Seven years!

Sometime before seven years, I had a thought to create a blog space. When I don’t even know whether I could write creative content on a regular basis or anything much about writing at all.

The tiny thought was put to back shelf consciously so many times. Yet it floated up top and grew a tiny bit every single time. And at some point it became the constant humming in my mind, when it had nothing immediate to work out.

I would like to say that the name was just random. But it would not justify the number of hours I spent searching and analysing my thoughts and random browsing for the name to pop up from something or somewhere.

It did pop up when I came across chaos theory and I preferred the term butterfly effect to chaos theory. Then it made me realize that whatever I might write, I would like to leave behind a happy feel to the reader and if possible, spread it beyond. And thus the term RIPPLES came to be the name of my blog.

Around the same time, I came across the story of Aadhirai and one glimpse made me realize that’s who I’m going to be.

I started the new journey into blogosphere on a New Year, seven years ago. This seven years I’ve grown from a newbie into much more and I’ve a very long road ahead of me.

I once read that, if you’re friends for seven years of life, you will most probably be friends forever ahead. And people around has proved that it doesn’t take years to become great friends. Just the same wave of thoughts on some level is more than enough rather than years and years of togetherness.

I wanted to create a ripple which would spread beyond my reach to spread positivity and when I look back, I do know that I’ve created few ripples which I’m happy to be part of.

The things for which I was confident led me into translation and editing. But once I started looking, I realised how unqualified I’m on both fronts. And same goes for writing. And thus the non-stop writing of a post a day stopped eventually.

Also, I realised that my content is better when I write just for the sake of writing rather than for any other reason. And when I heard the following story, I stopped bothering about writing at all.

Once, there was a poet and a girl fell in love with him for his thoughts and writings. Eventually they married and were living happily. But his writings ceased and she was constantly asking him to write about/for her. He could not bring himself to write anything worthy at all. Years went by and she was forever disappointed in his lack of poetry, though they were immensely happy in life together. One day she died and it felt his happiness had been taken away from him forever. And that’s when he started writing again.

The lack of absolute happiness paved way for creativity and when living is really that happy, it is true that the need to preserve thoughts vanishes. I can vouch that as I’m that happy now and I couldn’t bother myself to write about it.

I want to share my happiness and spread cheer all around and hence I might come back and visit you all at times and at the same time, never bother to force myself to write.

Hence, this blog is going into conscious hiatus rather than my often repeated, “I’ll try to be more active and write more.”

If you’re here, believe me, you’re one of the reasons I’m really happy today. For those amazing friends, I got around here and for those silent readers… Please do take up a smile and do spread it around…

Keep smiling…

For that’s the curve that can straighten up this universe into happiness! 😊😊😊

What next…

“I’m taking my blog to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa campaign by the team BlogChatter.”

Phew.. This is the last post for that campaign!

Despite being enormously happy about my Alexa ranking and the entire campaign, I’ll not be signing up for any more campaigns. It’s not just my cup of tea!

The campaign has made me realize the following:

1. I am terrible at taking up orders.
2. Writing for any defined reason, doesn’t bring out the best in me.
3. I couldn’t find joy in writing, when I write for any such reasons.
4. The joy of drop in rank is not greater than the joy of writing for writing my thoughts.

Also, I am sorry to be part of campaign and not able to follow the rules.

Sum of these had made me feel guilty overall and has much more adverse effect.

I started this blog to express myself. And the pride I had in my blog, till I started with such rigorous campaigns, has started declining.

I’m content with quality than quantity.

So, I’m going back to my hibernation and enjoy life in the present, as it is.

I won’t abandon my blog at any time, but also wouldn’t let me be constrained even by my very life.

I might throw in a pebble, when it so happens, but not otherwise.

And despite everything I said above, I liked to have found so many blogs through the campaign and am grateful for the likes and comments and shares.

And above all, there’s something coming up on October 5th.

Losing to win!

I signed up for Alexa campaign when that was supposed to be the only meal on my plate. But the hungry me, grabbed much of the delicacies from variety of cuisines and filled the platter so much.

Now, here I’m stuffing everything at the last minute, just because, I don’t want to waste any of it. But am I able to stuff up everything?

I think I do have some leftovers, which I’ve to dine and digest. The only relief is that, those items haven’t expired yet.

So right after finishing this, I’ll continue gobbling away, whining and also winning over another target.

Hope, you could enjoy your meal hot and fresh and enjoy everything without guilt, unlike me!

Anyway, I did take up my blog to the next level with the #MyFriendAlexa campaign by the team #BlogChatter.

My Alexa rank on 1st September, 2019 – 51,08,429 (Global)

My Alexa rank on 30th September, 2019 – 5,28,711 (Global) and 28,429 (India)

So that was indeed an awesome bite for me!

United in love!

Today, 30th September, is World Translation Day.

I believe that, this is one poetry which deserves to be appreciated for years to come by many. And this is a sample of the wealth of knowledge and humility of the poet, who had such a brilliant idea, but not the desire to publicise his name.

There are two major elements that comprises the crust of earth. Water and Land.

The element of water is widely considered the flowing element and represents change, travel, search for destiny etc.

Whereas the element of land represents the stability, patience, finality or even a finite object.

The element of water exists in many forms such as ocean, river, falls, stream, lake, rain and so on.

And the land exists as soil, mud, sand, stone, rock, mountain and so on. The larger it is, the flexibility is reduced, while smaller the particle, it’s unusable for modified purpose. They can be used as is or with minor changes.

Usage of water is as wide as it’s form. And each usage relies upon few or just one form. For e.g., ocean is good for transporting through ships but useless for drinking directly. Also, existence of each form is restricted by the area of it’s existence. A falls can’t exist in plain and not ocean on top of mountain.

Another interesting feature is most of the water forms exist above land, though source of water is below land, apart from rain.

It’s born out of land, nurtures land, floods land, and consumes two third of earth’s crust.

Seems neither exist without the other. And also one overpowers the other at each stage.

But do they ever be at par?

Yes, when the land is mud/red soil and water is rain. They both lose themselves and they adorn a new form, of mud, which is neither liquid not solid.

Thus, merged the heart of two, in love, inseparable and into one, by losing itself. And together they could be created into new formations, which isn’t possible to be attained by either water or soil independently.

This is the example given by an anonymous poet to describe love. And the richness of the thought paved way to name the poet after this example.

யாயும் ஞாயும் யாரா கியரோ,
எந்தையும் நுந்தையும் எம்முறைக் கேளிர்,
யானும் நீயும் எவ்வழி யறிதும்,
செம்புலப் பெயனீர் போல,
அன்புடை நெஞ்சம் தாங்கலந் தனவே.

-செம்புலப் பெயனீரார்.

What is my mother to yours?
How is my father related to yours? Although you and I knew not
each other in any way,
just as red earth and pouring rain:
the love-filled hearts merged.

(Kuruntokai – 40)

[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuṟuntokai]

A single line that has such a depth of meaning. This keeps amazing people for generations and still going to live for long.

I’m taking my blog to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa campaign by the team BlogChatter.

Poetry without words!

Nature’s poetry!

I’m taking my blog to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa campaign by the team BlogChatter.

Rambling on love

The magical feeling which is the topic of discussion for ages bygone and ages to come, never gets old. I was wondering why was that, just like every one musing about love.

I think, it’s because, that’s something special, obviously.

For those who aren’t made aware of the sweet nectar, in full, but just given a fleeting glimpse, that’s the ultimate target. To which all of their routes are diverted.

For those who are in the heavenly bliss, they are so full of the happiness and doesn’t have the slightest inclination to get out of it, to help others on their route, nor explain it in words. For that bliss is of such addictive nature without any reprieve. And also, for the very reason, it couldn’t be constrained to meagre words. That’s beyond any compare and can only be enjoyed by oneself.

If someone bothers to explain or guide through anyone else, either they haven’t experienced it in full and are showing off in vain, to make others believe the better of them. Or else, some twisted fate has pushed them out of the heaven, to only linger the joy and not continue to experience it.

And those are the ones who tell tales, throwing a glimpse of heaven to the newbies and those are the ones who extend the life of their lives through the memories of their tales.

And in every way, the love and love alone remains as the constant, which stands witness to the trials and triumphs of all!

After all the regression, I realise that I’m in that heaven and hence I couldn’t put myself to be constrained within few words. Hence, couldn’t write about lamenting nor anything else.

Thus, you are here, reading another post of mine, searching for something, which might not be present here. But if it did, do drop a word and let me know, whether you could make heads or tails of this post!

I’m taking my blog to the next level with #MyFriendAlexa campaign by the team #BlogChatter

When a Yes becomes yes truly!

She knew the answer
In that single moment.
What her dreams are,
What form it would take,
Who it would be,
What she fell for and
What she yearned for!
And for all those questions
Unasked yet answered!

The sprouting from the most
Darkest and deepest part
Of her heart and yet
Potent to encompass
Even the whole universe.

She answered yes,
To the one who would be
The base of her future
And part of every moment
In living out her life.

He jumped out in joy
For his dream came true!
She, to him is
A dream of decades,
Centuries and beyond!
An imagination for the future
Counted in few light years!
And the hope of his life!

Yet he did not knew
And would never know
That his jump of joy,
Trampled a little sprout,
In the darkest and deepest
Of her trembling heart!

And the yes was said,
Only in the hope
That the excess of love
Spilling from his brimming heart
Would be enough
To grow a garden.

A garden that is

Amazingly attractive with
Blooming buds,
Colorful, calm, cheery and
Dazzlingly Distracting her
From the erstwhile eerie era.
For the future is founded in the
Glorious gestures of him.

Her hysterical history
Is inappropriate and an insult to him in the
Journey jabbing with
Kindness, from the King of
Love, lust and listless luxury of
Meaningful merger of two minds.

Neither negotiated the needles,
Obviously Omnipresent in the
Pressure pursuing the presence of those
Quirk quiet emptiness lurking in the
Relationship rumbling with romance.

Still she shivered silently in
The thunderous transition of her
Unspeakables into utter useless rubbish.

Vulnerability of the viable future
Whisked her into Wishing for
eXclusive explosions of
Yelling and yet in the yonder, the
Zeal of him zapped her completely.

As she had been encompassed by his,
Love, lust and everything in between
In her heart and mind too!!

Bridging the gap!

Fortunate are those who know to read, and even more are those who can, in more than one language.

My mother tongue is Tamil, but my mother’s language is English, even though she loves Tamil. So, I’m introduced to literature of English and Tamil at a very early stage.

As much as I love reading in both languages,I love to write in both as well. Since, most of my communication is required to be in English, writing in English has become more common than my mother tongue.

My blog wasn’t started on an impulse. I first decided on the tag line, “aZhagiya salanangal“, then on the name “Ripples”. Also the very first post I conceived for my blog was in Tamil, which can be read here and I eventually translated it into English, here.

The reason I shifted to English is for two reasons. First, my Tamil audience is so limited, that there is no point writing solely in English is understandable to them. Secondly, my respect for the language is the highest and I don’t use it in vain. So I started writing in Tamil, only after a long thought process and for the content very close to my heart.

I mean no disrespect for English, as that’s the first language I prefer to communicate with a stranger and that’s the language that has given my words a global audience!

To find a balance between my passion for writing in my mother tongue and for reaching global audience, I stepped into translation. And that opened a whole new horizon for me.

I started translating only on my blog and for my own work, but later extended it to translate movie lyrics, just so, those who weren’t able to understand Tamil could understand the beauty of the works in Tamil. That led me to working and becoming co owner of the site, lyricaldelights.com

This venture has led me to take my passion to next level, when I started translating the works is my favorite poet in Tamil, Bharathiyaar. The project is still a work in progress, but what’s done so far can be found here.

