Agra

Last weekend, I was in Agra to attend Herbert's sister's wedding. The fact that this wedding brought together so many college friends was an added bonus.

Bulla and Budhau came over from Calcutta, Pauki came from Bangalore and yours truly took the Agast Kranti Rajdhani from Bombay. Also joining us from Delhi were Rohit and Daddu.

Short trip, majorly sleep deprived.. But it is a special joy to meet old pals and wish a friend's sister all the best for a happily married life ahead.

From L to R: Budhau, Pauki, Traveller, Herbert, Rohit, Bulla, Daddu and Herbert's Jijaji

"Rishtey mein toh hum tumhaare...

...Maa hote hain."

Whatever you can do, I can do one better. At least, that is what it seems my Mum is hell bent on saying/proving.

So, in keeping with her newly found tech-savvy image, she sends me an e-mail informing me that come this Sunday, she is participating in some sort of a charity run. The distance? 5 km.

My heart skipped a beat when I read that. Mom? Seriously? The woman who is way past her prime? And not to forget, is also an asthma patient?

I immediately called home to speak to her about this. "Listen, there's no need to worry. If you could run long-distance, I am your mother and am perfectly capable of running/speed-walking 5 kms," is all she had to say.

And you wonder where I get my eccentricities from, huh?

A Tale of Three Poems

It is funny how things happen in a continuity at times.

Let me explain.

For some reason, was reminded of Rudyard Kipling's "If" today.

I have spoken about Kipling's "If" earlier (Wow! It has been five years since that post and so much has changed. Was just incredible reading the comments section and remembering those times. I know I sound like an 80 year old but what the heck...) and the poem inspires me as much as it did then.

And then, in the evening, chanced upon the remix version of Rabindranath Tagore's "Ekla cholo re" from the upcoming Vidya Balan starrer "Kahaani". Here is the translation of the original poem in Rabindranath's own words:

If they answer not to thy call walk alone,

If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,

O thou unlucky one,

open thy mind and speak out alone.

If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,

O thou unlucky one,

trample the thorns under thy tread,

and along the blood-lined track travel alone.

If they do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm,

O thou unlucky one,

with the thunder flame of pain ignite thy own heart

and let it burn alone.

And this brings me to a nice poem which, I feel, has been too commercialised these days. The poem is "Agneepath" by Harivansh Rai Bachchan.

Which are the poems that inspire you?

Shivratri 2012

A quick scribble before I head to the office.

Hope everyone had a beautiful Shivratri yesterday.

Personally, had a wonderful day. Prayed and pulled off a long fast: 30 hours without food or water. It wasn't as tough as I thought it would be, albeit was feeling a little heavy in the head in the evening.

Here is a picture of the mandir at my home right after the aarti I did in the evening:

Dubai

The traveller's first international holiday and, as it happens, first post from outside the country. I'm in Dubai on a company sponsored holiday. Will post details of the trip in a subsequent post.