Celebrating meaningfully

Finally the month of December is almost at the end and this year too will be leaving soon. The excitement to decorate homes and to have various celebrations remains year after year.

 We had decorations, celebration and performances including carols in our college. How did it go? No idea but the process was wonderful. The board decorations and the practice were fun and it got over today. All dressed in red with our little Santa friend made our day.

I realised that we decorate our houses evey Christmas but do we know the meaning of all those symbols we use to decorate our Christmas tree, be it bells, lights, candles, wreath, gifts, or a star. Every decorators has its beautiful meaning that makes it more special.

The star represents guide that led the wise men towards the baby. It shown brightly on the sky showing the arrival of a king.

The bell represents the proclamation of joy and it tells us that God is watching over us and protecting us at all times.

The lights represents the hope and joy we have by lighting up our homes creating joyous  moments. Candles are also lit up to brighten our home.

The wreath represents the crown of thorn on Jesus's head. The red colour represents His blood that was shed for the mankind. The wreath being in a circular shape shows us that God's love is infinite as it does not have a begining nor an end.

The gift shows the wise men who brought various gifts for baby Jesus and the bow at the top shows unity among us.

The Christmas tree represents the birth and resurrection of Lord Jesus. The triangular shape of the tree represents the trinity i.e father, son and the holy spirit. The tree pointing upwards shows our relationship with God.

May this Christmas be celebrated meaningfully with all the symbolic representations.

The Exorcism of God

 

A title that attracted me towards the screen, making me curious to know what it was all about, and finally succeeded in taking two hours of my time unexpectedly. I did not plan to watch a movie today but I got curious to know what it meant.

The title of the movie is  "The Exorcism of God". Isn't it quite an unusual title, as we all know about demons or spirits being exorcised, but here God is being exorcised, which was unusual and new for me and piqued my curiosity to watch the movie?

The movie talks about temptation, sin, guilt, and choices. It made me think how fragile the human heart is when it comes to our loved ones. We know the consequences of our wrong choices but our love on Earth sometimes turns out to be much more greater than our love towards heaven.

We tend to be tempted by our desire and, later on, regret it, which remains in our minds with a huge sense of guilt which cannot be erased. It plays in our head like a broken tape recorder again and again which can weaken us.

The movie was portrayed beautifully, making me think about the strength our faith carries and how we tend to believe evil to be stronger when we are put on trial. 

The movie showed how the slightest quake in the man's faith caused him to give up all the strength he gathered. He ruled the earth at the cost of losing his soul. And it reminded me of a quote that says "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?"

It was very much the same as Dr Foster, a character created by Christopher Marlowe, where he willingly gave up his soul to the devil. Here, the context is different but the result is the same. At the end of the day, he still gave up.

This movie was wonderful to watch, with some horror mixed with a lot of reflection. It's always good to enjoy the movie before putting my opinion into thought.

 

Just cold

 

Is it okay to normalise cold and cough?  A few days back my friend caught a cold and was a bit distracted and when the listener understood she had a cold it was dismissed quickly as if it did not matter. There was a time when even a small cold was the reason for us to take leave but now we need a medical certificate to prove "Yes I am sick". This seemingly tiny illness actually disturbs a person's normal functioning. 

A few days when I was in masks being careful so that others won't catch cold. I was funnily asked that "Did you wear mask because of the pollution." My reply was " No, I caught cold." But the reaction I got was so lenient as if it's not a big deal " Acha cold" with a no need for a mask for that look.   

Has common cold been so common in just ten years. In school days a slight cough will freak out the teachers and we were send home because we are 'sick' but now "oh you got cold, no problem everyone catches cold". 

Is it really not a big deal because I don't want to catch cold again. A simple cold tires you out with dark circles and tired eyes without doing anything. It might lead to fever and body ache disrupting the daily activities completely, but still it's just cold. It is said that you get well in three days but it's not. It gives you the illusion of "I'm gone" but after some time you still feel it's presence. It just stays with us as long as we don't push it away, doesn't it sound romantic.

Hope no one falls sick even 'just' cold in this changing weather and remains healthy as anything that's hindering the regular functioning of the body is considered not good and the person is not well. 

Bus: a gaming experience

Bus travels are crazy with people pushing and pulling for a spot within the bus just to stand steadily without being carried away by the crowd. In an extreme case, we can even see 'musical chairs' being played on the bus. When I was in school we had small games like musical chairs where if there were even-numbered players, odd-numbered chairs were kept in circles and vice versa. Music is played and when the music stops we have to find a chair and sit if not sat then the player is out. The chairs decrease as the game progresses. I used to wonder where that would even be used and now I understand why we practised that game.

Playing musical chairs on the bus is just ordinary and we do not even have a second thought as it is mostly part of our daily life. And the second crazy incident would be trying to get on a full bus because you are late. I always wait for a less crowded bus as it's rare to see an empty bus towards my route, especially in the morning. Even at 7am the bus would be overflowing and I almost believe that people do not travel by metro as all are on the bus and that's a myth as metros are also overflowing just like buses.

Another fun fact is walking is not necessary sometimes while boarding a bus. Our legs might even tell us "I will just go to sleep till you are off the bus" as walking is not necessary as we are flowing like a river. I remember once when I was waiting for a bus for almost an hour and unusually there were no busses available and finally when the bus came a group of people came rushing and I was stuck in the middle in the blink of an eye without a place to move. All I remember was being pushed to all the sides with me being pushed in one direction and my bag in the other direction. People were stuck outside the door as no one could enter and somehow I got pushed onto an empty bus, it took some time for the people to realise that "this method does not work we need to use a different strategy".

