Fold Your Old Thoughts!

Fold your old thoughts

And experiences of the past,

Enclose in an envelope, tight

And save it in an unmarked

Folder of your memory

To unfold and survey it

 If occurs a necessity

Helping you in new out looks.

Collect new verve and vigour

To energize your figure
And be afresh in deed and word

To see the finishing point

And fulfillment of

Your wishes entire

 In all the new years that

Ensue in future path.

May the New Years,

Reaching your doorstep,

Bring you  health and wealth;

And pleasure and peace

When you pass through
 The line of life with relations
That you long for, may they lie

 far from or close to your heart.

Wishing you all a prosperous ,blissful, energetic, favourable New 2013!

Sarala.

Receive, Reciprocate and Ruin not the Peace of Mind!

Part-2

         

To heap up resources has grown to be the world’s order in one’s days. Accruing wealth embraces numerous martial arts and you very rapidly master them also. Cheating, chair-pulling, burglary, encroachment, exercising power, man-handling, militancy, devastating natural resources, deforestation, looting, bullying, hooliganism, encroachment, atmospheric pollution, liquor, drugs, abducting and  tormenting the children etc. open their shutters to the criminal minds of yours. The gangsters  exploit all the chances by even exterminating you from the planet, no matter may you be young or old; babe or parent, laddie or lassie. How many demises, murders and suicides powerfully dwell amidst people! No sign of  a last part to it.

You have only one life on earth, why to stockpile such a lot for you or your successors. Your aim may be political mileage or retention of your image. Of course currency may bring you political status among your sycophants. It does not win you others’ minds. Ten cycles of your future generations’ copious spending will not be able to excavate the bottom of the accumulated riches.

 The greed or misdeed of only one king or emperor suppressed you in the olden days. And currently all the ministers and elected members chain your freedom more than the wicked emperors did in the past. More than two terms for the ministers as well as the members of parliament and legislators turn the whole system prosaic. Let new people with newer ideas inhabit the houses of governance. ‘Craving for chair’ politics should be nipped in the bud itself. The dramas enacted by the foremost group of politicians are full of atrocious and vicious vistas .Musical chair, defection, begging and bagging vote for cash etc. are  some of the acts of the dramas acted out.

Why should such a lot of competitions be upheld? Why do you prefer to become no.1 and ubiquitous? Why to relinquish all your invaluable time that should be spent with your kith and kin? Only one life for you and therefore your job or engagements should not grab all your peace and calm. Why to have day and night exertion with seldom proviso for rest and recreation?

Choose the livelihood suiting your calibre and capability. Change your attitude befitting the aptitude. There should be no categorization as boss or subordinates.  You contribute the maximum of your ability sincerely and earnestly without worrying about the gain and profit. The result will fall into your hands. Do away with the greed for comforts and facilities. The earth and its resources belong to all, not for a few whose brain and brawn are cash-centric. Receive your share and reciprocate what you can for the good of others. Retain only that much which your family requires. Individuals have only one body to be sheltered. So steer clear of the desire for lying above the piles of treasure. You have only one tongue to help gulp the food. Of course this very organ can spoil and build your health and break and bridge your relationship.

Who has given you the power of ruining the sources and resources of nature’s wealth? For this short-time glory you are obliterating the harmony and serenity of your  future generations may be for ever. Since you cannot provide life, you are none to take away lives. If you travel on the wings of Gandhiji’s weapons-Ahimsa and non-violence-you can claim or proclaim that paradise is not lost or regained the lost paradise. And hence maa  nishaada…

 Your one life if you make the most of its use for swabbing the vices away  and  receiving and reciprocating the virtues, what an excellent world that refuges you would be!

Sarala                                                                       the end.

Receive, Reciprocate and Ruin not the Peace of Mind!

                                     Part-1

(Though this subject has been and is dealt with in various ways by a large number of people, I feel that it should be held enlightened for the adulthood-attaining adolescence.)

“God will not ask thy race, nor will he ask thy birth,

Alone he will demand of thee, what hath thou done on earth.”

These wise words sketch clearly the consequences of your deed on the monitor.

You will observe the soft copy of it today and you will obtain the hard copy in black and white  tomorrow.

You have only one motto in your life that you want to acquire material pleasure. Greed directs you to acquire the same through all the means your mind designs. Or in other words material pleasures take you to a land where virtues and values have vanished without leaving any traces even. To achieve this goal you manoeuvre to evacuate all the barriers that block your way. You generate hitches to radiate as chaos for raising a screen to hide your deed.  

You crave for worldly pleasures like flashing in posh cars, wearing highly- prized apparels, dwelling in palatial mansions, gobbling continental dishes in multi-starred inns etc. In the run of  achieving this goal, your beloved issues that hunger for your attention do not become visible to you.

Fiscal status being the pivot point of acceptance in the society, you rush for jobs that will fetch you a handsome salary of six digits ,seven digits etc. The ‘but’ that becomes prominent here is that high remuneration arrives at your residence with the company of higher targets from their companies. Successful completion your work does not pay you any recognition until, unless you  accomplish the stipulated periods of the targets. Targets are indirectly proportional to your tension., and now any shortcoming means the tension expands in magnitude. Tension and stress are twin siblings that the youths reproduce and rear even at the minutest hurdle in our days.

The globe rotates on its axis consisting of competitions, comparisons, contests  and so on. And its inmates revolve around the amounts of currencies which turn the seekers to be their slaves. You are ready to go to any extent to lick the legs of  your master, the money. The atrocities that take their births in the brains of you all are because of the craze for cash and kinds to lead a cozy  life. You hoard cash and currencies not only for yourselves but for your heirs also. Furthermore  in your offspring you visualize only professionals, despite their talent or flair. You turn your face away from their  attention-seeking wants for want of time on your part. Wealth rules over your every action. Money also gets a hold of its  comfortable settling in banks abroad in the nick name of stashed away cash. No need is there for revealing the source and identity of the person who is susceptible for the activity of concealing money like that.

Sarala                                                                    to be  contd.

The one thing that I wish everyone would learn is.................

This is in response to a prompt by Mrs.Preeti Shenoy.



The one thing that I wish everyone would learn is  patience in thinking, putting the thoughts into action,awaiting the result,interaction with others so that B.P will not go high for anybody, one gets into in acquaintance with. 

Disbelief and Belief !

That day the buses were on an indefinite strike. Adarsh’s bike had gone to a ‘spa’ of vehicles. He, a twenty six year-old youth,  was greatly curious to watch the current  release of the much-publicized movie. On the postponing proposal of his friend Kunal, Adarsh decided to satisfy alone his will and wit. He didn't want it to be a passé for him. Since he had no other go, he accepted the offer of his muscular automobile to reach the theatre.A he was not in possession of a mechanical automobile. Taking the negation of his parents into no account, he proceeded to the theatre for the second show at night, though he always stood for filial duty. “ It is hardly three kilometers from here and so I can walk easily. And that may provide me with fresh air to inhale in the absence of vehicles,’’ thought he to justify his move.

