Down the lane

Lonely girl in a new country, bogged down by the amount of study ahead, a building dislike to it, sourly homesick, barely wanting to stay - that was me walking the streets of Ann Arbor a little after beginning my Masters at the University of Michigan. To make matters worse, I am this conservative middle class 'independent' woman who is here of course on her dad's grace (read funds) but wants to lessen that burden by taking a part-time job. And what may that be? A dignified authority (with trimmed glasses?) typing away efficiently at the front desk of one of the 19 majestic more-Vatican-than-anything-American-about-it libraries that the university prides on...? Well almost... cut out the front desk, and the dignity and then me (there wasn't glasses anyway). All it turned out to be was carrying around a heavy load of 17th century books that looked like they'd been abandoned out in all of Michigan's winters; on my own feet and with my own hands(!) - in nothing less than that same winter. Add to that a pinch of a rude red boss. Howzzat? Too much for me. Nonetheless the lure of the extra dollars (even if to sip some amazing hot hazelnut coffee) tugged me on.... and it was on one of those 'trips' that I had to go to the library of the world-famous Ross School of Business at the University. Let me tell you that I am this die-hard b-school aspirant who couldn't tire of writing the CAT back home. Ross was the stuff of my dreams (among other things - I am not all that boring :P). Well what have you? If I was in a movie you would see me dropping my bag of books with an open jaw while some good piano played away in the background. Lets just say it was nothing less of an effect for me :) The next 5 hours saw me scourging the 'branding/ads' section of the library randomly picking books, flipping through, exclaiming to myself, making notes of interesting quotes, all excited almost like I was back home...Maybe I was. Like all good things come to an end, I was drawn out of my reverie when the grand clock there struck a time that would see my boss packing up for the day mouthing -'whats-her-name-tell-her-she-needn't-come-back-at-all!' obscenities that I could almost hear from a mile away. Phew.. out I go.
Today, here I am, thanking him to have made go there (only for that mind you) which I would have done much later if not for him. Never mind that I saved whatever 'dignity' I had and called it quits at the library ;) I am just out of my first class at Ross. Oh yes, I managed to persuade a Professor there to let me take his class on .. guess what.. brand management :) What a class it was! Well I woudn't feel like my Professor's student without signing off with a powerful punch....
Winter always paves way for spring,
Hail Michigan is all I can sing :)

Choices

Sometimes I sit back and think
That's the only time I feel sane
I look at us running after things
And can't help feeling we are lame

We run after money
We run after fame
It is one to so many
And it is too short a game

I look at busy bosses
Most with calculated smiles
I wonder if that counts as losses
Is it really a different life?

And I turn to the less "blessed"
Light-hearted, full of life
Even if their life's in a mess
They seem to do more than get by

My heart tells me it is little joys that count
Like an old friend once told me
I had shrugged it off as a loser's note
I now know what it means

Wrecking the kitchen with my friends,
The songs and dances and shoots
Spontaneous poems with no start or end
with more lies than truth..
...candle lit parties on the terrace
shouts and cries rising much above
waiting for stars with a wishful face
and only ever praying for love

Strange, these are that spring to mind
Not an award, not yet money or despair
It is all there... but you should find
The light that begins your day.

Yeh dooriyan - a translation

These distances

Of paths, of dreams, of travellers

I wish they went away...

Why someone is closer, another apart -

Does anyone here know ?

Am I getting there or moving away

Doesn't matter, but I must go.

It has happened before

In the days of yore

You walked beside me on deserted roads

Sometimes I returned,

After talking to you in tons

Longing, feeling so alone

Oh, it has happened again

I dare not feign

I find you in everything, all the way

These distances

Bring me back to you, whatever I say

I wish they would go away

I never told you the truth

That there's nothing left to lose

If you aren't there

Nor even did I say

To keep a distance if we may

Enough to keep it in the air

These distances

I know they can't stay

I wish they went away....

Long journey

It was the final good bye. I waved and stood in my place in the long queue. If there was anything more frustrating than leaving it was to stand in the queue motionless without even being able to see them or talk to them. I avoided looking their way. But somewhere the corner of my eye did not forget to notice my mother's apprehensive face. She was waving and waiting for a response. I could not stop. I know from the looks I got from my neighbours that I must have cried non-stop. The next few minutes went by mechanically shoving papers in and out. I went through the security. Only a few days ago, on her first trip abroad, my mother was standing next to me asking a hundred questions like "what to do next?" "what will they ask me?" And I had calmed her down and said, "Don't worry. I will take care of everything. You just look around and have a good time." And here I was longing for her.... When I finally finished all the formalities and sat down in the lounge to wait for my plane, I realized I was 45 minutes early. I picked up the phone that I had fortunately tucked in. I did not miss the sob that she desperately tried to hide. I hung up talking to the whole lot of my people - dad, brother, cousins and grandma, wishing I didn't have to reassure them that it was only a couple of years......God knows it sounded like eternity to my own ears. It was the first time I had hugged my dad... the first time I missed my brother....the first time I had told my friends how much I loved them. What I always knew hit me harder. Had I to go? The announcement answered for me. I made myself a promise and walked away, my vision blurred. I was not strong to listen to my heart and go back that day, but I knew I was strong enough to keep my promise.

