Beera

Lost in shadows, disappeared in night, A speck of hope, a distant light. At times it gleams a little near, Blinking softly, crystal clear, Before the darkness slowly grows, Swallowing the light it owes. Is it natural then to stray Into a maze that hides the way? Hiding in a corner small, A shelter built behind a wall. The heaviness begins to fall, Breathless days that swallow all. As if inside a room shut tight, Yet something stirs the will to fight. A shadow hovers, cold and grey, Like stormy clouds that block the day. A thousand paws that reach and creep, But skies like these don't always weep. The clouds must part, the light break through  That clearing sky is coming too. A long road stretches, winding still, But hope anticipates with will. The darkness fades, the shadows thin  The light ahead will surely win.                      

              A Road Trip We Never Planned An unexpected road trip surely was not exactly on my list. It all began with our lack of knowledge about the route. The drive began slowly and continued for quite a long time. In the hot, slow breeze that heated the body, the car's chill was surely a relief, tempting me to doze off. But then the long conversations, wrong turns, and beautiful views overcame the tiredness. Today, let’s dive into a road trip along the expressway. The journey began from the entrance of the college. It was after 5 PM, and the sun was setting, but the heat still remained unbearable. Even chilled water could not provide comfort. As I sat in the passenger seat beside my friend Garima, our ride began with a pep talk and her short prayer, as it was her first long-distance ride. She was nervous and slightly scared, but I was relatively relaxed and enjoying myself. We were not sure about the route, so we kept two map locations working sim...

A Place Called Mom Mother a six-letter word, So simple, short, yet so adored. The first word we often speak, Or maybe the second, yet unique. It stays with us until the end, Forever constant, our truest friend. The warm embrace, the gentle voice, The magic hands that make life rejoice. Even the worst dish, under her touch, Becomes a feast, enjoyed so much. She adds a day more to our health, A secret gift, her quiet wealth. When far away, in hostel walls, The bland meals bring nostalgic calls. We miss her food, the love it shows, Counting days until we close The distance and return once more, To her arms, our safe shore. No long talks, just a peaceful gaze, A quiet calm in simple ways. Mom’s home a place to truly be, No pretending, just honesty. Everyone has their special story, A private tale, unique in glory. No one can judge, it’s just our own, A cherished bond, deeply grown. Every day is Mother’s Day, it’s true, But today, we send our love to you. To all mothers, present and near, A...

REVISITING SHERLOCK HOLMES Detective stories have always been fascinating, not because of the crime itself but because of how it is solved. One character who has consistently stood out is Sherlock Holmes , created by Arthur Conan Doyle . Most people have encountered this character at least once, whether through a school lesson, a novel, a film, or a television series. I have always admired his way of thinking, which appears effortless, though it may not be so in reality. The concept of a mind palace is particularly intriguing. It is a remarkable and effective method for remembering information. While browsing one day, I came across a title related to Sherlock, and it immediately caught my attention. I decided to watch it, and it felt somewhat like fan fiction. Seeing Sherlock portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch often gave the impression of how well James Moriarty understood him. This made me wonder what it would be like if there were a story exploring how they might have known each o...

Sadhya : A taste of Keralam Food is something that always wins our hearts, especially when our stomachs are empty. It had been a long time since I last ate authentic Kerala food. Since it’s a cuisine I don’t get to enjoy often, I truly love it, though I prefer it with less spice. However, in many places, the spice level can sometimes be unbearable for me. After craving it for so long, my eyes fell upon a South Indian restaurant named ‘Keralam.’ The name itself suggested the kind of food they would serve. Still, I wasn’t completely confident, as I had visited many restaurants that claimed to offer authentic South Indian food but ended up disappointing me. The ambience was so similar that it almost felt like I was in Kerala. As we entered, everything seemed pleasantly unfamiliar. Once we sat down, one thing that caught my attention was the doodles of Malayalam actors; they were so cute. Next came the menu. Even though we had the menu card, the server enthusiastically listed a variety of ...

