A Simple Ghost Story - III

Episode IIII

“Tell us son, what happened at Mandeville?” aunt Preeta inquired.

Tobu and Debu had abruptly come back from Darjeeling just after 2 days. A myriad of emotions went through their minds, somewhere there was a fear of ridicule and embarrassment.

They were silent.

‘oh come on talk will you’ his father urged. Tobu still did not speak. He left the room in silence and Debu went back to his residence .Tobu locked his room and lay on his bed quietly.

As fatigue set in, eyes blurred, his mind took him back to 6 Mandeville Mansion.

2.35AM

A second longer and Tobu’s veins would have burst under pressure and shock...

The face moved away as if to say.. .....‘come to the mezzanine floor’. And disappeared.

‘This is insane – I should not go into that room’ Tobu chided himself.

He had tried to shut his eyes, but that was scarier. Tobu’s head was spining,heart racing, and palms sweating.

Tobu sat up on the divan, took a deep breath, and tried to calm down…interspersing logic with belief.

‘this is just a bad dream, I am going to wake up soon, and Debu and I are going to have a good time in Darjeeling’ .

Just then the dark room, saw rays of light stray on to the ceiling. Someone had lit up the mezzanine floor.

1. The first step towards the mezzanine room, had Tobu tip toe and wait.
2. The second step saw Tobu wanting to retreat.
3. The third step pulled Tobu up without his consent.

The long overcoat and a classical English hat confirmed it was a man standing at the end of the room. He was trying to light his pipe. Tobu could see his sideburns and the outline of a sharp nose.

‘Come, please sit.’ The voice spoke without looking at Tobu.

‘What brings you here? Holiday’s right?’ said the dark voice, still not looking at Tobu.

‘uh hmm err’ Tobu struggled to find words. Inside him there was a myriad of emotions flooding his mind. Questions were screaming for answers, doubts were shooting down common sense, and the last shred of belief was being beaten by insanity.

Mayhem in the mind.

3.00AM

‘I am Alan White.- ‘This is my house and you are the guest’.

Tobu obeyed. Simply because the dilemma of not knowing the truth over rode his fear factor. Tobu was speechless. His eyes wandered to the windows on the left side. The moon had disappeared. It was dark except that man seemed to be glowing.

‘You see it is my duty to take care of it, and look after it, even when no one is around.’

Tobu finally found some words in his throat – ‘why me…’ ?

‘What- do -you –mean- why you ? You always knew I was real, you have seen me before or at least my types before, so I am quite surprised that it surprises you.’ Mr. White said in a low and slow pace.

Tobu’s mind went into a tizzy as his beloved grammy’s image floated in. He had seen and even talked to her, 3 months after she was dead.!

Alan White walked towards Tobu with his pipe in hand. A familiar woody, eucalyptus like smell preceded him.

Tobu suddenly felt his body become very heavy. His mind was moving, but not his body. Tobu was tied to his seat…literally now.

The chair he sat on looked like one of those execution chairs. His wrists were cuffed, legs tied and mouth gagged…he couldn’t believe this was happening to him. A sense of claustrophobia and panic pinned him down, like someone hammering a nail into each pore of his skin.

‘Would you like something to drink’ Alan White asked politely.

Tobu snapped out of his stupor. He opened his eyes and it was just the same place before he had gone into a state of hallucination.

Alan White’s face changed color, became darker, and his eyes, blood shot, his forehead started to trickle with drops of blood. There was a devil wanting to burst out.

‘go away’ he hissed close to Tobu’s left ear.

Tobu’s resilience and shock absorption capacity broke down. He screamed. Eyes shut tightly, holding his breath ,gave his voice a full throttle blast.

4.00AM

Debu got up with a start. He was shivering with cold and fear. His eyes still unfocussed, mind fuzzy and his t-shirt drenched.

‘T-T-Tobu where are you brother ‘ he looked around nervously.

Tobu came rushing down from the mezzanine room and crashed into Debu. They both, screamed this time.

