Friday, June 13, 2025

Things That Found Me

I went through few of my old things.

Something hit me... 

Let's call it nostalgia, for I don't know a better or more appropriate word.
(Funny thing with words haan!)


Old notebooks from classes
Strange how I remembered the color of the ink each one was written in.
But didn't remember that 
my handwriting was far better than
what it is now.


Preserved Letters
I still write letters but never realized
I used to write so much just a few years back.
What hindered me, if not the shadow 
of my own thoughts?
Did I grow up ? But then what does 
growing up even mean!
Tagged in as #UnsentLetters, they sent me
on a journey I never knew I needed.


Collection of leaves and the stories
I wrote about each one of them.
I remembered the stories, each one of them.
But strangely enough, I never realized I still would remember them...
even after all these years.
I remember the trees and how they looked.
What would they be doing now? 
Would they remember me, or the leaves 
they have parted ways since?


And the hundreds of drafts I will never post
I have nothing I could do for you 
and words have gone haywire 
in my existence now as I see each one of you
I wish we meet still, 
perhaps in another dimension, 
in another universe.
Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, June 12, 2025

An Unnamed Story


Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

चयन: Choice

कभी मन किया है? 

कभी मन किया है - मीठी रूई जैसे उन बादलों को थोड़ा चखने की?

कभी मन किया है - उन मुलायम बादलों पर लेट कर उन्ही बादलों को ही ओढ़कर उन्ही पर एक मासूम झपकी लेने की?

लेकिन याद रखें, ये फुज्जीले बादल नरम, हल्के और बेहद मुलायम दिखाई देते हैं, लेकिन इनके अंदर भी एक महासागर की क्षमता छिपी होती है।

यह बादल अगर गरजने पर आ जाए तो सारी दुनिया ही पिघला दे, लेकीन धीमी आँच पर बरसे, तो धरती को अपनी सौंधी खुशबू भी याद दिलादे। 

कोमलता एक चुना हुआ विकल्प है, कमजोरी नहीं।

/ 6
: 99
#D5June
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A Loose Translation: 

Have you ever felt like tasting those sweet cotton-like clouds?

Have you ever felt like lying down on those soft clouds, covering yourself with those clouds and taking an innocent nap on them?

But remember this - these fluffy clouds may look soft, light and squishy, but they have the immenseness of the ocean hidden inside them.

If these clouds thunder, they can melt the whole world, but if they rain gently, they can remind the earth of its sweet fragrance (petrichor).

Softness is a choice, not a weakness.

/ 6
: 87 
#D5June
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Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Monday, June 9, 2025

Pause

Die unerwartetsten Überraschungen erleben wir, wenn wir nicht darauf warten. 

Das heißt aber nicht, dass wir die Hoffnung aufgeben müssen. Wir können einen Moment innehalten, wenn es sein muss. Manchmal ist eine Pause wichtiger und kann, wenn sie richtig gemacht wird, von Vorteil sein.

Pause ... um der Duft zu sein, der eine Weile verweilt, bevor er sich bemerkbar macht. Pause ... wie die Wellen, bevor sie zu nie dagewesenen Höhen aufsteigen.

Die Überraschungen, die die „Pause“ Phase mit sich bringt, sind erfreulicher und aufregender. Warum? - Weil wir Erwartungen (die Bedingungen sind) losgelassen haben und dennoch eine hoffnungsvolle (bedingungslose) Lebenseinstellung beibehalten haben.

Nicht jeder Tag ist gleich, und das muss auch nicht sein, denn genau darauf kommt es an, um ein sinnvolles Leben mit schönen Überraschungen zu führen.

/ 9
: 126
#D4June

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A Loose Translation: 

The most unexpected surprises come to us when we are not looking for them.

But that does not mean we must give up on hope. We can pause for a little while, if we must. Sometimes a pause is more essential and, if done right, could be beneficial.

Pause... to be the fragrance that lingers for a while before making its presence known. Pause... like the waves do before they rise to unprecedented heights.

The surprises that the "pause" phase brings are more enjoyable and exciting. Why - because we have let go of expectations (which are conditions) and yet maintained a hopeful (unconditional) outlook towards life.

All days are not same and they must not be, for that's probably what matters to have a meaningful life with beautiful surprises.

/ 9
: 129
#D4June
====================================
Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Friday, June 6, 2025

나는 너의 해바라기다! : Sunflower



내 존재는 땅의 어둠 속에 뿌리를 두고 있지만,
내 마음은 평생 하늘에서 널 찾아 헤맸다.
네 사랑의 빛이 내 마음의 영원한 인도자이기니까.
우리 영혼의 일부는 항상 서로 얽혀 있었다.

