Hold my Hand

I know it is tough today,

to take every step

and make the effort to sit upright.

But believe me my love,

things will change fast

and night will turn to day.

You just have to hold on

for another second,

another minute,

another hour,

another day;

But know that through all of this,

you will have my hand to hold;

to tighten the grip

when its cold,
entwine our fingers

when things turn gold.

I will be behind you my love,

beside you

and leading you,

through this road less travelled,

the hurdles unknown,

the blind turns ahead and,

the roadblocks in the way.

Take me as a fact of life

that no one can deny,
no one can contest;
I am and will be,
there with you
every day,
every night.

One more step

You only gotta take that step,
I promise all will be okay.
Just look into my eyes
and do as your heart says.
I understand the fear,
the panic in your eyes,
but believe my love,
I will always be here.
You just need to take that step
and hold my hand.
We will walk together
and leave the world behind.

That's what she said

It's easy! she said
I know what I want
and what I need
I know the path to walk
and the potholes to avoid
I know where I will be
10 years down the line
It's easy! she said
To be what I dream

It's easy! she said
To ask for help
I still know what I need
and what I want
But I also need help
and I know who to ask
One who was here
when I started
and is still around
now that I am stuck

It's easy! she said
You stayed when others didn't
and I know you will forever
So you are the place I will be
10 years from now
And we will build the future
as we had planned

You is kind. You is smart. You is important.

You've held my hand when I was in doubt.

Made me see the light at the end of the tunnel,

when all I saw was the darkness around.

You are the one I can trust to fall back on,

because you have always been there,

and promised to stay forever.

You is kind.

I've had problems with solutions I couldn't find.

You taught me to see things in a different light;

Made me face my problems,

and find the answers I sought. 

Molded me into the person I am today.

You is smart.

You are a shining light, brighter than the stars.

You are everything I could hope for,

and everything I didn't know I needed.

Let me show you who you are;

See yourself from my eyes, and believe.

You is IMPORTANT.

 

Note: The title is taken from the 2011 Oscar nominated movie "Help," adapted from Kathryn Stockett's 2009 novel of the same name.

Metro Tales: Music for the Soul

This is a story that every Delhi metro commuter has witnessed for sure. A person travelling alone, armed with headphones, probably in one or the other corner that they can snag before anyone else. This is a common scene at any given time in the day. I say this with conviction because I am one of them. Spending years travelling in the metro has definitely improved my appreciation of the privacy that headphones can give you in a crowded location.

How to know if someone wearing headphones is as engrossed in the music as it looks? There are some simple things to notice, certain characteristics that distinguish them from other passengers:
the silently, sometimes not so silently, moving lips; the tapping foot or the tapping hand; the head nodding, and sometimes a slight body sway as well. Losing yourself in the music is an easy task, but when travelling in metro, it is meant for so much more.

Music is an escape. It can be from the the loud conversations you are not a part of, hushed sweet nothings shared between couples, arguments you don't want to get involved in, or the general chaos of the crowd. Headphones in your ears give you the choice of cranking up the volume and forgetting the fact that you are being jostled between people you don't know and who have no qualms in using your body as an anchor. It is music that lets people handle long travel hours on a bad day,  or help them face an early morning travel when your brain just refuses to wake up.

Photo Courtesy: www.livemint.com

My personal favourite use of headphones is to avoid and ignore.

I do not like aunties. I am not generalizing, but you will know them anywhere because they are loud and they are intrusive! Putting on my headphones gives me the best excuse to ignore their looks and comments. Not blaming all the aunties on the metro here, but there are definitely some who you can't help but cringe away from. Another thing it helps me in is to keep my seat when I am damn tired and lucky enough to get one. If my eyes are closed I can't see you and if I have my headphones on I can't hear you. I'm tired and I am a bit lazy, sue me for thinking about myself sometimes! Even then I have had my shoulder jostled just for an aunty to ask me to "adjust." I will gladly give my seat if you are a person in need, but please don't ask me to adjust. That's just encroaching on my personal space and is not appreciated. 