Keeping the usual obstinacy of bravery away, he had carried a torch-light in his hand. He detected some other passers-by  also on foot like him in the dimly-lit light of the street-light.  His legs took paces long and rapid so that he could accommodate himself in front of the  ticket-borrowers’ line. The bus strike acted as a blessing in disguise that he saw the ticket enter into his hands without any effort.

 The movie was no doubt  a rave that depicted an evil-sprite raving against the hero to mislead him to the latter’s world. Its technicians and aesthetes could bag adulation and adoration of his without any suspicion.But the very theme of the movie supplied a snigger on his visage.  His atheistic mind couldn't accept a subject like that in this second decade of the 21^st century.

Adarsh was an atheist in true sense and spirit.  He hardly ever missed or rather dispossessed any occasion of arguing against the God, ghost, demon, sprite and the like that fell onto his tongue. Oldsters were very scrupulous to keep piety-based topic a mile away in the presence of Adarsh. He never proved any miserliness in  being disagreement with the believers and fanatics. And hence a kind of derision about the movie crept into his mind. “How foolish for a person to sow the seed of such a superstition among the movie-watchers, out of whom at least a few will be charmed by it.”

Nevertheless  leaving the mind to loiter freely, he set his leg- carrier on track for home. The time was attaining its midnight stage. Place- to- place moving inhabitants were practically nil or not in sight. The night had dressed up in a jet- black garb providing chance nil to identify the creatures, if at all any were there on the way. The faded luminosity of the street light failed to elucidate anything in its contour and dimension. The torch was also not smart enough to view distant objects.

Half the way he might have covered and then a bright flame knocked down into his eyes from a distance of about two hundred metres. Intermittently it grew enormously, seized the  magnitude sometimes and sometimes it shone in a slanting manner too.. His legs without waiting for his permission, curtailed the speed of his locomotion .Did a small shade of fright attack him? Yes, a sort of nervousness encircled him. His lub-dub turned faster and faster. For a moment his atheistic attitude vanished.

He stood there for a while and thought, “What could it be. Eh! It cannot be a demon or a ghost. Only humans can become demonic or devilish by nature.. One, if, attains death, one’s breath discontinues and body perishes, that’s all. On burning the corpse, the pyre converts it into ashes. No remnant or residue will be left on this globe. ” A smile appeared on his countenance about his silly feelings, sealing his disbelief with lac. He shed his panic and proceeded with more vigour.

But the incident recurred and again his limbs refused to be in motion. Did his heart beat unusually faster again? Yes, it did. He felt  that the atmosphere was at a halt and the plants bore very long faded shades in that dim light. Even the wind stayed behind  the trees to hide itself. Sweat flowed down in the form of a stream. Both his spirit and flesh were not willing and weak to move an inch.  At the spur of a moment he said, “Oh! God, save me. What should I do now? Show me a path of escape.” He whispered to himself, “I should twist back or even lope to the theatre and call someone from there. But no, it was believed that if one turned back in such a situation, he would be rapped by the sprite from the back side.” He didn’t know  what to do. Suddenly it seemed that someone from his inner side  commanded him to proceed forward and not to be cowardice. Courage crawled into his mind slowly and he decided to face whatever happens, though he was not solely out of the dreaded mindset..

The process of flames’ increase and decrease in different volume went on. He reached the spot with a short kind of fret. He observed the things well. It was nothing but a bulky stack of paddy’s husk which was invisible from a distance. It was put to fire as a practice of disposing it.  The flames looked as if they were hung in the atmosphere. His fright only gave him the impression that the wind was not propelling the twigs and leaves. In reality he was under an illusion that camouflaged the existence of the air in motion.It was playing a game  by allowing  the blaze sometimes  to flare up and sometimes to flicker. A sigh of relief emerged out of his mind making a weight off his head.

Adarsh replayed the whole incident recorded on his mind’s screen and he sealed a new belief that there is a superior power above us to lead and guide from jeopardy. “Had I deserted myself away from the scene, the result would have been unpredictable. Thank God, you helped me take a correct decision.”
He was removing the lac to open the seal of disbelief.

Adarsh now used the lac to seal the belief in God.He argued for Godliness among his atheist friends,  reiterating that God exists in the form of your inner voice. Man can accomplish nothing in this gigantic world without a favourable signal from Him.

 However an atheist you are, when in trouble you first take the name of God. “God provides for him that trusteth.”

Sarala.

The Charismatic Landscape!

The Charismatic Landscape!

 

The landscape of beauty looking appreciably cute

is of the celestial clouds on the superb umbrella

 that roofs Mother Earth with lanes, roads 

and bridges in a feel, picturesque.

   

If observe you, fine scenes you can glance and sense;

 birds and beasts, small and big and butterflies and bats

rhythmically, flying high,  humming very soft tunes,

carry away your minds to ecstasy.

 

Also, watch you will, levels of sylvan oaks and jacks,

conifers and coconuts, pines, palms and peepals

of unique sizes and shapes and beautiful blooms  

blushing when the guest clouds kiss.

 

Arrayed in a bright or dark shade, the shrubs and trees 

of all grades amidst the sky jungle in crimson hue,

look as if catching fire, yet, well serve the visitant-

clouds, as hosts; note you can delight in hearts.

 

Oh! What a splendid painting, speaking poetry,  

high about its splendour and its majesty galore,

is the scene from the sky  enslaving the beauty-

watchers, delivering enchantment.

 

Ah! It is the creator Artist’s aesthetic effort skilful

that He sprayed spectrum hues on vermillion of twilight

 from the celestial palette and sprinkled 

He has over it clear golden dust of dusk.

 

Used He has his fine brushes of rays of setting

at the west and brilliantly He performed

the final touch to give it a divine appeal;

aha! An enrapturing scene indeed.

In The College

             Short Story

        

            

Asha and Anil were in the same college Asha felt that Anil would become so close to her that they could never undo their relationship. Asha all the time craved for Anil’s presence.

Asha ,a first year professional degree student, was returning home after the last exam of her first semester. That particular day she was a bit extra delightful, for she fared well in the exam. Subsequent to the exam her family had a plan to set out on a pilgrimage to far on. Naturally she expressed a hurry  to get to home. As hurry makes worry, she stumbled down while alighting from the college- automobile. A very staid sprain attacked her right at the right ankle causing severe pain. The ache didn't allow her to touch the ground even. She at once leaned towards one side and a bush at the roadside acted as a provider for support. She in vain looked curiously for a recognizable aide to borrow some aid.

All of a sudden a three- wheeler rickshaw appeared before her, as if God had granted her wish. A glinting face peeped out of the rickshaw appealing her to enter. Anil, a third-year student of her own college happened to witness the incident. Having no other means to move, she nodded for his invitation. He made his exit as he had solely called the vehicle for her only. At the first sight itself, she was smitten with that handsome personality. Her eyes without her permission glanced round him through the corner. He was in light- blue faded denims that suited him fit.

