tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74046998754623907692024-03-05T19:34:37.604+05:30Musings of a non-entityWho am I?shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-46422236754004701682020-12-24T11:06:00.000+05:302020-12-24T11:06:17.976+05:30A CHRISTMAS PRAYER<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.</span></span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">I wrote the following prayer on demand from a daughter of mine. It is in the spirit of Christmas, love, kindness, and compassion to all humanity.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">All pacifists profess love and compassion only. They are beyond the narrow confines of a religion. They may be the beginning of a relligion. But only love and compassion are their goals, their mission.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">A CHRISTMAS PRAYER</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Thirty silvers cannot betray me</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Dog-bone whip does not deter me</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Crown of thorns is garland to me</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Spear in the gut only emboldens me.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What is life without kindness and love?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Choose between the eagle and the dove.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Stand up for poor when push comes to shove</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Have compassion for humanity, by Jove.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Cut across all religious jingoism</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Embrace kindness and humanitarianism</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Humanity is catapulting towards cataclysm</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Let a rainbow stream out of life’s prism.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Humans trapped in insurmountable obstacle</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Caught up inextricably in hate’s tentacle</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Was my blood in vain through atrium and ventricle?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Oh Lord, guide me in these times impossible.</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">To spread compassion, here’s the season</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Emancipate humans from hate’s prison</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">For cheering every human, offer a reason</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Oh Lord and Father, give strength to your son!</span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="animation-name: none !important; background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none !important; transition-property: none !important;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">... shyam sundar bulusu</span></div></div>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-66175002006914851212020-11-30T15:27:00.001+05:302020-12-14T19:42:28.513+05:30 గుండె మంటలు<p><span face="Gautami, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Gautami, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">పడమటి </span>ఆకాశం కాషాయ రంగులో స్నానం చేస్తోంది.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Gautami, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: medium;">లోని
మంటలార్పుకునే ప్రయత్నంలో సూరీడు నీలి సంద్రంలో మునక వేస్తున్నాడు.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Gautami, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: medium;">చల్లటి
పిల్లగాలి మరుగుతున్న ఇసుకని చల్లార్చడానికి పాట్లు పడుతోంది.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Gautami, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: medium;">గోరు
వెచ్చటి సంద్రపు నీటి అలలు ఒంటరి పాదాలతో దాగుడు మూతలాడుతున్నాయి.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Gautami, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: medium;">పంచ
మహా సంద్రాలు కూడా గుండె మంటలార్పలేక పోతున్నాయి.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Gautami, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: medium;">ప్రాణం
వదిలిపోయాక గుండె మంటలెలా చల్లారుతాయి? ఎవరు చల్లరుస్తారు?</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-13193660960576263662020-11-29T18:48:00.001+05:302020-11-29T18:48:42.984+05:30THE BREAKUP (A love story)<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></blockquote>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">PROLOGUE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha was sitting in a rocking chair in
the porch of her father’s house. She was lost in thought with a book lying face
down in her lap and a half-filled teacup losing steam on a small side table.
She was gently rocking forward and backward in the rocking chair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">‘Why did you do
this to me, Sudha?’</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">
Katik’s voice was reverberating in her mind. She was looking at his bloody body
and face. Bubbles of blood spurted out of his lips as he repeated the question,
<i>‘Why did you do this to me, Sudha? I
always loved you.’</i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">Suddenly, a spout of blood gushed out of
this mouth and drenched her face and breasts. He opened his lips as if to say
something even as she screamed insanely, </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">‘Kartik,
Kartik…’</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">His words never left his lips as his
body sagged and he slumped lifeless in her lap.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha’s screams were lost unheard in the
universe, as she was jolted back to reality.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The chair continued to rock with Sudha
still sitting in it, crying uncontrollably.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">CHAPTER 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The kiss was long and passionate. Sudha
stood on her toes to match Kartik’s height and kiss him.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You must allow me to come up for air
once in a while,” Kartik quipped as he was gasping for breath.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Oh, don’t make a big fuss of it. I
won’t see you till evening. Come on, give me one more,” Sudha said to her
husband and matched her words with action.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kartik was literally gasping when she
let him go. Her face was flushed and breathing was rapid and shallow.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“See, what you have done. How will I
drive now?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Don’t go…” Sudha ran after her husband
to his car in mock anger.</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kartik was standing in front of his
boss’s desk.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The Gulati party has landed a day
early, Kartik, without informing. They said their boss wanted to finalise the
deal immediately and sent the guys today. Can you manage?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Don’t worry, sir. The documents are all
ready; only signatures remain. I shall see Mr. Gulati at the hotel and settle
him. We can complete the formalities tomorrow, instead of day after tomorrow.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You are a lifesaver, Kartik.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Remember that when the promotion list
is prepared, sir,” Kartik said with an impish smile on his lips.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“That’s blackmail. Get out and get the
work done,” the boss said suppressing a smile.</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kartik bade goodbye to Mr. Gulati from
New Delhi, came out of his hotel room, and briskly walked towards the lift. It
was a 5-star hotel near the Shamsabad Airport of Hyderabad.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As he passed by the door to the next
room, it suddenly opened and a woman rushed out and crashed into Kartik.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I am sorry, ma’am,” Kartik apologised
holding her from falling down on the floor.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kartik looked up at the woman and was
stunned.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It was his wife,
Sudha!</span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“What happened, Sudha? Are you okay?” A
male voice emanated from inside the room. A bare-chested man in his trunks came
to the door.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Kartik
recognised him. He was Narendra, Kartik’s friend!</span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The three of them gaped at one another
in consternation. Sudha and Naren were desperately trying to say something but words
failed their quivering lips.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few moments later, Kartik, still in
shock, turned away and ran to the lifts, ignoring the calls of his wife,
“Kartik, wait. Kartik…Kartik…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">CHAPTER 2<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A pall of gloom had descended upon the
room. It was semi-dark and silent. The silence was intermitted by the sobs of
Sudha who was sitting on the edge of their bed. Kartik was standing several
feet away in front of her with his legs spread apart and arms crossed in front
of him.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In between sobs Sudha murmured, “It was
a mistake, Kartik. I am sorry, very, very sorry.” She was greeted by studied
silence. She made to speak again. Kartik halted her with his raised palm.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Why, Sudha?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I am sorry, Kartik, it was a mistake;
won’t happen again. I promise.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kartik’s pained looks were not lost upon
her when he said, “Oh, you promise? Like the promises we made to each other on
our wedding day?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha could only sob.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You didn’t answer my question.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha looked at him pitiably. “I don’t
know. It just happened.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Just happened? Nothing just happens,
Sudha, especially such a thing. So, tell me how long this has been going on.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Only this once, Kartik…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“At least now be honest with me, with
yourself.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I love you so much, Kartik. You know
that.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Answer me, Sudha. Truth will come out
eventually.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Over…a year,” Sudha murmured.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Oh my god and we are married for just
under two years! So, from the beginning it was…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha hung her head down in silence.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I know you had a relationship with
Naren even during our college days but when he dumped you for another girl,
Ketki, you became friends with me. Then, sometime later, you declared your love
for me. I always loved you but backed off when I realised your love for Naren.
When you declared that you loved me, I reciprocated with my true feelings for
you. Eventually, we got married. I thought we were good. Now I realise we
weren’t good at all!” Kartik paused. “When did Naren come back into the
picture?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Last year. I ran into him at a friend’s
wedding at Vijayawada…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Vijayawada wedding! That was within
months of our wedding; I couldn’t attend because of a conference here.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha couldn’t lift her head and look
him in the eye.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Go on,” Kartik said sternly.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“He was staying in the same hotel as I
did. We had dinner and got to talking. He broke up with me to marry Ketki but
she was tired of him within a few weeks and dumped him. He said he was very
sorry for what he did to me and asked if we could be friends again. I was
surprised and didn’t know what to say; I said ‘just friends’. After dinner, he
walked me to my room and said he had a lot more to talk with me. He asked if he
could come in for a few minutes. I hesitated but I didn’t suspect anything
amiss…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kartik interrupted her, “Didn’t suspect
anything? Seriously? Are you really so naïve?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha was fumbling for a reply,
“Well…you see…I was…we were…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was difficult to tell if it was pain
or anger behind Kartik’s consternation.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“Be honest, at least for once. </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">You wanted him to go into your room, didn’t
you</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha remained silent.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I think I got the answer.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The tension was palpable in their
forlorn bedroom.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“Then what? You…</span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">did it</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha softly cleared her throat and
murmured, “We got to…talking and…one thing led to another and…we…just…” Sudha
paused and continued after a few moments, “…it…happened…I am really sorry about
all of this, Kartik…I…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“That was in Vijayawada. How did he end
up in Hyderabad?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">He had a job in HiTec City. </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">He went to Vijayawada for the wedding. I
didn’t know it. I accidentally met him at Vijayawada.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“And, after you guys returned to
Hyderabad, you </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">chose</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> to continue your…your…</span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">affair</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">…with him. Right?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha did not lift her head up nor did
she reply.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“How many times did you guys…ahem…</span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">meet</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">…daily or weekly or monthly?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Kartik…Kartik, what I did was horrible.
