सुबह सुबह का वक़्त है एक आम माध्यम वर्गीय परिवार का 

एक ६२ वर्षीया पिता अपनी बेटी से बात करते हुए-

 

-अरे शिवली,तुम्हारी आँखे कैसे हो रही हैं,रात को सोइ नहीं क्या ?

-हाँ पापा।ये आईटी इंडस्ट्री ऐसे ही होती है.प्राइवेट जॉब वाले खून चूस लेते हैं.रात भर काम कर रही थी मैं। 

-तो छोड़ दो न.तुम्हे ज़रुरत क्या है काम करने की ?मैं और  भैया अच्छा कमा लेते हैं.ठीक से घर चल तो रहा है. 

-पापा मैं अपने पैरो पर खड़ा होना चाहती हूँ। हाँ मैं थक जाती हूँ लेकिन मुझे काफी अच्छा लगता है आत्मनिर्भर रहना. 

-पर सुनो तो बेटा। 

वो बिना कुछ आगे बात  किये ही ऑफिस के लिए तैयार होने को चली  जाती है। 

उसके जाने के बाद उसका बड़ा भाई पापा को समझाता है 

-पापा करने दीजिये न उसे काम अगर उसे अच्छा लगता है तो. 

फिर किचन से मम्मी आती हैं. 

-हाँ मुझे भी कोई बुराई नहीं लगती। आजकल के बच्चे आत्मनिर्भर होना पसंद करते हैं.. 

-तुम तो चुप ही रहो ,आत्मनिर्भर बन ने के चक्कर  में शादी लेट हो  है.अभी उस दिन बोल रहि थी की शायद दुसरे शहर जाना पड़े २ साल के लिए। कम  से कम वो सरकारी नौकरी कर लेती जो मैंने बोली थी,अपने शहर में तो रहती!

माँ अंदर किचन में वापस चली जाती है. 

शिवली का  भाई भी अपने ऑफिस के लिए तैयार होने लगता है. वो अपने कमरे मैं मन ही मन बड़बड़ाने लगता है 

leftover,cow

#Leftovers,for the cows
A lady was banging the door.
‘Who’s this? Just a minute, I am coming.’  A voice came from inside.
Another lady, to be precise, a sweeper was standing other side of the door.
‘What do you want?’
‘Can I have some food?’
‘Food?  Are you ok with stale food? ‘
‘Yes I am ok with it. I just need to feed my 2 cows. They are our source of earning besides this sweeping job.’
‘Oh ok.In that case will bring some bread and stale food.’
The lady handed her a polythene bag full of eatables , for the cows.
This was now a regular routine for both of them. The lady was very much comfortable with such an adjustment as  in her joint  family, food was wasted to a large extent, everyday.
The other day:
‘Memsaab, I want another favor.’
‘Yes.’
‘If you can do it, please put  food items in separate bags, else in the mixture of rice, chapati,vegetables,bread ;it gets difficult for me to feed the cows at times. Not everything can be served to them. I need to take care of spices and sour things no.’

Huh,as ifi am her servant.I am already favoring her by giving so much and now she wants this even. Thought she
But as she too wanted to get rid of the stale food items, she agreed, else it would have been thrown in dustbin
Now the things were put in different bags. The routine again continued for a few days.

It was her daughter’s birthday one day and she ordered more than the usual this time ,the party was grand. Lots of food was left ,but she was not worried at all neither tried to consume it to the best.
She knew the sweeper would come tomorrow and she would be freed for this tension of using the leftovers.
In the morning, she waited badly for sweeper to hand over the food itmes,in different bags.NO,her intention was not at all of charity, it was pure selfish.
The sweeper did not come. The lady was getting restless to put all the ‘trash’ out of her posh house.
The day ended and next morning came but still there was no one to collect it.
It was getting irritating  for the lady to keep so much of  food at her home so she decided to visit her slum area.
‘I am looking for a lady who has 2 cows. Where is her home?’
‘Two cows? No memsaab,nobody stays here .’
‘But she told me the same area.Ah yes, and she is a sweeper too.’
‘Oh that lady, yes that is her home but she has no cows.’
‘What? Really? But she told me she has.Why did she lie?’ She was full of anger
‘And memsaab, she passed away today.’
The lady went straight towards her home carrying the food bags, for the cows. There she saw a feeble soul on the bed and next to her were her 5 children crying and howling.
Nearby, she noticed her bags she gave to and the leftovers of the food that she had given her, for the cows.
The youngest of all of them  was scratching the polythene bag , in want of some food !!
(c) Priyanka

Who is Bad ??

