carte blanche

{
Walking down the street.
To the place where you fund your dreams.
Bright light on the upper right corner, making you feel the heat.
Met my eyes with the bird passing by.
Then I entered the zone where everyone is shy.
Familiar with those transactions of expression.
None will ever try to unmask the real I.
}

{
While crossing the street...
Yuv: +(she was just besides me)
Yuv: -(so how does she look?)
Yuv: +(ahh...well in this case I'm bit unlucky)
Yuv: -(well then you are...)
Yuv: +(ha...ha!!)
Yuv: -(...only until you meet her again!!)
Yuv: +(yeah... but is that possible?)
Yuv: -(ask yourself!!)
Yuv: +({fingers crossed})
}

{
While crossing the street...
Sia: +({struggling to cross...looking upwards} why can't I have super powers to stop these cars??)
Sia: -(ohh!! Please don't disturb that uparwala baniya! You can easily do that)
Sia: +(just tell me how??)
Sia: -(its simple...you just have to close your eyes and walk across the street)
Sia: +(thank you for your suggestion...huh)
+(well you observed the guy crossing the street??)
Sia: -(ya...I know...he was just beside me)
Sia: +(so you saw him?)
Sia: -(yup!)
Sia: +(why didn't you tell me??)
Sia: -(you were busy demanding for super powers)
Sia: +(ohh God!! Wish I could see him again... please)
Sia: -(GOD: ACCESS DENIED!!)(hahaha)
}

{
While crossing the street...just behind the wheel...
Veer: -({struggling to tune the stereo frequency} what makes them so interesting?)
Veer: +(just be and it's an eve with live fire burning right inside you)
Veer: -({right from the windshield} ohh my...my... angelic demon {stereo sings}[my heart's a stereo...turn me up when you feel low...]
Veer: +(what's good when everthing you touch turns to gold?)
Veer: -(except me... everything!!)
Veer: +(sometimes distractions are must{pointing at angelic demon})
Veer: -(Agreed! Best part is when the diversion takes you to the distraction)
Veer: +(well diversions are used for helping safe journey and not for distraction)
Veer: -(well my well-wisher thanks for your concern...but I don't want to dash anyone and crash my stereo of heart)
(Coz someday...someone is going to turn it up)
Veer: +(I can see the rare anti -ve sign of your stereo...good for... never turn it down)
}

{
While crossing the street,
Keeping wings wide open,
The BIRD gliding through the winds,
Intercepting those perception,
Wondering if not imagination,
Intersecting the axis of dimension,
Making one feel dysfunction,
Avoiding the detention of attention,
Skipping those milestones,
Refusing to stay onboard,
Findings of losing something,
Be-living the alive and awesome thing,
Holding on to unfolding,
Wandering to be lost,
Meeting the unknown,
Mapping those footsteps of landmarks,
Approaching you slowly,
Just right when you are....
Walking down the street,
Spending the precious fundings of dreams,
Bearing the light on the upper right corner,
making you feel the breathe!
So many sleepless nights,
Waiting for someone to meet,
End up being inevitably foredoomed!!


Dive into your drive,
Ride along your dreams,
Coz this is what we live for!!
Crash in those cooling breeze,
And swing in between those trees,
Screaming,
That you are not just dreaming,
But living it!!
Sometimes your mind need wings,
To get lost into the springs.

So live on love,
Coz time is just a man-made fiction,
but it's you who is being spent!!

-BIRD
}

Let the story begin....

