The infant crimson rays had spread out and enclosed the horizon and beyond… The petals had been kissed and had bloomed and mellowed like never before. There was juvenile flamboyance all around. The mowing of the cows, the chirping of the birds the flow of Yamuna, all had a divine music in them. All life forms seemed to have been rejuvenated. The jingle in the air has made even the lifeless resurrected. The joy of the residents of Nand Village couldn’t be possibly described in words. It is the big day of their prince; it is the birthday of Kanha…
“Oh my Kanhaiya’s birthday…!” Sulekha Kaki woke up with a jerk. It indeed was her Kanha’s birthday!!! He had become a lovely four year old today. She had to get ready quickly to reach the palace. But but…ohh... Kaki was unable to move from her bed. She touched her forehead. She was down with fever.
With tears in her eyes, she thought of Yashoda. One had to see the delighted mother to know. Her happiness on this day would know no bounds. Last night had passed twisting and turning and the dawn would have brought thousand smiles on her face. She would have begun her chores before sunrise. Along with Maharshi Shandilya she had finished the holy yagnas and would now be decorating Kanha with full pomp and glory.… Sulekha Kaki slowly got up from the bed. She couldn’t miss to see the event to be held in the palace today.
Ahh…what a beautiful beautiful day it is!!! The palace hall was already full. All eyes are awaiting their sweetheart, that mischievous smile in the divine countenance. One glance of Kanha is all the Gokul villagers could die for. …And there...There comes the stealer of all hearts, everyone’s beloved, Krishna Kanhaiya... The royal yellow robe, the curls wrapped in a lace of pearls, the crown adorned with a peacock’s feather, ears studded with gems, garland made of rare stones around the neck and wrists, the anklets shiny and royal.. All hearts skipped a bit in admiration. Tears of happiness started flowing from the eyes of the villagers to see their darling being accompanied by Mother Yashoda.
There he was seated in the tall throne to receive the gifts from everyone. Sulekha kaki too handed over her bundle of pancakes and kissed the bright forehead. Then she stood in a corner to see Kanha receiving gifts from his dearest buddies. The first to run was Sridama. His eyes shining and two fingers lifted, as if something precious is enclosed in them.
Huff… Huff…he reached Kanha making way through the crowd, breathing heavily unable to speak a word... The friend there had understood everything. Gently Kanha held Sridama’s fingers and marked the veneration on his own forehead. And lo... the villagers saw the mark on Kanha’s forehead, it was not red or pink or yellow, but deep blue in color!! Hmm... So Sridama had gifted Kanhaiya a pinch of fresh cow dung!! Nay, the love between the two had multiplied the dung’s worth by a million.
Now, it was Bhadra’s turn. He too ran to Kanha, his gift was wrapped in a towel across his neck. Eagerly the two friends untied the knot and brought out ten smooth round pebbles. “Today, we will use these pebbles to play!!!” Kanha cried with joy. Then came Pradeep, in his fist he was holding a thin stick with a flag on the top. With utmost care he handed over his gift to his dear playmate. Ahh what a sight of innocence and hilarity!!! Kanha and his friends were all jumping and pulling each other’s legs.
Mother Yasodha then, lovingly pulled out a large plate of beautiful gems, precious stones, pearls, jewels etc.
“Come now, Kanha pick something for your friends. Wouldn’t you like to give them some return gifts?”
Kanha looked at the plate thoughtfully. With a finger on his chin he was evaluating each item on the plate for a long while. Gold, silver, pearls...Hmmm…none could come in comparison to the invaluable gifts that he has received today.
“I know what to give!!!”, at last he seemed to have gotten a great idea.
With his heart full and open chest he ran towards his friends. His arms playfully flung around Sridama’s neck, tightly held Bhadra to his bosom, and then lifted Pradeep to his shoulders delightfully.
The whole of Gokul was dancing in happiness and bliss.
Overwhelmed Sulekha Kaki was standing in a corner. Waves of gaiety were flowing through her heart upon beholding this heavenly sight. Her eyes had moistened just like those of the hundred others present there. She touched her forehead. Her fever had vanished. The spirits had triumphed the flesh.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Tea Leaf
Sonu was a naughty twelve year old who lived in the beautiful valleys of Munnar. Yes, he was the naughtiest around and the sharpest. He did not have the way with words but did it make him less sharp?
He had hopped through all the green peaks and greens valleys. All the narrow brown paths in the midst of the vast tea plantation. That was his favorite pastime. Studies could always wait for him till the last day of the exams. Doing a race against time before the exams and winning it!!! He was a champion in it. Why to waste time with books every day when it can all be crammed up in one night. Much to Amma’s anxiety.
Amma was deeply spiritual, she meditated every day and she was very devoted to her Guru. She would put her basket around her head and collect the soft green leaves 8 hours a day and would collect Rs 150 each day. Not once had she complained about the money.
