My prize  winning entry on the topic :

Feeling of getting lost in a book...

A word here, a word there

Ocean of feelings here surround,

Under the roof of cheers and walls of tears

I sit here on alphabets ground..

There are no worries and no anxiety

Only satiety and bliss are here found

Neither workplaces' hustle nor worldly troubles

There is only peace here around...

Some times in your journey of reading

YOu become friends with harry and his magical wand

And sometimes you discover the new moon

In the mysterious vampires' land...

A hand then can be felt

Of a lover consoling her love

Or you may find yourself sweating

Because of wars in meluha at hilltop above.

Some times amidst hardest times of your life

You find in Robbin Sharma a helping hand,

Amazing is this world and unique are its ways

Only a bibliophile discovers the treasures of literature's land

You disconnect with this world

In the virtual world you are no more found

You become the character you read

And the landscape described runs in your mind around..

You learn, you discover

lots more than the experiences can teach you

Life, they say, is the greatest teacher

But for me, my books, my greatest teacher are you 

Each time I end a book

I feel empty as when soul leaves torso

Gifting me with lessons cheers and tears

They show me seven shades of life's rainbow..

No! Dont ask me the feeling

Of getting lost in a book,

For the one who experiences can never define it in words

And others see bibliophile simply as a nerd or crook

A man who taught the common man to dream again...

Seven years back in 2006, when a 38 year old short-statured man with mike in his hand, confidence on his face and lion-roar in his voice stood in Delhi for bringing and implementing Right to information, no one ever thought this was a person who would rewrite politics of India. To political classes he was just a small middle class man who had no appellation and no caliber. He was one of those 1.21 billions who had forgotten that even they had an opinion and a voice. And so like filth on roadside he was ignored!

He came back in 2011. On 5 April 2011 when Anna Hazare began his Indefinite Fast at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to demand the drafting of a stronger anti-corruption bill- the Jan Lokpal Bill, in support he stood there… This times a little more strong, a little more bright and roaring a bit more. When he roared from that stage, the world witnessed the stalwart leader in him. He spoke his heart out and touched the souls buried deep down in a common man. He awakened the common man and thus for the very first time in India common man was on roads. This created a hustle in political classes. The mum citizens now discovered that even they had a tongue to speak and arms to revolt. A wave of change was spreading in the nation. This was unacceptable!!! Unacceptable to those in power, to those who believed that power was right of only a few hands in the nation. They wanted the common man to remain lame, to remain powerless… This revolt was disrespect to them and to the dynasty rule and so they oppressed it, thinking there after no common man would dare to stand and speak up again…

Yes he cried that day!!! The common man cried seeing his stature in this democratic nation! He realized his worth was nothing in this system. He had to vote willy-nilly to a political leader to keep the democracy run and elect a leader who would remember him just before the elections and will oppress him like a tyrant once the power comes in his hand. He was shattered. He mourned on his helplessness…

But then his patience broke and he said--- No More!!!

He decided to make his tears his power… He let them flow because he knew the flood of the tears of his eyes was destined to flush out the dirt of the system all together…

‘To clean Mud you first have to enter in it…’He was taught in his childhood… Today he knew what this statement meant… And thus started the journey with the broom… Only difference today was—this broom was not to clean the verandah of his house but to clean the nation. He was not an anarchist but a re-constructor. He did not aim to create higgledy-piggledy to break down democracy but he wanted to bring the wave of change for a better future. He was the one this land had been waiting for- Some one who would not compromise in the system which asks you to compromise at each step.

Every one underestimated him but he was determined. He believed in his might . He believed in his sweat drops. He knew the hearts of his fellow citizens were equally traumatized as his. He made those broken hearts stronger; those helpless hands fight one more round, those tearing eye dream again… And so he stood there proudly—with Twenty eight seats in his pocket, smiling brightly at Delhi!

Ek akele Aadmi se kya badlega? I had been hearing this since childhood. This man was an answer to this apothegm. He showed what the power of an individual determined to bring a change can result in. He changed my perspective and also of the entire nation. He showed in the messiest play of politics a common man can bloom like a lotus, that money and might both were just not sufficient to suppress his Everest resolve.