After a few minutes, Tobu gathered his composure, and said…

‘Debu we have to go back’.

Their journey back home was mostly in silence. Reaching home, they did not speak to anybody and just went into their respective rooms. Their families were worried if something was wrong but decided to give them some time.

Tobu’s eyes opened to see the fan making a strange noise above. There were papers strewn around the room, and the window announced the advent of a storm.

Meanwhile in another room….

‘Maybe they had a fight with each other’ Aunt Preeta suggested.

‘naah – they are pals since they were 6 years old, I think something else is the problem’

A few days later, Tobu narrated the incident partly. Even he was not sure, how much of it he really saw and how much of it was his imagination.

‘Aunt Preeta, please tell me you have seen him’? After all you have lived there almost 23 years now isnt it?’ asked Tobu eagerly.

Aunt Preeta was quiet. Then she spoke after some time… ‘No Tobu, I have not seen, or heard anything close to what you just mentioned’.

Tobu’s face hung low. He was beginning to believe perhaps it was a bad dream.

On the other hand Tobu’s parents were beginning to think he was playing a prank. He was an intelligent boy after all. Tobu’s father said ‘maybe he will spill the beans in a few days’

‘Don’t forget his Tuition incident’ reminded his wife sternly.

‘Our child is different, gifted, and we have to be especially careful dealing him.’ Tobu’s mother opined.

Tobu lay on his bed restless.

So many questions remain unanswered .He began replaying the incidents , chronologically, in his mind. Every word that he and Debu spoke, every feeling they experienced. But jus as he was about to drift into his experience with Alan White, his mind went back to Debu’s words…

“Let’s go to the police station” …

It almost occurred to Tobu in jest - that if Alan White was a ghost , then he ought to have died, and if he was dead, then there must be some record in some police station or morgue or cemetery or a hospital at the very least. He had to find out.

His increasing restlessness took a new high and saw him going back to Darjeeling the following week against his parents wishes. Their reluctance yielded ,as they saw Tobu in some distress. He was not the guy who would lie simply.

‘Do you want me to come with you – do let me know if you need any help’ Aunt Preeta said.

‘no I have to solve this alone. Don’t worry I will be fine.’

Oh- yes maybe you could give me the keys to Mandeville and permission to see the property documents.’ Tobu said as an after thought.

‘Tobu, enough, I think you ‘re overdoing it now” his father chided.

‘It’s ok, I think this does need to get sorted out once and for all’ Aunt Preeta interjected.

‘The locker key is number RV13.

Tobu looked at aunt Preeta with a sense of relief, and thanked her nodding his head.

Albeit Darjeeling was a small town, searching for one name would be akin to finding a needle in the haystack. Where would he start, based on what? Who would let him dig up old archives? So many doubts lay in front of him. But something also told him, that truth was near too.

Gyanban Thoughts -

1. Read Episode IV
2. The climax is divided into two parts, this is part one, and expect part 2 tonight.
3. A tea shop owner outside Mandeville mansion,said he'd seen some lights in the night.
4. Mandeville had no eucalyptus trees around.
5. Who is Alan White? Why was he here? Was Tobu hallucinating ? Find.Out.

image courtesy desktopnexus.com

A Simple Ghost Story - II

Episode III

6.30PM

'Don't be a fool, we haven't come all this way to just go back...we are going in.'

Tobu got up, and dusted his bag pack and helped Debu get up as well. They took a deep breath and walked towards the door.

‘Tobu – don’t do this... lets just lock the door and go back.’ Debu whimpered holding onto key number RV18.

It took an eternity for the palm to touch the door knob. It was cold. As if someone had kept inside a freezer for years. The cold shock got Tobu’s heart pounding. He was panting but tried hard not to show it to the already spooked Debu.

They could hear their breath, as they stepped inside the apparently empty house, and Tobu’s hand searched for the switch to the left of the door. A peculiar smell of damp wood wafted through the air. His exploring fingers finally found their destination.

