Of betrayal, dejection, and life…

The saddest betrayal is not the one incurred on us by other people. The saddest betrayal, to me, is one of words; when they refuse to give meaning to the plethora of emotions I am feeling. So, what is it that I am feeling? I’m still at a loss of words. What am I doing here, then? In the world of words when I am out of words? Well, I am going to give it the old college try. I wonder whether there are emotions beyond the spectrum of human comprehension, which make us feel things we can’t understand, or define, or address. That hypothesis of course, makes the assumption that this occurrence is a commonality amongst the entire human race. And if it is, it’s probably getting lost in the multitudes of workaday chores, or what we have optimistically agreed to call ‘life’. We say “That’s life.”, and move on. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t have anything against moving on. And even the fact that I thought to write about something so trivial, is going to make me cringe tomorrow. But in this moment, “life” hasn’t caught up with me yet. In this moment, I’m vulnerable, and weak, and losing confidence with every passing minute. And I can’t help but wonder why is it that we must continue to entangle ourselves in drudgery, to escape introspection? Or is that the design of the world? To keep us distracted, never allowing a moment to look within. Is this that I experience, the divide that keeps us from falling into the abyss of hermeticism? Is it my vanity that prompts me to think of it as an abyss, when in reality, it may just be the path to enlightenment? But who has the time to ponder, who has the inclination to wonder. That’s life.

FINGERS CROSSED

“Still no sign of them; any news via the contact number?”

“ No, nothing. Looks like they gave a non-functional one.”

“Oh, dear!”,

whispered the caretakers of Serene Old Age Home in severely hushed tones, as they stood by the man on the billet. Albeit, calling him a man would be a rather exaggeration, a mere skeleton, wrapped with some flesh and skin as he was. The only humane thing about him was the extraordinary shimmer in his eyes, which, ironically, was a rather inhuman feature for a man of his age and predicament.

The day, it was believed by all, would be the last of his life. Senility coupled with immobilization had practically taken away his life; at least, the life we know of and like to hold on to. Apparently, what prompted him to hold on was one little ray of hope…yes, the reason behind his beaming eyes, his final wish that he was waiting to be granted…one last visit from his son.

All his pals and the entire staff gathered around him, trying to give him the ‘Munna Bhai’ therapy. They all acted cheerful and optimistic. Attempting to bring Spring to his Winters, everyone rejoiced and gossiped. His most treasured Kundan Lal Sehgal songs were dug out of the graves and played. But he remained nonchalant, most probably because that was what had been offered to him-detachment, indifference and abhorrence.

But affection knows no logic, does it? He very well knew that the authorities were not able to establish a connection with his lad. But that obstinate ray of conviction never left his eyes. While others were engaged, he decided to delve into nostalgia. A shift of scene from the Home to the moment he had held his boy for the first time in his hands, it was all so clearly etched in his mind..his little red fingers, his lavender-like smell(as he had felt it), and the moment he kissed him…..his vivid imagery allowed him to relish the  moment once again.

Moving on, he remembered how he had convinced him to leave for school and after he had left, had cried to himself. He smiled a little at this instance. As he thought about the moments when his boy had fallen sick and as a lovely father, he had caressed him and had sung soothing lullabies to him, the realization of his present plight made him shed a few tears. Every time he had stood first in class to his graduation, to the day he had gotten a job went by very quickly .

Came the day of his marriage; he remembered the hectic and the grand preparations. By this time, there was a certain tensity on his face, probably because of the awareness of his doomed future. He skipped to the day his son had left him in the Home and how he had no explanation for the gesture. Clearly, he did not have the time for details and he knew it.

It was late night and silence had succumbed the place by now. Everybody knew it was going to happen and half- wished that it did. There was no point for the man to hold on. But what exactly was the man thinking? Was he cursing his son? Well, no. Most certainly not. He had no intentions of “Go[ing] gentle into the night”. He was asking God for more time to  “Rage against the dying of the light”, for one more day to hope he would come.

So many hearts that day wished for a common purpose, despite not even being completely sure about what to ask- to make the man live, or make him die or alas, make his son come back! They just wished for the man to die peacefully. So what did God do? Did he send an Angel to his rescue? Well, of course not. This certainly isn’t a wonderful life.

With the light of possibility in his eyes, and an unfulfilled desire in his heart, the man left the World. There was a void on his face. One of the caretakers tried to balance his hand and noticed that he had his FINGERS CROSSED.

Kuldhara-The Legend of the Paliwal Brahmins

Rajasthan has never seen a dearth of places that can make you crawl under your blankets, at the very mention of the legends associated with them. A village by the name of Kuldhara, in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, is no different. Erected around the 13^th century, and a host to the Paliwal Brahmins, Kuldhara has attached to its name, a tale of torment, opposition and alas, an everlasting curse !

