The Date...

A bright Chicago Summer Day it was.

A perfect day for a date as one would say.
Not hot, and the cool breeze from the Lake Michigan making things very pleasant.

Hand in hand, we strolled on the Michigan Avenue.
Something was bothering me. I was feeling a bit strange. I had been with her since long, but the fact that I had people ogle at us was un-comforting.
What was stranger to me was the fact that, even though this was a country where people did all sorts of things at the name of PDA (public display of affection) they were staring at us.

Why the hell do people have to stare? A glance is acceptable. But a stare is indeed inviting trouble.

Nevertheless, we continued to go step by step.

At times she also clung around my neck.

The Magnificent Mile Art Festival was on in its full glory at the Tribune Tower. One thing I love about Chicago is its appreciation of art and the support that it gives to artists.

It basically was a sale cum-exhibition of works of different artists across the country.

What really struck both of us was the inspiration that each of these artists possessed.
There were a couple of artists whose work was really inspiring. We also spoke to a few of them.
Talking to these artists one realizes that as a photographer its really important to keep oneself inspired and motivated at all times.
There are numerous instances when the art one creates would go unnoticed, but one needs to keep the patience and keep working towards the larger goal. The goal of being able to work on what one is passionate about.
So you have artists who spend a lifetime developing and mastering their style of art.
It takes a lot of patience, perseverance and hard work.

It was a great day spent together. We did not speak much though. All we did was get absorbed in the art in the air.

Lovely times together I should say.

Babe is fine and Back

Thank you all for the good wishes.
I got my babe back yesterday.

The last couple of days had been hard on me.
So much so, that people actually noticed it...
Said another colleague,
"Whats wrong? Why are you low today?"
How do I tell her what I was missing? Though she knew about my babe, perhaps she could not understand my affection for my love. And I did not want to spend my energy in convincing her.

Waiting for my babe at the hospital, I met two other ladies. One had come to take her lover back and the other was just admitting her one who was very was serious. I had a chance to see him. Short, black, and I could make out he was from the same clan as my love. He had a fracture in the skull. His body parts did not function well. I felt really sorry for the lady. Her voice was so low when she was speaking to the nurse and I could feel the pain myself.

At this moment, the first lady, who also happened to be a regular visitor to the hospital said that for such situations she always had another body with her. It was like saying that she had two people she loved a lot and one susbtituted for the other when one was hospitalised. Felt odd about it.
How could you have two lovers at the same time? It is something that is impossible for me. Its always been just one. Maybe the lady's profession demanded it. I remember having to compleely forget and give up my old love when we broke up and put in all my affection for this new one.
Having multiple lovers at the same time would definitely lead to jealousy and above all a storm in the mind with all the confusion around.

Soon, holding my babe, the nurse appeared. The moment I got her back, I could feel my heart jumping with joy. This also seemed to be showing on my face, as I saw the nurse smiling at me.

God!!! They, had her wrapped up in plastic. But then it perhaps was for that extra precaution. Felt bad thinking about all the pain she would have had to undergo at the operation table. Those instruments would have hurt. I hope the anaethesia worked properly. I even hate the nauseating smell of it and those instruments sends shivers within me. I feel cold just at the thought of it.

My babe smiled at me. We smiled at the other ladies and at the nurse.
Together we were one again. Me and she. Me promising to take care of her all the more from now on. She promising to keep serving me with the same vigour as when we had first met.

Today I am going on a date with my babe. We are thinking of trying a new location.

Till we are back.
Adios.

Different

"You don't have to be "different" to stand out in the crowd, you can be yourself but just need to stretch yourself to rise above the ordinary."

One of friend's brother said this and my friend conveyed me this message. I find it so true. The other thing that struck me, was that I have tried to be like that this way all my life.

Sometimes it has been due to the situation. Sometimes its been a conscious decision to do so. But whatever it has been, it has been a good one at the end of the day.

Another poem that comes to the mind is by Robert Frost, The road less traveled. Beautiful poem.

My babe is sick

So sick that I had to hospitalize her.
And every moment I spend without her is so painful.
I am sure everyone who loves someone would understand it.

