Category: Life

DHRUV-TARA : Story of Siblings

Dhruv-Tara is not the story of the star we know. Its about the shine of this star that reflects in the relation of the brother and sister in this story. We always wish to have a brother/sister whom we can rely on and who fulfills our wishes without telling. this is a story of a similar girl whose brother is always there for.

                                “Tara! Tara! Where are you dear?” asked the young boy coming in through the doorway.

He was Dhruv, a 19 year old boy, the elder brother of Tara. “Tara, look I have brought you the shoes you wished to wear on your birthday. Come, put them on and show how they look on you?” Tara came running to see what her brother had brought for her. But when she saw the shoes the smile on her face just vanished away. She angrily told him “What is this bhaiya? I wanted the pink shoes and look you bought me the white ones. You always do this.” And she started crying. Dhruv tried to console her and said, “But Tara this shoes would go with your school uniform too. And look how beautiful and stylish they are.” But Tara was not going to listen any of his explanation. She wanted to have the pink shoes that her friend Priya had.

                                Dhruv was studying in an engineering college and had to work along with his studies to be able to give her sister all the comfort she ever wanted. On the other hand Tara was 9-year old cute little girl, who was very stubborn and always wanted something more than her brother could afford. But still Dhruv tried to give all the happiness to his sister. He did not take account of his needs so that he can provide her sister with all the luxuries and lavishness she ever thought of. He never wanted her to think that the death of their mom and dad had affected their life. He never let her miss her mother and father.

                                After some days she went to Dhruv and said, “Bhaiya, I want a new dress on my birthday.

All my friends have got a new frock on their birthdays. I also want one.” Her brother thought for a while, sighed and said sadly, “Tara I’m sorry but nowadays we are running out of money. You know we have to pay the rent of this house in the first week of the month. And I have also not yet received my salary. So this time I’ll not be able to present you a new dress on your birthday. I am really sorry for that dear. Hope you’ll understand.” But Tara was not going to understand. She thought that her brother didn’t want to give her anything on her birthday. So she ran to her room and started weeping. But Dhruv had no way to calm her down and make her know that how he was trying to make her birthday special but failed every time he tried to do something good for her.

                                This went for a few years. Dhruv had now completed her graduation. He had got a better job. Tara was now in college. She was studying fashion designing, which had been her dream since she was in school. After many efforts Dhruv had done her admission in the best fashion designing college of the city.

Now they were getting better standards of living. After completion of the first year of Tara’s graduation she wanted a laptop so that she can complete her projects and assignments.

She told Dhruv that she wanted the latest model of laptop. Dhruv promised her that he would try to buy a laptop as soon as possible. Next week when Dhruv got his salary the first thing he did was to order the latest laptop model for her beloved Tara. He was just returning home after going to the shop.

                                But something had to happen before he could tell her sister that she was getting her wish fulfilled. As Dhruv was crossing the road a car came in full speed and BOOM!!! CRASH. It went in front of Dhruv and hit him. He laid there unconscious, his body dripped in blood. Tara was on her way to home when she got a phone call from her brother’s mobile. But it was not the voice of Dhruv. A man had seen the accident and went to help Dhruv. He had got his phone and called Tara’s number. He told her that the owner of this phone had met with an accident. He has already informed the ambulance. And that she should reach the city hospital right away. The phone call was a shock for her. She was thoughtless for a while. But soon was driving her Activa at full speed to reach the hospital as soon as she can.

                                By the time she reached the hospital, Dhruv was shifted in the emergency ward and the doctors had started the treatment. She thanked the person who called her and brought her brother to the hospital. The receptionist had told her to pay the fees. She didn’t know how she was going to pay the fees for her brother’s treatment as she had no money at that time. Then she remembered that her brother had saved some money for emergency situations. She quickly went home, opened the almirah and took out the money she needed. She rushed to the hospital and paid the fees at the reception. She got the news there that Dhruv was conscious and that she can meet him then. She went in the room and was happy to see Dhruv. She sat beside him. He told her that he was going to give her a surprise.

He said,

“Tara, you told me that you needed a laptop to complete your assignments. I had gone today to order a new laptop for you. I hope at least this time I would be able to make you happy.”

On this Tara started crying. She sobbingly said, “Bhaiya, I was wrong. Every time you did something good for me I always used to find some fault in it. I never tried to understand the efforts you made for me to be happy. Today for a moment when I thought I was going to lose you. I realized that all these years what I was wanting was just you. I never wanted anything else but you. Please promise me, you will never leave me alone.” And she started crying. Dhruv tried to soothe her and said, “Tara, stop crying. I promise we’ll always be together. Soon I’ll be perfectly fine and again will start with my work to give my sister the lavish…….”

                                Tara, interfering her brother in between, said “No bhaiya. You have already done too much for this demanding sister of yours. Now it’s my turn to give you all the things that you wanted to have but were not able to get because of my demands. I’ll now give you all the things that you ever wished of.”

