"Praana"

Sometimes,we are misled; we become indecisive, weak and also think of something very unpleasant. We fail to prioritize and forget the importance of our life. Well, we all know something that touches the peak has to fall down as you can never reverse the law of gravitation. We all make wrong decisions in life, but fail to learn from our own mistakes and experiences.

What else is important than our lives. Just with a little attention towards it I am sure each one of us will have a lovely story to weave and narrate to the next generation or may be something that you can sit back and have a super memory-ride when our skin ages.

Oh god, "What is all this?????"I am really tired of being a slave. I am disgusted of this life, I hate it, I want to just quit. A life without her is worthless and gives me no meaning; I shall die screamed Anurag with tears rolling down through his cheeks."

Anurag had lost his girl-friend and was depressed about the entire episode of his break-up; he kept rewinding the day of fights and exchange of abuses which made him further more disgusted. He still remembered the day and the moment when Amita had walked up to him with a red rose and the smile she carried on her lips with her cheeks turning red as she approached to propose to him. Amita and Anurag worked in the same team in an IT organization; they sat two cubicles apart. Amita deliberately hovered around Anurag every time she had a chance and looked straight into his eyes with a smile on her face. Her eyes gleamed and ears turned red when she heard Anurag’s name. Everyone in the team considered Anurag to be the most handsome physically and intellectually and it motivated Amita even more to get into a relationship with him. Everything went well over the couple of years until the last month’s argument about a trivial matter which brought them to part their ways.

Anurag was miserable, after he had lost his two years of relationship with Amita. It was 11:00 pm in the night; Anurag was still at office with tears filled in his eyes, his head heavy lying on the desk. He had wept silently for hours together ever since Amita had left him, he was lost in the thoughts and it was too late for him to get back home, he tried to stand up from his place but sat crashing, he felt dizzy. He sat for the next one hour thinking about the lost love and the situation of his helplessness and the turmoil he had gone through was enormous, his life had altogether taken a different path, left him insane.

He hurriedly reached to the pen on the desk, grabbed a sheet of plain white paper; his mind went blank. He had not had a proper good night’s sleep for a month now and the issue had blown out of proportion affecting both personal and professional life. His brain had stopped reasoning; rational thinking was had disappeared completely; with the emotions taking control over his reasoning powers he had reached his wit’s end to attain a state of peace. He closed his eyes and rested his heavy head the desk thinking what to write on the sheet of paper. He was thinking if he should say the entire story about his love or just a liner, “I am going to die”, when he heard a loud noise from the pantry. He took a jolt; he reluctantly got up from his chair and walked towards the direction of the sound waves and his heart skipped a beat  he appeared close to the door.

"I am annoyed with your behavior”, screamed the lady, with a mischievous smile on her face.

She immediately gazed at Anurag and winked at him.

"Hi Anurag, how are you?” the lady spoke to him in a sweet voice. You must be wondering who I am, Aren’t you? She teased him.

“Thank God! One last time I am fortunate to savor a cup coffee with you, said the lady". Anurag was dumb-founded, but her charm kept him awake and he longed for her love and care with his brain making the rest of the thinking.

"Hey there, prepare a cup of coffee immediately for Anurag", demanded the lady.

Well, I am Praana, said the lady with her hand held forward; Anurag stretched his hand and he was enthralled by her touch, and he could not wait anymore to embrace her. Anurag took his cup of coffee and waited Praana to follow him. He looked at her but she was busy sipping her coffee talking to the pantry boy, Anurag felt ignored and he started to walk towards the elevator.

Praana shouted, "Hey, Anurag Why are you rushing?” wait for me we have to go together; I am not the one abandoning you she said with her smile still on. Anurag was baffled; he still continued to walk with Praana following him. His heart was having a jolly ride as she came closer to him. He walked with joy and he felt that this was the most amazing time of his lifetime; he could not take his eyes off her. He just longed for another touch but she had moved quite far away from him.

They reached the gate, Anurag looked at Praana, he opened his mouth, and Praana came closer to him and grabbed him towards her by his hands. She looked straight into his eyes. Her sight was radiant; Anurag was losing to the power of her glowing eyes. He failed miserably to avoid a direct eye-contact She came much closer to him than earlier, locked him in her arms, her lips almost touching his, happiness started to flow in Anurag's body and mind, he embraced her and went close to her but she drew herself back immediately and stood away from Anurag, "See how much you love me, Anurag", she winked.

