Temptation

She lay on my table, her glowing skin provoking my every sense. I had never seen something so plump and lush, waiting and wanting to be devoured. For a moment, I considered dumping my New Year’s resolution. Only a fool would give it all up. Because one look at those soft swerves began melting my resolve.

Her scent threatened to asphyxiate me as I approached the table. My pendulum of a mind rocked between what it wanted to do and what it should do.

The next thing I knew, I was tearing the chicken, the grease dripping down my elbow.

Another Day, Another Case

For some people, New Year’s Day wasn’t as flashy as they thought it would be. According to initial reports, a group of men molested a bunch of girls in Bangalore on the 31st of December. Like any women-related news, this one, too, became the most news-worthy piece on our media. Some even reported that there were scores of people on that street at the time including a large group of police personnel on duty. It’s not the first time that a New Year’s party had turned rogue. However, things happened and someone caught it on tape. While police authorities denied that they had any evidence of mass molestation, various theories have blown on and off since. I thought it was just Indians being drunk Indians, but I came across more creative conspiracy theories as well. Like this one:

bangalore-another-day-another-case

Ah, what a gift it is to have such imagination! Sure, media says that the man had confessed to the story and that no other women had reported any molestation complaints. And yet, I can’t believe how such a thing could be real. It sounds like something that would be lousy even in the most unreal of movies. Or perhaps the media spins tales to create a buzz and increase their ratings; that’s not unheard of either.

But here’s the worst thing: for all we know, the news piece could be real. Anywhere else it would be questionable, but with India’s current state of things, it could just be too real. Pepper sprays and SOS messages are our necessities now. Our society has fallen to such low standards that we accept that molesting the woman you love is the only way to get married. That’s what the accused says, so I’m guessing he believed that he could get away with it.

I had hoped that twelve years of schooling and four years of college would’ve left a decent mark on our youth. After all, we teach them to respect women, we talk about gender equality, and we even seek men to help empower women. And yet despite everything that goes on one side, another more vile side of our society is choosing molestation as the acceptable pathway to marriage. I wonder, though, would it make a happy marriage?

It’s atrocious and downright cheap, and it leaves a nasty taste in my tongue.

Regardless

new-years-day-celebration

Through death, destruction,

homelessness, and helplessness —

dawns a year. And hope.

Yes, I’m Hopeful

It’s almost Christmas and the New Year’s a few days away. High hopes all around; people are beyond nervous anticipation— 2017 should be better.

I’m no different. It hasn’t been the best year. But it hasn’t been the worst year either. It’s been stormy, wet, and dull. But I’m expecting the sun to rise up and the flowers to bloom.

waiting-for-the-flowers-to-bloom

Looking Forward

After how this year turned out, it looks like 2017 couldn’t get worse. I wouldn’t put anything past chance, though. We still have fifteen days for the year to wrap up and anything could happen.

But no matter how the rest of the month goes, we’ll have a new beginning in a few days. And to celebrate, I want to rewind a year to a photo I took on the 1st of January 2016.

When I took the photo, I had no idea how the year would unfold. And yet, I enjoyed a moment of solace with a sunrise and a new horizon. Perhaps 2017 would turn out better.

new-horizon