I’m not sure whether I would be this content if I was able to write in just one language. But being the bridge between the two has made me even more purposeful and content.

Today is World Literacy Day! And I dedicate this post to everyone who’s taking a step forward to make the world a little more wider with knowledge!

I’m taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa

Right now!

I’ve been pondering what to write for the first post of #MyFriendAlexa In other words, picking the right bait to keep my new visitors hooked up with my words and/or posts.

Just when a beautiful idea started forming in the back of my mind… (Translation – Am staring out the window and postponing every other task I’ve to complete and call it thinking for my next awesome post) the climate itself took pity on me, or rather protected you all from another post of my ramblings…

The melancholic climate turned into a feisty downpour! I’ve heard from many sources that rain is sort of a gloomy mood. But when I’m traveling in National Highway, with my dear one(s), listening to my favorite tunes, a downpour is more uplifting than anything for me!

The road looks blacker, the greens around are greener, the surrounding looks fresh and free of dirt.. The dirt is sort of permanent fixture on these roads, so even the familiar road looks fresh. And the look is enhanced by the filter created by the tiny droplets on the window pane…

Nature’s filter!

As I was thus enjoying the travel, with a big smile on my face, I saw few kids going back from school, with a heavy backpack and drenched completely.

I felt sorry for them, till I crossed them and saw the bright glee on their face. There was not even a tiny bit of worry nor any other thoughts troubling their happy minds. I felt like the girl looking at the sparrow and wishing warmth with clothes, when it was already warm with its own wings!

In those happy smiles, I realised that happiness is not a by product or result of something else. It is being happy for the mere sake of being happy!

The lingering clouds!

The rain has stopped now, the climate has changed, the tunes changed, but not my happiness… Like the leaves drizzling long after the rain stopped, my smile still lingers on, without any cause, yet spreading cheer!

Hmmm.. So what makes you smilewithout a care in the world?

Rate this:

A dear friend asked me to make a video about books. When I asked that the topic was too vague, I was given the liberty to take it up as I wish..

And here’s that video for you all to view and comment upon it and upon anything else you would like to say to me..

So what’s your relationship with books and what’s your current favorite read?

Game of Life – Book Review

This is written as part of BlogChatter Book Review program.

The book was sent to me by the author under this program for the review.

Book name – Game of Life
Author – Arpan Ghosh
Genre – Young Adult, Romance

Link for purchase> Click Here The Blurb and few abouts author as found in the link.

Blurb:
Suhani , a brave beauty who took pitfalls at almost every step in life finally finds a soothing corner in form of love.
Nonetheless she could never really know who he is until someone decides to take advantage of their innocent bond and the only good thing about Suhani’s life gets into jeopardy.
Will she ever discover who her true love really was? Or would she have to live with a void for all her life?

About the author:
Arpan Ghosh is one of those writers who have the need of writing just as much oxygen. This time, he comes with an all new romantic tale. He’s fond of travelling and believes writing is a way of expression for the language of not only mind, but hearts too!

This book is a very short read and can be finished in a single sitting. A very good companion while travelling or while waiting somewhere.

As the blurb says, the story is about the love-life of a girl Suhani in her teen years. How she falls in and out of love and why, are the main plot along with the friendship she makes on the way. The story deals with breakup as much as love.

I appreciated the fact that she moves on with her life, despite the setbacks and demoivating family background, though it made me wonder how a girl from such a simple background could decide to go for an internship to USA just like that.

The second half of the story moves intriguingly and feels much better than the early stages of her life. And the first half seems to be very rushed, much like an extended prologue. 

The language and style of the book could use a good upgrade. But you eventually get used to it and the emotions are conveyed through.

For people in the age group of late teens, and those who are not so immersed in literary world, this would be a very interesting read and If you are looking for a light read this might be your choice.

The author deserves an appreciation for his story-telling skills and I believe he tells them even better in person.

Sink or Stink?

Long long ago,
I was timid, afraid,
And held myself to myself,
For I feared failure..
So I was never up for new things,
Thus no chance of failure…

It was all smooth and splendid,
Till I started stinking of the rot..
It was bearable up to a while,
But the stink got better of me,
Than the smoothness and safety…

So I was forced to move out,
From my comfort zone of the harbor..

I had to face rough seas,
I had to face the unknown,
I had to venture to survive..

There’s nothing motivating in life,
As much as survival..

And thus began an adventure,
Which opened new horizons,
Which poured in new options,
Which made me into another person..

I wasn’t the same person,
As I was before the venture..
After the necessary move out,
Life wasn’t that bad..
In contrary, it was much much better!

Yes, the seas were rough,
But my world has expanded..
Yes, there were unknown people,
But they are friends-to-be..
Yes, it was for survival,
But that’s where life exists..

The traveled wise me now believes,
It’s better to sail and sink,
Rather than stay and stink!

The writing.

The writer
Read all owned books,
Researched in the library,
Surfed the internet,
Listened to scholars,
Discussed with friends,
Observed the world around,
Travelled far and wide,
Learnt people’s customs,
And almost everything
That crossed his path..

While he wrote,
His pen would glide on paper,
Pausing only between words
For the requirement of space
Rather than for the thought,
And to refill the ink
But not to replenish the idea..
There was no draft,
What was written is final,
For there were no changes to be made..
There were no crossings,
No strike outs,
No rephrasing,
No corrections..
The text written was
Properly aligned
And filled just that page..
No more, No less..

The writing style
Is called impromptu,
By most people..
But is it really so?

Isn’t the thoughts
Bettered, cultured and educated
All through the past living?

So is there anything
Which is what it really is?!

And now you, the reader,
Have added a tiny note to your thought,
Consciously or unconsciously..
Which would reflect
Maybe in the very next thing you write,
Or just lay hidden as the seed,
To grow into a nourished thought,
And spread it’s essence
In a far future writing..
Which might even be titled
Impromptu! 😉

[Thanks to Mr.Hari for an awesome prompt for this post. Now I would like to extend the challenge of finding the given prompt for this post.. 😉 And the winner gets to provide the next prompt.. 😀]

Silver Hair Sins – Book Review

This is written as part of BlogChatter Book Review program.

The book was sent to me by the author under this program for the review.

Book name – Silver Hair Sins
Author – Saumick Paul
Publisher – The Write Place
Genre – Fiction, Visual story telling

The Blurb along with purchase link > Click Here

The story is set in future. Where the world is being completely taken over by technology, and even each individual’s thinking is being controlled by the tech and the team behind it.

The world as we know, is supposed to be changed by enormous leaps. Though is it for the better?

The story is set around characters which are doing something, yet declared as the role models of the future, with an entirely different backstory.

And thus the next generation sees the rape committed to the pioneer, Meera, as the ultimate form of sacrifice, when subjected to it voluntarily. And they also take up only the popularised and shallow versions of the ancient scriptures, which are completely ridiculous as the base idea was totally lost during the transition.

The story is supposed to redeem itself by showing that the idea behind the tech, resets the balance once in awhile. This part includes some good acronyms for Adam, Eve and Eden and also brings out the concept of Dasavatharam and / or the base fight of good over evil, where good wins eventually, but evil is never ever dead in the complete sense.

By reading the gist, the story might seem to be all in all on good note, but I’m afraid that, the narration doesn’t let you think so, while reading it.

I appreciate the effectiveness of the writer in making the reader captivating. Because for someone who isn’t new to dystopian novel, some sequences of the story makes me revolted. Guess there lies the success of a dystopian writer.

The part which gains my appreciation is for the effort put behind the pictures and also the video trailer. The main feature of the book is visual story telling, which in common terms mean, half the book is for photographs, which are supposed to improve the impact of story telling.

But my personal opinion is the pictures didn’t speak to me, despite being a wonderful work, as much as the pictures in Jonathan Livingston Seagull or the Little Prince.

If you are into exploring dystopian worlds you might try this and appreciate it better than me!

I

I am the centre of my universe,
I am a tiny speck in the universe…

I drown in guilt with deadlines,
I procrastinate like no other…

I live here in the present,
I lose myself in memories…

I believe life is beautiful,
I dread waking up in morning…

I wonder what next,
I wander into past…

I am just a caterpillar,
I am the exquisite butterfly…

I wake up earlier somedays,
I sleep in till noon at times…

I am so organised with few,
I am most chaotic at many…

I dish out counsel, as if I conquered life,
I break down and dread to pick up myself…

I laugh louder with not a care,
I cry harder when it’s needed too…

I am an introvert to speak to others,
I am an extrovert to explore places…

I chatter incessantly to few,
I measure my words as few…

I am an explosion that brightens the sky,
I bury my head like an ostrich in earth…

I am just like you,
I am as unique as you..

I am many parts of one,
I am more than sum of my parts!

I am an oxymoron!
I am an epitome!

Review of “A Case of Connections”

I received the book through “Blogchatter Book Review Program“

Book Name: A Case of Connections
Author Name: Sayan Battacharya
Publisher: White Falcon Publishing
Link to Buy: Amazon

About the Book:
The story of three individuals, spanning different eras, different geography, and different political and societal conditions, connected by some memories and a Brief-Case full of papers. In other words, individual stories of grandfather, uncle, and grandson.

This book is split into three parts.

Part 1 – Why and what are all the events that led the grandson to chase the story of his grandfather Satyen.

Part 2 – What happened to the grandfather, Satyen, that made him so far away from his family. This also covers a very vivid glimpse into the conditions existing during the period of second world war, in India as well as London, and also how it affects the family.

Part 3 – The story of uncle / son of Satyen, shows insights into the life of Satyen as a father. Also explains how the connections are packed together inside a case.

Thus, we get insights into the lifestyle of those three person’s period. Even if the story is said in three perspectives, it is actually the story of Satyen.

In part 1, as a grandfather and a relative living so far away, geographically, yet so close in the heart’s of his family. This is conveyed through Satyen’s brother’s grandson. And through his interactions with grand parents and other relative’s memory of him.

In the next part, Satyen, as an individual who has aspirations beyond the routine life, how he follows through them, the struggles and dilemma he faces before few decisions and how they impact his life and to what extent are delivered from his perspective.

In the final part, Satyen as a father is explained by his son. Also this part explains what made this story plausible.

Though this make it seem like a common story, the content makes the book special as it gives the reader an insight into history, without the monotonous nature of school books, but in the most effective way, by explaining with individual family’s impact from world politics.

The lucid writing style makes it an easy read. Though it took me some time to grasp what the terms of relationship meant, (I presumed many) the content makes it easier to understand the relationship. Kindly note that this is a personal issue as I’m not familiar with the author’s native language.

Overall the book is a good read, and a great find for those who like to learn history.

Rating – 4/5

Summer holidays

That’s the time of the year to stop the routine, rejuvenate, and replenish the soul to get prepared for the next long year!

And May month is the month of summer around here! Taking a big break now from writing to enjoy the summer.

Roses

My dearest friend was having a birthday cake with two roses on it. It was a time when cake cutting wasn’t so famous.

I looked very eagerly towards the cake and those beautiful roses.

The cake was cut and was cut into many pieces, two roses were cut into two different pieces.

One was given to the birthday baby and the other was given to me.. What else could bring joy to a little kid than being made special?! 😃

Zipping it!

Looking back at 2016 A to Z challenge, I completed it far better than this year’s challenge. But at least, I completed it this year too!

What next?

I’ve no idea whether I’m going to continue with any frequency, or go completely silent..

Let me face when it’s time.. And for now bidding adieu..