This man will be cherished in the history- not because he has changed the picture of entire political system, not because he stood against corruption, not because he was an intellectual IITian who left his white collared job to enter dirty politics; But because he made common man dream again, he made a common man realize his power. From now on, “Don’t underestimate the power of a common man’ would not simply be an avowal from a Bollywood blockbuster but this statement will stand as a gospel truth.. Thanks to Mr. Kejriwal


NOTE: This article was written when Kejriwal initially came in power. Over the time he has proven his political motives and has worked opposite to what he claimed. He is a major disappointment of present times. He came with promise of good governance and cleaning politics and on the contrary, he has taken politics to a new low in India. Partnering with (as he claimed) most corrupt party of India, to shouting out names of corrupt politicians but not acting upon them when he had powers, supporting anti- India campaigns to even speaking against Indian army. This man is a total Shame! And has weakened the morals of people who came on roads to support the 'Jan andolan'. May India rise above the frauds like these and keep giving births to greats like Maharana Pratap, Shivaji, Shastri Ji, Atal Ji and Modi Ji...

A Relation so strange...

“There comes a time in life of each individual when everything around seems so bleak, when the rays refuse to enlighten your doors, when the moon light is obscured by eclipse and when even stars refuse to twinkle. This is the time you crave for being architect of your own life. This is when you start finding for some option, some shade which keeps you away from the harsh heat of the bitter truth. This shade then achieves ‘ambrosia’s supremacy’ -- Something which is eternal, something which is pious, something which is above all something called Love…”

A new story each day… My life is really dramatic… Each day something new happens… But this one’s something that I had never expected to happen but  I am enjoying it at this moment… I don’t know where this is gonna take me but sometimes  in life it’s not about right or wrong, it’s just about doing….  And so is the thing with me…

This is me Briana D’ Souza and this is my story…

I was a happy girl believing in today, Living it now… In small duration of life, mere twenty years, I had seen lots of ups and downs, victories and defeats, poverty as well as wealth… Others who suffer the pain complain of it but I treasured what life gave me whether good or bad… I believed in experiencing all the shades of life and so I even enjoyed the pain… I was someone who believed in experimenting… I had danced, I had sang, I had acted. I did all that could be done…  But writing remained my favorite job…

It was my writing that made me meet this person—Jai…

Ten-Five-Twelve… 

I still remember… This was the date I first encountered this person on facebook…

He had read one of my articles and sent me friend request and a message—“ I loved your article…You are a wonderful writer…” And I humbly accepted his appreciation with words ‘thank you’…

“Hey was sup gal???”

“I am fine you say…”

“Me too…  How’s your college? How’s your life??? Your hobbies??? Your interests???”

This is how it started…

Initially with formal talks and then later little flirting like typical college going students…

But there was something which attracted us towards each other as the days passed. Now we started chatting with each other for long hours, phone numbers were exchanged. Though we knew nothing about each other but still our days started greeting ‘Happy Morning’ to each other and nights started discussing what all happened the whole day. If there was nothing to discuss we discussed just the weather. I enjoyed his company and he mine. A strange sense of closeness bonded us. He confessed all the good and bad of his life to me and I did the same with him as if we were responsible to no one else except each other. We had never seen each other except for pictures on facebook, we had not heard each other’s voice, we knew nothing about each other but still there was something which dwelled between us  as gospel truth- something which is called trust—trust between the strangers…

We both were moving ahead in our lives, on two distant roads which we knew would never converge but still we were together…  Promises were made which we knew would never be fulfilled but still we believed they would never be broken, love was made, kisses were exchanged, the feeling of closeness without slightest touch was felt. This was strange, strange to experience and strange for others to understand but some real magic was going between both of us.

Twenty nine- Six- Twelve

I had been complaining my mother about pain in my leg since last two months, I was attending physiotherapy but there was no improvement… On twenty ninth suddenly today while walking my knee got locked up and the very moment I fell on the ground and lost consciousness for a while.

I was taken to a hospital. On examination doctor found a lump on my left lower limb just below my waist.

There was nothing to worry, I was told by my doctor but to reassure they said I had to undergo few investigations.

Next day I was taken to a hospital. There I came to know the lump on my lower limb was suspected to be cancerous.

Meanwhile the things continued the same way between me and jai…

‘I love you’ He texted me while I was waiting in the hospital. And forgetting all about cancer my lips flowered with a smile and I replied ‘I love you too…’  

He inquired ‘Really”

And I said ‘of course not.. Lol..’

