Glass painting-17

Glass painting-16

Glass painting-15

Glass painting-14

Glass painting -13

Glass painting 12

Glass painting-11

Glass painting-10

Glass painting-9

Glass painting-8

Glass painting -7

Glass painting -6

Glass painting-5

Glass painting -4

Glass painting -3

Glass painting-2

Glass painting-1

Happy Vijayadashmi

Pictures

The tiny toothed, thin piece
of silicon and metal
Snug safely in a plastic frame
A second
A million switches long
And the device, like flame
Emit heat and light

An ornament worn
In every occasion
Festivals, weddings, parties
Replacing the black box with an eye
The plastic frame emerges again
And then, a flash

Good old friends, separated by time
Kin that appear
Like the good old man of Christmas
Those you see only in their festival best
Or even those, on a daily basis
Love or loath, but that is all hidden

Gloss-coated lips and flossed teeth
Hair that appears like silver thread
In sunlight, falling on your face
Lighting up your eyes
Your triumphant screams to be heard
To those that behold your perfect piece of art

And you look again
Feel the screen,
the skin of your fingers glowing red
And sell it to the wall
That state-less wall
For the pile of blue-cuffed hands that make you smile

And oh, if time spared
In the plain, four walled room with no window,
You swipe through your extended brain
When the real one just cannot
Discard them, pictures, as it can, with a click
A second before, a parting thought
How you let the world believe your real facade
Your perfect piece of art
In the tiny, thin piece of silicon and metal
Snug safely in a plastic frame

The Example

The Example
A role model, am example
A path to follow
To carve out success by ourselves
From the values we borrow
My young eyes followed
Fingers pointed
As told by the mind that owned them
Their idea of a marvellous great
A leader with a magic wand

Not there did it stop, my nomadic mind
In search of its monarch butterfly
Ruffled through all media
Immortal beings in fairy tales and myths
Superheroes, those fighting for good
Orators, and those striking diamonds with gold.

And then the wanderer came back home
Found enough to look up to
Those who work and sweat throughout
Amidst hurdles and harsh rants
To mould happiness in those they cared
And those who giggle and guffaw together
To uphold a smile, seen even in the dark
Even when oil turned skin to crisp
Some hands stayed firm as beacons of good

Life, mighty, standing still
Braving all seasons, staying tall
To locomotes, equally brave
In the nature that sustains them all
As age hardened my bones
Designed my mind and built my tongue
The journey had been a wonderful one
Taught me, the enlightened truth
Breaking down, building up
Destroyed, reborn, sustained
The single point of infinity I searched for
Was all that I contained.

eXpressions- Oat Payasam

Ingredients

Oats- 1 cup
Milk- 2 cups
Water- 2cups
Cashewnuts- half cup
Jaggery ( Sharkara)- half cup
Banana ( Robusta) 1
  

Procedure

1. Soak cashewnuts in half cup milk and 5 spoons of sugar. Keep in freezer for 1 hour or more.

2.Mix half cup of jaggery and half cup of milk

3. Boil oats with 1cup milk and 2 cups of water. When the oats get cooked, add jaggery mixture to it.

4.Add banana paste to the mixture.

5. Blend together cashewnuts and milk. Add it to the payasam and mix well.

Happy Janmashtami 2k17

The Princess

Dark brown eyes made hazel by the sun
Her mottled teeth, brown and cream
She smiled at, visible to none other
A vibrant, marvelous dream
The princess I saw, sitting on a rock
The most cheerful creature I know
Breathing in, dust laden air of that site
That coated her hair and brow
And smiled again, to that fragrance
Like she enjoyed the green water
That ran down her parched throat
And to her every cell, a nectar
A much awaited, for her mortal
Starved, stunted being
She swayed to the tunes of her own song
Seeming like she weaved the wind
But princess she is, and much envied
By those who cannot stand the sun
As she locked her eyes on the weaving disc
with no prince or Godmother to wait for
Left with an abyss of her life
She is willing to take the risk

Happy Vijayadashmi

May the treasure of knowledge enrich your lives

Indian Super Leauge Kerala Blasters FC in Action

The Army of  Yellow Football fans supporting Kerala Blasters is Amazing. Absolute festive mood with the percussionists challenging the decibel limits and the yellow wave would soon lure football fans across the Globe.

Today's Attendance at the stadium : 54,913

Digital Painting- A Girl

Dark Cloud

On a day of sunshine
You see a dark cloud
Pacing towards, slowly
to swallow the yellow disc
Then darkness spreads....

But no, do not despair
The grey mass may soil
The bright matte of the sky
But from these dull giants of the sky
come little drops of water
falling fast, to embrace the soil
soothing wounds of tools
washing away the dryness and
waking up dormant life

These dark clouds
so dull as it seems
are never to be frowned at
as it made earth blue and green

Indian Super League- Coming soon...

Happy Onam

Digital Painting- Mahabali

Digital Painting

Happy teacher's day

Happy Ganesh Chathurti

The All-rounder

The All-rounder

The room was lit by an old, dusty tube light. The congested table was the source of a combined odor of medicines and fruit. The twins had their gaze sleepily fixed on their mobile phones.

