Prabhu was a simple person, living in his village along with his wife. He used to work in the other people's fields when ever they needed. Rest of the time he did petty works for all in the village. In return they used to give him food.
He was happy in his small world with nothing much to aspire. He was elated when his wife Promila declared that she was pregnant with his child.
Their joys knew no bounds. But now the question of surviving along with some extra money became their priority. Prabhu, started working hard by working in a barber shop.
He was now saving for their child. Time passed and his wife suddenly started having severe pain in her womb. He shouted for help. No one provided any help and they all suggested to take her to the hospital, which was across the hill. There was no proper road and no mode of transportation available.
He felt helpless looking at his wife who was in terrible pain. He borrowed a hand cart from a neighbour and made her wife lie on it. He started running towards the hospital which was more than twenty kilometres away and that too without any proper road.
He kept on running and running. His wife was in deep pain and was crying. Suddenly her cries stopped. He looked at the cart and found her lifeless lying on it.
His entire world crashed and had no inkling what to do. He was all alone in the world. Villagers came and helped him do the last rites for his wife. He was torn deeply. He lost his wife and his child due to the lack of resources.
This did not break his determination. He took a loan and bought a bike and then helped all the needy reach hospital in time. He converted his bike into a mobile carrier for the patients. Looking at his good work and selfless service the villagers commended and appreciated his service.
He was now not alone in his journey of service. Mankind was with him. He was no more dependent he was an Independent person who had dedicated his life to help others.
Inside a cage
She lived
Not aware of
The world
So bright.
She saw
Others
Flying high
In the sky.
Her wings
Fluttered
But did not
Spring.
Her cage
Was small
And tiny
Walls touched
Her clipped
Wings.
Who are those
In the sky?
Her heart yearns
To fly one day.
Is there a heaven
Beyond
My cage
Or
An illusion I see?
07/06/2021
©Deepti
Sweet petrichor melting insides
Parched Earth heaves a sigh
Brown grass looks up at heaven
Pregnant cloud is ready to burst open
Cuckoo sings along the gentle Zephyr
'His Flute' plays a serene tune
T'is time for the healings to begin...
||18/05/2021||
©Deepti
On a mission
In search of unknown
Life travels
Finding answers...
Dreadful experiences
Ferments the emotions
Brewing further questions
Churning insides....
On the horizon
Sky turns red
Life falls like 'Dominos'
Prayers floats around...
Hear me O' Lord
Let the Sun shine
As before
Let us Heal ... 🙏
~17/05/2021~
©Deepti
When the flowers unfurls
When the birds open their wings
When a seed germinates
Magic Happens
Magic is all around us
When a sad face, smiles
When a broken person, laughs
When one shares even in hunger
Magic Happens
The Sun, The Moon , The Stars
The Wind, The Rain, The Flowers
The Tears, The Fears, The Smile
All are Magical, and
Magic Happens.... All around us...!
#07/05/2021#
©Deepti
"Quickly, flip to page number 24 .. there... can you see a drawing... Ahaa, that's the one I love most.. it is indeed made by my best reader.. Yes, your dear sweet, angel Vanshika" said the Old Book, sitting on my desk.
"Pheww.. what a weird dream it was.. it seemed so real.." I woke up massaging my head softly...
" Wait... but how come the book which I took out yesterday from the attick spoke to me" I was quite surprised..
" Not only it spoke to me but it also told me about a drawing made by my dearest grand mother Vanshika.. Yes.... that's her name." Saying so I immediately got up from bed and went to my desk to validate my dream.
"Yes , indeed the book, I saw in my dream was this one only."
I flipped to page number 24 And ....There... Was the most beautiful Motif sketched in hand ... 'Could this really, be the, work of my grandmother' I was wondering .. 'wait a moment... I can see something written in pencil..'
There was a faint script written in hand .. with time it has almost submerged in the brittle yellowed page.. like a forgotten abandoned dream .... Waiting...........!!!
I took out my reading glasses to read it .. the moment the words came to make sense .. my tensed mouth relaxed and soothed my brain.. I suddenly felt as if I had found the treasure of my Life.. when the entire world is falling apart and everywhere is hatred and fire and jealousy and anger... Those words came to me as a soothing petrichor...
