Marriage - My take on it

According to sources, marriages first originated some 4350 years ago which was neither romantic nor religious in any sense. The idea of "Love" being the motivational force behind marriages materialized at a much later date, around the middle ages. However, these days we swoon over the very concept of "Love". I think the credit for this goes to the unfathomable amount of drama, songs, series and movies based on it. After all, we are a generation who are shaped by what we see online and offline. It’s not a surprise, romantic movies like 'Titanic" are freshly embedded in our minds even now. I often contemplated my love story to be something like that. I was hardly fourteen years old then.

Well, life had to go on, and soon I was in my late twenties. My parents never burdened me with the pressure of marriage but I knew I had to take the plunge sooner or later. The problem was I was not in a relationship then. I had dated a few women but none ended up being the 'ONE'.

Then one fine day, when I was just strolling along the way with one of my friends from college, I saw this charming girl who was standing a couple of feet away from me. I don’t know if it was love at first sight or just the alcohol taking its effect (had just exited a bar after being treated by my friend for being appointed as an Income Tax Officer), I found myself drawn to her. Being the reckless person I was, I ended up asking her out and soon enough ended up with the impression of her left hand on one of my cheeks. Well, so much for Mr. Romeo.

I returned to Delhi where I was working then and continued with conventional life. (Work – Monday to Friday, Sloshed – Saturday and Sunday). But for some fortunate reason, I couldn’t get her off my mind. Then one fine day when I was speaking to the same friend from college, he reminded me of her and how she had smacked me right across the face. He also told me that he knew her friend (whom I probably hadn’t noticed). After a couple of days and some back and forth messaging, I finally got to know her name and looked for her promptly on probably one of the greatest gifts to mankind from science – Facebook.

I used to go online every day, thinking she would accept my “friendship request’ but to no avail. After all, for her, I was just another stranger. It had already been months but I could see that my request was still in pending status. Then one day, as luck would have had it, I saw that my request was accepted. I sent her a text and she replied after two days. Well, we didn’t instantly hit it off but something about her was different. I couldn’t say that she was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes on, but yes, there was something truly mesmerizing and captivating about her. When I was with her, time seemed to pass by in a jiffy. I started yearning to be with her more and more. Well, I finally realized she was the one, I was meant to be with.

Soon enough it was time for the next step in every Indian relationship, introducing each other to our parents. I mean we certainly could have eloped but one of her prerequisites was to do get married with everyone’s blessings and by blessings here I mean permission. There was just a small hitch, we were from different faiths (she was a Catholic and I belonged to a Hindu family and it was a "Big Deal"). The next couple of months went by coaxing and cajoling our family members. (I had to make six trips that year otherwise I used to come home annually). Well as Shakespeare put it “All's Well That Ends Well”, finally everyone agreed and we were married in a grandiose manner.

(What happened in between and after is a story for another day)

 (P S: We recently celebrated our fifth anniversary)

My First Verse

So i'm here tryna write my first rap.

I don't care if nobody gives a fucking crap

Whatever I do; I do for myself

Living this world; with by my own self

I am not saying that it's good or bad

I am just a homie, livin life happy and glad

If u gotta problem, come and face me bitch

Don't talk behind my ass; with a snitch

I ain't got an issue in my life

I understand life's a battle; full of strife

We strive and live, for the laugh

Happiness and sadness, half and HALF

I stand for my belief; for my right I stand

I am just here tryin to be a better man

[Nobody's perfect, we all optimize

But that's life, with a little bit of compromise

Life's not a fairy tale..that's good to rattle

We all do struggle..everyday we battle

Our fears, our demons and our woe

Don't be a bitch.please dont be a hoe]

We all have problems, we must stand and face

Take it slow Bro.  Life ain't a fucking race

Whatever we do, whoever we are

Someday we all die.. we will go someway far

So why the rush?.. why the deprave

We all will end up in a fuckin grave

Let's live life, with a sense of love

A little bit of care, with the blessings above

I've been called, crazy and mad

But it just makes me a little too sad

That I'm livin life, with my own stash

What're you doing, wasting your daddy's cash?

