Death is Beginning

What do you think happens after one dies? Bring out the best creative imagination to explain. #DeathisBeginning

 

After one dies, he/she goes either to heaven or hell based on his/her karma. And if he/she has unfulfilled wishes or dying against will or last rites are done poorly/not done, they stay back on earth as ghosts. This is the proper conventional idea that all might have heard. Also, such ghosts churn the movie, literature and serial industry with ever newer ideas, thus serving an economic purpose as well.;)

Coming to a more creative description, like they show in my favorite Tom and Jerry cartoons, an infinite escalator or staircase towards heaven emerges. 

Source

Overclouded

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.

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I

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And then I could see him no more.

Just me in the mist, on the mountain top. Around me, as I blindly moved my hands, I could feel nothing.

Just dampness.

I was overclouded.

I feared this day.

That I would look for him.

And he would not be there.

Puppy Love

A funny thing happened on my way to school- a fluffy puppy came yelping and squealing to me!

I could not resist myself from picking up the cute thing and caressing it lovingly!

Sometime later, as I continued to play and jump with the sweet pup, I saw a litter of fluffy puppies coming...towards me!

They looked anxious, yet were fearless- in search of their missing brother.

When things on my table conversed!

My table was in such a mess. I had kept my jeans and t-shirt, dangling earrings, night-time reading book, newspaper, goggles, pen and notebook.

When I was not in the room, they all started talking!

Befriending a Tiger

I didn't know how far I had come inside the forest.

Being a top implementer of development schemes, the Naxals had kidnapped me to secure release of their comrades.

I had escaped providentially in the pitch dark night. I had no idea where I was.

Still I kept going as far as I could. As fast as I could. For I knew they would be on my heels the moment they woke up from their tired slumber.

He and Me

I was angry and sad. Just because I had not given his favourite office shirt and pant for ironing, he screamed his lungs out at me.

And then he thundered that he won't have his bread and butter, with steaming hot omlette which I had kept on the dining table.

Source

He simply wore his socks and shoes and left hurriedly in his car ...without kissing me goodbye.

I was so dejected and annoyed- at myself, at him. At myself more than at him. What right did I have to give him a bad day at office?

I took out a paper and pen and started writing. Furiously. Crazily. It was the only way to keep myself sane.

I don't know exactly for how long I wrote, but then probably after fifteen minutes I heard his car screech to a halt.

Go Further To Get Closer

I asked God, "How far do I have to go to look for him and be close to him? After all, in a way, the whole world - now twenty-five strong countries...are looking for him...."

God said- "You have to go till the end of the world for him...."

Amazed and confused I said- "But I don't know where is that..."

With eyes shining like a billion stars, God said- "So find out...."

My #TravelSmartWithSkyscanner Destination: Singapore!

I woke up with a start. A most beautiful lady dressed in shiny golden robes with a heavenly smile, belonging to some country of South-East Asia stood there doing 'Namaste' to me. Exactly like I had seen in picture postcards of Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia and Malaysia.

Source: Wiki Commons

She said nothing- simply smiled with a most bright halo around her head. Simultaneously I saw multicoloured lights twinkling from behind the closed doors of my cupboard. It was surreal- my room was flooded with brilliant lights and I was absorbed in a spell of magic.

Today is International Women's Day....K?!

She (with beaming smile on her face): Today is International Women's Day! Yayyy!

He (nonchalantly): K. So?

Source

She (small frown): Don't you know about it?! This was the day when working women around the world demanded equal pay and rights, with a huge protest led in Russia in 1917.

He (matter of factly): K.

She (elatedly and playfully): So U have to be my Santa Claus today!

He (romantically): K. Like taking U for movie 'Queen', spa and dinner huh so you'll feel like a real queen?!

Source

She (suggestively): Not just that..today you have to promise me something....

How God punished Furious Rutu

Ten-year-old Rutu had closed the bedroom door behind her with a thud and locked herself up again for the umpteenth time.

Her mother had warned her against doing it- still Rutu did as she was furious with her mother just because she had firmly told her to switch off the TV.

