make a difference

 Joe and his friends went out on a road trip to their hometown after a long time. A small city where they grew up playing on the hills, running on the shores, watching the sunset as the waves touched their feet.

 “It’s not the same!” One of Joe’s friend shouted while throwing the empty can of the drink, outside the moving car.

Few minutes later, Joe parked his car near the roadside restaurant, near the waterfall on the way , when another friend, after looking at the surroundings, started to complain, ”How unhygienic!”

 Joe then politely asked,” Who’s responsible? A few minutes back we had been throwing empty cans on the road!”

Yet another discussion flared up but this time it was a sense of realization.
They had tea and snacks and started again on their journey towards their destination that once was their home and now it’s one of the most sought out tourist destination.

 As soon as they entered the state, they were shocked. Through the crowded street, amidst the honking vehicles, they made their way home.

There was something unpleasant about that place now.

Discussions of the old memories of the beaches and the sunsets while enjoying the drive had all become a forgotten memory as soon as their neighbour Mr. Murthy told them “It had become difficult for us to walk on the same streets, on which the flowers bloomed, now the drains overflow.

 Stinking smell of garbage fills the air and it has become difficult for us to breathe. We can’t fight with these breeding mosquitoes and flies.  It’s difficult to walk or even sit in the open.

We have given several applications to the municipal board, and the officers come and visit us, assure us that they’ll clear all the garbage, but no one actually listens. ”

“Who’s responsible?” Joe and his friends asked him and there was a moment of silence.

In the evening they planned to go the beach. The parking area was full of litter and trash. It was impossible for them to even step out. Somehow stumbling they came out of their car and headed towards the beach where they used to make sand castles, run on the shores at the sunsets and enjoyed their childhood but were surprised to find that the shores were strewn with plastics and all sort of garbage. There were some dustbins found here and there. Still people were littering around.

Right from the beginning we are taught to keep our surroundings clean, maintain proper hygiene but learning and practicing are two different things. Just like Joe and his friends, almost all of us are well aware of such incidents. Step out of your house and see the unhygienic conditions. Definitely, this is not what we want to project to our guests. Instead of complaining, let’s understand our responsibility and make a difference!




This post is a part of an initiative by indiblogger and http://www.abmontubolega.com/ .
Don’t be a silent spectator. Raise your voice and make a difference. Kyuki Bin Bole Ab Nahi Chalega #AbMontuBolega. Connect with them on facebook and twitter.

stories

                                                                                                                       2014 image, Gurgaon

Fragrant memories-
Stories wrapped in winged verses,
Stored with perfection.
~~payal~~

Gratitude

                                                                                                                                       2014 image, Gurgaon





cold misty morning
calendula smiles shyly
filled with gratitude
~~payal~~

haiku horizons#38
WW#61

a healthy child makes a happy home

With her chirping tones she used to spread smiles. Sometimes trying to help Shanta bai with her tiny hands, holding the broom, and sometimes all soaked in water trying to wash clothes. Sometimes throwing the utensils on the tin shade of the shop on the ground floor and enjoying the music, sometimes laughing and talking to Sagar uncle in her own voice. Sometimes asking for water and then spilling it all around, sometimes climbing the staircase when no one was around. Sometimes posing for the camera, sometimes quietly eating mud. Sometimes creating all the fuss while eating and sometimes opening up the drawer and crushing biscuits. No one understood what she said. She was just 2 years old then.

How these kids grow up, so soon.

The home was full of comforting laughter. Like the sunshine in the garden of life, with spring in her feet, she spreads happiness in the home. We smile, we laugh, we learn.

The warmth spreads as she move around in the house. Sometimes trying to help her grandmother as she climbs up the stairs and sometimes sharing stories with her grandfather. Sometimes helping in the kitchen and sometimes taking care of the guests. Sometimes watching daily soaps and telling what they lack and sometimes sharing her dreams. Talking and laughing, teasing and playing, these kids become our friends.

The world seems happier!

Annual day rehearsals were going on in the school. Ria was participating in the dance and drama about which she used to share the little details with her grandparents. One day, when she came back from school, she looked dull. She looked tired and complained of bad throat and went to sleep. Every corner of the house was silent that day. She didn’t have her dinner. Next morning, the alarm was ringing in Ria’s room but she didn’t wake up. Richa and Rahul got worried. Weather was changing and she catches cold easily. Richa placed her hand on Ria’s forehead. It was burning! She had high fever. While Rahul was busy calling doctor, Richa kept cold water strips on her forehead. Her grandmother got busy in the kitchen boiling some leaves as home remedy for fever and her grandfather kept on asking about Ria. The home had fallen sick with her. It was missing her laughter. Everytime since childhood, whenever she fell sick, it affected the whole environment. Richa and Rahul were sitting with her and remembered all those years when they grew up with her as parents. They didn’t feel like doing anything. All the important works were left pending.

