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Well, it’s more of a silly act of forgetfulness, is all I can say. Last evening, as a routine I packed my stuff hurriedly and rushed downstairs from my workplace to catch a rick to home. An auto rick stood nearby and as a daily routine I fought with him… since, he demanded his exorbitant charges irrespective of his digital meter board. I told him “GET LOST”. I seriously did so. Waited anxiously for another one and the other one agreed with his meter reading fare. I thanked my stars and boarded the rick, when I realized I had forgotten something……I had literally forgotten that today I actually drove down and had parked my car downstairs…I stopped the rick driver and apologized… he gave me a weird look as if I had gone crazy…stopping him over and then getting down…but I smiled back thinking he doesn’t even know the reason. Well, then I came up and searched for my keys and drove back home….
Are you guys smiling AT LEAST…on my insanity????
Life is really uneasy for a girl. No matter how well she is raised, no matter how well she makes a mark in the field of education, work or her personal life….. She has to face the challenges involved…in every phase of life…in every spheres of life…! These are not the life’s customary challenges…they are beyond them…the challenges of being a fairer sex… She has to bear the grunt of being born as a girl child on this earth for all her life.
Diya chose to walk down, though she was worn out from the day’s hard work. It was hot and sultry and she was perspiring. The roads were busy, with cars and other vehicles honking erroneously. Hurriedly she crossed the road and zipped into a lane….a narrow one…with very few street-lights glaring. Her heart started pounding since there was no-one in the vicinity. She thought why did she choose this route of all..? Every stare made her heart skip a beat. It was the stare girls are used to. Suddenly all sort of bad thoughts crept into her mind. The news papers….the news channels that splashed stories of “yet another girl’s misery”, “molestation”, “rape” etc…! She was scared thinking what if someone pounces on her…NOW? She could think of no ways to defend herself…what would she do…if such a thing happens to her..? She started praying silently and boldly walked as if there was no fear, “a fearsome soul invites more trouble”, she thought. Suddenly there was a scooter that passed by. She nearly lost her life when the riders passed some comment. She ignored and paced up high. Finally, she could see the busy street again….and she breathed a sigh of relief when she got nearer to the crowd….!
“We sleep peacefully in the nights because our soldiers at the border front protect us from the enemies against all odds.” This certainly stands true, and this is something I believed all my life so far.
Considered all of them to be on par and disciplined of all….considered them of the highest repute and far away from the dirty political influences. Thought ….for them, their only religion is their motherland. Never even once, I could think that their psychology and characters also can be varied…like one of my friends’ once mentioned it’s about bad characters…and nothing else…!
I admit that was my misconception. Forgot that they too are human beings, they can swindle too, they can get enraged, and they can hold personal grudge against someone, could be frustrated, lose their temper, or equally love someone. I mean I never had a single negative thought against them, that they too can bear an immoral character. Shaurya, a movie conceived and produced with extreme delicacy and with a sense of difference, had uncovered the other side of the coin about army men…!
Had tremendous respect for our soldiers…I still have…but now may be… not for all…not for the ones who are not secular in their thoughts…who are inhumane…and thrust atrocities on innocent lives!
N – “I sleep to give rest to my body, I eat to survive and I drink to quench my thirst.”
Mrs. Rao’s face shone brilliantly as she advanced towards Rimi along with her son, Naren. She held his hands tightly. Naren looked confident. She shook hands with Rimi and introduced Naren to Rimi. Then they headed towards the center where Naren’s IV Semester M.A. Literature exam was carried out…One of the staff members made them sit near the principal room. Over a period of time Naren’s Professor passed by and wished him good luck for his American Literature paper for the day. Rimi and Naren conversed briefly, about his preparation and over some general topics. The bell rang and Naren was guided to a nearby room, where he was seated comfortably. Mrs. Rao explained Rimi how the process worked. Rimi was a bit apprehensive as it was something she never heard or did before. One of the staff members of the college came and handed over the question paper and answer sheet booklet to Rimi. Mrs. Rao profusely thanked Rimi for the help she extended to offer. As a concerned mother, she placed a water bottle and the exam board on the desk and wished good luck to Naren and left for her work-place.
In the meanwhile Naren revealed he wanted to become a Sanskrit scholar and was fond of music too. He was also learning Karnatic music. If luck favored he wanted to choose music as his profession. Rimi told him about her profession too. They instantly shared a quick camaraderie.
It was time to start for the exam. Rimi read out the question paper aloud. She could see the contentment on Naren’s face as he thought he had known most of the answers well. He strategically chose to answer those questions that he was confident at …and attempt the rest in the end. The time allotted was 3 hours with an extra half n hour. Naren answered and Rimi scribed. Yes, Naren was a visually impaired student amongst the lot who was trying to make a mark in this competitive world. He was ambitious and had the confidence to accomplish his dream. Rimi chose to scribe on his behalf. She didn’t know him personally, but was informed about this urgency through a friend. Rimi learnt that day life could be a real struggle for Naren’s Parents. It has its own blessings & challenges dealing with him everyday.
