Friday, September 06, 2024

Saturday, August 17, 2024

Shine on ! (my child!)

(I wrote this after talking to one of my nieces; she was processing her mother's (my sister's) loss)


When you sense the sorrow
Be it today, or tomorow,
Listen deeper to your heart
To those voices from the past,
reprising all we talked
(and those that I taught).

If happiness still eludes you
Look up to the high skies -
All those shining stars
or that floating cloud
is me...
Looking at thee, 
Happy and very proud,
and what you've become -
Grounded, kind and then some.

Trust me, my child,
I've seen whats in plan,
In that future, wondrous and wild,
You are that woman,
I could aspire to be !!
(Now, stop thinking of me,
Gotta go listen to live SPB)

Sunday, August 04, 2024

Never Ending Story

 

Two years gone by
Since the goodbye(s)!
Was it yesterday,  
Or an eon ago?  
I turn the leaf 
In the book of grief,  
Every line I read, 
Strings a bead
of a memory past;
Of joy then, sorrow now.
Not wanting to last,
In this aching woe
I go to the last page -
Just as I fear,
Through my tears,
can't see "The End." ЁЯе╣
(Perhaps "yet" my friend !)

--------------
When someone read this poem of mine, they sent me this beautiful Reddit post.

Sunday, January 01, 2023

2023

The road ahead unknown and dark,
Fall colors aground quietly hark,
Of memories of the year past and done,
Happy ones, sadness many, regrets none.
Hesitant, I stood staring ahead,
A bit of expectation, a bit of dread...
Then, this tap on the shoulder,
I turned around, I looked at her.
Amidst the endless many a nope,
Stood she with a smile, Hope
Beckoning, to take her extended hand.
Through these ever shifting sands.
Here I am now, moving on,
Held and steered gently,
By faith, of a better 2023!

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Yet Another Good Bye ! :-(

How do you even say good bye to someone who is your first friend; and forever friend ? 

After 2 year of battle of the dreaded cancer (redux), my dear sister passed away this August. As someone who had acess to so much information, I was very aware of the prognosis of a metastatic cancer; but it never prepares you for the eventuality. I always thought we could have another day, another week and perhaps another month more. But there is no greyness in the eventuality, it is definite. 

My first memory of her, was when I was less than 5 years old - the house in Chennai; where she simply fooled me in a competition. Who wins in finishing first a favorite treat, that my mom made. I was the winner, but then I saw her eat with relish, ever so s-l-o-w-l-y, enjoing every bite of it, and me watching that; it took me several years to realize that she actually won it. Then came the memories, in that lovely house in Katpadi. While playing catch, she had tripped me and I fell and hit my head and started profusely bleeding. I had to have a couple of stitches in my skull; I guess she felt guilty about it and tried to up my spirit by joking and singing a parody of the ad of my dad's bank (and btw, she had such a bad voice! Neither of us had inherited our mom's voice); without realizing laughing only made my pain worse.

She was unerringly/unflinchingly "loyal" to me (and naturally, to her family - kids/spouse) - even when I started smoking, or had that first drink; and when my kid arrived, she was one of the rock that we leaned on for support. She brought the same fierceness in embracing my better half as her sister and my son as her own. Once when my 8 year old kid was bullied and he came in narrated innocently about it, she had tears in her eyes - that is how much she cared for people around her. She always gave the benefit of the doubt to others; she was ever the pacifist within the family and ferocious in defending without, putting her kids (first) and spouse in the front and center, so much so she subsumed her own personality and how she grew up pre-marriage. She wasn't always like this; until upto middle years in college, she was brash and abrasive; but something switched on during the final years, when she became a follower of Puttaparthi Sai Baba and started volunteering in their medical camps. The one thing I am thankful for, is to have reconnected her to Sai-Bhajans during her treatment and last year - I used to go to the Sai temple here and do a video call as the poojai was going on.

To me, personally, she was the first one within the family that I usually talked to. If there was something that I need to get some perspective on, I'll send her a message or ping her. There weren't answers, but sure I was listened to; and that helped. I used to tell her of all the scenarios I had imagined through my life, she going this early was never one of them. In the past months, since she left there are several occasion, that I sense her absence, as I turn around to look for answers or even affirmation with something. She has left a chasm that I doubt can ever be filled. 

Last year, while she was going through the treatment, she and I had a bit of fun as I was walking around, showing the Christmas lights on video call. As we were going through the arches, I told her to duck her head as it may hit the arches - given she is quite tall; and she did that in fun as I walked through each of the lighted arches.

Yesterday, I went to that street - and walked through the arches. The memories of last year and everything else came back to me. How do I even fill that space that she left behind ? How do I even replace a friend of nearly 50+ years, who was my solid scaffold ? Probably never; but perhaps, I'm hoping the past memories she left behind, would be the one that stand in her stead.

