Meri Awaaz Suno

Random Realizations

2010-12-10T13:51:00.000-08:00

These are some of the random realizations that I have had over the past two months.

1. If you want something desperately, really passionately, it is very likely that you will get it. But mind you, many a times, we want the consequences of achieving something. For example, you may think that you want a job in a very famous company, but what you might actually want is the fame that you will get out of securing that job. So, it's not the job that you want, it is the fame that comes with getting the job that you are after. Hence, it is very likely that you will not get it. If I am not wrong, then there is a very good example from the Harry Potter book, where the professor wants the consequences of owning the Philosopher's stone.

2. You never really know what you really want!

3. Life is a distraction. Whenever you sit down to do something important, life will have a way of creating distractions for you. For example, you suddenly feel thirsty, sleepy, hungry for no reason! Or, you suddenly start listening to all your favorite songs on the radio. Or it starts to rain, and you must have Chai/Pakoda!

4. Love and Marriage are two different things. It's nice if you get both in the same relationship :)

5. The phrase "it is never too late" does not apply "to being honest".

6. Pain alone leads to maturity.

7. The child within should never die. One should never give up chocolates or ice-creams or movies for any reason.

8. It is extremely important to be selfish! And, it is very important to give yourself credit for what you have achieved.

9. It's good to have a hobby. It gives you something to look forward to.

10. Anyone around you can inspire you. People surprise you in many random ways :)

11. Not everything can be explained using science.

12. Excess of anything is harmful. Moderation and balance are the key words.

Barkha

Himesh Reshmiya Hits !

2010-08-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

Well, we all have something to say something about him. Let me say something nice :) There are a few Himesh Reshmiya songs that I have been addicted to, insanely. Let me list a few of them.

1. Mar jawan mit jawan - Ashiq Banaya apne

This song was sung by an Indian Idol winner. The song is really catchy and very danceable :)

2. Dil Nasheen - Ashiq Banaya Apne

This song has a very haunting melody.

3. Dil wich lagaya ve - Chup Chup Ke

Again a very very catchy and danceable song. The video has some amazing moves by Shahid Kapoor.

4. Soniye - Aksar

Very romantic and great rhythm.

5. Tandoori Nights - Karrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrz

This song is by far the best by him. (I am just kidding, of course ;)) But this song is very very addictive :) It has excellent vocals by Sunidhi and it literally grows on you.

Will add to this list soon. And did I say I love his hair? Haha!

Cheers,

Barakhaa

Ganpati Stotra in Marathi

2010-05-31T22:23:00.000-07:00

Ganpati Stotra in Marathi :)
|| श्री गणेशाय नमः ||

साष्टांग नमन माझे
गौरी पुत्रा विनायका
भक्ति ने स्मरता
नित्य आयुकामार्थ साधती
प्रथम नाव वक्रतुंड
दुसरे एकदंत ते
तीसरे क्रिश्नापिन्काक्ष
चौथे गजवक्र ते
पाचवे श्री लम्बोदर
सहावे विकठ नाव ते
सातवे विघ्न राजेंद्र
आठवे धुम्रवर्ण ते
नवे श्री भालचंद्र
दहावे श्री विनायक
अकरावे श्री गणपति
बारावे श्री गजानन
देव नावे अशी बारा
तीन संध्या म्हणे नर
विद्यार्थाला मिळे विद्या
धनार्थाला मिळे धन
पुत्रार्थाला मिळे पुत्र
मोक्षार्थाला मिळे गति
जपता गणपति स्तोत्र
सहा मासात हे फळ
एक वर्ष पूर्ण होता
मिळे सिद्धि न सौन्शय
नार्दाने रचलेले ज्हाले
सम्पूर्ण स्तोत्र हे
श्रीधराने मराठीत
पठव्या अनुपादिले

Syntax Highlighting - A life saver

2010-05-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

My posts are turning slightly geeky and I like that. Well, this incident took place in office and it's hilarious. A colleague had this C source file and for the purpose of testing, he had commented certain parts of the file. Like a faithful Unix developer, the guy used vim for the editing of his code and for some reason had turned off syntax highlighting. He tested the code, had some coffee, played some chess and forgot about the file.

A week later, he came back to the same file. For some reason, the code wasn't working the way he wanted it to work. After hours of frustration, he asked one of his other colleagues to take a look at the problem. The other colleague, too used to syntax highlighting, turned the feature on, and voila! The code that the previous colleague was working on had been commented out, and hence, no matter what he did to it, it wouldn't help!

Well, I learned my 1129th lesson in coding that day. Always keep track of what you've been working on, especially what parts of code you have commented out, and if possible, use syntax highlighting, it can be a life saver!

Barakhaa

The art of making delicious Maggi Noodles

2010-02-03T18:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, making delicious maggi noodles is an art and I have mastered it over 12 long years. The best thing about making maggi is that it is simple and quick. There are various ways in which one can make maggi.

There is one secret trick to making very delicious maggi. The instructions on the maggi packet suggest that one must first boil water, then add the noodles to it and then after sometime, add the tastemaker. However, the seasoned maggi maker would know that, as soon as you get the water to boil, you must add the tastemaker, stir the contents for a few minutes and then add the maggi noodles bar. :)

1. Slurpy, soupie maggi
1.1 Take two cups of water. Get it to boil. Add the tastemaker, a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar (yes, no kidding!). Stir the contents for about a minute.
1.2 Add the maggi noodle bar and cook till you are happy with the noodle's softness. We are done! You have your slurpy, soupie maggi.. TRUST ME, TRY IT AND YOU WILL GIVE ME A LOT OF BLESSINGS..

2. Dry Maggi
1.1 Get 1 and a half cup of water to boil. Add the tastemaker and a pinch of sugar to it and stir the contents for about a minute.
1.2 Add the maggi noodle bar and cook it till you are happy with the noodle's softness. We are done!

3. Maggi with vegetables (Mainly corn, peas and carrots, nothing else please)
1.1 Get 2 cups of water to boil. Add tastemaker, pinch of salt and pinch of sugar to the water and stir it for a minute. Add the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes.
1.2. Add the noodle bar and cook till you are happy with the noodle's softness. And we are done!

Try these methods of cooking maggi! I swear by them! You will too!

Barakhaa

The new netbook :)

2009-12-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

And here it is! The new netbook that I recently bought for my father. It is the best thing in the world. It is ridiculously small, looks like a toy. It's more than worth the money that I spent for it :)I am sure. papa's going to love it. It's lighter than a usual computer science book. I loved every bit about it. :)

Finally

2009-12-11T00:57:00.000-08:00

I am finally going home! After what seemed like centuries, I am going to my country. It's really strange.. I was talking to a friend who stays in UK for the past 4 years. I asked her, what it felt like, going to India for the first time after coming to UK. She said, "It felt like I had touched the soil that I could call my own". She said, Mumbai looks brilliant when seen from above. Oh, I am dieing to go. I am dieing to see the cheerful faces of my family. I am dieing to meet my Chhotu, Vinu, Neenu and mummu... (And of course my dad)

The feeling is really strange. When I had first come to the United States, I had never imagined myself craving to go back. Although, the freedom here is addictive of sorts, but there's something missing. I cant name it. I cannot describe it.

