Dancing Star

"Man muss noch Chaos in sich haben, um einen tanzenden Stern gebären zu können."
(You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.)

            Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra

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Calmness of the breeze whispered to the waves wild,
Could you stay still, perhaps for a little while?
'cause I have miles to go and lives to change,
Charm a smitten heart with tales from lands strange.

Crisp cosmic voice of the waves spoke,
Candor in her stance a muted innocence did invoke.

Could you move, as you stay where you are?
Could you live, when the zeal is further from far?
Could Big Bang be birthed from a state of calm?
Could a poet compose without a few qualms in her palm?

Curiousness in her eyes, the breeze listened with a fervor keen,
Calmness too needs chaos, she knew now as the waves set the scene.

Entropy is the provenance, of the cosmos and all at par,
For you need chaos within, to give birth to a dancing star.

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A Little Something:

Inspired by the quote from one of my favourite books by Friedrich Nietzsche (Thus Spoke Zarathustra), and a response to the poetry prompt "Chaos", this piece is a part/snippet of one of the write-ups that belong to the lengthier side of my writings.

Though it has multiple patterns and few poetic devices, the one I would like to highlight here is the first letter of the first 10 lines (the lines that make up the conversation) in this 12-line piece. It is in line with the beginning letter of the prompt: "Chaos".

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Probably Inexpressible

Call me weird, or "different", if you are in the polite spectrum, or may be nothing at all (it's nothing new, anyway); but I will always continue to be enamored by the magic of numbers and patterns. 

It is not like I always want to (or maybe I do, I am possibly not that self-aware), but somehow the patterns and the numbers find me. It has puzzled me, believe you me. Just like they found me this year, on this very day too. 

Anybody who remotely knows me, knows my affinity towards pi. I have been vocal about it, very vocal. However, this year I made up my mind to keep my distance, intentionally, just to try something new. I tried to even forget the date, if I could. 

However, if you try hard to forget something, you will most probably remember it better than before. So, naturally I was very aware about today's date. I even went out abruptly, like most of my outings, with my father to visit a temple... just to take my mind off of it. It didn't help; the thought was constantly there. 

I didn't check the time on my phone too, but but but... accidentally (or was it?) my phone lit up and I happened to notice the time (and the temperature). I stared at it for a few seconds, figuring out what to make of the situation. And I took a screenshot, I still don't know why. What are the odds (easily calculable, but let's not bother) that it would be 3.14 PM and the temperature too would read 36 degrees celcius?! Is it magic or destiny? (That was a rhetorical question.)

So, since it is what it is, and it has been what it has been, I  think I should now let the news be known. It is not a news per se but just something I want to share only because I have to give credit to a few people. And what better day to do it? 

It happened almost 3 years back, though I got to know about it a little later. In the world ranking of pi-masters, my name too is listed for remembering and reciting 306 digits of it. I chose that number of digits intentionally (now today's temperature too must make some sense). Last time I checked, it was 1200 digits that I remembered of it. 

To the people who helped me in making to that list... I will forever have gratitude in my heart for you. Roshan sir, Chetana ma'am, and S. Prabhu sir, thank you so much.

Despite being so busy, you agreed to be there so promptly. You showed me immense support. How would I ever be able to convey what that meant for me! You three were the only people who I had informed of this; and I had always intended it to be that way. But your contribution must also be known and hence this, in this small possible way, I express my gratitude. Eternal gratitude. 

Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

What were his thoughts?

I began listing out things that I could do just to get a glance of her, once more. I realized I could do anything, everything. The very next moment told me that I could do absolutely nothing, nothing at all. 

I kept on dwindling between these two states, every other second. And that dwindling was not sinusoidal in nature. It had extreme peaks, spikes of an infinite positive and negative in a vast time axis with minuscule divisions. 

Time was a blip, sometimes... and an eternal lonesome love song awaiting the end of forever, the next second.

I could have given up everything just to see her one more time. But if I give up everything, will I be that "I" that has always loved her? Will there ever be remains of the "me" that she has loved?

Would I be making a selfish decision to give up myself? For it was not just me in that "myself"... it has moments of everything and everyone that made me "me". It has her, it has my creators too, and every emotion that I had felt and some... that had been left unfelt. 

I could do everything and nothing for that glance. And once this feeling made itself felt, every ounce of my existence felt unsettling, almost warning me of its fragility, of its volatility. I did not matter anymore. 

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Forever

Dear Forever,

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tomorroW

Dear tomorroW, 

Hope tells me I will find you there,

Where wishes fly and dreams dance,

Where the soft hues of sunrays prance, and

Where chirping birds put melodies 

To vibe in a dreamy trance.

