October 25, 2011

Fireflies


When I wait for you in those lonesome nights,
When the sun doesn’t shine ever so bright,
When the moonlight hides somewhere in the skies,
Hope floats in just like fireflies.

When sleep would sulk and eyes sink,
When pillows would fight and dreams shrink,
When the sheets wouldn’t flutter in the skies,
Tears would watch those fireflies.


I ride on horses with flying wings,
And fly away with the melancholy swings,
In a dreamer's dreams,and touch doesn't lie,
Floating with the fireflies.

Like the bed-sheet sails, and the wooden box,
The jungle trails,and the lonely rocks.
Like swaying trees,and the caressing breeze,
Dew drops on grass and fireflies tease.

The night’s gone and the dawn is near,
My dreams are over, and the reality is clear.
Mornings never show the day,
But come darkness again,fireflies will light my way.






Gyanban Thoughts - hope is just like fireflies isnt it? In the darkness of life,when we have no hope, somewhere there are those beautiful fireflies reminding us of the impending light.
These few lines are dedicated to hope and positivity in spite of all odds, because I believe hope and positivity can be  mutually exclusive.
image courtesy: here.

October 19, 2011

Children, Special Children


For those who no one kissed,
For those who no one fed,
For those who no one cared,
There is a friend.

For those who never saw the sun,
For those who never had fun,
For those who never heard a chirp,
For those who never had a burrp,
There is a friend.

Children, special children
Your garden of hope is not barren.
There is a friend, my friend,
The ones you can count on and depend.
One of them is reading this,
And the other, above allof us.











Gyanban Thoughts - When was the last time you actually took a day out of your life and spent some time with special child? No I am not talking about donating money,food or clothes - though that is good, but we tend to use them as a redemption mechanism - I-am-doing-my-bit - syndrome.! What else can I do ?
Well for starters ,you can spend a few hours with them talking,listening,playing.Infact even if you do nothing just be there,it will redefine the way you lead your life.

Dont stop yourself.Go ahead and be a friend.






image courtesy : here

October 17, 2011

Personnalités



A conventional Punjabi beauty, long waist length hair, big eyes, tender lips and a smile which set a few hearts aflutter even now.Today would have been just like any other Friday had it not been for one appointment on the diary. The name Wing Commander Ajaybir Thakore made her distinctly uncomfortable. It was a name she was familiar with 7 years ago.


Dr.Rishima Singh had her task cut out. She was nervous, tensed and anxious – exactly the traits she had mastered to overcome during her extensive trainings. She was a practicing psychologist and the best in class. At 35,she had earned herself a financial freedom, a peer respect and a fan following.



She checked her outlook calendar again – her 2PM status showed as busy.

The churning in her stomach was fighting a battle to show up on her face. But she fought hard. She had always been a fighter. She sat back in the deck chair of her very modern, yet minimalist-design office. Very chic and comfortable and saw the clock tick-tock.

The dangling clock chimed 1.30PM. She chided herself to remain calm and relaxed.She sat back on her recliner.


‘Good afternoon Dr.Singh – This is Wing Commander Ajaybir Thakore, may I come in’ echoed a calm baritone behind the half open door. At 6 feet 2 inches Ajaybir or “AVIATHAKOR” as he was affectionately called,waited patiently outside the door. Typical Rajput looks, sharp nose, deep eyes, short crew cut hair and a pointed, well-trimmed moustache. Dressed in formal black trousers, impeccable white shirt and the tinge of green from the perfect shave completed the package.

Her heart was pounding, pulse racing, lips quivering as she got up to open the door. For a moment time stood still. The atmosphere was electric.

A smile found it ‘s way to her lips as she gingerly opened the door. The familiar Polo Green perfume by Ralph Lauren forced its way into the room ahead of its master. Gently caressing down her nape, then engulfing her around the shoulders.

‘Hello – please come in’ she said softly. A softness that lay buried under the rocks of heartbreaks, tears and many years. They sat in silence, the only noise came from the cup and saucer parting their lips and resting on the table.


The trapped chemistry was yearning to break-free. In fact as their eyes met, it seemed to come back with a vengeance. She felt warm and flushed inside. She even let out a nervous chuckle realizing how silly she was behaving.




Wing Commander Ajaybir finally broke the ice.

‘How have you been?’

There was no response from her.

‘I was visiting Gurgaon…’ he paused. She looked up.

‘For the last time – am going to relocate to Canada’ he continued.

Her eyelashes strained to ask a question.

‘Yes I’m leaving the air force’.

‘Am here till Sunday night – my flight is at 0200 hrs. Monday morning.’

She lowered her eyes again.

‘Won’t you talk to me Ri?’ There was a distinct softness in the baritone.

She nodded mischiveously with a suppressed smile.

‘Don’t tease me’ he said.

He got up from the chair and kneeled beside her. Rishima was taken aback, but she managed not to show it. She was breathing heavily now.

His face came closer to hers. She could feel his breath on her cheeks. His fingers gently removed the tresses off her forehead, then circled behind her ears and stopped just before the edge of her lips.