                                After a week’s rest, Dhruv was discharged from the hospital. He went home and was surprised to see his home well decorated for his welcome. He was amazed to see that Tara had brought him his most favourite wrist watch. She hugged him and told him that she had got a part time job and that now he didn’t need to worry about the need of money for the household things. Now his sister has grown enough to take care of her brother and her house as well.

                                After that everything became easygoing. Dhruv started with his job once again. Tara was doing well in her studies and her performance in her job was also excellent. They had owned a little house. And as all the stories have, this one also had a HAPPY ENDING!!

March 25, 2016
Souls connected

This story shows that even a non living thing can connect to someone's soul in such a way that it matters for even one's life and death. This illustrates the connection that has tied from the birth of two souls and which ends with their death together.

       We always think of trees as lifeline for all the living things in this world. But a tree can become someone’s life. Interesting, isn’t it? There was one such body whose soul was a sapling that grew as the soul was raised.

       Long ago, lived a couple, longing for a little one to complete their family. After a prolonged wait, their prayers were answered. The family was given a pretty little boy by the Almighty. His deep blue eyes, like the oceans within. His chubby cheeks, red like a tomato.

His curly brown hair. His tiny hands and legs, delicate like the petals of a flower. His beauty was beyond describing through words.

The family was pleased to be gifted by such an angel. They thought that this beautiful creature was the reward of their wait. They named this charming boy, VANSH.

       Along with the happiness of the arrival of this new member in the family, the couple didn’t forget what they had promised to each other. At the time of their wedding they had promised each other that at the time when their baby would come in this world, they would plant a sapling in the backyard of their house as a token of love for their baby. So, they decided to plant a mango tree. The tree was planted in the centre of the backyard.

       Then started the journey of VANSH and the tree.

Both grew together. There was an amazing connection between them. It looked as their souls were connected. When baby VANSH was happy the sapling VANSH looked hale and hearty. But when VANSH was sick, the sapling seemed to be ailing. This bond sometimes surprised the couple, but they then realised that this relation would last lifelong and as long as the tree is safe, we don’t need to worry about VANSH.

       The life started its actual stages. Soon VANSH was sent to school. He would come to the mango sapling as soon as he came back from the school. He shared each and every thing he did the whole day to the plant. And the plant also, as he understood everything what VANSH told him, shook its little branches. VANSH used to play around the sapling whole day. He started to see the plant as his best friend, rather as a brother. Sometimes he even ate sitting near this plant.

This bond grew stronger and stronger as both grew up. It seemed as both passed from the stage of life together. The plant soon turned into a tree. The tree began to yield mangoes. And these mangoes were very sweet and perfectly ripened too. VANSH everyday took a mango and ate. And always found one ripened mango on the lower branch. It seemed that the tree always saved one mango for VANSH.

       Now VANSH was in 10th grade. When the board exams were approaching, VANSH became nervous. And the only place he could find answers was in the shade of the tree. He sat in the shade of the leaves of this tree and he felt like all his problems were solved. There was some magic in the lap of this tree for VANSH. He used to sit under the tree and study.

Sometimes he took a nap here too. And when the results were announced, VANSH went straight to the tree and gave it a tight hug. He thanked him for the magic that helped him to answer his exams. Surprisingly the tree dropped a fresh ripened mango. VANSH took it as a gift of his good result and ate it going inside the house.

       Now time flew as wind. VANSH grew from a boy into an adult. Time came of his marriage. He wanted that the tree, his best friend right from the childhood, would remain present on his big day.

So he decided that his wedding ceremony will take place in the backyard where his beloved tree lived. After the marriage VANSH told his wife about his connection with the tree.

He told her that this was no ordinary tree. This tree was a witness of his happiness and sorrows. They both grew together. His wife too became affectionate towards this mango tree. She used to water its roots and clean up its surroundings, just like VANSH used to do. After some years, God gifted VANSH with cute twin boys.

They were as beautiful and charming as VANSH was when he was young. He remembered his days of childhood, when he saw them playing. He memorized how he used to fooling around that little mango plant. Now he missed those days as he was no more young and neither was the mango plant still a plant. Now he didn’t get much time to spend with the mango tree. But still somewhere in the bottom of his heart there was a special place for it. Whenever he got upset about something that was going on in his life, he just sat under the mango tree, just like old times, and took a breath of satisfaction.

       Now both VANSH and that mango tree grew old. VANSH’s children were now handling the work and VANSH had nothing to do except finding ways to utilize his free time. Every time he thought of nothing but to sit with his best friend the mango tree and tell him about all the things going on in his and his children’s life. Unfortunately, VANSH’s children were not so fond of the tree. They thought that this huge mango tree was occupying extra space in their backyard and that they didn’t need it any longer. VANSH tried to explain them that this tree was no ordinary one. His memories were associated with it. He had lived his life with it. Their happiness and grieves were no different. He could not live without this tree.

