A rainy day

6th october 2009 left a scar in our hearts.On that day we all were not in the mood to go to the college because of bad wheather .It was raining since morning. Somehow we managed to pick up our TATA Winger which Dutta ma'am affectionately called "My Babua". In November, our Babua was going to celebrate its first birthday. There had been very good memories associated with this vehicle since it was bought. The atmosphere in our Winger was always full of joy and togetherness. We never thought that this would happen to our sweet "Babua" on that fateful day. We were going to Alambagh under the Mawaiyya bridge. It was completely waterlogged and we all hesitated for some time but when we saw many vehicles passing through, we decided to go on too. As it later turned out, it was a very bad decision.
When a road is waterlogged, a car is supposed to be on full throttle to prevent the water from entering the silencer and making way to the engine. We had thought that we would easily pass through and continue and apparently the depth of the water wasn't much. Anyway, our driver started to drive towards the bridge. He stepped on the gas very confidently but all of it disappeared the instant we hit the water. The water splashed on the whole windshield, the windows and for moment, it felt as if it wasn't a puddle but a well and we all had submerged.
The driver panicked big time and he let go of the accelerator. The car stopped midway and we looked like a car shaped island in the middle of a mini sea. We had entered the water in a jolly mood but now we weren't too happy. The driver tried to start the engine but to no avail. There was an unspoken question in the air,"Who is gonna enter this water and push the car to dryness?"but we were surprised to see some other youths coming towards us. They offered help to push the car. We were very grateful but the help came at a price of Rs 100. We tried to bargain their labour but they knew we were desperate and they took full advantage, not wavering from their cost. With no other option in hand, we agreed and they pushed the car, with us in it, away from the bridge. But even after coming out, the car refused to start. The boys tried to help us start the engine and gain a few extra bucks but they were unsuccessful. They took the money they were promised and returned to their apparent business of the day- Helping vehicles trapped in water and making quick profits. I wonder if they were the ones to waterlog the bridge.
It was still raining. The big question was, how are we going to get to college now that we had no vehicle, or even a bicycle for that matter. All the lady teachers decided to go home while the unfortunate male teachers stayed back to revive the car. There was no state rout and so we decided to take a path through the back of the Railway Station. Somehow, panting and wet, we reached the station. There was a very grim situation of waterlogging even outside the railway station. We were not in any mood to enter the water but there was no other option. We raised our "Sarees"(google it) and entered the water. Now we began to enjoy the whether as we were now already as wet as can be. We, three lady teachers, decided now to have a cup of tea outside the station. After coming out of the water, we searched for a good restaurant and then entered in it and ordered some hot tea and sizzling food, sambhar bada and dosa (google it too) . After eating, we found ourselves dry as dry fruit. We also took some photos in that restaurant to make us remember this day. when we came out of the restaurant, the rain had paused. We all happily returned back to our homes with a good rainy day's memory and experience.

A penniless journey

This is an incident which took place in 2001. We were returning from Silchar in Assam to Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. We were supposed to visit the Kamakhya temple at Guwahati and stay there for a day. We were totally pumped up about the journey and the day before, the manager of the Tea estate on which my husband worked had invited us for a farewell dinner. The next day, early in the morning, our journey from Silchar to Guwahati by bus began. Till Shillong, we enjoyed the excellent weather and the magnificent views of the lush green valleys of Kachchar. When we reached Shillong, we stayed there for one hour during which we bought some sweets and fruits. We continued our journey to Guwahati.As the name tells, our bus was passing through clouds, fogs and rains in Meghalaya. Every passenger was enjoying thoroughly and was filled with awe. When Guwahati was 15 minutes away, I saw my husband frantically searching for something everywhere. He then asked me if I had seen the bag which carried all our papers, documents and money. He said he had spent all the money of his wallet and he had to obtain more money for the expenses on our way. He asked me where the bag was and I, quite relaxed at that time replied that it was with him. Then he thought for some time and suddenly exclaimed, “ Oh my god……I’ve left it in the almirah of our manager’s bungalow because of the important documents and the money”. When I heard that, all my happiness, enjoyement and fun transformed at once into horror. We had to spend the night at Guwahati….the next day we had to board the train….and we were penniless. My younger son was one year old and in my lap, blissfully aware of all that was happening around him. After reaching Guwahati, my husband called the manager and he said that he’d send the bag the next day with someone, but it would take time. We had to spend the night at Guwahati. My husband tried selling the camera. My elder son Ishaan, 6 years old that time, was feeling very sleepy. Our bodies were really in need of rest. My husband was still in the quest of finding a buyer for the camera, but he didn’t get anyone interested.

The Guwahati railway station, at that time, was full of army personnel and sniffer dogs. Everything was being searched and we could not even think about staying at the stations because of the kids, the luggage and the atmosphere smelling of the fear of terrorists. Then I searched my handbag and found some money with which we could buy a general ticket to Jalpaiguri. A train was scheduled in an hour and we started our journey from there. The plan was to travel in the AC compartment but as of now, all plans were forfeit. Now we were sitting in an general compartment, with kids, a lot of luggage and the presence of terrorists in the area from which the train was passing,i.e, Kokhrajar. I stayed awake all night and the eerie atmosphere prevented sleep very efficiently. Early in the morning, we reached our destination. A new sun arrived with a new hope, and all our fears departed and we saw a car, which had been sent by the management and again we were filled with joy but I cannot forget that fateful night, penniless. I still haven’t visited Kamakhya.

Seema Singh

Strange

2day i went to the temple to feed the kumaris but instead of feeling the sense of satisfaction, i felt anguish and pain after looking at their condition : They were snatching food from my hands and i was not able to control them. The authorities of the temple were trying to shoo them away like animals to try and control them.their was no difference between humans and animals. I returned with a very heavy heart.

Poem

Jahaan tak nazar jaaye
Har taraf patthar hi patthar,
Insaan ki har samwedanaa bhi ho chuki hai jaise patthar.
Tabhi toh usey sunaayi nahi deti
ab dard ki awaaz.
Har taraf hai apni dafli apna raag.
Kahaan dhoodein ab hum Awadh ki us sham ko,
Dhool mein gayab ho chuki us awaam ko,
koi samjhaaye naya shahar baanane waalon ko
kahaan se laaoge doondh ke bahaaron ko.

On elections

Beh rahi hai hawaa phir ek baar chunaav ki,
chal rahi hain baatein har taraf chunaav ki,
jo kabhi naa gaye janataa ka haal jaanane,
woh bhi lagey ab unke aage peeche bhaagne.

Garib janata ko bhi khoob samajh aata hai,
Vote maangne ko jise dekho wahi aata hai.
Jeet jaane par phir naa ye nazar aayenge,
bulaaye jaane par bhi katraa ke nikal jaayenge.
Chuniye unko jo wakt pe kuch toh kaam aayein,
keval apna hi naa karein bhalaa,Sabke kaam aayein.