Anmol's Space

Since i had been apprised by some of my readers, that the previous compilations were a bit profound , this time i have come up with a simpler piece of work. I think this is something everyone could easily associate with it. The reader can ponder over it ,according to his own thoughts and level of complexity.Every person can have his/her own interpretation.Check it out and introspect what you feel after reading it .

I played those hide and seeks,
and tireless twilight games.
I toppled while lil' step sprints,
innocence giggles unrestrained.

I blossomed like a flower,
I decayed like a corpse .
I shone like a star,
I broke like a glass..

I fought like a soldier,
I died like a pawn,
I charmed like a prince,
I begged like a monk.

I healed like a priest,
I stealed like a thief .
I loved like a thirsty,
I lost like a mirage.

I hurled into the silence,
I decieved into the smiles.
I wrote from my heart,
and tore those pieces apart.

I walked down the woods,
I boozed down the pain.
I smiled down the beauty,
I cried down the rain.

Now I halt for a moment,
surprised and perplexed.
Bow my head in gratitude,
to witness so much in so less.

The journey has just begun,
I proceed forward for the unknown QUEST....!!!!!

Hallucinations….!!!!!

With the sound of time
Passing my ears
is it a battle going around
or a yelling devil
holding those forbidden tears

the darkness of ages
stroked by the poignant light,
conceives animated dreams
but only to add to the illusion,
coz for her its now a routine

choking throat beneath a ponderous mind
and pinching coarse sounds,
stupor jolted by flashing images
the wrecked dreams crying
for one moment to be real.

And there goes the pirate
The bird leading his way
Remorsed yet adamant
La-de-da the past ruins
Splashing the stains on my face.

The gestures termed juvenile
concious ignorance named inane
Now for the sake of onlooker’s satisfaction
I take a deep breath, smile
And say I am under hallucinations!!!!!!!!!

Holi is’nt an oblivious term to anyone residing in India. But yeah .. the mode of welcoming it , is amazingly different . So now when I am in Bangalore – the so called ‘silicon valley` of India , the onset of holi was just like any other weekend. Whereas backhome there was an exciting atmosphere for everyone, here it was a cold rather an ignorant response. But it is justified , even pongal and onam has the same mental impression for us – the south Indian men,bare chested,dressed in the typical dhoti, raising coconut blade in one hand and their ladies with silk sarees and those honeycomb like gajras , the music of shehnai playing in the background…O !! OH!! O!! sorry am deviating and being pukish now ;) , but still I don’t know what onam and pongal means … so I mean the cold response was well anticipated. So is the culture so is the place ( a beautiful one indeed ) .

Even though there was an option to sleep out the holi day , there were some mischievious plans already in store for the festival. So as soon as I woke up there was no escape from my roomie who went outside just a few moments back , for buying the so called disprin , and returned with what made my face look like a pink monkey. Just in a few moments ,the entire floor was sprinkled with colors, and our faces were painted beyond recognition. Now that was a pleasant onset . There was no looking back and all of us headed outside as a bunch of troopers , face painted blue black and all sorts ….

The whole street was normal , with everyone on their routine work . The same departmental store , the fish shop , the medical shop , even the wine shop . Everyone on the street was normal . And with our painted faces and dirty hands, we were the cynosure , as if a circus troop is out in the open. A lady was standing with her back to us, probably waiting for someone, and just for a moment as she turned ,she glared us and started running as if for her life… that was amusing …Even the stray dogs were barking and following the most alien thing they could have ever seen. Young girls started to gape out of balconies , the little kids took us as clowns performing a promotional show, while the elderly ones thought nothing more than they usually think – a group of hooligans. But who cares…the vibrant child within was alive now…

Well there were some of our friends staying nearby and we decided to gift them this day with some real long lasting memories…;-) So as per the mischevious instincts, we bought this “pakka rang” or permanent color – the same used for dying purposes . We brushed it on our hands and wetted them with the only – NATURAL WATER …???????? No!!!! no!!!! no!!! .. I just mean the rain water stagnant on the roads…They were attacked ruthlessly by this permanent weapon.The whole atmosphere was eclectic and live with the childhood sting.