Thank you dear readers for your continued support! 😊

Yelp

I love watching movies but not so much of the genre similar to Jurassic Park. It might be due to my reaction watching it the first time.

In Jurassic Park, there is a scene towards the end, where the kids are chased by dinosaurs and the kids get into a lift. Just when it’s to take off, a dino almost catches a kid. The kid has to pull in the leg to be saved.

I let out a loud yelp and pulled in my leg. And people next to me started consoling me rather than watching it, for I was that scared.. 🙈

X ing a paragrab

The short story X ing a paragrab is written by Edgar Allan Poe.

It is one story that had me laughing so hard.

Written during the olden days, when the press used to manually set the entire article, letter by letter. And the rivalry between two presses and their challenging each other on drafting an article, with using of one particular character in almost all the words. So what happens when the entire block of that particular character is stolen and how the habit of using the character x as an alternate for the missing character is used.

I believe this was the starting point for all those challenges for using or not using any of the characters in blog posts.

Writing…

In my childhood days, I don’t like to write much.. Which my mother has reminded me so often enough, until very recently..

The reason I don’t like to write, is not because I don’t like to write, but I don’t like to repeat..

Allow me to explain..

In those days, the school work mainly consisted of repeating parts of what’s available in the text book. And the exams asked to vomit the mugged up parts of the text book. So I didn’t write those essay type questions, which was to be answered to score marks above the required pass mark. But I did attended the questions which required answer in just few words or lines. And also attended all the mathematical problems and would score above 90%

It took them a long time to understand that I hated repeating while I never stepped back when it came to any activity that required original content.

So the girl who hated writing becamea pseudo writer and blogger! 😜

Visual appeal..

Though I have never displayed my photo on my blog, please do believe me when I say that, I do have a very photogenic face and I do have some great pictures taken.

There is one special photograph of me taken at the age of about two / three. It is not so uncommon in that age to braid the hair, adorn it with flowers and take a picture of that long hair along with the front view, right before tonsuring (head shaving) for the first time.

I was all dressed up pretty and was having a beautifully designed braid. It was time to take the customary photo consisting of both the front and back view. Please bear in mind that taking photograph is such a rarity and reserved only for very special occasions. So there were only very few pictures taken at that age.

Back to the photo.. It was easy to take the picture of the front view, though they hadn’t taken it first. When they asked me to turn back and show the braid for clicking the picture, as my parents say, I was not turning back. When they insisted, I had argued that how will the photo has my face, if you take it when I am facing the other way?

Seems quite logical, when you can’t make the kid-me understand that both front and rear view will be merged into a single picture and it just shows the doll-me front and back.

Thus the resultant photo was an expression less back form, along with the sullen face next to it!

Of course, it does bring a good laugh around whenever we see the picture now, even though I’m sullen faced and cute just as tiny toddlers could be!

UFO

I’ve an undying love for electronics. It all started with a video game named UFO.

I was about seven years, when I went for a walk with my father, spotted an interesting-looking-odd-shaped-violet-colored object across the counter of a shop.

As I asked my dad about it, we stepped in and enquired about it, the details of which are insignificant background noise, while I was engrossed in admiring the object’s odd shape and the tiny little buttons on it.

All I remember was that, it was not something meant for me, as we were not buying it right then. I was disappointed only little bit, as it looked like something too costly and also I was not so sure that it was meant for someone as young as me.

We returned home, and dad called me back for another walk immediately. Still I didn’t understand the meaning, until we reached the same shop.

Yes, I was gifted that video game and that was my first video game! It was a very simple game, where you ought to catch / shoot the falling objects. Not all, just the wrong objects flying disturbing the UFO.

I still have that game with me, it may even work, if I fit in a proper battery. It’s like those Andy’s toys in the toy story movie. Always having a special place in the heart of it’s owner.. 🙂

Quit, should I?

When life gets tough, it is easy to consider quitting. And there are so many motivators to push me ahead. I’ve also written few posts on those.

One such motivator was part of my curriculum in school. Which stayed longer than most other lessons.

It was about Jesse Owens. And his greatest Olympic prize. He won four gold medals in that Olympics and set an amazing record, when none expected him to succeed in anything at all. Even if he is the most eligible candidate to winall those laurels. Though he overcame many hurdles to participate in finals, the most difficult hurdle was when he was almost not making through the trials.

That’s when Luz Long, his fellow competitor offers him an advice, which costs him his own victory in Olympics.

When Owens was trying to give his best, even at trials, and was instead making a foul, he was consulted to not give his best, but just get through the trials. So he might get into the finals and show his worth, where it matters the most. Thus, he sets back a little to achieve even more in the finals and go on to win the coveted gold medal in Olympics.

The lesson, that stayed with me is not just about losing a little to gain more. But to earn a friend, who would push me ahead, even when it might cost them their victory. Who would stand by me at all times, who knows what I’m capable of better than me, who knows when I’m stuck in an imaginary pit and who knows how to redeem me from myself, so that I would achieve what I’m capable of..

That might seem like an unachievable dream. But the lucky me found not just one but more than one such dear true friend! Yes, they still exist and they still stay along as my friend in my happiness and sadness, and all ups and downs.

And whenever I’m on the verge of quitting, one of them comes around to push me ahead. And thus I keep on going forward as well as achieving more and more.

For those who wonder, whether I return the favour, I do so, as said, by my friends.. 🙂

Thinking out loud!

I wrote a post named Leave few days back and said, I love blogging more than anything. But I started taking leave from the next day and wasn’t paying regularly since then..

So, I do love my life little more than my love for blogging!

I promised few with some deadlines and haven’t been keeping up to it on time, though I finished it late.

So, I would rather finish it properly rather than merely rushing and compromise on my satisfactory level of quality!

I read and keep reading at many places that social networking and writing posts in a certain way helps you reach more audience and much more to the likes of it..

So, am I willing to follow them instead of writing for the sake of writing? I don’t think so.. For, I seem to be missing the actual joy of writing as well as the pride I feel when I read back even after long time..

So, I’m dropping any notion of blabbering past my post for A2Z, which will end in few more posts..

What am I losing?

My piece of mind along with a huge number of supposed followers. Maybe even my chance to get few great friends.

What do I wish to gain?

The joy of writing for the mere purpose of writing, where the content is filled with passion or some emotion, rather than using this space asa scribble board. And I wish to have readers who step in as strangers, but hit the follow, for they really like whatI write from my heart!

So, all in all, I’m not going to think out loud in my posts anymore, and write from my heart. Even though I might blabber through the rest of my posts till Z, for I’ve begun and I’ll finish it!

Play – Do you play now?

While I was a kid there were many friends to play with and a huge open area to play as we wish.

We used to play many games. The evenings started with games involving lots of running and moving around. With that we would be drenched in sweat and while we are near exhaustion, we will shift to games played by sitting around.

So whatever our energy level, we played and played, till we were dragged to our homes by our parents.

And the level of animosity between neighbours was far less. We could knock any door of the neighborhood for a glass of water and they would also care for all of us.

There were few houses who let us play full time in their home. There was an aunty, who always has some craft or something to keep us engaged during the sunny hours. She also lovingly made popcorn and sometimes noodles for all of us.

There was an uncle who was living in a sparsely furnished portion. And he had set no limits for playing anywhere in the house and he would also join us playing hide and seek. He always entertained with some interesting conversation where he taught us something new in a playful way.

Life is beautiful when people interact with people, face to face, rather than when everyone finds their temporary deluded moment of happiness, within a small pixelated window!

Oops.. The stolen mango!

Over the terrace, I mentioned in my last post, was a large mango tree. During summer, the mangoes were hanging low enough, from the part of tree spilling into the terrace.

They are low enough for kids to pluck them without much struggle. Yet, we kids were always reminded to stay away from the tree, for there might be tiny insects and I was so allergic to them.

Yet, the allure of those tasty raw mango are far more inviting than the constant reminders. So we decided to pluck it. And we did it.

No, there wasn’t any insect bite or any allergic reactions or no cause to question our safety.

But we, me and my cousin, didn’t dare to go into the house shouting our victory. Though we were safe, we were not sure that about the scolding we might receive. It was a small mango and we thought of finishing it in the terrace itself and throw away the seed.

When we were almost half through, grandpa came onto terrace in search of us. We were caught green-handed, I mean with mango in our hands and I sort of panicked for a moment.

As he was about to question about it, I volunteered that the mango fell by itself, as some squirrel or parrot might have nibbled and dropped them.

Though we were spared from any scolding, we were to give away that mango! For it might not be properly cleaned. Sigh! Our heart was already content from half of it and we parted with it. But soon afterwards, it was nicely cleaned up and cut into small bite sized pieces and given back to us!

Nights on terrace

One of the happiest memory of childhood is the time spent on terrace after dinner. Sometimes even for dinner!

And those night outs require some prep work done by evening. We have to splatter water so that it is not so hot for relaxing later on. This is one of the favorite chore on the summer vacation. As we get to play with water, while we also get some work done.

Regressing, I wonder how our well was up to its maximum capacity even during summer and the idea of water scarcity was not even so remote in the ideas. Also, the water comes from well, that is self replenishing, whereas the water waste from bath and kitchen goes to water the plants and trees of the garden.

Still, I think I might not be watering the terrace just for cooling effect, while the water is becoming much more precious day to day..

Anyway, twenty years back, that’s the only source for cooling as air conditioners are not so common and also the electricity can’t be trusted at all times for fans.

I’m moving away from the main idea. Getting back to it…

Those night time gatherings are so great memories, for that’s the time the entire family gathered together and shared much more than stories. That’s where the creativity is kindled with riddles. That’s where the knowledge is passed on through generations. That’s where we counted stars and believed we could finish it some day. That’s where we learnt stories of our parents as kids and it was always a pleasure to see the parents be kiddish, which makes them more likable even if they reprimand us for our pranks.

So that’s where life was at is jest, happiness breezed along, cheerfulness lingering like the distant train’s passing, and smiles were abundant, while making the childhood best of times!

Mundane Monday!

Leave!

In days of my education as well as career, I take leave, very often.. Like once in a month at the very least..

Do you want to know why?

Simply because, I wasn’t feeling like going to school on that particular day..

I say the very same reason to my parents and they do allow me to avail that. For they believed firmly that if you don’t accept the real reasons, even if it doesn’t sound so correct by societal norms, it lead to telling lies. So they encouraged by accepting the simple fact that I don’t feel like going to school..

So it got ingrained in me to take a little while to enjoy the vacation amidst chaos of the routine..

And now I wish I could avail a leave from blogging, but there is something else that drags me back to post every day.. And that’s when i realise that I’ve never loved my school as much as I love blogging!

❤

Keepsakes?!

There are so many collectibles around to collect and I’ve had many hobbies including stamp collection and coin collection.

But there is one weird collection amidst that which even I don’t understand as to why I started collecting them.

To this day, I couldn’t throw out the collection from almost a decade back.

Oh my collection is bus tickets! I commuted through bus during my college days and if I could date them, I might check my attendance to college.

Alas, I don’t keep them organised in any way. But there are about three boxes fully packed with those.

To this day, I could never fathom the meaning of why I did, what I did nor have the heart to throw them away. I know I should definitely declutter my useless keepsakes.

I have started throwing away most of the useless things despite great memories. But, this is one thing I couldn’t throw away yet.

I’ve stopped collecting them when they shifted to the printing system, for those prints faded with time. Now, my collection has become a relic as the system of pre printed tickets is almost extinct.

So what’s weird in your collection?

“Just Thinking”

A Book by one of the dear friends, I got from blogosphere, Mr. Colin Chappell. This book is a collection of poems by him and few others.