His soul lied within this tree. But his children were not capable of understanding their father’s feelings.

They couldn’t even think how deep his connection with this tree was. They decided to cut it as soon as possible. He couldn’t tolerate the fact that his beloved friend was going to be cut down. This made VANSH very gloomy. His health was getting poor and poor. Still, his children couldn’t understand that their decision would take not only one but two lives to their creator.

       Then after a week, VANSH’s younger son came up bringing an axe from the market. He and his brother started to cut down that tree, branch after branch. As the tree’s branches reduced, VANSH’s spirit also began to leave his body. And when the last branch of the tree left its trunk, VANSH’s soul took leave from his body.

And so the souls who started their journey in this world together, departed from this world together and the connected souls left this world giving it a beautiful message of friendship.

March 23, 2016
C’est La Vie

Sometimes it takes losing something to realize what you’ve had… and sometimes we give so much up that we end up losing ourselves.

The office was empty. Everyone had left for the day. She sighed. She couldn't leave because she was unlucky enough to be assigned to do a job of a faceless client from a place far behind their time zone. She eyed her iPod on the work table and it seemed to be beckoning her to play a song to elevate her mood. She turned it on and sighed when a long-forgotten song came alive on the little speakers. Her eyes closed and her head dropped down on her folded arms and, soon, she was transported through time to a past she often visited but no longer had access to.

The familiar sight and smell of her school flooded her thoughts. The sleek hardwood floors, the food court where she and her friends hogged on noodles, the fancy reception desk which resembled the shape of a pile of books, the nerdy young professors, the carefree laughter of the students. Oh, how she missed all that. She could clearly visualize every single one of those things as if she was living it, as if that phase of her life hadn't already passed ten years ago.

She thought of the moments spent alone in a classroom, listening to that very song but with her eyes glued to the computer screen, hand gripping her stylus as it flew across the bamboo tablet, painting landscapes and still objects with ease. There were moments spent in the company of her friends, talking and laughing, discussing horror movies and cracking silly jokes. They were a team, they ate noodles together, they did their assignments together, they went out together… yes, they had been a team.

But not anymore. Everyone had gone their separate ways after art school. None of them was making art. One of them was a realtor; another, a pharmacist; a third became a sales person; two were unemployed; and she… she slogged on a dull desk job in a company whose business wasn't even worth talking about. They had tried to do something as a team. They had given a shot at art. They had gone years without a proper job and months without consistent pay. But their struggles had not borne fruit. Eventually, economically shattered and in the pursuit of a steady and secure life, they had all separated, each going their own way doing what they thought was best to survive.

Art was dumped into a folder on the computer and forgotten.

The song was reaching its climax and she wearily raised her head, taking her iPod and dully turning it off. She felt something wet on her face and touched her cheek. She was crying.

The computer screen pinged and a new email notification popped up. She wiped away her tears and went to work.

March 23, 2016
how my little girl has grown…

Every day we share a meal or two with our near and dear ones, or with our families…However not many stop to wonder what a smile can hide or what the silence screams. Not often do we ponder upon how precious innocence is to a little girl and how treacherous a little piece of candy can become.

“It's just a coffee toffee..that’s it…a sweet, nothing less nothing more…why would anyone despise such a thing?”
He said while he pulled back the box of chocolates he had bought for her.

“I remember when you were little, you would hold 'em in your hand so tight that your palm would hurt and if some one pulled 'em free you'd cry to no end” he chuckled.

“how my little girl has grown..”

They finished their ritual – the weekly father daughter dinner. She had moved to a different state to continue her studies. Where she stayed to become the senior counsellor to an NGO and also had a telly show in the works.
As they made their leave, he said to her with an unwavering tone “I’m proud of you” .

She stood there smiling. She always had been known to keep to herself, most of her childhood passed away in solitude .
“I love you child..” he said, and thrust the toffee in her hand and gave her a hug. The voice resonated in her head…this brought back memories…

When she was 10 her father gave up his prestigious job as CEO of chromex pvt. ltd. and became instead a stay home dad while her mum decided to keep her job as the senior manager of a big shot company. I She and her brother were left alone with him…

It was ritual, when her mum was away.She remembered the first time they were lead into his room.

He said that he had a game to play with them, and with all earnesty they playfully trotted along and followed him.He then made her brother sit at the edge of the bed.
The first time when it started she had no clue what was happening, he drew closer to her as a sinister look dawned over his face. Bewildered and scared she cried and screamed. That was the first time he had beaten them to silence, and in the end that was all that remained. No questions were given back in retort, just innocence taken.

She was just 10 and scared, every time she tried to struggle in any way, she and her brother had to pay the price… and so she let it happen the next time, and the time after that He would ask her to strip him and play with his manhood, and this continued on at every spare opportunity.