‘ah that’s better. See it s not that bad ..in fact it is a very well maintained house.’Tobu exclaimed.

The door opened into a rectangular living room. He scanned the room from left to right.

Beige colored walls, coffee colored borders, a window pane with some wooden curios of the Masai tribes.

But his eyes were searching something else. The fireplace.

Debu was lurking behind Tobu’s shoulder and whispered - ‘but we saw smoke from the chimney outside isn’t it?

‘Uh hmm shut up Debu’ .

There was no sign of any fire. Tobu and Debu were really puzzled now. It didn't even occur to them until much later, what if there was a fire lit ? Wouldn't that be more scary ?

8.29PM

His eyes continued the journey. There was a big vintage clock hanging just above the fireplace. It showed 8.29PM.

The silence was perfect. You could even hear the clock tick, a distant dog bark, the wind blowing through the trees, and the love they had for the crevices in a largely wooden house. The clock chimed at the half hour interval to disturb the peaceful music of silence. A shiver ran down their spines, just like the house lizard scurries away seeing light, but Tobu continued to scan the room undeterred.

The inviting divan, beside the wall ,opposite the door, reminded him of the journey so far – 12 hours in the train from Kolkata to NJP, then the bumpy rickshaw ride to Siliguri and then the treacherous heart stopping uphill drive in a jeep, whose driver was stoned or so it seemed when he looked into his eyes. Sleep deprivation was at it's highest state of manifestation.

The window at the other side of the room had long flowing beige curtains covering the view outside. The lonely television rested on an artistic log cut table. The final bend of the rectangular room had a staircase leading up to a mezzanine room. Just 3 wooden steps.

‘Debu it seems there is another room upstairs. You wait here, I ll go check it out.’ Tobu said without looking at Debu. Debu shut his eyes and muttered a prayer under his breath. He looked around to see a wall hanging showing mercury level at the 9C degree mark.It made him uncomfortable.He was sweating.

Tobu switched on the dim passage light and gingerly walked up the 3 steps. Each step anticipating the unexpected.

He stepped into the room on the mezzanine floor and switched on the lights. There was a long table which could seat 4 people on either side. The wooden floor expressed it's irritation on Tobu’s next step. He obliged by pausing for a few seconds and then moved on.This is was a smaller rectangular room almost perpendicular to the living room.As Tobu walked towards the far end of the room he got that familiar smell again…something was burning.

Tobu’s eyes widened as he gulped at the same time, to see the fireplace simmering! It almost seemed like someone had just doused the fire a few minutes ago.

‘Hello is anyone there’ Tobu cleared his throat - loudly. Defense mechanism. But silence replied with the same music.

‘what happened Tobu who are you talking to?’ a nervous Debu inquired from the living room.

‘no one’.

‘What do you mean no one.?’

I said don’t worry about it.ok ? Tobu shot back a little irritated now.

He went close to the fireplace and investigated the fireplace in detail. It seemed someone had poured water over burning twigs and some charcoal. The room had 2 large windows,no curtains and tightly closed. Moon shadow was beautifully caressing the landscape outside.

So if the front door was locked, windows sealed,and no sign of a break in- how could someone get in ? Tobu pondered.

He decided to look out of the window to see any tell-tale signs.

There was nothing on the left of his eyes.

There was nothing on the right of his eyes.

Then he looked up...still nothing unusual ..a.and then down expecting to find nothing...but he did.

9.45PM

His eyes met another pair of eyes.

For a moment the blood in his veins revolted. Spiders were crawling inside his heart. Red ants were eating into his skin. A nail was being hammered into his skull. Such was the intense shock.

The eyes were cold, oval and without eyelids. The distant car headlights flashed and exposed the cat.

Tobu snapped out of his stupor and breathed again. He went back to the living room carrying scared droplets of sweat on his forehead.

‘Debu I think we should go and inform the police station’. ‘something doesn’t seem right. The fireplace has just been doused, looks like there might have been someone here before us.’ Tobu remarked.