unrevealed

I climbed up to the top just to meet that person. A person who was unknown to me. Whom i had never met in my life. It was a calm and soothing place with no humans around. At a certain distance i could see a man using an edgy tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle chopping heavy wooden logs. A little closer i reached, i see that the man had a great physique, strong arms. He was chopping those wooden logs without any extra efforts. Still i couldn't see his face. As i came closer he stopped his work and asked me to wait inside the wooden house he pointed to. I believe he might have built it. I sat on the chair, leaping outside to see the face. The room was lit by flickering sunrays from the ceiling. He entered the room but i couldn't see his face because of the lighting effect. He sat in front of me. His face was covered in dark. A grungy voice asked me,"What are your questions?" Me: (I was stunned to hear that type of tone and couldn't respond to such question immediately) Ahh...Mm...Sir Myself Ved. I am doing Masters in Journalism. According to the nature of my field, my answer to your question is yes. I am here for questions. He: Shoot!! Me: Why do you live here in middle of the jungle away from your family? He: Family...(calmly and in a soft tone) i had once. Me: Ohh..I am so sorry. I shouldn't ask this question. He: Okay no problem. Me: So how do you live in this jungle? He: I am trained to live in any condition. Me: Okay but i meant without money how can you survive? He: For survival you don't need money. Only your spirit of living is enough. Me: I have studied one of your log book. It says you have survived 50 degree Celsius of heat for months and that too without food. Is that true? How could you manage the heat? Anyone could faint in a span of few hours. What led you to go through this phase? (He took a deep breath) He: 'Swadharme nidhanam shreyaha' Which means - it is a glory to die doing one’s duty. Me: I am still not able to connect with your thoughts, that why someone unknown to me, unknown to many is willing to die for? He: For me it is and will always be 'Kartavyam anvatma'. Duty before death. Me: Who gives you such duties to follow? He: Me. Me: What gives you the satisfaction of serving them who are unknown to you? Who are not knowing you? Who hardly take care for you? He: 'Balidanam vir lakshanam' - sacrifice is a characteristic of the brave. Me: If you don't mind can you tell me about your family? (I felt a sudden change in his voice. He was wiping his right eye. It was dark but i think i saw him crying) He: I was on duty in J&K while my mother, father, my wife and my daughter were in Pune. Before reporting the camp i had a phone call with my wife. They were going for offering prayer to Lord Ganesha (Siddhivinayak, Mumbai). Do you know for whom they went all the way from Pune to Mumbai? Me: For your well being and safety? He: Not only me but for our whole regiment. My wife told me that morning, that she is going to offer prayers for our regiment and our families and wish to see us alive in single piece sitting with family enjoying the WE hours. After their visit to temple, they took Mumbai local to visit my relatives. (He paused for a minute and continued) He: Lately around 9pm we got the news about the train blast. I rushed to the campsite to get the access to satellite phone. I tried reaching all their numbers. None of them were reachable. For the first time in my life i felt the fear that they were experiencing while i was on duty. I was out of my senses. Was feeling restless. Unable to think what to do next. (Wiping his tears) My relatives in Mumbai somehow managed to contact me and informed me about my family. (In a concluding tone) And now here I am on a leave and will be resuming my duty soon. Me: (Still couldn't see his face) May i know your name Sir? (His face appeared from the dark, and his left eye was scratched badly. He could only see through his right eye) He: Sorry i cannot. We have some protocols to follow. Let me tell you one thing you have an image in your mind that once we get into this uniform, we don't carry our heart with us! We become a mean-maniac-war-machine irrespective of a single thought of what will happen to me, to my family, to my daughter. But i need you to pay attention!! We are humans, we have feelings, we have emotions. To add more fact we also have a consistent fear of failure. But we are never trained to how to tackle it. What happens if a Batsman is on strike and whole crowd in stadium is least interested to boost his morale?? Clean bowled!! With no second chance!! Me: (I just got the feeling that i have done nothing to support these guys in my entire life except singing National Anthem hardly twice or thrice in a year. Which is just not enough. I believe we need to support them who are unknown to us but are on constant duty for us. I without any words, saluted him and left without throwing any more irrelevant questions.)

Dedicated to: Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and all other lions who are protecting their kingdom.

idiosyncrasy

Have you ever come across these questions in your life?
Well you won't come to know until you have a look.

Do you remember our elders used to run away from us because we used to ask too many questions? And such questions were little difficult to answer!
As a child we had many questions in our curious mind.
Some questions were answered spontaneously and many were left unanswered!

For such unanswered questions, there are answers hidden somewhere around us.
It may happen that the answer which you seek for, is seeking you!

Why is the darkness that leads to you the light?
Does the time lapsed makes you feel alive?
Why there is tear drop of waterfall, when we get what we need?
Who is that artist, painting your heart when you meet someone?
Which is the language people speak through their eyes?
What makes you smile to an unknown guy?
Though the climate is suitable to relax, why there are cyclones inside?
When you have eye contact with someone, and the other person is in conversation with you, sometimes you cannot hear those words! As if you are deaf or the person is dumb!
Which is that zone making you feel all alone, even when you are surrounded by crowd?
Why do you feel so happy, though not on face, but inside your heart, when there is someone special next you?

When you are bordered by problems with almost no solutions, and you choose to leave the situation, feeling like life on the edge, so close until you touch the great divide!!
You will still find an invincible power within you! A sound which you ignore. A wind that blows. A light that seeks. A blaze deep inside. And a river flowing downstream.

Look at these faces...

Ask yourself...

While looking at them why is there a sweet smile of my face?

What is my connection with them?

Who are they?

Who am I??

When Two Souls Met

"Have you ever been to a place called "Dev Bhoomi"??"

If not, just have patience because, you are going to be there without being there, where you haven't been yet, but you will evoke your subconscious, without affecting your conscious of undergoing through an intuitive understanding of a perception.

