हाथी के दात

“बचपन में सुना था हाथी के दाँत 

खाने के और हैं दिखाने के और

समझ न पाती थी उसका मर्म 

मुझमें यूँ भी थी बुद्धि थोड़ी कम

बड़े होते होते देखा कि दाँत तो

चखने के और है चबाने के और

अब जा कर समझ आया कि दाँत

मुस्कानें के और है डराने के और

चमकाने के और हैं खिसियाने के और 

घिघियाने के और है चिढ़ाने के और

हाथी बिचारा यू ही मोहरा बन गया

इन्सान हाथी से काफ़ी आगे निकल गया।”

The corner house

Few months in this balcony and the benefits of living in a corner house takes over all sad moments. Thirty years back when the plot was chosen, the park in front of the house was nothing but a huge rough ground with a solitary swing in the farthest corner which had eventually become the point of interest for the little ones of the house. Over the years it has been developed and maintained really well. The senior's park and children play area on one end and a fantastic football ground on the other encircled by a walking track. Then there is the community centre with a library and a shopping centre all with in easy reach. This also allows for more entertainment that seems more disturbance on a bad mood day. Each morning this bent of road witnesses morning walkers of various shapes and sizes, the feriwallas with their distinct sing song calls, the influx of maids of all ages chattering away on their newly acquired cell phones as they rush to work in their respective houses, the young flower boy, and the men returning from their daily vegetable and fish marketing, all engrossed in themselves mostly unaware of the passersby... Uff life has become really busy!!! No time to say 'hello...' 

Balcony Tea and Me

After settling down in our home in Salt lake, Kolkata post retirement, one of the finest things that enthralled me is greenery all around and almost pure oxygen to breath, (isn't that a relative term? We, the mortals of this century, can't claim right to purity of anything, even emotions, so almost is almost an absolute term). My favourite time of the day is morning when I sit in my spacious balcony on a sofa that has witnessed a long history of sour and sweet moments and enjoy my day's first cup of tea with my co-traveller of life journey while watching people rush through their chores. Every morning is an experience in itself. All our activities for the day are discussed right there before we disperse after an hour of peaceful time, although some of it is blotted by agonies printed in the news paper from the day before. Hearing our morning saga on most international telephonic conversations my son in law suggested a blog titled Balcony Tea and Me. Was he bored of my topics? Did he think I talk too much? Was I ruining their weekend by my non stop chatter? Initially these questions popped in my head and I did not indulge in the possibility but the thought persisted in my head. I convinced myself that at least he had faith in my writing capability. So here it is... Balcony Tea and Me!