The Best Place

Home is a feeling not just a place, 

The feeling of comfort and love and being safe.

It is the sheer acceptance of loved ones,

The readjusting of schedules in silence. 

Acceding to a different palate, different tastes. 

Late night talks despite a hectic work pace. 

Thoughtful planning to take precious offs,

Sharing, probing, caring through interactions all.

Letting be, letting in the other into one's personal space.

A place to belong, people warm: a home, when you find it, is the best place.

Thank you for sharing your home with me.

It has become mine too in my memories. :)

- Began on 7 June. (1st 4 lines). Completed on 11 June 2022 the rest.

- I had something else in mind, but some turbulence in the plane took my mind away. 

- This is inspired by my primary hosts in the City of Joy. 

The True Gifts

Memories are made in moments

Silly, mundane, and the fun ones

Through late night conversations,

Groans at bad, very bad, puns.

Noonish jaunts to shops

And buying sprees that hunger halts

Ice creams and kulfis

And late night soirees.

Trips to old haunts,

Bits of a recaptured past.

Co-opting members unwilling or not

Even silences speak a lot. 

Singing sessions (and screeching ones too)

A short stay, so much to do. 

Through all the grumblings, moanings and teasings

One realises afresh one's blessings

So many people to love and cherish

These precious moments: the true gifts.

- Written on 5 June 2022.

- Post a family dinner out with 05 cousins and their families at Barbeque Nation, Acropolis, Kolkata.

The trip 2-7 June has been awesome despite not being well and doped on meds. 

A New Angel in Heaven

A smile on her face and greeted us at the door. 

I looked away blinking furiously at the floor. 

I could still not believe 

We had come to grieve

The death of one so young, sweet sixteen. 

The garland around the photo frame needed to be seen.

She hugged me tight, I hugged her tight too.

I had lost someone recently, but this loss should be taboo.

How does one lose a child and cope?

Yet, as I knew she would, she showed.

With grace, with tears, with smiles and memories

Of cakes baked, videos shared and dogs and puppies.

At the door she sent us off, recommending bird watching. 

I remembered that flamingoes in Aztec tradition represent healing. 

I prayed the family may together find peace

Also a note to an angel above to lovingly guide the new one be at ease.

- Written on 21 May 2022.

- A friend, an ex-colleague, lost her daughter in a freak accident. We went to visit her. 

Mizoram - May 2022

It was misty, it rained, it was windy

But people trudged on willingly. 

Helping, up the hill scrambling

Clicking, posing, admiring, chattering.

The beauty of Mizoram is to be seen in person

The cold winds and warm people is a wonderful combination

Today as we climbed down I thought

This camaraderie can never with the same set again be got

As I mulled, I became sad

The views then soothed me glad

I have said this before

Memories stay, even if people go.

'Till we meet again' sang Team Mizoram

'I hope soon' sang my heart in response.

Will miss you MZ and MZ Team (old and new)

Oh! I so hate to bid adieu.

- Written on  14 May 2022.

- Work trip that was filled with so much pleasure. 

#Mizoram #CLIx #nature #beauty #ReikTlang #Aizawl #TeamBuilding

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