The screen goes blank

The screen goes blank – black!

A lazy Sunday, well past noon

Wearing a smile, waving your hands.

You tell them you do great.

Ask them how they are

And as they lie back, on Skype.

The machine says enough! Gives up on you.

The screen goes blank!

The distance feels so real.

Your shouts turn hysterical.

You wail now in pain

Your prayers are in vain

For nothing, you could do

When the screen goes blank – black!

The busiest subway station

At the heart of civilization

People keep pouring in

From pubs, parks, and parlors.

A dozen trains come at once

And you’ve no clue which one.

A hundred screens flash lights

In a bid to guide you home

You follow their commands

Find your order in the chaos

And then boom they go

The power lines are now snapped

The chaos grows wild and wild

As the screens now go blank – black!

Exhausted! You get home

The day’s dealings drained you down

In the make world of gaming console

You find some respite for your soul

Choosing your car,

Picking your gun,

Your moves so stealth,

Harbinger of hell

At the top of your game,

You focus and aim.

As you go in for the kill

Your console heats and dies.

Poof! Goes your warzone.

You try to push it back on.

All your efforts for no avail,

You’d never know if you did kill.

None of it really matters

When the screen did go blank – black!

Shoving the pen and paper

The writer boots up the computer.

On the keypad, the fingers dance.

Clickety-clack, the words take form

Vague ideas, now shape stories

Though it wouldn’t last long

Thanks to the now-dead batteries

The writer sinks in their seat.

The work remains incomplete

You know why it’s so

Yeah, the

Comments

First Rejection

About four years ago, I self-published my first novel, I Want Your Life . Self-publishing was not my initial plan. Like most aspiring writers, I envisioned my book being published under the label of one of the prominent publishing houses in the country, such as Penguin or HarperCollins. However, my editor gave me a reality check and explained that large publishing houses receive several submissions daily, making it highly unlikely for a first-time writer to get noticed. More than the prestige of being published under an established banner, my excitement lay in seeing my story in the form of a book. So, I chose the self-publishing route. After months of back-and-forth with my publishing team - proofreading, editing, revisions, illustrations, book registration, and printing - my book was finally out. It was truly a dream come true. The upside of self-publishing is the sweet certainty of getting published. The downside, however, is that you are responsible for everything, including promot...

Rajasthan: Part 1 (Center-left)

Why do we travel? I can think of a few reasons: to catch a glimpse of life beyond the familiarity of our homes, to taste new flavors, to experience landscapes and weather patterns different from our own, to witness natural wonders and man-made marvels, to meet interesting people, and to hear new words. Khamma Ghani is the phrase we decided to hear this time around. The first step in making a travel plan is, of course, choosing the destination. Everything else - the timing, the things to pack, the number of leave days needed, and any legal processes - depends on where we intend to go. Thanks to the constant exposure to travel vloggers, we have a bucket list of destinations we hope to explore someday. The list gets updated every now and then, with current entries ranging from international destinations like Vietnam, Japan, and Italy to domestic ones like Meghalaya and Ladakh. Rajasthan was never at the top of our list. True, it is one of the most heavily promoted destinations on India...

an Exclusive Inclusivity

Inclusivity is a popular term in modern-day discourse. Quite literally, the term inclusive refers to the habit of including everything or all types of people—irrespective of their backgrounds, beliefs, or personal preferences—as long as one’s actions do not cause harm to anyone else. Inclusivity is relevant because it ensures equity, social cohesion, and diversity of thought, which is why most modern-day progressive societies aspire to be as inclusive as possible. So that everyone feels welcome. So that no one feels left out. If you have watched Modern Family, you might know what I am talking about. The show has taken the example of a family and has beautifully incorporated inclusivity into it. You see a divorcee, an interracial couple, a homosexual couple adopting an orphan child, a person who loves dogs living with a person who doesn’t, and your good old traditional family—all living in harmony. Sure, they have their differences. But nobody belittles anyone for their choice of life. ...

can you vish?

Search This Blog