After the exam, Rimi precisely took his thumb impression on the answers’ booklet and submitted back to the Exam Department. She was handed a fee of 60 Rs. for the job of scribing on behalf of Naren. Looking at it she wondered what to do. She quietly slipped the money into Naren’s pocket and asked him to spend or give away to someone needy. Then, she left for her workplace.
Na Hai Yeh Pana
Na Khona Hi Hai
Tera Na Hona Jane
Kyun Hona Hi Hai
Tum Se Hi Din Hota Hai
Surmaiye Shaam Aati
Tumse Hi Tumse Hi
Har Ghadi Saans Aati Hai
Zindagi Kehlati Hai
Tumse Hi Tumse Hi
Na Hai Yeh Pana
Na Khona Hi Hai
Tera Na Hona Jane
Kyun Hona Hi Hai
Aankhon Mein Ankhen Teri
Baahon Mein Baahein Teri
Mera Na Mujh Mein Kuch Raha… Hua Kya
Baaton Mein Baatein Teri
Raatein Saugatein Teri
Kyun Tera Sab Yeh Ho Gaya
Hua Kya
Mein Kahin Bhi Jata Hoon
Tumse Hi Mil Jata Hoon
Tumse Hi Tumse Hi
Shor Mein Khamoshi Hai
Thodi Se Behoshi Hai
Tum Se Hi Tum Se Hi
Aadha Sa Wada Kabhi
Aadhe Se zyada Kabhi
Jee Chahe Karlu Is Tarah Wafa Ka
Chode Na Chote Kabhi
Tode Na Tute Kabhi
Jo Dhaga Tumse Jud Gaya Wafa Ka
Mein Tera Sharmaya Hoon
Jo Mein Ban Paya Hoon
Tumse Hi Tumse Hi
Raste Miljate Hai
Manzile Mil jati Hai
Tumse Hi Tumse Hi
Na Hai Yeh Pana
Na Khona Hi Hai
Tera Na Hona Jane
Kyun Hona Hi Hai
Her little hands and feet waded as if she knew someone was coming to hold her, someone was approaching to own her forever. Her eyes twinkled. She was barely a year old, lying on the cot. Aesthetically beautiful, and Malini knew instantly that this is the one she wanted to shower her love upon. They finished the paper work and rushed towards her; she held the angel closely to her bosom and determined never to leave. The little one, unaware of her life ahead, gave a heart-warming smile and snuggled upto the warmth.
Malini was a woman of strength; she knew what were the challenges involved… in taking up a decision like this. She had to convince herself first and then her husband and finally her in-laws. It wasn’t an easy job at all. Everyone had their own apprehensions. “Would you be able to love her equally and be concerned the way you have been towards Zinia?” Zinia was the first and only biological kid of three years borne to Malini & Ashutosh. “You need to be extra careful dealing with a kid like that, for even if it’s a genuine rebuke, they take it too personally, and react strongly”. “It could be diseased…”..“We never know from which parenthood he/she would come from”, “What if he/she becomes a rebel later, knowing that they are not his/her biological parents”, “It’s mostly in genes, what if the kid turns out to be a total spoilt one” etc etc…But, Malini was stern about it. She could deftly handle the situation. Ashutosh was a loving and an understanding husband. He mostly supported her for the fact he knew that Malini always thought carefully before plunging into anything. It was a noble thought after all to adopt and nurture a child.
Her flat was adorned at the arrival of Kavya, the little angel into the world of Roy’s. Kavya Roy – that’s what she would be known as, they contemplated.
Monday, April 7th 2008
Hyderabad
The day started on a slow note. Woke up late…stirred a cup of tea with newspaper in hand, munching sum rusks. One of my aunts always insisted I should never have tea empty stomach; else we end up with acidity issues. It wasn’t too soggy today so continued lazing around and reading “The Japanese Wife”.
Did a bit of cooking later. Somehow, cooking is quite therapeutic I believe. Outside… the clouds were darkening and floating low in the sky as if it would rain anytime. After lunch I blogged for a while and then outside, I could witness a heavy downpour. I simply could not resist but ran out to the terrace to drench myself. I did, I simply enjoyed to my heart’s content. Was dripping from top to bottom…I pulled a neighborhood kid, and made her enjoy the torrential rain as well. Though I alarmed her she may fall sick but she too could not avoid the fun. It was an extraordinary feeling. I love rains…and moreover getting soaked. I was admonished and then… I had to come back for a change.
Coming back my excitement did not run down. I made a cuppa tea for myself….a hot cup of ginger tea…and sat down at the corridor, enjoying the rains outdoor and continued to read the chapter “Tiger…Tiger” from The Japanese Wife, Kunal Basu’s latest production. A collection of twelve short stories intricately based on relationships.
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