Spirited performance...part 2

Read part 1 here

Shalini had arrived a little before 5, and fidgeted around nervously, before she spotted Sriram.

"Oh there you are" he waved his hand.

"Hi..." she waved back, but realized he wasn't acknowledging her presence. He was looking at the empty bench next to where she was standing and smiling. Was di sitting here?

"Hi Shalini. Let's get some coffee?"

"Sriram, Cut the niceties... All I want to know is, how do you know that di is here. Why is she back? Why has she chosen to talk to me through you.. and not to me directly? If you can see her, why can't I?'

"Slow down, my dear, one question at a time. Let’s sit down first....you’ll have to move a little….," he moved her further across the bench,"... unless you want to sit on your sister's lap." he smiled at the empty space again.

 More smiles...and nodding...

"Malu says you always sat on her lap when you were young."

Shalini looked at the empty space and tried to smile.

"Tell me please, it's killing me, I need to know my answers.Why didn’t she talk to me directly?"

“She says she had tried to talk to you but you didn't seem to respond to her”

“Why you then?”

“I was sitting alone on toad's rock…the one near the blue lily pond. That must be three days after she had passed away. That was “our” spot. We often spent time looking at the blue lilies and chatting to our heart's content. That day I was mourning her death crying my heart out, when I heard her whisper my name softly. I thought I was hallucinating, but when I turned around, it was her!

 I was so happy; I couldn't believe she was back! But when I tried to give her a hug, I couldn't touch her. I was scared at first, but she calmed me down." Sriram had a faraway look in his eyes as if the events of that day were unfolding themselves before him.

“But why has she come back?” Shalini interrupted.

"Malu has some unfinished business. She died before her time was up. Wonder who could have the heart to kill such a pretty young lady who could herself never harm an ant? But she wanted to tell you something important.”

"What unfinished business are you talking about?

Sriram looked at the empty space again as if listening to Malu and then at Shalini,

"She says she has some deposits in various banks, some jewellery and land documents in the bank lockers. She wants you to have all that“.

Then he looked at ‘Malu' again.

“She says, you are the nominee for all her accounts, so you won't have a problem accessing those. You didn't know about the whereabouts of these accounts so she wants me to help you with it."

"Sorry and thank you, Sriram."

"What's that for?"

"I didn't trust you at first. But thanks for your help and concern. You must be very special to di, for her to have chosen you over anyone else for this."

"We had planned to marry." he said as a matter-of-fact all the while looking lovingly at the space next to him.

"Oh, I didn't know that Sriram, I am sorry, you must be feeling so devastated."

"You bet I am.” he said looking downcast. "I must leave now, I'll meet you at Srilakshmi bank tomorrow at 10. We have 4 banks to visit. Don't forget to bring Malu's original death certificate and your id card for easy identification. Rest of the formalities, we'll complete at the bank."

"Sriram, I want to talk to di, can you tell her to sit here for some more time."

"Sure" then he looked at the empty space again and nodded.

"She will be here. See you both tomorrow."

Shalini spoke alone for a very long time, speaking about their good times together, the bad times, the loss of their parents, the moments of fun and some secrets that only the two of them shared. She spoke, smiled, and cried, all the while begging her sister to make herself visible to her.

"Di do you remember, Alok chachaji had an ancestral home in Kanpur? He wants to transfer that to my name, since he has no children of his own. He told me he wanted it to be a wedding gift to you, but...." she choked again.

It was almost 8 when she realized she was all alone in the park. Slowly she got up to leave.

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to be cont.... read concluding part here

Spirited performance..part 1

"Hello Miss.Shalini .."

Shalini turned around to see who was calling out to her. She paused the i-pod that was playing "Soak no more in your own tears....for you know not what power they possess..." 

That was Malu di's favorite song playing .

"Yes Ma’m, I am talking to you."

"Do you know me?" she asked the stranger, who looked a little wierd to her in his tweed jacket and cowboy hat. 'Who wears a jacket on a hot day like this," she wondered.

"No Ma’m, not really, but I knew your sister, Malini."

'Malu di?' Tears clouded her eyes, hearing her sister's name. "How did you know her?"

"We were the closest of friends. I am as devastated by her passing away as you are." he seemed to wipe away a tear from his eye.

"Really? But di never told me about you."

"Oh, she might have mentioned me, Sriram..." he extended his hand for a shake. "...do i sound familiar?"

"Sriram..." she tried to recall if she had ever heard about him before. It did not ring a bell. She extended her hand, "Hello, anyways, nice to know you knew di. Any reason you are seeing me now?" she asked.

