Shishukunj

A Halloween Night

A Halloween night with creepy sound
Hush – vush silently aloud
Dark sky with lights off
Ghost, phantom, monster sort of.

Lying alone with no other
Clock tick – tick, bells ringing
Praying for a rightful brother
behind me, a sound singing
“I will take you, I will eat you
after dying, none will miss you”

I thought of running away
but the ghost is so cunning
he will block my way

he opened his mouth to gulp me away
I woke up, he faded away
started packing cake and cream
Then I realized ” it was a dream”.

Put down your phones and pick up the Planet

About 80% of the total population of the world is addicted to phones. We find almost every person watching or chatting on social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram for hours but, they should be spending more time with nature and hearing the brawling river, chirping of crickets and chattering of birds in nature.
Now a crucial question ensues that “How can we spend more time with nature”? According to me, the finest tip is to pot some plants in our houses to get more affectionate and spend more time with them. We all know that plants take in CO2 and release Oxygen in order to make their food so, if we pot more plants in our houses, we will get fresh air and highly nutritious fruits and vegetables.
Watching phones can give you a never-ending backache and can make you obese sitting at one place, whereas walking on the lush green grass and observing the nature as well as birds can improve your mental skills and enrich your knowledge towards them.
One example that I would like to share is that during the Covid pandemic everything was locked, we were lonely, secured in our homes and cooking fancy dishes. I remember that my mother and I used to go for a walk at night to sense nature and observe it. I would like to conclude with a quote
“Time in nature soothes my soul lovingly wild”.

Village Women

As the time progressed, people’s views changed and women were respected and given more opportunities than in the past. They are now allowed to vote and take up any job. Women are now recognised worldwide but has anyone ever thought about the women living in the villages? I think not. Although they are being provided with facilities but not with a voice to protest or stand for themselves. Often in villages, girls who are below the age of 18, get married because of their parents’ will. In cities, women are provided with numerous job opportunities, a chance to take a stand but the case isn’t the same for the village women.

Men in villages live comfortably because their wives and daughters do all the work in the house but even after that the females of the house are not given any respect. Even with all the government schemes to give women the right of education, vote etc., a normal thing like hygiene is difficult for these village women. They are often ill-treated because of health problems but the people just make comments and don’t help, which is wrong.

Many people still go forward with what they call “tradition” or “what our ancestors followed”. We always learn something from our past but not everything was right at that time. Many famous personalities like Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule, who was a village woman, have taken a stand for women like the one in villages to shout out their wills that didn’t go for consideration. We can change this. It doesn’t mean that whatever our ancestors followed, has to be followed by us. Every new generation is an improvement for the future and we can’t run away from that duty.

As we go into the details of this aspect, we can acknowledge that numerous other difficulties appear. Children and men are given ample facilities for any disaster that occurs, whereas when women’s turn comes, it is mostly insufficient. Looking from a different perspective, there are many households with overpowering men. Women often in such overwhelming situations, have quarrels, special and widely known ‘Mother in law and daughter in law’s fights’. Women across the world have come to realize this fact and have been working for the same for a long time.

Similarly, child marriage is an extremely revolting practice. Without enough knowledge about the working and government along with their schemes, it is really hard for ‘village women’ to lead a stable, financially independent life. The financial disadvantages are caused mostly because of the lack of education.

Hygiene and proper facilities at labour are a must.

Many villages of numerous rural states have women who take care of the diseases and other health issues by themselves without knowing the proper procedure or consulting anyone. These points are mainly the biggest obstacles to women empowerment. Sometimes some things need to be changed for the betterment of the future…

Isn’t Life Fascinating?

Look at the bright side of things,
even if it’s hard,
You only live once,
Don’t forget to wisely play your part;

There’s always sunshine, even in the darkest of days,
Stay happy and content even if you get a small amount of pay;

How do you expect to enjoy your life,
where everything is just dark names?
Let me break it to you, it isn’t,
it is just your mind playing games;

Like the Sun, like the Moon,
who despite it all, still keep shining.
Never leave that shine of yours,
always keep smiling;

Life might seem complicated at times,
but always remember,
you’ll always have yourself as your best friend,
Isn’t that exciting?

Always keep exploring, learning and participating,
Whatever life throws at you,
Wake up with a smile on your face and look forward to the day
Isn’t life fascinating?

The Great Historical Empire

Literarily immaculate, archaeologically exquisite,
Preserved by lords with perseverance and grit,
Be it battle scars or Ashwamedha,
Or may it be Harsh-Charita of Banabhatta,
Be it destroyed by a person perfidious,
It stood up again by one not duplicitous.
It is the Great Historical Empire,
Praised by boons of Earth and Fire.
Be it archaeological or literary,
It is placed in minds, stationary.
It is the Great Historical Empire,
Still containing knowledge lit as pyre.

The Great Paralympians

Courageously did they tire out their bones,
But kept working with their nose to the grindstone.
Not a single percent of fright,
Did they tend to show in the hardest of plights.
Not for a single moment did they desire haven,
For their courage had to be seriously taken.
The Great Paralympians as they are,
Registered in minds like a star.
It so did not depend on demeanour,
For their spirit lies deep within forever.
Bit by a shark, fallen from a prow,
They never ceased working by the sweat of their brow.
The Great Paralympians as they are,
Their target is difficult but never far.

The Butler

The Musical Brawl

The clock strikes. The seventh graders scurried towards the library, jostling, edging each other like sardines in a can. Kim was the band leader and was followed by the others. The music competition was nearing and it was building up a frenzy.

They hurried into the library where they were hastily silenced by the firm librarian. They gingerly stepped towards the rows of brightly colored books cramped on the towering book cases, a world of words waiting to be raided. They glanced towards the poetry section which consisted of spectacular bindings with golden letters engraved like inscriptions on a monument. They seated themselves with the screeching sound of the chairs disturbing the golden silence of the ambience, again to be hushed.

Soon a cacophony of noise could be heard in the corridors and the eighth graders entered laughing and chattering joyfully. They sat in a remote corner whispering and giggling. The musty pages wafts antique melodious songs from the books to the lips of the band. Kim was entirely in a trance with the songs around him This particular song had touched his heart.

The eighth graders were constantly irritating him. She was getting distracted. This was also compelling her to get out of the magical world she was meandering in. She cast a warning look towards the other group only to be ignored. They gave her a cold shoulder.

Kim and the band were livid. They agitatedly walked towards them and what followed was a brawl. The librarian tried to intervene but it was too late. The picturesque song book lay all over with the tattered pages relating another story.