New Year's Eve

"Chilly winter night fades into oblivion

Every merry making - an unwanted alluvion

True feelings take a sudden dip

A wry smile hangs on every lip

People hardly notice, nobody cares!

Except for the scarred soul that the heart bares.

Clinking glasses, a few handshakes,

Tapping stilettos - conversation the heart makes

With no one to watch over, time ticks by,

And thus they bid the year goodbye

Stumbling, fumbling they make for home

Some stay back on the streets they roam.

Early next morning they wake up in bed

To see the sun paint the sky a warm glowing red

The brand new year, with care they weave

To be enjoyed until another new year's eve..."

Solitaire

Sagging body broken heart

Solitary soul ripped apart

I put up a facade of being strong

Gather up the pieces and walk along

I come across a tree uprooted by storm

And accept that it is but a norm

Life doesn't stand still for any

In this life, hurdles will be many

We got to brave every storm with a smile

Afterall we're in this world only for a while!

Vow!

"You gave me your heart
I gave you my soul
Suddenly we were one
Nothing short of being whole

Neither of us spoke a word
Yet we were strung in a vow
No greater gift than such love
Can the almighty ever endow.

I thank my stars for i found you
With a remnant bond, just the vow, new."

Goodbyes

"Goodbyes don't mean you've stopped loving each other,
It's said when you want to stop hurting one another.
If ever our ways part and we have to say our goodbyes,
Promise me it won't be with tears in your eyes;
Promise me you'll leave with happy memories...
As friends we'll remember each other in our reveries!
And in this lifetime, if we may not meet ever again,
Let us know that we feel the same bitter-sweet pain.
I shall know that you're braver than u believe;
I shall believe that you're strong enough not to grieve..."

Destiny's Child

"The pulse throbbing in her neck 
Her stuttering half open eyelids
Her heaving bosom while she's fast asleep
Cajoles the moon to shine and the stars to peep.

Her radiant smile on waking up
Her sighing breath when she leaps with joy
The spark in her eyes when she follows her dream
Compells the morning sun to gleam. 

When the scorching sun warms her breath
When she's too wilted for a cool splash
When her tears are too dried up to feel the pain
Then comes the soothing lash of rain.

She's nurtured by the mother nature
When she falls, the earth cushions her
She's destiny's child though as mother me she addressed
and having given her my womb, I feel blessed!"

The Soldier's Mother

"Puffed eyes, reddened; her hair, a heap.
Her face, gloomy, from last night's lack of sleep.
She looks out of the window, towards the sky,
Her sight stony, seeing the birds fly.
Then one last time, she breaks down.
Her face now pale, no more wearing a frown.
She gathers herself up and feels the pain;
And realizes, he will never return again.
She quivers at that thought.
And goes back to the battle of her life that she had fought.
She thinks of the day she first held him in her arm.
And how she had experienced his charm.
Soft as a ball of wool.
His eyes, so soulful.
'Help me fly', he used to throw up his arms at her and say
Tired, after a day's play,
He would fall asleep on her bosom.
In those moments, she used to feel awesome!
Then one day, he grew up to be a man.
And for her then life actually began.
All her life she had dreamt of this
And today, he had put her dreams ahead of his.
The dream to serve the nation.
With full passion.
Seeing him in his uniform, her chest swelled with pride.
Her emotions that day, she couldn't hide.
But today, he had flown away.
Out of the world, for there to stay.
He had flown so far that he would never return.
And she was left all alone to yearn
for him; to see him just once, to hear him speak,
And nurse her heart, so dreary and bleak...."

Gender Agenda: War on Women

Though ‘War on Women’ is a political slogan used originally by the Republicans; it has now become a war cry used by women's groups and non-profit organizations to end violence and discrimination against women and to support women’s rights by encouraging women to get involved through activism or financial support.

Though this phrase resurfaced only last year when the Republicans used it to curtail women’s rights, the origin of this term dates back to 1996 when a Republican loyalist used this term to boost her political motto. But the point to ponder here is that whether this phrase is merely a political slogan used by Republicans? To my mind, there is much more to it. Let’s take a look –

1. The news headlines cry of sexual abuse to women, in an era when we, both men and women claim women to be as strong as men, mentally, financially, and in terms of freedom.
2. Though this country has produced a huge number of women entrepreneurs and business leaders, like Indu Jain, Simone Tata and Naina Lal Kidwai to name a few; on a year on year basis, we hardly find women getting promoted to top slots as much as men do.
3. Women, we know are a source of very life; yet, we only hear about female foeticide. Not that male foeticide is any better, but why kill girl children is the biggest question.

The three points highlighted above depicts a stigma that more or less covers the entire universe.

But what are we to do on this? We, the strata of people who are only on the receiving end of it all? When I say this, I don’t leave out the opposite gender. Does a father not get unduly worried about his teenage daughter not returning home on time? Does a husband not love his wife with all that he has? Does a brother not risk his life to protect his sister from perverts? Does a son not respect other women as he respects his mother? The answer to all the above questions is a big ‘YES’. Then who are we to blame for this condition?

1. Our past? Could be. Due to its ‘purdah’ system, the psychology carried forward is to always keep women dominated.
2. Our culture? Possible. Even Sita had to prove her integrity infront of her subjects at the behest of Lord Ram.
3. Or the present scenario? You never know. There’s nothing that triggers anything so drastic and yet it is happening and how!

The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful.

With this thought, let’s only hope that when our children ask us about the term ‘War on Women’, we only need to tell them the story ‘Helen of Troy’ and not that of any discrimination on women.