단지 거리가 어떻게 중요할 수 있을까?
이별의 긴 밤도 중요하지 않아.
새로운 새벽이 밝아오면 
너의 광선이 나를 비출 테니까.

나는 너의 해바라기다.

/ 9
: 129
#D3June
====================================
A Loose Translation: 

My being is rooted in the darkness of the earth,
But my heart has searched for you in the sky all my life.
For the light of your love is the eternal guide of my heart.
Parts of our souls have always been intertwined.

How can this mere distance be of any consequence?
The long night of separation too doesn't matter.
For when the new dawn dawns,
your rays will shine on me.

For I am your sunflower.

/ 9
: 78
#D3June
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Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

ଚିଠିଟିଏ : A Letter

ହୃଦୟ ଝିଞ୍ଜାରି ପକାଉଥିବା କେତୋଟି ଶବ୍ଦ ... ସେହି ଶବ୍ଦ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଲୁଚି ରହିଥିଲା ଅନେକ କୁହା ଅକୁହା କଥା। କୁହା କଥା ଯେତକ, ତା'ଠାରୁ ଅକୁହା କଥାର ଓଜନ ଢେର୍ ବେଶି। କେତେ ବେଶି ସେଇଟା କେବେ ମାପି ହେଇନି କି ହେବ ନାହିଁ ବୋଧହୁଏ। 

ଯେଉଁ କଲମ କାଳିରେ ଲେଖାଯାଇଥିଲା ସେ ଚିଠିଟି, ନା ସେ କାଳି ଅଛି, ନା ଅଛି ସେ କଲମର ଚିହ୍ନ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣ। ଯେମିତି ସେହି ଶବ୍ଦର ଭାବରେ ନିଜକୁ ଭିଜାଇ ହଜିଯାଇଛନ୍ତି ସମୟର ଶେଷ ଦ୍ବାର ପାଖ କେଉଁ ଗୋଟିଏ ଗଳିରେ। ଏତେ ଭାବନା କ'ଣ ଦୁନିଆରେ ଥାଏ! 

ଏମିତି ଗାମ୍ଭୀର୍ଯ୍ଯ, ଏମିତି ମାଧୁର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଯେ କେତୋଟି ଅକୁହା କଥା ଓ ଅବ୍ୟକ୍ତ ଭାବନାରେ ଥାଇପାରେ, ତାହା ଚିନ୍ତା କରିବା ହିଁ କାଠିକର ପାଠ। ପ୍ରେମକୁ ପ୍ରେମ କରିପାରିଥିବା ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଟିଏ ହିଁ ବୁଝିପାରିବ ତା'ର ସାରମର୍ମ- ସେ ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମତାର ଶକ୍ତିକୁ । ସେଥିପାଇଁ ତ ଚିଠିଟିଏ ମଧ୍ଯେ ସାଇତି ହୋଇ ରହିଯାଇଛି ସେ ହୃଦୟରୁ ଖଣ୍ଡେ ! 

/ 9
: 285
#D2June
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A Loose Translation: 

A few words that tug at your heartstrings shelters some unseen unspoken words. Those unspoken words are much heavier than those that have been uttered. It, perhaps, is never possible to appraise the weight that these unspoken words have always carried. 

The ink that penned those words in that letter have ever since dried up, and so has the stylus that housed it once. Immersed in the essence of these words, they have evanesced themselves- somewhere around the peripheral apogee of time's ultimate stance. Is it even possible for these depths of feelings to exist !

It's incomprehensible to imagine the sincerity, the sweetness that these words can encompass. Only a person who has loved Love can understand its essence - the power of that subtlety, that elegance, that etherealness. That is perhaps why the piece of that heart has been preserved in a letter!

/ 9
: 143
#D2June
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Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Sunday, June 1, 2025

To Be And Not To Be

"If you try enough, someday you too can be like someone."
Why would I want that? 

"So, are you trying hard not to be like someone?"
Why would I do that either? 

"Then?"
Why would I try to be or not to be like someone?

I just try to preserve my identity 
And break free from it too.
To be enough of myself
And nothing of it too.
To immerse in my soul's core,
And fly away along with the breath of air.
To be AND not to be. 

"It does not make any sense?"
Does it have to?


/ 15
: 99
#D1June
Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, May 22, 2025

मैं आर्टिस्ट नहीं

पता है मुझे,
मुझ में आर्टिस्टों वाली वह बात नहीं ।

ना अपना, या किसी का दुख लिखती हूं।
ना बेबसी, ना दिल टूटने का किस्सा लिखती हूं।
ना फ़िक्र, ना अपने जिंदगी का वह हिस्सा लिखती हूं।

जिसे सुनकर किसी का दिल करहा उठे,
ना वह लिखती हूं ।
ज़माना जिस लिखावट को कलाकार की दस्तख़त माने,
वह भी कहाँ लिखती हूं!

