An Accidental Collision!

 

 

Sindhu was indeed serious about the matter. She couldn't bear or forget the negligence from her love, who according to her was the part of her heart.

One day, when Sindhu was getting off the bus to her college, a student named Chandu also was alighting. They collided with each other, as the duo was eager to be off the bus. The time to start the classes was on the forge. Apologising to each other, they literally, ran for the college.

But that incident turned out to be an event to bind both in the thread of love. Then gradually the college canteen, parks, seaside,  theatres etc were able to witness their togetherness. The duo was decent enough to behave with decorum in the public. They were, we can say a type of tradition-sticking youngsters.  

“I am not trying to know much about your family, and you too shouldn’t. We know each other and that is enough. If the families do not match, we’ll spoil our calm. Whatever it is, we will marry,” sure was Chandu about their wedlock. Chandu was able to read that his financial status was slightly lower than that of Sindhu. Chandu took a firm decision to meet her parents only on his being to a reasonable job.

The final year of Chandu dawned the date of adieu to Sindhu. Promising to meet the parents, once he got acceptably employed on the completion of all his courses, they bade bye.  

At times, when Chandu arrived at the indigenous place from Indore, his higher study area, he never wasted the chance of meeting his sweet love, concealing from the parents of both sides. And Sindhu also was keeping the anvil of academics ready to shape well her future.

Of course, their mobiles kept their bondage live, though not too much, owing to their commitments towards studies. And social media were not lively as they are now.

In the meantime, on a Saturday, Sindhu with her parents went to watch a movie in a theatre in the city. Suddenly, she saw Chandu just walking out with a lovely female. He provided no intimacy sign to her when he saw her. They rushed to evict themselves from the venue.  She was sure that he had seen her. She couldn't get to him as he disappeared as a flash of light.

 “In the last call also, this visit to Kerala he did not mention. What may be the reason? Who is that girl? Some proposal, no chance. His studies are half the way only. Then what? I’ll call him and ask.” Slowly, her heart gained weight, throwing her into confusion and anguish. On arrival home, she threw herself on the bed, declaring that she was not hungry for food.

“Let her lie, don’t compel her for food, she may have some headache or other uneasiness, the movie was stunt-filled, no?”  Achchan*.

For the next few days, both phones were silent. Chandu couldn’t call her on account of his busy state of ensuing exams.  And Sindhu’s silence was no doubt tenacious. As he was freed from the burden of the exam, he dialled Sidhu, but Sindhu not only did not responded but extinguished his call also. Several calls from him went unavailable. His next visit to the native place carried him to Sindhu’s domicile, deciding to face the full consequences. He was unlucky as her house remained locked since they were at Sindhu’s grandparents.

Chandu inferred that Sindhu entered into some nuptial paths. So, he kept himself composed. Time experienced the completion of the duo’s studies and found them in their expected jobs in different places, of course far. And the youngsters were ignorant of the whereabouts of each other by then. As days passed by, Chandu had accompanied his mother on a package-health-checkup to the hospital, one day. He was waiting for his mother, who was in the checkup procedures. The hospital compound was well maintained with lush green grass loans and flowering flora around. When he looked through the window,got his eyes stuck on finely arranged potted plants. As he was enjoying the view, Sindhu’s profile suddenly fell into his eyes. She was standing there with her friend. He looked at her thoroughly and confirmed it was Sindhu. Oh! Within no time he was in front of Sindhu. At the pretence that she didn’t see him, she was about to leave the venue holding her friend’s hand, Chandu blocked her movement  by standing in the direction.

Anyway, this time, Sindhu made up her mind to ask him, “Did you marry her or cheated her also?”

“Who, marry, her, what are you saying? Are you not in sense?”

“Yes, I had seen you in the theatre, some four years back, in February 2002, I remember well.”

“Um! February, it can’t be. In all the Februarys I had been much busy in my studies. Exams were in March.”He was in a dilemma, then something clicked him, “O! It may be my twin brother, Anandu. He had a girlfriend. Might be he. They got married. He looks exactly like me.”

