Catching The Butterfly

The sun glinted gold

Off mountain peaks white

The monk in red sat still

While the blue streams gurgled past him.

The sun glinted gold

Off sand dunes white

The wind stole my red cap

While the blue oceans crashed and spilt.

Forty thousand words and not a single sound

Could help me escape this other world

Where children stay happy

And adults tend to mould

Into people they would never be

Knowing secrets they’ve never known

Into people who would always smile

Whenever their stories are told.

I am not sure what’s going to happen.

It might be a little too late.

It might not be the correct time even

To start out on a clean slate.

So I must keep up the hope,

I must keep dreaming my dreams,

I must break through the shadows

Until I find the right words to sing.

2015

Another year gone by and another month of the new one gone. I have stopped trying to understand how time is working its way. The moment I pause to think about where everything has rushed past, the feeling itself is a rush. How did everything go by so quickly? When did we grow up so fast? Seems like yesterday that we were in school, in college, trying to make our way into the big bad world. Now we are immersed in it and all we want to do is go back. 

I remember days from the past where all I did was do literally nothing. Those days are rare right now. Even the weekends seem to be full, there is always someone to meet, always somewhere to go, always something that needs to be done. Amidst the desk job, numerous scooter servicings, household chores, keeping up with the hobbies, keeping yourself updated about the world, the dreams still exist. I have always been slower than the rest, lagging behind the world for some reason, its not that I don't want to be ahead;somehow Lady Luck keeps scoffing at me. Maybe over the years this sentiment has crawled in and nestled down in my subconscious, giving me hope that good things are on the way. I regret at times not being where I want to be at the points in life I wanted to, but I really can't regret fully since they do arrive later. I must hope, I must dream, in the shadows and the realms of loneliness, I must stay alive.

I imagined another kind of life-one that involved creativity, art, words, travel. But its going to be 4 years since the last day of college and I am at a desk with my machine for company. I cannot for the life of me imagine how it will look down the road if I continue on this avenue but the leap of faith has its parameters. People think ahead, I see blackness in every sphere of my life. I know in my heart that had I done what I loved to do, things in every sphere would have been clearer. I also understand these are heavy words and the practical thing to do would be to stick to my job and try to rise in it. 

But is that right or wrong to do? Am I doing justice to the life I was given? A life that should encompass the beauty of this world, free to do anything and go anywhere, sing out loud when I want and sleep days and nights away without a thought. It might be the books,music and movies talking here, but reality should at least have a part of freedom, it should offer that choice without parameters once so that things get easier for me. After all, they do say good things happen to good people and I have tried my best to be so except for a few mistakes.

I think I will keep up the hope, dream the dreams; it might not really take me anywhere, but there would always be that butterfly to catch.

Conspiracy Against Islam!

