Life Is Beautiful

Life is beautiful                                              

Life is beautiful,

Live it to the fullest.

Life is beautiful,

Enjoy it till you can.

Life is beautiful,

Make it beautiful for others.

Well I know life is beautiful,

I had my flock with me,

Green pastures and cozy enclosure,

Now when I am hanging upside down,

Staring at the big bulging abdomen,

I say to myself,

Is life beautiful?

Blood is rushing in my head,

And they are saying,

Life is beautiful.

I am waiting with baited breath,

They circle me inspecting,

I think indeed life is beautiful,

Oh My! Yes life is beautiful,

They are going to cut the rope and set me free,

I promise myself to thank almighty,

When I am back,

In my pasture with my parents.

Oh! They are calling me,

Come home baby it is dusk,

Come home before it is dark,

Oh mama you are there for me,

Life  indeed is beautiful.

Then he came,

With that shiny thing and now I know,

I am staring at my death,

I call out to them,

What wrong have I done?

They all laugh,

As if they understand what I say.

For them it is mere bleating.

Stop Oh stop do not say again,

Life is beautiful.

Then a voice from somewhere calls me and says,

Life indeed is beautiful,

Have you forgotten the green pastures?

The independence,

The love of parents,

The luxury of being alive,

It is death you are finding painful.

Death and life are nothing but illusions,

We either enjoy or suffer,

As we perceive,

So do not fear, be bold.

When they slit your throat,

Say today it is your day,

I will have mine.

All you men answer truthfully,

Can you face your death as bravely as me?

No, I know you can’t,

Because you are human and I am sheep.

My Heart Aches For You

Association of 5 years with you and you became an extension of my family. I could not even phantom being with any other person than you during the time of need. You had given me which all other had refused to even consider, my first child.

While I was unable to hold my first child and had a very difficult pregnancy the second one seemed to feel too cozy in the air-conditioned room which he did not have to share with anybody else. Yes I am speaking of womb which he simply did not want to leave. 

Pregnancy got extended by 15 days curtsey the unwillingness of my baby to venture into new world. Doctors were eager to get the baby out in our world from his protected cocoon. But then what luck! You had to attend a religious function the night they decided to force my baby to see the world outside. I, who was liked by the doctors as a wonderful patient, became adamant and said no to be as much as touched by any other doctor than you. 

What a pain in the neck you are you said in mock anger. If I die just now you will not deliver the baby? 

The answer was an emphatic no. No not in your absence and that also when my baby also says so, I said with a grin. 

You always had patient’s welfare in heart. For you, your profession was your religion, patients God and their welfare worship. Rest of the doctors suggested caesarian delivery but you did not agree and instead of injecting me with hormones for initiating the pains you sat quietly next to me saying your prayers and mockingly cursing me for making you miss the function. 

0200hrs. pain started and 0230hrs. I delivered a healthy son. All credit goes to your prayers, dedication and patience. 

You laughed and said ‘Thank God I was sitting here, else the Son would not have risen, because this stupid mother would have forced him to remain in darkness for God knows how long’.

You are God mother of my both Kids.

You were old but energetic.Your smile was infectious. Like a fresh breeze of air you would enter into patient’s room and put your magic wand (hand) on them. You were God’s incarnation for them.

Your death came as a blow to me. I could not bear to be in the same hospital without you, so changed my hospital. God bless your soul.

 I have an equally dedicated, loving and expert gynecologist Dr. Anuradha Wakankar. But nobody can take your place in my heart. 

You brought joy in my life and I know where ever you are now you must be doing the same for people around you.

I salute you Dr. (Mrs.) Mehta and miss you a lot.

The Night I became Young Again

What would have I not given to turn the wheel of time by 30 years, amend the mistake of sacrificing my career, so that I would have been me, not daughter, wife, mother of so and so. Time has changed me so much that from being a jovial friendly person I had turned to a loner and recluse. What I used to see in the mirror was not what had visualized for myself when I was young.

My daughters and son were the pillars of my strength, but it was my daughter in-law who pushed me, cajoled me, tutored me and believe me scolded me (The youngsters of now a days , some would say), so that I do not retract to my dark lonely shell and brood over that what I cannot change. It was this time that I took to blogging.

