Aurora

The cold morning climbs out of slumber.

From the numb embrace of night, it enters.

The sun still wrapped in the arms of a cloud,

crouching away from the chilly winds around.

The damp grass awaiting the golden crown.

A bare icy branch complaining with the slightest frown.

A shy rose peeping from dewy lids.

The leaf's talking to it in words full of mist.

The sun, playing coy, winks at the sky.

It rolls out slowly and embraces with a sigh.

Kisses the rose, takes the branch under a charm.

And, once again the grass feels warm.

One more day and the sun would be gone.

Only to come back, as bright as today it had shone.

Little Angel

Wrote this one , when my first nephew was born ....

Those cute little eyes and the hands so petite,

Your creamy soft skin and those tiny feet

Knocking at my heart and ringing my bell,

Is that you, the sweet little angel!

You're cute little face is a reverie.

Whenever I close my eyes, I see

How dear you are, no one can tell.

Is that you, the sweet little angel!

Love, joy, blessings waiting in store

for the cherub, the angel, the elf I adore

Thinking of you, with pride do I swell.

Is that you, the sweet little angel!

Time passes through fingers like sand.

I might not be tomorrow, take my hand.

Deep in my heart and soul you dwell.

Is that you, the sweet little angel!

There's no better than here

A few days ago, I read a quote on the Internet that said -
"There" is no better than "here", when your "there" becomes your "here", you will again find another "there", that will again look better than "here".
So true in today's world .....

Here's something inspired by this phrase .... to live life as it comes ...

I stand here and turn around

to look back at the trodden grounds,

I crossed, while listening to the inner sound;

seeking the peace I finally found.

I breathe in the freshness of air.

I bask in the sun's glare.

How long it took to reach, I'd rather not care.

There's no better than here.

The valley beneath is calling me out.

There's no hurry, no hint of doubt.

I wish to hear me scream aloud,

as the seeds of joy would start to sprout.

Shedding the last few chords of despair,

I'm readying to take the leap of dare.

Wherever I'll land, I'd rather not care.

There's no better than here.

Hissing of the winds down on my way

Feels like music and the sky looks gay.

I'm falling free, following the ray;

the light that shines still, at the end of the day.

I've conquered all sorrows, gone is the fear.

Before I embrace the grounds, green or bare,

how long it'd be, I'd rather not care.

There's no better than here.

Maze

I was once going home from work after a few successive weeks of late nights.
I started reflecting on how work takes a toll on everyone during some phases of career, and one can’t help but live an imbalanced life for a while. This just made me wonder how life (if personified) would react to this lifestyle, after a few decades....

One fine day, years ago

our eyes met across the road.

The moment froze, the gaze dug deeper.

Our eyes lit up, the grass turned greener.

She came close, calling my name.

Never before had it sounded the same.

The velvety voice like Mozart's symphony.

A resonance that filled my heart with glee.

Her soft fingers stroked my hand.

No moment had ever felt so grand.

I was in love, I was on flight

on the wings of joy, the sun shone bright.

Time went by, the sky turned gray.

The clouds set in, the sun hid away.

One rainy day, years later

our eyes met, across the road.

The long lost friends took years to find.

But, the glitter of the world had turned me blind.

She came closer, calling my name.

But the velvety voice was lost in vain.

Me and my companionship was all she had left.

But, the jingling of coins had turned me deaf.

Her soft fingers stroked my hand

in the hope of holding on to my last strand.

I couldn't feel a thing, my heart was just a lump.

The jolts of struggle had turned me numb.

To hold back on to the strings I strive.

Once again, I yearn to fall in love with life.

But would she still love a forlorn zombie?

Would she still look at me, call me and touch me??

I am special

The subject here is not a single child rather a union of all children with special needs, taking a different role in each stanza. He is an autistic child in the first stanza. Autism is a brain development disorder, which impairs a child's commincation skills. Autistic children usually tend to behave repititiely and obsessively, stack or line things (toys) up, avoid eye contact, become loners. Autism is the # 1 pediatric illness today. According to current statistics, 1 in every 166 children is autistic. Autism is curable with the right kind of awareness, diagnosis and help.

In the second stanza, the subject is a dyslexic child. Dyslexia is a learning disability, that manifests primarily as a difficulty with written language, particularly with reading and spelling. Dyslexic children usually have trouble recognizing patterns, they usually confuse "b" with "d" or "saw" with "was", or cannot recognize phonetics, thus unable to spell correctly. Mostly dyslexic children are very disorganized. Dyslexia can also be treated with appropriate efforts.

In the third stanza, the subject is a chld suffering from selective mutism. This behavioural pattern causes a child to fear social interaction. They only feel secure when they have a few familiar faces (usually from family) around. Seletively mute children usually stand still when talked to in such situations, and donot react or answer at all. At times, they can even show signs of phyical illness, under extreme insecurity and pressure. Selective mutism can also be cured. 

In the fourth stanza, the subject is talking on behalf of all these children.....

Just a little effort can go a long way to help these little ones lead a normal life. We just need to understand what those little eyes are trying to tell us, and stretch out a helping hand....

I am special

I open my eyes; a new old day begins.

Another battle to sustain, to convey mundane things.

Another stack of emotions, another game of routine.

Another fumble to express what I mean.