And Sonu, not once had he asked for a soft toy or toy car as a kid. Nay, not verbally that is. Hmmm..he would only glance at the glass window in the shops and then, his lower chin would protrude out, the nose narrowed down and ears reddened. It took a couple of years for Amma to understand this chameleon trick, Sonu had perfected. So there, he never really "asked" for anything, never needed to!
Then he had that "Einstein's glance". The eyes would be either narrowed or rounded up like saucers as if too curious thinking about something. He would give the silver tailed fish in the aquarium a particularly tinted look and for some considerable five seconds. He would be imagining the silver tailed fish doing belle dance with the small one with golden fins while poor amma would be thinking how her son is to grow up to a successful pisciculturist. "Appa, He is looking like a scientist. When my son grows up I will send him to a big college." Sonu wanted the aquarium. He would worry about getting into a big college some other day.
“It will be a gift for you if you pass the final exams." Amma never bought free gifts for her son.
Amma would say that God is in her life in the form of the tea leaves and the solid stem of the plant is His throne and God knows everything. God sees us with thousand eyes; He can see and know what no one else in the world can. So, only after a few days of his pranks would Sonu dare to wander near the tea plants. Amma forgets his mischieves only in a few hours; God may remember them for a few days at max.
Sonu knew in his heart of hearts that it was not as simple as that. Once as a toddler he had seen a holy spirit emerging out of the tea leaves. It resembled the face of Amma's Guru, which he had seen in the only photo frame hanging in their house. The spirit hadn't spoken to him, just smiled at him. Sonu had confided about this incident to his friend Gopal.
“Ok next time please take me along to see the spirit. Come on now lets hit that pole with stone", Gopal and Sonu had a bet again "ten times each"
"Huh, I can hit it all ten times and that too from double the distance where you are standing."
"Not in dreams!!!!" exclaimed Gopal.
Sonu walked to the throwing point and marked it, measured another equal distance from there and aimed at the pole. One, two, three,...nine and there's the resounding ten!!! There were ten straight strokes on the pole...
“May not be in dreams...but in reality, yes!!" Sonu said. Hmmm...he too was getting better with words.
"Sooo...nuuuuu" Amma was looking for him. She would ask her to sit and study again. Final exams were around the corner and he hadn't gone through his chapters even once. Had not it been for the aquarium...
Sonu walked to his room obediantly. One chapter, two, three, four...ahhh...the aquarium seems nearer now. Its dawn and Sonu had not even had a wink of sleep. He has to get ready and go for his exams. He was all set.
The midnight oil has paid of; Sonu is through with all the chapters.
He walks into the hall confidently as if he already knows the questions and is great to go!!
So there's the teacher with the answer sheets and the question papers, and there she is distributing the question papers and passing on the answer sheets.
The question paper arrives. Ahhh...the questions are all so familiar.
Sonu knows them all...there he goes....And CRASH!!!!!
Oh the teacher had already collected the answer sheets and everyone is leaving the hall. Why he knew all the answers. But...but ...did he write them?
Sonu had passed the exams!! Calmly he walked home and sat down to complete his homework before he could go out to play.
Amma was looking happy that day. “Sonu", she called out “the next final exams are far. Why study now?"
“Burning midnight oil isn't a very good idea Amma. It’s better to study a little every day than to gulp down everything the night before the exam" He had run to the tea gardens after the exams and Guruji from the tea leaves had whispered these words in his ears. Sonu remembered his promise of studying a little every day.
"Hmmm… but what about watching the silver tailed fish doing belle dance with the little one with golden fins" Amma said with a mischievous smile and pointed to the aquarium she had bought for her son.
He had hopped through all the green peaks and greens valleys. All the narrow brown paths in the midst of the vast tea plantation. That was his favorite pastime. Studies could always wait for him till the last day of the exams. Doing a race against time before the exams and winning it!!! He was a champion in it. Why to waste time with books every day when it can all be crammed up in one night. Much to Amma’s anxiety.
Amma was deeply spiritual, she meditated every day and she was very devoted to her Guru. She would put her basket around her head and collect the soft green leaves 8 hours a day and would collect Rs 150 each day. Not once had she complained about the money.
And Sonu, not once had he asked for a soft toy or toy car as a kid. Nay, not verbally that is. Hmmm..he would only glance at the glass window in the shops and then, his lower chin would protrude out, the nose narrowed down and ears reddened. It took a couple of years for Amma to understand this chameleon trick, Sonu had perfected. So there, he never really "asked" for anything, never needed to!
Then he had that "Einstein's glance". The eyes would be either narrowed or rounded up like saucers as if too curious thinking about something. He would give the silver tailed fish in the aquarium a particularly tinted look and for some considerable five seconds. He would be imagining the silver tailed fish doing belle dance with the small one with golden fins while poor amma would be thinking how her son is to grow up to a successful pisciculturist. "Appa, He is looking like a scientist. When my son grows up I will send him to a big college." Sonu wanted the aquarium. He would worry about getting into a big college some other day.