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 Achchan* _Father

പന്ത്രണ്ടു പുത്രരെ പെറ്റയമ്മ!

അമ്മയും പന്ത്രണ്ടുമക്കളും!

പന്ത്രണ്ടു പുത്രരെ  പെറ്റയമ്മ,

പന്തീരുകുലപ്പറച്ചിയല്ല. 

പന്ത്രണ്ടും പന്തിയിൽ വന്നുനിന്നു, 

പന്ത്രണ്ടാമനും പോയിമറഞ്ഞു.

 

മന്നിൽ സഹായങ്ങൾ നൽകീടാനായ്,

കുന്നോളം ചേതങ്ങൽ തീർത്തിടാനായ്,

കന്മഷം കണ്ണീർച്ചാൽ കീറിയപ്പോൾ

കണ്ണിണ പൂട്ടാതെ നോക്കിയവൾ.

 

പ്രാണഭയംതീർക്കാൻ വന്നൂഴിയിൽ

പ്രാണികൾക്കു  രക്ഷ നല്കീടാനായ്.

പ്രക്രിയ മർത്യന്റെ ചീഞ്ഞതിനാൽ,

പ്രാകൃതരീതികൾ കൂടെവാസം.

മേൽനോട്ടം നന്നായിചെയ്യുന്നവൾ

 മാതാ, ഭൂമിതൻ സമാനമവൾ ,

നല്ലമാർഗ്ഗം സദാ കാട്ടിത്തരും,

ജ്ഞാനമേകീടും ഗുരുവുമാകും.

കാരുണ്യവാരിധിതന്നുടമ

കാരീയമ്പോലെന്നാൽ തീരുമാനം.

കണ്മണിപോലവൾ കാത്തുപോന്നു

കൈയ്യാൽത്തലോടുന്ന തമ്പുരാട്ടി.

 

ധാത്രിക്കോ രക്ഷണം വേണം,മോഹം,

പ്രാകൃതനായ നരനിൽ നിന്നും.

പ്രക്രിയ, മർത്യന്റെ ചീഞ്ഞതിനാൽ,

പ്രാകൃതരീതികൾ കൂടെവാസം.

  

മാനസം മടുത്തോർ ചൊല്ലിവിട,

മാനംകാക്കാനായി ദൂരെ പോയി.

ഏറ്റമിളയസഹജയും പോയ്,

ചിറ്റമ്മയ്ക്കെത്താൻ സമയമായി.

തൊണ്ണൂറ്റിയെട്ടു തൻമക്കളുമായ്,

വിണ്ണാംവീട്ടിൽ  പാർക്കാൻ നടയായി.

നൂറിൻ ചേച്ചിയൊൻപതെയൊൻപതും,

അർഭകർ പന്ത്രണ്ടുമെത്തും നൂനം.

കാവ്യംപോലെത്തിടും പുത്തനാണ്ടോ

നവ്യോപഹാരങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ടത്തരും.

ഈശ്വരചിന്തയേ കൂടെക്കൂട്ടാം,

ദൃശ്യമായീടട്ടെ ഉൺമ ഭൂവിൽ.

Spring!

Spring!

Spring rocks  in hues,

ornate garb with stunning prints.

 Gold laces the edge.

Herbs and Shrubs eye their

dear shimmering sun and bloom.

What a pretty scene!     

The Gardener God

sights things from high in the sky.

Clouds spurt elixir.

Plants are in fresh moods,

 Breeze sweetly sings lullabies.

 Seedlings hum tunes.

Blooms are feasts for eyes,

craving for calm in the chill.

Oh! Nature, what a beauty! 

Our Beloved Son!

 

 

An autorickshaw driver, Raju was his name, lived a contented life with his wife, Suchita and the lone son, Rajith. Rajith, a studious, well-mannered, modest boy had earned a lot of well-wishing minds in his collection. Near their home a vast ground was there, bordered by lovely multicoloured shrubberies. The village boys’ flock spent there their evening time playing cricket. Rajit exhibited extraordinary talent in bowling, though the other players had also lent their minds full in the sport. Rajith stood tall in bowling, and he was the most skilful amongst them.