So, I await to witness the vow of words

I await here, where the moonbeams kiss the sea

I await here to meet You there 

Where the Dawn kisses the air with glee

Love,

Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

toDay

Dear toDay, 

With pulsating moments of memories,

And with a sanguine world to come

you are a melange of warmth and glory

The "now" of time 

That shapes every event, every story

In an embrace like no other

You nestle me in your fervor and hope

Encompassed in resplendent idea of joys

My heart shimmers - becomes spring in poise.

Love, 

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Mystical Moments

Dear Mystical Moments,

The velvet of the night

Whispered to the empyrean sky

With a cursory glance of adore

Pursed his lips 

But the indigo eyes did defy

The stars feigned indifference

But eavesdropped through the cloud

They twinkled in hiding

As words in silence he avowed

With Love,

Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Winds of Memory

Dear Winds of Memory, 

In ways the freshness in your traces (tresses) 

Caresses the heart and soul 

In ways the softness of your balmy laughter

Envelopes hope and makes it whole

A sense of wonder and adore ensues

Sometimes finer than silk

Or eclectic than filk

Like dreamy plushies that beam and gleam

Your charm is as easy as a summer daydream

Love,

Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Daylight of Mysteries

Dear Daylight of Mysteries, 

In the unabridged memoirs of alluring enigma,

You hold the place of Desire's wish,

Known to many, just a few could feel,

Like the conundrums of chocolate-y bliss.

Tales do whisper their shushed stories,

In the folds of the blanketed nights...

But there are thoughts of silken depths,

Only esoteric souls sense,

That the glorious sunlight writes.

Love,

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Dear Universes of Being

Dear Universes of Being,

I, a mere speck of dust, in your immenseness,

Has been a seeker of things infinitesimal,

That rapture in the shine of morning dew,

Or the reflection of its worlds in a different hue.

The dew drop here and another across the seas

Have destinies interlaced,

But commune only through the breeze.

When the starlight in them wish an eternal tryst,

Will the celestial providence assist?

Love,

Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Dear Inception of Fragrances

Dear Inception of Fragrances, 

I remember that day of the Sun,

When like every other day,

Numerous dreams were sown.

When the weather smelled the morning breeze,

And whispered sweet nothings across the seas.

The magic transcended realms,

One could have ever felt or seen.

When we met, as the serendipitous moments chose,

In the swaying fragrance - of the quaint rose.

Love,

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C'est la Vie ! : କଳ୍ପନାର ହିମଦେଶ

ତୁଷାରିତ ହିମଗିରି ଶିଖର କୋଳେ,

ସ୍ବର୍ଣ୍ଣାଭ କିରଣ ର କଲ୍ଲୋଳିତ ତାଳେ,

ପ୍ରସ୍ଫୁଟିତ ହୀରାକଣି ପୁଷ୍ପ ହସେ,

ଜୀବନ ସେଠି ଜୀବନର ରହସ୍ଯ ଭାଷେ ।

ହିମଗୌର ଆଲୋକରେ ପ୍ରଜ୍ବଳିତ ଶିଖା,

ଚପଳ ଜୋଛନା ସେଠି ଆଙ୍କେ ଚିତ୍ରଲେଖା,

ମନୋମୟ କାହାଣୀରେ କାଦମ୍ବିନୀ ହଜେ,

ମନ ସେଠି ମନର ଗୀତିକାର ସାଜେ ।

ନଭଶ୍ଚୁମ୍ବୀ ସେ, ଧରିତ୍ରୀର ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଚୂଡ଼ାମଣି,

ମିଞ୍ଜିମିଞ୍ଜି ତାରାପୁଞ୍ଜ ତହିଁ ସ୍ବପ୍ନ ଯାଏ ବୁଣି,

ମୃଦୁ ହସେ ମନ୍ଦାକିନୀ ଉତଫୁଲ୍ଲିତ ହୋଇ,

କଳ୍ପନା ସେଠି କଳ୍ପନାର ସ୍ମାରକ ଗଢ଼ଇ ।

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A Loose Translation: 

(January 22, 2025, 8:16 PM)

That's Life! : A Snowy Land (Himalayas) of Imagination 

In the lap of the snowy peaks, 

With the astoundingly delightful rhythm of the golden rays, 

The blooming diamond flowers beam with delight, 

And Life... whispers the mystery of Life there. 

The peak (1*) glistens in the auroral frosted snow,

As the fickle moonbeam paints a celestial portrait, 

The ethereal clouds immerse themselves in fantasies,

And Mind... adorns itself with ariose ballads of Mind.

