life's a kick

Of the few mercies granted by life, one is ensuring supply of things. Things, not people. One would rather opt-in to be supplied with desired people, but life doesn’t grant anything that’s people dependent. Except oneself. If you get what I mean. Thrifty hearts, however, find solace in ascertaining anything little they can. Even if it’s something as plain as papayas. And so it’s heartening to note that it’s within my reach to plan my fruit supplies every week. Being working and managing home all by oneself has its challenges. One has time to stock up the fridge only once a week. While other fruits don’t play very hard to get and survive, papayas are particularly snobbish. I mean an apple will taste the same on Monday and Friday, so will pomegranate. But papayas and bananas belong to the category that have to be picked carefully, their ripening stage staggered day-by-day, to make sure that you get the correct taste on your breakfast table each day. After a year of buying my own...

माँ मेरी , बचपन से आज तक तुम हमको पढ़ाती - सिखाती आयी . यह तो तुम ही बता सकती हो कि तुम्हारे पाठ - प्रवचन का हमपर कितना असर पड़ा . हम तो बस इतना जानते हैं कि हम मिटटी रहे और तुम मेरी कुम्हारी , जो इतने प्यार से हमको ढाली कि हम तुम बन गए . खैर , गए हफ्ते जब तुम्हारा फेसबुक पर आगमन हुआ , तो हमको चुहल हुई तुमको पढ़ाने की ( यहाँ मेरा ' अनुभव ' - तुम्हारा favourite शब्द - तुमसे ज़्यादा है ). ज्ञान उड़ेलने की दुनिया में तुम स्वेच्छा से आ चली हो , तो शुरुआत चलो हम ही करते हैं .   सबसे ज़रूरी बात सबसे पहले . फेसबुक दुनिया का आधुनिक मेला है . बटन दबाते ही जीवंत हो जाने वाली इस दुनिया में साधारण रूप से सम्भले हुए लोग भी रोज़ाना 40-50 मिनट बिताते हैं . इसलिए चौकस रहना . समय की बर्बादी में अगर कोई और मनोरंजन इससे आगे है तो वो है सास-बहू सीरियल .   जब तुम सीरियल के मोह में कभी नहीं फसी ( thank god for that ), तो मुझे उम्मीद है ये भी तुम्हरा कुछ ...

Sonals, Agarwal & Singh The first time I set my eyes on her, she was dancing without a care in the world. I was to realize later that that’s her general way of being – without a care in the world. I knew I was going to be the second Sonal in B204; but had no idea of the first. But Sonal the Agarwal believes in no pretence. She looked at me with undisguised apprehension, sizing me up and down and right and left with her big, curious eyes. She thought to herself, and later to me, that I would make a good flatmate who could clean and cook, since I had worn a sari that day. That’s the thing about her. She can come to shattering conclusions, with such guileless good faith, that you can’t help but love her more. No wonder I dote on her. No wonder many others do. Candid could be her middle name. There is no time lost between thoughts as they occur to her and as they come out from her. She tells me with a deadpan expression that I need to change my sandals from ‘aunty-like’...

Dear Rain, You had been hiding from me for quite a while. I looked around, searched every corner for the slightest trace of you. Allowed my heart to run wild at the weakest indication of you coming…the mildest storm; the gurgling thunder, the incipient earthy smell. But you – you kept my heart on a leash, bruising it unfailingly each time. Bumping it over thorny hope. Tantalising. Teasing. Setting the stage for a grand shower, and ending up in a mocking trickle. Why would you do that to a lover so staunch, only your kind will know, some of who are also in my acquaintance. Like theirs, I know not your reasons. The last I had a meal full of you was in Bokaro. Then came Delhi, dry and unsparing. Merciless and wrathful. Your lack alone keeps the city of my breeding an arm’s length from my heart. It takes moisture, of form and being, to stay in my soul. But this time, O! beloved, I chased you straight to your roosting place. Goa. And then it dawned upon me – you too had been...

(लेखिका द्वारा कविता का पाठ देखें यहाँ ) जब धरती डोले उथल पुथल और काल करे तांडव अज्ञेय  मन भी हो विपरीत व्याकुल, स्मरण रहे , तुम हो अपराजेय! प्रारूप सत्य के असंख्य सही पर भेद सनातन एकल है   वीर अथक होगा विजयी जो सच्चा है और निश्छल है तितली का मोहक वेश धरे विषैले सर्प जब आयेंगे स्नेह समर्पित हाथों को पुनः छल से डस जायेंगे फिर भी तुम रखना मानव में विश्वास वही पवित्र, अटूट लुप्त न हो रस जीवन से करुणा न जाए, हाथों से छूट दस्तक देगा जब जब शत्रु दुहरायेगा आतंक अनेक टोली होगी निंदकों की होगा हर हाथ में पत्थर एक ओ! नेक दिल, तू उदास न हो समूह समय का बंदी है लक्ष्य अस्थिर, तू बढ़ता चल काल्पनिक सारी पाबंदी है आने दे जिनको आना है विरोध-विलीन कृपाण लिए बीभत्स अधरों पर अपशब्द आरोपों के बाण लिए धारण कर धैर्य शांत-चित्त ध्वस्त हुए घोर पापी भी जहां खड़ा मानव, निडर, उचित सच्चा भी, आत्मविश्वासी भी चाहें झोंके वे अग्नि में चाहे जल का प्रहार करें रौंद भी दें गर मिट्टी में उत्पीड़न के वार करें तप कर तुम ब...

“When you need inspiration, see how far you have to go. When you need motivation, see how far you have come.” -           Anonymous Born to Grow, and Compete Imagine the situation of a runner who is let loose on a track to run. Now imagine ten runners sent forth on the same track to test their mettle. And here is the catch: let this track be without milestones. How do you imagine this situation to culminate? Initially, there will be a joy in running. The thrill of feeling the wind on one’s face, of beating muscle cramps with sheer grit, and the undeterred delight in pushing one’s boundaries. But gradually, in lack of a standard and agreed system of measurement, the situation will degenerate. The solo runner might lose charm in the sport, or might end up a mediocre, considering he will have no yardstick to measure his progress against. In the case of multiple runners, the run might recede into chaos over establishing the suprem...

Voice from audience: (shouts) Kailash Kher! Please call this girl on stage once again. The girl referred to, is me. I am back from dancing with The Kailash Kher on stage (see the performance here  and here ), and presently dancing in the aisle, to the dedicated viewership of a packed Siri Fort Auditorium. Minutes ago, Kailash Kher had invited a few girls to come up on stage and 'compete' with him on a Rajasthani folk number, and I was the first one to rush to stage. Barefoot. It is August 11 of 2015, and it is the third time I am dancing with Kailasa on the same stage. The first two times were in the winter of 2011. Four years ago. But the troupe recognises me, and tells me so. The guitarist and percussionist, flanked by my friend Vandana and I Kailash Kher: No no no. I call only once on stage. The girl can continue dancing in the aisle. Please enjoy her dance there. Voice: But we want to see her dance on the stage! Kailash Kher ignores. The voice presses on...