Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Sword Turned Feather

               India is a wonderful country where you can learn new things at every nook and corner. Filled with vibrant colors and emotions of all sort, people of all ages can be found on the streets.
               Indians are very friendly. You are sure to find them interesting. Their patriotism is beyond measure. Even the fellow who hates himself loves his country. Their culture is something that they treasure so much. Whether they abide with the rules or not, they follow their customs with the greatest sincerity. You will feel a love-filled atmosphere. You will never get lost in India nor feel unloved. There is nothing called as solitude in India.
                Just walk along the streets and you are sure to get entertained. People of all sorts, fat, thin, smiling, frowning, tall, short, with complexion ranging from yellow to brown to black. Girls brightly dressed with their faces painted yellow and their neatly plaited hairs and bright flowers tucked in their jet black hairs. Grooming long hair is something that is extremely desired. With black eyes contoured with black kohl and their shy filled faces. Sarees of all sorts with matching accessories especially long dangling earrings that sparkle in the bright sunlight. Boys in their half pants, checking out the girls. They are a great treat to your eyes.
               The roads filled with vehicles of all sorts ranging from bullock carts to the latest model cars. The quaint towns with a slight tinge of modern India. The vendors shouting every now and then. The roadside shops where a huge crowd can be seen.
               On that particular day, I went to my friend's place to have brunch with her. That day was a very fine one. A pleasant sunny day in which you see happy faces all around. My friend lived in a small village not far from mine. We planned to have our brunch in a roadside chitchat shop. Chitchat shops are very famous in India for their wonderful Indian dishes and of course, they are not hygienic but they are yummy. All sorts of typical tangy Indian dishes, the very sight of which will make your tongue watery.
              I arrived a little early than we had planned. As I waited for my friend, my eyes started gazing around. A man caught my attention. I recognized him easily. He was a well known rogue in that village named Mr. Fierce. The most feared fellow of that area. But, what caught my attention was that, he was surrounded by a group of naughty kids. Some were wrenching his moustache and some were climbing his back. He was so patient. That wasn’t the same Mr. Fierce whom I knew. The kids were cracking jokes and he laughed heartily. He taught them games and they played together. Just then, an ice cream van passed by, he bought ice cream van passed by and he bought them ice creams. Such a stingy man buying the kids ice-creams that was a big surprise. They were having the time of their lives. That revived my old memories. The bell of the ice cream van that will set every child on the street running after it. The kulfi ice that they sell on the streets. Those different colored ice creams. The petty fights we fight for those ice sticks. Once again, the sound of laughter brought my thoughts back to the Earth. He was completely changed. He wasn’t the same felloe whom I knew before. Even though his appearance was the same, it was his character that was completely changed. I felt as if he resembled a saint, who changed from a sinful past and blossomed into something wonderful. It is not so easy for a man to change completely. It wasn’t a mistaken identity. It was him but transformed. I got absorbed in my thoughts just then my friend arrived; late as usual. The first thing I asked her was about Mr. Fierce.
              She just smiled and told “Oh! He got married”


              Now, I badly wanted to see that girl!

