दिल की बातें, सीधे से

ठेहेरा नहीं कुछ और फिसलते लम्हों के साथ बढ़ते ही गए फासले जाते समय के साथ धुंधली होती गयी परछाई दीखता भी नहीं कुछ साफ़ मन में कही इक आवाज लगती है आती वही कही से सुनाई जो देती है अब भी साफ़ की वक़्त के दायरों से आजाद भी होती है कुछ ऐसी बात रह जाती है जो बस साथ देती रहेती है जो उम्मीद जीने की और मिलने की आश

उलझने ही उलझने दी हमको प्यार ने तुम्हारी पर अब हो चली है मन को इनकी ऐसी आदत की न हो गर तो सूनापन घिरता है बदलो स और अज्न्जान सा लगता है मुझे ही मेरा मन

My son had this habit of thumb sucking. It started as early as about 7 months and my efforts to curb started at almost the same time, but it took over 4 years and various tricks. Starting from putting sock on followed by applications of garlic/ginger/bitter guard and clove oils. They all failed, obviously. Finally it was during a trip to India while we also used this oil named Mavala STOP, which was terribly bitter and lasted for days once applied. Or maybe he just grew out of it under the impression that he is going to start Kindergarten soon and might get teased. Besides the tricks mentioned above, I also told my son that I have mommy eyes and I can see him from anywhere I am. No matter how far or where is he, I can see him so he better not duck himself and suck his thumb assuming I am not aware. Well he is way too smart to agree to that, but I am smarter. I gathered information from around his day care and teachers and proved to him that I can see him. Sometimes I just made guesses...

The Lonely Heron Originally uploaded by prabhaJha A Lonely Heron Flawless as white I was flying high Spreading my wings The king of the sky Not for too long As the hunger surround A patch of water and green Brought me back to the ground Here I am, standing up on one foot Waiting for that catch Endless day it seems today As empty flowing waters, I watch

A Bengali movie I watched last night. My husband insisted that we watch this movie as it had good reviews and looked promising, unaware of the fact that it was in Bengali-the language close to me and he hardly understands. Obviously, he dozed off after about 40 minutes while I watched on till midnight. It was a beautiful movie, nothing unusual sort and not something that hasn’t been done before. All the actors did excellent job, Mousami chatterji and Rahul Bose were just spectacular. In the beginning , it felt like one of Satyajit Ray movies. The river, boats, muddy streets, rains and typical mud houses of far off villages in Bengal. It was a simple yet unusual love story of a Bengali elementary school teacher and a Japanese girl in Japan. Who are both introverts and take solace in writing letters to people across globe. They find themselves as soul mates but due to all practical reason are unable to cross the boarders and physically meet each other. They get married via letters, which...

The weekend started early Friday while making batches of idlis and chutney to take with us for the 3 night get away vacation we planned with 2 other friends. The location was Bethany Beach in Delaware. As we stepped down after 4 hours drive all I wanted to do was have a cup of coffee. We drove non-stop for the whole stretch. We couldn’t locate any Dunkin Donut or McDonald in the last stretch of hour and so I was in a caffeine-free and energy-free state. There was a coffee maker but no coffee in the four story, five bedroom, 4 baths and 7 beds (includes 2 bunk bed) townhouse we were renting. We drop the stuff and head to the beach only to be hit by a mild disappointment with Bahamas Blue (rather Turquoise) still fresh in the memories. Pratyush loved the water, he is not as judgmental as we are or may be he is more practical and realizes what he is going for better. He gets his cloth wet as he always does when left around water, be it a hose, sea or the sink. We head to the Tanger out...

I love thee, with all my heart But thee, does not love me back I crave to cradle in those arms But thee devours another charm I lay awake every night Trying to figure what goes on in his mind Fail as I always do One reason I present contradicts another Going in circles I am, Is what I gather False hopes I give myself in a way to deceive my mind Ignorant of the fact Thee is hiding and playing tricks right inside

A very busy but relaxing weekend was the last one. Yesterday was cloudy day and we were having lunch with other 5 families in the afternoon. The lunch was arranged to meet and greet a friends relative (sister to be precise) visiting from India. They were taking a month long vacation with college going daughter and a preteen boy in NY vicinity. They had just returned after spending a week in Miami and florida(Disney world). So somebody asked me “what is going on”. I answer “A lot”. I believe my audience was expecting a low “nothing much” and I love to give surprises and reason for people to ask more. That’s where a close friend of mine jumps in saying how much is going on in my life and I am still not satisfied with my life which is so true. Only a real friend will know, and as it is a truth I do not have to defend myself and I ask “Shouldn’t we all be aspiring for more in life”. I reply "The day I am satisfied, I will be dead" After all, we have one life to live and what i...

Well, I never lost an access card before; I still have the one from Tata Steel building in Calcutta. I still have the access card for RE/MAX office and the Citi ID card. Now, here I am 2 weeks old at Daiichi Sankyo which consists of only 8 working days and I have lost the access card twice. I spent 20 minutes of my precious morning hour looking for it. I was hoping it is hanging to one of my clothes or I might have dropped it on the closet floor but no luck. I searched the car and finally I was certain it is on my desk. Only to get to the office and there is no sign of my access card. The worst fear for me was to face the receptionist who shakes he head in degust every time I request her to buzz me in. I wonder how hard that can be. She is the most unfriendly receptionist I have known my life, don’t they provide them any training or something to give people better treatment, or she saves them only for chosen ones. After sitting on my desk for straight 2 hours I decide to go and ask he...

While I was at Bahamas, our friend mentioned about the book “Life of Pi” right after their jet-ski boat flipped over. I was keen on reading the book, so we ordered it right away. It is a book everybody should read. I gave the book to 14 years old and he liked it. The book is about an Indian boy surviving 7 months on a life boat in Pacific Ocean with a tiger. There is lot more; the book is full of surprises that never seem to end. The details are somehow gruesome in between but I believe those are the author’s requirement to make the story visual. It was one of a kind story and definitely recommended.