Front-line warriors

At the fruit sellers this morning ,I heard him say "cops don't allow us sit here for too long madam, we try and sell as much as we can in a couple of hours and pack up". I turned around and looked at the cops, around 9 of them standing there with masks .Their job today was to stop people who weren't wearing masks and going about like it was a normal day and Covid-19 was just a bad dream... and ask them to wear one for their own safety ,to stop the spread of the virus. On other days they stop people to remind them to wear seat belts / helmets , to carry the correct documents, to avoid substance abuse while driving for their own safety as well as others. Rules which all of us have learnt before we passed the driving test .Rules which we left behind at the RTO when we walked out of it with our license.
I bought a bag full of bananas and gave it to the cops. Surprised at the gesture, they thanked me. I got back home and made chilled lemonade ,went back with bottles of it and distributed it to the cops and all the fruit sellers sitting there.
Remember ,these are our front line of defense workers.On duty on the streets , rains or the scorching heat ,tirelessly working ,exposed to risks and a classic case of khaki slavery.They get paid for it you say, you'll be surprised at the meager amount they get for the number of hours they work.
90% of the police staff work 12-14 hour shifts ,sometimes 17-20 during festivals, baands, curfews,elections, VIP visits and now the lockdown. They are fatigued, tired , overworked and suffer from job related health issues. Most of the stations work with only 40% of the required staff because not enough cops are hired to keep up with the growing population,resulting in long hours of work and tired and irritated cops.
Their duty entails everything from maintaining law and order, being called for emergencies at odd hours, making arrangements for our VIP's , apart from their daily work load and giving us crash courses on driving rules. All this with only a lathi in hand.
A visit to any police station will show you the sad conditions they work in.I remember a visit to the karaswada police station a few months back to file a complaint ,the sight was pitiable to say the least.Uncomfortable plastic chairs, bare minimum stationery, not enough light, seepage ,damp walls and cops who looked over worked and exhausted. These conditions affect their health, the young cop whom I interacted with had a cold which he said he got every couple of months due to lack of ventilation and damp walls.Have seen so many cops suffer from varicose vein problems due to long hours of standing, burnt out skin due to direct exposure to the sun ,acidity due to irregular eating habits and lack of fluids in their system and am sure many more.
They are expected to do 12-14 hours duty during bandobast duties to cater to VIP visits , ever wondered if they could afford meals from restaurants during these times ? We blame them for taking bribes.
Many of them are stationed outside Mantriji's bungalows , I have often wondered why aren't private security guards hired ? Some states like Maharastra and Delhi have 16-17 hour shifts , add to that the commuting time from their homes with no over time pay. They hardly get any family time, miss out on all festivals and functions and am sure their time at home must be spent catching up on sleep.
Next time a cop stops you to remind you to wear your seat belt / helmet /mask ,remember it is for your own safety , something you should have done on your own. Instead of being rude to him or trying to dodge him , try following the rules before you hit the road. Offer him a bottle of cold water if you have one , buy him a cup of chai, or just be nice and follow the rules.

~ Kiraan Thakur.

My embroidered saree

Art has been passed down through our genes and comes naturally to us. All of us from my granny to my mom and all my sisters paint, draw, sew, embroider, design, knit and make lace.
This matka silk ivory colored saree was picked up as a fabric from Amarcon in Belgaum by my sisterSushma Thakur to be converted into a saree. After draping it once she decided she did not want it and handed it over to me. This was way back in ’98 when she was doing her Masters in finance and communication. Both of us decided to embroider it and as Mom was away for a fortnight to Delhi we were allotted the job of taking care of the house and basically stay at home.
Armed with boxes of Anchor skeins, inspired by Jayitha’s kurta (a Bengali girl living in Mom’s hostel whose mom is a designer in Kolkatta), ample time on hand we started drawing and then embroidering this saree one fine morning. It took us twelve days to complete this saree and blouse. Yes, all 9 meters of katha border and a huge motif on the back of the blouse which initially was designed with elbow length sleeves which I later converted to sleeveless. I remember how we used to cut 20 skeins every morning in 1 meter length pieces neatly fold them and place them in a tray to be used by night. Every morning from 6 am to 8 am I painstakingly drew the pattern with a ruler and apsara pencil and then both of us embroidered from 9 am to 11 pm. That was our target to be completed before Mom’s return and we finished the saree three days before our estimated time.

