Part 1

*Light fades*

*Groaning noises faze in and out*

“What is this?” she asked in a low pitched voice. Her heart was pounding through her chest and suddenly she realized what horror she was in.

*silence*

*heart pounding*

*floor creaks*

The small girl in the black dress smiled. It was not the smile you casually express to a stranger; or a warm one when you see a dear one. It was a smile, a dark, dark one.

*Lights out*

*Panting*

*Lights in*

The girl wakes up from the bed and realizes it was a dream. She was sweating profusely and had soiled herself. But she was relaxed; until she saw the small girl in the dress again, with a dark smile.

*shrilled shriek*

It was a scream that could make your bones curl and your heart skip a beat.

*girl faints*

Next morning when she woke up, mother asked, “What happened?”

*confusion*

She couldn't tell anything, to anyone. Of course, how can she tell that she was haunting herself…..

Ok, so this is the Part1 of many many going to be parts of a play that I think I can write, but in reality I know it’s a bad idea!

Try some; it's yum!

So today I would like to pour out my frustration about the age old bicker – “You’re vegetarian? Never ate non-veg? Is eating plants that breathe okay?!”

I am truly sick and frustrated with this question. Mainly because – I am a Brahmin; we are programmed to snarl or make disgusting faces when someone says meat!  Also because, I am a freaking vegetarian. I don’t comment or condemn you eating meat, so STOP asking me to start eating meat. If you want to promote something, maybe world peace or same sex marriage and even raising a vampire army is better than asking me to eat meat.

Here is my answer! I don’t eat meat, because my environment demands me not to; like it or not I grew up within this circle and it is home. Maybe in another environment I would’ve been a meat-eater. However, I also have another answer. I don’t believe in caste system or any kind of differences. But, I think – you are what you are from the Karma you have done in the past. Maybe previous life or this.

I’m sure all of you have heard, the way to get closer to god is to leave all worldly desires. Meat, alcohol, cigarettes, sex, hookah and many more things starting from a shoe, to a table, to a house is restricted to a sadhu – why? Because they are addictive. Brahmins are believed to be born out of less bad karma and more good karmas. Hence, we are restricted to eat meat, drink or smoke – just a way to make us stay away from falling back to the trap of worldly things. BTW, Brahmins is just a name given by us. Don’t go all “discriminating bitch” on me.

Same way – Kshetriyas were born to protect – to protect you need strength and power – so they are allowed to eat meat and indulge in worldly things – because they are here to save the world. Of course, if there is a Kshetriya who lives like a Brahmin – then it is said their next birth would be a better one. So, you get my point, I hope!

This reminds me, In the book Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, one of the main characters explain Shantaram the difference between good and bad; which I think would fit perfectly to explain this situation.

He says, “Everything we do in this world, which leads to destruction is bad, otherwise is good.” He gives an example saying – Robbery is said to be bad. Not because it’s about integrity and taking away materials that is not yours. Imagine if everyone starts robbing – we will lead the world into destruction. That’s why it’s bad.

Same way – everyone eating meat would lead in extinction of animals, in turn destruction; because we live in a world where even bees, ants and cockroaches are important for human survival.

So next time before asking me why not, ask yourself, “Do I really care?”

Couples be like

Vegans be like

Meat-eaters be like

Skinny vegans be like

Eggs be like

Chicks be like

And i'm like ;)

The 5th Veda

“But the thing that sticks in the mind is that this is an art seemingly grounded in innocence, as if the Hindu and Buddhist traditions at their roots escaped the concept of guilt,” said New York Times during Asian Art Museum named “Essence of India,"in 1986. In other words, “they witnessed a pure form of art.”

Indian form of art is not a subject I know extensively or even faintly. Haying said that, it does not mean I have not experienced it greatly. For most of you like me, Indian forms of art follows a dictum written by Bharata Muni – known as Natyashastra. This is known as the 5^th veda created by Brahma, preached to humans through Bharata Muni.

Though the original content is said to be long gone, the translated versions explains why Natyashastra is the base for all art forms and how it should be performed. Indian art is not just another treat for the eye and mind, but a ritual which should be processed and refined and practiced. Maybe that’s why veteran artists are told to have done sadhana (achievement) and are called Pundits (masters); but it never comes easy.