Who is bad?

‘Babuji, please give me 50 Rs, please, . I need to buy medicines for my mother. She is very sick’ .Bindiya was pleading to every passerby.

‘Oh, you dirt, fuck off. You are stinking badly. And don’t you dare touch me again; else I will suffer from all your diseases. GOD only knows who all touch you and your mother .HUH!’

The area where Bindiya was running after people was a Red light area. Her mother was seriously ill and needed immediate attention. Her mother also came from the same profession and was transferred with a number of diseases. When the little girl found no hope for getting some money for medicines, she returned back home. Her mother lay on the broken bed, coughing badly. Bindiya offered her some water and started cooking some food.

After her work, the ten year old Bindiya sat near the window and started reading the busy street.

 In between that hustle and bustle, she noticed that women, who were showing their skin through sari, were given money and taken away. She kept on observing, a woman shows her waist or displays her legs is offered money. No matter how old or young she was.

 She went running to her mother and asked about this. Her mother, forgetting every pain of hers, jumped out of bed and gave her a tight hug.

‘Come here my baby and don’t look at them. They are not nice people’.

‘Who is not nice mother; the people offering money or the females offering themselves?’

Her mother was dumbstruck. This was an unanswered question since ages

What answer would she have given, when she herself was in this business .Yes, she was a prostitute and everyone who once fucked her, has now left her to die.

She still remembers the day when out of ignorance and trauma of her husband’s sudden demise, she sat near the foothpath, with little Bindiya sleeping on her lap. Suddenly a bike came, without even putting down the engine, the man offered her a good some of money and held her hand.

She immediately pulled her hand back fearing some bad to happen. The man thinking, she was  not satisfied with the amount, offered just the double of it and now the bundle caught her eyes.

‘Why are you giving this to me?’Asked the ignorant mother

‘Come on; as if you don’t know anything. What do you suppose men do at this place? This isn’t MNC.It is a red light area. Are you not sitting here to sell yourself? Are you here just by mistake? You must be kidding.’ He laughed sarcastically

Then she realized the fact that she was in the wrong place. But she needed money also for her daughter, so not thinking too much she accepted the offer.Sicne then she was into it but always tried to keep her daughter away from all this. She wanted Bindiya to get educated and turn into a respective individual.

She was lost in all such thoughts when she didn’t even realize that her daughter was again standing in the queue to offer herself. This time the innocent girl tore her frock from waist and shoulder to show her innocent skin. A buyer was about to take Bindiya when her mother came running and rescued her.

She took her daughter back to their room, took some random medicine to satisfy her and acted being absolutely fine. Seeing her mother like that, Bindiya took a sigh of relief.

‘Look baby, I am alright now. I don’t need any medicines and so you don’t have to worry about medicines and stand in that queue’.

After this incidence, her mother decided that she won’t let other little girls also let in this dirty business. She left that area, and nobody stopped her as she was a ‘Not for Use’ commodity now.

One step that her mother took to bring a change in the society against all these evils was commendable. She prepared a banner that read;

' If you are with me against the crime of child prostitution, come and leave an impression of your palm on the canvas and take a pledge that from now on wards whenever and wherever you find such crimes taking place, you won’t sit quiet : '

Slowly people started coming and joined her. There were hundreds of palm impressions on the canvas and thousands of smiles.

She soon opened a ‘Home’ is a small room and  took care of all the young girls of that area while their mothers were busy in offering themselves and earning money.

Kill Wolves , Not Angels

A seven month old baby boy in  mother’s womb.....

My father was extremely happy today. After all, I was coming to be a part of the family. The doctor had told him to purchase the things in blue and he was on top of the world. But , I saw my mother. She was sad and blank as if not so happy. She was looking very tired.

 “Mamma are you not happy?”  I asked

“Of course I am happy, very happy.”  She replied in a feeble voice

“But your eyes look so sad. It seems as if something is bothering you deep within. What is it? You can tell me mamma”.

“You won’t understand”. She replied

“May be I won’t understand, but I want to share my mother’s pain. Now will you please tell me?”

I wanted to know, why is my mother not as happy as my father

 "Your father killed your 3 elder sisters, even before I could take them in my arms. I was so helpless; I could not save them being a mother. I cried, I begged, fell on his feet but he, like a heartless father buried them”.

My mother was crying bitterly

“What? Why and how and…?” I was shocked to hear that.

She was even more upset recalling the past and had tears in her eyes.

“Leave it, I told you….…you won’t understand.”

