Sikharpur days ( Bandits attack-1)

Its been a week since the children had their hangout. They had the great time in their hideouts, playing in valley and of course training of Parvati. Parvati was exhausted by the time they reached the cave because of the expenditure of all those energy in the training.

The group had their farewell and went home. Next few days, they had to help their parents in the farm and also pluck the seasonal vegetables like cabbages, brinjals and tomatoes. So, a week had passed and they were missing playing together. 

Thankfully next day was for rest and Dhanush along with others planned meeting with Parvati . They started early as to reach the cave and have the breakfast with her. Lata had made her best food with all those vegetables she had harvested. They walked through the forest path with Lata collecting wild fruits for some early snacks. 

They reached the valley and Lochan went to collect the water from the stream. It was mostly his job, but this time he was little tired on his shoulders as he was supporting Sambhu who as usual was not the morning person. As he returned in their group, they heard a pebble falling by their side. They searched for the culprit, but couldn't find any. Again a new pebble fell near their feet. It continued till Lata discovered the guilty. She giggled and waved her hands, which made all others realize the miscief maker, it was Parvati !

" Parvati, what are you doing here?" Lata smiled and asked.
"Just a morning stroll, as I felt you could come today." Parvati said mysteriously. In reality, she was feeling lonely and wanted to meet them as early as possibly but valley was the limit that her mother, goddess Sikhareswari set for her. She was going there everyday and waited for them till sun came overhead.

" So, how is your training going?" Dhanush queried as he was expecting Parvati to follow his training schedule.
" It's going well, I have developed lot of focus and stamina too." Parvati said with a confident voice. The pebbles were her show of strength.

They chatted for a while and decided to have their breakfast. It was their little picnic.
" Parvati, look I have brought you my favourate subzi, Baigan ka bharta ( Mashed brinjal)," Lata said as she gave few spoonfuls in Parvati's container.
"Yes, It is delicious" Parvati too complimented Lata. 
The three boys were talking between themselves about the planning for the day, the games to play or go for consumables.

" Also listen friends,' Parvati said in an alarmed voice as she remembered something, ' I was strolling around here when I saw a group of strangers in the northern part of mountains. It was near our hideout. 

Their hideout was a secret location that other villagers didn't know about and Parvati knew most of the villagers. For her to say strangers brought concerns in Dhanush's mind.

"Tell me Parvati, what were they looked like," Dhanush asked.
" Don't know much but they looked shady, with dark cloths and some weapons in their hand. They were feasting a deer, laughing." Parvati answered.

"Sambhu, Lochan, let's go and see this ourselves as I am having some bad vibes about it." Dhanush said in a concerned voice.
" Yes, I think so too as I had heard about recent loot in our neighbouring village." Sambhi added.

" Lata, Parvati, wait here as we go and she it ourselves." Dhanush tell Lata.
"No, no we want to go besides Parvati knows the location." Lata didn't want to be left behind.

Dhanush thought for a while and decided to allow them. First they went to their hideout. Thankfully no one had discovered it yet. They went ahead little further, saw a small camping site. Only one person is sitting there and other's probably had went for hunt. They looked suspicious and had different kind of weapons and boxes with them. 

"They are not soldiers as I have seen some." Lochan said first.
" Shh, slowly or he might hear us.' Sambhu warned. ' I don't want to think about this but they look like Bandits!" Sambhu whispered with a scared voice.

Bandits were feared by villagers for they came for loot and kill without caring about people's life. The villages which were separated and not much protected by army were easy targets for these bandits. 

" If it's true then we need to warn the villagers." Dhanush said as he ordered them all to return back for they don't know when others will return. 

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

World Poetry Day

So, today is the World's Poetry Day. My earliest memories about poetry is about all the school books that I had read in my school day. Those were simple, rhyming ones and really delightful to read. I was inspired by those writings and tried my hands on poetry. My amateurish attempts were fun to read or so being told by my parents. 

I used to keep a diary too. Most of my writings were in Hindi and some in English but as I grew older, it changed to English only. For me, it was first a expression of my creativity which would vary from being an outlet of desires or conveying of emotions. To write was my way of letting go of daily stuffs. Be it frustrations or disappointments, happiness or joy. 

So, today I would just write a few lines just to celebrate World's poetry day in my way;


Its a day,
a little celebration,
a thousand of voices,
expression of letters...
It was simple,
a welcoming conception,
with rhythms or rhymes,
making an impression.

