Tiny Creek

When Orbits Go Awry

2010-02-28T20:14:00.004+05:30

The New Year rang in with revelry and a planetary bang – mercurial effect am told. For an occasional glancer at the astro columns, terms like mercury retrograde shouldn’t be very unfamiliar. But whoever wanted it at the start and as if an eclipse was not enough to blind fold the universe (ok, parts of it) for some time. While the eclipse lasted a bit, the mercurial affect lasted a tad longer. The

Introducing...

2009-09-28T09:20:00.006+05:30

Wise and Otherwise, a new column on this blog.I have been mulling over this for quite a long time, in fact soon after reading author Sudha's Murthy's work by the same name.With the recently formed new connection, the timing could not have been better.From Where I Left...The last post was two years ago dedicated to a very close friend on her birthday. Now when I resume this space, it is again on

Hiatus

2009-09-27T18:44:00.010+05:30

Some will build a bridge,Some will lend space...*******Gear up, it's (high) time!

An Affair to Remember

2007-10-07T18:34:00.000+05:30

Another oldie, an impromptou piece, during a session in J-school.For G, my best friend in years. For your simplicity, honesty and liveliness that remain untouched even to this day.Childhood fantasies seldom cease to exist in later years, or refuse to hold on for too long.However, for me it turned out to be a classic case of first love, and the affair still continues!It all started when my younger

Sunflower in My Garden

2007-09-07T21:59:00.002+05:30

Few days ago, tending to a couple of plants I turned quite nostalgic. On a different note, some of them have been complaining of the long sabbatical my blog has gone into. The timing couldn’t have been better to reproduce one of my favourite articles. The train chugged lazily into the platform. It had been a strenuous journey during the peak of summer. It looked as if

Ironically So

2007-07-06T22:59:00.000+05:30

July 4, 17:45 hrs, Eastern Standard TimeThe rain is pounding the glass windows. Will there be fireworks tonight?“Let’s check the website. There must be an update.”“Turn on the weather bulletin…”“Call up someone who is already at the venue…”“Hey, let’s rush, or we will miss it…!”In the vicinity of the “egg” at the Emprire State Plaza, people are all gathered in rainwear and jackets. The umbrellas

The Farm

2007-07-02T22:10:00.000+05:30

Don't they look succulent and inviting? We took the invitation with relish and went looking for the ripest, biggest and the juiciest (needless to add the sweetest). This picture was taken when we visited one of the strawberry farms, a 45 minute drive from Albany, NY.You can get your own basket or buy empty cartons at the counter and go soaking in the sun and shrieking in delight at a prize find.

This is NYC

2007-06-26T18:51:00.000+05:30

Statue of Liberty is one of the first things, which visitors to NYC plan for. The cruise to the island takes you close to the majestic imposing structure, draped in green.You don’t get bored even in the waiting queue before embarking the cruise boat. There are entertainers ready to play Sare jahan se accha, or a juggler demonstrating his skill. One of them even sings for “pretty girls from Mumbai

Another Journey

2007-06-14T07:20:00.000+05:30

Now you can also visit Trotting Through for more tales.Keep Sailing!

Niagara, You Humble Me

2007-06-12T01:44:00.000+05:30

As a child, I was once leafing through the glossy pages of what resembled a coffee table book. My eyes fell on the picture of a “huge waterfall” and I couldn’t stop gazing at the Niagara Falls.**********After a tiring day at college, I sat down to unwind with a black and white movie being aired on HBO. The first few minutes of Niagara seemed interesting and I continued watching. Shot from the

American Idol?

2007-05-08T22:36:00.000+05:30

Even you would think so, if you notice that the only thing the man isn’t doing here is Dancing!This one-man band, besides belting sonorous notes, is using his fingers and toes for the musical accompaniments. And did I mention, without caring for the audience, applause, critical acclaim or the Grammy.This sight at Boston’s popular Quincy market is a lesson in self-motivation, self-aggrandizement

And I arrive... in America

2007-05-08T19:40:00.000+05:30

(This post has just recovered from jet-lag. Hence the week-long delay.)Friday, Apr. 27, 2007. (18:30 hrs, EST) The nearly 20-hour journey soon gave way to the Atlantic. Unfortunately for me, I had to be satisfied with the view on the screen. It must be really awesome looking out of the window at the vast ocean hitherto confined only to the imagination lent by geography books and television. Being

