Never Forget)
Every once in a while…
Picture courtesy - Pexels Free Photos There's strength in numbers Every once in a while, there's a power outage in my village where I spend a few days every month. Tonight, it’s rainy and windy, and the place has gone dark. Instinctively, I glance at my neighbour’s house. It’s dark there too. Greatly relieved, I … Continue reading Every once in a while…
