THE FIRST LETTER

Let's talk about that old India. Yes that old India which our grandparents are proud of… about which they talk never endingly. Where driving was just driving and not liquid engineering, where talking over phone was an extravagance in itself and a privilege which only the upper hand of the society enjoyed and not changing life or expressing yourself or cupping the world in your hands, where life was a challenge on each day and not a competition, where love was an institution of unquestionable power and not an emotion exploited by business giants for their welfare.. Yes to that serene… that innocent India… hold my hand… let me take you come with me

He was seated on one of those crude steps that lead to a lush green field. The April sun cast its brilliant rays on his dark features to reveal a skinny looking child of perhaps 6 or 7. Seated there with a piece of paper and a little pencil… it was evident from the look on this young ones face that whatever the business he was involved in right then, Was anything but a time pass. He was writing something in the unsteady and just learnt language. At a closer look, one could realize that there were tears streaming down his cheeks. In his own handwriting he had written the first lines in his life… out of the scope of the text book… from his own heart. "Father… this is Sunny please come and take me and mother home. Here it is easy not living father… take us with you father…fast father"

The little one stared at the words he had written… he did not know if there were any mistakes which his father would point out, or any wrong word he would laugh at. He knew this had to get to his father… soon…to save him and his mother from what they were passing through. He stuffed the folded paper into the hand made envelope. He had stolen a little boiled rice from the kitchen and sealed the edges… firmly. May be the faith he had in his mind would have made the indigenous glue bind stronger than the sophisticated urban ones. He scribbled his fathers name across the envelope. Satisfied at his accomplishment he ran down the steps..through the fields to the nearest post office..waving the letter he held in his hand..thru the breeze.

With the same pride he deposited the letter in the red post box. And now he would wait for his father to come..and take them all.. from the living hell of family feuds.. from the constant tantrums from the family members.

Sunny's father was away at the army. He was fighting for the country. That was what Sunny's mother had told him. Now with the war going on.. sunny sees his mothers eyes wet forever. He hardly remembered seeing her happy. She would hold the transistor close to her ears..and listen intently over the crackling noise. Little did sunny know that his mother was praying the rumors about his father's death were all lies. Sucharita had been hearing tales about how her husband succumbed to the traitors.. that his body had been unfound and..many more things. She had been waiting to hear from him for 3 months now. Sucharita and sanjeev had had a love marriage..against their parents' desires. Their horoscopes had been unmatched and de astrologer had predicted the death of either one in future. But sanjeev had been adamant and had gone against the faiths to procure the love of his life. When duty beckoned he was forced to leave his wife with his parents who now seemed to smoothen a bit towards their son's pregnant bride. But matters had grown worse. Poor Sucharita was trapped in the house with a cruel mother in law.. competing with a more cruel sister in law, and a brother in law who only waited for a circumstance to lay hands on her. And her nephews and nieces were always ill treating sunny. Sucharita was not literate.. she regretted for that too. She could never dream of communicating the plight with her husband who believed his parents were obviously treating her with respect. Sunny was her dream.. some day sunny would be the cause for hers and sanjeev pride.

Sunny waited for his dad..the picture of his dad walking thru the door with a gun in his hand always fascinated sunny. How he had boasted about his dad to his classmates. His dad he would read his letter soon..and come home and take him and his mother away and all their problems would end..and they would live happily ever after. With such  elaborately ornate thoughts sunny closed his eye lids and let his mother pat him to sleep. As he drifted to sleep he thought of how proud she would be to know that sunny had been the reason for his dad to come back. This would be a surprise for her..and he smiled.

A tear dropped from Sucharita’s eye as she saw her innocent son smile to himself in his sleep.

The post box was opened the next morning. Surjit the postal employee was loaded with thoughts as he settled down to sort the letter. His little son was down with pneumonia. He had to get medicines for him in the evening. With the little money that he had he was not sure how to pull it off. But he had to do something. With these thoughts whirling in his mind Surjit continued his work mechanically, when a queer thing caught his eyes. Amidst the load of post cards and inland letters there was a hand made envelope with ruled paper torn out of a note book. There was something about it which made Surjit take it in his hands and run his finger over the letters which were the address. On the reverse there was a note which said 'urgent'. There was no stamp..on it and there was no way it would reach its destination. Surjit debated whether he should throw it away.on an impulse he tore open the envelope carefully although it was against his ethics and read the contents with great difficulty. His heart felt heavy. He didn't know what to do. Whoever had been the author seemed to be in a hurry for this letter to reach his father. And from the lines Surjit didn't miss the gravity of the situation. He reached to his pocket and took out the few coins he had. His mind didn't give room for any more thought as he dealt the coins for an envelope and required stamp charges. He resealed the envelope on which sunny had written his father's address and then wrote the same address again neatly on the new envelope and slid the hand made envelope into the one affixed with stamp and deposited it along with other  letters bound for the same area. Surjit pushed thoughts of his own son from his mind. He knew that he had put it off for a noble cause. God would never fail to see the goodness in him

