SHANTI

He was at cross-roads in his life. Being an intern at a large hospital like AIIMS one barely had time to brush his own teeth leave alone any for socialising. ...yet there was Shanti, a 12 year old orphan, with eyes full of sparkle and a cherubic face, she was the live wire of the childrens ward.

Shanti was suffering from AIDS and both of her parents had sacrificed there lives on the same altar, leaving her to fight for her life. In the dreary confines of his life as an intern, Shanti had, with her resounding laughter, sweet nothings and ever present toothy smile, provided him with the reason and justification for his strife to become a doctor.

Two years have gone past but Raghu is very upset today, he will become a paediatrician tomorrow but there is no joy in that. Shanti died at 7 in the evening. She fought bravely till the end. Her last words of "Sweetu Anna bohot dard ho raha hai" again and again, were gnawing at his heart from within. He spent the night turning and tossing in his bed crying and thinking alternately. The pink glow of dawn brought him back to this world, he was serious but his eyes had a purpose he knew what was to be done.....

Twenty years since that fateful night, Raghu is enjoying a serious game of cricket. As Frederick the best bowler on the block comes tearing in, Raghu hits out with dogged determination and goes scampering for the run. They have to score two runs and he is the last batsman. Suddenly he feels small hands tearing at his shirt and weighing him down. The other side is not getting any nearer and he feels his legs giving away till he and the ten fielders around fall down in a heap, laughing and tumbling.

He is at Shanti Sadan, a home for orphans, every sunday he comes here to play and spend time with his freinds. His laughing face close to the ground with dirt on his nose Raghu starts shouting CHEATING! CHEATING! He is home at last, at peace with himself in the beautiful environs dedicated to his best freind Shanti. Among his own,an orphan among orphans.

NO ONSENSE

Egaad! I was drunk yesternight(I think thats correct!). Farewell party of an old freind and drank like a fish (thereafter swam back home like a very drunk fish!). Now, I have got.. I think heart burn??..bellyburn??..chestburn??....I dunno, cant put my finger on it but its burning somewhere. Then my brain is just refusing to work on anything more than beating the heart and my laboured breathing. So I thought I would pen down some nonsense while I recover.

Yaah! I know its not politically correct to waste blog space, my own time and that of others with my non directional ramblings (am I already rambling....? sorry friends).Well let me tell you about this freind of ours, he is a methemetician(did I get the spelling right?...please dont laugh I am trying to concetrate here.....1001, 10002, 103...not a very successful attempt at that, DUH..H.). Concentration(that was a long word and I got it right this time Ha! Ha! I am already doing better). So this freind of ours (Big shot but unassuming) had come down from US of A for a few days. Then today he has gone back to US of A(Oh God! those two sentences are moronic ...... concetrate harder ..).

You know this freind of ours he has become frumppy and he is going bald...and the best part...he is not even married yet...(He! putting these dots.......like so, gives my brain that time to comprehund..oops!....).I know its a baad blog but with you all being my freinds I know you will tolerat this no onsense just this once.

songs from beyond

A JOURNEY CALLED LIFE

In a train by the window the world flashes by and suddenly

RIKKETY KAT-RIKKETYKATS the train has switched tracks.

In life by the window time flashes by and suddenly

RIKKETY KAT-RIKKETYKATS life has switched tracks.

life's journey is a race

like a train with no definite pace

I stop at stations where I want

and at places without the signal's grant

people come and share my window

irritating relatives to an old widow

some last till the last

some are memories in the past

there are all kinds at the windows

uncle who is verbose and the aunt who is morose

some u get others u choose

Wish I was the signalman instead

would watch all the trains tread

and suddenly

RIKKETY KAT-RIKKETYKATS life has switched tracks.