To avoid making this only a rant, I believe I can give an accurate description of how it is on the other sound. The head banging and foot tapping is amusing from afar, but if it keeps jostling me, the amusement turns into frustration. Blocking every noise also blocks the polite requests, and ignoring them only makes you (me) seems like a snob.

What is clear from all the above ranting on my part is that music is part and parcel of the Delhi metro. It is something that either you choose for yourself or you suffer, or not, with a fellow passenger. The somber announcements are just not enough to pass the time or enjoy it.

Metro Tales: And We Wait

One of the first things that came to my notice when I started using the Metro regularly was that there were always people in the station or just outside who were waiting for someone. In the past 3-4 years, since I have been travelling in metro, this phenomenon has not changed even a bit. It has however escalated if my eyes are right. This escalation could be because of the increased number of passengers in the Delhi metro or simply because Delhi people love to wait!

Even in the fast paced Delhi life which popularly ‘doesn’t wait for anybody’ the people of Delhi are more than willing to wait. They have the patience of saints and I say this because I don’t or I didn’t. Delhi metro has been more than required training in patience that I ever needed in life.

Now when I try to remember a particular someone who I know was waiting, in vain or not I can’t be sure of, no one in particular comes to mind. There are just so many people that I witness everyday with earphones plugged, sitting in a corner, listening to music or playing games or chatting/talking to friends, not looking up when the metro arrives, knowing that they have to wait no matter what, that it becomes difficult to pin point one person. I am sure that you can identify with atleast one of the people I mentioned above. We have all waited in metro for someone sometime, I can be 100% sure of that.

So what is the big deal about waiting that I mentioned it? I am going to be a little sentimental here but I believe it shows human strength to some degree. We have faith when we wait; faith in the fact that the person we wait for will show up. Not to say that many of us haven’t been disappointed but we still wait don’t we? We have patience for our friends or our families or even at times friends of friends and acquaintances. The reasoning is a little mushy, believe me I know, but it’s completely logical. The happiness, even though brief because of the anger of waiting, is worth it don’t you think?

When I am waiting beside a fellow ‘waiter’? I try and keep track of when their wait finally ends. You get to see the eyes lighting up, a smile on their face as they recognize their someone in the sea of people. This happiness might turn into irritation or anger soon enough but that one moment is precious for me. So the next time you are waiting, along with the many others, try noticing these little things. If nothing they do prove to be sufficient to make the waiting time less boring. But be sure that you do not stare outrightly because that is just ‘stalker-ish’.

Will try to get the next part up sooner than later.

Metro Tales: The Beginning

Travelling the Delhi Metro everyday has become a norm in my life. It is something I do not think about because it has deeply integrated itself in the last 4 years. I had a view from the back window of my room, of a highway and the fields that lay beyond it. This view is now obstructed by the Metro bridge constructed right behind my apartment building. I would be lying if I said that it didn't bother me because it did and still does at times. However, I have come to like the quiet noise, as oxymoronic it is, that I associate with a metro passing now. I can hear the metro in the morning, as early as 5 am, and I can hear it late at night, sometimes as late as 2 am. Metro therefore has become a constant companion for me. 

In the years that I have traveled in Delhi Metro I have learned a few things. First, you have no guarantee of a seat no matter when you travel and the crowd can surprise at the best of times. Second, I believe it is an easy and comfortable way to travel, even if others would like to convince me otherwise. Lastly, it is one of the best places to observe the people around you. I have seen so many emotions within the confines of the metro's 4/6/8 coaches that I have decided to record them. 

As we know our mind is capable of feeling so much that sometimes it seems impossible that they can exist within one person. But they do and these feelings have a funny way of coming out in the most opportune or inopportune moments. I am going to try and write a series of recollections, from my time travelling in metro, which revolve around the feelings that exude from the travelers of Delhi metro. These stories won't be linear and neither will they only talk about a single event, what will remain common will be that one emotion that I felt when observing these people. I know none of the people I will write about and can only distinguish them by one or other article they were wearing or some quirk that I noticed in them. Hopefully I will be able to complete this series soon. 

