Life, where've you been? - Part 1

Its probably small instances and unexpected experiences that end up really showing you how essential it is to make the most of every breath taken. Just seems like life's walking back into me. Just seems like something new happens all the time, and all of it just tells me that good times don't come by themselves, but good times can be easily sought.
Breathing the calmingly warm humid breeze, standing in queue at the Andheri station, to get that ticket to Churchgate... I couldnt help smiling to myself. It had been an year since I'd been into those trains. The Chennai locals just cant match the speed, the haste, the rush to get it and jump out even as the train screeches, its exciting. Bombay just brings a smile to you. You can stop and talk in Hindi to the vendor and enjoy the most amazing vada pavs. I forget the routes and the directions all the time, and when I'm on a bridge, I never really know which direction I should go to get to the local for Bombay Central, or which direction Santa Cruz is at. But then, I just love to ask strangers, in a fake gujju-like hindi accent which way to go. Amuses me how many times I get replies in Gujarati! Bombay can make everyone feel very comfortable.

As I sit by the Marine Drive, its chilly. Bombay hasnt been this cold in 10 years. And I am just enjoying the evening by the Arabian Sea, in a half-sleeved tee, with one of my oldest friends ... it'd been 5 years. When I click the setting sun, she says it looks just like one of those wallpaper pictures. I couldn't agree more.

I'm getting better at this!

So here I am, just staring into the setting sun and looking all around, watching the 'queen's necklace' light up, the very cool breeze is almost making me shiver. I turn to the sky and huge seas and ask, "Life, where've you been?"
The evening is well spent, great dinner and I feel great. Almost as if, I've just quenched my regular half-yearly craving for being at the side of the Arabian Sea.
The train journey is just the same as always... snuggling into the upper berth in my AC/2 with oldies murmuring away in gujju ... I began reading my copy of Tehelka (something I always catch at any railway station/bookshop I go to, sadly thats not often enough these days) ... and I slept surprisingly sound.
The next morning is so beautiful. Baroda hasn't been so cold ever ... its just the most beautiful time of life, as everyone's getting ready to start the day, I am cozy in a huge blanket on Dad's bed with Mom's most amazing hot coffee, wasting all morning watchin Sachin smash away a 150 :)
"Life, where've you been?"

Bits of life

Baroda Outskirts

Chennai at night

I love travel

Feeling the force of the wind, push at you .... But you push back, feel it hittin you, feel the force and push back at it.Keep movin and keep travellin. There's nothin quite as good going new places, meeting new people, eatin new food and enjoying it all .... knowin you might never go back the same roads again.
Thats travel, thats the joy of roaming. Keep as much as you can with yourself, of every moment, you're not gonna live it again, not the same way.

Finally

Finally it seems to fade a little,
for a bit.
I laugh, I sing,
I listen, jump,
I play.
I smile, happy.
Memories, the pain,
hurt and sorrow
wont give way,
they shouldnt.
But finally,
I play.
There's room for more,
Hope happens.
Bright days end
in darkest nights
sleepless,
waiting for the day
that'll make you laugh,
feel, act, anew,
the day that you wish
wouldnt end so soon.
Time, shall do it;
Now I know.