“You know you have become an inevitable art of my life… Where ever life takes us, you be with me till my death…” He said…
“Always by your side, my stranger yet know buddy…” 

“Even if I am a stranger I am not a cheater, I would never hurt you, would never take advantage of any situation, would never ditch, would never betray…”His words filled my heart but it was time to go for the test so all I could tell him was—“I trust you.”

Three- Four days later my reports came… Ewing’s Sarcoma read the report… I was told I will have to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy and within a few days I would be able to be back to the routine, back to college…

I started with my treatment… Within a  few  days I lost weight of about 10 kgs, Now carrying out the routine tasks also became difficult for me, , eyebrows fell, hairs fell, I was afraid of seeing myself in mirror, eating became difficult, drinking became difficult. Now my routine included lying on bed the whole day. During this period when all others treated me with sympathy which I hated, it was only Jai who talked to me normally, of course because I never told him I had cancer… Talking to him was my only resort to escape from the pity and miseries…

I was just back from my radiation therapy visits when one day my phone beeped—it was Jai, initially with hellos and all… Then he started—"I wish to kiss you now…" I was in pain after the radiations so I just replied- "I am a little occupied at this moment, I will talk to you later… But he continued – “I wish to get high with you now.”  To this I did not reply. But he kept messaging me continuously. Now I was really agitated—“You want me to be with you for this? When I said I am occupied don't you understand there must be something really bothersome so I am not talking. Why it has to go as and when you want. Why can't you be a little considerate ever?”

Jai knew he had crossed his limits and so he apologized multiple times but I was in no mood to talk to him then and so I did not reply at all…

I did not talk to him though but I was really missing him… I was thinking of him all day—

“Jai, don’t know why you had an entry written in my life… God knows why you barged in my life… You are really bad. Someone whom I would have hated to talk, someone I would have never thought of holding close. But you entered my life in the time I was all alone and gifted me with a half moon on my face when all the pleasures turned their back. ’Sweety’, ‘Baby’ ‘Hotty’ ‘Buddy-babes’ Am I a fool to fall for a guy just because he calls me with these names??? Just because he makes false promises that he would quench me with everything, even when I know these are mere words and not the real promises??? Just because he sees me beautiful and makes me feel delicately beautiful??? Why it is that mere texting with him makes me feel he is there right on my side??? Why is it that rather than abusing him I laugh on his silly naughty talks … He is no one but still he means a lot to me. He is not at all a person I’ll go for but also someone I cannot leave. And, and I don’t know for what reasons… Sometimes some relations in life are really obscure. You know the truth about them but still they remain complete puzzle for you…  This is one of those relations between you and me...”

The next day I started talking to him again…Simply because living without him was absolutely an egregious feeling for me now...

Things were going smooth…. It was 6 months from the date I was first diagnosed with cancer. I was in the hospital. Doctor after seeing my reports talked something to my dad and when my dad entered the room his eyes were full of tears… I could not understand why…

“Daddy, I’ll be fine.” I told him but on hearing this, his eyes rained even more… I had to be strong when my hardcore daddy was becoming weak… I myself wiped his tears. I could not dare to pour even a single teardrop out of my eyes.

Next few days my chemotherapy and radiotherapy were stopped. I was simply on medicines which I knew were meant to make my journey to deathbed comfortable.

I had last few days may be-- a month or even less, I knew… I had to utilize these moments. I left no opportunity to tell my mommy—“Mom you are the best mom in the world… If I have a second birth I would have it as your daughter…”

I told my daddy—“Daddy, you don’t need to blame yourself for this. You tried your best but everything ahead lies in destiny’s will. You are my super hero, Dad… You have been the most wonderful person of my life. You are my ideal… I want a promise from you -- Don’t break after I go and don’t let mom cry… You two have given me all pleasures of life and I am really thankful to have you as my parents… I really, really love you a lot…”

After my mom dad, I was left to thank a person who had been a constant support in my journey, who helped me in infinite ways to stay away from the pain of impending death yet who didn’t even know that my stay on the earth was only a few days more. Yes, Jai it was… I had to do something for him… He had gifted me with pleasures in my last days so I didn’t want to gift him with pain of my death…