Oh, I'm pretty sure yesterday as I was walking through those lighted arches, up there, she ducked her head - as a loyal friend and loving sister, she always humored me and my painfully stupid jokes !

Love you acca and will forever miss you! 

(ps: I'm writing this, as I'm listening to your favourite SPB songs)

Saturday, December 24, 2022

Good bye!

As I walk through this house, there is an indescribable sense of melancholy mixed with nostalgic happiness. I see my dad's presence as I go through each room to secure the windows, close the cupboards and cover the furniture. Perhaps for the last time as an owner or as a resident. (I don't think I will come back and stay in this house. The next time it will be probably to sell the house).

I go into a room. I can imagine him sitting there peering at the computer and at the phone OTP that he just received. I come to the hall and I can see him sitting on one of the sofas.  As I look at the TV, I cannot but picture him sitting in front of it watching a serial very intently and telling why the character should not behaving the way they are in the story. Or I see him, arguing, debating something with my sister who has just arrived from Mumbai because we are all here. I can really really sense a total joy in his voice as he talks to her -  that joy that never ever have I seen when he talks to me. But that's fine. I know that she was his favorite. But I also know that he was extremely proud of me and what I've done in general and what I've done for him and my mother. But I digress...

For some reason my dad fell in love with this house. I had bought this house for them, as their earlier residence was on third floor without a lift and they were getting by in their age. When I asked him why he liked this house so much that he refused to move to assisted living in his later and tougher-to-live-alone years, especially during Covid years, he always pointed to his memories - that so many things happened in this house. He used to say that all his grandchildren's pre-marriage functions were here, and this is where he built a lot of memories post retirement. He said he felt true joy and peace, in this house - more of it when his favorites grand kids and daughter* visited.

I also wonder given his  nomadic adult life, the last ~25 years of his life were anchored to this house. All his life, he was always moving around towns every few years due to his job. Maybe he was just tired of being a perennial itinerant. Maybe this house provided him a permanence where he could actually retire and rest. Maybe that is what made him love this house, because it gave him that anchor that he missed all his adult life. 

It's almost a year since he went and I'm still grappling, with little clue, of how to handle the loss. There always seems to be things that I could have done differently the last year of his life, but then I think it will always be like that.  This is something that I would have talked to my sister but... ... 

Today we'll lock up the house and prepare to travel out back to our home. Maybe selling this house also cements my memory of him and helps me to move on.

Maybe he is looking at me right now from up above smiling and turning around and telling my sister "...whatever he does, he will make the right decision...(eventually!! ЁЯШЛ)"  as he had told me so many times, with pride in his voice.

Goodbye house, goodbye dear appa. Tears well up, but I think they point little to a lingering sorrow, but more to a closure of the past and moving on to the future - that is hopeful, filled with your blessings for us, and especially, for your favorite grandson! ЁЯЩПЁЯП╜

Good bye! Love you, miss you!


(I used Google Translate to get a tamil version of the write-up for my mom - this is what I got)

рокிро░ிропாро╡ிроЯை!

 роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯ்роЯிрой்  роЕро▒ைроХро│ை роиாрой் роироЯрои்родு роЪெро▓்ро▓ுроо்рокோродு, ​​роПроХ்роХроо் роХро▓рои்род роороХிро┤்роЪ்роЪிропுроЯрой் роТро░ு ро╡ிро╡ро░ிроХ்роХ рооுроЯிропாрод роЪோроХроо் роЙро│்ро│родு.  роЬрой்ройро▓்роХро│ைрок் рокрод்родிро░рок்рокроЯுрод்родро╡ுроо், роЕро▓рооாро░ிроХро│ை рооூроЯро╡ுроо், родро│рокாроЯроЩ்роХро│ை рооூроЯро╡ுроо் роТро╡்ро╡ொро░ு роЕро▒ை ро╡ро┤ிропாроХроЪ் роЪெро▓்ро▓ுроо்рокோродுроо் роОрой் роЕрок்рокாро╡ிрой் роЗро░ுрок்рокை роиாрой் роОрой் рооройродிро▓் роХாрог்роХிро▒ேрой்.  

роЗродுро╡ே роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯ்роЯிрой் роЙро░ிрооைропாро│ро░ாроХ роЕро▓்ро▓родு роХுроЯிропிро░ுрок்рокாро│ро░ாроХ роХроЯைроЪி рооுро▒ропாроп் роЗро░ுроХ்роХро▓ாроо்.  (роиாрой் родிро░ுроо்рокி ро╡рои்родு роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯ்роЯிро▓் родроЩ்роХுро╡ேрой் роОрой்ро▒ு роиிройைроХ்роХро╡ிро▓்ро▓ை. роЕроЯுрод்род рооுро▒ை ро╡ро░ுроо் рокோродு ро╡ீроЯ்роЯை ро╡ிро▒்роХ роиேро░ிроЯுроо்).

