The love of the Panda

Cutting through

This picture was clicked in Himachal Pradesh, near Dharamshala. The PG accommodation was here and after a tiring day at work, the scenery just enthralled us. It was breathtaking!

The Prayer Wheels of McLeodganj

Taken in McLeodganj, these prayer wheels caught my attention. A temple of peace, the Buddhist prayer songs that belted out from the Tibetan shops added to the charm of this tourist spot. Two long sinewy roads were crowded with locals, the slim-eyed and tourists. The shops carried wares of both familiar and strange disposition.
The Tibetan script as can be seen on the wheels resemble the Bengali script in many ways. Quite a revelation.

Stumps of glory....

Gully cricket, a sport that every Indian must have participated some time or witnessed atleast. I came across these stumps in Moti Daman, where my NGO had taken me to see the proceedings of a Self Help Group. I took these in the free time.

Taken during a market survey for a PR company in the villages near Lavale, Pune.

Hampering the skyline

This was the view outside my window in the hostel. Taken nearly six months earlier, the construction is now higher than our building. Two years ago this was all barren land and one could see the Lohegon airport road lit up like a christmas tree in the night. Its now a thing of the past and a pity that it should.

The humble earthenware

The above is an over exposed picture of two pots and there is something about them that gets me gazing incessantly at them.

A better version of the picture above, the exposure corrected this time.

Pelle the Conquerer

This picture was taken during my NGO internship in Daman. Generally I am not fond of kids, but the picture of this guy with keys in his mouth reminded me of my childhood. As kids we were so adventerous and thought that we could take over the world. Superheros and super villians have enthralled us to no end. This is what counts. Travelling over sofas as if they were the highest mountain ranges, carrying guns and fighting with each other as if representing two countries....those were the days of make - believe and fantasy. I guess that is why I dislike kids, because they can still have their innocent fun, while we slog away still trying to make a sense of the world and of ourselves.

Dying Hope

To the heavens above
And Hell below;
And Man stuck between them.
Like a fish out of the water,
Flapping its gills,
Actions that are all in vain.

Death comes slow,
Strikes with a blow,
Crushes your hope
With one stroke.

Life ceases;
Conscience ends,
One drifts away.....
In the depths of the ocean.

Where no waves reach you,
Nor no rays touch you,
Death engulfs you,
Darkness leads you;
And Hell opens its doors for you.

Yes one loses hope,
Not everyone is the Pope.
Life often makes you walk,
On the tight rope.

Like pirates, brandishing their swords
Pointed their blades;
As your barefeet touch,
That dreadsome gangplank.

When strength isn't enough,
Courage is broken down;
You give way.....

Life seems worthless,
All support is pointless;
And you give way.....

A falling doll,
Through the deepest canyons,
Whisking past -
The adventurous goats.

Hair flying up,
Arms flailing by
And you see your,
Hardened volcanic end close by.

You let out a silent scream,
Bones duplicate into manifold;
You shut your eyes.
Gasping for breath,
Through the punctured lungs,
Blood rushes through;
Gurgles at your mouth.

And Hell opens its doors for you.

The Cycle Obsession

The Auburn Lamina

Wheels of destruction

The canon in the picture is of the one that stands at Shaniwarwada, Pune. However one cannot forget the famous 'red cannon' that hopefully still stands today at the heart of New Market in Kolkata. During winter, even the christmas decorations couldn't outdo its glory.

To feel the splash, as the droplets wrap around your face;
Touch the mirage, that is now running in your veins;

The Crush

The heart aches awfully
To have someone nearby
Sense the stillness in time
Or to stare at him sly

What is it to feel?
Your crush so close to you
Or to have to suffer
The pounding that turns you blue

Out of the corner of your eye
You see the smile that dazzles
Emotions choking you through
Your brain thoroughly rattles

He passes by you
You stop impulsively
Staring long and hard at his back
He turns around hesitatingly

Sparks crackle through the air
Your eyes meet then and there
Confusion runs amok
Oh boy, does he even care?

Life seems funny right now
Playing hide and seek
Love turns your world upside down
Disturbance in you it reeks

How much you love this
Knowing and not knowing
What your crush feels, though
Love within you growing.

The Withering Past

Broken appendages, spineless walls, like a hag missing her front teeth;

The beauty is gone, the cracks are in place, as the deadly depths draw you closer.