Sunday, 21 September 2014

Friday, 19 September 2014

The Old Fruit Seller


           Nothing can be as refreshing as getting up early and watching the sunrise. With the fresh breeze brushing against your face, birds flocking the sky, the sun rays beginning to fill the earth the unmatched happiness that you receive.
            Thoughts began to flood my mind. I thought of my Saviour. His love that crossed the borders. No thought is so wonderful as that of my Saviour. Where would I have been if it wasn't but my Lord. I would be in the streets empty-stomached. But the Lord was too gracious to me. He thought of saving this wretched fool. He blessed me abundantly. Blessed me beyond measure. Lifted up my head and raised me to the position that I wouldn't even dream of.
            With a thankful heart I started my day. Got ready for my daily work. Humming my favourite song, I watered my plants and made breakfast. My day has started. With a beautiful note. Today I went even earlier to the bus stop (well, that is something that doesn't happen very often.). Got into my bus, found a window seat and started watching the road. Everything seemed to be moving backwards. It was like rewinding.
             The green trees that lined both sides of the road. The autumn leaves were seen everywhere. Kids were playing on the roads. Farmers were on the fields sowing. Youngsters were playing cricket on all the empty plots. Girls giggled on their way to the college. All those happy faces maximised my joy.
              A sharp cry from the back seat brought my thoughts back to the bus. A cute little child was crying. Babies are always so amazing. They melt even the stone-hearted. The entire bus was lively. A group of women were gossiping about some celebrity. A gang of boys at the back was making fun of their teachers. A nun sat in front of me saying some prayers with the rosary. An uncle with a big moustache was reading a daily. Another two uncles sat discussing politics. A little girl was playing with a Barbie doll. There was also a marriage crowd. The marriage season in India had just begun. The women were brightly dressed in silk sarees (the traditional dress of India) and their heads covered with flowers. Some boys were standing on the footboard. (They think its cool. Once again that is something that they learned from the movies.) To spend the peak hours in the bus, all these things are very common.
             Apart from all this, music was banging from the bus speakers. Some song from the latest movie released. India has a great craze for movie. The conductor was shouting for tickets.
             There was an old lady sitting at one corner not taking part with the rest of the crowd. Something in her resembled my grandmother. Nobody wished to sit near her. She was all alone by herself. A big basket sat in front of her indicated that she was a fruit seller from the nearby town. She awoke my sympathy. So I got up and sat by her side.
              She looked at me with a smiling face. In a few couple of minutes we were chatting like old pals. She shared with me her story. Here it is in her own words.....
                ''Its really rare to see girls like you who are willing to sit near an old lady like me. Your parents have brought you up well. I am very unfortunate. I'm very afraid that I didn't bring up my children very well. I should have taught them how to care for their parents in their old age
                ''God is always just. He repays everyone according to one's own actions. He is now repaying for what I did in my youth.
                ''I enjoyed my youth without taking care of my parents. Now, I am reaping my own deeds back. I never helped any old person. I lived as if I was never going to age. I enjoyed my childhood so much. In my youth I worked hard and attained a position that was impossible for my parents to even dream of.
               ''I had a life without lack. Had a wonderful husband. He passed away just a few years ago. And my strength is failing me now. My children refuse to take care of me. Even my own grandchildren hate me. I have become a burden to all. I still have to work for every morsel that I eat.
               ''With nobody to hire me now, I took up this fruit basket to earn my living. Nobody should come to my state. My daughter-in-law refuses to feed me. And my son always leans to her side. He never thinks that it was I who educated him.
              ''I feel left out and unwanted. Please bring up your children in the best way. I hope you will do so.''
              I felt sorry for the old lady. I spoke a few words to her about my Saviour. And promised that I will pray her. Just then my bus arrived at the stop and I got down with the thought how blessed it is to have a wonderful family.

The Wait


Day and night I await your arrival
That never seems too near nor ends
With my eyes fixed on the rusty road
My ears tuned to the sound of your steps

It seems like waiting for the train
That is way too delayed and late
With my hopes anchored on the clouds
My doubts raised at the very arrival of yours

Did I wait in vain all these many days?
My hopes are shattered like glass
Into pieces that can't be gathered
But will pierce anything that touches

After reaching the level indicated as
Beyond recovery, irreparable, useless
I was enlightened, eye opened, to move on
And one day you will regret it....

Sunday, 14 September 2014

The Autobiography Of A Tree

        To be born as a tree in this life is what I consider as a wonderful boon from the Almighty. You get to indicate all the four seasons, who like fairies come and leave their imprints on you. The sun-drenched summer, the awesome autumn, the sparkling spring, and the white cold winter revolve around with their dainty mischieves and spreading love to all those who behold!
       With the beautiful bright sun bathed branches in summer and all the golden yellowish orange leaves in autumn, covering the entire path where people just tread along for the sole love of it! Beautiful bright green leaves during spring time along with lovely pink blossoms. With little kids running all around and the snow covered branches in winter giving the complete feel of Christmas and birds chirping all the yearlong and the satisfaction you get when both people and animals take shelter under your branches is unmatched.
        You live more than anybody else. You watch as seasons, years and decades pass by. You notice how time plays with the life of men. It touches them with its harmful fangs and they suffer a lot. They lose all they have and become empty handed. They even die being the victims of time. Sometimes, it has got a soft corner for people and people live peacefully and go to their grave in good gray hairs.
         I have seen the life of many people. I know how people are and how their generations will be. I have seen how the children of the righteous prosper and how the children of the wicked suffer. I have seen how the world has changed since my birth. Now I wish to share it with you…
         I will never forget the little boy who planted me in his beautiful and wonderful backyard. It wasn’t actually very good when he planted me. But he did turn it into a beautiful garden as years passed by. That is our home. Our heaven.
         The life of a man is entirely related to the place where he lives. It defines him. It gives character. The way he keeps his place speaks a lot about him. I thank God for His plan to make me planted in this wonderful family. He watered me every day, played around me. As I grew, he grew along with me. We were inseparable. Years passed by, he became a man, got married and had children. He built a swing using rope and a plank. They enjoyed each and every day of their life around me. They even built a tree house on me. And I let then enjoy shook my branches and played along with them. His children loved me even more. I became a part of their family, a part of them. I took part in all their happy events and have been a great support during their troubled time.
          The children grew up and they went away for college. That bored a bit but still the intimacy grew. Their got aged. The children came back, got married and they too had lovely kids.
          Thus, I have seen four generations of that lovely boy as a sapling. As years went by, the highways wanted to cut me down as they had to extend the road. The entire family cried along. At the end, they decided to turn me into a wonderful and grand table. Thus, I became their heirloom. I will still continue to be a part of their family for generations to come.


