Love thy parents

“Love thy parents for no matter how they treated you on this earth, in the kingdom of God their soul would plead only for your happiness”

I wrote this quote when I was preparing my coffee. Strange but true this time my mind is not hibernating. First, something that I saw triggered my thinking process and I wrote ~ “Waiting to be taken home”. Then the comments tickled my little brain again and I mentioned in my reply to comments from readers that I would write in detail about my views in the next post and also try to explain why I do not believe in applying the rule “You reap what you sow” when we are talking of abandoning parents. But I am not going to do any explaining here as such and sound like a prophet because I am not one. Every individual has his/her own opinion and has the right to agree on or disagree with anything. I just want to express my feelings about my parents …

I have never ever understood how can one abandon their parents. I agree with Anil when he says ~ the most disgusting is, that how can someone desert his parents. I mean, those ppl who have brought light to your life, been there with you, loved you, took you to school, got you married, and helped you till you stand on your own. How can you abandon them, you need a heart of a devil to do this. I have fights with my parents, but there is never a grudge against them.
I know that “You reap what you sow” makes sense but I cannot apply it when it comes to abandoning ones parents because you are still with your parents means that they have not abandoned you because if were abandoned by your parents you would be not in the position to abandon them at a later stage. So in this case both cannot be culprits. It has to be one of you…
Even I have fights with my parents, sometimes I even feel that I am not loved the way I want them to love me. But that does not mean that they do not love me. I still remember a funny incident that took place 12 years ago. It was funny to see dad behave like this but then, his actions conveyed a deeper meaning.

We were in Essel world and were walking from one ride to the other. I was walking few steps ahead of the rest of the family members and a guy walked too close to me and purposely touched me. I stopped and turned around and I saw my dad walking completely out of his line to push that guy on purpose. It was a funny scene but the guy got the message and a silent commitment from dads’ side was registered in my heart, engraved in bold letters that my dad would be there when I need him even if I do not give him the call.
Today, even after so many years when I think of that episode all my frustration I have due to current circumstances vaporize in thin air.

Twenty five years ago, the three year old me had cried, screamed, shaking hell, earth and heaven when my mother had climbed into the train and had let go my hand when the train started moving, leaving me on the platform but today I am alive because she thought of doing so.
Today whenever I feel that my mother does not care for me the way I want her to, I think of this incidence and then I say to myself, I am complaining because I am alive and I am alive because she reacted spontaneously and then all my frustration changes into a feeling of gratitude.
I leave you all with the quote mentioned at the beginning of the post and a poem, to contemplate…
What Is A Family (2)

What is a family?
Is it only you or me?
Is it your duty
Or my responsibility?

Family is beyond what we can see
Family is you AND me
When we all stop thinking of the “me”
Then we would stand together as family

The lips that say I care
The heart that says I am here to share
The eyes that show love that lasts forever
The hands that would leave you never
This is what is being part of the family
Forgetting the differences, if any

A pillow to soak the silent tears
Strength to enable to face the worst fears
Shoulders to lean on when tired
A hope that encourages to get what heart desired
This is not your duty or my responsibility
Family means to share everything evenly.

Arti D. Honrao

Waiting to be taken home

It is strange how a human brain functions [at least mine].
We never know what may trigger our thinking process [at least mine]
After finishing the story I knew my mind would be recuperating from the assault of continuous thinking but the speed at which it recovered amazed me. Not that I go completely blank after finishing one project it is just that the after-effect stays a little longer. I feel psychologically drained out and refrain myself from writing anything fresh. Most of the time I recharge myself by spending some silent moments at the seashore. This time I could not do any of these two.