Doctor had come by now and gave her some medicines. She was fine within a week.The sunshine had returned!
~~payal~~

This post is part of an initiative by indiblogger and dabur.

https://www.liveveda.com/daburchyawanprash/.

Bring back the touch

“Ridhima, can I get a cup of tea?” Rishi asked Ridhima while reading newspaper.

With sips of tea Rishi used to read the newspaper or was busy on the phone while Ridhima kept on trying to talk to him about their life, their kids, their past,their present, their future but Rishi always seemed engrossed in the details of what’s happening in the outer world and all of a sudden he used to ask her,”what were you saying?” Ridhima used to get irritated and say “Nothing!”

Today, nothing was different, but for her, it was their 20th anniversary.

After Rishi left for his office, Ridhima kept on thinking for a long time and then got up from her rocking chair to pick up a book from the book shelf. As she turned the pages of the book, she found a card that Rishi had given to her when they met for the first time after they got engaged.

“ I love you, now and forever.”  holding her hand he had handed over that greeting card to her. Love was visible in his eyes. That touch was still fresh in her memory. She was lost in thoughts, smiling when all of a sudden she came back in the moment.

She checked her phone. There were eight missed calls.

“ Rishi!” She called him up.

“ Where were you? I got worried? I sent you a message too!”

“I kept my phone on silent.”

“Let’s have lunch together.”

She had tears in her eyes.

She checked the message. It said, “In the busyness of life, we forget to live. We forget all those moments that made us smile. No, we actually don’t forget those moments, it’s just that we forget to remember them. Life passes by. And then one day, when we clean our closets, we find many memories sealed in the treasured chests. Can we relive those memories, today? Happy anniversary!”

There, while holding her hand in the restaurant, he said.

 “ I love you, now and forever.”  

Today, he was talking and she was listening.

~~payal~~

 This post is a part of an initiative by http://www.pblskin.com/ and indiblogger  #BringBackTheTouch.
Watch it!

 

Threat to dignity

Mugdha was posted as a medical health examiner in that small village on the outskirts of her city. That day she had a little more work so she thought of staying back in the Govt. quarter. Unable to  sleep that night, she sat near the window of her room and kept watching outside and thinking of all those people who came to her with severe infections and chronic ailments due to poor hygiene specially the women, who sometimes shared their personal talks with her. Much was the result of open defecation that was not only affecting their health but was also a threat to their dignity.

“Why don’t you get a toilet constructed?” That day she had asked a woman who came with a severe insect bite and pain.

“We don’t earn so well that we can construct a separate toilet. We have one in common for all families in our area but that is as good as nothing. These men don’t think it’s a necessity. How do we tell them, it feels as if, as if, everyone is watching us and you know, it’s not safe for us to go out in the night.” It seemed as if she was upset with the whole scenario and desperately wanted a change.

She was still thinking about that woman. Painful tone of her voice had made it difficult for Mugdha to sleep.

She didn’t realise it was 5 ’0’ clock already.

She freshened up and went out for a walk. All of a sudden she heard a sound near the bush on the roadside.

“Who’s there?” she asked.

“Didi, it’s me, Meeta.” A little girl of around 10 years of age came out of the bush.

“What are you doing here? At this point of time? Alone? Aren’t you scared?”

“Didi,I ask my parents to construct a toilet but they say they don’t have money. I get scared but do I have an option?”

While walking she thought of her niece who told her about Manju. That conversation came alive in her thoughts.

She remembered how Manju’s story had disturbed her when her niece had said, “ You know, Manju was telling me that she is scared of dark. Leopards come in the night and take away the children who go out in the dark. Manju’s neighbour had gone out and the leopard took her away. Next day she was found dead in the field.”

“What are you talking? Who is Manju?” She asked her niece out of curiosity.

“Manju is the daughter of the maid in our school. She’s our friend and lives in the village. She sometimes come with her mother to help her and attends the evening classes in our school.”

“O.k. but why do they go out in the night?”

“She says we are lucky, we have toilet in our home. They don’t have toilets.”

~~payal~~

                                             *************

This post is a part of an initiative by indiblogger and http://www.domex.in/.

You can bring about the change in the lives of millions of kids, thereby showing your support for the Domex Initiative. All you need to do is “click” on the “Contribute Tab” on www.domex.in and Domex will contribute Rs.5 on your behalf to eradicate open defecation, thereby helping kids like Babli live a dignified life.
#ToiletForBabli

wordless

2014, done with the help of mobile app.