A calmer you by Sonal Kalra – A book review

Stress has become a daily fixture in our lives. We may not know it and we may not acknowledge it but it does have an effect on us. How to handles this stress has varying answers for everybody. Sonal Kalra, journalist and editor of HT City, has just one solution to it – Humour!

Her weekly column “A calmer you” is witty and effective in dealing with the stress we all face. Similarly her book “a calmer you” is written to guide even the most disgruntled person out of the bowels of frustration. The book deals with various situations that lead to varying levels of stress in people’s life. The solutions offered are so genuine and comic that one cannot help but laugh.

The recurring character of Pappu Singh, Chaddha ji and Bubbly Aunty adds to the charm of this stress buster read. Sonal Kalra has very effectively combined silly humour with simple tips to lead your life. The combination helps the reader to see their problems in a different light and thus accept their insignificance in the larger scheme of life.

The book is a must read for all working people who have deadlines to chase and have late night work-a-thons. Easy and small chapters allow the readers to go through it on their own pace while enjoying the quips and jokes, and imbibing the lessons imparted through humour.

  Sonal Kalra is an Indian journalist, columnist and and author, presently working with Hindustan Times

as the editor of HT City (Delhi Edition). She is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Mass Communication. She writes a weekly column titles 'A calmer you' which appears in the Sunday edition of HT City. The column is all about witty calmness tips to beat the everyday stress.

Ulti Khopdi - A play by Yasin Khan

I am new to theatre in the sense that I have heard a lot but I haven’t seen much. This all changed when I decided to increase my knowledge by becoming a regular at the various theatres in Mandi House, Delhi. It is known that one can always find a play to watch there.

I started with something simple, Yasin Khan’s Hindi play “Ulti Khopdi” at Pearey Lal Bhawan. I never go unprepared to something like this and thus had an idea of the story. The story in itself was nothing new or innovative. What I was hoping for was a good presentation and good dialogues. Although the actors did a good job, I was disappointed with the dialogues. I am not sure if they were improvised or reiterated but they could certainly have been better. When you choose a less than exciting situation and theme, the only way to put some life into the play is through effective punch lines.

The play had a few high points like the ‘dakus’ laughing and the ‘netas’ dancing, but it seemed to drag over the 1.5 hours. The scenes went on longer than necessary, with not much to hold the audience’s interest. If the scenes had been compact, they would have been more impactful. The acting was the one thing I appreciated, though there were moments when the line between stage play and street play blurred.

A play is good only if all its constituent parts are. ‘Ulti Khopdi’ lagged behind in dialogues as well as an innovative way of presenting a known concept. Though the director tried to include criticism of social evils in the play, the comic background over shadowed any attempt at satirical commentary. If praise has to be given, then the actors are the one that deserve it the most. Rating the play out of 10, it gets a 4.5/10.

Seeing Like a Feminist - Book Review

The politics of being a women in a country like India is not easy to fathom. Where caste and class divisions take precedence over gender issues women find it difficult to raise their voices. Nivedita Menon's 'Seeing Like a Feminist' links this reality of a female existence to a variety of dimensions that control it and manipulate it. 

The book is well versed when it comes to the facts that it mentions and the claims that it makes. Like any other good writer Menon has succeeded in backing all her statements with official data leaving no window for questioning. The fluid language and ease of understanding makes the book a very wonderful read. Despite the lucidity it is easy to gather that the book is a work of academic excellence. She combines the perfect amount of humour with factual details so as to keep the reader entertained.

Nivedita Menon deconstructs the idea of family, the female body and female desires. She questions their functioning and their basis. She clearly states that the idea of family functions on gendered notions. However the human body and its relation to gender is highly contentious. The dismantling of ideas related to the human body is well articulated and her readers will definitely find it engaging. 