One thing seen would be horny men on the bus trying to touch a woman, even on mornings they are on fire and we see some women even screaming at them and throwing them out of the bus. This happens mostly in crowded buses, in the guise of a crowd men try to find pleasure. It's very disturbing with the fact that it's still prevailing in buses where women still find themselves unsafe while going out. Most of us use the metro because of this feeling of unsafe that runs in our mind. Another common thing in crowded buses would be stealing, they are so skilled that it would be impossible to identify them among the crowd as everyone is pushing and pulling, whom do we blame.

Every bus traveller might have experienced it, it may be successful or unsuccessful. Since Delhi buses are free for women we find a lot of female population and in the morning it would mostly be school children all lined up standing close to each other. It reminds me of the ants who have similar characteristics when walking on a single line till their final destination. For me, when I travel on the bus it saves time, it is best not to use the bus during rush hours as it is always too crowded, so it is best to use the metro as it provides a safe feeling while standing among the women. 

Diwali: A week that brought old memories back

A festival of lights celebrated in every households and institutions. It provides an celebratory atmosphere weeks before the actual day. And one such celebratory week was also held for us.

It started from last week were all of us were asked to decorate pots and diyas. I was lost as it's been too long since I held paint brushes. It reminded me of primary classes when we were excited about diya decoration with the surroundings exploding with a competitive spirits. Sitting on the floors with all the materials scattered on the ground mainly consisting of paints, glitters, ribbons, glass decorators of different shapes etc. After completed we would look almost the same colour as the diya.

This time I wasn't matching with my diya and pot but I found that I still am interested in crafts. Everyone was very much interested and invested during the work. There were smiles, jokes and laughter all around the art room. 

This excitement continued during rangoli making competition, where all of us were spread out on the floor trying to make different patterns. It's all the game of colours. I was always amazed by people who perfectly make a beautiful rangoli as I am not expertise in that area. The rangoli was given a final touch with lighting of diyas at every conner.

This diwali was celebrated with lights and decorations with all the excited teammates who equally contributed and lend a helping hand wherever it was needed. 

A visit to the dentist

A day at the dentist is not a pleasant one when you know something is wrong with your teeth. I personally do not like to visit a dentist because it gives me an eerie vibes with all their tiny equipments which seems small but does wonders. 

Even though since yesterday I knew about my appointment but still I was unprepared and all nervous about even entering that particular building which made me thinking how did I come and waited all these years, it seemed so far away.

Today as I went and sat at the waiting area and realised that I was the second person today my nervousness skyrocketed. The first person took a long time and I could hear the sound of one of his instrument he was using known as dental drill ( I usually call it drilling machine which sounds more terrifying than it actually looks). The sounds reminded me of all those horrifying bgm in those horror movies. As I planned to leave the building my turn came and the receptionist asked me to go inside.

The doctor was good and gentle explaining everything with patience but all that is forgotten when I see his instruments which include even the dental drill ( the name says it all) who turns out to be the villian to me here. I was there for almost an hour wishing it ended early but guess the process has its own time and pace. 

I hoped this would be the last visit but boy was I wrong? Yes I was, as I have to go to that very building again. My worries we soothes by the smooth process but my comfortable feelings are forgotten everytime I need to enter that building but still if there is something wrong with the teeth we are ought to visit a dentist.

I hope to know more stories and experiences about your dentist visits.

Community outreach

A day kept aside for the community outreach went amazing as we all had a new experience. The practice sessions as preparation for the outreach. As most of us lived far away one of us would always be absent but still in a day or two of practice our play was ready under the title "Swachta Abhiyaan".

The most interesting and fun part was the art and crafts work that included chart making. After a long time it felt good to be back to colourful papers, colours, glue and so on. 

On the final day we had one more person joining and we managed to include everyone for the play. We went a school along with our teachers and our destination was in a different route where I have never travelled leading me to explore a different place altogether. 

As we reached the gates of the school the students were so excited by our arrival.  The students were very enthusiastic as they greeted us "good morning". It reminded me of days at my school when all of us would be curious to know who the new faces are so we all would peak through the window.

As play was being performed the students were engrossed and also actively interacted with the performers which made us happy as they were able to grasp it and answer rightly. 

As the day came to an end, the moments recalled were wonderful as I got to meet new people and interacted with them, but moreover after the performance we departed after having a samosa and juice. 

A chaotic Monday

A chaotic Monday morning after a long relaxing weekend is a struggle for most of us. As I walked towards the bus stop my eyes started burning giving a stinging sensation in the eyes. I waited for a long time to find the bus stop being crowded as time went by. Ah! finally my bus arrived but it was too crowded so I just sat at the bus stop watching people rushing to get on the crowded bus.

Again the wait begins, it's interesting to watch people waiting but also engaged in some external task. There was a father dropping his daughter and waiting till she boards the bus. Some people standing with luggage for a distance travel. Some are scrolling through their phones while others are talking to each other.

The after effects of the crackers burnt during Dussehra can be seen when the atmosphere looks cloudy and the smell of smoke prevails in the air. It was quite difficult to breath but still the day has to go on. Even though I stood for a long time I finally got my bus to begin my short journey.

The after effects are very painful but still in the moment of celebration we forget the problems that may arise later not just for our surroundings but also for our health. Now soon comes Diwali and again comes the rise in pollution and more problems. I can only hope that people will be much more aware and prevent contribution to pollution in our atmosphere.

