Hoy Me Voy Part II - Letter from Aura!

Letter from Aura.. this time I just published what I received :) didn't put anything extra for story telling..

Love – a word made up of two consonants and two vowels. Fifty – Fifty! Equal distribution of alphabets. I never asked “What is Love?” I never asked “ If you are mine, if you would always remain to me. Not once, nor again and again. I believed, I depended, I hid, time came when I got scared of

losing you. Broke into tears, that when you go, how will I see your face again? Still I hid, didn’t ask, what is love? A unstoppable pain in my throat, heart beating so fast, pounding like a drum; shook like the small hummingbird, completely wrenched in rain.

I am Aura. I am here to tell my story in my words now. I fell in love, some body used it fiercely right.. Falling in love, lost in love, helpless and mad in love, there could never be a feeling in world that made me feel so empty still so fulfilled. The day I saw you in office, I knew there is a connection between you and me. I never felt so comfortable with anyone else. When we started sharing our tea, when I started half of my lunch box secretively for you in the fridge; I knew something was happening. I could feel it with my entire being. I was in fear, I was in tears, I was getting ripped inside, and wasn’t able to say a word. When you came to my desk, just to ask about your colleague, my heart pounded, I told you silently – hold me, just hold me tight close to your heart, but I never asked, what is love, what that meant to you.

I was riding back to home, you stopped your car, said hi to me; my heart pounded again, I looked inside, there were flowers in your car, I felt jealous, but I didn’t ask, what is love? I believed, I depended, I cried. You came sudden in my life, I wasn’t prepared for it, but I could never be prepared to fall on the ground. I waited, I believed, I chirped into joy, I screamed into fear. My sorrows, my tears, were giving me happiness.

Next day you asked me out for photography. I ignored. I knew it was pain, if I see you smiling with me, if I sit close to you, I would shiver, I would never be back to my senses again. My pillow got wet again and again, and my roomies got tired to make me smile just once. I couldn’t smile; I laughed, I danced, I went out in rain, to feel each drop of water rolling on my cheek, deep down in my skin, it was driest, rain came singing into my ears, It was madness, it was blissful.

You picked me in the afternoon, I didn’t ask, why couldn’t you have lunch with me? i knew that was not for me. I felt you wanted to hold my hand, but couldn’t ask for it. Neither had I said a word. It was our hearts; those were talking, beating in rhythm. Words took a back step. We didn’t talk anything but to feel each other’s presence, sitting so close to each other.  I left suddenly with an excuse, you were sad, angry, and restive, and you couldn’t say a word. I didn’t speak to you in office, I didn’t look into your eyes those were seeking answers. I was afraid, was it a dream, you were mine at that moment, my weak fearful heart was asking me, how should I love you, will you remain to me. Tears rolled, each moment that passed by, was edgy, I still didn’t ask, what is love, how long should I wait for you, should I love you. I kept on talking to myself, how long should I wait, for you to hold me once, and forever.

You talked to your family, you convinced everyone, we were getting married. But those flowers in your car couldn’t leave my memories. I was afraid, but I believed, I depended. I was crazy and sinking deep. You left for abroad, leaving everything behind;

I wanted to ask, what is love for you, was it love that kept those flowers in your car, or it wasn’t? or when our hearts sang together in rhythm, that was love. I am lost, I am in tears, I am empty, this night is short, and thoughts are many. wouldn’t I ask, I stand still, what is love, how long should I wait to have you all mine, give you all mine. I believe, I depend, I love!
 

A capture of Light & Darkness - Makes a Image: #Independence Day Thought - after 2 weeks of Independence

A capture of Light & Darkness - Makes a Image: #Independence Day Thought - after 2 weeks of Independence

#Independence Day Thought - after 2 weeks of Independence

Two weeks after Independence day, Our country is fighting with it's all time dip rupee fall against Dollar. Experts in news channels forecast it to fall even more and touch #70. This was the forecast last week when the rupee recorded a fall at 63.03. And, making the forecast a truth, the rupee recorded 68 yesterday.

