Treasure

On a Sunday morning, Sumed was busy cleaning the attic. Sumed’s grandma had expired five years before and he inherited their ancestral property of an acre of land with a beautiful house, surrounded by coconut trees, timber and rubber plantations in Kerala. Sumed and his wife Subadra have planned to lease this property, and after a few years they were planning to convert it into a private resort. Sumed and Subadra were searching the house for their granny’s decent picture, as they planned to hang a life size portrait of in the veranda.

Sumed’s have seen his granny, Shantha, known as Shantha amma often going into the attic and staring at a wooden box, very passionately. Sumed had a secret wish to find more precious treasure in that, so he was in the attic searching for the precious wooden box. After ten minutes of search Sumed eyes fell upon the box. The box was made of wood, with elephant and deer carving, it was a 150 years old antic piece, and the wooden box was inherited by his granny from her great-grand-ma, who served the Queen of The King Marthanda Verma.  Sumed lifted the box as if he was lifting a new born; the scent of original teak wood infiltrated his nostril. On close range he could see ivory carving, embed with emerald stones – he made a mental note to verify the originality of the stones with his wife later. Sumed dusted the golden handle and key knobs, with a pounding heart got ready to open the box. To his surprise he found the box unlocked. All sort of thought aroused in his head, why was the box unlocked? Was it unlocked by someone else? Was the treasure inside was been taken by some one long ago? Or is it a careless mistake of Shantha amma herself? What a careless person was Shantha amma to leave a valuable box like this in the attic, without any protection?  Or the box doesn’t have any valuables for such a safe guard?

With anxiety and excitement he pushed opened the box. The precious box had lots and lots of chocolate wrappers and notes in it!

Sumed was confused, he dumped the wrappers and checked the box inside for any secret compartments; he used the magnifying glass to read any secret notes engraved in it. He found none. With frustration he sat on the floor and his attention dragged on the various notes scared along with the chocolate wrappers. Again with a ray of hope he unfolded the notes, the notes opened the new door way to his life, and Sumed was not the same man again.

Few of the notes read;

Thank you Shantha sister for saving my young one.

My hearty thanks to you Shantha sister for looking after my infant, with such a care.

Our humble Namaste for humanity you exhibited.

Shantha amma, thank you for your kind service, we will remember you till our last breath.

Shantha sister, the way you looked after my infant, is more than what I did carrying him for nine months in the womb. You are like a mother to my kid.  We will never forget your service. Thank you.

Like these there were 50 odd notes in various languages were lying in the box. These notes triggered Sumed to know more about his granny. On enquires he learned that Shantha amma was a head-nurse in the town hospital. She was head in charge of neonatal intensive care (NICU). She was very famous in the hospital, because of her humble and dedicated work. She looked after her patients not like a case, but as alive human and attended the anxious mother patiently.

To understand his grandma well, Sumed visited the town hospital where she worked. After a lot of struggle he got permission to peep into NICU, for 15- minutes. There the realization drawn upon him -Handling the new born in intensive care were much difficult of all. Firstly the new born lacked the immunity to fight against any disease condition, so probability of survival was less, they couldn’t express their discomfort – everything should be understood just by their cry. Most of these infants are placed in a temperature controlled incubator, which beeps every five-minutes once to control the temperature, the infants had to be fed every second hour, had to be cleaned after every natures call, had to be rocked along with the various combination of wires and drips carefully. When they were, injecting, piercing and monitoring such a fragile infant, they needed a solid heart to accomplish the task.  One fragile cry of these infants will melt the heart of any devil, only these nurses know what mask they are wearing to solidly hold their pounding hearts. Above all they answered each anxious parent’s, repeated monolog of how was their baby doing? Patiently, with a smile “everything is fine”, “our doctors are very good, don’t worry”...

These are the magic words that Sumed noticed, brought a moment of relief in the parents face. He could see the patents looking at these nurse like Gods own angels. The nurse in NICU ward had literally no time to sit and relax even for five- minutes too. They had to ask each other duty nurse help to go for coffee break too, like MNC they couldn’t afford tea break. Their routine was very hectic.

Sumed was thinking of his grandma, with all modern equipments the job was so difficult, what would be the situation in his grand-ma’s period. The service done by Shantha amma, and the value of those notes and chocolate wrappers in the precious wooden box, slowly sunk into his heart. He analyzed his present, where to earn more he and his wife Subadra left their children in day-care, and his parents in old age day care home.  Whole day his children spend time in school and day care, his parents in old age day care center, and evening are spent with servant- maids in four walls of their home. Sumed wanted to do some sort of service to society, but to start with, he lovingly served his family. Sumed extended his activity like – not just dumping the medicine bag of his parent, but slowly asking them whether they had it daily and personally gave it to them. He learnt all day today news affairs from his dad, instead of reading it online. To his children he spend daily half hour time playing or chatting, weekends they all day lunch together in a family table, lovingly serving each other. These small changes made Sumed happy and complete from inside. Sumed and Shubadhra donated their grandma’s property to government child trust hospital. In that ancestral home now stood a multi- specialty hospital for children, and in the center of the hospital there is a life size portrait of Shantha-amma, the wooden box placed below, with it its chocolate wrappers and notes in display to inspire the next generation of nurses.

