HONESTY PAYS

During college days, people become a little carefree. The age is such. A whole year passes away skipping lectures as days pass away like seconds. Well, time waits for no one, neither did it for them. Theirs was an all boys gang. Most notorious among all others. Snatching, ragging, fagging, boozing & doping were some of their hobbies. They were very bright though, but the brightness of their brilliant minds could be seen only through their innovative pranks. They were good in everything but studies. The only time they would study was the night before the exams. They have been successfully cheating well in all their past exams & reached their final year.

The strategy for the final year exam was going to be the same, but this time Raghav was not his usual self. The idea of clearing exam through cheating, while other students studied throughout the year, was very thrilling & exciting for him but not this time. They gang had always felt smarter this way, while for them the other students appeared to be wasting time. It was only Raghav who had now started realizing the futility of clearing exams this way. He had understood that their incomplete knowledge would make them misfit in the world outside the college campus. Raghav did’nt wanted to hurt his friends to hurt his friends by leaving them midway so he decided to be with them in the plan.


During the final exam they all were caught cheating. Smart ass as they were, they were not unprepared for such a situation. They had always decided that if such a situation would ever occur, they would blame the examiner for accusing them deliberately so as to take revenge against the group who had broken his car window once unintentionally. So the same idea was used this time when they were taken to the college principal by the invigilator. Poor invigilator was dumb struck listening to such a baseless allegation meanwhile the principal got doubtful towards his own employee.


In the whole scene, Raghav could not hold back his conscience which had been bothering him for really long. Amidst all mud slugging, he stood up to say that he was the one responsible for everything. he says that even if he is rusticated from the college, he would be fine as in any case he would like to redo his college than clearing his final year through cheating. Principal & his own friends were amazed at his bold decision. Raghav knew that this decision could bring him an expeltion but it brought him respect from his friends.

Next day, after checking the CCTV tape of the previous day, principal reached to only one solution that though all of them were equally involved in the cheating but it was only Raghav who could realize his mistake & is ready to pay the price for that. So it was definitely Raghav who had the ability to correct his mistake if given a chance.


All friends were expelled from the college whereas Raghav was forgiven and asked to repeat his final year only. But it was win win situation for all. The other friends joined the neighboring college and started from the scratch. This time the really studied.

One honest step could inspire many. You need to take it and yes honesty finally pays.

......To Make Me Write & Collect Some Praise

It touches me when I am not expecting it at all.
Pokes my mind when it wishes to rest.
It gets me dreamy and pushes me to fall.
Finally makes me nostalgic putting all its best.


I often wish to give it some name
But I am always full of words which appear waste for it.
My entire knowledge of years appear uselessly lame.
I must find name for it.

It can be called an inspiration may be
But then ‘imagination’ appears to be a better word.
Or may be a ‘vision’ which God gifted me.
Or call it ‘freedom’ like a free flying bird.

As I told you already, no word seems to be perfect.
Or shall I keep it nameless always.
Believe you me, it would hardly effect.
Because all it wants is to make me write & collect some praise.

Lets Make Such A Bond

Here I sleep with you, In the middle of the night.

Here I lie beside you & touched by the silver moonlight

The moon stands up there cold, and you are so warm.

But you both are equally reflecting each other’s charm.

I look at him and then look at you.

While I could very much smell the morning dew.

The wind is still, so is the moon and so are we.

I can sleep here for countless nights if you let it be.

Or better still if a light wind takes us along on an endless journey.

Take me in your arms and then gently turn me.

Then let me look into your eyes for eternity and beyond.

Unbreakable should be its synonym, lets make such a bond.

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CHEERS TO FRIENDSHIP

Rohima& Sangeeta.What is the first thing which strikes you when you read theses names? Pronunciation of these names, gender or their race? For me, they are two middle aged women.

They work as maids in the pantry area in my office. Been together for past five years, they are best of friends. Thanks to their hearts full of concerns for me, I have started taking meals on time. I have also put on some weight because of that extra love which they shower on me for reasons unknown.