With a smile of satisfaction Surjit sorted the rest of the lot. Meanwhile Sunny ran through the fields with his friends telling stories of his dad

This ladies and gentlemen was our old India As  Rabindranath Tagore said "Into that heaven of freedom my father let my country awake"

                                                                                            ANITHA KAVERI

FOREVER MORE

Sushil cast one last glance towards the direction of the bedroom before noiselessly locking the main door behind him. He gingerly turned the key in the hole so as not to wake up Sonal…  who was a light sleeper and heard the click. Everything was safe. The maid had taken over sonal, breakfast was done, and the house was also secure. He wore a smile on his face as he unlocked his car and drove past the watchman who saluted and mouthed a 'good morning' to Sushil. 'Good morning' the word meant a lot to Sushil. It was not just a wish the word was a deep strong link in his life.

His teenage love… and his wife… Sonal Sonal Mitra. She was the one who came to his mind every time he heard the word. Sonal had been a reporter cum news caster in a reputed TV channel of the country. Sushil had not missed the charming youth bubbling with energy as she cast her debut news. There was a charm in the way she said good morning to her viewers. The face seemed familiar to  sushil, the fresh graduate from the Indian law academy. From then on Sushil kept a close track of Sonal Mitra. He had seen her couple of times at the interuniversity fests. Thus through different sources he found out more about this happening sonal. Sonal had a flair for journalism. With her striking good looks and command over language she had been immediately selected by the prominent channel for their news reporting and casting. Sonal's news reports were bold… she reported everything with a view that people must know the truth. Sushil remembered her once telling, 'people deserve to know the truth Sushil how long u can hide it from them'. Sushil had used a few of his influences to set a date with sonal.

 His genuinity and attitude towards life attracted sonal. Soon they began seeing more of each other. Sonal was surprised when she realized Sushil had not missed even one of her telecasts. He remembered every minute detail which amazed her. Sushil was not like the men sonal had known. He was a young lawyer and at such a young age had already made it to the papers by winning two important cases. Cyber crime was his area of specialty. He was intelligent and it showed in his eyes. Humility was his mascot and he enchanted every one with his open and inviting smile.

 Soon the two realized that the other was the better half. Media celebrated their wedding. People were sure that these two were a super pair as each one was related to justice in special way. Thus Sonal's 'good morning' became his exclusive right… He heard it in his bed instead of from the television.  Sonal and Sushil enjoyed their new life together. Each one was interested in interested in the others profession. They shared similar interests and had same likes. Sonal's works received appreciation and in a span of 6 yrs she found herself in the post of the editor of the news channel. By then Sushil had become an established lawyer. Both had fantastic careers and were very much in love.

Sushil and Sonal had put off parenthood for 4 yrs. After 2 more yrs when their wishes bore no fruit they decided to confront a gynaecologist who pronounced the both of them fit.

Sonal joked lovingly to her husband, 'may be the best one is yet to come'.

A year more sped by sushil's anxiety increased. But sonal pacified him.

'We are still young Sushil. We don't have to be restless yet'.

The week after their 7^th anniversary the doctor pronounced sonal pregnant. Sushil was elated. They celebrated the good news. Sonal and Sushil threw a party for their friends. Sonal and Sushil had decided that she could continue working till the 6^th or 7^th month of pregnancy. Sushil knew how much sonal loved her work, and he didn't want to confine her within the house. He however cautioned her against doing anything laborious. Sonal agreed. Inspite of remaining cautious sonal had to undergo an abortion as the foetus had developed in the fallopian tube. Thus sonal and sushil lost their 1^st baby. The depression and anxiety remained only for about 4 months when sonal was pregnant again. This time the regular check ups pronounced sonal as fit as nut. The couple were happy once again and waited anxiously for the new arrival into their life.

