This is written for the word prompt Newspaper

Lakshmi held the newspaper close to her chest. It is since five years that he had seen him. He won the scholarship to pursue his higher education. Lakshmi had toiled hard now it’s his turn to show her a new life. 

Linking it to A Prompt Each Day,NabloPoMo

Every day can be your Day

Manpreeth sat beside the window that evening. She was in a deep trance. Her board exam results were out that day and she did not fare as expected. Dreams shattered, she lacked the basic confidence to face her own friends.

Suddenly she found an arm around her neck. Who could give a better comfort than a mother? It was her mother, she found some warmth around her.

Her mother whispered “Dear, do you think marks define your destiny, it is your own will and attitude that will take you far towards success”
She quoted various successful persons who though have failed in schools have come up successfully in flying colors.

A ray of hope gleamed in front of her. She took the paper beside her and wrote an application for revaluation.

we come across girls like Manpreeth in our day to day lives, but do we dare to be like her mother to make a positive change in a child?

Girls, “Be positive, for everyday can be your day”!                              

Remember Even This Will Pass Away

It was a nest of four beautiful lives. Husband, wife and two lovely daughters. Husband was a business man and she was a homemaker. She was just thirty two when her husband was succumbed to a train crash and she lost him.

She stood alone with two beautiful daughters perplexed and alarmed. Relatives came and went, they where after all passerby.

courage of a women cannot be dogmatized, for we have seen the legend Kannagi who burnt Madurai for the sake of her husband. Though my lady did not burn anything, she stood there brave and valiant ready to ignite her new life. Her courage never dared to ditch her.

She stood up to raise her queens, to add new meaning to her life. For she knew " Life is a journey, and not destination ".

Linking this to A Prompt Each Day, NaBloPoMo

The moments I cherish the most

I  was actually delighted.. It was a wonderful prompt today. Truly now when I look back  I could envision not just one but a series...

Here now I try and list a few:

• The first day of my kindergarten when my mother left me at school.we had gone on a trip to kasi and the day we returned I joined school.
• When my most beloved aunt got married and I cried till my heart.
• The day my uncle came and shouted at my class teacher for scolding me.
• When my close friend left school.
• The day when I joined the dumb charades team in my school.
• The moment When I was honoured with the silver jubilee prize in my school.
• The time When I was elected as a representative of my college.
• The first day when I bunked college.
• The day when my graduation results came and I realized that I had topped.
• When I had roamed aimlessly with my close friend holding hand in hand in the streets.
• First time when I met my better half..
• My first job..
• When the gift of motherhood was bestowed upon me twice.
• When I published my first article in my blog.

The journey of life had been wonderful so far...with lots of ups and downs..and with success and failure. Where every failure taught me a wonderful lesson. I have just listed a few but the list goes on endless.

Linking this to A Prompt Each Day,NaBloPoMo

Voice of an Educator

It was a time when I was handling weekend science classes. I joined in as a new tutor there. My love for science and teaching never took  backstage.

Slowly but steadily I was getting accustomed to my new class and in few weeks it became my good old class,no longer an alien.

In the course, I stumbled upon a boy in the class who was inattentive and unenthusiastic. Upon my continuous interrogation with the boy I found that the boy lacked certain basic concepts. Hence couldn't build further.

My anger slowly faded, when I realised ,the reason that he did not understand was not that he was dumb but he failed to understand the language.

Previous tutors who handled the class had completely ignored him thinking that he was not fit to study in the class.

Further investigations revealed even bitter truth that his parents were a doctor by profession. Their busy schedule did not permit them to have him in their priority list. I felt the irony slapping on my face, the responsible duo for others in the society failed miserably as parents.

In the course of the program that followed I started explaining in both English and native. Slowly I was able to turn the boy's attention towards my class.

Though the boy did not come out in flying colors I found that he showed remarkable improvement in his performance. At the last day of the year long course the boy made a huge chalk piece out of plaster of paris ( a concept taught in class) and gifted me.

I found immense pleasure and all the hardship that I faced during the class faded out like a rain clouds paving way for the rising sun.

It is important that those who choose to teach need have a little bit of passion. It is not a part time job that you can flaunt with. When you are raising the generation next it is Important that you instill good morale on them.

Parents , you could be busy building a palace for your child but make sure your child is both fit and equipped to stay a happy life in it.

Linking this to A prompt Each Day, NaBloPoMo

My Ode to Life

Thank you for being my Today and giving me such lingering moments that I could relish on every yesterday.My unsigned tomorrow wait for you every dusk to make me a Sherlock Holmes.

Written for A Prompt Each Day, NaBloPoMo

Unheard cries of Mother Earth

It's yet another time. Earth shook at it's vigour. At the coast water rises up, high enough to engulf a whole city.

The whole city was shattered beyond recognition. The fury of mother earth was at it's best.she had not left a single thing untouched. Tall high rises to small huts, from cruel monsters to small innocent children.

There stands these cars as an eyewitness to the whole story where we refused to
 hear the warning bells of Mother Earth and destroyed her beyond repairs.

