FIRST GLANCE

2009, a year of glutinous lifestyle for me, brought an opportunity to visit one of the oldest place of our country.

Sunday morning, 21st Nov, foggy ambience welcomed us. The stretch of whitish cloud shut out the sky as a tent which had the whole route as its floor. We rode through the fog tunnel all the way from Mughalsarai to our destination.

The time of dawn was approaching and the vast tract of ancient Indian culture known VARANASI revealed itself moment by moment.
The heaven being spread with ruddy-pallid screen and the earth with the darkest vegetation, their meeting line at the horizon was clearly marked with temple heads acting as the only disrupter.

Our motion undraped the gigantic pious dale formed by the Ganges. Civilization always being its acquaintance showed up through the banks of the river till our vision could loose their perception. It seemed as if a brown veil has been decorated with some vibrant embroidery with sun rays adding shimmer to it. The moment exhibited: ‘Colour and beauty was the birthright of this place’.
Even the most through-going ascetic could feel that he had a natural right to wander on this land; he was keeping within the line of legal indulgence when he laid himself open to such influential scenic beauties.


With the fading of opacity my eyes could reach nothing of the world outside the summits and shoulders of the land which filled the whole circumference of its glance. To know that every thing around and underneath had been from prehistoric times as unaltered, gave ballast to the mind drifting on change, and harassed by the irrepressible New.

Dawn combined with the scenery of the place evolved a thing majestic without severity, impressive without showing emphatic admonitions and grand in its simplicity.
Months later ‘m describing my first glance of the place, but the effect still remains afresh in me.

We are free

Steaming sunbeams and yet another morning, sparkling after a night shower.

The slow dance of zephyr, the effort of water drops and some random commotions from unnoticeable lives blended to a euphoric musical rarely being composed ever.

Elated, every pulsating being choreographed its unique dance to enjoy each tune of the dawn.

“Ah! special day.” Lali checked herself in the puddle. She leveled her crumpled rob, attempted an adjustment to her exclusive hairstyle and put her footgear on. With all her paraphernalia set she was satisfied to join her troop today.

Her face twinkled when she discovered a small patrol in white, marching through the way chanting patriotic songs. Mesmerized, Lali galloped to her group and watched the perambulation. They chortled and united the chorale for a minute.

“What are they singing ?” someone raised question from her group.

“They say we are free!” She smiled coyly.

“Hope we earn more for this special day!!” With their equipments they ran towards the nearby construction site.

“SORRY…”The Best Ever Gift

5th Aug 2009…What to say about this date? Well it’s RAKSHA BANDHAN…A day for brothers to promise for life time protection and sisters authenticate this by tying multi-coloured designer threads. A day when boys fear to come out of there hide-outs! A day for girls to enjoy with loads of gifts as if they have the right to get as much as they ask for.

I never expect any gift as ‘m elder to all my promised protectors. Still each time I get a lot more than my anticipation.

Freshened, I got my li’l RAKHI ready to get my brother’s hand decorated (guys actually show their pride through this --the more the better).We practiced the usual rituals. I tied the Rakhi on his wrist and he went away. Just for fun, i teased him for not giving me any gift this time (all time favourite game amongst siblings). He remained quiet!



12:30am: He was preparing to sleep when some words echoed in the noiseless room.

“SORRY MANNPA…I haven’t got my NSO prize money yet. School hasn’t provided me the check. That’s why couldn’t get a gift for you.”

I always got a gift bought from his prize money. I always got more than my anticipation…


Love you CHAATTU :)

A PROUD SISTER

I DREAMT OF GRANNY…DID I??

Attending a thread ceremony and being the eldest, responsibilities are what one expects. Frankly, after a dull stretch of period, the heaving environ at the place strengthened to work with full enthusiasm.

Following the rituals, buffet was all set and the conglomerate of relatives swarmed in to satisfy their palate. I was enjoying the feast when a familiar face stood before me. My heart clobbered. I could recognize it tobe that of my LateGranny.

TWINS!( a well-known concept for our Bollywood masala movies) Kumbh mela…Separation…Reunion arghhhhhhhh. As per my knowledge of Granny’s history, she had no siblings. So is it possible to have exact look alike of Granny?

May be DUPLICATE after a FACE SURGERY! (fav flavour of Ekta Kapoor’ K series) Huh! such an efficient Doc…not a single mismatch.

Ofcourse, thanx to genetics and technology, might be a CLONE! But human clones haven’t been reported yet, other than in movies.

Ohh…God…Heaven! May her soul rest in peace! Am i confronting Granny’s GHOST? Ahem! She is li’l thinner. Isn’t Granny provided with ample food in heaven?