Like how I have discussed in you complete me! the harmony of 7 chakras with the other half, in performing arts – it’s the harmony of Bhava (emotion), Lasya (Grace), Tala (Rhythm) and Rasa (the essence of the performing art). If you find your balance through these – you can manipulate the art of performing arts and it is said to 

impress God himself.

Express yourself!

 Rasa is mainly divided into 8 different Bhavas such as -

• Srungara – love and ecstasy
• Hasya – laughter
• Raudra – fury
• Bhayanaka - horror
• Karunya – pity
• Santam - tranquility (added in the later years)
• Veera – Bravery
• Adbhuta – Marvel or shocked
• Bhibhatsa – Disgust

Any piece of advice communicated through a visual-aural form has more impact on human mind than any other form. A drama, besides offering entertainment, can also influence and uplift the minds of spectators.

In theatre, the different kinds of acts are differentiated through the medium it is communicated.

• Communicating by speech – Vaachika Abhinaya
• Extraneous representation that uses stage, costume, make up and ornaments - Aaharya Abhinaya
• Representation of temperament of characters displayed in the form off subtle movements – Sattvika Abhinaya, also considered highest quality of Abhinaya
• To represent phenomena like animals, sunrise or trees – Chitrabhinaya
• Communication through body movement – Angika Abhinaya

Navarasa sculptures

“Indian art never relaxes its sense of wonder and thus remains attached to realities both more fundamental and more transcendent is the conclusion in the article,” concluded the review in New York Times.

Finally,

Yatho Hasta thatho Drishti, Yato Drishti thato Manah, Yato Manah thatho Bhaava, Yatho Bhaava thatho Rasa.

Where the hands(hasta) are, go the eyes (drishti);

Where the eyes are, goes the mind (manah); 

Where the mind goes, there is an expression of inner feeling (Bhaava);

And where there is bhava, mood or sentiment, essence of the form (Rasa) is evoked.

Guys, sorry for the long post!

Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for reading.

Here's pun for fun ;)

Where did they all go to die?

Remember them? Small boxes with dial pads that were not virtual images but real buttons, connected to a curly string where you have a receiver on the other end? They were substantial in number 2 decades ago and painted ugly yellow – which you get used to anyway because, after 10 of them in just one street your eyes were like – “Yeah, alright; ugly and bright.”

Yes! *shrieked excitedly* Those nasty looking 1Rs Telephone booths. Where are they? I miss them. Recently I found one near an old, very very old shop in Ganaganagar. I couldn’t suppress my excitement which made the shop owner and the girl using the phone very uncomfortable. Never mind about that!

At one point of time in history, these telephone booths had a box around it the size of a human – as if it needed protection; it connected nations worldwide and just charged us 1Rs-7Rs. Have you seen people back then waiting near these phones for a long time, or asking the owner of the phone to just give out a shout when they get calls? I always wondered – If mobility was not there to our phones, how will we be? I think that would be a better world. At least for me! I won’t have my mom calling 2 min after 8.30pm asking me why I am late! Or people just calling me randomly in the middle of nowhere “to talk.” “Yeah, sure guys. I listen to you talk incessantly for 10 min.” *smirking* The best thing that could happen is, people would man up and meet you face-to-face; talk out issues or fights, whatever that is, instead of a text or calling on the phone! 

Mind you, telephone booth was not a failed technology under any circumstance. It just became obsolete with the popularity of cell phones and internet communication services such as Skype. Recognizing industry trends, many companies changed their business models. *shrugs* But don’t under-estimate the telephones. However ugly, they never failed to show up in every corner and many other places on every street; no one ever complained – “there is not enough telephone booths here.” Our whole nation communicated joy, sorrows and hassles out in public, right with these phones.

I have a feeling they will be back. Maybe not for the purpose it was invented, but for “trend.” Just curious to know – would it be a powder room to retouch make up or a curious artefact in the middle of home space or a camouflage transporter that helps you hide inside and walk so you need not be seen!

What will you use it for? Lemme know.