CHANTINGS OF THE HEART

" Aurat jaat ki sundarta uski rang main hoti hain ." (The beauty of a woman is judged just by her skintone) said Ram Avtar - the village head of Mukundpur even as Ramla and Mukesh were crying and seeking help. Ramla was weeping and amidst sobs muttered, " Uski kya galti thi?" "Daswi pass hain meri beti." "Kya hua agar sawli hain toh?" "Woh ladka toh teesri class tak padha." Yesterday was the most important day in Saroj's life- that's what pot-bellied Mukesh and his malnourished wife Ramla felt.  Ramla's brothers Kanu and Amritlal and their wives had made all the arrangements. They decorated the courtyard with mango leaves and flowers. A beautiful Rangoli was made at the centre and chairs were set under the shamiyana  ( a tent like structure). Aroma of delicacies prepared in the backyard could be smelt from as far as five houses in each direction. Vimla kaki( aunt) had applied mehendi on Saroj's hands and feet. She looke

Tania once again adjusted the pallu of the seafoam colored saree. This is the seventeenth time, she adorned sarees in over a period of three years. Well, she lost count of the times she wore a saree prior to the day when she started counting. Just then Mrs Dolly Sachdeva, Tania's ever enthusiastic mother walked in the room and said, "Tania, are you ready yet? They have turned up." "Come out when I send in Anya." This time also Tania nodded her head and looked at herself in the mirror.  She was looking beautiful, infact she was glowing.  Tania was an MBA from a reputed University and was working with a NGO which looked after children with special needs. Tania's thoughts went to the day when she sat for the interview when Mr. Richards remarked, "Tania, you are an epitome of kindness and talent." "Congratulations, you are hired!" Tania's heart knew no bounds, she wanted to shout out loud and clear. She wanted to answer those who had judg

Even as I allow my thoughts to wander deep into the blue skies with the white clouds or into the deep seas with corals, I just pondered over a subject which is of gross interest in every person's life, yes 'Happiness'. Can you define happiness?? What according to you is the true meaning of happiness??? Can anyone of you out there tell me what makes you happy? Isn't happiness just another everyday occurance in your life? Can't we be happy all the time? After all it's our mind which decides on what the real definition of happiness is and believe me it differs from person to person. For some of you happiness might be having a lavish lifestyle, for me it might be spending some time with the person you love. A few might find innate happiness in  getting expensive gifts all the time; for some it could be just the feeling of holding someone's hand and sitting on the beach or riverside which could be the cause of happiness. Well does happiness has anything to do wit

Tannu sat in front of the large oval mirror in her bedroom carassing her long Auburn tresses. She just finished applying the hair serum given by the hair stylist. As she looked at herself she started wondering, "Should I curl it up or straighten it?" Confused about her hair, Tannu took out the purplish pink orchid flower from one of the boxes in her drawer, she opened the hairclip and then partitioned her hair and put it just behind her right earlobes. She was happy, she looked ravishingly beautiful. The lilac colour gown was enhancing her beauty. She quickly started giving last minute touches to her make-up, no she didn't need professional help as she mastered the trade herself.   Make-up and hair styling over Tannu switched on the AC and sat comfortably on the recliner. "Gosh! I am so nervous already" she said. "I just wonder how Saurav must be looking." she muttered with a wink in her eye.  Quickly Tannu took the phone lying on the bed and started s

Anshula, Anshula, Ni evite anu?" (Where are you?) shouted Nalla to his wife Anshu without even looking up from his newspaper. He was engrossed reading the Malayala Manorama, an activity he has been doing over the past 40 years. For Nalla, the Manorama has been an inseparable partner ever since he returned back from Dubai, so much so that he forgets that time passes by and he has important work lined up daily. This activity irritates his wife as she considers the newspaper to be the other woman in her husband's life.  Hearing her husband shout, Anshu came outside quickly from the kitchen rubbing her hands on the end of the setthu mundu she was wearing. Seeing her husband minutely reading the newspaper and completely ignoring her presence in the balcony, she screamed, "Why did you call me?" Nallasivan Nair looked up at his wife Anshula's face with a worried expression. Anshula immediately felt something was wrong and quietly came and sat on the chair placed opposit

Rishi was quite happy. He was beaming with joy as he looked at the photograph of his beloved Saniya. She just had the spark to make any male fall in love, indeed she was beautiful; well that was what he felt, though she didn't consider herself as beautiful as he praised her often. She was not only in possession of a beautiful physical appearance but her thoughts and mind too was an harbinger of happiness.  It was just three more days and he would finally get to meet her on Wednesday. Rishi excitedly opened his wardrobe and picked up the t-shirts and trousers. He thoughtfully picked up the colours she loved to see him in - mustard yellow, olive green, maroon, blue. After all he wanted to look dashingly handsome in front of her. She had always praised his looks and it would be the best time to make her fall in love with him all over again.  Rishi's reminder started beaming, oh he has an appointment at GenNext Spa at 5pm today. He quickly took his car keys and rushed to the parkin

"Bring them out or else we will be forced to break the door" shouted Sub- Inspector Anand to Sukhram; Mukesh's father.  To tell you briefly what happened two days back - Mukesh got married. Well not exactly the way he wanted, he brought Nisha  with him after a simple marriage ceremony. Nothing was amiss if we look at the vital statistics: both were of marriageable age, families had the consent for marriage, boy had a handsome salary even though he wasn't handsome at all, the girl was beautiful, homely and sanskari (cultured). On top of that the bride's father Banwari Lal already paid fifteen lakhs as dahej  (dowry) to the groom's family. The remaining five lakhs would be paid during the marriage ceremony. But why did the police appear at the gates? Mukesh's marriage was on the cards with Nisha. The marriage was an arranged one and fixed by both the families in the month of April; 17th April, 2020 (Friday) to be specific. But it didn't take place due to

Sunil looked at his rickshaw. The steel frame was still shining. He gently touched the seats and rubbed the dust which accumulated the whole day with his dry hands. Today morning he had wiped off the dust and cleaned his rickshaw with a wet cloth. As he reclined against the bamboo frame of his tiny hut in this big city Guwahati, he was completely lost in his own world. A world of his own which he built with tireless efforts was now falling apart.  Sunil panicked from within, what if it continued for a longer period of time. What would happen to his Punakon and Sanehi?  Sunil fondly remembered the day when he brought the rickshaw home two months back. Sanehi had applied vermillon dots on it and did a small aarti. Later, that night the three of them had a feast celebrating Sunil's first big achievement.  Sunil knew very well that he could own the rickshaw because of Sanehi; she stood behind him rockstrong and guided him in every move of his life. She was instrumental in saving enough