On it,.... My GrandMother left words of wisdom for Me.. for the Mankind.. which are to be Understood not simply read......
It was written
"Life is not an exam or a lesson to be learnt...
It is to be Lived with Gratitude and Forgiveness..."
My tears started streaming down and felt, as if, this message was meant for ME in this difficult times of Pandemic. May peace fall on all of us.. May we learn and understand the power of
**********GRATITUDE***********
*********FORGIVENESS**********
***********🙏🙏🙏*************
Live Every moment as if it's the last.. Live it completely while walking on the path of 'dharma' to attain 'Salvation'.
"Mumma, Mummaaaa... " Shouted Pankaj on top of his lungs. Lean and thin 4 year old Pankaj was notorious little child. He was always on the lookout for new possibilities to create havok in the otherwise quite home. He was a Whirlpool of, so called constructive activities into destructive ones.
"Now what has happened ?? Why are you shouting like a dog?" Malini came out of the kitchen holding a rolling pin in one hand and a soft dough ball in another. She was perspiring due to intensive heat. Her long black hair were tightly tugged in a bun behind her head and 'saari pallu' tugged in front.
"Mummy, I just saw didi got a new pair of slippers, whereas, she says her old slippers are now mine. Is it true mumma?" Pankaj asked.
"Yes, ofcourse, like always you get her slippers."
"But why mummy why? I never gets a new slipper or shoes. You always make me wear her old slippers."
"It is because... Every few months you all are growing .. and her feet out grows the slippers. So I have to buy her a new pair. And by that time you are of the perfect size. Why should we waste things when we can use? Now go to your room and finish your homework. Stop Complaining so much. Okay" mumma explained.
He understood each and every word. Yet his heart yearned for a new pair. It was not his fault that he came later in this world. Had didi had come after him then he would have happily passed his things to her. But, now he has to wear old things. Not only this he also had to study from old books passed to him by his elder sister.
Sadly he went to his room and sat down to finish his assignments. Later in the evening he went to his mom and said "Mummy, see I have also grown big. Even my slippers are too small for me to wear. See my foot is coming out of it." He produced his slippers in front of his mom.
Malini was shocked to see what lay in front of her eyes. His sweet notorious son was up to a different mischief again. His so called small slippers were none other than his sister's slippers which he had accuired in the morning. But, now very innocently they have been cut from behind.
"Oh, my dear. Why did you cut the slippers and ruined them?" Malini was stunned to see her son's brainy activity.
"No mumma, I never cut them.. after my homework when I got up and tried to wear them I found them very small for me. See my foot is coming out from behind." He replied innocently.
Malini was angry on Pankaj yet deep down her heart she was proud to see the quick wit of him.
©Deepti
******************************
🤓All Problems have a solution as per your own intelligence 🤓
It so happened on one warm afternoon, when the sun was directly over head like a third degree torture by the police man to extract information, Rohan was greeted by his cousin Rajat.
"Hi, Rohan! How are you? I am here with my mom. And guess what? I am going to stay here for full 2 days.. I am so excited" said Rajat smiling from one ear to another with his red cheeks and round face like a football he was holding in his hands. His half pants were as big as of a tree trunk.
Rohan smiled weakly and greeted Rajat half heartedly, as he was afraid of his heavy built.
Though both were in the same class, but, Rajat was younger by an year and two months, yet, he was always towering over Rohan like a light house. Be it in physical built or emotional. Rajat excelled in all areas. Even in school he was good.
Rajat came near and hugged Rohan with full force. Rohan's felt his bones crushing under the tight embrace of his cousin, and, with his bones he felt even his confidence was breaking.
Rohan was a skinny boy, who was sick almost every month. Sometimes was attacked by viral fever, sometimes cold and cough or anything. When he was 5 years old he felt sick and no doctor could find what was bothering him. He had high fever for five to six months which converted him to a stick figure. His legs were as thin as 'Agarbatti'(incense stick) that was offered to God everyday by his grandmother. Finally his disease was diagnosed by a family doctor and he was cured after a long treatment. His sixth Birthday had also crossed by then and he had to miss his school that year. And this resulted him to stay in class 1 for another year.
