Lockdown Effects

This post has been published by me as a part of Blog-a-Ton 59; the fifty-ninth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. In association with ​IndiCreator. For Creators. By Creators.. Share Your #LockdownTales at indicreator.com

They both walked out from the School, she first and then him. Clearly he was dejected. They both walked away as if they were not together. He came close to my CAB and I said hello. He responded with a hello but it was hollow ..... something was missing. By that time she reached us and I realized it must have been the PTA meeting. So I asked how was the meeting and she started complaining ........ I am fed up of listening the same story in every PTA. This boy wont listen and keeps doing the same things again and again. It was the n'th time that the teacher complained about him not being focused. and you know this time its an important year of his schooling as next year he would be in the tenth. I really don't know what to do with him. "As a CAB driver I had this habit of talking to people to break some ice. I asked for the location and started to drive. Both of them were not seated together. The Boy chose to be seated besides me instead of being with his mother. I quipped to ask for his name and with pale voice he uttered his name. .

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I turned to Shivam and asked .... so where is your dad today and suddenly the mother started ...... dont even ask about him .... he is out to Europe for work since six months and any which way even if he is around he is busy in his work 24 x 7 x 365. When she stopped I looked at the Boy with curious eyes and he rolled his eyes. Arre uncle she is just a complaint Box. She hardly has any time for me and when she does she only complains. I dont even know anymore if she knows me. Apparently Mister father and Ms Mother were too busy in their work. But she would make an effort to attend the PTA meetings. The Boy was mostly on his own with not much connect with either of the parents. I smiled to myself..... All looks great but the connections are missing. .

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I turned on the Radio and it started with the news of Lockdown. They were locking down the City from next day for four weeks as a containment measure for some virus. I looked at the complaint box and told her. "Your problems are solved. No school from tomorrow and even your Courts would not be working". She looked puzzled but I continued ...... "This is a gift for you. Four weeks, you and your Son would be locked up with each other. He seems to be a nice boy and just needs some attention from you. Talk to him ... give him some quality time and make an effort to understand him. I am sure this would work." .

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I patted on Shivam's back and let out a big laugh.We had arrived at the destination. The complaint box paid the bills and they started to walk inside their housing complex. I watched carefully ..... they were walking closely. The complaint box had kept her hand on his shoulders. I smiled to myself......"Lockdown had already started working.".

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Show your support for the hashtags #BlogATon59 & #LockdownTales. Participation Count: 18.

Return to the Source

This post has been published by me as a part of Blog-a-Ton 58; the fifty-eighth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. In association with ​Saravana Kumar Murugan, the editor of Shades Of Life book series.

Life is simple when one is in the mother's womb. She takes care of you unconditionally. She does not bother what you do ? who you are & why you do what you do ? & Utmostly she loves you for no reason.

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I have had enough of this made up world now. Out there......they keep judging you all the time & on the contrary the justice system, which is actually supposed to pass on judgements.....hardly delivers.

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. Mother.....take me back to your Womb.....I want to get there.......& no...don't judge me...I'm not afraid....my problem is....it all looks like a futile effort.....May be I am wrong but just may be....I could be right.....so why take the chance.
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The Policeman read it again & again but could not make sense of it. He had never read such a suicide note in his entire career.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Show your support for the hastags #BlogATon58 & #Aativas50. Participation Count: 16.

Hold My Hand

This post has been published by me as a part of Blog-a-Ton 57; the fifty-seventh edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. In association with Madhu Vajpayee, the author of Seeking Redemption and Shades Publications, the publisher of Friendship- Bonds Beyond Time.

Now I understand what he meant when he said......"I must leave you to be with you"


I never saw him again but the feeling that he is around never goes away........
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The Bus had caught fire & I was afraid.....completely terrified.....My dad held my hand & almost pulled me away. "Hold my Hand & close your eyes"......He screamed & I followed his instructions as if I was hypnotized.
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We got out safe & he took me to a corner a away from the burning Bus. In a few seconds he turned towards the Bus intending to go back in. I had held his hand like I was possessed.....That's when he again screamed....."There are still people inside that Bus & I must go to save someone...."
But I would not let him go....He finally pushed me away & mumbled those words............"I must leave you to be with you"
and he ran towards the Bus, That was the last time I saw him. .
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He saved some 5-6 lives that day from that hell fire but unfortunately could not try to save himself. He was after all a Fireman so what if he was not on duty. Later I was to learn, a true Fireman never cares for his own life, his own life does not exist until he saves everyone.
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I know....had I not let him leave me that day he would have never been able to hold my Hand again.

It took some time but finally I understood......He was a Hero.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Participation Count: XX.

My Soulmate

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 50; the fiftieth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. In association with ​Soulmates: Love without ownership by Vinit K Bansal. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

"Finally I found my soul mate......"
She almost whispered to her group of girls.

