Straight from the Heart

Her eyes lit up with a spark but before Raju could notice it, the spark had been replaced by uncertainty and doubt. “What’s the matter,” snapped Gunjan as she took the stem of roses from Raju’s hand. “Why did you have to bring flowers?” “I didn’t bring them. I had to, sort of, buy it!” “I knew it! It’s certainly not your nature to bring flowers back home! The days of gifting flowers are long gone! These things only happen in movies! Anyway, you can throw these flowers away!” Gunjan was trying to continue the fight that had been left incomplete because of Raju storming out of the house in frustration. Although he could sense his tempers rising, Raju was too tired and in no mood to pick up the fight from where he had left. It was sultry and the humidity made him sweat profusely from every pore of his body. Frustrated and tired of fighting, he had gone out for an evening stroll thinking it would cool him down. Midway, he had stopped at a medicine shop to buy a few medicines for their ...

चाँद सितारों के बीच बैठे, इंसानों की ज़मीन से दूर हटके, अगर होता हमारा एक आशियाना? सवेरे का उगता, या फिर शाम की लालिमा लिए, सूरज खिड़की से झांक, मुस्कुरा कर "हेल्लो" कहता. हवाओं में वोह ठंडक होती. जोह थकान को दूर भागती, पसीने को प्यार से पोचती. शहर के कोलाहल, गन्दगी की बदबू से बहुत दूर, ऊंचे आसमान में, कितना सुन्दर होता हमारा यह आशियाना? घर के अन्दर ही मानते आषाढ़, श्रावण, जब बादल आकर dhak देता घर का आँगन. तरसते नयन को मिला होता चैन, जब दूर दूर तक दीखता हरियाली. मगर शायद यह भगवान् को मंज़ूर न था. आसमान की बोली लगाने में मैं पीछे रह गया. अर्थ व्यवस्था की जानकारी थी मेरी बहुत ही कमजोर. अफसोश, आसमान में आशियाने का हमारा ख्वाब, सिर्फ एक ख्वाब बनकर ही रह गया.

Tucked in a corner of my wallet. One amongst the many of its breed. Not commanding much respect, Was a soiled fifty rupee note! Its crumpled edges and dirty looks, Almost torn along the centre fold, Made it not worth much to me. Shopkeepers refused to accept, Politely asking me to replace, As if I was the one who had printed the same. Get it changed at the bank, Was the advice given by my friend. No one is going to accept such a dirty note, He helpfully explained. Then I saw this beggar boy. His dress was torn and hair matted. Layers of dirt seemed stuck on his face. Tapping the window of the cars at the traffic light He begged for a rupee by displaying his plight. I called him over and handed him the note. In soiled hands, I thrust the soiled note. Am sure it will of use to him, I thought. Be it soiled, nevertheless, lot of worth. For a second, the boy seemed to have been struck dumb. Was it delight that made his senses go numb? “I do not own a ban...

Having accepted the offer to work for a mining company, I had been over the moon. At such a young age, I would be getting an opportunity to work with one of the best companies of India. Besides this was one of the high paying companies that had come to the campus that year. I knew Gouri would be thrilled. “Hi! I have got the job with the mining company that I had written to you about!” Striking a conversation was not my forte. I blurted out the good news without any preamble. “Hey! That’s wonderful news! Congrats! When did you get the information? How many have been selected from your batch? When will you be joining?” Like most girls of her age, Gouri was talkative, always wanting to know things to the minutest of details. I enjoyed listening to Gouri’s chatter. We had struck an instant rapport after we got introduced because I never had to make an effort to start a conversation with Gouri. She ensured that she did the bulk of the talking and spared me the pain of trying to keep the...

When the sun is fierce and the temperature soars. When one feels all hot and the sweat does pore. When the “whirr” of the airconditioner is welcome song. When chilled fluid is what everyone longs. When letahrgy sets in and breath comes in spurts. Its Indian summer, scorching all with a blast. There’s mangoes though that is such a treat. Milk shakes and juices to beat the heat. Cotton clothes and beer pints. Women in off-shoulders and raised hemlines. When nights are meant to sleep under the stars. Its Indian summer, scorching all with a blast. When the clouds are mistaken for a damsel’s locks. When thunder induces the dance of the peacock. When the falling rain beats a tattoo on the panes. When nature all around shrouds itself in a green mane. When the sun and humidity is no longer a bore. Indian Monsoon, romantic poetry and so much more. Waterlogged streets and clogged drains. Mosquito menace, mortal fever that gives such pains. Coloured umbrellas to add to the ...

It was something that made him excited and proud! Now it had been established beyond doubt that he was no longer a child. He had those cuts and bruises on his knees and elbows to proudly display as a proof of his graduating from a child to a teenager. Having had his baptism on the green grassy fields behind his quarters, he was now ready for the ultimate test-that of cycling his way to school for the first time! His school was barely two kilometres from his house. The organisation where his father worked provided buses for taking the children of the employees to school. There were different buses for every school and every day these buses would go round the colony picking the children up from the designated bus stops. Every morning there would be fights to be the first to get into the bus and grab the window seat. Every morning it would be a rush to finish all daily chores so that one could be present on the dot when the bus arrived. The bus was the place where one met his/her friend...

Down at the market this morning I saw, A streak of silver, and there was The Hilsa! Like an arrow of dazzling silver white, This fish was a feast for a fish-lover’s sight! Like a king, standing out in that crowded market, Miles apart from the fat katla, or the “moony” pomfret. Perfect symmetry, God’s creation at leisure, I thought. Pink were the gills, blessed be the one who had caught! The eyes were glazed as it was long dead. Waiting to delight, either fried or baked! That fishy smell, ahh…so mouth watering! I could feel, the beginning of the stomach’s rumbling! The fish seller knew, he had me snared. I brought it home, whatever the price, I didn’t care!!