Whist moving around the city on this colorful festival , there were only a few groups with whom the tradition was graciously exchanged. But man without breakfast and any food such an ordeal was really a tiring one. Moreso it was hard to stand before my own image in the mirror. So the task at hand on returning home was scary, and cleansing out the face,before doing anything became more of an obligation.

But by this time the permanent color had done its trick. It took me half an hour of scrubbing session just to remove the color from my face --one of the most cherished possession.But the color which was on my hands is’nt even fading . I look like a mine worker when I eat . And don’t know how I’ll hide these hands on the next working day.But whatever , it might take a week at the minimum to fade out the color but I am sure the color which this celebration has added to my bachelorhood , independence and youth is’nt going to fade soon……………………………………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today when we all find ourselves more or less drawn in to the crafted world, the liveliness and flamboyancy of life seems to have taken a backstage. The freshness and vivacity that once used to be part of our lifestyle is no more a prime factor. There might be abundance of money ,of affluence , of beauty and even love , but still there is a void — of peace of mind. For some it is deep and for others not so deep. And everyone is in quest to fill up the void by subconscious and not so surprisingly conscious efforts. Wonder it helps but , as per my experience, I ‘ve discovered a new addendum to my gamut of quests . A nice cameo visit to mountains is enough to revive the “lost nectar” we all are seeking, and energise our life to prepare for every challenge it holds for us.

Needless to stress that all mountain ranges of the world are blessed with diverse kinds of flora, undiscovered forms of life, unheard sounds of never seen before animals. Don’t be surprised to find people who explore this territory for the sole intention of psychosomatic gratification. The kind of peace and freshness they offer is unrivaled, away from the hustle-bustle of crowded metros of today.

The activity to find fervor of late, and is attracting people of all walk across border is, trekking and mountaineering. When we talk of the Mother Nature, it’s the wilderness that interacts with its various elements. In mountains every action is thrilling, tedious and at times scary. Standing tall, a view of gigantic mountains offers a challenge and stimulates us to raise the flags of our accomplishments on top of them. The very thought of being in companionship with the supreme creation of nature fills the nerves in excitement and anticipation.

But the literary description of all these things seems just like another article ,where the author exaggerates his thoughts with mind bending connotations and sesqupedalian implementations, …. But only unless he still himself is’nt a witness -- I am .. and being still a novice, though I might not be able to do justice to project that indelible impression of beauty, gratification and serenity I witnessed , but I’ll surely make an effort to motivate a minority of readers to have a journey down the mountains.

Once a well read friend of mine said that mood of mountains is more changing and unpredictable than women . Can’t say anything about that, but for me a Trekking expedition in “The Great Himalayas” provided a vast opportunity to tickle my adventurous bent of mind and rediscover challenge in every footstep. The incredible scenery to behold, no matter which path you take, unlike other places where your actions and path agrees on the quanta of happiness you get. Trekking amidst them is collusion course between lifetime of inertia and a week long of hectic activities where you stretch your mind and muscles. And it is not just the preconceived physical activity , it’s a new dimension to recreation and team building exercise. A trip down the line here is just out of the world’s experience. The abode of saints also resuscitates the soul besides being a physical energizer. The almost-unkempt wilderness, the alluring strength emanating from the gigantic trees, the huge boulders and the virile mountains is just so much to bear for one who has never been this far – so very captivating. In conjunction with this is the varied form of vegetation, which is a treat for eyes of flora-fauna faddist.

Woooow I am surprised that just a visit has emancipated the creative self of mine . This is nothing as compared to the freshness I carry every day just because of that. The breath of fresh air reminecises the foggy white ambience with vapours here and there . A glimpse of the greenery through those vapours , soothes eyes with a cool touch . There might not be anything more peaceful and, for those Metropolitans and Cosmopolitans, who think that money and comfort can buy the peace of mind , I would like to post a gentle reminder …. Peace in the mountains – run !!! run !!! run !!!