The one that got away :)

Hey there !

Long time, no see, rather no blog...Not because I’ve been swamped with work, just didn’t have the inspiration or the drive to write. I can be pretty lazy at times :P

But here’s a poem that’s been on my mind for the last two weeks. Finally getting around to it :)

She liked you then, but thought it best,
To keep her heart in quiet rest.
Your world, your life - so far, it seemed,
Fitting into it felt like a distant dream. 

But fate had plans, and you did meet,
In person now, her heart skipped a beat.
The warmth, the glance, the spark,
It felt like you had left your mark. 

What was once distant, felt so near,
A connection built without fear.
The one she thought she’d never find,
Had quietly lived within her mind.

Yet timing’s cruel, the hour so late,
For she had pledged and sealed her fate.
A commitment set, a promise made,
But in her heart, her feelings swayed.

Would things have been so different then?
Had paths not crossed in that moment’s bend?
She knew she cannot turn what’s done around,
In silence, destiny's echo would sound.

Princess : More Tears to Cry

Hey guys !

Guess what ??? I finally found time to get back to blogging after giving up on becoming a full-time binge-watcher today 😅 
"Princess : More Tears to Cry" is a book that moved my heart with its raw and compelling depiction of women's lives in Saudi Arabia.

The book is about Princess Sultana, a Saudi royal who fights for women's rights. We are dropped into a world where women are often treated as commodities, with their lives being controlled by male relatives - fathers, brothers or husbands. We get to know the story of a young girl married off to an elderly man. Her fate is sealed, not by her own will but by the decision of her male relatives. This is a testament to the deep-rooted patriarchy that denies women the right over their own lives and bodies. Guardianship system in Saudi inhibits a woman's ability to make independent decisions....ranging from traveling to seeking medical care.

Sasson also throws light on the daily struggle women face in accessing basic rights and services in Saudi. Education and employment, which are taken for granted in many parts of the world remain battlegrounds for Saudi women. There is this story of a woman who studies secretly to become a doctor, risking severe punishment if discovered. What I loved the most about this book is how Sasson shines the spotlight on these courageous women who defy norms for self-improvement and independence despite societal backlash and legal hurdles :)

"Princess: More Tears to Cry" is a strong reminder of the ongoing fight for women's rights and the need for worldwide support. Though there has been progress, achieving equality is still a tough and long journey !

 

The power of her unspoken words

Her flaw, it’s true, she won’t always admit,

When wrong steps are taken, or when she slips a bit.

But she’s been learning, slow and steady,

Ready to change, to grow when she’s ready.

He’s blind to her strength, her fire, her fight,

Blaming her always, claiming it’s his right,

She never once mentioned the flaws that he hid,

The anger, the ego, the things that he did.

Self-respect knocked, she answered at last,

This time she stood tall, no longer her past.

She let him go, though it tore her apart,

Still hoping he’d come with an open heart.

A simple “sorry,” a tender plea,

Could bring back what was meant to be.

But silence fell, no hand reached through,

And she learned none of it was true.

Code Red

Saru and her friends usually go for a walk around the office campus after lunch every day. It’s the best way for them to unwind a bit, stretch their legs and talk about everything but work.

One particular day, they got down the lift and were heading towards the track when Saru heard her friend Shiv shout, "Why are you walking like a snail? Keep up with us !"

Normally, Saru would sync her pace with theirs without any difficulty. But today was a completely different story. She simply couldn't keep up....no matter how hard she tried ! It was the second day of her period, and she was running on fumes ! Day one is tough, day three is manageable, but day two? It's brutal. Her whole body ached. She was battling endless cramps, heavy and tender breasts, sharp pain in her pubic area, hips, and thighs - Saru felt like her body was waging a war against her !

Her friend Soha, noticed her struggle and jumped in, "She’s on her period. That’s probably why she isn’t able to walk as fast."

Shiv turned towards Saru and said, "Come on, it’s a monthly ritual, right? You still haven’t gotten used to it? It's just a period....I think you're over reacting....You're struggling like this because you’re probably too weak. Now, come on, walk faster."

His words made Saru's face turn red with anger. She marched up to him, barely able to contain her frustration, and said, "No uterus, no opinion. Unless you've had to deal with period pain, you don't get to have a say. It's not just a monthly ritual or a small inconvenience. It is serious pain. Try bleeding and cramping every month and you'll realise that it's not as easy as you think. Your perspective lacks depth and experience....You need to grow up !"