Kissing the skies, it is a treasure sans pareil,

Where the shimmering stars sow and plant dreams.

The exultant "Mandakini" (2*) smiles gently,

And Imagination... builds a monument of Imagination there.

(1*) the mountain peak and the flame : are spelt same in Odia. An ornamentation technique is used called "Jamaka Alankara" has been used here.

(2*) Mandakini is a tributary river of Ganga. Additionally, the cosmic river or the Milky way galaxy is also referred to as Mandakini. Again, "Jamaka Alankara" is used here.

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Raahi Chaand

महकी हुई सन्नाटों में वो चाँद आहें भरता है आज भी 

महफ़िलों के उन चँद रंगों को वो निहारता है आज भी 

हैं ये दिन हसीन और शामें जवाँ अब भी मगर 

नर्म मुस्कानों में वह बातें याद करता है आज भी 

थे कुछ अनकहे से लफ्ज़ अब भी बाकी शायद 

उन लफ्ज़ों की शिकायत निगाहों से करता है आज भी

नज़र की नज़ाकत चाहे पलकों से घिरे रहें मगर 

तारों को रोशनी के किस्से बेबाकी से सुनाता है आज भी 

किस्तों में बादलों से मिलना होता है कभी कभी मगर 

उनसे समंदर का हाल-ए-दिल वो पूछ लेता है आज भी 

वह लहरें जो बेक़रारी में क़रार ढूँढती थीं तब 

उनके शिकवे में दास्तानों की गूँज सुनता है आज भी 

कुछ कहानीयों में राहों का आगाज़ रहता होगा शायद 

हर कहानी के मोड़ में जाने क्या राह तलाशता है आज भी 

रास्तों मे अक्सर भटकते होंगे राही मगर 

पर क्या भटका राही मंजिलो से ख़फ़ा रहता है आज भी? 

Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Third Or First?

>>You may listen (and watch) it here.

When you are an observer, 

A third person in a world of two, 

You witness the story unfold,

You witness the things said,

And the things too,

That has been left to be sensed.

You see the love, the happiness, 

You see the wounds, the scratches,

You see the gaps too in dreams and souls,

You see what has been shown,

And that, which was has been left

To be felt in a land unknown.

You see the world that was created,

A world morphing into another...

You see the jigsaw slots fitting in

And those that could have fit,

If not for that unfitting stray bit,

Waiting to be cleared off

But stays on,

Seemingly invisible enough,

To be lifted off.

You witness the hands

That reached out,

And those too that stretched,

But had shackles on

That no one knew about.

You witness the world that was shown,

The one, that once under the sun shone,

You feel the one too, which existed

On the eclipsed phase,

Or dark end of moon.

You crave, you long, you pray,

"If only... " is all you can say...

But are you just the 3rd person,

With no more role,

But to observe,

Or is there more to it,

Perhaps any other purpose to serve?

Can it be an untold notion,

To let you know of the stray pieces,

That may have been in motion

In the world where you exist,

And your puzzle pieces too,

Have been trying to resist?

Are you the third person 

In that universe unknown,

Or is that universe

Just another piece

To let you explore 

The unseen in your own (universe)?

Letting you to make sense

Of what has been left

To be sensed, seen, heard, or felt...

To water the flowers,

That might seem parched,

Even if some parts have been drenched,

The others might need to be watched?

That universe might have been an assisting piece

For the universe of your version,

To let your senses bloom,

And thrive in the world,

Where you have always been

The first person.

>>Listen/Watch:

Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

Not To Be Read

DO NOT OPEN THIS.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO OPEN THIS.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

CHECK THE NEXT POST. That one is fun.

STAY AWAY FROM THIS ONE.

.

.

.

.

.

.

If you have been in darkness for quite some time...

And are probably still in...

And there's not a single beacon to be seen anywhere 

Not now nor in the foreseeable future

When it feels that all hope is lost

And your soul isn't even yours

I pray you never know

That you never know

That you have been in the dark

For that's where meanings fail

And the world that never was

Starts to crumble to pieces

Pieces so fine that can't even be seen

With eyes that have been pretending to be blind

I pray you never smell the putrid ashes

Even if that is what all that remains

And the ashes have the remnants of your every prayer

I pray you never know

That you never know

That you have been walking on ashes of wishes

For that's when your breath burns

And the air that never was

Starts to choke you down

In the very silk thread

The thread that once held your dreams 

Now those dreams drown

In the stench of those puddles

That once held life like koi

Koi that have long gone now

To places that never exist 

And hence won't ever be found

Like the light that have lost its way

To nothingness 

Never found on any sky

A sky that never was 

Or would ever be

It was darkness all along

I pray that you never know

That you never know

Darkness is all you have bestowed upon

Even though light is all you have

You have thought to have seen

Maybe someday that light will manifest

In a form none around you had ever seen

or could attest

Wait till that day

But before that

I pray that you never know

Copyright © 2025 One Life To Live. All Rights Reserved

The One I Have Waited For

For over 2 years now, a lot of people (and not just me) have been waiting for 2025. It is for the same reason (or should I say reasons, the reasons being 7). However, there is another reason why I have been looking forward to this year. 

