Peeping Eyes

Few days back something strange happened. I came back home after dropping my son to school. I stepped out of the lift and moved forward towards my door. I felt as if two beaddy eyes were peeping at me. That's quite normal, happens all the time with me. I unlocked my door and suddenly I froze there I turned round to take a good look at the door again. It was locked, ya a big lock was hanging at the door. But how can it be possible? I just saw somebody. So, I went straight to that door and rang the bell, noone answered back...then I rang again...still no answer. Then I waited for few more seconds before turning round to go...suddenly I heard some movement and the door opened and there she was, a girl of almost 15 years of age, peeping again.
          I was so surprised, I jumped up and said,   " Hey how did you get locked? Wait I'll call for help". She said "Please Don't. I'm the maidservant, I live here. My Malkin(owner), whenever she goes out, she locks me in. Don't worry she will be back soon" She said this with a faint smile and closed the doors. I stood there for some more time trying to understand what she just said....It's Inhuman. 

Shani Dham

We were at Porbander. One day one of my husband’s staff who was senior in the rest of the group, approached my husband and said “ Sir, I read it in the newspaper, that there is a very famous  Shani Dham, which is just  a few hours’ drive from here. So if you wish we all can go”. Quite naturally, my husband came to me with the proposal, which I jumped upon.

I was pregnant at that time. Still I decided to take up the drive through the bumpy roads. We were going and going and going. Gradually “babul ki jhari” started disappearing leading to the greens as we were passing  through a village. Then again the scenario changed as things were getting a little empty around . I was feeling tired and tired by every passing minute. Finally I saw some road side shops selling puja stuffs and could smell oil burning. I thought OK, so finally we reached.

 We (Me, my husband, and 3 staffs) got down from car. I headed towards the shop to buy the needful for the puja, whereas all the staffs, followed by my husband walked towards the nearby pond to wash their hand and feet. I looked around and saw the presence of no woman atall, me being the only exception. Only men and men everywhere , all queuing up in front of a small gate. So when rest went to stand in the line, I looked round for a shady place as sun was scorching hard on me.

 Just opposite to the temple, I noticed there was a shade with iron brackets kept in the middle, so I headed towards it, climbed the two – three stairs and stood in the shed, but honestly I really felt tempted to go and sit on those iron bars, because being a pregnant woman, standing at a point for a long time was difficult. But somehow, I felt that people were staring at me, well may be because I am the lone woman out, there or by my features it is clear that I am an outsider. God knows what, but those looks made me uncomfortable. And as so many eyes were following me I did not dare to go further inside to sit. So I rather thought it better to come out and head towards the Temple.

Finally, we reached the small entrance. Just the moment I bent my back to enter, something inside me, rang an alarm that, I should not. It was dark, dingy, smoky – smoky – smoky everywhere (with oil and til constantly burning). As I said, I was pregnant, all this was  suffocating and awfully  revolting to my senses. I kind of apologised to God and stood near a “bel” tree under which there was a Shivling and a very old board was dangling at its side declaring this to be a heritage site. That’s all right, maybe, it was of some importance, historically, but from inside every thread of my body wanted to run away instantly.

After a while when my husband came back, I asked him, pointing at the only shelter in the vicinity, “What is that place ?”. He said that’s a “Burning ghat”. I was shocked to death. I could not believe my ears. How many of you have ever been to a SHAMSHAN GHAT? And that too when you are PREGNANT?? Just imagine those “Iron Bars”, where dead body is laid for burning, I wanted to sit there. And now things got clear to me – Why so many people were staring at me??!!!

Aastha ke naam pe, OK many things happen. We see it all the time in the TV. Not everything is right and most importantly -  Common - I’m not part of any. But this … Hell … I felt as if I am tricked into a situation. Actually this senior personal read about it, then gathered junior staffs and roped in my husband because they needed 4 wheeler facility, for reaching that remote place. They all knew that I was quite enthusiastic about travelling and they were right, I took the bait and honestly regretted my decision. Even they were first timers there, so definitely nobody knew, what kind of place we were getting ourselves into. But still I believe, before roping in my husband, they should have considered that boss’s wife is pregnant and she might not be able to go through this ordeal. Or maybe, they just wanted their boss to go with the car and not me.

Well anyway whatever the reasoning might be,  it was a hell lot of experience for me, which I’ll always remember. I do not blame anyone, it just that I fell pray to my own inquisitiveness.

Point to be Noted : This photo does not belong to that heritage site. It is from a temple, located in Old Ahmedabad, which I visited recently.

