Showing posts with label Save your breath. Show all posts

My dear wall



My dear wall ,

For the first time I realise, I neglected you for more than three months.  You had been my best friend, who was always with me, a confidante, for more than 8 years.  I wrote on you my deepest pleasures, I wrote on you my disappointments, I cried on you over my miseries.

What's happening in my life?  It's been a roller coster ride.  Ups and downs.  Forty five is a difficult age.  An age when you are confused if you are young or old?  Just like adolescence there are changes in your body, mind.  One day over the moon, the next deep down the dungeon. You become a misery for people around you. From someone who doesn't expect anything out of anyone, slowly you start to expect some response, a reciprocation of actions, words, gifts.  When they don't materialise, you are deep down the rut, sympathizing with yourself and end up loathing yourself and make them loathe you too.  But, can't help but wonder, why it is tough for people to be attentive, why are they rushing, where are they rushing to?  Why can't they stop and take the time to look or appreciate things on their way? It is only fair or isn't it?  Should not spontaneity be a trait to everyone?

This exactly was why, I neglected you. I don't want my folks or friends to see me like this, after I am long gone,  I want them to remember the cheerful Viji, who takes that extra mile to keep people happy. But, what the hell If I can't talk to you my dear wall, who else can I talk to?

There are some good times too, a new job, few new challenges, new young minds to work along. Life is good in that end.  Family, is good.  My son turned 20, turning into a responsible young man.

Trying out few new things I feel that I truly deserve, a huge silver nose pin for example, getting that was the most beautiful moment.  Seeing my friend's, new born.  Couple of trips out of Chennai.

What more?  Nothing, except the terracotta clay is lying untouched for 2 weeks now. The huge canvas along with paints, lying idle too.  All this blabber, trying to figure out when this phase will pass.  I long to roll in to a ball and sleep for days and never to wake up for few days, weeks, years, decades, maybe a life time. But, I refuse to give that pleasure to me. I refuse to stop.

Dear wall,  I know and I am sorry it is not a happy post or a poem with all those rhymes, that you might feel proud to wear. I know, I bequeath you with a massive frame, with no painting, not a dash of colour, not a sketch, not even an alphabet.  I know if you can, you will delete this post.  But, let it remain.  I want this to be a milestone post, to measure my happiness in the coming weeks.  A yard stick, that will give me the satisfaction to probe and feel the hurt or like a feather soothe the pain, all self created.  This deep rut I had been in for sometime now, the happy face I show to the world is tiring even to me.  God save those people who are connected to me in social networking sites.  It they see picture of a piece of nose sticking out, or the long agony aunt posts, some half boiled photographs... I hope they don't curse me.

So my dear wall, enough of me.  Tell me about you, how are you apart from losing your followers, (a few I remember by names, I don't blame them), apart from feeling neglected, apart from bearing few bitter, sad, melancholic posts, do you feel otherwise good?

Au Revoir friend.  So long... yeah, will be back soon if my spirits lifts up or I won't be back.

Warm Regards,
Viji





The throes of a chronic smoker



The perfect cigarette happen every day,
Forbidden, taking your breath away.
So succulent, inhaling the smoke
It flows like a halo around the tiny glow...

You stand alone, loving the deep drawl,
An exercise as the smoke slowly crawls,
Inhale and exhale - an unadulterated pleasure,
As long as your lungs with stands the pressure...

Many a times when you need release,
You take a drag and feel at peace...
The rush you feel within,
Tender, violent, a sweet sin...

It is history when you finish the tube,
Another hour, and this continues...
It is wrong but it feels so right,
The not so perfect cigarette you hold this night...

24 - The secret gateway to God knows where!



The mystery behind 24:

It's one of those casual days, when I flipped through my FB feeds and found a relative of mine posting just the no 24 and gave us a free rein to guess... His passion is running marathons and quite intense when it comes to running. I frequently see those staggering numbers of kilometres he runs, nothing less than 35 or 40 kms decorating his FB walls through some app calculator.  Just to see those status make me pants, especially for someone who boasts about walking 2 or 3 Kms in a day and feel so proud about it.  This walk most of the times termed by me as photo walks and I stand more at one place and shoot pictures than walking.

My cousin's husband today put a status "24", as usual there were guessing games and he ruled out it is not marathon as he ran 41 kms today and I warned him that I will write a blog post about 24 and it can be anything about 24.  Instead of replying he simply liked my comment and now, I take that as a challenge and as usual try to make it one more blog post. I am, happy that I got some weird topic to rant about.