 роиாрой் роТро░ு роЕро▒ைроХ்роХுро│் роЪெро▓்роХிро▒ேрой்.  роЕрок்рокா роЕроЩ்роХேропே роЕрооро░்рои்родு роХрогிройிропைропுроо், роЕро╡ро░் рокெро▒்ро▒ родொро▓ைрокேроЪி OTPропைропுроо் роЙро▒்ро▒ுрок் рокாро░்рок்рокродை роОрой்ройாро▓் роХро▒்рокройை роЪெроп்родு рокாро░்роХ்роХ рооுроЯிроХிро▒родு.  роиாрой் ро╣ாро▓ுроХ்роХு ро╡ро░ுроХிро▒ேрой், роЕро╡ро░் роТро░ு роЪோроГрокாро╡ிро▓் роЕрооро░்рои்родிро░ுрок்рокродை роиாрой் рокாро░்роХ்роХிро▒ேрой்.  роиாроЩ்роХро│் роЕройைро╡ро░ுроо் роЗроЩ்роХே роЗро░ுрок்рокродாро▓் рооுроо்рокைропிро▓் роЗро░ுрои்родு ро╡рои்род роОрой் роЪроХோродро░ிропுроЯрой் роПродோ ро╡ிро╡ாродроо்.  роЕро╡ро░் роЕро╡ро│ுроЯрой் рокேроЪுроо் рокோродு, роЕро╡ро░் роХுро░ро▓ிро▓் роТро░ு рооுро┤ுрооைропாрой роороХிро┤்роЪ்роЪிропை роОрой்ройாро▓் роЙрог்рооைропிро▓் роЙрогро░ рооுроЯிроХிро▒родு -  роЕро╡ро░் роОрой்ройிроЯроо் рокேроЪுроо் рокோродு роиாрой் рокாро░்род்родிро░ாрод роЕрои்род роороХிро┤்роЪ்роЪி.  роЖройாро▓் рокро░ро╡ாропிро▓்ро▓ை.  роЕро╡ро│் роЕро╡ро░ுроХ்роХு рооிроХро╡ுроо் рокிроЯிрод்родро╡ро│் роОрой்ро▒ு роОройроХ்роХுрод் родெро░ிропுроо்.  роЖройாро▓் роЕро╡ро░் роОрой்ройைрок் рокро▒்ро▒ிропுроо், рокொродுро╡ாроХ роиாрой் роОрой்рой роЪெроп்родிро░ுроХ்роХிро▒ேрой் роОрой்рокродைропுроо், роЕро╡ро░ுроХ்роХுроо் роОрой் роЕроо்рооாро╡ிро▒்роХுроо் роиாрой் роОрой்рой роЪெроп்родேрой் роОрой்рокродைропுроо் рокро▒்ро▒ி роЕро╡ро░் рооிроХро╡ுроо் рокெро░ுрооைрок்рокроЯுроХிро▒ாро░் роОрой்рокродைропுроо் роиாрой் роЕро▒ிро╡ேрой்.  роиாрой் роЯிро╡ிропைрок் рокாро░்роХ்роХுроо்рокோродு, ​​​​роЕро╡ро░் роЕродрой் рооுрой் роЕрооро░்рои்родு роТро░ு роЪீро░ிропро▓ை рооிроХро╡ுроо் роЙрой்ройிрок்рокாроХрок் рокாро░்рок்рокродைропுроо், роЕрои்родроХ் роХродாрокாрод்родிро░роо் роПрой் роХродைропிро▓் роЕро╡ро░்роХро│் роЗро╡்ро╡ாро▒ு роироЯроХ்роХ  роХூроЯாродு роОрой்ро▒ு роЪொро▓்ро╡родைропுроо் роОрой்ройாро▓் роХро▒்рокройை роЪெроп்роп рооுроЯிроХிро░родு.