‘9.45PM in Darjeeling is pretty cold you know… anytime of the year.’ Debu said nervously trying to sound funny.‘Besides we don’t know how far the police station is ...so why not we stay put in this room for the night?’ Debu suggested.

‘I guess you’re right.’ For a change Tobu agreed with Debu instantly.

11.30PM

‘Well then you sleep in the divan here and I will sleep in the room upstairs.’ Tobu said.

‘No way. You sleep on the divan and if the need be I will sleep on the wooden floor with the mattress. But we ve got to stay together.’ Debu was insistent.

‘ok ok don’t panic. Lets sleep now.i really need it - am so tired.’ sighed Tobu.

After a brief moment of silence....‘Tobu…am hungry’.Debu whimpered.

‘The kitchen is right over there’ Tobu said pointing at the mezzanine floor.

Debu got his answer and began to make arrangements for sleeping without the food or mattress from the mezzanine floor.

Tobu arranged the bed cover, and neatly folded it. The bed was cold but he slid in cozily. Aunt Preeta had told them where the quilts were rolled and kept. So both of them had one quilt each to snuggle into and fear as their companions kept them warm.

The last time Tobu saw his watch before his eyes closed was at 11.30PM.

2.30AM

The next time his eyes opened it was 2.30AM and a pair of eyes were horizontally over him…just 2 feet above his nose.

Gazing into his eyes intently, in the darkness of the night, and the fluorescent light of the watch.

Tobu’s toes stretched out achingly, his heart beat must've been 120, he felt blood rush and then drain out of his face. His throat was choked and body transfixed. His cheeks could faintly feel the breath from the face above.He was in a state of shock.He scratched the wooden divan with his nails so hard that the wood began to chip off.

A second longer and Tobu’s veins would have burst. The face moved away. Tobu turned his head to follow the face though his body felt paralyzed.

it seemed to say ....‘come to the mezzanine floor’. And disappeared.

Gyanban thoughts

1. Read Episode III
2. Read A Simple Ghost Story - I.
3. Was Tobu hallucinating or was this for real?
4. Who was the voice? What happens when he goes inside that room?
5. Does he die? Does he live to tell ?
6. Tobu had some amazing shock tolerance capability...he still does.
7. Mandeville still stands as a witness.

image courtesy :desktopnexus.com

A Simple Ghost Story - I

Episode II

It was a clear sky and a full moon night. It was 6PM and a cold wind blew across Tobu’s face.

Darjeeling was cold even in summer. Tobu and his friend Debu stood in front of Mandeville – a duplex construction on the edge of a cliff overlooking the hills and a distant Kanchenjunga.

Tobu and Debu had just finished their higher secondary final exams and were completely drained, mentally and physically. They desperately needed a break from their routine which allowed only 6 hour sleep cycles. The plan to visit Darjeeling had struck Tobu while submitting his final answer sheet on the last of exams.

Summertime usually saw half of the Kolkata population land up on Mall road.! So hotels were certainly going to be full and expensive.This trip almost didn't materialize because of a tight budget situation.

Aunt Preeta had chosen Darjeeling as her second home. Her husband had died pretty early in her married life. She worked hard to survive and taught in a convent school, where one day she met a British couple through a common acquaintance. Preeta was a good ,knowledgeable and intelligent conversationalist.Within a few days they became good friends and a many such interactions later, she moved in as a paying guest at their house Mandeville.

Years later, the bonding between Preeta and the couple took a tangible turn. They willed Mandeville to Preeta since they did not have any children of their own. Aunt Preeta had taken care of the house and lived there alone for almost 23 years now. For aunt Preeta solitude was her comfort and only companion. She would leave them behind each year to visit the extended family in Kolkata for a few days.

Aunt Preeta offered her residence to save Tobu and Debu some money on lodging. Tobu couldn’t believe his luck.

‘What a perfect timing.’ Debu exclaimed.