“Which place,madam?” the auto-driver.

“To Plamood junction.” Speedily she replied, as if she woke-up from a deep thought.

She twisted her neck to Anil, ”Thank you.” And that she had overlooked in the midst of her thoughts.

“Welcome!” Anil.

The auto took to its wheels and Anil being trodden on , trod softly to his destination.

Asha’s uninvited guest, the sprain had totally spoiled their pilgrimage- pleasure, as they had to put it off for later.  Asha fretfully yearned for the reopening of her college because she had to be in lurking  for two more weeks. She found it difficult to erase the attractive face that got fretted in her mind’s canvas, though she was unaware of its owner’s attitude. While walking, eating, reading, sleeping and for everything and everywhere his eye-catching, mind- catching visage tagged along her. Unlike her previous state, where she was in friendship with the vacation and holidays, she sought to have college-days that time. She viewed the calendar for the reckoning days to go to college.

 She spent hours in front of the mirror. She tried hair-dos in numerous patterns herself. “I can’t discover a  well-accomplished style. I have to approach a beautician,” decided she.  

She was never the one, who held fascination greatly towards beauty-parlours. She herself was a little astonished on the strange aspect of her personality at that time. It was the first instance for her to enthrone in her mind a person of opposite sex. Finally the golden  college-days set in. She got equipped with the finest outfit, which she  had chosen on one of the previous days itself. On the reopening  day her eyes roamed everywhere in hunt of the VIP of her mind. Two three days got over crawling and crawling because Anil was not visible  anywhere..

“He may not be an inmate of this college. But his face seems quite familiar, as if he is reading for a degree  here,”  her inner sense dejectedly opened the folder of memory.

The fourth day she was  crossing the veranda to walk to the library, then suddenly the much-awaited bright countenance made its appearance just in front of her. A sudden current of inexplicable emotion flowed through her mind. She was perhaps nervous, but somehow she collected some courage and halted in front of him.

Very softly and sweetly she said, “ Hello!”

Anil too stopped his gait with an interrogative gaze.

“That day I didn't even  ask your name.In the midst of the strain of sprain I forgot that,” she continued.

“Eh… .But why, ….when?,”  casually he asked heeding less attention.

“Sorry, I got mistaken,” she walked away with an unfathomable gloominess in her condition. She fell in the sorriest phase and the deepest thoughts. Fast she walked past him.

She could hardly control  the tiers that built paths on her cheeks.In her life so far, there was little chance to be that much melancholic, as most of her wishes were fulfilled.Without uttering even a word she occupied one of the last seats in the college vehicle.She experienced a heaviness in her heart and head.However her locomotive organs propelled her to her residence. She hurled her college belongings to the bed and flung herself on them.

  Her mood stamped the ‘self’ in her as futile. She introspected , responded  and reiterated herself with numerous questions and replies.

 “What is extra-ordinary in you ? Are you that pretty to enmesh and drag a male person to your side?”

“No, not at all, I’m only an average living-being.”

“Why then or what the hell made you offer him a significant dwelling in the private corner of your mind.?”

None and nothing  penetrated into her mind. All the gayness evaporated and sadness filled the vacuum of her passion.Eventually she opened her mind in front of her amma(mother),who used to execute for her daughter exemplary guidelines.The latter without any laxity comprehended the matter. She came forward for  her daughter’s rescue and succour. On her mother’s affectionate  advice, Asha added together all the impressions about Anil and  she found the sum was a big zero.She realized then that he had contributed or communicated to her nothing verbally. The only thing he did would have been done by any philanthropist. And besides he might be in bondage also with someone else.

 “Mistake is on my part. I was weaving a dream out of no thread of his nod.. I built a palace of hope and enthroned him in it. Now I know to dethrone him also. No, I shouldn't lose courage. I should  ‘make hay while the sun shines’. My   strength  lies in my academic gains which I should perform with utmost earnestness and seriousness.” It was an unyielding decision from Asha.

sarala.

The Evergreen

     

The evergreen young lady,  the ‘Nature’,

In her young-looking age, she did  cheer.

At very early dawn, she left her soft bed

Rubbing the eyes  and scratching the head.

 After a dip in the morning’s drizzling drops,

 Her stunning blue sky- sari, she wore.

The Divine Mark of rainbow, she adorned,

With its many-hue on her forehead.

She lit the lamp of sacred nature

And kept in the east to see its stature.

Awakened she, her offspring, all

And them she launched for routine’s call.

 And the wicks of lamp she lit in east

 Did she pull to provide more light.

 And so can one sense the things very bright

And plan his acts, adding his insight.

.

 Swift she moved to the wind-fan’s board

And the fan for the cool, on she switched.                         

Wind very burly blew on surroundings

Holding in its wings the light-weight things.

 There banged the ensemble, the thunder

 Lightning added too its luster.

Birds chirped, peacock danced

And Linnet, a covert tune, crooned   

The hair of the lady, the flora’s leaves

Swam and swayed from right to left.

Nature’s own lover the time- master

Bestowed without fail on her, his care.

Hap we definitely own in  plenty,

As, her aid a lot, on us, she places.

 Entices us she in a great deal

And her splendor should never go dull.

Let not anyone destroy her sanctity

And let, hang around, everyone her serenity.  

Uphold her valor vigorous, to have her yonder.

Pray and prostrate before the God to have her for ever.

Sarala.

.

നിത്യ യൌവനം

(Its translation follows as the next post, since it has become a little long).                                  


നിത്യ  സുന്ദരി  പ്രകൃതിദേവി
നീന്തിത്തുടിച്ചു  യൌവനത്തിങ്കല്‍.
പുലര്‍കാലത്തില്‍  കണ്ണുചിമ്മി
ഉണര്‍ന്നെണീറ്റു പൂമെത്തവിട്ടു.

ചാറ്റല്‍മഴയില്‍  കുളിച്ചുതോര്‍ത്തി
നീലാംബരത്തിന്‍  അംബരം ചുറ്റി.                 .
മാരിവില്ലിന്‍കുറി  നെറ്റിയില്‍ ചാർത്തി
കിഴക്കുദിക്കില്‍  വിളക്കുകൊളുത്തി      

 ജന്തു സസ്യാദി ജാലത്തെയെല്ലാം
മെല്ലെ മെല്ലെ  ഉണര്‍ത്തി വിട്ടു  
നിലവിളക്കിന്‍  തിരി വീണ്ടും  നീട്ടി
ചൂടും  വെളിച്ചവും അധികംഏകി.

മാരുത പങ്ക  ചലിപ്പിച്ചു  വേഗം
കുളിരേറെയേകി  മാലോകര്‍ക്കെല്ലാം.
സസ്യജാലത്തിന്‍  അഴകാം വാർമുടി
സമീരൻ മെല്ലെ തഴുകിക്കൊടുത്തു .

