Krishna- Our Beloved

fear smeared on face

happy but not

caught red handed

#Haiku
Linking this post with BarAThon Day 4: Caught red-handed. I am with Team #CrimsonRush

Image credit here

Unrequited

His eyes followed Lata’s curvatures. She was looking ravishing as always. Her dress was well fitted and accentuated her perfect figure. He gently touched her light brown eyes. They were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. Every time she had looked at him, his heart had melted into a puddle. He moved his fingers to her soft pink cheeks, gently caressing them and then to her perfect lips. They were slightly open. This was the first time he was touching them. He bent down and gave her a long kiss. She tasted just like a glass of the most intoxicating red wine. He had dreamed of their first kiss since a few years but this was a little different.

He sighed and backed off. She felt a little cold. She had always been a little cold towards him and would only talk when she had no one else to talk to. Only yesterday, she had shared how she was scared of the threatening letters she was getting almost daily from a guy and no one else was believing her. He remembered how he had reassured her.

Ram gave a suppressed laugh at the thought. Lata had believed him when he had told her he was taking her to a friend’s place. And then upon reaching this place, this home that he had built especially for her,she had tried to run.

“What option did I have then?” Ram thought to himself. This is the only way we will always be together. One last time he looked at her or what was left of her, took the gun and aimed at his temple.

Linking this post with BarAThon Day 2: What you don't know. I am with Team #CrimsonRush

Somewhere In Between

Whilst standing in the market

flooding with people

running around, and

scampering through the day

I speak to you   

My daily ramblings

of what happened and what not

who did what and who did not?

Look at Ram running after his brother

complaining loudly to his mother

Mother O mother,

how unfair are you?

why do you let him take everything two?

Complaining just like he used to,

when I was there

On the other side is Sharma uncle,

hurriedly crossing the street,

as usual, he is late

as usual, he didn’t wait,

to kiss good bye to his kids

Just like he never did,

when I was there  

In the front row house is Kavita,

lost in her book

She doesn’t play and doesn’t look

Focused on a future, which

no one has seen

Focused on a future, when

she is not even sixteen

Just like she was

when I was there

Everything is the same

Just like when I was there

Nothing has changed

Just that, I am not there

Next door,

is our home

A place where I lived till I was thirteen

A place which was mine,

before this in-between

Dad just left looking dejected

My six year old brother looks unaffected

but who can blame him?

What has he hardly seen?

I hope he remembers,

how you carried him all day

how I made him rotis and our silly plays

I hope he carries my laughter with him

I hope he carries your hope with him

I hope he remembers how happy we were

till that fateful day

And I hope he forgets the blood display,

the blast,

the aftermath and thousand innocent preys

I hope someday they will find peace within themselves

Till then,

I am here in-between

With you Ma,

Till then we are the angels

Looking over them Ma

Somewhere in-between   

We look down over them and wonder

We know it will be better but still ponder

The future bright and shining for them

Somehow without us,yet

Complete and serene

But till then,

We are here

Somewhere in-between

With them

Without them!

(C) Juztamom 2016

Linking this post with BarAThon Day 1: Stranger than fiction. I am with Team #CrimsonRush for the #BarAThon from 1st to 7th August 2016.

Share The Load

When I look around I find most women over worked, doesn’t matter if they have a career or they stay at home. But I hear almost everyone complain about how hectic their lives are. Some go to an extent and even say that their husbands have it easier, so much easier. Men just have to come from office and their work is over. That is what always makes me uncomfortable. Women work through the day too (either in office or at home), then why don’t they relax when they reach home? Why is it that their work is not over at day end?

I saw this advertisement on social media and instantly liked it. As parents we are empowering our daughters but are we also setting an example for them? Are we setting gender neutral examples at home? Children learn the most by observing. Are we good examples for our children?

I see so many educated women around me, trying to give good education to their daughters, teaching them equality; wishing wings for their daughters but is that enough? Is it enough to know I can be whatever I want when I will grow up; that I am no less than a man, when I am subconsciously believing that the housework is primarily mine, or even if I have a career outside my house, I will be the one taking care of everything in the house? Why? Because that’s what my mother does at home!

Is it enough if we teach our boys, girls are equal to you; there is nothing that girls can’t do; you shouldn’t judge a person’s efficiency by their gender etc , when subconsciously they are believing that when a man comes back from office, he takes a break while the woman runs around finishing all the chores! Where is the equality in this system?

Children learn more from observing! They are like sponge; everyday is a new learning for them. They take subtle clues; they pick nuisances from their parents. It is time we step back and think, are we a good example of gender equality? Do we practice it at home? If not, it is time the changes are made. It is time we lead as example, so the coming generation is free from gender bias of any kind.

It is time the household chores are divided basis availability and efficiency and not gender. Let’s start this from today. Let’s be a good example for our kids!

The JNU debate- What Is Democracy?

In a general sense democracy is freedom, right? So If we are in a democratic country, we are free. We are free to live where we want, free to take the job we want, study what we want, follow the religion we want and we are free to speak our mind. There are no if-s and but-s in freedom. If you are free, you are free. There are no conditions apply.

Dissent is the backbone of freedom I would say. If we can’t disagree, if we can’t stand against something we find wrong, if we can’t questions laws, if we can’t shout at the system, are we truly free?

In my mind a strong democracy is based on free flowing opinions. If a democracy can’t stand opposing views, by definition does it still remain a democracy? If I stand against the system, do I become anti-national? What does my disagreeing with any system, any law or any decision has to do with my love for my country. It still remains my country. I still love it. Do we never disagree with our parents? Have we never spoken against our parents? Have we never walked out of a room following a disagreement with our parents? Or even with our friends, or anyone else? Does it mean we don’t love them? Does it mean we don’t understand what sacrifices they have made for us? Does it mean we don’t want to live in the same house? Does it mean we don’t cherish the relationship? No it doesn’t!

Then why when we express dissent against any decision by law, we automatically are labelled as anti-national? Then why if we stand merely for freedom of speech, we are told we are not patriotic enough?

I love my country. I am a concerned citizen. I know my rights and my duties (At least some part of it). I am thankful for the freedom my constitution and law provides me. And I still don’t agree with so many things happening in India. I will question it and I will fight for my right to question and as a matter of fact, I stand by anyone’s right to speak. So I stand by JNU when it comes to freedom of speech. They have the right to question and show dissent. By questioning a decision, they don’t become anti-nationals and neither do I, by simply being on their side.

But I also believe there is a line which is drawn by every individual even when exercising their democratic rights. I believe Afzal Guru was a terrorist and whatever happened was right. I don’t care if his family couldn’t meet him. I don’t care if he was made a scape goat. I just don’t care! I care about the innocent lives lost. I care about what the attacks did to my country. This is where I draw the line. If the person standing against me still calls him a martyr, I will get angry. I will be furious. BUT I will walk out of the discussion. Why? Because my opinion is based on my experiences in life and I believe anyone else’s opinion would also be based on their experiences, which will be different than mine. I don’t think opinions are driven only through religion. I will always give anyone benefit of doubt; at the least I won’t question their love for their country just because of one opinion or their religion. Why is it so difficult to understand and follow?

India is a country of Indians, not hindu, not muslim, not any religion. If we are Indian citizens, we have the same rights. We belong to the tri-color, not to saffron, not to green!

Note of caution: This is my opinion about the issue. Readers are welcome to share their opinions but I have low tolerance for rudeness. Please be polite! Thank you

Read more about the JNU controversy here