Storieo

Category: Children’s

  • Story of Sardar Vallabhai Patel

    Story of Sardar Vallabhai Patel

    This is a story of a great soul who helped India during the time of difficulties without getting the supreme post [Prime Minister or President] and also of the real feeling of unity and integrity of India and Indians. This great soul was known for his diplomacy, shrewdness a love for the nation in true sense, an ironman of the nation, freedom fighter, true and great follower and devotee of Mahatma Gandhi and also one of the founding father of the Indian Constitution Therefore this great soul was regarded as Indian Bismarck. This great soul was Sardar Vallabhai Patel.

    Sardar Vallabhai Patel was born to a family of peasant proprietors on 31st October 1875 in a small town near Surat. He took the unusual step in that family of studying law and going to England from 1910 to 1913. He returned to Ahemdabad where he soon became prominent and was elected to the Municipal Council in 1917. He served as its Chairman from 1924 to 1928 and worked hard to improve the civic and health amenities of the city. By this time he had joined the Indian National Congress where his organizational skills were at a premium.

    Patel organized a satyagraha of peasants in 1918 to obtain an exemption of land tax from the government in years when the crop failed. This attracted the notice of Gandhiji. By 1922 Patel’s political and constructive work in Gandhian sense had supplanted his legal practice in importance. He led a mass movement in 1928 against raising assessments of land revenue; thereafter he was known as the Sardar and was addressed as such by Gandhiji and others. Patel was a key player in the Civil Disobedience Movement launched by Gandhiji in 1930 and served as President of Indian National Congress in 1931. He was arrested in January 1932 to May 1932 and again from 1942 to 1945.

    When India got its independence on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India and Sardar Patel was the Home Minster in Nehru’s Cabinet.

    As a Home Mister Patelji controlled the Congress Party machine better than anyone else before or since his time. He also won the administration and loyalty of civil services as he ensured a smooth transition of administration from Indian Civil Service to the Indian Administrative Service and allied central services of the newly independent Union. His unequivocal objective of building a strong and united India and the example he set of administering it with courage, justice, correctness and practically continue to be recalled at the present time. Patel’s cool courage averted the danger of possible breakdown in civil order at the time of Gandhiji’s assassination on 30th January 1948.

    Undoubtedly, one of Patelji’s greatest achievement was bringing into the Indian Union five hundred and sixty two Princely States with a variety of administrative system and 80 million people scattered around the subcontinent. With only three exceptions, this integration process was completed smoothly, through the exercise of shrewd and practical diplomacy. These cases of Junagarh, Hyderabad and Jammu and Kashmir were complicated by the conduct of the rulers and the enticements offered or interventions made Pakistan. Patel ordered a referendum in Junagarh and a police action in Hyderabad, which resulted in the full integration of those two states. Patel reluctantly acquiesced when the Indian government submitted the issue of Kashmir to the United Nations; his method of dealing with the quandary posed by Pakistan’s military action in 1947 to 1948 remains a matter of a speculation.

    Vallabhai Patel left the world on 15th December 1950 but he and his achievements and selfless duties will be remember by the Indians of all the generations.

    On 31st October 2014 the statue of Sardar Patel was built in Gujarat on the occasion of his birth anniversary. This statue is also regarded as statue of Unity.  This statue is the tallest statue in the world with the length of 182 m.

  • A TEA SELLER TO COLLEGE FOUNDER

    A TEA SELLER TO COLLEGE FOUNDER

     

    Once upon a time, a tea seller named Sagar Reddy lived in a village named  Gouraram. He was born for Krishna Reddy and Sangavi. He belongs to a poor family. But he does not want to be a poor man. He dreamed to develop colleges for students by working hard. He didn’t go to school in his childhood. He started selling teas and coffees in the bus station for the people who come to that station. He does not like selling teas but he was forced to do that by his parents as they are poor. His parents forced him to that money.

    One day, when Sagar was 14 years old, a relative of him was travelling in the bus in which he was selling teas. His relative was shocked to see him in that position. He asked Sagar “why are you selling teas being a small boy and belonging to highly respected family?” Then he answered his relative saying “ I was forced to do this” . His relative showed sympathy by giving him the extra money. But he did not take the money.