INDIAN SOJOURNER

SOJOURNER OF INDIA

Akilash and Akai where  packing their bags for trip to their native land –  Kakori, Lucknow, India.  They were living in Nottinghamshire, England. Their parents have promised to take them to their mother land once, and failed again and again because of their industrious schedules. This time the brothers where off age and understood their parents ineffectualness and started to plan their trip.  Money was not a big criteria, so the travel, stay, everything was arranged in a jiff.

They departed from England airport to capital of India, Delhi. The flight journey was comfortable, with savoury dishes (which they lavishly tasted and wasted), radiant terrain, and endearing air hostess service. Akilash and Akai kept their first step in Indian soil... uhmm, street with a background music   of “YEH DESH HAI MERA” echoing in  bollywood style, demoing the true emotion of pride and patriotism.  Their mama – Ranchan have come to receive them. Since it was mid-night Akilash and Akai missed the mundane traffic jam of Delhi roads.

Akilash “ Mama, Amma told Indian roads will be shabby, not well structured, but  I am seeing a well organised lanes and good infrastructures around, it is equivalent to our city back”.

Ranchan “Beta yeh election ka season hai, sab kuch acha lagtha hai !”

Akai “what season?  Election and climate season, mama, I can’t get you.”

Ranchan “Its election time, political party will do good things to public now”.

Akilash “But they would be doing this throughout their ruling period, what's so special now?”

Ranchan “heri baiyo Ye India hai, here everything will happen only during election time, still now I can’t understand, you are too young and alien to understand, leave this matter. You have come here, if the road is nice enjoy the ride, if it is bad just adjust, okay”.

 Ranchan mama's 3-BHK apartment was very comfortable to live in, they had yummy desi butter parathas, kheer, milk sweets and chaval to their tummy’s content and went for local site seeing. Ranchan mama has arranged a local tourist taxi to take them around Delhi. They visited Qutb Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Rajghat, and finally shopped at chandini chowk.

Akilash “ Is there any food court nearby, where we can taste special eatables of  Delhi bahaiya”.

Taxi Raja “Ya we have a very good one near buy, will take you”.

With the help of taxi driver guidance they tasted -  Golgappe, Aloo-Tikki and  Dahi-Papri.

Akai “ Dude we had so much, still the bill amount is low!”

Taxi Raja “ Dilli dilwalon ka shehr hai bai, Indian people are kind hearted, they won’t tax much for food, if we were rich our country will provide free food to all”.

Akilash “ Ya, I know, that is why people became lazy, and started begging from door to door”.

Akai “ RAJA hindhustani please show me a place to piss off, its urgent”.

 Raja looks here and there and ask Akai to follow him. He goes to nearby alley and show a big wall and sign to the boys “ yeha pe kar lo jaldhe”.

Akai see the big yellow wall and various wet marks over “stick no bills” “don't litter here” closing his nose he runs back to Akilash with confusion.

Akai “Hey I want to piss this nut is showing a weird place, you ask him to show a toilet place.”

Akilash “Raja, he wants to urinate, can you show a restroom.”

Raja “ I understand, masters urgency, that is why I showed him a best place, no one will see, no need to be shy, hare ek adme ko atha hai”.

Akilash “ No, Raja we should not urinate here, it a public place take us to nearby toilet or restroom”

Raja to himself “restroom ke liya railway station jana hoga, pay and use toilet tho 5 km dhor hai”.

After 10 – 15 minutes of drive they spotted a pay and use toilet, and successfully accomplished the mission. 

Akilash “ Raja, thumara dilwalon ka shehr charges two-rupees for natures call ? And two – rupees for golgapa too?”

Raja “ That is why asked you to piss off there itself, you just wasted a half a plate of golgapa sir ji”.

 Next day they boarded a train from Delhi to Kakori, in Lucknow. It was a passenger train, the brothers where sitting in a first-class chair car, with considerable descent co-passenger. Just opposite to them a family was sitting, the kids were unstoppably munching foods, popcorns, chips, biscuit, chats, bhel... in the afternoon the mother provided lunch to the kids in well packed foil paper, the smell of the food dragged Akai's attention and he unknowingly peeped at the kids.

Mother “ hai, are you hungary? Have some. I have packed a lot, we all can share and have”.

Akai looked at this astonished elder bro.

The mother forced two parcel of food on their hands, and ordered “paratha garam-a-garm he, jaldhi kavo”. The lady forced them to have two more helpings, the brother's where spell bounded by her hospitality and eat her delicious food, remembering their mom.

Akilash “ Aunty thank you so much for the delicious food and your hospitality”.

Mother “ oh don't be too formal, you two are also just like my son, there is nothing great about   sharing two parathas with you.” and she got busy forcing her young ones to eat more.

 Mother “what are you looking for Akilash, what do you want?”

Akilash “ Aunty I was looking for a trash to throw this foil papers”.

Mother “Oh just open the window and throw it out”.

Akilash “Aunt train is over the river bridge, we can’t throw waste in river”.

The mother unexpectedly took the waste parcel form Akilash’s hand and threw it into the river “hare, in Kashi they throw dead bodies, believing that they will attain mukthi, let this foil paper also attain mukthi through our hands”.

Thunderstruck Akilash and Akai looked at the aunty's children  who followed their divine mother.

  They got down in Kakori, which produced hundreds of civil servants during British India; from here their family tree branched to Nottinghamshire, England. Kakori is famous for its mangoes, kebabs, palatial houses of Muslim gentry of Oudh and numerous mosques. The town is the seat of the Qadiria Qalandaria Sufi order and the Urs- feast attracts thousands every year. This year too it was   crowded  streets and walls were cleaned, with border line of pan-masalsa sputum; streets  illuminated with lamps, on the expense of power shut down in nearby residences; posters and banners added to the decoration, and ended up in as monument after few days; roads were blocked for celebration, and stupefied the routine traffic; audio effects enchanted the festival mood, deafened the local residences; still it’s the festival season, without chaos how celebration is possible? The brothers enjoyed and digested the typical Indian festival excitement and celebration of the locals and boarded the train back to Delhi, the same night.

Akai, woke Akilash who was sleeping in the upper birth of the train. Akilash was the panicked to see Akai's face, and enquired what happened. Akai pointed his fingers to the train window.

The site Akilash watched churned his heart. In the far corner of the station platform, a lady was reaching a trash bin, and feeding her infant with left overs.  He thought of the, rich paratha severed by his aunty, hospitality of the stranger in the train, surplus food severed in the Urs-festival, and few minutes back the food parcel thrown by his brother and him, tears rolled down his eyes.

 They flew back to UK, and whenever food was severed to him, the picture of the poor lady near the trash can flashed across his memory.

Akilash’s Mom “I don't know what happened to our kids, they have changed a lot after visiting India.”

Akilash’s Dad fingers crossed “ hope in a good way”.

Akilash Mom “Honey, I am serious, I have noticing they don't even wasted a grain served in their plate, the other day I saw them sharing a single pack of chips... there is no half finished cool drink cans, and strange of all I am seeing brochures of various asylums, orphanage, NGO'S charitable services all over the world, collected and kept in Akilash cupboard.

From the upstair through Akai's room, they here a auidio song “Hum logon ko samaj sako to samjo dilbarjani , jitna bi tum samjoge utni hogi harani ...”

One by Seven Series

Diwali Dhamaka

Rajiv, Ranjitha and Akshy came down to Chennai, to celebrate Diwali  with Kripa, Vikram, Kailash and Bhuvana. Seven of them were cousins who used to visit each other’s place during vacations. Those were the golden, mischievous and happy days in their childhood days.

On a November morning around 8.30 am, the cousins woke up and were having coffee, Raghunathan, Kripa's dad was having his breakfast.

Raghu “What’s up, it is a strange sight to see all of you, waking up by 8.00 am, and that too silently sitting in the hall?”

Banu “Even I was wondering the same, anything wrong children, missing your mom?”

Rajiv “Mom! What aunty, we all are grown ups, we are fine here?”

Grandma “Raghu, I hear them talking about crackers often, why don't you buy some today evening?”

Kripa “Please papa, just a week for Diwali, and all of us want to crack fire-crackers and have fun.”

Rajiv “Raghu-mama, in our place, Diwali celebration would have started by now.”

Viki “Papa it will be nice if we start cracking them, because next Monday our Chennai-schools will reopen”.

Akshy “I don't understand the school management, all over India they follow same syllabus for us, but our vacation times are different, home-works are different, which is spoiling all the fun, I don't know when these Teachers will realize this”.

Raghu-mama “I am busy with office work for next three-days, so may be Banu can take the children to shop”.

Rajiv “Mama we are grown up, and we know the routes around Chennai, we ourselves can go and shop. I have confidence”.

Kailash “I know all the routes in Chennai, even bus routes”.

Vikram “Please Appa, it will be fun to shop by ourselves, moreover Banu-amma and granny have to prepare lots of sweets for Diwali”.

Raghu uncle and Banu aunty smiled at each other and granted their wish to shop by themselves, with a condition.

Raghu “Ok, you all can go and buy crackers by yourself, I will arrange a known auto-man to take you and bring you back, by tomorrow afternoon”.

Seven of them sat together and made a big list of crackers to be brought and showed it to Banu aunty, and got it approved, with few changes. They ate lunch early and waited for the auto to arrive.

Auto arrived, with Rajiv’s purse loaded with 2000 bucks, they departed happily.

Let alone, mischievous mind worked without boundaries. Bundle of thoughts were pouring from all of them.

Rajiv “Guys I have 2000 bucks to spend, in that we have to give 200 bucks for auto, so we have 1800  for ourselves”.

Kripa “Hey why to waste that money for auto, we can take a bus, and save at-least 150 bucks for ourselves, what do you say?”

Ranjitha “This auto-man is known to Raghu mama, we will get caught”.

Bhuvana “100% right, we should not cheat”.

Vikram “We will cut the auto saying that we forgot something and get dropped back home, from there we can take a bus”.

Kailash “Good idea, I know the bus route, and from our home only bus starts and its afternoon time, so no rush will be there, we can go comfortably”.

Ranjitha “Rajiv this is wrong, please don't listen to them”.

Rajiv “I, know, I am not going to silent them,”

Kripa, Kailash, Viki “RAJIV..”

Rajiv “Yes I am not going to listen to you guys, but I myself thought of this!” and smiled crookedly.

Auto was cut saying they forgot the shopping list and bags. Thrilled and over-joyed all of them climbed the bus and found seven window seats in row and reached the designation, with Kailsh boasting the names of roads and places around Chennai City. In standard crackers shop where discount was advertised they brought crackers to their heart’s content, even those which were ruled out by their aunty.

Akshy “Rajiv, I am hungry, can we have something to eat”.

Bhuvana “I am thirsty too, what about ice cream?”

Kailash “Guys we don't have enough money, we should return home, remember”.

Vikram “We should have left these younger ones back home”.

Rajiv “ Hey, relax, I have planned everything, we still have 100 bucks left, in that let us reserve 50 for bus ticket, with the rest we will eat something”.

Kailsah “Bus fare is 2 bucks per head, then why to reserve 50 for it”.

Ranjitha “No, let 50 rupees be there, in case of some emergency”.

The gang marched to a chat corner and had snacks and drinks to their taste buds content. By 5 pm they all reached bus stop and waited for the bus.

Rajiv “I think, it is not legal to carry fire crackers in bus”.

Kripa “I think, it is applicable only in train, not in bus”.

Akshy “Why to take risk, shall we go by auto”.

Kailash “You should have thought about it, while having second helping of vada-pav, we have only 30 rupees left dear”.

Vikram “Ok, we will wrap the bags with polythene sheets so that crackers are not visible”

Kailash “Give the bags to girls, so that no one will pay attention, even if they get caught, no one will scold them”.

Rajiv “Hey, you are right; Kripa and Ranjitha can carry the bags”.

Kailash “Guys bus is coming, but it is very crowded, what to do”.

Kripa “Crowded bus is advantage for us, as no one will notice our baggage, come on we will climb inside somehow”.

With great struggle, pulling others down and tactfully blocking the footstep they all boarded the bus.

After few stops all of them managed to ground their feet together.

Bhuvana “Kripa, is the bag covered, be careful”.

Ranjitha “I am holding it tightly and covering it with my hands too, no one will see it”.

Akshy “Where are the guys? I can’t see them anywhere in the bus”.

Kripa “They will be tucking themselves somewhere, we will find out”.

Bhuvana screamed “Rajiv..Rajiv..Kailash...VIKRAM...GUYS where you are?”

Akshy “you wait here; I will move around and try to locate them”.

Akshy returned after few minutes, with a worried face, shaking his head from right to left.

Bhuvana was in tears. To their agony the heard a distant voice screaming “Tickets....TICKETS...”

All of them were silently staring at each others, with panic.

 Ranjitha truned-off the mute mode and asked “what to do now?”

Kripa “No other go, we will get down in the next stop, from there we will take an auto to home”.

Bhuvana “What if ticket-checker gets in the next stop”.

Akshy “I know such troubles will shoot up, that is why I suggested auto, nobody listens to me, now we suffer”.

Kripa “Stop, just shut-up! Nothing will happen; we will get down in the next stop and will reach home safely”

Bhuvana “If at all ticket checking happens, just tell the checker it with my mom and show somebody inside the bus and run away from the stop ok.”

A male Co- passenger who was standing with them, and probably over heard their conversation and interrupted. “Girls, what happened, you lost some one, are you alone? Do you need help, what’s in the bag?”.

Iin the bus stop.

Rajiv “Hey kripa, Ranjitha, Bhuvana, Akshy...”

Kailash “I think they all boarded the bus through front door”.

Vikram “Guys bus is moving and they are all inside, run...”

Rajiv “Wait, Vicky it is of no use”.

Kailash “They neither have money, nor they know the route”

Rajiv “We will take an auto and chase the bus”.

Kailsh “See there next bus is coming, we will take this bus and get down in the next stop and join them”.

Vikram “Come, that bus is moving too”.

They boarded the bus and traveled in foot step, having a watch of the previous bus in front. Alas! To their dismay, the previous bus boarded by the girls, went up the  bridge and theirs went underneath the bridge.

Inside the bus boarded by girls, the co-passenger was bombarding them with questions, and they were worried and afraid to reply back.

Ranjith “I don't like this man, he looks evil”.

Akshy “I have strong feeling that, He is going to loot us, please do listen to me at least now”.

Kripa “Guys, don't panic and, fear unnecessarily, it a public place, He can’t harm us, be sensible”.

Bhuavana “I am afraid, I want to go home, when will I see my mom”.

Kripa “Oh, enough, let’s move from this place and stand near the door, come on”.

To strength their fright, the man followed them, he came close to Ranjitha and graped her bag, with a cunning slime, threatened “ Look down, I have knife, if you shout I have to hurt you, so be nice kid, don't act smart, I know, you all got lost, no adults with you and you all are traveling ticket-less”.

Thus the second bag was also handed over successfully, to the thief.  Their eyes were watering; all of a sudden they heard Kripa shouting “OH, help, stop the bus, my sister is ill, she is vomiting, STOP, HELP....”

Bus slowed down and all of them jumped down at a time and landed on the road safely. Four of them where running, they could hear the passengers in the bus shouting at their behavior and the risk of jumping from the running bus. The chaos passed away as the approached the nearby auto stand.

Kripa “Will Auto come to Vadapalni?”

Auto man “ Yes, but do u kids have money to pay?”

They looked at each other, as if what more to come.

Akshy to auto driver “I have my purse in the jeans pocket, can you take us or not”.

Auto- man “ok, Boss, come”.

After 15- 20 minutes of silence Ranjitha spoke “Don't mistake me, since we are having a very bad time, I couldn't control this thought”.

Kripa “What-ever it is spill it out, don't increase the tension”.

Bhuvana “What?”

Ranjitha “What if the auto breaks down on the way, and the driver demands for money?”

Kripa “Why this kolaveri?”

Akshy “Excellent! Good thinking”.

Bhuvana “God, is there, he won’t let us down, let us chant RAM, RAM, nothing will happen”.

Ranjitha “I chant JAI BAJARANJ BALI, whenever I forget answers, during exam, believe me it helps”.

They all laughed uncontrollably. And started chanting silently in their heart, after one minute the heard a deafening noise of tyres puncture.

Auto man “I think auto tyre got puncture, I will get another auto for you, you can pay the meter money to me and leave”.

Along with tyre-burst, four hearts also burst, with a difference, nobody heard the later.

Akshy burst-out crying “Uncle we dont have money, we were thinking of getting down at home, and paying you, but the situation turned out like this...ahu..ahu...”

Auto man “How far is your home from here?”

Kripa “Uncle 2-3 kilometers”.

Auto man “Get down from the auto, and wait here”.

Auto-man moved his vehicle aside, and caught another auto and dropped us home. He gave free advice to Banu anuty and Granny regarding child rearing and charged thrice the fare, for bring us home safely.

Followed by this Rajiv, Viki and Kailash entered. Before even sharing what happened between them hundred rounds of scolding was fired. But this time it didn't hurt any of them, in turn it was a big relief. It was a strange thought of maturity, to accept the scolding and they giggled at their adventure.

Diwali day came, no crackers to burst, they too didn't ask for crackers, again. All of them were watching television program, then Raghu mama spoke “Why are you guys not playing with crackers, at least during festive time you should not sit before television, go and crack crackers”.

Seven of them looked at Banu aunty as dumps.

Banu aunty “Go and see in your rooms”.

They all ran to the room and was astonished to see seven gift pack of fire-crackers lying.

Rajiv “Thank you mama”.

Kripa “Sorry papa”.

Raghu mama, Banu aunty and Granny wished them “HAPPY DIWALI”.

One by Seven Series

Crescent Moon Teeth

Annual exams just passed by, summer vacation had started for Rajiv, Ranjitha, Kripa, Vikram, Kailash, Bhuvana and Akshay. Seven cousins who used to visit each others’ place, for every summer vacation. Those were the golden, mischievous and happy days of their childhood.  Even though they quarrel all of them liked and loved each-other dearly, that was the uniqueness of their relation. Their childish-quarrel never lasted more than an hour or so.

Rajiv the eldest of all of them was the gang leader and the creator of all wired ideas (which was innovative and thrilling to the rest). They used to play from sunrise to next day sunrise! Apart from normal hide and seek, running and caching, cricket, shuttle, and various indoor games, they had their own innovative games; Water-filter (ghost hunting), Whale (catching and pulling down under water), corner-shoppe (selling), 7c Bus (running and climbing an imaginary bus), Military Academy (fighting-hitting). Favorite of all of them is re-enacting of action movies. Every vacation had a memorable story.

One afternoon in Rajiv's and Ranjitha's home Allahabad:

 Rajiv “hey since all of you have come to north India, today we will try to play famous kite fight, what to you say?”

Kripa “not a good idea, because none of us know how to fly a kite.”

Rajiv “I will teach you all, it’s not a big deal.”

Kailash “but will there be sufficient space in the terrace for all seven of us, to fly the kite.”

Ranjitha “I am not interested, it’s very hot.”

Bhuvana “even I am afraid to handle that kite thread, it may cut my fingers.”

Vikram “Another problem will be pooling the money for seven kites; I don't think it will easy to persuade   our parents.”

Kripa “Akshay, what do you say?” Akshay “since I am the youngest I will not get a kite for my own, so what the big deal about my opinion.”

Rajiv “cha, I have never seen a spoil-sport like you guys. Chalo I have an idea! We will divide into 2 groups and have kite fight, so we have to purchase just two kites, and can over come the constraint of the space in terrace. What do you guys say?”      

Kripa and Kailash “uhmm ok.”

Some how the money for two kites (Rs 2, each) was conquered and two medium size, pretty kite were ready to fly. Wind and Rajiv’s teaching techniques were helping, and the kites started to rise up! All of them were surprised by their kite-flying art, and slowly the kite fight started, competition geared up. All of them were involved and trying to fly their group higher and higher, Rajiv's group was about to be out-beaten by the other, which would be a humiliation to him. So Rajiv was trying to elevate the kite.

Bhuvana 'hey Rajiv, you better climb-up over the water tank, so we can beat them”'.

Rajiv 'Cool bhubs'

Ranjitha 'Rajiv! Be careful, it’s just a game, if next door uncle sees you, we will land in big trouble'

Rajiv climbed up and the kite took a great elevation, they there applauding and Rajiv to prove his might further stepped behind for stabilizing the kite.

Alas! Rajivvvvvv

Rajiv was falling down from the water tank.

Rest of them ran for his rescue, without any success Rajiv hit the ground facing down. To their surprise he was conscious and moaning with pain.

Ranjitha 'Rajiv...blood'

Rajiv was like a Dracula with blood pouring form this mouth. His Tee was soaked in blood.

Bhuvana 'Patti, amma, mani.....rajivku.....”

Kripa, Vikram and Kailash rushed to shut her mouth and in the attempt fell on Ranjitha and who in turn banged on Rajiv.

Rajiv ' hey stupid people keep quite, if you shout like this our parents will come to know. Be silent. First any one of you get some water for me, then we will decide what to do.'

Akshay went to get water for all. In the mean time the strategy plan was unfolded.

Ranjitha ' you are losing lot of blood, do something soon'

Kripa ' we can’t hide this from our parents, wound is visible'

Kailash 'no plan, no thinking, come we will go to doctor first'

Rajiv ' guys please understand the situation, after this do you think they will give us this much of freedom to play?'

Vikram ' I agree Rajiv,…..I think this is the first time I agree with you.'

Dup-DUP-DUPPP..GHRRR

All of them turned back to see five big monkeys, landing next to them from near by tree. They now knew what to do next, RUN.

Rajiv was the one to lead followed by Kailash, Bhuvana, Vikram, Kripa and Ranjitha...all were running downstairs yelling at their might...”aiyo monkey...aiyo monkey varudhu..”

In the second flight of stairs Rajiv fainted and the rest of them stumbled over him.

Patti 'Oh GOD! Look out you all are falling over each other. Don't worry, monkeys will not harm you. Don’t panic, Rajiv, Rajiv...'

Two servants came with a stick and chased the monkeys out. Rajiv was rushed to hospital.

Evening when all of them went to visit Rajiv, in his room, he smiled and greeted them with a crescent- blue moon shaped teeth!

Rajiv’s Mom ' I don’t know what will happen to you kids, whenever you all are together all of you act strangely. What was the need to panic so much when monkey was chasing you? At least for Rajiv and Ranjitha it is a common episode, how many times Rajiv himself have chased those monkeys away? But I don’t know why, today he was the first person to run downstairs? What was the need? See because of panic he fall down from the stairs and broke his tooth. Please kids from next time act wisely'

All of them were nodding their head vigorously to their aunt and were hiding their smile.

During dinner Patti was narrating the monkey chasing the kids and how Rajiv broke his teeth because of that, to Rajiv's father.

Akshay 'What? Monkey chased and broke Rajiv's tooth...?'

Vikram and Kailash ' Yes Uncle'

Kripa and Bhuvana 'dai Akshay'

Akshay ' Oh, yes I remember, I came down to fetch water, because Rajiv was bleeding. I was not there when monkey chased them'

Rajiv grinned at his father with crescent-blue moon teeth...

Rukmini's Love

Oh! He is the handsome boy I have ever seen;

He is the world most adorable boy;

His vivacious, expressive black eyes will behold our senses,

His innocent smile will make one insane,

These were the comments Rukmini heard about Nandha.  His complexion was dark, with dove-like eyes, chubby checks with dimple, rosy lips-which arouse senses of his admirers. Hearing Nandha's virtues, which on entering through her ears, generated bliss in her whole being. Rukmini fell in love with this dynamic personality. Her love was true. 

Nandha was her distant relative, whom she had never met in person, she had heard of him through her relatives, so who ever visits her home, she used to enquire about every detail of Nandha.  If they happen to tell Nandha is learning music, immediately she will start learning music, like this she mastered in music, dance, literature, and various skills. She wanted to copy and match Nandha in all the ways, so when time comes she can present herself to him as an equal match. But there was a problem!

Rukmini was far more beautiful and kind hearted than Nandha. She had a milky white complexion!

How much ever she tried she was not succeeding in loosing her color!

Years went by, but Rukmini didn't reveal her interest on Nandha to anyone. Rukmini's father had matched an alliance for her and to her dismay fixed the date of engagement.

Rukmini built up her courage and told her father the truth. But he was not interested in his daughter’s wish.  How can she love a person without even seeing or speaking or being with? It was a mystery for him. Only Rukmini understood this phenomenon; for her it just happened!  She couldn't explain to her father's questions of when? Why? And how?

Her love towards Nandha was like a breath, it existed, and it was in-born. She was not able to identify herself without this emotion. She was that love - her personality, her outlook, her in and out was governed by her love towards Nandha. When people pointed out her mistake/ foolishness, she was unable to understand that. No one understood Rukmini and neglected her interests saying it was childishness, and not practical. Rukmini was left alone with her pain. She doesn't know how to make her parents and relative understand her love and devotion. Slowly she lost herself in misery and pain. The marriage was scheduled next week and she thought of committing suicide. But her wisdom and love prohibited her and gave her courage to find a solution to the problem

She taught first she should know what Nandha thought about her that is what it all matters. But, how to inform him about her love? This was a big question. Even after informing, will he accept her? This was another question. The question of acceptance was immediately ruled out by her, because she had confidence that her true and unconditional love will win Nandha's kind heart.

Rukmini's friend came out with a plan that she can send Nandha a letter addressing her love and explaining the situation, and then they can pin it along with her wedding invitation and send to him, by this they can escape Rukmini's  parents’ screening.

The next immediate problem of Rukmini was drafting the letter to Nandha. She taught and taught, ruled and scratched, tore and re-wrote again and again. She didn't want to address Nandha as 'Dear', because it was so common, and their relationship was not beyond that. She ruled out addressing him by name, because it was against culture! 'Hi' was not that respectful. Beloved seems to be misgiving, because he doesn’t know anything about her. 'Sir' was formal, 'Dear love' was normal.

Finally she drafted as;

BHUVANASUNDHARA,

(It means most handsome person on this world, which was true to her)

I am Rukmini, born for marring you, as a daughter to Bhishmaka in the province of Vidharabha desam. M y love towards you is unexplainable, I have not seen you, nor talked to you, but I fell in love with you by hearing about you through our relatives.  I am not even sure whether you are aware of my existence, but my destiny is our union. You have entered into my whole being, over- coming my bashfulness, I am asking you to come and accept me. I am in deep love with you with you and will not breathe if my marriage happens with anybody else other than you. I tried hard to convince my parents by expressing my interest on you, but they don't understand the reality and fantasy.

 My marriage is scheduled on Monday. On Friday, along with my family and friends I will be visiting MA-Gowri temple for Gowri puja in the city. I find it as an appropriate place to me you. Please do come to my rescue and accept me as your bride.

Yours

Rukmini

 Wednesday...

            Thursday...

                        Friday...

                                    No response from Nandha, Rukmini was doubtful whether her letter reached him or not! She was angry on herself for foolishly accepting the idea of her dumb friend. And now she is running short of time, and there is nothing to do much. But her heart which was Nandha's told her “He will come”.  Friday evening Gowri puja too got over, but there was no shadow of Nandha, Rukmini planned and equipped her self for suicide.

Then like a thunderstorm a vehicle came, the person riding was as beautiful as Nandha, but Rukmini knew it was not her Nandha!  When she raised her head to see who is behind the driver, her purpose of birth was attained; at last she had the vision of her bhuvanasundhara. She fainted!

Even though she had faith in her love, she was a girl, when she met the reality, she couldn't stand, to digest the truth, she was overwhelmed by Nandha's love towards her.

His vision and the thought, that he had come for her, was more than enough. All her wishes were fulfilled; she couldn't stand the ecstasy and fainted!

Nandha had come all the way to acknowledge her love. She couldn't stand the reciprocation of love, so she fainted!

Why Nandha had come all the way to acknowledge her love? What was she for him? For this dynamic personality, wealth and fame, he could have married any one, why me? At least I have heard about him from his childhood to youth, what does he know about me? Has he come all the way just by reading my letter?  All these puzzles and the anxiousness to know what Nandha thought about her brought her back to consciousness.  When she opened her eyes, she was in Nandha's lap, resting in his bed at his home!

 Rukmini wanted to capture this moment for eternity and stared at Nandha without even blinking her eyes. She couldn’t succeed, because he smiled at her.  They got married and happily lived for each other.

But still now Rukmini ponders over the fact, how Nandha came for her? May be like Rukmini, Nandha is born for her. He need not want the letter to understand her. Their hearts belong to each other, it knows!

Grandpa

Every other person is blessed with grandparents, there is always something special about them. The way grandparents care and pamper is quite different.  One will have to live with them to experience it; Kirthi was one such fortunate girl.

Kirthi’s grandpa- Krishnan was a retired Indian army officer and had a personality of Albus Dumbledore as in Harry Potter novels. He was well built, with a clam face, long nose and broad lips. Kirthi had always seen her grandpa with a well combed hair and he always presented him neatly dressed.

Kirthi (Ki) was the first grandchild of his family tree, so he address her always 'kutti amma', as he believed that his beloved mother had reborn. Naturally Ki was pampered, and nobody dared to raise their voice against her in the vicinity of her grandpa. Ki's actions were always correct and her words were laws.

Ki's and Krishnan’s daily routine would start with a small walk around the park. The reason being Ki's mother would have to attend to Ki’s 6-months old younger brother. Krishnan did not want his granddaughter to feel bad for the lack of care from her mom even for a brief time, so he took her for a walk.  By the time both of them would come back Ki's brother would have slept in the cradle and her mom will be able to attend to Ki.  Such was his care.

Ki's dad would drop her at the school in his bi-cycle, and in the afternoon Krishnan would come to pick her up.  At times when her dad was busy, Ki's grandpa used to drop her at school. Those days were special for Ki and her friends.  Krishnan never leaves his granddaughter at school gate, unlike her dad. He goes all the way into her K.G class and helps her to find a good wooden chair (Ki's preference was wooden chair, than the metal one, because the rust would spoil her white uniform). After making her sit in her favorite chair, he wipes off her sweat with his hankie and said good-bye only when Ki's dearest “Padma-miss” arrives to the class. In case he finds out that her teacher was on leave, he takes her to the next K.G section where her second dearest “Sheela-miss” takes the class.

In the afternoon Ki's teacher would  say “Un Thatha Vandhachu”  (Your Grandpa has come) and  Ki used peep out to see his big umbrella and always ran happily to him. Grandpa and grand-daughter used to walk till the bus-stop holding each other’s hand.  At the bus-stop stall, Krishnan used buy a chocolate and two bananas. Chocolate was Ki's choice and bananas were his choice. And he used to feed her one banana while waiting for the bus. Their stop was just 6 stops away, but in that short duration too Krishnan used to speak well with other passenger and their conversation never stops, that was the magic of Krishnan; He was the Babuji of the locality he lived-in.

After getting down at their stop, both of them used to walk another 2 Km. As soon as they cross the main road, Krishnan would open his big umbrella and instruct Ki to walk under its shade. It was a game for Ki, she used run in and out of the shade. Then after few minutes, under a big pupil tree on the way home they used to stop and Krishnan used to feed her the second banana (which she often refuses) and some water.

Then after having meals Ki used to sleep with her grandpa hearing Tenali Rama stories, Panchatantra stories, Ramayana and Krishna leelas. Ki would play with his scaly, fleshly and strong fingers until she falls asleep. It was a daily routine for Krishnan and Ki.

Evening again they both would go for a walk, this time it is through the railway lines to see the trains and the engines. They would walk in the rails chatting and singing holding each other tightly. Krishnan used to explain how trains work and how it helps people. It used to be an electric train lane and so there would be big stacks of round tiffin-box like structures hanging from the pole, which Ki used to imagine as food for engine drivers. And always her grandpa corrects by saying that they were power-battery boxes. (But even till now Ki is fascinated by her child-hood fantasy, and taught her daughter the same).

Years passed happily. Ki's grandparents went to Mumbai to take care of their youngest grandson. Ki's family too moved to Kerala.

In 1996 Krishnan passed away because of massive heart attack. Ki was in her eighth standard and during the funeral she came to know a truth from her mom.

Ki’s grandpa had a paralytic attack in his early 50's. But still he never took a bus to her school, he used to walk all the 9-km just to save his bus fair and buy Ki her favorite chocolate and banana. The depth of her grandpa's love sunk deep into her heart and she cried and cried...

Krishnan might be gone from this world, but his memories are always with Ki. The passion and moral taught by him would never vanish from Ki's heart. Ki still has the tradition followed in her place, where her daughter is brought back from school by her grandpa and groomed under the shades of grandparents. The family morals and values were not taught to Ki, but were shown to her and they are rooted deep in her heart. Ki missed the chance of saying “I love u grandpa”, she missed to hug him but, she made a promise to her grandpa, that she will never turn her back for her kids when it comes to family values and their grandparents love.

The Discovery

It is the story of self.

I was living in Kozhencherry, Kerala with my parents and brother, in 1996, in my higher secondary schooling stage. Since it was a rural area, there used be scheduled power cuts for hours together, hence no television, and there was no neighborhood children to play around, I have to put up with my brother, and vice-versa, so during quarrel I end up in reading story books, always better than studying.

Because of the circumstances, I started reading books, which slowly became a hobby and now it is a passion.

We used to collect our pocket money just to buy Enid Blyton, Franklin W. Dixon, Carolyn Keene collections. We used to lend books from library. Per week two books were allowed.  So we both together will get home 4 books, and finish reading it in a week. We used to read under candle light, under the blanket with torch lights on, under the school text book cover, to cheat our parents. In holiday when I ran out off books, I used sit and copy them (I have two note books of hardy boys with me). After finishing it we used to discuss about its write up, flaws and the part which we liked the most, if it is a series then in the next book what might be the story line, so on... The most discussed and argued was Harry Potter.

There is a very good incident to mention about my book-reading, in my M.sc, Harry Potter series’ fifth-book came out - The Order of Phoenix. There was a bet among Harry Potter fans in our class. The bet was about, who will complete the book first. It was the second day, so I took leave from college and started reading the book day and night, I was so much involved in reading, and suddenly I heard my mom shouting madly (which she never does). Then I looked up her face to note that she was very angry and upset. I couldn't make out the reason for her rage, because it usual for me to read books late in the night. So what this all about?

Then I slowly heard noises coming from my neighborhood too!

Then I got up from my easy chair (c-bend chair)…. my legs were soaked in water! :(

It had rained heavily and flooded my ground-floor house and I didn't realize it!

But after helping for an hour or so I went back to my book by dawn 3 a.m. and finished it by 10 a.m.

Flood or no flood Harry Potter had to be completed, after effects I will handle it, once I have done my reading, this was my attitude.

Time ran and new responsibilities came-in, I was mom, and no time for reading books. Life was busy and happy. And Harry Potter series was completed and I too completed the book with great difficulty. My husband saw my interest in books and got me Chetan Bhagat's entire collection, it took me 3-moths to complete it, and over the phone I was discussing the book with my brother, he over-heard our conversation and was surprised by the way we discuss about books. That was the time my husband gave the idea of blogging.

Even though I stopped reading books, my connections with stories never ended, it took a turn for fairytales, now I am narrating stories for my daughter. Stories hold her attention, so making her to have her food and making her to sleep became made easy. Even my relatives used to wonder at how I used to cook up stories for my daughter from nothing and made it up so beautifully to hold her attention.

I got a Job, and in my lunch time I slowly started to read story books again. There I came across the 'Twilight-series' by Stephanie Meyer.  It took me 40-days to complete the entire four book series. But those 40-days changed a lot in me. I don’t know it may be because, I started reading like before. Every single minute I was happy, whatever and however the circumstances were, it didn't affect me. It may sound crazy, but just reading made me happy and joyful - This surprised me.  Then I realized what I wanted in my life. I wanted to write a story book!

Yes, that is what I am good at.

From my child-hood I used to feel that I didn't have any special talent to exhibit to others. I used feel jealous of my cousin who could sing, dance and paint well. I knew drawing and painting; I inherited knowledge of classical-songs from cousins, spiritual knowledge from my parents and Guru, learned science through degrees (fear of math, developed an attraction to science initially) and developed an interest in sports because of my brother's influence. In a simple way- I was jack of all trades, but master of none.

But now I discovered what I am good at – Story Telling!

I am going to write a STORY-BOOK! I wanted to be a writer – story writer.

I don't know how famous my book……Uhmm... books would be, but I will enjoy doing it.

I will publish a novel before my last breath!