Life of an army wife

A chilled winter evening ,a cup of steaming tea, knitting to keep my hands warm and occupied, all three babies curled up on the sofas and Diwan I wait for my man to get back home .Two huge German shepherds and one tiny labby a new addition to our family give me company while the cooks are busy in the kitchen readying the evening meal.The husband sends a message reminding me of the little ones vaccination saying he would see me in ten minutes . For a Fauji it is normal to say I will see you in 20.15 hours dressed for a party at 20.00 hours ! In ten minutes I am down in the parking in my warm tracks,double sweaters and a muffler with Romeo cuddled up in his shawl and off we go to the vet. On our way back he asks me if I would like to join the Officers in the mess for a post games drink. After two hours of badminton , sweating in their tee's and shorts they get together in the bar of the Officers Mess and their drinks of choice are served by the bar man ,a ritual followed through out the year.
With less than ten minutes to change from a "warm dressed for snuggling to watch TV "to a diva in my saree and stilettos I walk out of the room perfectly turned out with fours pairs of eyes watching me. My fur babies know they are in for extra treats as we tuck them up in their warm room with a variety of treats placed all over.
These pics were clicked in the Officers Mess with 5 officers curious to know about the sareepact and appreciating the initiative . It was an interesting evening with discussion of work, scotch , and the sareepact! 

Life in Goa

As an entrepreneur it’s easy to get sucked into your own work without realizing the crazy working hours you are putting in. Most of the times forgetting why you became an entrepreneur in the first place which is to be your own boss .You end up accommodating people and stretching your day foolishly believing that after the teething period things will settle and you can put your feet up whenever you want to. It’s an addiction, the more you succeed the more you want to work. I did it for nearly two decades, working from 8 hour days to 15 hour days till I decided I needed to put a stop to this madness.
Liberated is what I felt when I decided to move to Goa and work from home doing what I loved and when I wanted to do it. Now the alarm doesn’t go off making me jump from bed to kick start my day, I don’t need to plan my day based on the commitments I have made, nor do I have to be in the other end of town for a meeting wading my way through the mad traffic and battling the harsh weather, am not worried about what I will wear and whether it would suit all the activities planned for the day. Work for me is my workshop and my net connecting me to my world.
My transit to work takes a few minutes as I walk in my pajamas from my bed to my workshop with cookie tagging along. FM & Gaana.com are my entertainment partners waiting for me and both are happy to oblige with the flick of a button. After having decided to take my future in my own hands and not run around like a headless frenzied chicken my designs have got better. I don’t need to work with set instructions or customize and fear rejection, designing for the pleasure of it and doing so because I love the colors, the process, the technique and I rejoice at the end result.
Getting my priorities right couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. My family, my passion for travel, work and my books manage to get my ample attention. There are days when I miss the dressing up to go to work and that’s when I drape a saree and walk in my stilettos to work with cookie giving me quizzical looks confused whether Mom wants to stay home or take me for a drive.

Reality Bites

A short , lady aged 55 with a wheatish complexion walked into my Boutique today.She was dressed in a Belgaum cotton saree, which is like a uniform for the lower class..These sarees are woven in Belgaum on looms practically in every house in the south of the city , are easily available n suit the lower class budget too.Clutching a nylon woven bag in her hand as if for moral support she looked a little reluctant to enter the glass door and get in.. I was so engrossed in my drawing on a kurtee that I had not looked up.I draw free hand n it has to be done at a stretch else it looses shape.With the Coorg exhibition coming up ....which Manisha the cool cat from Goa promised to accompany me to but backed out at the last minute, I have loads to do in very little time.

A meek voice calling out ""Madam" drew me away from my work long enough to look up. "Madam thoda kaam ahe....."..she spoke to me in marathi n came up with a very unusual request.She wanted me to come to the house that she worked in for 20 minutes she said.My Boutique is in a upmarket locality of Belgaum n has the best of Bungalows housing the rich n famous in the vicinity. I thought to myself its definitely not for a cup of coffee cuz I hardly ever sociolise or visit anyone's house.....neways on enquiring further I got to know that her Madam couldn't come to my Boutique n hence I would have to go there n take measurements for a night gown to be designed for her.Attitude from the idle/stinking rich is the last thing that I take ,although I do provide service like door delivery n prompt service at no extra cost n stuff but this was a lil too much I thought .

