"Innocent" Noble Sacrifice

My wife called,"How long will you be with that newspaper? Will you come here and make your darling daughter eat her food?"

I tossed the paper away and rushed to the scene. My only daughter Sindu looked frightened. Tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with curd rice. Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age.She has just turned eight. She particularly detested curd rice. My mother and my wife are orthodox, and believe firmly in the 'cooling effects' of curd rice!

I cleared my throat, and picked up the bowl. "Sindu, darling,why don't you take a few mouthful of this curd rice?Just for Dad's sake, dear." Sindu softened a bit, and wiped her tears with the back of her hands. "OK, Dad. I will eat - not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lot of this. But, you should..."

Sindu hesitated. "Dad, if I eat this entire curd rice, will you give me whatever I ask for?" "Oh sure, darling," I replied. "Promise?" "Promise."

I covered the pink soft hand extended by my daughter with mine, and clinched the deal. "Ask Mom also to give a similar promise," my daughter insisted. My wife put her hand on Sindu's, muttering "Promise."

Now I became a bit anxious. "Sindu dear, you shouldn't insist on getting a computer or any such expensive items. Dad does not have that kind of money right now. OK?"

"No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive." Slowly and painfully, she finished eating the whole quantity. I was silently angry with my wife and my mother for forcing my child eat something that she detested.

After the ordeal was through, Sindu came to me with her eyes wide with expectation. All our attention was on her. "Dad, I want to have my head shaved off, this Sunday!" was her demand.

"Atrocious!" shouted my wife, "A girl child having her head shaved off? Impossible!" "Never in our family!" my mother rasped. "She has been watching too much of television. Our culture is getting totally spoiled with these TV programs!"

"Sindu darling, why don't you ask for something else? We will be sad seeing you with a clean-shaven head."

"No, Dad. I do not want anything else," Sindu said with finality.

"Please, Sindu, why don't you try to understand our feelings?" I tried to plead with her.

"Dad, you saw how difficult it was for me to eat that Curd Rice." Sindu was in tears. "And you promised to grant me whatever I ask for.Now, you are going back on your words. Was it not you who told me the story of King Harishchandra, and its moral that we should honor our promises no matter what?"

It was time for me to call the shots. "Our promise must be kept."

"Are you out your mind?" chorused my mother and wife. "No. If we go back on our promises, she will never learn to honor her own. Sindu, your wish will be fulfilled."

With her head clean-shaven, Sindu had a round-face, and her eyes looked big and beautiful. On Monday morning, I dropped her at her school. It was a sight to watch my hairless Sindu walking towards her classroom. She turned around and waved. I waved back with a smile. Just then, a boy alighted from a car, and shouted, "Sinduja, please wait for me!"

What struck me was the hairless head of that boy. "Maybe, that is the in-stuff," I thought.

"Sir, your daughter Sinduja is great indeed!" Without introducing herself, a lady got out of the car, and continued, "That boy who is walking along with your daughter is my son Harish. He is suffering from... leukemia." She paused to muffle her sobs. "Harish could not attend the school for the whole of the last month. He lost all his hair due to the side effects of the chemotherapy. He refused to come back to school fearing the unintentional but cruel teasing of the schoolmates. Sinduja visited him last week and promised him that she will take care of the teasing issue. But, I never imagined she would sacrifice her lovely hair for the sake of my son!"

"Sir, you and your wife are blessed to have such a noble soul as your daughter."

I stood transfixed. And then, I wept. "My little Angel, you are teaching me how selfless real love is!"

Surplus of love give illusion of nothing

My husband is an Engineer by profession, I love him for his steady nature, and I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders.

Three years of courtship and now, two years into marriage, I would have to admit, that I am getting tired of it. The reasons of me loving him before, has now ransformed into the cause of all my restlessness.

I am a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it comes to a relationship and my feelings, I yearn for the romantic moments, like a little girl yearning for candy. My husband is my complete opposite, his lack of sensitivity, and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage has disheartened me about love.

One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a divorce.

"Why?" he asked, shocked.

"I am tired, there are no reasons for everything in the world!" I

answered.

He kept silent the whole night, seems to be in deep thought with a lighted cigarette at all times.

