The One that Got Away!

After six days in Gobi desert and one whole day of driving, we finally reached the Princess camp high up in the Gorkhi Terelj National Park in Mongolia. From dry flat planes to rugged mountains, from browns and grays to gurgling rivulets and lush greens, from 40 degrees to -5 degrees, all in a period of 12 hours! 

The Princess camp was yet another Ger camp, no different from that in Gobi, except that it was freezing cold. There was a large coal heater with the chimney going out from the center of the Ger. Our hosts entered the Ger every few hours to reload the coal to keep us warm, while we tried to sleep. Their intrusion, initially shocking, was very soon welcomed! 

The next day, our guide told us we would be going for a picnic to an old ruin some 10 km away. There were horses for those who wanted to ride, much to the delight of Atreya and Shalini, and an ox-cart for those who couldn't- mom and me. By now it was snowing lightly. We wore sweaters and jackets offered to us by our very maternal hosts, all men by the way, but the cold was bone-chilling. They then trussed mom and me in a blanket each, with a rope tied around us to hold it in place. 

We were then picked up and placed on the ox-cart, the keyword being "on". Our seat was a flat plank of wood that was somehow attached to the yoke around the neck of the large black and white ox. There were no side railing or any back rest. Like everything that was thrown our way in this unusual fascinating country, we took it in our stride. 

A few hundred yards into the rough drive, with no arms free to prop ourselves up, we found ourselves less and less vertical and more and more horizontal on the wooden platform. With snow now drifting onto our faces and mouths, mom and I looked at each other helplessly. No promised beautiful scenery to be seen. All we could see was gray skies and each other's pitiable faces.

Suddenly, there was a jerk and a shout. The wooden platform stood at an odd angle. I managed to get my arms out of the blanket, propped myself up and turned around to see what the commotion was about. Our ox-cart was sans the ox! There was just the wooden plank somehow balanced on the slushy muddy path, with mom and me somehow still on it!

I could see our ox-cart driver running and shouting after the ox who had decided enough was enough. All this while we thought we were uncomfortable, but who knew that the ox was the real victim here, carrying us two through the snow and slush! 

It was a funny site seeing the ox running away, but not more than the site we presented to our horse riding friend and family, who could be heard laughing loudly and calling out to the driver. 

Noticing how precariously we were perched, the driver discontinued the ox chase and returned to help us. With no English-speaking guide nearby to translate for us, it was somehow agreed that he would carry mom on his back across the slushy path where the ox had abandoned us. While he did that, I shook off the blanket, hopped off the cart and made my way gingerly to dry land. No way I would let that man take on the burden of carrying me across, however sturdy he may be! Certainly, he couldn't be sturdier than the ox! 

After making sure we were safe, he once again ran to get the ox back, who was now happily chewing on some dry grass. After much pulling and cajoling, he was brought back to the cart and yoked again. We hopped back on top of the plank, this time with the blankets only loosely wrapped around us. 

I don't remember much of the ruins or the picnic, or the trip back, but this episode from 20 years ago of the ox shaking us off is as fresh in my mind as if it happened just yesterday. 

The ox-cart being readied for us! 

The ox that got away! 

Say What?

There is a drive to push Hindi usage in government offices. There is also a drive to go digital, but some drives, like cars, move faster than others. So, we still receive my father's pension-related information from Delhi via snail mail, not e-mail. But there is clear evidence of the other drive in full momentum. 

This is a letter we received recently. To clarify, the address my mother gave them was this:

Firmly Rooted Bungalow 

Village Sidhbari

PO Rakkar 

HP....

Here is what came as the address on the letter. 

The only field translated into Hindi was "Firmly Rooted". The words Village and PO were not 

So, mind you, you are right now in a Bungla called Majbooti se Jad Diya! 

Talking of translation, let me recount another episode from a couple of years ago. Actually, I was reminded of it because of the Vote Fraud issue currently in the news. A few years ago, I was trying to find the locations of our voting booth for the local elections. I was majorly impressed when I was told that the information was available online. Online! Wow! That's my world. I can navigate that! 