Why don't u give those to the poor in need

Maybe that at least help u, clean ur deed

Coz we all get judged after we die

Is it heaven or hell; with what you'll lie

[Nobody's perfect, we all optimize

But that's life with a little bit of compromise

Life's not a fairy tale..that's good to rattle

We all do struggle..everyday we battle

Our fears, our demons and our woes

Don't be a bitch.please dont be a hoe]

I know I am not perfect myself

After all a human being just like yourelf

I have lost my own couple of bets

My own blood and my dripping sweat

Still I go on.. still I do try

Because never give up.. never say die

Move on till you reach the apex of grace

The place you belong.. your happiness!

After all the place I have close to my heart

Is a hundred miles away. So much distance apart

where clouds lie beneath our feet

And I look at the mountains that's makes my heartbeat! !..

Peace Out! ✌

 “Dhikkar Chha makana basnu naraakhi kirti”

– Bhanubhakta Acharya (Ghaasi)

As the entire Nepali community celebrates the 202nd Bhanubhakta Jayanti, I sit back and ponder, “Perhaps this isn’t the way he wanted us to keep our names”. We keep writing fancy articles; post pictures write poems about our own beautiful hill station, Darjeeling. But, do we ever think this place looks beautiful to us (despite the heavy construction in Darjeeling ), because we have good food to eat, warm clothes to wear and have a house above our heads to shelter us from the harsh weather conditions.

Now, let’s take a look at the lesser known facts about Darjeeling, we still have one of the highest numbers of people living under BPL (Below Poverty Level). They have to fend themselves not only against the harsh weather conditions of the hills, but their survival is a constant battle every single moment of their lives. If we depend only on the Government, then slowly they will fade into obscurity and often perish because of starvation, poor health condition and perilous weather of the hills. Thus, to make a difference and to give them the least ray of hope, “Darjeeling Convent Road Sparsh a One Welfare Society” was started back in 2013 by us, focusing on the basic needs of the underprivileged children. As the years passed, I have seen the considerable amount of difference a handful of like-minded people can make in the society.

But, we need continued support to make these changes happen. To ascertain the fact their progress is not obstructed and we continue to deliver the results we have been doing so far, we need to create awareness so vast that poverty, itself is completely eradicated of the society. That’s the vision we share and the dream we have been relentlessly working on day in and day out. I have made my choice on how my name will to go down in History. Have you?

"Meri Sardi"

Yeh dilli ki garmi..
Aur uske upar meri sardi..
Kabhi lagta hai naak kholke fek du..
Fir sochta hun ..iske bina main saas kaise lu..
Haye yeh confusion..
Life me kitne saare tension..
Kitne doctoro ko dikhaya .. koi fayda nahi..
Kitne vaidyo ko dikhaya.. koi ilaaj nahi..
Lagta hai ab kisi plumber ko bulana padega..
Usse bhi nahi huwa toh naak chunwana padega..
Kisi ne kaha “bhai, try some haldi”..
Unko kya pata main aur meri sardi..
Yeh chodne ke liye raazi nahi..
Aur mujhe iska jeena nahi..
Haye kaise fas gaya main is kashmakash me..
Jaise Abhimanyu fasa kaurawon ke chakravyuh me…
Haye mere naak…main tera kya karu!!...
Khatam hogaya saala pura bottle ka daaru..
Kyunki kisi ne kahaa tha rum se theek ho jayega
Usko ghanta pata tha mera naak rum ko bhi fail kar jayega..
“Ziddi” ke Sunny paaji se bhi jyada ziddi ho gaya hai..
Sardi ke saath yeh tujhe kaisa pyar hogaya hai!!...
Jinhone meri yeh kavita padhi unka tehe dil se shukriya..
Yehi hai main aur mere naak ki chhoti si dukhbhari daastaan!!...

PS- koi bhool ho gayi ho toh kripaya maaf kardena. Pehli baar hindi me likh raha hu!! :P

NAS 3.0

“ The photograph is literally an emanation of the referent.” - Roland Barthes, Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography

Photographs often remain immortal for ages, since they capture and fabricate the moment permanently. They are often memoirs of our most precious moments and who doesn’t love a good picture. Pictures often depict stories which cannot be expressed in words. All photographs are memento mori. To take a photograph is to participate in another person’s (or thing’s) mortality, vulnerability, mutability. Precisely by slicing out this moment and freezing it, all photographs testify to time’s relentless melt.