My feeling of disappointment only increased, here was a man who can't even express his predicament, what else can I hope from him? And finally he asked me:" What can I do to change your mind?"

Somebody said it right, it's hard to change a person's personality, and I guess, I have started losing faith in him. Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered : "Here is

the question, if you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind, Let's say, I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death, will you do it for me?"

He said :" I will give you your answer tomorrow...."

My hopes just sank by listening to his response.

I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of paper with his scratchy handwriting, underneath a milk glass, on the dining table near the front door, that goes....

My dear, "I would not pick that flower for you, but please allow me to explain the reasons further.."

This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading.

"When you use the computer you always mess up the Software programs, and you cry in front of the screen, I have to save my fingers so that I can help to restore the programs. You always leave the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to open the door for you. You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city, I have to save my eyes to show you the way. You always have the cramps whenever your "good friend" approaches every month, I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your tummy.

You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and stories to cure your boredom. You always stare at the computer, and that will do nothing good for your eyes, I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip your nails, and help to remove those annoying white hairs. So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand... and tell you the color of flowers, just like the color of the glow on your young face...

Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more than I do... I could not pick that flower yet, and die.. "

My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting... and as I continue on reading... "Now, that you have finished reading my answer, if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favorite bread and fresh milk... I rush to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread....

Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone...

That's life, and love. When one is surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement fades away, and one tends to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and dullness.

Love shows up in all forms, even very small and cheeky forms, it has never been a model, it could be the most dull and boring form.. . flowers, and romantic moments are only used and appear on the surface of the relationship. Under all this, the pillar of true love stands... and that's our life... Love, not words win arguments...

New year

New year brings new hope, new aspirations and new found joy. It gives reason to smile like every other celebrated occasion. On same occasion I remember my mom saying " the way you behave on first day will be reflected in whole year".

Guess..what I have done, O'buddy I slept till 2pm and relished every moment of peace in chilling winter in my bed covered with rajai & blanket. No words can define this comfort in dilli ki shardi. Took breakfast at 3.30pm but before that I took bath, ofcourse I want to be clean & look better everyday. Already I have disadvantage of being dark complexion and my wandering from east to west India, starting from Northern part caused my ascent not to be of typical northern Indian, and I get perplexed in fusion of Identity. Yesss...people on first interaction are always sure of their guess that either I belong to Tamil nadu, kannada , telugu etc. and then I have to broke their heart that I am from Lucknow.

"Really" is obvious reaction on their face with long pause & ample exclaimation from my esteemed friends who had bet on my identity with someone who knew me earlier. Okk..Enough reasons for taking bath..Someday, I may able to demystify my identity to others by taking regular bath!!

A good breakfast or lunch means good sleep and I had till 6 and then some chai wai some namkeen along with good gossip with my friends. The clock ticked 9 and my stomach asked for some things to go inside. No one was in mood of Full Food ( If you are from north India, it means rice, dal, chapati , sabzi and few add ons like pickle, sweet dish etc.) and then we had junks, crux and coffee. Well I thought of having some healthy toppings to my body on new year and it came in the form of "a cup full of horlicks milk" courtesy my dear friend ( I can't name else all in hostel will take advantage of his kindness) who took pain to make Jan 1, 2010 to be supplemented by nutrition. Finally Some movies and another day night is gone, be it 1st day of new year.

If mom's saying is true then surely I will enjoy luxurious life with surprised package and if not then this was best way to bring new year.

wo to suna hi hain naa, kal kisne dekha hain, jeelo aaj jee bhar k, agli subah kisne dekha hai.

Just wait,I forget to tell about my new year resolutions (you are right, New resolutions is first mandatory thing which comes to mind for living new year), actually for me it remains same just got recharged with new packages to make NEW. Sorry my dear friends, I can't divulge it..its secret of my success and your happiness. Once it is out, both things will be lost and I don't want to lose either. Just one hint, Belief & faith is my resolutions' core. Have a rocking year ahead. Every second is yours, live full but don't forget to enjoy the moments. These special moments make life special!!!

Lust of rank

Pink Floyd’s “we don’t need no education, we don’t need no thought control; no dark sarcasm in the classroom; teachers leave us kid alone”

"you have to get 1st rank" mom yelled at her son who barely managed to keep his books in bag. No word came out of his mouth. He felt like there is no life beyond 1st rank. Mom was so angry because she wanted his best. Lot of crosswords were impacting his brains.