A Fateful Misunderstanding

One night, I had died in my sleep and was super-delighted to receive a key from God’s angel to open the door to Heaven!

Image Source

I reached Heaven and was soon in front of God, who was dressed in sparkling golden and was beaming with the power of a thousand resplendent Suns.

Fishing with my Friend

My friend and me sat fishing by the river quietly when he suddenly broke the silence by asking, "Have you ever felt like a fish out of water?"

I said, "No."

In the flash of a second he edged closer and pushed me into the water.

Little did she Know-2

On Valentine’s Day eve, Sneha was busy selecting a heart-touching card and an apt gift in the giftshop for Akash, her soulmate of two years, to surprise him when they met. She narrowed down on a heart-shaped crystal showpiece.

Source: http://corporategiftsvilla.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/DS1939-11.jpg

Suba

Hi. I'm a dog called Suba. Nice name no?! Sounds like a happy chirpy morning in Hindi, isn't it?! But actually it means-Street's unwanted bast**d animal. No, my parents have not named me thus. It's the people around who called me so all the time ever since I opened my small brown puppy eyes to the world, by the roadside. So one fine day, when I understood the ways of the street (I was only a year old then) I decided to make an innovative name out of the initials. 

Source: http://ellieandabbie.typepad.com/.a/6a01156f3d64c3970b01310f2563ef970c-pi

Actually, I’ve gone through so much in life so far, that I can easily write ‘Autobiography of Suba- the Street's unwanted bast**d animal’ which will be the hottest  bestseller in the world, overtaking all previous records. I’ll even win the ‘Dog Booker Prize’ for it.

Love

Feeling particularly drained after office that day, Seema retrieved her old books and Oxford English dictionary gifted to her in Class VII by her father, to soothe her taxed mind.

As she opened the dictionary, out tumbled a most-touching love note written to her during school-days for the first time in her life, by Avinash, who now was the leader of a prominent new political party of the state.

She had lost touch with him and was smiling due to the train of happy thoughts in reminiscence, when the doorbell rang.

I AM EXPLORER!

Background: I invented my Birdoid in 2035. Circumstances drove it to self-destruct, in order to save Earth from being destroyed. For those who want to know more, you can visit My Birdoid . And now I continue on my mission saving mode.

September 30, 2036

Well, the past year has been hectic, to say the least. After news about my Birdoid spread, I was appreciated the world-over. So much so, that at a world conference of scientists and technologists last month, I was honoured and made 'World Ethical Head for Technologists', for my Birdoid was the first ever ethically-advanced human-brain-like-thinking-machine that looked like a bird!

I decided to build my Birdoid version 2.0 since then, and wanted to live upto the honour bestowed on me by my planet. The design had to be different this time. As I was always influenced by the great genius Leonardo da Vinci's ornithopter design (given alongside), I decided to build something on these lines. Ideas are always brilliant you see- of any century they may be! 

Still I felt the body had to be that of something completely durable- which could zoom right through air, water, land and vacuum! What better than the miniature version of Tata Safari Storme (my favorite hi-tech vehicle!) for the body, and super-agile wings attached to it! Would be a formidable vehicle to speed across in space!

Just as I was drooling over all these thoughts with the Storme Ultra Luxury 2036 version (www.tatasafari.com/) in my mind, my phone buzzed. NASISRO's Chairman had tinkalled me saying- "Hope you've not yet built Birdoid 2.0! For, your new requirement is: build one for inter-galactic travel! Coz we've got a signal from Fraeena solar system in Andromeda galaxy! They clearly want to meet us!" I was thrilled beyond measure! I Now I had to build my STORMOID (yes, that HAD to be the new name!) for inter-galactic expeditions! I tinkalled back-"Aye aye Sir! Gimme a month for this!" Needless to say, I was right away at work.

October 30, 2036

And it was born- my STORMOID, my Hero! I had given it vocal chords too, so I could talk to it. Guess whose voice it could talk in?! Amitabh Bachchan's baritone! NASISRO team wished me luck. They even talked to Stormoid over Skype Version 36, and got a 3D feel of it. Mighty impressed (with even the baritone adding to it!), they said- "Take the Fraeena people by storm!" Me and Stormoid thundered back- "Yes! For Sure!" 5..4..3..2..1..and we blasted off!