Time passed he got bolder and aggressive. He would continue for hours. She couldn't escape reality, even her dreams were plagued with blood, and brutality. The violence her mind began to force her to see, there was no escape from it. The scars, bruises and cigarette burns he left behind on her body, made sure that she would not forget.

One day she thought she heard someone pass by the apartment, someone who could help put an end to this sick game he made her play. She shrieked for help and he choked her senseless in response. When she came to, he was on top of her grunting and sweating, his manhood in her. She was overwhelmed by pure undiluted fear, without any means of opposition she had let this happen too.
She was raped even before she could comprehend its meaning. And while he did this he made her brother watch. It gave him a sick thrill.
When would have his fill, he would hold out her arm and place a coffee toffee in her tiny palms.

She never dare cry, for that’s how much she feared him. It was easier for her mind to just let it happen.

Howling sirens brought her to the present from the flashback.
An officer was besides her, his hand outstretched “Thank you ma’am, we appreciate your courage. Must have not been easy to go through all of that.” He said t.

Her father was on his knees. she heard the distinct fleeting voice of the detective that was restraining him. “Mr. Thomas you are under arrest for multiple counts of rape sexual abuse, aggravated assault…” the voice droned off.

She was 24 now, she had a kid, he was 6. his father was her dad.
She had told everyone she had gotten drunk with a friend and had gotten herself knocked up.
No questions were asked. The power that came with her family name made sure of it.

Tears beaming through her meek eyes. She fell to her knees and let go of the toffee. It fell to the ground and was crushed under the shuffling boots of the officers.. the brutality had ended, she was safe. She was free.
She smiled to herself through her tears and thought to herself

“Yeah…how your little girl has grown..”

March 23, 2016
In the Womb

Its about a girl in the womb who describes her feelings when she is aborted.

I am colour of walls in my home, I am the aroma of food prepared at my home, I am the trumpet that keeps playing all the time in festive occasions and I am the daughter of this house who makes it a home.

Today is very special day of my life; everyone in my family is very happy. Each corner of my house is full with people enjoying their food and drink. I am very nicely dressed with jewellery and dress of my choice and a very special chunni that my grad mom gave me which she made herself. I am so in love with this smile that is present on face of mom when she is welcoming people.

My younger brother is sitting right next to me and he is cuddling me whenever he gets an opportunity. He doesn’t want me to go indeed he is arguing to come with me. Such an innocent kid, so much in love with his sister.

Awwwww I wish I could take him with me. My college friends are about to come and I am already blushing with the thought of the things they gone talk to me. Does this happen with every girl or it’s just me who is felling such thing when she is about to get married.

Apparently I see the courtyard of my house where I see the young me crawling around, throwing stuff,” look I stood up on my feet”, “today my teacher scolded me for not cutting my nails”, “dadi tell me what happened to ganesha after that”, “mom where are you my friends are about to come today is my birthday everything should be perfect”, “dad see I learned bharatnatyam”, “He is only my younger bro”, “ssshhhhhh I can’t speak loudly everyone is sleeping”, “mom I don’t think I can ever learn how to cook”…………..aaahhhh, all these pictures started coming in my mind. I see myself growing up in front of my eye.

I love my family a lot. I care about them; I never thought that one day I have to leave this house although since the day I got my senses I have been told that you are not ours, you have to leave but still I thought this is my family. Now all of a sudden it has become very difficult for me and for my family to separate.

But I don’t think my family is that sad, because they separated me from themselves the day they came to know that I was in womb of my mom. Yes, I am not born yet. I so wanted to come to this world as my younger brother did. I wanted to grow old in the courtyard I talked about. I wanted to marry someone.

I also wanted to become the reason behind smile of my mom, reason for my dad to be proud of. I also wanted to cuddle my dadi. Did I ask for too much? I promise I would have given something in return if you let me do that. And I promise you will be attached to me and the day I’ll leave your home you would not want me to go. Then what happened today how you can let go me like this.

Mom I know u keep thing away that may scare me so why don’t you tell these people to keep away the light which is scaring me when I have not even opened my eyes. Dad I know when I’ll come to this world you’ll protect me from all the pain, then what happened to you now. Can’t you see how much pain I am in.

Doctors are using knife on me, dad they are scooping me out, please save me dad I am your princess. People over here say it was your decision dadi but I dint believe them I know I am your eye candy and you can’t do this to me. I know you love me more then banty because of our cool granny daughter’s talk. So why don’t you stop them, I want to come to our home and were the sweater you knitted for me.

I don’t know who is stopping me to come to this world. If you people figure it out then please let me know I would make him understand how much my family loves me and how much they want me to be with them.

P.S. Your daughter (From womb)

March 21, 2016
Cherophobia

Cherophobia is a story about two sisters who haven't been together for so long because of a certain reason and when they do meet, it turns out to be the worst nightmare.

