Being calm and poised

Amidst the most tragic sphere

Strong will to survive!

PS: Image courtesy Google

Ma mama, mommy

My eyes search in the debris

stony silence echoes

PS: Image Courtesy Social Media.

Shivers and tremors

Dreams shatter, loved ones depart

Nature's fury stares

Rubble, carcass remains

Mother nature sways alike

Brawl of death lingers

Tears trickle down low

None to wipe and console Thee

Hope at distant orbit.

PS: Image courtesy Google.

Dethroned, freedom lost

Deadlines for and targets set

Emotions, eyes clash

PS: Image courtesy Google.

Sarla, aged 12 was brought up as a free bird, without any restrictions, though born into a community where a girl child is fastened with umpteen  limitations.

(Limitations in the way how she should - walk, talk, place her hair, modulate her tone of speech,   gaze at people etc.)

Sarla, lives with her grandmother in Kerala, as her parents are away for their livelihood.

As a custom, every morning, Sarla along with her grandmother, visits a nearby Shiva temple for offering their morning prayer.

Conversation between Granny and Sarla on one such fine day:

Sarla :        “Granny, hurry up. It’s time for the Aarti at the temple, and I need to offer my prayers to Lord Shiva for securing scores higher than Vishal in my maths exam.”

Granny:     “Sarla, my baby girl, I am suffering from high temperature and have not taken a shower. So, Granny will not be accompanying you today to the temple. You have to visit Lord Shiva unaccompanied by me. However, do pray for your beloved granny and rush back home fast.”

“Do not talk to any strangers and be very watchful on that deserted narrow road through the fields, which leads to the temple entrance”. (Granny’s voice has a concerned tone now).

“Ok, I shall go by myself and will not talk to strangers. Granny, don't you worry. I can take care of myself!.”

Nodding her head in agreement to her granny's advice, Sarla rushes to the temple, hopping, with a little bag on her shoulder, which has flowers and incense sticks as offerings to Lord Shiva.

Sarla has worn a silk white skirt and a pretty embroidered white blouse. Her  long hair is braided beautifully with a red rose pinned in the middle.

Sarla has to cross a scenic green field, which takes her to the temple entrance.

As Sarla crosses the deserted green field, she looks around her with amazement.

“Looks like it’s a special day today. The nature is at its full bloom.” 

“Ah! Nature looks so gorgeous. Is it all because of me?” “It looks like the lady nature is welcoming me.”  She says in amazement.

She watches a bunch of butterflies circling around the blooms which are about to flower. 

The flowers happily sway in the field as the wind passes through. She sees leafless trees coming to life with naïve leaves on it.

“Aha! How beautiful and comforting, a sight is that!”. Sarla in her amazement exclaims joyfully,  witnessing the way of mother nature.

Birds are chirping in their sweetest tone ever. The wind soothingly fondles Sarla as if it is caressing her.

This is the first time, Sarla noticing mother nature in such little proximity. 

“What is so special today? Let me reach home and then I will ask Granny.” Her young heart pounds.

At the same time, Granny is worried, as Sarla hasn’t reached home as yet. The medicines have its effect. Granny slowly glides into a nap.

Aaah, Grannieee! Um..Hmm…eeee!  A cry awakens the granny from her nap.

She jumps out from her nap and rushes to the front yard.

She sees Sarla standing and sobbing. A shiver ran through the granny’s spine as she sees blood stains on Sarla's silky white  skirt.  Though initially shocked, granny regains her posture, embraces her little granddaughter and takes her in for a shower.

Later in the evening, Sarla asks her grandma, “Grandma, why the blood? Am I sick?”

“No my sweetie. Did you notice there in the fields? Did you see the flowers bloom, and the  butterflies hopping from one flower to the other. The season has changed. Right?. 

Likewise, from a little girl, you have blossomed into a beautiful young lady today.” saying thus, she pecks on Sarla's forehead.

And Granny continues “Now during these days you should not wander around too much. You should stay at home and should not visit the holy temple as you are unclean”.

