Longing

I read Memoirs of a Geisha a few months. Happened to watch the movie recently, and it brought back pleasant memories of journeying with the young Geisha as she faces ups and downs of life.

Sayuri is in love with a man who shows no indications of his feelings for her. His friend Nobu, a man with scars on his face, seems to feel intensely for the girl. Highly principled, he wants something deeper from her than the lighter moments in life. The character makes you ache, and at every point, I wished she would accept him.

The journey to finding one's love - so intense and uncertain - is more exciting than when one gets what one wants. Sometimes, unrequited love or love that does not fructify makes for better reading than when it is reciprocated. This book, already a hit I think, would have benefited as a tragedy better, I feel. The knots unravel suddenly and it becomes a feel good book in the end. That would have pushed it to the mundane.

But the quality of writing and characterisation itself are so good that the book makes for an excellent read. The suspense is maintained till the end. For many, the present ending may be preferred after the intense troubles the heroine goes through. The movie too was a great watch, but maybe because the book remained with me in the deep recesses of my mind and I could fill up the gaps that the movie may have had.

Overall a must read/watch story. 

Anubavangal: Kaathal - Love

Anubavangal: Kaathal - Love: உன் அழகிய கண்ணிலா? கூர் நாசி அழகிலா? புன்னகை தவழும் இதழிலா? இந்த மயங்கும் மனதிலா? அழகு மட்டும் போதுமோ? காதல் என்றும் நீடுமோ? வயது ஏறி கூடும...

Golden Shower

The shower
Golden and bright
Making me feel
Blessed and bright

Sometimes hidden
By darkness of mind
When blessings seem
Banes in guise


I clutch at it
But only air I catch
Empty handed
Bare and disappointed

I look up

Cry out in pain

Where are you my lord

Leaving me in vain 

And then the shadow lifts
Parting its heavy drifts
To show the light that was always there
Waiting for me to see its glare

In the mind play
Shadow and light
Hiding and catching
Each other in delight

After darkness
The light is bright
When the light dims
Into dark night it sinks

To remain untouched
By the cunning play
To see light and dark
As they come and fade

To smile always
Be it good or bad
To see the golden shower
Even when in the dark.

Anubavangal: Payanam - The Journey

Anubavangal: Payanam - The Journey: கும் இருட்டு கருவில் இருப்பது போல் அதே சுகம் எதுவும் நம்மை தீண்டாது என்ற நம்பிக்கை அந்தரங்கத்தில் மிதப்பது உடலே இல்லாதது போல் பஞ்சைப்போல் ல...

We Are Our Parents

I stand in the kitchen, shouting at my son. "You know the veggies make you grow tall and strong. How can you make me say it to you everyday!"

Flashback to my childhood, and well into teenage. "Please have this beans. It tastes yummy," my parents and siblings would persuade me, unsuccessfully.

"Greens are important for making your hair grow well," I attack my daughter as she crosses her arms and pouts on seeing palak paneer on her plate.

I can even then remember how I was about greens. For a person whose plate would only accept lady's finger and potatoes, I expect a lot from my children!

"Just spend 10 min doing one subject and you will be fine."

Sigh, I wish I had done that as a kid.

I turn on my children, "You will have children just like you!"

My dad smiles at me and says, "I am glad to see your children are just like you, giving you a hard time."

Anubavangal: Jokesum Feedbackum

Anubavangal: Jokesum Feedbackum: ஒரு புத்தகம் படித்தேன் - பீட்பாக் (feedback) பற்றி. எப்படி ஒருத்தரைப்பற்றி கருத்துக்கொடுக்க வேண்டும், அதை எப்படி ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்று...

Paranormal

Energy balls, ghost, spirits... they don't always feature in my conversations, but sometimes they are fascinating topics. There are people who vouch for their presence. My mother-in-law told me years ago that she can sense suddenly something crossing her, but it has never bothered her. Then last week, my sister-in-law said the same thing. A friend has mentioned that she can feel their presence sometimes.

The worst was when my maid suddenly mentioned a death that had happened in one of my neighbouring flats. "There was an old man in that house. He died. Sometimes when I enter that room, I can see him sitting out there."

Then they talked of the house below mine. "My daughter was working there when suddenly she fell on the floor and her eyes started moving up. I called out to her, but she answered in a different voice."

I swallowed. I neither believe nor disbelieve. But sometimes, too much of such conversation can have my imagination galloping. Seeing my face, my maid assured me, "No no. Your house is clean. No spirits here."

I herded the mother and daughter duo out. I was happier not thinking about the presence or absence of spirits in the house.