It did bring great change in my attitude. From time pass, blogging became a full time job for me. People started recognizing me as Jyotsna. To some extent I regained my lost identity. I had my own group of fans and followers and friends. Change had set in my lonely world, yet for me things were not the same. So when my daughter in-law told me her friends were my blog fans and wanted to come home, I became jittery and had apprehension; I was totally out of touch of outside world.

Somehow I did make food which I presumed they would love and waited with baited breath. Will they like being with me? Will they like my appearance? Will they like to be with an old lady of fifty eight years? I had already started feeling eighty five rather than fifty eight.

One by one they trooped in, some alone some in pairs. A broad smile on their face, chocolate and flowers in their hands they were coming straight from their work place. The flowers were as bright and beautiful as they themselves. They spoke a language that was respectful yet very friendly and by the time I realized we were busy chatting. They had become my friends. My daughter in-law was left to do the look after my friends.

People say oh! the youngsters of now a days! They are brash, disrespectful, selfish and what not. I say we require understanding them and changing our outlook with time. Stagnation is breeds moss making the ground slippery.

 My friends were a group of bubbly, intelligent, knowledgeable nature enthusiast. Time passed so quickly that I did not realize that my daughter in-law had already laid the table.

Colorful food on the table had made the table look very inviting. Our friends did full justice to the love and hard work whit which I had cooked the food. The surprise and appreciation in their eyes was the reward. Photography done they had their fill, joked and laughed with us. I regained my lost self that night. I became young jovial self in their company. They had polished off thirty years from the age of a grandmother of two months old grandson. For me that was the best New year gift of 2013.

Thanks a lot my young friends for the lovely gift you all had given me. Thanks for reminding me that monuments are also worth visiting as ruined and weather beaten they may be.

Life Is Like A Bicycle

Long before the phrase “Women’s Day” was coined. There was a couple who loved their daughter and son equally. They had named son Vineet and daughter Vineeta. There was no discrimination between their two children. Then one day Vineeta heard the mother say I feel scared for all the freedom you have given Vineeta, after all she is a girl.

 Father wanted to send their daughter for higher education so that she can have a career and contribute to the society constructively. According to him the duty of women was not just to tend the house, cook and have progenies after marriage. Father was adamant of sending her away from home for further education as he felt that a progressive society is the one which allows it’s women to walk on the path of progress. Mother believed women place is at home tending to hearth and home and if she ventures far from home either harm will come to her or she will get spoilt and the good name of family will be thrown to dust. So why study?

 Vineeta had seen her wonderful parents never discriminating between her and her brother. She wondered what harm can come to me? How can education which is meant for my betterment can spoil me and the family name? She asked her mother Oh! Mother why you say so am I not your child am I not intelligent and industrious? So why are you behaving like this. But mother would not budge. Vineeta wept and and refused food till her father sent her away from his caring and protective custody, against his wife’s and all relatives consent. 

Neighbors and relative were critical of the decision they had taken. Especially the ladies of the family ranted about it till their throat went dry and voice cracked like a crow. They all felt proud that their daughters live a dignified (sic) life of a respected family (sic.sic.). It was this decision that changed the path of the girls of these families.

Today Vineeta is a school teacher married to a wonderful person, who cares for her and supports and encourages he in her quest for knowledge. She wonders what if my father been same as my mother? What would have happened to me? Where would I have been? May be like my cousins and friends who are always being told that they are less than their brothers and husband. What would happen to their daughters? Will they meet the same fate or will have a strong father like mine? Vineeta’s relatives now regret their decision of bringing up their daughters the way they have. Ignorant and neglected they are.

Vineeta’s mother wanted to atone for her mistake so she along with her daughter is working towards the betterment of girl child by spreading awareness of importance of girls and their education in the society. When she meets resistance like she had shown for Vineeta’s education she says Educating a Girl Is equal to educating a family decision is your to have a educated family or not .

My request to women of the world is do not persecute your daughters and daughter in laws. Remember you are also a female and so was your mother You owe your life to a female who has given you birth. Had it not been for a female where the world would have been? Male and female are both integral part of world. 
If the chain between the two wheels breaks the bicycle can not be used without mending it. Similarly in this world both men and women are required to have good communication, love, respect and mutual understanding. 
This is possible only if men /boys /male child is taught importance of  every work, household chores, sharing them and appreciating it. Involvement in day to day chores by fathers set an example to the next generation of male members of family. This will surely bring change in the old age mindset of male superiority and lay the path to real gender equality. 