    As soon as Sagar went the home, he thought about his relative’s words. He was feeling guilty for the job he was doing in the bus stations. He thought of working hard. He want to build reputed colleges in Hyderabad and other famous cities. He started reading books on biographies of great persons and got inspired by them. He also went to tuitions with the money he got for selling teas and he developed the tuitions for poor children. By striving hard he earned money and build many colleges throughout India. Many people took inspiration from him and his colleges got good reputation and people liked to study in his colleges.

    Moral: Just because you are struggling means you are not a failure, every step of success needs a struggle to get there.

  • A Journey From A Poor Villager To PM of India

    A Journey From A Poor Villager To PM of India

     

    Once a boy was born to a poor family in a village of Uttar Pradesh on 2nd October 1965. That boy was Lal Bahadur Shastri. His father was a schoolteacher and mother was a homemaker. When Shastriji was one and half year his father got demised due to which his mother took him to his uncle’s house and settled there.

    After finishing his school and college education he started his university education studying Philosophy. On 1926 he obtained a degree of Philosophy.

    As he grew up he started working with Gandhiji in a freedom struggle for India’s independence. In the year 1930 he was elected to the Allahabad Municipal Board.

    Members of Congress party recognized Shastriji’s dedication and hard work due to which they appointed him as the General Secretary first of the District Congress Committee and then of the Uttar Pradesh, Provincial Congress Committee. Shastriji prepared a report on land reforms in the UP and was elected to the UP Legislative Assembly in 1937. On the eve of independence he was serving as Parliamentary Secretary to then UP Chief Minister Shri Govind Ballabh Pant.

    Shastri was made General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee and Minister of Railways and Transport in Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s Cabinet in 1951. He served in the latter position to 1956, when he set a rare example of ministerial integrity by acknowledging constitutional responsibility for a serious railway accident and resigning from Nehru’s Cabinet. One year later he was reappointed as Minister of Transport and subsequently held the portfolio of Commerce and Industry and then Home Affairs.

    Shastriji also played an important role in ensuring fair and peaceful elections in 1962 and during various changes in the higher ranks of Congress and the Cabinet made in Nehru’s last years under the Kamraj plan.

    After the death of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s death in 1964, Shastriji was chosen by his Congress Party colleagues to lead the country at a time of acute economic, diplomatic and political difficulty. He surprised many by the quiet strength he demonstrated through his prime ministership. He and his family lived simply, depended on vegetarian food and remained devout but unostentatious Hindus. For many observers, they symbolized the poor of India and also the new opportunities available in democratic in India. Shastriji’s policies expressed his own clear ideas on the need to ameliorate India’s chronic poverty, unemployment and social inequality. His emphasis was on improving agriculture and distribution of food, toward which end he engaged in detailed negotiations with United Stated of America; the institutional foundations of India’s Green Revolution were laid in the mid of 1960s.

    Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri was forced to deal with two separate attacks on Indian territory by Pakistan forces in the summer of 1965, openly in Rann of Kutch and covertly in Kashmir. In the first instance he agreed to arbitration over an uncertain borderland, partly because of financial pressures at home and heavy pressure at home and heavy pressure from the Western powers. In the second instance he stood unexpectedly firm and ordered retaliation; the Indian Armed Forces acquitted themselves well in the ensuring India-Pakistan war of September 1965. Afterwards, Shastrji agreed to a ceasefire ordered by the United Nation Security Council and then to a meeting with the then President of Pakistan Ayub Khan. The two reached agreement at Tashkent to restore the status quo and work toward improved relations on the subcontinent and issued a declaration to that effect on January 10 1966. Before he could return to his residence, Shastrji caused a sudden death due to cardiac arrest in Tashkent.

    His famous speech, “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” was the glorious speech he has ever given during the 1965 war with Pakistan.

  • Prayer

    Prayer

    This story describes the relationship between Giridhar and his grandfather. Grandfather wants to increase Giridhar’s belief in god. So he would do a secret task at the end which will bring a smile in your face.  

     

    Giridhar also known as Golu is playing with his cousins in the home.

    Giridhar’s mom: Giri, come let us move to the temple now.

    Giridhar a.k.a Golu: ma, please ask grandpa to come with us.

    Mother: Golu, he needs rest. Please don’t disturb him.

