For this week’s Sunday Trees I have a really bindaas one 😀
Covered
from top to toe
They cry foul
As they do
when uncovered
turn
a deaf ear to
the unpleasable world
take a leaf
from me
dance
to your song
as you like
however
you like
Tag: Social
Hark! She Speaks
This week for Becca’s Sunday Trees I bring one that has probably witnessed history that continues to hold significance today – from the precincts of the famous Chittor fort. I have previously shared several visuals from this place earlier as well but this particular tree overlooks the Sati sthal on one side and Jauhar kund on the other. I could not bear to take photos of the place where women burnt themselves along with the dead bodies of their husbands or jumped into it for fear of rape and slavery by plunderers and victors of wars.
Hark! She Speaks
I can tell you
tales of brave
helpless women
Sending off their men
to wage battles
of honor and pride
Fasting and praying
for his victory
and
his long life
They were but
One soul,
one body.
If he died, she would
burn with him
if he lost, it was Jauhar,
for her
and her children
As the spoils of war
it behooved her
to embrace death
to protect her
dignity and honor
and
save them
the dishonor
of failing to protecting her.
Times have changed
The world has progressed
They educate her
indulge her
pamper her and
cheer for her as she shatters
One glass ceiling after another
But under the sheen
lurks a beast
that seeks to
subjugate her with
attitudes and mentalities
that are passed off
as our culture and
sanskriti
All said and done
it is still her duty
to uphold their honor
And his right to defile hers
it is her duty to bear it silently
to shield their bestiality
so that they can continue to
hold up their heads in society
She is still blamed
and shamed
Be silent
Or be silenced
remains the
unsaid mantra
Since the beginning of time
they have
hacked my branches
stripped me bare
And with cruel knives
carved out love notes
on my body
over and over
again
but did I die?
Did I hide nakedness?
Did I hide my face?
Why do you?
Silent
unyielding
unflinching
unapologetic
existence
is my DNA
What is yours?
Protected: Brothers in Arms
Protected: SPF: Where Ever You Go
Friends Forever
Friends Forever
Words 101
“Here comes Her Highness.” Trishna muttered as Sapna floated down to join them.
Sapna stuck out her tongue.
“Enjoy your last day as Queen,” Prakriti said maliciously.
“Excuse me?” Sapna frowned.
“Maya’s coming.” Trishna burst out. “With fresh gossip.”
Sapna flickered and then rallied. “She must be ancient!”
“Remember how vain she was of her looks?” Layla’s husky murmur was still a killer.
“A bad hair day saved her from the car crash.” Leena rued.
“I wonder if she has any hair left?” Trishna patted her flowing tresses.
“I can’t wait to see her as a doddering ghost.” Sapna said gleefully.
***
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and Fatima Fakier Deria for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.
PS. Any readers of Silver Streaks here? Or fans of IPK? This may be of interest to you (or at least I am hoping it will be!) 😉
WPS: Into the Maelstrom
Photo from Google Maps
Into the Maelstrom
Words 151
“Exams over?”
She gave an ecstatic twirl. “I am free!”
“Free?” I queried. “But what about admissions, career…”
“None of that nonsense for me,” she dismissed with her nose in the air. “I have my future all planned.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“First college for some graduation course…”
“Which course?”
“Whatever I qualify for.”
“Okay. Next?”
“Prince Charming will find me and sweep me off my feet. I will lead him to a merry dance, before agreeing to marry him.”
“Wow.”
She smiled dreamily. “A stupendous destination wedding with both Shah Rukh and Salman Khan dancing and then go abroad for our honeymoon.”
“Where abroad?”
“Anywhere! The States to do lots of shopping.” She giggled. “Visit all the famous tourist spots, go trekking, camping, just him and me.” She clasped her hands. “It will be the most romantic time ever.”
“Nice.” I said. “And then what?
“I haven’t thought further than that.”
***
Written for What Pegman Saw – a story in 150 words or less based on locations chosen from Google Maps. This week we are off to Yellowstone National Park in the US and on my bucket list. Thanks to K Rawson for hosting the challenge. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt, click here.
Enough of Double Standards
Enough of Double Standards
Words 100
“Belated happy birthday!” Shipra greeted Deeksha.
“Thanks.”
“How did you celebrate?”
“We didn’t. We are still in mourning.”
“Oh I am sorry.” Shipra offered her condolences. “Last year too you couldn’t celebrate as your father-in-law was unwell.”
“Yes.”
“It must be over six months since he passed away?”
“Yes.”
“Yet your husband attended his cousin’s wedding last week?”
“It wouldn’t have looked nice if he hadn’t gone.”
“So only you’re expected to mourn?”
“That depends.” Deeksha said. “As I am integral part of their family, they made sure I participated actively in the wedding festivities soon after my father’s death.”
***
Written for the Friday Fictioneers – a story in 100 words or less. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting the challenge and Bjorn for the photo prompt. To read the other stories inspired by this prompt click here.