Even after his recovery he was to take medicines for a longer duration. That was the time when he was introduced to TONICS. TONICS which could help build his immunity system. Initially he did not liked those tonics, but his mother explained "this will help you grow stronger. You can be so strong that you can move a mountain also just like Lord Hanuman.*"
" Ahaa.. this seems good. Okay 'maa' I will drink it. I want to grow strong." Rohan fell in love with tonics and happily started consuming them every day without fail. He felt growing stronger each day with its consumption.
While playing with Rajat,as always, Rajat started bullying. Rohan was furious as he was certain that he kicked the ball right in the goal post. In Rajat's dictionary defeat was not printed, hence he was not ready to embrace his defeat. In a rage he slapped Rohan hard on his cheek. Rohan tried to hit back but was caught by Rajat's strong hands mid way, he grabbed his shirt and kicked him in his stomach. Rohan cried with pain and could see stars in broad daylight.
Suddenly, he remembered that he felt weak today as he had not taken his daily dose of 'Tonic'. He rushed inside and gulped down a spoonful of tonic like a thirsty lion, and rushed outside to bash his opponent. The moment he reached the ground, he barked high and growled and challenged Rajat once again.
Hearing this Rajat got up and rushed towards Rohan. Without wasting a moment he jumped towards Rohan and hit him again in his belly. Rohan was stunned and shocked with the blow.
"How could you hit me this time? I just had my tonic?" Confused Rohan cried "This tonic is no good, moving a mountain is far away, I cannot even defend myself. "
And that was the day his love and faith for Tonics shattered forever.
She was waiting patiently for a surprise gift he has promised her. Her eyes always waited for his smile even if it was from across the screen. She loved his mysterious look, lifestyle and personality. Whenever he chatted, he always showed concern and was very friendly.
He had charismatic aura. He knew so many celeberities.
"He might help me become an actress as I had aspired" she thought. " I must learn the dressing sense and poses he suggested for my portfolio."
The other day while she was riding on her cycle returning from her school, suddenly he came out of nowhere right in front of her. Startling her. Amusing her. Teasing her. He was so cool. He told her how much he loved to see her everyday sitting on her windowsill reading that book.
Oh! Only if she could tell him she sat there only for him. To get a glimpse of him.
It was a beautiful summer afternoon. She was extremly happy for no particular reason. Mail van had something for her that day. She received a big scented sparkling blue envelope in her mail box. She was super excited to know what was inside it. It was quite strange to see the address written in hand but seems like written by someone who is not in his senses. The writing is all crawly and creepy in a way but anyways the envelope smelled divine. How thankful she is to Lord today, that Mom has yet not returned from work and dad was out of town, so now she has all the time for herself to explore the contents of that mysterious envelope.
She grabbed it and slammed the door in haste and rushed to her room. She shrieked with joy and jumped on her bed. Quickly without wasting any more time she opened her envelope.
Wait a minute? What was all that inside? She could not understand any of it. It had a tape said ‘COPY’ she lifted it with trembling hands and inserted in her recorder. With the images on the screen her mind got blank, she started shivering and her nerves started collapsing, she was short of breath. She could not believe at all whatever the screen was showing her.
It had pictures of her changing, bathing, nude pictures which she was sure, she never clicked. "Oh! No! Now I remember this pose. I had shown him the other day while chatting on internet. But how come it is NUDE now??" She wondered.
The tape ended with a note
“MEET ME TONITE OR ELSE........"
Immediately her computer screen beeped telling her she had a new message. With trembling hands she clicked it open. It was from him. It read...
"Hello Beautiful.. I have many more pictures of you attached with this mail too. I hope tonight you are meeting me at the address given below.
And I must tell you. I know that you will not disappoint me. AND if you do so than these pictures will be uploaded on internet first thing in the morning."
She cried hard of being so foolishly in love with a person she hardly knew, sending him her pictures and letting him click Online.
***..............***.............***..............***
Beware of all the content you share online. Be it with strangers or with known. Stay Alert. Stay Safe.
©Deepti
If the dead could talk
It's going to be a shock
For deads are dead
There is nothing to be said
Bringing back unknown things
Carrying them on their wings
Might have Stories to tell
Thinking of casting a spell
Who will bother to hear
When everyone's end is near.