This is just a random post but I need to write. I miss being recognized by at least 50 people when I walk in my neighbourhood. I miss the daily exchange of food with neighbours. I miss every aspect of living with a lot of people... I miss the crowd.

But then, I am going to get a month full of it, and I am going to enjoy it, feel it with all my heart. I am going to meet friends and laugh till my stomach aches. I am going to cry till my eyes are swollen. I am going to hug and be hugged by all my family. I am going to fill myself with everything India has to offer. I am going to love India the way I have never loved it.

Here I come... Five days! Five long days!

Barakhaa

haaton ki lakeerein

2009-12-05T01:05:00.000-08:00

अमानत समझ के रखना
मेरे हातों की लकीरों को

भूलना न मेरी उलझी हुई
मेरे शहर से गुज़रती हुई राहों को

रेत में संभाले रखना
मेरे पैरों के निशानों को

महसूस करना हवा में मिली हुई
मेरी गूंजती हुई आवाज़ों को

थाम लेना अपने अक्स में
मेरी बिखरती हुई यादों को

मेरी पहचान एक नगीना है
इसे खोने न देना, मरने न देना मुझे परदेस
रोक लेना मेरी मौत को अपनी मिट्टी में
ऐं मेरे वतन

बाँध लेना अपने आप से
मेरी मिटती हुई साँसों को

बरखा

AIPS!

2009-11-05T23:55:00.000-08:00

AIPS, That's what we call ourselves. Aditi, Indu, Pooja and Swati, yes, it is in alphabetical order. This has possibly been the most fun time in the United States of America. Indu, my room mate and Pooja and Aditi, my neighbors, are the reason, why there have been no depressing posts on my blog lately!

It's funny, we even formed a google group recently, which has a funny name, the name being its12peoplesleeping :). It's a misnomer which will most likely be interpreted in the wrong way by most people because they are not aware of the reason behind this name ;) But, then again, that's the funny secret we share...

The other day, we thought of having a girl's night! So, we got together, got out favourite chips and drinks, and spent an entire night talking, chatting and gossiping to our heart's content about everything under the sun. However, I had to make a deadly project submission the previous night, which had caused tremendous sleep loss, thus making me feel very sleepy and eventually making me fall asleep without even realizing it.

AND, when I woke up, I heard laughter and felt that I was the reason behind this laughter. Pictures were taken and videos were being shot, and I had a funny feeling at the back of my mind, that there was something wrong with my face. Indu asked Pooja to hand me a mirror so that I could look at my face. And hah! I was the face double of Gabbar Singh!

Haha! This is what they did to me while I was asleep! When I was finally conscious of what had happened, I laughed too! I was asked to repeat a dialogue from the movie Sholay, "Ye haat humko dede thakur", while a video of mine was being shot! And I replied saying, "Ye Camera mujhe dede thakur"!

Times, I will remember all my life!

Barakhaa

रंगीन

2009-10-21T03:08:00.000-07:00

रंगीन मन का एक कोना
छुपाया है दुनिया से

इस कोने में बैठ के
हम घंटों तुम्हे याद करते

घंटों सपने बुनते
मीलों ज़िन्दगी निहारते

इस रंग में लिपटी
मेरी शर्म में मिटती
मेरी उल्फत की राहें
तुम तक मुझे पोहोचाके भी न पोहोचाएं

अजब रंगीन कोना है
जो सबसे छुपाया है
तुमसे भी....

बरखा

Making your own Gems Repository

2009-06-24T11:15:00.003-07:00

I am so happy to write my first Tech Blog! Yay!

So, I will explain to you, how you can make your own gems repository for private use within a small organization. This article assumes that you have a debian based client-server architecture. This article also assumes that you have a way of reaching the server through your machine. You need the following to make your own gems repository

1. A web server running (In my case apache2) on the server machine from now referred to as S
2. Rubygems installed on S

Now follow the steps.

Server Side : (The actual gem repository)

1. Install builder using the following command

sudo gem install builder

2. Say, /var/www is the root directory for your web server (It can be anything as long as it is properly listed in the config file which in our case is /etc/apache2/sites-available/default)
3. Issue the following commands

cd /var/www
mkdir gems (If root privileges are required then a sudo mkdir gems)

4. Then copy all the gems into this directory with the following command

cp -r /usr/lib/ruby/gems/1.8 /var/www/gems

5. Your gems directory may be at a different location, you can look it up using the folowing command

ruby -e 'puts $:'

6. Once you have copied all the gems, issue the following command

gem generate_index -d /var/www

After running this command you can issue the following command to check your local gems,

gem query --local

This command will list all the local gems that will be present in the repository.
7. After running this command, your yaml indexes would be generated. Now you can run the following command to start your gem server

sudo gem server http://hostname.domain.com:8808

where hostname.domain.com is the name of your computer followed by the port number 8808.
8. This should start your gem server!!!!!

A note : You should repeat this process on the server each time you install a new gem if you want this gem to be in your repository for remote install in your clients.

Client Side : (Where all the installtions will be performed using the gem install command)

1. Add the repository to your gem sources list using the following command

sudo gem sources -a http://hostname.domain.com:8808

This will add the gem repository to your gem sources.

Testing on the client

To test whether your system is working, do the following.
1. Remove rubyforge source from the sources list using the following command

sudo gem sources -r http://gems.rubyforge.com

2. List the sources using the following command

sudo gem sources

You should see only your own gem repository listed. If you have others, remove them as well, they can be added easily again using the 'gem sources -a http://hostname.domain.com' command
3. And now try to install any gem that is not installed on your client but is available in your gem repository. For example if you do not have "god" installed on your client but have it in your gem repository, issue the command

sudo gem install god

4. If your installation succeeds, you can rejoice and shout woohooo (this is what I did when it actually happened!!!)

I hope this is helpful to beginners like me. I also hope I have the jargon right as I am writing a tech blog for the first time. More tech blogs to follow! If you have any question, leave me a comment and I will try to answer them.

Barakhaa

Girly date!

2009-04-22T03:02:00.002-07:00

Today was the first girly date that I had in the US. It was fun!!! Annie took me out to Denny's and I had my favourite veggie cheese omlette and she had the spicy buffalo chicken melt!!! Yummy !!! It was fun, because for the first time, I felt that someone understood me and I was not the only one to think the way I do. We decided to do a lot of girly things later on for example, get dressed and wear a lot of make up and go shopping!! Or I could curl her hair and she could straighten mine.

This was the first time, I was not out with a boy, I hardly have any girl friends who I go out with. Finally, I found someone with who my frequency matched! I hope I haven't said it too soon. But I like being with her. She told me about her life at Delhi and I was so shocked at the things she told me. She said she was immune to eve teasing and similar things which just prove that Delhi is such a horrible place and such things happen so frequently that girls become immune to it, yuck! Good males in Delhi, please do something about it, to save your women from such agony... It disgusted me to hear about these things and just made me feel good about living in Pune.

