Figuring it out...

No boundaries - except those dictated by the daylight
No limitations - except those decided by society
No expectations - except those highlighted by insecurity
No commitments - except those nurtured by jealousy

Stories...and some

Some of my 55 word stories...

Language

1. You made me feel like poetry – one without rhyme but beautiful. You turned us into a love letter – unreasonable but passionately true to heart. With you I exploded, like graffiti on the wall – bold, chaotic, rebellious. Our conversation ended and I remained – a jumble of unsaid words, unexpressed desires– waiting for the story to end

2. Our eyes met, held, danced. Our fingers entwined – spoke volumes. The chilled pints of beer we shared created an intoxicating story. The words swirled around us on the balcony that night. Fate whispered a challenge….and we fell. Into each other, out of reality. Moments silently stolen before sunrise came – speaking the language of the mundane.

Clandestine

The darkness of the night accentuated the sparkle of anticipation in her eyes. Their union would be magic – she knew it even though she was a novice to these things. Finally, gathering up courage, she lifted a trembling hand – and her mother’s kohl pencil secretly met her 16 year old eyes for the first time.

Monsoon

It was time to reveal his true colours. He had been sober way too long. He had skills he wanted to show off. Woo the ladies with. He knew none of them could resist his style. This rain dance was the perfect time to strut his stuff. Decision made, the peacock stepped out, feathers unfurled.

Letters
 

The kids crowded together, giggling, sticking their tongues out to catch the last raindrops. ‘Let’s, make paper boats!’ exclaimed one. Seeing them hunt for paper, Samay handed them a crumpled sheet – and watched as the tiny boat floated down the storm drain. His first love letter, scorned by her, had at least found some purpose. 

Gods and Demons

Everyone loved him. A well-respected doctor, his was a story of high birth, valuable connections and a spotless life sans secrets. Or so everyone thought. They never knew about nights like these when he let his dark side take over. Gulping down the potion, Dr. Jekyll smiled at his reflection in the mirror and waited.

Job/Work
 

Married for three years, they seemed the perfect couple. But their lavish home hid a story. Of her torrid affair with his best friend; and the bitterness of betrayal he carried within. They executed the motions of marriage perfectly. But this relationship was now a chore, to be ticked off on their daily to-do list.

Cafe

She was worried. He had never been this late before. Everyone always said you could set your watch by him. Plus he loved his Sunday morning dates with her. He had to turn up. And so the corner seat in that small café waited for her 70 year-old companion. She never heard about the heart-attack.

Poison:

She had grown up dreaming about love and Mr. Perfect. But years passed and all she had to show for it was a lonely existence. Finally, unable to bear it anymore, she took matters into her own hands. “I really hope fairy-tales come true,” was her last thought as the poisoned apple did its work.

Space/Spaces

“God! I can’t stay here. It’s a dump. What kind of a house does not have a balcony?!” She walked out in a huff, her husband scurrying behind her. Her high heels clicked down the stairs and out the door, crossing a wizened, old man sleeping curled under the staircase. His home for three years.

 

"Sex is more exciting on the screen and between the pages than between the sheets anyway. Let the kids read about it and look forward to it, and then right before they're going to get the reality, break the news to them that they've already had the most exciting part, that it's behind them already."

- Andy Warhol

Ladies and gentlemen of my acquaintance...

Ladies and gentlemen. If I could give you one tip for the future, passion would be it.

The long term benefits of passion have been proved by artists, authors, dancers, musicians and lovers whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own chaotic thought processes. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the turbulence and mess of passion – though you will not understand its value until discipline and rules set in. But in 20 years you will look back on your achievements and recall in a way you can’t grasp how many opportunities you let slip away because you did not give in to your desires – you could not give expression to your imagination

Stop worrying obsessively over consequences. Or worry. But know that worrying is like trying to solve the rubiks cube blindfolded. The real problem lies not in the consequences, but in the inability to pack your bags and leave for an unplanned weekend at a moment’s notice.

Do one thing every day that scares you

Be reckless.

Say something to someone you would regret not having said later.

Stop measuring your thoughts, or your laughter. Or the duration and number of those kisses.

Wear ratty pajamas. And that black satin nightgown. Smile through those killer heels. Get drenched in the rain

Don’t waste time in conforming, life’s too short.
In the end it’s only you who has the right to judge yourself.

Remember the rules, break them – sometimes you will get rewarded, and sometimes your world will crumble.

Pick up those pieces and put them together haphazardly, marvel at this new design in your life

If someone comes and kicks your castles down again then hit them right back.
If you can forgive and forget instead, tell me how.

Sleep. Dance. Drink. Travel. Read.

Learn a new language. And a new dish. Have an opinion

Don’t keep your old love letters. Create new love stories. But take lots of pictures – of everything.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what to do with your life. But don’t stop trying to do something. Ever.

Maybe you will find your soulmate, maybe you won’t. Maybe you will fall in love - and then lust. Maybe you will have that perfect kiss, maybe you will always be searching for chemistry, maybe you will grow old together – but whatever you do, do it with madness. Enjoy your chaos, don’t be afraid of it or what others think of it. Your craziness is the greatest strength you’ll ever own.

It’s those trees that bend with the storm but still stand tall in the face of turbulence that paint the most arresting pictures on a cloudy horizon

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room, with yourself.

Forget maps, take the road less traveled. Get to know the people around you. You never know who will turn out to be the perfect partner. Or the perfect jerk. Learn from him/her. Understand that lovers and friends can come and go – but enjoy them completely while they are there. Don’t do half-hearted relationships – your days are already too cluttered with acquaintances.

Live in a hostel once. It will help you cherish bonds. Live in Calcutta once. It will help you nurture your soul.

Accept certain inalienable truths. Your skin will get lines, people will backstab, you will meet the perfect partner when it’s too late, traffic will increase, so will your workload, you won't be able to hold your drink, there will always be someone better dressed than you, your dreams will seem more and more illogical.

Carry on. And depend a little less on some people, a little more on your awesomeness. Things will always change. But your belief in yourself never should. And another person’s inability to live up to your faith shouldn’t change your ability to trust.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

And you can’t have that. Because no matter what anyone says, you’re not a lost cause at 40. You’re still fabulous.

Always be prepared. Wear waterproof mascara - and long-stay lipstick. And after-shave.

Be careful whom you give your heart to. But cherish those who give theirs to you. Love is a form of dependence. Giving it away, a way of reinforcing your self-confidence. You polish it up for the next buyer, hoping it will fetch the right price – it hardly ever does. So love if you want to, or don’t.

But trust me on the passion.

The song that inspired this post, original lyrics here