What can 24 mean? since Wiki at times is too factual and too practical, so not planning to quote many from there.
  • If you keenly look at 2 and 4, you will find 'n' number of things to think of.  Doesn't that look like a Swan with its wings spread high? Doesn't that look like a Snail carrying it's house everywhere?
  • Just to look at that curve 2 and angled 4.  2 looks so girly and curvey and 4 so crisp and manly, when they join together the chemistry hits rock high and Chromium results.
  • Though the numerals are infinite, a day cannot stretch beyond 24 hours, it is too finite isn't it?
  • 24 reminds me of Gold, in the purest form
  • 24 TV series, comprises of 8 seasons, 24 episodes for each season and the 24 episodes comprises of 24 hours in the life of the lead actor
  • Every dimension has kissing numbers and 4th dimension's kissing number is 24; Err! not elaborating, only science can make a word as sensuous as kissing in to something so complicated and technical.  I don't even want to research about it.
But, my guesses comes to a stop here.  Cannot think anything beyond this on 24, may be 12x2=24, that's as far as my Math goes.  Not even by my widest imagination, I can find anything related to marathon and the only Marathon I can think of now is sleep marathon, eat marathon, movie marathon and shop marathon..

Curiosity kills the cat they say, till I die I probably might poke my nose where it is not welcome and do I bother about it? Not at all!  :O Yawn! 

An insomniac's rest

Night doesn't scare me anymore,
I stepped on the sand and walked to the shore.
The waves sound, deafening my ears,
The wind strong, blowing fierce...

It's unfair your thoughts followed,
Howling at me, through waves and shore,
Closing my ears, I raced to the sea,
To blot the feel of your hands on me...

I sat on the sand as waves tore,
Smashing me breathless, clawing my toes...
I immersed firm on the wet sand,
Waves high slapping my hands...

Not a soul under the midnight moon,
The weird sounds snatching my hood,
I wanted to embrace the wave strong,
It evaded after fighting me long.

I knelt and crawled slowly forward,
Waves pushed me down uncovered.
The anger of being left out,
I rolled inside the sea with a shout...

A giant wave, forcing its way...
Took me in without delay,
My eyes burnt raw like fire,
Another wave burning a pyre.

There inside the sea, without you,
I danced my last song fierce and true,
With a smile, I loosened my robes,
Welcoming the sea to caress every pore...

The breath slammed fast on my chest,
Knifing through my lungs, rushed and sped...
Slowly I felt my eyelids close,
Atlast, my heart is ready to dispose...

Confessions from a neglected soul inside a casket


I lie inside, shoulders sore and no space to move,
Thinking of those decades, when I demanded for space,
I had the whole world for myself, yet wanted more,
She yielded, giving me space and made sure not to disturb.

I lie inside, my back crammed, insects climbed taking a bite,
My thoughts wandered, recalling the days 
When she showered her love, unconditional and lived for me...
I accepted the love and gave her some but only when I thought I had the time.

I lie inside with no mobile phones, no laptops, no gadgets,
Thought of the days, when I lived on them and neglected my life,
She waited, she cursed, she fought, yet she stayed,
Praying for a dawn, when I would spend some time with her.

I lie inside my fingers half chewed, thinking of long hours spent on work,
While she waited, for a message from me or a phone call,
It was all me, " I don't want to, I don't like, Don't push me, Give me some time",
Realised but late, we have to make time and it won't wait for us after all.

- Confessions from a neglected soul inside a casket



Life - a solitary journey; jumbled yet to take shape thoughts from me...


It was a home alone day for me and I was left with more than 5 hours on my own. That's pretty rare happening.  I started to do things, I enjoyed most.  After almost a decade, I dusted a book that used to be my favourite, a romance novel. I used to love the kisses, hugs and gentle love making scenes in that book. But guess I grew up and I quit reading it today after 25 pages.

I started to browse my computer on random topics.  Opened up merriam-webster and learnt 32 new words, 
later tweeted, blogged, sketched. I do all this almost everyday but what new? I usually do one of these activities but today but I did all of them, without any interruptions, disturbance.

To achieve these results, as a first thing I decided to keep my mobile away.  As such, no one messages me unless I text them. Except for one or two of my friends and occasional messages to my husband, even I don't text. Now that my cell phone was out of the way, (I set it in loud mode, in case someone tries to reach me, It did not happen and I realised that none of my dear ones are in grave danger and started to relax after the first hour.) I could concentrate better. Gave a pep talk to myself, if someone needs a chat they will call or message, now go and enjoy your rare freedom. Phew! the addiction to that little device. 

These five hours made me realise, the importance of time and how many activities one can squeeze within that time frame and also those rare monologues and talking to yourself sessions.  Quite refreshing, I should say.

Life is a journey of an individual, who had his entry alone and leaves alone. 