Overall, it was fun! We cribbed, we laughed, we ate and we smiled! Thanks Annie :)

A slightly cheerful post

2009-04-07T02:00:00.002-07:00

I've realized that the past few posts were really, really depressing. I think, it's high time I wrote a slightly cheerful post. :) Well, the past few days have been good. I haven't fought with my best friend for like 15 days now which is such a great feat. (Well, for the past 3 years, I have fought with him every alternate day, so this is really, really something!!!!) Yes, even if we fight so much, he is my best friend!!

But, the best thing of all is that my mother and my sister are going to be visiting me, YAYYYYYYYY!!! I am super happy about this. I am dieing to see them. I am sure, I won't be able to control my tears when I see them! I am just so so so so so excited about this!

Living here, in the United States has taught me so much about myself. I've realized that I am way too sensitive as compared to a lot of people. I have realized that I am prepared to face anything, come what may. Any failures, any setbacks, I can face them without fear. And hell, I can code, and I can code as much as I want :)

Anyway, I should get back to coding now!

I miss India

2009-04-02T11:29:00.003-07:00

Well, sorry if this turns out to be a sentimental post. But, I really, really miss India.

I used to hate Pune when I was in Pune, but now, all I can think about is getting back to that city. A city where I could ride my motor cycle at 2 a.m. in the night without feeling unsafe. A city with so much culture dissolved in its day to day life. I miss Dancing. I miss Bharatnatyam, I miss you Ashwini Tai. I miss performing at the Ganesh Kala Krida Manch, at the Bharat Natya Mandir, at the Tilak Smarak Mandir, at the Yashwant Rao Chavhan Natya Griha.... I miss the feel of the wooden stage against my bare feet, I miss it, I yearn for it...

I miss going to Sweet Charriot in Koregaon Park, a dear friend had introduced me to it. Vaishali was always a small bike's ride away. I miss Bedhekar Misal. I spent such a great time with my mom and my sister there. I miss Ferfusson College, where I spent the best two years of my life, carefree and hopeful, ambitious and jolly. I miss the evening Boat Club at COEP, where somehow, the setting sun would mellow all the fears in my heart. I miss the rainy season, I miss the Khadakwaasla Dam, the NDA ride, it was beautiful and serene. I miss the Agricultural College and the Morning and Evening walks....I miss the Range Hills Road.... I miss the Pune University... The beautiful gardens there and my dance performance there...

I miss my old house near the MIT hills. I miss watching the rains hide these hills, I miss getting wet on the terrace. I miss studying on the terrace, miss that terrace so much!!!! SO SO SO SO MUCH!!!!

Pune, a city so close to my heart... A city where I first learned to love, to give.. to give without inhibitions, to love without any conditions...

The next city very close to my heart is Bombay. I am not calling it Mumbai, sounds very unreal to me, because since I was a child, I have visited my grand parents place in Bombay and not Mumbai, so I am not going to call it Mumbai. I miss the juhu Chowpati, a place where my Chacha chachi would take me and my cousins to. Where we got wet in the salty water without thinking twice. Bhelpuri and pani puri was delicious, no body was weight conscious, in fact our parents liked us being fat.

I love the Hare Krishna temple. It is so beautiful. I miss shopping in Vile Parle with my mom, where we would shop for hours and spend hardly anything. I miss having chilled Nimbu Pani after shopping and before taking the evening, completely packed local train to Malad. I miss all that. I miss my mom. I miss hugging her, talking to her like a kid. I had to tell her everything.

I miss playing cricket with Kutti and Unni, my friends in Bombay. We would play cricket in a small Verandah in front of our building. I miss our small 10 rupee parties which I would organize and my mother help me organize. I miss playing hide and seek on the terrace of our building. I miss my childhood Bombay.

And then, I miss IIT Bombay, a place which is magical, a place which introduced me to such a plethora of emotions, of pain, of ecstacy, of disappointment, of anger, of nothingness.... I miss IIT Powai, and I will always remember it as the place where I changed from being a girl to being a woman.

I miss India ... I just so miss India.... the place where I belong...

Life in the USA

2009-02-26T00:58:00.002-08:00

Its weird how lonliness kills you into writing such sad posts. Thats a cheerful start to an otherwise dismal article....

But anyway, I landed here on the 28th of July, 2008 and ever since I have lived a life of total luxury. Blessed with tons of assignments, millions of projects and eons of hardwork. I wash, I cook, I eat, I code, I attend lectures, I write, I study and then attend more lectures and cook more, wash more and eat more and then when its time to sleep, I wake up again into another cheerful day.

I am so happy, I can hardly explain. I am so happy that I don't want to eat sometimes, its as if appetite suddenly looks up at me and tells me, "you don't need my, why bother?" My dreams are even more cheerful than my actual, living life. I dream of bald guys being tortured in my house, of wild bulls chasing me and of my getting pregnant.... Its so good, I love this life, had always dreamt of it... Its so good that I want it to get over, so that I can understand the value of a horrible life...

My house is a wonderful place to be.. It has lovely lights, and lovely carpets... They are so lovely that I never want to vacuum clean them... And my favorite piece of entertainment... My only friend in the united states... my amazing laptop... with the internet badwidth so high, I have an amazing time... At least the luxury of youtube videos being played without having to wait for them to get buffered...

Life is simply great... I wish it would end now!

2008-12-28T21:41:00.002-08:00

हज़ार टुकडों में बट गई हूँ मैं,
कुछ इधर कुछ उधर ....
नाम के लिए जी रही हूँ,
हज़ार सालों से, सदियों से

मैंने जैसे खून से महेंदी लगायी है...
मैंने जैसे आँसू जेवर बनाये हैं...

बरखा

अकेलापन

2008-12-06T01:28:00.002-08:00

अकेलेपन का कोई मोल नही रहा....
अनजानी गहरायिओं में कभी बहुत सस्ते में मिलता था....

आजकल तो लोगों की भीड़ में
बिना किसी मोल के मिलता है, खरीदना भी नही पड़ता....

बरखा

2008-11-27T03:42:00.002-08:00

मन तो वहीं छूट गया है जहाँ मेरा घर है।
अलग राह की सीमा अब दिखी है जब घर नही पासमें।

लौट के जाऊँ तो कैसे,
मायने जो बदल गए हैं .....
हर राह जो बदल गई है
हर मंजिल जो बदल गई है......

बरखा

Mr. Handsome in America

2008-10-19T02:39:00.000-07:00

Mr. Handsome in America turned out to be a non American ....

bhor

2008-10-12T03:59:00.003-07:00

bhor hui...mangal mangal

kal ki purva...aaj bhi hai

dheemi dheemi raat bhi,

diya jale jangal jangal..

ganga gunje paas hee mein

karvat leti idhar udhar,

dharti ki halchal pe nirbhar,

maili hoti saath hee mein...

bhor mein milti...

chanchal ganga,

doob woh jaati,

dooba deti woh...

shubhra hai ganga

ke bhor pavittar,

saaf woh karti..

saaf hoti woh.

mai bhi nadi hoon,

mai bhi bhor,

khud mein milke

mil mai jaati...

maili hoti,
goonjti mai..
shubhra shubhra
khil mai jaati...

barkha

2008-10-09T21:36:00.002-07:00

ek phool,
aaj maila hua...

haath ki kharonch se
aaj woh gila hua...

par koi dard nahi,
koi gam nahi...

koi ehsaas nahi
jo use mehroom hua

par pata chala ki
woh kharonch uski nahi thhi,
usse abaad karne ko nahi thhi...
bas kuchalne ko thhi,
usmein chhupi hui masumiyat ko...

