Balu's Torment

 Preamble: During Blogchatter's A2Z challenge during the month of April 2024,  I plan to write mini stories on various subjects and characters on each day of the month except on Sundays. The name of the protagonist shall begin with the alphabet assigned for the day.  

Balakrishnan, aged 93 years, a grand old man in 2015, was lying in bed awaiting death. Everyone, close relatives and friends had been informed and they were coming in one by one to meet him one last time. But Shekar, his grandson aged 32 years hadn't come yet. Will he ever come? 

Balu always had the attention and regards of his friends and family almost all his life. That was till Shekar had become old enough to question adults. " What were you doing Grandpa during the quit India movement?" he would ask. Balu  preferred to erase that part of his life history from memory. 

He not only did not have the guts to join the movement but when he came to know the British administration was willing to pay handsomely for information about the hideouts of the " Rebels"/ "Terrorists", he went ahead and shared information about some of his "Freedom Fighter" friends. All of them were imprisoned and two of them were executed. 

Balu on the other hand got enough money to start a ceramic factory in Madras. Honestly, Balu had believed that the British rule was forever . It came as a shock and surprise to him when it ended abruptly. He could not feel as proud a citizen in free India as he had felt in British India. The shame hung over him like a shadow and whenever his grandson taunted him he prayed to God to call him back. He had had enough of this earthly life. 

Balu awoke with a start from the afternoon nap. His head was on the lap of Shekhar, his grandson. Tears flowed down his face. After all he had come! They were not on speaking terms for many years now.  Shekhar gently caressed his grandpa's head " It is okay thata. Not everyone can be bold and courageous. You did what you did with the maturity of a 20 year old. Just relax, take all worries and thoughts away from your mind". 

That night, the old man died peacefully in his sleep.  

NB: This post is a part of  challenge #BlogchatterA2Z  

Archana's Adventure

Preamble: During Blogchatter's A2Z challenge during the month of April 2024,  I plan to write mini stories on various subjects and characters on each day of the month except on Sundays. The name of the protagonist shall begin with the alphabet assigned for the day. 

"Don't move! said the masked man pointing a gun at Archana. Everyone in the second AC compartment of the Delhi- Chandigadh  train were shocked, speechless and unable to move. Archana moved swiftly overpowering the assailant. Not for nothing had she learnt Karate at school! The move, however, proved futile and dangerous as another man hit her on the head knocking her down unconscious. 

Head bandaged, Archana was at the dining table back in her Delhi home seated with her husband Neeraj and two teen aged children. "It is just as well that you decided to come back instead of proceeding to Chandigarh and then by road to your parents place at Kullu (in Himachal Pradesh). Thank God you are safe! " said Neeraj.

 It was Neeraj who suggested a change of scene when Archana complained of 'Writer's block' for some months now. People spent a lot of money for holidaying in Kullu- Manali. You just have to visit and relax at your parent's farm and come back fresh and rejuvenated" he had said. "Hey, there's a silver lining in all this" smiled Archana " I no longer have the writer's Block!" 

NB: This post is a part of  challenge #BlogchatterA2Z 

Participation in the Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2024

 

This year participating in the challenge I plan to write mini stories on various subjects and characters. Although no word limit is self imposed, the stories will essentially be very short seeking to say more in less words. The challenge starts on 1st April and participants write whole through the month everyday on one alphabet with a break on the four Sundays in the month.

I am looking forward to the interesting and unique challenge and seek the support of all readers. friends and well wishers! 

Temporary Stand Off

The task from the Storytellers Bloghop Season 4 as a finale challenge was to write a 6 line story based on the picture prompt in a poetic form! This is what I came up with....

Thick friends from times of Kindergarten

Mischief Mike and Marvellous Molly

had a tiff, now not on talking terms

tough to keep on the act though- a little mischief

from Mike or a sweet smile from Molly

and it's back to warm hug, restored friendship once again! 

NB:   Readers who missed reading my entry/story  "Price of Self Actualization" for the Bloghop can read it here at this link

Random Thoughts on Karma

Preamble: I wrote this piece on the call given by a literary group on Facebook to write on "Karma". These are random thoughts that came to mind. Although the concept has been used by vested interests to have control over the lives of the majority who live in poverty and penury (suggesting they deserved the pain/adverse circumstances they experienced) , it can be employed positively too to lead a life of righteousness and kindness since the very concept suggests that "we reap what we sow" whether immediately in this life or the lives to follow. As there were word restrictions imposed by the literary group, this was written very briefly.

The concept of ‘Karma’ is associated with Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism. On broad lines, it is about reaping what you sow. You pay the price or get paid for your actions whether good or bad in the same coin. In a way, the concept of ‘Karma’ deterred people from doing evil for fear of having to bear the consequences. On the other hand, it encouraged you to do good unto others so that you also get paid back in the same way.

The concept of ‘Karma’ is being increasingly known and understood in the West as well. There is a lot more interest in reincarnation and how the deeds in one life impacts the present or future lives. On the other hand, in India, with education and exposure to science and the Western culture, there is no longer a blind belief in the operation of the ‘Karma’ concept particularly in urban areas. With passage of time, crimes have increased manifold. We find evils such as dowry deaths and crimes against women including gang rapes increasing in the country.

Politicians have become more blatant in using muscle power, money power and horse trading for wresting and retaining power. Corporates today exhibit excessive greed in making profits with even CSR★ being used as a branding mechanism to project themselves rather than for paying back to the society that facilitated and contributed to their growth.

If the concept of ‘Karma’ is understood in the right spirit and people educated as to its implications on life, we could still use it to encourage citizens to live a life of virtue with focus on ethics and the welfare of all beings. “Do unto others what you would like to be done unto you” would be a natural maxim to live by, when ‘Karma’ is understood in its true and beneficial form.

★CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility 

Myriad Colours of Womanhood

Role of  the fair sex changing 

transforming so fast, before you realize it 

from being the pivot for success 

of every man, child , she now has

to pay attention, devote time 

for  her own personal success as well! 

A multitasker unparalleled , she

deals with the challenge on daily basis 

of connecting the many dots 

of satisfying the demands of being

mother, wife, an employee, daughter to parents 

dealing with various moods like 

sense of fulfillment, one moment

to a 'thankless job' at other times... 

Realizing and acknowledging the impossibility 

of  'perfection' in each role, each time, every time 

is the way forward for a peaceful, meaningful life 

Moving away from being the chronic  'People pleaser '  

to one having time for 'self love' & 'self care' as well!  

NB: The poem was composed for the Seniors Today poetry meet on 15th March 2024.  

Heartbeat

 

This poem was composed on the call given  for a short poem (with  restrictions on no: of lines), by a Facebook literary group in February 2024 during the week leading to 'Valentines Day' 

How can your beat, be my heartbeat

When trapped in the form of a physical body?

It's only a  myth perpetuated by popular cinema 

“Beats for you, for life” only an oft repeated,  reiterated lie 

 On special occasions like the valentine’s day

With time, the declarations mouthed ‘mechanically’

Even as they lack depth, sincerity from inside.... 

 True, , when no longer restricted by physical forms

Entire macrocosm beats as one, a single universal beat 

But then, there’s no longer ‘You’, ‘me’ or ‘them’  

Just a single heartbeat of the universe 

Encompassing all there is....