Summer shoes, something I wrote for the college journal.

Summer shoes.

By Shreya Viswanath, B.Sc. Electronic Media (1^st year)

It’s always summer in Madras; yes I prefer calling it that. ’ Madras’, this name has the flavor of raw past memories, something none of us shed easily.  Madras is where I was born and a lot has changed since then. Inevitable as it is, change is the only thing that is constant. With each changing season, new memories are formed. Some that we cherish and the some we try and forget.

  For most people memories are often associated with the monsoons.  The rich smell of the earth unearths our deep feelings and our memories, good and bad.  However, it’s always the summer that does the trick for me.  Every summer has taught me a valuable lesson, from victory, to failure, to be happy, to be sad, to enjoy the entry of a new life and even to grieve over a death. Every summer moved by so swiftly, that in order to keep up with life I started running. I was running for my life. 

One day, while putting my shoes away, I took a moment for myself and saw them. They had started to give away.  That’s when I realized something; I was running, not to keep up with life but away from my fears.  I remembered something my father told me when I was younger, “the only thing to fear is fear itself”.  Over many summers I’ve changed. But, however inevitable change is, it’s based on our choices. You can always choose to change something. I decided to change.  To stop being chased by the fear of being rejected, the fear of loss, the fear of loneliness, the fear of not having enough, the fear. I saved up those shoes, put them away in a box and bought a new pair. I changed a pair of shoes that summer, when are you?

forever.

I can't stop loving you.
You'll always be a part of me.
I know you can't to,
But, this the world can't see.

I can't stop talking about you,
But sometimes, one question make me hush.
You know it hurts, piercing right through,
I try to be brave,but my tears gush.

One day, they'll throw it back at you,
They'll blame you.
They'll ask you,
They'll call upon you.

I won't, for
I can't stop loving you,
I can't stop talking about you,

I know you can't to,

But, this the world can't see.

I won't, for,
You're heart lies with me,
And that's how it shall always be.

Love and courage. Courage and love. =]

“Courage comes not from fear, but from love and love because of courage”

Love and courage are always intertwined. There are a million reasons as to why, but this is what I think.
People say they are courageous because of a loved one. They say it's that love that gives them the courage to get through life. Life, without love, let’s face it is pretty boring. What would you do without hugs, kisses or even fights?

Courage can be gathered only from within. Yes, there will be people helping you along the way. Guiding you, helping you move forward. For that however, you will have to want to move. You should want to trip over a couple of things and fall, you should want to stand up, you should want to cherish it, and you'll simple love it. Just think about it, what I mentioned is exactly the words you associate with the word "love”. (Already connected) You "fall" in love, you “stand up” for love, you want to “cherish” your love and everyone simply loves being in love. For this love to flourish, right from the fall to being cherished, you come back to square one, you need Courage.

How? Why? Ok, let’s assume you’re getting married. Marriages happen because you want to share your love with someone special. There are two kinds of marriages, 1) Love- Marriages and 2) Arranged Marriages.
The first one, clearly states that you’re in love so you want to get married. But how’d you get there? One of you had the courage to propose, the other had the courage to say yes and you guys had the courage to tell your parents your decision. They had the courage to accept it, if not and you still got married, you had the courage to run.
The second case, you’ve seen the photo of the bride/groom, spoken to them a couple of times, met them once or twice and you’re all set. Why? Well, because your parents know what’s best for you and you oblige. Wondering where the courage and love bit comes in here? Simple, you love your parents and oblige to their choice (partially yours too). Honestly boss, you’ve got guts. You hardly know the person and you’ve had the courage to say yes. You’ve got the courage to take a risk. You’ve got the courage to trust the love around you and go for it.
If you’re of the third kind, who doesn’t believe in marriages, then I can show you courage and love there too. You’re courageous enough to face the Indian society and love yourself abundantly to stand by your decision.

See, it’s simple really; these two concepts (love and courage) are the most important part of philosophy as they capture the essence of life. An essence, a flavour, incomplete without each other.
My reason as to why they are interdependent, intertwined always put together
Is because if separate, life would be a disaster.

It's time

Oh, you hide your tears,
from the sunshine.
You hide your fears,
and say your fine.


Oh, baby,
It's time to get out,
Oh baby, 
It's time to scream and shout.


Oh, tell me what your pains are,
I can't make them go away,
But I help, to heal them,
with my love.


Oh tell me, your stories,
I'll listen to them,
Tell me your stories,
I help them throve.


I know, 
It's not easy,
To come from behind the curtain,
To face the light,
But then, if you don't,
How will you shine?


Oh my little star,
It's time to start believing,
'Cause hope is all we got,
That will end our grieving.


So come on out,
It's time.
Scream and shout,
It's time.




This was inspired by this.

Adieu

You stood up in front of everyone,

You predicted the day I would be born.

You saved up your lunch money,

And bought me candy.

You searched for me with fear,

when I wasn't near.

You teased me, played with me,

You sang to me,

In the most beautiful tune.

I wouldn't lie, If I said,

Your face was brighter than the moon.

I wouldn't lie, If I told you,

You taught me everything I knew.

But,

Was it all a dream? 

For you left me,

without an adieu.

I need to know.

Truth, is something that will make you happy,

Are you sure you want to hear this?

They ask me to dream of the unthinkable, 

they say it'll come true.

I dream of only you.

They say you can't sleep,

If you are in love,

You can't sleep when you're in pain too.

They ask me not to cry,

They say I'll become weak,

Aren't I already.

They say, let it out,

Right after asking me not to cry.

Weird is it not?

They asked me,

"Truth, is something that will make you happy,

Are you sure you want to hear this?"

I've taken it all,

Taken much more than I needed,

Taken and given,

Bring it on,

please?

I need to know why,

I need to know how

I need to know,

To not be another you,

For them,

for me.

I need to know.

Four years.

Four years have passed,

Yet, I still wished I had stayed.

It wasn't long ago,

But time grew.

I’ve moved on a whole lot,

Yet a huge part of me is still stuck.

Glued to the past,

Refusing to move along.

I remember, 

How I last saw you.

I remember,

All of you.

It's not easy to forget.

It's never going to be.

Every wish I wish for,

Always on my mind,

Everything I say,

Everything I think,

It's you.

I'd want you back,

Even if I live less.

I want you back,

To hold on tight,

I want you back,

For one small fight,

I want you back,

For today, for tomorrow,

I want you back,

For all the days left.

I want you back,

For another song,

I want you back,

Lifelong.

Four years have passed,

And you are all I want.

Four years have passed,

You are all I need.

Four years have gone,

And so will many more.