I am feeling proud and ashamed at the same time to write this, we have so called 3rd biggest economy in the world, with top class business experts sitting in big fat MNCs of Investment banking and Economy sector advisories; setting up forecast for a rupee fall predicting the bad future within two weeks of Independence.

We continue to buy the Newspapers, tune in the News channels and increase the revenue of these agencies and unknowingly become part of this chaos. Have we ever thought, why this entire fight taking place? Why Food bill is floating all the news paper and no one wants to answer where all the money is going, all the taxes the citizens are paying. Price hike in almost everything and still we welcome Retail Giants to our country, as each one of us enjoy it shopping in AC Supermarket in a weekend enjoying so called imported "Ice-Cream" with the "Made in India" tag?

Surprisingly, when I opened today's newspaper, the front page had one third covered by Food bill and currency fall. And 2/3 of the front page was covered by a Cookie Advertisement.

Are we not losing our focus as a Nation? Are we not only thinking about wealth? Are we not forgetting our true calling as Bharat - the a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, assuring its citizens of justice, equality, and liberty, and endeavors to promote fraternity among them?


 

Veda - Story of a Woman!

I met a someone today, who has a very inquisitive but idle mind. Has endless questions, but enjoys being without an answer. Her face reminds me of childhood memories, memories of a child feeling safe in her mother's arms! But her eyes, her eyes reminds the waves of ocean! 

So many waves of thoughts, with each of the blink. She is a woman – with elegant beauty and her own rules. She smiles almost every minute, but eyes, they hold the weep inside, just like, waves of the ocean fawning on the shore.

I had a very short meeting with her, and couldn't resist myself from seeing the pain in her eyes. She looked confused, in a hurry to know things, but taken a back; 

Her eyes silently said many stories, I wished I could validate them with her. Knowing that she was seeking answers, answers those are within, answers those are just waiting for her to connect to her soul. I wish I could tell her, life had given her spiritual challenges just because, god wants her to have faith in herself.

While talking, she mentioned of meditation and its power, but she is too patient to meditate. Hmm.. she might be looking for answers from outside world, or a source to validate what's inside. 

Most of the times, I have seen people seeking answers everywhere except from within. I am no exception. It requires lot of practice and faith in oneself. I can't reveal the name of the lady of my story, let's call her Veda.

Veda was born in a city of of education – popular as oxford of India. She had been brought up with a blend of modern values and indian traditions. A tomboy in nature, and soft heart with kindness carefully hid with tough attitude. 

Veda appears to be a complete woman, caring, kind, affectionate, whose eyes remind me of 'Her eyes are with her heart', Phillip Hermogenes Calderon . What could possibly be questioning her serenity of mind, how can she be helped to achieve inner piece.  

Poush - e - Parbon!

 'প্রতিদিন মানুষ ক্ষুদ্র, দীন, একাকী কিন্তু উৎসবের দিনে মানুষ বৃহৎ, সে সমস্ত মানুষের সঙ্গে একত্র হইয়া বৃহৎ, সেদিন সমস্ত মনুষ্যত্বের শক্তি অনুভব করিয়া মহৎ।' [“Prōtidin mānush khudrō, deen, ekāki. Kintu Utsōber dine mānush brihōt, se sōmōstō mānusher sōnge āekōtrō hōiyā brihōt, sedin sōmōstō mōnushōtver shōkti ōnubhōv kōriyā mōhōt”] Every manushya (human) is small, poor, when alone, but at the time of festivals, manushya turns greater, united with colors, joy and the power of being with all - enlightened empowered largeness in festivity! Today is the auspicious day of Joy, celebrating the richness of winter, and nature's blessings! Makar Sankranta - or Poush -e - Parbon in Bangla, the celebration of winter.

