Giving Wings To Dreams

At the stroke of midnight for most the date changes but for some it's life that changes. every new day has a new story to be penned, every new day has a new picture to be painted, every new day has a new song to be composed . But, for some at the stroke of midnight it is the time for a eulogy to be written in their memory.  At the stroke of midnight for many a new life starts. In the middle of night a new hope is born, in the middle of night a new milestone is set to be achieved, in the middle of night an unsolvable riddle , a mystery is solved. But, for some in the middle of night an obituary note is inscribed on the headstone of their grave. At bewitching hour for many destiny is jotted down with golden letters, at bewitching hour for many certain blessings wait to see the light of the day. at bewitching hour for many something novel and enriching is going to be produced. But for some unfortunate ones at bewitching hour final decree is scribbled down with black letters and it...

Oh! Glorious lightning, You are christened silver lining amidst the darkest clouds, harbinger of hope when life is flitting,  When never halting one after the other tempests surround to make sure that no trace of submissive and timid can be found. During  those deathly hours devils of darkness only you can devour. Thundering the strongest agent of dark Devil when turns the shaky souls deaf only with glimmer of your streak can the music of life  be restored and retuned.  Alas! Though it's an indelible fact that only you can illuminate the darkest overcast skies yet, you being the master of your will are not meant to forever stay. Your arrival and departure are seasonal,  And if by chance you descent to bless someone with your fiery touch, Once you depart the remnants are ashes and scalding surface. An untreatable scar is left forever to remind the timid ones that until their sheathing isn't strong in itself,  light or darkness both are going to leave an akin...

Puzzle of life is too difficult to solve, often it's a sail in the furious tempest called life, though,  sometimes the journey of life is smooth and has for a while no potholes, no ditches, no gorges or trenches. But, mostly it is a tale that is quite heart wrenching.  Nothing works, neither prayers nor wishes, neither efforts nor wholehearted trials, neither pleading whispers nor desperate yells, life when makes sure you have to fail, and your destiny is nothing but a grim portrayal of rejection.  It's when you are sure to drown in the deep valley of dejection. That's for sure also is the time to get up with a jerk,  that's the time to take hold of your anchor, that's the time to show your worth, that's the time to make other's heard. that's the time when either you forever pass or fail. Either you stand or fall, either you run or crawl, either you make up or break up forever.  Dejection, desolation, sadness and dismay  are just synonyms for a temporary...

Festival of Dussehra also known as Vijayadashmi ,victory of good over evil has just been reduced to a national holiday or mere a Festival for rural lndia or that class of lndia that has so far no access to multiplexes and multistoreyed malls. The chunk of population that still flocks  towards the public gatherings, fairs and festivals is quite small. So called upper middle class or elite society people prefer not to mingle with the dust for celebrating such occasions and rather prefer rest at home or having parties in clubs. I being a language teacher often make an effort to correlate chapters to real life experiences or mythologies in my classrooms . The previous week, to my shock  during one of my classes l realized that the students today are drifting away from our roots,our rich culture. Just a simple question about who was the blind king in Mahabharat got me strange but funny answers. Teaching a chapter of class IX 'The Happy Prince' l had thought students would come up w...

Ire was roaming out in the desolate street, hand in hand with the haughty sarcasm and an equally hefty ego. The lane of love it had chosen never to traverse again. " Bridge the gap before it's too late", screamed someone from behind. " who are you to deliver me a sermon? Are you a voluntary preacher?" Ire screamed in indignance which is its signature style. " I am the mighty distance. The more you  feed me the fatter l get," Distance smiled, "The fog of doubt and distrust are two aides that make me stout." 'A stitch in time saves nine' is the golden quote that we all need to be reminded on daily basis. Once you go far  Far from your heart's sole delight  It would become harder for you to get back nearer, howsoever, you may then with your destiny fight. Life is short  With our years counted. Foes are countless while friends are few, Sorrows are innumerable while joys are scanty. Flower bedecked path is just a small  patch since hig...