Barkha

waqt

2008-10-07T00:11:00.002-07:00

har waqt ek saans mein guzarta hai,
paani ki pyaas samjha ke....

nikalta hai mere kareeb se,
par ehsaas doori ka dikhata hai...

mai akeli hoti hoon, haath khole hue,
ek boond ke intezaar mein...

par asmaan barasta nahi,, lekin
meri aankh mein moti chhod jaata hai....

nirbhar

2008-10-01T01:53:00.001-07:00

admi admi pe kitna nirbhar hai
fir bhi alag rehna chahta hai...
alag desh mein aake hee yeh kyun strike hota hai?

Mr. Handsome in America

2008-09-22T20:10:00.002-07:00

After 2 months in LA, I saw the first really good looking white American male. (I know I am being politically incorrect here but anyway). This happened in one of the libraries in my college. Oh, was he good looking! He wore a black suit and had very intelligent looking gray eyes. He was holding a phone and talking to someone and I wished that someone was me. This is the first time any man has made me look at him more than once!!! Hehe...But that ends there.... Oh but he was one heck of a beauty! No harm in appreciating beauty!

Amavas

2008-09-16T18:59:00.002-07:00

Ghor Amawas aati hai
uske saath tum wapis aa jaate ho,
tum jaakar wapis kyun aate ho?

Ya toh raho
Ya toh jao,
Aa jaake kyun mujhe mujhise kaat te ho?

Badlaav mein bhi sthirta hoti hai,
tumhaare badlaav mein sirf badlaav hai
sirf rang hai...ghor amawas sa kaala pan nahi
ya din si safedi nahi...bas alag alag rang

karvat mein bhi sapna zinda rehta hai,
par tumhaari neend mein sirf karvat hai
sirf rang hai...ghor amawas sa kaala pan nahi
ya din si safedi nahi...bas alag alag rang

kal...

2008-09-04T23:19:00.002-07:00

kal ki khudgarjee hai ki itni jaldi aata hai...
har pal ki majburi hai ki ruk nahi paata hai,
mai toh fir bhi ruk jaun tere liye..
par mera naseeb teri aahat ke liye ruk nahi paata hai....

khwaab mein milti hoon apne ateet se
kuchh halki chahton ko jeeti hoon,
khul ke muskurati hoon apne aks ko dekh ke....
par yeh aks mujhe nahi dekh paata hai...

2008-06-22T08:10:00.002-07:00

It's truely not a world where you tell people what they mean to you... If it's understood, it's understood.

2008-03-16T09:08:00.004-07:00

A dagger thrown at me,
with a will to destroy me.
I catch it in my hands
and take it to destiny.

Destiny gives me a crown,
and stabs itself with the dagger.
My crown is bloody
and I am destined to wear it!

2008-01-01T04:21:00.000-08:00

I am beginning to believe that prayers are answered....I hope I am not saying this too soon. :)

Existence

2007-12-12T10:56:00.000-08:00

We were born together,
and our lives did not exist.

We are together in a paradise,
and the paradise does not exist.

We will die together in a moment,
and the moment will not exist.

Barakhaa

2007-12-11T10:33:00.000-08:00

I have come to realize that all good things in this world exist only for the beautiful, i.e. people who possess external beauty.

I am the man

2007-12-01T08:50:00.000-08:00

This is to the crazily crazy, creepy fool, who knows who he is,

I am a dude,
I am a hunky dude,
I am a kick ass hunky dude!!!!!!!!!

2007-11-29T08:39:00.000-08:00

She waits,
not for love, nor for care,
not for pity, nor for prayer...

She waits,
not for sympathy, nor for tears,
but for courage to face the fears.

She waits
for the courage,
the good and the godly,
the powerful and the golden.

She waits
for the light,
the brilliant and the bright,
the fresh and the mild.

She bathes in pain
and wipes the stains
with the maddening glory of joy,
the crying pain of ecstacy.

Barkha

2007-11-26T07:32:00.000-08:00

I wrote the worst paper in the history of time!
I am disappointed with myself, and I am sorry to myself.

2007-11-23T11:10:00.000-08:00

होटों पे अटक के तुम्हारे बाल शर्माते हैं....
झुकती नजर में तुम्हारे हाल शर्माते हैं...
जब होटों की कमसिन कलि खिलती है,
तब मुस्कुराहट में तुम्हारे गाल शर्माते हैं...

Hum ko man ki Shakti dena

2007-11-19T05:17:00.000-08:00

Its surprising that till date I used to sing this song without paying attention to the wonderful lyrics. I have realized that, today, when the times are difficult for me, where there is absolute chaos, this song can actually give me strength and courage to face the ugly devil called the "FUTURE". This song can again restore my faith in the fact that I can acheive whatever I wish to acheive. Its all there in me. I just need to now go deep down, face myself and free the power that I have. Here goes the wonderful song.....

Humko man ki Shakti dena,
Man vijay karein,
Doosron ki Jay se pehle,
KHUD ko Jay karein....

Bhed bhaaw apane dil se saaf kar sakein,
Doston se bhool ho to maaf kar sakein,
zoothh se bache rahe, sach kaa dam bharein,
dusaron kee jay se pahale, khud ko jay karein

Mushkilein padein toh hum pe itanaa karam kar,
Saath de to dharam kaa, chale to dharam kar,
khud pe hausalaa rahe, badee se naa darein,
dusaron kee jay se pahale, khud ko jay karein....

Humko man kee shakti dena...

2007-11-15T09:37:00.000-08:00

Today, after a long time, I heard the song "Lagi tumse man ki lagan". It reminded me of my junior college days at Fergusson College. This song had recently become popular then. It suddenly filled me with this strong urge to get back to those times when there were absolutely no worries, no anxities about the future, no apprehensions about life. Everything was childish, fun, energetic! No decisions to be taken. No pressures. Nothing.
Those were the most beautiful days of my life. Even better than those spent at school, not that school was bad, but even then, it was the carefree time, spent with love for myself, my creativity, my dreams....(I guess blogger was created so that people like me could just go on cribbing)....I am waiting for the coming future with the same feeling I had then... The feeling of blind faith in the fact that everything will be fine, that my dreams will come true, however silly they are....
By the way a little digression from the main topic, an advice to those who stay in a state of utter untidiness, removal of clutter from the place you live can bring a lot of positivity to your life and the results can be quite surprising :)

So anyway, concluding today's blog entry, the song reminded me of a time which was colourful, beautiful and full of my dreams. Hope, the future brings the same kind of lyrics in my life :)

2007-11-13T11:11:00.000-08:00

न मैं तुम्हे पा सकती हूँ,
और न खो सकती हूँ।

न देख सकती हूँ,
न अनदेखा कर सकती हूँ।

न समझ सकती हूँ,
न समझा सकती हूँ।

न चाह सकती हूँ,
न नफरत कर सकती हूँ।

न मान सकती हूँ,
और न मना सकती हूँ,

बस महसूस कर सकती हूँ,
तुम्हारे जीने को,

पहचान सकती हूँ,
तुम्हारी आहट को,

परख सकती हूँ,
तुम्हारी नज़र को,

बयान कर सकती हूँ,
तुम्हारी जुबां को,

बचा सकती हूँ,
तुम्हारी यादों को....

