Super POWERs

So, apparently being able to get into an Institute of National Importance immediately provides one with super powers. I write this so that more people learn about this fact, and accordingly make the efforts in order to enter these hallowed walls and more people can possess these powers as well. If we are able to spread the news about this fact, there are going to be millions who may benefit, and much of the problems we face in the world will be solved....

So, what exactly am I talking about? Let me spell out this little known fact. The ultimate superpower, is that one can survive without eating. "What do you mean?" I can hear the naysayers already. Give me a minute to spell it out for you. This is the information that can be gleaned from an institute which is held in highest repute in the country, possibly the world. This comes from medical professionals who know about the functioning of the most important organ we possess... the brain! Still confused? I'm sorry for being so cryptic, but apparently the lack of food had made me more circumstantial in thought. A natural consequence, you ask? Or is it a function of my joining this institute... another superpower? But I digress. I apologise. let me get back on track.

So, about two months ago, the mess, (ahem) we were subjected to...sorry, members of, closed down in favour of a brand new one! Hurrahs all around, as this was supposed to be cleaner, easier, and going to provide us with better food. [ Also, had just been inaugurated by a Union Minister, so MUST be good!] Well, in an workplace, rumours abound, and despite these esteemed premises, the same is true. Then came a bolt out of the blue! The price for the same was double what we had been paying earlier... Consequence, genuine stupefaction at the situation, and a loss as to what to do. How could people afford to pay one third of their monthly stipend, when there was no guarantee that one would be eating there for all meals? Well, in this state of headless chickens, a few decided to take to the "proper channel" route, as all good and sincere employees are wont to do to bring this point to light. Their reward for this was what they genuinely wanted; a space to express their concerns. However, the response they were subjected to was one which has been compared to very "parliamentary" behaviour. Let me not expand on that, and as you, the readers can make your own inferences.

Now, with my knowledge of systems, once something has been thrown into the mix, there has to be a reaction. This was consciously looked at, and people have reacted calmly, taking this opportunity to come together and get along as a subsystem, looking for strengths in the experience of being with each other, and attempting to get along. Also, as systems tend to, they get into a homeostasis, where this policy of live-and-let-live was the order of the day. Fair enough, one can say? Or not? Again, as an interested member, very difficult to comment. I know that there is no absolute truth and no absolute answer, but I can only say this is my perspective, not apologetically, but clearly and calmly, willing to accept another perspective if I am given one rationally, and taking my intelligence and common sense into consideration.

Ok, so enough background, for me to talk about the superpower? So, we have now reached a status quo for over a month. The new mess has become optional, though a few people have chosen to sample, with not much enthusiasm later on. Now comes the interesting bit, and where my inferences have come from. During this interim period, people have been managing to survive by 1.eating out, 2.making do with stuff that does not require cooking, i.e. bread and so on, as well as that wonderful invention available in cities: 3.home delivery. Now this last one is what I'm going to spend some time on. This involves those wonderful people like the ubiquitous pizza delivery who promises rain or shine to deliver your food within a half hour, or the chinese delivery fellow, or even the food of restaurants catering to local tastebuds- Kerala mess, North Indian mess, Andhra mess, Bengali mess! Such variety of food, which brought to mind thoughts of home-made food, made people nostalgic for home. Okay,okay again I digress, blame the train of thought! Anyway, in the latest installment in this not-so-engrossing-saga, is a new directive that  the last two in the list above are no longer allowed! Meaning that one needs to eat outside one's room for ALL meals. Oh, and this is non negotiatiable, I refuse to go into the details of how this makes sense, but suffice to say that the train of logic is lost on me.

So, I now reiterate the inference I had at the beginning, once one joins this institute, one can function so that one does not require food! Now, I am sure that there are going to be many of you who disagree with me on this inference, but I stand by it vehemently and will vociferously dispute anyone who dares say that it is false!

Oh wait, maybe just because I have said it, noone will dare question it, or the logic behind it...I will NOT take any questions or clarifications on this topic...

Wait again... could it be that the lack of food is interfering with my powers of thought....??

Naah! can't be. 'Coz if that were true, it would make this whole exercise a farce so large that it boggles the mind... Anyway, better not think about that... Let me consider whether it is true that I no longer need food to sustain me...

Or how I can get something to eat as my stomach is now growling........

On a loop

Hate!

Such a strong word,

falls from our lips so easily.

Is present all around us.

Causing pain

Causing hurt

Causing loss.

Loss of material things

as well as self and pride and identity

and mental stability.

When will man learn

That we are all the same

Including what everyone seeks.

When will we accept our differences 

Rather than look for how we are better

These are not new thoughts

Yet noone has the answers

Every new generation

Yearns for peace.

What holds each back

from finding it?

Drive

Mist
Restricting what the eye can see.
Alone
With one's thoughts
Drowning
Out everything else.
Noise
So loud in my head

Yet
Noone else can hear it!
Silence.
Darkness.
Alone.
Through clouds.
Is there a way out?

A wedding in May...