The little blurb on the cover exactly summarises about the book, while the image on the cover sets the tone for the book.. Pleasing to view, Comforting the soul and a beauty to cherish!

The book is a very short read, if you want to finish in a single siting. But it is best enjoyed, when read one at a time and pondered upon, as each of them provokes something inside.. To emote, to inspire, to laugh and sometimes create a new post!

The book is divided into Five Parts.
Part 1 -My friend Ray: It talks about thoughts that influenced the life of Ray just as Ray influenced the life of Colin!
Part 2 – Relationships: Every reader could find some connection with at least one of them. This section is a fine example of how our personal life impacts turn out to beautiful creation.
Part 3 – Life’s Journey: The largest collection of poetry falls within this section and the prelude to the section explains / justifies why very aptly!
Part 4 – Tina and other stories: This is where stories unfold as poetry. And the stories are rich!
Part 5 – Just thinking: This is a collection of random poetry, which are not falling into any of the previous categories..

When I received the book and skimmed through the titles, indeed I was drawn to the “Ripples” and I was astounded for that conveyed my exactly thoughts on why I named my blog as Ripples.

And the poem that became a favorite of mine in the collection is, “The Old man’s lament“. For this one was beautifully inspiring to start living the life right now, or lament later. It is so practical and doesn’t exclude the base of our necessity to be a social being as well as the necessity to live for one self!

There are few written by his daughter, Melanie-Anne Chappell, Dr. Phoebe Chi and Carolyn Shelton. There is some invisible thread tying those poems into the book, very much in sync with the tone and theme of the book. Especially “The Toque (Knitted Hat)! “ by Melanie and “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more” by Dr. Phoebe had a lasting impression on me.

There is an important feature laced all through the book. The poems (not all) starts with a short (or sometimes a page-length) note. It is more like setting the stage for the show. For those notes play a vital role in setting the context. As it eases understanding them on the first read and doesn’t leave any space for misinterpretation by reader, from the perspective of writer.

I have always pondered whether my writing is ever understood, the way I conceived it?! And this seems to be the best solution for that. I might be trying it in the future! Thanks for the idea!

As for acknowledgements, which was at the end of the book, I read it last and was most surprised! For Colin has included me in it, as my Header Image in the past was an inspiration for his poem, Ripples.

The joy of seeing my name in print, along with a very clear understanding of the idea behind it was one of the personal favorite moment of my life. Thank you Colin, for the understanding and the joy you created in me!

The book is a real treasure to ponder upon various facets of life and provides a good meal to the hungry of the mind!

Do grab your copy of the book is available here!

Heights!

Do you know the queasy feeling when you look down from a high building / place?

I used to have that! Very often.. And what you define as high is highly different for me.. Because to me looking down from the first floor will give me that wretched feel..

And in my days in school, we would often visit my grandparents on the weekends, which was a very short ride on bus, but stretching over, a small bridge, just about 200 mtrs or so. And every single time I would wrangle my mother’s hand, in the name of holding her hand!

This continued for so long until few years back.. And in the years before, our vacation will mostly be to hill stations. Guess who suggests those places.. Still me.

Though I have never cared for the adrenaline rush of any activity, I still prefer the mild coldness in the hills in contrast to the scorching heat of our place. And so yes, I will go on a whole trip enjoying the growing side of mountain rather than the steep downside.

I was scared of the heights of Ooty and Kodaikanal, until I visited Manali, Shimla and Auli. The view all through was snow clad mountains as far as you could see. The roads were narrow and right next to the road flows the Ganges, few kms down the hill. But now I was not afraid, as I was mesmerised by the ethereal beauty, which can never be bound by words.

That was a true heavenly sight to behold and an experience to nourish for life. For not everyone realises the exact moment they let go of their fear. And that feel gives a better mushy feel! 😉

Good Night or Good Knight?!

There is a secret handshake or something unique, each kid creates when they are young, and few sustain the time and others are lost. Those lost memories, when revived add a smile to the self and sometimes may earn the awkward reaction, from the listener.

My mother tongue is Tamizh, a language which doesn’t have the concept of ‘silent’ characters as much as English. And for a kid starting to spell the words, that is a bit complicated concept to grasp. One such complicated word for me was “Knight”. The word was introduced by the brand name “Good Knight”, the mosquito coil, before it was introduced to me by school.

So on that day of introduction, at night, I said, “Good Knight.”
But how do you differentiate between the night and knight, while saying it out aloud?
Hence, Good night was followed by “Gooduk night” (Yeah, that’s how the toddler me pronounced it!)

And from then on the following became my father’s and my Good night routine.

Good Night
Gooduk Night
GK
GN

And for years it was exchanged daily and with time it was forgotten, until my sister was in school. And by then, she knew how to pronounce “Knight” and lots more. Also, we have changed the brand of our mosquito repellent to “All Out”

So when we narrated this story, she asked why stop with one brand and created a new big series for exchange and she tells them in the same order every single time without any interchange. The List grew into…

Good Night
Gooduk Night
GK
GN
Good Knight
All Out
Mortein
Martin Cooper
Albert Einstein
Issac Newton
GOOD NIGHT

Wondering from where did all those people come? Or have you guessed it rightly that was the day, she learnt the name of those scientists and she started linking with the phonetics of Mortein-Martin…

And thus Newton and Einstein came into our everyday lives! Who would have guessed.. 😉

Spare a minute?

I would like to know what do you like to read more from me. Can you please spare a minute to vote on this poll?

For the First time in Forever..

We were living in a concrete jungle, popularly known as apartments. There were many kids to hang out with and the terrace is always under lock due to us. They said it’s for our safety. One day, one of the wooden door bucked under climatic influences. And that’s when a new horizon opened to us, literally.

We, the gang, were school going kids, in a generation, when the kids aren’t actually burdened with too much of schoolwork and parents let their kids play along with others. It was those golden days, when we would play till we are drenched in sweat, our tummies ache with laughter, air is filled with happiness, our cheerfulness an inherent identity of the neighbourhood.

Though we have played our hearts out on the ground, the information that the door was cracked open, invited to explore us more. And the opening was good enough for us, the kids to get in, but very hard for grownups to follow us in there. And of course, it became our secret spot for playing.

We were playing there and it was on one of those days that we happened to stop our games, just to enjoy a moment around us, when the sky was painted with the myriad of colors of the sunset. So far, sunset only meant that it was time to end or games and return home. Now it was a whole different thing.

We started noticing it when the Sun takes a glorious shade of light yellow, bordering orange and we stood near the outer wall and silently watched as it turned into all those shades before it buried itself into the outlines of what lied ahead. And we continued to watch in silence, till the sky has lost its lighter color and started to darken. It was a wonderful moment and all of us fell for it. And we kept returning to the terrace simply for that moment.

Like all good times, it too came to an end, when one day one of our parent started searching for us and with all the usual ruckus around getting caught, we were forbidden to the terrace and the view of sunset wasn’t the same when watched from ground of a concrete jungle.

But I am smitten forever with sunsets and the golden hour forever. And I still watch the sunsets with the same curiosity and wonder we had then..(and at times I get stared at for being so curious over sunset )

Do you remember the first time you stood memserised by the magical colors of that golden hour?

Everlasting friendship..

It’s said that if a friendship survives for seven years, it will last a lifetime.

Yes, it’s true for me.

Our friendship started when we were seven and now we are decades stronger.

How it started?

When I moved to a new neighborhood in apartments. Contests were being held as part of their annual celebrations and there is only one competitor for mein every contestI entered into. In later years, we teamed up and the association always got very similar prizes for both of us, irrespective of the first and second places we would get.

Also, we were mostly considered twins, due to our facial similarities and also the way we were always found together almost at all times, despite attending different schools.

How did it survive?

After five wonderful years, we had to shift and it was the first time, I experienced the pain of parting ways. It was the time when telephone digits were just three or four and existed only in certain offices and such.

But the pen pals were in rage, by then. And yes, we wrote to each other occasionally and shared few cards, though the times we remembered each other were much more than that.

Later, we connected over phone after years, and the teenage years went busy in our own separate ways. When we met again after almost a decade, nothing much has changed between us and now the technology keeps us connected!

Our story together alone could take up much space and few of them might be coming up in this series.

How about sharing your longest friendship story?

Do we need BookReviews?

Today I am deviating from my theme – nostalgia, apologies, if you were expecting it!

A recent conversation with a friend lead to the topic, why book reviews are important and here is my personal, non-researched view on that question.

I’ve been reading books for years and still haven’t bothered with reviews until the past few years.

It was when I started picking books myself rather than read what’s recommended by dear and near. When I started exploring the plethora of categories and titles, I was literally confused on what would suit me and what wouldn’t.

So, I started searching for the title in Wikipedia, to get a gist of what is awaiting in the content. But that wasn’t a helping, when I started picking up books that aren’t very famous. And thus I stumbled upon Goodreads.

Until, I was part of publishing a book, I didn’t realise the impact of reviews completely.

Now my perspective of reviews are much different than what I started with..

I feel the reviews are important because of these points.

• It conveys the emotion of reader.
• Helps a new reader to pick a book more often than a book without reviews.
• Constructive criticism helps the author improve their writing.
• And honest positive review is to the author, what the sound of first clap to a live performer is.

There are few downfalls as well to book reviews.

• Reviews by amateur/immature readers, doesn’t give an objective review.
• Also, when the reader is not familiar even with popular books of the same genre, they couldn’t identify the inspiration/theft of ideas from other sources. (And it’s really disheartening to read huge praises being misdirected)
• Paid reviews – it’s true that it’s very very hard to get genuine reviews for new books by persons, yet to become famous. But considering an author famous, only based on paid reviews is totally unfair.

So I do believe that avid readers must come forward to write honest reviews and create a trusted platform for new authors and help the growth of genuine creativity.

And Blogchatter’s platform to bring them together is a right move in that direction. The details of the program are here.

Cry for help!

A big house, grand parents, two cousins, a game.

What could go wrong?

Nothing much, unless the game is to play police and thief, by a 5 year old and 3 year old. And the police decides to tie down the thief in an adult sized chair with real rope with real knot!

Oh yes, I did tie up my cousin and was not expecting to have tied a real knot and also was not expecting my cousin to start crying, because he couldn’t get out.

I started panicking as just one of the two is enough to land me into a good scolding and how am I going to resolve either of them?

And I too started to cry.. Don’t judge me! I was a helpless five year old!

And of course, eventually he was rescued from the knots and indeed we both had received scolding for the next hour or so.

Though till day, we haven’t discussed the instance as grown ups, it created a fear in me to get into games, from which I couldn’t rescue myself and it has also helped me to learn tying knots properly, to remove or to tighten.

And just like every crying memory of past brings a smile in the present, I do smile whenever I see any kid playing police-thief.

So what’s your smiling memory from your childhood?

Bed-time stories

As a toddler, I needed my dose of story for the night, before I slept. And after a while, I needed fresh stories and didn’t care for repetitions.

My mom, besides being my mom held the super power of being a past student of English literature, fan of Tamil literature, avid book reader, an awesome English teacher. And she also has a soothing voice and is pretty good story teller.

My pestering for new stories made her introduce world classic literature to me as bed time stories. And this went on for years, almost till I was eight or nine year old. By then she handed me books and I let her off duty as my story teller. I still ask for a story once in a while from her, even though I know that, she starts the story by breaking the suspense and yet she keeps the story interesting till the end.

Amidst all those years of hearing stories varying from Indian epics, Tamil classics, Religious tales, moral stories, Shakespeare plays and what not, one story stands out.

