Expressions

Some random pictures capturing her various expressions.

Tanha Pola

"Pola" is a Maharashtrian festival where farmers pray for better harvest and thank their oxen for everything. They decorate them, do their pooja, feed them good food and dont make them do any farm work that day. People who are not farmers and don't have oxen, visit others who have them to do the pooja. The next day is celebrated as Tanha Pola, "Tanha" meaning "Little". On this day little kids decorate their toy oxen and take them to neighbours, relatives, friends. People do pooja and give the kid some token money to buy some goodies.

Now that Renee could walk at this age of 15 months, her grandpa got her a wooden ox and she went to houses taking it and collected some good money to buy herself some goodies.

Bald Renee

Renee had sparse light colored curly hair from birth that didn't grow much. We shaved her head soon after her first birthday with a belief that new hair will be dense. As a bald kid she looked weirdly cute. Captured some moments here-

Promise

Field is glowing with the golden crop,
Fragrance in the farm with the misty drops,
Why after charming life give me the most pain,
To guard your soil must you go again?

I cant tell you how much I love you, my love,
But there must fly this bird of peace, the dove,
The promises I made, I must keep,
My one bit attempt to make this world a better place to live.

There's one more promise you must forget not tomorrow
To be by my side in happiness and sorrow
As I bid adieu when you answer the call of your duty
I have a hope that you will be pulled by your home beauty

I would not forget and I would come back soon
That's my promise to you under this light of moon
As I try to heal those soldiers' wounds
I think of your comforting touch, all day night and noon

How your words have given me a hope
With the world now my heart can cope
I was keeping the news for so long, but I'd tell you now rather
Come back to the fields of gold, you are going to be a father

My love, you have made my day
War is soon to get over, they say
But my some boys are hurt and in pain
I cant leave now and let their blood go in vain

Months have passed, tired are my eyes
I hope the bird of peace soon flies
Waiting is all that now I can do
I know you want to come home soon too

Then one day came the moment of joy
I gave birth to a little baby boy
Just then I heard the footsteps coming
I held my joy and baby and went running

But my love was nowhere to be seen
Instead there was a man in uniform green
Holding his cap under his arms he spoke at last
That they lost him in the horrifying camp blast

My feet trembled but holding the baby I stood firm
Wondering why life had taken this cruel turn
The man handed me a letter and said in words few
This was the last he gave before the camp blew

My eyes filled with tears and throat started to burn
As I read his last letter holding besides my smiling son

My love, I'm glad to tell you in this December cold
That tomorrow I come to you, to the fields of gold
For my boys are strong and happy now
The dictators of war have taken a peace vow

I'll make up for all those lonely days
Together we'll run in the field under the sun rays
Smiling in your arms as I give you a kiss
Here I come to you to keep my promise

Roadside

Standing on a roadside, watching the mad rush,
I wait for it to subside, so I could cross the road

Girls at the florist, men buying at fruit stall
On a busy road like this, they opened a big new mall

That reminded me of the bag and shoe I had to buy
Oh I have to order the dinner too, I wish I could fly

Cars going honking and noise of squealing brake,
Shouts and screams everywhere, giving me headache

Just when I was about to close my ears, I heard the hiss of wada fry
And I heard something else with it; it was a small baby's cry

Crying baby on his mother's lap, who was sitting on the road side
Trying to finish off that last bite of wada, holding her son beside

With a traveling bag on side, sat next to them the father,
Trying to sooth his baby son, while his wife was sipping some water

They must have had a big tough traveling day
I hope it was home they were now heading the way

The mother finished and took her crying baby in arms
And started nursing him which made him calm

The noises had silenced, the road seemed clear
I headed to home, to the ones who were dear

Back on my way, I thought of the baby crying with hunger
For quite some time now, these thoughts in my mind will linger

Did I never see before, a struggling humble mother?
Why did such thoughts, to me never before bother?
I got my answer when I reached home to take my little one in arms
That it wasn’t until now that I was a mother!

Renee's First Steps

Renee took her first independent steps on 10 June 2009, when she was 10 days more than a year. A big milestone and a thrilling event for all of us. Watch out the video of how her mom and grandma are making her walk.

Renee's First Steps from Linux Techie on Vimeo.

Renee's first birthday

Renee getting naughtier

Her First Loot

Her rolling over at four months

Her Early Months

Renee's First Month

Renee's First Week

Renee At Six Months

Renee's First Day

Birds At Palo Alto

I was in Palo Alto, CA, USA in October 2007 for work. There are a couple of nice places very close to Palo Alto that are nice to visit on a weekend or on any evening/morning. I had been to the Shoreline Lake which has a beautiful garden surrounding the lake and many birds reside there. Another place I had been to was Palo Alto Baylands (also known as Duck Pond) where you could see birds from real close.

Dandeli

Had been to Dandeli forest in Jan 2007. It was lovely and a paradise for bird lovers. And we had the pleasure of staying in a treehouse in the "Hornbill Resort", an amazing experience.

