The moon has always been a source of mystery to me. It's symbolic association with romance and mythical creatures like vampires and werewolves in itself bestows an aura of enigma around it. Unaware , of the fact that the arrival of the summer solstice would coincide with the full moon, an uneventful  evening walk to a grocery store rendered me one of the greatest pleasures of all time. Imagine walking by,  lost in your own thoughts and there it is, an orange-yellowish orb staring at your face from the night sky. The sheer beauty of the moment is mesmerizing. I am aware that the moon has its phases, but the delicate and faint glow emanating from the full moon , was not something I was prepared for. Someone then mentioned that this was the "strawberry moon". Digging through revealed interesting facts about its namesake  (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/strawberry-moon-arrives-with-the-summer-solstice/), but what is surprising is the rarity of this event that won't happen again till 2062.
A slice of the moon for all the stargazers and nature lovers.

A late evening visit to a french bakery today (http://lamadeleine.com/), led me to think that what is it about these small, quaint bakeries that seems to tug at my heart. France has always been epitomized as a center for culture, romance , fashion and has been touted for its cafe culture. The cafes have been an integral part of the French culture, evolving from a place of gathering for the intellectuals to meet, a place where artists could showcase their works, a place where writers could shed their melancholy to a place where people simply flock in to spend a lazy afternoon with family or friends. It is the beautiful decor of this place that pulls me towards it time and again. The traditional intimate interior done in wood and the outdoor sidewalk seating each has a distinct ancient feeling to it, binding me to the culture and heritage of France at once. Whether you are a quiet book reader, or are just interested in watching people , these cafe offer solace to each wandering soul , almost "teleporting" you to a different era of peace and happiness. 

“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

                                                                         "Memories"

Charmed by the memories,
the mind wanders along desolate streets..
Trying to find your presence,
I delve into the depths of emotions- that keeps the fire from dying
but it is only you ,that I seek....
The streets are dark,
where would this search lead me....I know not...
It seems that the star that I follow at the end of the long road, and the forest of
emotions would swallow me...
I rely on the sunshine of your presence
To lead me through.
What if I give up before I can make it...
Charmed by the memories,
my mind wanders...
Through the empty streets...

                                                             ''Being together''

As she walked down the busy street, late in the evening, Kris could feel the vibrant happiness of the smiling faces that greeted her. The joy of being with their loved ones, was being reflected in the lazy demeanour of the people, sipping their tea and engrossed in casual chat not even paying undivided attention to the speaker. It was just the warmth of being together that they seemed to be enjoying. Over the years, Kris had seen a million different types of relationships. Some believed inherently in love, some at the brink of commitment and some, who believed in having flings and then just let go. But she knew that to all of those people, long distance was a step beyond possible. It wasn’t that love was absent, but it was just the physical and emotional presence of the person, in real time, that they ended up losing sight of who their partner really was. As she walked by, her thoughts drifted to Nick, who was 1500 miles away, probably sipping a cup of coffee sitting on his easy chair, looking out the window to the distant mountains that appeared as pin pricks against the gray evening sky, or probably watching the latest episode of his favorite television series. She felt lucky to be in love with this guy, who had come to mean so much to her in the short span of 3 months that she had been dating him.  He inspired her and made her life complete, so much so that she dared to be happy after such a long time. His presence in her was like the cool breeze that soothed her soul. At times she wondered if she could survive without him, she wondered if in this age of 5min breakups, their long distance relation would survive. She seemed to be so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t realise her phone ringing. It was Nick calling her to check upon if she had reached her home yet. At that moment she felt, that even if she had to walk the extra mile, to walk across the distance that separated them she would do so gladly, without any inhibitions. It was then she fell in peace with the realisation that some people in your life are worth all the pain their separation brings.  As she balanced the  hot cup of coffee in her hand , and her phone in the other, a faint smile played on her lips  she thought of the time when she and Nick would be able to savour it together. 

                  Memories...


''Our body remains alive,
yet sooner or later our soul receives a mortal blow...
The perfect crime - for we don't know who murdered our joy....
She smiles at the pain that followed...
the lie that she lived through..
She lets her mind wander through the endless dreams and the path
that led to the lost memories.... ''

                                                            The bells…

Sound…. A five word wonder, an echo of all things around us. Each sound in the world has its own tale to open to us. The rustle of the leaves, the flutter of a butterflies wings and trickling of the dew drops in a silent desolate wood. Ever heard the clamour of the traffic, so loud, so busy, that it becomes difficult to distinguish one sound from the other. The chiming of the church bells in the silent night….taking you away to a far- away land.

Human relations are a lot like these sounds, each having its own tale to tell, with its complexity and difficult to be described in mere words. These sounds can be heard, yet to explain it to a person, words fall short. Not because, you are unaware of the nuances a relation has, but its notes are so evolved and complex that each aspect has a new facet, to be honed and developed.

It was the due to the sound of her laughter, bright and beautiful like the chiming bells, soothing that her grandpa called her bells. Probably the best friend she could ever have, the soulmate who not only was a great story-teller but the partner in her smallest crimes: a child’s heaven. More than her parents it was him she grew up to be close to. A beautiful friendship grew between them, that which defies time, an age.

He was the one she went to when she had her first heartbreak, he was there to support her as she struggled to make a mark in her profession. He stood and watched teary eyed as the man of her dream whisked her away into a new world. She got so engrossed in her life gradually that she didn’t even realise that the tme when her grandpa, her best friend was about to go drew near. And then he was gone.

Her life moved on, each day a new experience, each relation a new blessing. But now no one called her bells. Her life though perfect, was a void in itself, that which could not be filled up by any other relation. And then she discovered  the most beautiful experience of being a mother. This was the time that she started missing her grandpa even more. She felt that this was one transition in her life that she wanted her best friend, her grandpa to be around her.

Time passed and the void lived on.

Until one day, when suddenly amused by the antics of her 3 year old son she laughed out aloud, and her son pulled her hand and said,

“Mommy, you sound just like the church bells.’’