आसुओं में बहा सकती हूँ,
तुम्हारे संग आई हुई बरसातों को.......

बरखा

Linux yeeeeeeeeee

2007-11-13T05:55:00.000-08:00

My dad recently got a new small MP3 player. And I was very fascinated when I came to know that it has a Linux operating system in it. That really made me happy in a very strange way. It felt yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!

Winter Leaf

2007-11-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

Cold winter leaf,
Dry and withered,
Alienated from the tree,
Flying away,
To another country...
To another world

Cold winter leaf,
Touches me on the hand,
Rubs against my soft skin,
and then leaves me
for a long journey,
To another country,
To another world

Cold winter leaf,
travels to be crushed,
to be mixed with the soil,
to be one with the earth,
of another country
of another world.........

Barkha

मेरा हमसफ़र

2007-10-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

एक हल्का सा ख्याल है,
एक नाज़ुक सा सपना है,
रंगों में घुलता है ...

एक पालना है मन का,
एक घोंसला है जान का,
हातों में पनपता है....

एक चाँद है कल का,
एक सूरज है आज का,
पलकों में जलता है....

एक मैं हूँ आज की,
एक तू है कल का,
जो मेरे साथ चलता है...

(sigh) Triveni

2007-10-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

घाटे हो गए कुछ अजीब सौदों में ....
पर ये घाटे भी प्यारे लगे...
दर्द ये जीवन के दवा से लगे.....

पर्छायिने जब बात की....
तो चुपके से हसीं दबाई,
मुझसे शरारत की, मेरी परछाई ने

दिमाग के पिंजरे में एक छोटा सा दिल कैद है,
चाहता है कि तोड़ दे उसे,
मगर दुनिया के डर से बंद भी रहना चाहता है.....

Once there was a DOG!

2007-09-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

(For lack of appropriate characters, the hero of our story is a dog!)

So, once there was a dog. His name was Plublu(again lack of appropriate names). Now, Plublu studied in an institute called COBP. This was a bonegeering college.

Plublu loved to dance and sing. He hated everything that had anything to do with bonegeering. However he took it up as he had done extremely well in the common BONE (Bonegeering Online National Entrance).

But he soon realized that it had been a totally wrong decision. As the institute turned out to be a complete disappointment and he was just not able to like any of the subjects there. The one subject that irritated him the most was BSL (Bone Structures and Ligaments ). But he somehow managed to keep decent grades.

At the beginning of his final year he realized that he could completely switch fields and continue with something he really liked and was passionate about. So he thought that he could pursue Ballet as a full time carreer. However, he also realized that ballet would have to wait as he had to be strong financially. So he thought that he would give up bonegeering and go for the CAT!

So he started preparing really hard for this and realized that he was quite capable of doing it. But as always, something had to go wrong. One of the mock CATs went really bad, and after that he could just not take any of the mock CATs with confidence. Each of them had to screw up. EACH ONE OF THEM!!!!!!

Will be continued.......

Halleluiah!

2007-09-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

Well, it's pretty difficult to understand people these days. In fact it's pretty difficult to understand people and live with the fact that the entire image you have of that person will shatter after you have understood that person completely. Its even difficult to actually claim that you have understood a person when it's no where defined what is actually understanding somebody. It's probably just passing a judgement or building a prejudice!

In a world today, where one already has to juggle with a plethora of activities, understanding people is one of the vital activities that one needs to perform in order to get rid of any hindrances that could be caused by lack of understanding of human reaction to certain aspects of our activities.

Oh crap, I don't know how I am to conclude this article, the moral of the story is I am just unable to understand the entire process of understanding people, and its definititely not like crying out loud, halleluiah!

An Enigma called "GULZAR"

2007-09-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

Gulzar has always been a conundrum to me. The way he weaves surprises into lyrics in an endearing fashion has always left me baffled. His description of complicated emotion in simple day-to-day terms has always reinforced my belief in the fact that all things are inherently simple, its just a matter of pulling the right strings.

But the aspects of his poetry that I greatly admire are his reverence to Mirza Ghalib and the usage of a variety of words which belong to languages as far as English. The famous instances of this behaviour of his poetry are "सब्ज lawn पे बैठे हुए " in the title track of Sathiya and "आँखें भी कमाल करती हैं , personal से सवाल करती हैं " in the famous Kajrare of Bunty Aur Bubli. This beauty with which he captures the simplicity gives him a rather cherubic charm.

Another very charming aspect of his poetry is his absolute childlike ignorance of the stereotype. Words like " na lihaf na gilaf " in the song Beedi Jaliyle are just a recent addition to such a myriad of beautiful songs. There is an interesting anecdote in this connection. Once while composing the song "इस मोड़ से जाते हैं, कुछ सुस्त कदम रस्ते , कुछ तेज कदम राहे ......तिनकों के नशेमन्न तक ...." ,Pancham Da asked Gulzar, "Where is Nashemann located in India?" :)

My love for his poetry just grows everyday as it has this wonderful glow of simplicity. It is something that is puzzling in a very satisfying way!

Linux and Xen - A blessing

2007-09-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

I cant believe I am saying this (hopefully I am not saying this too soon) but an elective in this semister of my engineering course has made me love engineering, a feat I had thought I would never achieve. All these three years of my engineering I had hated the fact that I had chosen a course in Information Technology. I had thought myself incapable of coding and understanding the intricate details of Computer Technology. And in effect I kept blaming myself for not making an effort at liking it.

However, I realized this recently, which would not have been possible without a dear friend (who knows who he is) that it was not just I who was responsible for my losing interest or for that matter never gaining an interest into this field. In an institution where asking questions is considered a way of "acting smart" or "showing off" or where one is laughed at when asking a doubt, what else can be expected? An institute where mediocrity is revered (I am currently too influenced by the theories of Ayn Rand) and only academic results are a measure of intellect, nothing else can really happen and I am not one of those great people who are just so inherently passionate about what they study.

Well anyway, the whole point of writing this blog is to express my gratitude to these four brilliant guys from Symantec who were able to rekindle my interest in this field. These classes are so special owing to the clarity of thought these guys possess. In these sessions, no question is "silly", no question is laughed at and if the answer to a question is not known, the fact that the answer is not known is admitted and found out immediately.

Only God knows how grateful I am to all of them who have made me realize that beautiful things do exist in this world, we just have to wait patiently to experience them and have faith that they do exist. Though there is a huge prize one needs to pay, but its worth it!! Thank you guys for making my life more complicated, as now it has become more difficult for me to decide on a career path, coz now suddenly the technical field is no longer "Oh my God, I hate coding"!!!