Everyone screamed....."and whoooo is that ?"
. . . "Who is the one who will get up when you say get up ? sit when he says sit, run when you say run, cry when you say cry & still love you."
Her definition of soulmate was the one who will obey her unconditionally, unapologetically but still love her whole heartedly. Almost like a remote controlled machine.
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There enthusiasm for him was expected & as they all were skeptical about her definition of a soul mate. So everyone wanted to meet him & that too as soon as possible. They all screamed in unison. "Call him now ?"
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& with a huge smile on her face she called him. "Hey dear...please come here. They all want to meet you. Come here wearing a big happy smile.
Everyone waited with bated breath.
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& there he walked in with a big happy smile on his face. Everyone screamed, "What a Cute smile & look at those macho biceps......Wow"
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They kept talking about him oblivious of his presence. It went on for couple of hours but the smile was still as big & as happy when he had walked in.
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and why not ? he was ordered to do so. In fact he was programmed to do so. After all he was a specially customized Robot.

The fellow Blog-a-Tonics who took part in this Blog-a-Ton and links to their respective posts can be checked here. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. Participation Count: XX

Mithya

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 49; the forty-eighth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

"On the great occasion of 15-August we got to surrender 3 dreaded Naxalites. They are convinced that the way of Guns is not the right way, but democracy is the right way. Development can only be achieved through a democratic process. I appeal all the naxalites to drop their guns & join the main stream." The minister was going on & on.



It was a great coupe of sorts. To get these three to surrender was not an easy task but it was made possible by the efforts of the team. Six months back the sources had informed them about these three getting tired of the jungle life. The cat & mouse game with the security forces was bugging them. .
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The State government had launched a scheme for the surrender of Naxalite cadres, it was a true initiative with good intents & the team included all sorts of people.... the psychologists, Doctors, Bankers, Social workers, Policemen, Teachers...people from every walk of the society. It had given a certain believability to the whole thing.
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Rohitash was a sensitive student activist & was drawn to the romanticism of Communism. The adivasi lands were rich with minerals & for the governments the Naxalites Movement was only an obstacle to reach the riches. The Adivais only had a token presence for the government whose governance existed only for the city folks. He got sucked into the movement during the Salwa Judum ** initiative of the state government. He... like many others could not see the poor Adivasis fighting amongst each other. Day to day Life in hundreds of villages was uprooted. There was no end to the sufferings of women & children. It was not difficult to see through the designs of the state government movement & he knew something needed to be done.
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Years passed & the futility of the movement got to him. He was not worried about his own life but the movement was not achieving anything substantial. There was hardly any change in the life of an average Adivasi. In a strange way the movement had given them some aim & purpose in life but then this was far far away from what he thought it should be. No wonder... they were sceptical about both the sides the security forces & the naxalites but they always looked at the movement as their own. But no matter what there would be occasions when the common advisai would find reasons to blame the movement but there was no way to express the anguish. The other day he saw what happens when the anguish was expressed.
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Two villagers were executed by his team for suspicion of being police informers. He could not believe his eyes when he saw that the two lost their lives just on suspicion. That was the moment of Truth for him & he decided to leave the movement. That was not easy but his mind took the decision although his heart kept thinking about it. His friends warned him that the movement would consider him an enemy once he leaves but he was not the one to get afraid..
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The minister was still continuing with his speech. There was silence around. There were lots of things going on in his mind. He had become nostalgic, he went down the memory lane & suddenly.....that one memory came in flashing.........
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It was the final day of the College festival & Professor Chandra was thundering in the Microphone....... "Leave your Family when the Society calls you. Leave your society when the state calls you. Leave your state when the nation calls you & leave your nation when the World calls you"..
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His eyes became moist....the words kept roaring in his ears.....he could hardly see anything around.....But surely he decided something....he stood up & just went for the gun of the policeman standing close by. He mumbled, " I am sorry Comrades....please forgive me". In one swift motion he directed the gun to his temple & pressed the trigger. Before anyone knew he was gone forever.........His body was lifeless but eyes were closed with a certain contentment.


**Salwa Judum : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwa_Judum

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Love, Apology, Death & Wedding

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 48; the forty-eighth edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.

He rang the door bell & waited in-hesitantly for someone to open the door. There was certain calmness in his behavior & his body language.
Prof. Deshmukh opened the door & was surprised to see him at the door. Before he could say anything he just fell at the Professor's feet...................
"I am sorry Sir....... you were so right about all of this. I am no match for your daughter Neela."

Professor was taken aback but he calmly called him in & listened to him patiently.