ഇടികൾ മുഴക്കി വാദ്യമേളം
മിന്നല്‍  പൂത്തിരി കത്തിച്ചുനിന്നു
കിളികല്‍ചിലച്ചു  കുയിലുകൾ പാടി
മയൂരവൃന്ദം  നൃത്തമാടി

കാമകനാകും  കാലമെന്നും
സമീപേനിന്നു  ഗാനം പാടി.
 പ്രകൃതി പുത്രിതന്‍   പരിചരണത്താല്‍
ഉല്ലസിപ്പൂ നാമെല്ലാരും

പ്രകൃതി  യുവതിതന്‍  കോമളരൂപം
 നില നില്‍ക്കേണം നിലനിർത്തേണം
പ്രയത്‌നി ച്ചീടാം അതിനായ് നമുക്ക്
അർത്ഥിച്ചീടാം ഭഗവത് കൃപയെ.


sarala

Do and Delay Never

                      

SHE! I don’t know if SHE is a friend or enemy of yours. One thing I know is that SHE remains in the company of all of you. People of all kind young and old, all categories male and female, all breed black and white, all type oriental and occidental and all phase rich and poor hug HER without any hesitation.

Let’s visit Radhika’s abode, where SHE is a frequent visitor and therefore Radhika  is a person of postponement. The damage that  triumphs in Radhika’s life remains prominent. She has to run and rush for conveyance to the work-venue, bear with derogatory  experience, lose the place in the forefront and the like.

 When coming to Nitesh, whenever his mother asks him to lend a hand, he plainly refuses, as he obeys the command from HER only. Here Radhika is affluent in the pecuniary area whereas Nitesh  is not so comfortable. In spite of your property or poverty SHE sucks your success.

From the paradigms quoted here one can observe that HER influence amongst you is  very conspicuous. The day-today life of  your young children is loaded with countless activities now- adays. They have to be busy with their academics like school going, homework, project work, preparation for examination etc. Many of them set out of the house for the training of ‘fine arts’ such as music, dance, painting and so on. And more over some of them have to allocate some time for  other kind of aesthetics also. In such demanding conditions SHE would definitely catch hold of them and they grab hold of HER company. Then what  happens is they cling on to HER, for they are reluctant to separate themselves from HER. The little ones when get up from the bed, SHE in a pampering and patting way whispers in their auditory organs not to leave the bed. Result they become far on for routines to be ready for  school.

.

Even the grown-up males among you also in the same way fall victim into HER hands that direct them to problems and troubles. SHE may follow  those individuals in all their actions that ensue and to all the places they visit. As a result the punctuality which is a by-product of discipline may vanish. Accomplishment of the destined work in various areas may evaporate and that may discolour the impressions created by them. Opportunities may dessert them causing  defects and  defeats. They may be at failure  for growth and  gains a lot. Destiny may oust them from its course of reaching the goal. The harm SHE brings to a person’s  life may be enormous and huge. But still he becomes rarely aware of the injury that transpires due to HER devilish presence.

Females of your group also escape not from the magic influence of HERS. At times they also exhibit and express their reluctance to keep themselves away from HER wicked orders. They show signs of delay in their cuisines, households and even office-work. A locale in which feminine actions are at pat, is the cosmetic and that too may remain at flaws provided SHE is with them .Later they may realize the difficulties, but still SHE has a charm  to hold tightly the individuals in HER  grip.

You all experience or enjoy HER presence willingly or unwillingly .If you forcibly shed HER presence you can carry out  wonders bagging achievements. SHE has numerous attachments to her credit such as delay, dismissal, negligence, procrastination, laxity etc. Unlike the males(not all) the females sometimes drive her away and come into sudden action. Habit that rules over your schedules is HER intimate friend. You are very font of both of them, as you express  reluctance to part  with them .Despite your masculinity or femininity if you vivaciously discard  her presence and cultivate promptness in your habits, you can reap a harvest of gold.

 Have you come across her identity? Yes, you might have by now. SHE is your redundant sibling  the’ Laziness’. SHE has pet names also like idleness, lethargy, sluggishness etc.’. If you don’t want to part with that negative aspect of your nature, lethargy will chase you out of success.

“To forget is a crime(if purposeful only, I feel so).

To be lazy is a greater crime .

To neglect duty and offer excuses is the greatest crime.

Action without delay is the soul of efficiency.”

Sarala 

Water! Water!

Detached the boat from the peg,

      the boat driver

  And pushed he slowly the boat

     to the water.

The people to take delight

    In the boat

Held with them their

    choicest bottles.

The glee- seekers rocked and rolled

       in merriment.

They twisted and  rock-n-rolled with

      bottles in hand.

Watching water out in backwater, into mouth

      they poured water. 

With water in hand and stomach, they sang,  

      yelled and howled.

   

  The females in turn made their hands

            and mouths busy

And boasted of their husbands’

         big capacity.

And the kids’ corner, in games,

         was very lively

With vim and vigor that gushed

        through in activity.

The poor boatman with no sound

      noted the things behind.

What had travelled through

         him in his mind,

assessment, disappointment,

          comparison,    

 and the like things numerous

        or what else?

 Nodded he very humbly in a

       negative note 

to the invitation to join during interval 

         that fell for a while.

 “I don’t drink, thinking three souls;

       Two school-going

and one home-keeping rely

       on my healthiness.”

Didn't turn he his face at all 

     to the merry-makers

and so was his feeling unreadable

   and indefinable .

  “ I am wealthy in health and you are

    healthy in wealth,”  

 words from him leapt out; bold

     was his voice.

Certain Wise or Unwise Whys!

Many a time and oft certain whys emerge from my mind and they fade away unravelled(not because of the emergence of the ‘Kolavery, even much before that) . These whys are wise or unwise, I exactly don’t know to express the fact. Of course, you may extract something paradoxical from this article.  As they come into your sight ,find the  ‘that is why….’ for these whys. Here they are….

1. WHY did the primordial man leave his natural refuge of his wild life?

  Hadn’t he evolved from his savage stage to the modern sapient  homos, he could have freely moved without any planning and preparation. He wouldn’t have built any fortification. He could have taken any natural haven like caves or burrows for his comfortable sleep. Tension and attention to anything of his life would have remained far-far away. He wouldn’t have been familiar with any sort of  fright. No lingering about the yester-years, no botheration about his tomorrows, might be both sweet and bitter; no responsibility of his offspring and no liability for his family.  All members followed an identical life style and so no strenuous labour and no stress feeling to achieve any goal.  Altogether his was a life full of gaiety. Then there may arise a question ‘what if the population amplifies and resources don’t’. Nil problem, since natural calamities and wild beasts will see to the population planning. Devastation will occupy the  atmosphere and so the environment will maintain its own balance.

2.WHY did he discover agriculture?