They always fill in for each other. Their name do not represent two different individuals. They rather sound synonms to me. They take care of each other during fasting as well as feasting. I have seen Sangeeta working extra during Ramzaan fasting to unburden Rohima of her daily work. Rohima does the same for Sangeeta on her 'Solah Somvaar Vrats'(Monday fasting). I have seen them treating each other & everyone around with "Meethi Sewai" & "Boondi Laddoo" on various occassiosn.

These women embolise the true spirit of friendship & festivity. They celebrate their friendship everyday, while washing dishes,cooking food,serving tea.Various festivals, which are plenty in number in India, add on to their bright & beautiful life.

When I look at them, laughing together, leaders fighing for 'Babri Masjid' & 'Ram Janm Bhoomi' appear so insignificant. Which court decides what & for whom, do you think it will ever effect friends such as Rohima & Sangeeta? I have my doubts, not on their friendship but on the leadership skills of orators who use communalism as a tool.Shame on them & Cheers to Rohima & Sangeeta & their friendship. 

To Be What She Is Born To Be

The brightness of the flowers on her clothes


are unmatchable with the brightness in her eyes

Her thin hands holding flowers tell

tales of many foodless nights.



Those curious gazes which can make

many intellectuals go weak down their knees

I could see that substance in her never seen before

looking at her vitality other life forms will surely seize.



This filth in the air cannot smudge those dreams in her eyes

it is her heart where the real substance lies

You can drag, push, pull and hide her

but you can never tame her wildness.



She would become a daughter, sister, wife or a mom

and will continue to shower her kindness

Then there would be many who would try to extinct her specie

but she has always survived & will continue to be what she is born to be.

 
 
 
 
     This post is dedicated to a very creative photographer Joshi Daniel & his creativity. The sketch of the girl pasted above is a sketch made by me looking at a photo clicked by Daniel with a title 'In her own world'.Excellent work buddy. Your photo inspired me to write few lines about this unknown girl & many like her. I hope you all like it.Cheers to creativity !

Take Me Away When I Am Still In My Prime

Will you still be looking at me when                           

my beauty fades away

Even when my lovely curls

 start turning grey.

When my vision will turn

blurred & I  would not be able to see you.

Still stay close to me

won’t you?

                                                                             

When I could not go out to

see places

will you not keep me warm

 with your embraces.

Will you not hold my hand

when I will jump in the sea

Will you not splash in

to save me.

Will you not run after me

when I run away from you

Won’t you get up early with me

to taste the dew

Will you not hold me when I

would be jumping from the rooftop

Will you not slap me hard

& say “please stop”

Will you not try to

bring me back to my senses

Will you not even

try to take such chances

Will you not kiss me

when I am on my deathbed

Will you not wish to

make me undead

Won’t you love to spend

with me a lifetime

So please take me

away when I am in my prime.

I Hate To See You Go

I hate to see you go
to places unknown.
It keeps me stagnant
& makes me moan.

I hate it when i don't
know where will you be.
When i don't know if
i would ever be able to see.

I hate it when i
know that you would surely die
and all i can do is
turn sides & coldly sigh.

I hate to keep myself
in uncertainty.
It becomes impossible
to keep up my sanity.

I hate it when you
even forget my name.
Your love has made me
helpless & lame.

Hate You For What You Did To My Dear Delhi

I love this city, where i was born.Went to school, spent my teenage & college days here. I have her air in my lungs & her water in my blood. I have seen it going concrete from green. Seen it clean unclean. I could never find any fault in her. Rickshaws, pan walas, mochees, & even broken roads - this is how my Delhi has always been.

Now just because some morons wish her to be the best city in the whole world, they have no rights to take away her real essence, her individuality. They promise to make her green, while i notice less trees & more fly-overs. I need to know exactly where are they planning to plant more trees. Over these fly-overs may be?

Shame on you morons for trying to make MY DELHI, Shanghai & her real essence dies. You call it being progressive? You have ruined her, ruined my birth place. The whole world knows that  you were waiting for a chance to fill your filthy pockets. You just needed a chance, a chance to show your shamelessness. You did it with flambouyance.

