Puddles of Water

I stare back at me, through the puddles of water.
I glare back at my misery, in these puddles of water.

Scattered, in grief, decadent over my life of a quarter.
Silent, these pools stare back at me, o'er these pools, I falter.


Puddles of water, endlessly reflecting the buildings, the skies, the flounderings.
Puddles of water, in silent despair, they hold on to share a moment of 'morrow.

The dead leaves, the grey skies, a crow crying.
Nature halts life, I too stop by.

I splash these puddles of mucky water.

From Light To Darkness

Because we descend into darkness today,
Allowing it to shroud us.

Slowly, unseen, stealthily,
we reached,
where no light could reach.

Dipped in  black, our eyes got new sight,
nothing was wrong, nothing was right.

Darkness had done its job, its palms taken off our eyes,
we settled back in this world, no truth,
no lies.

Where Is The Sense?

5th November throughout the world is Guy Fawkes Day, which is celebrated by bursting firecrackers. 5th November, 2010 in India was Diwali, (the Festival of Lights for the uninitiated) which was celebrated by bursting firecrackers in perhaps much more a proportion compared to the ones blown for Guy Fawkes.


Last night was living hell. Literally. It was blazing on a November night. At a time when the fan is usually on 3, I would've loved having an Air Conditioner in the house. The smoke from the crackers was enough to suffocate an asthma patient! And the noise... Well the lesser said the better!


I woke up this morning quite early because I had to be at church for some work. I had a good night's sleep, not because the crackers had stopped bursting but because I'm a heavy sleeper, and I was tired the previous day. So cheerful that I was, I stepped out my building into the compound, and the sight was a dismay. Firecrackers littered everywhere on grey concrete which had turned black in many places, plus their boxes strewn across the compound. Even the garden was not spared.


I moved onto the road and as it was around 7am, the sweepers had not swept the roads yet. Well, I think they wouldn't have liked sweeping the road that day. I went along my way just wondering at the people's apathy towards the situation.


Considering that public awareness is at a high nowadays: Textbooks are full of chapters explaining the ill-effects of firecrackers. TV, newspapers, internet are not behind in teaching one the harm involved in using firecrackers. And yet, why do people choose to ignore them? Do they not care about the environment? Do they not care about the others? Do they not care about themselves? Does the pleasure they derive while watching a rocket burst into the air and make 'beautiful' designs exceed that of watching an intricate rangoli being made or of watching the diya burning away into the night? Are we really a people who can't do without the noise? I don't have any answers. I can just hope.

My Birthday Resolution

Since people have been bugging me and asking what my birthday resolutions are (looking at Zena & Shubhra) considering it's my twenty first birthday, I'll list a few that I think I can manage to stick by... (for a day at least).

1. Looking at Ishani & Sylvia (Puneites), Shubhra & Mudita (Delhiites) and Hrisha & Ishani (again) (Bengalis): I shall not poke fun at Pune, Delhi or Calcutta ever again. Oh correction, Kolkata...

2. I shall not use the word 'watever' or phrase 'wat ur saying?'

3. I shall stop biting nails.

4. I shall get a girlfriend. (Looking at Shubhra, Sarah & Tina.)

5. I shall be a very humble person and TRY not to be narcissistic. In which case, my twitter handle @MrNarci becomes redundant.

6. I shall strive to complete my assignments at least a week before each one is due.

7. I shall listen to music by Himesh Reshammiya, Anu Malik & Justin Bieber as all music is art and it is to be appreciated.

8. I shall watch Avatar. In 3D. And also Avatar 2. And Avatar 3.

9. I shall definitely smoke and do drugs as one should experience everything in life at least once.

10. I shall stop my sick PJs and come up with witty jokes a la Avinash on Twitter. (By the way, Avinash is really good at them. I am flummoxed at how he comes up with them so regularly.)

11. I shall continue writing fake stuff like this. Definitely. Scout's Honour. Oh wait, I never was a Scout!

Well, I do ACTUALLY intend to learn some things this year, earnestly. And that list is:

1. Learning to jive is still top priority. David, Tina & Sylvia, you people are yet to teach me!!!

2. I do intend to start writing a book. And a script too!

3. I do want to work as a feature writer. More than anything else. It's interesting compared to reporting. And although I love the language, editing still is a headache! (My parishioners, improve your English. Editing the parish bulletin is a pain in the a**e.)

4. I intend to travel more. Traveling is fun. Alone or even with a group of like-minded friends.

5. I shall continue to be a good friend to all my companions.

After 21 years of being alive, I've learnt that life is not easy and not everything is as it seems. This may seem like an Oscar acceptance speech but as my Facebook status said: "There was a film called 21 and it was a huge hit at the box office. God made my life, called it 21. It is an even bigger blockbuster and it still hasn't finished its run at the box office!"

I'd like to thank my parents. Without them, I'd be nothing. Absolutely. Nothing.

My friends are my family away from home. All my friends, from St. Paul's (Schoolboys) & Bakery Building (Paos) to St. Xavier's (JC), to Our Lady of Nazareth (my parishioners), to Wilson's (senior college: one of the best periods in my life) and now XICites (Future 'corrupt' Journos). And friends I've made out of these groups too. I'm grateful to all of you. You know who you are.

I've had friends who were good friends of mine but with whom I'm not in touch with now probably due to miscommunication or my fault. I'm sorry if I ever hurt you. I've learnt a lot from you. Rest assured, I'm grateful to you too.

My teachers. They may be teachers in school, or priests. I've had a few who've guided me in all I do and wherever necessary. Their inspiration kept me going.

And last, but the most thankful to God. For scripting a beautiful story for my life. As my birthdaysake Shah Rukh Khan (Happy Birthday SRK!) said in Om Shanti Om: "Picture abhi baaki hain mere dost."