CONCEALED WIRE

Concealed wires of love

connected each of them

and ignited the light of inexplicable

emotions in each other’s heart.

But they never thought of

sharing it between each of them

their eyes, though

conveyed countless messages  of love.

But they never spoke or wrote

about it to each other.

The barricades of family life

denied them that

comfort and freedom of mutual

love to make public.

Both took care

not to disturb the rhythm of

each other’s family life.

Hence

when the time for

farewell arrived

both cared not to see or contact each other.

The concealed wires of

agony of separation

though filled tears

in each other’s eyes…..      

STARDOM ON EARTH

Unlike the ever-glowing

ever-twinkling stars in the sky

stardom on earth comes

with a price, of luck, talent and

the will to run from pillar to post

for a chance.

Along with

stardom comes with

‘prizes’ of fame and wealth.

Unlike the ever-glowing,

ever-twinkling stars in the sky

stardom on earth goes with the price of unluck

and along with it stardom goes

with flow  of time.

Stars on earth are neither, ever glowing

and ever-twinkling.           

WAR CLOUDS LOOMING OVER NORTH AND SOUTH KOREAS

North Korea, thru persistant verbal threats of launching nuclear attacks against US and neighbouring country and traditional rival South Korea is indeed inviting its own disaster. On the strength of nuclear capability, North Korea proceeds on the lines of taking on any country, if possible all the countries across the world, by possessing a nuclear deterrent has lost the farsightedness to see for itself that it is living in fool’s paradise.

True, it has been on ‘a proxy-war’ against its neighbour and brother country South Korea since 1953, while King-IL-Sung was in power. That enmity even after almost six decades is still persistent which is comparable to the enemity between Israel and Palestine, both perennial enemies. The reason behind the rivalry between Israel and Palestine has solid reasons where as between South Korea and North Korea there is actually no reason and if at all there exists any reasons it is North Korea’s envy over the fast developing and prospering South Korea while the former is still a poor country where millions are still living under pitiable conditions. Poverty and unemployment are literally stalking that country.

At last after achieving nuclear capability it should have moved along the lines of concentrating more on its development by earmarking a sizeable income on infrastructure development, poverty eradication, massive investments on industry, education, health institutions and creating employment opportunities. On the other hand, the hermit country which even in the first half of 21^st century prefers to be a hermit nation in investing  more and more on its army maintaining a huge nuclear arsenal including nuclear deterrents. Harping on launching attacks against South Korea on flimsy grounds 24X7, has become its pastime, not only occasional skirmishes on the bordering areas by resorting to of provocate the rival country which has devoted more time in its development by establishing friendly relations with various countries most importantly United States with which it continues to maintain deep and warm relationship since decades, invite all nations to massively invest in several areas, like industry, business and other such salient areas. Similarly making massive investments across foreign countries, South Korea has earned the goodwill and friendship with all of them.

While the hermit country still remains the hermit country except its friendship with one or two countries like Pakistan and China, which is otherwise still living in the medieval times. If Pakistan had not provided it with the wherewithal of developing nuclear capacity, thanks to the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto – which is a public secret now – (the details of which is mentioned in Shyam Bhattia’s book on Benazir – ‘Good bye Shehzadi’) N.Korea could not have achieved its aim of developing nuclear capability.

On the strength of possessing such a deadly weapons intimidating other nations with launching a nuclear war frequently would boomerang on North Korea itself in the long run if not in the short run.

Now that angered over the US – South Korea military exercises, North Korea is once again getting ready for launching a war against not only South Korea but also United States and its repeated threats have invited the wrath of US this time and as a response to its warships have moved to the South China sea. In the meantime, South Korea too is gearing up for a reprisal on a war footing. Reading between the lines it is not surprising that if one suspecting that it is North Korea’s existential threat and paranoia which are driving it to launch war-threats against US and South Korea. These repeated threats could land itself in disaster if US is about to launch a pre-emptive strike on North Korea. In such a situation it is none but North Korea itself to blame. A small nation like North Korea is not at all in a position to take on US single-handedly and if it mulls on these lines it is nothing but suicidal.

Of late, it is reported that North Korea has declared its decision to re-open its nuclear-development by plutonium - based nuclear weapon at Yangbion which was closed in 2007.

Anyhow by its own undoing it has invited the anxious attention of the entire world.

SWEET WERE THOSE DAYS

The hill was steep and rocky

littered with rocks – small

medium and large-sized

with thick bushes

bearing fruits and grass patches here and there.

On the top of the  hill was

an elephantine rock

which resembled and elephant.

In my school days

during lunch intervals

we students used to climb up the hill.

Those were the days

climbing up the hill was

so hilarious and easy to us.

Those were days

we searched for safety-valves

to spend our pent-up energies.