What then??? I kept thinking… Finally I decided. The other day I myself started a fight with him on a silly matter and made the fight grow huge. I abused him, called him a cheat, an asshole…  I presented myself very bad in his vision so that he could start hating me and would never turn back to me again… After our conversation ended I blocked him on my face book…  I destroyed my sim card… I left him with no option to get to know about me… 

While my eyes were flooding I myself closed all the doors between me and him. Yes it did hurt me, hurt me even more than him but I knew it was the best option I had… I knew he would get angry when he would think of me, he would abuse me, he would curse me for defying but atleast he would not lament. Those few tears of his eyes that I could stop would be my biggest gain when I leave this land…

Twenty eight – One – Thirteen…

Its mid night… My breaths are growing heavy… May be these are my last few hours on earth. So before my arms become powerless, my eyelids drop and my breaths and beats retire from their job, with my whole heart and all my powers I am scribbling last few words for the most special person of my life – Jai , to tell you, Thank you for what you have been to me… I was never a defiant my love, I was never a cheat, I really loved you from the bottom of my heart… It was a fairy tale which was going between you and me but like all other fairy tales even this had to have an end. Unfortunately destiny had a sad end written for this one. You were the most beautiful person of my life. We never saw each other, never met, and never even heard each other’s voice but still we shared a blissful relation so strange... You always demanded – write a love poem for me and I used to say – I will, when the right time comes…Today I confess my life in itself became so poetical ever since I met you that I could never dare to put those feelings in words. But before I leave this land, here it is for you my love – My last poem—

Endless love…

Hearts are created in pairs they say,

Each one finds its match some day.

Smiling in concordance I dreamt the same each day,

But for world my lips always had - a loud pretentious Nay!!!

I had my dreams, my goals to turn true,
My heart thus had no time to let love brew.
I myself encaged it in an inaccessible tough outer me,
So deep that its flurry even I could never see.

But then you came in my life,
And every thing started to alter.
This strong confident girl 
Unwillingly started to falter.

I tried to put million veils,
But cupid's arrow pierces all rails.
Even the mighty sun by its hit sets
To meet its love- the ocean, traversing sky's falcate...

No, No ,,, I kept telling
To you and to myself,
But you entered deep I don't know how,
To take over my inner-self.

Now my days start smiling with your thought,
And nights pass dreaming of you on my cot.
Each thing around associates beautifully with you,
May it be mighty sun or pure delicate dew...

Mere few words with you make me feel you are near,
I know you are miles away but you stay in my heart right here.
Now the breeze when swirls whispers your love in my ear,
Warmth of sun comforts me with your thought my dear.

Water when touches my lips
Gently fills me with pleasure of our first kiss,
And the naughty wind when blows my skirt
Makes me push you back with an amorous hiss...

The tear drop on my own cheek
Consoles me as if it were your love-full caress,
My quilt draping me all around
Comforts me as your torrid embrace...

I am filled with pleasure expecting you
Every time that my phone rings,
And your silence robs my breaths and beats
Besieging me with the worries of your wellbeing.

I keep telling- No I'll fall in love with you never!
But a mere thought of being bereft you bewilders me with terror...

No more! I tell to my self 
But each time I turn back to you helplessly,
Why? When? How? I don't know
All I know is- I love you endlessly...
                  ||Sshree||

Seasons- the flavors of life...

Seasons are the most beautiful way by which nature says-- yes I am breathing, I am changing, I am not still, I am just like you – moving for a better tomorrow. 

Sometimes I feel how boring life would have been if there were no seasonal changes. I mean, imagine your dinner plate with only spicy food in it. Boring! Isn’t it? But a mixture of sweet salty sour and spicy makes it scrumptious. Right? Seasons have similar role in our lives. Each season with its different flavor makes a perfect combo. Seasons fight that boredom which our monotonously running lives gift us. 

As a child, each season had its special attributes for me. Summers bought ice-balls and ice-creams but more importantly the vacations. Winters brought long sleep hours in chilly weather, Christmas presents and new year celebration. Autumn brought with it the time for leaf art. I still remember making purses, bags, boats and kites out of the different colored fallen leaves. Springs brought with them flowers and long play hours in wonderful weather. And monsoon blessed us with rain showers. As a child I made use of all my potentials to find some way to get wet in rain without mommy’s scolding. Though cough and cold remained the return gifts after attending the rain party but still I used to 'knowingly' forget my raincoat at home to enjoy those mud-games, football and boat-races in rain.
Each season had its own fun and as a child I crazily longed for each one of them.

