tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24043633533363509532024-03-21T09:08:05.277+05:30Mixed Feelings Dazed ThoughtsA blog about random musings, stray visits and earnest thoughts. An attempt on my part to treasure some precious memories before they fade.
As someone remarked “Even a dull life could make a worthwhile reading,
provided the writer paid sufficient attention to detail.” MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-69391425532323269962023-02-06T13:48:00.001+05:302023-02-07T11:28:43.317+05:30Of Begums, Bourbons and Bhopal
Sadar Manzil ( 1909 and now)Less than 24 hrs in the city of lakes. On my way to the hotel from airport, I noticed a few old facades and even with a fading sun, decided to launch my heritage expedition by myself. An old pic on the hotel wall Lord Minto attending an event at Sadar Manzil acted as catalyst. I also realized that most of these buildings are built in form of a quadrangle MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-32091763998919943532022-12-23T11:48:00.000+05:302022-12-23T11:48:02.081+05:30Finding beauty
I stopped in the middle Of the daily runTrying to find a moment To soak in the immense beauty That surrounds us And while the eyesFeasted upon the dewThe greens, the lightThe senses became keenly awareOf nature's gradual adaptationsAs winters begin to set inAlso I wondered Isn't life the same as The routine run We trudge onSometimes even whenEvery MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-59933924274494016242021-07-17T17:19:00.001+05:302021-07-17T17:19:02.643+05:30Even if the roof collapses, there's clear blue skies above
Each day is a new chapterIn the hefty tome of our livesEven a small piece of newsCan upset the schemes Perfected over yearsLike the roof ofA centuries old houseThat caves in one dayHaving witnessed years ofJoys and fortitudesCausing a maelstrom Of dust and debrisTo settle over all things Old and NewAnd invoke disbeliefThe dust settlesBut the walls stand tallAs silent MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-21576730750808427262020-06-27T22:04:00.001+05:302020-06-27T22:04:03.593+05:30Akshayvat, Majhi, Lucknow/ Giant Banyan Tree of Lucknow
Just as I was preparing to pen down another beautiful memory, I was suddenly reminded of the Giant Banyan Tree at Majhi Village (Lucknow). At the onset of last summer, I managed to cajole my best friend for a short early morning visit to one of the largest banyan canopy in the country, which happened to be located on the outskirts of Lucknow. During a random internet search, I had read about it MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-39043070240812008462020-06-11T00:58:00.000+05:302020-06-11T00:58:18.406+05:30Letter to a Banyan tree
Dear BanyanWhat does it take to be like you? I see you umpteen times a day standing tall and strong and feel dwarfed by your grandeur. The strongest of winds barely manage to ruffle your feathers. It takes repeated attempts at trying to contain your spread with walls and trenches and yet you do not stop growing. No matter how hard they try, the wind is your messenger and carries your MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-56940776981839294022020-05-02T16:27:00.001+05:302020-05-02T16:27:03.510+05:30Conversations in the Dark-2A typical conversation in India would never be complete without sharing notes on food. So typical-proud-Indians that we are, from three different parts of the country, leading different lives, a large part of our conversation also has an element of food and feast to it. Often, we chat away recalling the Wednesday Biryani menu and Friday Egg-Curry in Godavari Mess. And not to mention the MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-43641532044166773752020-05-02T13:36:00.000+05:302020-05-02T16:27:32.642+05:30Conversations in the Dark-1
So the story goes back to year 2004.. JNU.. Three of us stayed in the same corridor of Godavari Hostel.. Me doing Economics.. Bindu and Tina in Political Science. Bindu from Presidency, Calcutta and Tina from Presidency, Madras. Over polite introductions, we decided to go the hostel roof. And once there, we cried our hearts out over missing home. A decade later, of all the things we shared in MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-1890245746624277822020-04-14T22:44:00.002+05:302020-04-14T22:44:51.032+05:30The Invasion of my Inbox
I have been lamenting silently on multiple counts since Lockdown was announced in this part of the world. It was a routine weekend visit to A and now after three weeks, we are staying put for another three. Till recently my lamentations could have been ignored by my own 'greater' self on account of their trivial nature. But now that this space has been devoted to airing of grievances, I better MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-58697469520320657652020-04-09T10:43:00.002+05:302020-04-09T10:43:55.895+05:30Of three recipes and Sitapur Days..