"Unclean?" Huh!  “But granny can you please clarify me something”, scratching her scalp, Sarla probes further in a very pleasing manner.

“Ask me, my baby girl”, the gray-haired granny lovingly runs her fingers through Sarla’s hair and waits for her to ask the question.

“You say that I should not  enter the temple as I am unclean.  But then Lord Shiva himself is “ardhanareeshwar", so do God undergo these periods?”

Innocence is personified in her question.

“Hmm. Good question, Sarla.” says the granny. But her tone made it very clear that the granny isn’t pleased with Sarla’s question.

Oblivious of the tides of expression on the granny’s face, Sarla continues...

“Again, today in the temple, I have noticed, the senior priest accepting the fees for the Pooja, standing in the Sanctum-Sanctorum. The notes were so filthy and were foul.  I am sure that the notes have travelled its way through the fish and meat market as I saw the blood is smeared on it.  Then how can it be touched by the priest? The notes too are unclean, isn’t it? Are the rules different, for the priest and me?”.

Granny stares at Sarla with a poker face.

Sarla continues “Granny, you have always taught me, that we visit the temple to cleanse our thoughts, right? Also, you have imbibed in me, that every human body is a temple and God lives within.  So how can the body be unclean if God lives within the body?”.

Hearing this, Granny, whose face is tense with anxiety and anger loosens with love and tenderness. She is impressed with the brilliance of Sarla.

She grabs Lil Sarla, kisses on her forehead and whispers into her ears, pulling her long braided hair...

“Sarla, my Lil one, do not talk like an adult. However, this silly Granny is in agreement with your broad thoughts.” " I just wish that people had a broader and a logical mindset on such issues."

PS: #happytobleed

‘Grandpa, Wish me! It’s my 18^th birthday today!’  Sitting up on his bed and in his pajamas, joyfully shouts Alex to his grandpa.

‘Grandpa, come here fast, I have to show you something’. ‘Grandpa! Where are you? Hurry up, Grandpa!'

‘ Ohoho! Hold on sonny,  I am not 18, sweets. Grandpa is 81 years of age. So Grandpa, cannot walk so fast as you do'.  

George replies and slowly walks into Alex’s bedroom watchful of each  step he takes, holding and balancing  his walk with the assistance of the walking stick and adjusting  his black framed thick glasses, which is firmly kept on the edge of his nose.

On entering Alex’s bedroom, George sees his grandson in a playful mood. Alex has covered himself from head to toe with his blanket and is lying on the bed as if he is asleep. 

As a custom, from the time Alex is born, George wakes up Alex by pampering and cuddling him with love and affection, and this day is no different.

‘Happy B’day, Sonny boy’, wishes George, ruffling through his hair and patting Alex on his bum.

Alex jumps out of his blanket and hugs his Grandpa.

‘Love you, Grandpa! Tell me, what are you gifting  me today?’ and continues to pester George with his question.

‘Gifts are not to be revealed, Alexie.’ ‘It would be revealed once you are done with your shower and post your breakfast’.

‘Come out of the  bedroom now, you lazy bum.’ George replies to Alex in a pampering tone.

Now Alex, slowly massages his mustache (the dirty teen mustache) and quips, ‘Grandpa! Do I look like Dadda? '  and continues to rub is mustache in the manner done by an adult.

George gives a soft slap on his palms. ‘Alexie, shave off those mustaches. You’ll look handsome without them.’ ‘Get out of the bedroom now and do as I asked you to do’.

Saying this, George, hurries out of Alex’s bedroom.

Alex slowly drags himself out of his bedroom. He is still sleepy. But the thought of the birthday party and the awaiting gift, works as a catalyst and Alex rushes for a shower and finishes the shower and breakfast within a time span of half an hour.

‘Grandpa, I am here! Now you MUST reveal the secret’. ‘Tell me, what my gift is?’ ‘say, say, say’. 

Alex is still a kid. He is just growing up physically. George thinks, with a smile on his face.

 “Here it is, baby boy, see for yourself, what I have brought for you.”

Alex cannot believe his eyes.