A night to remember ;-)

A boy of five, was I
'twas the best of summer time,
Away from the evil school
My hols were going just fine :)

This day I sauntered into the house
Smelly and hungry like a fat mouse
When mommy turned and flashed her smile
"Darling, you'll be on your own tonight"
There was this important late night party
that she had to go to with daddy
I was brave and old enough, wasn't I ?
and it was only a few hours' time.

I smiled to myself bubbling with thoughts
Of what all I could do and what not !
Here at last was my share of freedom..
Oh, how I would boast to my friends at dawn !!

No sooner did they turn their back on me
I rushed to the refrigerator in glee,
stuffing myself with forbidden goodies,
scheming my next action already...
Dad's room had this mammoth bath tub
The only time I'd used it, it badly needed a scrub :P
But here it was bouncing happily at my plan,
God only knows for how long I swam !
Exhausted at last, I stretched on the hammock
In mom's balcony, we dangerously rocked,
picturing the stories I would tell my friends,
smiling away at my unforeseen luck...
And lo! he stepped into my sight,
creeping towards me, dark as the night;
I screamed in terror as he approached,
helpless as I was as I swung to and fro.
The most feared enemy of us all -
he blocked my way into the hall
I couldn't stop my hammock, blow,
the only other way was the 3 floors' fall !!
I tasted my tears trickling down,
all my heroics swiftly drowned..
I must have been screaming really loud,
or I 'd have heard my parents back in the house.

My dear brave mother came to the rescue -
producing a broom from out of the blue,
she banged on the spider until he was dead...
and took me in her arms while my dad shook his head.

I just (re)called to say…

Infineon turns a grand old ten

Dating back (no pun) I was in school then!

Nevertheless since I have been here

There is many a reason to have no fear

1

The super power it is - is one

No matter if it reduces it some

To appease the energy tight market

Shrinking as it grows instead.

“Never stop shrinking??!”

2

Generally generous – number two

The money we make is good & true

Though we love to whine and curse

We sure can have a good fat purse

3

Perks to iron out our lives – three
How I love flaunting them, gee
Food, WFH, refunds galore
Even if we can do with some more ;)

4

Talk of travel – that’s a big four
With heavenly places on Earth to explore..
Haven’t most of us had that chance?
A sumptuous stay or a fleeting glance..?

5
EMF, centre stage – is high-five ;)

For trying to keep us all alive!

Amidst stressful work weeks

They gel fun with surprising ease

6
No ugly scandals – and that’s a six!
You see; ghosts and employees aren’t mixed
Though with some, you can’t tell one from the other: P
They aren’t a matter of national bother.

7, 8
Hmmm seven and eight ???
Better there than late -
I say it is TT and the games
Without which we’d go insane.

9

“Networking” I’ll say comes at nine
Count “in-house couples” and you’ll take time ;)
Lonely souls who wouldn’t have met..
But for…, hey no points for that guess !

Last, not least, at a staggering ten
Kudos to the spirit of our women and men

Who make pieces of a grand jigsaw

No puzzle, Infineon inspires awe.

India

Behold if you are from foreign lands
When you step on Indian sands
It is best you know what awaits you
From an insider who speaks only the truth ;-)
The reason for you to come
Could be travel, work or fun
Whatever the reason might be
The other two are offered free!
Not exactly, if there are conmen on the way..
..But you can retaliate in their language -
Which is not easy all said and done
With quite a few you'll have to learn..
But you'll find people ready to help
Coming to your rescue on the slightest yelp
But if you are not a one for crowds
You must escape to nature's abode
The mountains, rivers and the forests
Will give your eyes no time to rest
And after that long, tiring journey
When you realize you are hungry
You must taste every variety of food
Else coming here would be no good
Only you might want to go low on spice
Unless you want to turn red in a trice
Colours .. oh! you'll find aplenty
In skins, cultures and nature's bounty
The latter due to the many seasons -
Diversity, yet again, finds a reason.
But then the place will grow on you
And you'll feel you belong, no matter how new
You'll know what I mean if you'll stay
With a native of this land even for a day
Here I take your leave ;)
Any more you mightn't believe !