So, I went to the website. But everything is in Hindi. Shuddh Hindi. As is my habit, I look for a way to see the information in English. Lo and behold- there is a button that says English. I press it and the information is in English! Yay! 

But wait! What the hell is this? Who is Moon Bliss? And Love Creeper? And Diametre?

Any software person will tell you that when developing software apps, we mark certain fields as non-translating fields. Well, obviously, the persons making this website wasn't aware of it and so all the names had been translated into English. Absolutely wonderful! 

Rather than talk about it, let's do a short quiz. Guess what this name would be in Hindi?

Rich Goddess

Omen

Love Creeper?

Country Rule 

Dream

Peacock

Saffron

Smell

Pass through 

Like Ram

Critique 

Teenager

Drank (Father Peacock)

Light up

Good Luck

Sick

Original Secret

Omnipotent Goddess

Sapphire

Bum God

Love Creeper

Illuminating

Lamp

Like Ram

Digender’s World

We moved to this town a few months ago. Mommy put me in a nearby school. I go to my new school only to play. They want all students to sit down, so I sit with my books for some time. Then I am off again, catching Pratham, teasing Ruansh and jostling with Rishu.

When English teacher makes us recite poems, I sit with my group and move my lips, copying others as if I know the words. I don’t know the words. I know she looks at each one of us, so I move my lips a lot.

Yesterday, she asked who all had a bath before coming to school. I was afraid she would look at me, so I tried to hide behind Prakriti, the tallest girl in the school. Mommy gives me a bath on Sundays. Last Sunday, she was at a new construction site. So, no bath for me.

Luckily, Ruansh spoke up saying he did not even wash his face this morning. Everyone started to talk to him or about him. I was safe.

After school, I play more, mostly with Aman. He is my best friend, even though he is in Class 5 and in another school. Our favourite thing to do is to jump over water channels. Sometimes both of us jump in the water and scream because its so cold. 

We climb trees if there are fruits to pluck. I like sour oranges the most. Wild pears are nice too, but one has to wait for them to be soft. The hard ones are bitter.

We race across meadows. Aman wins each time. Maybe one day, when I am older and taller, I will be faster than him.

We jump over the gate of Palak’s house to play with her dog Kalu. Kalu is a funny dog. He likes to run round and round in the front yard when he sees us. We chase him. Palak’s mother shouts at us to get off her vegetable patch.

Mommy has enrolled me in a tuition class near our house. I go there every day and make sure didi sees me. I sneak out after sitting quietly for some time.

A few days ago, English mam was walking near my house in the evening. She saw me before I could hide and said “Digender, wear a sweater.” I pointed to my yellow T-shirt, and said “I am wearing one.” I don’t know what’s the big deal about sweaters. 

Yesterday, I was pretend studying in the tuition class when Aman signalled to me to come outside. He took me to where mam was sitting on a rock. She gave me a jacket and insisted I wear it right away and every day. I put it on and ran away. As I was running, I heard her say "At least say thank you Digender!"

That night, mommy asked me where I got the jacket from. I pretended not to hear. She got busy cooking dinner and forgot about the jacket.

I did not take it off as I slid into my bed. One minute I was awake and another minute I was in deep sleep.  All night, I dreamt about water channels, meadows, trees, and Aman.

One Day in the Life of...

Note: I wrote this story to talk about emotions to a group of young men, who believed there were only three emotions- happy, sad and angry. This story demonstrates several shades of these basic emotions including Pleased, Irritated, Anxious, Miserable, Relieved, Elated, Disappointed, Jealous, Furious, Inspired, Shy, Embarrassed, Proud, and Joyful. 

I looked in the mirror one last time. My hairstyle looked good. The new gel is doing the job it promised, I thought to myself.

I didn’t realize that Kiran, my little sister, was in my room and watching me. When our eyes met, she ran her hands in her hair and twisted her body, exaggerating my pose. I chased her out of my room. Can’t I have any privacy in this house?

In school, I looked out for Anaira all day. She didn’t come to class. She wasn’t in the canteen at lunch break. Where was she? Had anything happened to her? These thoughts filled my head. I couldn’t pay attention to anything or anyone else.

