Somehow...slouching, grouching, cursing, brooding...somehow.. i got through my exams. i dunno how i did it... but i did...and i should scrape through... like all the other times. Twice a year...for a full hour...God decides to shower me with his mercy.. the hour i spend standing in the line to get my results.
But now, with gel electrophoresis and protien purification behind me, the sewage water treatment all forgotten and stray bits of information about bacterial DNA (crammed desparately at 1 a.m.) wiped from my brain, i waited longingly for the beach that awaited me down south- a (much-deserved) weekend in surathkal.
i've been there before and fallen in love with the virgin beaches there....and they beckoned me yet again this year...and what power do i have against the will of the waves??? Abode to my best freind, mugdha, who (ahem) studies engineering there, living with her in her hostel was the best deal... using the bathrooms there wasnt. Living in a hostel comes with its own frills and filths. Electricity is rare, but u can roam in your underwear. No one takes out the garbage, but u can stay out as late as u wish and... ah.. do as u please.
The minute i reached there, i wanted to go to the heavenly beaches. I browbeat mugs and her freinds to take me and finally, in the evening we made out way through a temple to a cliff which overlooked the beach. i know ur waiting for this part...the part where i describe the beach...but sorry to disappoint u.. it was indescribable. Its not just the beauty of the crystal blue waters lovingly eroding the fine white sand...or the pinkish glow that the setting sun castes on the farway sea...or the tiny ships spotting the golden horizon. Its more about the emotions the view stirs in u... the soothing effect it has on ur mind that gently detangles u from the clump of worries and sets u free and flying... just like the seagulls... I felt a strange calm descend over me as i sat there with my freinds.. not a word passed between us till we realised that we've been locked in this blessed enchantment... thts where my love affair with the beach began...
the rest of the trip was fantabulous too! I met up with all of mugdha's freinds and had a good time with them... walked into the boys' hostel and gave them all a fright...saw everybody's underwears...invaded their beer cartons (they were nice about it)...but admittedly their rooms were cleaner than the girls'!!!!
Ate a lot of icecream, but no dosas :( ... got drenched in the rain (dint intend too...hate the rains... had to cancel my trip to manglore :( ...) and...much to the dismay of mugsy.. ACTUALLY for the first time, smoked a cigarette...
i made DD ( absolutely delightful chap.. cnt help falling in love with him.. god bless him) take me smoking. That darling coulnt refuse.. not even under the baleful eye of mugdha... and so sam, DD, reddy (who doesnt smoke), and I went to this shack for a smoke and some coffee... finally i learnt how to properly smoke (yay!),.. and goodness me.. it hit me like booze! Reddy had an amused expression on his face... DD seemed reluctant to let me smoke another...but we shared the second one....thn had some hot coffee...in the cold rains... and another check on my list of to-do things before- i -die!!!!
well.. so much for the fun i had smoking! mugdha wouldnt talk to me...gave me all killer glares... and had to batttle her acid tongue for the remainder of the day... she took the fizz out of it man!!!! party-pooper!!!!
but i have been thinking...i dont feel like arousing mugsy's anger again... and i did promise her i'll never smoke... and i also promised ameya (the atheist) that i wont a year ago, varun too quit and has been advising me against trying twice...and the man-with-the-brown-curtains thinks i shouldnt indulge in it...well.. ok... i wont... i'll choose the sea over a cig...now mugdha has to find a new reason to be subject me to her awesome wrath...
with one last look at the sea and a collective farewell to all....including julio,(or however its
spelt), the african student who ceaselessly hit on the mediocre me (think of the sorry state of guys there), i came back to aamchi mumbai... the visions of the sea locked safely in an often-visited corner of my mind.
peace.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
poetry blues....
The moonlight filters into the cell,
The air is pungent, scarce
It falls on a figure bound in chains,
His face a wretched mask.
A shadow of life lurks behind
His sunken, dead eyes;
Evidence of a life once so good:
And then the happiness dies.
Oh what was he thinking when he cradled
The weapons in his arms; the nineteen year old,
Could he blame it on the crassness of youth
Or was it just his soiled soul?
An insurgent speech by a man of strength,
And he let humanity melt.
He poisoned his insides with wrath and hate
And the injustice he now felt.
His hands never trembled as he hid,
The bomb in midst of a mob:
He was noe completely one with the evil
Undeterred by the innocent call.
As he lies in his dingy cell today
Self hatred fills his heart.
He claimed far too many lives;
There shall be no fresh start
The door creaks open; its death’s call
They lift him on his feet.
In one weak moment he thinks of his bride
And their child he shall never see
The chains dragging behind him,
The remnants of his wasted life,
He bends the final curve.
He bows his head and begs for mercy
He knows he doesnt deserve.
The moonlight filters into the cell,
The air is pungent, scarce
It falls on a figure bound in chains,
His face a wretched mask.
A shadow of life lurks behind
His sunken, dead eyes;
Evidence of a life once so good:
And then the happiness dies.
Oh what was he thinking when he cradled
The weapons in his arms; the nineteen year old,
Could he blame it on the crassness of youth
Or was it just his soiled soul?
An insurgent speech by a man of strength,
And he let humanity melt.
He poisoned his insides with wrath and hate
And the injustice he now felt.
His hands never trembled as he hid,
The bomb in midst of a mob:
He was noe completely one with the evil
Undeterred by the innocent call.
As he lies in his dingy cell today
Self hatred fills his heart.
He claimed far too many lives;
There shall be no fresh start
The door creaks open; its death’s call
They lift him on his feet.
In one weak moment he thinks of his bride
And their child he shall never see
The chains dragging behind him,
The remnants of his wasted life,
He bends the final curve.
