4 a. m.

Some nights remind me of the way I would turn to hold you and you'd be snoring away in peace. And just when I would be loving the pretty sight, you'd wake up like you never were sleeping in the first place.

 

Some nights take me back to the cosy feeling of having you by my side. It would make me miss you, but I rather keep the comfort of your memories closer, than brood over your absence.

Some nights are restless like the fidget after a fight – turning sides and sitting uptight. Lying down again to sleep, but feeling every ounce of the existing havoc. Sometimes, I even hear the rattles in the dreams and wake up aghast. 

Sometimes, there's a cloud hovering right above me, ready to just rip apart and drench me with the thoughts of how I'd survive without you. More of, how you'd survive without me. On some nights, there's rain in the bed, too.

But some nights, there's all of this.

The comfort, the longing.
The tears, the agony.
The love, the memories.
The moments, the pain.
And more. A lot more. 

But sleep's far, far out of sight.

Full Circle

From where we stand, 

To where we end

Cutting off ties one by one

Distancing a bit on every turn

Letting love, not differences dissolve

Making it easy for ourselves to move on 

Coming to a full circle of life, are we?

From where we stand,

From where we begin

Gambling a string of emotions together

Trying to contemplate the way further

Letting a bit of our egos dissolve 

Letting a bit of each other evolve

Coming to a full circle of life, aren't we?

To the Cafés of Indore

To the Cafés of Indore,

You beautifully done places, how have you been?
How has the footfall been recently? Is it good, like the time you opened up? Or the new café round the corner has stolen your thunder? Never mind! Another café will be taking it's place sooner.

I am sure you must be still shining with all those fancy lights in the evening. But you guys need to hide (read, remove) that dingy lil painting now. Your couches are wearing out too. Take care of yourselves, no?

How is Ms. Kitchen doing? Serving the same old items? Whatever happened to new introductions and "today's special" gestures?
And OMG! I totally forgot, whatever happened to taste? Stopped serving it all of a sudden, didn't we?

I come here for a freshly brewed machine coffee. Also, nicely done coffee. The one you proudly show in the amazing pictures in your ads. Get me? The one that has hearts and trees and butterflies and bees on them. Oh those pictures are from the internet? Oops, my bad.

Let's skip talking about the core authentic food already... but even the taste of your pizzas and pastas, burgers and noodles is also so Indian. I love my country and I'm proud of it's rich and varied heritage, much inspired are we?
And talk about the quantity of your food. It's not even stomach-filling yaa.. Nevertheless, you conveniently charge a bomb for it.

Have you ever thought of the music you play? The music has to be soft and melodious.. But you'd play Honey Singh or similar. Like seriously, who plays Dope-shope and Chittiyaan Kallaiyaan in a café?
Sab khairiyat toh hai na, bhai?

Oh and your people who get us the menu card and come to take the orders, have they been captured straight from the jail? No? I thought so because they can't even be nice.
Forget having knowledge about what they have on the menu!

Your sofas have sunken-ed in, the menu cards are in bits and the tables are not really clean. But who cares? Your guests are here for coffee.. Which is not made that well, but well, again, who cares?
The customers are used to it. Nobody complains. So it's okay, right?
Some of you do have a suggestion box / diary though. (Covered with dust, never paid attention to, etc.)

Dear Café Owners,
Have you ever visited your café through somebody else's eye?
I bet, anybody would tell you how much you NEED to train your staff.
I am sure you must have tasted stuff to keep a check but most of the times, I think you take your customers - people who give you business and also, keep you in business - way too lightly.
Café business is just not about coffee and food. People visit cafés for experiences.
Don't forget that if even a couple of bad experiences are able to voice out well, they can cost you a fall.

Value the visitors, make good coffee and food, serve them quality, play soft and beautiful music, and maybe keep a book or two for the solo visitors?
Make our experience worthwhile of the money we are ready to spend. And I don't know if I can stress this enough, but at least please train your staff to greet, be nice and most importantly, smile at the visitors?

In expectation of better things and times ahead,
Priyanka.

Time After Time

There was dryness in the air. The colors of the flowers were lost. 

The jackets were packed and a final goodbye was made.

The winter was over. 

And before she could know, the sun started blazing!

Now, the sun would be blamed for all the tiffs. 

She couldn't help, but wonder if she was responsible for not noticing it enough..

However, it was over.

She couldn't help, but wonder if she was the only person who missed feeling spring this season...

My Alter Ego

This girl was just meant to happen to me. She walked in my life like she already belonged there. Just came in and fitted in the life's puzzle perfectly. Within a week, we struck a bond and we knew there's no looking back then...

We have an unbeatable chemistry. She's the 3 AM friend. I can talk my heart out to her. About silly moments and random people and she'll take it all. Understand what I exactly want to say and remember all those people too. We could talk non-stop. In fact, our conversations are the most beautiful element of our bond. From emotions to general knowledge, from social issues of the world to latest crushes; from spirituality to gossip and sweet somethings; from business updates to relationships, life, and shit; from secrets & friends to love, philosophies and family; from behaviors to arts, music and (Well, some I'd rather not mention here :P) — we can talk about any goddamn thing in the world. The best part is that I really don't have to explain her everything. She understand things on her own. And that too, exactly the way I would wanna tell her. Maybe, because she's like that too. Maybe, that's why I call her my alter ego.

With her, it has always been easy. very easy. No chaos, no misunderstandings, no cold wars, no communication gaps. We could fight openly, shout at each other with all the rights and we'd still know that nothing's gonna change. I know she'll always be there. For ever.

She's an inspiration and there's a hell lot of things to learn from her. (Persistence, execution of ideas and waking up early top the list.)

I would have said all this even on our convocation because even two full years is a very small time to spend with her. Abhi toh we gotta live all those dreams that we've seen together. (All the travel dreams are definitely happening.)
Yes, I am gonna miss her wayyyy too much. The void is gonna be there. But I'm beyond happy for her. She's gonna be where she always wanted to be. So today, when she's starting the journey of her dreams, I just wanna wish her all the best things under the sun.
I'm so proud of you! Give your best to that 'white uniform' and go, live your dreams! Big big bigggg hugs. Shine on, bitch! :*

We've had so many amazing memories together..
I'll cherish them forever!

And like I always say, 

Frooti, tu pyaar hai yaar.