The book deals with varying facets of  feminism and how they all combine to form something universal. The call for women empowerment is not one that is most needed at the highest level but which is felt largely at the lowest. Feminism is not restricted to women and Menon maintains this view point throughout her book. Her contemporary examples makes it easier to relate to for the younger readers. What the book aims for can be deduced differently by different people but the theme of awareness will be common to all. 

In the section "Feminist and 'Women'" Menon claims that "feminism is not in fact about ‘women’ but about recognizing how modern discourses of gender produce human beings as exclusively ‘men’ or ‘women’. For her it is about a transformation that changes old markers of society in a such a way that they cannot gain any kind of authority again.

Nivedita Menon is the writer of acclaimed books like Recovering Subversion: Feminist Politics Beyond the Law (2004) and Sexualities (2007). She teaches Political Thought at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. 

5 Broken Cameras - A Review

The power of a camera in the hand of a common man is immense.

‘5 Broken Cameras’ is the story of Israel/Palestine conflict seen from the lens of a common man. Emad Burnat and his 5 cameras succeed in documenting the reality of the Palestinian struggle fought at the lowest level. Each of Emad’s cameras becomes a symbol of the different phases of Emad, his family and his village’s life for a period of 5 years. The destruction of each tells the viewers the violence and injustice that the Palestinians face and the Israelis inflict.

 The small village of Bil’in and its struggle to keep hold of its land becomes a representative of the larger Palestinian struggle. Emad’s first-hand account humanizes an issue that many across the world might not understand.  It puts forward the view of the people who were directly affected by Israel’s wrongdoings. The camera work makes it clear that this is the story of someone who was deeply involved in the protests. 

The documentary when seen in juxtaposition to the media coverage of the same issue paints a very disturbing picture The distortion of truth by world media is a truth that ‘5 Broken Cameras’ leave us with. It also raises important questions on the role of media and how they also succumb to power struggles. War and revolution require media coverage that tells both sides of the story. Journalists by their own ethical code are bound to try their best to do the same. However, it is documentaries like ‘5 Broken Cameras’ that reveal the holes in this theory.

One important question that is raised from the documentary is the responsibility of the journalist. Are they liable only to cover the stories? Are they also not responsible like everyone else to help a person in need? Similar questions can also be asked from the media industry at large. Is the story more important human lives? Leaving us with such questions ‘5 Broken Cameras’ is an excellent documentation of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The War You Don’t See – A Review

                                                                                

Delving into the role of media and journalists, the documentary is an excellent record of where they have failed to do their job and why. Taking into account, the Iraq and Afghanistan war and the Israel/ Palestine conflict, John Pilger explores how the flow of information functions during the war. Bringing to light, the side of these wars which remain unseen, he attempts to raise some vital questions.

Though the documentary itself deals with only 3 specific wars, it raises questions relevant for journalists across the globe. The one sided flow of information from authorities to news rooms and journalists becomes one of the main issues discussed. How do journalists counter this? How can they reveal the other side without endangering themselves - are the questions we are left asking.

With inputs from people who have seen and known the reality of these wars, the documentary provides substantial backing to the claims it makes. It questions ‘embedding’ of journalists in war zones and what effect this has on their covering. It works towards making its viewers acknowledge that media is not always the bearer of the truth. The documentary is both a critique of media houses and personnel who fall prey to or willingly propagate incomplete information, as well as an encouragement to journalist to lead by example.

He places the role of media during war times under scrutiny. During his interviews, he tries to gather why war time journalism falls short of expectations. Despite the state pressure, the documentary doesn’t absolve those who failed. The stark reality of wars and what the people were shown stands proof of erroneous journalism. The documentary works as an eye opener for the audience and pushes them into being critical of the news they receive and not take it at face value. While it brings to focus, the tremendous loss of life and property because of these baseless wars, the main theme remains the role of media during such trying times.