When a spider knits his web, he is very proud of his artwork but in the process he forgets that his ass is exposed. Go on & show your ass to the whole world. My city has the courage to take such stabbing but then be ready to pay back. Hate you for what you did to My Dear Delhi.

Let me be as if I never existed

Standing on the topic of the roof, I feel light. I feel as light as a leaf - dead yellow leaf.

No sap & no possibility of regaining any. End is inevitable. Not sure if it will ever restart again.

Standing at the top, I feel like dropping off myself & float in the air for sometime before I finally fall on the earth.

Feel like breathing in this cold, wild air & breathe out the moist ugly air in me.

Wish to fly like a kite with no strings attached.

Wish to count the trees, look up in the sky for hours at once & sleep on the grass when I can stare no more. Directionless & purposeless like a feather in the air.

Why not let the destiny decide my fate.

Why should I trouble myself then by bothering about whats gona happen tomorrow.

Instead of looking from a window, why not go out in the rain & soak myself in the sap – sap which could help me live.

Let me be spineless & never able to stand.

Let me crawl like an insect but stay close to the earth.

Let me be soil instead & drench my thirst when it rains.

Let me be something insignificant & invisible.

Let me stand at one corner & stay unnoticed.

Let me be as if I never existed.

BEING HUMAN HAS NEVER BEEN DIFFICULT

Being human has never been difficult. Deciding whether you should or you should not has always been. I had several options before me, before I finally decided to remain what I was born as. There occurs various circumstances in life which would defeat you & compel you to live like an animal but then the one who survives without loosing his dignity is a true human.




When people demotivate, hinder your growth, you start crawling like a snail. When someone fools you by praising about qualities which you really don’t have, you get carried away & start clapping & jumping like a monkey. When you are jealous of someone’s prosperity, you start acting hideous like a jackal until you change into a wolf & hunt that someone. When some one’s telling you what is right, you pay deaf ears & walk away like an elephant. You stab people & feel happy that no one could see like a cat drinks milk with her eyes closed assuming that the world isn’t looking. When your organization start sinking, you are the first one to leave which then makes you a rat. Like snakes, you bite people who offer you milk. You change several colors like a chameleon. You sting like a Scorpio. Lazy & filthy like a swine. You can be anything but human



We all try so hard to be something else but we don’t know who we really are. Invest sometime in yourself. Try to understand what it takes to be a real human. Is it really as difficult as it appears to be? Or is it as simple as having an Ice- candy. You must embark a journey for the quest. Your life is surely worth its real sense

To Be Or Not To Be

From the day we were born till today, we have seen people around who lie, betray, manipulate, hurt & use other people. So when the same people ask us to be good, it appears so superficial. ‘Be Good’ is the phrase we must have heard not less than a million times but yet no one taught us how to be ‘Good’. Some tried preaching but all in vain since they could not practice what they preached.

Thinking about this issue thousand times, observing many people & their experiences, reading & analyzing for a long time, I reached a conclusion. Nobody can ever teach you to be ‘Good’ because we already have this mechanism in us. Human body has an automatic system of protection & healing. When we are hurt physically, our WBC’ &b platelets start working. Similarly, our intuitions & conscious help us win in difficult situations. Our mind always teaches us to be ‘Good’ but we generally avoid hearing its voice. We do certain things only for pleasure where in we know its wrong from within.

It is absolutely advisable to take risks in life. After all, people who dare to risk & take a chance are the real explorers of life. But before taking a chance/risk, always analyze if it’s worth taking it. If yes, then go ahead & win the world. But if you have a doubt, then please wait & prepare yourself for it. Never take a chance which if gone wrong, is never retrievable. Dare to dream big. Dare to make them true, but meanwhile don’t stay lame or blind.