So on this day especially meant for women of the world I wish Happy Women’s Day to all the mothers, daughters, sisters.

Just one request to mothers, fathers, brothers and all members of society, make every day special for your female child / female member of family and society.  

Remember two wheels make a bicycle one breaks or becomes weak the bicycle starts wobbling. Life is like a bicycle. Run it safely.

Last but not least my best wishes to all  women of the world on Women's day and every day of their life.

Happy Women’s Day.

My Apology to Young Lady

Many years have passed since they were separated from their mothers but the memory of separation is fresh in their mind. How mercilessly they were cut off from their mother and kept in a room without from food and water, to tame them for working together and prove useful. The only consolation for them was that some of the brothers, sisters and friends were together. They all wept till the tears dried.  Master bunched them and tied together so that they do not run away. Now they all were addressed as a group, individual identity was lost and none was allowed to venture alone anywhere. The group was given a name by the master and that is how my identity came into existence. Yes I was born that fateful day.

Daily I was taken out of the room and was made to perform menial tasks. After the work was done I was allowed to be outside in the veranda. I enjoyed the lovely greenery, children playing around and the aroma from the kitchen. When everybody came in the veranda to sit and gossip, I was taken to my room and locked. Thankfully the room was well lit and airy.

How glad I was those days. I had a room which I shared with my cousins. I was treated with respect and tended to very carefully. I was happy to be in that big house until one fine day the master decided to sell the spacious house and shift in this flat I call a match box along with me and the old lady servant.

It was winter season and like earlier days I wanted to be under the sun for some time, but then when master is around no one dared to let me be anywhere except where he wanted me to be, that is a dingy dark corner of the house. So I shivered and cried and longed for the sunny room of mine of good old days. 

Master left for few days and the old lady let me be in any place I wanted. What freedom means I really understood then? I was all over the place, in the drawing room, dining room, bed room and in the lovely balcony with fresh air and bright sun.

Sigh! My days of freedom were limited. Master came and I was back to original place. I feel lonely and miss the days when I used to sway with strong wind, and entwine my fingers with my brother and sisters or huddle together to make sure I do not fall or get lost. I simply feel desperate in this corner.

 My master returned with his bride. I was very happy seeing her, for she would know how to treat me. She would know I am useful only if my body is strong. I was so happy that I danced and sang while working.

I loved the lady as she tended to me carefully and treated me with respect. Some times when the master would not be there she would bring me for sunbath, in rainy season she would cover me and I am highly thankful to her for that. She was beautiful intelligent and kind hearted. I remained strong and did my work swiftly and efficiently. As time passed I started feeling less desperate,  rather started feeling lucky.

My master started treating the lady the same way as he treated me, I dare to say worse than me. How painful it used to be to see tears running down her lovely shining cheeks. Silently she used to weep. She would work the whole day and then retreat to her allotted place to be called as and when the master needed her.  

She was invariably compared to me and was told to know her place in the family and house else she will be thrown out. 

That is when I found myself luckier than her. My work and working time was defined but she had to work round the clock, tend to all needs of master and yet threatened to be thrown out. She had no friends and family in this new place. She was more dead than alive.

One day I saw fire breaking out from her room, everybody went helter-skelter cursing her for causing the fire. I was thrown from my corner as they thought I would increase the fire. A poor lady picked me up and took me to her home. It was a small house with large hearted people. So I lived with all respect and dignity with them till my last day. I never saw my lady again. She had left for heavenly abode in that fire.

 

 Now you know why I felt less desperate, rather luckier than the lady of the house?  Because I had her and the old lady to care for me, she had no body. I lived my life nicely to a larger extent and did not have to commit suicide.

 I am very lucky my lady to have had you around even if for few days. My lady I am thankful to you, to the poor lady and her family for all the care you all took of me. I remain indebted for life long to those poor people who sheltered me in their house till my last breath and gave me back my dignity and freedom.

My lady I wish you all good fortune, where ever and whatever you are now.

Forgive me my lady I could do nothing for you, after all I am an innate object. I am a BROOM