    But Giridhar’s grandfather heard the conversation between Giri and His mom. So he said Golu, I’ll also come with you. Let us move now. But Golu’s mom was not happy with this decision.

    Mother: papa ji, you have knee pain. Please take rest, I’ll convince Golu.

    Golu’s grandfather: no. Today is a special day. It’s my grandson’s 6th birthday. I should not miss darshan today in the temple. I have to pray for my grandson.

    Golu: dad ji, what is that special prayer?

    Grandfather: Golu, I have written my needs in this piece of paper. If I submit this paper in the temple, god will fulfill my needs.

    Golu: dada ji, what are your needs?

    Grandfather: Golu, I want my grandson to score top marks in the examination and I wish he should obey the orders of his parents and elders. I want my grandson (Golu) to live happily for the rest of his life.

    Golu: dada ji, whether god will fulfill all your needs?

    Grandfather: if your needs are true and if it is very much important for your life then it will be fulfilled. God will give you more strength and will help you to reach your dreams.

    Golu: dad ji, if it is true, then I will also write my needs in a paper.

    Grandfather: sure Golu, just go ahead.

    Golu wrote about his needs in a piece of paper.

    Giridhar (Golu) along with his mother and grandfather went to the temple.

    When they were returning Golu’s grandfather want to know what his grandson has written in the paper. So due to curiosity he took the piece of paper and started to read.

    In the paper, he has written about his grandfather’s health condition. He scribbled as: “Dear god, my grandpa is not well. He has knee pain. Please make him well”.

    After reading this Golu’s Grandfather was emotional.

    After a week

    Golu asked his grandfather about his knee pain.

    Golu: dada Ji how is your knee pain now?

    Grandfather: I am perfectly ok Golu.  I don’t know the reason but I didn’t feel pain in my knee after we have visited the temple last week.

    Golu: yes dadji, I know the reason.

    Grandfather: is it? What is that reason?

    Golu: dada ji, I prayed for your health in the temple. So you didn’t get knee pain.

    Grandfather: you are so sweet Golu. Thank you so much.

    In the Evening

    Golu: Golu returned from the school and he was extremely happy.

    On seeing him his grandfather also felt happy and want to know the reason.

    Grandfather: Golu, what happened? You are looking so happy

    Golu: yes dada Ji, see my report card

    Grandfather: he saw the marks of Golu. He has improved from the previous examination results.

    Grandfather: Golu, keep it up. If you study well then you will definitely get 1st rank in your class.

    Golu: yes dada ji, I will study more from today. I know god will help me.

    Golu’s grandfather was happy as his grandson started to believe in god in this young age and has begun to score good marks in the exams.

    Golu’s holidays has been started. Today Golu’s father is going to sign a new business project. So Golu’s family has decided to visit the temple.

    When they were returning home Golu’s grandfather asked him, what he has written in the paper.

    Golu: Grandpa, I wrote that we all need a big house near to the temple. So his grandfather was surprised.

    Grandfather: Golu, why did you write like this?

    Golu: dada ji, if we have a big house then my cousins can also live with me.

    Grandfather: he also started to pray that they should get enough money in the business.

    Within a year there has been a significant progress in their business. Golu’s father is managing their family business and he has gained more profits that year. So they bought a new house and that too near the temple.

    Grandfather: Golu, I think your second prayer also fulfilled.

    Golu: yes dada ji. I am so happy now and I will go to the temple frequently.

    Grandfather: he was proud about his grandson. After couple of years, Golu started to study well and he is the top scorer in the class. But his grandfather has reached the age of 80 and so he cannot able to visit the temple regularly though it is near to their home now.

    Golu and his family visited the temple. Golu’s grandfather could not able to go.

    Golu: he has mentioned in a paper that, his grandpa is unable to come with him to the temple now. He needs a Krishna statue just like in the temple for their family. So his grandfather can pray in the home itself. Golu has also mentioned that he needs the Krishna’s statue only from Mathura. He then submitted that paper in the temple.

    After a month, Golu has received a parcel. When he opened the parcel he was surprised to see Krishna’s statue. So he took that statue and rushed to his grandfather.

    Golu: dada ji, see I got Krishnaji’s statue.

    Grandfather: let me see who has sent this. He found that his second son has sent the parcel from Mathura.

    Golu: dada ji, I mentioned that I need a Krishnaji’s statue from Mathura and I got it now.