Joy or wealth

Happiness cannot be defined as it varies from person to person but this happiness might be an influence from external sources. As we exist in a world of social media we tend to believe and follow what we see and hear. When we were kids movies were an influence as we tend to imitate what we saw, but as time passed the influence source changed but the idea of immitation remains the same. We see lot of short videos claiming happiness lies in success and if we don't take these steps we are left behind, thus leading to the rat race. Is it worth it? I shouldn't answer that as some questions can only be answered as time passes by with ample amount of experiences.

Can money buy happiness? Yes to some extent money can, we see around us how people try their best to meet their daily needs. People run to make money to improve their living conditions and once it improves do they stop? No they still continue as it becomes habitual and their to-do list changes. 

I happened to ask a few minds on how they approach the statement. Few of them claimed their answer as a "NO" as they believed that family and time would give happiness not money whereas others claimed that money is their source of happiness. Isn't it interesting how different people have different opinions.

When my friend asked my thoughts on this topic I had a flashback of all the wonderful opinions I have heard, but I understand that money is one of the needs along with all the other needs like friends, family and time to give happiness. But I totally do not agree with people working non stop to earn because at the end it leads to various physical and mental issues as the phrase states " If wealth is lost nothing is lost but if health is lost everything is lost".

 

I do not agree with spending time doing nothing just relaxing. That too is wrong as we are not being  productive and wasting away our youthful days. A balance is needed in life to give time to all the important aspects rather than giving priority to wealth and wealth alone. 

I focus on joy rather than happiness, as it's much easier to experience joy in the little circumstances of life and that is what life is all about. As a living breathing person we cannot only focus on happiness but need to accept everything that is thrown unto us as in the future it might be a reason to think back and smile. 

Happiness does not lie in any material goods, it's needed to move forward but it's not the only existing reason. Happiness lies in how we pursue our daily life and what priorities we put forward and as my friend said 'the source of happiness is different for everyone' just like how priorities are also different for each individual.

One Sunny afternoon

As I walked along the road in the sunny afternoon I was reminded of a Shakespearean sonnet titled as "On a sunny afternoon". It was a totally different notion as what I experience while trapped under the sun on some afternoons.

While I walk in sunny afternoons the only thing that strikes me would be the scorching heat. No romantic segment appears during that moment. My only desire would be to find shade to hide from the sun or to rush inside my home and sit under the fan to relieve myself from the heat.

Walking under the sun makes me melt like an ice cream under extreme heat. Initially it would be bearable but after a short while it's like sun suncking all the energy just like once portrayed in an advertisement that I saw in my childhood. The advertisement seemed ridiculous but true at the same time.

It's amazing how a writer makes this terrible bright day into a romantic one to describe his lover. As I read the sonnet I felt the beauty of nature along with the girl so I rushed outside and was disappointed with the prickling heat that pierced through the skin.

It's all about how the girl is visualised by the poet and how he believes her beauty will never change. It's but contradictory as beauty changes. If it's about physical beauty as they change as they age and the person will have a beautiful change depicting their years of journey. And when it comes to internal beauty it changes as the person gains wisdom through life's experiences.

Even though it's burning outside it looks beautiful indoors with the ray of light falling on the building and providing a sparkle to the tiny plants growing in my balcony. 

Lost and forgotten

My days went on usual and monotonous with a busy schedule. To pass my times I would go back to watch some of my favourite cartoons that I spend most of my time watching. My mom used to always make fun of me with her regular dialog " Ithrem valanitum Shinchan um Doremon um kandond irikuva" or she would say " poth pole valanallo ipozum cartoon kandon irino." These two phrase would mean that I have grown up but still am watching cartoons like Shinchan and Doremon. 

I was the only person who watched television at home it still is the same. In my memory phones arrived when I was in ninth class. My brother would be playing games on the phone but I still preferred watching cartoons and listening to radio on TV. 

When mom went out for some work she would hide the remote so we will be forced to study. Me being clever would know where the remote was kept so we would wait for ten minutes before searching for the remote and keep it back when we hear her footsteps. On some days I won't be in a mood to be a ninja so I would listen to radio. It would have all the latest songs being played in english and hindi.

I miss those days of adventure when I watched TV on the lowest volume. Our ears would be at the door listening keenly. The days where phone did not matter. Spending the remaining time playing in the park. Going to tuition classes and getting my hands red and studying keenly to prevent those red marks. 

There are moments when I wished to hide away my phones and be free from this ting- ting sound but then reality strikes reminding about the information that I need to receive. It's an unwilling addiction that is forced upon us. I often dream of staying at a mountain top where gadgets are not needed but I think it's better to keep it as an imagination.

Now when I again watch these cartoons it not only gives me relaxation but also a moment of relief that brings me to those lost and forgotten times.

Youthful spectacle

After staying home for a long time I wanted to go out for some fresh air. Alas! I heard about Nadagam ( drama ) being conducted by Janasamskriti team. The plays are conducted in Malayalam by children as a competition along with the portrayal of the culture and traditions that would not be known by the younger generation.

It was a sudden plan decided without much thought involved. I went along with a chechi along with her children. One of them was performing in the play so I was excited to watch him on stage. We started from home by car and since it was Sunday afternoon the roads were clear in most of the places. We occasionally chatted on different topics and listening to the music vibing during the ride. The weather was hot and humid but a nice day for a trip. It was a refreshing ride after a long time.

We reached during the interval time when people who came in the morning were having lunch. Inside the auditorium I noticed some familiar faces and a majority of strangers. Everyone was busy either gathering the young actors or leaving after their child's performance.  We waited for quite some time unaware of what to expect. While I sat there I recalled the last time I watched a play would be at college.