  A Much-Needed Break: A Trip to Bangalore After a long and busy schedule, this trip was truly a much-needed break. Our visit to SAICS in Bangalore was something we had been eagerly looking forward to, especially since it was the college where my father studied. Traveling from Delhi was quite a long journey, taking two nights and a full day. We traveled by the Rajdhani Express, which brought back memories of journeys from years ago when the train had just been introduced. I fondly remembered a family trip to Kerala, where we had especially enjoyed the food on the train, like breadsticks and soup, which are no longer served. This time, I carried a half-read book hoping to finish it, and I had also downloaded a few movies since there would be no network during the journey. However, I was so tired that I ended up sleeping most of the time. I was awake only during meal times and for a few hours in the evening. We arrived early in the morning, which was quite unexpected. At the railway ...

Building Tents, Building Memories Camp teaches us many things. The days spent with people who are different from one another become a valuable learning experience. The last day was when the most fun happened. The day began with the Scout and Guide flag hoisting. Before the ceremony, we were trained on how to properly fold the flag. After that, we were given certain instructions and guidelines for the hoisting. Once the flag was raised, we participated in a small activity related to road safety. Later, we attended a session on how to set up a tent. As we listened to the instructions, everything sounded simple, but later we realised it was not as easy as it seemed. We were divided into four teams, and each team was supposed to have eight members. However, to make sure no one was left out, additional members were added to every group. Our team was named the Lotus Group. We then began pitching our tent. Each team received three wooden sticks, also called lathis, eight nails, and ten ropes...

  Where the walk led us A day when everyone was available needed to be spent at a place we all wanted to visit. When we set out from home, we decided to go to two places, but they were in opposite directions, so we agreed to visit just one. The metro ride felt short because we were busy talking. Since our destination was Hauz Khas Village , we got off at Hauz Khas Metro Statio n , and from there, the walk was quite long and unexpected. On the way, we saw flowers in many shades of pink, yellow, white, red and more. The different colours hidden among leaves of various shades of green brought us closer to nature. As we were walking, a puppy came running toward us, almost outrunning its master. After playing with it for a few minutes, it walked away, and we continued our journey. As we walked farther, we saw a large board reading "Deer Park," so we decided to enter and explore. After entering, we walked straight ahead without looking for any signboards. There were deer all around...

Beyond the Colours: A Different Shade of Holi Today is Holi , a festival I have watched being celebrated since childhood. I have seen people joyfully play with colours, laughing with family members, and celebrating peacefully. However, one incident from my childhood gave me a terrifying impression of Holi. At that time, I was living in a different place. One Holi morning, the entire street was empty except for a man cycling somewhere in a hurry. Suddenly, a few people surrounded him and started smearing him with grease in the name of celebration. It looked harsh and uncomfortable. As a child, I felt deeply disturbed watching that scene. That memory stayed with me and shaped my early fear of the festival. But as I grew older, I also witnessed how beautifully Holi can be celebrated with vibrant colours, music, laughter, and togetherness. Movies and songs often portray Holi as a symbol of joy and unity, and when celebrated respectfully, it truly is. Of course, after all the fun, the tou...

 PETALS AND PEACE A simple walk after a long time feels incredibly peaceful. After days of constant busyness, a quiet moment surrounded by nature brings a deep sense of calm. It is often the unexpected discoveries along the way that turn an ordinary day into something special. Having someone beside you to share random conversations makes those little discoveries even more meaningful. As we were chatting casually, we noticed a tiny flower bud blooming with delicate white and pink petals. When we moved closer, we realised it was a rose plant. The bush was tucked quietly between other plants, almost as if it didn’t want to be noticed. A fully bloomed rose was hidden among the leaves, playing a gentle game of hide-and-seek, like a subtle welcome to spring. A few more buds were waiting to blossom, looking far more beautiful on the plant than they ever would if plucked. Their beauty rested safely among sharp thorns, protecting them from careless hands. After a while, we continued our wal...

Stories found on the way to stories                                                                          - Beera Books are places where we learn so much. We often spend a great deal of time reading, but nowadays it is usually on our mobile phones. As I was travelling on the metro today, I noticed that most young people were absorbed in their phones. Many were listening to music or watching videos, while a few preferred the silence and calm before the chaos of working hours began. A busy life can be exhausting. In the evenings, while travelling on the same metro, you can see people dozing off even while standing in the crowded compartment. Although the mode of transport remains the same, the atmosphere feels completely different in the morning and in the evening. After this short journey of observati...

