I love green . Green is the sign of prosperity . Green is soothing to eyes , its a serene color . And she was wearing aquamarine green outfit - a shade of green which we see if we look at deep sea . She was elegant , bright , sober and well dressed draped in aquamarine green - the color I love .So it was not unusual for me to fall flat for her right at the first encounter .
She has been my partner for more than eight years . She can not be forgotten . During all ups and downs of my life , she was there . Whether during rains , chilly winter or scorching heat , she was by my side .
During heavy rains she will just surround me , embrace me and prevent the rains from touching my body . Oh , how secure I felt !
She has been there during scorching heat . She did not allow the rays to touch my face . She used to shower on me a cool breeze . In that cool breeze , my eyes would automatically shut and I felt like going in to a deep slumber .
During chilly winter , she would give me warmth . In her lap I felt safe . She would keep away the chilly wind .
Whether I was in jolly mood or otherwise , my this darling would caress me and cool me down . She would as if sing her heart out to me when I was in blue mood . She was my Love .
The days are never always the same . Human heart must not be trusted . Especially a man always has one or other weakness . I have weakness for beauty . I can not possibly blame myself for this . After all its the rule of the nature to fall for beauty ! History shows that even the Gods and rishis have fallen for beauty .
One fine day , I met another beauty , very elegant , beautiful , sophisticated , and charming . My heart dwindled and from that moment , my inclination was towards the new entrant in my life . My Love must have understood this . She must have felt how cruel I have been to her , for I have used her for so many years . During good and bad days , she shared with me all the joys and agony , but now the time had changed . She must have felt it . A night before , when I had finally decided to leave her for ever , I touched her tenderly , kissed her and embraced her .
“You have been my love for years darling , but you see , my heart is weak and feeble . I am unable to resist the beauty of the new entrant in my life .” She possibly understood . She said nothing . But I could feel her silent cry . She definitely did not want to leave me . I had always been very gentle and loving towards her . Did she feel cheated ? Did she say that a man must not be believed .
How unfaithful a man could be !!
I handed her over to an unknown person with broken heart . He took her away from me . I felt a sharp shooting pain in my heart . Then I realized for the first time that I had fallen in her love . But it was too late to withdraw from my commitments to the new beauty . I looked at my Love being towed away and with heavy heart I waved her good bye .
She was my aquamarine green car of last eight years .
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Aborted Love
I had fallen in love .
She was a beautiful lass in her twenties , fair , charming and always smiling . When she talked , stars glittered and a sweet fragrance spread all around . She had dove like eyes . A sweet smile adored her face . With movements of her head , her earrings would dance . Her wavy hairs played hide and seek game on her innocent face .
I saw her first in a social gathering while celebrating Durga Pooja . I saw her offering prayers to the goddess . With closed eyes and calm face she looked exceptionally beautiful . I thought that I must get acquainted with her . But how to start ? Soon I got an opportunity , she was sitting alone in the pooja pandal . Where the heart loves , there the legs walk .
I approached her and asked , “ Pinki , when did you come here ?”
She said smilingly , “ Since an hour , but by the way , I am not Pinki , but I am Anju . ” Albeit I knew that she is not Pinki but that was my way of finding out her name !
“Oh , Anju , your face looks so familiar , by the way , do you stay in civil lines ? ” I must know where she stays.
“ I stay in Ramdaspeth ” said she and added , “ why don’t you just say that you wished to talk to me ”. We both laughed . We developed a good friendship over a period of time .
Later whenever she met me , my heart would sing a wild song , it would race fast and my face would turn pink .
She took keen interest in whatever I did . She had a good sense of humor .
Once with a trembling heart , I proposed her to accompany me for a movie . To my great delight she agreed instantly .
On the D day , I decided that in order to impress her , I must look smart . I had a clean shave . Looked at the mirror , oh , no , not good enough , I shaved again . I wore nicest dress , looked myself thousands of times in the mirror . Do I look presentable ? Oh, no , my shirt does not go well with my trousers . I changed the shirt , looked at the mirror , oh no , the shirt is definitely sparkling , but the trouser looked a bit dull . Now it was the turn of the trouser to be changed . It went on and on and on . Some time I changed the wrist watch , at times the handkerchief , applied a little powder and thought the next moment that it looks little too much , and washed my face off the powder . My shirt got wet in the process . I had to change the shirt but then the new shirt again did not go well with my trouser !