It was a Dream

It was a dream I hoped

The dark corners and the hard earth

The pain that lashed across my body

And the stain that grew without consent

Red became my nightmare

My screams died soon

It drained away with the rain

Leaving just a smear

Walk, I told myself

You will be safe soon

Don’t worry about the eyes

They can only stare

Hands remained by their sides

None were raised to help

Run, I told myself

Shelter is not too far away

Hidden under the blankets

Ears strained for any sounds

Twitching and moaning

I made it through that night

Another morning dawned

Shadows of nightmares remained

It all came crashing back

All that seemed a dream

A struggle to stand up

Another to standup tall

Be strong, I told myself

Atleast you are alive

You are sane and you are strong

And you can fight

I screamed last night

I will shout today

If I was scared yesterday

Fury has replaced it now

I will show the bruises

The map of black and blue

In the depth of these marks

I will show them the proof

You thought I will hide

But I stand tall right here.

There are many scars still

I have given them new meaning

I still fight everyday

To rebuild what you broke

You are free no more

But you curbed my freedom too

Days are darker at times

They are looking better now

I am learning again

To trust and smile

I promise I will

I promise I will

I see my body differently

With respect and love

It has felt so much

And still it is so strong

I refuse to give you the power,

The power to destroy me

It is mine as it always was

And I choose to raise it.

PLEASURE

A soft caress, lingering lips and wandering hands.

Its night again, back with its shadows and memories.

Slippery fingers that trailed a blazing path,

followed by wet kisses and whispered words.

I feel it now as I had then; a touch is all it takes.

Goosebumps on my skin and a pulse that is racing;

the silence broken by a gasp that betrays words.

The air is heavy and the sounds dampened.

Sweat gathered in the dip of my back,

the hollow of my throat; rising temperature

and the hard grip on my thighs.

A story unfolds here in the curve of my waist

and the messed up sheets of the bed.

Written with the entwined hands, entangled legs.

Arms that embrace sturdy shoulders,

gripping hard to pull closer, till no space remains.

A moment to memorize your eyes, your lips, your face.

A moment of simple ecstasy, of breathing together,

and of existing as one.

Explore

Believe me when I say that there are better things to do in life

than waiting for your prince charming.

There are books to read and new worlds to explore.

There are fictional characters to love and adore.

There is an artist in you begging to be released.

Maybe you can learn to dance or ever sing.

Sometimes the dreams we dream

can be changed into reality.

You just have to try once to realize,

that even the sky is within the limits.

Some try to write, stories or poetry even random lines.

I try to read them out loud.

If you want to travel, the world is huge.

You should start from somewhere soon.

I have more things to list,

but I see no fun in that.

Why don’t you go ahead and search

You might find the best of it yet. 

Media Convergence

If we look at the media trends of last ten years the most probable inference is that media forms are much more intertwined than they were earlier. There are no isolated departments of media anymore. Different media platforms like TV, radio and print have merged together to a large extent giving birth to an integrated form of media. How and what we see as media has undergone drastic changes since the internet has become a commonplace feature in everyday life. The internet functions as the bridge that fills the gaps between various media platforms. It has been the major game changer for convergent media.

 Henry Jenkins defines this form of media convergence by looking at it as five distinct processes namely, technological, organic, economic, cultural and global. Neither of the processes can evolve without the support of the others and hence are jointly seen as responsible for this concurrence of media forms in modern society. This phenomenon also includes the free flow of content which has been observed in the recent years. The question that arises is how the different forms of media as we know them have become integrated. As mentioned above, the internet functions as the buffer between different forms and becomes the common platform for all. The digitization of media products and services lies at the base of this 21^st century development. The extent to which digital media content can be sourced, distributed and accesses is dependent on the availability of high-speed broadband internet, which has seen tremendous growth in the last decade.