Viji's monologue:

  • If you think you are helping a friend and he/she cannot survive without you that is foolishness.  They are perfectly happy without you. They don't need your assistance 24/7, they like you as a friend and that is all.
  • Friendship/relationship/companionship, is beautiful but it is not consistent. More than men, women make the mistake of taking it quite seriously and when it lags a little, feel as if the world turned down.  
  • A small test, will make you realise if you are taking things more seriously than it ought to be.  Count the number of invites you gave and refusals or postponement you received.  Count the number of invites you received and refusals and postponement from your end.
  • If yours exceed them, then you are perfectly happy. But, if it is other way round, then it is time you should be selfish too and nothing like giving reins to your ego, it will perfectly drive you to sanity.
  • Affection and love is addictive, but it comes without a statutory warning. I feel that this is more hazardous and self injurious than any other addiction.  Maybe, I might sound little pessimistic but I am talking about what you deserve and what you get.  Everyone deserve their freedom but with a modest dose of love and affection.  If it exceeds, that is when things become ugly. Shouting matches, calling names, swearing words and bitterness.  Who wants it?  The relationship that is most quoted for love is between a mother and her daughter/son. Even the kids demand space don't they? 

Why am I talking about this?  

Couple of months back, I had a fight too, when I demanded something I thought I deserved. The reply I got shocked me. I was told to pick a weakling and mould that person as I wish.  That moment, I felt as if I stepped on something really nasty.  I told myself even the most revered relationships, however long the relationships are, when provoked, say unpardonable things that might break your heart. This incident taught me that, 'space' is something that I should give, be it my husband, my son or my friends. Not that they are bad, but they are not you.  They don't demand your attention all the time, but you give them the undivided attention and expect the same from them.  Too much love or attention is like forcing others to take a box full of their favourite sweet at one go.  They might end up hating it.

Action taken:

  1. I stopped pushing
  2. I started to take nos the same way, I used to take yes.  
  3. Making mental notes, how to keep myself happy and cheerful.  That doesn't mean I turned into a martyr. But, now I realised I am the best company, I can ever have.  Again, you have to raise yourself to the level when you desire the tete-a-tete with you.  I read a lot, watch what I feel is informative and those long solitary walks during the weekends.
Now, has things changed? 

There you go!  What should change? Everything is perfect. The change should happen within you and others are not your problem. 

What's the next exercise? 

Practice to talk less but talk sense.  

This is going to be really tough for a chatterbox like me.  Facebook is another friend with whom I chat loads and I checked my timeline today, I was taken aback, when I saw my silly status messages laughing at me.  

Moral:  We cannot expect someone to accompany us all the time.  A good company is always welcome, but now that 'sati' is banned, we can't drag our spouses to our funeral pyre you see... :P 

Give peace and get peace too!

Let's live for tonight...


When I look at your eyes,
The wild depth calling out to take a dive...
If I can find a way to lose myself in you,
My heart may wanna a sing a song for you...

Many a miles I would strain,
To watch you gimme your lovely smile.
Oh! Baby when I see you smile,
Am breathless as if I ran a mile,

Let's live for tonight,
Let's live for this hour...
Let's live for all the nights to come,
Let's live forever...

See how beautiful it is,
Waking up and find the other asleep,
It's so easy to be together,
Why spend time away from each other?

Pain




Watching the dusk darken,
Solitary lanterns made shadows deepen,
Remembered another dusk,
When we walked that mile, fresh.
Love shone bright in your eyes,
Or that's what I wanted to find.

Years passed and the love faint,
Found it glowing for another find.
Flitted across before I grasped,
Stepping on my love unabashed.
I remain a song overspent,
Lacklustre, rust and forsaken.

My heart broken yet remain,
Tears unshed, swallowing the pain.
Is there a sign of hope still,
My heart's strive to beat its fill.
Trying to kindle a spark in vain,
Would the love rise from the ash and shine?

Walking down the shackled bridge...



I dreamed a dream of you coming true,
my heart brimming with the tuneless tune
Walked down the shackled bridge,
Rested on a nearby ridge...

I tread with a happy smile,
Dreamt about the days bright,
Far away on a spring evening,
We walked and talked out our feelings...

Sun donning his best garb,
Shone on the stream, not too sharp...
Passing clouds stopped by,
Drizzles ripped the shy sky...

Caught a tangy whiff of you,
The whole outdoors rushed with you...
Pine, Spruce, dew and mist,
The fragrant rain all mixed...

Heady! heady indeed,
I tried to control my heart's plee..
You entered my heart with out a sign,
Dancing those steps, waltzing my spine...