‘yes aunt Preeta ,I will take care of your house in Darjeeling, while you are here’ justified Debu with an innocent naughty face…almost Dennis like.

‘yes my dear.’ Aunt Preeta nodded sensing Tobu’s excitement.

‘But how will you go alone? Won’t you get bored? After all, beyond a point there is not much to do in Darjeeling’ inquired a concerned aunt Preeta.

‘Oh but I have already taken care of that aunty. Debu is travelling with me.’ Retorted Tobu…almost too quickly, giving away the fact that it was probably pre-planned, and not something he came up just randomly.

Aunt Preeta, gave a knowing smile and said ‘good – then I won’t be worried, the two of you can take care of each other’. Tobu’s parents had frowned but it was too late to get into an argument now.

‘Oh it's gotten dark so quickly, damn ,dont even have a torch light – I can barely see the key numbers’ said Debu.

‘which one is the key to the main door – Tobu?’

‘just keep trying.’ Said Tobu rather seriously.

A light smell of wet earth wafted in...‘hmm it must be raining somewhere..but now ? summer has just set in..that’s odd.’ he pondered as Tobu's eyes looked up in the sky.

‘Debu noticed the seriousness in Tobu’s voice and prodded again.

‘so what’s the matter with you? Why are you so serious?’ ‘I certainly don’t want to spend the night freezing on the steps here. so please help me find the right key’ Debu trailed off.

Now the Mandeville mansion, was a classic European stone chip design home. Nobody quite had the exact record of when Mandeville was constructed,but old locals called it the phantom since early 1900's.Teak was amply sawed, iron was minimally fit, marble was intricately carved, and elegance was personified. The entrance to the house had a huge arch with a log wood designed door.

‘Hey Tobu – will you please help me here, instead of just staring at the sky ? Debu turned around to see Tobu pointing to the sky.

What he saw next,was inexplicable,as realization set in,Debu’s mouth dried. He clenched his fingers and suddenly the cold was more than he could handle. He started to shiver.

Smoke billowed out of the lone chimney at Mandeville.

The two boys were silent and didn’t know what to do or say. One of them said ‘Tobu lets go back to Kolkata you know’ this doesn’t seem right.’

‘I know it doesn’t and that’s why we need to find out.’

‘this is what I hate about you Tobu – you just never listen to me.’ After getting their bearings Tobu looked at the key ring once more.

'Here, this is the key,' as Tobu handed over the single ,silver plated key to Debu.

Debu took a closer look at the key and saw the embedded metal writing - key number RV18.

As he turned the key the door unlocked with a loud click. As the door squeaked open Tobu whispered into Debu's ear..

'Step aside Debu...I think he wants to go out..don't block his way...'

'wh-what wh-who ? wh-where I don't see anyone..It's dark, lights are switched off...' before Debu could finish his sentence...a cold gush of air hit him hard, so hard that he fell down rolling from the steps.Tobu got hit as well in the process.They both fell in front of the door beside the stair case.

'what was that all about ? .....you know what - I am getting out of here Tobu - you keep your aunt's house to yourself.

I am better off at my house in Kolkata' - Debu said shivering uncontrollably with cold and fear.

'Don't be a fool, we haven't come all this way to just go back...we are going in.'

Gyanban Thoughts -

1. What happens next ? Who was inside? Why was smoke billowing from an empty house? find out the answer in the continuing episode. Is it a burglar, a ghost or nothing at all ? Why was the key numbered RV18.
2. Read Episode II here.
3. Who were the British couple ?
4. Yes, Mandeville - pronounced Mandayvilla - still exists today,albeit with a different name.
5. Yes, this is partly a true story ,needless to say all names are fictitious.
6. Read Tobu's previous experiences in the Accident Incident. and The Walk of Life.

image courtesy :desktopnexus.com

Casanova Crossing.

June 7,1996. 9.00AM.

‘See you in the evening at my place’ Madhu smiled and waved Mohit a warm goodbye walking down the stairs.