“Mamma please… I want to know ".

She finally gathered the guts to tell me.

“I don’t know; whether your mind has developed that much so as to understand all that I will be saying. But I think, I should tell you what you will go through once you step out. Listen. Had your sisters lived, we would have to spend a lot on their upbringing. Their studies, marriage, and future .And probably would not have been allowed to go out to work also, no matter how talented they might have been."

“But mamma, the same things you will have to do for me also. Then what is the difference?” I was unable to understand what was so difficult.

“My beloved, after marriage also we would have to take care of their extended family.”

“OK mamma. But, those things you will have to do for me also unless I start earning. And when I get married, you will have to take care of my extended family also. I am not getting it. What was so difficult in letting my sisters live? And you know what mamma, as far as I have noticed things happening, daughters leave their parents’ home after marriage and barely ask anything unless pressurized. But the sons stay together with the parents and keep bothering for property and finance. They keep demanding for their extended family. Is this not the truth? I know it is. I have seen our neighbors. These are not genuine reasons you are making me understand. Give me the one that I can admit.”

“You won’t spare me today. What has happened to you? Why are you bothering me so much?”She said.

“Mamma ,I want to know the reason behind such big and illegal decision.” I was adamant to know.

“My son there is many more things. You don’t get into all this, we are happy that you are arriving soon.”

“No mamma, I won’t let you leave me in this situation. I want an answer. What made my mother so helpless that she was a part of such a heinous crime?”

 “How do I make you understand?”She was getting depressed.

“You have to…please.”

“OK listen; there are wolfs in this society that want to have sister’s flesh.” She started explaining

“Wolfs? What wolfs mamma?”  I was curious

“The sick people, who think that girls are something they can get easily and want to get them, eat them and play with them.”

“But this is not fair. How can anybody be so cruel so as to think the little angels their own  property? GOD has made everybody equal and everybody has the right to live the way they want.”

“You are right my son,but the world is so,what can we do?”

“Oh mamma, this is injustice. Instead of killing the sisters, kill the wolves so that the sisters can roam freely anywhere and do whatever they want to."

“When I come in this world, will I also be a wolf?” I asked her in dismay

“No my son, I will teach you how to behave with the girls.”

“But I will be looked upon as another wolf in the society by default. Won’t I?” I was upset.

“May be, some fingers will point at you also.”

“So, it’s me…the boys who have created such a bad environment for the girls. So, basically the boys have no right to be a part of the world.”

She got frightened. “No baby, don’t think like that. The boys are always welcomed and so are you.”

“No mamma I don’t want to come in this society that is doing injustice to all my sisters. I cannot come and face all this.”

My mother was trying  hard to make me understand

“Oh, please. Only 2 months are left and we all are eagerly waiting for you.”

“No mamma, this time…I will choose. Who are they to choose every time…and for everyone? Yes, I know it will give a lot of pain to you, but still …I will have to do it. Once a lesson should be taught to them, and mamma I have chosen not to be a part of this self-centered world.”

“What are you planning to do, you are hurting me.” 

She was in pain.

“I am sorry mamma, but I am going in a deep sleep. Please forgive me. I love you.”

I decided to close my eyes forever in the womb itself

My mother laid resting along the wall in shock and distress. My father came closer to her and asked what had happened and how. Soon he could make out the situation and gazed at my mother in fury. He cried loud like a looser and stood begging again in front of GOD.

Mother

‘How is it beta? I have been preparing this for you since morning.’ asked a curious mother to her son

‘Ma please do not disturb. The match is going through an interesting phase. Let me enjoy it. I will eat it later on and let you know.’ he replied, eyes glued to television

‘Ok beta. But do have it. You must be hungry. You did not eat properly the last night also.’ said the worried mother

The boy was completely silent and his eyes were still on television .His mother left smiling and was busy again with her household work.

After about half an hour;

‘Mamma, Just make this, whatever you have made, a little warm. It has just chilled out.’ He shouted from where he was sitting

‘Oh! You haven’t eaten it yet? Give me where it is. I will do it.’ She was still worried. She took it and re cooked for a few minutes to make it eatable for his son.

‘Take it and now eat it on time and will you please let me know how long are you going to watch the match?’She asked in a very low pitch

‘What is it mamma? Today I have taken a leave from the office just for this match.’ He was feeling irritated and frowned at his mother.

‘I was just asking as I need your help to bring the household things.’ She again said in a very low voice.

‘Please you manage it .Just think that I am still in the office and do it the same way you do it the other days.’ He gave a very straight answer.

