By the power vested in me

Being on the move for studies or job never allowed me to do the paperwork necessary for becoming a part of the Universal Adult Franchise, officially. Or maybe I used my so called nomadic life and the abject political scandals as an excuse to stay away from the ‘dirty’ politics and treat voting day as a holiday of sorts, chanting ‘No one can help this country’. But not this year.

The Homemade Bappa

One of the many fights that I have with my sister is over our favorite Gods. Yes, we Hindus have so many Gods that we can actually afford to fight with our siblings over them when we have nothing better to do. It has become kind of a family activity for us during the festive seasons. I claim that Lord Krishna is the best, while my sister roots for Lord Ganesha, ‘He is the cutest’ being her motto. Hence, there is an eternal Kanhu vs. Gannu fight at the Verma residence.

The 80's kid

That day of the year which God cleverly marked for us to do some introspection is our birthday. It’s the day when we open the log of all the things we gained and lost in the last 365 days. And sometimes that audit extends to the years lived so far. A recap of how everything around us, including ourselves, has evolved with time draws a colorful scrap book in our minds, and it spares no shades. That’s when we realize how far we have come in our lives.

The Unqualified Addict

I hate shopping. There. I said it. But today was different. May be I had a suppressed shopper gene that bloomed so late. And now it’s insatiable… well at least as far as shoes are concerned. I want them. I want them all, in all colors and designs. I know I am not a shopaholic yet, but who knows this might just be the beginning.

Ye Karvan @ Inception 2013

When the GIM chapter came to an end, I looked back at the two years spent with some really amazing people. People who became friends for lifetime, who were the life of that place. People who gave me some wonderful memories. GIM wouldn't have been the same without them. So here's a song dedicated to all of them. I hope to come with a proper music video soon. Till then, here is a clipping from an event called Inception, where I performed this song. It has been written and composed by me. In the video you'll see Aarti and Krithika giving the vocals and me attempting to strum some chords ;)

Before We Say Goodbye

Life’s but a journey. This has been said by quite a number of writers in different ways, in different languages, and is felt by all of us, especially in moments like these when we stand at the edge of one phase, ready to jump into another. It is amazing how faces that we never saw before suddenly became an important part of our lives, our highs, lows, photo albums, and their names got written with indelible ink in our memoirs. We enter new seasons with every new person we meet. Some people are like summer, free, independent, inviting and exciting. Some are like winter, cold, dark, reserved and harsh, if not in tone but in attitude. Some people are like the rain, relieving, refreshing, and reviving, taking away all the scorches that the heat of time left on you, making everything around you pleasant. They give way to spring, for new joys to blossom, new friends to come in. We live these seasons, see life in its different colors and flavors, sunny and crisp, cold, dark and rough, wet and comforting, flourishing and happy. We collect experiences, lessons and philosophies and keep moving. Without them our life would be monochromatic. Some people become so special that you wish you can somehow keep them in your pocket and take where ever you go. They are that page from where your story was never the same. They are someone you always want to fall back on whenever you get tired of walking. They are ageless for you, they are not just seasons, in fact they make every season beautiful. If it’s a hot summer, they’ll be the soothing breeze. If it’s a cold and dark winter, they’ll be the comfort of warm sunshine, if there’s rain, they’ll be the fragrance of wet earth. These are the gems you should never let go as they are what you’ve truly earned when you invested your heart and soul in life. They’ll be the ones that might become a tree when you need rest when you proceed in your endless journey. So let this farewell season be like Spring when you shed all your illusions, inhibitions, doubts, hatred, ego and just prepare for the new life to arrive while holding hands with friends you’d want to cherish all your life. Tell them that you love them, before it’s too late and secretly make a promise to be there for them, as they’ll be there too.