May 28, 2010

உயிரே...




கவிதை எழுத விரும்பி,
கற்பனையில் ஆழ்ந்தேன்.
காகிதங்கள் பல கழிந்தும்,
கவிதை பிறக்க வில்லை.
கன்னி நினைவில்,
கைவிட எண்ணிய வேளையில்,
என்ன சிதறல் தென்றலாய் உன் வதனம்.
கண் சிமிட்டும் நேரத்தில் -என் உள்ளத்தில்
தோன்றிய கவிதைகள் ஓராயிரம்.
கருவில் உள்ள குழந்தையும் கவி பாடும்
உன் கண்கள் கண்டால்...
காளை நான் கவி ஆனதில் வியப்பில்லை,
கட்டுண்டு கிடந்த என் மனதை...
கவி பாட செய்தவளே
என்று இக்கவியின் காவியம் ஆக போகிறாய்???

May 19, 2010

Expectations

A Short story
By Prabhavathi.K


Payal was only daughter to Mr. & Mrs.Agarwal.
Payal was busy in submitting her application form to universities for her PG degree.

“Payal, why are you wasting your time and money for that applications? We are planning to marry you this year. come and help me in household chores and learn cooking”Payal’s mom called her from kitchen.

“No.mamma…I want to pursue my higher studies.
Don’t want to get marry now” she said firmly.

Mr.Agarwal,who overheard this conversation from the other room,came and sit on the arm chair and joined in their conversation.

“beta,I am retired now and I have saved that money for your marriage.In this situation I cannot afford money for your studies.”

“No problem papa. I can take education loan and pay it back when I get a nice job.”

“Okie beta, but after your marriage if your husband or in-laws don’t permit you to work then, how would you pay back?”

“I am not too old papa. after re-paying the loan I will get marry” Payal said.
however Her father was not satisfied with her reply. he kept quite.

She came near him and patted his shoulder warmly.
“papa, now a days education is very important for anyone, not like those olden days. I want to be independent.”

Beta,iam much more experienced in life. my friend’s son Dr.Rajeev would be a decent match for you.Himachal is not so far from our place.whenever we want to see you. we can visit you.”


he continued after a pause “we want to marry you before something happens to us.we dont know what fate has in store for us.so try to understand me"


She was influenced by her father’s view.
“okie papa.do,as you wish”she said and left the room confused.


Mr.and Mrs.Agarwal was happy. he proceeded to do further arrangements.

Rock garden is one of his favourite place in chandigarh for evening walk which is pretty close to his house.he likes to walk among the sculptors made out of waste materials like discarded tube lights, rusting oil drums, broken tiles, shattered china and sanitary ware, glass bangles, unused building material, discarded street lights, burnt bricks, electrical fittings and wires, caps from bottles, bicycle handle bars etc.

That evening Agarwal happened to meet his old friend at Rock garden.


“Arey agarwal bhai,how are you? its been long time since we meet”


“Arey munna bhai,iam fine.what a surprise?Come lets sit for a while”
they sat on one of steps near the waterfall.


Munna asked,“how are you?hows is your daughter payal?is she married?”


“No munna bhai,she completed her BE and wants to pursue higher studies, but we have seen a boy for her, if everything works out. we will get her married soon”


There is a short pause and then he asked, “you tell, how things are with you? how’s your daughter ridhuma?”


Munna bhai kept quite.
Agarwal asked with a puzzle, “arey munna bhai,what happened?have I asked anything wrong?”


“what to tell agarwal bhai, we discontinued her studies and married her to our relative guy."He said.


He continued after a small pause “unfortunately he died in an accident.now she is suffering to support her family with her least education.

I have been a stupid father.i felt marrying her is my responsibility but I forgot to realize that educating a girl child is also our responsibility. if I would have educated her by then.she might not be suffering like this now.” he wiped his moist eyes.

Tears was just at the edge of Agarwal bhai's eyes.
“you are right munna Bhai,we will show more interest in marrying her rather than educating her.we always feel a girl child as burden only. but now you opened my eyes.”

"hmmm"he swayed his head in agreement with a heavy heart.


“Arey munna bhai,dont cry...now education system has improved alot.so ask your daughter to continue her studies through distance education.which may help her to get better job in future,also ask her to go for typing and computer class to get some basic knowledge."said agarwal bhai.


"Thank you bhai for your suggestions.i will surely inform her about this.
I think its getting late and we should move now Agarwal bhai.Please make a visit once as we are staying near Rose Garden only.”said munnai bhai and left the place.


After reaching home,Mr Agarwal lies down on his arm chair and says, “payal Beta,pursue your studies, till then no marriage plans”


“is it papa….???”
payal jumped in joy not aware of the reason for the sudden change in her father.


