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.