Mother Sky looked neat dressed in blue and white,
Her smile assured the day would be nice and bright.
Higher and higher into her arms flew a naughty kite
Birds big and small flew with their feathers might,
Suddenly be barged in a plane on its mom’s flight.
Scattering the clouds which shrieked in fright,
Mother hurriedly hugged them all so tight.
Stroking each cloud with a true right,
Mother Sky you are beautiful.
Every day and even at night.
The sun was shining bright. The sky was completely filled with turquoise shade. The birds were chirping. The people were inside their house. The summer has approached and today was Wednesday. It was a lovely summer morning Gopi and I was trying to solve a crossword puzzle in its newspaper. “Have you seen this?” Said Gopi suddenly, pointing to a report, “Star Diamond on display today.
” I suggested that we go and see the “Star Diamond.”
We went to the museum next day and took a look at the priceless gem I noticed that the diamond was not sparkling. I recalled that, about week ago, I had read Sir Conan Doyle’s, Sherlock Holmes. One of the stories had said that diamonds without sparkle were always faked. Was this one a fake or was it just my imagination?
On the following day, the newspaper headline said, “Star diamond stolen!”
I went to the museum straightaway but was go inside because the police experts were searching for clues. The next day there was a report in the paper was about a person called Anuj Srivastava, who claimed that he had found the Star Diamond in an gutter. This mystery was getting more and more complicated. It was while having dinner that I had a plan to catch the thieves.
I went to the police station next morning and told the chief inspector my plan. “Star Diamond” back on display! I rushed immediately to the police station and then went with the police officers to the museum.
“All’s going well. It’s a good thing we came here early. Otherwise, the thieves may have run off with the diamond.” Said the Chief Inspector, as we entered the room where the diamond was kept. Two other men had also come early, we noticed.
Suddenly, smoke filled the room. That was something the thieves had not expected! They did not know that the moment the Star Diamond was lifted, the doors of the room closed automatically. When the smoke cleared, we saw one of the strange men chasing the other. When they caught and searched, the Star Diamond was found on one of them.
Later, the press reporters asked me how to know who stole the diamond. I got to know who stole the diamond. I gave them the whole story. I told them about the plot that I had guessed. There are actually two gangs after first one stole the diamond and left a fake in its place so that nobody would know.
The second gang stole the fake diamond thinking it was the real one. When they found out that it was a fake they threw it into a gutter and that was the diamond Anuj Srivastava found.
When the gangs saw the misleading article in the newspaper saying that the diamond had been recovered, they each sent a spy to steal the diamond. That is how the two thieves in the museum were caught.
After a week or so, all the gang members caught and I received a reward, I am looking forward to more mysteries like this I hope I solve them.
Once there was a sweet little girl named Sofia. She lived near a beach which was filled with palm and coconut trees all over the beach. She used to live on a coconut tree which was far away from the beach and was very tall. The leaves were very heavy and green. The bark of the coconut tree was very flexible and strong. The bark was also waterproof so she decided to make her house with the bark of the tree and thought to cover it with the palm tree leaves so that she could get protection from the sunlight, rainfall for any other season.
She was poor and she lived in a tiny hut made out of coconut leaves. Now Sofia was a kind girl, so she went to it and stroked its head. “Dear squirrel,” she said when she noticed that it was hurt, come with me, I’ll make you feel better. “She took it home and fed it well.” Then she bandaged the wound and she told it to go back to the woods if it wanted to.She said this expecting it to leave but it stayed with her. Sofiya was surprised. Anyway, she always kept the squirrel with her. She loved it and it loved her. They were together for the first three years. They had fought in between which only made their love stronger and deeper. They took care of each other, their needs and lived for each other happiness. It has been 5 years now that they both have been living together.
One day, Sofia went out to get some nuts for the squirrel. The sky was completely dark and was filled with clouds. The clouds were roaring as something is going to happen. The wind was blowing at a very high speed. She somehow managed to get out of her home. And it started raining like cats and dogs. The rain was so heavy along with the wind blowing that she could evenly walk.