Finally the curtain life with a bell and the play started reminding the traditional procedure beginning I drama which I have only seen at movies. I liked two plays a lot maybe because I understood the play and I was immersed the whole time. One play had children dressed up as clowns trying to escape from the lions chasing them. They tried to bring out humour and it was entertaining with the way they used up the whole stage. 

The second play was a much more serious presentation of how humans change the environment for their living causing a shift in the entire ecosystem. This play was musical with the vocals singing the songs redefining the condition of the past and how it is in the present.  Apart from the performance I liked their backstage work a lot that included all the props. The efforts they took to make the background give the ambience of a village made it much more realistic.

It was wonderful to watch children performing their talents confidently on a platform. I had a great day with an innovative weekend different from my regular routine.

A new phase

As days got closer and closer, the once excited boy started getting nervous. Stepping into a new place, towards a new beginning was exciting as well as nerve racking.

A week back my brother, Beartil got a call from college regarding the beginning of his new semester. Initially he was very excited as he had nothing special to do apart from his routine of playing game on the phone or editing videos. Most of his friends have already started going to college and having asking about his progress which made him uncomfortable and upset, leading him wanting to start his classes early.

Finally after a long wait the call has arrived requesting him to be present at the end of the month. He started his packing which contained all his necessities required while his stay at the hostel. Being a hostel resident is new to him so he would be asking about my first few days far from home. Now those are wonderful stories that I would like to recall. Initial days made me feel out of place but later it was wonderful as there were activities that kept me busy preventing any idle thoughts that might have led to homesickness.

The tiny dot of fear within the large circle of excitement increases as days go by. This would be his first time staying far from home so its natural to feel anxious. 

After another short week it was finally the day to board the train and all of us went to drop him to the railway station. He was unusually silent the entire ride towards Nizamuddin railway station. It was early morning even before  the darkness fades away the roads were empty with few vehicles, so we reached faster than rush hours.

The train was already at the station so we helped his arrange the luggage and settle down. It wasn't in a hurry-burry as we were twenty minutes earlier. My brother was attached to mom and dad the entire time. It's a two day long journey to Trichy, completely a different atmosphere from here. 

The thrill of the unknown and the expectations of the ahead leads him to move forward towards a new beginning.

Emergence

 In the garden at the end of the street lived a lot of insects. All were busy in search of food for their next meal. Among the busy crowd there were two particular friends one was a caterpillar named Luka and the other was a grasshopper named Timy. Both of them spent most of their time together as they were neighbours. 

One day the gardener while checking his plants stepped unknowingly onto their homes making all of them homeless. Timy found a new companion and shared a room with them. Luka wandered all around not knowing what to do and there appeared a dragonfly named Coco, the saviour. Coco invited Luka to his house to dine with his friends. Luka was awkward not knowing what to do but still went ahead clinging onto Coco. 

Luka started living there in his cocoon not willing to come out or interact with anyone. As days passed on Coco was worried and tried to reassure him that everything was alright and sometimes it's difficult to accept the outcome but it's not the end there is yet more to come. Coco spends days together with Luka by walking all the places, meeting other insects and looking through a different perspective. 

A few more days later Coco noticed a small crack in Luka's cocoon and after a few minutes the cocoon opened and a beautifully coloured butterfly came out. Luka was very excited and showed his new beautiful wings to Coco who also was very excited. 

Later Luka and Coco decided to fly and explore the remaining beautiful sites that are yet to be discovered. 

                                  A story by Beera Rajan

Celebration of the freedom

Today being Independence day decided to visit my school . Today as I was walking to school my brother was telling about his school days. Lots of my teachers have been retired and now only few old faces are left. The gate towards the entrance has changed and its much more longer than the previous path. The roads have talls trees on the right side and the left side has buildings.

As I walked along the path with a slight drizzle making the ground sparkling with tiny droplets of rain. The muddy path was completely damped and brown splashing droplets on the clothes as a I walked forward. Far away I could hear music being played with a patriotic atmosphere lingering in the air.

At around 8:00 a.m. the program started with flag hoisted by principal and the chief guest who was an alumina of the school. There were a lot of other programs like group song, mime, dance etc. There was a group of students who stood holding flags the entire time. It was difficult standing there but they still made it till the end of the program. Then we had a choir opening the main program schedule followed by a mime providing a brief history of how our country got independence. The students performed very well giving an insight based on their understanding of our historical roots.

Next we had another group song where nine students sang "Maa Tujhe Salaam" in their melodious voice. It was further followed by a traditional dance performance were students were dressed traditionally to represent different states. They looked so beautiful dress up in traditional wears.

After the colourful performance there was a short speech by chief guest and principle. The program ended with a finale performance all dressed up in white, moving to the rhythm of the music.

As we walked back home, the entire performance displayed in our mind with the joy of familiarity.

A Rose for Emily

 

"A Rose for Emily" is a gothic short story that deals with loneliness and death. The short story starts with Emily an old lady well known in the neighborhood and all her neighbours being curious about her house in the guise of meeting her. This detachment from the neighbours lead to alienation for someone who lived in the same town for her whole life.

The flashback of her life as a young lady provides us much more details about our protagonist. Her major years of life was dominated by her father who even refused potential marriage alliances. She was confined within her premise not knowing anything about the exterior world. Her extreme dependency on the father caused to break down at the death of her father when she was thirty years old. She even refused to cremate her father by making herself believe that her was still alive but at the end she had to accept his death. As soon at the pillar is broken the walls also starts to fall.

