Lost and dreaming

Shreeti became conscious of the existence of the city in which she was born and brought up when her teacher asked her to pen down an essay on the same. All the ten years she had taken the city for granted, exploiting it's offers but blissfully oblivious of its glory.
Shreeti nervously kept biting the butt of her pencil until the the small eraser attached to it started dusting off in granules small and large. The ringing of the bell, alarmed her back to awareness and reality. The teacher strolled up to her, gave her the disapproving look and retorted.. "Obviously you were lost!"
Shreeti stood up with a bowed head, still caught between fear and confusion. The teacher struck a ruthless red mark on the notebook, leaving a warning that the work must be done by the next day.
Shreeti rushed back home. In her soiled socks and crumpled tunic, her grumbles awakened her mother Sarita, to her daughter's dilemma. Flipping through the pages, mother could be seen changing her expressions from concern to thoughtfulness.
Sarita cancelled Shreeti's after school tuition for the day. After a brief nap, dressed Shreeti up in crisp clothes and took her out in her meek and humble gearless moped.
"Look around baby, this is the city the streets you have been well acquainted in all the years. Try to overlook the balloons and ice cream parlours and enjoy the sight of other things around." Mother even stopped to point at the sacrosanct temples,age old churches, magestic monuments on the way.
Zooming through the winding ways, seated comfortably holding her mother's waist  Shreeti gaped at the huge trees, the scribbled walls and the stone forts. The cool breeze of the flanking river almost lullabied her to sleep.
On the way back Shreeti complained about the quick return, even pointed at the incompleteness of the tour without the show-stopper cone of ice cream.
However she was dragged back lest darkness befall the city and Sarita's freedom as the woman of the house. At the dinner table shreeti mumbled to herself, as her mother stepped nearer and stuffed a little food into her mouth. Stroking her hair affectionately Sarita spoke with a stern voice.. "Do the pending essay baby. You might be punished tomorrow". Shreeti's sleepy eyes were barely open till the end of dinner, let alone do a couple pages of writing.
The next morning Sarita sent her off disappointed, feeling helpless and guilty of her inadequate vigilance about the girl. Shreeti meekly mumbled to the teacher.."the dog ate my homework."
In her mind she had flashbacks of mother's futile efforts to educate her and attempts to induce sincerity. The teacher's scolding appeared like mere ranting. Her eyes had nearly moistened when a renewed voice and consciousness had spoken out.. "But I remember all I had written and can speak it out right away"
At further encouragement the daughter began with unabated flow and confidence, words of glory about Cuttack, the optimistic note behind the closely packed houses and ever increasing traffic. The stories about the brave rulers who reigned from age unknown. When she couldn't recall things in precision, Shreeti made up small parts to arouse interest and attention. As she finished off the apparent essay and real extempore, she was beaming and shining with sounds of a standing ovation of the students and the teacher alike.
News spread home and Sarita gave her a loving scolding for having lied at school. Secretly Sarita had decided to discontinue Shreeti's tuitions for good while happily treating her daughter to a double doze of chocolate ice cream and muffin.

Lost and dreaming

Shreeti became conscious of the existence of the city in which she was born and brought up when her teacher asked her to pen down an essay on the same. All the ten years she had taken the city for granted, exploiting it's offers but blissfully oblivious of its glory.
Shreeti nervously kept biting the butt of her pencil unless the the small eraser attached to it started dusting off in granules small and large. The ringing of the bell, alarmed her back to awareness and reality. The teacher strolled up to her, gave her the disapproving look and retorted.. "Obviously you were lost!"
Shreeti stood up with a bowed head, still caught between fear and confusion. The teacher struck a ruthless red mark on the notebook, leaving a warning that the work must be done by the next day.
Shreeti rushed back home. In her soiled socks and crumpled tunic, her grumbles awakened her mother Sarita, to her daughter's dilemma. Flipping through the pages, mother could be seen change her expressions from concern to thoughtfulness.
Sarita cancelled Shreeti's after school tuition for the day. After a brief nap, dressed Shreeti up in crisp clothes and took her out in her meek and humble gearless moped.
"Look around baby, this is the city the streets you have been well acquainted in all the years. Try to overlook the balloons and ice cream parlours and enjoy the sight of other things around." Mother even stopped to point at the sacrosanct temples,age old churches, magestic monuments on the way.
Zooming through the winding ways, seated comfortably holding her mother's waist  Shreeti gaped at the huge trees, the scribbled walls and the stone forts. The cool breeze of the flanking river almost lullabied her to sleep.
On the way back Shreeti complained about the quick return, even pointed at the incompleteness of the tour without the show-stopper cone of ice cream.
However she was dragged back lest darkness befall the city and Sarita's freedom as the woman of the house. At the dinner table shreeti mumbled to herself, as her mother stepped nearer and stuffed a little food into her mouth. Stroking her hair affectionately Sarita spoke with a stern voice.. "Do the pending essay baby. You might be punished tomorrow". Shreeti's sleepy eyes were barely open till the end of dinner, let alone do a couple pages of writing.
The next morning Sarita send her off disappointed, feeling helpless and guilty of her inadequate vigilance about the girl. Shreeti meekly mumbled to the teacher.."the dog ate my homework."
In her mind she had flashbacks of mother's futile efforts to educate her and attempts to induce sincerity. The teacher's scolding appeared like mere ranting. Her eyes had nearly moistened when a renewed voice and consciousness had spoken out.. "But I remember all I had written and can speak it out right away"
At further encouragement the daughter began with unabated flow and confidence, words of glory about Cuttack, the optimistic note behind the closely packed houses and ever increasing traffic. The stories about the brave rulers who reigned from age unknown. When she couldn't recall things in precision. Shreeti made up small parts to arouse interest and attention. As she finished off the apparent essay and real extempore, she was beaming and shining with sounds of a standing vocation of the students and the teacher alike.
News spread home and Sarita gave her a loving scolding for having lied at school. Secretly Sarita had decided to discontinue Shreeti's tuitions for good while happily treating her daughter to a double doze of chocolate ice cream and muffin.

