TRUST

It's some thing

That cannot be

Both genuine

And reserved

Each and every time

It become harder

But if you don’t

Expose yourself

To that terrifying betrayal

Then it's not trust

I like

To believe in people

My trust is easily earned

But please

Don’t take it for granted

As it’s a bridge

That quickly burns

So, it’s a bridge.

 INNER BEAUTY

You have beauty,

Your eyes will

Never see,

The mirror does not

Show you everything

Especially things that

Are deep and

Meaningful, thoughts

That are more

Important than flesh

Enveloping your soul

Your radiant smile

Form a flower

The inner beauty was

Your power and strength

No scars can hide

Your beauty

You are beautiful

In just the way

You are

we are stars and

We are beautiful.
 MOTHER’S LOVE

When I look at you

I can travel time

From eyes right here

To when yours first met mine

Just one of those things

Simple words can’t define,

But when I look at you

I can travel time

You are a tiny miracle

Laying closely to my heart

When I look into your new born eyes

And silently I realize

The love and joy of live

The miracle of meeting you

A day of mixed emotions

Don’t know how to feel

When I first take you

In my hands.
 FEAR

Fear follows us

Fear stalks us

Fear controls us

Fear is all we think

Fear sleep with us

Fear eats with us

Fear surrounds us

Fear is every where

Fear can be stopped

Fear can go away,

Fear is only an emotion

Fear will be stopped

Fear can be overcome because

Fear was only an obstacle

To our success

Fear can be stopped

When we are

Brave and bold and

Stopped by love.
 FEBRUARY

February

So incomplete

And so imperfect as I

Yet so complete

In hope and eagerness

Come back spring

And gently

Winter leave

Or you may stay

For a little while

And listen.

The songs of February

The call of love

Although it is the

Shortest month

It’s special in many ways

We celebrate the once

We love when it is Valentine’s Day.

 MY REAL HERO

Walk along with me daddy

And hold my hands

I have so many things to learn

That I don’t yet understand

Teach me things the keep me safe

From dangers every day

show me how to do my best

at home, at school, at play.

Every child needs a gentle hand

To guide them as they grow

So, walk along with me, daddy

We have a long way to go,

You make me laugh, you love

You care when I need help

You are always there

You have loved me and

Held my hand since my birth

You are my hero

That’s the truth.

 IT’S A GIRL

A little angel opened her little eyes on the beautiful planet called earth. Ready

to start her journey. Her little hands were eager to touch the loved ones, craving for

affection. Wiggling her little fingers to be grabbed by someone. But why no one

seems happy? Not her grandparents, not her daddy, not even her own mom. Why birth

of a baby girl is not welcomed? And definitely not if she is dusky. She was 'fortunate'

to be born in 21st century, that she was not killed after birth. But does she have a fair

life? Why does a girl grow up as a burden to the family? Why nobody bothered for

her proper nutrition, love or care she deserved. But girls are born warrior, she

survived with all odds.

At the age of 5.she understands the language and words but not aware of the

inequality or partiality. She doesn't understand why her brother is been treated

differently, why he is been provided with every luxury he demands and she is not

provided even basic things. She doesn't know why everyone in family refrain

themselves seeing her face to be the first thing in morning, why she is not allowed to

pass across when somebody is going out. She doesn't know the term bad luck or

inauspicious. She even doesn't understand why her aunts tease her saying

"Rathy ma". Why she doesn’t let her children to play with her, is her dark complexion

contagious? As she grew up, situation did not change.

On the contrary, it got worse. When she realized that she is ill-treated, she

started questioning and got beaten up in return. She was aloof, abandoned and all by

herself. She spends most of her time in the library, indulges herself into reading. She

had been introduced to different kind of people through the books. She started with

short stories and eventually started reading novels including fiction, love stories,

suspense, adventures, everything.

 She tasted every aspect of life without going anywhere. She is now in direct

contact with the characters of every book. Up to the age of 16, she was accompanied

by books always. now she urges for a male companion. Teenage - the age of love and

romance. Hormones are flooding and over shooting through her veins. She likes a guy

from her school, a glance of him makes her heart to beat at the 180 speed. But the

years of humiliation and ignorance has destroyed her confidence. She can't talk to

anyone without hesitation. In front of her crush. she has no courage to even stand next

to him. When her classmates flaunt the gifts from their boyfriends, she seats quietly,

thinking, which boy would like to be with a dark girl. She believes that her

complexion makes her ugly.

