Entering into the 40th year of my Academic Tapas

6th August 2009 was remembered while traveling in the bus
At home she also reminded me of that Mile stone.
Today I step into my Fortieth year of Academic Tapas,
Meditation, fun and adventure.
Spending nearly four decades,
At different institutions,
Under various dispensations
Differing work environments,
Negotiating colleagues and students
Including the bosses of times,
Was simply an incredible Achievement,
And an occasion For celebration,
Which we did yesterday.
We were fortunate
Akshaya was present,
As a gift to share that moment of Joy and laughter.

On a full moon day and the day following,
There was sunny smile and happiness,
Reviving the memories of the young days spent
In innocent laughter
Like a truant weather God.
Failed monsoon, delayed credit
Life has been showing its infinite color
Of happiness and sadness.

Visit to temple, food from Aristo,
Akshaya’s fun filled mischievous pranks,
Kanchana’s elation over her work,
Her mother’s glowing face and serenity,
And the waking hours that followed
In mutual exchange of profound love,
Friendship and mild accusation.
6th August can’t be forgotten.

In the recent past, there was a feverish desire
To die and escape from this worldly life.
As the emptiness gets filled up,
And tender side of better half
Is bristling with endless love,
Innocence and native wisdom,
There is a lingering desire to live
I am grateful to the Lord
He has not abandoned me
And my children.
When I die now,
I will not have any regrets
Excepting that
I have not rendered full justice
To my youngest daughter and the eldest too.
‘Change’ has become a buzz word
In Obama’s world.
I am also finding traces of that
In my world, my love and my life.

(From My Dateless Dairy)