The rainbow in the heart!

She looked around. Her heart was aching, her mind blank. The dark clouds had begun collecting quickly over her head. A sudden gust of fine dust, sand and pieces of dried leaves blew on her face. Her frantic hands couldn't help shield her from the force of the wind.
With a vision that was blurring, feet that were trying to walk steady and a soul that was clueless she tried to rescue herself. The downpour of the weeping sky had drenched her completely by now. She was now seeking shelter under a high tree.
A shrill helpless call of a small a puppy caught her attention. Probably lost its path, probably left behind by the food-searching mother, probably a deliberate abandon. Whatever the case, it definitely needed help.
Shaila bent over. With careful approach, she drew nearer to it. With very little that she could do, she sat beside the pup at a distance and watched it for sometime. The dampness of the dried leaves had covered it's body on which it rolled and crawled. Intermittently it kicked it's meek legs and licked it's black mouth. With constant moves to draw attention, it rubbed its ears with its paws and buried it's face within his limbs and stomach.
The tiny creature soon grew calmer and silent. It looked hopefully at her, at her presence around. The rains had progressively slowed down and the sky was clearing for the soft sun. Shaila stood up and so did her lone company around.
The puppy shook itself vigorously drying it's fur off the last drop of water and cheerfully hoped a few steps ahead. It looked back and waited with a glitter in its happy eyes.
Shaila knew she had to leave. She knew it was late. She knew she could afford no more time to look into her bruised heart. Her mind quickly calculated the next few errands for the day. Looking up she saw a nice colourful bow in the sky. The damp sunny air lightened her heart. A quick smile spread across her face and flushed every pore of her existence.
As she walked away beaming with hope, the little steps cheerfully followed her wagging it's tail.

Happy feet

The tiny feet chased the bright wings, the flurried soul took a  swoop and perched elsewhere. Giggles, smiles and laughter.. He did not care if the prey was within reach. Struggling it's way through the bushes, he kept his gaze fixed on his next destination. A sharp thorn held him back by his yellow shirt. In an attempt to free himself hurriedly, the fingers bled badly. The infant had no clue.. Pain!! It cried out aloud.. Looked back.. the soft warm palms of his mother were not around to hold him, pick him up, console him or hand him over his stubborn target! The tiny soul was angry, tired but equally bemused. He considered abandoning his efforts and walking back across with a bruished heart and hand. His constant sobs would earn him all the favorite rewards through the day. The right to reject his daily food, the freedom to tear apart the magazines on the shelf, the colourful jellies at the local store from his father and even nibbling his mother's shoes without a slap on the back.
 But he looked far again..He couldn't lose sight of his shining prize, which now sat calmly and lightly against the edge of a petal some distance away.. The feeling of the drops of blood against his palm vanished, his fingers looked fine enough. Agony? Oh! It's all in the heart, but his heart was free and light as ever.. Painless, oblivious and reckless of the ideas the adults called 'reality'.
 In his own idea of work and play, he flung himself forward onto his task. A stubborn happy soul!

It takes "Two to Tango"

Swaying hands held in firm clasp,
Frills of silk ruffling its way through.
Meandering slides across in the ball,
Notes drifted away to the ears of the jubilant hearts.

As the shoes tiptoed back and forth,
High heels trace back with the advancing leader..
Open embraces shy not the eyes around,
Unclad back held strong by the trusted palm.

Bosoms swell in passion with every turn,
Heads swirling, smiles spreading, fluttering hair.
Articulate arms swift the touches around..
Whirling and curling their ways in the crowd.

Strengthened thighs entangle in quick succession,
As the music changes scale and note in between the magic.
Chords play to capture the perpetual brilliance,
Eyes lock and face away in the midas moment.

Feets tip...lashes glitter and hips in unison,
Music made visible to the naivest in the crowd
Hearts danced out..worries swept away
Hand in hand to the music they sway!