Unto Her Own

2007-03-29T22:05:00.000+05:30

She parked the car and took the lift to the third floor of the apartment. The pitch dark hallway came to life with the click of the switch. As a matter of another routine, she walked towards the large window that stretched out beautifully into grayish blue world, dotted admirably with little twinkles and a crescent white.She took in the gentle breeze and proceeded to wash off her tiredness with a

Your World

2007-03-08T19:42:00.000+05:30

Enigma you thought, but it is just the mistgiving way to dew drops to brighten your dayThe river is gushing, in rhythm lending you cool comfort and joyhiding away from you, the highs and lowsWhen the dark clouds loom largethe sunshine prises itself outto paint a silver liningBurning bright, it is fiery sometimesinstead it ensconces youin its warmth and glow******Borrowing the song from the wind,

An Odd Monday

2007-02-27T22:59:00.001+05:30

Sia was settling down to a dreary and contrast start to the week. Mondays were rarely like this. It was always accompanied by freshness, a sing-song and spring-in-the-steps feeling, almost carrying with it a eulogistic quality.The first thing that signaled the uncharacteristic day was the weekly plan column in the work folder. She had Zero meetings, no clients to deal with, no carry-overs from

Where Art Thou?

2007-01-12T22:34:00.000+05:30

Should I, should I not? One of those eternal conundrums in life.Should I discourage beggars or should I take mercy on them? I wish I could be like K, who willingly fishes out little coins from her tiny pouch, meant explicitly for this purpose. Or should I be like H, my colleague, who either ignores them or deals with them firmly?Is there a way to sit on the fence? I cannot reconcile this…Leave it

A book so Gene-ius

2007-01-06T13:11:00.000+05:30

The preface leaves you wanting for more (or hurrying up to reach the next few pages), the word play makes you revisit the lines, and the analogies and allegories make you think why can't there be more books in popular science genre written this way!Thanks to my cousin, who knowing my interest (which is an under statement, of course) for these kind of subjects, passed on this book. It pays to have

... But Not Without a Vision (Part 2)

2006-12-30T22:39:00.000+05:30

Please read Part 1, before proceeding to read this.Two years after I first met the wonderful sisters, I came in contact with Ashima* during my Bachelors. The college library stocked books in Braille, but most of them were limited to just text books. For additional reading, Amisha had to rely on group of NSS volunteers, who as a part of their projects had to read out to visually challenged

Of These Moments

2006-12-23T02:20:00.000+05:30

The music is floating in the background. He makes himself comfortable in the rosewood rocking chair, in the centre of the room, with the weekend crossword in hand. She is seated on the diwan at the other end, skimming through some patterns in the embroidery book.Some Sundays are like this -- a heavy duty spring cleaning session, a hearty late afternoon lunch, and the unexpected downpour playing a

On the Way

2006-12-22T00:06:00.000+05:30

What's clicking??Stay in focus...!

Tagged!

2006-12-21T20:53:00.000+05:30

Long long time ago, my friend and fellow blogger, Prat (of Purple Breeze fame) tagged me. Before the little brat goes crying for Walnut Brownie with Chocolate Sauce, here’s my response, in colours.Yellow gerberas are what I give someone, to wish sunshine, cheer and warmth. Incidentally, my favourite colour.Green is what my travel expeditions are packed with. Country sides especially.Only if I

... But Not Without a Vision (Part 1)

2006-11-25T17:16:00.000+05:30

Until that fateful encounter on the re-opening day of the school, I had confined Hellen Keller only to books. Even as we got into the bus scrutinising for new faces, it halted at the next destination, to let two sisters board the bus. With a little effort and help from their mother and the assistant in the bus, they were made seated.In a few days, Mitali* and Mini* had got used to the bus, the

Tune in to Twenties

2006-10-30T22:48:00.000+05:30

'But I don’t want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.'Oh, you can’t help that,' said the Cat. 'We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.''How do you know I’m mad?' said Alice.'You must be,” said the Cat. 'or you wouldn’t have come here.' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tweens is a nice stage to be in, with the plethora of excitement it brings.

