Trust Eternal Beauty

In the Infinity of the universe,
Trust Beauty exists,
Beyond your comprehension
Before you even think or are aware,
Your Deep desire are fulfilled !
 
Trust this super power,
Flows through you at times,
Feel immersed in it!
And feel light & loved.
 
Tomorrow will be beautiful,
Just as today is,
Yesterday was !
 
In this same trust,
Go and desire your dream,
The best will happen,
I know,
You know,
I’m just making you aware,
Take care !

Loving Tokyo

Away in Tokyo,

Life is like a Yo Yo !

There are ups and downs,

But mostly Smiles and a few frowns!

 

Away from home so very far way,

Yet in a way,

It is nice and good,

Despite, challenges of vegetarian food!

Struggling to find what is "cheese"

And not beef/meat in disguise.

Risks of not knowing Japanese,

Never leaves life at ease!

 

Doing your own dishes,

And ironing your own clothes,

Doing your breakfast & dinner,

Aren't such a big bother.

When I can  eat lots of brocollis,

Ashparagus s & also zuccinis!

And try some fancy Matcha ice-cream,

It is like living life in a dream.

 

That  starts on a joyride (train) to office,

People busy on phones, but at peace,

Smartly dressed commuters,

Not to miss the high heeled travelers

Gracious octogenarians,

Japanese are all good Samaritans.

Small kids with happy faces,

Remove all your life’s stresses.

 

It is a happy start to everyday !

As I commute on  Ikegami line, from Osaki Hirokoji

And reach Futako-Tamagawa on Oimachi.

Trains runs with clock-work precision,

On time always to my destination.

 

On 16th floor at Synopsys!

On visitors desk 16-137,

The breathtaking view of Tokyo Skyline,

Sky-scrappers and roads so serpentine,

Being in Japan reveals itself

(With “arigato gozaimasu(Thank you)” music all over !)

And friendly/polite people,

(It is all Kudasai/onegaishmashu (please) )

As I discover them and myself

In this journey with them !

In the land of the rising sun, 日本 Nihon

Be Yourself

You are beautiful the way you are,
 It is not important how many care,
You are just the right piece,
Don’t feel life to be on a precipice!
Needing your careful attention at all times,
Let loose, become one that naturally thrives.
Effortlessly, without special care,
Like you breath air !

It is OK to be have some weakness,
It is OK to not stand up to everyone’s measure of goodness!
You are good, rather the BEST the way you are,
And no one in the world can certify there !
Live your life at your terms,
Listen everyone, but have your values firm.
Ignore all the mumbo jumbo,
They don’t need your attention,
 Life wasn’t meant to be full of so much tension.

 It was intended to be a joyful journey,
 But did you decide on the right tourney!

If not,
Don’t purse your brow,
Act now !

Today is my day!

Just a nice way to start a day, a week and the Month of April :) Congratulations everyone for completing yet another day, week, month! Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it. ~Groucho Marx

Present Moment Living

Isn’t it always like any other day. Yes, we think so but deep down it never is.

Normal ordinary saturday late afternoon was no more sleeping in the afternoon and dreaming or planning the evening. We were shaken to the present moment by shouts of “Uncle!”, “Uncle” to learn from her friend that Vrinda (my 8 year old) has injured herself in the swing and bleeding profusely. Minutes later we were driving her to Apollo hospital to take care of a deep cut on the upper lip and I knew sutures were inevitable. Surprisingly me and wife maintained stoic and kept my daughter as much calm too, while we drove!

We had Vrinda’s class friend’s father (Mr. Srinivas- Oncologist surgeon) waiting for us at Apollo. He was at the end of his day’s work (read weekend) and stayed around longer for us. It din’t take long for him to suggest that she need to get suture’s done. It meant general anesthesia, it meant a visit to the operation theatre, it meant some tricky time with a small kid. Thankfully, a known doctor’s presence saw us through the rigmarole rather rapidly.

Yet there were ordinary humans like us whose kids, parents, spouses must have been waiting for the folks to come home at the fag end of the day-rather week! And we had streched everyone’s time yesterday evening! Add 5 hours of some serious forced present moment living (and probably some delving in the past when I mentally ran through so so many gratefulness ) when all that became important was to see all this went through smoothly.

I saw the universe’s perfection in everything. I saw how the whole scene played out and I saw how I could stay calm all along because I trusted this perfection and knew that everything will fall in place like the jig-saw puzzle. I saw how the universe arranged for all kinds of help as was needed. Yet, I saw all this was part of the everyday melee of life, and one should therefore take life as it comes.

