Mind Freed

It is a bright summer day. The sun is blazing. It is hot, however thankfully not at all humid; a rare occurrence in this part of the globe, but still not something completely unforeseen. The boy is sitting under the huge tree, which by the way is the only object visible from there, other than the parched field all around it. There are still a few more months to go before the local farmers start tilling the land. The tree stands as a misfit to the whole scenario, like a protruding mole on an otherwise smooth skin. However, unlike being unwelcome as a mole, it is rather a bliss. It is the only refuge for a burnt soul in miles. Localites and strangers alike have availed this shelter since what seems like forever. Today, the boy sits quiet on an ancient root hair of the tree that has bulged out of the earth underneath, his eyes wandering on the vast emptiness in front. Nothing moves, save for the yellowish grass blades that flutter erratically in the wind. Suddenly a gust of air comes and lifts a bunch of dry leaves in a tiny whirlwind few inches above the ground; a minified exhibition of the power that the nature holds within. His mind goes free. The lack of motion, the sense of time standing still frees him from his thoughts. It seems like there is nothing to worry about. It is a moment that the world, with its mundane hassles, objectives and aspirations is completely forgotten.

The Subway Melody

This Sunday, I was returning from yet another pointless solitary stroll in downtown. I went down the subway on the Jackson Boulevard. It was stuffy inside and I decided to take my coat off. Along with the coat, out came my ipod earphones. That is when I felt the melody in the air. There was an old Hispanic lady sitting behind a pillar. She was of medium build, wearing a red sweater, a bunch of keys dangling from her neck like a locket. An instrument case was neatly kept on the side and a battery powered music box was filling music to the otherwise bland station. She was playing what might be an improvised version of a violin. And … she was marvelous. I mean she was MARVELOUS. I don’t know whether it was because of my mood at that moment or just because she was too good, I felt like I could listen to that forever…. However (sigh!) it actually lasted too short, I believe not more than ten minutes by the standard watch. The next train rumbled in shattering the music on its way. I dropped two dollars in her kitty. She looked at me and smiled. A smile of gratitude. Little does she know, her music is worth much more than a few bucks.

Weird Offness!

Well, I wasn't planning to make this post. Not after the puja and the excitement. But then, many posts are made on an impulse. It is one of them. My older blog ended in a similar note http://mumbaidays.blogspot.com/. It is the feeling of being off. It is odd. It is not like being sad or disheartened or worried or distressed. It is something I cannot describe in proper words. I am doing all regular stuff. I finished some pending work in the morning, got done with some puja stuff, had a very important meeting with my boss and our collaborator from a different university this afternoon. It all looks well; doesn't feel that way. I don't like anything I do and I can't do anything I like. To be more specific, I don't even know what I would like to do. 'I sometimes donot know what to do with myself'. Right now, I am grading a huge bundle of copies as a part of my TA assignment. It sucks. But somehow this boring repetitive job keeps my hapazard mind steady and it functions okay with ocassional breaks in youtube and blogger. Let me know if you have any suggestion to get rid of this. Be quick because I will be okay by tomorrow anyway. Somebody suggested that I am in love, which I assure you is a complete bullshit for the current situation! And don't suggest watching movies, right now no apetite for those.
This song is a good solace for me ...

http://www.esnips.com/doc/b0433ef9-85c2-44ff-874d-9b317e44b426/AkhilBandhu---Oi-Je-Aakasher-Gaay-Durer-Balaka

Oi je akasher gaai durer balaka bhese jaai
Ora basa bandhe na
Ora chanchal, ora uddam
Ora karo byathai kande na