The primary reason is its close association with the number 9, a number I have always been entranced by. In addition, 2025, in itself, is a special number, (at least like many other numbers if not more). Let's unwind it a bit more, shall we? 

I would skip the obvious ones which most would already know. For example, 2025 being a perfect square (the only one for this century), or it being the sum of the cube of first 9 numbers, or it being the square of sum of numbers from 1 to 9.

I will also skip the very visible aspect of it, that is how by multiplying its component numbers (20 and 25) results in the year 2025 (that is (20+25)x(20+25) = 2025), or how it is the result of the multiplication of two perfect squares (81, square of 9 and 25, square of 5) or the sum of three perfect squares (1600, 400, and 25). It's relation with 3, 6, and 9 (the magical trio, as I believe them to be) is very apparent even from these obvious ones. 

Let's explore some actual interesting ones, the less commonly known ones. (Please note the connect with 3, 6, and 9.) First, if we go on writing digits from 1 to 45, the number of times corresponding to their values, that is 1 once, 2 twice, 3 thrice, upto 45 forty-five times (1223334444...45454545 (45 times)), the total number of digits is 2025! And this doesn't happen for any other number greater than 1, except for 45 (and 4+5 =9). Coincidence? I don't think so. 

Let's explore some graph theory for the second fact. If we go on to color the sides of a rectangle, using at most 9 colors, distinctly, should we take a guess how many ways there can be? Surprise, surprise... 2025 essentially distinct ways! And if you want more, try finding out how many spanning trees could be formed in a complete bipartite graph with 3+5 vertices.

If we go for figurative numbers, again a personal favorite, and just touch upon a bit of geometry (oh! the elegance), we can visualize 2025 in terms of triangular numbers and centered octagons, as it lies so elegantly in their intersection. We have studied triangular numbers in school, grade 5, if I am not mistaken. 2025 is the sum of two consecutive triangular numbers, T44 and T45. (T44 = (44x45)/2 = 990 and T45 = (45x46)/2 = 1035). For centered octagonal numbers, if we choose 23 levels (22 rings plus 1 central point), we get a total of 2025 points.

The true beauty comes up when we plot T44 and T45 in their triangular positions and rearrange the 2025 points to form the centered octagon, a beautiful match in two worlds! It thus signifies growth and prosperity (for the consecutive triangular numbers), and balance and equilibrium (as a centered octagon)... a year of transition, if you will. 

Coming to the whimsical aspects, if we write the results of multiplication tables of 1 through 9 (that is 1x1 through 9x9), essentially a 9x9 matrix, the sum of all results would be 2025. Another silly but interesting aspect is that if we add 1 to each digit of 2025, the result 3136 is still a perfect square. And 2025 is quite possibly the only positive square to have this aspect. Additionally, if we add 1 to just 1 digit also (resulting in 3025), it still remains a perfect square. Interestingly, 55 squared is 3025, and 56 squared is 3136. (Did we notice the 3 and 6 aspects?)

Those were 5 aspects. Let's add 4 quick silly but fun ones to make it 9. For all numbers from 1 through 9999, with the last digit strictly greater than the other digits, there are exactly 2025 numbers. If we cube 2025 and omit the 0 in the result (8303765625 becomes 833765625), the number so left is also a square (square of 28875). Did we observe that the sum of the digits of is 9 and that of 28875 is 3?

Keeping its close association with 9, it can be written as a sum of positive squares in only one way, that is 27 squared + 36 squared. And to end it with how we started this piece, let's see something associated to 7. If we take the set {A, B, C} and find the number of strings of 7 letters (that do not contain AAAA or BBBB as a substring), the number is 2025. 

Even though there are a lot other special things about 2025 as a number, and I really am looking forward to discuss it in details... even so, we will pause here... for this already has been way lengthier than I initially expected it to be. However, if you are looking forward to a discussion about this year or the number 2025 (royal, purple), we can always find opportunities. Or we can make our own. Have a happy 2025!

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