Return

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 14; the fourteenth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

I love spending a lot of time with toddlers because it allows me to experience unabridged, unsophisticated, unrestrained joy. Their playful eyes and their creaks of glee reminds me of all I have lost in my journey.

They are right at the precipice of knowing things — the kind that we can understand — but despite their verbal “handicap”, they’re pretty good at communicating. They go around in circles when they are happy, cry when in pain or when they seek attention or to get things their way and squeal when in surprise.

They live for the moment.

It’s almost like attending a free therapy when I’m with these kids. They know how to live their life king size. And they offer their “wisdom” to anyone willing to share. 

Raising them is no easy task. It’s difficult to gaze in admiration when you’re cleaning poop. But as an outsider, I am thankful. They teach me to have an open mind that anything is possible to be free; to ask question; to get amazed at the simplest of the things; and most importantly, to be me.

They help me peel away the layers of worldliness, knowledge, and debonair and enjoy the rawness of the human spirit.

To experience happiness in its purest form.

To feel filled within.

I’ll probably feel a speck of sadness when these children grow up with time, but for now I shall  make the most of their wonder years and enjoy my return to the age of innocence.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

Marine Drive...

Those who have a lot of things going through their mind
Those looking for peace and quiet 
turn their backs to the world 
Face the sea, 
legs dangling from the platform.


Sit by that seaside
with chana, chai and seengdana
Watching the full moon, the high tides
street lights and the buzzing traffic... 


As the water lashes the beach
cool breeze making you tremble 
Sea waves reaching the pavement 
breeze brushing up your face...


With all the happy people around

and a lot of romance in the air
Winds lift up your spirit
and unload your mind....!!

Candyman....

Alright everybody come around
The Candy Man is here
Who can take sunrise
Sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with the chocolate
and a miracle or two

The Candy Man
Oh, the Candy Man can
'Cause he mixes it with love
And makes it all so good.

Who can take a rainbow
Wrap it with a sigh
Soak it in the sun
and make it a groovy lemon pie

The Candy Man
Oh! The Candy Man can
'Cause he mixes it with love.
And makesit all so good!

Oh, who can take tomorrow
Dip it in a dream
Sieve the sorrow
and collect up all the cream

The Candy Man
Oh, the Candy Man can
'Cause he mixes it with love
And makes it all so good.

Gone are those Early Mornings...

It's a foggy winter morning
The ones when I cannot imagine waking up at six
And dressing myself into a school uniform.
And yet I did the same
for ten to twelve years

With the sleepy eyes, a heavy head, palavering mum
A hot cup of milk waiting for me
Bag packed by amma and lunch made my mummy
Off to school in those foggy mornings!
O what fun it was! Hoards of students waiting at the bus stand
At six fifteen.. Those frigid mornings, papa standing beside me
making small jokes, pointing a cat here or there,
We dreamt big on those cold mornings, we still do.

And then the bus would come, and I would rush
Leaving him behind and jostling my way in the crowd
Once I am inside, wave him a smile again.
He would always wait a few minutes after I left
Lest I would jump back again for want of change,
Or a forgotten book,
Or with a frown say, 'no mood', I want to go back home
He would wait till he was sure I was safely on my way.

I would have lost my sleep by then.
And then get worried about the books
for forgetting them at home again.
We walked our way from the bus stand to school
and walked the way back, aashish and me.
After that running about the school campus,
I would finally slag up to the class.

Friends would give me a fond smile that said, 'Forgot again!'
I would scutter for a text book
And then Deepali or Nishtha or Garima would slide their text towards me
We would push and thrust the book on our sides and thus would start a game;
And giggle and talk in whispers till teacher said 'ssshhhhh'
Then after the lunch break, we would get rid of those maroon sweaters
Knot those on the shoulder or the waist
Or simply dump them on the bench and gossip about at length...

Gone are those early mornings of rush that I try to get hold of even now
Those were different winters, this is a different cold ...