“It will be a gift for you if you pass the final exams." Amma never bought free gifts for her son.
Amma would say that God is in her life in the form of the tea leaves and the solid stem of the plant is His throne and God knows everything. God sees us with thousand eyes; He can see and know what no one else in the world can. So, only after a few days of his pranks would Sonu dare to wander near the tea plants. Amma forgets his mischieves only in a few hours; God may remember them for a few days at max.
Sonu knew in his heart of hearts that it was not as simple as that. Once as a toddler he had seen a holy spirit emerging out of the tea leaves. It resembled the face of Amma's Guru, which he had seen in the only photo frame hanging in their house. The spirit hadn't spoken to him, just smiled at him. Sonu had confided about this incident to his friend Gopal.
“Ok next time please take me along to see the spirit. Come on now lets hit that pole with stone", Gopal and Sonu had a bet again "ten times each"
"Huh, I can hit it all ten times and that too from double the distance where you are standing."
"Not in dreams!!!!" exclaimed Gopal.
Sonu walked to the throwing point and marked it, measured another equal distance from there and aimed at the pole. One, two, three,...nine and there's the resounding ten!!! There were ten straight strokes on the pole...
“May not be in dreams...but in reality, yes!!" Sonu said. Hmmm...he too was getting better with words.
"Sooo...nuuuuu" Amma was looking for him. She would ask her to sit and study again. Final exams were around the corner and he hadn't gone through his chapters even once. Had not it been for the aquarium...
Sonu walked to his room obediantly. One chapter, two, three, four...ahhh...the aquarium seems nearer now. Its dawn and Sonu had not even had a wink of sleep. He has to get ready and go for his exams. He was all set.
The midnight oil has paid of; Sonu is through with all the chapters.
He walks into the hall confidently as if he already knows the questions and is great to go!!
So there's the teacher with the answer sheets and the question papers, and there she is distributing the question papers and passing on the answer sheets.
The question paper arrives. Ahhh...the questions are all so familiar.
Sonu knows them all...there he goes....And CRASH!!!!!
Oh the teacher had already collected the answer sheets and everyone is leaving the hall. Why he knew all the answers. But...but ...did he write them?
Sonu had passed the exams!! Calmly he walked home and sat down to complete his homework before he could go out to play.
Amma was looking happy that day. “Sonu", she called out “the next final exams are far. Why study now?"
“Burning midnight oil isn't a very good idea Amma. It’s better to study a little every day than to gulp down everything the night before the exam" He had run to the tea gardens after the exams and Guruji from the tea leaves had whispered these words in his ears. Sonu remembered his promise of studying a little every day.
"Hmmm… but what about watching the silver tailed fish doing belle dance with the little one with golden fins" Amma said with a mischievous smile and pointed to the aquarium she had bought for her son.
Monday, March 24, 2008
A bunch of flowers
Pushpita had small pink limbs and she little bigger than the size of my palm, i.e when she was born! My eyes shone at the first glance of her as Pushpita was mine to love, care and to play with. I was six years old, a big girl now as per mom and therefore, I should know how to tie my shoe laces and also how to put the toothpaste on the brush. Hmmm...but for Pushpita, Lucy didi was still the wisest person on the earth and the best ! After all didi was 6 years older than she was!
"Pushpita", the name was good but only the first part. Little 'pus'sy cats were really cute. They look the cutest when caught by the neck and then swung up and down, their eyes wide opened. She loved them so much so that all her tops would have pictures of kittens in the front. And yes!! she was never tired of reading "Puss in boots" but "pita"..yak...she hated anything bitter..Karelaaaa...So no calling her 'pushpita' pleeese. Bitter(peeta) is bad!!!
"You know, Lucy didi, Laura was crying so loudly in the class today. She lost her beautiful green handkerchief. It had a red rose embroidered on it. Our class teacher told her that such things come and go. How can a handerkerchief come and go??? Is it a living thing??"
Of course living things move and non living things do not. Ingenius observation by a five year old.
"Who is your class teacher?" I was curious to know the name of the person who made the attempt of explaining the great reality of life to Grade 1 kids.
"A Gangopadhya madam."
"Hmmm..and what does "A" stand for ?" I was inherently the curious crow.
"Ahh..Lucy didi, thats so simple. Like "A cat" means "one cat", "A table" means "one table" , so "A Gangopadhya" means "One Gangopadhya" as we have only one Gangopadhya madam in our school "
I could just heave a sigh..
And the other day I had an even more interesting story to listen to. Pushpita's teacher had told them the method of converting nonliving things to something living!
"Okie, so how's that??"
"Well guess what..we just have to put some food particles in the dark corner of the room and in a day there will be rats!! So, thats how living rats generate out of non living particles!!! "
" Not Bad... who told you this story??"
"Wild Animal Sir!"