 роЪிро▓ роХாро░рогроЩ்роХро│ாро▓் роОрой் роЕрок்рокா роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯ்роЯை рооிроХро╡ுроо் роЖроЪைропோроЯு ро╡ிро░ுроо்рокிройாро░்.  ро▓ிрок்роЯ் роЗро▓்ро▓ாрооро▓் рооூрой்ро▒ாро╡родு рооாроЯிропிро▓் роЕро╡ро░்роХро│் рооுрой்рокு родроЩ்роХிропிро░ுрои்родродாро▓ுроо், роЕро╡ро░்роХро│் ро╡ропродை роОроЯ்роЯிропродாро▓ுроо் роиாрой் роЕро╡ро░்роХро│ுроХ்роХாроХ роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯ்роЯை ро╡ாроЩ்роХிройேрой்.  роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯு роПрой் роЕро╡ро░ுроХ்роХு рооிроХро╡ுроо் рокிроЯிроХ்роХுроо் роОрой்ро▒ு роиாрой் роЕро╡ро░ிроЯроо் роХேроЯ்роЯрокோродு, ​​роЕро╡ро░் родройродு --- рокிро▒்роХாро▓ рооро▒்ро▒ுроо் роХроЯிройрооாрой родройிрооைрок் рокро░ுро╡роЩ்роХро│ிро▓், роХுро▒ிрок்рокாроХ роХோро╡ிроЯ் роЖрог்роЯுроХро│ிро▓் роХூроЯ роПрой் роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯ்роЯிро▓் роЗро░ுроХ்роХ роЖроЪை --- роЕро╡ро░் роОрок்рокோродுроо் родройродு роиிройைро╡ுроХро│ை роЪுроЯ்роЯிроХ்роХாроЯ்роЯிройாро░் - рокро▓ ро╡ிро╖ропроЩ்роХро│் роХாрог்роЯро▒родு  роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯு.  роЕро╡ро░் родройродு рокேро░роХ்роХுро┤рои்родைроХро│ிрой் родிро░ுроорогрод்родிро▒்роХு рооுрои்родைроп роЪெропро▓்рокாроЯுроХро│் роЕройைрод்родுроо் роЗроЩ்роХே роЗро░ுрок்рокродாроХро╡ுроо், роУроп்ро╡ுроХ்роХுрок் рокிро▒роХு роЕро╡ро░் роиிро▒ைроп роиிройைро╡ுроХро│ை роЙро░ுро╡ாроХ்роХிройாро░்.  роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯ்роЯிро▓் родாрой் роЙрог்рооைропாрой роороХிро┤்роЪ்роЪிропைропுроо் роЕрооைродிропைропுроо் роЙрогро░்рои்родродாроХ роЕро╡ро░் роХூро▒ிройாро░் - роЕро╡ро░ுроХ்роХுрок் рокிроЯிрод்род рокேро░роХ்роХுро┤рои்родைроХро│் рооро▒்ро▒ுроо் роороХро│்роХро│்* ро╡ро░ுроХை родрои்родрокோродு.

роЕро╡ро░родு  роиாроЯோроЯிропாрой ро╡ாро┤்роХ்роХைропைрок் рокாро░்роХ்роХுроо்рокோродு, ​​роЕро╡ро░родு ро╡ாро┤்роХ்роХைропிрой் роХроЯைроЪி ~25 роЖрог்роЯுроХро│் роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯ்роЯிро▓் роироЩ்роХூро░рооிроЯрок்рокроЯ்роЯிро░ுрок்рокродைропுроо் роиாрой் роЖроЪ்роЪро░ிропрок்рокроЯுроХிро▒ேрой்.  роЕро╡ро░் родройродு ро╡ாро┤்роиாро│் рооுро┤ுро╡родுроо், родройродு ро╡ேро▓ைропிрой் роХாро░рогрооாроХ роЪிро▓ ро╡ро░ுроЯроЩ்роХро│ுроХ்роХு роТро░ுрооுро▒ை ро╡ேро▓ை рооாро▒்ро▒ роХாро░рогрод்родாро▓் роироХро░роЩ்роХро│ை роЪுро▒்ро▒ி ро╡рои்родாро░்.  роТро░ுро╡ேро│ை роЕро╡ро░் роТро░ு ро╡ро▒்ро▒ாрод рокропрогிропாроХ роЗро░ுрок்рокродிро▓் роЪோро░்ро╡ாроХ роЗро░ுрои்родிро░ுроХ்роХро▓ாроо்.  роТро░ுро╡ேро│ை роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯு роЕро╡ро░ுроХ்роХு роТро░ு роиிро░рои்родро░род்родை ро╡ро┤роЩ்роХிропிро░ுроХ்роХро▓ாроо். роЕроЩ்роХு роЕро╡ро░், роЙрог்рооைропிро▓் ро╡ேро▓ை-роУроп்ро╡ு рокெро▒்ро▒ு роТро░ே роЗроЯрод்родிро▓் роУроп்ро╡ெроЯுроХ்роХро▓ாроо் роОрой்ро▒ு роиிройைрод்родிро░ுроХ்роХ роХூроЯுроо். роТро░ுро╡ேро│ை роЕродுро╡ே роЕро╡ро░ை роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯ்роЯை роиேроЪிроХ்роХ ро╡ைрод்родродு, роПройெрой்ро▒ாро▓் роЕродு роЕро╡ро░ுроХ்роХு роЕрои்род роироЩ்роХூро░род்родைроХ் роХொроЯுрод்родродு.