Ever Tried Nectar

I was out on a vacation to my in-laws place in Himachal. There in the late evenings when no one was around, I used to sit in the balcony under the shade of green, smelling sweet flowers. I’ve seen so many different flying insects, butterflies hovering over the same. But that day I feel I was really lucky as I spotted a Green coloured white breasted and red collared …. Guess what? ….A Humming Bird.

Yes, for the first time ever in my life I’ve seen a Humming bird through my very own eyes. It was   constantly flying and putting in its long pointy beak to suck the nectar. I’ve seen this shot so many times in Discovery Channel, but this was incredible. I really wanted to capture this shot in my camera, but did not want to move as it might scare the bird away, so what to do? Then suddenly I remembered, oh I’ve a camera in my phone too. Immediately, I took it out and shot this click from a distance. If you notice carefully, there is a black creature amongst the green leaves. I wish I had a clearer take on it. Anyway, I do not know how many of you’ve seen this. But trust me, it is a sight to remember.

Then I very quietly went into my room to call my husband out, so that even he can see the bird…but unfortunately, it flew away. I told him about my experience, which made him react to the situation in a very strange fashion. He went up to the flowering plant, raised his hands towards a bunch, after carefully checking , plucked one and then brought the flower to his mouth instead of the nose( to smell).

 I asked him,  “What are you doing ?”  He replied, “Drinking Nectar”. With a Surprise in my voice I said “But how can you?” He said “Come and try yourself”. So I flung forth and took the pink fresh flower which he held towards me and just followed him step by step. And then to my greatest surprise, I did not drink any liquid though; still I clearly tasted something mildly sweet in my tongue. Distinctly and Unmistakably Sweet Nectar – Heavenly Indeed.

Life Is But A Circus

             
                    Circus, the very name brings back so many memories of my childhood, when I used to wait for the winter season. During that time, every year my parents took me to watch Circus at a place called Park Circus Maidan (Kolkatta). So that day, while I came across circus's add in newspaper I thought it was a good enough opportunity to introduce my child to circus and alongside refresh my fascination.
                      I was  all excited, we asked a few people for the correct location, took a few wrong turns and finally reached the destination. It was a  public holiday, thus the place was crowded. We had to wait for 30 minutes before we could finally head towards the entrance. I was all set with my camera in hand, clicking here and there, when all on a sudden an eldely gentleman (crew member) approached me and said "You are requested not to take any shots during the show". I instantly tucked back my camera in purse, but honestly I was not quite OK with the thought. I wanted to take photoes of those big elephants, jogging horses, jumping dogs, colourful parrots and ofcourse all the other participants who added glamour to the show. And why not - Common, I paid for it.
                        Then, the show finally opened with beautiful young girls lineing up in skimpy clothes( in this cold). They were coming in time and again, between the daring acts, to relieve the tension. In other words they were adding the de-stressing touch of glamour. I really felt sad for them. They all must be miles from their homes. Will you allow your daughter to do such a thing?                        Then there were those young boys doing stunts, breathing fire, playing with knives, juggling  and balancing at the same time, drinking water in volumes, they were all very young and energetic but the kind of stuff they were doing was heroic yet horrifying.
                           When someone praises you, says something good you love it, don't you? These people take life risks, defy death every time they perform and people find it so difficult to even join their hands and clap.Though they are doing all this for money still this is a kind of art and they are all artists in their own rights, a little appraisal will motivate them so much. They mechanically wave at the audience at the completion of each performance and then one act merges into the other.
                              So many high moments, like bike stunts, swinging in the air, etc. Trust me I did sneak out my camera and managed to take a few shots, before I was gripped by panic. I did not dare to go ahead with my random clicks any more because somewhere down inside I had a realization that for me it was just my another day's uploading material in my Facebook or Blog but for them it was much - much more. Their acts depend entirely on concentration and eye contact. Due to my flash even for one second if they get distracted it might cost them, their Job or even worse, their Life .
                               When I went in, I thought I paid well; by the time I came out I was in a state of daze, wondering, God blessed us with so many things in life still we are complaining all the time. Look at them they are Seeing Death Eye to Eye with a Big Smile. How much money is enough to compensate that spirit of living??
                                 At the end I will quote a few lines from the movie "Mera Naam Joker":
Ye Circus hain show teen ghante ka
Pehla ghanta bachpan hain (when these boys & girls are just being dare - devils)
Doosra Jawani hai ( when these girls are enchanting everybody with their glamour)
Teesra Burhapa hain ( when they finally end up selling Popcorns and Colas).
                                   I SALUTE YOU ALL FOR SURVIVING THE CIRCUS OF LIFE