"Awful!!! How can that be the name??"
"Of course thats the name we call him. He tells us all about wild animals and domestic animals."
"Awesome!!"
That was then. Now there is a role reversal. Pushpita is a pretty thirteen year old now. She loves her name as she knows the meaning, her smile as pretty as a bunch of flowers(Pushp). She is still never tired of calling me 'Lucy didi', and I Am her 'didi' to listen to all the weird stories she can make up.
She called me up the other day on the mobile,
"Hey Lucy didi, do you know how I am talking to you right now, with my new mobile!!! ..and I learnt chatting in the Internet today. I chatted with Laura. It is wonderful you know, she could see what I was typing on my computer..And hope you are taking good care of your health in the hostel! Make sure you have lots of fruits everyday..."
"Pushpita", the name was good but only the first part. Little 'pus'sy cats were really cute. They look the cutest when caught by the neck and then swung up and down, their eyes wide opened. She loved them so much so that all her tops would have pictures of kittens in the front. And yes!! she was never tired of reading "Puss in boots" but "pita"..yak...she hated anything bitter..Karelaaaa...So no calling her 'pushpita' pleeese. Bitter(peeta) is bad!!!
"You know, Lucy didi, Laura was crying so loudly in the class today. She lost her beautiful green handkerchief. It had a red rose embroidered on it. Our class teacher told her that such things come and go. How can a handerkerchief come and go??? Is it a living thing??"
Of course living things move and non living things do not. Ingenius observation by a five year old.
"Who is your class teacher?" I was curious to know the name of the person who made the attempt of explaining the great reality of life to Grade 1 kids.
"A Gangopadhya madam."
"Hmmm..and what does "A" stand for ?" I was inherently the curious crow.
"Ahh..Lucy didi, thats so simple. Like "A cat" means "one cat", "A table" means "one table" , so "A Gangopadhya" means "One Gangopadhya" as we have only one Gangopadhya madam in our school "
I could just heave a sigh..
And the other day I had an even more interesting story to listen to. Pushpita's teacher had told them the method of converting nonliving things to something living!
"Okie, so how's that??"
"Well guess what..we just have to put some food particles in the dark corner of the room and in a day there will be rats!! So, thats how living rats generate out of non living particles!!! "
" Not Bad... who told you this story??"
"Wild Animal Sir!"
"Awful!!! How can that be the name??"
"Of course thats the name we call him. He tells us all about wild animals and domestic animals."
"Awesome!!"
That was then. Now there is a role reversal. Pushpita is a pretty thirteen year old now. She loves her name as she knows the meaning, her smile as pretty as a bunch of flowers(Pushp). She is still never tired of calling me 'Lucy didi', and I Am her 'didi' to listen to all the weird stories she can make up.
She called me up the other day on the mobile,
"Hey Lucy didi, do you know how I am talking to you right now, with my new mobile!!! ..and I learnt chatting in the Internet today. I chatted with Laura. It is wonderful you know, she could see what I was typing on my computer..And hope you are taking good care of your health in the hostel! Make sure you have lots of fruits everyday..."
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Hare and The Tortoise
Why does the rabbit have to loose the race? Even if it runs in its sleep it can overtake the sluggish tortoise. How can the crow drink the water which was just a puddle at the bottom of the pot? Since it was too hot that day, the stones should have melted and what he should be drinking is mud and not water. I am sure Cinderella must have fun sleeping near the cinder. I mean how does the handsome prince know that she was very hard working? He fell for her beautiful dress and charms not her hard working nature…Why do all of mom’s stories have to end with morals?
‘Ah, I forgot, Mills and Boons is for girls and not tom boys’ Jiji’s mom smiled while she put back the ‘Always and Forever’ affectionately on the shelf. Jiji was thirteen now and mom thought she should now behave somewhat like grown up girls do. While all moms dreaded their innocent daughties reading the tabooed “Mills and Boons”, Jiji’s mom disapproved of any pretensions.
Why do girls have to grow up in a certain way, just like the rabbit loosing the race and the fox cribbing for the grapes and the crow…?
‘…and that teaches you ‘Appearances are deceptive’.’ Didn’t I tell you the story of the ant and the chrysalis the other day.. Why then did you go to those thorny bushes just to get all these bruises?
‘Now, mom why do you have to keep cursing the poor ant all the time? Though it is not as gorgeous as the butterfly, and yeah not half as fortunate, yet no comparison with the disdainful chrysalis, which lies imprisoned inside a shell with power to move only a joint or two of its scaly tail’
‘Oh Jiji! you must understand outer features are superficial. What is important is the strength inside. Didn’t the chrysalis turn into a beautiful butterfly which could fly and the ant, well, the much pitied one, could only run and climb’
‘Ah! The sufferings of a woman!!’ Mom suppressed her smile this time.
The next day, however, mom’s smile was that of pride. Jiji had won the interschool bicycle championship. Left Nisha a big yard behind. Her teacher hugged her for this achievement. Jiji was the best!!