He studied hard, toiled day and night. Even mom worked harder than him. Mom said revision is key to being best in studies. He took all tolls, awake at 5am ( 6 yr old child...gosshhh..i will not able to manage even I have to run for life), carried more weight than roadside labor and learned, crammed the answers. Finally on exam day, he was anxious more than the patient who was running for life in OT and filled with fear which is comparable to relatives who were standing outside for news of successful operations. Somehow god gave courage to hold his nerve, remembered the face of Mom and wrote exams. Every exam day was superlative of previous day. Finally those were over. My hero tried to enjoy life but expectations, fear, scolding & what,if prompted him to somehow entangled in results.

Day of result: He was first one to get awake in home, took bath, prayed heartedly to god as if this is last chance. He tried to cry but could not able to as wanted to hide his fear of result in front of family & to self. Contrary Mom's face was compassionate while but he was scared of any untoward outcomes and couldn't able to share his feelings to Mom.....

"All d best, son"

"thank, you" was meek reply!!!

Ohh god, help this poor child. I don't want CEO post, make one demotion to me but give him first rank else his life aspirations will end here. Finally, Great news, nothing untoward incident happened, expectedly he got first rank. He was filled with joy, tears rolled, voice stammered, leg was not in tandem and heart was throbbing. His adrenalin said he had achieved the world. The yellow report was firmly secured in little hand. He ran like lamb to reach home and saw mom waiting for him at door. Our little child gave his report card and held head high for completing the task assigned by mom. Mom saw the report, and first time smiled at him and said good work beta, now you have to maintain it. From that moment, he lost the life and got the rank. His life became book. He lived books, juggled numbers & plated with ranks but somehow missed the life.

The parent shadow in this guy thought that he will not allow such thing to happen to his offspring. Today at the age of 30, he got blessed with child. The rank was the first thing came to his mind. He wanted to demolish it from new generation in his family, and again we thought things will change!!

But the legacy continued: courtesy "greed of being father of ranker". Another creativity & innocence was lost!!

WRONG NUMBER

hey frnds i took this story from some source...not my original....

It was the day of her son's XII results and she was so tensed. She sat beside him while he logged on the website with his registration no. "Ma", he screamed in excitement," I scored 1191, with centum in 4 subjects.

I cant believe it. " She kinda became numb in my excitement. Her eyes became wet. She kissed him on his forehead and smiled.

Soon they realized that he stood first in the state. Oh, her joy knew no bounds when Reporters and media persons soon swamped her house for interviews and photos. She was so honored to join him in the snaps.

She wanted to call her "wrong-number- friend" to tell him the news......She was so excited. He was someone whom she has known for more than 20 years.

She still did not remember when they became friends, but certainly cannot forget the first day he called her when she blasted him for giving her so many wrong calls.....after that he had called up a week later asking apology, for he had now got the right no of his friend whom he wanted to talk to . They spoke for an hour that day...even without knowing each other's names.

Though he kept pestering her to reveal her name she never did and so he kept a name...Sweety. She used to get so shy whenever he called her 'Sweety'. She was doing first year of BSc. Maths then, and he was a Computer Engineering

student.

.

.

.

.

.

From then he used to call her very often . They almost discussed everything ..

By the final year of her college, they probably were in love, but she had been cautious. She was in a dilemma whether to tell him. But what if he was of a different religion? Does she have the courage to talk to her parents about it? ........all these questions ran through her mind.

She decided tat she'll not talk to him thereafter. When he called next time she lied to him that she was going to Delhi for her post graduation. He gave her his office number and asked her to ring him up once she reach there.

She never called .......

A couple of months later her marriage got fixed with a guy of her parent's choice. She was not happy but she did not complain; rather accepted it as an obedient daughter. At times she felt she missed her wrong- number- friend...... .

Her hubby was a moody person; she has hardly spent any good time with him- but he was genuine indeed and never bothered her personal space. After 2 years they had a boy... Yet,she was not very happy with her married life... One day she happened to browse through her diary and found that she still had her old friend's office phone no that he had given her. she dialed it and spoke with him. He said he was married and got a kid too. She was happy for him though in the bottom of the heart she felt bad that she could not marry him.