As winter approaches the gourmet Bengali eagerly looks forward to savoring pithe, puli the delicious sweetmeats made during this time of the year. The newly harvested paddy and the date palm syrup or Khejurer Gur (Patali) becomes the most wanted item in Bengal, and it is a common sight at the Kolkata Airport or Howrah/Sealdah stations to find Bengalis living in other parts of the country holding on to that pot of patali gur with dear life to carry back home.

Hoy Me Voy!

Heart causes a heart ache, Aura has known this for years and years of her life. Mid night sleep distortions, early morning waking up, lost middle of the day. Sitting for hours over a cup of tea in the evening besides the window.. n suddenly realizing it's too late for cooking dinner. Since childhood, she has been great fan of music of all genre, Hindushtani classical, western classical, bollywood, jazz, folk and so on and on. None of the "lyrics/ bandish" she has ever known doesn't talk about love. Well, a brief pause here, and a little background about Aura!

Aura is a journalist by profession. She is a brain child of creativity and beauty. Aura started her career with a job role that demanded her to talk to various people and work on comparative anthropology analysis for a credit card company. Each person she used to talk to, he/she would have a story, a unique story. However we are talking here about Aura. She left hope on she being into any relationship after several ups n downs she would have been through. She decided to rather go with the flow of life as the way it comes. Dedicated to her profession, she would start her day very early and end it late; throughout the entire week. Weekends, which she would rarely have, she would go for visiting places, with whatever short time she has. This was going fine till the time she arrived at a zebra crossing during the journey.

Aura, who is considered to be a very interactive person, with aesthetic sense and blend of creativity, would have to interact with most of the creative directors of her org. She used to interact a lot with one of her immediate seniors, share the stories she would get to know every day, over dinner or breaks during the office hour. Both discovered their passion for music, anthropology and many such things. Words take a back step when hearts play the rhythm of togetherness! She started going with the flow rather than holding herself back considering her previous experience. 

The experience was like in fairy tales, every moment would be as intense as she could ever dream of! Nonetheless than sooner, they both realized, they are meant to be together so let’s tie the knot. Family talks started, and so did the backdrop drama. The mystical bouquet of love was flourishing around, but at the backdrop drama of family pressure, pressure of expectations and social practices started. Both were strong and firm enough in their places. A hoy me voy situation for Aura. She almost decided to break up and keep to herself.. until then... when she got captivated....

to be continued

An Agro banking campaign

Food – the must & most needed truth of life. Every creature has a demand for energy and so as for food. Writing this blog reminds me the starter of school days essay writing about India "India is an agricultural country". It became "India is an agrarian economy. Languages changed, but our own villages, farming and farmers remained the same. The innocence,  unawareness about tools and technologies and most importantly the benefits they can make if they are well versed with the avail-abilities.

Thanks to my sister, who is heading a Agro industry bank branch, gave me an opportunity to visit a typical panchayat sabha of 5 villages. I visited Gram Sojana to attend a panchayat that was called upon to address close to 1000 farmers of adjacent five villages on behalf of this Agro Bank. This campaign was mainly to educate the farmers about different government schemes approved and designed by RBI. I was overwhelmed with the reaction of the crowd. They had lots of questions like how to know which crop would be eligible for loan, or how much would be the rate of interest if they keep the profit amount deposited to bank account instead of "Local Sahukar". My sister answered all their quires and explained more about the policies and benefits. So true, India is still lagging in agriculture because, we the so called intelligent and educated people are thinking about Switzerland holiday visit or a good designed duplex bungalow and so on.

However, I sincerely enjoyed this opportunity and explained them about the popular Rose factory Business case of Netherlands. I educated them the concept of warehouse and importance of awareness. A simple fact, almost all these farmers have basic education like primary schooling but they have never gone through their syllabus in details. Had they been, they would have captured the knowledge and used it.

Apart from this excellent sabha, I also enjoyed the scenic beauty around, fresh oxygen, birds chirping and the  astonishing sunset. Readers enjoy the pics:

Click to see Sojana - truly India