I had my shoes shined and spent half an hour to give my shoes a shiny look .
At last , I got ready . I sprayed a little perfume and started for theatre hall . Am I too early to reach ? She will presume that I am too eager to meet her . Oh , no , I should be reaching the hall little late . In fact , let her wait for me . Very thought of her waiting for me gave me a sense of déjà vu .
I reached the hall just little ahead of the time . Soon I saw the sweet thing reaching the hall . She wore a light pink attire – the color of romance .
‘Hello’, said she .
‘Hi ’, I replied . ‘ How is life ?’ I asked her with full enthusiasm .
But my enthusiasm dampened a little . She was accompanied by a boy . My heart sank . Who could he be ? Love is blind , friendship closes its eyes .
“ Meet my fiancée , Arun ” she gave a sweet smile and introduced the lad , who I felt was most indecently dressed , his shirt did not match with his trousers , had face full of unkempt beard , wore dirty shoes .
Many are the roads that do not lead to the heart . I felt like having eaten few quinine tablets . My love feelings evaporated in to thin air .
She was a beautiful lass in her twenties , fair , charming and always smiling . When she talked , stars glittered and a sweet fragrance spread all around . She had dove like eyes . A sweet smile adored her face . With movements of her head , her earrings would dance . Her wavy hairs played hide and seek game on her innocent face .
I saw her first in a social gathering while celebrating Durga Pooja . I saw her offering prayers to the goddess . With closed eyes and calm face she looked exceptionally beautiful . I thought that I must get acquainted with her . But how to start ? Soon I got an opportunity , she was sitting alone in the pooja pandal . Where the heart loves , there the legs walk .
I approached her and asked , “ Pinki , when did you come here ?”
She said smilingly , “ Since an hour , but by the way , I am not Pinki , but I am Anju . ” Albeit I knew that she is not Pinki but that was my way of finding out her name !
“Oh , Anju , your face looks so familiar , by the way , do you stay in civil lines ? ” I must know where she stays.
“ I stay in Ramdaspeth ” said she and added , “ why don’t you just say that you wished to talk to me ”. We both laughed . We developed a good friendship over a period of time .
Later whenever she met me , my heart would sing a wild song , it would race fast and my face would turn pink .
She took keen interest in whatever I did . She had a good sense of humor .
Once with a trembling heart , I proposed her to accompany me for a movie . To my great delight she agreed instantly .
On the D day , I decided that in order to impress her , I must look smart . I had a clean shave . Looked at the mirror , oh , no , not good enough , I shaved again . I wore nicest dress , looked myself thousands of times in the mirror . Do I look presentable ? Oh, no , my shirt does not go well with my trousers . I changed the shirt , looked at the mirror , oh no , the shirt is definitely sparkling , but the trouser looked a bit dull . Now it was the turn of the trouser to be changed . It went on and on and on . Some time I changed the wrist watch , at times the handkerchief , applied a little powder and thought the next moment that it looks little too much , and washed my face off the powder . My shirt got wet in the process . I had to change the shirt but then the new shirt again did not go well with my trouser !
I had my shoes shined and spent half an hour to give my shoes a shiny look .
At last , I got ready . I sprayed a little perfume and started for theatre hall . Am I too early to reach ? She will presume that I am too eager to meet her . Oh , no , I should be reaching the hall little late . In fact , let her wait for me . Very thought of her waiting for me gave me a sense of déjà vu .
I reached the hall just little ahead of the time . Soon I saw the sweet thing reaching the hall . She wore a light pink attire – the color of romance .
‘Hello’, said she .
‘Hi ’, I replied . ‘ How is life ?’ I asked her with full enthusiasm .
But my enthusiasm dampened a little . She was accompanied by a boy . My heart sank . Who could he be ? Love is blind , friendship closes its eyes .
