My Life, A Cocktail

For the love I had for life, I didn't fall off from my balcony that night. It was strange, of how the balcony had always beckoned, sending me into this trance, where death seemed like the only option available. It wasn't like I was tired of living this life, or had too many regrets to face, I was having fun alright, doing what I wanted to, carving life the way I thought best. And yet, one unguided glance at the balcony, and the wind from outside would seducingly invite, and I would be there. Some temptations are just too hard to resist. Once there, my hands on the little rails, I would look down, down the abyss, and just then, it'll happen. It would seem like a gust of wind pulling me down, voices sounding from beneath, imploring me to escape. And then the great thrust would come, from nowhere, from inside me, and I would float in the air, smiling and at peace, till the final thud. I open my eyes, and I know I am frightened. For I know, I should take care, lest the temptat...

It hurt real bad that night. It wasn't an accident I'm sure, it was done on purpose. But when I lay in my bed that night, pain exceeded all logic, and I began to cry. I didn't care to wonder anymore why he did it, or why me? I didn't care to blame God, someone told me he was always listening, I'm damn sure no one is. Tears dropped one after the other, for even they had learnt to flow in order. I ceased to think, and the more I was aware of what was happening, the more I felt better. I am not possibly allowed to feel good with so much pain. People would soon know, and they would come, like they always do, and talk and question. I can't say I'm ok. I can't possibly be ok. So I started to think about the past, and started to curse, started to mould the hate in my heart. When it was rigid enough, the people came. And they were satiated.

In her shoes I stepped To see the world she called her own She waved to me and said "Come on" I saw myself vanish and behold People no longer were as they had seemed Some were nicer, prettier Some uglier than it could seem. Flowers bloomed and the sun set For all the while I stared. And in that moment I realized For the beuatiful eyes I had Reality was an illusion of the conditioned mind Step into another shoe and see it unwind.

It was the morning of 26th of June, a Monday. My dad's shrill wake up call came at about five thirty in the morning, and by eight thirty, we were all seated in a Volvo bus, speeding its way through the national highway, towards Salem. Close to one fifteen in the afternoon, we reached, and got another bus that would drive us through our last thirty five kilometers over the hill, to Yercaud. About the geography of this place, its located about 1515m above sea level, and you have to go through a good one hour's journey up the hill, consisting of 20 hair pin bends. Like every other hill, this one too is draped in slender, tall green trees, and assures a scenic view as you drive by the tarred roads bounded by little white parapet walls. The hill itself is called Shervoyas. Yercaud's a little more than a village, thanks to tourism, totally unexploited, aptly called the Poor man's Ooty. Famous for coffee, oranges and spices like pepper, cardomom and cinnamon, you are greeted b...

He didn't like people to be around. He had told me once they were unreal, he thought the flowers looked lovelier. I had argued with him then, I had the courage then. I told him we were all equally real, alive and kicking. I didn't really believe in all that I said, but it was important to convince him. The doctors had said he was getting depressed. He only talked to me. The rest he shunned. I remember his mother come inside the room, sit beside the bed where he lay, eyes closed, like a normal baby, and his mother had passed her hands through his hair. The scars on his mother's face have faded with time, but the ones in her heart remain. Empathy was what I felt on the first day I saw him. They had got him to this asylum next to my place, where I worked sometimes, as a volunteer. I never knew then it would all get over so fast. Today's my last day with him. He knows he's gonna die. Everyone'e ready, and waiting. I am sitting beside him, waiting too. We are both la...

She had never wanted him in her life. And yet, somehow, he was always there. Perhaps it was because he liked to be around. But her eyes were always searching, for something more exquisite, something that glittered and shone. And then he wanted to shine. To wear the intellect halo. So the passers by could notice. She was too busy to notice. The light shone into her eyes, and she made it seem like it hurt. She turned away, into the dark. He took her everywhere. He did all that she would have ever wanted him to do. She smiled, and let him take her in his arms, and when it got sticky, she would scoff at him, and move away. People told him not to care. People are vulnerable. After all, the evil is always warded off. She stood there like she would never move again. She was evil. Standing tall, smiling, at her own defeat. She was evil, who turned love into hate. She was evil, who did not care. She saw him walk away, with his intellect halo and his individuality. That which had come from her, ...

I don’t have much experience, I must admit. Being brought up abroad, for me, relatives were just people whom you take away gifts for, during your visit to India, and in turn, you get to spend some time with them, to sit and laugh, and recall memories no one actually remembers. But what happens when you are done with earning all your dough abroad, and come back… And… one fine beautiful morning, relatives come calling… Welcome… Now, that’s one important thing you must do. Pick up them up at the airport or station or bus stand or your doorstep. Carry their luggage for them, irrespective of the fact whether they have goodies in store for you or not. And yes, when they enter your home, greet! Don’t ever forget to do that, you have to say, “Vaango, vaango” or perhaps “Aayeeye aayeeye”, even if you are actually thinking about that sweet time when they’ll be gone. Goodies... Like what they bring for you. Perhaps they actually picked it up from that rotten sale that was up to clear out stocks, ...