Convergence describes the contribution of all component platforms in the delivery of the information product to a web based operating system. It results in a simultaneous information sharing and enhancement.  The development of technology remains beneficial to media as it is for other fields. Decreasing software and product prices due to technological advancement allows easier and smoother introduction of one form of media into another. Collaborations in the industry have become prevalent as a result of this. A team trained to function within different forms of media armed with the equivalent technology reduces the manpower and resource consumption of any media company. This in turn reduces cost of human resources as well as technological resources for the media industry.

Convergent media is the coming together of all realms of media industry be it print, TV, radio or the more recent entries like internet and mobile phones. The concept of convergence has undergone scrutiny and fine tuning from media companies for a lot of time. They accept its growing importance and the need to adapt with the changing times. The fast paced life of today’s people reflects in their demands. Quick access to everything and constant connectivity remains is their main concern. Internet remains at the crux of it all. It makes possible the direct and quick access that audience nowadays desire.

Another important feature of convergent media is the increased user interaction and the user created content. The use of World Wide Web indicates a more active audience thus higher participation and user content. All forms of digital media formats like social media, social networking sites, mobile phones etc are included within the umbrella of convergent media.

How media convergence effect training for the field, is an essential question.  The integration that is being witnessed in the industry is reflected in institutes that train the next generation of professionals for the industry. Integrated courses with a fully rounded education and training for students of media are the norm in institutions now. Students are allowed the specialization in the field of their choice but are also pushed into learning the basics of all major media fields so as to be just as proficient as media has become in 21^st century.

Thus we can conclude that media convergence is not a phase in the industry but a change for a better future. It has been accepted by many and celebrated by others. After delving into convergent media it becomes important to know that the future of media involves an integrated singular format and the need for proper training is central to this future. 

Finding Faults

I have been trying to color within the lines of my colour book. 
Make sure that my hands don't cross any borders. 
I have been trying to write my alphabets within the lines.
Trying to keep my wayward pencil from moving out of the margin.
I have dotted my i's and crossed my t's.
But still I feel I have left something undone.
You are good at finding my faults,
do tell me if I am wrong.

I have been trying to keep myself from speaking.
My slurred speech has many mistakes.
I have been trying to say how I feel.
But the words get lost in my mind.
I learnt the letters by heart and recite them everyday.
Yet I feel my memory will abandon me.
You are good at finding my faults,
do tell me if I am wrong.

I have been trying to put my clothes on.
The kind that you approve.
I am covering myself up from others.
I suppose I am only yours to see.
I think I look proper.
But my errors have been many.
You are good at finding my faults,
do tell me if I am wrong.

I am trying to step within the boundaries.
The boundaries that you have set up for me.
I am trying to remain within the walls.
The walls that were erected by you.
I think I have followed all rules you setup.
But I have made mistakes before.
You are good at finding my faults,
do tell me if I am wrong.

Some more New Year Resolutions to kick start 2014

The New Year has come and the internet is flooded with New Year Resolutions that one should definitely have, and also those which should be avoided at any cost. It is a tradition that id followed with utmost devotion – to make resolutions that you may or may not follow through the year (it will be presumptuous of me to assume no one follows theirs).

After careful deliberation and a lack of anything more productive to you I decided that it will be good to document the few resolutions that are revolving around in my mind. So here it goes:

Want this to be on my table!

1) The BIG ONE: This is the year where I will start working, actually paying job, 9-5 (or something near enough) timing and all that jazz. I just hope that whatever I do I love. I don’t want to be one of those people who work for money and only money. It is important definitely but I want enough strength and presence of mind to know that this (whatever it turns out to be) is what I want to do.

2) As much as ‘growing up’ is fun I want to keep what little childish-ness I have intact for the rest of my life. It is fun and it is what I need when everything else gets to be too much to handle. If the prediction of work and deadlines and projects in the near future comes true then it’ll be my only weapon for keeping me sane and functional.

If they can do it then I want to try too. Not the family thing but
"hey we are adults and still crazy having fun" thing.