If at all a residence is raised, the nonexistence of agriculture wouldn’t have necessitated him to put in a lot of labour for converting the land to be conducive. Ploughing, sowing, weeding, watering and manuring to nurture the crops may eat away his health and mental peace. There would have been no need for protection of cultivation from man, beasts, pests, insects; no search for other hands for cutting ,carrying, threshing, winnowing etc. during harvest. He could have walked and worked in his own innate ways. Eating fruits and roots to extinguish the hunger and drinking nature’s water and  natural juice to quench the thirst would have been the systems for his metabolic purposes. If the climatic conditions turn adverse, the yield would become inversely proportional to the desire.

3.WHY did he introduce cooking in his life?

If at all he goes for cultivation of land ,the absence  of cooking would have facilitated him a lot in pecuniary and physical terms. Cooking becomes a burden for the two-legged female domestic animal that runs and rushes with the raw items in the kitchen. Had he not noticed the occurrence of fire, the humans’ food channel and its attached parts would have acquainted with the fresh food sources. No cleaning, no cutting, no chopping , no boiling ,no steaming ,no frying aha! How lovely to have saved time. The experience of consuming cooked food makes feel that it is tangy. Otherwise natural fresh food items would have been  refreshing.

4.WHY did he institutionalize education?

Without formal education prevalence of equality amongst man’s fellow occupants on earth would have been a reality.. No worry of curriculum, books, home work, fees, exam- result etc. resulting in anxiety and fear would be felt. No fret of qualification and higher education he would have thought of. Knowledge will occupy its throne in man’s mind through the way of experience and acquaintance. History, philosophy, various branches of science, formal math and the like wouldn’t have been born at all on this earth  Only spoken language would have occupied its regime. Even otherwise now also all do not have the awareness of every learning process on the globe. Nothing happens to those who are ignorant of certain areas.

   

5.WHY did he start  competing and contesting with the equals of himself?

Had he not indulged in competitions, there wouldn’t have been words like ‘envy, challenge, adventure, goal-setting, argument, dispute, debate, fight, greed, murder, deceiving, vengeance and so on and so on .Had he gone for his own choicest skill, everything would have turned and been turned fine. Things would have attained a natural and smooth direction to move about.

 Yet again a procession of ‘Whys’ about modern amenities, facilities, luxuries and other life patterns raise their attention-catching hands and if I go on reciprocating, the procession will possess no end. Again I feel that had we been in our primal age, this earth would have been an ‘Eden’. Nature’s ‘gift’ the greatest of all gifts is invaluable and inexplicable. Let’s enjoy its preciousness with full spirit.

    

sarala

The Admission

                                A Mini-story 

                                

The couple walked off  to the bed from the sit-out,  where they had a discussion about their baby’s admission in the best school of that locality. They took a decision of very firm nature.

The on-set of dawn awakened the couple, who left the bed delightfully because they were going to move towards the authorities of the school. The wife’s body formed a digital machine to complete her catering and the other domestics second by second.. The hose-pipe jumped into the spouse’s hand and cleaned their four-wheeler.

Telephonic information  reached both the offices to lessen one-day-leave each. Finding themselves in the most gorgeous dress of theirs, they made their exit out of their shelter.. Their limbs co-operated with their needs, as the wife’s hands opened the gate and the husband’s hands flew the vehicle on the wheels. Both spun the threads of ambition about their kid’s prospects and weaved the dreams to the sky,where the sun was the notary to attest the wishes..

“What will be the response from the principal?”

 “Oh! In affirmation only because they have called for furnishing the admission-form. We are much early too for the procedures.” merrily chatted both.

 “Priority of application will definitely be looked into,” they were confident.

Over enthusiasm didn't allow them to think of even the eligibility of the baby and the possibility of admission. 

The traffic signal alerted them and they were at a junction. The Educational Trust is in possession of      two schools, titled at the highest peak of reputation. Both the schools were practically the same  in all the activities.

 “Which direction will we go to?” the wife.

 “Now we can proceed straight only,” the husband.

 “Okay we will approach the principal of the ‘Lotus’ school,” the wife

“Please be seated. What can I do for you ?” the principal.

 “Admission of our little one.,”  Both jointly.

 “Haven’t you brought the child ? Where is it?” the principal.

“Sir, er….er… the child is ...the child ... in the womb. By the time it reaches four years, admission will be a big impediment.”

The principal’s expression was inexplicable and wonder-filled.

  

The Grandmother and the Granddaughter

Part-3

The story so far:

One ill-ominous day Manju’s both the parents bade adieu to their lives on earth. A tipper recklessly approached them in the form of Yama .The poor grandmother was left with the babyhood of her grandchild..

Now pl. read……    

Karthyayani amma, the woman in her young-old age had been bound to do the child-rearing, since she had  no other way. She stretched her limbs and body to collect more vigour  and vibrancy. She was endowed with a high sense of hygiene. She considered cleanliness to be next toGodliness, which facilitated her to find means to meet both the ends. Carrying the tot(Manju)on her sobbing chest, she tiptoed to the neighbours’ houses as a house- help. She could manage to accomplish the needs at that instant by stepping into three or four dwellings.

Years, months, days and hours passed within a wink, they experienced so. The grandmother’s passion, ambition, dream, desire and everything rotated around her granddaughter. Her world full was filled with Manju and her welfare. She breathed Manju, she felt Manju and she sensed Manju. Without thinking about her, not even a single minute passed. She kept, whatever things of quality high she came across, exclusively for Manju  and Manju alone. Manju too failed never to return the concern in deserving quantity to her Granny. Though at times the recollections about the departed ones exhibited a flash-back in their psyche, they wasted no time in haste. While the oldster was busy with her engagements,the youngster found herself immersed in academics. And furthermore the latter could excel too in her field.

Now Manju has crossed her mid-teen and reached class-xll.  Manju keeps nothing hidden from her grandma in her mind. They converse with each other like friends. One day Karthyayani amma was cooking porridge for both of them. The grand darling went near her granny and started doing her hair that lay untied. Granny looked at the granddaughter with an interrogatory sign on the face. The  latter  unlocked her mind  fumblingly,“ ere….. and .. Ramesh Bhaiyya(addressing an elderly person) waits for me under the wild-jack tree every day. He enquires about our welfare and my studies.” Ammoomma(granny) opened her third eye in fury and raised her voice at Manju for the first time. Manju’s hands automatically got detached from granny’s hair. Suddenly ammoomma’s affection towards the granddaughter made her cool. The former eased her voice and caressed her dear one. Manju was clever enough to opt for another route to school.  

Karthyayani amma’s mind is packed with fear and worry for her earnings are too meagre for her dear one’s expanding expenditure, even when the latter tags on an austere way of living. And also Manju though is not extra-beautiful, her charm strikes the eyes and character wins the soul. Manju’s age and looks disturbed her ammoomma’s sleep.