“ Meet my fiancée , Arun ” she gave a sweet smile and introduced the lad , who I felt was most indecently dressed , his shirt did not match with his trousers , had face full of unkempt beard , wore dirty shoes .
Many are the roads that do not lead to the heart . I felt like having eaten few quinine tablets . My love feelings evaporated in to thin air .
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Lucrative Dowry
She is very sweet , beautiful and pretty . With her unkempt careless hairs touching her rosy cheeks and innocent looks , she must be a heart throb of many youths . So it is natural for any one to fall in love with her .
First time I saw her was when she was moving around in the Taj corridors at Agra she was looking at Taj with awe , wondering if any one could make such a magnificent structure just for love !
Next time I saw this beauty was at Jaipur palace with a bright tikka on her fore head on the occasion of holi . She was holding her dear papa’s hand .
I saw all these in television off course .
Her name is Chelesa and her father is Bill . As in case of most fathers , Bill must also be worried about the marriage of his only daughter , an apple of his eyes .
Recently she has been proposed . What if Bill is ex-president of United States , he too must have felt relieved to get a proposal of marriage for his loving daughter from a distant corner of Kenya . The dowry is also very lucrative , 40 goats and 20 cows !
This reminds me of miss Allis , another beauty from distant Swaziland , whom I happened to meet in Cape Town a couple of years back . I felt interested as she was also a practicing doctor - a homeopath , practicing in Swaziland . She was about 22 yrs old , fair beauty , 6’2’’ tall and naturally attractive . She had come to South Africa to meet her friend at Cape Town during the period I was working in Groote Schuur Hospital . As we were gossiping over a tea , she told me how she had been proposed by a young man who had offered 6 cows and 10 goats as dowry to her father . Unlike India , in African tribes , the custom is just reverse . Its the groom who offers dowry to the bride’s father . When Allis turned down the proposal , the man commented as how foolish she was to refuse such a nice proposal . After all “ 6 cows and 10 goats” , that’s rich dowry for a girl like Allis !
In African continent , only the rich landlords can afford to offer such proposals .
Swaziland by itself is a very interesting country . Love flows freely here . It is not unnatural then that the incidence of HIV and AIDS is maximum in this poor country . Swaziland is surrounded by South Africa from all sides . It depends upon that country for almost everything .
Swaziland is ruled by a king . The existing king is about 37 years old and has eleven wives and innumerable children most of whom he does not know by name. I do understand his dilemma – how can one remember the names of so many kids!
The king of Swaziland has a wonderful custom to choose his wife .On his birthday he holds a grand party. All the young and beautiful ladies across his kingdom are invited to this annual event . The girl he fancies is chosen as his wife. He of course presents a dowry to bride’s father . No father can possibly resist the temptation of royal dowry and no girl can resist the title of “ her highness” , even though it is only till the king’s next birthday when he chooses a new wife.
This custom is going on since many generations . The present king’s father had 42 wives .
One interesting fact Allis told me was that the present king is very intelligent and handsome . She was also invited to the palace once for the annual reception , but could not be that lucky one to be called as “her highness”.
Another fact she revealed was that the present king is very careful person – all his wives undergo HIV testing annually!!
First time I saw her was when she was moving around in the Taj corridors at Agra she was looking at Taj with awe , wondering if any one could make such a magnificent structure just for love !
Next time I saw this beauty was at Jaipur palace with a bright tikka on her fore head on the occasion of holi . She was holding her dear papa’s hand .
I saw all these in television off course .
Her name is Chelesa and her father is Bill . As in case of most fathers , Bill must also be worried about the marriage of his only daughter , an apple of his eyes .
Recently she has been proposed . What if Bill is ex-president of United States , he too must have felt relieved to get a proposal of marriage for his loving daughter from a distant corner of Kenya . The dowry is also very lucrative , 40 goats and 20 cows !