This article is written by my good friend Manesha Paryani. Like me, she works in the IT industry and keeps the habit of writing on topics she feels requires attention in society. Her writing has a flow about it and encompasses witty remarks the topics she is writing about that will make you remember her articles. This article is about Islam being blamed for terrorism almost everytime in our world. She expresses her views opposing this theory which is largely prevalent in our society these days urging everyone to spread love and harmony in the name of religion instead.                                     "Religions of the world have helped define the society we see existing today. The term “Religion” has many definitions. The word “Religion” is sometimes used interchangeably with faith or beliefs. In a simple language religion is nothing but specific set of beliefs, cultural systems involving variety of code of ethics or philosophies of life. Religious practice is nothing but reverence to the Gods. Religions were created to advocate for love and peace. In Sanskrit “dharma” translated as religion means “laws” which is supposed to guide religious practice, beliefs and many aspects of daily life. Some of the largest religions in the world are Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Islam is the second largest religion after Christianity. There are total 195 countries in world out of which approximate 50 countries follow Islam as their religion which account for a total population of 1.6 billion. Islam is the religion mostly prevalent in North Africa, Middle East and South East Asia. It is also prevalent in china, some parts of Europe and North America. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Indeed, one out of every five persons on this earth is a Muslim. Yet, unfortunately, Islam is also the most misunderstood religion. Islam means the active submission to the one God. Muslims are those who believe in one God and in Muhammad as the final Prophet of God. The Qur’an, according to Muslim belief, is the word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad. The concept of jihad (wrongly translated as holy war) refers to the duty of Muslims to struggle for their faith and the welfare of the Muslim community. The Qur’an does not permit aggression against anyone and Prophet Muhammad propagated his message in a peaceful manner. Warfare is permitted only in self-defense. Now a days we have been seeing that the terms Islamic or Muslim are linked to extremism, militant as if they belonged together inextricably and naturally. It is perceived that by default all the Muslims have the tendency to be terrorists. They are always looked down as some slaughterers or hooligans always on their toes to smash heads of innocent people. Muslims are often viewed as people living with the only propaganda of “kill the infidel” which many believe as the ideology which they have against non – Muslims. To be very free-spoken, Islam is not a synonym for terrorism. Jihad is the not “Holy war”. Jihad means to struggle for God's cause. Unfortunately this word gets thrown around a lot and is almost always used incorrectly. Islam is the religion that suffers a lot of misconceptions. “All Muslims are terrorists” is a new stereotype now a day. This misconception is because of few extremists or fundamentalists with some agenda that they try to justify on the name of religion which eventually creates bad name for Islam as a whole. This has been further used by biased media as weapon in feeding the wrong beliefs that terrorism is attached to Muslims and Islam rather than other religions. This biased media is supported by the politicians who have their own agendas against some Islamic countries to get control of their lands and of their resources (nuclear weapons). It is very well known that West fears Islam due to some unspoken reason. If a terrorist attack does not fit the “Islam is the perennial and existential threat of our times” narrative, it is simply not paid much attention to. It is to such an extent that the average American cannot remember any Jewish or Latino terrorist. On the FBI’s official website, there exists a chronological list of all terrorist attacks committed on U.S. soil from the year 1980 all the way to 2001. According to this data; there were more Jewish acts of terrorism within the United States than Islamic (7% vs. 6%). When terrorist attack occurs by non-Muslims (Christians, Jews, Buddhists,..), the terrorists are called, by media and politicians, by their nationality (not religion) but when this happens by Muslims it is called by their religion and not nationality. The rise of national resistance in some countries against occupation is logic and legitimate, as happened some time ago in France against occupation. However, when this national resistance movement’s rise in Islamic occupied lands it is considered rise of militant Islam or terrorist movements and are not called resistance and struggle for freedom. No Muslim would really support terrorism (like most Muslims didn't support Osama bin Laden) but they would get a bad reputation because of it anyway. We can't deny that some other non-Muslims commit terrorist attacks and with the support of their governments and with media support and sympathy. Analysts say that if media were more balanced in their coverage of acts committed against Muslims to the acts that Muslims commit, there would be a better understanding of cultural balance within us. The study claims that TV news and documentaries have the strongest influence on people's views of Islam, followed by newspaper coverage. With the media’s spotlight and some governmental attitudes, the World has become a place where Islam is a name of negativity. Biggest difference is that Muslims have stayed as close to original text/belief of their book while other religions (for some reason) evolve with times. It’s the need of hour to have better understanding about Islam and media should put an end to making Islam as object of unwanted attention when it comes to terrorism.We should admit that no religion in the world support terrorism. All world religions call for love and peace among people of the earth. Islam is not exception from those religions."

Manesha Paryani

Wedding Bells Soon!

Looks like I have to get married soon.

The statement does not rear its head owing to my age, or settled-ness or a secret desire or want or any other such factors. 

Looks like I have to get married soon just to find a house for rent in Pune. Bachelors and spinsters seem to be the utter limit of nuisance for everyone here. If you don't have a spouse, please get married and then come back and you can live in the house. Having to hunt for a house very recently, we have come across a variety of people willing to let out their properties to people. Most of them deny bachelors as if they are the worst breed of people on the earth. There are others who provide conditions and rules which must be strictly obeyed. We even heard someone tell us friends are not allowed to come over and there should be no DJ in the house. Only God knows where people learn to speak from. Our previous owner, while we were leaving, told us we were welcome to come back anytime we wanted to stay, only if we get married and come back. Housing societies are denying bachelors, people are rejecting them, where do people like us go? I was told by a friend of people who had been thrown out of their society, the reason being they were bachelors. A spinster friend living with her friends has apparently been asked to move out too. 