Now she chose to amend her and it's our turn to stay quiet.

Linking this to A prompt Each Day, NaBloPoMo, for the photo prompt of Friday Fictioneer.

My Musical Dawn

Its dawn, the morning sun has just began to spread his glory. I could still see some mist hovering on. It is the month of margazhi. One of the special months in Tamil calendar.

People generally get up early during this month and adorn their houses with beautiful rangoli.  Temples conduct special puja’s during the time. And pongal becomes the special dish of the month.

This time I had travelled to a lovely south Indian village, where this festivity is celebrated with lot of music too.

It was one such morning, the sweet sound of FLUTE filled the morning air. I try to follow the path trying to decipher its origin. I cross few fields, though thorns prick my feet I pay no heed. I try to follow the sweet sound of the flute.

Slowly I could see a small temple at vicinity. Hoping to find somebody playing the flute there, I rush to the temple. I found a small idol of Lord Krishna, adorned beautifully with garlands and flowers.

Now the music stopped..i search all around to find the origin of music. And suddenly woke up to the call of morning alarm.

Its indeed my own Krishna who has played the FLUTE for me.

This is written for A Prompt Each Day for the prompt FLUTE ,NaBloPoMo

                                                                 

It's Time To wear our Thinking Hats on...

A tiny little butterfly struggled to come out of it's cocoon. A little plant in the garden was it's sole witness. It started to narrate it's own journey...it's very own experience of being a seed to a young sapling in the pot now. 

Soon the butterfly gained confidence, tore it's trap and scurried out in search of it's new home.

A little perseverance and hard work can metamorphosis not only the butterfly but our lives too.

This is written for NaBloPoMo, A Prompt Each Day

witness to happiness

This article is written for the image prompt from A Prompt Each Day

It was a nice sunny Sunday morning. The morning sun soothed the entire park. Maggi could hear the children play at the ground. It was a familiar noise for her. It had been her routine to walk around the park for almost forty years by now.

Maggi loved spending time with her daughter Tinsi. It's been part of their Sunday morning routine to play at the park. Later they sat on a nice warm bench and chatted for a long time.

But since Tinsi moved out of the country after tieing a knot, Maggi felt very lonely. But she relished the moments she spent with her daughter. Come rain or snow she made it a point to visit the park. For she felt she could connect with her daughter there. She lauded those memories and enjoyed those moments.

But today is a special day for her. It is the same park,same bench,same sunny Sunday morning... But today she has accompanied her grand daughter..to the same park.

She felt nostalgic as her granddaughter held her hand to help her sit on the same bench.

Image source :https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Park_bench_WPC.jpg

Fantasy of a little pilot

The Engine stops suddenly. Raju, the pilot losess control of his aircraft, sends SOS signals and the passengers were forced to jump into the mid-sea with their parachutes and life jackets on. The aircraft goes on flames in the mid-air.

Raju courageously rescues his passengers and helps them board a ship. Suddenly the fourth grader wakes up to his mother’s call, for yet another day to school.

written for Five sentence Fiction, NaBloPoMo

My Birthday Bash

# Day 1 of  NaBloPoMo

Birthday is a special day for anyone, be you are as tender as 10 or as old as 100. Yesterday was one such special day for me. The day started off with usual daily chores, wishes from the dear ones delighted my morning musings, making it extra special.

After few hours around 9.00 in the morning I received a call from my maid intimating me about her sickness and her unavailability for the day. The daily chores stood in front of me like a massive monster. Unprepared for the day I sulk and tried to resume my routine, unable to keep the social media at bay I throng in and out of my chores.

Having failed to achieve my pre-designed agenda for the week I started feeling little stumpy trying to find fault with my maid. Her absence all the more annoyed me. Brooding and grumbling I somehow try and finish my work. Since it was a pournami day (full moon) I started my Sathyanarayana puja (though I don’t fast on the day). Whole through the puja I chanted all the namavalli’s in a grumpy mood complaining about my ill-fortune for the day. At the end, after the neivedyam I closed my eyes trying to connect with my almighty to find my so called lost peace.

An interesting thing happened after that. My husband’s cousin from Hyderabad called, to wish me. She is one of those inspirational ladies I have ever met. Her power of Optimism can charge up even a dumb electron. Being an avid blogger herself she is very passionate and enthusiastic about life. After a few minutes of gyan from her I was totally recharged to start my day off. I quickly wrapped up my entire schedule for the day in the next few hours.

My children came home with loads of happiness waiting for a surprise cake from me!! Though didn’t manage to do one, we all went out and had a lovely evening treat. That night when we were all ready to bed little did I anticipate that a surprise awaited me. It was all my dear brother and my sister-in-law, when they came home at night with a big party cake. Guess all of us need some pampering now and then to keep us going through the mire.

We were all thrilled and excited, especially the children. The day started off with a surprise and ended with one. What for was I grumbling, when my almighty had such wonderful plans and miracles in store for me.