करवट

2007-09-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

हातों से जुडी हर आहट को पहचान देना चाहती हूँ
मैं इस जिंदगी की हर करवट को पहचान देना चाहती हूँ

होंसले छूटने पर गम नही करना चाहती...
हौन्स्लो को धागों में बंद करना चाहती हूँ

मायूसी से लड़कर टूटना नही चाहती....
मायूसी को मुस्कान की अमानत देना चाहती हूँ

आसुओं की नमी को छुपाना नही चाहती....
आसुओं को अंगारों में बदलना चाहती हूँ

हर करवट में नयी नींद नही चाहती...
हर करवट को नए सपने कि पहचान देना चाहती हूँ.......

Srishti Se Pehle.....

2007-09-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

"Srishti se pehle sat nahin thaa, asat bhi nahin Antariksh bhi nahin, aakaash bhee nahin thaa. Chhipaa thaa kyaa, kahaan, kisne dhaka thaa? Us pal to agam, atal jal bhi kahaan thaa.
Shrishti kaa kaun hain kartaa? Kartaa hain yeh vaa akartaa? Oonche aakash mein rahtaa. Sadaaa adhyaksh banaa rahtaa. Wohee sach much mein jaantaa..Yaa nahin bhi jaanataa Hain kisi ko nahin pataa, Nahin pataa, Nahin hai pataa, nahin hai pataa.
Voh tha hiranya garbh srishti se pehle vidyamaan. Vohi to saare bhoot jaatee ka swami mahaan. jo hai astitvamaana dharti aasmaan dhaaran kar. Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar?
Jis ke bal par tejomay hai ambar. Prithvi hari bhari sthapit sthir. Swarg aur sooraj bhi sthir. Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar?
Garbh mein apne agni dhaaran kar paida kar, Vyapa tha jal idhar udhar neeche upar, Jagaa chuke vo ka ekameva pran bankar, Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar?
Om ! Srishti nirmata swarg rachaiyta purvaj rakhsa kar. Satya dharma palak atul jal niyamak raksha kar. Phaili hain dishayen bahu jaisi uski sab mein sab par, Aise hi devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar, Aise hi devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar."

This is the title track of the serial - Bharat Ek Khoj. Recently a friend of mine sent me this music track and I felt that we have never really paid attention to what all our vedas spoke about. These are verses from the Rigved, questioning the very existence of GOD! This is one of the strongest poetry I have ever read, and it makes me wish, I could be able to read all the vedas which are so reflective of our Indian culture.

Turmoil

2007-08-14T08:50:00.000-07:00

I feel like blogging everyday these days, but cant seem to come up with a topic. Today, however, I am going to whine and whine and whine. It's difficult, life these days. So many choices to be made, and these choices could lead you anywhere. There is nothing but turmoil. I like somethings, and then after a while I end up hating them.
Then there is this insecurity, am I actually what I think I am, am I as capable as I think I am? I, these days, I have serious doubts about my capabilities. There is this hunger to find out exactly what I am made to do, what is the purpose of my life. There suddenly seems no purpose. People just come to life, do some silly things and then they die, whats the entire point?
And then there goes the ultimate question, what is the ultimate truth? What is the ultimate goal, the ultimate success? It makes life living hell. Surviving is difficult, thriving toh door ki baat hai . The only thought that keeps me going is that may be one day, after this pain has passed, after I have paid the price for every beautiful experience I have had, I will have come to know the ultimate truth. If there exists one!

Hostel!

2007-08-12T11:23:00.000-07:00

So finally, in my final year of engineering, I have shifted to the J-block i.e. the girl's hostel. Let me use a terribly overused bromide here, "but it's a completely different world". It's actually wierd. Girls here feel homesick, they miss everyone at home, they talk about "ghar ka lazeez khana" but I don't really feel all that. I, in fact, like it here.
I like the fact that I am the first one to have a bath in the hostel. It gives me a very stupid sense of importance, when I look at each girl entering the hostel bathrooms, looking at me with astonishment at the fact that this girl gets up so early in the morning and has a bath. To many its just a trivial thing, but to me its wonderful.
It feels amazing to do the beds, to wash my clothes, to buy necessary accessories for "my" computer, to arrange the clothes and the books in the cupboard, basically to do things on my own and the way I want them to be done. It also gives me a weird sense of freedom even if I have to be back at the hostel by 9 pm sharp and even if I am not allowed to go anywhere after this until 6 am. It feels great to eat at the "tapri". The tea smells wonderful and the bread pattice makes for a delicious and sumptuous breakfast.
I love the fact that people in the hostel actually come up to my room to listen to songs composed by me. My neighbour in fact confessed that had she been a boy she would have proposed to me. I love the fact that people come up to my room to talk to me. It's a nice world and lets confess it, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!

2007-08-10T12:54:00.000-07:00

Half imagined dreams enliven her sleep,
when it's midnight....
Past the stars she walks distrait,
towards the moony light...

The wings of flowers touch her face.
The rivers of silver assuage her feet.

This is a dream, this is a dream!
The brain shouts inside her head.
It shouts, it yells, it cries, it screams...
But the soul inside her heart is dead.

It's time to touch the soothing flames.
It's time to seek the surreality.

Barakhaa

2007-06-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

ऐ आसमाँ , परख ले आज मुझको
ऐ परिंदे मुझ से लडले
ऐ हवा आज हिला दे मुझको
मुझ में आज गम नही है

बरखा

This world is a crazy place

2007-05-29T00:52:00.000-07:00

This world is a crazy place,
but I love it sometimes.

This world is a wonderful place,
but I hate it sometimes.

This world is a challenging place,
and I feel languid sometimes.

This world is a lethargic place,
but I feel zealous sometimes.

This world is full of little people,
but I feel I am a Mogul sometimes.

This world is full of power,
but I feel I am a teenybooper sometimes....

Ok , all I am trying to do is showing off my newly gained vocabulary which aint much...hehehehe
Barakhaa

2007-05-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

कल के पन्नो पर मैंने आज की जिंदगी लिखी है
ऐसे हज़ार पन्नें हैं
और ऐसे हज़ार चेहरे हैं
जिनकी हातों में लकीरें खिचीं है

अजीब से पल हैं ये
इन पलों को चुनना पड़ता है
काश किस्मत में छान के आये होते

चांद और तारे साथ लाए होते
कभी कभी कुरेदना पड़ता है
अजीब से कल हैं ये

नाजुक से रिश्ते बुने हैं मैंने
ड़र है कहीँ पिघल ना जाएँ
हलके से संभालना सीखा है....

बरखा

रोकुं तो कैसे रोकुं

2007-04-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

रोकुं तो कैसे रोकुं, बेदर्दी शाम ,
हाथ से छूती जा रही है
छोडूं तो कैसे छोडूं , वो बीती बात,
बात अधूरी रही जा रही है....

आँसूओं में ये पल बह रहे हैं ,
आंसूओं के ये संग सह रहे हैं...
रात चली जाएगी , सुबह आ जाएगी,
रात का अँधेरा जाए ना .....

सोने के ये पत्ते हैं, पलों में ये बंधें हैं....
उड़ते हुए कहीं हवा संग बहते हैं....
दूरियों के ये पल चले जाए कहीं,
फासले बीच में आए ना ....