"Its Malini."

"What about her?"

"She's here right now" he said smiling at the space next to him.

Shalini looked at him and then at the space next to him with a look of disbelief, then suddenly angry she screamed at him," If this is a joke, it’s a bad time for it, mister. Who do you think you are to play around with people’s emotions like this? Jerk…." And she started to walk away.

"Shalini, Malu says ‘happy birthday’ to you. She says she has kept a gift for you in your bedside drawer..." he looked at the space next to him and nodded, "She's says it’s wrapped in a red wrapping paper."

Shalini walked away without saying a word, tears streaming down her face.

Sriram, blocked her path and handed her a visiting card," In case you want to talk to me later."

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

Back home, Shalini pulled the bedside drawer open, her hands trembling and little beads of sweat starting to form on her forehead.

There it was, exactly as Sriram had said. She tore open the red wrapping, and stared at the beautiful kundan necklace set in green and white stones. It was di's necklace, and her favorite. She had always wanted to wear it and di had teased her, "Not till I am alive, Barbie doll, you can have it after I die."

She broke down into an uncontrollable fit of tears, clutching the necklace close to her bosom.

"Di, are you really around? Give me some sign di.." she sobbed.

She walked to her window and felt the warm breeze sweep across her face. And then she saw the lights...the headlights of di's car, just went on and off…twice.

And then there was complete darkness. as if it never happened at all. That's how her di signaled to her when she came to pick her up, no honking of horns, just flicker of the headlights,..twice...

"Di, you are here, aren't you? Oh di, I miss you so much." 

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

Her eyes were still swollen from crying all night. Foggy eyed Shalini, picked up the card Sriram had given her, and looked at it. She wondered if she should call him. Yes, she had to, why had di come back? She had to know.

"....Sriram, Shalu here.." she spoke awkwardly.

"I knew you would call, Malu told me she gave you some signs yesterday.

"Can I meet you someplace?"

"Shukravari talav..at 5? Will that be ok?

"That will be good. I'll be there."

‘Why did di never tell me about Sriram before?’ she wondered.’ Let me see if I can find any pictures of di with Sriram.”  She opened her cupboard and took out two large albums that she had carried back from Malini’s place after her death. Pages and pages of photographs and memories….

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read part 2 here.

Manmohana...

decked up palki of Kanhaiyaji

" yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham 

paritranaya sadhunam 

vinashaya cha dushkritam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya 

sambhavami yuge yuge "

-Srimad Bhagavad Gita

Through these verses of the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna proclaims the meaning of his descent for the ascent of the spirit of man. God's incarnation is a perpetual act, an eternal occurrence. It is not merely a historical event that took place centuries back and is not taking place now. The words, 'Yuge yuge', imply every juncture of time. At a great juncture and critical moment and crisis, God manifests Himself to dissolve that crisis and conflict.Whenever there is discrepancies in the discharge of natural laws of God, then God incarnates. Either He incarnates Himself, or He sends His bona fide representative, or He sends His powerful representative.
 

Krishna on his "jhoola" or swing.

Krishna! The lotus eyed charmer, who will endear himself to you and melt your heart with one naughty smile. Celebrating his birth, his return to earth to bring back peace and harmony, is the festival of "Janamashtami."

Krishna, is beautiful in every form, be it as a son, as a lover, or as a guru. To me this festival not just signifies the birth of Krishna, but also the birth of hope. A hope that all that is not well, will be well soon. The birth of faith. A faith, that he will hold my hands when I need him the most. A renewed hope and a renewed faith, that gives me the courage to go on despite the odds.

To me this form of Krishna as a child, is more endearing as he brings out maternal instincts, that want me to hold him in my arms, sing him to sleep, nourish him. He can be playful and responsible, innocent and naughty, all at the same time. He can be so full of mischief one moment and teach you the principles of life the next moment. His one look will melt your heart and keep you in his captivity! Such is his magic!

A traditional rangoli

I welcomed him home last night with rangolis on my doorstep and in the puja room. Little footsteps signifying his walking into our home and heart.

And how can a welcome be complete without offerings?
Offerings made of "Poha" or puffed rice flakes/ beaten rice flakes are his favorites. I made sure to include a savory form of the poha with capsicum, carrot and peas, a sweet Poha with freshly grated coconut and jaggery , and poha with curd and seasonings.

