Un-protect

Winter is just about setting in. Shows up sometimes, around late evenings and early mornings. Arms fold by themselves, the quilt becomes more important than the jogging track. And you know she's playing hide and seek with you.

But serious winter is still distant. And it surprises me to see people covering themselves with mufflers and shawls and jackets, freshly pulled out from the box bed.

Point is, why must you be so cautious? Why must the fear of catching a chill overpower the experience of cold breeze seeping through your skin, into your blood? The ‘what will happen tomorrow’ is consuming your energy; the ‘what must be felt now’ is taking a beating.

We are perpetually shielding ourselves against all things possible - hurt, love, relationships, failure, you name it. We build unseen walls, stronger the walls of the world put together. We form miles and cities, we create immeasurable distances. The fear of pain takes over the pleasure of experience . Words are measured, not spoken. Situations are weighed, not lived.

Come let’s sack the guards on duty. Let’s make a big hole in the wall. Let's not be shy if once bitten. Let’s drop the inhibitions completely. Let’s not duck with fear.

Winter is not here yet, let's throw away the jersey.

Divided

Between the two books you are reading at the moment
Between five of your closest friends
Between time for self and self-inflicted obligation of taking time for others
Between social and anti-social
Between the discomfort of saying no and the pleasure of saying yes
Between a glass that's half empty and one that's half full
Between morals you have grown up with and the world you have grown up in
Between a voice that says ‘give in to the moment’ and one that screams ‘pull back right now’

Between the ear that responds to a classical note and the head that bangs to hard rock
Between fear and a caustic tongue that gives two hoots
Between keeping a planned distance and then the irrepressible attraction that spills water on the entire effort
Between this side of the wall and the other side of it
Between what you are and what they think
Between heat of the moment and next morning regrets
Between city street lights and greenish black mountain side evenings
Between a quest for the eternal and a lifetime-like short moment


Between love and lust
Between desire and detachment
Between ideal and the real world
Between the good girl and the bad girl
Between home and the nomad life
Between Marquez and Wodehouse
Between a mystery and an open book


Between two parties happening at the same time
Between three people pursuing you at the same time
Between four people talking to you at the same time


Between a few unanswered questions
Between roads that lead to overwhelming discoveries and the ones that lead to your office, from the same route, same time

Between what is and what could have been