"Don't worry, I know we are losing our direction, but that doesn't mean we are lost!!"

It was Vasant Ritu (Indian spring),
and all of the Himalayan foothill was filled with freshness of vivid flowers, whose aroma enchanted your heart. You being your own witness, would want to  dive into the ocean of cool breeze, converting the unconvertable into deep-coloured heartstrings​, never ever wanting​ to be precisely normal!

Madhav was from the downtown area of Mumbai, studying mechanical engineering. He was a  restless, smart and fun loving guy.

He was travelling to the North via Indian railways and he found someone in the seat next to him.

They say you come across many people in your life, but there remain very few with whom you share a time which was all uncertain to you when it began,  but which you end up enjoying and the English wala 'suffer' turns into Hindi wala 'safar'.

Our human eyes​ have very limited sight, but we always search for the unlimited, soothing vision. It is just that we need to keep looking.

Madhav pulled out his water bottle and had a casual look at the person next to him.

Have you ever seen the opening of the magnificent gate of seventh heaven, from where incarnated an angel, most pleasing to the eye and arresting one's mind, body and soul? Like being in oblivion but you can still hear your loudly beating restless heart?

Madhav offered her the water bottle as they had a firm eye contact. In respense she extended her hand and quenched her thirst. While returning the bottle, she said,"Thank you! I am Keshavi"

"You are welcome!! I am Madhav", he said with a smile.

It happens when you don't know someone, there is a tornado of thoughts, swirling and trying to unwind the mystery untold. Though you appear to be calm, it is exactly opposite to what is going on deep down inside. A thousand words in your mind but a single output from your tongue,"Where are you from?" Madhav asked.

There was the cursory exchange of information. This exchange was more about knowing the person than of knowing more about the person. The information added one more surprise:  both Keshavi and Madhav were heading to the same destination.

They were watching each other, thinking about something, but no words spilled over. Madhav was observing birds flying free at the horizon from the window. Keshavi was busy observing Madhav and she said,"How fascinating they are! Aren't they?"

"Hmm! Yes they are."

"I mean they have this amazing power of embracing uncertainty. Be it dawn or dusk, they never stop singing their good old song of life."

"And what is that song about?", Madhav asked with eyes full of curiosity and ears full of alertness.

"It is the song which we humans, claimed as most intelligent creature on earth, can never understand: Life is full of surprises!These surprises will always be unknown to you. Do you remember any one of your birthday surprises, which you didn't like at all? There may be but a few to count. This means all those uncertain, unknown things happening around are nothing but surprises for us. We hardly appreciate them and cannot  figure them out, because we are humans"

Madhav was all ears to Keshavi's words. Smiling gently, while locking eyes with her, he felt like there was an elixir for his ears which was refueling generosity in his mind.

Keshavi continued,"We are always behind the future. Still struggling with past. Disrupting the present. Whereas birds or animals, having less brains than us, have more understanding of the bigger picture called LIFE. In case of birds, you will always find them dancing from one branch to another, singing, playing to the rhythm of winds. Full of joy and zest"

"Dhanya ho!! Mata Keshavi!!",  joining his hands, bowing to Keshavi, Madhav smiled.

"Tathastu!!", she replied with a smile, giving him blessings and they laughed at each other.

"Have you ever been to a place called Dev Bhoomi?" Keshavi asked.

"Never, but I know about it and I am on my way."

Soon, they both reached their destination. The place called 'Land of Gods', situated near the foothills of Himalayas. It was full of freshness, cool breeze, vivid colors of flowers, deep valleys echoing the sound of wind. This was the gateway to Lord Vishnu. The preserver of existence. This is Haridwar.

At inception, we just observe things, but in the end we start living.

They checked into their rooms, freshened up and were ready to head to the place where anyone on earth could find peace. They could relate to the phenomena that were apparently inexplicable by natural laws.

It was the time of Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri, which literally meant 'Lord Shiva's Step'. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu were believed to have visited the Brahmakund in Har Ki Pauri in the Vedic times.

Ganga Aarti is worshipping River Ganges just before the sun is about to set.

Madhav and Keshavi reached Har ki Pauri. All holy priests started chanting the holy name of Lord Shiva and River Ganga. Both of them were engrossed in the procession of worshipping, the view was so beautiful. When the aarti began, the sun was still glowing in different shades, piercing through clouds, spreading rays of hope. At the same time the darkness of falling night was glorified with a large number of people gathered on both the banks of river Ganges to sing its praises. The priests held large fire bowls in their hands, the gongs in the temples at the Ghat began ringing and the chants flowing out of their lips filled the air. People floated earthen diyas, which flickered and had flowers in them as a symbol of hope and wishes. The golden hues of floral diyas reflected in the river Ganges presenting spectacular view. One would never come to know when the sunset happened and when the sky turned dark, when the small diyas in hands of priests turned into  large fire bowls, all because one would be lost into exaltation.