“An Armani Suit! Yepiee”.  He exclaims and hugs his grandpa so tightly that George struggles to breathe, and somehow manages to  free himself from the loving clutches of his grandson.

‘Thank You, Grandpa. Cynthia, will love to see me in Armaani’. ‘Am sure she will accept my request for a date tonight.’

George, sees a twinkle of a teenager-lover-adult in the eyes of Alex.

‘Come grandpa, let’s go for my regular swim.  I hold a national competition scheduled next month. I need to practice for the event. Let’s quickly finish the session in an hour and then let’s set out the activities for the birthday party.’

Alex drags his Grandpa to the swimming pool.

Alex changes to his swimming costume.

‘Grandpa, please check how many minutes do I actually take to reach the other side of the pool.’

Saying this, Alex stuffs the stop-watch to George’s hands and dives into the swimming pool.

Alex is a professional swimmer and has won several state level competitions for  the butterfly stroke swim style.

His grandfather is his coach.  So, George, stays back outside the pool and watches his grandson swim. George visualizes Alex winning the national level competition, and proudly he smiles.

All of a sudden, George comes out of the trance and sees that Alex is still not seen on the surface of the water.

 “Hey Dolphin! Come out now!” George calls out for Alex.

George addresses  Alex  as “dolphin” when he is in the pool. Such is Alex’s connection with water and the pool.  He started to swim at the age of 4.

But, George’s words went futile, it echoes in the pool area and slowly drifts to a stony silence.

‘Alexie, my son, are you Ok?’ “Please, answer this old man. Do not give me shocking surprises. Am too old for this sort of play. Alexie, You hear me?’

Desperation has now set into the fragile voice of George.

George peeps into the troubled waters and finds Alex in the bottom of the pool with his hand stuck somewhere. He could see Alex struggling to free himself. Alex’s breath has taken the form of  bubbles and is exuding from his mouth and those  bubbles start bursting as it reaches the surface.

Are these bubbles telling a story?

George is in panic and calls for help.

“Is anyone there? Please help this old man. My grandson is drowning. Hello…”

The only successor to his clan, his beloved, his grandson, who was born into his hands, he is drowning and fighting for his life in the pool. The same pool which he considers his second home. 

George looks into the pool helpless. His shivering body cannot help Alex.

Few of the neighbors hear  George cry and they come running to help. But alas, none of them knew swimming. They  call the fire force for the rescue and with the  buckets they try to empty the humongous swimming pool. 

20 minutes later the fire personnel arrives for the rescue.

They pull Alex from the bottom of the pool. They find that  Alex’s hand got sucked in the suction duct while swimming.

George stood at least 10 meters away from the pool with his back facing the pool. He has no strength now to see anything dreadful.

“Oh, Good Lord Save my Grandson

Do not take him away from us

I have had faith in  you all my life, despite my trying situations

Lord, the father of humankind, save him

Let the satan fade

Save my grandson, have mercy on us

I plead Thee, I count on thee

Take my life, but save my grandson”

Thus prayed the shaky old man standing there frozen.

And then he hears the most upsetting, gloomy, wrenching words from the fire personnel.

“George! George!” they call the grandpa. Scared even to move, George turns around to face the fire personnel.  In, their hand, he sees Alex lying lifeless; his dolphin is no more.

Unable to witness such a scene, George shouts like an eccentric man, shuts his eyes, as if the entire incident  would be undone, and falls on the ground, thus breaking his eye-glasses. He mutters and cusses his fate. He hits his forehead on the ground and runs to the party hall.

Like a whirlwind, he trashes all the decorations and walks towards the area where the majestic photo frame of Jesus Christ is hung.

As he faces the photo of Jesus, he breaks down and hits his chest and weeps. His sobbing is so intense, that none of the neighbors are able to console him.

“Why did you do this to me? What have I Wronged? All my life, I believed in you. I led my entire life as a true Christian. First, you took away my wife; she was my life. Now you have taken away from me the last hope, my last breath.  Merciless you”.  

George is inconsolable.