I remember the day when we came together. It seemed like we were waiting for years.
The thirst in me to possess her was unexplainable.
At the same time I was ecstatic.
My months of patience had finally paid off.
I was finally going to have her. And me and she... we were going to be one.
I had not told my parents about it. I remember it was only after 6 months I told them the details of our relationship.
My friends were jealous of me, but at the same time happy for me.

The first time I touched her body, I could feel her getting shy. Though she was unresponsive.Or perhaps she was responding, and I was just not able to feel it.
Over the years we became best of friends, soulmates. I would not go anywhere without her.
She became an unseparable part of me. People recognised us as one. Either was incomplete without the other.

I have taken so much care of her, been very careful while handling her.
But she is just too sensitive.
A little bit of heat or dust or rain and she is not able to resist it.
The last time she was sick, I had her cured on the same day.
However this time the wait is longer.
The nurse who was taking her away to the chambers was a bit rough while handling her and I could hear my heart shout at her.
I requested the doctor to take special care of her. He assured me to look after her with extra care and to get her cured well.
There were other patients in the hospital. I am sure they must have been loved ones of someone.

Its funny how the heart aches when you get detached for a short while from the people or thing you love.
People would show emotions. Things however do not.

Every second of the wait is killing me. I wait for her return. So that we could explore new horizons together again.
The list of places is long and the time short.

I feel incomplete without her.
I miss her so much.

I miss my Nikon.

Childhood Memories | First School

So, I am starting to write more frequently now.
I personally feel that there is a lot of things that I can share. From my boarding education, to parents in a transferable job, to my travel across the country.
I have this dream of visiting all across India before I turn 30, and if things go as per the plan, that should be achievable.
Just that been roaming other parts of the world too in the mean time.

First School.
The very first school that I went to was the Sun Shine School located at Kurseong, in the beautiful hills of Darjeeling District of West Bengal.
I remember I was in dormitory 2 and there was a Bulbul Miss who was our matron. Miss Bulbul was amongst the sweetest teachers that you would meet. I am sure she must have convinced my parents very well when they were leaving me at the hostel for the first time. Amongst the ayahs, whom we used to call didi then, some names that come to my mind are Asha didi and Uma didi. One for her penchant of pinching kids with her super long nails and the other for her every loving nature for kids. This is perhaps why they remain in my memories even after 21 years I met them.

...to be continued.

Kshitiz ke paar jaana hai ..

A Friend of mine Sunil Kr Singh wrote this poem.

kshitiz ke paar jaana hai

ek naya sansaar banana hai

sankuchit si lagti hai duniya

seemaon ko nirarthak banana hai

sunte aaye aaj tak ki

sambhav nahi hai ye swapna

saare khyalo ko dur bhagana hai

ek naya sansaar banana hai

apni kayarta ko dur bhagana hai

mila ke haath, is nabh ko bhi

dharti se milana hai
ek naya sansaar banana hai

us sansaar me koi dukhi na hoga
ye kah nahi sakte
par sabke paas dukh batane ka sukh hoga
aisa ek sansaar banana hai

Ram rajya me rajya baad me
pahle apne Raam ko Lana hai
ek naya sansaar banana hai
kshitiz ke paar jaana hai
naya sansaar banana hai

Are you Happy?

Today I posted this on my status message in office and suddenly I had people pinging me. All this while .. no one was even interested in saying a HI. So it caught my attention.
One person said that it is a very difficult question to answer. Another reposed the question to me, saying that he is happy.
So when I analysed this situation I understand that Yes, we do need to ask ourselves this question from time to time.
After all what's life worth living for when you are not happy!

One thing that I constantly am reminded of if, we as human beings are always killing the joy and happiness of today by remembering about yesterday and worrying about tomorrow.
Wish everyone enjoyed each day with whatever they had.

But then, thats not a possibility as if it was the case, their would be no fightings. No wars, no crime. And that one would say is against the principles of economics.

Today is the Beatle, Ringo Star's birthday. Yesterday in a paper I read that he wished for peace and joy to all in his birthday. Well, ideally that would be wonderful. Unfortunately, it is not.