I can’t repeat the details. I am ashamed. I…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">Kartik was livid when he interrupted
her. “Oh, you are all </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">decency</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> now! You
can’t </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">repeat</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> the </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">details</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> but you could do </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">it</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">
over and over again and hide it from me? You did not feel any guilt, any
shame?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha slumped to the floor like a broken
rag doll, sobbing uncontrollably. In between hiccups, she blurted out, “Stop,
Kartik, stop. It is torture. I can’t bear it. I did the unthinkable. I don’t
know what got into me. I know that I have hurt, no, wounded you grievously. I
can’t take it back. I want you to punish me as you wish, as harshly as you want,
for as long as you would like to. Please Kartik, please, please, I beg you…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kartik began pacing the floor up and
down. He fell completely silent. Finally, he asked, “Do you still love him?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Kartik…I love you…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Tell me honestly, Sudha. Do you?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sudha did not reply. She remained
slumped on the floor.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I got it, Sudha; you still love him and
I was your rebound.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“No, Kartik it is not like that.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“What is it like, Sudha?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Kartik…I am really sorry. Any
punishment you give…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“What would be the purpose, the meaning
of any punishment? Everything I thought we had between us over the two years of
our marriage – the love, the affection, the bonding, the relationship physical,
intellectual, and emotional – was a sham, a lie, a painful dishonesty, a cruel
disloyalty. Everything is finished, destroyed between us. I had been in love
with a woman, my wife, who never loved me…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“That is not true, Kartik…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“It is true. It was all a lie. Only, I
didn’t see it. You managed it all so cleverly.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“No, Kartik…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kartik was lost in deep anguished
thought for long minutes, while Sudha sat up on the floor and adjusted her dress.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, Kartik broke the silence.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“We are finished, Sudha. We can’t live
together anymore. I shall…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“”Don’t say that, Katik,” Sudha
screamed, “Don’t say that. We can still work this out. I want us to work this
out.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“To what end? The very trust that binds
us together through thick and thin has vanished now.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“No, Kartik…please…no…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Just tell me something, Sudha…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Anything you want to know, Kartik,
anything,” Sudha said eagerly.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Why did you do
this to me, Sudha? I always loved you.”</span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">EPILOGUE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Why did you do
this to me, Sudha? I always loved you.”</span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A visibly shattered Kartik rushed to the
door that opened on to the balcony, opened it, and jumped over the parapet.
Within seconds, he hit the ground six floors below in a bloody mess even as
Sudha screamed her heart out, “Kartik, Kartik…”</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-12217644621123237462020-11-19T08:53:00.001+05:302020-11-19T11:09:30.146+05:30OUR DREAMS<p><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: 16pt;">There still are our dreams to realise</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On the horizon are dreams to dream<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Milky Way has dreams to materialise<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But you are so far away now!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">No bridge can walk me to you<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And wheels can’t roll me to you<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wings can’t flap enough to reach you<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And you are so far away now!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There’s a splendorous rainbow time<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Our parallel paths merged into one<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Bells of fusing dreams did chime<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Why are you so far away now?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Can’t bequeath our unfulfilled dreams<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Tomorrow”
vanished from my lexicon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What’ll happen to our golden dreams?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Cause
you are so far away now!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shyam
sundar bulusu<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-36480053648604473802020-11-10T09:20:00.001+05:302020-11-10T09:20:33.301+05:30SOLITUDE<p><span style="font-size: large;">Life isn’t cosy, living isn’t easy,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">When you aren’t there beside me.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Full moon has lost its meaning</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Dark night is beyond my caring.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Days became months, months turned years</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Every breath a sigh wetting eyes with
tears.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Can’t see a goal, can’t find a path,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Trudging along blindly, unmindful of life’s
wrath.</span></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-71751821892162718712020-11-06T09:56:00.001+05:302020-11-06T09:56:33.326+05:30I HAVE BROUGHT LOT OF LOVE<p><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve brought lot of love</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Where’d you want me to leave it, darling,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">In your heart or in my heart?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Sweetheart, for your answer I’m waiting.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve brought lot of smiles</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Where’d you want me to display them,
darling,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">On your lips or on my lips?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Sweetheart, for your answer I’m waiting.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve brought lot of good thoughts</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Where’d you want me to leave them, darling,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">In your mind or in my mind?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Sweetheart, for your answer I’m waiting.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve brought lot of verve</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Where’d you want me to leave it, darling,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">In your gait or in my gait?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Sweetheart, for your answer I’m waiting.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve brought lot of peace</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Where’d you want me to preserve it, darling,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">In your soul or in my soul?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Sweetheart, for your answer I’m waiting.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-9418989492308849072020-11-04T07:47:00.001+05:302020-11-04T07:49:29.936+05:30DEVASTATION<p><span style="font-size: large;">Wherefrom did the lightning flash?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Wherefrom did the thunder smash?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Wherefrom did the hurricane splash?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Wherefrom did the heavens crash?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, can’t you see my love departing?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Won’t you help me rekindle the flame?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, can’t you see my nest burning?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Won’t you help me douse the blaze?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, can’t you see my heart wailing?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Won’t you help me lift up my soul?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, can’t you see my universe shrinking?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Won’t you help me expand my horizon?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">No light at the end of the tunnel.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">No solace to the wailing heart.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">No companion to the orphaned soul.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">No end to the dreary trudge.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Won’t you help me?</span></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-11605635263329129262020-10-26T15:27:00.000+05:302020-10-26T15:27:31.949+05:30IN A HEARTBEAT<p><span style="font-size: large;">The arduous path uphill and</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Tough rowing against current</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t frighten me one wee bit</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d choose you for partner-in-arms</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">In a heartbeat.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">The flowery path of love and</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Onerous trudge of life’s travails</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t tire me even a little bit</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d choose you for fellow traveller</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">In a heartbeat.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Those fluttering
doe eyes and</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Smiling dimples
on the cheeks</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t deter me a
small bit</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d fall in love
with you for eternity</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">In a heartbeat.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Those long dark
tresses and</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Silken shining
velvet skin</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t push me
away a little bit</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d choose to
caress them my whole life</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">In a heartbeat.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">All the exciting
moments and</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">The tempestuous testing
times</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t daunt me a
minute bit</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d choose to shrink
them into my heart</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">In a heartbeat.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Wading through dark
travails and</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Wallowing through
sinister designs of life</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t scare me
one tiny bit</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d choose you as
the beacon of my life</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">In a heartbeat.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">The atria and the
ventricles </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">The arteries and
the veins</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t bother me
an infinitesimal bit</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d choose to rip
open my heart and offer to you</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">In a heartbeat.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 131.4pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-39032630999107515582020-10-17T15:43:00.001+05:302020-10-17T15:43:21.835+05:30YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Cool mountain breeze</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Waltzing down the slope</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Picks fragrance from you, as</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You take my breath away.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Seen deer’s elegance </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Seen peacock’s grace</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Seen mare’s verve, but</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You take my breath away.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Seen twinkling stars</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Seen silver-lustre moon</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Seen resplendent Nature, but</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You take my breath away.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Kissed your succulent lips</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Their sweet ‘n’ juicy dips</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">They proffer nectar sips, and</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You take my breath away.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Your hazel-brown eyes and</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Fluttering long eyelashes </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Give the doe a complex, and </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You take my breath away.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As does the first kiss to a lass,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">First shower to parched land,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And dawn’s first moist rays, So do</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You take my breath away.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Your eyes see for mine,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Your ears hear for mine,</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Your heart beats for mine, and </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You take my breath away.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">…</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">shyam
sundar bulusu</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-30007672927531689522020-10-07T21:57:00.000+05:302020-10-07T21:57:12.637+05:30THE BRIDGE<p><span style="font-size: large;"> The goal is distant</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">The road is long</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Got miles to go</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">To the place I belong</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Looked for company</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Could not find you</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Trudging along alone</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Darling, where are you?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">The river is wild</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Her current is rough</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Darkness is on me</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">And the night is tough</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I find a bridge</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Rickety and worn</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Tied by old ropes </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Threadbare and torn</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Help me to cross it</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Hold my hand tight</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Guide me across, dear </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me take step right.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">My life lies yon </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">On the bank afar</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Can’t do without you</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">‘Tis a bridge too far!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">…</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">shyam
sundar bulusu</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-23126753044116900312020-09-19T21:02:00.000+05:302020-09-19T21:02:23.382+05:30BIND THE PIECES TOGETHER<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I’m shattered to million slivers</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;">Bind the pieces together, my love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;">I’m bewildered by life’s labyrinths </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;">Find me in the wilderness, my love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;">I’ve lost all good things in turmoil</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;">Rewind my life to good ol’ times, my love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;">I hear no whisper soothing my soul in ruins</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;">Kind words please shower on me, my love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;">I’ve but one true friend that's you </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;">Blind eye don’t you turn on me, my love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: medium;">***</span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-67258786506576417902020-09-07T12:26:00.001+05:302020-09-07T17:18:56.886+05:30MY ALZHEIMER’S and I<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLbRch2z7BJhAmp-j6TuCrNX8UggUOSTc6WZ9i21bIKMsmsYGxZ6SnP3pRe_0Ao-Si8TiJaqEUsywdmhX0W50MT06cs0vRvp2RD1Y-kl367lYOV7HYH_ZS2pXQrI0BMbkw1BORLJem4kw/s2048/the+ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLbRch2z7BJhAmp-j6TuCrNX8UggUOSTc6WZ9i21bIKMsmsYGxZ6SnP3pRe_0Ao-Si8TiJaqEUsywdmhX0W50MT06cs0vRvp2RD1Y-kl367lYOV7HYH_ZS2pXQrI0BMbkw1BORLJem4kw/s320/the+ring.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The evening sun is
bleeding an orange hue in the blue sky. Orange is the complementary hue of blue,
the colour of the sky. I cannot recollect wherefrom I learnt that, but I know
that.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I twiddle with
the ring on my finger. It is an open-set, red-stone ring on a thin golden band.
