Friday 1 June 2012

To all engineers who are proud of who they are

Battles we fight, some we win, some we lose
Through challenges and hurdles we cruise


Some say we've got everything we need
Asking for more will only mean greed

We don't care about the money
Well... that does sound funny

A legacy of our own we aim to build
We belong to the Above & Beyond guild

When things get better by a little deed we did
Then we know we've truly lived

In the arena of life we're Warriors
People also call us "Engineers"

Thursday 31 May 2012

Why do I smile so much???

Some of my friends simply can't wrap their minds around why I smile all day... That's not at all an exaggeration. I do smile most part of everyday sometimes even in my sleep. :) Let me make it easy for the baffled minds. Here are some of the few reasons that make me smile:
  1. Rains in Mumbai
  2. Raw mangoes and gooseberries right off the tree
  3. Bamboo swing
  4. Mom's lap
  5. Lots and lots of books
  6. Rib-aching & eyes-watering laughter
  7. Songs that caress the soul
  8. Ice cream at midnight
  9. Lovely dreams
  10. Surprises!!
  11. Old photographs
  12. Surya & Karthi
  13. Fun with friends
  14. Beach
  15. A walk with cool breeze blowing across the face
  16. Bike rides
  17. Tamizh - Ninaithaley inikkum :)
  18. Close knit family
  19. Cute little doggie
  20. Star gazing till the break of dawn
  21. The colours of dawn and dusk
  22. Jumping to reach the temple bell
  23. An infant's smile
  24. Teasing loved ones
  25. Garden full of flowers
  26. Pani puri... mmm...
  27. Chocolate pastry
  28. Moonlight dinner (the good old nila soru)
  29. When someone desperately tries to make you smile
  30. Guitar in action
  31. Birds chirping
  32. Dairymilk "Meetha ho jaye" ads
  33. That one special sms :)
  34. Kausar's battles
  35. Rishabh's childish behaviour
  36. Susmitha's warmth
  37. Vinda's so-called innocence
  38. Deepa's craziness
  39. Sreyas' mimicry
  40. Shalaka's voice
  41. Sujju's innocence
  42. Mikil's atrocious jokes
  43. Ganesh's questions
  44. Gishu's one-liners
  45. Bharath's anger
  46. Uday's... Actually everything about Uday!
  47. Junior college Wednesdays
  48. My first week in Vani Vidyalaya
  49. Meeting a long lost friend
  50. Lunch with the 'Lunch Gang'
  51. Shopping with Chitthi
  52. Winning a car race on the way home
  53. A heartfelt thank you
  54. A sheepish sorry
  55. Cuddly teddy bear
  56. Unconditional love of a pet
  57. Picnics with friends/family
  58. First rain fragrance
  59. Flower shower
  60. A call just to say hi
  61. Ridiculous childhood stories
  62. Watching a horror movie with Sriram
  63. Waterfall
  64. Making the supposedly impossible possible
  65. Water park slides
  66. Surpassing the highest score in a game
  67. The IPad experience!
  68. A controversial hour of UNO with cousins
  69. Watching Deepa dance :D
  70. Childhood memories
  71. Kindness shown by a stranger
  72. Siripoli comedy scenes
  73. Vijay's Chennai proverbs
  74. Yogesh's concepts
  75. Yasmeen's photo shoots ;)
  76. An old couple caring for each other
  77. Iyshu's charm
  78. Harshit's zeal
  79. Ramesh athimber's funny comments
  80. Radha amma's soft spoken & loving nature
The list is not over yet! As I am writing I know there would be more reasons that would make me feel happy, touched, flattered, excited, amazed, wishful,... more reasons that would make me smile.

Thursday 24 May 2012

Cuckoo in a crow’s nest

This was a writing skills assignment way back in college. I remember the instructor asking me if it was an autobiography. Well, it's clearly not one, but yes, it has bits and pieces of my life in it. When I read it now, I can think of a lot more things that make this city even more beautiful...

