Oh Angel

Oh Angel, won’t you come

Won’t you come and bring me a smile 

Bring me a sweet memory 

To ride on and play with 

Bring me a sweet song 

Of happiness and joy

Bring me a laugh

A tear and a glimpse  

Oh angel, won’t you come

Won’t you come and bring me a smile 

Vani Venugopal

Originally penned on 6th August, 2019

Published on 12th, October, 2019, a Fall morning Toronto, pretending that my white throw is a cute puppy, waiting for the family to wake up. 

Welcome to Mumbai!

India’s city of dreams. The city where people move to in throngs and fall in love with. A few days old in the outskirts of this throbbing city, I am full of excitement, laced with a smearing of apprehension. It is a time of changes. New job, new place and new friends.

After a hearty dinner, I suddenly remembered that I had to buy something from a pharmacy nearby. As I was walking to the shop, the skies opened up to a sudden downpour of rain. I hastily took shelter in a small shop nearby, manned by a father and daughter duo. I smiled at the child who was about 10 years old. I was continuously peeking out of the shop to see if the rain was abating as I wanted to get to the pharmacy before it closed. The little girl caught my eye and asked sweetly, “Do you want an umbrella?” I was surprised and pleased at her kindness. I took the umbrella, hurried to the pharmacy and returned in 5 minutes time. The rain had stopped by then. I thanked her and offered her some chocolate, which she promptly refused, with a smile. I removed the wrapper and gave it to her, saying that she has to accept it now. She let out a giggle and took it.

Walking back to the hotel after saying goodbye, I had a smile on my face and warmth in my heart. I knew Mumbai has welcomed me!  

Vani as a Fresh Scientist,

Pallavi Avida days , will always cherish those 19 days!

Water Under the Bridge

Take me along, oh dear Wind

Take me along oh dear stream

Do not leave me behind

I belong on the move

My mind can’t rest

Unless I’m with you

And on the move

They say it’s water under the bridge

So forget it and let it go

But I am the water under the bridge

The cause and the effect

Have to keep moving

So that there’s new water under the bridge

And I can keep moving

I don’t want to see the bottom of the bridge anymore

Let me see new valleys

And new flowerbeds

Let me make my way

And let me reach my sea

Don’t know which one

Let me flow, let me move

And let me reach you

I'll know when I do.

Vani Venugopal

30th Aug, 2015

Glass top table and leather sofa At the 'House of Dhamaal', where I'm nesting these days

Mumbai

Quest

Is the weather confused or is it just me?

Is it raining outside or is it just the storm inside?

Mind over body, Longing over reason

When logic fails

But you don’t see yourself fail

Gazing up into the clouds

Caressing the prickly grass

Trying to peek behind each fluffy cloud

To steal a look at what’s beyond

Is there a beyond?

Is that what I believe?

Is there anything at all that I believe in anymore?

The era of God has gone

Mother’s love is there but that’s a given

Walking shoulder to shoulder with friends

Sipping cups of tea

Are those bygones too?

Is the laughter too loud?

Or just the memories too strong?

The sun too bright?

Or am I just burnt raw.

Is it too late?

 Or did I run out of time?

Did I lose everything?

Or did I just lose myself?

All of me, 19-05-2015

Staying Over

“Dad, can I stay over here tonight?

Please, everyone else is staying

It will be so much fun”

“No, dear, no staying over

Stay till late and enjoy

I’ll pick you up”

“Dad, can I go on this trip?

I so want to.. “

“Well umm, okay sweety..

Stay safe, okay?

Don’t play in water”

“Dad! I got the admission!

Wow! Dad I got it! “

“ So proud of you dear,

But you really want to go?

Maybe you should join a college here..

Well I guess.. you should go to the best”

“Dad! I'm going on a trip! “

“Oh good! Where? And who all?

How many boys n how many girls?’

“Uff dad.. (rolling eyes)

How does it matter!”

“Okay, keep calling me, okay?”