Based out of Ashford, Kent, England, I am a freelance photographer, specializing in fashion photography, wedding photography as well as landscaping. I believe a great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed. I have been capturing moments, people, objects and their stories for the past few years and turning them into priceless memories.

For further details, please contact:
Nephil Tamang: +44 7734 454656
Email address: nephiltamang@gmail.com

"NERDvana"

"Tea is the elixir of life"

What an ethereal experience it would be, to nip the world famous Darjeeling Tea watching the mighty Kanchendzonga from your window pane.

NERDvana is the perfect place to catch up with friends, grab brunch, or browse the wide selection of books and magazines, discuss arts, literature, science, videogames and even prolific series. The main concept behind launching "NERDvana" is to promote creative writers and musicians from across the globe through exchange of ideas, free advertisement and general conversation. It's a great place to leisurely spend time after a tiresome day. Along with snug and cozy ambience, you can also munch on our home made delicacies like peanut butter jelly sandwich, Nutella and banana, Oreo milkshake and grilled Cheese and chicken sandwiches to name a few.

We also host promotional events from time to time depending upon the client’s needs. The recent most recent affair includes a biweekly event showcasing the maleficent photographs by our local photographers clubbed with a poetical afternoon followed by some soothing acoustic evening.

If you are looking for a place to enhance your test buds and quench your thirst with the renowned "Darjeeling tea", NERDvana is the place to be.

"Gorkha Ink"

"The pen is mightier than the sword"

Since time immemorial, the Gorkhas have proven their courage. However, with each passing year, the identity of the once brave generation are fading into the unknown.

Thus, to revive the lost glory, we at "Gorkha Ink",provide an array of traditional arts, tattoos and body modifications. Specializing in the field of creative, cover up, abstract and dot works, "Gorkha Ink", has been creating identity on matter since August 03, 2014.

Hailing from the small town of Darjeeling, amidst the foothills of the mighty Kanchendongza, we, the artists at "Gorkha ink", Priten Tamang and Vivek Rai take great pride in our work and our artists are one of the most talented the area has to offer.

Accordingly to us body art is personal to each and every individual. To make your body art stand out, we give great attention to each and every detail through professional analysis and application, We utilize a variety of different methods and techniques that ensure the end result will be something you can be wear with pride. At "Gorkha Ink Tattoo studio, you will not only find the finest tattooers of the town but an experience that will last much longer than any permanent ink.

(First content writing for a friends tattoo parlour)

A Glimpse of Dussehra at Darjeeling

"Om Bhur Bhuwasya Tatsha Witur Warenyam Bhargo Devashya Dhimahi Dhiyoyona Prachodayat"... The famous "Gayatri Mantra" we heard during 90s and early 2000s at Chowrasta, the famous public hub at Darjeeling.

I still recall how we used to impatiently wait for the Dussehra vacations to begin as it was not only the most sought after and longest holiday but also because it meant celebrations, blessings, food and "dakshina" from the elders.

For all those who aren't from Darjeeling, I will try and give a glimpse of how Dussehra or "Dashain" as we Nepalese call it used to celebrate it back in the days. As soon as October starts the monsoon starts receding in the hills and the sun starts to shine with all its might (not to worry as it's a hill station and it's never to hot. Even in summers you need to carry either a jacket or a pullover). We have the "Saipatri" (sunflower) and other flowers blooming and the whole town is engulfed with an overwhelming festive atmosphere. 