One day as sonal was seated in her cabin going thru the day's bulletin to be telecast she heard her fax machine rumble. The message contained an information regarding a scandal involving the finance minister of the state. Her reporters had the hot news. But the managing director was against telecasting the news. At this sonal herself took initiative and broadcast the news in the day's bulletin. She had not done it for the sake of competition.. but coz she knew the reporter was right. This was the 3^rd time they were getting such a news, but sonal had been waiting for the right time. The state was raged at the telecast which proved the minister guilty. The channel received appreciations. Once again sushil was proud of his wife.

The next day when he was at the court he received a call from sonal's chief telling there had been an accident and that sonal was in the hospital. Sushil was shocked to utter anything. He spurred at full speed to the hospital. He found sonal in the ICU too many thoughts passed thru his mind. His child.. his wife.. he felt tears trickle down his cheeks as he watched his dear wife lay limply on the bed. Later that day he came to know that sonal was hit 'accidentally' by a truckwhich caused her car to go careening in the wrong direction and hit a tree by the road. There was no serious injury but sonal lost her baby. The police had the truck driver in custody.. but sushil refused to press any charges. He was sure what had caused all this. When sonal was conscious again he sat beside her and took her hand.. she smiled at him and asked..

'does the baby look like me..or u'' this question caught sushil off guard. He just stood there staring at her. 'like u ryt when I knew he was a boy..i was sure he wud take after u. what color anre his eyes sushil..are they hazel brown like urs? Or are they black like mine.. o sushil..ask them to bring him to me. I want to see him.. feel him.. scold him for kicking me at the middle of the night. Kiss him the way he kissed my womb I want to '

sushil was not listening. He was not hidng his tears anymore. He wanted his wife to wake into reality he wud break the news to her some day.. that they would not be able to have a baby of their own..and she would understand. But that will have to wait. Till then he had to find something to tell her.

'sonal he is gone. He said he didn't like us. He found a new home'

she stared at him at first. Then hugged him n let her tears mix with his and said..

' u will find him won't u sushil .???????'

YES.. I WILL.. HE HAD SAID

Later that evening when he returned home frm court he found sonal still asleep. The maid left . sushil sat near his sleeping wife and thought..

 'where is the woman I loved?'.. she stirred in bed and her eyelids fluttered open

'did u find him susheel .????' She asked her voice full of hope

' will find him sonal.. but only if u get well'.

'o sushiiiilllll I am ok.. u know.' she reached up from the bed, hugged him and said

'good morning sushil I love u' she said without realising it was well past 5 pm

'I LOVE U SONAL FOREVER MORE'

                                                       ANITHA KAVERI

A REDEFITION TO FILIAL LOVE

" .Things do change with time..with everone,and so has it with me. Time flew, changing people and things with it. And here I am at the doorstep of yet another day, full of anticipations,hopes and aspirations. Papa was right he always was "

Akansha stared at her monitor. She had typed the last few words to complete the day's blog. Seated in her consultation room,  was this young achiever

Dr. Akansha Sharma, twice the winner for the best paper presentation in the field of oncology, and a well known budding writer too. There was no doubt that any man would be attracted by her charm, grace and her subtle yet powerful command. It was definite that she made her effect felt. Be it academia or extra curricular.. akansha's name was among the topper's list.

Akansha flicked her monitor off. It was past 4pm, and she was not expecting any patients for the rest of the evning. It  was an important evening and she wud have 2 stay away from her duty for the rest of the day and give her time for something, which she had been waiting for the past 4 yrs. She drew the blinds aside and let the air sooth her. She closed her eyes and let memories take over her. For the umpteenth time in the past nine years she caught herself thinking back to that night, which changed her life for once and all.

It was second year of her mbbs and akansha had been seated in her room going thru' her text books on anatomy. In the drawing room her papa,mama and younger brother were busy watching a movie. Akansha was immersed in her studies when she had seen a sudden flash of light. Then all she remembered was a strong pair of arms gripping her and ushering her towards the door.. she was coughing and panting by then. It was only after she came out of the door that she realized the house was on fire. Her papa had brought her out. He merely nodded at her as he bolted back into the house to rescue her mama n lil ankit. A wave of  nausea took over her as she realized the grave danger her family was in .Inside  her papa was.. battling with the fire.. what would happen to him, mama and ankit??? Her mind had been a whirlwind of thoughts before she collapsed. Later that night as she still lay on her bed in the casualty room absorbing the reality that both her mama and brother had succumbed to the fire and that her father was at the doorstep of death, a nurse took her by the arm and ushered her to the ICU where her dad was battling death. After giving her a few instructions she had left.

