Mother & Son

I wrote this a while ago but couldn't think of a title until recently. It came to me when I realized that I was thinking of the bond between my brother and my Mom - unique, special & unbreakable. They were so dependent on each other, their lives so entwined that it seemed sometimes like they existed in a universe all their own, unreachable to the rest of us 'mere mortals'. They always seemed perfectly in sync with each other, something I've never felt with my Mom - you know how it is between mothers & daughters!

And so I guess, this is my ode to their relationship of mutual compassion, nurturing and love...

He found her waiting for him, one misty winter morn,
She sat silent beside him, in the slowly waking dawn.
He thought she felt familiar, like an old and trusted friend,
Her eyes shone kind and gentle, her presence a godsend.

“Who are you?” he ventured, “Have I seen you before?"
"Why do you seem so lonely? Tell me,” he implored.

She smiled at him and said, at once both sweet and sad,
"I have this longing in my heart, I think I always had.
My story is the same as yours, for I am but your shadow,
I feel all that your heart does, your dreams, your joys, your sorrow."

Gazing into those wise brown eyes, twin windows to her soul,
What he witnessed, deep within, shook him to his core.
He saw in them his loneliness, his darkest thoughts and fears,
Rage and guilt and tears he saw, piercing liquid spears.

Stunned, he dropped his eyes to earth, shielded from her gaze,
He wondered how she would survive, the awful burden of his fate.

She looked at him once more, with her wry and tender smile,
"I carry all your weight," she said, "so you may rest awhile.
So give me all your troubles, your worries and regrets,
Let me smooth away your pain & ease your tortured breath."

In her honeyed voice, she sang to him, he gave in to her plea,
The best thing he ever did, was lay his head upon her knee,
He gave in to deep slumber, as she softly stroked his face.
And found his peace in dreamless sleep, grace in hallowed space.

Come morning, when he awoke, to a world awash in dew,
Together they rose, Mother and Son, refreshed, alive, renewed.

- Harsha

My Goa...

Lately I've developed an avid interest in photography, thanks to one of my best friends Anshu, who first introduced me to the magical world of pixels and shutter speeds! I'm one of those eager amateurs, that when they get their hands on a camera, start snapping away, any place, anytime or should I say, every place, all the time - often annoying all & sundry, which, in my case, usually turns out to be hubby dearest!! He's often had to stop the car, braking dangerously, with me shrieking "STOP!!!!STOP NOW!!!!CAN'T YOU SEE, THIS IS JUST PICTURE PURRRRFECT???" It's happened so often now, he takes it in his stride - like he has a choice! Seriously though - he's a good man ;-)

So on my recent trip back home to Goa, I went kind of shutter-crazy! I'm lucky though - Goa is beautiful, even through the amateur lens :-) I must confess, since I grew up here, I was for ever so long immune to her unique charm. I craved, 'the fast life', speed, excitement, adventure and the Goa of my childhood and teens was anything but! Now I'm moving back after 14 years and Goa has changed like most places would, after a long chunk of time. Yet, something of the 'old world charm' still remains, in the quietness of its temples after the tourists are gone, the off-season beauty of its beaches, the silence of its pristine white chapels and the feeling of oneness with nature that is never far away. The very things that once drove me away, now bring me back, offering hope and the promise of a new beginning! A 'Full Circle' moment if ever there was one!

Thank you Goa - for shaping my Life! You dwell eternal in my soul...

Make a Smilebox photobook

P.S. This is my first Smilebox creation to be posted on the blog, but must warn you guys - am a self-confessed Smilebox addict! You have been warned ;-)

New Beginnings...

It feels surreal, coming as this post does after the last one titled Introspection! All that rumination & pondering - has brought about, what else - Change!

Life has and will continue to change this year. A change in location, a change in job and most importantly a change in family status!! Phew...deep breath in order! Strangely enough, amidst the chaos, is a quiet peace, like I'm in the 'eye of the storm', where inner calmness and sanity prevail!

So, I'm moving back, at age 40, to stay with my parents in Goa (I know, I know! But, it's temporary or so I keep telling myself!), my husband has taken a break from a high-stress corporate job (no problem with this one!) and we welcome into our lives our newest family member - our son Ishaan (adore this one!). There - not so bad, now that I've actually written it down.

Oh I know, I know - it's going to get absolutely insane before I regain any sense of control over my life - moving in with my parents after 17 years of total independence; becoming first-time parents; learning to do without a regular salary cheque! Man, it doesn't rain - it pours!!

And yet it doesn't worry me as much as I thought it would. Perhaps, it's a sign that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be - going with the flow, aligning with the universe, as the self-help gurus love to say! Maybe it's some miraculous wisdom that appears @ 40 ;-) Or maybe, and this is my favourite, it's my guardian angel, my brother, pulling strings, pushing me in the right direction; one that I couldn't see for myself :)

Whatever it is - it feels right in my gut!

Here's to New Beginnings!!