While waiting at the lounge for her turn at the OT and thereafter I realized the fragility of life. I was shaken to the present moment! I was grateful for being alive. I was grateful to the thousands, maybe millions of people around me. I was grateful that Vrinda’s friend’s father chose to stay another 5 hours at then end of his weekend (he was about to go home), and so many others, nurses, caretakers, anesthesist, helpers, billing people, security, everyone who kept the show running so that someone somewhere need them, they were always there.

I also realized that why do we plan so much we couldn’t even keep the promise of making pav-bhaji in the evening that we did only a few hours before.

We sure need to value life ! I’m wonderful and thankful to be alive the way I’m . … and you can easily substitute “I” with “we” – but to mean it requires little practice & conviction.

Self-Discovery

Woke up to a beautiful day!
Mentally ran through all that I had to say.
Thanked Him that I was alive
While I brought together both hand's five
And bowed to the mighty Universe
A routine, I don't need to rehearse.

I sat down for Yoga exercise,
And my sister's phone then rang precise
While I talked to her, I saw three friends,
Walking up to the tennis courts.
Mentally figured, I can team up for a quick doubles
Dressed & just the racquet I was at the nets.
And in the last game, as I received the serve
I lost my nerve,
Missed the ball,
Had a great fall,
I was in pain, but not in disdain,
Rolled the wrists and was up again.
Later, I drove to the airport hotel,
Injured hand reminding me of pain so subtle.

But as I reached back to office,
I realized plain optimism won't suffice
My hand needed medical attention,
I needed a car with automatic transmission
As my left hand won't easily grip the gear.
But I drove bravely & carefully without fear.
To home of course,
And without any remorse
Reminding at all times of the higher good,
Fully in the present moment I stood.

My wife was ready to take me to the doctor,
Missing her office was a small factor
Moments like this reminds of your spouses,
And your heart felt gratefulness,
To their total commitment and care.
We waited dourly four an hour.

The moment of truth wasn't far away,
As I was through with the X-Ray
The wrist hit hard as a matter of fact
The boat shaped bone (scaphoid) took the impact.
Yes, I had the fractured wrist
Got plastered without any twist.
And I am staying that way
For six weeks, without naysay.

Now as I type with one hand,
I haven't for a second,
Complained for my state,
Or cursed my fate,
I'm focussing on my inside,
To understand this change of tide
While friends, family worry,
I'm on a journey of self discovery

Need something deeper!

The pattern again repeats
My life's peace it steals,
And I'm banged to reality,
Yes, I am not made for this worldly frivolity!

I dont want to get hurt by this world so meaner,
I need something deeper,
So, that I can be with my seat of eternal joy,
And not waste my time with this flesh-form toy

I was just born to touch people's lives,
No not make them my emotional bee-hives.
I want them to rise above the multitudes,
And myself not seek for their gratitudes.

My Karma

a hope,
a thin hope,
a even thinner hope,
getting dimmer and dimmer!

Yet trying to not let it die,
that some day, someday,
u will see a reason,
u will see the anil u see
isn't what u ve made a monster of him,

maybe u will,
maybe it will never happen
still, it gives me reason,
to forget and be myself again.

for i know, in my world,
i ve ever not hurt you,
i ve not hurt even in my thoughts,
let alone in person..

maybe..that's my destiny
thats my karma ..

Happy Women's Day

And to the two of you,
It's always due,
To remember on this day,
Formally, called the International Women's Day!
And say nice things,
Or remind you of so many nothings,
In that each step you took,
When world around you shook.
The craving girl child,
Fighting the society so wild,
Wanting to find your freedom,
Fly with wings of your wisdom.

To be different from the multitude,
Even when you were left in solitude
Two of my sister's chose a path,
Never bothering what will be the aftermath!
And proved the world around them wrong,
And came out strong.

Happy Women's Day, Manisha & Anu
I love you, and we love you!

The Designer's life

I see the beauty everywhere,
It is here and it is there!
I know its your deepest desire,
Conspired by the universe

That in due course manifests,
And in the meantime incubates
Through the wonder of your thoughts,
Your life and your actions!

I have seen it in my life,
A pattern even in the strife
How the universe supported me,
IIT or my quest to photography

Logical reasoning ruled it out,
Suddenly some event without doubt,
Puts your life back on the rails
And you are again ON without travails.

I'm on the creative edge of time,
Ya, that appears stagnant and mime
Yet it is nevertheless moving,
Always fulfilling,
My grandest vision,
Coincidence happens without reason.

