Let Me Spread My Wings....

I am born into this world a few days ago. I can feel my mother's touch - her feathers spread around me, giving me the warmth, care and assurance that everything is fine. That I am safe. I can feel the gentle breeze flowing around me. I hear the sound of leaves rustling in the air. Here I am in my nest, near my mom, with dreams in my eyes, and hope in my heart ! Dreams of flying high some day ! Dreams of moving through the clouds, and feeling the wind with my wings ! I can't wait to start flying.  I want to feel the thrill of spreading my wings, and reaching great heights !
Sitting in my home (nest), I feel like the luckiest bird in the world. Luckier than dogs, or cats, or even human beings. "What do they know of flying ?!", I think to myself.... Its night time and all the fellow birds have slept.
I now close my eyes, thinking of catching some sleep.
"Its gone.... everything is gone...!", is the first thought that comes to my mind as I open my eyes the next morning.  My mother's embrace, the breeze around me, the rustling sound of leaves....
"Where am I ? " , I ask myself ! All I see around me is a tiny room (which humans call 'cage', I think). This room is made of metal wires, It is circular in shape. There is a stick placed horizontally  through the wires, for me to stand. There are two bowls, one having some grains and the other having water. "I am caged ! Oh No ! I am caged !", I say to myself ! This can't be happening to me ! What about my dreams ? What about spreading my wings ? What about flying through the clouds ? And seeing the land from great heights ?
I am restless now .... I start screaming... I try my best to break open the horrific wires that surround me ! The cage moves in all directions because of my effort.... The water in the bowl spills, and the grains fall all over the place.... I don't care .... All I want is to break free....
Suddenly, I see a pair of eyes, staring at me and speaking something in some language I don't understand. I am not listening.... I realize that the pair of eyes belong to a human.... In some moments, I am surrounded by more humans. They seem to be pleased and amused to see me in this condition. They are smiling, and laughing....  One of them even begins taking my photographs....
It is still sinking into my head. The harsh reality that I have been taken away from my world... That I am imprisoned for no fault of mine, by someone whom I never harmed. That I am just a source of entertainment for the people around. A show piece, something with whom people stand and take pictures....I am here wondering is this how my entire life will be ?
I can hear my heart screaming ....'Help me .... I want to be free... All I ask is for my birth right... to be able to fly....'

My message to all those listening.... "Please don't cage us birds.... A Cage is like slow death for us....Our dreams are killed first, then are mind, and finally our soul ...."

SHILLONG - The Fairy Tale Land I Grew Up In !

Brought up in the tiny city of Shillong, the memories of my childhood are still clear in my mind. Very few people are lucky to have spend many years in a lovely hill station,  in the midst of ample blessings of  Mother Nature. I must say I am one of those lucky few :-)

Shillong is a small city situated in the North Eastern part of India.

About my life there.... I lived  in the University quarters, as my dad worked as a Professor in NEHU.  The quarters were situated in a place surrounded with Pine trees, Orange and Plum trees !! Collecting pine cones and painting them with bright colors was something I loved doing ! I'm sure I still have some of those painted cones in my cupboard at home..

I remember experiencing all the four seasons in Shillong, each season being special in its own way. Each one leaving behind a distinct flavor, that has stayed with me till today. Spring came with the promise of life ,color and freshness. Baby pink buds on trees- blooming into flowers, grass turning into a fresh shade of green, my garden becoming a plethora of colorful flowers. This was the time when my school re-opened after a long three month winter vacation. Spring was the time to exchange the holiday stories with friends at school ...Going back to school, which was situated beside The Lady Hydari Park, was something I looked forward to. The park could be seen from my school. There were beautiful beds of colorful flowers, small ponds where families of swans swam, kids playing, people walking.... all this being visible from my play ground.

Then came the Summer season. Orchards in full bloom, butterflies and dragon flies flying everywhere, birds - sparrows and mynahs chirping all around, this was a bright season ! Walking along the muddy trail through the lush green NEHU Campus, to my dad's office was something I looked forward to on weekends. Having 'Garam Chai' with him in the Kong's shops near by is a sweet memory now...