Gradually, his graph in the school game soared high and hence, he was able to get into the school team, in which he stood as a diamond stud. He bagged accolades for the school, stretching long the glee of his kith, kin, and acquaintances. But alas! It didn’t last lengthy. On a Temple Fair Day, he drove his father’s autorickshaw for travellers to and fro between the temple and the residences because of the latter’s fever. Being a remote village, much checking for Licence and all was not so there. He was plying the road a wee fast in the autorickshaw, which happened to fall into a trench at one side.

The timely action of an advocate was helpful to the family to keep away from being charged a case against the licenceless boy. The outcome was awful, yes, it was awful indeed since he had to get rid of his awesome sport. The heavy hospital expenditure was an impediment though, it was met by the villagers collectively. Despite the doctor’s earnest effort, his left leg lost the power of running and jumping. His limp on the left leg put out his fire of playing. He found no bound to his grief; he started loving a sort of seclusion from others. He made his much-loved play items get separated from his view. The items were supplied by the sports club of that hamlet. Poor Raju and Suchita knew no way to fill a new spirit in their disappointed son.

To their surprise, the middle-aged, recently arrived, reticent neighbour-resident, who was not the type of making friends with neighbours or others, turned up at their house. He approached Raju, introduced himself as his neighbour and upon the parent’s consent, he went to the boy. Eyeing the boy’s pathetic looks, the man, Sunder applied all his tactics to amuse him. Since cricket was the boy’s first and the best fascination, nothing worked out, But Sunder didn’t discard the track. He strived through and invented ways and means to make Rajith love Chess. But Rajith was a boy that other than cricket hadn’t considered anything else as a sport or game. So, he set his face away from Sunder, whereas Sunder continued his jounrney of pulling Rajith to the game.

“Rajith, you just try Chess. You are clever. You can be a good player.”

“No, uncle, I don’t want to do anything,” in a sobbing tone, and he showed no sign of agreement.

After a couple of days, Sunder appeared with a Chess Board in his hand. Though his father, Raju was a bit reluctant to receive a stranger’s help, he wanted to save his son by hook or by crook. As Rajith saw the Chessboard, his voice crossed usual decibels, attaining high amplitude. He spurned even to look at it, “Who asked you to bring it here. Take it away, please. I don’t want to throw it away.”

Suddenly Raju and Suchita looked at the guest in an apologizing way and said to Rajith,” Darling, don’t use harsh words like this.”

“Don’t worry, he is small, fourteen or fifteen.”

 Then the man used a simple machine, his hand stroking the boy at his back to make him calm down. The boy, however, began to feel cool. So, he slowly unloaded his hatred. He just sighted the board and the pegs-set and watched each item. The next moment the craving for playing crept to his mind and just set the pegs on the board. The boy resumed his school routine and gradually, he conquered the world of Chess. He had no hurdle in winning a name in that too. Hard practice and participation in contests judged his calibre. In the long run, he could board heights in that game which did clear his way to the title ‘Grandmaster’.

Rajith with his father, Raju met Sunder one day in his house to express their gratitude for his acclaimed gains, gifted indeed by Sundar. He received the guests with friendliness. Their thoughts travelled from lips to lips.

 And Sunder now with a reluctant and repenting tone to Rajith, “You are my son, my beloved son, my flesh and blood, dear. “

Observing the shuddered expression on the duo’s countenances, Sundar, “I shall, no, I should tell you everything. I was running with you, the three-year-old darling to escape from the police, one evening because my flight to Dubai was at 10 o'clock, the night. 

“Police, why?” Raju with a bit scorn in sound.

“Nga! Police!” 

 

Sunder recounted his story. Theirs was a love marriage. The kin from both sides objected. Sunder didn’t have a job, M.A. Sociology and who wants a man, having sociology as the major of his disciplines? One of his friends in Dubai helped him in the matter and the visa and ticket reached him with immediate joining the company.