Simple, innocent, dedicated, hardworking, loving, compassionate, gentle,… this is how Gowri was when she first set out for the city where dreams were believed to come true – Mumbai. She hailed from a coastal village - Chemmanchery in Tamil Nadu. Her life there, according to her, was nothing short of ultimate bliss. She simply loved the depths of the sea, the cool breeze, the green fields and the enjoyable bullock cart rides. Even though she loved being in her village, she didn’t shy away from accepting that she had always dreamt of going to Mumbai to pursue her dreams. She never ceased to work towards her dreams and believed that one day she will be in Mumbai.

The time finally came on a fine summer morning when she received a letter confirming her admission to a course offered by the JJ School of Arts. She was thoroughly excited and spent the next few days planning her trip.

She traveled to Mumbai by train. She was not only surprised but also shocked to see the railway station so crowded. She had seen such a huge crowd only in the village fair. She stood for a few minutes to watch the entire place buzzing with apparently all kinds of activities - vendors trying to sell their wares, porters trying to canvass the passengers, stalls selling books, newspapers & refreshments, beggars begging for alms and so on.

She made her way through the crowd; hailed a taxi and reached her hostel. She felt a bit out of place when other girls gave a piercing stare as they passed by. That look on their faces was enough for her to feel like an outcast. Unlike most girls in Mumbai, she was conservatively dressed with not the slightest trace of makeup on her face. In a metropolis like Mumbai, people like Gowri definitely make heads turn, not in awe or admiration but in disgust and insult.

Her first day in college was a complete disaster. During the orientation programme, as soon as she spoke a few words in English, she heard an uproar of laughter all around her. Her English was a bit affected.

Then there was this uncontrollable traffic and the intolerable pollution. People always seemed to be in a hurry. No one seemed to even stop a moment and greet an acquaintance. This was one quality of Mumbai that she hated the most.


Within twenty four hours of her coming to Mumbai, she felt disgusted and sincerely wanted to go back home but after some thought decided to try again. Her decision was put to test very soon when her roommates switched on the music system and started listening to music that, according to Gowri, was nothing but nuisance. She tried to get some sleep but the volume at which the music was being played made it just impossible. She remembered those nights in her village that used to be so quiet yet so full of life. She remained awake for what seemed like days.

The next morning she was up by six in the morning though she had to go to college only by ten o’clock. She watched her roommates wrestling with their alarm clocks and she couldn’t help but laugh. Certain things amused her while others left her shell-shocked.

She used to travel by the local train to her college. Each day was a different experience. On certain days the train would be crowded to the extent of suffocation while on other days, it used be a pleasant journey. Gowri considered the local train as one of the most interesting places in Mumbai. People rushing in and out, people fighting just like that, some of them catching their morning’s sleep and some others gossiping made the local train very interesting. She also liked the vendors who used to sell everything right from pens to vegetables.

Within the college campus and outside too, she saw boys and girls hugging each other, going out together and hanging out at malls. Her only reaction was that these were not for her. She vividly remembered how boys and girls behaved back home. She was awestruck by the striking contrast between the two cultures. But then there was one thing in common between the two places and that was that people remained united all along. One would not tolerate his/her friend’s insult.

Then again there were some things that disturbed her. For instance, whenever she went to the railway station, on her way she always found people begging. This was not something that Gowri had never seen but the fact that disturbed her was that most of them were children. She felt sad that at an age where they were supposed to go to school, they were forces to beg at traffic signals, railway stations, trains and so on. She felt her heart reaching out to them.

Then there were the roadside stalls that sold mouth-watering snacks. Gowri simply loved the Pani Puri. In bright contrast to these stalls Mumbai also has malls. Somehow, Gowri didn’t develop a liking for the malls. She still liked the idea of asking the shopkeeper about each product and bargaining.

One other striking feature about Mumbai is that people are free to speak their minds and select their own form of worship. She was amazed at how people completed their work before the specified deadline. She also saw that people were open-minded and thought about ideas in a broad perspective. Another fact that bowled her over was the way people’s priorities have changed. Even a worker wanted to provide the best education to his children. She started developing a liking for the place and its people.