This reminds me of miss Allis , another beauty from distant Swaziland , whom I happened to meet in Cape Town a couple of years back . I felt interested as she was also a practicing doctor - a homeopath , practicing in Swaziland . She was about 22 yrs old , fair beauty , 6’2’’ tall and naturally attractive . She had come to South Africa to meet her friend at Cape Town during the period I was working in Groote Schuur Hospital . As we were gossiping over a tea , she told me how she had been proposed by a young man who had offered 6 cows and 10 goats as dowry to her father . Unlike India , in African tribes , the custom is just reverse . Its the groom who offers dowry to the bride’s father . When Allis turned down the proposal , the man commented as how foolish she was to refuse such a nice proposal . After all “ 6 cows and 10 goats” , that’s rich dowry for a girl like Allis !
In African continent , only the rich landlords can afford to offer such proposals .
Swaziland by itself is a very interesting country . Love flows freely here . It is not unnatural then that the incidence of HIV and AIDS is maximum in this poor country . Swaziland is surrounded by South Africa from all sides . It depends upon that country for almost everything .
Swaziland is ruled by a king . The existing king is about 37 years old and has eleven wives and innumerable children most of whom he does not know by name. I do understand his dilemma – how can one remember the names of so many kids!
The king of Swaziland has a wonderful custom to choose his wife .On his birthday he holds a grand party. All the young and beautiful ladies across his kingdom are invited to this annual event . The girl he fancies is chosen as his wife. He of course presents a dowry to bride’s father . No father can possibly resist the temptation of royal dowry and no girl can resist the title of “ her highness” , even though it is only till the king’s next birthday when he chooses a new wife.
This custom is going on since many generations . The present king’s father had 42 wives .
One interesting fact Allis told me was that the present king is very intelligent and handsome . She was also invited to the palace once for the annual reception , but could not be that lucky one to be called as “her highness”.
Another fact she revealed was that the present king is very careful person – all his wives undergo HIV testing annually!!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
The Bald Truth
I loved my father very much . He was well built , hard worker , had a deep voice and could sing well . He was a poet , used to pen nice Bengali and English poems . Occasionally , during our school days, he would write Hindi poems for us . He was a towering personality . He was tall , handsome and was bald . His bald forehead had added to his personality . During my child hood days , I wished to follow his footsteps . I wanted to be like him .
But as I grew up , as compared to him , I found myself a dwarf in every aspect. I am neither well built , nor a hard worker . I do not posses qualities of poetry writing and can not sing well .However I inherited one thing from him -- baldness . As I reached thirty plus , I found my lovely dense hairs getting sparse and gradually my beautiful hairs bid me good bye .
There was an intense struggle on my part to hide this baldness. I started spending more time in combing and bring the remaining hairs on the bald portion . But the mirror always spoke the truth .
Gradually I started accepting the truth of life - yes I am bald .
There are many benefits of being bald . I do not have to spend on hair oil which is a costly commodity . I save a lot on shampoo , hair creams , herbal products etc. As I have very few hairs left on my head , I do not have to colour my hairs black like my other colleagues do.
If we see the history of the world , most of the great men were bald . Father of the nation , our beloved mahatma Gandhi was bald . Every one knows his contribution in freedom struggle . At that time did any one say , see mahatma , you are bald ! In fact people fell at his feet , feet of a great man , who we all must realize , was bald .
The architect of modern India is Jawaharlal Nehru . He was intelligent , far sighted and honest to the core . He decided the destiny of the country and off course - he too was bald .
Netaji Subhash , a brave leader , who was president of Indian National Congress , who fooled the English men following his house arrest , whom even Hitler respected for his courage , too was bald .
Music maestro S.D.Burman, Naushad , Roshan, directors Hrishikesh Mukherjee , Yash Chopra , Mahesh Bhatt are all bald. Who can forget versatile Rafi, Talat , Manna and Mukesh who ruled over the hearts of many , they were great and off course bald .
Intelligence and baldness go hand in hand . Almost all noble laureates have receding hair line .
Baldness is a sign of prosperity . Most of the multibillionaires are bald . They have palatial houses , big business empires and fleet of four wheelers . Presently I am also thinking of purchasing a second hand bicycle !
It is a known fact that the cause of baldness is male hormone . Those who are more sexy , are bald . As I remember my bachelorhood days , a gush of adrenalin flows in to my veins , my heart gallops fast like a wild horse and ear-pinnas become warm . At this point I must not reveal stories of my good old golden days lest this article be read by my beloved wife !