They were certainly an eventful three days. The main- actually, only- reason we were there at all was to celebrate M's wedding. Something we had looked forward to for a while now, since she informed us of the plans and the confirmation of the date. I had received the invite a few weeks earlier, though tickets had been booked a month in advance. The travel plans were made, and we were gonna meet up after 3 years apart. As a group, we had gotten close since we had all studied our Masters together. Our time together certainly brought us close, and this remained despite the distance that life had put in between us,with only fleeting visits and phone calls to each other. M and i were travelling together; and P was arriving on the same day to Gau. the only sad part about the whole thing was that K wouldn't be able to make it, making what would have been our first complete reunion incomplete.

Day 1!

M and i were up since 4 :30, she had struggled close to half an hour to wake me up, finally succeeding, and we made our way to the airport. She was leaving Bangalore for good, and this meant taking all of her belongings with her, but we managed to get through security without having to pay,carrying some three pieces of hand luggage each. After a four hour flight, we finally landed in balmy Gauhati (33 degrees , the airhostess informed us), and went to M's house directly, her brother picking us up and M driving us the rest of the way home. I managed to snooze for a few mins as well, curling up on the front seat (advantage: my size!) and leaving M to handle all of the pesky pedestrians, reckless rickshaws and the like. We made it back comfortably, in one piece, and went up to M's house on the 4th floor of her apartment building, and she informed me it was the first such complex in the area, though there were quite a few coming up around that place now.
We went up, and entered her house. Even at first glance, it looked like a house which had been decorated with a very fine eye. Delicate lace curtains as well as matching thicker curtains, green, and red, and purple! M's room looks like the ideal room that all teenage girls would have wanted to grow up in, big bed, dressing table, pictures all around, and loads of space for books, with a view which though now was filling up with other apartment complexes must have been much nicer a few years ago. Anyway, back to our activities; Aunty had prepared a lovely lunch which we wolfed down, having not eaten anything else the entire day. The only problem at this time was the fact that there was no electricity; apparently there had been a massive storm the past week sometime, and there was no power in the entire state!
M and i, in the meantime learnt that P had also arrived , and  was already out shopping somewhere! Mu had sent a car to pick us up, and after spending time getting ready, we went to the first event of the wedding- the Bachelorette Party! :) That's when we saw the lovely bride... I hadn't seen her in a year, and she was glowing! A few of her friends were already there, and after a few mins the rest arrived including her sister and darling-est neice Maya! It was a few hours of laughter, fun, getting together, catching up and meeting new people, good food, drink, in AC comfort, and of course girl-talk! I'm sorry, the most important thing I have left for the last-but never the least- taking pictures! :D The house we were in was located on the 6th floor of a building overlooking the glorious Brahmaputra, and we were able to enjoy the wonderful sight of the sun setting over the water. It was idyllic... all the more because of the company around. With Maya running around giving all of us hugs around the legs, and the chatter and comfort, all exhaustion slipped away. Games and gifts came next with more laughter and congratulations all around. Then in a slight twist to the Bachelorette Party, the groom and his friends made their appearance, and the celebrations continued in greater proportions- out came the cake with fancy candles, and more greeting new people.
We then move on to the next event, immediately after the party was ... another one! This time the mehendi. We, M, P, and I went back to change and then made our way to Mu's house for the next event. There, at her home, we met the family in full force, her parents most importantly, calmly handling the fact that there was no electricity and the house was full of people moving up and down. The cousins and neighbours in full-force all being a part of painting their hands with mehendi making fanciful and pretty patterns on hands; the bride of course, again at the centre of it all, yet still managing to focus on everyone to make sure they were comfortable. Truly one of the nicest persons I know! After this, we had sumptuous dinner home cooked and simple which tasted so good! End of day 1 when M drove us back home. Ah! Blessed sleep

Day 2!

It was the day of the Jurun, when the bride would be welcomed into the groom's family. Am not very sure of the exact significance, but this is when the women of groom's family come with gifts to the bride. We were there with the bride, of course, taking more photos of this vision in a peach mekhala, this girl with whom we had lounged around with in sweat shirts now looking very much a woman who was taking a step in moving forward with her life with the person she had chosen. From the moment they came to invite her from her room, to all the gifts they were giving her, emotions were close to the surface. Blessing asked for and given, the rest of the family and well wishers around her watching this Assamese tradition of welcome with not only clothes and jewellery but also food, and of course the paan. With camera flashes all the time, one would have well thought there was a celebrity there, and didn't she look like one! With her sweet smile present throughout, and sometimes tears showing her emotions, surrounded by friends and family, her beauty shone. Ok, are my emotions colouring my view? Nope, I think it was true, she looked amazing!  We then had more  mouth watering food, especially fish! Too many details? Sorry! but it needs a  mention :)

Next event of the day was the Sangeet, later in the evening. We again got ready for the event, after some rest, though the electricity had again gone off! It was an event, just outside the home, small with close friends and family. Young singers and dancers- Mu's cousins, a trained singer, folk songs and dances by the women  as well as dance and again, pictures make this close intimate time a wonderful event. Another home cooked meal of simple food completed a full day, and now we only had the main event to look forward to! With reminders to the bride to look after herself, and get enough sleep, we left the family home where she would spend her last night as a single girl.

