That Red sweater I wore and your floppy middle parted hair

The day we danced amongst friends, yours old and mine new

 I won't forget , as this stayed with me for this lifetime and yours too

Us in our early twenties, me sulking post a silly heartbreak, you felt bitter as well

Awkward chat in the moving car as you dropped me home after our little dance

Your crisp email next morning came with those three words  yet again 

You were falling and you slowly made me fall too 

Juvenile breakups and tearful patchups followed

By the same day next year we were engaged and married soon

Fourteen valentines together,  the first one is my most special ever! 

Count till you hit 18

Work your way through weekly tests, mid term and finals

Untill one day you breakfree from the dreary dreadful routine

Count till you turn 23

land a decent job, earn a few degrees

Cut that umblical chord, pay your rent, electricity and phone bill

Count till you find your prince charming or damsel in distress who you set free

Build a nest, get ready to live in a dream

And when your world becomes a little empty, Count as you are blessed with angels who give you wings and the wind beneath

Count as they grow, knowing fully well they will fly away to another countdown soon

Like how you were the wings to your parents and their dreams, few realised and some unfullfilled

Count your friends and family and the money in your bank, count your good deeds and bad

Childhood games, interesting dates and the romance, Butterflies when he proposed or relief as she said yes!

Count moments that changed you , when you held your little one in arms and when your parents said you are a good son or a daughter they can talk to

When your best friend called in need and said your presence makes a difference to him

When your husband seeks comfort and cuddles or your wife phones and waits as you return

Travel to places new and old with family and friends , with food and wine, pictures, adventure and fun galore

As one year ends and the next begins,

Count extraordinary moments in one ordinary but fairytale of a life you have!

Rewind and play in head, miracles lived and new ones to come, breakfree shackles of monotony and blues!

To most, things once complex are simple now

Balance when one walks or later rides a bike

Breathes in and out as one takes a lap

To some may be making money

To me letting go, burden that's past, present and future

Remains a riddle, those who find this simple

Are artists born with extraordinary talent

When I ask them, They say its easy

Smile and learn to live,

live in a moment like a child

:-)

Looking at my ice cream bowl

Wondering to dig in or not

Dark chocolate, Mashed churros enticing

Price not on menu,

My loving better half foots

Its half a kilo and its anticipation,

lovely late evening meal brings along

And I put worries aside

Spoon wrestle with my foodie better half

Smile as I get to that last piece of chocolate

Kids at home courtsey school break * Husband working 24×7* me too mired with some work woes*

*Festivities : Durga puja and CR park brimming with people. Bongs or Not. Pooja Pandals and cultural programs. Tireless people talking / singing on loud speakers whole day..

*to top that endless quizzing of my 5 year old twin girls ( super curious phase) * reading 3-4 letter words...telling, sketching stories..watch as they attempt kathak..

*non stop phone calls..ideation and my next steps..

*Best part ending days with glass of wine and finding self in a ally mcbeal or the good wife is sort of liberating;-)

Choices - Parenting

Own firm

Not taking a holiday

Falling in love with a bengali, staying in CR park!

Subscribing to awesome TV content

And Of course wine

Noises - all of the above

Solution - embracing all choices and shutting all noises.

(Smiles)

It changes overtime, manipulated or justly influenced

With experiences of simpleton's part happy part dull days

Galloped like a horse, beats quickened at the sight of a charming boy

Dreamt of white coat a wire hung around, colours smeared apron , crowds with joyous screams

At times saw beautiful saree clad woman cooking as the door bell rings

youth dreams of infinite possibilities, of passion, love and fame

Conundrum of choices brimmed with part interest, part attraction not fear free, most not plunge rather glide slowly down holding on to parachute.

This moment it's a fairy tale and next may be less, perfect yet flawed, magical and almost complete

Yet again fancy and await, beauty and grace that time beckons, youth of your own and their perfect flawed nests