The fact that she was just working for them helped me keep my cool as I never blow my top or loose patience with staff .In the next five or so minutes I got to know that her madam wasn't well n was bed ridden.She was unable to shell out any further info.Her nervousness at making this strange request made me put down my white pencil , n walk out of my store acompanying her .A couple of houses down the line was a massive bungalow with a pretty lil garden which generally most of the houses in Belgaum have.Yes we are lovers of the green variety n we have ample space to indulge in this hobby.I walked towards the main entrance of the bungalow with her assuming her Madam would be inside but she took me behind the bungalow to the service entrance . As my inquisitiveness increased at the strange request n the ensuing events I took the stairs to the two rooms built over the garage.

What I saw there moved me beyond words.The drawing room consisted of a couple of plastic chairs n a white table to match..A pair of used n worn out chappals were lying in one corner.The other room consisted of two iron beds placed opposite each other.An old couple aged 65 n 70 were lying on the two beds .The old man was suffering from a paralytic stroke n the woman from arthritis.The look on their faces on seeing me was close to spotting a messiah on a deserted island .The lady Sheila who had come to fetch me got me a chair n requested me to sit.I was supposed to design a gown for the frail woman who was now looking at me with eyes full of delight n pleasure that someone had come visiting her.She hadn't stepped out of the house for the last 15 years.Initially she avoided going out due to her husband's bad health but now she herself was restrained due to her stiff fingers n toes disabling her to walk...eat...dress...cook...or do anything!!

Sheila worked for them for ten years now n took care of the cooking...cleaning...bathing...dressing...feeding the couple.Sheila has no kids n her husband a farmer lived in Panth Balekundri a village 20 odd kms away from the city.She had dedicated her life to taking care of the couple.The salary that she received could in no way compensate for the love affection n care that she showered whole heartedly on them.She offered me coffee/tea which I strictly restrict to just once a day...so asked for a glass of water instead.

The measurements over n done with, I spend about an hour with them .I was moved beyond words with their plight.Spoke to them about their health...my Boutique...so many other things...The one thing that I was dying to know was why were they at the mercy of just an ayah...where was their family?? Weren't they blessed with any children...??? relatives..??Imagine a life where you are restricted to your bed , depended on the ayah for every morsel of food...every sip of water...every word of comfort....companionship...n what did this old couple look forward to..? deteriorating health??? more suffering..???? Was trying to get the ans as to what made them tick??? how did they go from one day to another..?n where the hell was everybody else????

They had two children...daughter married to a software guy n settled abroad..whom they met just once a year,.son a Doctor with a flourishing practice n two children in college whom they met once a year too when ever the daughter came down..

I assumed the Doc lived abroad too but the most shocking thing was he lived in the huge Bungalow that I had entered . As his wife did not get along with his parents he stayed away from them n had hired the ayah who was paid from the Dad's pension money to take care of the old n unwell parents. His duties as a son were supposedly done with, with the annual visit to them n the finding of Sheila the ayah for them.... 

appalling but true!!!!!

Nothing ever will....

I look in wonder as I see you arrive…
I look in wonder as u arrive
In my world....in my life.
An extension...an image ..
A mirror image
Or is it the other half making me whole..
A tapestry by a master craftsman
A symphony by the best musician
Weaving two lives in a perfect blend


Resonating the strings of my soul
A voice I feel I have always known
A smile that touches the inner core
Brings one to my lips at the very thought
Your eyes dark .. deep ..dreamy pools of mystery
Fill up my senses with intense want
Your words stir my soul and cast a spell unknown
A soothing orchestra making my senses sway
To the rhythm of the unseen… the unheard


You touch the core of my being
And I desire to share the deepest secret within
A sense of total connection and unfelt before affinity
Seems to me like a divine plan of destiny
Yet I yearn
For more and more
Life seems a giving
Yet held in knots
Untie them
I plead


A deep yearning draws me to you
Overwhelming in its compelling gust
A sense of security and belonging
A feeling of serenity
Making me let go of my fortress
Defenses numb
Words spoken with effortless elan
A profound union utterly surreal
Baring our truest self with no barrier
We seem to elicit the zenith for the other


Passion shared way beyond physical
Beats pulsating in perfect unison
Merging of bodies and souls entwined
Serenading like a wave in the mighty ocean
The caress..the touch..the feel
They ..titillate...intoxicate...and hypnotize.