Unlike general perception , baldy men are cool headed . Shiny bald head reflects light and keeps the head cool . While a head full of black hairs absorbs light & heat and tends to be hot . Besides this , bald head is in direct contact with environment and hence better ventilated . During rains , a person with head full of hairs is likely to retain moisture and catch cold but a baldy will not .
When there are so many advantages of being bald , I really feel proud to be an egg headed and do not feel necessity of hiding my prestigious baldness with a wig . Nor do I feel an urge to grow vegetations on my unfertile head with chemical or bio-fertilisers . Afterall , baldness is a divine gift , very few fortunate ones get this boon .
As I was writing this article , my nephew Satyajeet entered my home , he is a young man with dense hairs on his head . As it was friendship day , he was planning to meet his friends . He had parted his hairs like John Abraham , today’s matinee idol and has even colored his hairs bronze in the middle . I looked at him wistfully and sighed , alas , if I could move the hands of the clock anticlockwise !!
Shibu 18.8.05
But as I grew up , as compared to him , I found myself a dwarf in every aspect. I am neither well built , nor a hard worker . I do not posses qualities of poetry writing and can not sing well .However I inherited one thing from him -- baldness . As I reached thirty plus , I found my lovely dense hairs getting sparse and gradually my beautiful hairs bid me good bye .
There was an intense struggle on my part to hide this baldness. I started spending more time in combing and bring the remaining hairs on the bald portion . But the mirror always spoke the truth .
Gradually I started accepting the truth of life - yes I am bald .
There are many benefits of being bald . I do not have to spend on hair oil which is a costly commodity . I save a lot on shampoo , hair creams , herbal products etc. As I have very few hairs left on my head , I do not have to colour my hairs black like my other colleagues do.
If we see the history of the world , most of the great men were bald . Father of the nation , our beloved mahatma Gandhi was bald . Every one knows his contribution in freedom struggle . At that time did any one say , see mahatma , you are bald ! In fact people fell at his feet , feet of a great man , who we all must realize , was bald .
The architect of modern India is Jawaharlal Nehru . He was intelligent , far sighted and honest to the core . He decided the destiny of the country and off course - he too was bald .
Netaji Subhash , a brave leader , who was president of Indian National Congress , who fooled the English men following his house arrest , whom even Hitler respected for his courage , too was bald .
Music maestro S.D.Burman, Naushad , Roshan, directors Hrishikesh Mukherjee , Yash Chopra , Mahesh Bhatt are all bald. Who can forget versatile Rafi, Talat , Manna and Mukesh who ruled over the hearts of many , they were great and off course bald .
Intelligence and baldness go hand in hand . Almost all noble laureates have receding hair line .
Baldness is a sign of prosperity . Most of the multibillionaires are bald . They have palatial houses , big business empires and fleet of four wheelers . Presently I am also thinking of purchasing a second hand bicycle !
It is a known fact that the cause of baldness is male hormone . Those who are more sexy , are bald . As I remember my bachelorhood days , a gush of adrenalin flows in to my veins , my heart gallops fast like a wild horse and ear-pinnas become warm . At this point I must not reveal stories of my good old golden days lest this article be read by my beloved wife !
Unlike general perception , baldy men are cool headed . Shiny bald head reflects light and keeps the head cool . While a head full of black hairs absorbs light & heat and tends to be hot . Besides this , bald head is in direct contact with environment and hence better ventilated . During rains , a person with head full of hairs is likely to retain moisture and catch cold but a baldy will not .
When there are so many advantages of being bald , I really feel proud to be an egg headed and do not feel necessity of hiding my prestigious baldness with a wig . Nor do I feel an urge to grow vegetations on my unfertile head with chemical or bio-fertilisers . Afterall , baldness is a divine gift , very few fortunate ones get this boon .
As I was writing this article , my nephew Satyajeet entered my home , he is a young man with dense hairs on his head . As it was friendship day , he was planning to meet his friends . He had parted his hairs like John Abraham , today’s matinee idol and has even colored his hairs bronze in the middle . I looked at him wistfully and sighed , alas , if I could move the hands of the clock anticlockwise !!
Shibu 18.8.05
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