 

I don't know where I am..

here, there, or somewhere caught in the mid air

singing the golden melodies

            standing on top of the cliff
            where the ground is too slippery.. 
                         ~~payal~~                

 WW # 60

 

shimmers

                                                                                                                                          2014 image, Gurgaon




Cup was full of joy.
He added spoonful of stars
to her dreamy eyes.

haiku horizons#week 38

Morning

                                                                                                                            2014 image, Gurgaon




Rekindled spirits
whispered secrets of the night
Dawn reawakened.
~~payal~~

haiku horizons# week 37
WW# 59

Looking back. #Day 31

                                                                                                                                                         2014 image, Goa

 

 

Crossing the hurdles

of hesitation and fears,

Baring my soul,

learning constantly

Watching the fumes rise

from the haunting shadows

in the light of dark

Strange feelings

emerge from

the vast sea of consciousness

and dissolve in the written words.

I surprise myself

yet again!

Is it the end?

Or a new beginning?

~~payal~~

#OctPoWriMo Day 31

 

 

 

Journey #Day 30

 

 

                                                                                                                              2013 image, Goa

In the middle of the road

The travellers were stuck

In the wintery chills

feeling  there was

no end to the misery.

 

They crushed the patterns

the day before

their journey was about to end.

 

While digging the frosted layers,

they squeezed

the warmth of expressions.

They were saved by grace.

~~payal~~

OctPoWriMo #Day 30

 

 

Always.. # Day 29

                                                                                                                              image 2014, Gurgaon

 

 

They ask me

what does joy mean to me,

I say

it’s his presence

That fills me with love.

They ask me

what does love mean to me

I say its his essence

that I feel.                                  

Intangible.

They ask me

what do I treasure most

I tell them

It’s our story

Of finding bliss.

They ask me

what is bliss

I believe

The moments in which we create

Memories-

ageless, timeless,

Concealed, revealed,

I tell them honestly,

It’s all about loving unconditionally.

~~payal~~

#OctPoWriMo Day 29

Re-awaken #Day 28

                                                                                                                         2014 image,Gurgaon

 

 

When mind is exhausted

strength lacks

Sleep abandons

 ..hearts starve

In absence of

 harmonious thoughts

Inspiration

becomes the need of an hour

to re-awaken the

senses.

Insatiable hunger

for a little sunshine

could be met with a drop

of love.

~~payal~~

 

 

Dreamers #Day 27

                                                                                                                               2014 image, Gurgaon

Driven by the impulses

Relaxing in the meadows

Ephemeral sufferings ease out

As sleep tiptoes silently

Misty eyes find relief beyond

Eclipsed senses

Radiating from the pores

Surrendering to eternity.

~~payal~~
OctPoWriMo #Day 27

Dark #Day 26

                                                                                                                     image 2014,Gurgaon

Strange voices of darkness

strikes with frightening velocity

In chaotic moments

And make spooky noises

That fills the mind

In midnight hours.

Restlessness creeps in

 with a thud.

Heart keeps pounding

Mysteriously on the beats

Trying to set itself free

From the ghosts of the past.

~~payal~~
OctPoWriMo #Day 26

Magic #Day 25

 

 

                                                                                                                                           2014 image,Gurgaon

 

Captivating spirit

Of a fascinating belief

Had a magnetic effect

That pulled me

Towards it then...

Life is magical

....and it still does unfold

Mysteries of the

silent moments,

Now.

I still believe in miracles.
~~payal~~

Dance # Day 24

                                                                                                                                                                                  2014 image, Goa

 

 

 

Evening glow of sun

radiating from their souls

Fire in their moves.

~~payal~~

hope

                                                                                                                                            image 2014, Gurgaon

Rusted memories-

Tattooed reminders of hope,

Dance like autumn leaf.

~~payal~~

#haiku horizons

Perception #Day 23

                                                                                                                                                                            image 2014, Gurgaon.

 

I begin again

after a long wait,

that feels like eternity.

A bubble rises and floats

on the canvas of my mind.

With a little sunshine,

 it glows magnificently

 with its rainbow colours.

 All the dark,dull, thoughts move aside

and give way to the light.

It shimmers in the fancy world

of glazed thoughts

and monochromatic desires.

Fascinated by its purity,

I try to find

the truth of unknown.

~~payal~~

#OctPoWriMo Day 23
#WW 57

I feel.. #Day 22

                                                                                                                                     2014 image, Gurgaon

When I think of

walking on the lonely sands,

discovering the path,

Spontaneous response

To the tantalizing effects

Of unreasonable quest

Rise from the sand storms.

Bitter symphonies

Play on like a lie.

I feel lost

in search of mirage.

I feel,

I can do anything

I set my mind to,

Or so I believe.

 

Beneath my skin,

The whispering moon

burns the black forests.

~~payal~~

#OctPoWriMo Day 22