The search for the mystical love has ended
With enigmas within me enclosing… replied
We seem to merge in perfect harmony
Pure acceptance and assurance a many
No pretence...no barriers...no expectations...
An existence complete and in sync
A being so alive
Moments sublime


A deep compeling energy draws me to you
To share my deepest longings and desires
The feelings...the experience ..the emotions
Souls merging in complete unison
A sense of direction
A path
A route
Forming an emphatic bond of love
Life will never be the same again
Coz some things are just meant to be
A sense of direction making life come to life
An ethereal sense of complete connection
For I profess
Nothing ever felt so right
Nothing ever will……………….

Exhilarating Bliss

A man who seemed to have settled down from his wanderlust past. He had learned a great deal of himself n life during his rambles.Now his itchy feet seemed to be waiting,he didn't know for what, only that he was...

Dark ,patient, intensely watchful eyes n long straight nose, a mouth with lips so full and shamelessly sensual ,tough chin with the hint of a cleft,lean n muscled body with wild good looks.He had a lazy charm about him n drew attention effortlessly.He was used to being the cynosure of all eyes.Now as he waited leaning against the bar his thoughts drifted to her...

The lady with the infectious voice n warm laughter.He wouldn't settle for a woman who bored him or failed to stir his blood he thought, no matter how fair her face ,he needed a firebrand to match him.He was restless for loosing sleep over it.... .He hadn't slid his hand over a woman's body in a long time n hence decided it probably was sexual frustration.But each time he imagined ,he found himself thinking of her body.One part of him....one that he wasn't too proud of ......decided to just charm her into bed and get away with it.Another part admitted just a bit uneasily that he was as fascinated by her mind n manner as by the package wrapped around it.

He noticed her as soon as she walked in ,looking cool in her lemon summer shirt n white linen pants and a slow n pleasant hum warmed his blood .Her big brown eyes scanned the room n it didn't take her much time to locate him.He had seen many a pretty faces in his career but the look n manner of her captured his heart.The graceful way she moved head held high ..long limbs n easy strides with a slight sway to her hips.

Her heart did a quick somersault on seeing him.....He was way more handsome than she had imagined.She squared her shoulders on seeing him and tried to calm her triggered system. As she walked up to him leaning comfortably against the bar .....he smiled ,a slow lazy curving of lips that set her insides inexplicably fluttering... turning her mind into a buzzing mess of static!!

She returned his smile allowing her dimples a brief appearance on her cheeks. He hugged her without speaking a word......going soft inside for the dimples .He looked a little distressed as if he didn't know what to do of her...... while she thought the same!

She continued to give him fleeting glances marveling in appreciation at God's creation .The punch of the image would have her sighing and shivering into the night.....she knew. He smiled again , slow... deliberate ...delightful... and gave her a quick charming wink

Its just a knee jerk flirtation from a man used to flirting with a woman she thought,she should flirt right back and give a harmless even conditioned response.She seemed unable to do any such thing ....with her reflexes going weak too.

Bringing that truly wonderful face close to her he asked her if she would like to leave.She had stirred his blood with her expressive eyes ,he liked the preciseness of her voice that seemed intriguingly at odds with her shyness.As he waited patiently for her response she felt heat rush into her face at being caught openly staring. She imagined herself melting and sliding onto the floor in a puddle of hormones and liquid lust.

Despite the odd pleasure of seeing her flustered he had an urge to smooth those nerves away. He wanted to make her smile to watch her lips curve slow n shy and her dimples come to life. It was an appealing combination the hesitant manner with the clever mind and educated voice. He held her hand with a careless loose fingered grip of familiarity ...relaxed ...at ease and simple and walked out. Words rolled of his tongue to charm her. ...his voice went warm n rich like whiskey by the fire.

It was some time since a woman had put this hum into his blood and he was enjoying the anticipation of it.. .the wondering of it.Watching her face he moved closer,sliding his body into an amazing fit against hers.He lowered his mouth to nip gently on her lips....a thrill ran up his spine to see her trembling with desire....another nip teasing and light, as he nibbled his way slowly over her jaw..her hands were around his neck her heart was rapping against her ribs n ringing in her ear.

Her heart was racing or maybe it was his. He felt the nervous pound n pitch between them.She smelled of flowers n he wanted her with a fervor that was like a sickness.It crawled through him...clawed at him ...reeled in his head burnt in his throat....enough to make him want to mount her like a stallion covering a ready mare with fire in the blood n no heart at all.It was a never before kind of feeling.