His index finger glided back to her ears, this time taking a different route, came down her nape on to her shoulder and rested it on her arms. Every single shackle of tradition, work ethic, emotion was breaking down in her.

The long leather couch became the perfect conduit. The forces of restraint broke down finally. Passionate, intense and deep. The deep kiss would only break to gasp for breath; the moan would only escape to embrace the erupting passion. They made love.

Serenity often presents itself in the most odd places; in this case it was the leather couch! Calmness returned after the storm.

‘Come with me’ he whispered in her ears.


‘We’ll make our dream come true – in a far away land – away from the madness of people, society, rules and customs. Just you and me.’ He stopped.


He lifted her face from his bare chest and looked into her eyes. She looked up and said nothing, but her eyes conveyed a thousand emotions.

Ri – I am serious– come with me’.He pleaded.

‘If I don’t get your answer by Sunday night – I’ll know.’

She never got back to him on that Sunday, seven years ago.



Just then the intercom speakerphone announced chirpily –“Dr.Singh – your 2 o’clock appointment is here. There was a distant ring in herhead. She opened her eyes to see the intercom indicator blinking.

She got up from the recliner chair.It was fuzzy at first and then it became clear.




‘Thank you Nandini – ask him to wait outside - I will be there in a minute -and take the day off Nandini'.



‘Really? Thank you and have a great weekend’ Nandini gleefuly hung up the phone.



Ri arched back into the chair, with raised arms over her head - she played with her silken hair, just like she did before every conquest.

She lit a cigarette and thought about it once more.


‘Hmm – Damn,I should have told him earlier.I think I lost a chance to secure some repeat business' - Ri inhaled the smoke deep into her lungs.

'I should have told him about his brother’s child in my womb ,7 years back !' she sighed letting out a smoke ring.

'Imagine all the money I would have made dealing with that mental wreck.'

'A solemn duty for a professional psychologist.-- isn't it .......Ms.gullible Ri-shi-ma darling?’ Ri taunted.

Rishima chose not to respond as usual.

'Maybe it's time I ensure it' Ri went and opened the door.















Gyanban Thoughts - This fiction short story is about characters with alter ego. In this case Ri was Rishima's aggressive alternate personality.This is also known as DID.This story had multiple possible endings - tragic,ironic,jubilation,sacrifice - but after trying out 5 different endings I felt the dark personality disorder ending the most suited. I'd be glad to know if any of the readers would've liked a different ending - feel free to submit your version in the comment box - would love to see some new ideas.




Dissociative identity disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis and describes a condition in which a person displays multiple distinct identities (known as alters or parts), each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment.Individuals diagnosed with DID demonstrate a variety of symptoms with wide fluctuations across time; functioning can vary from severe impairment in daily functioning to normal or high abilities. Symptoms can include:[11]

  • Multiple mannerisms, attitudes and beliefs which are not similar to each other
  • Unexplainable headaches and other body pains
  • Distortion or loss of subjective time
  • Depersonalization
  • Derealization
  • Severe memory loss
  • Depression
  • Flashbacks of abuse/trauma
  • Sudden anger without a justified cause
  • Frequent panic/anxiety attacks
  • Unexplainable phobias
  • Auditory of the parts inside their mind


Information Courtesy :here.




image courtesy : here

October 13, 2011

Windows Widow

The window on the second floor classy studio apartment was the only witness.


Jenny looked on morosely out of the opposite window.


Her abusive drunkard husband created yet another ruckus on the street below.


She could hear him scream deliriously "Believe me you bastards"


Another night of drama , rage and dried up tears awaited.


Just then a reckless driver screeched past her husband's right arm...


The look of shock lasted till the passing eyewitness captured her face.


It was amazing how it worked every time.


Widow Jenny D'Souza planned her Swiss vacation and Valentino,would buy a new car.



The window on the second floor classy studio apartment was the only witness.


Officer Joe Maloney,Jenny's first victim had finally found reason to live again.









Gyanban Thoughts - This quirky thriller is based on a double twist theory. In the world of crime nothing can be taken for granted,no stereotypes
can be formed,everything can be questioned.Sometimes what we see is not what actually happens in reality.


Image courtesy: here

October 5, 2011

Blip


‘I am feeling cold – hold me tight’

‘It’s ok darling, I am there with you’

‘But why are we leaving them behind?’

‘They will follow, but we have to go now’

‘Wait , I can see something familiar..’

‘Isn’t that you and me lying on the ground?’

The Flight Data Recoder ended after that. Blip.





Gyanban Thoughts - This micro fiction was inspired by air crash investigation episodes on Nat Geo. There are two types FDR - flight data recorder and the CVR -cockpit voice recorder. This story is based on the visualization that what if there was a passenger voice recorder as well ? Sometimes when death is near,people have reportedly foreseen it before the actual experience...imagine listening to that conversation. The title blip was so fitting as it leaves for many interpretations, one of them being a spike - perhaps in reality!

Sands of time

The scorching sun follows me Hot dunes burn my feet I know you are waiting for me As I leave the last oasis. A grain of sand tears my skin T...