THE EMBODIMENT OF SUPREME WISDOM

Something burning within
A desire or a dream
A thought or embodiment of creativity
Or mere intellectual gleam

What it does to human minds
Is a long persuaded mystery unsolved
Grown all the more complex
Its ambiguity has definitely evolved

Driving away all their pragmatism
Draining away their rationality
Making them unreasonable & insane
& when extreme, can spilt their personality

Someone with brain gave it a name
A little close to the feel, its called “Poetic Urge”
Deadlier than the twister, disastrous than a flood.
A truthful outburst & “ The Poet” emerge

The master of the world of words
The creator of his own kingdom
Imagination & creativity abound
The embodiment of supreme wisdom

THE EMBODIMENT OF SUPREME WISDOM

Something burning within
A desire or a dream
A thought or embodiment of creativity
Or mere intellectual gleam

What it does to human minds
Is a long persuaded mystery unsolved
Grown all the more complex
Its ambiguity has definitely evolved

Driving away all their pragmatism
Draining away their rationality
Making them unreasonable & insane
& when extreme, can spilt their personality

Someone with brain gave it a name
A little close to the feel, its called “Poetic Urge”
Deadlier than the twister, disastrous than a flood.
A truthful outburst & “ The Poet” emerge

The master of the world of words
The creator of his own kingdom
Imagination & creativity abound
The embodiment of supreme wisdom

Its Always Subjected To Change

Its been really long since I had
seen my real self.
So I got up, dusted myself
of this worldly dust
& there I was
Clean & clear
Pure & beautiful as ever
& then I realized that it was
not I who had changed,
But the worldly dust
which segmented & cast me hard.
I thought it was forever
until I realized that
all I had to do was move.
So the cast cracked
& here I am- The Real Me.
Clean & clear
Pure & beautiful as ever.

Amazing isn’t it?
Would you not like to try it for yourself?
Keep all aside.
This quest is worthwhile.
The quest to find yourself.
The quest to prove the fact
that no matter how hard
the cast might be,
But its always subjected to change.

Lesson 15 - Why saying Goodbye Is Always Painful?

As I started moving towards the private bus stand, it started raining again. I was already missing that moist smell, warmth & coziness of my hotel room. Then a weird idea slightly crawled into my mind. Why not stay back, search for job, a house on rent? Why not just disappear for the people in Delhi? Why not just let them assume that I died on a crazy trip & meanwhile create a beautiful life here among hills. I have always wondered why I get emotionally connected to the nature & places than humans. I wish I was a tree or a mountain rock. The nature was crying & so was I to part once gain for an indefinite period of time.

With a real heavy heart, I boarded the bus. Unlike my previous experience, this bus started on time. Passing through the same conventional Kullu- Manali road, again saw my kin Vyas. Running wilder, as if trying to catch hold of me. It was getting darker & gloomy. To distract my mind, I was listening to some of my favorite songs. Don’t remember when I fell asleep. In my sleep, I dreamt about the bus falling into the river & drowning slowly. I saw water level increasing from the window. I was so choked in my dream that it awakened me. It took me few minutes to realize that it was only a dream. I kept on looking at the river for a really long time.

The bus stopped at a very lonely place to unload some stuff. Exactly then, I saw a procession passing through that dark lonely road. They were carrying some idols in a Palaki, dancing & singing with devotion. Himachal has many places of mythological relevance & the people are devoted enough to keep the old tradition alive. Sighting such a procession is considered to be fortunate. So I assumed it was a blessing for me too. The gloominess stared fading away & the sky became brighter with a nearly full moon. I always felt a connection with the moonlight. It kind of refills me with life & keeps me going for the rest of the month. Had a good night’s sleep & when I woke up, I was already in Delhi. Guess what? It was raining in Delhi as well. From that day till today, the weather in Delhi has been really pleasant & rainy. I believe I brought it as a gift from Manali.

