The box of memories

Magpie Tales #25

It was another hot summer noon. Rachana was getting bored. Her mum was fast asleep and Rachana just could not close her eyes. She slowly got off the bed and made her way to the garden. She was doing her usual stuff when some activity in the neighbourhood caught her attention. Seemed like someone occupied the next door house. It was then she saw the cute boy with green eyes in the garden. He seemed busy. He was collecting some leaves. She went ahead and tried to talk with him.

“what are you doing ? “

“Nothing. who are you ? “ asked the boy.

“ I am Rachana. That house  is ours” she informed.

“ Okay. Go now. I am busy” he told her.

“ Show me what are you doing ! “ she tried pulling the box he was holding.

“ Noooooooooooo”  came a big scream and he tried hiding that box.

She hit him and ran away. She could hear his sobs. Loud in the beginning and later soft ones.

It was Rachana’s first interaction with that cute boy with green eyes. Her first ever boy friend.

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As days passed; the families started hanging out more often. The children and the adults got along better. Rachana and the boy loved playing together. They shared stories of their school with each other. They clicked instantly. But she never got to see his box. “It is my secret and no one gets to see it “ the boy told her. It was nicely carved wooden box. But a lock was hanging there and always. It left her curious. But she left at that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was time to make a move. Rachana’s dad got transferred to another place. The kids were upset and sad.  They hugged. They promised that they will remain best friends. They cried. They promised to write each other. They promised not to forget each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That day when Rachana returned from work; her mum handed over a parcel that arrived in her name. She tried guessing the contents but she could not. She slowly opened the parcel. Somebody sent her the Boy’s secret box. It surprised her.  She opened the letter. It read

“ The Boy’s most cherished box. He wanted to hand it over to you. He wanted you to open it. This was his last wish. So here it is the box and the key for the lock. For you and forever.  “

Time stood still there for her. Tears were frozen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Life still moved on. Today was the day. She opened the box again. The box contained dreams.  His dreams, her dreams, broken, fulfilled, stupid dreams, deep dreams, desires, words, unspoken, unexpressed, spoken, heard, beautiful. Now everything had turned into memories. She picked up the snap. A cute boy with green eyes and a chubby girl,  happy and smiling. Tears rolled from her eyes.

Ten years. Long time. But the memories still smelled so fresh, so fragrant. The box conserved every bit of them. Precious and timeless. Just like their friendship.

Flowery Friday

In case you are wondering ; what is this all about let me tell you.  If you are regular at “colors & lights” by now you know my love for flowers. So I thought of making a weekly series  dedicated to flower captures by yours truly. We are going to call it “Flowery Friday” and today is first day. YAY !  :-)

If you have something to share , please take this as invite to chip in. No rules but only flowers. Drop in a comment if you plan to join in !   and I will see you on other side.

Happy Friday Folks  !!

This Morning

The pleasing morning breeze and the blushing sky; announcing the arrival. Slowly the sky turns crimson red and the golden power ball makes way to the red carpet. Every moment spent in the wait is worth while.

Her world gets filled juvenile sun rays. The huge smile across the sky. Imparting her the energy to buck up.

The enormous spread of positivity, vibrancy. Offering a brand new day. Grace to face the world. Take up the things coming your way. The message in the air that the light follows darkness.

She is so thankful for these small mercies of life.

कश्मकश

कश्मकश ये अजीब हैं
कुछ पाने कि ख़ुशी
कुछ खोने का डर
कुछ करने कि मंशा
कुछ करने कि मजबूरी
कुछ दिमाग का कहना
कहीं और दिल कि डगर
दोनों चले साथ
फिर भी कितने दूर
एक चाह को पाने के लिए
किसी और को खो देना
यूं ही उलझती जाती हैं
कैसी अजीब
कश्मकश हैं ये

Is hobby a women thing ?

Ever since I remember hobbies are part of my life. I have always invested extra time and effort to learn something new; find new interests to pursue. All this other than academics. Even now I find new ways to keep myself occupied. Any way it is not about me.

Other day ‘Z’  mentioned me how everyone around him are getting settled and he feels left out.

I asked him ” what are your hobbies ? “

He looked puzzled.

“I mean what do you like to do when you are not working ? “

” Rent some DVD; get some beer and some chicken and enjoy ! what else ? ”   – his reply.

” This you count as hobby ? ”  asked me.

” Might not be hobby but then I don’t know what else to do ? “

So tell me do you think maintaining a hobby is a women thing ?

In summer vacations many schools used to have these hobby classes. In most of the households parents encouraged daughters to take them up. While the boys will go the local ground and play cricket or some other game. Very few guys made their ways to painting classes or guitar / tabla/ harmonium classes. Even the families where there was a brother and sister; the girl learned  dance while the boy pursued some to study or at the max join some badminton classes.  The point is why the expectation that a girl should know a lot of other things than mere study while for a boy it is okay to just concentrate on studies or he can play some cricket in galli.  I think that’s how our mind sets get tuned.

Even as grown ups ; how many men has something else to follow in their free time ? I am not saying all are like that ; but I am talking about a major chunk of them. Married men when they get time all by themselves what do they do normally ? Flip the TV remote watching Bloomberg or CNBC  ? Or use  an ICICI-Direct account indulging into stock market trading ? ( I would still take stock market  as hobby as long as one does not fit in the shoes of trader) Or a Amitabh movie or  a cricket match ? How many of them actually take out time from busy schedules and do something they like ?  How many them have invested their  time in learning something new ? If they get all the free time in the world what will they do with that ;  I wonder.

If you ask me each of us should follow something that will give one solace after a days hard work. When there is enough time in the world ; one should have something to look forward to. I really really appreciate all of those who love to do that something other than mere work. It could be anything that takes you away from the routine. And no watching TV does not count. ( Well it does but the scope is very very narrow )

Since you are reading this so one thing I know about you is  blogging is something you are passionate about . So tell me what is that thing you look forward doing other than work.  Again reading books ( since it is most common thing) ,blogging, sleeping does not count in this.