His mother left smiling but she was upset from within. She took her purse and left for the market.

He had already turned the room into a complete mess and was calling his friends to come at his place and watch the match together. Soon a huge bunch of about 5-6 bachelors came to his place .The bunch had directly landed from the office .All were badly stinking and were pretty tired. All insisted to move in his room instead so that they can lie down on the bed and rest with the AC on. Everyone got busy making himself comfortable.

As the lady of the house was not present, the guys themselves took up for the kithen.They tried preparing coffee, but failed. Everybody was hungry so they ordered some pizzas and other fast food from outside.

It was almost evening but his mother had not yet returned and the boy did not even try to call her once. When he picked up his phone to have a look at the time he saw his mother’s 5 missed calls. He tried calling her, but it did not respond so kept the cell and did not even try once more. He was again busy with his friends.

When she returned it was quite late and she was tired. She was feeling a bit weak and made herself comfortable on the chair. She rested only for ten minutes and then went to her son’s room.

By then his friends had left and the breakfast she had cooked with so much love was still kept aside along the sofa leg and he was having something the bunch had ordered. They turned the house into a complete chaos with empty plates here and there, cold drink cans kept upside down, popcorn bowls with the left over nuts, the carpet full of dirty footprints.

The match was over by then and he was busy on laptop.

‘I called you many times to know if you want something from the market. But…ummm…You did not receive the call.’ She said wiping her forehead with sari.

‘Nahi ! I did not want anything and why did you came so late? My friends had to help themselves and I felt so embarrassed’. His volume was bit high this time.

 ‘What’s the point saying all this now? They all have already left now. As for now can you please have a bite with me of this food? I am unable to finish it and don’t want to waste it. It’s so costly and I cannot afford to throw it away.’He said munching a pizza piece.

‘No Beta, I cannot.’ Said the mother wiping her tears in the corner of her eye

‘What’s the harm in having my food? Do you have no value of your son’s hard earned money? Common, have this na and I am sure you will like eating something different from the regular things you make in the kitchen.’ He tried to force eat the food.

‘Beta I would have loved to share your food with you but the thing is I cannot have it today. I kept a fast for you today.’ She had a heavy heart yet she was smiling

‘Ma who on earth compelled you to keep a fast today?’ Asked the careless son

‘It was not today and nobody forced me to do so. It’s my love for you my son. And I have been keeping it since your birth. But as today you were at home you came to know about it. Now it’s been around 25 years that I have been doing it. And of course I value your hard earned money. You can keep the left over in the refrigerator, I will have them tomorrow. Today I cannot even have a sip of water.’

The mother said all this with a smile  and her son  froze to shame. But that gesture was only for a few minutes .He was again busy with his laptop.

All mothers are like so. They keep on sacrificing their own self for their children. They only need love and that too if they fail to get, there are no complaints from their side. They are always smiling.

Definition Of Love

I am restless
I am calm
I am focused
I am confused
I am happy
I am sad
I want to  hug,but I run away.
Butterflies in stomach,buzzing in the ears.
Eyes are twinkling,heart is pounding.
Want to speak my heart out,but stay quite.
Have questions to ask,but remain dumb.
Want to sing , to dance, but legs freeze.
Speak weird,but speak a lot.
Grin outside,cry inside.
Wait for long,but on confrontation ,i run away.
I think I am in love.
Yes!! i am in love.
You bet!! i am definitely in love.

WE

In a renowned mobile store

‘Who are you? And with whose permission you are entering the centre?’ Shouted the peon on a lady

She was wearing a faded black gown. Only her eyes and shoes were visible through the Burka . She showed some papers to the peon and in a very low voice said that her phone was not working and wanted it to get repaired. The peon allowed her. She was speaking too less and just kept on showing papers and bills to the concerned people. Everybody ill-treated her because of her lack in communication skills and may be because of her, Burka.

‘Please, go to seat no. 5, he will take care of your problem. I am busy right now.’ Said a technical member to her and started surfing net. Although , the lady noticed him but did not say anything. She just marched towards the next table.

‘So, tell me. What is it? Why do you people buy such things if you are not able to handle it?’ Roared one of them

He gave a very strange look to the lady from top to bottom. Huh, the minority people will bother us now. What crap? Why don’t these people return to their own place? Each one of them is a terrorist. Making our own country unsafe for us and enjoying every bit of it.

‘Ummm…My phone is not working, so, I…..’ She did not even complete the sentence, when the person interrupted.