Not even Sid’s silly jokes could uplift my mood, and they were aplenty.

I saw Anaira as I stepped out of the music class. She was in the corridor, talking to someone. Just looking at her, it felt as if a load was lifted from my shoulders.

She smiled when she looked up and saw me. Her smile lit up the corridor. As I walked towards her, I felt I was walking on clouds.

Until I saw who she was with. It was Anshul - everyone’s favourite Head Boy!

She told me that her cycle was stolen in the morning, which was why she couldn’t come to classes on time. But Anshul had seen some young boys with her cycle and managed to get it back.

I didn’t hear the details. I just kept thinking why it wasn’t me who had found her cycle. Why did I sit in classes instead of finding out what was wrong? Why was Anshul always the hero?

On my way back, Sid joined me. We had plans to play basketball in the park. When I told him about Anaira’s cycle, he said it seemed all too convenient that Anshul happened to see the boys with the cycle. Too convenient!

It suddenly became clear to me. It had to be Anshul’s scheme to gain Anaira’s attention, like in old Hindi movies! Anshul is more than capable of such a stunt. What a scheming dog!

I ran back towards Anaira’s house to share this thought with her, hoping to see her before she went inside. I wanted to avoid her mother, who always looked at me as if I was a worm. Her father was different- kind and gentle, though he was a famous lawyer. I looked up to him and wanted to be like him when he grew up.

When I saw Anaira, she was standing with Shalini outside her house. I wanted to tell her what I had realized about Anshul, but suddenly felt awkward. What if I was wrong? What proof did I have? What if she thought I was the one scheming to make Anshul look bad?

As I stood there staring at them tongue tied, Shalini started laughing. I felt like a fool and wished I had never come there.

Anaira hushed Shalini and came towards me, still holding her cycle. She asked me if she could borrow my notes for today’s classes that she had missed, adding that I had the best notes in the class. Best Notes!

I took out my notebooks and handed them to her, without saying a word. I didn’t mention Anshul and my suspicions to her.  He just wasn’t important in that moment.

As I walked back towards where Sid was waiting for me, I felt that the world was beautiful again!

When teaching the concept of Emotions and Emotional Regulation, I realized that many of my students of BSA do not understand English well So, Sonika tranlated the story into Hindi. 

एक दिन प्रतिदिन…

जाने से पहले मैंने एक आखिरी बार शीशे में देखा। मेरे बाल अच्छे लग रहे थे। तो वह जेल्ल का प्रॉमिस ठीक ही निकला।

पता नहीं कब मेरी छोटी बहन मेरे कमरे में आई और मुझे देखने लगी। जब हमारी आंखें मिलीं  तो उसने मेरी नकल उतारते हुए अपने बालों में हाथ फेरा। मैंने उसे फटकार के कमरे से बाहर निकाला । क्या इस घर में मेरी कोई प्राइवेसी नहीं है?

स्कूल में सारा दिन में अनायरा को ढूंढता रहा। वह क्लास में नहीं आई। लंच ब्रेक में भी कैंटीन में नहीं थी। कहां थी वह?  उसे कुछ हो तो नहीं गया था?  यही ख्याल मेरे दिमाग में उठ रहा थ। मैं किसी और बात पर ध्यान नहीं दे पा रहा था। 

यहां तक की सिड के इतने सारे चुटकुले भी मेरा मूड ठीक नहीं कर पा रहे थे। 

जैसे ही मैं म्यूजिक क्लास में से बाहर निकला, मैंने अनायरा को देखा। वह स्कूल के कॉरिडोर में खड़ी किसी से बातें कर रही थी। उसे देखते ही मुझे लगा मेरे कंधों से कोई बोझ उतर गया हो। उसने मुझे देखा और मुस्कुराने लगी। उसकी मुस्कान से जैसे सारा कॉरिडोर रोशन हो गया हो। जब मैं उसकी ओर बढ़ा मुझे ऐसे महसूस हुआ जैसे मैं बादलों में चल रहा हूँ।

जब मैंने देखा वह किसके साथ थी, तब मैं बादलों से जैसे गिर कर ज़मीन पे आ गया। वह और कोई नहीं अंशुल था - सबका चहेता हेड बॉय!