©Deepti
He ran and ran as fast as he can. With a stale piece of bread in his hand. He was panting deeply and wanted to take a break but was scared so kept on running and entered the dark thick forest.
After being hungry for the past five days, today his stomach growled with excruciating pain shouting and howling for food. He had to break his own barriers. He left his self respect under his own feet. He walked towards the trash can to find some leftover.
The moment he reached the can he saw a cat inside the bin. Two ferocious dogs also came out growling and looking at him angrily.
Today, to him nothing mattered. He was not scared of those canines. His focus was on the piece of stale bread inside the bin. All four had thier eyes on that piece. They all pounced on it. One of the dog got hold of that piece. But he did not cared , with one quick movement he jumped and hit the dog with a brick he found laying nearby. Dog howled and the bread piece fell from his jaws.
Without wasting any moment he grabbed the piece and ran. Dogs were after him. And he ran for his life. His training and his medals in marathons came to his help.
He ran towards the forbidden forest he had created for himself. But today he knew only that forest could save him from his hunger and pain.
He left his self respect and shame to enter the realms of unknown territory.
Hunger forces to do things one had never imagined.
***********************************
She stood there gaping at the book stall. Her stomach growled reminding her that last morsel she threw in her stomach was three moons before. When she got lucky in a fight with that brown fury furious dog on the other street. That day she won the fight and got a piece of half eaten bread right from that dog's mouth. She slid behind the pillar very quietly. Dog could not see her hiding and no sooner it ran past her she threw a big stone and hit it's mouth, catching the bread piece in air and immediately gobbling it down. Her stomach growled for more and the dog tried to attack her. She was quick enough to swing her other arm holding a rusted rod. It hit the dog hard on his nose. He whinned loudly and rushed away.
Oh ! How much she wanted to read, even more than she wanted to eat. She thought books and words sprawled over the pages can satisfy her hunger better than a piece of bread. She loved reading and through stories she loved transporting herself into the fantasy world it created.
Once she got hold of a torn book in garbage of some princess called 'Cinderella'. She dreamt herself being in the place of that beautiful princess. But the moment king's people came to their house to try on the shoe......
"Oh, No! where are the other pages....?? She cried, book had ended abruptly leaving her hungrier than ever.
She cried in despair. It was just half book and now she yearns to read it. To know what happened? To believe in Happily ever after.
But there was no way she could know now as the book was torn and the pages were missing. For months she kept on looking at the garbage bags at the same spot. May be just may be she might get lucky and get the other half of that book to know the end.
Now that book stall of old used books was pulling her like a strong current. She obliged and walked towards it. Many children were laughing and giggling around the stall. They were holding one or the other books.
Her mouth started watering as if looking at a plate full of hot delicious food. But she knew how to survive for another two days easily without any real need of food. But her heart craves for the books. She loved the words creating magic in her mind and teaching her so much about the world.
Her mother taught her patiently to read with black coal on the ground. Since then she picks any piece of paper lying here and there and tried to read and if she had any doubts, her mother always explained it. Last month she did not wake up even after her many attempts. Then somebody told her she was dead. Later she was stuffed in her garbage collecting bag and taken away by two people.
That day she lost three precious possessions. One, her mother and Two, her garbage collecting bag. Three, that piece of jute bag which they called thier home in the dark corner, under that railway bridge.She did not knew what to do now and how she will survive without her possessions. But she did.
And now standing beside the old book stall she looked at the books hungrily. She was so engrossed in the books that she did not even heard the footsteps. She was shocked when she heard someone tugging at her shoulder. She looked into the softest brown smiling eyes. Her expensive hat was flavourfully placed, she was wearing dark glasses and had soft rosy colour on her lips. Her bright yellow dress danced with the gentle breeze.
She had a sandwich in her hands and she offered. But, She wanted to read so much, when at the same time she was hungry too. She did not knew what to do. Deciding once, She moved her head in 'No'. That lady was surprised.
"Why, little girl? You seem so hungry. Do you want something else to eat. You poor girl my heart bleeds to see you in this state"
Her eyes lit at this and thought maybe she can ask for a book. Which she did ask for. Lady was surprised and Happy at the same time for her demand. She gently took her hand and together they walked towards the book stall.
.................To be continued............