Akansha stared at the burnt mass which was once her father. There was only a beating heart that made him different frm the charred building.. his face was burnt beyond recognition. His features were lost he was wrapped in white.. and only his eyes were visible. It was the best feature of her papa.. his warm and kind eyes. It had a distinct sparkle of intelligence. When every other feature of his was burnt.. it seemed to akansha that his eyes were communicating. He beckoned her to sit near him with what was once his hand the hands in which he carried her as a baby akansha forced those thoughts aside. Her father took her hand in his own bandage covered ones..and looked into her eyes. In a moment there seemed to be a supernatural power in him. He spoke although his voice was muffled.. askansha drank each word that issued out of that mouth

"akansha dear, I'm going to be frank with u.. like I had been till this very day. things are going to be tough for u hereafter. Without me, mama, and ankit. But I must tell u, dun feel u r devastated that everything has been torn away frm u. u still have everything. What others have within their eyesight, u have away frm urs. U have to complete ur studies and come out with flying colors. And promise papa, that u wud never cry . Wen u cry, ur vision gets blurred and u will never be able to see the aim. So till u reach ur goal never cry. We are always near u. I've seen to it that u r well taken care of ."

Those last words of her papa had pushed Akansha to where she was today. That night which claimed not only her parents and brother..but also the hundreds of dreams that they had seen together. She lived with her uncle and complted her graduation. She had missed all of them.. at evey moment in her life. But her papa's words kept echoing in her mind.

'madam!' her servant's voice brought akansha back to reality. 'the driver is waiting. Its 5 already u know ' akansha flashed her a smile and gave her instructions before she headed to the door.

She was at the parking area of the new building in 15 mins. The white building 3 floors high had a sign that hung over it. It read , 'PRATHYASHA.. PAIN AND PALIATIVE CARE CENTRE', akansha walked past the row of guests. She was overcome with satisfaction as she saw the board indicating the panel of doctors. They were the best in the country who were ready to serve for a noble cause. Akansha had been clear about the mission of pratyasha. It was not a super speciality hospital which promised to bring the dying alive. But in its own way it promises to alleviate the pain and suffering of people who r made to wait a trifle longer before the death's door opens to them. Pratyasha would accept all cases. There was no fee scheme. People were free to donate what they think the institution and the facilities it provided deserved.

' pratyasha was my dream. I had nurtured it for nine years as my own baby. Its today that this dream is coming true. I am glad to stand before u on this auspicious occasion. Pratyasha will..in its own ways redefine medical science. Here treatment involves not only stethoscopes and sutures and syringes and currency notes, but also heart. Our panel of doctors will ensure that the entrants feel..that they do care. This institution I dedicate to my papa.. without whose guidance I would have never achieved what I am today' as her voice drownd in a huge applause.. akansha relished the satisfaction of conquering situations and achieving a goal in life.

High above in the clear march sky a star shone brightly and stood out among others. 

                                                                 ANITHA KAVERI

SILVER LINING a ray of hope

The shades of the window were drawn, and the crisp air was streaming into a little room. Beside the window a rocking chair rocked rhythmically,on which sat Reema. Reema , who in her days at college was notorious for her break the rules act reema who was the 1^st one in the college gallant enough to start an affair with a senior in a college which was so much hailed for its strict regime. Bright, beautiful, bold and confident.. were the 4 words which in the Oxford dictionary were reserved for describing her. With her knee length long black hair,and eyes sparkling with vitality, reema had stolen hearts of dozen boys in her college. But Shiv was the lucky dog. Their relationship took a start abruptly..nad went on even after he passed out of the college. Inspite of  the oppositions from both homes the couple had bravely decided to seal their marriage with a 'heart soul and senses' vow. Thus the two dynamic, young and happening youths had stepped into a world of their own,with hopes and aspirations high. The oppositions at shiv's home had worn out and since they didn't want their only son to be unhappy they welcomed the couple home .