    So his grandfather smiled at him. Golu said about his prayers to everyone in the home. So his mom and dad have decided to ask Golu’s grandfather about his prayers.

    Golu’s mom and dad: what Golu is saying? Is it a miracle? How he got the Krishnaji’s statue from Mathura.

    Grandfather: due to god’s grace we got everything. My knee pain got cured and our family business developed well. So we bought a new house.

    Golu’s grandfather: the temple’s Priest is my old friend. When Golu has submitted his paper in the temple, I have contacted the temple priest through phone and requested him to help me. I requested him to read the prayer written by Golu after he left the paper in the temple. The priest said about the needs of Golu through phone.

    So I have asked Punit (second son) who is in Mathura to send the Krishnaji’s statue.

    Golu’s mom and dad: oh my god, why you have asked Punit. We can also buy it from here.

    Grandfather: yes, I know that. But I saw positive changes in Golu’s behavior after he started visiting the temple from his 6th birthday onwards. He scored well in exams and started worshipping god every day. So I just want to increase his belief in god.

    Golu’s mom and dad: both were surprised and said so this is your secret task?

    Golu’s grandfather: no, this is a secret task devised by god, performed by me and Punit.

  • Be Wise

    Be Wise

    Once in a village there lived a women. She was very rude to everyone. Whenever anyone tried to talk to her and give her advice she gave them a rude replies. So everyone in the village stayed away from her. No one liked her.

    In the same village there lived a wise man. He was very nice. Whenever there was a problem in the village everyone sought his advice. Even if anyone faced a problem personally they sought his advice. Every person in the village would love to talk to him and speak to him. He was so wise and knowledgeable that in many situations, his advice was the final verdict.

    The women hated the wise man very much. She hated him to such an extent that whenever that man passed by her place she would throw garbage on his head from her balcony. This has become routine for her. Even when that man went for prayers the women would throw garbage on him. Than he had to go home and change his clothes. But that man was so wise that he did not shout at that woman. He never said a word to her. He never reacted to this situation with anger. This made that women even angrier, thinking in her mind that why is this man not reacting even when I am throwing garbage on him.

    One day when a wise man was passing by her house the garbage was not thrown by that woman when the wise man looked up he did not find the woman. So he was little bit worried. But he thought the woman will not be available at home. So he ignored and continued his routine work.

    This routine continued two to three days but when the wise man could not find the woman, he went to her house. He asked the neighbors, they said that the woman is not feeling well. So the wise man visited the women’s house. When he went to her house she was trying to have water but she was so sick that she could not have a glass of water by herself. So the wise man sat beside her, gave her a glass of water. The woman was felt with tears in her eyes. Not only that but the wise man took her to the nearby hospital and she was treated by the doctor.

    Afterwards when she was well. The woman went to a wise man and repented for her mistakes. The wise man forgave her for the mistakes. The woman than promised a wise man that she would now not behave rudely and like him would try to help everyone in the best possible way she can.

    The moral we get from this story is we need to be nice to everyone and never ever react to the situations in anger. Even though we may not like the person or a situation we should not react to any situation in anger. If we do so we are harming ourselves not others. So be wise to everyone and never react in anger.

  • God is Everywhere

    God is Everywhere

    The story is about the religious father and his three sons and how they understand that god is everywhere.

     

    There was a family, the father, the mother and the three sons. The father was very religious and he wanted his sons to be explain them that god is everywhere. He is present with us in difficult times. Even though we can’t see him but he is present. So he thought of an idea through which he can do this.

    He called all his three sons and gave them an apple and told them to eat it in a place where no one is looking at them. All the son’s listened to their father’s instructions carefully and starting thinking of a place where they have the apple.

    The first child thought of going beyond the curtains and having it. So he took a knife and started cutting the apple and had it. Once he was done with eating the apple he came out and shared the place to his father where he had an apple. His father said to wait for a while as his 2 brothers are yet to come.

    Then came the second one, he was thinking and thinking and thinking for a place finally he got a cupboard where he can hide and have his apple. So he took a knife and cut the apple and started having it. After finishing the apple, he came out and shared the place where he had his apple. Their father repeated the same instruction and told both of them to wait as their one more brother is yet to come. They did the same.