More over the avenue to find revenue to continue her dear one’s education has befallen  dearer and dearer causing anguish in her. And more to say her colourful academic record doesn’t allow her to favour the thought of discontinuing her studies. All these together with her aging physique deteriorate her health. The grandmother is gradually falling victim into the grip of her bed.

Manju though with much hesitation, crafts her mind to be a substitute for ammoomma., since there is no other go and she doesn’t want to see her dear Ammoomma in hard labour  at this age. The latter’s old eyes get ready to shed tears of  disappointment and distress. Her supreme aspiration is to see Manju at a high peak of education and thereby in a decent profession. So she can’t even think of Manju without the tail of a superior qualification.  She feels, “ Manju’s arduous labour in the neighbourhood may or will set villainy in Manju’s studies.” Manju in a house-help’s attire never resides in grandmother’s distant dream even. In addition to that Manju’s lone existence, if something untoward goes off, remains as a terrifying scene in her mind. Agony and anxiety co-dwells with  both, the granny and granddaughter.

 The next day Manju’s legs automatically carry her to the cuisine to cook something for her dear ammoomma who lit the stove only for Manju. Ammoomma’s weak eyeballs follow Manju’s direction. She heaves a deep sigh of gloom. Manju also is in utter darkness where through even a magnifying glass, she is not able to find anything bright in her tomorrows.

Somehow she dresses up as a house-maid and sets out for one of ammoomma’s mistresses. She thought, “I’ll complete the work before the school hours.” The young hand doubles the delight of the mistress. Manju is now riding on the wings of the time, not on the wheels. As a few days get ahead, granny’s state worsens and Manju’s presence with her becomes inevitable. Her hands heed to grandma’s needs and then her legs lead her to the small courtyard.

 She, when granny is in a nap, whispers to the rose and jasmine, converses with the butterflies, speaks to the fish in the pond, “Are you the same as I will be, an orphan, an unfortunate person, a destitute; if some mishaps occur in our house?” Literally she finds no means to survive, but she is the last person to transfer her life to the other world. Now she reaches back ammoomma’s bed. Both the inhabitants got dipped into an unfathomable sense of helplessness.

A few minutes go by, then she feels the softness of a smooth hand on her shoulder. She tilts her head. To the surprise of both the inmates of the house, they read the fondness for them in Ramesh’s mother’s eyes. Her calm voice expressed Ramesh’s desire, “Yes, he has recognized a gem from the ashes of hardships here. Both of us, his parents value the principle ‘character wins the soul.”

Manju’s and grandma’s countenances illustrate an expression that is full of gratitude and gratefulness. A cool wind blows in and ammoomma is calm and comfortable now.   

Ho! Ammoomma  now catches the trip to the world devoid of demise. Though Manju bursts out into tears, her mind accepts the everlasting fact.

 

sarala

The Grandmother and the Granddaughter

                       

                         Part-2

The story so far :  A granny and her granddaughter were taken to a conversation. Granny slowly got slipped into a nap and thereby a dream. The dream drew her to the childhood days of Onam celebrations. A synopsis of Onam celebrations pass through  her dream.

Now pl. read…………

The very thought of Onam had again  pulled her half a century back to the shore of nostalgia. Onam always had been accompanied by a series of sugary experiences. The festivities were indeed mind-blowing especially when one was rich enough to lavishly spend  for Onam.

‘ONAM’ the most popular festival of Kerala has more or less moulted its old shell and developed channel feathers.  Though the festivals and carnivals have encroached upon the screens of visual media, one rejoices at the fullest degree while Onam celebrations are in full swing.

 But here this family of grandmother(Karthyayani amma) and grandchild(Manju) cannot connect much grandeur to any festivity. The god of riches has deserted and rammed them into poverty, even though the old woman was a progeny of an affluent ancestry, born with a silver spoon in the mouth. The excessiveness and extravagance of the descendants of the family dissolved the entire property of the family in debt. Result the successors had to sleep under the blanket of poverty. Besides  the scantiness of revenue, lonesomeness also has taken shelter in this residence.

 Karthiyayani amma’s mind now opened the box of poignant memories of that ill-omened day. The more she sought to avoid the vistas of the gone past, the more vivid it appeared..

That was a dull morning with a damp weather. Both the husband and wife, Manju’s parents, had set off for road- work. Mother Nature seemed to be awfully gloomy. It was heavily raining in the early hours of morning. The Nature’s children all around were gloomy for reasons not known. The plants were shedding tears. The thousand watts bulb, on that day was sending just a feeble light. The lane to the destination had on its face deep wounds full of filthy puss. As to arrive at  the  outlying work-spot the couple rushed on their leg-bikes that acted as acrobats. Their gait was literally a race, so as to reach the  spot at the earliest  time itself. Even then they felt they wouldn’t  reach there on time. “Late arrival may turn us deprived of our work- opportunity.”  Both were engaged in chit –chat too.

 The  paucity of  income never diminished their delight as they were contented with their sweet daughter and affectionate mother. They had acquired a true heart ever ready for any sort of work. Also they were in possession of a tidy house of tiny size.

Alas! Their glee lasted not for long. It was just a bolt from the blue that a violently- driven tipper ran over the couple. The impudent driver without any pause departed from the scene in his carriage. Some passers-by turned up to help them and got them into a hospital. Four eyes were eagerly lying in wait for the couple, who were supposed to get back home much before. The little child, who was a four or five year-old one, always wanted her mother’s patting hands to sleep. None were bold  enough to inform the old woman about the despondent condition of her son and daughter-in-law. Nevertheless  by evening two corpses made their entry into the house instead of the couple.

The tears flowed down through the cheeks of grandmother and grand daughter found no boundary, though the latter had no lucid idea about the mishaps. All the surrounding eyes shed as much tears as to form a small stream. Sad words, sighs and sobbing echoed everywhere. The breeze didn’t even peep, as if to witness the scene was unbearable. Wholly the atmosphere turned tight and hot without much sound.

When the dear and near dispersed after the completion of all the formalities of funeral,  the grandmother woke up to reality where she heard the tot’s screaming for food. “I have to survive, survive for this innocent darling. I cannot or should not lose heart and health. Otherwise the woes will become my foes. Yes, I have to cook something for both of us. I have to find some means to meet both the ends.” Grandma rose up with a clear vision.

Sarala                                                           ( to be contd.)

The Grandmother and the Granddaughter

                                      

 I had initiated this much before Onam. Somehow I couldn’t post this on the web in time. This is a story in a series of two or three parts. Hope you all will spend a little of your valuable time to go through this.

 Part-1

          Granny’s earsplitting voice went on “Manju, where were you all this time? Who did you take permission to go out, from?”. She never tolerated her dear Manju frittering away the time without any purpose. The grand-offspring curved the lower lip downwards to express a smile.