роЕро╡ро░் роЪெрой்ро▒ு роПро▒роХ்роХுро▒ைроп роТро░ு ро╡ро░ுроЯрооாроХிропுроо், роЗро┤рок்рокை роОрок்рокроЯிроХ் роХைропாро│்ро╡родு роОрой்ро▒ு роЪிро▒ிроп родுрок்рокு роЗро▓்ро▓ாрооро▓் роиாрой் роЗрой்ройுроо் рокோро░ாроЯிроХ் роХொрог்роЯிро░ுроХ்роХிро▒ேрой்.  роЕро╡ро░ுроЯைроп ро╡ாро┤்роХ்роХைропிрой் роХроЯைроЪி роЖрог்роЯிро▓் роиாрой் ро╡ிрод்родிропாроЪрооாроХроЪ் роЪெроп்родிро░ுроХ்роХроХ்роХூроЯிроп ро╡ிро╖ропроЩ்роХро│் роОрок்рокோродுроо் роЗро░ுрок்рокродாроХрод் родெро░ிроХிро▒родு, роЖройாро▓், роЕродு роОрок்рокோродுроо் роЕрок்рокроЯிрод்родாрой் роЗро░ுроХ்роХுроо் роОрой்ро▒ு роиிройைроХ்роХிро▒ேрой்.  

роЗрой்ро▒ு роиாроЩ்роХро│் роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯ்роЯைрок் рокூроЯ்роЯிро╡ிроЯ்роЯு роОроЩ்роХро│் ро╡ீроЯ்роЯிро▒்роХுрод் родிро░ுроо்рокுро╡родро▒்роХுрод் родропாро░ாроХிро▒ோроо்.  роТро░ுро╡ேро│ை роЗрои்род ро╡ீроЯ்роЯை ро╡ிро▒்рокродு роЕро╡ро░ைрок் рокро▒்ро▒ிроп роОройродு роЕройрои்род роиிройைро╡ுроХро│ை роЙро▒ுродிрок்рокроЯுрод்родுроХிро▒родு; рооро▒்ро▒ுроо் роиாрой் роироХро░்ро╡родро▒்роХு роЙродро╡роХ்роХூроЯுроо்.

роЕро╡ро░் роЗрок்рокோродுроо் рооேро▓ே роЗро░ுрои்родு роОрой்ройைрок் рокாро░்род்родு роЪிро░ிрод்родுроХ்роХொрог்роЯே родிро░ுроо்рокி, роОрой் роЕроХ்роХாро╡ிроЯроо் "... роЕро╡рой் роОрой்рой роЪெроп்родாро▓ுроо், роЕро╡рой் роЪро░ிропாрой рооுроЯிро╡ை роОроЯுрок்рокாрой்...(роЗро▒ுродிропிро▓்!! ЁЯШЛ)"  роОрой்ро▒ு роЪொро▓்ро▓ிроХ் роХொрог்роЯிро░рок்рокாро░், роЕро╡ро░родு роХுро░ро▓ிро▓் рокெро░ுрооிродрод்родுроЯрой்.

роХுроЯ்рокை ро╣ро╡ுро╕், роХுроЯ்рокை роЯிропро░் роЕрок்рокா.  роХрог்рогீро░் рокெро░ுроХ்роХெроЯுроХ்роХிро▒родு, роЖройாро▓், роЕро╡ை роХроЯрои்род  родுроХ்роХрод்родை роЪிро▒ிродро│ро╡ு роЪுроЯ்роЯிроХ்роХாроЯ்роЯிройாро▓ுроо், роЕродு роХроЯрои்род роХாро▓род்родை рооூроЯிро╡ிроЯ்роЯு, роОродிро░்роХாро▓род்родை роиோроХ்роХி роироХро░்роХிрой்ро▒рой - роЗродு роироо்рокிроХ்роХைроХ்роХுро░ிропродு, роОроЩ்роХро│ுроХ்роХாроХро╡ுроо், роХுро▒ிрок்рокாроХ роЙроЩ்роХро│ுроХ்роХு рокிроЯிрод்род рокேро░ройுроХ்роХுроо் роЙроЩ்роХро│் роЖроЪீро░்ро╡ாродроЩ்роХро│ாро▓் роиிро░роо்рокிропுро│்ро│родு!  ЁЯЩПЁЯП╜

 рокிро░ிропாро╡ிроЯை роЕрок்рокா!  роЙрой்ройை роиேроЪிроХ்роХிро▒ேрой், роЙрой்ройை miss роЪெроп்роХிро▒ேрой்... роЖройாро▓் роЙрой் роЖроЪிропுроЯрой், роОродிро░் роХாро▓род்родை роОродிро░் роиோроХ்роХி рокாро░்роХிро▒ேрой் ! ЁЯЩПЁЯП╜ЁЯЩПЁЯП╜ЁЯЩПЁЯП╜

Sunday, July 10, 2022

The Winter's Grace


Never a complete zero
Neither the (chosen) one,
Nary a dream being an hero
Nor, with skills a ton.
No illusions of grandeur epical
Been a half-way decimal !