As each day passed, she got accustomed to the environment and the people along with their idiosyncrasies. She was so dedicated to her work that everybody started noticing her. They couldn’t believe that Gowri was improving at breakneck speed. Slowly her classmates started approaching her for help with their assignments and study material. She never refused and was always ready to help. As such anyone and everyone came to her for help.

In the course of time, Gowri started believing that all her classmates thought of her as their friend. She felt on top of the world but not for long. She fell ill and couldn’t attend college for nearly two weeks. In all those days, not a single person called to check on her health. Gowri experienced the weakest moments of her life, both physically and mentally, during this period. She learnt a lesson that in a city like Mumbai where people have their focus on the fulfillment of their dreams, there was no place for friendship or gratitude. After this low period, she emerged stronger.

When she went back, there were people in her class enquiring about her health. Some were people she had never had the chance to even speak to and some others who just asked for namesake. She was touched by the courteous behaviour and enraged by the so called sweet behaviour. She forgave them because she was a staunch believer of the proverb “Forgive and Forget”.

Then there were times when the behavior of people confused Gowri. Whenever there was a disaster, it was always the public who came ahead to help their fellowmen. Yet the next day everything comes back to normal and people again seem to be in a ‘don’t care’ attitude. Gowri found it difficult to fathom people in Mumbai.

After completing her course, when Gowri was about to visit her native place the first time in three years, she felt that all these days though she had been on a rollercoaster ride and had experienced a whirlwind of emotions, yet she felt a sense of belonging to this place and its people. Such was the charisma of Mumbai. In short, life for a girl like Gowri in Mumbai, is like watching a movie. There are some things that you love, some others that you wish you could change and some others that disturb you to the extent that they leave a mark on your soul forever.

Saturday 19 May 2012

Never easy

Feels like I’m badly shaken,
In fact a little heartbroken

With tears absolutely blinding
And a pain too searing

A blow this is, I can’t survive
No matter how hard I strive

Foolish as it might seem
I wish all this was only a dream

Memories of togetherness bloom
Bringing a ray of hope amidst the gloom

Hope is magical yet so unfair
For my life’s still in pieces, beyond repair

But when the memory of his smile emerges slow,
I know, just for that, I can let go…

Saturday 12 May 2012

When words are not enough...

Starts her day when we’re fast asleep
Listens to our thoughts, crap or deep

Can never see a person more giving
At times, she can be demanding

For her, facing life’s challenges is never dreary,
Stepping onto an escalator is very scary

Tells stories that we love to hear
Loves us more year after year

Amazing to know her emotions are driven by ours
She can watch us smile for hours

There’s a lot that we want to say
Today we’d say “Happy Birthday!”




Monday 7 May 2012

Fondly remembering 2010

Today I stumbled upon this pic on my facebook profile. It's been a long time... brought back a lot of memories... a lot of smiles too. Strange how a one liner can make one remember age old memories!! :)



Friday 4 May 2012

Heavenly Showers

 The rains promise a climate so pleasant
Often means trouble for the peasant

The roads look great with potholes aplenty
People falling ill is an added bounty

Stepping into puddles you can’t escape
Sight of a clean car will leave you agape

Water logging is a constant scare
Rain lovers are so very rare


A cool breeze they bring along
On windows & umbrellas they play a song

Will paint the scorched brown green
One'll pause to admire that scene

Happiness of the kids really soar
Hot chai & bhajiya, you’ll want more


Look around to see a mist plentiful
Don't you feel everything is beautiful?

Nothing matches the first rain fragrance
A stroll in the drizzle means pleasure immense

Raindrops on the face is a cool caress
Aren’t the rains lovely? Oh yes!


Sunday 29 April 2012

The Beginning

Every beginning is beautiful... So is the beginning of this habit of writing. This little piece that I wrote way back in March, 2011 marked the beginning of a hobby that I love today. The person I wrote it for rated a different poem of mine as his favourite but for me this has been really special and will remain so.