‘So is the Prachi fixed or perhaps blue bell’s would be a better idea.’ Jiji suggested.
‘If only you can afford it, dear’ giggled the boys and the shrill girls all gathered .’ Now this is going to be a show. Lekha might be the topper with 100% marks in Maths and languages. but bicycle riding!!!
‘Only till the oak tree at the second cross. Hey that’s hardly any distance, but no problem!’
Jiji’s pickup was unusually slow but that hardly bothered her. She knew she has to gain speed gradually. However, this time it seemed very difficult. Lekha was already way ahead till midway. Jiji appeared to be exhausted but still kept her calm. She was a real sports girl!!
All the children were perplexed. They knew Jiji would surely take over but when and how? Balley was Lekha’s best friend and there was no better time to demoralize Jiji than this.
‘ Hey remember the tortoise won, eh Jiji!!!’ He shouted. Jiji got reddened with anger; she knew the tortoise can never defeat the expeditious rabbit. She mustered all her strength and kicked the peddle too hard and in no time she was crossing Lekha much to the amusement of the kids.
‘That lousy reptile can never win against the swift rabbit. You dimwits!! That’s a jerky old story for blockheads like you!!’
Jiji looked very very angry. She had crossed Lekha successfully and now heading forward. She saw Lekha smiling from the corner of her eyes and was thinking of the luncheon at Prachi. She saw Lekha very composed and that annoyed her even more. She turned back and shouted
‘ I will not let the rabbit loose Lekha!!’
‘ Jiji!!!!!!!!!! Watch out!!!!!!!!!’ Lekha’s voice came trembling fearfully.
‘That was a great luncheon mom, we had all the delicious food at Prachi…and the sundaes were zimply zuperb’ Jiji was too excited to pronounce the words properly. She loved the food and the watershoot at ‘FunWorld’.
Mom could barely smile seeing her darling daughter recuperated so courageously. With tears on her eyelids she remembered the ten tough days at the hospital where Jiji lied after being hit by the truck.
‘Of course, I paid’
Mom couldn’t stop her tears any more.
Jiji didn’t want to cry . That was a girlish thing to do.
'Mom don’t you have a moral for me' she asked innocently. Mom was overwhelmed with affection. Nevertheless, she wanted to pass on the message.
'One who angers you, conquers you!!' she gently touched her genius daughtie’s cheeks.
‘Ah, I forgot, Mills and Boons is for girls and not tom boys’ Jiji’s mom smiled while she put back the ‘Always and Forever’ affectionately on the shelf. Jiji was thirteen now and mom thought she should now behave somewhat like grown up girls do. While all moms dreaded their innocent daughties reading the tabooed “Mills and Boons”, Jiji’s mom disapproved of any pretensions.
Why do girls have to grow up in a certain way, just like the rabbit loosing the race and the fox cribbing for the grapes and the crow…?
‘…and that teaches you ‘Appearances are deceptive’.’ Didn’t I tell you the story of the ant and the chrysalis the other day.. Why then did you go to those thorny bushes just to get all these bruises?
‘Now, mom why do you have to keep cursing the poor ant all the time? Though it is not as gorgeous as the butterfly, and yeah not half as fortunate, yet no comparison with the disdainful chrysalis, which lies imprisoned inside a shell with power to move only a joint or two of its scaly tail’
‘Oh Jiji! you must understand outer features are superficial. What is important is the strength inside. Didn’t the chrysalis turn into a beautiful butterfly which could fly and the ant, well, the much pitied one, could only run and climb’
‘Ah! The sufferings of a woman!!’ Mom suppressed her smile this time.
The next day, however, mom’s smile was that of pride. Jiji had won the interschool bicycle championship. Left Nisha a big yard behind. Her teacher hugged her for this achievement. Jiji was the best!!
‘So is the Prachi fixed or perhaps blue bell’s would be a better idea.’ Jiji suggested.
‘If only you can afford it, dear’ giggled the boys and the shrill girls all gathered .’ Now this is going to be a show. Lekha might be the topper with 100% marks in Maths and languages. but bicycle riding!!!
‘Only till the oak tree at the second cross. Hey that’s hardly any distance, but no problem!’
Jiji’s pickup was unusually slow but that hardly bothered her. She knew she has to gain speed gradually. However, this time it seemed very difficult. Lekha was already way ahead till midway. Jiji appeared to be exhausted but still kept her calm. She was a real sports girl!!
All the children were perplexed. They knew Jiji would surely take over but when and how? Balley was Lekha’s best friend and there was no better time to demoralize Jiji than this.
‘ Hey remember the tortoise won, eh Jiji!!!’ He shouted. Jiji got reddened with anger; she knew the tortoise can never defeat the expeditious rabbit. She mustered all her strength and kicked the peddle too hard and in no time she was crossing Lekha much to the amusement of the kids.