Lesson 14 - Last Day At Manali

Next day was my last day in Manali. I was supposed to catch a bus at 4:30 pm. Woke up in the morning earlier than usual. And unusually it was very clear & bright outside. Probably the place was happy to see me go, but I wasn’t. Lying at my bed, I kept on looking at the hill & the valley from the window for a couple of hours. Was breathing heavy, trying to store that peculiar fragrance of the moist wooden interior of that room. So that I could remember these hours whenever I wish, even after I m long gone from this place. My lovely run- away trip was coming to an end.

Checking out time was 11 am & Pinka was already present at the reception with his cab to throw me back to the main Manali city. Pinka, though a shy guy, somehow managed to compliment me for two things – my compact luggage & courage to come out to a strange city alone. While he was driving towards the city, I tried exploring his knowledge about various ways of reaching Nepal, his native place. So any guesses where my next unplanned runaway trip would be? He dropped me at the Mall road & insisted on meeting whenever I come back. Before I could say goodbye, he gifted me with a piece of advice. In a very grave & concerned voice he said “Mam, please don’t go to strange places alone. You may be nice but the world isn’t”. For an arrogant girl like me, who listens to none, it was strangely but surely touching. Little did he know that sometimes it is not the choice but the destiny.

Had to kill time,so I walked down to the only so- called multiplex in the city, Picadelly. Adjacent to the Private bus stand, this multiplex is actually a single screen theatre with blue dragons on the either side & good sound quality. Next three hours spent watching a funny bollywood movie. Went back to the Mall road to treat myself with my favorite Momos. Went to a road-side knife seller. Knives of all sizes & for all purposes. Very interesting & diverse variety. But all interesting ones were more than 6 inches & were thus illegal to carry & keep. Unfortunately can’t buy them. Reminded me of a collection of Swiss knives in a showroom in a Mall in Gurgaon. Amidst all this I happen to saw a familiar face smiling at me. The same foreigner guy who had to spend the whole journey on the aisle while coming to Manali. I reciprocated his friendly smile. Before we could start a conversation, I realized that it was time to go. Time to board the bus & go back home. But was I not leaving one for another. Existentialism erupted in my psyche.

Lesson 13 - My Best Ever Bike Ride

Moving towards Naggar, I saw many sign boards of various interesting places but had to leave some of them for my next unplanned journey. There are a number of apple orchids near Naggar. The place is famous for these lovely apple orchids & corn fields. Green apples were turning red while corns were still very small. So wanted to pluck an apple & run away. It was not for the taste of an apple but for the taste of stealing. Parked my bike on one side, ran towards a tree, pluck two & fled away. I could see the natives laughing at me. But the feeling of stealing is so exciting that I could never resist. Last time when I was here with my college friends, we had actually robbed a whole orchid of golden apples at 4 o’clock in the morning. This trip was incomplete without this act of stealing.

Passing through Manali, I decided to move towards Rohtang. 57kms away from main Manali, this place is a gate way to heaven. Last time when I was there, I had gone really ill. Wanted to go back again to win that extreme climate which defeated me last time. Extremely dangerous road, horrifying & rude hills around. Zero oxygen makes these hills rocky with no vegetation. Though it was sunny but somehow I could feel the possibility of a climate change. I had crossed Kothi but then something stopped me. Parked my bike. Went to a Bhutta seller, sat beside him. Cozy sun, green grass & a hot bhutta. Wanted to stay there forever. Life rarely gifts such simple pleasures in life.

My intuition was getting stronger. So I pushed myself. While returning back, I saw a couple of bike riders loaded with stuff. Assuming them to be coming from Leh, I started following them. Got fascinated to see their dirt laden bikes. Following their rhythm, I reached Manali. I stopped at a roadside tea stall. There I heard some people talking about snow fall around Rohtang & a landslide near Kothi. My intuition never fails me. Sat at the terrace of an abandoned house beside that tea stall, looking at the sunrays disappearing behind the hills. Today’s was my best bike ride ever

Lesson 12 - I Was Blessed Again

Riding ahead I reached Bhuntar & then decided to take a U- turn. This time I decided to take other road which leads to Naggar & runs parallel to the conventional Kullu-Manali road. To pass from one road to another there is a very huge & beautiful bridge which needs to be traveled. This Naggar road was far better than the other road. Wonder why it was less taken & so smooth. Perfect for a loner like me.