17 kms west of Jaisalmer, lies the village of Kuldhara, or whatever dilapidated ruins remain of it. According to the legend, around 300 years ago, Salim Singh, the notorious prime minister of the state, set his eyes on the daughter of the chief of the village (Mukhia), and wanted to marry her. He meant to do this, even if it meant employing all the measures in his power. Unfortunately, for the villagers, this tool happened to be exorbitant taxes, on top of exorbitant taxes.

The people couldn’t give in to the demands of the tyrant, and neither could they suffer the consequences. In a council meet, they decided to flee the village, along with the 84 nearby villages. People beyond count left their ancestral homes behind overnight, along with a curse that has not allowed any living soul to settle into their village to this date, after their forced retreat. Where these people vanished in the course of a night, remains to be a mystery!

The village of Kuldhara is believed to be one of the most haunted places on the face of Earth. Under the supervision of Gaurav Tiwari, the founder of the Indian Paranormal Society, a team of 18 members of Delhi’s Paranormal Society, spent 12 hours in the ruins. They reportedly experienced extremely strange paranormal activity and established communication with something “unknown” using sophisticated equipment. The spirits reportedly revealed their names during this communication.

In addition to this, their MEL meters detected erratic falls in temperatures, and the night vision digital cameras, and laser grids, caught inexplicable supernatural phenomena. While one of the members felt that someone was touching his shoulder from behind, but found no one, in a completely different scenario, a TV show producer reportedly got possessed after witnessing apparitions. Strange moving shadows, hand imprints of children on the cars, and eerie noises were the least of their concerns.

With so much proof of something fishy going on, Kuldhara could give one serious nightmares. Or worse, it has turned into so many people’s worst nightmare!

TAAZGI KA DHAMAKA

The term ‘Good Morning’ has always been conceived by most of us as a contradiction, an oxymoron; the obvious implication being, how can a morning be “good” ? Morning slumber is one of those things I, personally, wouldn’t trade for anything else in the entire universe.

But, Alas! “Padhna likhna bhi to hai”; a prerequisite of which is getting up early and trudging towards the eternally tedious paths leading to the ever tiresome ‘college’. To think, “What if sleep had a substitute?”…nahhhh…nothing compares to my morning sleep.

But, for those who share my passion for laziness, I have a remedy. Yes, thank me later. And no, it is not something that helps you to sleep, but something that awakens you, energizes you and rejuvenates your senses. It is, my friends, a song, rather THE SONG, which is, TAAZGI KA DHAMAKA featuring Anushka Manchanda and Allu Arjun.

The tumultuous music coupled with an emphatic soundtrack is simply alluring and bewitching. And to top it all, we have Allu Arjun at his best, grooving to the nonchalant timbre that Anushka Manchanda so very naturally possesses. You can’t help but tap your feet to this song throughout. And even a non-dancer like me can explore the dancer within as one is bound to find oneself grooving to the track before the climax, like I did.

It certainly is my dose of daily morning freshness and energy, and not to forget, my Alarm tone. So what are you waiting for? Just check out this awesome video and give in to the astounding world it creates before you. And don’t forget to make it your alarm tone, too.

“I am dancing for #MaxFreshMove activity at BlogAdda. If you are not blogging, you can join me by participating in this #MaxFreshMove facebook activity.”

No place like home

I am participating in the #PaintFinder activity in Association withBlogAdda & Bed Bath & More

Girls’ bedrooms are certainly not relegated to frilly beds and all-over pink decors any longer.Today’s girls’ bedrooms are as varied as each girl’s personality: with styles, colours, and motifs in an endless range of possibilities. And with the #Paintfinder tool, one is sure to find a design that has his girl’s name written all over it.

The theme that I have chosen is  ‘Lavender Lavigne’. The reason being as simple as this: the only place where one can expect some respite from all the worldly mayhem is one’s bedroom. And this theme stands for tranquility and eternal peace( something I crave in my personal life). The local artwork and the subtle ambience make the theme just too good for me, and anyone to pass.

Bedroom

Whether hosting a holiday party, or gathering around the table for a weeknight meal, the dining room is where people come together. It’s the spot in the home that encourages one to celebrate their signature style. So, my theme for dining is ‘Rigarious Magenta’. With the lovely outlook, it is just perfect to hold a feast and have exuberant chats over it.

The Drawing room is the most popular place in a house for the entertainment of guests, and where families come together to end their day, and relax after a long week of work, or to enjoy a television program together. That is why, it is imperative that this area is decorated and made into a friendly atmosphere. ‘Passion unison’ is just the theme, with the vehement violet and the passionate orange coming together, making it a treat for the eyes of the beholder.

Drawing Room

Whether it is the shape of the bathtub, the inspirational decorative objects, or the view, this theme presents itself before us, an all-new definition of a lavatory. Loaded with perfection as it is, I can’t help but call it ‘Relaxation Personified’. The cacophonous pink combos with an elegant grey to create a masterpiece as it is.

Washplace