    Now it was the third one’s turn. He went everywhere. He climbed the mountain, closed the door, hide behind the cupboard, went to his friend’s house, hide behind the tree, sat on the bank of the river everywhere, but he can’t find a single place where he could not find god. He felt the presence of god everywhere. He shared with his father and other two brothers that he went everywhere but can’t eat the apple. Their father was very happy that his third son was so wise and didn’t eat an apple.

    Their father explained the same things to his other two sons. That these whole world is governed by god. He is a creator of these world. There is a supernatural power governing us. The sun, the moon, the weather and whatever we are happily enjoying in these world is because of this creator, the supernatural power is all present. That power is present everywhere we go. Whether we climb the mountain, we sit on the bank of a river, hide our self in the cupboard, and go at some else place, close the door, the windows etc. He is seeing us all the time. He is present everywhere. Whether we can see him or not but he is all present. We may have the difficulties in the life but that supernatural power, the god is all present in some way or the other, in some form or the other form to help us and guide us in the difficulties and help us shell through difficult times.

     

    The Moral is that god is everywhere and help us shell through difficult times.

  • Green Mangoes

    Green Mangoes

    This story is based on the humane act of a character named Balram. It narrate, how he teaches today’s kids the importance of obeying their elders.

     

    Long time ago, there lived a boy named Ram, aged 12, in Sitapur village. His curly hair, falling swiftly on a cute and round face made him loved by everyone in the village. He was a super smart and intelligent kid with a “gang” of about five children, all of the same age except a boy Sidhu who was one year younger than all in the whole lot.

    The whole village was just so fed up of the group due to their notorious acts that they often got scolded by one or the other villager but their utmost innocence and respect towards everyone made them get love and care from everyone.

    Once, they all went for a cycling race round the village, there they saw a big bungalow with a farm having loads of raw mango trees. The farm had an owner with good muscular body, long hair going till shoulders and robust image with red-fiery eyes. They could not get their eyes off from the mouth-watering green mangoes and decided to enter the farm. As they tried to go in, they were stopped by a guard outside the gate. With a moderate frame, stupid face with thin eye-brows, having a hat on his head wearing kurta-pyjama, he stopped them and warned them against the ill-effects of going in. they had to then leave and proceed.

    Ram being the naughtiest among the whole lot, decided to enter the farm. All his friends warned him of the guard’s saying.

    But he decided to enter it from the backgate, hiding from everyone. They planned the whole stuff and headed to the farm the very next day. They entered the farm, got the mangoes and went home happily.

    Again they wished to do the same, went on and entered the farm but this time around, the owner of the farm, Balram had planned a conspiracy. He had knit a web to catch them. As and when they started plucking the mangoes, he came along with his guard and tried to catch the children. There was a lot of hustle-bustle, with everyone running here and there. The children were finally able to escape unhurt but as soon as they drove their cycle, they realized that Sidhu was not with them and realized that he was left in the farm only.

    Balram also caught a hold of Sidhu as he had got stuck on a tree and was not able to get down. Ram and his friends decided to get back to Balram to let him free sidhu but in vain. Instead he asked them to get his parents meet him. Now, all of them had to tell the whole story to their parents.

    Sidhu’s parents met balram, asked him the reason for the meeting and then Balram made his son, sohan meet them who had lost his capability to walk due to mistake ram and his friends had done. This was just a way to teach them a lesson that if your elders ask you not to do anything, its not because they want you to deprive from anything but just because of your safety.

  • Sense Of Humour

    Sense Of Humour

    Ratanpur, a small quiet and calm town where every individual helps each other during the time of happiness or tragedy. Every festival or function happens with enjoyment and with the participation of all.  In a way we  can say this is a place of joy and  happiness.

    The source of all happiness was Hamiz chacha. His snow-white hair and beard made him chacha for all five to fifty. Nobody could imagine any festivals without him. Naming ceremony to marriage or the last rituals of any one – Hamiz chacha’s presence and his advice is always there . People say that he served in the army and after retirement he settled down in Ratanpur. Chachi – a chatterbox , she can work and talk simultaneously . Her mouths gets rest during asleep at night. They have four children, two sons and two daughters .

    But all the kids of the town are like their children. Hamiz chacha used to teach them English and Arithmatics.

