Footprints - the tiny steps

...the steps are tiny, 

Day so gloomy

Fear over-shadowed the path ahead.

A branch so low with fruits laden,

Mirage pleases' the eye not the soul.

Landscapes drift 

But I stood still,

The tiny steps moved ahead.

Gruesome winds blew,

Filled the airs with dismay.

Soothsayer words I remember

Believe not whatever they say.

In the twilight

I walked miles,

The steps so tiny yet so mighty - 

Refrained from the dangers ahead.

All eyes on the tiny steps 

Full of scorn and contempt, 

With head bowed low

The tiny ones marched ahead. 

Eluding the shyness,

Suppressing a tear

A heart throbbing prominent,

Trailing the tiny steps.

Time subdued the valor

Pride vanquished against age,

History remembered nothing

But the tiny footprints that made their way...

The Evening

...amidst the happy chirping,
A cry suppressed within.
Bewildered and lost
Huddled making its way
To the clouds drifting away.

Sun plunged happily,
Behind the mountain.
Infants in unison
Cried to reach their mothers.

The dust settled down,
Smoke rose from the chimneys.
Boys on the street,
Girls safe with their fathers
Singing and playing.

Silhouettes’ fading,
The mind pondered.
Emptiness carved the emotions,
Still on the bed I lay
And the heart wandered.

Footprints coming and going,
Noise lingered through the air.
Acquaintances disappeared,
In the dark night
Dreams all aloof
Desolate soul gasped for breath.

Breeze uncovered the moon,
Twinkles brightened.
The eye felt moist again,
I woke up -
The evening still lingered...

Roaring Silence

Imagine ‘silence’ being listed in the stock markets. The shareholders will never be disappointed and the dividends would just lure more customers. But in reality it is hard to find such a place, (place is a very broad term), it is even hard to find a moment of silence in our lives. Even if the environment is quiet enough, the restless thoughts keep the convolutions in the brain going. There is no place under the sun where you can treasure some moments of peace in life.

It was a long journey throughout the day. I was desperately looking for some place where I could find some peace at least till I reached home. I boarded a bus, took a ticket and sank in my seat. Nathaniel Baldwin is a person whose contribution can never be ignored and one can never be thankful enough for his invention. He is the only person whose invention makes some sense in this clamorous world- the headphones. I quickly stuffed a pair of earphones and was lost sketching my virtual world. In the streets of Vizag (Visakhapatnam) you can rarely find a bus that is not overcrowded. The howling students released from their tuitions make the journey even more miserable. It was a scorching Saturday afternoon and the bus carried very few passengers- what a relief. I was enjoying the ride until I saw a bunch of faces in the very next stop.

There were about 20 faces in all. Most of them were students all dressed neatly in the uniforms and yes shiny black shoes. The girls had white ribbons hanging from their pretty long plaited hair. The shades of their uniform were rarely matching. The boys wore blue trousers and white shirts, and the girls had the same combination in skirt and blouse. Each boy had a tidy partitioned hair. This was a rare sight. All of them had an emblem etched onto their pockets which resembled a dove sitting on a branch. The front seats were occupied by two ladies who must have been their teacher. There was this lady all clad in a sari and had a charming smile. She took few toffees out from her hand bag and gave it to some of them. Then a flood of handshakes made it clear it was her birthday. All the hands waving in the air clumsily and their lips moving fast. I dare remove my earphones. The teacher finally stood and all the hands started clapping. With shining teeth all of them started chattering. Their hand were moving very fast and their fingers as if chanting something. Their eyes wide open and filled with expressions. Another troupe of classical dancers I said to myself. The road had a few bumps and a little girl stumbled and fell on the floor. I grabbed the phones out of my ears and helped the little one. All eyes on me at once. That was not the point, I was terrified. There was complete silence. For a moment I thought I screwed my eardrums. But I could hear the engine growling and few whispers here and there. In no time there were smiles all over the place. I felt a sudden upsurge of warmth and happiness. The teacher walked up to me and handed me a few confectionaries, I understood she conveyed her thanks. The children all clapped their hands, I felt a lump down my throat. The bus again squealed and finally came to a stop. There was no confusion - no pushing and pulling, all of them formed a queue and walked down the aisle and climbed down the steps. One of them gently bowed the head in respect to the driver and finally when all of them descended, a hand tapped the bus door signaling to leave. I looked behind, all of them were waving their hands. These students from a nearby school were deaf and dumb. I sat in my place and smiled to myself. A feeling as if I have discovered the true meaning of silence dawned upon me. My heart was filled with content.

I learnt a simple lesson. We grumble day and night, working on the imperfect ‘myself’. Maybe time has come to live a happy life respecting the imperfections and to discover joys beyond the materialistic world.

Walk from the Pyre – a Soulful Tale

“There you are” I said to myself looking down at the soulless body.

I was in comma for a few days, finally drew a full stop today. Death is ought to happen. The dearest ones cry their heart out, kith and kin weep, some sob and a few wear a frown. I was not at all moved, death favors the brave. I was tired living in the virtual world and breathing the pseudo oxygen in ICU.

My wife was a prized possession from high school. Her love for beloved diminished marginally. My children - the intellectuals distanced themselves from my ghastly behaviour which indeed was utter love in my perspective. Friends and their parting promises made at the convocation was a fading memory now. The world’s ideologies are being ruled by machines rather than common sense. Moreover to the expensive world out there and the incessant demands all I could bargain was my happiness.

Free from the usual din of thoughts I smiled this morning easy. Light diffused through the fog. Ambience-serene and calm with a twinkle here and there. Skilfully stroked silver lining appeared throughout the immense sky. Shiny eyes, untainted faces and laughter filled the air with vibes unexplainable. It was a carnival shimmering with happiness.

Thud! Savitri banged her head on me. Poor heart trembled and throbbed. I was squeezed into the soulless body. I opened my eyes reluctantly. Insecurity surged behind the veiled faces, each trying hard to smile and harder to be themselves. I carved to sleep longer, closed my eyes – ‘...if afterlife was so beautiful, I would have played death every day...’