I was watering my little plant and I saw a small kid in school uniform standing at the side of the road. We have a private school in one wing of our premises and he was definitely waiting for someone to come and take him home. It is a usual sight near any school, kids waiting to be taken home. But still, the look on that little kids’ face triggered my thinking and I remembered how even I used to wait for my maidservant. The kid stood there for a long time, looking left and right and then finally hanging his water bottle and little bag around his neck he sat on a stone nearby. I felt really sorry for that kid. How could his parents not be there on time to pick him up? Or at least arrange for someone to take him home. Well! The kid was finally taken home, so what if a little late. But there are so many children who have no home to return to. There are kids who stay in an orphanage [and orphanages can never be called as homes] worst than these kids there are so many kids who sleep on the roads, kids who are abandoned by their parents.
There are kids who stay in a house but still in their hearts are waiting to be taken home. Recently I saw a case of child abuse being shown in news. The 4 year old was brutally beaten up by her stepmother, so much that the girl had a fractured arm. Just few days back as I was browsing various recently published blogs I came across a blog where I found this picture and was deeply touched. It says a lot…

It is not only kids who wait to be taken home. There are elders staying in elders home too who wait to be taken home. The same day when I saw this news about the 4 yr old, on another news channel I saw an old couple been cheated out of their home by their own son. This couple had gone out for few days and when they returned the watchman of their building did not allow them inside. They learned later on that their son and daughter in law had cheated them and taken possession of their flat. They sat there … waiting to be taken home.

Not only orphans, or abandoned children or parents living in elders home [I just could not use the term “abandoned parents”. How can anyone ever abandon his / her own parents, is what I have never understood], wait to be taken home, even children and elders staying in a house wait to be taken home. Wait to be understood, to be cared for, to be loved.

Arti D. Honrao

She wanted it that way – 6

She wanted it that way – 5
She wanted it that way – 4
She wanted it that way – 3
She wanted it that way – 2
She wanted it that way – 1

Continued…

The same night when Vishaal returned home he found a note on his desk. He picked it up and read -

Sneha Dikshit
B.com graduate, working as accountant
Only daughter taking care of her mother, father expired
Middle class family like ours, five stars – Unmarried

A smiley was drawn at the end of the note, which was the confirmation that no one else but his own sister was the detective.
Vishaal smiled as he folded the paper and put it in his shirt pocket. That night Vishaal slept peacefully.

The next day after her college Vidya happened to visit Janhavi when there was no one at her residence, what a bad luck! Or was it really? After some time she pressed the doorbell of the neighbors residence. Sneha opened the door and let her in after she mentioned that she was Janhavis’ friend. The time Vidya spent waiting for Janhavi was well utilized in sharing of information.
“I saw you yesterday at the stores… remember … I was with my Da. I mean my elder brother Vishaal da. He has done his M.com and is looking for a decent job.”
In spite of herself Sneha realized that she was smiling.
“Do you want something to eat?”
“No thanks. My Da is the best person I have ever known. Apart from one or two bad qualities, he is a real gem.”
“You think very high of your brother, Vidya”
“Yes. He deserves it. Well! Da was telling me …” before Vidya could complete her sentence the doorbell rang. It was Janhavi who was supposed to come anyways, but her timing seemed to be a bit wrong. Making faces at Janhavi, Vidya walked out of the door but she made it a point to forget her book at Snehas’ residence and the book just happened to fall where it could be spotted only when Vidya was safe home.

Because of the embarrassing scene at the stores Vishaal made it a point not to come face to face with Sneha for a day or two. Instead he spent time at his favorite hangout amidst the nature and intensified his search on the computer for his job.
Next day when Vishaal was getting ready to go out the doorbell rang. There was no one at home except him as Vidya had left early because she had to go to a friends’ place before college and Vishaals’ parents had gone out of town.
Vishaal was buttoning his shirt when the doorbell rang. When he opened the door he was shocked to see who it was. For some time he kept staring at the visitor and then buttoned his shirt immediately as he welcomed the guest. Sneha walked inside the house
“Hi. Vidya forgot her book at my place yesterday when she was waiting for Janhavi” said Sneha handing over the book to Vishaal.
Both of them were silent for some time unable to decide what to speak and who should speak. When the silence became awkward Sneha turned to go. “Please sit, I will get some water for you.” Vishaal said immediately.
Sneha turned around and walked towards the sofa. Vishaal went inside the kitchen and brought a glass of water for her.
“Your sister is a sweet girl”
Vishaal smiled
“And she is very talkative”
Vishaal laughed
“She thinks very high of you…”
Vishaal could not believe that he was blushing.
Keeping the glass of water on the side-table Sneha got up to go.
“Nice meeting you Vishaal” saying so she left the house.