Manikaran – another hot water spring spot was few kms away but I decided to skip. I don’t know what is really wrong with these hot water springs which keeps me away from them. Never been able to see one because of this internal reluctance. It had stopped raining by then, but I was still with my rain coat on. It was noon & I was having those hunger pangs. There was a very small cafe at the bank of Vyas. It was so close to the river that a high tide could actually pour in some water inside. I started wondering about the condition of this place during floods. The café owner got so fascinated to see an Indian girl riding alone that he paid special attention to my needs such as extra butter on the parantha & more sugar in my tea. He even waived at me when he saw me leaving. I am sure, he must have dreamt about me the whole day & probably night.

Next was one of the best experiences of my life. With continuous cold winds entering my ears, my head had started aching. Soon I reached a Tibetan Monastery built in 2005. I had never seen a Monastery before. At its entrance there was a junior school for junior lamas. In the middle was the place for worship & a resourceful library. Then there were quarters for other lamas all around. When I took the steps up to go inside the place of worship I was astonished to see the world around. It was truly eternal. Facing the place of worship was a huge mountain& a seamless sky. Had never seen such a scenery ever. When I entered the place of worship, my headache had suddenly disappeared miraculously. This place was beautifully decorated with laces & frills. Pictures of many kings & Gods were hanging all around the place. A blue statue of Gautam Budhha was very alluring with other beautiful sculptures around. Here no one appeared to be strange. They all smiled without any provocation & their smiles were so natural & real unlike yours & mine. They were the real devotees of god. The grace of God reflected through their smiles. Once again I felt truly blessed

WOULD PRESERVE OUR GLORIOUS INDEPENDENCE

Yet another day to glorify you
To spread cheer & sing songs
To forget whats gone & embrace new
This is where my heart belongs

The creator, the nurturer, the preserver
You are my only shelter
I have a mother yet you are dearer
But some things are there to alter

Alteration of minds which have gone crazy
Who kills their knowns
Amidst blood, reason has gone hazy
Everyone has become unknown

But I believe in my love for you India
& will turn everyone around
Brothers would hate each other no more
& killings will surely go down

Remembering Gandhi, Subhash, Azaad
We are all their descendents
No matter how difficult it may appear
But would preserve our glorious Independence.

Lesson 11- Unpredictable To The Brim

Next morning was not very bright. Cloudy & rainy again. Still feverish I stayed in bed till a little late than usual. This was getting lethargic with more number of cups of tea. Didn’t wanted to waste even a single day. I had been waiting for this trip for really long. So I got my survival kit ready with medicines, dry fruits, water & few others.

Today’s journey was going to be unplanned & unpredictable to the brim. No idea, no route map, no itinerary only movements- of lifetime. So I went out loaded with a rain coat, pair of rubber boots & my survival kit. Hired a bike for Rs 500 after negotiation from a bike shop in main Manali. Leaving the crowd behind I took up that conventional Manali- Kullu route when rain was still on. Hills on my right & Vyas on my left. No matter how much I try, Vyas would win. It felt as if we were running together. Indeed we were. It was cold, very cold. My running nose got freezed but then there occurred a leak. A leak in the eye which occurs when there is overwhelming happiness, love & freedom. Felt like nature’s own. Never felt so loved, so pampered as I did now amidst these hills & this river.

Reached Kullu but yet unstoppable. Few kms away from Kullu, there is a Rabbit Farm. I had already crossed it’s sign board but something brought me back. 800 Rabbits of German breed. Size varying from that of a cat to dog. Funny looking faces. A set of women shaving off their furs in a room. These furs are sold at a very high price for manufacturing Angora Shawls. I wanted to buy a pair of them, but the owner said that they would die in the climate of Delhi. Not the shawls, rabbit. All these rabbits looked different but had the same look in their eyes. They all had a desire to be free. Run wild as they were born to be