           I was lying on a bed covered with a white sheet, in one of the rooms of a private hospital. It was after a minor accident which left my head and left hand injured. But that was not what bothered me now.

 “How are you feeling now?”

I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I did not notice my mother entering the room.

“I am fine. What about him?”

“He’s got his leg sprained. He is still asleep. I do not know how he will take it. Appu! Ammu! Enough of it! Go to sleep!”

My heart started to bleed.

          My elder brother was always my role model. In fact, he was the role model for many, even my younger siblings, the twins and all my younger cousins. Why wouldn’t he be?

           He was a ‘straight A’ student and most of the time, the topper in his class. He is proficient in both classical music and martial arts. He was head boy in his school days and was studying in one of the best engineering institutes of our country. He had to quit the basketball team of his school to join the National Cadet Corps, and then became a Senior Under Officer in college. He took up engineering just because our parents and his teachers convinced him to do so. After taking up his degree, he planned to join the National Defense Academy.

          His role model was our father. Whenever anyone told him that he reminded them of him, his face would beam with pride, much brighter than any prize he had won. He was tall, with long legs and broad shoulders , and had grey eyes. Like my father, he stood out in every crowd. He had also inherited his deep and clear voice, and when he would recite mantras in the temple, a powerful grace in his voice makes it distinct from others. Our father was a General in the Indian Army and he wanted to follow his footsteps.

        But then, I had never felt comfortable with him. Especially when people compare me with him. I was never like him, nor like my father. But I tried to be like him. I joined every course he joined, and tried to inherit his mannerisms and style, but just ended up as a mere mimic. I shall improve when I am older, my mother would tell me.

       My brother was pretty short tempered. My imperfections did not go along well with my parents, and did not go along with him either. Whenever I fumble in the parade practice or turn up late or if anything did seemed untidy to him, his handsome face would turn red. I have heard a lot of his scolding, but never became immune to them. He would complain that I was clumsy and absent minded. He was a perfectionist, like my father and expected everything in our home in military standards. I would feel relieved when he would leave for his college.

      In one of his visits, he seemed really happy. He was selected for the Republic Day Parade, and it was his long time wish. He made sure that his preparations never lacked perfection.

       The night two days before the Republic Day of that year, he screamed at me for something that I do not remember now. Everyone stood on his side, and I had enough of it. I yelled back and stormed out of the house. I would never go back to that house where I was considered less inferior, I thought then.

       It was when I was walking on the pavement of a busy road, that I heard his voice. His long and fast steps got him closer to me. To avoid him, I decided to cross the road, and in the process, failed to notice a truck approaching me. Then I felt a bright beam of light and a strong pull.

     My elder brother had just saved my life, and in the process, sprained his leg. Those moments also smashed one of the biggest dreams of his life. I was certain that he would never forgive me, but had a strong urge to go to him and apologize.

    I walked into his room and saw our mother with him. He was sobbing hard on her shoulder. I had never seen him sob before. My mother stood up to leave the room, and all I heard her say was “I know you lost something important, but there are far more important things”. I chose to talk to him later.

    I refrained myself from his room later that day. The next day, I visited him. He was awake and looked okay.

  “How’s your hand” he asked me.

“It’s okay” I replied fast.

“The Republic Day’s tomorrow, is it?” he asked, his voice getting shakier, as a precursor to his tears. He wrapped his arms around me andcried softly.

“I…I’m sorry” I said, feeling guilty. He did not respond.

After a while, we talked for a long time about other happy stuff. And that was the first of many long talks we had

Xav Virtuso 2K16- A Grand success

https://www.facebook.com/xavv16/

Happy Independence Day

The stage

The Stage

Arpita could see the seats in the school auditorium slowly being filled. The pandemonium increased with the number of people. There were giggles, guffaws and loud talk, that could be heard distinctly.

“Do you have any idea about what the topic could be about?”

This startled her. She had realized that she had lapsed into blank thought, pretty comforting blank thought, that had relieved her from the stress of her English Elocution competition.

“Have you any idea about the topic?” Siya repeated her question.

“ Umm…..dunno!” she replied in the quickest way possible.

“What is in the news today?”

“I have not read the newspaper. I woke up a bit too late and had to get ready fast”

“Okay” said Siya.

Arpitha looked at her fellow contestants. Among the ambitious crowd, those known to her included her classmates, Bhagya and Gautham. They were more  experienced and had won several times before in previous competitions

Arpita remembered her father, who convinced her to participate in the competition.

“ It is very important for an I.A.S aspirant to develop the art of public speaking”

“I know that, but… I shall participate later, Papa”

“Later participation, later success” her father concluded.

The competition began. The topic was given to the contestants.

“Dreams”

Okay, dreams, she thought. It gave her some more confidence. As the competition proceeded, she found out that she had enough time to prepare, she was the twenty fourth in line.

“Use quotes of famous people” she thought “And put something of my own as fillers”

But as each contestant before her completed their task, she felt a certain sort of grip tighten around her. Then she thought for herself

“My parents must have reached. I must perform well”

“Chest number twenty four”

Arpita felt the crispness of her well ironed uniform and set her neatly braided hair. Then she slowly climbed on to the stage.