Photos

Kashmir (April 2010)

Birds At Palo Alto (October 2007)

The Beijing Zoo (June 2007)

Great Wall Of China (June 2007)

BandhavGarh (May 2007)

Dandeli (Jan 2007)

Bandhavgarh

Travel

Pahalgam

The Kavdi Experience

Binsar - The Clouds Beneath

Jilling - A Welcome Beauty

Gujara Jamana

Friendship

In the barren desert,
I wander with thirst,
Where like an oasis
Is your friendship

In the biting chill of winter,
When I shiver with cold,
What gives me warmth
Is your friendship

When I go blind,
In the darkness of my mind,
Like a beam of light
Is your friendship

When my heart has pain,
And eyes have tears,
What gives me comfort
Is your friendship

I've always got good,
At times even best,
And one of the best
Is your friendship

-smita

Walking On A Lonely Street

Dark and lonely standing still
Lit by fluorescent lamps that shine
    Not a single soul on the road
    Its a lonely street at nine

It nurtures on its sides
Some rich and poor's dwelling
    And also fosters a market
    Where some men do the selling

But doors of houses are now shut
Windows covered with blocking drapes
    Market's closed as if it never was
    Nor was the smell of wine and grapes

I pitied the street for its loneliness
And agony in which it was lying
    Girdled by discrete stories around
    Yet it seemed like it was crying

I walk and look at the house by side
Saw through the window a shimmering light
    Was it some kind of party going on
    Or was it someone fighting inside

Was struck by delighting aroma of cafe
Outside a shop which said 'have a sip'
    I craved for a mocha, but no one to serve
    Helplessly, I bit my lip

I chuckled for I was madly wondering
With not a single soul to greet
    I was the one who was lonely
    And I was pitying the elegant street

-smita

Street Show

I saw her on the street, with her face painted,
Doing gymnastics, wearing an attire tainted

Little she was, perhaps just six or seven,
With twinkling eyes of an angel dropped from heaven

I tried to see what her face was painted like
She'd done a black mustache with cheeks red bright

She arched her body back, hands holding feet tight,
And did it with such ease, were there no bones inside?

What was that blank expression on her face?
Why was she missing the childlike grace?

Did she learn at school these skills?
Who must be paying her tuition bills?

She moved to the car in front after the show,
Spread her hands, tilted head and whispered slow

The driver grunted and closed the window pane,
She knocked once before moving to another cab again

What if she gets no alms enough but only a few,
What would happen to her back home I never knew

How could God be so unfair to some,
What bad this little child could have done

From one car to another she was moving,
A penny or none folks were giving

I was restless, looked at signal light,
And found myself holding the steering wheel tight

Why isn't clock ticking, why's the time moving slow,
Oh she's now coming to me! God, oh no...

I turned my face to the other side, pretending not to see
She was there with her painted face, standing near me

Just then the light turned green, gosh! I got my way,
I started the car, changed the gear and I flew away

-- smita

Response to "Street Show"
We all walk on the street with our face painted,
trying to keep the attire clean and hiding the soul that is tainted.

We all grow up with our 'own' dreams in our heart
and learn to see the world as orderly bar chart.

Little do we understand the reality existing outside our AC car
that little hands on other side of window seems like another world afar.
We all express our world with taught emotions in our eyes
emotions that are all cooked up and garnished with the lies
that's why we get shaken for a moment when we see blank frozen cries.

The cries that are all true and imposed by the same word we think perfect,
and we assume for our comfort that was twinkling angel's effect.
While we blame Him for problems in the word,
He sends his angels in disguise to test our souls
trying to remind us of our duties and assigned roles.

We try to shift gears holding steering wheel tight,
He gets his answers and then shows us the green light.
-Manish Hiray

The Park

Near to where I live, is a small park
I've seen it in all seasons, in light and in dark

    I need to pass through it if I need to go anywhere
    And I enjoy the soothing breeze and flowers everywhere

There is a small puddle near the trees of pine
Where I never miss to watch the morning rays shine

    Far away a bird whistles, to me it seems
    "I am a happy man" is what the feeling means

Then one day on my way something happened that was best
I saw a little birdie had come there to build a nest

    Everyday I would see her carry the grass
    She was weaving a home with vigor and class

With her cheerful songs she was spreading around joy
Now I could hardly wait to go to the park everyday.. oh boy

    Suddenly the world had become a lovely place
    I had never been happier, and it showed on my face

Then one day I walked in the park, but the birdie I couldnt see
I ran around the park and the puddle, bewildered.. oh me

    I realized that this had been her seasonal home
    Now she has gone back to where she belonged, to Rome

It pained inside to have her part
But she would be happy there, I knew in my heart

    I stayed there late, sitting sad until dark
    But tomorrow will be bright again, with flowers and breeze in the park...

-- smita

The Poetic Side

Day Dream

Promise

Roadside

The Park

Street Show

Walking On A Lonely Street

Gujra Jamana

Friendship

My little angel

Renee, thats my little angel. Born on 1st June 2008, here are some of her moments captured so far-

Year 1

Her first day
Her first week
Her first month
Renee in her early months
Her first rolling over at four months
Renee at six months
Her first "Loot"
Renee getting naughtier
Her first birthday!

Year 2

Her first steps!
Bald Renee
"Tanha Pola"
Expressions
Renee in her uncle's wedding
Her first road trip - Goa
Loot (2010)
At Dapoli beach
Pre-School
Nine Yard Saree