Suddenly something happened. The lightning struck a nearby tree and a voice came from her house. It was Harry, he was the most notorious one in the place where she lived. A naughty little boy called Harry, who had been having a walk in the forest, kidnapped it. The boy took her to the jungle where he tied her with ropes and mistreated her. The boy was very unkind to the squirrel. He did not feed the poor thing. One day when Harry went to school, he ran away to find his little mistress. Meanwhile, Sofia was worried about her little pet. She looked everywhere for it. She was very sad.
One day, as Sofia was making some honey juice, she heard a nibble at the door. When she went and looked, there was the little squirrel, all worn out. So he brought it. The squirrel thought that it was very lucky to have such a good mistress and was very grateful. The squirrel was extremely happy and delighted. After that, they lived happily ever after.
Millions and millions of year ago there was a dinosaur called Bighorns who had a long neck, short body, a long tail and a pair of wings. He was very tall. You know, he came from space, so he was special. But the most important thing to say about him is that he had an ugly face and body but a, very nice and kind heart.
Bighorn was a dinosaur who didn’t know that he was going to live the most exciting adventure you could ever imagine. The story started when Bighorns came out of his egg and realized he was in the water but … there was a big problem. He could not float and he did not know what to do. He even doesn’t know how to swim. Just after he was born it looked like that he was going to die because he was in the water and wasn’t able to swim. He got so much scared that he lost all his hopes to move forward. He gave up.
Fortunately, he saw a wrecked ship near him so he decided to go and live there. Now he had some base and shelter with him so that he could relax more and now at this time, he doesn’t have to worry about because he was not in water. Everything went alright until he was hungry. He had to go out to look for some food.
When he jumped out of the ship he saw lots of dinosaurs playing together. Bighorn was sad because he wanted to play with them but he was too shy to ask. He used to play alone always. No one talked to him because he was so giant. Everyone was afraid of him. They all thought that he should kill them or he would create a nuisance among the children. So bighorn decided to live all by himself. He was so shy. He searched for the food all by himself. He would play games or visit different places all alone.
The other dinosaurs did not want Bighorns to play with them because he was different. Bighorn everytime tried to the group of children playing but they would ignore him and he would always be lying in a corner.
Bighorn’s parents died in an calamity. He was not at all happy anymore. His all happiness vanished. His life began to be dull and boring. He was struck because he had no one to share his feelings. He had no one to play. He had no one to have
Bighorns went sadly back to the wrecked ship but … Wait! He suddenly saw a beautiful girl Dinosaur sunbathing near the ship He silently slowly towards her He was really happy when he realized that she was … from space like him!! They would play together, dance together, bathe together and had all the fun together.
They immediately fell in love with each other, and lived together, happily, for the rest of their lives.
Someone told me that sometimes you hear two voices talking, laughing and singing in the sky, you can be sure that is Bighorns and his wife remembering the fantastic moment when they met.
Once there was a pot in the woods of a jungle that was near to the city. The jungle was filled of animals, birds, butterflies and the lush green.It has magical powers in it so by this he was able to move to different destinations. It was a Magic pot and at this time he suggested to change his destination to the caves of the jungle. No one wanted to buy it because everyone was afraid of the powers that he had. He was very lonely and sometimes depressed too. One day it was decided to go out to explore. He explored the grasslands, the farms and the fields. Ultimately he arrived to the village that was near to the jungle. He decided to enter the house. He knocked the door. No one came. So he opened the door himself and the Magic Pot thought to enter the house. He knocked the door again. Someone opened the door. There was a cute little girl with her bare feet and the yellow dress accompanied by a yellow cap. She was amazed that how a pot can talk and walk by his feet made of mud. So she asked him what his name is by gaining some courage in her. Magic pot described him. So the little girl nodded and decided to take it in the family asked the Pot what kind of magic it could do?
“I can do anything you ask me to,” it replied. So the family, “Will you do us a favor? Will you go to the store and get us some milk and some bread?”
“Of course, said the Magic Pot happily, and of he went, marching down the road, singing a happy little song called, ‘Old MacDonald had a Farm As the Magic Pot went down the road he said, “Oh dear! Time is running out.” Then he saw the store with the sign, Milk, and Other Things.
Before the magic pot went into the store it turned itself into a person. It bought all the things that it was asked to buy, and then went back to the house. I am so happy that I am with people, ‘it thought.”
