Americano

Who knew I'd be guzzling down so much Americano,

And gorging on puffs like never before,

Dropping by Starbucks, felt like homecoming,

It almost felt like I was slowly becoming,

Some version of you,

One sip of that bitter brew and all my brain fog just flew,

That really was the best coffee, I'd ever had,

I walked out of there feeling rad,

Bits and pieces of you, still exist all around me,

It was a bittersweet feeling of sadness and glee,

Three years on,

I'm pretty sure I've moved on,

Yet, there are moments like this,

Where I still feel suspended in time,

I wonder what you'd think of me now,

I'm sure you'd ask me how,

I've started drinking so much black coffee.

Home Sweet Home

I hate to admit this, but some of the best decisions of my life have been taken for me by my parents. The terrible ones which had me stuffing my face with too much food and bawling my eyes out, were all mine.

This house was another such decision they took for me, when I came back home abruptly when my marriage of close to 8 years ended. My parents were quick to invest in a home for me.

"Who am I going to build that house with? My dead husband?", was the question I asked them. "You need your own space and therefore you must move out", was their reply.

So I clung on to them and the house that I grew up in even harder, but I could slowly see the practicality of live apart, yet close. My family is loud and opinionated, everyone brings their unique thinking on board which sometimes can cause friction. And that's the most diplomatic way in which I can describe Indian families and silly squabbles.

I eventually moved out with my 4 year old in toe, but close enough to still be around my parents. My kitchen is just for show, because all my meals come from mom's house. My son hates living with me and prefers spending all his free time with his grandparents while I work.

They've gone to Ooty for the summer and I've been home alone for the past 2 weeks. And the bachelorette life is absolutely bliss. No screechy little child to feed every 2 hours, no toys to trip and fall over and a routine that doens't involve shutting between two houses and listening to my now 6 year old son, accuse me of "taking the worst decision of our lives" by moving homes. 

A home is not just a monetary investment, it's a slice of peace, your safe haven and a little bit of your crazy personality up on display.

It's been a little over 2 years since I've been living solo and what a great experience it has been. It's empowering, it's peaceful and I highly recommend it. 

Superheroes

There hasn't been a single superhero movie made,

That hasn't changed my life or made me wonder why I'm so afraid,

Superheroes are larger than life,

And full of life,

They're strong yet vulnerable,

They make mistakes, yet are more than capable,

They have family who kick their ass,

Some whose partners die alas,

They're human, despite being heroes,

Sometimes they too feel like zeros,

The same insecurity which we humans have,

Yet they create history and carve,

Their names, 

They're truly one of a kind, they save the world because it's right and not for fame,

Every superhero leaves a lasting impact on me,

They inspire me to break free,

From the shackles I've created inside me,

I should just be,

Because there's only one me,

And there's only one you, so let us just be.