Mom's anklets, bangles, keys, or something else?

"Do you believe in Ghosts?". I do not know what should I answer about that. Though I have never ever experienced any thing solid except that one thing, but I am scared to death from such horrible incidents. I try and never make fun of those rituals and black magi things, because I am not sure if they actual exists. God! If they do exist, I would never ever want that to come near to myself or anyone i know. I have heard such horror stories about those!

I still get shivers when I think about that incident. Believe me, If I recall that during night there I no chance I sleep without praying from the deepest corner o my heart.

If was long back during my school days. We had two bedrooms at our home. Mummy and papa used to sleep in one of them, and I used to sleep in another along with my brother. 

I do not exactly remember it started suddenly sometime or was continuous. I used to hear the tinkle of anklets during nights. I was not scared first. I thought it must be mom's. But then, one fine day I realized that mummy do not wear anklets. Even then, I was not scared. I thought, I must be mistaken. The sound must be of mom's bangles. No sooner in realized that the sous came even those days when mom had no bangles in her hands!

I started to notice that if it came from street, we had a small wall in our gallery which brought quite a noise from outside. But obviously, it was not the case.

I was scared likes hit! I wondered, if my brother also hears that? One fine night, I gathered the courage to ask him - "Do you head the sound of anklets sometimes?". I had no idea I should be surprised it relieved, he shot back - "You hear it too?". Both of us managed to be optimistic, and decided that if must be the sound of keys that used to hang in the keyhole if our sliding door. 

One day, after our parents were asleep, we removed those keys and kept them on a table in lobby. Then, we just crossed our fingers and thought, that's it. It's the end of story. We would not be scared now. But, the anklet did not stop ringing. God! I am even scared writing it now. We did not had the courage to tell our parents. I seriously do not remember if we told our parents during those days. But I do remember that I did not slept without praying. 

Then, we shifted to some other place for our studies and rented our home. I am sure that our tenants complained about the house having some spirit.

After some years, we returned to our home. We did a proper prayer with havan and all. I have absolutely no idea how, but I never heard that sound again once we and back. Might be the pooja was done in such detailing because of that. Whatever is the reason, thank god we never heard that anklet again. Yes, we still live in that home, but it's been reconstructed now. Anyways, the sound went away many years before the reconstruction.

As i said, I still pray hard while sleeping whenever I happen to recall this story, here I go.

Om Namah shivaye...

Jai mata di...

Please god do not ever make me hear that again. Not even if I accidental it foolishly wish I do so - I would only wish that in case I am out if my head! Please! Keep that sound or any such thing away!

What do you think it was?

Written in response to IndiSpire topic - "Do you have a Ghost Experience? Do you wanna share it? Well now is the time :-)"

Can you guess what is was? Have you also experienced something creepy? Share it with me via comments section. I love ghost stories.

Knitting the memories

I so wanted to post something about mom when I saw this idea and immediately voted for it. But mother’s day being around, I could not hole myself from posting about my Golden Mother.

First, a picture of my mom from her younger days. Well, I would have found that from one of her educational documents. But, I am at my in-laws and the albums at my paternal place. Then, I put my cousin sister at work and she did the job perfect.

During those days, clicking pictures was not so common especially in rural parts. So, apart from some blurred picture in her certificates, this was the youngest avatar of my mommy dear we could find.

 If I had to write her a note, it would be very long and I would rather not share it online. Still, let me try and share something not too personal.

Dear Mummy,

You know how our stomach ache laughing whenever we kids look at this picture. But, I realized your nervousness at my own marriage when I was asked to pose in similar postures. I had the luxury to deny and say that I am not posing it. You probably did not have that during your generation.

I had this luxury because of you. You brought this change into our family. You along with papa enforced and insisted so much about education. We being the eldest kids in family got the opportunity to lead and show the path to other younger cousins. I am so proud and lucky to have you by my side at the blink of eyes.

I am sure i would be short of thread if i ever knit the memories with you. I love you so much.

Guess what, I also wrote a few lines of poetry while thinking of you. You have been  and would always be my Golden Momma.

Love,

Gudia

This post is written in response to Indispire.

Have you shared your love to your mother? What was her reaction? I would love to read the experiences. Write them in comments.

Do Right - Kare kahin, kare wahi jo sahi

I have my own half story to share. It was end of July 2007 when I got to hear the task done by ‘Satyam Foundation’. My batch of so called ELTP’s were told that each year, Satyam Foundation help some MCD schools celebrate Independence Day. I was like, what?  What does Satyam Foundation do in that? All schools celebrate it. Then, we were told – No. There are MCD schools which do not have funds to arrange these functions. They just declare another holiday to children. “So, are you interested?”

Not being into any projects and just sitting idle in front of human machines, we said yes. Teams were formed and we were a team of 6 youngsters all from Northern India except one being a localities’. Starting next week, we had to visit the school assigned to us and plan out the celebrations.

First day when we reached the school, we travelled some streets of Hyderabad, we would not have thought of going into our dreams. We had only being living in posh areas of Begum-pet and chilling out in air conditioned malls having fun. After 30 minutes of auto drive, we reached the school.

