FORTY WINKS

dance of the fireflies    In the realm between shadows and light, illusions dance,  A phantasm, a trick of sight.  Whispers draw me closer, clouding my mind,  Casting its spell, playing with my psyche. Mysterious, obscure, and deep. Embracing me in its warmth. Isn't love an illusion?  As is life.  Fleeting, frail, and magical like folklore.  I wander through this dreamlike land,  Light as a feather, tender as a teardrop. In twilight, when stillness stings,  A tapestry of yearning weaves its threads,  Each stitch is embellished with pleasures I want to know.  Isn't love an illusion?  As...

(  The short story fiction category was chosen for an online writing competition. The story began as a 50-word submission I wrote for a prompt on Instagram.) The Patterns In The Sky Ten-year-old Nina pointed towards the sky, her eyes sparkling with wonder.  "Look, Mom, the sky looks so beautiful," she exclaimed. It was a cold, dreary morning in January, and the looming clouds veiled the entire landscape. Nina and her mother, Neelam, were nestled in the tranquil embrace of their farmhouse courtyard, enveloped by the undisturbed rural panorama. As Neelam hesitantly looked up from the book she was engrossed in, she couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the dull, gray sky and her daughter's vibrant, elated expression. Instead of basking in the warmth of her daughter's joy, she was unexpectedly trapped by a bewildering surge of conflicting emotions. Unsure of navigating this whirlwind of feelings, she was transfixed. She realized that this moment would ma...

आग  जलना है तो जलो जी भर ,  मै रहूँगी साथ ,  रूप अनेक , नाम  एक - आग  किन्तु सर्व प्रथम करो निर्णय ,  तप कर बनोगे स्वर्ण मुद्रा या मात्र  राख।  कर्तव्यपथ ढँक सा गया हो  , विपदा , विवशता , चुनौतियां हज़ार,  बन कर धूमकेतु ,  गंतव्य  दिखलाऊँ,  चल सकोगे ? बिना हारे , बिना थके , लिए उम्मीदों का भार।    तमक  बन  जल जाऊँ   दो प्रेमियों के ह्रदय में , कहलाऊ  अनुराग, प्रकाश  वही, ताप  वही किन्तु नयी अनुभूति ।  उलझने , विरोध , कलय , क्रोध , आग का दरिया , लांघ सकोगे ? साथ रहोगे  सदैव तो बनू  प्रेम की साक्षी।  रूप एक वो भी है  मेरा ,  जो भस्म कर दे घर संसार, लपटों से लिपटी कराहती  बेटी, बेगुनाह माँ,  कभी अग्निपरीक्षा, कहीं  अपराध  , मूक रहोगे निर्लज्ज   अभी भी ? जला सकोगे तो आगे बढ़ो ,   कभी न बुझने वाली ,  देश प्रेम की पावन ज्वाला,  पिंजर तक बलिदान करोगे युद्ध  में , मात्ृ  भूमि सर्वोपरि , ये प्रति...

          ( This short story was selected in an online writing competition.)                                                                                                        Dear “M” Among the stacks of books, I noticed an old novel. Curious, I grabbed it up. The author was not celebrated, and the cover had a neon green text with the simple title "Dear M." I went up to the storekeeper to ask what the pricing was. "Take it as a gift; the novel has been waiting for you," he said, a smile showing through his wrinkles. I felt strange because the shopkeeper had never been so kind. Mom would take me shopping on my birthdays. She adored giving books as gifts, and I loved to read. However, I have paid the...

Unloop The Loop!   The World Health Organization (WHO) conceptualizes mental health as a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to his or her community. Mental Health Day is celebrated on 10 th October every year. The theme for 2023 set by the World Foundation of Mental Health is “Mental Health is a Universal Right”. Mental health issues are just as real as any other ailment affecting physical health.  The manifestation of physical ailments is evident but it may take years at times for mental disorders to surface. Since the approach and management involve the treatment of deep recesses of the mind outcomes are slower.   Let’s break free from a few myths surrounding mental health. 1)     Myth: Women are vulnerable to mental health issues. Fact: Mental health issues are gender-neutral and can affect al...

  Presenting the complete article , part of which was published in  www.timesofindia.com  Hyderabad edition  on September 1st , 2021.   ONE CHANGE THAT I HAVE EMBRACED TO KEEP UP WITH THESE “NEW NORMAL” TIMES It was March 2020 when our country went into tizzy by corona-virus pandemic. It started as a region specific practical joke but spiraled into a un- ending ordeal. I had never comprehended that the stressful times would affect my psychological, emotional and physical well- being.  The first phase of lock-down impelled the apparently closest ones to switch sides. The masks started to fall off.  I learnt the harsh reality that my family did not figure in any of the schemes for folks whom I had spent decades loving and pleasing.   The big change that I have embraced is self-actualization . I emphasis more than ever on mental health. It’s high time we stopped glamorizing multi- tasking and over work. I pr...