    On the day of Eid their home becomes the centre of attraction for all. The palatable sewai and biryani along with ten-ten rupees eidi to all children . He always use to say that ,”there are 2 kinds of knowledge , one which we learn from school and college and other which we get from our life.

    In school and college , first we learn and give exams but in our life first we give exams and then learn . These days were passing like this.

    After few years when Chacha got pneumonia then he was unable to get up from his death bed . One night he was running out of breath. Everyone understood that the death was knocking the door. Chachi sat near his bed consoling him that do you have any last wish tell me do not hesitate. Chacha replied that the piece of of farming land give it to Shakeel. Chachi replied that this land should be given to Khalid. Chacha however kept his control and then replied Ok! Then all the ornaments give to Nida , Chachi replied that Nida will unable to handle all the ornaments . I will give to Misbah. At the time of death Chacha lost the control and said that, “lets decide who will die first, you or me.”

    This is called the Sense of Humour!

    Don’t you think.

  • Difference And Changes

    Difference And Changes

    Rosa and Frieda though there were twins by birth but their characters belonged to two opposite poles. They were born in a middle class family. Rosa has all the good qualities, which are expected to all the parents. She was a studious, well mannered and also had other extraordinary qualities .

    She was boon to her family.

    On the other hand Frieda! Oh what to tell about her. She only knows how to enjoy her life no matter in which way.  Her aim was only to explore all those things, which are not permissible in a disciplined society. She runs away miles from the study books. Does not like to do anything, which can please her parents or teachers.

    Frieda always had an eye on the things belongs to others and grab them by hook or crook. She did not believe on hard work or honesty.

    These two flower and thorn were belonged to the garden of Henry and Mary .

    Their home was a picture of the typical middle class family. Henry use to work in a mobile company and Mary was a school teacher. Both of them were working hard to meet the ends.

    As it was expected Rosa finished her studies with flying colors gaining good marks in the academy . Frieda just got an average marks in the academy . After their education Rosa started her business in a mobile company named Run and Frieda started working as a disco dancer and both of them were got established in their respective fields .

    Their parents were ready to arrange the marriage of their daughters. Rosa got married to a businessman named Richard. Richard was the classmate of Rosa. After finishing the education Richard joined his father’s T.V. company. Frieda got married to Max, who was a bartender in a disco where Frieda use to dance .

    After the marriage also Rosa was still working as a businesswoman in Run company whereas Frieda was still wasting the money in the intoxicating things.

    One day Max was removed from the bar due to which the financial condition of the couple got worsened. Max and Frieda were trying to get help from others but they succeeded in doing so . In the end they went to Rosa and Richard for the help. Richard and Rosa explained Max and Frieda that life is not just   for fun and entertainment. Max and Frieda realized their mistake . They wanted to change their attitude for their better life.

    Richard employed Max in Sunny T.V. and Rosa gave Frieda an opportunity to work in Run company. Frieda and Max gave resolution to Richard and Rosa that they will work in a sincere manner .

    On the next day Max and Frieda in Sunny and Run company and their standard of living got increased.

  • Silly Little Things

    Silly Little Things

    Why are we so lost in our busy lifestyle, that we overlook little things that give us happiness? Have we grown too mature  to appreciate pretty moments of life?
    Smita is a working lady, very well-off. All she wants is a really long sleep on her holiday, but she is woken up by some fuss in the garden. She has to still survive the day now and finish her assignment too. Indolently she steps into the garden and ends up being their whole evening. But why? Why does she take out so much time out of her busy routine?

     

    “What’s that noise?” Smita woke up from her sleep. The shrill wailing noise grew even louder.

    “Ramya Bai! Who’s crying like a child, this fine morning?”, Smita, clearly annoyed by now asked her maid. After all she had worked all night and it was one of those once in a blue moon days on which she got a leave from her work.

    “It’s a fine ‘afternoon’ Madam.” smirked Ramya. “….and it is indeed a child who is crying” and then she went off with her ever cheerful mood.  Smita, still dazed by her inadequate sleep, but stirred by agitation, she got up and went up to the window overlooking the garden.

    The culprit stood in the shade of the tree. A little girl nearly 7. The wailing had stopped, the noise had reduced to the sulking sounds of the girl and the loud voice of the gardener, who was scolding and bashing the girl.

