#21 Of gratefulness and winter chills
"There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way." — Christopher Morley
Kind reader,
I can feel the temperature dropping, and mornings getting more and more cosy! My favorite months of the year are finally here. The season of hot chocolate made me write this -
“there are some people
I can’t thank enough,
who make me feel more like myself
than even being alone does,
like my closest friends
whom I call home,
they listen to my dreams, see me struggle
between perfection and reality,
and still choose to call me theirs,
they see through me,
to see this person, this beautiful someone, whom I become unaware of now,
be grateful to the ones
who give the fiercest hugs,
the kind where neither wants to let go
turning it into the best feeling in the whole damn world,
and I feel warm, ohh so loved,
the baby who smiles at me
from its mother’s arms
and holds its outstretched arms
to leap into mine,
life’s problems give way in that moment,
watch from the sidelines, not needed here.
and not forgetting those who still write handwritten letters,
thinking about the person they are writing to, smiling inwardly,
varying emotions,
feelings caught in words,
and the raindrops that slide down panes,
a sunset after a gloomy day,
my grandmother’s kisses and hot chocolate with
an extra marshmallow,
someone to peek over the mug at,
snowfall on a slow afternoon,
a fleeting glance with a stranger,
the wind that has brought me here,
a poem to fall in love with,
a song to dream of,
and the morning mist that makes me smile.”
Recommendations Corner
This is probably the first time I've picked up a play's script to read in quite some time. And I have to say, it did not disappoint. Set against the colonial backdrop of Himachal Pradesh's Kotgarh, this narrative is a reimagination of my favorite, Rudyard Kipling's Lispeth.
The story follows a courageous young woman who challenges societal norms. As Lispeth grapples with colonial expectations, an unexpected love awakens her inner strength, leading her to choose between conformity and rebellion. With fierce determination, she forges her own path, but as colonial forces intensify, she faces the ultimate test of her newfound independence. This gripping tale explores love, defiance, and the struggle for self-discovery in the face of rigid societal constraints.
Himank's words are poignant; the script in English mainly is peppered with Hindi dialogues at some places. Overall, it's a good weekend read.
Until next time :)
Wishing you a mug of hot chocolote filled with marshmallows,
Yashika
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