In that outrage, George pulls off the photo from the wall and raises high up  in the air, as if to smash  it on the ground, but then, his eyes fell on the Armani suit he had brought for his beloved grandson, Alex.

George’s eyes wells up. 

“Oh Alexie, my sweetie pie, my son.  I wanted to see you badly in this Armani with your bride in the church, walking up the aisle. But look at the fate of this old man … Oh Lord!” His voice softens and George faints ...

PS: Image courtesy Google.

Sun rays pierce the clouds

they hustle compete and rush

says Wake up Lil Ishaan!

PS: Image courtesy Google

PS: I have been tagged by  my friend Archana   http://drishti.co/    to take part in Five photos Five Stories Challenge (FPFS) which is – post a picture for 5 consecutive days and attach a post to it – fiction, poem or a short write-up. It can be anything to suit your taste.  Day 5.

a scenic green leaf peeps

through the fence with elan and splendour

aah! a caterpillar transforms

PS: Image courtesy Google

PS: I have been tagged by  my friend Archana   http://drishti.co/    to take part in Five photos Five Stories Challenge (FPFS) which is – post a picture for 5 consecutive days and attach a post to it – fiction, poem or a short write-up. It can be anything to suit your taste.  Day 4

Lil Ishaan, earlier this month, finds a new hobby. 'Ant hunting'.

The clan of the ant species  is now in the extinction stage. Ishaan, the ant hunter, is on a high rampage spree, killing  each of the ant who comes his way.

Morris, the team leader of the black ant’s tribe,  quickly calls in for a huddle to discuss about this disaster. They unanimously decide to declare this incident as a national catastrophe. 

Soon, all the senior most of the ant tribe  flies to Debhlie,  the Ant’s capital. The Queen Ant, Sophia, declares the catastrophe as an emergency-like situation in Bangalore, for the ants.  Also, she orders for an inquiry commission to submit the report on this issue.

However, the extremists from the Ant’s Help Forum, decides to take revenge on Lil Ishaan - the villain.  Several of the ant families have lost their loved ones  due to Ishaan’s cruelty.

Oblivious of the above, Ishaan, continues his hunt for the ants.  Ambulances, run Helter skelter, carrying the injured ants to the government  administrated hospitals.

That evening, Ishaan’s mom changes his diaper and is dressing him up for an evening walk in the nearby park.  All of a sudden Ishaan screams and wails. His  sobbing gains high momentum and the pitch of his sobbing reach the highest note.  Ishaan, even whilst crying  is pulling out his diaper.

AJ, Ishaan’s dad, noticing this, rushes to his rescue.  He pulls off the diaper  and finds  a big black ant in the diaper. The ant has bit Lil Ishaan,  at the place where it pains the most.

Thus, the ant terrorist, Usoma-Bin-Dalen, sacrificed himself by taking revenge on Lil Ishaan on behalf of  the entire ant clan.

PS: I have been tagged by  my friend Archana   http://drishti.co/    to take part in Five photos Five Stories Challenge (FPFS) which is – post a picture for 5 consecutive days and attach a post to it – fiction, poem or a short write-up. It can be anything to suit your taste.  Day 3.

Image courtesy Google.

Oh my! the clouds roar

Summer rains shower, like the

pebbles on bald head

PS: I have been tagged by  my friend Archana   http://drishti.co/    to take part in Five photos Five Stories Challenge (FPFS) which is – post a picture for 5 consecutive days and attach a post to it – fiction, poem or a short write-up. It can be anything to suit your taste.  Day 2.

Today i have tagged Rahul Spellboundwords.com. for the challenge.

Happiness I long
health wealth peace calmness I crave
God grins says no way

I Quip squabble I weep
You treat me as a foster 
God smiles says silly

PS: I have been tagged by  my friend Archana   http://drishti.co/    to take part in Five photos Five Stories Challenge (FPFS) which is – post a picture for 5 consecutive days and attach a post to it – fiction, poem or a short write-up. It can be anything to suit your taste.   Day 1.

I have tagged Bhavya N http://ishithaa.com/  for the challenge. 

Image Courtesy Google.