Anurag was speechless. Praana said, "Life is full of opportunities, it is surrounded by beautiful things and it is independent of anyone. You cannot decide to kill yourself just for one bad instance that has occurred. Life is very precious. You get it only once, be wise enough not to ruin it for someone else. It is as wonderful as I am, “I know you love me a lot.”Do not think of committing suicide, you are brave, good-hearted man, you will definitely find another companion". She looked at him, her lips ornamented with the most beautiful smile Anurag had ever witnessed.

Anurag was surprised, his curiosity arose, and he ran after Praana, he screamed at her, "Hey who are you?" Praana, smiled at him, "I am YOURS" she screamed while she disappeared in the darkness.

Trin, trin...... "Hello Anurag, it is 2:00 am; are you staying back at office even today?" cried a voice from the other end. Ahh! Yes mom, I am on the way; should be home in sometime said Anurag and disconnected the call.

He said, "Praana my darling", you are my beloved and I shall never let you die, you are the most beautiful thing happened to me.... I shall definitely take care of you".

He smiled and drove back happily.

Our life is the most important and the beautiful thing ever happened to us. As the saying goes, "Your life feels different on you, once you greet death and understand your heart's position. You wear your life like a garment from the mission bundle sale ever after - lightly because you realize you never paid nothing for it, cherishing because you know you won't ever come by such a bargain again. Saying “Love you” to Praana, I am signing-off with a lovely smile on my face and I hope it leaves an impression on you as well.

Dreams do come true - Ruby

It was the month of November; a season when the cold breeze brings everyone closer to their woolen clothes and jackets, hot soups and pakoras calling to taste them. Sitting beside the window reading a novel with a hot mug of coffee and with the warmth of a woolen jacket makes anybody experience being on the ninth cloud with fairies singing and harp being played with the song of their choice. 

Heart desired to get a power-nap; I closed my eyes and I never realized how fast i fell asleep. I could hear someone honking madly  in front of the gate and Amma ran to the door leaving her daily chores aside to see who it was. It was my uncle who had come to visit us after a longtime; he was a goldsmith by profession and was not blessed to have a lot of leisure from his work; he had an unusual grin on his face when he got down from his vehicle and was about to park it next to my neighbor's house, amma rushed to him and  instructed him to park the vehicle in front of our gate and not elsewhere as we were pretty new to the locality and had not got acquainted with the neighbors. Uncle did as Amma instructed and walked inside, he carried a big cane basket with a lid covered on top of it and kept it beside him when he sat on one of the chairs in the living-room. 

Amma went inside to brew some hot tea and complete her undone chores while she continued to talk to Uncle about his family and suddenly the entire house went silent, I suddenly opened my eyes to realise that I was in my dreamland all this while when I saw a tiny ball of snow standing in front of me with it's tongue sticking out. I jumped on the bed rubbing my eyes to register what that tiny little thing standing in front of me was. I opened my eyes wide with my jaws dropping down and had a hearty laughter, it was a white little pup that stood in front of me wagging his tiny tail; he seemed to be as happy as I was to see him. I screamed my guts out with happiness but did not dare touch the snow ball standing in front of me, I shouted for Amma and my voice echoed till the next lane to show what I was seeing and Amma's face had lightened up seeing my happiness looking at the pup. 

Amma it's my dream come true, I screamed. I got down from the bed, picked up the cute little ball of snow, wrapped him in my arms and hugged him. I would not let him down. I started explaining about the power-nap story and how I had a dream of Uncle honking madly and Amma continued the rest of the story flawlessly; I was amazed to see how Amma narrated everything that I was watching while I slept. She teased me saying that she was my mum and she was older to me by 30 years. 

I laughed and still kept wondering how this little fellow sneaked into to my house while I was asleep till I saw the cane basket with a lid hidden under my bed. My happiness knew no bounds, I could now relate to the story which Amma narrated with the dream that I had. He was my long awaited birthday gift, he was as precious as a gem, as beautiful as the waiting was , we called him RUBY.