Unlike these days we can’t

keep up that spirit,

with the age gradually catching up.

On the largest rock

over the top of the hill

the elephant—sized rock

it was our hobby to climb over the elephant

and sitting like mahouts,

standing like

mountaineers on the

top of the Everest

overjoyed and

visibly feeling delight

with the top of the world feeling.

We would stand over

the giant elephant

and look around and

get drunk with the beauty

of the verdant landscape.

With about minutes to

go for the bell to ring

to reach our  school

its buildings had spread

vertically and horizontally

we would rush to our class-rooms .

Memories sometimes play young

by bringing up pictures of the old days

in front of us.

The old days, old familiar

faces, old but painful memories

sweet love-affairs

each and everything

just to entertain us

just to hurt us

intentionally or unintentionally

mind you ,none is able to

remember future days

but to visualize at the most is possible

the very thought is absurd.

Sometimes it might turn

correct

sometimes it might turn wrong

since future is not in our hands.

Now that after years

the steep, rocky mountain is not there

already levelled

and huge resorts have come-up and

of course bungalows and mansions.

Nostalgia is something

we are blessed with

none always likes to live in the past

Once in  a while to wind back and

forth is something nice and exhilarating.  

THE BOON

At last the Godesses appeared before

him in all her pomp and glory.

Since ages of meditation

She made her appearance

attired in golden costumes

and adorned with invaluable

golden ornaments with the

halo circling round her golden crown.

‘I am deeply pleased with

your devotion.

Even after undergoing harsh experiments after experiments

lasting for ages

you have emerged victorious 

and now that I am deeply

obliged to you

my beloved devotee, now you are

free to demand, yes, demand

whatever you wish to get from me.’

Placing her both

palms over his 

head as a sign of her blessing  she presented him

a warm ethereal smile.’

‘For ages I was in deep

meditation, underwent

tough penance not only

to make you appear in

all glory  but to be

your owner.’

The Goddess followed him

and covered distances to his home

where his wife was on

an endless wait for his return.

Her delight

came to an abrupt end and

face went  pale and dusky on seeing

the exquisite beauty just

behind him.

‘Who is this lady?’-

she frowned on him and looked at the beauty

with anger and indignation

and within minutes

his wife walked out of

the house without

speaking anything and

vanished from him sobbing

all the way.

On looking back

the exquisite spiritual beauty

was all in smiles and

he saw kind of mockery

on her face and lips. 

Unable to look at

her once again

he too walked with long footsteps  

in search of his wife for ages..

THE HURDLES

If I had left the lodge

in time.

If the bus by which I was

travelling was a bit  more faster

to compensate the delay

if the bus was not 

held up due to a

technical fault

and if it had reached the station

at the scheduled time

thus,

if all hurdles could

be jumped like a fastest

athlete and reached the

finishing point first

I might or might not

have missed the train.

Now that after traversing

a long distance the

train by which I ought

to have travelled

left the station by a whisker

I am resting here on

one of the concrete chairs  on the

platform with my

brief case safely placed on my lap 

at mid-night

looking at the cloudy

sky and feeling the cool breeze

flowing from the opposite direction

I am stranded here in this station

with drowsiness about to

push me into deep sleep

till the arrival of next

train which is supposed

to reach  the station

at 5.40 AM in the early

morning.

Time you know, never

wait for anyone’s  convenience

and life is a long-winding

road full of hurdles.

Hurdles could be a blessing in

disguise only occasionally,

please remember.     

  

CROSSING THE BRIDGE

Ideology is an alien

word to us.

So are ideals.

But,

ideas are part and

parcel of our existence and growth.

These are times we are

busy engaged in 

weighing the pros and cons

of taking appropriate decisions.

You know,

we are fast nearing

another bridge in our march ahead 

a cardinal milestone

which would assist us in crossing that

bridge scenting the fragrance of victory.

Whenever we

are heading to that bridge

which under normal

circumstances approach only once in five years.

Vast political chessboard is

getting ready for the

ultimate political grandmasters,

kings, queens, rooks, knights

bishops and pawns

are about to take their

positions in the battle-ground

in a short while from now.

In the political chess-board

rules, and regulations

but do not have any salient places.

On the vast political chess board

there are no permanent foes and friends

victory is what matters

when the chips are down.

As of now, we are on

the search for greener pastures

like the animals grazing the grass fields

we take pride in

our oft-repeated stand

of sitting on the fence on the look out for

which way the winds blow.

We know in the end we are the most

valued-ones or put it mildly

the king-makers.

Chairs in the corridors of

power are our ideals, better call it objectives

if at all you are particular that

we must have ideals.

Let the D-Day come.

Let the battle-lines be drawn…