‘That lousy reptile can never win against the swift rabbit. You dimwits!! That’s a jerky old story for blockheads like you!!’
Jiji looked very very angry. She had crossed Lekha successfully and now heading forward. She saw Lekha smiling from the corner of her eyes and was thinking of the luncheon at Prachi. She saw Lekha very composed and that annoyed her even more. She turned back and shouted
‘ I will not let the rabbit loose Lekha!!’
‘ Jiji!!!!!!!!!! Watch out!!!!!!!!!’ Lekha’s voice came trembling fearfully.
‘That was a great luncheon mom, we had all the delicious food at Prachi…and the sundaes were zimply zuperb’ Jiji was too excited to pronounce the words properly. She loved the food and the watershoot at ‘FunWorld’.
Mom could barely smile seeing her darling daughter recuperated so courageously. With tears on her eyelids she remembered the ten tough days at the hospital where Jiji lied after being hit by the truck.
‘Of course, I paid’
Mom couldn’t stop her tears any more.
Jiji didn’t want to cry . That was a girlish thing to do.
'Mom don’t you have a moral for me' she asked innocently. Mom was overwhelmed with affection. Nevertheless, she wanted to pass on the message.
'One who angers you, conquers you!!' she gently touched her genius daughtie’s cheeks.
Monday, March 17, 2008
My 'Jhoola'
“…I would like to share with you all, my experiences with ‘my jhoola’ which is very comfortable and inviting. Sitting on it, I feel like floating effortlessly with the south winds just like the large coconut leaves swaying along the sides of the Ring Road. The Ring Road, which is approximately two hundred meters from the ‘Thyagrajan Villa’, my home, looks as if it has achieved the much craved for ‘peace’ at this hour long after dusk, completely worn out of the hustles of the day . I look up to the sky, sometimes. Yesterday was the first time when I could spot the Ursa Major, the Sapta Rishi. The first time in the three months that we have moved to our new house. The seven of them were twinkling and the Pole star was shining steadily. I feel lost in the constellations, the wonders of the clear night sky. My concentration breaks with a roar. The roars of airplanes taking off. I keep my ears open to listen to the sound of the roars fading into silence as the plane passes across the terrace. On my jhoola, I get my inspiration, to know, that world is a beautiful place to live in and I should live my life to the fullest may whatever hardships come my way.” There was a moment of silence and then all the children started clapping. “ So, dear children, do we now know that our ‘favorite thing’ need not always be the television where we watch cartoon networks and car races all day long” Ms. Lily took her register and bade goodbye to her kids.
This was not the first time Lizi was told to read out her piece of creative writing in front of the whole class. The last time it was about ‘a short trip’ and almost everyone had written about their class outing to the local zoo. Ms.Lily was surprised to read Liz’s essay on boating in Banelory Lake. A beautiful, imaginative piece. What surprised her teacher most was her lucid description of the new moon light flashing on the water and the whirling of the small round boats. Moreover, her writing was so very well outlined and free from the gaudiness and ambiguity that she comes across in most creative writing pieces.
“Such brilliance from a thirteen year old” Liz was slightly embarrassed when she heard Ms. Lily saying to her colleague.
“My Dear Diary” Liz started like every night. “I didn’t mention it in my essay. That would have looked so ugly in my writing. After all, in a piece of creative writing we are supposed to be writing about the nature, the green valleys, waterfalls, the sky and the heavenly bodies not poverty and hunger. It takes away all the sophistication and fineness from the writing. Ms. Lily says my piece had a sense of completeness. How can my piece on ‘my jhoola’ be complete, without the mention of that…” Liz’s eyes became sad as if haunted with something…
“And you know dear diary, that Hanam was again trying to sneak away my old story books. So what if I have read them all about a hundred times, I don’t want to give it to that sluggard with dirty teeth.” Liz ended like every night. Of the ten years that Hanam had been there to help Liz’s mom in domestic works, not one day had passed without Hanam and Liz shouting at each other for something or the other.
“The the currency currency of of US US is is dollar dollar dollar dollar dollar”“HANAM, WILL YOU STOP GETTING ON MY NERVES??” Liz was very annoyed with Hanam who was loudly trying to get by heart the name of the US currency. ‘Why can’t you do that silently and without repeating each word twice? …and for a change why don’t you understand the meaning of the sentence you read instead of repeating it a hundred times like a parrot”
It was not always that Liz had such disregard for Hanam. “Believe me Liz, they don’t bury movie actors when they die” Hanam had told her once when she was just a toddler... “They take out their skins and make masks which other actors can wear. This is how you can see their movies even long after they are dead.”
Liz cannot forgive Hanam for this, for one reason that, she had herself passed on this great philosophy to all her friends, just to get all embarrassed later. As if this were not enough, Hanam keeps taking away her books without her knowledge.
“Why do you have to read my books when you don’t even recognize the alphabet too very well and what’s this parroting? Why can’t he ever read single lines in one go?”