Giacomo Casanova himself, was probably less charming than Mohit Singh. Most girls in college would vouch for that statement. Yet that was the reason many wouldn’t even look at him or talk to him.

Deep down, their hearts fluttered every time the familiar YSL M7 fragrance drifted through the air announcing his presence in the room. It was not just that he looked good – it was more to do with the fact, that he knew ,he looked good. That made him more lethal and hard to resist.

Mohit Singh, the archetypal college stud, ran across the canteen to get another strategic glimpse of his new girlfriend in college. A sprint which he had done many times before.

“Tonight was going to be the night” he thought. – and punched his fist in the air – just like Roger Federer did after blasting an ace down the center court. He came running back and sat with the “Chai” gang at the “Chaitin” - the popular college canteen. A place, a set of friends, who he could relate to, and bare his soul. No pretense.

They were 3 couples – Suhel and Vibhuti , going steady for the last 2 years now, Sundar and Loveleen, a picture of serenity – the classical “made for each other couple”, and then there was Mohit, with Sunaina,Ritika,Simone,Neha,Damyanti,Jenny…and now Madhu.! He had really fallen in love with all these women. Truly. And then broken off. Truly. Permanency was not his forte.

‘Man – is she hot or what ?’ Mohit said like an excited puppy as the other 4 looked at him with a bored expression.

After sipping the remaining tea in the saucer, Suhel raised his eyebrows and said rather dryly -

‘get a life dude – this is this your 7^th sprint in the final year of college – when will you ever get serious like us ?’

‘oh man really? Well thanks for counting budz - but life is about change and I like it that way’ retorted Mohit.

’hmm that’s what you said for the last 6 of them’ frowned Suhel’s fiancé Vibhuti.

‘I know , I know – but guys – each change is different from the other’ – Mohit winked at Rahul.

‘The only thing that changes is the place or the bed – rest is the same’ said Rahul animatedly.

‘Shame on you – how will you ever get married? I guess for your marriage you will have to pay dowry.” Loveleen joked, and everyone burst out laughing.

‘Too bad - you guys are stuck and am free’ Mohit said flatly.

Careful of not trying to show the slight frustration in his mind, Suhel said – ‘permanency is the best thing that could happen to any man or woman. There is a sense of belonging ,a sense of attachment, and guess what – we are not even hiding this from our parents –because we believe we are not doing anything wrong. It’s a great feeling.’

‘Yes, and in fact my parents were quite happy to hear that, my priorities were in order – first finish college, get a stable job and then get married.’ Vibhuti said with an air of confidence.

Sundar,who was sitting quietly all this while finally spoke. ‘Budz – you’ve got to get steady and develop a sense of permanency you know, otherwise you will never be happy.The chase for perfection never ends, somewhere you’ve got to say – hey this is what I have, and get on with it.’

Mohit looked at them with a solemn face, as if he was regretting his words and actions and said –

“ – A thing of beauty… is not for ever’ and burst out laughing.

June 7,2002. 9.00AM

‘This is the last and final boarding call for passenger Suhel Khan ,travelling to Mumbai, Jet airways flight 9W0408.Please proceed to security check.’ Announced the BOSE speakers overhead.

‘Is that you Suhel ….Suhel Khan ?’ Oh- my- mother-superior !’ Mohit’s eyes widened.

“It is you. Look at you dude – how time just flew by.”

Suhel looked at Mohit and for a moment forgot why he was at the airport that day.

‘hey Mohit – what a pleasant surprise – good to see you man’ said Suhel with a cosmetic smile.

‘you’ve got to cancel the flight and lets catch up’ said Mohit with genuine excitement.

‘err no budz – have to go – it is important.’ said Suhel flatly.

‘what do you mean you have to go– I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for some time now ,but nobody seems to know your whereabouts.'

Since I moved to Australia, on a short notice, it was difficult for me to fly down and meet with you guys personally’ Mohit justified his stance.