He was filled with joy because the loneliness didn’t accompany him more. He was surrounded by people that could talk. He can share all his memories and his feelings now. He was not at all depressed anymore. He gave treats to people so that they could spend more time with it and this will make him happier. He would use to show them magic and was always playing with little children. Its life was complete now. He had everything that once he wanted in his life.
Suddenly the Magic Pot felt strange! It found that it could no longer do magic. But the family loved him so much that they decided to keep it for decoration. They had lots of art supplies and they decorated it.
The Magic Pot was amazed and happy. It had found a home at last. The magic pot was extremely delighted that finally it has reached its destination.
The roads were completely flooded with water. There was a huge traffic on the roads due to water on roads. Everyone stayed at their home at that day because of the huge inconvenience that was made by rains. No one could move out of the house due to water logging that rains made the previous night. Some of the students managed to go to their respective schools and colleges by walking or bicycling but all went in vain. They returned back to their home because all the colleges and high school in that city were closed due to rains. When the students of my apartment returned back empty handed from school and colleges. They had a huge smile on their faces and declared that day as, “Rainy Day”. And that is why there is holiday on the occasion of rainy day. They started celebrating it as a festival.
I asked them what the matter is. Among one of my friends Harshit replied very quickly that, “Due to rain the roads are logged by water and no mode of transport is working, and also the communication lines have failed; the schools, colleges and the offices are closed today.”
It is off today! That is why we are celebrating it as a festival.
“Come join us,” said Harshit.
Also i was a fresher. I was listening to them. I thought I also have a holiday today. And all my friends made me believed so. I was unaware about the guidelines and norms of that company because i joined there recently. That is why I didn’t got ready that day for the office. I was really excited because I had off that day!
“Why are we not celebrating it?” I said.”
So we started making pakodas and sweet dishes in the room itself and started chit chatting with each other.
It was still raining so heavily in the morning but by the evening the speed of rain came to a slow pace. So, we started to go outside the house and roam around the city and see how beautiful it looks.
We all wore raincoats and each one of us took an umbrella and moved outside. The wind was so chilled. It was like that we are at some hill station. It was so cold outside. Among one of my friends was amit who was very notorious. He suggested that we should visit my office because it was near to the market and we were roaming in the market itself.
I agreed on that point and said let’s move and see my office. Deep in my thoughts i was thinking that it will be closed due to rains.
Amit replied don’t worry bhaiya! We will see your office from the outside only.
And i said yes we will go and see it. As soon as we reached my office I saw that lights were glowing inside the rooms of the office. I could see the lights in the daylights because it was dark outside due to clouds. I paused and thought for a while how could it happen? Then, the thoughts keep roaming around my mind that lights might be switched on due to the security reason. It might be possible that there should be one or two security guards appointed for the security only.
When i stepped inside the office i was tranquilized to see that every employee was working. I went into a big trauma that how could it happen? Then one of the workers from the office went to the manager of our office and gave him the news about my presence.
The manager called me and said can you tell me the reason behind the late coming of you at your office. I was in a still. I could barely utter a word. Slowly, in very low tone i thought today is the rainy day…!
What? How? The manager of the company was shocked when i answered his question. I continued by building my courage and said sir! I live in an apartment where below my apartment lives college and high school students. When they return back from the schools and college respectively i thought that today might be a holiday. They confirmed my query by saying that all school colleges and offices are closed due to heavy down pour. That is why i granted today as a holiday and was enjoying my day. When i crossed my office after visiting from the market the lights were on so i came inside just to check it and conform it because the lights were glowing inside the office.
In between all this everyone was laughing very hard. When I turned my face around I saw a lot of my colleagues were standing just behind me.
The manager of the company replied there is no such rainy day in the office. And it cannot happen in future too.
Seeing raining like cats and dogs from the vision of a child can put you in a fix
It is around 30 years ago. Rohan used to study in college. He was doing his under graduation from Calcutta University. The days were glorying at that time. The air used to be pure as compared to know. There was a whole bush of green trees that surround the college. The aura was so mesmerizing there. Everyone wanted to stay at the college only. No one wanted to go back to their respective homes.
I completed my bachelor in technology from there and was busy in my placement session. Everyone at that time used to wait eagerly to get placed as soon as possible. The companies were coming to employee students from our college. The interviews used to be very hard.