Somehow, it disturbs me. I don’t know why. Despite the creases on my forehead
and between the thinning eyebrows I cannot remember wherefrom I got the ring,
but I know that it has always been there on my finger, the narrow white band on
the tanned bony skin on my finger bears proof.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> ***</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Here’s your tea
and biscuits, papa...” the soft voice speaks. I raise my head and see a
miniature teacup and two Parle G biscuits in two tanned hands that bespeak of
decades of patient experience. I accept the evening snack and immediately put
my lips to the teacup.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Ouch.” Scalding
of the tongue and irritation. “What the #$%^?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“It’s hot,
papa,” a comforting smile, “you did not let me complete.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I look
sheepishly into two twinkling eyes while I dunk a biscuit into the hot tea.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang=""><span style="font-size: medium;">***</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Morning,
papa…coffee and biscuits. It is hot.” The never-fading smile.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Coffee is bad,”
I blurt.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You haven’t
even tasted it, papa!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I mean, <i>caffeine</i> is bad.” I try to explain.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Oh, that…yes.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I should not drink
coffee.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Do you want to
give up coffee, tea…?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I don’t
know…should I?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A deep, understanding sigh. “Look, papa, I do not want you to give up anything…coffee,
tea…unless it contraindicated for your health; the homoeopathic doses of coffee
and tea you drink won’t affect you. I want you to be happy; do things that make
you happy. Okay? Don’t worry, go on and drink your coffee before it gets cold.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Happy. Okay.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Anything else?
I am going to make breakfast…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Beer?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Don’t push your
luck, oldie.” A touch of mock anger.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Just asking.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Yeah, why not?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I remember. I
had one, in a large glass mug, a tankard.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“When! I haven’t
seen you have a beer for years. I surely didn’t buy one for you.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“No, I had it at
the kitchen island. There were lot of other…things…on the island. I remember.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“But we don’t have
an island in our kitchen!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I remember…I
had beer at the kitchen island. There was a…girl…woman, cooking, too.” A little
anger.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Oh, that…”
laughter like water flowing in a mountain brook. “That was years ago, papa. Not
here, though, in the US.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“The US? When
did I go there?”</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang=""><span style="font-size: medium;">***</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Are you happy,
papa?” I hear concern in the tense voice.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I remain silent.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Papa?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I don’t know.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You keep
staring at the wall or the blank TV screen. Care to share your thoughts?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I struggle. My
hands go to my head. Two soft hands remove them and bring them to my lap.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“It…it is
confusing. I can’t remember anything. I am scared.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Why are you
scared? We are here with you?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Where is <i>here</i>? I don’t know. It is confusing. You
said <i>we</i>. Who else is here?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Your
granddaughters.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I have
granddaughters?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Yes. Don’t you
remember?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“No. I am
confused. Where is <i>here</i>?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Secunderabad.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You said the
US?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Oh papa, you
visit US once in a few years.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Who is there?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Your second
daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and granddaughter.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I can’t
recollect. It is all dark. I struggle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I have so many
people there?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Yes, and here,
too.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Good.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I fall silent.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You can do some writing, painting or sketching, you know.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Painting?
Sketching? I don’t know how to. I never did any!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You have done
so many; good ones, too. Try to remember.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I shake my head.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“See those five
small paintings…Radha-Krishna…there?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Radha-Krishna…yes,
I see them. They’re good.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Yes, they are;
you painted them for me.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I did!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Yes, you did.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I wrack my
brains.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I remember a
painting. Lots of black birds flying; orange sun behind them. There was sea,
too!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Yes, papa, I
remember that, too. Go on. Remember anything else?” Childlike enthusiasm in the
voice.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“No…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Silence.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Wait …there
were lot of children. They were painting; hands were all covered with colours.
I was there, too, painting.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“The black
birds?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“No, no, no,
no…something else. Can’t recollect.” Irritation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Go on, papa.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“There were
beautiful chubby fingers, long nails, red nail polish, flying over the
canvas…yes, canvas, painting. Bright brilliant sun, sea, and rocks, lot of
rocks. My teacher…<i>Share on</i> ma’am…I
think her name was. Can’t remember.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I fall silent. I
am confused. I struggle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Yes, she
scrapes paint of the canvas with them…her nails…” I smile, “her primary tools,
like brushes and paints.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We both laugh.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Another
teacher…she reminds me of…I can’t remember…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“It’s okay,
papa. It will come to you. Go on.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“She…she used to
say <i>‘there isn’t any paint in your brush
at all! How can you paint? Take more paint on the brush’.”</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“What’s her
name?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I don’t
remember…I can’t remember…she reminds me of … Modi.” My hands go to my head.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“P.M. Modi?!” A
smile. “It’s okay, dad, it will come to you. You did good today, didn’t you,
dad?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Did I?”</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang=""><span style="font-size: medium;">***</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Dad, your
lunch…careful, it is hot. Here is your favourite spoon. Call me if you need
anything. Okay?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Lunch? I just
had toast for breakfast.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“That was in the
morning, dad, it is lunchtime now. Have it peacefully.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I nod my head
and go back to Amy, Heartland, and horses on the TV.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang=""><span style="font-size: medium;">***</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang=""><o:p> </o:p></span>“Good, dad didn’t
waste even a grain, as always!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Must not waste
food.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“You are right.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Who are those
two girls running around the house, neighbour’s daughters?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Silence,
pregnant with sadness.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“They are your
granddaughters.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“My
granddaughters?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Yes, dad, my
two daughters.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Who are you?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Crash of lunch
plate, loud sobbing, and running footsteps.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang=""><span style="font-size: medium;">Epilogue<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“I remember who
gave it to me.” Unbridled exhilaration.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Gave you what?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“The ring…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“The horror
movie?” Mischievous smile.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“No, no…the ring…I
wear on my finger…”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Is it so?”
Happiness oozes from the voice. “Who?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Swarna.” I beam
a smile.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Wow, you did
it, old man.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“…and…and…and…she’s
my wife…wife.” I almost shout with joy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Great, papa.
What else do you remember?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I fall silent.
It is dark and confusing. I can’t remember. I struggle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Where is she?”
