Nitali and Nihir are getting ready for school. They are feeling ebullient since it is the last day of school and time for their summer vacation. They have plans for their vacation: eat, play, read, color and travel. They spot Khiskoli playing in the vrksa. Khiskoli has a plan too. It is Khiskoli’s first summer by … Continue reading Khiskoli’s adventures: First summer alone
Originally posted on Longreads:
Katy Kelleher | Longreads | March 2019 | 16 minutes (4,107 words) In The Ugly History of Beautiful Things, Katy Kelleher lays bare the dark underbellies of the things we adorn ourselves with. Previously: the grisly sides of perfume and angora. * * * “There was once upon a time a… Continue reading The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Pearls
Instant Coffee was a charm Instant milk was a novelty! What a craze! When growing up… Oh! Lest I forget the instant news On an old black and white tv Then came noodles…Instant noodles… ‘Ready in bas 2 minutes.’ the ad said Now, everything is in an ‘Instant’… Granted by CEOs who want to gift … Continue reading My ‘Instant’ life…
In my constant search for God, I forget that kindness and gratitude Are pillar stones of God And what is important to be right or to be kind? In my selfishness, I do not see, The silent tears, The quiet sobbing, The loud rage, In those beautiful eyes I do not hear, The despair, in … Continue reading Seeking Compassion….
Once upon a time outside the village of Rakhigarhi, there lived a snake a.k.a. saap, named Cobra. Cobra was well known for his viciousness nature to the villagers, he had bitten many, hurt many more and killed quite a few. The villagers avoided his nesting area. One day, a group of boys were playing with … Continue reading The Snake a.k.a. saap
People had been shouting in the darkness, there was lot of pulling and pushing in the darkness. When the lights come on again, the diamond was gone. Nitali and Nihir, stare around in a daze as the Hall goes into lockdown. They are scared they will never see Nana and Nani again. The strange couple … Continue reading The Koh-i-nur [Part 2]
As Nihir and Nitali delve into the 10 virtues with Ba, “The first and most important of the 10 is forgiveness or Uttam Kshama.” “Like when I say sorry to Nihir after taking his things and Nihir says ok.” quips Nitali. “Partly, Nitali… it is ‘authentic forgiveness’, that is with humility and with no anger … Continue reading Das Lakshan or 10 virtues
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Nitali and Nihir are traveling to Mumbai to spend time with Nana and Nani [maternal grandfather and gradmother]. Ba shares her memories of growing up Mumbai, and of how beautiful it looks during Diwali, almost like celebrating Christmas in October. She said “There are lights and Kandeels [color paper lanterns] … Continue reading The Koh-i-nur [Part 1]
It was a lazy sunday afternoon, Nitali and Nihir had just had their favorite meal of Dal Dhokli. They went to the room to nap with their Ba and Bapu. As with other Sundays, Nitali put her head on her dad’s right arm and Nihir on the left arm. Nihir asks Bapu “Would you tell … Continue reading Of donkey and men
Once upon a time, there was a crow named Kagdo. He was black and beautiful. He lived in Nitali and Nihir’s yard. He ate food scraps from their kitchen and drank water from their bird bath. One day, after a yummy lunch, of salty fries, he got thirsty and went to the bird bath, next … Continue reading The thirsty crow a.k.a. kagdo
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