Task after task,  completed, pending , prospective , ignored, piled and postponed, Will you ever end? Work after work, staring, glaring, scaring, peeping and pointing, Will l  ever be able to keep you out of my sight and mind? Chores after chores, From sunrise to sunset , Summers to winters, quarterly to annually, Will l be ever able to decide and choose what should be next and what should be put to a permanent rest? Mission after mission, Work at home, Work at workplace,  Work before and after whatever one wants to do, Will it ever be possible to sidetrack you? Labour , toil, effort, exertion, duties, assignments and comissions all these are backbreaking synonyms of you. Sages have preached since ages, Change and movement is life's law. Whatever is stale and stagnant is sign of death and decay. Can you besiege if l dare to wish you enjoy a nap, take a siesta, keep your head down? Since, your snatching forty winks won't mean a dead end for me, And l will rob a little time...

Freely floating clouds, you are the true monarchs of the vast skies. Will you be my chariot ? Can you carry me to the northern heights? On a hill top, in a beautiful town solace of my soul resides. Different shades of you from gray to white make lovely patterns when they mingle with the azure of the vault of the heaven. I also pine for blending with the serenity that's a permanent resident of the balming north to create mosaic with the hues of chaste love and warmth, I also wish to script an arresting tale of tenderness,  but for my dream to see the light of the day , will you be my coupe? Unshackled, unbound and untethered as you are, Craving of parched lands you know how to quench, Scouring of muddy sphere you know how and when to handle, Will you carry me alongwith you to the direction pointed by the one and only  northern star? So, that l can feel alive before it's too late and breath in the land where there is no negative ardour to confine the virtuouness of the soul.

"Why don't you trust your wings? Why don't you fly high?" retorted the vast sky to the bird in cage. The cage was suddenly shaken. The bird in cage rushed to and fro in order to exhibit the trust on its wings, " The walls of my cage are too strong for me to break, In dreams only, flights in your vast expanse dear sky l can take". With teary eyes uttered the poor bird in cage. " That’s an excuse. You haven't tried with zeal and conviction. Little ants scale the mountains just by dint of their determination." The vast sky scoffed at the bird in cage. Though, terribly exhausted with the previous failed effort yet the bird began to flutter its wings with a renewed energy and vigour. But iron walls of its ill fated cage were too hard for it to break and conquer. All it could get was loss of consciousness. A little sudden shower from the vast sky brought it back to its senses. " I did try,  you have seen my dearest sky. But, now l feel l will di...

A phrase that's totally fake and meaningless  that one can get best of the two worlds, has caught my fancy. How's that plausible? How's that possible? If serenity, liberty and equality were feasible in one world why would anyone drift towards the other? If there is starvation, unquenchable thirst , deprivation and confinement   why would the other world that's free from all pessimism let its door open for the  queer inhabitant carrying the burden of negativity of that first world? If one world is life itself, other is absolutely lifeless. If one world is paradise, other is no doubt inferno. If one world is a heavenly orchard, other one is no doubt a desert where only cactus can grow. If one world Is a cherished blessing , the other one is a sureshot unavoidable curse. If the first one is zenith,  The second one is nadir. Between them there is no horizon, there is no  concrete bridge available to make it practical to be in the best of two worlds.  The...

Authority doesn't mean barging into someone's personal work space, Showing airs , carrying a stern face. Authority doesn't give liberty to anyone to be rude at the day break, Forgetting all manners of wishing and greeting, Still expecting others to smile and bow in front of you. Don't deem it essential that the rule of harshness everyone will obey. Let others have their way. While you may be believer and worshipper of strict ways, Others might know how to work in a friendly and sweet way. Especially while dealing  with tender hearts who might at times go astray , And may have weird ways, They may also have adamant sways, But for someone they are their most costly assets and jewels. Once in a while a few flaws can be overlooked,  Once in a while a dish of guiding discourse for them without chilli can be cooked. Authority must have humility , Politeness and equality,  If you are out to reform and reset the focus shouldn't be a sole niche or a corner, Let your light sp...

Someone has rightly said that time flies with a blink of an eye. My elder born cleared IELTS with 8 bands and headed for a new destination, a new world where he was supposed to be both ship and anchor himself. He was going to hold reins of his life all by himself for the first time.His journey in itself is full of many surprises , shocks and obstacles or hurdles which l will take up later on. Today, l intend to talk about my cute younger child ; the young energetic teenager,  princess of our home my daughter. My daughter, who is in true sense spirit and essence of our home, would make every festival year on year enjoyable with her inexhaustible energy. She,   having hardly one and half years' difference from my eldest born, also passed her twelfth grade from humanities with ninety one percent marks. Since she was born, it was my dream that either she should get higher education from the Punjab University, Chandigarh or Saint Beads College,  Shimla. I wished her to do...