As I grew old, my perception about seasons changed drastically. Summers no more filled me with excitement of ice-creams but rather made me bother of sun tan. Games in sun and sweaty tees were extinct from my life; their place was taken by sunscreens and summer coats. Winter was nothing more than getting up anyhow discarding sweet morning sleep to go to work with bulks of winter wears on. Like the poets and thinkers even I started associating leaf shedding autumn as a season of melancholy. Rains distressed me with the thought of water logged lanes and mud around. 

Despite of all the atrocities which my running life caused to my season-love, it could never lessen my love towards spring. Spring – the king of all seasons remained the ruler of my heart as well. The pleasant weather, breeze filled with fragrance, flowers, hues and sweet odor rejuvenated my soul ever since. And I could not stop myself from falling in love with this season each time even more. Spring also notoriously brought out my romantic poetic soul to let my ink spread love through my words. And I loved this ethereal feeling of bliss that spring gifted me with.

Once it rained heavily in my city. The roads were filled with water and to worsen this electric supply of the city crashed. I was out of my home and had no option but to wait for rain to stop. Meanwhile I and my friend Riya, waited under shelter in a shop. While waiting there I started cursing the rain and the mismanagement that ran during monsoon in the city. I told Riya how agitated I felt by the nuisance that monsoon created! While I was in the flow of agitation Riya shot lines of questions on me one by one- How do you feel about winters, and summers and autumn??? And I, in the flow of my bad temper cursed each of the season for the misery it bought… 
Just then Riya saw two kids making boats in candle lights for the boat race in rain water. She then interrupted me and pointed towards them. 
“See there, they are making boats… Let’s join them!” Riya said.
“Oh! Come on, they are kids, we are not! How can we join them?” Saying this I stopped her.

She tried to persuade me a lot but I did not lend her ear. So at last she gave up on her efforts and alone joined the kids.
I first stood away ignoring what Riya and the kids were doing. But seeing them giggle together, I couldn’t stop myself and so I went near them.

“Hey will you join us?” one of the kids inquired me while I was watching them.

Before I could say anything the other kid said, “Come on, it will be fun! We will have a boat race between two teams. Say yes and join us…”

Seeing the enthusiasm that the kids were filled with, I could not refuse and I joined the race.

I and Riya were a team. Now recollecting all the tact of the game that my childhood taught, we designed our boat. And the kids did the same. Then started the race… The boats were set in the water and it was time for- get, set, go…….. 
Boats roved in the water. Initially their boat was ahead. I and Riya were shouting—Come on, go ahead, beat them… Then our boat took over and they were shouting. The tough competition between two boats kept growing more intense and we kept cheering our boats with full passion. At last their boat drowned and our boat managed to win the race. I howled with pleasure on our boat’s victory. I did not realize during the boat race I was all in the rain. My hair were wet, my clothes became muddy, But rather than getting irritated a current of pleasure ran through me. And I was smiling to myself. 

Riya saw me smiling and inquired, “Enjoying na???”

I said, “yes!!! Enjoying a lot…”

“Why?” She asked.

And I was left dumbstruck. I said,”Don’t know! It’s just that I am feeling good!”

Riya smiled at me and continued,"Wait, I will tell you why? It is because you gave the nature a chance to show its beauties. Rather than pursuing your rigid mindset and hateful attitude towards the monsoon, today you lent yourself to the nature, to this rain and see nature gifted you with the bliss it holds in it. Give life a chance, Give seasons a chance. They hold the utmost potential of beauty that god could have gifted this mankind with. Breath with the nature, Sway with the seasons and you will realize what living means…”

Her words struck me deep and since that day I divorced from the rigidity my personality had. I no more curse seasons. 

I appreciate the way autumn turns the earth into colorful leaf laden bride. Autumn for me is no more a sign of death, a sign of oldness. Autumn holds its own beauty. It doesn’t signify melancholy but it depicts change. The way leaves change colors in autumn attracts me and makes me ponder how important it is for one to keep changing with time. Autumn holds in it the secret of rebirth. Unless the old leaves are shed how would new leaflets bud? 