I ask.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang=""><span style="font-size: medium;">***</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang=""><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-86262003104141117872020-08-25T22:32:00.001+05:302020-08-26T07:31:48.747+05:30I’M LEAVING, WHY AREN’T YOU STOPPING ME?<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Those silver moonlit nights</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those grassy evening walks</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those starry twinkling skies</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Where have they disappeared?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those summers of scorching love</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those blankets in frosty winters </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those TV dinners on drizzly days</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Why are there no encores?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those hungry smooches</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those tight, warm hugs</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those shared cappuccino cups</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Where are they hiding?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those rainbow promises</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those electric dreams</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those butterscotch ice creams</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Why have they withered away?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those shocking indiscretions</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those numbing infidelities</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Those endless arguments</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">When did they shred our bonds?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">These deafening silences</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">These silent touch screens</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">These gaping distances</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">Wherefrom have they sprung?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="">I’m leaving why aren’t you stopping me?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-38694498132489203682020-08-14T18:27:00.001+05:302020-08-14T18:27:22.061+05:30THE BOATMAN <p><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The small boat looked as if it was
drifting in the indolent current of the river. The sound of the splash of water was serene, divine actually. The shrill and sharp squawking of birds, in
search of their morning feed, filled the moist morning air.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The boatman was easily handling the long
pole to navigate the boat to the other bank of the river. He made the strenuous
work look very easy. He was lightly humming under his breath some local folksong.
Unlike the boatman stereotyped by our movies, he was clad in a pair of frayed light
blue jeans, a green-and-white striped tee shirt, and a pair of worn out white canvas
shoes.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">However, it was a completely different
story with his face. The week-old stubble, the sunken dark brown eyes, the thin
pale lips, in fact the entire countenance exuded an aura of deep suffering, understanding,
and serenity. There was a kind of radiance emanating from his presence,
radiance associated with untold privation, profound knowledge, and experience
of matters concerning life and living.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Seated on a rafter in the middle of the
boat, I broached the conversation by means of timeworn topics of weather,
rising prices, and politics.</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">On way here, I stopped at the shanty
that goes for a tea stall; the tea was sweet but good, though,” I made a
beginning.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“Yes, Ramu </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">kaka</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> makes good tea, not the fancy one you city guys drink in
restaurants, though. It is sufficient for us down here.” There was an impish
smile on the boatman’s face, no malice.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“In fact I heard a lot about you when I
travelled in this area during last year’s elections to the state assembly. I work
for a news paper.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The boatman just nodded silently.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“I asked for your whereabouts; nobody
could tell, just that you would be available here with your boat from dawn to
dusk. Nobody knew where you lived, who you are, or what your name was. They
said you just appeared on the scene a few years ago in tatters, physically
injured, mentally shattered, hungry, and thirsty. Care to say something about
it?” I paused and looked at him seriously and curiously.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Continuing to pole-row the boat, he took
a deep breath and spoke.</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><o:p>"</o:p></span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">Where do you want me to start?” He
asked.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“You can begin with your name,” I
replied.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“What did the villagers tell? How did
you address me when you came here?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“They said they addressed you as ‘boatman’.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">He smiled and said, “So, it is </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">boatman</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">, then.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“What is your religion? Are you a Hindu,
a Muslim, a Christian, or something else? What is your caste? Please tell me
something about you.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“I am a human being. Isn’t that enough?
What difference does it make if I was a Hindu, or a Muslim, or a Christian?
When will we evolve from the level of always dumping humans in one slot or the
other?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“You are very secretive, aren’t you?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Not secretive but a private person,
that’s all, and what’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name
would smell as sweet, wouldn’t it?” The impish smile will not go away.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Okay, have it your way. Go ahead,
please,” I conceded.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Actually, there isn’t much to tell
about me. I am an ordinary person; spending my life as a boatman here. The
villagers feed me and clothe me. I live in a small abandoned temple couple of
kilometres away. The villagers know that but I requested them not to reveal it
to any outsiders.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Why is that?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“I like my privacy.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Explain in detail.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Oh, we are turning combative, aren’t
we?” He smiled.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Sorry, hazards of being a journalist.
Please explain.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“For a journalist, you are very curious
about a non-entity like me! I am not newsworthy; I cannot help your newspaper
with high TRPs. What is your reason? What have you heard about me? The truth,
please.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“All right, the truth. I know only that
the villagers think and speak of you very highly. They think that you are
highly educated, knowledgeable, and philosophical with deep understanding of
life and living…”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“Like Mr. </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">Sri Sri Ravishankar</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">?” The boatman interrupted.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Yes.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“I am not even a patch on him, but go on.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“You help the villagers and advise them
in their problems, small and big. However, you don’t seek publicity of any kind
and you are very strict about it. You don’t make any demands on them. You give
away the earnings from the boat to the village chief. In turn, they feed you
and clothe you. You help their children with their studies. You regularly
conduct classes for education of their womenfolk and also help them conduct
their micro-businesses from their homes like making </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">papads</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">, pickles, weaving, etc.; lot of activity for a batman who
wants to be a non-entity, a recluse, an invisible man!”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“Wow, you did </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">unearth</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> lot of information about me. You must be very good at your
job.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Come on, boatman don’t divert the
discussion…they that you did some miracles, too.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“Now, that </span><b style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">is</b><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> a myth if I ever heard of one.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“So, you say that you did not cure that
little girl from an unknown, untreated disease?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“She was very sick. Her parents couldn’t
even take her to a hospital. They asked if I could help. I just spoke to the
girl, that’s all.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“You touched her. You placed your palm on
her chest…and she was up and about.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The boatman fell silent.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Her parents, no, the entire village
treats you as God; you are their god-man.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“Lo and behold, ignorance speaks. I am
an ordinary </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">homo sapien</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> that God
created me, just as He created you and everyone else.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“</span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">Homo
sapien</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">? Shakespeare’s rose? Uncommon expressions for an uneducated
boatman!”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The boatman remained silent.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Okay, boatman I promise. I won’t record
our conversation. I won’t take any notes even. I won’t publish anything about
our conversation without your permission. Just talk to me. Tell me who and what
you are. I want to understand it all. Please.”</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The boatman spoke softly and slowly.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“I believe you. Actually, it doesn’t
matter. I have nothing to hide. I am much older than what I look. I was born in
a very poor family and I have no siblings. My father was a farm worker and my
mother a homemaker. We lived in a small hamlet in Telangana. We lost our home
and every material possession in a cyclonic storm in my childhood and never
recovered from that. My father wasted his and our lives by drinking himself to
death. My mother followed him two years later leaving me an orphan.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“I did odd jobs on the farms in our
village and gave myself primary education in a street school. Later, the kindly
chief of our village sponsored me to higher education in a nearby town and then
to college. Struggle became my byword for achieving anything in my life, even
the simplest of things. I got sponsorship, scholarship, and part-time jobs and
completed my post-graduation; I am a double post-graduate, in English and psychology.
I even taught English in a college in a town near my village.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“I married a colleague of mine, who was
a widow and had one daughter. We were a happy family until tragedy struck a
cruel blow and snatched them from me; they died in a bus accident while
travelling to their village. My whole life was shattered. I could not come to
terms with that catastrophe. I quit my job, sold our small house, and left. I
didn’t have a destination or a purpose. I threw a few clothes in a bag and
boarded a train that took me towards an unknown destination. Since then I was
travelling non-stop in search of truth, meaning of life and death; searched for
answers to why my wife and daughter died. I visited numerous shrines, </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">ashrams</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> of various religions. I read
indiscriminately. I debated and discussed matters that troubled me in every
religion. Having found no answers to my questions, I completely lost faith in
God and religion. I turned a nomad, rescinded all earthly “luxuries”, which are
not available to the poor. I restricted my requirement to the bare minimum of
food and clothing, just for surviving. My nomadic life took me across our
country, through an incredible experience of a wide range of cultures,
languages, and religions, mainly people. That helped me understand the
insignificance of my tragedy in comparison to the tragedies I saw others
suffer. It was a revelation, which turned my thinking on its head. I found
myself changing! I started to look at my life and life, in general, from a
different perspective.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“Around that time, when I was going
through a paradigm transformation in my life, I reached this village. While I
was having tea, I heard villagers talking about the ill health of the child you
mentioned earlier. I asked for details and went to her house. Her parents were
wailing and grief-stricken. I entered the little hut and sat beside the girl. I
don’t know what happened but I felt a surge of energy through every cell of my
body. Nothing but the little girl was visible to me. I didn’t know if she was
already dead; I couldn’t say. The din of some mysterious raw energy, if there
could be one, was reverberating in my ears. I was overcome by extreme emotion
and placed my palm on her emaciated chest. At first, I didn’t hear anything; I
couldn’t hear anything. After a few seconds, I could hear her heartbeat, a
faint and irregular </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">lub dub, lub dub</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">.