Cherophobia is the fear of happiness and you might think that what kind of person would fear being happy? Everyone might say that it's not real and that it is nothing. The thing that most people do not understand is that cherophobia is aeonian.

Standing there on the concrete, looking at the grass moving feebly with the wind, she looked over to the swings she wanted to sit on, the green grass she wanted to lay down upon, the smiles that she saw on other people's faces, the ones that she wanted to feel but which made her anxious, the joy that flourished the entire park, well not just the park, everywhere she saw and the feeling of bliss when someone so dear touches you, all of that which makes you happy was what she was afraid of. She looked at all of it and shut her eyes tight, trying to push those thoughts of fear away. She used to come to this park with her sister, but that wasn't something that made her happy, not anymore. She feared these memories and thus remembered each one of them as clear as a crystal because the voices in her mind never let her forget them. After eight years, this would've been the first time that she could spend time with her sister. But now it would never happen. She was the reason for her death. She was to blame. All the people, every one of them was shut out by her which had left her with no one to talk to. Anyone who tried to lift her up from her ruins, were either slammed or left unnoticed and unanswered. Time went by and the people fewer and fewer with each passing year when there came a time when there were none. She didn't mind that because it only meant lesser expectations and no compulsion to talk. Happiness was just a nine letter word she was scared to death of. But what had happened? Was what happened to her that bad, that she feared being happy?

HER STORY:

Mirage remembered vividly what had happened that night.

Her sister Katherine, the one who had been her lifeline after their parents had passed away, had come home to meet her in the holidays and they had so much to catch up on. Every time she came home, it would all go back in time and they would become kids all over again.

It had been a very long time since they met and visited the park and had decided that they would.

They were so happy. Their happiness beyond measure. But the wind had something else to say. It became colder by the minute and mist had started to form. Mirage went out to the door to shut it and walked over to light a fire but realised they had run out of wood. She called out to Katherine saying that she'll be right back and started out the gate, paving her way into the woods.

Mirage could sense something following her and wanted to run back to the house and lock herself in. It had come back. It had found Katherine.

Trembling with fear, Mirage looked at the silhouette formed in front of her, under the tree then looked away. She picked up the lightest logs she could find and headed back when something gushed across her face. She couldn't see what it was. It was an apparition. She felt a rush of adrenaline and then realised that Katherine was alone at home.

She ran as fast as a panther and looked up to the moon which had turned blood red. She looked up towards the house, it was still such a long distance to cover. No, Katherine was not alone. Oh god, what had she done? She breathed out her lungs and puffed in as much air as she could and ran towards the house.

All this while she had been doing her best to protect her sister but now, it had found her and she couldn't do anything, Could she?

Tears welled up in her eyes but she wiped them away. No matter how much she ran, the distance didn't seem to cut down. She ran with all her might but it seemed like she was going round and round in some kind of a circle. Her mind was in a constant battle with itself. She couldn't let anything happen to her baby sister. How could she fail her dad? She had promised him to do it even if it cost her, her life. But now?

All these years, Katherine was under her protection because she wasn't supposed to know who she was or rather what she was. She was not an ordinary person. She had powers, just like their mother but Mirage hadn't been passed those powers but that didn't matter to her. These powers had cost their mother her life along with her husband's.

He didn't want that for Katherine and that is why he had made Mirage promise him to keep Katherine's powers hidden and mirage had done it, faithfully for all these years but this one time, for her happiness and for Katherine’s, she had let her come home. This couldn't cost her sister. Her temptation engulfed her mind completely.

Finally, when the moon hid under a thick cloud could she find her way to the house and she called out to Katherine, her voice thick with all the cold. She ran into Katherine's room, she wasn't there.

In the hall, wasn't there. In the kitchen, wasn't there. On the terrace, no sight of her. There was one room in which she hadn't looked. The house was a mess. It was in here, but she couldn't see it. She rushed into her room and found what she had feared. There was a note pinned on her bathroom door saying, "Hey Mirr, I know you hated it when I used your stuff, when were kids but I really don't care anymore okay? I'm meeting you after complete 8 years and so I'm all forgiven. I'm so happy and happiness is meee!
P.s: You can't hate me coz I love you so much, Mirr. Haha! "

The water was still on but Mirage knew something was wrong. It wasn't here anymore. Where had it gone? Where was it? She pushed open the door and she saw her there, lying there in the tub. Katherine was there, lifeless. Her head had a hole in it and blood oozed out colouring the water to a bright ruby. She walked over to Katherine and grimaced.

It was horrific. 'It' had come to get her this way? How could it?

The shower head poured out excessively hot water which gushed right over and into her head, killing her. What had it done? Her eyes popped out of their sockets and her mouth open so wide it could take in a baby elephant. Mirage's temptation for happiness had cost Katherine's life.

She was so happy and now she was Cherophobic!