अनायरा ने मुझे बताया कि सुबह उसकी साइकिल चोरी हो गई थी, जिसके कारण वह समय से क्लास में नहीं आ पाई। लेकिन अंशुल ने उसकी साइकिल कुछ लड़कों के पास देखी और वह उसे वापस लाने में कामयाब रहा।

मैंने उसकी बाकी बातें सुनी ही नहीं। मैं बस यही सोचता रहा कि मैंने क्यों नहीं ढूंढी    उसकी साइकिल। बाहर क्या चल रहा था, यह जानने की बजाये मैं क्लास में ही क्यों बैठा रहा? अंशुल ही हमेशा हीरो क्यों बनता है?

छुट्टी होने पर सिड मेरे साथ वापस घर चल पड़ा। हमारा पार्क में बास्केटबॉल खेलने का प्लान था। जब मैंने उसे अनायरा की साइकिल चोरी के बारे में बताया तो उसने कहा दाल में कुछ तो काला है. इतनी आसानी से अंशुल को साइकिल कैसे मिल गई?

तब मुझे समझ में आ गया। यह सब अंशुल की चाल थी अनायरा का ध्यान अपनी ओर करने के लिए, ठीक जैसे की हिंदी फिल्मों में होता है। अंशुल ऐसे कामों में बहुत तेज़ है। चालबाज़ कहीं का!

इससे पहले कि अनायरा घर के अंदर चली जाए, मैं उसे यह बात बताने के लिए उसके घर की ओर दौड़ा। मैं उसकी मां से नहीं मिलना चाहता था, क्योंकि वह मुझे ऐसी देखती हैं जैसे मैं कोई गली का कीड़ा हूँ। वह न ही मिले तो अच्छा है। उसके पिता की बात और है, वह बहुत अलग हैं। एक नामी वकील होने के बावजूद वह दयालु और नरम स्वभाव के हैं। मैं बड़ा होकर उनकी तरह ही बनना चाहता हूँ।  

तभी मैंने अनायरा को उसके घर के बाहर शालिनी के साथ खड़े देखा। मैंने सोचा मैं उसे अंशुल के बारे में बता दूँ। पर अचानक से मुझे थोड़ा सा अजीब लगा। क्या पता मैं गलत हूँ? मेरे पास क्या सबूत है? क्या पता वह सोच ले कि मैं ही अंशुल को बुरा दिखाना चाहता हूँ?

मैं निशब्द होकर वहीं खड़ा रहा। मेरी यह हालत देख शालिनी हंसने लगी। मेरे गाल लाल हो गए। मुझे लगा काश मैं वहां आया ही नहीं होता!

अनायरा ने शालिनी को चुप करवाया और साइकिल पकड़े हुए ही मेरे पास आयी। उसने मुझ से आज के क्लासेज के नोट्स मांगे और साथ ही यह कहा कि मेरे नोट्स क्लास में सबसे अच्छे होते हैं।

सबसे अच्छे!  मेरे नोट्स!

मैंने चुपचाप अपनी नोटबुक्स निकालीं और उसे थमा दीं। मैंने न अंशुल का नाम लिया न ही अपने शक का ज़िक्र किया। उस समय यह बातें कोई मायने ही नहीं रखती थीं।

जब मैं वापस सिड के पास जा रहा था, तो मुझे ऐसे लग रहा था कि दुनिया सच में बहुत ही खूबसूरत है। 

 

The Clever Mouse Meets his Match

This morning, I was sitting on my balcony and sipping tea. I could see my cat Lipi in the garden below.

It had been raining since last night. The garden was wet and muddy.

Lipi was trying to catch a mouse. The mouse was very clever. As soon as Lipi came near it, it would hide in the bushes. There was a big puddle in front of the bushes. The mouse was safe because Lipi was afraid of the puddle.