I too was involved in these placement sessions so that I could get a job to buy myself and my family members a bread. So, i went to Nagpur for the interview of a company. Luckily, I cleared that interview and got selected as a computer engineer there. So, in a hurry I packed my clothes with some basic needs so that I can settle there. It happened all because my job was starting just after 3 days from the date of interview. I somehow managed to do the packing within 5 hours. My company was away from the city so I took a flat which was nearest to the company. It was around 1.5 kms way from the company. Therefore, I used to go to my job by bus or sometimes by my personal vehicle. I loved my job a lot. It was fun working there. My colleagues were so good. Also the office time was perfect. All my whole day went in working in office and travelling. I got super busy within a few days.
It was almost 2.5 moths that I had been working with the multi-national company. Summer slowly changed into monsoon. Pre-monsoon had approached there with the mild rains. That beautiful weather remained for a few days and was slowly going to change into a heavy downpour when the monsoon would be there.
The place where I used to live was a multi-storey building with 10 apartments in that building. I used to live on the 6th floor and there were a couple of high school and college students that used to live in the 5th apartment which was just below my apartment. I used to meet them whenever I was free. On weekends I used to spend my whole days with them. So we became friends very soon.
It was the mid-July when it rained so heavily in Nagpur. The rain continued till the whole night and it was a very heavy downpour. It should have been the maximum rain recorded of that year by the weather department. So, i along with my friends that used to live just below my apartment had a great fun that night. We were singing songs, dancing all night, playing many games, chit-chatting and having pakodas.
Did Nauseen and Malliquh be that involved in pampering their child that they completely forget the whole purpose of keeping a Roza?
Nazma woke up holding the mat in her hand and said, “Alas! Nauseen madam, we both have also kept Roza. We both are hungry and are very tired. Let us sleep for some time. Nauseen again became angry and said, “You both had enough of your sleep. Now get up and make preparations for the next dishes. Go and rush to your work. Both Nazma and Huma woke up and started doing their work.
It was evening when everyone wanted to open their Roza because it was a ceremony. They had arranged everything in their garden. So, all guests including Malliquh family members went outside to open their Roza. Chef’s had prepared a variety of cuisines and dishes. Each and every guest rushed to the cuisine stalls because they were super hungry and were craving for the delicious and tasty food.
While all in-between this Nazma and Huma opened their Roza by eating plain bread along with some water and dates. They weren’t offered the cuisines and dishes that everyone was eating.
Nauseen’s mother-in-law was watching all this and went to Nazma and Huma and offered them two trays that were filled with a variety of dishes and sweet dishes. She told them to have it and said them eat as much as you ca. Fill your stomachs with the food and even if some food is left out you can pack the food and take it to your home. Eat as much as you cab until your heart is filled with joy.
These people don’t k now the real meaning of Roza. All they want to do is to maintain their standard symbol. Islam introduced the concept of Roza all because the Allah wanted that the rich and elite class people help the needy and poor people. Eid is celebrated only when you provide food to the people who really need them so that they can have a proper food even for a single day. What is the purpose of celebrating Eid if you give food and gifts to the people who already had them? The purpose of Eid is that people realize that every person should sleep happily with their stomach filled at God’s evening. But can you see here that the rich people are providing food to people who are already self-sufficient capable enough to have a complete diet every day?
The basic meaning behind Roza is to remain without food and water the whole day, learn new things every day. Roza makes you learn about the patience a person should have, not to be in a hurry always. People should provide food and clothing to the poor people. Shower love on them. Provide them the basic amenities. This will be so grateful when the elite people bestow their love on the needy ones. People should take care of the poor and orphan children, gift them toys and food. Then only you will see the joy of sharing. They should not make the poor people and children work like animals.
I am not saying that people should not keep Roza. They should. They should spend this day like normal days by eating simple food, cherishing every moment and not playing silly games on iPad, staying in air-conditioned rooms always.
Roza should be there for you people, who spend all their day in working and whatever they get to eat they eat that and consider their life to be happiest.
Malliquh and Nauseen were standing were listening to all this. They were shocked while listening to the conversation between Nazma and Nauseen’s mother-in-law. They soon realized the power of love and care in the festivals.