March 19, 2016
Last Embrace : Tribute to Neerja Bhanot

Tribute to Neerja Bhanot

Today as I write this diary entry, as She always wanted me to write, my heart aches at the fact that you are not here to read it and appreciate me for my venture.. I still remember all the times when she made me a proud mother and today I write this to make Her proud of me:

Since her childhood, I could see the spark in her eyes. The spark of an over achiever. She had it in her.

I still remember how happy she had been in her life at that time. After her failed marriage, my pretty child had got her moments of happiness. I thought the storm had gone. Little did I know, it was but just the beginning.

“Mumma, I promise you that one day you will be really proud of me”, my 12 year Neerja had said clutching to me once. I almost hear these words in her voice as I write this. Proud I am though, but not at this price. Yes, as an Indian, my chest broadens but what about a mother? It’s torn into pieces. Which mother would want that? What’s the purpose of being proud when I don’t have my little baby to kiss for her success?

My baby was like a baby herself. Even as a 22 year old grown up, her heart was of a child. It’s even painful that she left us 2 days before her 23^rd birthday. She had been quite excited about it. She had planned an entire day with her family and friends. She planned so much. I can’t hold myself from breaking down at times when I recollect the grins she gave when it was about going to parties, specially her own.

But I never knew that she was so mature, so brave, that she chose to save the life of kids, instead of her own.

I remember the fateful day her flight was scheduled; I see that playing in front of my eyes several times. She never considered any job as big or small and was proud as being the senior ‘purser’ on that Pan am flight, even though she went to be an attendant. She had asked me for my blessings and gave me the tightest hug.

Oh, I wish I could had stopped those moments for a life time and never let go of her from that embrace! Or I could have some supernatural powers to live that hug again, had I known they will be my last moments with her.

Neerja, Papa is equally proud of you beta. He knew the very instant that you will not stand something unfair, when he got a call about the hijack of your plane while he was in his conference, even if it meant to get your own self in trouble.

Our life has never been the safe since the day you have left me.

All those awards and that asoka chakra that hangs in our hall makes us imagine you with it, smiling cheerfully and saying, “I had promised you na?”

I know you’re with me as I write all this now. I can feel you standing next to me. This chilly gush of winds out of nowhere can make me feel of your presence. I smell your perfume at random times. I see you in my dreams every day.

I have stopped crying, but my hopes of seeing you again have not. I know you miss Mumma. I know you have lost your way, but you will find it eventually. I trust you on this.

I know you will be back soon, for one final embrace. Our ladoo, you’ve died a hero, we salute you.

February 28, 2016
The Journey to OTM

It was a day’s trip from Surat to Mumbai and back.

A select few of us had been chosen to attend the Outbound Travel Mart – commonly referred to as OTM – and I, never having attended OTM before, was naturally excited about the trip. I lost sleep over the littlest of things, starting with what I would wear and what OTM would be like. I imagined a huge stadium filled with grand stalls where foreigners sat and handed out tourism brochures of their country.

What I didn’t consider was the unexpectedly long journey. The five hour drive to Mumbai seemed like a breeze when I was sitting at home, daydreaming about the impending trip and the fun I would have.

As it turned out, it became the longest trip of my life. Despite being with my colleagues, who, while not exactly looking forward to OTM – having attended it many times in the past – were oddly chipper, I felt like a nervous wreck, like I was the only one going to Mumbai to meet and socialize with all those strangers.

I was sitting in the backseat, gazing out the window when my colleague, Geeta, suddenly said, “The car’s vibrating.”

Nikull, sitting upfront beside the driver, Ankur, turned to look back at us. “Is it?”

I stared at him, bemused, wondering if it was even possible for a car to vibrate. It was probably just the throb of the engine.

“I feel it, too.”

My eyes flew to Ankur’s in the rear-view mirror. He looked worried.

“What could it be?” I asked the men, trying not to fret just yet.

“Guess we’ll have to stop and check,” said Nikull. His eyes were wide. It seemed that he, too, was feeling the so-called vibrations.

I exchanged a mystified glance with Geeta. I couldn’t feel a thing.

We stopped beneath a clump of trees on the roadside and both men stepped out to locate the problem. I tried to roll down my window but Ankur must have locked it because it remained firmly shut, so instead I rapped my knuckles on the glass.

“What’s wrong?” I mouthed to Ankur, who was inspecting the tyre that was right below me. He shook his head at me and motioned for Nikull to join him.

I pressed my nose to the glass, straining to hear what they were saying. Eventually, they climbed back in and informed us, rather nonchalantly, that one of the bolts in the tyre had gone missing.

“What do we do now?” I asked. “Stop at a garage and have a new bolt fixed in?”

“No.”

“No?”

“It’s just one bolt,” grinned Ankur, restarting the car. “We might experience some tremors and the car could skid at turns, but really, it’s nothing to worry about.”

I threw him an incredulous look in the rear-view. “You’re joking, right? This highway is full of sharp turns!”

