"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
- Leo Buscaglia

The Unexpected Betrayal

The fan was moving,

slowly and creakingly.

There was a distinct smell from the previous night,

stale and sweaty.

Her eyes moved towards the right,

she could see the door closed,

and suddenly her eyes were shut,

experiencing throbbing pain all over her body,

her lips trembling with heart-wrenching sobs...

She coiled herself in a cocoon,

trying to hide herself from the painful memory...

Memory of that face,

of the touch of those hands all over her body,

her tears increasing with every passing moment.

The feeling of contempt,

which she so wanted to get rid off,

wouldn't evade her.

She remebered the time she'd spent with him,

during her childhood,

cradled in his arms,

having a soundless sleep over his stomach,

or his encouraging smile,

with that comforting pat over her shoulders...

Were they a facade,

Or maybe it's just a nightmare.

But it wasn't....

Her eyes now swollen with misery,self-disgust and fear.

She remebered the scene of the fateful night,

with it,that virile face,

thought of the fatherly love and caresses,

which turned into something she couldn't understand.

Perhaps,it was a part of growing,

perhaps,it was how things were supposed to be...

However,she wasn't convinced,

her insides a turmoil of over-flowing emotions,

and her body aching with incurable pain,

It was her soul which was destroyed and left barren.

After a few moments,

tired with her self-pity,

she looked towards the left,

and saw the sun rising,

its rays mystically illuminating the room,

and then smiled at herself,

realising the irony of the situation.

Her final smile again covered with hapless and piteous tears...

I have seen the angels cry!

I have thought that angels wore halos and wings of white,

but now I find they wear hats,

and black coats with yellow stripes.

And angels,in my mind,

wore long flowing gowns of white.

But now,I see dark pants and shirts,

and badges shining bright.

And angels always floated,

with bare feet above the ground.

Not true!For they wear steel toed boots,

and go where death is found.

Not all angels have smooth hands that look like porcelain.

Some angels have torn gloves,

and cuts and burns upon their skin.

And while I thought all angels glowed from heavens light,

I see an angel cutting steel,

his torch is shining bright,

and while these earthly angels passed buckets of debris,

the angels up in heaven,

looked down on bended knee.

So while the smoke continued to rise in the sky,

I watched the rescue workers weep,

I've seen the angels cry.

(This poem was taken from the website www.kissedbyanangel.com)

Youth against terrorism-A solidarity meet ?

On 20th of December,thousands of students from different colleges and universities,including me,had assembled at Shivaji Park,Dadar.The purpose was to attend the rally,a call by S C Jamir,governor and chancellor of universities in Maharashtra.

The rally included kin of martyrs in November 26 Mumbai terror attacks,addressing the youth.It also included media people covering the whole affair and offcourse,the government officials.There were police officers and NCC cadets patrolling the ground and making sure that everything ran smoothly.The students were asked to carry nothing except for a wallet and I-card of their respective college.

The rally was from 5 pm -7 pm,when the Governor gave his speech,took an oath with the students and honoured the martyrs by giving 'silver plates' to their family members.

However,the ironic thing was that,while the show was going on,while the members of the 'jawans',who lost their lives,gave their views and ideas,while a group of students tried to evoke patriotic feelings by singing 'deshbhakti' songs,there were a few students who,well,listened to the songs on their cell phones,a few who chatted amongst themselves,and a few who were holding placards,upside down,saying'Down with terrorism' or 'Lets not be emotional,lets be rational'.This was the scene during the rally,of which the tagline was 'YOUTH AGAINST TERRORISM-A SOLIDARITY MEET'.

The rally came to an end,at around 7pm and we all were asked to leave.While going back through the bamboo fences,there were hundreds of empty plastic cups of water(which was distributed amongst the students,by the students,for quenching their thirst;afterall,they had travelled a long distance)littering around,the placards,torn and dirty,which was,a while ago,carried by the students.i.e. the youth,posing before the camera,showing their determination,integration and offcourse their 'solidarity'.

The long day had finally come to an end,with students relieved to leave the ground and thinking of their cozy rooms and tasty food awaiting them.

The long day had finally come to an end for the martyr's family members,who had joined the rally,thinking,hoping and wishing,that the coming generation is a promising one!


(The plastic cups,placards and newspapers lying on the ground after the rally)

The first rendezvous with myself

Today I've learnt a new meaning of love,
today I've experienced the true joy of laughter,
today I see the world with new eyes,
today I found the real 'me'.

Lost uptill now,
today I look myself into the mirror,
the mirror which showed me my past,my then present,
now depicted a new portrait.
A portrait of my now present and my near future,
Today I can see it smiling back at me,
waving at me,proud of me,
today I've learnt the importance of 'let go'.

Today the water feels more pure,the earth more green,
the sky more blue and the air more fresh.
Today,I can feel the sun shining at me,
and the moon beaming at me.
Today,I can enjoy the rains with the rainbow overhead,
throwing its colour into the world of which I am a part now,
today I see myself in 'you'.

Today I understand the importance of the tough times in my life,
they were a part of me,sent by my soul,
so that,I could meet your soul.
Today I fearlessly live my life,
today you reside in my heart.