COGNIZANCE

                                                                           Scarred face, rugged look, tattered clothes, I saw the man coming out of the abandoned area of the fort. “Must be a madman”-I thought to myself. But then I looked closely, and the face looked familiar. And why not, I felt like looking at the mirror. It was me, the very same but yet so different. I was not hallucinating, for I had no reason to do so. So, is it a ghost? I was thinking to myself when I noticed him walking towards me. I tried running, but my legs won’t allow. I was stuck there, for reasons unknown. He kept walking towards me in a slow pace, till he reached where I was sitting and sat beside me.

                                                        I couldn’t speak, I choked and the throat dried up. “You must be wondering who I am”- he asked with a feeble smile. I just nodded. “You already know the answer, don’t you?”- He continued asking, with the strange smile still on his face. “What do you see when you see me”- he kept on creating suspense. I kept staring at him. I still didn’t know what to say. “I am a part of you, brother. The part that you knew exist but chose not to reveal”- and thus he introduced himself. I kept listening to him eagerly, though I didn’t know if any sensible person would do that.

                       “You had always avoided me, brother. I was never given the recognition I deserve. I empathize with you, for I knew it was hard for you to bring me to light. I was your share of tears, your share of anger and hatred, your share of agony and pain, of fear. Feelings that men try avoiding. Yet, I always hoped someday I will be introduced to someone who won’t be judgmental, who would know how to provide you with ease and comfort. I saw people coming and going, both right and wrong, but you never took me out of the shell. We grew together, but you imprisoned me forever.”

  

                                     “Today while you stand with a recognition, wearing that fake smile on your face, behaving you have friends for all walks of life, I laugh the sarcastic laugh standing at dark corners, for I know the truth, for I am the truth. I grew up with every feeling you suppressed, I fed on every lie you spoke to hide the unbearable truth. And if you are wondering about my looks, I tell you this brother, this is what you are from inside. Poor, pathetic, alone and hopeless. I couldn’t stand it anymore, and so I came to tell you that it is yet not too late. Accept me, I am dark but I am not evil. I complete you; I am not the reason for your eternal shame. And if you still continue to avoid me, I will only become more terrible, more haunting. The words were mine brother, but the choice is still yours. Choose wisely.”

                                                     He didn’t wait for me to respond. He just walked away, and disappeared in the broad daylight. And he left me wondering, if I was dreaming. But somewhere, deep down, I knew I wasn’t. He kept an invisible mirror in front of me, and I kept on gazing…..

                                                                                                                   DAICHI

                                                                                                                17^th May, 13

MEN IN BLACK

                          MEN IN BLACK

“Save thy self from the clutches of the evil”- they shouted. They were burning; the flames of harassment had reached its height, so their screams were justified. But on the other side of the road, round the darkened corner, the awkward silence was ignored. The silence concerning otherwise. Two adolescent men talked among themselves. “I will be ragged by girls now, and no where to complain about it”- spoke one. “What’s coffee now will soon be poison, if I ask someone for company”- added other. But the talk was unheard of, for no one cared to listen. “My front mirror will be my doorway to jail someday, for my occasional glances might seem like stares of lust to them”- sighed the cab driver. And he drove off to find another passenger. “I have to be with my wife for her delivery, but how to explain these ladies”- thought the autorikshaw waala and with no other options left, moved towards the pub they asked for. “My career will be ruined, and my talents, my qualifications, are sure to go in vain”- told the to-be gynaecologist to his batch mate, as he looked pale and tensed. The local vegetable grocer asked his wife to sell for him instead. “How will I bargain with those housewives now?”-he tried to explain. The CEO of the company now has a male personal assistant. “I don’t want my company to be doomed, for they may sue us on a cheesy office chit chat turned office harassment.”-he thought to himself. The traffic police don’t stop the girls on scooties for violating rules anymore  He needs the job to feed his family after all. They all had their reasons to think, and think with fear in mind and nobody to share it with. Hundreds of people are scared of moving out of their homes today, for though they care about only their works concerned, they may still end up behind the bars for none of their fault.

                     

                                    And yet, the protest drew more people, and the shouts never stopped, for they want justice and their voices were justified.

P.S.-I personally share the same feeling about the ongoing crimes on females as any other rational person who is even least sensible, and thus this article of mine means no offence to anyone or any act which supports women empowerment. This article is just an imagination, a cluster of personal thoughts, about how a normal person may also be affected, even if he has nothing to do with the ongoing brutality.

-         DAICHI

- 13^TH MARCH, 13

TIM

                                                          TIM

He was new in the city

And the city was new to him.

But slowly they were knowing each other

The city of joy ….. and Tim.

Tears rolled down with a sigh

When he saw the helpless mothers cry.

But he was then being mocked

By every one who passed by.

The city whispered, its how they earn

Their children are fed on people’s sympathy.

And that is how Tim grew

Getting rid of the fake emotion - pity.

“Love one, love all”- they said

And he did love every soul.

But every smile he offered

Was ignored, for he was a fool.

The city patted him slowly

“Selfless world is a hypothesis”- it did say.

And Tim realized, there is no love

He got a new lesson that day.

He talked, he smiled, and he cared for all

And his pain, he kept them aside.

Though he thought he had friends

No one cared for what he cried.

The city did care, and offered its lap

It said- “you are your only true friend”.

And Tim thought “I guess that’s true”

And then all his emotions met a dead end.

Now no more new in the city of joy

Tim was one among the crowd.

And now he felt as one among all

He was strong and proud.

But he had nothing to talk now

No feelings to share.

Although Tim was done with his past phase

Honestly, he didn't even care.

People back in village waited for Tim

That someday he will get back to them.

Unaware of the transformation,

That their Tim was a complete new man.

He did come with a bundle of notes

The city of joy’s gift.

But between the people and their Tim

There was now a huge emotional rift.

Tim grew rich, Tim grew strong

But the real Tim did fade away.

The city of joy made a wicked smile

For one more Tim did lost his way.

Not one, not two, but thousands of Tim

Everyday, they are losing their identity.

Bundles of green paper is joy, they think

And thus, the name of the city.

                                                                                                  - DAICHI

                                                                                       12^TH MARCH, 12