Cosmos blips,
I have sensed a many
And urge all to see
All you have to do
Is take responsibility for your present You
And live a designer's life
Your life,

The Happy one
The Sad one
The poets
The artists
The philosophers
The wanderers
The criminals
The good humans..

It's all for you to choose,
And let yourself loose
In the cosmos canvas!
And hear yourself say, Alas.
I wish I had known it before.
Move on, leave the yore
It's not too late,
Start creating your fate (oxymoron)
Now, urgently now!
This moment, yes. Wow!

No more routine!

Why routine?
Life, yours & mine!
Shouldn't every moment be new
And we fill it with what its due!

Any moment past can't be recreated
So, why should we feel so badly treated?
It shouldn't be boring,
But, we should be joyously living!

Savoring every flavor!
That's what we were born to devour

If you have learnt...

[Written for my sister on Rakhi Day]

If you have learnt to be honest,
Even if it may appear a difficult test.
If you have learnt to be disciplined,
Even if it you never cared.

If you have learnt to wake up early,
Even if it appeared to cost your sleep dearly
If you have learnt to drive the scooter,
Even when you were a shaky starter.


If you have learnt to enjoy life litte more,
Even when days at times seemed bore,
If you have learnt to marvel at electronic gadget,
Even If you havethought - these were what guys fidget.

If you have learnt to browse a little on the net,
Even when you thought only orkut was the best bet,
If you have learnt to read the books,
Even when you were scared by its looks.

If you have learnt to try new things,
Even when you felt they were useless nothings
If you have learnt to be a little courageous,
Even when you though it was treacherous.

If you have learnt to hold my hand,
Even when the situation didn't demand
If you have learnt that to do what you felt was right,
Even when it was tough to listen to your heart.

If you have learnt to be positive,
Even when all around you were only negative.
If you have learnt to believe in miracles,
Even when your prayers never materializes

If you have learnt not to procastinate,
Even when you were so otherwise obstinate
If you have learnt to be stubborn about your goal,
Even when you little cared on next morning's call

If you have learnt to eat new vegetables,
Even when you thought they were untouchables,
If you have learnt to do a little exercise
Even when you thought it wasn't so wise.

If you have learnt to make life's little decisions,
Even when you can't on your next morning missions.
If you have learnt to leave life joyously,
Even when you were trained to live so cautiously,

There, are tons of if you have learnt,
Which I meant,
And I could fill pages,
And you can read for ages,
But the point is,
If you have learnt to celebrate life,
Come what maybe the strife,
And if you look forward to your every morning,
And if you care about the sun's shining
Of the moon's eclipse in the middle of night,
You have learnt to light
A little of your life!

And .. I'm just acting a little splinter,
Your brother!
To ignite a passion
To fulfill your life's mission!

Mother

Was it chance, destiny or desire
Or the result of unfettered passion fire
The seed of life
Was implanted in my wife.
Ever since I have seen,
The dazzling sheen
On her beautiful face,
With a divine grace.

I'm amazed why becoming a mother
Is different from becoming a father
While I remain earthly calm,
She is on a different realm.
For me it's life's ordinary process,
For her, its life's success.
I see it as baby in the making,
For here, its precious sapling
I can spend a day without its thought,
But she can't do a second without its sight.
It's not that I am not a proud father,
But for her, its a very different matter.
That's the reason,
In all season,
Mummy's are so great,
Yes, Mummy's are great, I repeat.
For they sacrifice their existence,
To to give this world the new presence

Life is so beautiful

Life is so beautiful.
With American life so abundantly full,
I have it all,
A flat equipped so well!
The machines do clothes and the dishes.
Kitchen with Indian cookware, and assorted knives,
Ovens, coffee machines, juicer & toaster,
Microwave and a huge refriegerator.
A flat with double bed, a soft set,
A TV, A DVD and the floor with a carpet,
Vacuum cleaner, bathing tub and dinning table,
Yes, all! It may sound like a fable.
And with a per diem running in big dollars,
Makes your effective salary, envy of even big scholars.

Hours into days, days into weeks,
Weeks into months, and new year speaks!
Away from home, its has been several days,
Wife, daughter, friends haunt in many ways!

Skip a meal, to worry about another,
No breakfast, possible lunch, left over, dinner.
Or cook rice in the morning with peas & corns,
And do it again in the evening with carrots & beans!

When hours away from daugther,
At lunch, would so much matter!
Now miles away, and months gone by!
Life seems to standby.

From When I could reach her any time,
Now, have to watch her in mime,
Glued on the webcam to have a look,
As jumping animations show her cook. (with her toys)
And my hands go explore my laptop screen to caress!
In vain I know, and my eyes shows up tears.

