Looking at the Rainbow

Being content,
for what I get,
in my life...
in my world.

I was shy,
awkward and nervous,
or just eccentric,
to my cause!


And being in grey,
faded on the backgrounds,
observing from the side,
waiting for my turn....
All the faking smiles,
words that don't bind,
searching for the meanings....
in my encounters!

Going with the flow,
like the wind that blows,
out in the open,
plains and the meadows...
Or fear that had sprout,
as one faces the crowd,
to eyes and their views,
or my own perception.

Grey it was,
assimilated in the dark,
no colors that I saw,
just the routines that I ask..
Emotions that may came,
feelings that won't  last,
making resentful that I am,
dwelling in my past!

But then I saw,
the ones passing by,
changes that I avoids,
things that I ignore,
with excuses so many,
framed over the time,
dismantled as it came,
sweeping out my defiance!



Blooming like a flower,
fragrances with invisible powers,
filling over the blue sky,
fresh after morning showers,
giving me the nudge,
to make me budge,
whispering into my ears,
as I sat pouting....

looking at the rainbow  !!!

Sukharpur Days (Bandit attack-final)

The crowd was jubilant that they had captured the three bandits. They hadn't expected this sudden invasion of new bandits for which they were not prepared. Even Dhanush and Lata were surprised as the two bandits that were supposed to be fallen to their traps were little hurt but standing strong along with two new recruits with strong physique.

'Dong' the bell sounded as if to warn them, cower them into fear as they entered slowly inside the gate. One of them run towards the bandits and untied  them. Every villager were standing still as they knew they were cautious of the weaponry. One of the bandit was middle aged man, and he was constantly gazing at Dhanush and Lata. Their traps were effective but childish, which make easy for the bandits to find the culprits. One bandit came near Dhanush and slapped him, it was so strong that Dhanush fell back. Lata started crying as other women tried to protect him. The bandits shouted at the crowd and waved their weapons as they pushed anyone who came forward.

" You have hurt our leader, and all those pesky plans of yours have troubled us until now. Today I will show you what happens when you interfere with our job." The young bandit roared.
" Chotu, bring that hatchet that we use to strike our enemies." The middle aged bandit ordered.
"Here, show these villagers what it means to make us angry." said the young bandit as he provided the weapon.
Dhanush was shocked from the slap that he recieved and it took some time for him to come to his senses. He still can't listen from his left ear, the site of the attack.
"You will never get what you want. ' Dhanush continued. ' It was a mistake coming to our village." Dhanush said angrily.
"Please don't hurt him. He is a child!" the women requested but were pushed away.
The bandits caught Dhanush hand to restrict his movements and the old man raised his arm holding hatchet as he prepared to attack.
"Noooo, don't " Lata shouted as she run in between Dhanush and Bandit, while other run to pull Lata's hand.

Dhanush could see the fading sunlight behind the raised arm, and could see Lata running towards him from the sides. He could listen to distant screams as his ears were numb .
"DHANUSH, DHANUSH....." someone was calling him
He was rudely shaken and he opened his eyes. Was he dreaming everything? He saw Lata was crying by his sides while Sambhu and Lochan were sitting near him. Parvati was looking at his head.

" What happened, where are the bandits? " Dhanush asked.
" They were captured and were sent to the Kotwaal. ( police). " Someone's voice he heard. It was Lata's father.

Apparently, just within the moment hee was attacked, Parvati came and pushed the bandit away. He must have been shaken by this invisible force. Before he could recover, Lata and women took Dhanush to their protection. He might have fallen unconscious by that time.
Soon Sambhu, and other village adults came and overpowered the other bandits. They beat the bandits and tied them. They weapons were taken away and Kotwaals were informed. Sambhu, Lochan and Parvati were successful in capturing the bandits hidden in the farm and also came back to help them.

"It's time celebrate." Parvati whispered as the villagers were discussing the day's event.
"Yes, it is.' Dhanush smiled, 'they had successfully thwarted the attack, and faced all the troubles. They deserve the celebration."