Time- unknown

As my Stormoid could compress itself and its rider, me, to the size of a photon, we could tear away at the speed of light. I could see the most unimaginably brilliant patterns of light in the backdrop of the vast space. We were crossing millions of stars by the second! I just could not believe my eyes! My super-intelligent stormoid exactly knew the location of Fraeena, and as we were going through vacuum and could not hear each other, so it flashed its messages on a small screen before me-"Enjoying the Dark Matter?! We are still a while away from our destination! Keep enjoying the lights while I keep clear of black holes!" I was amazed- I had not fed into my artificial program about how to avoid black holes! Still my stormoid had learnt it- probably by sifting through all the reams of information on the internet and then devising its own technique! Mind-blowing I must say! I looked at the screen and winked! My Stormoid flashed its powerful headlights in response!


I have no idea after how much time, but suddenly I felt as if we were slowing down. More and more. Then I could see a light blue-light grey planet looking like this:
I gasped. Suddenly I also felt my size increasing, and Stormoid's too. Stormoid's spectacular wings were now wide open, as we had entered into the planetary atmosphere of the special planet of Fraeena solar system. From up above, I could see people- they looked like tall sticks.

Stormoid touched down upon the new planet. Before my door opened, I got a tinkall-"Welcome to Naina- your eyes are beautiful!" I was awe-struck! The new planet's people were tremendously advanced- not only had they named their planet 'Eye' or 'Naina' (that too in Indian language Hindi!), they had also seen my eyes with their powerful equipment! Stormoid was carrying out a quick scan for dangers. It found none and in its baritone announced-"Thanks Naina people. The human being with beautiful eyes will now be in front of you!" I hushed up Stormoid and walked out. Surprise of surprises! All of them actually looked like tall sticks with - hold your breath - my eyes!! I could gauge that they had read the DNA behind my eyes and had replicated it. I understood that they were a people looking for eyes, as they had none, and that's why the obsession! So much so, that they had even named their planet Naina!

So, since I was the chosen diplomat from our Earth to establish relations with Nainese people (the very start of a true inter-galactic diplomatic mission across species), I had to get on the job right away. Yes, they knew English. They did not have Stormoid like me, and marvelled at its breathtaking beauty. They took me to a building that was shaped like an igloo, but made of bio-degradable material. In fact, they said, all trees had been destroyed there and that's why with time, they had started looking like sticks. Now only few trees grew and they were slowly trying to revive trees on their planet. Their bodies had adapted to live with least oxygen. "But why did all your eyes disappear?" I asked. They said- "We forgot Nature here- destroyed everything. That's why Nature has evolved us over a million years to be without eyes and stick-like, for we were blind to Nature and her beauty." I was shocked. I thought-"Could this be human beings' future as well? We at Earth in 2036 also had far less trees than our parents and grandparents had left us with...."

A small tear trickled down my eyes. Just then I saw all the Nainese wiping a tear from their eyes. Oh my God! It was my eye in all of theirs- I was as much flattered as I was sad. Sad, because they would probably learn to cry, without a heart, which also Nature had taken away. Only their head with some sort of brain stood firm on a stick-like body, and I understood that they took decisions with only their brain. I pitied them. But I also had hope for them. I said- "Nainese people, do not worry. I know you needed the eye DNA, and you may have mine. Take it as a gift from all people from my planet Earth. I also wish you all the very best for you can see and experience tears now, so I hope with the growing of more trees you can also start developing your true bodies and heart." Stormoid understood that I was hinting at leaving. It announced-"All the Nainese people, please get together with your special envoy from Earth, who has also helped you see! I have to click a Cybershot photo and give each of you a copy!" A loud cheer went across like a wave throughout the planet.