Demons of darkness traverse freely on the dark alleys of life , Fiends of depression also stealthily stroll fearlessly on those dark alleys of life, To drop and drown the inept spirits, To gulp and swallow the vitals of the weak and waning souls. But all isn't lost since in the distant there is the holy moon, To brighten and to bless, To lighten and to lead the battered souls, through the dark alleys of the life. Alas! No one can sense the pain that is borne by the solitary moon night after night, While it holds with delicate invisible flimsy fingers the perturbed souls and makes them greet the bright sunny days.  And  sulks back till the next night to be the hidden aid again, The process of illuminating the dark alleys of the life adds new scars on the bright smooth surface of the moon.  The Moon is of course, oblivious to the fact that if night has clouds or there is an eclipse, The soul gets shattered and prays for its dearest moon  And tries to spy through the ve...

Bountiful is our mother earth, Orchards full of juicy fruits, Fields full of veggies green, Miles and miles of land embellished with  corn, maize, rice and wheat.  Pulses and spices to make us healthy , fine and fit. Then why  Why do we hear at times hushed up cries? And why at times we are all ears to screams and shrieks from hungry mouths? Why there are brawls to snatch the little rice given as charity in small bowls? Why at times people commit crimes just  for the sake of a loaf of bread? While on one hand people eat plateful,  And on another there are many who don't have access to two times meal. While in grand weddings and parties food is wasted, When just for the sake of taste one after the other dishes mostly touched just a spoonful end up in a waste bin. Why at times on bus stops and stations People are seen picking up the food thrown in haste in the waste? Why at certain parts of our beautiful earth some people have to snatch food from the mouths of str...

Barefooted by chance the soul has strolled on the most prestine beach of the jinxed life, where  though there are infinite wants, needs, dreams and desires.  Yet, the unquenchable and unsatiable gratification derived is fathomless and bottomless.  The journey in itself is the most melodious and the favorite beat, the one that had been lost and buried deep down under the still mounds of time, The listener wasn't even aware what the battered soul wanted to hear,  until that beat was played after the ages by the merciful magician. for the one who once loved to read,  this amble was like getting a glimpse of the excerpt of the lone manuscript the one once cherished to decipher.  The words of which had turned murky and musty, If sand dust from it had not been swept by the  benign unforseen flurry , the loveliest part of the book would have gone lost in oblivion. Alas! The pointed thorns of apprehensions, doubt and uncertainty,  have been strewn in abun...

Once, the result of twelfth from medical stream was out and already seats in VIT Vallore campus, Thapar , Shiv Nadar and Amrita Vishwa University were left with a great risk lurking in near future for my first born. Since, my son had refused to go for NEET, l being an illumined and aware mom that's what l had felt at that time  had wished to save his year and was trying not to let any chance available at hand to slip and desired to grab a seat in one of the best Universities that offered Biotechnology as guided by one of Education Guru's, a very famous career counselor. The more l dived into the realm of engineering by trusting and depending entirely on the wisdom and free counseling offered by some of my dear ex- students , l realized that Biotechnology from lndia had nothing much to offer. So far it's the lowest paying field in our nation. The concensus was that ultimately after graduation my son would have no other option but to try his luck in overseas in the field of r...

My shadows,  my reflections,  my young vibrant children for me you  will always be my babies, my little ones. For me you are what rays are to Sun , Rain is to clouds, Fragrance is to flowers, Waves are to ocean , Music is for a singer, Faith is for a devotee, You are my truth, my existence, my confidence . You are the reason behind both my struggle and solace. Your first cry, your first smile, your first prattle, your first fall, your first walk,your first failure, your first strife ,your first success everything you did for the first time was witnessed first by your mom. In lieu,  on this mother's day your mom wants an assurance that if it will be in your hands you have to be there when it would be everything last for your mom, last smile, last talk, last breaths and last moments, Because then only l can bid adieu peacefully to all that is ephimerial or earthly.  And if by chance you won't be by my side then remember that your memories,  your thoughts, you...