That was then a sudden wave of fear engulfed her. Almost every seat was occupied, and all eyes fixed on her.

“They are not bored yet” she thought for herself .

The judges, with a pensive look on their faces kept looking at her. But even more keen was the gaze of her parents, who sat in the center of the third row.

“Dreams….” She started, but later realized that her head was completely blank. Her shaking and drying lips displayed her helplessness. It was complete silence, both in the hall and in her mind.

“Close your eyes” she thought “ Take a deep breath”

That was what her mother used to tell her, when any stressful event approaches you. A deep breath before exams, before checking any result and now for the first time, giving out a speech in public.

It helped her though. Arpita did not remember any quote that she had planned to say, but she did say what she really thought about dreams. But after her speech, she was not able to remember anything she said on stage.

She left the stage, still able to hear the loud applause and take it in her troubled mind. She was crestfallen and felt that she could have done better. But somehow, the stage had seemed to limit her abilities.

“Nice speech” her father said, patting on her back.

“No, it was bad!” Arpita exclaimed “I had a nervous breakdown on stage. I forgot what I should have said”

“It was pretty good for a first timer” her mother comforted her “We did not expect so much from you”

“Really” Arpita gave out a short lived expression of happiness “But look, this ‘elocution’ thing does not suit me. I could not even expect to give a speech as good as Bhagya or Gautham”

“Well, that is not what you should be worried about now” her father said “Yesterday, you were a shy twelve year old who had not entered a stage in her life. Today you are a budding orator”

“A budding orator!”

“Yes, this is how you begin. Then, as you keep performing, you shall sharpen your skills Face fear to overcome fear”

The results were announced. Arpita did not win the competition, but now had the zeal to improve.   

Only the best

Only the best

Like a dandelion in the wind

You carry me, throughout my life

From inception to the end

Through happiness and strife

It may not be what I wanted

It may not be as desired

But this to me you have granted

Like everything else you have inspired

It may be much different

And strange to my thoughts

But much to my benefit

Only the best I have got

When one door closes

Another is found

And every door opens

To their own heaven unbound

Happy Birthday eXpressions!

Your favourite blog eXpressions-am.blogspot.com is turning five today!
Send your birthday wishes to expressions.am@gmail.com
Photo of cake taken from bellissimocakes.blogspot.com

Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

Happy Diwali

keralapiravi

Vijayadashmi- October 23

Vijayadashmi an important Hindu festival, is celebrated all over India, and also in many other countries. This festival, also known as Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day of Navarathri , a period of nine nights and ten days in the month of Ashvin. This period is dedicated to worship the three important Hindu goddesses, Goddess Parvati,Goddess Lakshmi, and Goddess Saraswati.

Ganesh Chathurti Celebrations

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the destroyer of obstacles. This year Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated on 17th September, 2015. 

The procession began in the morning after Ganapathy Homam and morning pujas with Majestic elephants decorated with Gold plated Forehead ornament (Nettipattom) and further adorned with bells and necklaces, with temple priest holing Ganesh vigraha and temple volunters who held silk parasols (muthukuda) and sway large while yak tail whisks (Venchamaram) and large peacock feather fans(Aalavatom) along with the rhythm of the Panchavadyam.

Thepparadhotsavam was a treat to watch. The illumination of the temple, and Grand fire works in the night was spectacular.

Read : Before the exam

Before the Exam
Three hours before the exam:
You're at home. Dressed up, glancing through the pages of your textbook, and trying to memorize the facts in your textbook. The book stays in your hand and your eyes stay stuck to it, as you eat breakfast, as you tie your shoes etc.You give your book the love and attention you should have given throughout the year.Your parents try to motivate and advise you. They tell you to feel calm, though they wear a rather tensed face. Your relatives from distant places call you to wish you their 'All the best'. You pray, and so does your family, so that you may come back home with a smiling face.

Two hours before the exam:
You're in your vehicle, on the way to your centre of exam. Your eyes are still fixed on the book.
For a while, you try to memorize the facts you just read. If you'd remembered it, good. It must have made you feel better. You turn the page.

One hour before the exam:
You've reached the centre of exam. You see your classmates, in the same situation as you are in, preparing to fight a great war. The only difference is that they wield a pen of blue ink, and that too in a proper manner, so that it might not be struck by the examiner's weapon, the pen of red ink.

Thirty minutes before the exam:
Okay, now you're done. You are well prepared for your exam. You try to be calm, but the tense surrounding does not allow you to do so. Then you get into discussing the topics with your friends.

ten minutes before the exam:
You've cleared your doubts. You've done everything you needed for that exam., but still... that impending fear.....
Then someone asks you "What is watt-less current?"
You realize that you've forgotten it.

Ten seconds before the exam:
You are sitting in the seat allotted to you. You hear your heart beating fast. You feel your sweat trickling down your face and down your pen. Then you look up and say"Bhagavane! Help me out with this!"
The invigilator gives you the paper.