To hear her say Papa, is still the sweetest sound!
On the phone, she still conveys emotions so profound.
But, Papa's "Pooh want's something.." to her sweety,
Gets lost unreplied in her own little life so busy!
Unaware, unrealized, that Papa is seeking, a reply-
"Yellow and Yummy for his tummy".

I don't know if I miss India,
Or have fallen in love with America!
And life is also beautiful here,
As it was, when I was there.

But for me,

Life's beauty lies,
When I see the gleam in my daughters eyes.
When from work I return, and she prances around,
As if a treasure she has found.

Life's beauty lies,
When I can be (at my will) in my wife's arms,
Surrendering to her charms,
And be lost in dreams!

Life's beauty lies,
When I can use my friendly ties,
Go any moment, and talk a word or two!
Knowing they will all construe!

Still: Life is beautiful,
In America so bountiful.
For this foreign people,
Within what they are capable!
They wish me Good Morning,
Everytime Smiling!
And an American' friend,
Finds time to spend,
To take me to church,
And then together for lunch.
And then to God, I can pray!
A wish to be with daughter so far away!

That's will be my real beautiful life!

Often I thank God for you

Your presence,
Your sweet remembrance,
Your fragrance,
Your essence!

Your unflinching support,
Your everyday effort.
Your care,
Your dare,

Your astuteness,
Your goodness,
Your intelligence,
Your munifience.

Your wifeness,
Your motherness,
Your daugtherness,
Your daugther-in-lawness!

Your little appreciation,
Your little admonition,
Your little alertness,
Your little dumbness

Your this & that,
Your bricks & bat
Your love & care,
Your being wife & more!

Together make my world - so beautiful.

Often I thank God for you!

God is Good

I act like the messenger of God,
Yet, so many things around you are odd
Professing God is good,
Whether you get your food?
Or lost your parents at young age,
Is difficult then saying the adage!
How do I explain to that 10 year old,
Why both her parents are in God's fold!
For her, that smile or hug or mom's assurance,
Or passing care, and father's glance
Makes for her a better world,
Then all world riches - made tenfold.

Life is tough, but just a movie screen,
All events good or bad maybe seen,
Yet, they are all there to deceive,
In some form life's vagaries we all receive!
You may ask, why a new born is born blind.
He never hurt anybody to get this for his life's grind.
It's all part of a bigger tapestry,
Which normal humans' not dont have mastery.
God is good all the times!
What we face, somewhere we created oursleves!

So, next time -

When you see that 10 year- old,
Or anybody that's life before you unfold.
Carrying her cross of life,
Just give her an assuring kiss,
And help her when/where you can,
Brave her up, and assure her!
World is still beautiful and worth living!
There are always so many,
Who are carrying a bigger cross than you!

The Child

Often I feel I am still a child,
Innocent, crazy, at times wild,
Naughty, adamant and choosy.
Refusing to be elderly.

I love the crayons,
Red, green blue, all versions.
I love to paint,
And believe, all humans as saint.

Living without pretensions,
Always with obvious intentions.
My love is as transparent
As is my hate so apparent.

I mean what I say,
And hope people don't betray.
It's not as simple with grown-ups,
For they live with masks.

The Hi to the guy/gal in the neighbour
Translates to a friend next door,
But people doubt my candor,
Worried, I maybe asking for a favor.

I am so repetitive about my doings,
Tell people again & again about my feelings.
I love them, I love them,
Until it goes deep into their system.

I'm also as tender at heart,
Therefore get easily hurt.
I'm as aggressive for my wants,
Just a determined kid demands.

My honesty,
Is my travesty.
My availability,
Is my frivolity.

My friendship,
Is my need for kinship.
My feelings,
Are my rusings.

I don’t know how to be like the grow-ups,
And live all the life with thick masks,
Controlling your every natural emotion,
Living in feigned erudition.

The Child within me,
wants to come out and play,
I don’t to suppress this, and let myself astray.
For, that's my seat of God!
Don’t' care if other's nod.

Why I write?

Note for reader: Written for an American friend telling her what makes me interact with her!

I see the world,
That you behold,
And share mine,
Sometimes things very divine,
Sometimes just very humane,
Often pointless stuff so mundane,

Just to make the point,
That despite our culture, so disjoint,
We are still the same,
One origin from where we came,
We have the same needs,
Of love, recognition and daily feeds
We have the same tryst with destiny
When at death it all ends finally!