Madhav was waiting for the end of aarti, so that he could have a holy dip, to wash away all his sins. He asked Keshavi, "Will you join me?" She said, "The water is too cold for me, you enjoy. I am waiting here."

"The temperature is almost 12 degree celsius, and the water might be 7 to 8."

"No, you enjoy, and please don't miss me!" She laughed.

"Okay!"

As he immersed his foot into the waters of holy Ganga, Madhav couldn't bear the chilled water and jumped out. Keshavi was enjoying this. There were few ladies sitting near her. They were busy with their kirtan, but due Madhav's childish behavior, they also joined Keshavi in this process of enjoyment. This made Madhav self-conscious. Slowly and steadily he stepped in, immersing himself till the knees, then belly and finally his torso. The current was trong to drown a person in its stride. In the mean while, a small kid, not more than six or seven years old with barely any clothes on, ran and nosedove into the river and came out from the opposite end. Madhav watched the kid and Keshavi, enjoying the expressions of Madhav which were a mixture of smile and fear. With his head still above water, Madhav was excited but at the same time he was shivering. Somehow, he gathered his strength and took a deep breathe and immersed himself completely. Within split seconds he was out of the water, breathing heavily and shivering uncontrollably. It was as if hundreds of arrows had struck him on the bones. He could sense the vital animation of the unifying force, louder than anything around.

It was already dark, now there were few people on ghat. Madhav and Keshavi were both busy observing the beauty of River Ganga and the color changing sky, the singing birds, the people around, the priests chanting and the beautiful holy diyas floating and flickering on river bank.

While heading back to their hotel, there  found many small shops and stalls, congested lanes through which one could reach the main road to catch a vehicle.

While returning, there were hardly any shops open and they forgot the way to the main road and took a wrong turn.

Keshavi was worried about reaching their hotel safely. There was no one around to guide them. "Don't worry, I know we are losing our direction, but that doesn't mean we are lost!", Madhav said.

Once again, Madhav felt the cyclones of thoughts full of fear and uncertainty but he was put a brave front for Keshavi. This time of theirs, shared no words, only touch. It was completely dark and there were no street lights with a chilling breeze and them holding each other’s hand. With eyes full of hope and sky full of stars, they kept walking.

Sometimes, the reminiscence of the most engaging incidents of life, occupy a rent free space in your permanent memory. When you look down the memory lane, it feels like you are into oblivion.

A journey that began with surprises, ended with revelation of Human living.
A man should not exist, nor just appear to exist, but a man should turn off the existing mode and turn on the living mode.

Have more soul changing experiences, which makes you smile, cry, laugh and care. Just as Madhav and Keshavi had.

You hardly have this one life to live for. You shouldn’t simply inhale air continuously; there is also a need to release it. Similarly, you cannot hold on to your past,  because there is also a need to let go!

Traverse

Hey I am Rohan! From the financial capital of India.
Once I met someone...
Ahh....Wait...It's too early!!
I was on a journey which was a surprise for some special people in my life.
But who knows what happens when and you bumped into a situation you never thought of.
It usually happens that we think a lot and feel a little...And the only thing which can make you feel such, is the journey upon which you think much!!

Was ready with my bag my cousin from the town came to drop to the bus depot.
At a glance the depot seemed like a shopping mall. It was a feel good experience to visit such place.
The local travellers were in total contrast of the depot cum mall!!

I was wondering how will my bus look like! Just as eagerly waiting for someone special, on a special day, for a special moment. Time ran with the speed of Bolt!!
Even the depot master saw the hopes in my eyes. There was no direct bus for my destination. He came to me and suggested an option of private sharing vehicles nearby. Though he warned me to stay alert with my luggage and it seemed messy option according to his description.
I had no option but to go ahead with it. Even my cousin agreed and he helped me catch such private sharing vehicle, which will drop me in bus depot of another city and again I need to catch a bus from there to reach out.
The driver made me sit in the back sit of the car. Where already 3 were sitting and I was the last to fit in that 4th seat.

Now someone comes into the picture.
Sitting opposite to me. I had a split seconds of eye contact with her which ancorhed my mind. Still i being new to the town was uncomfortable to get in the grove, I was trying to divert myself and enjoy my sharing ride along with running landscapes.
Suddenly the driver pulled over!!
I thought it might be nature's call!!
But then I saw he was offering ride for more passengers. I was wondering where is the space to sit!!!
The driver added one more passengers in the back seats. Reminded me of our Mumbai's local! I was used to the Mumbai style journey, full jam-packed!! But the sharing ride for the very first time it was different.