Day 3!

Mu had other events during the day that had to be completed- which we skipped. We spent the day in Guwahati, exploring a few spots before making our way to a coffee shop, mainly to sit in an a/c environment! Once we felt better, we then went back to M's home, and were relaxing there when there suddenly were tremors! Though I had grown up in Shillong and there earthquakes are so common one does not think twice, this was a bad one... We were on the 4th floor of an apartment complex which was swaying dangerously; three girls alone in the house, each terrified. It lasted for quite a long time, and we then we realized the things we had done which, ahem, will not be put down here. Anyway, it did take some time for us to recover, and once we did had to prepare for the wedding! M's mom and brothers were going with us for the wedding, and we all got ready and finally made it to the bride's reception. There, we saw Mu on her seat greeting guests who came to bless and wish her, by now surrounded by gifts. Her friends were with her during this time, and she was looking comfortable in her role of wishing people, posing for pictures, handling the little children who ran up and down playing. We then waited for the bride's reception to wind down, and awaited the groom's arrival. Once it was time, the bride left the stage to change into the white and gold mekhala given to her the previous day at the Jurun.

The groom came; with fireworks and a band which was so full of energy that people around joined in the dancing which continued for a long time while the groom was in the car, while the women of the bride's family tried to tease him. When he finally entered the hall, it was to complete some rituals along with Mu's father. In the meantime, Mu was in the green room, changed into her wedding clothes. We saw her, again, beautiful bride all dressed up, and again emotions charged up high, as she hugged her mother who would not attend the wedding ceremony itself. A touching moment which made us all tear up as we saw a moment of pure human emotion.  She then went out, to add another layer to her identity, that of a wife, daughter-in-law.

That was the end of the three days we had taken out of our regular lives to attend a wedding- where family was paramount, not just family we are born with, but family we choose along the way-the friends who help us become who we are. It was a beautiful wedding; and only the beginning of, I am sure, a journey of togetherness, through all of life's ups and downs. I wish with all my heart, the very best for two wonderful people, Mu and C.

Babel

I am lost 

In language unknown

yet familiar

Phrases heard

Yet are incomprehensible

to me

Words
Emplasizing people's thoughts
emotions

I wonder
About how universal some things
are

Though
I do not understand,
I do

Shillong

O Shillong!

I lament what you have become

Your childhood long gone

The days of Laban, not even a memory-

A few houses, a market place,

A leisurely time chewing kwai.

Reknowned for learning, cleanliness, calmness.

O Shillong!

You've grown beyond that to a young adult-

Rebellious, forgetting the the ways of old.

Wishing to learn only through harsh experience,

Never through observation.

O Shillong!

Grown too fast for where you should be.

I cry in anguish for what you are;

A place I call home, yet when

I return to you, I see a change

So drastic it makes my heart ache.

O Shillong!

Waters where horses used to run

Now choked with plastic.

Verdant hills now only show colours of man's work

Concrete concrete concrete!

O Shillong!

The only place I call home

Yet i wish I could change.

Led by people who cannot see beyond today

And let down by all of your citizens who

Proudly claim you to be theirs

Yet do nothing to maintain the charm of your past.

If you could but tell us of times gone by,

How much more we must cry 

And convict ourselves 

For our inaction and passivity

We, who have let slip through our fingers 

-And let become just another city-

The wonder of what was 

The Scotland of the East.

stung

once bitten

i wonder when will

the pain reduce

so that i can

see clearly

and try again

Alliance

A human connect
Someone to talk to
Is it enough?

Understanding
Empathy
A listening ear
Is that all one needs?

A substitute for....what?

contradiction

i want to be able

to move to a place 

where i can be.

that part of me
i need to find
what will help me
reach that point?

time,
i have been told
is what can help.

but time makes me forget
and that is what i do not want.

have a break?

They give you the opportunity to do what you never can in your daily humdrum lives. Well, maybe not humdrum when you consider all that gets done in the course of a regular work week, dealing with people's lives, crises, lack of sleep, library under renovation.... and all the regular things thrown in, with cooking and cleaning  and washing and dealing with leaking bathrooms, moving out, and so on and so forth.

Ah! What I would do on a break! When one is working 7 days a week, that seems like a luxury that is too tempting to think of. Maybe I could sleep in late and make my own breakfast. Bread lightly toasted...lots of cheese on it. Maybe a fried egg, some baked beans, sausages would be nice... :)   A hot cup of green tea with a dash of honey to wash it all down! Hmm... all about food? Maybe I could have this meal in the company of a friend, or if not, have it while watching a nice light-hearted show which would help me relax.

Confession: I have had to take a break from talking about breaks! This is being continued almost a whole month later! I think that just thinking about a break is good enough. let me break this up then, and continue on my wishlist of breaks once i have more time.

... to be continued...

Journeys

Constantly seeking
Will we find it?
People all around
An emptiness inside...
Desperation that drives us
To hurt ourselves
In our attempts to locate
That which is missing.

The larger question is what i wonder
What is it that we actually need?