 “Ammoomma(Grandma), don’t you remember that tomorrow is * Atham and we have to collect flowers,” said the girl. “We have gathered a lot of flowers from the hillside pasture. And also from bushes near the paddy field.”

 “Oh! *Onam, Ponnonam. What a lovely festival!” murmured the grandmother. Her mind slowly slipped into the past. It travelled to the Onams of her childhood and at that time her mind got immersed absolutely there. ‘And there he stood at the gate of the heaven, where God asked him to recall the sweetest part of his life. He wondered and then realized it was childhood after all.’ No wonder, Karthiyayani amma (the grandmother)was transforming herself into a child.

 Joyful conversation and communication of ideas among the friends and siblings illuminated the atmosphere. The chat went on and went on whenever they met(by and large they were together). 

 “Sarojini, Saraswathi, Kochupenne, let’s walk off to the surroundings of the mini-forest. We'll gather flowers from there.”

 “I’ll pick these small flowers from here and you all go to the other areas and pick those balsam flowers,” Karthyayani.

Gopalan had tied the swing on the jack tree. The swing was impatiently lurking for them.

 "After completing this work we will be with the swing.”

" Where did he take the rope from?” the children asked each other."

Yes, a big climber plant had bowed before him to offer its stem. So, with its stem, the swing got ready to accept its young friends.

“First I’ll swing and you push me fast and then you can swing. Let’s do *chilliyattam.

 “Can you swing higher and touch that branch?”

“Yes, watch me.”

“Aha! What fun? It is really joyful.”

All of the pals were in an exhilarating mood. 

“Now let’s go home, the farmers will bring *Kazhcha  and achchan(father) will give them the return gift.”

“Yes, achchan has purchased  new dresses for them.”

“Achchan also was counting some amount and that I feel will go to those people.”

 “How much will he give them?”

 “Don’t know. The money will be hidden in his hands. It obeys what he says,” laughter.

.

“Uncle Time is walking fast. So let us go back to our houses. Let's see what is going on there.”

 “We should get up at very early dawn itself to arrange*Pookkalam. Don’t wait for the Sun to switch on his light," chatting.

“  This time we will play with our playthings also. Have you made any toys?.”

“Why not? Yes, I have a few handmade toys."

Various leaves, paper, plant-parts, sand, soil, stones, shells, etc. have taken new incarnations and dressed up as fine toys in their proficient hands.

  "Friends, all of you come here, listen, the  Band of Pulikali is nearing our house. Let’s watch the hunter  shooting the tiger."

  Lighting earthen lamps on the stems of banana-trees at the entrance of domiciles at dusk is an eye-catching ritual. Usually, the children perform that holy duty. The lamps are beautifully arranged adding hues to this festival. An elder member of the family makes ready the ‘bow and arrow’ to be kept near the lighted sacred lamp. Oil in the lamp will be sufficient for the whole night. It is believed that Maveli visits the houses during the night and he examines the bow and arrow.

" Tonight I’ll not sleep to observe how*Maveli shoots the arrow," thought Karthyayani Amma.

" Oh! My sleep cheated me as usual.”

She had slipped into a deep slumber and hence she couldn't witness Maveli's entry, “Aha! Ha! Today is our Onam! Ponnonam! I have defeated even the sun in waking up. First, I only will have a dip in the pool so that I can put on my new apparel."

 In the morning Mothers serve the children only rice flakes and plantains. The plantain-leaf feast is this festival's charm. Without the feast, it is not festive. 

"Oh! The time is not passing," the thought of the feast makes children's mouths water.

 It will be sumptuous indeed. All sorts of vegetable curries, fried pappads, chips, pudding, etc. are really relishing. Then the rice falls in the middle of each leaf and the dishes on the top of the leaf in a line.

The mistress of the house first arranges every item of the feast for ‘Maveli’. the children are not allowed to go and watch Him during the meal-time.

After the meal at lunchtime, people engage themselves in * Thiruvathira and enjoy the amusements of the games- *Pashuvum-Puliyum, juggling and some other games. 

 Then they will carry out  * Thumpithullal in everybody’s house and clear of the flowers arranged for Pookkalam. Yes, they accomplish the work of removing the Pookkalam of all the houses.

When Ponnonam is gone, another one year it will take for Maveli to visit again.

“Ammoomma, are you sleeping? What are you dreaming about?” The grand-daughter asked.

“ What! What is it? O! Dear  I fell into a nap,” said the granny with a shade of shyness on the cheek.”

 “ Did you have a dream, Ammoomma?” Manju asked humorously.

 “ Yes, I dreamt of our golden olden days of Onam, ” replied ammoomma.

*Onam is an exceptionally important festival in Kerala, India. 

*Aththam-the first day of Onam(The celebration remains for ten-days or more.)

*Chilliyattam-swinging by standing on the swing.

*Pookkalam-floral arrangement.

*Pulikali Band-A team of children, a few of whom dress up as tigers and another set as hunters and

 move about from house to house, displaying the game of shooting the tigers.

*Utradam-the ninth day.

*Maveli –A mythical king after whom this festival occurs.

*Pashuvum-Puliyum- a game in which people engage in recreation as cow and tiger.

*Thiruvatira-a legendary folk-dance of Kerala.

                                                                                                    

( to be contd.)

Fear and Fear,How Awful?

 'Life is a fiction which consists of sorrows, worries, tension, anxiety, fury, frustration, desperation, fear,ambition,mission,pleasure,solace, luxury,comfort,enthusiasm and the like.'

Fear is the most dangerous stage among all these states of mind.Fear will attack and  conquer you in various ways. It steals  your sleep, health,peace of mind and so on.Even your very appearance will be spoilt by the fear as this monster chooses your face to dwell on .Fear will win you nothing rather it will bring you loses and loses.Friendliness and friendship that seek your companionship, will not catch your attention and hence they will take leave of you.Fear will crush you in its kiln and burn away your caliber and potential.Fear may lead you to a corner devoid of others' reach and you may feel deprived of your importance.

Fear will take your personality to utter darkness so that the very existence of your real self may become a big question mark?Fear will paint your mind with dull colour, and so the other people will turn their faces away  and withdraw their watchful eyes.

What is the reason behind it?
The main reason is the unfulfilled goal,which is of a stature of the 'Himalayas'.Ambition definitely is an aid essential for success.Aim with dream without trial is like a 'Lottery' ticket which may steer you to prosperity,but no surety.Anxiety about failure of a mission is another condition, that renders in you a devilish fear.The wrong committed by you purposefully or unintentionally will bring you a big carton full of fear. Inferiority complex,shyness, cowardice,delicacy etc also pay way for fear and therefore interaction with others remain a far off entity.Fear of death is never the least to grab away the delight from your mind.

How can one overcome this hard phase of life?