Stormoid went half a kilometre up and with the whole frame took a photo. A million copies were made instantly and Stormoid personally delivered one to each by flapping its wings and going to each. I waved my hands and said- "Bye Nainese people! I had a wonderful time with you all!" One among them stepped forward and said- "Before you go, you must take this gift." They gave me a brightly wrapped box. I wanted to open it but they said- "Open it on Earth." Thanking them profoundly, I looked into their eyes- my eyes,in fact, and smiled. They smiled through their eyes and then I got into my Stormoid. Within moments, we had escaped Planet Naina's atmosphere.

Again we had compressed to a photon's size and whizzed past solar systems and neutron stars. Finally when we neared Earth, I was watching closely. Why was Earth also looking light blue and light grey like Naina? I did not want the worst to be true. Stormoid flashed on my screen the message-" Don't worry Amrita. Even if things are wrong on Earth, you can set it right with the gift you have from Naina." Well, Stormoid had just proved that it was a brilliant spy who could sneak inside gifts (ethical hacking of course!). I messaged- "Stop reading my mind. Take me to Earth asap." Stormoid again flashed its powerful headlights on in response.

I felt devastated. As we touched down on Earth and returned to our original sizes, I felt terrible. I could not believe this. I had returned to a planet badly devoid of trees, like Naina. Unbelievable. Half the water had disappeared. That's why it looked less light blue and more grey.

Humans had not turned stick-like yet, but universally looked more frail. Yes, they were on the path of looking like the Nainese. I touched down at NASISRO headquarters and was welcomed with loud cheers. I could see NASISRO Chairman had turned very old, but I looked quite the same. Ah- time travel. Most of the faces looked new.


I announced-"NASISROites, this is Amrita here. I've returned from Planet Naina and got a gift for all of you- infact  for entire mankind." NASISRO people immediately gathered. So also, an entire team of photographers, media people, businessmen, common people nearby- all gathered to see the gift being opened. Stormoid was recording everything for live telecast. I opened the gift to thunderous applause. Guess what was it? A seedling.

I could not help but marvel at the far-sightedness of the Nainese. They had realised that by the end of the time I reached Earth, Nature may have been destroyed there as well. And I could at least grow a tree with the Nainese people's help on my planet. Gratitude rushed through my heart, and a tear streamed down my cheeks. I paused to think- must the Nainese too have had a tear down their cheeks now?

My Stormoid flapped its wings. Suddenly we saw a small mountainpile of seedlings. I smiled. I was overjoyed with my Stormoid. Applying its ethics-oriented thinking, it had used 3D printing to create a mountainpile of seedlings which each of us gathered there could immediately start planting. My Stormoid in Amitabh Bachchan's baritone said-"Human beings, your time starts now. Each one, plant one. I'll create any number of more seedlings so our Earth can turn green again and become that sparkling blue gem from space again." A loud roar came forth from all the enlightened human beings there- "AYE AYE SIR! FOR SURE!"

My Birdoid

And before I knew it, I had hit ‘Send’. The 'Send' button on the birdoid was a bright luscious red, forcing a human of 2035 to think twice or many times preferably, before hitting it. But his face so lingered in front of my eyes that I just could not help it. Well, the birdoid was a mini-spy satellite looking like a bird, which I had built with my own hands as a personal project, to serve important uses in the super-techno-savvy world of 2035. For now, I had to use my birdoid to search for a person Mr.X- one who had escaped with all e-documents of my e-office. X had closed my e-firm sending a false e-representation to the Registrar of E-Companies and fled before he could face my terrible wrath. 

The problem was, I trusted him too much. I had never thought he would go to the extent of building my exact replica to break into the main files I had secured through a human-familiarity-software (HFS) which would only allow ME. And here he was- destroying my own hard labor with my cloned double with my EXACT characteristics to fool the super-sophisticated system! True X would have spent his entire fortune plus borrowed a trillion more in doing this, for, getting cent-percent human-genome matched clone in 2035 came at the highest premium as compared to even a 99% match. Also, I knew though X had gained experience in this field, he was not skilled enough to create a full match. And my software was advanced to the hilt- to allow only a 100% match. One thing was for sure- he had 100% betrayed me.

