Who is mightier?!!

Neither the Pen nor the Sword.

The mightiest one is the ‘Nature’. Yes, it can make or break destinies.

Nature is its own master, no one can control it, not even the Supreme Power or ‘God’ as some might say.

It can cause Earthquakes or Tsunami Waves, Floods or Draughts…..nothing or no one can stop the nature.

And to be fair, nature warns. Only we choose not to hear.

Don’t mess with it. We will only harm ourselves. Leave it alone, respect it and we will be fine.

How Farheen was saved…

It was a regular day. Back from work and the students were already waiting. Freshened up, had something to eat and started teaching. Everything was as usual, giving lessons, checking homework, etc.

Suddenly in the hum of children’s voice came a shrill shrieking sound. I froze, the sound was full of terror!! I heard it again, this time calling my mom…”Bhaaabbbhiiiiiiiiii”

We rushed out, to the neighbour’s. She was holding her baby, little Farheen, almost lifeless, limp in her arms. “What happened?” my mom asked her. She talked incoherently. Tears flowing non-stop, looking at her child turning blue…..

He grabbed the baby from neighbour’s arms, my brother. Wrapped the baby in blanket, clutched her to his chest and ran down the staircase, barefeet.

Others were too stunned to react. After my brother was gone, some talked “too late”, “she won’t survive” and so on….

The lady, when she came back to her senses walked with my mom to the Doctor.

Farheen survived, brother said she gasped as he was running down the staircase, maybe all that hugging and running had opened up her lungs. “A little more delay and she wouldn’t have survived” were the doctor’s words.

She was playing in the washroom as her mother was doing the washing. Children are fascinated with water, almost always without exception. She was too, playing with her hands in the bucket full of water.

Suddenly, there was an eerie silence. Her mother sensed something and looked behind where Farheen was playing. She could see her two tiny legs pointing out of the bucket!! Bubbles rising up to the surface!!!

She hauled her out of the water with her legs, but she wasn’t conscious. Was already turning blue and hence the shriek……

Farheen had to be hospitalized for a week, to be kept under observation in case she developed any complications belatedly.

Quick thinking saved her life. The new lease of life has made her more livelier and she is growing up into a chatterbox.

Mother India!!

No, I hadn’t watched the movie then, but I loved the song since the moment I had heard it play in our school hall. I was asked to participate in Independence Day celebration function, one of the dancers in a group. The practice started, the song played again and again to perfect the steps.

On the D-Day, we were dressed in traditional Indian attire, rural to be precise.

Miniature people, girls dressed as men with pagadis and women in ghagra cholis and flowing dupattas. A riot of colours, red green yellow white brown…..

The music started and adrenaline rushed through us as we made an entry, with perfect movements and synchronization. Faces glowing, eyes lively, bodies vibrant …..enjoying every moment on the stage.

Our performance earned a torrent of applause. I was hooked.

I heard the song after a long time today morning, on AIR….

dukh bhare din beetey re bhaiyaa ab sukh aayo re
rang jeevan mein naya laayo re -2
hoy hoy dukh bhare din beete re bhaiyaa, beete re bhaiyaa

dekh re ghataa ghirake aayi ras bhar-bhar lai - 2
o ghataa ghirake aai, ho
chhed le gori man ki beena rimjhim rut chhai - 2
o ghataa ghirake aai
prem ki gaagar laae re baadar bekal moraa jiyaa hoy - 2
dukh bhare din beete re bhaiyaa ...

madhur-madhur manvaa gaaye apne bhi din aaye - 2
o madhur manvaa gaaye, ho
saavan ke sang aaye jawani saavan ke sang jaaye, o - 2
o madhur manvaa gaaye, ho
aaj to jii bhar naach le paagal kal na jaane re kyaa hoye - 2
dukh bhare din beete re bhaiyaa ...

I relived my childhood :)