The Last Slice

It’s the last hour of weekday.I am ready to unwind,“What’s the plan?”, flickers on my screen.I promptly type, “Care for a drink?”One turns onto two. Two to many.Now, hunger pangs roar as savvy restaurants are unkind.“All booked, All booked”, they cry.Last minuters like us are left high and dry.Big fast food names are a no-no.Kebab shops around here are so-so.Our eyes meet, our lips wet.“Is that what you have been thinking?”“You bet!”One Pepperoni and One Caramalised Onion are under attack.Our mutual love for Pizza, cannot be held back.“Go for it!”, he encourages me, eyeing the last slice.“Tomorrow?”, I succumb being sincere and nice.Suddenly, I remembered such last morning after.My annoyance at empty cartons was met with laughter.Now, I couldn’t let it happen twice.The great betrayal at the Last Slice.

Read More →

Buddha’s Crest

A fallen seed from the heaven,Are you frightened of getting dirty in the muddy waters?Hold your reins against those torrential currents and menancing pests.Others may bloom at the will of sweet sunshine,But only you will learn to breathe underwater.Blossom solitary.Unfluttering your pearly white petals,As the Buddha’s Crest.Blossom solitary.

Read More →

Child of Twilight

I stood firmly as a tree,witnessing a miraculous sight.To my left the sky was on fire,Burning deep yellows to orange brights.Consciousness at its peak, analysing this blissful time.To my right the sky was electric,Soothing deep indigo to silver ink blues.My sub conscious gently breaking into a melodic song.I stood firmly as a tree,witnessing a miraculous sight.An immersed whole me,The child […]

Read More →

My womb in agnst

Slam down the biological clock,Screaming at me tick tock, tick tock. Clomid, Metformins, that thirsty blood sucking syringe,Like it’s a past life revenge.Ensure a supply of Collagen and vitamins,Don’t you dream of a bottle of Heineken.Gluten free, high protein,Your unsolicited advice is truly bothering. Despair aligned to the moon waxing or waning,My wombs agnst is silently draining.Soaked bedsheets after nightfall,Awkward […]

Read More →

मृगजळ

(Continuing my series on Parks in cities. This one on Central Park) माया नगरी, माया बाजार,भांडवलशाही राज्यांचे हे सुवर्ण दार.काम नाही तर राम नाही,काम नाही तर राम नाही,शहराला या आराम नाही. तरीही, भाग्यवान मँहँटनकरांनाआहे एक हक्काचा हिरवा गालिचा,सामान्य माणसाच्या यादीत असतोCentral Park चा फेरफटका. भटकता भटकता दिसते, त्या एखाद्या गरीब बापड्याला,Park मधून डोकावणारे ते पंचतारांकित शहर.तेंव्हा चंमचंमणार्या त्या मंझिंलींचीही भिडते […]

Read More →

Alice in Wonderland

(Remembering my walk around Stanley Park, this time around last year) I walk hurriedly like the Mad Hatterbut with an air of a friendly West Coast jet-setter.Very determined, I open the Stanley Park map.A light grey sky cannot deter a Londoner armed with a rainy cap. The Lion Gate bridge adds to its glory as the theatrical sea planes fly […]

Read More →

A Weekend in Windermere

In a bright red kayak,bouncing upon the gentle waves of Windermere,flowing in a rhythm of two to two. On a thin wooden branch,swinging over the shore of Windermere,dancing in a rhythm of two to two. Up on my sturdy feet,climbing over the hills at Windermere,descending in a rhythm of two to two. On the narrow roads,driving amidst hues of green […]

Read More →

Bread

Mixing, kneading has already been dusted.My weekend beauty sleep has been busted.That occasional clank of the pan withthe soft rattling rolling-pin.A warm doughy waft invites me in. The flour and oil, rolled into a ball so tender.A Phulka, a Paratha, a ghee laden Puran poli, I wonder.I enter nonchalantly and say,”What’s cooking?”Shrinking well below three feet when she says, ” […]

Read More →

#MeToo

#Metoo, Me three, Me fourLet the silences unschackle and make a way for an outpour. That brutal gaze, that unwanted touch, those lewd remarks,With a sly smile, mock laughter or those numerous fake pleas. In dark alleys, on morning runs,in a broad daylight bazaar, amidst ganpati processions. That builder in slippers on the train , the whats his name lad drowning in perfume at the bar, the man in a suit with a fancy car. Empty promises, emotional blackmail or unwarranted threats,Sober or drunk, in isolation or crowded streets. My chiffon sari, my friend’s floral dress, my sisters short skirtWill tell you the same story of vulnerability,Of burning rage, of unspoken words, of moral guilt trips, of repressed shame.Ofcourse, the person responsible wasOnly Me. With no safe place to disclose, hush your tone, what will They think, it happens, you will fall flat on your nose. Time we address a change and create an uproar.Because it has been MeToo, Me Three and Me Four. 17 October 2017

Read More →