Thank you all for making my day…you guys were the part of glee that almighty wanted to shower on me. Not to forget my husband and children without whom I am not what I am today.

I comprehended that life is full of surprises with ups and downs like speed breakers without which the power of success cannot be relished.

Journey of  a young Mommy

Sheetal had delivered a girl baby. She was overwhelmed to see her tiny little princess. Pink and tender her first cry was musical to her ears .Sheetal is a country head of a MNC.

 Months passed she had to stay at home with her newbie. Nappies and diapers had been her life, sometimes she felt exasperated.  She decided to leave her little one with a ‘nanny’ and steadfast her career.

 That morning when she moved near the bed to bid her little one, she found the tiny fingers holding on to her tight, now she knew that her new  “journey has begun".

My Lady Love,the teacher who taught me an important lesson in life

It was the third time in the same month. I am a freelancer by passion and it’s the third time in a row on the same month that I lost my bid. I felt naïve and incompetent. I try to retract my previous triumphs. Till yesterday it seemed to be a cake walk. But why now? My intellect cease to understand the cause, but fretted at my downfall.

The week started off quiet dreadfully when my beloved ladylove (maid) became wobbly with her right hand and became impaired. The doctors promptly advised, that she take a good breather of her swamped routine. Bidding Good-Bye to my lady love was an arduous task for me, for she has been a part of my family for years. I try to put myself together, consoled me and aided her as much as I could.

I found myself amidst a turmoil, balancing work and home. Paralyzed, now I try to confront my divine with my indignation. I shriek and wail unable to cope up my downfall. I felt as though, somebody had pushed me in unfathomable waters. I now chuckle at my ignorance but certainly the experience taught me to bounce back.

It was now almost a month that my lady love had gone and I try to accustom myself with the new one. It was a usual busy morning that I receive a call from my old maid. She had called me to find out if she can resume her job again. Though perplexed as how this could happen so soon, I happily gave my nod. The inner me was secretly relishing her come back.

There comes the appointed day and time, the doorbell rings. I rush to open the door to see my lady love stand in front of me with a wide smile on her face. There she was, with a big smile and with a few handpicked flowers for me, greeting me with all zest.

She looked fragile and weak. The mystery slowly unraveled before me. Through the month she had been working in a canteen. It then dawned upon me that she was the sole bread winner of her family. Though in a turmoil, she had strived all her way through canteen work, baby sitting and being a bit of cook, to take care of her mentally challenged husband and daughter.

In the meantime, she also found a sponsor who could treat her hand (shoulder). She stood in front me like valiant warrior defeating thousands of men in war field. I found her as an epitome of courage. This lady love of mine has not visited any school, but there she stood in front me teaching an important lesson in life “to bounce back”.

I learnt my lessons that day from my teacher, my own “lady love”. She is still an inspiration to me. I found my divine answering to my calls through her. Perhaps, he was silently holding my hand all the while waiting for me to “bounce back” from what I called unfathomable waters.

Do we need to celebrate Death

Between Life and Death

Death is still an enigma to all of us, however old or young we are. Often i have witnessed dead "person" (not used body to connote respect) been carried on the roads and few others dancing and gracing their path with flowers and crackers. As a child this has always got me into the thinking mode why dance, burst crackers when there is a grief?

There is always a touch of sorrow when we hear the news of eternal rest. It might not be your own kith or a kin, but you feel grief inside you. Probably, the intellect inside you always tries to rehearse it with your experience or is aghast to experience one.

It takes a lot of maturity to understand nothing is permanent except our unison with death. But in between life and death there is a lot of negativity that we expose ourselves to. There is lot of anger, ego and battle to win and satisfy "others". In the whole process we not only trouble our souls but also, our loved ones to gratify our ego with their success.

We are proud to be a mother of IITian, wife of a successful man and a daughter/son of elite stalwarts from any industry. But why so? Why do we relate our success with others? Should not we be happy with the life God bestowed on us? Why success should always be attributed to any sort of achievement?

Nothing can attribute more to success, than to lead a happy content life. Life is a drama, where we all are actors, we need to leave the stage when our roles are done. But the stage awaits you in a different role.

 Oh! Now I feel   that's the reason we need to celebrate death, for it’s the same soul that which bids farewell to us, getting ready to embrace us in a different form.

Are you one of those “GEN NEXT?”

Nikitha rushed to open the door, it’s her friend Bhooma at the door. Both are young professionals currently managing the financials of their respective household. Their new set of goals for the “financial year“, is to help the “Aged India”. A sacred thought, carefully chosen after hours of discussion to relieve them of their daily boring routine. Today they had planned to visit the nearby Government hospital to extend their service. Nikitha was already getting restless. She could hear her watch tick, her eyes constantly at the door and heart pounding to hear the next doorbell ring. Finally Rajamma, her maid arrived. Nikitha heaved a sigh of relief as the caretaker hurried inside her bedridden mother-in-law’s room to help her perform her daily routine.

“Generation next” can you only rush to wipe the dirt on other’s shirt? When will you mature to see your’s?