A couple of minutes later her heartbeat was normal and regular.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The boatman paused. I could not assimilate
the profoundness of either the narrated incident or the following silence. It
was nothing short of a miracle. I broke the silence.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“How do you explain it, account for it,
boatman? It is incredible!”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Isn’t it?” He said simply.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Please continue,” I beseeched.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“That incident, that experience was
ethereal. It shook the core of my existence, really. Somehow, it made me think,
nay, realise that my nomadic lifestyle had reached its destination and I had
reached my destiny. It dawned on me that the truth, which I was unsuccessfully
searching for all those years, was staring at me. I just had to reach for it.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“The truth liberated me from myself and
my narrow-minded thinking. My search ended then and there. The parents and the
villagers were ecstatic and begged me to stay there. I agreed. I never looked
back.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“What do you perceive as </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">the truth</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Is there one truth; could there be?
What do you think?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“How so?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">“What we see as truth is often our
perception of things. A simple thing like a glass half filled with water itself
gives rise to multiple truths, half-full and half-empty. When you see a man and
woman from a distance talking to each other, you immediately assume that they
are boyfriend and girlfriend. You may not say so loudly but never does it occur
to you that they could be brother and sister, for example, or just friends or
colleagues, so much for </span><i style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">the truth</i><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">.
You must be experiencing this phenomenon in your own profession, on a daily
basis.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chastised, I asked, “So, what next,
boatman?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“For me or for you?” He smiled.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Both.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“For me, I just told you that I arrived
at my destination; I found my destiny. I help people reach their destination,
the opposite bank.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“This…this village, this work is your
destiny?” I was surprised.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Why not? Not everyone could think of
becoming the Prime Minister or a super star or Sri Sri Ravi Shankar; everyone
has one’s own destiny and destination. One must pursue it and find it. For you,
I suggest embark upon your own journey, while you are busy with your profession.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“How will I know if I have arrived?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“You will know and when know, it will
dawn on you that you have arrived at your destination, your destiny, your
truth.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“And then?”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“It is up to you.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I stared at his smiling countenance.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“We have reached your destination,” he
said.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I thanked him, got into the water, and
walked away towards my own destination, while he stored away the pole, jumped
into the water, and moored the boat to a mooring post.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">After walking a short distance, I turned
around to see the boatman.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He was nowhere to be seen.</span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-57944845358301996092020-08-10T09:55:00.001+05:302020-08-10T09:55:32.048+05:30THERE IS SOMETHING IN YOU<p><span style="font-size: x-large;">There is something in you!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That the sun is shining bright</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The planets are in orbits right </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">End of universe not in sight.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There is something in you!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That rose struggles to smell sweet</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">All lads in confusion complete</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Charm in Nature won’t deplete</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There is something in you!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That, on breeze, folk music is sailing</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Vanquished belles are wailing</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And I am always smiling</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There is something in you!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That makes my breathing hard</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Flowers blossom in my yard</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And turns me into a bard. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There is something in you!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That makes the birds chirp</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The deer falters in her step</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And I long for you at my doorstep</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There is something in you!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That, for yesterday, I care not </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For distant ’morrow, I look not </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And, the precious now, I lose not.</span></span></p>shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-47624580540228331572020-07-27T17:01:00.002+05:302020-07-27T17:01:44.399+05:30FORGIVENESS II (Forgiving yourself) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">FOR GIVING YOURSELF</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In my previous blog post on the subject
of “Forgiveness” I put forth some of my thoughts. However, I have discussed
only the part of “forgiving others” in detail. There is a more complicated
aspect of forgiveness, “forgiving yourself”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Let us resume the journey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Why do you have to forgive yourself?
What necessitates it? What is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">modus
operandi</i>? How do you go about forgiving yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">All are pertinent questions. All are
important questions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Imagine a situation where the offender
is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i>. You hurt or harmed someone
previously. Imagine that the harm is irremediable for some reason such as, say,
the victim is deceased, maybe as a direct or indirect consequence of the harm
you inflicted. Alternatively, the harm affected the victim in such a way that
he/she cannot be compensated for; the time is up, as they say. Even though you
have realised the fact that you had harmed someone, you and the victim are in no
position to give and receive even an apology, leave alone compensation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">An impossible situation, isn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Even after you realised that you have
inflicted harm on someone, you cannot seek his/her forgiveness for reasons
enumerated above. That you want to seek forgiveness indicates your realisation
and remorse for what you did. Law may not have punished you sufficiently. You
cannot even seek forgiveness of the victim(s) or the others affected. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">So, what happens next?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Sensitivity begins its work. It starts
to eat you away from within. There can be no punishment crueler than that. The
result is depression, insomnia, loss of appetite, and even suicidal tendency.
The sense of guilt just will not go away, no matter what you do. This affects
not only you but also your family and near and dear, too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Forgiveness given by the victim is the
most visible, acceptable, easiest, and potent process for you to seek a closure
to the entire incident. It is because you need the forgiveness of someone else,
especially the victim. It is more than a mere symbolic gesture; often, it is more
important than the one offered by religion. The victim, overcoming the
irreplaceable loss suffered, tries and understands the circumstances and the
futility of the poison of vengeance. It is that forgiveness, which gives you a
sense of closure to what you perpetrated previously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In the absence of such forgiveness, what
must a repentant offender do? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Would suicide be the lasting and
ultimate solution for all parties concerned? Would the mental and physical
suffering of the offender be the answer that provides a closure to the entire
matter?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">None of these.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The only solution to this is forgiving
oneself, however insensitive it may seem.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Consider the following undeniable facts:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The hurt or harm cannot be undone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The loss or damage cannot be remedied or
replaced.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Realisation and acceptance of your guilt
is not the end-all to the issue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">So, what do you or anyone do?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Live in eternal depression and mental
agony? To what purpose?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The perpetrator must return to the
society as a responsible human, feeling remorse for his offence. The only way
to achieve this is forgiving oneself and moving on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">How do you forgive yourself? Is there a
set procedure in the law books or scriptures? Should it be done publicly? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">No. You have to devise one for yourself.