    “It is the gardener’s granddaughter, Madam. She was playing in the newly prepared soil. Mali kaka apparently doesn’t like anybody messing with his work.” Ramya, who was back in the room dusting all over, reported the matter dutifully, giggling in her usual tone. “…. Crying as if kaka broke her masterpiece…much ado about nothing… adamant kid…… grumpy old man… just a little girl…. Beating no good….” Ramya was still chattering away, explaining what the fuss was all about. To all her talk, Smita wasn’t even paying half a heed by now.

    Cranky about her sleep getting disturbed, her mind was blaming the girl with the regard of a criminal. “Why are children so stupid!? Crying over silly little things!” Smita was thinking aloud by now.  “It is us grown-ups who ought to cry. With piles of work hovering over and fighting hard every day for survival is the real struggle, the real issues to cry over!”  “ True that, Madam.” Ramya chortled understandingly. Feeling that she has said a lot by now, she yawned, brought her rational senses back and began her routine.

    It hadn’t been a good start for the day. Moreover, her holiday had not even begun yet and the vicious worries about the office work for the next day were drilling up her mind already.

    It was now 4 in the afternoon, Ramya and the other servants were done with their work and retired to their respective quarters. Smita sat by her workstation, staring blankly at her laptop screen. She was bending her mind hard, trying to resolve the problem she was having in her project. But, it seemed like her brain has gone sterile, no ideas were coming up. Two hours since she begin her work and now halfway through it, her progress was saturated.  It was a dull afternoon and a break was much needed. She stretched and cursed her bosses under her breath though no one was listening. She then tried to cheer herself up by the thinking about the evening party she was about to attend, but all in vain. “Same old people, same old talk, same old sneering vanity.”Smita dismissed such thoughts and begin to ponder over her wardrobe and the dilemma she would face in deciding to wear. She began dawdling around the house, searching for snacks. She looked outside, the weather was beautiful. A cloud had covered the sun, and light breeze was flowing.

    Her mind still occupied with futile thoughts about her dresses, she involuntarily stepped into the garden.

    After the morning mayhem that the garden had caused in her sleep, it appeared like a peaceful after-war zone. The gardener had left the tap a little open mistakenly. A little puddle formed near the hose called her attention towards it.

    She closed the tap tightly. She picked up the hose and while doing it, dirtied her hand accidently. She sat down there; broken remains of some clay houses were gaping at her like memoirs of some lost civilization. She tried picking them up, but they succumbed by her touch. Smita looked around guiltily as if she had destroyed some monument. The clay yielded under her hands. She loved the cold feel of it. She began mixing the soil and water slowly. The clay began to take different shapes, that of a hut, that of a ball, rings and figures, pots and pans. Her fingers were working meticulously; failing at times but not giving up. The clay was giving way, molding up to her desires.

    And there she was for hours! A 24-year old child sitting on her haunches lost in the child-like bliss. The time had trickled drop by drop and she was entirely occupied by what she was doing. Plunged deep into the present, she had no worries of the future, no regrets of the past. Little did she realize that she was experiencing the happiness and tranquility that meditation and a myriad of expensive therapies promise to provide!

    Then, the ringing of her phone broke her trance. It was already little darker by now. Smita got up hurriedly. As she was rushing back to house, she found a pair of eyes staring at her. It was the little girl from the morning.  Something made her feel that the girl has been there for a while. The girl smiled shyly which made Smita stop right in her tracks. In that meeting of gaze, a feeling of camaraderie rose and an oath of secrecy was sworn mutually. Smita smiled back at her. The girl coyly withdrew and ran back to her quarters.

    The next day:

    Alarm was buzzing loudly. The clock displayed the time: 7 a.m. Smita woke up from the most sound sleep she had in ages. With a sudden urge, she went to the window. Looking down, she saw the old gardener bent over with his spade.  In his usual grumpy mood, he was tilling the soil and continuously mumbling. “Spoilt little brat! How often do I need to shout on her!?” One blow of the spade and the clay huts collapsed. “How many times have I told her not to play her games in my prepared soil!?” Another blow and then another and all the pieces of art were back to ground zero.

    Their maker stood looking by the window. Before she knew, her lips quivered and two tears silently rolled down her cheeks.

    “Silly little things to cry upon…..” her own voice echoed in her mind.