across the dull creek
a million stories unfold,
as flickering lights.

There is a Light that never goes out.

As my social and ritual life has moved on from its yesteryear ceremonial glory to earthly professional normalcy, and as grand festivities continue to awkwardly make themselves felt by their absence, it was a usual, adequately well-spent day lit up by two simple oil lamps quietly adorning the doorway. That flickering light is all one needs, to see, to travel miles into the unknown, and to come back home.

May the Light bless you and me with the strength to seek it!

दिवाळीच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा!

the red etch'd in love
now bleeds, as a poppy gash'd.
intoxicated.

A Marriage Made in Heaven

I: Your age?

Pt: 35yrs.

I: When were you married?

Pt: *smiles shyly* Umm.. It was long ago, I don't exactly remember...

I: Ahem.. It was you who got married, wasn't it?

Pt: *smiles embarrassedly* Yes, yes.

I: Well, maybe you remember how many years ago, approximately? Kindly try to remember?

Pt: Ummm.. Must've been around 40yrs ago, I guess?

The Hallowed Corridor

On this day, five years ago I sat on the bench outside the dean's office, gazing wide-eyed, for the very first time, into the hallowed arcade that seemed to stretch on endlessly, with it's magnificent stone arches scheming an a-b-a-b rhyme with the sunlight streaming between their pillars. I was looking down a path which seemed beautiful but also, at that time, very strange and with no end in sight, a bit intimidating - a lot like the journey I was about to commence with my enrolment at GSMC. I was flooded with thoughts of awe, uncertainty, fear, curiosity and excitement. I sat there waiting for the paperwork to be done, thinking about many things, but I could hardly wait to walk down that archway to discover what lay beyond!

Since then, over the past five years, I've walked and I've kept walking down that long archway countless times and I've discovered not only further into the beyond but also further within. I have transformed and grown, enabled to transform a li'l the world around me, and so has the college building transformed quite a bit post-renovation. Nevertheless, even after all these years and countless walks, those stone arches and pillars continue to leave me awestruck with their beauty, everyday, just like they did the first time.

psst.. Back then, I guess, there used to be a blood-sample collection facility at the other end of that archway. Funnily, five years hence that's where one ends up, isn't it? ;)

I guess I could be pretty pissed off...

"I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me, but it's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much. My heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst. And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it. And then it flows through me like rain, and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid, little life. You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry. You will someday."

Lester Burnham, American Beauty

The Baby Factory

They scream and shout.
Then a baby come out.

...till the petals fall.

You always hurt the one you love
The one you shouldn't hurt at all
You always take the sweetest rose
And crush it till the petals fall

You always break the kindest heart
With a hasty word you can't recall, so
If I broke your heart last night
It's because I love you most of all

...and that magical scene from Blue Valentine that never once fails to enchant me with all it's brilliance.

To the man who loved!

'Albus Severus, you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.'

Harry Potter to Albus Severus Potter

Unsettled doth lie,
as a puddle
in a monsoon shower

I loved,

and I loved once.

Art

"Art is individualism, and individualism is a disturbing and disintegrating force. There lies its immense value. For what it seeks is to disturb monotony of type, slavery of custom, tyranny of habit, and the reduction of man to the level of a machine."

Oscar Wilde

The Wall

All in all we're just another post on the wall.

Cats...

...are sent from heaven to make the world a cuter place.

It is fine, actually.

Life does go on but Dad, you are missed.

.

It's from him that I inherited the less-painful venepuncture. It reminds me of him every time some patient says, "Doctor, it doesn't hurt as much when you poke a needle." Just like my mum always said how my dad's injections were very light-handed and the least painful. Very compassionate and kind he always was with his patients and I'm glad to have inherited that quality from him. Cheers to his life!

.