As days go by she has her eyes set on a young man named Homer Barron who did not reciprocate her feelings. She starts to create a world of fantasy with Homer. One fine day the neighbours see Homer entering the house but never exiting giving them an illusion of their potential marriage. After her death neighbours find his rotten body in one of the bedroom with signs of her sharing the same bed with the body.

The story portrays a bridge between an aristocratic world and a common man's world. She was once a rich lady who lost their fortune over the years. When the family was rich they were envied but when the fortune was lost isolation began.

Emily was very pitiful and she was also mentally disturbed. Her life was smooth as ignorant as she was but her father's death was a huge blow for her as she had to suddenly step towards the world of the adults. Her loneliness led her to create an imaginary world with Homer and it's not difficult to understand that she might have killed him so they can be together.

The title itself is very ironic as we do not find a single rose mentioned in the entire story. It may symbolise her young beauty has hidden thorns beneath the superficiality.

Friendship day

A day authentically to celebrate friendship. I forgot about this day and had to be reminded by a school kid. When I was scrolling through the WhatsApp status I came across, a lot of status that gave heart warming quotes about friendship day.

I remember Friendship Day being celebrated during my school days. Girls would be more excited about this particular day than Valentine's Day. The wishes and anticipation starts days before the final day. Everyone would be buying friendship bands and bracelets to exchange to each others. Some even spend time to make one by hand.

On the day they would exchange so many bands. Some get a lot and some none. Some who gave me bands do not even have any contacts with me anymore so, how much value does this bands exist.

Today a little girl was very excited about the number of friendship bands she got. She was proudly telling the stories about her day at school when the bands were exchanged. Some schools do not allow accessories but this rule does not stop them from their little celebrations.

These days just may be another ordinary day but the little celebration and enjoyment of the present does not let us remember its actual meaning and how a healthy friendships and relationships need to be.

I have come across many friends in these short years. Some I believed to be close turned out to be opportunist and other whom I believe to be distant turn out to be a genuine friend. Most of us judge and decide very quickly and live in denial before it has a strong impact. Over the years I made some healthy friends. We talk and meet rarely but they are always just a call away. Hope this friendship day creates a different meaning and a memorable for each of one of us.

Stuck between the door

How does it feel when a finger is stuck to the door? Ah! It's painful and it's not recommended at all for others from my personal experience.

If I am asked to recall from an experience I won't be able to recall the pain but I would be very careful while standing near the door.

I think I should strike off the careful part because for a split moment, my clumsy self emerged and my finger caught stuck between the door. Starting from the beginning will give a better idea of what happened. 

Today was a very humid day, I was sweating as if a bucket of water was poured over my head. The clothes are all sticky with sweat and it was very irritating to even communicate with others. Unfortunately, we are social beings who are forced to interact with others.

At the end of the tiring day, my dad gave me a task to complete and it involved me opening a door to pick something that I forgot to take. As I tried opening the door I mistakenly stuck my finger between the door so that it could open easily. But the door was tightly closed with a bare minimum space between and my carelessness led to the pain that followed later.

It was like the pain was travelling from the fingertips to the nail then to the centre to the palm. Initially, it was so painful but as time passed on the mail became numb and only a tingling sensation was left behind. My nail had slight blood patches within showing the damage that happened. 

Now I recall the forgotten memories of my childhood when I unknowingly stuck my finger between some doore and my nail turned blue but after a few months, it peeled off giving space for the growth of a new nail. It wasn't extreme this time but it had a similar feeling. 

Digging up teenager days

 

Teenager Today" was one of my favourite magazines that I cherished during my school days. It was initially only available in the school library but later on we were given a copy each, every month. I remember waiting in anticipation for a new edition with a lot of new ideas. During library hour the librarian would collect lot of other magazines similar to "Teenager Today" and keep it at my desk as he remembers me pestering for some of my favourite books or magazines.

Today as I was going through my old books as I cleaned after a long time I stumbled upon the magazine of July edition from last year (2023). It was given to my brother but I highly doubt that he read the entire magazine. And when I asked I was totally right he only went through the last page that is "funny bone". A slight change that I noticed was the cover page that have become a bit childish which is not to my taste at all but the contents is in a similar pattern as I remember with a few addition to it.

One of my favourite page to read was the "funny bone" that always brought a smile to my face.

One example would be:

"A man wanted to sell his dog. His friend wanted to buy it.

Friend: Is this dog faithful?

Man: Yes, I have sold it three times already. It is so faithful that every single time it returns to me !"

This was just a part of the magazine but it has lot more facts, photographs majorly of nature, ideas from students, short stories, quotes and lots more.

When I saw this magazine I got so excited and started searching for more but unfortunately there wasn't anymore. I just started reading and in the upcoming blogs I would like to share more of what I have read.

Illusion with pain

 "After all life goes on" this is a common phrase we all give to eachother but today its different for me.

I haven't read any books over a couple of days, apart from reading a few short articles that I don't consider much of a productive reading. I was feeling guilty for neglecting my routine do to some novel reading but then let's keep it a secret.

I wanted to read some simple story so I went to those online e-books that can be read in just one day. Its pretty impressive that some of the online anonymous writers write a better plot than some famous best sellers.

As I further scrolled in search of a captivating waiting story while going through the description. I finally ended up choosing a novel with a title that gave a gist of the entire story in the title itself but still i went ahead to read. 

Hmmm . . . . Let's see what the story says. This tiny 35 chapter novel of about an Indian woman who is forced into an arranged marriage to which she was happy but as the days moved on her husband seemed to neglect her, even threatened to rise his hand on her . Initially she forgive and accepted everything as she was taught that abuse is natural for men. It took a long time of verbal and physical abuse for her to realize how the toxicity of the situation has changed her completely to an unknown person whom she failed to realise. At the end she left her husband and discovered a better version of herself with a new beginning. 