 He is known as "maakhan chor" or the one who steals butter, so I included little cups of butter, curd and milk just to make him feel at home!

varieties of poha..and butter, curd and milk...

ladoo

He is also known as "ladoo-gopal" , I had to treat him to an array of mouth-watering ladoos, that included, Rava ladoo( made of semolina, sugar, coconut and a dash of cardamom), groundnut and jaggery ladoo and besan ka ladoo(made of gram floor, sugar and lots of ghee!)

savouries

After all the sweetness, isn't it just right to add a plateful of savories,like the choicest of "chaklis" and south Indian "murukku, to cater to his palate?

The festive spread, fruits and flowers, the rangolis and songs all make for a beautiful welcome for the lord, who deserves nothing less.

His love is not confined to the pomp and splendour though. A simple offering of a "tulsi" leaf( Indian sacred basil) and handful of raw "poha" with a heart full of "Bhakti" (devotion) and love would make him equally happy!

dahi haandi (image courtesy : google)

In many parts of the country, especially in Mumbai, "Dahi-Haandi" is a popular event, with boys forming a pyramid, piling on top of each other and reach for the pot of curds hung high on a rope.

Dahi Handi though portrays the playful and adoringly mischievous attitude of Krishna, it also carries a profound philosophy behind it. The pot is the ego or the sense of the body mind identification that dangles in the grasp of Samsara ( the universe). The butter or Dahi which forms the content is embodied as the essence, or the being. The Lord breaks the pot or the ego to release the content from the binding Samsara. His eagerness to savour it reveals the bliss that one enjoys on realising the true essence or the true self.






Krishna, is joy, he is celebration, he is love, he is devotion, he is consciousness, he is perfection, he is spiritual energy, he is totality. And I know that when I surrender to him, he takes care of everything.

Jai Sri Krishna!

Master Stroke!

A drawing by my elder one on the occasion of "Love Birds" organised by South Central cultural  Zone in Nagpur.

(Thought I'll do a writeup, but I guess some pictures say it all!)

The blue butterfly

Story telling sessions with my children are one of my favorite ways of spending quality time together. It often gives me an insight into not only how creative and imaginative kids can be but also can convey subtle messages without being preachy. During one such session, it was my elder one’s turn to narrate a story.  My younger one and I listened with rapt attention to his tale. I must confess, it was so captivating, that it transported me to my own childhood! I will narrate it as he did without making any changes to his original story. I hope I do justice to his tale.

In a beautiful jungle there was a school. A lion was the teacher in the school and he had three students, a giraffe, an elephant, and a peacock. One day the lion decided that he would hold a fancy dress competition and the winner would get a prize and lots of gifts. As the students were walking back home, the giraffe and the peacock started arguing.

“I am the best, look at all the beautiful brown mosaic on my yellow body. I do not even have to make an effort to dress up”, said the giraffe.

“Have you seen how beautiful are my feathers? It has to only rain, and they fan out into the most amazing colours you would have ever seen. I am the best”, argued the peacock.

The elephant who was listening felt very sad. He had a grey body which was very wrinkly, nothing to be very proud of. He was wondering if he should go to school the next day or stay at home. The elephant reached home and sat under his big banyan tree with tears in his eyes.

“Oh god, why didn’t you make me beautiful like my friends?” he cried.

Just then his friend, a little blue butterfly came and sat on his trunk.

“Why are you sad, my friend?” she asked.

The elephant told her the whole story.

“But I think you are the best. Nobody can work as hard as you or lift heavy loads. Nobody has a memory like you. Don’t be sad.” She tried to cheer him up.

“I don’t want to go to school tomorrow. My friends will make fun of me”, he said.

“I think participating is more important than winning. So you should go to school”, she told him.

The next day the elephant walked to school with a heavy heart. As he reached school, he saw lots of other animals from different schools who had come to participate in the competition. He felt even more upset. There were so many beautifully dressed animals.

“They must be laughing at me,” he thought as he saw everybody stare at him as he walked up on the stage. He wanted to run home before the results were announced.

As the competition ended, the lion announced the results.

“And the first prize goes to Master. Elephant.”

There was a huge round of clapping and the elephant was overjoyed.

“We have never seen such an innovative dress, elephant,” the lion said, “here’s your trophy.”

As the elephant collected his trophy, his eyes fell on a mirror near the stage. He looked blue! How did his colour change from grey to blue? He looked really beautiful. Did someone apply paint on him? Suddenly he realized his body was completely covered by thousands of blue butterflies that made him look so pretty. His friend, the little blue butterfly had gotten all her friends to sit on the elephant and cover him completely. Such a sweet gesture it was! He was glad she was his friend.

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image coutesy: google