#QOGUIN Series
Hello and welcome to my new venture – #QOGUIN Series.
Puzzled? Curious? Interested? Intrigued? Well I hope so! Anyway here’s the thing, while shifting houses I seem have to misplaced my muse. Probably off on a vacation which I deserve – but then there’s no rest for the wicked. And since I cannot seem to stay away from blogging either so I hit upon a compromise. I can finally hatch an idea that I have been incubating for quite some time – share some Quirky Odd Good Ugly Intriguing News from all over the world. Perhaps some stuff thrown in from around my tiny world as well.
So, are you game?
I’m not sure if it is going to be a weekly, monthly or even a regular feature. Ahh well we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it right? Hey, here’s an idea? Why don’t you join in? Surely you have something non-fictional to share? Just make a post and drop your link here whenever you’re ready – no rush, no rules. And to prove that I would like to make an earlier post A Salute to the Wall as the first in the series 😀 And all the other positive news that I may have posted earlier, will hunt them out and list them in a dedicated Page.
Today’s article for this series is on underage driving which, as most of us are aware more often than not lead to disastrous consequences. Children, especially in certain Indian Metros are notorious for going off on jaunts, motor racing and stunts late at night and are a danger not only to themselves but also the others. Fed up with repeated unfortunate and countless such incidents, in 2015 the traffic police in Bengaluru threatened to imprison and confiscate driving licenses of parents of underage children caught driving. In fact, scores of parents were booked. But they got off after paying a fine. Finally last month, the Hyderabad police cracked down on errant parents and arrested 69 such irresponsible parents of these daredevil (I’m willing to bet) boys.
This bit of news gave me a lot of cheer and hope. I now wait for the day when parents of daughters who commit suicide and are forced to suffer atrocities at their in-laws are also arrested.
If you wonder at my extreme reaction, perhaps you might like to read my article on Bride Burning, a call to action and my long running fictional piece (most of which is drawn from real-life) – Moonshine.
Thank you for visiting, I am happy to play hostess after a long time 🙂 Do let me know your thoughts and look forward to reading anything interesting – the good the bad the ugly – that you may have to share.
Have a wonderful weekend.
You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. -R. Buckminster Fuller
A Love Story in Pics
The Daily Post this week invites us to share a visual story. I am busy shifting houses (now that would tell an amazing story but that’s another story for another day 😉 but since I can’t seem to keep away from the blog world, I am re-posting one (from August 2016) which some of you may have seen. But I think it is worth a revisit. Feel free to disagree and move on! 😀
The other day I spotted a pair of geese:
Excited, I moved in for a closer shot:
But no matter how much I tried, the goose just wouldn’t let me click his mate. It honked and glared and pretended to be interested in the distal most piece juicy stem.
Can you beat that?
The typical Indian male I supposed and walked away (or at least pretended to but the goose wasn’t that much of a goose – it wasn’t buying or budging).
Until I really walked away. That’s when I noticed:
She was injured or ill and he was merely trying to keep away an opportunistic predator.
Blessed to witness such a rare and precious sight.
A Salute to the Wall
In times where it is commonplace to talk of bringing down walls here is one Wall that we could do with more of. If you are a cricket buff or from India you would know of whom I am talking about – Rahul Dravid a cricketer par excellence.
Rahul in his heydays was known as the Wall for his stolid reliability and patience to spend hours and hours at the crease despite all odds. Although he has his own self-deprecating theories about why he was named so.
He retired from cricket in 2012 and could have easily been a wall and rested on his laurels. But the Wall is just a sobriquet. He’s a doer. Given the opportunity he accepted the coaching the Indian Under-19 cricket team.
And worked his magic.
They won the 2018 ICC World Cup early this month. Celebrations, jubilation, accolades and cash prizes rained down. The BCCI announced cash rewards for the coach (Rs 50 lakh), team members (Rs 30 lakh) and coaching staff (Rs 20 lakh).
The Wall took objection to this announcement.
Why the discrepancy? He expressed his displeasure.
Excuse us but how much more money do you want?
No! Why should I get so much more than the rest of the staff?
What?! Err…that’s the norm. In any case, they can’t be given as much as you.
FINE. Then I’ll take less and we’ll share it equally.
The BCCI had little choice but to bow down to this hitherto unheard of stance.
To reiterate, as it is difficult to believe that some one would actually do such a thing in today’s time and era of each one for himself, Rahul Dravid took a Rs 25-lakh (or nearly a $ 40,000) pay cut just to ensure parity in incentive to all support staff. Now every member of the coaching staff including Dravid will get Rs 25 lakhs
Rahul Dravid has shown that the shelf life of a sportsperson maybe short but a gentleman lives forever.
May his tribe grow and prosper.
***
This is my submission for the monthly We Are the World Blogfest which seeks to promote positive news.
Do share your views, opinions, suggestions and positive news.
Wishing you all a wonderful colorful and joyous Holi and a super weekend.
Stories and more 