"When I'm older I'll understand" said Lucy, " I am older and I don't think I want to understand", replied Edmund”
― C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia
Life can be strange. We put down roots when we least expect and we become uprooted when we least desire. In a profession, where part of the job is to remain detached and move at the moment's notice, and yet, when it is MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-76599705238244017102020-04-08T16:23:00.000+05:302020-04-09T10:01:28.792+05:30Rain on the roof
We live in a house that's no less than 150 years old. Yet the roof of the western wing that we occupy was recently done by one of the previous occupants. And while the original part of the house remains well lit and airy, our part was poorly ventilated and dark, till we forcibly modified it to make way for some air and light.
Yesterday was the first time this season we decided to put on MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-81721218254553723342020-03-30T18:05:00.001+05:302020-04-09T10:02:47.372+05:30Standing tall and strong
I feel so dwarfed by this majestic tree. It stands tall while the winds try to rustle its leaves. A silent witness to the years of history in making. A canopy of shade to a house caught in time warp. No portrait can capture its sheer magnificence.
MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-39306501829752111132020-01-11T00:32:00.000+05:302020-04-09T10:04:48.639+05:30Of a forever gone friend and full moon..Dear @
It's been years and yet every time I see a full moon I am reminded of our conversation long ago. It was May.. around the time of your birthday.. We just managed to sneak in a telephone call somehow while we were both busy preparing for the counting of votes on the following day.. Now when I think of it I am convinced I must have called to wish you on your birthday. But I do not MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-86933900413758035112019-12-22T14:09:00.000+05:302020-04-09T10:06:06.969+05:30New Resolutions!
As the last week of December draws in, it's time to draw lessons from the year about to finish and make resolutions for the year ahead. I do this every year, only to realize nearly half of them remain unfulfilled. May be it is difficult to plan for an entire year, not knowing what life holds for us the very next moment and what circumstances await us.
2019 taught me many MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-13048148319231864532019-12-22T12:07:00.000+05:302020-04-09T10:11:49.282+05:30Soulmates
Of this I am certain
Our paths would have crossed
However fleeting the moment
Like they had crossed
A million times
Before we even knew
Of each other's existence
Little be the Time
Bestowed upon Us
I treasure You
Always will
MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-60797266059476980662019-06-05T00:01:00.001+05:302020-04-09T10:13:42.794+05:30The Other World
"Sometimes I think I live in a gap between two worlds, one world that I have to wake up to, be adherent of the rules and live in a place that is dictated by others. A place I sometimes feel the fear of aging and dying before I have figured out what it is I am here to do.
That other world is sweet, fresh and misty, inviting adventure into the unknown, melding ancient wisdom with new discovery; MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-28196521584695274162019-04-06T22:52:00.005+05:302019-04-06T22:59:01.633+05:30Of live music!
It's strange how a song from a distant day can trigger a flood of memories. While shuffling songs on the player today morning, I heard the familiar beats of Tu Aashiqui Hai and was transported back to the year 2008. My second year of graduation. AIIMS annual fest. We were there for the finals of the India Quiz, waiting in the last rows of the auditorium. It must have been 7 in the eveningMFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-35466209890755306402018-06-29T15:33:00.000+05:302020-04-09T10:16:59.334+05:30Of Jamuns..