A message to men from Aunt Flo: 

If you belong to the sect of men who think women overreact when I visit them: it’s time to educate yourselves and show some empathy. Menstrual pain is not a trivial matter....It can be excruciating. Dismissing it as weakness is not only insensitive but also ignorant.

Respect the experiences that women go through. Understand that what may seem routine to you is a significant and painful part of their lives. 

Can y'all be a little empathetic to women when they are riding the cotton pony ? It's not an unreasonable request after all !

A four-lettered force

Hey guys !

I know that my blogposts are usually in the bottom of your priority list but at times, its good to keep up the facade and pretend like it's your top priority 😛

Here's Yeti signing into June on a high note with this post !

A FOUR-LETTERED FORCE

It cannot be explained by any theory because it doesn't have a definitive or a distinct meaning.  

A force that is so much stronger than the nuclear force that it’s effects are permanent and can haunt one for a lifetime.

Not exactly an attractive force, but includes an unexplainable desirability that goes beyond words.

Could be a magnetic force given it attracts two hearts.

Not exactly an electrical force as it cannot be confined to the theory that opposites attract and likes repel.

It may be perceived as a frictional force, but it doesn’t involve any roughness; it's only kindness !

A magical force, yet it is not so uncommon... you'd find it everywhere you turn around !

It is a force that is independent of distance, time and anything that can be measured. 

The force that drives the universe,

The force that keeps the world going,

Love - the force that lies inside each of us !

All eyes on Rafah

I penned this poem in the midst of Russia's attack on Ukraine. With Israel striking Gaza once again, it felt appropriate to share it now. 

Here it goes...

We know naught of sweet dreams,

We know naught of love,

All we know, is of nightmares,

And the war-stricken air above.

We know naught of rain,

We know naught of sunshine,

All we know, is of pain,

And hunger with no food to dine.

We see no roof,

We see no light,

All we see, is proof,

Or our sinister plight.

Rubbles are now our toys,

And cement, our make up,

Bereaved children go mad,

On losing their mum and dad.

Once a country,

Now no boundary.

Oh god ! can't you see past the distant blue ?

Or these men have bombed you too ?

All we crave, is a breath of fresh air,

Is that really unfair ?

My heart goes out to people whose lives have been cut short by war....If only there was a way to protect them from such cruelty :) 

A song that hit hard

A monday with no meetings and pressing tasks ! Looks like the universe has granted me the gift of time. And what better way to spend it than playing a snippet in my veena or indulging in a bit of writing ?

My day began like any other….morning rush, a heap of mails, and the never-ending torment of having to extract stress loads. But as the clock struck 4:30, my father appeared like a torch-bearer of freedom to pick me up from work.

As I cozied up into the passenger seat of my dad's car, my mind delved into The Bretton Woods Agreement, a topic that had stirred my interest this morning and I resorted to reading more about it in Investopedia. I found my attention go astray when I heard the cheerful voice of “ullooru Narayana vandhitaaru” in Radiocity 98.3….It was a segment that I totally loved, a perfect concoction of humour and astrology !

Attempting to multitask between reading and listening proved to be a challenge. "Don't multitask….You aren’t good at it" my father taunted, "either read or listen to the FM." Now, anyone who knows me well would easily guess which option I chose.

As we made our way through the Maduravoyal Bypass, the FM treated us to "Karai Vandha Pirage," a classic from the movie '96.  I've never been a fan of 96. Not that it's a bad movie….I just couldn't connect with it like the rest of the world did. So, when the song began playing, I was prepared to dismiss it, like I always would but I couldn’t….I simply couldn’t and I rather found myself strangely drawn to the song.

Tamil isn't my strongest forte….so, every time I listened to this song, it felt like I was discovering something new. Especially the first two lines: "Karai vandha pirage, pidikidhu kadalai, nirai vandha pirage, puriyudhu ulagai." They spoke to me in a way I would've never expected.

But there was a snag….the word "nirai” in second line left me scratching my head. Thankfully, a quick search on Google revealed its essence: "you end up liking the ocean once you reach the shore; you start understanding the world once your hair turns grey." And just like that, the song gave me a whole new perspective.

As the song continued, I found myself not just enjoying the music but also trying to decipher the meaning behind each lyric…My friend had told me to give this song a chance and I’m totally grateful for that nudge….Here’s to opening up to music outside of my usual taste !

Now….If you haven’t listened to this song yet, it’s time to stop doing what you're doing and treat your ears !

P.S. As I was listening to this track, I realised that songs have a way of reminding us of people who introduce them to us. It's like they are with us, even when they are not :)