Never sought the bright light
Nor the anonymity of dark night
While on the roads straight
Curious with fringes I strayed !
Between the black and white
Have stood, enamoured by twilight!

Gone are those flames of fall,
In this icy morning pall,
Barren trees stick eerie,
The heavy mist rolls in quietly
Street opaque, ahead unseen,
Returning to comfort, I lean!

Deep inside, rises a stirring,
The chill, cold, but refreshing,
Glades sparkles of moist dew,
Birds tweet from their perilous pew,
of faith of day anew.
Piercing the ashen pale, a ray
Or is it hope thataway ?

The grey now holds me
In a gentle embrace, light
Casting path a new sight.
As the long gone dead
Gratefully, once said,
Getting to, at ease, I embrace
Not just a touch, but swathe of grays !


Wednesday, November 24, 2021

The Fire pit


Should I cross that high bridge
And climb that steep ridge
Should I take on those woes,
Dare to put on the brave shoes
To walk these hard streets
Or buy myself two cold feet?

Should I dare to strife
with things that come to head in life?
Or should I put up these cold feet
With a drink neat in retreat,
Watching life as it passes by?
I'll catch it another day before I die.

Tired to the bone, back I sit,
I'm done, just eff it!
What's the damn point, I rage, I rant
Two cold feet I firmly plant
Comfortably frozen, I stand rooted...
But the voice in me, refused to be muted.

As I look to push away the plate of grits,
A shadow glosses over my nits
Over my flaws, a tapestry knit,
She resets the pieces to a future fit.
I hear a slow rumble in tummy pits...
Are those antsy butterfly flits?
Or are those, long gone embers, relit !

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

The Magic of Cricket and its life lessons !

 This is the email I sent to my team in the aftermath of India's win at Brisbane:

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[Long read – choose to read it in leisure – not really work related ЁЯШК]

If you pass by an Indian or anyone with Indian lineage, just congratulate them – Team India had a magical win last night in test series (yes, this is the one, where one game lasts over 5d, with 6hrs/day) – against Australia *in* Australia, which was #1 ranked team. Most I know (in the US and WW) stayed up to watch the riveting game (till 1AM for me). Of course, there is a recency bias in here – this is being billed as the greatest test win and the 4-match series as the one of the most absorbing, if not the most, test series ever.

Why was it magical, consider this: (This was a four game test series):

  1. India lost the first one at Adelaide – scoring 36 runs (as a team!! ЁЯШ▓ ) – it’s like the third lowest score in the ~150 years of history of cricket. The whole world/expected that after that display India will be rolled over for a 0-4 rout
  2. Out of the 11, India’s first 8 players were unavailable – either rehabbing through injury or someone like our Captain (top 3 batsman/hitter in the world) had to return home on paternity leave
  3. The bowlers (pitchers) were third team (practice squad), since the 2nd team (back-ups) pitchers were hurt on tour. In the final and 4th test match, the combined experience of Aussie bowlers had 1033 wickets (outs) amongst them, the Indian bowlers had ~4. This is like sending your 2nd/3rd team to play the World cup soccer against Germany/Brazil/Argentina
  4. With this, INdia came back and won the 2nd game making it 1-1, with an inspired display from the stand-in captain (scored a century)
  5. The third game, we had an opportunity to win, but with 35 overs (6 pitches x 35) to go, one of the batsman tore his hamstring while running and the other bat tweaked his back – they settled for draw, blocking out very strong bowling by the Aussies.
  6. In the 4th and final test,
    1. Everyone stood up – one of the mainstay in the batting – got hit 11 times in his body, including 3 pings to his head (w/ helmet)
    2. At the EO of 4th day, with India needing 328 to win on a pitch that had developed cracks (which means uneven bounce); with about 12 balls (pitches) to go, India won with 3 outs to spare!!

And consider this:
  1. Australia has never lost in that ground (Brisbane) since 1988. They were the #1 team. They have #1 batsman and #1 bowler, in the world.
  2. On the start of the final day, no one, no one – gave India a chance to win (including old timers like us). The Cricketers who stood up to be counted, were 21, 21, 22 and 33 year old.