When he came to share the happiness with his wife, Ragini, she was shrieking with fear and running from Kitchen to the backyard, ablaze. Even now, he doesn’t know what the reason for the incident was. Something went wrong with the Gas Cylinder, but the ‘How’ remained undone, as she was no more.

The shocking scene and the post-demise formalities broke his heart and he fell into a numb stage. Then his crying son woke up his mind to get to his toes for action. Some of the neighbours helped him. But his wife’s people filed a complaint against him. He knew that litigation would spoil his son’s and his life for long. He decided to escape leaving the child in Raju’s house. He was aware of the fact t that Raju was aching to have a child.

 So he thought thus, “Now my son wants to be loved and that he will get from this couple.” And that is the reason why he dropped his precious thing near the bush in Raju’s house.

He concealed himself amongst the plants at a distance to see someone pick his darling.

About Twelve years ago:

Hearing the babbling laughter of a three-year-old toddler, Raju came out of his dwelling. A smart cheerful little one was hilariously picking flowers from the bush-jasmine in his compound. Raju’s compound always wore beautiful blooms in her hair, which gave a glaring glance at the passersby, on the road and they in return admired her beauty.

“Will you pick some flowers for me, uncle?”

“Who are you, dear? What is your name?”

“Rajit, please pick for me.”

By the time Raju’s life partner, Suchitha reached them.  

  

“Nobody around. How can such a small one be alone? Let’s look for his guardians. Otherwise, we will inform the police,” Raju.

 Suchita, at the spur of a moment, carried the child and hugged him against her bosom with a mother’s heart. Sunder heaved a sigh of relief and vanished from there.

Raju hesitantly informed the police, that put the child in the ‘Child Welfare Centre’. Every day the couple visited the place. The officials met with a negative response for their trial to find the child's guardians. 

 Raju and his wife after a fruitful discussion, “God has brought him here. Let’s adopt this sweet one.”

Ultimately, after a series of procedures, which included the denial of the child from the authorities, the couple was able to shoulder the responsibility of rearing him up.

And now, Sunder purposefully chose to stay near Raju, winding up his gulf life to understand all about his son. He was so engrossed in his job due to his guilt-feeling about the separation of his darling. And so, the thought of finding a new partner didn’t even pop up in his mind. It was more than a decade that he hadn’t touched the indigenous soil.

When silence gnawed the peace of mind of the trio, “I will live with my *Achchan and Amma. During holidays, I shall visit you, Dad!” Rajith spoke out at a stretch.

“Yes, Sunder, he is our beloved son, yours and ours,” Raju.

 

 

*Achchan and Amma- Father and Mother.

She Arrived Here with her Children!

 

Arrived here, she with her children twelve,

One after another in order,

To help us in all our endeavours

To evade all damages we had,

To provide us with our essentials,

To all the beings and things on earth,

To clean and refresh nature for us,

And to give us thus a cozy life.

 

As our mother with much affection,

As a janitor to care for us,

As an elderly to advise us,

As a Guru to educate us,

As a therapist to cure worries,

As a sister to always love us,

She walked steadily in front of us,

Paving the path for us to move on.

 

But we, the very selfish humans,

Destroyed everything, seemed to be hers.

'Twenty-twenty one will escape,

And bid adieu, she is going to,

Forgetting not, sure, to send for us,

Her successor, Twenty twenty-two

To help us well in our ignorance

And to hold much fondly our fingers.

 

I wish all my friends a healthy and fruitful New Year!

നീരിൻധാര!

 

കേരളത്തിന്നു  നൊമ്പരം, കാരണം,

കാരുണ്യക്കുറ,വുള്ള നീരിൻധാര.

 കേഴുന്നൂ ലോകർ കേൾക്കാംവിലാപങ്ങൾ,

ആഴത്തിലാഴ്ന്നു, മന്ദമാംഭാഗ്യക്കാർ.