She tried fairness creams, homemade face masks, and what now. Nothing

worked. She is more frustrated after failing all efforts to change the skin color. Her

teenage went being lonely and depressed. She doesn't like to read books now, because

they give her a false hope of a prince charming, probably she can never have. She

believes, everything would be fine when she will get married. She will get all the love

from her husband. Right now, she has got no option but to focus on studies and get a

good job so when her family starts looking for a suitable groom, they don't have to

pay a huge amount of dowry. Over the years, she has realized now that for girls,

purpose of education or a good job is to get a good husband. It has nothing to do with

women empowerment, mental growth or securing a life financially.

She was very good academically; she graduated and got a good job in the

bank. She started to think just like society that getting married is an ultimate goal for

any girl. She also fell in this trap. Every time, a prospective boy comes to see her for

arranged marriage, she gets ready, try to lighten her skin tone with makeup, cautiously

choosing her clothes -avoid yellow and florescent colors. Behind the curtain, she
would stare at him with a hope. He might be the one. But as soon as she walks in the

room with the tray of tea to offer. The guy would try to walk out for various reasons,

denying talk to her at all. Nobody wants to know how she is as a person, how she

feels, what kind of dreams she has. A glimpse of her dark complexion and boy would

run away.

Multiple humiliations shattered her bit by bit. She is socially out casted

because she is 30 and still unmarried., as per society, a girl cannot live by herself, she

has to marry, no matter. What.! And a day comes when she agrees to marry a 10th

grade dropout. Just because he said yes, she has got no choice but to accept him. For

her family, he was a hero for saying yes with little dowry. The girl must worship such

guy. And it is already understood, she will perform all household chores and of

course, her salary should remain with her husband only.

She accepted her faith and try to love her husband, devoted her life entirely.

She expected love and respect in return. She thought her husband likes her as he chose

to marry her. But soon after marriage, she realized he married for her good salary. No

feelings, no love, neither respect. One day she found out, he had extramarital affair.

When she confronted, he behaved liked it was her fault because she is not beautiful.

Enough is enough. She has been suppressed all her life. Not anymore. Sometimes a

single moment is enough to break through all inhibitions. No more humility, disgrace

or insult. She cannot go to her own parents for help. They will definitely ask her to

tolerate everything and be with her husband anyway. She just walked out of the

house, leaving a short note: I can't take it anymore.

She struggled to get a decent house in the beginning, had to stay in a working

women hostel with minimal facilities but it is far better than a luxurious house without

honor or self-respect. She had to hear abusive words from her family and in laws,
questions were raised about her character but the years of harsh words had already

lost their effect. Nothing penetrates her now. A rebel, a stubborn, a divorcee,

characterless - whatever label society wants to put on, she doesn't care anymore.

Nobody showed up when she suffered for her whole life, so nobody has a right

to say a single word now. Society would always have something to say but she has

developed a selective listening. Nothing bothers her now. She is fully focused on her

own growth. She is doing fantastic at her job. She also started reading books again -

her long lost friends.

She grew tremendously in her professional career and personally as well. She

rebuilt her confidence and rekindled the spark she lost a long ago. With her hard work

and ignited spirit, she got an opportunity to work overseas. She is 35 now, fully

independent, happy and successful, living in London. She lives with her fiance - soon

to be a husband, who is 5 years younger than her. A British guy, whom she met a year

back at the library. They exchanged their thoughts about their favorite books. The guy

got attracted by her wisdom, a perspective towards life, her intellect, and her morals.

He rejuvenated her with his unconditional love and appreciation. He stood

with her like a rock. He made her realize that she is the most beautiful woman he ever

met and beauty is not just the outer appearance. She indeed feels beautiful in his

presence. He identified her phenomenal talent. He not only encouraged her to pursue

a writing career but also helped to love herself and forget all the injustice, bitterness

she witnessed. She has made peace with everyone.

Her heart is filled with magnificent love, no space is left for any grudges. She

poured all her heart and soul in the writing. She made an instant connection with the

readers and could touch their heart with her soulful writing. Her life is a real example

of blessings in disguise.
 ROHAN AND THE BOOK

Once upon a time, there lived a boy whose name was Rohan. He lived in a

bungalow. His father’s name was Ravi and his mother’s name was Seema. They all

lived very happily. One day, Rohan asked his mother, what kind game which his

ancestors used to play with. His mother told Rohan that the game was in the store

room. Rohan searched for the game but did not get any games. When he was going

out of the store room, he found a Golden book with hard-cover. He thought that the

book was kept there by his ancestors.

Rohan tried to open the book, but could not. Then he read the back side of the

book. It was written that to open the book one needed to provide his thumb

impression. Rohan tried his thumb impression and it worked. He was surprised to

know that his ancestors had made a book which was futuristic and which could

recognize his thumb impression after so many years of their death. He felt very happy

for his ancestors’ talent and started reading the first page. Only one sentence was

written in the entire page. "To go to the Rabbit temple, you need to go to the Kerala.”