The school was a small 2 storied (ground and first floor) building with a narrow entrance. As we entered into the building, we could see 2 big rooms in front of each other both locked. Through the windows of one of the rooms, we could figure out that it was some sort of administration office cum principal’s cabin. The other room had windows shut. There was a small earthen compound and a stair case. We were soon greeted by few enthusiastic children who offered us to take us to their teacher. Thanks to the local girl into our group. The teacher was happy to see us and he told us that Satyam Foundation dis this in their school last year as well. He said, we could come to the school every day and take 2 hours of kid’s time for the preparation.

It was a primary school from class 1 to V with I think 4 or 5 teachers may be less. The first floor had 3 or 4 rooms, I do not remember exactly. On asking about the locked room at ground floor, the teachers told us that is was a class room which was forcefully occupied by some local goons. Now a family lives there. What? School property forced occupied! We thought it only happened in Bollywood/Tollywood movies.

Never mind, we got unbelievable response from the children when we asked then about who wants to give a dance performance, singing, speech, skit or anything. Slowly we were on track and teams were formed for different slots. Every day we entered the school, the children were delighted to see us. They would jump around us all the time. They would almost drop us to our PG. we had fun.

Finally, the D day arrived. We had some biscuits etc. from Satyam Foundation to be distributed among children.  Our team decided that we would contribute some small money from our pockets and give 2 bananas each children as a token of thanks to our task. We had super-duper fun getting the children ready for their performance. The teachers were amazed that we made children do everything from anchoring to stage delivery. We were just sitting smiling, clapping or putting on the makeup on little girls. Cuties looked so happy that we thought that they would not take a batch for a week!

It was not over, we had a surprise performance at the end. Group of 6 children along with their bhaiya and didi’s, came to stage and sing the song – ‘Sare Jahan Se Accha, Hindustan Hamara’. Teachers had tears in their eyes. When did u kids teach this Hindi song to them and participate yourself as well! We distributed the treat and left the extras along with teachers to be used further.

The children took a promise from us that we would visit again. But, we never did. May be we got too busy in our lives. Sorry kids..:(

Today, when I saw this half story, It instantly reminded me of above story. I always thought, the teachers of that school were doing a noble job. They were indeed. But they were paid to do that. This real life hero Mr Chandra Kumar Pradhan from Megma is an inspiration for anyone who ever said – “I want to do something for the education of Kids”.

9,900 ft above the sea level, there is a place called Megma at the tip of west Bengal. It has a 2 room building which is called “Saraswati Mandir School”. Mr Pradhan along with teacher Neela ji is lighting up the future of 20 rays of hope to a bright shining sun. Now, this is what I would call – India Shining.

The peeling walls does not stop these 2 brave hearts to get 20 tulips bloom.

The shaky benches are not an excuse to let the roots grow strong.

Cracked blackboard still displays the lectures clearly.

When I heard that Mr Pradhan wanted to be teacher since his grade 4, I could not help but remember my own school essays on “Your Aim in Life”. I always wrote that I want to become a teacher – but I had a selfish reason to that. This aim had the best content to write about and I used to score full.

I salute Mr. Pradhan to live on his words – “I will teach as long as I live.  I want every house should be educated”.

Each One Teach One!

Please, I urge you, beg you, join my hands, anything, to share this COMPLETE story as Mr Pradhan and Neela ji keep the smiles alive. You never know when a story wakes up a sleeping angel.          

Thanks to Indiblogger and “HALF STORIES the Journey of DoingRight” to make me remember my broken promise. I would definitely visit the school again if I ever visit Hyberabad again.

 
Tum bade hoke rasta n abhulo,

Apne bachpan ki ungli pakad chalo…

Kare kahin, kare wahi jo sahi

Do Right 

Man-Eaters Of Kumaon by Jim Corbett

Book Title:- Man-Eaters Of Kumaon

Author:- Jim Corbett

I picked this book as I bumped into the book store at my resort while on vacation to Jim Corbett National Park. The shopkeeper told me that it is the most famous book by Jim Corbett. Initially, I thought of it as a marketing trick, but soon realized that he was so true.

The book is a combination of stories or rather narration of adventures experienced by the writer while on hunting big cats who turned into man-eaters. The stories very deeply describe the exotic flora, fauna and the typical village life of Indian villages. I through enjoyed reading the book and could not resist to finish a chapter once I stared it.

Although I felt that the reason of near extinction of such beautiful creature is because of such causal attitude of hunting big cats for sport, but I really admire the love of Jim Corbett for tigers. His passion was very clearly visible. After every kill, I could not stop thinking the present scenario of Tigers. Although I went on an adventure trip while reading the book, I hated the parts where big cats were shot just for sport and collect 'trophies' of their skin.

My favourite part of the book was the incident where whole village vacated its home in the fear of a tigress turned man-eater. The narration of empty houses with their doors open made me feel present there. I also could not stop laughing when the author got his camp house filled with earthen pots filled with fresh milk as a gesture by the village.

Altogether, it was an awesome read and provided me a change in my reading interests.

Do you have fascination towards tigers? How did you like the book? Would you go ahead and read it after my thoughts on it? Write your heart/mind in comments section. I would be glad to read out your end of thinking on the book.