All those contradictory thoughts clouded my senses. I stood spellbound watching her. The WhatSoEver thing smiled and came nearer. Situation demanded me to flee out of her sight but couldn’t. I was stuck, helpless and without the courage to yell.

The very next moment, i could hear Granny’s melodious words, smell her sweet fragrance she used to carry, and feel her warm hands. I could taste her hand made pickles even though i was serving myself with chocolate fudge.

She left and my perplexity forced me to remain silent.

A GESTURE

Two multi-hued petal structures were enclosed in a golden decorative bordered framework. She had a glimpse of it, and waded into her past memories!

Sweltering summer, culprit to ruined greenery, dusty environment, thirsty animals, chirpless surrounding, and sweaty-blistered body. Everyone felt lazy even to stretch. Still the enthusiasm of children can never be beaten!

It was only 4 O’clock, the sun was blazing hard but the colony sport team of li’l wonders had already invaded their respective playgrounds. In no time the whole scene filled with screeches and screams. A group of boys were enjoying gully cricket, another group were satisfying with hopping and catching and others with marbles.

7 years old, Nalini watched all these from a distance. With twinkling eyes she waited for an invitation from her elder mates (a usual practice of not entertaining small kids). At last a girl called her to join their team. She was on cloud nine! Nalini started running. Suddenly something stopped her.

Bit of wriggle, some flap and then struggle! Nalini tried to help, went close to it, and coursed her hands in order to put it in a suitable position. But the struggle was hard that she retracted of the fear to hurt it. Then carefully she lifted it and ran towards her apartment.
Nalini had no idea what to do next. In view was the gardener uncle of her colony, so she decided to take some advice from him. She revealed the little thing on her hand and asked, “Unc’ can u suggest some way I can help this li’l fellow?” The gardener explained, “Ohh! The heat has done its job. This butterfly needs some rest. Put it on a flower here and hope it regains its strength.” Nalini did the same.

A while later, the innocent face bared a sweet smile. She was satisfied as the butterfly flew high. Remembering the call, Nalini ran back to the ground. Alas! They mocked and drove her away. Next day the same scenario and no invitation! A tear trickled from the corner of her eye when something sat on Nalini’s nose tip. It was the same butterfly which she had helped.The butterfly visited everyday and Nalini never wanted any invitation then after.

One fine day, Nalini waited for her playmate. She breathed the fresh scented air but felt something twitching in her stomach. She was feeling restless when a gentle breeze touched her and she felt a smooth, silky, feathery thing on her neck. She acquired it. To her dismay it was her only friend in a shattered condition. Nalini attempted the previous act to save her friend’s life but this time the multi-hue-winged creature had no way other than to die on her savior’s hands.

Perhaps it was a gesture from the speechless mortal “I WANTED TO BE WITH YOU TILL THE END OF MY LIFE DEAR FRIEND…”

24th MAY… A DAY TRIBUTED TO GARBAGE!!

Today’s wakeup call: “clean up your college mess”

Yawning and scratching my head when I opened my squirmy eyes I found mother ready with her favourite appliances (Engineers’ mother still have cleaning tools as their dearest ones). “Oh GOD! For heavens sake Ma results are not yet out …and and… we haven’t been given a farewell either! I’m still in college. Please can we shift the program till I get a graduation degree?” I pleaded.

Why is she so keen about cleaning up all my 4 years hard works? Spending all days attending lectures, writing down notes, photocopying whole books ,question papers and notes jus’ before exam days (well thanx to those who helped me photocopying).

I know I’m a bad persuader. So all I ended up cleaning my bookshelf.

Weary and confused I tried my algorithmic feats (a start of every project) and tried to pile up as wanted and unwanted things.

In a while the pile of unwanted stuffs grew and papers were flying here and there. Huffing I sat and realized 8 semesters and 42 subjects (excluding labs, projects etc) once up a time, these unwanted were important ,were the dearest ones to me.

All of a sudden I got some stuffs where a third category popped up amongst the categories of wanted and unwanted (I realized still ‘m not good at algorithms).

A small pendent, a bug shaped eraser, passport photograph of my friend, a promise check to laugh at all my jokes even if they were stupid, colourful dandiya sticks, a pair of earrings, a birthday card, and some gifted pens.

Without a second thought my hands grabbed them and hide them lest mother would have categorized as ‘The most unwanted’. My thoughts were guided to those delightful jiffies when I got those precious things from my friends.

It was 7:30 in the morning when I started cleaning up the 4 years’ mess which ended at 9:00 am but the 4 years happy moments and memories are still with me as the third classified ‘THE UNDISPOSABLES’.