And the village was filled with merry as they dine and drink. The children played along with other village kids. The adults too participated, unknowing to the fact that their unknown savior is also playing with them. A invisible spirit, Parvati!

---- to be continued----

Sikharpur days (Bandit attack-9)

The big and dangerous looking ruffian who had captured Lochan's mother along with other women and went towards the village storehouse was a big reason of worry. Dhanush knew that they had to take urgent action but also take care that the women were not harmed.

" Dhanush, we must go around the village porch, there are some green covering for us to hide." Lata suggested.
" Yes, and we need few other things as we can't fight with him, he is strong." Dhanush said as he went towards other women. " we need some irritants, bring that leave from the weeds growing near the big well, and aunt we also need to chilli powders."

As they received their ammunition, they departed for their duty. Two older girl accompanied them, named Rekha and Sita as they were worried of the children. The children told them that they know what they are doing and also requested others to wait there as to watch the tied bandits and look out for back up that may come avoiding th traps they had set in the bandit camps and in the forest.

As Dhanush reached near the storehouse, he could see the two women in front standing near the gate. Kalu, the fierce bandit had threatened them so they were scared stiff. Kalu was taking out the grains and other vegetable that were stored. The women were crying but were silently looking at him.

" Come on Rekha didi, Sita didi, this Kalu guy is distracted, let us rescue aunty." Dhanush instructed the older girls.
"Lata, you and me will make the attack. Ready to run when I signal" Dhanush added.

As they planned, the girls cautiously went near the women hidden behind the tree cover and rescued them. Kalu was so busy sorting the bags that he didn't hear them, or he was confident. Dhanush made sure that they had left and then started to act.

He threw the irritant leaves and some chilli powder on the floor as kalu was not looking. He also had some broken glass and other pointed rocks he had brought, which he was waiting for proper timing to use. It came when Kalu was bringing one of the bag out and walk over these leaves and got itchy at first on legs and then his hands, he had discomfort and became less aware of the surrounding. And in the moment of chaos, Dhanush threw the rocks and glasses.
It worked and Kalu was now writhing with pain and he knew someone is there, so he walked out to look for them, and in the moment Dhanush gave signal.

" Lata run!" he shouted as he threw the chilli and salt powder on Kali's face and run towards the village home.

Kali infuriated by the action followed them but his eyes were blinded and burning. He was shouting angrily as he followed them.

What welcomed him, was a mob of women and girls who started hitting him with lathi and danda ( wooden sticks). Once weakened and bleeding, he falls. It gave Dhanush to tie him up.

Dhanush gave a triumphing shout of the successful capture of the three bandits and the crowd cheered.
" We did it Dhanush, we did it!!" Lata was jublient.

But the happiness was shortlived as came a loud band from their behind. They all looked towards the gate. There, standing with swords and other weapons, were other bandits and they looked pissed.


------ to be continued----+

Sikharpur days ( Bandit attack-8)

Cowherd Ranjit was a adult and helped the children a lot. For Dhanush and Lata, he was like a big brother. So, it was natural for them to feel assured after seeing him but they were not prepared for the scene that was going to unfold in front of their eyes.

Ranjit started questioning the bandits as they seemed suspicious and sooner a fight ensured. The smaller bandit accompanying the bandit boss started hitting Ranjit. Ranjit too fought back with equal might. But it didn't last long as the bandit boss cam from behind and threw his big fist on Ranjit's jaw, which made him unconscious. The bandit boss also kicked Ranjit's belly and blood came out of his mouth. Dhanush and Lata couldn't do anything but the resulting fight and violence alarmed the cows who started running here and there.

"Lata, quick pass the whistle and pebbles." Dhanush ordered Lata as she was standing there dumbfounded looking at the bleeding Ranjit.
"Lata !" Dhanush gave her a good shaking.
"Yes, yes, here's the thing you need." Lata haphazardly pulled out the pebbles and whistle from the bag.

Dhanush started aiming and throwing the pebbles towards the cows who were moving away from the village gate, which made them run towards their home. As the cows were running towards the gate, the bandit boss took out his machete, and just started to scare the cows coming towards him.