A friend so just
Worthy of trust

With a lot of flair
And a heart to care

Will make you smile
From across a mile

At times a lil’ hazy
But definitely crazy

Calls himself a zero
But to many a hero

The UD-Swan breed
Is rare indeed 

From Glad to Sad to Mad


I’ve always believed that being happy is as easy & natural as breathing. It has been that way for me for as long as I can remember. No matter what, I always find a reason to smile. In fact I’m so used to being happy all the time that an occasional moment of sorrow seems like an unbearable burden… But I’m really glad that such moments are occasional!

I’ve been expecting one such gloomy moment since the past few days yet it happened when I least expected it. I barely managed to contain the leaks. But what makes these tears special is the reason behind them. More often than not I’ve seen people crying about their own misfortune, about how they didn’t get what they wanted so badly. There’s nothing wrong about loving yourself. But when you see someone crying about someone else or praying for that other person, a feeling of awe is evoked in you. Suddenly the helplessness and pain seem worth it.

Everything has its own beauty, isn’t it? But do you see beauty when an invisible emotional burden weighs you down? The negative emotion grows over time until there’s nothing else left. I wonder why the same doesn’t apply to joy. If you’re just a little happy, you’re just a little happy, nothing more, nothing less… It takes so much more for one to feel delirious or ecstatic. But have you ever felt that you were just a little sad? It starts small but then grows and consumes the person if not kept under check.

I have this theory that all the positive emotions are like solids. They always take up the same space and for them to grow, you need to add more solid blocks. On the other hand, the negative emotions are like gases. You give them a little space and they take up everything they can lay their hands on.

Strange analogy, isn’t it? My experience today makes me want to believe that this theory might be true. In the beginning, I was sad about one little thing but then I realized after some time that I was pining about something else too. This went on until I felt miserable about how sad my life had become… But the magic of happiness struck again! I was happy to be my usual happy self again. Thanks to all the wonderful people who give me more reasons to smile. J

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Tinier than tiny

We human beings are so fascinated by magnanimity that we forget to appreciate the beauty of everything that is little. We all pine till we get something huge out of life, an award at work, a huge increment, a palatial house, an expensive car, an even more expensive piece of jewellery, an extravagant lifestyle,… And then we pine again for the next big thing.

 All of us wish for something because we believe achieving that goal would make us happy. We also know that the path that leads to the destination is not an easy one. We willingly accept the challenge and go through all the toil and turmoil. Once we reach the finish line, we feel blessed… we revel in the joy of the moment and then… and then another sparkly thing in the distance catches our eye and we set out on the path that leads to it. We don’t cherish the present success, which we worked so hard for, anymore. All of us are lost in this never ending cycle of sorrow interspersed with only moments of joy. We are so caught up in this race that some of us don’t even notice the tiny reasons that make life worth living.


There are tiny reasons that make us smile, tinier reasons that make us cry & smile at the same time and some really tiny reasons that make us cry over & over again. A baby’s smile, an innocent sorry, crazy friends, the fights of love, a surprise, a childhood memory, a prank, a dance in the rain, the taste of yummy food,… the list can go on & on. One thing we all need to learn is to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Cherish what you already hold in your hands both living and non-living. Love every person in your life with all your heart. Have fun every moment of every day. Live a meaningful life… a life where you are more happy than sad.

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Love, Loss, Life

A glimpse of her face warms his heart
Her smile makes his world go round
A few words exchanged makes his day...

Yet the unrequited love 

Makes him wish; Makes him hope
Deludes him into living a lie
And slowly drives him crazy

Memories bring comfort no more
Nothing else matters anymore
A crossroads it sure is...
But every path cushioned with thorns

The once twinkling eyes lifeless
Smile creased cheeks now tear-stained
A zombie he's become, wasting away
Waiting for a day that'll never dawn

Love, the heavenliest of blessings, cruelest of curses