My first post from Sitapur. Three months have whirled by and I have never quite found anything as fascinating to merit a post. The days follow a mundane pattern and often being occupied at office, I found 'fruit lunch' as a solution to menu related inquiries. As rains draw in, watermelons begin to lose their colour and sweetness and I requested for replacement with whatever fruit was locally MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-25255896664365103932018-02-05T23:07:00.000+05:302018-02-05T23:07:17.631+05:30A splendid Sunday.. and the long awaited walk to the river!
Wheat fields!
Today was an ordinary Sunday like any other but sometimes the crisp blue skies and the yellow sunshine make all the difference. Even before I could properly open my eyes, I could see the golden beams of sunshine knocking on my vintage glass doors. In a place like this where winters are literally bone chilling and there's no sun for days on end, a sunny radiant morning has the MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-33185144391484380912017-08-01T23:23:00.000+05:302017-08-01T23:23:33.311+05:30Of a little girl and her fascination for dams and bridges!
Once upon a time, in a crowded city in the middle of nowhere, there was a little girl who dreamt of dams and bridges. At her age, computers were a recent rage and everyone wanted something to do with it. But the little girl was fascinated by the alignments, the structural diagrams, the sluices and the gushing torrents of waters. When she expressed her wish to be a civil engineer, the same was MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-64273273091039473302017-07-10T22:38:00.000+05:302017-07-10T22:38:13.909+05:30Irresponsible Journalism!
Please refer to the elderly-used-as-bait article by Mr Keshav Agarwal dated July 4, 2017. (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/for-compensation-seniors-sent-to-forests-as-tiger-prey/articleshow/59432920.cms)
It is sad that an unfounded news
story has been published by a leading newsgroup without any corroborative
evidence whatsoever. For the record, there are 300 villages which MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-37021752481184759622017-05-27T00:04:00.000+05:302017-05-27T00:04:52.978+05:30Finding Happiness!!
After a night of storm in Terai, I sat outside on the terrace of a hundred year old house, trying to make sense of the sounds of the night. Two fireflies playing hide and seek in the dark, caught my eye. And I wondered, while we spend entire lives trying to find happiness, isn't it actually as elusive as those fireflies in the dark.
The stars in the sky continue to amaze me as ever. AreMFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-73846656510052719402017-04-23T23:02:00.000+05:302017-04-23T23:02:40.946+05:30Of a sun-kissed window and labyrinth of corridors..
It is not always about the navigating the labyrinth of corridors
It is neither always about the people and power
The stones and birds and trees
Tell their stories too
Not all of them can sadly be understood
Small moments can hold exquisite spells of beauty
Like those last rays of the fading sun
On a back-office window
Or the stunning symmetry of those columns
And bays and MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-5081006773979158492017-03-08T13:12:00.003+05:302017-03-08T13:12:57.885+05:30I am woman!
I am never the one to celebrate days for things like friendship, love and more so womanhood. Yet, call it serendipity, or whatever, over the past fortnight, a few books and movies just seemed to reaffirm my constant belief that a woman's life is never easy no matter what she does and how powerful she might be. I do not draw from political or social events yet the books/movies whose covers I MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-9771658850160977862017-02-07T17:06:00.000+05:302017-02-07T17:06:14.203+05:30Slipping through my fingers..
It seems only yesterday that little N was four months old and I wrote her a poem. Now, with her fourth birthday barely a week away, I sometimes wonder if she was ever that small, and if yes, then when did she really grow up. For all the things she says, all the ways in which she shows her love for me, A and her pet brother, S; I find it hard to believe that I was actually capable of bringing MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404363353336350953.post-24545130353595763072016-11-24T00:00:00.000+05:302018-11-02T13:03:11.138+05:30Open When..My Cherishable
Hope you know how much you mean to me and how little I am capable of saying the same.I often thought of making something that would stay with you always and can't be bought anywhere in the world. But a card/poem/embroidery/photo anything could perish on multiple accounts. Essentially a nerd that I have been throughout, I only carry my dreams, words and thoughts along. Much as I MFDThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03497207934513167560noreply@blogger.com0