When Rohan was going to read the second page, his mother called out for

dinner. So, Rohan left the book at the store and went for dinner. After having his

dinner, before going to sleep he asked his mother whether they could go to Kerala the

next day? His mother assured him of going, but not next day. Rohan was happy and

slept. The next day, Rohan again went to store room and opened the book and read the

second page. It was one line in the entire page just like first page. "You need to reach

Kollam district at Kerala to find the Rabbit temple and find tomb of the dark

magician.”

Rohan did not understand anything because he was eight years old and

studying in standard three. He was scared and surprised, but did not ask his mother
about this because he thought his mother might tell him not to read this book and

probably Rohan would never discover reason behind Rabbit temple. The next few

days without his mother’s knowledge, he read the entire book.

The story of the book was very interesting. Actually, the book belonged to a

black magician. The magician wanted to turn the whole world into dark soldiers. He

wanted to turn the Sun into a black ball which would create black thunder and help

the magician to conquer all the powers and destroy the Universe. He made this book

to perform a mantra which would create a ruby with all the powers of the Universe.

There also, lived a good magician. He wanted to stop the black magician. He

knew about a thief who could steal the book. His name was Seega. He was ancestor of

Seema, who is mother of Rohan. Rohan was very excited to know all the facts about

his ancestors. One-night Seega stole the book and kept it at his home and left. The

good magician killed the black magician and buried him in an Rabbit temple. There

was no traces of Rabbit temple nor Seega. It was assumed that Seega died somewhere.

After 7 centuries, The book got its power back as Rohan opened the book.

Rohan’s finger prints matched the expected impression and book came to live. It was

not a normal book, but a man with special power who was cursed to live inside a

book. After few days, Rohan reached Kerala. He and his family stayed in a hotel that

Rohan suggested. He told the name of hotel as it was written in the book. The hotel

was very suspicious. All the people of the hotel wore scary mask of gold-plated rabbit

face. The entire family was scared and they scolded Rohan for suggesting such a

scary hotel. The next day, when the family woke up, they felt very cold as they were

on a golden ground. They could not believe their eyes. The entire hotel had vanished

and there was no one except a scary soul and golden book which Rohan had carried

back from home, till hotel was missing.

 “Yes, I know that you all are shocked and I know that you are thinking how is

this possible?” – said the scary soul. “That night when Rohan opened the book, and

read which he got from store room, he brought soul of good magician back to live.” –

then he went on to explain the story of Seega, good magician and bad magician etc.

The soul continued “Good magician made all the illusion of the hotel and the

suspicious people.”

Then, the soul took Rohan and his family to the golden cave where the black

magician was buried. At that time, the family was terrified but after meeting the soul

of the good magician and listening to the story of the good magician’s soul, they

calmed. Seema was very angry with Rohan and scolded him. The soul of the good

magician told Seema that it was not the time to be angry but to burn the book. He also

told that he was going to be vanished soon. He told that when he was alive the black

magician cursed him that after 7 centuries and 12 days, he would be vanished. The

day was very near and he didn’t have much time left. He quickly told them what to do

to burn the book. He told that the book would flew through the longer route to the

body of the black magician. He also told the family that no one should touch the book,

rather try to catch the book through secret shorter route. He gave a map to Rohan and

pointed to destination, which was just 100m away. Before he could say anything, he

vanished.

The family followed the secret shorter route, as directed by soul, when they

saw a golden rabbit with a horn in his head. They asked him if he knew anything

about the black magician. He did not have any information, but gave the family some

magical equipment like a magical wand , magical feather and a ruby book which has

the power of all magical books. The family found the thing which they want to

destroy the book.

 Rabbit also told the family that, “In reality, ruby book and the golden book

were the first human brothers. The golden book was evil and the ruby book was

virtuous. One day, while walking in the garden they met an old taantrika. They made

fun of her so she was angry and cursed them that the evil brother will turn into an

golden book and will be opened and will get the power of moving after 8 centuries

and the virtuous brother will be stolen by a golden rabbit and will get back its power

of moving after a boy would open it in the rabbit temple, where Ruby’s brother would

come to find his master, the black magician. After saying this she turned them into

books and threw them into the air and she also told that in the ruby book it is written

how to destroy the golden book. After saying this taantrika had vanished.”

Rohan and his family took the ruby book and opened it. It was written that to

attract and capture the golden book one needed to rub the book with a thing which is

not made up of gold and situated in the Rabbit temple. Everything in the Rabbit

temple was made up of gold but Rohan had an idea. He told that the body of the

preserved dead magician is made up of flesh, who has been mummified, so if they rub

the book with his body so that they can attract the golden book before it reaches the

body of the black magician and make him alive. The family did exactly what Rohan

told. The book and magician was finally destroyed. Everyone was very happy for

Rohan to save mankind from the black magician through his intelligence.
 THE FLOWERY TALE

What is the secret of your success? asked the interviewer holding a mike in

front of Indra and her team. I made my dream come true, answered Indra firmly.