And see that in the little time,
Available between birth to deaths regime,
We can make some happy faces,
Share our achievements and felonies,
Share a tear,
Of someone dear,


Doing my little bit,
To explain that whatever India exhibit,
Is just part of a entire rainbow,
Which cannot complete its show,
Without the Liberty principles from United States
Or of my countries cultural nuances,
We all each other need,
Just trying to plant that seed!
Hoping for a forest to grow,
So, that we can have a better tomorrow!

The American Hug

It has always captured my imagination - "The American Hug" ? Have you ever heard of anything like this? I'm wondering if I'm just creating the terminology now.

On my several trips to the United States I have often been advised from so many of my friends that tell me "hey- don't hug a male friend in public, its like declaring to the world- 'I am gay'." I hated it when some of my own very close friends who would have given me a tight hug in India (like old friends/buddies you know) - refused to be near me when they met me first at the airport. Never mind, I have always chosen to live in my own way, and never cared what the world thought because I knew I was doing it with the right feeling or conscience, yet it is difficult to convince this Indian brain - which has been hard wired over the last 30 years to get conscious when you even hold a girls hand - forget about getting or giving a hug! In America - this is so different!

I had been to the church several times in the last two months, and often some of the old men in the group, when they met me gave me a nice hug and I would so comfortably clasp them feeling good myself. It was a surprising change from the Indian welcome, where I could usually seek blessings from an elderly rather than be treated at par. I remember once when I returned home after six months at IIT Kanpur (staying away from home), and I was feeling so emotional about meeting my father, I cried tears and just hugged him - clasping his huge frame. To my surprise

- and an even bigger one for him, we both felt so awkward seconds later. Internally I felt so stupid for having done that. End of my public display of affection. Period.

In the last few months of my stay, I had occassions to experience the American hug at the church where people feel a little free even with strangers to give a hug. However, once one lady probably in her seventies, met me, and before I would have said Hi, she brought her hands around me and gave me a hug. I had no choice but to welcome it trying to squeeze myself inside so that only a little of me touches her, and respond with a nice smile while putting my hands around her. She felt pleased, I was a little flabbergasted but made sure she did not see that. I had never hugged my grandmother! American hug was however just beginning to rub on me.

One of my office colleague who is somewhere between 35 to 40 years of age, is very fond of "Hello Kitty". And her office is entire decor is in the "hello-kitty" motif … its like her whole life theme is Hello Kitty. She even put a "Christmas" stocking on her window that had a "Hello Kitty" on it. So, I felt I should get her a gift - of course something

Kitty- and then put it in her stocking. It didn't happen until yesterday when I chanced upon a nice keychain, with a torch-light - and it was Hello Kitty. This morning, I went to her office, and gave her the envelope..and she was a little surprised to find me there. She said "Can I open this envelope?". I replied to her why not?
She drews out the key-chain! Not surprising, she was wild about it! "Soooo-Cute" is just the first word..and she mentioned that nobody has done anything like this for her! She says "I will come and give you a hug" and before I would understand she gets up from her seat and give me a hug! I was so consciously aware of her touching me while she gave the embrace but I just let it happen. ( I was only expecting her to be happy - that's all, in fact I came in early to the office and thought I would just leave the envelope and go away. Notice how the guilty Indian mind is just beginning to defend). Me blessed? I'm not so sure! I'm am still to coming to terms that she is a female. However, I have been thinking about that quite often, especially while I'm here in the United States, and have seen it so often?

Because of the Indian culture, I know of so many people who would have missed a comforting hug from a brother or a friend. Why should my culture prohibit me from giving a hug to a friend? While should my body shy away from something so natural to comfort someone and be comforted as well? Why should I feel conscious when I know in my heart of hearts that I'm not doing anything wrong! ..and do you know, when my wife meets me at the airport after a return from the United States (usually that's the only time we are away from each other for long)..she just manages a - "duck hug". That's India there of course!

Maybe there is something better we can learn from the American's the - make-you-so-good-to-feel Hug!

I was born to be

I wasn't born,
To live a life so forlorn.
In the guise of a well-dressed gentlemen
Blessed with all wordly-possession.

I wasn't born to be this,
In a life full of material bliss!
I had reasons to be rich,
But not for my life to enrich.

To use my means & wealth,
For some foresaken kids health
Or a poor's kids education,
To build charitable institution.

I wasn't born to live
A life so timid and inactive
Accepting imposed social values,
And disposing your innate virtues!

My life has come to a stand still,
I will gaze at the window sill,
Staring in blankness, having lost all my will,
Living life like a big ordeal, feeling so ill.

I was born to be crusader,
I was born to be a leader,
I was born to be new harbinger!
To bring in this world a new order!

I was born free,
For the world to see!