"Now the write time. Lata pick up the stones and throw on them and shout with your might!" Dhanush shouted and then deeply inhaled the air and started to blow the whistle.

" I will not forgive these bad guys." Lata shouted angrily and threw stones at them as she was charged with adrenaline, "Alert alerts, there are thieves and Bandits here. Alert, alert everyone. Come here at once."

Along with sudden loud whistle, and falling stones and pebbles, the cows panicked more and run straight towards the gate leaving no room for escape for the bandits. They were also shocked by the discovery of their identity.

The cows were shoving away the bandits, running over them, even Ranjit who was fallen on the side of gates got trampled.
When all the cows had run away, the field had a deserted look with clouds of dust spread all over. Dhanush and Lata were silently looking at their exploits.

" Lata, the ropes," Dhanush gently nudged Lata as they saw Bandits fallen on the ground.

Dhanush took the ropes and tied the Bandits as they were confused and delirious. Lata run towards Ranjit to see if he was alright. Thankfully, he had some cuts cut scratches all over his body while no visible serious injury were found. Even now, the villagers have come and helped both children to take Ranjit to his hut. A village elder accompanied him.

" Who are these people?" Dhanush's mother asked as she hugged him.
" Lata, are you hurt?" asked another concerned woman as Lata was their darling girl.
" I am good aunty, but Ranjit bhaiya( brother) is injured." Lata said with a deep concerned voice.

" Everyone please help me tie these bandits who came to loot us." Dhanush asked the villagers.
" Also beware, there is another guy", continued Dhanush, " we need to capture him too."

" Yes, yes..he had taken Kalpana aunty and Komal aunty as hostages and went towards our storage house." Lata also remembered and said with an urgency.

Villagers mostly constituted women and were scared but decided to join the children to capture other bandit Kalu after they tied both the bandit boss and his lackey.

----to be continued-------

Sikharpur days (bandit attack 7)

Dhanush and Lata were following behind the bandit boss. They tried to be as silent as they could be. The Bandit boss and another bandit were slowly treading towards the village. They were cautious, with lowered head crouching just 50 meters from Dhanush. Dhanush too tried to keep his distance while thinking hard of the ways he could stop them from their heist. The dangerous looking new guy was far ahead from the Bandit boss, probably he would be the one doing all the coercing or use of the force. They were scared of him but had to do something about it too. They were the only one who could stop them as they knew their plan.

"Lata, do you have anything with you in your bag. Something that can use as a trap or weapon?" Dhanush asked as he was tracking the big guy's movements. The big guy 'Kalu' as they have heard, was almost near village gate.
"I have a rope with me, a whistle, some pebbles and some cloths, I think." Lata said meekly.
"Alright, we have to make use of them." Dhanush whispered.

Kalu had reached the gate and was hiding behind it. Soon the Boss and second bandit joined him. Dhanush and Lata decided to hide behind the tree and look for their activity. They saw two women chatting near the chaupal. One was their friend sekhar's mom and other one was Lochan's. The bandit boss said something to Kalu and he went near the women.

Dhanush as afraid as he saw them arguing and Kalu hit Lochan's mom. The women were crying as he ordered them something. Dhanush knew the urgency but couldn't find a way to help as they were too big for him to fight. As he was looking at the situation with horror, the women started to walk towards the direction of village's storehouse.
Lata had tears in her eyes and she was praying hard. They needed to do something but what? As they were pondering their options, they saw the bandit boss started to walk inside the village. Dhanush decided to take action and asked Lata for the whistle. They were cornered and needed to distract the bandits. Just when Dhanush tried to blow the whistle, he heard the familiar clinking sound from the bells. It came as a big hope for them, it was Godhuli times in the evening. That is, the time for the cows to return home. They were tended by the cowherd, another help.

" I think I know what I can do. It's time to take action. Be ready Lata. " Dhanush said with a confident voice.

Lata opened her bag to bring out the materials for their fight while Dhanush waited for the right opportunity. It's came sooner than expected, as the cowherd Ranjit stopped Bandit boss from entering village and he started questioning them.

------ to be continued-------