"She is so smart, so brilliant & I am nothing more than a street urchin..........She is so suave & I cant even talk two sentences properly......I didn't even complete my education....We are simply not made for each other.........I should have listened to your advise of keeping away from Neela.......after all you were only trying to save her life from the uncertainty of my life. Neela understood your point & even agreed to stop seeing me... but..but .... I was adamant. You were only doing your duty as a father."
"Very good......so finally...you could understand my point of view young man......and yes its good for the both of you."
"But Sir we still love each other & I would hate to see her getting married to some body else. So I have decided to leave this city. Would you mind to fulfill my wish before I leave ?"
"Yes why not ? tell me......"
"I want to take out Neela for one final conversation if you don't mind. I promise.....I would completely forget her after this. You would never see us together again. Just one last time....please."
"Oh !! well...why not ?"
Professor called Neela out, who was intently listening to the whole conversation. She got out & the two of them walked out together........................... Professor put on the TV & started watching his favorite news Channel. .
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Some hours passed by & the door bell rang again. He was not surprised to see him at the door again. Professor inadvertently looked for Neela. "What you want Sir ?"
"Where is Neela ?"
"Hmmm........She is sleeping in the Car Sir.........Sleeping forever........ He said calmly, I have already called the Police & the Ambulance"
"What ? Professor was shocked.......what you mean ?" ........... Before he could utter a word the Police van arrived & the Policemen took hold of him.
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To the professor's disbelief......He managed to say something while the police were still putting the hand cuffs on him............
"My Apologies Sir........Neela is no more in this world.....my apologies Sir......he kept repeating the words.......I had told you..... I would hate to see her getting married to somebody else & this was the only way I could achieve that.........I am sorry Sir......My Apologies."
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The Ambulance took Neela to a Hospital. The police left & walked in a Doctor. He put his hand on the Professor's shoulder & took him inside the bedroom. The Doctor then asked for the way to kitchen & brought a glass of water for the Professor. No wonder....Tears were flowing down from his eyes. He was clueless what to do ? what to say ? How to react ? Just then the sounds of a typical wedding band started pouring in. The noise of the wedding band came closure & closure. Finally it came so close that they would hardly able to listen to each other. The noise went to a crescendo & stopped.

Doctor told the professor to be calm......
"Don't worry Sir....Your daughter is alright. I am sure she would be back here soon."
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The door bell rang again. The Doctor opened the door & the whole party went to see the Professor. Leading them was a woman Cop.
"Congratulations Sir.........I am from the newest department in our team....called the Love Police. I am the Head of this team. We help young couples who want to get married but can not do so because of oppose from their families. All that played out in last few hours was a well rehearsed drama directed by your Son in law & co-directed by your daughter. Even the wedding band you heard was part of the drama.It was insane but we had to give in to the wishes of the young couple. I was worried but Neela was sure that nothing would happen to you. Moreover they said it would help you......help you accept the marriage. So we had to go a little outside of our duty line. But as they say, Everything is fair in Love."
. . . . . The professor was awestruck....he was again shocked but elated.
The lady continued.....
"Dont worry Sir.....we have done checks on your son in law & he is a dynamic young man. Give him some time & he would prove himself. & the best part is your daughter is happy to grow old with him." . . . Just then the young couple walked in & bowed to touch professor's feet as per the indian tradition. The professor blessed them happily. He was ecstatic. and why not..... after all .....for him....his daughter had come back from the dead. Now it was his time to apologize.
"I am sorry.....Neela....I never asked you what would make you happy & thrust my decision on you. Please forgive me my angel."

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Hunger

This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 33; the thirty-third edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton.
The theme for the month is 'Celebrations'

They were keeping a watch on the supposedly enemy ship since two days. There have been no action of any kind. No response to warnings, No SOS calls,no movements were noted.....nothing at all. Their defense education was telling them not to get onto the ship without instructions. For it was a warship & it could even be a trap.
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He handed over the Binoculars to his colleague & went for a walk on the deck.
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"Arre....check this out...There is some movement.Looks like Somebody is there."
He ran back & snatched the Binocular from his colleague."I cant see who that is, a Boy, A girl, a Man, a woman, or an animal. But I am damn sure...whoever that is, is in a celebratory mood."
"Are you sure ?"
"Damn sure.....I can clearly see a loaf of bread...... & listen carefully to the sounds coming out. This is definitely some celebration. Hunger is the biggest enemy & that somebody has just won over it.Imagine you are hungry for days & then u find something to eat"
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"I see some point. I can understand the situation on the ship in distress.. ...That certainly calls for Celebrations. I would have done the same thing in that situation....But What do we do now ?..."
"Just pass on the message to the command about what we saw & wait for instructions."
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Moments after he was back.....
"There are instructions to destroy the enemy ship.......?"
"How can we do that?......we just noted some celebratory mood on the ship. Destroying the ship means certain death for that somebody"
"Dont worry about death.....let's get on with our job & Destroy the ship.....do not forget what we were taught.....Death is the Celebration of Life."
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Boom....after a while there was a deafening sound of a torpedo & the enemy ship was gone.

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