When we were kids we used to buy new clothes for "Dashain", as everybody wanted to look their best. Then once the Navaratri started, we used to head for Chowrasta, as everyone from the town flocked there, the elders to receive blessings from the huge idol of Durga Goddess placed at the altar, the kids to play balloons (being the notorious one, we use to burst 'em often resulting in the kids crying and us fleeing the scene not to be beaten by the kids guardian or parents). We as teenagers used to go there to "season khelnu, chiksing", literally meaning to check out beautiful girls or just casual flirting. Well, we used to be pretty drunk before that as dashain for us youngsters was incomplete without a little intoxication. (Thanks to the local pubs "Washington", "Soaltee", "Buzz", "Joey's Pub", "New Dish", when we had cash and "Uchhyang", "Palas", "Dikila" when we were broke.) Yeah, most of the girls we approached either ran away or said they were engaged, in a relationship. We knew it was an alibi for them to just do away with it, but it was fun anyway. But if someone agreed then from the next day, we were sober and spent most of the time with the girl (Pehla pyar ka nasha), It couldn't be called a date as we were either accompanied by friends either from the guys side or the girls. We always had the "masu ma haddi" (bone in the meat) or "phool ma kada" (the thorn in the flower) material, but we never blamed them. I still remember going for double, triple or even quadruple dates. Relax people, I didn't mean I was out with 2 - 3 girls. It was a joint date with other couples joining in.

At our "Gaon" (village), we used to play "Housie" (Bingo), which is a number calling game and if someone crossed out all the numbers either in the lines or the house, we used to hear a "Yes", which meant the game is won and others used to be like, "Ghanta, ewtai number matrai thyo new" (Damn, I just had one number left). Then we had "Jhandi - Makut" Dice, which is a game played with six cubes having a flag (Jhandi), a crown (makut), a spade (bhotay), a heart (pana), a club (chidi) and a diamond (ita) on its six sides. We used to place our bets on a board which had the pictures of all the above mentioned signs and depending upon the number of signs the bet used to be doubled, tripled and so on. We also played cards; "Flash" (3 cards), "Rummy", "Hazare" (the first one to reach the one thousand point wins) etc. Traditional gambling was permitted by the elders, but it hardly mattered who won, we used to hang around together and the one who has won the most ended up spending even more than that.

As Dashain approached, we had "Ful - Pati", (literally meaning flower and leaves), which was characterized by processions from various ethnic groups, the gurungs, mangars, tamangs, rais, subbas, bhutias etc. Later we had programs in our respective villages, where we had traditional dances, songs, performances of various kinds. (I remember performing in one or two occasions although it might have been really hard for the audience to digest the whole thing)Then as "Maar" (festival where a buffalo and goats are sacrificed) approached, we used to head for the "Dali" ground as early as 7 in the morning, because if we were late we didn't get to see the sacrifice. 

Finally the most awaited day arrived. Early morning, our elders woke us up and asked us to get ready as it would soon be time for the "Tika" (we use rice, curd and some colour for it). When we were kids, we were hardly concerned about the tika but the monetary blessing, (dakshina) would be much awaited. Once the whole thing was over, we used to get together and have food together which contained delicacies like "khukra ko masu" (chicken), selroti (traditional bread) etc. Then we met our friends and headed for the local pubs and hang around the town gambling with our drunk heads. The days that followed, used to be a repetitive cycle with us visiting our relatives, eating, gambling and drinking.

Dashain was so much fun back in the days. Now far away from home, I realize how much I miss those times. Times have changed and so has the tradition. "Time and tide wait for none", but once just once I still wish I could go back and celebrate it the way we used to... Just a Wish!!

Destiny

 

As I lay on my bed...looking at the dark ceiling which were once filled with the stars and moon of our dreams... As I stare into the endless abyss of the promises that have been broken..just to fade away with my existence.. I try to reckon the small fleeting moments to remember where exactly we went wrong..Unanswered questions fill my mind.. Was the time not right?... What exactly happened?...Was it the wrong person??...

I lay there endlessly clueless about the time and tide..My phone rings...Nobody had called me in months...Who can it be?..for whom my existence mattered?... I hear a faint voice on the other end but it doesn't take me long to recognize the voice. In one single moment everything that I had been through comes soaring in a rather overwhelmingly whimsical fashion.

I hear my name being called twice. It takes a minute or two for me to respond. I manage to utter a faint sigh in the response but it was more than enough to make her understand what situation I was in. She then talks to me as if we had never spoken before. It was like talking to a familiar stranger all over again. We spoke for almost a day and before I even realized...I saw a quote on my old dilapidated wall..I had even forgotten it existed there for such a long time

It read: "It might take a year, It might take a day... But what's meant to be will always find its way"...

