A.V

A white dove, trapped where she was born, Bound by chains, never to have flown. Her wings unused, her spirit torn, Her mind reshaped, her dreams unknown. From afar, I watch her innocence shine, Her beauty, her grace, chained in thoughts confined. Sometimes my eyes, too, tear up in pain, Seeing her life held tight by chains. She learns the tricks they wish she'd know, Performing acts she does not love. With no choice given, she bends low, While others rise and soar above. She sees her sisters, young and free, Given paths she’ll never see. And in her gaze, no bitter light Only love, dimmed by her plight. Yet, hope fades slowly from her chest, As dreams dissolve, she finds her place. She lives as told, for them, no less A dove, who’s bound to silent grace. A.V "For Someone Traped in Chains of Old Mindsets"

A lot of chapters, but not one studied properly. Shall I skip the test? Shall I study today? I'll just lie and tell everyone I was out of town. I sit with books open in front, torn between fight and flite It's AITS, I should. But how will I explain my marks to my teachers? I don't want to lie. "You can study for the next test." How many times will there be a "next test"? How will I answer my parents? "No matter what, at least give the tests." I remember advising a junior. I smile to myself, with a wavering heart, still trying to muster up courage. Silencing these voices, I tried to understand the foreign notes I had made. The clock soon struck 1:30 PM. I left for the exam at 2 PM. To give the test. It pained... To hide my gaze. It pained... "It takes courage to be vulnerable," I whispered to myself as I wrote: "Ma’am, how do we study so that the formulas remain in the conscious mind? And the questions click in the mind? It happen...

She sits at the front of the study room, Committed from three to six, not a word leaving her lips. Her eyes fixed, steady, never wandering to the whispers and sounds around her. A life so much like mine I see myself in her. And surely, she has friends, friends with whom she laughs like there’s no tomorrow, with whom she feels unjudged, unburdened. We play a game of glances, each caught in our own orbit, studying. She stays in my periphery, a figure I never fully turn to, as my eyes are fixed, too, on the pages in front of me. I cherish this silence, this quiet shared presence. We study together, in silence. With not even a glance at each other. Then she gets up and leaves. While I smile to myself, thinking… She glows in my mind's eye. I haven’t even broken the ice. If only circumstances were different, I might have pursued a friendship, but here, I just sit, content to wish, though even that feels hard to admit. A.V

 Sometimes, Mother forgets I’m someone who needs a slow morning.   Sometimes, her words begin to nag as soon as the day breaks.   A slow morning sets the rhythm for the whole day, I believe. But,   Sometimes, her voice fills the house with the weight of her frustrations,   And my mind screams, "SHUT UP! Just shut up!"   It knows what it can think under the grip of emotions, but   Sometimes it slips, losing control, carried by the storm.   It thinks the thoughts I despise, it shouts the words I regret.   Logic crumbles, reason fades, and it falls—down, deep. These are the days when I can count,   On my fingers, how many words left my lips.   Conflict overwhelms my mind, and my soul recoils from it.   All I can do is keep quiet, and let the tears silently fall.   A.V

 Dear Stranger, AITS is around the corner,  have you studied? don't worry and fry your brain... rest for a while to figure out where you Stand. Take a while to rest, Try and Fall in Love with studies. and Live. A.V

October arrives like a quiet whisper,  a month of festivals wrapped in an electric atmosphere that propels you forward.  The air grows crisp, while the soft touch of  the sun feels like a gift like the first sip of  warm adrak chai after a weary day. It carries a strange calm, restless yet serene,  as the daylight shortens and a sense of quiet transformation lingers in the air.  As dusk falls, the sounds of bells and hymns echo,  mingling with the comforting aroma of  soul-nourishing food drifting from every corner. In October, the soul stirs with a peaceful energy,  carried by the gentle waves of change.  The air, the atmosphere both invite you to rise  from the frozen depths of your mind,  moving toward something warmer,  something more alive. A.V

We tried for something deep, But there's friction in our tone, I see envy in his eyes, Though it's something never shown. I search for mirrors in the crowd, A soul that fits with mine, But all I find is gossipers, Fanning flames with every line. Intuition pulls me back, Yet reasons stay unclear, There's something in the way he speaks, That fills my mind with fear. His laughter rings in empty tones, A mask he wears too well, His past reveals a boy of pain, With stories he won't tell. If nothing shifts, I think I'll go, Keep distance where I can, Sever ties, and let it be, No space for such a man. Not every bond is meant to last, Some things just slip away, I'll Charish the memories,  I'll find a friend who speaks of peace. A.V

  Dear stranger, How's life for you? I guess its not that lovely for you…. Burdened under pressure of exams and studies, do you take time to relax? Do you Stop for a while to reflect? Do you give yourself time to heal? Dear stranger, How's life for you? Do you live? Or just breath? A.V

The raag Jhinjhoti hums softly in my ear, While the santoor of the evening  gently plays in my mind. Before me, fluid mechanics lie open, The queue of questions long and winding, Yet my thoughts, like a wandering stream, drift astray. The warmth of the setting sun  creeps into the chilled room, Its rays sneaking through gaps, To rest softly upon me, as though meant for me alone. But October's chill has arrived The waters, like the air, have grown cold. Still, there is calm in this coolness, And the sun’s touch thaws my little frozen self. Though winter’s breath may be icy, I find warmth in its depths. A sparkle lights my eyes, Serenity fills my heart. Nd while all study deeply,  I take a moment to think. How peaceful this little time is. An excite takes over as I wait For winters warm winds flow. A.V