"Silly Lipi," I said to myself.  She was willing to get wet in the rain, but not in the puddle.

I continued to watch Lipi carefully. I saw her taking a few steps back towards the house. She then sprinted and leaped over the puddle and into the bushes. That was the end of the clever mouse.

She wasn’t a silly cat, after all!  My Lipi was as clever as the clever mouse, if not more!

Note: This story was written initially as a translation exercise for older students. It made a good reading activity for primary school students learning to read English using phonics because it has only 2 words that are irregular (bushes, since). It also has several words that can help revise phonics rules (leaped, sprinted, afraid, clever etc). And mostly because it is short! 

Upon reading it again, I realise that it can highlight the point about jumping to conclusions (pun unintended). 

A Gift for Suhani!

Madhavi was very sad. Suhani had invited Madhavi for her birthday party. But Madhavi didn’t have a gift for her. Her father had lost his job last month. She simply could not ask him for money for a gift. 

She decided she will not go to the party. “I will say I am not feeling well”, she thought to herself. But Suhani will feel very bad. They were best friends after all!

Lost in thoughts, Madhavi stepped out into her garden. Her mother was clearing the weeds in the garden. She saw Madhavi and asked her why she looked so sad. Madhavi kept quiet. Her mother cut a bunch of red and yellow Marigold flowers and asked Madhavi to put them in a flower vase. 

As Madhavi held the flowers in her hands, she got an idea!

She went inside her room. She picked up her favourite red and yellow ribbon and tied it around the flowers. She then placed the birthday card she had made for Suhani next to it. It looked like a beautiful gift!

Madhavi will be going to Suhani’s party tonight

Note: This story is inspired by a story written by my late father-in-law Sukumar Shankar, titled "The Ribbon". That story was also about a birthday gift and how a friend coincidentally found a lost favourite ribbon and used it to tie the birthday gift. 

My story has no happy coincidence. Its premise is simply about being creative with whatever resources one has.

Words that don't follow phonics rules: Month, decided, thoughts, favourite, beautiful

The Red Jacket

Anya was so happy in her new red jacket that her uncle had brought from Manali. “Anya, take off the jacket. You should wear it when winter sets in properly,” her mother said. But Anya kept it on. It was Diwali, and she wanted to look special.

All the children of the village had gathered in the flat ground in front of her house. The girls played with sparklers, while the boys were going crazy with noisy crackers. There was so much fun to be had that Anya got home later than her usual bed time.

As she took off her jacket, her heart nearly stopped. There was a round hole on the left side near the pocket. How could this happen? Maybe an ember flew off a sparkler and burnt this hole. 

Before she knew, tears had pooled in her eyes. Her beautiful jacket was ruined. And mother! She would be so angry. She had to hide the jacket someplace no one would find it. Where? Where? Under her mattress!

“Anya, wear the red jacket today. Your uncle will be so happy to see you in it,” mother said. “I don’t know where it is,” lied Anya, pretending to look for it. They were getting late, so the jacket was forgotten.

But mother had not forgotten. The next day, she called Anya to her room and asked her if she had given away the jacket to one of her friends. 

Anya was shocked. "How could mother think that? I love that jacket. I love my uncle. I would never give away a gift he gave me!" she thought to herself. 

She pulled out the red jacket from under her mattress and brought it to her mother. She expected to be scolded about the dreadful hole, maybe even smacked, but mom just looked seriously at the jacket and then at her.

A couple of days later, mother came into her room and handed her the jacket. 

Where there was a hole earlier was a beautiful embroidered flower in red and yellow. There was another similar flower on the right side of the jacket. The red jacket looked even prettier than before. 

Anya hugged her mother tightly, saying "thank you" over and over again.

Sometimes grown-ups have solutions that children like us can’t think of.

Note: This could easily have been a story about the perils of lying, but I stayed away from it. It is about creative solutions to seemingly untenable problems. It is about seeking help when lost. 

Words that don't follow phonics rules: Special, usual, flew, ruined, brought, couple

The beautiful illustrations are by Aradhya, a 12-year old friend of my daughter.