The Princess woke up early

31^st sept.-2010

900hrs dawn, sound of rain could penetrate the ears easily, which was realised whenever ‘his’ eyes opened while sleeping. Yes, HE was sleeping but not alone. Few words were exchanged between the 2 mates on bed, which could never be recalled after gaining senses. 
“He” doesn’t remember when he fell asleep last night after the clocked ticked 2:00am. The mates confronted a fight/quarrel/shouts/thunder and storms with heavy rains from all the 3 sides i.e. the clouds outside and the eyes (2*2) inside the window.

The eyes which wept in the dark, though slept in the same blanket with cloths ON probably for the 1^st time (neglecting the unfavourable times of illness).

(After the eyelids were closed and the senses were lost, the two love struck were still in touch – “which could be only sensed by the tactile sensors installed free of cost when you are bitten by the love bug.” HE entangled the mate in his arms , kisses were exchanged on neck, cheeks, chin, nose, forehead, ears and every exposed part of the two Insleep mates.)

Alarm sound was heard by HE, who pushed the snooze button and the mate simultaneously but mate couldn’t wakeup. Alarm roared again but still the senses couldn’t be regained. Finally, after uncountable and unremembered attempts one of the two mates woke up and emerged back from the romantic, touchy, dreamy world to the real world of collecting “the times of India” from the door step, attending the call of nature, splashing water on face, etc, etc.

The other mate (still in sleep) could hear the sound of triggering the gas lighter, noise of water being poured into some metallic container. The nostrils could sense some smell too, whereas the closed eyelids were kept constant.

The bedroom's door was opened and the insleep mate judged  it by the creeping sound produced by the door hinges. The blanket was removed in the most romantic way one could imagine. A kiss was pecked on the forehead but still-closed-eyelids demanded for two more. This desire was fulfilled too.

The sound of water being poured into..., which was heard some minutes ago, was transformed into the best possible tea. This was the best morning one could ever dream of as HE enjoyed the best BEDTEA full of love, feelings, emotions, dreams of being, staying, and loving  each other forever and ever only because “the Princess woke up early.” 

UNWIPED TEARS

Saavitri…Saavitri….Saavitri..!

It was a clear Sunday dawn when the sound travelled across the labyrinth lanes of Kushaal Puri. Kushaal Puri was an unauthorized settlement of proletarian class from Orissa in Bhopal. Shiv Shambhu Das was screaming his elder daughter’s name as he was in severe need of medical attention. He was a drunkard and the only earning member of the family of four till 3 days ago. But now he was on bed rest as the alcohol which he used to drink, had drunk all the bile juice which is secreted in lever. In simple words, “his lever was completely destroyed by the drink”.

Within a month, the two teenage daughters- Saavitri and Kusum had to drop their schools so as to take their father’s care. Shambhu’s wife had to take responsibility of earning money and for that she started working as a maid. Days passed and the expenses on medicine kept on increasing with a rapid rate whereas Shambhu’s condition kept on deteriorating. One day he died all of a sudden when he fell from the stair-case.

Time stood still and the in-grief wife- Ramaa, had to take monetary help from her neighbour for her husband’s final proceedings. Few days passed, the tears were wiped off but the eyes were drooping still and the heart was still weeping.

Now the whole responsibility of family was on widow’s shoulders. Saavitri in order to help her mother started working in a near-by tailor’s shop and took a firm decision to let Kusum continue with her studies.

But…before conditions could turn normal again, Kusum met with a road accident on her way back home from school. The ruthless neighbour asked to repay her money with interest, meanwhile Kusum was taken to a nearby Govt. hospital where she was declared dead.

Sorrows struck the family again…

Doctors after examining the dead body and analyzing the family’s condition suggested Ramaa to donate Kusum’s body to medical college for which she will be paid by the Govt. Mother broke into tears and the answer was a ‘NO’ straight away.

Ruthless neighbour asked again, doctors kept on suggesting for the same and the answer was a sorrowful ‘YES’ this time. Kusum’s soul was departed and the body was donated. All except the two ladies were happy i.e. neighbour, doctors and the medical students who got a new body to dissect.

Ramaa with her only daughter left reached their home with swollen eyes, heavy heart and broken dreams to see Kusum as an engineer.

Looking at the penurious condition of the family, Saavitri stood up all of a sudden and ran through the lanes of Kushaal Puri to reach the doctor and asked with a heavy voice, “Sir, can I get back the clothes which my sister is wearing..??”