I decided he needed to be taught a lesson. One he would never forget. My birdoid was out on its mission. It would search the entire world for this techno-crook, and if he would not be found, would even rev-up at escape velocity, leave the Earth and scuttle towards Mars, for several colonies of humans were living in Mars as well. My birdoid would scan all the humans and possible humanoids, distinguish among them, and find the target. Yet I feared the intelligence of the birdoid- I did not know how far my artificial intelligence program would be effective on him. I had expressed all my heart-felt anger and disgust at that abominable person, while talking to the birdoid. If the birdoid's artificial intelligence took over the emotional side, there was a real fear of the birdoid even probably launching an attack on the target. This was a scary thought. Still, in a fit of rage I had bared all facts before my birdoid and before I knew it, had hit the 'Send' button.

My wide display screen showed the images captured by my birdoid whizzing past continents searching for the most wanted. The truth dawned upon me within half an hour- my birdoid had not found him on Earth. It revved up its engines and I could soon see dark expanse of space in minutes. My birdoid had compressed itself to a very small mass and was travelling at one-fourth the speed of light. Within about fifteen minutes my birdoid had reached Mars and was scanning people there. Colonies looked much like on Earth. I almost gave a serious thought to set up my new company on Mars. Demand for services must be booming there, still cost of living must be higher, I wondered.

 Suddenly, an alert message flashed on my screen. "TARGET FOUND" it said. And before I knew it, I saw an explosion on my screen. My birdoid had done what I feared- using its own emotional intelligence, it had launched a precision attack on the cheat. I felt a pang of remorse. A message again flashed- "Don't worry Amrita. I know you did not mean to KILL him and may have sent a different command to me. Yet please understand that this was the only way justice could be done to both of you. You will not go to hell. God knows your ethical position." I was surprised that my intelligence program had given my birdoid such a thorough grounding of ethics, morality and the sense of justice, to almost talk like a Supreme Court judge and philosopher rolled into one. Still, through the surprise, remorse and wonder, I sent a message asking my birdoid to self-destroy. My birdoid sent back a message- "Target had a remote control in hand. I suspect more targets. Allow me to finish my job." I realized the super-intelligence of my birdoid. I was awed to see almost fifty explosions in rapid succession with "TARGET FOUND" flashing at the blink of my eyes for the next few minutes.

It dawned on me that Mr.X had built fifty clones of his, and the remote-control was for transferring the matter in his brain to each of his clones whenever he would be in danger. So that's it! This techno-savvy cheat had tried to stump me and the world, for a fifty more dangerous cheats like him would sure make Mars a very dangerous place. Wait! My birdoid was gain hurtling back to Earth, ostensibly to check if X had planted his clones on earth too to arise when he was dead. Wow, I had no words to praise the intelligence and steadfastness of goal accomplishment of my birdoid. 

Soon it had scanned across continents on Earth and I saw no explosions on my screen. My birdoid said- "Finally, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! X clearly wanted to capture entire Mars for himself even after death and I'm proud to have annihilated him. Amrita, now I will self-destruct. Before I do that, I wish to inform you that I've left my clone on Mars which will continue to survey if X has left more clones to rise after further time-lags. Most importantly I want to say that we need many more humans like you who do good work for the world. May your tribe increase." 

I messaged back-"My birdoid, you have shown tremendous fortitude. I'm proud I invented you, but have to destroy you as well, for being safe from Earth and Mars Police. Don't worry, for you will be reborn in an even better Avatar!" My birdoid said-"AMEN! 3..2..1..." and my screen went blank.

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda

This post was adjudged as the best amongst all the WOW entries & won the WOW Badge here:

From Mom with Love

A month ago, I got a time-machine. It didn’t exactly drop from the sky- most probably Mom sent it to me from Heaven. The gift was wrapped using shining golden paper with ‘God loves U’ printed all over. There was an oval silver clock with a microphone attached to it. And I couldn’t have known it was a time-machine but for the following gold engraving-

‘He doth maketh twelve-day- journeys across any land thru time,
Who useth the mic to speaketh his wandering mind…’

Wow! As the reality of the masterpiece started dawning on me, I was overjoyed! Only Mom knew how much I wanted to visit different countries on Earth, and now she was giving me a magical chance! Having read about the fascinating ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’- Norway, I was captivated by her fjords, fishing grounds, rich history, festivals, mouth-watering cuisine and friendly people. Without doubt, I decided to travel to the enchanting country of Norway. I spoke on the mic- “Take me to Norway during the era of the majestic Vikings! Make me a sea-faring Lady there who is tough yet charming!”

