Life, Musings, Misadventures, Epiphanies by Arun Raj

Every weekend I returned from college, the four of us - mother, my two sisters and I, we had a little ritual. We had dinner under the open skies on the terrace of our home in Kerala. The typical city dweller might awe at this experience, but this was a regular for us. The beauty of most homes in Kerala is that there is space left around the home for plants, coconut trees, mango trees, teak & then quite a bit of strolling space. After dinner, we sat up a little later into the night, after keeping only the necessary lights on about the house, and lay down on the terrace together to star gaze and marvel at the night sky. Mom was the child in our family of 5, she still is. It was Mom, who like a fascinated child would ask a naive question like - ‘What lies beyond these stars?’. My sisters had & still have an aversion to the philosophical and were always the last to engage. It was then left to Mom & I to argue out our versions. Quite predictably, I approached the q...

One too many light-years it felt but , A silent drought just gave way; To a burst of misplaced happiness! A wind blew under my feet, tickling My failing senses amuck with sensations I thought lost & past revival. To spread arms and seeking to embrace each breathing And non-breathing gift - God’s mischiefs, Wished a heart that took to steps of its own! An orchestra - Violins, Bass & grand Pianos, Leave their stern conductors, to take a stance With the flutes, clarinets & trumpets in tango. The percussion, to its soul notes played Free of their maestros, in a rhythm unheard; To match each splashing drop of the impulsive rain that begun. As the world around took to its random heart steps The Gods gift the sun-pleasured earth with A stray shower sparkling in tints of pink roses & tulips yellow. A stubborn bolt of lightning, finds its way Through a lazy dark cloud, to the middle; And skid haplessly in the acoustic trance of the percussion. Smitten and their workday un-mind, ...

Conversation after conversation that I have engaged with women I have been privileged to have the company of in my life, I have observed one thing : the innate power of a woman to endure pain – physical and mental, is by far unmatchable by men. And this I feel makes them more divine than human. If most of them have learnt to live with it then it is not out of feeling physically insecure of surviving without men, but an ability to see things beyond a man's sensibility can perceive – unconditional love. Observe this in their fights and protests, they will always prefer to not cause pain and any induced suffering. In complete contrast would be a man's position, which is then to take to arms and battle it out. Very few men have been able to understand the value of the women to the society and stand for there cause – Gandhi, Vivekanada, Periyar, and many others. Even though to date their efforts have brought great relief to the oppression on our women, but still the silent battles r...

I spread my hands and feel the breeze. To fly, I wish to every GOD I know; ‘With this passing gale take me along, and tease Me with streams of air as chilled as snow. Where humming birds and hunting hawks Stray ever so free into the limitless enclose. The sky I wish to talk to it so, closely and near That, a fall to the floor becomes an insignified fear.’ I spread my hands and feel the breeze. I sit and wish to a passer by – a lady. Beautiful and starkly angelic at first sight Could look at me and shine a gaily Smile; that would flight me off to the pearly gates. Where blessed souls and winged spirits Flow with graceful movements - an elegant sight. With her to sail on the sparkly waters of virgin seas Devoid of destinations and directing pleas. I sit and wish to a passer by – a lady. I hold my lover’s hands – in rousing bliss. First drops of rain on her blushing cheek Roll with a flaunted cheer in its splashing and drips Off her chin into my palm. As if a thousand kisses Bequeath on ...

The Story: Far far away, in a forest land, where flowers, trees and animals inhabited in a related together in love and care – Blooming Dale. For each other, they cared and spread both hands. Two lovers – Miraya of the tulips clan and Mannath of the tall oaks stable, of this virtuous city had to bid adieu for seven days. Their love was spoken of for its different shades of kindness and boldness. Today the call of duty, took Mannath away for guarding the walls of the forest. Day 1: As the grand army of blooming dale, strode along to protect all its roots, Mannath looks at the distant shine of the city lights and writes his journal for the day. Although in your absence, I still felt an air of your care, In my proxim air. Awing my thoughts of you, So fresh, as the freshest flowers, And the most memorable day dreams. Day 2: They splashed through the valleys and rivers en route. Mannath could only reminisce of how the morning dew shined on Miraya’s petals. I know that you are now Miles away...

Tell life to take second rung, As unto you lies a world unsung. Take sips of the lazy, swift flow breeze, Strumming leaves on branches to discrete notes. Gleaming droplets of early fog at sunshine break, From a windowsill; for you always in drape. The lazy drop that splits a thousand pieces on fall, Puts space and time in a suspended stall. Long tread have many in search of peace, The Kings, the Peasants and Princes of Greece. Some though not, but others did find, Pleasures in songs or spiritual bliss. Few here absorb right my subject – so beautiful, Understated, unsung she cares for a us – a ton. In Morning dew, chirping birds, the wildest lions, Tall tree oaks and oceans wides, she lives – Mother Nature. GO GREEN, FOR US & OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS :D