YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE...

New Day. The dawn speaks a thousand dreams. Hopes of a new future- bring out a smile, somewhere deep within. Yet, a tiny tinge of fear, constantly infest the smile of the uncertainties that lie ahead.

New life, new faces, new lessons to be learnt! Will I Live the new Life? Yes. I am dying to Live! A thought had crawled up, a few months ago- about Life, being an institution and I, a student in it. But when the doors have actually opened, the thought seems mere words!

Prayers. Blessings. Wishes. Pour in from all over. Thank you, all. The Life, awaits for a passenger, who needs to move on. One step forward- I board in the train. Bags packed. Tickets reserved. And dreams- overflowing, out through my eyes- I’ll be around, I promise- but adieu, for now! The train is off- I move on with it- the next stop- God’s Own Country!

SUNDAY SPECIAL!

What does Sunday mean to you? Sleep until 8 am? (I am a slugabed..) Shopping? Movies? And many other things. To some, it's just another day, in a week-full of days. To some others, it's just a Sunday. For me, Sunday is- Special food day! After all, we live in a country, where people worship food- where people are proud of their cuisine and where, to the grannies, you shall always remain, looking under-fed, even though you can fit in, the entire 70mm screen, all by yourself!

So, what's "Sunday Special" (“S-S”)? Before I answer that question, I should mention about my parents. Both my Mom and Dad, cook really well! How well? I think
you'd be able to guess that, once you get to see me! My mom, does all the traditional- Sambhar, Rasam, Aviyal varieties. My dad- he's the Star! He likes to experiment, create new enticing taste buds and try out, new dishes. In fact, you might be surprised, my dad watches all the cookery shows on TV and tries out those recipes!

"S-S", as you might've guessed, by now, is all about my dad! Sunday is his Day! A day, when he's given a "free reign"! The kitchen, becomes “out-of-bounds” to mom, and dad, takes over! Why? To prepare his "S-S", a mouth- watering, steaming hot, treat to the palate. His "S-S" is a force that enhances the holiday flavour in us. An effort that is never wasted. Creativity- in it's best.

It was on one such Sunday, I decided that, I should do something to show my dad, that I really appreciate his efforts! Further encourage and motivate him? On that Sunday, the "S-S" was Pulao and Aloo Mutter-, all original colours and appetising flavours- that I couldn't help myself, but do what I did! Take pictures of his "S-S"!

The pictures you see here, epitomize fond labour, gleeful pain, raising hunger! I can be ruthless, when I'm in-charge! I was bossing around, while my parents had to do all the cleaning of vessels, dusting the table- kind of chores. I did, only the Final arranging-on-the-table part. They say, the test of the pudding is in the eating.. While I was arranging and re-arranging the “S-S” to take snaps from “different angles”(!), my mom almost lost her patience and asked me- “When can we eat, ra”?! But at the end of the day- it was the most memorable "S-S” with a plateful of seducing, mouth-watering dishes- that proclaim familial bond and affection- framed in frozen time!

AN AWARD? FOR ME?!

Thank you, Vinay and Karthik. I am really pleased. This is my second award on blogger! Some rules that come along with this award are-

1. When you receive the prize you must write a post showing it, together with the name of who has given it to you, and link them back.
2. Choose a minimum of 7 blogs (or even more) that you find brilliant in their content or design.
3. Show their names and links and leave them a comment informing they were prized with 'Brillante Weblog'.
4. Show a picture of those who awarded you and those you give the prize(optional).
5. And pass it on!

And now, I pass on this award to-

Scribbler- What a poet!
Vrinda- Brilliant writer! The way she narrates is great!
Vanilla Sky- There's something in her blog that attracts me to it, everytime! Her posts sound genuine, are pleasant and down to earth!
Arjun- Has a great imagination and a really good sense of humour! Do pay a visit to his blog!
Nithya- Her tamil blog is great- humourous, colourful, lively! I've read some of her better posts on serious issues like- funding orphanages, visit to old age homes, etc. Her tamil blog is so simple and enjoyable- that even me, who literally struggles reading tamil, take pains to sit for hours and read the entire post! Great work, Nithya!
Karthik- It's high time he receives an award for his "Impeccable English"!
Priya- She'd come under the "brilliant content" catagory! Has a very good poetry blog! Do visit!

Thank you again, Vinay and Karthik!

A LITTLE DREAM- CALLED HOPE!

“I just had a dream, Radha! I’m sure, it’s a boy”!

“Vimmi.. Stop for a second.. I just don’t get it. Relax.. Now tell. What was in your dream”?

“I dreamt of Lord Krishna, playing with his friends.. and Mother Yashodha is watching over him, smiling proudly, at her son..”

“That’s great, Vimmi. This is such wonderful news! I think we should tell this to Sarlaji”!

“You both seem so happy.. Now what is it that you’ve got to tell me”? Sarlaji had entered the room. She was a kind and pleasant looking, middle-aged woman, under whose care all the ladies over that place- at Anand, came to know, what was it like, to be in heaven!

“Tell me what, Radha”?

“Sarlaji, Vimmi is going to have a boy! Lord Krishna appeared in her dream”!

“Why, this is such a pleasant news! Vimmi, meanwhile, you should start being more careful about yourself. For now, you are not going to be, just you. Krishna is also, now a part of you”!

Vimmi felt elated. She had never been so happy before. She couldn’t imagine.. How it began.. And now, this!

Vimmi was sitting by the window. “Banwara mann dekhne chala ek sapna”.. crooned the radio somewhere; and she wondered, “Can we ever stop dreaming”? Smiling to herself, she was now, gazing at the stars. Somewhere, sometime ago, a star fell off the sky to become a part of herself. She slowly, got up from the bed. She walked towards the mirror and looked at herself.

She saw a reflection of a woman who was around 30. She wasn’t fair. No. She wasn’t dark, either. And she wasn’t ugly- nor beautiful. She was a mother. And that made her, sheen!

She could feel little Krishna in her, waiting to come out into the world, see new things, learn new skills- become a great man, someday!

Vimmi smiled at her own thoughts. How quickly does a woman’s imagination fly, past the future! But, now, she needed to rest. Krishna, needed to rest.

Vimmi lay awake as she rolled over in her bed. She was just too happy to sleep. She was thinking about Munni and Sukhi. Her two girls. She had been worried earlier about how well her husband would be able to take care of them. They were just two brilliant girls. Now, they went to a good school, too!

Vimmi had always been a wonderful mother and a wife. Even when her husband’s dairy business, collapsed, she never lost hope. She always knew that Lord Krishna would do something. And indeed, little Nand Kishore had played his flute, yielding to her prayers and shown her a way!

And she saw the light, in her pain. The light filled her life. And her pain was now, her hope!

................................................................

“This is such a beautiful child”!

Vimmi opened her eyes. She could now see the people around her. She could see a woman, a young and very beautiful woman, holding the baby.

“Vimmi, you awoke? How do you feel, now”?

“I’m fine, Sarlaji.. the baby..”?

“Yes. You were right. It is indeed a boy..”!

Vimmi felt so happy. She had been dying to see him.. She gained all her strength back as soon as she heard it!

“May I see him”?

“Sure. Why not”! Said the woman holding the baby- “You have every right to do so”! And she brought down the baby to Vimmi.

Vimmi saw a beautiful baby boy, with unusually bright, big eyes! Just like little Kanha! She was so happy.

A man, standing beside the beautiful woman, now spoke.

“You just don’t know what you’ve done for us. I have sent the money to your husband. His dairy is now going great. I have sent him, more than what was agreed upon. And now, you can ask for anything that you may want from us..”

Vimmi looked at the man who had just spoken. She had seen him before. He had been like a God to her, helping out her family- through their misfortune, taking care of her daughters’ education. What more could she ask from him? However, impulsively, she said-

“Sethji, just promise me, that you’ll name him, Krishna…”

TAG- TAG!

Thank you, Raphael..

1. What have you realized recently?
Boredom drives one, mad!

2. Have you given your first kiss away?
I kissed this book titled “The Fountainhead” after I finished reading it for the first time. If u can count that..

3. If you were to be stranded on a deserted island, who are the 11 blog buddies you would take?
Hmm.. Difficult.. I’d rather take them all along!

4. Where is the place you want to go the most?
I think, that would be Paris.. Also a place named Vijayanagara.. Saw that on Discovery in a show called “Spiritual Nation”.

5. If you have one dream to come true, what would it be?
I usually have only nightmares! So, no, thank you! :)

6. Do you believe in seeing the rainbow after the rain?
Yes, I do.

7. What are you afraid of losing the most now?
Nothing, as of now..

8. If you win $1 million, what would you do?
Buy a new mobile each day of the week!

9. If you meet someone that you love, would you confess to him/her?
Hmm.. I don’t think so!

10. List out 3 good points about the person who tagged you
I don’t know Raphael personally.. So, briefly- A really good blogger!

11. What are the requirements that you wish from your other half?
As of now, I have no idea!

12. What type of people do you hate the most?
I’ve said that in a tag earlier..

13. What is the one thing you can't live without?
Oxygen..

14. If you have faults, would you rather the people around you point out to you or would you rather they keep quiet?
Would want the people around me point out..

15. Raphael's tag shows that this question is missing. What do I do?

16. Are you a shopaholic or not?
Nope.

17. Find a word to describe the person who tagged you
Sweet..

18. If you have a chance, which part of your character you would like to change?
My laziness..

19. What’s the last shocking thing you've seen or heard?
Death of a friend of dad’s. I was the last person to see him alive!

20. Would you rather have love but no money or money but no love?
I am a realist.

I now tag:

Vinay
Padma Priya
My inner world
Karthik

THE OTHER END OF A CIGARETTE

This would be my 50th post! Thank you for making LIGHTER SIDE possible! I wrote this story on 7/3/2008, to be precise. Yet, I wanted this story to be a special one, for it is my most favorite post after RAJANIGANDHA. Though the story didn't win me any prize for the creative writing contest for which it was actually written, I don't know why- this story remained to be my favorite!


Saket. A dream, a hope- a friend. He was life. I met him on the first day of our college. I was new and friendless- a castaway. He was then, a hand over my shoulder. A cigarette that we shared then, had bonded us for life.

A life lived, shown itself on those lines across face. A face that had once been handsome- charming. Spread on the couch- in an easy, lazy way, with one leg on the couch and other hanging outside it- his shoulders looked as though they could bear not, any more weight.

Saket knew a person by their eyes. He knew almost everything about everyone. May be that was why people adored him, for he never said anything to anyone what they did not want to hear. Everyone needed him and he was there for everyone.

“Can you get some water for me, Shabd”? It was weak- not the one that I was used to- his voice. It was tired.. No, not tired. It sounded fresh. As though it had not come out for years- not that it wanted to, either.

The cafeteria could never be complete without Saket inside. He always had his place reserved or rather the place had itself reserved for him. He would either be treating or be a part of it, himself. Some other time, when crowd is less, you can even find him with some girl or two. Now, he wouldn’t like me to tell you that!

He always drank his water, chilled. But today, he poured some on his face, his body- his mind! And when he let go of the bottle, he looked as though he had never relaxed that way- not for many, many years.

He hardly attended any of his classes. So it wasn’t a surprise when he didn’t attend any of his classes that day. But then, it was odd. He never attended his classes thereafter. We tried contacting him- that day, the next and the next. We tried calling his home. But it was as though his life had had a wash out- a trail on sand, washed away by water!

Saket opened his eyes. Eyes that could once make anyone yearn to see them all their lives- it had lost its soul. Lifeless, he looked at me and smiled. It was a smile that had been locked away in a cocoon, yet bursting to get out after a long exile. And I smiled back; a smile, too true to be expressed in words. How I had longed to see him do it, and it had been worth it!

“Can you light up a cigarette for me”? I did as he asked me to do. He smoked. Saket was born again from its ashes. He passed it to me. And when the other end of the cigarette touched my lips, I knew- Saket would never leave, again. For he, was alive- again!

A TAG AGAIN!

Thank you, My inner world and River soul!

These are the rules to follow-

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs, letting them know that they have been tagged.

This, will be me:

1. When I'm nervous, I tend to check, re-check and re-re- re- check everything! The result is never "perfect"! I am very careless. But, this re-checking, keeps me assured- "At least, I've done my part"! :)

2. When I am trying to avoid seeing someone or avoid seeing someone else see me- I start staring at my watch! In other words, I cannot live without my watch!

3. I'll spend hours arranging my room. But the more I try to keep it clean, the messier it gets! I just can't work, when my place is- "all arranged". I find it easier to retrieve my things from a pile of junk, than when my room is all "neat and clean"!

4. I am "extremely" lazy. Sometimes, all I do is- sit and keep staring at the wall clock!

5. I am a fantastic "bathrom singer"!

6. I just can't throw away things. I even have my 3rd std notebooks, my imposition papers, my control systems answer sheet, assignment papers, a pencil about 2cm long (guess I used it in my 4th std.!) etc. Not that I try, but I just couldn't bring myself to throw them off! They are my memories, after all!

I now tag:

Vanilla Sky
Arvind
Padma Priya
Suchitra
Ranjhani
Asha