------------------------------------END------------------------------

May 8, 2010

Birth of a Writer

A Short story
By Prabhavathi.K




Today chitra her classmate brought a pearl necklace set to college.it was so elegant and eye catching.
Everyone started asking her where she bought it and about its price.
She said “its Hyderabadi pearls. It costs just 500 rs.”
Her uncle is doing whole sale business of fancy goods. so she sells that stuff in college.
She took a blade from her bag and scratched the pearls to show the different between the fake and real pearls.
She showed pearls in other colours like white,peach,gold and black pearls.
She have also brought different shapes of pearls like oval,round,semi-round etc.,everything was very beautiful.
Then she announced “Any interested persons can buy now and pay in installments.”

Sheela asked in surprise “is this set is just 500rs???Then give me one” she handed her 500rs note to chitra and took the pearl set.
Others followed sheela and agreed to pay on installment basis. She sold the sets in few minutes.
Few of our lecturers also bought from her.
Kavitha liked that pearl necklace. she wanted to buy it, but her financial position was not so good.
“kavitha u too take one.” said chitra
“I don’t have money chitra”
“Not an issue…take this now and pay me later when u get money” she handed a set to kavitha.
Kavitha’s heart yearned to take that pearl necklace but self respect didn’t allow her to take that set without money. So she handed it back to her saying “No chitra, you keep this with you. I will buy it next month, when I get money”

After returning home that evening she told her mom about the pearl necklace.
Her mom said “your uncle came from village for treatment today. He is having severe fever since a week and coughing vigorously.
Whenever he coughs he spits sputum. I think he was attacked by TB.we have to bare his medical expenses.”
“Is it ma?”She asked in shocking tone.
“Yes. I am not sure whether it’s TB or not but the symptoms are like that only. In this situation how can I afford a pearl necklace for you? Your father is not a rich man. He is standing in the hot sun ironing clothes for our bread and butter and for your education.”
“Akka, Akka… ” Both kavitha and her mother turned to find saroja,their neighbor. she was dark and plump woman with a protruded teeth. she was a young widow with two small kids. She started a tailor shop after her husband’s death to run the family.
“Sorry to disturb you akka,I asked you to suggest some part time employee to stitch blouse hooks and shirt buttons na?
Now I got big order, so I need someone to do that work.”

Hearing this kavitha asked “how much is the pay Aunty?”
“25p per shirt and 50p per blouse”

immediately kavitha said “I will do that work aunty.”

“I’m very happy kavitha, but how will you study? ”asked aunty.

“I will manage aunty you don’t worry” she went with her to stitch buttons.

Kavitha was very happy for getting an opportunity to earn some money for her pearl necklace.but she knows that money not enough.
After finishing the work she returned home happily and had dinner.
While studying, she found a magazine which she borrowed from her friend the day before.

She flipped the pages for a while. Suddenly an advertisement captured her eye.
It was about short story competition .the first prize was 1000 rs, 500 rs as second prize, third prize was 200 rs and 50 rs as consolation prize.

“If I can write stories then I can buy that pearl necklace with that prize money, but I am not such a clever person” she thought to herself.
Then she switched off the lights and lied on the mat to sleep.

She kept tossing on mat. “How good I will look with that pearl set? I can wear it for my cousin marriage too”
she dreamt of wearing it on her soft neck.Thoughts of short story competition and the prize money was lingering in her mind.
she couldn’t get rid of the thoughts.

She thought, “Everyone says nothing is impossible.cant I write a story??? but writing a story is big issue for me”

She kept thinking. “I am not a genius to write a story, but if I write, I can buy the pearl necklace with the prize money”


“ok…let me give a try” she made up her mind and got up from bed, took that magazine and read again.

She started writing about an incident happened in her school days. At last after tearing many papers a story was born.

She edited the story and finished writing it.

“now, its ready to publish” she thought happily.

She posted the story the next morning while going to college.
As usual she stitched hooks for aunt and helped her mom in daily chores.
She doesn’t know whether her story will get published or not.
She prayed god to give her at least the consolation prize.

After few weeks she got a money order and a magazine.
They sent her the prize money and a copy of the magazine. She jumped in joy.
She won the first prize in short story competition. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
Her happiness knew no bounds. Everyone at home was happy for her.
Her mom filled her mouth with sugar to celebrate the happiness.
She gave the money to her mom and rejoiced.
Next day she bought the pearl necklace from chitra and put it on her mother’s neck and said
“Ma, Desire for buying this pearl necklace made me a writer”
Her mom kissed her and hugged with Pride and whispered “Hmmm, now I became writer’s mom”
They laughed happily…


******************** END *******************