He just laughed and kept driving. I looked to Geeta for support but she merely shrugged and went back to humming to herself. I turned my gaze to Nikull, who gave me a reassuring smile before turning away to fiddle with the radio.

I couldn’t believe they were taking this issue so lightly. I admit to not being an expert on cars – or any automobiles for that matter – so I couldn’t argue about the seriousness of the situation. They would laugh in my face and tell me to shut up.

So I kept my silence and arranged my face into a scowl. Soon, I caught sight of a turn in the distance and watched with bated breath as we neared it. When it came, I imagined the car going out of control and shuddered.

Sensing my fear, Geeta soothed, “We’ll drive slow.”

And we did. Until Ankur declared, with a pained look, that his bladder was full and we would be driving faster.

“Why can’t we just stop at a motel?” I demanded angrily. This was going too far.

“We’ve already lost a lot of time. Besides we’re nearly there,” replied Nikull. “Sit tight.”

“Hang in there, Ankur,” laughed Geeta. I glared at her and decided she was being stupid on purpose.

We were a couple of hours away from our destination and all the while I sat huddled in the corner, gripping my knees in fear of being flung forward in case something terrible happened. True to Ankur’s words, the car skidded many-a-times now that we were going faster. At one point, Ankur seemed to lose control of the car completely and we zigzagged down the thankfully deserted highway, seemingly unable to stop and unable to slow down. I screamed while Geeta laughed maniacally beside me.

When we finally reached the OTM grounds, I slumped back in my seat and heaved a sigh of relief. “I’m alive. I’m safe,” I chanted in my head, climbing out and looking around disinterestedly.

Ankur had disappeared behind a tree on the far side of the entrance. Geeta was going through a quick make-over in the car and Nikull was speaking in his cell phone. So I knelt down to examine the deficient tyre. What I saw made my jaw drop.

Not one bolt was missing from its place!

Squinting, I tried to look closer, not wanting to miss anything. Maybe there were smaller bolts on the side. But absolutely nothing was amiss. There they were, all five bolts in their undamaged glory, and tightly fixed too. Sensing eyes on me, I looked up at a smirking Nikull.

“You rascal!” I yelled, straightening and advancing upon him, perhaps to poke him in the eye or to scratch his face. But at the same time, Ankur came jogging into view and Geeta stepped out of the car sporting a new hairstyle and hot pink lipstick.

One look at my angry expression and balled fists sent them into a fit of laughter. I had been made into a fool! The supposedly longest and most fearful journey of my life had been a total sham!

February 27, 2016
Crushed aspirations

Anil was running late, as usual. The list he had been handed over was so unrelated, that he couldn’t help it.

He was trying his best to reach on time: walking briskly or even running at times. Finally after gathering every item, he moved with quicker steps, though the weight of the things was restricting his pace. Just when he was taking a final look at the small list he had been handed, he rammed into car. He fell hard and all his things got scattered on the ground, just like his dreams and desires had been. He was saved just by a second by getting run over. Somebody shouted from inside the car:

“Aye! Are you blind or what?”

He stammered, “SS…Soorry saheb, I apologize.”

“Huh, fool!”, he concluded.

Vegetables, fruits, biscuits, surf packet, oil and a dozen other things got dispersed. But determined he was; he rose up and recollected all the things one by one. No one came to his aid, but he needed none.

Not the bruises but some of the smashed tomatoes were what pained him more. Not his broken arm but his broken chappals brought more difficulty. Scared to death he recollected himself and ran to home.

With his hands shivering, he rang the bell. A lady answered the door with unwelcoming looks.

“Oh, so our hero is home finally”, she said sarcastically. “What’s your excuse for today?”

“Memsahab, my mother’s was running a high fever. That’s why.”

Anil was too afraid to tell him of the accident. He didn’t want to have any punishments yet again. But how could he hide his clothes that had got dirty, the purchases having a bit of dirt over the packets!

The unwelcoming woman gave a look of surprise, demanding an explanation. Anil had to explain everything. He wasn’t left with his any choice. She was her master, after all. The woman was completely pissed by now and cancelled his dinner for the night as a punishment for his carelessness.

Little did she notice the poor plight of Anil who’s dried up blood was screaming his pain. Only if her gold rimmed spectacles gave her the power to see all.

Maybe had she been brought up without those curtain slippers, she would have known how it was for Anil to run in those worn out chappals who had finally took their last breath after that small accident.

That poor Anil, just 11 years old, had to pack up his dreams, lock them and throw them away to place unknown when his father died of an accident while driving an auto rikshaw and left him nothing but debts. The car ‘crushed his aspirations’ too along with his dad.

At the tender age of 11, he had to bear the responsibilities of his family on his shoulders rather than the school bag.

The boy, who should have been playing with toys, had to clean up toys of kids at other’s home as a servant.

The boy had been brought not by kisses or hugs, pampers or gifts but by scolding or beatings; only by bad fate.