Where do we go? Everyone's raising their rent, deposits etc but no one realizes that the IT industry is just the glamour. Everyone thinks if you are in IT you are the big bucks earner. Every employee is filthy rich apparently. Hence the exorbitant demands in autos, cabs, tips and anywhere where a small amount of money could suffice... The basic cost of living is increasing day by day. Yet the salaries which are supposed to increase year by year isn't interested in going up at all. What do we do?

Its always those few rotten apples that spoil the entire basket. Everyone is absurd in their own ways. People should realize that and work upon it instead of launching offense against others. Accepting people isn't a crime. No one wants any trouble. As if life is peaceful anyway!! There is no way to really make sure the bachelors/spinsters will be bad news. Things need to change. And soon!!

Temporary Flower

They have straightened out the matter

And rung her wedding bells

While she had struggled

To make a fool out of their selves.

They have cast the line into water

And chosen the fattest fish

The bones could be less they said

While trying to make a dish.

They have asked the river boatman

To make sure that he comes

With all he knows and doesn’t too

They would help to keep her mum.

She wouldn’t know they said

She wouldn’t even fight

Well, she couldn’t even know

She couldn’t even fight

She would never see her toys

She would only play with boys

She would gulp down her giggles

And never make a noise.

Roads as empty

As shallow

As quiet

As dark

As fearful

As long

As lonely

As the tunnels in the dark.

Which the trains light up

Every now and then.

The lights show through

But that’s the briefest of brief seconds.

All the animals in its path will be torn down anyway.

But there will be no noise.

Except the rumbling staccato of the train.

Like the long moan of a sudden grief.

Blinding the trespassers.

Blinding all their means

Blinding their secrets

Overturning all their dreams.

Learning from her toys

She would imitate her favourite

She called herself Queen Bee

Similar to the soft one left at home.

Secrets and whispers

And a windowpane so grey

They advised her to dance to the music

That he could play so well.

So she danced

And transcended time

She swore to herself

To never let him rhyme.

She killed them off every year.

And stored away the water in her closets.

Gave them a gift every year.

Till he stopped playing his music.

Wish I Was There

I see them smile
A secret shared
Or a joke that he made.
She nods and smiles
They understand
words I cant even hear
yet I'd wanna know the reason for their laugh.

She sits quiet
He talks all the time
Never did I want a hand
in my hand
yet I wish for its warmth for a moment.
The stars smile at them
I long for their glance my way
And they walk away into the night.

The torn edges and the yellowed paper
The rush of happiness
Remains of joy held in my own hands
I could almost touch the days that had flown by.

Wish I was there.
In the secrets of the unknown friends.
Wish I was there,
In the arms of the unknown lover.
Wish I was there,
in the past where they weren't unknown.
Wish I was there,
part of someone,
part of something.
To tell myself, I was someone again.

Regrets.

Regrets. The worst thing that could possibly happen to anyone. I think it comes for insecurity and from being unsure about things in life. If there was only a definite way to get away from all this but alas, there are none. Try running away from any situation in life and it will be clear to you when the regrets set in. Try getting closer to something and it will, again, be clear to you when the regrets set in. You need a balance and that’s what life tries to teach us all the way through school, college, jobs; from the start to the end. And you will never know where that point is. Where you are happy with all you have and sad about nothing. That’s the way life is. It keeps throwing stuff at you, new things you have no idea about and old things that you had forgotten so much about that they seem new too. And once you go wrong or leave something unattended, unfinished, it’s time for regrets in your future.

It’s the one thing I never want to have in life. Even if something goes wrong I want to look at it as an experience and forget having regrets about it. I really cannot undo the past so there is really no use being sad about it. Quoting a friend, “Having a sorted out present ensures a regret free future”.  Hence, my immediate plan is to sort out what I have now and leave the worries of the future behind. Which is actually quite a paradox. But I really can’t say leave worries of the future ahead.