Kapi Nirvana

2006-09-26T08:03:00.000+05:30

The bay is quiet -- more or less. The regularity of the keyboards and the occasional drone of the photocopier meld with the quietude. Post lunch drudgery adds to the mood. The unusual concerto drags itself into another hour.Bold attempts begin only after this. A small head bobs out of the cubicle to survey the scene. A little bolder, Huey now taking the support of the chair’s armrest cranes up a

The Unlikely Namesake

2006-09-06T21:19:00.000+05:30

"Hey Arushi, the travel agent just called up to confirm our tickets to Mysore.”Arushi and I, along with my brother planned for a getaway of sorts and decided to attend my cousin’s wedding. After work, both of us went to the jeweller’s to buy the wedding present.When we reached home, Sashank was not back from college yet. He came in while we were getting the dinner ready, carrying home a small

The August Post

2006-08-31T22:08:00.000+05:30

Amidst little children waving the tricolour, shopping malls doing up festive windows, long weekends, well planned short vacations and the smell of wet earth, something else filled the August air but didn’t quite make it to the popularity charts.Towards the end of the first week, newspapers were suddenly sprinkled with advertisements that announced special dinner and entertainment packages on Aug

Queer Thing, This Multitasking

2006-07-27T21:45:00.000+05:30

When I was in school, my friends said there was a sure shot way to excel in Math. Practise it while listening to music. I was apprehensive of even trying it. The reason: There wouldn’t be any music playing in the examination hall. What if I get stuck? Scary, isn’t it?But I still wanted to be able to do more than one thing at a time. So when this friend of mine told me that she completed her

Pa

2006-06-18T08:13:00.000+05:30

Written many years ago, but holds true forever... Pa is the one who helped me with toddler steps,Pa is the one who transformed a timid girl into a confident teenager.Pa is the one who took me for long walks,Pa is the one who got me the gulmohurs from top most branch.Pa is the one who helped me with Math,Pa is the one who gave up on me in Chemistry.Pa is the one who helped me ride my first bicycle

That's The Way It Should Be

2006-06-16T22:52:00.000+05:30

It’s a pleasant evening in Bangalore. She is sitting in her living room, sipping coffee from her favourite mug.He is in Worli, Mumbai, at his workstation, juggling between the compilers and business proposal. A working weekend.In their nine months of courtship, this is the first time they are away from each other. And three months of distance was proving to be a tad too long, and stressful…The

A Flower Says

2006-06-15T11:33:00.000+05:30

In the garden I bloomTendered with careand picked with loveYour workstation I adorn,Your day made to shine,Your moments made to smileEmbracing you in my fragranceJoy unprecedented I bringAll I ask of you, is a decent farewellWilted now that I lieand time for me to goI deserve better than the trash canInstead,lay me softly among my clanAn unfrequented corner in the gardenQuietly I will sleep

It's All About The Right Angle

2006-06-11T20:24:00.000+05:30

In an art instruction book that I was looking through once, there was this technique to depict distant objects. The page contained two samples of the same drawing. The second sample was to illustrate the technique.The picture showed vast fields with mountains in the background. Other than that, there were few tall trees, a long winding brook and a little a boy standing in the middle of the field.

Thank You All, Yours Truly! :)

2006-03-10T13:19:00.000+05:30

Boy, I'm overwhelmed by the warm receipt.Now, to each one of you...Anamak: (a.k.a Anonymous): Thanks for being the first one.A couple of them told me (off the record) that your comment is more beautiful than the article :)Harini: Glad I made you relive those days. So, now stop complaining of your elder sis getting more attention! You had your share too.Aishwariya: I was so thrilled when you said

My First Step

2006-02-25T02:43:00.000+05:30

This article is in honour of one of the most important influences in my life. On the eve of her birthday, I reproduce it here.This is the story of my first editing exercise. Things had just begun for me. Had learnt to do few things on my own -- keeping books and papers in place, having them neatly stacked and labelled, and keeping stock of stationery -- the usual things that writers and editors

Just Arrived On the Scene

2005-10-21T18:13:00.000+05:30

The tiny creek has just begun to flow.Come back and soon you will be able to hear the gentle gush.