Reema thought back to those days ..only for the hundredth time in the last fifteen years. It was seven years since she made her choice for a life time. Nobody who knew the real reema would believe that this lady sitting in the rocking chair clutching an old album was the same as the old reema. The beautiful mane of black hair was replaced with short hair that reached barely upto her shoulders. The vitality in her eyes had vanished somewhere unknown. The crow’s feet at the corner of her eyes and the dark circles under them showed that she had forgotten what good sleep was

Reema was brought back to world from her thoughts when the phone rang. 'Where the hell are u Reema? people are waiting for u. don't tell me u've forgotten or is there something wrong? Oh my god..is Anirudh ok? Please tell me reema whats keeping u held?' . Reema felt exasperation reeping into the tone of her best friend Sakshi. Sakshi had been her last resort when her life truned into a mess. She had helped her with everything she could.. Reema and her son Anirudh would always be indebted to Sakshi for her lion heartedness. 'Sakshi..i'm sorry. I think I overslept. Nothing to worry. We will be down there in 20 mins. Just manage it for me. I wouldn't take long'.  Reema hung up and got dressed quickly. She had just finished bathing anirudh and putting him to sleep,when she decided to spend some time alone. She woke Anirudh fronm sleep and he screamed instantly. Mouthing a few conslotations she carried him to the car and drove to the hall where the meeting was being held.

The banner outside the auditorium bore in bold letters, 'AUTISM AND SOCIETY Lecture by Dr.Reema'. reema helped Anirudh out of the car and walked to the podium. ' ladies and gentlemen. A vey good evening. Let me begin with an apology for being late. I do not want to waste any more of ur time so I will start right away .' As Reema went on with her talk Sakshi looked at Anirudh already mellowing. He was big for his age.. the boy would turn 13 in a few days. She looked at him as he looked intently at a flower pot on the table and took it into his hands and stared at it. He tried showing it to his mother who was speaking..and when he couldn't claim her attention he cried in fact he wailed,loudly. Sakshi went to his side immediately as the crowd were already eyeing the autistic boy critically. She lead him away talking to him politely and fished into the bag reema always carried containing anirudh's toys. The boy laughed tru his tears and a thousand hearts would have melted instantly. He stacked the building blocks one over the other and smashed them and then he stacked them up all over again. He kept making noises.. loud meaningless throaty voices sakshi couldn't stop her tears this time also. She wished her friend wouldn't have to pass thru this alone. Reema and shiv had had a vey happy married life until Anirudh arrived. Expensive honeymoons, loving in-laws,loving husband reema had everything she wanted. But anirudh was born autistic.. . a congenital disorder. Nothing could be done to cure him. He was 13 but possessed lesser brain than a 5 yr old. Anirudh's birth had rocked reema's life. Her in-laws rejected the child plainly. Her mother in law considered anirudh a bad omen. To reema's astonishment shiv was also behaving different. He kept himself busy at work. Rarely spoke to her and didn't lift anirudh even once in his arms. Finally when she could take it no more reema had quitetly walked out of the house. Sakshi had helped her to rent a place,to find a job and then continue her studies,taken her to a psychologist who helped her accept the fact that her son needed her time..completely. And that if he could get any better it must be with her support.

' so these children expect orderliness. They cannot tolerate when things are moved from their usual locations. Adolescence as u know is the time when hormonal changes occur. These children donot understand the difference between their mother or any other women. At the slightest rise of hormones they tend to shed their clothes the pain in watching the body of an autistic child grow but not the mind is excruciating.you see this short hair of mine..this was once long till my knee..but when anirudh started getting angry..he wud pull on it till a few strands got in his hands.' she stopped for a while to catch breath and continued. 'But let me stress once again. These children are special they are special children and NOT to be called as mentally retarded..they are challenged. Don't treat them as a burden…but as a medium through which god made u feel special. Because they need more care than normal children they need more love and it is impossible to see the love reflect in their eyes once u start loving them.''

She concluded her lecture. Reema talked to a few other parents who shared her fate. She made them feel better and meant each word she said. Sakshi thought how reema had fought her way to the top. She was a Phd holder now. And was having a satisfactory life of her own with her son. She thought for a moment whether reema missed shiv. Well it was clear that even if she did she had buried him in some corner of her mind.

As reema  drove with anirudh prattling on the passenger's seat, she thought of shiv. She knew she would forgive him if he ever walked back into her life, only and only if he accepted their son in the way she did. Breaking into her thoughts Anirudh pulled at her sari and planted a kiss on her cheek which made her feel the happiest mother in the world. When she got out in front of their little house, she couldn't miss the huge cloud that drifted over her head she smiled at the silver lining and thought.. 'every cloud has a silver lining''.