It can be through an open religious ritual or privately within you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I personally feel that it is proper and
must to be done silently within you. You can work out a plan and execute it
within you. A simple “I forgive myself” can be effective. Alternatively, an
elaborate mental ritual can be followed wherein you recapitulate your offence,
its fallout, its consequences, and your regret and remorse. Then, by means of
your own words, you can forgive yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Just remember, there are no set rules or
a predetermined or recommended pattern to this crucial aspect of your life so
that you can <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">move on</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">That brings us to some important facts
and factors of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Let us look at them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Why should you be able to forgive
yourself? What does the act of forgiving yourself require as basics? What are
the metaphysical aspects involved?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">On the whys and whats, we have already
said a lot in the foregoing paragraphs. What about life, existence, and
realities in general?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Whether yours was a minor offence or a
major, life-altering, life-shattering one, you require compassion, and
understanding as the core of your character. Without this foundation, you will
continue to be miserable in that black hole, which will suck up everyone around
you eventually.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I reproduce below some important
extracts I gleaned on some related websites on the Internet in the fervent hope
that they guide you through your difficult situation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Forgiving
yourself gives you peace. You stop being a captive to any resentment or grudges
you may have and start focusing on other things that are important. You can let
go and show you are willing to embrace freedom. There is no partial letting go,
you have to let go completely so you can completely embrace peace.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Why is it hard
to forgive yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes it's
because we need the forgiveness of someone else. Some relationships are deeply
intertwined with the understanding of our self. It can be friends, partners,
family, colleagues or even society. If you think that someone you are dependent
upon cannot accept you, you will have a hard time accepting yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Why forgiving
yourself is important?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Self-forgiveness
improves our well-being and productivity. They are kind to themselves, which
reduces their anxiety and related depression. In comparison, those who are
highly critical of themselves are more likely to experience significant
negativity, stress and pessimism.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Be courageous
enough to forgive yourself; never forget to be compassionate to yourself.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“The only
person we have the right or the power to forgive is ourselves. For everything
else, there is the Art of Acceptance.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Never forget
to forgive yourself; always remember to love yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“What does
forgiving yourself mean?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It means that
you accept the behavior, you accept what has happened, and you are willing to
move past it and move on with your life without ruminating over past events
that cannot be changed.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“What is true
forgiveness?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">True
forgiveness is freely given as a gift of the love that inspires it. Since the
source of true forgiveness is True Love, no one has to earn it. True
forgiveness frees the forgiver AND the forgiven. Both are released from the
effects of the mistake. True forgiveness is a rational act of self-love.”</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">My wife, may her soul rest in eternal
peace, used to say that I thought too much of a given situation, people,
relationships, and life at large, when such a Freudian analysis was not
required, even remotely. She was right; I do that; that is my nature, being hypersensitive
to life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">What would I do if I found myself in a
situation where I must forgive myself to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">move
on</i> with my life? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">What would I do if I realised that I had
intentionally or unintentionally hurt or harmed someone? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Given my nature, expectedly, I would
plummet into the dark abyss, the black hole and I would live a miserable life
of self-recrimination, self-blame, and self-flagellation. If I could muster up
some courage, I may even attempt to enact the I-forgive-myself act. However,
the question would remain, “Would I be truly forgiving myself?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I truly do not know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-33018727311336485922020-07-25T18:51:00.001+05:302020-07-25T18:51:32.735+05:30I WON’T BE SAD ANYMORE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Didn’t give a last kiss</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Didn’t say tearful goodbye</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Stay with me li’l longer</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I won’t be sad anymore</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Just picked up and left</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Without even looking back</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Walk with me li’l longer</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I won’t be sad anymore</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Your giggle fell silent</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">And the smile vanished</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Laugh with me li’l louder</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I won’t be sad anymore</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Didn’t live enough with you </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">And your infectious zest</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Enliven me a li’l longer</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I won’t be sad anymore</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Our nest needed no lamps </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Your eyes dispelled the dark</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Light my life li’l brighter</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I won’t be sad anymore</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Sight for sore eyes you were</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">With your beatific smiles</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Sparkle on me a li’l glitter</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I won’t be sad anymore</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s meet one last time</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Where earth meets the sky</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Be with me li’l more patient</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I won’t be sad anymore</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Yearn for your company, as</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Spirit is down and will lost</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Guide me a li’l longer</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I won’t be sad anymore</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><i><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">…shyam
sundar bulusu</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-92015672343869039922020-07-22T21:57:00.000+05:302020-07-22T21:57:10.187+05:30MOM, WHERE ARE YOU?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The road is pitch-dark</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">And the journey long</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">The sky is naked, stark</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Know not where I belong.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Every corner lurks crisis </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">God’s ways unfathomable</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Is this what life is</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Dark labyrinth impregnable?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Safe inside your womb</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Connected by umbilical cord</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Palace it was, not a tomb</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">You caressed and smiled a nod.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Came out crying and kicking</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">You suckled and sang a lullaby</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Played on your breast rocking</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Dozed on bosom, ample and milky.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Knew not life was so tough</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Your support, the rock of Gibraltar</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">From life’s current swift and rough</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Stood by my girl and me at the altar.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Years passed swift as moments</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Lost my girl to fate’s unkind cuts</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Plummeted by life’s cruel currents</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Ruing my loss through ifs and buts.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Goal is blurred, path unclear</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Engulfed by a dark, black hue</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Know not how to swim, how to steer</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Can’t cope alone, Mom, where are you?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">…By
shyam sundar bulusu<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<br /></div>
shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-47923885476532287192020-07-18T19:58:00.002+05:302020-07-19T07:43:39.774+05:30FORGIVENESS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<font size="5"><br />
</font><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: garamond, serif; text-align: justify;"><span><font size="5">The act of forgiving is defined thus in dictionaries.</font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span><font size="5"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;">Forgiveness: n. the act of forgiving;
pardon.</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Further explanatory descriptions, in
general, go thus.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Forgiveness is
the release of resentment or anger. Forgiveness does not mean reconciliation. We
do not have to return to the same relationship or accept the same harmful behaviour
from our offenders.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Forgiveness is
for our own growth and happiness. Holding on to hurt, pain, resentment, and anger
is harmful to us far more than it is to our offenders.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Forgiveness
frees us to live in the present. Our anger, regret, hatred, or resentment
towards someone means that we are giving up our power to that person.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span><font size="5"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;">Forgiveness is
not about letting someone off the hook for their actions but freeing ourselves
of the negative energies that bind us to them.</span></i><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">***<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Forgiving can be (i) forgiving others or
(ii) forgiving oneself. Let me take you along with me through my thought
process and address these two aspects one after the other.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">***<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Forgiving Others<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">A case for forgiving someone arises only
when that someone harmed and/or hurt us in the past. This harm or hurt could be
purely physical or it could be mental, emotional.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Physical harm, intentional or otherwise,
could be due to a crime or accident against our beloveds or us; if that act
results in the loss of the life or lives of our beloveds, the wounds do not
heal for the rest of our lives.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">On the other hand, emotional harm/hurt
is an entirely different thing; it is invisible to the eye as are its effects. Usually,
it is the result of a betrayal of our love and trust.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">I shall not go into the details of what,
why, and how of the harm/hurt and of the betrayal itself but shall take the
path of understanding how best we can move on with our lives despite the wound
to our inner self because that is the crux of the problem.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">***<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">The betrayal of our love and trust will
be an indelible part of our lives; it stays with us for the rest of our lives,
whatever the repercussions of that to the victim and perpetrator alike are. <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">If the betrayal is an accident and is unintentional
on the part of the perpetrator and the perpetrator is genuinely remorseful and
apologetic, things may be easier for a resolution. However, a resolution depends
on the grievousness of the hurt inflicted, the extent of the damage caused to
the victim, and the willingness of the victim. <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">On the other hand, if the betrayal is by
design and is intentional there may not be any scope for a resolution. The
victim may harbour an implacable umbrage and may even seek retribution; the
scars on victim’s heart and mind are for life.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">***<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Through the foregoing paragraphs I have
only tried to lay the general background in front of you; I am sure some of you
may not be in total or even partial agreement with me. Still, I shall wade
through the heart-numbing consequences that a wrongdoing has on the victim and
explore a resolution that must be effected for the sake of the victim’s welfare
post-betrayal, post-trauma.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">***<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Fear, anger, disgust, sadness, rage, loneliness,
melancholy, and annoyance are some of the most commonly felt negative emotions.
There is no gainsaying that among these anger, loneliness and melancholy are
the most dangerous for an individual, as these are self-destructive for the
individual.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">There is a poem in Telugu, which goes
thus.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span><font size="5"><span lang="" style="font-family: gautami, sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond;">తన</span><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"> </span><span lang="" style="font-family: gautami, sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond;">కోపమే</span><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"> </span><span lang="" style="font-family: gautami, sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond;">తన</span><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"> </span><span lang="" style="font-family: gautami, sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond;">శత్రువు</span><span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">One’s anger is one’s (worst) enemy.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Taking this raw truth forward, let us
delve into the twin aspects of anger, melancholy, and loneliness on one side
and forgiveness on the other.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">***<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">What happens when one feels betrayed
especially when one is in a personal, psychological, and emotional low? This
low could be the consequence of a personal loss of, say, a property, a
position, etc. or, most seriously, a dear person. The betrayal could be in the
form of denial of moral and emotional support. The traumatised victim would be
looking to lash out at the offenders, to vent out the anger somehow, anyhow.