बरखा

Free within myself

2007-04-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

I have crossed oceans of tears.
I have crossed deserts of smiles.

I have touched barriers within seconds.
I have noticed myself across miles.

I have felt waters in the ocean.
I have touched air in the skies.

I have been blithe in the rains.
I have played with the snowy highs.

I have danced, I have sung,
I have painted and I have sketched,
I have found an independence
Called life…

Today I am free within myself.
Today I am free to be myself.

Barakhaa

Test of Time

2007-04-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

The letters and the flower petals,
Do they stand the test of time?

The cloth pieces and the curvy metals,
With touch and drops of tears, sublime.

A chocolate rapper and a candy stick,
A movie ticket-I pamper and see.

An electronic message, a reminder on phone,
A busy day, we are hardly free.

These gifts of love,
These playful things,
The lovely times
And the pain they bring.
A path no more,
That we shall trod.
You’ll say hi!
And I shall nod.

A leaf will fall in an early winter night,
To remind me of the days so bright.

But ‘we’ will be no more,
So I shall just sigh,
And get back to the
Good old lie….

Barakhaa

Time..

2007-01-26T05:59:00.001-08:00

I have never seen time wait for me.
I have only seen it fly in your presence.
For once I don’t want something to be as fast as a bird,
but I want it to crawl like a tortoise.

Time should be as timeless as possible.
It should just not exist between us.
It will never heed me though.
Even if I want it to get lost for some time.

Barkha

Babies......

2006-12-05T00:39:00.000-08:00

He is crazily small and she is smaller than him.They hardly ever open their eyes and whenever they do, they have a look at this wierd world that surrounds them. She has extremely tiny eyes, and a nose that is hardly visible. She is called the 'nakti' baby. On the other hand, she has beautiful, big eyes. Very quiet and gentle, very girl like.....
He is neither gentle nor quiet. His volume- well lets not speak about it. He, too is miniscule but with a nose that is at least half an inch long, but very naughty eyes ...
But they have this one particular thing in common-both of them smile and cry in their slumber. Its a mystery to me, as to what goes on in thier tiny little brains that makes them express the most lovely emotions on their angel like faces......Wish there was a way to find out.......

Diwali

2006-10-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

Lights my path, a small, little lamp,
and waits for me to appreciate its aura.
Defining the shadows of flora
on the mountains, sweet and damp.

Moonless night and man-made stars,
A rangoli to greet me on the carpet of clay,
Jovial, genial, gentle, I play.
Holy waters, running deep and far.

But a reverie of sorts it is.
And the reality is far from where I was.
It is a riot of colourful pollution.

A whoosh there and here a hiss,
Pretence of doing something for a cause,
A horizon with an unclear resolution…..

Barakhaa

Everything comes with a price!

2006-10-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

I wonder how people can write anything. Here I am trying to put something on paper for the past one hour and only this comes to mind. An irritating thought that comes to my mind is that nothing in this world is unconditional. Everything comes with a price. And if it doesn’t then something is seriously wrong.
Even for that matter, love-the universally revered emotion, is not unconditional. Expectations crop in and then everything goes for a toss. But people will not stop falling in love, will they? And they will continue to boast that they love their so called lover unconditionally.
Friendship is yet another form of love but that too is not unconditional. This world is a dirty place and true friends don’t exist. Everybody wants to know what’s in store for them. It’s just a give and take relationship. You give something only because you are sure of some returns.
Ridiculous it may sound, coming from a girl who has a lot of belief in friendship but experience changes oneself.
I guess this post is full of pessimism but the truth is always depressing. You come alone, and you go alone. There are no one’s or two’s about it. Life doesn’t really spare you. You either fight and survive or give up and die.

2006-10-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

Repercussion…..

I barely manage to manage my life,
without you.
The repercussion is fresh, wet
and new.

I can hardly throw any tantrums,
I chose my path.
The repercussion is unexpected, confusing
and stark.

I scarcely appreciated my existence,
Your eyes proved it to me.
The repercussion is verve, zeal
and vitality.

Barkha

Back to Sensible Blogging

2006-09-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

My friend said to me the other day, “Work like a donkey!”, and I replied saying, “Damn! I’d beat a donkey at what it does best, i.e. work as hard as possible. Work so hard, that I’d end up giving a donkey an inferiority complex”
But does it matter?
The answer is, yes, it does. Hard work pays, may be a little late and may be at a time when it doesn’t really matter whether it pays or not, but it does.
Moral of the story, I am back to blogging big time and the posts after this will be much more sensible than this one is. So beware!!!

Triveni

2006-09-06T07:09:00.000-07:00

Well a triveni is basically composed of three lines, the first two are connected...the third completely gives the verse a new dimension.

Neend
khelti hai chupke se palkon sang,
bhar ke hazaar rang,
kambaqht neend,kitne sapne bun gayi....

Dastak
barso baad, ek dastak...
us ek dastak par tufaan beh gaye...
us ek dastak mein hum beh gaye....

baarish
baarish ki bundon mein aur ansoonon mein,
fark sirf khaarepan ka hai...
koi fark nahi padhta, kab baras jaayein...

khwaahish
Manzilein badli nahi, na raastey,
Sapnon ko bhi usi ankhon ki farsh par leta diya...
Kambakht khwaahishein bhi naa badal paaye...

Khoobsoorat

2006-07-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

Aankhen bheegein, toh moti chamkein...
kaajal faile toh pyaara lage,
gusse ki lali jab galon pe bikhre
toh sooraj ki kirnon si kamsin lage..

Maathe par shikan,jo lakirein kheenchein..
paseene ki boondon mein ghulti hui...
chehre ki masoomiyat bayaan jo karein,
us khoobsoorti ki kahaani kahein...

Woh khoobsoorti jo aankhein na dekhein
sparsh na samjhey...
woh khoobsoorti joh bas rooh ki gahrayion mein utarti hui
ek pyaari si muskaan mein khile..

Koi bhasha jise bata na sake
koi isharein jise bayan na kar sake
us andhrooni, paak khoobsoorti koh
mai khoobsoorti kahoon....
wahi sahi maayno mein khoobsoorat hai

Barakhaa

The fish and the kitten

2006-03-27T23:28:00.000-08:00

I am a fish,
And I am a fish with no gills...
like the royal merman,I love the oxygen dissolved in water
but cant use it directly, as the merman does.
It helps me live but not survive.
I am the human merman,
I belong to the sacred, holy, waters...
Yes, i am the fish with no gills,
I belong just here and I belong everywhere,
And I am loved by the blue,brilliant ripples of water,
The clean,the chlorinated,the still,the polluted yet the ever-refreshing,precious water...
And my body moves like a butterfly...with unmatched strength and wild beauty,
And i am loved by a kitten,
I stretch gracefully like a cat....
And she is a kitten in love with a fish called 'I'.
She is the kitten in my teacher's dream.