For some time Vishaal could not believe that Sneha had come home and then he spent time thinking how stupid he had acted in front of her and how he should have or should have not behaved.
Meanwhile, as Sneha walked out of Vishaals’ building she was smiling. The first time when she had seen Vishaal she had disliked him. But the next time when she had seen him hurriedly extinguish his cigarette she thought he was a gentleman in bad company and the last time when she had seen him with Vidya she thought he was funny.
Now after being to his house and seeing his etiquettes she knew that she was right about everything and also she found him attractive.

… Part seven

Arti D. Honrao

She wanted it that way – 5

She wanted it that way – 4
She wanted it that way – 3
She wanted it that way – 2
She wanted it that way – 1

Continued…

Vishaal wandered around the society hoping that somewhere he would come across her. But she was not seen anywhere. He walked back home and entered his room closing the door behind him before anyone could see him and ask him the reason for returning early. He knew that once inside the room no one would bother him. He picked up the packet of cigarette from the waste paper basket and put it back in his jeans pocket. He stayed back in his room for rest of the day. His folks, including Vidya knew it was best not to disturb him when he locked himself in the room.
At night, he quietly sneaked out of the house and walked to the girls’ building hoping to see her in the balcony but the door to the balcony was closed. He waited there for some time and then returned home. He quietly entered the house and walked to his room but failed to see that the table lamp in Vidyas room was glowing. After some time Vidya switched off the lamp and slept.

For the next few days Vishaal did not see her anywhere. Not even at her balcony and he started getting worried. He had tried his best to quit smoking, but in vain. The person for whom he had attempted doing that was not seen anywhere. Also, his restlessness prevented him from not smoking for long.
One day when he was standing at his regular hangout with his friends, he pulled out the cigarette packet from his pocket and placed one cigarette on his lips. He had just lit the cigarette when he saw the girl walking towards him. He immediately threw the cigarette on the road and extinguished it. Though Vishaal reacted spontaneously the girl had seen him do that because she had been watching him as she took the turn to the road at the end of which Vishaal was patiently waiting for her. When she walked past Vishaal thought he had seen her smile.
But before he could think anything further on these lines he heard a familiar voice calling, “Vishaal da…” He spotted Vidya standing across the street. He crossed the road and walked to her
“Da, can you please come with me. Mamma wants me to buy some groceries”
“So! What I have got to do anything about it? I have never come with you before”
“Da, actually there’s a guy who teases me when I go there”
“Come lets go”
If anything could make Vishaal go buying groceries, it was his possessiveness for his sister and Vidya knew it too well.
“Da, I wanted to talk to you. There is no guy harassing me”
“I know. I know you better than this. You would have not told me if there was some guy. So what is it that you want to talk to me about?”
“Da, I heard papa talk to someone on the phone. He was talking something on the lines of your marriage saying that if you get married then may be you would become responsible” Vidya said stepping into the stores
But Vishaal was not listening as his eyes were fixed on someone and his mind was somewhere else. “Da are you listening?” saying so Vidya looked at Vishaal and then followed his gaze.
“Da! Is this the girl?” Vidya asked enthusiastically.
“Yes.” said Vishaal without moving his eyes from the girl. As if knowing that she is the topic of discussion she looked towards them. Immediately Vishaal looked away and holding Vidyas’ arm made her walk deeper into the stores.
“Da! I know this girl” “What?” everyone turned their heads towards Vishaal because in his excitement he had been a little loud.
Feeling awkward, both of them finished their work in the stores and hurried out. As both of them were at a safe distance i.e. away from the girl Vishaal asked, “How do you know her?”
“I mean I do not know her personally, but she is my friend Janhavis’ new neighbor”
“Oh” that is all Vishaal could say.
But in her mind Vidya had already started playing her cards because she knew she had to do this for her Da. She had made up her mind when she had seen him return home dejected. At that time she did not have any idea how she could help him, but now … she knew.”