That is the genesis of one’s problem, the seething anger pushing one to seek
vengeance and retribution, to hurt the offenders just as they hurt him/her. If
this pent up rage does not find a release through a safety valve it will become
all-consuming and will devour the victim from within. It will lead to serious
problems of rage, melancholia, and depression.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">What are the consequences of such
repressed anger? The victim will slide down the slippery slope of a dark abyss
housing anger, loneliness, melancholia, and depression, often irretrievably.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Is this what the victim wished for? Certainly
not.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">All that the victim wished for was
vengeance.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Okay, let us assume that the victim has
succeeded in wreaking vengeance. What next? <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Does it induce a sense of relief from
the original grief caused by a loss or from the sense of betrayal? Does it help
in getting rid of the anger, the loneliness, the melancholia, or the
depression? Does it provide a closure?<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">You will have to look inside yourself
for answers for such questions.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">The seething anger caused by the grief,
the loneliness, the melancholia, and the depression is like a self-destruct
button. Pressing it would only destroy the victim; it does not affect the
offender. The victim seethes, seethes, and seethes endlessly and plummets into
the dark abyss of depression, which could cause further serious problems for
the victim.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">So, what is the solution? Solution to
what; is it for the original grief, the sense of betrayal, or the consequent
anger and depression? Are they all different from one another when you look at
the agony the victim is being subjected to?<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Let us face some hard facts.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">The original loss cannot be undone. If
it could be undone, there would not be any problem in the first place at all,
would it? So, the loss is irreparable, irreplaceable, and irremediable. <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">That is fact #1.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">The act of betrayal, of trust and love,
cannot be undone. <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">That is fact #2.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">The anger born out of the combined
effect of the original loss and the sense of betrayal is but natural and
justified to a large extent. We are all human, aren’t we? <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">That is fact #3.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">However, seeking and wreaking vengeance
and retribution helps none, definitely not the already-traumatised victim. On
the contrary, it might create a fresh set of incurable problems for the
innocent near and dear of the offender and, by its perpetration, to the victim
himself/herself. So, it has not helped the victim at all.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">That is fact #4.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">To summarise, for whatever reason,
cosmic or mundane, the victim is placed in an unenviable position from which
there is no reprieve. Anger, depression, and vendetta do not help the victim an
iota by way of relief.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">That is fact #5.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">So, where and how can the victim find a
solution, a resolution, a closure for the issue?<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">For that, one must look inside oneself.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">***<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">I am looking inwards, into my mind, into
my heart.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Why did I bring me into this discourse? <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">You will see.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">***<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">It is over 4½ years since I lost my soul
mate. I am shattered and am unable to cope with the loss, even today. The
images of the physical suffering she underwent still haunt me no end. I shall
not go into the details of it; I do not want to perpetuate or bequeath them to
the minds of my near and dear, especially my daughters. Suffice it to say that
I had physically seen and mentally suffered every infinitesimal bit of her
suffering.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">In the aftermath of that catastrophic
event, I plummeted into the abyss I described earlier. It was dark,
frightening, and depressing day after interminable day. Travelling blindly in
that dark tunnel, I yearned and prayed for a ray of hope in the form of a few
kind words of solace from relatives, friends, and contacts. Not only were they
not forthcoming but it dawned on me that I did not exist for them any longer!
It was as though I died along with my soul mate on that fateful day in November
2015. Filled with uncontrollable rage, I drowned deeper and deeper into the
dark abyss with no hope of recovery, ever.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">I felt betrayed. I was betrayed. <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Did the thought of forgetting and/or
forgiving occur to me? Yes, since I was aware of the philosophy.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Did I even fleetingly consider
forgetting and/or forgiving my offenders? No, I did not. It was too much to
expect that magnanimity from me.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">I seethed, seethed, and seethed
endlessly; the pain of my loss was such; the pain of the betrayal was such.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">That I have not gone over the precipice
during this traumatic period is due to the few most import people in my life,
my two biological daughters and their families, and a few more daughters out
there, who were not born out of my wife’s womb. I cannot describe it anymore,
for words fail me.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">In search of solace, I continued with my
passion for writing and published several books (English fiction), and began my
journey into the world of painting hues and musical notes. I found it, the
panacea for my problem. These activities helped me a very great deal in healing
the near-mortal would inflicted by that catastrophe. I recovered significantly,
but it was not enough.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Surprisingly, the ultimate solution to
my inner devastation emerged as a consequence of a further crisis of mine. I
was advised to and I did willingly adopt the ritual of meditation (I call it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dhyanam</i>). I am not supposed to share the
details of my journey with anyone, even close family members, except my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">guru</i>. So, I shall spare you my ranting
into that topic. Suffice it to say that I have experienced a change in me that
surprises me! Even my daughters have observed the salubrious change and they are
extremely happy for it, for me, and for themselves.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">The pain inside me has eased
considerably. I am able to handle it and myself better. I have begun to accept
my loss, which I always knew was the cosmic truth. <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Does it mean that I do not have or I do
not feel the pain any longer? “No, I still do have and still feel the pain.”<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Does it mean that I am no longer
depressed? “No, I still slip into depression sometimes.”<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Does it mean that I am ready to forgive?
<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Yesterday my answer to the question was, “No.” <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Today my answer is, “I do not know.” <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">If it is to happen, it will happen. <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">If it happens, it must happen on its own
volition, in its own time, and in its own space in the cosmos.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">I do not know.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">***<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">It is with a clearer mind that I wrote
the foregoing paragraphs. <o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">I realise and I believe that forgiveness
is the only panacea that will offer me a semblance of solace.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">Will I be able to forgive? Will I
forgive?<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">I do not know.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<font size="5"><br /></font></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="" style="font-family: garamond, serif;"><span><font size="5">***</font></span></span></div>
</div>
shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-2571525907953286592020-07-06T17:24:00.001+05:302020-07-06T17:24:34.158+05:30CERAMIC DREAMS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfw5dE9N_bQy77eIB9jzTffETOfRMGuA5Zmbi9vSvvg2YNdL4UoAvKc3DFU5BD4FEQZkr2VeVN8ZH7ZE3B14yxwreedSayVoehyphenhyphenn65slndpLog9w51JOX7HFiSgdAzdAB_CfxiyZLS1aX/s1600/hope+amid+desolation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfw5dE9N_bQy77eIB9jzTffETOfRMGuA5Zmbi9vSvvg2YNdL4UoAvKc3DFU5BD4FEQZkr2VeVN8ZH7ZE3B14yxwreedSayVoehyphenhyphenn65slndpLog9w51JOX7HFiSgdAzdAB_CfxiyZLS1aX/s320/hope+amid+desolation.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sitting in front of the door</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Waiting for it to open</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And let you waltz in.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know, my love</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The door will never open</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You will never again waltz in.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My ceramic dream it is</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Destined to shatter and it did</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Still, with tear-blurred eyes</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I keep watching the door</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know will never open.</span></div>
</div>
shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-3091521648614382192020-04-26T12:25:00.000+05:302020-04-26T12:25:21.549+05:30UNFATHOMABLE DEEDS OF GOD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvZJPbbKVVWhFTiFt6Yo0FALcpDKQ8HNljsm_c31OTaxqR2h-oY1sORf8y-30AAYCwFK1TAhCVQefJ0OBG889NO_Skig5NUAoBjm4ePUE2MPkJxgx1mBOO1VwYMhjcO1CV4vmBdT7jvtx/s1600/old+man+lookin+for+directions+in+life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="1207" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvZJPbbKVVWhFTiFt6Yo0FALcpDKQ8HNljsm_c31OTaxqR2h-oY1sORf8y-30AAYCwFK1TAhCVQefJ0OBG889NO_Skig5NUAoBjm4ePUE2MPkJxgx1mBOO1VwYMhjcO1CV4vmBdT7jvtx/s320/old+man+lookin+for+directions+in+life.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know why God took away from me
my wife and soul mate, but then I don’t know why He took away from me my father
when I was only eight and I don’t know either why he took away my mother, my
younger brother; nature’s writ, I suppose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I missed the blessing hand of my father
over my head all through my life; that void was unfillable. I always had a
grouse against God for this act of His. Then, realisation dawned on me that I
was lucky to have had my mother for a friend, a philosopher, and a guide
throughout my early adult life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I lost my mother twenty years after I
lost my father. I was devastated and, again, I had only complaints against Him.