He caught her bottom lip-the wide soft wonder of it between his teeth n heard her moan. He saw her eyes clouding with pleasure .A spear of pure reckless pleasure shot through him as his fingers skimmed her collarbone he held her where he wanted her .He took her mouth sampling her,savoring her then wallowing in the taste of her. She trembled like a volcano ready to erupt, a storm ready to strike she heard him whisper something against the wall of sound that was her blood raging. ......His mouth so hard, so skilled, his body so strong n so hard his hands light as moth wings on her face she could do nothing but give n give...... even as some shocking unrecognizable part of her urged to take. Her eyes were huge glazed with pleasure... his hands streaked up over her hips, her back into her hair to grip her hard the kiss changed from a coy brush n nibble to a wild war of tongues n teeth n lips where body strained to body n pulse thundered against pulse.

Afraid he would hurt her ,he drew away from her to compose himself until the rage of it settled again.He intended only to taste.. to enjoy the moment but this had gone beyond control. I have had an appetite for you since you walked into the pub he said.....In the warm cascade of sensation she lost herself or she found the gurl that was trapped inside.

As he drew away it was as if her world tilted n spilled her out.Those long liquid pulls started up again in her belly.The sensation drizzled in her system like gold dust until everything inside her sparkled ....everywhere he touched a part of her lit up.

The glazed look in her eyes n her soft moans were enough to ignite his passion again.This time he held her face in both his hands and took her mouth with all the hunger in him.His mouth brushed over hers , a teasing taste that stirred the juices of her own hunger.He heard it in her quite moan and came back for a longer taste.Her hand moved up his back and she moved her body against his in a dreamy rhythm as her head fell back in surrender.

Slow he said to himself,this felt exactly right....her smell....her taste....was not new to him.With her own sighs filling her head soft kisses grew longer and deeper.Her body was alive with the familiar taste of him now...rich....male and perfect.When he tugged his shirt off she gave a low sound of pleasure and let her hands roam over his back.She marveled at his massive chest as her fingers skimmed over it.She couldn't get enough of the feel of it. In no time her clothes formed a puddle on the floor.She shivered in nervous anticipation as it flashed fresh heat into his blood.Endearments burned in his brain ...tumbled off his tongue as he took his mouth over her face...her neck...her shoulders....down to her breasts until her shivers became shudders n her sighs gasps.

A quick jerk of shock as the length of his body touched hers and a glimmer of surprise in her eyes.So he watched her face as he enjoyed her ...silky skin n ruffled hair...smelling of flowers.Soft curves...subtle dips....when his hands skimmed over her she would quiver sending pleasure through every pore of his being.And each secret he discovered was a pleasure to both....the expression on her face....in her eyes...goaded him to be more passionate.

When he tasted her ....the world slipped away until there was nothing but the hot rage of her own pulse and the hot glory of his mouth on her.Ripe for release she arched against him as he covered her with his mouth .She moved against him moaning as the ache sweetened and the sweetness became unbearable.His mouth came down on hers catching her cry of pleasure.He gave her more ...more until her breath was sobs n her body molten.

The eyes that so fascinated him were blind now and her skin glowing n damp.It wasn't only her world that had slipped away it was his as well....She was all that was left in it....,He said her name once then slid into her.....heat into heat....need into need....want into want....desire strong n deep.....Holding her until she wrapped herself around him.Joined now they moved in a rhythm together....long slow strokes that fed the soul....as the intensity increased..... so did the rhythm ......changed with an urgency none could resist......This she thought was real magic. The most powerful ...n clinging to it with her muscles tensed for release she leapt off the edge of the world with him .
Dazzled she smiled.Light shimmered like the brilliance of diamond as his lips curved in response n met hers.

This was making love she thought.How could anything else ever be called this........

Why did she feel that she had been kissed by him before???? His touch was not new....he knew every contour of her body...every touch that gave pleasure.......every nerve screamed in response for him.It was so soothing to just listen to him talk.......Such a blessed quite within her she thought.....It was like coming home after ages of separation.

It was amazing he mused , how smoothly she slid into his rhythm,. Or was he sliding into hers? He couldn't tell . But it seemed so natural , the way she clicked into his place...his world...his life for that matter as if they had lived it before........together.


It was like a lost legend suddenly come true again...............her mind heard the same story again n again...............................the same rhythm................the same tone.................the same voice............the same feel............the same sense...........the same touch.... ....... and she accepted it for it was REAL.