‘Oh! So you call it a phone? It’s a tab, you moron. I just wish you knew what you are using.’ He laughed ‘Now take this form and fill it’.

‘Ummm..I don’t have a pen so can you please…’ She said in a trembling voice

‘Oh No! So you have come here to get things done and you are not carrying a pen even! Hats off! Take this.’ He threw a pen towards her.

‘Thank you’. She was polite

‘And anyways, the papers are still incomplete. Where is the bill? Is your tab in warranty? Do you know about it? Do you have originals? Photostats and all won’t work. Make this  thing very clear in mind ’.He raised his volume again

‘Ummm…Let me see. Just a minute.’ The lady was a bit nervous and felt shaky.She checked the papers in her bag, and said that her phone, sorry tab, was in warranty.

‘Show me. I doubt you. Where is the date written? Let me see.’ He snatched the papers from her hand and accidently the paper was torn right from the place where the date was mentioned.

‘Where is the date? Your papers are incomplete and so now nothing can be done.’ He said without an inch of guilt.

‘But, but…ummm…you …’ She hesitated

‘What are you trying to say? Don’t you even dare? You were holding the papers too tightly. I was only trying to help you. Don’t you think it’s my fault? Clearly it’s yours. Now will I have to learn from people like you who have no dressing sense and instead of managing things, behave dumb?’ He roared.

Huh! The minority group bothering for no reason. Why don’t she just leaves? Is she not getting it that I am least interested to help her? And why should I? Why anybody would would like to help these people.

He threw the entire stuff on her face and asked her to leave. The lady left without saying a single word. May be she was used to such a kind of behavior because of her Burka.She did not even tried to protest or complain.

Everybody at the centre hardly noticed that she actually left without her problem being solved. The center was renowned and was least bothered about being complained or something like that.Everbody was at ease and their regular work.

A few days later another lady came with the same problem

‘Good morning mam.’ The peon addressed her this way.

She entered and looked for someone to whom can she could show her phone.

‘May I help you mam?’ Two people came running to her.

‘Ummm…My phone is not working. Can you please guide me, what I have to do? I mean the paper work and all?’She enquired

‘You don’t worry. The procedure is very simple. Have a look at this form. This is to be filled. Are you carrying pen?’ asked the technical person

‘Ummm…NO.I am so sorry. I just don’t have it. Can you please lend me one? She said and asked.

‘It’s perfectly ok mam.You don’t worry. I can fill it for you.’ While he was saying all this, he had already filled half of the form.

‘What about the bills and other papers? Like I don’t know if it is still in warranty or not.’ She said

‘Show me mam ,I will let you know.Ummm…This is a Photostat copy of the bill. But it’s ok. We will manage.’ He tried to be as gentle as he could

He took the entire stuff and took her phone for repairs. Every inch of work was being done by the employees at the centre. Soon her phone was in a working condition. She checked it and kept everything in her bag and went to the rest room handling other belongings to the peon. She returned in a few minutes in totally different attire.

 Everybody stood numb. Jaws dropped. Eyes wide open.

Yes. She was wearing a  burkha and yes she was the same lady.

While she took her belongings from the peon, and before leaving the centre said a few things to everybody sitting there.

‘Two days back I came to this centre with the same problem but nobody even bothered to listen. But that day I was wearing a burkha , and was looked  down upon. Today, this sari acted as a lucky charm for me. But let me make one thing very clear to all. Wearing a burka is not any kind of helplessness. It’s our culture and we love and respect it. You have no right to ill treat us on your own silly grounds. We are also a part of this nation. My husband is forced to work in the Arab countries, as nobody provided him job here. Providing a place to live is just  not worth if no respect is shown. There is no point in building the temples and mosques side by side, if in your heart you don’t respect our culture. Nobody trust us just because of the games played  by the people at the assemblies.A few white collar people are playing games to divide us and  are enjoying every bit of it. Open your eyes and try to read the real faces behind masks. Please treat us as a part of this nation and just once show trust on us. Then only you will come to know, what change we can bring to this country. We are not gaddars in any  form.’ She kept wiping her tears and continued

‘We all are two sides of the same coin. You all feel cheated; so do we.’

Everybody stood there with their eyes glued to the floor.

She was right to some extent.Yes; we do look down upon this caste and consider each one of them a terrorist. Don’t we?
The gate keeper gave her a small salute as a gesture of respect.But the lady left with tears in her eyes.

Teeja tera rang tha main to

Jiya tere dhang se main to

Tu hi tha maula tu hi an

Maula mere le le meri jaan