Pre-Victorian elements in  Rabbi Ben Ezra by Robert Browning “Rabbi Ben Ezra” (1864) by Robert Browning reflects philosophical and literary ideas that were common long before the Victorian age. Although the poem was written during the Victorian period, its themes and approach feel closer to earlier traditions. In this blog, I explore the pre-Victorian elements in Rabbi Ben Ezra and how Browning uses them to express his ideas about the relationship between God and the individual. The poem can be considered pre-Victorian in spirit because it focuses less on social issues and more on personal reflection. One of its strongest themes is ageing and mortality. Instead of fearing old age or death, Browning presents them as meaningful stages of life. The speaker accepts growing older with calmness and even hope, believing that life’s later years bring spiritual growth and a deeper connection with God. This positive view of ageing reflects earlier philosophical beliefs that saw life as a ...

When the Sun Took a Day Off After a week of bright, sunny days and yesterday’s heat that almost made us feel as if summer was on its way, everything changed this morning. Dark clouds roamed across the sky, and strong winds blew relentlessly. The moment I stepped outside, I felt a sudden shiver run through me. Soon after, a light drizzle began, as though the weather had been waiting for the perfect moment to surprise us. As I walked along the road, I noticed that most people were not using umbrellas. Walking with my bright blue umbrella made me feel strange and a little out of place. There were moments when I thought of folding it and keeping it in my bag, but the cold raindrops changed my mind. I was afraid of falling sick, which would be especially unpleasant during winter. Everyone seemed to be waiting for the sky to clear. Usually, after around 9 a.m., the sun slowly peeps out and warms the day. In rooms where artificial lights are normally unnecessary, sunlight provides all the bri...

Winter's slow awakening Saturday morning usually makes one feel extremely lazy. But today, even the weather looks gloomier than an upset child. A chilly and harsh morning is generally followed by a bright, sunny afternoon to balance the day. However, today, a thick layer of fog spread across the sky, and the barely visible roads made the situation much worse. It felt as though the weather was waiting for schools to reopen, only to become colder. The roads were invisible as layers of cloud descended to the ground. Clouds are not only seen from flights; they are clearly visible on Delhi roads during winter. The only visible lights came from the headlights of vehicles desperately rushing to their workplaces. It was troublesome wearing too many clothes, which felt suffocating, while wearing too few could make one sick. Covering the hands and face was necessary, or they would turn numb. Just five minutes away from home, my legs seemed to stop working, making it difficult to move forwar...

A Pleasant Detour  I set out to visit one place, but along the way, I got distracted, adding new places to my list of must-visit spots. Standing in the metro for a long time felt congested due to the heavy rush during peak working hours. After exiting the station, I decided to walk instead. As I walked, I noticed a unique restaurant that instantly caught my attention, and I made a mental note to visit it later as the assigned task needs to be completed first. A little further ahead, I came across a small park with a pond at its centre, which felt calm and inviting.          After finishing my work, I returned to the park to relax and take a walk. Students were seated nearby, feeding the fish and spending time together. Pigeons had gathered on the ground, pecking at the grains scattered around. It surely was a peaceful winter afternoon filled with warmth radiating from the sun. Soon hunger struck, and a railway-themed restaurant came to my mind. I walked ove...

 A stressful morning is never how anyone wants to begin a Monday. The chill in the air and the thick blanket of fog hardly promised a pleasant start to the day. The weather seemed to work against everyone, and no one was willing to accept rides on Rapido or Uber. Each rejection added to the growing anxiety as time kept slipping away. After a few failed attempts, luck finally showed up in an unexpected form. Two riders initially accepted the request, and soon after, we found an auto uncle nearby. When we asked him, he readily agreed without hesitation. The destination was quite far, and the journey took almost an hour. With every passing minute, the fear of being late grew stronger. Just when I thought I wouldn’t make it at all, the auto uncle surprised me. He drove swiftly along the nearly empty roads, cutting through the fog with confidence. Even though I arrived three minutes late, I was still allowed to enter. That small moment felt like a blessing. I had prepared myself for t...