 

Lo and behold! I was on a ship of Vikings! Most surprisingly, I felt my hair pushed back and braided neatly. Also, I was in a beautiful long flowing dress with red-and-black checks and black gum-boots. The dragon-ship called ‘Gokstad’ was wobbling crazily on the sea under the moonlight. Some heavily built, stern-looking men came towards me. As I had never been on a ship, the wobbliness was making me dizzy. I was moving like a drunken person and the Vikings looked at me queerly. One among them thundered-“Who are you and what brings you here?” I was scared but with a sudden spurt of courage I thundered back- “I’m the Moonlight’s Guide! I’ve come to protect this ship from Evil Powers!” The Vikings bowed in unison and said some prayer which I couldn’t understand. Then they took out their pan-pipes, drums and cow-horn bugles and we all sang, danced, ate and drank. The din made enemy-ship Oseberg’s bugle inaudible. We jerked out of merry-making when a spear landed in our midst. Instinctively, I pulled out the spear and hurtled it towards the enemy-ship. While they gazed, surprised by the presence of a sea-faring Lady, our Vikings started raining a heap of spears on Oseberg, which lost a few men. The others sailed away, unfurling the ‘White Flag’. Our victorious Vikings celebrated with music, wine and praises for me! I thanked them for the wonderful time, quickly took out my time-machine and said on the mic- “Make me a Norwegian folk musician of 1756, give me the countryside fun and thrills!”

Wow! I was now a merry folk musician, holding the Hardanger fiddle! In a bright blue-and-red frilly frock, stockings and brown boots, I attracted attention in the village of Kandal! The countryside offered great sights- lush green fields; canals carrying sparkling water; majestic horses; belled cows; farmers working enthusiastically under an azure sky. Soon other musicians with drums, bukkehorns and langeleiks also joined. The resulting music was foot-tapping; it wasn’t long before all villagers started dancing joyously! Later, the kind village-folk invited me for food. Then, I went about exploring the countryside with the youngsters. They showed me old churches, waterfalls, lakes and animals like deer and moose. They were very curious about my whereabouts. Each time I blushed and asked a different question like whether they went to school, or if they played cricket. Since they didn’t know cricket, I taught them! Thus my three days in the countryside passed quickly with music, dance, bonfires, excellent food and games. I thanked the villagers post bonfire of my last day there for making my stay thoroughly enjoyable. Then, under the star-lit sky, on the mic of my time-machine I said - “Allow me now to live a quiet Norwegian painter’s life, take me to a place where Sun shines at midnight”.

 So I reached Komsa, a small town beyond the Arctic Circle. Though past midnight, I was beholding a miracle- the Sun was still shining! Thankfully I was in jeans and a furry jacket, for it was cold. I walked upto the line of houses and discovered that it was a painters’ town! I knocked on one of the doors and was welcomed by a couple- Norman and Mary. They gave me a fresh canvas, brushes, colours and took me to the ‘Painters’ Point’. I was speechless seeing the pristine beauty of the fjords and sparkling blue waters. The sky was a demure violet. Norman said it was the perfect time to capture the awesome scenery on canvas. So, they left me to be one with Nature. I painted to my heart’s content. In between, I pinched myself to ensure that I wasn’t seeing a life-size picture-postcard or a dream! When the couple returned after some hours, they were surprised by my ‘exquisite’ painting and said the ‘Painters’ Market’ beckoned it! I visited other painters, was awed by their unique paintings, had Grilled Salmon and participated in the glorious celebration of Sankthans! Long after midnight, we started out for ‘Painters’ Market’- the art-lovers’ paradise. Buyers came from the world over. They had a difficult time choosing which painting to buy! Mine was taken by a sweet old French couple. I thanked Norman and Mary for the past two memorable days. I took out my mic and said-“Now make me a fish-catcher of Norway, allow me to witness the currents meet and the fabulous Northern Lights display!”