… Part six

Arti D. Honrao

She wanted it that way – 4

She wanted it that way – 3
She wanted it that way – 2
She wanted it that way – 1

Continued…

“Da, what’s wrong?” Vidya broke his reverie.
“Nothing Vid, just thinking…”
“Ha ha … that was a good joke…”
Vishaal smiled, he loved it when his sister made fun of him. The only earthly bond that had kept him here was his kid sister and now this mysterious girl. He knew his mother would be taken care of by her husband and Vishaal somehow hated his dad for what he was. Apart from taunting him every now and then, his father had a habit of dominating everyone because he called himself the creator. He had created what they had now. Only the pain and hatred part came to Vishaal.
“Da, you are thinking about dad again.” Vidya commented.
Vishaal could not believe that his sister could face read him so correctly, also, the anger was very evident on his face.
“Da, go and sleep in your room and please chill ok? Some day you are going to repent for all the thoughts you have about him”
“Oh yeah! Sure… you just get married soon sweetie for I need a new home … I will join you” Vishaal winked and walked to his room.
Vidya switched off the light in the balcony and walked back to her room.

The next day Vishaal woke up pretty early and was getting ready. Vidya was watching her brother comb his hair, straighten the collar, spray some perfume and he spent more than the regular time in front of the mirror.
“Da! You are in love!” Vidya exclaimed…
She was about to sing song his little secret but Vishaal pulled her inside his room and closed the door. They had a short pillow fight and signing of a pact that Vidya would keep her mouth shut and he would take her to a film.
“Who’s she?”
“None of your business”
“Mamma, Da wants to tell u something” was Vidyas’ muffled scream. Muffled because Vishaal had covered her mouth with his hand
“Ok loudspeaker, just switch yourself off” Vishaal said removing his hand and continued, “I do not know her name”
“Oh, love at first sight”, Vidya said sitting on the bed
“No, second…” Vishaal sat next to her “also, I think she hates me”
“C’mon da, no one can hate you. You are the most wonderful person I have known. You just need to change a few things in you, or may be “most” of the things in you. Had I not been your sister I would have married you”
“Oh yeah and your father would have killed both of us” Vishaal grinned and walked to the door.
“Da you are forgetting something” Vidya said picking up the packet of cigarettes from his desk and showed it to him
“Don’t you ever take that thing in your hand” Vishaal said snatching it from her grip and threw it into the waste paper basket.
Vidya was smiling as Vishaal walked out of the room.
“Da is really in love”

Vishaal walked to his regular spot but he did not talk to his friends. He stood there, looking in different direction. The silence was getting unbearable for his friends. One of his friends broke the ice, “C’mon we did not know you had soft corner for that girl” Even I did not know that Vishaal thought. “Look! We are sorry!” his other friends joined in. “It is ok” Vishaal said. One of his friends offered him a cigarette and when Vishaal said no they looked at each other and shook their head.
Vishaal was too busy to notice that. He was searching for the girl. He wanted her to see that he was not smoking. But she did not come. May be she has changed her route because of these idiots, Vishaal frowned.

…Part Five

Arti D. Honrao

She wanted it that way – 3

She wanted it that way – 2
She wanted it that way – 1

Continued…

Vishaals’ friends noticed the look on his face and started teasing him and perhaps for the first time he was angry on them. Without looking back at them he moved out of that place. Still unable to decide why he reacted like this, he was smoking furiously like a chimney as he was walking to nowhere. Why was he feeling so hurt on seeing the look on her face? He was used to this kind of behavior from his father, but why did he not like that the girl found him to be disgusting? And what was it that she found disgusting in him. The answer was there, stuck in between his fingers, moving in and out of his lips. It took some time for him to figure that out but he could not quit smoking, he was a chain smoker. He never realized that he was walking for more than an hour and had left his society far behind. He started walking back but decided against it. He walked to a bus stop and waited for the bus to take him to his favorite spot. He wanted to be alone today.

He spent almost the entire day amidst the nature. After getting down from the bus he walked some distance to this place, which was far from the main road. This place gave him peace of mind when he needed it. Standing there on the cliff he pulled out a cigarette and began smoking. He was deep in thoughts and never realized when he finished all the cigarettes from his packet. He threw the packet down the cliff and thought to himself, someday may be I will throw myself like this. He had done his M.com and was looking for a decent job but soon he gave up his search as he was refused wherever he went. He loathed being rejected. The reason for the rejection was almost always money that they asked from him to be selected and the other reason was that he did not have any influence. He had uploaded his resume on one of the sites offering job opportunities but other than that he was not trying. Day by day his fathers taunts were getting unbearable and he wanted to end his life. He had no objective in his life, no dream to achieve till he saw this girl. He had accepted that he was a loser but seeing the same views in the girls’ eyes had hurt him to the core. Deep inside he wanted to prove himself to her. The sun was moving closer to the horizon and it was time to return home. Reluctantly he walked back to the nearest bus stop and coming back to the society the first thing he did was buy a new packet of cigarettes and an extra one to smoke before returning home and yes he did not forget the mint. Everyone at home knew that he smoked and he was not worried about it. He took the mint on Vidya’s i.e. his sisters’ request, who hated that smell in his breath while he spent time with her in the balcony taking her lessons. Today was supposed to be her tuition day. That was the only thing he loved being at home for. When he returned home after finishing his cigarette and the mint, Vidya was waiting for him, as usual. His parents had already gone to bed. He walked directly to the balcony and after some time Vidya joined him with the plate of food. The first bite of dinner was always from the hand of his sister and then he finished the rest of the dinner while Vidya continued studying. Vishaal loved watching her study. He was meant to be there for her in case she had any doubts but almost always she did it on her own. His father did not know that he was worried about her future too but he was helpless. Sitting there in the balcony, unknowingly his thoughts drifted back to the incident that had upset him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if he had made a decision.

…Part Four

Arti D. Honrao

The eight things tag

Well! This post comes in between the story parts but I had to get done with it asap so that I could concentrate in writing the story further…
So here is “the eight things tag”

This is the first time I have been shot … I mean tagged by Crazy doll. It asks me to write 8 points about my perfect lover so here are the eight points. [Guys who are 28+ and fulfill the requirements can apply for the position ]

Rules of the game are …
1. The tagged victim has to come up with 8 different points of their perfect lover.
2. Need to mention the sex of the target.
3. Tag 8 victims to join this game & leave a comment on their comments saying they’ve been tagged.
4. If tagged the 2nd time, there’s no need to post again.

Sex of the target : Male

Qualifications required …

1. He should be loving, caring and compatible with me.
2. He should do those little things for me, which would add a smile to my face like giving gifts [not so expensive would do] and roses or take me to a candlelight dinner. Not ever forget my birthday or our anniversary etc. Take me for a long drive on full moon day … I mean night.
3. He should be able to handle my bouts of anger and know that the only way to cool me down is to understand my point of view. [He can tell me that I am wrong, but better not do that during such times]
4. I can tolerate a debate on some issues but he should not be a bag of complaints and not be adamant telling me that he wants things his ways.
5. It goes without saying that he should be loyal to me [in front of me, behind my back, to my right or to my left]
6. He should be able to make me smile when I am depressed and be willing to give me a hug when I need one [even if it means hugging me in the middle of the crowded market]
7. He should be able to trust me and know that I would be there for him whenever he needs me. [I would hate if he kept secrets from me and ask for help from others without approaching me first.]
8. Last but not the least he should accept me as I am and love me for what I am and not try to change me. [It does not mean that I would not change myself for him, I would, but not only because he wants me to.]

If me, then why not you? [Humka maafi daido :p]

1. Amrit
2. Tarni
3. Rockus
4. Emotions
5. Manish Chauhan
6. Sanyukta
7. Ammey Kesarkar
8. Neetika

All the best
Arti D. Honrao