All roses come with thorn!!....

But that doesn't mean anything is wrong...

Life is all about the triumphs and tears...

Just don't forget to........ "LIVE your life all along"..!!!

"Please"

Please let me soar my wings...

Please let me rise over the purple sky...

Please let me be at peace...

Please let me fly...

Please teach me how to feel know pain..

Please teach me how to hate the rain...

Please give my life back again

Please teach me how to LIVE again...!!!

"Silence"

How long do you want me to bear this silence
…
Just the rustling leaves, dogs howling, their muffled bark..

The rivers have tranquiled today…

So are the ways we used to walk…


How long do you want me to conceal this pain,

How long do I constrain it in my heart,

Maybe the destiny had other plans…

Is that why we were meant to depart?


I watched you fade away, bleeding over my arms..

The last words you said, “I will forever love you” still 

evokes me in the dark

Time slips away, fades away so swiftly..

The sun has risen again. I call for you, early morning chirps 

of the skylark


I still wait for your return, each day, every moment..

What should I do to hear you say that you have me forgiven

The last autumn leaf has fallen on the ground…it’s cold and dry

How long do you still want me to stand over you grave 

and......."CRY"...?

   Why???

Why are some decisions so hard to take?

Why are some steps so hesitant to make?

What would you do if your decision bled your heart...

What would you do if it scattered your soul apart...

What exactly is right?...Who exactly is wrong...

Is this something we'll always have to face along...

There's a pretentious smile I can see...

But who knows what sadness in your heart can be...

How long can you live your life in an impossible song...

How long can you lie to yourself it will work along...

Is it true there is something we call destiny?..

Or is it just a blind faith that people see?..

How much pain can a human endure...

When will it learn.. Yes, this one's for sure..

Till when are we supposed to start something new..

Knowing it might just end just as those in yoaur past that flew..

Sometimes you become so lost..you lose your way...

Or is it just a habit to go every-time astray...

Will my days always end in the numbness of alcohol and smoke..

Or will there come a time...even I will find happiness amok!!

God please guide the way...please show me a sign...

Please let me rest...let my heart align..

I am tired of living in a world of false hope..

Or should I just end it with a rope??

But then what will happen to my parents and my family's possessed prize...

Because I know it will end with my demise...

Why are the days so dark and gloomy..

Or is it just my misfortune following me..

Is it because of the tears I made people shed..

Or is it because of the hearts that I made people bled...

Why does every way look so confusing to me...

Oh LORD...Please show me a sign..please guide me...!!!!

"Where"

I hail from a place...

Where adornation is unparalleled..beauty undefined...

Where the mystic fog fades..,through the yonder vales and the limitless hills...

Where the lofty mountains shine as blessedly... with the initial morning rays..

Where paradoxysm is possible...and lovers create memoirs forever to lament..

Where "memories" are engraved in every living soul...and will remain eternal for the ages to come..

Where the chill winds gust...brings a smile to your lips and a tear to your eyes...

Where the glass blades glow ethereally after each abated rain..

Where your heart grows fond...temporarily even diminishing your long scarred pain...

Where the cascading rivulets run deep into the lost woods and ravines...timeless as it may seem...

Where contentment cannot be saturated and everything else is but a boundless dream...

Such is my hometown...such is my feeling...

Such is the "Queen of Hills"...such is our "Darjeeling"...

Light at the end of the Tunnel!

Sometimes all you need is a little light at the end of the tunnel...

Life is a journey... many come..some of them stay...some leave...like sieved through a funnel

Sometimes its hard just to keep yourself going...knowing you have

only yourself to carry nd move forward..

But HE gives his strongest battles to those who he knows can fight and not cowards..

December's almost gone..withered is the last leaf......

Life moves on ahead ... Half joy.. Half grief..

Its one life.. one chance.. one channel...

Sometimes all you need is a little light at the end of the tunnel!

 

Still Missing You....