Protected and nurtured,

Fed with love and bathed in goodness

I grew up

I grew into a woman

In my on right

On my own footing

And today I’m taking myself away

Getting married, a moment of happiness

To a man worth of my side

Of sharing my being

Yet I cry helplessly

As you give me away

To stay over for forever

You do it with blessings and good hope

Overriding your sadness

N you said goodbye

And I went to stay over, for ever.

Always her parents' first and foremost (okay second born :p),

Vani Venugopal

6th Nov, 2014, inspired by a beautiful picture of my friend Rakhi with her parents, a few days before her wedding. 

The Truth of What Is

The Truth of What Is

I am not the sun

I don’t emit rays

I just reflect them off

A shine of borrowed glory

I don’t spin the world

Or the world around me

I just go along with everything

On this unceasing journey

I can’t make them be about me

Or rotate around me

Or to understand me, even

I can just be

Strongly my self

Rooted in what I am

What I am, What I am

And that is true

And that won’t change

And this is what is

My shadow,  my companion,  my self.

Very much her's,

Vani Venugopal,

14th no, 2014, a night in the lab spinning nanowebs and weaving together words. Which is wierdly, literally not literary. :)

The Price Tag on the Groom

Why do some people think it is okay to take dowry irrespective of whether it is demanded or given happily? There are many answers and perspectives revolving around this question, the most common being “Let’s ignore the question and grab the booty with a sound conscience”.

One of my friends got engaged recently and everyone congratulated him, not just for his engagement but also for getting a whopping 20 lakhs rupees as dowry. The group which included many 'righteous in most other things' persons had a party that night to celebrate the same.There are no two ways about it; demanding, expecting or accepting dowry is downright self derogatory.

It may not be possible to reach a logical conclusion for this question, but that is simply because it's largely about ethics and character than about something which can be split into ones and zeros. In an ill and unethical society, dowry is considered to be a pseudo social symbol, but the question again arises, why do you think it is okay? Does your ego really need such a detestable boost?

Some people argue that it is free money, why not just take it? I do not agree with the notion that dowry is free money. No sir, it is not free money. It is a price tag which you put on yourself for your partnership in a lifelong relationship of love and companionship. No one's giving it to you for free, they are buying you just as they would buy a cow which would give them milk for many years and help them stay secure for life. The more milk the cow can give, the more people would be willing to pay for it. So it is what people are willing to pay for you, assessed based on your family's wealth and how well you are doing, even the slightest of things like how fair your skin is and how straight your nose is, turn out to be factors.

Dowry was never one of our traditional customs; it is a social evil which crept in during times when women did not have a right to the family wealth. Our traditions were drastically different from this social evil. We are from a society which treated its daughters as goddesses. Did Ram demand any dowry from Sita, did Joseph demand any from Mary? Most of us are staunch believers, but money gets the better of our morals and beliefs when it comes easily. But now this social evil has become so prevalent and seemingly irreversible than it has become customary, so customary that to many, it seems as the right and honorable path to follow.

Another popular argument is that the family had to give dowry for their daughter, isn't it only fair that they get something in return when their son gets married? A daughter is treasured and nurtured and her parents want to do everything they can to ensure that she is safe and happy in her new home. The parents go to any lengths, they sell their land, they fall into debt. How can a parent let anything be undone for the safety of their child? It is up to young men of today to stand up and take a high stand, to step up from the lowly one society has placed them on for generations. Everyone loves their mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. Imagine having to pay a price for their love and affection? Then why would you want someone to pay for yours? Somebody smell double standards?  Let us all pray for the day when our daughters get married to men of their own means and of character, who are from families which put relationships above money. The day when our society can proudly boast of such men who refuse to put a price on themselves, who walk into the priceless institution of marriage with open hearts and not outstretched palms.

Vani Venugopal,

19^th Sept. 2014,

Computer Services Centre (IITD)

Uploaded on a night of preparing for the infamous project presentations in IITD where Profs grill you and try to tear your project apart, pushing you to do more and better yourself.

“My spirit never dies,

Fast and safe, deep down it lies

Throw me stones

Prick my bones

Feed me Fire

But only my fear will see a pyre”