Deafening is the silence of the soul, On the surface superficially everything,  almost at everytime is calm, composed and quiet. Alas! Deep down in the gorges of the conscience there is always a loud turmoil. It churns and crushes, It crumbles and cripples, It chokes and chops whatever is vital so much deafening is the silence of the soul. Heart rejoices living an illusion years after years, Surrounded by multiple friends, While soul constantly sobs and sheds silent tears,  Since, endless and beyond endurance is search and wait for the one and only soulmate. Sea of satisfaction is nonetheless a mirage of an oasis. Howsoever, the chaser may be dexterous mirage recedes and precedes. Realization of ephimeriality of the relations and knots of hearts , Distances and departures, Farewells and goodbyes, Separations and segregations have transformed deafening silence of the soul into an ear-splitting lethal one.

Policy of the world I, me ,mine is the policy of the world. It hears and bothers about what's its prime concern. Since,  you are just a little pawn who has to move on squares of the world's chess as per its whim and will. Sycophants, fawners and flatterers are dear as per the policy of the world.  Because,  back biters or beguilers are the ones who know the perfect trade. Pointing fingers , making you stand in the prosecution box is the best policy of this world.  As it's smart enough to comprehend that you might raise your voice at times for your rights. Zip your mouth,  hush your voice  Walls have ears. Don't forget you are vulnerable as per policy of the world.  This world can't stand still for an hour but it expects you to be on toes for hours after hours. Howsoever,  your back might break, Howsoever,  your heels may ache, For some it will provide a rocking chair because they are the favoured and the favorites . If you will dare say , 'I ...

Rest assured my love will find you wherever you may be, When you will fumble or feel dearth of words. Even when you may not wish to give voice to your thoughts or screams. My heart would intimate me about all your whims. Rest assured my love will soothe you wherever you may be, When your days will be dark and nights will be dreary, When neither friends' company nor cosy bed would aid, My heart would alert me to reach for you wherever you may be. Rest assured my love will coach you wherever you may be , When you will step on marshy or barren lands, When roads would be tough and rough to hamper your growth, My heart would gear me to be your lamppost.  Rest assured my love will comfort you wherever you may be, Caught in the whirlpools or tornadoes of life , When wind would be too strong for you to handle,  My heart would foretell me to be your windshield.  Rest assured even when this heart would no longer beat , And would not be a part of the world or would no where to be fe...

Month of March, as always brought a back breaking workload to be accomplished. Being a fortunate educator in one of the most famous schools in the city March meant month of home exams, CBSE exams, evaluation of non- board and board exam answersheets. From day break till late at night papers evaluation first of IX Class and then mentally and physically gearing up for taking up the CBSE work kept me and all other teachers occupied. Life on the whole round the clock was about rushing and running from dawn to dusk and even till late. This is the month when all colleagues enjoyed a couple of hours sitting together in their particular staff rooms which was otherwise not possible during the regular classes due to the respective time tables of all. At home also l found that the clock would move a bit too faster. Waking up to the call of my daughter from Ottawa at 6 or 7 in the morning, rushing to the workplace , in the afternoon between 2 to 3 talking for a couple of minutes with my son in Bri...

21 years gone still wound of separation hasn't healed. February 1, 2003- February 1,2024. Papa, if you had to go at all Weren't you supposed to inform  Or those who loved you deserved to be disclosed that that was the time chosen by you to never return back. Papa, if you had to go at all Didn't it ever strike you that who will take your children's call When the clouds of stress and sorrows,  depression and dejection will overcast their skies? Who will be there to wipe their tears and handle their strifes? Papa, if you had to go at all Did you feel or you had made up your mind that your children weren't your liability any longer? Did you make sure that those all who had under your shade hadn't carried an ounce of burden would be able to carry burden of this dismal fantasy called life on their inexperienced shoulders? Papa, if you had to go at all Didn't you feel you needed to chide, to guide, to prepare, to warn, to point, to pat, to say one more time that wa...

How difficult a task it is to be a parent was the question that was constantly knocking at my agitated rather traumatized mind, while helplessly standing second time within eight months at terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. I was holding on to the false notion that It was a dream that was going to get evaporated once l would wake up from my slumber. The beads of perspiration were glistening on my forehead trying to as if compete with the tears which were flooding the corners of my eyes as if to drown my very being. I stole a glance towards my life partner to analyze his condition,  to peep into his thought process. He was behaving strong like the Himalayas which stands tall to shield us from enemies that might threaten us. Yet, at times he was unable to control the strong surge of powerful emotions which was trying to weaken him. As is said, whatever is destined will take place and that human hand is too feeble to alter the manuscript penned down by the M...