"Still Missing You"

In this lonesome hour of the night...
With every breaking dawn of the light...
With slow fathomable memories of the
sleep...
Memories afloat seeping somewhere in
the deep...

Slow the aeon passing over the
vales...the crowning mountains...
Slow the walk...across the half drenched
rains...
Some mystic ashes of all those past
years...
Ebbing away with those anonymous
tears...

Ages have passed...its winter cold...
The leaves have withered...its dead and
old...
The time is lost...its dreary and past...
Our engraved lines...has been shredded
till the last...

The unknown abyss is yet to be made...
Deep and lonely...slowly I fade....
An angelic hue...a first morning dew...
Though in pain..,
But..,Still missing you....!!

“Live Life…One Moment at a Time”

It’s true that personal thoughts and perceptions matter and differ from individual to individual. But aren’t there some things that we actually agree on?...Humanity, Peace and Love being the very basics.



Years ago, whenever I perceived my life in a metro city, it was filled more with marvel and awe and imagination. Later, I realized “There’s more to it than actually meets the eye”. We move on so quickly in life, we forget to pay attention to the small details that actually matter so much and later we just may realize that “we lost a diamond when we were so busy collecting pebbles”.



The first joy of holding your new born baby, the first smile on your beloved’s lips early in the morning, the first grief of actually losing someone close to your heart. We become so busy in building our career, chasing our dreams, our ambitions that we forget the fact that our life is not actually measured by the number of breaths we take, but number of moments that leave us breathless.



We meet people every day, some we forget. There are some that forget us. Some we leave, others leave us. Some leave impressions on our heart and soul forever. But shouldn’t we be glad for having met all these people. As someone aptly said, everyone we meet teaches us something or the other. It’s up to you what you take and what you leave.



Take time to realize the small things that happen, rejoice in the little ounces of happiness you can grab, share your worries, laugh loudly, love fearlessly, value people who matter and care for your happiness.



But greatest of all,...”Don’t rush through life, Live it …One moment at a time”…



Regards,

Sumiran Ghalay

Existence of Identity.....

As I lay chained down, low on the groveling dust,

My freedom curbed; my wings dreary and parched with heavy shackles.

An ounce of freedom, a long lost dream.

Flightless and tired, I stare at the half paced imagination of arid tears.

I hear half chocked voices harking my name, still unclear, unable to comprehend the semi audible frequencies.

Was it not my uncles…and brothers…and close comrades?

Still soaring mightily above the ocean clad clouds..singing drearily as they  heed our identity.

But how could i? Who has been marred with suffering, veiled through shadowed oppression…

Hopes degraded, dreams faded, …

A century of old glory and famed for the fearless errands,

The soil still drenched with my ancestors sweat and blood.

The atmosphere, that once trembled with the hue and cry of this “flightless warrior”.

Could I soar again?

Could I reclaim the long lost identity of the eroded pasts…that long lost honour?

Could I once again, spread my wings and fly?

Could I once again recover and float fearlessly through the blood stained sky….

An Old Summer Evening with a "Friend"...

When the rest of the world walks away...
When everything seems to be astray..,
Just look behind and you will see me...
Forever willing to walk with "thee"..

There might be times that you have cried..
There might have been times when you did all you could and even harder you tried...
But no more my friend, because I am here to hold your hand..
Take you away to the most serene land...

When the clouds of sadness veils your mind...
When everything seems to be desolate behind...
Remember me once and i will make u smile...
Even if it’s just for a while.,,

The days of sadness are gone now...
Just take my hand and i will vow...
Never will you be lonely again...
Never will you feel anymore pain...

We have been friends and I am here forever to stay...
Not only through your coldest nights but even during your happiest day...
I know you have been through a lot...a lot of struggle and strife...
But trust me my friend, I have been, am and will always be a friend for life...

I hope as you go through these lines...
You remember all those joyful times..
Maybe it’s just those silent walks down Gurgaon's crowded runch...
Or at Lodhi Gardens where I ate all your lunch... 

Thank you for being ma friend...
I know i have you till the very end...
If i ever get to open the chapters of my life again...
I will turn to the page when we first met and you made me forget even my worst days of pain...

Always,
"Me"