Dekhte Dekhte

11th November 2018.

A cold night in Srinagar, Kashmir.
Driving by the Dal at night 10, as we approached a junction that would cross over towards Hazratbal, we were stopped by lights being flashed at us by the security officers guarding the post. Sherry rolled down his side of the window and turned down the music.

Security Guard: ID?
Sherry: pulls out his wallet and hands over his ID.
SG: नाम क्या है?
Sherry: Sherry
SG: कहा जा रहे हो?
Sherry: nigeen, pointing at us, यह tourist है.
SG: कहा रहते हो?
Sherry: Rajbagh
SG: in an agitated manner while looking at the ID.. कहा?
Sherry: Rajbagh.
.
At around 8 in the evening we had checked into, one of the many amusingly named, house boats on Nigeen lake. Placed our baggage in the room allotted and then had a good look of the room and proceeded to the seating area looking out into the lake. Banter galore, time didn't hold any sway on us, hunger did. We got ready and went out driving to a restaurant by the Dal.
.
Right after dinner, as we were about to seat ourselves, Sherry declared... वो वाला गाना लगाते हैं..

Warm, filled bellies and driving in the winter breeze by the Dal gave us a good vibe, but we were tripped out by the old rendition of the song by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

The Call

The silence. 

Speech of the dark. 

The familiar sound of the ringing telephone breaking the peace.

The familiarity pounding the heart with patterns of the ring. 

Eyes open up in a flash as if in a reflex to the distant sound. 

The expectancy, of hearing him speak, the sound of his voice, his yearning for love, his show of affection.

That train of thought, rushing through like early morning mail chugging through a small place on the country side to a distant land, is brought to a halt … “Phone aylay” (You've got a call)

Collecting myself in a rush, crossing the ocean of darkness, hearing the chirps of morning birds, with a touch of scent of the morning mist, feeling the slight cool of the winter morning.  

Reaching to the box that is privy to my conversations with him, all the while still, motionless, rid of emotion.

Hello… I whisper into the phone, my heart smiling.

Light & Shade

This ones for the reflection of the glow of the setting sun on Al Hamra Tower and how the other structures are lined up. One up to kick start 2015 !!