Stomp Stomp...I am here - Watch out - I am gonna get you.....

He came so unexpectedly saturday night. It was a very sudden visit. I got so cold, his presence gave me the chills, I could feel the goosebumps slowly waking up on my skin, I wanted to just wrap my hands around myself and freeze on the spot or even for a moment simply run away, but then something about him stops me. At times, I almost turn away from him start walking/running fast and then I stop, turn around and come back --EVERYTIME!

My sudden reaction to his presence is always, a little "chanchal"-- He is so strange, sometimes he gives me the warm feeling and then there are times when he gives me the chills, yet, i like him a lot. I love his way of expressing himself or rather the way he brings out my fear, excitement, and the feeling of fullfillment.

His habbits are really really naughty. He has a tendency of tricking me. He'll give me false signs. Tricks me into thinking that he is coming to see me, to spend time with me, sing with me, dance with me or even just to let me look at him from far away -- be it for just a minute or two. BUT no...he'll give me all the hopes in the world and then does not show up. Such a sad feeling. This time he sent me no signs, I was inside and when I walked out he said, "Guess who's here, its me - your buddy *Rain"

I wonder what happened to his messenger Mr. Clouds, his friend Ms. Wind, how come those little leaf buddies didnt get scared and started to run away? They try so hard, only if they knew that they should just stay where they are because he ends up catching them no matter what. Its a very cute chasing game I must say. All the flowers, trees, the mud and even the roads wait for him. He's got a fantastic style of quenching their thurst by just letting himself go and let them take him.

I could go on and on and on with his stories....though I think I'll just stop at my Fear ....fear of getting soaking wet and not wanting to go back inside and ending up freezing myself up to the core...OR maybe at my excitement of just letting myself go and let him take over, or even maybe my fullfillment - fullfillment of just knowing that if it wasnt for him I wouldnt appriciate the green sorroundings and the extra good taste of my coffee on that special little chilly, "Chanchal" day.

Note: Rain is "him" for me - I grew up in south-western part of india (Kolhapur) and Rain is Masculine in Marathi ...known as "Paauus" -- Tho Paaus!

"The Tube"

I got off the flight..ran really fast with my backpack on my back, thank god I didn’t listen to my mom and carried three “carry-on’s”, then it was guranteed that I was going to get stuck in the luggage area, “Ma’m that’s too many bags to take on the flight!” Great! Inside my head ( mummy I TOLD you not to do this to me) ….but I was wise this time…I only got a backpack on my back and I was off. So …where was i? oh yea I had just gotten off my flight and was running thru all those people, stopping every now and then turning around and saying, “I am sorry, Excuse me, Coming through” …I was late to catch an underground subway- rather I shall say “the tube” ( as they call it in Europe).

As my eye sight was reaching at all those long escalators and the elevator to get to the platform, the round roof stations and the squat rolling stock. All the tubelines seemed so new. I said, this is London for you….So as I stand on the side of the railtracks…this heavy wind comes running right at me…I can just feel her on me and she takes over, passes me and moves on to the next person and chasing her comes the train. I said to myself, “Ya know..do you think that the train will ever catch her…I bet they always play this chasing game, Ha”

…. Anyways..the train was kind enough to stop unlike the wind. I was looking at myself in those glass doors, ting ting..and it opened so we could step inside and grab the pole….”doors closing, please watch your step” and off it goes to chase the wind again. The TC comes in his green outfit looking all nice and dashing…clicking his ticket puncher and says, “ticket, ticket please” … I reach in my pocket, take it out and hand it over to him….click click and back to me..

I said, “Sir, I would like to get off in Paris” …TC: OkaAy! “I’ll inform you when Paris is around the corner” He stops and says again, “Be careful dear, it’s a crazy city…very busy” I smiled and said, “Thank you sir, I’ve got friends who will be receiving me” ( yea ok…I know I am all alone, and that’s the best part of it…) Ya really think that TC bought my “friends waiting” for me crap….--- Um I don’t think so…Or maybe…he did! Oh well…

Anyways..so I am looking out the window and all of a sudden I see this beautiful scenery, the train is going fast, I see little kids running with their father in the farm, and little houses, and WOHHH lights…people, cars, buildings..oh my god…I am in FRANCE…..the train stopped….I rushed to get out of the tube…and I felt a tap on my shoulder…I stopped….i didn’t want to look back..”oh boy..who is this tapping on my back…” ---- I took a deep breath…..Oh shit..wats going on..i hear this huge voice on my ears – wat? Tap? Beep beep? Phone ringing? Ok wats going on?.....>……..GET UP PALLU…U HAVE TO GET READY TO GO TO WORK , ITS 7:45…DON’T YOU HAVE A 9:00 O’CLOCK MEETING TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I open my eyes, smile and say……Here I come Glendale, Ca.