Actually it’s a novel. My mom’s favourite novel, “The citadel” by “A.J. Cronin”. Yes, she told that for days, as a series. And I vaguely remember the outline of the story, but to this day, I could see one scene of it before my eyes.

The protagonist, suffers some serious downfall in life and his wife, the love of his life, crosses a road with butter in her hands to meet him back and comfort him somehow. And while crossing she met with an accident and dies on spot, with the butter still clutched in her hands and slowly melting away, unlike her.

The story is good on many levels and for actual story, please get your own copy. I’m yet to read the actual book, and remember again, why the death is a vital and path changing moment for the protagonist.

If I was a good painter, I could draw out that busy road. Since I could just spit words….

For the vision of a lady, in black and white, like the ones in Charlie Chaplin period films, over a track of trams, amidst a fairly busy road, sprawling on the ground, with one out stretched arm with butter, other near a basket of groceries, blood crawling out from under her, lifeless eyes staring, is still pretty vivid in my memory.

Even though I have not read the story, it is one of my favourite novels to date!

So What’s your favourite story of years?

An initiation

Few long years ago, when I’ve started taking baby steps into the world of literature, an initiation happened. And the details are….

Bharathi was introduced to me even before I started crawling.. For my favorite lullaby was the song written by him.. In the early class, for school competition, I frequently dressed up as Bharathi and secured prizes every time. So that’s the prologue for this following incident.

My dad was leisurely lying next to me and we both were chattering away. Across us, on a line, two cloth hangers were hanging empty and swaying. They were sort of perpendicular to each other. A hit on the left edge, made them sway on the right edge. Hence, they were on some kind of perpetual motion.

My dad pointed it out and said, see they were chattering and playing with each other. It was fun to me, to see how that non-living thing came to life.

And that’s when my dad picked up a small bound pink book and read out something in the perfect voice to amaze a kid with those little sound effects.

It was about, how two strings hanging from rooftop are given name, life, romance and how they alternate between life and death, by the power of wind.

And without even recognising, I fell in love. With the wondrous words of Bharathi for its simplicity and the imaginable story believable by the kid. And also it felt so important, even though I couldn’t fathom the profound meaning of it, by then.

To this day, whenever I see something fluttering in the wind, I remember that day, when I kept looking at him, as he kept reading out the story, in awe, for the story, for Bharathi, for the time well-spent, for changing something mundane forever.

Just like, as the drop of stone, has no inclination of how far the ripples caused by it can reach, that day had nothing extraordinary to know, it’s going to impact my life huge decades later. For that was the same prose-poetry, I took up for translating and felt a pride for my translated work. 

The story, original + translation available here.

So what do you remember of the first step into a long journey?

A to Z of… #ThemeReveal

I’ve been writing everyday but without any fixed theme in the past. Now am planning to write all 26 on single theme.

So, on what theme?

Even after living through a very happening life, a walk down memory lane pops up only few instances to the forefront than others..

Some such instances are great to listen to and narrate as it is. But over time, due to the failing memory of the incident or due to the hyper-active creativity at the time of narration, fact gets mixed with fiction and fantasy.

This April 2019, let me re-live few of those moments while huddling through A to Z challenge.

Stay tuned for a ride into nostalgia through my memory lane.. Watch out! 😃

Ahoy! Five years on board!

My blog did cross a pompous milestone of Five Years! And this is the first year, it had gone by without me blowing the trumpet for it..

I recently revamped the looks of my site. And thought of cleaning up my past posts. Since I am yet to grow strong within to call crap as crap, my old silly posts still stay, for now.. But I had better success with my drafts and this one needed to be posted on my blog..

I wrote this for my 100th post.. But I am much closer to my 500th right now.. So I have changed over those 100s of posts and might also claim to have grown a teensy bit.. Yet in the depth of my hearts, I still have a high pride of my blog and here below is one such pompous trumpet blowing post.. Reserve your judgements, till you read it till the very end..

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Written on Feb 8, 2016

Now go grab a cup of coffee or chai and some refreshments so you won’t sleep in between this long post of ramble.. 😉

This is my 100th post!

It had taken a very long journey of two years to cross the two-thirds, while just one month was enough to complete the last one-third.

I have successfully managed to post a day on every day so far, in spite of the times I was inclined to not write up the next. I wanted to post daily, not out of some challenge or someone dared me to! I took this up voluntarily for a personal reason and this seems to work beautifully.

Now is the time to take a look back, so I would know what I have come across, so I could reassure myself that, I could go further and reach where I want to reach!

I had updated my Facebook page’s ‘About me’ as follows. Do take note that it was written more than a year back.

A walk “Through the Mist”

This is a walk down a memory lane, a beautiful lane for me!

Life keeps surprising us when we least expect it!

And becoming associated with “Through the Mist” was one such accident!

The history of the accident goes like this:

Not long ago, yet, almost 3 years back, out of the blue, I was asked by Jithin, the Trablogger, and without knowing the impact, I accepted to be the co-ordinator / book designer / editor of a new project.

My journey into his book’s Acknowledgements page was even more accidental and that’s what has led to this. He was having the idea of taking the Flash Fiction Chain, an feature he had in his blog to the next level. The working of Flash Fiction is, A part of story triggered by an image, and that story is evolved by a chain of authors.

So the idea mixed up with a book evolved into this: A book of five stories, written by five authors. So the Flash Fiction Chain grew up to Dream Chasing Chain, the initial name of this project.

Thoughts on thoughts!

Torrent of thoughts gush through..
Picking up a thread seems Herculean task..
And not one thread is available to hold on..

Importance of those, at all levels..
Urgency of those, at all levels..
Dreaminess of those, at all levels..
Level of implementing, indeed at all levels..

They range from atom to galaxy..
From picking up laundry
To launching a new product..

Unless I know who and where I’m,
I could not move forward..
But if I keep on untangling
And to no avail, how could I go on?

Setting a target and move towards,
The most often suggested idea..
But what if there are so many targets..

Prioritise, they whisper..
With mind or heart?

Mind says,
Plant your feet and then,
Only then reach for the stars..

Heart shouts,
Just reach for the stars,
everything else will fall into place..

Will everything else falls
Or will I myself fall?
Some distant thought asks,
What if you fly rather than fall?

Mind shrouds,
You’re not a bird with wings,
Nor a human with flight..

And there creeps in another thought..
When I can’t even get
my mind and heart together,
How could I put into action,
For those plans to reach the stars?

And there’s that screeching silence..
When all thoughts come to a still,
And not a single thought on the front..
It’s a pleasure I seek when I meditate,
Nonetheless, not easily achieved when I do..
But not when I’m trying to find a way through…

And amidst all the chaos,
The chaos of daily life, calls out..
And in it the dreams drain out..

Now comes another thought,
All above are just your excuses..
Just put them into action
And everything will sort itself out..

Will they? Do they ever sort out at all?
Or is this what life is all about?

On Planning, not to plan

Some people call it
Growing up..
While others call it
Shifting of time..

At some point of life,
We try to rein in everything we can
And let things happen in one way,
Our way, the only right way..

Some do it earlier in life,
Realise that life doesn’t let it be so,
And learn to go with it
And stop making plans..

But there are few,
Who doesn’t want to learn it,
Even after they’ve felt the burn..
For their way is the only right way..

Me, I plan to not plan..
And that plan doesn’t workout..
So I still keep planning
And still feel the burn often..

Once I planned,
To let things flow
And so things flew by,
In every direction I know..

The constant dilemma…
So how to be happy
When things keep flowing
In some way, other than yours..

Life is a form of water,
Born from the vast oceans,
That ultimately reaches
It’s destiny, the ocean..

You have no control over
The evaporation from ocean
Or where you start your journey
As to where the rain falls..

At some point of time,
It eventually gets to some form..
Right then, you choose..
The path of future..

You could either flow through
Barren lands, nourishing it..
Or through the watery lands,
Flooding it and wreaking havoc..

You could fall from great heights,
And be a magnificent falls..
Or you could stay still, stagnate
and eventually stink as unused pond..

You could flourish yourself
Perpetually with fountains,
Stay right where you are as lake,
And let others seek you with love..

You could just lose all control,
Choose the path of least resistance,
Let every rock, pit and bump
Decide your course of future..

Yet every means lead to a destination..
But all the struggle and resistance,
In between the source and destiny,
Is simply to make,
A destination into the destination!

Be the best of what you’re,
And your flow flourishes within
As well as nourishes around..
It’s ALWAYS your choice!

And of course, I chose to be,
Ripples, the unending variety..
That splatters little more of
Life, laughter and love…

The harder the restraint,
You put through my path,
The fierce the will and hence
Bigger the splash and wider the reach!

Hit me with all you can,
I’ll still hit you back,
Incessantly and invariably
With all goodness and love..

And also, I realised that
It’s impossible to restrain
The flow at all times..
But it’s always possible,
To correct the course..
So it’s ALWAYS the choice,
To be dragged or drag the self,
Towards in your direction!

Now I am back to planning..
Not on how to reach..
But on how to re route my flow
Back on to my destination..

Choices!

I grew up listening to the phrase,
Choice makes confusion.
How true is that..

Everyday we make choices,
lots and lots of it..

Choices does come in all sizes..
From waking up to alarm
Or hit snooze..
Till give in to sleep
Or one more page of reading..

From working for a living
Or towards your destiny..
From opting for a profession
Or for a passion that drives you..

From having a healthy life
Or giving in to peer pressure..
From living for yourself
Or for other’s expectation of your life..

From being lazy and procrastinating
Or completing it right through..
From prioritising your needs
Or giving up to silly wants..

From giving in to temptations
Or standing up to convictions..
From choosing to have a choice
Or choosing to not have any..

From fearing what it might be
Or to facing what it could be..
From pondering on what could have been
Or to steering to what should you be..

Of all the choices
Big and small,
Makes you what you are!

Choose wisely,
Just so that, tomorrow
Blooms with no regrets
Nor inconvenience to any!

Laugh hard,
Make others smile
And choose to always
LIVE your life!

For choices are what
Makes you, YOU!

Fitting into a square!

My entry for this week’s Mundane Monday Challenge hosted by Trablogger. Have you uploaded your take on ‘Bottles‘?

Here below are some edited versions which I liked..

Just another post!

Long Long ago,
Not so long ago,
The Earth visited the same spot,
As it is today,
In its orbit around the Sun,
And on that fine day,
A pebble was dropped
To create Ripples
In the exploding world of bits and bytes,
As aadhira.wordpress.com
And while earth
was busy riding on
its merry-go-round
And has completed four rounds,
Somewhere along the lines
Many many posts were published,
Many strangers have become dear friends,
And few of them become closer as a team
To bring out a book..

And Here I am,
Looking back with pride,
Looking merrily at the upgrade,
Quenching the thirst of my narcissism
As aadhira.me,
Looking hopefully at the future,
For much more experiences
That would help me learn, grow, nurture and
Make me a better person,
So I could throw away my two cents
And make it worthy for
Those who happen to stumble upon,
And also good enough for them to
Let the ripple carry on and on
Into the endless expanse
Of this universe..

As Ripples step into its fifth year,
Let me try to bring in
Little more Happiness, Smile and Cheer
To everyone in the vast expanse..

Keep smiling!

Cheers,
Aadhira

Publishing Jimpify’s Second book : Through the Mist

Through the Mist

We at Jimpify Publishing, are very happy and proud to announce the publishing of our second book, ‘Through the Mist’.

1st of September 2017, we are publishing our first collaborative fiction and our second book, Through the Mist.

It has been a wonderful and exciting journey working with all the talented writers, right from the writing of the book till its publication.