As I read through the abuse it was painful especially when the protagonist's inner voice becomes audible. It was a relief when she left that toxic life and began anew discovering a new version of herself. The pain and heartache I felt as if was my experience that was lingering for a long time .

Of Roads

Badarpur to Noida is so far away and takes a long time to reach but if I start early before rush hour I should be reaching early right? Nope, it doesn't work that way when everything is jumbled up in my memory.

I was lucky to get a bus as soon as I reached the bus stop . I boarded a bus numbered 8 which goes to Botanical garden.

The bus looks good from outside but it was in a worse condition with the air conditioner not working properly and melting inside the bus but since it was free for ladies I have no complaints. After reaching Botanical Garden I walked all the way searching for a bus stop but as soon as I went there I was told that the bus stood in the opposite direction. Uff ! Now I have to walk all the way back to the start. After roaming around I did not get the bus I was looking for so I got on a substitute bus that dropped me off at Knowledge park II instead of Knowledge park III. This bus was different from Delhi bus that I travelled and its interior also differs as it belongs to a different state. The UP state bus has less space to stand but lot more seats providing a better option for the passengers but while riding on this bus it won't make the ride smooth as the passengers gets a land ride feeling while the short travel.

After getting down at Knowledge park II I started walking while expecting to get an auto on the way. Coincidentally, no vehicle came by. It was an isolated route with less people and more greenery just like walking inside the park. I continue to walk for around 32 minutes till I finally reached my destination.

As I reached the tiredness struck me like lightening and my stomach growled loudly. My legs hurt so much that it felt numb, so I removed my sandals to relax my sore feet and found shoe bites all around my feet.  I was also completely drenched in sweat. Seeing my  condition that looked like a drenched cat drying itself, I was asked to sit inside the office room till the person I was waiting for arrives. And the rest went pretty smoothly in the cool atmosphere. Ah! It was so relaxing.

It was a long trip that took more than 2 hours even while returning home. Now at home I feel better with the feeling of 'Home Sweet Home' and waiting to have a long relaxing nap.

The Long Route

As the day began it seemed like every other ordinary day that included boarding bus as well as auto on time and reach before time. But unfortunately today did not seem very supportive. We all have that one day in a month where everything is wrong. I would like to share about the chaotic day where everything was not right.

I started from home quite early so as to board my regular bus which usually comes very often but today unfortunately it was very late and I stood there waiting for a long time. Aah! finally the vehicle arrived after the long wait of thirty minutes. After reaching halfway I was supposed to board an auto that is commonly called as "Savari"  auto among the local people including me, which basically means a share auto.

I walked for some distance and sat inside an auto but the driver was waiting for other passengers to fill the vehicle. Me being a patient person also waited  with the driver but then it was too long and I lost my patience to wait for others so I  decided to look for another auto. Finally I  got an auto which started driving very quickly. Halfway through the road , a passenger said she wanted to go to a different place that is totally opposite to the direction the rest of us were leading towards. The auto driver being a good person asked for the permission from the other passenger and took the longer route for that lady. The roads were good compared to the other places but the construction was still on progress that included many buildings as well as the highway. After passing halfway through the smooth road, the rest of the road were were half constructed, covered full of stones and the vehicles passing by will leave dust particles behind lingering in the atmosphere. 

There was a bypass, that is two roads going into two different direction reminding me about Robert Frost's "Road Not Taken". Finally when we reached our destination it was tiring giving a splitting headache because of the loud noise and the polluted dusty air. 

The positive note in this journey will be the absence of the sun in this hot weather giving only slight relief as it was still a humid day. This long journey came to an end but the whole ride lingered in my mind leading me to pen down my fresh memory into a blank space that already has become a part of my past. 

Sarah: a woman with a strong foothold

Sarah, a biblical character considered an ideal model for married woman or an engaged woman waiting to start a life of marriage.

When I try to recall all the gospels I heard about this particular character from the Bible, she was depicted with qualities of a saint with perfection. My curious mind led me to read more about her and it came out to be a totally different perspective of what I believed for quite a long time showing her strength and weakness that she possessed. 

Sarah's original name was Sarai and according to the Bible God changed her name from Sarai to Sarah meaning princess or noblewoman. She was able to experience God's promise first hand. The promise of child in her barren womb. Sarah couldn't bear child so she was quite depressed but God said that she would bear child during old-age which is unbelievable leading to her doubt like any other person. Even though she doubted God's word for a moment the faith she had was strong leading to the fulfillment of God's promise. At the age of ninety she gave birth to a baby boy whom she named Issac.

Before she gave birth she did something that lead to further dispute in the family. Sarah and her husband Abraham had a maidservant named Hagar to serve them. Sarah send Hagar to Abraham as a concubine to bear a child and when Hagar conceived Sarah was very jealous leading to unhappiness in the family. She was harsh towards Hagar leading her to run away from home but she had to come back as she did not have any source of survival. Sarah also tried to manipulate her husband to send Hagar away. All these shows how her own decision backfired her leading to chaos in the family. 

Sarah lived for one hundred twenty seven years and later died of old-age which was recorded in the Bible. 

Sarah's character as described in the Bible is quite complex and pivotal. She is an ideal wife who stood by her husband during the trial and temptations that they faced during their life. As we study her character we know that she is not known for her weakness but her strength.

Sarah: a woman with a strong foothold 

A little guest

As the day progressed a small guest entered our life. It was a tiny little bird. They are very cute, fun and interesting to observe. 