‘I mean what happened?’Where are you guys what are you doing?

’Where’s everyone else’… Mohit couldn’t hide his excitement while Suhel couldn’t hide is disappointment.

After a brief moment of pause – Suhel broke down and said – ‘Mohit – I am going to Mumbai to finalize my divorce with Vibhuti. It’s been tough, don’t know why – but we don’t seem to love each other anymore…maybe we fell out of love somewhere.

Mohit was stunned. The screaming jet broke his stupor.

‘What about Loveleen and Sundar?’ He asked resting his hand on Suhel’s shoulder.

'Don’t know, have been too caught up with my life, though I know that Sundar married Bhagyalakshmi, the college geek.’ Said Suhel gathering his composure.

'What ? Why? err I mean how ?'What happened to Loveleen?' Mohit pressed.

'Her parents got her engaged and married to some Toronto Jat.' Suhel said.

As Suhel saw the Jet Airways executive screaming his name across the lounge, as he picked up his bag getting ready to walk...he heard a shrieking baby.

“Paaaaaaaaapppaaaa” screamed the bundle of joy Mihika, and leapt on to her father’s open arms.

‘Hey Sunshine’ Mohit said. Why aren’t you with mommy?

“No, want to be with papa” babbled Mihika.

Suhel’s jaw dropped open when he saw Madhu behind Mohit’s shoulder walking towards them.

‘Suhel , meet my daughter Mihika, and my wife Madhu…since college.’ Smiled Mohit.

Gyanban Thoughts - 1. The names of the characters were a deliberate choice if you notice...Suhel Khan and Vibhuti - the underlying indication was to lead the reader to think of a potential conflict of religion coming in their way of marriage..but it was not,they broke off on personal incompatibility. Just like Loveleen and Sundar were carefully chosen to implant a similar thought of a TamBrahm with a Panjabi girl.

2. Life is pattern less, unique just like a fingerprint. Each relation has an unique path it travels. People change, circumstances change and therefore the end results can also change. So the next time, you chide someone or preach someone remember one day you will be tested.

image courtesy:desktopnexus

C'est la vie

Milestones run and thoughts fly,
the swaying trees seem to cry,
stars walk, in an empty sky,
moments frozen, just go on by,

faces blur, as memories fade,

tresses flow ,as the winds trade,
my soul travels, and it chides,
mirror flogs, the rugged hide,
on a bed of nails, my body lies,
the mirror smiles, reflecting lies,

this is where, you had to go,
nothing to hide,and nothing to show,
burning on fire, very slow,
splinters flare, and the tears glow,

mind numbs, the feeling so,
deserts flood and water flows,
Forest rains and a chilling bite,
breezy skies and a drifting kite,
my life flows ,

into the unknown light...

Gyanban thoughts - while listening to Enya's Trains and Winter Rains...I wrote just a few lines about how our lives pass us by without really thinking why? The lines depict a varied range of emotions and desires,the introspection and realizations we go through over time.Sometimes I think our transactional lives have no meaning at all.There is a bigger truth somewhere yet unexplored...

image courtesy :desktopnexus

Curtains.

The gigantic fan blade thrust a cold breeze on the Swiss Alps.

Her dark mascara cloaked the scar from the night before.

The trap had to be tighter, else she would lose out on the deal.

Voyeur eyes made sure she was never alone.

The flash bulb shed light on her deepest fears.

That’s what she saw…behind the curtains.

He sailed with her hair waving like a storm pounding the shore.

He ventured to the dark side of the moon with her mascara.

His mind freely unstrapped the big shapely breasts.

He floated with the veins of her body…

He touched her everywhere mentally,

That’s what he saw…on the screen.

Gyanban Thoughts - someone's pain and humiliation is someone else's fantasy and entertainment.But that's the circle of life isn't it...specially for folks in the show business.We only get to see the glamor part, rarely we stop to think what went into making that shot ? Also,if you note,this is a double 55 of sorts.!

image courtesy - desktopnexus.com