About the Collaboration

‘Through the Mist’ is a collaborative book and an innovative venture to break a common belief and to validate an old saying.

It is a common belief that a story can be spun from only one pen. But ‘Through the Mist’ is a bouquet of stories from a bunch of authors.

The book validates that ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ because a single photograph is the only common link to all the stories of this book.

Yes, a picture is worth a book!

‘Through the Mist’ is a collaborative fiction book that has brought together five writers from diverse backgrounds. The starting point of the stories is a picture, that has been interpreted by each of the writers differently so that the stories touch many genres and have varied characters.

What is the book About?

Why am I here?

I’ve been writing and rewriting this post so many times without anything coming close to reflect me and why I am coming back to blogging after a complete absence of six months..

What is the pull that drags me back to writing?

It is the comfort of mother’s lap..
It is the pride of creating..
It is the addiction to achievement..
It is the happiness gained by sharing happiness..
It is knowing some unknown face is brightening up with a smile while reading my writing..
It is the boost to my narcissism..
It is the motivation I gain while looking back at my past posts..

So here I’m.. once again..

Let our smile brighten up our face and the world..

Keep smiling.. 🙂

Time to boast!!!!!

Phew!!!!!!!!!!

What a tremendous year it had been!

And once again another challenge is completed and it is not another mere challenge!

A post a day for every single day for the past year!!!

And yes I have completed it and its time for me to boast now..

For I am going to take that much needed break from the next year and who knows.. The next year’s resolution might be to not even post for any day.. 😛 😛 😛
Ah.. You are not getting off my ramblings that easily.. But you all are definitely getting a breather more than you desire.. 😉 (See I am not spammer for all years 😛 )

Now I am going to disclose a secret! Strictly for your eyes only!! 😛 😛 😛

I promised to post everyday and I did make it till Oct 15 without much of an issue. And the posts started to gradually decline to almost only one post per week. But here I am catching up on so much of the old stuff all the old stuff and posting some back dated posts! The link for those posts are available at the end of this post! (Feel free to skip reading through the big list)

Now it’s time to draw the curtain to 2016 as well as all the negativity that has creeped into the lives. As the day dawns tomorrow, let there be light, humor, laughter, happiness and every beautiful thing along with an unending supply of smile for you to cherish and to spread for the world to become a better place.

Keep smiling and spread the cheer forever!

🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

~Aadhira~

Update:

---

Have you found your “Calling”?

The easiest thing to dish out as well as the toughest thing to receive is advice. For we do keep our hands closed tight, by holding on to the same old beliefs and imaginary feathers of our own crown.

So how do you open up that hand to receive abundance of happiness and contentment, while the closed hand hurts the one holding as well as the stuff being held?

You have to open up one finger at a time, loosen the grip and gently convince to let go of certain things, while still holding on to the thread of life and good things.

That’s how the book by Priya Kumar “The Calling”, calls out to the inner self that has become dormant in the chase of materialistic success at the cost of life itself. By unraveling the knots one at a time, and also by tying the right knots to lengthen and strengthen the beauty and miracle of life.

Life is short to learn everything by experiencing personally. Hence take time to learn from the experience of others. The book speaks of experience of one guy, who could be identified as ourselves in some aspect. But his life takes a blow, bursts through pits and blooms into a promising future. A leaf or two from his life might help in enriching the lessons of experience.

A simple narration, smooth flow, slow and strong introduction of the characters, one at a time, makes the book an easy and happy read. The flow of writing allows you to finish the book in one sitting, whereas the content of the book needs chewing for the healthy digestion and absorption of the profound thoughts, which could be life altering, when taken up at right dosage.

The tough and serious ideas are laced with humor and wrapped up in the finest of sugar coating, for the intake of ideas happen even before the realisation hits hard. The narration is vivid and brings life to the story on its own.

Though it may be argued that it’s old wine in new bottle, this new bottle is comfortable to hold and a pleasure to consume. And it also beautifully serves as a healthy dose of reminder to focus on the very purpose of life in an alluring way.

The book has a feel-good attitude and provokes your thoughts or at the very least brush away the negativity while spreading warmth and cheer. The life altering suggestions are spelt in a very practical and easy-to-follow way.

So go grab your copy of the book and find your calling and step up few more rungs in the ladder of life. Happy reading!

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The ultimate love verse!

A #Mahakavi song describing the love of a mother to her child, soulfully rendered by #BombayJayashree

 

Poet: Subramanya Bharathi
Singer: Bombay Jayashree
Movie: Kuttram kadithal
Singers: Rakesh Raghunanthan, Yazhini
Music director: Shankar Rengarajan

சின்னஞ்சிறு கிளியே கண்ணம்மா! செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே!
என்னைக் கலி தீர்த்தே உலகில் ஏற்றம் புரிய வந்தாய்!

chinnanjiRu kiLiyae kaNNammaa! selvak kaLanjiyamae!
ennaik kali theerthae ulagil aetRam puriya vandhaai!

Oh juvenile parrot, my Kannamma! You are the bountiful repository of all the wealth!
You brought me immense happiness and prosperity, you came to elevate my stature in this world!

பிள்ளைக் கனியமுதே! கண்ணம்மா! பேசும் பொற் சித்திரமே!
அள்ளி அணைத்திடவே என் முன்னே ஆடி வரும் தேனே!

piLLaik kaniyamudhae! kaNNammaa! paesum poR sithiramae!
aLLi aNaithidavae en munnae aadi varum thaenae!

You are a sweet child (comparing it to the nectar from a tender fruit), Oh Kannama! You are a golden painting that can talk!
You come dancing unto me so that I would pick and embrace you! Oh Honey!

ஓடி வருகையிலே கண்ணம்மா உள்ளம் குளிருதடி!
ஆடித் திரிதல் கண்டால் உன்னைப் போய் ஆவி தழுவுதடி!

oadi varugaiyilae kaNNammaa uLLam kuLirudhadi!
aadith thiridhal kaNdaal unnaip poai aavi thazhuvudhadi!

When you come running towards me! Oh Kannamma! My heart feels ecstatic  and appeased!
When I see you playfully wandering, my soul comes to hug you!

உச்சிதனை முகர்ந்தால் கருவம் ஓங்கி வளருதடி!
மெச்சி உனை ஊரார் புகழ்ந்தால் மேனி சிலிர்க்குதடி!

uchchidhanai mugarndhaal karuvam oangi vaLarudhadi!
mechchi unai ooraar pugazhndhaal maeni silirkkudhadi!

When I plant a kiss onto your forehead, my pride grows!
When the society applauds and appreciated you, my body is thrilled!

கன்னத்தில் முத்தமிட்டால் உள்ளந்தான் கள்வெறி கொள்ளுதடி!
உன்னைத் தழுவிடலோ கண்ணம்மா உன்மத்தம் ஆகுதடி!

kannathil muthamittaal uLLandhaan kaLveRi koLLudhadi!
unnaith thazhuvidaloa kaNNammaa unmatham aagudhadi!

When I kiss your cheeks, my inner self feels emotionally high (same as that from drinking alcohol) with joy
When I hug you, Oh Kannama! I feel elated!

உன் கண்ணில் நீர் வழிந்தால் என் நெஞ்சில் உதிரம் கொட்டுதடி!
என் கண்ணின் பாவையன்றோ? கண்ணம்மா! என்னுயிர் நின்னதன்றோ!

un kaNNil neer vazhindhaal en nenjil udhiram kottudhadi!
en kaNNin paavaiyandRoa? kaNNammaa! ennuyir ninnadhandRoa!

When I see tears trickling down your eyes, blood pours out of my heart,
you are the apple of my eyes, Oh Kannamma! isn’t my soul (life) yours!

Language of communication

Few conversations
Are beyond words
And silence
Is as effective
As eloquence
When the communicators
Know to interpret
And understand them!

The unseen Sun

The dawn

As the invisible Sun
Spreads across shine,
It’s indeed impossible
For the dew drop
To hold on to the blade of grass..
As it has lost itself
In totality
To the unadulterated Ray
Signifying a new beginning
Filled with warmth and life!

Nobler than the Noblest!

வறுமை! நம் தேசத்தில்
  அது அறிவின் ஆபரணம்

vaRumai! nam thaesathil
adhu aRivin aabaraNam

Poverty! In our country
it is the ornament of intelligence

புலமைக்கு கிடைக்கும் முதல் விருது

pulamaikku kidaikkum mudhal virudhu

It is the first award given to poetic prowess

என்றும் பசிதான் கவிதையின் ரத்தம

endRum pasidhaan kavidhaiyin rathama

Always, hunger is the lifeblood of a poem

வறுமைக்கு பசிக்கும் போதெல்லாம்
  அது புலவனைத்தான் புசிக்கிறது

vaRumaikku pasikkum poadhellaam
adhu pulavanaithaan pusikkiRadhu

When ever hunger strikes poverty,
It feeds on the scholarly

புலவனின் கவிதையோ 
 பசியே வைக்கும் பந்தி

pulavanin kavidhaiyoa
pasiyae vaikkum pandhdhi

For the poet’s creation,
Hunger itself throws the feast,

கவிஞன் மனித ராசி என்றால் நான்
  மறுதலிப்பேன்

kavinjan manidha raasi endRaal naan
maRudhalippaen

If a poet were to be classified as being human,
I would deny

அவன் உயர்திணையைவிட
  உயர்ந்தவன்

avan uyardhiNaiyaivida
uyarndhdhavan

He is nobler than noblest,

எழுதும்போது
  வெளிச்சம் வேண்டியிருந்தால்
  அவனுக்கு
  விரல் மெழுகுவத்தி

ezhudhumpoadhu
veLichcham vaeNdiyirundhdhaal
avanukku
viRal mezhuguvathi

If there is need for light,
when penning a poem,
then his fingers
become the candle

பெருமூச்சியெல்லாம்
  அவனது
  பேனா புல்லாங்குழல்
  ராகஜாதியாய்
  ரசவாதம் செய்துவிடும்

perumoochchiyellaam
avanadhu
paenaa pullaangguzhal
raagaJaadhiyaay
rasavaadham seydhuvidum

All the deep breathes
turn melodic
due to the flute that is his pen

அவன் கண்ணீர்
  இறுகி .. இறுகி ..
  முத்துக்களாய் முதிர்ந்துவிடும்

avan kaNNeer
iRugi .. iRugi ..
muthukkaLaay mudhirndhdhuvidum

His tears, become denser by the tick,
and eventually trickle down like pearls

தன்னை
  நசுக்கி கொண்டு அவன்
  சிரித்து கொள்வான்

thannai
nasukki koNdu avan
sirithu koLvaan

He crushes himself (for his creation),
but sports a smile nevertheless,

சோகமே அவனது படுக்கை
  கவலையே அவனது தலையணை

soagamae avanadhu padukkai
kavalaiyae avanadhu thalaiyaNai

Suffering is his mattress,
Worry is his pillow,

அவனுக்கு தெரியும்
  விருச்சத்தை சுருட்டி
  விதையாக்கும் வித்தை

avanukku theriyum
viruchchathai surutti
vidhaiyaakkum vithai

He knows the art of
condensing a tree into a seed

பாரதி முதலில் பயந்தான் பிறகு
  பயம் அவனை கண்டு பயந்தது

baaradhi mudhalil payandhdhaan piRagu
payam avanai kaNdu payandhdhadhu

At first, Bharathi was afraid,
later fear was afraid of him,

தன்னை எரிக்க வந்த வறுமையை
  அவன் செரித்து விட்டான்

thannai erikka vandhdha vaRumaiyai
avan serithu vittaan

The poverty that came to burn him
Was (crushed into pieces) and digested by him

அவன்தான் சூரிய சொப்பனங்களில்
  சொக்கி கிடந்தானே
  இருட்டு அவனுக்கென்ன பொருட்டு ?

avandhaan sooriya soppanangaLil
sokki kidandhdhaanae
iruttu avanukkenna poruttu ?