She was observing me, while I adjusting my bag and her eyes appeared as if she is laughing at me!!!
Yes I think she was...I don't know... Because her face was undercover by her cotton stole.

I wasn't knowing her!
She wasn't knowing me!
It was a sharing time on a journey in the locales of Gujarat.

I could hardly see her eyes sparkling like pearls from sea shell!! Felt like some undiscovered treasure. My ship of mind wanted to sail through this ocean of adventure, but my crew had already dropped the anchor.

Again the car was parked aside for more passengers and looking at me she said one more will be adjusted on your seat. I was like what the f*"#!!!
I had my duffle bag with me, soon I was crushed with it. In a seat of 2 we were  sitting 3.

And again it seemed to me that she is laughing at me!!
But still I couldn't see her complete face!!

Her stop arrived and while getting down she asked me that if I am going to get down on the same stop?? (You can guess my answer to this question!!) Coincidentally it was my stop too.
(I can see the smile on your face!!)
We paid our fare and I thanked the driver for roller coaster ride in his car.

The second depot was across the road. I was about ask her where she is heading to? And she said, "I am going home will have to catch bus across the road, where are you heading to?"
( You can anticipate my answer now!! And stop giving that smile!!)

I said even have to catch a bus for my destination, so can you please help me out? I am alien to this place!! Smilingly she nodded and asked, "Will you help cross the road? It scares me while crossing!!"

( I know you are smiling...And you also know my answer to this question)

Yes, surely!!

At the depot on enquiry counter we asked for our respective bus timings and bus stop number.

Guess what??  (Before you start smiling!!)
Our bus stop number was same!!

So while waiting for the bus, I was having this view of all college students, especially girls wearing stole, sweater, hand gloves and hardly their eyes being visible! In this contrast guys were all rough tough. Observing this I innocently asked her why all girls are wearing stole? Covering their whole face!! It feels suffocating. To this she replied that she is suffering cold and cough so to prevent infection to others she is wearing it. She agreed it's suffocating as the weather is too cool and to protect skin we have to wear this.

With this she started untying her stole.
And I was..................
( Wait a minute!! You are smiling again!!)

Yes she was as beautiful as her voice and eyes!!

She was in this town for some government exam for electrical engineering department.

For the bus I was eagerly waiting was over, but then I felt that the bus arrived little early.

I boarded on the bus and we had our final eye contact!! She waved! I waved! She smiled and then I smiled...

( I had the same smile on my face as you are having at this moment)

To the journey I thought it will be me and myself, all alone!! She made me feel that I am not....alone, because she was just next to me!! I always wanted something just like this...

The wheels on the bus gone merry-go-round and I reached my destination, with someone, now in a safe vault of my mind, explored by you!!

You might be wondering when will I disclose her name??
The fact is even I want to discover the same!!

enigma...

The thing about one thing is that...
It's an adjective with an objective of making you something from something you already are!!

Have you ever observed the rising sun??
The horizon is of not only a single yellow or orangy tone... Slowly it turns into the magnificent gradient of rainbow!!
Godly, subtle, alluring and soothing!!

Or on other hand the dark night, where you can see the greatest artist pouring amazing glows and colors, appearing on the grand canvas!!

Can you observe one thing common in both of them??
Be it sun or stars!!
They never stop glowing!
Never ever seem tired!!
Neither they count their days of glow,
Nor they take a leave!!
Relentlessly working towards serving others!!

Guiding the unguided in a direction, where even the unguided keeps on speculating of which turn to take!!
Goes and comes, fighting with cyclones!!

Suppose you are on a football ground, in which you can move forward or backward, turn left or right or few feets of jump!
But imagine a different horizon where you can move in a different direction! Where you can move in any direction, a parallel universe!!

The problem with the unguided is, they are never guided!!
No maps, no direction!!
No equips to check the wind gauge, no binoculars!!
No food supplies, no water!!
Zero possibility of survivability!!
Almost to the point of reaching the other side!!

But do you know what makes the unguided come back to the driving seat again??

It is the one driving force which keeps them moving!
No matter how many times they are defeated!
No matter how far they are from their destiny!!
No matter what people say!!

They just keep moving forward!!
Though unguided!!
But remember expeditions are always boon for fellow travelers!!

So from where does this one thing comes inside you??

A good friend once said...

"All the gods, all the heavens, all the hells are within you!!"

#+vity