 

ഗേഹം നിന്നിടം നാനാപ്രകാരമായ് ,

ആഹം പോയൊരു  ദേഹം  സമാനമായ്.

കഷ്ടം കഷ്ടം കിടാങ്ങളും പെട്ടുപോയ്,  

ദുഷ്ടത കാട്ടി കൊണ്ടലിൻ ജാലങ്ങൾ. 

 

ഇന്നലെക്കൂടി   നന്നായ് രസിച്ചവർ 

ഇന്നെവിടെപ്പോയ് കാണാനുമില്ലല്ലോ?

ആനനം തോഷം ചാലിച്ചു  നിന്നവർ,

മാനം കോപിച്ചു തേടിയവർ നാകം. 

പിച്ചവയ്‌ക്കുന്ന  കുഞ്ഞുമനാഥനായ് ,

അച്ഛനമ്മമാരെങ്ങോപോയ്മറഞ്ഞു.

വാർക്കുന്നുകണ്ണീർ ചുറ്റുമായ് മാലോകർ

ചർച്ചയ്ക്കാളില്ല അല്ലൽ വാണിമാത്രം.        .

 

ജ്ഞാതികൾ വിടചൊല്ലിപ്പോയ വൃദ്ധർ,

പാതി, അവരുടെയോജസ്സൊലിച്ചുപോയ്.   

ആജ്ഞനിറഞ്ഞ വാക്കുകഥിച്ചവർ 

പ്രജ്ഞയറ്റു പൊന്തിവന്നു ആറ്റിലായ്. 

 

തെങ്ങും വേറെ,ദ്രുമങ്ങൾ  കവുങ്ങുകൾ      

മുങ്ങിപ്പോയ്  സർവ്വസസ്യജാലങ്ങളും.

വെള്ളം ഉയർന്നുതന്ന കഷ്ടങ്ങളാൽ,

കൊള്ളില്ലാതായി  പാർക്കുവാനാലയം.

 

നീരിന്റെ നാഥാ! മാരി, മതീ, മതീ

പാരിലെ ക്ലേശം, ചെയ്യൂ നിവാരണം.

എന്തുചെയ്യേണ്ടു?ചിത്തേയില്ല പാത,

നൊന്തുവേവുന്നതുള്ളം മനുജന്റെ.

 

ഭള്ളു കൂടിയോർ  മാന്യർ  ചമഞ്ഞവർ 

കള്ളങ്ങൾ  കാട്ടി, മുടിച്ചു  മന്നിടം.

നാശമേറുന്ന  ദൃശ്യങ്ങൾ വിസ്തൃതം,

കർശനം, വിശ്വനാശം കുറയ്ക്കണം.

 

ഈശ്വരാ! മയ്യലിൻ പർവ്വം മായിക്കൂ.

ആശ്വാസം നൽകൂ, പ്രാർത്ഥിച്ചീടൂ ഞങ്ങൾ

കുട്ടികൾ, വൃദ്ധർ പീഡിതർ കേഴുന്നു  

കാട്ടൂ സന്തതം  കാരുണ്യമീ ഭൂവിൽ.   

The Winning Wings in Action!

 

 

 

Words denoting your devout deeds,

Royally lie, in your lingos,

For, they provide, for your upshots,

 Things dense, for all your hard works.

Erasing entire indolence,

Offering nil any imbalance,

And displaying its appearance,

Stands proud and firm, your persistence.

“Hard work never killed a man”,yes;

“His inner war and disease cause

his unexpected demise,”

 David Ogilvy showed with ease.

Set aside well, you, your own life,

Just for sincere work, not for strife.

Persistence is a honeyed word,

That helps you earn your livelihood.

You use it in the very top tier

Of your action, its fruit, you bear,

Will be pleasant and well-matured,

Emitting light of joy in mind.

Being zealous in your duty,

Face you will, no fatality.

When you travel to win your goal,

Use the wings of the four D's well.

The four winning wings in action,

Determination, decision,

dedication, and devotion

Will take your job to perfection..