He bows his head and begs for mercy
He knows he doesnt deserve.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Farewell Gilly
Dearest Adam,
A brimming SCG on a typically sticky Sydney afternoon; drums and hooters in place; beers spilling; banners galore; men with chests painted yellow annd women in the negligible best. the pavillion doors open and two emnclad in yellow run out- one an almost elephantine figure, the other smaller (in comparison: wen i say elephantine i mean it) more fidgety, almost hidden behind the larger of the two profiles. And the stadium erupts in welome. This is how i'll always remember u Adam- running out into the lush green with the meaty hayden to spell doom for the opposition.
You are one of a kind Churchie. No one else can quite step into your shoes. The void u left after you retired will always remain. No one hits the ball as sweetly and at the same time as ruthlessly as you did. You'll be remembered as the most cavalier batsmen of all times. Your cover drives were a treat to the eyes, your straight drives drew tremendous applause. I'm sure ur ( almost )
supercilious batting still gives nightmares to bowlers worldwide. No one bothers to run after the ball once its kissed your bat: its a matter of formality. Your hook and pull shots were to die for. You were one of those hard-hitters who did it with elan. sigh... i wish u didnt have to go....
When you were behind the stumps you were often airborne... diving and jumping fantastically. your success while keeping for a bowler like Warnie, who spun the ball like a yarn, is what makes u arguably the besy wicket-keeper to ever have playes this noble game.
Your talent with the bat was complemented by your honesty that shone through your game. If u thought u were out, u walked. As simple as that. How many batsmen today show that kind of integrity? Thats why i say gilly...ur irreplacable.
You were an integral part of Australia's succes, their secret ingredient of dominanc. But their arrogance was in sharp contrast to your freindliness ; your child-like smile, your open laugh warmed their cold streak. You were the shining beacon of honesty in a team plagued with players who think cheating and distasteful mindgames are a norm in the game.
Your dedication to the" baggy green"(which was adorned by your shaving cream, copious amounts of sweat and, god help me, stray peices of gum!!!) was seen through every single time you played.
Even off-field you are a gentleman through and through. great players all over the world love and respect u. They respect you for ur honesty and talent, they love you for your generosity and kind heart. When you are not playing cricket, you willingly spend time with orphaned kids in under-developed countries, You are the ambassador of World Vision, working tirelessly with them to help adoption of poor kids. You yourself have adopted two kids- a gesture that stems from a person, who, in the heart of hearts, is a child himself. You support Mcgrath's cancer institute for children in australia. You help raise funds for the underprevileged in other countries, u spend time with them whenever u can. Why do u even need to do this leaving asside your comfortable life? The answer lies in your unconditional goodness...
bubbly and effervescent, loving and freindly, ever-smiling, a true family man an aset to the game and a hero to australia. i will sorely miss u gilly. with a tear that i cant hold back, i wave a final goodbye.
love,
madhura
A brimming SCG on a typically sticky Sydney afternoon; drums and hooters in place; beers spilling; banners galore; men with chests painted yellow annd women in the negligible best. the pavillion doors open and two emnclad in yellow run out- one an almost elephantine figure, the other smaller (in comparison: wen i say elephantine i mean it) more fidgety, almost hidden behind the larger of the two profiles. And the stadium erupts in welome. This is how i'll always remember u Adam- running out into the lush green with the meaty hayden to spell doom for the opposition.
You are one of a kind Churchie. No one else can quite step into your shoes. The void u left after you retired will always remain. No one hits the ball as sweetly and at the same time as ruthlessly as you did. You'll be remembered as the most cavalier batsmen of all times. Your cover drives were a treat to the eyes, your straight drives drew tremendous applause. I'm sure ur ( almost )
supercilious batting still gives nightmares to bowlers worldwide. No one bothers to run after the ball once its kissed your bat: its a matter of formality. Your hook and pull shots were to die for. You were one of those hard-hitters who did it with elan. sigh... i wish u didnt have to go....
When you were behind the stumps you were often airborne... diving and jumping fantastically. your success while keeping for a bowler like Warnie, who spun the ball like a yarn, is what makes u arguably the besy wicket-keeper to ever have playes this noble game.
Your talent with the bat was complemented by your honesty that shone through your game. If u thought u were out, u walked. As simple as that. How many batsmen today show that kind of integrity? Thats why i say gilly...ur irreplacable.
You were an integral part of Australia's succes, their secret ingredient of dominanc. But their arrogance was in sharp contrast to your freindliness ; your child-like smile, your open laugh warmed their cold streak. You were the shining beacon of honesty in a team plagued with players who think cheating and distasteful mindgames are a norm in the game.
Your dedication to the" baggy green"(which was adorned by your shaving cream, copious amounts of sweat and, god help me, stray peices of gum!!!) was seen through every single time you played.
Even off-field you are a gentleman through and through. great players all over the world love and respect u. They respect you for ur honesty and talent, they love you for your generosity and kind heart. When you are not playing cricket, you willingly spend time with orphaned kids in under-developed countries, You are the ambassador of World Vision, working tirelessly with them to help adoption of poor kids. You yourself have adopted two kids- a gesture that stems from a person, who, in the heart of hearts, is a child himself. You support Mcgrath's cancer institute for children in australia. You help raise funds for the underprevileged in other countries, u spend time with them whenever u can. Why do u even need to do this leaving asside your comfortable life? The answer lies in your unconditional goodness...
bubbly and effervescent, loving and freindly, ever-smiling, a true family man an aset to the game and a hero to australia. i will sorely miss u gilly. with a tear that i cant hold back, i wave a final goodbye.
love,
madhura
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