Diminish the quantity of ambition that is tantamount to mountains.Aim to reach only that goal that befits your conditions- both physical and fiscal. Expand the mental capacity by amalgamating it with catalysts like confidence,positive vibes,sense of self-respect,self-estimation etc.If you yearn for things within your compatibility, take it for granted that nothing is impossible. It is your feeling that makes things impossible.. Build shelves yourself to showcase the product of your effort Peel off all the negative aspects of your personality and be smart to exhibit all your skill. Learn and own the good qualities of others and unlearn and disown the unsuitable ones.Success dances with those who are already on the stage.So avoid opportunities not,fail never to take pains and lose no chance that approaches you. Death is the immortal fact that none can kill.Let it take its own course and you seldom be scared of it.A coward dies many times, while the valiant only once.So die only once.Do have one fear 'the fear of God'.Turn your face away to proceed to the goal.'Yesterday is a bounced cheque. Tomorrow is a promissory-note.Today is ready cash .Spend it wisely.'

sarala.

What will be the Test -Result?

                                        Short Story

  Alok pulled a novel from the shelf and a chair from the living room. He walked towards the corridor of his house. Though it was the access way he chose a corner, so that the passers-by’s attention would not fall on him. Amma( mother) was in the kitchen engaged in her routine cuisine. While her hands were performing the formal works of chopping vegetables, grating and grinding coconut etc in a mechanical way, her mind carried a melancholic mood. She seemed to be nervous or worried about something. And so was the reason why her dishes turned to be over-spicy sometimes.

Alok opened the first page of the first chapter and  fixed both his vision and view in it .He felt that the author was very much acquainted with the conflict that used to take place  in his own family. The novel’s prelude consisted of the story of a wrangling couple. The husband unloaded his anger on the wife using abusive words, whereas the wife emptied her ire in loud voice.

“That was exactly a picture of my house(I don’t even call it a home which I feel should be made of hearts),” thought  he.

“Of course both  achhan(father) and amma together used to go out, walk, travel,  shop, purchase households and execute all such things together without fail.” When they begin their journey, amma  would be instructing achhan about taking out the car out of the gate as an expert. Achhan would follow her suggestions as an obedient husband.But that happiness or togetherness was short-lived, for no reason they engaged themselves into word-battle. When they were back  home , the very entry itself marked a bomb-blast splashing hot and bombastic words around,” continued his feelings. He closed his book and kept it back where it was.

Exchange of hot words was the couple’s hobby which never ended up in any child’s play. Both the spouses owned ’EGO’ and therefore both the egos quite often entered into clashes resulting in frowned  faces. Numerous situations had attained startling states, as one could witness within their easy approach, flight and free flow of household articles from both the sides.

“One day Achhan grabbed one of his favourite shirts from the almirah for moving out somewhere urgently. A spot of stain on the shirt was staring at him with a giggle on the lips as if to deride him.  That was more than enough for a twin fight between them. The shirt flew from his hand and fell on the ground. A sign of a glimpse of oversight or a glance of regret on  Amma’s face would have solved the problem. Instead Amma went on arguing and so was achhan. Amma took a ninety degree turn and walked away stamping on the floor uploading her rage in words,” recalled  his mind many an incident.

 Even at the slightest fault the couple arose in dense fury. None  evicted the ire from the mind. After an hour or so they behaved as if  nothing had occurred. The impression that fell in the tiny minds was indelible. Arguable nature is condemnable as argument wins you nothing. Both the persons engaged in argument feel that they are right and they only are right. None wins and none loses. The only achievement is  spoiling people’s peace of mind..

 Alok and his younger brother, who were neglected at the fullest amount,  used to keep themselves away from the front line during their parents’ tongue-exercises. And thus they could protect their bodies from injuries. The parents never cared or bothered about the two little ones. Conflicts and confusions  mastered the minds of those two young lads-one in early ‘teens’ and the other  in late teens. Both had to pass through  thorns of fight. And above that both had reached the den of stress and strain, the adolescence. The younger one Anuroop sank deeper and deeper into himself, rather he turned more and more reticent. His face always reflected a look of weighty worries and heavy thoughts.

 The elder brother Alok spent most of his time amongst  his friends like butterflies, grasshoppers etc. Those insect-friends played with him games such as ‘hide and seek’ and ‘race’. The flies were only at the winning end where he couldn’t reach them at all. He spoke to them softly about his plight. Many a time he sensed that  they had identified his melancholy and they sympathized with him.

 Then one day, which was perhaps a dull day due to black clouds in the sky, gloominess surrounded  the couple. Action faded, words lessened and food items diminished. And this was infrequent, as argument always got seated on the hot seat. The youngsters could find reason nothing for this change.  

 Fever quite often visited Alok and that was neglected by the couple amidst the tug of words. Nevertheless one day his condition worsened and hence he was taken to the hospital. And to his surprise in place of usual quarrelsome countenances, two dull faces only reached the portico. Alok’s interrogative eyes watched tears about to roll down from  both the pairs of eyes. Neither he understood  nor did the parents uncover what the matter was. Alok’s amma directly went to the bed and lay down there. Achhan  mechanically lay back on the settee, rested his head in the right palm and slipped into deep thoughts. Though gladness was rare in that family, sadness too was not found much. But now grief found its place and words once triumphed became feeble.

Alok’s search for the cause bore fruit through the medical report that happened to be in his view. The test result was not in the affirmative. His survival had become a question mark at present. Sorrow crept to everybody’s heart spreading silence everywhere in the house. Alok  realized the fact that count-down  had started in his life. He had fallen into the clutches of kidney-failure. In his case a kidney-transplantation was impossible for reasons fiscal and renal. “I don’t know if there would be any in-pour of money and any source of kidney. My parents are worried if their kidney would match me, even if we can find means to meat the expenditure,” whispered Alok .

He went out for awhile. He fixed his vision at the sky for a sign of consolation. He could see only black clouds. He watched the clouds keenly for silver lining. No, there was not even a trace. The couple spent sleepless nights and consumed food only for survival. The entire time son’s health stiffened them with strain. People wouldn’t believe their tightness  for money, as the husband drew a handsome remuneration for the job. Under the rule of ego and pride, savings had vanished from the scene.

That grave situation sowed the seeds of unity and binding between the parents. They had understood the insignificance of battle between couples. They forgot their once conspicous egos. Pride(ego) goes before a fall. “Where can I obtain money from? Who can I go to? What can I do?” Such thoughts hindered  the activities Alok’s father.

 A phone-call alerted from the nap that stroked him. “Why didn’t you inform me about the illness of our darling? If you won’t share your difficulties with your own brother ,how will you find a solution?” Alok’s paternal uncle scolded his brother. A cool breeze of comfort blew in.

The doctor’s positive nod of kidney-compatibility brought in a smile of glory to all and they heaved a sigh of relief. The parents learned a lesson and they would never enter into unwanted debate. The darkness of conflict disappeared for a new dawn of  contentment. Yes ,Alok could view  silver linings with all the clouds. He borrowed the words of John Milton and said,  “Every cloud has a silver lining.”

sarala