With an ailing mother at home who was suffering from TB and two younger sisters, he had to not only forget about his dreams and aspirations but also had to work hard like a man to aid his family.

He never felt bad about anybody’s harsh words. He had been going through worse situations that somebody abusing him didn’t even count as something to be reacted at.

Life taught him such hard lessons that he had been forced to grow up way beyond his age.

An innocent soul had been trapped in the net of child labor. An aspiring pilot’s wings had been broken by the weights of uninvited troubles and no way out.

His flying of paper planes was the only planes he could ever fly.

February 23, 2016
Knowledge Vs Life

Magic and Science have many things in common, but at the same time there are equal number of contradictions. Magic can involve science but science can never involve magic.

Scientists tend to believe anything that has a valid scientific explanation, whereas magicians can use magic as an act of deceiving the human eye at times.

Venice was a good place for people interested in Science as well as Magic. There were many clubs and groups that would indulge in promoting science or magic to the kids in the city.

One fine day, on the streets of Venice a group of famous and talented scientists gathered to address a group of children and motivate them to believe in science. As all the children gathered around, the chief of the club Mr. Khan greeted the children, “Good morning! My dear young scientists!”. Almost every single kid there was excited to listen to his talk. Mr. Khan continued,

“The world works on science, everything that is happening around has a scientific reason behind it and all the machinery and automobiles you see every day are some marvels generated by science. This city needs more scientists.

The scientists standing along with me have designed many prototypes for the benefit of the civilians of this city. We need more young minds to take over their designs and make them completely functional.”

Most of the kids were impressed by his talk and decided to join the science club. While Khan was looking at the excited kids waiting for their turn to enrol themselves, he noticed one kid who was upset. Khan approached him and asked, “What’s your name young boy?” The kid replied, “I am Nathan Phelps.” “You look depressed, what’s wrong?”, asked the scientist.

“I was excited about your talk until I knew that you represented the science club. I am just disappointed because of my expectation.”

Mr. Khan tried convincing Nathan into joining the science club but all his efforts were futile. As Mr. Khan left Nathan alone, Nathan’s friend and arch rival George Allen approached Nathan. “You let the opportunity slip right through your hands my friend.” Said George with a gentle smile on his face. “I don’t find Science interesting.”, replied Nathan with the same expression.

George was a bright student and had good understanding ability. He considered science as the defining element for everything in life and this motivated him to choose science over magic.

Nathan was not a logical thinker like George but he had the creativity. He attended a lot of street magic shows in his younger days which inspired him to stick to magic.

A few days passed by, and Nathan was still waiting for the Magic club to come take him. By this time George had moved to the research and development lab.

Nathan almost lost hope in the club and decided to build his interest in something else. He started looking for other choices as he roamed on the streets of Venice. “BOOM!!!!!!!”, Nathan heard a loud noise and rushed to the scene just to see the place covered with thick white smoke. He thought it was some prank played by the scientists and decided to leave the place.

Just as he turned around, a man spoke in a loud voice, “My dear wizards! Let’s go!”. The five words were all that he had to recruit the kids into the club. Nathan ran towards them in excitement.

He registered with the magic club and fulfilled his dream. Nathan was asked to immediately shift to the Mage’s lair. He quickly ran home, packed his things and left to the lair.

Nathan worked hard to master his skills in spells and illusion tricks to keep up with his science rival George. He learnt alchemy to create potions useful for magic and studied how to deceive the human eye.

A few months later during the winter break, everyone returned home. George was doing well in his research and he also enhanced a design of his mentor and Nathan had mastered a good number of spells and few deceptive illusion tricks.

One afternoon they stumble on to each other near George’s house. “How’s Science?” asked Nathan. “It’s great, like to see my skills?” replied George. Without any further delay, George took out his new blueprint about an engine that uses air as a fuel to run. George explained everything to Nathan and Nathan grabbed a picture of what George was trying to say. “Did you understand anything?” asked George with an annoying smile on his face. “Yeah I do understand the basic principles behind the functioning of the engine.” George slowly folded the blueprint and said,

“See, scientists don’t need magic but magic needs science! Science is great.”

“Alright then let me show you some magic”, said Nathan. “Your blueprint will disappear in a few minutes.” He placed a cloth over the blueprint and casted a spell. He removed the cloth and the blueprint vanished.

“What? I can’t believe this, this is impossible!” exclaimed George.

Nathan said,

“Every human relies on their eyes and knowledge and if something happens with a reason, they tend to believe it even if it’s an illusion. You don’t have the proof that the blueprint’s still there. Magic doesn’t require science always.”

Nathan removed another thin film that was placed over the blueprint, it was painted with the same colour. George couldn’t believe that he was fooled by a simple trick.

“Knowledge and experience are ambiguous. Thus reality also can become an illusion. Magic and Science are two different fields that teach us different aspects of life.”

February 21, 2016