And I was at Ballstad, wearing bright orange fisherman gear! A fisherman was about to start for the sea. I said- “I’m Anna, a fish-catcher! Can I catch fish with you today?” “Sure! Please join us! I’m Griffin and meet my wife Rosy!” said Griffin. We started out seaward. The water was ice-cold! Soon we reached the deep-sea fishing point where we spread a huge net and caught myriads of fish: cod, halibut, mackerel, haddock, monkfish! The surprise catch- a 37 kg skrei, fought with Griffin and when its gills gave in, we held the giant proudly! After another two rounds of catch, when Griffin’s half-ton dish was brimming with fish, we decided to return. Rosy said she cooked traditional fish dishes of Norway well and requested me to stay at their rorbu cabin. I gladly accepted. Griffin’s rorbu was small, yet cozy and his Grandma stayed there too! After a glorious supper of Torsk and Fiskesuppe, I was awestruck seeing the splendid Aurora Borealis. I felt as if dazzling lights were dancing all across the skies to the ethereal music of our Universe! Grandma told me the wonderful Nordic tales of Twelve Wild Ducks and The Husband who Minded the House too. Early next day, we shipped our catch and earned lots of money! To treat me, Griffin took us exactly where the warm and cold currents met in the sea! Miraculously, the waters had different colors; the multi-colored plankton was unlike any I’d ever seen! After returning and finishing a sumptuous supper, I thanked my hosts for the two blessed days. I promised Grandma that I’d listen to more fables during my next visit. The mic took my voice command again- “Make me a ski-guide on the Norwegian slopes so snowy, allow me to make snowmen with kids and ski expertly!”

So now I was a professional ski-guide for kids on the picturesque Hemsedal! I found myself wearing snow goggles, skis, thick woolen wear and surrounded by ten chattering kids of different nationalities! First I taught them how to wear and remove the skis. Next, on the gentlest slope, I skied a few meters and showed them how to start and stop motion. The kids started skiing. While the Norwegian and Indian kids were keen observers and picked up fast, others lagged a bit so I personally skied with them. With the beginners’ lessons over, the kids scurried to their parents. After lunch break, I kept a flag some distance away which the kids would have to bend away from and go ahead to reach the finish line. Then I announced a snowman-making event. The kids were overjoyed! The next day, I put more flags on the kids’ ski paths and found they had perfected the bends! Since the kids’ snowmen were half-covered in snow due to overnight snowfall, we even rebuilt the snowmen. By now the kids had mingled well and started throwing snowballs at everyone! The parents and kids thanked me for two days of enjoyable skiing lessons. Thanking them too and adoring the gorgeous slopes, I said on my glittering mic- “Take me to the modern capital city of Oslo; allow me to experience Norway like never before!”

Wow! After the various roles, now I was myself- a tourist experiencing the sights and sounds of the beautiful city of Oslo! I was wearing a colorful floral dress with fancy sandals! I first went to the Viking Ship Museum which had the two dragon-ships- Oseberg and Gorkstad! I couldn’t believe there that I had already been there and done that! I visited the Oslo court where Anders Behring Breivik’s hearing took place. I felt sad that in the country where I’d met the friendliest people, there was also a mass murderer.  Also I visited Vigelandsparken Sculpture Park, Oslo Harbor and walked on the roof of The Opera House! Holmenkollen, TusenFryd and Natural History Museum were simply mind-blowing. I went to the Nobel Institute too, and felt as if I had won the Nobel Prize! Two fun-filled days just zoomed by. Mixed emotions engulfed me- warm, happy feelings in my heart; also sorrow at the thought of leaving this amazing country that had become my Home for the past twelve days. Under the bright lights of Karl Johansgate Street, I spoke on the sparkling mic- “My marvellous twelve-day Norway journey has come to an end, so take me back to my hometown my Time-Machine friend!”