They both had come there to call their mother for the party but remained still after listening to their conversation. After this, they felt very ashamed of themselves and thought how little their heart is. After taking a very long pause Malliquh made a decision that he will arrange another party in the coming weekend for the poor and needy people so that they can have the good food and joy of living with others at least for a single time. Also, he will keep in mind that they both Malliquh and Nauseen will keep Roza in the limits and will not over-pamper their son, Paras.
“My mother always speak honest and truthful words,” said Malliquh. Roza doesn’t mean to quit water and food for one day. The basic concept behind keeping Roza is to control our senses, our taste buds, our soul, our heart and our mind. It is a test of our control on our bodily processes and senses. We should not speak bitter words and never be harsh on anyone especially the needy people. We should not see mishappenings that are occurring with people. Instead, we should encourage them to fight with that or help them to do so by providing financial and emotional support. We should share our happiness with the poor and needy people and also share theirs sad and harsh moments with us. We should understand their pain and sufferings that they are bearing.
This is what exactly a Roza means. We should always do our work honestly and maintain peace among yourself. We should not be deceitful to the people. We all should celebrate Roza in this way only.
Did Malliquh and Nauseen really know the meaning behind the Roza?
Malliquh and Nauseen were so involved in attending parties that did they knew about Huma and Nazma?
The month of Ramzan started. There were celebrations all around. Everyone was so excited and was having fun. Every corner was cherishing in revelry. Malliquh house was near the market. There was hustle bustle around his house. Festival celebrations were in the air. Malliquh has only one child named Paras. He was 9 years old and was in 3rd standard. He was extremely happy because it was his 1st “Roza”. Nowadays ritual of opening Roza has become a status symbol for people. Paras belong to very rich and elite class. His father was a businessman and earned a lot. He was well qualified and had a huge experience in his own field.
Malliquh has the wife named Nauseen. They both were very happy with their married life. Nauseen and Malliquh were not very fond of this fasting system. They both keep Roza on rare days and at rare times. But Nauseen’s mother-in-law believed in Allah and used to keep Roza every time. She always made herself involved in Allah and rituals associated with them. She used to spend most of the time with Allah and was very religious.
Their household worker Nazma was very hard working and used to spend most of the time with them. But today was Roz everyone including Nazma daughter’s Huma was excited. So, they came to Malliquh home early today at 6:00 a.m. Nazma along with Huma reached home at 5:30 a.m. and made themselves busy in cleaning their home. They started with putting on new bedsheets. They put on clean white bedsheets both on the beds and the floor because of the Namaz that they were going to perform. They mobbed the whole house. They washed the verandah and the balcony including some portion of the street. They kept all the religious items which needed to perform Namaz. They managed to do it within a single hour. And the Namaz system was arranged for the women which were invited as guests and the neighbors.
Malliquh already told his colleagues, friends, and relatives about Paras’ Roza. He was delighted and kept a huge lunch called “Dawat” at their home. He called nearly 150 people on this gathering. Huge preparations were made for this event. Caterers were there to serve people and top chefs were invited to make the delicious finger licking food. Tents were established along with the soft music. Tables, chairs, mats and lightening system was arranged. All of it together looked too beautiful. The chef was super talented and had his huge name in the neighboring cities.
Paras was made to sit in a room which was fully air-conditioned. He was pampered a lot all because it was his first Roza and he belonged to a very rich class. He was given a separate room so that he interacts very less with the guests. He has gifted a mobile phone so that he remained busy and his mind didn’t deviate from eating and he doesn’t wish to eat more. All this was made because he didn’t crave for the food. Malliquh and Nauseen both took care of Paras very much. They both pampered him too much. Everyone enjoyed a lot at the event and were completely joyful because of the food. The food was very delicious.
But Nazma and Huma did every kind of household work. They kept washing the home and utensils up to 5 p.m. in the evening. They were exhausted and didn’t celebrate a second of their Roza. Instead, they worked hard and long as compared to other days.