For him, who was enthralled In the celestial dreams,
Would the darkness be of concern?

அவன்தான் நாளைய பூக்களின் மேல்
  நடந்து கொண்டிருந்தான்
  இன்றின் முட்கள் என்செய்யும் ?

avandhaan naaLaiya pookkaLin mael
nadandhdhu koNdirundhdhaan
indRin mutkaL encheyyum ?

For him, who was walking On the flowers of tomorrow,
What harm could today’s thorn bear?

நின்றது இந்தியா வா?
  இல்லை இருதயத்தின் ஒரு பாதியா ?
  சந்தேகத்தில் மனம் சலிந்தது

nindRadhu indhdhiyaa vaa?
illai irudhayathin oru paadhiyaa ?
sandhdhaegathil manam salindhdhadhu

Is it India that stopped?
Isn’t it half his heart?
His mind was weary with the confusion!

 தன் பேனாவை எண்ணியே
  பெரிதும் வருந்தினான்

than paenaavai eNNiyae
peridhum varundhdhinaan

He thought about his pen
and repented a great deal,

எதிரிகள் போர்களத்தையே
  திருடிவிட்டதாய் திகைத்தான்

edhirigaL poarkaLathaiyae
thirudivittadhaay thigaithaan

He was astounded
For he thought that the enemies
Stole the battlefield itself (Rather than waging war)

அவன் இமைப்பதற்கு
  இரண்டு நாள் ஆயிற்று

avan imaippadhaRku
iraNdu naaL aayitRu

It took him two days
to even blink an eye
(due to the shock)

வருமானம் வரும் வழியே
  முட் கதவுகளால் அல்லவா
  மூடிவிட்டார்கள் ?

varumaanam varum vazhiyae
mut kadhavugaLaal allavaa
moodivittaarkaL ?

Didn’t they close the path
That brought income
With doors of thorn?

வறுமை தன் வாசலை
  விசாலமாக விரித்தது

vaRumai than vaasalai
visaalamaaga virithadhu

While poverty opened up
its paths wide open

சுயலோகத்தையும் அவன்
  நாடகத்தில் வரும்
  நவரசம் போல
  நன்றாய் ரசித்தான்

suyaloagathaiyum avan
naadagathil varum
navarasam poala
nandRaay rasithaan

He enjoyed the misery in his
own life,
like the way one would enjoy the
splendid expressions of a drama,

கொடுக்க வேண்டிய வாடகை
  நகராத கூவம் போல
  தேங்கியது

kodukka vaeNdiya vaadagai
nagaraadha koovam poala
thaenggiyadhu

The rent that he needed to give (for his house),
started to became stagnant like a well

வசூலிக்க வரும்
  செட்டியாரோ
  கடன்பட்டார் நெஞ்சம்போல
  கலங்கினார்

vasoolikka varum
chettiyaaroa
kadanpattaar nenjampoala
kalangginaar

The Chettiar who came to collect the rent,
his heart was agitated like the one who was in debt,

கோவில் மாடத்தில்
  கூடுகட்டும் புறாவிடம்
  வாடகை எப்படி வசூலிப்பது

koavil maadathil
koodugattum puRaavidam
vaadagai eppadi vasoolippadhu
at the altar of the temple,
to the pigeon that was making its nest,
how can one ask for rent?

இன்று கட்டாயம்
  கேட்பதென்று கால்கள் விரையும்

indRu kattaayam
kaetpadhendRu kaalkaL viraiyum

“Today I will for sure ask”,
with this thought his feet walk briskly

பாரதியின் வாசலுக்கு வரும்போதோ
  காலணியோடு அந்த
  கருத்தையும்
  வெளியே விட்டுவிட்டு
  வீட்டுக்கு போவார்

paaradhiyin vaasalukku varumpoadhoa
kaalaNiyoadu andhdha
karuthaiyum
veLiyae vittuvittu
veettukku poavaar

But when he hit Bharathi’s doorstep,
with the footwear
even this thought
was left behind,
and the Chettiar would go in,

பாரதி சிரிப்பான்
  ஒரு வெண்கல மணி
  விண்ணில் அதிரும்

paaradhi sirippaan
oru veNkala maNi
viNNil adhirum

Bharathi would laugh,
A bronze gong would
strike in the skies,

வாரும் விளக்கெண்ணெய்வாள்
  வாடகைக்கு அப்படி என்ன அவசரம் ஒய்

vaarum viLakkeNNeyvaaL
vaadagaikku appadi enna avasaram oy

Come in! Oh know it all buddy!
What is the hurry to collect rent now?

இன்னும் பத்து வருஷம்
  சுயராஜ்ய ஜோதி
  தெரிந்துவிடும்

innum pathu varusham
suyaraaJya Joadhi
therindhdhuvidum

In ten years,
The light of Independence (swarajya),
will be lit,

பிறகென்ன ?
  அரசாங்கத்தின் கஜானாவிற்கு
  காசோலை தருவேன்
  போய்வாரும்

piRagenna ?
arasaangathin kaJaanaaviRku
kaasoalai tharuvaen
poayvaarum

Then what?
I’ll draw cheque Even to Government treasury
(For I would be that rich by then)
Come back later than now

மீண்டும்
  வெண்கல சிரிப்பு
  விண்ணை உரசும்

meeNdum
veNkala sirippu
viNNai urasum

Yet again, the bronze gong (his laughter)
will fill up the skies

ரணங்களை எல்லாம்
  ஆபரணங்களாய்
  அணிய பழகிய
  அந்த பொழுதில்
  வங்காளத்து மகான்
  வந்து சேர்ந்தார்

raNangaLai ellaam
aabaraNangaLaay
aNiya pazhagiya
andhdha pozhudhil
vanggaaLathu magaan
vandhdhu saerndhdhaar

He had learnt to wear all his debts (battles)
as his jewels
At that moment the great from Bengal
arrived

Note: An excerpt from Vairamuthu’s book ” Kavirajan kathai” Chapter 27 – உயர்திணையைவிட உயர்ந்தவன் (Greater than the greatest)

PS: Thanks to Sucheendra for the translation of this beautiful Extract.

What did you sow?

I was wondering how to console myself for not being able to post everyday in the past two months. And was feeling not so high and a memory of a past post flashed inspiring me with this idea.

When the hope is in the verge of demise, my posts come to my aid to cheer me up and help me cheer up and move ahead with a renewed vigour. So I do reap the benefits of some scattered seeds of the past. It feels good to know that what I sow was a good seed and the benefits are indeed heartening..

So what are you sowing today?
A happy thought?
A piece of your mind?
Or are you dumping the waste into every corner of life and letting the look back become a peep into litter box?

Beware of what you sow, for that’s what you’re going to reap!

P.S. This is the post I was looking at and feeling better. Feel free to dish out your ideas on both posts.

Shadow

Is the tree casing it shadow on the sky? Or is the cloud imprinting it’s presence on earth for a longer life span?

Communication

Many people
Multiple voices
Total chaos
Amidst that
Two people
Four eyes
One conversation
No words
But
A poetry was created
A symphony was heard
A salsa was performed
Coz all communication
Doesn’t need words!

The merger!

Water, one of the dearest subject for Ripples and for me. Here is another dimension to water.

The water, in most forms, is rarely considered as the final stage and rather used as example to seeking the destiny in next stage. Like a river attaining destiny while reaching the sea, a drop attaining destiny by becoming a pearl, the drop on lotus leaf and so on..

The crust of earth is basically split into two, surface covered by water and land.

Just like the water being omnipresent in many ways, the land / soil could be represented in many many ways. Rocks, boulders, mountains, sand, soil and so on.

When water meets many of those, the water retains its nature as water, just as the other component retains its own nature. Or the reaction happens to one of them while the other remains the same.

Whereas when water meets a certain kind of soil, the water and soil bonds together and becomes mud, where the water attains the color of soil and the soil becomes almost liquid, losing its dry and solid state.

Thus, merged the heart of two, in love, inseparable and into one, by losing itself. And together they could be created into new formations, which isn’t possible to be attained by either water or soil independently.

This is the example given by an anonymous poet to describe love at first sight. And the richness of the thought paved way to name the poet after this example.

யாயும் ஞாயும் யாரா கியரோ,
எந்தையும் நுந்தையும் எம்முறைக் கேளிர்,
யானும் நீயும் எவ்வழி யறிதும்,
செம்புலப் பெயனீர் போல,
அன்புடை நெஞ்சம் தாங்கலந் தனவே.

-செம்புலப் பெயனீரார்.

What is my mother to yours?
How is my father relatednto yours? Although you and I knew not
each other in any way,
just as red earth and pouring rain:
the love-filled hearts merged.

(Kuruntokai – 40)

[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuṟuntokai]

What lies ahead?

Is it the end,
Where the path of the past
Bids adieu
As it ceased to exist?

Is it the bend,
Where the path takes
A new turn
As it enters new horizons?

Is this the beginning of
Another new month?
Is this the end as
The year comes to a close?

What was in the past?
Few promises were broken!
Few new promises were made!
And in between life did happen!

What lies ahead?
Isn’t that the billion dollar question?
Blushing blooming buds?
Fragrant fluffy flowers?

What’s out there could be
Seen, heard and felt from there…
But not from here, for
Appearances are deceptive!

So step ahead..
Even if it’s towards an end..
For the road bends and there lies
Another new beginning!

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Your smile!

அணிந்த பொன் நகையின் அழகு தோற்றது..
நீ அணிவித்த புன்னகையின் முன்னே..

The beauty of jewels were a shade dull,
Compared to the smile you made me adore..

[Bharathi Vasana kavidhai] Sakthi – Happiness Part 8

8

We sing praise of Parasakthi.
How was she formed?
That’s what is not known.
Isn’t she the born mother; from the almighty “self”.
From what was she formed?
How did she form from the almighty “self”? Don’t know.
Creation is not known to the eyes.
Not known even to the wisdom.
Death is known to the eyes; But not known to the wisdom.
Life is about praising the Sakthi; The benefit of this is attaining pleasure.
For the heart to be clear; For the life force to have speed and heat; For the body to have peace and strength.
Living is getting the blessings of Maha Sakthi.
We are living.
We again praise the Maha Sakthi, who makes us live.

---

This is the final part of the prose-poetry Sakthi. The original version of this post will be available shortly in http://www.lyricaldelights.com. The other versions are available in the above link.

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Relativity

The same count of days
Follows “Theory of Relativity”
As it seems long,
While waiting for the dreaded day,
But seems shorter,
While waiting for the dearest day..

Who is she to me?

A beautiful description of a girl and the absolute praise of her to be the best.
This song is inspired from the Sanskrit verse of Kalidasa

pushpeshu jati
purusheshu vishnu,
narishu ramba
nagareshu Kanchi

which is translatable to English as

The epitome of flowers – Jathi (Jasmine)
The epitome of Men – Vishnu
The epitome of  Women – Rambai
The epitome of Cities – Kanchipuram

The idea was taken and developed into this song.

Among the seasons, she is spring;
Among art forms, she is a painting;
Among the months, she is Maargazhi;
Among the flowers, she is Jasmine..