Make me stand on your feet, take me places.

So one day, I can walk, if not run, in these races.

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I turn the page, I start struggling.

But the key to success is overwhelming.

Everything's topsy-turvy, at times, beyond a mirror.

I need to catch hold, and put all back in gear.

Hold my hand and help me tame

the building blocks that make up this game.

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I'm standing alone in a sea of faces.

My eyes probe you, I end up in empty spaces.

I dare not say, I dare not answer.

Your absence eats up on my nerves like a cancer.

Stay with me, until I'm braced

to face this world alone, and take a taste.

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A hidden wail in the silence.

A silent yearn for resilience.

Lend me a hand, let's paint the town red.

Let's live up all dreams, before I go to bed.

Love is the medicine, that offers all cures.

This world is mine, as much as yours.

Only an angel in guise to lead.

I shall shine too, I shall succeed.

Mirth

This is about a child learning to walk from his mother. The thought that inspired this work was India's recent progress in all spheres. It's journey from being a developing nation to it's current stature is much inspiring......

A curious pair of crystal blue eyes.

An outstretched hand, a reckon in guise.

A sudden foray to make the hands meet.

A long sheet of tresses brushing the soft cheek.

A fastened grasp, an expectant look.

A yearning of a thirsty doe so near the brook.

A pair of shaky legs begin to unfold.

A tiny first step, and then a jolt.

A curious gasp, a rush to caress.

An assurance that failure's no reason for distress.

A brighter blue eye, a curve in the brow.

A tout set of legs, time for another go.

A gush of zeal, a bit of perseverance.

A trail of footsteps born hence.

A jubilant smile from the fairy in six yards.

The first six steps taken, now these feet know no bars

Misty Ocean

Ever noticed how there's always a mist that travels along with the ocean right above its waters, never leaving the ocean .....

An endless ocean you are

Me, the mist born from within

Cradling me with care

you travel with the wind

My eyes are euphoric, everywhere you are

In your watery embrace, my sky's safe

Floating right above, I'm never too far.

Fondling and dallying with every wave

Holding hands, bending and swirling

you take me through the winds so strong.

Every wave that rises from your heart

beckons me to the place I belong.

No rush to return, no count of time

you lay with your arms wide open beneath.

The sun rises, the golden god in you appears.

Being in awe, I gasp to breathe.

Your scruple, your speck I'll always be.

In your whole, I'll moor once again.

I'll never end, there's no abyss.

Within you, shall I always remain.

Last goodbye

A love-struck heart's belief in forever.

But whenever did lovers part never.

A walk on the clouds facing the same sun.

But the mist of time blurs the vision.

A journey once started hand in hand.

Then one day the hour glass falls and lets loose the sand.

Time takes us on different paths.

All the pain unearths from the cynical laughs.

The hands that held, when the heart would cry

are meeting today to bid their last goodbye.

The heart that once went out to the lover

cannot but help in putting the pieces together.

Standing on different shores of the sea of life

you wonder, when you stopped to strive?

No pearls of wisdom can bring back the memories burnt.

But you emerge stronger after all you've learnt

Women@Google and ISB - a new beginning

The evening of September 17th, 2011 marked the creation of a nexus. Women@Google and Women in Business Club at ISB joined hands, and found a compatible partner for a cause. The team comprised of Mr. Sameer Bora - Digital Content and Commerce Lead (ISB alumnus – Class Of 2007), Ms. Pooja Srinivas - Manager, Sales Technical Operations, Meenakshi Dhingra - Manager, Adwords, Ashok Ranadive – Manager, Global Media and Platform Solutions, Sunita Mohanty – Online Sales and Operations Manager, and Ms. Shradha Negi, People Operations. 

WIB Club’s revised mission statement in year 2011-12 states sensitization of all members of the club towards gender-specific issues at the workplace as one of its goals. When the Women@Google team visited ISB on September 19th, 2011 to liaise with the WIB club at ISB, it comprised of 4 women and 2 men. It was great to see the men involved in this initiative. And, that is exactly what WIB aims at by sensitization of all members. Initially the discussion circled around how Google makes every effort to make life choices easier for its women employees. Such efforts span from nursing rooms for new mothers, and play areas and daycares for employees’ children to friendly maternity and paternity leave policy and the upcoming “Returning Mothers’ Program” to help women employees resume work smoothly after returning from their maternity leave. Google efforts to acknowledge women’s efforts and progress like “Women in Engineering Awards” and Google Women of Color Scholarship to help students attend the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference (2011) were also discussed. 

Next, the discussion graduated to Google’s efforts to contribute to the society it belongs to, viz. Google’s association with Prajwala (an NGO that rehabilitates and rescues women, who are sex-workers and children), and Gayglers (the LGBT community in Google workforce). The team also charted out examples from personal experiences to emphasize how Google allows both men and women the freedom and flexibility to help them lead healthy personal and professional lives. 

In the end, while candidly highlighting the gender-ratio of 60:40 with 60% women at Google, Hyderabad, the Google team left with the following message for the WIB club members - Women shouldn’t be afraid of pursuing their aspirations, given a supportive environment; and a supportive environment is exactly what Google aims to provide to all its employees. 

Shruti Thakral

Knowledge Initiatives Coordinator

Women in Business Club, ISB