They mostly had the glass and costly heavy metals utensils because they had bought them recently only due to this purpose. So Nazma and Huma had to take a lot of care while washing the utensils and keep them in a safer place so that they don’t get damaged or broken. Nauseen even told them that they didn’t want even a single scratch on their glass utensils. So, washing the utensils wiping them and keeping them in a safer place was a huge work and they paid it off. Huma and Nazma were very tired because they were doing all the household work since 7:00 a.m. in the morning and also due to Roza they neither eat something nor drank even a single of water. So, all their energy levels went down. Huma couldn’t even move her hand because of loads of work. She was getting faint nearly because of the deprivation of the food and water. Her faced shrank almost to the size of a pomegranate. She was completely weary. Her lips went so dry that the epidermis of the lips was getting peeled itself.
Nazma and Huma weren’t able to move their hand because they were exhausted. So, the lie down on the floor of the kitchen itself and decided to take a short nap so that they might get some rest. It hasn’t been half an hour that Nauseen approached there and started reprimanding them that fruits have approached the house main gate. Go and get them. Wash the fruits and after splicing them add some spices and chutneys. Make a delicious fruit chat from them and put them in small glass bowls and serve them to the guests.
What will help next?
Since childhood, Harry didn’t get the love of his parents. And now when he was in a fix what option did he had?
“How can you do this?” While saying this Shahida was extremely angry.
What? What did I do wrong? Said Harry in a very low and soft tone.
At least you could have asked me. But at this time you didn’t ask me. I accept that. It is okay. It is your opinion. But even after taking a decision you didn’t ask me. How could you do that? At least you could have told me because I am your mother you should have the courtesy take my advice. Shahida spoke all this in the single in the breath.
“Alas, yes…! Oh, I almost forgot that you are my mother. Harry said all this sarcastically.
But I cannot help me because you only put me in this situation. You are the only reason why I am like this. You are the sole reason for my rude behavior and do you know why I am saying so?
I am helpless in this situation because you gifted me this life and told me how to spend it.
“Me”, asked Shahida.
Yes, mother! Remember the time when I was a toddler. O you remember it?
When I used to crave for the fairy tales so that I can sleep better when I crave for the love that every mother gives to her child. When I need you to pamper me. I needed your shelter when I was a toddler. And what did you do? But you were so hard on me like a metal that I used to manage myself to make me happy.
When I grew elder than before you started handling me a mobile phone to play games to keep me busy so that I will not irritate you. Yiu was selfish. Your phone was full of games, videos of children and the fairy tale videos. I kept playing games or watching the videos of children and fairy tale and got tired soon. And I used to sleep like this when I got tired.
Dad used to come home when I was asleep and went to his office when I was still sleeping. I never used to meet my dad in the regular days except for weekends.
When I used to go tot the school. Who made me learn the new subjects, concepts and theories. Was that you?
No. A bold No. You send me to the tuition classes. I used to study at tuition so that you don’t have to do that hard work for making me study.
Mom abruptly said that who used to pay the tuition fees. We paid it. Because we hoped that at the tuition you will study more as compared to home. We wanted your bright future. And the only option was to make you successful at studies was tuition classes. So we did that.
Harry replied that did you asked my tuition teachers that how I was performing at studies. No never. You always wanted that your formalities are completed. Did you ask the tuition teacher that was I performing ad studying dedicated? You completed your formality that I got to study after school time and after that, you didn’t care.
And whenever I used to ask the question from you, you always said me to google it or check it in the supplementary books. Did you ever make an effort to know that how I studied? Do I need more practice and hard work? Am I good or bad at studies?
Your answer always intended to be a blunt No. When w in seventh standard the internet became my tuition teacher. I always used to rely on the internet for my every study purpose. Internet was my only teacher, friend, and a parent. My life collapsed in this home. I used to live like that I am living under a bed in a corner where no one cares about me. It was like that the dust covered me and everyone just ignored me. I used to live all by myself.
Whenever I faced a hard situation or was in a fix regarding family, friends issue or any school-related problem. I couldn’t ask the solution of my problems with you. Even I could not share my moments with you. Do you know why?
All because you were always busy in your business meetings, official or unofficial gatherings, kitty parties, business trips, social work and every other stuff in the world that always kept you busy. All this work kept you busy always. You completely forgot that I am your child and your son is alive.
This internet always used to be my best friend and always stood by me in every sad and happy moment. This internet is my life and my world since I was in seventh class. Now I have taken decisions consulting this internet where you could have helped me take my decisions. But you were nit always available.
Now tell me what I did wrong? Did I ever take the wrong decision? I was understood to be self-reliant since my birth!