Among the birds, she is homing pigeon
Among the songs, she is lullaby
Among the fruits, she is mango
Among the winds, she is breeze

In smiling (lit. purely like milk) without guile, she is a kid..
In hugging like the snow, she is a young lady..
In raising as the Apple of eye, she is a mother..
And she turned me into a poet!

Details of the translated song is available here!

The bend

All it takes
To enjoy the beauty of life,
Is to hold tight to
Hopes and dreams,
Till the bumpy road
Takes a turn
Into the path of heaven,
Where all dreams would come true!

[Bharathi Vasana kavidhai] Sakthi – Happiness Part 7

7

Snake charmer is playing the flute.
Is the music born in the flute?
Is it born in the hole (Of the flute)?
Is it born in the breath of the snake charmer?
It’s born in his heart; Exposed through the flute.
Heart doesn’t sound by itself.
Flute can’t flow music by itself.
Heart doesn’t merge with the flute.
Heart merges with breath.
Breath merges with flute.
Flute plays.
This is the play of Sakthi.
She sings in the heart. It resonates in the holes of the flute.
Matching the unmatchable and creating harmony in it — Sakthi
Small boys* are calling out for alms.
Who created symphony between charmer’s flute and voice of those boys? Sakthi
“Jari^ for sale; Jari” a passerby shouts out, in the same rhythm.
Ah! I found the essence.
The life of charmer, life of those kids and the life of that Jari merchant is being played by the same Sakthi.
Instruments are many. Instrumentalist is one.
Appearances are many. Sakthi is one.
Hail thee!

^Jari – The border of Saree is woven with golden threads. When the Saree wears out, the Jari is reused.

---

The Tamil version of the above translation will be available shortly at http://www.lyricaldelights.com

Small Stones (4)-Rain

Would you too like to try this style?

Read Write Live

The rain beat a tattoo on the roof of the car… Misty windows… Damp smells… The cry of a baby in sleep… Chubby red hands wiping away the droplets that come stealing in

What are small stones?

A small stone is a short piece of writing (any style) that precisely captures a fully-engaged moment for you. The process of discovering small stones is as significant as the finished creation. Searching for small stones encourages you to keep your senses on the “alive and alert” status. Involve yourself with a new set of eyes, ears, nose, mouth, fingers, feelings and mind. This is Mindful Writing at its best.

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Looking forward to

The past is known,
The downfalls are limited,
And is always a comfort..

Yet, looking forward
For the future to pipe in
Sooner than possible..

As heard melodies are sweet,
But those unheard are sweeter..
And for once, it’s believable!

Are you?

Are we the two eyes
that are next to each other
forever and yet
unknown to each other?

Has the veil on the mirror removed?
Just so that the eyes could see each other?

[Bharathi Vasana kavidhai] Sakthi – Happiness Part 6

Sakthi

First part: Happiness

6

Snake-charmer plays the pipe.
“Beautiful music is of sorrow” so we had heard.
But the music sung by this charmer is sweet,
yet, not of sorrow feeling.
This is like a debate by the learned people.
Like a novelist adding line after line
which are short and filled with meaning.
What is this charmer debating about?
“thaanathanthath thaanathanthath thaa-thanath
thaanathandana thaanathandana thaa–
thanthanathana thanthanathana thaa”
Like that he is playing variety in loops.
What is the meaning of this?
A child said the following meaning for this:
“I adorned flowers to Kali.
A donkey came to eat them away.”
In the name of Sakthi, I built this body.
The pain from sin is eating this away.
I surrendered to Parasakthi.
The pain vanished.
Parasakthi started to live on my soul with light.
Let her live long.

---

Note: Sakthi literally means Power and also the name of Goddess.

The Tamil version of the above translation is available at http://www.lyricaldelights.com

Forever!

Though we use the word ‘forever’ forever,
Only few hop in to change the meaning of forever for ever again!

The Penance!

சூனியத்திலிருந்து சூரியனாகும் ஒரு பயணம்
பெரும் பிரயத்தனம் கொண்டே
மெதுமெதுவாக சிறு பிறையினைக் கூட்டி
சுட்டெரிக்கும் வெம்மையை அகற்றி
தண்ணென குளிர்வைக் கூட்டி
முழு தகடாய் ஒளிர்ந்த நாளில்,
சலனமற்ற தண்ணீர் உரக்கவே முழங்கியது
வெண்ணிலவின் களங்கம் கொண்ட வெண்மையினை..

கண்டு நாணி முகில் கொண்டு முகம் மூடி
வெட்கி மருகி தினம் தினம் கரைந்தது..
அத்துடன் கரைந்தது அதன் களங்கமும்..

மீண்டும் வளர மீண்டும் களங்கம்,
மீண்டும் தேய்ந்தும் மாளா நம்பிக்கை..

யுகங்கள் கடந்து பிறவிகள் கடந்து
தினம் தினம் நிகழும் ஒரு போராட்டம்..
சூனியம் சூரியனாகும் நாள் வரை
நிலவின் நம்பிக்கையும் வளரும்!

A journey from infinity to Sun..
With a tremendous effort,
Adding one crescent over another,
Removing the wrath of heat,
It glowed as a full plate
And on that day,
The undisturbed water screamed out loud,
Pointing the impurities in the white of the moon..

The moon closed its face with the clouds,
in shame, it started declining everyday..
And along with it, its impurities..

As it grew back, so did the spots,
Thought it shrunk, its hope did not..

Over eons and many births
The struggle continues everyday..
Till the day the new moon becomes full moon,
The hope too grows along with it!

 

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Dare to become!

We don’t get to decide,
What we are born as!
What we are born as
Doesn’t restrict
What we become..
Keep following your dreams,
Even if it’s against the tides!

Expression

Sometimes
Cliche is the only way
To express few expressions..
But there are times,
When neither cliches
Nor creations
Are enough
To express!

[Bharathi Vasana kavidhai] Sakthi – Happiness Part 5

Sakthi

First part: Happiness

5

“Could put up a fence in land.
But is it possible to fence in sky?” Yes, you can.
Isn’t the sky filling even the land?
If you fence up land, doesn’t it mean
that the sky of that part is also fenced up?
Control Body. Then controlling soul is possible.
Control Soul. Then controlling mind is possible.
Control Mind. Then controlling Sakthi is possible.
There is no despair in being controlled by the Sakthi.
There is a cotton pillow before me.
It has a shape, a size, a purpose to it.
Sakthi looks after that this purpose is met out.
It can be preserved without being extinct,
even as long as humans exist in this world.
If it is renewed often, Sakthi exists in it for longer.
If not renewed, the form changes.
Dirty pillow, tattered pillow, old pillow —
Take out the cotton in it and use in mattress.
Throw out the outer cover as waste cloth.
It’s form has expired.
If the form is preserved, Sakthi could be preserved.
That is, Sakthi could be preserved in the same form.
Even when the form changes, Sakthi doesn’t change.
Everywhere, everything, every time, every activity exhibits Sakthi.
It is good to preserve the form.
In the name of Sakthi.
It is good to praise Sakthi, by preserving the form.
But one who preserves just the form, loses Sakthi.

---

Note: Sakthi literally means Power and also the name of Goddess.

The Tamil version of the above translation is available at http://www.lyricaldelights.com

Inviting guest blogs!

I’m on the verge of quitting once again and of course the reasons are anew this time and I still couldn’t let go of my ripples..

If any one is interested in helping me get through another phase of mundane posts, or just feeling generous to write at Ripples, or anyone for any other reason willing to do so, feel free to drop a mail of the post you would like to publish here at aadhirai@live.co.uk

Already published posts are also welcome. Just send across the link of the same.

Emote

The verdict is out loud and clear! 🙂

Ripples

When the emotion is too full,
They elude the chains of words,
To be confined into absolute terms..

They become color to the blind,
Music to the deaf,
Scream to the mute..

They are felt in the senses,
Takes shape and taste
Depending on the receiver..

The brilliance of emotions
Are only as brilliant as it is
Allowed to be felt..

But when both the hearts
Speak the same language
of emotion beyond words,

They become the touch to blind,
Signs to the deaf,
Punch to the mute..

Now, did you hear,
What I wrote or
What I meant?

Not awaiting the answer,
For I would hear it
When you speak out, at last..

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The fall

The deeper you fall,
The higher you soar,
But make sure that
You fall for the right person / thing! 

Dreams

என்றோ எங்கோ கேட்ட குரல்
என்றோ எங்கோ கண்ட கனா
என்றோ எங்கோ உதிர்த்த வார்த்தை

கண் முன்னே நிகழும் தருணம்
உள்ளம் கொண்ட உவப்பின் அளவு
அளவீடுகளுக்குள் அடங்கிடுமோ

The voice heard someday somewhere,
The dream dreamt someday somewhere,
The word uttered someday somewhere..

When it all come true,
The happiness springing in the heart,
Is there any way to measure it?!

[Bharathi Vasana kavidhai] Sakthi – Happiness Part 4

Sakthi

First part: Happiness

4

“Could put up a fence in land.
But is it possible to fence in sky?” asked Ramakrishna muni.
Could tie up inanimate objects. But is it possible to tie Sakthi?
Could tie up the body. But is it possible to tie the soul?
Tie up the soul. Then it is possible to tie the heart.
Sakthi in me is in my soul and heart.
Sakthi should have infinite temples.
In the time without the beginning and ending, she should have new temples at every minute.
Out of these infinite temples, the name of one of the temple is “Me”.
If it is renewed ceaselessly, Sakthi will be present in it.
When it becomes old, She will leave it.
Now, she is filled in me.
Now, my soul is bubbling with energy and contentment.
Now, my body has comfort and strength.
Now, my thoughts are clear.
This is enough for me.
I will not linger in the past, neither ponder about the future.
Now, Sakthi is sitting in the throne within me.
Let her live long!
I praise her, hail her, pray to her incessantly.

---

Note: Sakthi literally means Power and also the name of Goddess. This part explains that Sakthi is omnipresent and is in every person as well as animate and inanimate object. The nouns referred to in the content are the names of Gods in Hindu mythology.

The Tamil version of the above translation is available at www.lyricaldelights.com

The beginning

புரிகின்ற தருணத்தில்
தொலைகின்ற காதலாய்
உணர்கின்ற பருவத்தில்
இழந்திடும் பாசமாய்
பார்க்கின்ற நொடியினில்
மறைகின்ற கானலாய்
தொடுகின்ற சமயத்தில்
நெடுகின்ற வானமாய்
பொழிகின்ற வேளையில்
கலைகின்ற மேகமாய்
என் தேடல்களின் முடிவுமே
இன்னொரு தொடக்கமாய்

The love lost
At the moment of understanding;
The parted affection
At the moment of realisation;
The missing mirage
At the moment of looking at it;
The extending horizon
At the moment of almost reaching it;
The dissolving clouds
At the moment of almost drizzle;
Signifies that my end is not an end
But the beginning of the next new adventure!

The Tamil version is written by Mr. Sudalai on his blog over here -> ​தொடக்கம் – http://wp.me/p7RIiY-s

All the world’s a stage

When the world’s a stage and people are actors, aren’t there masks all around?

A mask is generally considered as something which conceals the original form and gives a new identity to the one who wears it..

I don’t agree with the general definition..

Fine, here’s my view on it..

A basic feature of a human being is that he is capable of multiple personalities at any given point in time..

I consider that every personality is a different face and is capable of different abilities in different forms..

Cap

Snow cap has a beauty to it..
And so does the cloud cap..

Reply pls..

What are the reasons that holds a writer back from posting another post, apart from writer’s block?

And what are the valid ones amidst them?

Changes..

Age old habits could die,
In the fraction of second,
If the new habit is
Even more addictive,
As well as close to heart!