The next season Autumn came and let me know of its arrival by making the leaves of the trees turn golden brown. The flowers that filled the trees dried and fell off. Autumn brought with it a change from bright colors to more sober ones. Watching the clear blue sky during this time was breath taking, the images of which are still crystal clear in my mind.

With the end of Autumn came Winter. Time for exams to get over and holidays to start ! Temperatures fell to single digits. People could be seen burning Koyla (coal) and wood, and heating themselves up. Sitting by the burning wood with family, and having a chit chat was like an occasion everyone looked forward to.  Mobile phones, computers were not common those days. There was more quality time to be spend with family, and friends.  The Winter season also meant it was Christmas time.  Going to a small, well decorated gift shop in Laitumkhrah, selecting cards for family and friends, writing and sending them across was an activity my sisters and I did during December. Dad helped , of course ..

Shillong has a cosmopolitan culture. People from various parts of India live here. I had neighbors and friends from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, UP, Orissa, West Bengal, Punjab, Kashmir, to name a few. Growing up in such a diverse society has helped me become open to new cultures, their lifestyle and food. I enjoy having 'Potol fry', just as much as i enjoy Parathas or Idlis !

Its been many years since I left Shillong and I am not sure when I can go there next. But I carry this town with me wherever I go, in a safe place - IN MY HEART !

This is the city that made me ME !

Shillong - You shall always remain an important part of my life !!

My Life In Chennai !

I came to the city of Chennai around two years back. I moved to this city because of my job, my FIRST job ! The day i knew i got posted here, i felt both happy as well as sad. I was happy that i was moving to a new city, I was going to start working and earning, and experience life ! My friends, and well wishers told me not to go to Chennai as the climatic condition is something many people wish to avoid.
Ignoring all the doubts i had in mind, i moved into this city. The initial part was tuff.... very tuff indeed! Getting adjusted to a new place takes time, patience and effort ...

Out of the past and into the present..

My daily means of travel is the suburban train... the best thing about these trains is their speed... You don't need to worry about getting stuck in the traffic... Trains can get crowded... and in this case.. the main aim is to get into the train as soon as possible since it does not stop in any station for more than a minute or two..

'Where am i headed to this weekend?', is what i have in mind each morning as i walk to the suburban station, through the streets filled with the aroma of coffee, the sounds of bhajans and Suprabhatam, aunties drawing beautiful designs at the entrance of their houses, and uncles reading news papers...

I am a girl who loves to explore places.. and you would like to know some of my travel stories...

T Nagar is one of the places I went to first...This is a place where you can shop to your hearts content... the only problem is that it is too crowded.. so the whole shopping thing can get a little hectic. You can see aunties buying loads of saris, girls surrounding ear ring and bangle shops, kids having softies, just to name a few things..

Talking about T Nagar and not mentioning the lovely Gurudwara is not possible... The Gurudwara is a very peaceful place to be... and each visitor is greeted with the yummy prasad..

Mahabalipuram ... i had heard of this place many times..and i always wanted to visit it.. I went to this place on a weekend.. the journey took me around an hour by bus..This place consists of many sculptures and buildings from the olden times... tourists from all over come here to visit... There is a lovely beach and a temple called Shore temple... Visiting this place was a refreshing experience..

Dakshin Chitra - I had never heard of this place until my friend told me she was going to visit it... She asked if i wanted to join.. to which i agreed.. The place showcases the four southern states... and there are many interesting hobbies you can pursue here.. like pottery...

Beaches... I am a lover of beaches and spending time near the sea is an enriching experience for me....Besant  Nagar beach, Marina Beach are two famous beaches in Chennai..
Having chilli bhajji at beach with friends, feeling the breeze flow through my hair... hearing the sound of the waves .....playing in the water.... All these are beautiful memories i cherish..and i look forward to more time at the beach..

Shopping at Spencers, EA, Pheonix, Chennai City Center.... Well who doesn't love going to malls with friends at times ? Shopping or (window shopping ;)) , eating, just walking around.. watching movies,.. all this is something these malls offer...

In this span of around two years.. i have been to many places in the city... but i still know there is so much more to see... and explore !

Chennai is a beautiful city... which has something to offer to everyone.... It is a perfect blend of the Modern with the Traditional !