3) Learn how to drive: I know how to drive, have taken classes and practiced on and off for some time. Now what I need is regular practice and the gut to take the car out in Delhi traffic. This isn't me looking for easier transportation but simply learning a skill which can come handy in many situations. I just need to get over my phobia of getting into an accident or hurting someone.

I think this phobia is legit, no matter what others say!

4) Relax more: I realized that despite all my talks of being not very stressed I don’t take time out to spend it with a lot of my friends. We have crazy uncoordinated schedules but when I do meet them after a long time all I can think is that I should have done this earlier. So this year I am going to make sure that I meet the people I miss without waiting for them to come forward (meaning I will be less an ass and make the first move!!)

5) Make lots of future plans, each being more extravagant and unreal or almost unreal than the last. What is the fun in living if you can’t have unbelievable dreams that you want to make real? Be it an all out,  spending money like water trip to LAS VEGAS or buying a sprawling villa in the mountains/beach house, I want it all. It all comes back to the saying I have heard a million times – “Always aim for the Moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the stars”.

Maybe I am being a little too literal!

Noises and Silences

There is noise when I wake up and there is noise when I sleep.

We speak too much and we speak before we think.

Our day starts with either a simple good morning

while we smile and welcome the new day.

Or it is a groan of frustration,

on the sleep left unfinished once again.

As the day progresses the noise does not die down;

it builds like a crescendo,

which we expect to peak and crash at any moment.

We wait in anticipation till we can’t wait anymore;

we may scream to join in the noise,

or we may fight it with our silence.

If people decide to say less and do more,

this world might become as we wish for it to be.

It’s hard to separate the meaningful from the meaningless.

It’s all scrambled into nothing but noise.

I wish the noise of traffic and the ever present humanity

could fall down in its volume, and

we could enjoy that silent peace that

we travel thousands of miles to seek.

But then I realize this silence is no less noisy

because nature was not made for silence.

It has the chirping birds and the rustling trees;

it has our breathing as it has the blowing wind.

There is the noise of life and

then there is the white noise of silence.

In a city, early morning is a time of peace,

when the world is still muddled by its slumber.

Then too you can hear the gentle reminder

of life that continues even as we sleep.

This silence is not what I seek.

I seek a time when the voices of humanity

is what draws me in.

A silence where voices have meaning

and meanings are given a voice.

Where the noise can be filtered and

the meaning can be heard.

A silence which has hundreds of thoughts

and not just futile chatter filling it up.

A silence in which words still hold their value

which the noise does not disrupt.

Street

Walking down the empty street the thought of something amiss never crossed her mind. She had a destination to reach and she couldn’t do with any distractions. Quickening her steps in fear of getting late she took another right turn only to face a mysterious person standing in the street.

Usually a dark night and a stranger would only bring fear into the mind of a woman travelling alone. But somehow she felt no fear not even a little bit of suspicion on why he was standing there. The only thing that bothered her was the extreme silence that had descended as soon as she had taken the turn. Even with the street lights the darkness seemed more oppressing like it was trying to push her into a cage.

Not wanting to stay and invite any kind of trouble she started walking. Keeping one eye on the guy she quickly made her through the street. The stranger did not move an inch and she was smart enough to not ask why. As soon she took the next turn that oppressive feeling vanished and the night turned normal again.

                  

Another night and another walk alone through the almost empty streets. She hadn’t thought of that weird guy from 2 weeks ago. Though at times she had a feeling of being watched, it never was anything. Not being a paranoid person she didn’t give it any importance.

 But now she saw him again, standing extremely still like before. She was sure it was him; the same height, the same stillness accompanied by the smothering darkness. She was scared this time. What are the chances of co incidences like this? None. But again, not wanting to invite trouble she made her way through the street without stopping, and like before everything went back to normal as soon she took the next turn.

This time however she turned back. She peeked into the street to see if the man was there. That was the biggest mistake she could have done. She only saw a dark mass, darker than the night engulfing her. She did not even get the chance to scream and the last though in her mind was “I shouldn’t have turned back.”