Lovely to see the slanted smile,
Eyes thronged to see your sight...
Hands longed to touch your mane,
Your bewitching laugh, made me insane...

I dreamed a dream of you coming true,
My heart brimming the tuneless tune,
Sudden thunder woke me rude,
All those pleasures wiped out crude...

Saving my breath for whom?


Goliath this time, sitting on my neck,
Holding poor me down on earth.
Waiting the hold to ease a bit,
The struggle heightened, giving no room to breathe.

Twisted, turned and fighting for breath,
Hopes didn't help me.
One more step, I tell myself,
Adjacent is a green meadow with fresh air to dwell...

Why me!?! dear Goliath?
Can't you leave little door for air to flee?
The imprisoned breath chortles out,
Why this much glee, as you desert me?

The fresh ones not gaining entry drained out.
Weakening as days go by...
I  plead for little mercy,
I  plead for little rest...

My eyes refuse to see the meadow next.
It's awash with tears fresh.
Common! help me if anyone is there...
I'm too tired to be bothered any more by this threat.

A rebel in me...


I strained
My head bent to a side
To hear the music
That played inside...

A thrum it was
An idle one at that...
Slowly and steadily
It started to beat.

At times a distinct hum,
At times feeble, deep down my mind.
Every time, I tried to catch it
With out a trace, it would vanish.

I stepped out,
To feel the cool fresh air...
Not aware of the reality
That awaited me there.

It was a strong current
Not a meek breeze, that made me gasp.
With all the air that surrounded me,
I still had to gasp to draw the air.

My lungs filled with more air
Frightened at the force, yet so aware.
Trying to keep my calm,
While hell bent to savour it for long.

Every tiny step I took,
A rebel in me, prodded me to take a look.
I raised my face to face the current,
Brave this time; as I waded further in....

It only hurts, when I breathe!



A mask I wear, to hide despair...
Feeling the pain, as I sucked the air...

Not gliding but clashing with every wall
It clawed, stalling as it scrawled.

Pained when it entered, pained when it exit
How can I fight? the gruelling conflict.

Every day in and every day out,
Holding a smile and clinging to my life.

Its almost sacred, a breath for me
Than a deity, extraordinary...

Mission: "Save your breath"

Air is mandatory... I knew that today.


I am not talking about gentle breeze. I am not talking about stormy winds.  I am talking about the reality. I am talking about AIR.

There were 1000 and 1 thoughts in my mind, when I went to bed at 12.  I make sure, that I am in bed by that time, to escape the wrath of  few friends, who insist that I should be in bed by that time. The 1000 and 1 thoughts didn't allow me to sleep.  I was waiting for a promised call from a friend, who is in the US, which didn't come.  I was having the phone next to my side, primarily because I didn't want to disturb my son who was sleeping next to me. The secondary reason could be, I wanted to answer the phone in the first ring itself.

It was 2.30 AM and I struggled to sit up, something woke me. I gazed at my son, kissed him on his forehead, looked at my husband, then the tears started to pour. I couldn't control myself.  I went to the living room, opened the window and gazed at the road before me.  Nothing...no one was on sight...not even a Dog or his Bitch was there.

It was hard to breathe.  I felt as if someone tried to throttle my neck. I opened my mouth to suck some air. Experienced a shot of pain starting from my spine and spread over my shoulders . I kneeled on the floor, and bent my head, so that it touched the floor.  It was even more suffocating out there.  I got up and walked fast... Up and Down... It made me more breathless.  I sat down and almost choked. I remembered my kindergarten lesson, "Air is mandatory." Gasping for air, made me realise the truth.  I knew for sure today that with out AIR, no one can survive.

I didn't feel anything for Sure :) who slept like a vulnerable boy.  I didn't feel anything for Ani, who slept like a beautiful angel.  I wanted to feel one thing, the Air. The thought hit me then, anyone can live with or without a family ...but living with out Air?

Air is mandatory... I knew that today.  Planning to start a movement..."Save your breath" :)

Fighting for my breath :)





















Sitting on my chair
cherishing my breath
as and when it came
in irregular intervals

Looking at the colors
hearing my son's call
felt his hands on my shoulder
standing tall and smart.

Every breath an herculean task
lifted myself to walk across
feeling weak, but hated to lie
savoring every step that kept me alive..

Life is fun worth living
every minute exotically spun.
live this minute
live for this moment...

thinking of the next
would put you in a rest.
think of tomorrow
your life becomes narrow.

live dangerously
you are going to die just once
what's the fear?
In living it upfront :)

ps: please don't conclude that I'm suffering from terminal illness :)

wisdom comes with experience

At one, I learnt crawling was fun. At forty one, I still feel crawling is fun #blamemykneesnotme