From the motion picture 'Rabbit Hole'

Becca: Does it ever go away?
Nat: No, I don't think it does. Not for me, it hasn't - has gone on for eleven years. But it changes though.
Becca: How?
Nat: I don't know... the weight of it, I guess. At some point, it becomes bearable. It turns into something that you can crawl out from under and... carry around like a brick in your pocket. And you... you even forget it, for a while. But then you reach in for whatever reason and - there it is. Oh right, that. Which could be awful - not all the time. It's kinda...
[deep breath]
Nat: not that you'd like it exactly, but it's what you've got instead of your son. So, you carry it around. And uh... it doesn't go away. Which is...
Becca: Which is what?
Nat: Fine, actually.

My first rupees earned!

So, this is where I start from - Rs 4980 for 2 months of referring patients, rewriting prescriptions, filling up forms and drawing blood samples.

The first few thousands on the journey to millions. ;)

Cheers!

The moon looks splendid tonight.

Through your eyes, I'm sure it must look even lovelier!

The thought of settling...

...is bloody unsettling.

Punch

Pretty residents who're so sweet and helpful make internship so much more worthwhile.

I so badly wished for more biopsies today!

Ehh...

I - "Ma'am, there was a huge rush of people here and I do remember drawing her blood but... umm.. I dunno where it is now?"

P - "But what the heck do we tell the patient?!!"

You know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are?

Anchor chains, plane motors and train whistles.

-George Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life'

the rustle drowned
in sunlight
gleaming through autumn leaves

A crumpled blank paper
An eager quill, and red ink
Yours truly

But

"I hate you!"

"Why?"

"Won't tell. Well.. Because you're good."

"Then, love me you idiot! Don't hate me."

"Yeah, but it has another clause. You're good but... Anyway, forget it."

"Oh, yes. I know what you want to say. Tumhare but I understand."

"Tumhare but?"

"Hmm, when you say you're good but..."

"Hmm.."

"That 'but'."

"Yes, that 'but'."

Now that final MBBS is done...

what the fuck next?!

The Wanderlust

"I travel not to go anywhere, but to just go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."

Robert Louis Stevenson

When I was young there was a radio station that played that sound.

The sound of the sea.

Mindfuck me...

...harder!

Peace

There's something about the sound of these waves splashing ashore.

Is there a rhythm? Or is it so chaotically mild that it's peaceful?

It's the same Sun that colours sunsets all over the world.

It's the same sun that I hate during the Mumbai summers, which lights up my camera in Goa. It's the same sun that warms my back when I walk along the beach, which makes the window sill too hot to touch on the train back home. It's the same sun lingering on after midnight in Svalbard, Norway, which makes for a balmy afternoon on the Côte d'Azur. It's reflected off the snow, dazzling the eyes of mountaineers in the Himalayas and it's reflected off the glass panes of the sky scrapers in Hong Kong and New York.

For the traveller it's the one constant. It does seem to change in mysterious ways in different parts of the world but he knows it's the same. The same sun shining over wherever he calls home, while he is miles away; and when he returns home, it reminds him of his many journeys and the beautiful sights he saw all over. It has been a companion - a travel buddy. He's never the lone backpacker, for the sun is always with him.

As I sit here on this derelict jetty over the shabby creek, watching the sunset over Mumbai with it's long orange reflection over the mucky water, I'm reminded of that beautiful sunset I saw in Goa. I'm reminded of everytime I thought about the sun during the trip. I'm reminded of the many journeys I will make far away from home and the many more beautiful sunset photographs I will make. I'm reminded of it's power to transform both the turquoise sea or a shabby creek into a beautiful sunset so effortlessly seducing me to photograph it.

And I'm reminded of how the same sun that colours beautiful sunsets all over the world, shines in those lovely golden brown eyes back home.

Lemony

Call it rather an aftertaste than a hangover, and it was nothing but pleasantly lemony.

Abby,

It was lovely talking to you. It was one of those unforgettable conversations, tending to perfection, which I wish could go on for a lifetime. But of course, we had to say goodbye. Now, I don't know if we meet again, but thank you for coming along last night.

When drinking with mum, whether to have the third glass or not is the question.

and... on bringing the third glass mum said, 'काSSय? काय चाल्लय??'.