तो किस बात पर ज़माने से,
कला का कोई भी ख़िताब मांगु?
किस मुंह से कला की इस नगरी में,
अपना छोटा सा भी हिस्सा मांगु?

हां, लिखती हूं मैं, पर तब...
जब रूह बेचैनी में क़रार ढूंढे।
हां, लिखती हूं मैं...
पर खुशी का नज़राना, उम्मीद की आरजू,
हसीन यादों की गुनगुनाहट लिखती हूं मैं।

कि शायद... कभी कोई ढूंढते हुए आ जाए।
कि शायद... कोई पलभर खोकर, खुद से मिल जाए।
कि शायद... कभी कोई ग़मों के शोर में,
हँसी का सुर सुनने आ जाए।
कि शायद, शायद...मायूस आंखों के भीड़ में, 
कोई अपने हिस्से के सपने बुनने आ जाए।

अगर उस कोई एक चेहरे को आशा मिल जाए,
पूरा पल भर ना सही, आधा पौना भर भी वह खिल जाए।

तो ना हुई कलाकार मैं, फिर भी कोई ग़म नहीं।
आर्टिस्टों में ना रहे कभी मेरा नाम,
उसका भी कोई शिकवा नहीं।
गुमनामी में रहलु, जिलुं, और खो जाऊँ, 
उसका भी गिला नहीं।
उस पौने पल के लिए सब कुर्बान,
और उसका तिल भर का भी अफ़सोस नहीं।

हां, मैं आर्टिस्ट नहीं।
मुझ में आर्टिस्टों वाली वह बात नहीं। 
मुझ में आर्टिस्टों वाली कोई भी बात नहीं।

/ 36
: 252

P.S. The loan word "आर्टिस्ट" (artist) has been intentionally used instead of the Hindi word "कलाकार".
====================================
A Loose Translation: 

I am not an Artist


I am aware
That I have no qualities
That an artist must possess. 

I do not write 
Of my own or someone else's sorrow,
Nor do I write about vulnerability,
Nor of stories of heartbreak.
I do not write of worries,
Nor do I write about that part of my life, 

Which can make a heart sigh,
I don't even write of those aspects
That the world deems 
To be an artist's signature!

So, why on earth,
Should I ask of the world 
To bestow any title of art?
How could I look 
For even a meager dwelling
In this vast elaborate city 
Of art and artists?

Yes, I do write, 
But only when the soul seeks peace 
In disquietude.
Yes, I do write, 
But I write of the gift of happiness, 
A wish for hope, 
And of the hum 
Of beautiful memories.

Maybe someday, 
Someone comes searching for it.
That maybe someday, 
One discovers oneself,
After getting lost here
For a moment. 
That maybe someday
Someone comes to rejoice 
In the rhythm of laughter 
Amidst the noises of sorrow. 
That maybe, just maybe...
In the crowd of disappointed eyes, 
Someone would come 
To weave a utopia, of their share of dreams.

If that one face finds hope,
If not for a whole moment, 
Even if it blossoms 
For even a fragment of a moment.

Then I am okay 
Being not an artist;
I would sacrifice it a million times over,
I wouldn't have an ounce of grief.
I wouldn't lament 
Even if my name is never counted 
Amongst those of artists.
I shall live in obscurity 
Live and ultimately get lost some day,
Even then, I would not repine. 
I would gladly sacrifice everything 
For that fragment of a moment, 
And I wouldn't have 
Even an iota of regret for that.

Yes, I am not an artist.
I don't have that quality of an artist.
I don't have any quality of an artist.

/ 63
: 324

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Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Crème Brûlée-d


Cold. 
Visibly frozen. Feels cold too.              
But it is that unseen warmth
That gives it its
Distinct Identity. 
Only the chosen ones 
Would know
And could feel
The warmth
That solidifies and unifies
Its sweetness. 

Bold.
Hard. Tough like a weapon. 
But the essence is in that
Creamy gentle softness
That defines its 
Existence. 
Only the souls
Who have the 
Empathy to cross that
Firm shell
Can immerse in that 
Soft caress. 

/11 + 12
: 72
Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved


About Me

My photo
As a blogger, one of the things I am often asked is "How/ When did you get started with all this?" For as long as my memory takes me back, I have always found myself pondering about a plethora of things. I have always loved reflecting on the small but wonderful aspects of life. Ipsita Contemplates has been very special and I love to get the opportunity to share my musings, my thoughts, and my perceptions with you. It is also a way to appreciate the essence of Life!