Hanam would give Liz a big grin showing all his teeth, reddened with beetle stains. “You wouldn’t know Liz; the best way to get something by hearted is to repeat it twice. That’s how my teacher taught me when I was in standard four. Read it once by looking at the book and then close the book and recite the same line once again. Why, I have remembered big verses this way”
“Thank God you didn’t go to school after grade four, Hanam!” Liz gave him a sneer.
That night Liz had gone up to the terrace earlier than usual. She wanted to enjoy the stars, the clusters of whites up there, the one or two lorries passing slowly by the Ring Road… She didn’t want to look at THAT…it makes her feel very gloomy and depressed. The little girl there was collecting the ashes from the earthen stove. Once she is done with that she will go on to make jasmine garlands to sell it near the street tomorrow morning. Hardly ever does she wear anything other than that long orange skirt, perhaps once deep red in color and that soiled blue top.She never went to school. Previously, she used to play with the other kids in the slums but now, she was thirteen and hence not allowed to play with the boys any more.
‘How could I have written it in my essay, she looks so helpless, pale and so sad with life’.
Next morning, Liz was very angry with Hanam.That lousy moron has done it again. "How many times do I have to tell him not to make such blunt underlines all over my book?”
"Liz, should I tell you something. My teacher in standard four had told me to make points underlined and highlighted so that you can remember them at a glance.” Hanam retorted.
“Why isn’t your parroting technique much helpful” Lizi giggled. “ but seriously, do you really have to make those awful red marks with that blunt nib all over my book, you idiot? Hanam, in your head, you still are a fourth grader and always will be. No school will ever promote you.” “Sorry Liz.” Hanam displayed his indigenous teeth again and that infuriated Lizi even more.
“Today, no roaming about the terrace till late, Liz” Gong went the bell for ten and mom’s orders had to be obeyed.
“Dear Diary, I wish the poor girl gets some education at least, to read and write. Why does she have to live in the slums? Should I have told Ms. Lily about it? That, my jhoola gives me inspiration, true, but it gives me pain as well. She looks so sharp from her appearance, not like that blockheaded fourth grader who can never understand a thing without making you repeat at least thrice.” She bade goodbye to her, soul mate, her diary, with that critical remark for Hanam.
“You should talk to that girl, Liz. Find out if you can help her in any way. May be you can give her a book or two to start with.” Ms. Lily was touched by Liz’s tender and warm nature.
“Don’t be pained, darling. She may not be a skilled writer like you because she never got the required education for it but I’m sure she must have something in herself which makes her life worth living and equally enjoyable.” Ms. Lily swayed her fingers across Liz’s hair, her favorite student of whose writing she was an admirer.
“I will do that Miss Lily. I will go to the slums today.”“NILE-NILE IS IS THE THE LONGEST LONGEST RIVER RIVER IN IN THE THE WORLD WORLD.” Liz was shocked to hear the similar sounding parroting method in the similar loud voice. She walked nearer the slums and there was the girl in the orange skirt making red marks and underlines with a blunt nib. She lived in a hut in the open field outside which was the Ring road. She was marking the longest river in the world.
After dinner Lizi was sitting on the jhoola again, her favorite thing in the world. She was gazing at the pole star with a smile on her face. On her laps, was her diary. “Dear Diary,You know, she knew about US dollar and its Indian denominations. She told me that the man who lives in Thyagrajan Villa teaches her and all other kids in her neighborhood. He has taught her the tricks of remembering verses and underlining important points. I have kept all my old books in the servants’ quarters and yes, also some sharpened pencils to make marks. I just hope, that fourth grader, hasn’t told them that ridiculous story about movie actors again.” Lizi ended as usual.
This was not the first time Lizi was told to read out her piece of creative writing in front of the whole class. The last time it was about ‘a short trip’ and almost everyone had written about their class outing to the local zoo. Ms.Lily was surprised to read Liz’s essay on boating in Banelory Lake. A beautiful, imaginative piece. What surprised her teacher most was her lucid description of the new moon light flashing on the water and the whirling of the small round boats. Moreover, her writing was so very well outlined and free from the gaudiness and ambiguity that she comes across in most creative writing pieces.
“Such brilliance from a thirteen year old” Liz was slightly embarrassed when she heard Ms. Lily saying to her colleague.
“My Dear Diary” Liz started like every night. “I didn’t mention it in my essay. That would have looked so ugly in my writing. After all, in a piece of creative writing we are supposed to be writing about the nature, the green valleys, waterfalls, the sky and the heavenly bodies not poverty and hunger. It takes away all the sophistication and fineness from the writing. Ms. Lily says my piece had a sense of completeness. How can my piece on ‘my jhoola’ be complete, without the mention of that…” Liz’s eyes became sad as if haunted with something…
“And you know dear diary, that Hanam was again trying to sneak away my old story books. So what if I have read them all about a hundred times, I don’t want to give it to that sluggard with dirty teeth.” Liz ended like every night. Of the ten years that Hanam had been there to help Liz’s mom in domestic works, not one day had passed without Hanam and Liz shouting at each other for something or the other.