To me there were some nice lessons I saw:

  1. Trust the process, work the grass roots enablers – it is slow; but it is deliberate, but you’ll know you’ll arrive when the situation throws up
  2. Build the bench strength, who will step-up; simulate real life situations for them (via the A and U-19 tours)
  3. Right person for the right job – one of the legends of the Indian cricket, Dravid, chose to work with the India Junior/Under-19 teams, instead of gunning for high profile job. Everybody in this 2nd and 3rd team have come through that school
  4. Let the team express themselves,but the buck stopped with the captain.
  5. Blood youngsters and show them the outcome, they step up.

Monday, June 08, 2020

Copping Black


Here is some perspective from Trevor Noah on what is going on currently – it is a great perspective. I’ve been thinking about it myself, in the backdrop of the conversation here a few days ago; and in light of Amy Cooper incident. I wonder what would have happened to the Christian Cooper had the cops turned out and for some reason he had not recorded what exactly happened in [see the URL is in the footnote]. Would Christian Cooper automatically be a suspect, taken down, detained and hand-cuffed ? I don’t think any of us will have perfect answer for that, but I think it is more than likely that would happened.

Now, at work, we were asked, if we were all safe due to the protests and rioting. I made a joke that this is nothing, since we are used to more severe forms while growing up in India. But giving it a serious thought, this is where I used to see as black and white (or right or wrong);  now, I find myself hard pressed to get out of shades of grey ! Most revolutions are preceded by (violent) actions against institutionalized oppression. When I start judging rioting, I'm defaulting to my position of privilege, to make that judgement, because it threatens my and my family's safety, and hence rioting is wrong.  Those guys safety is threatened every day. I'm beginning to understand when very famous African Americans talk about visceral fear they feel when they are stopped by cops - Serena Williams (proxy), Michael Bennett, James Blake, so on. The impotent anger when they are stopped, frisked, handcuffed in public at a whim of someone’s mere doubt. What happens to an African American on the street, is something I cannot grasp, hence I think, I don't have the right to judge from my perch [The two interactions I have had with Cops in the US, have both been pleasant, btw]

Here is the link to Trevor Noah’s video, that provides a further context/clarity to my thinking about rioting and looting; and breaking of social contract.


Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Epiphany !

A long time ago - six years ago, to be precise - Facebook reminded me that; we (as a family) were on a hike on one of the trails nearby. It was a bit of challenging time, and there was some amount of gloom amongst us; but at the top of the hike, looking down at the beautiful scenery, I had an epiphany... posted it then on FB; and FB reminded me that today !


Sunday, April 12, 2020

Hope (In the times of covid19)



Amidst viral gloom,
Despair and doom,
Fed on glistening dew drops,
The bud pops...
This shall too pass,
Onto the other side, a dawn

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

A perfect 2020 !!


As I look back on the decades of 10s, I can only wish the decade of 20s will be as kind to me/us at the 10s were. 2010s is where we went through the tough road arriving at a very good destination in our lives. We settled;  thankfully got through the really tough times in early 2010s and settled – settled in the new culture, new jobs, new macro routines and new home. It was not (it still isn’t without) conflicts within our minds – there are times, when we feel we are where we shouldn’t be; and we aren’t where we should be, but, the guiding north star has always been one goal. And the 2010s were kind to us towards that goal. We believe now, we are in the vicinity of the goal – and I don’t have any doubt in my mind, that the goal is still afar and the difficulty multiplies as we get closer and closer. And all of us, particularly both of us, have to be in best health and wellness to be able to get there.
 
As we get into 2020s, our guiding star still remains – hopefully, we continue on our true north; we are going to be more deeply and intensely conflicted, with priorities, doubts and what is right and wrong. I just pray/hope that we continue to have that invisible hand that gently prods us to walk towards true north.

Wish you all a great 2020 and wonderful decade of 2020 !

Wednesday, August 07, 2019

Checklist for International transfer

Did this a long time ago, just jotted down a few things that I think are required for INternational transfer, based on my experience. I've heard it is quite useful for folks who are moving - here is the list.
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International Relocation – some helpful checklist (engeetham@gmail.com)
1.    Work
a.    Check lateral/upward/downward move with position
b.    Pay consistency
c.    Relo benefits
2.   Be aware that this is a big change for the family – so  you may need to spend time here running around for the first two months – set appropriate work expectations
                                      i.        School, school district – understanding them etc
                                    ii.        House hunting
                                   iii.        Car-hunting; furniture and house-hold shopping etc
                                   iv.        Getting local driver’s license, SS Card etc