Barakhaa

mannat

2005-10-31T05:10:00.000-08:00

farsh par mannat karte hue
duaon mein maangle tumhe...
raat ko karle palkon mein shamil...
taare bharde tumhari aankhon mein..

zindagi mein ghulti hui kismat
tumhe saath le aayi...
parchhaiyon mein, saayon mein kahin
dhoond kar le aayi...
tum aur tumhare saath
fursat ke do pal le aayi....
ifazat se rakhte hai zevar ki tarah inhe,
yeh pal chalte hai meri saason mein

har aahat, har dastak
ek ishara kar jaati hai...
intazaar ki yeh ghadiyaan
apne saath le aati hai
palkon ko barasne ka
bahana le aati hai..
yeh katre aankhon ke,moti ban jaate hai
chamakte hai yeh meri aankhon mein..

farsh par mannat.....
barakhaa

Ecstacy!!!!

2005-09-17T05:53:00.000-07:00

I am so happy, so happy.....
I can just say this...

Ankhon ke katre, sitaron se chamak gaye..
sochte hai ab hum kaise badal gaye...
Duaoon mein haseen sapne sajaane hum chale,
sochna kya hai ab, hum AISE badal gaye....

barakhaa

Cant think of a name

2005-09-10T04:07:00.000-07:00

God!!!!
Why is life treating me this way?
Nothing in my life is going the right way, nothing absolutely, and I dont know why I must dig pits for myself and then fall into them? Why cant I keep my mouth shut when I must? Why am I so caring and sweet (yes, I definitely am) that people love to hurt me?
I have got fed up of all this....
God , you are sitting comfortably in heaven, help me....please.....
(make me a bit shrewd if you can)

Purushottam Karandak

2005-08-20T22:01:00.000-07:00

Hey.....It was a huge success....I have never felt so happy and so satisfied in my life.
After hours of frustration, days of sadness and after cursing everyone at least a million times, the day arrived, the ultimate performance......and what a performance!!!!

Congratulations to all!!!
Especially Sajal, Girish, Tejashree, Amir and Aditya, what a performance!!!!
And the entire Backstage team (Swati Tiwari included)

But honestly, like all of them said, Purushottam is once in a lifetime experience.....
It changes you completely..... and it has definitely changed me..........

Simply dont stop .....

2005-08-12T00:21:00.000-07:00

I saw you,
Sparkling white on black rock,
Growing drop by drop..
and waiting ever so patiently
for the monsoons.
Night or day, you simply dont stop in time....
to reach that river you will find.

You must be hurt
by falling so hard on the rock,
the trees laugh at you and
the birds mock.
Yet, with the beauty in pace
you look the future in the face.

There is a promise in your sound
and with the approaching clouds,
you dance your heavenly dance,
and I stand here, in a trance....
to see you go with flowing generosity
and facing the infinite space between yourself and the river.

But even then, you dont stop.
A tiny ,minute waterfall,
you simply dont stop,
and with the growing seconds on the clock,
you simply dont stop......

Barakhaa

Ten and nine, and yet, SINGLE.....

2005-08-05T22:58:00.000-07:00

Ten and nine, and yet ,single....

(this poem is supposed to be funny)

Ten and nine, and yet , single...
An insipid truth I digest
to live,
to exist in this not so innocuous world.
I surreptitiously pray
Send me an angel!!!

Send me a wish, I wish,
A lost hope, I hope.

A candle, I try to burn in my heart,
I try to blush, but cant manage,
no reason, no cause...
I am wont to a start,
But a wait is savage,
And hell! no room for a pause.

A maverick would rock!!
A traditional, I dont mind,
And an inane one is most welcome...

Seconds on the clock
and a life I bind
Heart in heart, I am ready to run....

Barakhaa

Hosh.....

2005-08-05T22:51:00.000-07:00

Aaj sirf itna hi likh sakti hoon.....

Phool ko bhi murjhana hai......

Ek Lamha

2005-08-03T04:11:00.000-07:00

To love.... the most powerful emotion of al......

Ek Lamha.....
Ek lamha, guzar gaya...
Teri yadon mein,
Ek pal jo thehar gaya....
Teri baahon mein,
Ab yadon, mulakaton,ke sahaare,
jeena hai......

Sote hue sapney dekha karte thhe,
Ab jaagti ankhen bhi khwab dekha karti hai.....
Rote hue ankhon ko gila karte thhe,
Ab hasti ankhen bhi bheeg jaaya karti hai...
In haste ansuon ko khushi se
peena hai......

Mausam, mausam, subah geeli geeli,
Pattiyon ke paani mein, tumk dhoondha karte hai....
Nadiya, nadiya, sagar, sagar...
Seepi ki moti mein tumko dhoondha karte hai...
Jeevan ke har ansh mein tumhi ko...
Dhoondha hai...

Ek lamha.....
Barakha

Wait.......

2005-07-17T00:30:00.000-07:00

Two hours and off to his dwelling,
Wonderful mornings and beautiful evenings
are the perfect time to freedom and independence,
No regrets and no repenteance;

No "sorries and thank yous",
just a smile from the heart...
It will be a pleasure to be back
with his beauty...

A twinkle in his eye
and the sun on his face.
An hour left now,
curious, how desire leaves no trace;

Half left now,
excitement with rage...
"Time, please pass by,
is this office my cage?"

Fifteen minutes more and he will be back,
His beautiful bride recites a prayer for that....

His master's in,and
his sly smile says it all,
"You have workand
you have got it all."

A sad expression on his surdy face,
He is sorry for his darling mate,
"Oh dear, my dear,I shall be late,
A smile with you will have to wait."

Barkha

Aaj hum mein.....

2005-07-13T06:27:00.000-07:00

I want to dedicate this particular song to my parents who are sacrificing so much for my sister and I by living their lives separately.......

Aaj hum mein, aur tum mein,
Sirf itni si hai doori,
Ke hum bhi hai ghum....
Aur tum bhi ho ghum....
In jeevan ki raahon mein...

Yeh faaslein bhi woh faaslein hai,
Jo humko kareeb laayein,
Fir woh haseen pal bhi toh ayega,
Jab mil jayengi yeh haseen raahein.....
Aao fir se kho jaayein,
Ek dooje ki wafaon mein......

Kuchh khabon ki rangat se nikhri hui,
Kuchh manjilein tay kar jaayein,
Waqt ke yeh udte pal,
Mere aangan mein bhi tham jaayein,
Tum bhi rok lo inhe,
In udti hawaon mein.....

Aaj hum mein.......

A Visit to Haji Ali

2005-06-25T00:31:00.000-07:00

Its this place in Mumbai which attracts people from all stratas of society. The journey to this place starts with the wordly dirt around...which one leaves while entering the only road through the Arabian sea to this holy place , the Mosque of Peer ji Ali. One cannot but help the feeling of fear enter the heart when passing through the mysteriously violent sea...(I have visited this place in the monsoons)
But as soon I entered this holy temple of muslims, I was washed over by this beautiful thought that whatever I ask for will be granted, any wish, any prayer....I guess this particular feeling brings so many hindus and christians and parsis to this holy island in sea....
Just five minutes walk from the yet another famous temple,The Mahalaxmi temple, we are confirmed of the fact that in our country, the hindu gods and the muslim gods can live in harmony .