“The the currency currency of of US US is is dollar dollar dollar dollar dollar”“HANAM, WILL YOU STOP GETTING ON MY NERVES??” Liz was very annoyed with Hanam who was loudly trying to get by heart the name of the US currency. ‘Why can’t you do that silently and without repeating each word twice? …and for a change why don’t you understand the meaning of the sentence you read instead of repeating it a hundred times like a parrot”
It was not always that Liz had such disregard for Hanam. “Believe me Liz, they don’t bury movie actors when they die” Hanam had told her once when she was just a toddler... “They take out their skins and make masks which other actors can wear. This is how you can see their movies even long after they are dead.”
Liz cannot forgive Hanam for this, for one reason that, she had herself passed on this great philosophy to all her friends, just to get all embarrassed later. As if this were not enough, Hanam keeps taking away her books without her knowledge.
“Why do you have to read my books when you don’t even recognize the alphabet too very well and what’s this parroting? Why can’t he ever read single lines in one go?”
Hanam would give Liz a big grin showing all his teeth, reddened with beetle stains. “You wouldn’t know Liz; the best way to get something by hearted is to repeat it twice. That’s how my teacher taught me when I was in standard four. Read it once by looking at the book and then close the book and recite the same line once again. Why, I have remembered big verses this way”
“Thank God you didn’t go to school after grade four, Hanam!” Liz gave him a sneer.
That night Liz had gone up to the terrace earlier than usual. She wanted to enjoy the stars, the clusters of whites up there, the one or two lorries passing slowly by the Ring Road… She didn’t want to look at THAT…it makes her feel very gloomy and depressed. The little girl there was collecting the ashes from the earthen stove. Once she is done with that she will go on to make jasmine garlands to sell it near the street tomorrow morning. Hardly ever does she wear anything other than that long orange skirt, perhaps once deep red in color and that soiled blue top.She never went to school. Previously, she used to play with the other kids in the slums but now, she was thirteen and hence not allowed to play with the boys any more.
‘How could I have written it in my essay, she looks so helpless, pale and so sad with life’.
Next morning, Liz was very angry with Hanam.That lousy moron has done it again. "How many times do I have to tell him not to make such blunt underlines all over my book?”
"Liz, should I tell you something. My teacher in standard four had told me to make points underlined and highlighted so that you can remember them at a glance.” Hanam retorted.
“Why isn’t your parroting technique much helpful” Lizi giggled. “ but seriously, do you really have to make those awful red marks with that blunt nib all over my book, you idiot? Hanam, in your head, you still are a fourth grader and always will be. No school will ever promote you.” “Sorry Liz.” Hanam displayed his indigenous teeth again and that infuriated Lizi even more.
“Today, no roaming about the terrace till late, Liz” Gong went the bell for ten and mom’s orders had to be obeyed.
“Dear Diary, I wish the poor girl gets some education at least, to read and write. Why does she have to live in the slums? Should I have told Ms. Lily about it? That, my jhoola gives me inspiration, true, but it gives me pain as well. She looks so sharp from her appearance, not like that blockheaded fourth grader who can never understand a thing without making you repeat at least thrice.” She bade goodbye to her, soul mate, her diary, with that critical remark for Hanam.
“You should talk to that girl, Liz. Find out if you can help her in any way. May be you can give her a book or two to start with.” Ms. Lily was touched by Liz’s tender and warm nature.
“Don’t be pained, darling. She may not be a skilled writer like you because she never got the required education for it but I’m sure she must have something in herself which makes her life worth living and equally enjoyable.” Ms. Lily swayed her fingers across Liz’s hair, her favorite student of whose writing she was an admirer.
“I will do that Miss Lily. I will go to the slums today.”“NILE-NILE IS IS THE THE LONGEST LONGEST RIVER RIVER IN IN THE THE WORLD WORLD.” Liz was shocked to hear the similar sounding parroting method in the similar loud voice. She walked nearer the slums and there was the girl in the orange skirt making red marks and underlines with a blunt nib. She lived in a hut in the open field outside which was the Ring road. She was marking the longest river in the world.
After dinner Lizi was sitting on the jhoola again, her favorite thing in the world. She was gazing at the pole star with a smile on her face. On her laps, was her diary. “Dear Diary,You know, she knew about US dollar and its Indian denominations. She told me that the man who lives in Thyagrajan Villa teaches her and all other kids in her neighborhood. He has taught her the tricks of remembering verses and underlining important points. I have kept all my old books in the servants’ quarters and yes, also some sharpened pencils to make marks. I just hope, that fourth grader, hasn’t told them that ridiculous story about movie actors again.” Lizi ended as usual.
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