3.   Personal
a.    Financial/Bank accounts in India, in your name
b.    Consolidate accounts where possible, so that you have single point of contact; and reduce interfaces
                                          i.    Also consolidation will help in getting premium/preferred status and hence better service
                                        ii.    Set expectations with the banks there, that you need support from them twice a year (once for India tax year and the other for US tax year)
                                       iii.    Switch to email communication (from paper statements)
                                       iv.    Understand a bit on US taxation
1.      FBAR filing (with US treasury – need some additional info from Banks for this)
2.      8938 filing
3.      You pay US taxes on world-wide income (even MF dividends are taxable)
4.      Get an accountant in India who would file on your behalf post HP’s tax-assistance after year 1
                                        v.    NRE/NRO & Mutual fund investments
1.      If you are pretty clear that you are going to go for your Green Card, switch your accounts to NRE/NRO status of the bank accounts – will help you in 15% taxation in India due to DTAA (see 2.a.iii.2 J); or else you end up paying 33% in India
2.      (added v2) Also, if you don’t need money in India, just keep some operating amount in NRO account, and get an auditor (CA) to fill form 15A and 15B (iirc) and move most of your NRO (or RO) accounts to NRE – this would mean local interested don’t get TDS’ed. Also, you can repatriate the money, when you need them in the US
3.     (added v2) Some MF/PMS’s are not available for NRI – check and exit them, so that you don’t get into trouble later
c.    Brace yourself for “IT Audits” in India – which means, bring all your past IT history, bank statements etc – a copy of those – best is to scan and bring it as soft copy.
                                          i.    I learned it the hard way, since I’ve been audited for three consecutive years L
                                        ii.    There are tons of documentation required for these audits.
1.      Which is why post-company tax assistance, you want to get a good IT auditor/accountant back in India.
d.     Bank account in India in your wife’s name
                                          i.    Similar stuff as above
e.    Your local insurance and premium payments
                                          i.    ECS ? Checks ?
4.    (Added v2) PF and other retirement annuity (like Super Annuation)
a.    Exit them within the India tax year – the PF withdrawal is not taxable in India. In US, they are taxed on withdrawal at the applicable rate at withdrawal (all retirals are)
b.    So work with your CA (preferably US Based CPA), and get the right advice – I believe there is something like if you transfer (say) Nov 4th – that is 183d in India and you get to file (primary resident) taxes in India and only residual taxes (under DTAA) in the US from Nov 4th to Dec 31st,
5.    Personal Items
                                    v.     Residence, Car, phone, gas connections (need to take care of all those)
                                   vi.    Even after 11 years, I’ve all of them going J (House is locked, car is driven once in a while, phone is in ECS etc etc)
                                                      i.        If your house is locked, pay all the bills via ECS or pay some 10k, for example, for electricity
                                  vii.     Your/Family past medical records, if you have them
                                viii.     Safe keeping of valuables – either in local lockers or in someone else house
                                                      i.        If in locker, rent paid in advance or managed
6.    Family
a.    Assuming you will all go for Green Card
                                          i.    Need all birth certificates (in absence of BC, for you/wife/kids, need notarized affidavits from respective parents)
                                        ii.    Need all your, including spouses, college certs (degree, marks etc)
                                       iii.    All your old/expired passports
                                       iv.    All your vaccination records
                                        v.    Your local (English) driving license
1.      If your wife/family member, drives there, great – but if not, it would be good to take classes there to get the sense of driving before coming here
                                       vi.    Ensure passport has the right first name and second names (key for applying for Social Security #s)
b.    For kids:
                                          i.    You need the vaccination records for school here
                                        ii.    Whatever books you could ship – the books here aren’t the same as in India (for e.g., comics like Asterix are not known here J)
c.    Bringing your parents or in-laws later on; if you plan to get them to travel here
                                          i.    Bring a copy of their passports etc; particularly, if you feel they’d be clueless about some of these requirements
d.    For house-hold, may want to specifically ship:
                                          i.    Idli grinder (we are South Indians, we have to do this J)
                                        ii.    Local blender (the blender here aren’t so tough)
                                       iii.    Pressure cooker, gaskets, spares
                                       iv.    Silverware, if you are interested in getting them here
                                        v.    Initial medicines for all
                                       vi.    If you have a computer there, just may be bring the hard-disk with you !
                                      vii.    Some of kids favourite play stuff (trampoline kinds J) – particularly if you get shipping assistance
7.    (added v2) Trust creation
a.    Finally it is very common to have trust created in the US. The reason being the lenders have lien over your assets if something were to happen to you. They get the first dibs to it, before your family gets it
                                          i.    You cannot have a trust in the US that covers international assets – you need to have one in the US covering US assets and one in India covering India assets
                                        ii.    So. If you want to add your assets in India to a trust, think of one right now