Unshackled

Willy manages to get up .The shoes are shackled to one another with heavy chains. He wobbles but doesn't fall. He takes a deep breath and steadies himself. Still not in complete control. He takes a step forward. Can't take a long stride. The chains drag along the ground with heavy sound. Willy feels dizzy, like after a few drinks. He smiles and walks slowly. Clang! Clang! Clang!.. Better. People around stare at him but Willy looks straight ahead. Walk! Walk! Walk! He starts feeling lighter. Willy is released from the last of his emotional burdens. He is no more answerable to anyone nor he needs to prove anything to anyone. Great! Willy can finally do what he wants to do. But the shackles? He looks down. Shackles have disappeared. Willy is amused. Bad memories? Well, good luck to new life! He marches on......

The Hammock

There are fifty seven stone-steps going down into the jungle. They open out into a square surrounded by huge trees. A hammock swings between, probably two of the oldest but strongest trees of the forest. These trees go almost hundred feet up into the sky. Just beyond the hammock a stream flows making a rippling sound as it rolls on the pebbles.

I climb down the last step, take off my haversack and lie on the hammock. The sun comes up from behind the mountains creating a golden glow. With the chirping of birds the jungle is waking up. Wind picks up and swings the hammock. I close my eyes and think I could lie down here forever.

A Game Of Chess

Life is like a game of chess. The Little cubs wait in a line to move ahead. They are well protected by the family members who stand behind them. These pieces may play different roles in the game but their ultimate goal is to win. They face various challenges from the opposition. Some perish while doing so.

Lion is the king of the jungle. He sits idly watching the battle in progress.Lioness is the all powerful one. She uses all her killer instinct and skills to hunt. The family lives in a castle which forms a solid base around the Lion. The two lithe commanders add power to the force. Combined with the Lioness, they plunder the enemy and help the little cubs create a path and reach their destinies. The quest to gain and win is constantly on. The knights with the shining armours and their foxy tricks add glitter to this intriguing game. Some cubs manage to cross the border and become just like one of their ancestors. Or die in pursuit. Life ends but the jungle lives on forever.

My Lunch Date

I was in Goa. It was about 1 o'clock in the afternoon. I had already walked for more than two hours, here and there, looking around, doing nothing, relaxing, enjoying, and generally having a good time with myself. I was feeling hungry. I spotted a restaurant," Fisherman's Cove ", went in and took a table over-looking the road. I ordered a bowl of egg fried rice and a fresh lime soda. As I was waiting for my lunch to arrive, I spotted a young girl with her parents entering the restaurant. The girl gave me a cute smile. Instinctively, I waved back. They took a table across. The girl kept looking at me while her parents ordered their lunch. And soon enough she got up and walked towards my table. I nodded and offered her a seat. Again that dimply smile. I looked up at her parents. Her mom asked whether it was alright with me? I said 'of course'. I asked for one more plate and a spoon. The girl mumbled something I couldn't follow. When my food arrived, I put some rice into her plate. She seemed quite happy. She thanked me with her mischievous eyes. She seemed a bit uncomfortable so I asked for some extra cushions to be placed on her chair. She finally settled into her seat and I indicated that now we were on eye-level. So I talked and she listened. I cracked all sorts of funny jokes and she kept laughing all the while. She was quite amused by my behavior. I was having a great time. I was, as I usually am, at my hilarious best, when in a company of good a looking woman and more so if it happens to be a three year old beautiful girl. The spoon was a little big for her so I asked for a smaller one. She was excited to get her own tiny spoon. And when I put some chilli sauce in my fried-rice, she also wanted some. I had to mimic that it was so very hot and spicy. I couldn't do it properly but she understood and showed me in her own version how it was done. And when I imitated her, she laughed.

The lunch got over and my date got up and went to sit with her parents. I asked for the bill. I paid and was about to go, when to my amazement, she stood up on her chair, turned, looked at me and waved good-bye. I was surprised. How was it possible?

The Cherry Tree ( 1967-80)

There was a cherry tree in my backyard. When I was ten years old, I learned to climb it. Me and couple of my friends. Some didn't, and I thought not because they feared climbing, but to avoid the scolding they might get from their parents if they were found climbing the tree. The tree produced quite juicy cherries and enough to tempt us to climb, so they always told me, since I never tasted them. I climbed for the sheer thrill of it. I felt I might not like the the taste of those 'too sweet cherries' and that would eventually put me off from climbing the tree again. We climbed right on top, at least twenty feet high to get those cherries. Then we filled our pockets and I would give my share to the boys who waited down anxiously. These boys were called 'The Watchers'. Their job was to watch out for people who were likely to stop us from climbing the tree.

There was this old lady or 'The old witch' as we used to call her. She would scream her head off if she saw us climbing the tree as if she owned the tree or us. And so, one 'Watcher' was specially recruited to watch out for her. All the watchers were given equal share of the loot. And they were quite faithful. They never ran away or scampered leaving us stranded. Yeah, they would warn us well in advance and it was our job to climb down fast and run. If they failed to spot or warn us in advance, they were given a mild punishment like, they were to miss their share next time.

There was a wall of about twenty feet high, almost hugging the cherry tree, which separated the neighbours' backyard from us. Top of the wall was covered with sharp pieces of glasses which were dug deep into the wall. so one could not stand on the wall for support. Few branches of the cherry tree crossed over the wall and reached the neighbours' side. So sometimes, while on the cherry tree, we did back and forth across and over the wall from our backyard to the neighbours'. And on one of the off days when 'The watchers' couldn't warn us in advance, we would jump over to our neighbour's compound. It was risky since those branches were thin and not capable of taking the weight of two people, specially when we would be in panic state. But we felt safer doing that than getting caught by ' the old witch'.

And one day one of my friends fell off the tree and broke his arm. I bore the maximum brunt of the shouting, second only to the boy who was badly hurt and in pain.

We stopped climbing the cherry tree till the boy recovered and was ready to join us again.

This went on for few years and I never really became old enough to stop climbing.

When I was thirteen, the cherry tree was finally cut down. I had climbed the evening before not knowing it would be my last climb. I remember, for some reason I sat on the tree for a very long time. I had not filled my pockets with cherries for 'the watchers' since that day there were none. Next day, the tree was razed. But not from my memory.

I still suspect ' the old witch' had something to do with it....

A Letter To God.

Hello God. I am having a wonderful life out here. And you are taking good care of me. Thank you.

Occasionally, I do fall sick with depression, anxiety and fear. Sorry to be selfish, but I remember you only during those times. But invariably you have come to help me regain my balance and control.

One day I slipped my anchor and was all at sea. You did not come for a very long time. Sorry God but I had almost given up on you when, out of nowhere, you appeared to steady my ship.

Now, I have thought of telling you something and hence this letter. I have decided to be with you at all times. And it's been a lovely experience. Those evil elements which have haunted me every now and then in the past, are frequenting less now. And if at all they come, they disappear seeing you around. And sometimes when they linger on, I am able to tackle them with ease.

If you think I have become even more selfish by staying with you for ever, I am sorry. But my reasons are purely on the faith you have bestowed upon me. I am overwhelmed in your company and I don't want to lose you ever again.

Once again God, thank you for taking care of me. I have made up my mind to spend the rest of my life with you. Now, I am awaiting your answer. Please don't say no.

Truly yours.

Holi

Soft colours caress the face.

People greet with warm embrace.

Water-balloons in joyful menace,

quelling stale and ill grudges.

Dance, music, paints of wonder.

Love floats on sweet elixir.

Splashing barrels of colourful water.

Holi sweets - the beginning of summer.