The cool winters fill me with excitement of letting frosty wind embrace my body to gift me with goose bumps all over. I enjoy the mild sun of winters and lay in my bed to enjoy sweet sleep of chilly winter mornings.

Spring makes me crazy about the elegance that nature holds in it. I play with the delicate flowers, sing with birds and romance with my words. Springs are the time when knowingly or unknowingly each soul is refilled with life and dynamism. It fuels up my spirits to work with enthusiasm the year round. 

Yes, I enjoy ice-balls and lemonade in summers now. I love challenging the mighty summer sun so I swim and play games with my neighborhood children. I enjoy mango feast that summer brings with it. Sweaty clothes no more haunt me now and this carefree attitude of mine makes me really happy. 

Now I pause from my running life to let the raindrops tickle over my face. Rains make me feel closest to the nature. I love the way nature kisses me in form of rain. The messed up transportation though annoys me at times but it is not mighty enough to lessen my love towards the wonderful monsoon. The wet soil odor makes me go crazy. This rain magically drags me to my childhood times and brings that notorious kid out of me. 

When questioned- what is my favorite season? Pondering over the answer messed me up-
Winter I said- because I was born then!
No! How can I forget yummy mangoes? Summer it is!
But the inspiring autumn and romantic spring? They do not lag even a bit in this championship of seasons.

I thought and thought, finally the answer showed up-
Yes it is the rainy season that I love the most. Not because of rains, not because of muddy odor and not because of the childishness it holds in it. But because that one rainy day gave me a lesson to live the life in real senses and made me a blissful person...

Slave of Time...

This is the poem which is very very close to my heart... I am a medical student thanks to this poem... This one's straight from my heart and I am sure it will find place in the hearts of my readers as well... Enjoy!!!

A few days before full of courage and power,

I was independent and free and was the master of my desire.

But then things changed beyond the imagination of mine,

My feathers were cut by the demon of time.

I was asked to forget all my hopes and desires,

My wishes were neglected and my dreams were set on fire.

I became the puppet of time,

I got what it gave but nothing was mine.

I laughed on its orders and sighed when it said,

I followed its orders like a humble maid.

Pleased with my services, it gave me all luxuries,

It smiled at me and freed me from my miseries.

It laughed loudly and majestically proclaimed,

“Time ruins you to give pleasures more than you have dreamt.”

It smiled and it said- “Now go my lass,

The thorns of your life have been converted in green grass.

Pleasures will welcome you in each turn of life,

You will bath in gold and you will be free from your strife.”

I went ahead on my way

For a while it felt good.

I enjoyed the bright day,

And tried to be as happy as I could.

But inspite of all this my heart never sang,

It lay bare without pleasure the bell of fun never rang…

I went again in the court of time,

To ask for true justice.

I quarreled with the culprit of mine,

To win my inner-self’s peace.

Time proudly said- I have given you all,

Money, fame and leisure.

Tell me then the reason to call,

The king of destiny an offender?

I said to it your majesty I agree,

You gave me all things of virtual pleasure.

But tell me my lord from where should I get

The key of my innerself’s treasure?

Each day I bath in gold and spend nights in dollar’s cot,

But how should I make my numb heart sing, Tell me oh my lord!

I remember the day my dreams where burnt,

Was the last day when my heart cried.

And since that day I am dying to listen

My hearts humble voice…

I worked hard to keep up in this race of time,

I ignored my heart and even its mime.

I was made to forget my dreams my lord,

So inspite of luxuries I am lying on bed of sword.

Ashes of my aspires ruin me each day,

I do not complain but have only one thing to say.

That even though they may not fruit as sown,

But dreams are the one which are one’s own.

They may not generate as much money and name,

But they give an eternal satisfaction greater than any fame.

Once you are caught in time’s web then,

You would be left trembling in its den.

Break the chain of time once and see,

Free from its captivation you will feel happy and free…

You would fly in the sky of freedom

Listening to your heart is the real wisdom.

Even dry bread and floor is great treasure,

When you do the job of your own pleasure.

Fame and Name are the shadows of time ,

They will leave you once you are left by time.

So listen carefully to the advice of mine,

Go with your heart and Never be the slave of time…