To say that I crawled out of that dark abyss rather quickly would definitely
seem insensitive and cruel; it may even display certain lack of love for my
mother! That’s not correct at all for the simple reason that I had my wife
waking every insomniac moment and walking every stumbling step along with me in
life. My recovery was relatively easy. Even when my younger brother passed
away, I had the caring embrace of my soul mate to cuddle and cry in, unmindful
of wetting her bosom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">However, in hindsight - man is nothing
if he is not wise in hindsight – all these writs of nature meant naught, for,
in His infinite wisdom and boundless kindness, He left me in the care of my
loving family comprising my two daughters nonpareil, my sons(-in-law), and four
grandchildren. Despite the devastation, if I am able to fight my unfillable
void and incurable loneliness, it is due to this family of mine and also due to
the no-mean contribution of a non-biological daughter of mine fighting her own
battles and demons. I am a lucky old man and am not in the habit of looking in
the mouth of a gift horse.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In some of my earlier blog posts, I
wrote in detail about tackling old age and loneliness. Therein, I mentioned in
unequivocal terms the importance of the caring support of one’s family going
that one extra mile. I am a lucky old man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Do I have regrets? Just that I do not
have my soul mate beside me in this ultimate and crucial phase of my life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Do I feel sad? Just that I lost so many
kith and kin and, possibly, will lose a few more during the remainder of my
sojourn on this planet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Do I feel aimless and rudderless? No. I
keep myself positively engaged in sketching and painting, writing poetry, which
activities also act therapeutically for my ravaged soul.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Do I feel I have had a full and fruitful
life? Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, I do not view my
life as a measure of losses but as a measure of blessings. God almighty blessed
me and bestowed upon me great parents, a wonderful life partner, a priceless family
(biological and otherwise), and a few true friends (albeit very small in quantity
but not in quality). In a world where thousands upon thousands of people go
jobless and careerless, I had a very good career spanning almost 36 years,
which ensured me a reasonable and steady pension that offers a modicum of financial
security in my old age as also a relieving sense that I am not being a burden
on anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, friends, what more can I ask for?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-23919296909129296702020-04-25T11:20:00.001+05:302020-04-25T22:21:33.156+05:30IF ONLY I HAD WINGS <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlntO5uR6I6Il_aUcEJASez2-79WIVmTTN6CQPPT50BJDoEWBc3SRjkQW4nPD2n2iWH_wl_Nzl3_0FXJqTkXV3bhy_KefRseQkbCHil71O9eDcC6bhziRwtO9NV44XZvJkkf1mtataHK-/s1600/seagull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlntO5uR6I6Il_aUcEJASez2-79WIVmTTN6CQPPT50BJDoEWBc3SRjkQW4nPD2n2iWH_wl_Nzl3_0FXJqTkXV3bhy_KefRseQkbCHil71O9eDcC6bhziRwtO9NV44XZvJkkf1mtataHK-/s1600/seagull.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I would fly to the silver moon</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">And play with the cuddly rabbit</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">If only I had wings!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d do a Jonathan Livingstone Seagull</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">And soar high into infinite blue sky</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">If only I had wings!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Give a flight for the money to Clark Kent</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Alleviate suffering and dispense justice</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">If only I had wings!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d rise from the dung heap of prejudice</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Slicin’ the foggy air in my chosen
direction</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">If only I had wings!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Not with the eagle, not with the dove</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Fly equidistant from all hues and creeds</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">If only I had wings!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d dare to dream, I’d dream to dare</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Turn my dreams into rosy realities</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">If only I had wings!</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Chasing the pot of gold where seven hues
end</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">I’d fly and fly away into the distant bright
horizon</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">If only I had wings!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...<i>Shyam Sundar Bulusu</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">***</span></div>
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shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-31727415823191560152020-02-28T19:36:00.002+05:302020-02-28T19:36:58.021+05:30MY OFFICIAL AUTHOR WEBSITE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Hey guys,</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Here is a link to my official author website, created and maintained by my publisher, <a href="https://notionpress.com/" target="_blank">Notion Press</a>, Chennai. Please do visit my website and post your remarks. Thanks.</span><br />
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<a href="http://authorshyamsundarbulusu.com/">http://authorshyamsundarbulusu.com/</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrk3_zolB1N5_I2iprmLVlaiZLrJbAZLP9lnLe8riNEMQdRrHspeyfr3aklqJBcS4USfuP9uNMQvPiqfhSVsnraHGIvTF5Nm1z4saHXfVKrBBc_5NENKFnPV5S6W48hfdOnDZqEoD-2EIx/s1600/ZINDAGI+RANG+BIRANGI-Cover-cropped+for+promo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrk3_zolB1N5_I2iprmLVlaiZLrJbAZLP9lnLe8riNEMQdRrHspeyfr3aklqJBcS4USfuP9uNMQvPiqfhSVsnraHGIvTF5Nm1z4saHXfVKrBBc_5NENKFnPV5S6W48hfdOnDZqEoD-2EIx/s200/ZINDAGI+RANG+BIRANGI-Cover-cropped+for+promo.jpg" width="125" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmPcJVXDDfVn6cvzseMMGkBLXdTtOvCr-vBe_QBVMmC6hqLTZejFl1TQc7obsw_0CM6jEiuOBfYf632fkKp6v2LB94IsFZzmL3MrJulgslZWP2pXYCuylEOumtuXY5ouzBnu0hjCt-Eoe/s1600/LP-front+only.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="532" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmPcJVXDDfVn6cvzseMMGkBLXdTtOvCr-vBe_QBVMmC6hqLTZejFl1TQc7obsw_0CM6jEiuOBfYf632fkKp6v2LB94IsFZzmL3MrJulgslZWP2pXYCuylEOumtuXY5ouzBnu0hjCt-Eoe/s200/LP-front+only.png" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gqbKlFPZWamP8rma2sLt4XI4cN-mmoeqFZedKw-AsksxVIfTHLr-WdWl1DiNBm9j14oIEwbtITDnNUt_zmKRpxHgFoyk2r6tjC9DMqtdYwtDWZqd-b8ejMP1y9AVtAPMCQrVv5h6C4-b/s1600/Heartfelt+Cover-cropped+for+promo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1012" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gqbKlFPZWamP8rma2sLt4XI4cN-mmoeqFZedKw-AsksxVIfTHLr-WdWl1DiNBm9j14oIEwbtITDnNUt_zmKRpxHgFoyk2r6tjC9DMqtdYwtDWZqd-b8ejMP1y9AVtAPMCQrVv5h6C4-b/s200/Heartfelt+Cover-cropped+for+promo.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
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shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-61613907316923719162019-12-25T08:25:00.001+05:302019-12-25T08:25:21.940+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">DISCOUNT SALE OF MY BOOKS</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">ON</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">AMAZON INDIA & FLIPKART</span></b></div>
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">"<b>HEARTFELT</b>" & "<b>LIVING PAGES</b>" </span><span style="font-size: large;">FROM TODAY</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">"<b>ZINDAGI RANG BIRANGI</b>" </span><span style="font-size: large;">FROM TOMORROW</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-F39O84JwcDlYAhtij0dW-VHJ71GiCG4J9iHLwBcUL0mYyXspgzZRtlYsiYZ8Vt5Nmba6iEPXsWnZ9Bu79p2SnBYwvZnNH18tC0gyAdKHbFOJysh0HS_JMKL8EEqEbI370cavGOXWu1E/s1600/PROMO-3-BOOKS-AMAZON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-F39O84JwcDlYAhtij0dW-VHJ71GiCG4J9iHLwBcUL0mYyXspgzZRtlYsiYZ8Vt5Nmba6iEPXsWnZ9Bu79p2SnBYwvZnNH18tC0gyAdKHbFOJysh0HS_JMKL8EEqEbI370cavGOXWu1E/s320/PROMO-3-BOOKS-AMAZON.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;">MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL </span></b></h2>
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shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7404699875462390769.post-91561258297454544262019-12-24T21:51:00.001+05:302019-12-24T21:51:50.436+05:30HEARTFELT & ZINDAGI RANG BIRANGI<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">MY TWO NEW BOOKS HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED A FEW DAYS AGO.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYaME7pNSq244xE5E3Mu77H9VENInasUrLaZmBG2rrc2ssMw9cHb9Xke8aKbZved7evyxn5Ssq8oCUVRLszcBOuxAdRElbaGCfRMf_LnDo08OIWffbtsabXKuY0CZum03CA6S9MnQPG0x/s1600/Heartfelt+Cover+1_Rev+2+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYaME7pNSq244xE5E3Mu77H9VENInasUrLaZmBG2rrc2ssMw9cHb9Xke8aKbZved7evyxn5Ssq8oCUVRLszcBOuxAdRElbaGCfRMf_LnDo08OIWffbtsabXKuY0CZum03CA6S9MnQPG0x/s320/Heartfelt+Cover+1_Rev+2+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>A collection of poems in English.</b></span><br />
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: Mangal, serif; font-size: xx-large;">हिन्दी कविताओं
का संकलन |</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Both on introductory discount sale from 25/26 December to 01 January. Available on <a href="https://www.amazon.in/s?k=shyam+sundar+bulusu&i=stripbooks&crid=2A62V9QOJBIGA&sprefix=Shyam+%2Cstripbooks%2C463&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_6" target="_blank">Amazon India</a> and <a href="https://www.flipkart.com/books/shyam-sundar-bulusu~contributor/pr?sid=bks" target="_blank">Flipkart</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>HURRY UP AND PLACE YOUR ORDER.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>MERRY CHRISTMAS </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>& </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>HAPPY NEW YEAR.</b></span></div>
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shyam sundar bulusuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023403972528874243noreply@blogger.com1