Her friends cum business partners Nila, Deeps, Malar and Roshini chuckled

visualizing the nightmare she had two years ago. None expected that her dream will

bring a change, except Indra. As soon as she got the details, she had asked from her

business partners, she called the maids of her area and asked if they can help her out

to recycle the flowers into vermi-compost and lifestyle products such as soaps,

incense sticks, perfumes. decors etc., free of cost. Without giving a second thought,

they said No.

Malar who is good at People management, persuaded them by saying that they

will help their children score good marks and make them speak English in return.

Also, Nila said that they can take the Eco-friendly end-products for their personal use;

in return as an extravagant bonanza. The young women discussed among themselves

and finally agreed. Malar tapped the pulse of the maids and as she guessed they

accepted.

In the initial days, Indra and her team went from temple to temple to collect

flowers but later on, people conducting weddings, decor agents, flower vendors

started calling them to collect the flowers respectively. The women workers were

given intense amount of training on segregating the flowers and separating them into

two groups: one to recycle them as lifestyle products and two to prepare vermi-

compost. Deeps's father who is an owner at CMBT market, delivered to them all the

vegetable wastes such as corn cobs, cabbage, onion peels and egg shells; and coffee

ground from his nearby vendors. Also, residents near Indra’s place started giving

away their organic waste to make use of it. Once the mixture was ready, earthworms
were added to help increase the nitrogen content. This mixture was sold to all nearby

residents and free organic farming training was given by Nila to promote healthy

eating. In this manner, both the residents and the maid gelled together as nail and

flesh.

On the other hand, the children of the maids were taught English and other

subjects after school hours on Indra’s terrace by all the five and as promised they

scored above 80% in their exam, pleasantly surprising their parents. The lifestyle

products such as incense sticks, perfumes, soaps, candle, rose water, face-wash, tea,

lip-balms, handmade paper and potpourri that the maids made, only by using their

tender hands, received excellent reviews on e-commerce sites and gave them extra

saving. Deep’s web technology attracted a large number of customers and few

products were even exported abroad in large containers!

Indra started writing about the same; using her art and words which attracted

many others to join her team. Also, the matured flowers which had a short life-span

were mixed and matched and distributed to hospitals, orphanages, aroma therapy

centers to promote happiness and good health as a random act of kindness. The

change that they brought in these two years not only gave them name and fame but

also a responsibility to make Chennai an Eco-friendly and cleaner state. Their

consumers started increasing in number, making all the other aesthetic industries take

a backseat. Many approached her for collaboration but she denied boldly!What are

your future plans? the interviewer asked.

We wish to continue the same in all 29 states and promote India as an eco-

friendly country and uplift all the underprivileged women to make them stronger,

healthier and independent, Indra said with pride!

But how, they asked? We are going create more change-makers, said all the four in a

uniform tone! We have decided to offer jobs to the children we taught and going to

teach, and also farmers from the Cauvery delta, added Roshini. Watching their live

interview, parents of Indra, Deeps, Roshini, Nila and Malar shed tears whereas the

December flower on Indra’s mother's head rejoiced with joy.

We made it Indra, Malar said climbing the ladder to settle herself in the small

place in between the water tank and ventilator. Yes, all the four shouted teasing Malar

who was struggling to fit into the space filled with pillows, rugs and bedspreads. The

cold breeze blew the lighted candles and a frightening thunder struck the ground. The

rain drops increased it speeds and a large shadow engulfed the five of them into their

world.

Thank you Indra, the Rose bowed down its head. Her friends held each other

tight in fear whereas Jasmine, Daisy, Lily, Lotus came from behind to show their

gratitude. Indra smiled and introduced them to her friends!

I love the way you teach, bindweed complimented looking at Nila.

She was shivering and Indra asked them where was Four’o clock beauty? Here I am,

she came out as a little bud! All the flowers exchanged glances and at sharp 12 am,

they converted the candles into lanterns and made them fly in the air among

raindrops!

Indra and her friends stood stunned and they couldn't believe what their eyes

saw! Rose took a picture of them using their smartphones and said that - You kept

your promise and we wish to fulfill one of your wishes.

You wanted lanterns on New Years Eve! and here it is, giggled the cactus.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year and all the best for your future endeavors, cried

the flowers. Indra, they listen to all our talks, said all the four without moving their

eyes. Yes, I told right, Indra smiled.