When I think of birds a particular crow from Kerala comes to my memory. It was a crow who came flying from far as it was tired and weak. The first time when the bird came to our place my dad fed him water and some food. He started to come regularly and for one month every morning and will be present at a tree near kitchen and will be crowing. We were in Kerala for a month and took care of it during the time period. After we returned back to Delhi we heard that the crow will peck and make a lot of noise if a stranger enters the house. It was a huge surprise to know how a crow became a part of family by taking  responsibility to protect the house in our absense.

Today my brother found a little injured bird and he brought the tiny creature home. When he brought the bird it was not moving at all even after we gave water the bird remained still, later my dad came forward and gave the bird water and after few minutes it started moving. Initially, whenever we try to carry the bird in hand it would start crying but after some time  it started moving  around comfortably in my hand. It is very cute and would be watching and observing everyone very closely.

I don't know how long it would like to live with us but we named it Brownie hoping to have a much longer days ahead.

Imaginative bridges

 

Today I spent sometime observing little children. There were three children seated together in a very serious discussion, two of them were busy among themselves and the third child was watching them both play.

 They stayed quite for few minutes but after sometime they lost their patience and started talking amongst themselves. When the conversation started its like a group discussion where all of them start talking at the same time and I felt lost as I couldn't grasp what they were talking about.

 After few minutes they took out there handkerchief all fluffy and soft adorned with two different colours of blue and pink. They started making different shapes with that single piece of cloth and got excited to show their handmade house, swing, boat and gun as per their creativity. They were teaching each other and got very excited to display their art at works to whoever pass by their side. It was very fascinating to watch them work so seriously on something we pay very least attention.

 They think a lot and can make anything from scratch. They know how to utilise the time and can use any object as part of their toy which was fascinating. I also remember us playing with two dolls talking to each other in different sounds or my brother playing with cars while telling a story.

 They  unknowingly come up with various stories and their imagination is much broader than most of us. It was a wonderful moment to learn and recall all that I thought I lost while observing children.

A Kind smile

 

Today as I was thinking about a topic to write I felt stuck. That's when I remembered an incident when I was studying in Chennai. It was one beautiful experience that would remind me of a person whom I surely would like to visit when I travel to Chennai.

A lady in saree with hair tied up with wrinkles around her eyes portraying a sign of a smily face. Every time I see her her smiling eyes would welcome me from afar and then her beautiful voice calls  out to me by asking "Nalla irikingala" ("How are you ?") Those few words are enough to feel better in a crowd full of unknown people.

I stood at a corner watching people interact with each other. The feeling of escape would be at its peak and her few words would calm me down.

When I look back a very peculiar incident came to my mind that took place when she helped me reach the railway station. I was waiting for the 20 number bus as I was only familiar with that particular bus route. I was hesitant to ask help but she initiated to make sure I reach safely by boarding the same bus.

I don't know her name, age or any other information about her but her smiling face will be imprinted in my memory. When I talk about Chennai City she will definately have a place in few of the stories that I would share.

Thanking God

 As I was traveling through the pages I came across a very short poem. This poem by E.E. Cummings is all about thanking God. Thanking God is a small gesture that we often overlook or just ignore altogether.

We often forget God altogether when we are at peace. During problems, we run to God and pray for hours but we forget to thank God for the things we have. We see a new day which is a blessing a lot of people do not get. We have family or parents or a sibling where a lot of people remain all alone in this vast debt of sea. 

What we believe to be an end is the beginning of something new. We have been trained to follow a certain path without a second thought making it a blind ritual that we follow because we have to not because we want to. 

There are a lot of moments when I feel lost and go searching in various places and I end up caught in circles of scams and lies. I somehow reach somewhere else hoping this is the right choice. These choices were never forced but a lesson that I learned along the process of harsh reality.

I often forget to Thank God for all the little things I have never given importance but is part of my life. I hope that I never fail to Thank God for all the little things that I have with a grateful heart.

A missed vacation

 

As I look back to my summer vacation, the trip to Kerala is a must to do schedule which was sadly skipped this year. It wasn't the most exciting segment to cancel the plan as it was very hot in Delhi. Not just the weather but also it was very dull during these days.

My parents went to the hometown as planned and informed us about the changes that took place in the past year which wasn't much but still, it's a loss not to see. I remember a pond in front of our house that has lilies floating on the surface and the fishes swims all around. Tall mountains could be seen from our terrace and a sky full of stars at night was truly an amazing sight, a completely different view compared to the foggy sky in Delhi.

When I was asked to go I became quite lethargic and refused but now when I think I should have gone. A tree that we planted years ago finally bore jackfruits and two of them were shared among themselves. One jackfruit was not fully ripe yet, so my mom packed it to bring it along.

It was small compared to the other jackfruit that I have seen but still, it was so good. As my parents reached today they were excited to cut the fruit and it was just the perfect time. It was so sweet and juicy and I loved it. The fruit would finish fast as it was a craving that would only be fulfilled next summer.

Even though a trip to kerela was wasted the regular fruit was not missed. Somehow I missed my vacation but still would have lots more ahead.

Good morning, Miss Dove

 

The short story "Good morning, Miss Done" seemed very ordinary and confusing but as I read further the plot was captivating that talks about a school teacher who was not admired by students. She is described as a very strict and calm person who rarely used words for intimidation but was able to command attention through her eyes.

The story often skipped to the past where it goes back to her time with a different batch of students. She remembers these students who are now scattered in different places during the war. She often hallucinates them where she is very vulnerable and no longer the "terrible Miss Dove" as named by her students.