So, I would write,
some passage or portion,
convey my gratitude,
to this wonderful medium...
For many who passed,
and more to come,
to take pen and paper,
and bring out the emotions!!
 

Happy World Poetry Day. :) :)

Who will know..

Who will see,
to visualize, to realize,
Who will know,
to appreciate, to recognize....
the beauty of life.

Be it the wild flowers,
blooming in the morning,
residing on the paths,
away from the intruding eyes.

Or those streams,
gleaming of the flow,
reflecting the sunlight,
unexplored and untouched.

Some remain hidden,
waiting to be discovered,  
not to be plucked,
or be taken apart...

Fragrance need to be smelt,
nature to be experienced,
the wonders...concealed,
needed to be unvieled.

By the one who care,
with a gentle touch,
let the beauty be discovered,
by the human heart.

Who will know,
who will see,
things past the symbolism...
unmasking the  veiled words.
 

Ocean waves

Strong winds,
the smell of salt,
splashing waves,
inviting me....to view,
the serenity of life.

It's cold as it touches,
the wet sand receding,
caressing my feet,
as it takes away...fatigue,
out of the worn out legs.

Is it the tranquil,
the silence of mind,
away from any stimulus,
be it any obligations,
and I stand, closing my eyes!

Ah the waves,
they are calling me,
this breeze embracing me,
accessing to the deep,
as I open my heart and soul. 

Ocean waves,
the voices of the sea,
the whispers of the wind,
always welcoming to everyone,
just listen to it.....  :) :)

Sikharpur days ( New adventure..contd)

Parvati was running ahead, touching and picking up flowers, branches and even pebbles on the path. They had decided to first reach the valley and from there, they would visit one of their hideouts.

"Parvati, don't go too far or you will miss the location." Dhanush warned.
"Alright,' Parvati shouted back while waving her hands, ' I will take Lata with me"
" Wait, I am coming," Lata said as she followed her.

Parvati was still walking frther than them but Lata catched up to her when Parvati stalled a little to pick something. Dhanush and co slowly followed them. The valley came to their view and Dhanush called both the girls back. They decided to have their breakfast and Sambhu went to bring water from the streams.

" Parvati, have these Sooji Halwa, I have made it myself." Lata said while passing over the container to Parvati. She knows a little cooking which includes making of tea, rice and some cooked vegetable but Halwa was one thing she was proud of. Her father doesn't allow her to make anything more as he was scared that she might get burns. Even though she consider herself grown up enough to make them.
"Yes, Lata the Halwa is great." Parvati complimented her.
"Yes yes, the Halwa is really great." Sambhu added as he took a major portion of it.
"Sambhu, leave some for me too." Lochan said in a hurry. He knew the gluttony of Sambhu.

After the food, they decided to play a little while Dhanush and Parvati went for their practice part. Parvati was given the task to climb the tree and then bring back the fruits on the top of the branch. She could have flown too as she being a spirit, could levitate too. But climbing need more focus and would be a good training practice for her.

" Get me the mango from the very top branch. No matter how many time it takes, only climb and not float, remember?" Dhanush ordered.
"I know, I know, ' Parvati complained, ' don't say it again and again."

Parvati tried to climb, but after a few step, before even catching the first branch, she fell. She tried it again and again but the result was same. She couldn't keep the focus for longer time.

" You can do it Parvati !' Lata encouraged her, ' I am here for you."
"I know,' Parvati smiled showing her teeth, ' Wait here and I will bring that Mango for you."

Parvati tried again, this time a little more focused. She got her determination by listening to Lata's word. Slowly she was getting the hang of it as every time she climbed, she reached a new branch. Before long she reached the final branch and plucked the fruit and just like losing her strength, she fall. But this time both Lata and Dhanush were there to catch her.
" You did it, Parvati.' Dhanush congratulated her, ' Today's practice is over and you must be tired too." 
"Come with me. We will have our lunch in our hideout." Lata said while hugging her, ' It's a great place and I am sure that you would love it."

Although th lunch time was long past, Dhanush called back Sambhu and Lochan. They went to their hideout which was not that far from the Vally. It was near the stream overlooking the flowing water and mountains far.
They had their dinner and discussed about today's activities and their conquests. 

--- to be continued.--