PLEASE DO LOVE TREES AND PLANT THEM. LET US MAKE MOTHER EARTH GREENER….

Friday, 5 September 2014

That voice in the wilderness

"The coolest boy in the class" was one thing that Bobby ever wanted. He would have given anything for that. Hailing from a middle class family, his mother always refused to buy him all the costly gadgets that he asked for. This was the main reason why he disliked his mother. He was the most disobedient student in his class. Disliked by all, scorned by the boys, mocked by the girls, friendless and lonely, his grudge was his only companion all his way through.
Bobby hated the life that he had to lead. He always believed that it was Providence’s fault that he was unable to live the life that he desired the most. Not even once he felt that there was a mistake on his part
Bobby’s widowed mom worked day and night to make both ends meet. In order to take care of her two children, Bobby’s mother toiled with sweat and blood. Neither his mother’s relatives nor his father’s relatives helped them. Being caught in the whirl of poverty, Bobby’s mother struggled a lot to come out. Bobby’s father had died a few years ago. His father worked for U.S. Navy. Bobby seldom saw him. They didn’t even receive his body when he died.
Bobby never missed his dad. It was all the same to him. But he did miss the money that he used to send his family. Bobby became even more solitary after that. There was none in this world except his mom who would worry about him.
Bobby though he was well aware of his family’s situation, he never reacted towards the welfare of his family. He was the back bencher of his class. His report card always showed red lines. He hated school so much and even more he hated his home. He considered his ever-crying sister and his ever-tiring mom as a complete nuisance. His life was a living hell. He neither studied nor helped his mom nor took care of his little sister.
His thrift store clothes were smelly and his socks stank like decayed fish. Seldom had he stayed home. He would wander all around the city watching the rich spoilt kids as they enjoy their rich childhood.
According to Bobby, God was just another concept that failed miserably. But Bobby’s mother prayed day and night for his well-being. Bobby hated the very word called “Church”. Every Sunday morning, he would be an early riser. He will rise up early and get out of the house as soon as possible so that, he needn’t go to the Church.
That particular Sunday, Bobby felt at the bottom of his heart that something terrible was going to happen. The following day, he had a parent-teacher meeting. As usual, he did not tell his mom. But this time, his teacher called his mom and informed her. He fought terribly with his mom, when she asked him regarding that meeting.
He had to go with his mom with a 6’o clock face. Well, his teacher did complain a lot to his mom. Bobby got a feel that he never had before. “Guilty conscience”. Well, he had no way to escape that feel. To make the situation even worse, his mom refused to talk with him.
Unable to escape that feel, he ran away from his home. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
At last, he reached some place, he didn’t know where. There was nobody around for miles. Now, he felt like crying. He cried at the top of his voice, with nobody to hear him, or to more precise, he thought so. He neither knew how many hours he cried nor did he know when he fell asleep.
He was aroused by a terrible wind. He sat wondering where he was. He took his watch and saw the time. It was out of order. With nothing to do, he sat thinking about all the incidents that happened to him that day.
Then suddenly, he heard a clear voice. It was so calm and still. He looked around and saw no one. But, the voice was so distinct. It called him by his name. “Bobby”. “Bobby, what are you doing here?”
He shouted back “I don’t know. How am I supposed to know?” He heard that voice again. Now, it was more like an order. “Go home.”
A sort of fear seized him. He walked straight home. His mom sat on the doorstep waiting for his arrival. She was sorrow stricken. For the first time after many years, he hugged her.
He told her all that had happened. He was very afraid that his mom would be angry with him. On the contrary, she smiled and told him the story of Hagar and Paul.
That day, Bobby’s life changed. He studied well and as he grew, he became a powerful servant of God.


God can change anybody’s life. Only God can bring diamonds out of miry clay.

Monday, 1 September 2014

For your life....



tho;f;if vd;w fl;Lkuj;jpy;
tpbaiy Nehf;fpa cd; gazj;jpy;
fhw;W mbj;jhYk; Gay; NkhjpdhYk;
epiyj;J epw;Fk; kiy NghYk;
nfhba kioapYk; fiuahky;
epkpu;e;J epw;Fk; fw;ghiwaha;
gidkuk; Nghy; vd;Wk; Xq;fp tsu
    vd; tho;j;Jf;fs;!!!