Her given title does not reduce the affection and memory printed in the minds of her old students who still remember her. We learn this through a letter read aloud by the brother of one of her students. 

Frances tried to bring out the beautiful relationship between a teacher and a student. When her student Jincey cries she felt lost for a moment. Inspite of the solemn atmosphere she pulled everyone back to her class. The two faces of a teacher is portrayed. Infront of the class as she was very strong who accepted all the challenges that were put forward and her vulnerable side was made sure to be kept hidden from her students.

A day without gadget

Today as the day began it was very gloomy despite the sunny weather outside. I was feeling very low making me very lazy and depressed. Somehow I pushed forward to go to church as a regular. 

After the service, I was invited to a home for lunch and that was what changed my day from gloomy to a much more exciting day. 

A day without mobile phones in hand is very rare. I realised that I too could spend a day without a phone. I remember that usually I spend my whole day on the phone either watching a movie or reading an e-book but today we spend the whole day playing offline games.

Having a day with children makes you forget about the gadgets that I used to spend my whole day playing at giving a sense of loss at the end of the day. 

These little games including UNO and Monopoly were fun entertainment changing my mood completely to a much more relaxed person. I did not expect such change which was a relief and made me realise that a day can be made better in various other ways.

Today as I plan to go to bed I find myself tired almost on the verge of sleep with a smile on my face.

How they brought good news from Ghent to Aix

 

"How they brought good news from Ghent to Aix" is a narrative poem by Robert Browning that tells the story of a journey from Ghent to Aix, where three men are assigned to deliver the good news. 

Three horsemen start their journey where they experience a lot of hurdles before they reach their destination. Over the poem we find them sincerely dedicated to complete their duty. We find their endurance and strength when they fight off the obstacles. Some of the obstacles are pertaining to their past which remained persistent in the present trying to set them back from their responsibility.

We can see the poet using imagery to give a beautiful description of the landscapes and the physical body reacting to the journey. The time duration of the journey is connected to the place and the celestial journey like " Twas moonset at starting; but while we drew near Lokeren, the cocks crew and twilight dawned clear" and " At Aerschot, up leaped the sudden sun".

Since the poem is narrated in a first person it gives a personal touch as if we are also going along on this journey with them. 

The journey was long and tough but when the poet recalls the duration he only remembers the good times as he says " And all I remember is,- friends flocking around", which doesn't mean he is neglecting the troubles but only means that he knows what is important to cherish.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

Today as I sat down reading a novel, I was able to relate very deeply. The incidents may differ but the process were quite relatable. "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" by Satoshi Yagisawa is my latest read. As the title suggest the entire novel revolves around a second hand bookshop. The protagonist Takako, a person who was forced to quit her current life somehow ends up in her uncle's bookshop.

I found myself in a very similar situation as the protagonist, she discovers herself through reading. She did not read initially but to move her days quicker she started reading which became her second nature. The words used to describe her feelings while she read was very beautiful. " I really was like a butterfly waiting patiently to come out of his chrysalis." It was beautifully described the way she felt herself immersed in the books. 

The description of the place also seem so beautiful where I would like to spend my time. The whole street had both sides aligned with secondhand bookshops, every shop sold different types and genres of books without overlapping. There was also a cafe where people went to gossip or read. The book readers who visited the shop were interesting as they piled up more and read the same book multiple times, everytime giving a different understanding.

The protagonist being the highlight as she never read books to the extend of not sharing a space with books. She began with one book out of curiosity and boredom later led to several other books. It's always difficult to begin but half way through it becomes difficult to stop.

Another interesting detail was the conversation with a reader. Sharing ideas, details or understanding is much more fun than random talks. I thought back to my friend with whom I would sit for hours talking about the book I read. It was so fun where time passes quickly and does not have the thought of hours being wasted as it adds to the knowledge acquired . The author Satoshi Yagisawa also agrees where he says "My body felt strangely light, like my feet were floating above the ground". A long discussion of what was read is like a revision as well as lightness like a paper is felt when something is shared. 

" Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" is a beautiful book that can be read so easily and quickly. The light-hearted book without any heavy plot teaches us not to fall rather find an alternative to push ahead. It also teaches the value of relationships. It is a book that is very relaxing taking us to the same street filled with smiles while purchasing a book at a bookshop along with people sharing the same enthusiasm.

Expecting the unexpected

As I sat doing nothing I had an inspiration to keep myself busy. It's too boring to stay at home idly sitting and always on the phone. I thought of reading but it didn't absorb me for too long hmm pretty boring.

Today being a dull day I cannot go out as it's hot as usual but unexpectedly I got a message from a friend as she shared her joy.

Today it rained at Cannaught place, where she worked. It's quite far from here but still with lots of excitement I ran to the door but tadaaaa.. no rain just a sky absent of sun.

I was a bit sad as rain is very much needed to cool the place down. In the middle of the month the heat is gonna rise, not a good sign. 

Every year when I was in Delhi during the month of May and June I would go to Kerala as it's  once a year opportunity. Unfortunately this year I couldn't get tickets so I had to stay back.

Not only me but a lot of other people are looking forward to the heavy rain. Hoping it will happen soon to escape from this increasing heat.

Little surprises

Unseen and overlooked,

Shadowed power,

Unspoken truth,

A mystery yet unsolved.

Words stuck,

Eyes bulged,

Shocked to the core,

Yet remained unmoved.

Is there a solution,

To this unexpected moment,

An unapproachable task,

But there too was a result.

Smiles and joy,

A little bit of hope,

Lack of understanding,

Till when it shall last.

Let's look forward,

To these little surprises,

Not with lots of hope,

But with heart full of wonder.