I Adore When It Isn't Me

Her brow wrinkles in concentration and her ink-stained fingers tap the bench in rhythm. Coffee with what looks like whipped cream on top sits half forgotten next to her stack of notes. She looks up in time to catch a retreating smile. "I was singing out loud, wasn't I?", she asks the smiler. Exasperation Central.

Wisdom from the 55er-Oracle

Too many cooks are better than one in the bush. Forewarned is forespawned. Tis better to have loafed and lost than never to have loafed at all. So think wisely and as well as possible. Depending on how deep it is. The well, that is. Half a loaf, as they say, is enough for dinner.

Been away for a bit. Stuck in a morass of work right now. But I wrote this as part of what started out as Choliwali Chronices and is fast becoming my life-work. Hehehe. It doesn't make much sense here (it doesn't make much sense in the original either) but I couldn't imagine writing a 55er and not posting it here. Apologies for all the nonsense :)

Yeah V

To shake up the doom and gloom atmosphere that suddenly reigns!

Have you ever felt like life is effortless, that your place in it is insignificant but perfect, that you are loved, that you love, that the sun is just exactly the right distance away, the wind blows at exactly the right strength, you are at exactly the right place at the right time?

Yeah :)

Choices are Impossible to Not Regret

She wanted the Steve Maddens. They were beautiful. Fawn, strappy, sexy kitten heels. The sort of shoes that were her. She almost bought them. And then she saw the Nikes. Thought about how she needed to run. Imagined that she wanted to leave the familiar behind. She bought them.

Some people should stick to Maddens.

Another crosspost. Sigh.

I wouldn't exchange places with it

There's a HEB plastic bag waiting to cross the road with me. It bobs politely by my side, patiently waiting for the lights to change and then crosses. I watch it climb higher, rolling onto its back. A break for the sun is what it's attempting. Yayy, bag. I worry about it, though. Remember Icarus?

Sorry, I cross-posted but it's been too long since I posted here.

Song 55: Here Comes The Sun

She doesn't believe in heartbreak. Though she knows how easily her heart can break. She doesn't acknowledge failure. Not cos she's always succeeded. She isn't an idealist. Not cos a cruel world battered her ideals out of her. She believes in life. Not cos it's beautiful. But cos it goes on. Cos nothing stays.

Glad C&b put this one up. Lovely song. One of my favourites :)

Song 55s IV: Scarborough Fair II

She slips in and out. The window’s been reduced to a watery reflection of the hospital room. Darkness crouches just outside. Piled clouds shoulder each other out of the way. Big bullies. Doctors gravely shake their heads. Suddenly, a smile plays among the wrinkles and liver spots. Once in the hereafter, what dreams may come.

Scarborough Fair, Simon and Garfunkel

Song 55s I: Duur (Strings)

Wiseling and I had a conversation from which this particular brainchild was born :). I wrote a post recently (on my blog) about Song-people. How songs so often conjure up an image of a person in your head. Not based on the video or the lyrics or even the singer alone. But just from the general feeling you get when you listen to the song. Wiseling came up with a 51 for Duur and I thought it might be fun to do Song-55s. I'm going to start with Duur. And if any of you have a different take on it, or even the same take but in a different way then feel free to jump right in. Course it goes without saying that if you have a different song then you just start your own Song-55s chain for that song. Try if possible to link to the song so that if one of us hasn't heard it, we get to listen to it.

His eyes open to darkness. A startled second skips before he remembers where he is. Drat the time difference. But he's used to it. Been here, done this. Many times. And familiarity hasn't even begun to breed contempt. The world's his mollusc. Travelling's his thing. And nothing beats the feeling of wind in his hair.

The Revenge of The Insomnia

“You a med student?” “Nuh-uh”, shaking her head. “Really? Not in med school?” Really, really she wants to say, trust me, I’d know. She just smiles. Walking off, he tells his bud, “She really looks like she’s in med school. Y’know?” She runs to the mirror. Just how dark are those circles under her eyes?

Memories

"Ssssshhhh! They're sleeping." Helpless giggling. Simply cos. Tip-toe tip-toe tip-toe. Giggle. "Ssssshhh". Open fridge door. Yellow light. Milk. Two frosted glasses (the good ones that amma won't let us use). Cookies from the jar. No plates. Only crumbs. Tip-toe tip-toe tip-toe. Stumble. Unstoppable laughter. Flushed faces. Furious breathing. Eyes screwed shut. Covers up. Amma smiling.

Non Sequitur

Words screamed red in his head. They were unclean. Unbelievers. Spewing blasphemy at his Sacred Truths. If he didn't do something now how would he explain to his God why he had forsaken Him?

So he blew up the 8 year old boy with the terrified eyes. An offer of proof for the Merciful One.

The L-Word

“If you came home and found me making out with another guy, what would you do?”, she asked idly. “Tear his eyes out”, he said. She giggled. “What if you came home and found me making out with a girl?”. “Depends.” “On?” she lifted an enquiring eyebrow. “How you feel about threesomes”, he grinned engagingly.

To all the Non-believers.. Read and Weep :)

“Our team sucks. Cricket’s a really boring game, anyway. Don’t see why anyone bothers watching it. And that Sehwag! I can bat better!”

“ No, no, I’m at work. No world cup – schmurld cup chutti for me.”

“What!!!!!! OMFG!!! I can't even come home!! My boss will pitch a fit!”

Have Faith, Fickle Indian!

They're People Too...well, sorta

“What’s the one thing you wish would happen today?”

“Hmmm….”

She waits impatiently.“If you can’t even think of one thing, your life is really sad.”

“What’s your one thing?”

“I want these cells to mate”, wistfully looking at her cultures on the benchtop.

“You’re rooting for yeast sex?? And my life is sad?”

Everyday VII

Every morning he woke up wanting to be with her. Every thought of hers he wanted to know. Every word she spoke had to be addressed to him. Every second she was away from him seemed a blank, airless void. Everyday he wanted her to be completely his. Everyday.

And then one day, he didn’t.

Sometimes VI

Sometimes, when she wakes up at 3 in the morning, it all makes sense. There is perspective. She knows she doesn’t matter in the grand scheme. But it’s ok. She can live with it. She goes back to sleep content in her insignificance. The vastness of space is accepted. Peace edges in.

Only sometimes, though.

Lies XIII

"Oh yeah, amma. Such fun we're having."

"No, no dont worry about that. Ram cooks excellently."

"Oh, the sound? Some friends have come over. That's all."

"Oh." "No, no. I have to go myself. The guys are calling me."

"Ok. B'bye."

He switched the TV off and faced the silence. Darkness can hide some things.

Among Other Things

As he asked her questions, he looked her over. Beautiful hair. Set just so. Curls falling gracefully down her back. Perfectly creased black suit. Little tote, black. Pearls at her neck and ears. Face highlighted flawlessly. She’d brought her CV, requisite black brief and a blinding smile.

Too bad she’d left her brains at home.

Everyday VI

He sat down at her table. Uninvited! He talked. She politely didn’t listen. She looked over his shoulder at the dollar exchangers. Were they disappointed too? She wanted to interrupt. Give me back the hope of everyday, she wanted to say. Be like I imagined you. I have my standards.

I can’t help a soprano.

Lies VI

“He watches over us all? Really?”

“Yeah. From up there. To see to it that nothing bad happens to good people.”

“But, how does he know who’s good?”

“He knows everything, honey.”

“So dad died cos he was bad?”

“Course not. There’s some great big plan, sweets. Somewhere. You won't understand it. Only He does.”