From then she used to occasionally call him on that number. She never gave him hers as I felt that would put her in trouble.. And till today she almost shared everything with him including her relationship with her hubby..... today she was so happy and wanted to call him.

Just then she got a call. "Your husband met with an accident and died on the spot"

She banged the phone down. She broke. She did not call her friend.....She somehow started feeling guilty. She has never tried to talk to him properly when he was alive or moved close with him.... She felt that she had been a bad wife........

A couple of years passed and one day her son brought home a Bengali girl and said they wanted to get married. She got them married as she did not want her son to go through what she did.

She decided to give her son his father's room and started clearing it. There was a phone book. She gently opened it to find, "Wrong No Sweety -26579785"

"God always puts the right numbers together. Its we who interpret it wrong!!!!!"

a poem for her

when I see your blinking eyes

My heart throbs, me flying in sky

distance brings us closer more

so god blessed is our love

We will progress together forever

whether be your, mine or our

you are not angel, but made me lucky

o' my life you entered complete in me

the gems which we ignore

Ashi is studying hard for her final exams as she wants to be ranked 1st this year also. her only competitor is her classmate Devlina. there is always a difference of 4-5 marks in their papers, so the competition was tough. Ashi's dad has appointed 2 tutors for both the sisters, Miss Lee and Miss Reva, so that they don't face any problem in their studies. since few months Reva miss is noticing that ashi cudn't study for long hours due to sum problem in her eyes. she cant look at the light even for long and keeps the books close to her eyes while readin. reva miss mentioned this to ashi's mother several times but she didn't pay much attention. but the problem in ashi's eyes persisted and now she faces problem in seeing the board in class also. now her mom also started noticing and finally told her dad. her dad took her to an eye specialist. he checked her eyes and said she is havin bad eyesight and needs to wear glasses. an 8-year old kid wearin specs was not very acceptable to her dad, he asked whether there is any other option. doctor said that he has brought her too late and her eye sight has been partially damaged, so she needs to wear specs or contact lenses. her dad was shocked to know that she was havin a power of (-4) and she was too young to be operated or wear contacts. after a week the -4 glasses became an eminent part of her life and with that came the title of "chasmish".

Today is the Results Day at school. Ashi is very happy as her mom has promised an elaborate lunch for her if she gets the 1st rank ane she was confident she wud surely get. all the students were waiting anxiously for the Headmistress to arrive and announce the results. at last she arrived after a long wait. she started giving a small speech which the students heard impatiently.

"And now i'm going to announce the name of the student who got the 1st place. let me tell u there is a difference of only 3 marks between the totals of the 1st and 2nd student but as u know sumone has to be the winner. so the name of the 1st girl is....."

Ashi is about to stand up to take the report card from Mam.

".....Devlina Biswas."

wat did i hear? mam has gone crazy or wat? no, no, she must have made sum mistake, she'll rectify it now.

devlina stood and received her report card. everyone clapped loudly.

"2nd is Anshika Sharma."

nobody gets up.

"Anshika come here."

ashi sits like a statue.

her class teacher hurriedly come forward and almost drags her to the headmistress. she receives her report card half heartedly and goes back to her seat. other names were announced but she heard nothin and stared blankly at the board. mansi hold her hand to console her but she din't look at her.

Ashi reached home reluctantly as she was too afraid to face her mom. she wished her father was at home but she knew he wudn't be. Terrified, she handed her report card to her mom and all hell broke lose. her mom gave her a piece of her mind followed by a good beating and finally locked her in a room which opened only when her father returned. after hearing everythin from ashi he wanted to confront her mom but ashi stopped him and said if he told her anythin, again she wud be after her life when he'll not be at home. on hearin this tears came into his eyes. both of them wept badly for sumtime before he realized ashi has been hungry for long. when he took her to the dining he saw rupika was also crying in her mom. the poor girl has witnessed what her sister has gone through and terrified, she was weeping the whole day. she even refused to eat without her "didi" and finally got a tight slap from her mom when all attempts failed. Sharmaji was amazed to see such determination and love for her sister at such a young age. he became proud to be the father of daughters like them. if only their mom could realize she has got two precious gems. will she ever?

Will WE EVER???