And I was back in my room, with the glittering time-machine in my hand. Still unable to believe it all, I thought- had I seen a dream or was my time travel for real?! The time-machine winked mischievously. Just then a sudden wish sprang in my heart. I instinctively said on the mic- “I know you can take me through the past till the present, now give me a glimpse of future travel!”

And magically, I was transferred to a lavish party. Many dignitaries were present- both Indian and International. I was wearing a rich, traditional Indian Saree. Many of them were giving me flowers and congratulating me. I was baffled. I felt lost, yet kept smiling, for everyone’s attention seemed to be on me. Just then, I turned and looked at the huge banner put up behind me. It said- “Welcome Ms. Amrita Sabat- Indian Ambassador to Norway, 2022-2027”! Oh my God- I couldn’t believe it! I realized that my future was to be charted in this way- I was to enter the Foreign Services, be trained and posted in other countries for some years and then in 2022, I would become the Indian Ambassador to Norway! The realization thrilled me immeasurably! I lived twelve days of my future as the dignified representative of my country at Niels Juels Gate 30, Oslo! At the end of my stay, I said on my shiny mic- “Thanks to you I know what my future holds for me, now take me back to my present so I’ll work to live the future I’ve just lived!”

Back at my bed at home, I started capturing all the wonderful experiences of my first time-travel through Past, Present and Future in my diary. My time-machine has been twinkling in my cupboard ever since. Did you ask where I’ll go next?! To Norway yet again- to be in the shoes of : a Norwegian baker, farmer, hiker and tour-guide!            

This was my entry for 'I Dine Sko' or 'In my Shoes', an Indo-Norwegian Fictional Writing Competition. It did not win yet this writing is very close to my heart. In the New Year's first post, this is a gift to all my readers. And I definitely will visit Norway- completely enticed, awed and in love with Norway! :) This is NOT an advertisement of Norway- it's a writing helped by my month-long research on the country and its people. And all thanks to blessings of my Angelic Mom. This completely is for U....
                                               

She...

She is a flower. So delicate that she’s even scared of the dew touching her. She thinks she’ll be torn apart by ravenous human beings. But actually, her own feelings are doing the same to her, leaving shreds of herself in front of her.

Silently she despises herself. For not being one with the crowd. For not doing things like they do. Locking herself in her room, while the others scream and squeal outside, she feels like an outsider to herself. She is lost, burdened by her emotional baggage, ravaged by her own soul. She wants to break free, and fly away to a place where complicacies don’t complicate, where respect holds respect, where politics don’t politicise every damn thing. A sad reality- how straight-forwardness is not liked by the fake people in this world. How she is gifted loneliness by the fake people, who only flock with their own kind. She can’t fake anything. She is truth, she is life, and she is a river flowing along her own course. She is looking for herself in the coal, while she is herself turning into a priceless diamond under the pressure and heat of the forest. The forest of ravenous, insensitive, selfish and political human beings.

She just needs someone to observe her from outside, someone who is not blind to differentiate the diamond from within the coal.

Guess what? She just found that person.

 

She

Maybe she wanted to be the only person who loved her own Self. She did not allow others to love her. Maybe she did not even want others to love her. Sometimes she felt the "void", seeing others around her, who were not like her. They seemed to have people ( apart from their immediate family) who loved them, more than they loved themselves or others, at any point of time. She thought- " Is this some abnormality with me?"


Sometimes she even thought that maybe others thought her to be a wierdo, living like that, and refusing spending time with people who asked her out, or for just some time with her. But, she always bluntly refused those people a part of her Life, which she would never get back again. As an afterthought, she did wonder whether it was okay to do that or not; whether she was hurting them or not, by bluntly refusing their love; by showing that she did not care much.

But then, after such reflections, she always found a strange peace, a strange satisfaction, within Her Self.

She would look at the mirror, at herself, and think- ' I am happy like this only. I don't want others to depend on me for their happiness. And neither do I want to depend on them for mine. I am doing the right thing, coz allowing them one moment's dependence will lead to the next, and then to the next, and then to the next, which I will never provide or even care for.

My Time is Mine and My Love is Mine. I love each moment, and each moment loves Me for being Me.



I Love My Self.'



She would Smile, and then go on with Life.........................................