Whispering Shadow

The monsoon season brings with it the onset of seasonal diseases. A concentrated number of incidents occur in areas which have a conducive environment for the vectors and microbes of illnesses to thrive, like Shivaji Nagar, and the high density of people in such areas ensure they spread rapidly. No matter how much care one takes of themselves, failing health is a constant challenge during the season. A five day outbound retreat, multivitamin supplements, preventive medication, regular exercise, additional hours of sleep - nothing works. I have strong plans for my kids, but I don't know how to over power the constant attack of illness. I recovered from viral fever last week and am currently suffering from conjunctivitis. Further, it doesn't help when not just you but the whole team is struggling with the problem. A team member recovered from malaria a fortnight ago, another has just recovered from typhoid. My co-fellow had a bacterial infection accompanied by high fever las...

Ahmed is a student in my class. He is a tiny kid with an infectious smile. He has a penchant for getting into trouble and hurting himself. Being hyperactive doesn't help his cause. As much as he is a distraction while teaching, I have not lowered my expectations of him in the class when it comes to behaviour. I have invested a lot of time in talking to him and his mother to build a connect. This Wednesday was the first day he showed a strong improvement in his task adherence in class and I was happy that something was finally working. Having met his mother a few times, I know he comes from the lowest of the the low income households that my students belong to. He lives in a small rented temporary accommodation with his parents and two sisters - one elder and one younger. His father makes hats for a living. His father's income is not regular and strictly governed by the off take in shops. His mother helps his father when demand peaks so that they can maximize their income. My...

I had been having a packed schedule. I decided to squeeze in a dinner with a friend who I had to catch up with. We met. And then they happened. They came like a pack of hyenas, hunting opportunities to kill time. Polite as they were, they exchanged friendly greetings. Courtesy demands we reciprocate and we did. Taking a step further, they joined the table with us. Acquaintances demand respect. This is the land where we not only preach, but practice the belief `Atitithi Devo Bhavah`. We obliged to host them on our table. Before they joined in, we were having a conversation. After they joined in, they were talking and we were listening. I cannot tell you how much fun it was! My friend in fact was the cynosure of their attention. She particularly enjoyed being a butt of their jokes, being the person that she is. We had a quick dinner and decided to head for tea. Having taken our silent consent, they tagged along. While we were walking to the tea stall, there was a moment of silence....

I used to be a happy customer once, until they ruined it all. Being with Idea is all about: Calling the helpline and getting inconsistent information, every time. Visiting the customer care centre for a service request and being sent back because a form is not available. Visiting the customer care centre again to switch to a prepaid connection and being told the incorrect pending amount. Being promised a service activation in 24 hours and being left unreachable for 72 hours, because you had a further pending balance to pay up for. Not being able to get a lifetime recharge done on your phone when you know you are going to be abroad for 3 months. Recharging on line in the dire hope that you will have incoming messages on international roaming. Landing 6000 kilometre away and then discovering that the country you were travelling to is not supported by your service provider, though you were once told it was by their representative. Returning after 3 months to find out they have discontinue...

Oh beloved! I come to thee Delinquent I have been Please forgive me. Blinded by the darkness Agony I couldn't see Hold my hand I will set you free. Don't find answers For none you will find Seek no love That love, you will leave behind. Embrace me Once again be strong The divine light beckons To eternity you will belong. Yonder lies a world The abode of the soul End the battle within Let the pieces form a whole. PS: Dedicated to the one loved by the ones I love.

It happened one week ago. My friend and I were in the middle of a badminton game, playing on the deserted road by our neighbourhood garden. The road is rarely used by vehicular traffic and it being an odd hour of a lazy Sunday afternoon, the chance of a vehicle coming by was even less.  It was my serve. My opponent flicked the shuttle cock in my direction and it fell right behind me. I took an about-turn .... and  then found myself lying on the floor, looking in random directions, sometimes through people and trying to comprehend what was going on. It was literally the "main kahaan hoon" situation which a lot of protagonists from the Hindi movies of the 1970s found themselves in. I was totally blank. I was having a system reset. It felt like eternity. I felt I had been sleeping forever, sleeping for so long that my memory had cobwebs and dust strewn all over it. I couldn't remember any details. Slowly as I became more conscious, they all start coming back, limping into my...

While I was sleeping Mumbai was returning home As were its tired and sleepy souls Theirs was a routine journey So should have been their homecoming But little did they know They will be scarred again In a way like never before. While I was sleeping Bullets were fired By cowards and liars Self-righteous mercenaries of terror The bullets pierced bodies Whose souls went to meet their Maker To ask Him, “Why us?” To ask Him, “What gave them the right?” While I was sleeping Symbols of Mumbai were burnt Guests of the city were taken hostage To be used as human shields The same shields they chose to tear The same shields they now wear Conscience is not what you look for In these agents of death.   While I was sleeping While I was dreaming Mumbai was burning Mumbai was bleeding At those very places I have once been I can imagine how it would have been If imagining the ordeal is so painful I will be lying if I told you “I know how it feels.”

Trips to the dentist can be rarely classified as happy memories. I have had many experiences on that ominous mechanised chair, but few match the gory nature of the one which follows in the coming lines. Read further if you don't mind it getting a little disgusting at times, but then I have spiced it up enough to make it entertaining. There are a few things, looking at which, you can't help but ask yourself the question - "What is the reason for its existence?" A Wisdom tooth is definitely one of them. What's the wisdom behind having a tooth which serves no real purpose but adds to your agony (not always though in most cases)! To top it all, you don't have one, but four whole wisdom teeth. Besides, a completely unrelated query comes to my head when I write this. Does any one know why it is called a 'wisdom' tooth out of all things? Mine too had been contributing to my share of problems. Mine was indented beyond repair, so it left my dear dentist with no...